Volume 45, Issue #5

Vol. 45, Issue #5

The

March 11, 2020

Knightly News

p. 3 Pace Students Study Abroad in Israel

p. 4 Another Victim of Coronavirus: Pace ICGL

p. 8 New Players Make Impact

Pace Hosts First TEDx Event Darren Rosing Opinion Editor Class of 2021

the first ever TEDx conference to Pace Academy to discuss ideas on nonconformity. The theme for this inaugural TEDx event is “Challenging the Status Quo.” “My goals for hosting this TEDx conference are for our community to gain new trains of thought and to spark meaningful debate about meaningful topics, in this case challenging the status quo for the betterment of society,” said Fu. The event will be held from 4-6 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center.

Supported by English teacher Robert Kauffman as faculty advisor, Fu organized a TEDx committee of primarily underclassmen to help him choose speakers and plan the function.

The student speakers will be eighth-grader Amelia Honabach, sophomores Maddie Hale and Kargil Behl and junior Jack Brown.

All of the student speeches will correspond to nonconformity. Brown’s talk, for example, will center around minorities.

“Challenging the status quo is about not being afraid to face the judgmental gaze of normalcy,” said Brown. “I think anybody who has the courage to be themselves challenges the status quo every day.”

The event in March will conclude with a presentation from guest speaker Carlos Andrés Gó-

Photo: Robert Kaufman

Who is the world’s greatest nonconformist? For upper school newspaper advisor Lee Wilson, it’s Mahatma Gandhi, legendary civil rights and freedom activist.

US Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator Omar López Thismón, English teacher Emily Washburn and Director of Libraries Matt Ball all argue in Jesus Christ’s favor. Others like Latin teacher Elizabeth Kann and library assistant Tiger Brown say Akhenaten (ancient Egyptian pharaoh) and Tupac Shakur (American rapper), respectively.

Junior Michael Fu began to study nonconformity in eighth grade after reading Adam Grant’s “Originals: How NonConformists Move the World.”

Fu was inspired by Grant’s discussion on originality’s contrast to conformity and appreciated the book’s overarching theme of going against the grain.

Upon Fu’s enrollment at Pace in Fall 2019, he knew he wanted to share this idea with his new school community… But how?

“While at a chess tournament in middle school, one of my friends, who was in high school at the time, explained to me the TEDx conference he was hosting

and previously hosted at his high school,” said Fu. “He described how wonderful of an experience it was, not only as a learning experience for himself, but more importantly, how impactful he thought the conference was on the community in sparking conversation and inspiring his peers.”

According to the organization’s website, TED is a global community of people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world around them. Originally a one-time conference about technology and design in 1984, TED grew into a viral video phenomenon and prominent cosmopolitan community. Each year, TED thinkers congregate around the world to create, explore and communicate their motto: ideas worth spreading.

In 2009, the rapidly expanding TED community sought a way to spread ideas to smaller communities around the world.

Thus, they created the TEDx program. A TEDx event is a local gathering where live TED talks and performances are presented to a smaller community. They are independently organized by people within that community and are subject to their own rules and regulations.

Yet, the mission and purpose still holds the same weight.

On March 21, Fu will bring

(L-R) Michael Fu and English teacher Robert Kaufman traveled over Thanksgiving to Portugal for the Yale Model Arab League conference. Mr. Kaufman is Fu’s advisor for the Tedx event. mez. He is a Colombian American poet, speaker, actor and writer from New York City. “His poetry wrestles with masculinity and his Latino identity through raw and ineffably beautiful language,” wrote Mr. Kaufman.

“Throughout history, we as humans have advanced due to individuals who had/have the

courage to challenge the status quo and do things differently,” said Fu. If the content of the event isn’t powerful enough to persuade every single person in the Pace community to attend the event, some teachers will be offering extra credit to students who choose to participate.

school for one year. What drew her to Pace was the opportunity to connect with her students on a deeper level. “I was excited to come to Pace especially because of the student-teacher relationships, and because it was a school that I could probably end up seeing myself for a long time,” said Mrs. Terry.

“Being able to teach an extra class, so teaching six in the fall both last year and this year, allowed me to throw myself into teaching,” said Mrs. Terry. As a dean, she will only be allowed to teach three classes which is a big shift for her. “I love teaching in the classroom, so this is going to be a change for me, stepping away from something that I love doing.”

Mrs. Terry plans to use her acquired knowledge in order to be an effective dean. “I have to

be thoughtful about the studentteacher relationships, and how I can both serve the school and the student body, and also have a new challenge for myself.”

Mrs. Terry is highly regarded by both her students and her colleagues. In 2018, Mrs. Terry won the Kessler Excellence in Teaching Award, and in 2019 she received the Cum Laude Society Teaching Award. The first award is decided by the faculty, while the latter is given by the students.

Deans have the special opportunity to advise their class for all four years, which is something Mrs. Terry is looking forward to. “Even though [the role] does mean a reduction in terms of the teaching load, it will offer an opportunity to be able

Mrs. Terry Named Dean for Class of 2024 Jamie Kornheiser Managing Editor Class of 2021

Photo: Caitlin Terry

Sitting in the hotel lobby on the recent college trip to the Carolinas, future Class of 2024 Dean Caitlin Terry cheers for the University of Virginia’s basketball team as her alma mater defeats the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Between cheers, Mrs. Terry reflected on her experiences that allowed her to take on this new role beginning next school year.

Before coming to Pace in 2015, Mrs. Terry taught at the Community High School of Arts and Academics in Roanoke, Virginia. There, she taught history, a class on Ancient Rome, a class on revolu-

(L-R) Mrs. Terry, Zoe Williams, Harrison Saini and Jack McCarthy enjoy seeing Eugene Delacroix’s “Lady Liberty Leading the People” at the Louvre. tions, French I and French III, while simultaneously handling all of the school’s communica-

tions and helping with physical education.

Mrs. Terry only taught at this

(Continued on page 4)

GET CONNECTED - KNIGHTLY NEWS SOCIAL MEDIA HOTSPOT

Want quick updates?

Follow us! @knightly_news

Get more photos!

Like our FB page: fb.com/paceknightlynews

Wanna be artsy?

Follow us! knightly_news

Online at

knightlife.paceacademy.org/knightlynews

Pace News

March 11, 2020

The Knightly News - Page 2

Dean Grady Stevens Looks Back on His Time with Class of 2020 Francesca Vaneri

News Editor Class of 2020

(L-R) Class of 2020 Dean Grady Stevens helps senior Aidan Gannon with Latin.

Stevens as a Latin student throughout her time in the Upper School, agreed. “My biggest advice is that your dean is there to help you. They want to talk to you, and if you just pop your head into their office, they really have the best advice.”

Her freshman year, Shippen decided to switch into Latin, and Mr. Stevens worked with her to catch her up with her classmates. “Mr. Stevens, along with a couple of other teachers, has been the reason I’ve loved my experience at Pace,” she said.

“Through working with him as a teacher and a dean, he has taught me what it means to love a subject in school and to realize that high school is just the beginning

of your life.”

Mr. Stevens also advises students to become involved in the Pace community in whatever capacity interests them. “Find ways to bring your talents to our community – it doesn’t matter what it is – whether it’s theater, debate, athletics, esports, dance marathon or whatever else,” he said.

As his time as a dean comes to an end, Mr. Stevens looks back fondly on his time with the Class of 2020 and said that it was the best thing he’s done in his professional experience.

Mr. Stevens was nervous about the four-year commitment, but said that the experience had been “amazing.”

ment in order to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.” The students who raise the most money in the seven weeks are named Students of the Year.

This year’s team, Secure the Cure, was led by juniors Caroline Janki and Emily Butler, along with sophomore Marissa Govic. “My nine-year-old cousin was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma a couple years ago and I wanted to do my part so other kids wouldn’t have to go through the same hardships he did and could have the best treatments possible,” said Janki.

Sophomore Margo Kaye also had a personal reason for joining Secure the Cure. “I wanted to do it in honor of my grandfather who is still fighting a form of blood cancer and it’s a great way to get involved in support of a great organization,” she said.

The Secure the Cure team worked hard writing letters, holding bake sales and attending meetings. “We did so much,” said Janki. “We had been meeting with possible corporate sponsors since November and, on top of that, we tried to do some fun stuff like having tables at the basketball games and bake

sales.” Each team member was responsible for their personal fundraising as well.

“As a team member, we had to help spread awareness and information about LLS to friends, family and others through email, letters and meetings,” said sophomore Shalizeh Thobani. In order to receive an invitation to the Student of the Year Gala held on Feb. 28 at the InterContinental Buckhead, a team member had to have individually raised at least $2,500.

“My goal was to make a difference by raising funds and bringing awareness to the LLS mission,” said Govic. She wants people to understand the severity of blood cancer, and for others to see the impact that LLS is making.

“Every three minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer, and leukemia is the No. 1 most diagnosed form of childhood cancer,” said Govic.

“Since the early 1960s, five-year survival rates for many blood cancer patients have doubled, tripled or even quadrupled, and many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients, but are helping patients with other cancers and serious diseases.”

(L-R) Sophomores Marissa Govic and Shalizeh Thobani run their fundraising table at a recent Pace basketball game.

Photo: Francesca Vaneri

Every year, a Pace faculty member is chosen to be the dean of the incoming class of freshmen. As the class goes through their four years in the Upper School, their dean acts as a mentor and advisor from their first day of freshman year until graduation.

Class of 2020 Dean Grady Stevens, who also teaches Latin and freshman history, became interested in the role of dean when he first joined the Pace Academy faculty in 2014.

“When I got to Pace, one of the first things I learned was that there was this student advocate role that was different than anything I’d come across,” he said.

Something that caught his attention was the way a dean and a class forge a really tight bond over time. “I came to Pace because I was inspired by the educational model, but also because it provided a space where faculty and students were so supportive of one another,” he said. “It became clear to me during my first year that an important part of that symbiosis was the office of the deans.”

The role of a dean becomes smoother over the years as each dean builds relationships with students and their parents, and as students themselves figure out how to navigate high school.

Just as freshman year is often the most challenging year for students, it’s also a challenging one for deans.

“There’s a chaos to the freshman year,” said Mr. Stevens.

“You’re trying to mediate conflict and advocate for students but also trying to build relationships so that students trust you, and then you’re also trying to do the same thing with the parents.

I look back on that year really fondly with this class, but it was very hectic.”

Although Mr. Stevens looks back on freshman year as a time of learning and growth for both his students and himself, senior year has been his favorite year so far.

“Seniors are interesting,” he said. “They’re becoming adults, and they’re forming their own opinions. They’re starting to define for themselves what it means to live the good life.

They’re making decisions that are going to affect the rest of their lives, and they’re being thoughtful about it. Seniors start to implicitly live their values because they start to have more freedom to make decisions.”

When it comes to giving advice to younger members of the Upper School, Mr. Stevens advises that students learn to trust their teachers and their deans.

He said that the students who are most successful “are those that early on realize that the faculty are here to help them.”

Senior Mae Shippen, who has worked closely with Mr.

“Love is a word that’s often tossed around, maybe too much, but when I think about why I’ve done certain things – stayed late to talk to a kid, spent time working on the weekends, etc. – I have no explanation other than that the dean comes to love the whole class,” he said.

“It is a kind of love that I wasn’t sure was going to happen, but has grown over time and has been very rewarding. When I wake up in the morning to come to work, I know that I’m not just getting ready to show up and just do a job – I love these kids, and I love this place, and I can’t wait to get started. I am really excited to see where this class goes from here.”

Pace Students ‘Secure the Cure’ with LLS Megan Hardesty Staff Writer Class of 2022

Photo: Emily Butler

This year, 23 Pace students joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in their mission to “cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.” LLS has donated over $1.3 billion to blood cancer research and has helped improve all but five of the 39 FDA approved blood cancer treatments.

Also, LLS advocates for blood cancer patients by working to pass policies that will aid the patients’ journey. Along with research and advocacy, LLS offers patient support in the forms of financial support, information specialists and support groups.

Every year, LLS puts on a seven week competition called Students of the Year. “Students of the Year is a philanthropic leadership development program for exemplary high school students,” according to the LLS website. “During the campaign, participants foster professional skills such as entrepreneurship, marketing and project manage-

Pace News

Vol. 45, Issue #5

The Knightly News - Page 3

Five Minutes with Senior Nikki Rubin Mary Childs Hall Co-Editor in Chief

Class of 2021

Photos: Caitlin Jones

Knightly News: Hi Nikki! How are you doing today?

Nikki Rubin: I’m doing really well! Thanks for asking.

KN: Of course. So, how has this school year gone so far?

NR: It’s going great. I really like that as seniors we were able to pick our classes and create our own schedule.

KN: On that note, what is your favorite class you are taking?

NR: I like (AP) Music Theory a lot, but it’s really hard. But also, I really like [AP Language and Composition] with Mrs. Washburn this year.

KN: What has your favorite memory of senior year been so far?

NR: That’s a big question. Hmm, well, call me cheesy, but I really like Spirit Week.

KN: Which year of Spirit Week has been the best?

NR: Definitely this year. Sleeping over at Pace has been something I had looked forward to for so long, and it was so much fun.

I was literally sick the whole week, but it was awesome.

KN: What’s it like being a lifer?

NR: It’s weird because on the one hand, I have been here my whole life, but I am excited to learn new things. I’m nervous to make new friends but it should be cool to find a new home.

KN: So, what are your hobbies?

NR: Singing, lacrosse… I mean that pretty much sums me up as a person. I’ve also recently started trying to write more music, but that’s been difficult, and it’s a long process.

(Left) Nikki performs in the 2013 production of Peter Pan. (Right) Nikki sings in front of the Pace crowd for Knight of Jazz in 2019.

KN: In regards to singing, when did you begin? At what age?

NR: So, I actually started singing in, like, second grade when I did the show, “Annie” (at Pace).

I had actually never sung before that. My sister (Lexi Rubin ‘16) was involved in that show, and then the director asked me to be part of it. I do not think I would have gotten into theater if it were not for that. Also, another cool theater experience was when I was in sixth grade and got to fly in “Peter Pan.” KN: That’s so cool! Do you have memories from when you were little and starting to perform?

NR: Yeah, I actually recently found a video of me in pre-first

that my sister took when she was trying to start a YouTube channel. I was singing in the background, and it actually sounded like a dying animal. It was so bad. “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus (giggles).

KN: How do you think you have grown as a singer?

NR: Well, I would probably say that my older sister has influenced me. When she was five years old, she would walk around the house singing “Phantom of the Opera.” Being around that was really helpful and inspirational.

KN: Who would you say is your favorite artist at the moment?

NR: Well, right now, I really

school days. All students’ first class, Jewish and Israel studies, begins at 8 a.m. Afterward, we have “general studies” which includes all of my Pace classes (math, chemistry, AP Euro, etc.).

Because of the vast array of geographically diverse students in my program, everyone takes different courses. For example, it is not required for me to take English so I have a free period during English.

All classes are 75 minutes which feels immensely longer than our typical 50-minute classes at Pace. The multitude of trips results in a shorter time frame to learn all the curriculum for the semester. On some days my school schedule starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 6:15 p.m. with just a one-hour break because of my busy Pace and Israel schedules combined.

As history is such an important class at Pace, all the Pace students find it especially intriguing being in such an ancient land. Meyerowitz explained that she thinks the most interesting part of this program is “learning about a history lesson and actu-

ally visiting the site in person.”

I can especially make connections from history teacher Emily Stevens’ world history to the archeological sites we visit, such as Masada.

Each week we attend multiple tiyuls to areas that relate to what we are learning in Jewish/ Israel studies. While we are on the sites, we are using them as our classroom and taking notes, which drastically differs from learning in a classroom looking at pictures.

Our tiyuls range from cave crawling to hiking and hour-long bus rides to plane rides. Not only does my current academic schedule contrast with Pace’s, but so does my day-to-day lifestyle outside of school.

While there is a cultural difference halfway across the world, there is even disparity between living conditions. One of the strongest distinctions between Southern and Israeli culture is the formality. In Israel, we call our teachers by their first names, which stunned me being so accustomed to addressing adults with “ma’am” and “sir” at

like Benee and her song “Glitter.” She is like 20 years old. It’s insane how young she is.

KN: I love that song! What are your goals with singing in the future?

NR: Right now, my voice teacher wants me to start recording music, so I might do that, but it’s expensive, so I don’t know. I might try and wait longer until I am sure about what I want to record. Also, I have applied to some music schools, and I’m waiting to hear back from them.

I also have my UGA audition for singing in the springtime, so that is nerve racking, but exciting.

KN: What is your most memorable singing/theater experience?

Pace 6,413 Miles Away Amalia Haviv Staff Writer Class of 2022

Photo: Amalia Haviv

On Jan. 26, fellow sophomores Gabriel Kadoori and Mollie Meyerowitz, along with myself, hopped on a flight to an experience we had been looking forward to for months. Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI) is different from any other semester abroad program, forming a community of Jewish teens from across the United States. But no matter what our reason was to embark on the 14hour voyage across the world, we all carried one thing in common: Pace pride.

Other than the drastic geographic difference, the main aspect that sets this semester apart is the school schedule. Our schedule varies from week to week, creating a very “unroutine” agenda which is something I craved after the traditional high school career I was living.

On days when we don’t have tiyuls (trips), we have

NR: I would probably say my freshman year when I did Battle of the Bands. We changed names, but first we were called “Freezing Fire,” then “Streetwise.” However, we are not really existent at the moment.

But on the important note, it was just such a fun performance. The energy of the crowd was literally insane. Sometimes when you are on stage, you can kind of tell that people are not super into it and they don’t want to be there, but the people at this performance were really into it, and we were able to feed off their energy.

KN: What are all of the shows you have been in, besides “Annie” and “Peter Pan”?

NR: I did middle school shows, but since I’ve been in high school, the first show I did was “Thoroughly Modern Milly,” which was a dance-heavy show, so that was cool because I like dancing but I am not the best at it. Then, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Last year, “Beauty and the Beast.” And this year, we are working on “The Music Man.” KN: OK, let’s do some fast facts now! If you were on a desert island, what is one thing you would need to live with?

NR: I would say a pot. It’d be handy, so that I could make clean water and not die.

KN: That’s really smart. What is your favorite food?

NR: Watermelon.

KN: What event are you most excited for, for the rest of the semester?

NR: Senior spring break in Jamaica! I literally have a countdown on my phone.

KN: Awesome! Thank you so much for talking today.

NR: Yeah, of course!

(L-R) Pace sophomore Amalia Haviv and her friend, Elia Groode visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem. home.

I also believe there is much more of a community at AMHSI because of dorm life. We are with each other from the early morning, throughout meals and until late at night. We feel each other’s stress and go on trips together. This creates a bond that would take much longer for day school friends to create.

While diversity is one of the most beautiful aspects of Pace, the similarities we all share as Jewish people bring us closer

together on this program.

Although I am cherishing every moment of this trip, questions about my return to Pace constantly flood my mind. I am preparing myself to retain and spread the knowledge I learn in Israel that cannot be obtained anywhere else. I want to spread open-mindedness for all cultures and societies. Most importantly, I will also return with an appreciation for all the great academic, athletic, social and other opportunities Pace gives us.

Pace News

March 11, 2020

The Knightly News - Page 4

Historian to Speak on Atticus Finch Kathryn Hood

Visual Editor Class of 2021

The character Atticus Finch in the 1962 movie “To Kill a Mockingbird,” based on Harper Lee’s novel, was played by Gregory Peck. greatest hero in American film.”

However, in his book “Atticus Finch: The Biography – Harper Lee, Her Father, and the Making of an American Icon,” Crespino questions which Atticus is the virtuous, heroic, symbol of morality depicted in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

After the 2015 posthumous publication of Lee’s other novel, “To Set A Watchman,” people began to question who the real

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Pace upper school students will experience a departure from the usual Wednesday morning assembly when historian Joe Crespino comes to speak on April 15. He was invited to Pace by history teacher Christine Carter, who met him while she was getting her Ph.D. at Emory University where Mr. Crespino was teaching.

In advance of his visit, here is some background information on Mr. Crespino and the book he will be presenting, “Atticus Finch: The Biography – Harper Lee, Her Father, and the Making of an American Icon.”

In former president Barack Obama’s farewell speech he mentions that in a diversifying nation, the people must follow the words of Atticus Finch, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

With this, he’s asking for the nation to have empathy for others, the empathy that Atticus Finch taught to Scout in Harper Lee’s beloved novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Seemingly, Atticus is the epitome of virtue: saving an innocent black man from being lynched by a mob, and voted by the American Film Institute “the

Atticus Finch was. In “To Set A Watchman,” Scout, or Jean Louise, returns to Alabama after living in New York for college.

Atticus, as described by Crespino, is every bit what you would expect in a white man living in Alabama in the 1930s and 40s.

He attends white supremacist meetings and goes against the NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. As Crespino

Another Victim of Coronavirus: ICGL Study Tours Sloane Wagreich Staff Writer Class of 2021

Few suspected that 2020 would be the year that would begin with a viral pandemic that has sickened over 97,000 people worldwide and caused more than 3,300 deaths, including 14 in the United States as of March 6.

While the coronavirus has been around for years, this particular strain, named COVID-19, began to rapidly spread at the start of this year, beginning in Wuhan, China. For Pace Academy students, the coronavirus prevented certain Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) trips from taking flight as originally planned.

According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus is spread through human and animal contact. Scientists suspect that COVID-19 originated in bats. Experts have determined that the pangolin likely served as the intermediate

host, spreading the disease to humans. The pangolin is similar to an anteater and is illegally trafficked throughout China.

Chinese citizens consume these animals and use their scales for medicine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the virus spreads most commonly from person to person through respiratory droplets that come from coughs and sneezes. These droplets can be inhaled by surrounding people, making their way into their lungs.

But the virus may also survive on surfaces for up to nine days at room temperature, based on studies of similar coronaviruses. More research is needed to determine if this is true for COVID-19 as well.

The CDC offers recommendations to help avoid getting sick, including washing your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, and avoiding touching your hands, nose and mouth. Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces is also help-

ful.

As of March 6, the coronavirus is present in 87 countries and territories, with China, South Korea, Iran and Italy reporting the highest number of cases of the virus and number of deaths.

There are 228 confirmed cases in the U.S. according to CNN, and the virus is expected to spread more widely in the United States and throughout the world in the coming weeks.

Due to this epidemic, the spring ICGL trips to China and Vietnam were rerouted. The middle school study tour to China was switched to Australia, while the upper school study tour to Vietnam traveled to South Africa instead. In South Africa, students helped build houses through Habitat for Humanity, an international nonprofit organization that builds homes for those in need.

Students also had the once-in-alifetime experience of going on a wildlife safari. The upper school summer study tour to China was recently rerouted to Brazil.

says, he is “racist, reactionary and despicable.”

Although these revelations were shocking to most readers, Crespino was looking for something deeper in the character of Atticus Finch. He isn’t a literary critic or editor – he’s a historian.

He holds the title of Jimmy Carter Professor of History at Emory University and is an expert in the political and cultural history of the 20th-century United States and in the American South since Reconstruction.

Crespino has published three books, co-edited a collection of essays, and has written for academic journals and forums like the New York Times. Historians like him study change over time.

The question wasn’t who the “real” Atticus Finch was, but what were his origins, what caused this change in his portrayal, and what did this indicate about the political climate in the South at this time. In short, how does one understand the transformation of Atticus Finch?

Crespino began by looking into Harper Lee’s life. He discovered that the character of Atticus Finch in both “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “To Set a Watchman” was based on her father, Amasa Coleman Lee. Like Atticus, Mr. Lee was a lawyer, but also owned and was editor of a newspaper. Harper Lee seemed conflicted in how to portray Atticus. Her father was a right-wing reactionary and racial paternalist, but didn’t support lynching, demagoguery or mob

rule.

He belonged to a more intellectual group in the South of white conservative men who believed that they could make the South change in a peaceful and orderly manner.

Crespino was able to take newspaper articles from Amasa Lee and Harper Lee and piece together arguments they would have had, in a way where one could practically imagine the conversations they had around the dinner table. Crespino explains that in both her novels, Lee is trying to make sense of her fathers’ political beliefs in a period rife with the rise of right-wing reactionaries and militancy.

In “Atticus Finch” Crespino analyzes the political message of both novels through the elaborate character, Atticus Finch.

Harper Lee rejects the racial paternalist Atticus in “To Set A Watchman,” but defends him in “To Kill a Mockingbird” after the rise of the Ku Klux Klan.

Crespino says that Lee was trying to impress on the North that there were good people in the South that would bring change slowly; however, the Klan was radicalizing these organizations.

In the end, Harper Lee had two different objectives in each book, making it so that there was no true Atticus Finch. Rather, the portrayal of both Atticus Finches reflect the duality of Lee’s feelings towards her father, as well as the political climate in the South in that time period.

Mrs. Terry Named Dean (Continued from page 1) to work with students for an extended period of time,” she said. While she has chaperoned drama trips, college trips, ICGL trips and coached soccer, Mrs. Terry hopes that being a dean will offer even more opportunity to get to know students outside of the classroom setting.

One of Mrs. Terry’s favorite things about Pace is that she can interact with her students in a small, intimate setting. “I love having oneon-one conversations or small group conversations and not just standing up and lecturing to the classroom without connecting with people,” said Mrs. Terry.

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Terry enjoys cooking, baking, reading, going on long walks, kickboxing and indoor rock-climbing. She also loves to travel with her husband John Terry who teaches at Westminster. “We

love to go to quiet, serene places, eat good food and see museums and old churches,” she said.

As a dean, Mrs. Terry wants to not only guide her students, but also hopes to push them to develop their own skills in the environment around them.

“I want to point them in the right direction, help them make connections, develop their own networks, be there to listen and be supportive, encourage growth, but also be there to challenge them to make Pace an even better place than it already is,” said Mrs. Terry.

Mrs. Terry wants the incoming class of 2024 to be “open minded, curious and ready to be challenged,” but to also remember that “we are all part of a community for a reason, so no one is going to be facing a challenge alone.”

Opinion

Vol. 45, Issue #5

The Knightly News - Page 5

Affinity Spaces Can Provide Needed Support For Minority Students

The Knightly News 966 West Paces Ferry Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 (404) 262-1345 knightlynews@paceacademy.org Published by students at Pace Academy Member of Georgia Scholastic Press Association Co-Editors-in-Chief: Mary Childs Hall Aman Hashim

Web Content Editor: Ashley Myers

Managing Editor: Jamie Kornheiser

Social Media Editor: Bennett Boushka

News Editor: Francesca Vanera

Lifestyle Editor: Isabel Battista

Staff Writers: Megan Hardesty Amalia Haviv Gabriel Kadoori Meghna Singha Sloane Wagreich Sam Webb Jayla Wideman

Sports Editor: Zachary Howard

Faculty Adviser: Ms. Lee Wilson

Visuals Editor: Kathryn Hood

Tech Adviser: Mr. Matt Walker

Opinion Editor: Darren Rosing

meaning that you get there early

Jayla Wideman to make sure you’re on time.

Staff Writer Class of 2022

Minorities have felt alienated and different in all-white/ straight/cisgender spaces since integration first came to the South. Though Pace has been getting much better diversitywise, there’s still a long way to go before we can call ourselves a truly accepting and diverse community. Until that day, affinity groups are necessary parts of our school.

But what are affinity groups?

Pace launched five affinity groups this year in the Upper School for Jewish, LGBTQ+, LatinX, black and Asian students. Affinity spaces are clubs/ societies that are exclusively for a specific minority. For example, the black affinity group is only for black people. Your kneejerk reaction may be to call this exclusionary, and even contrary to progress.

However, what I’m asking you to do is put yourself in the position of a minority, even for a moment, trying to live their life.

Trying to do the same things as the majority – grocery shopping, barbecuing, eating, even just playing video games with their nephew. Things most white people wouldn’t even have to think about.

For black people like me, however, every day holds a component of danger, even when just sitting at home. There are countless examples of black people being murdered and reported to the police, just for doing things that everyone does. Try to put yourself in our position.

You wake up in the morning, and have an email in your inbox that is asking you to have a business meeting. It’s at Starbucks, in about an hour. You get ready and out of the house quickly,

You don’t really feel like buying anything, so you just sit there and wait. The cashier calls the police on you.

That’s the story of two black men in Philadelphia, in April of this year.

Now, imagine: you’re sitting at home with your nephew, playing video games. It’s a little hot inside, so you leave the door open to let the cool evening air in. It worries your neighbor, so they call a non-emergency police number for a welfare check.

When the policeman arrives, he yells at you to put your hands up before shooting and killing you through your window two seconds later. That’s the story of Atatiana Jefferson.

You’re a naked, vulnerable, mentally ill veteran outside of your apartment building, and your landlord calls the police for a welfare check. You walk toward him calmly, and he murders you. That’s the story of Anthony Hill.

These are the tales of people who are no longer alive to tell them. This is why black people police themselves, each moment they’re outside of their houses, and sometimes even in the comfort of their own homes.

This is what young black people are bombarded with each day of their lives. Not only must we mourn for those we’ve lost, but also stay wary of how we behave in public and around police officers.

How does this relate to affinity spaces?

As a black person who has to deal with the near constant bombardment of this emotional turmoil while also going to a predominantly white school, it can get hard to find outlets for relief. People who don’t personally deal with the personal pain that each new incident causes are often unable to empathize, which

Photo: Jayla Wideman

(L-R): Laura Agront Hobbs, Nikki McCrary, Matt Ball, Shakila Williams and Robert Kaufman serve as faculty advisers to the LatinX, black, LGBTQ+ and Jewish affinity groups. Not pictured: Joanne Brown and Omar López Thismón, who advise the Asian affinity group.

can leave me and others like me feeling almost alone in our grief.

The addition of affinity groups has become a muchneeded healing balm to the injury that this loneliness brings.

To be able to vent to and be comforted by people who go through the exact same thing that I do makes the sorrow of more deaths within my community a little more bearable.

Don’t misunderstand, however – these are not spaces of grief alone. Rather, they’re often places for celebration. The excitement of sharing a new accomplishment with others who understand just how hard it is to be recognized for your success is a feeling rivaled by no other.

Affinity space meetings are also some of the only times where I can feel totally free to be completely myself. The freedom of being allowed to exist, completely unedited, is not something easily gotten when going to Pace.

A lot of the time, black people also feel the need to “code switch” – a term used to denote the change in behavior that many undergo when going from majority-black spaces to majority-white spaces and vice versa. This could include a change in accent, vocabulary, body language, attire and overall personality.

The constant upkeep of this mask can leave black people feeling tired and worn out after a day in a community such as Pace – a loving environment, but one that is still very much majority white.

Being around people who look like you, in a space specifically for that purpose, can lift a burden that many don’t even realize they’re carrying. This goes for any minority – the welcoming feeling is universal. Affinity spaces boost all communities, especially those that struggle with diversity.

The Knightly News Editorial Policy The Knightly News is the student-run newspaper of Pace Academy. For over 40 years it has reported the news that affects Pace, as well as the opinions of students.

The Knightly News is published by the students of Pace Academy, and approximately 500 copies are printed by School Publications Company.

The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor and

guest opinions, which may be edited for spelling and grammar, as well as space constraints. Neither Knightly News-generated opinion pieces nor guest opinions are reflective of the official policy of Pace Academy.

Every effort is made to publish accurate facts, but if you recognize an error or omission, please email knightlynews@paceacademy.org.

Exercise Your Right to Vote

of 1965 aimed to end voting

Sam Webb discrimination perpetuated by

Staff Writer Class of 2021 Men and women have fought for the right to vote in the U.S. since the country’s founding.

Only white, property-owning men over age 21 could vote in the first elections. President Andrew Jackson championed enfranchisement and expanded the vote to white, male non-property owners during his presidency.

Although the 15th Amendment, passed in 1870, aimed to prevent states from denying male citizens the right to vote based on “race, color or previous condition of servitude,” male African-Americans were still prohibited from voting in many states due to discriminatory practices such as intimidation, poll taxes and literacy tests.

The 19th Amendment, passed in 1920, gave women the right to vote, but women of color continued to face obstacles in voting. In 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act afforded citizenship and voting rights to all Native Americans in the U.S. The Voting Rights Act

Southern states following the Civil War. In 1970, the 26th Amendment was added to the Constitution, which lowered the legal voting age from 21 to 18.

In the upcoming 2020 election, many Pace seniors will be eligible to vote and should not discount all those years of struggle and suppression for that right. From 1916 to 2016, the voter turnout rate has not risen over 65% for presidential elections. Additionally, the rate has never reached 50% for the midterm election, when voters vote for House and Senate members.

Even more alarming is the youth voter turnout rate (ages 18-24), which has consistently been 2025% below the national voting average since 1970: a clear issue.

One thing is for sure: voting is every American’s civil duty.

Ignoring that duty does a disservice to the inspiring figures who fought for that treasured right.

As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”

Politics

March 11, 2020

The Knightly News - Page 6

Joe Biden Takes Back Lead in Georgia Primary Predictions Isabel Battista Lifestyle Editor Class of 2021

FiveThirtyEight.com, created by statistician and forecaster Nate Silver, puts Biden on top over Sanders in the Georgia primary on March 24.

Graph: FiveThirtyEight.com

After an exciting few months of debates, campaigning, caucuses and primaries, Georgia voters will finally be able to take part in the Democratic race for a presidential nominee on March 24. For many Pace seniors, this primary will be their first opportunity to vote, and some seniors led registration initiatives on campus in hopes of getting a greater number of young people to the polls.

Historically, former President Barack Obama won the primary in 2008 and Hillary Clinton took the state in 2016. Thus, Georgia’s primary is a fairly good indicator of who is likely to take the nomination.

It is also worth noting that Clinton took second in the 2008 primary and Sanders took second in the 2016 primary, so recent examples could suggest that Sanders would follow Clinton’s pattern and win Georgia.

This year, early predictions from FiveThirtyEight claimed that Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders would win the state and take over 30% of the vote in the

likely to continue.

In terms of delegates, Biden currently has 637 pledged delegates to Sanders’ 559, with 1,191 delegates needed to win the nomination outright. In the Georgia primary, the state’s system of distributing delegates is split into two parts: the statewide vote and the vote from each congressional district.

As of March 6, FiveThirtyEight has Biden as the top vote getter in the Georgia primary with 40.3% of the vote compared with Sanders’ 21.5%. The only other candidate in the race as of now is Tulsi Gabbard, who is predicted to win a mere 1% of votes cast by Georgians.

Sanders’ rise has been met with some skepticism by many major media outlets that tend to run liberal, especially after the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary; however, his landslide win in Nevada was indisputable and really marked his position as a vote getter across all demographics, even including moderates and conservatives that voted in the primaries.

Nonetheless, nationally, FiveThirtyEight has now put the odds of Biden winning the Democratic nomination outright, by earning more than half of pledged delegates, at 88%.

process. His early success in New Hampshire and Nevada, as well as his close race in Iowa caused the likelihood of his victory in Georgia to increase since the New Year, when he was projected to receive only 20% of the vote. The weekend of Feb. 22, when Sanders ran away with the victory in Nevada, his forecasted share of the vote jumped nearly four points.

However, after the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29, Biden’s campaign gained plenty of momentum as he surged

back into the lead. On March 1, FiveThirtyEight’s predictions were wildly different than they had been earlier in the week, then claiming that Biden was forecasted to win around 36% of the vote in Georgia and that the vast majority of simulations showed that he could win up to 56% of the vote.

This was a major change from even a few days before, when the site claimed that Sanders could potentially take more than 60% of the vote.

Then came Super Tuesday on

March 3, where Biden did surprisingly well, winning 10 out of the 15 primaries, sweeping the South with wins in Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, and picking up wins in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Maine, Massachusetts and Minnesota as well. Sanders, on the other hand, won just three states outright: Colorado, Utah and Vermont, and is on track to pick up California as of March 6.

Now, with Michael Bloomberg out of the race and endorsing Biden, Biden’s momentum is

stands as a popular moderate in

generations the most. On top of the usual Democratic positions, he has far more radical ideas: first and foremost, he wants to raise taxes on the wealthy in order to pay for new and improved social programs. He also wants to eliminate mandatory minimums in prison sentencing and pay farmers to adopt climatefriendly practices.

While his ideas have made him exceedingly popular in many voters’ eyes, he is also seen as too much of a leftist to garner the support of Republicans considering voting against Trump.

Biden’s fatal flaw, on the other hand, is his seeming lack of real passion and courage to take risks, leading many Democrats to lack faith in his ability to implement real change.

A sharp contrast, for example, echoes between the two candidates’ views on student debt.

While Sanders wants to eliminate all of it and make public universities free, Biden plans to adapt the amount to be paid to the annual income of the person with the student loan.

The split between the two candidates has, in turn, created a crack in the Democratic Party, one between those who see radical change as the only solution, and the others worried about the effects of moving too quickly—a dynamic seen countless times throughout history.

They both also have personal traits that cause apprehen-

Sanders, Biden Exemplify Split Within Party Jayla Wideman the race, the perfect candidate Staff Writer Class of 2022

Graphic Illustration: Kathryn Hood, Jamie Kornheiser

In the aftermath of Super Tuesday on March 3, two more Democratic presidential candidates have dropped out of the race: Michael Bloomberg and Senator Elizabeth Warren. That leaves Senator Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden in a head-to-head contest for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Following Super Tuesday, Biden has pulled ahead with 78 more declared delegates than Sanders, but there is still plenty of time left before the Democratic National Convention in July. These two candidates exemplify the growing split between moderate and progressive Democrats.

Joe Biden

for those not leaning too far to the right or left. He, of course, believes in the fundamental Democratic values (egalitarianism, protecting the environment and strengthening the social safety net); however, his specific policies are far more moderate than those of Sanders.

Bernie Sanders, who entered the race as the oldest (at age 78) but most progressive candidate, seems to appeal to younger

sion among voters. Sanders is seen by many to be too old for the stress of the presidential position, especially considering he has already had a heart attack while on the campaign trail.

Biden, however, is only a year younger, and appears to many to seem almost older than Sanders in spirit and energy.

Despite these aspects of the two candidates, they have both managed to garner immense support among voters, leaving it up in the air as to which one will emerge victorious.

Those voting in the upcoming Georgia Democratic primary will have to not only examine these two candidates closely, but also their own political beliefs. How much radical change do they believe America can really handle? Does slow, moderate growth truly work?

Careful consideration and questioning of oneself must be done before making a decision.

Vol. 45, Issue #5

Lifestyle

The Knightly News - Page 7

New HBO Documentary Examines Legality Versus Morality Aman Hashim

Co-Editor in Chief Class of 2020

Photo: Justice for Michelle Carter via Facebook

HBO’s 2019 documentary “I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter” is about a young woman, Michelle Carter, who went on trial in 2017 for encouraging her long distance boyfriend, Conrad Roy, to take his own life. The documentary has attracted a vast range of audiences for its depicted ethical dilemmas and traumatic encounters from both sides of the trial.

The film raises legal and moral questions including, “Can you be found guilty for encouraging someone to kill themselves?” At the time, 17-year-old Carter had mutual love for 18-year-old Roy; however, their relationship was rather complicated, as seen through the hundreds of text messages sent between the two.

Director Erin Lee Carr displays every hidden truth of the twisted case while breaking the documentary up into two parts: The Prosecution and The Defense. This must-watch series brings out the darkest questions about the justice system and forces the viewer to take a stance on what is immoral versus what is against the law.

Part 1, The Prosecution, begins with how the couple first fell in love in Florida while on a vacation. Their unconditional love was immense, but oddly enough Carter and Roy only met in person about five times. The complicated relationship took

place largely in the virtual world through constant text messaging and phone calls. Roy had suffered from social anxiety and depression, and had attempted to take his own life many times, although ultimately seeking rescue each time.

Both families were aware that the two teens talked but were uncertain of the scale of the relationship. It wasn’t until July 2014 when Roy was found unconscious in his Ford F-250 truck parked alongside a carbon monoxide tank in Fairhaven, Massachusetts that the truth broke. The seemingly loving, caring and loyal girlfriend had encouraged her boyfriend to take his own life.

Why would such a devoted girlfriend who sought constant approval from her man, drive him to his own death? Was she longing for attention and sympathy? Is she truly cynical or mentally unbalanced? The questions will be sure to keep you guessing whether or not Michelle Carter committed an illegal action or an unethical choice. “Are you gonna do it now?” “You keep over thinking it... just do it like you said,’’ are just two of the hundreds of shocking texts sent between Carter and Roy. Part 2, The Defense, explains Carter’s delusional upbringing of isolation and mental instability.

A story that seems like a typical high school girl in love with her boyfriend expands once we witness her classmates’ views.

Carter had longed to fit in with the popular girls but struggled to maintain healthy friendships and sought approval

Michelle Carter weeps in court as she receives her verdict of involuntary manslaughter.. through Roy. On antidepressants at a young age, she admitted to having low self esteem and insecurity issues. “People [from school] tell me they love me and they’d wanna hangout but they never make an effort to,” she wrote in one message to Conrad. “So I always think ‘why am I not good enough.’”

The documentary climax was set on the night of Roy’s death. His parents were worried, yet Carter is relaxed for she knows where he is. She knew his intention that night – to sit in his truck in a Kmart parking lot

and suffocate to death. Just days before, she sent him messages implying she wanted him to take his life, and his responses seemed in agreement.

According to the text messages between the two, he had planned exactly how and where his suicide attempt would take place. He was eager and excited to get it done and as a loyal girlfriend, Carter was only trying to support him.

The night of his death, Roy got cold feet, frightened to leave this Earth. The documentary’s most compelling moment however, comes when Roy calls

Carter while in his pickup truck.

The twisted fairy tale fantasy love story of two teenagers who hardly saw one another in person yet are bound to each other through instant messaging, is beyond a realistic world. Watching the documentary, you’d think this story was almost made up, for nobody would encourage another person to commit suicide.

Yet Carter did.

As Roy rethought his decision, he began to step out of the truck with Carter on the phone.

Here, though, is the pivotal moment of the entire documentary, the moment that swayed the judge’s decision.

She instructs Roy to get back inside the car… and kill himself.

Mentally unstable, psychotic and evidently pure evil, Carter told her longtime boyfriend to return to the truck and breathe in the carbon monoxide. The compelling documentary hits its target at that moment.

Carter was convicted of involuntary manslaughter as the jury found enough to charge her with “wantonly and recklessly” assisting the suicide of Roy. Watch this documentary to formulate your own opinions of whether or not Carter received a fair verdict. Was the decision unjust or fitting?

There is no argument that what she did was completely out of line and horrid, but people differ on her punishment. The documentary truly outlines the opposing views of legality versus morality. Watch “I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v.

Michelle Carter” on HBO now.

Mo Mo Ya a Great Experience for All Zachary Howard Sports Editor Class of 2020

created a fiery volcano using just onions and some cooking oil.

After the show, it was time for the meal, which I was extremely satisfied with as a whole. The chicken and steak were cooked exactly as I asked and had been marinated and seasoned to perfection.

Additionally, blending the meat with the fried rice elevated the taste to mouth watering. The servings were generous, which was great because I was hungry, especially after watching all of those delicious meals being made right in front of my eyes.

Overall, the experience, atmosphere, and, of course, the food create a unique experience that you can only find in select places. I will definitely be going back in the future.

Although the meals are pricey, ranging from $16.95-$19.95 for entrees, this is an engaging experience that anyone should have if they can, as it is truly a wonderful time.

Photo: Yelp

Upon looking at my past reviews, I realized they all have a common theme: the restaurants were all largely American, Southern staples. So for this review, I decided to venture outside the borders of the United States (without leaving Atlanta) and found myself walking through the doors of the Hibachi restaurant Mo Mo Ya on Roswell Rd. Upon arriving, I was seated at a multi family table and offered onion soup, which was divine, and a house salad, which I did not particularly enjoy. The salad was primarily iceberg lettuce with a ginger dressing, and these tastes just did not agree with me.

Soon after, however, the waiter arrived to take my order.

The choices of meat ranged from shrimp and scallops to fish, chicken and steak. I opted for a combination of steak and chicken.

Additionally, one of Mo Mo Ya’s most celebrated dishes is their fried rice, so I decided to indulge and order two servings of it. My order was noted and out came the hibachi chef to wow my fellow table mates and me with his exquisite cooking and insane skills.

The chef started off by banging his knife and other tools on the stove, flipping and catching them multiple times. It was captivating. He then started a large, yet controlled, fire to sanitize the stove, which made my jaw drop.

These spectacles continued even after he began to cook the food.

My two favorite moments were when the chef went around to each customer seated at the table and flipped eggs from the fried rice into our mouths. I was also awestruck when the chef

The onion volcano is a meal-maker, and is one of many unique experiences at Mo Mo Ya.

Sports

March 11, 2020

New Players Make Impact

Mary Childs Hall

Bennett Boushka

Co-Editor in Chief

Social Media Editor

Every year, the Upper School greets new students who become part of the community. These students come in prepared to take on new challenges, in the classroom and in other areas of student life. Many times, the students also bring with them athletic skills that help to benefit their new teams.

This year, the Upper School welcomed freshmen Caitlyn Pinsker and Niko Karetsos and sophomore RJ Austin, and these students have already made an impact on their respective sports: tennis, lacrosse and baseball.

United States Tennis Association (USTA). She has traveled to matches in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.

“On the weekends, I often go to tournaments and sometimes they are farther away which I like because I am able to meet new people,” said Pinsker. “Being able to make new friends is my favorite part about tennis.”

Most recently, Pinsker has played in the Clay Court Nationals, several Icy Hot Junior Tournaments, the Southern Level 1 Championships and the USTA Southern Zonals.

As a freshman new to Pace, CAITLYN PINSKER stepped into the No. 1 singles position on the varsity girls tennis team.

“Caitlyn is really consistent and fights for everything during her matches,” said junior Sidney Funston and Pinsker’s teammate. “She is really positive and is a good influence on the team because of her work ethic.”

Pinsker came to Pace from The Davis Academy in Sandy Springs. When she was seven years old and living in New York, she began playing tennis in her free time. According to Pinsker, other sports were not really working for her, so she decided to try out something new.

“I didn’t really feel very athletic and I was not good at any other sports when I started,” said Pinsker. “However, I basically started working really hard to get good at tennis. It took me about two years of training and practicing to get to a place where I felt confident. It is really cool to see how far I have come and see how I have grown as a tennis player and athlete.”

“Caitlyn is very consistent and thoughtful and always positive on the court,” said head coach Matthew Marsico. “She loves the game and is continuing to work hard at improving.”

Pinsker also competes independently through the

As the lacrosse team took the field this year the players were excited to embrace freshman NIKO KARETSOS. “We had been waiting since he came to Pace to get him on the varsity,” said junior defenseman Tripp Trimble. Karetsos is an attackman who has been playing lacrosse most of his life. “I have been playing lacrosse since before I can remember and my whole family plays lacrosse,” he said.

His brother, junior Evan Karetsos, has been a member of the varsity team for the past two seasons and his younger brother, Alex Karetsos, plays for the lower school Pace team as a fourth grader. Niko proved himself last year as a captain and leading scorer for the middle school team.

Niko also plays on a travel team, Thunder LB3, that travels across the country and allows him to gain experience playing strong competition. Karetsos has also improved his skills by working with coaches Shayne Jackson and Bryan Cole in private lessons. Jackson and Cole are professional lacrosse players for the Georgia Swarm and Atlanta Blaze, so they have a lot of knowledge of the game that has helped Karetsos grow as a player.

Karetsos began the season

Class of 2021

Class of 2021

Photos: Caitlyn Pinsker, Fred Assaf, RJ Austin

(L-R) Caitlyn Pinsker, Niko Karetsos and RJ Austin are newcomers making big impacts on their respective teams.

The Knightly News - Page 8

After last year’s heartbreaking loss in the state championship, this year’s version of varsity baseball is looking to defend their region crown as well as avenge their championship loss.

A big piece in their ability to do so is sophomore RJ AUSTIN, who is new to Pace this year. He has already impressed both coaches and teammates with his play as well as caught the attention of college scouts nationwide.

“Since I was young, I have always loved baseball, and from that love came a lot of work to get better because I want to play for as long as possible,” he said.

He spends almost every day doing baseball related things, whether it be lifting weights, practice or actually playing.

Austin is reaping the benefits from this non-stop grind mentality already. He currently has offers from Tennessee, Oregon, and Cal as well as interest from Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Florida State, Vanderbilt, Miami of Ohio and South Carolina.

Sam Webb

Staff Writer Class of 2021

1. Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU 2. Redskins: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State 3. Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State 4. Giants: Mekhi Becton, OL, Louisville

Zachary Howard Sports Editor Class of 2020 scoring six goals against Kennesaw Mountain High School in his first ever start. “We all expected him to play well, but we were shocked he scored six goals,” said Trimble. Karetsos did not waver in the next game against Woodstock High School, scoring five goals.

“He has handled the pressure of being a new player seamlessly at this point,” said assistant coach Ben Ewing. “He sees the field well and can move the ball quickly without telegraphing passes.” With Niko playing as the X attackman for Pace, he is able to open the field of other players and distribute feeds.

The season, however, is just beginning and there are many more games to play. “I am excited to see the season progress and play in bigger games like Lovett and Westminster,’’ said Karetsos.

KN Predicts NFL Draft

5. Dolphins: Tua Tagavailoa, QB, Alabama These opportunities are very rare, only offered to the most elite players, but only truly special players get Power-5 offers to play baseball at such a young age.

Because baseball is driven largely by metrics, with athletes who desire to play at a high level needing to meet various benchmarks in things such as fastball velocity or exit velocity off the bat, it shows just how hard Austin has worked on his craft to be seeing payoffs already.

As a pitcher, Austin plays perhaps the most important position for this year’s varsity team.

“With losing a talented class of seniors, for him to come in and be able to pitch at such a high level, play superior infield, and be a solid bat in the middle of the order is huge for our team this year,” said Coach Seth LaFera.

His talent as a pitcher is evident, throwing his fastballs around 90 miles per hour, with great complementary pitches to keep hitters on their toes.

Scouts have begun to take notice, with Perfect Game (the top baseball scouting service) featuring a dialogue with him about pitching on their Instagram. His skill has been on display through two outings this season, pitching deep into both games and effectively shutting down some high powered teams.

“I have very much enjoyed Pace so far, especially the team,” said Austin. “I was nervous coming in to make new friends and meet new teammates, but we have come together very well and I am very grateful for them welcoming me in as a new kid on varsity.”

As the season heats up, and the rest of the team prepares for what they hope will be a deep playoff run, Austin cannot help but look forward: “I cannot wait to pitch in big rivalry games like Westminster and Lovett and hopefully a lot of state playoff games.”

6. Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon 7. Panthers: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson 8. Cardinals: Jedrick Wills Jr., OL, Alabama 9. Jaguars: Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn 10. Browns: Andrew Thomas, OL, Georgia 11. Jets: Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa 12. Raiders: Ceedee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma 13. Colts: Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina 14. Buccaneers: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State 15. Broncos: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama 16. Falcons: AJ Epenesa, DL, Iowa 17. Cowboys: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU 18. Dolphins: K’Lavon Chaisson, DL, LSU 19. Raiders: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama 20. Jaguars: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida 21. Eagles: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama 22. Bills: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson 23. Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama For the full first round and analysis of each pick, visit https://knightlife.paceacademy.org/knightlynews