Vol. 43, Issue 1

Vol. 43, Issue #1

The

September 15, 2017

Knightly News

p. 3 New Teachers Join Upper School

p. 7 ‘Winter is Here’ in ‘Game of Thrones’

p. 8 Fantasy Football Ins and Outs

Seniors Sense Good V18es About New Year

Sophie Porson. “We will do everything in our power to make the freshmen more excited and the crowd more energetic.”

Marissa Schwarz, Amy Butler, Daniel Blumen and Ethan Much make up the student body officers this year. The officers last year were bright and successful, and this year’s group has

a legacy to continue. These students are willingly spending some of their academic and free time to make this year a good one. “Without a doubt this group of leaders will make this year great,” said junior Conor Hartman. “I know some of them and they are amazing people and will get a lot done.”

“I’m really impressed at the way the current senior class has navigated through high school in general,” said 12th Grade Dean Allison Riley. “They are a very independent group of kids that have started the school year on a positive note, and I really want to see that continue.” According to Ms. Riley, she just wants the senior class to graduate with no regrets. “Regrets are a big part of adult life, but I hope their regrets are smaller and better than most.”

In addition to the stress of Pace academics, college is on every senior’s mind. “It will be exciting to see where all my friends go,” said senior Jack Wray. “It will also be a huge relief if I get into college early.

Then I can focus on my friendships and having a good time in my last year as a high school student.”

Region Coach of the Year award in 1996, a highlight of his career was the success of his team on the field. “I certainly enjoyed winning those three state championships,” he said.

Mr. Owens also led the team to eight region championships and three state finals. In honor of his years of success and his commitment to the program, the baseball field at the Riverview Sports Complex was dedicated to him in 2008.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Owens received numerous faculty awards, including the prestigious Kessler award and the STAR Teacher award six times. In 1976 and 1988 the Pace yearbook was dedicated to him.

Some faculty members have been a part of the Pace community for almost as long as Mr. Owens. History teacher Helen Smith has worked with Mr. Owens for over 40 years. “He was so charismatic that I ended up going to a lot of baseball games,” said Ms. Smith. She also

recalled how Mr. Owens stepped in to solve a huge dilemma with the upper school schedule in the early years, after the development of the schedule had been contracted out to IBM and was problematic.

Mr. Owens spent four years of his career as the head of the Upper School. While in this position, Mr. Owens found work to be more hectic. “You are a lot busier than you would be just teaching,” he said. On top of running the teacher meetings and listening to parent complaints, he also had to balance that time with teaching his math class.

This year, Mr. Owens is teaching one section of Algebra II and three sections of PreCalculus in addition to chairing the math department.

After 50 years of teaching and coaching, the contributions that Mr. Owens has made to the Pace community are significant.

“I can’t imagine finding a better place to teach,” he said.

Genna Schwarz

Opinion Editor Class of 2019

Photo: Fred Assaf

Tie dyed shirts predominated and whistles blasted as senior Ben Bernstein drove his friends to their first day of school. The Class of 2018 is all about good vibes, raising the spirits of the Upper School and becoming role models to the younger students.

Teachers and parents lined the streets to watch the annual event, and the senior parade was not a disappointment.

Throwing candy and toilet paper into the crowd, the seniors raced into the Fine Arts Center dancing and screaming.

They continued with the yearly “I wish I were a senior” chant and the freshman roast. “I’ve been waiting to do the senior parade since the first day of freshman year,” said Bernstein.

“I think our grade is gonna be super energetic this year and really help the morale of the school.”

The Class of 2018 is filled with diverse and impressive students. They range from star athletes like Jamaree Salyer,

Seniors parade down West Paces Ferry Rd. on the first day of school.

Cameron Perchik and Jack Douglass, to scholars like Jennifer Spalten and Harrison Lewis.

“This is gonna be a successful year for sports at Pace,” said volleyball captain Perchik.

“Every team has a great set of senior captains that will really work hard with the younger athletes and create cohesive teams.”

Although the seniors on the field and court are important, the energy of each game comes from the fans. Every year the stands are filled with students, separated by grade. The seniors are often in the front cheering up the crowd. “We plan on being an insanely entertaining crowd this year at games,” said senior

Charlie Owens Marks 50 Years at Pace Charlie Warren

Many people in the Pace community associate the name Charlie Owens with baseball; however, his legacy at the school reaches far beyond. According to Mr. Owens, the first year he came to Pace in December 1968 there were only 17 kids in the senior class and only 250 kids from Pre-K through grade 12.

As he approaches his 50th anniversary of being a part of the Pace community, the size of the student body has grown considerably, to almost 1,200 students.

However, Mr. Owens says that “our commitment to what we call a family or community” has stayed the same.

Mr. Owens expressed how Spirit Week has greatly evolved since its beginning. “When we first started Spirit Week, it was so much different than it is now.”

Photo: Pacesetter, paceacademy.org

Staff Writer Class of 2019

(L-R) Charlie Owens in his first year at Pace and now.

In recent years, it has become “a big time show,” according to Mr. Owens. With more intense competition, there is a greater need for flawless dances and perfect banners. “It’s good to see that there is so much talent in the student body,” he said.

Mr. Owens’ legacy as a baseball coach is legendary.

Having played in high school

and at Oglethorpe University, his passion for baseball is unmatched in the Pace community.

While coaching the upper school baseball team for 42 years, Mr. Owens led the team to 513 wins.

Seven of his players signed professional baseball contracts.

In addition to winning the National Federation of High School Coaches Southeast

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Pace News

September 15, 2017

The Knightly News - Page 2

Five Minutes with President Marissa Schwarz Michael Simon

Co-editor-in-chief Class of 2018

Photo: Amy Butler

Knightly News: Hey, Marissa!

Marissa Schwarz: Hi! KN: What year is this for you at Pace?

MS: Thirteenth. I'm a lifer.

KN: How has senior year been so far?

MS: The past three days have been great!

KN: What made you want to do Student Council?

MS: Um, I guess I really love, like, you know, helping out the grade, and I like government, and stuff like that.

KN: Do you have any big plans as student body president?

MS: Other than getting more people to come to the dances, we are going to get lots of tissues and two-ply toilet paper this year.

KN: How has the volleyball team done so far?

MS: We just beat Westminster.

They were state champs, so that's pretty exciting.

KN: Outside from Student Council, what other extra curricular activities are you planning on participating in this year?

MS: I am a service leader for Zaban Paradies Center. Out of school I do a service club with

Student body president Marissa Schwarz (Center) enjoys her first Pace Academy field day in 2006.

Jewish kids around Atlanta called Creating Connected Communities.

KN: What's it like being a Peer Leader?

MS: A lot of work, but I think once we get our groups, and stuff, it will be a lot of fun.

KN: What is your favorite Pace

memory?

MS: Maybe when Dr. DuPree sang happy birthday to me in some language I can't understand. But he was pretty excited.

KN: What is your most embarrassing Pace memory?

MS: I peed my pants in Lower School. That was pretty embar-

Mr. Gannon Offers Advice For Upper School Students

rassing. I mean, it was really Lower School, but I had to change pants. They were purple, so it was noticeable. (Laughs) KN: That's pretty embarrassing.

What do you think you will miss most about Pace after you graduate?

MS: Um, I guess, definitely all

my friends. I have been here for 13 years, so I don't really know anything else. I think it'll be weird to have a change.

KN: Do you have a favorite teacher at Pace?

MS: I've liked all my teachers but, I guess, Mrs. Lewis and Mr. Smith.

KN: Do you have any secret talents that many people don’t know about?

MS: No. I have nothing cool.

Like with talent shows, I could never do anything cool. You know when they have you do, like, the secret talent, and no one's got anything? That's me.

(Laughs) KN: So, you have a sister who is a junior this year. What’s it like being in high school with a younger sibling?

MS: It's fun to see her in the hallways, but I'm glad I don't have any classes with her. I don't know, she's like annoying.

(Laughs) KN: If you could change one thing about Pace, what would it be?

MS: Um...two-ply toilet paper.

(Chuckles) KN: If there is one piece of advice you could tell the freshman class, what would it be?

MS: I guess enjoy high school and don't stress about the little things. It's not worth it in the end.

Community Engagement Takes Service to New Levels

said Arenth. “We decided to turn

Zachary Howard

Amy Butler it into a community engagement

Co-editor-in-chief Class of 2018

As he begins his 22nd year at Pace Academy, Head of Upper School Mike Gannon has learned a lot about what it takes to be a successful student at the Academy. Mr. Gannon served as college counselor, history teacher and class dean at Pace prior to his present position, and the advice he’s given has proven to be sound time and time again by his students.

“You have to take yourself seriously,” said Mr. Gannon.

“Students who take themselves seriously tend to do pretty well here.”

He is a firm believer that mindset is the most important thing in order to succeed.

According to Mr. Gannon, a student can convince him/herself that they are “worthy of being here.” With that belief, they tend to thrive and do very well, as fellow students as well as teachers will respect them.

Mr. Gannon also emphasizes the importance of impressing the teacher not with your grades, but with your maturity and respect.

“The only person you’re really seeking to impress is the person in the front of the room,” he said. “If you come into the room

The arrival of the new year typically brings numerous changes, with one major change this year being the Community Engagement program, formerly known as the Service Leader program. Led by Zeena Lattouf, Associate Director of the Isdell Center for Global Leadership, the program “promotes deep understanding of the dignity and worth of all people, while developing awareness and practices of environmental stewardship,” according to the Pace Academy website. The program relies on eight executive community engagement leaders who are in charge of one or two individual projects, and 22 community engagement leaders overseeing 10 community engagement projects.

This year, the projects range from the long-time partners, such as the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity, to recent additions such as Pace Pals and Peoplestown Academy. Juniors Madeline Arenth and Leah Mautner are leaders for the Bloom Closet, a new project this year. “We started last year by doing schoolwide clothing drives, but we wanted to do something more,”

Head of Upper School Mike Gannon cautions junior Lily Reckford about behavior in the library. thinking, ‘How does that person see me, and do they respect me?’ then good things tend to happen.

Some of the students I have most respected have not been our strongest students.”

Mr. Gannon shared that thriving here is not about how smart or how athletic you are, but more about how you act and how you portray yourself.

Mr. Gannon has some very

Photo: Zachary Howard

Staff Writer Class of 2020

high expectations for seniors. He believes that “the school goes as far as the seniors take it,” and as a result they need to “do the dirty work” in order to be true leaders.

The dirty work, he says, is what earns you respect in the world, or “doing the things that you don’t want to do that the community needs you to do.”

project so we could hold more events and get the Pace community more involved.”

Community engagement leaders will not only be in charge of promoting their own project, but they also have to involve all three divisions: the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. “I think it is really important that the young kids are exposed to community engagement projects and learn ways to help their community,” said senior Melanie Crawford, executive leader of Agape. “I started helping out at Agape when I was young, so I hope to inspire other kids to get involved at a young age as well.”

The Community Engagement program is designed to inspire students to give back to their community and allow them to develop into stronger leaders.

One major event planned this year is the return of the Covenant House Sleep-Out. The purpose of the sleep-out is to increase awareness of Atlanta’s homeless people as well as raise money for the cause.

“The sleep-out was an incredible experience,” said junior Veronica Sandoval, who is a community engagement leader for Trinity Night Shelter. “I now understand how important shelters like the Covenant House are to homeless people.”

Pace News

Vol. 43, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 3

Freshman’s Declassified School Survival Guide high school.

Eden Kerker

Lifestyle Editor Class of 2019

1. Build strong relationships with your teachers. Go to extra help both before and after school, visit teachers during a common free and don’t be afraid to ask questions. They are there to help you, and don’t forget that they determine your grade. Also, they provide a great support

Photo: Eden Kerker

Panic, confusion and intimidation can paralyze freshmen early in the school year, but there are many ways to lower stress and ease the transition.

The rotating schedule, the maze of classrooms and the change in academic rigor may seem overwhelming, but to survive the high school experience, it’s crucial to adapt quickly. Below are some tips to help with that process.

3. Get involved. Playing on a Pace sports team, being involved in a club, theatre production or community engagement project introduces you to people in different grades and gives you a fun activity after school that doesn’t involve your phone or books.

(Clockwise) Freshmen Jack MacRae, Sarah Schultz, Emily Butler, Charlie Cooper, Isabel Battista, Madison Martin and Sam Selig do homework and hang out in the Inman Center. system for when you are stressed or need academic advice. They want you to be successful both inside and outside of the classroom.

2. Take advantage of your

free periods. The reason we have two is to lower stress and help with time management.

Time management is the key to achieving academic success.

Getting homework done at school not only frees up your

time at home, but it also allows you the opportunity to see your teachers when you need help.

Freshman grades are important, and a productive homework routine established now can serve you well for the rest of

4. Meet new people. There are 30 new kids who have joined the class of 2020, and reaching out a hand to someone new could make their day. Also, don’t be afraid to make friends with people older than you. Just like teachers, they give great advice and it’s always beneficial to have someone to talk to outside of your grade.

5. Sleep! Sleep is very important to your health and not only will it help keep you focused in school, it will improve your work and productivity.

New Teachers Bring New Talents to Upper School Sydnie Jiang

Managing Editor Class of 2018

Abby Meyerowitz Online Editor Class of 2019

Mr. Smentek. “It’s hard to find the right words. I’m in love with this school.”

Mr. Smentek describes his teaching style as flexible and intense, and he loves doing demonstrations in class. Once the school day ends, however, Mr. Smentek is out on the field coaching middle school boys lacrosse. He is the new head coach, and he is very happy with his position.

“I coached against [Pace history teacher] Grady Stevens for three years, and he’s just great,” said Mr. Smentek. “He’s the one who set me up with Pace.”

Outside of school, Mr. Smentek enjoys fishing and watching sports. He is recently engaged, and he spends a lot of his time balancing adjusting to Pace and planning his wedding.

The science department also welcomes Dr. Melody Walter as a new chemistry teacher.

Dr. Walter earned a bachelor's degree from Emory University, a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Georgia, and worked as a postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Bioinorganic Chemistry.

Dr. Walter is excited to teach the “bright students at Pace” and she looks forward to work every day. "The students are really interested in learning,” said Dr. Walter. “It seems like a very positive environment to be in, to work in, to teach in and to learn in, so I was excited to talk about science with young scientists in a positive community.”

Dr. Walter hopes to inspire her students to be as passion-

ate about science and chemistry as she is and to apply it to their everyday lives. “I hope that students will end up seeing that chemistry is all around us and it’s in the daily phenomena that we see,” said Dr. Walter. “I hope that that makes the science seem a bit more accessible.” Dr. Walter has felt welcomed by not only the students and families, but by the faculty as well.

One of her favorite parts of working at Pace is when students stay for extra help. “I love the questions that students ask,” said Dr. Walter. “I love when students stay after class and ask me questions about the periodic table or other parts of chemistry, whether it’s related to the science that we're currently covering or the science we will get to in the future.”

(L-R) New teachers Mr. Smentek, Ms. Randell, Dr. Walter and Mr. Kaufman get together on the patio during break.

Photo: Abby Meyerowitz and Sydnie Jiang

The Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School underwent significant changes in the faculty over the summer. With the departure of Joe Sandoe, Stephanie Harrell and Meredith Carpenter, three new science teachers were added, along with a new honors English teacher for the 11th grade.

Originally from Warwick, New York, Honors Biology teacher Taylor Randell recently moved to Georgia for this teaching position. This is her first time living in the South, and Ms. Randell said that Southern pride is very real here.

“I really like it here,” said Ms. Randell. “At Pace, anything I need help with I didn’t have to ask for because people already offered. The students are also very respectful.” This is Ms. Randell’s first teaching position, and she likes to incorporate relevant real-life examples of science into her lessons.

“I just want to show my students that science isn’t just facts in a textbook,” said Ms. Randell.

Outside of the classroom, Ms. Randell enjoys attending standup comedy shows, but she also prefers a night in rather than a night out.

Mr. Robert Kaufman fills the role of new English teacher this year. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Mr. Kaufman earned his bachelor's degree from Brown University and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Dartmouth College. He is enthusiastic about working at Pace be-

cause of its tight knit community and how close the families are.

To inspire the students to love learning about different perspectives and cultures, Mr. Kaufman uses his past year-long trip to Norway to give his students examples of lives outside of Pace and the United States.

“My goal is to get kids to love reading and writing,” said Mr. Kaufman. “To do so, I will use the poetry angle, the Norway angle, the make-books-relevant angle, and different reading and writing genres to hopefully spark some interest.”

Mr. Kaufman strives to show his students that through careful reading and thoughtful writing, they can draw out the creativity and genius within them. “There is a beautiful passage in 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran in which a person asks, ‘what is teaching?’" said Mr. Kaufman.

"And the answer is that a wise teacher doesn’t show you his or her own wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your own wisdom. My aim is to help students learn to translate their thoughts and feelings in a cogent, cohesive and persuasive language. This is not only important for college and careers, but also vital to being a human being.”

Sophomore chemistry teacher Matthew Smentek is an Atlanta native, and he earned a bachelor's in chemistry from Wake Forest University before he got his master’s in organic chemistry at Emory University.

Mr. Smentek previously taught chemistry at St. Pius X and also coached boys lacrosse. “St. Pius was great,” said Mr. Smentek. “I loved it there and I miss it, but I feel like I’m at home now.”

With regard to his Pace experience so far, Mr. Smentek is speechless about how happy he is here. “I wish I could just show people how happy I am here instead of trying to tell them,” said

Pace News

September 15, 2017

The Knightly News - Page 4

Freshmen Build Bonds at Retreat

my favorite,” said freshman Jayden Thomas. “Not only was it the most fun, but after a weekend of trying to connect with other people, I finally got to relax and just have a good time with the friendships I made.”

Throughout the trip there was remarkable change in the interactions between new and old students. Thirty freshmen are new to Pace this year out of

119 students in the class. “The most obvious time that it became clear the kids were increasingly comfortable and relationships were developing was at mealtime,” said Mrs. Wilhelmsen.

“Kids who were once reluctant to find a comfortable place to sit began to readily find a table of newly made friends.”

The students ate every day in the main dining hall. The long tables allowed for big groups of people to sit together and no one was left out. “At the beginning of the trip the tables weren’t very diverse between new and old students,” said freshman Caroline Janki. “The next day I immediately saw a change. New and old students were mixed throughout the tables. Overall, I think the trip was successful.”

Pace faculty expects to continue this Pace tradition at Camp Skyline. According to Mrs. Wilhelmsen, in just 48 hours, kids who previously knew no one were able to get back on the bus to Atlanta feeling better about the upcoming school year. They now feel more connected to their classmates and more connected to their school.

Pace students likely noticed a new face at the Tanenblatt Family Front Desk the first few days of school. That new face is Mrs. Bowen Eagleson, Administrative Assistant for Student Life. Mrs. Eagleson is a North Carolina native, growing up in WinstonSalem. After finishing high school, she made the short trek to the University of North Caro-

lina at Chapel Hill where she was a Morehead-Cain Scholar and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English.

Prior to coming to Pace, Mrs. Eagleson was instrumental in the startup of the Atlanta Classical Academy, a public charter school less than a mile from Pace. Mrs. Eagleson served as the Resource Room Director for three years, and part of her job included sourcing curriculum materials and teacher supplies.

Outside of school, Mrs. Eagleson spends a lot of her time with her two daughters, Lucy

(15) and McLean (13). “When I leave here I put on a different hat and start my second job as a mom,” said Mrs. Eagleson.

She enjoys traveling as well as sports. “I am a huge college basketball fan, so I look forward to going to some of the games.”

At Pace, she is eager to learn about the students, faculty and community. “I am really excited to follow the students on their journeys as they go through the Upper School,” said Mrs. Eagleson. “I look forward to getting to know all of the students – their backgrounds, stories and hopes.”

of Diversity (PABD) holds meetings periodically to discuss the role of diversity at Pace.

“I am a resource, a coach and somebody who’s there to

help support the work that the community wants to see done,” said Mrs. Brown. “In my role, I’m able to empower and educate our students so that they are

better citizens – not just here in our school community, but also in Atlanta and ultimately, of course, globally.”

Genna Schwarz

Opinion Editor Class of 2019

Freshmen have fun at the relay race on the last night of the retreat.

Callahan. “The activities are fun, interactive, and at times challenging, which provides a great venue for students to problem solve, compete, and most importantly enjoy themselves together as a class.”

The students then split up in groups and continued with a ropes course and team games throughout the weekend. “I watched my group supporting

each other through hard ropes courses and group games,” said peer leader Harrison Lewis. “It was interesting to see students that did not even know each other helping and getting along.”

On the final night there was a series of relay races between four teams involving toilet paper rolling, paint, and laughter from all the students and teachers.

“The last night was definitely

Photo: Krista Wilhelmson

The Pace Academy tradition continued as anxious freshmen departed for their first high school experience on Aug. 13.

After leaving Pace at 9 a.m., the ninth graders, along with senior peer leaders, arrived roughly two hours later at Camp Skyline in Mentone, Alabama, the annual location for the freshman retreat. “The goal is to create a nonacademic means for students to connect before the school year starts,” said Freshman Dean Krista Wilhelmsen. “Given that there are always so many new ninth graders, it also provides a means for all of the kids to meet each other and begin to develop relationships.”

The beginning of the retreat included bonding exercises and icebreakers. “The ice breaking activities facilitated by the Camp Skyline staff allow the students to meet and interact with their entire class throughout the whole weekend,” said Academic Resource Center Director Michael

Mrs. Eagleson Assists with Student Life George Shepherd Sports Editor Class of 2018

Photo: Charlie Warren Senior Graeme Davidson signs into school with Mrs. Eagleson after missing part of first period.

Mrs. Brown Leads Pace Diversity Efforts Abby Meyerowitz Online Editor Class of 2019

Photo: Abby Meyerowitz

With the departure of former Director of Diversity Rick Holifield, previous Associate Director of Admissions Joanne Brown has stepped in to take his place.

As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Mrs. Brown will primarily focus on the four P’s of diversity: people, programming, policies and practices.

She will start by assessing where the community is with regards to diversity and inclusion. “That means spending a lot of time with our students, teachers and parents,” said Mrs. Brown. “So I’m really taking the first year to assess where we are, where our community feels like we are in the work, what we have done well in the past and where some gaps may be that we could fill.”

Mrs. Brown’s overall goal for

the Pace community is to empower the students, parents and teachers to be able to also do the work themselves. “As an entire community, we will all feel that responsibility,” said Mrs. Brown.

Although Mrs. Brown is enthusiastic about her new position, she will surely miss her work in admissions. “I love meeting prospective families and telling them about Pace,” said Mrs. Brown. “That’s really easy for me because of how much I love the community.”

Her new role challenges Mrs. Brown to work within the community in a different way.

“I really want to spend the year immersed in the internal community in a way that I couldn’t when I was doing admissions,” especially when you consider that I worked primarily in the upper school division and now I’m over all three divisions,” she said.

Her role will greatly affect the Pace community. The student-run Pace Academy Board

Director of Diversity and Inclusion Joanne Brown (R) speaks with senior Jennifer Spalten in her new office on the third floor of the Upper School.

Pace News

Vol. 43, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 5

New Peer Leaders Help Guide Freshmen Amy Butler

Co-editor-in-chief Class of 2018

Photo: Amy Butler

Following a month-long process involving applications and interviews, the 18 peer leaders for the 2017-2018 school year were finally announced last spring. The group was selected out of a highly qualified group of 38 senior applicants. The long process involved answering written questions about certain situations and about the applicants themselves. Then, there was a mini group session followed by a large group session with everyone who was applying.

“I thought it was really cool how it wasn’t just a traditional application process,” said senior Marina Hashim. “Instead, it was essentially a group discussion about specific situations any upper schooler may face, and how we, as peer leaders, would use our wide range of experiences to help others navigate their way through that situation. In this way, we were able to engage with each other and even build off of each other.”

The peer leaders partner up and lead groups of ninth graders in sessions throughout the school year. Their goal is to help ease the transition between middle and upper school and help them in any way possible. “Even though I had been at Pace since pre-first, coming into the Upper School was daunting,” said senior Jonathan Rushton. “But

luckily, my peer leaders were always there for me and I hope to be just like them.”

The peer leaders this year include many athletes and academic scholars. Boys include seniors Donn Boddie, Jack Douglass, Zack Leven, Harrison Lewis, Cole McCorkle, David Roos, Ben Thompson and Jack Wray, in addition to Rushton.

Four of the male peer leaders, Leven, Lewis, Rushton and Wray, won the state championship in basketball last year, and two of those four, Lewis and Rushton, were state champs two years ago as well. Others are stars in track and field as well as in cross country, like Boddie, Douglass and Thompson.

Douglass runs the 1600 and 3200 meters, Thompson the 800 and 3200 meters and Boddie the 100 and 200 meters as well as the long jump.

“Balancing track and field and cross country with my classes as well as being a peer leader is going to be difficult, but I am ready to take on the challenge,” said Douglass.

Roos has played varsity baseball since freshman year.

Along with fellow peer leader Ibum Obu, McCorkle performs in many of Pace’s theatrical productions. Last year in “Throughly Modern Millie,” McCorkle starred as Professor Graydon while Obu portrayed Muzzy.

The girl peer leaders are seniors Marina Hashim, Khaki Loughran, Canon Lynch, Emme Maner, Nicole Ortiz, Rachel

(L-R) Peer leaders Marina Hashim and Harrison Lewis welcome freshman Abby Sroka to their peer leadership group.

Ribner, Marissa Schwarz and Catherine Sweeney, along with Obu. Maner, Sweeney, Obu and Schwarz compete in track and field in the spring, with Obu excelling in the shot put event.

Sweeny also does swimming in the winter, competing in freestyle and backstroke.

Also in the spring, Lynch plays soccer and has been doing so since her freshman year. In the winter, Ribner serves as a manager for girls basketball while Ortiz is a cheerleader. Outside of school, Loughran dances two times a week and often competes in dance competitions. Schwarz is Student Council president and

Shakila Williams Joins College Counseling Team

has been serving on the Student Council since her freshman year.

Hashim participates on the Pace Academy Board of Diversity (PABD) and is a community engagement leader for Agape.

To add to this extensive list of activities, peer leaders generally take demanding academic classes, with the majority of this group taking multiple AP classes their final year at Pace.

Led by Academic Resource Center Director Michael Callahan and counselors Sara Eden and Amelia Tuttle, the peer leaders meet every day during D period.

“I am looking forward to watching our peer leaders mentor our ninth graders as they transition

Teachers Make Most Of Summer Break Aman Hashim

Sydnie Jiang

Staff Writer Class of 2020

Walking by the college office, students may see a new face that they don’t yet recognize.

Administrative Assistant Shakila Williams is the newest addition to the college counseling team after the departure over the summer of Shannon Meyring.

Ms. Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at Oberlin College in Ohio and is originally from Detroit. She previously worked as an Assistant Dean of Admissions for Pomona College and an admissions application reader for the undergraduate admissions office at Emory University.

Her position at Emory involved evaluating applications submitted by high school seniors, but she never had a chance to interact with them. “A huge difference between working at Emory and working at Pace is that here, I get to interact with high school kids every day and it’s more personal,” said Ms. Williams. “I get to see the entire application process from

Many teachers traveled outside the country on personal and ICGL study tours over the summer. Some went in search of professional development.

Among many others, history teachers Grady Stevens, Caitlin Terry and Tim Hornor traveled to Europe.

Mr. Stevens backpacked through Europe for 58 days, a dream of his since college. “The most challenging part was living out of a backpack,” said Mr. Stevens. “My backpack was 25 pounds and that was everything that I had brought with me.”

Throughout the journey, Mr. Stevens experienced a variety of cultures. “Europeans understand that modern life moves at a rapid pace but they always prefer to sit down for 15 minutes and have a cup of coffee,” he said. Mr. Stevens found that Italy was always on time and missing a train or subway was very common. According to Mr. Stevens, Austria was really efficient and helpful toward tourists. He appreciated every moment spent in Europe and said he will never forget the

Managing Editor Class of 2018

Photo: Sydnie Jiang Senior Alex Tolliday (R) introduces herself to Ms. Williams. a senior’s perspective.” She is looking forward to supporting these seniors throughout the year and seeing where they ultimately decide to go to school.

For those who aren’t yet familiar with the college office, Ms. Williams sits at the desk right by the window. She is the first face people see when they walk in. Ms. Williams plays a crucial role in the college process, in that she organizes the calendar for the college counselors, uploads and sends out transcripts, and handles all the logistical parts of the process.

She really moves the college process along and walks through applications with students. “She was really helpful when I was trying to organize my applications,” said senior Canon Lynch.

Outside of Pace, Ms. Williams enjoys catching up on sleep whenever she can and reading. She also picked up indoor cycling a year and a half ago.

“Ms. Williams is great,” said senior Ethan Much. “She is approachable and makes the college process seem less intimidating.”

into the Upper School,” said Mr. Callahan.

To start off the year, the group spent two days learning at Pace in early August. They planned for the year, bonded and determined what it truly means to be a peer leader. “The peer leader retreat was really cool,” said Leven. “After it, all of the peer leaders became really close.” The weekend before school started, the peer leaders attended the freshman retreat at Camp Skyline to help bring the Class of 2021 closer together.

To learn more about the freshman retreat, see Opinion Editor Genna Schwarz’s article on page 4 of this issue.

trip.

Mrs. Terry traveled to the United Kingdom to participate in a teaching seminar on the importance of history. She worked alongside many teachers from around the world, all in search of how to intersect history with archaeology and the environment.

“This was a really good opportunity for me to go somewhere that I’ve always wanted to go and to figure out how to better incorporate different activities and framework in the classroom,” Mrs. Terry said.

She also visited London and saw the original Rosetta Stone.

She drove throughout Scotland and traced the route of the Jacobite rebellion. Mrs. Terry definitely would to go back to the UK or on any other historybased trip. “Anytime I take a trip I am going to find a way to incorporate my own personal academic interests,” she said.

Mr. Hornor led Pace students on the ICGL trip to London and Cambridge, his eighth time in the past nine years. The group visited Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and more. “I think travel is important for anyone at any age,” said Mr. Hornor. It broadens horizons and deepens cultural literacy.”

Opinion

September 15, 2017

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: Amy Butler Michael Simon Managing Editor: Sydnie Jiang News Editor: Sloan Wyatt Opinion Editor: Genna Schwarz Lifestyle Editor: Eden Kerker Sports Editor: George Shepherd

Staff Writers: Ben Ginsberg Aman Hashim Charlie Hirsch Zachary Howard Blair Myers Jill Rawls Charlie Warren Will Zook Social Media: Graham Hurley Faculty Adviser: Ms. Lee Wilson Tech Adviser: Mr. Matt Walker

Web Content Editor: Abby Meyerowitz

The Knightly News - Page 6

Pace Lot Creates Chaos Eden Kerker

Lifestyle Editor Class of 2019

Although juniors are very thankful that we are not parking at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church and shuttling back and forth to school, the Pace parking lot has lots of room for improvement.

The parking spaces are narrow, and if you have a big car, or if a big car is parked next to you, it is a hassle to get in and out. Being in the front row of the student parking lot, each morning I have to wait in the parent carpool lane for a safe and accurate entry into my parking spot.

However, backing out of the spot is 10 times worse, especially during a sport season. Practices for my fall sport start at 4 p.m. at Pace’s Riverview Sports Com-

plex, meaning I, along with the other players, must leave school around 3-3:15 p.m., which is inconveniently in the heat of carpool. Many middle and upper school parents idle in the carpool lane on their phones, rarely allowing students enough room to escape their tight parking spots.

Even though there is the occasional parent who backs up for students, the majority don’t pay much attention as they wait for their children.

A common conversation heard in the hallways is the amount of time students have waited in their cars for a parent to finally let them through. The carpool lanes are narrow as well, providing an extra challenge for student-drivers. Space, I would say, is the major factor that influences the challenges of the Pace parking lot. Junior Lucy

Trump’s ‘Many Sides’

Gash has had to crawl through her trunk to get in and out of her car due to the tightness of her spot. I even had to crawl through my passenger side to get to my driver’s seat on the first day of school.

Students have argued that with the tightness of their spots, it is difficult to see whether cars are sitting still or zooming behind them. Many minor car crashes have already been reported among juniors, most of them occurring while students attempt to enter and exit their parking spots.

The parking situation is definitely not ideal, but given students’ past experiences, we know that successfully maneuvering the back lot is attainable.

To all the juniors, seniors and new drivers, it will get easier as we get used to the dynamics.

Aaron Pascaner

Guest Contributor Class of 2019

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 Florida Sun Printing.

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.

Charlottesville Not First of Its Kind Sloan Wyatt News Editor Class of 2018

failed to hold anyone accountable for the act of terrorism that occurred. The President’s statement demonstrates the hesitation to confront the uncomfortable topics that have gained increased attention in our society, particularly that of race and racism.

By labeling this an act of terrorism, one would have to separate the true definition from the meaning that the word has taken on in conservative media and elsewhere. Within these circles, terrorism is not associated with the white man. The white man, just like any other group, is bound to a single story.

Therefore, when white men act radically we dismiss them as outliers.

We see no trouble in creating a scapegoat out of minorities, yet when it comes time to place blame on the white male we are reluctant to point fingers. Fields is a domestic terrorist, and the incident at Charlottesville is not the first of its kind. Racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism have thrived within our culture since the creation of the United States.

Whether it is exhibited in derogatory jokes or police brutality, the assertion of one group’s superiority over another continues. We see this through white privilege, built upon the crumbled foundation of the Jim

Crow era. Within the last three years alone, hate groups have increased by 17%. This is our history and yet we choose to ignore it because it makes us uncomfortable or embarrassed.

A central contrast within our culture is the simultaneous rise of oversensitivity and ignorance.

Emergence of “safe spaces” within colleges have sparked nationwide controversy for their hypersensitivity. However, this ideal that humans should be sheltered from any conversa-

tions that feel uncomfortable is practiced outside of the classroom as well. We as Americans do not know how to maturely discuss politically charged topics in our society without offending one another, so we create invisible safe spaces. Race, religion, sex and money are etched in our minds from a young age as touchy subjects. We cannot expect to live in harmony when we are too afraid to acknowledge and appreciate the differences within our society.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

When I was 12 years old, my friend from camp asked me why I did not have horns. She had never met a Jew before. “I expected them to look more devilish,” she marveled. When I was 14, I heard my first Jew joke. “What’s the difference between a pizza and a Jew?” a guy chuckled. “One doesn’t burn when it’s put in the oven.” When I was 15, I was shoved into a shower with five of my friends.

“Look at all of the Jews in the gas chamber,” said someone as the others pointed at us. They had learned about the Holocaust that same year in history.

As I sat in Harkness during my AP English Language class, my peers and teacher were exclaiming how horrified they were by the recent events in Charlottesville. White supremacists and neo-Nazis gathered on Aug. 12 near the University of Virginia campus, ostensibly to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee. The Unite the Right-led rally had marched the previous day, chanting “white lives matter” and “blood and soil.” However, the events culminated that Saturday and the

city of Charlottesville declared a state of emergency at 11:28 a.m. after protests got out of hand.

Many have questioned how this could happen in a country cemented in morals, liberties and justice. But unlike my peers, I am not surprised.

Years of Holocaust education have ingrained one phrase into my mind: “Never forget.”

Although it has been 72 years since the end of World War II, anti-Semitism remains a driving force throughout the world.

Whether it be at Central Michigan University, where Valentine’s Day cards were handed out that said “my love 4 u burns like 6,000 Jews,” or the Lovett School, “Never forget” reminds us that we are all possible of such hate. This is why the resurrection of the Nazi rhetoric, “blood and soil,” referring to a racially divided national body united with a settlement area, is believable.

When white supremacist James Alex Fields, Jr. intentionally accelerated his car into the crowd of counter protesters in Charlottesville killing Heather Heyer, the President responded with this statement: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence, on many sides. On many sides.” This ambiguity

The Charlottesville protest led by neo-Nazi and other white supremacist groups was met by counter protests around the nation.

Lifestyle

Vol. 43, Issue #1

The Knightly News - Page 7

'Game of Thrones' Conquers All Ages Charlie Hirsch Staff Writer Class of 2019

Photo: HBO

“Winter is here” in HBO’s "Game of Thrones" world, and the show's families squabble over trivial territories and power while their common enemy grows stronger in the North.

"Game of Thrones" is massively popular across generations with 16.1 million people worldwide watching the season 7 premiere on July 16, 2017 (Forbes). It airs in over 170 countries, making it the first TV program to achieve that feat.

"Game of Thrones" set the record at the 2016 Emmy Awards show for most awards won by a TV show with 38. The most awarded member of the cast is Peter Dinklage, who gained fame from his role as Michael Finch in the movie "Elf." Dinklage has won two Emmy awards and a Golden Globe for his role in "Game of Thrones" as Tyrion Lannister, the clever drunk who manages to ally with the most powerful people at any time.

(L-R) Emilia Clarke plays Daenerys Targaryen and Iain Glen is Jorah Mormont in the show.

The show takes place on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. Westeros' leader sits on the coveted "Iron Throne" which motivates leaders to kill the king and start their own legacy as the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. The show's depth has no bounds, so there are always themes and characters that people can relate to. The themes

Breakdown of Music Midtown Sloan Wyatt News Editor Class of 2018

This year's festival is continuing the Saturday-Sunday schedule introduced last year, taking place Sept. 16-17.

Tickets went on sale June 22 (presale on the 20th).

The official schedule was released on August 28.

Festival directors had to break the bank account for the 2017 set, spending an estimated $9-10 million in talent. This includes headliners Bruno Mars, Future,

After experimenting with audiences in the 2015 lineup, the organizers of Music Midtown officially declared that their target age demographic is 18-34. Nevertheless, this has not stopped thousands of high schoolers and adults over age 34 from crowding the park each year. Whether you are 16 or 40, the playful environment of the festival caters to all interests.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons Atlanta fans are counting down until the annual music festival.

teachers from staying up-to-date with every show. The attraction stems from fantastic species, engrossing character development as well as interesting plot lines. “I first started watching because I heard about the crazy mashup of historical and science fiction, dragons and zombies,” said Strings teacher Tara Harris.

“I feel like every episode has an

Photo: Adult Swim

Strolling through Piedmont Park during the annual Music Midtown weekend can seem a little intimidating. Tens of thousands of people cram onto fields filled with stages and vendors.

Even though recent implementations of 'MyFest' and the Music Midtown app (along with its failed tracking system of last year) have attempted to create organized chaos, the staggering numbers of the festival can send even an avid concertgoer into panic.

Mumford & Sons and Blink-182.

Music Midtown typically rakes in $50 million for Atlanta.

Around $8.6 million is made in ticket sales (2016).

Looking to have Bruno Mars at your next event? The artist reportedly costs $1.5 million per show.

There were 130,000 festival goers in 2016.

The homegrown festival was on a five-year hiatus until 2011 It began in 1994.

If General Admission seems cliché, VIP and Super VIP tickets are on sale for $600 & $1750 (not including fees).

For the majority of attendees, tickets cost around $135 (until the first week of September, when prices escalated to $145).

of family conflict, the value of honor, religion, politics and good versus evil drive the plot. There are corrupt kings and queens, kind-hearted leaders and peasants who overcome the odds and rise to power.

The show is renowned for requiring full attention from the viewers, but this does not deter many upper school students and

unexpected twist.” These twists are a core reason viewers come back to "Game of Thrones" every week. Even with the characters that are most vital to the story line, “it’s always a question of survival,” according to Mrs. Harris.

"Game of Thrones" exhibits patriarchal lineage and the idea that power stems from the amount of land people own. The Lannisters, the Baratheons, the Starks and the Targaryens are all large land-owning families led by men, but “there are many beautiful and powerful women throughout,” said junior Max Appel. “The way in which Cersei, Margaery, Sansa and Daenerys gather so much power and prestige despite the patriarchal society shines light on the invalidity of sexism in today’s world.”

Comparing and contrasting fantasy time periods and historical time periods also interests many viewers. “The writers’ abilities to create an amazing medieval story while addressing modern issues drives me to make connections and look forward to every episode,” said junior Cooper Selig.

The third season of "Rick and Morty" is still airing, so it's not too late to join the party.

'Rick and Morty' Strikes Perfect Balance Graham Hurley

Social Media Editor Class of 2018

Who would want to watch a silly cartoon when one of the greatest shows of this generation, "Game of Thrones," airs a few hours before? A LOT of people. "Rick and Morty" is the new TV fad on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim beloved by audiences and critics alike. The zany sci-fi show is perfect for sitting on your couch and having a laugh. Creators and executive producers Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland have devised a show that strikes a perfect balance between comedy and silliness.

"Rick and Morty" is similar to "Family Guy" and "The Simp-

sons" regarding its plot. Viewers follow Rick, a sociopathic scientist, who takes his grandson on wacky adventures. In general, each episode has two stories: one that follows Rick and Morty, and one that follows the rest of the family as they handle a secondary crisis.

The show's plot may seem like a typical cartoon but the characters are more dynamic.

Each episode deals with complex relationships among each of the family members. For example, there is an episode called "Anatomy Park" where Rick and Morty battle disease monsters within an internal organ theme park of a man's body. "'Rick and Morty' is genuinely an original show," said senior Frank Houser.

"There is nothing else like it on

TV right now."

What makes "Rick and Morty" great is that you can still have a laugh when not watching the show in order of episode.

The crazy, immature humor really draws you in. The vibrant color scheme is a feast for your eyes. Each episode is about 20 minutes long, which makes it perfect for binging.

On the surface, the show is an immature comedy, but it actually explores some dark themes like the effects of a broken marriage on two high school kids.

"I really appreciate how smart the show actually is," said junior Lane Goldman. "Its combination of immature and mature humor makes it unique among other popular comedies on TV right now."

Sports

September 15, 2017

The Knightly News - Page 8

Pace Athletes Shine Over Summer drew Jenkins traveled around the

George Shepherd country competing with the 643 Sports Editor Class of 2018

Photo: 247Sports

Summertime for Pace students often includes relaxing at the beach or working at summer camp, but many student-athletes did not see the 12-week break as time off from honing their skills in their sport. Pace athletes took time out to continue to improve, and some even received local and national attention for their achievements. Many of the tournaments and showcases that Pace athletes attended were very selective, meaning that they had to be invited as individuals or with their travel team.

Dean of Students and Head Baseball Coach Gus Whyte has been impressed with all the baseball players who continued to grind throughout the thick of summer. A majority of the starters for the AAA-region champion Knights played for various travel teams, most notably 643 DP out of Marietta. Junior An-

DP Cougars among other teams.

He was selected to play in the 2017 Perfect Game Underclass All-American Game with fellow junior and third baseman Brian Zeldin. “Very impressive two days from 2019 Andrew Jenkins (GA) in San Diego! He can really swing the bat and upper 80s on the mound with sink,” said @ PerfectGameUSA via Twitter.

Senior Jaden Steagall also made his presence known on the diamond. At the 2017 PG 18U Summer Showdown Protected

by G-form, Steagall marked an impressive .412 batting average which earned him all-tournament recognition. Toward the end of the summer, Steagall made the trek to Appalachian State University and after an impressive tryout, was chosen to play for the Southeast Region USA National Team.

Senior Jamaree Salyer continued his dominance as offensive guard in Beaverton, Oregon.

Salyer is a two-time invitee to

crosse prospects showcased their skills. Neill not only competed against some of the top players in the country, but also got to develop some mental skills. “I improved on becoming a better team player and trusting myself with the ball, especially in high pressure situations," he said.

Junior standout and University of Georgia commit Emily Pulver played for the Tophat 2000 DA soccer team throughout the summer. Pulver played in several Elite Club National League (ECNL) events, including tournaments in Phoenix, Arizona and Orlando, Florida.

Pulver’s most memorable event was the National Championships in Chicago. Although her team did not take home the gold, Pulver still had a positive experience in one of the biggest tournaments of the year. "I think that playing versus such a high level of competition will help me for playing in college, and learning how to play with older girls is important as well," said Pulver.

Senior Jamaree Salyer works on his form at The Opening Finals.

The Opening Finals which showcases the top 250 high school football players in the nation.

After dominating defensive linemen throughout the event, Salyer’s performance boiled down to a best-of-three set of one versus one repetitions.

Salyer did not back down from Jayson Ademilola, a 290 lb.

Notre Dame commit. After the first rep was awarded to Ademilola, Salyer came back with a vengeance and won the next two to take the series. “Salyer

is the best OL in the country,” said Tyler James of the South Bend Tribune via Twitter. That statement was backed up as Salyer was named the Offensive Line MVP of The Opening. Not surprisingly, Salyer earned local recognition as an AJC Super 11 player (top 11 high school football players in the state) for the 2017 season.

Pace captain and midfielder Jack Neill competed at the Committed Combine in Baltimore where the top 80 rising junior la-

Fantasy Football Galvanizes The Academy

Will Zook who to start and who to sit on the

Staff Writer Class of 2019

Photo: Fred Assaf (L-R) Captains Gavin Guest, Realus George and Jamaree Salyer take the center of Walsh Field for the coin toss against West Forsyth High School on Aug. 25.

After Shaky Start, Knights Look to Rebound Thomas, along with junior quar-

Ben Ginsberg terback Gunnor Faulk. “I miss Staff Writer Class of 2020

Photo: Will Zook

As the varsity football team heads into their third game of the season against Stone Mountain High School following two losses, players and coaches reflect on what it will take to make it to the state championship, to be held this year in MercedesBenz Stadium.

“This summer, our team worked our hardest in order to make up for our loss in the playoffs last year and be completely prepared for the 2017 season,” said sophomore Ben Caldwell.

The 2015 state champions were knocked out in the first round of the 2016 playoffs by Greater Atlanta Christian.

Although the majority of players on last year’s roster have returned, the team suffered some impactful losses, including seniors Trey Blount, Deon Jackson, Justin Rayman, Mark Sommerville and Andrew

Gunnor as a person,” said head coach Chris Slade. “I thought it was unfortunate that he left the program. I hope things work out for him well in California.”

Junior Jared Rayman replaced Faulk at quarterback.

Although the team lost many seniors, the team added 19 new players to the roster this year.

These players include sophomore Jaquari “Big Baby” Wiggles and freshmen Justin Johnson and Jayden Thomas. As a new player, Thomas feels welcomed by his teammates. “I feel very friendly with all the other kids on the team,” said Thomas. “The upperclassmen have helped me out a lot, especially [senior] Jamaree Salyer.” Not only is Salyer a mentor, he is ranked as the number one offensive guard in the country by 247Sports, with 30 college offers and counting.

Sophomore Mbiti Williams is one of the captains of the team and a two-year varsity starter, playing at cornerback and wide receiver. “I definitely think that

Keashawn Perryman will be a big part of the team this year,” said Williams. “I think he will step up pretty well, especially taking Deon Jackson’s place.

Jamaree Salyer is definitely the go-to man when we look at the offensive line. I think that Jared Rayman has a big year ahead of him. I think he has the potential to take us to the championship.”

Other key players include senior captains Realus George and Justin Morris, junior kicker Patrick Markwalter, senior Tony Addison, and junior Parker Spillers. These players have contributed to the success of the team in past years, and have performed well in the opening games.

“So far I think we are ahead of where we were last year,” said Head Coach Chris Slade. “I think we might even be better than we were two years ago when we won the state championship. I don’t necessarily mean that just because of our talent. I just think that the chemistry, the unity of this team is greater than any team I have ever coached since I’ve been here.”

With the start of school comes another fan-favorite activity: fantasy football. From seniors to freshmen, Pace students compete in their respective leagues for a chance to call themselves a champion at the end of the season. Trade talks and speculation for the upcoming games are a regular conversation piece at the cafeteria tables. Whether it is deciphering between picks in a mock draft or risking a waiver-wire pickup, strategy and planning is key.

“I love the competition,” said senior Jonathan Rushton. “That’s what keeps me coming back every year.”

The basic concept of fantasy football is that an “owner” will draft a team consisting of around 15 active NFL players, either through a typical snake draft or a slightly more complicated auction system. Next, team managers have the option of trading, picking up or keeping players based on how they think that player will perform on that given week. One of the most difficult aspects of fantasy is choosing

bench. Variables such as opposing team, location, injury status and player performance all factor into who starts and who doesn’t. “When my team loses, almost every time it is because I started the wrong player,” said sophomore Evan Duncan. Websites such as ESPN.com, NFL. com, and Yahoo.com all offer platforms for fantasy gameplay.

One of the most intriguing aspects of fantasy football is the brutal punishments that happen on a weekly basis, as well at the end of the season, if your team comes in last. While most weekly punishments include wearing embarrassing clothes to school or other light-hearted consequences, the junior class league has upped the ante this year. Each week the loser of the league pays a steep price for scoring the fewest points. Some of the discipline includes getting pelted with paintballs and rapping in front of the Upper School during Freestyle Friday. “Players are forced to put effort into their teams for fear of having to do punishments,” said junior Brogan Smith. “The punishment makes for much better competition and that’s what makes it fun.”

Junior Joe Hirsch faced the consequences of having a lackluster fantasy team by dyeing his hair blonde.