Red & Black, August 2014

s hh

hhs

Back to school photo page pg. 13

Beach reviews New year, big changes

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pg. 12

pg. 8-9

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Football update pg. 16 A feminist’s dilemma pg. 5

It’s all in the family

Sibling first day stories pg. 7

& black

Florida’s first high school newspaper Hillsborough High School 5000 N. Central Ave. Tampa, FL 33603 August 2014 hhstoday.com @hhstodayonline Volume 115, No. 1

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2world

hhstoday.com | August 2014

& black Editor-in-Chief

Ellie Rodriguez

Associate Editor

Samantha Votzke

News Editors

Ivy Bennett-Ford Maria Roberts Kathy Xie

Sports Editors

Dana Dinh Daniel Hamilton

Opinion Editors

Annie Aguiar Alyssa Ierna

Entertainment Editor

Vijata Patel

Life Editor

Sarvika Bommakanti

Photo Editors

Katie Frost Aleesha Mundra

Graphics Editor

John Veliz

Staff Writers

Bianca Cegatte Anthony Suarez Monisha Pillai Shelby Shoup

Adviser

Joe Humphrey, MJE

Principal

Johan von Ancken

The Red & Black belongs to the Florida and National Scholastic press associations.

The paper is subject to prior review by school administration.

The staff editiorial reflects the view of student editors and the columns represent the viewpoints of their authors. The R&B welcomes letters from students, teachers and members of the Hillsborough community.

Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity, and should be submitted to Room 506 or to the Red & Black, 5000 N. Central Ave., Tampa, Fla. 33603.

Advertising content is subject to approval of the editorial board. The Red & Black is printed in partnership with The Tampa Tribune. This newspaper includes content from the MCT Campus wire service.

Phone (813) 276-5620; Fax (813) 276-5629; e-mail hhstoday@gmail.com Red & Black: All-Florida, FSPA; First Class, NSPA HHSToday.com, All-Florida, 2013-14

www.hhstoday.com

Israel-Gaza conflict continues, peace talks fail Kathy Xie News Editor All she could hear were bombs exploding in the darkness, wailing ambulances veering through the streets, the terrified sobs of her little sister.

Sixteen-year-old Farah Gazan took a picture of the scene of warfare outside the window of her Gaza home, and posted it on Twitter with the caption: “This is in my area. I can’t stop crying. I might die tonight.”

“The humanitarian needs are very, very big right now.”

—Erika Tovar International Committee of the Red Cross spokesperson

”We see nonviolence and demilitarization as the keys as we move forward.”

—Mark Regev Israeli government spokesperson

“It’s bad that most of the people dying are civilians. The US should intervene more, because they’re only trying to help.”

—Thien Nguyen, 10

*** In recent months, ongoing violence between Israel and Gaza-based militant groups such as the Islamist political organization Hamas has caused many casualties and severe turmoil for citizens of both areas.

The death rate from the warfare has reached almost 2,000, an estimated 72 percent of which are civilians, according to the United Nations.

A history of conflict Even though Israel and Hamas officially went to war during June of this year, political conflict in this area traces back to the early 20th century.

European Jews fleeing persecution at the time wanted to establish their own state in what is now Israel and Palestine – but was then an Arab- and Muslim-majority territory in the British Empire. This was faced with much resistance from the Arabs, who saw the land as rightfully theirs.

Since then, Israel and the surrounding Arab nations have fought many wars over the territory. Today’s territorial lines mostly reflect the outcomes of these wars. The War of 1967 is very important to today’s conflict, as it resulted in Israel obtaining Gaza from Egypt and occupying it.

“Both sides have really good points and problems with each other, but mainly I think they should just calm down.”

—Tani Pittard, 12

What’s causing the fighting now?

The West Bank, a section of land to the east of Israel, and Gaza, a strip of land mostly surrounded by Israel, are two areas almost exclusively populated by Palestinians and the focal point of current fighting.

Today, the West Bank is technically controlled by Palestinian authority and is under Israeli occupation. Gaza is controlled by Hamas, and is under Israeli blockade but not ground troop occupation. There is much tension between the two Palestinian groups and Israel, coupled with a history of political conflict.

The June kidnappings and murders of three Israeli students worsened this tension and conflict and led to an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, the start of the current warfare. Essentially, the recent events were a catalyst on which existing problems were reignited.

Developments On Aug. 10, Israel and Hamas accepted an Egyptian proposal for a 72-hour cease-fire, following a similar one started on August 6 that allowed the two sides to resume negotiations toward a longer-term truce.

According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the cease-fire would allow humanitarian aid into Gaza neighborhoods and the reopening of talks on a more lasting and complete deal.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the Obama administration has been openly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and more inclined to mediate between the Israeli and Palestinian parties rather than to side with one particular group.

“It’s kinda stupid, the fact that they’re blowing each other up.”

—Jimmy Willard, 9

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE

Several events have altered the political sphere of Russia and Ukraine in past months

21

July 14: Ukraine and Russia sign treaty annexing Crimea to the Russian Federation

Casualties: 298

FIRE power

58%

Ukraine Russia

se

of Crimean citizens selfidentify as

Military expenditures

$20.1 billion $90.3 billion

RUSSIAN Active personnel

90,000 units 766,000 units

376 units

Ships

68 units

Aircrafts

2,143 units

210 units

Aircrafts

Information provided by globalfirepower.com and ukrcensus.gov.ua

Global girls

Graphics by John Veliz

Art center for troubled teens opens in Tampa

Amber Shemesh Opinion Editor What was once a center using art as therapy for troubled girls has expanded into a facility for girls around Tampa to join.

Upon entering The Centre for Girls, one is greeted by artwork-covered walls, pottery-adorned stands and workers who are eager to assist.

With an entire room dedicated to twodimensional artwork and another for clay, girls ages five to 14 have a creative outlet at the center.

The Centre provides a “safe ha-

ven for all girls, regardless of their background,” said Gaby Perham, who works at the facility.

Perham spent her summer in search for a job at a nonprofit organization with a “sophisticated art program.” Her three daughters spent two weeks at the center and “loved it,” which encouraged Perham to pursue the career.

Despite the limited space, the facility utilizes its lack of

August 2014 | hhstoday.com

Ethnic genocide in Iraq

March

Malaysian flight shot down by Russian-supplied missle fired by rebels

world 3

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Fast stats:

space as much as they can. Using the empty space in the front yard, the staff has plans of starting a vegetable garden to teach the girls about nutrition.

The centre hopes that even the storage room will be turned into a playroom for the girls.

Graphic

by Amber Shemesh

Ivy Bennett-Ford News Editor Iraqi Christians and an Islamic group known as the Yazidi are currently being persecuted by terrorists in northeastern Iraq. The terrorists, known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), believe carrying out the genocide of the Yazidi is their jihad. A jihad is a personal, often religious struggle; though the word stems from Muslim tradition, it has come to be associated with terrorism.

Though the majority of Iraqi Muslims are Sunni, the country is led by minority Shia. Yazidi who do not reside in northeastern Iraq have been rounded up, destined for death or possible enslavement. Iraqi Christians have supposedly been given the option to convert to Islam.

Yet, potential victims of the onslaught disagree.

“They will kill us,” said one Iraqi Christian to the BBC World Service as she fled her home. “They will rape us.”

The woman, condemned for her way of life, posed an important question: “What century are we in?”

Though Iraqi Christians have been given the option to convert, Yazidi men have been massacred on spot, while Yazidi women have reportedly been rounded up for slavery or rape. Reports cannot be confirmed.

When Saddam Hussein came to power in 1979, Iraq returned to an exclusively maleKurdish fighters protect the main highway between Kurdish occupied Kirkuk and the capital of the Kurdish Regional Government in Irbil. (Michell Prothero/MCT)

dominated Muslim society, where it had once been a haven for intellectualism, art and science for both men and women.

Yet as the regime took affect and Iraqi society changed, centuryold tribal feuds flared up again.

Throughout Iraq’s political history, the United States has played a part in the overseas theater of war. In the 1990s, the US led a coalition against Iraq after the Middle Eastern county’s invasion of Kuwait. After 9/11, the U.S. reinserted itself into Iraqi politics in order to unseat its then leader, Hussein.

Though President Barack Obama began recalling troops from the Middle East during his first term, US involvement has returned to the region. The government authorized air strikes and aid drops over Mt. Sinjar for a brief period of time in August, ending on Aug. 14 when they were able to break the siege on the mountaintop and rescue many Yazidi from the region. However, fighting between Kurdish soldiers and ISIS insurgents restarted on Aug. 16, and air strikes were again implemented.

Though the aid drops have ceased and the Obama administration says US workers on Iraqi ground should begin to return home in the next few days, many Iraqi officials believe the Yazidi and Christians are still in danger.

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4opinion

editorial

hhstoday.com | August 2014

We can’t forget our freshmen

Freshies, fresh meat, babies, little people. Freshmen. No matter what we call them they are a part of our school.

On the first day of school a teacher can spot the awkward sophomores searching for their friends, the bored juniors already counting down the days until summer and the tired seniors who were up late the night before finishing summer homework at the last minute.

But often our little freshmen go unnoticed. As the lowest members of the food chain freshmen can be forgotten or ignored.

By the first day of senior year many students already have their eyes on graduation. Tired of sitting in classrooms, following dress code and wak-

ing up before seven seniors are ready to graduate on the first day. With this in mind it seems unreasonable to assume all (or most) of Hillsborough’s leaders are seniors.

On the first day of school the bright eyed kid full of excitement and nervousness isn’t a junior or a sophomore or even a grumpy senior, but he or she is the littlest fish in our huge pond. Freshmen want to be involved, many times more than the other students, because the excitement of high school hasn’t worn off yet. Freshmen should be encouraged to play a bigger role at Hillsborough not pushed to the back burner or viewed as second class citizens.

Club leaders and sports captains

We can’t forget the significance of our littlest members ... we must invite them to join us in our Terrier pride.

should understand that by encouraging their freshmen to play a bigger role in school activities they are fostering the future of their team. Freshmen will be replacing those seniors one day and when that day comes, we should hope that they will want to keep the club alive not watch it crash and burn.

With this in mind freshmen should

also understand that every senior started out as a freshman.

The choices we made freshman year made us who we are as seniors. Don’t just skip out on an activity because you’re afraid or you don’t feel like you’ll make a huge contribution. Those sorts of attitudes create regrets and cause freshmen to miss out on great opportunities for learning and experiences.

As a student body we can’ forget the significance of our littlest members.

Freshmen must take every opportunity but first we must invite them to join us in our Terrier pride. They are the future of our school.

Without them, “Go Big Red” will be a chant without a voice.

Off-limits literature limits students Ivy Bennett-Ford Commentary Imagine a bonfire, lighting the faces of those milling around, contorting them into leering horror-shows. The people observe paper spines entrenched in flames. The people are burning books.

Though we call this the age of information, the brutal and cretinous action of bookburning still exists, and young adults are still prohibited from making informed decisions about their own reading material.

In June of this year, a Wesley Chapel middle school removed John Green’s “Paper Towns” from its summer reading list. Though they have since recanted their initial position, the question posed by their action remains: who gives them the right to take reading away from students?

It has always been the right of a parent or guardian to restrict the reading material of his child for whatever reason, be it religious or ethical. However, there is a certain point at which an American child will encounter the material one way or another: environments

outside the home are impossible to control.

I have spent a lot of time in libraries; I know what it means to have books censored from general consumption. Frankly, it is reprehensible that any one (or two or three or more) figure of authority could censor such mild-mannered children’s literature as “And Tango Makes Three,” (Peter Parnell, Justin Richardson), which so happens to be about two male penguins and their adopted chick.

If something as mild as a story fit for the whole family could be dubbed as material worthy of censure, then what of books with even more controversial subjects? Take Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”, a book set in the rural, racist south. What parents and authority figures object to – the use of racial slurs – better illustrate the factual existence of the ignorant south in the early 20th century.

The book actually exudes triumphant themes of honesty, acceptance and maturity, as they are visited upon Scout, a small white girl.

When a person reads a book, seemingly random themes discussed in the novel will coalesce in the mind and become part of

that person’s education. literature is about life, and though life is not as idyllic as some parents would have their children believe, it isn’t woefully destitute; literature is about the human experience, which is as complex and hopeful as it gets.

The initial debacle associated with “Paper Towns” in Pasco County was attributed to a lack of sex education for one eighth-grade girl and her mother’s response to the book’s presence on a summer reading list.

The incident, so close to the beginning of my school year, has led me to question whether a family really does have the right to control what its children encounter in literature. Are parents really allowed to let their children stumble through adolescence without a certain degree of wisdom, wisdom that they may only be able to find in literature?

This incident has led me to the conclusion that it is simply not OK to censor what appears on a school’s reading list or in its library if the material has been deemed to have literary merit by

teachers. There are too many good books, too many opinions to evaluate as part of growing up, and parents cannot be the only source of information if bias is to be avoided.

The Pasco debacle, unlike incidents of book censorship in the US’s past, has given me hope. In this case, anti-censorship groups made a positive impact on the situation and will consequently allow the middle school students to decide for themselves whether or not “Paper Towns” is worth the struggle, as opposed to parents and authority figures deciding for them.

Graphic by Annie Aguiar

XXXTREME FEMENISTA

Ellie Rodriguez Commentary It was not what I was expecting in a Cosmopolitan magazine.

Yes, I’ll admit it wasn’t the noblest of things to be upset over. Honestly, it probably originated as a good idea from some editor somewhere. When I read it, however, it was just a mildly enraging, questionable last page article.

It began with good intentions, this quiz on the last page of Cosmo, asking me in loud font just what type of feminist I truly was. (As if I was hiding some deep inner level of feminism to myself without knowing it.) The admittedly well-designed spread boasted pictures of our favorite TV characters who identified as feminists, or were associated with the idea of strong powerful women. Liz Lemon, Leslie Knope, Mindy Lahiri, Daenernys Targaryen, Peggy from Mad Men and a handful of other admirable women smiled back at me.

And then I began the quiz.

A brief six-question query into the depths of my feminism would surely tell me all I needed to know about the root of my ideas in equality, I had no doubt. Immediatley, I was taken aback by the abrasive first question simply asking “Your vagina is?”

Don’t get me wrong here, I agree that female genitalia should not be stigmatized. It allows humanity life and of course is an incredibly functional and necessary part of the human body. However I would most certainly not entertain the idea that my feminism stems solely from my possession of the feminine sexual organ. It’s frustrating to think that not only am I a feminist because I have a vagina but that it is assumed that, as a feminist, I MUST have a vagina. Now perhaps this little gem of a question was simply included because Cosmopolitan is a magazine that caters to women. Still, I was raised not only by strong willed, expressive and independent women but also, by a loving feminist father who stressed equality and understanding. Apparently however, because of his lack of a vagina, he was never actually a feminist.

Unfortunately it only got worse from there, as I was tasked with choosing between simply tantalizing options such as responding with jumping on a boss’ desk while shuffling his papers and screaming “Down with the oppres-

The quiz on the last page of Cosmo featured a stellar array of powerful, independent women, all of them fictional. (Photo by Ellie Rodriguez) sor!” or, my personal favorite, naming my youknow-what after my slam poetry album.

Hoping with great fervor for a saving component of this quiz, that perhaps there’d just be a big yellow bar at the bottom reading, “there is no right type of feminism! Stay strong, girl!” with a picture of Roxeanne Gay giving a thumbs up. Alas, I was in for a deluge of disappointment.

I came to find that I was one of three types of feminists: the “XXXTREME FEMENISTA”, the chillaxed feminist or the self-hating woman hater.

Oh, my options were endless.

I don’t know, maybe it’s just me being your average “XXXTREME FEMENISTA” but my frustration finally boiled over. In a day and age where young girls are torn between role models who stridently oppose identifying with the feminist movement and celebrities who classify themselves as feminists but endorse songs where women take a back seat to men, a quiz of this caliber is beyond irritating. There shouldn’t have to be some sort of holy selection of feminism. Nor should feminism be reduced to three brands.

The more we continue to pigeonhole feminism into rigid, stereotyped containers, the more we make it unapproachable and alienating. While it’s great that a magazine with such a wide reaching audience is drawing attention to

opinion5

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The secret life of an

August 2014 | hhstoday.com

feminism and strong, powerful women, such an expression and categorization of feminism is only hurting the movement.

A friend of mine, who also shared in the pure delight that was this quiz, was irked by the realization that all the women pictured as feminists were fictional characters. These “faces” of feminism were not real, and that, in addition to the entirety of the quiz and its results, only drove home the idea that there is no real world, everyday feminism.

Nowhere in this quiz was I offered the choice of being the girl whose boyfriend opens doors because it makes him feel chivalrous, while also being the girl who pays for her own movie tickets because she has a job and her boyfriend does not. There was no “Circle here option” for changing the radio station when “Blurred Lines” comes on, but jamming hard to “Talk Dirty to Me.” Nowhere was I given hope that feminism was a balance I could find in my everyday life.

Nowhere was I reassured that feminism isn’t some fiery dogma to make people uncomfortable, but rather a mantra to ensure that as people we are all offered equal opportunities.

I am a feminist because I believe in equality, not because I believe men are pigs or women are the superior gender. I know that’s not everyone’s reasoning for supporting the movement, but I know that those who identify with feminism are bonded together by the idea of equality.

So I thank you Cosmopolitan for including an entry that will accustom more people to the idea of feminism as a still living, not dormant, modern idea and not the antiquated movement of previous generations. But please don’t go about it this way.

I would’ve been more elated to see an interview with say, Mindy Kaling about what it’s like to write about a character who is a feminist and what it’s like to be a successful TV writer in general as a woman. I would’ve been tickled to see a brief about Hilary Clinton that didn’t derail her for her choice in pants suits, but rather talked about her hopes for young female politicians.

Frankly, I would’ve preferred a picture of Beyoncé just dancing.

So thanks Cosmopolitan, but no thanks.

Summer

Bummers

Vijata Patel Entertainment Editor

Many Terriers are looking forward to telling their friends about eventful occurances over this summer, but others have woeful tales to share.

Emil Espinal, 12 Espinal did not bank on having an emotional breakdown at a Tire Kingdom on his vacation to Panama City. What was meant to be an exciting family getaway blew south when the car Espinal’s aunt and uncle were driving behind the family van blew a tire. The rear right tire put the trip on hold. Once the family sought salvation at a tire store, Espinal was so distraught that he accidentally scarred his arm against the granite counter of the store.

Ashley Minano, 10 Sophomore Ashley Minano wanted to end up behind the wheel of a car. This summer, she planned to have her permit so she could begin the process. But instead of spending the summer blissfully driving away her troubles, she had to retake her permit test “like 10 times” before she got it, and the summer was lost.

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6 campus hhstoday.com | August 2014

Surveys reveal mixed opinions Last year, students and faculty were asked to complete a survey regarding Hillsborough high school. Here are some of the results:

3

one in

students feel students don’t respect each other

Principal Johan von Ancken

62%

of teachers believe parents/guardians are influential decision-makers in this school.

83%

20 0% of students don’t feel safe at school

46%

of teachers don’t feel safe at school

1 in 4

students don’t know how to report experiences of

sexual abuse

briefly

62%

of teachers believe procedures for teacher evaluation are consistent

3 of 4 teachers agree that overall, the school is a good place to work and learn.

of students feel their family know about their school performance

76% of teachers think students don’t follow rules of conduct

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What’s being

DONE

The faculty has created five standard rules for everyone at HHS to abide by: 1. Be prompt, prepared and productive.

2. Respect your school, faculty/staff and classmates.

3. Utilize electronics for academic purposes only.

4. Demonstrate school pride by following dress code.

5. Increase your learning by limiting the need for hall passes.

New shirt-shooter Hillsborough’s Robotics Club has finished another project, this one a familiar sight at fall football games. The club’s members updated the old T-shirt cannon so the shirts can be fired faster, allowing even more people to have a chance at bringing home a souvenir from the game.

“The original cannon had a manual valve so sometimes the air wouldn’t come in or out and the shirts wouldn’t shoot. Now, there’s a button,” said

“We’re looking to see where these holes are coming from.” “[We are] putting together an instructional leadership team of teachers to address the problems.”

“These problems need to be addressed right now.”

Graphic by Ellie Rodriguez Photo by Katie Frost

Sunday Market returns in October Eric Barker, co-president of the club. This new cannon has two nine-volt batteries which not only makes the shooting easier and faster, HHS but also allows the cannon to be controlled by a remote control. Its debut is expected to be during the first football game of the season.

The Seminole Heights Sunday Market is usually hosted here at HHS every second Sunday of each month. This summer, however, it has been hosted at Southern Brewing & Winemaking from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for their Summer Market event.

The Sunday Market won’t return to our backyard until October, once the summer event has ended and the new fall produce is harvested and ready to be sold. The Summer Market event is for all ages and is free until Sept. 14.

-Bianca Cegatte

August 2014 | hhstoday.com

O Brother, where art homeroom?

Samantha Votzke Associate Editor

She told him she knew where homeroom was, and how to get there.

In fact, it was right across the second-floor hallway from his homeroom. However, she ended up turning to me and timidly asking “Do you know where Mr. Packard’s room is?”

Freshman Nia Gyongyosi is not unusual in her reluctance to ask her older brother, senior Vince Gyongyosi, for something as simple as directions.

I know exactly how it feels. I’m now a senior, but as a freshman I walked in through Hillsborough’s squeaky black gates from the bus ramp alongside, or rather, trailing a little bit behind my senior brother. I too felt the need to strike out on my own here at HHS, find my own way through the school.

Two older brothers had already been through the program; I had been dragged here often enough since 2005 I should know my way around without asking for help. “I actually walked by my homeroom a couple times before I found it,” Nia said before heading to English class. At the end of the day, she confessed that she got lost a few more times during her first day.

“I just asked for directions,” she said. “People were pretty nice about showing me where to go.”

Both Gyongyosi’s are in the IB program; both dreaded the promise of plenty of first-day homework. Nia ended up with only a bit of his-

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back to school7

tory homework, Vince was assigned “a ton of French homework” plus reading assignments and more.

In addition, the elder Gyongyosi ended up with a fever and sore throat by the end of the day. “I felt bad and my day wasn’t all that great,” Vince said, so it’s safe to conclude that his first day of senior year won’t be one to remember.

The one bright spot was a new homeroom teacher for Vince, something he had in common with his freshman sister.

“I really like Mr. Gast as a homeroom teacher,” Vince said of U.S. Government and World History instructor. His homeroom had formerly belonged to Karen Menard, currently on a leave of absence.

The entire day, the siblings only saw each other once, and only in passing.

“We kind of just acknowledged each other. I kind of waved,” Nia said.

“I wanted to look after her, but I From top: Freshman Nia Gyongyosi talks to sophomore Lauren Reigel before senior Jade Reppenhagen didn’t want to be that guy,” added drives them to an afternoon swim practice. Nia talks to her brother, senior Vince Gyongyosi after a “meh” Vince. “I’m really more worried about first day; Vince ended up with a fever by the afternoon. (Photos by Samantha Votzke) how teachers will treat her if they Having a senior sibling as a freshman may asked me if I was related. (The last name is know she’s my sister.”

Luckily for me and my sibling, we have an hard to mistake.) What would I be like? They simply be a reassurance, knowing you have older brother who was universally loved by seemed to ask. Because of a ready-made repu- someone to give you a ride home at the end the teachers here. My two brothers are vastly tation, younger siblings feel the need to make a of the day, although not someone to hold your different in personality, though, so teachers strong impression, to define themselves as an hand through high school. usually had a hint of apprehension when they individual.

First day: a family affair

Maria Roberts News Editor

6:30 my alarm goes off. I assume it’s waking me up for practice, so I reach for my watch when it hits me: today is the first day of my senior year.

Wow. I then remember today is also the first day of my brother’s freshman year. We haven’t gone to school together since elementary school.

Walking to his room I wondered if I should let him sleep a little longer. After all, it is his first day

Senior sister recounts her first day attending school with her freshman brother

of high school.

I walked to our kitchen where I was surprised to see James was already awake and eating waffles. I slumped on the bar and tried not to go back to sleep.

Ten minutes later I was dressed and brushing my hair in the bathroom while my brother asked me every possible question abut HHS life. What time do we get there? Where do we park? Is his class far from the senior parking lot? Is homeroom always first?

I thought back to my freshmen year when I didn’t have anyone to answer the questions for me.

He looked nervous but probably more excited then me. On our drive to school in told him I was taking him to crew after school. James seemed nervous to ride in the senior carpool but I was excited to be driving to school for the first time.

For him today is the beginning of a new book.

For me today was the first page of the last chapter and I’m glad it stayed with me.

hhstoday.com | August 2014

Ellie Rodriguez Editor-in-Chief “How was your first day of school?”

Every parent’s favorite question floats in one ear and out the other, as we reflect on the highs and lows of another first day in a childhood of first school days. Usually the question is followed by a grunt, a couple of words for the odd lucky parent, as summing up a day full of both jitters and ambivalence is too much to put into words.

For many of us, it was the last first day where we pushed through the squeaky black gates to the senior lot as the bell tower chimed.

For others, it was a day full of getting lost and meeting new faces, while only knowing the location of the trophy cases as a landmark.

Either way, there’s an exciting and sad sentimentality to the holiday that is “the first day of school.” Did it meet our expectations? How much have we changed since the last time we started a new school year? How much will we change in the coming one?

The onset of a new year means new songs

what was your

summer OBSESSION o

will include parent/student conferences and i one-on-one conversations with students. o Theyy will also be further explained at individual ua grade “mini-assemblies.”

However, not everything is to be changed.

H Although von Ancken agrees that “there’s alho ways room for improvement, even for an A school,” he stressed that the school already has “a lot of good systems in place” and that administrators’ goals are to continue these plans and “forward them.” This is Von Ancken’s second year as principal and he expressed that this past year has allowed him to become familiar with Hillsborough culture. “I know our roots and the legacy, it makes everything easier.”

Pride has been a focal point for von Ancken over the last year and will continue to accompany any new changes. The pride is tangible at the football games when a sea of red and black cheers to the melodies of the Big Red Band. Its reflected in the trophy cases, the pulsing muscles of the crew team as they row down the Hillsborough River, and in the

furrowed brows of math students testing for Mu Alpha Theta.

Still, according to a survey of 151 students at open house, the largest majority of students felt indifferent about school beginning.

The promise of classes with your best friends, the rush from opening new packs of pens, and the frantic storming of Target at 10 pm the night before school starts, simply does not overwhelm the majority of the student body.

When asked about a lack of student enthusiasm, von Ancken reiterated repeatedly that getting involved is the best remedy. “Being invested, it gives you purpose. If you take pride in this school, you’ll contribute to the excitement, not only will you be part of it, you’ll be a benefactor,” he explained.

So even though first day nerves may have been quelled and all the composition books have been cracked open, the communal rush of striving to be better and to embrace new opportunities has not yet faded.

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The Terriers 2014-15

Principal outlines priorities for the new year at football games, new procedures in the du halls, and new friendships and memories. d While students have been soaking ki up sun; working their first summer job and feverishly completing summer assignments, nt teachers and administrators have been designing and e implementing new methods and systems for d the coming school year.

Scattered throughout the halls l are posters boasting the new five rules of conduct.

Put in n place by teachers looking for universal conn sistency in student discipline, ac according to Principal von Ancken, these new ew five rules address areas such as hall passes, s dress code, and respect (for a complete list o of the rules, see page 4).

“We wanted to ensure that the same equity transcends through the school for conduct. It should further the school vision because all the students will be held to the same expectation, and their achievement will be realized,” Principal Johan von Ancken explained.

Implementation of these rules is to begin in classrooms, but like current rules in place,

back to school 9 ne

e ere this summ ewh m so

28% 33% NETFLIX didn’t have 24% OTHER any summer work 20% BEACH 17% VIDEO GAMES 6% “ME MUM’S CAR” VINE

r

ha ve g

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8 back to school o

Return of

% 79

s nt e ud f st

o

80%

of students are most excited about seeing friends this school year

34%

19% 28 bit %, ch es

70%

finished all their summer assignments

While summer student employment has risen 1.2% since last July according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70% of students polled did not work this summer.

HI MY NAME IS

unemployed

of students were least looking forward to waking up early

First day scenes From left: 1. Juniors Gilberto Roldan and Richard Forbes talk with friends during lunch.

2. Roman Hibsch attempts to get his food out of the vending machine during lunch. 3.

Students eat lunch on the H Patio on the first day of school. (Photos by Aleesha Mundra)

what happened to HOMEROOM? While you might not notice any changes for the first few days, there has been a shift in homerooms. While everyone, traditional and IB, has a homeroom, there will now be a difference in the frequency with which they meet.

Traditional homerooms will no longer meet on a daily basis. Homerooms will convene whenever it’s necessary, such as for testing or important handouts.

Rather than morning announcements, the TV production class will become the platform for announcements and the pledge.

The time that homeroom use to take up will mostly be tacked on to the end of second period though other classes got slightly longer as well.

-Ellie Rodriguez

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10 back to school hhstoday.com | August 2014

shay Cowart

lauren Birtcher

Lauren Birtcher is finally able to fulfill her wish to become a teacher and work with students with autism spectrum disorders.

“I’ve always wanted to become a teacher since I was little. I think it’s the most rewarding profession because you get to see kids learn and grow,” Birtcher said.

Birtcher has “always had interest in working with [the autistic] population,” especially after working with them in college.

She’s grateful for the opportunity to “make an impact on [her] students” and wants them all to know that she cares about them and is happy to be their teacher.

New faces

larry la FULKROAD FULKRO ROA

Before becoming Hillsborough’s new assistant principal of student affairs, Larry Fulkroad taught for seven years. Last year, he was employed at Freedom, where he taught biology and physics and coached both the girls’ and boys’ tennis teams.

“The seniors [on the girls’ tennis team] tagged my car — completely covered it with writing — at the end of the year,” Fulkroad said, chuckling at the memory. “I would coach [Hillsborough’s tennis team] if I could,

English teacher Shay Cowart is returning to Hillsborough High School after a taking a two year break to care for her children.

Cowart will “miss [her] children” but is looking forward to teach-

Meet some of the nearly 20 new additions, “passionate, excited new educators” to the faculty and staff. For more, see hhstoday.com

but [administrators] aren’t allowed to.”

Fulkroad is looking forward to “getting to work with new students in a different capacity than [he] did prior.”

“Now, I won’t have to work on the academic area of the classroom. Instead, I get to find out what direction [students] want to go and guide them,” Fulkroad said. “Of course, I’ll have to handle discipline, too. I’m not looking forward to that part.”

Dominique Woods is ready to “finally start [her] career” after graduating from both UF and UCF with a major in school counseling.

“I was in school for a while, and I’m finally able to put in practice the things I learned,” Woods said.

She was inspired to work in education by

ing again. While she was away from teaching, Cowart missed the “freeness of attitude” of Hillsborough’s students. Laughing, she added, “But I’m not talking about the bad attitude.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting students, learning from each other and getting them excited about English,” Cowart said. “I want each student -- no matter how big the gain -to make gains in their knowledge of English.

I want them to be more curious and critical about what they read.”

domin dominique d W WOODS

the guidance counselor she had during her senior year.

“I don’t think I’d be where I am today without her help,” Woods said.

She wants to follow her counselor’s example by “helping [students] learn something new and steering them in the right direction.”

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back to school11

Major changes

August 2014 | hhstoday.com

Meet this year’s drum majors, Mark Hernandez and Gia Jadick Wanting band to be better than it’s ever been, Gia Jadick has been both excited and nervous for the coming year as, “Mark [Hernandez] has been out sick recently.” Jadick is excited to work with Hernandez, citing that “he’s brilliant and an incredible leader.” She explained as she joked with band members and snacked on Frosted Flakes, that “it’s been a little weird doing a lot of these things for the first time” by herself, but she believes it will make her a better conductor and leader. This is not her first time leading fellow students who are her seniors, as she was a section leader for the saxophones last year as a sophomore.

Senior Mark Hernandez is excited to finally take over as a leader for the entire band, as he believes that joining band is the best high school experience. “The moment you walk in the band room, everyone is happy to see you, everyone greets you. It’s a lot of fun and it’s so rewarding, even though it is work,” he said. While he was nervous about leading alongside a junior, he explained that he and Jadick bonded a lot over the summer, especially while at FSU Band Leadership Camp in mid-July.

Although most students probably will not recognize the work of George Gershwin, the theme for this year’s musical choices, Hernandez is confident that “no matter who’s listening and no matter what we play... we’re the Big Red Band. And it’s going to be fantastic and people will love it.”

What have you done to distinguish yourself as a leader?

Definitely asserting myself more. I want to quickly get into working. Also making the effort to be a lot louder.

I really try to talk with people at the end of the day saying, “You know, I really didn’t think there was enough respect today.” I ask for ways we can improve.

Why should someone join band?

It’s never too late to join band! First and foremost, it’s an awesome social experience.

It’s totally fun and you become close with a lot of people. The music is also totally awesome, plus you’re doing it with your friends!

Music has also been proven to help you on math tests and that sort of thing. So band is fun and it makes you smarter!

mark HERNANDEZ,12

Why is being a drum major so different from being clarinet section leader?

I used to be in charge of about 20 people; now I’m juggling 60-plus people at once. I’m constantly making sure everyone has their music and knows what they’re doing. It’s a giant responsibility, and it’s a lot to be in charge of. You also have to be so much louder.

How difficult is it to juggle leading an entire band with regular school and social activities and responsibilities?

It conflicts with a lot. My first priority is always band. Even if I’m doing summer work or at a social event, my first thought Is always: I can’t wait to get back to band, what can I do? How can I be ready? That’s what’s so stressful, is that you have to think about it all the time.

In prior years, the band’s music theme for the year has been the Beatles, West Side Story and other really recognizable artists.

This year the theme is Gershwin, why was the early 20th century composer chosen?

Honestly, in the beginning, even band kids were asking, “I don’t know who that is. Who is that?”

They wanted to do superheroes instead. Then as we listened to it we realized it’s classic jazz and you can totally see his impact in music. I mean band got excited about it, so I think you will too.

gia JADICK,11

What’s it like leading the band knowing that you’ll have two years as their leader?

It’s definitely weird (leading students older than her), but first you have to gain their respect, then joke around with them and be their friend. That’s all it is really, and it usually all works out. Most things usually do. I’m excited, especially because I love conducting. In one year, it will show me the things that work and that I can do better so I can make the band better and so that the band will stay better, which ultimately is the long term goal here.

From top: The trumpet section practices during band camp in the weeks befores school, juniors Chayil Lattimore and Amelia Castellanos play during a band camp session, Dan Coutu and Kevin Foshee, seniors on drum line perform at open house. (Photos by Katie Frost)

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12 life

hhstoday.com | August 2014

Let’s go to the Beach

Sure, but which one?

St. Pete Beach

We also love

Waves crash against the shore as beach-goers enjoy St.Beach’s sun and sand. (Photo by Samantha Votzke)

4/5 Rating St. Pete Beach has been ranked the No. 1 beach in the United States in recent years by travel reviewers, and in a single trip, it’s easy to see why. Tranquil waves and beach-glass green waters make St. Pete the obvious choice in local beach destinations.

The best thing about this beach may be the ease of access; in many areas, all you need to do is park and then it’s a short walk across the beach to find the perfect spot to lay out a blanket and set up an umbrella.

Especially if you’re one of those types who like to bring a cooler of Publix subs and Capri-Suns, at least two novelty pool floats, preferably shaped like citrus fruit or with cup holders and a separate bag for more towels, flip flops and your phone, the short trip is a definite plus.

Of course, no public beach is perfect; often the beach is crowded. The crowds are loud, and naturally leave their trash behind. If you were worried that your “beach body” is less than presentable, you’re certain to get a self-esteem boost when you go to a public beach.

If you’re afraid you missed a spot shaving, take a single glance at the back of the guy eating a burger next to you on the sand.

However, the lovely Gulf waters off St. Pete Beach are not crowded, usually pristine, and guaranteed to not rise up in a Kahuna-sized wave to knock your sunglasses off and fill your mouth with seawater. There are also no pointy rocks to walk over where the sand meets the surf. St. Pete Beach is literally the closest thing around to the perfect beach spot, and if you’re looking to extend the feeling of summer by having a beach day, it should be your top pick.

-Samantha Votzke

Sanibel Island for its -lack of crowds - variety of shells -abundant sea life Honeymoon Island for its -pleasant waves -powder-like sand -beach activities like parasailing and kayaking

Honeymoon Island Redington St. Pete

Sanibel Island

Redington Beach As summer came to a close, many Terriers found themselves at the beach trying to catch those last few rays and waves.

If you choose to apply your sunscreen on the sand of Redington Shores, you may notice the deceptively calm gulf crashing against the perpetually searing sand. The water, warmed by the sun, can range in temperature from relaxing dip in the pool to uncomfortable bath water. If you are chilly by nature or nervous in large bodies of water this is the beach for you. Warm temperatures and normally placid waves keep beach-beginners at ease here.

A stroll down the beach will reveal a population of polite and friendly locals mixed with a few reasonably priced hotels and resorts. The surrounding town is known for its homemade ice cream from “Candy Kitchen,” as well as its many opportunities for leisure activities such as fishing, mini golfing and eating.

Visitors find fun and relaxation walking along the sand at Redington Shores. (Photo by Maria Roberts) If you are looking for more adventure and an exciting vacation, a quick visit to one of the larger hotels would provide opportunities for water skiing and parasailing. Jet skis, paddle boats, kayaks and more are available along the more crowded areas of the shore.

One-day visitors to the beach can find quiet at the very beginning of the

beach where the crowds and seagulls flock only occasionally. The locals are as much a part of the scenery as the Redington Shores pier. The pier is known to be a great place to fish as well as watch the vibrant sunsets that transform the beach into artwork.

Redington is a beach fit for any person looking to get away and relax. Less crowds and more sunshine make this beach ideal for teenagers wanting to soak up the sun , start a game of volleyball, or swim in the gulf with friends.

This beach, with its immense opportunities for summertime fun is often undeservedly forgotten.

-Maria Roberts

4/5 Rating

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snapshot13 August 2014 | hhstoday.com

return to the

BOROUGH

Clockwise from top left: Love blooms on the H Patio; Freshmen try the “cookie challenge� at GAP camp; IB freshmen climbed the tower at the Y to build friendships; friends share music and headphones; Freshman Jose Salazar maps out his course of action to make sure he is never late to class. ; friends swap stories; three girls discuss their first day.

(Photos by Cade McCurdy, Katie Frost, Aleesha Mundra and Monisha Pillai)

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Bastards of Baseball 14 entertainment Battered hits it out of the park hhstoday.com | August 2014

Hail to Iggy Azalea

IGG

Photo illustration by John Veliz; photo by Laura Murray (Creative Commons)

Y

Aleesha Mundra Music Review First thing’s first she’s the realest; step aside Beyoncé because Iggy Azalea is taking the crown as queen.

Coming from modest beginnings, the Australian native moved to Miami at age 16 to pursue her rapping career.

Azalea raps about her struggles of achieving fame. She was never handed a silver platter and had to rise above all of the criticism that she faced with her dream of becoming a rapper. Her ambition to be on top is astounding.

Songs like Work, Impossible

is Nothing and Change your Life reinforce her will to become a superstar.

Her breakout song in 2011 proves that she is risky, yet cunning.

Not only does she have two singles on the Hot 100 chart but she is also a pro-twerker.

Miley wants to be her and everyone wants to have her featured in a song.

Girls identify with her boss attitude, and appreciate that she takes nothing for granted.

She has broken out of the challenging genre that is female rappers, but is she going to last on top.

Samantha Votzke Movie Review The feel-good movie of the summer is not in theaters.

It is on your TV. Or laptop. Or PS3,or Wii or whatever internetconnected device you use to watch Netflix, because it is the new documentary, “The Battered Bastards of Baseball,” about the forgotten independent baseball club of Portland,Oregon, the Portland Mavericks.

The rights to the Class A team were bought for $500 by actor Bing Russell.

documentary somehow opens a vein in the viewer, even when that viewer is bored by baseball like myself,and lets the most pure love of the game creep in to the heart. The viewer will long for the days when baseball was played “for the love of the game”, and not for the love of money or fame and might feel more than a little animosity towards the institution of Major League Baseball, a group that could never match the spirit of the independent Mavs. The viewer will end up loving the Portland Mavericks and the people who surrounded the team.

Mandatory Fun is a Weird Al Bummer Annie Aguiar Album Review Weird Al Yankovic is a household name. The 54year old parodist has been releasing albums since 1983, but only recently reached the top of the Billboard charts with his newest album, “Mandatory Fun.” With parodies and pastiches (an imitation of a style rather than a specific song) of acts like Lorde and Crosby, Stills & Nash, Yankovic churns out 12 songs on his 14th album. The album alternates between parody and pastiche, only interrupted by his latest polka medley, “Now That’s What I Call Polka!” While the majority of the tracks are the typical Yankovic fare, unsettling amounts are boring, bland, and unfunny.

The pastiches are simply an unpleasant three and a half minutes of waiting for the next song. After the album’s lukewarm opening with “Handy” (a parody of Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy”), “Mandatory Fun” plunges head first into tedium.

By far, the worst track on the album is the Pixies pastiche, First World Problems. You’ve heard these jokes before. It sounds like Yankovic is idly scrolling through the hashtag “#firstworldproblems” while singing. It’s wasting my breath to call a parody artist ‘unoriginal’, but something has to be said when the jokes are so stale I’m reminded of year old bread.

The only reason Yankovic gets away with his success today is because of his impressive past and near mythological status.

Despite the album’s shortcomings, there are shining moments of hilarity. Favorites include “Foil,” Yankovic’s ode to food preservation/uncovering shadow organizations controlling the new world order (just listen to it, it’ll make sense) set to Lorde’s first hit song “Royals.”

I’ve known Yankovic’s work for as long as I could remember, and have fond memories of sitting around a computer and watching his music videos for hours, laughing the entire time.

Now, the driving humor behind the parodies is no longer clever, it’s more like “hey, you recognize that this sounds like another song. Isn’t that so great?”

Listening to this album is bittersweet. It prompts a realization that something of the past no longer holds up to what it was before. I wanted to love this album, but that’s sadly not the case.

I still get the joke, but it’s just not funny anymore.

The documentary makes the viewer fall in love with baseball through Bing and his passion and knowledge of the ins and outs of the sport.

Entertaining interviews with the people who lived the stranger-thanfiction story of the “Mavs” drive the documentary along. These people, some famous, some not, tell the story with humor as well as seriousness and unexpected suspense. Equally key to the telling of this story are the illustrated graphics, which add a certain hip-ness and coolness to the overall visual effect of the film.

The spirit of America’s favorite pastime is woven into this film. This

It’s a real-life underdog story that has been waiting to be told. Watching, I lived the ups and downs of the team along with them. Regardless of their overall success (which,surprisingly, they had in many forms) the Mavericks boast impressive accomplishments: they had the first female and Asian American general managers,two of their players even changed the game by inventing Big League Chew.

So the next time you’re scrolling through Netflix and can’t find anything to watch, give “The Battered Bastards of Baseball” a try. It’s best enjoyed with apple pie and freedom.

Graphics by Vijata Patel

Heat and UV rays are unavoidable in the sunshine state, but here are some tips to protect your skin and stay cool

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sports15

Safe in the sun

August 2014 | hhstoday.com

Sunscreen Buy water-resistant sunscreen. It lasts longer than regular sunscreen and helps protect your skin even when you’re sweating profusely.

Make sure to buy sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 50.

Be sure to reapply the sunscreen every two hours.

SPF 50

Make sure that the sunscreen you buy protects against both UVA (the rays that cause cancer) and UVB rays.

Keep in mind that sunscreen does not block all UV rays. Even with proper sunscreen use, alternate forms of sun protection (such as light-colored clothing, hats and sunglasses) should be worn.

H

Stay in the shade as much as possible.

Hydration If you have a game or event in the morning, pre-hydrate the night before by drinking plenty of water.

During the event, drink lots of fluids. If you will be exercising for two hours or more, drink Gatorade or other sports drinks to replenish electrolytes.

If you start feeling dizzy, stop exercising immediately and rest.

Compiled by Dana Dinh and Katie Frost | Source: Dr. Thuy-Van Chau

Graphic by John Veliz

Baseball field finally finished

After a season of soggy fields, the baseball team is hoping the repairs on the field will allow them to have a dry and successful season. (Graphic by John Veliz)

Samantha Votzke Associate Editor A combination of pelting rain, ceaseless football practices and middle schoolers made the baseball field completely unusable last spring.

The baseball team played nine soggy games at home; they ended the season with a winning 18-7 record after making it to the first round of playoffs. Their senior night was held mid-season, at the University of Tampa field. Repairs were scheduled, made and now the true test lies in how the field stands up to the rains-every-day-at-3 Flor-

ida summer.

Although the baseball season is in spring, the field itself is used by football, soccer and several other school teams for conditioning and practice in the fall sports season. This means that usually, the baseball players end up practicing their swings in the indoor batting cages in Coach Kenny White’s classroom. However, having the option to practice on the field will seem like a luxury this year.

“One good thunderstorm last year, and we were done for the week,” White said.

“The field absorbed water like a swamp. It

looked fine, but you would sink. It was like someone literally threw sod on top of a swamp.”

Sports fields don’t have large storm drains, so in order to not retain rainwater most fields are “crowned,” higher in the middle and sloped subtly downhill. However, the baseball field’s last repair several years ago failed to do this.

Regardless of the field’s condition, White has high expectations for the team. “Most of last year’s starters are coming back, so expect a great season.”

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16 sports

hhstoday.com | August 2014

October

September August

Fall Sports Calendar

Trying to survive the ‘District of Death’

22 Varsity Football vs. Clearwater, 7:30 p.m.

27 Varsity Volleyball vs. Strawberry Crest, 7 p.m.

Daniel Hamilton Golf @ Chamberlain, 3 p.m.

Sports Editor 28 Golf @ Alonso/Leto, 3 p.m.

Hillsborough is once again in a fight Swim vs. Freedom 7 p.m. for survival in the sports-blogger dubbed 2 Golf @ Chamberlain/Alonso, 3 p.m.

“District of Death” after being left out of the XCountry Lennard Invitational, 5 p.m. playoff hunt last year.

JV Volleyball @ Lennard, 6:15 p.m.

Varsity Volleyball @ Lennard, 7:30 p.m.

Even while being predicted for a second 3 Golf @ Spoto, 2 p.m. place finish in district 6A-8 by the Tampa 4 Golf @ Gaither/Chamberlain, 3 p.m.

Bay Times, starting quarterback Dwayne Swim vs. Sickles, 7 p.m.

Lawson and head coach Earl Garcia say a 5 Varsity Football vs. Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.

15-0 season isn’t out of reach.

6 Swim City Relays, 9 a.m.

“I think we can go 15-0. I think we have 8 JV Volleyball @ Freedom, 6:15 p.m. a good chance of going 15-0. All it takes is Varsity Volleyball @ Freedom, 7:30 p.m. all of our guys working together as a unit,” 9 Golf @ Alonso/Leto, 4 p.m.

Lawson said.

10 XCountry W. Hillsborough Invitational, 5 p.m.

11 JV Volleyball vs. Blake, 6:15 p.m.

“You have to feel like you’re going to Swim vs. Strawberry Crest, 7 p.m. go 15-0,” Garcia said. “You have to or else JV Football @ Chamberlain, 7 p.m. there’s no reason to compete.”

Varsity Volleyball vs. Blake, 7:30 p.m.

According to Lawson, the pre-season 12 Varsity Football @ Armwood, 7 p.m. work that they are putting in has been fo16 Golf @ Sickles, 3 p.m. cused on just preparation.

JV Volleyball @ Jefferson, 6:15 p.m.

“Preparation, preparation, preparation, Varsity Volleyball @ Jefferson, 7:30 p.m. conditioning, ” Lawson responded when 17 Golf @ Robinson, 3 p.m. asked how the team had been working for 18 JV Volleyball @ Spoto, 6:15 p.m.

Swim vs, King, 7 p.m.

JV Football vs. Jesuit, 7 p.m.

Varsity Volleyball @ Spoto, 7:30 p.m.

19 Varsity Football vs. Leto, 7:30 20 XCountry W.D. Johnson meet, 8 a.m.

22 Swim @ Jesuit, 6:30 p.m.

23 Golf @ Chamberlain, 3 p.m.

JV Volleyball vs. Leto, 6:15 p.m.

JV Football @ Gaither, 7 p.m.

Varsity Volleyball vs. Leto, 7:30 p.m.

26 Varsity Football @ Lennard, 7:30 p.m.

29 Varsity Volleyball @ Chamberlain, 7:30 p.m.

1 JV Volleyball vs. Armwood, 6:15 p.m.

JV Football vs. Alonso, 7 p.m.

Varsity Volleyball vs. Armwood, 7:30p.m.

2 Swim vs. Wharton, 7 p.m.

Varsity Football vs. King, 7 p.m.

7 Golf @ Robinson, 3 p.m.

XCountry Freshman & Sophomore meet, 5 p.m.

JV Volleyball vs. King, 6:15 p.m.

Varsity Volleyball vs. King, 7:30 p.m.

8 Swim,Western Conference Meet all day 9 JV Football @ Armwood, 7 p.m.

10 Varsity Volleyball vs. King, 7:30 p.m.

Varsity Football @ Chamberlain, 7:30 p.m.

Swim, County Championship Red = Home Black = Away

the season. “Trying to get everyone on the same page and focused and mentally ready for this. Last year was a disappointment, obviously, but this year I think we’ll surprise people.”

‘Fuel to the fire’ Like last year, the Terriers play its first two games against Jefferson and Armwood.

Unlike last year, Hillsborough plays Jefferson at home and Armwood away. Both Lawson and Garcia say this year, the Terriers will be tougher to beat than last year.

“Anytime we play at home we feel like we are a tough team to beat.” Garcia said, “[Jefferson] had the big and experienced team last year with the top ranked quarterback.

This year we have a more experienced team than they do with a top ranked quarterback, so we’ll see.”

Lawson said the same as his coach, but for different reasons.

“We lost both games so that’s a little bit of fuel to the fire,” Lawson said, “I mean,

obviously, with preparation you know what they’re going to do and how everything is going to fall out. All you gotta do is be ready and be prepared for it. Preparation is your biggest weapon when you’re playing teams like that.”

This year the team is led on the offense by quarterback Lawson and on defense by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who Garcia called the “quarterback of the defense.”

“You have to have a quarterback to build your offense around and you gotta have a dynamic player to build your defense around,” Garcia said. “It doesn’t have to be a linebacker but you want a leader on defense and he plays really hard. [Al-Shaair] has a chance to do for our defense what we want [Lawson] to do for our offense.”

Hillsborough goes pro The team hasn’t seemed to stop working at all since last year, even over the summer.

Over the summer, the team starred in a GoPro commercial, which is slated to be aired nationally this fall.

During the commercial shoots, which modeled an actual football practice, the team received coaching from Jon Gruden, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship. He came in to help under his organization, the Fired Football Coaches Association.

Also over the summer, Al-Shaair committed to Florida Atlantic University to play football as an outside linebacker.

He joins Lawson at a Division 1 school, as Lawson committed to the University of Miami late last school year.

“I gotta a lot of love from the Miami family,” said Lawson, “[The University of Miami] has a great football tradition. I’m excited to be there and I’m excited to get a chance to play there.”

Clockwise from top left: 1. Coach Ken Russell gives a pep talk during a team huddle after practice on Aug. 14. 2. Second string quarterback Lawrence Dawsey takes practice snaps during a workout. 3. Dwayne Lawson and the backup quarterbacks work on taking snaps during practice.

(Photos by Daniel Hamilton)