the ORACLE Steinbrenner High School
5575 W Lutz Lake Fern Rd
www.oraclenewspaper.com
Volleyball team adjusts to the loss of seniors (pg. 19) November 2015 - Vol VII , Issue 1
Nickelodeon brings back old 90’s and 2000’s TV shows The “Clump” gains presidential support in the election (pg. 9)
Nerds take over the mainstream (pg. 10-11)
Saving gorillas by recyling old cell phones (pg. 5)
Open
November 2015
2014—15 FSPA Silver Rated Newspaper SIPA’s 2014 Best in Florida Emma Stevens Editor-in-Chief
Joselle Schaffer News Editor
Matt Gerasimovich Opinion Editor
Ariel Cox
Centerspread Editor
Anthony Campbell A&E Editor
Joseph Menendez Print Sports Editor
Adler Shannon
Online Sports Editor
Jillian Dradzynski Backpage Editor
Andrew Zilbauer Web Editor
Kayleigh Haight Staff Writer
Marielyssa Hernandez Staff Writer
Fernando Mallicote Staff Writer
Calvin McClarin Staff Writer
Nicholas Ocasio Staff Writer
Mia Petruccelli Staff Writer
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oraclenewspaper.com
Letter from the Editor
You want thingamabobs? I’ve got 20! I call them my staffers.
I’ve been on this staff for three years now, and I have watched eight different print editions come and go, and now I get to see my own staff create four more. We love our Steinbrenner teachers because they are all so unique. See what I mean in our Comic Corner where we show just how much of a splash a teacher can make (pg 8). Along with Comic Corner, we showcase just how awesome our teachers are, like Mrs. Puskas being named teacher of the year (pg. 6). Coach Perez was named Steinbrenner’s first Tampa Bay Buccanneer’s Coach of the Week (pg. 16), and Coaches McConnell and Lingerfelt discuss their past successes before teaching (pg. 17). Along with showcasing our teachers, we like to show off our students athletes in Starwatch (pg. 18). Athletes aren’t the only stars though, because four young teenagers came together to form the band Extra Celestial (pg. 12). As time goes on, things rise and fall in popularity. In this day and age you can witness the rise of nerd culture (pg. 10-11). People are bringing back old favorites like video games, and Nickelodeon is bringing back some of their 90’s and early 2000’s shows in a new program called “the Splat” (pg.15). Coming close to the end of the first quarter, the school has made some notable changes happen. The AP Environmental Science classes started a recycling project (pg. 5), the school has encountered knew policy changes (pg. 4) and the Echo Literary Magazine and Oracle Newspaper
Staff (my little thingamabobs) came back from the District 4 Florida Scholastic Press Association conference with one first place and three third place awards (pg. 6). On top of all these things, the Warrior Football team’s ability to shatter school records has drastically changed the school’s atmosphere (pg. 3). Adjusting to change can be hard to do, but the Lady Warrior Volleyball team has been making strides after losing nine seniors (pg. 19). An outsider gives a different perspective on shifting from the British school system she grew up with for 14 years to the American one (pg. 7). Having to change the way you learn can be difficult, especially if you have multiple intelligences (pg. 8). Being at a new school can be a scary experience, so we’re thankful that there is now a Big Brother / Big Sister Club to help battle the anxiety (pg.6). With this new school year, celebrations have been going on pretty regularly. The school came together to celebrate the fight to find the cure for breast cancer with a pink out (pg. 20). Students sing out loud with their favorite artists at music festivals (pg. 13). Also check out how the staff feels about a selection of music, TV shows, and movies in this edition’s Break Down (pg. 14). Stand with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and their bi-partisan presidency (pg. 9). I’ve learned from this first issue that we as a staff and a school are adaptable to change. The Oracle staff is very new this year with a total of 17 new staffers, but we are still determined to seek the truth and report it while injecting our own odd sense of humor and taste into everything we do.
Alyssa Ruiz Staff Writer
Hannah Makholm
Head of Graphics Dept.
Jo Hindle
Graphics Dept.
- Emma Stevens, Editor-in-Chief
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney proudly supports the
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and teachers and students of Steinbrenner High School.
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Graphics Dept.
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News
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November 2015
oraclenewspaper.com
Friday Night Lights Students show more school spirit when the football team is doing well
Courtesy of Emma Stevens
Courtesy of Joselle Schaffer
“The student body does have an effect on the football team. As a student, if they’re winning, more people [think] we’re really good, it’s more of a community thing.”
Zach Schachter Junior
Student Sound Off Courtesy of Joselle Schaffer
This year the Steinbrenner football team has made school history by winning five games in a row, causing students to take showing school spirit to a brand new level. The atmosphere in school has always been supportive yet hopeful. However, it wasn’t until this year that the atmosphere changed into excited and pumped up. “At first everyone [thought] it’s school spirit, everyone [should] be involved, but as the years have gone on and we have more of a legacy that we’ve created, everyone thinks it’s cool to have school spirit and it’s just really cool to see everyone getting involved and excited for the games,” said junior Sarah Frost. Many students this year have also driven out to away games to help support the team. “The morale is high, so people want to go to more games because they are more confident that we will win,” said junior class president Mary Deschler, who noticed a change in attendance from last year’s away games to this year’s. “Students showed up to the Newsome game even though it was an hour away. If they thought that we would not win I feel that they would not have made the effort to drive that far.” Another thing that helps the students to get into the mindset of supporting school spirit is that the Steinbrenner student section, the Gold Crew, has been having setting themes for all of the home games. The first
home game of the season the Gold Crew organized was the “Gold Out,” where students showed school spirit by dressing up in gold colors. “The atmosphere has changed drastically. This team is special and we know it. Going out and winning for our school gets us amped more and more each and every week. Our school has always supported us even through rough seasons these past few years, and to see them hyped every week makes us play that much harder, and is a big reason for our success this year. Gold Crew is the best student section hands down,” said senior linebacker Tyler Mirabella. The football team itself has had a massive change between last year and this year on and off the field. As of October 13th, the team has won six games, while last year they won a total of three games and tied one. They have not only had a change in heart, but also a change in strategy. “Confidence is what is different about this team. We came into this year with a lot of confidence knowing how good we could be, and with all the hard work we put in over the summer we knew it was going to take a lot if you wanted to stop us,” said Mirabella. With the heart of the football team, and the spirit of the crowd, Steinbrenner football will serve its school proud.v
Madison McGlone Senior
Kayleigh Haight Staff Writer
“There is a different attitude towards the football team. In the past, people would say bad things about us, but now they are behind us and show us more support.”
Courtsey of Emma Stevens
News
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November 2015
oraclenewspaper.com
Get to class before it is too late County becomes more lenient on tardies due to excessive punishment Joey Menendez Print Sports Editor As students start to readjust to life at school once again, they may be not be fully aware of the recent county-wide changes to the policies regarding tardiness. Starting this year, the punishments for the amount of tardies received have become less strict. Instead of getting OSS for six tardies, students this year will have to do a two hour work detail after school. “The changes in tardies came after a task force in our district was looking at some
of the inconsistencies at different schools and how tardies were being enforced, addressed and what their consequences were. The focus was really on the disproportionate number of students being suspended at other schools, so it was decided district wide that some more lenient guidelines were set in place,” said Principal Kelly King. This year Steinbrenner also got rid of their tardy booth. In previous years, if students were tardy, they would have to go to the media center and get a tardy pass. This year, teachers are making the tardy passes themselves, so
students do not have to take time out of class to get a pass. The consequences may be different between schools but the amount of violations that a student can reach before disciplinary action is taken has become uniform throughout the district. “With only being three weeks into the school year, and us not counting the tardies from the first four days of school, we haven’t really had enough data to look at. We will start each week monitoring any trends in
tardiness and dress code, then we’ll have conversations with students about it being an issue,” said King. Usually there’s a small amount of students that receive detentions, ISS, or OSS from excessive t a r d i e s at Steinbrenner, but in order to keep these numbers small, students need to stay updated with any future changes so that no one is taken by surprise. v
Graphics by Britt Stone and Hannah Makholm
News
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November 2015
oraclenewspaper.com
A.P.E.S. helping save apes
How the AP Environmental Science recycling project is helping save gorilla habitats Joselle Schaffer News Editor With new cell phones coming out almost every month, many students do not know what do to with their old cell phones. Now, they can donate them to the Cincinnati Zoo’s “Go Bananas Challenge!” The AP Environmental Science program is collecting electronic devices to send to the Cincinnati Zoo, where the devices will be taken apart to salvage the rare earth metals inside the phones. These recycled items help save gorilla habitats by restoring minerals found in coltan rocks. Coltan mining destroys gorilla habitats, so recycling the minerals inside the rocks will help reduce the need for Coltan mining, restoring the apes’ natural habitat. “The main focus is to save the gorilla habitats. The more of these rare earth metals that we can get recycled and put back into production, the less of this mineral we need to mine, which
is located in the gorilla habitats,” said teacher Daniel Hartung, who is running the drive. They are also looking for elements like lead and mercury, which are also found in electronic devices. Lead and mercury which are filled with hazardous waste, if they are sent to landfills, there is a possibility that the waste can spill into soil and water. Items that can be recycled include old cell phones, e-readers, pagers, tablets and gaming devices (Gameboys). Devices can still be turned in if their screens are cracked or broken. Hartung’s AP Environmental Science students helped the cause by making gorilla themed posters that are going to be posted all around campus. “A lot of people do not know about habitats being destroyed, and they have a bunch of phones sitting in their drawers, and they do not realize that by turning in these phones it is recycling these old metals to stop destroying the habitats,” said AP Environmental Science student Kayla Gistinger.
Courtsey of Joselle Schaffer
Devices can be dropped off in specially marked bins in the media center, room 347, room 266, and the cafeteria during lunches. The collection will run through November
of 2015 to March of 2016. The goal is to get around 3,000 to 4,000 devices recycled by the beginning of March of 2016. v
Cell phone recyling by the numbers Over $60 million worth of
For every one million cell
of e-waste is disposed world
gold and silver is found in
phones, there are 75 pounds of
wide
dumped phones
gold are found
Facts courtesy of Dosomething.org
20-50 million metric tons
Graphics by Jo Hindle and Hannah Malkhom
News
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November 2015
oraclenewspaper.com
1
2 Courtesy of The Oracle
3 Courtesy of Joselle Schaffer
1
High school can be a rough time for everyone, especially 9th and 10th graders still trying to figure out how everything works. This is where the Big Brother/Big Sister club comes in. Upperclassmen (Bigs) help underclassmen (Littles) who are in need of guidance and properly transitioning to high school life. “What we do is mentor underclassmen by telling them what high school is all about, give them tips for the future and make sure high school is a bit easier,” said senior activity coordinator Sophie Alfonso. The club also plans to show the underclassmen how to succeed and help outside of the classroom,. “We’re going to do fundraisers, like car washes and things like that. We are also going to do walks like Relay For Life to make sure we lead the underclassmen into a great community and help Steinbrenner become a better school,” said Alfonso.v
Courtesy of Joselle Schaffer
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Steinbrenner’s three publications (the Echo, the Odyssey and the Oracle) participated in District 4 FSPA on October 9th. Journalism students went to sessions taught by reporters, and competed in district competitions at the USF Marshall Center. Steinbrenner won multiple awards including the On The Spot Hand Drawn Illustration (The Echo and Oracle),On The Spot Commentary (Oracle), On The Spot Hand Drawn Illustration (Oracle) and On The Spot Candid Photography (Oracle.) “I was definitely suprised when they called my name, because I knew that another person on The Oracle staff was also competing, ” said Emily Chimielewski, who won first place for The Echo in the On The Spot Hand Drawn Illustration contest. The hand drawn illustration topic was to draw a picture that illustrated views on gun control. “I was inspired by Ferguson and gun violence in the police force,” said Chimielewski. ”If you have the outlet to talk about it ,why not?” v
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A Teacher of the Year is chosen based on how much the school has felt the teacher has helped their students achieve their goals. Math teacher Marie Puskas won the Teacher of the Year award for the 2015-2016 school year. Puskas teaches AP Statistics and Algebra 2. She regularly stays for an hour after school to help her students with ELP (Extended Learning Period). During ELP, she helps them with any problems from their math classes, or helps them prepare for an upcoming test. This combined with her above and beyond attitude helped her achieve this prestigious award. “I was shocked that I was awarded, because I am still learning all the aspects of education and how to help my students achieve all they can,” said Puskas. “I just try to help my students as much as I can, whether it’s after school, during lunch, or whatever they need, but with the great staff at Steinbrenner, I was truly amazed that I won. There are so many other teachers who are great here and I just feel lucky to be here.” v
Opinion
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oraclenewspaper.com
October 2014 November 2015
A revolutionary school system
Why the school system in the U.K. may not be as good as you think
Jo Hindle Graphics Dept. There is a common stereotype about the United Kingdom of Great Britain (U.K.), and in particular England. It is sophisticated in many ways, the school system being a demonstration of this. People expect well-behaved, polite students and stiff, prudish teachers. People expect well organized, silent classes with traditional teachings and s t r i c t rules, as is often portrayed in movies and TV shows. Other popular misconceptions are that most British students are respectful to their teachers and peers, get outstanding grades, are well educated and have little difficulty getting
into colleges and universities. In contrast, many Americans believe that the U.S. school system is awful, and assume that the British system is much more efficient and provides a better education. In reality, these stereotypes don’t even have a shred of truth. The two school systems are so utterly different from each other in almost every way. Having lived in England for 14 years, and in Florida for over three years, the differences are staggering. In the U.K., students start school at age three, entering nursery school, with an optional preschool for two to three-year-old children. In some states such as Florida, children start school at five, also with a preschool option. Both of these share similar activities such as playing, counting, learning ABCs and creative activities to stimulate a child’s mind and build social skills. British children start math, English and other subjects at fouryears-old upon entering primary school, which they continue until the age of 11. From there, children attend high school for another five years before heading off to college or university at the age of 16. A major difference between British and American school systems is the curriculum. In Florida, students first get to choose their classes in sixth grade at 11 years old, but cannot choose core classes until freshman year of high school. However, in the U.K., students get to first pick their own classes at the age of 14 in their penulti-
mate year of high school. Even then, there is no option whatsoever to change core classes. Unlike the U.S., there are no different classes for different fields in each subject. For example, math has no separate classes such as algebra or geometry. The options for British students are limited, and nothing compares to the wide range of elective choices here at Steinbrenner. Classes such as marine biology and TV production are subjects which students could only choose to study once they enter college, giving students little options to experiment and pursue what could become a future career. Another huge misconception is that British students are very well behaved and respectful. In most British schools, this is not the case. Most of the time in class is spent trying to keep everyone quiet rather than actually focusing on learning. There is little to no respect for authority in some classes, occasionally getting violent. Once, I even expereinced students throwing chairs at their teachers. Bullying is also rampant. For some students, there was not a class period that would go by without them being the target of someone’s mean words and actions. Of course, not all schools are like this, but I attended one of the better funded and statistically high-scoring schools in my area, and those were just some of my experiences. Here in Steinbrenner, it is the polar opposite. During over two years of attending school here I have only once experienced someone being disrespectful towards a teacher. Never have I heard a teacher raise their voice in anger in order to gain attention from their students, and classes are almost silent while working unless it’s a group activity. There are countless aspects that can be compared within the schools’ systems, however just from the curriculum and student behavior, it is evident that the stereotypical perspectives that the Americans and the British have of the other ’s school systems are vastly different from those portrayed in Hollywood or TV such as Glee, Disney shows or Harry Potter. From experience in both systems, I can say that American schools are much more efficient and provide students with more chances at discovering who they are and what they wish to be, in a positive and nurturing environment for learning.v Graphic by Jo Hindle
Opinion
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October 2014 November 2015
oraclenewspaper.com
I swear I’m smart Why a test score doesn’t define you
Hannah Makholm Graphics Dept. Everyone has heard of the "right side of your brain versus the left side" spiel, but what about the Theory of Multiple Intelligences? No, not as much? The Theory of Multiple Intelligences was proposed by Howard Gardner, and explains how each student has multiple and unique mindsets. There are seven in total, and are: visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, and logical-mathematical. However, the current education system in the United States expects students to learn and perform focusing most heavily on the linguistic and logical mindsets. So what happens if you only have one of those, or none? Are you already dead in the water by not being born without these almost essential mindsets? Perdita Samuel-Lopez and Angelo Cassiano, both co-founders of the club Meeting of the Minds, see how creative thinkers are getting the short end of the stick.
"I definitely think that, considering that school is solely focused on academics, they don't give as much importance to the creative side," Samuel-Lopez stated, "I think to be creative, it takes a lot more work than it does to perform a skill you can memorize." Cassiano sees how this bias can affect one's future education, saying that,"if you're trying to get a full education, it should be for all equally." Both have agreed that to solve a problem as big as this, it would boil down to how the teachers handled the students and their specific intelligences. Schools such as Steinbrenner do a better job at incorporating more of the so called intelligences, by offerring a wide range of elective classes that can tap into them much better than a lot of schools across the nation. "I think that some teachers could incorporate more creativity-based thinking in things like math," Samuel-Lopez mentioned. She believes that giving students creative freedom in academically based projects can let students with different intelligences shine. "Give them a barrier, but let them have the freedom to ex-
press how they want to complete it," she concluded. Instead of having the lessons change in a broad manner, Cassiano believes that teaching styles should vary for each individual student and what classes they take. Having an, "academic class with a creative teacher, or a creative class with an academic teacher," would aid the different thinkers. He also suggested that students knowing what teaching style each teacher has when signing up for classes would suit what works best for them. That way, all of the mindsets are supported in the students’ learning experience. Of course, there are teachers that have embraced this style of thinking at Steinbrenner, giving students personality tests and individualizing lesson plans in order to cater to strengths of the students they teach. Unfortunately, there are still a good amount of teachers all across the country that don't embrace this research. All the creative kids who doodle on the sides of their math homework are not dumb for not knowing the Quadratic Formula off the top of their head, they just think differently than others, and there's nothing wrong with that.v
Mr. Rocca Graphic by Hannah Makholm
Opinion
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oraclenewspaper.com
October 2014 November 2015
Can’t stump the Clump
[satire]
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton propose dual-presidency to foster bi-partisan support Matt Gerasimovich Opinion Editor A dual-presidency is unheard of over the course of American history. There is no precedent for such a thing, and some claim that it is unconstitutional. This has not seemed to slow down the political machine created by Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Not even through primary elections, the two have stated several times that they plan to share the presidency, giving birth to the campaign slogan, “Can’t stump the Clump.” Trump’s original idea was to build a wall that would span from coast to coast on the Mexican border, effectively stopping illegal immigration from the south. In addition to ending illegal immigration, Trump claims that it would be good for the country’s economy to deport the illegal immigrants. Without the illegal immigrants, Trump believes more jobs would be left for the hard working Americans. Many political pundits are criticizing Trump on his tough immigration policy, and Republican leadership is worried that he may be alienating minority voters. All of these statements may be true, but when coupled with Clinton’s diplomatic touch, Donald Trump’s “Let’s Build a Wall” idea seems less far-fetched. In an email sent to Trump earlier this month, Clinton proposed changes to Trump’s ideas that
have gained significant support nationwide. Her idea is one that is extremely reminiscent of George R.R. Martin’s Night’s Watch in the fictional series Game of Thrones. Instead of being forced to leave the country, some of the illegal immigrants would have the opportunity to join a new branch of the United States military, and stand guard on top of Trump’s proposed wall on the border between the United States and Mexico. Clinton’s plan would employ thousands of these illegal immigrants rather than deporting them. While they would work to prevent illegal immigration from Mexico, they will only be armed with bows and arrows in order to prevent serious injuries. In the event of an emergency, Congress has already authorized the use of flaming arrows in order to neutralize threats to national security. Many different companies are already being looked into for contracting the various elements that will be needed to support such a large military branch. The costs for contracting companies to provide food, uniforms, and medieval weapons will surely be expensive. However, since this branch of the military will not require much spending for research into improving weapons, supporters say that this will be the least expensive
branch of the military overall. Economists believe that the increased government spending required to add this new branch of military will drastically improve the economy, as well as decrease unemployment significantly. Even fiscally conservative representatives believe that the spending will pay off, and that the spike in employment will boost spending in almost all sectors of the economy. With support coming from both parties, Congress will more than likely be in support of this plan, and it is something that could be expected to be put into motion within the next year. v
Graphic by Hannah Makholm
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The Oracle is affiliated with the following organizations:
The Oracle Editorial Policy The Oracle is published by the newspaper staff at Steinbrenner High School: 5575 Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz, Florida, 33558 The Oracle works under the SPJ Code of Ethics, Which has been set down as our journalistic standard. The staff believes in freedom of the press, honesty, accuracy, impartiality, decency and equality: We will be observing these at all times. Alll the editorials will be backed up with facts and research. Staff editorials will never be by-lined, because they represent the opinion of the staff as a whole. Money for the publication of the Oracle will come from advertising sales. Any advertising rates are available upon request by calling the Steinbrenner newspaper staff at (813) 792-5131, ext. 258. Advertising which promotes illegal products under Florida law, opposes any religion or is of any sensitive nature will not be accepted. The Oracle is established as an open forum for student expression as outlined in the Student Press Law Center’s model guidelines for student publications. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the faculty and administration of Steinbrenner High School, but rather of the author or of the newspaper staff and its editors. As student journalists, the staff occasionally commits errors,; however, we will always correct the errors in an honest and timely manner. The Oracle welcomes letters to the editor on topics of interest to Steinbrenner High School and its surrounding community. We also welcome contributions from writers not associated with the newspaper staff. All letters submitted to the editor will require the signature of those who submitted them. All contributions need to be turned into Mr. Flaskamp in room 215.
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November 2015
Brittany Stone Graphics Dept. From Legend of Zelda to Halo, the game empire has greatly expanded its horizon within the past few years. What was once a very selective industry, only catering to who are now considered elitists, has broadened its horizons. These elitists are now often ridiculed for being so behind the times and are made fun of by the majority. The trend of increased inclusion of all types of people has allowed for great advancements, such as expansion of game genres and graphics. Often, people are in awe over today’s video game graphics. Looking back on the first 3-D models from games, such as Super Mario 64, people often tease them for their wonky graphics. The irony of it is that those graphics were once seen as impossible features that were such a magical experience when they came out. Those games, partly as a result of being such a big part of many kids lives, have
Popularity of videogames and graphics go hand in hand gained an exponential boost in monetary value since the newcomers to the gaming scene are absolutely dying to play the games that have led up to what they are known as today. For example, take a look at the Super Smash Bros franchise. The newest game for the Wii U, which has absolutely gorgeous graphics, goes for $60 new at retail stores. Super Smash Bros Melee, which was released on the GameCube in 2001, was originally sold for only $30. Now, it would be a lucky find if it’s available on eBay for less than $60, provided that it’s a working copy with the game case and manual. People are paying the same price for the old, outdated game because they never got the chance to experience how the game series evolved. Steinbrenner High School has also shown just how the industry is grow-
Hannah Makholm Graphics Dept. Fandom, a term that originated back in 2004, has become so widespread that it is normal mentioning it in everyday conversation. So what is a fandom? It’s more or less a group of people with a common interest that can discuss, create content for and just overall enjoy something together. The term
Nerd 001000
ing with the creation of the Modern Entertainment Technology (MET) club. MET club is a new club founded by senior Daniel Dalene, that revolves around discussions about video games and even meeting up outside of school to play videogames with each other. “[He made it with the purpose of] mak[ing] all the gamers happy that there is a club they can enjoy,” said Dalene. Whether a gamer is casual or an expert, the undeniable trend has sparked a great growth in product. Video games have changed the entertainment enterprise forever, and it’s for the better. The one universal agreement in the gaming world is that no one ever wants the dreaded game over. v
covers a pretty broad spectrum, and can include almost all forms of media. From bands to webcomics, each one has a fandom or a fanbase. Everyone is seemingly a part of a fandom without even noticing. So what does this really say about our generation? Enjoying movies like Star Wars, or playing countless hours of World of Warcraft doesn’t seem to get you shoved into a locker anymore. Almost any conversation can be picked up by a common interest in a fandom. Hybrid-like fandoms have been created as well, the most popular being SuperWhoLock. SuperWhoLock mixes the three popular television shows Supernatural, Doctor Who and Sherlock. Drop the term SuperWhoLock in a giant crowd and you’re bound to find a group of people run-
oraclenewspaper.com
Culture X50 1-1 300 Do you ever cosplay?
Yes! All the time!: 5% Sometimes: 10% No, but I go to conventions: 11% What is cosplay?: 74%
How often do you play videogames? Not at all: 38% 1-2 hours a week: 26% 3-5 hours a week: 15% 5-10 hours a week: 8% Over 10 hours: 13%
All graphics: Brittany Stone
Would you consider Yourself a part of a Fandom? Yes: 28% No: 48% Maybe a little, but I’m not crazy: 24%
Cosplay and conventions, the world is your stage Jo Hindle Graphics Dept.
The evolution of fandoms
ning after you to discuss their love for any of those three shows. “SuperWhoLock is huge, about 90% of people at our school could relate to one of those [shows],” said senior Jessica Wilson. Besides that trinity of television shows, The Walking Dead has made a name for itself as well. “The Walking Dead has exploded in the past couple of years. About three years later [from its premiere] and it’s still a huge thing,” said junior Ashton Tejeda. Aside from the abundance of television shows, video games and even web comics have climbed the ladder of popularity. “One of the biggest fandoms that I know is the Homestuck fandom, Homestuck is a web comic that started to spread immediately, around 2009, and is still going on today,” said senior Briana Lopez. All of that being said, has the term nerd lost its bite? Even with acceptance of nerdlike interests and fandoms, answers are starting to vary. “[The term] is used mainly among friends. To be honest, there’s no negative connotation,” said Lopez. “[Calling someone a nerd] is now being abused. If you like a certain thing, but
it’s ‘that thing’ then you’re immediately a nerd.” However she agrees that, “It’s definitely not an insult anymore,” said Wilson. Tejeda brought up an interesting point, that the term nerd is neither an insult nor a compliment. “I think it goes both ways. It depends on what they’re referencing, because sometimes they use nerd as being a smart person, or as in that you’re a loser. So it kind of goes both ways. It depends on the diction,” said Tejeda. So as the nerds and their interests begin to gain popularity among the general population, are they really being looked down upon? In any case, if someone is confident in what they enjoy, then it shouldn’t matter what others think. Now that fandoms are a common topic to discuss during lunch or even to create content for, I think it’s safe to say that the nerds are safe to express their love for all galaxies far, far away without being harassed. v
Two of the biggest ways nerds of all fandoms can come together is through cosplay and conventions, which have spiked in popularity in the past few years. They are both huge aspects of nerd culture and go perfectly hand in hand. Conventions are a perfect place for finding out about newest sneak peek releases, getting new merchandise of all things nerdy, seeing events, discussing things in panels, meeting new people and seeing great cosplayers. Hundreds and hundreds of people flock to even the smallest conventions, the size of a library, because no matter what the size of the convention, people know what to expect: a place full of people just like them, where they aren’t going to be judged no matter how nerdy they act. However, is that still the case? Lately, nerd culture has become much more mainstream, bringing in even more diversity to conventions, yet for some it’s making them feel like they aren’t surrounded by others like them. “I think conventions have been gaining mainstream popularity, especially ComicCon, because there are a lot of circumstances in mainstream media where people romanticize geek culture by creating these underdog characters who enjoy comics and conventions and alternative nerdy things from our subculture,” said sophomore Kerri Cochran, a popular cosplayer and regular con-goer.
If you go to a convention, no matter which one it is, you will undoubtedly see one thing: cosplay. Tons of cosplay. Cosplay is where a person dresses up as a character. It sounds simple, but taht’s definitely not the case. Cosplay can be a difficult thing, especially when making a costume from scratch, or completely styling a wig to match a character’s hair. A common thing at conventions is people asking to take pictures of the cosplayers. It’s such a great compliment, and unless they are in a rush somewhere, you will probably never get turned down. That’s why they are there: to share their favorite characters and the hard work they put into their costumes. Another common thing about cosplay at conventions is that there is usually a cosplay contest. “I cosplay because when you really love a character, or the aesthetic appeal of a character, whether it be villain or hero, you can transform yourself into them, because you are essentially a blank canvas and can build off of yourself and become someone else,” said Cochran. “Because I watch or read something and I find a character with my personality, or similar to, and it’s fun to create a costume on your own or with friends,” said junior Rachel Jefferies, another regular con-goer. v
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Follow the band on Instagram @excmusic or check out Jim Chambers Music Box on Facebook.
Ariel Cox Centerspread Editor There are many women who are prominent in music today, but it can be difficult to find bands backed exclusively by girls. Extra Celestial proves that females can form their own groups and not need any guys helping back them, but even more that, they prove that girls rock. Over this past summer, Extra Celestial formed out of students from Steinbrenner as well as Cambridge Christian School. Warrior sophomores Devyn Dacus and Caitlin McHale met Casey Banales and Annabella Vivero through Jim Chambers Music Box Academy. They describe themselves as “The Breakfast Club” of bands due to their fluid genre choices. At their concerts they perform covers of things from all eras and genres, from 80’s pop to alternative rock. “We try to combine all kinds of genres,” said McHale. “We all have different genres that we all like, so we try to let everyone get their song in.” Dacus and Vivero were taking lessons in guitar and drums, r e s p e c t i v e l y, when owner Jim Chambers suggested an idea of an all girl band to them. They then went searching for a lead singer and bassist.
Chambers found Banales when she was performing with Vivero. Dacus found McHale through Instagram. “I just saw a picture of Caitlin playing bass on Instragram,” said Dacus. “It was just like ‘oh here’s this girl who plays bass! She’s really good,’ so I reached out, and she came out to play with us.” They now are all currently in the band formation class at Chambers Academy, practicing once or twice a week for two hours. “They draw a lot of people,” said Chambers. “There are so few girl bands in the band ecosphere. What these girls are doing is different, and stellar. They’re very good at what they do.” The band’s first gig was at Red Star Rock Bar where they played everything from Joan Jett to Elle King to Adele. “I went to their first one,” said sophomore Samuel Ake. “They were pretty good, offering a lot of cool covers from all over.” Their second gig at Skipper’s Smokehouse led to an increase in following with over 300 people in attendance. “When I went to see them at Skipper’s Smokehouse, their band was amazing,” said sophomore Lyla Fessler. The energy and how the band provides unique twists on their covers is what Fessler points to as their appeal. “The hour leading up to our set was terrifying,” said McHale.
“As soon as we were up on stage and I saw everyone’s faces, it just kind of went away and all I could think about was putting everything into our concert. Once we finished the first song, everyone was cheering and that carried me through the rest of the set.” They’re going to work on originals, and definitely have plans to release a single in December. “We’ve put together a couple progressions here and there,” said McHale. “I have a bunch of songs that I made for fun,” said Banales. “We are going to see if some of these we could make something out of.” The band members all have a common reason for making music, as it offers a release and allows for the members to be in their natural element. “I decided to be in a band because music was always something that was very integrated into my life and I’ve always wanted to preform live,” said Dacus. “Making music to me is kind of like seeing your favorite person, or going to someplace you call home. It feels natural and has that effect on you, and it’s special to me.” v
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Music festivals draw ears towards Florida
Courtesy of Page Blackburn
The massive gathering of dedicated EDM fans converge at Sunset Music Festival earlier this year. “I loved it because of the people there and the lineup was phenomonal,” said Blackburn.
Andrew Zilbauer Web Editor Ten years ago, if you asked a random person on the street what they knew about Coachella or Bonnaroo, it would have been met with confused stares and questions about your sanity. Now Coachella and Bonnaroo are considered to be cultural epicenters in certain circles and a significant annual music event by all. Proving itself to be a popular and profitable business in the past five years, music festivals have popped up across Florida emulating these giants, enjoyed by music and pop culture enthusiasts alike without breaking the bank to head towards California and Tennessee. Big Guava Festival in Tampa, Three Points in Miami and Suwannee Halloween in Live Oak fit the bill, each generally focused on their own genres of music. Big Guava in particular has let local music fans get their festival fix, with both lineups since its inception in 2014 bringing in many acts from Coachella. Bands like The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, and Outkast have all made the trek from California to Florida to perform at both festivals. Big Guava also focuses on having local additions through regional art on display for attendees to see, adding an even greater cultural appeal to the festival. Some students, like sophomore Grace D’Angelo, were able to attend the inaugural Big Guava Festival in 2014, finding the event to be a great event with a balanced palette. “I would definitely go to Coachella and Bonnaroo,” said D’Angelo.
“Big Guava was a lot of fun and I met a lot of new friends there.” In it’s debut year, Suwannee Halloween opts for bands and artists on the obscure side of things. The only easily recognizable names on the lineup are Primus and Chance the Rapper, the latter of which is performing his more experimental music, appearing as Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment. “I would go to the smaller festivals like Suwannee and Three Points because it offers a totally different vibe than the other festivals,” said D’Angelo. But in contrast to the jukebox-genres Big Guava and Three Points, Florida EDM festivals have been gaining national attention, with Ultra in Miami, Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Orlando, and Sunset in Tampa. All of these festivals have been created in the past ten years and have only grown in popularity as the years have passed. Two of Florida’s biggest EDM festivals have become world class events that bring in people from around the globe. Ultra and EDC in particular are recognized as some of the premier festivals in the EDM scene, bringing in the most popular DJ’s and producers to perform year after year. “It’s a really fun experience, espe-
cially the bigger ones like EDC, because they have crazier artists and more stages, which I personally like,” said senior Page Blackburn. Blackburn has been to Sunset, where she helped run the event as well as capture photographs of the experience. “I’ve been to punk and hardcore festivals too, and those are also a lot of fun. I’d also go to alternative ones also,” said Blackburn. The best example of this spread into Florida is the recently announced Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival. This festival, created by the same promoters who worked on Bonnaroo, hopes to revitalize the Lake Okeechobee area, and offer music fans nationally a chance to visit the state at the aptly named Sunshine Grove property. Only recently was the first lineup announced, with Mumford & Sons, Kendrick Lamar, and Skrillex as the headliners. The Okeechobee Festival currently is selling three day General Admission tickets, with the second batch of artists to be announced within the coming weeks. The festival itself is slated for Mar. 4 to 6, promising a great weekend for all music fans. The general consensus seems to be that festivals are a fun place to listen to music and meet new people, and seeping itself into the mainstream. They have come a long way from the obscurity they were once shrouded in, now operating as havens for the hipster, the party goer, and the odd. v
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MAZE RUNNER
BLACK MASS
THE
8/10
This issue’s Break Down features contributions from Anthony Campbell, Joey Menendez, and Jo Hindle. Graphics by Brittany Stone and Jo Hindle. All images used under Fair Use Law. Go online at oraclenewspaper.com for more in-depth A&E reviews!
9/10
Following the true life story of James “Whitey” Bulger, Black Mass details the gruesome story of one of Boston’s most twisted crime bosses. Johnny Depp stars as the titular character, deploying one his best performances of his career. Akin to Scorsese’s classic crime films Goodfellas or Casino, it has a strong plot with some drags with its length. One of the best of this year, Black Mass will leave viewers asking themselves what makes a man turn to evil, and how someone could want the world to burn.
7/10
8/10
The Flash returns with the promise of more action, villains, and adventures. Introducing the Atom Smasher, Barry Allen or The Flash, revives his team to fight crime. The first episode of this season feels like a traditional reintroduction to the universe but offers big changes. It’s great to see The Flash once again deliver high octane action and the great story-telling.
New Bermuda Deadhaven
7/10
ues as the group tries to survive outside the maze. The world outside has been scorched by the solar flares and plagued by a zombie-like virus. Unfortunately, it fails to explain the creation of the virus, leaving a major hole in the plot. Overall, The Scorch Trials had good acting along with some entertaining action, but seems to lose what made the first one special and resorted to the clichés of YA . The final book adaption will hopefully address the holes and headaches this film made.
The Flash
Heroes established itself as a cult show with the promise of its first season, yet lost popularity for a shoddy story. But now, five years after being cancelled, NBC has returned to its universe in Heroes Reborn. Initial predictions were bleak, yet I can reassure after the premiere episodes, the holes and errors of Heroes have been fixed. The intensity and quality is out of this world, and I’ll follow this show wherever it goes.
Dodge and Burn Dead Weather
SCORCH theHot offrelease of 2 TRIALS M 0a1 4z ’es Runner, The 6/10 Scorch Trials contin-
Every Open Eye CHVRCHES
8/10
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Emma Stevens & Nicholas Ocasio Editor-in-Chief & Staff Writer A long time dream for many teenagers has finally come true. Nickelodeon has a new block during Nick at Nite where old 90’s cartoons programs will be rerun. The segment is called “The Splat.” Nickelodeon announced the time block on Sept. 12. The time block is dedicated to shows that were popular among kids during the 90’s and early 2000s. Starting at 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., Nickelodeon will air the nostalgic shows and end each night with an episode from Drake and Josh. Now, students can throwback to the days when Debbie Thornberry was the most savage person they knew while cramming for a test. Along with The Wild Thornberrys, Nickelodeon will also bring back Rugrats, Hey Arnold and CatDog, along with 10 other 90’s shows. Nickelodeon is accommodating for how late the the episodes will be airing by also making the episodes online. On the website, people can access a list of what shows and episodes will be aired that night.
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“I would probably go on the Internet more than watching it that late at night,” said senior Jack Econom. “I think that they should just create an entire throwback channel of not just 90’s shows. I wouldn’t mind going back and watching Drake and Josh again.” Drake and Josh is one of the few early 2000’s shows that will be aired. Econom and junior Eryn Vesta both agree that other channels such as Disney and Cartoon Network should create their own throwback channel or block period. “Disney and Cartoon Network should definitely do their own block too,” said Vesta. “Some people I know don’t watch either of those channels anymore because they don’t bring back any of the good shows,” said Vesta. That’s So Raven and Kim Possible would both be big hits to bring back because they were just two legendary shows that
Graphics by Brittany Stone
November 2015
are no longer aired. “Cartoon Network needs a throwback and [they need to] bring back the cartoons from the 70’s and 80’s, like the Jetsons and the Flinstones,” said Econom. “Those cartoons are kind of how everything got formed. Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! need to come back too. Pokémon is still number one in our hearts.” With the rise in video game popularity, Pokémon has stared making its comeback into the lives of teenagers. Out of 100 students surveyed at Steinbrenner High School, 32 people were most excited to watch Rugrats; the second most anticipted was CatDog with 17 votes. No matter what show people are most excited for though, the possibility of seeing old shows makes everyone excited for more. Maybe with Nickelodeon’s creation of the Splat, more channels will start tuning in to this new trend. v
Sports Swinging for success November 2015
Mia Petruccelli Staff Writer Steinbrenner is chock-full of students that have worked exceptionally hard to achieve their goals, and one student in particular fits this description perfectly. This “new kid” to our school this year has a lot in store- not only does he exceed expectations in academics, but more importantly offers much athletic success. For years now, senior Jack Kane has dedicated his heart to his favorite game, golf. Originally introduced to him by his grandfather, Kane fell in love with the sport from the beginning. Kane’s grandfather was a well-known golfer, who received the “For the Love of The Game” award in Connecticut at a tournament. Kane’s grandfather unfortunately suffered from a stroke, which caused him to lose the use of his left arm. For most people, this would’ve stopped them from continuing a sport that is so dependent on your entire body. But not for Kane’s grandfather; he wouldn’t let this injury stop him. The admiration for the game that was so obviously demonstrated by Kane’s grandfather resonated directly onto Kane. Subsequently, in previous years Kane was, and still is, known to give his all to any sport he was involved in.
“This year is dedicated only to golf and academics of course,” said Kane. Earlier this year, Kane competed in a well-known, invite-only tournament, Nature Valley First Tee. He finished in third place against 81 other competitors, but one amazing highlight of the event was getting the opportunity to meet famous PGA tour pro Tom Watson. In addition to golf, Kane is also devoted to forms of community service, being a part of programs such as The First Tee, an organization that promotes education programs to youth. Kane participates as both a student and a teacher at First Tee. The initial focus of the organization was to create affordable access to students who do not have access to the game of golf, but it soon became much more than that. While Jack Kane is becoming extremely successful in his sport, and has already been scouted by many different colleges, he already has one main goal in mind. “I’m focusing on having a more than mediocre job to fall back on, I would like to go into the business program, which requires me succeeding in academics, and that is my safety net.” With his demanding schedule that seems to be neverending, Kane still manages to thrive in every task he commits to. v
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Courtesy of Mia Petruccelli
Coach rewarded for best season yet
Steinbrenner football coach receives Tampa Bay Bucs High School Coach of the Week award Calvin McClarin Staff Writer
Courtesy of Andres Perez Courtesy of Andres Perez
Coach Andres Perez has done well coaching this football season, leading our Warriors to an impressive (6-1) record, and many people are starting to take notice of his accomplishments. Most impressive of which includes our very own Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The NFL team recently nominated Perez for the Coach of the Week award during week four of their new program, following the Warriors 38-17 win over district opponent Sarasota Riverview in their homecoming game. Coach Perez is the first football coach in Steinbrenner history to be nominated for such an award, while also being the fourth coach ever to receive it. This year happens to be the first that the Buccaneers are doing their Coach of the Week program where they recognize successful and respectable coaches who have also been actively involved within their communities. Coach Perez won with a grand total of 40% of all votes in his favor. “It was great a great thing for our school and for our football team,” said Coach Perez.
Along with winning the title of Coach of the Week, he also won the team $1,000 dollars to help fund various things such as new equipment or trips to away games. “I plan on using the money to buy new footballs,” said Perez. The Warriors have had a very impressive season so far and so no signs of slowing down as they hope to keep improving their gameplay for future games. v
Courtesy of Emma Stevens
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November 2015
Two coaches running the show
Cross country coaches reminisce about their personal experiences
Courtesy of Brandon Lingerfelt
Adler Shannon Online Sports Editor For athletes, coaches are the daily instructor in workouts and prepare them for success. Not every coach has a background in the sport they play; Coach Brandon Lingerfelt and Coach Bobby McConnell, the boys cross country and long distance track and field coaches, are distinguished from other coaches for not only having experience, but more importantly, having successful athletic careers themselves. Lingerfelt started his cross country and track career at Chiles High School in Tallahassee. “I played football my freshman year,” said Lingerfelt. “I was a 100 pound receiver, so football didn’t offer many doors. I tried track in the spring and stuck with it, leading me into cross country in the fall and I never looked back.” Lingerfelt was coached by legendary Coach Scott Gowan, going to the state meet twice with his team. From this experience in high school, he contemplated the possibility of applying his experiences to coach a new generation of young runners.
Despite receiving several offers from some smaller colleges, he ultimately decided to go to USF, retiring his running career in the process. As part of an education major, Coach Lingerfelt taught a semester at Newsome High School. By making connections there, he managed to get a job at Steinbrenner. Coach Robert Ennis and McConnell knew of his previous experiences and almost immediately asked him to help coach the Boss Cross. “Coach Ennis has been a great influence on me, because he’s a legend and everyone respects him,” said Lingerfelt. “He has reinforced to me how in both cross country and all sports, success is defined by how much effort you put into it. I try to instill self-motivation, being mature, giving 100% effort, and working hard each and every day into my guys.” McConnell had a similar path to becoming a Steinbrenner coach. “Coach Ennis started training me at the end of the 7th grade year for the Sunshine State Games and Junior Olympics,” said McConnell. “Then in my 8th and 9th grade years, he allowed me to run with the Leto High School team.” McConnell was familiar with Leto’s Long Red Row cross country program because his aunt used to run with Leto in the 1980’s. He and his team were state champs in his sophomore and senior years. Before entering college, he even was able to be a part of the Olympic torch runners, a string of runners from Tampa to Atlanta that carried the torch used in the games. McConnell would go on to run track at the University of Florida, leading him right into coaching when he graduated, and starting this new career at his alma mater, Leto. “With coaching I felt my running experience I could give back to the my high school. I got into teaching because I’ve always loved history and working with young people.” Coach McConnell cites the high quality of his coaches throughout his running career to influence how he coaches today. “Starting with my grandfather, I’ve always had great coaches,” said McConnell. “In junior high school it was Coach
Zimmerman, in high school Coach Ennis, and finally Coach Holloway at the University of Florida.” “The most important thing that they stressed to me was team, so I learned this far outweighed individual goals.” Lingerfelt and McConnell both have big plans for the upcoming track season and next year’s cross country season. “I don’t know how involved I will be next year as Coach Lingerfelt is probably going to take on the bulk of it next year,” said McConnell. “But we’ll have same goal as usual: to compete for a state championship.” For the track team, they both hope the 4x800 relay team makes it to state and have at least one athlete qualify in the mile and 2 mile. Both coaches have similar backgrounds and paths to the Steinbrenner track and cross country teams, imparting their varied experiences to help the Boss Cross be the best team they can be.v
oraclenewspaper.com
Fall Sports Update Girls Golf:
The ladies golf team is undefeated this season under the leadership of head coach Mark Mann.
Boys Golf: Boys golf continue their season (14-3) placing 3rd at districts. The team heads for reigionals with head coach JR Allen.
Girls Swim: The girls are (5-2). The team is led by team senior captains Arielle Segovia and Kaylee Baer, and head coach Casey Newbill.
Boys Swim: Steinbrenner boys swim team is currently (4-3). The team is led by coach Casey Newbill.
Girls Cross Country: Ladies cross country placed 4th at the county championships and 3rd at districts. The team heads to state Saturday November, 7th and continues to be led by Ladd Baldwin.
Boys Cross Country: Boss cross placed 2nd at county, district and regional meets. The team heads to state Saturday November, 7th led by coach Robert Ennis.
Volleyball:
The ladies volleyball team is currently (11-2) for conference. The teams head coach is Laura Praetorius.
Football:
The football team is (8-1) as they head to playoffs for the first time in school history, at Dr. Phillips High school on November, 13th. The head of the team is coach Andres Perez.
Courtesy of Thomas M. Goethe
Compiled By: Joey Menendez On November, 4th 2015
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Erin LeClair
Courtesy of Jillian Dradzynski
Marielyssa Hernandez Staff Writer Junior Erin LeClair is a setter on the Lady Warriors volleyball team and has been playing for about five to six years. She started taking interest in the sport when she was 12 years
Marcus Quinones
Courtesy of Joey Menendez
Jillian Dradzynski Backpage Editor Sophomore Marcus Quinones is a varsity runner for the Boss Cross cross country and track team, already breaking records and preforming impressive feats. In only his freshman year, Qui-
Justin Moffatt old and hasn’t shown any signs of stopping anytime soon. LeClair has been a key player on her team, helping them achieve one victory after the next. Since our Lady Warriors volleyball team lost nine seniors this season, she has had to up her game and really focus in order to preform well. Although she has the potential to play volleyball at the college level, she is still undecided in where she wants to go. “I’m definitely trying to get a scholarship for college because I really love free college. So that’s why I’m playing,” said LeClair. LeClair is willing to get into any college that would give her a scholarship, whether it be in or out of state, and will keep trying her hardest in order to earn one. v nones became the current holder of the freshman record for the one mile with an exceptional time of 4:43. Currently in his second year of cross country, he is already running times in the low seventeen minute range, with hopes of running sub-seventeen minute races by the end of this season. “As a teammate, I want to make us better,” said Quinones. However, his athletics aren’t limited to just cross country. Outside of school, Quinones is also an avid soccer player, playing during his off seasons. Quinones enjoys running for his team and loves helping his teammates improve while achieving victory during their races. With his sights set on more records to break and faster times to run, there doesn’t seem to be anything stopping Quinones from running his heart out. v
Courtesy of Adler Shannon
Adler Shannon Online Sports Editor A football player since four years old, Justin Moffatt was born to play the game. His break out season occurred during his junior year, pulling in 54 receptions for 427 yards and 2 touchdowns over 10 games. This year he is off to a record breaking
Ashley Kubel
Courtesy of Jordyn Castillo
Kayleigh Haight Staff Writer Senior, Ashley Kubel has made a big impact towards St einbrenner ’s Lady Warriors swim team by being one of the top swimmers for the past four years. Competitively swimming for
Graphic by Jo Hindle
start with 25 receptions for 293 yards and 4 touchdowns so far. He has been an impactful running presence as well, rushing for 194 yards on 43 carries, averaging 4.5 yards a carry. He has also helped offensively this season scoring 9 touchdowns in 7 games (5 rushing, 4 receiving), which has been a crucial part of why the Warriors are 6-1 this year. With the school records in both receiving yards (896) and receptions (103), as well as being a dual threat on the ground, many schools have taken interest. “My dream school would have to be the Naval Academy,”said Moffatt. “I am also talking to a few D2 schools who are interested as well. Seniors on the football team have been together since freshman year. We have gone through all the struggle and heartache of the last three seasons and it is great to see our hard work finally paying off.” v
only five years, Kubel has already made her mark during her time here. She continues to push herself in the freestyle and backstroke events in hopes of making it to states. “I’ve been there every year so far so to be able to go for all four years is my goal,” said Kubel. “This year I’ve broken a personal record of mine, but in previous years I have set the 100 freestyle, 100 backstyle, 200 IM (Individual Medley), 200 freestyle, as well as 100 breast stroke records in my high school career,” said Kubel. She has helped lead the girls swim team achieve enormous success in her career, and many college programs have paid attention. “I just recently committed to Georgia Southern University and I’ll be swimming there next fall, I’m really excited,” said Kubel. v
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New faces, still striving for excellence Fernando Mallicote Staff Writer
After nine of a school’s best players on a team graduate, how does the new team live up to the bar that they’ve set? The Steinbrenner Lady Warrior volleyball team lost 9 seniors after a historic season, going all the way to the state semifinals. But now that those players have moved on to the next level, how will this new, younger team continue to succeed? Outside hitters Leila Oberschall, Alexis Everett, setter Kalie Thomas, and middle blocker Elna Argen are the four current seniors that had to lead the team this season. But the seniors aren’t the only ones living up to these expectations. Junior middle blocker, Lauren Odom, became an influential leader on this team, even earning the title of captain before becoming a senior and has helped the JV team “Everyone really had to step up, in-
cluding Leila Oberschall, Kalie Thomas, myself, and the other two seniors on the team.” said Odom. “Even the underclassmen and JV players have really stepped up and supported us all this season,” After talking with two of the seniors, Oberschall and Argen, they claimed that they have just tried to go back to the basics and fundamentals this season and become a better family with each other on the team. None of the players believe they are in a “Rebuilding Season” though. “We are a very good team but we have a lot to live up to,” said Argen. Even Odom claims that they may not be as strong as they used to be but they are still a very good and legitimate team that has a lot of heart and capability of making a deep impact in the playoffs like previous teams have. The team’s main goal this season is to continue its winning streak, which seems to be going well, even after losing all their seniors.
Courtesy of Fernando Mallicote
The Lady Warriors will hope to continue their strong district record in order to help them when the district tournament comes around. By focusing on strengthening the bonds between teammates, these girls will
continue to exceed expectations. The team has already tallied an impressive (5-2) district record and are currently third in the district as of Oct. 13. v
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O k u n i
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November 2015
Students wore pink on October 13 to show their awareness for both breast cancer and bullying, two issues that affect many people each year.
Courtesy of: Jillian Dradzynski
“It’s a good way to show the importance of both breast cancer and bullying, and a way to show the students’ support of two very real matters.” -Ian Torres.
Courtesy of: Jillian Dradzynski
Graphics by Hannah Makholm
Courtesy of: Jillian Dradzynski
Courtesy of: Jillian Dradzynski
Courtesy of: Jillian Dradzynski
Compiled by: Jillian Dradzynski