The
JOURNAL Decatur High School • 750 E Eagle Summit Dr • Decatur, TX 76234 October 2012 • Volume 18 Issue 1 • www.decaturjournal.com
Read Omar Torres ’ story page 16
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INSIDE
Staffer reflects on cafeteria behavior during lunch
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Omar Torres produces, directs short films
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Tyler Story back on the field
Cafeteria crowded during lunch p.4 New late work policy p.6 Russell Cross out for the season p.8 Akchin, new soccer coach p.9
2 Inside
photos by Allie Davis
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Future musicians, Anastatis band and others
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Dalton Worthington in karate GeoCaching, the new treasure hunt New student from Germany Forged by Fire
p.11 p.18 p.20 p.24
No throwing food at each other. I shake my head sickened by their behavior. I ignore them until the piece of meat flies straight by my ear. I turn back around with an evil glare. “Pick all that trash up,” I tell them calmly. They look at me as if I am joking. “Clean it up,” I say again a little more harshly. “Why? I didn’t do it. Plus, it’s not my job,” a young boy has the decency to answer back. I almost explode right then and there. “A janitor is not your mother. She is not paid to clean up after your mess. If I were you, I would clean that up,” I say as evenly as I can manage. “Ooooh,” the rest of his group started chanting. He pretends that I never said a word and walks away with his group right behind him. They leave the table a mess of pizza crusts here, a spill over there and meat all over the floor.
left behind
Staffer reflects on cafeteria behavior during lunch by Angelica Lopez
Then I was running through the hallways, no older than six or seven years. It was getting dark outside, but my mom wasn’t finished. No she wasn’t a teacher but something more valuable in the running of a school: a janitor. Yes my mom was the one who made sure that the school always stayed clean. She picked up after everyone else. I always thought of it like a mom for the school. I loved roaming the halls as she checked them and turned the lights off for the night. At that age, I never realized all the hard work she needed to get done. My mom isn’t the only person who worked as a janitor; my aunts did also. Now I walk through the lunchroom, a regular day, food being thrown around, boys playing around, girls chatting away 100 mph; yes just a regular day. Nobody sees the lady going table-to-table wiping each one down, the lady with the broom picking up food that was dropped, or the lady mopping up spills. These ladies, our janitors, are a fundamental part of our school day. I’m sitting at lunch, chatting with my friends when I see pieces of food flying across the room. I look around searching for the culprit, yet I see no one. I turn my attention back to my friends when in the corner of my eye I see another piece fly. I quickly spin around and catch a group of boys
WHEN GIVEN AN INCH, DON’T TAKENEWAAPPROPRIATE MILE DRESS CODE POLICY STAFF EDITORIAL
Later I don’t like knowing that some of our students abuse the fact that we have janitors who do their job very well. We need to keep our school clean and tidy, because let’s face it, we spend more time there than our own houses. The faculty needs to enforce more cafeteria rules to try and put a stop to these shenanigans, but also the students have the duty to speak up as well. If you see students leaving trash behind or littering, tell administration. Keep our school clean; help the janitors and pick up after yourself!
In order to maintain consistency with the middle school, the administration changed the school dress code policy this year. The new policy is appropriate for our students and teachers. Before the new policy, it stated that shorts, skirts, or dresses have to be to the knee length. Now, shorts and dresses can be above the knee, but past the fingertips. Changing the policy to past the fingertips gives more leeway to students and teachers with shorts or skirts above the knee. It’s gives us a few more inches to work with. For example,
photo by Allie Davis
ladies wear dresses that are usually right above the knee; now with the new policy they won’t be forced to change because they are in dress code and still appropriate. As high school students, we should be responsible enough to follow school policies. We don’t need to lose the administration’s trust by wearing shorts or skirts too short. The school provided us this year with a new policy that is fair to all; don’t ruin it. As long as we follow
the new policy and don’t push our limits, the dress code change will reflect on a positive outcome. Changing the dress code from the knee to past the fingertips was a risky step the campus made. With the trust and responsibility of the students, we can show the administration they made a positive choice in changing the dress code policy.
Staff Vote 14 of 16
Opinion 3
Cafeteria CROWDEDNESS
During lunch, tables are found empty, and chairs are taken to other tables. Photo by Allie Davis
Various students sit on floor during lunch
by Nancy Torres Fifth period, the class before lunch and everyone starves for food. Student’s best solution is to make more space in the cafeteria. But The bell rings and everybody starts to run out the door, especially crowded tables are not the only reason why students sit on the floor. the ones on the third floor. Upperclassmen go off, while others de“It’s the student’s choice to sit on the floor,” sophomore Dianna cide to stay and eat what the cafeteria offers. Martinez said. “If they put more tables up because there are no empHowever, when it gets to lunch, the battle of finding empty tables ty ones, there would be no more room to go around.” awaits. The decision of a table or the floor is fine either way to students “It’s hard to go around the cafeteria when there’s a bunch of stu- who get used to the cafeteria floors. dents on one table,” sophomore Kristen Ediger said. “I don’t think there are more students this year than the previous Students who don’t find year,” counselor Neal Hall said, chairs decide to sit on the “but I usually see 20 or more floor as their second choice. people sitting on the floor, just It ’s hard to go around the cafeteria when “I just sit on the floor depending on the day.” there ’s a bunch of students on one table. because it’s better and less Going to the first floor of the -Kristen Ediger, sophomore crowded,” Ediger said. “The school during lunch, students cooler kids sit on the floor.” usually sit out on the rotunda Going to lunch and finding and outside as an alternative. no place to sit creates reactions of students sometimes annoyed or “Students are allowed to go downstairs to the first floor and sit even angry, however, there,” Mr. Hall said. “They can even go outside but they shouldn’t “I think it’s crowded more this year than last year because there’s take food or horse around.” no ZAP,” senior Allison Blackney said. Just because students sit on the floor doesn’t mean that there is a Things such as vending machines take up space. lack of chairs or tables. They choose to sit where they want from the “I think there should be an extension of the cafeteria, maybe pro- rotunda in the first floor, outside, in the cafeteria or just on the floor. viding tables outside,” said Blackney, “and even take out the conces- Faculty can’t change their minds about preferring to sit on tables. sion stand and put tables there for it to be less crowded.” “Every year the student body just seems to get bigger though.”
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LngEluSnch U R E H T G IN G ki or N w ’s A ar CH licy replaces last ye
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d teache trators an is r. in New late work po s m d a , on chool yea Cros r on vacati ct the upcoming s la e ch late e m n a m h lu u g s ic kin eir pa by M would im at the wor ts spent th t year,
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What do you think about the new late work policy
“I think it’s weird, because den arned th y, which used las c le y li c n o li o p While stu o o a p ly s it used to take off 30 points e n e k or on tim working o ool, ever y , the late w in homework in a h h c c s n to lu on the first day, but now it d g their time e rn ts return t. Workin failed to tu sired results. y e th As studen s no longer in effec only takes off ten,” sophomore if n e de ntio cy wa to make a lunch dete m didn’t produce th d d Mark Harle said. a n h e e tt work poli a w tudents to , last year’s progra r, therefore fo g in k o required s ly lo nfortunate cident. s we were “I like it better because ZAP nch on ac rk somemanner. U ’t getting the result McCollum said. lu g in k r o n ar’s w heila to ma e S took up a lot of time,” junior s y l r t a e s h “We were ip c la c a in in te y for laced s tant Pr p a is e y s s ll s a a A n w Alex Fernandez said. ,” io e it ccas use chang a comyear beca , nts were o t e d . s e d n la ir o tu s n s ls e , o io d o s h Als onfu a Nic veness as work s a lot of c nior Laur “I think it’s better because uch effecti ge the late n m a s h a c “There wa n accident,” said ju w to o h n not s 013 ecisio o d to -2 g e 2 d in you get to hang out with your 1 e s th 0 v is e 2 ro d e m p a th dm nch thing hed before rs met an orking lu is w to n friends at lunch and you lose a e fi tr s th a is r w e in Aft and adm st spring hers and c la less points, ” sophomore Felix a n te a g f e o b e mitte y. policy c li is ti o s th p ia s n w u Guerrero said. o e th en ork ley said en policy. W towards th w a s e F d e u li it Ju tt a re ar. sophomo w positive school ye blems “I think I like it better,” lready sho the ZAP program,” a ts n e gnize pro d o c Stu re n a to th le r e b a tt sophomore Lourdes Perez e re b a ’s ey “I think it affected, th up o re g a said. t s h rd ig a m nd cally. rading sta failure rate ith said. g e s r th e k h c in a th Because te licy. nnifer Sm r it, but I I think it’s better, because will prefe teacher Je po ts h s n w li e e g d n n e tu E s th ,” d s . n a ro A e P s with z r G you get your work done better, e g eir ten vin e teach ent for ha ht affect th are only taking off m ig h “I think th m is n is and ZAP took up a lot of the u th p hers ere is no bout how cause teac e b s r, teachers and students time,” r because th ts are concerned a e e tt b e m r the b n mittee me m o c The stude ect me, it will be fo t sophomore Laura Aguilar said. u b , ed aff e determin d result. b t e “If it does y . t id o a n s n , icholson policy can a more favorable e k on time points,” N veness of the new their wor w o te h le s p l il m o w ti c it The effec students ees hope S employ ome where H said. tc D u s o a e ll iv e as w McCollum a posit l,” e fu b s l s il e c w c su Day 1 “I hope it ill be more w y e th n e -10 because th
Day 2 -20
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NEW ROADS CROSS Thirteen yards. Fourteen yards. Fifteen yards. After receiving his first catch of the season, senior Russell Cross runs toward the end zone when suddenly tackled by a player from Trinity Christian. Teammates cheer for the good run, but the mood suddenly changes as Cross holds his knee rolling in pain. “It felt like my knee got slammed in a car door,” Cross said. Each player takes a knee, as Cross lays surrounded by coaches and trainers. Fans clap as he is transferred to a table to be checked out by sport medicine surgeon, Dr. Scott Hrnack. Trembling with pain, Cross doesn’t expect the news that is waiting for him. “I was nervous for him; I wanted him to be okay,” senior, Jared Durdon said. Shorty after being checked out, Cross was told that he tore his MCL and ACL. He covers his face and sheds a few tears; he wouldn’t be able to play anymore. “The worst feeling is knowing I can’t play football; I can deal with the knee pain,” Cross said. Later that night, Cross went to the hospital to control his pain. “I was concerned about him; he is my best friend,” senior Ethan Currin said. “Russell is a big part of the team, I will miss making plays and memories with him every game.”
by Macen Stripling
Close friends and family of Cross visit him at his house. No one knows his injury or when he will recover. “I saw the same thing happen to Tyler a year ago on that same field,” head football Coach Kyle Story said. Football is important to Cross. Even though he cannot, play he will support his team every Friday night from the sidelines.
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be there; the next guy has to step up,” Story said. A week later, on Friday morning, Cross faced his first surgery to unwrap his MCL from his meniscus and anchor it back to his bone. For now, Cross uses crutches and a long brace to help him move around. “Doing every-day things has become challenging,” he said. In two months, he will have a second surgery to fix his ACL. Between now and then he will remain busy with doctor appointments and physical therapy. “I won’t be fully recovered for eight months,” Cross said. Missing school became hard for Cross. Not seeing his friends and catching up with his work is difficult. He has a long road of healing ahead of him. “We hope he has a good recovery and we have been praying for him,” Story said. Story has dealt with many injuries throughout his coaching career and hopes the boys will always try their best. Cross has a strong support group standing behind him. “Those things happen to people who can handle it; God never gives you something you can’t handle,” Story said.
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“The worst feeling is knowing I can’t play football; I can deal with the knee pain.” - Senior Russell Cross said
“He has taught me to play my hardest in every play because you never know when that can be taken away,” Durdon said. Players have been rotated around to fill in where Cross is taken out. Eddie Martinez was moved up from JV to help occupy the wide receiver position. Clark Allen is playing the punting position Cross played. “You never know when someone isn’t going to
At the first home football game against Trinity Christian, senior Russell Cross lays on the trainer table waiting for the news after his injury to the ground. Photo courtesy of Shnelle Jones.
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CROSS INJURED, OUT FOR SEASON
After senior Russell Cross was injured during the first home football game, he watches the game against Burkburnett Sept. 14 from the sideline with sophomore Macen Stripling. Photo by Allie Davis.
Akchin appointed as new soccer coach
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by Hutch Cheyne
I’m very excited. I love the sport and it is a chance to spread my passion and joy to boys who share the same passion and joy.
his January the Eagles one week later,” Akchin said. “He soccer team will welsaid I had raw talent that needed come a new face. to be molded.” That new face isn’t a As the regular season was new superstar midfielder or coming to a close and the post outside striker, but instead season was firing up Akchin a superstar coach. While in was on top of the world just his classroom he is known three days before he was to simply as Mr. Akchin but sign his National Letter of -Sean Akchin, soccer coach this soccer season he will Intent to American, when add head soccer coach to his rethe worst-case scenario presume. sented itself. “I’m very excited,” said Akchin. “I love “I went up for a corner kick, got pinned the sport and it is a chance to spread my pasby two defenders and my teammate fell, rolled sion and joy to boys who share the same passion and clipped my legs out from under me,” he said. and joy.” The resulting injury was a torn MCL and meniscus Having never coached soccer before, this will be his rookand it all ended his hopes of playing at the next level. ie season as a coach. However this will not be his first go round “They told me that they were no longer offering the scholaron the soccer field. ship but that I could try to walk on if I wanted to,” he said. “I played basketball until sophomore year and I realized I After a complete rebuild of his knee his perspective journey in wasn’t growing, so I went to soccer,” said Akchin. life took a different path. Soccer introduced itself to Akchin at the age of seven when the “I learned having a back-up plan was good. Athletics is not World Cup came to the US; ever since then he has been hooked. always going to be there,” Akchin said. “When I was seven, the World Cup came to the US and that His back-up plan was a full paid academic scholarship to Tuwas my first introduction,” he said. lane University in New Orleans, LA where he graduated with While playing for the Episcopal High School Knights in Baton three different majors in 2007. Initially coming to DHS as a math Rouge, LA, Akchin started at defensive midfield during his junior teacher, he never thought he would have a chance to coach soccer. and senior seasons. By way of fate during those two years ,he was Although he has yet to meet the players he will coach, plenty recruited by the prestigious American University in Washington of the new hopefuls have already formed opinions about Akchin. D.C. as a defensive mid fielder. “I think it will be good to have a coach with great experience “The (American) coach came to scout my friend and I playing soccer,” said freshman Hunter Helm. ended up having a really good game so he came back District soccer games for Akchin’s Eagles starts Feb. 8th.
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The karate kid Junior takes martial arts classes, trains for UFC by Katelynn Cimini
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I never really planned on becoming a black belt, but last year I started paying more attention to it because I realized it ’s what I love to do and it ’s my true passion. -Dalton Worthington, junior
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At ten years old, junior Dalton Worthington’s was introduced into the world of martial arts. He is currently working on his black belt in several types of martial arts including Brazilian Jiu Jistu, Aikido and JKD. “I never really planned on becoming a black belt but last year I started paying more attention to it,” Dalton said. “I realized it’s what I love to do and it’s my true passion.” It takes getting used to becoming a black belt. “At first I was kind of nervous because I didn’t really know what to do,” Dalton said, “but after the first class I caught on extremely fast.” Everyday he trains with his instructor refining his technique. “Training is really fun. I love it,” Dalton said. “I get really depressed if I miss a day of training.” Training to become a black belt consists of everyday practice and coordination. It involves striking, kicking and punching while also using the elbows and knees, similar to wrestling. Right now he only trains, but does not compete. “I have an offer to go fight in a gym in Abilene after I graduate. After I get done I plan on moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico and eventually getting into the Ultimate Fighters Championship or UFC,” Dalton said. He plans to wait to start his training after graduation so he doesn’t damage his face during school. Right now he trains in Abilene, but at one time Dalton sparred with the middleweight contender of Abilene’s gym. He plans to continue this skill and eventually making it a career in the UFC. “School’ not my favorite. I can’t really imagine myself getting a normal job and going to school to get a degree,” Dalton said. Once Dalton turns eighteen he plans on traveling around the country to get into a fight to get a higher ranking and eventually enter into the UFC. Dalton’s friends have high hopes for him and believe he will go far. “I believe Dalton will do incredible,” junior Cody Fisher said. “He has the will power of a champion and he’s so dedicated to it. He is willing to give up everything to pursue it and I will be there to support him the whole way.”
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A new chapter to the story Senior Tyler Story after his first emergency artery surgery. The football in Story’s hand was signed by team members. Story and senior Ben Blattner in their victory cheer. This was Story’s first pep ralley since the injury. Photos by Teena Story
Senior varsity football player makes comeback by Madeline Peña Thirteen months ago, senior Tyler Story watched his varsity football team Brazile and trainer Fernando Escobar. play from the sidelines. This year, Story made a decision to write a new “The job they did with Tyler’s rehab was unbelievable,” Kyle Story said. “At chapter. one point the doctors wanted to clip his Achilles tendon. If the surgery had “I always had the idea of returning to football,” he said. “We visited my gone through, then it would have been another six-week recovery. Because doctor (Daniel Cooper) and he asked me ‘What do you want to do?’ and I of the great physical therapy Tyler had, the procedure wasn’t necessary.” told him I wanted to play football again.” Tyler continued to see Cooper for follow-up appointments. The idea of On a home game against Gainesville, Sep. 2, 2011, Story took a direct returning to football came about on June 9. Cooper wanted to wait another hit to his right kneecap that hyper-extended backward 30-40 degrees. The two months to discuss his possible comeback. On Aug. 15, Tyler took a twofollowing Saturday morning, an MRI hour fitness test to determine whether or not showed two torn ligaments. Tyler vishe had a future in football. ited Cooper, the orthopedic doctor of “Basically the test compared the strength the Dallas Cowboys football team, five between what my right ankle could do with days after his injury. Cooper said Tyler my left one,” he said. -Teena Story needed immediate attention to a clotted Cooper said Tyler was physically able to artery that prevented blood flow to his play football. foot. His leg was even at risk for amputa“Most people didn’t want me to play,” he tion. said. “They would say things like ‘Are you really sure about what you’re get“At the time, we were concerned that he wouldn’t even be able to walk ting into?’, but I’m not scared to play again.” again,” Tyler’s mother Teena Story said. “He’s truly a walking miracle and I Tyler’s parents support his decision, however, they continue to worry want God to have the glory for that.” throughout every game. During Tyler Story’s recovery, members of the community worked to“I hold my breath when he’s out there,” Teena Story said. “I just pray to gether to organize fundraisers and benefits to help pay for any medical costs God as each play continues.” and to show their support. Students sent cards and the Chamber of ComKyle Story has a new perspective on varsity football games. merce hosted a silent auction of autographed sports items from local teams “I used to get upset about embarrassing defeats, but then I think about to NFL. Tyler and how grateful we are that he’s even walking,” he said. “The community outreach was incredible,” Tyler’s father and head footTyler quickly returned to August two-a-days. ball coach Kyle Story said. “It’s really eye-opening to see people care enough “Getting back into football is tough because I have a hard time accepting to raise money.” that I’m not as physically well as I used to be,” he said. The family anticipated that Tyler would never play football again. Their On the third game against Springtown, Sept. 7, Tyler played for the first main concerns involved Tyler regaining mobility. For the rest of the semes- time since his injury. Channel 8 WFAA filmed a segment on his recovery ter, he stayed home to rehabilitate his leg. He later had a final knee surgery that same day. on Jan. 17, keeping him home an additional five weeks to recover. “A friend of ours emailed Ted Madden (WFAA news reporter), and told “When I first started walking, my ankle swelled up like a baseball and it him Tyler’s story,” Kyle Story said. “We got a call saying that he wanted to took me about three or for weeks to get used to walking again,” he said. come out and tell his story.” He returned to school a week before Spring Break. After high school, Tyler plans to pursue a career in aviation. For now, he “When I came back to school, it felt like being a new student,” he said. “I is living a lifelong dream. lost a lot of touch with my friends and I had new classes; I just wasn’t used “I’ve grown up wanting to be a varsity football player my entire life,” he to going back.” said. “I’m really grateful that I’ll be able to finally play.” After school, Tyler went to therapy sessions with physical therapist Brett To view Tyler’s WFFA coverage, please visit decaturjournal.com.
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He ’s truly a walking miracle.
“They would say things like ‘Are you really sure about what you ’re getting into? ’, but I ’m not scared to play again, ” senior Tyler Story said.
Photo by: Allie Davis
Music is an arrt that lives andd prospeers throughout the geenerationns. With every new deccade coomes neew sounnds andd broaddening hoorizons. The paassion for finding a personnal souund or style is a key eleement too anyonne wantting to make itt big and be heard onn the raddio. Asppiring musicianns like seeniors Austin Johnsoon and Dakota Burns know exactly the upss and thhe downs to beeing a part of thhe musiical artss. by Jackie Trujillo
Q: Do you play any specific instruments or do you just do vocals?
Q: Are you working on an album? If so, when will it come out?
Dakota: “I sing and play the guitar, ukulele, banjo and bass. ”
Dakota: “Yes I am. It ’ll come out whenever I write enough songs for it. ”
Austin: “I play guitar and piano. ”
Austin: “I ’m working on a mix tape and hopefully it ’ll come out real soon. ”
Q: Do you have your own YouTube channel/specific Facebook page/website/online profile?
Q: Who is your musical idol?
Dakota: “No. ”
Dakota: “I don ’t really have an idol. ”
Austin: “Just my own personal Facebook. ”
Austin: “Afroman. ”
Q: What are some places where you ’ve performed/ will perform?
Q: What genres of music do you write/sing?
Dakota: “I play a lot around Wise County like Frilly ’s, Bono ’s, and Reunion on the Square. ”
Dakota: “Mostly country. ”
Austin: “Club Chrome in Fort Worth and Club Afterlife. ”
Austin: “I do hip-hop, a little bit of rock, some country. I kind of want to get a song on every radio station; that ’s my goal. ”
Q: What motivated you to start your own music? Q: Do you have a stage name? Dakota: “I just wanted to be good at something that not everybody else was doing. I wanted it to be different. ” Austin: “When I was younger I always had a big interest in music and I would write poetry a lot. Then whenever I was 13 I went to a Lil ’ Wayne concert and I had VIP passes and I went to the back and it was so big. And I looked out to the crowd and there were so many people and I was like ‘this is what I want to do ’. And I talked to Lil ’ Wayne and I told him I wanted to be a rapper, so he told me to just start spitting. I started free styling and I ’ve liked it ever since. ” Q: Is music something you ’ve always wanted to do? Dakota: “Yeah. I ’ve been playing since I was nine years old. So I ’ve been at it for awhile. ” Austin: “I ’ve wanted to do music from when I was about eight years old. ” Q: Are you currently signed/getting signed by a record label? Dakota: “None. ” Austin: “Young and Reckless in LA, California. “
14 Feature
Dakota: “No. I just use my regular name. ” Austin: “AMJ. ” Q: Is there anything else that you want to do aside from music? Dakota: “I ’m going to go to college and probably be an engineer or something like that. But if I get famous along the way then that would be pretty cool. ” Austin: “I can see myself owning a record label in the future and like, going out and helping people that have absolutely nothing, the way I was.
The heavyy meetal Chrisstian band, Anasstasiss, roocks for a purppose.. Junnior,, Alexx Jennningss, senniorss Scoott Sandderss and Tim Slim mp, and gradduates, Joel Hinson andd Kennzeee Muñooz peerfoorm to reeach a varietyy of crrowdds foor Jeesuss.
by Macky Dailey
Q: What is your goal as a band? Scott: “We ’re taking something used for negative energy and turning it into positive energy. The definition of Hallelujah is to jump and scream wildly which is exactly what we do, except for Christ, instead of letting out aggression and anger. ” Alex: “Just to spread the word of God to kids that are hurting and to hopefully connect to other teenagers. ” Kenzee: “Reaching people with music and trying to be the light in a dark place. ” Joel: “To impact as many people as possible for Jesus Christ. ” Q: What are your personal goals (being in the band)? Tim: “To become a better drummer and to inspire other people. ”
Q: How long have you been playing your instrument? Tim: “I ’ve been in band playing percussion for seven years but I ’ve been playing the drum set for only four. ” Scott: “About a year and a half. ” photos by Allie Davis Alex: “I ’ve been playing guitar for five years now; my uncle gave me a guitar when I was twelve. ” Kenzee: “Eight years, I started playing when I was eleven and I started out playing Johnny Cash and all kinds of country and eventually moved on to metal and I have been getting heavier ever since. ” Q: What do you do to prepare for a concert? Tim: “Warm up my hands by playing rudiments and rhythms. ” Scott: “We all get together and pray before each show which we feel is why things go so smooth. ”
Scott Sanders
Alex: “To do what God sent me out to do, to be a missionary. ” Alex: “Pray. Lots of prayer. ” Kenzee: “Make cool guitar riffs and challenge myself and to Kenzee: “Pray and I usually just kind of breathe, stay determined to make the best music that I possibly can. ” take in the air, and then just kind of jump up and down to get myself pumped up. ” Joel: “To become a vocalist that fans will be able to look up to. To be known as a vocalist that has a relationship with Q: How do you feel on stage? God. ” Tim: “Insane and focused. ” Q: What band is inspirational to you and why? Scott: “Amazing and strangely comfortable Tim: “Avenged Seven Fold ” which we all feel we owe to God. ” Scott: “Impending Doom, because they are innovators for Christians like us who don ’t care what people think and are hard to understand. ”
Alex: “It ’s the best feeling ever. I feel like it ’s my spiritual high; I feel like I ’m completely in the presence of God. ”
Alex: “The main band that inspires me is For Today, because they ’re very bold about their faith and they actually make an effort to connect with their fans and they ’re metal. ”
Kenzee: “I feel sort of nervous but excited and overwhelmed with a vast amount of energy. ”
Kenzee: ”I ’d have to say For Today, because they don ’t just write music for entertainment; they do it for God and they teach people about Christ through their music. ”
Q: Favorite kind of music, why?
Alex Jennings
Kenzee Munoz
Joel Hinson
Tim: “Metal is my favorite because it ’s different and I love playing fast and I love fast guitars. ”
Joel: “My favorite band would probably have to be ‘Volumes ’ Alex: “Metal is one of my favorites but I also because their music is so groovy and their vocalists are very really like jazz and the blues because they are unique. both very diverse and you can do anything with them and metal. ” Q: How long does it take you to practice a song? Kenzee: “Groove metal, because it ’s really Tim: “A song is like two weeks or more because you can bouncy and really cool. It sounds awesome. ” Tim Slimp never play a song perfect. You ’re always perfecting it. ” Joel: “I don ’t have a favorite song but there is a song I ’m in love with Scott: “It takes a day or two depending on the song. ” right now and that ’s ‘Foundation ’ by For Today, because the lyrics are so profound and uplifting. ” Alex: “I ’m always practicing. You can never perfect a song “Anastasis means to me personally that we need because you can never perfect music. ” Kenzee: “It really depends on the song and it ’s genre, but it usually less than a day. ”
to help resurrect this entire generation. ”
-Junior, Alex Jennings
Feature 15
the
s ’ r o t c ire
DCUT
Torres produces, directs short films
by Logan Huff
It all started with n. Saving Private Ryan. -Omar Torres
“It all started with Saving Private Ryan,” said Omar Torres as he explained how he began creating movies. “At the time when I first watched the movie, I wanted to be an actor,” he said. “After watching it three times I was thinking of all the scenarios that could come out in my head. That’s when I wanted to be a director.” Since then, Omar has been making short films. He aspires to be like his favorite directors Stephen Spielberg and Robert Rodriguez, and his inspirational film is Pulp Fiction. Directors have that third eye where they can see an emotion or some word play that ordinary moviegoers might miss. “Yeah I do [have the gift], but I usually try to watch the movie first in the audience’s point of view,” Omar said. If I really like it, I will go back and watch it again with a director’s perspective.” Omar shoots most of the films at his house, but he tries to shoot anywhere he possibly can. In one of his films, Audacious, he shot the movie in the restaurant Casa Torres. “I usually film at my house, but every chance I get to try to film anywhere else,” he said. Scary movies are at the top of the list on the genre Omar writes. He has written many more horror films than anything else. “I prefer to write a bunch of horror films. I think they’re fun to write, and I’ve made more horror films than anything else,” he said. Omar also uses special effects in his films. He learned how by watching videos on YouTube, and just practicing and honing his skills. He has used those abilities to help him in David Park’s video editing class, as well. “I’ve seen a lot of things he’s made in my class,” Coach Park said. “He has a very creative mind. A lot of people know how to run a machine, but he has the creativity to bring it all together.” Check out Omar’s YouTube channel where he uploads his productions, at EpicChurro and SecretosProductions.
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The
THRILL
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GeoCache fo
und blank
World wide treasure hunt, GeoCaching by Cristin Morgan
Senior Travis
Log Book
Kyle found a
(left to right) Seniors Ross Prichard, Travis Kyle, Cole Wendling and Garrett Gibson
Treasures fo
und in cache
Seniors Travis Kyle and Cole Wendling
All photos submitted by seniors Cole Wendling, Travis Kyle and Garrett Gibson. All photos are at different geocache sites they have visited this summer.
Seniors Remington May, Cristin Morgan, Cole Wendling, Madeline Pe単a and junior Emily Santos
A hidden ca
che
cache
H
iking through the LBJ Grasslands with a broken GPS, four seniors were lead astray during a hot summer day. Lost in the woods, they walk around for five hours in 110 degrees determined to find the treasure, or what they call a geocache. “We had to hike through these insanely dense woods,” Cole Wendling said. “After about two miles into the woods we found this tiny little capsule that was hanging from a tree, and we read the new coordinates from the tiny capsule. We thought we were at the geocache but we weren’t.” Wendling and his friends, Garrett Gibson, Travis Kyle and Ross Prichard continue through the woods to find the next clue, or what they hoped to be the geocache. “We weren’t leaving until we got the cache,” Kyle said. As they continue on their long adventure, they run into a giant thorn covered brush that lasted, what seemed like, a mile. “It was super hot and we didn’t have any water,” Wendling said. “We were all bleeding and all of our arms and legs looked like cutting boards. We thought we were all going to die. We finally made it to the geocache, and we signed our name in blood. We were so angry at it but we got the geocache and we got the smiley and that is the important part.” Geocaching is an online treasure game, where anyone can go onto the geocaching website, geocaching.com, and get coordinates on how to find treasures hidden around your community. Then these treasures can consist of trackable items and trade items, and they range in level difficulty and terrain. “It’s a pretty cool thing to do for the challenge aspect of it,” Wendling said. “Plus, you get a lot of cool little prizes.” Once the geocacher has the coordinates plugged into their iphone app or a GPS, they then drive toward the location of the hidden cache. “When you get within a certain radius, about 60 feet, you get out of your car and start searching for it,” Kyle said. “It could be under a rock or in a tree. Then you sign the log book and put a little prize in it and take something out for you.” The caches are all different sizes and shapes. There are three categories it can fit in and that is: large, moderate, micro. The large is a trash can size, the regular is a lunch box size and the micro is a film canister that usually consists of just the log book to sign, where as the other two sizes include prizes in each cache. “Geocaching is like a discovery,” Gibson said. “You get to go to different landscapes and find the cache, then find something rewarding inside.” Once the geocache is found the geocacher is allowed to take one item and keep it, but they also must put something different back in the cache for someone else
to find. An interesting object Kyle found was a bentley watch. “It was a fake, but we looked it up online and if it were real it would have been worth $30,000,” Kyle said. Gibson has found some fascinating things as well, but he has also put back some amusing objects. “I found a pair of sunglasses once in a geocache,” Gibson said. “I have also found a shark tooth necklace. The coolest thing I put back was a What-A-Burger number sign or a key chain of a little beach from Mexico.” From inside a tree, to under a rock, in a firehydrant, even in a lamp post, geocaches are hidden everywhere. Wendling has found 86 since the beginning of summer, Gibson at least 40, and Kyle around 50. These boys aren’t the only ones who find geocaches in our school. The new psychology teacher, Konstance
“It ’s a good ole recreational activity that you can do with your friends, mom, grandma, anyone. ” -Travis Kyle Thompson does as well. “I didn’t learn about geocaching until January,” Thompson said. “They take you to really cool places that you may have not known were there; that is what got me hooked. One of the caches I found was in Coffman at a veteran cemetery.” There is more to geocaching than just the treasure hunt. One of the main reasons it got started was to clean the environment while having fun. “Caching makes you feel connected to the community, because you are solving a puzzle that someone else left for you to find, and while hunting and following clues, you pick up trash too to help the environment,” Thompson said. “I always leave something behind, such as an earring or friendship bracelet, that I can recognize later and remember if I find it again in a different cache.” Once a person has gone to the website and signed up as an official cacher, they are ready to begin the hunt. “My favorite part about geocaching is anyone can do it, it’s easy to pick up, and it is a modern treasure hunt,” Wendling said.
Guide to start the game: 1. Browse: Search for interesting geocaches 2. Discover: Explore the world as you search for the cache using a GPS device or smartphone app. 3. Share: Share your experience with other treasure seekers. There are 1,899,758 active geocaches and over five million geocachers worldwide. www.geocaching.com
Senior Cole Wendling finds treasure in a geocache.
Feature 19
Aiming for new Goals German student moves to America for second time
by Noehlia Ortiz
“It is very country here; the school system is a little different. It ’s a pretty hard school, ”
-Alina Riebel
photo by Allie Davis
She lived in South Carolina for five years, then moved to a completely new place. Freshman Alina Riebel came to Decatur August 28 from Heidelberg,Germany. Her family moved here because of her dad. “My mom and I are German and my dad is American,” Riebel said. “My dad lived in Texas for a year with the job that he has now, and when I came to visit him, I asked my parents if we could live here,” Riebel said. She lived in South Carolina for five years before moving to Germany and going to an all-girl school. “It is very country here; the school system is a little different. It’s a pretty hard school,” Riebel said.“ In Germany we only had one classroom. We had an A and a B class and the teacher was the one who switched classrooms; we were like one class.” Alina speaks both German and English fluently. In Germany she took English class. “I hate English. It’s pretty hard here; in Germany it was easier,” she said. Other than not liking English or English class, Riebel enjoys some of her new classes and teachers. “My favorite class would probably be geography because the teacher is pretty funny. I have Coach Jones,” Riebel said.
Some of Alina’s favorite teachers are science teacher Evan Baierlipp and math teacher Kacee Goggins. “They’re my favorite because they’re very nice. And because I don’t understand everything, they explain it to me again,” she said. Alina has made some friends in Decatur. “I wanted to get to know her because she was from Germany,” freshman Joanna Chavez said. “She’s pretty cool. We became friends in math class. She asked me if I could help her on a paper and I guess that’s when we became friends.” Alina enjoys the pep rallies and football games. “I liked the Hawaiian theme. We don’t have cheerleaders or football players. I went to an all-girl school so it was a little different,” she said. Currently not involved in any extra-curricular activities, Alina plans to try out for the soccer team. “From what I know and heard about Alina, I think she’ll be a great influence on the team,” girls soccer coach Stanley Smith said. “I am looking forward to the soccer season and her trying out. I haven’t seen her play but I know she is working out and playing on an elite team in Dallas. It will be nice to have someone with experience like hers on the team.”
INJURED... REHABBED...
BACK IN THE GAME. Saturday Injury clinics
Free to athletes who may be injured or with aches and pains. Our Licensed Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists are available most Saturday mornings 8-11 a.m. at Fit-NWise Rehabilitation to evaluate and treat athletic injuries. Physicians are also available to HYDOXDWH PRUH VLJQL¿FDQW LQMXULHV RU VXUJLFDO FDQGLGDWHV DQG RUGHU GLDJQRVWLF GLDJQRVWLF tests and treatment options.
WHO ARE WE?
The Fit-N-Wise Sports Medicine program is made up of professionals als with more than 20 years of experience coordinating with coaches and team eam th. physicians to ensure our athletes are at peak performace and health.
Common injuries we treat 0XVFOH VWUDLQV DQG FRQWXVLRQV /LJDPHQWRXV VSUDLQV UXSWXUH &DUWLODJH LQMXU\ ,QWHUQDO derangement ³%XUQHUV 6WLQJHUV´ )UDFWXUHV DQG GLVORFDWLRQV 3RVWXUDO G\VIXQFWLRQ 6RIW WLVVXH G\VIXQFWLRQ 7HQGRQLWLV 7HQGRQRVLV 3RVW VXUJLFDO UHKDELOLWDWLRQ 5RWDWRU &XII UHSDLU %DQNKDUW OHVLRQ $&/ UHFRQVWUXFWLRQ - Meniscus repair - All other related injuries
Meet your athletic trainer
Physical Therapy
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Forged By Fire†
Local churches unite through worship
Junior Brandon Boswell and sophomore Stormi Leonard share testimonies at the county-wide worship celebration.
Local churches in the stands cheer to win one of the many door prizes presented by Coach Casey Jones at Forged by Fire.
Juniors Paige Snow and Paige Dickinson raise their hands, sing along, and praise to God during worship.
Graduate Kenzee Munoz, senior Scott Sanders, and junior Alex Jennings play in the Communinty Church worship band.
Senior Courtney Cantu and Zachary Kao sign to “God of This City,” by Chris Tomlin. photos and page by Allie Davis