The Bear Facts, November 2014

HOMECOMING 2014 RELIVE A WEEK IN HOLLYWOOD PAGES 6, 7

BRUIN WEIGHT LIFTER BALADI TRADES FOOTBALL FOR WEIGHTS

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Bear Facts the

VOLUME 17, NO. 2

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014

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www.thebearfacts.net

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ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL

NO. 1 IN THE STATE! Cutting-edge company ranks St. Joseph Catholic School the best private high school in metropolitan Jackson and all of Mississippi

Swimmers strike gold at state meet

By BRIA PAIGE The Bear Facts The St. Joe swim team, under the direction of Coach Lauri Collins, finished off their impressive season at the annual State Swim Meet held at the Tupelo Aquatic Center on November 1st.

The girls team placed second place behind rival, St. Andrews, with senior captain Niijor May leading the way.

The boys team placed third, approximately five points behind second runner up, St. Al. NIIJOR MAY “It was really cool to finish senior year with a win . My teammates were cool and it was great finishing first with them,” said Niijor May. Jack Collins won the 100 meter freestyle, winning the team’s only individual medal.

The girls 200 meter relay JACK team, including Niijor May, COLLINS Sophia Waddingham, Avery and Anna Chris Nicholas, together won a gold medal in the relay race.

There were four additional first place champions from the team, which helped propel the teams to place in the top three.

from staff reports photo by Leila de Gruy ABOVE PHOTO: St. Joseph Catholic School students celebrate Niche’s ranking of the institution as the Best Private School in metropolitan Jackson and the state of Mississippi. Niche evaluated 66 private schools across the state to determine the rankings.

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INSIDE t. Joseph Catholic n Complete School is rated the list of top top private school high schools, in Mississippi by PAGE 3 Niche, a cutting-edge company whose popular website provides reviews and insights into elementary and secondary schools nationwide.

Niche ranks St. Joe No. 1 among 66 private high schools it rated across Mississippi. St. Joe topped Jackson-area schools that included St. Andrew’s Episcopal, Jackson Academy, Jackson Prep and Madison-Ridgeland Academy.

“It shows our community that we can be better than the bigger schools in our area,” said Max Rooks, an eighth-grader at St. Joe and one of many students whose siblings, parents and grandparents are Bruin students or graduates.

See BEST HIGH SCHOOL, Page 3

“

It was really cool to finish senior year with a win,” – Niijor May, senior and swim captain at St. Joe

About 1,000 swimmers statewide competed in this year’s state meet. Twentyfive swimmers from St. Joe competed in a wide array of events in early November.

The team worked hard before the meet in order to finish second and third place and win many awards. Coach Collins leads early morning and afternoon practices preparing the team for the meet.

Before the State Meet, both the girls and boys teams won the North State Swimming Meet held at the Courthouse on Lakeland Dr. The swim team is under the direction of Coach Collins, who is assisted by the senior and junior captains of the team. Senior captains are Will Booth and Niijor May, the fastest girl on the team. The junior captains are Nick Burrow and Jack Collins, the fastest boy on the team. But the upperclassmen don’t even make up the bulk of the team.

See SWIM TEAM, Page 3

St. Joe stages successful Homecoming – Hollywood style

By ARMONI WILLIAMS The Bear Facts From the themed dress days to the red carpet that greeted guests at the dance, St. Joseph Catholic School Homecoming 2014 was one to remember.

With the theme “A Week in Hollywood,” students dressed like their favorite film characters and heroes during the school week before turning the Homecoming dance into a Hollywood bash.

“I think this year’s Homecoming was better than last year,” said Lucy Hamil, a sophomore homecoming maid. Homecoming is an annual week-long celebration designed to promote what makes St. Joe special. It’s also an annual event that often attracts hundreds of St. Joe alumni who attend the annual Homecom-

ing football game INSIDE Friday night, the alumni reception n Parade before the game raises spirits and planned class PAGE 6 reunion events on n More Saturday and SaturHomecoming day night. week photos This year was PAGES 6, 7 much of the same.

Events started on Monday with Homecoming T-shirt day, in which students wore their official Homecoming T-shirt.

On Tuesday, students dressed like their favorite Disney character. On Wednesday, it was favorite TV and couples day.

Thursday was superhero/villain day, in which students dressed as a superhero

INSIDE THIS EDITION n Opinion: Page 2 n News: Pages 3, 4, 6, 7 n Entertainment: Page 5 n Bruin Sports: Page 9, 10

or villain. It was followed by the Homecoming parade and formal court presentation that night.

Friday was blue-and-gold day, in which students dressed in school colors.

That night was the Homecoming football game and an alumni reception.

Alumni continued to get together on Saturday with the annual alumni Homecoming Mass that day, followed by individual alumni gatherings across metro Jackson and the Homecoming dance on campus that night.

Everyone, however, was excited about the parade on Thursday and the big blowout win from the Friday night Homecoming game.

Photo by Leila de GruyThe Bear Facts Students, faculty and parents helped Seniors Kendall Comish (Peter Pan), Gracie Conn (Wendy) and Brian Flaherty See HOMECOMING, Page 7

(Jack Sparrow) show their school spirit during Homecoming week.

DID YOU KNOW? Bruins Sports Radio, our student-run internet radio station that webcasts St. Joe football live, is the state’s only high school radio station run by high school students.

Visit The Bear Facts Online www.thebearfacts.net

Opinion

PAGE 2

Cultural diversity at St. Joe

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hen St. Joseph Catholic School was named the No. 1 private school in Mississippi this month, among the reasons cited were academics, athletics and diversity.

St. Joe is no doubt diverse. In fact, our diversity is one of the greatest benefits of attending St. Joe. With an enrollment of more than 420 students – who include Asians, Hispanics and African Americans – we have an opportunity to interact with each other and learn about widely different cultures. And with that comes the responsibility of respect.

As students, we need to respect each other as a person, respect each other’s background, respect each other’s upbringing and respect each other’s culture.

There is no room for intolerance. Not today. Not in the 21st Century. And certainly not at St. Joseph Catholic School.

our nation, our state, our city and our schools has been fogged by ignorant discourse.

The Millennial Generation, NOAH GREENE of which high managing editor school students are a part, is our nation’s most idealist, thoughtprovoking and intellectuallydriven group. There is no doubt that cultural close-mindedness and racism begins to decrease with each passing generation.

But the Millennial Generation still faces a form of racism that more often than not is rooted in others’ inability – and sometimes unwillingness – to respect people who are markedly different from them.

Some mask these insensitive thoughts as a form of humor.

While others may find a laugh, it is at the expense of some different races and cultures of which they know little.

CLASSROOM EXAMPLE

OPEN DIALOGUE NEEDED Here is a good example: I am Yet, in many ways, we as a in class, another student turns people have failed. The open off the lights and someone blurts dialogue between cultures across out, “Where did Noah go?”

Of course, the punch line here is that I’m dark- skinned. It was obviously good for a laugh – one, of course, that came at my expense.

Now, it was obvious to everyone that I, the darker skinned person, was clearly visible in the room even with the lights turned off. But because others find it humorous and acceptable, they say it anyway.

Another example: I often hear the phrase “Noah, you’re white,” more than likely because of my social interactions. But to say that puts me in a category where I do not belong and it highlights another weak example of misplaced humor.

On flip side, I have heard minority students remark that “white people can’t dance” or “white people can’t rap.”

Despite these specific

“

There is no room for intolerance. Not today. Not in the 21st Century.”

examples, I do want to say that not everyone is guilty of these instances.

SHOW RESTRAINT Those of you who may be in that very small minority, please cease and desist. You certainly can find something funnier than taking a jab at a person’s heritage.

And that leads me to my most important point: to further open the roads of knowledge and discourse, schools should educate their students on varying cultures through a cultural diversity class or through various speakers holding seminars on such subjects.

Simply educating a student body about African Americans during Black History Month is not enough. Let’s honor African American leaders and other people’s heritage throughout the entire school year.

St. Joe already has taken the lead.

Our school has done much to foster a strong understanding and respect of other, diverse cultures. Just this month, a group of St. Joe seniors took a field trip to a Hindu temple in Rankin County.

Let’s continue down that road.

Raising awareness of a deadly disease

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ast month we took the time to recognize a terrible disease that has afflicted our country.

We raise awareness for breast cancer because many women in our state have suffered and still suffer from this disease. Many of our students here at St. Joe have family members who have dealt with breast cancer.

From a personal view, my Aunt Toni Doyle suffered with breast, lung and brain cancer before she died on April 28, which was two days after prom.

I got a text from my mom after school telling me to meet her at my aunt’s house. When I arrived, the entire family was gathered except for her. I was very confused. Soon after, my mom broke the news to me. It was a sad time for my family.

My aunt had been struggling with cancer for years before God called her home. It made me realize how important it is to know about different diseases

because you never know when something similar can happen to your family. It hurt very deeply when I lost someone so sweet and so close MIA NICHOLS to me. opinion page editor Losing someone is the worst pain anyone could feel, physically and mentally, because you will never see that person again.

Goodbyes aren’t supposed to be such a terrible thing to experience, so raising awareness helps families prepare for anything to come. The worst part was seeing my mom cry. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is very important to my family because this disease has stricken so many families, especially mine.

This year, we can all take action within our own communities and churches to raise awareness for cancer. For the past few years, St. Joe has done

something to raise awareness, but nothing this school year has been done to raise awareness.

This is something that is very important to many families at St. Joe. For example, the mother of Joanna Bellan, a senior, had breast cancer, and so did the mother of two other seniors, Isabelle and Sophia Cosmich.

Treatment is very expensive, which means some people can’t get treated immediately. This is a serious issue because cancer spreads through the body at a very fast pace, and sometimes people don’t even realize they have it until it has spread to other areas of the body. The disease strips the person of their energy and happiness, and it is our duty to ensure their happiness and do what is right by raising awareness.

Last month we should have been able to wear pink socks or other pink accessories with our uniforms, and on Fridays of last month we should have been able

to wear pink shirts or something dealing with breast cancer. We can also take the approach of charging a dollar for people who want to wear pink shirts. A few years ago, one of our seniors, Isabelle Cosmich, organized a powder puff football game to raise money for breast cancer awareness.

Many people in our school community have family and friends who are dealing with many forms of cancer. As a St. Joe community, we should seek to help someone else in spite of how busy we are in our own lives. October is the time where we put others before ourselves to make a change. The more we do now, the less of a struggle it will be to get help later. This year we encourage many women, young and old, to regularly get tested for diseases such as breast cancer. Many of our women are suffering, and raising awareness gives us the opportunity to help others.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014

Our View

St. Joe rises to victory

Academic excellence at St. Joseph Catholic School is starting to receive much-deserved recognition. After being ranked as the best private school in the state of Mississippi, the St. Joe community is marking this great achievement with publicity and T-shirts for the students and faculty.

For years, St. Joe students, faculty and staff have strived for excellence, receiving various awards in broad and specific educational fields. The No. 1 by Niche, as outlined in a story on Page 1, only adds to an already strong school reputation.

The ranking likely will help increase student enrollment, bringing even more observers into this Catholic community.

Dedication alone did not place St. Joe in this position. In reality it was hard work, dedication, and help from the Almighty. None of this could be possible without help and guidance from God.

Season to be thankful As the first half of the school year comes to a close, we begin to think about how much for which we are thankful. As a St. Joe community, we have many things that are blessings.

During this fall season, we should remember people who have helped us. Instead of being ungrateful, we as a Christian family should put ourselves in someone else’s shoes to truly get a feel of being a generous and grateful person.

BEAR FACTS The

Bria Paige Editor

Noah Greene Managing Editor Mia Nichols Opinion Page Editor Jack Hall Sports Editor Jackson Olstad Features Editor Rachel Reddix Photo Editor

Student Views

The Bear Facts staff writer Brianna Cry asked St. Joseph students, “What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?”

“My friends and family.”

– DeZell Lathon, a senior

“Being alive” – Kelli May, a junior

“My friends at school.”

–Blaine Turner, a freshman

“Macaroni and cheese.”

– Bridget Abadie, a senior

“Being able to breathe and to have life.”

– Coralyn Jones, a sophomore

“Food, we’re blessed.”

– Collin Ledbetter, a freshman

Terry R. Cassreino, Faculty Adviser Keith Barnes, Principal Michael Juhas, President

The Bear Facts, the official student newspaper of St. Joseph Catholic School, is published at least once each quarter of the school year. This newspaper is devoted to the interests of the student body, faculty, parents, alumni and community of St. Joseph. This paper’s purpose is to reflect the spirit of St. Joseph Catholic School, keep the school community informed and help promote the school’s Christian values.

All stories and photographs are copyright © 2014 by The Bear Facts and St. Joseph Catholic School. Reproduction and unauthorized use of any article, photograph or graphic in this newspaper is prohibited without explicit written consent in advance. Contact The Bear Facts, P.O. Box 2027, Madison, MS 39130-2927.

Unless otherwise noted, 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.

If you disagree with any columnists’ opinions or want to share your own views, we invite you to submit a letter to the editor.

Letters should be no more than 300 words. The Bear Facts reserves the right to edit letters for clarity. Send your letter by email to thebearfacts@stjoebruins.com. Or mail them to: Letters to the Editor, The Bear Facts, P.O. Box 2027, Madison, MS 39130-2927

Bruin News

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014

St. Joe promotes STEM

By DREW MILNER The Bear Facts In order to inspire our 21st Century learners, St. Joe has incorporated a new and unique class with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Eighth grade students attend a class simply called STEM in addition to their science and math classes.

The new, state-of-the-art STEM lab, was obtained through a generous donation by The Douglas Drane Foundation. Mr. Drane graduated from St. Joe in 1958 and has had an extremely successful career in the sciences. The lab is located in the 500 Building. The classroom is filled with all new laptops, and the class is taught by Mrs. Emily Bechtold.

STEM incorporates science and math, but it is nothing like their normal classes. STEM class teaches a little bit of everything.

The students learn how to use

math and science in the world around them. It has such a practical side and brings the sciences to life before the students’ very eyes.

STEM gives the student a break from their normal everyday classes. It allows them to be creative and then put that creativity to work.

One may ask “Why STEM?” Well, recently there has been a big push for STEM in the United States due to the fact that the U.S. doesn’t even break the top twenty nations ranked in mathematics or science. This means that the U.S. delivers a less-than-excellent education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM education).

Given that so many Americans have shied away from STEM studies, America’s job industry has been forced to outsource these jobs overseas. This isn’t going to change unless a significant number of students pursue college degrees in the STEM field. The whole STEM intitia-

tive introduces students to the sciences and encourages creativity and project-based learning to build their kills and interest in the sciences.

STEM steps away from a passive and receptive form of teaching and encourages a more active and interactive mode. STEM encourages students to enjoy math and science and see it in a different setting than in the normal classroom. The only way the nation will thrive in the modern work force is if a strong foundation in math and science is established early.

STEM is more of a philosophy than an acronym. It integrates knowledge across all disciplines and encourages people to think in a more complete way.

This year’s new STEM class has revolutionized curriculum at St. Joe and is building a foundation where students can learn cutting-edge material. The future is bright for St. Joe and America with the new focus on STEM in the classroom.

BEST HIGH SCHOOL, from page 1

Niche based its rankings on a complex methodology that used educational and statistical data it collected related to all private high schools.

“A high ranking indicates that the school is an exceptional academic institution with a diverse set of high-achieving students who rate their experience very highly,” the company’s

website said.

Niche is a 12-year-old website that has been ranking colleges across the United States. Niche was founded in 2002 by Carnegie Mellon University students as CollegeProwler.com.

Last month, the company began ranking high schools across the country. Students and parents can use the company’s website,

MISSISSIPPI’S TOP 10 PRIVATE SCHOOLS

www.niche.com, to explore high school rankings, as well as compare educational outcomes across schools and school districts.

Principal Keith Barnes said the ranking shows how much St. Joe students and faculty have accomplished. He said he couldn’t be happer with the ranking.

“This rating by a national organization is a testament to the performance of and quality of our students here at St. Joe,” Barnes said. “We have a caring faculty that is second-to-none in the state.

2. St. Andrew’s Episcopal I think we won 3. Chamberlain-Hunt Academy (closed this fall) because of our 4. St. Joseph High School (Greenville) diversity.”

5. Jackson Prep – Bryant Grove, a 6. Tupelo Christian Prep sophomore 7. Heidelberg Academy 8. Starkville Academy “We have a long history of 9. The Veritas School serving the metropolitan area, its families and its students,” he 10. Porters Chapel Academy (Vicksburg) said. “We have a great student SOURCE: Niche.com rankings body, talented and dedicated faculty and strong leadership from the Catholic Diocese that has made us what we are today.”

METROPOLITAN JACKSON’S TOP St. Joe students also were 10 PRIVATE SCHOOLS excited by the ranking. Some said being the No. 1 private high 1. St. Joseph Catholic School school in state gives increased value to their education and high 2. St. Andrew’s Episcopal school diploma.

3. Jackson Prep “I think it’s great to be No. 1,” Bryant Grove, a sophomore 4.. The Veritas School at St. Joe, said. “I think we won 5. Madison-Ridgeland Academy because of our diversity.”

6. Jackson Acadeny “It’s good for the school,” Emilie Urson, an 11th grader, 7. Mt. Salus Christian School said. “And it will bring more 8. The Education Center students in.”

9. Canton Academy 10. Tri-County Academy

Ninth Grade Retreat

Special to The Bear Facts The Class of 2018 attended their ninth grade retreat on Thursday, Nov. 13, at St. Francis Catholic Church. It was the last retreat of the fall semester.

SWIM TEAM, from page 1

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1. St. Joseph Catholic School

PAGE 3

With a total of 57 dedicated swimmers, the swim team also earned a spotlight for being one of the biggest and most diverse teams on campus. The swim team displays a nice balance of both middle and high school swimmers, which sets the team apart from any other fall sport on campus.

Although a chunk of the team did not compete at the State meet, the progress each swimmer has made individually has already increased the team’s talent tremendously since the start of the season.

“To me, success in swimming does not just mean that we win meets. I love the individual successes that come every day during the season,” said Coach Collins.

The focus on individual success motivates every swimmer who spends such a large portion of their day in the pool. They are building the discipline and healthy habits that will last them a lifetime. We see this especially from the swimmers who choose to continue their swim careers in college.

With the hard work and dedication displayed by the swim team year in and year out, there is no doubt St. Joe will see many swim titles for years to come.

ST. JOE SWIM MEET AWARDS 1. Jack Collins won gold in the 100 freestyle and 4th in the 200 free.

2. Niijor May, Sophia Waddingham, Avery and Anna Chris Nicholas together won the girls’ 200 freestyle relay.

3. Niijor May: 2nd in 50 free, 3rd in 100 free 4. Sophia Waddingham: 3rd in 200 free and 100 back 5. Anna Chris Nicholas: 3rd in 500 free and 6th in the 200 free 6. Avery Nicholas: 4th in the 100 breast and 5th in the 200 IM 7. Emma Adkins: 5th in the 500 free and 6th in the 200 IM 8. Ellie Smith: 7th in the 50 free 9. Anna Chris Nicholas, Emma Adkins, Ellie Smith and Niijor May were 2nd in the 400 free relay 10. Sophia Waddingham, Avery Nicholas, Emma Adkins, and Ellie Smith were 2nd in the 200 Medley relay.

11. Will Booth: 3rd in the 100 breaststroke 12. Will Butts: 7th in the 200 free, 8th in the 100 back.

13. Nick Burrow: 5th in 100 free, 8th in the 50 free 14. Kenny Thomas: 5th in the 500 free, 6th in the 100 fly 15. Graham Hlavac: 7th in the 100 breaststroke 16. Andrew Dotson: 7th in the 200 IM 17. Jacob Harkins: 8th in the 100 fly 18. Nick Burrow, Kenny Thomas, Andrew Dotson and Jack Collins earned bronze in the 400 free relay.

19. Will Butts, Will Booth, Kenny Thomas and Andrew Dotson were 4th in the 200 medley relay.

20. Will Butts, Will Booth, Nick Burrow and Jack Collins were 5th in the 200 free relay.

Staff writers Russell Patterson, Olivia Patterson and JoJo Katool contributed to this report.

SOURCE: Niche.com rankings

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Bruin News

PAGE 4

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014

Students and faculty unite to remember legacy

By NOAH GREENE The Bear Facts Hearts filled with joy on a Sunday afternoon as students, faculty, and friends came together to remember the life of Brother Dan Lauber.

A wide variety of the St. Joe community, both present and past, including former faculty members such as former Principal William Heller, attended the memorial service.

The program committee was under the leadership of Brother John Brennan. The other committee members included Charlene Papale, Anne Piazza, and

Bridget Moorehead.

Principal Keith Barnes began the series of reflections by remembering Brother Dan’s positive and encouraging attitude saying, “Even when it looked bleak, he continued to encourage me. I appreciate the opportunity I was given to encounter Brother (Dan).”

Amongst the other speakers reflecting on Brother Dan’s more than 41 years of educational service was Brother Ray, a member of the Congregation of Christian Brothers in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Brother Ray met Brother Dan for the first time in 1963 at a

high school run by the Christian Brothers in the South Bronx of New York City.

Brother Ray described his longtime friend as an earnest and courteous individual who had a great sense of humor but who also knew how to correctly discipline students. When Brother Ray came to Mississippi in June to help clean out Brother Dan’s office, he found on the wall a quote saying, “May your gift of teaching open minds to new ideas.”

Mary Kathryn Wheatley, a St. Joe Senior, also expressed her gratitude in a personal reflection read by Bridget Moorehead, the

up ideas of where they want to volunteer so that other fellow students can participate.

The Service Club can benefit many students by giving them a wide range of options for completing their service hours in a way that also builds leadership and community.

“Service Club provides a student network that gives students

Students in grades 9-12 are required to have 30 volunteer service hours, five of which must be through direct service. Middle school students are required to have 20 service hours, three of which must be through direct service.

The direct service hours are a new addition to the requirements this year. These service hours provide a more hands-on experience for the students, and the Service Club plans to aid in this with volunteering in nursing homes as well as soup kitchens.

If students from any grade are still interested in joining the Service Club, they can talk to Mrs. Banks. There is a short form that must be filled out that asks the student's areas of interest and the club fee is five dollars.

“There are many different volunteer organizations that are always in need of a helping hand.

It’s a beneficial situation for both the organizations and the students,” said Nixon.

Nixon encourages all students to join in the efforts to make the Service Club as effective as possible.

The Service Club is an organiSUBMITTED PHOTO zation that will truly make a dif- Members of the service club make Thanksgiving cards for St. Dominic’s Hospital. The members ference in the St. Joe community from left to right are Ellen Gwin, Liam Moorehead, Christo Hicks, Cole Green, Niijor May and Avery and the world around them.

Progreba.

senior religion teacher. Wheatley expressed how Brother Dan would lift up her spirits. “He truly had the Holy Spirit living and working in him,” she said.

Fellow Christian Brother, friend, and St. Joe faculty member, Brother John Brennan, was the last person to speak about his dear friend Brother Dan. Br. John described Br. Dan’s life as similar to the parable of the seed sower. In the same way that the actions of the seed sower continue to live on after death, so too do the good works of Br. Dan. During his tenure at St. Joe, Br. Dan was a strong supporter of extracurricular activities such

as basketball, football, speech and debate, and the St. Joe theatre productions, as well as many more. Br. Dan also enjoyed going to the Senior Class Art Show at the end of the year and admired the FAST and the Booster Club.

In his free time Brother Dan enjoyed gardening, praying the Rosary, and watching ranging television shows. Amongst this list was the popular criminal detective drama Law and Order, along with televised Masses.

Few people also knew that Br. Dan enjoyed cooking and in retirement planned to cook meals to be delivered to the poor.

Br. Dan also enjoyed visiting

Tallahassee, FL, for the congregational meetings of the Christian Brothers to spend time with his friends and give his input.

During the service, the choir and band performed four of Br. Dan’s favorite songs: “Joyful, Joyful we adore thee,” “Morning has Broken,” “Hail Mary: Gentle Women, and “Be Not Afraid.”

In closing, Br. John Brennan expressed that we should count our blessings and appreciate that he was a part of our lives.

Br. Dan was man of tireless service to both his immediate community and to the people around him, and St. Joe will forever be grateful for his service.

St. Joe service club makes a big return to campus life

By JOANNA BELLAN The Bear Facts The Saint Joseph Service Club will be returning this year, thanks to senior Jean-Nicolette Nixon, who brought the idea up to Mrs. Banks at the beginning of the school year.

Nixon wanted a way to turn getting service JEAN-NICOLETTE hours into a NIXON group activity where students who have similar volunteer interests can have the chance to work together.

Mrs. Banks will serve as the teacher sponsor and will be leading the Service Club and its more than 45 members, ranging from seventh through twelfth grade.

The Service Club will give students the opportunity to work as a school community through volunteer work in both small and large groups, as well as give them the chance to bring their own service suggestions to the table.

Students can volunteer in their areas of interest and bring

“

Service club provides a student network that gives students the opportunity to serve together.”

– Mary Banks, Campus Minister the opportunity to serve together,” said Mrs. Banks, who is also the Campus Minister.

Service hours for the first semester are due December 1st, and starting this year service hours will be turned in through an online application that Mrs. Banks will be introducing to all the grades.

You won’t be able to put down DIRECTOR’S CUT, the ELECTRIFYING new thriller from Mississippi author and St. Joe dad JOE LEE! Grab a signed copy at Lemuria in Jackson or The Bookshelf in Ridgeland. Makes a great Christmas gift!

You won’t be able to put down DIRECTOR’S CUT, the ELECTRIFYING new thriller from Mississippi author and St. Joe dad JOE LEE! Grab a signed copy at Lemuria in Jackson or The Bookshelf in Ridgeland. Makes a great Christmas gift!

And download The Legend of Roger, the exciting adventure novel from St. Joe junior JOHN LEE, from Amazon Kindle.

And download The Legend of Roger, the exciting adventure novel from St. Joe junior JOHN LEE, from Amazon Kindle.

Published by Dogwood Press of Brandon, MS

www.dogwoodpress.com

Published by Dogwood Press of Brandon, MS

www.dogwoodpress.com

Entertainment

The ultimate guide to fantasy football THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014

O

nce again, football has returned for another exciting season around the nation.

Fans of the game today have surpassed just watching football to analyzing, critiquing, and finding more ways to ring out their most beloved sport.

The most popular enterprise the sport has created is Fantasy Football. Fantasy Football is a game where people create their own teams and join a league to play for free against each other.

When building a team, you can be creative by coming up with the team’s name and logo. The next step is to join a league. The most common type is a head-to-head league, where teams play a different team every week. Leagues vary in size, starting at the minimum of four teams to a total of twenty teams.

Once each team is set up, strategy comes in play. Opponents act as general managers

and start by drafting real NFL players for their team.

A winning fantasy football team starts with a good draft.

JACK OLSTAD “The entertainment draft makes or breaks your team for the rest of the season,” said Jack Cottingham, a veteran fantasy footballer. “It’s kinda like your’s teams foundation: if it’s built well, you have a better chance to win your league.”

It would be ill-advised to buy a car without doing some research on the vehicle; the same principle goes for a fantasy draft.

You can prepare with magazines

by Sports Illustrated and ESPN that offer player reports and drafting tips.

Find a time when everyone in the league is free and set your

draft time on the fantasy web site. There are many different styles of drafting, but the most popular is a snake draft. This draft’s name gives away its pattern. After the draft order is chosen randomly, the first person drafts and it goes in order to the last, then resets so the last person that went picks first for the second round.

Every team drafts 16 players and must fill in their roster. Every team must have one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one defense, one kicker, and the one last position called the flex. This spot can be taken by any running back, tight end, or receiver. The remaining seven are moved to the bench where they can be switched with starters in and out easily.

Thankfully, if your star quarterback and his backup both strain their ankles in the same week, Fantasy Football allows you to trade with other teams in your league. Also, a vast library of the remaining NFL teams and players that weren’t chosen in the draft are available in the player market.

When your lineup is set and Week One comes around, Fantasy Football gives scores to players based on productivity on game day. For example, every ten yards for a running back and receiver is one point, as is twenty-five yards for a quarterback.

A loss the first week is not the end of the world. The Fantasy season is fourteen weeks not including playoffs, giving every team so much room for error.

After the playoffs in weeks 14 and 15, the championship is played along with the consolation game between the teams with the next best records.

There is no official prize for the winner, giving leagues the chance to decide a worthy award.

The NFL season is almost half-over, which sadly means it is too late to start a season on Fantasy Football. Get a group of friends and sign up for the 2015 NFL season to make being a fan of football even more enjoyable.

To sign up, you must setup an account on ESPN.com, which only takes a few minutes. The app stores for Apple and Microsofts also carry fantasy football applications to make it easier to check on your team.

Look for these apps in your phone’s application store today

2014-2015

2014-2015

Go Bruins!!!

Jimmy Stringer

Jean Kimble

Thank you for your support.

We hope y’all have a great school year!

Sincerely, your cafeteria team.

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Luckett Land Title Supports St. Joseph Catholic School

PAGE 5

William Loper, M.D., ABFP

PAGE 6

Homecoming

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014

LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!

Parade brings Hollywood Boulevard to Madison

By MARY SCOTT WOLF The Bear Facts The homecoming parade was one to remember, as St. Joe students flaunted their vibrant floats and beautiful dresses.

The homecoming parade was something to marvel at as its route looped around the St. Joe campus. The parade started at the field house and ended at the auditorium, where the presentation of the court was held.

The 2014 homecoming week theme was “A Week in Hollywood”, an idea created and plotted out by the St. Joe Student Council.

Each homecoming float was unique to each grade and had its own float idea based on a different movie genre. The ninth grade’s float theme was horror.

The freshman students produced a rolling haunted house. The scary craft was decked out with

cobwebs and R.I.P. tombstones marked with each of the upper class and lower class grades listed.

The tenth graders were given the movie genre fantasy. After building the infamous Hogwarts Express from the wellknown Harry Potter films, they rolled around the St. Joe campus dressed as character from the film.

The Junior class sculpted the Deathmobile from Animal House and renamed it the JoMobile, which is short for the St. Joe mobile. The float concept is based on the well known frat house comedy Animal House. The Junior class dressed in togas reminiscent of the classic toga parties.

The Junior class also drafted their own class fraternity known as Beta Alpha Delta, which spells out BAD. Last in the line of parade floats were the Seniors. They fielded

the Disney theme and adopted the film series High School Musical. The senior class members dressed in basketball jerseys and as divas from the Disney film.

In between the floats were the maids from each class, escorted by a Bruin football player. The freshman homecoming maids were Maddie Grace Lafleur and Allie Milner. The sophomore maids were Anna Grace Bolen and Lucy Hamil. The junior maids were Emily Ursin and Maddie Davis. The senior maids were Isabelle Cosmich, Bria Paige, Gracie Conn, and Bridget Abadie. Bria Paige was crowned the Homecoming queen at the football game on Friday night.

Because it is their first year being with other high schoolers, the seventh graders experience was like no other.”This week was really fun for me, because I got to SUBMITTED PHOTO see what it was like as a student,” From left to right: Warren Beebe, Brian Flaherty, Mary Kathryn Wheatley, Sarah Maher, Will Booth, says Riley Wolf.

Kendall Comish and Joanna Belllan dance on the senior float to the High School Musical theme.

to attend the St. Joe Homecoming dance this month is part of a tradition on campus and a growing trend at high schools in which students – usually boys – stage elaborate stunts to ask a date to a high-profile school dance.

While the latest centered around St. Joseph Catholic School’s 2014 Homecoming dance on Saturday, October 17, similar scenes have taken place for the Winter Ball, which takes place in January, and especially for the St. Joe junior-senior prom, which takes place in the spring.

St. Joe celebrated its 2014 Homecoming with a weeklong series of events that included a parade, a pep rally, and a Home-

coming court presentation before climaxing at the annual Homecoming dance on Saturday.

Hundreds of students crammed the St. Joe gym for the dance, which took place with the theme “A Night in Hollywood.” Tables were decorated with Hollywoodthemed decorations where students danced to music from a local disc jockey.

But for some, the way in which they were asked to attend the dance will be etched in their memory for years.

When Freshman Helen Mary Katool walked onto campus on September 12, she didn’t expect to get asked to Homecoming and certainly not by freshman

Students say “I do” to homecoming proposals

By OLIVIA PATTERSON The Bear Facts Minutes after the final bell rang at school last month, Sophia Cosmich rushed to her BMW SUV to head home and found it stuffed with more than 50 inflated balloons.

One balloon sitting on the driver’s seat, viewable from the driver’s window, had a simple message: “HC? JACK.” Cosmich paused a few seconds. Then she turned around to see fellow senior Jack Olstad.

“I was really surprised and excited when Jack asked me,” Cosmich said.

Olstad’s proposal for Cosmich

students singing while Sammy Indest held a plate of broken taco shells.

The shells were arranged to say “HC with me?”.

“I was very surprised to see Sammy and all his friends playing maracas and singing with a plate of taco shells that said ‘HC with me?’”, Katool said. “I am very excited to go to Homecoming with Sammy and to hang out with all our friends for the night.”

Junior Eliza Strickland had a different experience.

A hot pink sign and a stuffed fox caught Strickland’s eye as she walked to her car on September 11. Junior Russell Patterson, was sitting on Strickland’s car

with a fox around his neck and a sign that read “Hey foxy, will you go to HOCO with me?”.

“I was really excited and happy when Russell asked me because we were really good friends,” Strickland said. “But I wasn't sure if he was going to ask me.

I’m most excited to dance with him and my friends at Homecoming.”

The next day, at a pep rally on September 12, Master of Ceremonies, Junior, Ben Payne, stopped the proceedings for a very public Homecoming dance proposal to fellow junior Hope Engle.

“I was preparing for about two days before I asked Hope to

homecoming,” Payne said.

When Engle was called to the floor of the gym to play a pep rally game, she was blindfolded and told to perform activities faster than the other contestants who never really were blindfolded.

When her blindfold was removed, she read multiple signs held by the students saying “Will you go to Homecoming” and looked over to Payne who was holding the sign that read “with me?”.

“I wasn’t nervous because I knew she wouldn’t say no since we were such good friends and because I asked in front of the entire school,” Payne said.

All photos special to the Bear Facts TOP RIGHT PHOTO: Selah Hall and Kaitlyn Watson dressed as football players TOP MIDDLE PHOTO: Matthew Hosler and Rachel Hill collaborate to dress as characters from Cast Away TOP LEFT PHOTO: William Doherty, John Dale Deickman, and Mason Fridge ride on the “Death Mobile” BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO: Farrah Jones, Bridget Moorehead, and Samantha Coursey dressed as Cruella Deville and her dalmations BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTO: Lindsey Lyle dresses up during Homecoming week.

Homecoming

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014

PAGE 7

Crowning the queen, honoring the court LEFT PHOTO: Principal Keith Barnes crowns senior Bria Paige Homecoming Queen 2014. Paige’s father, James, far right, watches. Photo by Leila de Gruy/The Bear Facts SECOND ROW, RIGHT PHOTO: The St. Joseph Catholic School Homecoming Court for 2014: from left are freshman maid Maddie Grace LaFleur and her father Kenny; sophomore maid Anna Grace Bolen and her father T.G.; junior maid Maddy Davis and her father Don; senior maid Bridget Abadie and her father Greg; senior maid Isabelle Cosmich and her brother Alex Cosmich; senior maid Bria Paige and her father James; senior maid Gracie Conn and her father Clark; junior maid Emilie Ursin and her father Ben Odom; sophomore maid Lucy Hamil and her father Bob; and freshman maid Allie Milner and her father Robert. Standing in front are Matthew Cassreino, the crown bearer, and Alexa Donaldson, the flower girl. Photo

by Terry R. Cassreino/The Bear Facts SECOND ROW LEFT PHOTO: Senior maid Gracie Con and her father Clark. Photo by Leila de Gruy/The Bear Facts THIRD ROW TOP PHOTO: Senior maid Isabelle Cosmich and her father. Photo by Leila de Gruy/The Bear Facts THIRD ROW MIDDLE PHOTO: Freshmen maid Allie Milner and her father, Robert. Photo by Leila de Gruy/The Bear Facts THIRD ROW RIGHT PHOTO: Freshman maid Maddie LaFleur and her father, Kenny. Photo by Leila de Gruy/The Bear Facts

ABOVE PHOTO: Bruin football player Eric Diamond walks alongside junior maid Emilie Ursin during the Homecoming parade. Photo by Leila de Gruy/The Bear Facts RIGHT PHOTO: The St. Joseph Catholic School Homecoming maids for 2014, along with the crown bearer and flower girl, after the formal court presentation in the Fine Arts theater on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. Photo by Terry R. Cassreino/The Bear Facts

HOMECOMING, from page 1 make the 2014 Homecoming parade a great success. The parade began this year at the football stadium and ended at the Fine Arts theater for the formal court presentation that night.

Mrs. Dena Kinsey, who worked with Student Council leaders on the entire week’s activities, also arranged for the band, cheerleaders and Spirit Steppers to remain on the football field in a special formation while the court was intro-

duced at halftime of the Homecoming game.

Mrs. Kinsey said the St. Joe Homecoming celebration gave her a different perspective this year on the event.

“They were all escorted by football players instead of dads as the custom is now and the football team voted for queen instead of the student body.”

At half time of the Homecoming game, the court was formally intro-

“

This year’s (Homecoming dance) was better than last year.”

– Natalie Ford, a sophomore at St. Joe

duced: freshman maids Maddie LaFleur and Allie Milner; sophomores Anna Grace Bolen and Lucy Hamil; juniors Maddy Davis and Emilie Ursin; and senior maids Bridget Abadie, Gracie Conn, Isabelle Cosmich and Bria Paige.

The halftime showed reached a climax when it was announced that senior Bria Paige would be this year’s Homecoming queen.

“I felt really excited,” Paige said. “I

couldn’t stop smiling all night.”

Students said this year’s Homecoming dance, which marked the end of the week-long celebration, was the best they had attended.

“This year’s (Homecoming dance) was way better than last year,” sophomore Natalie Ford said. “The DJ was good. I enjoyed the décor. I had lots of fun.”

PAGE 8

Bruin Supporters

THURSDAY, NOVEMER 20, 2014

Luckett Land Title Supports St. Joseph Catholic School

111 Colony Crossing Way, No. 1200, in Madison – near Kroger’s Call: (601) 605-0275

Bruin Sports

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014

PAGE 9

JACK HALL, from page 10 continued weight-lifting series in America, but Olympian athletes like Matt Bruce and Kendrick Farris have gained national recognition first at this tournament.

Baladi exceedingly surpassed the necessary weight to qualify for the “snatch” and “clean and jerk” lifts to gain admittance to the Junior National Tournament. He was in the Top 20 in his weight class that earned a guaranteed spot.

Baladi, the former sophomore football strong safety, is not some cookie-cutter high school athlete.

He’s found his own niche and has eliminated the tether that bound him to a system that he found inefficient and impersonal.

This opportunity has allowed Baladi to see his aspirations grow into fruition in a setting that he describes as “an atmosphere that lets me get away and be myself.”

PHOTOS BY JACK HALL/THE BEAR FACTS Senior George Baladi has found a sports niche – weight lifting. Baladi, a senior at St. Joe, will compete in February at the Junior Weightlifting Nationals.

STATE, from page 10 Under Dan Mullen, the Bulldogs are 4-1 in the Egg Bowl and have dominated Ole Miss and made their team and their coach look like a bunch of JV highschoolers.

The Bulldogs’ high powered offense has taken apart every defense they've faced, as other teams can't find a way to stop

Prescott and Robinson.

After this past weekend’s games, the SEC West is narrowed down to 3 teams with Mississippi State still in the hunt for the division title and a place in the SEC championship game in Atlanta.

Mississippi State is undoubtedly one of the best four teams in the nation right now and with

RUNNING, from page 10 the schedule they have left, they could easily stay atop the polls, while Ole Miss may lose two more games.

Mississippi State’s team has a chemistry that falls under the leadership of Dak Prescott and that’s why they could win the national championship.

OLE MISS, from page 10 coverage, so it was picked off. If Bo had at least overthrown the receiver, we would have still had a chance at a 46 yard field goal.

The Auburn game was literally the most gut wrenching loss I have ever seen any football team experience. The defense in this game was surprisingly disappointing, the opposite of the previous week against LSU where it was Bo and the running game that let us down.

Bo Wallace played incredible; this game was his best game besides Alabama until he just had to fumble in the red zone.

Even with the fumble with a little over a minute left, the Rebels thought they had a touchdown when the refs’ hands went into the air and Lequon Treadwell, our best player, fell into the end zone with a broken leg before he fumbled. The refs came back on to the field and quieted the rowdy Ole Miss crowd by saying the play was under review.

Then heartbreak fell over Oxford with the ball an inch short and our best player done for the season. My point is Ole Miss is closer to being undefeated than any other team in the country, even with two losses. I really think that Ole Miss will be considered the better team by the end of the year and here’s why.

First of all, State will lost to Alabama this past Saturday.

I just think with Cooper and Alabama’s other receivers having a huge day against the weak Mississippi State secondary that is near the bottom of the country in pass defense compared to the Ole Miss secondary that is one of the best in the country tied for most

“

This Egg bowl is going to be huge: probably the biggest one ever.

Its going to be one of the best games ever played in Mississippi.”

interceptions with 20, the Ole Miss passing offense will have no problems moving the ball.

This Egg Bowl is going to be huge: probably the biggest one ever. It’s going to be one of the best games ever played in Mississippi.

You know I think the Rebels are going to win. First: the

packed Vaught Hemingway Stadium is going to be even more rowdy than the Alabama game.

The crowd will have the team very pumped up for the game and the team will be very motivated to avenge last year’s defeat.

If you look at the facts: State just doesn’t match up well against Ole Miss.

Ole Miss is a throwing team and with State’s secondary playing the way they are I think Bo is going to redeem his overtime fumble in Starkville last year.

Even with Treadwell out, Ole Miss still has arguably the best receiving core in the SEC. I see Core and Sanders tearing up the State secondary.

With Dak struggling and throwing three interceptions against Alabama, I think he is going to throw at least 2 interceptions in the Egg Bowl.

And so, I think both teams will go 10-2, and Ole Miss with the head to head will be considered the better team. Let’s all just enjoy the way our State is playing in football and hope it lasts.

That’s my argument for a Rebels victory, GO REBELS.

2014-2015

2014-2015

Go Bruins!!!

Jean Kimble

Thank you for your support.

We hope y’all have a great school year!

Sincerely, your cafeteria team.

HIGH ON THE HOG BBQ We sell our competition-style smoked meats by the pound.

Great for the holidays and tailgating!

Call today to place your order.

Brandon, Allie & Campbell Stringer 601.201.7891

“

Before the State and District meets, I would like to improve how fast I run.”

– Emma Dotson, a member of the girls cross country team

how fast I run. Lately, I have been having slower times due to an Achilles inflammation. So I am working hard to get my legs back into running shape,” said Emma Dotson, a strong runner on the girls cross country team.

The District cross country meet was Nov. 1, and the State Cross Country meet was Nov. 8.

Riley Wolf placed fourth in State and Riley Reeves placed twelfth. Brantley Bariola also placed 13th in the state meet.

BOWLING, from page 10 However, most of his girls bowling team has graduated.

This could be a rebuilding year for the typically successful girls team.

Despite losing some of their best players, many return. On the boys team, junior Jack Collins is returning along with seniors Robert Brown, Warren Beebe and Bailey Cole. On the girls team, juniors Genin Harkey and Mackenzie Riley are returning.

Bowling season is NovemberFebruary. District competition is in the middle of February, and state competition is at the end

“

It’s a sport you can play in, compete in, and enjoy the rest of your life.”

– Dennis Dillon, bowling coach and math teacher

of February. Throughout this season, players on the team go to practice once a week at Fanin Lanes on Old Fanin Road in Brandon. At practice, the players simply warm up, then bowl.

Beebe is excited about the return of bowling: “There’s no pressure. We’re all just there to have a good time with our buds.”

Tryouts have already happened; seven boys and seven girls have been selected to play.

Their goal is to build on the success they enjoyed last year and have a great time achieving these goals.

Mailing Address: Heath Hall Strategic Marketing Group, LLC Post Office Box 2223 Madison, Mississippi 39110

THE BEAR FACTS

Jimmy Stringer

Wissel said he has a great group of runners this year. The key runners for the boys are juniors Brantley Bariola, Nick Oigbokie, and William Doherty.

The key runners for the girls are Riley Reeves, Caroline Doherty, and Riley Wolf.

Both the boys and girls won the district meet last year. The girls also came in second place in the state meet. While the team had a fair season last year, the aforementioned strenuous practices aimed to increase the odds of a victory at these meets.

“Before the State and District meets, I would like to improve

Physical Address: 740 Avignon Drive, Suite B Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157 Phone: (601) 707-3820 Fax: (601) 510-0053

Bruin Sports PAGE 10

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014

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www.thebearfacts.net

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Baladi Bruin runners place at state cross country meet snatches spot at national

By CARRIE ANN LOPER The Bear Facts

W

ith all eyes turned to fall team sports at St. Joe – football, swimming, cross country, and volleyball – we habitually lose sight of the individual’s struggles and accomplishments in a sport.

We tend to focus on a team’s record, its progress in the playoffs or points the school earned for the best All-Sports JACK HALL Program. In sports editor the process, we forget a coach’s game-winning strategy, the efforts of the team manager sprinting across the field to deliver water, or even the athlete training independent of the school.

Senior George Baladi is one of these untold stories at St. Joe, an athlete who has shifted his focus to weight lifting.

What began as an indifferent freshman’s attempts to prepare for the nearing football season has become a journey from mediocre to extraordinary in the field of weight lifting.

Baladi has always been lucky enough to call himself a member of a team – whether it was soccer, baseball, football, or track. He participated in them all.

But Baladi, now a senior at St. Joe, realized in his sophomore year that his pursuit of athleticism was not limited to the resources available at the high school level.

He saw his future in the sport of competitive weight lifting when a few trainers approached him at the gym, gauging his interest in the sport.

“

But Baladi, now a senior at St. Joe, realized in his sophomore year that his pursuit of athleticism was not limited to the resources available at the high school level.”

Baladi immediately took to the sport, and has since attended numerous local meets. Despite a poor performance in his first meet, Baladi has managed to, in each successive tournament, walk away with a first or second overall placing.

This is especially peculiar given the nature of a local tournament. The competition is open to all ages. This means at any given competition, Baladi will face challenges from anyone age 15 to 65.

In the wake of serious breakthroughs and improvements, Baladi fell prey to a serious back injury. The strain of his fast-paced regimen, exacerbated by his scoliosis, created a tragic combination that forced Baladi into physical therapy for nearly two months.

Since this time, Baladi has included accessory work into his training to help stabilize weight better and prevent further injury.

This February, Baladi will take to the stage at the Junior Weight lifting Nationals. To gauge his readiness for the tournament, Baladi will compete at the Gayle Hatch Christmas Invitational in Baton Rouge.

Not only is this the longest See JACK HALL, Page 9

The St. Joe girls cross country team took second place while the boys team took sixth at the state championship meet earlier this month.

The wins came after weeks of practice and participating in other meets in the state. Some were impressed by the wins because this was thought of as a rebuilding year for the team.

David Wissel, the cross country coach, had team members running about 30 miles a week.

The team also did running hills, sprints, fast paced short laps, Indian runs, and long runs.

The girls distance has changed this year from a 4k, which is 2.4 miles, to a 5k, which is 3.1 miles.

“Our practices are different everyday,’ said Mary Scott Wolf, a freshman on the girls team.

“Some days they are easy, and other days they can be difficult.

But if you run more each day, it gets easier.

“For the days that we do not have practice, I like to run at home to prepare myself for up coming meets that we have – es-

pecially district and state meet.”

Nick Zouboukos, a freshmen on the boys team, said that “practice with Coach Wissel could not be better. He really pushes us to do the best we can.”

With this difficult training regimen, runners are prepared for all obstacles in their way.

“We have lots of competition this year,” said Coach Wissel.

“Schools such as New Site High School in Booneville, Miss.; Clarksdale High School; and JZ SUBMITTED PHOTO Gorge High School in Carrollton, Members of the girls cross country team: Kamryn Brown, Mary Miss., will be hard to beat.”

See RUNNING, Page 9

Scott Wolf, Rielly Reeves, Caroline Doherty.

Drawing a line in the sand

Dream seasons have vaulted Mississippi State, Ole Miss into the Top 10 and have helped intensify the football rivalry between fans of both teams

By RUSSELL PATTERSON

The Bear Facts Mississippi State’s stellar 9-1 record, with wins against big teams like Auburn and LSU, undoubtedly make them one of the best teams in the nation.

Mississippi State’s high powered run combination of Dak Prescott and Josh Robinson have dismantled every defense they have faced so far, and Dak also picks defenses apart with his arm. Dak has amassed running and passing statistics to make him a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate.

The Bulldog defense also looks to be one of the best in the SEC and has one of the best red zone defenses in the nation. Led by middle linebacker Bernardrick McKinney, the front 7 for Mississippi state has dominated the line of scrimmage and pounded foes into submission.

Davis Wade Stadium is arguably the hardest place to play in college football due to the nonstop ringing of the cowbells. The cowbells make the team feel at home and are dominating teams at Davis Wade this year.

The Bulldogs had the second best winning streak in college football, and have by far the toughest schedule in the nation.

The college football playoff committee has the Bulldogs ranked number 4, and they should make the inaugural college football playoff if they win their remaining games.

Mississippi State’s dominating back to back to back wins against LSU, Texas A&M, and Auburn had skyrocketed them into the national spotlight, bringing plenty of national attention to the university and football in Mississippi.

Mississippi State used to share the Magnolia state spotlight with Ole Miss but after back to back losses to LSU and Auburn, the nation turned its eyes to the best team in Mississippi.

State’s fan base has also made a huge impact on the football team's performance this year.

As one of the best travelling fan bases in college football, State’s football team is just as dominant on the road as it is at home.

NO. 4 MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

NO. 8 OLE MISS REBELS

VS.

n DAY: SATURDAY, NOV. 29, 2014 n TIME: KICKOFF 2:30 P.M. n PLACE: VAUGHTHEMINGWAY STADIUM, OXFORD n TICKETS: SOLD OUT n TV: CBS-TV SEC GAME OF THE WEEK, WJTV-TV IN JACKSON

Battle for the Golden Egg

M

ississippi’s two Southeastern Conference football teams have had a season of unprecedented success this year.

No. 4 Mississippi State is 9-1, while No. 8 Ole Miss is 8-2.

The two rivals will meet Saturday, Nov. 29, in Oxford for the 87th Annual Battle for the Golden Egg. The rivalry began in 1901 when Mississippi A&M defeated the University of Mississippi 17-0.

Today, staff writers Russell Patterson and Lawrence Emmerich look at what will be the hottest Egg Bowl in years.

See STATE, Page 9

Dillon leads Bruin bowlers on hunt for strikes this season ing place, at 4 o’clock; however, the match was in Pearl. After that, Mr. Dillon decided he wanted to be the bowling coach.

“It’s a sport you can play in, compete in, Dennis Dillon has been and enjoy the rest of your life,” Mr. Dillon coaching the bowling said. “The senior citizens bowl on Wednesteam at St. Joseph since days; a 92-year-old woman is so good she 2008 – something that could beat anyone on our team. It’s a lifetime began when Coach Allen sport.” was the bowling coach.

Mr. Dillon also takes notice in how the Coach Allen annually girls did so well in bowling over the course went to the Coast for a of the past four years. week-long vacation. In The girls bowling team has qualified for 2008, Mr. Dillon was DENNIS DILLON state in the past three out of four years. The asked to fill in for Coach girls were also sixth in state last year. The Allen and Mr. Dillon boys also had a great season last year; they jumped at the chance. finished third in district. Mr. Dillon describes Mr. Dillon took over the bowling team and this past year as his most successful. led it to the first game. Mr. Dillon was told the bowling match was at Paradise, a bowlSee BOWLING, Page 9

– Jack Hall, sports editor

By LAWRENCE EMMERICH

The Bear Facts

The Ole Miss/State rivalry is one thing that Mississippians carry with the highest passion.

From Ole Miss fans tearing down State’s goal post to State fans hitting an Ole Miss fan with bar stools in the square, it is one of the most intense rivalries in college football.

The lack of an NFL team or any pro sports team makes Ole Miss/State football by far the most important sports teams in Mississippi. I’m going to tell you why Hotty Toddy beats Hail State every time, why the Rebels lead the series by 18 games, and why State will lose in Oxford this year. Well, first of all, let’s look at the history of this rivalry.

Here are the stats of the two teams. I’m going to put them as team A and team B and you tell me which stats look better.

Team A: all time record 636497-35, bowl record 23-12, national championships 3, SEC championships 6, SEC West championships 1, all time SEC record 278-359-26. Team B: all time record 530-555-39, bowl record 11-7, national championships 0, SEC championships 1, SEC West championships 1, all time SEC record 205-401-20.

Team A leads in every stat besides both schools having won the SEC West once. You guessed it: team A is Ole Miss.

History tends to repeat itself and the Rebels have pretty much dominated every stat in the series, including leading the series by 18 games.

I’ll admit it’s hard for me to have an argument that Ole Miss is the better team right now, but I think by the end of the year Ole Miss will be considered the better team.

First of all, we are 7 points, a touchdown, ONE possession away from being undefeated. The LSU game was a classic example of bad Bo. There was a wide open receiver for a 15 yard gain right by the side line, which would have given the Rebels a chance at an easy 31-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to bring the game to overtime.

Instead, Bo threw it into double See OLE MISS, Page 9

REBUILDING YEAR

By ELLEN GWIN The Bear Facts

Photo by Leila de Gruy/The Bear Facts Bruin football came to a close on Friday, Nov. 7, when St. Joe lost a first-round playoff game to Taylorsville by a 54-7 score. The Bruins finished the year with a 4-8 record in what turned out to be a rebuilding year.