6sports JV football to play Franklin at home
‘Uncaged bird’
From Falcon to inmate to Eagle, Michael Vick is back in the NFL
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he junior varsity football team has a 2-4 (2-1 AAC) record. After starting 0-3, the Falcons came together and started a winning streak going into the newly formed Appalachian Athletic Conference. The team won a lastsecond thriller to get its first win of the season against North Henderson. “I think the win against North was a great victory for our team,” sophomore quarterback Garrett Lancaster said. It’s always good to get a conference win. Kyle Blume had a great game, the line was blocking very well for our runningbacks and everything worked out good.” The team’s next game is a home game against Franklin on Oct. 29. The Falcons will look to keep in the race for a conference championship.
JV soccer starts season off strong
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he junior varsity soccer team has a 6-7-2 (6-41 AAC) record. The team started the season off fast with a win against Erwin. “The season has gone pretty well for us so far. The first game of the season was awesome because we dominated,” freshman Kevin Gordon said. “We won 2-1. The second goal was by Roberto Vaca, one of our best players. He had a laser rocket shot to score the second goal.” The team members look to continue to improve its conference record when they play Franklin on Oct. 26.
JV volleyball team finishes undefeated
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he junior varsity volleyball team enjoyed an undefeated season, going 22-0, and 14-0 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. The team dealt with a tragedy in the death of teammate Jordan Hodges, resulting in a difficult first game against A.C. Reynolds. “We didn’t play our best, but it was by far the most emotional game of the season,” sophomore Savanna Edwards said. “We played our best against Pisgah. Everyone played together as a team after being down 10-3 and we gave them their first loss of the season.”
Camen Royse Asst. Sports Editor
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n today’s world, athletes are the most admired — and criticized — celebrities in the public. Any child interested in basketball in the late 1990’s looked up to Michael Jordan as a great athlete as well as a great role model. Recently in sports, college and professional athletes have found themselves in legal trouble. From Michael Phelps to Barry Bonds, talented people in the world of sports have been on the wrong side of the law. Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick’s arrest was the most hyped story, and now players are being stereotyped as thugs and lawbreakers. From January 2006 to April 2007, there were 50 arrests of NFL players. That was the year Commissioner Roger Goodell took over as head of the NFL, and said irresponsible player conduct would not be tolerated. Since then, Goodell has handed out suspensions for many high-profile players, including Adam “Pacman” Jones, Donte Stallworth, Terry “Tank” Johnson, Marshawn Lynch, Plaxico Burress and the most infamous, Vick. Vick was reinstated into the league on Sept. 27, after serving 19 months in a federal prison for running a dogfighting operation. Vick also has a three-year suspended sentence in state prison. “I think he deserves a second chance,” Principal Dean Jones said. “I think he has paid his price. Thank goodness not all of us get crucified the first time we make
a mistake. People need second chances, and now the ball’s in his court. How he responds to that will be what his legacy is.” Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, an organization known for its stability and players that usually stay out of trouble. Vick will be used mainly as the “wildcat” quarterback, where he will be a running threat and, on occasion, pass the ball. The Eagles plan to use the “wildcat” for about seven plays per a game. “Athletically, he is a phenomenon,” Jones said. “If he gets in trouble again, he’ll be labeled as ‘that convict’ or ‘that criminal’ or ‘that imbecile’ for the rest of his career.” Junior Jake Goodman believes Vick can contribute to the Eagles. “I think that Michael Vick will fit in just as well as any player on that team,” Goodman said. “He’s a good quarterback, and they need him now that (Donovan) McNabb’s hurt. I think that they did an excellent job in signing him.”
Vick’s case, though the most publicized, was not as severe as Donte Stallworth’s conviction for involuntary manslaughter. Stallworth accidentally ran over and killed a person while driving under the influence of alcohol. He received a year’s suspension from the NFL, but the outrage was pointed toward the court, as Stallworth served only 28 days in prison. “We can always second guess the court system. I can agree or disagree with it, but I really can’t question it. I just have to trust that the judicial system works,” Jones said. “I have a real problem when Vick’s sentence to three years for dog fighting and then someone kills somebody while they’re drunk driving and they get 28 days; there’s not a whole lot of equity there.” The actions of these sports icons make the public wonder if athletes can remain the epitome of admiration for the nation’s young sports players. “In sports, there are players like Peyton Manning, the model of what a professional athlete should be, and then you have players like Plaxico Burress and (Adam) Pacman Jones who keep messing up,” Goodman said.
Volleyball team looking for 3A state title Soccer team needing win to make playoffs
Kevin Robinson Asst. Sports Editor
Whitney Howell Asst. Feature Editor
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est’s varsity volleyball team entered this season as the defending 2A state champions and are now looking to stake their claim in a 3A championship. With several players from last year’s team returning, the Lady Falcons are optimistic about their chances playing at the 3A level. “We are confident in our team. We lost Erica (Cantrell) from last year’s team, and she was a big part of our state championship, but we have a lot of good players this year,” senior Morgan Lancaster said. The effects of moving to 3A aren’t felt until the playoffs since the conference remains essentially the same with the addition of two teams that West is familiar with, Tuscola and Franklin. West finished the regular season 22-1, 14-0 in the new Appalachian Athletic Conference. “There are a lot of good teams in 3A, but I think we can beat just about anyone we are going to play in the playoffs,” senior Kaitlyn Burton said. The team doesn’t lack experience, and the players are leaning on that in their run to another championship. “We are a senior-filled team. Most of these girls have been playing their whole life and love doing it,” Coach Jan Stanley said. “We do have good juniors though, and our team looks really good this year. Our goal has been to go to the state championships all year, and I think we can do it.” West won the conference championship in the AAC for the 10th straight year. They topped the other seven teams in their conference. “It felt really good to win confer-
M Photo by Molly Corhn
JV Briefs
wingspan • october 26, 2009
Paying Respect
Remembering their teammate Jordan Hodges, junior varsity volleyball players Savanna Edwards, sophomore, and Selena McCall and Haley Hendrix, freshmen, have a moment of silence before a home match against North. The JV Lady Falcons won the match 2-0 and ended their season undefeated. ence because we’ve worked really hard all year. We’ve played together for so long, and it’s easier for us to work together as a team,” senior Summer Kremer said. “Conference is always our first goal, and then after that we just focus on making it to the state champtionships.” The Lady Falcons’ conference championship gave them a top seed in the playoffs, guaranteeing them home court advantage. “I’m really glad we got the top seed for playoffs. That means we have home court advantage for almost all of the playoff matches,” senior Alex Stewart said. “We get so much more excited for home matches as a team, and many more people come out to support us. It’s always better playing at home, it really gives us an edge.”
West’s only loss this season happened at the beginning of the year in the “Great 8” tournament, where the top eight teams in North Carolina, the top two in each division, play. West defeated Cardinal Gibbons in the state championship finals last year, but the Lady Falcons were unable to beat them in August, losing in three sets. “They were really good, they always are. I think we should have beaten them, and if we played them again, we probably would,” Stewart said. “It was good preparation, though, for the better 3A teams we’re going to play.” West defeated Forestview, 3-0, in Record: the first round of playoffs Saturday.
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onday night’s game against Appalachian Athletic Conference rival Franklin and Thursday night’s game against county rival East Henderson will be critical for the playoff hopes of the varsity soccer team, according to Coach Brian Brewer. The team is currently 10-8-2 overall, 6-5-1 in the AAC. Franklin is currently 4-7-1 in conference play. One win (or a Franklin loss) would clinch a playoff spot for the Falcons. Team chemistry has been the key to success for the men’s varsity soccer team, according to team members. Brothers Sergio (junior) and Delfino (senior) Islas are playing together on the team for the first time, increasing the unity of the varsity squad. “I like being on a team with my brother because we connect better than anyone else on the team. Compared to being on JV last year, this season seems to be going a lot faster,” Sergio Islas said. According to junior Irving Armas, the players are confident that they will be able to finish toward the top of the conference. “The season is going pretty well,” Armas said. “We feel like every time we step on the field we can win. It is more difficult than last year, though. To win this year, more physical and smarter playing is required.” The conference realignment has provided the soccer team with new conference competition. “The toughest team we’ve played is (nonconference) Hendersonville, and we learned a lot from playing them. Our style of play changed for the best after that game,” Armas said. “In conference I think the most difficult team is Smoky Mountain. We played a good game when we played them, but we still ended up losing.” Senior Braden Rimbault said the team members go camping together on weekends. He also said their friendship helps them play better as a team. “Our chemistry helps us in the tough games, the close ones. We don’t get mad at each other; we’re all friends, but we are a young Record: team,” senior Lee Ponder said. The Falcons will play East on Oct. 28 in the last game of the regular season.
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