Tornado Times, February 2020

Chinese honors students Kayla Laurent, Vicky Zou, Elizabeth Condor, Kelly Lucio and Jaedyn Powell dance in traditional Chinese attire. In commemoration of the Lunar New Year, Chinese teacher Xi Zheng and her students invited the school to join the celebration on Jan. 28 at B Lunch.

NEWS • page 2

OPINION • page 5

Mental health matters

Prom Best Cheer 5 at dress peril moments of states the decade

Tornado Times Pompano Beach High School

Life • page 8

SPORTS • page 14

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February 2020 @TornadoTimes

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Vol. 11, No. 3 thetornadotimes.org

Students speak out on mental health

By Eduardo Andrade, Managing Editor

Senior Alisha Ibrahim and junior Kortni Kemp, historian and vice president of the school’s HOPE Sunshine club respectively, were panelists at a town hall meeting Feb. 12 at the E. Pat Larkins Community Center to discuss mental health and substance abuse issues among students.

“It’s such a critically important topic,” Pompano Beach Mayor Rex Hardin said.

“It’s about our kids, it’s about our future, it’s about making sure we’re recognizing what’s going on in our kids’ lives.”

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 7.4% of high school students attempted suicide between 2016 and 2017. This is consistent with a survey of 61 students taken Feb. 10-13 at this school , in which 8.2% reported attempting sucide at some point in their lives.

The Pew Research Center reported that the number of students experiencing depression rose 59% from 2007 to 2017.

While depression occurs in all types of situations, disengaged or inattentive parents often miss the signs of mental illnesses, and their child’s mental state deteriorates even further as a result.

“Adults really don’t know,” Ibrahim said. “hey claim to understand their kids and understand us as teenagers, but they really just don’t know.”

Bert Miller, a member of the Broward County PTA, agreed with Ibrahim’s views..

“We have no parent involvement with our kids in middle school,” Miller said.

“The parents seem to leave after elementary school and think that the kids can be on their own. That’s not the case, parents need to be involved.”

Ibrahim spoke at the event about her mental health issues.

“When you are depressed and you are faced with anxiety it’s like there’s no one there,” Ibrahim said. “You kind of feel alone.”

Despite the efforts made by peer coun-

2 | News < February 2020 > @TornadoTimes

seling, the HOPE club and school administration, some students still struggle to reach out to counselors or teachers.

“A lot of times my depression will hit really badly, and I won’t want to do anything at all,” an anonymous student said. “I just don’t know if I … feel comfortable talking to (counseling).”

This problem is made worse at schools without the same investment in student health. At Crystal Lake Middle, teacher Kimberly Foster had to fund a “Student Achievement Symposium,” where she invited a teen mental health therapist and former drug abusers to speak to students, on her own, paying out of pocket and seeking out people and organizations, even other schools, to donate.

“One of my students said to me last week, ‘Miss Foster, Saturday is over, what am I gonna do? Where am I gonna go?’

We’ve got to do better,” Foster said.

Many students have found help through friends, groups and trusted adults in lieu of school counselors or parents.

“Just surrounding myself with people that have positive energy generally helped a lot … and while it’s not for everyone, praying and reading my Bible also helped,” the anonymous source said. “If you need help, find someone you trust, no matter who it is, and try to talk things through with them. Sometimes keeping things to yourself will just make it worse.”

Simply opening up about the issue often helps those suffering mental illnesses, allowing others to help the problem while also reducing the feeling of isolation or loneliness.

“I was that person that had to look strong on the outside,” Ibrahim said. “I had to make sure people didn’t know that something was wrong with me or that I’d rather be at school than be at home. Once I decided to speak up and express what I was going through and that I wasn’t okay, I feel like I got better.”

65.6% of students report knowing someone who has considered suicide.

47.5% of students say they know someone who has attempted suicide.

45.9% of students admit to having drunk alcohol at least once.

Statistics from survey of 61 students taken Feb. 10-13

Drug, alcohol abuse rise

While a mental health issue may be hard to see or talk about, its effects can be clearly seen in the vaping trend. While many expected the fall of cigarettes, which peaked at just under 40% of high schoolers using in the mid ‘90s, to finally end nicotine addiction in teens, the rise of vaporizers and e-cigarettes has allowed for a nicotine

45.9% of students report considering suicide.

8.2% of students admit to attempting suicide.

Slaying the stigma Junior Kortni Kemp and senior Alisha Ibrahim answer questions as part of a panel on mental health and substance abuse among students. The panel was a part of a town hall held on Feb. 12 at E. Pat Larkins Community Center. “As a group, as a school, we should work to kill this stigma (of mental illness). We can get over it,” Ibrahim said.

GRAPHICS AND PHOTO

BY EDUARDO ANDRADE

26.2% of students say they have experimented with vaping before. revival. According to the survey, 26.2% of students admit to trying vapes.

“So many students struggle with things such as nicotine addiction, and no one even notices,” said the anonymous source.

The school has made several announcements over the past several years about the dangers, as well as the consequences, of vaping. However the problem still persists,

despite counselling being available without consequence to those who seek it.

“If it’s substance use we try to get them the support, and then bring the parents on board to give them the outside substance abuse counselor,” guidance counselor and suicide prevention liason Kathleen Fish said. “We don’t deal with discipline.

You share that with us we’re not going to discipline you.”

The school’s HOPE Sunshine club and peer counseling class both work to help spread information about mental health and substance abuse, aiming to provide safe spaces for students to speak freely about their issues.

“I think that they really do a good job,” Fish said. “I feel like they’re like our public service branch of the school day. They make sure to get the information out. They make sure to make it visible out in the courtyard. They make sure it’s visible in all of the stairwells. To me, that’s just really cool to have all of those things everywhere.”

Students are especially grateful for the opportunity to open up to their classmates without judgement or fear of punishment.

“We have a saying in our peer counseling class: ‘What happens in peer counseling, stays in peer counseling,’” Kemp said.

“We’ve had moments inside of class where

people have been able to express themselves, saying things that that had never been exited out of their mind. They only just thought about it. And because they were able to open up, it was like a breath of fresh air. They’re able to tell people or tell someone that something is going on (or say) ‘I have an issue. This is what’s going on at home. This is what I go through every day when I go home. I don’t want to walk out of school.’”

The most important step in improving mental health is simply to reach out, regardless of who one speaks to, be it going to family, friends, teachers, counselors, therapy or any other person or groups.

“You’re not alone,” Ibrahim said. “There’s people there that can help you and there’s people who want to help you, who have the insight and the knowledge and maybe have even been in your place.”

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or speak to a school counselor.

thetornadotimes.org < February 2020 > News | 3

Don't overlook mental health for GPA As the world evolves and asks more and more of graduates, high school students face more pressure now than ever before. Beyond the 24 credits, 2.0 GPA and 40 volunteer hours needed for graduation, it feels like colleges won’t be interested unless those credit hours contain AP or dual enrollment classes and you’ve overloaded yourself with at least a dozen extracurriculars and your volunteer hour count reaches three digits and you’ve earned a high SAT or ACT score.

Today’s students are burying themselves under piles of work before they even enter high school just to even be considered by the college of their choice four years into the future. Freshmen are worried about taking classes they want to take on the off chance that it messes with their GPA in the future.

This pressure to raise a GPA instead of taking classes that interest students and prepare them for whatever career they may be interested in after college is endlessly damaging.

By encouraging students to take APs they don’t care about in the slightest, these students are being told that their GPA is more important than their hap-

piness and their desire to learn.

Students learn better when they’re engaged in the content.

How can they be engaged if they’re taking a class purely to get the credit?

Students who overload themselves with courses they don’t care about will have to put in way more effort than students who choose their courses based on their in-

I had no idea how I would successfully complete my junior year. It was emotionally draining, and I had to switch into honors because I knew that my mental health comes first. I’d

GRAPHIC BY ANDREA CASTELLANOS

By encouraging students to take APs they don’t care about in the slightest, these students are being told that their GPA is more important than their happiness and their desire to learn.

“When I chose my classes last year, I chose classes that I knew would give me credits for college, rather than classes that I was necessarily interested in, which makes them harder to care about because I know they’re not related to my future career,” senior Kristina Gosselin said. Gosselin is taking two AP classes this year.

4 | Opinion < February 2020 > @TornadoTimes

terests. A heavy course load will cause students an undue amount of stress, which can eventually lead to much more serious mental health problems.

“During junior year, I was overworking myself,” an anonymous student said. “I had to drop one of my AP classes because I knew that if I didn’t,

rather have a lower GPA and be happier than have a higher GPA and put my mental health at risk.”

Students have consistently been told to just push through, put in the work, study harder, but that’s not the problem. A student being overextended by a heavy course load cannot always do that, trying their best to keep afloat and waiting, fingers crossed, for the light at the end of the tunnel, the end of the school year, a break, a breath of fresh air weeks, months or even years away.

The harder class is not always the best option, and it’s time that we, as students, learn the distinction between a healthily challenging schedule and a damagingly challenging schedule.

Prom dress code INAPPROPRIATELY targets girls

By Alexis Schatten, Editor-in-Chief

Prom is just around the corner, and with it comes the joys of promposals, endless hours spent listening to the “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” soundtrack and … asking your parents to sign a prom dress approval form confirming that your dress isn’t too scandalous.

That’s right, girls. And just girls because that’s always how these old dress code songs and dances go. It’s 2020, we’re all (practically) adults and yet even on a night that’s meant to signify the closing of the public school system’s death grip on our sense of self expression, we have to fill out an approval form.

Now, what does this approval form entail? It’s a lovely, little form that can be picked up at the front office anytime between now and May 4. It contains three boxes, designed to stand out among the fine print that highlights the fact that you can be denied entry if your dress does not meet admin’s standards. The first box covers half the page, and is provided so you can attach a picture of you in your dress to be judged.

You read that correctly: admin is asking for a “full-length photo” of “the student WEARING (the form’s use of capitaliza-

Alexis Schatten, Editor in Chief Eduardo Andrade, Managing Editor Matthew Shanbom, Managing Editor Javier Garcia, Sports Editor Kayla Gayle, News Editor Dr. Andrew Shipe, Adviser Staff Interns Avienne Adeline Amber Brown Ethan Del Campo Alisha Durosier Jordan Greene Alyssa Jiggetts Sierra Krey Jennifer Nunes Emma Parker Keanu Silva Alexia Tontchev Frankie Wolfe

tion, not mine) dress.” You must include “front and back of the gown,” and unless you know of any online stores that allow you to try on a dress without first paying for it or a store that will hold your dress for you until you get the go-ahead, you’re paying for a dress that you don’t even know if you can wear.

Right under that fancy box is a paragraph stating — again in all caps — that “ONLY ATTENDEES WEARING APPROPRIATE ATTIRE WILL BE ADMITTED. ATTIRE THAT IS DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE OR, IS TOO REVEALING,

BY ADMINISTRATION MAY RESULT IN DENIED ENTRY AND REFUNDS WILL NOT BE GIVEN.” So, in case that’s a bit unclear, due to the, ironically enough, “inappropriate” punctuation, let me reiterate: if you don’t turn in this form, and your dress is “inappropriate,” you will not be let into your senior prom and you will not get your money back.

There are two other boxes, one of which is bolded and asks (yes, in all caps) for an administration required signature. The box next to that informs us that we must turn in these dress approval forms to Mrs. Samaroo by May 4 (what, no all caps?).

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 2019-20 school year are planned for October, December, Februrary and April.

For students, teachers and parents who need information on the school and events, Tornado Times is a quarterly printed magazine and a daily updated website that will report the news, lead the school and provide a public forum. Unlike social media, our product provides more insight on our school and events. By emphasizing coverage of what is happening, offering an outlet for students and providing a check and balance, we will promote dependability, responsibility, honesty, accomplishment, teamwork and success.

Now, what exactly is the dress code?

Sure, there’s a dress code, girls, but there’s one for boys, too, right? It’s only fair, isn’t it?

Of course the boys have one! It’s equally as strict as ours, too, girls, don’t you worry.

Boys must keep their shirts on at all times.

And that’s it. That, and no jeans, shorts, hats, headbands, sneakers, bandanas or sunglasses. Because every boy we know is dying to wear their jeans to prom.

There are two bullet points on the what not to wear list dedicated specifically to boys. The girls’ dress code has seven: dresses must be at least finger-tip length, none of those malevolent midriffs can be exposed, no cursed cut-outs, absolutely none of those wicked waists can be on display, no sinfully sheer dresses, no loathsomely low-cut necklines and you are certainly not allowed to hide the fact that your dress doesn’t meet these requirements with a shawl, jacket or scarf.

I’m not asking for permission for girls to show up to prom nude. All I’m asking, admin, is that you consider the fact that we, as adults, are more than capable of judging for ourselves what is and isn’t “appropriate.”

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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Advertising which promotes illegal products under Florida law, includes false statements or is written in bad taste will not be accepted.

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, which awarded the newspaper a bronze certificate for its 2018-19 issues.

thetornadotimes.org < February 2020 > Opinion | 5

Sophomore Parth Agarwal, junior Nithya Munagala, freshman Sanam Patel and senior Anjali Kamath perform Bhangra, a traditional Indian dance, at the Multicultural Show on Feb. 13. The group won the first place $100 prize.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SHANBOM

Indian students win Multicultural Show

By Matthew Shanbom, Managing Editor

Senior Anjali Kamath, sophomore Parth Agarwal, junior Nithya Munagala and freshman Sanam Patel performed an Indian dance known as Bhangra at the Multicultural Show on Feb. 13 splitting the $100 cash prize.

“I decided to perform to help demonstrate to the school the culture of India and help them broaden their perspective on foreign cultures,” Agarwal said.

While this was Agarwal’s first in school performance, he has performed outside of school multiple times.

Kamath was also happy to have the opportunity to share her culture.

“I chose to do a dance because it is something I am familiar with in my Indian culture,” Kamath said.

6 | Feature < February 2020 > @TornadoTimes

Kamath performed in last year’s Multicultural Show but did not win.

“The hardest part about this performance was choreographing and setting up the dance,” Kamath said.

The performance involved multiple sections of different dances and specific timings for the group.

Time constraints also got in the way of the teams performance.

“The hardest part of doing the performance was probably scheduling the practices since everyone’s schedules are so different,” Argwal said.

The group practiced about three days a week for two hours a day leading up to the show.

The proceeds from the Multicultural Show went to the International Traveling Tornadoes to support their trip to Poland and the Czech Republic.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SHANBOM Sophomore Parth Agarwal performs an Indian dance at the Multicultural Show on Feb. 13. He along with his group won, splitting a $100 prize.

Pluck of the Irish

Hughes proud to perform folk dance

By Keanu Silva, Staff Intern

It lasted only a few minutes, but it took freshman Shannon Hughes a lifetime to prepare for her Irish dance at the Multicultural Show on Feb. 13.

Hughes said she started dancing about 10 years ago and practices four days a week for two hours. As soon as the show was announced, her family asked her to illustrate her talents, and she tried out and practiced for weeks to possibly win the cash prize.

“It’s nerve-racking to think about performing,” Hughes said.

She arrived around 5:30 pm

to get dressed in her green Irish dress that shares her family and culture.

“The most difficult thing is to keep dancing at the same pace,” Hughes said.

“It’s nerveracking to think about performing.” — Shannon Hughes More than 300 people attended the show, which includ-

ed a raffle and a silent auction.

Hughes also performs Irish dance on weekends at the Florida Renaissance Festival at Quiet Waters Park until March 22.

Even though Hughes didn’t win the prize, she said she brought her culture to life, which was the idea of the event. Her prize was the faces of pride and happiness she saw on her family and friends.

Freshman Shannon Hughes performs a traditional Irish folk dance. Hughes performed at the Multicultural Show held on Feb.13.

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW SHANBOM

thetornadotimes.org < February 2020 > Feature | 7

8 | Student Life < February 2020 > @TornadoTimes

Back in the '10s, before we were teens We’ve all changed over the last decade. In 2010, seniors were in second grade; freshmen were in pre-K. Our changes have been a decade in the making, but let’s take a look at some of the most impactful moments that have shaped us into the people we are today.

Joshua Cajuste “I got to see a lot of places and people, and see how things are different around the world. I went to Mexico, Jamaica, different parts of the USA and another country in the Caribbean.”

Bottom Left: Senior Abigail Rowe smiles while scrolling through her Instagram feed.

Instagram was created in 2010 and still is a popularly used app among teenagers.

Alexander Cedeno “Getting to travel the world. I had the grand opportunity of going to Spain and France where I was able to see the Eiffel Tower and eat amazing food.”

Top Right: Freshmen Victoria Campbell and Dylan Friedland dance the popular “Gangnam Style.” South Korean artist Psy had this hit play around the globe but was most notorious for the moves.

Kaitlin Curtis PHOTOS BY KAYLA GAYLE, SIERRA KREY AND FRANKIE WOLFE

“Experiencing the different places around the world to cherish everything I’ve been taught throughout the years that would help me later in life.”

GRAPHICS BY KAYLA GAYLE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NEEDPIX AND WIKIPEDIA

thetornadotimes.org < February 2020 > Student Life | 9

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YEARBOOKS do!

THE TIME IS NOW! Purchase your yearbook today, only $70 with this coupon

$5off

The purchase of a 2020 Beanpicker Yearbook (thru March 19)

Original price without coupon: $75. Valid only at Pompano Beach High School. Limit one coupon per purchase. Good only on product indicated.

Coupon has no cash value. Coupon can only be used with cash or check.

Coupon must be relinquished at time of redemption. Not valid on previous purchases, existing orders, online orders or with other offers. In order to purchase a yearbook with this coupon, bring it to Dr.Shipe in Room 317 at time of purchase.

10 | Entertainment < February 2020 > @TornadoTimes

Tomlinson breaks 'Walls' 4 stars out of 5

By Kayla Gayle, Student Life Editor

Since the split of the British boy band One Direction, the five ex-members have begun their solo careers. Louis Tomlinson is the last of the group to release a fulllength album. “Walls” by Tomlinson was released on Jan. 31 and debuted at number nine on Billboards 200 chart.

This project is a 40-minute, 12-track album featuring songs that range from ’90s Indie-Britpop to slow ballads accompanied by a live orchestra. Even with the range of songs, it’s obvious that Tomlinson found his voice and the type of music that fits it, and his personality, best.

“Walls” starts off with the second single released to promote the album, “Kill My Mind.” This track has a strong start with upbeat drums and a heavy guitar. With the lyrics “You kill my mind / Raise my body back to life / And I don’t know what I’d do without you now,” Tomlinson invokes a sense of thrill. That along with his raspy vocals make it the perfect song to begin this long-anticipated album.

“I was listening to the album and it annoyed me that I didn’t quite have that moment of excitement, and I think (“Kill My Mind”) definitely evokes excitement,” Tomlinson said in an interview with Apple Music.

In the third track, “Two of Us,” Tomlinson sings an emotional ballad to discuss the grief of losing someone close to you.

He wrote the song about his late mother, Johannah Deakin, to help process his own emotions and to help other people deal with their own. It’s a song about losing someone while still living life with hope.

The song has resonated with me and many people around the world because Tomlinson perfectly captured the pain of losing a loved one while giving the message of “everything will be okay” in a tactful and respectful way.

“It was something I needed to get off my chest. I used to lean on my mum for a lot of things. Anytime I needed advice on something she would be the first call I made,” Tomlinson said on BBC Radio 1.

Scan the code below and listen now on Spotify.

“I’m not at the stage in my grief where I’m going to open the first verse and burst into tears… I don’t want people to get caught up in the sadness of it. The song should be hopeful.”

In the title-track, Tomlinson discusses how the challenges of relationships and life, in general, make a person stronger.

There is so much about this song that I truly love and appreciate. There is a heavy guitar sound with light drums and live strings throughout the entire song.

Tomlinson’s voice is audibly strong and powerful. The song is also incredibly lyrically strong. The line that begins the ballad, “Nothing wakes you up like waking up alone,” is also the outro. I think the emotion, symbolism and meaning behind the song makes it an easy fan, and artist, favorite.

“It’s my favorite song, it’s the song I’m most proud of. I think it’s an interesting concept,” Tomlinson said. “(It’s) a thought-provoking title, but more than anything it’s just my favorite song, I wanted to show it off.”

Tomlinson’s album does take a turn on the 10th track “Perfect Now.” This was the only song on the album that I personally did not vibe with. The vocals and the instrumental are really good but the song lacks depth lyrically. With lines like “Keep your head up, love” and “I guess some queens don’t need a crown,” the song seems cringeworthy. Lyrics like that work well when you’re in a boy band, but when you’re a 28-year-old man, they just don’t fit.

Tomlinson even acknowledged that lyrics resemble the group’s songs like “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Little Things.”

“I think out of every song on the album (“Perfect Now”) probably represents like a true One Direction style, lyrically,” Tomlinson said. “It’s almost an extension of some of the early One Direction stuff.”

Tomlinson makes up for my dislike of “Perfect Now” with the last track of the album, “Only the Brave.” It is the shortest track on the album, only a minute and 46 seconds, and has a different structure than a normal pop song. The song only consists of two verses, a pre-chorus, and the chorus only sang once. Throughout the song, a harsh acoustic guitar is played with a crackling sound to give a classical feel.

Tomlinson sings about how love is only for the brave and people that are willing to take risks. It’s the best song to close the album, wrapping the whole project up perfectly while showing his strong vocals again. It’s my favorite song on the album; I love everything about it. The lyrics, the structure, his voice, the production is just *Italian chef ’s kiss*.

There are many songs on the album that I didn’t mention that are really good as well. Tomlinson is a talented singer-songwriter whom I genuinely believe deserves more recognition and appreciation.

“Walls” is definitely worth the listen, and I am excited for more music from Tomlinson.

thetornadotimes.org < February 2020 > Entertainment | 11

March

3: NHS Driving Event 3: Track meet at Boyd Anderson 4: In school SAT 5: Professional Study Day 5: Lacrosse vs. Pine Crest 7: Track meet at Hallandale 9: Softball vs. Monarch 10: Tennis at Hallandale 12-13: Drama spring production 16: Baseball vs. Boyd Anderson 17: No school 17: Track meet at Ely 18: Tennis vs. Coral Springs 19: Flag football vs. Somerset Prep 20: County Champs Track Meet at Dillard 23-27: Spring break 30: Flag football vs. Boca 31: Softball vs. Coral Glades

HERSCHEL & RUTH (954) 856-0800

12 | Calendar < February 2020 > @TornadoTimes

April

1: Senior Night Track meet at Home 2: Professional study day 2: Baseball vs. NorthEast 4: Track meet at Cardinal Gibbond 6: Online prom sales begin 6: Lacrosse vs. West Broward 6: Baseball vs. Hallendale 8: FSA writing 9: Baseball vs. Coral Springs Charter 13: Volleyball vs. Nova 15: PSAT 8/9 16: Prom online sales end 16-17: Track districts at Calvary 17: Grad bash 20: Whole school assembly 21: Senior class assembly 23: Softball vs. McArthur 24: Baseball vs. Deerfield 28: Underclass awards 30: Spring concert

Disabled and Abled United aims to makes a difference Amongst the various clubs that started this new semester, the Disabled and Abled United Club has emerged to make a difference for the disabled community.

What I learned from a month of cold showers I have taken cold showers for a little over a month now so you don’t have to. Well, not really, but I will bring my findings forth so you won’t have to go through the same pain I had to.

24 students carpool to MLK parade One of the major events at the beginning of the Civil Rights movement was Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus. On Jan. 20, students organized by African American studies teacher Richard Nagy and Pompano students found out what it was like not to have a bus.

Seniors say sayonara to soccer The girls soccer team sent off its six seniors on Senior Night with a narrow 1-0 loss to South Plantation on Jan. 27. All six served as captains for the game.

thetornadotimes.org < February 2020 > On the Web | 13

Everybody shout it out!

Competitive cheer soars to 5 at states th

By Jordan Greene, Staff Intern

The competitive cheer team placed fifth in the final state competition on Feb. 1 with a score of 70.10.

“States is something we work hard to get to throughout the entire season, so to be able to go to states is the best feeling,” sophomore captain Brooke Sacca said.

The team ranked third in the semi-final earlier that day with a score of 71.60. In its semi-final competition, the team “hit zero,” no deductions for falls or other violations.

“We did the best we could to make it to finals,” junior Azariya Permenter said. “The best part was hitting a perfect routine and hearing, ‘moving to finals, Pompano Beach High School!’”

This year’s team included many new competitors after a lot of turnover from last year’s fourth-place team.

“I’m actually shocked about how far we got in because we lost a majority of our team last year,” junior Stephany Pizarro said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect of them, especially since so many of them are new to the sport… I’m definitely proud.”

This year’s team was mostly made up of incoming freshmen.

“Having a freshmen and underclassmen based team has been very difficult because the incoming freshmen and newto-cheer sophomores had to be taught the basics,” Sacca said.

Freshman Dashja Thomas was proud of how the freshmen delivered.

“Being able to even attend states was one if the best feelings ever,” Thomas said. “It was such a great experience

Getting it just right being able to cheer on the mat, Tierney Yselonia (top) rehearses and to get to the feeling of the with her stunt group for the state atmosphere was just amazing. championship.

Overall, I loved it.”

Sacca was proud of how much the team improved entering practice and not let during the season. outside problems get to us at “We as a team are very hard practice so we can be the best workers and love a good chalwe can possibly be,” Sacca said. lenge,” Sacca said. “When we The team already has their didn’t do the best at regionals, eyes on a state title in 2021. we picked ourselves “Next season we’re planning right back up and on working harder than we did did very well in semi this season,” Thomas said. “We finals at states. We have want to improve the score we progressed because last got this past season.” year we were never able to hit a full-out routine at practice or on the competition floor.”

Permenter said that the girls focused on teamwork this year.

“We always stuck together no matter what! Doing that allowed us to recognise our mistakes as a whole and move forward to overcoming the next challenge,” Permenter said. “Teamwork for me is putting myself aside and doing Soaring whatever I can to make Junior and flyer sure that my teammates Stephany Pizarro are successful.” practices with her While the girls are stunt group for the proud of how well they state competition. did, they are acknowlPizarro said she is edged what they need to “definitely proud” work on for next year. of her team.

“We can improve on our attitudes when

14 | Sports < February 2020 > @TornadoTimes

The team practices in the mini-gym to prepare for states.

PHOTOS BY JORDAN GREENE

Junior commits to D2 lax

By Javier Garcia, Sports Editor

Junior Erin Wheaton committed to play Division II Lacrosse for North Greenville University in South Carolina.

Wheaton, who has been playing lacrosse since she was 10 years old, said she’s put in years of hard work that has finally paid off.

“It felt like such a weight lifted off my shoulders,”

Junior Erin Wheaton prepares to catch the ball mid-stride while participating in a line drill during practice on Feb. 5. During this drill the team is supposed to catch the ball and release it in quick succession while in stride.

Junior Erin Wheaton breaks down to catch a low pass during practice on Feb. 5. Throughout practice Wheaton and the team participated in multiple passing and catching drills.

PHOTOS BY JAVIER GARCIA

Wheaton said. “The pressure is gone.

I finally have an idea where I’m going.”

Wheaton’s journey began before she even knew what lacrosse was.

Before playing lacrosse, Wheaton played a variety of other sports, including golf, softball, swimming and soccer. Having such a wide spectrum of athletic experience made learning to play lacrosse much easier, because it is an agglomeration of all the sports she’d previously played.

“Going into it I had already played just about every sport already,” Wheaton said. “I just ended up growing in love with it. It’s my passion.”

Wheaton and her father found lacrosse through her friends, who played for a Coral Springs recreational league. From the beginning, the sport caught Wheaton’s eye.

“Neither of us knew anything about the sport, but when we first saw it being played, we both wanted to get in to it,” Wheaton said.

The rest is history.

Wheaton would be quick to find success. After her first year, her coach invited her to play for his travel team, Florida Select. Much of the lacrosse community is heavily invested in practicing in the summer for the spring high school season. From there, she worked on honing her

skills for this newly-found passion and developing knowledge of the sport, exposing her to the level of competition that exists within the sport year-round.

“I believe (Florida Select) were ranked third for Class of 2021 in the nation, and still are,” Wheaton said.

Though the travel team had great experience and exposure to the level and intensity of the sport, she also found troubles in the program.

“The chemistry started to fall off with the team, and I felt like I just wasn’t having any fun anymore,” Wheaton said.

This fallout led to Wheaton’s moving on from the travel team and joining the school team. Once more, Wheaton experienced a problem: there was no team at the school her freshman year.

“Coming in, we knew (Pompano) didn’t have a program, and even before I came here my dad was doing what he could,” Wheaton said. “It was always the problem of getting enough parent support, so once we got in, we were already aware of what needed to be worked on.”

Thanks to her father and the dedication of a few alumni, the school was able to find that support and created a lacrosse program in 20172018.

Junior Erin Wheaton gets low to meet the ball, making the catch easier.

Throughout this drill the players usually remain in full stride, but when necessary players will stop or slow down to make the catch.

thetornadotimes.org < February 2020 > Sports | 15

Senior Elizabeth Ryan sends a free kick on Senior Night.

The girls soccer team played against South Plantation on Jan. 27 and lost 1-0.

PHOTO BY EMMA PARKER The competitive cheerleading squad placed fifth at states, after achieving seventh at regionals and second at districts.

“Placing second at districts was a huge win for us, and was one of the best feelings,” sophomore captain and flyer Brooke Sacca said. “But placing seventh at regionals left us really upset and hungry to prove ourselves at states.”

At states, the team qualified for the finals by “hitting zero” in their semifinal routine.

“Hitting zero means we hit every stunt and got no points off of our routine (for mandatory deductions,” Sacca said.

It was the second year in a row the team qualified for the finals.

The girls basketball team finished 0-17, playing its last game Jan. 30 against FAU High.

Boosted this year by new coach Alex Jenkins and many new players, the team looks to get better going forward.

“Now that we have started to build the foundation for a program, we will have summer practices and continue to

improve,” sophomore Veronica Matos said. “Hopefully as a result there will be victories.”

The JV girls basketball team finished the season 0-3.

“This was a really good building year because previously we only had a varsity team with a handful of members,” Matos said.

The varsity and junior varsity flag football teams are looking forward to a promising year. “Teamwise we expect big things,” head coach Johnathan Firth said.

Having qualified for the playoffs last year, the varsity team has big goals.

“For this year, team goal, every year is the same as it was last year, this year, and the year before that: to make it to championships,” junior Amniche Guerin said.

Players are confident in their abilities.

“I think the team is going to do well,” Guerin said.

The junior varsity team also has a challenging goal.

“Our goal for the JV team is to be undefeated or at least

win five out of our six games,” freshman Megan Wessinger said.

Players want to use this season to improve their skills.

“The goal is that we are ready for varsity next year,” Wessinger said.

The JV team plans to do so by “in general, just learning,” according to freshman Hailey Forgash.

JV also plans on “understanding everyone’s goals,” according to freshman Marissa Ruggiero. “(Our biggest challenge is) taking girls from other sports that are good athletes but have

never even seen a football game,” Firth said.

The track team has high hopes for the upcoming season. For eight out of the last 10 years under coach Thomas Didymus, either the boys or girls team has seen at least one player make it to states, sometimes both.

“This year, overall … we should have a very big team at states and make it to the top,” Didymus said. “At least on the boys side there should be a top seven finisher.”

The team has put a lot of work into preparing for this season, both on and off the track.

“Every day I practice, even if it’s in my room doing a little imaginary run,” sophomore Creflo Cherry said. “I’m out here every day, trying to perfect it. By senior year I wish to break the school long jump record.”

The team is confident in its abilities to hit its goals for the season.

“I think there’s a high level of trust because we all know with the other branch of track and field it’s really hard for us to win,” sophomore Avondre Walters said.

The team ran in its first meet Feb. 22.