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Green & Gold
Volume XXV, Issue VI
A Publication of Wesleyan School
NEWS
“A Night in New York” takes over prom night for seniors. Page 6
EDITORIAL Christ is risen! Happy Easter!
Page 2
April 16, 2021 FEATURES
The faculty fellows reflect on their year at Wesleyan. Page 3
SPORTS
Congratulations to all of the spring signees. Page 9
Wesleyan hosts “A Night in New York” for senior prom Anna Grace Bowling Wesleyan seniors are getting excited for prom “A Night in New York,” on the quad in front of Wesley Hall on Sat, April 17 from 8-11 p.m. The event is highly anticipated, as the class of 2021, along with the class of 2020, did not get to have prom last April due to COVID-19. Senior grade chairs, faculty, staff. The Wesleyan prom committee are doing everything in their power and within reason of the precautions put in place by the CDC to make this year’s senior-only prom feel as normal and special as possible. Seniors Caitlin Kelly, Riley Bingham, Fletcher Morris, and Isabella Martin are the four seniors on the prom committee this year. Many students are worried that prom will look very different this year and will not be as fun as years past because of the restrictions put in place by the pandemic. Kelly reassured the grade and said, “Prom really will not look different than other years besides mask-wearing. Masks are the only guideline that we are required to follow and because it is going to be all outdoors this year, we are able to have a lot of our usual traditions.” This year’s prom is obviously going to be unique, since it is seniors only. Martin said, “We are going to have a dessert food truck this year and we are very excited for that because we have never had anything like it before.”
The prom committee sent out the official invitations to the seniors. Llyod Prom committee is striving for as much normalcy as possible. Bingham said, “We are still going to be able to do the senior-stair picture near the end of the dance. Although there will be no decorations inside, the outside of Wesley Hall and the quad are both going to look stunning. This year there will be no tent but rather an open dance
floor so that more people can fit together without having to stand outside the tent and wait their turn to go inside. And of course, the senior song, ‘Graduation’ by Vitamin C, at the end of the dance will happen!” Kelly, Bingham and Martin said that “the sponsors are going out of their way to make this year’s prom amazing. They recognize that it is our only opportunity to have prom, so we must make it count. We have a decent budget since we did not have a dance last year.” Senior grade chairs Adam Griffin and Kendra Morris have been working vigorously since summer 2020 until now to make senior year special for the class of 2021. Besides graduation, the main thing that Griffin and Morris both agreed that they wanted to make happen was prom. After exploring options and keeping up with the precautions put in place by the CDC and Wesleyan School, they were able to collaborate with prom committee and administration to make it happen. Senior students were ecstatic when the email was sent out that prom would be held at school this year. Morris said, “We want seniors to get excited for prom. It is going to be so sweet and memorable for the senior class. It [prom] is truly a night to remember.” Senior Fletcher Morris is head of the prom committee this year, and he is urging seniors to get excited for prom. The theme for this year’s prom is “A Night in New York” (Con’t on pg. 3)
Wesleyan showcases 23rd annual Artist Market virtually Kendrick Archer
The 23rd Annual Wesleyan Artist Market will be held this April through a virtual platform. Each year, the Artist Market hosts approximately 80 professional artists from across the region as well as student artists in middle school and high school. However, due to COVID-19, they will be pivoting to a Virtual Artist Market event for 2021. 2021 Artist Market board member Kristin Scott said, “The Wesleyan Artist Market is a fine art, jewelry, and fine wares show.” Scott has been working with the Artist market for 7 years and began working as a volunteer and a board member for the Arts Alliance. Scott has been a co-chair of the Artist Market for 2 years.
Sophomore Kate Adent sells prints for Artist Market. Adent
Wesleyan’s Artist Market is one of the premier school sponsored art shows in the Southeast. Exhibiting artists are usually in attendance for the entire duration of the show. For 2021, the artists will be represented through Wesleyan’s virtual marketplace platform and available to buyers via email. Scott said, “Wesleyan’s portion of proceeds from the show benefits the Wesleyan Arts Alliance.” The Alliance is a parentrun, faculty-guided organization that supports student programs, facilities, and arts education at Wesleyan School. The Artist Market is important because it helps support the fine arts programs for the Wesleyan Arts Alliance. With those funds, Wesleyan is able to support scholarships, purchase new equipment and costumes for the plays, and help create a new program called the Dream Big Program. When asked why the Artist Market is important, Scott said, “Opening the gates and letting the community come in and see what an amazing place we have here matters.” Scott continued and said, “There are multiple families here at Wesleyan because of the Artist Market, and we love that connection with the community. The other reason why the Artist Market is so important is the art. It gives us the opportunity to support local artists, and now we are nation wide with the virtual platform, which has helped bring in more artists.” Student artists play a large role in the Artist Market.
Students get involved with the Artist Market by selling food, products, and pieces of art they made. Students submit their applications to sell in the market in November and go through a checklist to make sure that they are ready to go by April. One of the student artists, freshman Dane Scott said, “I think the virtual artist market will be different from the previous artist markets in the way that we can’t have physical relations with the customer, I am glad we can at least have a market.” Scott is selling waterproof, heat and scratch resistant, super sticky, stickers at the Artist Market with his artwork displayed on them. Another artist, junior Kaitlyn Bobo said, “I think the Artist Market it important to the (Con’t. on pg. 3)
Senior Katherine Graddy sells earrings for Artist Market. Graddy
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Wesleyan community celebrates Easter Spring has sprung and that means that it is the season of Easter, a time to remember Jesus’ great sacrifice for us on the cross. This year, I am feeling more blessed than ever. Last Easter was devastating, as all of us were quarantined inside our homes unable to see family and fearing the unknown. This year, however, looks different and happier, as more people are becoming comfortable getting outside, going to church, and seeing friends and family. Easter break is relaxing, and if you are like me, you
This year, however, looks different and happier, as more people are becoming comfortable getting outside, going to church, and seeing friends and family. are glad to have another short break from to school to relax, sleep in, and spend time with friends and family. I am lucky to have most of my extended family within a few miles, but my heart goes out to those who have family far away that they will not be able to travel to this year because of the pandemic. Some students and their families stay home for Easter break and their extended family comes to them, but other students travel to places like the beach to
Green & Gold Staff Box 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
see family on Easter. This year, I will be spending my Easter break as I always do, with my family at home. I am thankful that life is starting to feel much more
What are some of your Easter traditions? Do you hunt for the golden egg with money inside, do you feast on a long brunch spread all day, do you go to church at sunrise? normal this year and that travelling restrictions have started to lift. If you would have asked me this time last year, I would have told you that my mood was completely different than it is this year. I would have
Whatever your Easter traditions may be, I hope that this Easter was a blessed and safe one. told you that I feared the unknown, and was confused, disappointed, unhappy. Would we have prom? Will I ever go back to school? Will I get to go to college?
EDITORIAL
How long is the coronavirus going to last? This year, I am thankful for moments that I would have taken for granted before the pandemic. Last Easter was nothing short of depressing. It was heartbreaking to watch Easter church through a T.V.
I am thankful for moments that I would have taken for granted before the pandemic. screen, to sit silently around the kitchen table with my family of four, reminiscing about memories that we shared with friends and family before the pandemic struck, facetiming my grandparents and cousins because we couldn’t be with them in person, and thinking about what the future might hold. What are some of your Easter traditions? Do you hunt for the golden egg with money inside, do you feast on a long brunch spread all day, do you go to church at sunrise? Whatever your Easter traditions may be, I hope that this Easter was a blessed and safe one. Sincerely,
Anna Grace Bowling Editor-in-Chief
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NEWS
Senior prom planned (Cont. from page 1)
band, and a donut food truck and snacks. Everything will be normal beside the fact that students must wear masks while at the dance.
“We are so excited that we get to have prom this year and the prom committee hopes that other seniors are excited, too!” - Senior Fletcher Morris Thank you to the seniors on prom committee, senior parents, grade chairs and faculty and staff for working hard to put together what is going to be a night to remember for the class of 2021!
Seniors, enjoy the Big Apple!
2021 senior prom committee: Isabella Martin (top left), Riley Bigham (top right), Caitlin Kelly (bottom left), Fletcher Morris (bottom right)
Class of 2021, see you April 17 at 8 p.m. on the quad! Artist Market approaches (Cont. from page 1) artwork displayed on them. Another artist, junior Kaitlyn Bobo, said, “I think the Artist Market it important to the school because it brings new people, artists, and business to campus, which unites people and helps build a better community as well as getting Wesleyan’s name out there into the world.” She is selling jewelry and donating her profits. The 2021 student artists are; Ansley Chapman, with mixed media art; Dane Scott, digital art (Scott’s Stickers); EG Pickering, digital art; Elijah Tian, paper work; Ella Richards and Tanvi Hayer, jewelry; Emily and Ella Dekreek, textiles; Grace Eversbusch, photography; Kaitlyn Bobo, jewelry (Butterfly and Bead); Kate Adent, Kate Prints; Katherine Graddy, Looking for Lilies; Lindsay Bobo, Honey x Mochi Co; Makenna Wazevich, textiles (Hearttohomemadeco); Mikayla John, fine wares; Nina Scott, textiles; Reece Cadogan, fine wares (Sweet n’ Southern Monograms); Suzy Joy Loetscher,
Junior Grace Eversbusch sells note cards created from photography she took. Eversbusch
miced media; and lastly, Yuna Chu, working with mixed media. Because of the Artist Market going virtual, there will be more opportunities for professional artists to show their art is because Wesleyan can now expand past the 80 artists that Wesleyan typically welcomes. Students
Freshman Reese Cadogan sells monograms. Cadogan
7th grader Nina Scott sells homemade textiles. Scott and the Wesleyan community are looking forward to welcoming more professional artists than ever from around the United States and bringing the community together. Students can explore the Artist Market right now by going to artistmarket.wesleyanschool.org. During the week of the market, students will be able to virtually be a part of the experience on a platform called shopify. Scott said, “It is basically a mall. Wesleyan is the mall, and the artists are the shops.”
5th grader Emery and 7th grader Ella Dekreek sell textiles. Dekreek
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FEATURES
SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS Sarah Holcomb
What colleges are you applying to or going to? Clemson, Furman, TCU and a few more. 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? Ellen Pompeo What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Sophomore year I was walking down the stairs, and one of my friends what holding my arm. She pulled a little too hard. I fell so hard right in front of the door into a puddle. Some guy was walking behind me, and he just looked at me and walked over me. It was honestly so funny. What is one thing you will miss about high school? I’m going to miss my friends the most. What did you want to be as a child? A vet 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? “Grey’s Anatomy” What is the theme song of your life? “8TEEN” by Khalid Allie Holmes What colleges are you applying to or going to? Florida State University Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Dubai Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Kris Jenner What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? When my computer connected to the teacher’s smart board on accident and started playing Travis Scott really loud. What is one thing you will miss about high school? Wearing my pajama pants over my uniform in the mornings What did you want to be as a child? A librarian Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Nick Solis If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Gossip Girl”
Taylor Seim What colleges are you applying to or going to? University of Georgia, University of Florida, Tulane University, and Florida State University Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? Dubai Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Matthew Gray Gubler What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? I can’t think of a specific moment, but my duct tape phase was pretty embarrassing. What is one thing you will miss about high school? My relationships with my teachers, the uniforms, and hanging out with my friends in the parking lot after school. What did you want to be as a child? A fashion designer Who was your first Wesleyan crush? JD Chipman If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Criminal Minds”
Reece Holbrook What colleges are you applying to or going to? I’m committed to the University of Virginia. Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere right now? I really want to go to Ireland and Switzerland. Who is somebody famous you’d want to be stranded on an island with? Ryan Reynolds or Scott Eastwood (aka Luke Collins) What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? When I missed 8 layups in the 8th grade basketball region championship. What is one thing you will miss about high school? The relationships I’ve built with my teachers and coaches. What did you want to be as a child? A vet, but then I realized I would have to put animals down and they bite. Who was your first Wesleyan crush? Brogan MacInnis If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Friends” What is the theme song of your life? “Here for A Good Time” by George Strait
Annelise Onorato What colleges are you applying to or going to? University of Georgia 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? Right now, my answer is the members of “4FreakShow”: BigBallerClaire, Chase Rutherford, Yodeling Haley, and Hamzah. What’s your most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Freshman year, I was trying to leave the cafeteria and accidentally knocked over a stack of hundreds of hard plastic plates. As if that wasn’t enough, after the cafeteria became silent Mr. Zimmerman said, “Annelise Onorato, everyone,” and started a slow clap that everyone joined. What is one thing you will miss about high school? I’ll miss knowing so many people at school and wearing a uniform. What did you want to be as a child? I wanted to be a veterinarian before I realized that that meant I had to work with animals. Who was your first Wesleyan crush? My answer was Walker Smith, but because he moved to Colorado in 2nd grade the next one was Vance Nicklaus. If you could watch one TV series for the rest of your life, what series would it be? “Arrested Development” What is the theme song of your life? “Bullet Proof” by La Roux
All Photos by Brian L. Morgan.
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FEATURES
Faculty fellows reflect on the year Rosie Taylor
Each year, Wesleyan School selects a group of young adults interested in teaching to come into the school and have a master teacher guide them in the process. They are given a few classes to teach, so they can explore the career of a teacher. This year, the high school was given three faculty fellows Parker Durrance, Kathryn Lanyon, and Valerie Medlin. Parker Durance: Parker Durance is a 9th grade faculty fellow who teaches World History with Social Sciences teacher Ari Young. He helps out by coaching middle school football, middle school basketball, and JV lacrosse. He graduated from Maclay school in Tallahassee Fl, and he graduated from Florida State University last May. What has your experience been like as a faculty fellow at Wesleyan this year? I have LOVED being a Faculty Fellow. This year has confirmed that teaching is the profession I should pursue It has been really awesome being at Wesleyan with you guys. I am a history nerd and think it is really important to study, so it has been a great joy of mine to explore historical events with my 9th grade students. Why did you choose Wesleyan? I chose Wesleyan mainly because Wesleyan’s beliefs and values match up with mine. I like that Wesleyan is Christ-driven, but I also appreciate Wesleyan’s pursuit of academic excellence. What have you learned and enjoyed the most? Any special moments that stick out? I think one of the most special moments has been doing my singers and songwriters club this year. We have actually written some bangers (most of them are about Mr. Young), and it has been fun to be with students
Next year, I will be attending Candler School of Theology at Emory University! I will be staying in Atlanta and hope to not be a stranger to Wesleyan in the coming years.
Lanyon
Kathryn Lanyon: Kathryn Lanyon is a science faculty fellow who helps teach with science teacher Dr. Beth McConnell. She also helps out with the middle school cross country team, Omicron, and the middle school soccer team. Kathryn graduated from Glynn Academy in Brunswick, Ga, and she then went on to get a degree from Berry College. What has your experience been like as a faculty fellow at Wesleyan this year? I have loved it even though it has been a non-traditional year with COVID-19. We are all going through it together, and this group of faculty fellows has become a tight-knit group. It has been amazing to work with Dr. McConnell because we are very like-minded in how we think and problem solve. Teaching is a new experience for me, and it has been a great opportunity to explore what I want to do. Why did you choose Wesleyan? I chose Wesleyan specifically because of the program. Because I did not have a lot of prior teaching experience, it was a good way to ease into it and not jump right into it too fast. The mentorship program was very encouraging to me because it was a great way to explore teaching and see what it is like. A great added bonus was the Christian beliefs that the school holds because it goes along with what I believe. It is great to be able to talk about faith inside of the classroom. What have you learned and enjoyed the most? Any special moments that stick out? I have enjoyed being able to be flexible especially with all of the new technology this year. It has taught me that sometimes the stuff that is unplanned turns out to be the best things. I love seeing students be creative with projects, and I have loved seeing the boats from Mr. Gravlee’ s classes. All of the students get to do super cool things throughout the year. What extracurricular did you coach, and did you enjoy it? I coached middle school cross country and now I coach middle school soccer. For clubs, I help Mrs. Alexander with knitting and embroidery club, which has been super fun. I never played sports in high school other than horse back riding, so it was a cool experience. I also love getting to know the middle schoolers in addition to the high schoolers. I was very excited about getting to do Omicron because we were actually able to go to some places despite COVID-19. I got to drive the Wesleyan buses, which was quite an interesting experience! What are your future plans for next year? I am hoping to go to graduate school to get my master’s in marine sciences at the University of Georgia. I also applied to UNC Chapel Hill, but if I get into UGA, I will go there. If I do not get into either, I will look for a teaching job in Georgia until I can get into graduate school. My other option would be working for a non-profit organization that does education and outreach programs.
outside of a teaching responsibility and just having fun during the school day. Also, shout out to Nick Schaller and Evan Nichols for inviting me to Aomi that one time! What extracurricular did you coach, and did you enjoy it? I helped coach middle school football, lacrosse, and basketball. It was really fun and cool to go from teaching high schoolers to coaching middle schoolers. Middle schoolers are just fun to be with, so it has been a good time! What are your future plans for next year?
Valerie Medlin: Valerie Medlin teaches high school Spanish III classes with Modern and Classical Languages teacher Alex O’Donnell. She helps coach JV volleyball and middle school basketball. Valerie graduated from St. David’s School in Raleigh, NC. She received a degree from Elon University last May, and she also has studied in Buenos Aires and Argentina. What has your experience been like as a faculty fellow at Wesleyan this year? It has been a different experience because of
Faculty Fellow Parker Durrance poses in recent photo.
Faculty Fellow Valerie Medlin smiles in recent photo.
Medlin
COVID-19, but I have loved it. They call it a year of discernment to figure out if teaching is what you want to do, and it has definitely been that for me. My favorite part of being a faculty fellow is the relationship with the students. I have a great master teacher and roommates, and I have gotten to do a lot more than I thought I would with COVID-19 going on. Why did you choose Wesleyan? I am originally from North Carolina, but I heard about this program through a mutual friend, and I was looking to move to Atlanta, Brooklyn, San Francisco, or Denver, and when this opportunity came up and I got it, it seemed like the right move. What have you learned and enjoyed the most? Any special moments that stick out? I have had to learn a lot about professionalism this year because it has been easy for me to want to just be friends with my students and easily connect. My master teacher Mrs. O’Donnell has been incredibly helpful in teaching me how to be a professional mentor for my students. JV volleyball is something that sticks out to me because I loved coaching with Mr. Connor and Mr. Randrup. I also want to give a shoutout to my Spanish III honors class because they are the best! What extracurricular did you coach, and did you enjoy it? I coached middle school basketball and JV volleyball, which I really enjoyed. I ended up not coaching lacrosse because I took over Mrs. Martinez’s classes when she went on maternity leave. I really enjoyed being a fulltime sub from Christmas to the end of March because it was an additional experience I got to have that I did not originally know about. What are your future plans for next year? I am going to be teaching high school Spanish at a school called Father Ryan in Nashville, Tennessee. I am so excited to move to Nashville and become a teacher.
Faculty Fellow Kathryn Lanyon enjoys traveling to the beach.
Lanyon
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Student and faculty Easter traditions at Wesleyan Maddie Parsonnet Wesleyan School allows students, faculty, and families an Easter break from April 2nd to April 6th in order to give time for families to celebrate the Easter holiday. Each year students and faculty take this break to do a variety of things that could include time to spend with family members and loved ones, travel, or rest. The Green & Gold wanted to highlight several students and faculty to get an inside scoop on what their Easter break looks and means to them. Junior Teagan Wilkenloh spent this year with her family as they went to Buckhead Church and then had an Easter brunch with their extended family. When asked what past traditions she and her family do on Easter day or during the break, she said, “When I was little, we used to go to Sunday school and then go spend the day with my grandparents and cousins.” One of Wilkenloh’s favorite Easter traditions that she will always remember is doing an Easter egg hunt that her grandma would put together for her and her sister. Wilkenloh shares what Easter means to her and the importance of celebrating Easter when she said, “Easter is celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and a day to remember his pain and suffering on the cross.” Assistant Director of Christian Life and Bible teacher Matthew Means went to North Georgia to the mountains one day and went on a hike. The weather was so nice, and he also spent some time working on his Land Cruiser. Means said, “Easter is the one time a year that our culture recognizes and celebrates the resurrection of Christ. Even though we celebrate him every Sun-
day, Easter is the time we do it in an extra special way.” Some past traditions Means and his family do on Easter is that they always go to Perimeter Church on Easter Sunday and have a big lunch. When the kids wake up they have a goodie basket from the Easter bunny. Senior Grace Carroll visited her grandparents in South Carolina. Her grandparents recently received their vaccines, so she is looked forward to a somewhat normal holiday together. While Carroll is in South Carolina, she also walked around Clemson University. In past years Carroll’s extended family has all met together in South Carolina to spend time with one another and go to her grandparent’s church. This year was a little different for her family because not everyone is coming to visit. Carroll said, “Easter means to me what it was originally celebrated for Jesus’s resurrection. It can be easy to lose focus sometimes, but I think that Easter is the most important Christian holiday. It is a time where we are reminded of the deep sadness of His sacrifice followed by a miracle.” When asked what has been her favorite Easter tradition that she will always remember, Carroll said she will always remember dressing up, going to church with her cousins, and then running around her grandma’s garden looking for eggs. Regarding Covid-19, she said, “I do not think Easter looks too different than it normally would, but it will definitely be strange if we are unable to attend a church service due to Covid restrictions.” When senior Wyatt Hodges is asked if he thinks Covid-19 will affect his Easter this year he said, “This
Easter does look a little different than normal, we are not able to celebrate exactly the way we used to be able to. We get to do most of the traditions normally, but we can’t spend Easter the exact same with my grandmother on my mother’s side because of Covid-19.” A tradition the Hodge’s family does on Easter day or during the break is that they often will go see both of his mom and dads’ sides of the family. They spent time to hangout, eat, and end with an Easter egg hunt. The Hodges attended the Easter service at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church. Hodges said, “I believe that Easter has a very large impact on me and my life. It is the day that Jesus died on the cross and rose again which is something that no one could even comprehend. It is the whole center of Christianity the belief that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and to save us. Easter is a celebration when we remember his amazing life and how blessed we are.”
A look back at the lower school Easter play throughout the years Avery Pursell The lower school fourth grade class has put on an Easter play the week before Easter, which has become an important tradition for many years for all of Wesleyan to watch and enjoy. It has been a chance for the fourth graders to perform the story of Jesus in front of the whole school. This play always takes place during the week before Easter where the fourth grade puts on the story of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection. It is also the only lower school play that allows all of the middle school and high school students to come and see. In past years, it has been a play the fourth-grade class performs over the course of a week multiple times to fit in all the different grade levels and parents attending. This tradition has been going on without fail since it began to be performed, but since the past two years have prevented large crowds due to COVID- 19, changes have had to been made. This time last year was when COVID-19 first struck and there was not much preparation for the fourth-grade classes, so there was an alternate version. Lockdown was fully in place so there was no way for the fourthgrade class to do any form of the play. Instead of performing the play, last year’s fourth grade classes separately recorded a song from the play, which was later combined to create a version combining each fourthgrade class with the help of technology. It was posted to the Wesleyan website. The school also placed the 2020 senior’s version, when they were in fourth grade of the Easter play on YouTube. This year, adjustments have also had to been made, but they are still putting on a version of the play. The fourthgrade classes will still combine to put on one play, but instead of having everyone come, they are performing it three times to only homeroom parents each time. Fourth grade teacher Sarah Kate Moody said, “When I think about the Easter play, what stands out to me the most is how the students do such an excellent amount of job in such a short amount of time.”
core memory of lower school that students who were involved never forget, and students love that they are still able to go back and see how the play differs from year to year.
Senior Annelise Onorato danced to a song in the fourth-grade play when she was in lower school. Onorato This year was a little more challenging since the students will have to wear masks which causes issues with projection for some of the students, but Moody said everyone was still safely distanced because the scenes were constantly changing. Assistant Director of Christian Life and High School Bible Teacher Matthew Means said, “I have seen it eight years in a row now and I think it is a great tradition that most every student has been a part of. It is something students still talk about to this day in high school.” Being a high schooler, especially when you were once in the play, it is always enjoyable going down to see how the play looks from year to year. Senior Annelise Onorato said, “I always love when I get to see who is playing my part from year to year. I remember being so excited when all the high schoolers came to see us.” Means said, “I have had three kids be in the play, all having had different roles, and I think it has been a great way to teach the kids the story of the passion week. “As a part of the Easter play is a
This year’s fourth grade class performed the dinner table scene in the Easter play. Jamieson
This year’s fourth grade class performed their roles as soldiers and Mary in the Easter play. Jamieson
7 green & gold Wesleyan hosts the 2021 freshman retreat FEATURES/SPORTS
Anna Grace Bowling
Each year in the fall just before school starts, the incoming freshman class takes a class trip to a Young Life camp for the weekend. On this trip, they participate in all sorts of activities and games all while getting to know each other better. The freshman take this trip with their peer leaders, a group of seniors who act as mentors for the freshman class. Because of the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, the freshman were not able to travel to camp in August let alone have any kind of freshman retreat in the fall. However, Wesleyan administration promised to do everything in their power to host some sort of freshman retreat in the spring. On Wed. April 7, the peer leaders and freshman got the day off of school to have a makeshift freshman retreat at Wesleyan. The retreat was held on the Lake Fields and in Yancey Gymnasium. Freshman got to play games, eat lunch, and do a lot of the things that they would have done on the freshman retreat. Although it was not stretched over the entirety of a weekend, according to senior peer leader Emma Nydam, it was still a blast. Nydam said, “We had some great competitions between the peer groups in Yancey gym where we played ‘name that song.’ We also had amazing worship and devotions, a scavenger hunt, and went to the lake fields to have lunch and play games.” The freshman retreat is something that incoming freshman and peer leaders look forward to and prepare for from the end of the school year until right before the next school year starts. Although it was disapointing to not have the freshman retreat in the fall of 2020, it is a blessing that Wesleyan was able to make it happen in the spring of 2021 as an end-of-year celebration.
Senior peer leaders gather together on the lake fields during the freshman retreat. WesleyanInsta
Wesleyan faculty members Nicole Galvin and Parker Durance and serve food to freshman. WesleyanInsta
Senior peer leaders Jada Richardson, Elsah James, Freshman JJ Gracey plays spikeball with his classmates and peer leaders during the freshman retreat. Natalie Gross and Fletcher Morris pose for a picture WesleyanInsta WesleyanInsta between activities.
Wesleyan celebrates the Class of 2024!
Wesleyan hosts spring sports signings Carson Schiller & Vance Nicklaus
The spring signing ceremony will look slightly different this year, but Wesleyan Athletics is excited to celebrate the many athletes that are signing to play in college. Signing day will take place April 26 at 3 p.m. on the quad. Director of Athletics Lacy Gilbert and the rest of the athletic staff has made it possible for Wesleyan to have a signing day under COVID restrictions. With tablecloths, balloons, cupcakes, and a lot of spirit, Wesleyan is extremely excited to host this event, but first get to know our 2021 signees.
Carson Schiller
I decided Jan. 19, but I didn’t announce it to others until Feb. 7! What helped you make that decision? This is one of the top swim programs in the country and it is close to home. I absolutely loved all the coaches I talked to and felt at home with the team since two of my current teammates are also attending with me. What are you most excited for? I’m excited to meet everyone on the team and live with them in the new dorms!
Jimmy Cox
Tanner Bivins
What college are you attending for Fall 2021? I am attending Army West Point in the Fall. What sport are you playing? I am playing football When did you decide? I decided to commit to West Point on July 31, 2020 What helped you make that decision? The great opportunities it provides for my academic and athletic career.
What college are you attending for Fall 2021? LaGrange College What sport are you playing? Baseball When did you decide? I decided in July 2021. What helped you make that decision? My coaches and family What are you most excited for? The chance to continue my baseball career
Tanner Bivins wears his army uniform to show off his new school. Bivins Carson Schiller shows off her new school.
(Continued on page 8)
Schiller
What college are you attending for Fall 2021? University of Georgia What sport are you playing? Swimming When did you decide?
Jimmy Cox pitches at a home game.
Adent
GO WOLVES!
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green & gold
Wesleyan hosts spring signings Cont. from pg 7
Carson Schiller & Vance Nicklaus
and provides numerous connections for potential future jobs.
Wyatt Hodges
What college are you attending for Fall 2021? Presbyterian College What sport are you playing? Football When did you decide? February 12th, 2021 What helped you make that decision? My family, friends, and a whole lot of prayer helped me make this difficult decision. What are you most excited for? I am most excited to continue my football career at a different level and meet new people.
Senior Vance Nicklaus commits to FSU.
Nicklaus
Jada Richardson
Senior Wyatt Hodges commits to Presbyterian College. Hodges
What college are you attending for Fall 2021? Howard University What sport are you playing? Golf When did you decide? I decided in November What helped you make that decision? I talked to a lot of different people at Howard, and it just seemed like it would be the right fit for me. What are you most excited for? I am most excited for the opportunity to continue to grow my golf skills and compete against other great golfers!
Quinn Moore
What college are you attending for Fall 2021? Centre College What sport are you playing? Baseball When did you decide? I decided mid-December of 2020. What helped you make that decision? What helped me make my decision was seeing for myself how well their team bonds together from the new freshmen to the returning seniors along with the beautiful campus around it. What are you most excited for? I’m most excited to just continue to play the sport I love most at a collegiate level, and to continue to get better next year.
SPORTS
Senior Jada Richardson plays golf after committing to Howard University. Richardson
Luke Carroll
What college are you attending for Fall 2021? I’m going to Dartmouth College. What sport are you playing? Baseball When did you decide? I committed November of my junior year. What helped you make that decision? It is a very good academic university, and the campus is beautiful. I think it will be a good change of scenery even though it is far away.
Ryan Rose plays quarterback for the Wolves at home at Henderson Stadium.
CONGRATS!
Congratulations to the Class of 2021 spring sports signees. Your years of hard work and dedication to your sport have paid off. The Green & Gold staff and the Wesleyan community are so excited to see you continue to succeed at the collegiate level. You will be greatly missed by Wesleyan athletics, but we wish you the best of luck in the future!
Senior Quinn Moore plays baseball after committing to Centre College. Moore
Vance Nicklaus
What college are you attending for Fall 2021? Florida State University What sport are you playing? Football When did you decide? I decided soon after football season ended but made my final decision a couple weeks after New Year. What helped you make that decision? I always wanted to play football at FSU when I was younger. The decision was between FSU and another great school, but when I went to visit FSU it felt like home. What are you most excited for? I’m excited to make new friends!
Luke Carroll poses for his senior picture infront of the baseball stadium. Carroll
Ryan Rose
What college are you attending for Fall 2021? University of Rochester What sport are you playing? Football When did you decide? November 2020 What helped you make that decision? The University has a highly respected business program
Rose
GO WOLVES!
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SPORTS
green & gold
Coaches give updates on spring sports Carson Schiller & Vance Nicklaus
Spring is here, and Wesleyan Athletics is in the peak of its seasons with regional games and matches continuing.
Track and Field
How is your season going? The season is going really well. Last Wednesday was the final day for the non-region team. We are really looking forward to working with the region team and seeing if we can get better in the next month before the region meet. Who are you excited about playing? I am excited to face the teams in our region because it is a region we have not been a part of in past years. Who is your biggest game/match against? The competition I am looking forward to most is the region meet. Who has been a key player this season and why? Senior Mac Howie has led our boys’ team as both a captain and also competitively. He has set new school records in the 800, 1600, and 3200 so far, and we still have seven weeks remaining in the season. Also, senior Margaret Dudley has set personal records in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and pole vault already this season and has also done a great job of leading the team.
game. Our opponents are simply the team who occupies the other dugout. Who has been a key player this season and why? We have had several players who have shown throughout the season. Senior Jimmy Cox has been a consistent pitcher for us to name one.
(From left to right) Junior Druw Jones high fives seniors James McCoy, Jalen Fulwood, and Luke Carroll after an RBI. Adent
Girls’ Lacrosse
Senior Margaret Dudley hurdles in her track meet this season. Dudley
Boys’ Lacrosse
How is your season going? The season is going well. We are currently riding a three-game wave and are undefeated in area competition. Who is your biggest game/match against? Our biggest games are against Marist and GAC. How are ranked going into regional games and the end of the season? We are currently ranked 11th in the state A-5A and tied for 1st in the area. Who has been a key player this season and why? We have had a number of great contributors. Sophomore Lawson Jones leads the team in both goals and assists.
How is your season going? The season is going really well. We had a few bumps in the beginning weeks due to some injuries, quarantines, and positive COVID cases, but since then we have grown as a team. Just before leaving for spring break, we had our best game of the season against McIntosh. It was fun to see our girls play so well together. We have seen that we have a lot of talent at each position on the field, and we are hoping to make a competitive run in the state playoffs this year! Who are you excited about playing? We are excited to play upcoming games against Marist and GACS. Both of these schools are region games for us and if we are successful in both we will finish first in our region. Who has been a key player this season and why? We have several key players in various positions but our four senior captains each lead very key positions on the field. Molly Brown leads our offensive players, Riley Keller leads our middies in transition, Alexandra Murphy is doing tremendous work at encouraging our defense, and Emma Nydam is making the stops in goal. In addition to this I am very grateful for our additional seniors who are helping lead our team both on and off the field – Anna Grace Bowling, Annelise Onorato, Alden Pridgen, and Emma Young, who work hard on the field and are making the program more fun through their positivity and leadership.
Freshman Laney Jerding heads a ball over an opposing team. Archer Cady Tripett, who earned all-area recognition in 2020. Caitlyn Bobo leads the team with 11 goals scored. The team has not chosen captains, but the five seniors have more than fulfilled the role of leadership that Head Varsity Girls Soccer Coach Glenn Archer had been looking for. Archer said, “We had a goal-setting exercise early in the season. All of our girls had a goal to know one another better personally. Secondly as a team we want to qualify for the state tournament and win another state championship.” COVID has impacted the season to some degree. Archer said, “We have had a few players here and there miss a week or two, but the girls have navigated the pandemic beautifully. We are grateful that God has shown his hand of favor upon our program.”
Boys’ and Girls’ Tennis
Senior Bella Tucker goes to hit a ball during a tennis match. Tucker Both boys’ and girls’ tennis are undefeated in the area and are on their way to win the area. Sophomore Grayson Balloon has been a solid singles player, and seniors Jack Jones and Dakota Early have been a key part of the doubles match ups. Freshman Sophie Gibbs has contributed a great deal to girls’ tennis and senior Bella Tucker is an anchor in the lineup. The tennis team captains are seniors Harrison Leath, Jake Lundstedt, Holly Mitchell and Bella Tucker. This year’s goal is to win the area championship and make it to the state finals. Sykes said, “We are really hitting our stride and have full confidence that we will be playing in the state finals on May 8th.”
Boys’ Soccer
Senior Jackson Turner passes lacrosse ball across the field. Turner
Baseball
How is your season going? Things seem to be going well. Fortunately, everyone is healthy and able to participate. Who is your biggest game/match against? It doesn’t really matter who your opponent is in a baseball game because their size, speed, or strength doesn’t affect your ability to perform. We try not to focus on who our opponent is; rather, we try to play to our potential with each
The Varsity Boys’ Soccer team had a very tough start to the season, playing 5A, 6A, or 7A schools for the first few games. Howver, the team is now 2-0 in the conference and beat two 6A schools in the last two weeks. Junior Aiden Kresl is a veteran goalie for the team and thanks to Kresl and defenders like junior Cristo Martinez and sophomore Carlos López, the boys are able to hold great teams to a close score. Head Varsity Boys’ Soccer Coach Guillermo Vallejo said, “Play as a team, encourage each other. We want to honor our motto: JOY.” Seniors Annelise Onorato, Emma Young, and Molly Brown smile for a picture after winning their lacrosse game. Brown
Girls’ Soccer
Varsity Girls’ Soccer has had a great season so far with a record of 8-2-1. They are entering a very important stretch of region games which will determine state tournament seeding. The team has eight returning starters, including Ashley Binney, Lilly Tapp, Lindsey Suits and
Senior Brett Lloyd runs past an opponent during a game. Lloyd