The Cougar Claw Issue 2 Feb. 12, 2021 by THS Student Media

VOL. 54 ISSUE 2

Signing Day: Athletes headed to next level by jenna jaffray

Athletes from all over the country compete for limited spots in the collegiate sports world, and there are many athletes from THS that have secured some of these prestigious spots. Athletes from football, soccer, softball, baseball, Photos from and volleyball all for- Signing Day, mally committed at Pages 4-5 National Signing Day last Wednesday, Feb. 3, officially declaring where they will continue their playing career. Many of these students are already excited for the next chapter of their lives and happy with their decision to sign in order to pursue their future in education and sports. “I love the program, the coach, and all the players that are currently there,” said Hunter Collins about Hendrix College, where he signed his commitment to play baseball. Collins’ eagerness is also mirrored by all the other signees, in-

All the athletes take a moment to sign their national letter of intent to play at the collegiate level.

cluding Aleka Darko, who signed for volleyball with Ithaca College in New York. “I’m excited to go up there, our

coach always sends us pictures of what it looks like over there,” Darko said. The Tomball community is proud

Photo by Anabelle Jenson

of all the THS athletes that signed, and can’t wait to see what they do while competing in their sport at the next level.

Some teachers get vaccines; students wait by grace lynch

Should you still travel for your Spring Break? Opinion, Pg. 3

As we head into the first few months of the New Year, many people have begun to wonder how the country and states will respond to the rise in infections. With new vaccines and new strains of the virus, states have put out more concise vaccination plans to try and curb COVID-19. According to the Texas Department

of State and Health Services, Plans 1A and 1B are currently in motion. Plan 1A includes healthcare workers, while Plan 1B prioritizes people of ages 65 or older and people 16 or older with chronic medical diseases that put them at a greater risk for infection. Teachers with one of the preexisting conditions have already begun getting the vaccine, with Tomball one of several school districts to partner with Harris County to get the vaccine.

“I just completed my second shot last week,” said Student Media adviser Jerry Fordyce. “I had no side effects, felt great. It’s a relief to know I don’t have to worry about getting sick.” After these demographics have been supplied with the vaccine, it will become more available to the general public. Students ages 16 and older should be able to get the vaccine as early

See COVID, Page 2

Students turn hobbies into paying jobs by lucas botello

There is more than one way to make money than to get a regular or part-time job. A few students at Tomball have turned their love for video games into a way for them to make some extra money. Sophomore Giovanni D’Ambrosio and Senior Joseph Ross are a few of many high school students that have partnered with gaming companies to help support the company as well as themselves. “You don’t really try out but you post your gameplay and where you would place within a tourna-

ment. Depending on how you do they’ll reach out to you and offer for you represent the company,” D’Ambrosio said. “I was with a small team called Forge.” How much a person can make from eSports depends on how well the player places in tournaments. “The most I have ever won was $800 from a World Cup Tryouts,” D’Ambrosio said. The total D’Ambrosio has made from E-Sports was $6,000. Ross has also found a way to make money from gaming. Unlike D’Ambrosio, Ross joined a small local eSports team called Elysian, which recently secured

Joseph Ross has turned his passion for gaming into a job by joining an eSports team.

a sponsorship from Rogue Energy. “When you start getting into these hobbies with the highly competitive players, you start to love the game and love the challenge,” he said.

Ross can make about $100$800 per tournament; so far in 2021, Ross has made around $350 from playing video games. Although it may not be a traditional job, students still find ways to make money with the skills

New AP Rush takes over in middle of school year by jenna jaffray

Tomball has yet another new Associate Principal on staff this semester, with Sara Rush joining the administrative team. However, Rush is not new to Tomball ISD or the role of an AP. “The position opened up right before Christmas break,” she said. “I have been an administrator in Tomball for seven years and was excited to apply for this position.” Rush began her career in Louisiana in 1998 as a math teacher before moving to Texas, and then into Tomball. “I held various roles such as math teacher, team lead, helping teacher, content specialist and assistant principal,” she said. This time, however, Rush will be working at the same school as her husband, Head Baseball Coach Doug Rush. Together they have one 11-year-old son, Nolan, and their whole family loves sports. “I enjoy watching my son play football, baseball, and basketball,” Rush said. “I also enjoy going to my husband’s baseball games and cheering on the Tomball Cougar baseball team.” But more than working alongside her husband, Rush is ready and enthusiastic about stepping into her role at THS. “I am excited to be a part of all the great things that go on in the classroom and outside the classroom,” she said. “I look forward to becoming part of the culture that

The Rush Family at Christmas - Doug, Sara and son Nolan. While the youngest Rush has some time before hitting THS, his parents are both on the staff here. Doug Rush is the head baseball coach, and Sara Rush is the new Associate Principal. Photo courtesy of Sara Rush

makes Tomball High School so successful.” Rush is also looking forward to partaking in upcoming events, such as graduation. And while the F2F students are able to see her every day, it has been more difficult to establish those relationships with online students. “I have already gotten to speak to a few virtual students and it is

nice to get to connect with them,” Rush said. “It is always a challenge to make connections with our TVS students but it is so important.” Another difficulty has been adjusting to the routines of high school that have already been established. “Everyone has been so helpful and has really made the transition easy,” she said. One of the more gratifying parts

of her job thus far has been meeting new students every day, as well as seeing students she knew previously from her junior high position. “I enjoy getting to greet the students in the morning as they come in the back doors,” Rush said. “You change so much from junior high to high school that it has been fun reconnecting with them.”

COVID: More information about vaccines released Continued from Page 1 as April, experts say. If enough students and teachers get the vaccine, some of the key May events can still go on - including Mr. Debonair, theater’s talent show, senior picnic, and the yearbook distribution party. People younger than 16 do not have access to the vaccine because of limited testing towards that age group. Trials are just now underway for that age group. As the whole world attempts to provide the vaccination as quickly as possible, it will be a while before supply meets demands. A few of our teachers here a THS have begun the process of getting the vaccine, and some have even gotten the first shot. With any luck, we are on our way to a COVID-free Tomball. As vaccines are released, there is quite a lot of concern as to what ingredients the vaccine has. For starters, two of the vaccines don’t have a live virus. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines use pieces of genetic material known as mRNA instead of virus particles to create an immune response. Even still, there is some uncertainty as to

Graphic courtesy of the National Governors Association

how the “genetic material” can affect you. The short answer? It can’t. According to Kerry McGee MD, of GoodRx, the genetic material in the COVID-19 vaccines falls apart naturally in a few days after your body has had time to make antibodies against the SARS-CoV2 spike proteins. The mRNA enters your body wrapped in oil packets, these oil packets contain: 1. ALC-0315 = (4-hydroxybutyl)

azanediyl)bis (hexane-6,1-diyl) bis(2-hexyl decanoate) 2. ALC-0159 = 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-di-tetradecyl acetamide 3. 1, 2-distearoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine 4. Cholesterol These lipids sound scary but in reality, some of these are fats found naturally in living cells, while others are made specifically to mimic the cell wall.

The second part of these vaccines is a liquid Saline-Solution, including: 1. Potassium chloride 2. Dipotassium phosphate 3. Sodium chloride 4. Disodium phosphate 5. Sucrose Once again, there is nothing to be afraid of. For example, sucrose is sugar, sodium chloride is salt and potassium chloride is a naturally occurring substance found in the body. Lastly, only .04% of recipients have experienced an allergic reaction and they all recovered quickly. The vaccine has shown to up to 95% effectiveness in the week after both doses were administered. As everyone prepares to manufacture these vaccines as quickly as possible, hopes begin to rise as we finally see a solution to this problem. If all goes as planned, experts say that we’re well on our way to winning this war with COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci offered a timeline for the end of the pandemic presenting the possibility that we could approach herd immunity by summer’s end and “normality that is close to where we were before” by the end

Our Staff

Editor-in-Chief Jenna Jaffray

Cartoon by Angel Scott Web Editor Elise Guerra

Opinion: Limit travel at spring break by desi beireis

Spring break is just around the corner and with it comes a very stressful time due to the possible spread of COVID-19 as well as many families trying to figure out if they want to travel during this time. As we head into this spring break, students should remember to make smart choices so that schools remain open, sports can continue, and the community stays safe. Following Christmas break, there was a drastic spike in the positive COVID-19 cases at school due to families planning vacations and gathering to celebrate the holidays with large groups.

Think carefully before loading up the car on how to stay safe.

The amount of positive cases has since dropped during January, but with spring break approaching swiftly, it is advised that students and their families remain cautious. Many students are planning on going out of town on spring break or going to the beach to

have fun with their friends and family. Going to a crowded beach or restaurant, as well as travelling on planes could increase the chances of you contracting COVID-19, as well as increase the spread of the virus. There are also many fun activities to do over

spring break that are more COVID safe. Finding an empty section of a beach or lake, going boating with your family, or having a game night with only a few friends can help you have a fun and safe break. Furthermore, it’s important to remember tha some that get COVID-19 never actually realize it due to being asymptomatic. Exposing yourself to less people over the break is the safest option for everyone. The safest way to travel or spend time with others, if you choose to, is by wearing a mask at all times, social distancing, and using hand sanitizer consistently throughout the day.

Opinion: Time for school to update old desks by felipe monroy

The school needs to get rid of the old school desks with the metal bars and the metal cubbies underneath them. Students are tired of having to walk around to the side without the bar in order to sit. Not only are they inconvenient but the design is clearly outdated, leaving Tomball High School behind the other schools who have improved classrooms with more modern, new equipment. The metal cubbies underneath the desk are also a waste of space, since everyone keeps their belongings in their backpack. These unnecessary cubbies also make it impossible for students behind the desk to stretch their

legs, which can be much needed. The desks have served their purpose and have been at the high school for a good amount of

time. Although the school clearly does not have boatloads of money to replace all these desks with newer models at the moment, many of them are already breaking down. Furthermore, many members of the school board believe the desks can go on for a couple more years and look past replacing them. The student body should advocate for the newer desks and bring the issue up to the board. Only the students know the uncomfort they experience on a daily basis with those metal jails. Instead of football getting new uniforms every 2 years, funding could go towards these new desks that would elevate the status of the school and enhance every student’s experience at Tomball High School.

News Editor Linda Trevino

Photo Editor Carly Beleau

Senior Writer Lucas Botello

Senior Writer Grace Lynch

Senior Writer Desi Beireis

Baseball

Casen Neumann: Baylor

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY - Feb. 3, 2021

“I told my parents from a young age I would play baseball close to home so they could come watch.”

Hunter Collins: Hendrix College “I’m excited to play in college and improve my skills all four years.”

Tyler McCuistion: California State - Long Beach

Kaylom Austin: University of St. Thomas

Mason Marriott: Baylor

Peyton Fosher: Angelina College

“The coach and staff have been there with me since day one and I really like the campus there.”

Football

“I fell in love with Baylor even more since I committed sophomore year.”

“I’m excited to go pitch up for them at the college level.”

“The coach there has had a great winning program over the past couple decades.”

Ethan Schlundt: Air Force Academy

“I chose it because it has a very good academic program; I can do mechanical engineering like I’ve wanted to do. Along with that it has a really good coaching staff that I have had time to bond with, Coach Lobo and Coach Callhoon, I have a really good connection with them, they helped me choose the Air Force Academy.”

Softball

Amanda Skivington: Tyler Junior College

“They have a top-ranked program that will allow me to grow as an athlete and person.”

Kendra Cutlip: San Jacinto College

“It’s very close to home which is nice, and they have a good history of winning.”

Volleyball

Makayla Villarreal: Arkansas State University

“I think it’s a really good fit for me. The people there are amazing.”

Aleka Darko: Ithaca College

“I’m excited to play high level volleyball while getting a good education for my major.”

Soccer

Faith Sabatier: Ithaca College

“This past season was really fun, but I’m excited to play at the next level.”

Shelby Willey: McMurry University

“I love the atmosphere that they had at the college, and I love the girls in the program.”

THS Results of the Tomball ISD FFA Auction Exhibitor Name

Place

Division

Buyer

Price

Alana Lee

Grand Champion

Broilers

Parkway Chevrolet

$2,800

Lauren Schindewolf

Grand Champion

Steer

City Masonry

$15,000

Anna Reed

Grand/Showman Champion

Goat

Houston Poly

$3,500

Shelby Cones

Grand Champion

Lamb

Boyer Inc.

$7,000

Simon Nicklas

Grand Champion

Swine

Roof Top Innovations

$6,000

Lauren Schindewolf

Grand Champion

Turkey

Roof Top Innovations

$3,800

Kylee Rundgren

Showman Champion/3rd place

Steer

Amcap Mortgage

$12,000

Braden Tabola

Reserve Champion

Broilers

Tire and Wheel Connection

$5,000

Ellena Bruhn

Reserve Champion

Goat

City Masonry

$3,800

Shannah Johnson

Reserve/Showman Champion

Lamb

Planet Ford

$4,200

Reese Lee

Reserve Champion

Swine

City Masonry

$6,000

Jordyn Chambers

Showman Champion/6th place

Swine

Dan and Martha Ceballos

$3,500

Braden Tabola earned Reserve Champion for Broilers. That’s a chicken, for those not familiar with FFA terms.

FFA President Alana Lee earned Grand Champion recognition for her chicken in the Broilers category.

Mickey Nolen holds up his chicken and ribbon won in the Broilers category during the auction.

Anna Reed shows off her goat after being named Grand Champion in that category at the FFA Show.

Baseball looks to start strong in 6A action by jenna jaffray

Baseball season looms just around the corner, and the Cougars are hoping for a season that ends with another deep playoff run in their first year as a Class 6A team. With daily practices and scrimmages just starting, the team is working harder than ever to match the level of other teams in the new district, including all the Klein powerhouses. All Klein schools have a significantly larger student population, meaning their sports teams have more students as well. But Tomball is known for baseball, and the team is eager to get back on the field after last

season was ended early due to COVID-19. The team this year is talented as always, with five seniors already committed to playing at the collegiate level. But the team won’t escape the impacts of COVID-19 on this season, with the possibility of players getting quarantined always a threat. That could be especially damaging if multiple starters aren’t able to play against tough matchups in 6A. However, the team plans to not worry about these challenges until they come. Rather, they are focusing on preparations for the upcoming season against the new, tougher competitors in 6A.

The Cougars will be taking the field this year with high hopes. Archive photo

8 Show your love (to local businesses)

Valentine’s Day: is it overrated? by jenna jaffray

Roses are red, violets are blue. Do you like Valentine’s Day, or are you not a fan too? We all know the annual holiday that celebrates what’s supposed to be the most important thing in our lives: love. And though some enjoy the holiday filled with pink candy hearts and boxes of chocolates, others are not so fond of it. I often get the feeling that no one really knows exactly why Valentine’s Day is celebrated. Many of us have long forgotten the short history lesson we got over the holiday in elementary school, and now it’s just a time to give and receive candy. So, is Valentine’s Day truly overrated? While I understand that some love the holiday since it gives them a chance to shove their happy relationship in other people’s faces and get gifts, in a much shorter answer, yes, it is overrated. Showing love is important, but

it shouldn’t take a holiday for anyone to show their significant other how much they mean to them. If Valentine’s Day is the first time you’ve felt appreciated by your partner, there may be some questions that need to be asked. Not to mention, grand gestures of big balloons and boxes of chocolate don’t always equate to true love. And while I, too, love to eat candy hearts with cute little sayings on them, I would not want someone’s love for me to be confessed through chalky artificial sugar shaped into a heart. It also seems that this holiday is more widely celebrated by the younger generations. Passing out little valentine candies to your elementary school peers is relatively harmless and fun for young kids, but often high schoolers can feel pressure from this holiday. Kids in their teenage years have a tendency to pay too much attention to things that might seem trivial to others, like “having a valentine.”

Best Smile - Female

Best Artist - Male

Cali Burleson

Jake Walls

Best Attitude - Female Eliza Lehman

Teacher’s Pet - Male

Best Artist - Female

Best Dressed - Male Taylor Briggs Best Dressed - Female Kyla Fleischauer Best Laugh - Male Casen Neumann Jermaine Mayes Best Laugh - Female Autumn Kashin Best Eyes - Male Rhett Sewalt Best Eyes - Female Sydney Jones Best Looking - Male Turney Lantrip Best Looking - Female Rachel Rose Best Mannered - Male Javier Diaz de Sandi Viramontes

Luke Abrahams

Emily Muszynski

Teacher’s Pet - Female

Most Dramatic - Male

Emily Rathke

Kody McCorvy

Most Likely to Succeed - Male

Most Dramatic - Female

James Klein Most Likely to Succeed Female Caroline Klein Worst Case of Senioritis - Male Anthony Talavera Worst Case of Senioritis Female Kayla Scott Most Talkative - Male Mickey Nolen Most Talkative - Female Autumn Kashin Most School Spirit - Male

Faith Livesay Most Dependable - Male Cole White Most Dependable - Female Caroline Klein Most Accident Prone Male

are some of the Cougar Claw’s top places to visit in Tomball to support local businesses, as well as the top COVID-safe date ideas in case you and your date want to be as safe as possible. Places to visit in the Tomball Main

This can put pressure on students to have a certain relationship status for the holiday, regardless of the fact that most high school romances end within months of their start. Also, after a certain age, minor holidays become a minor inconvenience to parents whose kids are now celebrating the holiday, demanding candy for both them and their classmates. It’s no longer about your love for your significant other, but about appeasing the tradition Valentine’s Day has created. And sometimes, traditions need to change.

Most Unique - Male Ethan Schlundt Most Unique - Female Chloe Tutt Most Likely To Be Famous - Male Jackson Green Most Likely To Be Famous - Female Atlantis Conner

Best Hair - Female Madelyn Evans

Mickey Nolen Class Clown - Female Autumn Kashin Most Athletic - Male

Most School Spirit Female

Most Athletic - Female

Kylie Huey

Heaven Taylor

Most Outgoing - Female Heaven Taylor

Best Singer - Male