Photos: Fred Assaf
Honoring Mr. David Matanes
Recently, the Pace community received the devastating news on August 18 that beloved language teacher David Matanes had sadly passed away a few days prior. Although Mr. Matanes had been struggling with his health, the news came as a shock to the community, who loved him dearly. His loss has left a hole in the hearts of all of his students and faculty members who were lucky enough to call him a close friend.
Mr. Matanes worked at Pace for over 20 years. He worked in the language department as both an incredible French and Spanish teacher. He often referred to Pace as his ‘Pace Family’ rather than the ‘Pace Community’ because he saw Pace as his home and truly loved everyone he got to know. Not only was he a goofy light in our Pace Family, he was someone both students and colleagues could truly count
on. Even if students didn’t have him as their Spanish or French teacher, he was always a friendly face in the hallway who wanted to put a smile on everyone’s faces. Mr. Matanes had a way of making learning fun for everyone, even if they went into class with the mindset that language was not for them. Whether it was joking about Britney Spears and baby back ribs from Applebee’s or using the pom-poms he kept in his desk to teach verb conjugations, students and teachers alike could always hear the laughter and joy coming from his classroom.
Mr. Matanes taught both Honors French III as well as the AP French classes, so the relationships he formed with his French students often spanned multiple years of being in his class. Students could tell that he was not only interested in French but also enamored by it. He was passionate about every lesson he taught, as well as the French culture that was gifted along with it.
“Mr. Matanes’ French class never failed to be the highlight of my day. I’ve never laughed harder at school than I did from his jokes and stories. He brought our class together, and we all miss him so much,” said junior Paige Vadnais. Paige’s class is a small French class that has
consisted of mostly the same students since sixth grade. Over the years, there have been some people who joined the class and others who switched classes, or couldn’t quite fit French into their schedule, but more or less, it is a tight-knit group of students who were put together by chance. Across the board, the kids in this specific class shared that although they had all gotten to know each other over the years, Mr. Matanes’ class made them form a stronger bond than they could have ever imagined. It also gave them a common love of the French language and culture that not all of them expected to find.
“Mr. Matanes truly made me enjoy coming to French class every day, because I knew whatever we would be learning that day, a fun story or activity was going to come along with it,” added junior Ava Grant. It is these stories and activities that made Mr. Matanes’ class stand out from all of Ava’s past French classes at Pace. Ava also shared that one of her favorite memories of Mr. Matanes’s class was when he told a fictional story in French that he made up on the fly about his life before coming to Pace. In this story, Mr. Matanes joked that he was a super villain bank robber who made his riches off
The Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) strives to educate Pace students about annual themes. Our nine themes include food, water, energy, waste, global health, conservation, education, technology and climate. The 2025-2026 school year theme is Climate. While Climate is a fairly broad topic, Pace is taking a deeper look at the following: what our climate future should look like, local impacts, global impacts, and individual climate heroes around the world.
Within the ICGL, there are multiple opportunities and branches: ICGL study tours help students explore the theme in various international countries and communities; the ICGL Global Leaders (four Upper School students selected to take a special, in-depth look at the theme) do an independent study and two field research trips; the
of storming through banks and raiding their goods, until one day, he met Mr. Assaf and decided a lifestyle of teaching was more up his alley. It was creative and comical moments like this that made Mr. Matanes.
his chest while sounding out “or-gu-llo-so.” He gave students the space to be silly, bold, and unafraid to make mistakes. His students felt confident with him and knew they had a safe space to be authentic and mess up in
Mr. Matanes only had one Spanish class – College Prep Spanish III. Even though he was more passionate about the French language, he brought the same amount of energy and effort to the Spanish classroom as he did to his French classes. He included his infectious humor in each and every one of his lessons, always finding an opportunity to relate to his students by including Sydney Sweeney or Lil Huddy in his explanations.
In addition to being hilarious, Mr. Matanes always made sure each and every student understood the curriculum. He came up with funny ways to remember vocabulary words or certain conjugations, so it would stick with all of his students, even the ones who struggled with learning a new language. He made up mnemonic devices like “kill ron” and pounded
Pace ICGL Adresses Climate Change
ICGL Community Engagement Board works on global efforts by taking action locally with Atlanta non-profits; and the ICGL Councils (students in the Upper and Middle School) help to educate the student body.
The Upper School ICGL Council is a student-run organization, led by Ms. Anderson and Ms. Branaman, consisting of twenty aspiring leaders who are passionate about this year’s theme. Over the course of the year, they will engage with the student body in various ways in all three divisions: from bringing in speakers to organizing handson activities, including volunteer opportunities, and teaching lower and middle school classes.
The ICGL Council intends to reach all Pace students, K-12.
The Council has curated eight sub-themes for the year, which will be explored and promoted for a month-long
period: the Health Impacts of Climate Change, Mitigation and Adaptation, Human Relationship with their Climate, Arctic, the Climate affected by Conflict, Regional Effects, Natural Disasters, and Human Impact. As for the first month back at school, the Council will discuss the impacts of climate on health by sending out a survey to students to gauge their existing knowledge, teaching a Middle School health class, and hosting a Thoughtful Thursday in Inman Gym. In addition to these monthly activities, the ICGL Council plans to orchestrate outside-of-school opportunities, such as volunteering to plant trees on Earth Day.
The Upper School ICGL Council will have an informational presentation soon to introduce its members and provide content for this school year, so stay tuned!
his class.
“Mr. Matanes was one of my favorite teachers ever! He was always in such a goofy mood and made every class fun!” said junior Cailynn Bennett. Mr. Matanes made learning fun and his teaching made everyone thrilled to go to class every day. There was never a dull moment around Mr. Matanes. For Cailynn and many other students, he will forever be remembered as a teacher who gathered students excitement to wake up every morning and go to school. He had the ability to both teach effectively and brighten everyone’s day. He has made a lasting impact on all of his students and colleagues and will never be forgotten by his Pace Family. We will fondly remember Mr. Matanes any time we drive past an Applebee’s or listen to a Britney Spears song.
Mr. David Matanes poses for his yearbook photo.
Photo: Pace Academy
Mr. David Matanes humors his students while teaching conjugations.
Photo: Madame Hathorne
Photo: Pace Academy
New Faculty Join the Pace Community
As the new school year begins, new faces are seen all around the Pace campus. New additions to not only the student body, but also the faculty. This year, several new faculty members were added to the Pace community, who are excited to adjust to their new community.
Alexandria Ekler is a new addition to the world language department and is teaching French. Earning her degree in French and Spanish at the University of Wyoming, Ms. Ekler was not planning on becoming a teacher, but she took advantage of this amazing opportunity. “Say yes to every opportunity you can say yes to,” said Ms. Ekler. After teaching at the university level, she has recently transitioned to high school, where her most recent role was teaching French at Prairie School in Wisconsin. After making this switch from the University level to high school, Ms. Ekler says she enjoys having a more active role in the students’ education. She enjoys many hobbies outside of teaching, like playing sports, camping, and hiking. Ms. Ekler said, “I like to play video games and really like to read. I really like to make connections with the kids; I enjoy coming to work every day.”
Edwin Way is the new 9thgrade ancient history teacher, previously working at Sanford School in Hockessin, Delaware. He was born in New Jersey, but then moved to Brazil because his parents decided to teach overseas. Dr. Way then moved around in many different countries growing up, including Belgium, Denmark, and many countries in West Africa. “My interest in history comes from growing up around the world learning about different cultures,” said Dr. Way. He is also very interested in Model UN, which he discovered in Denmark. Dr. Way said, “sharing knowledge and interacting with students is what got me on the path to becoming a teacher.” In addition to Model UN, Dr. Way enjoys hiking and watching the news.
Scott Willis has joined the admissions team at Pace and also teaches American history. He is originally from Columbia, South Carolina, and then attended Sewane, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in history. He then went on to Vanderbilt graduate school, earning his teaching degree, and then taught history and government at the Walker School for the past eight years.
As a history teacher, Mr. Willis believes that studying history helps students make connections and understand patterns while building global citizenship in an increasingly connected world.
As an admissions officer, he enjoys helping prospective families
discover what Pace has to offer. Mr. Willis said, “coaching football and baseball led him to want to stay in schools.” Here at Pace, Mr. Willis will continue his passion for coaching by coaching the middle school baseball team.
Willis said, “I am excited to get to know the students.”
Atlanta native D’uana White is a new addition to the counselors here at Pace. She attended Savannah State University, earning her bachelor’s degree in
University. Her goal is to help students develop character traits that will serve them inside and outside the classroom.
The Pace community is also excited to welcome Casey Kelleher, who is subbing for Mrs. Mc-
Outside of teaching, Mr. Willis enjoys watching sports, being outdoors, and listening to music.
“I have started my own record collection,” said Mr. Willis. Mr.
social work, and then attended Clark Atlanta University, earning her master’s. Finally, she earned her Doctor of Education degree from Grand Canyon
Nicholas; Prissila Hoover, who is subbing for Dr. Dwyer; and Lisa Bognar, who was the sub for Mr. Matanes and is continuing to teach the AP French class.
Looking Back on the Summer ICGL Trips!
This past summer, Pace students traveled all over the world with the Isdell Center for Global Leadership, leaving Atlanta to dive into new cultures and learn about sustainability and global issues up close. Three trips really stood out: Greece, Bali, and Ecuador.
In Greece, students explored Athens, visiting the Acropolis, Plaka, and other parts of the city. They then traveled to the island of Lesvos, helping out at a refugee camp, working on food
projects, and hearing firsthand stories from locals. Highlights included visiting Skala Kallonis, Molyvos Castle, and Petra, walking through villages, and learning about refugee arrivals from a local nurse. On the last day, students visited Camp Moria, an abandoned refugee camp that once housed 20,000 displaced people. The trip ended back in Athens with an art workshop, zine-making, and a meal at a refugee-owned restaurant. “We have more journey ahead of us, but our time in Lesvos and the people who were kind enough to share their stories with us will forever be ingrained in our spirits,” said the group collectively.
In Bali, students focused on
the environment and wellness. They joined beach clean-ups, made eco-bricks, and worked with groups like Bye Bye Plastic Bags and the Bali Sea Turtle Society. In Ubud, they learned about sustainable farming, visited schools and local foundations, and explored the art and symbolism behind traditional Balinese offerings. For Senior Jake Haggman the highlight was hiking up Mount Batur, starting at 1:30 a.m. and reaching the summit at 5,600 feet. While it was too cloudy to see the sunrise, students enjoyed hot chocolate in the clouds before descending to relax at a natural hot springs resort. Senior Jake Hagman said it was “exhausting
but also incredible,” showing him how small actions matter in protecting the planet. Ecuador was a straight-up adventure. Students started at Kingue Farm learning sustainable farming, then hiked in Pasochoa Reserve before a multi-day backpacking trip in the Andes, practicing leadership and Leave No Trace principles. They also hiked Guagua Pichincha volcano, reaching a crater at 15,200 feet with roaring winds. The trip ended in Yasuni National Park in the Amazon, where students explored the
rainforest, learned about Kichwa culture, and canoed on the Tiputini River. Senior Harriet Blaha said, “My favorite part of Ecuador was when we jumped into the Tiputini River and swam with anacondas, piranhas, and caymans.” Along the way, there were a few mishaps, but everyone made it back home in one piece. These trips were more than vacations. They pushed students to try new things, learn new skills, and see the world from a fresh perspective.
Photo: Molly Luber
Photo: Pace_ICGL
New faculty join the Pace staff including Mr. Willis, Ms. Ekler, and Ms. Bognar.
Pace students on the Greece ICGL trip pose in front of the Aegean Sea.
Pace Students on the Bali ICGL trip pose after summiting a mountain.
Pace Students Worked Diligently at Their Summer Jobs
Around the Pace Community, students hold numerous jobs in Atlanta, ranging from retail and food service to working at small businesses. These jobs do not just count as a paycheck, but they also make students more confident and responsible. With summer ending too abruptly, here is a chance to look back at how hard the student body worked this summer.
Junior Andy Levenson acted as a seasonal sales associate at Sid Mashburn, a local menswear store on the Westside. His jobs were numerous, ranging from folding clothes and performing manual labor to picking up alterations and ensuring the space was presentable. Levenson said, “I had to do all of my work in a jacket and tie, even the manual labor!” When asked about his favorite memories, Levenson said, “Sid was in the store one day and saw that my loafers needed to be shined, but I didn’t know how. He’s really busy, but he took the time at the end of the day to teach me how to shine them, which was really cool. It was fun working at a place where your boss is someone really respectable and humble who wants to see you grow.”
Freshman Lily Grabowski worked at the local shop Baby Braithwaite, located just around the corner from Pace. Lily spent her work days tagging stuffed animals, children’s toys and clothes, while also checking people out at the register. Grabowski said, “My favorite memory from Baby Braithwaite was organizing donations to the organization, Helping Mamas.”
Senior John Hardesty and sophomore Anna Callahan both worked as swim coaches
over their summer breaks! John Hardesty was an assistant coach at his pool, working almost every day, all day, coaching the kids. “My favorite part of being a coach was the swim meet days, the kids are always super excited and cheering loudly,” Hardesty said. Anna Callahan said, “My favorite memory is thinking about how much all the kids grew in their skills over the course of the summer.”
Junior Maya Reiss worked at Ice Box Cryotherapy this summer. Ice Box is a local Cryotherapy studio that offers cold therapy treatments for recovery, skin, pain relief and overall wellness. Reiss said, “Usually, I would work from nine a.m. to five p.m., helping every day clients do their chryo, and when we would have new members come
in, try to sell them a membership and introduce them to the store.”
Sophomore Anna Rosenblatt was a counselor at Camp Marie Benator, and she took care of two-year-olds from Monday to Friday for a few weeks over the summer. “Every day I would take the kids to the pool, play on the playground and make various crafts,” Roseblatt said. Junior Aparna Kallingal was also a camp counselor, but at the Pace Auxiliary Program. She tended to daily activities and worked almost every day, depending on the workload.
Junior Kitty Lubin worked at the West Paces Chick-fil-A as a House team member. She took orders, packed orders, straightened the store and managed any other task that needed to be done. When asked about her
hours, Lubin said, “That is one of the best things about working for the company; they are very flexible when it comes to being a student, and they always were helpful when I could not work!”
“I love seeing people I know, especially Pace students and teachers at the window! ”
“I love seeing people I know, especially Pace students and teachers, at the window,” said Lubin. Junior Madelyn Fowler also worked in the food service industry over the summer as a Publix bakery clerk. Fowler said, “I assist customers with cake orders, package and label baked goods, and ensure that the bakery is clean and presentable for customers.” She mentioned that giving cookies to children
was one of the highlights of her time working at Publix. “Seeing their face light up was the best,” she said.
Lastly, junior Lizzy Bauer was a book seller at the local store, Virginia Highlands Books. She said her daily tasks included checking out customers, organizing books, and helping customers find what they need. Bauer said, “One of the most special things we do is the tables we display- they change almost every week and always provide something for customers to look at. My absolute favorite things, though, are the free tote bags we give away with orders over 50 and the iconic stairs with famous authors’ names!”
Hayes Conveys: Reinventing Your Identity
As we get back into the rhythm of the school year, it’s easy for us to slip into the same patterns and identities we carried last year. However, we don’t have to. Each year gives us the chance to reinvent ourselves and decide who we want to be. That’s a gift we shouldn’t waste. Reinvention begins with slowing down and thinking, sitting with a pen and paper, and asking ourselves what matters to us. It also involves being honest about the habits or traits we need to let go of. Once we’ve named the identity we want to step into, we can begin
“Reinventing ourselves means starting with identity, then letting our actions flow from it. ”
living it by checking our actions against that standard we set for ourselves. We can ask, “Does this choice reflect the person I want to become?” If the answer is no, we know what not to do. This practice gives us stability, because emotions come and go, but identity stays. When we lead with identity, it drives our actions, and over time, those actions begin to shape our emotions and thoughts. But if we don’t consciously choose an identity, our feelings and impulses will choose one for us.
That’s when we end up acting in ways that feel scattered and inconsistent, because we never set a standard to guide us. Reinventing ourselves means starting with identity, then letting our actions flow from it until everything else falls into place.
However, this doesn’t mean to discard our current identity completely, nor is that possible. It’s simply to rebuild the vessel we’ve already built. The ancient Greeks told the story of the Ship of Theseus. Over the years, as the wooden planks of the ship rotted, each one was replaced until, eventually, no original piece remained. Philosophers asked: was it still the same ship, or had it become something entirely new? The story raises the same question about us. As we replace old habits, discard traits that no longer serve us, and adopt new ones, are we the same person or someone different? The truth is, we are both. Just like the ship, the core identity is held together not by the individual planks but by the purpose that guides it. Reinventing ourselves is not about losing who we are, but about choosing which planks to replace so that the person we are becoming aligns with the identity we’ve set for ourselves.
Photo: Kitty Lubin
Photo: Hayes Pollard
Junior Kitty Lubin works at the Chick-fil-A window on her shift.
Junior Andy Levenson grabs backstock at Sid Mashburn.
Photo: Andy Levenson
Senior Beckett Alegra writes down his plan to reinvent himself.
Students Find the Best Spots Around Pace
Aug. 13, 2025 marked the first day of the new 2025-2026 school year. As the transition of this new school year takes place, students are slowly adjusting to their new environments and teachers. However, the number of areas and sections of the school can make it hard to decide what place on campus to complete your specific assignment. When you have a free period, where should you go to
The Knightly News
so I am able to be more produc-
complete your homework or to work on a group project? What is the best place to hang out with friends? In fact, most students have a similar opinion.
Inman is a popular spot for lowerclassmen to hang out with their friends during free periods. “I like Inman because it is a place where you can be yourself and hang out with your friends,” said freshman Aviana Kokane. In Inman, there is also a gym where students can enjoy some downtime to play sports such as volleyball. In addition to homework, it is important to prioritize
time to relax and wind down from a busy day full of classes. If you have a free period and know you have extracurriculars after school, you could use a free period to your advantage. During this time, most students prefer sitting in the Upper Library to experience a time of undisturbed quiet and concentration. No matter if it is completing homework or studying for a big test the next day, the Upper Library has a calm environment that ensures students’ productivity. There are also small sofas, chairs and walled study areas for whatever mood you are in. “Being in the Upper Library makes me feel like I have to get work done,
tive there,” said sophomore Amelit Hall.
For studying with friends or working on group projects, most students like to sit in study rooms. There are various study rooms throughout the Upper School Building, with a few on each floor. Additionally, there are study rooms in the Upper Library, although these are used as quiet work spaces. These rooms allow students to study comfortably while also working together with friends to share knowledge and different perspectives of information learned in class. No matter what the occasion is, there is always a place for your interests and needs at Pace.
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The Knightly News Editorial Policy
The Knightly News is the student-run newspaper of Pace Academy. For 50 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.
Diving into Summer 2025 PopCulture Crossword
Across
3. A new moon of this planet was discovered
5. This male singer dropped a new album and headlined at Lollapalooza
8. The main character of the Disney live-action remake
10. Lady Gaga and others headlined at this iconic music festival Down
1. The weather pattern blamed for record high United States temperatures
2. Country battling its second-worst wildfire season on record
4. This Isdell Center for Global Leadership trip visited the Blasinga Waterfall over the summer
6. The sequel to a popular golfing comedy
7. The album The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift is scheduled for release in this month
9. Women’s European Soccer 2025 Champions
Recapping Conflict in Israel
Over the past two months, conflict and unrest have continued to rage on in the Middle East. Since the start of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, it has developed into a multifaceted clash, involving many nations, religious groups and creating a path of destruction along the way. Before students left for summer vacation in May, the main focus of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was on the best way to settle disagreements between Iran and Israel. In May, President Trump declared that the best course of action was to handle matters diplomatically, but since then, much has changed.
On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities over fears that Iran was developing nuclear weapons. The attacks consisted of hundreds of airstrikes that caused great damage to the nuclear facilities they were targeting. In retaliation, Iran sent missiles to strike many prominent Israeli cities. The war between Israel and Iran officially lasted twelve days from the 13th to the 24th, aptly giving it the name The Twelve Day War. On the ninth day of the war, the United States became involved in the conflict when it allied with Israel and took offensive action by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites. The attacks came as a huge surprise not only to Iranians but to many Americans as well, since President
Trump had stated earlier that he wanted to solve these differences diplomatically. The war came to a close on June 24th after Iran and Israel came to a cease-fire deal with the assistance of the United States.
On July 16, 2025, Israel launched attacks into Syria with the justification that they were protecting the Druze group who live in the area bordering both Syria and Israel. Israel has had long-standing relations with Syria and many debates over borders, but as of now, they have some control over the Golan Heights that borders Syria, which the Druze people mostly occupy. As Syria began to have many internal conflicts surrounding new leadership and Israel claims they began to fear that the Druze people would be targeted, Israel decided to intervene and strike Syria. The strikes did not last long, and shortly after, a ceasefire between the two nations was reached.
All of these conflicts were going on, on top of the central concern for Israel right now, their conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Over the summer, there have been many protests from Israeli citizens calling for the return of the civilians and soldiers who were taken hostage on Oct. 7. There have not been many advancements in negotiations over returning the hostages, and Israeli citizens are extremely troubled about it. Meanwhile, in Gaza, starvation has reached new heights. Since the beginning of the conflict, Israel has controlled the entry points for aid and have allowed aid to get through, but recently Israel has
imposed many blockades, which have stopped providing food and resources to Palestinians. The most prominent blockade starting in March of 2025 and lasting a total of three months. Every time a blockade has ended and goods began coming through again, the resources have been diminished, and fewer sites have been available. The location of these sites is also often in dangerous territories that Gaza’s citizens can’t get to safely due to the war. This poses a large issue for Palestinian citizens as
levels of malnutrition keep rising tremendously. Furthermore, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has publicly denied the starvation taking place in Gaza.
As the war continues, experts say discussions of a two-state solution are no longer effective, as both sides have such polarizing views of the other.
The Knightly News asked some Pace students their opinions and knowledge on what was going on and found that many students feel very conflicted and feel
like they need more information about what is going on in Israel and Gaza.
“I was at camp when I heard news of what was going on in the Middle East over the summer, and I was really concerned and confused at U.S. involvement at the time because so much was up in the air,” said junior Piper Guilbert.
An end to the war, as well as possible more U.S. involvement, is still uncertain for now, but updates continue to come in day by day.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict Continues
Since Feb 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the two have been locked in a continuous conflict. Despite constant bids for peace, the war has continued, leaving it the deadliest war in Europe since World War II.
The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians.” However, despite the goal of peace, negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have reached an impasse. As part of a potential peace deal, Ukraine demands that all territory seized by Russia be returned, including the region of Crimea, which Russia invaded and claimed in 2014. Also they require that all Russian troops are withdrawn. Additionally, Ukraine would like to join NATO, which Russia has been staunchly against. Furthermore, Ukraine also requires the return of prisoners of war, and
children which have been taken by Russia. According to Yale, as of March 2025, Russia has kidnapped over 19,000 Ukrainian children, and is attempting to “re-educate” them out of their Ukrainian identities. Ukraine also requests that Russian leaders are tried and persecuted for war crimes, and that security measures are put in place to ensure that Russia does not break the future peace treaty. As of 2022, a UN commission declared that Russia has committed various war crimes in Ukraine, which Russia has refused to acknowledge, becoming a point of contention between the two nations.
However, Russia on the other hand demands that all land occupied by the Russian military is ceded by Ukraine and recognized as Russian, including all territory that Russia claims, but is not yet fully occupied. Additionally, they require a guarantee that Ukraine will not join NATO, and would like to limit Ukraine’s military. Furthermore, Russia also demands the lifting of sanctions that were placed on Russia due to the war. Considering that many of the demands of the two powers are in direct
opposition the two have been unable to strike a peace deal.
Additionally, the Russian president Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly refused to meet with Zelenskyy, prolonging the war, and limiting the likelihood of successful peace negotiations.
Recently, US President Donald Trump met with Putin in Alaska to continue to discuss a potential ceasefire and peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Prior to the meeting, Trump stated that the main goal of the conference was to get Russia to agree to a ceasefire, and that he was willing to level economic sanctions against Russia if they did not agree. Despite this statement, after the summit, Trump stated, “it was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which oftentimes does not hold up.” However, considering the extensive destruction and high death toll, Zelenskyy has determined that a ceasefire is necessary before a peace deal can be struck, once again leaving the leaders in opposition. Regarding
this outcome, Ukraine stated, “We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation.”
Following his meeting with Putin, Trump had a phone call with Zelenskyy, in which the Ukrainian president reiterated the necessity of a ceasefire and his desire for negotiations for peace. After this meeting, Zelenskyy once again stated that Ukraine would not cede its territory to Russia, suggesting the two nations were still at an
impasse in negotiations. Trump met with Zelenskyy and other European powers on Aug. 18. The two appeared to agree on more points regarding peace, than during their less cordial meeting in February. Trump agreed to support Ukraine with security guarantees against Russia as part of a peace negotiation, but, as of now, it is unclear what that would look like. They also agreed that it was time for a summit between Ukraine, the US, and Russia; however, Russia still appears to be reluctant to meet with Ukraine.
Trump and Putin meet in Alaska to discuss a ceasefire and peace deal regarding the Russia-Ukraine.
Photo: NPR
Israeli citizens protest in the streets, calling for a return of the hostages.
Debating Team Jeremiah vs. Team Conrad Team Jeremiah
The third and final season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is all over media, which means people across the nation continue to be in a debate on whether or not you’re team Conrad or Jeremiah Fisher? By the end of this season we will know who she picks, but let’s dive into why you should be Team Conrad.
Every summer since Belly was little she would go to Cousins beach with the Fishers and her family. Even though Conrad is older than Belly that has never stopped him from always being there for her. Whether it was helping her ride a bike, making sure she wasn’t left out or dancing with her when she wanted, he always made the best memories with her. Jeremiah and Belly
Team Conrad
may have been “best friends” since they were little, but it has been known Belly has continually had a crush on Conrad her whole life.
During the time when Conrad and Belly were dating, Conrad was struggling with his mental health, and his mom’s battle with cancer. While this was happening, Conrad was forgetful of Belly, not because he didn’t love her but because he was so stressed and worried about other situations in his life that many people didn’t know of. Conrad never explained his feelings to her about his mental health. Through the season Conard is seen working through this flaw, even attending therapy.
When the third season was finally released, viewers began to wonder how real Jeremiah and Belly’s relationship was and questioned how long they would last. Jeremiah still needs to get this future together, while Con-
rad lives in California interning for one of the top doctors in the nation. Conrad moved to California because he needed space and to get away from all the worries and stress of his mother’s passing. People have switched to team Jeremiah because he is more loving towards Belly and is forever there for her. This however is not true, the whole summer Jeremiah was an intern for his dad to his father’s own company. This left Belly to do all the planning for their big wedding, and Jeremiah wasn’t there to help all because he wanted to make his dad proud. Conrad may not be all talkative or loving, but he shows his love in different ways. Conrad fixed up the whole house just for Belly, and Conrad went to buy supplies for the big day even though he had things he had to go do. Conrad also convinced Belly’s mom, Laurel, she should come support her daughter on her big day. Sophomore Elizabeth Romig said, “Conrad is more mature and way less manipulative than Jeremiah.” Conrad may not have been honest with Belly on how he felt, but he never manipulated her like Jeremiah does. Jeremiah will sign up for a job that leaves Belly, and while Belly tries to reason with him, Jeremiah remains insistent and won’t cooperate with Belly. Conrad isn’t selfish or uninterested; he just has a different way of showing his love, a more quiet way.
With the third and final season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” airing, the fight between brothers as competing love interests continues. Fans online continue to speculate who is the better for Belly, Conrad or Jeremiah Fisher? Here is why you should switch to Team Jeremiah.
Growing up together in the ironically named, “Cousins Beach,” Belly and Jeremiah have been best friends since childhood. They share a love of the beach, choosing to spend every summer together swimming, playing in the sun, and relaxing. Jeremiah shows interest in Belly as early as the first book. Despite this interest, he notices a connection between Belly and his older brother Conrad and ultimately takes a step back allowing his brother and best friend to date. All is not well, however, because Conrad is constantly indecisive and unstable, he ends up breaking up with Belly, leaving her heartbroken. After a respectable amount of time has passed, Jeremiah reintroduces himself into Belly’s life, first as friends then as a couple.
As a boyfriend, Jeremiah is constantly attentive, he makes Belly a priority in his busy schedule by taking care of her
and seeing her everyday. He is also emotionally supportive, always listening to Belly and supportive when she is upset. Jeremiah constantly provides positive energy and has an infectious mood. Most importantly, Jeremiah loves Belly no matter what and is a consistent boyfriend to her.
With the plot of the third season, more fans have switched to Conrad’s side, questioning Jeremiah’s loyalty. These fans come to the conclusion that Conrad is the perfect boyfriend, constantly supportive of his family and Belly, this is however not true. Conrad is not transparent about his feelings towards Belly constantly sending her mixed signals, he is attentive one minute then abandons Belly in times of need. Instead of being there for his younger brother in the wake of their mothers passing, Conrad flees to California constantly avoiding contact with his family. The most crucial reason Conrad is not the right for Belly, is his selfishness. Conrad ignores and betrays his younger brother when he confesses his love for Belly on the eve of her wedding and tries to convince Belly not to marry his brother. This behavior proves Conrad’s self absorption and lack of care for others.
Ultimately Jeremiah is the best choice for Belly as he is considerate, emotionally supportive, and consistent.
Comparing the Whoop Band and Apple Watch
Increasing in popularity, fitness watches and bands have become essential to tracking progress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They can monitor sleep, heart rate, strain levels and other important metrics. The Whoop fitness band was released in 2015, however it has more recently gained popularity and they released their fifth model earlier this year. Also released in 2015, the Apple
Watch offers a more comprehensive design as it has a touch screen surface with access to many iTunes apps. While the Whoop band is cost free, they offer various memberships with fees, however, the Apple Watch is a one time purchase fee with available cellular service subscription. For a yearly Whoop subscription the cost is $239.99 meanwhile, the lowest end Apple Watch costs $249. Despite the high membership fees and the lack of a touch screen, the Whoop is more beneficial than the Apple Watch. Since there is no screen on the band itself, the Whoop app
contains all the data that the band collects. The app itself features three main categories and many subcategories. Those main categories are sleep, recovery and strain. The subcategories track health metrics like heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure, skin temperature and respiratory rate which allows the band to determine your daily health. Many people have discovered that when the band detects a negative change in these metrics, it serves as a sign of sickness. The sleep section provides an overview of each night’s sleep along with suggestions on how to improve sleep for the best recovery in order to prepare for maximum performance the following day. Although the Apple Watch also
tracks sleep, its data is less accurate and its platform is harder to interpret. Whoop also provides an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool for users to help if they are having trouble understanding their data. The AI tool also allows for users to plan out their day and workouts to achieve desired strain levels. The absence of a screen on the Whoop band also allows for more versatility with its uses while also limiting distractions. “Whoop is a superior health tool to the Apple Watch,” said Senior Dylan Nelson. “It provides the same data, but doesn’t have a screen so it limits distractions.” Athletes can compete with the band without having to worry about the security of their device. The band itself can be used, or users have
the ability to purchase WHOOP gear to protect the device given their environment and preferences. The Apple Watch is a great tool for every day activity and serves the purpose of a watch by providing the time. “Even though I like my [Apple] Watch, I can say that the Whoop is 10 times better,” said Senior Brooks Gerhard. The Apple Watch needs charged almost every night, but the Whoop has a battery life of 2 weeks and can be charged while being worn. The Whoop offers a more streamlined approach to tracking health efficiently providing effective data. Despite the broad features of the Apple Watch, the Whoop has a more streamlined approach to assist athletes and individuals who desire a healthy lifestyle.
In this new promo picture, Belly is torn between the brothers.
Apple promotes the Apple Watch Series 10, one of the most advanced of its kind.
Photo: Teen Vogue
Photo: Whoop
Photo: Apple
New Shows and Movies Coming This Fall
With fall beginning, some new shows and movies will be joining new seasons of already loved shows. TV shows will start coming out the week after Labor Day weekend and be released on their respective days in the following weeks. One new, highly anticipated release is The Office spinoff, The Paper. Also, a lot of popular shows got renewed for more seasons. Theaters will see exciting new films, some continuing series, and others brand new.
The Paper:
The idea for The Paper comes from the beloved sitcom The Office. The only returning character is Oscar, played by Oscar Nunez. The show follows the same documentary crew that filmed Dunder Mifflin, but focuses on a mid-west newspaper, called the “Toledo Truth-Teller”. The crew follows the editorin-chief as he tries to save the struggling paper with his team.
The entire 10 episodes came out on September 4th as a completed first season.
Five Nights At Freddy’s 2:
The second movie in the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” will be released this winter, on Dec. 5, 2025. The movies are based on the game Five Nights at Freddy’s, a survival-horror video game which features a variety of animatronic characters, all aiming
A chart displaying the release dates of each of the notes films.
to kill the player’s avatar. The movies explore the relationship between the player’s avatar, Mike Schimdt, and the main animatronic named Freddy Fazbear, along with the other characters and Mike’s family. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will continue the storyline of the first movie, picking up a year later.
The crew follows the editor-in-chief as he tries to save the struggling paper with his team.
Downton Abbey Grand Finale:
The grand finale of the beloved series Downton Abbey began playing in theaters on Sept. 12, 2025. The movie reaches just over two hours and has been rated a pleasure to watch. Directed by Simon Curtis, Downton Abbey Grand Finale features the classic cast with a few special additions, as the Crawley family continues to navigate life in twentieth-
century British society. Loyal Downton viewers will get closure, and hopefully a satisfactory end to the series.
Only Murders in the Building:
The hit Hulu show came back with its fifth season on September 9th, starring Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short. The trio continues to investigate suspicious deaths in their apartment building set in New York City. This season is sure to be nothing short of amazing, given how wonderful the past four seasons have been. The only true question is if this will be the last season. Only Murders in the Building will drop every Tuesday for a total of ten episodes.
Tron: Ares:
Tron: Ares stars Jared Leto as Ares, an advanced program that transcends the digital world of the computer and embarks on a mission in the human world. As the third film in the Tron
series, Tron: Ares is written as a sequel to Tron: Legacy, which came out in 2010. However, Tron: Ares focuses on a new cast of characters, along with Ares, and how they manage the collision of the physical world with the world of artificial intelligence.
High Potential:
Another hit Hulu show came back for its second season after finding such a fan base last year. High Potential follows Morgan Gillery, a mom with an 160 IQ, as she helps the LAPD solve crimes. The show dropped on the 16th of September and continues to run for a total of 18 episodes, an increase from the 13 episodes in season one.
People We Meet On Vacation: People We Meet On Vacation is a highly anticipated film, as the story is based on Emily Henry’s novel People We Meet On Vacation. Henry’s novel, a
beach-read summer romance, earned abundant praise and even made the New York Times bestseller list. Therefore, it goes without saying that fans of the People We Meet On Vacation book are anxiously awaiting the movie, which is scheduled to be released next year, on Jan. 9, 2026. Starring Emily Bader as Poppy and Tom Blyth as Alex, the movie is projected to be a big success.
Nobody Wants This: Nobody Wants This will return on October 23rd for its second season on Netflix. Starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, the show will pick back up following Noah and Joanne’s relationship. Adam Brody’s wife, Leighton Meester, best known for her role as Blair in Gossip Girl, will be a new addition to the cast for season 2. All ten episodes will drop at the same time, allowing for some serious binging this fall.
Looking Back On the Songs of the Summer
What is a “Song of the Summer?” The term “Song of the Summer” refers to a song that dominates pop culture and embodies the season. A song like this is catchy, upbeat, and evokes memories of summer. In 2022, the song was “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush according to Billboard. This song, although released in 1985, was brought back and used in the latest season of the show, “Stranger Things 4.” After a long awaited release, fans eagerly blew through the season, excited to find out what Hawkins’ fate was. The song became somewhat of the season’s theme song, and who knew that Kate Bush would become so popular with teens years later. The summer of 2023 brought a wave of country to popular music. Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” was played
everywhere from the Carolina mountains to the Gulf Coast beaches to the West Coast. Sophomore Madeline Sappington remembers Summer 2023, “I remember hearing that song a lot, in the car on the radio and other places.” said Sappington. While Wallen as an artist
was somewhat controversial, there’s no doubt, “something tells me this ain’t over yet” will bring back summer memories for many, for years to come. When polling Pace Academy high school students about their choice for the song of this summer, there wasn’t a clear winner.
While the majority included artists from Billboard’s top hits such as Sabrina Carpenter, ROLE MODEL, Sombr, Kendrick Lamar and Morgan Wallen, it is not surprising that answers varied. We have a very diverse student body. Summer plans and experiences are unique. Why is
it that a certain song can bring back specific, vivid memories? According to the Georgia Institute of Technology, different areas of your brain, such as the hippocampus (responsible for storing and retrieving memories) and the amygdala (the emotional center) are working alongside the ears when you listen to music.
“This is partly why certain songs are not only memorable but also deeply emotional.” said Yiren Ren, an Adjunct Researcher in Cognitive Brain Science, at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Unsurprisingly, given the explosion of new music this summer and the variety of ways to access it, there was no clear Pace Academy “Song of the Summer.” However, if you hear your song of the summer 20 years from now, you will think back on the times you spent with your friends by the water, a family road trip to see relatives, or maybe your first summer job. Whatever you were listening to, we hope you had a great summer.
Photo: Kennon DeFrancis
Photo: Billboard Hot
Artists featured on Billboard’s 2025 Songs of the Summer list.
Everything We Know About “Life Of A Showgirl”
Singer/songwriter Taylor Swift is known for leaving clues and encrypted messages called “easter eggs”. She does this to engage with her fans, and her fans love it. For months, Swifties have been over analyzing every move she makes, theorizing what she might do next, which album she will release. But, on August 12, she made an announcement none of her fans could have predicted: a brand
new album.
Speculation of the prospect of new music arose when the “Taylor Swift Official Website” changed from its normal advertising to an orange sparkly background and a countdown to August 12 at 12:12 a.m. On the same day Jason and Travis Kelce announced a surprise episode of their podcast “New Heights” dropping the thirteenth with a “very” special guest. Swift’s fans ran with this idea that the guest would be Taylor, and theories surfaced that the website countdown and New Heights were somehow correlated.
At 12:12 the timer went off
and the website crashed due to high demand, and when it resurfaced Swift’s instagram account changed and her profile displayed a turquoise background with an orange lock. A few minutes later a reel appeared, and it was a clip of her interview on New Heights announcing the title of her album, “The Life of A Showgirl”.
At 7 p.m. the next day the “New Heights” podcast aired, and at its height the podcast reached 1.3 million viewers. On the podcast, Swift and the Kelce brothers discussed the “Eras Tour”, football, Swift’s masters, sourdough, and of course her
new album. Swift released the cover and tracks of the album, including a song with singer Sabrina Carpenter. Then Swift went on to describe the theme of the album as behind the scenes of the Eras Tour, which was energetic and exciting. The color themes of this new album follow an orange and teal scheme. She wrote the album while in Europe, and produced it with Max Martin and Shellback who had previously worked with her on “Red” and “1989”. Her focus when writing this album was to include the storytelling aspect of her 8th album, “Folklore” but make it catchy and upbeat,
a complete one-eighty from her last album. Swift’s album comes out October 3rd, but until then, fans will have to wait.
In other news, on Tuesday, August 27 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce posted to their instagrams announcing they are engaged. They captioned the post “Your English teacher and gym teacher are getting married” the post went viral within minutes, many news sources such as ESPN and CBS reported on the event. Just like “Life of A Showgirl” the fans can not wait to see what is next for Taylor and wish her the best.
Exploring the Significance of Love Island USA
Love Island USA quickly became one of the most-watched reality shows of the summer, dominating numerous social media conversations. Originally a hit British series, Love Island made its way to the U.S. when the American version was commissioned in 2018 then premiered on July 9, 2019. Since then, its popularity has skyrocketed. During its sixth season, the show broke viewership records and became the #1 reality series in the U.S. with 919.1 million minutes watched during the week of July 5–11, 2024.
Essentially, Love Island USA follows a group of attractive, young, single contestants living together in a Fijian villa for about eight weeks. They are under constant video surveillance and must form romantic connections to stay in the game and ultimately compete for a $100,000 cash prize. Contestants pair off into couples, and those who fail to find a partner risk being eliminated from the competition. “I’d go crazy having little privacy and constantly being around people,” said junior Aznariah Bienne, reflecting on the intensity of the living conditions. Throughout the season, contestants often re-couple or stay single, creating constant tension and drama. To raise the stakes, viewers vote at key points to decide which contestants stay or face elimination and ultimately, which couple wins.
This real-time interaction from the audience guarantees plenty of drama. The constant recoupling, breakups, and shifting loyalties fueled heated debates among fans. Which is where social media comes into play, as a big role. Viewers often live-streamed their reactions to episodes, created memes, shared commentary, and even in-depth takes on the events unfolding in the villa. Certain contestants, such as Huda Mustafa and Cierra Ortega, became especially polarizing and drew the most attention online, with their storylines fueling much of the season’s
controversy.
Beyond the drama, this season in particular highlighted shifting ideas about relationships and the power of online perception. Contestants frequently chose partners based on attraction but also on how they thought the coupling would be perceived by online viewers. The constant recoupling and “exploring multiple connections” also reflected a growing cultural acceptance of casual dating and
“I think Love Island shows how society has truly changed, and now it seems insane to stay with and commit to your first connection.”
exploring multiple people. “I think Love Island shows how society has truly changed, and now it seems insane to stay with and commit to your first connection,” said junior Aparna Kallingal. The winners of Season 7, Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, made history as the first Latino couple to win Love Island USA. Their victory was extremely significant at a time of ongoing political ten-
sion surrounding immigration and the Latino community in the U.S. Many viewers, especially Latino Americans, celebrated their win as a moment of positive representation. “I loved seeing Amaya and Bryan win—it felt so deserved. Their relationship showed real, genuine love, and it highlights the way Latino families raise their kids with strong values,” said senior Hannelis Rodas. Their victory capped off a season that was about more than just romance and drama, as Love Island USA has become a mirror of how relationships and culture are evolving in today’s world.
Love Island cast poses for the show’s advertisement
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce get engaged.
Taylor Swift joins Travis Kelce on his podcast.
Photo: Peacock
Photo: Taylor Swift’s Instagram
Photo: Taylor Swift’s Instagram
Spring Sports Round Out the School Year
Fantasy Football is a game where members of a fantasy football league assemble teams of players throughout the NFL. There are multiple leagues for every grade here at Pace and they all spark competitive fun for groups of friends. Fantasy football can bring classmates closer together and encourages players to keep up with the National Football League. Participants in the league draft players in rounds of 10 to 14 and a fan-
tasy draft is an awesome way for friends to spend time together.
“In person fantasy drafts are super fun and it’s a perfect way to hang out with friends and talk about football,” said sophomore Nik Kothari. Nik is not alone as groups of friends ranging from all ages get together to draft fantasy football teams that will dictate how their Sundays will be spent for multiple months.
Players in a league don’t just assemble for the draft, many people come together every Sunday at someone’s house or a restaurant to watch the games with their opponents and root their players to victory. Another aspect to fantasy football is the
punishment that the last place finisher has to endure when the season ends, “Fantasy football is great because there is always a bad punishment on the line that makes you really not want to lose” said sophomore Walter Torbert. Punishments can range from spending days in a restaurant to consuming an awful mixture of foods or drinks made by your friends but many would argue that the teasing you’ll receive for coming in last is even worse than any punishment you could do. This along with required punishment makes losing your fantasy football league the worst thing that could happen to you. It is almost time for Fantasy
and students should get ready to hear all about
Pace Knight’s Jump Back Into Fall Sports
Football
The Knights, led by new head coach Sean Weatherspoon, got off to a hot start to their season with a week one win of 21-12 against Chamblee. Coach Spoon has brought his football knowledge to Pace after playing professionally for the Atlanta Falcons. The win at Chamblee marked the 100th win in the history of the football program. In week 2, the team fell short to Westminster, but all of the Knights played well, making a statement on the field against a rival. “This is the closest football team I have been on; we spent a lot of time working together, and it has brought us all closer together,” said sophomore JK Hasson. The team has a strong foundation with Senior leadership, and they hope to make a deep run this year to make a name for themselves.
The cross country team is coming off somewhat of a disappointing year, finishing 4th (girls) and 5th (boys) in the states. The boy’s team hopes to return to their winning ways, being led by seniors Illiyan Hajiani, Ford Jordan, Beckett Allegra, Dominic Hantula, Andrew Kamin, John Hardesty, Hayes Pollard and Brooks Gerhard.
“This is my first year doing cross country, and I have loved spending time with the team and working with them to hopefully do better than last year,” said Senior Brooks Gerhard. The girls’ team also hopes to return to their 2022 winnings, led by seniors Harriet Blaha, Grace Obryan, Gabi Swartz, Sofia Webb, and Ashley York. The team looks forward to this year’s season, hoping to redeem themselves from their 2024 finish
The softball team has gotten off to yet another hot start, winning against Creekside, Martin Luther King and North Atlanta. “The Softball team’s chemistry and team bonding is something I love about the sport, and it doesn’t just feel like a competition; it also helps build friendships throughout different grades,” said sophomore Meghan Wrigley. The softball team is currently working hard to continue their good season with tough games ahead against Maynard Jackson and Midtown. Players have established a bond with each other that is shown on the field and helps them win games.
This year’s cheerleading squad is led by a group of ten Senior leaders: Harrison Brown, Addison Davis, Brooke Forrester, Sydney Gaither, Brittain Meadows, Merrit Thompson, and Anne Weiss. “The team already has such great energy this year, and I’m so excited to get closer with the new girls on the team,” said Thompson. “My favorite part about cheer is performing at halftime and getting to hype up the student section alongside my amazing teammates.” The team is looking forward to having a packed student section at both the home and away games to support them on Fridays.
and League
Flag Football
The Flag Football team looks to have yet another successful season. Last year, the team made it all the way to state, where they got the opportunity to play against Pope in the MercedesBenz stadium in the state championship. Sophomore Ann Cole Canova said, “I’m excited for another Flag Football season and hopefully we’ll go back to the Benz.” The rest of the team shares this focus and is working hard to have another great season.
Water Polo
The Water Polo squad looks to have another successful season under coach John Ague. This year, the team plans to play 12 regular-season games under the leadership of four seniors who are all focused on attempting to bring another state championship to Pace Academy. Sophomore Jack Spires said, “The water polo team has a great community surrounding it where anybody can feel like they belong.”
The volleyball team hopes to continue its dynasty with their ninth consecutive state title this year. Led by coach Catherine Monroe, the volleyball team’s future looks good. “The team has so much chemistry having 10 Seniors, and for us, we want to have won state all four years,” said Senior Lawson Monroe. “The coaches are great and we have so much fun while getting better at practices.” The team currently stands at 8-3 with some tough matchups in their schedule, including a number two-ranked Mater Dei from California. Regardless, they feel confident that they can win states and bring home Pace’s ninth title in nine years.
The ESports team plays three games: chess, Super Smash bros
of Legends. The team is led by Seniors Doyle Rona and Mr. Charlie Bryant. They are excited to get back in action and compete against other schools in the area.
Football season,
Pace Sacks Westminster’s Quarterback during their first home game.
Photo: Fred Assaf
football from the Fantasy fans until February.
Photo: Mrs. Flemming
Cross Country
Softball
Sophomore Megan Wrigley hits a bomb in the game against North Atlanta.
Photo: Fred Assaf
Cheerleading ESports
Volleyball
Photo: Fred Assaf
Senior Gabby Emch dives to save a point.
Sophomore boys assemble after school to draft their fantasy teams.