The Pony Express Center Hill High School, 13250 Kirk Road, Olive Branch MS 38654
February 2020 Volume 3, Issue 4
Class 5A State Champs
Boys soccer wins first state title in school history D
By Sarah Claire Miller Staff Writer
efining a season described by one player as the most beautiful in his life, boys soccer won their first state title in school history Feb. 8. “All happiness exploded after the last whistle,” said center midfielder Kuba Maszkiewicz, a sophomore Maszkiewicz exchange student from Poland who was the
Read a Q&A with head coach Andrew Yeoman at chhsponyexpress.com. first to score for the Mustangs in their 2-1 victory over Long Beach. The Class 5A state championship match was played at Brandon High School. After a scoreless first half, Long Beach made the first goal. Head coach Andrew Yeoman said he knew going in that the Bearcats were a great defensive team – they had only been scored on four times all year – and for the second half his Mustangs had to change their offense to overcome their opponent’s strong defense.
“The message at halftime was to take less touches and pass the ball more,” Yeoman said. “When you dribble more than pass it allows the defense more time to set in and be compact. We also had the ball in dangerous spots in the first half but failed to get a shot off so we wanted to see them test the goalkeeper more.” Long Beach was the first to score with a little more than 16 minutes to go in the second half. Maszkiewicz’s goal about a minute later tied the game 1-1. “That was our team’s answer to their goal,” Maszkiewicz said. “Everyone was getting crazy but we See Soccer, page 3
Photo by Roben Nobles/CHHS Yearbook Members of the boys soccer team celebrate after winning the Class 5A state championship Feb. 8. Diego Valenzuela, second from left, scored the winning goal.
Jimenez, DuVall reign over Winterfest S
By Trinity Waldrip Staff Writer
eniors Breanne Jimenez and David DuVall were crowned Winterfest Queen and King Jan. 24, highlighting a week of festivities that also brought Center Hill’s defeat of Lafayette 107-31. “It’s just a real honor to be selected,” DuVall said. “I was expecting Taylor (Williams) to win or Diego (Valenzuela).” Jimenez said DuVall she’s always wanted to be Winterfest queen. “I was really honored that the
Photo by Jose Esquivel Breanne Jimenez reacts after being crowned Winterfest Queen Jan. 24. She and King David DuVall reigned over Winterfest, a weeklong celebration that included dress-up days, a pep rally and a 107-31 basketball win against Lafayette.
whole school nominated me to be their queen,” she said. Winterfest Sweethearts and Beaus, representing clubs and
organizations, were presented during halftime of the girls basketball game. The Lady Mustangs lost to the Lady
Commodores 81-35. Staff Writer Micheal Feild contributed to this story.
Check out more Winterfest photos at chhsponyexpress.com.
Glasses correct students’ color blindness T Photo by Sarah Claire Miller Wearing special glasses, senior Ethan Ratcliff is able to see the red, green, blue, purple and pink in the art piece held by Whitney Lantrip, who used a $350 grant to buy the glasses.
By Sarah Claire Miller Staff Writer
he world just got more vivid for Josh Polk and Ethan Ratcliff. The seniors, both of whom are color blind, can now see all colors clearly thanks to special glasses their art teacher bought. “That one pair of glasses changed the lives of two students,” said Whitney Lantrip, who purchased the pricey eyewear with a $350
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grant from Northcentral Electric Power Association. “They are now able to wear the glasses to see true colors as they have never before been able to see.” Ratcliff said he was in kindergarten or first grade when he found out he was color blind, but the condition has never been difficult to deal with. “I’ve always loved being color blind just because it’s something that makes me unique,” he said.
“But normal things aside, from if something is solely color based, it doesn’t really affect me that much.” The type of color blindness Ratcliff has is Strong Deutan, which is another name for red-green color blindness. “Essentially what it is, is a lot of colors look exactly the same, like I can’t tell the differences between them,” he said. “Red and green See Glasses, page 2