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Features, Home, sports

Angelina Juarez Gives Wrestling A Chance

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Angelina Juarez might typically be known as kind and hardworking, but you might be surprised to know that just over a month ago, she joined the wrestling team. Why? To see if she would like it. Turns out, she did.  Juarez works on Wednesday’s and weekends, so at times she feels rushed. 

These days you can see her carrying practice clothes, mouthguard and shoes to her 4th and 8th period practice sessions. Although the team’s official practice happens during the school day, sometimes they don’t end until 4:45pm.“ When we actually Wrestle then we would wear our singlets.”

What is it like juggling Wrestling in life; does it make you busier, productive, or is it fun in general?

“It’s a different feeling because it’s my first time being on a team, and having teammates, but it’s cool.”

Does your coach give you advice or tips to make you better for wrestling?

“The coaches always say a quote of encouragement after practice , and they help you a lot when you don’t understand a move. And coach always says to never give up and as long as you don’t, then you can win.”

Juarez’s team will have their first Wrestling match next week at our school, on Saturday 13.

Home, Opinion, sports

Crain sisters, basketball interviews

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By: Beatrice Furlow

Taylor Crain, Freshman, Freshman Girls Basketball Team

  1. Is basketball your favorite sport? If so, why? If not, what is your favorite sport and why?

Yes, Basketball is my favorite sport because Basketball teaches you how to be a good team player, and I love the fast pace of the game.  

  1. What is it like playing with your sister on the same team?

Playing with my sister can be good and bad (mostly good). Sometimes we argue with each other, but overall its nice to have some there to push me to my limits, and lift me up when I get down on myself. 

  1. Are you ever worried about getting injured? Why or why not?

Not really, everyone runs the risk of injuring themselves the second they step on the court. Usually I dont think about getting injured, theres a chance, but there are more important things to think about than getting injured (In my opinion).

  1. Is there a person or group of people you wish could watch you play at every game? Why?

Everyone would want their family to watch them play, so my family! 

  1. How do you prepare for a game? (do you listen to music, eat specific food, relax, etc.)

Before a game I usually listen to music, drink a lot of water, stretch, and eat a high carb pre-game meal.

  1. Why do you play basketball? (is it fun, friends, a good workout, leadership opportunities, etc.)

Honestly, I love basketball, my mom and dad played basketball, so I grew up with it. Basketball attracts such wonderful people, and I love playing with them, exercising, and having fun!

  1. What is your favorite sports movie and why?

A league of their own, I watched it so many times when I was younger. I love the league of their own because its very inspirational!

  1. How have the teams you’ve played for in the past helped you to become a better player/teammate?

The teams I’ve played before help me improve in my weaknesses, every mistake is an opportunity to get better!

  1. How do you balance sports with school and your other responsibilities?

At first it was challenging for me to balance sports and school, but after a while I have managed my time better, getting my homework done and studying for tests. 

  1. How do you memorize new plays/techniques? 

Practice, practice is the best way to memorize and learn plays!

Morgan Crain, Freshman, Freshman Girls Basketball Team

  1. Is basketball your favorite sport? If so, why? If not, what is your favorite sport and why?

Yes, basketball is my favorite sport because I love the fast-action of the game, and how nice all my teammates are!

  1. What is it like playing with your sister on the same team?

I love having my twin on the same team with me because we can support each other no matter what mistakes we make, even though we get in fights sometimes. 🙂

  1. Are you ever worried about getting injured? Why or why not?

I am not worried about getting injured in practice, but in games I am not that careful. I am sometimes nervous about pulling a muscle when I don’t stretch a lot, but overall I am not that worried about serious injuries 

  1. Is there a person or group of people you wish could watch you play at every game? Why?

I always hope my both parents and step-parents come to my games, but I don’t like it if a whole crowd comes to my games, my grandma invites her whole neighborhood. 

  1. How do you prepare for a game? (do you listen to music, eat specific food, relax, etc.)

Usually on a game day I drink protein smoothies and bring a lot of healthy snacks, also I sometimes listen to music to calm down my nerves. 

  1. Why do you play basketball? (is it fun, friends, a good workout, leadership opportunities, etc.)

I started basketball when my mom put me in a league when I was 7, me and Taylor were the youngest girls there and only made one basket that whole season. But I tried out in 7th grade because my mom got a scholarship for basketball, and I wanted to try and follow in her footsteps. I made the b team in 7th grade, and then the a team in 8th. 

  1. What is your favorite sports movie and why?

My favorite sports movie is A League of Their Own, because I love how the women in the movie overcome every stereotype and become the best softball team in the league, encouraging women everywhere to follow their dreams. 

  1. How have the teams you’ve played for in the past helped you to become a better player/teammate?

Yes, being on the b team in 7th grade helped me because we were crushed every game, but we learned from our mistakes every single time and even if we were terrible, I still learned so much from that season. Being on the a team and being a point guard, facing a lot of intimidating girls really helped me become better at facing my opponents with confidence. Also on the a team, everything is very serious and there is no goofing off which was the exact opposite in b team practices. 

  1. How do you balance sports with school and your other responsibilities?

Doing sports and school requires you to be organized and very on top of your work. I fill all of my tutorials and tiger time with studying or doing homework for a class. 

  1. How do you memorize new plays/techniques? 

In middle school I would create songs about the plays, who I pass to, or who shoots. I would probably sound like a crazy person singing “the wing, it screens down, the point, would dribble for a layup.” But now I just do repetition and quiz myself to remember where we go on defense.

Home, News

Can We Reach The End?

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By: Alec Stuart

The district’s COVID-19 response has taken a downward trend.

As COVID-19 vaccinations have rolled out across the country over the past year, the District has had a largely decent response to COVID-19, with mandatory masks in school, strong encouragement of vaccinations, and similar stuff. This, and so many other examples, have been the driving force behind the recovery from the pandemic this country has experienced. With the advent of the Delta strain and other variants, however, the response has begun to falter in a time when a cautious approach is more necessary than ever.

At the same time the Class of 2021 graduated, the district decided to make masks optional for anybody going to school. As of today, they have held this decision still, largely due to the Governor’s ban on mask mandates in schools. Regardless of legal issues, this is a risky move that increases the chances of another COVID-19 outbreak and the hindrance of much progress that has been made.

“Last year they did a great job virtually,” said senior Audrey Balsdon, “I think with the new Superintendent, things took a turn for the worse; I think they bent to the anti maskers without any worry of implications.”

As of Sep. 10, there have been 64 cases at the high school alone, with 195 district-wide. These are the consequences of making decisions based on pressure and not actual data. When I went to the board meeting the night before school began, most the attendees repeatedly berated and booed at the board with anti mask and vaccination sentiment, so much so that local law enforcement had to remove someone from the stage. Like I said, this kind of pressure has scared the board and Superintendent into making decisions without much thinking through. Not only this, but the district worries, given its size, that doesn’t have the resources to enforce health guidelines without legal action from the state government. However, this is not the whole picture.

“It’s thought provoking, I do consider our legal system to be apt for change, and it’s not strict”, Balsdon said, “challenges can be made to what we find unconstitutional and irrational; it’s legally possible.”

The district needs to realize two things: first, that the anti maskers at the board meetings are a vocal minority, and second, that the legal system, while tough to work through, is meant to be flexible. They cannot give up on enforcing health precautions at this time. With the Delta variant spreading rapidly throughout the US, we cannot risk losing all of the progress we have made in the past year.