The Echo
Student Newspaper | November Issue
Hearing from class of 2021
Sydney Carroll While it seems like March was literally two weeks ago, it’s almost Christmas! And, while a lack of exams and normal holiday festivities may make it feel like this semester is far from over, we have three weeks until the first semester of the 2020-21 school year concludes. This means that sadly, our seniors are heading into the home stretch of their time at BGA. As such, I decided to catch up with some of this year’s seniors around the quad to find out what they feel like they’ve learned over their high school years and also to understand how the Class of 2021 feels about ending their high school career during a pandemic. “I wish I had realized that my teachers were always accessible and genuinely cared about me,” admitted Paige LaRock. “Over time, I realized how much more successful I am when I’m making close contact with my teachers.” Other seniors shared this sentiment, agreeing that they’ve learned over their high school years that reaching out to friends and teachers for help is one of the best ways to get ahead. Another way to get ahead? “Not procrastinating,” Kevin Dennis added. “It just wastes time in the end, and stresses you out.” Not only did seniors reflect on their academic strategies but also opportunities they wish they would have taken advantage of earlier in their high school years. “It’s ok to go to games by yourself,” explained Mob Leader Butch Samide. “School events are always fun, and people won’t think you’re weird if you go to them.” Kara Napier wanted to rep one of her favorite teachers, providing, “Ms. Handlesman’s class is not as scary as you think it is, I promise - it’s actually really fun.” Kevin Dennis wished that he had realized his true athletic potential. “I would’ve lifted more, carried more groceries - I didn’t know how big I could be, you know?” Beth Fleming also offered words of wisdom to freshmen, explaining, “When I was a freshman, I thought seniors were always making fun of me. Now that I’m a senior, I know that we don’t care what you do - so don’t be afraid of us!” These seniors have quite possibly learned
more in these last 9 months than the rest of their high school years combined, as the pandemic has immeasurably changed all of their lives - and especially their senior year. “It’s really tough,” Kevin admitted. “It’s changed everything. It’s just so different, and we’re missing out on a lot of things we’ve looked forward to.” Butch shared this sentiment, adding, “We didn’t get a Homecoming, we probably won’t have Prom, which stinks, but I’m just glad to see everyone.” Butch wasn’t alone in expressing his relief to be in school in-person; every single senior I interviewed expressed immense gratitude to not have to spend their senior year on Zoom. “Yeah, we might get a game cancelled here or there, but at least we got to have games,” Beth explained. “It could be much worse.” Paige agreed, sharing, “I’ll miss having a typical senior year, but BGA’s done a great job adapting and keeping us in school as long as possible.” For many of these seniors, the uncertainty of the second semester weighs on their minds. “I mean, will we have a musical, or other extracurriculars? It’s so hard to know right now, which makes it tough,” Kara lamented. Although the class of 2021’s last semester at BGA is ever uncertain - dependent on a vaccine, social distancing, and seemingly the will of the universe, the adaptability of our senior class may be one of their most admirable traits. While their senior year may be a little different than years past, and definitely not the one anyone envisioned, we can at least say for certain that the Class of 2021 has had a senior year that they won’t forget.
Soccer Championship Wrap-Up- pg. 2 2020 Football Season- pg. 4 Jeni’s Fall Flavors Review- pg. 5 Call of Duty Review- pg. 6 Sophie’s Movie Reviews- pg. 7 Fall Play & Interview with Ms. Wallace- pg. 8
Sports BGA’s Flagship Sports Team: Girls Soccer Reflection from Coach Jan Morrissey
Sarah May The girls soccer team had a monumental season in the face of unpredictability and unprecedented global circumstances. Each week of the season that they were able to play was reason enough to celebrate. Due to the cooperation, commitment, and sacrifices from each member of the team, the soccer season stayed alive. After suffering many setbacks early in the season due to injuries or occasional quarantines, the soccer team took each moment to display their resilience and unity through selfless acts of doing all that was necessary for the good of the team. Players rose to the occasion for each adverse situation. Because of the players’ determination, this program grew stronger and has become a very powerful force. Finishing the regular season as the #2 seed in District behind CPA, BGA’s road to the championship didn’t look much different than the road of 2019. They were consistent in the process of a postseason run, as they continued to build momentum with every match of the postseason, whether that was a win or a loss. The Wildcats earned their spot in the State Tournament as the #2 seed out of the middle region and hosted a first-round match with the West’s #4 ECS, who has traditionally spoiled BGA’s postseason run. This time the storyline was much different. BGA took home a 7-3 victory over ECS with Keaton Mitchell leading the way by scoring five goals in this match that helped her team continue their season and play in a Quarterfinal match at the East’s #1 seed, Boyd Buchanan. As they faced this unfamiliar opponent, it didn’t take BGA long to break down the Boyd defense. The Wildcats placed incredible pressure on Boyd and came away victorious again with Keaton Mitchell breaking through Boyd’s defense and scoring two goals to provide another trip to Murfreesboro for BGA. The semifinal matchups were identical to the 2019 season and BGA faced #1 St. George’s out of the
west, just as they did the year before in one of the muckiest of soccer played at Siegel Park. The sequel to the 2019 match was certainly fresh in the minds of the Gryphons of St. George’s and BGA was still that thorn in their side. Knowing the intensity surrounding this match, the Wildcats were mentally and physically prepared for the battle. After 80 minutes of play, BGA claimed a convincing finish as Kennedy Price found the back of the net twice and Keaton Mitchell once to win 3-1 over St. George’s. In the other semifinal match, CPA and USJ had to extend their match an extra 20 minutes to determine BGA’s State Title matchup. As that whistle blew, BGA immediately began preparing for their matchup with USJ that would take place in 24 hours. The recovery process by the Wildcats was crucial to their preparation for the State Final match. After suffering incredible battle wounds from St. George’s, the Wildcats showed just how resilient and mentally tough they are because none of these wounds were apparent in the final match as they placed relent less pressure on USJ from the first whistle. A determined BGA throttled the USJ defense
Sports cont. and placed immense tension on USJ’s goalkeeper, make five saves in the 1st half to keep her team in the game. However, in the 31st minute, it was the assist from Sophia Donaghue to the sixth shot from BGA’s Sara Evans that would prove to be the dagger that would claim victory for the Wildcats and another program State Title. BGA went on to throttle the USJ defense with eight more shots to USJ’s one shot in the 2nd half. Graci Semptimphelter, at the helm of the defense, remained steadfast in goal to make four saves for the match and finish with a clean sheet for the victory. The 2020 State Title is the fifth for the girls soccer program. We’re so proud of these young ladies and the legacy they are creating for the soccer program. What a remarkable year!
Volleyball Wrap-Up Allyson Newkirk BGA volleyball had a tremendous season coached by Tatiana Alvarez and Charlie Carlisle. With Covid-19 affecting all sports programs, the volleyball team managed to create an undefeated regular season and picked up 1st place in the District Tournament along the way. Both Gillian Baisden and Izzy Northam were selected as All-District First Team, Ally Newkirk as All-District Second Team, and Christine Jewell as District 3 MVP. Gillian and Jessie Meghreblian were also selected to be on the District 3 All-Tournament team, and Kearstyn Seay was chosen as District 3 Tournament MVP. One of the biggest accomplishments of the year involved the team taking the regional title. After twelve years of no showing in the regional championships, the girls broke the barrier through hard work and dedication to the sport. Christine Jewell and Ally Newkirk were both selected as Middle Region All-Tournament, and Baisden won Middle Region Tournament MVP. Along with the twelve year span from the last time BGA volleyball had seen the court of the regional championships, this was also the year to regain BGA’s spot in the state tournament. Although the team’s season concluded after the first day of tournament play, they all contributed to a memorable season in BGA volleyball history. The girls and coaches earned their team titles through resilience and cannot wait to see the court in the near future.
Sports 2020 Football Season
Evangelene Gallimore Our BGA football team has had an exciting season so far. The boys have had 8 games with 4 wins and 4 losses. Back in August, the boys started their season with a win against Wilson Central. Daniel Morra and Sean Williams both scored touchdowns thrown by a BGA junior, Brett Brown. The defense played an incredible game, led by seniors Alex Krause, Max Sale, and Iman Lohrasbi. The final score against Wilson Central was 12-8, a win for the Wildcats. Next, our Wildcats traveled to Goodpasture but lost a close game with a score of 28-32. The team later traveled to Nashville Christian but had a tough loss, with a score of 14-28. The next game was against BGA Wildcats’ rival, Christ Presbyterian Academy. Unfortunately, our boys had a tough loss of 10-35. On a higher note, the boys beat our other rival, Franklin Road Academy, with a close score of 21-14. Next, our Wildcats lit up the scoreboard with a 41-7 win against Lincoln County. Our team had a tough loss against Lipscomb Academy, with a score of 7-21. This is the end of the regular season, and next our Wildcats traveled to Mississippi to take on North Point Christian High. The boys had an exciting win, with a score of 45-13. In the first quarter against North Point Christian, scoring highlights included Brett Brown passes to Xavier Shaw, Miller Barnett, and Zach Flores, and a Sean Williams interception return
for a touchdown. In the second quarter, the Wildcats held their lead with a Brett Brown 1-yard quarterback sneak and a Zion Morris interception return for a touchdown. BGA finished off the first half with a Robbie Wright 31- yard field goal. In the second half, BGA put in some of their younger players to finish off the game. For the final game of the boys season, they traveled to Evangelical Christian School and ultimately lost by 1 point in overtime. The final score of the game was 14-13. Overall, the boys had an exciting season, and the BGA community is very proud of how hard the team worked.
Golf Highlights
Ella McLay The BGA golf team had a very successful season in Fall 2020. Both the girls and boys teams went to the district tournament at Riverbend Country Club. The boys team placed 2nd, and the girls team placed 2nd as well. Bella Bugg placed 5th place individually, and Jackie Henderson, who is an 8th grader at BGA, placed 2nd individually. The girls and boys team both advanced to the Region Tournament. The boys team ended their season by placing 5th overall. Jack Joseph had a score of 81, Price Crabtree had a score of 82, Jake Fleser had a score of 85, Eliot Brashear had a score of 90, and Ryan Atkins had a score of 93. The girls team was very successful. Bella Bugg played a really great match and almost made it to state. She cut it very close, but she lost in a playoff round. She had a score of 85. A BGA 9th grader, Shea Hollis, had a great season and ended it with a score of 96. BGA 8th grader, Jackie Henderson, placed 4th overall with a score of 84 and advanced to the state tournament. In the state tournament, Jackie placed 7th overall. Coach Brent McLay summed up the season: “Despite the logistical challenges of Covid 19, it was a tremendous success. We overcame the adversity of our new reality and forged ahead into the postseason with determination. I couldn’t be more proud of both the boys and girls team performance in the post-season. I look forward to next year as I’m certain we will improve as a group and experience further success.” Congratulations to all the BGA golfers!
Food
Dalia and Izzy Review The World: Jeni’s Fall Ice Cream Edition Dalia Diab and Izzy Donoghue
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is an artisanal ice cream chain throughout the Midwest, well known for their unique and experimental flavors. This fall season, they came out with a six-flavor Thanksgiving pack, which includes a variety of interesting flavors that we knew we needed to try. Rankings (best to worst) Brambleberry Crisp Brambleberry Crisp is a year-round flavor that combines an oat streusel and berry jam with classic vanilla ice cream that formed our definite favorite flavor from the pack. Even though Dalia is not the biggest fruit fan, we both enjoyed how simple, yet effective the mixture of textures and flavors was. It reminded us both of a berry pie that you might eat for a Thanksgiving dessert to contrast the savory flavors of the rest of the meal. Salty Caramel Salty Caramel is a classic Jeni’s flavor and remains on the menu year round (for a good reason). Unlike the average salted caramel ice cream, Jeni’s version is more salty so it’s not overly sweet. Salty Caramel is a dependable flavor that won’t disappoint. Boston Cream Pie The Boston Cream Pie flavor really didn’t taste like ice cream at all, but the overwhelming amount of chocolate fudge still earned it a place high on our list. The vanilla custard and cake pieces were completely lost in the chocolate, but the flavor earns extra points for its versatility. The fudge sauce on top of the ice cream came in such a large amount that we were able to transfer some of the fudge to Campfire Chocolate to mask its horrendous flavor. Cognac Gingerbread Cognac Gingerbread and Middle West Whiskey Pecan are very similar in their flavor concept. The ice cream itself has a flavor of brown sugar and butterscotch with notes of cognac that weren’t too overpowering. What earned Cognac Gingerbread a ranking above Middle West Whiskey Pecan was, in fact, the Gingerbread.
Middle West Whiskey Pecan Middle West Whiskey Pecan was an ok flavor. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as Campfire Chocolate. The whiskey flavor was more on the mild side and there was a true butterscotchy flavor. While the pecans did add a much needed textural component, we don’t like pecans. If the pecans were swapped for some other crunchy thing, we both might have enjoyed this flavor more. Campfire Chocolate Earning the spot of dead last on the rankings is Campfire Chocolate. While most campfire-themed desserts stick to the flavor realm of s’mores, Jeni’s attempted to capture the flavor of a literal campfire: chocolate, marshmallows, fire, and smoke. Upon the first bite, we were overwhelmed by a burst of what tasted like cigarettes and chocolate. We decided to give Campfire Chocolate a second chance and so we tried another bite, which unfortunately was even worse than the first. However, we were able to understand its place in the Thanksgiving flavor pack when we discovered the meaty aftertaste that scared us completely away from eating any more.
Entertainment
Call of Duty Black Ops Jack Cheney Cold War
Call of Duty is an old franchise. Starting on November 13, Black Ops Cold War will be the seventeenth installment in the COD franchise, and by now, is it safe to say that things might be too repetitive? Well, it certainly looks interesting, but just how will Call of Duty make or break 2020? Premise Taking place in the Cold War, a setting which has rarely been explored for military shooters, you play as a secret operative code named “Bell.” Bell joins other returning characters, like the titular Frank Woods, played not by James C. Burns, but a new voice actor. Also taking place in a very dark period, the Vietnam War segments will be more serious and darker than the standard campaign in earlier installments, while containing scenes taking place in the 80’s that floor woods and Bell as they seek to uncover the truth and purpose behind the real life Operation Perseus, a Soviet project that American spies fought desperately to uncover. Cold War also takes place in between Black ops 1 and Black ops 2, two games critically acclaimed in their own rights, and by the same developer. We’ll have to see how well this game stacks up to its own series’ legacy. Console Statement Cold War will release for both PS5, PS4, XBox One, XBox series X and PC on November 13, 2020. If you buy Cold War on the older consoles, expect anywhere from 30- 50 frames per second, with a decent amount of ray tracing and particle effects. On the newer generation of consoles, expect the required 60-80 frames per second, with superb ray tracing and particle effects. PC owners will be able to customize their games, allowing for frames up to 120 frames per second, with even more customizable settings in the in-game menu. Gameplay Through the Beta and Small Story Pieces The gameplay shown throughout previews and beta matches, in my opinion, is looking really fun. In story mode, there is a neat new body shield mechanic, where you can take an unsuspecting soldier by surprise and use him as a shield to take out other enemies
as they riddle your meta shield with bullets, followed by a brutal finishing move. Gunplay looks snappy and responsive, which developers Treyarch and Raven Studios are no slouches at doing. Multiplayer Maps are still a little too much like Black Ops 4 for my taste, but the new class-based system and customizable loadouts with weapons of the time period have my vote. There are multiple vehicles for players to use, and they all feel like you actually are driving the respective kind. Some weapons are a little overpowered, but they all have a fitting kick and feel to what kind they are, although the killstreaks used still feel like too much of a crutch for those who really can’t “git gud.” Balancing with cheaters and hackers feels amazing. I encountered a few bugs from my viewing and gameplay, but other than that, it was smooth sailing. The whole experience for me was pulse pounding and fun. Verdict In summation, Black Ops Cold War looks like a fun and fast paced game with an interesting story, fun gameplay, and good balancing to the multiplayer from the beta, which is no easy feat. Treyarch and Rave Studios, according to this reviewer, might have another masterpiece on their hands.
Entertainment Howl’s moving Castle Review Sophie Bruff This is a book that I have reread countless times and continue to be in love with. The novel follows Sophie Hatter, the eldest daughter of three who lives in the town of Ingary. In this world, like in many fairy tales, the eldest daughter does not have much expected of her, so she resigns to the quiet life of running her family’s hat shop. However, her life is turned upside down when the Witch of the Waste puts a curse on her. In search of a cure, she searches for the infamous Howl, the wizard who lives in a moving castle and is said to eat the hearts of young girls. She stumbles upon the castle and strikes a deal with Calcifer, Howl’s fire demon. He tells her that he can lift her curse if she can free him from Howl. This is a tale of mistaken identities, magic, dramatic wizards, and a dog-- all of which make Sophie’s goal of lifting her curse more difficult. The plot follows the the adventures of Howl, Sophie,
Calcifer, and Michael (Howl’s apprentice), all wonderfully written characters who are sure to win over any reader. Diana Wynne Jones’ novels are always beautiful, and this book is as charming as the rest. Jones’s skill for creating an engaging world and lovable characters shine in this award winning novel. Howl’s Moving Castle has been adapted into an Academy Award-nominated movie as well, which is a stunning animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Even if you have seen the movie, I highly recommend reading the book because the plot and character have key differences. If you are looking for something to read after finishing this book, I suggest reading the other two novels by Jones, House of Many Ways and Castle in the Air, which exist in the same universe and include the characters of Howl’s Moving Castle. This book is good for all ages!
Titan’s Trade Deadline
Colin Belshaw
During the 2020 NFL Trade Deadline, the Titans were involved with trade talks with many teams about defensive backs. The Titans secondary was laughable in back to back weeks as they were destroyed by receivers such as Will Fuller and Diontae Johnson. Combined with the 27th worst passing defense in the NFL, there was a need for change. 2019 AP defensive player of the year Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore was rumored to be joining the Titans. Ultimately, the Patriots General Manager Bill Belichick was asking for a 1st round pick, and that was just simply too much to give up. So, the Titans shifted their focus to the Los Angeles Chargers. With their season being a disappointment up to this point, all-pro CB Desmond King was placed on the trading block. Despite being only 26 years old, his value was remarkably low as he has struggled with injury in his first few seasons in the NFL. Add that with his expiring contract, the Titans managed to only give up a 6th round pick. For a young, impactful player, this is an amazing trade as it will certainly help patch up the Titans’ brutal secondary and will help their push to the playoffs.
Community tions, the BGA theatre students owned the stage
Fall Play Review & Interview each night along with the outstanding stage directors Ally Newkirk
and crew. You could see how happy each and every As Covid-19 kept all schools in the Middle Tennessee person was just to have the chance to perform on area for putting on a Fall Play production, Ms. Wallace the Harlin Student Center stage once more. Seniors Georgia Link and Butch Samide took on leading roles and the cast of Half Full would not leave an awaiting in each of their scenes and performed an impressive audience displeased. She and the entire cast put in the time and hard work to create a unique experience last fall play performance. unlike any other BGA fall production. The play used Q: What is your favorite memory from the fall play? inspiration from past alumni, current students, and current teachers to capture the impact of Covid during A: My favorite memory from the fall play was definitely seeing how excited and proud the various our time. writers/contributors were to see their original pieces Q: What did Covid impact the most during the performed. When something you have written makes an audience laugh, or moves them emotionally, it’s alproduction? ways a special feeling. I loved sharing that experience A: Covid impacted not only the way we perwith the students. formed the play (with masks) but also the rehearsal process. We rehearsed individual scenes and monologues on different days, to avoid having the whole Mary Courtney Finn cast at rehearsal until right at the end. We also paid extra attention to the sanitization of shared microWith one of the most notable Presidential elections phones. Keeping the audience socially distanced was having just wrapped up, many Americans are relieved not difficult, since their chairs were spaced out for to have the added burdens of a looming election off them. But, keeping the actors at a safe distance (on their shoulders. However, for a handful of BGA stustage and off) was definitely a challenge and somedents, they experienced an additional hurdle: being a thing we all had to be vigilant about. first-time voter during one of the most unprecedent-
First-Time Voting
The team of actors and Ms. Wallace used extra precaution in all practices and performances to ensure the safety of themselves and their audiences. With precautions in place, each actor found a way to have a shining moment. From serious monologues to uplifting scenes, the Half Full cast did a phenomenal job in taking real-life experiences into perspective on stage. Q: Were there any rewarding experiences? A: The very fact that we got to do an in-person play made the whole thing a rewarding experience, especially since we were not able to do our musical last spring. I am very grateful to Mr. Griffin and Mr. Kesler for everything they did to help us do an in-person production when so many other schools were unable to. Even with a smaller audience due to Covid precau-
ed elections in US history. Considering voting is a different experience for everyone depending on the time of day, location, etc., each senior had a unique encounter at the polls. When asked about their overall experience voting during a global pandemic, the following seniors offered this insight… Aiden Cloud- “I went right after school, so there wasn’t much of a line and everything went smoothly. It [was] my 18th birthday and my first time voting so [everyone] yelled and clapped for me, which was somewhat embarrassing, but I appreciated the sentiment.” Colby Davis- “All I would say is that it is a nerving experience at first just because you are not sure how the process works. I was nervous that people were profiling me as a first-time voter or just trying to
Community cont.
get a read [about] whom I might vote for. I just wanted to get in and get out quickly.” Emma Creecy- “My experience was fast and easier than I anticipated it to be. It wasn’t as intimidating [as I thought it would be]. At one point, a man came up to me and asked if it was worth voting, and then I had to explain [to him] why it was important. He then proceeded to express his views, which completely contradicted mine, and I eventually decided to walk away. Overall, my experience went smoother than expected.”
Calendar
December 1st- Varsity Basketball Games @ Lipscomb, 6:00PM & 7:30 December 4th- Varsity Basketball Games @ 6:00PM, 7:30PM VS. GCA December 8- Varsity Basketball Games @ Columbia Academy, 6:00PM & 7:30PM December 9th- End of Quarter 2 December 11th- Last Day of MS/US Art Show December 14th & 15th- Online Classes for MS/US
MK Walt- When asked if she had/was planning to vote, MK said she had not yet decided to vote because she does not like either candidate. She says one is definitely worse than the other, but she doesn’t want to vote for someone she does not like.
Recent Highlights