Paw Print Issue 11

| VOL.36 | MAY 3, 2024

A LOOK INSIDE:

6 CHECK OUT THE LATEST ON COLLEGE SOFTBALL

8-9 MISSED CONNECTIONS FROM GHS STUDENTS

16 SOPHIA AND OLIVIA REVIEW VIEWING SPORTS

Staff List

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: MCKENZIE COLLINSWORTH

DESIGN EDITOR: CATHERINE SMITH

MANAGING EDITOR: NINA SUMMERS

WEBSITE EDITOR: VICTORIA SCHLUE

CHIEF COPY EDITOR: SOPHIA SALEY

COPY EDITOR: PARKER GREEN

FEATURES: HADLEY BIALEK

CENTER

SPORTS: AIDEN BRUECK

OPINION: NINA MCANNALLY

CABOOSE: SOPHIA WELLS

MEDIA MANAGER: MADDIE LUCEY Editors:

The Paw Print Staff wins first place at States.

PHOTO BY: Mrs. Tannehill

INVASIVE INFILTRATION

Let us set the scene. It’s a beautiful spring day, and you are enjoying an afternoon stroll on one of Green’s few sidewalks, probably one near the CAB. The weather is balmy, there’s a high UV index, and the breeze carries small blossoms from the trees through the air like snow. Then, just as you’re thinking that the day couldn’t possibly get any better, the horrid stench of rotting fish smacks you in the face. Now, contrary to what your nostrils are telling you, this is not the smell of a dead body, nor did every toilet in Green decide to overflow simultaneously. This disgusting olfactory experience is simply the delicate perfume of the Bradford Pear, an invasive species that has taken over Ohio.

The Bradford Pear, or the Callery pear tree, is native to Vietnam and other Southeastern Asian countries and was brought to the United States in the early 20th century. Bradford Pears were supposed to be exactly what they appeared: a beautiful and harmless ornamental tree variety that bloomed in the early spring. They are noted for being exceptionally resilient, incredibly flowery, and were thought to be sterile for the majority of the 1900s. Dear reader, these trees were not sterile. In fact, they reproduced at alarming rates- breeding with practically any other pear tree. Since they are cheap (as far as trees go), landscapers everywhere decided to plant them all willy-nilly, only speeding up the spread. And, as mentioned earlier, they stink. In fact, they smell so bad that their primary pollinators are not the gentle bumblebee, but flies- yes, those flies, the ones who eat the eyes out of carcasses.

In this country, we often fight over immigration policy, about who should or should not be let into this country. But the real danger isn’t immigrant humans, it’s invasive species. Ohio’s native plants, especially the ones that also flower, are being pushed out by, for lack of better words, a homeschooled jungle freak who’s a less hot version of our native species.

Luckily, the state of Ohio banned the planting of Bradford Pears in January of ‘23, but it does not say that the ones already here have to go. This is bad, especially because our very own city is rife with them. The Paw Print editorial staff is of the opinion that promising to not plant any more of these trees is not enough. Are we as a city really to say that form must take precedence over function? We need to treat our trees like one treats a crowded elevator: taking the deodorant-wearing regular over the gorgeous but disgusting smelling colonizer. It is time to start planting native species, which are just as beautiful and not nearly as dangerous.

Why, when Ohio has beautiful wildflowers, should we plant the invasive Chinese Silver Grass? Or the Dame’s Rocket, which forces out the lovely Garden Phlox? Let’s remove and kill the Bradford Pear, which only causes foul-smelling harm, and urge the city to replace it with the beautiful (and colorful) Eastern Redbud. Maybe then, we can enjoy a gorgeous spring day, knowing our native plants are thriving under careful stewardship. It would also be a hell of a lot less smelly.

EDITORIAL POLICY

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The newspaper staff will make every reasonable effort to verify quotations in final approved copy with the individual(s) quoted, in interest of accuracy. Copy in the newspaper will bear bylines when, in the opinion of the adviser with the editor’s approval, the writer has earned recognition and running the byline is acceptable journalistically. If a newspaper editorial does not bear a byline, it reflects the opinion of the entire staff. A bylined editorial reflects only the opinion of the writer.

Viewpoints expressed in newspaper editorials are not necessarily shared by any members of the faculty (including the adviser), the administration, or the board of education.

All letters to the editor of the newspaper must be signed for verification purposes, but the staff may withhold names upon request. Because of space limitations letters of 300 words or less will receive preference, and longer letters may be subject to condensation with the cooperation of the writer. The final decision of whether to print a letter rests solely with the staff.

ROOMMATE THE TRIALS

The majority of high school seniors probably have one thing on their mind right now: college. These past couple months have been stressful. Whether it’s financial aid, applications, or orientations, it’s been a rough and confusing couple of months. One big part of the college experience is a roommate. A roommate can make or break that school year and it’s important to find the right person. Right now is the time every senior is scrambling to find a suitable roommate for them and it hasn’t been a pleasant process.

Everyone always shares roommate horror stories. Common issues are they’re too messy, they’re too loud, they bring too many friends over, etc. Some people live completely different lives. Sharing a living space is a big adjustment that can take some time getting used to, and some people are better at it than others. This is why finding the right person is so important, but is the right person out there? Breila Allen ‘24 shared some of her standards before jumping into the process.

“The main thing I was looking for in a roommate was someone that sleeps in a dark, quiet room. I can’t fall asleep to the noise so I needed someone that was the same,” Allen said.

The most common way to find potential roommates is through the college meet pages on instagram. Each college has multiple with hundreds of posts and it’s a pain to scroll through endless profiles that all say the same thing. Everyone loves going out (and staying in) with their friends. They’re looking for a potential roommate and new friends so make sure to reach out! They all have photos showing themselves, some friends, and maybe a couple shots to show personality. It can be hard to find the right person with all these options out there. Riley Reed ‘24 has had the chance to connect with other students.

“Just like any other colleges out there, Kent State has an Instagram page for the class of 2028. Although I have already found a roommate, I’ve had the opportunity to connect and talk with a bunch of other incoming freshmen,” Reed said.

When an option finally presents itself, send them a nice DM saying there’s interest. They’ll respond in one of three ways. They’ll either respond and engage in conversation, leave the message on read, or leave it on delivered for an eternity. If a follow up message is sent, they’ll probably still leave it on delivered. While

this is upsetting, there’s still plenty of people to talk to.

“I learned that you can’t be afraid to reach out to people. Everyone is in the same situation,” Reed said.

If the potential roommate decides to leave the message on read or delivered, it probably wasn’t going to be a good match anyways. If the person actually responds, there’s potential to get a good conversation going. If the person is very dry, isn’t asking a lot of questions, and takes forever to respond, then they aren’t a good fit either. They always end up ghosting in the middle of the conversation and down goes another potential roommate. A nicer way to do this is asking for a snapchat username. With this way, they don’t have to keep the conversation going but they aren’t completely ghosting if they send a snap every once in a while. They might have found someone else and that’s okay. When this process is repeated over and over with countless strangers, it can get tiring and frustrating. It can be very hard to find the right person to click with, but they’re out there.

“One of the first things my roommate said was asking me to be her roommate. This was a shock because all of the other people I was talking to were dancing around the question. I really liked the boldness of the question and we got along really well,” Allen said.

If the right person is finally found, it’s a moment worth celebrating. Chatting with them for weeks is a comforting feeling because finally, someone is just as interested. If they finally pop the roommate question, then the hard part is over.

“Finding my roommate was a huge relief because finding a good roommate was something I was really stressed about. Especially because other college deadlines were so much sooner I felt like I was running out of time to find someone. It also gave me someone to talk to while navigating the orientation process,” Allen said.

While it’s stressful, a lot of other people still aren’t at that point yet, and that’s okay. The whole situation is very frustrating, especially when everything is done virtually. The process of trying to find a roommate in a giant sea of people is truly a struggle and not meant for the weak. If all else fails, is giving up and going with a random roommate really that bad? It may just take a little longer for the right person to show up.

SHIFTING TO cleaner transportation

the EPA passes a law to limit vehicular CO2 emissions

The standard form of transportation across the United States is a gas powered vehicle for every individual of age. While this is for convenience sake, it’s not particularly a healthy choice for the environment. As gas vehicles have been used for the past hundreds of years, and have been increasing ever since, they have slowly been contributing to the climate crisis; thus, this has prompted the U.S.’s Environmental Protection Agency to step in and make a new policy to combat the issue.

As stated previously, gas powered vehicles, such as the average car, emit a variety of greenhouse gasses that are contributing to the current climate crisis, but many people fail to realize the true problem that resonates here. An average person emits around 4.6 metric tons of CO2 a year, according to the EPA, and this is just from driving. This statistic fails to include the usage of other fossil fuels through actions like heating and electricity. 4.6 metric tons per person adds up very quickly, especially in a country of over 330 million people. The problem that lies within these heavy CO2 emissions, along with other greenhouse gasses, is their contribution to climate change. Greenhouse gasses such as CO2, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide are all emitted through the burning of fossil fuels and quickly enter the atmosphere. From here, the gasses build up a cloud-like blanket that covers the atmosphere. While referred to as a ‘blanket’, it does not serve the same comfort purpose that a blanket typically does during a nice after school nap, in fact, these gasses trap the heat produced by the sun, consequently heating the earth. This greenhouse effect ultimately leads to what is referred to as climate change because of the gradual increase in heat severely altering the initial climate.

“Plants and animals have a limited range of tolerance in which they can survive. As the climate warms, where these plants and animals can survive also changes. As the polar ice caps melt, more freshwater is being released into our oceans changing the salinity of the oceans which changes what organisms are able to

survive. We also have sea level rise which can impact shoreline environments,” said Mrs. Wagar, AP Environmental Science teacher.

To combat these negative environmental effects, the EPA and other administrations have come up with a variety of laws and policies to limit such emissions. While these additions have been semi-productive, none have really taken a strong approach to fixing the issue at hand. Under recent legislation, the EPA has passed a new law, aligned with the interests of the Biden Administration, to limit tailpipe emissions which are essentially the fumes that are released from driving a vehicle. Under the new law, pollution standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032 and beyond will be redefined to crack down on the emissions. Through this law, auto manufacturers will be expected to create vehicles that emit an average of 85 grams of CO2 per mile, which is a sharp contrast to the average of 444 grams currently. While this seems like a stark, rapid change, not all manufactured products will be affected as gas powered vehicle production will continue, but at a much lower rate.

The benefits of this new legislation are very promising in counteracting the current climate predicament in the United States for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, the average CO2 emissions from vehicles will decrease by seven million tons, which is an astronomical decrease that will be followed with a necessary environmental relief.

“Electric vehicles indirectly get their energy, or charge, from natural gas or coal fired power plants. Natural gas is more energy efficient or energy dense, thus putting less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burned as opposed to petroleum based products,” said Wagar. Along with the emission decrease comes several health benefits. Hospitalization from pollution isn’t super common, but in the U.S. alone, 60,200 deaths still occurred in 2019 due to air pollution. With a lesser amount of emissions produced with the EPA’s action, these hospitalizations will decrease and along with the medical expenses, $13 billion will be saved.

Another generally unthought of benefit of this new law is the savings on fuel. Most Americans see this policy and immediately oppose it for the expansion of electric vehicle sales they expect to follow. While this will occur in some shape or form, the electric vehicles will prove their efficiency through their limited charging expenses. Electric vehicles are in fact cheaper to fuel a car with, in contrast to gasoline, and the overall savings between fuel and repairs will save approximately $62 billion nationwide. While these benefits look both effective and environmentally productive, there is still a strong opposition force. This comes from both automobile workers and electric vehicle manufacturers as they have different perspectives on the timeline and harshness of the law. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation and United Auto Workers appealed to the EPA to dial down the restrictions initially and then gradually change them over time to match the eventual emission number they want. The electric vehicle companies provide the complete opposite sentiment as they hope to increase the restrictions already to protect their industry and even increase their sales. Other opposition is presented through the current state of the U.S. as they don’t appear ready for the bug transition. Currently, electric charging stations are severely limited and failing to expand. With the sudden increase in electric vehicles over the coming years, the U.S. will have to work quickly to combat this increase with more charging stations across the country.

Even though this new EPA policy won’t reverse all past environmental damage in the United States, it is making an effort to limit emissions in the future as electric cars will slowly start to become the average citizen’s vehicle and the new standard. While this is a huge transition for many Americans to live through, the long term effects will be increasingly beneficial for the nation and the generations to come will get to see a world with limited greenhouse emissions and progress toward reversing the detrimental climate change.

TO WALL WALL BALL SOFT

There is no doubt that college softball is growing more and more popular throughout the sports community. Softball has been compared to baseball for many years, causing a bad reputation for the sport; however, softball is a quick paced game that many people don’t realize they love. In 2021, the Women’s College World Series brought in 1.2 million viewers, which was around half a million more than baseball that year.

College softball was adopted by the NCAA in 1910, 51 one years after baseball was created. Softball grew more popular during World War ll, when women were forced to step into playing baseball while men were at war. The first world series wasn’t played until 1982 in Nebraska, but has been gaining thousands of viewers since then. Although baseball has been the dominant sport forever, many people don’t realize that college softball is more entertaining until they are forced to watch a game.

Taking a look into this year’s 2024 college softball season, Texas College sits at number one after winning a series over The University of Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma has been dominant in the softball community for years, winning the last three world series titles. The team had the longest win streak of 71 games, spanning over two seasons, and player Jocleyn Alo set the homerun record of 122 in all of college softball. The University of Oklahoma sticks out against other teams because of their impressive offensive abilities to always put up runs and aggressive plays. Texas College continues

to hold their number one spot as the season progresses, while The University of Oklahoma sits at number two.

LSU, Stanford, and Duke have taken the next three spots in the rankings. UCLA has made their way up to number six in the rankings after a rough start to the season, and Tennessee moved down to eight after being in the top three at the beginning of the season. While every team has unique players and coaches, it seems that Texas College and The University of Oklahoma will be battling it out for the championship.

In 2021, a professional women’s fastpitch league was created for graduating college athletes. The Women’s Professional Fastpitch League consists of four teams, and recently announced that the league will be expanding internationally. As of now, the league is small, but is gaining a lot of attention. After Oklahoma player Jocleyn Alo joined the league, a lot more people are starting to support professional softball.

“It was fun watching all of my favorite college players play in an actual professional league. I was excited to watch everyone have a chance to continue playing beyond college.” Ella Summers said.

College softball and The Women’s Professional Fastpitch League are gaining more and more viewers each year. While the game may have had a bad reputation in the past, it continues to be an entertaining sport in the eyes of many viewers.

Fienman

LITERATURE recommendations

Rae’s back with maritime literature for your next binge read

Before we delve into the world of maritime literature, please note that there are so many more choices out there. To be forthright, we have all forced ourselves to finish a book we loathed (or, just didn’t have the energy to absorb at the time fully) because we felt we needed to. So, if you aren’t particularly drawn to any of the titles on this list, you’re entirely valid. Maritime literature isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. You deserve to read literature that brings you joy, not literature you’re expected to appreciate. But for those of you whose day-to-day speech is littered with jargon such as, “batten down the hatches” and “sqaured away”, who speak in knots instead of miles, which measure in fathoms, and who believe a compass and a watch is all you need to find your way, here are three nautical novels to accompany you on passage.

LOOKING FOR: The perfect combination of action, intrigue, and humor

THE BOOK: Master and Commander is the first volume in a series of maritime novels during the Napoleonic era. The enduring friendship between the garrulous Captain Jack Aubrey and eccentric ship’s surgeon Stephen Maturin carries throughout the series as they sail around the world, fight the French, and chase after the assorted wild animals Maturin brings aboard. There’s absolutely exhilarating action, all based on real historical naval battles, and a perfect balance of pithy humor and Austenian interpersonal drama.

NOTES: O’Brian’s prose is notoriously jargon-heavy. However, Maturin’s frequent nautical faux pas serve as a conceit for the author’s exposition. Also, please note that the lighthearted tone of the first installment does not continue throughout the series; HMS Surprise (no. 3) and The Reverse of the Medal (no. 11) are comparatively somber.

LOOKING FOR: A retelling of historical events (beyond the Napoleonic wars, but still during the Golden Age of Sail).

THE BOOK: Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall is a classic tale told from the perspective of a non-mutineer who is left behind. The HMS Bounty, commanded by inconceivably fastidious Lieutenant Bligh, finds itself in peril as the crew forcefully takes over the ship and sets Bligh, along with many of his still-loyal crew members, adrift. The narrator, although not a mutineer himself, stays with the Bounty as there is not enough space on the small boat given to Bligh. Eventually, the shorthanded Bounty ends up in Tahiti. Tahiti becomes just as much of a character as the mutineers as the narrator watches as many of his shipmates come under its spell, completely abandoning naval discipline and even desire to regain their British home.

NOTES: It’s an absolute must-read if you enjoy maritime history!

LOOKING FOR: A light yet fastpaced beach read, complete with swashbuckling action, pirates (!), and high-seas romance (!!!)

THE BOOK: Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini follows once respected doctor Peter Blood as he awakens from his upper-class existence to understand oppression firsthand. Becoming a pirate on the high seas in his own personal odyssey against injustice, Blood is driven by his utter distaste for the despotic King James II as well as romantic pursuits. This book has everything -adventure, heroism, romance -- and most importantly, boats (which you can never have enough of).

NOTES: Captain Blood is quintessentially the “swashbuckling” standard. Modern audiences may find it unbelievable but it is nevertheless to nautical fiction what James Bond is to spy novels. That said, it is still not for everyone, so please be aware of several heavier scenes and take care, as always.

M EDISS connections

I know you’re a cheater but we should still talk.

TothepersonwhoIpark nexttoeveryday,thank youfornotjudgingmy crooked car!

To the boy in my language arts class, I wish I had the guts to talk to you.

To the girl who has been by my side since 8th grade, thank you for never leaving me and being my best friend.

To the kid that slept through class just a few times, thanks for being my rock I owe you the world.

To the boy who used to be my best friend, I understand why you had to distance yourself but I miss talking to you.

Tothegirlthat’salways chewingwatermelongum, Ihopeyougettolive life to its fullest extent becauseyouaremeantfor somuchgreatness.

To the girl that gives me the math test questions, I always pass now.

To the kid with like one friend,thanksforbeing mine when I was in need of one.

To the boy who always asks me for a chromebook charger, please just charge your chromebook.

To the girl that sat to my left in mindfulness, I’m so glad you dated my friend, or I never would have really got to know you and you’re hilarious.

To the girl in my first period language arts, I have absolutely loved your style since sophomore year.

TothegirlwhoIpassin thehalleachday,Imiss youandhopeyouare doingwell.

To the girl I always get to catch up with at the bathroom sinks, I cannot wait to see all the incredible things you are going to accomplish. I look up to you so much.

SPRING SPORTS

Baseball

This defense-oriented 2024 baseball roster was a healthy surprise to spectators, splitting their opening series against McKinley; they then went on to defeat Ellet’s varsity squad 20-3 behind enemy lines. Since then, results have been mixed.

As of writing, their most recent game saw them begin their Federal League series against Perry with the Bulldogs emerging victorious with a final score of 7-2. Led by right-handed pitcher junior Jacob Harrelson, the Bulldogs secured an early lead with hits from Brady Rollyson ‘24 and Kaden Gregory ‘25 in the first inning. Their offense remained potent, with key hits from players like Dominic Salomone ‘26 and Jack Logsdon ‘25 driving in runs to extend the Bulldogs’ advantage. Meanwhile, Jacob Harrelson ‘25 maintained control on the mound, effectively stifling the Perry Panthers’ attempts to mount a comeback. Despite a brief comeback attempt by Perry, the Bulldogs maintained their dominance, adding runs throughout the game to secure the win.

Softball

This softball season, the team adjusted to the loss of seven seniors from the class of 2023. Coming off a high from winning the Federal League last season, the varsity team holds a league record of 4-5. The team mainly consists of freshmen, so this year has been focused on building for the future. Seniors, Nina Summers ‘24, Mckenzie Collinsworth ‘24, Rachel Spada ‘24, and Lili Ackerman ‘24, lead the team in creating a strong foundation for when they have to depart from Green.

Monday, April 29, the team faced McKinley for senior night ultimately winning the game 120. Pitcher, Annie Liszewski ‘27, pitched the entirety of the game giving up no runs during the first game. Collinsworth also curated a victory by hitting a home run on her senior night. The following night, Tuesday, April 30, The varsity team faced Hoover where they were ultimately defeated 12-1 with Natalie Spada ‘27 hitting an RBI to score the only run of the game. The girls softball team keeps improving as they approach their first tournament game against Massillon Monday, May 6.

Tennis

The boys tennis team has had an impeccable season through both their regular season and conference matches. Just this past Monday, the boys traveled to Wadsworth and secured another victory for their smashing records. While success was limited in the doubles matches, Nick Sziraky ‘24, Liam O’Farrell ‘27, and Josh Gfroerer ‘25 pulled through with three singles wins for the team, ultimately giving them the edge over Wadsworth. The match ended in a 3-2 victory for Green, and the boys hope to take the same victory streak to St. Vincent-St. Mary and Hoban throughout the rest of the week.

Taking a look from the season as a whole, the boys tennis team finished second place out of the entire federal league during the regular season. At the federal league tournament, the boys found similar success with Gfroerer and O’Farrell getting second and third place for their respective brackets. The team has had not only a successful season, but one filled with many memories between the seven seniors.

design by Mckenzie Collinsworth written by Aiden Brueck & Catherine Smith

SPORTS SEASON

Girls

Lacrosse

The Green Girls Lacrosse team has had their fair share of ups and downs this season, but they have managed to preserve through the dwindling number of players to have an entertaining and lesson-learning season. On Tuesday, the girls faced off against Orange High School on the opponents turf and battled it out to the end with an eventual loss and score of 8-4. Following this game was a home one where the girls faced St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Senior captains Tess Peel, Mackenzie Holeman, Kila Klepper, and Sofia Durfee have led the team through each game with a strong leadership mindset to prepare the underclassmen for the following season. At their weekly practices, you can find each senior coaching their fellow teammates with not only lacrosse skills but life lessons.

“With our team consisting mainly of new players, it is important for the more experienced girls on our team to step up and help. Since last year was my first year, I understand how difficult it can be to learn so much so fast,” said Tess Peel ‘24.

Boys Lacrosse

Despite falling to 3-4 in their playoff region (region two), the boys lacrosse team boasts the most goals scored in the region overall. Their calculated playstyle mixed with good performance makes them a solid team offensively, and harbors fast-paced gameplay.

“Our best quality on offense is our chemistry. We work together in practice on our timing and efficiency…[and] it’s one of the best things we’ve done all year because it makes the game look more fluid.” captain Oliver Miller ‘24 said.

The captains for this year’s team are Oliver Miller, Maddux Hurley ‘24, and Mike Schaal ‘25. The team has a myriad of younger talent, allowing for growth in practice and games.

“I think that being a young team is good in some aspects, like being able to learn together and making the future of Green Lacrosse a bright one.” Miller said.

This past Saturday (April 27), the varsity squad defeated Federal League rival Lake 20-6. The sophomore duo of Tyson Hunka ‘26 and Robert Haneberg ‘26 shared the highest total goals scored, both earning five each. Maddux Hurley had four, followed by Oliver Miller with two. They’ll play Avon High School at home on May 4, and play Shaker Heights at home on May 6.

Track & Field

Green’s Track & Field teams took to West Salem on April 26, 2024 to participate in the Green Hat Relay, taking home first place overall. The respective squads clocked in at 45.54 seconds in the Boys 4x100m Relay and 1:33.17 in the Boys 4x200m Relay, adding points to secure their champion status at the end of the day.

In the 4x100m girls Relay, Green clocked a time of 51.92 seconds, earning them first place with maximum points. Similarly, in the 4x200m Relay, they finished with a time of 1:47.14, securing another top spot. In the 4x400m Relay, they completed the race in 4:14.84, once again clinching first place.

“The distance team was really on one. Despite putting their best teams in each event, we still had some guys step up and pull some weight.” Distance runner Michael Elsass ‘25 said.

Boys distance not only showcased exceptional times on the track but also delivered a phenomenal point performance, securing 26 out of 30 possible points across various events. With impressive times such as 8:52.66 in the Boys 4x800m Relay and 13:30.41 in the Boys 4x1200m Relay, they demonstrated their endurance and strategy.

In the Boys High Jump, Caden McClure ‘26 placed second with a jump of 6-04.00, earning eight points. Caleb McClure from Green won the Boys Pole Vault event with a vault of 26-00.00, earning 10 points. In the Boys Long Jump, Josh Just from Green secured first place with a jump of 20-07.50, earning 10 points.

SMOOTHIE STUDY

Nina & Mal taste the smoothies of the summer around Green

MALLORY NINA

Nectar Pulp Beyond

When it comes to picking a smoothie place, Nectar has always been my go-to. Whether it was after school, after softball, or even just a road trip, my mom and I would always go to Nectar. Every time we went, I would always order the same thing: 16 oz Merry Berry. The Merry Berry contains raspberry juice, strawberries, and orange sherbert. I know the ingredients sound simple, but there is just something about the sweet taste of strawberries mixed with the tart taste of orange sherbert and raspberry juice that forms the perfect smoothie. The cost of a 16 oz smoothie at Nectar costs $5.49, which may seem fairly expensive, but it is actually the cheapest smoothie on the list! Whether it is the nostalgia of car rides with my mom, or the delectable taste of the Merry Berry, Nectar Smoothie Cafe will always stand at the top of my list. I get Nectar 5/5 stars.

I go to Beyond very, very rarely because I spend a majority of my time at Nectar, but when I do go, I typically order the Alive. The Alive contains peaches, strawberries, bananas, oranges, and vitamin C. Beyond is known for containing ingredients that are healthier and better for you than other places, which is a bright side, but they do lack in the taste. I have a sweet tooth, so I don’t spend a lot of my time at Beyond. I am not really a fan of the bitter taste of every smoothie and the extreme price of everything, but hey, it’s healthy what can I say. The price of a regular smoothie at Beyond is a whopping $10.28! If you are someone who wants to pay a very high price for a very mid but semi- healthy smoothie, Beyond is the place for you, but it isn’t for me. I give Beyond 2/5 stars.

I would consider myself a big fan of a nice, refreshing smoothie in the summer. In my opinion, the place to go is Nectar. I love all kinds of smoothies, however, my all time favorite is a good ole strawberry banana smoothie. To me, it’s perfect. When considering where to go to get a smoothie, my criteria is based upon how well the quality of the strawberry banana smoothie is. If they can’t perfect a smoothie as simple as that, then how are the other smoothies supposed to be good? I’ve been to a fair amount of places that have failed miserably at making a good strawberry banana smoothie. However, Nectar has never done me wrong. On top of that, they have a quality selection of different flavors. Their menu also features smoothies for those who are more concerned about their diet. Whether you want a classic smoothie or one filled with protein, Nectar has it all for you with a terrific taste. Nectar gets 5/5 stars!

In all honesty, I’ve only been to Beyond one time, but that one visit was enough for me. When I got there, the menu looked amazing with different flavors that looked refreshing and yummy. I decided on the mango tango smoothie which has mango, pineapple, banana, cream of coconut, and honey. The second I got it and took a sip, disappointment took over. It tasted so bland with the slightest fruity taste. It also had an underlying bitter taste that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It just wasn’t good. On a completely different note, it is way WAY too expensive. I can understand why the food there might be a little higher in price, however, for the smoothies I don’t think paying $10 could be justified. You’re paying way too much for a smoothie that doesn’t even taste that good. I would definitely recommend saving your money and going elsewhere. Beyond gets 1.5/5 stars.

I have been to Pulp a good amount of times in my life because of the convenient location on Arlington Road. When I go, I always order the Pulp Swirl, which contains apple juice, blueberries, peaches, orange sherbert, and raspberry sherbert. As it can be seen, this smoothie isn’t the healthiest, but it sure is good! It is the perfect mix of sweet and tart flavors, leaving a pleasant taste in the mouth. Pulp is a lot like Nectar in their ingredients and prices, $6.00 for a regular 16 oz cup. Pulp also offers smoothies that contain different vitamins and proteins to help one through the day, which is also a plus side to their menu. Although I don’t go to Pulp as much as Nectar, they make a solid smoothie, so I can’t complain. I give Pulp 3.5/5 stars.

Every time I’ve been to Pulp, I’ve had a good experience. My favorite smoothie to get is the Citrus Berry. It has orange juice, cranberry juice, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, raspberry sherbert, and yogurt. It quite literally tastes like a fruity explosion in my mouth. I can’t stress enough how good it is. The best part about this smoothie is that it’s $6 for a regular size. Most of the smoothies on the menu are under $10. They taste fantastic and they’re not extremely overpriced which makes Pulp the perfect place to stop for a smoothie on a budget. In my opinion, I would say Pulp and Nectar are similar when it comes to flavors and pricing. You couldn’t go wrong with going to either. However, I tend to lean towards Nectar when it comes to getting a smoothie. But Pulp gets 4/5 stars.

Mady Kerley & Ellie Cole

SWIFT SOUNDS

Mady & Ellie review Taylor’s

Once again, Taylor Swift has completely shaken the music industry. On April 19th, Taylor Swift came out with her newest album: The Tortured Poets Department. The album has a number of parallels to her previous albums. As popularly described, it combines her albums Folklore and Evermore with Midnights and some edge to create an album with both touching and heart shattering lyrics. The double album contains heartbreak and grief with a side of new beginnings and happy endings.

As we’ve watched reviews and reactions of the album, one thing in particular is always addressed: the lyrics. As we’ve mentioned, the lyrics of this album create emotion unlike any other album before. Love, loss, confusion, and grief are all expressed in excruciatingly relatable lyrics that swifties have been losing their minds over. Which is completely understandable once you listen to the lyrics. There have been a few songs in particular, however, whose lyrics are extra touching to swifties. One of which being “loml.”

“Loml” is a widely known abbreviation that stands for “love of my life,” or so we think. In this album, “loml” actually means “loss of my life.” The lyrics reflect on the intense heartbreak of a relationship that she thought would last, but did not. Swift

beautifully put together her situation, as well as many others’ situations, into words in this song. “Loml” has been one of the most well received songs from this album, and happens to also be one of my personal favorites.

“So Long, London” has also been one of the greatest hits of The Tortured Poets Department album. This is one of the many heartbreak songs that are included in this album. “So Long, London” seems to serve as a goodbye to the relationships she has made in London. There is a combination saying these goodbyes, along with bitterness and conflict. The portrayal of the relationship in this song is one which can leave a mark on listeners.

The song “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone has been promoted as the single for the album with a music video which perfectly captures the vibe of the album with its gothic Victorian era black and white aesthetic. Post Malone’s backing vocals and part in the bridge bring an entirely different feeling to the song which enhances the listening experience instead of taking away from it.

“I can do it with a broken heart” was my personal favorite. If you like songs with more energy this is the song for you. It has the perfect Taylor Swift vibe, a memorable chorus, a danceable beat and relatable lyrics.

latest hit album

For those casual Swifties out there who aren’t sure where to start with this album, I would start here as it is a classic Swift pop song guaranteed to make you sing and dance along.

As many have probably seen, the song “So High School” has blown up on tiktok, using the lyrics “You know how to ball, I know Aristotle” to show those in a relationship who relate to that line. This is one of the few songs in this album that leans into a happy and love filled relationship. The lyrics of this song have been speculated to be about Travis Kelce, her current boyfriend. As one of the many popular songs in this album, it’s one that portrays an innocent, high school love.

“Guilty as Sin?” Is one of many sad songs on this album. Amongst all the sad girl songs like “loml” or “So Long, London” this song is a small breath of fresh air. It’s a little mischievous and sultry.

Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department has been record breaking, having completely taken over the Billboard Charts, Hot 100s top ten songs of the week. Not only did the TTPD succeed with vinyl and physical media sales, but Swift’s new double sided venture broke records on streaming platforms. With TTPD Swift notched her 14th No.1 album on the Billboard chart, as previously mentioned.

IDOING WHAT’S BEST FOR ME

have played basketball for the last eight years of my life. I have always loved the sport and for a while, I also loved to play. I grew up in North Canton and basketball was a very big thing there; especially girls’ basketball. Every game seemed to be sold out, and I thought it was terrific. So eventually, I was able to convince myself that I wanted to play. I wanted to be on Hoover’s basketball court and play with my friends. I went to several basketball camps, open gyms, and trainers. The main thing for me was that it was enjoyable. Nobody likes doing things that aren’t in their interest. There were other benefits like staying in shape and the social aspect, but it was an activity that I enjoyed with my friends. Until my mother told me going into my 8th grade year, I was moving to Green.

I wasn’t happy about the move because I had to leave so many things behind. But most importantly, I had to join a new basketball team. That was the cherry on top of the worst news I ever received. I was very conflicted at first. Part of me didn’t want to play and another part wanted to see the bright side. So, mainly against my will, I joined the 8th grade basketball team. It’s not that I didn’t want to play basketball anymore, it was the fact that I had to play with new people. I didn’t

know them for my whole life and it seemed like there was always something that I was left out of. But I was new so I accepted it and did my part. I played the sport that I loved and when the season came to an end I realized for the first time ever, I was relieved it was over.

I didn’t want to do anything that related to basketball. I hated not playing with my friends and I missed what I had. My emotions got in the way and basketball was something that I dreaded. Thinking back, I should’ve been more mature about the whole thing but I didn’t care.

Eventually, my freshman season started, and if I didn’t like basketball, then I hated it now. The main thing that makes a team a team is the people. Team chemistry plays a big part in how successful a team is. Along with that, the coach also plays a significant role. By the end of the season, I couldn’t see myself being on her team. I wasn’t compatible with her and I felt like it wasn’t working. I wasn’t very happy during my freshman season. I didn’t want to do anything involving basketball, I just wanted to be happy, because I was only playing because it made me happy. But there I was again for my sophomore year. I got convinced yet again to play this sport and I was done. There is so much more that goes on being on a team beyond playing basketball.

There’s drama and feelings getting hurt, and that’s when I realized I needed to quit. It wasn’t just one person or thing by itself, it was everything together. The team, the coach, and everything in between. Now, I did love my team very much, but lots of people let personal feelings get in the way and it reflected on our performance. Little things added up over the years that finally made me crack.

When I decided to quit I thought I made the biggest mistake of my life. It was a very emotional experience for me, but I couldn’t physically or mentally be on the team or play the sport anymore. I had negative feelings connected to playing and I didn’t want that anymore. So, I built up the courage to make it official. I thought about going back just for one more year but I had to break the cycle. I dedicated years of my life to this sport and I don’t have one big reason why I quit. I feel like that’s a commonly asked question, “Why did you quit?” For me at least, there wasn’t a general why and if there was I still don’t know yet. But I knew I wasn’t happy, and I could no longer see myself doing it. Being involved in basketball wasn’t for me anymore, and I was trying to hold on to the time when it was. It is very bittersweet.

design by Catherine Smith written by Amauni Gary

NO ROLLER COASTER REGRETS

It was the summer of 2015, and I was at Kings Island for the very first time on a weekend trip with my family. I was eight years old and after what felt like ages, I was finally tall enough to ride the taller rides. My sister was even more thrilled than me since she was two years older and had been waiting for me to grow so that she would have someone to ride the more thrilling rides with. We started small and as the day went on we had made it to the roller coaster with the tallest drop in Kings Island at the time. My sister was dying to go and asked me to come with her over and over again. I was the only option since my mom does not ride roller coasters, my little sister was two, and my dad gets motion sickness. Everyone was trying to convince me to go, especially because the lines were exceptionally short that day. Something about my family is that when we go somewhere, we are going to get the full experience. In other words, we were not leaving until we went on all the rides. Consequently, I started to cry. I really wanted my sister to be able to experience the ride but I really did not want to be the one to go with her. I just kept looking up at this giant obnoxiously bright orange ride and thinking about the ginormous drop. That was when my dad said to me that if I did not go on the ride, I would most probably regret it later because I might not get a chance to go on this specific ride ever again. Spoiler alert: we went back two years later, but at the time I wholeheartedly believed that this was my one

and only chance.

With tears streaming down my face, I got in line right behind my sister. I measured myself earlier and I was around an inch or two too short but I was not going to let that stop me. At the entrance for the line of the ride, the lady saw me and immediately grabbed the stick they used to make sure all riders were the correct height. Every time she looked up I would stand on my toes with my head held high and when she looked down I would flatten my feet. I am sure the worker noticed what I was doing because she looked back and forth between the top of the measuring stick and down at my feet multiple times but eventually told me I was free to get in line.

They measured me yet again when I got to the front of the line but I just used the same strategy as previously stated. Again, the worker looked skeptical but let me get on. The panic got about 10x worse when I sat in the seat and was buckled in. The ride up the hill felt like ages, and my sister was still attempting to pretend that she was still brave. She had a tight-lipped smile the whole way up while I was trying to remember how to breathe. When we got to the top of the hill and were waiting those few seconds for the coaster to go down the drop, my sister thought it would be a great idea to hold my wrist, and on the way down she squeezed my wrist so hard that it was red after the ride. Instead of coming off the ride crying and telling my parents that I would never do that again (which is exactly what my parents

thought was going to happen), eight-year-oldme came off the ride with the biggest smile on my face. I immediately went and told my parents how much fun I had on the ride and asked my sister if we could go a second time. She agreed and yet again I smiled and laughed the whole way down and she squeezed my wrist extremely hard and screamed in my ear the whole ride. I then asked to go again, my sister was reluctant but still agreed since the lines are never that short. However, this time I asked her to not hold my hand. I think one can guess that after the ride was over I asked to go again: however, that time my sister said no.

This is a core memory for me and I look back on this moment all the time. That was the very first time I realized how much doing things out of your comfort zone matters and also how much I loved the feeling of adrenaline.

This probably is not the best advice to carry with you every day since I end up doing random things because I’m worried I will regret it if I don’t, such as the one time I went cliff jumping even though I was terrified. After all, I was so sure I would never get another chance. I have since ridden all the rides in Cedar Point, and Kings Island, went parasailing, rode a fourwheeler, ziplined across mountains, jet skied, rode a camel, went scuba diving, swam with a dolphin and I have done all of these with my sister. All a result of the advice my dad gave me when I was eight. The adventure will continue this October when my sister and I go skydiving to celebrate my 18th birthday.

VIEWS FROM THE SIDELINES

Olivia & Sophia review spectating two different high school sports

BOYS LACROSSE

Despite my utter shock of seeing players run on and off the field while the game was still in play, I actually had a blast watching this game. The environment was way more exciting than I had anticipated, but I also must note that the only lacrosse game I had ever been to was my brother’s in middle school. I will say that the game was entirely more violent than I had expected. I was honestly laughing the whole time just watching these kids thwack each other with their lacrosse sticks. Regardless, it was a rather enjoyable time, so I give the experience a 8/10.

I’m not gonna lie I was really confused throughout the entirety of the game, BUT I thoroughly enjoyed myself. One of the most notable confusing moments of the game was the random running on and off the field of the players. Do they not have to sub in and out? Why is it so hectic? And I was bamboozled into thinking there were only two quarters; BUT NO, there are two halves. Aside from that, the fanbase that comes to support the players is unreal. Families and friends were constantly cheering, ringing the cowbells, and all-over working together to support the team. While I should’ve researched a little more about the game, I enjoyed the free ability to talk without having to worry about keeping my volume down. For these reasons, I give boys lacrosse a 8/10.

BASEBALL

I will not lie, baseball is so boring to watch. Maybe it was just the game I decided to attend, but regardless I was counting down the minutes. It is the same action every single play, with the occasional impressive catch or throw. Now this isn’t a diss on the GHS Baseball team; it’s more of my lack of affinity for the sport in general. I will say, the atmosphere of the games are really relaxing. Everyone is sitting with blankets and food, having small conversations while simultaneously watching the game. The experience as a whole was easygoing, but I wouldn’t find myself returning to a game just for fun. Unfortunately, I give the baseball experience a 5/10.

There is something so serene about watching baseball on a warm sunny day. While some might argue that the game can get boring at times, I disagree. The game of baseball is pretty easy to understand with the exception of some rules which makes it even more entertaining to watch. Not to mention, families watching the game have a calm sense of pride that Overall, the fanbase at baseball games is top tier. While I may be biased because I grew up watching baseball, nonetheless, I give it a 10/10.

Muzi

Sophia Sophia Olivia Olivia