Wingspan WEST HENDERSON HIGH SCHOOL
November • Volume 34 • Issue 1
Hate or not?
Americans disagree on use of Rebel flag
Page 7
Gen Z Newest adults officially labeled ‘Generation Z’
Page 11
Bite to eat Area restaurants offer variety of good burgers
Page 16
All set up Junior helps team reach state playoffs
Page 19
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contents
5
4 Donald Trump
staff EDITORS-IN-CHIEF SPORTS EDITORS Carlie Gillespie Caroline Ward MaryKent Wolff
Isabella Perron Josh Conner
OPINION EDITOR WEB EDITOR-INCHIEF Ari Sen
WEB EDITOR
Katie Farina
NEWS EDITOR Dhuru Patel Hailey Port, asst.
Jackson Whiting
JUNIOR EDITORS
FEATURE WRITERS
FEATURE EDITORS
Rebekah Littauer Amber Detwiler Hannah Stertzbach Kendall Owens Lilly Summey
Samuel Littauer Sofia Molina
STAFF WRITERS
Charlotte Grush Sarah Stertzbach
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Emily Turpin Katlyne Featherstone, asst.
MANAGING EDITORS Rachel Raasch Kiersten Woodring
Bryn Bowen Emily Mertz Valeka Ramakis Nolan Singer
PHOTOGRAPHERS Will Lindsey Bobby Slagle Emily Treadway Annalyse Wilkins
DESIGNER ADVISER Brenda W. Gorsuch
Collin Huske
8
11
Grant Kilpatrick Cover photo by Ari Sen
opinion
19
Sierra Jones
Samuel Littauer
4
23
features
4 column
11-15 gen Z
Personal values matter when choosing candidate
Meet the faces of a new generation
sports
5 staff editorial Action needed to reduce cost of attending college
18 -19 sports profiles Get to know players from the fall sports teams
7 pro/con Confederate flag prompts question: Heritage or Hate?
news
20 -21 updates Fall sports teams end seasons in the playoffs
a&e
8 vote 2016 Students form opinions on 2016 presidential candidates
9 financial aid Federal aid form to change for Class of 2017
Wingspan The student forum of West Henderson High School is published four times each year by the newspaper journalism class. The purpose of Wingspan is to convey school and community news to the students, faculty, administration and community. Wingspan content is determined by an editorial board of student editors.
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16 -17 burger review Staff checks out local burger restaurants to find the best
23 island adventure Student spends three days alone on island without food CHECK US OUT ON WINGSPANONLINE.NET
Wingspan is a Southern Interscholastic Press Association All-Southern, National Scholastic Press Association All-American, Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist and N.C. Scholastic Media Association All-North Carolina and Tar Heel Award publication. Staff editorials express the opinion
of the editorial board. Columns reflect the opinions of the individual writers. Circulation is 2,000. Printed by Target Printing & Distribution of Fayetteville, N.C. 28273. Contact the staff at wingspan@hcpsnc. org. The Wingspan staff also publishes online at wingspanonline.net.
/ NOVEMBER 2015 / 3
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opinion
Who’s Next?
All five living American presidents meet in the Oval Office in 2009, including the 41st president George H.W. Bush, current President Barack Obama, the 43rd president George W. Bush, the 42nd president Bill Clinton and the 39th president Jimmy Carter. (Photo is licensed under Creative Commons.)
Choose candidate based on view of the future by | Samuel Littauer
U
nless you live under a rock, you’ve heard the news. The presidential election is in full swing, even though it is almost a year away. With almost weekly debates and an overwhelming number of candidates, this upcoming election could be tough to track. If you blink, you might miss it. Although the official presidential election isn’t until Nov. 8, 2016, the meat of the election is just around the corner. Between the excessive drama and scandals, to the debates and primaries, this election is going to be a bloodbath from now until the polls finally open. With so many candidates, 17 to be exact at this point, how are we going to be able to filter out our favorite candidates from those that make us cringe? Apart from the tremendous size of the field, the numbers for this election are staggering. In 2012, an estimated total of $7 billion was spent over the course of the presidential election, Politico reported. Seven billion sounds like a big number, but it is nothing compared to the price some candidates are willing to spend to buy a spot in the Oval Office. Donald Trump himself stated he would willingly to give up $1 billion of his own money to win this election, and that’s just one candidate. However, our distractions come from more than just money and power. Recently, social media outlets have become the battlefield of choice between contenders.
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For instance, during the first Democratic debate on CNN, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee tweeted, “I trust @BernieSanders with my tax dollars like I trust a North Korean chef with my labrador.” The power of social media in this election has made it far too easy for us to get lost in what makes a good candidate.
“
It appears to me that we get so lost in a candidate’s past that we forget to examine what he may have in store for the future.
”
But what does make a good candidate? Who would make the best president? What do we want in the new leader of the Free World? From what we’ve seen so far, I’d like to think that all the skeletons are out of the closets. However, that just might not be the case. New rumors arise almost daily, attempting to put some of these major campaigns in jeopardy. From the fact that Jeb Bush smoked weed in
high school to the great Hillary Clinton email mystery, there seems to be a lot more to be found in the secret lives of some of America’s top candidates. I’d prefer to stay out of it. Typically, when pulled into drama that’s not mine, I might just turn away with the popular Polish proverb: “Not my circus, not my monkey,” but this election is too important to disregard the former lives of our nation’s top leaders. When looking for a good candidate, we often times look to their past to predict their future. I’m not opposed to this tactic, but that doesn’t mean I fully support it. It appears to me that we get so lost in a candidate’s past that we forget to examine what they have in store for the future. Don’t get me wrong. A candidate’s past life is extremely important. However, we have been majorly sidetracked. As voters, we must determine what is more important, their past or their future. Every candidate brings a lot to the table. Sure, every candidate shows up with some serious baggage, but he or she also provides incredible amounts of hope. As a whole, we must look on the bright side of things. See the cup as half full. Make up your mind. When you look to find your perfect candidate, make sure you focus on you. Focus on what you want to see in our next president. Determine what you think is important. After all, this country is ours. As cliché as it sounds, we are the future of this nation. Our generation will be the one that can, and will, make history. We have the power to change the world. You can read into a candidate’s past as much as you would like, but do not forget to take into consideration the path that some candidates have mapped out for the future of our nation. The choice is yours.
Staff Editorial:
College debt threatening future success T
he recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Mali have left many of us fearful about the future, but the sad truth is that religious jihadists may not be the only scary problem facing our generation. The skyrocketing costs of a college education and the staggering debt that college graduates face as they begin their careers and families are threatening their dreams for the future. Collegedata.com reports the average cost of a fouryear, in-state public college education has reached $24,061, and prestigious schools like Duke, Harvard and Yale can cost more than $50,000 per year. The average student graduates with almost $30,000 in loan debt. There are stories on the Internet of Baby Boomers who have reached retirement age, but can’t retire because they are still paying off education loans. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has issued a report on household debt that states the number of Americans over the age of 50 with outstanding debt has tripled to 2 million since 2005. Imagine what it will be like when we reach our 60s. Not going to college does not seem to be an option anymore. There is a staggering wage gap between people who have a college degree and those who do not. The website nces.ed.gov reports that college graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn up to $6,000 dollars more a month than people who only complete their GED. According to valuecolleges.com, today’s students are paying more than 500 percent more than what their parents paid to attend college in 1985. Research done by onewisconsin.org suggests that it takes 21 years on average to pay off the debt incurred obtaining a bachelor’s degree. The Obama administration recently proposed a plan to make two years of community college free for students. Such a change would make obtaining a bachelor’s degree much more affordable because students could live at home and complete their first two years toward a bachelor’s degree loan-free. Obama’s plan would not help those who wish to attend a four-year public or private university right after high school. The college admissions process would drastically change as the majority of students stayed at home until their junior and senior years. It would also not impact the expense of earning a master’s or doctoral degree. The Obama administration also proposed a change to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that would allow seniors to fill out their federal aid applications months earlier than in the past. Beginning with the Class of 2017, seniors will be able to use their tax information from the previous year instead of rushing to complete their current year tax forms to meet the FAFSA deadlines in late January and early February.
(Cartoon by Carlie Gillespie) With this proposed plan, seniors of 2017 will be able to fill out their FAFSA in October, the same time as when many seniors fill out their college applications. Allowing students to fill out their FAFSA earlier Americans owe will bring families a much less credit card debt needed chance to get than student loan ahead on their scholarship debt applications. Experts predict the change may The majority of help more students qualify people who borrow for federal financial aid. money for college Many of the 2016 continue to pay presidential candidates loans off after they have also been interested are 30 years old in lowering college costs for students. 14 percent of Among the most graduates with progressive proposals, student loan debt Sen. Bernie Sanders, one have at least one of the three candidates loan that was not for the Democratic paid on time nomination, is pushing to make college tuition 71 percent of at state-supported university graduates universities free for leave school with students. Sanders wants student loan debt the United States to follow (www.dosomething.org) Germany, Norway and Sweden, some of the countries that already offer free tuition for bachelor’s degrees. Democrat Hillary Clinton recently announced her
Highlights • •
•
•
plan, called the “New College Compact.” Clinton wants to create a way for students and their families to avoid taking out loans to pay for tuition and books. Clinton’s plan would require families to make an “affordable family contribution” to help fund a student’s college education. Democratic candidate Martin O’Malley has also proposed a plan to allow college students to graduate debt free by creating work-study programs in public colleges, allowing students to refinance their loans and capping college tuition costs. Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who is running for the Republican nomination, has implemented his plan to make college more affordable in his own state. For the next two years, college tuition will be frozen and schools will be funded based on graduation rates, not enrollments. He hopes to take his plan to the national level if he is elected president in 2016. Countries all over the world fund college education, making tuition free. Denmark not only offers its students free tuition, but also funds their education for up to six years by paying their students to be enrolled in a university. Students are not required to pay back the government even if they decide to drop out of school. But there is a catch. Countries that fund college tuition have a much higher tax rate than the United States and a lower enrollment percentage. While our trillions of dollars in national debt might make that impossible here, one thing is certain. A new approach is needed. College tuition is making it nearly impossible for graduates to pay off their debts and start their lives, and this must change so students are able to live the lives they have been promised.
/ NOVEMBER 2015 / 5
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Events draw attention to Rebel flag
PRO:
When Dylann Roof shot nine people in an AME church in Charleston last June, he did more than fuel the fires of racial prejudice. Photos of Roof holding the Confederate flag alongside a number of guns have surfaced and reopened the controversy over the Confederate flag. “I feel like it’s an important part of our nation’s history,” senior Bailey Tavel said. By Caroline Ward “People who use the flag for racism are the ones making it such a controversial topic. I support the Confederate flag because I know it was the South’s flag, and it shows a part of our history that sometimes we’re not so proud of, but we can still use it to show that we’ve grown as a nation.” For some of the 70 million Americans whose ancestors fought in the Civil War, the Confederate flag is a symbol of their families’ sacrifices, bravery and heritage. According to a writer for the New York Times, “The current attacks on that legacy, 150 years after the event, are to us an insult that mends no fences nor builds any bridges.” As a result of Roof’s actions, the Confederate flag was removed from flying outside the statehouse in Columbia, South Carolina in July. “Honestly, I don’t think it should have been flying in South Carolina,” Tavel said. “It is a good thing that they took it down because it did cause such a riot. They took it down and put it in a museum, and I think as long as we don’t put it away forever and forget about our history that it is a good thing.” The legacy of the Confederate flag should not automatically be assumed as a legacy of hatred or racism. According to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, 385,000 Southern families owned slaves, out of a population of 1,516,000 white, Southern families, so 25 percent of Southerners owned slaves. Men from the other 75 percent enlisted to fight for the Confederacy for reasons other than protecting the institution of slavery. In the Army of Northern Virginia, the majority of soldiers did not come from families that had a personal connection to slavery. “Robert E. Lee was the general of the South, and he didn’t even have anything to do with racism,” Tavel said. “If you look at it, the war itself wasn’t even about racism. If you look in a history book, it will say that the war was about states’ rights. I understand that slavery was one of those rights, but there were also black people fighting for the South. So it really wasn’t just about racism.” Some groups who oppose the flag have also called for the removal of Civil War monuments, including statues of Robert E. Lee. In Virginia, Robert E. Lee High School received criticism for its name. But history is history. “Generations of families have graduated from Lee High School since 1958. It has a rich tradition, a longstanding history, and the alums have really made their voices clear that they do not want to change the name,” said Aubrey Chancellor in an interview with the local ABC News network. Chancellor is the executive director of communications at North East Independent School District. “There are many petitions circulating right now. One of them is in favor of keeping the name, not changing it, and it has more than 2,000 signatures.”
hate
or
Heritage CON:
Every day my dog goes wild at the sound of a large black Chevrolet truck. It’s not so much the sound of the deafening exhaust spewing globalwarming carbon dioxide like it’s going out of style or the towering jacked-up size. No, she goes wild at the white “stars and bars” cloth flapping in the wind behind it. My dog may be the dumbest animal on the face of this earth. She ate neurotoxic rat By Ari Sen poison, and when my uncle found out, he said, “You have to have a brain to be affected by neurotoxin.” But I think when she barks at that strip of cloth, she’s the smart one. It’s brainless to think that the Confederate flag has ever been about heritage — or I should say that the Northern Virginia Confederate battle flag has ever been about heritage. The actual Confederate flag looked only vaguely similar to the one flown on the backs of trucks and T-shirts. So if the flag were truly a “symbol of Southern pride and heritage,” why do people not fly the original Confederate flag? Because they don’t truly care about heritage. They care about hate. The Confederate flag we typically see today was hardly ever flown during the Civil War. It became incredibly popular, however, from the early 1940s until the mid to late ’60s. It was flown by a political party called the Dixiecrats, whose main goal was to perpetuate a racist agenda by opposing anti-lynching and anti-poll tax measures. It was also flown by George Wallace, the governor of Alabama, a man whose name is synonymous with hatred and bigotry in the South during the Civil Rights era. If you can’t remember him, he was the guy who said, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever!” What a great person for your symbol to be associated with. Let’s look at another more recent person associated with this “precious sign of heritage.” Dylann Roof, the insane white supremacist gunman who decided to execute nine people inside a predominantly black Charleston church, posed in many pictures with the Confederate flag. He wrote in his so-called manifesto, “(racial slur) are stupid and violent. At the same time they have the capacity to be very slick,” he wrote. “Black people view everything through a racial lens....” What great words of wisdom for you Confederate flag supporters. This racist sentiment should be a thing of the past just like this flag. The flag is simply a relic of a bygone era. Read your history books, ladies and gentlemen. We no longer live in the Confederate States of America. The Confederate States of America no longer even exist. Russia doesn’t fly the hammer and sickle anymore (as much as Putin might like to). Germany no longer hoists the swastika over Nuremberg. So why in the greatest nation on earth do we feel the need to fly an object of antiquity and plain-and-simple racism over our capitols? I’m not going to hop into one of that truck bed and tear that strip of cloth down because I recognize it is free speech to display that symbol. But just know if you plan on flying it, you are brainlessly promoting a racism.
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news
Your
ote
Members of the Class of 2016 will vote for the first time next year, so the Wingspan found out what some seniors think of the presidential candidates. (All photos used as Creative Commons)
Name: Donald Trump
Name: Hillary Clinton
Name: Marco Rubio
Party: Republican
Party: Democratic
Party: Republican
Qualifications: Owner of several multimillion dollar companies
Qualifications: Former U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Senator from N.Y.
Qualifications: U.S. Senator from Florida
Schooling: Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Schooling: Wellesley College, Yale University Law School
Schooling: University of Florida, University of Miami School of Law
Fun Fact: Trump says he has never used drugs, smoked cigarettes or drunk alcohol.
Fun Fact: When she was 12-years-old, Clinton wrote to NASA asking how she could become an astronaut, but NASA replied that women were not allowed at NASA.
Slogan: “Make America Great Again”
Fun Fact: Rubio’s first job was building cages for exotic birds at his brother-in-law’s business. Slogan: “A New American Century”
Student Quote: “I like that he’s blunt. Most politicians are going to sugar-coat their arguments to the point that it’s lying. Donald Trump knows what he wants to do and he conveys that.” — Aislinn Suelflow, 12
Slogan: “Hillary for America” Student Quote: “She has faced a lot of controversy with elegance and poise and is still the front runner. These are good qualities for a president.” — Hannah Astin, 12
Student Quote: “Marco Rubio’s background proved to be very beneficial. Unlike most other candidates, he has the wisdom to think before he speaks. His story of success embodies the American dream. ” — Austin Hall, 12
Name: Carly Fiorina
Name: Bernie Sanders
Name: Ben Carson
Party: Republican
Party: Democratic
Party: Republican
Qualifications: Former business executive of Hewlett-Packard
Qualifications: Independent U.S. Senator from Vermont who calls himself a “democratic socialist”
Qualifications: Author and retired pediatric neurosurgeon
Schooling: Stanford University, UCLA Law School, University of Maryland, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management Fun Fact: One member from each generation of Fiorina’s family is named after ancestors who died during the Civil War, including Fiorina herself. Slogan: “New Possibilities, Real Leadership” Student Quote: “She’s a really powerful woman. She has proved to be a strong leader, and her personality shows that she will get things done.” — Ellis Young, 12
Homecoming celebrated Senior Julianna Goode was crowned homecoming queen on Oct. 16 in a halftime ceremony during the football Julianna Goode game against conference opponent Brevard. Goode was escorted by
8 / WINGSPAN /
Schooling: Yale University, University of Michigan
Schooling: University of Chicago Fun Fact: Sanders is an accomplished folk musician, having released an album called We Shall Overcome with a variety of Vermont musicians.
Fun Fact: Carson was the first surgeon to successfully separate conjoined twins who were connected at the head.
Slogan: “A Future To Believe In”
Slogan: “Heal + Inspire + Revive”
Student Quote: “I don’t understand why so many people are afraid of having a socialist president. America has so many socialist values already, and I like that Bernie is not afraid to show it. I like that even though he’s an older candidate, he still relates with younger generations.” — Emma Allison, 12
Student Quote: “I like Carson because he is not political. We need someone in office that has looked from the outside in and knows what changes need to be made. He’s grounded with Christian values and is more downto-earth than any of the other candidates.” — Tristan Tilson, 12
senior Dylan Buchanan. Other senior representatives were Leah Dorn, escorted by senior Robert Hinchliffe; Sydney Hogan, escorted by senior Grant Kilpatrick; Kizhanai Phiffer, escorted by senior Nathan Bryans; and Vivian Rodriguez, escorted by senior Nathan Greer. The junior class representatives were Lindsey Crawford, escorted by junior Will Lindsey; Sierra Jones, escorted by junior
Logan Wyant; and Audrey Reed, escorted by junior Andrew Johnson. The sophomore classrepresentatives were Grace Gash, escorted by sophomore Mason Lyda and Jessica Norris, escorted by senior Junior Mintz. The freshman class was represented by Caroline Corn, escorted by freshman Jacob Burnette and Shylee Stocks, escorted by freshman Kye Andress.
Orchestra performs
Van played as fifth chair cello.
Members of the West Henderson Orchestra played with orchestra students from the other Henderson County schools on Oct. 27 at the Berrian Festival, an annual event at Blue Ridge Community College. Orchestra students from West auditioned for top seating. Junior Mara Shook earned fouth chair cello and freshman Bartel
FFA member wins award Senior Hannah Guthrie, vice president of FFA, recently won first place for the region and second place for the state at the Mountain State Fair dairy handler display competition. FFA meets once a month on Tuesdays during the first half of second period.
FAST FACTS FAFSA is short for Free •Application for Federal Student Aid
enables students •toThefindFAFSA out if they qualify for all types of aid, including grants, federal loans and work-study
The following items are •needed to complete the
FAFSA application: a FSA ID (obtained from the FAFSA website), a Social Security number, a driver’s license (if available), tax records, records of untaxed income, information on family assets and a list of colleges that applicants are applying to
The FAFSA must be • completed annually to
FAFSA fixes
continue receiving aid
(photo illustration by Ari Sen)
Changes to government financial aid to affect Class of 2017 by | Emily Treadway
T
he Free Application for Financial Student Aid, a critical part of the college application process, is about to change. It is a federal program that determines eligibility for grants and loans. The Class of 2017 will be the first affected by the changes. For students graduating in 2016, there will be a financial aid meeting on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. in the media center. The changes affect what year’s tax returns students and their parents must use in completing the FAFSA. Students have traditionally had to wait until late January or February of their graduation year to complete the FAFSA. Beginning with the Class of 2017, students will be able to file the FAFSA as early as October of their senior year. Kelly Littauer, mother of eight, has
NCTC students compete N.C. Theater Conference students recently competed with their one-act play “Luminescence” at Gardner-Webb University. The play was written by honors theater teacher Kelly Cooper and her students. The performance took excellent awards in technical design (junior Allison D’Augusta and
already had four of her children go through the FAFSA process. “Because I’ve been doing this for so long, these changes will not help me as much because I can just use the same information,” Littauer said, “but for brand new parents these changes are amazing.” Under the new guidelines, seniors will no longer have to wait until their parents or guardians file their income taxes. Applicants can use the already filed tax returns from the previous year. “If the kids do not need to wait for Mom and Dad, then they can and should have the responsibility to get it done themselves,” Littauer said. Senior counselor Anne Hafer is ready to prepare next year’s seniors for the changes. “It will mean that you can do your FAFSA a lot earlier because you won’t have to
senior Diana Sarith), collaborative script development, and ensemble acting.
Scholarship awarded Emma Allison was the winner of the Ione Mann Award and Scholarship while representing West at the 76th annual Tar Heel Girls State sponsored by the North Carolina American Legion Auxiliary in June. Tar Heel Girls State is a
wait for your parents to file their tax return before you can access the info,” Hafer said. “It will enable people to begin the financial aid process sooner, which should help them get financial aid.“ The application is now simplified and readily available for a wider range of people. There is also a change in the amount of grants awarded. The Pell Grant is the most common grant given to students by the government to pay for college. Grants do not have to be repaid. “The (grant) money kind of runs out, so it’s like the first applicants get more money and the later you apply for financial aid, the less your chances of getting aid,” Hafer said. “I know it’s not fair, but that’s the way it works, so this way no one will be at a disadvantage if their parents are late in filing their taxes.”
week-long workshop in the legislative process sponsored by the N.C. American Legion Auxiliary. North Carolina’s program is the longest continuously-running Girls State program in the United States. Approximately 300 of North Carolina’s most promising rising high school senior girls from came together to learn about and participate in various parts of government.
Marching band honored The Flying Falcon Marching Band recently completed their three competitions. At the Enka Land of the Sky competition, the Gaffney Reservation Tournament of Champions and the North Henderson Knight Tournament, the band placed second overall and second in color guard, music and drum major.
The amount of money a •student receives depends on total household income
The average FAFSA •application takes about 30 minutes
FAFSA has awarded more •than $150 billion in aid Approximately 38 percent of •financial aid awarded is in the form of federal loans
Private colleges sometimes •offer more financial aid than public schools
Financial aid eligibility is not •solely based on income (www.thecollegesolution.com, www.southuniversity.edu)
The percussion section took first place at the Enka Land of the Sky competition and second place at the Gaffney Reservation and North Henderson Knight tournaments.
Sophomore designs shirt Sophomore Shelby Hairston won the “Dirty Bird” T-shirt contest. She was awarded $50 on Nov. 6 at the pep rally.
/ NOVEMBER 2015 / 9
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The
FACE
of a New
Generation
Grant Kilpatrick
Move over Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, Millennials by | Charlotte Grush
T
he 16-year-old high school student, Emily, rolled over and covered her head with her blanket. Her iPhone blasted one of her 12 morning alarms. She groaned loudly as she got up and collected the pile of textbooks littering her bedside table to prepare for a new day. At breakfast, she crammed in some last minute studying. Emily is a typical high school student and member of the latest group of Americans to earn a name, Generation Z, young people born between 1995 and the present. Previous generations have been labeled Baby Boomers (1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1980) and Millennials (1980-1995). The New York Times recently gave the latest generation a name, focusing on the rebellious, independent, socially-connected characteristics of today’s young adults. The oldest members of Generation Z are now 20 years old, and there are numerous stereotypes of who they are and how they act. People from previous generations often assume negative things about people born from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, but members of this generation stand out for their independence, resilience, pragmatism and determination. “A misconception about our generation is that we are not social anymore,” freshman Ray Olinger said. “We are being social; it is just in a different form — social media. People think we are not speaking anymore to each other because we don’t do it all the time face to face.” One of the most common stereotypes about Gen Z is the amount of time spent on social media and mobile devices. “I think our generation stays on technology a little too much,” sophomore Kyle Morrison said. “We need to unplug and communicate face to face.” But there are also positive opinions. One of the best things about using social media is being able to stay connected with people around the world. Being able to stay connected enhances a person’s opportunity to start relationships with others they might
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You can change the world. Maybe you can make a difference in Henderson County or North Carolina or the world. Who knows? — Angela Perry Teacher
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not normally meet. “It is really cool that our community all follows each other and everyone knows who everyone is,” senior Hannah Jackson said. “I don’t think social media ruins face-to-face conversations. It is a better way to stay connected. You can learn things about people that they wouldn’t typically express. It is a way to connect to people around the world and in the country.” Generation Zers are known for being “tech innate.” According to Olinger, his generation uses technology to their advantage, but he also sees the negative impact. “Our generation is too over exposed to things,” Olinger said. “We should probably not be exposed to so much at such a young age. Many people are exposed to bad language and other inappropriate stuff.” Because Generation Z experiences so much early in life, strong opinions are formed and their ideas can be expressed and shared through numerous social networks. “We throw other people’s opinions out the door; we think we are the best,” senior Annalyse Wilkins said. “We are forming opinions of our own, though, which is really, really good. We are the generation that is trying to
rip down these boundaries, like racism and sexism, but sometimes we go too far. We are on a learning curve. No generation has attempted to go as far as we have, so it is totally trial and error. We are really trying to make it a level playing field for everyone. Past generations have started this, and we are steam rolling over it, going full steam ahead. A majority of the negative opinions are strong, too, but I feel like they are getting it from their parents, how they were raised.” Gen Zers are also known as masters of multi-tasking. They are able to focus on school work and their social lives at the same time. “I see their ability to multitask as both a positive and a negative thing,” history teacher Angela Perry said. “Some of you can be on Twitter and be doing a Snapchat and looking at photos on Instagram and maybe texting someone and somehow you can keep it all going at once. Unfortunately, you become so used to multitasking that I don’t think you realize there is a time and a place for it — not when you are doing your homework or reading for school. It can be difficult for some of you because a lot of you have grown up always having that stimuli, whether it be music, television or your phone.” Gen Z is also known for being resilient and independent. When something goes wrong, this generation does not just sit there and watch it happen. They tend to take action to address the situation. “You guys (Generation Z) are very resilient,” Perry said. “Through discussions I have had in my classes, you can see the resilience of the human spirit, like when we were talking about Malala Yousafzai. She didn’t let her ideas die. She got up and kept fighting. She is the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. In terms of resiliency, I think you guys are going to be OK.” Gen Zers are pragmatic and idealistic at the same time. The New York Times have noted that this group grew up after Sept. 11, 2001. “I have seen a lot of idealism,” Perry said. “You can change the world. Maybe you can make a difference in Henderson County, or North Carolina or the United States. Who knows? Maybe one of you will make a difference in the world.”
/ NOVEMBER 2015 / 11
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What is Gen Z? I would define resilience as being a really strong person and not doing what other people tell you to do. I am resilient because just this past year I was kicked out of my house because I came out as gay. I stood up to my parents. They kicked me out, and I have not given in to them at all. I am currently staying with my girlfriend, and it has taught me a lot. I am paying my own bills and I bought my own car. I am a whole lot better off than I was.” — Korey Sharp
Resilient
Rebellion is going against what people say, the people above you or the people in charge of you. It means that you are doing what they are telling you not to do. Depending on the situation, it can get you in a lot of trouble, but it can also be a good thing. It is bad if you do drugs after your parents tell you not to, but it can also be good if someone is trying to peer pressure you into something. Growing up, we have all been rebellious with our parents. One of the most common rebellious things is probably staying out past curfew. I was rebellious in one of my classes, and I did not want to do my work, so I didn’t. That is rebellion.” — Jeffrey Raines
Rebellious
I am very pragmatic it is. I know there are happening but there are als happening. A lot of people t the bad things or just the go very important to focus on e is not as bad or as good as m is. For example, in the presid people complain but it is jus have been dealt. We can’t ne is in it or complain about ho are. We also cannot be naive vote for someone because th a certain party. Our generati to look at both sides of the p focus on one. ”
Pragm 12 / WINGSPAN /
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I use Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Tumblr, Vented, Vine — a bunch of stuff. I use Twitter quite often, and I use Instagram almost every other day. On Twitter I am open and just myself. Tumblr is a great way to connect with people because they can’t follow you unless they know your url, so they have to really want to go deep into your thoughts because Tumblr is a way to express yourself without worrying what people think. It is such an open environment. I meet new people on social media. On Twitter, there are so many people that I know because I follow them and they follow me. I will see them out in public and be like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I know you. I tweeted to you before!’ It is really cool that our community all follows each other and everyone knows who everyone is. I don’t think that social media ruins face-to-face conversations. It is a better way to stay connected. You can learn many things about people that they wouldn’t typically express. It is a way to connect to people around the world and in the country.” — Hannah Jackson
Connected
c. I see the world how e a lot of bad things so lots of good things tend to focus on just ood things and it is everything. The world most people think it dential race, a lot of st the hand that we ecessarily choose who ow bad the candidates e about it, and just hey are affiliated with ion is slowly starting picture and not just — Zach Godwin
matic
The gym is my escape from all the hardships in life. It is a big part of who I am and I am very devoted to going. It is easy for me to stay determined to going, thanks to certain people who support me. If you are determined to do something, like many people in my generation are, you have to love what you do and you go all out. We are a generation that goes all out when we find something we love to do.” — Aaron Speyer I would definitely describe myself as an independent person because I worked the entire summer and I am just a sophomore. I had two jobs because I had to make all of my own money. I worked at Joey’s Bagels and Saluda Mountain Lodge. I am also very independent minded and strong willed so I don’t let other people influence my decisions and I like to make my own choices. Some people are influenced by the people around them and try to follow social trends and meet the status quo. We are starting to live our own lives and be our own person, as cliche as that sounds.” — Shannon Sellers
Determined
Independent / NOVEMBER 2015 / 13
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Generation Z vs. • Tech innate • Active volunteers • Togetherness • Communicate with images • Creative • Humble • Future focused • Realists • Work for success
Millennials • Tech savvy • Slacktivists • Tolerant • Communicate with texts • Sharing • Low confidence • Focused • Optimists • Work toward discovery (www.bainbridgeconsulting.com)
Top Gen Z Names Male
William Jack Jacob Michael Matthew
Gen Z Slang
Female Lily Chloe Isabella Olivia Sarah
History ‘83 Selfie Stick ‘64 PC
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pick out flaws of other
Hella - extremely
people in a derogetory
Basic - unoriginal, average are very close
‘84 Mac
Turnt - to get inSquad - a group of
people, a posse
On fleek - perfect
Bae - a significant
other, stands for “before anyone else” (www.urbandictionary.com)
‘99 Flash Drive ‘98 Google
or flawless
credibly excited, to party
or passive agressive manner
Fam - people who
‘97 MP3
Throwing shade - to
sion of “wrecked”
(www.littlethings.com)
Tech
Rekt - a slang ver-
‘02 GoPro
‘01 Wikipedia
JUST THE FACTS • Born 1995 - 2004
• 78% are concerned about hunger
• 55% of high schoolers have jobs
• 76% are concerned about climate change
• 1 out of 2 Gen Zers are going to a university • 70% are optimistic about culture
• 26% would fly to see someone they met on social media
Gen
1 in 4 American children live in poverty 11% of Gen Z diagnosed with ADD and mental illness 77% are concerned that children are dying of preventable diseases
Zees
52% use some sort of social media for research
writingspark.com
41% of Gen Z spends more than 3 hours on a screen per day
‘04 Facebook
‘07 iPhone
‘10 Siri
‘03 MySpace ‘05 YouTube ‘09 WhatsApp
Gen Z
Global Gen the Zeds
Digital Integrators (www.slideshare.net) (www.danschawbel.com)
‘11 Snapchat ‘13 Google Glass ‘10 iPad
‘13 Vine / NOVEMBER 2015 / 15
a&e
Food
Burgers are an American classic, and there aren’t just Big Macs and Whoppers anymore. Area restaurants offer all kinds of speciality burgers. The Wingspan staff took on the challenge of finding the best burgers less than 30-minutes away. The four contenders were Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Asheville, BT’s Burger Joint in Biltmore Park, Burgerworx in Hendersonville and Juicy Lucy’s Burger Bar and Grill in Asheville.
for thought by | Emily Turpin
BT’s Burger Joint BT’s Burger Joint is located in Biltmore Park south of Asheville. Restaurant customers can build their own burger starting at $5.60 with cheese for 75 cents extra. Other toppings are free. There are also speciality burgers, hot dogs, salads, grilled cheese sandwiches and more. There are three other locations in Charlotte. BT’s also has a challenge called the 40/20 challenge where they provide the 40-ounce burger and give the participant 20 minutes to see if he or she can finish it. Customers seat themselves after ordering at the counter, and food is brought to the table. BT’s has many healthier options that still taste great. I would give it 4 forks out of 5.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries Five Guys Burgers and Fries at 1838 Hendersonville Road in Asheville is a fast food restaurant chain that has a won numerous “best burger” awards with good reason. Tables and chairs are set up with bins of peanuts for anyone to snack on while they wait. The burgers are delicious and the fry portions are huge. A regular hamburger is $6.19 with a large selection of free toppings. The restaurant also offers smaller hamburgers and cheeseburgers, as well as fries, hot dogs and sandwiches. Five Guys has locations across North Carolina, including in Charlotte and Boone. This is definitely the best fast food burger I’ve ever had. This is a good stop for anyone in a hurry. I’d give it a 4.5 out of 5 forks.
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STAFF MEMBER COMPLETES STRICT CLEANSE Burgerworx
Juicy Lucy’s Burger Bar and Grill
Burgerworx is a local place similar to BT’s. The restaurant customer can create his or her own burger, starting at $4.19, with free toppings and cheese for an additional 75 cents. Speciality burgers are available, including the BBQ burger. They have veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches and hot dogs. This restaurant is relatively new to Hendersonville at 638 Spartanburg Highway. Burgerworx also has a downtown Asheville location. The service was very friendly and welcoming. I would give them 3.5 out of 5 forks.
Juicy Lucy’s Burger Bar and Grill is a sit-down restaurant at 620 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. Juicy Lucy’s has monthly burger specials, along with their everyday speciality burgers and the option to build your own burger. The restaurant also serves wings, hot dogs, pork options, grilled sandwiches, salads and more. The basic burger starts at $7.95 with free condiments and cheese. They even have stuffed burgers, which are burgers with cheese stuffed into the center of the patty. The burgers are fairly big and taste great. This is a good stop for someone who has a big appetite. I would give this restaurant 5 of 5 forks.
In Conclusion... All four area burger restaurants served delicious and reasonably priced food, but my favorite spot was Juicy Lucy’s Burger Bar and Grill. They have the largest selection of food and the prices are reasonable for a sit-down restaurant. The atmosphere has Southern charm and is family-owned. There are plenty of healthy options and vegetables come from local farms. Juicy Lucy’s would be the perfect place for date night or a casual lunch.
By | MaryKent Wolff
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could taste food in my sleep. I had dreams about doughnuts and Oreos that were so vivid I woke up feeling guilty. I was miserable and hungry, but I felt good. My eating habits have never been particularly healthy. When I get home from school, my go-to snack is nachos. I am a boredom eater, a stress eater, an ice cream-after-a-bad-day eater and a why-not-reward-myself eater. The amount I ate and what I ate began affecting my health, but I wasn’t planning on changing what I ate. I was used to eating what I wanted when I wanted it, no matter what the calories. My mom noticed my fluctuating weight and my unhealthy skin. She saw the junk food strewn across our house and decided she wanted a change for the whole family. That change came in the form of Whole30. Whole30 is a strict Paleo cleanse created by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig, two nutritionists from Salt Lake City, Utah. The cleanse serves as a way to “help you put an end to unhealthy cravings and habits, restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract and balance your immune system,” according to whole30.com. Committing to Whole30 means only eating meat, vegetables, fruits and nuts. There are no added sugars, legumes, dairy products or grains allowed in the 30-day span in which the cleanse takes place. My family began the cleanse the week before school started. We tossed all of our “cheat foods” into the trash and became daily visitors to Ingles Supermarket. I felt empowered for actually deciding to go through with it. My sister predicted that I would break down within days, and I almost did.
The first week was spent ignoring cravings and eating as much fruit as possible for the sugary taste. My emotions were out of check to the point that I had a midkitchen breakdown over the difference between a zucchini and a cucumber. The first days were horrible, and I would have traded just about anything for a slice of cheese. The cravings became manageable by the second week. That week we returned to school, which wasn’t bad at all. I wasn’t tempted by the junk food around me during lunch, but when I went out with my friends to eat and study, I hated everything that I was working toward. While they ordered fries, I got a water and counted down the days until I could just eat beans again. Sept. 15 couldn’t come fast enough. Despite that, I felt better. I had energy, I was getting compliments on my skin and my mind was clear. By Sept. 15, my last day of the cleanse, my new ways of eating had become habit. I was ready to add different foods back into my diet, but only for variety. I’m perfectly content to keep most of the changes I made in my diet. I’ve added legumes and non-gluten grains, but I try to hold back when it comes to dairy and gluten. My eating habits are healthier than ever. I no longer binge on anything, but instead pace myself with a piece of fruit. My family has found healthy alternatives to different foods that could have negative effects on our health, including a way to make our own mayonnaise and salad dressing. I thought Whole30 was going to be the hardest 30 days of my life. I expected to be grumpy and miserable, but I wasn’t. I enjoyed the change, and I’ve never felt better. That being said, I will never do it again. Life is too short.
/ NOVEMBER 2015 / 17
sports
SET Q&A with junior FOR setter Sierra Jones
SUCCESS
by | Jackson Whiting
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ierra Jones is an adapter. Her position on the volleyball court, setter, requires her to constantly adapt to set the ball in the best position for her hitters to make a play. She had to adapt in her position switch from hitter to setter between middle school and high school. She’s had to adapt to all the pressure put on the Lady Falcons to make the playoffs. With all the pressure on her, Jones consistently put up stats that helped her team finish the season 25-1, making it all the way to state semifinals. From being on a national championship club team and a state runner-up school team, success has always followed Jones. Last year, as a sophomore playing varsity, she was first in assists for all 3A schools in North Carolina. This season Jones finished with 753 assists in the team’s 25 wins. The team’s only loss came against South Iredell, 1-3.
How long have you been a setter? I was a hitter in seventh grade, but I realized I actually wasn’t very good at it. We needed setters, so I started working hard in practice and the offseason. By eighth grade, I was starting as the setter, and we won conference. So I stuck with it.
What’s the hardest part about playing your position? Having to think about who is about to hit the ball or who you want to hit the ball is hard. Every hitter likes the ball in a different place. Gracie (Carrick) is completely different than Mary Catherine (Ball) and so on. Obviously, the goal is to put the ball in the best position so that we can get the point. You can’t set the ball into the same spot every time, or the other team will start to pick up on it.
Why do you think people don’t give as much credit to the setters as they do to passers and hitters? I had a club coach tell me one time that being a setter is like being an offensive lineman in football. You can’t be successful without them, but they aren’t going to get as much attention as the skill players. People really like hearing about “kills” and “digs,” but not so much “assists.” I really don’t mind though. It’s just one of those things.
A lot of pressure was put on you and your team to bring a state championship home. What was it like? We addressed that issue very early as a team. Our coaches and players all agreed that we had to shut it out and play like we always had. You start to get in trouble when you start playing like you are already there. Getting to Raleigh is always and will always be a goal of West Henderson volleyball, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have to fight every set to get there.
What was the better experience, getting to a state championship last year or winning the national championship with your Xcel club team? That’s a tough question because they are such different things. Going to state was awesome because we sort of beat the odds and made it to the big stage. But being on the best team in the country was just as exciting. Club volleyball and school volleyball are very different things. Both are amazing memories.
What do you have to say to the fans and parents who have cheered for you from the beginning? Stay loud. Stay rowdy. We need every one of you. As a team, we can’t thank our families enough for their continued support.
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ON THE
Senior overcomes injury to play in 9-4 varsity season by | Isabella Perron
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t was late in the second half of the North Buncombe football game in September of his junior season. Emet Gamez was sprinting down the field when a linebacker running behind him slid into his knee. Both players fell to the ground, but Gamez’s MCL ligament in his left knee, was torn. He faced a long recovery to prepare for his senior season. He had only been able to play in three games before his injury. He went to physical therapy three times a week for four weeks, and over the summer he worked out every day to become stronger than before. This season, he played every game, including the team’s two playoff games. “I started playing football because there is no other sport like it,” Gamez said. “It has helped me learn how to work with others and do my job on the field to the best of my ability.” On defense, Gamez played nose guard. To prepare for games, he and his teammates watched films of their opponents to study the plays and players they would have to defend against. “Emet is very hardworking,” teammate James Murray said. “His position is very hard. He isn’t the biggest person, but he makes up for his size with his passion.” On offense, Emet was a right guard. This position’s main job is to protect the quarterback while opening up holes for the running backs to go through. “The biggest struggle for me
was to stop the person in front of me,” Gamez said. “I worked hard every day in practice to perfect my game.” Gamez has played football for six years, and if given the opportunity, he would like to continue playing in college. After college he wants to stay around the sports scene by becoming an athletic trainer. “I connect well with the whole offensive line because we are there next to each other throughout the whole game,” Emet said. “My teammates and I are like a family. We have our differences and we sort them out as we go.” This season the football team had nine returning seniors who led the team to a 9-4 overall record, 5-2 in conference play. The team qualified for the playoffs by finishing second in the Western North Carolina Athletic Conference. Senior Tanner Bullock finished the season with 1,325 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. Senior Stephen Perron led the team with 79 solo tackles and 107 overall. “It was good for us to have so many returning seniors,” Gamez said. “We were a lot better than last year and made it into the playoffs.” The Falcons hosted both their first and second round playoff games. They defeated Forestview, 28-21, but ended their season with a loss to West Rowan, 41-19. The team will be remembered for making the playoffs and earning two home playoff games, for beating Hendersonville, 42-14, for the first time since 2007 and for ending Franklin’s 22-game win streak.
Senior Emet Gamez pulls down the line to block an outside linebacker to enable a 17-yard run in a game against Madison. The team won the nonconference game, 34-7. “It was an awesome experience, and it was good to prove everybody wrong because other schools thought our offensive line was a fluke,” Gamez said. Photo by Ralph Raesemann
// NOVEMBER 2015 / 19 NOVEMBER 2015 / 19
sports Soccer team reaches second round of playoffs by | Josh Conner
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unning onto the field with his teammates, junior Caleb Beard looked across the field at the visiting Tuscola team, which was coming into the game with only one loss for the season. With playoffs fast approaching, Beard knew his team needed the win to earn a higher seed in the playoffs. “We started the season as one of the best teams around. We were winning, and nobody wanted to play us,” Beard said. “Mid-season, we fell into a slump, losing to bad teams. Then we started playing great again, and we carried that intensity into Tuscola.” With a three-game winning streak on the line, the soccer team played one of their best games of the season by shutting out the Mountaineers, 4-0. Finishing 15-9 for the season, West entered the state playoffs as a 17th seed. The soccer team played the 16th seed, Concord, in the first round of the playoffs. For much of the game both teams struggled to find offense as the score remained 0-0 at halftime. Halfway through the second half as the West team made a break for the goal, junior Tyson Hichman crossed the goal to junior Thomas Jones for a goal to break the tie. Jones’s goal would be the only one scored as the game ended, 1-0. The Falcons advanced to the second round of the 3A state playoffs for the first time since 2008. “We fought really hard against Concord. We did not let them get a chance to score on us,” Jones said. “It felt great to know I could help out my team, and win the game.” In the second round of the playoffs, West was matched up against the overall first seed, Ashbrook. The soccer team’s offense could not match Ashbrook’s as the team lost, 4-1, with Jones scoring the only goal for the Falcons. Head Coach Brian Brewer said he believes if the team had taken advantage of their scoring opportunities they might have had a chance to move on to the third round of the playoffs. “We had a multitude of opportunities in the first half to score, and they had a pretty good goalkeeper, but he was not the best we had seen this season,” Brewer said. “They did not do a lot of things I
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would expect a number one seed to do.” When looking back on soccer teams from past seasons, junior Trevor Laffin said he could tell a difference in this year’s team not only on the field, but off the field as well. He credited a strong chemistry between the players that helped them perform well. “This year’s team has bonded like no other,” Laffin said. “We are really good friends, and we have a lot of fun playing soccer together. We have a lot of great players that work really well together.” The team saw a spark in the offense this season as junior Tyson Hichman returned after spending a year at Carolina Day School. Hichman’s scoring ability helped him break West’s single season scoring mark with a total of 45 goals for the season, ranking him in the top five in the state and top 20 in the nation. Hichman said he was glad to be back with his original team and credits his teammates for much of his success on this season. “I couldn’t have done this without the support of my team,” Hichman said. “It felt good to be back with the first high school team I was with. They are not only great guys; they are great players, too.” Hichman’s play during the season caught the attention of area coaches who selected him to the all-region and allstate teams, according to Brewer. But Hichman said he does not worry about personal achievement. He focused on the team’s success during games. “Obviously, earning honors like allregion and all-state are a great achievement, but I really just want to be the best player that I can be every time I step on the field to help my team,” Hichman said. With 13 players returning to play next season, the soccer team will look to use their experience to build on this past season’s success. The group of upcoming junior varsity players had a successful season, 10-5-4, that will help build a talented roster next fall. Brewer said he believes he will be able to fill the spots left by seniors with upcoming players. “I am replacing them with quality people, and that is what you hope to do in your JV program is develop players who are ready to move into starting roles for the next year,” Brewer said.
In a nonconference game against Enka, junior Tyson Hichman dribbles the ball. The team defeated, Enka 6-1. Hichman led the team with 45 goals during the season. “This was the first game that we truly clicked and played together as a team,” Hichman said. Photo by Ralph Raesemann
Senior finishes third in 3A state tennis tournament by | Emily Turpin
A
fter fighting hard to win their last conference match against East Henderson, Coach Allen Combs called the Lady Falcon tennis team together. Looking around at the group of players, Coach Combs broke into a grin. “All right, ladies,” Combs said. “How does it feel to have just won conference?” As a team, the Lady Falcons went undefeated in conference play. They finished the regular season 16-4. “This has been my best season, as far as results, and our team was awesome,” senior Savannah Smith said. “We accomplished our team goal, winning conference, which is really awesome.” Smith finished the regular season undefeated and qualified for the 3A individual state tournament. She finished third at the state meet, losing to Sarah Jiang from Cox Mill, 6-0, 6-1. “It felt great accomplishing all of my goals after I had put in all of the hard work,” Smith said. “It felt even better because I improved my fifth place state finish from last season.” The doubles team of junior Mary Elaine Bridges and senior Kendall Gilliam also
qualified for the 3A state tournament. The pair finished the regular season 9-3. “We kept positive attitudes, and we always wanted to push ourselves to be better than we were last year,” Bridges said. “We switched things up in our line-up. It was different, but I think it was really good for us.” Sophomore Brandi Byers attributed the team’s success to their positive approach. “We’re really close to each other, so no matter how we played, we were always supportive of each other,” Byers said. “We helped each other stay positive. The community of tennis (players) makes it a positive sport.” The two seniors on the team, Smith and Gilliam, often served as mentors to their underclassman teammates. “Savannah and Kendall were definitely big leaders on our team,” Byers said. “It’s going to be sad that they are leaving. Next year it’ll be hard to fill the leadership this year’s seniors had.” Team members said they felt good about how their season turned out. “We exceeded our expectations this fall,” Byers said.”We wanted to win conference for our seniors and our coach, and we did. We worked really hard this season and had a lot of fun doing it.”
In the last match of the season against East Henderson, junior Mary Elaine Bridges wins her singles match. Bridges played as the second seed. “We finished our (conference) season undefeated for the first time in six plus years,” Bridges said. “It was an honor having an outstanding season with some great girls and newbies.” (Photo used with permission of Lifetouch)
Men’s cross country team places 14th at state meet by | Brandan Naef
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At the N.C. Runners Elite Invitational in Kernersville, junior Dylan Shamburger strains to push past his opponents. The men’s team finished 38th. “This meet was one of the most competitive. All of the best teams from the state were there. Everything I did the week before was in preparation for the race.” Photo by Jeff Sides
he thunder of the runners’ feet beating against the ground began as the gunshot rang out to start the men’s 3A state championship race in Kernersville on Nov. 7. Junior Dylan Shamburger glared ahead with one goal in mind — to finish the race with his teammates beside him. Shamburger placed 13th overall in the men’s 5K with sophomore Jarod Connell, 48th, junior Brandan Naef, 96th, and senior Colby Sousa, 117th, not far behind. The team placed 14th. Other runners at the state meet included sophomore Kaden Dirks, junior James Burnette and junior Nick Jackson. “The men’s team performed much better than they did this time last year,” Coach James Galloway said. “We averaged one to two minutes faster and the team worked hard and focused well.” To qualify for the state meet, the men’s team placed second at the conference meet and third at regionals. The women’s team placed eighth in the conference and 11th at regionals. The beginning of the season started with the Western North Carolina Carnival at Jackson Park. Shamburger placed seventh in the men’s varsity 5K. The team finished 10th. Moments after the men’s race, the women’s race began. Sophomore Chloe Keener pushed through to the finish, placing 70th out of 115 women. Following Keener was sophomore Lauren Kilby, senior Olivia Hogan and sophomore Parker-Paige Boline. “While running the race, I kept thinking to myself to keep going and push through the pain,” Keener said. “This course is not necessarily the hardest course, but it is definitely a challenge with multiple hills throughout the race.” The women’s team did not qualify for the state meet. “The women’s team was about where I expected them to be,” Galloway said. “We lost five of the top eight from varsity, and we
were basically rebuilding the team this fall.” Team hikes, swimming, cookouts and dinners brought the team together. Without the close bonds they developed, the athletes said they would not have enjoyed the cross country season as much as they did. “When a team becomes more like a family, they do more for each other,” Galloway said. “They are willing to work, and if someone steps out of line the team steps up and helps get that person back in line because they want the best for each other. It takes five to get to state. You want a group, and they have to be close to get there.” The men’s team improved over the season with the top four runners cutting their times. Connell improved from 18 minutes, 21 seconds in the first race of the season to 17 minutes, 42 seconds at the regional meet. Sousa, the only senior on the men’s team, was pleased with the team’s season. “I feel as if I have performed well this year with a strong team to push me to strive for the best,” Sousa said. “We were a team and a close one, but in order for us all to improve we had to be competitive. While being on varsity, many of us compete to be top five. This was my last year running for my high school cross country team, and I wouldn’t want to run along side any one else.” Galloway and Assistant Coach Brittney Naef said they were pleased with the team’s performance throughout the season. “After watching the men’s team finish the first few meets of the season, I could tell that the men’s team had one goal in sight: to make it to the state meet in Kernersville,” Brittney Naef said. “The regional meet was held at Freedom High School on Oct. 31, and nowhere have I ever seen so much dedication and team support from these men.”
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A HEAVY Overloaded backpacks impact student health
by | Sofia Molina
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ith assignments, studying, tests and extracurricular activities, students sometimes feel as though they are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders during the school year. And for some students, they literally do. Factoring in lunch, daily supplies, binders and textbooks, the weight students are carrying around in their backpacks is potentially harmful. “Rarely do students or their parents have any idea that the backpack is causing as many problems as it is,” Dr. Jonathan Brown, a chiropractor at Brown Family Chiropractic in Fletcher, said. “Typically, this is something we have to figure out over time. Often times, I hear that there just isn’t time to utilize a locker. Of course, if you can lighten the load by only carrying what you have to, that’s great. But if that isn’t an option, then you have to carry as smartly as you can.” The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends that the weight of a student’s backpack should be less than 10 to 15 percent of the student’s body weight. Textbooks can weigh up to 5 pounds. “After we had been in school only a few weeks, I already had an aching pain in my back from my enormous backpack,” junior Samantha Wilkie said. “I don’t know how I am going to make it to the end of the year in this condition. But it’s school, so it’s expected.” This excessive weight that students carry each day can quickly add up to a dangerous amount. The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission calculated that carrying a 12-pound backpack to and from school and lifting it 10 times a day for an entire school year put a cumulative load on students’ bodies of 21,600 pounds. This is equivalent to lifting six mid-sized cars. “Since I am carrying a textbook and four binders, my backpack tends to get heavy,” senior LeighAnn DeVore said. “I find relief when I take it off, but it really hurts afterwards. It also affects my posture. I find I
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slouch a lot naturally because my books are too heavy.” Doctors agree that overloaded backpacks can negatively impact a student’s posture. According to Dr. Elise G. Hewitt, the president of the American Chiropractic Association’s Pediatric Council, from an interview with the Huffington Post, the shoulders were not designed to hang things on. By carrying heavy loads daily, students could end up with rounded shoulders and lower back injuries that could impact their lives after high school. “Heavy loads on your back will affect your posture by causing or worsening existing postural distortions,” Brown said. “It will also have an impact on how well the joints in your spine, hips and shoulders move. If ignored for a long enough period, this could lead to subluxations, which is when the vertebrae in the spine can no longer move as well as they should and this affects those joints mechanically, but also causes neurological interference as well.” This position that students take to balance the weight on their back can compress the spine and cause vertebral disks to be pressed. Also, when students have to raise their neck to see in front of them, pinched nerves and neck pain can result. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least 14,000 children are treated for backpack-related injuries every year. “I have a really heavy backpack,” junior Lauren Harrelson said. “I have to carry four binders, four folders, a journal, a book and two textbooks. The weight makes my back hurt, and I have to hunch over just to keep my backpack up.” Shoulder straps can present a significant problem when excessive weight relies on them. The straps can apply pressure to blood vessels and nerves in a student’s neck. This pressure can cause pain and tingling sensations in arms, hands, legs and necks, Brown said. The use of only one shoulder to carry an overloaded backpack, resulting in a student putting more weight on one side than the other, can cause a student’s spine
to curve unnaturally. To avoid this curvature, it is advised that students use both straps when carrying backpacks. “Muscular imbalances could possibly be seen,” Brown said. “Those muscles now have to work harder to not only help you move around, but now they are trying to keep that load from injuring you as well. Headaches are a very common result as well.” Administrators with the Henderson County Public Schools have requested funds to purchase Chromebooks for area high school students next year. The computers would help reduce the weight students carry on their shoulders by reducing the number of textbooks being issued. The 3-pound laptops would create a significant contrast to the load of multiple textbooks that are required for different courses. Technology is in all aspects of students’ lives and this will be a way to incorporate their interest in the classroom, according to Kim Berry, school nurse. “My daughter brings home a backpack every day,” Berry said. “She has several binders that she has to have, and it’s just as heavy as if she had textbooks in it. It would make a huge difference to have Chromebooks as long as they replace binders as well.” Until the Chromebooks become a reality, students have to manage the weight they carry on their backs. This problem has become so widespread that the California State Assembly passed legislation that would force school districts to develop ways of reducing the weight of students’ backpacks. New Jersey is considering similar legislation. Doctor’s offices are advising students to wisely consider what they carry on their backs on a regular basis. They encourage students to take out things they do not need and suggest carrying books in front of them instead of on their shoulders. “I carry my textbooks outside of my backpacks because my backpack is so full of binders and other books for all of my classes,” junior Elizabeth O’Donnell said.
Junior Samuel Littauer uses a GoPro attached to a selfie stick to take a picture of himself and fellow campers Jack Balch and Ben Gilbert while hiking through the Adirondack High Peaks in New York. The hike was part of a camp that also included a three-day solo adventure for Littauer on an island.
ISLAND ADVENTURE Junior spends 3 days in isolation without food by | Dhuru Patel
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he canoe cut through the deep blue waters of Attean Pond in Jackman, Maine, last summer as junior Samuel Littauer and fellow guide Jessie Braun paddled in rhythm. Soon they arrived at an island covered in dense trees and flora. This was the place where they would part ways and where Littauer would spend the next three days in isolation. During his stay on the island, Littauer would have to endure solitude without food until the camp leaders came to get him. Littauer had spent eight weeks in the guide program at Deerfoot Lodge, a Christian camp for boys in Speculator, New York. Now he was ready to try out what he had learned. “Each day, the Lord presented new challenges to me while on my solo. I battled loneliness, as well as spiritual, mental and physical fatigue,” Littauer said. “I remember looking up at the stars at night and finding a great amount of comfort and peace from God, and I fully realized the magnitude of His presence in all around me.” Littauer endured the three days, reading the Bible and sitting under the open sky in hunger. By the end of his solo adventure, he was extremely weak, but he had learned important lessons from his experience. “Going through this program has been something I have wanted to do since I was 9 years old,” Littauer said. “Getting to be a part of this program was a dream come true.”
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My solo was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, yet I would not trade it for the world. — Samuel Littauer Junior
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The summer program was a discipleship and counselor-in-training program designed to challenge Littauer’s faith and grow his relationships with other Christians and with God. “I was extremely excited to go through the guide program and for the challenges that came along with it,” Littauer said. “Being a guide has been such a blessing, and I am confident that this program has changed my life for the good.” Littauer decided to put himself to the test physically, mentally and spiritually, so he packed his bags at the beginning of summer and said good-bye to the comforts of home. He left his family and friends in North Carolina behind, and departed for the mountains of New York.
“I was at the camp through the program for the entire summer in that I was detached from society and the entire world,” Littauer said. “My only communication with the outside world was with letters through the mail.” In order to help immerse the young men in the guide program, there was minimal contact with the outside world. This allowed them to focus more on the task at hand without having to worry about other circumstances going on in their lives. “My group and I ran every day and took part in gruelling exercises in order to strengthen us for the challenges ahead,” Littauer said. “We also hiked through the Adirondack High Peaks (in New York).” The majority of the physical exercise that Littauer did was running; his group ran approximately 10 miles each day. This helped toughen up the group for their solo experience. There was also daily devotion time where the participants studied the Bible. “It was difficult to keep a daily schedule because our leaders loved to keep us on the edge of our seats,” Littauer said. “We were never told what was next, and we were always left in the state of surprise.” Each day at Deerfoot Lodge was different. There were always unique activities such as carrying logs or ropes up mountains, and even meal times were uncertain. “My solo was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, yet I would not trade it for the world,” Littauer said. “Looking back, I realize the importance that this summer has had on my life and on my walk with God.”
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