DECA students qualify for States by taking test, writing papers
Coffee craze captivates students, energizes mornings Page 11
Track teams boast mix of experience, young talent Page 20
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the COURIER douglascourier.com
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
5901 Pine Island Road Parkland, FL
Volume 25
Spring sports swing for the fences Pages 17-20
No.4
Disney opens New Fantasyland, renevated Test Track Page 6
Index
News.....................1-5 Entertainment......6-9 Feature..............10-13 Editorial............14-16 February 2013 Sports................17-20
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News
February 2013
Sidewalk painting to beautify courtyard AMANDA GAINES News Editor The main courtyard will transform from a dull, gray, gum-stained concrete surface to a work of art early this March. Last year as SGA treasurer, Brittany Sinitch proposed decorating senior parking lot spaces in order to add personality and spirit to that particular area of the school. Although Sinitch’s idea did not work out, it wasn’t extinguished. To maintain the spirit from Sinitch’s original idea, SGA decided to change locations to the main courtyard. With the new plan,
clubs, sports teams, and organizations across the school can create designs to be painted on a portion of the main courtyard’s sidewalk. Twenty organizations have submitted designs to SGA for the sidewalk paintings. “I like how it brings everyone together,” Sinitch said. “It brings color to our school and connects everyone together. Hopefully it gives students something to be proud of.” Along with uniting our school, Sinitch hopes that this project, when it is complete, will prevent vandalism in our school. Each design that has been submitted
fully depicts what that organization does. “We drew things related to Key Club,” Key Club vice president Samantha Sprott said. “We drew a globe because our club is international, two hands holding each other to show that we work together, and wrote Kiwanis to represent our relationship with the adult key club that works with us.” Any organizations interested in creating a sidewalk painting can contact Sinitch. Organizations are responsible for painting their designs and supplying paint for their portion of the courtyard.
DECA students create business concept for states JACOB FELDMAN Staff Writer When DECA members travel to the annual state convention in Orlando on February 28, they will face their competition in two new ways. Zack Schaja, Vice President of Florida DECA, will run unopposed for President, becoming the first Douglas student ever to hold that distinction. “It’s an honor to be able to represent Stoneman Douglas at the state level,” Schaja said. “Douglas has a great DECA chapter that has been growing over the years, and I hope that more students from our school in the future will
become state officers as well.” According to Schaja, as president, he will be the student voice of Florida DECA. He will work on getting chapters and members involved and getting students excited for upcoming events and conferences. Also, for the first time in DECA history, students can submit a five-page entrepreneurship paper for the state competition. “The idea of introducing this paper was for people that didn’t want to go all the way in making the commitment for the 30-page paper, but really wanted to hone in and get some entrepreneurial experience,” Cutler said.
This year, senior Emily Cimbal will be the only Douglas student presenting this paper in the state competition. “This year, I feel really confident about our entrepreneurship events,” Cutler said. “The DECA class actually learns about entrepreneurship, so its not like they had to go out and learn it by themselves.” Victorious students at the state competition will qualify for the International competition in Anaheim. “Getting to States is great, and I’m proud of my students that made it there,” Cutler said. “But, the goal is to make it to Anaheim.”
Junior Madison Barbini paints primer on the sidewalk across from the cafeteria in order to prepare the space for SGA’s mural designs that will be painted on February 16.
Photo by Danielle Flum
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February 2013
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A Day in the Life of... Rugby Player Alexis Gayda MITCHELL FELDMAN
Photo courtesy of Alexis Gayda
Senior Alexis Gayda (center) assists her team during a rugby game in the wing position by pushing her opponent out of the way to allow her teammate to score.
her playing. “Normally people wouldn’t imagine girls Copy Editor playing a rough sport like rugby so when I tell people I play I usually get some pretty surprised Alexis Gayda tackles high school head on. She faces,” Gayda said. Gayda also devotes time to drama club. also tackles her opponents on the field. “I’ve acted in a couple of plays but I’m Freshman year, Andrea Kowalski-Rospierski starting to like more of the technical aspects of started the rugby club and introduced it to it like working in the front of house or painting Gayda. “I started playing my sophomore year because banners, just the little things that make things work,” Gayda said. I wanted to do something new and different,” Gayda has to balance her extracurricular Gayda said. activities with her a job as a hostess at Damiano, Gayda plays the wing position, which focuses where she works 20 hours a week, including on tackling the opponent with the ball and school nights. protecting her own teammates. “It keeps me busy, and I like being She had little trouble picking up the intricacies independent and working for the things I want or of rugby. need like gas or concert tickets,” Gayda said. “I’ve “At the time I didn’t even really know what rugby was, but it was no experience required and always been a working person so I’ve learned to balance it.” Ms. Kowalski-Rospierski was an excellent coach Gayda plans on studying business and really got me into the sport,” Gayda said. management and entrepreneurship in college. “It’s very up and coming too, I think. More and “I mean, I think everyone who does drama more people are hearing about it, and now the kind of dreams of being a famous singer or actor, majority of colleges have women’s club rugby.” but it’s just such a tough business to get into,” Gayda’s least favorite part about rugby is the Gayda said. “I’d rather just keep it as something I minor injuries she receives, mainly cuts and enjoy doing.” bruises, but the team aspect of the game keeps
Senior illustrates design for city water tower community relations liaison at the museum, News Editor later confirmed her victory with a congratulatory Senior Rebecca Lowy phone call. will work alongside six “I was absolutely professional artists this ecstatic when I discovered month to execute her I won,” Lowy said. design for a water tank “Though I had to keep located in Mullin’s park. it under wraps for Lowy’s design won several weeks, because in a contest the Coral the decision was still Springs Museum of Art held last year. Lowy, who ‘unofficial,’ I couldn’t volunteers at the museum help letting a few people know.” after school, heard about Lowy has met several the contest while working times with the artists who at the front desk. will assist her to discuss Inspired by doodles the colors and tools they covering her school will use. agenda, Lowy created a “Each of them have mural featuring women some level of expertise and men from various in art, business and cultures expressing themselves through music, communications, and design,” Lowy said. education and dance. Lowy has taken art Piero Falci, the MEGAN ROBB
classes since sophomore year and currently works in AP Studio Art. “Stoneman Douglas has created an excellent art program, where students have the ideal amount of structure and freedom in creating art,” Lowy said. “With so much time in my art class, I have developed a better understanding of my materials and my own artistic process.” After graduation, she hopes to attend the Photo courtesy of Coral Springs Museum of Art Ringling College of Art Lowy’s design was virtually placed on the water tower in order to and Design, major in visualize what it will look like when completed. The design features a illustration, and eventually variety of cultures and activites present in the community. land a job working for http://www.csmart. will be inspired to bring p.m. Disney Pixar. more art into their lives,” org/wtproject and their “By encouraging Coral Springs welcomes spot on http://www. Lowy said. Douglas students to everyone to attend the In order to participate, signupgenius.com/ explore their artistic sides water tank painting on with this outreach project, adults and children need go/70A0C45A9AC2BA57February 16, 23 and mural. to obtain waivers from it is my hope that people March 2 from 10 a.m to 4
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News Briefs Douglas Drama presents Grease Members of the Douglas Drama club will hand-jive and doo-wop on stage in the 1950s comedic love story of Sandy Olsson and Danny Zucko, Grease. According to Senior director Tamar Benjoseph, the production, which will run February 14-16, will have elements from both the Broadway and movie versions. “Most people have not seen both versions, and we want everyone to have the ability to relate to our show,” Benjoseph said. Drama will offer special promotions for the production. On Valentine’s Day, tickets will be ‘buy one get one free’ for couples. Friday will be costume night, and the person dressed in the best fifties outfit will receive a free t-shirt. “The show has really great choreography, and has a great cast if I do say so myself,” junior Cara Harpest, who will be playing the role of Sandy, said jokingly. “The story is cute, and everyone who is involved in Grease has worked really hard to make sure that it’s something no student will want to miss.” --ELYSSA RONIK, Staff Writer
Harvard Debate Tournament The debate tournament at Harvard University, arguably the best tournament, hosted February 16-18, attracts between five and six thousand competitors each year. From our school, four students plan to attend the tournament, four less than last year. “For a lot of people, the appeal of the tournament is how exclusive it is because most of us will never get the chance to attend there. At Harvard you learn more about how you view the academic world since you are surrounded by greatness constantly,” senior and Lincoln-Douglas debater Eli Hymson said. After daily debates, students tour Boston, Massachusetts, and spend down time at popular tourist attractions. A favorite hang out spot in particular is the Garage, an area in Boston composed of small stores and restaurants. “I went sophomore year and I roomed with upper classmen,” senior and Lincoln-Douglas debater Jeffrey Greenberg said. “[At night] we watched movies and played poker, having a great time, and debated during the day.” In a past year, a fire alarm went off during the middle of the night, evacuating buildings. Students outside decided then would be an opportune time to start a snowball fight. --AARON SAGER, Staff Writer
Jewish Student Union Golf Tournament Twenty-eight students from South Florida Jewish Student Connection chapters met in Heron Bay on Sunday, January 27, to host a Golf Tournament Fundraiser. Two Douglas juniors, Jeremy Tromer and Dylan Harrison, were golfers at the fundraiser. “It was awesome to see them play and raise money for our club,” JSC senior and Co-President Noah Peskin said. The golf tournament also included raffles for items such as tickets to SeaWorld and a woman’s Movado watch. Since JSC members do not pay dues, the money raised at the tournament will go toward buying pizza for bi-weekly meetings, and improving programming. “It was really cool to see so many Jewish teens come together to help preserve an organization that has impacted so many of their high school careers,” Peskin said. --ELYSSA RONIK, Staff Writer
News
February 2013
Upcoming Events February 14-16 Douglas Drama’s production of Grease February 27 JROTC Blood Drive March 6 Powder Puff Game March 17 Junior Class Carwash April 6 School-wide Kickball Tournament held by Senior class Every Saturday SAT/ACT classes @ 8am EOC Review session @ 7am
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Subs help students succeed during teacher’s absence JACOB FELDMAN Staff Writer A substitute is a substitute, right? Not really. There are two different types of substitute teachers: a regular substitute teacher and an interim substitute teacher. To become a substitute teacher, one must have at least two years of an Associate’s degree, pass a background check, and then have taken 14 hours of substitute teacher classes. According to substitute director Felice Canamella, a regular substitute teacher only implements the lesson plan for the day, which is left by the permanent teacher. “An interim substitute teacher works as if they are the real teacher,” Canamella said. “They do everything that the
regular teacher does. They teach the regular curriculum, not just the daily lesson plan. They grade assignments and papers, go into Pinnacle to log the grades, and every other thing that the normal teacher would do.” These different duties also come with different pay. Regular substitutes make $84.50 per day, while interim substitutes earn $199.33 a day. Every day, between 15 and 20 substitute teachers fill in empty classrooms around the school. “The staff here is much larger than those of other schools, so it is normal for there to be a large amount of teacher absences per day,” Canamella said. Substitute teacher Dick Olds taught for
nearly 30 years before coming down to Florida to be a substitute teacher at Douglas. “I’ve been here for quite a few years now, and I’ve gotten to know the students,” Olds said. “That’s the key: to know who you guys are. When you know the kids, they view you in a more friendly way. They start to like you, and they will listen to you.” Interim substitute teacher Chelsea Amelkin feels that being a regular substitute teacher can be more difficult than an interim substitute at times. “As an interim sub, I get to get to know the kids better,” Amelkin said. “I see them every day, which allows me to develop similar relationships with them that a normal teacher would develop with their students.”
Substitute teacher Dick Olds helps sophomore Danielle Jensen complete an AP World History assignment while her permanent teacher, Diane WolkRogers, attends a teacher conference in Boston.
Photo by Jacob Feldman
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February 2013
Tweets make history SABRINA REISS Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Samanta Nirenberg
Junior Samantha Nirenberg stands by model car at the new Test Track ride in Epcot. The ride opened in December 2012 and redefined the experience by giving riders the opportunity to design their own models.
Disney rebuilds classic storybook thrills ALEXANDRA BARRY Staff Writer Walt Disney World recently made its largest expansion in its 41-year history with additions to Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland and the new Storybook Circus as well as the reconstruction of Epcot’s Test Track. After over a year of construction, Disney unveiled the new portion of Fantasyland. Currently, Journey Under the Sea with Ariel, The Little Mermaid, is the only opened ride. The ride gives the experience of an adventure underwater with motorized versions of all the original characters from the movie. “The Little Mermaid ride is very neat,” sophomore Ariel Baron said. “It almost resembles the Finding Nemo ride, but it was a lot newer and more interesting.” Additionally, The Beast’s castle from Beauty and the Beast opened recently. The castle includes a library where families can enjoy a storybook performance by professional actors as well as places to eat such as Gaston’s Tavern and a Be Our Guest restaurant. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster will open 2014.
The roller coaster takes passengers through a treasure mine where the seven dwarfs are engaged in their daily routine of searching for treasure. Furthermore, Walt Disney World opened the Storybook Circus. This part of Magic Kingdom includes two identical Dumbo themed rides and The Great Goofini roller coaster, a remodeled version of the kid’s roller coaster called the Barnstormer. The park not only renovated Magic Kingdom but also modified the Test Track ride in Epcot. Now owned by Chevrolet, this new Test Track takes futuristic elements for a create-your-own “concept car” according to capability, efficiency, responsiveness, and power. “I can’t even believe that Disney was capable of designing anything like the new Test Track,” sophomore Chloe Cabrera said. “It is really interesting how you are able to personalize your own car and then compare it to everyone else’s.” Throughout the Test Track experience, checkpoints allow passengers to view their concept car’s ranking against the other guests’ cars. The removal of Toontown from Magic Kingdom and the complete change of Epcot’s Test Track bring exciting change to the new Walt Disney world.
Starting this year, the Library of Congress will digitally archive every public tweet since Twitter’s dawn in 2006. According to Library of Congress communications director Matt Raymond, the archive aims to document “important tweets” as well as gather information about modern lifestyles. Twitter is part of a historical record of communication, news reporting, and social trends, all of which complement the Library’s existing cultural heritage collections. “It is a little weird because some of the tweets are people’s private
thoughts,” junior Rachel Kravatsky said. According to CNN, Twitter receives about 55 million tweets a day. However, the Library will not include private tweets. The company Gnip manages the flow of tweets to the Library of Congress archive. Each post arrives with fields of metadata, including origin, amount of retweets, and followers of the post. According to the Boston Globe, the Library does not know how to publicly show the tweets and has not yet sorted or filtered the tweets. “I find it necessary to record tweets because in the future people will want to look back on what people think about events that happen now and in the past,” sophomore Chris Schueler said.
February 2013
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New acoustic album reveals better Bieber RACHEL KAHN Entertainment Editor Justin Bieber’s Believe-Acoustic album mixes soft instrumentals with powerful vocals to recreate the Believe album into a more beautiful and sincere compilation. The acoustic versions change the songs from upbeat swag to gentle genuineness and give listeners additional opportunities to connect with Bieber and his heartfelt lyrics. The album opens with one of Bieber’s major hits, “Boyfriend.” In the original song, Bieber raps, overuses the word “swag,” and establishes a bad boy image. However, the acoustic version shows a more affectionate side with simple guitar strums and a range of pitches. The rest of the songs reflect this slower pace. In addition, the album includes “All Around The World,” “As Long As You Love Me,” and “Beauty And A Beat.” Bieber collaborated with other popular artists for these songs on the regular album.
On the acoustic album, though, the songs are only Bieber and really allow listeners to focus on his vocal perfection. Believe-Acoustic features three new songs, “Yellow Raincoat,” “I Would,” and “Nothing Like Us.” They follow the vocally focused, low-key tempo of the rest of the album but differ in attitude. “Yellow Raincoat” portrays a sad, lonely feeling whereas “I Would” and “Nothing Like Us” express Bieber’s wellknown lyrics of the desire of love in a more upbeat way. Recently, the news and paparazzi have not shed a good light on Bieber with their coverage on his illegal drug use and shorter concerts. Despite this, with the 11 songs on this album, he produces a likeable switch in style. He not only shows immense musical growth since his first debut but also recreates his initial image of a young, passionate, and talented musician.
With Believe-Acoustic, Justin Bieber becomes the first artist to achieve five number one albums on the Billboard 200 before his 19th birthday. The album debuted on January 29, 2013 and has sold over 215, 000 copies around the world.
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February 2013
CES debuts cutting-edge technology The Consumer Electronics Show, CES, is an annual technology convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Many new products and technologies are released at this convention where thousands of electroniclovers attend. Based on CNET’s CES awards, as well as interest sparked by consumers, here are my top 5 products of CES 2013.
1. Razer Edge Winner of the “CES Best in Show” award, the Razer Edge is a new Android tablet that is also a gaming console. It features Windows 8 and two different controller ports. As a tablet, the Edge allows more versatility with the type and the amount of games available. Many different accessories will also be available, from a keyboard to a steering wheel, that will enhance its functionality. The base price of the system is $999.
2. Fitbit Flex Wrisband
This wristband, which debuted at CES, syncs fitness information, such as heart-rate, pulse, distance when running, and calories burned in exercise, straight to iPhones or other smartphones. Competing with other fitness bands such as the Nike Fuelband, this wristband is waterproof, and it can integrate with smartphones, change colors, and even track sleep patterns. It will become available in June for around $99.99.
3. YotaPhone
The YotaPhone, a new Android device, is the first smartphone to have two screens. One is a normal touchscreen, while the other is an e-ink display, like the displays found in e-readers. The e-ink screen will display applications focused on text, such as Twitter, and an alarm clock. The Yotaphone also has the latest version of Gorilla Glass, the scratch and shatter-proof screen, even as a prototype. This phone will sell in the second half of 2013.
The Razer Edge gaming console
4. Nvidia Shield
Photo courtesy of pocket-lint.com
Nvidia announced the Nvidia Shield, the first portable gaming console introduced by this graphics company. With its fast speed, touch screen, and built-in controller, it allows for more portability than ever before. It even allows streaming of PC games straight to the console. Details such as availability and price are not yet available.
5. “Smart-Cars” Both Audi and Lexus announced cars that are now fully autonomous, or “self-driving,” at CES 2013. The only car demonstrated physically was the Audi AS7, and, although driving slowly, it managed to pick someone up in front of a hotel from a parking garage. This technology will slowly integrate into other manufacturers’ cars in the near future. --RYAN BLITZER, Staff Writer
February 2013
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Entertainment
Web series offer free, fun shows on Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter accounts to give Entertainment Editor viewers extra engagement Readily accessible, short, into the story line. “I like the web series and expressive, YouTube because it’s a story being web series combine social told through a vlog,” senior media and television to Jessie Karlen said. “It’s like create a new medium of a one on one conversation plotted series. with the audience.” Scripted series can “The Lizzie Bennet range from science fiction Diaries,” based on Jane to dramatic themes Austen’s Pride and and include shows like Prejudice, features a “Squaresville,” “The Lizzie female graduate student Bennet Diaries,” and “H+: named Lizzie and her life The Digital Series.” struggles of family, work Quirky and realistic, and relationship drama to “Squaresville” follows modernize a classic story. two teenage best friends In the videos, Lizzie as they face high school, incorporates others from relationships and other her life, including her two issues. The friends try to sisters, one of whom plays find themselves with open, the main character in free-spirited attitudes. Along with the videos, the Squaresville. “‘The Lizzie Bennet “Squaresville” team posts Diaries’ differs in more pictures, music, behindthe-scenes videos and blogs ways than general YouTube RACHEL KAHN
series because it allows its audience to interact with the characters and the story,” senior Skyler Evans said. “It is interesting to watch how it is adapted to fit into modern social media with video diaries, Twitter, and Tumblr.” Unlike the reality plots of “Squaresville” and “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries,” “H+: The Digital Series” has a cool, science-fiction story line. The series shows humanity in the future with the modern technology of internal computers. Then, a computer virus takes over and kills everyone within signal. The series then depicts before and after the incident to give viewers an intense look into what the future may come to be. All three shows are in their second seasons.
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Next up on YouTube... The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
Based on Pride and Predjudice, the vlog-style series transforms the classic themes of Austen’s novel and applies them to modern situations through irony and humor. Squaresville
The suburbia life does not satisfy two teenage best friends. The series depicts their adventures, hardships, and relationships as they try to find the meaning in their lives.
H+: The Digital Series
When implanted internal computers become the norm, no one expects a fatal computer crash to kill millions. The series covers the before and after, revealing intertwined relations and surprisng actions.
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February 2013
Ultimate fan shows dedication to Detroit ALYSSA FELLER Staff Writer Sophomore Maddie Gropman’s room is decorated with three Red Wings jerseys hanging on her walls, a Red Wings Stanley Cup banner from 1996, a Red Wings signed team picture, a Red Wings octopus pillow pet, and an assortment of team hats and hockey pucks. Gropman owns over 50 pieces of Michigan sports attire including t-shirts, jerseys, pants, and sweatshirts. “I grew up in Detroit and my parents were big fans of the teams,” Gropman said. “I have been collecting and buying Detroit t-shirts ever since I was little.” In addition to Red Wings hockey, Gropman also loves Pistons basketball, Lions football, and Tigers baseball. Her favorite college team is the University of Michigan Wolverines. “I love talking to random people who wear Detroit or Michigan clothing because they know exactly what I am talking about when I start
talking about the teams,” Gropman said. Gropman’s favorite sport is hockey. She watches hockey at the Saveology Iceplex in Coral Springs and at the BB&T center in Sunrise, cheering for her two favorite teams: the Red Wings and the Panthers. “I’ve been playing hockey since before I can remember. It is more intense than any other sport and there is constantly action going on. I love the toughness, passion, and fighting,” Gropman said. According to Gropman, her favorite article of clothing is her Pavel Datsyuk jersey. He is her favorite player from the Red Wings. Gropman is proud to be a Detroit Red Wings fan since they were a part of the original six teams of the NHL along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadians, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and Chicago Blackhawks. When the NHL lockout ended on January 6, Gropman was ecstatic that they were going to play a 48-game season. She was at the
Sophomore Maddie Gropman’s room is filled with a collection of items from her favorite Detroit teams including the Red Wings and Tigers. Photo by Alyssa Feller
Panthers’ first scrimmage game on January 16, cheering for them at the Saveology Iceplex. Gropman always watches and tweets about sports. According to sophomore Sofia Osorio, her timeline gets filled with Gropman’s tweets whenever she’s watching a game with an exact play-by-play. According to Gropman, she loses followers every time a game comes on because people
either get annoyed with her for tweeting so much or she gets into an argument with them because they want the opposing team to win. “People say that Detroit is a dump, but they’ve never been there. Some parts are a little shady, but I am in love with Detroit. Many Detroit sports teams have had tough pasts, but the fans are so supportive and we stand by them,” Gropman said.
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Students drink ‘a latte’ coffee Beverage poses health questions SABRINA REISS Staff Writer No longer considered solely an adult beverage, coffee can be seen all over school in the large tumblers of students. “I started drinking coffee when I was seven. My parents would give me decaf coffee when we went out because I always asked for it,” junior Rachel Kravatsky said. “I have a 2 year old brother and he knows what coffee is, so he drinks it all the time too.” According to the National Coffee Association, teenagers are the fastest-growing population of coffee drinkers. In 2010, 24 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds drank coffee in 2002, and this has grown to 37 percent. “I started drinking coffee junior year and I drink one cup a day,” senior Samantha Godskind said. “I prefer Dunkin’ Donuts for iced coffee and Starbucks for hot coffee.” Young adults total 40 percent of Starbucks’
sales, as stated on the Houston Chronicle’s website. One Starbucks coffee can contain about 320 milligrams of caffeine, equal to the amount of caffeine in nine cans of coke. According to Livestrong, drinking more than 100 mg of caffeine per day puts teenagers at risk of caffeine addiction. A 16 oz. cup of unsweetened iced coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts contains 10 calories, 0 grams of sugar, and 70 milligrams of caffeine, while at Starbucks the same amount of unsweetened iced coffee contains 90 calories, 21 grams of sugar, and 165 milligrams of caffeine. Dr. Mark Hyman, chairman of the Institute for Functional Medicine, created a list of 10 reasons to quit coffee. According to Hyman, coffee drinkers are at risk for lower levels of serotonin synthesis in the brain, which promotes anxiety and depression. Serotonin is necessary for normal sleep, mood, and energy levels. “I drink coffee
every day, but mostly decaffeinated. Mainly I like the taste, and I use it as filler so I don’t eat,” biology teacher Randi Peskin said. “A little caffeine is not horrible, but overall coffee is not great for your stomach acid.” According to the Mayo Clinic, two or more cups of coffee a day can increase the risk of heart disease in people with a specific — and fairly common — genetic mutation that slows the breakdown of caffeine in the body. “[Studies have said] that [coffee] can stimulate the brain, which is great, but obviously there are also issues. It’s a diuretic so you have to make sure you drink water because coffee is not going to hydrate you,” anatomy teacher Jennifer Morris said. “I think a lot of students are doing all kinds of hard classes and extracurriculars, and are looking for help to get through it. The big thing is keeping [the coffee] limited and not drinking too much of it.”
Photo by Kaylin Czajkowski
Senior Kyle Friedman grabs coffee before school at Starbucks.
1. Coffee stunts growth – FALSE – There is no evidence that coffee affects height. 2. Caffeinated coffee can help retain memory – TRUE – Increased brain activity in the memory-rich frontal lobe and the attentioncontrolling anterior cingulum. 3. Coffee enhances your workout – TRUE – Coffee improves the athletic performance of dedicated exercisers. SOURCES: http://coffeecupnews.org/top-5-coffee-myths-debunked/; http://www.today.com/id/20187977/site/ todayshow/ns/today-today_health/t/buzz-or-bunk-five-coffee-myths/
What’s your daily grind? Starbucks 43% Dunkin’ Donuts 32% Don’t Drink 19% Other 6% Polled out of 164 students Illustration by Emily Ramos
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ESOL introduces new culture, opportunities RACHEL KAHN Entertainment Editor Envision going to a new school in a different country: unfamiliar locations, classes, and people speaking a language barely recognizable. This describes the struggles that many students face when moving to America from a different country. “On the first day I felt weird because the school was so big and I didn’t know anyone except my brother,” German-born sophomore Lars Koester said. “It took half a year to get used to everything.” Quickly spoken and engulfed with slang, the English language has difficult and intricate parts. The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program assists foreign students in learning and understanding the language and culture of America. “When a student first arrives there is a high level of anxiety. It is a big
change in their lives,” ESOL teacher Samuel Landrian said. “Learning English as a second language is an every day thing because the students face it everywhere.” In Douglas, about 100 students coming from around 50 cultural backgrounds are enrolled in the ESOL program and according to Landrian, it is Douglas’s best-kept secret. “The ESOL students have the best discipline in learning the language. They’re like sponges—they absorb everything,” Landrian said. “The parents are supportive and the students really worship the class.” The ESOL program consists of two classes, one for reading and one for grammar. According to Landrian, the students study the subjects like an Advanced Placement course. Furthermore, in both of the classes, Landrian helps the students to better understand the American culture and work on their self-esteem. “The culture and language
Bilingual ESOL teacher assistant Evelyn Rosario assists sophomore Vanessa Gonzalez with daily tasks in the ESOL classroom. Photo by Ryan Blitzer
mentalities are very different than those of Cuba. I feel kind of alone in that way, but ESOL has helped me to be more independent and confident,” senior Helen Suarez said. “The program is so perfect. Mr. Landrian gives us confidence and connects really well with the students.” ESOL provides international students with a better medium not only to learn the
English language, but also to connect with others going through the same things. “My first year at Douglas was difficult because I had few friends, but I made so many from ESOL,” Russian-born junior Angelina Gavrina said. “We all have so many things in common, and I wasn’t afraid to talk to people because everyone has accents.”
There’s an app for fit NADEEN SALEH Staff Writer As technology advances, so have ways to stay in shape. To keep track of new fitness and nutrition goals, people can use iPhone apps for tips as motivators to stay on track. “I push myself to keep myself fit by running six times a week Monday through Saturday, Sunday being my day to recuperate and motivate me to continue doing what I’m doing,” senior Julio Aguilar said. “My Nike+ Running app helps me keep track of my average speed, how far I run everyday, and keeps me on top of how many calories I’ve burnt so I can make up for it and not lose a lot of weight.” The free Nike+ Running app, one of the “10 Essential” fitness apps in
the App Store, has many motivational features, one of them being that users can add friends and challenge those friends to who see logs the most runs. If running isn’t someone’s thing, yoga apps such as Pocket Yoga and Yoga Studio will cost a user $2.99 and not only serve as yoga instruction, but also keep track of the user’s pace while keeping the user on a customized schedule. For free, the Healthy Diet app allows users to scan food items at food markets and decide what foods serve as the perfect match to balance one’s diet. For example, if one needs more vitamins in their meal, the Healthy Diet app will specify and approve of foods that fit individual needs. “The better I eat, the more points I get, and if I reach my set nutrition
goals the Healthy Diet app will reward me with coupons and even gift cards,” junior Alyssa Leon said. Students have also made efforts to eat healthy with the use of popular websites, such as the photo sharing community, Pinterest. This free website, launched in 2010, allows users to share healthy and easy to make recipes. “As I got older I started experimenting with fun recipes I found on Pinterest, like homemade red velvet and cookie dough Greek Yogurt. Making your own flavored yogurt at home eliminates the unnecessary sugar in store-bought yogurts,” senior Lauren Murk said. “Once you become enlightened on what you should and shouldn’t eat, it becomes a habit to eat the right things.”
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Editorial
February 2013
Coca Cola’s concern for obesity hard to swallow LAUREN HALPERT Editorial Editor According to the Harvard School of Public Health, beverage companies in 2006 spent $3.2 billion marketing carbonated beverages and nearly half a billion of those marketing dollars were aimed at children aged 2 to 17 years. Teens watched on average 406 ads for sugary drinks and energy drinks in 2010. The Coca-Cola Company, in response to concerns about the effects on public health of soda consumption and to declining sales, recently released a television commercial addressing obesity, acknowledging that soda is a source of calories but stating that all calories count no matter where they come from. Health experts believe that the source of calories does make a difference. According to Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco, there are harmful effects on the liver when you drink sugarsweetened drinks or juice as opposed to eating fruit because when you drink
sugary drinks the sugar is more rapidly absorbed. The Nutrition Source from the Harvard School of Public Health states that people who drink sugar-sweetened drinks do not feel as full as if they had eaten the same calories from solid food and therefore do not compensate for the calories they take in from drinks by eating less. A 12 ounce can of sugarsweetened soda contains the equivalent of nine teaspoons of sugar and 140 calories. That might not be bad for an occasional treat but drinking soda as an alternative to water to quench your thirst is not a healthy habit. Groups such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest help to educate the public about nutrition choices and have put pressure on beverage companies, resulting in the decision of Coca-Cola to put the number of calories on the front of cans and to publicly address the obesity epidemic in their recent advertisement. Consumers must remain aware of the pervasive marketing by beverage companies and its potential influence on the choices we make. Illustrated by Rebecca Lowy
Letters to the Editor 90 hour policy unnecessary, stressful This 90 hour policy has been nothing but stressful for me. I don’t like missing school, but when I have to, it’s for an important reason. Auditioning for dance major programs, I have had to miss multiple days of school. In order to appeal hours, students must have been absent for at least 60 hours. Unfortunately, I do not have 60 hours and I feel like I am being punished for not
missing as many days as other students because those who missed more have the opportunity to remove them. I believe that regardless of the amount of hours students missed, they should all have the chance to appeal them if they were absent for a good reason, such as college visits or auditions. I hope that the school adjusts this policy for future senior classes. Nicole Ruggiero, senior
Students unprepared to choose classes early I’ve recently been informed that in or around February, we will be filling out our schedule forms for next year. It is only January 2013 and our classes for next year begin in August 2013. I am not in full understanding of why we would be choosing our future classes at such an
early date. A lot of kids in our school are just trying to bring their grades from first semester up, and second semester only started last week. Some of us are not ready to decide our classes for next year. We are always one of the first schools in the county to pick our classes. Why? Jillian Kass, junior
The Courier welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for poor taste, libel, and space. Drop off letters in room 236 or submit them online at douglascourier.com.
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February 2013
Editorial
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The environment: it’s our problem too MITCHELL FELDMAN Copy Editor Approximately 86 percent of the world’s energy comes from nonrenewable fossil fuels like coal, which companies burn to turn turbines that produce electricity and petroleum, which powers our cars. We are polluting the land we live in at an ever-increasing rate with inefficient products and harmful emissions. According to the Guardian, climate change and air pollution cost the world $1.2 trillion and contribute to 400 thousand deaths each year. To solve this problem, the world should primarily focus on developing and improving alternative energies. Of the energy the United States uses, 69 percent is from fossil fuels. To compare, France produces 75 percent of its own electrical energy through nuclear power. The United States is afraid to use nuclear energy after recent
accidents, like the Chernobyl disaster. However, in actuality, the Paul Scherrer Institute found that “the safety record of nuclear power, in terms of lives lost per unit of electricity delivered, is better than every other major source of power in the world.” Nuclear energy still has some drawbacks and emissions, though, so solar and wind energy are ideal. Wind farms consist of hundreds of wind turbines turned naturally by the wind to create energy, but this energy is mainly produced by private companies or the government. Consumers have more control when it comes to solar energy, which can be bought in the form of solar panels. Broward County actually received a grant from the Department of Energy to improve the availability and sales of various forms of solar energy through a program called the Rooftop Solar
Illustrated by Rebecca Lowy
Challenge. Parkland has not yet joined in this program, but it needs to. Teenagers can play a big role in the environmental issue, beyond “turning off the faucet when you’re brushing your teeth. High school is when kids begin to buy cars, and motor vehicles emit more than 15 percent of global fossil fuel carbon dioxide, according to the World Resources Institute. Teens are given a choice of car, ranging from SUV to hybrid, and this choice can greatly affect one’s carbon
footprint. They have the power to influence environmental policy by writing to political figures, or through something more simple like carpooling to school to conserve gas. Teenagers should not just sit back and expect the adults to solve these problems for them. Our school itself can save energy in many ways. Rooms in the foreign language building are cooled much more than is even comfortable, which wastes energy as well as impedes student learning. The small things count, too.
Lights can be turned off when they are not needed, especially when no one occupies the school. In a perfect world, the school would install solar panels to completely power the buildings or replace all of the lights with LEDs, but that is not feasible right now. I suggest we at least begin this effort by installing a few panels and creating a policy of turning lights off. We learn about saving the environment in school; it’s time to put our education into action.
Online state university will benefit those who can’t attend classes NADEEN SALEH Staff Writer In December 2012, Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford proposed creating a 13th state university, one that is solely online. For now, the proposal is nothing more than an idea, but it has managed to garner public attention. While many universities already offer online classes, this new 13th school would challenge those online programs. It would also eliminate the dilemmas that
come from combining online and traditional schooling. Beginning in Fall 2013, schools in states other than Florida, such as UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, and Duke will implement a “Semester Online” program, an extension of online courses that these schools already provide. Semester Online is an online simulation of the typical classroom, with a set amount of around 30 courses. However, according to the New York Times, professors are already discussing the flaws of a
system that will not include all courses. Through the creation of an all-inclusive online school, students wouldn’t have to worry about whether or not their class of interest would be offered online. According to the SunSentinel, the proposed 13th school would attempt to replicate the successful, reasonably priced, high quality education of Florida Virtual School that serves for grades K-12. If individuals can receive the
entirety of their preliminary education online, it should be possible to continue that process without the hassle of physically going to a university to sign up for classes. Students interested in taking online courses should not be charged more than in traditional classroom settings, as occurs at FAU with an additional $100 fee per class. Moving the courses online takes away the need to charge for the upkeep of a school campus that includes janitorial services, air conditioning and
building costs. Although nearly all Florida state universities provide students with the choice to take online courses, not all classes are available. A solely online university would allow for individuals to earn the entirety of their degrees from the comfort of their home. This aspect of a 13th university will benefit individuals who can’t attend classes traditionally due to work, caring for family, or lack of transportation to a campus.
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Editorial
February 2013
No one solution can prevent mass shootings AARON SAGER Staff Writer Millions have mourned the loss of 20 first-graders and six adults murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. As a result, various solutions to prevent future school shootings from happening have been discussed in Washington D.C. Unfortunately, no foolproof solution exists. With proper door locking, any intruder attempting to enter a classroom would find the task more difficult. The time spent attempting to get into a room buys time for police to come. However, standard shotgun ammunition and automatic weapons can penetrate doors and locks. Also, when students are outside of classrooms, locked doors do not accomplish much. High traffic areas, such as hallways, the media center, and the cafeteria, have doors that must remain unlocked. Metal detectors at every entrance of the
school exist as another possibility. According to the Connecticut General Assembly, a portal or walk-through metal detector can cost $35,000 per unit. Hand-held metal detectors would cost approximately $200 to $400 each. Each entrance with a metal detector would require at least two security personnel with an average salary of approximately $25,000 annually. The most common type currently in use, the hand-held “wand” detector, would take too long to apply to large groups of people as they enter or leave a school building. According to Assistant Principal Max Rosario, our school’s layout makes it nearly impossible to have portal metal detectors at every entrance. Visitors, on the other hand, must go through the main office, exposing possible threats but leaving students unchecked. Assigning more
armed security specialists in high traffic areas would improve security. However, effective as it may seem, additional hirings are entirely unfeasible. One teacher from MSD explains that he supports permitting teachers and faculty members with appropriate licensing and training to possess firearms on school grounds, granted they register with school administration, the state, and a local police station. However, even with this added security, students and teachers themselves may feel uncomfortable with guns in school. Guns give off an unsettling vibe, and maintaining a comfortable environment in school remains most important. No one-size-fits-all option exists in this course of action. A combination of feasible security enhancements might help prevent future tragedies such as the one at Sandy Hook, but there are no guarantees.
the COURIER
douglascourier.com
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School 5901 Pine Island Road Parkland, FL 33076
The opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of the advisor, administration, or advertisers. The Courier welcomes letters to the editor which can be turned into Michelle Gideon in room 236 or online at douglascourier.com. These letters can be edited for content but these changes will not affect their meaning. The publication abides by the scholastic press and is a member of the Florida Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. If you would like to advertise please call (754) 322-2150.
Contact us at douglascourier.com
Illustrated by Rebecca Lowy
A previously unpublished poem by Carl Sandburg titled “A Revolver” was recently found at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The poem captures the violence and fear one experiences when faced with a revolver. When a stranger threatens an innocent life, the ways of the world seem completely unfair. Here is a revolver. It has an amazing language all its own. It delivers unmistakable ultimatums. It is the last word. A simple, little human forefinger can tell a terrible story with it. Hunger, fear, revenge, robbery hide behind it. It is the claw of the jungle made quick and powerful. It is the club of the savage turned to magnificent precision. It is more rapid than any judge or court of law. It is less subtle and treacherous than any one lawyer or ten. When it has spoken, the case can not be appealed to the supreme court, nor any mandamus nor any injunction nor any stay of execution in and interfere with the original purpose. And nothing in human philosophy persists more strangely than the old belief that God is always on the side of those who have the most revolvers. Michelle Gideon Advisor
Rachel Kahn Entertainment Editor
Christina Sileo & Robbie Kravec Editors in chief
Lauren Halpert Editorial Editor
Mitchell Kaufman Online Editor in chief
Victoria Malcolm Sports Editor
Amanda Gaines & Megan Robb News Editors
Mitchell Feldman Copy Editor
Adar Livni & Rachel Epstein Feature Editors
Alex Newman Ads Manager
Staff Matt Walzer Elyssa Ronik Lauren Chabarek Spencer Davis Jacob Feldman Sabrina Reiss Nadeen Saleh Aaron Sager Alyssa Feller Sabrina Eisenberg Brandon Ponczek Ryan Blitzer Alexandra Barry
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February 2013
Sports
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Softball team strives for recognition Junior Kiana Turner watches a hitter while on base. Assistant coach Jennifer Morris describes the team as a “tough contender” in the region.
VICTORIA MALCOLM Sports Editor Powered mainly by underclassman, the softball team doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, according to senior cocaptain Hailey Leonard. “We’re underrated because no one really pays attention to us,” Leonard said. “We win as much as the other teams do, if not more. We have a better record than baseball and football and we have like one-thousandth of their fans.” With three seniors leading the team, cocaptains Kiley Hyman, Caitlin Nowlan, and Leonard, Nowlan predicts that new players will add
Photo courtesy of Julie Leonard
Rugby club mixes students from around county SPENCER DAVIS Staff Writer Rugby entails full contact with no pads, and the physical play doesn’t stop until someone scores. Then play resumes instantly. Two Douglas students play for Broward County’s own Trojan Rugby Club, part of the Florida Youth Rugby Union, FYRU. “I watched the Rugby World Cup two years ago and decided that I could see myself playing it so I found the local club and tried out,” senior Juan Jerez said. Senior Michael Haight loves rugby for the camaraderie. “Once the game starts it is a constant battle,” Haight said. “I get the biggest adrenaline rush knowing that the only way to score is to get through the 15 players in front of you and that
you have 14 teammates behind you ready to help. The sportsmanship of rugby is not comparable to that of any sport.” Last season, the boys’ team won the state championships for the 7’s rugby division at the Florida Sunshine State Games. “We were able to have success because of the hard work and commitment to practice that the players showed last year,” coach Don Stramanak said. ”We have been practicing since September and will have had five months of practice before we even play our first game.”
RUGBY CLUB Continued on Page 18
needed skills to the team. “This year we are going to have a lot of good pitching because we have some freshmen coming in who are going to be pitchers,” Nowlan said. “Last year we didn’t have many, so we should be pretty stable on that this year.” Hyman expects this season to go more smoothly than past seasons because the team consists mainly of returning players. “We have a lot of tough competition and we have a harder schedule than usual,” Hyman said. “I don’t think we’ll have as many challenges because we’ve grown and we all know how to work as a team now. We have very powerful hitters and a stronger infield.”
Sophomore shortstop Jessica England expects Taravella, who beat the Lady Eagles in the district championship last season, to pose the largest challenge in district games. According to Nowlan, the most common roadblocks players face include balancing softball and other extracurriculars. “When people have other commitments and softball is not their number one priority, it affects the team because they’re not getting the same practice and repetition as the other girls,” Nowlan said. “It’s important to be dedicated, and the biggest challenge this year will be staying mentally prepared for every game.”
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Sports
February 2013
Boys’ tennis seeks upper hand in rivalry SPENCER DAVIS Staff Writer After winning the district championship last season, the boys’ tennis team was defeated by rival St. Thomas Aquinas in the regional semifinals. According to junior Cody Flanzer, ranked 87th in Florida for the class of 2014, the Eagles have played St. Thomas in regionals every year for the past five years. “As a team, we just need to play consistently,” Flanzer said. “We have the players to do well this season but it just comes down to a few important matches, especially against St. Thomas.” According to head coach Robert Bryant, St. Thomas is the team to beat to get to states. “We usually win our district, and they are among the top in their division so we have been
seeing them twice per year, once in the regular season and once in regionals,” Bryant said. “We know they are coming and they know that we are coming.” First year player, junior Shaheen Haghighi, already feels the intensity of the rivalry with St. Thomas when he hears the other players talking about it. “Having a rival takes the game to a whole new level, even in tennis,” Haghighi said. “When you have a rival or a team that beat you in an important match during the previous season, you want everybody to come out and support and for the players to bring their ‘A’ game.” According to Haghighi, the players will have a little more jump in their steps against St. Thomas. “I feel like the fact that we lost last year makes us want the win even more,” Haghighi said. “All we have to do is execute.”
Freshman Royce Marnell returns a volley during practice on February 5. The team’s next home game will be on February 16 against Taravella.
Photo by Alex Barry
Girls’ soccer builds camaraderie MATTHEW WALZER Staff Writer The girls’ soccer team takes a fairly unique approach to team traditions. The team cuts out paper hearts or “digs” and writes a special motivational message or phrase on them related to the team they are playing. The team wears the hearts under their shin guards during games. “My favorite tradition is the digs because they’re really fun to give out before games and they always make me laugh,” senior outside defender Alyssa Ursprung said. I keep all of them and I’ve accumulated so many over the years.” Another tradition is “hearts on the field.” The team places hearts under their jerseys for the game; after the game, the team
removes the hearts from under their jerseys and leaves on the field. Former girls’ soccer coach and current peer counseling teacher Laura Rountree started these two traditions during the inaugural season in 1990, they have lasted ever since The team also creates special shirts every season that display an acronym, along with positive quotes that the team uses for motivation. This year’s is “boddios6”. The team does not reveal the meaning of the acronym until the end of the season. Part of the tradition is keeping the message a secret. “Everybody gets hyped up and asks what [the message] means and we have to try as hard as possible not to tell them,” junior center back Dani Oleyek said. “It’s something that all 19 of us know and no one else does.”
Photos by Matthew Walzer
Junior Daniella Oleyek wears her soccer shirt to school. It features the phrase “boddios6” which stands for “bring on our double decade, it’s our season 6”. The team finished the regular season as undefeated district champions but lost in regional play to St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
RUGBY CLUB Continued from page 17
The FYRU includes ten teams from Daytona, Naples, Orlando, Key West, Miami, and Jupiter. “It is definitely worth traveling the long distances for all of the games because of my love for rugby,” Haight said. “Hopefully one day it will be a school sport, not just a club.” The Trojans do not have a home field, so they have been hosting matches in Coral Springs, Pompano, and Fort Lauderdale. They practice at Taravella High School but remain an independent club.
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February 2013
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Baseball relies on new players, transfers Senior pitcher Zack Miednik looks for his sign before throwing a pitch in the game against Park Vista. The Eagles lost 1-6.
Photo by Ryan Blitzer
LAUREN CHABAREK Staff Writer
With three projected freshmen and sophomore starters, the baseball team hopes to win a district title and finish as one of the final four teams in Florida. “I wasn’t happy with [our loss in Regional Quarterfinals last year] but I thought we came a long way from the beginning to the end,” head coach Todd Fitz-Gerald said. “I think our guys played hard throughout the whole season and we probably went as far as we could have gone with that team.” According to senior
center fielder Luis Silverio Jr., son of former Kansas City Royals outfielder and current Pittsburgh Pirates coach Luis Silverio, the team needs to focus on pitching in order to achieve its goals. “We’re relying on a lot of junior varsity pitchers from last year to come up and help us out,” senior pitcher Austin Kramer said. According to sophomore catcher and outfielder Dominic DiCaprio, currently being recruited by Louisiana State University, Notre Dame University and the University of Miami, the team should remain strong for the next few years due to the number of younger players. “We play at a faster pace
than [the underclassmen] are used to,” Silverio Jr. said. “It’s going to take time for them to play at the same speed.” Key additions to the varsity team include junior pitcher Derek Jacobs and transfer students Yorvis Torrealba and DiCaprio. “Due to the lack of experience, we’re going to have to do a great job coaching and coach harder than we’ve ever coached before to get these guys prepared and put them in the best position to be successful,” Fitz-Gerald said. “As long as we stay together as a team and not worry about the wins and losses early, I think this season will be a positive one.”
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Sports
February 2012
Track and field overcomes hurdles LAUREN CHABAREK Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Trevor Butts
Senior captain Trevor Butts jumps over a hurdle during a meet at Cooper City High School. Butts hopes to beat the school record for triple jump this year, 45 feet 1/2 inch.
Finishing last year’s season with two city championship titles and one district title, the boys’ and girls’ track and field teams prepare to win another district title and place within the top five at regionals. “After seeing the team’s performance last year, I couldn’t help but smile because it was truly wonderful to see all of the hard work we put forth be rewarded with success,” senior captain Matan Ozery said. After a single season, head coaches Justin Boruch and Anthony DeCarlo have rebuilt the track program to exceed their expectations.
“We did not have the typical depth that you would find on a high school track and field team, yet we were able to win our city meet, the boys were able to win the district meet and the girls came in second at the district meet,” Boruch said. “As coaches, we only had the goal of placing within the top two teams at districts, but we obviously surpassed that goal.” According to DeCarlo, expectations are higher after last year’s results at the district meet, and the athletes have to abide by stricter guidelines in regards to attendance and horseplay. Returning to lead the boys’ team are Ozery, who placed 10th in the 3200 meter race (2 miles) at
the FSHAA class 4A State Championships with a personal record (PR) of 9:42.52, and senior Trevor Butts, who placed 5th in the triple jump at the FHSAA Class 4A Region 3 Championships with a PR of 44 feet 7.83 inches. New additions to the girls’ team include freshman Gillian Morrison, who placed 10th in the high jump at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics Championships, and freshman sprinter Blair Israel, who has the potential to break the school’s 100 meter record of 12.64 according to Boruch. “Since it’s my senior year, I want to finish with a state medal,” senior captain Trevor Butts said.