Volume CXII, Issue 10
The student news publication of Walnut Hills High School
Friday March 16, 2018
WHHS Student athletes shine
(Far left) Charlotte Adams, ‘21, appeared in the May issue of Sports Illustrated after winning natinals. Adams looks ahead to future competitions. (Top Middle) Kene Henry, ‘21, attended nationals with the WHHS cheer squad. (Bottom middle) Sean Kelly Darks, ‘20, was a key component to the best regular season record ever for the WHHS Lady Eagles. (Far right) Ethan Moore stands in front of the WHHS natatorium; Moore finished within the top three at all his meets leading him to win Player of the Year for diving.
TOP AND BOTTOM MIDDLE:HAYDEN WILLHITE/CHATTERBOX TOP RIGHT:RYLEIGH SANBORN/CHATTERBOX TOP LEFT:ALLYSON GARTH/CHATTERBOX
ARCHERY Kylie Bridgemann, ‘22 For most there is one thing that brings them joy. For Charlotte Adams, ‘21, the releasing of her bow is connected with her happiness. Adams began Archery just six years a and is already claiming highly respected accomplishments within her sport. However, being a student at WHHS it can be difficult for Adams to manage her practice with her studies, especially being that she runs track and cross country on top of archery. These activities bring a lot of responsibility. To diffuse the stress and homework load Adams uses study hall to her advantage. Last year Adams was recognized in the May issue of Sports Illustrated within “Faces in a Crowd.” For only in the eighth grade she beat all but two college ladies at the indoor national
SWIMMING & DIVING championships in Mankato, Minnesota. At Nationals this year Adams defended her national title. She broke her own record of 886 for her age group(12-14) as well as the succeeding tier(15-17). Adams, now a freshman, travelled to the National Field Archery Association nationals last weekend with Cincinnati Junior Olympians where she is coached by Jim and Liz Coombe. Under her coaches she’s found most of her success shooting barebow as to re-curve which she started out with.
COURTESY OF H ALBERTO GONGORA
GIrl’s varsity Basketball Hayden Willhite, ‘18
ball since the second grade. She was a part of this years winning team. JenWHHS sports finished the winter kins believes that what led to the sucseason off with many winnings and cess of WHHS girls basketball team snatched some school records. The was, “how close knit of a family we are.” Jenkins as an individual helped girl’s varsity basketball team broke both school and personal records this season. with the success of the team by Taking a look at Coach Adam Lazar’s “Pushing [her] teammates, literally, girls basketball team at WHHS, he has [and] competing [with each other].” had his best record with this team going Beside Jenkins, her teammate Sean 25-2 this season. On top of that Lazar was Kelly Darks, ‘20, also contributed to named Eastern Cincinnati Conference this years WHHS basketball team’s suc(ECC) coach of the year and hit the 100 cess. Playing since she was four, Darks win mark. Looking back at the beginning feels this year was successful because, of the season Lazar mentions, “we are gon- “we acted as a family throughout the na make a really big run this year,” and, season, and we always stuck together.” “we hope the school is excited about us.” “I try to be a coach on the floor,” Darks The girls basketball team was named said. “Being a point guard, what Lazar ECC outright champions, as they were tells me, I relay to my teammates.” Darks undefeated in their conference and was named first team in the ECC this seawere also named district champions. son as well as second team in all district. Alysea Jenkins, ‘19, has played basket-
Ryleigh Sanborn, ‘21 This season WHHS swimming and diving teams swam away with many achievements, including boy’s coach of the year, awarded to Jen Golden. The boy’s team also received five first team honors and the girl’s team received a first team and second team honor. In addition to these awards diver Ethan Moore, ‘21, was named player of the year. Moore accredits his individual successes to hard work and experience. “I work really hard, [and] practice almost every day for multiple hours,” Moore said. Moore began diving at the age of six upon joining the team at his local swim club because he thought it looked like fun. This season Moore managed to finish within the top three at all of his meets. He also won the Eastern Cincinnati Conference ‑(ECC) Diving Championships.
For Moore, training consists of crossfit for strength, dry land for endurance and training at a gymnastics facility, each twice a week. His training is split up between his two teams, his club team and the WHHS swimming and diving team. Moore also does a lot of drills, with the goal that he will be able to perform each dive effortlessly. He also spends time perfecting and working on each element of his dives, such as the height of the jumps or his entry into the water. Moore, along with the WHHS swimming and diving team, look to replicate much of this seasons success in coming seasons.
COURTESY OF ARTHUR SHLAIN
Cheerleading Hayden Willhite, ‘18 The cheer squad at WHHS also had a successful season, by not only making it to nationals for the first time in Cincinnati Public School history, but also placing second overall in the nation. JaNasia Wilkerson, ‘21, was part of the competition squad who traveled to nationals. Wilkerson has participated in cheerleading since the fifth grade and believes her teams success comes from “our determination.” Wilkerson describes her best characteristic on the team as her perseverance. Kene Henry, ‘21, was also part of the cheerleading squad that went to nationals. Henry has played this sport since the fourth grade, and believes the success of the team comes from “practice and passion.” As an individual Henry said she helped the cheer squad by, “[practicing], and putting my heart into it.”
COURTESY OF GAN KHOON LAY