Vol. 51, Issue #4
The
February 13, 2026
Knightly News
p. 2 Spirit Week Spread
p. 5 Heated Rivalry Sweeps the Nation
p. 8 The Future of Artificial Intelligence
Photo: Fred Assaf
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Pace News
February 13, 2026
The Knightly News - Page 2
70s-80s Spirit Week, one of the most beloved Pace traditions, has been around for decades, but its evolution from a small cheersponsored event into a
Photo: 1981 Yearbook
weeklong focus by admin and students alike has taken over 50 years. 1975 is the first record of Spirit Week, initially sponsored by the Pep Club. Although Pep Club dissolved in the 2000s, the original Spirit Week was sponsored, run by, and entirely built by the Pep Club. Spirit Week began as a way to celebrate the Pace community and basketball
teams as a stand-in for homecoming. Originally, Spirit Week included themed days to dress up and even a day to decorate the halls. Though photographed and celebrated throughout the 80s, Spirit Week was not a solidified tradition until 1990. Even as a less solidified event in the 70s and 80s, the student-led traditions of decorating the halls and dressing up would lead to our beloved tradition today. Students in the 1970s and 1980s got the opportunity to make posters and banners, but the dances and insane school involvement was a later development. “Spirit Week was never a week long”, said student council head from the 1980s, Ms. Smith. Instead, the
2002 Seniors end their dance in a mosh pit.
90s-00s
celebration, although still called Spirit Week, was shortened into a few days, where they attended normal classes throughout the week. Sadly, students during this period did not get the opportunity for a sleepover on campus, and they missed out on very entertaining dances, but the celebration of Pace’s community that they began has continued
The 1990s and 2000s marked the beginning of true Pace Academy Spirit Week. Not only was it a fun event, but nowbecome a full-fledged tradition. With competitive spirits between grades and the urge to outdo last year’s seniors, Spirit Week started to transform into what students see today. From dances and designing hallways to huge student participation, Spirit Week in the 2000s was almost exactly like today. However, the
1990s marked the last years of Spirit Week in Boyd Gym, as in the early 2000s, the Inman Center was built and started to host the performances. Boyd Gym still holds the origins and love from the first Spirit Week, and it still functions as a place for Spirit Week practices today. Even with all of the benefits of Spirit Week during this time, arguably one of the worst downsides was that exams occurred the week students returned from Winter Break, and Spirit Week was the second week
Seniors in 1981 decorate banners for Spirit Week.
Photo: 2002 Yearbook
Diving into the History
back. Since students used
winter
break to study, spirit week became an extra break for students. Luckily for current students, Head of School Mr. Assaf changed this when he became headmaster, and
now
we have both Winter
Break and Spirit Week! Throughout the many changes Spirit Week has gone through, one consistency has been the student leadership and passion behind it every year. “It is one of the few things that is entirely student-run and student-owned,” said Class of ‘06 Graduate Ben Ewing. The current Senior class Dean also recalled “the big
cardboard cutouts” students would roll onto the gym floor before the preformances. The student participation at this time also reached an all-time high as the winner of Spirit Week was determined by many factors like the dress up days during the week, not just the dances. “We were also judged on whether we showed up to the basketball game and the practices [for Spirit Week],” said Class of ‘00 Graduate Caitlin Jones. While seniors still won practically every year, the incentive for participation helped cement Spirit Week as an annual Pace tradition. With the construction of the FAC in the 90s, morning dances on the stage began to become part of the tradition as well. Practices slowly began to change, from having them only at friend’s houses in
the 90s and early 2000s to hosting them in Boyd and Inman, practices started to look more similar to what we see today. Spirit Week throughout its evolution has undoubtedly gotten more competetive and joyful, however the passion and love for the event truly began in the 1990s and 2000s.
Pace News
Vol. 51, Issue #4
The Knightly News - Page 3
of Pace’s Spirit Week! 10s-20s
changes came in the 2020s, such as the addition of the Waffle House truck during the sleep-in for a late-night snack. Practices also stopped being held at people’s houses during the 2010s. A short-term change was of course in 2021 where people are pictured watching videos and practicing in masks. During this time, beloved minimesters were added; they started by replacing a few classes to eventually replace the entire day as students saw this year. These minimesters allow students to practice and learn new and different skills, while also taking off any stress, so all the focus is on per-
Class of 2021 unveils their poster to an empty Inman.
2026 This year, Spirit Week saw some changes of its own, the most noticeable being that all the practices were held on Pace Campus. “I really liked how every practice was on campus this year,” said junior Davis Berman, who was a lead in the afternoon Dance. Since the practices were on campus, more kids were able
to participate in the week-long preparation for Friday afternoon. The Freshman’s theme was “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” which Ryan Parrilli thought was “pretty fun and a good team-building activity”. The Sophomores recreated “Star Wars,” and the Junior class acted out “Teen Beach Movie”, making a video and a morning dance for the school. The Seniors chose “Disney” as their theme, filming a video, making a morn-
ing dance and doing their senior sleep-in on Thursday Night. A favorite part of that night was when “all the seniors gathered in the commons to watch the spirit week video at midnight,” said Student Body president, Harriet Blaha. 2026’s Spirit Week also took place during the new minimester schedule of four hour and half long classes. Throughout all the years Spirit Week has been able to teach lessons of teamwork, creativity and flexibilty that a classroom can not offer, making the tradition worth while to educators and students. The new changes to Spirit Week this year seem modest in comparison to the humble beginnings of the first Spirit Week. One thing that remains true for this Pace tradition is the love for the week and the lasting memories it brings students and faculty.
Photo: Fred Assaf
school students walking over to go on mini tours of the building. To start the new decade of the 2010s, class Dean Magistra Kann recalls the night of the Senior sleep-in. “During the night, the class of 2010 decorated the walk between the Upper School and Inman with old Christmas trees to make the Enchanted forest (for a Beauty and the Beast theme), each floor was a different area with “books” titled with motivational sayings like “Go From Can’t to Kann-DO!”, very organized and creative. But then the forecast changed overnight, leaving the Seniors with a foot of
Photo: Fred Assaf
By the 2010s, Spirit Week had earned its place in Pace history, allowing for a more similar Spirit Week that the Pace community knows today to take place. However, the biggest difference was the decorations that took over the entire upper school building. The old high school was a ranch-style building that was covered in decorations from head to toe, so much so that Mrs. Wilhelmsen recalls Lower
regular classroom. Their creativity and cohesiveness as a class really came through. It goes to show you that things that don’t go according to plan can be equally as meaningful.” The new building, constructed around 2014, was definitely the biggest change during the 2010s to Spirit Week decorations, limiting how complex and wide-spread the decorations could be. During the 2010s the Senior sleep-in was more managable, requiring only the class dean and student council head, Mr. Hornor during this time, because of the smaller class sizes. Smaller
The Seniors end their final Spirit Week dance.
Photo: Fred Assaf
snow by morning. Pace wasn’t able to hold school on Friday, and in fact, the seniors were trapped on campus until noon on Friday due to the conditions of the road.” Mrs. Kann then went on to remember that the whole experience shows how “Spirit Week makes memories and builds skills that are difficult to acquire in a
fecting the Fridayafternoon dance. The minimesters can also create relationships between students and teachers that would have never met otherwise. Faculty can also choose other topics of interest to share with thier students. All of these new changes slowly evolve , starting to resemble the Spirit Week students’ experience today.
Class of 2026 preform a Disney theme for the Upper School.
Pace News
Febuary 13, 2026
The Knightly News - Page 4
What does the Germany ICGL Trip Actually Do?
staggering interiors and reconstruction following the war. The group has a free afternoon for shopping at Ka De We, and finished the day with a dinner with Mr. Hornor’s cousin and his cousin’s son. On the final day of the trip, they traveled to Potsdam and toured the Sans Souci Palace. The group took photos and promenaded through the gardens. Once back in Berlin, Hitler’s Bunker was the next stop. Now a parking lot, the group saw where Hitler died and took a photo with a deserved gesture. The students then packed up their suitcases before the final dinner at the Italian restaurant Amici Amici for a celebration. Throughout the tour, the group tried classic German foods such as pretzels and bratwurst while learning about the tumultuous history of Germany. Senior Angelike Avdyeyeva said, “I’ve been looking forward to this trip since freshman year. Once there, I loved having the opportunity to get to know new classmates and after many museum visits, train rides and croissant runs, I can say that this trip was all I hoped it would be.” 2026 ICGL started out perfectly, with a successful, informative and exciting trip to Germany.
paper into intricate shapes and ornaments. It was incredibly interesting to learn how a twodimensional sheet of colored paper can be folded into a much smaller, three-dimensional figure. Finally, Mr. Smith led a “Japanese Number Puzzles” class, where they explored different mathematical games, away from the traditional Sudoku. This was a perfect minimester for math-lovers, and was full of interesting topics while also being fun and engaging. Some of the games they played include Kakuro, Norinori, Futoshiki, and more. These new classes allowed students to explore all different subject matters and made for a more diverse range of choices to
choose from, making sure that everyone enjoyed the classes that they were in. Although all of this year’s minimesters were amazing, there were a few notable ones that should be mentioned, and a few that students particularly enjoyed. A main one was embroidery, led by Mrs. Cockrill. Around 20% of students who took the class noted that it was their favorite. “It was my favorite minimester because I was able to hang out with my friend and create cool projects,” said sophomore Emma Rosenblatt. Overall, this year’s minimesters were a huge success and were extremely fun! All of the Upper School is excited and looking forward to the same, or even better, next year.
Photo: Pace Academy
The all-time favorite Isdell Center for Global Leadership trip to Germany has returned, as it has for the last ten years! This trip has continued to take students from Munich to Berlin, where they learn about art from all eras and explore the dark histories of World War. As one of the most cherished trips at Pace, this story will take students to Germany itself and debrief on what makes this trip so special. The students started in Munich on the Monday after Spirit Week, due to delays. Once settling into the student hostel, they set off immediately by train to Nuremberg. In Nuremberg, students saw the Albrecht Dürer House, the walls of Nuremberg, and, of course, the Nuremberg Rally Site. The students learned about Nazi rallies at this site and began their studies of the treacherous history of Germany. Furthermore, they noted all of the beautiful and classic German architecture of Nuremberg, all
Students stuck their gum to the wall, and learned about East and West Berlin. As the walking tour continued, the group saw the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Parliament and Checkpoint Charly. After a day full of history, the group ended the night at the Opera and watched Tosca. “My favorite part of the Germany trip had to be the opera. It’s such an incredible and artful way to tell a story that unfortunately isn’t as popular in America,” said Senior Thomas Konradt. The tour continued in Berlin by seeing the Berliner Dom and then touring the DDR museum, followed by a train station lunch. After walking around a bit more, the group had a free night to shop and eat in small groups! On day seven, the group started at the Neue Museum to see the Bust of Nefertiti and other iconic works. Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was next on the itinerary, with its
while successfully fighting jet lag! After a fun first day, the group moved to study all of the wonders of Munich. On the first day in Munich, the students hit the ground running, visiting all of the magnificent architectural sights. They saw the old and new city halls, catholic churches of multiple styles and the charming platz’s scattered around the city. The group visited the platz where the infamous photo of Hitler at a rally was taken, and noted the trail that people used to avoid saluting Hitler. The group also visited two museums, seeing ancient pots and visiting the Alte Pinakothek. The students
were also able to see the Munich Symphony, as this trip always attends a show in each city. The following day, the group traveled to Dachau. As the first concentration camp during World War II, the group learned about the horrors of the camps and the war while on site, an equally sobering and important experience. The following day, the tour moved on to the city of Berlin. After a train ride full of homework and napping, followed by a hotel mix-up, the group settled into their hostel at Hermannplatz. The first full day in Berlin started off with visiting fragments of the Berlin Wall.
into the schedule, making for an even smoother and less stressful transition back into the school
minimesters. With this, many new classes and new topics were introduced. For example,
Another Year of Minimesters Shake’s Things Up
Photo: Pace Academy
Students mix solutions in order to solve a puzzle. year. Around 89% of students enjoyed the new schedule. Still, some students preferred the previous schedule and liked that they could explore more kinds of subject matters. At Pace, every student’s opinion matters, so Mrs. Lawrence sends out a form so the school can be informed of what students think of the experience. Minimesters are loved by everybody, and students look forward to this week next year as well! This year was the first year that the math department joined
Mrs. Marable introduced her new class “Let’s Play Mahjong,” where she taught students the rules of the popular Chinese game, Mahjong. Students were not only able to use their competitive spirit to win games, but also use strategy and critical thinking to decide their next moves. Additionally, Mrs. Hagner and Mrs. Hathorn taught the “Origami Christmas Ornaments” minimester, where students followed different tutorials and videos to fold pieces of
Photo: Pace Academy
After a long two-week break over Christmas and celebrating the new year, it’s good to have a slow ease back into the school year and the second semester. Pace does this through minimesters, a week where students don’t take their regular classes. Instead, students are allowed choices within a selection of almost 70 different classes ranging from embroidery, linguistics, engineering and contemporary political satire, all the way to Latin dancing. This year’s minimesters were particularly exciting because it was the first year where all five departments (math, science, history, English and language) participated in minimesters. Although minimesters are a yearly Pace tradition that is loved by both students and staff, there were many changes made to the curriculum this year. 2026 minimesters introduced a new schedule and formation. The previous year, students were given 5 different minimesters, each about 50 minutes long, and took normal math classes. This year, however, students only took 3 minimesters. Each one was 80 minutes, allowing students to thoroughly explore the topics that they are interested in. Additionally, an 80-minute free period was incorporated
Freshman Barrett Kenna learns how to use a sewing machine in the Sew Much Fun Minimester.
Lifestyle
Vol. 51, Issue #4
The Knightly News - Page 5
“Heated Rivalry” Sweeps The Nation You may have heard of the show “Heated Rivalry” somewhere in the past few months. The show “Heated Rivalry” tells the story of two hockey rivals and their secret relationship over a 9-year period. Developed from multiple books by Rachel Reid, the show centered on Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Roza-
nov, played by Connor Storrie, who barely had any fame before the show blew up. The show blends the intensity of elite sport with the development of their relationship. The show’s rapid success is mainly due to its storyline and representation in a men’s professional sport. The rivalry starts with fierce competition and almost hatred in 2009, due to league pressures and national pride for whom they represent. The two leads are the best of the best at what they do, which makes
hockey in a very high, complex setting with close scrutiny of public image, team loyalty and performance. The characters are affected by the various locker rooms, arenas, press conferencess and travel schedules. The show was filmed in only 37 days, which is very quick compared to popular shows on air right now. The show was created on a platform called ‘Crave’, which is very popular in Canada and is equivalent to the United States’ Tubi. Streaming services have made it easier and quicker for everyone, no matter
the audience has shown praise for the character and authenticity presented in the show. The feedback from both critics and audience members has played a crucial role in making Heated Rivalry more than a sports drama show. The show has earned a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 9.1 on IMDB with over 66k reviews. The show has been renewed for a second season, and viewers cannot wait to see what will happen next.
spiring players to come out publicly as gay. The critics have appreciated the show for having emotionally deep elements and going against the conventional elements of sports, and
Photo: The Tulane Hullabaloo
where they are from or how they feel about sports, to find and watch the show; they now have the option of binging through the entire the series instead of having to wait relationship to see each new episode as it even better airs weekly. Many people who and even discovered the show were told more about it by friends and/or were chalintroduced to the show by TiklengTok. There was a lot of content ing. created by fans on many differThe ent platforms, including TikTok enviand X, which resulted in even ronment more new fans being created of the who shared the show with their series is followers. Many moments from profesthe show became extremely sional popular on TikTok and other The Heated Rivalry cover poster shows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov about to play hockey.
platforms to the point where clubs included clips in their DJ sets. Discussions around Pace have also taken place. “I love the show so much, and I hope season 2 comes out soon,” said Senior Grace Richardson. “Heated Rivalry” stands out for centering a same-sex relationship within a traditionally masculine and often restrictive sports culture. This representation has sparked discussion and has caused conversations in the hockey community, in-
“Stranger Things” Finale Sparks Debate
Photo: Screen Rant
Netflix released the last season of “Stranger Things” in three different volumes last year including the final episode that came out on December 31, 2025. The widely popular show launched July 15, 2016 and has grown a huge fanbase since then. Loyal fans of the show have expressed mostly positive feelings about the series up until now. There are many mixed opinions and controversies about the finale of the show. Some enjoyed the finale of season five because of the nostalgia created by the allusions to previous episodes especially from season one. The ending definitely hit home for the upcoming senior class. As kids who grew up alongside the characters of the show, it was very emotional to see the time that has passed and the growth of not only the characters, but the viewers too. “I’ve been watching the show since it came out when I was about nine years old. Watching this chapter close was sad, but what made me tear up
was watching them say goodbye to their friends and walk across the stage knowing that is about to be me,” said Senior Lauren Kamin. However, some felt that the ending was incredibly unsatisfying. Throughout the release of the two volumes and finale, many had formulated elaborate theories about the ending. Some argue that these complex predictions that went viral on social media were even better than the ending. One of the major theories online was called “conformity gate.” Many people on social media claimed that the final season of “Stranger Things” wasn’t real; it was Vecna controlling the minds of the viewers. Theorists supported their claim with many inconsistencies throughout season five. People believed that just as Vecna controlled the minds of the children, he also controlled our minds and certain things didn’t line up in season five because it was Vecna’s memory rather than reality. “I honestly thought that the theories online were much more interesting than the actual ending,” said junior Gabby Poline. Other theories included “divorce gate.” Many have sug-
Will Byers played by Noah Schnapp breaks down in an emotional scene from season four. gested that the reason as to why the ending of “Stranger Things” was so terrible was because Leigh Janiak divorced Ross Duffer and did not continue to work on the show. Leigh Janiak is a talented American film director, known for directing horror films such as Honeymoon and the Fear Street trilogy. It is known that Leigh Janiak helped direct some of “Stranger Things,” but some think that she acted as a ghost writer and directed the entire show herself until she divorced
Ross Duffer in 2024 right as they were wrapping up filming for the last season. However, the reality of the awkward ending was that the Duffer Brothers did not write a complete script for the last episode before filming it. Netflix released a “Stranger Things” documentary called “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5” which showed the behind the scenes of creating this incredibly popular series and showed some of the
writing process for the finale that was clearly not planned very well. The Duffer Brothers filmed an episode that was the length of a movie with very limited time and no official script. The directors had the idea of Eleven’s ending and quickly pieced the rest of the episode together which is why fans felt that the ending was so rushed and didn’t close every storyline it needed to. The lack of time and preparation also probably explains the inconsistencies within the last season, debunking the conformity gate.
Pace News
February 13, 2026
The Knightly News - Page 6
D eb at ingVa l ent ine’s D ay O pi ni ons Valentine’s Day is a special holiday that celebrates the gift of love - romantic love, platonic love, and even self-love. Afterall, loving one another is a privilege, and Valentine’s Day highlights the way this privilege shapes our lives. Valentine’s Day is often criticized and called a ploy for big corporations to profit, such as the candy companies, jewelry stores, and greeting card companies. However, this criticism drastically underestimates the value that Valentine’s Day brings to our lives. The holiday provides an opportunity for each of us to appreciate the love we are surrounded by, and spread that love. On Valentine’s Day, we can reach out to a friend, partner, sibling, or parent with a small box of chocolate and a thoughtful card, reminding this person of our love for them. The Upper School students and faculty appreciate the importance of
Valentine’s Day, and they can’t wait for the 14th! When asked what they love about Valentine’s Day, and how they celebrate the holiday, Pace students and teachers were more than happy to share. “I like Valentine’s Day because it’s a good time to show love,” said junior Walker Souza. Walker is right! His sentiment was echoed by several other Upper School students, spanning across all four grades. Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romantic love, either; the holiday is a wonderful excuse to celebrate friends and family as well. “I get to celebrate the people that I love,” said freshman Mac Luber. Additionally, Valentine’s Day is all about being intentional - expressing love in meaningful ways, and our Pace community appreciates this intentionality. “Valentine’s Day reminds us to be intentional with the people we love, even in small ways,” said junior Carlin Beaver. Valentine’s Day isn’t the only time to celebrate love during the year - the fall holidays are great too! “For me, Valentine’s Day is similar to Thanksgiving, in the sense
that it serves as a reminder to be thankful for the people we love,” said librarian Mr. Tiger Brown. Pace students continued to express their gratitude for their loved ones, and how Valentine’s Day makes them feel special, with fun ways of celebrating it. “I love Valentine’s Day because my mom always surprises me and my sister with chocolates and balloons when we wake up in the morning,” said junior Sophie Flynn. Special gifts, surprises, and planned dinners - what doesn’t Valentine’s Day have to offer? “I like celebrating Valentine’s Day because I get to order fancy food at dinner,” said Senior Eliza Fogarty. Junior Victoria Vasquez summarizes the meaning of Valentine’s Day perfectly. “Valentine’s Day isn’t just about gifts, it’s about reminding the people you love that they matter,” said Vasquez. No matter how we celebrate Valentine’s Day, the holiday is a special time to remember why we love, the privilege that love is, and to express our gratitude for the people we love.
As the holiday season has come to a close, the controversy around Valentine’s Day has arrived. Every year, people debate whether or not Valentine’s Day is a real holiday. Pace students were not hesitant to talk on this topic, and after speaking to multiple students, many Pace students do not view valentines day as a “real holiday”. “Valentine’s Day feels forced and is not typically a big deal for people in high school, so we don’t really celebrate it”, says Freshman Julia Moss. Julia believes that “it’s more for people who are married,” and therefore, it’s not a big deal for high school students. “Valentine’s is a fake holiday, 16 years in a row, and I haven’t celebrated once”, says Sophomore Noah Sender. Oftentimes high school students are not in relationships during Valentine’s Day, making it pretty much just a regular day for teens. “Valen-
Photo: Kennon DeFrancis
tine’s Day was a holiday made up by Hallmark for money,” says freshman Bodhi Venturi. Valentine’s Day has become a huge money grab, especially from Hallmark, with countless movies released every year. In just America alone, the average spend per person on Valentine’s Day is $188.81, and the total spending record is over 27 billion. For a holiday that many people don’t believe in, that is an unbelievable amount of money. With the spending being that high, it really conveys the message that Valentine’s is centered around physical items instead of love. Valentine’s Day has become much more artificial, being about expensive gifts rather than actually showing your love for people. While Valentine’s Day originated as a religious holiday from Saint Valentine, it has become solely cultural now and has almost nothing to do with religion. Valentine’s is presented as a holiday around spreading love for your significant other, but it has become so forced over the years that it’s more of an expectation to do something for your significant other rather than a genuine thing someone wants to do. Valentine’s Day is often viewed as a more artificial version of Thanksgiving, which is centered around being thankful for your friends and family, rather than just a significant other. Thanksgiving is also not a holiday centered on gifts; the point is to get together and spend quality time with the people you love. Regardless of if you view Valentine’s Day as a real holiday or not, it can still be a great reminder to tell your loved ones that you love and care about them.
Seniors Cash Brooks and Payton Wood celebrate their relationship on Valentine’s Day.
The Story Behind Movie “The Housemaid” wore wigs and makeup to keep her identity hidden. McFadden does this to keep boundaries between her two careers, not only is she an author, McFadden
make for an incredibly interesting plot. Unlike most authors, McFadden is a self-publisher. While she did try to publish her writing the traditional way her
attempts ultimately failed and she took matters into her own hands. She self-published her first novel “The Devil Wears Scrubs” on Amazon in 2013 and since then has published twenty eight more novels. “The Housemaid” was McFadden’s first novel that was not self-published, while McFadden enjoyed self-publishing one can see why she ultimately went to a professional publisher as she has so much work to do. After years of writing, McFadden’s work blew up, her books gained recognition on “BookTok” and within weeks hundreds of thousands of copies of “The Housemaid” sold. “I can see how the book became so wildly popular so quickly. After I watched the movie I went to the book store and bought the sequel to “The Housemaid,” I just could not wait for the second movie” said junior Ann Rosengren. Due to the success of the first movie, Lionsgate and Hidden Pictures have agreed to produce the next novel in The Housemaid series, The Housemaid’s Secret which is set to begin production in 2026.
Photo: “The Housemaid” official website
A new phenomenon has taken over the theater and the internet. Starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. “The Housemaid” was released in theaters on December 19, making around two hundred ninety five million dollars worldwide. While the movie initially seems inspiring as the audience hopes to see the young protagonist Millie succeed in her new job, the plot of the movie quickly takes a turn leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. The film rights to Freida McFadden’s book were bought by Lionsgate and Hidden Pictures in early 2022 and filming began in early 2025. Perhaps more fascinating than the plot of the movie is the life of its author. Freida McFadden is a pen name, her real identity remains unknown, while she attended red carpets and interviews for the movie, the author
is a practicing physician who specializes in brain injuries. Her background in medicine and neurology help her create sick, cynical characters and
“The Housemaid” official Poster, the latest film making waves in contemporary cinema.
Current Affairs
Vol. 51, Issue #4
The Knightly News - Page 7
Why Atlanta is the Heart of Black History Month For much of the country, Black History Month is a commemorative period defined by retrospection. For Atlanta residents, however, this history is not confined to museum exhibits; it is embedded in the city’s infrastructure. Atlanta’s designation as the “Black Mecca” was not a geographic accident, but the result of concentrated efforts in education, business, and grassroots organizing. To understand why the month carries such distinct weight here, one must examine the intersections of power that defined 20thcentury Atlanta. While many American cities saw Black communities displaced by mid-century urban renewal, Atlanta’s Sweet
Auburn district emerged as a self-sustaining ecosystem. Home to the Atlanta Life Insurance Company and WERD: the first Black-owned radio station in the United States, the area fostered economic independence that served as a financial safety net for the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. This legacy was further strengthened by the Atlanta University Center (AUC), the world’s largest contiguous consortium of historically Black colleges and universities, which created an intellectual pipeline for the city’s leadership. “We are fortunate to live in a city with a rich history that tells the stories of local Black heroes and important communities,” said Ms. Brown, Chief of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Pace. “That is why we host an annual Auburn Avenue Walking Tour during the month of February. This year, it will take place on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 10 a.m.,
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
led by former Pace teacher, Ted Ward.” However, integrating this history into a modern high school environment requires moving beyond surface-level recognition. For the DEI team, the goal is to bridge the gap between historic milestones and contemporary student experiences; shifting the focus from “celebration” as a formality to “contextualization” as a necessity. “One of my favorite things we do at Pace is push back against the idea that cultural exploration and acknowledgment should occur only within the silo of an observance month,” said Bria Samuels, DEI director. “Instead, our faculty has done an incredible job of intentionally embedding honest depictions and representations of Black history into the curriculum yearround.” Atlanta’s history is unique because it is still being written by the same families and institutions that shaped the 1960s. Walking through the Old Fourth Ward or West End reveals a living laboratory of social change. For Pace students, this proximity brings a responsibility to move beyond a purely “textbook” understanding of the past. Honoring Black History Month in Atlanta means acknowledging that the city’s identity was built on Black intellectual and economic labor; and recognizing how that legacy continues to shape local politics, culture, and campus climate today.
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.
the two states, particularly with Iran’s recent official declaration of “full-fledged war” against a number of western countries, including the US. Recently, Trump claimed that a US Armada is heading to Iran. During the international summit in Davos, Trump stated, “I said, ‘If you hang those people, you’re going to be hit harder than you’ve ever been hit”, in reference to rising tensions both
domestically in Iran, and on an international scale. Furthermore, amid the current chaos, there have been calls for Reza Pahlavi, the crown prince of Iran before the Iranian Revolution, that put the current regime in place, to return to power in Iran, for a hopefully more liberal, democratic governance system in the future. In response to this support, Pahlavi stated, “We will not retreat. Iran’s freedom
is near. The blood shed by Iran’s immortal sons and daughters guides our path toward victory”, prompting the idea that he would be open to returning to a formal position of power in Iran, if the protests are successful in dismantling the regime. Many nations are currently watching as tensions in Iran continue to rise, as it sets the stage for potential international interference or war.
Photo: @artstigators “We Shall Always March Ahead” mural in Atlanta, Georgia, created by local artist, Muhammad Yungai.
The Knightly News
Co-Editors-in-Chief: Anne Weiss Grant Chase Hayes Pollard Multi Media Editor: Bennett Cummings Copy Editor: Jiya Patel Managing Editor: Campbell Hanna Pace News Editor: Molly Luber Current Affairs and Opinion Editor: Vivian Gerber Lifestyle Editor: Claire Jowers
Sports Editor: Kennon DeFrancis Layout Editor: Stiles Pilcher Web Content Editor: Madeline Ganz Staff Writers: Kiel Culpepper Harper Doheny Ashley Hua Charlie Partin Henry Sukenik Leah Tesema Katie Wrigley Faculty Adviser: Mrs. Tamara Neiley Tech Adviser: Matt Walker
The Knightly News Editorial Policy
Iran in Disorder over Protests and War Declaration
Photo: Long War Journal
Over the past month there has been increasing states of turmoil in Iran. Protests in Iran began in December last year. Originally, the protests were primarily in response to the economic crisis, largely due to inflation and increasing unaffordability for basic goods. In late December, many merchants went on strike, prompting others to join in on protests. Over the last month protests have grown in strength and became more generalized protests against the Ayatollah regime, Iran’s current theocratic, authoritarian government. The protests seem to echo the Mahsa Amini protests from 2022 and 2023, which similarly expanded from being protests related to a particular cause and then becoming generalized protests against the regime. In the case of the Mahsa Amini, protests were held regarding women’s rights and human rights abuses in Iran. The protests began in defense of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died as a result of being beaten by police officers
for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly, as head-covering is mandatory for women under Iranian law. These protests rapidly grew to reject the basis of the regime that has been in power since the 1979 Iranian revolution, a phenomenon that appears to be echoed today. However, due to the authoritarian nature of Iran, protests against the government are deemed illegal, and police often respond with violence, mass arrests, and executions, often resulting in a high death toll for protesters. This most recent string of protests has resulted in over 5,000 civilian and security force deaths according to Reuters, and government officials claim that these deaths are due to “terrorists and armed rioters”; however, according to BBC, many of these deaths have been committed at the hands of the Iranian government. Additionally, there are claims that the Iranian government planned to execute certain protestors, but details are ambiguous. In response, US President Donald Trump has demanded that the Iranian state ceases killing, and does not move forward with executing civilians. Tensions have risen between
Violence Erupts Over Protests in Iran.
February 13, 2026
Current Affairs
The Knightly News - Page 8
The Future of Artificial Intelligence & AGI climbing. Big AI companies’ energy demands are outpacing the electrical grid’s ability to supply
Senior Brooks Gerhard summons an AI hologram on the palm of his hand.
major players like OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta predict AGI will arrive by the early 2030s. AGI is artificial intelligence that matches or exceeds human capability across the board. The danger is that if we don’t establish guardrails before AGI develops, we’re in trouble. A superintelligent system optimized for the wrong goal could harm humanity indirectly, not out of malice, but because we weren’t specific enough about what we wanted. Worse, if AGI realizes humans are inefficient compared to machines, what happens to us? How do we maintain control over something smarter than every human combined? Done right, AGI could be humanity’s greatest achievement. Imagine thousands of AI researchers testing hypotheses simultaneously, simulating molecular interactions in days instead of years, spotting patterns in medical imaging that humans would possibly miss and personalizing treatment based on your unique genetics. We’re talking rapid development of medicines, vaccines and surgical techniques. Diseases that have plagued us for centuries could be cured. AGI could crack unsolved problems in physics, mathematics and medicine,
Photo: Hayes Pollard
AI is evolving fast, and we’re approaching something bigger: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Nobody knows exactly how this will shake out, but we can make some educated guesses about what’s coming for our jobs, healthcare and what it even means to be human. Over the next five years, expect massive disruption in predictable, repetitive work. Customer service reps, bookkeepers, warehouse workers, basic writers, graphic designers, entry-level coders and financial analysts are all at risk. AI is already handling these tasks faster and cheaper. What stays safe? Jobs requiring emotional intelligence, physical skill, creativity and genuine human connection. Nurses, therapists, teachers, skilled tradespeople and leaders aren’t getting replaced anytime soon. Machines can’t comfort a grieving patient or navigate the messy reality of leading a team. The Achilles heel is that AI is power-hungry. Data centers already consume 2% of global electricity and that number’s
them, which might be the only thing slowing AI down. Despite this bottleneck,
triggering a new renaissance. Beyond medicine, AGI could tackle climate change, design sustainable economies, manage global resource distribution and operate in environments humans can’t survive, deep space, ocean trenchesF and radioactive zones. With this in mind, public consensus on AI remains optimistic: “Every person could have a personalized tutor, medical advisor and career coach,” said Senior Brooks Gerhard. If AGI can do every job better than humans: surgeries, piloting planes, creative work, what’s our role? We’d be freed from mandatory labor, sure, but we’d also face a crisis of purpose. What does it mean to be human when machines handle everything we used to do? The bottom line is that AGI’s immense benefits depend entirely on solving one problem: alignment. We need to ensure that AGI’s goals align with human values and well-being by giving it a set of rules on which to base its own morality. Get that wrong, and the power of AGI becomes an existential threat, erasing all potential benefits. The future’s coming fast. Will we be ready for it?
ICE Sparks Controversy Across the Country port for the ICE agents involved in the shooting. This event raised questions about the accountability, or lack thereof, for ICE. Lastly, controversy sparked after five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were detained upon returning home from prekindergarten in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. The Ecuadorian father and son came to the United States in 2024 seeking asylum. Lawyer Marc Prokosch who is working with the family stated that they were taking legal pathways to citizenship in the US. A public outcry began when photos of the boy in his SpiderMan backpack standing beside
a federal agent circulated the media. Supporters of the family argued that the detention of this young boy highlighted the impact of families seeking asylum. Immigration enforcement continues to be a deeply contested issue. Going through the legal process of applying for citizenship can take up to 25 years. While some immigrants are criminals, many of them wish to come to a land of opportunity where they can provide themselves and their children better lives. In fact, research shows that incarceration rates are significantly lower for both legal and illegal immigrants. This sug-
gests that most immigrants are law-abiding and motivated by the desire to work and contribute to society. While some are content with the current system, many Americans are protesting for change. Furthermore, ICE is expected to conduct mass deportations in Atlanta in the near future. Many schools in the area, such as Riverwood, Dunwoody, Midtown, the Greater Atlanta Christian School, and more, have participated inwalkouts protesting ICE’s arrival in Atlanta. These high school participants organized peaceful walkouts during their school days and created signs to voice their beliefs and concerns. North Atlanta High School even had a scheduled time in their day for the walkout to occur. Atlanta is seeing the youth of today advocate for the protection of their peers despite the heightened fear following recent events in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This new generation of America is taking the future of this country into their own hands and insisting on progress. Although, the city has begun to see schools punishing students for proetsting ICE. Rumors of detentions at Decatur High School make students and parents worry about their First Amendment Rights. The peaceful portesting students of Atlanta and of neighboring counties are working to have their voices heard even in a time of instability and fear for many groups of people.
Photo: Getty Images
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws in the United States. ICE has been a huge topic of conversation under Donald Trump’s administration. Many Americans have questioned the morality behind the actions ICE has taken to deport people in this country. On January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Goode, a 37-year-old mother, was shot by an ICE agent while leaving her home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Video evidence shows ICE agents recording Goode and her license plate after she was partially blocking the street while exiting her driveway. According to witnesses, an agent attempted to open her car door while she was inside. Goode drove away, trying to remove herself from the scene, and was shot three times by an ICE agent, resulting in her death. Federal officials have stated that the shooting was in self-defense, while other witnesses, including her spouse, reported that she appeared to be driving away from the officers. This incident prompted many protests and public discussion in Minneapolis. Another shooting occurred on January 24, 2026, involving Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse in Minneapolis. Video footage shows federal immigration agents detaining and spraying individu-
als in South Minneapolis. Witnesses reported that Pretti was attempting to assist a woman who had been pushed to the ground by an ICE agent when he was shot. Stella Carlson, who was the woman in the pink coat who recorded the altercation, told CNN that Pretti appeared calm and was helping others. Federal officials claimed that the agent shot Pretti because he had a gun, which he was carrying legally. In an interview, President Donald Trump, who has historically supported Americans’ Second Amendment rights, stated that Pretti should not have been carrying a gun, while continuing to express sup-
Police officers clear the street outside the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Sports
February 13, 2026
The Knightly News - Page 9
Inside This Year’s Winter Olympics
is an athletic venture where competitors climb a mountain on skis while using special tools to bind themselves to the mountain. Once they reach the top of the mountain, they use the skis that they have been wearing to race down the mountain. Skimo has many roots in the northern region of Italy, where the games will be taking place, making the 2026 games the perfect year
Basketball The Pace Academy boys’ basketball team is gearing up for its regional games, which will play a pivotal role in determining its seeding in the state playoffs. Recently, they traveled to Oregon’s own Portland State University to participate in the Les Schwab Invitational. They finished the tournament with a record of two wins and two losses, having played some of America’s elite teams and participated in a highly prestigious high school basketball event. As of now, the team’s overall record is sitting at 7-6 with a three-game win streak in which the Knights dominated region competition like Mays and Drew High School. As the season settles in, the focus shifts from marquee tournaments or invitational events to the weekly region games that dictate their
road to the state championship. Currently, the Knights are undefeated in region play and seem to be catching their stride in terms of chemistry and togetherness. As the season progresses, the fan excitement also builds. “The basketball games are awesome to go to, and the atmosphere is electric, especially when we play a rival school like Lovett or Westminster,” says Senior Brooks Gerhard. Speaking of Lovett, our boys’ team recently defeated the Lions handily, winning by sixteen points. The support throughout this game was awesome, and we hope to continue cheering on our team as they work towards their state championship aspirations. Similar to the boys’ varsity basketball team, our girls’ varsity basketball team is also beginning its surge to the state playoffs. The team’s record is 5-6, and they appear to be gaining momentum heading into their crucial games down the stretch. Their record against region competition is 3-2 and is highlighted
Milan sets up for this year’s winter Olympics, making room for excited fans. to officially introduce the new sport. The introduction of this new event combines cultural practices of the Alps region with the traditions of Olympic sporting events. To get the full skimo experience and understand the sport as a whole, make sure to watch for American Skimo Olympian Anna Gibson. Even before the skimo has made its Olympic
Photo: Great Tours of Italy
As the weather gradually gets colder and snow begins to fall, the winter Olympics are rapidly approaching. The winter Olympics, held every four years, celebrate the winter sport achievements of participating nations in a frozen festival of competition. This year’s games will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, with the games taking place from Feb. 6 to Feb. 22. This year’s competition is set in a bi-city format, taking place in multiple locations rather than one, creating a unique atmosphere for this winter’s festivities. The 2026 Winter Olympics mark Italy’s third year hosting the Winter Olympics, making it the second country to host the games three times. By the numbers, Italy is hosting around 2,900 athletes, from 90 countries, competing in 16 sports with 116 events set to take place. Of these 16 events showcased in this winter’s Olympic Games, there is one new addition to the list this year, ski mountaineering. Ski Mountaineering, or skimo for short,
year. “I really enjoy watching the Olympics because it introduces me to sports I wouldn’t typically watch,” said junior Caitlin Persily. With the combination of the Winter Olympics classic events and competitors, along with this year’s new additions, the games are set to showcase a wide skill set and a variety of entertainment. One major event of any Olympic Games, aside from the thrilling sports, is the timeless opening ceremony and torch ceremony. For this year’s torch relay, the torch will begin in Olympia, Greece, and travel across Italy, ending in San Siro Stadium in Milan for the opening ceremony. Many famous names often appear as part of the torchbearing ceremony, and this year is no exception. The rising stars from the HBO Max hit, “Heated Rivalry,” Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, will be two of the torchbearers for this year’s opening ceremony. The addition of these two new celebrities bridges an important connection between the gripping athletic ventures of the games and ongoing pop culture. The culmination of talented athletes, a scenic host country, and enticing opening ceremonies sets up the 2026 Winter Olympics for much success and entertainment.
debut, Gibson has acquired an impressive resume and a number of awards in the world of skimo. Other important names to look out for this year include Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Federica Brignone. All three of these high-intensity competitors have put up incredible performances in past Olympics in their respective events, and are expected to do the same this
Checking in on Winter Sports
Photo: Fred Assaf
Senior swimmers celebrate at their Senior meet.
Photo: Fred Assaf
by their domination of Forest Park, in a game in which they won 69 to two. This season has been phenomenal to watch, and you can see the energy and excitement that this team has. “The Basketball season has been great so far, with strong teamwork and lots of exciting games. The hard work and competitiveness of this team make games so much fun to play,” says senior Britton McGurn. The team also recently defeated our rival, Lovett, by a staggering forty-three points. This is a statement win, and sets our Knights in a perfect spot leading into state and region playoffs. Wrestling The wrestling team is in the middle of its season, and as they strive towards its state championship hopes, the pressure builds. Our boys placed second in their region and are in the midst of the more individually focused part of the season. The team, led by middle school history teacher Jason Miller, has traveled to Oconee and Rome for meets, achieving great success
Girls basketball team poses after a win.
in both locations. Lately, the wrestling team celebrated senior night with a spotlight on the lone senior, Bauer Thomas. In their senior night meet, our team placed first against both Chamblee High and Blessed Trinity. “Beating Chamblee and Blessed Trinity on senior night was awesome, and I’m glad we were able to get a win for our senior Bauer. Hopefully, the remainder of the season will be as great as the beginning of it,” said sophomore J.K. Hasson. This is an awesome result for our team and should be a great momentum boost heading into the individual season. Swim and Dive The swim and dive teams have each had their own successful seasons. Both teams have a record of two wins and one loss in their meets. Each team has multiple top-five finishes in meets containing up to 10 highquality opposing schools. Recently, our swim and dive team celebrated our seniors at their senior night meet against Holy Innocents Episcopal School. The boys’ and girls’ teams came out
victorious, with scores of 157 to 79 for the girls and 191 to 83 for the boys. Swim and Dive most recently competed in North Georgia at a larger style meet. There were twenty boys’ teams and twenty girls’ teams from all across Georgia. Both teams swam hard and placed in the top three among these twenty elite schools. This meet was also filled with personal bests, including Mila Van Staden, who shattered the school record for the one hundred butterfly event. This season has brought this team closer together and has been filled with success, friendships, and new experiences.“ It’s a great group of people, and although a good portion of the team swims club, everyone was able to come together for the meets and work together seamlessly. I’m really excited to see what things are in store for the program in the next few years, as there is a lot of young talent,” says Senior swimmer John Hardesty. This year has been a massive success, and this team has a bright future ahead.
Sports
February 13, 2026
The Knightly News - Page 10
Spotlighting Student Athlete Rory Lee singles for four years in a row,” said Lee. He has also achieved first place in skeet, and last year he was fourth in trap shooting. When travelling, his tourna-
Rory prepares to shoot at a competition.
him and one other, much older competitor. He mentioned that it was dark and was his first time ever shooting underneath the lights. Rory came up short of a championship, however, this is his favorite memory because of the time he had with his competitor. “I kept joking around with her about how she beat up a kid because she was around 40 years old,” Lee said. Rory Lee has made a name for himself not only in Georgia but at the national level for his abilities and continues to improve and compete due to his love for what he does.
Photo: Fred Assaf
ments are typically over the period of one week and involve around 1300 total targets. Rory’s highest overall score was 1251 out of 1300. To put that into perspective, at the world championships high scores are about 990 out of 1000. Some of his other accomplishments are that he was
tween ages 15 and 18. However, Rory is most proud of winning the Priest Spring Singles Grand Championship. This competition was out of 300 contestants at the national level, and Rory broke a perfect score. He is also proud of his achievement of highest overall at the Pennsylvania State
Rory Shoots for the Pace Clay Target Team.
ment and will not disappoint. For the girls, their returners are more experienced, although still having some skilled sophomores returning. Both teams are expected to bring home yet another region championship title for this year! Gymnastics: The Gymnastics team is hoping to have another great year after a successful last season. After the regular season, Leena Phoenix, a Senior, went to States and placed very well. Last year, the gymnastics team was made up of 3 girls, but this year the team has gained a lot more athletes from the freshmen and sophomore classes. The bigger team makes it promising for qualifying for State as a team. Lacrosse: The Girls team made it to the elite 8 in the state tournament where they lost to Centennial High School. Some impactful returners this year include Ann Cole Canova, Lucy Fleming, Audrey Jordan, and Katharine Nuckols. Canova and Fleming earned All-State recognition. With these returners and new teammates, this year’s run will look similar if not even better to last year’s. The Boys are looking to make an unforgettable season happen this year. With a new head coach this year, Coach Marachek, the boys are thrilled to get back on the field. “With Coach Marachek I believe that we will be able to accomplish certain things that we haven’t been able to do in the past,” says junior Davis Beauchamp. The team’s will to do great this season is matched with the work
they are putting behind the scenes. “We have a really solid and hardworking group that in combination with our coaching staff, can take us far this season.” The future is looking bright for these two teams! Soccer: After the boys soccer team made it to quarter-finals but sadly losing to Dalton their season came to an unexpected end. A highlight of their season last year was defeating Westminster in their second to last game of the regular season. Westminster went on to win the 4A State Championship, a title that the varsity boys team is determined to have this year. Some of the most exciting games this year is the rematch against Dalton, who the team lost to in quarter finals, and Buford where the team gets
to play in the brand new multimillion dollar stadium. Tennis: The Tennis Team kicked off their season early this year, and played their first match on February 4th. The teams lost 4 girl and 4 boy seniors in total last year. Last season, the boys team reached the semi-finals but ended up losing to Marist. The girls team made it to the state championship but lost to Westminster, so both teams hope to make it to the State Championship this season. When asked about what they were looking forward to this year, Seniors on the girls team Nayana Nag and Nilaya Nag said, “I am looking forward to being a good leader and role model for younger players.” says Senior Nayana; “I am looking forward to building
Photo: Fred Assaf
Pace Academy Senior, Rory Lee, is extremely well known in the clay target community for his incredible abilities at a relatively young age. Rory specifically competes in a realm of clay target called trap shooting. Trap shooting uses a shotgun where contestants shoot targets that are thrown away from them at different angles from one launcher. When in 8th grade, Rory found his love for competitive shooting. “In 8th grade when I was at The Heritage School, I had a stress fracture in my back, and it was the only sport I could play,” said Lee. “I just enjoyed it so much.” Rory participated in amateur trap shooting at the national level and traveled to many different locations to compete. Furthermore, Rory started the Clay Target team at Pace and has made his mark on the state of Georgia. So far, Rory has won the single championship in Georgia for the junior level three times in a row; during his freshman, sophomore, and junior years. “I’m striving to be the first person in Georgia to win
which was out of 700 contestants. In addition, Team Remmington, a shell company that sponsors all ages, and one of the most popular and trusted shells, has sponsored Rory for the past two years. While travelling for competitions, Rory gets to experience many different areas. His favorite place to compete, however, was Idaho. “The people there were really nice, [and] the background was really cool,” Lee said. It was a cool experience going out there. When Rory first broke a perfect score in singles, he remembers the final match where it was down to
named an All-American twice and this past year he was named first team. The All-American first team is highly selective, only selecting 10 athletes be-
Kicking off Spring Sports at Pace
Baseball: The Baseball team
is jumping straight into their season with their first scrimmage on February 4th against Marietta High School.This season looks a bit different to the team, due to 9 seniors leaving last year.“We have a younger team this year after graduating a large group of seniors last year, but we have great leaders and a lot of talent.” says junior Charlie Dobbie who is eager for the baseball season to start. After getting upset by Creekside last year and placing 2nd in the region, the team is looking to compete even better this year and take the title of champions this season. “...With a strong core group of guys, we are going to be competitive with a shot at winning the region and making a push in the playoffs.” The talent on this team will take them far this 2026 season!
The Baseball team celebrates after a walkoff win vs Westminster.
Photo: Fred Assaf
Golf: The golf teams are on the hunt for states this year. After not making the cut last year they are more determined than ever. For the boys, their team will be dominantly underclassmen. Having three sophomores fill out three of the starting six spots. The young talent on this team is ready to make a state-
team camaraderie and being a good leader.” says Senior Nilaya. Track & Field: Track season is officially underway with the first meet having just passed! The team is looking for another successful season and hoping to top the last one. “I’m super excited to see what our team is capable of accomplishing this year with our addition of 30 new members from last year”, says senior Harriet Blaha. With the 30 new members on track the relays are going to be even tougher to beat this year. The 4x800 teams for both boys and girls are looking for more repeats to defend their title, and with how the team is looking so far across sprinting and distance runners this team is definitely one to watch out for.