Andalusian Version 21 Issue 3

LETTER FROM THE Editor

With 2021 drawing to a close, The Andalusian is ecstatic in sharing our third issue of the school year and our last issue of the semester! Admittedly, transitioning back into print after a year and a half away seemed like a daunting task. With the support of the Maclay community and the dedication of our staff, however, we have learned and experienced so much since August. We cannot wait to continue to grow next semester after a refreshing winter break!

When The Andalusian staff began discussing what the theme of our third issue should be, we knew we wanted a theme that would address a problem. We talked amongst ourselves about what bothered us, both here in Tallahassee and nationally, before we finally decided to write an issue on how our campus should be respected more. As with every school, our staff had taken notice of the copious amounts of trash or waste left behind by members of the Maclay community, and

with a school as exceptionally beautiful as Maclay, we desired, along with others, to better this campus’ environment.

The Andalusian staff is extremely thankful to our adviser Ms. Cailyn Callaway for her exceptional guidance, support and faith in us. We would also like to thank Mr. Norment and the English department for their continuous help and encouragement. We are very appreciative of Mrs. Mayer, who helped make this newspaper possible. Finally, we would like to give many thanks to Mr. Charles Beamer, who continues to give endless support and encouragement to this publication. For my incredible staff, I am thrilled to see what the rest of the year has in store, and I am bursting with pride at the hard work you’ve done this semester. Happy holidays everyone!

Sincerely,

Shelby Watson EDITOR IN CHIEF

STAFF LIST

ADVISER

Cailyn Callaway

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Shelby Watson

GENERAL EDITORS

Gaby Emenike

Taylor Hamilton

SPORTS EDITOR

RJ Hosay

MARKETING

Taylor Hamilton

BUSINESS

RJ Hosay

EDITORIAL POLICY

STAFF WRITERS

Jolie Baus

Kate Bulloch

Meghan Goletz

Amelia Haggins

Julia Luck

Ella Porcher

Merrell Webster

SPORTS WRITERS

Sawyer Davis

Evan Nguyen

Jaclyn Summers

DESIGN

Kate Bulloch

Meghan Goletz

Merrell Webster

Articles published as an editorial reflect the opinions of the Andalusian staff. Each editorial is approved by the standing editorial board and must receive a majority vote before it can be published as reflecting the views of the publication. The 2021-22 Editorial Board consists of Editor-In-Chief Shelby Watson, General Editor Taylor Hamilton, General Editor, Gaby Emenike, Sports Editor RJ Hosay and Adviser Cailyn Callaway.

SCAN HERE TO READ THE LATEST ANDLAUISAN ARTICLES. UPDATED DAILY.

ON THE COVER

BIRDS EYE VIEW. Drone footage captures Maclay campus grounds. We chose this as the cover to encapsulate the feeling of comunity and responsibility we should feel towards keeping our campus and our second home clean.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY KIM MCWILLIAMS

NEWS SPOTLIGHT

ON STORIES OF THE WEEK

UPPER SCHOOL

A new opportunity at Maclay for upper school students looking to pursue business has arrived, and it’s called the “Student-Vendor Program.” Through this program, students can sell their personally made items in Maclay’s very own TruBru. While the vendor will get some of their own earnings, some of the revenue earned through the program will be donated to a charity of the vendor’s choice.

For the last 20 years, Maclay school has participated in the Guardian Ad Litem Holiday Gift Drive, and this year was no exception. For the gift drive, students, faculty and clubs either donate gift cards or money or sponsor a child’s wish list. These gifts go to abused and neglected children who are under the care of the court system and in foster care to ensure they receive gifts to celebrate the holiday season. The gifts were picked up from school on Thursday, Dec. 2.

Tallahassee is getting in the Christmas spirit with several holiday events around town. The annual Jingle Ball Run occurred Saturday, Dec. 4, as did the Downtown Winter Festival. Dorothy B. Oven’s yearly Christmas display is up and available to drive through, and the park will also have its annual Elf Night on Thursday, Dec. 16.

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK HOLIDAY PJ DAY

A new strain of COVID-19, titled the Omicron variant, has made its way into the United States’ borders. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the variant was first found in South Africa on Nov. 26. Not much is known about the trasmissibility of the variant nor how dangerous it is compared to other strains, but WHO believes that even those who have already had COVID could contract the virus again.

EXAM WEEK SCHEDULE TO DO: STUDY!!

HOLIDAY WHO-BEE WHAT-EE. UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOW THEIR HOLIDAY SPIRIT BY DRESSING UP IN FESTIVE PAJAMAS ON MONDAY, DEC. 6. STUDENTS POSE WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND THE BLOW UP GRINCH IN THE COURTYARD. HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL CHARLES BEAMER SURPRISED STUDENTS WITH A HOLIDAY DRESS UP WEEK TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON AND HAVE SOME FUN BEFORE EXAMS.

*PHOTOS BY RJ HOSAY AND KATE BULLOCH

BY SHELBY WATSON

CAREER DAY

MACLAY UPPER SCHOOL TAKES PART IN ANNUAL CAREER DAY EVENT

BY JOLIE BAUS

From lectures on evaluating the psychological state of navy seals to excavating ancient artifacts, Maclay students had no shortage of options when checking out possible professions at this year’s Career Day. This past Friday on Dec. 3, Maclay’s upper school body participated in one of Maclay’s annual events, Career Day. High schoolers were able to select three speakers to visit from which they would be informed on particular fields of work. For 80 minutes, students alternated between the designated rooms and listened to professionals speak about their careers.

Depending on the career and speaker, the style of presentation varied. Decorative PowerPoint and an interview-esque conversation were the primary methods to engage students. Popular topics included the most rewarding aspects of a career, challenges that come with the profession and what an average, working day looks like. Lectures caught the eye of some Marauders due to sheer interest, while others sought concrete advice on what they wanted to pursue as a career.

“I was pretty interested in, maybe, not necessarily being a psychologist, but I

was interested in the path it took her to get there,” senior Iman Iqbal said. “That’s something I’ll definitely keep in mind.”

Many of the speakers were originally Maclay students themselves, while others were parents or spouses of members of the Maclay community. Most participants and spectators seemed to meet a general consensus on the event’s importance and why it remains a tradition at Maclay.

“As a freshman, or sophomore, or junior and even senior in high school, it’s sometimes hard to know where you want to go and what you want to do,” English teacher Jessica Kerner said. “Having the opportunity to listen to someone who maybe didn’t take the traditional route to get there I think is valuable, as someone who wanted to be a teacher since I was three-years-old.”

While the lectures focused on the fundamentals of the careers, they also touched on the process of entering those lines of work. The concept of being able to take various paths to reach a desired destination was emphasized throughout the event.

“I’ve always liked math, and I was originally a business major,” math teacher and Career Day education speaker Katy Gimbel said. “I was helping friends out with math in college, and one of my friends suggested ‘you should be a math teacher.’ I started thinking about it and thought ‘that sounds really fun.’”

With the efforts of the speakers and numerous questions from the students, several Marauders seemed to consider Career Day a success in terms of expanding their horizons with potential work in the future.

“I’m more interested in other career options than I thought before I came to see everyone,” Iqbal said. “I think there were less speakers than normal, but because they were all very varied, I got to see very different professions and backgrounds and how they got to their careers. I thought that was really interesting, and I liked that.”

GEM OF A CAREER. ARCHAEOLOGIST THADRA STANTON PAINTS A PICTURE OF WHAT A TYPICAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG LOOKS LIKE FOR STUDENTS. STANTON WAS ONE EXAMPLE OF CAREER DAY’S IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, WHICH ALLOWED HER TO INTERACT WITH THE STUDENTS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS LIVE.

EDUCATION ON EDUCATORS. MATH TEACHER KATY GIMBEL DISCUSSES THE UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH BEING AN EDUCATOR. GIMBEL HAS BEEN A PART OF THE MACLAY COMMUNITY AS BOTH A STUDENT AND NOW A TEACHER, AND SHE OFFERED INSIGHT TO HER STUDENTS ON HOW ASPIRATIONS CAN CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.

SEARCH: HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL? TECHNICAL PROGRAM MANAGER AND GOOGLE ASSISTANT ELI BUSEN VIRTUALLY TALKS ABOUT HIS JOURNEY TO GOOGLE IN LANGFORD HALL. WITH THE HELP OF ZOOM, CAREER DAY WAS ABLE TO BRING IN SPEAKERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND OFFER A DIVERSE RANGE OF DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT.

I’M MORE INTERESTED IN OTHER CAREER OPTIONS THAN I THOUGHT BEFORE I CAME TO SEE EVERYONE.”

PHOTOS

BEST BRIGHTEST AND THE

BY GABY EMENIKE

With college applications getting completed and decisions slowly making their way back to high school seniors, scholarships and financial aid are also on the mind of many students preparing to go to college next year. While scholarships can sometimes be difficult when it comes to the intense requirements, one in particular, the “Best and Brightest” scholarship focuses on the unique skills and qualities of Leon county students to give an opportunity to numerous teens for financial aid.

For the Maclay community, 12th grade students were encouraged to apply for the “Best and Brightest,” as the top winner will be awarded $1500, runners up with $750 and honorable mentions receiving $500. There were a total of 15 categories that the seniors could apply for, and one student was selected to represent the school for each group. The categories ranged from athletics to business to the performing arts. 30 applications were submitted to French teacher Cindy Stockstill and on Monday, Nov. 29, the 15 Maclay finalists were announced.

“I take all of [the teachers’] advice or input, and then I look at the people on the list and take students off of certain lists so that they’re in their best possible category,” Stockstill said. “Once I had the list, it ended up being a committee of five looking over the options.”

Since the scholarship is open to students all over Leon county, many steps are ahead for the

selected students. First, the nominated seniors will have to fill out an application with their services hors and academic achievements. In February, there will be an interview for each nominee by a panel of experts for their specific category. Finally, there will be a ceremony in May.

“Honestly I was very shocked that I actually got picked for the ‘Best and Brightest,’” senior and music finalist McKenzie Jackson said. “But I was also really excited for being able to have the opportunity to enter.”

The 2021 “Best and Brightest” ceremony was streamed virtually to ensure the safety of the students and their families due to COVID. With 2022 being the 17th year of running the “Best and Brightest” scholarship, the ceremony will be held in the Ruby Diamond Auditorium on Florida State University’s campus. With all the students participating from Leon county, a lot of nerves can come from being involved in such an advertised event, but students can rest easy knowing that three different candidates will be awarded for each category.

“I think the best thing they can do is to look at the portfolios that will be provided to see what our former winners have prepared and presented,” Dean of Student Affairs Heather Bas said. “Also practicing interviewing since their last interviews were on skype or zoom about a year ago with the junior interview series.”

MACLAY ANNOUNCES SENIOR BEST AND BRIGHTEST SCHOLARSHIP NOMINEES

BEST AND BRIGHTEST SENIORS

ART

BUSINESS

CAREER/TECHNICAL

PERFORMING ARTS

ENGLISH & LANGUAGE ARTS

JOURNALISM & MEDIA

PRODUCTION

LEADERSHIP

MATHEMATICS

MUSIC

PUBLIC SPEAKING

SCIENCE & HEALTH

SOCIAL SCIENCES

TECHNOLOGY

WORLD LANGUAGES

SARAH CAULLEY SOTO

KANENE NWOKEJI

MERCY CRAPPS

SHELBY WATSON

KATE KRIZNER

ABBY HUGILL

RYAN DAUNT

JAKOB BIRKEN

MCKENZIE JACKSON

COLLIN ROBERTS

NIRMAY BHANDERI

KATE SMITH

TREVOR GROSS

ELI MEARS

CROPS & CATTLE

AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND NUTRITION CLASSES EXPLORE ORCHARD POND AND AYAVALLA RANCH

SMELL THAT SWEET NATURE. SENIOR LILY STRICKLAND SNIFFS A FRESHLY PULLED RADISH. THE RADISH WAS PASSED AROUND THE GROUP SO THAT EVERY STUDENT COULD SEE (AND SMELL) THE KINDS OF FOOD ORCHARD POND GROWS. ELSEWHERE ON THE TOUR, STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT OTHER CROPS, INCLUDING STRAWBERRIES, KALE AND CITRUS.

“HOOVES-ON” LEARNING. TIM PHIPPS, OWNER OF AYAVALLA RANCH, INTRODUCES THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO HIS CATTLE RANCH. BEFORE GUIDING

PASSING THROUGH THE PASTURES. THE TWO CLASSES TREK THROUGH PART OF THE CATTLE PASTURE TO GET TO WHERE THE COWS ARE BEING HELD. AT AYAVALLA RANCH, THE CATTLE’S GRAZING GROUNDS ARE SEPARATED INTO SECTIONS BY ELECTRIC FENCES. IN ORDER TO SEE THE CATTLE GRAZING, THE GROUP HAD TO TAKE THE JOURNEY THROUGH ONE OF THESE SECTIONS, AND WERE ABLE TO SEE UP CLOSE THE KIND OF GRASS THE CATTLE TRIM DOWN.

DIGGING IN. SENIORS NOAH GREENSTEIN AND JIM MURRAH TASTE FRESHLY PICKED CITRUS. STUDENTS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TASTE MULTIPLE TYPES OF PRODUCE THROUGHOUT THE TOUR, BUT MOST STUDENTS HAD THEIR FOOD NEEDS MET AT ORCHARD POND’S ON-SITE MARKET. THERE, STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE NEWLY HARVESTED FOODS, SUCH AS THE CITRUS PICTURED, OR TREATS MADE FROM THE CROPS

UP CLOSE AND NON-PERISHABLE. AN EMPLOYEE OF ORCHARD POND TALKS TO THE TWO CLASSES ABOUT HOW THE LOCAL FARM’S CROPS ARE GROWN.

ORCHARD POND IS A CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARM, MEANING THEY USE NO PESTICIDES OR CHEMICALS TO GROW THEIR CROPS. INSTEAD, BLACK TARPS ARE PUT OVER THE ROWS OF PLANTS AND ACT AS THE FARM’S DEFENSE AGAINST PESTICIDES AND WEEDS.

BY SHELBY WATSON PHOTOS BY SHELBY WATSON

GAZING AT THE GRAZING. AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND NUTRITION STUDENTS LOOK UPON THE CATTLE GRAZING AS THE SUN SHINES OVERHEAD AT AYAVALLA RANCH. THE STUDENTS FACED QUITE THE EXPERIENCE WHEN THE CATTLE CHARGED TOWARDS THEM IN CURIOSITY. PHIPPS ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CATTLE AND HOW THE RANCH CYCLES THEM THROUGH GRAZING. LATER, STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO WALK PAST THE ELECTRIC FENCE AND GET CLOSER, THOUGH ANY ATTEMPTS TO PET THE CATTLE WERE REJECTED BY THE ANIMALS IN FAVOR OF EATING LUNCH.

THE GROUP TO SEE HIS CATTLE, PHIPPS DISCUSSED WITH THE CLASSES THE KIND OF TALL GRASS THE CATTLE GRAZE, AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF THE ANIMALS. PHIPPS WAS JOINED BY HIS SHEEPDOG ,GROMMET, WHO QUICKLY BECAME A STAR AMONGST THE STUDENTS.

OPINION SPOTLIGHT

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE

BROADWAY SHOW AND WHY?

I LOVED WICKED BECAUSE OF ALL THE SINGING, DANCING AND OVERALL PRODUCTION. I ALSO REALLY LIKED THE USE OF ALL THE PROPS.”

MAGGIE MURRAY

“

I LOVE THE MUSICAL HAMILTON BECAUSE OF HOW MOST OF THE SHOW IS RAP AND HIP-HOP MUSIC WHICH IS PRETTY UNUSUAL FOR A TYPICAL BROADWAY MUSICAL.”

MARIA BOULOS

“

I LOVE THE MOVIE SO SEEING MAMMA MIA ON BROADWAY WAS SO FUN GETTING TO SEE IT COME TO LIFE.”

SOPHIA PENLEY

“

DEAR EVAN HANSEN IS MY FAVORITE BROADWAY SHOW BECAUSE IT USES HUMOR AND GREAT MUSIC TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN MODERN-DAY AMERICA.”

SLATER BAYLISS

STUDENT OPINIONS ON THE THEATRE

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BROADWAY SHOW?

81 STUDENTS SURVEYED

BREAK A LEG!

SCAN HERE TO READ STAFF WRITER JOLIE BAUS’S OPINION ARTICLE ON APPRECIATING YOUNG ACTORS.

OF EVERY CAMPUS

CAMPUS CUSTODIAL CREWS ARE NOT GETTING THE APPRECIATION THEY DESERVE

BY GABY EMENIKE

When the afternoon hits and schooling ends for some, work is just beginning for others. With vacuums and mop buckets, custodial workers enter the empty classrooms to once again restore them to their clean state for the next day of learning. But with all custodians do to ensure cleanliness on school campuses, it is a mystery as to why many people don’t appreciate their work and often poke fun at them for their occupation. If not for the amazing job custodians and maintenance workers do for schools, it would become immensely difficult to upkeep a safe and healthy learning environment for students.

In many movies and in real life, there are often numerous people or characters speaking negatively about the jobs of custodial workers, making the

role of the “janitor” a cheap way to tell jokes. Additionally, with the popularity of social media, many teens partake in destructive and messy challenges for attention, failing to realize that someone will have to clean up after them. Bathrooms especially have become a custodian’s worst nightmare as teenagers are being reckless and erratic, often using the privacy of the restrooms to get away with their immature actions. Many students will spill food items and trash but choose not to pick up after themselves since they know it’ll be picked up at the end of the day. This kind of behavior leads to custodians having to do extra work that isn’t appreciated on top of their already overlooked workload.

Cleaning crews aren’t just

responsible for cleaning up after irresponsible students, as they often have to cover the entire campus before being able to return home. Sometimes, custodians have to start their job even later due to after school activities and sports, so they can often be the last group to leave campuses. This is because it isn’t simply the interior of buildings that have to be cleaned, but janitors and maintenance workers also have to work to maintain a sleek facade for campus facilities to keep the environment safe and clean. Despite their dedication and physically demanding work, students, teachers and other faculty members often don’t pay attention to the fact that every morning they enter freshly cleaned rooms.

For numerous schools, including the Maclay community, many staff members work in multiple different departments. Before the recent implementation of the new security team and additional cafeteria workers at Maclay, students could expect to see the same smiling faces that would serve lunch then go on to clean the campus after the school day was over. While the school does sometimes show its appreciation for its custodial and maintenance teams with award ceremonies and gifts, the efforts are never student driven. Despite quite a few staff members having been a part

A FRIENDLY FACE. MS. TIFFANY GAY IS ONE OF MACLAY’S NEWEST AND MOST OPTIMISTIC CUSTODIANS. AS IT IS HER FIRST TIME WORKING IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, SHE IS EXCITED TO MEET THE FRIENDLY FACES OF MACLAY. THOUGH SHE MOVES AROUND THE SCHOOL QUICKLY, SHE WILL ALWAYS PAUSE TO RETURN A SMILE.

of the Maclay community for many years, such as Mr. Glen (Maintenance) and Mr. Jim (Food Services), they sadly aren’t featured on the school’s directory page.

Perhaps more unfortunate than anything is the fact that many custodians are simply labeled by their occupation instead of their personalities. Similar to the jobs of waste management workers, janitor career paths have been unfairly stereotyped with the idea of being dirty and undesirable jobs. People fail to realize, however, the sacrifices campus cleaning crews make in order to provide a safe learning environment for students. Especially with the ever recurring seasonal flu and COVID-19 still posing a threat to learning spaces, the roles of custodial teams are more important than ever.

Schools need to start appreciating those who keep their environments beautiful and polished. First, the stigma around the career path needs to end. Then, there needs to be real recognition of those who take on the crucial custodian roles. Whether it be baking treats or just giving compliments to a member of a school’s cleaning crew, it is vital to show appreciation for custodians and janitors because of the long hours they put in to keep schools spotless and safe.

E X H A U S TED & A X I O U S N

BY MERRELL WEBSTER

With the loads of school work and the pressure of everyday life, it is no secret that students experience a large amount of anxiety and overwhelming emotions. In a five-day school week, students are learning to balance between their social and academic lives while also learning new information that holds them to a higher standard of academic achievement. Although taking mental health days can be risky when students get in the habit of skipping school, the benefits of having days devoted specifically to students’ mental health can drastically decrease stress, limit personal struggles and make the use of teaching or learning more effective.

With all of the stress that comes with classwork and homework, it is important that all kids are given a stress-free day. Having a day dedicated to making mental health a top priority will allow students to feel better about themselves mentally and physically. This is because being stressed can create a large toll on academic performance and hinder a student’s ability to give their best effort. According to NYU. edu, stress is the number one reported impediment to

academic performance. While the emotion of stress is inevitable, having mental health days that give students a break from school and drama will help students avoid the extreme destructive weight of having excessive stress.

If all students were given the opportunity to have mental health days, teaching and learning would become more effective for students. Students would grasp the concept of learning new material faster and become more eager to learn if they are given more days committed to their personal health. When students go to school for eight hours each weekday with few breaks, it makes it easier for students to fall behind and get into a routine of not caring about their academics and future. Research has shown that when schools take more mental health days, students feel as if they have received a tremendous amount of support and acknowledgment in regards to their well-being. Once a student feels heard and understood, they are more willing to show their dedication to academics. Having positive reinforcement through break days can decrease a student’s chance of having negative emotions, which will eventually lead to a feeling of

better mental health.

In the personal lives of most teenage students, depression and anxiety are key factors that can affect a student’s health. Whether or not certain teenagers feel stress, almost every person has had to deal with personal struggles. Some of those struggles can include family traumas, relationships and even existing mental illnesses. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, one in six children aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. Statistics like these demonstrate how important it is for students to have support and days where they can relax and recharge their brains. Having mental health days could be the only time students are able to take a break and relax their nervous systems. Allowing them to step back from the overwhelming pressure can save students who already have unfortunate circumstances from spiraling into deeper mental health issues that can cause serious consequences.

Some parents and schools may have the concern of students getting behind in their school work or using mental health as an excuse to skip class. It is equally important, however, that students

are given days to focus on slowing down their brain and decreasing the amount of stress, due dates and social pressures. Poor mental health can have more disastrous consequences than simply missing school. Because school’s are reluctant to have dedicated mental health days, most students are unaware of how to deal with new feelings of stress, anxiety, depression and exhaustion. Having certain tools and coping strategies can minimize any negative or destructive mental thoughts a student can have.

With all the stress, drama and obstacles students face in their everyday lifestyle, it is crucial that they are given more opportunities to focus on their well-being and health. The simple act of giving students a day dedicated to themselves and their health can promote not only positive reinforcement, but also awareness for the challenges many younger people are facing. Taking mental health days is a chance for students to properly treat their mind and body. Sometimes, even the smallest break can create a huge difference in the health of all students.

THE NECESSARY FACTORS TO WHY SCHOOLS SHOULD HAVE MENTAL HEALTH DAYS FOR THE BENEFITS OF ALL STUDENTS

DO YOU THINK SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE DESIGNATED MENTAL HEALTH DAYS?

BY KATE BULLOCH

When it comes to applying to colleges, one component that always seems to be consuming a student’s mind is their grade point average (GPA). A GPA is a certain number that represents a student’s grades and achievements in the classroom throughout their years in high school. Applying to universities requires a drawn-out process, particularly revolving around GPA. Although this method of establishing the knowledge of a student can be considered the most equal and efficient way to do so, evaluating students can and should be done differently, benefiting the successes of every student.

Many high school students take part in extra activities such as sports teams, leadership clubs and part time jobs. These other activities create a wellrounded and balanced student, but they also take time away from other things. Taking part in these activities can steal time that could otherwise be spent studying for school or improving a GPA. Although it is very important to maintain these grades, being wellrounded and having these other activities and leadership roles can help truly add to a person’s abilities. These strengths that students obtain from these extra activities can surpass the importance of a high GPA and should be considered heavily in the application process.

In the process of trying to achieve perfection, students spend so much of their time in high school worrying about maintaining their GPA that they forget to enjoy their experience. Loads of pressure and stress are put on students to do well on tests and in advanced classes in order to improve their GPA. While attempting to stay extremely focused on these grades, students meanwhile miss out on everything else. Being in clubs, participating in sports teams and spending time with friends are activities that everybody should experience rather

More thaN a GPA

than continuously having to worry about schoolwork. The stress these students get from focusing on school can lead to bigger mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, excessive weight loss and sleep issues. Worrying constantly about GPA is not worth the health problems it can lead to.

One inconsistent factor around the United States that affects students’ GPA are classes. Advanced classes may be more commonly offered at some schools than others, as it may be difficult for certain schools to provide them. AP classes, for example, require a fee to be paid for taking the class and exam, putting less fortunate people at a disadvantage. Although they cost money and are extremely difficult, these advanced classes are what are predominantly used to boost a GPA, considering their worth on the grading scale. Without the opportunities to take these classes, students are at an automatic disadvantage while trying to stand out in a group of other GPAs.

Although we live in a society that values test scores and collegiate education, it is important to stray from that

and begin to evaluate students as whole people. GPA matters over anything else in the eyes of students and universities, but this is not the most efficient and effective way to evaluate students. In the long run, a more well-rounded individual with experience and skill can become just as successful

as an individual with a high GPA. Beginning to encourage more individuality and well roundedness within students rather than just the ability to test well or meet a certain GPA can be a big turning point for society and the college application process.

STUDENTS

81

WHAT SHOULD BE WEIGHED THE MOST ON COLLEGE APPLICATIONS?

STUDENTS HAVE MORE TO OFFER THAN THEIR GRADE POINT AVERAGE

WE NEED TO APPRECIATE AND RESPECT

EDITORIAL

Every day is a bright and early morning for the Maclay maintenance crew as they spend their time cleaning and fixing the Maclay campus for all the students to enjoy. For every school, as far as people know, the campus does not clean itself. The custodial job requires a vast amount of hard work and effort to make sure the campus is properly maintained for all students, parents, faculty and visitors to take part in. Because of these efforts, it is apparent that students should appreciate and take pride in respecting their school campus as the custodial crew, maintenance workers and faculty put a lot of hard work and effort into making a welcoming, educational environment.

With all of the time and effort spent into making a comfortable and clean school campus, it is crucial that students respect their environment. For example, the cleaning and maintenance crew at Maclay spends their time working hard to make sure the lawn and grass are perfectly cut, while also planting flowers that are healthy and blooming for people to view around the entire campus. They make sure all bushes are hedged and pine straw is layed perfectly. Most importantly, however, the maintenance crew cleans up the Maclay campus to make sure there is no trash lying around. This dedication

to the beauty of the campus needs to be recognized and respected by those who get to spend most of their time in the environment.

“Many people do not know the difference between the Maclay Maintenance Crew and the Cleaning Crew,” Maclay Facility and Operations Director Scott Eagen said. “This crew keeps the campus beautiful in several ways. They are responsible for doing repairs and hanging things on campus that save the school thousands of dollars by not having to call a repair service. ” With all of the hard work that goes into making the Maclay campus a clean and healthy environment, it is important that students clean up after themselves and contribute to the maintenance and appearance of their school. When students leave trash and random items around the school campus, it requires another unnecessary amount of work. Maintaining an entire school campus can be challenging, so having students to help out in a way that includes simply picking up after themselves can ensure a clean environment and decrease the workload of the cleaning providers. Without the work and dedication of the cleaning and maintenance workers, the school campus would not be as clean and enjoyable as it is today.

it responsible up not that the students faculty. schools, around in looks the poorly people

I

OUR CAMPUS

AND RESPECT OUR SECOND HOME

be who the the Maclay Cleaning Operations crew several doing campus dollars ” into and important themselves maintenance

When items requires work. campus students simply ensure the providers. the the clean argue and school,

it is equally important that students are responsible and do their part to clean up after themselves. Most students do not realize or see the consequences that can come from not respecting the campus. The school belongs to the students as much as it belongs to the faculty. When students disrespect their schools, it can potentially hurt those around them who are ultimately putting in effort to keep the campus clean. If it looks like students do not care about the appearance of the school, it reflects poorly on them and the numerous people who visit the campus daily.

“A really big challenge the last two years has been the trash on the campus,” Eagen said. “With about 800 kids eating outside, the excessive trash is a lot to overcome. Some of the trash is due to wrappers blowing away in the wind. However, a good portion is students just not picking up after themselves. I know they sometimes get distracted and forget. Unfortunately, the number one response I get when I ask them to pick something up is ‘that’s not mine.’”

A school environment should look like a healthy and safe place for everyone to enjoy. When the campus is trashed with unnecessary items and materials, students are less likely to feel comfortable and visitors are more likely to not return. Leaving litter around the campus can bring the quality of life within the school down.

Having a campus filled with clutter can have negative results on learning and education. If students take pride in their school and the campus, the environment automatically becomes a more safe and comfortable place for not only other students, but faculty and visitors as well.

“My goal is to have the kids take pride in their campus and help keep the campus clean,” Eagen said. “If we could get the majority of the students to be in the habit of picking up their own trash, as well as more than one item, the campus would look great again.”

Having respect is one of the most important, fundamental aspects for the development of a healthy and green school environment. With the amount of work, time and effort put into maintaining the school campus, it is crucial that students acknowledge how important it is to respect the Maclay campus and everything around them. Most students do not understand that the campus isn’t magically well-kept every day, so taking more initiatives and starting new endeavors is a great way to show respect for fellow students, staff and the school itself. Saying something as simple as “thank you” to the custodial or maintenance crew, or taking 10 seconds to pick up a piece of trash, can go a significantly long way towards benefiting Maclay and other schools.

FEATURE SPOTLIGHT

ELI MEARS

GRADE: Senior

OFFICIAL POSITION: Co-President with Mercy Crapps

FUTURE GOALS/PROJECTS FOR CLUB: “A compost bin and coastal cleanups.”

PLANS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY: “A cleaner, more environmentally conscious Maclay campus and North Florida is the goal of the club.”

WHY SUSTAINABILITY IS IMPORTANT: “ Sustainability and helping the environment is the most important issue of our time because millions of species, including our own, are in massive danger. As first world high school students, that danger might not seem real because it doesn’t affect you as much—but it is crucial to me to be selfless and help the species who cant help themselves from humanity.”

ON STUDENT LEADERS MERCY CRAPPS

GRADE: Senior

OFFICIAL POSITION: Co-President with Eli Mears

FUTURE GOALS/PROJECTS FOR CLUB: “We are planning a second beach cleanup for the springtime and Maclay’s first Earth fair!”

PLANS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY: “We hope to educate Maclay students on the importance of recycling and taking care of the environment. Through leading by example, we hope to encourage Maclay students and the Tallahassee community to be more environmentally conscious.”

WHY SUSTAINABILITY IS IMPORTANT: “It is important because we currently only have one planet to live on. Pollution threatens life, transports chemicals and can ruin natural landscapes like beaches, rivers and forests. If everyone picks up after themselves, the world would be a lot cleaner.”

GOING GREEN

CAMPUS INITIATIVES

Maclay has a solar flower at the Beck Family Research Center that allows students to track solar energy.

Maclay has refillable water bottle stations for students to refill their water bottles without purchasing or using multiple plastic bottles a day.

Maclay has numerous recycling bins around campus for students and faculty to properly throw away their recyclable trash and other items.

MARAUDER ADVICE

“Do your part,” green initiative leader and junior Clayton Knox said. “We’re all made up of individuals, so if everybody does their part, then it’ll all work out.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KIM MCWILLIAMS

MOLLY’S MISSION

SENIOR MOLLY JOHNSON STARTS MACLAY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM TO AID NEW STUDENTS

BY ELLA PORCHER

Transferring to a new school is almost always a difficult feat. Students’ expectations of feeling welcome upon arrival never tend to be met, as changing to an unknown school environment can be a daunting process. No one knew this feeling better than Molly Johnson. As someone who was once a brand new seventh grader struggling to find her place in the Maclay community, Johnson was determined to create a program at Maclay that would make new students feel welcome and change their social dynamic for the better. That program eventually materialized into the Maclay Student Ambassador Program (MSA).

Johnson, who is now a senior, has been at Maclay for six years. Her family was involved with the school even before her arrival, with both her older brothers attending the school and her parents being involved in both the parent ambassadors and basketball programs. With a family so intertwined in Maclay, Johnson looked to create her own impact on the school.

“Sophomore year, in conversations with my friends who had been new students, I decided that the process of shadowing and being a new student at Maclay could be improved,” Johnson said. “So, in a meeting with Mr. Obrect and Ms. Robinson, they asked me if I would help start an ambassador program for Maclay. It has been a big passion of mine, and I have loved getting to help make it grow.”

The MSA is made up of upper school students who showcase leadership, responsibility and an eagerness to act as a welcoming branch for the Maclay community. These ambassadors collaborate with the Admissions Department to help incoming students and freshmen adjust to the difficult transition of switching to a new school and environment, while also promoting school spirit.

“I hope that it will just help people feel like they’re part of a community as new students, but we also are always doing work with current students too,” Johnson said. “I just would hope that it would bring us as a school together more and make people feel like they have a friend.”

Influenced by her personal

understanding of what transitioning to Maclay as a new student was like, Johnson was able to use her individual experiences to improve the formerly rocky transition students endured.

“Seventh grade was really hard because it wasn’t considered one of those ‘transition grades,’ so it was not very common for people to come in seventh grade,” Johnson said. “I guess looking back on that is kind of what made me want to do the Ambassador

thing it’s kind of missing, that was a goal of the Ambassador program, was to have what we call ‘One School Events,’ which means bringing together the lower school and the middle school and the upper school all together,” Johnson said. “So I really hope that in the future that will happen… Like I said, the goal of it is to make new students and current students just feel like they’re part of a community, and that applies to lower school and middle school students too.”

As part of the senior class, Johnson can only lead the program so far. As she prepares to leave Maclay for college, she is handing down the reins to current sophomore Jaclyn Summers. Even as a younger member of the team, Summers has been a part of the program since its establishment and shares the same drive for creating a community as Johnson.

“My favorite part about the program is definitely getting to meet new students,” Summers said. “Helping out in the community, helping out with the event and getting to work with people higher up at Maclay I think is a really great opportunity for just interacting with the community at Maclay”

Taking over Johnson’s position, Summers hopes to continue the successful journey Johnson has led the Student Ambassador Program on as it continues to grow every year.

“I definitely look up to Molly as one of my role models,” Summers said. “I think she’s really good at public speaking, so from when I got to experience her public speaking, I try to work on that some [too]. I admire how she just helps out, and she is a really kind person, and so I try to be like her and be kind and try to follow her

With students like Johnson, the Maclay community continues to thrive as motivated individuals such as herself are driven to improve inclusivity in their school environment.

“I just think that whenever my family moved to Maclay we just found another family to be a part of,” Johnson said. “I’ve loved being a part of the community. I think I’ll be a Marauder forever.”

A & E SPOTLIGHT

FAVORITE WINTER HOLIDAY TRADITIONS STUDENT POLLS

GOING TO CHURCH ON CHRISTMAS EVE BECAUSE IT HELPS ME TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.

KATE REICHELDERFER

DECORATING THE HOUSE AND CHRISTMAS TREE. IT’S MY FAVORITE BECAUSE IT GETS ME IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

KATELYN ELDRED

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG?

I LOVE DECORATING THE TREE BECAUSE IT’S FUN TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ORNAMENTS WE’VE COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS.

JENNA ADAMS

DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE BECAUSE I GET TO DO IT WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY AND IT’S A NICE BONDING ACTIVITY FOR US.

DEYANNI STEPHENS

81 STUDENTS SURVEYED

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE?

CHOOSE THE

MARVELOUS SIDE:

BY MEGHAN GOLETZ

When it comes to holidays and time off of school and work, most families decide to travel somewhere special. A debate amongst family members almost always occurs when deciding where to go for vacation. Often, the family ends up choosing the destination of a theme park. When vacationing at a theme park, no one will feel left out or disappointed since the numerous rides, shops and food choices almost always accommodate all family members. For families, going to a theme park is a great social and bonding experience. However, this begs the question, which theme park is the best choice? The state of Florida is a popular destination when it comes to theme parks, as it hosts two of the most well-known and competitive ones in the world: Universal Studios and Walt Disney World. While Disney World has its perks, Universal is the better theme park because of its amazing rides that appeal to all ages, spectacular shopping and dining options and helpful accommodations.

A big essential for theme parks is the rides, and Universal offers rides that are fun for all ages. Not only is Universal the perfect option for teens and adults that love the thrill of roller coasters, but it is also great for younger children and tweens are growing past “the princess stage” of Disney. In addition, Universal offers two whole theme parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. These two parks offer an abundance of roller coasters that many people love. For example, the classic roller coaster “The Incredible

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS IS THE BEST THEME PARK IN FLORIDA

Hulk” is in Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios has one of the biggest thrills in Florida with “Hollywood RipRide Rockit.” The two parks not only offer thrill rides for teens and adults, but also rides for younger kids and tweens as well. Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios’ kid-friendly rides include “The Cat in the Hat” and the incredible 3-D attraction “Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem.” With this wide variety of attractions to choose from, the whole family can have a fun time at Universal.

One of the most unique parts about Universal is its famous CityWalk. Universal CityWalk is composed of several dining, shopping and hangout opportunities. Most of Universal’s main restaurants and dining areas are designated here, so right when people arrive or leave the park they can grab a bite to eat. CityWalk has various quick dining and full service restaurants that are known for being delicious and fun. A couple of top dining options that Universal has to offer includes

“Red Oven Pizza Bakery” and “NBC Sports Grill & Brew.”

Not only does CityWalk have great food, but they also have outstanding entertainment. For example, CityWalk gives guests the opportunity to enjoy a luxury movie theater and a mini golf course. There are also multiple shopping opportunities for souvenirs and merchandise that can be purchased on the way out of the park. If there is a family member or individual who is not the biggest fan of riding rides, CityWalk offers a generous amount of games, shopping and entertainment options.

One of the worst feelings is losing a personal item on a ride or someone stealing a personal item from a cubby. Unlike other theme parks, Universal took this into consideration and put easily accessible lockers around their theme parks. Universal offers allday lockers for guests that want to leave their belongings for the whole day while they ride roller coasters. They also offer singletime use lockers at specific attractions so that guests can

WHICH THEME PARK WOULD YOU RATHER GO TO: UNIVERSAL OR DISNEY?

store their items while they ride a roller coaster, which they can then grab once they get off. This is not only convenient, but encourages guests to be responsible about their belongings.

Universal’s biggest theme park competitor, Disney World, may seem more appealing because it has four different theme parks, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Even though Disney has more theme parks than Universal, this does not automatically mean it’s better. In fact, attendees have to use a source of transportation to get to each of Disney’s spread-out parks. Meanwhile, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are connected and require no need for a possibly frustrating extra source of transportation. None of the four Disney parks are even within walking distance of one another, and being multiple miles apart can become pricey if a family or individual wants to travel to all four parks.

Universal proves to be the best theme park through its variety of rides which accommodate children, tweens, teens and adults. Universal even has its own CityWalk, which offers entertainment, food and fun for the whole family. They also give the option for guests to use their own lockers, which definitely comes in handy when riding intense roller coasters.

Individuals and families should not waste their time and money on tickets to any other theme park, as Universal is superior to them all.

CAN’T BEAT THE MAGIC:

DISNEY WORLD IS THE BEST THEME PARK IN FLORIDA

BY SHELBY WATSON

When you pass under those royal blue entry gates and glimmering gold letters that say “The Happiest Place on Earth,” you know you’re in for something special.

Disney is without a doubt one of the most recognizable companies to ever exist. From movies to TV networks to theme parks, Disney has made the childhoods of countless kids around the world. One of the company’s first big ventures into entertainment was the opening of the Disneyland theme park in California in 1955. The theme park was a huge success, leading to the opening of the much bigger Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida in 1971. Since then, several other theme parks have attempted to compete with Disney World in the American theme park industry, including big names like Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Six Flags and Busch Gardens. No matter how hard these theme parks try to surpass the sheer power of Disney World, however, “The Happiest Place on Earth” will always be the best theme park because it appeals to people of all ages, offers a wide variety of different attractions and truly cares about immersing guests into the Disney World experience.

One of Disney World’s most

the young adult age group other theme parks solely market to. Instead of only building roller coasters or adrenaline-inducing rides, Disney World ensures that everybody can have something to do no matter their age. Younger children can meet the characters and enjoy the slower rides; teenagers and young adults have a selection of thrill rides to pick from and adults can take part in eating and drinking festivals such as EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival. There is a reason why, according to Statista, Disney World’s Magic Kingdom was the most visited theme park in the world last year. It’s because Disney expertly caters to guests of all ages, allowing anyone to experience the magic.

When looking at America’s theme parks, it’s easy to see that nearly every one of them sticks to one theme or idea alone. For example, Universal Studios focuses on movie franchises; SeaWorld is solely themed on aquatic life and Busch Gardens centers around wild animals. Disney World, in comparison, gives its guests all of these themes and more, including parks that focus on movies, animals, the future, fantasy stories and a slew of other themes.

Consisting of four distinct theme parks, two water

district, Disney World easily offers guests the largest variety available in terms of activities to do at a theme park.

What truly sets apart Disney from the other theme parks is the care and detail Disney World puts into constructing their parks. Disney is all about telling incredible stories, and it’s their purpose to make guests feel as if they have been dropped into the middle of these stories themselves. In order to do that, Disney World pays exceptional attention to every aspect of its park. For example, Disney World actually pumps in smells to subconsciously engage the guests into their environment. Another fun fact is that because the 199ft “Tower of Terror” ride in Hollywood Studios could be seen from the World Showcase in EPCOT, the attraction was designed in a Moroccan style to blend in with the Morocco country section of the showcase.

One of Disney World’s biggest criticisms is that it is childish compared to the intensity and technological prowess of its biggest competitor, Universal Studios. While this opinion is purely based on taste, Disney World is actually advancing their technology just as much as Universal. “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance,” which opened in 2019, is one of Disney World’s most technologically impressive rides to date. Its mix of trackless ride vehicles, advanced animatronic figures and secret Disney magic set up serious competition for Universal. Disney World is even opening one of the world’s largest indoor roller coasters next year with “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” in EPCOT. People may dismiss Disney World because of its main aim towards children, but anyone who gives Disney a pass is truly missing out on the most unforgettable experiences. Anyone can have their opinion on which theme park they think is the most fun, but objectively there is no contest that Disney World is the best overall theme

IS OVER: THE WAIT

CRUMBL COOKIES FINALLY OPENS IN TALLAHASSEE.

BY JULIA LUCK

Crumbl Cookies, one of the most well known cookie stores all around the United States, is now right here in Tallahassee. After blowing up all over the internet, everyone has been raving about these delicious cookies. On Friday, Dec. 3, Tallahassee officially opened one of Crumbl Cookies’ famous stores in Bannerman. While Crumbl may just seem like another cookie store, there is something quite special that sets it apart from the rest. Every week, Crumbl Cookies comes out with four new flavors on the menu in addition to their permanent cookies, such as classic sugar and milk chocolate chip. Now the big question arises, is Crumbl Cookies overrated?

When you first walk into Crumbl Cookies, you are greeted by pink decor. The actual store is extremely small, especially when there are numerous people inside. There is only one register, but they have two ipads where you can select and pay for the cookies of your choice, which makes the line go much faster. The service is good, even when there is a mob of people inside the store. Crumbl makes all of the cookies fresh, and you can even see them making your order while you wait. Once you get the bright, pink box of cookies, they are nice and warm and “crumbl” the second you pick them up. The entire presentation is very appealing and makes your mouth water the second you look at your delicious cookies.

The actual look of the cookies are significantly better than the taste, however. The cookies are

so thick that you can only take one bite before you feel full. On top of that, the flavors for opening week left a bit to be desired.

For the opening day of Crumbl Cookies in Tallahassee, the flavors were Buttermilk Pancake, Hot Chocolate, Snickerdoodle, Milk Chocolate Chip, Red Velvet White Chip and Classic Sugar. The best cookie out of these six is by far the Red Velvet White Chip.

The cookies are a little overpriced as well. The prices of the cookies are $3.98 for a single, $13.18 for a four-pack, $19.58 for a six-pack and $34.08 for a party box which includes 12 cookies. The customer can choose which cookies they want inside each box, which makes for a nice customizable option. In terms of availability, Crumbl Cookies is very versatile. Customers have the option to have cookies delivered straight to their house, and if they do want to go inside, can opt for curbside pick up. On top of that, Crumbl also caters for big events. When catering Crumbl Cookies, you have the option of getting mini bite-sized cookies, which is a nice option for those at events who only want a small snack.

If you are in the mood for something sweet, Crumbl Cookies would be a great choice for some dessert. It may not be worth a far drive, but if you are in the neighborhood, then a Crumbl cookie could make for a tasty treat. Hopefully, there will be some new and better flavor choices in the next few weeks to make Crumbl Cookies the number one cookie shop in town.

PHOTOS BY JULIA LUCK

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

ON SOCCER CAPTAINS

RYAN DAUNT

GRADE: senior

SPORT: Varsity Boys Soccer

YEARS ON THE TEAM: Four

GOALS FOR THE TEAM: To win state ultimately, but also to lead our young team by building confidence and trust in one another.

FAVORITE SOCCER TRICK: “Pull Back V”

NOAH GREENSTEIN

GRADE: senior

SPORT: Varsity Boys Soccer

YEARS ON THE TEAM: Four

GOALS FOR THE TEAM: Win state championship

FAVORITE SOCCER TRICK: “Elastico”

KATE SMITH

GRADE: senior

SPORT: Varsity Girls Soccer

YEARS ON THE TEAM: Four

GOALS FOR THE TEAM: To become close on and off of the field, which will contribute to our success.

FAVORITE SOCCER TRICK: “Anything that involves using my head.”

STUDENT POLLS

81 STUDENTS SURVEYED

ARE PARTICIPATION TROPHIES DEVALUING THE THRILL OF COMPETITION?

NO (22 STUDENTS)

YES (59 STUDENTS)

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WINTER SPORT?

OPENING NIGHT

W I N

FREE THROW PRESSURE. JUNIOR CALEB HEUCHAN WALKS UP TO TAKE A FREE THROW SHOT WHILE THE OPPOSING TEAM AND JUNIOR SAWYER STONE WAIT FOR THE REBOUND. THE NUMEROUS FREE THROWS CAUSED BY FOULS WERE A BIG FACTOR IN ALLOWING MACLAY TO COME AWAY VICTORIOUS.

HANDS UP. SENIOR JAQUAY RANDOLPH AND JUNIOR BLAISE WALLACE DEFEND NORTH FLORIDA CHRISTIAN’S OUT OF BOUNDS PASS. POSSESSION OF THE BALL ALTERNATED FREQUENTLY BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS AS THE MARAUDERS AND EAGLES FOUGHT INTENSELY.

BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL DEFEATS NORTH FLORIDA CHRISTIAN IN SEASON OPENER

BY JACLYN SUMMERS

On a chilly Dec. 2 night at North Florida Christian (NFC), the Maclay Marauders played the NFC Eagles in a boys varsity basketball game. The game stayed close in score throughout the night, but the Marauders defeated the Eagles in the end, securing their first win of the season. The ending score concluded 52-45 at the boys’ first away game.

“The game is just so beautiful, and I love it so much, so it’s just so easy for me to go out there and give it my all,” junior Blaise Wallace said.

At the beginning of the game, the Marauders scored their first point right off the bat. The boys kept scoring on the Eagles until a Marauder fouled an NFC player. The Eagles were able to have a shot at two free throws, but ended up

making only one of the shots. This left the score 9-1 in the first few minutes with the Marauders in the lead. In a quick turn of events, the Eagles began to continuously drive the ball down the court and put some points up on the scoreboard for their team. Wallace stood out in the first half, and was able to dunk a few times on Eagle players in response. When the first half was over, the Eagles had taken the lead with a close score of 20-19.

“We all trusted each other and passed the ball around,” senior Jaquay Randolph said. “We played good defense, and followed up on each other. [We] just connected throughout the whole game.”

When the halftime break was over, the boys got back on the court. An intensity could be felt on both sides as the cheers of the

crowd echoed around the gym. There were two, eight minute quarters left, leaving no time to spare for each team with the score so close. Junior Michael Grant was a big help to his teammates in the third quarter as he secured and passed the ball around. Throughout this quarter, the score went back-and-forth between the two teams. The Marauders would score, but the Eagles would gain the ball right back and run down the court to score points of their own. Wallace went right back to dunking on the Eagles this half, putting several points up for the Marauders.

“I feel it was good and we got a lot of work to do,” Head Coach Eugene Granger said. “It was a great start, and we won the game.”

In the final quarter of the game,

the score was nail-bitingly close. With the Eagles fouling Maclay numerous times, the Marauders had many free throw opportunities throughout the quarter, giving them a bit of a leg-up and allowing several free chances at the net to score. In the end, Randolph stood out by shooting a few free throws and getting the ball close to the net for his team to score. With the Marauders keeping the intensity high until the night was over, Maclay got their first win of the season against NFC with a final score of 52-45.

PHOTOS BY JACLYN SUMMERS

SUWANNEE SHUT OUT

VARSITY BOYS SOCCER DEFEATS SUWANNEE 2-0

BY EVAN NGUYEN

Spectators bundled up to cheer on boys varsity soccer as they battled the Suwannee Bulldogs on Dec. 2 at Frank Shaw Field. The Marauders won the game with a score of 2-0 after originally tying to the Bulldogs earlier in the season.

“We’ve worked all week on defensive shape and stepping to the ball and developing a culture, and tonight we performed very well against a team that we tied to at the beginning of the year,” Head Coach Andy Warner said. “We took two steps forward today, and I’m very pleased with the performance and the attitude of the team.”

The first half started off with senior Ryan Daunt scoring the first goal after a header from striker RJ Hosay. Daunt then followed up with another goal assisted by midfielder Tucker Hicks off of a free kick, leaving Maclay up by two. The Maclay boys made numerous attempts at the net, but only two were able to make it in.

“We played more as a team in the first half,” Hosay said. “This allowed us to have more shots on goal which allowed us to win the game.”

Suwannee played a very aggressive game, but Maclay had a lockdown defense that shut them out. One crucial part of the defense was senior Eli Paddack, who came in as a new goalkeeper this year due to an injury of the previous goalie, senior Colin Willett. The chemistry between the back four defensive players and Paddack allowed Maclay to have a huge advantage.

“We played a lot more aggressive, a lot more physical and we started on the front foot,” sophomore Defensive Midfielder Aiden Meritt said. “During the game, we made a lot of silly mistakes, which let them hang with us.”

This year Maclay has a younger team than last year, with freshman Colin Edwards, freshman Zac Scovotto and freshman Henry Fernandez being on the team. So far, Maclay has gone 5-2-1 this season, winning five, tying one. They lost to Chiles and Lincoln. Maclay’s next game is on Dec. 3 against Florida State University High School at their stadium.

STUART SWIMS TO LSU:

SENIOR

CONTINUES HIS SWIMMING CAREER BY SIGNING WITH THE LSU TIGERS

As the end of the first semester comes to a close for the 20212022 school year, senior Stuart Higdon extends his swimming career by signing to Louisiana State University (LSU). Originally, Higdon verbally committed to LSU his junior year at the beginning of November in 2020. Higdon kept his word and signed to the school in the Webster Gym at 10:30 a.m on Dec. 2. Friends, fellow students, teammates, swimmers, coaches and family all gathered to celebrate and watch Higdon sign.

The amount of progress and dedication Higdon has shown in his career is the main reason why he went to the next level by swimming in college. LSU is a Division 1 school located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

“Stuart’s hard work plays a bigger role than his talent,” Maclay

Swim Coach Pavel Sankovich said. “I think he [is] only lightly tapped into his potential as a swimmer and there are improvements. He is a very positive individual to be around; hard worker [in and out] the pool. There’s no doubt he leads with an example.”

Higdon swims for Maclay school as well as Tallahassee Aquatic Club (TAC). Early on in his career in 2016, Higdon’s 500 yard free time was 5:29.99, but this past year his best time was 4:24.81. With his dedication, Higdon cut off over a minute in his main event. Another major improvement was Higdon’s 200 yard free. In 2016 his time was 2:03.32, and this year it was 1:36.91.

“I chose LSU for the atmosphere of the campus and the culture,” Higdon said. “I also chose that school because their swim

program is getting a lot better and will soon be competitive in the SEC. I look forward to game day in Death Valley the most and just experiencing college.”

Another major accomplishment Higdon made was in the 20212022 swim season for Maclay. He finished first and won the Florida state championship swim meet. He also finished third in the 200 yard

free. The year before, he finished fourth in the 500 yard free and fifth+ in the 200 yard free.

“He works super hard in the pool and always stays focused on swimming,” swim teammate Duel Yearty said. “He’s always got my back. He’s just a good ole boy, respectful and understanding of stuff.”

BY RJ HOSAY

STUART HIGDON

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STACY PADDACK

PHOTOS BY RJ HOSAY

PREPARE FOR LAUNCH. SENIOR HAYDEN HILLIARD THROWS THE BALL INTO THE OPPOSING TEAM’S GOALIE BOX. MACLAY SCORED THEIR FIRST GOAL DUE TO ONE OF THESE SIDELINE THROWS, WITH JUNIOR RJ HOSAY HEADING THE BALL TO SENIOR RYAN DAUNT, WHO VOLLEYED THE BALL INTO THE BACK OF THE NET.