April 2014

TheROYAL NEWS Volume XII Issue 7

Prince George H.S. - 7801 Laurel Spring Rd. Prince George, VA 23875 - www.trnwired.org - April 11, 2014 Single Issue Copy Only

GOING PRO Junior Angelica Martinez gets ready for her MMA fight.

Martinez’s fight took place on April 5th at Richmond Magnuson Grand Hotel and Convention Center.

Photo by Mallory Cox Visit trnwired.org to see the latest photo galleries and watch live broadcast events.

p. 8 student works toward mma dream p.7 special olympics showcases talent

p.12-13 EVOLUTION OF PROM p.17 PLAYERS TAKE ON PENZANCE p.19 ENTERTAINMENT EXPENSES ON THE RISE p.23 LEGENDS OFTHE GAME

2 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.11.14

op/ed

Photography Interests Increase

the RoyalNews

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O

ur mission as the school newspaper for Prince George High School is to provide a form of media that represents all aspects of student life. The goal is to present factual accounts of newsworthy events in a timely manner. Our publication will be informative, entertaining and reflective of the student body’s opinions. It is the desire of the staff to reach every student and tell as many of their stories as possible.

We invite your commentary: The Royal News Opinion page is a forum for public discussion and shall be open to all students. The Royal News will print as many letters as space will allow. The Royal News reserves the right not to print a letter. The Royal News publishes a wide variety of opinions. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Royal News, PGHS, 7801 Laurel Spring Road, Prince George, Virginia 23875, or bring them to room A4, or e-mail them to trnwired@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, legality, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. 500 word maximum. Thank you for the support this year. Please continue to communicate on trnwired.org.

Publication theft. A person commits the offense of publication theft when he or she willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over more than three copies of an edition of a publication distributed on campus or in the surrounding community [with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading that edition of the publication]. A “publication” includes any periodical that is distributed on a complimentary or compensatory basis. In addition to the imposition of other campus disciplinary penalties, a person who violates this provision is responsible for compensating the publication for all reasonable costs incurred, including, where appropriate, the refund of advertising fees.

Illustration by Anthony Sudol

School Days Conflict With Teenagers’ Natural Sleep Cycle

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Front page: Danielle Marshall-Op/Ed: Carolina Bae-News: Christina Buckles-Features: Mallory CoxDoubletruck: Sarah Daniel-A&E : Debra Thomas-Sports: Devan Fishburne-Photo Editor/Distribution and Events: Tiana Kelly-Business & Ad Editor: Deborah Gardner -Online Editor-in-Chief: Lindsay Pugh

Writers Hannah Zuloaga-April Buckles-Daniel Puryear-Austin Britt-Alexis Stewart-Ryan Albright-Travis Temple-Kadera Brown-Qadirah Monroe-Samantha Daniel-Ronald Dayvault-Abigail Faircloth-Nathan Williams-Madison Strang-Hydeia Nutt-Reeve Ashcraft-Ebony Gilchrist-Ian

Editor-in-Chief Courtney Taylor

Managing Editor Danielle Marshall

Business Manager Deborah Gardner

Adviser

Chris Waugaman

Professional affiliations & awards Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Gold Medalist 2008-2013 CSPA Gold Crown Winner 2010 & 2013 Virginia High School Association Trophy Class 2006-2013 Col. Charles Savedge Award for Sustained Excellence 2010 NSPA Online Pacemaker Winner 2011 & 2013 NSPA Online Pacemaker Finalist 2014 SIPA All Southern 2008-2014

The Royal News, PGHS trnwired.org & trnsports.org

7801 Laurel Spring Road Prince George, Virginia 23875 804-733-2720 The Royal News is printed at The Progress-Index in Petersburg, Virginia

Editorial

Section Editors

alking through a high school, one will be sure to see students with bags under their eyes and asleep on their desks. This is a sign that teens do not get enough sleep. There has been pressure on high schools to start later and allow the teens to sleep later. According to studies reported by sleepfoundation.org, students are biologically not going to be able to get enough sleep with the schedule of a common high school student.

It used to be thought that as a child grows up, they will need less hours of sleep, thus one of the reasons why high schools open later than elementary schools. Recent studies however have shown that this is not true and that teenagers should be receiving on average nine and a quarter hours of sleep a night.

Some may say that students should just go to bed earlier so that they can receive that many hours of sleep and still be at school on time. The problem lies in the fact that these same studies reported by sleepfoundation.org have found that most adolescents find it harder to fall asleep before 11 PM. This being said, the earliest a teenager should be awake, if falling asleep exactly at 11 PM, is 8 AM the next morning.

There are many negative side effects

that result in a lack of sleep including an inability to learn well, memorize facts, or do well on tests/activities. Sleep deprivation can also cause students to eat too much, or more unhealthy foods, and it can increase the use of caffeine.

Once students leave school, many either go to a sport practice, a club meeting/activity, or to a job. By the time they finally get home, it is time to do homework. Students today are receiving more homework than ever before as a direct result of a country that is ever increasing in knowledge. Students have so much they are trying to juggle at once. Having to wake up for a 6:30 AM bus arrival leaves a slim chance for a student to get enough sleep and be able to perform optimally once in school. In fact, one study also reported by sleepfoundation.org found that only 15% of students reported that they get at least eight and a half hours of sleep on a school night- still not even the nine and a quarter hours that is recommended.

One solution to this problem would of course be for school to start later and allow students to sleep in a little bit.

Ending later would not have a drastic effect because as the study found, adolescents do not naturally fall asleep before 11 PM.

f someone took a trip to New York City, it would be so easy to see tourists taking pictures using their DSLR, or Digital Single Lens Reflex camera. It definitely shatters the old perception I had that those who wielded them were professional and serious about photography. These people use these cameras so casuCarolina Bae ally and do not know much about the basics of photography.

Do not get me wrong, I think it is great that people are becoming so interested in photography, however, since DSLRs have become such a commonplace item, I cannot help but think that some of those interests are not genuine.

Also I am not a professional, nor is photography a serious hobby of mine. I just cannot stand to see people buying superfluous, luxury items when more affordable options can satisfy their demands. For example, many point-andshoot cameras have impressive quality that can fulfill their photographic needs at a fraction of the cost.

Unfortunately, according to the Camera and Imaging Products Association, the sale of compact cameras dropped to 42% in the first five months of 2013. Because of this, big name camera brands such as Nikon and Canon are pushing their more expensive and professional DSLRs. It seems to me that people are reaching for DSLRs now because it makes them look cool and ‘hipster’, as everyone wants to be now. Many of them do not appreciate the essence of photography or care to know more about it. They use the default auto setting and never bother to change it.

Many people get lucky and get some amazing shots, but still, the novelty of a quality picture is disappearing. We are becoming more desensitized to how captivating photography can be.

Of course, though, the improvement of photography and technology is inevitable. I only wish that people could use the potential of the DSLR as it has such capability to produce art; a power that should not be taken lightly.

FRIDAY 4.11.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 3

op/ed

Are Field Trips Effective Aids To Learning?

More classes are taking field trips to take advantage of the spring weather and to reinforce lessons learned in the classroom. However, some argue that field trips waste time, as students may not care and learn anything.

Are field trips really useful tools to assist learning?

A

ccording to visualteachingalliance.com, 65% of the population are considered visual learners, people who adapt better to material when it is expressed with materials or techniques.

With that being said, field trips provide the necessary visual fix that students are desperately craving. It allows the student a better opportunity to have a hands-on approach towards the subject material, which in turn can provide a better understanding of the curriculum.

Though budgets are pinched, they still possess a modest amount of “wiggle room” that could be put towards field trips. In the long run, the teachers may be able to use less paper and materials to teach the subject if the students are able to have a visual interpretation of the taught material.

Also, when students have the opportunity to exit the classroom and step off-site, they are more likely to feel that the information is not being forced on them, and the students can actually enjoy learning the information being presented to them.

Despite the widespread mind-set that all field trips are to the zoo or aquarium, many are actually to competitions and points of interests that provide education that a typical school day could not. Classes and clubs such as journalism and DECA travel to competitions and represent their school on not just a local level, but a national level as well. They also travel to these places because they get to hear from speakers that can manipulate the fragile mind of students and fill it with positive thoughts and better techniques towards their studies.

Even though field trips are an added strain in terms of organization and time, and more of a burden to teachers than a blessing, field trips provide so much excitement in learning the material. And with excitement, students interpret and retain the information in a better way, which leads to better grades and a better sense of comprehension on the taught subject matter.

The child, adolescent, and teenage mind of the present day yearn for education to be taught in a more fascinating and interesting way. Providing field trips to students gives them this approach and motivates students to want to learn and understand the material better.

PRO CON Reeve Ashcraft

Madison Strang

”...It allows the student a better opportunity to have a handson approach...” “...Field trips can be a marvelous experience for the students, but take away time from teaching...” “...They are more likely to feel that the information is not being forced on them...”

M

any schools plan organized field trips for their students so that they can experience the curriculum with a more hands-on approach. There are some advantages to planning school field trips, such as the students can visually see the material that relates to the information they have learned in class. However, there are some setbacks to field trips that should be reviewed.

First of all, field trips take a lot of time to plan out. Along with getting parents to volunteer as chaperones, and making transportation arrangements, the teachers are required to get consent forms from the students. They must also find out whether or not any of the students have any allergies or any medical conditions. To say the least, field trips can be a marvelous experience for the students, but take time away from teaching and put additional stress on the teachers.

Along with the time it takes to plan out field trips, you also have to worry about the amount of money the field trip will the cost the student’s families and how much it will cost the school. With many school boards already pressed for funds as it is, getting the amount of money needed for a field trip is almost impossible and can almost seem selfish. Even though those funds are being used in an educationally diverse manner, the funds could instead be put towards new books or better supplies for the students in general.

Finally, the teachers and chaperones have to worry about how the students behave on these field trips. Many students get a little too excited about leaving the classroom for the day. This can lead to the students being very loud which can limit the amount of education that actually occurs. In a case like this, field trips end up being more of a baby-sitting experience than a true educational based day.

The points that should be revised are the amount of time it takes to plan a field trip, the amount of money it cost the people, and the behavior setbacks that might occur during the field trip. These are all important reasons why field trips can be a non-educational experience.

Illustration by Qadirah Monroe

4 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.11.14

Briefly Easter This Christian holiday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after being crucified on Calvary Hill, or Golgotha. Easter lands on April 20, the Sunday after the full moon of the vernal equinox. Commercially, this holiday includes Easter egg hunts and the Easter Bunny.

Earth Day This day is on April 22 and was founded by Gaylord Nelson and put into law with the help of Senator Nelson in 1969. He was inspired by the oil spill in Santa Barbara. The EPA was established because of this day.

FRIDAY 4.11.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 5

NEWS BRIEFS

Seniors Must Go To Mandatory Meetings In order to graduate, seniors must attend one meeting with a parent. The first meeting will be on April 23, at 7:00 PM in the auditorium. The second meeting will be on April 29 and the third meeting will be on May 5, at the same time and place.

Rescheduled Car Show Takes Place The PTA car show that was supposed to be held last month was rescheduled for this Saturday, April 12 at 9:00 AM in the school parking lot.

Students May Attend Prom and After Prom Prom will be held on Ft. Lee at the Regimental Club from 8:00 PM till midnight. After Prom, the theme being Cruise, will be held at school from 11:00 PM till 5:00 AM. Tickets are on sale for $15 the week after Spring Break.

Arbor Day Arbor Day is a national holiday that encourages the planting of trees. It is celebrated on the last Friday of April, the 25, and it was inspired by journalist J. Sterling Morton.

PTA announces who is on the Prom court during the dance. Princes are crowned by PTA member. Photo by Tiana Kelly.

Spring Break will be from April 14-18.

6 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.11.14

Thank You Patrons!

GOLD

SUPER Louise Thornton Leann & Roy Binger Kim Bailey Tracey Smallwood John Pelter William Havard Riley Rakes Kerry H. Rosier Philip Jones Mrs. Williams The Fishburne Family Stream Team Stephanie Bishop Beth Andersen Hopewell/Prince George PGHS ART CLUB Crime Solvers Mary Shumar The Cheeky Kniphe

GREEN

Cathy Cleveland Vickie Cosgrove S.B. Jones Pam Alley Tonya Mahaffey Janie Williams Philip Jones Paola Jones Edward Kaufman Becky Gideon Roy L. York The Basketball Team PATRONS PG Athletics Courtney Taylor Mrs. Franchok Cynthia Hall Frances Pugh Thomas Brown Renee Topian Chrystal B. Barnwell Harold Pugh Babrbara Daniel Tammy Peterson Cynthia Hasley Mandi Cummings Noelle P. Donald Newbold Jack Murray JILTS Sorority J. L. Owens Lynn Bland Monica Belmar

2020 new dorset road Powhatan, va 23139 (phone)804 598-0971 (Fax)804 598-0973 vagrad.com

Kevin Moore Anne Roberts Polly Williamson Jessie Chiasson Dr. Witt Claiborne Rhodes Lisa Taylor Tiffany Linkous Tammy Pack Betty Rhodes Betty Murray

FRIDAY 4.11.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 7

Features

Special Olympics Showcases Talent Competitions Fulfill Sports Dreams Of Intellectually Disabled Students Travis Temple trn writer

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reparing to run the 50-yard dash, athletes line up along the track at N. B. Clements Junior High while parents and spectators watch excitedly. The runners get low, get set, and take off as fast as possible. The scene is no different from a varsity track meet, but there is one major difference: every athlete wins in this race.

The competitors are participating in a track and field event provided by the Special Olympics. The local Special Olympics program gives the intellectually disabled citizens within the county an opportunity to compete in yearround sporting events. The program in Prince George was dormant for several years, but co-coordinator Kenneth Robinson has just recently revitalized it.

“I was the special education director in the county for 22 years, and during that period of time I was very involved in Special Olympics,” Robinson said. “When I left the county in 2002, the program seemed to fall by the wayside.”

Robinson describes his passion as his reason for bringing the program back.

“When I retired from my last job, one of my retirement goals was to try to bring the program back to Prince George,” Robinson said.

“I have a passion for special-needs kids, and I love athletics. It’s a perfect marriage for me to bring those two together.”

Robinson brought in a staff of volunteers to help keep the program running. One such volunteer is Matthew Hall, Robinson’s cocoordinator.

“I’ve been asked by the committee and by Mr. Robinson to head-up our publicity and push the initiative that he’s brought back to Prince George,” Hall said.

The volunteer staff also consists of student athletes, such as Christopher Smith, who choose to lend their expertise to the program. “[My role] is to help [the disabled athletes] and make them feel good,” Smith said.

That sense of happiness and self-confidence is a vital part of the program to Hall.

“I got to observe in the fall and watch the students participate in bowling,” Hall said. “I saw

Wyatt Herzing, a special needs student, participates in the Special Olympics. The event was held on April 5 at N. B. Clements Junior High.

Photo by Travis Temple.

how much fun they were having and actually observed the growth that being involved had on the athletes.”

That development makes the program worthwhile for Hall.

“I saw some of our autistic athletes and other students with communication delays develop those communication skills. Their command of the language and being able to communicate with their coaches and with their fellow athletes developed,” Hall said. “Seeing them being successful and having a joy and pride in what they’re able to do motivates me.”

The program offers four sports including swimming, bowling, basketball, and track and field. Athletes are able to compete in any of the events they so choose.

“They’re like any of the other students we deal with,” Hall said. “You have your likes and your dislikes, and we have certainly found that some athletes like basketball over bowling, and some athletes like swimming over track and field, and we’ve noticed that there are a couple students that enjoy being at everything.”

The staff uses social media and technology to connect with parents as well as recruit.

“It’s another way to reach parents and their friends and family members, so we created a Facebook account,” Hall said. “It’s also given us the opportunity to use that information as a recruiting tool for other athletes.”

Recruitment is just one of several ways the Prince George Special Olympics program is looking towards the future.

“My vision is for the program to continue and for it to grow in numbers,” Robinson said.

“We had a larger program in the 1980s and ‘90s, and I would like to restore the program to those original numbers.”

Special Olympian Abreona Smith is one of the many multi-sport athletes the program serves. “[I compete in] bowling and track and field,” Smith said. “It feels good and it’s fun. I feel especially happy [when my parents watch me.]”

The relationship between athlete and parent is something the volunteers see first-hand.

“Seeing a mom with her arm around her son at the bowling alley as he’s attempting to roll a strike, those are moments you see and think ‘Wow, this is worth it, this is why we do it,’” Hall said.

8 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.11.14

Features

Angelica Martinez, left, sizes up her opponent during her first Mixed Martial Arts fight. Martinez plans to go on to be a professional MMA fighter.

Photo by Mallory Cox.

Student Works Toward MMA Dream Aspiring MMA Fighter Angelica Martinez Embarks On Path To Go Pro Reeve Ashcraft trn writer

A

s Angelica Martinez trains and pushes herself as far as her body will let her, she remembers her purpose: to win her next fight.

Martinez, a junior, is a Mixed Martial Arts fighter (MMA). She has been around the mixed martial arts circuit for most of her life.

“I started taekwondo when I was 14,” Martinez said. “I was upset at first because I wanted to jump straight in MMA, but I’m so glad I found my dojang because without it, I wouldn’t have my MMA fight.”

Along with starting martial arts at a young age, she grew up around her father as he watched the fights on TV. She has enjoyed the sport from the start.

“When I was little, I wanted to be a boxer

because my dad would always watch boxing.

Then UFC started becoming popular and MMA became my dream,” Martinez said.

Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA as it is typically called, is a combat sport that includes elements of boxing, mixed martial arts, and also certain wrestling and grappling techniques. MMA started to grow in America in 1993 when the Gracie Family founded UFC, or the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Since its beginning, MMA continues to be seen as the fastest growing sport in America and also in the international circuit.

According to a statistic found on the official UFC website, 386 fights occurred over the course of 2013 and accumulated close to 53 million dollars during the year.

Martinez’s motivation for joining such a physically demanding sport is the desire to satisfy her parents, but also to make a name for herself as well as constantly improving in a sport that she loves.

“Part of what motivates me to do better

is to make my parents proud,” Martinez said.

“Also it’s the same as any sport; once you get good you never want to stop improving.”

Martinez, who had her first fight on Sat., April 5, enjoyed the experience but disagrees with the outcome.

“The fight was ended by referee stoppage due to strikes with five seconds left in the first round,” Martinez said. “I believe I could have made it through the round and gone to the second and won, but I can’t really change that.”

Though trained in numerous different aspects of the sport, Martinez states that she is more of a stand up fighter and that affected the outcome of the match.

“A majority of the fight was spent on the ground which is where she was better,” Martinez said. “There was a lot of transitioning throughout the fight which made it so exciting.”

Even though the fight did not end exactly how she wanted it to, Martinez still finds the

experience to be glorious and it will always be a fond memory.

“I got a lot of positive feedback; people congratulating me, taking pictures with me,” Martinez said. “Most claimed [that] we were the fight of the night.”

Her first fight, though ending in a loss, proved that she has what it takes to compete, and provided immense motivation for her career in the future.

“I am lucky to have amazing instructors and supportive friends and family,” Martinez said. “I learned a lot, and I’m ready for another fight.”

Though MMA started out being a sport dominated by males, the ratio of female fighters to male fighters is beginning to even out.

Martinez believes also that anyone can get involved and should not let anything stop them from joining a sport like MMA. “Go for it, this is a sport that I believe anybody can do if they really want to,” Martinez said.

FRIDAY 4.11.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 9

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10 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.11.14

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FRIDAY 4.11.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 11

Features

Thai Heritage Month Celebrated Copy Aide Shares Methods Of Holding Onto Thai Culture Tiana Kelly photo editor

NUMBERS

50 Thailand is the 50th largest country in the world.

B

ooks, computers, magazines, and newspapers flood the library with knowledge and excitement. People go the library almost every day, but never suspect what is beyond the library. Through the teacher workroom, into the copy room, sits copy aide Lumyai Prescott. Though she sits quietly and tends to her job, she has a story to tell.

Prescott is from Northeast Khon Kaen, Thailand. She has been in the United States since 1979. When she first came to the States, she lived in the state of Washington.

“For the first three months, I lived in Washington state,” Prescott said. “I would stay in the house because I didn’t know anyone and everything was different.”

In Thailand, more than 92% of the population speak Thai. Coming to the U.S., Prescott had some challenges learning a new language.

“When I first got here, I knew simple words,” Prescott said. “Unlike here in the States, where you learn the English alphabet in pre-k, I did not learn the English alphabet until I was in fifth grade while I was in Thailand.”

The climate of the U.S. was another change Prescott had to get used to.

“In Thailand, it is always hot, so the winter season is very different,” Prescott said.

“When we have winter, it is hot and rainy in Thailand, [it] is really different.”

Even though Prescott is no in longer Thailand, she still takes time every April to celebrate the Thai New Year, called SongKran.

“SongKran is a popular way to bring in the New Year and is extremely important to us during April,” Prescott said, “The activities we do are really fun.”

SongKran is celebrated from April 13-15.

SongKran goes on during the hottest month of the year. In Thailand, they have developed a fun way to cool off.

“One of the first events would be the water fights. It is a fun way to celebrate

BY THE

1939 The year Thailand changed its name from Siam to the Kingdom of Thailand.

65 The population of Thailand is roughly 65 million.

the holiday since it is so hot,” Prescott said.

“Everyone [is] running around; people [are] on top of elephants getting others soaked. It really is just a fun time.”

There is more to bringing in the Thai New Year than just water fights. There is a ritual where they sprinkle scented water from silver bowls on a Buddha image while dressed in Thai attire. This is a ritual practiced on the third day of SongKran.

“Sprinkling water is a more serious approach to SongKran. It shows that there is a serious side and a fun side to the event, to receive blessings for wrong-doings,” Prescott said. “It is more of a spiritual tradition.”

SongKran is also celebrated with a beauty pageant where young women show off their beauty and talents. Investors sponsor the pageant and the audience brings

Copy aide Lumyai Prescott wears traditional Thai clothing for a photo. Prescott was born in Thailand and moved to the United States in 1979.

Photo contributed by Lumyai Prescott. beads to give to the contestants. The contestant with the most beads wins.

“It is interesting to see how brave these women are and how pretty they look on stage,” Prescott said. “It is a pretty fun and exciting event for not only the contestants, but the audience as well.”

Despite being away from the culture, Prescott continues to live it.

“Even though I am no longer in Thailand, I still continue to do things the same as I would in Thailand,” Prescott said. “I sometimes forget about how the events would go because I have not been there in so long,

92 The percentage of people in Thailand who speak Thai.

13 The holiday of SongKran begins April 13 each year.

Information from www.tourismthailand.org

12 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.11.14

Evolution Of Prom

Styles Of Dancing, After-prom, And ‘Promposal’ Of Junior, Senior Prom Have All Drastically Changed Thr

I

Lindsay Pugh trnwired editor-in-chief

n 1962, Leon Darby buttoned up his suit and went to pick up his date to his senior prom. In that era, boys wore suits rather than formal tuxedos. Darby took a single photo with his date at her house.

“There were no digital cameras or cell phones then,” Darby said. “I don’t have a copy of that photo.”

Darby and his date danced dances like the twist and the stroll to doo-wop music for several hours and said ‘goodnight’ at the end of the prom. At that point, Coffee High School, in Florence, Alabama, where Darby graduated from, had no after-prom- like the majority of high schools.

Fifty-one years later, now-junior Madison Hagee shimmied into her light pink strapless dress and went to dinner at Kanpai and then to Appomattox Manor in Hopewell to take pictures with her date Mikey Gross and her friends, ready to dance the Wobble and Cha-Cha Slide later in the night.

Prom derives from the word promenade, which is the formal entrance of guests at the beginning of parties. In the 1800s, many universities in the United States held a co-ed banquet to celebrate each class’s graduation. As the years went by, prom became more common in high schools, often held in their gyms.

The boom of the fifties made prom a slightly more formal production, and the event shifted locations to places like country clubs and halls. Over time prom has evolved to a formal rite of passage for high school juniors and seniors.

“Prom was fun because I had never been before,” Hagee said. “It was different than Homecoming.”

Hagee’s date surprised her with the invitation to prom, commonly known as a “promposal.” Promposals are a recent trend that have gained massive popularity in the past few years.

“I was at a friend’s house and he called me to come outside because he wanted me to go eat with him. I went outside and he had spelled out ‘PROM’ with candles and drawn a question mark on the driveway,” Hagee said.

Now senior Mitchell Smith asked his girlfriend of two years, now senior Erica Skiddle, to prom by slipping a piece of paper with ‘Prom?’ written on it into her menu at dinner.

“I prepared for prom by getting my tux, getting the food and photo arrangements, and making the limo arrangements,” Smith said.

Smith spent his night eating dinner at his friend senior Bryant Marks’ house, taking group and individual pictures and dancing dances such as the Cupid Shuffle and the Electric Slide. “[Prom] was a fun and entertaining experience,” Smith said.

The nineties began the transition from Darby’s simplistic prom to Smith and Hagee’s formal one.

“It was assumed that if you had a longtime boyfriend or girlfriend you were going to prom together,” Beth Andersen, AP and honnors 12th grade English teacher and alumnus of the Class of 1994, said. “The [promposal] popular now wasn’t a thing.”

Andersen pampered herself before prom by taking a long bath, curling her hair, and doing her nails. At that point, the process of getting ready was less elaborate. Group pictures were also much less popular and the traditional date photos mainstream.

Illustration by Qadirah Monroe “There were a variety of songs, but a lot more slow dance songs back then,” Andersen said. “There were definitely a couple of group dances, dances similar to the Cha-Cha slide. There were more people dancing in a large group with no one specific partner.”

At the time Andersen went to prom, the after-prom celebration was only just gaining momentum. The early after-prom was held off-campus, in local recreational centers. Andersen, her future husband, and their friends set up a camping trip after the dance.

“It was something different to keep hanging out after,” Andersen said.

April Ford, alumnus of Class of 2006, attended three proms that were much more similar to recent proms.

“Dress shopping was my favorite part,” Ford said. “I had appointments to get my hair done and my nails done with friends.”

Ford would meet up with her friends to take large group

shots and individual pictures with her date, and some silly photos just with her close friends.

The early 2000s brought recognizable and still popular dances like the cha-cha slide and electric slide, and hip-hop music similar to what is played at prom now.

The major advent of the modern prom is the “promposal.”

Even when Ford graduated in 2006, asking someone to prom was casual.

“We just asked, ‘hey, do you want to go to prom?’” Ford said.

“In a short time, asking has become a big thing.”

Each generation has an impact on popular culture like prom, and will continue to do so over the years. In doing so, they create memories that last a lifetime.

We went to David’s Whitehouse, a restaurant inside an old farmhouse in New Kent,” Andersen said. “My husband and I still talk about that dining experience prom night.”

FRIDAY 4.11.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 13

rough Decades.

ABOVE RIGHT : Beth Anderson, AP and Honors 12th grade English teacher, posed for a picture with her now husband, Daniel Anderson, at their senior prom in 1994. Photo provided by Beth Anderson.

ABOVE LEFT: Now seniors Mitchell Smith and Erica Skiddle snap a picture with their prom group at senior Bryant Mark’s house. Photo provided by Erica Skiddle.

LEFT: Now junior, Madison Hagee, and her date, Mikey Gross, take a photo at Appomattox Manor in Hopewell for the 2013 prom. Photo provided by Madison Hagee.

Are You Going To Prom?

What do you think is the most important aspect of prom?

Yes

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” m

.

, e

d l

In what aspect do you think prom has changed the most Dress over the years?

‘Promposal’ This survey was taken of 100 students in their 5th block classes.

14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.11.14

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FRIDAY 4.11.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 15

A&E

PG Playlist

1

“Talk Dirty”- Jason Derulo ft.

2 Chainz

2

“Dark Horse”- Katy Perry ft.

Juicy J

3

“All of Me”- John Legend

4

Director Michael Warnock conducts the band during a performance this past winter. Seniors will perform under the direction of Warnock for the last time at the spring concert on May 12.

Photo by Jacqueline Thomas.

Members of the band rehearse for their final concert of the year. Practices began at the beginning of March. The concert will be on May 12.

Photo By Debra Thomas

Seniors Prepare For Final Concert Band And Choir Seniors Rehearse For Spring Recital Ryan Albright trn writer

A

ll of the senior choir and band members prepare before walking on the stage and performing their hearts out in front of community members for the last time, while the other members are trying to truly make this a night to remember for the seniors.

The band will have their fourth and final concert of the school year, coming up on May 12. They are performing with the choir for their annual spring concert. This will be the band and choir’s second performance together this year. The first performance together was the Winter Concert that took place in December.

For the seniors, it will be their last concert of their high school career. Junior Katie Skinner is very optimistic on the bands performance in the concert.

“By the looks of it right now, I think [the band] will perform pretty well,” Skinner said.

“I think that [our performance at the Spring

Concert] will be better than what we did at the festival and Winter Concert. Personally, I think I will do considerably better [than I did in the Winter Concert], thanks to Mr. Warnock giving me some advice to really help me build my skills.”

The band has been working really hard to ensure a good performance in the spring concert. “[The band] has been practicing a lot, and [personally] having two band classes for Mr. Warnock to be able to help me has been key in preparing for the concert,” senior Anna Rook said.

The senior band members’ emotions will definitely be showing as they perform for the last time. “[I am just going to] have a blast [in my last performance], with the people that I have grown up with since I first started band,” Rook said. “I think that the fact that [the spring concert] is going to be my last performance will affect the way that I perform. I think that it’s going to be a little harder [of a performance], and I’m going to be a little more emotional and [I’m going to be] afraid to mess up more than normal.”

On the other side, the choir has also been

preparing for the concert. Sophomore Casey Odum, who sang in the Winter Concert, is hoping for the same outcome in the Spring Concert.

“We have practiced a lot, especially on the songs that Ms. Barkley has prepared for us,” Odum said. “Hopefully we will do well, and our voices will harmonize decently, as well as having a good time while we sing the songs that we have practiced really hard on.”

Expectations for all of the choir members seem to be high, just as they were in December.

“I think that each of the separate choirs will do a fantastic job performing our separate pieces,” senior Rheannan Traylor said.

“Personally, I plan to do the best I have ever done because it is my senior year and I want to go out [with] the feeling that I performed to the best of my abilities.”

The senior choir members will have the same approach as the band members, with it being their last performance.

“I’m looking forward to getting to perform with my peers that I have been in choir with since eighth grade,” Traylor said. “I am going to miss Ms. Barkley the most because she made choir worth every minute.”

“Show Me”- Kid Ink ft. Chris Brown

5

“Let It Go”- Idina Menzel

6

“Turn Down For What”- DJ Snake and Lil Jon

7

“Happy”- Pharrell Williams

8

“Loyal”- Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & French Montana or Too $hort or Tyga

9

“Drunk In Love”- Beyonce ft.

Jay Z

10

“Timber”- Pitbull ft. Kesha A survey was conducted during 5th period classes and included 100 students.

16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.11.14

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Grea Cont t BBQ! act J Nan eff at nysb bq2@ to ha g mail. ve N com your anny’s ca t next event er .

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A&E Players Take On Penzance PG Players Prepare For Spring Operetta The Pirates of Penance Qadirah Monroe trn writer

C

aptains Daryl Phillips, Jessica Barkley, and their crew, the PG Players, are taking this spring’s theater production by storm: Pirate style.

This spring, the PG Players are doing their spin on Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. The Pirates of Penzance is a comedic 19th century opera shaped around a young pirate apprentice named Frederick, his farewell to his fellow pirates, and the love he finds along the way.

“Frederick was sworn into piracy by accident when he was eight,” senior Sade Ferguson said. “Now that he is 21 years old, he plans to legally leave the pirates to live a blameless life.”

Ferguson portrays the character Mabel, Frederick’s love interest in The Pirates of Penzance. The male lead, Frederick, is played by sophomore Kevin Foster.

Though she has had familiarity with the opera in the past, being the musical director in a high school rendition of Pirates of Penzance is all new to Barkley.

“I’ve performed the show before [in the choir], but I’ve never been on the director’s side,” Barkley said. “It’s been really fun to get to work with this type of music, and also to watch the students experience something new.”

Because the play is a musical, students must take part in both musical and stage rehearsals.

Though the doubling up with music and lines is hard work, sophomore Lexi Korkos still manages to always have a good time.

“We have funny moments that make our practices exciting,” Korkos said. “The show itself is already hilarious, so it’s exciting even when we’re being completely serious.”

Musical rehearsals usually involve variations of vocal warm ups for the actors and going over sheet music and parts in the choir room with Barkley. Stage rehearsals consist of going over character lines and stage positions in the auditorium with both Phillips and Barkley.

FRIDAY 4.11.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 17

CONGRATULATIONS

a

TO THE NEW MEMBERS

OF THE 2014-2015 ROYAL NEWS STAFF Angelica Martinez Tiana Whaley Matteo Reed Sage Ginther Rosemarie Hopkins Aldolesa Adams Chance Thweatt Brooke Guerrero Sebastion Turiette Paul Dennis Cassie Kolbo

CONGRATULATIONS

H

TO THE NEW MEMBERS

Before taking the stage on opening night, the players take part in pre-show ritual as a group and warm up their voices. Though they have a group ritual, many PG Players have their own personal rituals that help calm their preshow jitters.

“Before a performance I always warm up my voice,” Korkos said. “I also like to step way and have some peaceful quiet time before the show.”

The musical will take place on May 1st through May 3rd beginning at 7:00 PM. On Sat. May 3rd, there will be a 2:00 PM matinée showing of the musical. The money raised will be contributed to a charitable cause.

“All of the ticket sales from the 2:00 showing on May 3rd will be contributed to the John Randolph Foundation, to benefit the Marvin Massenburg Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund,” Phillips said. “This is the drama department’s second year doing this.”

In the spring of 2013, the drama department donated the money raised from the matinée showing of The House of Dracula to the Marvin Massenburg Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, in honor of the late Marvin Massenburg Jr.

The Police of Penzance pose behind a tree to escape their pirate captors. Rehearsals for Pirates began at the beginning of the semester. The performances will be May 1 , 2 , & 3.

Photo by Debra Thomas.

Phillips wants to make the donation an annual custom in the future.

“Last year the fundraising was really successful. I definitely want the donation to be a tradition,” Phillips said. “Every spring, form now on, we’ll have a matinee showing of our play to support the Marvin Massenburg Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund.”

The PG Players have worked for months on the production of The Pirates of Penzance and they cannot wait to take the stage and show what they’ve got.

“There’s nothing better than seeing our friends and family out in the crowd supporting us,” junior Samantha Martin said. “They get to see all of the hard work and we get to make them proud. I’m excited.”

OF THE 2014-2015 PGTV NEWS STAFF Meade Wilson Jenna Taylor Alyssa Jordan Kaitlyn Cotcamp BrendaL Vargo Sarah Moore Ally Renn Casey Abernathy Savannah Watkins Madison Stillings Sandra Grant Brooklyn Morning Travis Temple Daniel Puryear Kayla Cobb Hannah Knott Ymonee Fountain Corrine Marshall Taylor Bland Cassidy Campbell Kaitlyn Roberts Tiffany Tawes Robert McKinley Matt Johnson

18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.11.14

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FRIDAY 4.11.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 19

Gamer's Corner

Entertainment T Expenses Rise Increasing Costs Of Different Entertainment Forms Stimulate Lower Participation From Students Samantha Daniel trn writer

F

ifty years ago it cost less than a dollar to see a movie. People could go to the movies every day of the week and spend seven dollars. Things have definitely changed. According to thewrap.com, the average movie ticket price today is $8.05. That is more for one movie than the average person in the 1960s had to pay for seven.

According to nytimes.com, movie prices have surpassed inflation and because of the almost annual price increases, theater attendance has fallen tremendously. Also according to The New York Times, some people are cautious to spend so much money on a movie that they may not even like.

Senior Rachel Moore loves watching movies and does so frequently. However, she thinks ticket prices are insane and sometimes she feels like she does not get her money’s worth.

“I feel that movies are only overpriced if after the movie, you feel as if you wasted your life going to see it,” Moore said. “You get your money’s worth when you see a movie and it makes you think differently.”

Sophomore Savannah Watkins also loves movies and frequents movie theaters although the prices are high. She feels like she usually gets her money’s worth despite the high costs.

“It depends, if I see a really bad movie, I’m really disappointed,” Watkins said. “But if it was good, it was worth it.”

Movies are not alone when it comes to rising prices. Other forms of entertainment have also become increasingly more expensive.

A blogger on wcfcourier.com can remember paying $2.50 to see the Beach boys. Today, concert tickets can be sometimes cost hundreds of dollars. It is hard to find good seats that are affordable, and it would be impossible to find

tickets for three dollars.

Watkins is an avid concert goer; she goes every couple of months. However, she is not shy in admitting that pricing is ridiculous.

“It is overpriced to the max,” Watkins said.

“Seats for a concert are like 400 dollars.”

Students also enjoy visiting amusement parks and sporting events. Tickets for these forms of entertainment can be very pricey.

However, season passes can alleviate the cost and help frequent goers get the most for their money. A single day ticket for an adult at Busch Gardens is $72.00 and a season pass is also $72.

This makes it more cost effective, but $72 is still costly.

Senior Will Bonnell spends money on attending amusement parks with his friends. He believes that the prices can often be too expensive.

“Costs of entertainment can often be frustrating and can keep me from participating in more expensive types of entertainment like football games and going to amusement parks like Busch Gardens,” Bonnell said.

Sporting events can be somewhat reasonable on the local level. Students can get into school football games for seven dollars and school basketball games for five dollars. Other school sporting events are free. The local minor

The sales receipt for a matinee showing of Divergent shows the current price at Regal Southpark Mall Stadium 16.

Photo By Debra Thomas league baseball team, The Flying Squirrels sells general admissions tickets for $35.

Moore is an avid attendee at baseball games. She enjoys going to watch them. Therefore, she believes she gets her money’s worth.

“Baseball games are reasonable,” Moore said. “[I get my money’s worth] if my teams wins.”

Entertainment in today’s culture is expensive. Nothing is as cheap as it once was and prices seem to still be increasing. Movies will most likely never be less than a dollar again and concert tickets will never be found for 2 dollars.

The truth of the matter is, society’s younger generation is paying more for all forms of entertainment.

Moore can attest to this.

“I just feel like the things that we spend money on to have fun cost so much because people that set the prices know that however much the tickets cost, there will still be people to buy them,” Moore said. “My grandmother always tells me how inexpensive it was to see a movie when she was my age.”

he Metal Gear Solid series is downright convoluted, despite how incredible a franchise it is. With somewhat questionable continuity, multiple plot lines, and notoriously dense melodrama all coming into play, the subject material can be hard to keep up with. Metal Gear Solid V does itself no favors in this regard by splitting up the experience into two separate games: the recently released Travis Temple Ground Zeroes and its forthcoming companion The Phantom Pain. The former is essentially a demo, a prologue, and a tutorial, while the latter is the meat of the experience. Fans have cried foul over having to pay for a demo that would normally be attached to the main game, but Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is a fantastic experience and remains competent as a standalone product, albeit a short one.

For a series with iconic gameplay, Metal Gear Solid has never been afraid to change the mechanics at will, and the Ground Zeroes iteration of stealth is easily the smoothest yet. Movement is fluid, combat is streamlined, and silent takedowns have reverted back to an older system that works better, making Ground Zeroes an absolute blast to play.

The graphical fidelity on display is also leagues beyond anything else on the console market, save one or two upcoming releases. These two traits make a good impression and are a sign of what to expect from The Phantom Pain, which is likely to come out sometime in 2015.

The only major gripe I have with Ground Zeroes is the writer and director Hideo Kojima’s needless desire to “push” the boundaries of storytelling through shock value. There is a particularly unsettling scene at the end of the game that feels like an unnecessary and underdeveloped part of the plot, and the lazy attempt to “go there” makes me think the video game industry may not be ready to properly handle touchy themes.

Other than the brief instances of poorly-handled adult subject matter, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is a standout prologue that should whet the appetite for those awaiting the rest of the game.

20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.1 1.14

ph tOGallery

Community Runs On For Build On LEFT: Senior Becky Shumar strolled to the finish line. Shumar came in third place overall. “I have ran many races before and I ran this race to support BuildOn,” Shumar said.

Middle: Ross Johnson, senior Alex Smith, and sophomore John Paul run together to the finish line.

Above: Sponsor Cynthia Hasley handed out the medals to the runners. This was the first year for the run, and the first year BuildOn was established as a club at school.

BELOW: The club members of BuildOn met together April 6th to hold their first 5k run at Battlefield park. “The run went great . There was a lot of support from the soldiers and Fort Lee. I was really pleased with it,” Hasley said.

Photos by Debra Thomas

SPringSPorts Athletes Reveal Their

PG Bag Check

Sports Bags’ Contents

FRIDAY 4.11.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 21

Senior Spotlight Joey Runion

Baseball

Senior Kameron Smith Soccer 1) Cleats 2) Shin Guards 3) Extra Clothes 4) Goalie Gloves 5) Water Bottle Sophomore Marcey Jiles Softball 1) Sunglasses 6) Helmet 2)First Aid Kit 7) Balls 3) Gloves 4) Bats 5)Cleats Sophomore Jackson Rivera Baseball 1) Pants 6) Cleats 2) Socks 7) Favorite Hat 3) Belt 4) Shirts 5) Bat Junior JuniorTyra No. 6Anderson Seed Tyra Anderson Tennis Tennis 1)1) Racquets 7) Sweatshirt 2)2)Hats 8)Contact Solution 3)3)Water Bottle 9) Lotion 4)4)Sneakers 5)5)Neon Socks 6)6) Uniform

How did you get into baseball?

“My brother always played so I just played with him when I was younger.”

How long have you been playing baseball?

“I have been playing for seven years.”

Do you plan on playing baseball after you graduate?

Why or why not?

“No, I rather hang it up. I’ve lost interest.”

Does being a senior have any effect on how you will play this?

“It feels different, but I’ll still be there doing the same thing as the younger people. I just have more experience.”

How do you think this season will go “Hopefully we will go to the championship.”

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22 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 4.11.14

LAST DAY IS MAY 1 LAST DAY IS MAY 1

Springsports

FRIDAY 4.11.14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 23

Legends

Of The Game Legacies Of Long Time Coaches Are Examined

Debra Thomas A&E Editor

F

rom calling plays, making rosters, to teaching the ways of a game, coaching is an integral part of playing any sport.

Coaches not only lead the team, but teach values of the game that make huge impacts in players’ lives.

Within the county several coaches have led legacies in their sports, as they have been coaching or have coached for many years. They have led and inspired many, as well as making a name for themselves as coaches. Their coaching styles have made their legacies stand a part.

“I’ve never thought of myself as being set apart, except for my faith,” Coach Patrick Waguespack said. “I think I have a low key, but focused, style of coaching. I think I believe you need to play games in a relaxed mind set, and when I’m in a relaxed mind set, I find that I can focus more as a player, therefore I coach that way.”

Wa g u e s p a c k has been coaching for 36 years- 36 years

of football and 34 years of softball. Waguespack played sports during his high school and college education.

“It seemed like a natural progression from playing to coaching,” Waguespack said.

As a coach, Waguespack teaches his players the lessons of the game, but also believes that sports can teach you about life. Waguespack teaches faith, family, team-work, hard work, to enjoy life, and to “keep your chin up regardless of what happens.”

“He [Waguespack] has taught us to be more team oriented and to put the team before yourself,” senior Whitney Clements said. “That has been his main thing this year.”

Softball’s brother sport baseball has a legacy as well.

Coach Michael Roberts has been coaching for a total of 31 years, 13 of which he was assistant coach and 18 of which he was head coach.

“He [Roberts] has been doing this for so long at such a high level,” junior Trevor Meyers said. “He is so consistent, and I haven’t ever met anyone who knows so much about baseball.”

While his main focus is coaching the team, many of Roberts’ practices transfer

into the real world. Roberts’ makes sure his players understand commitment, loyalty, honesty, and respect.

“If you want to be really good at something, the only thing that is holding you back is yourself,” Roberts said. “If you fully commit yourself to the task, good things tend to happen to you.”

Roberts is able to reflect on his entire career with pride in his former and current players.

“Since 1999, there have been 89 guys through the [baseball] program,” Roberts said. “83 [of the players] went to college, 44 played collegiately, and 15 were drafted by Major League Baseball.”

In the past few years, boys and girls tennis has had a tradition of playing very well and bringing home titles.

With a tennis legacy, it is a small step to see the coaching legacy of former coach Paul Cash. “[I] Really love working with student athletes, love the teaching of skills, love the teaching of the many different strategies, [and I] enjoy the “work,” although I do not consider it work, of establishing and maintaining a successful program that the players can enjoy,” Cash said.

Before retirement, Cash had coached

Varsity baseball Coach Micheal Roberts shares his expertise of the game with his players during practice. Roberts has been coaching for a total of 31 years.

Photo by Christina Buckles. the girls’ tennis team for 28 years and the boys’ tennis team for 27. As a coach, Cash and his teams won over 30 district titles.

Between both the girls and boys tennis teams, Cash has coached 634 winning matches, making him the tennis coach with the most wins in Virginia.

“The number one thing that set him apart from other coaches was his dedication and commitment,” alumnus Jordan Thompson said. “He was always willing to work with you year round, even in the 30 degree weather in the middle of December.

His whole goal was to improve each and every one of his players, no matter the skill level and that is exactly what he did. He did not favorite one player over another. He simply worked with all of the players and dedicated segments of his time to everyone and what their best interest was.”

Coaches are vital to each sport of which they are a part. They try their best to ensure that the players are equipped to their best ability, so that in the end, no matter win or loss, the individual players have an outlook that will produce a fully functional team.

Sports

Spring Calendar

Boys Soccer Schedule

Tues., Apr. 22 @ Meadowbrook 6 PM Thurs., Apr. 24 vs. Matoaca 6:30 PM Fri., Apr. 25 vs. Clover Hill 7 PM

Girls Soccer Schedule

Tues., Apr. 22 vs. Meadowbrook 6 PM Thurs., Apr. 24 @ Matoaca 7 PM Fri., Apr. 25 @ Clover Hill 7 PM

Baseball Schedule

Mon., Apr. 14 Inv. Tourn. 4 PM Tues., Apr. 22 @ Meadowbrook 5 PM Thurs., Apr. 24 vs. Matoaca 6 PM

Battered, Not Broken Softball Team Members Explain Life Since Injury Austin Britt trn writer

A

t the same time, two team members are focusing on the recovery process to get back on the field again.

The consequences and limitations that an injury can inflict upon someone can be season-ending. In junior Tarah Ashley’s case, though, the limitations do not fully extend to practice.

“During practice, I am still able to run and contribute as support to the practice in any way I can,” Ashley said. “I am sort of an errand girl now because of my injury.”

Ashley fractured her finger earlier this year when she caught a softball without her glove.

“Even though my injury limits me, I am still trying everything I can at practice,” Ashley said.

With a fractured finger, the limitations brought upon Ashley are not practice-ending. In sophomore Brendal Vargo’s case, though, practice is not possible.

“I have something called spinal stenosis, and the doctors don’t know how I got it,” Vargo said. “I am not able to participate in any part of practice because of it.”

This major setback in Vargo’s softball career is not her first incident with this injury either.

“This is my second straight year dealing with this injury,” Vargo said. “I have to get surgery again.”

Despite the major roadblocks this injury is to Ashley’s season, she is very optimistic for the future.

“My injury has really made me want to get back on the field and play even more,” Ashley said. “It has also helped me realize the need for certain steps that need to be taken to avoid injury like catching the ball with a glove.”

Although the injuries have derailed Vargo’s season, her passion and drive for the game has affected her view she has on softball.

“Being injured for a second straight season has decreased my passion for softball,” Vargo said. “With that said, my injury has also made me want to come back even stronger than before.”

The motivating factor from Ashley’s injury has pushed her to recover as quickly as possible. Because of that, Ashley has to take certain and specific precautions pertaining to her injury.

“I have to ice my finger and then put it in hot water, and then repeat,” Ashley said. “I have also banded my fractured finger with the finger beside it.”

Ashley’s injury has been detrimental to her season, but not season altering. Vargo’s injury, the more taxing of the two, has caused her to miss this entire season.

“For my recovery process [5 months], there is no therapy or rehab; I have to walk a lot and stay active,” Vargo said. “But, I don’t want to overdo it either.”

Through injuries both girls have managed to maintain a passion for softball.

Staying involved in the game has helped fuel the duo’s lasting desire to comeback and be better than ever before.

Junior Tarah Ashley awaits an oncoming fly ball.

Ashley has had to overcome a fractured finger this season. Photo by Daniel Puryear.

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