The Bear Facts: October 2017 edition

BRUIN GIRLS, BOYS SWIM TEAMS TAKE FIRST PLACE AT NORTH STATE

ENTERTAINMENT COLUMNIST CALEB WELCH ON THE FUN OF WARGAMING ENTERTAINMENT, PAGE 7

Bear Facts

VOLUME 21, NO. 2

bruin bites SOLAR ECLIPSE ESSAY WINNERS

Junior Garret Grove and freshman Bianca McCarty won first place last month in the school-wide essay contest about the Great American GARRET Eclipse.

GROVE Students were asked to write about the eclipse which occurred on Monday, Aug. 21 – the first total eclipse to travel across the United States since 1979.

A group of St. Joe students traveled BIANCA to Nashville, which MCCARTY was the nearest city in the path of a total eclipse.

Grove won first place among essays in Grades 10-12. McCarty won first among essays from Grades 7-9. The Bear Facts is publishing both essays in this edition.

PAGE 4

SPORTS, PAGE 10

FRIDAY, 20, OCTOBER, 2017

the

SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Leah Blevins crowned HC queen 2017 Homecoming celebration called a success for everyone

By LEAH CLARK The Bear Facts Senior Homecoming maid Leah Blevins was crowned queen of the festivities on Friday night during halftime of the St. Joe-Canton Academy football game.

Blevins, who was shocked by the announcement, was named queen after the court was formally presented during the halftime show. Students in grades 9 through 12 voted on the Homecoming queen during homeroom the day be-

fore.

INSIDE “I may have gotten the crown n Homecoming but all these photos, beautiful ladies PAGES 3, 8 deserved one,” Blevins said. “I am so happy and grateful to have been able to be on the Homecoming court with them.”

Blevins serves as secretary of the St. Joe student council and has performed See HOMECOMING, Page 3

Photo by Sydney Shoemaker/The Bear Facts Senior Leah Blevins is crowned as Homecoming Queen 2017 by Coralyn Jones, the 2016 queen. Blevins was one of four senior maids on the court.

One of St. Joseph Catholic School’s newest teachers proves his class is everything about . . .

ROCKET SCIENCE

YOUTH LEGISLATURE MEETS NEXT MONTH

DIG PINK FUNDRAISER FOR BREAST CANCER The St. Joe volleyball team is raising money for Dig Pink for Breast Cancer research and awareness.

Volleyball players are selling chicken biscuits Wednesday mornings in the cafeteria and the Fine Arts building. The fundraiser began this week and ends the first Wednesday in November.

sports

The St. Joe Bruin football team looks for a strong finish after a slow start. The Bruins, 6-3 overall and 2-0 in district, face Puckett tonight on the road.

PAGE 10

JOSEPH REBOUNDS AFTER INJURY

Senior Katie Joseph returned to the volleyball court this fall after missing much of the soccer season last spring following an ACL KATIE tear.

JOSEPH Sports Editor Joe Pearson takes a look at Joseph’s road to recovery and how her hard work and determination finds her back in action this fall.

PAGE 10

inside n Opinion: Page 2 n Editorial: Page 2 n News: Pages 3-8 n Sports: Pages 9, 10

St. Joe newspaper one of best in nation From staff reports

The 2017 session of the Mississippi Youth Legislature opens its fourday conference next month in downtown Jackson.

St. Joe will have a delegation of students attending the session.

Among them: junior Leila De Gruy, who plans to run for governor.

The last time a St. Joe student served as governor was alumnus Benjamin Payne in 2015.

BRUIN FOOTBALL FINISHES STRONG

MADISON, MISSISSIPPI

Photo by Bailey Miller/The Bear Facts Mr. John Banks, “Super B” to his students, prepares to launch a rocket made of two-liter soda bottles. The launch was an activity in Mr. Banks’ physics class. Mr. Banks is one of several new teachers this year at St. Joe.

By BLAINE TURNER The Bear Facts

A

s Mr. John Banks’ B Period Physics students prepared to the launch their rockets on a cool Monday morning, many students filled with excitement in hopes that their rockets would successfully launch.

Mr. Banks, better known as “Super B” is one of the 13 new teachers this year at St. Joseph.

He has brought many changes and new approaches to the school, particularly the science department he now chairs.

So far this year, the 12-member physics class has completed a balldropping experiment, a cartwheel experiment and, most recently, the rocket project.

All were among the many experiments completed during the first quarter of Banks’ physics class.

Many more are planned for the rest See SUPER B, Page 4

The Bear INSIDE Facts, St. Jon Pearson’s seph Catholic winning column School’s student-produced, PAGE 5 award-winning newspaper, has been named one of the top 50 high school newspapers.

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association at Columbia University in New York City announced the award last week. The association also honored Sports Editor Joe Pearson with a second place award in sports commentary for his February 2017 piece on baseball coach Gerard McCall.

“I am so proud of our student journalists who work hard to proBLAINE duce The Bear Facts,” TURNER editor said Blaine Turner, a senior and editor of The Bear Facts. “This a huge achievement for us and our school to receive national recognition.”

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association recently announced the winners of its Crown JOE Awards, an annual inPEARSON ternational competisports editor tion among studentedited high school newspapers.

The Bear Facts was among 50 high school newspapers named a Crown Award finalist, which means the publication will receive a Gold Crown or Silver Crown in March. A Gold Crown winner is considered the highest award.

The association’s award for Pearson was part of the its annual Gold Circle Awards. Pearson’s column was among 7,093 print news and magazine entries and 4,166 yearbook and digital media entries in the 34th Gold Circle Awards program.

Of those, judges cited 1,080 winners for either first place, second place, third place or honorable mention.

Pearson earlier this year received the Orley Hood Award for Excellence in High School Sports Journalism.

“Having Joe’s reporting, writing and story-telling skills recognized nationally is amazing,” said Terry R. Cassreino, St. Joe’s journalism teacher.

“This honor and the award for The Bear Facts shows how St. Joe has the best all-around high school journalism program in the state of Mississippi.”

Martinez builds a legacy of hard work, determination

By RODNEY SELF The Bear Facts Anna Rose Myrick and Claire Conn pushed a nervous Jax Rasmussen into the theater classroom on a quiet afternoon in spring 2017 – urging him to ask a girl he admired on a date.

Rasmussen, his palms sweating, had already failed to do so on two previous occasions. This time, he was determined to ask Linda Martinez.

“She was cute. She was funny. And

she was intelligent,” said Rasmussen, who is a senior like Martinez.

They have been together since – even working together in school theatrical productions and this year’s BruinTHON. In fact, Martinez is heading this year’s BruinTHON – the school’s largest community service project that rais-

es money for the Blair E. Bastson Children’s Hospital.

None of that is new for Martinez, who has been at St. Joe since the seventh grade and has been involved in many activities throughout her high school career.

The daughter of Mr. Eduardo Martinez and Mrs. Kim Martinez, Linda

Martinez’s generosity and leadership abilities have earned her respect for her entire life from St. Richard Catholic School students and teachers to the St. Joe community.

“We got lucky with our kids,” Mr. Martinez said.

“She has a very out-going personality,” Mrs. Martinez said. “She gets along with everybody and accepts people for the kind of person they are.”

See MARTINEZ, Page 4

Opinion

PAGE 2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017

Surviving anything – including Harvey

B

eing a survivor is a testament – not only to a person’s character, but also how well they adapt to change and adversity.

By definition, a “survivor” is someone who experiences BLAINE something traumatic and literally TURNER manages to continue living. editor For me, it takes on another definition: It is a person that experiences adversity, but does not allow it to stop them.

In the midst of adversity, we have two choices: We can either accept defeat, or we can survive by any means possible and keep moving forward.

Adversity by definition is a difficulty or obstacle.

It is not something that is detrimental to growth

“

By definition, a ‘survivor’ is someone who experiences something traumatic and literally manages to continue living.”

and movement. It is simply just a bump in road – not the end of the road.

In the few months, we have watched several natural disasters unfold before our eyes.

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria have affected families, communities, cities and several states.

Houston, Florida, Puerto Rico and surrounding areas received most of the damage. Those whose homes, schools, churches and communities that have been devastated by these enormous disasters will come out of this experience stronger and different than they were before.

I know this experience first hand because 12 years ago I was one of the many families affected

by Hurricane Katrina. I see many similarities between both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey. The time of year is almost exactly the same. Even though I was only 5, I vividly remember the sight of seeing only the roof of homes because they were almost completely under water. When I turn the television on today I see a shockingly familiar sight in Houston and Submitted photo its surrounding areas.

A man rescues a resident stranded by floodwater in Houston following Hurricane Harvey.

I know this is going to be a long road of recovery for those families affected in these The battle between giving up and rising above help of others. areas around the southern United States and adversity is a skill that can be used in all aspects In my time of need, my family was helped.

Puerto Rico. My family was extremely blessed to of daily life, not just when a tragedy strikes.

Those affected by the recent hurricanes, not only have a nice family in the Jackson area that took However, rising above is something that can in the United States, are going to need our help us in when we evacuated until we were able to be done alone but can be easier done with the as well. restart our lives.

Our view

Our last Homecoming The last year of high school has finally come. For many seniors that have been at St. Joe since the seventh grade, the time you’ve been waiting for has arrived.

After years of watching others participate in their last “something,” it is now finally your turn. Keep in mind that there will always be a place for us at St. Joe. Last week was Homecoming. For current students ,it is just an excuse to wear crazy themed outfits, get out of class early for pep rallies each day, crown an annual Homecoming queen at the football game, and get dressed up for the annual dance.

But for those whose time of high school is nothing more than memories from years ago, Homecoming is a time to truly come “home.”

With this in mind, all students – especially seniors – should remember that you one day will return to your alma mater to reminisce.

That day will happen sooner than you think.

Good luck to the swim team The 67-person swim team competes every year for the North State and State Championship. Each year swimmers work tirelessly to ensure a spot in both.

The 5:30 a.m. practices become worth it once they gain the title they’ve worked so hard for.

Bruin swimming – the one sport with the most participants at St. Joe – has a reputation for being great and always competing well.

Most times we expect them to do well without considering how much hard work and time the team as a whole has put into becoming one of the best in the state.

Thirty-one members of swim team qualified for the State Championship. One person, J.C. Dorroh, a freshman, broke the 500-meter record by 10 whole seconds.

Their successes are not just a coincidence.

It attests to the team’s hard work and dedication to their craft. Congratulations.

And good luck in the state championship.

BEAR FACTS The

Blaine Turner Editor

Joe Pearson Sports Editor

Terry R. Cassreino, Faculty Adviser Dena Kinsey, Principal

Serving the community and St. Joe

E

very single student has a different experience and different things to do at our school.

But their is one thing that all of us have in common: the struggle to obtain service hours.

Everyone knows that every high school student has to have 30 hours and every middle schooler 20.

In theory, it doesn’t sound like too much. But there KIM KAISER is a difference between theory and realizing that the opinion page December deadline is a week away and you only editor have five hours approved with no service options.

While I can truthfully say that I wholeheartedly agree with the need for service hours, I cannot so fully support the way that they must be obtained.

Some students have a distinct advantage which you simply cannot avoid: parents working at places that offer service hours, having a hobby that can double for hours and something as simple as being able to drive yourself (I’m looking at you, upperclassmen) are all examples.

Then, of course, there’s the sometimes even bigger issue of actually getting the hours approved. I remember an occasion on which my brother making a point last year to do exactly 100 hours of volunteering only to get around 80 of them approved. While this was obviously not a big deal for him, it most certainly could have been for someone who is just barely scraping by with the minimum required amount.

While I can see the appeal for the new system versus forcing some poor person to have to sort through paper after paper of service hours, it can be rather frustrating for students who turn in hours only for them to end up in someone’s spam, missed, or simply ignored.

For many of the younger students, as mentioned earlier, it can be difficult to even get to places that offer service hours. The lack of the ability to drive leaves them at the mercy of their parents and when their busy schedules allow for it. While eighth- and seventh-graders need only 20 hours, freshman, sophomores, and even some juniors are facing an even bigger problem when they are expected to do 30. And when this goal is not reached, it can

File photo St. Joe serves the community by collecting food for the Mississippi Food Network.

have some serious backlash for academics.

Don’t get me wrong – I didn’t write this article to just call out our school for requiring service hours of us. I appreciate that we are expected to get out of our comfort zones and help our community.

And as much as I tend to complain about the system, I cannot deny the rewarding factor of working with people face-to-face.

It seems crazy to me sometimes when I think of how much time the students of St. Joseph collectively work for others in a single year alone, especially given the fact that a great deal of students go above and beyond their requirements, with a handful of them accumulating over two hundred hours by the end of the school year. And with every new student in our growing school, the total number of service hours is continuing to steadily rise.

It is this thought, the thought that we, as students, are making a real difference in our communities, that makes me all the more willing to give my time, and honestly say that I have never considered a day of service a day wasted.

Social media breaking down boundaries

S

ocial media is one of the best things to ever happen to the twenty-first century. In the previous years, people all throughout the world have been plagued with discrimination, war, and violence. Now, we are in a time of social media and cultural appropriation.

Before the twenty-first century, people were LEAH ignorant to many things. Crowds would visit CLARK foreign countries, come back with cultural rituals, columnist and claim them to be their own. These cultural rituals then lost their true importance and were made into trends or jokes. Without realizing it, people mocked other cultures without a thought.

In the twenty-first century, people have the opportunity to be connected with those cultures that were mocked. They can now go to the Twitter account of an Indian girl and understand how she feels about girls all over the world wearing hennas without knowing the actual reason behind them. A Middle Easterner’s Instagram post can be shared to others informing them about his struggle against being called a terrorist just because of his family’s native country. The world can now see the situations that this world still faces. But with every step forward, there always seems to be an obligatory step back.

Older generations do not like social media because it can be a distraction. While they are right in most ways, they are also

“

Before the twenty-first century, people were ignorant of many things.

Crowds would visit foreign countries, come back with cultural rituals and claim them to be their own.”

The Bear Facts is a proud member of the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

“

Social media is a way for people to understand others. These platforms give the masses the ability to share with individuals from all over the world.”

wrong.

Truth be told, things haven’t been getting better as the older generations want the younger to believe. The generations of people before the twenty-first century have been through many obstacles to get to this world now. Those people want to pretend that the problems of the past are over now, but they simply are not. Those problems are still thriving, and social media brings those problems to light for younger generations.

Social media is a way for people to understand others. These platforms give the masses the ability to share with individuals from all over the world. This world is full of people. People who have thoughts, dreams, feelings, opinions, families, and more. Prior the twenty-first century, there were so many miscommunications and violence between different crowds. Now, with the advent of social media, this issue is fading.

These platforms can help get rid of the misunderstandings.

Social media can bring crowds of all ethnicities, ages, nationalities, and more to see how the world really is. People now have a way to be more respectful by learning of other cultures.

Social media has been very important for the twenty-first century.

While many may not agree, the twenty-first century is a time where younger generations are more aware. These platforms have taught them to be aware of others. People are now able to see that the problems that older generations had to deal with are still around.

The Bear Facts, the official student newspaper of St. Joseph Catholic School, is published at least once each quarter of the school year. All stories and photographs are copyright © 2017 by The Bear Facts and St. Joseph Catholic School.

Reproduction and unauthorized use of any article, photograph or graphic is prohibited without written consent. Contact The Bear Facts, P.O. Box 2027, Madison, MS 39130-2927.

Opinions expressed on this page belong solely to the author or authors and do not necessarily represent the beliefs and opinions of the staff of The Bear Facts; the staff, leadership and administration of St. Joseph Catholic School; or the staff, leadership and administration of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson.

PAGE 3

Homecoming 2017

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017

HOMECOMING, from page 1 in several school theatrical productions including this fall’s play “Peter and the Starcatcher” and last spring’s musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”

Blevins also contributes to Bruin News Now. Homecoming 2017 began early this year: Saturday, Oct. 7, with the annual Homecoming Dance in the school gym with a luau that matched the week-long theme of “Vacay the Bruin Way.” Tables were covered in grass skirts and had pineapple centerpieces. Parents set up the food for the students.

“I like to see the kids come out and have some fun,” said Ms. Crystal Thomas, who joined the sophomore student council members to oversee the dance.

After enjoying the Columbus Day holiday on Monday, students returned to school Tuesday, Oct. 10, for four themed days. Tuesday was New Orleans Day, Wednesday was Bruins Go Pro Day, Thursday was Homecoming T-shirt Day and Friday was Bruin Tourist Day. The Homecoming Court had its for-

mal presentation Thursday, Oct. 12, in the Fine Arts building. The event was followed by a Bruin Tailgate outside.

Then on Friday, students ended the week with a raucous pep rally followed that night by the Homecoming football game against Canton Academy and a pre-game reception for visiting alumni.

Freshmen class maids were Katie Corkern and Trinity Johnson; sophomore maids were Lily Burgess and Bailey Miller; junior maids were Emma Kay Beebe and Camilla Goodloe ; and senior maids were Leah Blevins, Akili Lewis, Amari Wells, and Mary Scott Wolf.

Students in Grades 9-12 chose the queen in a school wide election on Thursday. Only senior maids were able to win Homecoming Queen.

Even though Homecoming 2017 was different from the past, students said they had a fun and exciting week.

Corkern, the freshman Homecoming maid, said she was “I’m so honored my class chose me to be a maid and I’ve had so much fun.”

Homecoming 2017 in pictures TOP RIGHT: Joseph Baladi, left, president of the St. Joseph Catholic School Advisory Council; Coralyn Jones, the 2016 Homecoming Queen; Leah Blevins, the newly-crowned 2017 Homecoming Queen; Dr. Phil Blevins, Leah’s father and escort; and Mrs. Dena Kinsey, St. Joseph principal. In front are Levi Vizier, the crown bearer, and Vivianna Antonaros, the flower girl. Photo by Dave Vowell/Special to The Bear Facts SECOND ROW LEFT: Junior Emma Kaye Beebe and her father. Photo by Sydney Shoemaker/The Bear Facts SECOND ROW RIGHT: Sophomore Bailey Miller and her father. Photo by Olivia Patterson/The Bear Facts THIRD ROW LEFT: Senior Akili Lewis and her uncle.

Photo by Sydney Shoemaker/The Bear Facts THIRD ROW MIDDLE: Senior Mary Scott Wolf and her father. Photo by Olivia Patterson/The Bear Facts THIRD ROW RIGHT TOP PHOTO: Sophomore Lily Burgess and her stepfather. Photo by Sydney Shoemaker/The Bear Facts THIRD ROW RIGHT BOTTOM PHOTO: Sophomores Lily Burgess and Bailey Miller Photo by Sydney Shoemaker/The Bear Facts FOURTH ROW: Freshman Katie Corkern and her father. Photo by Sydney Shoemaker/The Bear Facts FIFTH ROW: Junior Camillia Goodloe and her father.

Photo by Olivia Patterson/The Bear Facts

PAGE 4

MARTINEZ, from page 1 She uses those qualities in her director position of St. Joe’s annual fundraiser BruinTHON. This year is Martinez’s fourth year working on the annual BruinTHON. Last year, Martinez served as assistant director of the event; she believes this year will be even better than previous years.

“She lives and breathes BruinTHON,” Rasmussen said. “Along with all her other activities, she still finds time to pour her heart and soul into BruinTHON.” Rasmussen serves as part of Martinez’s staff that spends much of the school year planning the event.

“I enjoy how much the student body gets involved in the event and our fundraisers as well,” Martinez said. “This is an event that is doctored toward

Bruin News

helping purely the children of Blair E. Batson.”

Martinez’s personality not only makes her such a great leader, but a generous leader as well. This sense of generosity has been with Martinez ever since she was a child.

“I remember in the first grade, Linda cut her hair short. She donated it for wigs to help people with cancer,” her mom said.

Martinez frequently talks to people whom she has never met and creates lasting friendships with them.

Anna Rose Myrick, a junior at St. Joe, said Martinez was the first student she spoke to when she started eighth grade.

“I was looking for a teacher’s room, and she showed me where it was,” Myrick said. “And we began talking

“

everyday after that.”

“Linda goes out of her way to talk I remember in to people,” Mr. Martinez said. “She tries to invoke the spirit of commu- the first grade, Linda nication, eyeball-to-eyeball. And if there is a problem, she tries to work cut her hair short. She it out.” donated it for wigs Martinez also is generous with her time and money, often lending money to help people with to a friend in need. cancer.”

“She tutored me for an entire semester,” Myrick said, “to help me do well in Mrs. Dickson’s World History class – Kim Martinez, from 7-7:30 every morning.”

Linda’s mother However, tutoring and BruinTHON are not the only extracurricular activities Martinez enjoys. She also Martinez is a member of the National plays softball, acts in both the fall plays and spring musicals and com- Honor Society, the National English petes in speech competitions outside Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta. of school.

SUPER B, from page 1 of the school year.

One of the next experiments the class will complete will use solar ovens to cook hot dogs.

Mr. Banks has brought several changes to St. Joe this year – including the way students learn physics. He also plans to spruce up the school’s science department.

“This year’s physics class is really fun, and ‘Super B’ keeps his class very interesting and makes sure that all students participate and have fun while learning,” senior Amari Wells said.

In the B-period class, Mr. Banks makes his class more interesting by highlighting different colors for each

“

I am going to make regular dropin observations of the teachers in my department . . . to promote continued good teaching and to give positive feedback.”

– Jonathan Banks, science teacher

week day. For example, Mr. Banks colors his hair pink on Monday; blue on Tuesday; and yellow, black, or white on Wednesday.

In addition to Banks’ approach to teaching, he also hopes to change more than just his classroom and the way his students learn. He plans to change the whole science department approach to teaching science.

“I am going to make regular drop-in observations of the teachers and their students in my department,” Mr. Banks said. “The purpose will be to promote continued good teaching and to give positive feedback.”

Mr. Banks also encourages other

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teachers to get students to participate in the annual science fair on Jan. 18, 2018. For his physics students, a science fair project will be required.

Banks also hopes to get the feeder schools and the St. Joe community involved in science activities.

Mr. Banks wants to start a monthly science night during which students and community members will have a chance to look at the stars from the observatory and participate in other science activities.

He also plans to host a “Happy Haunted House” and a “Super B Productions Magic of Science” for the St. Joe feeder schools.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017

Even with all her activities, Martinez still finds time to relax.

During her down time, Martinez enjoys hanging out with friends, singing outside of school and relaxing outside.

She also uses this time to work on college applications.

Martinez hopes to go to college outside Mississippi, preferably Rhodes College in Memphis.

“I truly love all my friends,” Martinez said. “I have not met a single friend today that I do not truly care for. I think spending time with them while I am still here, while I am still in this state, is the best way to spend my time. ” Rasmussen said Martinez is real.

“She’s down to earth in a way,” he said. “If she wants to help you, she is going to help you to the best of her ability.”

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PAGE 5

Pearson wins national award for column special to The Bear Facts Sophomore Joe Pearson took second place for Sports Commentary in the 2017 Gold Circle Awards sponsored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the international student press association at Columbia University in New York.

Pearson’s winning column about Coach Gerard McCall’s path to coaching baseball was among 7,093 print news and magazine entries from pub-

lications produced by students at colleges, universities and secondary schools throughout the United States and abroad who follow the American JOE education plan.

PEARSON “We are so proud of Joe Pearson,” said Principal Dena Kinsey. “To earn a second place award on the national level and from among more than 7,000 entries is a huge honor and

achievement. Joe is a talented writer and a great example of the kinds of students we have at St. Joe.” Pearson serves as sports editor of The DENA Bear Facts, St. JoKINSEY seph’s award-winning, student-edited newspaper. Last spring, Pearson received the Orley Hood Award for Excellence in High School Sports Journalism for his work writing sports columns for The

Bear Facts.

The Bear Facts is part of St. Joe’s award-winning high school journalism programs. Journalism students produce a high school newspaper, The Bear Facts, six to eight times a year; a high school yearbook, The Shield, every fall; and a video newscast, Bruin News Now, every Friday.

Journalism students also produce Bruin Sports Radio, a weekly threehour radio show in which they broadcast all home-and-away football games and home basketball games live over

the internet and WJXC Jackson, Mississippi Catholic Radio. Students also coordinate and oversee live video streaming of football games on Bruin TV. Pearson’s winning column took an in-depth look at how St. Joe’s baseball coach Gerard McCall wound his way from high school baseball, into the minor leagues and then into coaching high school ball at St. Joe. Joe Pearson’s award-winning sports column is reprinted below.

Gerard McCall’s unlikely path to coaching baseball This sports column originally appeared in the Feb. 9, 2017, edition of The Bear Facts. It was awarded second place in the 2017 Gold Circle Awards sponsored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

I

t was over.

Gerard McCall never thought the day would come. But it did.

After one year with the Arizona White Sox minor league baseball team, the organization cut him.

McCall sat alone on the edge of a bed in a roadside motel in Scottsdale, Ariz. A bag with his catcher’s mask, catcher’s mitt and a year of memories leaned against the wall.

And he cried.

“I thought I had a second chance,” McCall remembered. “I absolutely did everything I could possibly do from sun-up to sun-down.”

That was 2000. Today in 2017, McCall, now 37, is the head varsity baseball coach for the Saint Joseph Bruins. He no longer stoops behind the batter every game. He no longer stands in the batter’s box, bat in hand.

Instead, he coaches a talented high school team that just missed playing for the state championship in 2016, a team that this year should be just as strong if not better than the year before.

And while McCall is proud to be in his third year as head coach, the road to Saint Joseph was not entirely

smooth.

to play for the Arizona White Sox. YOUTH DREAMS His first year was a success. McCall McCall’s story began was the best-hitting in the early 1990s catcher on his team, when he played in the batting .287. At the GERARD JOE recreational league same time, he was a MCCALL PEARSON in his hometown of young, impressionable Meridian. He was teenager far away from always talented, and would play with his family and constantly facing the children – often his cousins – who threat of being cut at any moment. were older than he was, “The worst part was you see a whole Growing up, sports was everything. lot of politics,” McCall said. “You see The competition motivated him. guys getting moved up for no reason.

McCall excelled in baseball, basketball It’s like you do the best you can, and and football. He was so talented you don’t get noticed.” that he started on the Meridian High School varsity baseball team as an BEST SHAPE eighth grader.

And as he found success, word of McCall worked hard and was in the his talent quickly reached major league best physical shape of his life. And scouts. When McCall graduated in while nothing he did sent him to the 1998, the Chicago White Sox drafted majors, he found strength in the one him out of high school in the 13th person who had been there with him round. The team then sent the 18-year- since the beginning: his mother. old 1,000 miles away from his family “Probably my biggest fan and my biggest motivation was my mom. She was the most constant. And she helped Probably my not just in athletics, but also in the biggest fan and my classroom when I was in school.”

A year after he was cut by the biggest motivation was Arizona White Sox, McCall found a my mom.” spot on the Jackson Senators minor league team – which played at Smith Wills Stadium and offered his family – Gerard McCall, and friends a chance to see him play.

2005, he had enough. He retired Bruin baseball coach By from professional play.

“

“It got to the point where it wasn’t what I looked forward to,” McCall said.

“I just didn’t see myself continuing on the same path. I wanted to do some other things in my life, like start a family. So, I was just ready to move on.”

He turned to coaching and landed a spot as an assistant with the Saint Andrew’s Episcopal High School varsity team, where he worked 20022014. When the baseball coaching job opened at Saint Joseph, McCall jumped on board.

And that’s when I first met him.

“

He wants us to stay motivated and keep the goal in sight of what we’re trying to do: To win the state championship.”

– Andrew Sanli, Bruin catcher

BRUIN EXPERIENCE McCall had just taken over the program and was hosting a baseball camp at Saint Joseph in July 2013 for fourth, fifth and sixth graders. An avid baseball fan and player, I jumped at the chance.

Even though the camp didn’t start until 8 a.m., my dad dropped me off early every day – giving me a chance to talk with McCall before the start of camp. The sun had just risen, the aroma of freshly mown grass always filled the air and McCall, in his deep, rough, gravely voice, talked about baseball.

The wisdom he shared about the game I love struck me and caught my attention. McCall knows how to command your attention. He is the kind of coach who gets the best from players. He is the kind of coach players will go an extra mile to please.

Andrew Sanli, a catcher on the team, agreed: “He wants us to stay motivated and keep the goal in sight of what we’re trying to do: To win the state championship.”

At Saint Joseph, McCall has led the Bruins to two successful seasons in a row, last year advancing to the semifinals of the District 2A playoffs and almost – almost – reaching the state championship.

Now, McCall watches games from the 3rd base coach position, urging his players to success. Every now and then, his thoughts return to his own experiences with professional baseball.

And when he thinks back to that fateful day when he sat on the bed in Scottsdale, Ariz., he no longer cries.

Why? Without that experience, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

THE GREAT AMERICAN SOLAR ECLIPSE OF 2017 A group of St. Joe students traveled to Nashville in August to personally witness the Great American Eclipse. As part of the once-ina-lifetime event, Mr. John Banks, better known as “Super B,” established an essay contest for St. Joe students.

Here, The Bear Facts prints the two winning essays: Junior Garret Grove, who took first place among 10th-12th grade students, and Bianca McCarty, who took first among seventh-ninth grade students.

Garret Grove essay: Solar eclipses over the ages

Bianca McCarty essay: Eclipses in modern literature

The Saint Joseph Student Body had experience with the Solar Eclipse in some shape, form or fashion on August 21, 2017. Some students traveled on a charter bus up to Nashville, Tennessee to view an Eclipse whose path of ToGARRET tality stretched across the United GROVE States. Others like myself stayed on Campus and safely viewed the Solar Eclipse during E period outside that Afternoon. This event, which had peaked my family and my own interest, seemed to be only but a blur. This solar eclipse obviously had a lot of hype to it. For instance, News outlets such as CNN, CBS, and NBC especially talked about the Solar Eclipse. In ancient times, however, this wasn’t the case. People didn’t have this sense of interest and awe for these wonders of Nature in ancient times as we do now.

In fact, if something was keeping people up at night, it might have had something to do with Solar Eclipses. For example, the ancient Chinese thought that a dragon or demon was eating the sun. They banged pots and made a loud commotion in an attempt to drive it out. Eclipse is actually a Greek word that means ‘abandonment.’ (‘Wanner, Noel-Dragon’). But as people have gotten older and wiser, people in multiple ways came to embrace this sort of thing happening.

Which now includes traveling in a charter bus up to Nashville to see one unfold.

Even Writers -especially the few who orchestrate these types of stories- are not interested in changing the books to talk about some lowly lunar eclipse happening, either . (‘Eclipse, books’).

The Eclipse -an essay by American author James Fenimore Cooper- documents a life-changing experience that occurred as a result of an early 19th century solar eclipse during his youth. (‘Literature’). A reference to a Solar Eclipse is also present in Act 5 of Othello, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. (‘No Fear Shakespeare’). In this tragedy, Othello considered the Solar Eclipse as horrifying and unbearable. Solar Eclipses even have religious importance in spiritual writings such as the Bible. A Solar Eclipse that happened on June 15, 763 B.C. in Assyria is associated with the events in the book of Amos 8:9. God announced that ‘the Sun [will] go down at noon, and darken the Earth in broad daylight’. (‘Roşu, Constantin, Eclipses in History’). This undoubtedly, terrified some people.

Admittedly this was my first Solar eclipse, but that’s because the last total solar eclipse viewable from the US occurred roughly four decades ago back in 1979. I remember last month trying to look at the solar eclipse through a phone camera taped to a shoe box. It didn’t quite work because I needed some special filter paper to cover the camera lens. I just borrowed somebody’s solar eclipse glasses to see this work of nature unfold instead.

When a solar eclipse does occur, people -including myself- tend to take notice even from 402 miles away from the path of Totality. And these works of nature sticks with us. We write about them. We talk about them. Yet solar eclipses are more reserved and quiet than lunar eclipses or many other natural phenomena. When one does happen again in 2024, I, along with the rest of the world will be waiting and watching, just not in the same manner the ancient Chinese were.

Even in modern times, when the scientific explanations for solar eclipses are known across the planet, eclipses still capture the attention of the media in many different forms. In the past eclipses were often thought to be BIANCA bad omens. The Aztecs believed McCARTY that if an eclipse and an earthquake occurred on the date 4 Ollin, the world would end. Though eclipses were largely feared among ancient societies, not all civilizations had dooms-day mythology behind the events. The Tlingit tribes of North America believed that this was the Sun and Moon having more children. Today most of society sees solar eclipses as marvels of science rather than spiritual or supernatural events.

Literature aimed at children often uses the rarity of an eclipse as a premise for their stories.

Even today, some children’s literature describes the event as an omen. “There is a darkness coming that not even Starclan can prevent.” -Erin Hunter, Eclipse. This particular quote is speaking about the eclipse that occurs half-way through the book. The eclipse was used as a plot device to move the story forward. Though is current times, we understand eclipses, that doesn't mean that they aren't great premises for literature.

Annie Dillard published Total Eclipse in 1982.

The story is a narrative about the total eclipse of February 26, 1979. “That is when there were

screams. At once this disk of sky slid over the sun like a lid. The sky snapped over the sun like a lens cover.” Dillard describes the fear that accompanies eclipses. Though she was aware what was happening, her heart still pounded in her chest. She shows that understanding something doesn't always diminish the wonder or fear of it.

The rest of the school was excited for the eclipse, but the biggest emotion I felt was fear.

I’d been told by my mother, “Not to be stupid and look at the eclipse, because then she’d have to drive all the way to Jackson so I could go to blind school.” While I was afraid of my mother’s wrath, I was most afraid of loosing my sight. I am indescribably afraid of the dark, so the fear of living without sight for the rest of my life scared me more than the eclipse intrigued me. When I was able to look through the eclipse glasses with shaking hands, the most I could see was a small gold crescent. Admittedly, I was underwhelmed.

Then I thought, “How amazing is it that this can even happen?” Then I was truly amazed.

Modern literature surrounding eclipses is quite varied. Some stories express confusion and horror at the disappearance of our beloved sun. Others describe the awe and the amazement that you cannot understand if you haven't seen one. The main purpose of literature is to express feelings.

No one person sees an eclipse the same way.

This variation in views is the reason there are so many types of literature out there and the reason there is much media surrounding eclipses.

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Bruin News

PAGE 6

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017

Honor Society members mentor new students

By RODNEY SELF The Bear Facts The St. Joe chapter of the National Honor Society is mentoring new students for the 2017-2018 school year.

Fourteen Honor Society members will serve their mentees as guides and tutors to 17 transfer students. They will be available to help the students anytime until the end of the school year.

The National Honor Society is one the nation’s premier organizations; it recognizes students’ academic achievements, leadership, service and character. Each school year, St. Joe inducts new junior and senior members into its chapter of the organization.

To become a member of the National Honor Society, a student is required to have a cumulative 3.75 grade point

average from ninth grade through 12th grade. Students must also maintain this grade point average through their senior year in high school to earn the light-blue stole at graduation in May. Service is one of St. Joe’s most important principles instilled within every student. Each year, high school students are required to earn 30 hours of community service.

Mr. Ryan Starrett, 12th grade theology teacher and adviser of the National Honor Society chapter, said that the program “helps a new student fit in.

They look up to the seniors and treasure what they say.”

“The most important thing the mentors do is provide a student perspective to getting through St. Joe.” Mr. Starrett said. “They serve by tutoring, guiding the new students and giving advice

“

through the whole year.”

Entering a new school in the middle I just try to make of high school is a very challenging experience. Students are in a new ensure that everyone feels vironment with new people, many of whom already have formed friendships a part of the St. Joe within their grade.

Nayan Molhorta, a junior transfer family.” student from Jackson Academy, said – Blaine Turner, that her hardest part coming to St. Joe was “meeting new people and adjust- National Honor Society ing to the schedule. My mentors have Mentor shown me around campus and introduced me to people and my teachers.”

Anderson Nixon, a sophomore at St. Joe, said the worst part about entering high school as a sophomore was “not knowing where everything was and getting lost a lot.” Nixon previously at- Society Member and student body tended Jackson Prep.

President Blaine Turner.

Nixon’s mentor is National Honor Nixon said that Turner has helped

WILLIAM LEE PRESIDENT 578 Lakeland East Drive Suite D Flowood, MS 39232 601-936-9371 1-800-924-3029 Fax: 601-936-9374 Cell: 601-209-0935

him adjust to St. Joe “by showing me where my classes are and introducing me to new people. He’s in a few of my classes, so he helped me adjust a lot easier.”

Turner said, “I like being the friendly face in the crowd for that person [Nixon] to make sure they begin to feel at home. I just try to always make sure that everyone always feels a part of the St. Joe family.”

This will be one of two National Honor Society service projects to the St. Joe community. However, Mr. Starrett said the other project is to be determined for another group of National Honor Society Seniors.

“St. Joe is great and I want to make sure that everyone feels comfortable in this loving and nurturing community,” Turner said.

GOOD LUCK TO THE SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL BASKETBALL AND SOCCER TEAMS

HAVE A GREAT SEASON

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Bruin News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20. 2017

Wargaming: More than just a game

W

hat is it that you like to do for fun? Some may say they like to do sports. Others might say they like to participate in school clubs.

As for me, I like to play wargames.

And I feel many others would like the hobby as well.

For those who have no idea of what wargaming is, hear me out.

Wargaming is playing simulated warfare with models of varying size from 15mm to something as large as 40mm.

Before wargaming was considered a game, it was a vital part of actual warfare. Military commanders would recreate battle fields so as to strategize where to put troops and predict where their enemies would strike.

Kriegspiel was a Prussian-made game introduced in the mid 1800s that resembles the modern wargame.

However, it used pieces of paper or cardboard for the units.

Wargaming didn’t reach its present

form until H. G. Wells wrote his book “Little Wars” in 1913. The hobby as we know it today would explode in the 1950s and 1960s.

CALEB Some of you WELCH may ask how I play entertainment wargames. Well, at a writer basic level it is quite simple.

First, there are many different wargames with many different rule, sets but they all follow the same structure.

The game has three different phases.

During the planning phase, you decide what troops to field at the beginning of the game and where you will deploy them.

During the movement phase, all players will move their units if they choose to do so.

Third is the attack phase when all of the units will then attack the enemy

units with the objective to take them out, Depending on which wargame you are playing, things like distance from an enemy, stats of weapons, armor class, and the roll of dice and or cards can determine damage.

Finally once all units are done with the attack phase, the game returns back to the movement phase to continue the cycle. Every single wargame you can play follows this cycle.

One of the blessings about wargaming is variation. There are hundreds of different types of wargames. They range from historical to science fiction.

Within these different themes are different types of games. There are three basic types of wargames.

First, you can have air-based wargames. Games like this deal with either aircraft or spacecraft. Two good example of this is “Star Wars X- Wing.”

Second, is sea-based game that deal typically with ships combating on the

sea. A good example of this is “Sails of Glory,” a game in which you sail and command Napoleonic-era ships.

Some games like “Star Wars Armada” use the same principle of ship with Star Destroyers and capital ships in space.

Third, is the classic land battles.

These games are the most common and classic form of wargames.

Two good examples of these types of games are “Warhammer 40k,”a science fiction wargame, and “Bolt Action,” a game set in World War II and focused on small-scale skirmish battles.

Wargaming is more than just playing the game. The other part of the hobby is actually building and painting the models; however, this is not true of all war games. This may intimidate people and prevent people from wanting to wargame.

I can tell you from personal experience it’s not really that hard.

First you have to cut out the pieces

PAGE 7

with wire cutters. Second, you have to scrape off any excess plastic left behind. Third, you use a special plastic glue to glue the pieces together after customizing the models to your liking Fourth, you prime the models to paint and then paint the models however you like.

All of these skills take time to develope and get easier over time. By that point the models are done and ready to be deployed.

Now one of the most important questions you my ask is where to go to get started. Well, I recommend going to the local game store or comic book store such as Van's Comics and Cards.

Also it doesn't hurt to look for wargaming groups online and coordinate with them.

But at the end of the day these people are very helpful and forthcoming with resources to help you. They want to create more wargamers so they will make sure you will have a good first experience.

‘Dunkirk’: Exciting look at little-known WWII battle

By CALEB WELCH The Bear Facts I recently saw the Christopher Nolan World War II epic “Dunkirk,” the story of the heroic mission to evacuate stranded Allied troops on the beach of Dunkirk while the Nazis surrounded their position.

The movie is told from three points of view.

One is from the soldiers on the beach and tells the harrowing story of their survival from Stuka dive-bombers and advancing German troops.

The second point of view is from a

REVIEW

lone RAF pilot and tells the story of the dangers of flying across the channel on low fuel, with the threat of being shot down or crash landing to prevent enemy fighters, dive bombers and bombers sinking the evacuation ships and other vessels in the area.

The last point of view is from a civilian ship being pressed into service to help evacuate soldiers from Dunkirk.

“Dunkirk” is, at the end of the day, an historical film. Nolan went to great lengths to make sure the movie was his-

torically accurate. All the filming took place at Dunkirk on the actual beach.

Period aircraft such as the British Spitfire and the German Messerschmitt BF 109 were used. Also, a French World War II destroyer was dressed up to look like a British destroyer for the film.

Characters in the film were based on people who were at Dunkirk.

“Dunkirk” is a very suspensive movie. The action is very tight and fluid to the point where it felt like bullets were coming for me. Because of this, there is very little dialogue in the movie. The action speaks for itself.

No movie is perfect. One of the

things that I did not enjoy was the film’s pacing. With the movie told from three different points of view and having to juggle with the time, events happen in different locations.

It feels like certain parts of the movie are glossed over while other parts of the movie receive too much attention. Also when there is dialogue in the movie, it is usually spoken very quietly and mumbled.

There were points in the movie where I didn't know what was going on. I also never knew any of the characters’ names, save for a few.

Over all, I did enjoy this movie. The

pros of this movie outweigh the cons.

And if you can get past it, you can enjoy this movie. Yet again, Nolan has made another masterpiece.

This movie is also great because it's not a movie where people are shooting mindlessly like some war movies. The movie shows us what it is like to truly fight in a war.

Also, because the battle of Dunkirk was relatively unknown to the general public, it allows a breath of fresh air in the movie industry – which I hope Hollywood can learn from and implement into future movies.

BruinTHON welcomes new committee members for year

By AMARI WELLS The Bear Facts With new leadership and a new committee of volunteers, the St. Joe senior who directs the BruinTHON fundraiser predicts another successful year.

Linda Martinez, a senior, took over from 2017 graduate Tess Lott, who led the event last year. BruinTHON, which raises money for the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, is St. Joe’s largest community fundraiser of the year.

“At first, it was Tess, last year’s director, asking me to take over,” Martinez said. “But then I quickly grew to love the fact that I was a part of something that was life-changing.

And being the leader of that has just given me a better perspective of what service is.”

BruinTHON is one of St. Joe’s biggest charitable fundraising events; it benefits the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital. The student body raises money with each attending student donating a bare minimum of $70 to $80.

Students also receive eight ser-

“

I just really want to see the students put their faith into their actions.”

– Kathryn Sckiets, campus minister vice hours for participating. The BruinTHON committee started to set up preliminary fundraisers leading up to BruinTHON to involve the students more.

New teacher and religious director Ms. Kathryn Sckiets and Martinez interviewed students the week of Aug. 21 for BruinTHON committee positions. After the selection was made, the committee started their planning for the event, with deadline for preparations in early April 2018 when the eight-hour marathon is due to take place.

BruinTHON is a student-led fundraising event.

“I’m especially looking for-

ward to the new faces of the committee,” Martinez said.

“Also, the betterment of communication and positivity . . . will definitely be a part of it.”

According to Ms. Sckiets, St. Joe is one of the only high schools in Mississippi that stages a fundraiser like BruinTHON. This is the first year Ms. Sckiets being an advisor at St. Joe. She is an alumna who is very excited about this new year.

Ms. Sckiets also is the director of the retreat team and the ninth grade English teacher. She was actually on the BruinTHON committee herself and participated in BruinTHON when it first began while she was a student.

“I just really want to see the students put their faith into their actions and through service to the community,” Ms. Sckiets said.

Jayla Davis, a senior, is looking forward to being very involved.

“This will be my second year on the BruinTHON Committee.

I am the fundraiser chair for the committee, meaning that I get

File photo BruinTHON raised $15,311 at the April 2017 event to benefit the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital.

to call businesses to see if they Jamarcus Sutton, another sewould be interested in giving nior, has been on the committee some of their profit to our cause for two years and his position is to help the children at Blair E. the morale chair.

Baston.”

“To me, BruinTHON means

getting the opportunity to be involved and a part of something bigger than yourself., and being able to help those in need while getting exercise,” he said.

PAGE 8

Homecoming 2017

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017

Homecoming highlights in pictures IMMEDIATE LEFT: Blaine Turner and Coach Scott Trousdale don their tourist garb for the Tourist Theme Day on Friday, Oct. 13.

SECOND PHOTO LEFT: Katie Joseph dances the limbo during a raucous pep rally Friday, Oct., 13, at Bill Raphael Field.

THIRD PHOTO LEFT: Kennedy Boykin, left, Riley Cole and Ms. Kathryn Sckiets play musical chairs during a Homecoming Week pep rally at the end of the school day on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Grace Goodloe ultimately won.

BELOW: Leila De Gruy performs with the Spirit Steppers at the Homecoming pep rally at Bill Raphael Field.

All photos by Kaycee Jackson/The Bear Facts

ABOVE: Hannah Toombs dances at the pep rally that ended the day on Tuesday, Oct. 10, during Homecoming Week. Photo by Kaycee Jackson/ The Bear Facts LEFT: Kaycee Jackson enjoys an ice cold bottle of Diet Coke at the Friday, Oct. 13, Homecoming pep rally at Bill Raphael Field. Photo by Rodney Self/The Bear Facts

Bruin Sports

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017

PAGE 9

Bruin basketball ready to take the court

By ANDREW SANLI The Bear Facts The Bruin men’s basketball team is ready to attack this season, eager to avenge last year’s playoff loss to the eventual state runners-up, the Baldwyn Bearcats.

Players have been working hard with new basketball coach Michael Howell. Coach Howell started at St. Joe in April after former Coach Tyler O’Hara stepped down from the position.

Athletic Director Todd Lott contacted Coach Howell after the job opened and Coach Howell couldn’t help but take it.

“I was an assistant coach for the past few GABE years, so I was ready WATSON to take that next step,” senior Howell said.

Coach Howell is the third coach in as many years for the Bruins. O’Hara led the team last year, preceded by Coach Nick Stamps who led the team to the semifinals of the state playoffs in 2016.

O’Hara led the team to the quarterfinals last season before suffering a tough loss 74-53 to Baldwyn.

The team has been preparing in the weight room and on the court ever since summer began, taking advantage of the new athletic block.

All this hard work is expected to pay off when the Bruins square off with big name teams such as 5A Winfield, 6A Pearl and 6A Brandon.

Coach Howell scheduled many difficult match ups this season with top tier programs only to prepare his play-

ers for the fast pace play that will take place in the playoffs.

“If you play a weak schedule you won’t be ready for the playoffs,” Howell said.

The Bruins are led by senior Gabe Watson who plays guard and is tabbed as one of the best in the state. Watson has committed to play college ball at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Although Coach Howell is new to St. DOUGLAS Joe, he and Watson WATSON junior have crossed paths before. This will be their fourth year working together.

Gabe is “super talented, hard working, and has a desire to be the best player on the team, always outworked everybody else,” Howell said.

CAMERON Coach Howell “has a WATSON special gift to teach the senior game of basketball,” Watson said.

St. Joe has been on the verge of the state championship for two straight seasons, and the team is hoping the third time is the charm.

Last season, the Bruins had a 14-5 record going into the playoffs. With a win at home over Richton in the first round and an exciting second round victory on the road at Prentiss, the Bruins then faced Baldwyn.

“After that game, we realized no matter how good you are this is a team sport and one person can be stopped.

SWIM TEAM, from page 10

Bruin swimmer Reid Smith competes in the butterfly earlier this season.

Photo by Olivia Patterson/The Bear Facts Gave Watson and Doug Watson practice with members of the Bruin boys basketball team. The team opens its season next month.

So we’ve been working on trying to make every link on our chain as strong as possible,” Watson said.

This new mind-set combined with good coaching can lead to something great achieved at the Joe. Gabe Watson won’t be the only Watson on the team for the Bruins this season, even though there is no relation.

Douglas Watson and Cameron Watson will also join Gabe on the hardwood this season. The Watson trio is expected to tear up the competition, be team leaders and help them reach the state

and Weisenberger to win the 200 freestyle relay.

J.C. Dorroh, a newcomer to St. Joe this year, won both his individual events – the 200 and 500 freestyle.

Dorroh teamed with Kenny Thomas, Gabe Blaylock, and Jacob Harkins to win the 200 medley relay.

Thomas, Dorroh, Harkins and Jack Clements finished second in the 400 freestyle relay. The 200 freestyle relay, with Harkins, Clements, Covey Lockhart and Nikolai Armour took second.

Sophomore Anna Chris Nicholas won the 200 freestyle and finished third in the 100 back. Weisenberger won the 500 freestyle and finished second in the 200 IM. Avery Nicholas scored a second in the 100 breaststroke and a third in the 200 IM. Hankins finished second in the 100 free and fourth in the 200 freestyle. Thomas won third in the 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 breaststroke.

Lockhart had his career first gold medal in the 50 freestyle. He swam his season’s best in the 100 free and earned him third place. Thomas and Clements finished second in both their events – Thomas in the 100 butterfly Photo by Jack Clements/The Bear Facts and the 100 backstroke and Clements in the 100 freestyle and the 100

PEARSON COLUMN, from page 10 For nine long months, Joseph could do nothing but watch her soccer teammates from the sideline and watch the volleyball players from courtside.

She cheered them on, but quietly hated missing a chance to play soccer or prepare for the fall 2017 volleyball season.

Sports withdrawal Not playing was as painful as the injury.

“Not being able to play sports and having to just watch my team is frustrating to me,” she said.

“And also with how long it took – you want to get better so fast.

Unfortunately with this injury, you just can’t.”

Complicating her recovery was the mental toll the ACL tear caused. As Joseph put it: “It is always going to be

“

Even while persevering through her physical SUZANNE ANTONAROS struggles volleyball coach of her knee injury, Katie has been a leader on and off the court.” in my mind to be careful on that leg.

The problem is that in volleyball and soccer, you can’t play timid.”

But Joseph was determined. She wanted to return to the field and the

playoffs.

With only a few familiar faces in the starting lineup, the Bruins will have to replace former players such as Winfred Ross and Kydarius Williams.

“Grayson (Foley) is really going to help us a lot, and so is Nathan Nickens,” Coach Howell said.

The Bruins could use all the help they get at the start of the season. The Bruins will be limited to a seven-man rotation, as many players will still be playing football.

“We won’t have depth like some

court. She was not going to let this ACL tear ruin what she wanted to be a memorable senior year at St. Joe. She

wanted to go out on a high.

Finally, after working hard at physical therapy for months, Joseph was cleared on Aug. 17 to play sports at St. Joe – just in time for her senior volleyball season.

A true leader The never-die attitude of Joseph has inspired many at St. Joe – especially those who appreciate just how painful a ACL tear can be. Joseph has become an example for others.

Suzanne Antonaros, Joseph’s volleyball coach, can’t say enough about her player.

“Even while persevering through her physical struggles of her knee injury, Katie has been a leader on

“

teams,” Howell said.

For the Bruins this season, they’ve got their mind fixed on a state championship and will do whatever it takes to get there.

“I think with Coach Howell’s coaching skills and the team doing the rest of its part … we can really do something very special for St. Joe and make history,” Gabe Watson said.

In the next edition of The Bear Facts, a preview of the girl’s basketball season. breaststroke. Harkins was third in the 100 fly.

“We had a lot of success for both the girls and boys,” Dorrah said.

“However, there’s always room for improvement. And with state meet (around) the corner, we all have to work extra hard.”

Other qualifiers on the men and women’s teams are: Armour, Blaylock, Jax Rasmussen, Andrew Dotson, Robert Archer, Eli Carter, Noah Harkins, Ried Smith, Wiley Grantham, David Warnock, Liam Moorehead, Alaina Liess, Abby Starnes, Jessica Smith, Claire Conn, Grace Anne Weisenberger, Clare Harkins, Maren Hrivnak, Laura Catherine Inman and Sydni Vandevender.

“I am so proud of all the swimmers, new and old,” said Avery Nicholas, a senior. “Each swimmer met personal goals and worked together to swim smart and strategically.”

The State Team will travel to Tupelo for the Oct. 28 championship. The girls are vying for their third consecutive win. The boys hope to improve from last year’s fourth place finish.

Relays, which award double points, will be a large factor in the points for both the men’s and women’s competitions.

the volleyball team, the Lady Bruins have gone 4-1 in district play – putting Katie is themselves in a great position for the playoffs. a vital leader Ellie Heilman, a sophomore on the on our team. volleyball team, called Joseph “a vital leader on our team. She also adds an She also adds element of toughness. We all know an element what she’s been through, and her ELLIE 578 Lakeland East Drive HEILMAN toughness speaks for itself.” of toughness. volleyball Suite D Maybe that’s why Joseph’s story We all knowFlowood,teammate MS 39232is so compelling because it’s often at their lowest point when a person’s what she’s 601-936-9371 shining achievement is revealed. been through1-800-924-3029 and her She remembers that cold November night on Brandon High School’s Fax: 601-936-9374 toughness speaks for Cell: 601-209-0935field when she fell to the ground in itself.” unbelievable pain.

Despite the challenges and struggles Email: wlee@southernbusinesssolutions.net she faced since then, all that matters is and off the court,” Coach Antonaros she is back with a vengeance ready to said. finish out her senior year and leave a In fact, now that Joseph is back on legacy of unmatched perseverance.

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Bruin Sports PAGE 10

sports line GABE WATSON COMMITS TO USM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017

SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL

MADISON, MISSISSIPPI

NORTH STATE CHAMPS!

Senior Gabe Watson has committed to play basketball at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Watson, a guard, has dominated the competition in 2A over the last two year; it’s a trend likely to continue this year as he hopes to lead his team to a state title.

More on Bruin basketball inside.

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VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS

n OCT. 19 at Alcorn Central, 5 p.m.

Bruins hope to take it all at state championship meet in Tupelo

I

from staff reports

f the North State Swim meet is a predictor of the upcoming state championship in Tupelo, the Bruins could be rocking the pool in Elvis’ hometown.

Both the Bruin men’s and women’s swim teams brought home the top honors at the North State Swim Meet held Saturday, Oct. 14, in Cleveland at the Delta State University Natatorium.

Senior Emma Adkins was the Bruin girls’ top scorer as she has been throughout the season. Adkins won both her individual events, the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.

Adkins also anchored the winning 400 freestyle relay and the second place 200 medley relay. She is a favorite for winning these events at the state meet.

Teaming with Adkins on the 400 relay were Caleigh Hankins, Anna Chris Nicholas and Elizabeth Weisenberger.

Avery Nicholas and Arilyn Thomas swam with Anna Chris

ABOVE PHOTO: Bruin swimmers celebrate on Saturday, Oct. 14, after the boys and girls teams won at the North State Meet on the Delta State University campus in Cleveland. From left: Emma Adkins, Maren Hrivnak, Jax Rasmussen, Coach Lauri Collins, Avery Nicholas, Andrew Dotson and Emma Dotson.

Both teams now head to the state championship meet on Saturday, Oct. 28, in Tupelo. Photo special to The Bear Facts.

BOTTOM PHOTO: Reid Smith competes in the breastroke in this file photo from earlier this year. Photo by Jack Clements/The Bear Facts

See SWIM TEAM, Page 9

Tough football schedule pays off for Bruins

By JOE PEARSON The Bear Facts After a slow start to the season, the Bruin football team enters the final two regular season game with a 6-3 overall record, a 2-0 district record, a fourgame winning streak and a possible spot in the state playoffs.

The Bruins’ most recent win: a 47-27 Homecoming victory over the Canton Academy Panthers.

Up next: The Bruins will travel Friday to district foe Puckett, 4-5 overall and 0-3 in district play. Puckett is coming of an Oct. 13 road loss to Mize 40-8, a team the Bruins defeated 38-24 at home two weeks ago.

The last time the Bruins and Puckett Wolves met in football was 2016 when the Wolves spoiled the Bruins’ Homecoming by winning 27-7.

St. Joe opened the season with a

brutal schedule. The Bruins played Newton High School for the season opener, losing handily.

Two weeks later, the Bruins lost in a close game to MAIS powerhouse Jackson Academy. Two weeks after that, the Bruins lost to Jackson Prep, a team that has won its classification state championship five years in a row.

However, these tough loses might be the best thing the team could have experienced. The Bruins then rattled off four straight wins, beating Union High School, Pelahatchie High School, Mize High School and Canton Academy.

“I think the tough schedule early in the season made us improve in every way possible,” said Sales de La Barre, a senior offensive and defensive lineman. “It’s really going to help us take on the tough teams as we get into the playoffs and hopefully when we’re playing in December.”

Photo by Bailey Miller/The Bear Facts

Quarterbacks Reed Collins, left, and Charlie Lott warms up for the Bruins.

Katie Joseph: Making a comeback after devastating injury

M

ADISON – Katie Joseph, her cheeks bright red and her breath quickly condensing into fog, JOE was starting for the St. PEARSON Joe Lady Bruins soccer sports editor team.

It was a unusually cold night in November 2016 that felt more like January than late autumn.

Joseph, though, was used to the cold; she played soccer in weather like that before. Her team was 4-1 in district play, had dreams of making

the playoffs and wanted more than anything to knock off powerhouse Brandon High School, a higherdivision public high school.

“It was the first half, and this girl and I were kind of pushing,” Joseph recalled. “We were shoulder-toshoulder, nothing too aggressive. But she kind of stepped in front of me a little.

“I turned, and my knee cap popped out of place,” she said. “Then I heard something else in my left leg pop.”

Joseph fell to the ground, writhing and crying in pain. In one brief move, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament, the ACL – one of the most common

knee injuries in sports and one of the most painful.

“It was probably one of the worst pains I’ve ever experienced,” Joseph said.

Joseph was carted off the field.

Without her strong defensive play, the Bruin defense struggled and lost to Brandon 7-1.

Long recovery

“

Not being able to play sports and having to just watch my team is frustrating to me.”

KATIE JOSEPH senior

Joseph knew immediately she would have a long, difficult recovery. She knew she was out for the rest of the First and foremost on her mind was Bruin soccer season. She feared she surgery, set for Dec. 22 right before might also miss volleyball season.

Christmas. In fact, Joseph opened

Christmas presents from her wheel chair at home.

Physical therapy was a long, grueling, intensive ordeal that involved hundreds of hours of exercise using thick bands fore leg lifts and kneestrengthening activities.

Meanwhile, all she could do was watch her teammates from the sideline of the soccer games she attended. She was frustrated and angry.

“One of the hardest parts was just not being able to help my team,” she said. “Just sitting there idle was probably the worst part of this all.”

See PEARSON COLUMN Page 9