KEEPI N G THE S TUDE NTS OF RHEA COU NTY HIGH SCH O OL I NFORMED SI N CE 1996
SPRING EDITION
The Eagle's Nest BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, OR ANYWHERE ELSE! PAGE 3
VOLUME 11, NUMBER 6
EAGLE TENNIS PROMCENTRIC FILMS: O, THE DRAMA! PAGE 4 COURTS SUCCESS PAGE 6
Midsummer in early spring By BETH FORE BETH@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG
This year’s drama classes stepped out of the typical high school comfort zone and took on William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The group of 78 has been working non-stop since December, and it showed as they gave five back-toback phenomenal performances on March 26 through 31. Ms. Karie Ballentine said that everywhere she went throughout the weekend, she heard nothing but praise about how well the classes came together and pulled it off. Producing a play of this magnatude is challenging enough, but the size of this year’s drama classes, spread over two separate class periods makes things even more difficult. “If I didn’t have my second- and third-year students, producing the play would be most difficult; but we had a good time,” said Ms. Ballentine. Student directors took on much of the burden, and also acted in the play themselves. Charles Wolfe, who shared the role of Bottom with Daniel Kelly, said that directing was a unique experience. “It’s like going to school for the first time; you’re excited, but scared because you don’t know what to expect.” Adrienne Lawson, a first-year drama student who shared the role of Helena with Morgan Price, also directed. “Being a firstyear and a director, and playing a lead role was insane,” she says. “I was nervous, but I love Shakespeare and tend to understand it, so it wasn’t too difficult.” The actors did a good job learning and communicating Shakespeare’s poetic lines. Jessica Brooks, who played Queen Hermia, said that acting in a Shakespearean play is a little harder: “The phrasing is differ-
photo by bryan boling
FROM LEFT: The Fairy Queen Titania (Desireé Meadows) pitches woo to a transformed (but all too comfortable) Nick Bottom (Charles Wolfe) while he is attended by Peaseblossom (Whitney Nabors) and Mustardseed (Beth Fore) in the recent RCHS production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
ent, and if you don’t say things right, they can be taken the wrong way.” Sara Goode, who shared the character of Hermia with Laura Stockton, also reflected that playing Shakespeare as a first-year student was
Prom heads to Paris By RILEY BREWER RILEY@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG
As most of you already know, prom time is here again. Once more girls are heading out to the department stores trying on at least a thousand dresses and trying to find directions to a hair salon three towns over because all of the local ones have had prom day booked for at least two months already. Yes, all of this prep work is painstaking (and sometimes a little costly), but in the end many agree that it is all worth it. Now, for those of you who have not had a chance to get the down low on what’s up this year, here is a chance for you to get caught up. This year’s prom theme is Parisian Rendezvous, and all the party-goers should be sure to check out Ms. Cannon’s theme-appropriate outfit. The colors this year are gold and black (of course dresses and tuxes are not required to match the colors), and the prom will be held at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Pictures will be taken by Lifetouch
starting at 5:30 p.m., but the prom itself lasts from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The dress code for prom is, according to Mr. Levengood, “common sense” for a formal event, and all school rules apply. Tickets for prom are $30 and have been on sale since the second week of April. Also, students should listen for any announcements indicating that the office has received this year’s Lifetouch picture package order forms. Finally, a few extra bits to make prom night enjoyable. Ms. Young warns that the tables fill up fast at prom, so anyone wanting one should make a point to be there on time (or even early). Additionally, there are many websites online that offer helpful tips on getting ready, picking out the right outfit, and how to behave at a formal dance. One website that is particularly helpful is http://www.promgirl.com—it even has some tips for the guys! To all of you prom-goers, a few last things to keep in mind: Be careful, be courteous, and have a great time!
overwhelming, “but it got easier with the support of the second- and third-years.” For her part, Laura Stockton really enjoyed playing Hermia: “Jumping into my character was my favorite part. That I got to
be mad and take out a lot of frustration on the other characters was awesome, because that’s not me.” see DREAM page 2
Colleges: RCHS Academic Champions still competitive By CORY SMITH CORY@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG
Earlier this semester, the administration of Rhea County High School chose not to renew the charter for the Rhea County chapter of the National Honor Society. The national program was replaced with a local honors program called the Rhea County Academic Champions. This replacement caused some students to worry that all their work was for naught— that the local group wouldn’t give them the same edge for college admissions and scholarship applications. However, several local colleges and universities have confirmed what was conveyed to us by our Administrative staff— in general, membership in any honor society seems to be considered about equally by college admissions departments. I spoke to staff members from the following schools: Vanderbilt University, The University of Tennessee (Both Knoxville
and Chattanooga Campuses), Bryan College, Tennessee-Wesleyan University, Carson-Newman College, Middle Tennessee State University, Freed-Hardeman University, Tennessee Technological University, and East Tennessee State University. All of these schools responded that honors programs have no effect whatsoever on the admissions process. However, they did say that membership in an honors program was beneficial in the scholarship application proccess. I also asked if this local program held as much weight as a national program as far as scholarships were concerned. The general consensus was that it doesn’t carry quite as much significance, but still certainly factors in to the measure of a student’s suitability for scholarship money. One school responded that if a student see CHAMPIONS page 2
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The Eagle’s Nest • Spring Edition • April 2007
CHAMPIONS from Page 1
is qualified for any honors program, then they should be able to competitively seek scholarships, regardless of their program affiliation. Students have also wondered if there was a better option than this local honors program. The schools that responded to this question said that short of keeping the National Honor Society side by side with the Rhea County Academic Champions, there really wasn’t a perfect answer. They noted that both types of program have their flaws by design, and the only way to balance the imperfections was to run the two simultaneously. Many colleges reminded us that an honors program is only a minor part of the consideration process for scholarships. When searching for suitable applicants, program administrators search for students who are well-rounded and show dedication and commitment to extracurricular activities they choose to pursue, as well. Schools say that the quality of a student’s involvement rather than quantity, is often an important distinguishing factor.
ABOVE: The reunited lovers (Codi Jourdan, Adrienne Lawson, Rusty Hunter, and Laura Stockton) prepare to be entertained at the marriage of King Theseus (Kyle Gould) and Queen Hippolyta (Jessica Brooks). RIGHT: An enraged Oberon (Nate Pippin, on right) confronts Puck (Dave Kirkwood), upon hearing how he’s scrambled his mission.
DREAM from Page 1
Another actor playing a role different from his usual persona was Nate Pippin. Nate says he liked playing Oberon, King of the Fairies. “It was great lording it over so many girls,” Nate says. “Although I think I will have glitter on me and in my room for the rest my life, it was an awesome experience. I’m glad that I got to be a part of this production as my last play at RCHS.”
photos by bryan boling
Theatre students attend Shakespeare festival By RACHEL THURMAN RACHEL@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG
During the weekend of March 16-18, students in the RCHS Theatre Arts classes, as well as a few members of Drama Club and Literary Club, journeyed to Montgomery, Alabama to visit the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. The students attended performances of Willian Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part B and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. They were also allowed to take part in a session of “Theatre in the Mind,” during which the background of Henry VI was explained in thorough detail. Before the performance of Death of a Salesman, the students were treated to a lesson on the importance and role of the salesman in society, as well as a few notes
on ecomonics. The group took a backstage tour of the theatre and participated in a question and answer session about Henry VI Part B. Students also had an option of visiting the art museum across the pond from the theatre. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival is the sixth largest Shakespeare festival in the world and attracts more than 300,000 annual visitors from all 50 states and over 60 countries. The festival operates year-round, producing 14 productions annually, including three works of William Shakespeare. The remainder are classics of the stage—works by playwrights such as Molière, George Bernard Shaw, Anton Chekhov, Tennessee Williams, Thornton Wilder, and Eugene O’Neill—along with musicals and new works commissioned by the Festival.
Fish & Field
The Eagle’s Nest • Spring Edition • April 2007
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an
Sportsm
T H G I L SPOT
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Spencer Geer
What about this nice 5-1/2 pound largemouth? This beauty was caught out past Bluewater on a white and willow blue spinnerbait. Spencer reeled it in with some sturdy 15 pound test with a 7 and a half foot flip n’ stick loaded with an Abu Garcia reel. Before this catch, Spencer was feeling jealous, since his buddy had reeled in a nice one before him. He despised the fact that he was not catching anything. As soon as the possibility arose he snagged this beauty and reeled it in
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with ease. Good catch!
Ethan Vanghn
Ethan took down this 135-lb deer on Oct. 20th 2006 behind his house, while he was hunting through acorn trees. Catching a glimpse of it crossing a fence, he stood up and positioned his bow to fire, and released the arrow. it was a perfect shot-- exactly fourteen yards away, the deer crashed to the ground. When it comes to shooting a bow, well, let’s just say you don’t want to mess with Ethan Vanghn!
Tips from the pros GEAR REVIEW Mr. Fields By the time you are reading this... Bass have already spawned, and the water temperature is between 60-68 degrees.
Vibram FiveFingers ®
These shoes are for you if you love being in the great outdoors. They may look funny, but they give you the freedom to do everything you love— barefoot! Yes, barefoot— these shoes feel like you’re walking barefoot, but they protect your feet at the same time. Also, the traction is great. These shows are terrific for rock-climbing or fishing. No more slipping and sliding along the rocks. They’re also great water shoes for those who like spending their summers out on the lake.
®
Another thing thats neat about them is they are great to run and train in. Training barefoot allows you to run faster and futher with fewer injuries but running barefoot also exposes you to the elments and could cause damage to your feet. But with these shoes, you’ve got no worries. So go get your pair today and feel the freedom of going barefoot! For more information, visit Vibram’s web site at http://www.vibramfivefingers.com. —Charlie Wooden
Mr. Derlak When the water temperture rises, the fish will follow the warmer water. Fish are liable slow down a little, so maybe start out using worms or lizards.
Shallow flats will still have some males guarding their nests. If you’re interested in preservation, don’t catch all those males protecting fry!
SPORTSMEN’S SOCIETY
Larger females and non-reproducing males will have moved out of the shallows to drop-offs on channel ledges and points, to recover and eat after spawning.
Meetings Fridays during lunch in room 7 (Mr. Beaty’s Room). Come by and see what we’re up to!
This is the best time of the year to have really heavy tournament bags. Some will complain, saying they are not biting, but someone who finds them will load the boat. The best lures are often medium- to deepdiving crankbaits and carolina rigs. The best depths are teens to middle twenties with a shallow bite early, scattered when cloudy, and tight schools when sunny. Remember to use some type of chemical livewell treatment for your fish if you’re going to release them, like Please Release Me™ brand. Finally, remember your size limits when fishing at local reservoirs— one fish is not worth a $150 fine.
of Rhea County High School
A current, valid Tennessee hunting and fishing license is required to participate.
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The Eagle’s Nest • Spring Edition • April 2007
Student Life The prom as plot device Rachel Thurman ponders the genre of film in which “The Prom” figures as the be-all end-all of teenage of existence... It’s clear to anyone with a spinal cord that the average movie marketed to high school and college students isn’t exactly a hotbed of deep thought. However, it does seem interesting that the majority of “high school” or “teen” movies end in exactly the same manner: at the prom. Now, each of these movies does not share a plot, yet it seems they do share an ending sequence, be it “Rich Guy and Unpopular Girl Profess Their Love,” or “Rich Girl and Unpopular Guy Profess Their Love,” or... well, the rest all seem to follow the pattern of “So and So Profess Their Love.” Given the status of such films in our society, as well as the status of the prom, it only seems natural that a feature be devoted solely to such prom-focused films.
Spring Break
ADVENTURES Trevor Hawkins
What he did: Trevor started his spring break on Friday, heading to Pigeon Forge with his fellow tennis team members. The team played Pigeon Forge High School, winning 8-1, and then spent the rest of their trip enjoying the sights and activities the Pigeon Forge-Gatlinburg area has to offer. Some of his highlights? Drinking IBC Root Beer in the hot-tub, coming in second in laser tag, and walking the strip. Trevor stayed busy the rest of the break, too, visiting Nashville for a Relient K concert and visiting MTSU, one of the schools he is considering attending. Favorite Moment: “Hitting Justin Nation in the face during laser tag.”
Pretty In Pink
It seems like the entire point of this movie was the prom scene. The romance between Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy before that point hardly seems
worth mentioning. The movie revolves around Molly Ringwald deciding whether or not she wants to go to the prom. Once she finally comes to a decision, it’s “Will he or won’t he ask her?” The movie ends with Andrew McCarthy chucking his “status” into a nearby river and declaring his love for Molly Ringwald, all at The Prom. Naturally.
10 Things I Hate About You
This was actually meant to be a modern version of Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew. In fact, there are a few references in the movie to help
illustrate this point. Honestly, though, did anyone bother picking up on the Shakespeare in this movie, or did the viewers (like all of the characters) spend the entire movie waiting for the eventual prom scene? The “truth comes out”-scene happens at The Prom—what other event could possibly hold such dramatic promise?
Drive Me Crazy
So, Melissa Joan Hart and Adrian Grenier used to be friends. It was a long time ago. They don’t talk about it, because now they’re living on opposite planes of this sphere
of existence. She’s Popular Girl and he’s Surly, Rebellious Guy. She needs a date to the equivalent of the Prom. His girlfriend has left him, so he’s up for “dating” his childhood best friend.
A long time, and a total lack of chemistry later they realize they’re in love. The profession of this love and the throwing over of the cliques happens at—you guessed it—The Prom.
She’s All That
Did this movie even have a point? Wait, it was Freddie Prinze, Jr. and his quest to transform the “unattractive” Rachel Lee Cook from Nerd into Prom Queen. This all happens because his girlfriend throws him over for an “actor.” Right. It was also a bet. The romance between Cook and Prinze plays second fiddle to the prom queen election. Apparently, in this school, winning prom queen is the equivalent of being awarded several million dollars, tax-free. Inevitably, the dramatic ending happens at The Prom, which it seems that the entire high school is attending.
Carrie
A true classic. Now here’s a movie which properly illustrates what happens at The Prom. Blood, mayhem, horror—and an insane Sissy Spacek. Metaphorically speaking, isn’t that what one can sometimes suffer at a high school social event? So what have we learned from all of this? Movies that center around The Prom are most often devoid of any other means of plot. The dialogue isn’t anything to get excited about, and the “romances” are like watching Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes pretend to have chemistry. It’s just painful and wrong.
Dream Spring Break: Visiting Europe, particularly Iceland or Prague
Kelli Alexander What she did: Kelli enjoyed her break by taking a cruise in the Bahamas with fellow RCHS student Kara Hollingsworth and both the girls’ moms. This was the first time Kelli had ever gone on a cruise, and it certainly had its interesting moments. Want a story? “Some lady ate bad kiwi and then grabbed my watermelon right off of my plate—then asked me if I wanted more!” Another memorable acquaintance was a man who made turtles out of coconuts to sell to tourists. Favorite Moment: Getting swept up under the waves, hitting her head on the ocean floor, and then coming up with her head covered in sand. Dream Spring Break: Hawaii, because she would really like to see Pearl Harbor
Charli Hasten, Ashley Reece & Danielle Catlett What they did: These three friends also took a cruise in the Bahamas, specifically Nassau and Freeport. Even though it rained three of the five days they were there, the girls had fun playing games like Family Feud on the ship, shopping, and swimming when they could. Favorite Moment: This is more of a story, but it’s still their favorite “moment.” The girls were trying to get to their resort but ended up taking a wrong turn or ten, and they ended up huddled under a bridge in the rain, tromping through yards and pools at a neighboring resort, and never finding their destination, only the highway they started on. Dream Spring Break: “Find a beautiful deserted island and name it Yonder.”
The Eagle’s Nest • Spring Edition • April 2007
Dresden Dolls outdo themselves with second album
DiCaprio shines in Blood Diamond
Yes, Virginia, the second album from The Dresden Dolls may just be the saving grace of modern music. The sound of a guitar is nowhere to be found on this album. Instead, The Dresden Dolls (duo Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione) rely solely on a piano and a set of drums. Oh, and there are some vocals as well. Make note of the fact that the word singing is not being used.
Blood Diamond is a complete package. Firstly, it is action-packed, Hollywood entertainment that contains a stunning performance by Leonardo DiCaprio. Plus, it has an important message to share. All combined, Blood Diamond is about as rare as the diamond around which the story unfolds. Blood Diamond is set in Sierra Leone in the 1990’s. It focuses on two very different men—Danny Archer (DiCaprio), a white diamond smuggler, and Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a poor black fisherman. Vandy is violently torn away from
MUSIC REVIEW
DVD REVIEW
by Rachel Thurman
Amanda Palmer doesn’t merely sing, as most artists these days do—Palmer’s voice has the range of a great Shakespearean actor. She can do madness, over the moon joy, rage—anything that the once-skeptical listener could ever ask for. The lyrics, on the other hand, are great, glittering jewels that just so happened to fall into the hands of these mere mortals who play with them. The really interesting thing about Palmer’s lyrics, is that they’re lyrics. These songs have verses. I’m not speaking of about five lines and then a chorus that seems to never end, but long verses, which actually bear resemblance to (dare I say it?) poetry. Palmer is witty. She does indeed play with words—creating puns effortlessly—all the while referencing the likes of Homer and Aristophanes. There isn’t what one would call a “love song” at any point on this album, and what a welcome change it is. In fact, the songs seem to center around everything but. Following up to the joyous eccentricity of their debut album seemed impossible. However, the bar set by their earlier work has not only been met, but Yes, Virginia has gone a great deal beyond that particular bar.
The Dresden Dolls Yes, Virginia, Roadrunner Records, released April, 2006. $12.99
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by Kaity Kopeski
his family and is forced to work in a rebel diamond mine. While there, he discovers a rare pink diamond and hides it before he narrowly escapes. Hearing about the diamond, Archer finds Vandy and they make a compromise: If Vandy will lead Archer to the diamond, then Archer will help find Vandy’s family. Since Archer is a fantastic opportunist, liar, murderer, and thief, their relationship is filled with tension. Also thrown into the mix is an idealistic journalist, Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), who is desperately trying to prove that there is a link between the conflict diamonds and the world’s leading diamond
Photo by Jaap Buitendijk
Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Solomon (Djimon Hounsou) dive for cover during an attack in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Virtual Studios’ drama “Blood Diamond,” distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
dealer. Even if action-packed is not your cup of tea, it’s hard not to appreciate the seriousness of the subject or at least the performance by DiCaprio. DiCaprio’s character has more villainous qualities than heroic ones, but even so, it seems impossible not to like, or at least admire him. Archer is completely complex, and DiCaprio plays the role extremely well. As for the message that I keep mentioning, it is actually quite simple. Blood, or conflict, diamonds are diamonds mined in war zones that have funded devastating civil wars in Africa and have ended millions of
innocent lives. During the time period the story takes place (the 1990’s), reports had estimated that 15% of diamonds sold were conflict in nature. Since then, steps have been taken to drastically decrease the number, but blood diamonds are not completely history. It is up to the consumer to make sure that their diamond is conflict-free. So, while you’re ordering this movie from Amazon, you might want to take an online detour to learn more about blood diamonds and their effects by visiting http://www.diamondfacts.org.
RCHS girls prep for Junior Miss program By COURTNEY JORDAN COURTNEY@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG
The end of the year always means the Junior Miss Program is coming up. The Junior Miss Program is a wonderful opportunity for junior girls in high school to win scholarship money, have tons of fun with
the community, and make memories that last a lifetime. Contestants compete on local, state, and national levels. The winner of the local level will compete in the state competition, and the winner of each state will go on to compete in the national competition. A $50,000 scholarship is presented to the national winner. That is definitely an awesome scholarship, which usually serves as the girls’ motivation. However, let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. This year the local Class of 2008 Junior Miss Winner will receive a $3,000 scholarship to the college of her choice. The First Runner-Up will receive $1,500, and the Second Runner-Up will receive $1,000. The Chamber of Commerce is the main financial supporter of the program, therefore, the girls are able to be in involved in the Strawberry Festival, volunteering for dif-
ferent events, like the Rodeo and Strawberry Shortcake Night. And all of the girls share some of the spotlight by riding the Chamber of Commerce float in the Strawberry Parade. The program will be held on May 19 at 7:00pm in Rudd Chapel at Bryan College. Admission costs are $6 for adults and $3 for children twelve and under. The MC for that evening will be Randy Hollingsworth. That night, each contestant will be judged on Scholastics, Interview, Talent, Poise, and Fitness to determine a winner. The contestants this year are Olivia Carver, Brittany Conley, Cortney Edwards, Julie Gillette, Maribeth Haynes, Emily Hendrix, Calista Lawson, Alyssia Lindsay, Serlena Martin, Danielle McGhee, Whitney Nabors, Jaclyn Ridge, Laura Stockton, Jessica Travis, Victoria Woods.
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Sports
The Eagle’s Nest • Spring Edition • April 2007
RCHS wrestlers finish strong at state championships By KELLI FRENCH KELLI@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG
It has been nearly ten years since Rhea County has sent a Golden Eagle Wrestler to the state championships. However, that changed when Junior Eagle Jacob Henley wrestled his way into this year’s finals. Henley earned his third trip to state by placing second in the region. At state, he made it to the semi-finals, where he was matched up against Dustin Oritz, a Franklin wrestler who was picked to win overall state. Henley beat Oritz in a 5-3 decision. In the finals, his opponent was Bradley’s David Graham. Graham actually ended up winning state, but Coach Brown, the team, and the fans were all extremely proud of Henley. After all, second in state is pretty darn good. Fellow Junior wrestler and three-time state qualifier, Hunter Daniel also medalled in state. Daniel was looking to wrestle in the third place match when he was injured. His opponent was disqualified and Daniel received the fourth place medal. It is awesome that two of the Golden Eagle wrestlers received medals at state. Cody Graves, Brandon McLeroy, Nolan McMurry, and Quenton Carter also earned a trip. By sending these six wrestlers to state, the Golden Eagles broke a school record. The whole team ended up placing 14th in the state out of more than 80 teams. The 2006-2007 wrestling season was an excellent one with an overall team record of 1610. This year’s team was full of dedicated wrestlers who worked extremely hard to
Photo SUBMITTED
FROM LEFT: Coach Brown, Jacob Henley, Hunter Daniel, and Coach Davis celebrate their wins at State. Daniel came away with a fourth place medal after an injury, and Henley garnered a second place medal in his division.
achieve their goals. They did what they could to get the job done and improve in their weaknesses. However, a lot of the credit for this amazing season goes to Coach Zac Brown.
He was an amazing inspiration, who did nothing but help his wrestlers. He stopped at nothing to get them to strive and do their best. The meshing of Coach Brown and the
dedicated team created a record-breaking year that will set the standard for next year. Even though the singlets are put away for now, this past wrestling season is not one to be forgotten.
Eagle tennis teams serving up promising season By KAITY KOPESKI KAITY@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG
photo by bryan boling
Victorious senior Trevor Hawkins shakes hands with an opponent from Cumberland County after a March 13 match.
“Everyone is very excited about the new courts and it’s really nice that the girls and boys can play together and support each other as a team”, says senior Kara Bennett. Whether it’s the new courts, the team supports, or just plain skill, one thing is for sure: the Rhea County tennis team is off to a great start. They started their season by playing Cumberland County on Tuesday March 13 at home. Both girls and boys dominated, beating the Cumberland Jets 9-0. Next, they played Pigeon Forge High School, were again both girls and boys had the same score of 8-1. While there, they J.V. teams were able to get in some good practice and show what they will have to offer in the coming years. The J.V. also won against
Pigeon Forge. On March 27, the girls’ team felt the pressure as they played Bradley County. The final score was 2-7, although four of the lost matches were very close and “could easily go the other way next time,” according to Coach Andrews. The two wins were from Julie Gillette and Carli Jones. The boys’ team faired much better with an 8-1 win over Bradley. Also a tough match for the girls was Red Bank. Again, the final score was 2-7 with wins from Kaity Kopeski, and the first doubles team. The boys, on the other hand, didn’t even give Red Bank a chance with a 9-0 win. The scores turned around next match, when the girls beat Soddy Daisy at home see TENNIS page 7
Golden Eagle Track & Field enters the post-season By RYAN SMITH RYAN@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG
“We’re not where we should be this far into the season, but through hard work at practice we can improve our performance,” says Rhea County High School Track Coach Steffan Holder. The first month of track season has been full of mixed results. The coaches
believe that this team has the ability to accomplish their goals, but just have not run like they’re capable of yet. There have been some stand out performances, though. Freshman Hannah Travis unofficially broke the record in the girls 200 meter race, but she will have to do it again in an official race to count. Junior Brandon McLeroy officially broke the shot put record with a throw of
forty six feet and two inches. Senior Casey McKinnon recently broke the boys 400 meter race with a time of 51.3 seconds. Mckinnon is a member of the boys 4x400 relay team who also broke a record. His fellow members were Colby Smith, Justin Pritchett, and Nic Paret. Coach Holder and the rest of the RCHS track coaches would like to put out a special thanks to seniors Kayla Ander-
son, Leayn Carter, Danielle Catlett, Jessica Hale, Ashley Reece, Danielle Sipes, James Caps, Casey McKinnon, Nic Paret, Nate Pippin, Justin Pritchett, Luke Edwards and Colby Smith for their hard work and dedication. With the post season looming in the near future, the Eagles still have much left to accomplish.
The Eagle’s Nest • Spring Edition • April 2007
Rhea County senior athletes sign with colleges By ALEX GREEN ALEXG@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG
Spring has arrived, ladies and gentlemen—for many, spring is a time of rejuvination, and it brings a second wind after the season of bare trees and freezing temperatures. Spring means new beginnings for everyone, but none so much as our seniors. With graduation drawing ever closer, seniors are making preparations for their next step, whether it be college, vocational school, or work. But for senior athletes, it’s a season of decision as well—to play at the next level, or not to play at the next level? That is the question most senior athletes are asking themselves this time of year. Here at RCHS, we are loaded with talent, and it shows, as fifteen of our senior athletes have the oppurtunity to continue their athletic careers in college. This talent is not concentrated in one area, either. Rhea County offers potential recruits from football to track, and everything between. Some of these athletes have already committed to play somewhere, but some are still weighing out the pros and cons of a major decision. The Eagle’s Nest wishes the best to any senior who chooses to continue their athletic career into college.
COLLEGE-BOUND ATHLETES These RCHS seniors are considering playing a sport in college, or have already been signed with a school.
Football Caleb Wilson: SIGNED — University of the Cumberlands Justin Pritchett: RECRUIT — University of the Cumberlands
TENNIS Trevor Hawkins: POSSIBLE
BASEBALL Andrew Zimmerman: SIGNED — Bryan College
BASKETBALL Adam Pelfry: RECRUIT — Bryan College, Cleveland State Jessica Hale: RECRUIT — Cleveland State, Maryville
TRACK Leayn Carter: SIGNED — Tennessee Tech University
VOLLEYBALL Marissa Keen: RECRUIT — Bryan College
SOCCER Tyler Cheek: SIGNED — Bryan College Justin Smith: RECRUIT — Bryan College
SOFTBALL Leah Price: POSSIBLE Mendy Fugate: POSSIBLE Kaitlyn Reed: POSSIBLE Candace Hall: POSSIBLE photos by alex green
TOP: Andrew Zimmerman signs to play baseball with Bryan College ABOVE: Caleb Wilson signs as a quarterback for University of the Cumberlands.
Wrestling Barry Kauffman: RECRUIT — Carson Newman
Tennis from Page 6
3 while the boys lost a close match of 4-5. Overall, the girls’ record is 3-2 and the boys’ record is 4-1. The tennis team still has many more matches to play, but senior Trevor Hawkins is confident. “We have a really good team this year” he says, “plus we have a very strong bench.” With such a good team, boys and girls, it’s more than likely that some of our players will make it to regions, which conveniently will be held at the Eagle’s home courts May 10–14. Until then, come out and support the tennis team by watching their next home match against Walker Valley on Tuesday, April 24.
photos by bryan boling
ABOVE: Sophomore Justin Nation cooly returns a serve with a strong forehand. RIGHT: Junior Julie Gillette reaches for a backhand return.
Student/Faculty Softball Game On March 9, the Eagle softball team took on members of the faculty for a 6th period exhibition game. ABOVE: The girls congratulate each other after an easy out. RIGHT: A mighty swing from Mr. Capps. FAR RIGHT, TOP: Coach Eldredge is ready to swing for the fence. FAR RIGHT, BOTTOM: Mr. Germany contemplates a dash for the plate. photos by bryan boling
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Editorial The Eagle’s Nest • Spring Edition • April 2007
From the Principal’s pen:
Hang in there... It is hard to believe that we are now entering the last six weeks of the school year. It has certainly been a year full of activity, growth, and academic success. I want to encourage you to stay true to the course over these last few weeks and not allow your grades to slip. These last few weeks will also make the difference for some of you as far as passing or failing a class. I want to encourage you to do your absolute best these last few weeks. Many of our students will be taking Gateway Tests the first week of May. These tests will be given in Algebra I, English 10, and Biology I. Your grade on these tests will count 1/7th of your semester average in the class. The score will also become part of
your permanent record. I hope you will spend the next few weeks in review for the Gateway Exams. I encourage you to come to school on test day ready to do your absolute best. Remember, these scores will be back about a week after the test is taken. We are only a few days away from our Junior/Senior Prom. Prom night is always one of the most exciting nights during the school year. I know that many of you have spent a lot of time and money getting ready for the Prom. I want to encourage you to be very careful on Prom night. There are more high school students killed on the night of their Prom then on any other night. I cannot bear to think of us losing a student due to making a bad choice on Prom night. I hope you have a great time and that Prom night will be a time of great memories and not bitter regrets. I look forward to seeing you there.
Perspective:
Are you who you are? spend the sum of our lives behind façades and pretenses. We will never truly feel at A wise man once said, “I’d rather be ease, for we will have lost ourselves in hated for who I am, than loved for who what others expect and desire of us. Those of us who are brave enough I’m not.” And a wise class once chose this as their senior quote. That wise man to complete this step must then realize was Kurt Cobain. The wise class was the the difference between our friends and RCHS Class of 2007. As a member of this our acquaintances. The ones who laugh class, I was thrilled to learn we had picked in joy rather than mockery when we fall are our friends. Those such a bold statement. who do not draw away However, I wondered at in disgust when we shed how much truth was in If we are to live by tears are our friends. this declaration. The idea in this avowwhat we proclaim as Those for whom we wear certain clothes, listen to al is ingenious and in a a class, then we must the “right” music and sense revolutionary. By first accept ourselves watch the “right” televithis I mean were all people to take this to heart, before we expect it of sion shows are not our friends. live and breathe by it, others. After this recogniour world would be free tion, we can then begin of judgment. Free of the to surround ourselves unpopular, the “losers,” with the people who fit and also of the idolized. in this definition of a Clearly that is not the friend. world in which we live. Once we are with those people and Now if you have never felt disparaged by your peers, have never decried those peers we live expressing who we are, then we yourself, or have never strived to impress are prepared to face the pessimists and said peers, then you need not read on. cynics. We will be ready because we will However, if you are guilty of these hum know we have people who love us, and believe that who we are is all right. an tendencies then do continue. It is then that we will be able to proIf we are to live by what we proclaim as a class, then we must first accept our- fess truthfully that we would rather be selves before we expect it of others. If we hated for who we are, than loved for who aren’t satisfied with who we are, we will we are not. By ANDREA KENDALL ANDREA@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG
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The Eagle's Nest R H E A C O U N T Y H I G H S C H O O L’ S S T U D E N T N E W S P A P E R
Riley Brewer and Andrea Kendall Editors Courtney Jordan and Cory Smith Layout Jeff Ferrell George Hudson Adviser Adviser
Riley Brewer Courtney Jordan Andrea Kendall Senior Staff
Kelli French Jimmy Keltch Shane Walker
Bryan Boling Alex Green Kaity Kopeski Cory Smith Rachel Thurman Junior Staff
Beth Fore Alex Janow Ryan Smith Craig Williamson
The Eagle’s Nest 405 Pierce Rd. Evensville, TN 37332 Phone: (423) 775-7821 Fax: (423) 775-7889 Email: info@rchseaglesnest.org Web site: http://www.rchseaglesnest.org