Tornado Times, December 2018

Fallen Heroes honored • page 2 Connect with past • page 4

Pompano Beach High School December 2018 Vol. 10, No. 3

Senior Christelle Estimable hands a U. S. flag to retired Maj. Gen. George W.S. Read following the traditional folding ceremony at Fallen Heroes on Nov. 7. Read was one of the guest speakers at the ceremony.

PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE HOOD

Remember

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December 2018 • thetornadotimes.org

news

Top: Junior David Hines stands at attention during the Fallen Heroes ceremony on Nov. 7.

He participated in the Changing of the Guard for the Tomb of Unknown Soldier.

Left: JROTC members hold the state flags at the ceremony. The event was hosted to pay respect to those who had died while serving in the wars against terrorism.

PHOTOS BY CHARLOTTE HOOD

Vets honored by JROTC ceremony

By Charlotte Hood, Section Editor

JROTC members spent weeks on preparations for the annual Fallen Heroes Ceremony, conducted on Nov. 7, to ensure that it would be a proper tribute to those who serve our country and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for it.

“I’ve been to a lot of ceremonies, many of them at Arlington Cemetery, which were absolutely overwhelming … (but) for younger people and for this kind of thing to be done in a small community by a high school JROTC group, this was the best I’ve seen,” retired Col. Mary Martin who attended the event, said.

One of the most iconic aspects of the ceremony — the sea of American flags that fill the courtyard — required cadets to find a sponsor for the soldier represented by each flag.

“We go out in our community or

ask a manager of a store… if they want to sponsor a fallen hero or soldier,” senior company commander Exdol Davy said. “Everybody in the squad (is) assigned 55 people, 55 soldiers to sponsor.”

The flag display resulted from many hours placing hundreds of them in precise positions.

“A lot of people would come after (school) to put down flags for a couple hours to put them in order to make sure that they were properly aligned,” senior company execu-

tive officer Riley Green said. “You couldn’t just put them down in the ground, you had to measure out … so that they would be exactly in place.”

The presentations performed at the event, including the flag folding ceremony, color guard and the 21gun salute, required diligent practice from every JROTC member.

“I was part of color guard and we had to practice that everyday after school,” Davy said. “There were other teams like flag folding … and 21-gun, and everyone had to prac-

“I’ve been to a lot of ceremonies, many of them at Arlington Cemetery .... This was the best I’ve seen.”

— retired Col. Mary Martin

tice.”

Despite such exhausting work, members took great pride and joy in helping prepare for and conduct the ceremony.

“Knowing we’re one of the only schools that has any sort of ceremony like this, I’m really proud to be a part of that,” Green said. “It was hard work but in the end I am always proud.”

In their effort to honor the fallen heroes, cadets presented the best sides of themselves at the ceremony, earning the respect and admiration of the retired veterans that attended.

“The people are very professional.

It’s hard for me to think of them as high school students after seeing this,” Martin said. “They’re young adults really, good American citizens.”

December 2018 • thetornadotimes.org

news

Cairo Project connects teens across world

By Delaney Staples, Asst. Section Editor

Many teachers have students work in groups on projects to build deep knowledge of the topic as well as teamwork skills. But some students are reaching way beyond those near their desks for collaboration, all the way to Egypt.

The Cairo Project was the idea of English teacher Ann Wilson and teachers from Next Generation School in Cairo. It sparked at the 2016 International Summit, where the teachers met. The teachers decided they wanted to have some of their English classes work together and read either a novel or do a project, as they discovered their curriculums weren’t vastly different.

“The first time we tried it, it didn’t work,” Wilson said, though that

didn’t prevent them from trying again.

This year Wilson has chosen two classes, a ninth-grade and a 10thgrade, to participate in the Cairo Project. So far, the freshman and sophomore classes have read an entire novel and done projects all the while working together with kids from two English classes in Cairo.

Currently, the ninth graders are discussing heroes and courage, preparing to read the Odyssey, while the 10th graders are coming up with more ideas on what to do with their partners.

For this project to work, each student is assigned one or two partners from Cairo with whom they remain in contact via email or WhatsApp. Communication, however, has been the most difficult challenge of this project.

“It’s difficult because we have different days off and time zones,” Wilson said.

Egypt was six hours ahead of Florida time, now five due to daylight savings, and the students there go to school from Sunday to Thursday instead of Monday through Thursday.

Because of this, communication has been difficult to maintain, and some students, in Cairo and here, have hard times hearing back from their partner(s). “(My partner) hasn’t really reached out to me,” sophomore Audrey Maggio said.

Freshman Alfa Solis said the program has had a positive effect.

“Meeting that person was a good way to branch out and to learn more about other cultures and stuff and to

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introduce yourself to new people,” Solis said. Her partner ended up introducing her to his other friends from around the world, and she has become very close with them. Her only problem with the Cairo Project would be that it was heavily weighted and communication to do the work was difficult to maintain.

Overcoming the challenges has been a challenge in its own, but because the classes separated by land and sea have committed to connect to do so, friendships have formed along with the realization that we are not so different from each other.

“I think global understanding is imperative in the 21st century,” Wilson said. “It opens doors to learning and ... relationships and building interpersonal skills.”

SGA donates to those in need

By Kayla Gayle, Asst. Section Editor

Approximately 250 families received donations from schools and staff members throughout northeast Broward County at the Harvest Drive held in the gymnasium on Oct.15.

Members of the Student Government Association helped organize the food that were donated to the drive and distributed them to the families that attended the event.

“I like giving back to the community and I enjoy helping out the school with whatever they need,” senior SGA member Kennetra Harvey said.

“So I thought, ‘You know this is another thing I can just help out in my school.’ I really liked organizing the food and I also just think (the Harvest Drive) is a really great cause.”

Some students volunteered and donated food because of their similar personal experiences.

“I’m volunteering to help the less fortunate and donate food to them,” junior SGA member Wanda DeJesus said.

“I have a lot of family (members) that are against the odds and like we donate stuff to them all the time, so this kind of reminds me of them.”

SGA has many service projects planned this year that include volunteering with seniors at a nursing home, helping with the International Summit, and aiding children with cancer, according to Harvey.

Junior Wanda DeJesus sorts deodorant brought in for the Harvest Drive. The drive was organized by SGA. PHOTO COURTESY OF MCKENSIE LONG

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December 2018 • thetornadotimes.org

opinion

Past builds present

Call old relatives, who gave us our start With the holiday season beginning to rear its head once again, amongst the gifts, feasts and celebration, young people are met with a holiday tradition that brings about frustration rather than felicity: calling obscure relatives.

Many of us have been in the situation where our parents or guardians suddenly hand us the phone and expect us to hold a conversation with someone we haven’t seen since we were in diapers. In addition to talking with a complete stranger, it becomes even more exhausting if they are Baby Boomers, meaning that they will either be yelling into

great aunts and just OK uncles is more important than we realize. For some, these relatives are the reason we are living where we are now or the reason we are able to prosper in today’s world.

Just as the rotary phone gave way to the first mobile phones and finally the iPhone that we are all familiar with today, our relatives gave us our start, the foundations for us to live as we do now. the phone (as if they are making sure If your grandparents immigrated that their voice will carry over the miles from another country, possibly speakseparating you) or asking anyone in ing little to no English and facing the vicinity how to work the advanced countless hardships in this unfamiliar technology of a cell phone. territory, they did so to ensure a better But despite the annoyance of talking future for your parents, you, and all with those who are tech challenged, those who come after. They risked so connecting with our grandparents, much because they had your family’s best interests at heart and persevered through every obstacle and uncertainty.

If your grandparents were part of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s and fought for equal rights for all citizens regardless of the color of their skin, they risked their lives for a better world for themselves and their descendants. Their work in the past has helped you and so many others thrive today and has inspired even more to continue their fight for true equality.

So when you are forced to talk to an ancient relative this holiday season, take it with a grain of salt.

They have made countless sacrifices for your family. They fought in wars overseas and battles on U. S. soil. They fought against prejudice and injustice.

They worked until their hands were blistered and cracked.

They did it all for you.

A simple phone call is a small yet powerful gesture that can help you express your gratitude for all they’ve done. As a change of pace, maybe you can be the one to call them.

GRAPHIC BY ANDREA CASTELLANO

Jessica Buchanan, Editor in chief Alexis Schatten, Managing Editor Charlotte Hood, Section Editor Jordan Brown, Section Editor Emily Powell, Web and Business Editor Eduardo Andrade, Asst. Section Editor Andra Danu, Asst. Section Editor Javier Garcia, Asst. Section Editor Kayla Gayle, Asst. Section Editor Julia Latchana, Asst. Section Editor Matthew Shanbom, Asst. Section Editor Delaney Staples, Asst. Section Editor Madison Tappa, Asst. Section Editor Kimberly Scanlan, Staff Intern Dr. Andrew Shipe, Adviser Tornado Times is produced by: Pompano Beach High School 600 NE 13 Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33060 Phone: (754) 322-2000 Email: pbhsnewspaper@gmail.com Website: thetornadotimes.org Twitter: @TornadoTimes Print issues in the 2018-19 school year are planned for October, January, March and May. Online issues are planned for September, November, February and April.

For students, parents and teachers who need to be informed about what’s happening in and out of the school that affects them, Tornado Times is a print and web publication that provides timely multimedia and interactive coverage. Unlike social media, our product is focused around school events from the perspective of the bigger picture.

Tornado Times is a public forum for student expression. The newspaper staff is responsible for determining what subjects are to be covered and warrant placement in the newspaper.

As a public forum, Tornado Times welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and sent to pbhsnewspaper@ gmail.com. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for poor taste, libel and space.

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The opinions in this publication are not necessarily those of advertisers, Pompano Beach High School or Broward County Public Schools.

Tornado Times is a member of the Florida Scholastic Press Association.

December 2018 • thetornadotimes.org

opinion

Violence against press risks freedom By

Julia Latchana,

Asst. Section Editor

I never thought taking an elective high school class could be dangerous.

Since Donald Trump assumed his presidency, he has been calling the media “the enemy of the people,” and recently praised a congressman for assaulting a reporter.

Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) bodyslammed a reporter from The Guardian, Ben Jacobs, last year. The president praised Gianforte, saying “any kind of guy that can do a body-slam, he’s my kind of — he’s my guy” and that Gianforte “has fought — in more ways than one — for your state.”

I didn’t realize that attacking someone for trying to ask questions about healthcare, for doing their job, was

fighting for the people.

President Trump has also decided to do nothing about the assassination of a journalist in Istanbul, Turkey. Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated in a Saudi Arabian consulate on Oct. 2.

President Trump refuses to listen to the audio tape of Khashoggi’s assassination or acknowledge the fact that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince was involved in the killing.

The CIA believes that Prince Mohammed ordered the attack on Khashoggi, but the president denies the claim saying that “they didn’t conclude … I don’t know if anyone’s going to be able to conclude the crown prince did it.”

This attitude pervades the Trump administration. Mike Pompeo, secretary of state, responded to the killing and to Trump’s lack of action, “It’s a mean, nasty world out there — the Middle East in particular.” The President agreed with this statement

on Twitter.

Yeah, the world sucks, but that doesn’t mean that murderers should be able to get off scot-free.

Khashoggi spoke out against the Saudi government and was killed for it, but that means nothing to Donald Trump because there is an economic benefit of keeping deals with Saudi Arabia.

To the president, it’s money over morals. What does that say about the decisions he’ll make in the future?

But, of course, the White House doesn’t care about the violence that journalists are facing when Trump can just accuse journalists of being the very people bringing the violence.

On Nov. 7, the president and CNN reporter Jim Acosta were having a verbal argument that resulted in his White House press pass being revoked.

“We will … never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young

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woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern,” said Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “This conduct is absolutely unacceptable.”

Oh, so touching someone else who is trying to restrict your press rights is an intolerable act of violence, but a reporter being body-slammed and another one being murdered overseas isn’t?

On our own campus, a satire piece written by one of our editors led to threats of physical harm.

Proper news media outlets have been called fake news and have been declared the enemy of the people by a man who’s just afraid of the press portraying him in an unflattering light. And people have responded with violence because they actually believe that the media is the enemy.

Calling them the enemy of the people is only encouraging the violence against the people who are just trying to do their jobs.

Satire

Turn back turning back clocks By

Eduardo Andrade,

Asst. Section Editor

our students, but our great nation as a whole.

“I definitely think we should get rid of daylight savings,” Lalah said.

Are you for or against daylight saving time? fo r

ga

ns

i

lem if we never changed the times.”

In November 2016, there were 34,439 crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

It is possible that 93.8 percent, maybe even up to 100 percent, of those were due to daylight savings.

“I was tying my shoe while crossing the street, and I nearly got hit by a car,” sophomore James Hurst said.

“It’s really getting out of hand how reckless these cars drive when the clocks change.”

The effects of daylight savings have clearly been greater than those attributed to so-called global warming.

When was the last time you heard about someone’s shoelace being untied because it was too hot? From car accidents to failing grades the common denominator is clear. Daylight savings is a menace that must be removed, for the sake of not only

a

We engaged in a 100-year tradition late this October, turning the clocks back one hour to maximize the amount of “waking hours” in sunlight. However, this seemingly harmless practice has many unintended consequences and should immediately be stopped.

“Before the time changed, I had straight A’s. Now I’m failing all my classes,” said sophomore Imahri Johnson, “I don’t think it’s hard to see the connection.”

With the change in time, students are forced to sleep through different classes than the ones they got used to

sleeping through.

“My alarm normally wakes me up at six in the morning,” sophomore Shahid Lalah said. “But with the changing of the times I’ve been waking up at seven instead, so I’ve been showing up an hour late to school every day for almost a month.”

When it was pointed out to Lalah that the clocks were turned backwards an hour, not forward, he responded, “Oh.” Clearly, the dramatic shift in brightness from afternoon to morning has damaged students’ precious brain cells.

Even outside our no longer dark, secure gates, anarchy reigns.

“I was driving early in the morning and the sun was directly in my eyes,” Johnson said. “I bumped into the car in front of me because the sun was up earlier. This wouldn’t be a prob-

t

Based on a survey of 55 students conducted Nov. 28.

GRAPHIC BY KIMBERLY SCANLAN

6 centerspread

December 2018 • thetornadotimes.org

Freeze water and throw it at people

Go to a carnival Sleep for 24 hours straight

Go on a road trip

Make paper snowflakes

Go skydiving

Drink eggnog

Go an entire day without any Volunteer at a electronics

animal shelter

Go python Start a hunting vlog

Join the circus

Finish a game of Monopoly

Make a robot that will take over the world

Build an obstacle Have a fuzzy sock party course Build a fort Do a random act Discover yourself of kindness

Build a sandman Go see a play Go mini-golfing Write a book

Visit the penguins Clean out your closet and donate your clothes

Go out of state and Plant five trees discover snow Learn a new language Make a gingerbread house

Go ice skating Trim your tree

Investigate conspiracy theories

Make two gallons of hot chocolate

Visit the elderly

Go to an Fig open mic wa night Do carpool karaoke, without the driver

Go on a college tour

Catch a gator

Read this newspaper

Build a bonfire

Swim with the (Miami) Dolphins

Perform crosswalk musicals

101 T To D Winte Plan your new year’s resolution

Have a secret Santa

Put on every single piece of clothing in your closet

Try new food

By J

Tye-dye a shi

Go to Santa’s Go to Disney Enchanted Forest Binge-watch anything

D

Learn ho to juggle

Go car and ge Bake cookies arreste Go to Coyo Taco trespas

gure out what you ant do with your life Avoid people, especially online Go to the Museum of Discovery and Science

Go through a car wash without a car

centerspread

Things Do Over er Break

Try expired food Learn how to fly a plane Quit your job Do a holiday movies marathon

Fight Santa Claus Cut your own hair

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Play real life Fruit Ninja

Break out randomly Try watercolor into song painting and dance

Switch clothes with someone and see if anyone notices

Discuss politics with your family

Jordan Brown and Julia Latchana

Go to the zoo dressed as an animal

December 2018 • thetornadotimes.org

Pay it forward Get a ouija at a drive-thru board Go to an escape room

Discover a new addiction

Tell a little kid Santa isn’t real

Host a holiday party

Dye your hair holiday colors (red and green)

Play a new sport

Drive down an empty street in reverse

To men: Wax your entire body Go to a Go to a Invite the 44th fancy place in dance class president to Find different Get a tattoo your pajamas irt Christmas dinner places to hide Try to meet a in your house Shave your head and Learn karate famous person ow donate the hair Start a e Learn how to knit Ride a glee club Reenact an Have an entire musical llama ugly sweater roling Go skinny-dipping in the Everglades Overthrow a government of your choice contest et ed for Go to Jaxson’s Have a Go to Walmart and Feed a Do a Chinese ssing ice cream bike race play hide and seek giraffe fire drill

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December 2018 • thetornadotimes.org

student life

Local rapper gets 100K plays

GRAPHIC BY CHARLOTTE HOOD

Vricky would like to make music his career choice, but isn’t going to commit too hard until he is confident enough he can make it a living.

he still is starting to rake in some attention as all his music from all his With the popularity of local rapplatforms combined is approaching pers such as Kodak Black, who came the 100,000 mark. from the streets of “I’ve Broward County, reached out many high schoolers to some of embark on the trip to the big name success through muproducsic. One in particular, ers as they sophomore Ricardo were here in ‘Vricky’ Valverde Miami at one might actually be getpoint, and ting somewhere. they gave me “Well, my ‘sad’ musome pointsic has about 70,000 ers,” Vricky plays when they are said. “One of all added up,” Vricky them Facesaid. timed me, Vricky has been and that repassionate about ally did mean music since middle a lot to me.” school and has been Vricky writing his own since reached out eighth grade. He beto the prolieves that he reaches ducers such out to all kinds of auas Cashmondiences and listeners. eyAp and “I don’t really sub16yrold and ject my music to any is in many kind of genre,” Vricky communities said. of other rapVricky can be pers. He also found on any and all works with platforms, such as a lot of the Spotify, SoundCloud, local rappers and Youtube. He will that might be be hosting multiple Vricky performs on stage with various local artists. The Open Stage Concert was held on Nov. 29 as popular or shows and concerts in Coral Gables. known by the such as the one on PHOTO BY JAVIER GARCIA public.

Nov. 29, where he “I work showcased his skill in “I told my mom if I start making with other artists around the area music-creating for all listeners. good money from this and can save and develop bonds with them, “Music is so mesmerizing to the $25k-$50k, then I will take this full bounce ideas and we just generally extent that there is so much music time,” Vricky said. help each other with our work,” said out there that anyone can listen to,” Although Vricky wants to take this Vricky.

Vricky said. as a career, he is in no rush to force Vricky said he is prepared for Though Vricky is a student he still it as a job. whatever might come his way along manages to take on both the student “I don’t really have a strict work the road and even ready for the best. and rapper life. schedule on music since it is all “The ultimate dream is to get a “It’s kinda like being a studentabout the vibes and some days it’s good listening, drop out of school if athlete. I take it as a passion but it just not there,” Vricky said. i’m still in it and head out to L.A. and fits into my life like a hobby,” Vricky Releasing about one song a month, live on my own practicing my craft,” said. he said.

By Javier Garcia, Asst. Section Editor

December 2018 • thetornadotimes.org

Brain Bowl qualifies for nationals

By Matthew Shanbom, Asst. Section Editor

The school’s Brain Bowl team finished 3-2 in the South Florida Fall competition on Nov. 17, qualifying for nationals.

“I feel like we did our best,” club president Justin Friedland said. “The team far surpassed expectations.”

After the five preliminary matches, the school qualified as one of 16 teams in the bracketbased playoffs. In this bracket, the school was seeded 11 and lost to number five seed American Heritage Plantation.

The team attributes its success to further understanding the format this year. Last year, the first year the

team competed, it finished 1-4.

“Last year was a practice year,” adviser Ann Wilson said.

“This

year we knew how it worked.”

The team placed this

entertainment

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Team members Justin Friedland and Eduardo Vargas, juniors, get ready to hit the buzzer during practice.

They were preparing for the upcoming match on Jan. 19.

way after minimal practice, the only practice being an in school tournament a month prior. “(We should) practice more to feel comfortable when answering questions,” Friedland said.

The club hopes to practice more before the next tournament on Jan. 19.

Wilson hopes for more participants. “We need to get a student from each grade,” Wilson said.

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is ‘Killer Queen’ at box office

By Madison Tappa, Asst. Web and Business Editor

The Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” opened on Nov. 2 with $50 million in the domestic box office, causing it to be the secondhighest music biopic opening behind 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton,” which earned $60.2 million at the domestic box office on opening weekend.

As a young woman who grew up listening to the unique music of Queen, I walked into the theater not knowing exactly what to expect.

Rami Malek (“Mr. Robot”) portrays Queen’s frontman, Freddie Mercury, in the biopic. Mercury is most known for his killer singing voice and flashy on-stage presence, which Malek completely captures. I was stunned at the fact that Malek even nailed Mercury’s past performances, such as one of the most iconic ones, Live Aid. As I sat there

in the audience, I could tell that Malek had done his research.

Brian May, portrayed by Gwilym Lee (“Midsomer Murders”), is the guitarist and the referee of the group, which Lee establishes quite nicely. Lee’s character would often have to stop fights between members and would have to be the voice of reason. He establishes Brian May wonderfully, and he was a very good fit for the role.

Ben Hardy (“X-Men Apocalypse”) portrays Roger Taylor, the attractive “ladies’ man” and social butterfly of a drummer. Hardy’s character would often flirt with many women, including Freddie Mercury’s younger sister, or start fights by trying to throw coffee machines. Both these incidents earned many laughs out of the theater. He captures all of the personality traits of Roger Taylor amazingly.

John Deacon, portrayed by Joseph

Mazzello (“The Social Network”) is the quiet and sarcastic bassist.

Mazzello’s character would often go about his business, but wasn’t afraid to deliver a hilarious line or two when the time was right. Mazzello portrays the wonderful (and most definitely underrated) John Deacon proudly.

The movie itself opens up to Freddie Mercury (Malek) getting ready for Live Aid in 1985, while “Somebody to Love” is playing. With an opening like this, it establishes Queen’s success and makes the audience wonder how they got there.

Then, as he enters the stage, the music cuts out and transports the audience back to 1970, when Queen was formed. From there, Mercury goes to a local place for a drink after work to watch a band called Smile, including of Brian May and Roger Taylor. After their performance, the lead singer quits the band for a new opportunity,

causing Mercury to sing a few bars of one of their hit songs for May and Taylor. After that, he was deemed the new lead singer, and after recruiting John Deacon as the bassist, they became Queen.

Freddie Mercury had multiple struggles when he was off-stage, one of them having feelings for men and not being sure how to come out with it, considering that he was engaged to a woman. Another thing he struggled with was alcohol to numb the pain he had been going through.

Malek highlights these struggles.

As much as I personally had enjoyed the film, there were some key details missing. In the movie, the writers made it look as if Mercury knew exactly how to sing without any lessons, when in real life he did indeed have lessons.

Read more at thetornadotimes.org

10 sports

December 2018 • thetornadotimes.org

The cheerleading team poses mid-routine. The team spent hours practicing leading up to competition season.

PHOTO BY ALEXIS SCHATTEN

Cheerleaders jump into first

By Alexis Schatten, Managing Editor

The cheerleading team competed against Coral Springs, Hollywood Hills, Blanche Ely and Deerfield Beach and placed first on Nov. 19.

The team spent hours in the gym three times a week, working to perfect their routines.

“We keep our same practice schedule for the most part,” senior Chanieya O’Neal said. “We may have a longer practice one day or add an extra day of practice to make sure we are prepared.”

The long hours of practice don’t bother the team, though. They know the practice will show in competitions, and knowing their teammates makes practice seem less like work than it would if they didn’t know

each other.

“My favorite part about being on the team is how dedicated everyone is to win and how we really are like a family,” freshman Brooke Sacca said. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to get through the year without loving teammates to help me push through.”

The team works so well because the members have gotten to know each other and are able to trust each other, which is necessary to perform such good routines without fail.

“The most important thing is probably just to have fun and do everything because you want to do it and not because other people want you to,” freshman Nyjaia Backus said. “(It’s also important to) consider

your teammates and work together because it can’t just be one person putting in all they have and someone else only putting in a little effort. Everyone has to work with 100 percent of energy and commitment.”

Despite putting in all the time and effort, some cheerleaders were still caught off guard by their win.

“I wasn’t expecting us to get first place…I knew that there were other really good teams and I didn’t even know that they were placing at this meet, but me and my teammates were very happy about the placement,” Backus said.

Although the win may have been a surprise, that didn’t lessen how much their first win of the season would impact their determination

for the rest of the season.

“I do think the placing will affect how we compete next competition because we have to keep training and working hard to make sure that we continue to come in first,” O’Neal said.

As mini-competition season ends and the team heads into districts, keeping up with practice is key, but as long as they do so, maintaining their first place title will hardly be a challenge for them.

“The feeling of getting first is a feeling that you don’t want to lose, so you’ll work and fight even harder to stay on top and put out your best performance,” Backus said.

sports11

December 2018 • thetornadotimes.org

Hoopsters shoot for success

By Eduardo Andrade, Asst. Section Editor

Boys basketball team head coach Jamesy Stone is looking to turn around the school’s sports.

“I want to change the culture (here),” Stone said. “I want people to know that we’re great at both academics and sports.”

In his third year of coaching the team, Stone sees players going further than they have in years past.

“This is not the team that (fans) are used to seeing,” Stone said. “I have a great group of players and I feel like this year is our year.”

The team has played well offensively, averaging 55 points per game through three games, focusing mostly on outside shots and short jumpers. However, this emphasis on shooting comes with its downsides.

“We need a big man,” senior Durjaya Neysmith said. “We’re kinda small out there.”

The boys soccer team lost 2-1 against Taravella in its Nov. 19 matchup at home, dropping to 0-4 on the season.

After the team conceded two goals early, freshman Avondre Walters scored from inside the box for the team’s only goal in the second half of the game.

“I was just thinking, ‘Yes, I finally did something good on the team,’” Walters said.

The team’s improvement in the second half was due to better communication between the players and continued effort on the pitch.

“We started talking more, communicating with each other and just staying positive,” junior Christian Torres said.

Team captain Nicholas Esposito, junior, was happy with the team’s efforts on the field despite the early deficit.

The team’s lack of size isn’t the only issue on the court. “(We need) communication and hustle,” Neysmith said following the team’s 64-59 defeat to Taravella on Nov. 28. The team fell to 1-2 with the defeat.

Junior Conrad Bennett says the team needs to “play harder, hustle more.”

Stone says the biggest challenge for the team this year is staying “injury free.” The team has unfortunately already had to sit out a player due to leg injuries.

Despite this, the team is looking forward to the rest of the season and are hungry for more wins.

Senior Brandon Peets says the team is close to where it needs to be, needing just one thing to pull it all together.

“Wins,” said Peets. “We’re doing everything but winning right now.”

“You just gotta fight and try to make it back,” Esposito said. “We tried.”

Moving on with the season, the team looks to build chemistry and confidence in each other to play more cohesively as a unit.

“Our chemistry right now isn’t so great, so we’re probably just gonna hang out a little bit more,” Torres said.

The team hopes to pick up its first win of the season next game against Deerfield at home on Nov. 26.

As of Nov. 30, the boys basketball team is 1-2 on the season, falling to Taravella at home on Nov. 28.

“We just need to play better as a team,” senior Brandon Peets said.

The team trailed by only one point

Senior Cedrick Camper drives in against Taravella defenders. The team lost 64-59 in their Nov. 28 game against Taravella.

PHOTO BY EDUARDO ANDRADE

with seven seconds remaining, but fouls and turnovers ultimately sealed the loss.

“Some bad decisions were made at the end of the game,” junior Conrad Bennett said. “But you just got to keep playing, and play for the next game” The team’s next game is Dec. 6 at home against Flanagan.

The boys and girls swim teams competed at the FHSAA Swimming and Diving State Championships on Nov. 17 in Stuart. The boys finished seventh at the competition.

Sophomore Raphael Santos finished sixth in the 200-yard individual medley, and senior Mattheus Santos finished third in the 200-

yard freestyle.

They joined with senior Shane Schulte and senior Dante Poe to finish second in the 200-yard freestyle relay Senior Alexandro Marquez replaced Schulte to join the other three finishing in fifth place in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Freshman Christina Hilton finished second in girls one-meter diving.

12 last look

December 2018 • thetornadotimes.org

Knights to Remember

Jenna Miller: School supplies donation to the Dominican Republic “I realized that a bunch of extra stuff is going to waste and wanted to change that.”

PHOTO BY ANDRA DANU

Regina Monaco: Volunteering and raising money for the Humane Society “A couple of my friends and I started a club called the Humane Society club, of which I am the secretary and co-creator. We have raised hundreds of dollars along with volunteering for local events.”

Tiffany DeFaria: Dance Marathon “My brother was in the hospital, so it was a way to give back to the people that helped him.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANY DEFARIA

The Silver Knight Awards were started by the Miami Herald in 1959 and have become one of the most respected programs in the nation. The program honors remarkable students in MiamiDade and Broward who have not only kept up good grades (at least a 3.2 GPA), but also extended their unique skills and experiences to their schools and communities through service in an inspirational manner. The Silver Knight Awards ceremony is to be held in Miami in May of 2019. Here are profiles of the eight seniors who applied this year and their projects.

Jason Nguyen: Mentoring “The chance to change how the school can connect and help the struggling freshman class. They’re known as the largest weed-out, and I wanted to be able to keep as many hardworking students as possible.”

PHOTO BY ANDRA DANU

Bailey Campbell: Relay for Life Event Leader “Some of my family members had cancer, so it connected to me.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF BAILEY CAMPBELL

PAGE DESIGN BY ANDRA DANU

PHOTO COURTESY OF REGINA MONACO

Mikaela Whitmer: Trash Can Slam Fishing Tournament Kaitlyn Bergeron: Book Buddies “I’ve been volunteering in Book Buddies for three years, going to Pompano Beach Elementary to help the kids expand on their critical thinking skills.”

PHOTO BY ANDRA DANU

“It was created to spread further awareness for autism and supply teachers with necessary resources to fulfill the children’s needs for everyday life. I chose to give to autism because my two cousins are touched by it.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKAELA WHITMER

Jessica Romer: Florida Children’s Theater free headshot booth “I haven’t been able to afford headshots and it would have been awesome to have the opportunity to have them done for free when I was younger.”

PHOTO BY ANDRA DANU