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Green & Gold
Volume XXV, Issue IV NEWS
COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed across US. Page 5
February 25, 2021
A Publication of Wesleyan School EDITORIAL Feel the love!
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FEATURES
Quarantine brings in new pets and binge-worthy shows. Page 8
SPORTS
Winter sports recap.
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Wesleyan honors Black History Month Carson Schiller Black History Month is an annual celebration of triumphs and challenges by the African Americans throughout history and to this day. Since 1976, the month of February has been designated as the spotlight month for African Americans across the country to celebrate their heritage and journey to where they are today. When thinking of black leaders, those who come to mind are ones with significant roles in the change of society such as Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, and Rosa Parks. Although Diversity Coordinator Dr. Isaiah Hill remembers those historical figures who helped equality evolve in society, he said, “When I think of Black History Month, I think it is more personal to me. I always think back to my grandfather and how his investment in me kind of set the foundation for me and how I thought of myself as a black man and what was required of me in terms of hard work, diligence, and loyalty.” Much like Hill, junior Connor Carroll said, “I think of my grandparents, my dad, my great grandmother - people who have represented excellence and paved the way for me to be who I am today. If it weren’t for those people, I wouldn’t be Connor.” The month of February sets the tone for the rest of the year on how society should act and be reminded of in terms of fair treatment no matter the skin color, standing up for what is right, and loving one’s neighbors like
Wesleyan celebrates Valentine’s Day
Avery Pursell Valentine’s Day festivities can be celebrated whether you are in a relationship or not, and there are ways to still make the day special even with COVID-19 that can lead to a safe and special day. Valentine’s Day is a day typically reserved for couples, but there are a lot of ways to celebrate no matter what your love life looks like. This holiday looks different for everybody. For some it is a day to be with the person you love and
Mr. and Mrs. Holmes celebrate Valentine’s Day at Waffle House. Holmes for others it is an excuse to eat candy. Latin teacher Abby Holmes said, “Mr. Holmes and I have been going to Waffle House for the past three years because they have a special candlelight dinner option with a set menu.” Even though COVID-19 is (Con’t on pg. 3)
Director of Junior High Ministries at Perimeter Church Davon Stack speaks to students in chapel about Psalm 23 and how it relates to his own story.
Bowling
the Bible says. Hill said, “[Black History Month] occurs early enough in the year that hopefully it can be on the forefront of peoples’ minds.” Although the celebration only lasts a month, it is a time, as Carroll said, “to embrace each other and black culture.” Carroll’s family celebrates Black History Month by attending an Afri-
can American church with a special black history service. Carroll said, “[Uniquely], we go to the Civil Rights Museum in Atlanta [as well].” Black History Month specifically celebrates the progression of history in term of civil rights. 1965 was an extremely significant year for African Americans as it was the year the Voting Rights Amendment was passed giving African Americans the right to vote and preventing racial discrimination in the voting process. Hill said, “Whenever you can be a part of decisions that will have a huge impact on how your days [go on], I think that is [vital].” Although America has come a long way thanks to many Civil Rights actions and empowering figures in history, but there is still a lot to be done. Carroll said, “There is still mistreatment of African American people in all spectrums. If we don’t learn from history, we are destined to repeat it.” This month is a chance to motivate a change in equality and set the tone for progress the rest of the year. Carroll said, “If we didn’t have Black History Month, what African American people have done for our country would be overlooked by society.” Specifically, this year at Wesleyan, there will be chapel devotions in the month of February highlighting Black History Month and the important steps to change in American society. Carroll said, “[We are planning] on having discussions in DEAR time about Black (Con’t. on pg. 5)
Wesleyan introduces new course offerings Kendrick Archer Wesleyan announced three new courses that will be offered next year in the high school for next year: two stem classes and one history class. Each year, Wesleyan adds new courses and curriculum to the high school, but recently Wesleyan has been focusing on expanding their STEM programs. The mission for Wesleyan’s STEM program is for every student to have the opportunity to discover and develop their skills as problem-solvers. Director of STEM Randy Cailor is in charge of presenting the new STEM courses and making Wesleyan’s STEM mission possible. AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) will be the second foundational course in Computer Science for 10th - 12th grade. This class is being brought to Wesleyan so that students have more advanced technology and engineering courses. This course is designed to prepare students for the AP Computer Science Principles exam as well as future computer science classes in high school, and, more importantly, college. As an AP course, students are faced with challenges as students begin to explore how computing and technology can impact the world. The goal of the class is to create leaders in computer science fields. It is a rigorous and engaging full-year course that explores many of the foundational ideas of computing and compelling careers within computer science. Cailor is also introducing the STEM Senior Seminar to Wesleyan. The STEM Senior Seminar will become
the most advanced STEM class at Wesleyan. It is for seniors only and Cailor said students will “work to design and develop an original solution to valid open-ended, real-world problems by applying the design process using all their secondary level knowledge and skill sets developed throughout all their schooling and life experiences.” In this class, seniors will explore five learning objectives: Senior Design Project, External Engagement, Leadership Development, Personal Reflection, and Public Presentation. The class is a yearlong course and requires an application, as well as several prerequisites, such as AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, AP (Con’t on pg. 3)
Director of STEM Randy Cailor shows a robot being made in new STEM courses. Parsonnet
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EDITORIAL
The Wesleyan community feels the love It is mid-February… do you feel the love? This month is centered around either the most dreaded or enjoyed holiday- Valentine’s Day. Are you drowning in love and romance or in a personal platter of chocolate-covered strawberries? During a time surrounded by so much love, it is important to remember one thing: to love others, we must first love ourselves. The last year has been filled with so much confusion, uncertainty, and doubt. For a lot of people, self-isolation and quarantine has caused increased anxiety and the feeling of loneliness. In the early months of quar-
During a time surrounded by so much love, it is important to remember one thing: to love others, we must first love ourselves. antine, I spent a lot of time cooped up in my house scrolling on social media. Let me tell you one thing: comparison kills. While social media has the ability to bring people together beautifully, it also has the tendency to rip people’s self-confidence to shreds no matter how old you are. Self-love is something that you must wake up and choose every day. Throughout high school, I have struggled with self-love, and I know I am not alone in that. But I discover something new about myself every day and that excites me. On good days, I look in the mirror and admire how
beautiful and healthy my hair looks or how I look perfectly shaped and skinny because I just woke up. But, on bad days (and we all have them) I pick apart every little imperfection I find. Whether it be a tiny blemish on my face, a mark from a stomach roll after just standing up, or how my legs touch when I stand with
While social media has the ability to bring people together beautifully, it also has the tendency to rip people’s self-confidence to shreds no matter how old you are. them together. These imperfections are all realistic and they are all beautiful. Even on bad days when I think my hair looks a mess or my skin looks discolored, I chose to be confident. If I look at myself in the
These imperfections are all realistic, and they are all beautiful. mirror, pleased with who I am, then other people will, too. We are the most critical of ourselves, and that is something I must tell myself every day multiple times a day.
C. Archer.
Green & Gold Staff Editor-in-Chief….…………...................................Anna Grace Bowling ‘21 Photo and Senior Spotlights Editor..............................Maddie Parsonnet ‘21 Christian Life Editor.....….…………....................……….Avery Pursell ‘21 School Life Editor…….…………...…………....................Rosie Taylor ‘21 Sports Editor….....………………….....................……..Carson Schiller ‘21 Staff Writers……………………...................………....Kendrick Archer ‘22 .........................................................................................Vance Nicklaus ‘21 Advisers………….…….....................…………………..Meredith Jamieson …….....……………......................……………………….…Andrea Shupert All pictures are taken by Maddie Parsonnet unless otherwise noted on the page. Editorials represent the opinion of the individual writer. The Green & Gold welcomes letters to the editor, and reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity, and content. Email greenandgold@wesleyanschool.org or place letters in Mrs. Shupert’s box. Publication address: The Green & Gold Wesleyan School 5405 Spalding Drive Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
Everyone struggles with self-love. Even your favorite athletes, celebrities, and influencers are hiding insecurities behind what you see on the screen. It is just part of growing up and life in general. I encourage you all- stop comparing! Comparing yourself to what
Everyone struggles with self-love. It is just a part of growning up. you see online and in other people will only ruin your image of yourself. Acknowledge your imperfections, cry about them too, and embrace your beauty. Let it shine through you. Have bad days and let them be that and enjoy and relish the good days. Whether or not you are spending this Valentine’s Day alone on your couch watching Rom-Coms and eating your feelings away or being showered with red roses and affection, I hope you know that you are loved. Everyone is entitled to bad days but strive for more good ones. You only have one body- appreciate it and love it until it expires forever. Sincerely,
Anna Grace Bowling Editor-in-Chief
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New protocol set in place for admissions at Wesleyan Avery Pursell This year everything has looked different including admissions here at Wesleyan and with all the new protocols that COVID has created, the admissions team at Wesleyan has had to make several modifications that are safe including less people at tours and more virtual touring options. Admissions season at Wesleyan is a very important time for new prospective families and the Wesleyan admissions team. A lot of the qualities that make Wesleyan’s admissions process unique, like student ambassadors and prospective student shadowing, have been taken away due to COVID, but the admissions team has been working extra hard to come up with new ways to incorporate prospective families onto campus while following COVID guidelines and restrictions. Assistant Director of Admissions Meredith Jamieson said, “We are not allowed to take our tours in and out of the classrooms as in the past. We can only take around 6 people at a time, which has caused us to have to double the amount of tours given.” Although tour groups cannot go all around campus, they are allowed in some places like Austin Chapel, main level of Fine Arts, Yancey, the cafeteria, and Powell Theater. Jamieson said, “It helps if families know someone who went or goes to Wesleyan, so they can really learn about the full Wesleyan experience.” One major event that was taken away this year was Wesleyan’s Open House event, which typically takes place January 9th. This would have been a chance for
prospective families to get a chance to look at the campus and meet some faculty, but with the rise of cases this event was not possible this year. However, the Admissions and Communications teams at Wesleyan worked to figure out another solution to the problem. Head ofAd-
Admissions Assitant Monica Macia and Admissions Coordinator Sylvia Pryor work long hours for admissions. Jamieson
Valentine’s Day (Con’t. from page 1)
present during Valentine’s Day, Holmes still plans on keeping her traditions. Obviously, many things will have to be different this year since there are limitations on the amount of people allowed in restaurants and people staying at home to prevent getting sick. Even with taking the right precautions, there are plenty of other ways to make Valentine’s Day special from home. Some ways to stay healthy and happy at- home while making the night special is by creating an at-home movie night. This offers a comfy option where a couple can choose a film and watch it together with some Valentine’s Day treats. This is also a great option to do with friends who are distant or quarantined because many TV providers including Disney+ are offering a “watch Seniors Lilly Tapp and Reese Alecxih a film together” option where everyone can watch the exchange valentines. Pursell same thing at the same time. Another way to make a contactless Valentine’s Day special is by sending flowers or chocolates to your significant other or even one of your friends to brighten their day. Many floral shops had to close down due to the risk of spreading COVID-19, but now almost all are back open with contactless deliveries available. A gift one can eat is also a great way to get someone’s attention, and you can never go wrong with chocolate-covered strawberries. One way the school has tried to make Valentine’s Day special for the high schoolers every year is compatibility tests. This year the tests had to be modified by making it an online survey that each person fills out and the results will be distributed virtually as well rather than during lunch in person. Couples are not the only people who can make Valentine’s Day a fun holiday. For most, it is a day filled with sweets. Holmes said, “I like the Jub Jel Cherry Hearts. I love choco- A display of treats awaits seniors on late, but I will always choose something sour over chocolate. Valentine’s Day. Bowling I am a really big sweets person, and I love it all.” Senior Reese Alecxih said, “I love anything chocolate and I love the heart Reese’s that are only out during the Valentine’s Day season.” Valentine’s Day is a day where love is celebrated. People love this holiday for many different reasons whether it be candy or being with loved ones. Alecxih said, “My favorite part about Valentine’s Day is the entire day. It’s so fun because of the candy, the extra joy, and I love to see what my mom does for us when we get home.” There are so much possibilities for Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is more than just a holiday for couples to celebrate being together; it is a day where everyone can enjoy being together whether they have a Valentine or not.
missions Mari Beth King said, “Anyone exploring or applying to Wesleyan this year will be sent an envelope with specific cards that have QR codes from different staff members.” The links include talks from many staff members from different departments including each of the school level principals, Head of Diversity Dr. Jennifer Pinkett- Smith, and Headmaster Chris Cleveland. Since no one was allowed inside of the Lower School for tours this year, King filmed a personal tour of the school, which is also available to be streamed. King said, “On the Wesleyan website we now have a virtual campus tour, which gives people a chance to explore the campus as well.” Another typical activity the admissions team set up was student shadowing where prospective students would get to follow around a student from their grade to show them what a day at Wesleyan would look like. Since shadowing is no longer allowed, there will be a virtual option instead where prospective students can join a zoom meeting and meet some administration, faculty, and a student from either the high, middle, or lower school. All in all, Wesleyan is very grateful that even in these difficult and distant times, administrators in admissions have still found ways to make the process for possible Wesleyan families more personal.
New Courses
(Con’t. from page 1) Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, or at least one full year of STEM. Cailor said, “We’re actually changing the graduation requirements, so students can take STEM classes for their fine arts credits.” Wesleyan is trying to round out the computer science offerings and add in more advanced technology and engineering classes as well as several more fundamental classes. Cailor said, “So the whole thing with all the STEM courses is that if you take something one year, we want K-12 to have something bigger and better for the next year.” Social Sciences Department Chair Ted Russell is in charge of presenting Contemporary Global Issues as a social studies class next year. It is important to understand the global impact of events and decisions around the world. This course is a semester-long class with no final exam. It will focus on Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The class with have students emphasizing culture, social structure, and institutions. This class is coming to Wesleyan to replace the World War II class. Russell said, “We felt like World War II is a little bit of a repetitive subject, and there is only a small group of people who really want to learn about it,” and that “we were trying to find something that might be of interest in a broader context. We’re also trying to find a class that can play off of current events that are going on in the world.” This class is something that Social Science Teacher Ari Young had taught once called “Comparative Government and Economics.” There is a set curriculum that has within it the flexibility, as events take place in the word, for the teacher to be able to expand on those and fit in in with the framework of what the students are being taught. Russell said, “It will explore current topical events as they pertain to the economy, politics, popular culture, and technology.” The course will require more intensive reading on each subject, and the class will be primarily discussion-based, with the goal to promote understanding and provoke thought on a wide range of issues and topics. Russell said, “Also, maybe even more important, (the course) talks about the role of the media, and how that shapes people’s impressions and how that plays into what happens in our society.” Social Sciences teacher Ari Young will be teaching new Contemporary Global Issue class Taylor
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Wesleyan looks foward to new year Rosie Taylor
Wesleyan School has made it through the crazy year that was 2020, and now the students, faculty, and community are looking forward to what 2021 has to offer. 2020 was a hard year worldwide, and those challenges also hit Wesleyan School. With COVID-19 making the school have to deal with hybrid schedules, contact tracing, and limited ability to do normal activities, Wesleyan is hopeful for 2021 and what it could potentially offer. Head of School Chris Cleveland, Student Activities Coordinator Brian Krehmeyer, and Assistant Director of Christian Life (Service) Corrie Nash are all working hard to plan ahead for 2021. Service has always been an important part of Wesleyan school. In 2020, the Omicron team still served the best they could under the circumstances. This year, students signed up for days they could help out with ministries like Spring of Peace and the Neighborhood Co-op. Students were able to help these kids with English because it has been even harder for these children to study because of virtual learning. Going into 2021, the circumstances are going to remain the same. There will still be sign-ups for students to help after school and on weekends, but at this time that is all that can be done in that regard. Wesleyan is very positive and hopeful for service opportunities in 2021. Nash said, “The middle school and high school have done donations for hygiene and food, and donating is still an act of service. Students have also been writing letters to soldiers and staff to say thank you. Wesleyan plans to do more acts of service like this in 2021.” It is easy to want to focus on ourselves and other things going on in life, but because of Wesleyan’s foundations, the school has made it a priority to continue to try and serve. Nash said, “It is important to look outside of ourselves during stressful times like these and help the community. Our faith as Christians is founded on serving others and following Jesus’ example.” This is the mindset that Wesleyan has for service in 2021, and the school hopes to serve as much as possible. School life must go on in 2021. Although this year the activities are limited, Wesleyan has always focused on making the school a good learning environment but also an enjoyable place to be. Student Government is excited for a new year and what it has to offer, but that does not take away the challenges. Krehmeyer said, “The Student Government is always looking for ways to uplift student morale and school spirit, but just because the calendar turned to 2021, that doesn’t mean the challenges 2020 presented us have gone away. We are still faced with the same obstacles when trying to host large gatherings in close proximity.” The Student Government is going to do everything
Teaching Assistant Stephanie McDaniel, freshman Ginny Kate McDaniel, junior Tinsley Bertram, and sophomore Ireland Riley serve at Spring of Peace Ministry.
Spring of Peace
they can to make 2021 an exciting year for the students and faculty, but ultimately a lot of that does rely on how COVID-19 continues to play out. Krehmeyer and the Student Government team are having to be more creative this year, but their mindset remains positive. Krehmeyer said, “It is unfortunate that so much of what makes Wesleyan special can’t happen right now—Mission Trips, attendance at sporting events, some sporting events themselves, the Homecoming Dance, so many senior-related events, even just having all students on campus and in class at the same time. It really stinks but once we come to terms that those things aren’t able to happen, then we can begin to focus on what other things CAN happen and set ourselves to having fun in other ways.” Wesleyan School as a whole has many goals and hopes for the year of 2021. COVID-19 came as a shock not only to Wesleyan, but to the whole world. It has been a major adjustment. Cleveland said, “Wesleyan as a school is just looking forward to a better year and hopefully some normalcy. I look forward to the day where we can all be together because that is what I miss the most about our environment. In a strange way, I think this has made us more appreciative for the simpler things like eating lunch to-
At Spring of Peace, Eighth grader Ryan Cowart helps a student with homework.
Spring of Peace
gether and packing the football stadium. Hopefully by the end of the school year, there will be somewhat a sense of normality.” Cleveland and the staff are very upset and heartbroken for the senior class at Wesleyan this year. Their hope is to try their best in the upcoming months before graduation to do as many special and normal activities for the seniors as possible. In 2021, Wesleyan School is going to try to make some changes that will better benefit the school. There are plans of adding new classes in STEM next school year, growing the Academic Resource Center, potentially bringing in new faculty and staff to help ensure smaller class sizes, and continuing to raise money for the capital campaign so the school can continue to grow. Cleveland said, “It is important for Wesleyan to continue moving forward and making plans for this year because if we are not moving forward then I think we are moving backwards. It is a good lesson to teach students that we must keep pushing ahead. We cannot let challenging circumstances stop us because we are always going to face challenges in life. As Christians, we cannot be defined by our circumstances, but we must thrive in our hardships.” Along with the faculty and staff being excited about the year of 2021, Wesleyan students are also looking forward to what the year has to offer. Junior Katherine Scott said, “I am just looking forward to being a senior.
Sophomore Ireland Riley does homework with a student at Spring of Peace. Spring of Peace. Even though it could possibly be affected by COVID-19, I am just ready to make the most out of my senior year and 2021 because that is what I have learned to do in all situations because of what 2020 has taught me.” Senior Jacob Price is also very excited for what 2021 will bring. Price is planning to attend the Naval Academy next year in Annapolis, Maryland. Price said, “I’m looking forward to a fresh start. 2021 is the year where I will finally get to have some independence, and I am super excited for all of the experiences that 2021 has in store for me. Although change can be extremely scary and intimidating, it is true what they say: change is good.” Seniors have had quite a different/difficult year than usual, but Price is also looking forward to finishing out his high school career at Wesleyan with a positive attitude. Price said, “One of my goals for the year is to continue to make the most out of my senior year. Saying it has been a tough blow to essentially lose out on all the traditions is an understatement, but I have really been trying to focus on the positives like the memories I have made with my friends, teammates, and family.” Looking into 2021 can also be a scary thing because there is so much unknown. Price said, “I think it’s important to not stress about things that are outside of your control. That is one thing I have had to remind myself of a lot this past year. It is easy to get wrapped up with all of the horrible things going on in the world around us and get anxious. It is much easier to focus on things you can control.” 2021 is a year where no one knows what is to come, but with a positive mindset, Wesleyan School has a lot to look forward to and hope for. The shock and immediate reactions of the last years’ challenges are over, and now Wesleyan can have a clearer vision for what each person in the community wants. With this mindset, Wesleyan can make the best out of 2021.
“It is important to look outside of ourselves during stressful times like these and help the community. Our faith as Christians is founded on serving others and following Jesus’ example.” - Corrie Nash
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Wesleyan School community gets the COVID-19 Vaccine Maddie Parsonnet The Wesleyan students are curious about details and commonly asked questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine that was authorized on Dec. 11, 2020. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the first dose of the vaccine has reached over 18.5 million people and 3.2 million have been fully vaccinated. The federal government announced that 41.4 million doses have been delivered to states, territories, and federal agencies. According to the state’s population size, an amount was admitted to every state. The C.D.C. said, “The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as large enough quantities are available. Once vaccine is widely available, the plan is to have several thousand vaccination providers offering COVID-19 vaccines in doctors’ offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers.” The New York Times said, “Federal regulators have given emergency approval to vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Both vaccines require
The vaccine process at Parc in Duluth is appropriately spaced. Bowling
patients to receive two doses spaced weeks apart.” Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first COVID-19 vaccine released on Dec. 11, 2020. Moderna vaccine was authorized on Dec. 18. On Dec. 14, 2020, the first American to receive the Pfizer vaccine was Sandra Lindsay, an intensive-care nurse. She was vaccinated at Island Jewish Medical in Queens, New York. Mother of Anna Grace and Brock Bowling, Amy Bowing has been vaccinated. Bowling had the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 22, 2021 and said her experience was great. She could hardly feel the needle; it was so tiny and could not feel the vaccine entering her arm. When asked where she went to get the vaccine, she said, “I got the vaccine at the Parc in Duluth, a retirement and assisted living facility where my mom lives. CVS administered the shots. I received the two-part vaccine, so I will go back in mid-February for the second dose.” Regarding side effects, Bowling said that the only side effect she had was a little pain the following day in the arm where they administered the shot similar to how one usually feels when getting the flu shot. Bowling said, “I had not planned to get the COVID-19 vaccine until much later after those who are higher risk than me had a chance to receive it. However, the Parc encouraged caretakers to get the vaccine in hopes that we will not bring the virus into the facility and infect others. Since I am the primary caretaker for my mom who is 83 and I am there multiple times a week, I got the shot to protect her and the other residents at the Parc.” Wesleyan nurse Marty McQuaig received the first dose of the vaccine and stated that she had a sore arm for a couple of days, but nothing worse than that. McQuaig knows many front-line workers that have gotten the vac-
cine and several seniors that are over the age of 65. When asked what information she knows regarding the vaccine and her experience, she said, “I believe that it is an option to try to protect yourself and others from COVID. It takes a couple of weeks after the second dose of the vaccine to reach the proper protection level of immunity from what I have read. We still need to practice proper hand washing, social distancing and wearing a mask properly. The future will give us more information on the vaccine and its level of protection. Currently, there are two vaccines available, one produced by Pfizer and one by Moderna. The Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale Health Departments are doing an excellent job scheduling vaccinations for people in the first phase of distribution. They only schedule appointments as they receive vaccine doses. This can be frustrating for some but keep trying by logging into their web site gnrhealth. com to schedule an appointment. Once the appointment is scheduled the appointment process is seamless.”
Bowling waits to receive her COVID-19 vaccine. Bowling
Wesleyan Honors Black Wolves welcomes new softball field at Hoyt Family History Month (Con’t. from page 1) Athletic Complex lacrosse field have not only placed in its specific spot
Black History Month, why we have it, and the importance of it.” Wesleyan has provided many opportunities for students to get involved in clubs centered around equality such as Grace club with Dean of Diversity Dr. Pinkett Smith as well as Hill’s club, Let’s Do Better Movement. Carroll said, “It’s good to see non-people of color in these clubs because we cannot promote and create change if it’s just one race. This signifies change is coming.” These clubs are trying to promote change, and as a community, we are one step closer to creating equality for all. Hill said, “Even though there has been a lot of change, there is still a long way to go. Hopefully, Wesleyan will be a major player in a national movement that helps people of color because whatever society you are a part of, you want to contribute to making that society a better place for all.” Hopes and dreams can inspire all communities to a common vision of a perfect world, and a perfect world lacks hatred and racism, and instead builds relationships and equal opportunity. At the end of the day, we can all hope for a perfect world, but that will not start until equality is present in our everyday lives. Hill said it best saying, “No matter what color you are, gender you are, religious affiliation you have, that when you walk outside, wherever you go whether that’s to a store or on a jog, that you are going to be looked at as an equal.”
Director of Diversity Dr. Jennifer Pinkett Smith leads the chapel talk for February’s Black History Month. Bowling
The Hoyt Family Athletic Complex, named after Mr. and Mrs. William Hoyt, has been the newest addition to the Wesleyan campus this year and includes many new facilities and fields like the Agape Field at Wren Stadium, which is the new softball field. Wesleyan’s construction program manager Jeff Pettit said, “The Wren Stadium project was planned because Wesleyan will hopefully be putting a new building complex where the old softball field currently stands.” Pettit knew that since he was going to be taking away the old softball field, he wanted to make the new one even better. Pettit said, “I met with Mary Stephenson, the head softball coach, and picked her brain to see what she wanted and as long as it was in budget that is what we shot for.” The softball field has many new improvements and features that the old one lacked including 162 seats, recessed dugouts like colleges have, and LED “cut-off” lights. This long process actually benefited from COVID and the closing of school in late March because although the school year was cut short, the construction of these new complexes got to continue since most of the men working were not in close contact. Everything built including the stadiums, practice fields, and pavilion had lots of meaning behind every detail and location of each of the complexes. Project architect Mike Mascheri said, “We wanted to create a destination at Hoyt Complex and increase the visibility and identity of all the venues.” Pettit said, ”Originally the field was going to be placed somewhere else but since (Mascheri) wanted it to be like a destination we located in to be more central, so you see it as you drive up.” A lot of detail must go into placing a new field including the angle at which the field is placed relative to the sun for performance purposes. Pettit said, “You always orient your stadium a certain way, so the batter does not have sun in her eyes.” This field and the
due to the sun, but also everyone on the team wanted to create a sense of place and have the softball field be the Hoyt Fields focal point. This new softball field has been one of the many new addition to our campus. The new Hoyt Family Athletic Complex also includes a synthetic turf practice field for lacrosse players, fieldhouse pavilion including new locker rooms, new parking lot, lacrosse half-field, covered batting cages for softball and baseball players, a lacrosse stadium, and, of course, the new softball stadium. These new additions have added a lot to our campus, Wren Stadium has been an advantage for the softball team with new lights, turf, and dugouts and due to COVID and the rapidness of construction, the players actually were able to use it this year.
Overhead angle shows the new Agape Field at Wren Stadium. Pettit
New LED lights shine on Agape Field.
Pettit
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SENIOR
FEATURES
Kara Marshall What colleges are you applying to or going to? I will be attending Appalachian State University in the fall. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? I would have to say somewhere in Scandinavia perhaps Finland; the snowy forests and mountains look beautiful this time of year. Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Definitely Mick Dodge What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? One of my first days ever at Wesleyan (7th grade), I tripped and fell down the stairs in Wesley Hall. Luckily, only Dr. McCoy saw and she ironically said, “Don’t fall” while laughing at me. Could’ve been worse. What is one thing you will miss about high school? I’ll miss the teachers the most. They are so personable, friendly, and really do care about us, not just as students, but as people. What did you want to be as a child? I wanted to be an astronomer, but then I later realized how much math is involved in the field. Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Jack Jones If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Drake and Josh” What is the theme song of your life? “Look for the Silver Lining” by Leslie Odom Jr. Jake Lundstedt What colleges are you applying to or going to? Emory, Baylor, UGA, Clemson, Colgate, University of St. Andrews, Scotland Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Elba, Italy Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Albert Einstein What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Everything I said and did in middle school. What is one thing you will miss about high school? Dr. McConnell’s 2nd period AP Bio class What did you want to be as a child? Scientist Who was your first Wesleyan crush? No comment If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “VEEP” What is the theme song of your life? “Seinfeld” theme music Ashley Freidman What colleges are you applying to or going to? I’m going to Tennessee!! Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Hawaii Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Post Malone What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Hitting my head in Spanish class and giving myself a concussion What is one thing you will miss about high school? The teachers What did you want to be as a child? Orthodontist Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Vance Nicklaus If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “New Girl” What is the theme song of your life? “Breaking Free” from High School Musical
Sam Schmitt What colleges are you applying to or going to? I am going to attend Wake Forest University. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? I would go to Japan. Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? I would be stranded on an island with Dua Lipa because I am in love with her, and she could serenade me every night. What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Vomiting on the shoes of my kindergarten classmates during recess. What is one thing you will miss about high school? Brian St. James What did you want to be as a child? I wanted to be Zachary Levi’s character on the show “Chuck.” Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Annelise Onorato was my first and current Wesleyan crush. If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Chuck” What is the theme song of your life? “Band On The Run” by Wings Lindsey Suits What colleges are you applying to or going to? Boulder, Alabama, Clemson, Ole Miss, Georgia, Indiana Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Iceland Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Machine Gun Kelly or Pete Davidson What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Freshmen year I scored a home goal while defending a corner kick. There were a lot of seniors at the game and they all thought Gracie Mitchell scored the goal. They all went up to Gracie and were making fun of her because of it. She started laughing then said that it was not her. I walked away as fast as possible. What is one thing you will miss about high school? French toast day What did you want to be as a child? Lottery ticket winner Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Wyatt Hodges If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Rick and Morty” What is the theme song of your life? “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers Ryan Rose What colleges are you applying to or going to? University of Rochester Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Australia Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Jennifer Aniston What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? My first play at quarterback; the ball slipped out of my hand and went backwards for an interception. What is one thing you will miss about high school? I will miss seeing the guys who I grew up with. What did you want to be as a child? Professional baseball player Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Reece Holbrook If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “How I Met Your Mother”
FEATURES
SPOTLIGHTS
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green & gold
Harrison Gracey What colleges are you applying to or going to? Ohio State, Clemson, and Auburn Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Lake Sissabagama in Stone Lake, Wisconsin. Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Freddie Freeman What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? When Mac and I had a choreographed dance to “Friday” by Rebeca Black What is one thing you will miss about high school? Lunch with friends What did you want to be as a child? A fireman Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Caroline Bryson If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “The Office” What is the theme song of your life? “Does to Me” by Luke Combs and Eric Church
Holly Mitchell What colleges are you applying to or going to? I am attending Auburn University. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? I would want to travel to Greece specifically Mykonos and Santorini. Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Dansby Swanson What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? My first day of school I walked into the wrong classroom and wrong building. What is one thing you will miss about high school? I will miss friends, teachers, and the daily routine. What did you want to be as a child? I wanted to be a veterinarian. Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Sam Schmitt If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Gossip Girl” What is the theme song of your life? “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus Harrison Leath What colleges are you applying to or going to? I’m applying to Auburn, Baylor, Georgia Tech, Harvard, TCU, and UGA. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? I’d go to Italy in a heartbeat. I’ve always wanted to explore the food, culture, and beautiful country that is it since my mom’s side of my family is from Italy. Not to mention that authentic Italian pizza, pasta, and cannolis sounds amazing. Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? I’d love to be stranded on an island with Post Malone. What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? I was new to Wesleyan in 7th grade, and I was so excited about middle school field day, and I was put on the green team. I didn’t realize that our team name correlated with the color we were supposed to wear. I showed out with a black and blue Duke basketball shirt and matching black shorts… I slowly realized that I was the only person wore the wrong color. What is one thing you will miss about high school? 100% the community. I absolutely love my peers and my teachers, and I am so thankful for all of the amazing people I’ve had the opportunity of meeting through Wesleyan. What did you want to be as a child? ASTRONAUT! Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Lindsey Suits - 7th Grade Elizabeth Bertram What colleges are you applying to or going to? Auburn, FSU, Georgia, Miami, Clemson, UF Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Switzerland Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Kendall Jenner What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? In 5th grade, I accidentally peed myself because I couldn’t make it to the bathroom in time. What is one thing you will miss about high school? I will miss my friends and the sports I do during each season because some I will probably never play again competitively. What did you want to be as a child? When I was a child, I wanted to be a detective. Who was your first Wesleyan crush? William Parker If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Greys Anatomy” What is the theme song of your life? “Tonight Tonight” by The Smashing Pumpkins Grace Carroll What colleges are you applying to or going to? I’m applying to UGA, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Auburn. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? If I could go anywhere, I would want to go to Greece or Australia. Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? This may be weird but Adam Sandler. He probably wouldn’t be able to help us at all but at least I would go out laughing. What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? During the first week of freshman year I didn’t know all the rules yet, and the math department chair yelled at me for being on my phone, gave me a major detention, and embarrassed me in front of a bunch of kids. What is one thing you will miss about high school? I’m going to miss being able to always see my longtime friends and Mr. Cooper! What did you want to be as a child? I wanted to be Taylor Swift, but I realized that may be difficult with no musical talent. Who was your first Wesleyan crush? I think it’s a close call between Andrew Van Wie and William Parker. If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? I don’t watch a ton of TV, so I’m going to go with the movie “Bridesmaids.” What is the theme song of your life? “It Happens” by Sugarland Jack Thomas What colleges are you applying to or going to? GCSU, UGA, Belmont, Auburn Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? If I could go anywhere right now, I would go to Australia. Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Adam Sandler What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? A publicly announced detention. What is one thing you will miss about high school? I will miss the community because it is comforting. What did you want to be as a child? As a child, I wanted to be an architect. Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Caitlin Kelly If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Dark” on Netflix What is the theme song of your life? “The Show Must Go On” – Queen All Photos by Brian L. Morgan.
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FEATURES
green & gold
Wesleyan students and faculty binge-watch Netflix with new pets Anna Grace Bowling
Wesleyan families welcomes new pets
Towards the beginning of the outbreak of COVID-19, there were several Wesleyan students and faculty that needed cheering up. Many families added furry companions to their homes in the spring and summer months of 2020. Amid a lot of disappointment, there is no better time to cheer up with a new puppy, not to mention the extra time granted to train them! Brian Krehmeyer: Miniature Australian Shepherd (Casco) Students were not the only ones in the Wesleyan community to get new dogs during quarantine. Meet “Casco,” Social Sciences Teacher and Student Activities Coordinator Brian Krehmeyer’s mini–Australian Shepherd
to do. It was also easier to train Ruger because of the extra time I had on my hands. I think he is much better behaved because of it.” Caitlin Kelly: Golden Doodle (Sadie) Caitlin Kelly welcomed Golden Doodle Sadie into her life in August 2020. Keeping up with the routine of hybrid school can be overwhelming and stressful, but
Isabella Martin: English Cream Golden Retriever (Luna Bear) It seems as though English Cream Golden Retrievers were a popular and desirable dog breed during quarantine. Senior Isabella Martin has enjoyed her new puppy, Luna Bear since March 2020. Martin said, “We got to spend a lot of time outside with her when there wasn’t much else to do.” Goldens retrievers are known to be sweet, smart and energetic, and Martin said, “It has been fun to watch her grow up and learn new tricks. My other dog is older, but they love to play together.” Alex O’Donnell: Cavapoo (Revi); Black Lab (Bella) Assistant Director of Christian Life: Missions and
Sadie (Kelly) sits on the stairs waiting for attention during online school. Kelly Kelly said, “The best part of having a new puppy is that she keeps me entertained during school.” Humans are not the only ones who can have best friends. Dogs can have them, too! Kelly said, “Sadie is best friends with Isabella Martin’s puppy Luna Bear, and they love to play together. Our neighbors also have a puppy, and they get along very well.” Brock Bowling: English Cream Golden Retriever (Dixie) Brock Bowling and his family enjoyed the perks of havCasco (Krehmeyer) sleeps after a long Christmas day. Krehmeyer puppy. Krehmeyer said, “Casco is eight months old, and he is named after Casco Bay in Maine where we vacation in the summer. We got Casco- not Costco! even though that is my favorite store- a week after we had to put down our thirteen-year-old Border Collie. So, Casco became a ‘rebound’ relationship for me.” It is obvious that Casco and Krehmeyer are the best of friends and Casco has made quarantine more cheery for the Krehmeyer family. The Davidson Family (Callen Davidson- alum): English Cream Golden Retriever (Ruger) Sophomore Anslee Davidson also got to enjoy the perks of her big brother’s new puppy, as he was living at
Bella and Revi (O’Donnell) ride together in the car. O’Donnell Retreats and Modern and Classical Languages Teacher Alex O’Donnell got her Cavapoo Revi just before the outbreak of COVID-19. O’Donnell said, “We love taking the puppies on walks. We were home a lot during quarantine, so we got to take them to swim at the lake and the beach.” While most families only added one furry family member to their home, O’Donnell got married so she now has two puppies. O’Donnell said, “Revi and Bella are best friends. They used to love to play together, but now Bella is obsessed with tennis balls and Revi just chases her around.”
Wesleyan community binges Netflix shows
Dixie (Bowling) sits on the porch after a long day of playing in the summer. Bowling ing a new furry companion in the house during quarantine. Bowling first met Dixie in March 2020, and it was love at first sight. Bowling said, “The best part of having a new puppy during quarantine was being able to play with her every day because I had so much time on my hands, I couldn’t really do anything else. It made quarantine fun because I was able to spend so much time with her.”
Whether or not students and faculty were snuggling with their new puppies, Netflix seemed to make a lot of money off the Wesleyan community in the spring months and into the summer of 2020. According to this survey, the most binge-worthy show of quarantine was Outer Banks. This show had students and faculty alike dreaming of boating down the coast of North Carolina and hunting for treasure in the intercoastal of the Atlantic Ocean. The Wesleyan community also got their sports-drama fix in 2020 as All-American came in at a close second. But barely on Beverly Hill’s high school football star Spencer James’ tiger-tail came binge and cringe-worthy documentary, Tiger King. Are you team Carole Baskin or Joe Exotic? With not much else to do, students and teachers binged-watched new shows on Netflix during quarantine. Senior Margaret Dudley said that her favorite show of this season of life was “All American” on Netflix. Dudley said she spent her time watching “All American” because “it was about football
Ruger (Davidson) relaxes on the couch after a long day of training. Davidson home during the months of quarantine. Anslee Davidson said, “The best part of having a puppy during quarantine is that the whole family had an excuse to come together and spend time watching Ruger and taking care of him.” While quarantining was a difficult time for most people, Davidson said, “Having a puppy made quarantine more fun because it added light and joy in a really dark time.” The Davidson family got their English Golden Retriever, Ruger, in July 2020. Davidson said, “I was glad to have an excuse to get outside and train him instead of spending all day inside on a screen with nothing else
Students and faculty enjoy a variety of Netlflix shows during quarantine. Survey Monkey Luna Bear (Martin) wears a Christmas sweater during the holiday season. Martin
and it was intriguing enough to keep me captivated before getting corny.” Dudley gave “All American” seven out of ten stars and finished the show in two weeks.
green & gold
FEATURE
Wesleyan keeps up with student government
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Anna Grace Bowling
The 2020-2021 school year has been nothing short of abnormal and unprecedented, but student government is doing everything in their power to keep up the normalcy for the student body at Wesleyan this year. Student Activities Coordinator Brian Krehmeyer updates the Wesleyan student body with what is happening in student government and the special things they have planned for the school year. In the fall, student government did their best to keep the students and faculty in good spirits by planning many events that the school has hosted in the past but with a twist: social distancing. Krehmeyer said, “We still had grateful jars out for students to show their appreciation for their teachers during this time, we still had ‘Screen on the Green,’a modified homecoming week, still put candy canes in students’ shoes, and wore Christmas attire before break.” Although it is disappointing that the homecoming dance was not able to happen this year because of COVID-19, Krehmeyer said, “We have discussed some things regarding the winter dance such as potential themes, but we are still waiting for the go-ahead from our higher ups to see if it can actually happen. It is difficult to think forward into February when we do not even know what tomorrow holds.” Krehmeyer said that the winter dance is not on student government’s radar at the moment because they are trying to think in the present, but they are hoping to have some kind of event to celebrate the winter dance and winter break together. Another thing that student government has been tirelessly working on are the iconic Monday Morning Meetings but with a twist. Krehmeyer said, “We have started to hold Monday Morning Meetings on Friday’s for a number of different reasons. Having meetings on Fri-
days gives us the ability to hype up the upcoming game for that night or week to come. Historically, we have had students and faculty come up on stage for games, but because of COVID-19, that cannot happen anymore. So, in DEAR rooms, we host DEAR room Olympics, “Where in the world is Hunter Suits?” and trivia. That way everyone can participate if they choose to despite COVID-19.”
Like many of us, student government has been faced with obstacles this school year because of COVID-19. However, they are doing an incredible job of keeping
the Wesleyan students, faculty, and staff in high spirits despite the chaos of the year. Krehmeyer said, “In this time of high anxiety where there is a lot of ‘all business and no fun’ at school, student government is trying to do everything possible to elevate morale and bring the fun back to school given the situation. You can’t hang out with your friends in the hallway before school anymore, you can’t sit and conversate in your teacher’s offices and classrooms, and you can’t stand outside of the Spirit Shop and eat chicken biscuits. All that has unfortunately been taken away. That is why we take a lot of pride in trying to make school fun again.” While there is a lot of uncertainty at school and in the world right now, student government realizes it is the little things that bring joy back to student’s daily lives. That is why this year in particular senior Student Government representative Margaret Dudley is so passionate about doing everything in her power to bring the fun back to school every day. Dudley said, “Obviously this year has presented itself with a lot of challenges and situations we have had to overcome, and it has taken a lot of creativity and brainstorming to change our normal traditions and adapt to things that are more COVID-19 friendly.” Many students have been eager to hear about the state of dances such as the winter dance and prom. Dudley said, “While the idea of planning and hosting dances has been hard, we have tried to coordinate activities around the dances because we still want it to be celebrated since at the moment we can’t have the actual dances.” Student government realizes that the morale of students has been low, and they are doing everything in their power to boost the energy of the student body.
Vance Nicklaus At Wesleyan school, students, parents, and faculty have access to the Spirit Shop, which is a school store with food, Wesleyan uniform, and spirit wear. It has always been a place where students go to relax and grab a snack. The shop was owned by a third party for 18 years, and Wesleyan was receiving very small amounts of rent from it. Six years ago, Wesleyan school decided to take control of the spirit shop and bring it to the campus. Spirit Shop manager Cathy Binion said, “The goal was to provide a convenient place for parents and students to purchase their uniforms and spirit wear. By locating within Wesley Hall, we had the additional opportunity to provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks.” The Spirit Shop has become widely popular throughout the Wesleyan community. Not only is the shop popular, but the people working it have gained the love of many students throughout Wesleyan. Senior Luke Carrol says, “I love going into the Spirit Shop and buying snacks.
The socially distanced entrance to the Spirit Shop at Wesleyan School ensures safety. Nicklaus
the Spirit Shop that are helping things get back to normal. Binion said, “The system of selling breakfast and lunch at the doorway has made it safer for us to serve our students.” Students, teachers, and parents just want to be able to enjoy the Spirit Shop, and these rules are making it easier to do so. Junior Teagan Wilkenloh said, “I’ve noticed that as the year has gone on it has become easier to get the things I need from the Spirit Shop.” Because the Spirit Shop has been so successful people often wonder where all the money goes. All the money that the Spirit Shop makes goes directly back to the Wesleyan School operating budget. Binion said, “This averages out to about 300 dollars to every student. This helps keep tuition from going up 300 dollars more each year. So, when you shop at the Spirit Shop, you are actually enhancing your own child’s education.” The Spirit Shop is a place where you can always get your day off to a great start.
The Spirit Shop sells snacks and drinks for students and staff/faculty to enjoy.
I always get a chicken biscuit and talk to the wonderful group of ladies running the Spirit Shop. That’s something I have really missed this year.” The best-selling items in the Spirit Shop are uniforms, Spirit Wear, and Chick-fil-a. The Spirit Shop is usually crowded by students in line waiting to get snacks, but this school year, it has been a little different because of COVID-19. Many student’s morning routine depended on getting breakfast from the spirit shop, Senior Andrew Bardi said, “I miss walking into the Spirit Shop and smelling the smell of fresh Chick-fil-a every morning. Every single morning, I would buy the Chick-fil-a minis and a blue Powerade; it was amazing.” Students are still able to purchase items, but it just hasn’t been the same for everyone. Binion said, “In a typical year we see many more students. This year has been primarily parents buying uniforms for their kids.” There are new systems being placed into
The Spirit Shop sells casual spirt wear to students and families.
The varsity cheerleading team performs at the 2020 Homecoming pep rally planned by the Student Government. Morgan
Wolves miss the Spirit Shop
Nicklaus
Nicklaus
10 green & gold
Wolves wrap up winter sports
SPORTS
Vance Nicklaus
The Wesleyan Wolves are sadly wrapping up their winter sports. The swimming, basketball, and wrestling teams all have a lot of talent and great coaching because of this they were able to have exceptional seasons. The Wolves have all had their ups and downs head basketball coach Adam Griffin says, “The season has certainly been unlike any other we’ve ever experienced, but I’m very proud of the way our guys have showed ready to work hard every day and focused on the process of improving.” All of the Wolves have embraced that mentality for winter sports.
low Head Varsity Coach Brian St. James says, “I think our team came into this season with high expectations. We returned most of our starting line up from last year. I would say our guys wrestled up to our expectations this year.” For the entire team the things that has kept this team running so well are the five seniors, Schmitt, Bivins, Berry, Morris, and McKemie.
“It is tough having to quarantine and miss two weeks of prepping, conditioning, and gelling as a team.” With the ups and down of the season, the Wolves have had some pleasant surprises to the team. Freshmen Chit - Chat Wright and Eva Garabadian have made huge impacts to the team along with senior Alyssa Phillip.
Boys Varsity Basketball
For the boys’ basketball team, the season was full of ups and downs just like any other season. The teams’ biggest obstacle this year has obviously been COVID. They had to cancel numerous games, missed team meals, film sessions, and everything else. This year’s leading scorers have been junior Tate Gilley, senior Beau Brown, and sophomore Thomas Chipman. Griffin says, “The incredible attitude our guys have had this year is what has kept us together. With all that has gone on they could’ve lost focus and checked out mentally, but they’ve been great. We have had great practices, we’ve competed in every game, and the guys have been a joy to coach. That’s what has made this year memorable.”
“The season has certainly been unlike any other we’ve ever experienced, but I’m very proud of the way our guys have showed...” - Adam Griffin Swim and Dive
Varsity swim and dive have had great seasons. They hosted 8 meets at Davidson Natatorium and did great in the GHSA State meet. The girls placed 8th in state, and the boys placed tenth. Some of the team’s leading scorers for the girls are senior Carson Schiller and sophomores Maria Hill, Caroline Stewart, and Mary Margaret Woods. For the boys, seniors Jacob Price, Evan Yeager, and Noah Fears, along with sophomore Henry Wasmuth have all been exceptional in scoring. This year sure has been memorable, and Head Varsity Swim and Dive Coach Kevin Kadzis says, “Our team coming together in the face of adversity to have a season during the most difficult year in my memory has made this season memorable.”
Seniors Sam Schmitt and Tanner Bivins get ready for a wrestling meet.
Bivins
Girls Varsity Basketball
Girls basketball is also wrapping things up with their last region game Friday February 8th. The region tournament will start the following Tuesday, and the Wolves are hoping for a great outcome. Midway through the season the Wolves ran into some obstacles with a big part of the team missing games due to quarantine. Head Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach Carolyn Blackman says,
Senior Beau Brown takes a shot against oppoennt with teamates in the background.
Griffin
“The incredible attitude our guys have had this year is what has kept us together. With all that has gone on, they could’ve lost focus and checked out mentally, but they’ve been great.” - Adam Griffin
Congragulations to senior Carson Schiller on her commitment to the University of Georgia for swim.
Schiller
Wrestling
Wesleyan wrestling is down to their state tournament. They qualified 11 out of 12 wrestlers for the tournament. They were led by seniors, Sam Schmitt, Eric Berry, and Tanner Bivins, and junior Brenden McIntosh who were all area champs. The Wolves’ season was cut a bit short because over half of their tournaments were canceled throughout the season. The team’s standards are not
Girls varsity basketball team celebrate a victory. Blackman
“It is tough having to quarantine and miss two weeks of prepping, conditioning, and gelling as a team.” - Carolyn Blackman