The Lions Tale - Volume 61 Issue 5 - Oviedo High School

EDITION 5 EDITION 2 OVIEDO OVIEDO HIGH HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL OVIED 601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 APRIL 5, 2021 NOVEMBER 6, 2020 VOLUME 61 VOLUME 61 VOLUME 61 OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM

A SIGNING wrinkle in DAY time Student-athletes make a splash One year of pandemic

Pages 8-9

2 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 5, 2021

School searches for ways to adapt end-of-year activities When the coronavirus upended the previous school year last March, few anticipated that it would still be a major obstacle to gatherings and events 12 months later. Yet, Oviedo High School’s (OHS) graduating class of 2021 finds itself in a similar situation as its predecessorforced to adapt long-standing traditions to avoid the spread of a deadly virus.

Fortunately, this year’s seniors will not be nearly as limited in their activities, as many events held virtually or cancelled last year will this time be conducted in person with the appropriate safety measures.

After surveying student opinion through a poll, the junior class announced the “OHS Senior Garden Party,” a spring formal to be held at Oviedo on the Park on April 10 in lieu of a traditional prom. The outdoor gathering, for which dress may be “formal or spring semi-formal,” will feature a sit-down dinner as well as photo booths

and lawn games. It will not be open to underclassmen or outside guests.

Planning for graduation has proven to be difficult, with the school and district releasing multiple proposals for the ceremony as preparations progressed.

After setting in November a tentative May date for graduation to be held as usual in the University of Central Florida (UCF) basketball arena, Principal Trent Daniel announced in early February that graduation would be held in the auditorium, with each student signing up for a time slot and entering with their family.

Some questioned why a more traditional graduation could not be conducted given that live spectators had been allowed at athletic events throughout the year. One parent started an online petition calling for the county’s seniors to be given such a commencement; it received over 2,700

signatures.

OHS’s football field was considered as a location for the ceremony, but this would have greatly limited the number of guests per each graduate because chairs could not be placed on the turf itself.

Daniel released a revised plan later in the month after consulting with members of the Student Government Association.

This version allowed students to graduate in groups with their friends, with each group comprising roughly 25 students, each of who could bring a substantial number of guests thanks to the 254-person capacity of the auditorium.

However, the current proposal for the ceremony came from the county level. On March 4, Superintendent Walt Griffin announced that UCF had cleared its football stadium, the Bounce House, for use for the graduations of each of the

OUR WORD

district’s high schools. Based on the 174 to four like to dislike ratio on the YouTube video announcing the plan, it seems to be the most well-received one yet.

The development of arrangements for these events, and students’ reactions to them, will serve as the basis for stories in this edition. We’ll also cover the contentious search for the next superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools and students who took part in the Reddit-fueled surge of Gamestop stock. We’ll take a look at the long-awaited revival of EA Sports’s NCAA Football series as well as Marvel’s latest foray into TV with WandaVision.

The Lion’s Tale would like to commend and thank the students, teachers and administrators working hard to give seniors a memorable conclusion to their time in high school amidst this unprecedented school year.

Month in Photos YOUR SERVE. Junior Cooper Broennle jumps to serve the ball.

THAT ONE’S GONE. Junior infielder Isaiah Barkett watches his hit soar.

PHOTO BY AUDREY STREMBICKI

PHOTO BY AUDREY STREMBICKI WAVE TO THE CROWD. Teachers Alicia Pope, Barbara Kelly and Marzia Vitali (L to R) are pictured here at honors graduation night.

PHOTO COURTESY OF OHS

PHOTO COURTESY OF OHS

Entertainment Editor Mackenzie Holmes Elliott Siress Jaden MaduroVanterpool Online Editor Elsa Mattsson Emma Yost Brandon New Ashlee Ross Business Manager Emma Tagye Justina Nielsen Hannah Warrner Editor-in-Chief Patrick Costello Managing Editor Emma Yost Sports Editors Kenny Aponte Kait Peterson

Art Director Veronika Maynard Reporters Penelope Banks Vincent Crook Nikta Daryadel May Frangoul

HONOR STUDENTS. Students receive certificates for achieving a 4.0 GPA.

Photographers Diego Lara Audrey Strembicki

Faculty Adviser Ben Langevin Admin Adviser Nancy Diaz Principal Dr. Trent Daniel

Oviedo High School 601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 P: 407-320-4199 F: 407-320-4213

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • APRIL 5, 2021 • VOLUME 61 • EDITION 5

FRONT PAGE DESIGN BY VERONIKA MAYNARD

Population: 2480 students across in person and online settings 19 newspaper staff members

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Mission Statement The Lion’s Tale is the student newspaper of Oviedo High School, located in Oviedo, Florida. Our mission is to provide Distribution news, feature stories, 800 copies of The Lion’s editorials and opinions Tale are distributed

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APRIL 5, 2021 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 3

IN YOUR FACE Would you rather watch a new movie in theaters or stream it at home on-demand?

Freshman Zaniel Martinez

Sophomore Addison Shae

At home on-demand, because you can be in your bed comfy and eat what you want.

In a theater, because I haven’t been there in a while due to Covid.

Junior Jordan Jones

Senior Madison Adams

In theaters, because you can go see it with your friends and it’s more of a good time.

At home, because you can pause the movie at any time and get up if you need to.

Theater experience remains unparalleled Streaming movies is the way of the future writers HANNAH WARRNER, ASHLEE ROSS Watching a movie for the first time on the big screen is a feeling like no other. From cliche first dates to family outings, the movie theater has always been a classic entertainment choice. The amazing buttered popcorn and the large Coca-Cola make it an experience that can’t be replicated at home.

Watching movies on streaming services can be lonely and boring, while entering the theater and viewing a blockbuster is a surreal and even thrilling experience. Feeling the excitement of the crowd and collectively experiencing the twists and shocking reveals of the story in their full intensity is an indescribable rush.

One advantage of the cinema is the ability to watch 3D films. The simulated interaction with the audience and the lifelike appearance of the characters makes for an all the more memorable time. Your living room TV truly can’t measure up.

Theaters also provide the IMAX format, which enhances the viewing experience through its use of high-resolution video and large screens. The distinctive domelike shape of IMAX theaters and the steep seating further contribute to the unique nature of this medium.

At home, distractions are bound to happen. The dog barking in the middle of an important scene is not an ideal scenario. No one wants to be interrupted while watching a movie, especially when you’ve really become invested in the fates of the characters. In the theaters, there is a clear rule that interruptions will not be tolerated, cell phones should be silenced and no one should be loudly conversing with the people around them.

DESIGN BY ELSA MATTSSON

Times are changing, and a lot of ideas and practices that once seemed ageless are slowly beginning to fade away and lose their foothold in society. One of these, sadly, is the desire to attend the theaters to watch a new movie. Although streaming has its benefits, it does not come close to the enjoyment and emotions that you get from seeing a star-studded movie for the first time in the cinema.

Before public venues closed due to Covid-19, a classic Friday night outing was to go see a movie, whether it was with a group of friends or a date. While it is still difficult to do this in many places because of the continued presence of the coronavirus, moviegoers will rush back to the theaters as more people are vaccinated and cases fall. This will be one of the clearest examples of pentup demand as the pandemic comes to an end. A recent study found that 75% people would return to the movies if there were strict health measures. 40% would return even without them. AMC plans to have nearly all of its locations open by the end of the month, and Regal Cinema will reopen their theaters at 25-50% capacity in April.

Not only is the viewing experience that comes with the big screen impossible to replicate, you also can’t make the snacks and drinks that the concession offers at home. There really is nothing like sitting down in the theater with a bag of candy and a large buttered popcorn, reclining back and relaxing for a couple of hours.

The vast majority of sports fans would prefer to attend a game live rather than watching from home, and the same principle holds true for the cinema. When you go and watch a movie in theaters, you are making memories that can’t be replaced by a monthly subscription.

writer BRANDON NEW For over a century, theaters have been the dominant medium for viewing newly released movies. While technologies such as VHS have fizzled out, movie theaters have seen a steady popularity since their inception in the early 20th century. Yet today, we are witnessing the end of this dominance and the rise of a superior technology: streaming services.

Throughout the U.S and other countries, we have seen the closure of many movie theaters thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, especially in its early days. These closures were accompanied by delays of many summer blockbusters to releases in late 2020 and early 2021.

Yet this decline has actually been happening for sometime. Movie ticket sales hit a peak in 2002 but began to fall from there. In 2019, sales fell by 4.6% from the previous year. When the pandemic hit soon after, ticket sales declined by a staggering 80%.

Let’s compare this to the rise of streaming services, which saw a growth of 37% during the year 2020. This is due to one simple factor- people were locked in their houses and didn’t have the ability to go anywhere, meaning their only options for entertainment were to either sign up for a streaming service like Netflix, Hulu or Disney+, or watch paint dry.

The coronavirus situation isn’t the only thing driving people to use streaming, as the greater benefits that option has compared to going to the movie theater also play a role. You can have unlimited access to a library of movies and other content for around $7-$15 a month, or you can go to the movie theater, where you might pay $9 or more to view a single film.

One might point out the past resilience of the theater in the face of things like TV and home-video as evidence that it won’t be toppled by streaming. This raises a good question, but the answer lies in not some inherent staying power of the cinema, but in the fact that those formats had limitations and simply did not compete as directly with it. Let’s take Disney as an example. They had no reason to think the launch of their TV channel would threaten the success of their movies and have continued to conduct both businesses for quite some time.

But today, with the Covid-19 pandemic, there is something pushing Disney and other companies away from movie theaters. In order to continue to make a profit, these companies must find other means to distribute their movies to the masses, and the only entertainment industry that is currently booming is streaming. So, many of these companies have an option- either delay the release of their movies until the pandemic is over, which could come at a heavy cost, or distribute them through streaming services and make a profit through subscriptions.

When it comes to the defense of movie theaters, what usually motivates people is nostalgia. Yet, if you strip away the nostalgia, what you end up with is paying around $9 a person to watch one movie, eating overpriced popcorn and sitting in a cold, dark room with strangers for two to three hours. Streaming has already sounded the death knell for the movie rental industry, with Blockbuster filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy back in 2010. I believe it is now time to embrace streaming as the major distribution method for shows and movies.

4 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 5, 2021

Why cost of college has skyrocketed in US

Art director

VERONIKA MAYNARD College is overrated. But alas, for most people who wish for security in the job market, it is a necessity. A necessity that comes with loans and debt that takes years to pay off.

One of the worst parts of American college is the price. Many students, including myself, have racked our heads trying to figure out how in the world will we pay for the hefty price of our education. Hundreds of thousands of college students every year fall into tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, debt that takes years - decades for some - to pay off. But it wasn’t always this way.

In the 1980s, under President Ronald Reagan’s administration, his campaign (specifically budget advisor David Stockman) advocated the idea that college should be paid primarily by those who benefit from it, the students.

Beforehand, higher education was mainly seen as something that benefited society as a whole, and the government helped fund higher education, making it completely free or at least at a

manageable cost to the common family with a reasonable income.

But Reagan, in all of his infinite wisdom, decided to decrease funding for college and made loans much more accessible to students, leading to them having to pay for college themselves through these loans. Thus Reagan built the path for the 1.3 trillion dollar total student debt.

Another one of Reagan’s splendid actions that brought more trouble onto the average student was halting the growth of the minimum wage and decreasing federal taxes on big companies, whose taxes helped pay for education.

And while limiting the growth of minimum wage may have not seemed so important fifty years ago, it is an issue much more relevant to the college students of today, who will often juggle low-paying jobs along with school just to afford their education.

Minimum wage, when it was first established in America, was defined by Franklin D. Roosevelt as a decent living wage, a standard not being met today.

A recent study found that full-time minimum wage workers could not afford a two-bedroom rental anywhere in the US. It was only in 2007 that the minimum wage increased again following Reagan’s presidency. During that intervening period, the economy grew, productivity and inflation increased and the minimum wage remained stagnant.

As a result, the minimum wage today, adjusted for inflation, is actually 40% lower than it was in 1968, when it reached

a high point in terms of purchasing power.

And the millions of students working towards having enough in the bank to survive financially in college are suffering because of it.

To compound this issue, the price of college has more than doubled since Reagan’s era. Average college prices in America are twice that in Europe, averaging about $30,000 per year in comparison to $15,000. Reasons for this include the fact that many students in America go to out of state colleges, stay in dormitories and are offered more student services.

But that only accounts for on average about $3,000 of the difference. One of the main reasons why American colleges are so expensive isn’t because they’re better than European ones or because they offer significantly more benefits, but because American colleges do not have a cap on the price they can charge.

Colleges can continue to increase tuition and fees with no real limit other than how much debt students can take on. Many European universities, on the other hand, are legally limited in how much they can charge, and students often receive significant government subsidies.

The U.S. government could help cover the cost of college for more students by giving federal aid money directly to the schools, which would cut down on waste and inefficiency.

It is also posited that the increase in federal aid is correlated with the increase in college prices, a theory known as the

Bennett Hypothesis. Essentially, colleges can easily raise tuition because they know student aid will increase accordingly, and a vicious cycle ensues. Additionally, the government cut aid to universities themselves during the recession of 2008, and that cost was at least partially passed on to students.

But these issues alone do not account for the difference in prices between American and European universities. One of the main culprits is spending on faculty and staff. This area has grown significantly in cost in recent years, with 76 percent of tuition revenues going towards paying the staff.

The issue is that there has been a great increase in non-teaching staff, who now outnumber the teaching faculty two to one. And most of this non-teaching staff work in fields not directly related to education, such as IT work, mental health counseling and financial advisingall services that may be done better at outside institutions.

Oftentimes, college students do not even have ready access to these services despite shouldering their cost.

In short, colleges shouldn’t cost nearly as much as they do, and they wouldn’t, had the government placed more economic regulation on them. High school and college students don’t deserve the amount of stress they experience due to the price of college, something that should be broadly accessible financially.

Education is a great benefit to the general welfare of society and moreover should be a human right.

Traditional holidays feature activities, celebrations

Writer

ELSA MATTSSON Being an exchange student means receiving a lot of questions. Most people do not know much, if anything, about Finland, and my job is of course to answer the questions and discuss my culture.

A couple of the things that really define a culture, and give others a way to connect with it, are holidays and traditions. Some celebrations here in America are new to me, but many were familiar thanks to movies and TV shows.

On the other hand, I bet that most people reading this have not heard about Vappu or Juhannus.

Like the United States, we celebrate a lot of holidays that have Christian origins.

Christmas and Easter are both really big holidays in Finland as well, but we have some traditions related to them that are unique to our country. For Easter, children will decorate branches of pussy willow

with colorful feathers and silk paper, dress up as witches and go around the neighborhood handing out the decorated branches in exchange for candy. This is a tradition similar to trick-or-treating on Halloween. We also have many traditional dishes for Easter aside from chocolate eggs. We eat an oatmeal-like dessert called Mämmi, which is made out of rye and served with sugar and milk or creme.

For Christmas, our traditions are very similar to ones practiced here. Spending Christmas in America was surprisingly familiar to me. The primary difference is that we open presents on Christmas Eve instead of the day itself.

Some American holidays have integrated in our culture over the years.

Both Valentine’s Day and Halloween are celebrated in Finland, but usually not as big as here in the U.S. Valentine’s Day is translated as “Friend’s Day” and most people do not take it too seriously. Here, I definitely noticed that many people felt alone on Feb. 14 if they did not have a significant other.

During the spring months, Finns have many holidays. The biggest of them, Vappu, is celebrated on the last day of April and continues on the first day of May. This holiday celebrates students and workers.

Graduated students

wear their graduation hats, which look like sailor hats, and overalls in colors corresponding to their major. In Finland during this time, spring is in the air, and most people celebrate outside. The cities are filled with people drinking, eating and partying. We eat a lot of fried sweets, like doughnuts and funnel cakes, and drink mead. Children get big helium balloons and many people gather in public parks with friends.

The other big Finnish holiday is Juhannus, or Midsummer, so named because it is the feast day of John the Baptist. It is celebrated on the longest day of the year, which is at the end of June. In the north of Finland, the sun never sets on this day, and it does so in the south only for a few hours. There are many traditions connected to this holiday, many of which originate from hundreds of years ago. Most people will eat grilled summer foods and celebrate with family and friends. Traditionally we build big bonfires that ward off evil spirits. Flower decorations, such as flower crowns, are common during this celebration.

Flowers also play a role in an old, superstitious Juhannus tradition. Young girls are to pick seven different flowers and place them under their pillow on the night of Midsummer. After picking the first

flower, you have to be completely silent and not speak until the next morning. If you succeed with this task, your future husband will show up in your dreams.

One big celebration I am going to miss here in America is the Fourth of July. Since I am leaving in June, I won’t be here to take part in one of the country’s biggest festivities. In Finland, we celebrate our independence day on the sixth of December. The celebrations are small compared to the ones during the Fourth of July, but there is one thing that almost everybody does on this day- we gather around the TV and watch the presidential ball. This event is hosted by the president at his residence and features influential and important people. It is streamed live on TV for everyone to watch. The best part of the evening is critiquing the dresses and gowns of the guests.

Celebrating Thanksgiving and other American holidays has been fun, and I feel like I have been able to experience a lot of American culture, even though we have been in a pandemic this whole year. I love how enthusiastically Americans celebrate holidays, with decorations, foods and traditions, and how people are able to still make these special days feel fun, even when people have been through many hardships this year.

DESIGN BY PATRICK COSTELLO

APRIL 5, 2021 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | 5

Board names Beamon superintendant after controversy STORY BY PATRICK COSTELLO PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCPS The Seminole County School Board has named in-house attorney Serita Beamon the district’s next superintendent.

Beamon, who graduated from Lake Mary High School and has two children in county schools, has worked in the district’s legal department since 2004. She played a key role in the district achieving unitary status in 2006, meaning it had sufficiently remedied the effects of past segregation.

The departing head of Seminole County Public Schools, Superintendent Walt Griffin, announced his retirement in September, citing a desire to spend more time with family. Griffin, 61, worked in education for 40 years, including 37 in Seminole County and nine in his current position.

The board originally chose Lake County educator Chad Farnsworth over Beamon to lead the district in a 3-2 vote at a Feb. 9 meeting, citing Beamon’s lack of experience in the classroom. Farnsworth, currently the assistant superintendent over human resources in Lake, also served as superintendent, administrator, and teacher in Bradford County in North Florida.

However, in an unusual move, the

TWO CANDIDATES. The School Board considered Serita Beamon, left, and Chad Farnsworth, right, for the superintendant position. board voted to rescind its decision two weeks later after member Tina Calderone said she felt the board had not had enough discussion evaluating the two candidates before voting. At that Feb. 23 meeting, school employees and members of the public, including many from the Sanford community, spoke in support of Beamon, who would be the first African-American woman to head Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS).

Commenters said that her experience in the A-rated, 67,000 student Seminole school district made her a better choice

than Farnsworth, who spent much of his career in C-rated, 4,000 student Bradford school district.

“To me, the message that you sent two weeks ago was that mediocre was okay,” said Barbara Kirby-Bentley, who has worked throughout SCPS for over 50 years. “I respect each and every one of you, but last week I was so angry.”

The board met once again on March 1 and confirmed Beamon as its pick for superintendent in a 3-2 vote, with Calderone joining Karen Almond and Kristina Krause to reach a majority.

This decision drew heavy criticism, this time largely from parents angry the board had reneged on its selection of Farnsworth. Some also suggested that Beamon’s decision to resign her attorney position when she did not initially get the job reflected poorly on her.

“I believe Mrs. Beamon left a very large blemish on her career when she resigned in frustration and disappointment,” said one woman.

Commenters on Facebook also expressed their disapproval of the School Board’s decision.

“As a teacher and parent in Seminole County, I am completely embarrassed on how this played out,” wrote Nicole Knapp.

Beamon released a statement following her selection.

“I look forward to working with our amazing School Board, teachers, district leaders, principals, employees, students, and the entire Seminole County community to ensure a world-class equitable education for all students,” Beamon said.

The board approved Beamon’s contract in a 4-1 vote at a meeting on March 23. This came after a judge refused to issue a temporary injunction against the approval of the contract. A Seminole County parent had filed a lawsuit alleging the board violated its own rules when the offer to Farnswoth was rescinded.

Seniors share thoughts on modified graduation, prom plans STORY BY P. BANKS, N. DARYADEL

Graduation

Graduation is always a heavily anticipated event for the senior class.

The ceremony is the culmination of four years of hard work, a time for seniors to be honored and praised for their achievements. For a time, it looked as if the class of 2021 would follow its predecessor and have a largely virtual commencement because of the coronavirus pandemic. Then, on March 3, Seminole County Public Schools Superintendent Walt Griffin announced the district’s seniors would have their graduation at the University of Central Florida football stadium, the Bounce House.

Many seniors were disheartened at the original plan, a feeling that disappeared after Griffin’s announcement.

“I am most looking forward to just getting the chance and opportunity to say I finished and being proud of a long

BOUNCE HOUSE. The UCF football stadium is pictured here.

DESIGN BY PATRICK COSTELLO

journey,” said senior Kanya Smith.

Smith had originally planned to primarily celebrate her graduation with a small family gathering at home.

Senior Brielle Minnetto expressed her initial disappointment.

“I was annoyed we were not getting one because in my opinion that’s extremely important and the main part of senior year; it was like our last chance of getting to have a senior activity and saying our goodbyes to everyone,” Minnetto said.

She was relieved to hear about the updated plan for the ceremony.

“Now that we do have one, I feel a lot better, but now we need to make it the best we can,” Minnetto said.

A similar dynamic occurred with Grad Bash. It was originally cancelled, and Minnetto planned to have a few close friends come over instead. It is now back on the calendar and will take place at Busch Gardens.

Senior Zakaria Zakaria shared his disappointment and lack of motivation prior to graduation being rescheduled.

“Knowing that I wasn’t going to have a regular graduation really upset me because we worked so hard for the past four years,” Zakaria said. “I have looked up to this day since I can remember, so I felt unmotivated, but now since we have one, I’m very motivated.”

Oviedo High School’s graduation ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. on May 19 at the Bounce House.

Prom

For seniors, prom is one of the final and most memorable experiences they share

with their peers before they conclude their time in high school and enter a new stage in life.

This year, just as in the case of so many events, the coronavirus pandemic has made a traditional prom impossible.

“I feel bummed out because it was something I was looking forward to doing with our class,” Minnetto said.

Although many seniors share a feeling of disappointment about the loss of such an anticipated outing, they understand, given the circumstances, the danger of holding a large dance.

“For the sake of preventing a bigger spread, I don’t think prom would be the best thing right now,” said senior Katherine Flores.

An instance in which a high number of students were reveling in close quarters has the potential to be a superspreader

event.

Senior Ethan Anderson suggested “a bigger venue and making sure people would be wearing a mask and following Covid guidance” could make a prom-like bash safer.

Members of leadership seem to have had the same idea.

Graduating students will have the chance to attend the “OHS Senior Garden Party,” a spring formal planned by the junior class. This event will occur on Saturday, April 10, at Oviedo on the Park. Dinner will be served, and the dress may be formal or “spring semi-formal,” according to the announcement. It will be open to OHS seniors only, who can purchase tickets for $50. There will not be any dancing, but activities will include lawn games and photo booths.

6 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 5, 2021

APRIL 5, 2021 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 7

The school made some minor refurbishments to building four in December. Doors were added to the athletic training room and to seperate the football and PE areas.

The computer labs used by the campus publications and journalism classes will also appear different in the near future, as new desktop computers willl be installed for the upcoming school year.

Those impacted by these changes believe they will contribute to the feelings of school pride and confidence that principal Trent Daniel has emphasized.

“One of the things I think Oviedo is great at is you can see the pride in our school.” Furiosi said.

STORY BY HANNAH WARRNER, ASHLEE ROSS PHOTOS BY DIEGO LARA Over the past couple of months, Oviedo High School (OHS) has undergone some much needed upgrades and restorations. From the renovations in the band room to the resurfacing of the tennis courts, the campus is taking on a fresh, updated look.

Students and teachers believe these improvements will contribute to the attractive appearance of the school grounds.

“We are a really clean school; everyone always remarks about how beautiful our campus is,” said William Furiosi, the coach of the tennis teams.

Furiosi was interested in refurbishing the courts from the moment he stepped on as coach and is pleased with the work being done.

The courts had many cracks which could both cause players to stumble and affect the trajectory of the ball.

“The first day I got out there as the tennis coach, I knew they needed to be improved, because they were not playable when I started coaching four years ago, and they weren’t actually playable until a couple weeks ago.” Furiosi said.

The state of the courts did not receive a lot of attention from students, and many may not have known how much an upgrade was needed. The team still hasn’t been able to practice or compete on their new court as finishing touches

NEW COURTS. The new tennis courts, installed in Oviedo High School colors, are seen here. are completed.

This means no home matches until next season.

OHS’s bands have played an important part in the community through their performances at football games and in concerts. The band room has recently been revamped to give the space a more updated feel and a better sense of school spirit.

“It brings a positive culture,” said band director Zachary Chowning. “How they reacted and how they’re rehearsing is so much better than last year.”

The band room has needed upgrades

for quite some time now, to be specific, twenty years, according to Chowning. One of the biggest additions is the painting of a lion in the school colors of orange and black.

Chowning believes the renovations will further motivate students and unite them in working toward a common goal.

“It’s good for them to see something new happening, as they feel more obligated to take care of it,” Chowning said. “It’s important to take care of the things that you are using and what you’re given, because a lot of school’s aren’t as fortunate.”

MUSICAL LIONS. Pictured here is the new painting of a lion in the band room.

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Community rallies around Lampe after cancer diagnosis the offensive coordinator, me being the defensive coordinator. We’re always working together, so that’s when it really shot to the moon.”

He also developed close bonds with his players.

“Personally, he sends me text messages all the time, checks up on me, says ‘what’s up’, sees how I’m doing on and off the field; [he’s] a great coach, always helping me with anything,” said Alex Saunders, a junior wide receiver on the varsity football team.

STORY BY MACKENZIE HOLMES PHOTO COURTESTY OF TYLER d LAMPE Coach, teacher, husband, dad, and friend- these are some of the many roles Tyler Lampe plays in his family and community. Lampe, who is the offensive coordinator on the varsity football team, began this school year like any other, preparing students for the modern world through the digital information technology program at OHS. On the field, he focused on helping his players improve in hopes of enticing colleges to look their way.Then, in January, Lampe was suddenly diagnosed with T Cell Lymphoma, leaving the local community in shock.

Soon after news of the diagnosis spread, multiple events were held in his honor, including a Lake Howell softball game against Oviedo. Defensive coordinator John Rondone created a GoFundMe page to assist in covering the substantial costs of treatment.

“I know there’s 1000 people Lampe has come across that he’s positively influenced,” Rondone said. “I wanted to make sure that those people can reach out and make his life a little bit easier for himself and his wife. He’s got a two year old and his wife is pregnant.”

The GoFundMe page was originally given a goal of $25,000 and ended up receiving over $48,000. Hundreds of people donated and left messages

“

LAMPE FAMILY. OHS coach and teacher Tyler Lampe is shown here with his wife and son. expressing their support, prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery.

“I can’t put into words how just humbling and amazing it is to see the type of support, and just the thoughts and prayers… I just can’t,” Lampe said. “There’s not enough words for me to use.”

Though Oviedo just announced the hiring of a new head coach, Greg Odierno, Lampe noted he’s a long way from returning to action.

“It’s still really pretty early in the process, but long term, yeah, I would [come back],” Lampe said.

Rondone also emphasized the need for a slow, careful approach before

getting back on the field.

“I know he wants to come back,” Rondone said. “I know he’ll have to take it slow. So I think teaching will be the first thing that he can come back and do. I think this will shine a new light on his family, [and make him] realize that family has got to come first.”

Lampe has fostered many friendships throughout his coaching career, which began at Lake Howell.

“We have the same common interests, [namely] football.” Rondone said. “Once he got on campus, that’s when we really started [being friends], because we were always doing stuff together, him being

I know there are 1,000 people that Lampe’s come across that he’s positively influenced DC John Rondone

“

Renovations bring new look, enthusiasm to campus

Those who know Lampe are unified in a desire to support him in any way they can.

“Lampe was a big part of our social life outside of school and outside of football.. the football kids, they’re all concerned,” Rondonde said. “So every time I see them, they ask, because they all love him. Everybody wants to do something more- [past] players, and current players.

There’s nothing we can do right now... when he comes back, [I hope] that he is able to do what he loves again, and that’s coach football.”

Lampe is currently in the process of chemotherapy.

8 | SPORTS | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 5, 2021

Band, chorus find new mediums for displaying talent after cancellation of MPAs STORY BY J. NIELSEN, M. FRANGOUL

writer VINCENT CROOK

Logano driver to watch this NASCAR season As the NFL season comes to an end, the NASCAR season begins.

With a bunch of changes from this season to last, there are a lot of new faces who are attempting to be competitive this season.

Last season’s champion Chase Elliott looks to go back to back, and with added road courses he could easily up his win total. Last season Elliott scored five wins, but this season, he could easily score seven or higher.

Arguably the most dominant driver of the past decade, Kevin Harvick, won nine times last season, but couldn’t come home with the Championship. This season, he and crew chief Rodney Childers are on a mission to claim their second championship as a team. Fans are going to want to keep a sharp eye on his progress this season.

Denny Hamlin has had career reviving seasons in 2019 and 2020.

After going winless in 2018, he was supposedly out of his ride. In 2019, he scored six wins and made it to the final round of the playoffs, but was not able to earn his first championship. In 2020, he won seven races and again made it to the final round of the playoffs, but wasn’t able to win the Championship. In 2021, he’s hoping to finally claim a championship.

Brad Keselowski has been a quiet driver. Not many were talking about him as a favorite at the beginning of the 2020 season. But after racking up four wins and making an appearance in the final round of the playoffs, he’s entering 2021 as an early favorite for the championship.

Joey Logano enters 2021 after a three win season in 2020. Last season, he was rocked by a diagnosis of an immune system disorder.

However, it hasn’t posed any health risks to his performance. It’s been a long time since he won rookie driver of the year and he really needs get to that championship trophy if he wants to be taken seriously amongst the fans. He has everything he needs to be successful as well as a great team behind him. It will be telling to see if he can adapt to the challenges this season will bring.

Due to concerns associated with the coronavirus pandemic, the band and chorus did not attend their typical music performance assessments, or MPAs, this year. Instead, the students in those groups have had to find new ways to show off their talents to judges and the public.

The chorus usually performs a show in the spring featuring popular music and dancing, which isn’t possible this year because of the risk of virus transmission that comes with groups singing indoors.

Instead, they plan on assembling a collection of solos.

“We’ve auditioned 36 people to sing solos of 70’s music and selected 18 of them,” said chorus teacher Bill Schult. “We are recording those in the auditorium, and we are going to put them together on a DVD and probably post it on a YouTube link and that kind of thing as well. So it’s going to be like a 70’s show but with soloists.”

Chorus members believe adequate health precautions have been taken as they prepare the show.

“We don’t sing, but if we do solos everything is socially distanced,” said freshman Cameryn Harber. “Someone goes to the front of the classroom, takes their mask off, [and] sings. Everyone else sits in the back six feet apart; everyone keeps their masks on. Schult is very good about [keeping the mask] over the nose and mouth; he is just very responsible with that, and it’s a secure environment for sure.”

Schult affirmed his commitment to the safety of his students.

“I don’t want to put any of my kids in a position where they can get sick or potentially take that home to somebody else that can be potentially fatal; that would be awful,” Schult said. “We want to be in chorus because we are able to be a part of a team that produces beautiful music and works together and gets to

PHOTO BY DIEGO LARA SIMULATED MPA. The band performs for three FBA judges for evaluation. know each other.”

The students’ reactions to missing out on a traditional MPA largely depend on grade level.

“MPA is a fun activity, but since I am a sophomore, I am not really missing out on much since only the people in [the] Verizon’s [choral group] get to go to MPA,” said sophomore Kyle Broennle.

Some of the older members were saddened at the loss of some of the opportunities they would otherwise have had.

“I’m disappointed that this year there’s been no chance for MPA, or any concerts for that matter, but I understand why we couldn’t hold any,” said senior Izabella Ryan. “It’s worse since I’m a senior, so this would have been my last year to participate in anything.”

While the chorus is recording their performance pieces, the band hired three Florida Bandmasters Association judges to come and evaluate the symphonic band and wind ensemble.

“This year, rather than submit a recording of our ensembles, we are bringing the three judges to OHS to simulate what an in-person MPA experience would be like,” said assistant band director Alexander Busby. “We prepare the same way we would in a normal year.”

Symphonic band received one excellent and two superiors for an overall superior rating. The wind ensemble received straight superiors.

According to students, the close connections of band members are a cause for concern when one player contracts the virus or gets quarantined.

“It’s scary practicing when someone gets quarantined, because for the most part it feels like if one person in your section gets it, you all will, especially since most kids in band are friends outside of school and hang out together, the risks are a lot higher,” said junior Ruby Bean.

On the other hand, the band’s music this year has allowed for some flexibility.

“The pieces we’re playing this year make it easy to cover up if someone’s quarantined during the performance, so that’s relieving, but we also have the Connect kids listen in during class, and they do our recorded homework, so the Connect kids do get to participate,” Ruby said.

The group’s leaders feel grateful for any chance to demonstrate their hard work.

“As much as it hurts that the students will not be given a rating, I am just thankful that we even get a chance to play,” said head band director Zachary Chowning.

Tennis optimistic about new courts, season STORY BY EMMA TAGYE The Oviedo High School (OHS) tennis teams have begun their seasons and are planning on serving up a successful campaign. The ladies team is currently undefeated at 3-0, and the boys team has won a match and lost one.

The teams have had to adapt to the departure of multiple experienced players, according to coach William Furiosi.

“With a lot of graduations over the past couple years, we’ve been focusing on developing our younger talent while keeping our senior talent engaged and improving.” Furiosi said.

The squads’ senior leaders have been pleased with the contributions of the younger players.

“I am amazed by the hard work and dedication of our new teammates this year,” said varsity girls player Chloe Pinkston. “They have already demonstrated such great teamwork and enthusiasm. I know that they will be a vital part of the team’s success this year.”

The teams have been anxious to start playing on the newly installed courts but have experienced setbacks. Work on the new courts, which began shortly before tryouts, appeared to be done, but repairs became necessary after cracks emerged.

“The [courts] have been cracked and damaged in the years I have been here, and I’m grateful that the newcomers and the leaving seniors can have the opportunity to play on the improved [courts].” said Ethan Anderson, a member of the boys varsity team.

In addition to honing their technique, Furiosi makes sure his players have the edge when it comes to athleticism.

“We always strive to be one of the best conditioned tennis teams in the district, so we are doing a lot of cardio and active strength training during practices to build a strong fitness base.” Furiosi said.

Despite the challenges they’ve faced with the courts, The OHS tennis program remains ready and prepared for any opponent that comes their way.

“Although we haven’t been able to play on our home courts yet this season, we’ve still been working hard and doing the best we can under the circumstances, and we’re really looking forward to getting back out there when they are done,” said junior Madelyn Dowda.

DESIGN BY PATRICK COSTELLO

APRIL 5, 2021 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 9

sports editor KENNY APONTE

Path is there for football team to overcome structural challenges The football program has always been a staple in the student culture at Oviedo High School. Many great

players and coaching staffs have come and gone over the years, including an NFL playoff game-winning quarterback, but somehow the team has failed to clinch that coveted 8A state championship.

One reason may be the coaching staff turnover, at least as of late. Since the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, the football program has had four different head coaches. This includes Matt Dixon, DJ Mayo, Kolby Tackett and the recently hired Greg Odierno.

Having to frequently adjust to different coaching styles and playbooks can prove to be a challenge even for a team talented enough to be in contention for a state title.

A major potential reason for this pattern is the driving force behind most programs- money. In Seminole County, the supplement for a head coaching position is $3,804. According to their teacher contracts, neighboring counties in Florida, such as Orange County and Osceola County, have supplements for head coaches ranging from $4,112 to $5,313. This disparity eventually drives

coaches to other schools in search of better pay.

In one particular case, former head coach DJ Mayo left the program before coaching a single game because he was offered the offensive coordinator position at Camden High School in Kingsland, Georgia. In comparison to the case in Central Florida, the supplement for his new job was $10,000.

Tackett, who left in February for a job at a school in Tennessee after a 5-5 season at OHS, also indicated money played a part in his decision.

When you can only pay a head coach about a third of what he could make somewhere else as a coordinator, you’re at a serious disadvantage in hiring and keeping qualified candidates. According to some players, the team was devastated by his departure before a single snap had been taken in the season.

Unfortunately with high school football, some student transfers are unavoidable. Oftentimes, players from schools that don’t go too far into the playoffs transfer to more established

schools with winning records and state titles in search for a championship ring.

Sadly, this appears to be the case with the recent transfer of a star quarterback at Oviedo. Sophomore Luke Rucker, the starting quarterback for the 2020 season, was a dynamic talent and breathed new life into the offense. According to his Twitter account, Rucker transferred to Seminole High School, the previous year’s 8A state championship team.

This means Oviedo will face the additional challenge of selecting a new varsity starting quarterback in time for the fall.

The coaching pay is a problem, but one that other county schools face and can be surmounted. Fortunately, new coach Odierno seems in it for the long run. He should be able to build relationships with players and give the team a solid foundation built on trust and commitment. This will also help further remove the stain of the recent hazing scandal. Look for Oviedo to return to the roots of its strong football tradition in the future.

Water polo team loses key player because of pandemic STORY BY MACKENZIE HOLMES After beginning the season in February, the water polo team finds itself both suffering and benefitting from the coronavirus pandemic.

Junior Domenic Vizzari believes making it to states is a more attainable goal this year because of Covid-19. The boys’ and girls’ varsity teams currently have a combined record of 10-6.

“It’s [been] done before; it’s really easy this year because of Covid,” Vizzari said.

“It’s definitely possible, and we’re really working towards it right now.”

Junior water polo player and swimmer Eleanor Duffy agreed that the team has postseason aspirations.

“I really hope that we can win districts

and just make regions,” Duffy said.

The boys’ team lost a key player because of the virus. Gabor Pesci, a junior exchange student from Hungary, was a leader for last year’s squad. He scored 102 points, notched 36 assists and 61 steals and reached an average of 4.1 goals per game. He had to return to his home country because of the pandemic late last year.

“I learned a lot of different moves [from him],” Duffy said. “So it’s different. It’s something to adjust to, to change. He was still on the fence about coming this year, but just with Covid, he had to stay home.”

The team leaned on Pesci heavily last season, a fact that current players acknowledge.

“We kind of relied on the foreign

exchange student’s use; it was really good,” Vizzari said. “But this year, you have to move the ball around more; it’s kind of a more team effort game.”

Many members of the water polo team also swim, which helps keep them fit, especially in the face of the extended offseason that followed the premature end to their previous campaign because of Covid-19. Some treat water polo as a game for the offseason, while others see swim as the secondary workout.

“Swimming is mainly just to condition for water polo; that is what I mainly use it for,” Vizzari said. “It’s mainly just swimming laps pretty much. And it’s overall just a great experience.”

The team has developed a tight, unified culture because of the players’

shared obstacles and enthusiasm for the game.

“We’re really supportive of each other,” Duffy said. “Whenever anybody goes in the pool, we’re always cheering for them.

And if they haven’t gotten a goal yet this season, we’ll try to get them a goal so that they’ll feel more part of the team.

And really, everybody is always pouncing on the opportunity to play since there’s so many of us, and we’re just all really engaged in the practice or the game.”

Vizzari concurred on the importance of maintaining good morale.

“You can’t win without a good team,” Vizzari said. “So pretty much, it’s really good to raise the spirits, and we all pretty much get along very well.”

Esports phenomenon continues to see rise in popularity STORY BY KAIT PETERSON PHOTO COURTESY OF INNERSLOTH The dictionary definition of the word athlete is “a person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise,” but in the new age of rapid technology that many highschoolers and young adults are growing up in, the term athlete now has a whole new meaning.

A new wave of online gaming, which has taken the name “esports” in the past few years, gives athleticism a whole new angle. Esports are a type of sport competition that uses video gamesbasically competitive gaming. Esports commonly takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, usually between professional players.

The rapid growth of the esports phenomenon has found its way to the hallways and computer labs of Oviedo High School, as the competition is being played in our very own esports club.

Around the campus you can find

DESIGN BY MACKENZIE HOLMES

flyers promoting esports tournaments, in Us. which the team is advertising their Rocket Esports are making their way to League competition. phones, consoles and computers Rocket League is a vehicular soccer all around the world. Many students game that was released in 2015 on attending Oviedo High School are taking Microsoft Windows part in these online and PlayStation 4 and games as well. Juniors later on Xbox One Lauren Holmes and and Nintendo Switch Quinten Adkins are after gaining some two of the many popularity. people that have Rocket League experimented with the brings two major new games. gaming concepts “Among Us together in one: became really big over sports gaming with quarantine, and I was the soccer aspect and bored one day and was racing games in the AMONG US. A still from the like, ‘yeah I’ll try it out, popular mobile game. car player aspect. it looks interesting’,” Aside from Rocket Adkins said. “It became League, there are a number of other so addicting; it really helped pass the games that have taken over the gaming time during lockdown.” scene in the past 12 months. Some of Many students who don’t usually play these include Animal Crossing, Minecraft, video games in their free time also found Rainbow Six, Valorant, Raft and Among themselves getting more into the esports

scene.

“I usually don’t have much free time with school and art, but now that I have a bit more I got back into playing Minecraft on my phone or Among Us with my friends, or even watch[ing] other people gaming on streams,” Holmes said.

Many people do not consider online gaming a sport because of the lack of physical exertion. The mental and social benefits, however, are immense, and according to some, makeup for the lack of athleticism.

“Gaming has helped me improve my hand eye coordination a lot more than I thought it would; it also helps my problem solving and strategy skills a lot,” Holmes said. “Especially when playing Among Us, the whole game is about strategy and problem solving, so it’s always fun when I get to work on finding out who the imposter is and getting a win.”

Although many will continute to debate the nature of esports, few can deny the activity is here to stay.

10 | ENTERTAINMENT | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 5, 2021

STORY BY ELLIOTT SIRESS

DESIGN BY ELLIOTT SIRESS

Marvel’s ‘WandaVision’ signals a promising, new era

ARVEL

STUDI OS

comedy and an eerie sense of abnormality. Although the first two episodes left viewers with too many questions to count, WandaVision did make one thing clear: this show was veering straight for the uncanny valley.

Future episodes expanded upon all the dark undertones and jazzy, sitcom melodies as the black and white was traded in for the semi-soaked colors of the 70s; brightening more and more as Wanda’s mental state plummeted, evident from the sound of her voice as she introduced us to every new episode. Clouded under dense foreshadowing and a slowly unfolding narrative, every episode found a stern balance between answering the hazy world of Westview and continuing to murk the waters.

Fans ran amok with theories, most of them revolving around how rumored actors - such as Evan Peters who played the ‘Quicksilver’ for Fox’s X-Men films and James Spader who voiced Avengers: Age Of Ultron’s titular antagonist - might appear in later episodes. The crowning jewel of theories though was the involvement of Marvel’s ‘old scratch’ Mephisto, an interdimensional being from “hell” who feeds off human evilness. From various

catching up with her mom’s intelligence agency: the Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division, or ‘S.W.O.R.D.’ Butting heads with the organization’s director Tyler Hayward and teaming up with previously introduced MCU supporting characters Jimmy Wu - played by Randall Park from Ant-Man and The Wasp - and Darcy Lewis, - played by Kat Dennings from the first two Thor films - Monica attempts to unravel a shady, underlining mission within the framework of the compromised agency.

The B plot for this show balances Wanda’s story to a tee, and although it falls short near the end as newer, more mystical concepts unfold in the narrative, our breaks in reality allow us to take a breather even though the alarms appear to blare even louder outside The Hex. Monica’s reality gives the viewer a ground to stand on regarding the complex elements and confusing information of the show. We find ourselves theorizing along with Wu on his whiteboard and making new discoveries as Rambeau does. And this grounded setting allows the constantly shifting stage play of Wanda’s crackling sandbox remain fresh and abnormal.

By the finale, WandaVision - now returned to a modern era

CREDI T: M

quotes, allusions, quips and scenery details, avid theorists pulled red strings together, pointing fingers at which resident, outsider, or even animal could be the devil in disguise.

Beyond the demon hunting, fans scoured through various old comics in an attempt to piece the story together before the fourth episode even came out. But between new superheroes, the bizarre existence of Wanda’s children - future Young Avengers ‘Wiccan and Speed’ - and the inner workings of Maximoff’s mental breakdown bubble ‘The Hex’, viewers were left stumped to how the pieces were meant to be put together, and what yet unseen pieces remained to destroy the prevailing theories.

The ever-advancing story wasn’t just proficient at shutting down theories left and right, it constantly kept the show fresh; dishing out more and more for viewers to chew on as they got further developed by the staticky storm of Wanda’s twisted Westview. ‘Episode Four: We Interrupt This Program’ acted as a true break in the show, not just taking a pause on Maximoff’s cheery - and disturbing - life, but also taking us out of The Hex and into the outside world.

Picking up with Monica Rambeau, the daughter of Captain Marvel’s close friend Maria, - and played by Teyonah Parris we get a look behind the scenes of ‘the Westview Anomaly’ and how Wanda came about reviving the Vision and erecting the static wall entombing the innocent town. Monica comes to terms with her mother’s death during the five years between the Snap and the Blip - in where she had been dusted for - while

back when Thanos’ quest came to a dust-choked close.

Casting a hex on the innocent New Jerseyan town of Westview, Wanda retreats into a new reality to escape the empty solidarity of her own, sending the city and its residents back through various eras of sitcom history. Reconstructing the Vision and magically gifting herself with twin boys, Wanda dives deeper into the television static, developing her in this new, stagnant and perfect life. Between her brother’s surprise resurgence, a dark force feeding off her chaos magic, and a corrupt weapons research organization peering in from beyond town limits, Wanda feels the weight of her false life crashing down, again being forced to face the horrors both inside and out.

For Marvel’s first jump onto the Disney+ platform, they’ve made a promising and powerful entrance. Debuting on January 15, 2021, WandaVision quickly found a place in critics and fans’ hearts, instantly praised for it’s unnatural blend of classic 50s era

ASSET

Grief is an incredibly powerful weapon. And as Marvel’s first Disney+ original has shown us, grief is capable of both tearing apart reality, and turning a once tragic hero into a catastrophic villain.

WandaVision follows the Scarlet Witch herself, Wanda Maximoff - played by Elizabeth Olsen - just weeks after her return from ‘The Snap’ and the finale battle at the climax of Avengers: Endgame. Reeling from the death of her significant other Vision, and plagued with the haunting memories of her grim past, - including the the loss of her speedster brother Pietro - Wanda finds herself broken and alone in a world reunited with those lost

direction and cinematography wrapped up the series in a magical, bittersweet and sinister bow, bringing closure to this chapter for Wanda’s life. Now as ‘The Scarlet Witch’, the stage is set for the ‘Harbinger of Chaos’ to completely rewrite the very fabric of the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward into Phase 4. Set to return in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, there’s still a whole lot more left in store for Wanda, even beyond the Sorcerer Supreme’s sequel.

As for now, WandaVision not only blew it out of the water with its storyline, aesthetic and performance, it also proved that Marvel will have a very dominant presence on Disney+ come the 2020s, especially with The Falcon And The Winter Soldier and Loki right around the corner. It’s a tale to not just pull, but rip at the heartstrings, and to finally see the true Wanda unfold before us has been thrilling to watch, calling back to the days when we first saw Tony Stark dawn the suit 13 years ago.

Taylor Swift returns to re-release ‘Fearless’ along with early discography ASSET CREDIT: TAYLOR SWIFT PICTURED: TAYLOR SWIFT

DESIGN BY ELLIOTT SIRESS

STORY BY EMMA YOST

Just a few days before Valentine’s Day, Taylor Swift announced that the re-recorded version of her 2008 hit single Love Story would be dropped at midnight, and the Fearless album on April 9. The new version of her sophomore album, titled Fearless (Taylor’s Version) will include six unreleased songs from “the vault” along with the twenty re-recorded songs on the original album.

Swift’s rights to the copyrights of her recordings, otherwise known as ‘masters’ were sold by Big Machine Records’ Scooter Braun and Scott Borshetta for over $300 million back in July of 2019 after she signed a new contract with Universal Music Group. Although Swift does not legally own the recordings of her first six albums, her contract allows her to re-record her previous albums, which will all legally belong to her. “...Scooter has stripped me of my life’s work, that I wasn’t given an opportunity to buy. Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it.” Swift wrote in a Tumblr post regarding her struggles with Braun’s purchasing of her work.

Love Story (Taylor’s Version) is almost an exact copy of the

2008 version. However, to many fans, the change in the singer’s voice stands out between the two versions. Swift was just 18 when she wrote and recorded the hit song, and the vocals in “Taylor’s Version” are stronger and more mature. In past songs, Swift often had backup singers, some male; but in this new version Taylor sings all the harmonies herself.

The new album cover for “Taylor’s Version” is similar to the 2008 Fearless, but Swift’s head is turned in the opposite direction and appears to be wearing Romeo’s shirt from the 2008 ‘Love Story’ music video, symbolizing her growth and freedom.

“This process has been more fulfilling and emotional than I could’ve imagined and has made me even more determined to re-record all of my music,” Swift shared in a recent Instagram post announcing the re-releases of her pre-2019 records. “I hope you’ll like this outing as much as I liked traveling back in time to recreate it.”

Personally, I am excited to see what Swift has in store for the re-recorded albums. I look forward to hearing the six unreleased songs and hearing the “new Taylor” singing my childhood-favorite songs that are now legally owned by Swift.

APRIL 5, 2021 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | 11

EA’s ‘NCAA’ set to make it’s big return soon

STORY BY KENNETH APONTE

ASSET CREDIT: EA SPORTS

After about 7 long awaited years, college football fans can finally celebrate a small victory. Electronic Arts has alluded to the return of the highly coveted and popular game NCAA Football. The last installment of the game was released in 2014, leaving fans yearning for a virtual experience of the game they love.

Many of the games enthusiasts are very much looking forward to the return of the title due to the consistent demand from its fan base. To senior Kasen Schuetz, the announcement for the new addition brings more than just ordinary excitement.

“This is honestly life changing for me. I love NCAA football so much” Schuetz said, “I miss everything, it was always the best sports video game”.

Many are like Schuetz in terms of being a fan of the game, as well as actual college football. The 17th addition to the NCAA Football series will hopefully allow the college football followers to play as their respective teams as well as various styles of play such as the “Dynasty Mode”, online gameplay, and the fan favorite “Road to Glory” as seen in the

installment released back in 2013.

Oviedo High School Student Brendan Kilroy is anticipating the return of his favorite game modes that he remembers from his experence playing the game 6 years ago.

“I played the last game, NCAA 14 the most. I miss the Road to Glory mode, being able to go from local high school to your dream college was the best part” Kilroy recalled, “ I am looking forward to playing Road to Glory again, and playing against friends online for sure”.

One thing preventing the games release is the fact that, excluding the state of California, NCAA athletes cannot make profit off of their name and likeness. The typical way that professional sports players get paid for sports games is that the developer and publisher will communicate with the player union of the specific league and determine the amount each player will receive. This would not be possible with the new EA College Football game as the NCAA believes that students should not be able to form unions as they are still students and not actual employees on a payroll.

In short, the fan base can look forward to a game that they so longingly miss and have great memories with. Although with the licensing and NCAA law issues, EA has assured the waiting college football enthusiasts with the game they have been waiting for as long as there is reform and change in the near future.

The frightening charm of Little Nightmares II

STORY BY ELLIOTT SIRESS

ASSET CREDIT: TARSIER STUDIOS After the gut-wrenching success of 2017’s Little Nightmares, - a puzzle-platform horror and adventure game which follows a small girl named Six as she traverses the bowels of an enormous vessel known only as ‘The Maw’ - Tarsier Studios returns to their aptly nightmarish world for the prequel.

Now following a boy named Mono, armed with nothing but the clothes on his back and a paper bag over his head - players are left to explore the literally twisted ‘Pale City’, teaming up with pre-raincoat cladded Six as they attempt to run and hide from a variety of malicious and deformed foes. After dodging several bullets with a bloodthirsty Hunter, breakneck encounters with an omnipresent Teacher, and being chased down by an obese Doctor and his frankenstein Patients, Mono and Six find themselves face to face with the daunting ‘Thin Man’, capable of transmitting himself through the various television sets littering the rain-soaked city.

Little Nightmares II is everything horrifically beautiful from the first installment, and even more. Dialing up the dark atmosphere - showcasing Tarsier Studios’ mastery over visual storytelling - and polishing up the gameplay, Little Nightmares II perfects what made the first game so compelling to so many

types of players.

“I really, highly enjoyed that. That was phenomenal.” YouTuber ‘Jacksepticeye’ exclaimed after finishing his five part playthrough. “I just love the mystery to it all.”

But along with all of the refined controls and the enhanced production, the game’s most predominant element - the horror absolutely out-shines it’s predecessor. From character design, to the pacing between puzzle sections and chase sequences, the scare factor of this installment has been amped up without the cheapness of jumpscares. The world itself is eerie and cold, little details and knickknacks holding some of the most horrifying implications over the grotesque monsters or grim environments.

Little Nightmares II, and it’s precursor, are titles definitely worth the time to both play and explore; a morbidly gorgeous - and quite appropriately deemed - nightmare you might not want to wake up from.

The Battle of the Century: Godzilla vs. Kong STORY BY JADEN MADURO-VANTERPOOL, ELLIOTT SIRESS DESIGN BY ELLIOTT SIRESS

ASSET CREDIT: LEGENDARY PICTURES, WARNER BROS.

Godzilla vs. Kong matches the two titular titans together for the fight of a century, not only fulfilling the ancient lore of these Kaijus within the realm of the newly emerging ‘MonsterVerse’, but also giving audiences a modern adaptation of these larger-than-life beasts, a ‘clash of gods’ first dreamt up of and attempted back in 1962.

Acting as the fourth installment in Legendary Pictures’ “Monster Cinematic Universe”, Godzilla vs. Kong builds off from 2017’s Kong: Skull Island and 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, bringing these two kings together for a battle to rock the world. Many fans - regardless of past films’ shortcomings - waited with anticipation for the new entry, the excitement rising and rising even when the COVID-19 Pandemic pushed the movie back from a November 2020 release to March of 2021.

The trailer was ripped to shreds by theorists and avid fans, picking apart details such as the schematics of a more metallic Godzilla and Kong’s new, electrifying weapon, Speculation online usually revolved around the idea of how ‘Mechagodzilla’ - another Kaiju which is exactly what it sounds like - would emerge from the dust and rubble, possibly even as an imposter under fake reptilian skin that would be the culprit behind all the chaos explained in early plot synopses and trailers.

One element which remained through all the predictions though was the inevitability of a team up, fans recognizing that there would be no ‘last monster standing’ or ‘one true king.’ However, it wasn’t the idea of an alpha amongst the Kaijus which fueled the fires of hype, but instead simply the idea that these beloved characters, an atomic lizard and a colossal monkey, would finally be realized on theatre and living room screens.

The original 60s King

Kong vs. Godzilla saw these Kaijus clash for the first time in cinematic history, the fight orchestrated by a frustrated businessman looking for an eye-catching spectacle to help boost his television ratings. Definitely a narrative masterpiece. Six decades and the trade in of a distressed tycoon for two mononymous organizations - one shady, the other maybe shady - later, and all 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong can truly offer is a weighty brawl between the two star components. Through numerous duels, the audience is graciously gifted with various punches, axe swings and blue atomic laser beams, leaving nothing but a deep concern for the economic situation of these poor, demolished cities in their wake.

But let’s all face it, we’re getting the popcorn ready to see these two dramatically large animals fight, and maybe the hollow earth and ancient mythological lore, but definitely not the eco-political messages. Now don’t take that the wrong way, these messages about protecting animals, preserving nature and being wary of human’s impact on the world are highly important. But it’s hard to take the message seriously or see it’s importance when a movie about two giant monsters fighting decides to focus most of it’s resources into said two giant monsters fighting.

The story feels reverse-engineered around the fights, the characters are cookie-cutter and their stories taste bland at best.

Godzilla vs. Kong truly is the battle of the century, it’s one that’s been in the making since the early days of stuntmen in rubber costumes. But that’s all it is, legendary fight scenes with plain characters, basic themes, and the classic good guys versus evil tech industry fluff stuffed between them. It’s an epic for sure, but only in the sense of how awesome it is to watch a huge ape punch a nuclear alligator.

DESIGN BY ELLIOTT SIRESS

12 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 5, 2021

Students invest in stock, take part in GameStop surge STORY BY EMMA YOST INFO COURTESY OF BUSINESSINSIDER.COM In late January, video game retailer GameStop’s stock (ticker symbol: GME) was selling for around just $18 a share, and the company had been experiencing decline for quite some time. Due to the rise of online gaming and the Covid-19 pandemic, the market for purchasing physical games in stores had shrunk, leaving GameStop out to dry.

However, “r/WallStreetBets,” a group of investors on the social media platform Reddit, were about to turn the business’s fortunes around. By teaming up to purchase large amounts of the stock, they caused the value of each share to increase rapidly. Eventually, so many users bought GameStop stock that the value increased from a mere $18 to $347 a share at its highest point, a near twentyfold rise.

The mass purchasing of the stock

by Redditors caused a domino effect on Wall Street. Because of the company’s struggles, many high-stakes investors

had, prior to these events, essentially bet large sums of money that GameStop shares would continue to fall. In a short sell, a trader borrows a stock and sells it, hoping it will decrease in value so he can buy it back at a lower price and return it to the lender, thus turning a profit. The sudden increase in Gamestop stock fueled by r/WallStreetBets, known as a short squeeze, caused many professional investors and hedge funds to lose a combined $12.79 billion, as they were forced to close their positions. Meanwhile, some of the biggest winners on Reddit made millions off of their gambit.

The events with GameStop led many to realize that they too could invest money in the stock market. Other companies that have been financially suffering, such as AMC and Blackberry, also saw increases in their stock prices as Redditors attempted to replicate their success.

These efforts served a dual purpose: making the members of the forum a return while hurting the prominent,

Share:

Wall Street Slang

Individual unit of stock

Buy/sell:

Purchasing or selling a fraction of a corporation

institutional investors who they perceive to profit at society’s expense.

However, as more and more GME shares were bought, Robinhood, a commission-free stock trading app that many of the small-scale traders were using, blocked users from being able to purchase the stock, causing widespread anger. Although Robinhood later claimed the move was the result of a shortage in funds necessary to execute orders, customers filed multiple class-action lawsuits against the company.

Here at Oviedo High School, students have been quick to jump on the investing bandwagon. The GameStop incident has inspired students to begin investing their own money into the stock market.

Junior Colin Duncan invested in GameStop with his dad just a day after the campaign to drive up the stock began.

Since then, he’s made over $100 selling it. He feels that the GameStop situation was just the beginning of a fundamental change taking shape on Wall Street.

Shorting:

Investor borrows stock, sells it and buys it back before returning it

Broker:

Someone who buys and sells stock for client

“I think it was the first shakeup that happened,” Duncan said. “I think it was the first time the public realized they could invest and potentially make millions.

It proves how different the rich are compared to the poor, especially hedge funds.”

Similarly, junior Varsha Suresh has been investing for the past few months, making around $200 to $300. Despite her profits, she feels that the process can be risky.

“I’d say, choose where to invest very carefully,” Suresh said. “Just because you make a little money doesn’t mean the wisest thing is to sell immediately. By holding, you’re looking at a chance for greater profit.”

She believes careful research can help minimize the risk in trading.

“Research is definitely important when it comes to learning which companies are the best to invest in, as well as when to sell and hold,” Suresh said. “I’m still learning myself but so far, so good.”

Hedge fund:

Investment group where money is pooled to buy and sell stocks

Bid:

The highest price a buyer will pay

Theater students present Mamma Mia! as final show of year STORY BY J. NIELSEN, M. FRANGOUL For their final production of the year, the Oviedo High School (OHS) theater program is putting on a show of the 1999 musical Mamma Mia! Despite facing struggles along the way, they are developing a performance to remember.

“Mostly in the beginning we rehearsed outside, and that was really hard because sometimes it was a lot hotter, and it was hard to get anything done because we were all sweaty, and we were very lethargic,” said senior Shannon Ricks.

“And if it was raining, we couldn’t really do much because we were outside.”

Not only was the heat affecting students physically, it was also damaging to their rehearsal equipment.

“Also, there [were] sound issues, so Mr. Lewis came in and had to bring in a speaker that failed half the time because of the heat,” said senior Adam Schievelbein. “It broke down, and a lot of times, we had to go off a little phone speaker or something and just try to do it, and it wasn’t working. Thankfully we were able to move into the auditorium, and it’s going a lot smoother now.”

The theater program has had to adjust

to missing members at times because of the pandemic.

“It’s been kind of tough, because obviously we don’t have everybody, and there’s some days where we would like to have a lot done, but we can’t, so we have to focus on mainly the ensemble,” Schievelbein said.

They’ve tried to account for this concern by double casting each role in their upcoming performance.

“If one of the leads is out but we have the other one, they would take their place during rehearsal, and if it happens for the show, then that person will take over,” said senior Ariana Latorre.

Instead of practicing during their class, they rehearse after school so they can have as many actors as possible present.

When students know they are going to be missing rehearsals, they inform each other.

“One way or another, we all have somebody’s phone number, so if one of us is going to be absent, somebody will text and let Mr. Carter know,” Ricks said.

“If the person comes back, we just kind of tell them all what happened, and it’s not too hard to catch up.”

The students are working on acquiring

their costumes. Each performer is responsible for deciding what type of clothing is most appropriate for his or her character.

Mama Mia! is expected to hit the stage from the sixth of May through the eighth.

“Although this is my first show, I’m excited to be a part of everything and put on a good show,” Schievelbein said.

“COVID is making everything different, but I’m happy to be out there performing.

I can’t wait for everyone to see it!”

While the seniors share a feeling of excitement about the performance, they recognize it will be a bittersweet experience.

“I am sad about not being able to perform in high school theater again,” Ricks said. “I’ll miss the family aspect and the traditions that we have. I can’t wait to have an amazing show to end on!”

DESIGN BY EMMA YOST