Swimmers take state, break records 20
It seems like I’ve been using this one word to answer all the questions I’ve received since joining the MUS faculty after having graduated only five years ago.
“What’s it like to be back?”
“How does it feel to be an MUS teacher?”
“Mr. Fockler, what pages do we have to read for homework tonight?”
OK, maybe it’s not the answer to ALL the questions, but you get the point. I could not be more grateful to be back walking the halls of a place that has meant so much to me over the years, a place that has had a huge influence on the person I am today. For the most part, I’m getting back in the swing of MUS life, except for the whole being-asked-tocall-fellow-teachers-by-their-first-names thing. I’m sorry, Mrs. Crosby, but I’m not suddenly going to start calling you, or Mr. Askew, or Mrs. Gates, or any of my Upper School teachers, by your first names. I still remember sitting in your classrooms, answering questions, listening, taking notes, or, at least trying really hard to make it look like I was. I continue to emulate and respect not only the teachers I had but also the entire MUS faculty, and I am extraordinarily humbled to be part of
this academic family.
My re-entry into the MUS atmosphere coincided with my five-year reunion. I was able to get together with some of the guys I hadn’t seen since we graduated into the MUS alumni fraternity. In preparation for the homecoming/reunion festivities, I started going through some old yearbooks and stumbled across an article I don’t think I had read before. Written by a friend and former teammate, Matt Montsinger ’11, the piece covered the 2009-10 varsity soccer season. Reading through the paragraphs, I was flooded with memories of games, trips, dinners, practices, speeches in Scottish accents, more practices, and other moments the team had shared. But the way Matt closed his article is what truly got to me: “Looking back on the season, I didn’t see a soccer team like ones most schools have. I saw more a close-knit family, who had been playing together for years, and who shared a tight bond on and off the field. While not winning a state championship was a huge damper on our season, I am so much happier with the relationships and bonds I developed … those strong relationships will last much longer than any accolades we could have won.”
These words reveal a part of education that often gets lost in the stressful and competitive environment of American academics. There are two sides to a human brain. The left side governs
reality and rationality. It’s the side that every student flexes with every math problem, essay, and scientific experiment undertaken. The left side allows us to read, write, calculate, and analyze – all the skills we’d expect to get out of a high-level education. But every human also has another side to his or her brain. The right side gives us creativity, imagination, intuition, and artistic expression. It allows us to sing songs, play music, paint landscapes, and create our own imaginary worlds. It allows us to imagine what can be. It gives us the instinctive desire to create and to express ourselves creatively.
Here at MUS students are encouraged not only to excel in the classroom but also to find creative outlets – and learn something about themselves in the process. Students can find these outlets on an athletic field or in a studio, on a stage or on a canvas, by oneself or in a cast, band, or team. As Montsinger reminded me, being part of this MUS community means more than the accolades or scholastic achievements one can attain. It’s about making bonds or memories that shape us forever.
Looking back at my time at MUS, I don’t think as much about the lectures I heard and the PowerPoints I saw in my 8:15to-3:15 routine as a student. Yes, these lessons were important and allowed me and my fellow students to advance to college, but the lessons that have stayed
with me most are those learned – and the bonds made – while not sitting at a desk. I remember the friendships forged during soccer games on Webb Field. I remember the comical or meaningful discussions in a teacher’s office. I remember pulling together
with cast and crew during late-night dress rehearsals on the Hyde Chapel stage.
These lessons and relationships build the “well-rounded young men of strong moral character,” described in our school’s mission statement.
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When asked “What was your time at Memphis University School like?” these are the lessons, these are the bonds, these are the memories that cause me – and, I suspect, other proud MUS graduates – to answer with one word: “Surreal.”
25 Varsity Grapplers Advance to State
28 Basketball Homecoming, Athlete Awards
Amid their fellow students, faculty, and family members, 23 Owls were inducted into the Cum Laude Society during a chapel ceremony in February. Membership is modeled on Phi Beta Kappa, the highest academic honor students in secondary school can receive. As expressed in the society’s motto, Areté, Diké, Timé (Excellence, Justice, Honor), eligibility in the Cum Laude Society demands students meet the highest standards in academic performance, character, and personal conduct.
The guest speaker and first inductee of the day was Mr. Jim Buchman, a renowned sculptor and an arts instructor at MUS. In his address he encouraged the inductees to contemplate the meaning of excellence and how it is achieved, and to be careful when asked to consider fame and fortune over quality.
“Remember Henry David Thoreau,” Buchman said. “He
moved to Walden Pond to live deliberately. Do that – live deliberately. After all, you know what deliberate living is. You could not have achieved your academic excellence unless you did.”
The inductees from the Class of 2016 are Reed Barnes, Sam Bartz, Tucker Colerick, David Dabov, Nathan Dinh, Philip Freeburg, Danny Harris, Kyle Lam, Murray Morrison, Josh Myers, Bilal Siddiq, and Colin Threlkeld
The inductees from the Class of 2017 are Philip Deaton, Andrew Douglass, Brooks Eikner, Kian Ghodoussi,
Ammaar Kazi, Rahul Mehra, Aneesh Ram, Ramiz Somjee, Jacob Suppiah, Henry Trammell, and Tom Wells
Current members, inducted last year, are seniors
Chandler Clayton, Forest Colerick, Dylan Echlin, Witt Fesmire,
Grayson Lee, Will McAtee, Saatvik Mohan, Patrick Murphy, Patton Orr, and Daniel Tancredi
New Cum Laude Society members are, front row, from left: Danny Harris, Ammaar Kazi, Henry Trammell, Philip Deaton, David Dabov, Bilal Siddiq, Kyle Lam; middle row, Brooks Eikner, Jacob Suppiah, Kian Ghodoussi, Rahul Mehra, Nathan Dinh, Josh Myers; back row, Colin Threlkeld, Tucker Colerick, Aneesh Ram, Andrew Douglass, Philip Freeburg, Murray Morrison, and Sam Bartz. Not pictured: Reed Barnes, Ramiz Somjee, and Tom Wells.The 2015-16 Russell-Shelton Spelling Bee ended in December with a knock-down, drag-out among five finalists: eighth graders Connor Hamilton, Clay Hancock, Jim Keegan, Blake Sexton, and defending champion, Gregory Guo. After Keegan and Guo went face-to-face in the final round, Guo was the last man standing. English instructors Mrs. Sally Askew and Mr. Dax Torrey ’94 presided over the event. After advancing through an MUS geography bee and the regional 2016 National Geographic Bee online test, seventh grader Michael Gallagher qualified to compete in the state competition in early April. There, fellow Memphian John Webster from Cordova took top honors for the second year in a row.
Sophomore Charlie Evans and freshman Jory Meyers earned recognition in the 2016 WordSmith Writing Olympics, co-sponsored by the University of Memphis Department of English and the Shelby-Memphis Council of Teachers of English in late February.
In addition to Evans and Meyers, senior Patrick Murphy, sophomore Graham Boswell, freshman Sellers Shy, and
students from 24 other schools competed in a daylong event that included a variety of timed writing “dashes.” The top five competitors of each dash then advanced to a final 400-word Main Event for each grade level.
Evans won honorable mention in the 80-Word Dash, second place in the Main Event for 10th graders, and a 10th-grade school trophy for third place overall (a tie between MUS and Houston). Meyers won first place in the 120-Word Dash and honorable mention in the Main Event for freshmen. Dr. Eric Dalle ’93, instructor in English and French, was the writing coach for the Owls.
For over 35 years, WordSmith has been dedicated to recognizing talented young writers in the Memphis area and to stressing the importance of strong communication skills.
Charlie Evans Jory Meyers
From left, Gregory Guo, Connor Hamilton, Jim Keegan, and Blake Sexton begin the final round of the 2015-16 Russell-Shelton Spelling Bee.
Mr. Dax Torrey, left, and Mrs. Sally Askew, right, congratulate Gregory Guo on his spelling bee victory.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation honored 28 seniors earlier this year, 15 as Semifinalists and 13 as Commended Students. Twelve of the Semifinalists have advanced to National Merit Finalist status: Reed Barnes, Sam Bartz, Chandler Clayton, Forest Colerick, Witt Fesmire, Gil Humphreys, Grayson Lee, Saatvik Mohan, Murray Morrison, Patton Orr, Daniel Tancredi, and Colin Threlkeld.
As finalists they will compete for 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million. The NMSC will announce scholarship recipients from March through May.
Initiated in 1955 the National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition that recognizes and
awards high-achieving students. High school students enter the National Merit Program by fulfilling several entry requirements and by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), an initial screening of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year.
To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist and his high school must submit an application detailing the candidate’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. Finalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, provide endorsement from a high school official, write an essay, and earn an SAT score
confirming their earlier performance on the qualifying test.
“The young men who are recognized by the National Merit Corporation as scholarship Finalists have proven themselves to be outstanding test-takers and accomplished students in the classroom,” Upper School Principal Barry Ray said. “To be a Finalist a student must have earned a PSAT score at or above the 99th percentile. Colleges and universities around the country seek to enroll students who have attained Finalist status. We are proud of this group of young men. They have continued a long history of National Merit Finalists from Memphis University School.”
National Merit Finalists are, front row, from left, Chandler Clayton, Forest Colerick, Saatvik Mohan, Murray Morrison; middle row, Sam Bartz, Reed Barnes, Grayson Lee; back row, Colin Threlkeld, Patton Orr, Witt Fesmire, Daniel Tancredi, and (not pictured) Gil Humphreys.Six Owls qualified for the 2016 National History Bowl after advancing to the varsity division playoff rounds in the West Tennessee Fall History Bowl, a day-long team history quiz competition.
Seniors Tom Fowlkes, Colin Threlkeld, and Zach Shulkin, juniors Brooks Eikner and Aneesh Ram, and sophomore Jackson Howell competed as two teams in the regional bowl, hosted by First Assembly Christian School in November. The team of Fowlkes, Shulkin, and Threlkeld advanced to the quarterfinal round, falling to a Germantown High School team, the eventual tournament champions. The team of Eikner, Howell, and Ram advanced to the semifinal round, where they fell to a Lausanne team, the eventual runners-up of the tournament.
Qualification for nationals depends on regional play, in which teams compete in five preliminary rounds of four quarters each. Teams winning at least half of their preliminary games qualify to advance to the national bowl, and both teams of Owls did so.
From left, junior Will Schneider, sophomore Omkar Hosad, junior Ohm Patel, and sophomore Jackson Moody brought home the championship trophy from Collierville High School’s fourth annual Math Bowl in February. Eight teams represented six schools in the round-robin games that established seeding for the double-elimination round, which resulted in the Owl victory.
Three math scholars qualified to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination in March – junior Ohm Patel and sophomores Jackson Moody and Chang Yu – and Patel advanced to the 2016 USA Math Olympiad in April. He is the only Memphis high school student and one of only two from Tennessee to advance.
“Qualifying for the USAMO is an uncommon and noteworthy mathematical achievement,” said Dr. Steve Gadbois, instructor in math.
The path to the Math Olympiad begins each February with the American Math Competition, open to any high school student. The AMC’s top scorers proceed to the American Invitational Math Exam, which in turn feeds the even more selective Olympiad test. Top qualifiers in the USA Math Olympiad earn an all-expense-paid trip this summer to an intensive training session, at which the U.S. International
Math Olympiad team will be selected for competition July 6-16 in Hong Kong.
Consider the following problem from the 2015 AIME. Dr. Gadbois will award a shiny new Rubik’s Cube to the first person who works out the correct answer without assistance.
For any positive integer n, let s(n) denote the sum of the digits of n (for example, s(247)=13). Find the smallest positive integer n satisfying s(n)=s(n+864)=20.
From left, Jackson Howell, Brooks Eikner, Zach Shulkin, Colin Threlkeld, and Tom Fowlkes Ohm Patel Jackson Moody Chang YuFirst Semester 2015-16 School Year
Dean’s Scholars
Students who have earned 90 or above in every regular and honors course and 80 or above in every honors accelerated and AP course are designated Dean’s Scholars.
Grade 12
Reed Barnes
Sam Bartz
Chandler Clayton
Forest Colerick
Tucker Colerick
David Dabov
Nathan Dinh
Dylan Echlin
Witt Fesmire
Tom Fowlkes
Philip Freeburg
Matt Fuess
Danny Harris
Austin Hord
Henry Keel
Cameron Lakin
Kyle Lam
Grayson Lee
Eric Makapugay
Mac McArtor
Saatvik Mohan
Murray Morrison
Patrick Murphy
Josh Myers
Patton Orr
Andres Salas
Bilal Siddiq
Henry T. Stratton
Daniel Tancredi
Colin Threlkeld
Grade 11
Darius Cowan
Philip Deaton
Andrew Douglass
Brooks Eikner
Kian Ghodoussi
Marcus Gronauer
Grady Hecht
Alex Hyde
Josh Karchmer
Ammaar Kazi
Cade Klawinski
Ravi Lipman
Rahul Mehra
Ogonna Oraedu
Ohm Patel
Aneesh Ram
Will Schneider
Sloan Schneiter
Ramiz Somjee
Jacob Suppiah
Henry Trammell
Tom Wells
Alex Wolf
Ray Zhou
Grade 10
Josiah Crutchfield
Charlie Evans
Benjamin Freeman
Jackson Howell
Jeremy Jacobs
Liam Kaltenborn
Brad Kerkhof
Barry Klug
Jackson Moody
Rick Reinhard
Jon Staffel
Matthew Temple
Leon Vo
Bobby Wade
Jacob Webb
Chang Yu
Grade 9
Andrew An
James Blatchford
Sonny Charbonnet
Ethan Hurst
Ethan Lam
William Quinlen
Sellers Shy
Zuhair Somjee
Loyd Templeton
Weston Touliatos
Grant Young
Philip Zanone
Grade 8
Reid Chandler
Kyle Koester
Ben Lindy
Charles Long
Rob McFadden
Will Portera
Arjun Puri
Cole Saenz
Jim Thomas
Loi Vuong
Grade 7
Warren Barry
Ben Burkhart
Drew Burnett
Wesley Butler
Luke Donovan
Judson Fair
Hart Gowen
Cooper Grinspun
Zachary Herman
Will Jarratt
Fisher Marks
Hud McGehee
Watts Miller
Gavin Murrey
Fawwaz Omer
Ryan Peng
Will Schuessler
Edwin Shy
Carrigan Sulcer
Charles Treadway
Wes Vanderslice
J.P. Wood
Tamaz Young
Tylyn Young
Dean’s List
Students who have earned a weighted semester GPA of at least 3.25 with no semester grade below 80 are placed on the Dean’s List.
Grade 12
Hudson Anthony
Alex Barksdale
Andres Carro
Ben Daniel
Matthew Davidoff
Jackson Dickinson
Billy Dunavant
Matt Flaherty
Bolton Gayden
Andrew Hanissian
Cole Harrison
Gil Humphreys
Dylan Jones
Austin Lacy
Jason Lin
Will McAtee
Winn Medlock
Max Murray
Jonathan Peters
William Rantzow
Jack Richman
Chris Roberts
Russell Sands
Ethan Schaffer
Parker Sexton
Zach Shulkin
Jasce Smith
Reid Smith
Swep Wallace
Theo Wayt
Eli Weinberg
Wesley Wells
Connor Whitson
Grade 11
Webster Austin
Burch Baine
Chris Barksdale
Christian Berry
Ishan Biswas
Osman Blackett
Jack Crosby
Frederick Danielson
Reeves Eddins
Kobe Gibson
Charlie Gilliland
Josh Gray
Davis Harano
Andrew Hopkins
Walker Horn
Nelson Kaye
Parker Kaye
Zachary Klinke
Jamie Lindy
Jalon Love
John McBride
Jack McCaghren
Jake Meskin
Kanha Mishra
Ryan Pahlow
Mayur Patil
Steven Regis
Alex Robinson
Joey Rodriguez
Jacob Rotter
Kirk Ruaro
Mason Rudolph
Alex Salazar
Trent Scull
Matt Silver
Evan Smith
Will Tomes
Josue Vela
Whit Waggoner
Timothy White
Cole Wilder
Luke Wilfong
Louis Wittenberg
Grade 10
Ryan Aghabeg
Tavion Alexander
Tate Bailey
Mack Bethell
Joe Carter
William Dellinger
Buchanan Dunavant
Jack Eason
Sean Fitzhenry
Matt Fogelman
Eli Gruen
Carlo Guinocor
Alex Humphreys
David Jones
Marshall Jones
Aidan Lonergan
John McBride
Thompson McDonald
Bo McEwan
Hastings McEwan
William Miller
Jimmy Morrow
Tyler Rakers
Peter Raves
Javan Smith
Stan Smythe
Hayden Stark
Matthew Strock
Mylan Taylor
Trey Thomas
AJ Varner
Jason Wang
Bays Webb
Jake Wilbourn
Jonathan Williams
Cameron Wyatt
Grade 9
Louis Allen
Tareq Alyousef
Joshua Blackburn
Garrott Braswell
David Byrd
Stephen Christenbury
Anders Croone
Walker Crosby
Brock Dallstream
Jonathan Douglass
Henry Duncan
Eddie Feild
JoJo Fogarty
Call Ford
Trey Fussell
Reagan Griffin
Stuart Grow
Nicholas Guerra
Clay Harrison
Nicholas Hurley
J.J. Johnson
Grayson Kendall
Lee Linkous
Emerson Manley
John Mann
Smith McWaters
Hudson Miller
Thomas Mirth
Kayhan Mirza
Robbie Musicante
Eli Nations
Sam Nelson
Ev Nichol
Houston Pate
Jack Powell
Caleb Riggs
Matthew Rogers
Wright Sampietro
Omar Selim
Sidney Selvidge
Jet Tan
Warren Turner
Billy Weiss
Henry Wells
Ty Williams
Henry Wood
Philip Wunderlich
Grade 8
Churchill Akhigbe
Hall Barry
Lucio Blanco-Rosa
Henry Bridgforth
Sam Burchett
Ben Cramer
Arnab Das
Charlie Eason
Cameron Evans
Jack Fernandez
Michael Gayoso
Charlie Gilbert
Clay Hancock
Fox Harris
Jonathan Huang
Jerry Peters
Seth Richey
Benjamin Sklar
McKee Whittemore
Russell Williamson
Inam Zafar
Grade 7
Harmon Colvett
Doug Curtis
Michael Gallagher
Rhodes Heard
Ben Hernandez
McKnight Johnston
Warren Johnston
Akbar Latif
Cullen Lonergan
Henry Nickey
Holden Pate
Matthew Phillips
Jacob Rickels
Henry Robinson
Aidan Saunders
Max Shackelford
Haneef Usmani
Michael Wylie
Seventh and eighth graders got a taste of international relations and earned high recognition during the YMCA Middle School Model United Nations held at Memphis City Hall in early December.
The 33 students dealt with such dire issues as decreasing sex trafficking and obtaining aid for Syrian refugees. Representing countries of their choosing, the delegates argued their cases before the General Assembly in hopes of having their resolutions passed. Five resolutions made it to the final docket, and one advanced.
The convention passed “Decreasing
Child Labor and Sex Trafficking in Belize” by eighth graders Parth Dahima, Kyle Koester, and Charles Long , representing Belize. The resolution “Requesting U.N. Aid for the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Greece” by eighth graders Benjamin White and Inam Zafar, representing Greece, won an Outstanding Resolution award.
Other final-docket resolutions included “Rebuilding of Sri Lanka” by eighth graders Jim Keegan and Seth Richey, representing Sri Lanka; “Lessening the Misuse of People” by seventh graders Hart Gowen, Carrigan Sulcer, and Charles Treadway, representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and “Requesting Financial Aid for the Flooding Crisis” by seventh graders Banks Benitone, Rhodes Heard , and Rishi Patel, representing Malawi.
Outstanding Delegate designations went to Benitone and Treadway as well as eighth grader Arjun Puri, representing Iran, and seventh grader Daniel Russell, representing Burkina Faso.
Model U.N. Coach Whit Tenent ’00 was pleased with the delegates’ hard work.
“This year’s team did a wonderful job representing MUS at the convention,” he said. “This was the first year in my memory that MUS had as many as five
resolutions on the final docket. I am very proud of the all the hard work the boys did this past fall.”
The MUS delegation also included eighth graders Bo Abbay, Churchill Akhigbe, Caleb Brock, Reid Chandler, Gregory Guo, Keithran Hopson, Daniel Meskin, Blake Sexton, Benjamin Sklar, Graham West, and Jonah Wexler; and seventh graders Doug Curtis, Cooper Grinspun, Akbar Latif, Scott Ledbetter, Fawwaz Omer, Will Schuessler, and Ahmad Selim
From left, Will Schuessler, Charles Treadway, Carrigan Sulcer, and Hart Gowen at City Hall Coach Whit Tenent and 33 delegates represented MUS at the YMCA Middle School Model United Nations held at Memphis City Hall in early December.
If you see a waist-high Optimus Prime cleaning your local park in the future, you can thank the RoboBuzzards. The Lower School robotics team competed against 40 teams in the West Tennessee FIRST LEGO League
Championship February 6 at University of Memphis and earned a first place award in the Innovative Solutions category.
Trash Master, winning entry and brainchild of eighth grader Sam Burchett, is a design for a remote-controlled robot that would conduct community service tasks. Operators would remotely control the robot to clean an area, such as a park. This service would, in turn, earn the operators virtual tours of famous attractions and landmarks. Besides developing the concept, display, and sales pitch, the team created several 3-D printer versions of the robot and shared their information in online communities for development.
Mr. Garrett Smithson, instructor in science and Lower School robotics club sponsor, was impressed by the team’s preparedness and announced some upcoming changes in the Lower School robotics program.
“The boys showed some real ingenuity this year. They arrived ready to share their ideas, test their abilities, and present creative solutions to the various problems. Their ideas stood out from the crowd,” he said. “I look forward to working with many of these boys and their families next year as we switch to VEX Robotics.”
With their FIRST LEGO League trophy for innovation are Lower School robotics team members, standing, from left, Akbar Latif, Sterling Hollabaugh, Cullen Lonergan, Cameron Evans, Reid Chandler, Vijdan Gill, Kemen Rosario; sitting, Omar Alyousef, Sam Burchett, and Wesley Butler. Club members not pictured are seventh graders Cooper Grinspun, Ben Hernandez, Robert King, Fisher Marks, and Charles Treadway. From left, Fisher Marks and Cullen Lonergan scope out the playing field.After the Mock Trial team advanced to state last year, faculty sponsors Mrs. Elizabeth Crosby, English Department chair, and Mrs. Michelle Crews, instructor in English, looked forward to this year.
Most team members were returning with at least one year of experience under their belts, and they would be in the qualified counsel of Ms. Rhea Clift, assistant district attorney, and Mr. Preston Battle ’07, a third-year student at Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Both had been MUS coaches for several years.
“Rhea and Preston are excellent teachers,” Crosby said. “They spent Wednesday and Sunday afternoons
with the boys for almost two months – about 60 hours of volunteer instruction! That’s not even counting the nights at the courthouse at 4-5 hours a pop. It’s remarkable how much time they gave the boys.”
The Red Team, captained by senior Grayson Lee, included seniors Andrew Hanissian, Saatvik Mohan, Patrick Murphy, and Patton Orr; junior Kanha Mishra; and sophomores Smith Duncan and AJ Varner.
Sophomore William Miller was captain of the Blue Team of juniors Matthew Horton, Ohm Patel, and Joey Rodriguez; sophomores Omkar Hosad, Barry Klug, and Peter Raves; and freshman Henry Duncan.
Andrew Hanissian, three Best Witness Awards
Kanha Mishra, two Best Attorney Awards
Smith Duncan, Best Witness Award
Grayson Lee, Best Attorney Award
Saatvik Mohan, Best Attorney Award
Trials began in early February with both MUS teams performing well and advancing in the early rounds. A few nights into the third round, however, the season began to look less promising when Central’s prosecution defeated the Blue Team. A last-minute bracket change on February 11 then sent the Red Team into a three-hour battle against St. Mary’s formidable prosecution. The Red Team fell, ending the Owls’ season.
Though their exit was unexpectedly early, the teams proved the quality of their work by garnering 16 awards for their roles as attorneys and witnesses.
Barry Klug, three Best Witness Awards
Ohm Patel, two Best Attorney Awards
Henry Duncan, Best Witness Award
William Miller, Best Attorney Award
Joey Rodriguez, Best Attorney Award
Mrs. Analice Sowell, instructor in science, and Mr. Loyal Murphy ’86, instructor in math, had a challenging mission on January 27 and 28: Safely escort 17 Materials Science students to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, give them a taste of the many engineering and science careers available there, and return from that east Tennessee location, known as The Secret City, in less than 36 hours.
Adapting a phrase from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Sowell named the event the “Method to the Madness Tour.”
“In my Honors Chemistry courses, I stress that every unit in chemistry is interrelated to the others, not an individual pocket of knowledge,” Sowell said. “One day in class, some students began to see the interconnectivity and had an ah-ha moment.”
She responded with, “Yes, there is method to all the madness!” and the name stuck. Many of her Materials Science students took her chemistry class, and they suggested the catch phrase as the name of the Oak Ridge tour. That stuck, too.
After a five-hour drive and an overnight stay at a hotel, seniors Nathan Dinh, Hunter Finney, Bolton Gayden,
John Hamilton, Daniel Tang ; and juniors Burch Baine, Christian Berry, Charlie Gilliland, Andrew Hopkins, Andre Johnson, Jamie Lindy, John McBride, Micah Murdock, Henry Trammell, Timothy White, Cole Wilder, and Alex Wolf were ready for their adventure. The group, which Sowell affectionately called the Nerd Herd, loaded the vans and navigated through Appalachian fog to the first destination on the agenda, the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility.
Students received their identification badges, and engineers began a guided tour of the labs and plant, sharing real-world experiences in the field of mechanical engineering. The guides explained the commercial carbon fiber industry and showed the group products created in the plant, alluding to a new breakthrough they had achieved recently but had not yet released to the market. During their tour students may well have handled the next big discovery in commercial automotive or aeronautical design.
A short drive on winding, wooded roads took them through a military checkpoint for a badge review and on to the X-10 Graphite Reactor National Historic Landmark. Here the group
looked back at the genesis of the Manhattan Project, which resulted in the weapon that effectively ended the Second World War.
The world’s first reactor designed and built for continuous operation, the X-10 proved that reactors could produce enough plutonium for bomb-making.
The guide set the scene as she explained the scientific achievements and sacrifices made during the war. Allied powers had defeated Germany in Europe; but in the Pacific, Japan had vowed to fight to the bitter end. Worse still, relations between the Soviet Union and the United States had deteriorated. It was uncharted territory, and the clock was running out. Hastily constructed to meet the need, the laboratories and manufacturing facilities at Oak Ridge employed tens of thousands of workers from around the country.
With the control room and reactor face before them, the students heard a dramatic part of history unfold. They stared silently at the massive reactor face as they heard about its construction and operation in all its awe-inspiring simplicity. Consisting of huge blocks of graphite, the reactor
measured 24 feet on each side and was surrounded by several feet of highdensity concrete. The blocks of graphite were pierced by 1,248 channels that workers loaded with cylindrical uranium rods to be irradiated. New rods pushed the irradiated ones through to a manmade river for cooling and delivery to the chemical separation building.
The group then proceeded through the building, investigating the museum and the actual offices used by workers to run the reactor. Students were amazed not only by the work accomplished at this humble location, but – being raised in the Digital Age – they were equally fascinated by the knobs, switches, and other manual controls from an earlier time.
From the Industrial Age to the Information Age, the group traveled to the National Center for Computational Sciences – home of over 40,000 square feet of supercomputing mega-power. The guide gave a brief history of supercomputing and reviewed examples of simulation projects underway or completed at the facility. The group tested a minicomputer/game console to understand the nature of simulation, one method researchers have used to accomplish breakthroughs in climate, materials, nuclear science, and many other disciplines. Future computer science majors, including Finney, listened in rapt attention. He built his first computer over a school break during his junior year.
“My favorite stop was the NCCS,” Finney said. “I was surprised most by all the branches of study and the different government agencies there. The National Guard stations, for example, used computer algorithms to change their entry passwords every few seconds. I had no idea what we’d see on the trip, so I learned a lot at all the locations, but the supercomputers were awesome.”
After lunch in the cafeteria, the group toured the Spallation Neutron Source, a one-of-a-kind research facility providing the most intense pulsed neutron beams in the world. The SNS stations allow scientists to assess the structure and properties of materials with great
sensitivity by analyzing the scattering of neutrons. Fortunately, the SNS was offline and in maintenance mode during the tour. Had the beam lines been on, the radiation levels would have prevented the students from taking a close look at the spallation source stations.
In the adjacent Center for Nanophase Material Sciences labs, the group traversed the many hallways of labs as they learned about some of the ways scientists are researching nanoscale materials and phenomena. The center regularly solicits proposals for guestinitiated research projects, allowing access to the labs at no cost. All research then enters the public domain and is intended for open publication. This leg of the trip was the most challenging for the boys because it was late in the day – and the subject matter was, as the term “nano” indicates, too small to see.
The manufacturing demonstration facility, a warehouse full of 3D printers, was an ideal way to invigorate the Nerd Herd and end the tour. As examples took shape right before their eyes, the group toured the areas of additive, carbon fiber, and composite manufacturing, learning about the materials used and the plant’s green and clean-energy initiatives.
In this highly tactile environment, the students handled many of the 3D-printed prototypes on display
– including robots and two full-size military vehicles created by the facility’s biggest printer.
“The 3D printing facility was like nothing I have ever seen,” Johnson said. “The printers used injection molding and lasers … there were even ones that made metal innovations. One of the vehicles
was enormous. I was amazed that a printer could accomplish something of that magnitude.”
After a day of touring, the group headed back to Memphis, inspired by their experience.
“I’ve thought about being an engineer since grade school,” Johnson said, “and this trip solidified that for me.”
Mission accomplished.
From left, Daniel Tang, Bolton Gayden, John Hamilton, Nathan Dinh, and Hunter Finney pose in front of one of the military vehicles created at ORNL’s manufacturing demonstration facility.The Civic Service Organization led several projects this semester, benefiting local Fire Station 41, Memphis Union Mission, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, Mid-South Food Bank, and a handful of other organizations.
Eighth graders Parth Dahima and Kyle Koester and seventh grader Michael Gallagher organized a Lower
School 3-on-3 basketball tournament in February, raising $250 for Perea Preschool. Nine teams of eighth graders and six teams of seventh graders battled it out, with the eighth-grade team of Edward Erb, Charlie Gilbert, Caleb London, and Charlie Street taking the tournament trophy.
Lower School science students competed in late January to build the tallest spire or tower using only aluminum foil. To spice things up, a team of teachers also entered the competition. Second by second, the aluminum stalagmites grew upward ... then many drooped or fell.
The team of Ms. Anne McCarroll McWaters, instructor in English, and Mrs. Shauna Miller and Mr. Garrett Smithson, instructors in science, won the event, and the second-place team of seventh graders Fisher Marks, Charles Treadway, and Fawwaz Omer walked away with Chick-fil-A gift cards and major bragging rights. Junior Alex Wolf organized the event, and Mr. Eddie Batey, director of Memphis Leaders, served as advisor.
and
Fisher Marks, and Charles
Presenting the most aesthetic spire, if not the tallest one, from left, Ben Cramer, Reid Chandler, and Churchill Akhigbe.
Patton Orr, center, presented firemen at Station 41 with a “thank you” poster and food from Chick-fil-A.
Wish Bowl team members, from left, Garrott Braswell, Scott Burnett, Stephen Christenbury, and Jonathan Douglass participated in the annual Wish Bowl benefiting the local chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation and other local charities.
From left, Trent Scull, Jack Heathcott, Mason Rudolph, and Luke Wilfong were among the teams supporting the annual Wish Bowl.
In an assembly at the end of February, senior Sam Bartz and the staff of a new Lower School student-run paper presented Headmaster Ellis Haguewood with a hot-offthe-press issue of Buboles News.
When President Ronald Reagan was still in office, Mr. Terry Shelton, now faculty emeritus, was the sponsor of a Lower School paper. This historical tidbit was mentioned during Shelton’s retirement, and it inspired Instructor in English Michelle Crews to become the driving force behind bringing the Lower School paper back to life.
“When they mentioned it in chapel, I ran over to Clay Smythe’s [’85] office to ask why we didn’t still have a paper,” she said. “He replied that it had died because no one would do the work, and I told him that I wanted to resurrect it.” Smythe immediately gave her his blessing, although it was a skeptical one. His doubt only added to her determination, but she soon learned that his skepticism was justified. Fortunately, Crews had a few aces up her sleeve.
“We [the team] had many meetings,
many donuts, and lots, and lots, and lots of help from Sam Bartz, the co-editor of the Upper School paper, The Owl’s Hoot,” Crews said. “He really embraced the idea and saw it as an opportunity to grow up talent. In fact, there is no possible way we could have done it without him.”
Bartz provided guidance to the team on screening writers, assigning articles, and learning the technical aspects of printing.
“Seventh grader Ryan Peng met me in Upper School at 7:15 a.m. two or three times a week for several weeks in order to learn the layout software,” Bartz said. “He worked very hard and picked it up quickly.”
Eighth graders Churchill Akhigbe and Cole Saenz were co-editors of the paper. Staff members and contributors also included eighth graders Robert Ayotte, Reid Chandler, Ben Cramer, Fox Harris, Daniel Meskin, Arjun Puri, and Edwin Rawson, and seventh graders Michael Gallagher, Hart Gowen, McKnight Johnston, and Fawwaz Omer
Sophomore Omkar Hosad envisioned a different kind of quiz bowl. His battle of the brains would pit fanboys against one another as they answered questions from the world of sci-fi and comic books. After two preliminary rounds to reduce the field of candidates, two warriors would go head-to-head for the championship. Hosad drafted the questions and secured the room and equipment. His first invitation in chapel was simply, “Get hyped.”
The first round brought freshman Ty Williams, sophomores Carlo Guinocor, Landon Springfield, Jason Wang, and Jacob Webb, and junior Brooks Eikner to their buzzers as mathematics instructor Mr. Darin Clifft assisted and Hosad moderated. The boys flew through the 10 prepared questions and bonuses with Eikner winning and Wang earning a strong second place.
Crisis, Secret Wars, Flashpoint, and Convergence are comic book storylines that all involve what sci-fi concept sharing a title with a LEGO video game? (Dimensions or Alternate Realities)
The next battle drew a small audience as Eikner, Guinocor, Webb, and Williams faced newcomer and Wang substitute Oyama Hampton, a sophomore. Once again, Eikner took the day, but Hampton’s points kept him in the race for the third and final bout.
The third convergence garnered two raucous camps of supporters from which sophomores Jackson Howell and AJ Varner emerged as selfappointed managers. Guinocor assisted on the buzzers, and sophomore Sam Payne was scorekeeper, as Hosad moderated.
“The Superhero Club needed something to do,” Hosad said. “I thought this would be entertaining for our members, but I did not expect such a big turnout.”
The tension was palpable as Eikner and Hampton made quick work of the final-round questions. When the buzzers stopped, once again Eikner was the victor and now reigning Nerd Bowl champion.
“I had a lot of fun recalling random bits of trivia, which will probably not be useful to me in the future,” Eikner said.
Manager AJ Varner energetically encourages Oyama Hampton as he considers his answer, and spectators, from left, Smith Duncan, Marshall Jones, and Edward Henley enjoy the suspense.
The first round of Nerd Bowl included, from left, Mr. Darin Clifft and Omkar Hosad as administrators, and Carlo Guinocor, Ty Williams, Landon Springfield, Jacob Webb, Jason Wang, and Brooks Eikner as contestants.
From left, Mr. Darin Clifft and Omkar Hosad react to a funny, but incorrect, answer from Carlo Guinocor during the first round of Nerd Bowl.
Asemester of work came to fruition as seventh graders saw their drawings take form in Mr. Jim Buchman’s art class. The project was a study in three of the four ways to create a sculpture: construction, carving, and modeling. The fourth, casting, will come later.
The transformation from sketch to sculpture included not only creativity, but also power tools.
“My favorite part of creating the sculpture was using the sander and band saw,” Judson Fair said. “I used them to make the spear of my swordfish.”
Buchman had left the subject of the sculptures up to the artists.
“Deep-sea fishing is one of my favorite things to do at the beach,” Fair said. “That’s why I decided to make a swordfish.”
Some of the seventh-grader’s sculptures will be considered for next year’s Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards held at Brooks Museum.
Instructor in Music Matt Tutor ’91 has announced big changes in the music curriculum. Following are new or revised offerings he expects to begin with the 2016-17 school year:
• Seventh- and eighth-grade band two days a week
• Beginner music course two days a week
• Eighth-grade music appreciation class (mandatory for all eighth-graders)
• Upper School Studio Band, with the addition of horns and vocalists (rock, soul, and R&B music)
Other additions Tutor hopes to create:
• Third ensemble for symphonic instruments
• Pep band to play at games alongside the Drum Corps
• Additional music classes each year until students have the option to follow a six-year music track
For more information, contact Tutor at matt.tutor@musowls.org.
A few of the musicians performing in the Spring Concert were Studio Band members, from left, Dylan Riggs, Austin Hord, Graham Boswell, Tate Bailey, and Eric Makapugay, with Stan Smythe on vocals. “Lion” by Charles Treadway
Renowned abstract artist Mr. Pinkney
Herbert created a painting in November as the school’s 2015-16 Luckett-Guinn Artist-in-Residence. Now in its fifth year, the artist-in-residence program brings a different local artist to campus for a week every fall. At a recent chapel, Mr. Grant Burke, acting chair of the school’s fine arts department, presented photos from Herbert’s week in the studio and the completed work, titled Flag, which hangs permanently at the school with the artwork from the four previous artist residencies.
Herbert’s creative process included encouraging students to take digital photos around campus, then arranging them puzzlestyle on a canvas. When senior Danny Harris commented that the pattern and colors reminded him of the French flag, the artwork began to take shape. The terrorist attacks in France, which occurred the week before Herbert’s artist residency, were much on his mind and on the minds of the students during the creation of the piece.
The finished work is an artistic interpretation of the French flag painted over a collage of photos taken on campus, so that the piece represents important aspects of MUS – and incorporates the school colors – while also serving as a tribute to the French people.
Students work on their abstract art projects while Herbert prepares the assembled collage of photos for its first layer of paint.
Art students, from left, Will Buser, Jackson Dickinson, Murray Morrison, Connor Whitson, Dylan Jones, Will Tomes, and Matt Silver experiment with color during Herbert’s artist residency at MUS.
Eighth grader Clay Hancock recently joined more than 300 young musicians from over 40 countries as they competed in the Menuhin Competition, an international event that has been dubbed the Olympics of the Violin. Hancock was ranked 21st and named a first alternate. Of the over 300 participants, only 22 junior competitors (under age 16) and 22 senior competitors were named finalists, receiving cash prizes and the opportunity to play at Menuhin Gala and other events held in London in April.
Hancock sings and plays viola and percussion instruments, but the violin is his favorite and the first instrument he learned to play, starting at the age of 4. He says he especially enjoys playing Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin and concertos by Tchaikovsky and Sibelius.
As the world’s leading competition for violinists under the age of 22, the Menuhin Competition attracts many of the greatest violin talents from all over the world and brings them together in an atmosphere of learning and exchange. Many of its prizewinners have gone on to successful international careers. The competition and supporting trust were named after Yehudi Menuhin, an American-born violinist and conductor who is considered by some to be the greatest violinist of the 20th century. The Menuhin Competition is operated by the Menuhin Competition Trust, a United Kingdom-registered charity.
To hear one of Hancock’s Menuhin submissions, go to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/ MUSOwlsTube and click on the Arts playlist.
Junior Brooks Eikner took first place in the community round of the 2016 English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition at The University Club of Memphis in March, advancing to the national competition held in New York City in May. He performed Benedick’s Act II, Scene iii speech from Much Ado About Nothing and Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 73.”
Onstage at Lincoln Center in New York, Eikner competed in the semifinalist round against more than 50 fellow actors and actresses. The winner of the event, a student from Hawaii, received a full scholarship to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art summer school in London, England.
The ESU National Shakespeare Competition assists high school teachers across the country with their Shakespeare and language arts curriculum. By participating, students develop their communication skills and a greater appreciation of the power of language and literature. Competitors qualify on three stages: school, community, and national levels. Approximately 2,500 teachers and 20,000 students in nearly 60 ESU communities participate each year. Visit esuus.org/memphis to learn more about the local branch and competition and esuus.org for the national level.
Brooks Eikner performed onstage at Lincoln Center in New York City in May as part of the 2016 English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition.At the conclusion of last varsity swimming season, then-junior Henry Keel predicted something special for this year when he said, “We believe that next year will be historical, as we feel we can challenge Baylor for the state title.”
Keel’s prediction came true.
In mid-February at the Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville, the Aquatic Owls won the school’s first swimming state title, defeating mighty Baylor, winner of 13 of the last 15 championships. The 344.5-295 victory marks the first Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association title for any high school from West Tennessee since 1968, when the first TISCA meet was held. It also ended a two-year run of second-place finishes for Coach Bryan Parker’s squad and capped outstanding careers for several varsity Owl swimmers.
The team raced in eight regularseason meets against local schools, winning five of the meets and finishing no lower than third in the other three. Then at the Shelby County High School Swimming Championship, the Owls dominated as they qualified in every
finals event. The team ultimately won 10 of the 15 events, easily outpacing second-place Collierville by over 200 points.
With this victory the Owls moved on to state, sending 18 participants, many with vast experience in postseason competitions. To beat a team as talented as Baylor, team members knew they would have to swim their best, and they did not disappoint. The Owls broke 12 school records at state, including a Tennessee record in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:02.84). That relay team – Keel and juniors Christian Berry, Jack McCaghren, and Alex Robinson – crushed the previous state mark by 1.16 seconds and helped the Owls to clinch the title. Also winning their events at this final meet were the 200-yard medley relay team of senior C.J. Turner and
juniors Parker Kaye, McCaghren, and Robinson. Berry then claimed the 50-yard freestyle title, swimming 20.47. All Owls swam well, including seniors Sam Bartz, Forest Colerick, Tucker Colerick, Nathan Dinh, Edwin Hussey; juniors Ishan Biswas, Kian Ghodoussi; sophomores Graham Boswell, Benton Ferebee, Will Huffman,
The 2015-16 swimming team beat all the odds by winning the state championship without the aid of diving team points.Jeremy Jacobs, Liam Kaltenborn, John Keegan, Aidan Lonergan, Rick Reinhard, Leon Vo, Bobby Wade; and freshmen Louis Allen, Clay Harrison, Jackson Hays, Ethan Hurst, Bailey Keel, Justin Martin, Ev Nichol, William Quinlen, Omar Selim, and Warren Turner. And more important - each contributed to the strong sense of camaraderie that accompanied this season’s success.
“I can’t give enough credit to these guys,” Parker said. “They took what in their minds was a disappointing finish to the season last year and turned it into an amazing state-championship meet this year. A lot of these guys are in the water close to 20 hours a week, and they were rewarded with great performances. I’m glad I got to be along for the ride.”
Team Captain Keel – who is preparing to swim next year at the University of Virginia – cherishes not only the championship, but also the years of work it took to get there.
“We had been thinking about this meet for three years, and winning state was our main goal from day one of this season,” Keel said. “The way the members of this team bonded throughout the season and gave all they had for one another was outstanding.”
After having relished this win and this season, the returning swimmers are already excited about next year.
Berry looks forward to the challenge of defending the team’s championship.
“The key going into next year is realizing that we are not the favorites to win after losing our seniors, but the championship is still within our reach if everyone steps up, as we did for this past state meet.”
See a list of All-American swimmers on page 28.
Coach: Drayton Carlisle
Record: 31-3
Roster: Eighth graders Rob McFadden, Austin Robinson, Griffin Roe; seventh graders Ben Burkhart, Wesley Butler, Elijah Graham, McKnight Johnston, Warren Johnston, Robert King, Caleb Littlejohn, Fisher Marks, Davis McGhee, Fawwaz Omer, Ryan Peng, TR Santos, Ahmad Selim, Max Shackelford, Charles Treadway
Kneeling, from left, Fisher Marks, Davis McGhee, Griffin Roe, Austin Robinson, Rob McFadden, Elijah Graham; standing, Ryan Peng, Ben Burkhart, Charles Treadway, Max Shackelford, Coach Drayton Carlisle, McKnight Johnston, Caleb Littlejohn, TR Santos, Fawwaz Omer, Wesley Butler, Robert King, Ahmad Selim, Warren JohnstonAs one of the premier high school football programs in the state, the varsity Owls get each opponent’s best effort, and Coach Bobby Alston and assistant coaches Shawn Abel, Mark Chubb, Hamilton Eggers ’94, Jerry
Ellis, Kyle Finney, Johnny Jones, Orlando
McKay, Glenn Rogers, Ross Rutledge’02, Buck Towner ’07, and Charlie White
and Grenada, MS, 35-17. They lost their next two, against power South Panola, MS, and at home against Ridgeway. The squad entered division play with wins over St. Benedict and Briarcrest. The Owls’ 42-22 victory over Craigmont the following week set up the finale for the division title match against rival Christian Brothers. The Purple Wave’s defense was stout, stymying the Owls’ offense and taking the win, 17-7. With the loss, the Owls claimed the second seed in the West.
After the first-round bye in the playoffs, the Owls drew Baylor in the quarterfinals. Despite a close first quarter, Baylor took a 17-10 halftime lead and never relented, ending the Owls’ season with the 31-10 defeat.
Despite the setback, Coach Alston is taking many good things from this year.
(220.7 yards per game); and total offense per game in a season (220.5 yards per game). Junior teammates Bradley Foley and Jalon Love also set a school record, each hauling in 13 receptions in a game this year. Foley also gained 269 allpurpose yards against Olive Branch, setting a school record. Sophomore defensive lineman Joe Carter had the most productive season for a defensive tackle since those records started being kept in 1980.
relish that challenge. Alston annually puts together a very competitive schedule, and this year was no exception, with the Owls ending the season 7-4 against some of the best teams in Memphis and three schools from Mississippi.
Led by captains Tom Fowlkes, Tim Hart, and David Watkins, the team started the year well by winning its first four games, against Central, 38-0; Kingsbury, 49-7; Olive Branch, MS, 35-30;
“This team displayed a great attitude and gave great effort,” he said. “We had a couple of deficiencies that our toughest opponents were able to exploit and keep us on the wrong side of scoreboard, but our players represented themselves and our school well.”
Several Owls set records and earned honors this year. Junior quarterback Steven Regis set school records in most pass attempts in a game (50); most completions in a game (32); most passing yards per game in a season
Senior Thomas Pickens was one of three finalists for the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Division-II AA Back of the Year, and he was named to the Liberty Bowl High School All-Star Team, the Best of the Preps All-Metro Team, and the FirstTeam All-Region Team. Senior linebacker Hart wrapped up his high school career by taking several postseason honors, including making the Liberty Bowl High School All-Star Team, the Best of the Preps All-Metro Team, and the First-Team All-Region Team. Senior David Nelson was named to the Liberty Bowl High School All-Star Team and the SecondTeam All-Region. Additional honors went to senior Jackson Dickinson (First-Team All-Region and All-Metro), Fowlkes (First-Team All-Region), senior William Rantzow (First-Team All-Region), Foley (First-Team All-Region), Regis (FirstTeam All-Region and All-Metro), Carter
Varsity football team managers, from left, Laura Carrier (Hutchison), Mylan Taylor, Matthew Strock, and Alexander Goodwin. The varsity Owls played some of the best teams in Memphis as well as three strong schools from Mississippi this year.(Second-Team All-Region), senior Witt Fesmire (Second-Team All-Region), senior Bolton Gayden (Second-Team All-Region), freshman Maurice Hampton (Second-Team All-Region), and Love (Second-Team All-Region).
The 2015-16 football team also included seniors
Nick Bragorgos, Carter Coleman, Matthew Davidoff, Matt Flaherty, Jalen Friendly, John Kakales, Mac McArtor,
Chris Roberts, Daniel Tancredi , Swep Wallace; juniors
Burch Baine, Keith Burks, Eli Christenbury, Philip Deaton,
Kobe Gibson, Josh Gray, Jack Heathcott, Henry Holmes,
Andre Johnson, David Jordan, Cole Middlebrook,
Christopher Nanney, Ogonna Oraedu, Ryan Pahlow,
Record: 6-1
Coached by the varsity staff
Eleventh-Grade Roster:
Burch Baine
Keith Burks
Philip Deaton
Jack Heathcott
Henry Holmes
Andre Johnson
David Jordan
Cole Middlebrook
Christopher Nanney
Brent Robinson
Jacob Rotter
Jack Solberg
Tenth-Grade Roster:
Tavion Alexander
John Bolton
Joe Carter
Baugh Doster
Buchanan Dunavant
Jack Eason
Tide Faleye
Sean Fitzhenry
Matt Fogelman
Miller Grissinger
Austin Hamilton
Jordan Hays
Edward Henley
Jesse Homan
Noah Hooper
Anderson Horton
Michael Jennings
Marshall Jones
Barry Klug
Aedan McKay
Mac Robinson
Daniel Shumake
John Ross Swaim
Trey Thomas
AJ Varner
Bobby Wade
Bays Webb
Will West
Rucker Wilkinson
Ninth-Grade Roster:
Matt Rhodes
Record: 7-0
Coached by the varsity staff
Ninth-Grade Roster:
Scott Burnett
Sonny Charbonnet
Stephen Christenbury
Robin Coffman
Ben Cox
Anders Croone
Jack Dabov
Trey Fussell
Ben Gilliland
Reagan Griffin
Wade Harrison
Thomas Hayden
Jalen Hollimon
Jack Jobe
Bailey Keel
Emerson Manley
Sam Nelson
Eston Pahlow
Houston Pate
Matt Rhodes
Matthew Rogers
Dekari Scott
Sellers Shy
Alden Southerland
Liam Turley
Billy Weiss
Johnathan Whitehead
Henry Wood
Eighth-Grade Roster:
Seth McKay
Brent Robinson, Jacob Rotter, Evan Smith, Jack Solberg, Harrison Tabor; sophomores Tavion Alexander, John Bolton,
Baugh Doster, Buchanan Dunavant, Jack Eason, Tide Faleye,
Sean Fitzhenry, Matt Fogelman, Miller Grissinger,
Austin Hamilton, Jordan Hays, Edward Henley, Jesse Homan,
Noah Hooper, Anderson Horton, Michael Jennings,
Marshall Jones, Barry Klug, Aedan McKay, Mac Robinson,
Daniel Shumake, John Ross Swaim, Trey Thomas, AJ Varner,
Bobby Wade, Bays Webb, Will West, Rucker Wilkinson; freshman Matt Rhodes; and managers Laura Carrier
(Hutchison) and sophomores Alexander Goodwin, Matthew Strock, and Mylan Taylor
Record: 4-4
Head Coach:
Jim Burnett ’83
Assistant Coaches:
Derek Clenin ’03
Brian Crenshaw ’10
Jay Edwards ’07
Drew Karban ’10
Richard Moore ’97
BLUE TEAM
Record: 4-3
Head Coach: Bobby Wade ’84
Assistant Coaches:
Trevor Benitone ’93
Henry Dickinson ’11
Mason George ’06
Andrew Gardella ’10
Larry Heathcott
Chris Rogers
Ben Stallworth ’07
Jack Steffner ’09
Eighth-Grade Roster:
Stratton Barousse
Robert Dickinson
Cameron Evans
Cooper Grace
Deion Harris
Keithran Hopson
Benjamin Klemis
Devin Malone
Cole McDonald
Will McEwan
Will Portera
Ben Skahan
Eighth-Grade Roster:
Hall Barry
Gus Carter
Edward Erb
Sam Faber
Charlie Gilbert
Connor Hamilton
Cody Hopkins
Austin Robinson
Collins Robinson
Griffin Roe
Thomas Rogers
Ben Spiegelman
Graham West
Seventh-Grade Roster:
Will Arthur
Hunter Barnes
Cameron Bouley
Drew Burnett
Austin Dowdle
Christopher Goodwin
John Parker Hogan
Jeffrey Ince
Will Jarratt
Ben Skahan
Charlie Street
Seventh-Grade Roster:
Elliot Allen
Banks Benitone
Torrance Bostick
Reggie Brown
Alex Coffman
Beau Elkington
William Harris
Christian Howard
Mac Magness
Hud McGehee
McLean Meeks
Gavin Murrey
Whit Owen
Darren Robinson
TR Santos
Will Schuessler
Edwin Shy
Carl Tate
Briggs Thomason
Charles Treadway
George Howard
Davis McGhee
Gavin McKay
Watts Miller
Charlie Nichols
Jack Rogers
Stefan Smith
Nash Stewart
Carrigan Sulcer
Harm Thomas
T.J. Thompson
Cason Triplett
Tamaz Young
Varsity bowling has evolved since its first season in 2008. With the coaches’ emphasis on practice, particularly in the offseason, Owl bowlers have learned to take their sport very seriously, and the team has flourished, becoming one of the most consistent in the state. With a blend of experienced bowlers and youthful talent, the team looked strong this year, and Coach David Jackson and Coach Jenny Pratt were excited about its prospects.
The Owls started the season well, winning three of their first four matches, including victories over Briarcrest, Harding, and Lausanne. However, the team struggled against two of the best squads in the division, losing five of their six matches against Christian Brothers and St. Benedict. The lone win came against Christian Brothers in mid-November as MUS vanquished its rival, 16-11, before a raucous crowd of supporters at Billy Hardwick’s All-Star Lanes. MUS finished the regular season at 9-6, good for third place in the division.
Five seniors adroitly filled the gap left by last year’s seniors, and they provided solid leadership. Ben Daniel, Jack Lewis, Murray Morrison, Reece O’Keefe, and Jonathan Peters all contributed to the program, including several who played key roles in the biggest matches of the year. Juniors on the squad included Hill Fulmer, Marcus Gronauer, Andrew Hopkins, Nelson Kaye, and Zachary Klinke. Four
sophomores provided a bright outlook on the future: William Dellinger, Jackson Moody, Jimmy Morrow, and Macon Orr
The state tournament in Smyrna started with individual competition, and Morrow represented the Owls. He had posted one of the best records in the program’s history, averaging 208 for the year. In state individuals, Morrow did not bowl as well as he would have liked, but he still did well and finished 15th overall. The team competition followed, and after a postponement because of weather, the Owls drew Friendship Christian, the second seed out of the East/Middle Division, in the quarterfinals. Friendship Christian was too strong for the Owls, defeating them, 23-4. Morrow bowled the Owls’ best game during the match, rolling a 204 in the first game. Other points came from Kaye and O’Keefe.
Despite the quarterfinal-match setback, Jackson and Pratt treasured this season.
“This year’s Owls continued to build on the strong tradition of MUS teams, making the state tournament for the fifth year in a row,” Jackson said. “While we will feel the loss of our seniors, we will have a strong group of returning younger players for next year’s team.”
Pratt concurred with the assessment of the season.
“This year’s team did a fantastic job against formidable opposition, and I am very proud of our bowlers’ determination, individual growth, and sportsmanship.”
From left, Jackson Moody, Marcus Gronauer, Andrew Hopkins, Zachary Klinke, Nelson Kaye, William Dellinger, Macon Orr, Hill Fulmer, Ben Daniel, Jack Lewis, Jonathan Peters, Jimmy Morrow, Reece O’Keefe, and Murray Morrison Jackson Moody Jimmy Morrow Reece O’Keefe William DellingerThe varsity wrestling team improved again this year as Head Coach Steve Hendricks and his assistants, Coach John Knaff and Coach James Walker, continued to build their program. The team was very competitive this season against some strong adversaries.
The Owls relied heavily on three experienced seniors who showed great resiliency and love for the sport. David Dabov, Gil Humphreys, and Evan Knaff have been with the program throughout their high school careers. Their loyalty set a good example for the promising younger varsity and JV wrestlers.
The varsity team included juniors Eli Christenbury, Grady Hecht, John McBride, Ramiz Somjee, Tom Wells; sophomores Ryan Aghabeg, Joe Carter, Carlo Guinocor, Peter Raves, Nick Rezaee, Erik Richardson; freshmen Stephen Christenbury, Jack Dabov, Ben Gilliland, Sam Nelson, Matt Rhodes; eighth-graders Gus Carter, Deion Harris, Benjamin Klemis, Jake Knaff, and Graham West
The team’s schedule of formidable opponents included Bartlett, Bolton, Briarcrest, Cordova, East, Germantown, Kingsbury, Millington, Southwind, St. Benedict, and St. George’s. Wrestlers also faced competitive tournaments, including the Black Horse Invitational at Houston High School, the Trojan Wars at Millington Central High School, the Christian County Tournament in Hopkinsville, KY, and the Dawg Fight Invitational at Briarcrest. They garnered a few spoils, finishing third in both the Trojan Wars and the Dawg Fight.
After the regular season came the Division II-AA West Region dual tournament where the Owls had to finish in the top four to advance. They succeeded, finishing third behind only traditional powers Christian Brothers
and Father Ryan.
Hendricks was proud of his team for qualifying and enjoyed the process.
“When we finished third, I was really happy, and the team was proud of their hard-won accomplishment,” he said. “They were all smiles.”
At the TSSAA State Dual Wrestling Championships in Franklin, the team dropped both matches, losing to Franklin Road Academy (48-28) and McCallie (54-30). However, individual matches held some great stories. Jake Knaff pinned his opponent in the 152-pound division against Franklin Road Academy, and Somjee won a major decision, 14-1, in the 106-pound division. Against McCallie, Humphreys pinned his opponent at the 160-pound bracket, and Wells (145 pounds), Carter (195 pounds), Eli Christenbury (220 pounds), and Nelson (285 pounds) all picked up forfeit wins. Other Owls to collect wins included McBride (113 pounds), Evan Knaff (182 pounds), and Carter (195 pounds).
Three Owls finished as medalists in the Division II-AA state individual tournament. Somjee placed sixth in the 106-pound division, and Wells, at 145, won a match and claimed sixth overall. Jake Knaff, in the 152-pound bracket, gained valuable experience at state, winning a match and also finishing sixth. These results helped to earn the Owls 15 points, enough for 11th place as a team.
Hendricks, who just completed his seventh year as head coach, will have fond memories of the year.
“I am proud of the strides the team made,” he said. “This season may have been the most enjoyable I have ever experienced.”
Coaches: James Walker, Jonathan Jones
Record: 7-0
Roster: Eighth graders Jim Keegan, James Smythe; seventh graders Hunter Barnes, Torrance Bostick, Hart Gowen, Jeffrey Ince, Hud McGehee, Tamaz Young, Tylyn Young
Front row, from left, Ryan Aghabeg, Ramiz Somjee, John McBride, Gus Carter, Graham West, Grady Hecht, Peter Raves, Tom Wells, Jake Knaff, Gil Humphreys; middle row, Nick Rezaee, David Dabov, Evan Knaff, Joe Carter, Eli Christenbury, Matt Rhodes, Erik Richardson, Sam Nelson; back row, Coach James Walker, Jack Dabov, Benjamin Klemis, Deion Harris, Coach Jonathan Jones, Coach John Knaff Front row, from left, James Smythe, Gus Carter, Torrance Bostick, Hart Gowen, Hud McGehee; middle row, Jeffrey Ince, Benjamin Klemis, Deion Harris, Graham West, Tamaz Young; back row, Coach James Walker, Coach Jonathan JonesLed by seven experienced seniors, the varsity basketball team had a very good year as they finished 19-8 and claimed the second seed out of the West Division.
Coach Matt Bakke considers this year a success.
“I am very proud of this team’s accomplishments,” said Bakke, who was skillfully assisted by Coach Mark Counce ’77 and Coach Trey Suddarth. “Nineteen wins and a regional runner-up finish was impressive, considering the competitive schedule we played. I greatly appreciate and admire the yearlong, dedicated commitment our players made to the basketball program, the school, and one another.”
The squad had a great start to the year, winning the first five contests, including victories over traditional powers Ripley, White Station, Melrose, and Bartlett. Other highlights of the year included traveling to South Dakota for two games, defeating Bridgewater-Emery (SD) and Prairie Seeds Academy (MN), as well as winning three important division games, including two away contests. In its division opener, the team played one of its best games of the year, topping St. Benedict on the road by 10 points. The Owls followed with a come-from-behind Homecoming win over St. Benedict in what was perhaps the most exciting game of the year. But the most important win was at Briarcrest as
the Owls avenged a previous home loss to the Saints, defeating them by 9 points, 48-39, and claiming the runner-up spot in the division and a first-round bye at state.
Facing McCallie at home in the quarterfinals, the Owls could not hold off the deep and talented Blue Tornado. McCallie came back from a 13-point, second-quarter deficit to upend the team, 48-45, closing the Owls’ season.
That game was the final high school contest for the seven seniors, Philip Freeburg, Owen Galvin, Cole Harrison, Matt Kruczek, Austin Lacy, Reid Smith, and Connor Whitson, who exhibited great camaraderie during their careers. Three managers also contributed to the success of the Owls: seniors Joshua Benton, Dylan Jones, and Josh Myers. The Class of 2016 contributors will be missed next year, Bakke said. Four Owls return, however, including juniors Josh Gray and Luke Wilfong and sophomores John McBride and Zachary Street
Captain Owen Galvin will have fond memories of the season.
“This was the most fun year I’ve ever had playing basketball. Each practice we showed up with energy and excitement. And each game we battled together as brothers. I will always remember the great memories I made with this group of guys,” Galvin said.
From left, Zachary Street, Austin Lacy, Luke Wilfong, Connor Whitson, Cole Harrison, Matt Kruczek, Owen Galvin, Philip Freeburg, Reid Smith, John McBride, Josh Gray Cole Harrison skies for a layup in the Homecoming tilt against St. Benedict. Using a Matt Kruczek screen, Luke Wilfong looks to create space from his defender.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Coaches: Mark Counce ’77, Trey Suddarth, Jerry Dover
Record: 7-9
Roster: Juniors Jack Crosby, Bradley Foley, Alex Salazar; sophomores Benjamin Freeman, Michael Jennings, Aedan McKay, Charlie Rhodes, Daniel Shumake, Mylan Taylor, Bays Webb; freshmen Dekari Scott, Josh Tanenbaum
FRESHMEN
Coaches: Joe Tyler, Joe Abrahams ’96
Record: 14-7
Roster: Freshmen Garrott Braswell, Walker Crosby, Gentry Harwood, Jalen Hollimon, Sloan Miles, Matthew Rogers, Sellers Shy, Philip Wunderlich, Grant Young, Philip Zanone; sophomore Smith Duncan, manager
EIGHTH GRADE
Coaches: Wes Crump, Alex Crump ’10, Austin George
Record: 14-8
Roster: Robert Ayotte, Hall Barry, Charlie Gilbert, Cooper Grace, Connor Hamilton, Cody Hopkins, Keithran Hopson, Jerry Peters, Thomas Pitts, Blake Sexton, Ben Spiegelman, Charlie Street, Jonah Wexler
SEVENTH GRADE
Coach: Jason Peters ’88
Record: 20-8, first place in the Turkey Shoot Tournament, second place in the Blue Streak Tournament, third place in the Allen Green Tournament, second place in the Shelby League Tournament
Roster: Jack Beard, Drew Burnett, Ayman McGowan, McLean Meeks, Gavin Murrey, Henry Nickey, Chris Parks, Edwin Shy, Harm Thomas, Jon Van Hoozer, Wes Vanderslice
Athletes signed National Letters of Intent in November and February. To see future signing dates or to learn more about signing days for athletes, go to nationalletter.org.
Henry Keel, senior: 50 free, 20.57 and 100 free, 45.00
Christian Berry, junior: 50 free, 20.47 and 100 free, 45.18
Jack McCaghren, junior: 100 fly, 49.20
Alex Robinson, junior: 100 back, 48.75
C.J. Turner, senior; Parker Kaye, Jack McCaghren, Alex Robinson, juniors: 200 medley relay team, 1.31:27
Henry Keel, C.J. Turner, seniors; Christian Berry, junior; Warren Turner, freshman: 200 free relay team, 1.22:89
Christian Berry, Henry Keel, Jack McCaghren, Alex Robinson: 400 free relay, 3.02:84
Swimmers Take State, page 20
Basketball Homecoming court and escorts, from left, Elizabeth Owen, Parker Sexton, Julia Counce, Billy Dunavant, Queen Kaitlin Fields, Beck Blake, Rachel Woodman, John Kakales, Anne Carter Lake, Mac McArtor, Natalie Magness, Swep Wallace
Seated, from left, Trammel Robinson, lacrosse, Lynchburg College; Thomas Pickens, football, University of Memphis; Terrell Jackson, track, Clemson University; Michael Swift, soccer, Clemson University; standing, Tim Hart, football, University of Memphis; David Nelson, football, Lafayette College; Jack Skahan, soccer, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Left, Parker Sexton, golf, The University of Texas; right, Henry Keel, swimming, The University of Virginia
Coach Joe Tyler, right, presents Patrick Murphy with the Russ Billings Most Valuable Award — Cross Country.
Coach Bobby Alston, right, presents Goodman Rudolph with the TreadwellCondon Trophy for golf.
In her 2008 bestselling book, Mindset, Carol Dweck, Ph.D. proposes a “New Psychology of Success” and introduces the concept of the fixed mindset versus the growth mindset. Put simply, people with a fixed mindset believe that individual traits (intelligence, artistic ability, athleticism, etc.) are innate and static, while those with a growth mindset bank on the potential for change and development. An individual with a fixed mindset is forever trying to prove him/herself for fear of the dreaded FAILURE, the thought of which seems life-ending. On the other hand, a person with a growth mindset sees failures, while certainly unpleasant, as opportunities to learn and make strategic adjustments.
Dweck and her team followed a group of students during their transition into middle school, a challenging two-year period marked not only by increased academic expectations but also enormous physical and environmental changes. Those with the fixed mindset experienced a drop in grades, while those with the growth mindset saw improved academic performance. Dweck and her team hypothesized that the fixed-mindset group struggled the most with the transition because they felt compelled to “protect their egos,” and feared being perceived as “losers.” To avoid the possibility of failure, many fixed-mindset students quit putting effort into their work, a tendency that Dweck
Even well-intended comments such as “You’re so smart” or “This comes easily to you” represent a fixed way of thinking that can set students up to fear disappointing others.
terms “low-effort syndrome.”
(Sound familiar to some of you?)
Unsurprisingly, those with the growth mindset viewed the transition as a time full of opportunity and, despite setbacks, never stopped working to improve themselves. The subject of fixed-versus-growth mindset also moves beyond the academic and into athletic, social, and even professional realms.
Among students it is not uncommon to hear fixed-mindset statements such as “I’m not smart,” “I’ll never be good at math/English/ whatever,” or “Teachers don’t like me” – beliefs that can stymie a student’s will to challenge himself. Even well-intended comments such as “You’re so smart,” or “This comes easily to you,” represent a fixed way of thinking that can set students up to fear disappointing others.
A growth mindset comes from a place of flexibility and openness, free from labels and stereotypes and full of self-reflection and readjustment. How do we help students develop a growth mindset? We must show them that it is OK to make mistakes; that it is wise to ask for help; and that we are expected to try our best, always.
Finally, it helps to remember the words of celebrated, growth-minded former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden: “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out” and refuse to become boxed-in by their own limiting thoughts.
Alston
Barnes
of Advancement Claire Farmer
of Annual Fund
Rankin Fowlkes Director of Business Operations
Bebe Jonakin Director of Counseling Services
Ann Laughlin Director of Alumni and Parent Programs
Brian K. Smith Director of College Counseling
Peggy Williamson Director of Admissions
Liz Copeland
Director of Communications
Marci Woodmansee
Associate Director of Communications
Rebecca H. Greer
Managing Editor, Inside MUS
LeeAnn Christopherson
Creative Director
Sherry Henson
Graphic Designer
THE MUS MISSION: Memphis University School is a college-preparatory school dedicated to academic excellence, cultivation of service and leadership, and the development of well-rounded young men of strong moral character, consistent with the school’s Christian tradition.
In mid-February at the Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville, the Aquatic Owls won the school’s first state swimming title, defeating mighty Baylor, the school winning 13 of the previous 15 swimming state championships.
See more on pages 20 and 28.
The cover photo was taken at The Salvation Army Kroc Center. We thank the Kroc staff for loaning us their pool.
For more stories and up-to-date news from MUS, visit the online version of Inside MUS at insidemus.wordpress.com
