Are students being overworked? And are our recent days off from school unprecedented?
◆A&E
Here’s our coverage on this year’s annual Battle of the Bands, plus the artistic collaboration between the theatre programs of AHS and THS. 3A
◆Opinion
Brendan Lands argues for the implementation of a promotion pyramid in college football. Also, do PJ pants belong in school?
◆Features
Meet our new assistant athletic director 6A, along with one custodian who continues his generational commitment to Anderson’s safety and maintenance. 2A
◆Sports
Following our most succesful season of athletics in recent history, here are the most remarkable accomplishments, along with the root of this sudden success.
TikTok Ban Lasts HoursOnlyBefore Returned to Americans
By Ty Regan Editor-In-Chief
Following years of federal investigation, TikTok was taken off of all domestic app stores—returning to the fingertips of 170 million Americans just twelve hours later.
As federal officials became aware of potential threats to national security and user privacy, each of Chinese parent company ByteDance’s services, including TikTok, were banned in the United States late on the evening of Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Several hours after companies began removing ByteDance’s platforms from their app stores, then-President-elect Donald Trump made clear plans to extend the time until the law’s effect. In this post, he also suggested a joint venture, where ownership is split 50-50 between American and Chinese companies.
Following this statement, TikTok and other ByteDance platforms began restoring service around noon on Sunday, assured by the incoming president’s message.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2025 ~ VOL. XCVII NO. 1
TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL
Hazardous winter weather issues unprecendented period of closure for school district
By Ava Bergman News Editor
On January 5, 2025, a winter storm hit the Cincinnati region, leading to an accumulation of 10.6 inches of snow between Sunday the 5th and Monday the 6th. Although this amount of snow may seem like a lot, back in January of 1977, Cincinnati received an accumulation of 17 inches of snow over three days, which still holds the record for the region. This recent snow, however, did make it into the Cincinnati history books for having the 6th most amount of snow in one day, with 4.2 inches on the 5th.
The snow was caused by a winter storm, which according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, occurs due to disturbances between cold polar air and warm southern air, along with excess moisture in the clouds. This particular storm wiped over states as far south as Georgia all the way up to Maine.
Due to the conditions of the roads, parking lots, and sidewalks as a result of the snow, Forest Hills Superintendent Larry Hook made
On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order pushing back the the ByteDance ban for 75 days, in an effort to allow his new administration to gather themselves and properly approach the situation.
Until the date when the ban goes into effect again, which lands in early April, several have already expressed interest in entering joint ownership or complete ownership, including the “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary, YouTube star Mr. Beast, Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk, and many others.
▶ History in the Making
the decision to call off school for the entire district all week up until Thursday, where students spent their only day of the week at school before receiving Friday off for the safety of impending snow.
Anderson High School totaled four snow days the week of the 5th, one being a teacher PD day ,and the other three being normal school days. According to Mrs. Beltramo, the principal’s assistant at Anderson, the time off was the most amount of consecutive snow days she has remembered having since 2015, or possibly 1996. There is a lot of thought that goes into the decision of whether or not school should be in session due to the weather. The Ohio law requires high school students to attend a minimum of 1001 hours in school each year; therefore, if enough school days were called off, then Anderson would no longer meet the requirements, and students would have to go to school for extra days. In some cases that have been recently made popular in other Cincin-
nati schools, snow days have been used for online schooling.
Mr. Granger, a chemistry teacher at Anderson, believes that snow days should be school-free for students and staff; however, he still believes it is a good idea to make sure students are still learning even if they are away from the building for a long time.
“I’m all about having a true snow day…but if you get into a time where you’re missing two or three weeks of school, having an assignment here and there would be helpful I think to keep kids sharp,” Granger said.
Another factor that is important when deciding the fate of a snow day is the safety of students and staff. Since parking lots, roads, and sidewalks used to access the schools were covered in snow and ice following this year’s storm, there were safety concerns for students and staff and their ability to enter and exit the buildings.
According to Mrs. McKinley,
who works in FHSD’s Central Office, the maintenance teams were placed with hefty tasks in order to get school back in session as soon as possible. They had over a million square feet of parking lots and sidewalks that needed to be clear, which required 214 bags of salt and 73 hours of labor.
Although students and staff were not able to return until Thursday, many enjoyed their days off in the snow. Eden Cole (11) spent her snow days relaxing at her house and going sledding with friends. Granger also went sledding and spent time with his kids.
“[We did] lots of sledding and surviving just because we have two little kids at home and we were all going crazy,” Granger said. Although this stretch of snow days is likely seeing its inevitable end, winter weather in the city continues. Students may want to flush ice cubes, wear insideout pajamas, or put a spoon under their pillow to try and keep this year’s snow day streak alive.
Junior Brendan Lands scrapes the winter frost off his car in the school parking lot. / Will Santorelli, Photographer
This fall, the AHS Football team completed a historic season. As ECC conference champions, Region 8 champions, and State Runner-ups, the team had 15 straight wins until falling to Avon
PHOTO BY NATALIE FELDKAMP, PHOTO EDITOR / CAPTION BY CONNOR BERGMAN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
BY CARSON GLEN, PHOTOGRAPHER
Hard Luck’s Jonathan Armstrong (11) (left) and Gavin Lawson (11) (right) play guitar and sing at the 20th annual Battle of the Bands.
Seniors Julia Yorio, Natalie Feldkamp, and Harper Lehman (L-R) raised $1,715.25 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at the Anderson versus Turpin boys varsity basketball game on January 21st, in just 60 seconds. At halftime, students from each school ran through the bleechers with buckets collecting cash donations while a one minute timer counted down. / Carson Glen, Photographer
Page designed by Ty Regan
THE PRINCIPALS’ PASTIME
AHS administrators show support for athletic teams by attending various events
he loves seeing students do what they love and are passionate about.
AHS Administrators are known and loved by Anderson students. Will Amburgey, Emily Bamber, Kyle Fender, and Emily Stanyard never fail to attend student-focused extracurricular activities, such as sporting events, concerts, or the theatre program’s numerous musicals and plays. The question is: how do they choose who attends what event?
Among the four principals, it is almost guaranteed that at least one will be present at any varsity game , activity, or band concert. However, a lot of planning is involved to allow for this, especially during the busy hours after school. As the head principal, Fender shared the system they developed to ensure every principal is involved, and every student is appreciated.
“[The other principals and I] sit down together to go through [a list of all events for each season] and try to make sure we get to see each group perform,” Fender said.
Fender said that he enjoys watching how students’ skills build over the course of the school year and that
“We think it’s good for building up the climate and culture of the building,” Fender said.
“We [attend events] to show our support for everybody, no matter what they are involved in.”
Student and varsity soccer athlete
Leah Peter (10) agrees that the principals showing up truly impacts students and athletes alike.
“It definitely makes me feel more supported because it’s nice to know that we always have someone at every game,” Peter said.
“I appreciate that they take time out of their day to recognize us, even when school is over.”
She feels that the administrators’ presence impacts the morale of the team and motivates them to play better. The four principals’ encouragement and commitment truly show when they are present at games.
One of Anderson’s assistant principals, Mrs. Stanyard, feels that the impact is not only felt by the students, but
Exploring Student Employment
Soloman Mrochek (11) works at Chick-fil-A on Beechmont. / Luke Patterson, Photographer
Nearly 30% of high school students have a job for at least a portion of the school year. However, there has been a lasting debate among teachers, parents, and students about whether having a job during the school year is truly beneficial. Balancing homework, after-school activities, and employment expectations can be demanding. But is it too much?
Should students forgo having a job for the sake of their academics?
Zahara Black (10) doesn’t think so. Black got her job over the summer to gain the freedom to buy what she wanted, but she decided to keep working as the school year started.
“Because of the job I have, there are opportunities to work on homework during work, so balancing school and work has not been hard at all,” Black, student and employee, said when asked about the potential stresses of be-
ing both a student and employee.
Black works twice a week for 6-8 hours, and her job's flexibility makes it easy for her to balance work and school.
But what if students play sports too?
Leah Callahan (11) juggles school and work and plays for the Raptor’s Varsity soccer team. She is forced to become an expert in time management. Like Black, she kept her job from the summer months, but as she kicks into the busiest time of her year, she talks about how honesty with her employer is important.
“I can tell them if I need off or the days I can’t work,” Callahan said.
Because of her flexible work schedule and time management, Callahan shared how she finds her job easy and would recom-
on the principal’s ends, too.
“I learn more about how they act as a young person, and in turn, I have something additional that I can do to help build relationships with the kids,” Stanyard said.
Stanyard feels that there is more to every student than what she sees in the classroom, and she enjoys seeing them from a different perspective of their lives.
Fender also experiences the impact of attending these events, and he realizes that it reminds him of why he wanted to go into the field of teaching and administration.
“Just seeing the fulfillment in the kids reminds me of why I do what I do, and why I love doing it,” Fender said.
Students may not give the principals enough credit - they are some of the most involved individuals here at Anderson. They love to recognize students for what they do best, so they should receive some recognition in return. Without them, Anderson would not have the same atmosphere and culture that it does now.
By Nina Brandon Staff Writer
mend having a job during the school year to other students.
“You can always make it work if you want to put in the effort,” Callahan said.
Counselor Mrs. Black agrees. She had a job in high school and recommends getting a job to many of her students, especially if she thinks they should widen their social circles. However, she says it is all about timing.
“When students are choosing a job, they need to make sure that their employer is aware that they might need some flexibility in their schedule,” Black said.
Mrs. Black gives this advice to many students who walk through her door in the conunselor’s office, and she can’t stress enough the detrimental impact that rigid schedules and little accommodation have on employees.
Flexibility is imperative. With seven hours of school per weekday, that’s 35 hours devoted directly to school weekly, not to mention the additional time spent doing homework or other school-related activities. If students have jobs on top of that, it can feel draining. The solution is for student workers to be honest with employers, and find a job that suits their schedule, accommodates their needs, and helps keep them stress-free.
Hallways of Legacy
By Connor Bergman Associate Editor
Most students often overlook the amount of maintenance required to keep the Anderson building up and running. Whether it be anything from a broken table or chair to a leaky roof or even a broken AC Unit, the building custodians work around the clock to ensure the Anderson learning community is comfortable for all students and staff. Without the AHS custodial staff, the school wouldn't be clean when students arrive every morning, the lunch tables would never be wiped off, and the classrooms would never be sanitized. Custodians also work year-round to ensure that facility upgrades and additional repairs are completed for the next school year. Students commonly forget that these tasks are what keep AHS a safe, clean, and welcoming school.
Head custodian Mr. Bill Sullivan is a third-generation AHS staff member.
“[My] grandpa was a custodian at
old Anderson, my father [worked] maintenance [here],” Sullivan said.
Not only is Sullivan building on a generational family legacy, but he is also an alumni. After graduating from AHS in 1988, he followed in his parent's footsteps and began working as a custodian at AHS in 1996. He believes the biggest change he has seen in AHS is the size of the school growing over the years he has been a part of AHS.
“[My favorite part is] working with athletics and [being] at games,” Sullivan said.
Being involved in sports was also his favorite part of Anderson when he was in high school.
Mr. Sullivan and his team of custodians need to be thanked for all their hard work, ensuring students never have to worry about walking into an unsanitary school. Sullivan works at Anderson today because of his family’s legacy of giving back to the Anderson community.
“My parents worked here… it’s a good job,” Sullivan said.
Mr. Amburgey and Mrs. Stanyard celebrate after Anderson Football wins back to back regional titles. / Natalie Feldkamp, Photo Editor
By Maddie Kamp Staff Writer
Three Generations of Sullivans Give Back to AHS
Bill Sullivan smiles outside the custodian’s office. / Natalie Feldkamp, Photo Editor
Illustrated by Maryaam Vashi, Cartoonist
20 Years of Battling Bands
Students and staff perform at 20th Battle of the Bands
By Maria Timmers
Anderson’s time-honored tradition of hosting a Battle of the Bands every January continued this week on January 16th in the AHS Cafeteria. The hosts, science teachers Mr. Good and Mr. Larrison, have been working tirelessly to keep this tradition running.
Despite welcoming a new family member on Halloween, Larrison was excited to continue the Battle, and is still a big part of the process. Each year, he and his family bring in all of the needed supplies and help set up the stage for the show.
“My dad was at the first Battle of the Bands, and he brought his sound system to help. He still does; he brings lights and does sound with me [each year],” Larrison said.
With the help of the amplifiers, microphones, lights, and sound equipment they bring in, the production value of the Battle is unmatched. Everything is purposeful since this event only
happens once a year; it is unique and it proves that the tradition should continue by showing up and showing off every time.
“I have a cabinet of coded and labeled cables and stands…everything is categorized. I have a master chart, and it takes about 50 cables and a really intense stage setup [to create the right atmosphere],” Larrison said.
The legacy of the Battle of the Bands is lengthy because it is well loved and well done, which isn’t always the case with school traditions. The Battle strays from expectation, and brings individuality to the limelight.
“This totally diverse crowd from a lot of other school events [creates] this population [of] different people across the board,” Good said.
Battle of the Bands is an experience matched by no other for Anderson High School. At the show, theatre students, band members, the baseball team, and
even students from other schools came to enjoy music together.
“It’s crazy that this is the 20th Battle of the Bands; it is a participatory community art experience in a world where everyone is being creative [online, but] this is the thing from the 90s...where you get to go and see your friends play a song and you feel something. It’s an important experience,” Larrison said.
The show wrapped up with the return of former phsycis teacher Mr. Rodriguez and a performance from him and The Professors. Shortly after, the winning band of the year, Ben and the Men, were crowned with their title.
Made up of six juniors and one senior, Ben Hartong’s “Ben and the Men” put on a performance that grabbed the attention of the crowd.
To keep up with content about Battle of the Bands, follow @ahsbattleofthebands on Instagram, or see Mr. Good in room 97 for more information about future Battles.
Let’s Talk #BookTok
By Bella Lopez Contributing Writer
The feeling of buying a new book is magical. The smell of the freshunread pages fill the air with excitement as you prepare to read. In more recent years, there has been a gradual decline in people reading due to the rise of social media platforms. People’s attention has been sucked into mindless scrolling on platforms like Instagram. The magic of holding a tangible book had begun to wither, until the rise of a positive influence on the reading community took charge.
Tik Tok is a giant social media platform where people can upload videos of themselves to share with the world. One useful aspect that has come out of this media platform is the creation of #BookTok.
#BookTok is a community within the sea of users where people share their thoughts and feelings about books that they have read. All users have to do is search up the hashtag,
or click on it, and they have an entire gallery of videos about books. As people share their positive (or negative) reviews, it piques the interest of current or interested readers. Lots of libraries have even begun to incorporate #BookTok into their business strategies. You can walk into a library and find a special section with viral books that are buzzing on social media. The impact of this online community has been substantial on the sales of books in recent years. According to the Berkley Economic Review, “users are using TikTok to promote older books that have now resurfaced in popularity.” From January 10-17, 2025, there were 391,000 posts made to the BookTok hashtag alone, contributing to the overall 44 million posts on Tik Tok. #BookTok is more than just a simple hashtag - it is a community where people can express their love for books, no matter what genre or style.
Top Ten Movies Of 2024
By Mimi Griesser Staff Writer
As 2024 comes to a close, the top ten movies of the year have been released according to Rotten Tomatoes. On their website, they share the top ten films of last year that grossed the highest in the domestic box office.
1. Inside Out 2: $652.9m
2. Deadpool & Wolverine: $636.7m
3. Wicked: Part I: $450.5m
4. Moana 2: $425.2m
5. Despicable Me 4: $361m
6. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: $294m
7. Dune: Part Two: $282.1m
8. Twisters: $267.7m
9. Sonic the Hedgehog 3: $216.4m
10. Mufasa: The Lion King: $205.9m
Each movie listed was highly successful and became a new favorite film for viewers. Moana 2—Disney’s sequel to their worldwide hit Moana, which was released in 2016— attracted many.
“I thought the movie was great with good music, and I think the characters were better, and it was more action-packed compared to the origi-
nal,” student Lexy Artis (10) said.
Another film worth noting from the list, Wicked: Part I, consisted of many familiar actors and actresses, piling theaters with casual viewers and drama fans alike; this collaboration between an incredibly popular musical and key figures of popular culture was instrumental to its top three ranking, according to critics on the site.
“I thought the casting was very exact, and [the film] should be first in the top ten movies instead of third. The music was also great, and I listen to it all the time,” sophomore student Lucy Redman (10) said. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was another topten movie, and also a sequel/spin-off like many on the list. The movie lacked previous characters from the original 1988 version, but was still ranked high and included great reviews. “Sometimes I feel like sequels don’t live up to hype, or they are dragged out, but I really like how [Beetlejuice Beetlejuice] had its storyline. I would for sure watch it again,” Mrs. Petshe said.
Perfecting the (Performing) Art of Partnership
By Reagan Lynch Staff Writer
Despite their rivalry, Anderson and Turpin high schools teamed up this school year to perform three different types of productions with their theater departments: a mainstage film, a play, and a musical.
The first combined production this school year was the fall musical, Chicago, which was directed by Nate Bissinger, a staff member at Anderson High School. Bissinger is a proponent of combining theater departments.
“[Combining programs] gives kids the opportunity to work on more things they want to work on,” Bissinger said.
According to Bissinger, the combined productions gives students more opportunities to participate in shows that particularly interest them. This could include a student being able to work on two musicals instead of one, or two plays instead of one. For example, a student from Anderson could act in the musical Chicago in the fall and then act in the musical Frozen in the spring, whereas if the schools kept their theater programs separate, a student would not have the opportunity to prioritize musicals throughout the school year.
“It lets us do projects that we wouldn’t be able to do otherwise,” Bissinger said.
By combining the theater departments, each production has a more specific group of talent and
more resources, allowing it to create better productions with more accurate casting, and the ability to create more complex sets.
While Chicago was produced at Anderson in the fall, Lord of the Flies was brought to life over at Turpin.
“[Directing Lord of the Flies] was a childhood dream of mine; I read Lord of the Flies when I was a freshman in high school and just absolutely fell in love with the grown-up version of Peter Pan,” director Chad Weddle said.
Weddle was thrilled when given the opportunity to direct Lord of the Flies at Turpin. Even despite his role as a theater director and teacher at Anderson, he drove to Turpin every day after school to work on the production of the play.
“I think my favorite part of Lord of the Flies was meeting new friends and meeting all the new people from Turpin that I’ve never met before, and bonding with them,” Henry Weddle (10), Anderson student cast as Jack in Lord of the Flies, said.
Members from both theater departments also enjoy the combined productions because they can reconnect with friends from middle school, where they used to participate in theater together.
The third and final fall production worked on by both Anderson and Turpin students is the Mainstage Film Behind Closed
Doors, which is set to premier in 2025. Behind Closed Doors is being produced here at Anderson by Turpin seniors Mary Harping and Joshua Yamaguchi.
“Independent productions have been taking place as long I have been here, and it’s awesome being able to work with Anderson kids and being able to help them on their journey through theater and film. The combined productions are in year two,” said C. Weddle.
Historically, Anderson and Turpin have combined programs yearly for a spring musical dating back to 1964. Over time, the two programs became separated from one another, and have only recently begun to collaborate on productions again following the hire of a new theater director at Turpin.
“I think once a year is good. I think if it was all three productions, fall, winter, and spring, it would be too much,” H. Weddle (10) said.
In general, actors and directors from both hgih schools alike enjoy these combined productions for their opportunity to collaborate, meet new peers, have access to additional resources, and the opportunity to have more student audition for parts.
Overall, the majority of those involved are fond of these combined productions. The final combined production for the 2024-2025 school year, the film Behind Closed Doors, will premire in March in Anderson’s Titus Auditorium.
Freya Pinkey (11) plays piano and sings during the 20th annual Battle of the Bands. / Carson Glen, Photographer
A&E Editor
Designed by Sydney Dodds & Katie Mulvey
Opinion
Spilling THE TEA: konrad's Favorite Sweet
TEa Spots, Ranked
By Konrad Fischer Video Editor
01: Kings Island
Experience 10/10: Imagine you’re with your friends at Kings Island on a hot summer day, laughing and riding rides. Parched after walking all over the park, you spot a glowing drink station. Your friends and you walk over and grab a drink. You choose sweet tea, the best option available. As the bright red drink refrigerator works its magic, combining water, tea flavor, and a hint of lemon directly into your cup instantly, you start to feel excited—excited for that first sip.
Taste 9/10: This tea not only saves you from thirst, but also tastes astonishing. It’s rich in taste and has a slight lemon flavor. If you’re feeling adventurous, they even have the option for raspberry sweet tea.
Ice Type 6/10: Although this sweet tea’s ice is not as good as the nugget ice you get with Cane’s or Chick-fil-A, its smooth, round cold edges do get the job done.
Appearance 8/10: Brought to you in a disposable paper cup, the tea is a dark-ish color, supporting its rich taste.
02: Skyline Chili
Experience 10/10: After a long fun time with your friends after a football game, everybody decides to go to our town’s staple for postgame eats. Entering Skyline, you are bombarded by the delectable aroma of its chili and cheese. You grab a seat with your friends, surrounded by people you know from Anderson, Turpin, and maybe even McNick. You give the waitress your drink order of sweet tea and wait. Waiting is not long, and you finally get to rejoice in the benefit of sweet tea that evening.
Taste 8/10: There is a good amount of sweetness, which combines perfectly with anything on Skyline’s menu.
Ice Type 6/10: The same as Kings Island. Appearance 6/10: The beverage is handed to you in a blue-stained, textured cup, blocking light and making the tea appear darker.
03: Raising Cane’s
Experience 9/10: The atmosphere in Raising Cane’s is buzzing with energy, with everybody indulging in crispy chicken fingers and the famous sauce. You order your meal and, of course,
a sweet tea to go with it. Cane’s is known for their tea, and you watch as your cup is filled with rich, golden-brown goodness. The anticipation builds as you walk to your table, cup in hand, ready for that first refreshing sip.
Taste 10/10: Cane’s sweet tea is perfectly balanced and richly flavored, but not overwhelming. The tea is brewed fresh and has just the right amount of sweetness.
Ice Type 10/10: Nugget ice!
This type of ice is ideal because it’s chewable, cold, and keeps your drink perfectly chilled without watering it down too fast.
Appearance 7/10: Served in a white plastic cup with the bright red Cane’s logo, the tea has a rich amber hue that invites you to take a sip.
04: Chick-fil-A
Experience 8/10: Whether you’re stopping by in the morning or late evening, Chick-fil-A’s service is very friendly. After ordering your meal and sweet tea, you know you’re about to get a super delicious drink. Chick-fil-A prides itself on fresh ingredients, and you can tell with every sip.
Taste 7/10: Classic and refreshing, on the less flavorful side.
Ice Type 10/10: Nugget ice once again! It’s the same chewy, refreshing nugget ice that makes the drink feel extra special.
Appearance 8/10: The tea is served in an iconic styrofoam cup, which keeps it cold for hours. The color is deep brown, hinting at the rich taste.
05: KFC
Experience 8/10: Ordering at KFC, you might not think of sweet tea as a staple, but it’s surprisingly refreshing here. As you pick up your order, you can see the tea freshly brewed, which promises a rich and satisfying experience.
Taste 7/10: A decent amount of sweetness that doesn’t overpower the tea flavor.
Ice Type 6/10: Standard cubed ice—nothing fancy, but it keeps your tea cold.
Appearance 7/10: Served in a red and white KFC-branded cup, the tea has a goldenbrown color that looks fresh.
06: Taco Bell
Experience 7/10: Taco Bell isn’t exactly known for its tea, but it still makes for a refreshing drink choice to go with a spicy meal. You get your cup filled with that amber goodness. It’s not as memorable, but it’s there when you need it.
Taste 6/10: The taste is decent and lightly sweetened but not as bold in flavor as other places.
Ice Type 5/10: Standard rounded cubed ice that does the job but melts a bit faster.
Appearance 5/10: In a typical clear plastic Taco Bell cup, the tea’s color is lighter and more transparent.
07: Golden Corral
Experience 8/10: Golden Corral’s infinite food setup lets you refill as much tea as you want, which is a perk for tea lovers. You fill your cup, sit down with your endless plate, and sip away.
Taste 7/10: The tea is very sweet but not too sweet, pairing nicely with a variety of foods. It’s a solid, simple choice.
Ice Type 6/10: Standard ice cubes, not fancy, but they keep the tea cool enough.
Appearance 7/10: Served in a sturdy plastic textured cup, the tea has a nice color that looks appetizing.
08: Cracker Barrel
Experience 9/10: Cracker Barrel has a cozy, down-home vibe that makes drinking sweet tea feel like you’re on a front porch on a warm day. You get it freshly served by your waiter, ready to sip alongside classic country food.
Taste 8/10: Sweet, smooth, and flavorful, with just the right amount of richness, the drink is refreshing and complements the comfort food very well.
Ice Type 7/10: Crushed ice, not exactly like nugget ice.
Appearance 8/10: The tea is served in a glass cup, which adds a touch of charm to the experience. The color is deep brown, looking rich and tasty.
09: McDonald’s
Experience 8/10: McDonald’s is always a reliable stop, and their sweet tea is affordable and accessible. You get a big, ice-cold cup, which is perfect when you’re on the go.
Taste 5/10: McDonald’s sweet tea is classic and super sweet but almost too sweet.
Ice Type 7/10: Standard cubed ice that melts quickly but keeps it chilled for a while.
Appearance 7/10: In the iconic large plastic cup, the tea is a vibrant amber color, hinting at that sugary sweetness inside.
10: Frisch’s Big Boy
Experience 7/10: Stopping by Big Boy, the atmosphere is relaxed, making it a nice spot to enjoy a cup of sweet tea with a Big Boy burger and fries.
Taste 4/10: It has a light sweetness that pairs well with a meal, it comes across as a bit more bitter than the other ones on the list.
Ice Type 8/10: Nugget Ice once again! The ice is the best part when getting Big Boy sweet tea.
Appearance 6/10: Served in a basic plastic cup with Big Boy branding, the tea’s color is light brown.
HOW TO AVOID SENIORITIS
By Leah Day Opinion Editor
Graduating high school is a ginormous accomplishment. You’ve been in school for twelve years, and are now on your way to adulthood. It is an exciting time to gain independence and be able to make large life decisions. Many are preparing to start their independent lives and move away from their families, which is extremely scary, but also extremely thrilling.
However, before you embark on a new journey, you should be trying to make as many memories out of your remaining time in high school.
AHS senior and future Dayton Flyers soccer player Alex Dorko (12) spoke about his concerns with senioritis.
“Some people are too focused on leaving high school that they forget to enjoy their last few months,” Dorko (12) said.
In a few months, you’re probably going to leave your hometown to make new memories and start a new adventure. If you’re too focused on what's ahead, then you are going to forget to enjoy the time you have left with your friends, and possibly your family you may not see very much in your new stage of life.
Senioritis doesn't just cause you to miss out on enjoying the last few months of high school, it also can affect your future with a college. If you got into college with a certain GPA, that college is going to expect you to maintain that same grade point average. The New York
The Superiority of School Sports
By Karly Otto Staff Writer
As school sports come to an end, most athletes are continuing their sports into the off-season, ensuring that their technique stays strong.
Arguably, school sports are better than club sports for many reasons.
First and foremost, school sports are a lot cheaper than club sports due to the travel that takes place during the season. In many club sports, weekends can consist of tiresome travel, and the expense of hotel rooms must be accounted for.
Furthermore, families finding themselves in hotels almost weekly at tournaments spend their money on not only the room itself but also on purchases related to team dinners and food while at the tournament. These payments can add up gradually throughout the club sport’s season.
Additionally, playing for a school instead of a club allows players to build relationships with teammates in other grades and
create lasting bonds for many years, whereas most club sports design their roster around age and take in many athletes who don’t attend the same school.
Despite the diverse makeup of club sport rosters, everyone has similar goals in mind with similar personality traits. Since a school team offers players from many grades, you get to catch a view of the lives of teammates in different stages in their life.
During the school season, you play and practice with your team every day for months straight, helping to establish good team chemistry.
Lastly, while playing for a school team, you get to play for a community, upheld by a following that supports your team and travels to the games. Conversely, during club tournaments, there can be incredibly small audiences.
School sports are overall better than club sports.
Times discussed how dangerous it can be for seniors to allow senioritis to control their life from the perspective of college officials.
“Admission is conditional upon the student completing high school with the same academic and personal achievement on which the offer was based,” The New York Times said.
Essentially, if you slack off in school, the college has a right to rescind your admission. If you miss out on going to your dream school just because you were lazy, then you would be very disappointed in yourself.
Making it to the second semester of your senior year is a really big deal. You’ve already made it through 11 and a half years of schooling, so why slack off now? Finish strong and end the year with a performance you can be proud of.
The Necessity of a College Football Promotion Pyramid
By Brendan Lands Senior Staff Writer
The Premier League is one of the most popular sporting leagues in the world. The fans are loyal, passionate, and energetic; however, they are second only to one fanbase: college football. American football fans altogether are passionate, but when it comes to college football, the loyalty is unsurpassed. There is nothing better than an insane upset in an underdog’s home stadium, where fans rush the field, the band plays full blast, and the goalposts ultimately end up in some river by the end of the night.
Despite the unmatched atmosphere, college football has one major flaw: it is dominated by a few teams year after year. The thought of some team from the MAC (Mid-American Conference) winning an NCAA championship is ridiculous.
College football is also outrageously unbalanced: you could have a roster full of future NFL stars playing for Alabama going up against Princeton’s roster of future accountants.
The English Premier League offers a solution. There are four separate leagues in the professional football pyramid and many other leagues in the semi-professional and amateur pyramid. Each league is separated by the quality of teams; the higher up you go in the pyramid, the better the teams
are. The best part is, that teams do not have to be stuck in one league indefinitely. A team that has one of the most impressive records in their league at the end of the season is in luck: the top two teams are promoted to the next league up. Conversely, the bottom two teams of a league get demoted.
With that being said, I have a proposal of my own. There are 134 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams in college football; this is the highest level of Division One college football in the U.S. These teams are divided into 10 different conferences. These conferences are historic; they have their own history, prestige, and records. I propose that the FBS split these teams into four different leagues, made up of roughly 35 teams each. The conferences already give us an easy starting point and can help keep many teams together, so traditional matchups and rivalries will not be completely erased. The highestranked teams from each league will get promoted each year, and the lowest will be demoted. This structure will give teams something more to play for each season and make every game matter.
Across the pond, your team getting promoted in the Premier League is a lifelong memory. That’s what sports should be all about: winning gives everyone that sense of accomplishment. Small, low-tier teams from England could never compete with the powerhouses in Manchester and London, but that doesn't mean that their fans had to be robbed of the chance to express their pride. There is pride in knowing that you stuck with a team through its highs and lows, supported them, waited for this moment, and finally, can become a champion. It’s unfair for the championship
feeling to be reserved only for the powerhouse schools: Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, and Michigan. These teams know what it’s like to win. When will the fans of the MAC ever get that feeling? Frankly, it’s driving fans away from the sport. There’s no passion in the air in Athens or Oxford because there is nothing to play for. These fans know what to expect: at most, they can have a decent season with only a couple of losses to Power Five teams and maybe even win their conference. In the grand scheme of things, what does that type of expectation really change? It won’t make their program any better. No recruit is going to choose to play for Troy just because they won the Sun Belt last year. These teams are stuck in a perpetual cycle of mediocrity.
With a promotion pyramid, small teams can get national recognition. Once they start moving up, better recruits will commit there. Their team can continue to improve, and they have an opportunity to literally move up in the ranks instead of remaining gridlocked.
It’s not to say that instant change would be easy, because it wouldn’t. It would still be a grind for teams to advance, especially with 30+ other teams competing against them; however, it just brightens the light at the end of the tunnel. It gives those schools desperate for victory a chance. It would foster passion, interest, and devotion to the game. It would take the most exciting and unpredictable sport in the world and bring it to new heights. There’s an opportunity here for American fans to experience something they have never felt before; the promotion pyramid is just waiting to bring passion, victory, and accomplishment to the world of college football.
Cellphone Ban to Allow Time for Homework in Advisory
PJs Are Problematic
By Bailey Funk Digital Media Editor
In the morning, getting ready for school looks different for everyone. A select group of students like to bypass a brief stage and wear pajamas to class instead. What they don’t know is that wearing pajamas is detrimental to more than just their style choices. Here are just a few reasons comfy sleeping clothes aren’t the best option for school success.
Getting through the day can be a struggle, no matter how much sleep one can get. But if people stay in the clothes they slept in, the chances of taking a little nap in the middle of sixth period skyrocket. When in soft, fuzzy fabric, the body becomes more relaxed, more prone to nodding off and not catching content while
learning. Clothes similar to sleepwear confuse the brain about the time and place of sleep. Also, the body’s circadian rhythm becomes out of whack when there are many naps taken during the day. Along with the occasional surprise nap, there is also the lack of preparedness for the future. By not setting a daily routine early in high school, creating one later in life becomes more of a struggle. Picking out an outfit to wear to an interview might become a challenge when the staples of a wardrobe are pajamas day in and day out. The workplace dress code does not include pajamas. A company wouldn’t take someone seriously or respect them if they showed up in sweatpants and a baggy tshirt, let alone a pair of pajamas.
Lastly, when looking back, students will probably see that not wearing normal clothes can haunt them. They see how unprofessional it looked to not get dressed in the mornings and how others saw them every day. So when deciding to wear the pajamas at school, think twice before paying the fashion price.
Illustrated By Maryaam Vashi, Cartoonist
Page design by luci mohr
Meet the Marvelous Martz
Anderson Has a New Assistant Athletic Director
By John Sellins Staff Writer
Over the summer, Anderson High School named Nathan Martz as their newest Assistant Athletic Director. As a two-time graduate of Mount St. Joseph University, Martz joins the Raptors with both a bachelor and a master of Business Administration in Sports Management. He was also the Campus Activities Board Media Chair at MSJ.
The new hire played football at Batavia High School and at MSJ University. His 89 total tackles posted in his senior season at Batavia remain the second-highest at the school since 2018. At “The Mount,” Martz played tight end and fullback. Martz brings his football expertise to Anderson, as the Raptors Football Team hopes to reach the OHSAA Division II State Semifinals for the second consecutive year.
“We had a decent senior year [at Batavia], but seeing the guys here
[at Anderson], I mean, they got a great team, great coaching staff, they’re great kids. They work well together and I’m excited to see them go on a run and do great things this season,” Martz said.
Martz brings a lot to the table for Anderson as well. Martz has been instrumental in working with Media Athletics Collaborative to design the new LED video scoreboard at Charles L. Brown Stadium.
“I think just his willingness to jump in and really do whatever needs to be done [makes him a good fit, as well as] his desire to get to know all of the student athletes,” Debbie Welker, Anderson Athletics Administrative Assistant, said.
In addition, Martz has become a mentor with the Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) at Anderson, which meets every Friday morning before school.
“[His] positivity is very infectious. . . He wants to bring something to the table, not just be a part of the team. He wants to be a leader,” Tom Frye (12), a member of Martz’s SALT group, said.
In his free time, Martz enjoys playing video games and watching sports on TV.
“I got to see all kinds of good sports [in the Olympics]. But really, I'm just a sports fan. It doesn't matter what it is. I watch it because I think it's interesting. I like seeing people compete,” Martz said.
Martz also played football with the son of current Anderson Athletic Director Chris Newton in college.
“You know. . . it was just one of those funny stories. . . you never know where life's going to take you,” Martz said.
Siblings in Sports
By Ella Dreier
During the 2024-2025 school year, Anderson High School has over fifteen sets of siblings who play varsity sports in the same season - a few of which even play on the same team together.
Brothers Brady Dorko (10) and Alex Dorko (12) have played varsity soccer together for two years. The pair has proven to have successful seasons so far.
A. Dorko is in the top ten of the ECC conference in goals scored, despite his primary positiwon being defense.
B. Dorko is a varsity starter and is tied for eighth in assists made this season.
Playing on varsity as a freshman last year, B. Dorko was new to the team, but was lucky enough to have his brother to guide him.
“Coming in I was a little nervous, so having [Alex] be there helped to calm down the nerves,” B. Dorko said.
Even though B. Dorko is no longer new to the team, he still looks up to his brother for guidance. He attested his older brother’s leadership as they grew up playing the same sport together.
“I think he’s made me a better player because he’s been a role model for me, and if I ever need anything I can just ask him,” B. Dorko said.
However, it isn’t always easy being on the same team as a sibling. Both brothers expressed that getting
along can be difficult. When asked about playing with his brother, A. Dorko mentioned some struggles with cooperating at times.
“It gets heated sometimes, but it’s nice having him there and it’s fun to be able to play with him in practice and games,” A. Dorko said.
Overall, the second (and final) year playing together has been a valuable experience for the Dorko brothers.
Another pair of siblings on the same team together are Aubrey Lunn (10) and Sara Lunn (11).
The Lunn sisters have been significant contributors to the girls golf team’s extremely successful season, which included an 8-0 record. Both Lunn sisters placed in the top ten in the conference for scoring averages.
“I think it’s really fun getting to experience all the wins together, and I think it makes it fun for our parents too,” S. Lunn said.
Similar to the Dorkos, the Lunns have found it tough to get along at times and suppress sibling rivalry.
“In some ways, we’ve gotten closer, but if she plays better than me, for example, it’s harder to get along,” S. Lunn said.
Although playing the same varsity sport with your sibling can become challenging, both sibling pairs concluded that it is truly a time of their life that they will cherish forever.
(L-R) Sara Lunn (11), Aubrey Lunn (10), Brady Dorko (10), and Alex Dorko (12) compete in varsity sports with of their siblings at AHS.
Staff Writer
by Natalie Feldkamp
Photos By Natalie Feldkamp, Photo Editor
Photo By Natalie Feldkamp
Beyond the Cheers
How the Behind-the-Scenes work is completed for the AHS football team
a wide range of responsibilities.
The 2024 Anderson Raptors Football Team dominated their competition, going 10-0 in the regular season for the first time since 2000. The team took those victories and make a noteworthy run in the playoffs on the way to state.
However, the success of the team is not just what happens after kickoff, but the help and support from staff, students, coaches, and trainers behind the action as well.
Behind the scenes, from the administrative perspective, athletic director Chris Newton is adamant that everything runs smoothly leading up to and during game time.
“There’s constant motion in preparation to make sure that when 7:07 hits, everything is in place for it to be a great night… if you fail to prepare, then you prepare to fail,” Newton said.
The staff’s roles are essential to the management and the organization of the games. There are
The athletic department focuses on signage, rosters, field upkeep, announcements, and entertainment.
Halftime performances by the band, cheer routines, and dance performances are organized as well to actively engage all fans.
Another indispensable job behind the scene involve the trainers, who ensure everyone stays healthy. If anyone sustains any injury, minor or major, they are treated immediately. Before football games, players have the opportunity to visit the trainer’s office and receive care. Whether it’s taping a sprained ankle, stretching a sore muscle, or taking an ice bath, trainers April Gutbier and Annie Haley work to enhance premium performance on the playing field.
The coaching staff also plays an obviously important role in preparation for Friday nights.
Practice and training are held every day, along with film days and other tasks in prepara-
tion for game time each week.
“What sets us apart from other teams is the ability to be committed to and work really hard in practice and during the offseason, and to keep chasing something we haven’t gained, getting to the state championship,” Head Coach Evan Dreyer said.
It’s not just adults who contribute, the Anderson Football athletes themselves work to physically and mentally prepare for games.
“We are really big on game day routines, and [we] make sure we do everything the same each week,” Luke Conley (12), member of the varsity football team, said.
Though the football team members and coaches make clear daily contributions to the team’s success, so do those who are often behind the scenes - namely the AHS athletic department and athletic training staff. Without their collaborative approach to football season, the team may not have been able to achieve their regular season and post-season successes.
DIVISION REVISIONS
OHSAA enrollment qualifications change divisions for eight AHS teams
Connor Bergman & Josie Griesser
Associate Editor & Sports Editor
In the spring of 2024, the Ohio High School Athletic Association made drastic changes to the division system relating to post season tournaments, directly affecting many of Anderson’s High School sports. Seen firsthand in the 2024 fall season, many AHS teams dropped divisions and then made historic post-season runs.
Although many teams at Anderson dropped divisions for the 24-25 season, multiple teams remained in their previous divisions. 12 of Anderson’s team did not make divisional changes, which left many questions unanswered as to why only eight teams qualified for lower divisions.
According to AHS Athletic Director Chris Newton, “volleyball, girls and boys basketball, girls and boys soccer, baseball, softball, and girls lacrosse were teams that qualified for a divisional change.”
Despite these changes benefiting post-season success, many were left wondering the exact reason for these changes.
In a statement released by Doug Ute, OHSAA executive director, he informed athletes, coaches and parents that “for too long, the largest schools in our divisions have been so much larger than the smaller schools in the same division, which has resulted in many schools accepting that they realistically have little chance at making a run in the tournament. In some... sports, there have been more than 200 schools competing for a state title in that division, which is significantly more than what most other states do, and what we do in many of our own sports.”
Both enrollment and competi-
tive balance are taken into account when deciding the division. Competitive balance “balances up schools that get kids all over the city and schools that get kids just from their attendance zone,” Newton said.
Schools with open enrollment are more likely to have students living further away from their school zone, which bumps up their competitive balance number. However, schools like Anderson, who have closed enrollment, can only receive 1 point per player on each roster for students who live in the Turpin area. Enrollment numbers and competitive balance numbers are added together to decide the rank of division, which is why some of AHS teams were able to move to Division two.
Ultimately, the OHSAA started adding more divisions in order to limit the number of teams in Divisions I and II. In order to limit the number of teams to 64 in both the first and second division, the OHSAA had to create extra divisions in order to account for the spillover of teams no longer qualifying for either top division. In order to restrict 64 teams to DI and DII, the OHSAA was forced to adjust the enrollment numbers, which subsequently caused 8 AHS teams to adjust divisions. These divisional changes made competition within each division more even and fair, allowing each team an opportunity for greater postseason success.
Although these changes aided success for AHS teams, divisions fluctuate on a two-year cycle.Every few years, the OHSAA revisits division qualifications to decide if the current enrollment numbers still give each team a fair shot at success.
Staff Writer
(Left to Right) Head Coach Evan Dreyer, Athletic Director Chris Newton, assistant athletic trainer Annie Haley, and athletic trainer April Gutbier help the AHS football team, as well as all other athletic teams, prepare to compete throughout thier seasons.
Photos By Natalie Feldkamp
Ella Dreier
Ellie Lamkin (11) charges down the court with the ball during the varsity girls basketball team’s match-up with Mercy McCauley.
Paige Shear (12) looks to an open teammate to pass the ball to during the varsity girls soccer team’s game against Mason High School.
Photos By Natalie Feldkamp, Photo Editor
Page Designed by Natalie Feldkamp
SPORTS
WINNINGEST FALL IN RECENT
AHS ATHLETICS HISTORY
Football, golf teams qualify for state, while girls volleyball, girls soccer, football, girls golf, boys golf earn ECC titles
As the 2024 calendar year ended, Anderson High School wrapped up its most successful fall sports season in recent school history. With five Eastern Cincinnati Conference championship teams, the 2024-2025 fall season is the single most successful season since Anderson joined the ECC in 2012. Additionally, this fall season tied the Anderson record for the most championships won in a singular season. Many fall athletes even made the conference honor roll as an honorable mention, 2nd team member, or 1st team member. A select few even
Football Anderson Football built a remarkable legacy this season to remembered for generations. For the first time since 2009, The AHS Football Team finished the regular season undefeated with a perfect record of 9-0. With that perfect record, the Raptors plowed through the ECC, taking the conference title for the first time since 2017.
The team advanced to the Division II State Championship match at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, where they fell to the Avon Eagles in a heartbreaking 20-13 loss.
The last time an AHS Football team finished the regular season undefeated was when the current senior class of 2025 were just two years old. The last time the Raptors
clenched an ECC title was when the current seniors were in 5th grade.
Women's Volleyball
After three losses early on in the regular season, the team battled and won the next eighteen matches straight. They finished the season with a conference record of 16-2 and an overall record of 19-4.
The Lady Raptors won the ECC for the first time since 2014. On top of that, this was the first season since 2013 where the Raptors beat Bartels Road twice in a singular season. The team ultimately fell to Loveland in the district semifinals.
Similar to football, the current seniors were in 2nd grade the last time Anderson took a women's volleyball ECC title.
PLUNGING INTO THE POSTSEASON
Women's Soccer
After starting the season with strong wins over Mount Notre Dame and Seton, the Lady Raptors continued to dominate competition competition, finishing the regular season 16-0-0 for the first time in Anderson High School history. With that, the team brought back the ECC title for only the 2nd time in school history - the first time being in 2019. Additionally, head coach Andy Boyd reached his 100th win after the league win against West Clermont. Using their momentum to propel into the postseason, the team clinched the District Championship, for the first time since 2010, after their win over Miamisburg. Their season ended against Loveland in double overtime of the Regional Finals.
By John Sellins Staff Writer
The Anderson Boys Swimming and Dive team is looking to make a splash as they prepare for the upcoming ECC Swimming Championship on January 25 at Mason High School. The team’s class breakdown looks unique to say the least: the Raptors are the only team in the ECC without a rostered senior, but twelve of their sixteen members are juniors. In a season that has featured the highest number of ECC teams competing since 2021, Anderson has had to be at its best to stay on the leaderboard.
“This season's been really good. I just recently dropped to under a minute on 100 free[style]… It takes a while to get there and, [I got it] just barely to 59.99 [seconds]. It was really good this season [and] I've definitely improved,” James Lingren (10) said.
Cooper Molony has been a pivotal swimmer for the Raptors this season. In three seasons, the junior has shaved his personal best in the 200 yard freestyle from 2:40.00 to just under two minutes at 1:55.00, a decrease of over 25 percent. Molony currently ranks top 10 in the ECC in four of his seven events: 200 yard freestyle, 200 yard individual medley, 100 yard butterfly, and 100 yard backstroke.
Men's Golf
After winning the ECC Preview and simultaneously setting the Anderson low team score record with a 284, these men continued fighting through the regular season, where they rose as ECC champions. Finishing the regular season 8-1 allowed the boys to clinch the first-ever Anderson ECC golf title. Additionally, the team won King of the Hill for the first time in years.
The success continued into the postseason as the team advanced through the sectional and district tournaments and into the State Championship Tournament. The 2024-2025 team was only the 2nd team in Anderson history that qualified for state. At the state tournament, the team finished 8th, earning the title of the eighth best division one men's
“I think the biggest thing is consistency. Going to practice every day, even in your offseason. Don't just give up on the way you eat, make sure you're doing everything with intention, make sure you're getting all your protein in [and] all your veggies,” Molony said.
The team as a whole has improved, as well. In each of the past two seasons, Anderson ranked last in all the three team relays. This year, Anderson ranks fourth of six teams in each of the three races, and Raptors pepper the leaderboards of nearly every individual event.
“There have been changes [this year]. I've swam harder events this year than any other year, but I've enjoyed the challenge,” Alex Ness (11) said.
The team swims its home meets at Turpin High School, which makes practice an interesting endeavor.
“It's definitely weird; I've swam before, so this was a change driving all the way out there, [and] there's definitely a lot of camaraderie there between the two teams. But, there is a lot of competition…it's still fun to just see them when they're coming out of their practice,” Lingren said.
The Raptors are competing this season under new head coach
made citywide, state, and national honors. On top of conference success, many teams followed the regular season with a record-setting run in their respective OHSAA state tournaments, especially after the statewide division changes last year, Not to mention two teams qualifing for Division I state championships. The 2024-2025 fall season was a record-breaking season that will remain a legacy engraved in Anderson High School forever. Read more below on each of the five teams' journey to a conference championship and post-season success.
golf team in the state of Ohio.
The first team to qualify for the golf state tournament was in 2002, a time in which no current players were even born.
Women's Golf
The golf team fought to win both the ECC and districts. This was the first time in history that Anderson's women's golf team has ever won districts. During their season, this team broke the school record for both nine and eighteen holes. They made their way to state and finished 9th. Along with a great season, this team tied an ECC record for the lowest team score of 309 in the postseason.
The AHS Women's Golf Team had an unbelievable year and made history, just as the other teams did.
Philip VonHertsenberg, a twotime alumnus of Mount St. Joseph University and a 20-year general manager of the Forest Hills Swim Club. VonHertsenberg replaces the veteran Ed Bachman at the post, who coached at Anderson for several years prior to the job opening in 2024.
“We have a lot more meets [this year]. There's some good part of that [and] some bad. The good part is we get to go [and] we get to experience more things,” Molony said.
Lingren also pointed out the friendliness and sportsmanship of many of the teams Anderson has faced this season.
“Right before I swam the sub-minute 100 free[style], [I had] this great moment with this guy on another team. He was giving me a pep talk and he was like ‘You're gonna go something in and you're gonna do it,’ and then I did it,” Lingren said.
Anderson will compete three more times before the end of the year, including in the ECC Swimming Championship at Mason High School on January 25.
Fans can also catch the Raptors in action on Wednesday, January 29 as they take on Turpin at the Turpin pool before they dive into postseason competition.
