September 25, 2015 by The Oracle

TSTRATFORD HE

RACLE O

Friday, September 25, 2015

Volume 43, Issue 2

The Evolution of

How the tradition has

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shsoracle.com

Booing Freshmen at Pep Rallies pg. 2

Playhouse Presents Leading Ladies pg.6

Best Pizzas of Stratford pg.11

pgs. 8-9

H O M E C O M I N G

changed over the years

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[09/25/15]

opinions

Crossfire: To Boo or Not to Boo Staffers face off to answer question of whether or not to boo

STRATFORD ORACLE STAFF 2015-2016

freshmen at pep rallies

Hesitant Heckling

Being Able to Boo

OPINION OF KATIE NEWSOM “Hey, Freshmen! Let me hear you get loud!” For years, a tradition of the highest regard has been upheld in the hallowed halls of our school: booing freshmen at pep rallies. This tradition has been long-standing and untouched for many years, christening freshmen as the newest members of the Spartan family with a little bit of tough love. Every current Spartan and alumni have played a part in upholding this tradition, and can all recall their own days of being booed at pep rallies. Booing is also an experience that sets up 9th grade students to be excitedaboutthecomingyears of high school, as they can then boo the new freshmen themselves. I know from experience that being excited about coming to high school can be tough, but the excitement of being able to participate in the booing is one thatstudentslookforward to their entire freshman year. Although this tradi-

OPINION OF ELIZABETH COLE

tion has been upheld for quite some time, many freshmen today feel as though the sophomores and upperclassmen are being mean. However, it is important for the freshmen to remember that we too were once booed, so we know that the freshmen can go through it as well. The 9th graders should know that the upperclassmen do not mean the booing in a derogatory way, nor is it personal - we are simply taking advantage of the fact that we are now older and able to look back on freshman year. So freshmen, get excited to boo new students next year, and everyone else, keep it up.

We’ve all been there, freshmen at the very first pep rally of the year, and have experienced the displeasure of being booed. It may have come expected to some, but a complete shock to others; regardless, the traditional booing of the freshmen should stop. Pep rallies should be a school-bonding event, not an opportunity to exclude the new freshmen by booing them. We know how awful it feels, so why do we continue to do it? Sure, freshmen can be annoying at times, but they are a part of the Stratford family as much as any other grade. It is our duty as sophomores and upperclassmen to make the freshmen feel welcome as they are transi-

[The Oracle]

tion into high school. Those in favor of booing say that since we were booed as freshmen, it is okay for us to boo the new freshmen in return. However, this tradition is to solely to make up for the resentment we felt when we were in their shoes. We should break the tradition because it only sets bad examples to the freshmen of how we should treat each other here. In the long run, treating freshmen with respect will create better relationships throughout the grades. Freshmen are fellow students, so we should not make them feel unwelcome by booing them at pep rallies. Instead of booing, follow the golden rule and treat the freshmen with the same respect you would have wanted! We only have a few chances to be good examples to the freshmen, so we might as well make the most of every opportunity we get.

Let us know what you think by emailing us at thestratfordoracle@gmail. com or by tweeting us at @StratfordOracle on Twitter.

Editors-in-Chief *Scott Kennedy Cameron Henkel * Associate Editor *Olivia Siciliano Photo Editors *Taylor Brittain *Riley Timmreck *Jordyn Richards Opinions Editors Tina Kang Emma Holland News Editors Taylor Morris Ellie Herrmann Culture Editors Nazlee Khadjeheian Maddie McKenzie Sports Editors Jacqui Comparin Haley Grace Francis Sebastian Draz Reporters

Alex Parizot Daniela Trujillo Gillian Meredith Lindell Lewis John McGowan Elizabeth Cole Ellie Pena Photographers Robin Graves Arturo Benitez Perry Shepard Erin Walsh Lauren Perry Jaina Kiley Ethan Godinez Dayra Gamez Natalie Gaiser Caitlyn Boatwright Caroline Bucek Andrew Park Jackson Fass Madeline Rustam Belle Benton Grayson Wilson Sydney Bucek

The Oracle newspaper is the official, school-sponsored student media of Stratford High School, 14555 Fern, Houston, Texas 77079, 713-251-3454. The Oracle is published monthly by the Journalism Department, and is also available online at shsoracle.com. The newspaper is a member of Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and Interscholastic League Press Conference. The Oracle serves as a public forum of student expression and is open to contributions submitted by the readers. Readers may submit material via e-mail to info@shsoracle.com. All letters to the editor must be typed and contain the author’s full name, grade,

Ads Editors Nathaly Cortez Matthew Martinez Ads Staff Cooper Lane David Quinlan Alice Morse Tea Sharp Saldana Kallie Henckel Gabi Brasher Design Editor Lauren Byram Staff Artist Rachel Torres Copy Editors Noelle Flores Katie Newsom Building Principal Danny Gex Advisor Janice Cummons *Editorial Board Members

and signature. Submitted material is subject to editing based on space and/or content. The opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, the staff, the administration, or the school district. The staff is responsible for the content of the publication and strives to maintain professional standards of accuracy, objectivity, and fairness. The editors reserve the right to determine whether submissions will be published. The Oracle staff strives to produce a newspaper that covers the entire Stratford community and welcomes freelance submissions.

Go to Homecoming

Good times hold priority over getting a date

OPINION OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD As homecoming approaches each year, students always set out to find their dates to the dance. It may seem like having a date to homecoming is a necessity, but in reality, it’s surprisingly not. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” In the same way, if you happen to not have a date to homecoming this year, there’s no reason why you still can’t have a great time. Don’t be afraid to attend the game or dance without a date by your side. Homecoming should be a fun event for everyone, even past alumni, to enjoy. This norm of having a date shouldn’t limit you from branching out and enjoying the special moments of your high school years. One shouldn’t limit themselves just by

surrendering to the fact that some people aren’t available as dates. There is a multitude of different options one could choose. For instance, if you know of anyone (be them friends, boys or girls) that is planning on going to homecoming but does not have date, arrange something that could benefit the both of you. Of course, it is always best to go to homecoming with someone that you have some degree of familiarity with. Either way, progress is not made by sitting at home and hoping that someone calls you; more often than not, you will look back on this opportunity and have some level of regret if you choose not to take part in such a cohesive event. It was Lucille Ball who once said, “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.

Everything up until now has been directed towards those who feel discouraged by the absence of a date. While there are many whose limitations may keep them from going, there are also those who simply desire to stay in and study for an upcoming test or get caught up with their massive amounts of homework. There is nothing wrong with this, since a good education is one the most lasting and beneficial attributes one can have. Just know, high school is a singular experience, accompanied by many opportunities to make memories and develop yourself as a person. If you’re just the kind of person who doesn’t typically enjoy company, that’s also perfectly fine. But consider this: homecoming, like high school, is singular, and many people work hard to make sure all the ac-

commodations are incredible and everyone is catered to. There is a defining principle in Economics that is paired well with this point: whenever someone makes a decision, it is always best to measure the costs as well as the benefits. What is the next best alternative to staying in and studying? The answer is going to homecoming and having a remarkable experience, be it fun or less-than-stellar. If you want to go to homecoming, go. If you want to go with your friends, make arrangements that can benefit the both of you. If you prefer staying in, then make it so because, after all, the choice is yours. Yet with every choice comes a cost, and don’t make a choice that you know will result in regret. Make memories, and be content with the results.

[The Oracle]

opinions

Hi, my name is Scott Kennedy, There you go, it’s all yours. You probably won’t need it, but I felt it was important that I make it available. You’re probably asking yourself a few questions, like why anyone would ever use my home phone, why I feel it’s important to “make it available,” and what the heck a home phone even is. Allow me to explain. Although there are few inventions more practical or helpful than the cell phone, I’m trying not to rely on mine so much. Don’t get me wrong—I love my iPhone, and in the world we live in I’ll have to use it a lot—it has simply become a necessity of the 21st century, and I’m thankful for the practicality and productivity it provides in situations where I need it. But my phone also sucks—my time, my attention, and in the traditional sense. We all know phones can be incredibly effective time wasters, so I won’t say much on that. But I think our attention is where it gets us the worst, and that’s much more subtle. How often do you lock your

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and my home phone number is 713-410-4302 phone only to open it back up mere seconds later, just to make sure there isn’t something you missed or that something new and urgent hasn’t appeared since? I do that a lot. Sometimes I even catch myself unlocking my phone with no intention of using it for anything other than unlocking it. That’s just weird. And when I’m not looking at my phone, a lot of times I’m still thinking about it, wondering if I’m missing something, if something’s about to happen, and if I should just go ahead and check it to satisfy my curiosity. But the problem is, unless I actually do something to stop it, I’ll always be curious, and therefore constantly feel the need to check my phone. But I’ve realized something: the best moments, the funniest ultimate frisbee games, the most relaxing days on the lake, and the

most meaningful conversations I’ve had all have something in common: I’m there completely. I’m not worried about what I might be missing, because I’m fully engaged in what I’m doing, and that makes it so much more worthwhile. Tapping 2-5-1-7 on a little screen so it can show me everything going on in the world does the opposite—it draws me away from what I’m doing and diminishes my experiences. So I’ve decided to actually do something. Or to at least try. I’m not throwing my phone away or anything, because I have responsibilities that require I use it, and, more importantly, friends who I enjoy being able to talk to even when I’m not with them. I’m just trying not to feel like I constantly need my phone so much. That might mean tossing it in my backpack at lunch or leaving it in my car when hanging out with friends and just talking, face-to-face, to the people I’m with. Or turning it on silent and resisting the temptation to check it every few minutes. Or leaving it plugged in and away at home while I relax or get some-

thing done. I think it will help me to not rely on it so much, and to ultimately get the most out of moments. But, on the downside, it might mean that I don’t reply to your text right away. I promise I’m not trying to ignore you; I would still love to hear from you and will still get back to you, it just may not be immediate, which is what we sometimes tend to expect. But that’s why I gave you my home number. If something is urgent and I haven’t replied, or if you just want to hear from me sooner, (or if you just want to make sure I didn’t leave a fake number) call it. If I’m there, I’ll be happy to talk, and if not, you’ll get to hear an answering machine recording of my sister and me from when I was 8. So if we’re friends, go ahead and put my home number in your phone. And if we don’t know each other, we should meet,

so you don’t have some stranger’s home phone number. Because that’s also weird. I’m told that at the end of these kind of columns I’m supposed to include some kind of “call to action” where I urge you to join me in my oh-sonoble quest to defeat the evil cell phones that are just dying to ruin our lives. But I won’t do that. I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with phones, I’m just trying to get more out of life, and think this might help. And whether you agree or disagree, care or don’t care, try something similar or not isn’t up to me— It’s your call.

Stay at Home or Sick at Home?

Weighing the benefits of missing school versus getting healthy WRITTEN BY EMMA HOLLAND

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL TORRES The alarm goes off early Monday morning, and your head is pounding, your throat is throbbing, and your nose is completely stopped up. You force yourself out of bed. After considering staying home, the consequences are too high, so you take two Advil for the small fever and pain and head off to school. I have a feeling that everyone can relate to this story. I know I can. A surprising amount of homework, quizzes, tests, projects, and instruction is missed with just one day off. And upon the return, students not only have to mentally focus while recovering, but they have to make up all of the homework, quizzes, tests, and notes they missed during their absence. On top of that, the spring exam exemptions are at stake. The rules are very strict and complicated, and they can be found on the Stratford web page. In summary, hardly any classes can be missed, and very few absences count as excused. Because of these reasons, I believe that the attendance pressures are too high for students to lay in bed and watch movies all day, which isn’t a bad thing - unless the situation is severe. It’s important to discuss illnesses and its effect on attendance because with cold and flu season quickly approaching, it’s likely that we’ll all be dealing with the issue very soon. When someone comes to school sick, they normally feel extremely tired. It’s the body’s way of saying that it needs sleep. Rest is essential for healing an illness. Also, depending on the sickness, it could be contagious. Think of how hard “cold season” hits Stratford. A cold is not

an illness that many people take days off for, regardless of the severity. Because of that, the growth of cold-infected students at Stratford grows exponentially. Imagine if students could take just one day off when they have a cold. The infection rate would drop tremendously, students would have more energy the next day, and they would most likely feel a lot better because they allowed their body some healing time. When students come to school with an illness, they should not have to power through. There should be a way for students to recover at home without all the pressures of missing schoolwork and valuable attendance days. The fact is, when coming to school sick, it may not only be the student’s health on the line, but the health of everyone around them as well. On the flip-side, the consequences of taking a day off are effective as an effort to enforce perseverance and hard work. It prevents students from skipping school when they have

a headache or “runny nose.” It gives unmotivated students a reason to come to school when they feel tired. It offers a reward for students who make school their number one priority. However, for driven and motivated students, it can be a punishment for having to endure a week of suffering. Students shouldn’t be “punished” for feeling extremely under the weather. They don’t pick to be sick. So instead of a relaxed policy for sick students, it’s just a pile of work and if in the spring, no exam exemptions. Honestly, it’s just not fair. You have two choices: either you come to school sick, do terribly on your schoolwork that day and possibly make other people sick, or stay home and rest, but come back with all of the consequences of missing school. There’s no magic answer to decide whether or not one is sick enough to attend school. It’s mainly wise judgment and discernment that most have to do last minute. In the end, I would say that there are a lot of pressures that surround missing school. Even if the exemption policy was altered, the amount of school-work missed would be enough to give students anxiety. Just remember, missing a little bit of school is not the end of the world. Health is more important than school. Give it your best effort to make it to school if you can, but you can only do so much.

[09/25/15]

opinions

BUY LUNCH VS. BRING LUNCH WRITTEN BY ISABELLA HUTCHINS AND MADDIE RUSTAM There are many reasons why buying your lunch is easier and more efficient than bringing your backpack and a heavy load. You don’t have to take the time to pack your lunch the night before or worry about getting it done in the morning. School lunches provide a wide variety of food for you to choose from. All foods are freshly made everyday by our hardworking lunch ladies. The food that you buy in the cafeteria contain a substantial amount of nutrition and have good flavor. Most people think that waiting in the long lunch lines isn’t worth it, but the lines move quicker than you think. Bringing your lunch can be nice, but buying your lunch has its advantages too.

LATE START VS. EARLY DISMISSAL

WRITTEN BY CAMERON HENKEL

WRITTEN BY EMMA HOLLAND

Finally crawling up to the lunch lady to grab the last mushed up apple and maybe a slice of “sort of” pizza is the most depressing thing that could possibly happen to anyone. Ever. Luckily for everyone, there is an awesome and easy way to avoid this fate. Bring your own lunch. There are all sorts of conveniences that come with packing your lunches. You know exactly what food you’re getting, everything is picked out by you, and you can carry the greatest accessory ever designed for elementary school kids: the lunch box. Also, it can be a lot more economical to bring a lunch. Using the food you have at home can save money. Simply put, packed lunches are the superior way to eat. They offer healthier ingredients and a well rounded diet.

No one wants to wake up at 7 A.M. feeling drowsy. Waking up after the buses leave with the neighborhood kids, is the single greatest feeling in the world. The birds are chirping, the sun is peeking behind the clouds. It’s a beautiful scene. When late start rolls around every six weeks. The whole student body gets to experience the natural process of waking up when we’re ready, NOT when the bells summon. Late start also benefits anyone who wakes up early anyway. Grabbing a chocolate croissant and sipping a hot cup of coffee is actually possible to enjoy without risking arriving to campus late. It is nice to enjoy the morning sunshine when everyone else is glancing at the watch.

Imagine all of the homework you could do. Imagine catching up on your missed episodes of your favorite TV show. Imagine going to bed early instead of late. For these reasons, early dismissal is better than late start. Early dismissal gives students a way to fit in the business of school along with the fun of a social life. You can go see a movie, go to lunch, or just catch up. Also, more time is gained with early dismissal. Most students wake up right before school starts on late start, but then they are sleeping through valuable time. Withearlydismissal,studentshave moretimetofocusontheirschool work. They can spend more time at home studying, rather than rushingfromonethingtoanother.

[The Oracle]

What’s On Your Mind?

I prefer to buy my lunch because I don’t know how to make anything. -Conor Donihoo (9)

Late start is better because you get to sleep in. -Luke Scaff (10)

COMFY CLOTHES VS. NICE CLOTHES

HOMEWORK VS. NO HOMEWORK

WRITTEN BY LINDELL LEWIS

WRITTEN BY GIGI MEREDITH

WRITTEN BY SEBASTIAN

WRITTEN BY EMMA HOLLAND

Most people I know would love to just roll out of bed, grab their backpack, and go to school. Why shouldn’t they? Who wants to worry about planning an outfit out and coordinating jewelry and shoes for each day of the week?. We come to school to learn, not to put on a fashion show, so just relax every once in a while. Comfy clothes can help you focus in class because you don’t have to worry about adjusting your shirt or pulling up your jeans. It’s nice not worrying what people have to think about your appearance. Don’t get me wrong, dressing cute can feel great every once in a while and boost your self esteem, but there’s nothing wrong with rocking your sweats, high bun, and your favorite t-shirt.

As everyone goes into the new school year, there are lots of first impressions. Although it is much easier to throw on your sweats and roll into school, putting on a pair of jeans and a nice shirt forces you to spend a few extra minutes getting ready in the morning, which ultimately helps you wake up and be more alert for class. You’re more likely to feel better when you look better. When you look lazy, you might feel lazy at school. There is a saying that goes, “It’s better to be overdressed than under dressed in any situation.” It’s sometimes a good thing to dress up for a couple days out of the week. It might make you feel better, look better, and try harder. When you feel good about yourself, others will too.

Homework is very beneficial in many ways. Students complain all the time about how stressful homework is, or how hard it is. Most students don’t like the fact of studying all day, and I get that, but they’re wrong. Math is a great example of why homework is needed. In any math class you learn formulas, different ways of solving problems etc. Due to Stratford’s blocked schedule, Spartans only have math class every other day, if a student doesn’t put those skills to work, then they will forget it. Homework is an essential part of school. We would walk out of class remembering very little. Doing homework makes school life much easier for both us, students and teachers.

Piles of homework aren’t necessary. After being at school for at least seven hours a day, the last thing students need is to come home with hours of extra work on top of their studies. I’m not sure about you, but I have lots of extra-curricular activities. Being well-rounded is an important trait for success, and many students are involved in these activities. It is difficult to succeed in hobbies and talents with all of the homework required by teachers. Many say that homework reenforces what is learned that day, and it gives students extra practice. While this is all true, this “practice” should be little to none, done at school, or even optional. The only thing most homework is re-enforcing is stress and exhaustion, which is not the end goal.

I like to dress low-key comfy and low-key nice. -Carsen Durham

(12)

Homework should be optional. If you want to do it, then you should. -Emma Barden (11)

[The Oracle]

news

News In Brief

Football Player to Tap Dancer?

Friday, October 2

Saturday, October 3

PHOTO BY ROBIN GRAVES

Homecoming Dance 8:00

Pep Rally Dates

Tuesday, September 29

Senior portrait retakes, Library, 8 a.m.-2:15 p.m.

Wednesday, September 30 Band Extravaganza, 7 p.m. at Tully

Friday, October 2

Final day for GT testing

Saturday, October 17

Why did you audition for Anything Goes? There was an overwhelming number of friends and neighbors who were telling me how fun it is to be in the shows. I wanted to try something new and just see if I liked it or not.

PHOTO BY TAYLOR BRITTAN

(Top) Drum major James Lewis (12), asked girlfriend Madison Shyer (12) to homecoming at the game Friday night against Ridgepoint during the Spartan Scramble.

Spartanaire Junior Clinic 9 a.m.-12 p.m. in the competition gym

Monday, October 28

Underclassmen and faculty picture retakes in the Library during lunch

Were you surprised you made the show? Actually when I saw the cast list, I read through it and somehow I didn’t see my name. I was really sad, but 30 minutes later Grayson LaGrange called me and was like, “Hey congratulations!” . I was like, “What? I’m not even in the show,” and he said, “No, PHOTO BY EMMA JACKSON yeah you’re in!” I had no idea if I was gonna make it or not, so I was really happy when I found out.

(Above) Senior, Chris Nunn surprised his girlfriend, Gianna Smith by serenading her with a rendition of her favorite song (Marvin How are rehearsals going? Gaye), and changing the lyrics to ask her to homecoming. The schedule over the summer was exhausting. With

Tenth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina New Orleans Evacuees in SBISD WRITTEN BY ELLIE HERRMANN

Ten years ago, on Aug. 29, 2005, one of the top three deadliest hurricanes in United States history hit New Orleans, Louisiana. Hurricane Katrina, forming on Aug. 23 and dissipating on Aug. 31, caused widespread destruction across states bordering the Gulf of Mexico and those located further inland-Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. In the wake of category five Hurricane Katrina came a death toll so great that the last hurricane to boast such fatalities occurred decades before, in 1928. Of the estimated 1,836 lost lives during Katrina, 1,577 of these took place in Louisiana alone. On Sunday, Aug. 28, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city for the storm that was to hit the next day. A flux of people rushed to neighboring cities and states, all hurrying to avoid the imminent danger that surely awaited them back home. Statistics show that 1,040,000 fled the city, leaving 20% of its population behind to brave the storm in government-established refugee shelters. Hurricane Katrina dumped an average of 8-10 inches of rain in New Orleans. The cities levees, built to prevent the overflow of rivers tangled within the city limits, failed under this onslaught, completely flooding 80% of the entire city. Those who had left their homes in search of shelter were left with the question of whether or not their house was still there. Many returned to their homes the next day, only to discover it uninhabitable. New Orleans lost 254,502 citizens due to the damage. Those that evacuated and never returned are now residing all over the United States. Stratford English teacher, Mrs. Mary Rouse, is one of these evacuees. “The hurricane happened at the end of August, and by the end of September, I was standing in front of a classroom at Stratford,” Rouse said. She explained her story: “We...got some suitcases, threw in the things you’re supposed to bring with you, papers and that kind of thing, and we were set to stay here. Then when the hurricane happened, we planned after that, usually it calms down, we’re gonna go back. And then as we watched on television, things happened, and the flooding, and the city was closed, and all these terrible things, so we knew we couldn’t go back.” Rouse began looking for jobs, and before long she was hired here at Stratford. She said, “It was a big change, you know. Life, sometimes, life brings those changes for you, and you have to

Anything Goes!

Q & A with first-time cast member Ben Howell

7:00 Homecoming Football Game vs. Tomball at Tully Stadium

October 2 vs Tomball October 16 vs Spring Woods October 29 vs Magnolia West

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just roll with them and decide what you’re gonna do to make the change.” The oldest kids at Stratford were only eight years old when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. However, the young children that moved with their families were still affected, regardless of whether or not they made the decision themselves. Freshman Miles Vandenburg moved permanently to the Spring Branch Independent School District when he was four years old. “We decided to stay because my mom [Marnie Vandenburg] thought that they had a way better school system here than they had in New Orleans,” he said. SBISD received 614 new students from the Hurricane Katrina evacuation. “Since the school system in New Orleans was very poor before the storm, most people who could afford to do so sent their kids to private schools,” Mrs. Vandenburg wrote in an email. For some of the evacuees who moved to Houston, our district’s schools were a chance for a new beginning in a great public school system. The loss and debt Hurricane Katrina rained down on the United States and its citizens will forever be remembered - both in the written history of our country and in the stories of those whose lives were irrevocably changed.

The Rotolo’s house, a family friend of the Vandenburgs, was badly damaged in the flooding.

football in the mornings and night and rehearsal in between, I was at school 15 hours of the day for 5 days a week. and then rehearsals were still on Saturday and Sunday. That was a lot. All cast members were required to take dance classes at Suzanne Seman’s Studio over the summer. Did you fit in with other students or did you feel like the odd one out? During the beginning, I felt a little out of place, but all of the kids accepted me. People bond over challenges, and this was a challenge for me. Did you notice improvement in your dancing from the beginning of the summer to the end? Definitely. I didn’t even know the stuff we were doing was possible. But then when I learned how to do it and practiced it and perfected it, it was like, “Wow, I can tap dance now.” Susie helped me so much and I became way better than I ever thought I could be. Were there any particular moves that you found really difficult but eventually got? If so, how did you feel when you finally aced them? Wings were so difficult for me. I kept doing the same motions but it would never make the right sounds. Finally there was one time when it just worked, and I’ve been able to do them since then. How was it working with Ms. Susie and Paula, the choreographer? Susie and Paula are like coaches. They don’t give up on us and if we’re struggling with something they’ll work with us to make sure that we understand what we’re doing. How is football different and similar to dance? You’re a team. Everyone has to do their part and if one person messes up it throws everything off. They’re also very similar in that you have to recover. If you mess up on a blocking assignment during a game, you can’t just stop and think about it. You have to keep going and try to fix it. During a show, if you mess up on a dance move it’s the same thing. You have to keep going and try to pick up where you left off. INTERVIEW BY SOFIA JERRARD

[09/25/15]

news

The Playhouse Presents Leading Ladies

[The Oracle]

Theater’s newest show debuts on October 22 WRITTEN BY ALEX PARIZOT

The Stratford Playhouse’s upcoming show is “Leading Ladies”, a play about two Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, played by Philip Bevers and Dustin Nichols. Down on their luck and desperate for money, the duo hear about Florence Snider, played by Jessica Moore, a dying old rich lady in York, Pennsylvania, who has been searching for her two lost nephews. In hopes of getting a portion of her 3 million dollar estate, Jack and Leo go to Pennsylvania posing as her nephews, Max and Steve. Hilarity is quickly assured when Jack and Leo realize it’s not her nephews she’s looking for, but her nieces Maxine and Stephanie. Jack and Leo decide to follow through with their plan, but as women. On arrival, they meet Meg Snider, who introduces them to everyone in the town: Butch, played by Jess Thomas, who is slow on the uptake, but well-meaning; Doc Myers, played by Matt Hopper, the father of Butch and Florence’s doctor; Audrey, played by Kirby Morris, an “intelligent airhead”; and Reverend Duncan Wooley, played by Ryan Brown, the fiancee of Meg and old friend of her now-deceased parents. Senior Reilly Lawrence has been involved in countless Stratford Playhouse productions and has been the student director for Chicago and the upcoming musical, Anything Goes. This fall, she is playing Meg, the lead female role in Leading Ladies. Lawrence answered a couple of questions about the show and theatre itself.

What shows have you been in? For cast and crew, I’ve been in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, West Side Story, Legally Blonde, Almost Maine, The 39 Steps, Chicago, Anything Goes, and of course, Leading Ladies. How different is it being an actress from a director? As a director, you need a wider perspective with all of the moving parts rather than focusing only on your own problems. How hard is it to memorize all the lines? You just need to practice and apply yourself! It’s just like perfecting a layup or jump - just practice. How many hours do you typically spend on a show? Around 120 hours, but some shows get to around 200. Would you recommend that students come see this show? Yes! Everyone should come.

In the Heights

SBISD presents the first ever all-district musical WRITTEN BY NOELLE FLORES

For the first time in many years, Spring Branch Independent School District has decided to perform an all-district musical featuring students from Memorial, Northbrook, Spring Woods, Stratford, and Westchester High Schools. Grammy- and Tony Awardwinning musical In the Heights was selected to be the show; auditions were held in May, the cast was set in June, and rehearsals began August 25th at Spring Woods. Students

1/8 Affordable Muffler

from each of the district’s five high schools are participating in the musical, including some of our own Spartans: freshmen Lauren Dodds and Julia Langlois, sophomore Lauren Menard, juniors Ezra Meyer and Nomaris Velez, and seniors Natalie Broussard, Noelle Flores, Dani Greene, Anna Langlois, Isobel Makin, and Cassidy Menard. Rehearsals have been in full swing since the first week of school, and each student has been working hard to ensure a great performance for the district. Set in present-day Manhattan, In the Heights tells the stories of a variety of characters living in el barrio who have come down on hard times financially, including bodega owner Usnavi, his Abuela Claudia and cousin Sonny, salon workers Vanessa,

PHOTO BY REILLY LAWRENCE

Daniela, and Carla, taxi dispatch owners Camila and Kevin Rosario, their employee Benny, and their daughter Nina, the barrio’s first resident to attend college. Despite the hardships each character faces, nothing can stop them from celebrating their culture, community, family, and friendships through hip hop, salsa, and energizing contemporary music. “The show is about the lives of the people living in a vibrant, tight-knit community called Washington Heights,” says Anna Langlois. “It explores the stories of different individuals within this Latin-American neighborhood over a span of three days, and it is filled with love, laughter, soulful music, and passionate dancing. It deals with finding your identity within your community and continuing family legacies.” For many of the students in the show, this experience is very unique to other musicals they’ve participated in. Dani Greene comments, “It’s been really interesting because all of our theatre departments have really different ways of putting shows together and running rehearsals. It’s cool getting to learn about how other schools do their shows… Everyone is really supportive of each other, and it’s a great environment to work in.” The students have been thoroughly enjoying this experience and hope that this starts a new tradition of SBISD continuing

to put on all-district shows. According to Langlois, “It’s been really fun getting to work with new people and forming new friendships, and I think it’s a really great way to unite students within the district.” In the Heights performances will be at Memorial High School on October 15th and 16th at 7:30 pm, with shows at 2:30 pm and

[The Oracle]

news

[09/25/15]

Living through a nightmare WRITTEN BY ETHAN GODINEZ PHOTOS BY TAYLOR BRITTAIN, OLIVIA SICILIANO & ETHAN GODINEZ This year marked the fourteenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and for Ray and Lori Perez it feels like it was yesterday. They lived in New York City for nearly a decade before the fateful day that would change American history. Perez “was running late for work and [he] took the Path train from Jersey City to the World Trade Center and when [he] finally got off the train [he] looked at [his] watch and it was 8:25.” Today, the World Trade Center is host to the 9/11 Memorial. These are just a few quotes and pictures before 9/11. To see the full story go to shsoracle. com.

The last standing column from ground zero.

Ray and his cousin, Cindy Perez, 08/1990

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sky and it e u l b r a e l autiful c e b a e towers.” h h t t i w g t n i u c o a l d d rep tarte “The day s ith an ugly gray clou ended w

The border around the 9/11 memorial in New York City, featuring the name of all of the victims

[09/25/15]

Eig

101

WRITT

The firs around ache rem

3. 4.

The Evolution of Homecoming

A peek into the past of this great tradition WRITTEN BY OLIVIA SICILIANO Sparkly flowers adorned with trinkets and bells chime in the warm evening air. The rustle of the cascading ribbons rustle as students walk by. The roar of the football fans underneath shining lights echoes like thunder throughout the stands. Chatter and laughter among the many students surrounds one word… homecoming. This annual tradition in high school occurs to invite alumni back to watch their alma mater’s football team compete again. Through

1978

Homecoming Queen of 1978, Lisa Seaman smiles brightly as she’s crowned.

this exciting tradition, Stratford’s homecomings have continued to ignite spartan pride throughout the years. Ever since Stratford was founded in 1974, the times have changed, and so has homecoming. Mary Jackson, who began teaching at Stratford in 1980, said that “they had real flowers on mums, which people wore to school and to the game. We would also recognize the people coming back. For example, former students like cheerleaders could

cheer again, or band students could play with the band again.” A former graduate of Stratford in 1992, Karl Poetzl said he remembers that “mums needed to be as extravagant as possible if you really liked the girl. Often times, girls would be jealous if their mum wasn’t big enough.” As the tradition and mums themselves have changed, so has the queen. Located below is a time line of past elected queens and their joyful celebrations.

1980

“Did you make a mistake?”, was winner Kayla Mattinson’s reaction upon hearing her name announced in 1980.

1991

Allison Rensink and her father are overcome with excitement at the announcement of her name for queen in 1991.

S T R A T F O R D

The Lin

The NC coming game, the gam

5. 6.

At th cost

Mu me

Li pe

A s

Obviously sti Ashley Cum poses for a p the home

ght Things To Know About Mums

TEN BY BAYLE GOLDMAN

Back in the day, mums used to be real chrysanthemum flowers. Today, mums are huge silk flowers surrounded by tons of large ribbons, charms, bows, bells, cowbells, and many other items. Guys wear a garter, which are similar to mums on a smaller scale.

e name “chrysanthemum” was given to the flower by Swedish botanist Karl nnaeus after the Greek words “chrysos” (gold) and “anthemon” (flower).

st recorded information about chrysanthemums can be traced to China 3,500 years ago. The roots of the flower were boiled and used as a headmedy, and the petals were used in salads.

[The Oracle]

What to wear this week:

PHOTOS BY: PERRY SHEPARD AND TAYLOR BRITTAIN

Mickey Mouse Monday

Turn your day into a fairy tale and put on your best Disney gear! Dress up as your favorite Disney character or sport a pair of Mickey Mouse ears.

Emily Gex, Senior

Twinning Tuesday

CAA recognizes the University of Missouri as the official birthplace of homeg. In 1911, athletic director Chester Brewer encouraged alumni to attend the and gave them the incentive to attend by having a huge celebration around me that included parades and rallies.

Partner up with a friend and pick an outfit you’d both like to wear.

he start of the mum tradition, mum corsages cost about $3. Now, they can up to $300!

ums can be exchanged by dates, friends, parents, or relatives. Sometimes embers of certain school clubs or sports teams get matching mums.

ike any piece of clothing, mums communicate complex messages about a erson’s personality, interests and activities.

After homecoming, mums are typically put on display by being pinned to a student’s bedroom wall or tucked away in a box by a proud parent.

Perry Shepard and Bella Hutchins, Sophomores

Wild Animal Wednesday Release your inner “wild side” and dress up as your favorite animal. Eliza Masewicz, Senior

Preppy Thursday

Put some “prep in your step” and dress preppy by rocking your khaki pants and Sperrys.

Perry Shepard, Sophomore

1997

ill shocked by the results, mley is crowned, and later picture with others from ecoming queen court.

2003

Katie Barlett hugs her father upon her announcement as homecoming queen. Jennifer Conaster, queen in 2001, crowns her.

Out of This World Friday

Shine big and bright by wearing your craziest out of this world outfit. Cedric Hughes, Freshman

[The Oracle]

culture

Immigration Celebration Trouble at the border

WRITTEN BY DANIELA A. TRUJILLO Since the founding of long time. As an immiour country, people have grant from the Central wanted to be able to travel American country of to faraway lands where Guatemala, her year and theirchancesforabetterlife a half living in the states may be greater than those has been a great experiwho choose to stay in their ence. homeland. “In my country I could There are two ways to go out whenever I wanted, complete this process. 1. hang out with my friends, Legally, with r esidence and we had more freedom papers and eventually there. Here, everyone is citizenship and; 2. Illocked up in their houses, legally, by crossing the and basically in their own border. world.You don’t go outside During this political as much, unless you are season, much controversy given permission by your has risen over the question parents. In Guatemala you ofclosingthecountry’sbor- meet more people, but ders off from immigrants. here, you don’t even get to What these leaders meet your neighbors”, she would like to happen is said. for U.S. citizenship to no Our country and Cenlonger be given freely if tral American countries you are born in this coun- have many differences try by immigrant parents. when regarding things For sophomore that you see here or there, Genesis Elias, this issue one of these examples is is concerning, because the method of transporshe may not be able to tation. Here, people don’t enter her country for a walk to where they’re go-

ing, everything is by cars or buses. There, people walk to school, to the store, to everywhere they need to go,” Elias said. Many immigrants can arrive here and be completely overwhelmed by the change in culture, transportation, and miss their homes terribly. It’s true for anyone who has ever experienced being away from home for a long time or even moving, that getting homesick is normal and expected. For Elias, this is true as well. “The only thing I miss the most would have to be my family.. and probably the traditional foods,” she says with a laugh. Many abandon their home country and illegally cross the border, which is a feat that is usually only accomplished if you’re on your own. Elias said that her father had attempted crossing the

border twice to no avail, and eventually made it through by getting in the river. “My dad crossed the border, three times. The third time was pure luck, the officials returned him twice, they wanted to put him in jail if they saw him a third time. He managed to get in the river, waited until the officials were gone, he then went into a house, where a woman who knew he was an immigrant hid him,” she said. When people arrive here from other places, the one thing that always stands out to them is the overall appearance of the buildings in downtown Houston, the skyline at night, the suburbs surrounding the city decorated with pretty trees and flowers, and so on. “I like everything here, it’s very pretty.” Elias says.

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[09/25/15]

culture

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MOD Pizza If you’ve got the munch, go to MOD WRITTEN BY NAZLEE KHADJEHEIAN PHOTOS BY NATALIE GAISER

Cookies & Cream Puppy Chow This snack is easy to make and addictive! It’s a fun and delicious snack to add to your lunch. I took this childhood classic and added a cookies and cream twist! The puppy chow has two parts mixed together. The cookie half and the cream half to represent milks favorite cookie! Ingredients “Cookies” Puppy Chow: -5 cups of rice Chex cereal -1 cup of milk chocolate melts (or chocolate chips) -10 oreos finely crushed -1/2 cup of powdered sugar “Cream” Puppy Chow -5 cups of rice Chex cereal -1 cup of white chocolate melts (or chocolate chips) -10 oreos finely crushed -1/2 cup of powdered sugar One regular size package of Oreos is enough for this recipe. Use the extra Oreos and cut them into fourths to add to the mix of puppy chow.

With all of the various pizza op- sentation were near perfect. We pizza, each flavor is vibrant and tions in the Memorial area, there’s ordered two specialty medium demands attention. The Tristan quite a selection to choose from. sized pizzas: The MOD Squad is loaded with asiago and mozBut one things for sure: MOD Pizza workers favorite: The Tristan, zarella, each bite fulfilling the is a must try. Upon walking into and customer favorite: The Mad gooey cheese craving in any MOD Pizza, you’ll find yourself Dog. The pizzas came out of pizza lover. Dabs of pesto top greeted by every single worker with the oven hot and ready to be the pizza, as well as roasted red a chorus of hellos, immediately devoured. With a combination peppers and mushrooms. The welcoming you to eat, and enjoy of many ingredients, it’s easy to Mad Dog indulges the desires of yourself. lose the flavor of each indithe meat lover. It features mozWhen ordering, customers vidual ingredient. But on a MOD zarella, pepperoni, crumbled have the option of creating meatballs and mild their own pizza, or they can sausage. The MOD choose from one of the pre red sauce that designed, specialty pizzas and layers the crust is add or take away new ingredia combination of ents as they please. sweet and savory. While MOD is known for The crust on their super fast service, I have both pizzas is the to say it wasn’t as fast as I exthin; satisfyingly pected it to be. Not to say I was crunchy yet soft to waiting for a long time, because the bite. the workers were still extremely What sets Mod swift and efficient in makabove the rest of ing the pizza, but it wasn’t the the pizza locations super fast timing I had in mind in this area? You since the pizzas had to wait to Pizza Paradise can get as many be fired in the oven. The Mad Dog (Left) and The Tristan (Right) were toppings as you’d However, this is hardly a set- excelent choioices on the menu. like, no catch. Their back, because the pizza’s taste, pricing is moderate ingredient quality, and preand depends only

Delicious Options

MOD’s pizzas aren’t the only delicious thing on the menu; their milkshakes are a must- try as well. on what size pizza you order. MOD Pizza is located at 14555 Memorial Drive. Business hours are 10:30 - 10 Sunday- Thursday and 10:30 - 11 Friday and Saturday. Time for you to find out: What’s your MOD?

Directions “Cookies” Puppy Chow 1. Measure the rice Chex cereal and put it into a large bowl. 2. Mix together the powdered sugar and crushed Oreos in a large bag. 3. Melt milk chocolate chips and stir until smooth. For options on melting the chocolate look it up on shsoracle.om. 4. Pour the melted chocolate in the bowl with the rice Chex cereal and stir until coated. 5. Transfer the chocolate coated rice Chex cereal into the plastic bag with the sugar/cookie mixture. Shake, shake, shake until coated. 6. Dump the puppy chow on a cookie sheet to cool. (or refrigerate, de pending on preference) Repeat steps 1-6 for the “Cream” puppy chow 7. Once cooled, mix the “Cookies” and “Cream” puppy chow together and fold in extra chopped Oreos.

Around the Globe

Spartans come from all around the world WRITTEN BY MADDIE MCKENZIE

Young Deepshika in front of her

school in Africa. Imagine walking around in your neighborhood about adapting to a new way park and seeing a huge of life, it was about adapting elephant right in front of you. to the types of people there,” For sophomore Deepsika Das said. Das, this was a part of daily There were cultures and life in Africa. “One time I was people from all over the attacked by a male elephant. world. People came from It was pretty terrifying. I was France, the Netherlands, and trying to get a photograph the United Kingdom for the of him at our neighborhood park, but the flash was on and same job opportunities. Shell the elephant ended up charg- created a community for all of the families who were ing our car,” Das said. working for their company This is just one exotic life to live in. It wasn’t fun all the experience for Das, as she time because moving around has lived in three completely a lot made Das’ life a constant different places around the world: London, Africa and change. now Houston. “I learned so much about appreciating different cultures. It wasn’t just

“My dad is an engineer and I was an expat so we had to move around the world. I don’t really remember a lot about London because we moved when I was so young. Most of my memories are from Africa,” Das said. School was much harder to adapt to because different countries have different systems for education. “School was much harder to adapt to because different countries have different systems for education. “There are some big differences and some small differences. The courses are different but when I lived in Africa, everything was made by a company. And you wouldn’t call a teacher by Ms. or Mr., you would call them by their first name.”

Deepshika, her mom, and dad take a family photo in their home in Gabon, Africa. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DEEPSHIKA DAS

[The Oracle]

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[09/25/15]

ONE ON ONE with...Coach Favor PHOTO BY: RACHEL HOOD

sports Highlights: Varsity Football

Which sport do you like coaching best? Why? Football, it is the ultimate team sport and requires trusting your teammates. Do you have experience with these 2 sports? Did you play them? I played both football and baseball all through college. What’s your favorite thing about football? Football requires a high demand of physical abilities. If you make a mistake you can make up for it the next play. What’s your favorite thing about baseball? Baseball requires more mental than physical abilities. If you make a mistake, you have to make up for it. What’s the best memory you have from coaching these sports? Beating Memorial this year.

PHOTOS BY: RACHEL HOOD AND ISABELLA HUTCHINS

[The Oracle]

SHS vs MHS

SHS vs Elsik

SHS vs Ridge Point

Score: 34-7

Score: 17-6

Score: 21-31

Nation Ranking: 573

Nation Ranking: 437

National Ranking: 836

State Ranking: 68

State Ranking: 53

State Ranking: 93

M.V.P. ’ S of The Month Audrey Hudson

NOMINATED BY: COACH KELLY Who did you choose for the M.V.P? Audrey Hudson, Sophomore, JV volleyball team, co-captain, outside hitter. Why do you feel she deserve this award? She has worked hard and improved greatly which is why she has earned a spot as a starter. Hopefully that will motivate the others she’s competing with to work harder. Lastly, is there anything you want to tell/say about this athlete? I hope she keeps working hard and that she can be an example to the rest of the team.

Sam Kuhn

NOMINATED BY: COACH ALLEN Who did you choose for the M.V.P.? Sam Kuhn, varsity football player. What made you choose this player? He has a great attitude and he is a hard worker. Why do you feel they deserve this award? Sam is a true team player, and he will play any position we ask him to. A moment you were proud of this athlete? Sam played offensive tackle for JV (even though he is a receiver on varsity) one game when we needed a tackle.

FOOTBALL

How did you become a coach for both baseball and football? I coached running backs and safeties a few years before moving back home to coach high school baseball. Stratford became my new home.

VOLLEYBALL

[09/25/15]

Sparties Get a Makeover

The Spartanaires debut their new and improved uniforms

STORY BY: JACQUELINE COMPARIN PHOTOS BY: MNEMOSYME,TAYLOR BRITTAIN inspired by the boots and hats be The Spartanaires have been an cause she had worn them through her organization since 1974. They have high school drill team career at Spring made the half time show a joy, to watch Woods High School and her college dazzling us with their high kicks and career where she was a Texas State bright smiles. This year the SpartaStrutter. Senior Tameka James says naires have ditched their overlays and “The old uniforms had too many layers signature white’s for a sequined green and made it difficult to move comfortand gold dress. They have also brought ably compared to the new uniforms, back the boots and hats tradition that and I also love the sequins!’’ The new they ended in the 1980’s. The director uniforms are a fresh start for the team of the Spartanaires Ms. Astrid Gonzales and the Spartanaires are beyond exhas been leading the organization for cited to get to strut across the football the past 8 years and decided that the field wearing the new uniforms! girls needed a change. Gonzales was

All Dazzled Up

The 20152016 Spartanaires perform showing off their new uniforms.

The Old Days The 1974 Spartanaires take the field for their first ever halftime performance.

Spartan(aire) Pride

The 2015-2016 Spartanaires show off their brand new uniforms at the SHS vs MHS game on 8/28

[09/25/15]

sports

[The Oracle]

Tennis Kicks Off Season in Style PHOTOS BY: ARTURO BENITEZ

Things Are Looking Up

Number of sophmores on the varsity football team

How many volleyball players are on the court at one time on each team

Weight of a football helmet in pounds

During the first match of the varsity tennis season, Senior Michael Foster stops his swing just before hitting a serve.

Killer Spin

Senior Chirstopher Moolchan hits a second serve during his first match of the season.

4.58

Stalking Prey

Staring the opponent down, Sophmore Nicholas Guarin calmly prepares to return a serve.

Shades On

Concentration on the face of Junior Alyssa Stanford as she swings through a forehand. The varsity team easily dispatched their opponents, with only one match being lost during the whole tournament.

Number of cross country meets this season

Football 2015

PHOTOS BY: TAYLOR BRITTAIN AND GRAYSON WILSON

Touchdown Spartans Senior Torin Justice trys to score a touchdown against the Mustangs during the annual rivalry game.

Celebration Time

Seniors Andrew Kelly, Eric Benoit, Rakeem Boyd, and Torin Justice celebrate a touchdown against Memorial High School on August 27 at Tully Stadium.

Best Student Section in Texas

Seniors Chris Nunn, Ryan Brown, Parker Barrett, and Cole Patterson cheer on the spartans in the student section at Tully stadium.

Tackle the Panthers Senior Left Tackle Eric Benoit works with the other offensive lineman to push back the Panther defense.

Defense Attack! Spartie Party

Senior Hayden Ferrari performs with the Spartanaires during halftime at the game against Memorial where they showed off their brand new uniforms.

On September 12 the Spartans took on the Ridge Point Panthers at Kenneth Hall Stadium. The Spartans played a good game but fell short to Ridge Point with a final score of 31-21.

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sports

[09/25/15]

THE

SCHEDULE

Football 10/9 SHS vs Brenh am 10/16 SHS vs SW HS 10/23 SHS vs Mag nolia West

Volleyball 10/1 SHS vs Tomba ll 10/4 SHS vs Ridge Point 10/8 SHS vs SWH S

Swimming 10/17 SHS vs Kin gwood Park 10/22 SHS vs MH S

PHOTOS BY: TAYLOR BRITTAN, GRAYSON WILSON, JORDYAN RICHARDS

A Few [Harsh] Words

Three student athletes share their experiences with unsportsmanlike conduct WRITTEN BY JOHN MCGOWAN PHOTOS BY RACHEL HOOD

Torin Justice

By now, varsity wide receiver Torin Justice is accustomed to a little desperate behavior from another team whenever the Spartans are up. However, he still believes that such action is not really productive in the long run. “I’ve played against some hostile teams,” he said. “Whenever they’re getting beat by us, they will resort to trash talking. They think it will help them, but it really doesn’t.” When on the field, there is a noticeable difference in the amount of smack talk that occurs, with most of it coming from more established schools like Memorial and Tomball. “Most of the more ‘preppier’ schools tend to smack talk more than schools like Brenham would,” he said. During the games, however, Torin barely notices any smack talk occurring. This is mainly because of the large amount of focus that Torin gives, but that doesn’t mean the smack talk is absent altogether. “I’ve noticed a lot of smack talk happening before the games,” he said. “Afterward, though, they don’t have very much to say after they lose.”

Larry Coston

Baseball has always been a sport associated with rowdiness and smack talk, so it’s no surprise that players at our school have had to deal with bad mouthing from other teams. Larry Coston, a varsity baseball player at Stratford, has had his fair share of rough encounters. “The worst experience I’ve had with smack talk is probably being called a girl because of my hair,” he said. “There was another time against George Ranch when they made comments about my size.” Although trash talk is frequent during the games, some teams resort to more creative forms of ridicule. With Coston, this occurred at a game between Stratford and Magnolia. “Magnolia is probably the worst in smack talk,” he said. “When we played them they had these big signs. They didn’t say anything really bad, though.” He has noticed that most teams have a varying amount of smack talk they give, depending on how good or bad the team is at the sport. “Usually from lower teams that aren’t that good, they won’t say that much,” he said. “Teams like Memorial, though, they are big into trash talking.”

Chris Collins

A varsity baseball player like Coston, Chris Collins has encountered smack talk from a number of teams from across the district. Collins finds trash talking to be very distracting, especially since most of it occurs during the games while Chris is on field. He describes such an experience during a game between Stratford and Woodlands High School. “I was catching during the game, and they just wouldn’t be quiet while I was trying to catch,” he said. “It was a bombardment, they just kept spitting words.” In his opinion, the amount of smack talk is always dependent on the circumstances. What kind of personality the other team has, the time, the place, they all have effects on how much trash talking he experiences.“Some schools give more smack talk than others,” he said. “The Woodlands, Cinco Ranch, Katy, all of them are really big into smack talking.” Be it a poor baseball team or a skilled one, smack talking is always consistent throughout the game. When talking about retaliation, though, Collins and the teams know how to keep it light when they respond to the other team’s antics. “We do smack talk to the other teams,” he said. “We don’t demean anybody, we don’t put down anybody, we just try to annoy them a little.”

[09/25/15]

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