Wildcat Tales: Issue 1, Volume 69

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A CHANGE IN TRADITION

By Stephanee Smith

M

aroon filled the stadium - maroon paws, maroon shirts, maroon pom poms, as well as every games’ accessory, the yell leaders and Mamasitas. Wearing a wardrobe of painted stomachs with letters that spelled out W-I-L-D-C-A-T-S, the yell leaders, previously known as the Papas Grandes, showed their school spirit in a way that encouraged other students to be more supportive of their team.

This year, new regulations at Clark Stadium have been created to ban the yell leaders’ traditional wardrobe.

Although the Mamasitas were not directly affected by the new decree, they were surprised by the change in regulations.

“For a while everyone thought it really would have a negative effect because it has always been a tradition to paint up in the front,” senior Mamasita Geneva Werner said. “Even though there are new rules, it hasn’t taken away from the pride in our school and our school spirit.”

Both the Mamasitas and the yell leaders are picked out by seniors to continue the legacy. The Mamasitas consist of eight seniors who prepare baked goods for the players on Thursdays and help the yell leaders organize activities for the student section, such as releasing baby powder into the night sky.

“I was kind of mad because when you look back at pictures from football games in the 90s, the guys always painted up and that’s what was super fun,” Werner said. “But I think I’ve gotten over it now. The guys do a really good job of embracing it and still making the best out of the football games.”

The yell leaders, on the other hand, are a group of eight guys who are responsible for managing the student section at every football game. They

Photo by Caroline Duke

New regulations implemented for District 6A

Left to Right: Robert Montoux, Hudson Kuykendall, Brian Hodge, Michael Chaney, Jax Evans

also start appropriate chants that encourage the team. The new regulations required the yell leaders to do away with their painted chests.

“The rest of my group and I were devastated,” senior yell leader Micheal Cheney said. “I mean people have been painting up since I could remember. I remember going to sixth grade games and there were guys painted up, and that’s what I looked forward to. “ According to Cheney, the yell leaders changed their name from the Papas Grandes because they wanted to start a new tradition that was passed on from generation to generation. With this, they also changed their wardrobe to fit their new name.

“We were going to wear the overalls they gave us, but they were really uncomfortable and honestly a little weird,” Cheney said. “We wanted to wear the

Texas flag chubbies to represent Texas, because it’s Texas high school football. The blazers represent the classiness we bring to every game.”

According to Associate Principle of Facilities and Student Activities Glenn Davis, the new regulations were put in place as a result of rearranging districts.

Every two years Texas rearranges their districts in terms of people competing against each other.

“Bottom line is, when we come together as a new district we vote on rules, what we allow in our stadiums and what we won’t allow,” Davis said.

“Lewisville has a tighter dress code and a much tighter rule about what they permit. They said they would not allow any students in their stadiums shirtless painted up.”

In our new district there are eight schools including East, West and Plano. When voting took place, the majority of the schools voted against allowing students to be ‘painted up.’

“I always told the guys that as long as they were always painted up completely that I didn’t have a problem with them not having a shirt on,” Davis said. “You know it’s not anything other than, you have to go along. You’re one school, you’re one opinion. Majority rules.”

According to Werner, the regulations led to change that was not necessarily bad, but allowed the yell leaders and Mamasitas to look forward to making the best of future games.

“I know people have been talking about getting the entire student section to cheer,” Werner said.

“So no matter if it’s your first football game or fifth, if you’re a senior or a junior, be as loud as you can in the student section. If we can, it will be amazing.”

Photo by Marilyn Trexler

Inside

Graphic by Ariana Leyva

p. 2 to discover how the new nutrition laws impact us.

Graphic by Ariana Leyva

p. 3 for more information on impressive students trying to earn the Gold Award.

p. 6 to learn more about the soccer team, Abusement Park.

News

2

Administration dodges new nutrition laws

By Gabe LaBounty

From the time we are children begging for candy from our parents to when we are mature juniors and seniors buying our own soda, foods that some would call unhealthy are a staple of school life.

The battle of ‘healthy’ foods versus ‘unhealthy’ foods has been in a new light recently and many students thought Cat’s Corner would be on the chopping block. Thanks to a loophole, it will remain. Plano Senior does not accept Federal Funds, unlike every other PISD school. Not only can the cafeteria keep Cat’s Corner, but Stay Day is also saved – meaning this campus is the only one in the district with a Stay Day. Cafeteria manager Alex Tortello heard of the nutritional changes last year. Even though the rules are strict, he said it helps kids create a balanced diet.

“I personally like the new guidelines,” Tortello said. “I do believe that it allows for us to offer more nutritious meals in schools that are federally funded, and I think that translates to better lunches for the students.”

While Tortello believes it is good to have a balanced diet, he does enjoy some foods that are high in fat or sugar. He has enjoyed serving such foods as ice cream and cookies.

“I grew up with those things,” Tortello said. “I like having that option here and it would bother me more to lose it.”

The new nutrition laws would not allow these foods.

Tortello has heard how challenging it is at other senior highs to maintain these standards and avoid t h o s e foods.

“From what I’ve heard among my peers in this district is that it’s difficult,” Tortello said. “It requires a lot of administration and paperwork behind it. It makes it very stressful for people to get it launched properly.”

Dietitian Janet Howell is in charge of the new laws around the district. While she enforces the rules, she admits they are flawed and rushed.

Security tightens at post-game hangout

By Bethany LaMastus

Comic by Ariana Leyva

Photo by Bethany LaMastus

The Whataburger on Coit Rd. on a relatively calm night - an atmosphere much different from the chaotic scene on Nov. 1.

Officers have been stationed at the Whataburger on Coit Rd. and Spring Creek Pkwy. since the start of the football season. After a particularly tense football game on Nov. 1, 2013, students from Plano Senior and Plano West gathered inside the Whataburger resulting in an altercation and the arrest of two students.

With the season now in full swing, Whataburger is doing everything in its power to prevent another struggle on their property.

"We want to protect ourselves and our guests from anything like that," Whataburger manager Abdi Parhizi said.

As well as for protection, the officers are there to keep Whataburger from getting overcrowded. Senior Liz Lytton went to Whataburger after the Sept.

5 game against Irving MacArthur and experienced the increased security firsthand.

"I tried to get into Whataburger after the last game and wasn't able to because of the security guard," Lytton said. "He was keeping the students from coming in to keep Whataburger from going past maximum occupancy."

After football games, students tend to post game, meaning they go out to celebrate a win or hang out with friends.

Whataburger is a nearby location which

has become a popular place to post game.

"I think they thought that keeping the numbers down will keep it from getting rowdy," Lytton said. "Which makes it less likely that there will be a fight."

At the Sept. 12 game against Hebron, Plano West varsity football players came to the game and sat in Plano Senior's student section. Junior Payton Mayfield was at the game and described how the atmosphere changed when they arrived.

"I actually wasn't aware that students from another school were at the game," Mayfield said. "Until the majority of the student section started chanting at the West students."

With the game between the two teams just around the corner, students are expecting something similar to what happened last year.

"Tension between the two schools has been high for a while," Mayfield said. "I just hope no one gets hurt."

Mayfield believes officers at Whataburger, surrounding restaurants and hang out spots will be prepared for a riot like last years.

"I think all the officers can do is to be alert and prepared for a fight," Mayfield said. "They should also intervene as soon as possible if a dangerous situation occurs."

“I think the changes are needed,” Howell said. “It is good to promote health and wellness. I think the implementation could have been thought out a little better with certain aspects being phased in slower to give students time to accept the changes, and give the industry time to work on making products that meet the guidelines, but are appealing to students.”

While there have been laws of this nature before, this is the first PISD has enforced. What qualifies as a “smart snack” and what can and cannot be served at school lunches are subject to frequent change, Howell believes.

“The law is ever changing and you have to stay on top of all the regulations,” Howell said. “Some documents are over 100 pages in length. It is difficult to keep up."

For Tortello, these laws bring up a philosophical question about the government’s role in everyday life.

“We tend to make bad decisions,” Tortello said. “But at the same time, freedom of choice is something that’s part of being American.”

Photo by Taylor Norris

Feature

3

Going for the gold Girl Scouts seek prestigious honor

By Mari Brown

Gold is the color of victory and for a Girl Scout, it represents the highest achievement possible: the Gold Award. They do not just hand them out to girls who have sold the most Girl Scout cookies - it takes great dedication and a passion for their community to earn this prestigious medal.

Senior Shanze Noorani received the Gold Award in July of this past summer. She prepared students for a week in the Dallas area at W.T. White High School for the upcoming SAT. “I really liked having my own students,” Noorani said. “It really gets you involved in the community.

It’s not just volunteering, you’re doing your own thing.”

Junior Emily Buchanan is pursuing her Gold Award by joining up with Teens for the Cure, an organization that works with teens affected by cancer.

“It’s kind of a big deal for me,” Buchanan said. “Both of my parents had cancer and my dad passed away from cancer.”

According to Buchanan, the Gold Award is difficult to obtain. It requires 100 hours of community service and a team effort meaning the girl has to recruit people to help her with the project.

“It’s especially a lot of time right now in high school,” Buchanan said. “I’m in marching band and a horseback-riding program for Girl Scouts, which take a lot of time.

Plus homework and everything else. So 100 hours may not seem like a lot, but it’s a lot.”

The process that Noorani had to go through to get the Gold Award had many ups and downs.

“I was gone all of June and my project was in the last week of July so I had to do everything within a month,” Noorani said. “But when the principal first said yes for me to do it there, I got really excited.”

According to Noorani, the most difficult thing for her was spreading the word about her class for the students in the area.

“The biggest struggle was advertising the class because I didn’t turn in my proposal before school got out,” Noorani said. “I had to find people to come over the summer.”

This project allows Buchanan to experience real-world scenarios. It puts her in situations where she has to handle time management, social interactions and where you have to be an advocate for yourself.

“I only have until my senior year to do it so it’s also a time crunch,” Buchanan said. “It definitely puts you in the real world a little bit, so I can get a taste of it.”

The project also helped Noorani experience a schoolwork situation.

“I designed my own curriculum

and the students really improved,” Noorani said. “I taught other teachers the curriculum because it’s a better way to get people.”

Getting the Gold Award meant a lot to Noorani due to the benefits that comes with it, particularly how

it looks on college applications.

“It’s a really good leadership thing to put on there,” Noorani said.

“There are a lot of scholarships you can apply for when you get the award.”

According to Buchanan, however, the Gold Award is not something someone does just to put it on their college application - it stays with the girls forever. It is also applicable for job resumes, so the award’s impact goes very far into the future of the recipient.

“People see that you have a Gold Award and that means you are determined,” Buchanan said. “If an employer has a choice between someone who has a Gold Award and someone Photo submitted by Emily Buchanan who doesn’t, then they hire Junior Emily Buchanan rides her horse at a the person with the Gold rodeo to show off her new skills. “I started riding horses in 7th grade,” Buchanan said. Award.”

Order in the court Think pink Teen attorneys argue real cases

By Vincent Tellez

A courtroom filled with teens under the age of 19, Teen Court gives aspiring attorneys or young volunteers the chance to work in a real life courtroom and deal with real cases.

These teens have the opportunity to defend minors with Class C misdemeanors in front of a judge and jury made up of their peers. It is their job as attorneys, or jurors, to reach a verdict for the case.

Shraddha Madhan, a senior who has been involved in the Teen Court program for four years, has more than case preparation to worry about. She volunteers every other Monday in the courtroom for several hours each night. In this time she must decide her plan of action with her partner and carry it out in front of the jury, which happens for several cases each night.

“After interviewing the defendant and reading the police report, I can form questions that

I know are going to get the answers that I want without directly trying to testify for the witness,” Madhan said. “So, it’s interesting because it challenges me to say,

the jury interprets what you say.”

While Madhan volunteers every other week at the courthouse, Chokshi volunteers once a month as an attorney

Photo by Anna Villano

Senior Shraddha Madhan prepares for her next Teen Court case. “My favorite part of Teen Court is getting to craft my cases,”Madhan said.

‘okay, what can I take with this information to appeal to a jury?’”

Junior Shivan Chokshi has also been in the Teen Court program for four years. He has been an attorney for two years, but has participated as a juror on and off for the program.

Chokshi said he likes to compete and the simple schedule for Teen Court allows him to enjoy the clubs and groups that he’s in.

“It’s really good preparation,” Chokshi said. “When you’re forming the arguments and stuff you learn how the court system works and how

and variously as a juror.

Along with Madhan, Chokshi thinks that Teen Court is really good preparation for young, aspiring teens looking forward to a possible career in the criminal justice system.

“It provides you with real courtroom experience,” Madhan said. “You get to actually form arguments and plead to a real jury.

The presiding judge is an actual attorney. He always comes afterwards and talks to you about what you did right and what you need to work on. You really develop your courtroom skills in the program.”

By Suhina Chopra My mom and I had just walked out of my orthodontist’s office. It was dark and cloudy outside as we sat in the car.

Her phone went off. It was her sister. My mother’s voice sounded serious and almost in shock but yet still calm and contained, as if she was holding something back.

“The test results came in?” she said. “It wasn’t benign… what does Mom have to do now?”

Even though the subject of breast cancer had never come up in my family, I could sense she was referring to that and that Nanima, my grandmother had it. I find it strange how I guessed something so detrimental.

Then again, I was able to guess it when my mom was the one being diagnosed a few months later.

On that day, she came home when my half-sister’s grandparents were there.

They were all talking about something serious. I got a few parts of it, but I could not understand the whole story since they were talking in Punjabi.

I heard, “take care of yourself,” “don’t worry, we’re here to handle the kids,” and other words of comfort. I could sense something was wrong, but when I asked no one told me anything. Once the grandparents had left, my mom took me into her room.

“So this past week I’ve been seeing many doctors,” she said, avoiding my eyes. She spoke slowly, each word leading up to the next. However, in this case, it was building up to something I already knew.

She told me about a

mammogram she had after her mother’s diagnosis and her fortieth birthday. “Two days ago I got a biopsy done.

They extracted some tissue from where they thought the problem was. The results came today.”

“It was malignant,” she said.

“We don’t know what stage it is yet, so we don’t know the treatment or how long it’s going to take. But now I will have lots of doctors to see and appointments to go to.”

I just sat there. I wasn’t shocked or speechless, or even sad. I had expected the worst, and it had happened. I know that sounds bad, but what else could I do?

Despite my expectations, I was hurt by the fact she had not told me about her doctor’s visits in the first place. She was all I had, and she knew that. I know she probably did not want to worry me, but she should know that I don’t worry or panic in these situations.

Not knowing is the scariest feeling. I could see my mother trying to keep calm, but I could tell she was scared.

She tried to get as much information as possible, from

doctors, cousins, the Internet, everything. And she waited.

The next night, she went to her cousins’ house, doctors who had dealt with many cancer patients. He was not comforting to her at all, but then again, doctors are known to tell it like it is.

I stayed home and I broke down in my closet. The thought of possibly losing the most important and only person I had left scared me. She had already been through so much, as had my grandmother, and now this.

All I could think was she – and I – did not deserve this.

After a few minutes I was able to pull myself back together.

I had to be strong for her. I needed to be the least of her worries. I had to remain positive.

A few days later, we found out the cancer was stage one. It had not yet spread to the lymph nodes where it could have been circulated to the rest of the body. She had to get a mastectomy and about six to eight rounds of chemotherapy.

Continued on wildcattales.com

LET’S GO

4

Reinventing school spirit Wildcats unite to improve pep

By Cameron Drummond

Through the newly themed pep rallies and a stronger emphasis on student participation, Plano is trying to elicit a more unified school spirit from both its student body and staff - including teacher Matt Cone.

“I think that it is really easy to go into a pep rally and say, 'this is about football,' 'this is about drill team' or 'this is about cheerleading,' and it’s not,” Cone said. “It is about us as a community and us as a school. The more we can do to make the pep rallies more representative of who we are beyond athletics, the better off we are going to be.”

According to Cone, there is an E Pluribus Unum mentality that exists among the students and staff.

“It is important that we emphasize the idea of the school experience and how it is more than just the classroom,” Cone said. “There is something about being part of something that is larger than yourself that is significant here.”

Cone graduated from Plano and has gone on to become the public announcer at Clark Stadium for Plano home football games.

“I think students spread that spirit offcampus to show that there is an element of support for the school,” Cone said. “I think the more we can do to rally support for the schools both here and in the community, the Photo by Marilyn Trexler

Senior varsity cheerleader Maddy Exner is held aloft by her fellow cheerleaders during Plano's first pep rally of this school year. "We had a great start," Cone said. “Our first pep rally was awesome.”

more we can do to help out Plano as a community.”

In addition to announcing at games, Cone is also heavily involved with pep rallies and student clubs.

“We had a great start," Cone said. "Our first pep rally was awesome. We need to acknowledge that this school has a lot of good things going for it.”

Furthermore, Cone has recently been working to have school clubs better represented at the pep rallies - including having the clubs each design a flag to display at each rally.

“I’ve been trying to get the flag initiative off the ground,” Cone said. “The more we can get some of those other groups involved, the more we can show that the school celebrates them as well as our athletes and cheerleaders. And the better off we will be because they deserve that support and opportunity.”

Cone and his fellow school spirit leaders recently had second period classes watch a motivational YouTube video titled “Wildcat Nation” in anticipation of last Friday’s pep rally.

“I don’t know what the reaction to it will be,” Cone said. “But we plan on doing it a couple more times.”

Junior Alex Krach said the video didn't influence him significantly with regard to excitement towards the subsequent pep rally.

"It didn't hurt my excitement either, it was just a video, just there," Krach said. "Future videos could have footage of people in the halls doing things, like an interview, or people talking about the school to the camera."

According to junior Rhett Crossland, the school made the right call in moving the pep rallies to later in the morning.

Striving for state Seven members of the last year’s winning volleyball team graduated. That team achieved second in district behind Allen and went on to the ‘Elite Eight’ in playoffs which proved their strength and seniority. This year, the heavy underclassmen team consists of national-winners and college commits.

Despite these titles, the team is currently 4-3 in district so far.

“We are capable of so much better,” junior Gabby Howard said.

From day one, the team’s motto has been ‘State’. They believe that this team could go

all the way, past the Elite Eight, to the State Championship. Head varsity coach Terri Minnis said that the team this year has lost that senior leadership a little, but juniors Howard, Madelyn Cole and Maddie Johnson have stepped up and been vocal with the girls.

“We’ve got a lot of work to get there,” Minnis said. “But they are capable.”

Cole recently came from Grapevine Faith and in turn is new to the Plano tradition.

She is the captain of the team and has been committed to Division 1 Marshal University Volleyball since July 24 of this year. According

SENIORS:

“My favorite tradition is Friday Night Lights.

I really like to go with my friends to celebrate Plano pride and throw powder up in the air.

I also like kick off - it’s just a bonding experience for all of us.”

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to Cole, volleyball at her private school was different from District 6A ball.

“Here it’s more competitive,” Cole said.

“And so much better.”

Shanel Bram, one of the three freshmen on varsity, is the team’s the libero- the best defensive player. Winning club volleyball National’s in 2012 and playing club volleyball since she was eight has prepared her for playing with girls who are three years older than her. Despite the experience under her belt, she said she still gets pre-game jitters.

“I sometimes get nervous when friends

“Our favorite tradition is seeing the sea of maroon shirts on Maroon Out Fridays during football season.”

R ER

and coaches are watching me in the stands,” Bram said. “But it’s not because of anybody across the net scares me.”

Megan Duncan is a returning junior on varsity. Last season, she played libero, which she said built her confidence in the back row and now helps her play all-around. Duncan said the team has a long way to go in terms of connecting on the court.

“We’re closer as a team, more similar in age so we have more in common,” Duncan said.

“But we haven’t glued together yet.”

Starting for her second year in a row on

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Junior Megan Duncan high-fives sop Cooper before th

By Maggie Cross

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Volleyball team adjusts to new players

“I can actually attend the school’s efforts to in Crossland also sh comradery.

“I would define s “We’ve been doing it lo is our pride and joy.”

Krach shares the be abundance.

“This is probably t there are not people jus know I enjoy coming to

“My favorite tradition would be Stay Day. It’s really convenient to stay at school instead of going out and spending a bunch of money. You can get with your friends and eat food from your favorite place, like Chick-Fil-A. Everyone sits outside and there are a lot of cool things to do.”

“My favorite tradition is whenever I get to say “seniors” during the fight song now that I’m a senior.”

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5 Can’t make the next game?

Check out Cameron Drummond’s live blogs at www.wildcattales.com

The quarterback’s curse

By Kelsey Campbell

“The Quarterback’s Curse” is how junior former JV starting quarterback mid game.

His teammates embraced him with open Matt Keys lightheartedly refers to the situation "When I came in for Panhans I wasn't arms. With his team and his learning curve the varsity football team found itself in for mentally prepared for the game at all," behind his back, Waterbury led the varsity the second football team time. Both last to their first win year and this against Irving year the varsity MacArthur quar terbacks with a have been whooping ineligible to score of 34-20. play due to But the curse injuries. didn't stop Keys was there. During the first one the game to fall under Wa t e r b u r y ' s the curse. He hand collided broke his collar with an bone before opposing the season player’s helmet. had officially He broke his started. finger but is "I was still playing. devastated. I "I don't had worked so think about hard only to the injury," he have it taken said. "I think away so early," about what I Keys said. need to do in "Sooner rather the play. But than later, a after the play.... comeback is on that's when I the way." think about the Keys believes injury." the reason he is Despite healing so fast setbacks, the Photo by Marilyn Trexler is based majorly expectations on his support Injured senior quarterback Brooks Panhans supports his team from the sideline. “It was a little bittersweet,” junior are high for quarterback Quinn Waterbury said. “I knew I was going to get to play but it was really tough for me to know that system. When some of my teammates were hurt.” football team. others heard "I plan on about Keys’ injury, his phone filled with get- Waterbury said. "I couldn't get a good hand making it to the playoffs and then some," well texts from his coaches, his house swarmed on the ball."

Waterbury said. with concerned friends and his teammates During the first play of Waterbury's varsity Keys views his situation as motivation. made it up to him in the best way an athlete career, the ball got turned over to the other "You’re only guaranteed the next play," Keys can: on the field. team's defense. The second play was not much said. "Just remember to enjoy what you're In the first game of the season the first better, but then the nerves subsided and he doing and love what you're doing because you string quarterback, senior Brooks Panhans, got in the zone. never know when you can't do it anymore." seriously injured his leg. The curse had struck “Our running backs are excellent and again. This left the varsity team with no other our offensive line is completely dominate,” option but to bring up junior Quinn Waterbury, Waterbury said. "They take care of business."

elief that Plano is a school where spirit is in

the first school I’ve been to that I feel like st liking the school ironically,” Krach said. “I o Plano and having this be my high school.”

Photo by Taylor Norris

phomore Jaclyn Childress and freshman Caitlin he defeat of the Marcus Marauders on Sept. 23

arsity, Gabby Howard knows how to lead y being the loudest on and off the court nd getting her teammates pumped. Howard elates well to the younger girls because of er experience of being on the team since she as a freshman too.

“We just have to get them into the adition,” Howard said. “But the younger rls are just as good as anyone else on the am.”

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TRANSITION TO PLANO?

By Lydia Sebany

“The school spirit at Plano is totally different from Clark.

At Clark, it was more toned down with not as many people participating.

But here, especially in the student section at football games and game days at school, everyone is decked out in maroon. All the clubs I used to be in at Clark are still here. I can still do science fair with Laser Club and I can now join different clubs that I wasn’t in before. “

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“I like off campus lunch and I like that we have a longer lunch. But my least favorite thing is I hate that there’s a lot of homework.”

“It was a big change because there are more people and of course, the campus is totally different. Here it’s more like college with open buildings, while Vines is extremely small. My favorite thing about Plano is probably the pride that everyone has. One of the cons - I don’t like that we don’t have enough time for off campus lunch. I also don’t like walking so much.

I’m a lazy person.”

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school spirit as tradition,” Crossland said. onger than any other high school, and that

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them now,” Crossland said. “I appreciate ncrease school spirit by changing the time.” hows reverence towards Plano’s sense of

Season starts with multiple injuries

Arts & Entertainment

6

Senior defies gravity Student acrobat performs at national competition

By Zane Vasker Senior Axl Osborne graced the stage of America’s Got Talent this season as a part of a crew of highly skilled acrobats known as the Acro Army. Axl and the rest of Acro Army wowed both the judges and viewers with their ability to effortlessly fling their fellow acrobats into the air, garnering enough votes to make it into the finale with the final six contestants.

“The feeling of performing on stage knowing everyone is watching is wild,” Axl said. “We’ve all worked and trained so hard for so long, so we always went out there with an intense focus to do the best we possibly can and to make ourselves and everyone watching proud.”

Axl was invited to the Acro Army by choreographer Arthur Davis, who knew of his skill and was looking for a temporary replacement for an injured team member.

Though he was initially intended to be a back-up, Axl said the other members of the Acro Army recognized his talent and eventually decided to make him a permanent member.

“I’m endlessly grateful for everything Davis has done for me,” Axl said. “Without him and the support of the other acrobats, I never would have gone as far as I have.”

Senior Alex Kravchenko has known and watched Axl perform at local acro competitions for many years, and flew out to New York to watch the Acro Army live at the AGT finale.

Fall favorites: crafts If you have younger siblings or are an indemand baby sitter, teach the kids how to make a pine cone bird feeder.

First, find pine cones and cut a long length of ribbon or yarn. Tie the ribbon in a knot about 3 sections from the top of the pinecone, then tie a knot at the end of the ribbon.

Use a knife to spread peanut butter all over the pinecone and inside.

Next, either sprinkle bird seed all over the pinecone or roll the pinecone in bird seed. Finally, hang the bird feeder in a tree and watch beautiful birds through your window.

“You can’t get much better than that,” Kravchenko said. “I don’t even have the words to describe any of those people or what they do.

It’s just insane.

They make it seem so effortless, but the amount of skill they have to have for that is through the roof.”

Submitted by Axl Osborne Axl’s routine Axl stands at the top of a human pyramid as he for many years performs on stage for America’s Got Talent. was to go to the gym to train with his younger brother Sladen, the two of them often working together at local acro competitions.

“I couldn’t explain it to anyone who doesn’t know exactly

Fall favorites: food

By Piper Nowlin

Photo by Piper Nowlin

what it takes,” Sladen said. “There are just so many little things that he has mastered to get as good as he is now.”

Axl came home to his family with the prestige of winning third place. After being gone for weeks, Sladen said Axl was sorely missed by his friends and family.

“At first it was utter joy, like ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so awesome, Axl is going to be on television, this is so great,’” Sladen said. “When our mom got to watch him on TV, she freaked so much she nearly fell out of her chair. But then it started to sink in that he was going to be gone for weeks. I didn’t see him for a solid three weeks and this has been our longest time apart ever.”

Being a part of the Acro Army’s time on America’s Got Talent has opened the gates for Axl to further pursue his aspirations of being a participant on an acrobatics-based performance like Cirque Du Soleil. He plans to continue his training and use this experience to motivate him to try even harder.

“I’m really happy with everything we accomplished,” Axl said. “Of course we wanted to win, but everyone in the finals were so talented and nice that we all deserved to be where we were. I think all of us are going to go really far and that we did the best we possibly could. Our time on the show has really opened up new opportunities for the future.”

As much fun as old classics are, for fall 2014, a different type of costume is needed.

A couples costume could be going as silent film stars. Just wear black and white clothes and make-up, then carry text cards. Or one of the simplest group costumes is M&Ms. Get a group of friends, some bright teeshirts and tape on the letter “m”. Or, to get creative by yourself, being a piece of Pop-art is unique and easy.

Just paint your face white, accent your eyes by painting them black, then paint your lips red to make them pop.

There is a limitless supply of great costume ideas.

A fun twist on regular popcorn is smothering it with fun toppings.

After popping some popcorn, add toppings such as sweet rich chocolate, crunchy bacon or cinnamon. Make a Halloween version with chocolate sauce and white frosting, dyed orange, or invent Thanksgiving popcorn with cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. The endless combinations are delicious and so much fun to eat.

Cowtown Cattlepen in Fort Fall favorites: activities WorthTheis designed to resemble the old

If you head to the right place in Fort Worth you will find the The Cutting Edge Haunted House.

With numerous awards, including the Guinness World Record for “World’s Largest Walk through Haunted House” and being voted Scariest Haunted House in Texas by Hauntworld Magazine, Cutting Edge isn’t something you want to miss. It’s scary enough that you have to read a warning before going to visit, which can be found on the website along with dates and times it is open.

fashioned cattle pens from the Old West and has over 5,400 square feet of pathways.

The pathways are changed frequently, so you can go multiple times this year and always have a new challenge. If you go to the second story observation deck, watch others as they go through the maze before you do or video tape your friends running lost in the maze. If you get lost on the way to the maze you can follow the cattle herd that walks down East Exchange Avenue and you will get there.

Location: Abusement Park

The word “sports” comes with a sense of competition. The members of the recreational soccer team Abusement Park, however, attempt to get rid of this feeling when playing.

They’ve learned not to take themselves too seriously.

“Not playing competitively makes it a lot more enjoyable,” senior Ryan Wahl said. “School is always so serious, so it’s kinda fun to just be able to play soccer with friends.”

Unlike a large number of teams, Abusement Park’s games always carry a certain feeling

Submitted by Jarrod Reid

Recreational soccer team members pose for a picture.

“We are all just out to have a good time,” Robinson said.

of fun, no matter what the scoreboard looks like.

“People think that we’re out to win,” senior Tuere Robinson said. “But we just want to have a good time and finish high school strong.”

When most teens want to keep in touch,

Photo by Piper Nowlin

When the weather gets cooler, warm up with a Quick Pumpkin Spice Latte in just ten minutes. Just simmer ½ cup of milk, one Tbsp of sugar, one Tbsp of pumpkin puree, one tsp of pumpkin pie spice and ½ tsp of vanilla extract for five minutes. Whisk in another ½ cup milk, then put through a sieve. Simmer while whisking for another two minutes, then add 1/4 cup espresso and whisk until foamy. Now you have a warm delicious drink for the morning.

By Jameriya Owens they casually hang out on the weekends. For these students, it was important that they could find something in common that they all loved.

“Most of us go to different schools, so we use the team to keep our bond strong,” Robinson said. “It’s just an easy way to keep us all together outside of school.”

For a majority of the players, soccer has been a part of their lives for many years. However, the team welcomes anyone who’s interested.

“A lot of us hadn’t played before this past spring,” Wahl said. “Experience doesn’t really

matter as long as they’re there to have fun.”

Team newcomer senior William Mao said he is just happy to be a part of the sport in a fun way.

“Some of the other players are really good,” Mao said. “I haven’t played in 10 years, but that doesn’t mean it’s not nice to get back out into the field.”

The team is all about having fun.Support from their peers is always welcome, whether it’s showing up to the games or just letting others know about them.

“We love seeing tweets about Abusement Park,” Robinson said.

Opinion

Undecided

7

By Maggie Cross

When I was about 7-years-old and was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say: I want to be a zookeeper.

Was it because I liked animals?

No. Was it because I liked being outside?

Not really.

It was because my best friend wanted to be a zookeeper. She loved animals, and she liked children. I had only ever had a pet hermit crab, and I didn’t like kids despite the fact that I currently was one.

When I was younger, it was hard for me to make decisions by myself, whether it came to which flavor of Popsicle or what career - I would just go with whatever my best friend wanted.

When I got to be about 10-yearsold, I was asked the same question: what do I want to be when I grew up?

I had matured a little since my last encounter with the question and I then knew the true answer to it. I wanted to be a counselor.

Was it because I admired my school counselor?

No. Was it because I started to like children?

Nope.

It was because I wanted to yell at kids for a living. Little did I know, that is far from what counselors do, nor is that a sane thought to have at the age of ten.

When I turned thirteen, I was asked the same question I had been asked so many times before: what do I want to be when I grow up?

Since I was asked last time, I had become more normal, or at least a little less of a psycho maniac. I wanted to be a hairdresser.

Was it because I loved coloring and styling hair?

No. Was it because I was good at cutting hair?

I had done it once to my little sister, but no, I shouldn’t be putting

scissors near anyone’s head.

It was because I had just gotten my annual hair cut, and the twentyfive year old woman that cut my hair was really pretty. Essentially, I never really wanted to be a hairdresser, I just wanted to be pretty when I was older. I had become obsessed with the idea of beauty, makeup and attracting a hot boy that I could marry and have a family with.

When I was a freshman in high school, I realized that I didn’t want to be the ‘average American woman’. I wasn’t into the whole “go to college to get an impractical degree, meet the ‘man-of-my-dreams’ and have as many children as I could imagine while my ‘dream boy’ supported me” idea. I didn’t want a family. I didn’t want kids. I didn’t want to live in a suburb. I didn’t want to have to depend on a spouse’s money to live.

Most importantly, I didn’t want to have to go through a divorce, like so many parents are doing now.

I found out that I love fiction, books and the idea of someone not being able to go to sleep because of the powerful words I produced on a collection of pages. I wanted to be an author.

Was it because my friend wanted to be an author?

No. Was it because I thought Nicholas Sparks was pretty?

Not particularly.

Was it because I truly believed that I wanted to be a writer?

Actually, yes.

I started writing short stories and poetry, trying harder in English class and reading lots and lots of books. I would literally think something, then revise my thought using more vivid verbs. I was finally taking control of my own future and it felt good.

When I was a sophomore, I started constantly pondering the question: Are people ever truly insane? I’m not sure why I questioned this so often, nor am I sure how the thought found its way

into my head. That question started to consume my brain: Is there really such thing as being mentally unstable? The thought distracted me during class. I started having weird dreams: reoccurring dreams with three eyed women, talking sharks and zombie dreams where I killed zombies with paper footballs.

None of the dreams made sense, but that’s kind of how mentally ill people live: with nothing making sense. I began looking up anything that could lead me to the answer.

I came up with it eventually: yes.

There can be mentally ill humans.

But I was unsatisfied with that answer. It led me to my final answer to the question I’ve been asked for the past sixteen years of my life: what do I want to be when I grow up?

I want to be a Clinical Psychologist.

I want to help people that others have claimed can’t be helped. I want to help someone that says he is fine.

I want to change someone’s life for the better.

Sometimes, asking a child what they want to be when they grow up can be considered a ‘time-filler,’ a question you just toss out there just to get a kid talking.What adults don’t realize is how crucial the answer is. It’s a way of documenting the child’s maturity and understanding of life. It records the child’s growth and development. From wanting to be a princess, to becoming an oncologist. From claiming to be the ‘original’ Batman, to protecting the world one jaywalker at a time as a policeman.

That particular question taught me how to grow up, and what to look forward to as an adult. It taught me how to make my own decisions and got me excited for the future.

When I apply for college, I won’t be worrying about the undecided major. Thanks to that time filler, I know who I want to be.

Torie Brannen

Print Editor-in-Chief

Haley Samsel

Online Editor-in-Chief

Sonam Benakatti

Managing Editor

Ashley Stuber

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Taylor Norris Photo Editor

Anna Villano

Assistant Graphics Editor

Terry Quinn Adviser

Staffers Nathan Allen Mohona Aziz Mari Brown Kelsey Campbell Suhina Chopra MaryClare Colombo Maggie Cross Nina Dillon Ella Hunt Tashy Hunter Min Ji Kim Sophie Kugelstadt Gabe LaBounty Bethany LaMastus Gabrielle Lammons Arim Lee Piper Nowlin Jameriya Owens Emily Perez Corey Picklesimer Rose Rana Lizzie Ritchie Lydia Sebany Stephanee Smith Vincent Tellez Erienne Terpak Falyn Traina Zane Vakser Abigail Werner

Mission Statement:

Wildcat Tales is a student produced publication that serves to educate, inform and entertain the student body in a professional manner which will provoke thought while upholding the principles of a free press. The publication is a forum for the students of Plano Senior High School. Any opinions expressed in Wildcat Tales are the opinion of the writer and of the writer only.

Policy:

By Corey Picklesimer Deep in the frigid regions of Antarctica exists a complex soul. Let’s call him Perry. Perry just happens to be a penguin - an Adélie penguin, to be exact. In their short lives, penguins strive to make friends and achieve aspirations. In this case study, let us look at why Perry did a poor job at accomplishing both of these goals.

When Perry was a chick, his father left the picture. This put a strain on Perry and his mother.

Penguin families can survive and thrive without a penguin father, but it is much harder. For Perry it gave him conflicting feelings. Can good penguins do bad things? This was a lot for a young penguin to handle, but he didn’t want to burden his busy penguin mother with silly questions.

When Perry began to waddle on his own, Perry entered penguin grade school. There Perry saw other chicks with things he didn’t have. Perry really wanted to be like his other penguin classmates.

He thought they might not like him if they found out he didn’t have as many things as they did. So Perry told many tall tales to his penguin classmates. At first they thought he was amazing, but soon they realized

October 1st, 2014 Volume 69 Issue 1

Perry wasn’t being honest. Even his closest friends had trouble believing him at all. Little by little, Perry spent less time with his classmates and more time by himself.

When Perry entered penguin high school, he had trouble making friends. It seemed that the more depressed he got, the more time he would spend at home instead of school. Even his best friend from penguin grade school, Polly, wouldn’t talk to him. Polly had found new penguin friends and spent more time with them while Perry sat alone.

Eventually, Perry dropped out of penguin high school.

In actuality, Perry is not a penguin. He never lived in Antarctica and he never attended penguin grade school. Perry is my best friend from elementary school, so I guess that would make me Polly. Over time, Perry’s dishonesty led me to distance myself from him. This is something I’ll regret forever.

We may get annoyed by people who make themselves appear as someone they’re not, but their lies are just a cover for problems at home or in their past. The best thing that we can do is be kind to them. That’s a good way for them to forget about their problems, and, most importantly, to have a friend.

Students and faculty are encouraged to send in any questions, comments, concerns or criticisms to be published.

Letters to the editors can be put in the envelope in room B208 or emailed to The Wildcat Tales at pshs.pub@pisd.edu. The staff reserves the right to edit a letter for grammatical errors and space issues. Any errors found in the publication will be rescinded in the following issue. Additional and daily updates can be found at our website www.wildcattales.com.

Past issues can be viewed at www. issuu.com/wildcattalesonline.

Businesses wishing to advertise in Wildcat Tales can email us at pshs. pub@pisd.edu. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisements deemed to be inappropriate.

Wildcat Tales is the official student publication of Plano Senior High School 2200 Independence Pkwy Plano, TX 75075 469.752.9336

Student Life

8

Remembering Homecoming 2014

By Ashley Stuber and Taylor Norris

Photo by Caroline Duke

Photo by Caroline Duke

Photo by Caroline Duke

Photo by Caroline Duke

Photo by Caroline Duke

Photo by Kassidy Vazquez-Dickey

Photo by Caroline Duke

Photo by Kassidy Vazquez-Dickey

Photo by Taylor Norris

Photo by Grecia Trejo

Photo by Hope Hemenway

Photo by Hope Hemenway

Photo by Caroline Duke

Photo by Caroline Duke

Photo by Hope Hemenway

Photo by Grecia Trejo