May 2018 Issue of The Bell Ringer

G r a d ua t i o n I s s u e

The Bell R inger

2 0 18 Montgomery Bell Academy | 4001 Harding Road, Nashville, TN May 31st, 2018 | Volume LXXIV, No. 6

THE BELL RINGER

May 31st, 2018

NEWS

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MBA Celebrates the Arts with ENDADA

By Webb Hunt Photo Editor

At some point during the 1970s, Montgomery Bell Academy’s first art teacher, Louise LeQuire, arranged for the purchase of Ned Crouch’s sculpture, ENDADA. While the art department loved it, not everyone felt the same way about the piece. One day the sculpture was misinterpreted as scrap metal, and the artwork was recycled. For some 40 years, the piece of work was forgotten.

Eight years ago, the story of ENDADA suddenly reemerged when Jim Womack decided to converse with his students Vaughn Hunt, Preston Evans, Jamie Joyce, Noah Fardon, Aaron Ardisson, Alex Floyd, Will Logan, and Scott Dalton. In response, these eight artists created the music and arts festival MBA has today, with the help of teacher sponsor, Catharine Hollifield. They had the intention of creating an event that would show others the importance, meaning, and impact of the arts. This year, I managed to construct a maquette of the original piece from two polaroids, the last and only images of the sculpture. While the original artwork stood more than 13 feet tall, I made a miniature replica of myself inside to demonstrate the true scale of ENDADA. Even though the original sculpture no longer stands, the presence and history of the past continues as Montgomery Bell Academy’s eighth ENDADA was yet again a huge success.

The annual celebration demonstrates the small but thriving Nashville art scene. With over 60 local artists, the student run music and arts festival included musical performances, arts and crafts, vendors, delicious food, and improv.

Visitors had the chance to see six bands perform across two stages: General Funk, The Human Jukebox

Students from MBA and around Nashville gather to enjoy music from MBA student bands.

- Lucas Pao, Practically Friday, Henry Bros, Headmaster Singers, The Zoboomafoos, and Gravy Train. All of the bands left the audience dancing and wanting more. To further incorporate the community into music, The Country Music Hall of Fame brought their “Instrument Petting Zoo,” which allowed the general public to play various instruments. Local businesses such as The Grilled Cheeserie, Deg Tai, and Bradley’s Creamery along with MBA’s “Taste of India” left a wide selection of food for everyone to enjoy.

The people attending also had the chance to draw models, design their own shirt, and even cast their own finger. Finally, the local artists, who

were stationed throughout the campus with unique booths, tied the whole event together and demonstrated their creativity in one way or another.

Although this article can describe ENDADA imperfectly, it is an event that one truly must experience for themself. While the list of highlights goes on, the art community would rather emphasize the importance and impact that ENDADA has. This festival has the intention of bringing the public together by acknowledging the strong artistic community and forming an environment that incorporates one another in some sort of creative way.

ENDADA not only fosters a creative outlet for others but also demonstrates

PHOTO: Webb Hunt

the role of art in our daily lives. The MBA art community hopes this festival will continue to indicate the importance of art to others and serve as a forum to educate the public of ENDADA’s past. Thanks to Catherine Hollifield, Campbell Cook, Luke Speyer, Aidan Niswender, Owen Burns, the MBA art department, and all of the performers or artists who helped created an amazing festival. Without the ENDADA team, the community, and those who help fundraise, none of this would be possible. If you missed this years festival, there’s always next years amazing celebration.

Debate Dynasty: Here to Stay

By Julian Habermann News Editor

MBA debate finishes the year strong after three impressive showings at national tournaments. The team entered into the final stretch of the year hopeful for a national championship, given the exceptional year of success, yet the team knew that the fierce competition from across the country were just as eager for a shot at glory.

Worse was the target on the team’s back, as the duo of Ben Jablonski and Aden Barton had just been ranked as the number one team in the country on the final coaches poll. Therefore,

the team knew that they had to be extremely prepared for the two back-to back national tournaments, the NDCA and the TOC. Just two weeks apart, the National Debate Coaches Association National Championship and the Tournament of Champions are considered the two pinnacles of every debater’s year. The NDCA championship is invite based, meaning that only the top schools get offered to compete. After a solid month of preparation, MBA rolled into the tournament with high expectations.

After six, grueling, two-hour long debates, MBA finished the preliminary rounds with two teams in the bracket.

The duo of Aden Barton and Ben Jablonski finished with a perfect 6-0 record as the third seed, and Atticus Glen and Julian Habermann finished as the fourth seed with a 5-1 record, losing only to the second seed, Carrollton from Florida.

Additionally, the four debaters received impressive speaker awards with Julian receiving fourth speaker, Aden seventh, Atticus ninth, and Ben twelfth.

These two teams proceeded to win their first two elimination rounds and confidently moved into quarterfinals.

However, both teams tragically lost their debates on 2-1 decisions, meaning that the three-judge panel split when

deciding, a situation signaling extremely close debating. Aden and Ben lost to a different Carrollton team, who ended up finishing second in the whole tournament, and the tournament’s champions, North Broward, ended up defeating Atticus and Julian, despite MBA GH beating North Broward in the preliminary rounds.

These losses could have easily demoralized the team, especially given the fact that these two rounds appeared to be watershed moments for the finalists of the tournament. The championship slipped through MBA’s grasp. But, the team only appeared far See DEBATE, Page 10

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NEWS 3

May 31st, 2018

THE BELL RINGER

Mayoral Election: Nashville’s Politics after Megan Barry

By Julian Habermann News Editor

The office of the mayor in Nashville is going to be cast in the shadow of former Mayor Megan Barry for a long time. The ousting of such an important position shook the public conscience. Some were discomforted by the extramarital affair, but many more were outraged at the accusations of corruption. Many felt betrayed as it is easy, and should be easy, to place blind trust in someone you elect. While it was no Watergate, the controversy is certain to shape this current special election which is why the central issue for many candidates is trust.

While this article was written before the election and will be published after it, there is much to be said about the mayoral race itself. Some of the statements made below are predictions, but even if they are wrong, they reflect the present perception of the race. Here are some key factors to look at when thinking about the election: First, the sheer number of candidates on the ballot signals popular unrest about the office. Many are running because they think they capture a niche of voters who have been galvanized by the current political climate. Due to the nature of competition, these candidates have specialized their voice into something that people will react to.

The idea of a one sentence description of why they should be mayor may be detestable to people who prefer nuanced beliefs, but this idea is overwhelmingly common in the way media portrays each candidate. Current Mayor Briley is the “Incumbent,” reliable but maybe too attached to the status quo. Carol Swain is seen as a strong conservative voice, whose unpopularity in liberal circles may in fact be a bonus with other groups. This idea is epitomized in jeff obafemi carr, who many know just as the “lowercase name guy.” This problem is less of an issue of the candidates, but more of the structure of the election.

Preferably, every voter would know the entire repertoire of beliefs of the person they vote for, but that is difficult. It is easy to attach yourself and for the media to attach you to a gut reaction rather than a nuanced opinion.

Additionally, because so many viable, electable people have stepped up, the incumbent Mayor Briley will have to fight to receive a majority in the initial election. Many expect a runoff because of this situation which will allow the candidates to develop their portfolio in reaction to their opponent. While this development may lead to reactionary positions, it at least opens up each candidate to further scrutiny.

Second, this is a special election, and that alone will affect the vote.

While Mayor Briley is technically an

It is easy to attach yourself and for the media to attach you to a gut reaction rather than a nuanced opinion.

Incumbant Nashville Mayor David Briley will face a mayoral election after only two months in office.

PHOTO: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License

incumbent, he was not elected into the position of the mayor. Historically, reelection runs are noncompetitive, but this election is on far more equal footing in the public eye. Another factor is the shortened nature of the campaign. The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that the election be moved from August to May. This situation means both that candidates had less time to develop themselves and that the public knows far less about who exactly they are voting for. Some believe that this election will have low turnout numbers. While this fact is in part from voter fatigue after the transit plan vote, it is also due to the generally low awareness about the election.

Third, the election’s fundraising is not even close to balanced. Mayor Briley dominated the fundraising race, gathering over $700,000, while Carol Swain placed second with over $100,000. In fact, Briley raised more

than the other twelve candidates combined. It is important to look at fundraising because it deeply shapes the way that candidates are portrayed. TV ads are not neutral in the way that they disseminate information. Luckily, the information age means that it is easier than ever to find out the most about each candidate. This fact is not to say that fundraising is a bad practice, but it has to be recognized.

While the results of the election will be extremely important, we should always look to how the candidates got there. The race itself speaks volumes about the candidate that gets elected and shows how other candidates will be elected in the future. Given the spectacularization of the media, we all need to remember that elections should not be based on sound bites, but on sound research.

Mrs. Palmore Retires after 36 Years on The Hill

By Daniel Cowan Contributor

Since 1981, Jo Palmore has been a staple of the MBA English Department.

It was far before her career started, however, when she decided to be a teacher. Indeed, Mrs. Palmore knew since she was little that she would teach, and the model for her style of teaching was actually developed in high school when she was the student of a teacher she despised. This teacher was so unbearable that Mrs. Palmore decided she would never make any student feel the way that teacher made her feel. The model worked.

The passion and compassion with which Mrs. Palmore has taught since her first days at this school has made her one of the most popular teachers on campus, and her character and style of teaching have had profound effects on many current students and alumni alike. In fact, Mrs. Palmore recently told the senior class one day about the

numerous letters she has received this year from former students wishing her a happy retirement and thanking her for her contributions to the school. These former students recounted their most impactful memories from her classes, including a writing assignment which inspired a writing career and a first-ever 90 on a theme which engendered a love

of English. Anyone who knows Mrs. Palmore will agree that her influence is undeniable.

The energy with which Mrs. Palmore teaches her classes each and every day is unmatched and admirable.

English is a beautiful, poetic, natural discipline, and she captures this idea perfectly. The rhythm and cadence with which she lectures, a lot of the time, actually mirrors the tone of the work being studied or the passage being read.

Whether you love English or hate it, the love she has for the subject she teaches is awe-inspiring. Rarely does she not have a smile on her face, and her contagious

laughter will brighten the faces of the students in her classroom - and anyone around her, for that matter. She cares deeply about her students, too. This care is manifested in lengthy discussions about the development of a theme outline, detailed notes on each assignment explaining errors and strengths, and an understanding demeanor concerning the trials and tribulations of the MBA lifestyle.

Having Mrs. Palmore as a teacher is truly a privilege.

Mrs. Palmore’s influence on campus reaches far beyond her English classes. She’s a senior class advisor, a

Her service and dedication to our school is a model for teachers looking to make an impact on their students and even students looking to make an impact on society.

See PALMORE, Page 10

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May 31st, 2018

OPINION

Breakfast for Lunch: The Logical Way Forward

By John Thornton Staff Writer As any MBA boy knows too well, we often do not have time in the mornings to do so much as eat a nourishing breakfast. Having “breakfast for lunch” at least once a week would serve to alleviate the withdrawal many MBA students experience as breakfast begins to fade more and more from their lives.

Breakfast, as we know it, is nothing more than a societal construct. Who’s to say we shouldn’t be able to indulge in a croissant or a slice of bacon anytime we please? Those who

view typical “breakfast” food as not being suitable for lunch ought to open up their minds and take a broader perspective of what the world has to offer.

Let’s take a look at another popular pastime enjoyed by countless Americans: brunch. This seamless blend of morning and noontime delicacies represents the epitome of class and refinery. Why not push this idea even further and simply have breakfast for lunch every once in a while?

Breakfast is an incredibly multifaceted idea that deserves more than confinement to the early hours of the day. One might find everything from a fresh bowl of fruit to a simmering sausage on a modernday breakfast plate, foods which could be easily integrated into Sage’s quintessential offerings.

To someone with a particular passion for breakfast and a desire for improvement in MBA’s lunch cycle, breakfast for lunch seems like the most logical step forward toward a better and tastier future.

Breakfast, as we know it, is nothing more than a societal construct. Who’s to say that we shouldn’t be able to indulge in a croissant or a slice of bacon anytime we please?

THE BELL RINGER

American Breakfast Institution at Stake

By John Raulston Graham Opinions Editor Almost everyone has a favorite breakfast food. The classic staples of American breakfast, eggs, sausage, bacon, waffles, and pancakes, are so beloved. When one sees a stack of pancakes, their mind automatically identify it with an the early morning meal. However, these staples have not always been symbols of breakfast.

This vision of breakfast including these fundamentals is only a development of American history.

These staples owe their current status to early American farmers who needed a robust meal before entering into their grueling workday. Americans adapted their own breakfast from the earlier British breakfast of quick pudding and ale. These American farmers, in an attempt to make breakfast more robust than the quick bowl of pudding or piece of toast that was previously customary, created the hearty breakfast we now know and love.

However, few consistently have a large robust breakfast now save weekend brunches as most lack or fail to make the time necessary to eat a full breakfast in the morning. Urbanization and a transition away from a majority pastoral society slowly killed the large American breakfast. Those foods were still beloved, and thus breakfast-forlunch or dinner became popularized.

Some restaurants, especially fast food, have attempted to use this desire for traditionally breakfast food, by offering breakfast throughout the day. This mentality has deteriorated the idea

of breakfast food as separate category and demotivated potential traditional breakfast eaters.

Breakfast food was invented to make the morning meal robust but distinct from other meals of the day.

Breakfast can be called the most robust and expansive meal of the day yielding everything from pancakes and muffins to sausage and bacon. It is the only meal in which it is regular and acceptable to eat only sweets.

When breakfast food begins to spill over into other meals, it threatens the integrity of breakfast. It leaves breakfast devoid of its classic and now iconic diversity. Breakfast without its characteristic eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, pancakes, biscuits, jelly, and even grits loses its hearty and American nature.

While some might argue that traditionally breakfast foods are too good to be contained to only one part of a day, that common perspective ignores that the institution of American breakfast is at stake. The fabric of the institution is already beginning to fracture with fewer and fewer people eating full breakfast as they rush to work or to school. More and more people stop for fast food or grab fruit or something else that can be quickly eaten on the way out the door. The American breakfast is devolving into the old breakfast that existed before.

MBA actually tries to support and promote that hearty ideal of breakfast that is so forsaken and thrown down by contemporary society by offering eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, and biscuits. Providing breakfast for lunch breaks down divisions between meals and ensures that traditional breakfast continues to deteriorate. Students would wait to eat the eggs, biscuits, pancakes, or bacon and skip out on their breakfast.

Eating beloved breakfast foods outside the hour of breakfast will only lead to their depolarization in the long run as they no longer possess their unique identity. The eating of these foods at different times leads them to become ordinary and even causes disdain for them when they are eaten so often.

When breakfast food begins to spill over into other meals, it threatens the integrity of breakfast. It leaves breakfast devoid of its classic and now iconic diversity.

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May 31st, 2018

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Nahley’s Note

To Rising Sophomores

By Will Nahley Staff Writer When I sat down at my extremely cluttered desk to write this column, I decided to write to a group of people who are often overlooked: rising sophomores. Let’s face it, you guys are the “middle children” of high school--other grades always seem to steal the attention. The freshmen get a major change of scenery as they depart from Massey, we juniors are now upperclassmen and have a lot more freedom than in previous years, and the seniors are always the focus at the end of the year.

Up to this point, most of you rising sophomores have played it pretty safe, and up until now, you’ve probably been pretty content being a small part of a big group. Now fellas, hear me out, I know that there are obvious outliers to this assumption; for the most part, all of you have been coasting by trying to attain decent grades in addition to pleasing your parents. Most of you can’t drive, and your weekends most likely consist of having your parents drop you off at friends’ houses while you try to find “the move.” Well, I got good news and bad: sophomore year, things start to change--you start to change.

The point of this piece is not to bash you guys, but to help prepare you for your future years here. While it’s fun for other classes to make fun of your age and your outside-of-school activities, all of us older students have all been through it.

In retrospect, I believe that sophomore year is far more important than it may initially seem. As your next school year begins, you’ll notice the development of groups that often remain for the rest of high school.

This is the time that you establish your identity and potentially fall into a group.

One of the more “popular groups” is the “Belle Meade Cowboys,” you know, the kids who come from the Belle

Meade area, wear cowboy boots literally all the time and have a medium-to-severe country accent.

This wealthy group pretends that they work hard living on a farm where they herd their cattle.

Another group is the “Militant Sports Fanatics” who spend every free minute of their day talking about sports scores and getting into arguments. (By the way, if you find yourself in one of these arguments, try to shut it down immediately, because it’s likely that the person you’re talking to won’t admit that they’re wrong or change their opinion.)

In addition to those groups, another is the “Eccentrics,” (“The Art Kids”) who often barely fit within the lines of the dress code. Their attire occasionally includes turtlenecks, Doc Marten boots, and wild socks. The only time these dudes aren’t in Davis is during lunch; they’re all buddy-buddy with the art teachers and campaign for ENDADA throughout the year. They most likely listen to bands you’ve never heard of, such as Joy Division, Gøggs, and Black Flag.

Whether it’s one of those groups, or one I didn’t mention, sophomore year is when you’ll start to lock in your friends for the upcoming years at MBA. A lot can change from your current social architecture, and students will forge and refine their personalities over the next year.

If you’re looking for an example, check out Webb Hunt; he used to be a distinguished, preppy golfer who wore golf polos to school. Now, he headbangs and moshes at hardcore punk concerts. And, he’s a better man for it, if I do say so myself.

All I have left to say is choose your friends wisely, and try not to only have friends in one group. Branch out, talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to, and make some new friends-- high school is only four years long and you’ve already finished your first.

OPINION

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The Polarization of America: Reflected at MBA?

By Aden Barton Features Editor

With the election and subsequent inauguration of Donald Trump, the country has become increasingly polarized. As civil discourse has collapsed, political opponents are seen as moral enemies.

The possibility of mutually beneficial dialogue between the two parties seems more and more distant. This growing gap between political positions occurs in part because of media outlets.

They have begun to prioritize spectacle and viewership over truth and neutrality. This quest for ratings incentivizes outlets like CNN and Fox to report stories that demonize the other side of the political aisle, which allows them to form a solid base of viewers.

This cycle is self-reinforcing as people seek out news that confirms their pre-existing views which causes those outlets to cater to those viewers more.

People shift to more dogmatic views as they are absorbed in an ideological bias.

This change in views is also reflected at the community level. Dialogue is increasingly difficult in public forums that originally had no political foundations.

At community centers, gyms, family dinners, and even schools, it’s hard to have a political conversation. Here at MBA, it’s no secret that the community is slanted toward the conservative side.

With our being in the South, that political leaning is not surprising.

It’s not bad that the students and maybe even administration have certain political feelings. At some level, political bias in humans is inevitable.

The question is whether room for dialogue can occur within our community so that one view does not

control everybody.

Looking back at the mock primary poll during the 2016 primaries, the top two recipients of votes were Donald Trump, with 25.1% of votes, and Bernie Sanders, with 22.7% of votes.

The fact that Sanders outstripped all other Republican primary candidates disproves the commonly-held stereotype of MBA being full of Trump-loving Southerners.

Adding up all the votes received by the Republican candidates and assuming that people all voted according to party lines, 64.6% of the MBA student body would be Republicans. That majority is certainly not overwhelming. What is troubling about the poll is the amount of people voting at the extremes.

The two antiestablishment candidates, Trump and Sanders, were by far the most popular. On one hand, these numbers mean that MBA is largely reflective not just of Southern Republican views, but of national discontent in both parties against Washington elites and the status quo.

On the other hand, the support among the far extremes of each party means there aren’t many moderates, which is part of the national trend that has made dialogue increasingly difficult.

Have views about Trump or Sanders changed since the election at MBA? Of the students I polled, nearly none had shifted their position on Trump.

This stability in positions isn’t surprising as Trump has pursued many predictable conservative policies like tax cuts and deregulation which have kept his approval rating among his base high. Aside from material changes he has made in Washington, his support at MBA and nationally is ideological at some level.

People are attached to his persona and rhetoric not just his policies.

These numbers mean that MBA is largely reflective not just of Southern Republican views, but of national discontent in both parties against Washington elites and the status quo.

Burkholder Bequest Sees Plans

By John Raulston Graham Opinions Editor In the wake of the generous donation from Mr. Burkholder, I heard suggestions for its use from different members of the MBA community,

ranging from teacher pay increases, financial aid, and updates to the library, to the development of a MBA-lead space program and the creation of a moat encircling the campus. While these are all worthwhile pursuits, the decisions on the allocation of the funds lies almost

solely with the administration and the board of trustees with little to no input from the student body or rest of the community.

The current plan for the donation includes twenty million dollars allocated to the paying down of debt created as

a result of both property purchases and a building campaign, which have been initiated in the past few years, because of low interest rates and building costs in general.

See BEQUEST, Page 8

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May 31st, 2018

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THINK

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MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL 4326 Harding Rd. Suite 101 Nashville, TN 37205 615-383-7871

SCOTT PORTIS, CLASS OF ‘84 MCCLAIN PORTIS, CLASS OF ‘18

THE BELL RINGER

May 31st 2018

STAFF

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Editor’s Note

By Matthew Kaplan Editor-in-Chief

THE BELL RINGER Editor-in-Chief Matthew Kaplan

News Editor

Julian Habermann

Features Editor Aden Barton

Sports Editor Jack Smartt

Entertainment Editor Landis Hall

Opinions Editor

John Raulston Graham

Photo Editor Webb Hunt

Faculty Advisors Mr. Win Bassett Dr. Wil Onstott

Member, Tennessee High School Press Association The Bell Ringer is a non-profit newspaper operated and published by and for the students of Montgomery Bell Academy, who are its intended audience.

Views expressed in The Bell Ringer do not necessarily represent those held by the faculty, staff, students, or school.

Letters to the editor are encouraged and can be delivered to The Bell Ringer office in the Lowry Building, the Faculty Advisors or the Editors, or sent to newspaper’s email address found on its website. These letters must be signed; The Bell Ringer neither publishes anonymous submissions of opinions or articles nor permits individuals to remain unidentified unless protected by other rules of confidentiality at MBA. Letters will be edited for length and clarity.

The staff of The Bell Ringer prepares all copy at Montgomery Bell Academy.

Tennessean/Gannett in Nashville, Tennessee, prints the paper.

It’s that time of year. Summer is upon us, and we all go our separate ways for just a brief glimpse of time. As we celebrate graduation, we are called not only to remember the times we spent on this campus during this school year, but also to reflect on our cumulative journey through these buildings.

Of course, each one of us is at a different stage in that journey, and for the seniors, that journey has concluded tonight.

I could spew on about how the MBA journey never really concludes, that this place will stay with all of us for the rest of our lives. While that is true, true to a different extent for each of us who walk through this campus day after day, things in our lives will never be the exact same as they are now, and we will never get to redo the times we have here.

The Class of 2018 has recognized this truth by now. They’ve all had time to reflect on what it means to be seniors, and what it means to leave home next year, to really depart from this community, the way they know it, forever.

As a member of the Class of 2020, I can’t speak as to how that feels. My classmates and I have two more years left on this campus, and none of us feel, in any way, that the end of our time here is near. To us, and to the rest of MBA that did not walk across the stage and shake Mr. Gioia’s hand tonight, we may as well be spending an eternity here. Our mindset as students at this school is rarely “how can I have a good day,” but rather, “how can I survive today, how can I just make it to tomorrow.”

When we finish the school year and watch the seniors walk across the stage at graduation, we gain some perspective. For all of us, we did survive today, and we’ve made it to tomorrow, to the promised land, to summer break.

And when we think about how we made it here, how we survived, I think many of us come to the realization that the time spend grinding on homework and studying for tests weren’t as bad as we made them out to be.

Because as the seniors can probably tell us now, we aren’t going to look back and complain about that one really bad night of homework, or that one night we started and finished a theme. We’ll look back on the important things we learned, the time spent with friends, and this brotherhood of a rare comraderie.

As underclassmen, our lives on this campus feel like our lives, feel like all we know and ever will. But every time a new class graduates and heads off for college, we lose a bit of that illusion. We recognize that our time here is in fact limited, and hopefully, we remember just for a minute that we should focus enjoying the times we have, rather than getting caught up on the little things that may hold us back.

So as we put a cap on another year on this campus, let’s not forget that we only get to do this once.

On behalf of The Bell Ringer staff and the students as this school, I’d like to thank the Class of 2018 for the time they spent on this campus and the legacy that they will lead. I can safely say that everyone here looks up to you guys as role models, and we appreciate all the energy and enthusiasm with which you lived out your time as MBA students.

I’d also like to specfically thank the 2017-2018 Bell Ringer staff. You all did a phenomenal job in creating issues of this newspaper, and we hope to emulate and continue the work you’ve done and the progress you’ve made on this publication.

For those of us who are not seniors, as we reflect on our time on The Hill while away from it this summer, hopefully we can all enjoy our vacation and discover how to make the most of our experience on this campus and in this community.

Visit us online at http://thebellringer.org You can also follow us on: Twitter: @mbabellringer Instagram: @mbabellringer Do you like to write, shoot photos, or design?

Join our Team!

Contact Editor-in-Chief Matthew Kaplan or Faculty Advisor Mr. Bassett if you are interested.

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OPINION

BEQUEST from page 5

An additional thirty million will be spent in combination with other donations on a new, sixty million dollar athletic building campaign centered around a new facility that will replace the current gym. The goals of the new facility are to improve training facilities for competitive athletes and to serve the greater community including the rest of the student body and faculty with a space to workout and enjoy. The new facility will include three practice gyms and one performance gym doubling the current gym space in to accommodate MBA’s six basketball teams. The large fieldhouse space created by the three practice courts will most likely be the sight of major school gatherings like future assemblies. In addition, the new facility will include new meeting

May 31st, 2018 spaces that are non-existent in athletic facilities now. The weight and workout space with be three or four times larger than the current space. The facility will also include a turf indoor facility to be used by all sports for indoor practice.

The administration even hopes it will include an indoor golf practice facility.

The facility itself will connect via a plaza to a new turf lacrosse field that will sit in the current parking lot and replace Andrew’s field.

The athletic building campaign’s being a major destination for the donation is fitting as the last building projects, which the first twenty million dollars is paying off, have all been academic buildings other than the inclusion of the soccer field on top of the primary parking garage. The school is finally giving attention to probably the most neglected as far as facilities

piece of our well-round education, as our current gym was built in 1958.

Although some improvements to athletic facilities have occurred in the past few years, they have been relegated to a minor role in recent building campaigns. An upgrade to better the wellness of the student body, and greater MBA community is needed.

The final fifty million dollars will be put in the annual fund so that the school can develop new and innovative uses for the remainder of the donation.

This could be the most interesting section of the donation, as it has the potential to be used for almost anything.

With at least this section of the money, students and other members of the community should be part of the decision making process. With an amount of money that is great enough

Another Beast Slain

By Mickey Kelly Staff Cartoonist

THE BELL RINGER to have a profound impact on the school, stakeholders like teachers and students who experience the school environment daily and understand most what is most desperately needed.

Only the athletes and coaches that use facilities everyday can diagnose problems just as only students and teachers can truly see the need for new teaching materials or technology around campus. The implementation of such consultation could take many forms, but certainly the people that interact with the learning process daily should have a role in finding areas in which the remaining funds should be used.

We should, no matter the final usage and result, know how lucky we are to think about the planning of a new athletic facility and the allocation of a one hundred million dollar donation to the school that we attend.

THE BELL RINGER

May 31st, 2018

FOUNDERS DAY

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John Curry Wins Annual Vann Webb Founders Day Race

Class of 2019 Earns First Victory

NEWS DEBATE from Page 2 more motivated. The Tournament of Champions was in only two weeks, and we wanted to win.

The Tournament of Champions is like no other tournament. Based on a merit qualification system, a team has to receive two “bids” to be able to enter. These bids are received through extremely impressive placings in earlier tournaments’ elimination rounds. At a small tournament, you may receive a bid for reaching the final four, or at the larger tournament, a bid may be given out as early as the sweet sixteen. Regardless, receiving a bid is a life-long achievement for many teams, such an elusive goal that many teams never get one in the first place, despite debating for four years, going to debate camp many summers, and researching countless hours. It is just that hard to get even one. MBA received twenty-four bids total. Twentyfour! At most schools, they have only one or two good teams. That is why every other school had only at most two teams qualify to the TOC. We had five, fully qualified teams. I would like congratulate William Bradford, John Raulston Graham, Thomas Zeuthen, Alex Kalams, Jack Rankin, Jack Harrington, Atticus Glen, Julian Habermann, Aden Barton, and Ben Jablonski for qualifying, an achievement that demonstrates this year’s success.

In fact, the team of Patrick Dennis and Sam Funk, despite only receiving one bid, was placed near the top of the wait list of teams to qualify, given their year

PALMORE from Page 3 Totomoi leader, and a member of the discipline committee. Her numerous leadership positions reflect on not only her dedication to the betterment of the school and the students here, but also the school’s profound trust

May 31st, 2018

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of success and show of excellent and talented debating. When, right before the TOC, another team had to drop out, Patrick and Sam were offered a spot in the tournament, but they declined as it was too last minute. While every other school only had at most two teams debating, we could have had six.

There was no rest for the debate team. Hot off the heels of NDCA, the team chose to spend nearly every minute of their two weeks back preparing, even when they maybe should have been making up school work. The team spent their Saturday and Sunday at Coach Josh Clark’s house, working all-day together and enjoying some home-cooked burgers.

When the team arrived in Lexington, Kentucky, we were more than ready, yet so was the competition. The extreme qualification process meant that only the best 76 teams across the country were there, and not only were the debaters top notch but many save their trickiest arguments for the TOC. Everything was on the line. Each preliminary round at the TOC is known to have the quality of a late elimination round at the biggest tournaments.

So, the fact that we had three teams with 5-2 or better records was highly impressive. Furthermore, Ben Jablonski received fifth speaker, and Aden Barton received second speaker in the country, despite only being a sophomore. The team of Jack Harrington and Jack Rankin performed at an all-time best, finishing 5-2 and upsetting many teams perceptually higher ranked. When they were paired to face off against

Ben and Aden in octofinals, they not only graciously took an opportunity to end their year by letting MBA advance but also dedicated all of their time afterwards prepping for the team. Julian and Atticus also finished 5-2 but lost on a close, 2-1 decision in octofinals.

Ben and Aden were the only team left.

Not having to debate in octofinals, they had plenty of time to prepare for quarterfinals which they handily won.

After finishing the preliminary rounds 6-1, they were the second seed and now had to negate the third seed Monta Vista from California.

After an extremely intense round, the team sat in anticipation.

Every other school I asked described watching the round as one of the best policy debates they had ever seen. Finally, the decision was in, and we sadly lost the debate. Still, Ben and Aden finished third in the nation to a team that would later win the final round, becoming the TOC champions.

While the loss was tragic, it was apparent that this year in total was one of the best years ever for MBA debate in history.

After the high school TOC, our middle school team went on to compete

in the Middle School TOC. With help from coaches Atticus Glen and MBA graduate Andy Zhu, we had two teams reach elimination rounds. The tournament split the bracket in half, and Jack Pacconi and Jon Tarquinio made it to quarterfinals in the top bracket. Jack Young, who received fourth speaker total, made it to finals of the lower bracket debating solo but sadly lost.

Looking back on the year, the success at both TOCs demonstrates one of the most impressive things about the team: its youth. The only senior debaters this year were Ben Jablonski, Patrick Dennis, and Brawner Smith. While these seniors will be thoroughly missed and their impact on the team is impossible to overstate, they put in place a foundation for many years of future success for MBA debate. Finally, I would like to thank our incredible coaching staff. The team’s success would be impossible without them, and I hope they know they are deeply appreciated.

Sorry, but the deluge of MBA debate announcements, assembly speeches, and newspaper articles aren’t likely to go away soon. The next years are looking strong.

in her and appreciation for her honorable character. She has gone above and beyond the call of duty for Montgomery Bell Academy. Her service and dedication to our school is a model both for teachers looking to make an impact on their students and even students looking to make an impact on

society.

Mrs. Lowry was an exceptional teacher - she did, indeed, have a building named after her - but many would venture to say that Mrs. Palmore’s career was just as illustrious.

With that in mind, one should not be surprised if, years down the road,

MBA opens the doors to the Palmore Building. Whether that be the case or not, we wish Mrs. Palmore nothing but the best in retirement and thank her wholeheartedly for all she has done for this school.

While these seniors will be thoroughly missed and their impact on the team is impossible to overstate, they put in place a foundation for many years of suture success for MBA debate.

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FEATURES

may 31st, 2018

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Professor Michael Bess Speaks at Graduation

By Jack Cappizi Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

Today’s commencement speaker, Michael Bess, father of Sebastian Bess (‘18), has a unique knack for the past. As the Chancellor’s Professor of History at Vanderbilt University, he has established himself as a leading educator at the university.

Michael Bess began teaching at Vanderbilt in 1989. He teaches classes on World War II, the history of environmentalism, the societal and moral implications of human bioenhancement, science and technology studies, the nature of human agency, and general courses on twentieth-century Europe and Western Civilization. His teaching has been recognized on multiple occasions.

For example, he received the Jeffrey

Nordhaus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the Ellen Gregg Ingalls Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching, and the Vanderbilt Chair of Teaching Excellence.

Specializing in the social and cultural history of 20th and 21st century Europe, Bess has published four books.

His publications have received such prestigious awards as the George Perkins Marsh Prize (2004) and an Honorable Mention from the Pinkney Prize committee.

Bess has also received grants from the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, the National Institutes of Health, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur foundation, the Fulbright program, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, and the University of California’s institute

Michael Bess, Chancellor’s Professor

of History at Vanderbilt University, speaks at commencment.

famous philosopher Michel Foucault for the Daily Californian, the student newspaper of the University of California, Berkeley. This interview captured the essence of the big questions that Bess tries to answer in his studies and teachings. Such questions cut to the core of the individual’s purpose over the course of 80 years.

In his pursuit of academic excellence, Bess continues his pursuit to unravel such enigmatic questions such as which foundations systems of ethics stand, what it means to know our surroundings, and, of course, what role we play in shaping the course of history.

Today, the student body thanks Professor Bess for his address and for including us on his journey.

on Global Conflict and Cooperation.

In 1980, Bess interviewed the

A Former Editor-in-Chief Signs Off

By Ben Coulthard Editor-in-Chief Emeritus We’ve finally reached the end. As a member of the class of 2018, our time has come to a close, but it seems almost surreal to have gone through six years of education at such a premier school. There have been plenty of memories made, both good and bad, but everything that MBA has put its students through will be beneficial in the long run. That’s the biggest piece that MBA has to offer: the preparation for the next step.

As the end of the year has given the senior class moments to step back and reflect on the past six years, one constant seemed apparent as work tapered off and graduation got closer and closer, which was a sense of camaraderie and togetherness as the

seniors relished the last few weeks on the Hill.

If you stepped on campus for the first time during these past few weeks, you could find seniors playing Spikeball around campus on P. Hale Plaza, the football field, or next to the library. There were seniors sitting outside soaking in the sunlight at lunch, just trying to enjoy being together for one last time. And that’s what MBA does for its students. It creates friendships that will last a lifetime, where you will find students returning for class reunions or starring in their best friend’s wedding due to a friendship that was cultivated

throughout their time on the Hill.

While the end of the year is typically seen as a time for seniors to “slide” through the second semester as they’ve already gotten into college, there’s a little bit of a different feeling to the second semester at MBA. Yes, there is a sense of wanting to leave, but that is only normal when so many opportunities are ahead. The seniors instead cultivate new friendships with people they may not have gotten to know throughout MBA. There is no real feeling of exclusion, rather a sense of unity where the goal of graduation is there for everyone to celebrate. Everyone has gone through

The end of senior year represents a time where the seniors celebrate each other and the accomplishment of completing MBA

the same gauntlet and experienced the grind that MBA presents. The end of senior year represents a time where the seniors celebrate each other and the accomplishment of completing MBA. While it is commonly joked about, the sense of brotherhood that exists is really brought out by the end of the year.

With graduation, there are only a few more moments for the seniors to spend time together and appreciate each other’s friendships. As evidenced by the Leavers Dinner where the seniors came together for a final meal to share memories and just each other’s presence, it may be almost time to head off to college, but we get to be together just a few more times.

To MBA and the Class of 2018, it’s been an honor.

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FEATURES

April 31

1st, 2018

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That ENDADA Energy Photos by Webb Hunt

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ENTERTAINMENT

May 31st, 2018

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Avengers: Infinity War Review

By Landis Hall Entertainment Editor

On May 2, 2008, audiences around the world were first introduced to Robert Downey, Jr.’s portrayal of Iron Man, and Marvel turned an obscure character into a household name almost overnight. Now, after eighteen movies and numerous spin-off TV shows, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has reached its climax in Infinity War, the third installment of The Avengers series.

Infinity War had the daunting task of providing a culmination to ten years worth of movies, which fell to directors Anthony and Joe Russo.

Fortunately for audiences, they proved to be more than capable of the job, delivering an epic, if not flawed, superhero crossover movie.

The feared intergalactic tyrant Thanos wants to get his hands on the six Infinity Stones in order to bring balance to the universe by wiping out half of all life in existence. Rising up to stop him are not only the Avengers,

but the Guardians of the Galaxy as well.

This movie exceeds at giving every character an arc and something to do. The viewer is never confused as to where certain characters are, or what they are doing. Some are less developed than others, but the most interesting characters are the main focus.

The most interesting character was definitely Thor, who has now lost his entire family and home been turned into a complex, tragic character, which is a complete departure from the humorous and light hearted character from previous movies. Iron Man and Captain America have been completely changed since their fight in Civil War,

Fortunately for audiences, they proved more than capable of the job, delivering an epic, if not flawed, superhero crossover movie.

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with one attempting to pass on his legacy to Spider Man and the other living as an international fugitive. The Guardians are still the same mercenary group of outlaws they have always been.

These characters aren’t really given a proper introduction, but they don’t really need one. By now, everybody knows who these characters are, and the movie expects the viewer to know them.

However, this movie’s focus isn’t on the Avengers themselves. It is on the villain, Thanos, and this movie belongs to him. Josh Brolin portrays arguably the best Marvel villain to date, adding

a layer of humanity to a brutal tyrant that creates a completely relatable, yet flawed, character. The visual effects team clearly poured a ton of time and effort into Thanos’ look, which is entirely CGI. They managed to use CGI while still retaining Josh Brolin’s facial movements, allowing him to blend in seamlessly with the rest of the actors in the movie. His motivations are a little thin, but he separates himself from the slew of generic superhero villains through his humanity and vulnerability as a character.

This movie definitely isn’t for everyone, though. Viewers who haven’t seen the previous eighteen movies will definitely feel lost. Infinity War expects its audience to know these characters and their stories already, which they should considering these movies have been around for ten years. The movie also sacrifices a traditional plot structure for smaller character moments, which is completely fine for this type of movie, but audiences shouldn’t go in expecting a structured plot. As a whole, Avengers: Infinity War is a spectacular treat for fans of Marvel, providing both shocking twists and fulfilled promises.

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John Mulaney is the Comedian We Need

By Matthew Kaplan Editor-in-Chief

Comedy has always played a central role in American entertainment. Its constituents embark on a journey to entertain, to get laughs, and make money in the process. The subjects comedic humor are any number of things that can please an audience. It is indeed the comedian’s job to know its audience.

In 2018, almost any comedian can identify its audience with ease.

Present day America is by no means a nation in agreement, but from mass entertainment and mass media, we can see a growing consensus in the American audience. Entertainers today have more material than ever, and their relatively liberal audiences indulge on it constantly. This material is best summarized as President Trump.

As dividing a figure as President Trump is to a large portion of the nation, he has a knack for bringing people together, to laugh at jokes made about him. We see it in every form of comedy, most notably in Saturday Night Live, who has brought on practically every famous star in America to make jokes about the president.

Every late night show constantly pokes at the president, and virtually everyone who is anyone in the world of comedy makes jokes at his expense.

That’s where John Mulaney enters the scene, a man who Seth Meyers has called “the funniest in America.” As 35 year old, lanky man who claims he looks like he’s about 11, John Mulaney may strike you more as your awkward distant cousin than the funniest man in America, but that’s all part of the act. While other comedians make fun of Donald Trump and modern day politics, John Mulaney has found a refreshing way to avoid discussing politics in favor of a clean, everyday humor that so many Americans enjoy.

Mulaney got his start working for SNL, after graduating from Georgetown University, where both of

At only age 35, John Mulaney has become a national voice in comedy. The New York Times recently said that his observations are ones you’d expect “from a much older, more cynical man.”

his parents also attended. Mulaney was a writer for the show for 5 years, and after working as a writer on SNL, he attempted his own version of Seinfeld with Mulaney, a show about him as a Stand Up comedian. The show proved to be ultimately unsuccessful and widely disliked, but it would also be the last failure in his career for a long time.

John Mulaney has garnered most of his fame from his Stand Up shows, which he’s taken all across the country.

Three of them are now on Netflix, as comedy specials, and it is there where Mulaney gets his viewership. His most recent one, which was released to Netflix on May 1st, takes place in one of multiple sold out shows at Radio

City Music Hall.

During his most recent tour, which just ended, he visited Nashville for two nights to a packed crowd at the Ryman Auditorium. While in Nashville, he noted the oddity of vibrant support for “predators,” which, to him, could be easily misconstrued as support for actual predators, not the hockey team.

The comedy that John Mulaney brings to the world often touches on moments in his life. From when he met Bill Clinton to his experiences with Delta Airlines, he provides a constant flow of energy and humor, while remaining clean and apolitical. Even when he finally mentioned Trump, he never did by name, but rather referring to the situation of the current presidency as analogous to a “horse in a hospital.” His stories and jokes always share one thing in common, they relate to real situations in people’s lives.

Mulaney has an unparalleled ability to take everyday situations and bring out an odd, common humor that few others had previously thought about, but that everyone can get on board with.

In wake of his success, Mulaney was asked to come back to SNL and host an episode, which he did on April 14th. Mulaney’s episode was wildly popular, as he starred in almost every skit without using politics as the show often does.

The New York Times recently discussed Mulaney’s quick rise to stardom and said that he “makes the sort of embittered observations you’d expect from a much older, more cynical man.”

Indeed, his commentary on life resonates with people much older and younger than him. It’s this ability to relate with thoughtful humor while remaining lighthearted that captivates such a broad American audience.

His presence is important in such a divisive age, as he serves to bring people together, not against a common enemy, but to celebrate and make humorous the common experiences in everyday life.

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ENTERTAINMENT

May 31st, 2018

THE BELL RINGER

R&B is Making a Comeback in Popular Music

By John Thornton Staff Writer The year is 2005. R&B is at its peak.

Artists such as Missy Elliot, Usher, and Mariah Carey are at the forefront of popular music. How then, hardly five years later, did the genre disappear almost entirely from mainstream media?

The jazzy piano stylings of Alicia Keys and smooth melismas of Boys II Men had been replaced by the thumping dubstep beats of Skrillex and electronic bubblegum pop of Katy Perry.

Perhaps with the advent of increasingly rapid technology and entertainment, the general public became bored with music stereotypically seen as “slow”. Thus, upbeat pop and dance records ruled the charts for the better half of the 2010s. Though some formerly R&B artists attempted to blend the two genres (Usher’s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love, for example), R&B soon faded from the public eye altogether.

Recently, however, The Weeknd’s understated hip-hop and Migos’ infamous “mumble rap” have come

to dominate the music scene, thanks largely to a new generation obsessed with SoundCloud rappers and trapinfluenced beats. A notable side effect of this takeover has been the reintroduction of R&B, now tinged with hip-hop rather than electronic influences. Artists who initially garnered cult followings on social media or in local communities have made their way to the forefront. SZA and Khalid are just two examples of “new” R&B artists who have garnered massive success, with one performing at the Grammys and the other winning Best New Artist, respectively. Childish Gambino, an R&B act who for years had flown largely under the radar, scored a sleeper hit with “Redbone” in 2016. This placed him in the public eye and set the stage for “This is America” topping the charts.

Even more strongly hip-hop songs such as Drake’s “Nice For What” have incorporated R&B samples, with the aforementioned track borrowing from R&B legend Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor.”

Rihanna, known for years as pop music’s biggest hitmaker, took her craft

Childish Gambino has taken over the world of R&B

in a far moodier and more experimental direction with 2016’s Anti. Her trendsetting power likely helped open doors for new and successful R&B acts that followed. Even some of Post Malone’s work could arguably be labeled R&B. Even those modern R&B artists who

have yet to make it big have amassed significant cult followings (H.E.R., Tinashe, and Jeremih, to name a few.)

A genre which was largely written off during the early 2010s has made its way back into mainstream consciousness, slowly but surely.

Fearless Flyers Funk it Up

By Mauro Mastrapasqua Contributor

On March 23, 2018, the funk world was completely turned upside down. Funk titans and members of the band Vulfpeck Joe Dart (bass) and Cory Wong (guitar) collaborated with Nate Smith (drums) and Mark Lettieri (guitar) to produce a legendary EP named after their band, The Fearless Flyers. In this 6 song EP they successfully merged classic and contemporary, prepared and improv, original and arranged.

They kick it off with debatably their best piece and the album’s signature Joe Dart bass lick, “Ace of Aces.” Next up they arranged “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid for guitars, and tacked on an outro called “Flyers Drive.” Jumping to track four, they made Stevie Wonder even funkier (if

that’s even possible) with their rendition of “Sign Sealed Delivered,” followed by a rearranged classic Vulfpeck deep track, “Barbra.” Between these tracks and two other compositions, the Fearless Flyers have established their EP among the funk greats.

According to professional multiinstrumentalist and funk enthusiast Mr. Frederick, this album is so groovy “because two words: Nate Smith. He’s the best drummer on the planet right now--he’s the king of the pocket” (meaning he’s the master of

groove). Nate Smith is a popular jazz drummer who has played with artists of many genres, most notably drumming and co- writing with Michael Jackson. Mr. Frederick continued, “And I love the Vulfpeck guys...I almost hesitate to call them neofunk, because really, they’re just classic funk.” Vulfpeck is a prominent funk combo from the University of Michigan, whose signature tune “Back Pocket” you’ve probably heard from the recent iPhone X commercial. And finally from Mr. Frederick, his favorite song on the EP is “Ace of Aces.”

If you have not heard much funk yet, or you are completely bewildered by the thought of good music not coming from a single, then Vulfpeck is the sound for you.

If you have not heard much funk yet, or you are completely bewildered by the thought of good music not coming from a single, then Vulfpeck is the sound for you. They keep their audience on the edge of their seat; using essentially only two chords they rerecorded their famous “It Gets Funkier” thrice, each completely different yet just as groovy as the last. Once you’ve gone through their four EPs and three albums, you are hooked and crave more. Then move on to The Fearless Flyers where, if it’s possible, it gets even funkier.

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May 31st, 2018

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May 31st, 2018

SPORTS

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Tennis Goes Back to Back, Takes State

By Jack Smartt Sports Editor Editors note: This issue went to print just after the tennis team won the State Championship. We had just enough time to change the photos and headline.

The dynasty continues as the MBA tennis team looked to win the state championship this year. Last year, the squad won its first state title with Coach Davidson as Head Coach and Coach Byrd as Assistant Coach and the first title since 2010. Under the leadership of Coach Davidson and Coach Byrd, the best coaching staff in the state, the Big Red are looking to repeat as state champions. The squad won the Carter Invitational for the first time since 2010 even though they lost four-time individual state champion George Harwell as he is now playing college tennis at Vanderbilt. Harwell was one of the best MBA tennis players in our history and replacing him would not be easy, but Baylor Sai has had a great season playing #1 singles. Additionally, the team is just as dominant as last year due to the team’s depth besides Sai. At the Carter Invitational, MBA won 3 doubles (John Spurgeon and Hunter Johnson), 4 singles (Richard

Cummins), and 1 singles (Baylor Sai).

The team is undefeated in league play with the only close competition coming from McCallie who they beat 5-2 and Baylor who they beat 4-3. They demolished the rest of the competition beating Brentwood Academy 7-0, USN 7-0, Ravenwood 7-0, Lipscomb 7-0, Father Ryan 7-0, and St. Benedict 4-0.

With one of the most dominant regular seasons in MBA’s history, the team looked to cap off the year by taking home the trophy in Murfreesboro.

On May 23rd, the MBA tennis team captured its second straight TSSAA Division II-AA state champion with a 4-2 win over Baylor. The decisive victory, coupled with the huge win at

the Carter Invitational, meant not only a successful season for the Big Red, but a historic one.

Despite the loss of 4 seniors (Oliver Briggs, John Spurgeon, Ben Elasy, and Matthew Bulow), the team will still have a lot of depth next year with Richard Cummins, Hugh Graham, Baylor Sai, and, most importantly, Campbell Cook returning. Also, highlytouted prospect Sims Lance might be in the lineup next year after coming back from a multitude of injuries.

The upcoming players in the current 11th,10th, 9th, and 8th grade classes are all very strong and show promise for the future. The Big Red are definitely one of the favorites to win the state championship next year.

Speaking of dynasties, the MBA Junior Varsity program has yet again gone undefeated in back to back years.

Under the amazing leadership of Gibby Gibson and John Wallace, the JV team did not lose a match this entire season even though they lost former team captain Philip Scholer to track and Brian Graves to the varsity team. The JV team looks to build on their success and help the varsity team win a state championship next year.

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May 31st, 2018

SPORTS

Varsity Lacrosse Finishes in Semis

By William Tyrone Contributor The Big Red Lacrosse team had an unforgettable year filled with hard work and astounding senior leadership.

Practices began in February while the players were wearing sweatshirts and sweatpants over their pads to practice, and the season ended in the 90 degree heat. Over the past few months, the teammates’ relationships grew stronger, and the team, as a whole, became more of a unit. However, the season was not an easy journey to earning the StateSemifinal spot.

In the early season, MBA was handily beat by Trinity who were the Kentucky state champions from the previous year. The Big Red then travelled to Atlanta over spring break and suffered two unfortunate losses to Greater Atlanta Christian and

Allatoona. Returning from spring break, the Big Red soon reached their season’s turning point. The highlight of the season was the Big Red’s 6-5 defeat over Moeller, the reigning state champions of Ohio, in the light Nashville snow.

The team was led that game by the offensive MVP and potential future All-American, Stephen (a.k.a. “The Gun”) Avery. Avery led the team with a whopping 56 points consisting of 37 Goals and 19 Assists.

On the year, the Big Red went 10-6 including a big win over our down the street rival, Ensworth, and with only three in-state losses. On April 20, the Big Red travelled to Memphis to face MUS, and suffered an 8-7 OT loss.

The Big Red had the lead almost the whole game and fell apart in the late fourth quarter as MUS scored three unanswered goals to tie it at 7 a piece.

The Owls went on to score the game

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Senior captains Zach Smith, Gordon Pollock, and Fenner Pollock

winning goal. MBA suffered another two in state losses: McCallie and then

See LACROSSE, Page 22

Varsity Baseball Comes Close in Playoffs

By Tripper Capps Contributor The 2018 MBA Varsity baseball program had a very successful season, finishing with an overall record of 1813. Behind the leadership of seniors Brady Slinger, Ty Allen, Ben Coulthard, Daniel Lee, Miller Freeman, Ben Evans, and Chris Hawkins the team went from a last place finish in the league to a second place finish this year. Coming into the year, the Big Red bolstered a lineup that returned most of its starters, with the major questions being pitching and the first base position. Seniors Ben Coulthard and Miller Freeman stepped up big on the mound. Sophomore Wylie Ritter also stepped up big providing the team with power at the plate and solid defense at first.

The team started off the season with a big series win over rival BA, defeating the defending champions twice in a three game series to start the year on a positive note. The Big Red followed the opening series win with a successful Spring Break trip to Orlando which saw the team compete with quality squads from Florida and Georgia. MBA went 3-1 on the trip while playing very good baseball. The trip brought the team together and served as an important time of bonding. It laid the foundation for the team’s success during the remainder of the season.

Returning to Nashville, the team had a little bit of a hiccup as it lost four straight games including a three game series to Baylor. After a middle season slump culminating with the Father Ryan loss, the Big Red rattled off three

series wins in a row. MBA defeated rival Ensworth after losing the first game of the series in perhaps one of the most important series of the year. The win was followed by a sweep of Lipscomb and a huge series win over JPII, earning the Big Red the two seed in the region tournament. The Big Red scored a combined 24 runs in the series, as the bats were coming alive just at the right time. Seniors Ty Allen, Ben Evans, and Brady Slinger were key aspects defensively combined with the pitching efforts of Ben Coulthard and Miller

Freeman. Chris Hawkins helped the team offensively with his timely hitting and on base percentage. The series victory gave the Big Red a first round bye in the tournament and a rematch against the winner of McCallie/JPII. The team played McCallie in the first round of the playoffs looking for the much desired return to the state final four. Because of some unfortunate weather and unlucky bounces, MBA dropped both games by a combined two runs to McCallie, officially ending the season for the Big Red. Although

the team was disappointed with the end result, they have many goals that were accomplished. Highlights of the season were the sweep of McCallie in the regular season and the series win over Ensworth. The future is bright for the Big Red as the team returns its two outfielders, Harris and Crider, and two of its starting infielders. Juniors Blake Kirchenbauer, William Stewart, Joseph Perazzini, Cole Crider, Brenden Harris, Grant Ellison, and Christian Schwartz See BASEBALL, Page 22

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SPORTS

May 31st, 2018

THE BELL RINGER

NFL Draft: Expert Analysis and Predictions

By Will Crawford Staff Writer and NFL Expert The 2018 NFL Draft proved to be one of the most unpredictable of draft classes in recent history. The most obvious of mysteries heading into the draft concerned the quarterbacks. In the past with players like Cam Newton; Andrew Luck; Jared Goff; and Jameis Winston, teams and fans knew these players were locks for the first overall pick. This year however the debate between Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen was mixed and inconsistent because of Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey’s unwillingness to reveal his selection

prior to draft night.

Many experts felt that Baker Mayfield had no business going first overall due to his shorter stature, wild character, small hands, and lack of experience in a pro style offense as Oklahoma ran an air raid offense which typically doesn’t translate well to the NFL style of play. However, the Browns jumped on Mayfield at one and have themselves a QB of the future. Despite his weaknesses, Mayfield is one of the most accurate passers in college football.

He posted two consecutive years with a completion percentage of 71%. No one can deny the production of the Heisman winner or his passion for the game. Mayfield has to compete with

former Bills QB Tyrod Taylor for the starting job and right now it appears likely that Taylor will get the start Week One. Despite Mayfield’s abilities, he will not start this season.

Tyrod Taylor is a talented QB that will take advantage of a decent offensive line with veteran interior linemen Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, and Kevin Zeitler along with skill position players added in free agency such as Carlos Hyde and Jarvis Landry.

Sam Darnold was picked next by the Jets 3rd overall. There was a general agreement by many experts that Darnold was the best QB in the draft and should have gone 1st overall because of his two years as a starter for USC with solid numbers in all categories, especially TDs (57). Darnold will enter New York in a QB dual with Teddy Bridgewater who started for the Vikings before his horrific injury and decent veteran Josh McCown who started 13 games

No one can deny the production of the Heisman winner or his passion for the game.

See DRAFT, Page 21

Icarus Flew too Close to the Sun

By Robert Cowan Webmaster Emeritus Welp. The Nashville Predators followed up their record-setting regular season with a dumbfoundingly mediocre playoff performance.

Everyone’s hopes were high for the Preds going into the first round versus the Colorado Avalanche. The Preds finished with the best record in the league, broke a franchise record for points in a season, won the Central Division for the first time, and won the Western Conference championship for the first time.

In the first round, the Preds showed some weakness, but they were able to beat the Avalanche in 6 games. In the second round, the Preds would face the Winnipeg Jets, the second best team in the league. The Jets would test the will and strength of the Preds. In Game 1, the Preds could not use the home ice to their advantage like they did last year and lost 4-1. In Game 2, the Preds blew a lead late in the third period, but they were able to win in overtime 5-4 and tie the series 1-1. As the series shifted over to Winnipeg, the Preds knew they would need a good start to silence the rowdy Winnipeg crowd, and they did that by scoring 3 goals in the first period. They could not keep up with the Jets, blowing the 3-0 lead and then losing the game 7-4. Game 4 was a must-win for the Preds they knew they could not go down 3-1 in the series. The Preds played an amazing defensive game after scoring the game’s first 2 goals. They were able to clog up the neutral zone and shut the Jets down.

They won Game 4 by a score of 2-1.

With the series tied 2-2, the Preds once again had a chance to use their home ice advantage to take a lead in the series. But, once again, a lack of will and intensity consumed the Preds, and they would fall in Game Five 6-2. With the series now moving to Winnipeg, they had the chance to clinch at home.

The Preds would need to play their best game to win and force a Game Seven. Game Six was the best game the Preds played all playoffs. They controlled the whole game and won 4-0. The series was now tied 3-3 and Game Seven would decide the winner in Nashville.

Being there for Game 7, I had some hope for a win, but after 10 minutes all my hope was gone. The Preds came out with no will and no drive. Pekka

Rinne, who was nominated for the best goalie in the league, gave up two of the softest goals and was pulled after just 10 minutes. Not a good start. The Preds would manage to get one power play goal, but even that goal did not seem to give the team a spark.

The rest of the game was a bunch of weak attempts trying to get the puck out of their zone and shooting weak shots at Winnipeg’s goalie. In the end, the Preds went into the fetal position, and let the Jets take a 4-1 lead and win the series 4-3, ending the Preds season.

Was the pressure of repeating last year’s run too much? Yes. Did they think they could coast into the Stanley Cup finals again like they did last year?

The Preds showed that they are not ready to win the Stanley Cup, plain and simple.

Probably. Did playing the second best team in the league in the second round help? No. The Preds looked like a team that did not care about what was happening.

They consistently would shoot the puck around the boards and hope a teammate would get the puck and chip it out of the zone. The Preds were never able to regularly get the puck cleanly out of the zone. They lacked the heart needed to win championships. Last year was a fantasy to the players. Sweeping the #1 overall seed in the first round and not facing challenging competition until the Stanley Cup Final. When the roles flipped this year, everything crumpled.

The Preds showed that they are not ready to win the Stanley Cup, plain and simple. Pekka Rinne did not play well at all. Roman Josi, the captain, could not keep up with the pace of the game after performing well in the regular season. The Turris-Smith-Fiala line was nowhere to be seen the whole playoffs after putting up really good numbers in the regular season. Along with Josi, his defensive partner, Ryan Ellis, was playing like a third line D-man, and could not generate any offense.

The blame cannot be placed on only these players, but their lack of consistency hurt the team. It’s time for the Preds to take a step back and get a reality check. This poor showing can only help them. They have now seen both sides of the coin. Next year is a new year and hopefully a return to the Stanley Cup playoffs will be in store for Smashville.

THE BELL RINGER

May 31st, 2018

SPORTS

DRAFT from Page 20 for them last year and had a solid season despite a lack of offensive talent on the roster. My prediction: Teddy Bridgewater starts day one but a poor supporting class ends his season early in week 13 versus a solid Titans secondary that end the Jets playoff chances.

However, when he gets the start, do not expect success. The Jets have possibly the worst roster in the league that consists of a sub par offensive line, zero stand-out playmakers at skill positions, and very young defense.

Josh Allen held the classes’ strongest arm and was taken 7th overall by the Buffalo Bills. However, his horrible stats (13 TDs, 6 Ints, 1658 yards) in 10 games last year against subpar competition in the Mountain West Conference make him a definite bust for the Bills. Right now on the Bills roster, their only QBs are Nathan Peterman who threw 6 picks in one game last year and AJ McCarron who has only played in 7 games in his four year career despite backing up Andy Dalton, who is not a top 20 quarterback. This gives Allen no reason to lose the starting job as a rookie due to his huge arm and incredible potential. Allen’s only other offensive help will come from Lesean McCoy. The Bills will struggle to win 5 games this year with Allen at the helm.

Heading into the draft, Josh Rosen was the best pure passer with over 3,500 yards last year at UCLA, but his leadership skills and character caused him to fall to the Arizona Cardinals at 10th overall. In his post draft interview, Rosen arrogantly told reporters that there were nine mistakes before him.

However, Rosen should be happy to go to the Cardinals. They have a solid offensive line to protect him with two top tier guards, Mike Iupati and Justin Pugh. Also, at their skill positions, they have a top 5 running back in David Johnson, and a first ballot Hall of Famer at WR in Larry Fitzgerald. Then, the Cardinals took a WR from Texas A&M Christian Kirk, who has great hands and speed to take pressure off of Fitzgerald. Rosen will compete against veteran Sam Bradford who has multiple years of starting experience and a massive contract. Bradford will probably start the season, and Rosen will learn from him. Rosen’s character questions will be tested by how he handles taking a backup role. My Prediction : After a year in the backup role, Rosen will take the reigns as the Cardinals QB in 2019 and have a lot succes with a good team in a competitive NFC West division.

This year was the first time four QBs were drafted in the top 10, but two QBs that could have significant impact in the future are Lamar Jackson, picked 32nd overall by the Baltimore Ravens and Mason Rudolph, picked 76th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Lamar Jackson is an elite athlete, but for

anyone to suggest to him to play WR is ridiculous. There are only two notable WRs in the NFL that were QBs in college, Julian Edelman of the Patriots and Randall Cobb of the Packes.

However, it’s important to remember that these two receivers play for the two best QBs of this generation that have often been able to turn undrafted players into starters. Lamar Jackson has an underrated arm that he showed in college when he won the Heisman two years ago. With the Ravens, he enters a situation that is in obvious decline. Joe Flacco overcame lots of adversity in his career to win a Super Bowl, but he has never been more than an average QB aided by ridiculously good defenses. Their players are now growing old and must be replaced. This will take time and Jackson’s success will depend on how well the Baltimore front office replenishes the aging talent. My Prediction : He will not start until 2020 for the Baltimore Ravens when Flacco burns out of the NFL. Mason Rudolph was the last QB that had potential NFL starter on his label. After the first two rounds, most QBs are drafted as long shot hopefuls or career backups. Rudolph is not that player. At Oklahoma State, his production was only beaten by Baker Mayfield of the power five QBs. Throwing for over 4,000 yards in his Junior and Senior years, never throwing double digit picks in a season, and 35 TDs as a senior make Rudolph a great pick in the third round. Rudolph also has the perfect physique for a QB at 6 foot 5 and 235 pounds. However, Rudolph ran a college style offense where he didn’t have to make NFL reads. Another knock on Rudolph was his lack of mobility outside the pocket and the inaccuracy of throws when off balance. Ben Roethlisberger has been an elite QB for most of his career but, with a few questionable durability concerns and his age, it is likely Rudolph could get his shot in the coming years. The excellence displayed by the Steelers year to year will continue when Rudolph takes over from Roethlisberger.

Awards : Offensive Rookie of the YearSaquon Barkley RB - New York Giants.

This an obvious pick. He is currently expected to be better than Todd Gurley (who won this award in 2015 and Ezekiel Elliott who led the league in rushing yards during his rookie year in 2016).

Defensive Rookie of the YearDerwin James S - Los Angeles Chargers.

This is more unexpected, but the Chargers already have one of the best cornerback combos in the league with Pro Bowlers Casey Hayward and Jason Verrett on the outside and breakout rookie 5th round pick Desmond King out of Iowa in the slot. Also, a great pass rush for the Chargers will help James get interceptions. James is known as one of the hardest working players in the class and had great production in college. My prediction is that he leads all rookie defensive backs in tackles and picks.

Best Value pickDerwin James S Buccaneers As said above he’s surrounded by talent which will help him out. (He should have been a top 10 pick in this draft so getting him at 17th overall is amazing value.)

Biggest reach- Vita Vea DT Buccaneers. This pick is bad in three ways : the player, the team, and the position. The Bucs should have targeted offense first round to help the development of Jameis Winston.

They are ridiculous for not helping their young quarterback by getting him offensive line help. Also, if the Bucs want to pick defense here, why would they go DT at 13th overall? The defensive line is possibly the most tiring position on the field if you go 100% on every play. Many teams rotate defensive line all the time. Why spend a first round pick on a guy who will spend

21

more than half of your team’s defensive snaps on the bench. Last year Pro Bowl DT for the Bucs Gerald McCoy led their defensive line with 76.1% of defensive snaps. Only one other defensive lineman for the Bucs broke 50% of snaps played. A player like a defensive back which is a major need for the Bucs would spend a majority snaps on the field as well as make a more significant difference which is why they should have taken Derwin James at 12 if they wanted defense. On top of this, Vea is not a great player. He is enormous (6 foot 4, 347 pounds) but has many concerns. His high draft position appears to be a result of his size and not his skill which is a bad sign.

His footwork, speed, and vision have all been criticized by scouts which are all major question marks. Bad pick.

Best overall draft in the NFC: Giants (top 3 picks Saquon Barkley RB, Will Hernandez G, Lorenzo Carter OLB).

Barkley is the best player in the draft.

Hernandez was a 1st round talent in one of the most talented offensive line classes in recent years. Carter is a speedy pass rusher from Georgia. Georgia is known for producing good defensive players and Carter feels like a steal for in the 3rd round. Carter definitely should have gone higher in the draft, but fell because he needs to add weight to his 6 foot 5 frame which will hurt his run stopping ability and power.

Also, 4th round pick Kyle Lauletta had great college career at Richmond, and he should beat out Davis Webb for the backup job. With the recent struggles of Eli Manning, it would be no surprise if Lauletta is then given a chance for the starting job as the season progresses on.

Best overall draft in the AFC : Broncos (top 3 picks Bradley Chubb DE, Courtland Sutton WR, Royce Freeman RB) Chubb was without a doubt the best defensive player in the draft. He brings solid pass rush skills to the table, but, more importantly, excellent work against the run. Sutton is a solid receiver with great range and ability to go up for the ball. He’ll be a nice complement to Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Royce Freeman will definitely be a candidate for the next Kareem Hunt on many fantasy boards as he will take on a big role because of CJ Anderson’s departure to Carolina. Along with these additions, they acquired seven more potential role players in the later rounds to add team depth for a team with a lot of needs.

Lamar Jackson has an underrated arm that he showed in college when he won the Heisman two years ago.

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May 31st, 2018

FIELD DAY BASEBALL from Page 19

LACROSSE from Page 19

all return next year. Sophomores Brennan Roach, Wylie Ritter, Tripper Capps, Sam Kirkpatrick, and Graham Holzapfel, and freshman Kinton Lewis will have large roles in the team next year.

MUS again in the state semi-finals.

Other than Avery, the Big Red lacrosse team was led by a strong senior class.

Zach Smith, Gordon Pollock, and Fenner Pollock were the three senior captains. All three of the captains were the top 5 scorers along with Harrison Graves making four out of the top 5 scorers seniors.

Even though the Big Red had an exceptional senior class this year, the future looks bright with strong underclassmen looking to take over.

Current Sophomore Noah (a.k.a.

Doze) Mendoza was named first team all-league defensemen, and the whole defensive squad is returning which

THE BELL RINGER

includes Peyton Brien (Junior), Noah Mendoza (Sophomore), Braden Myers (Junior), and Chris Tarquinio (Junior) in the goal. Not only do the Big Red have a solid returning defense, but the offensive future looks promising as well.

Stephen Avery (Sophomore), Hedges Hayworth (Sophomore), William Tyrone (Sophomore), and “Lukie Pukie” Mryncza (Freshman) are all returning, and the deceptively talented Steven Mason (Sophomore) will be coming in to follow in the footsteps of Fenner Pollock. Even though the Big Red had another tough state semi-final loss, the future looks promising for the MBA Lacrosse team.

Varsity Soccer Sees Tough Finish, Promise for Future

By Will Crawford Staff Writer The 2018 Big Red Soccer team was led by nine seniors who led the team to a 10-3-3 record. After four scrimmages to open up the season, the Big Red played their first game vs. Hillsboro High School and came away with a decisive 3-1 victory. The victory set the tone for a series of multiple goal wins over BA, Faraguat,

JPII, Overton, Lipscomb, MLK, and Ensworth. Despite this success the big red struggled against the top league competition. Ties to Baylor and McCallie and a loss to Father Ryan would make the Big Red the three seed in the division forcing a play in game vs. Lipscomb which the Big Red won easily, 4-0. The win over Lipscomb resulted in a trip to Memphis to play MUS in sunny and humid 90 degree weather. The game started off strong for

the Big Red with early scoring chances.

However the Big Red were never able to find the net, and in the late second half MUS scored with a header off a corner. The goal went unresponded despite the effort by the effort of the team. The 1-0 loss ended the 2018 season, but they will look to bounce back next year. The loss of nine seniors specifically captains Alex Bulgarino and Cole Deal as well as goalie Jack O’Brien will be hard to recover from. However

this season show cased five freshman on varsity including starter Eli Kampine, Ian Bernatavitz, and Rashead Sarieh.

Also freshman stud Quinn Kunath will return to the field after missing all of this season. Behind this young talent and next year’s seniors Luke Bernatavitz, Walker Dillard, and Henry Hylbert the Big Red should return to the playoffs and make a strong playoff run.

Nashville SC: Can Soccer Catch On?

By Joseph Bellardo Contributor As Nashvillians, we have all seen first hand the growth that Nashville is experiencing. The heightened traffic, the cranes and skyscrapers that pop up like wildflowers, and most especially, the new soccer team, Nashville SC. Despite this, many fans of the local Nashville sports were not excited by the incoming team. As a sport, soccer is not very popular in the United States despite the MLS (Major League Soccer) that has existed for 24 years.

Similarly, the Nashville Predators moved to Nashville, and garnered little support at all. Over a decade later, seats are hard to come by, and we are finally a Stanley Cup contending team. The city is completely united around the Preds. Similarly, this could very well happen with Nashville SC. Right now, the team that has been

playing under the Nashville SC title is a D2 team. They play at the Sounds Stadium and Nissan Stadium. Their first game was a loss to the Louisville City SC. The team rebounded well, and went on to beat the Bethlehem Steel for the team’s first win ever. Hundreds of fans have showed out for the matches, and the team has gained a lot of support. They currently have three wins and two losses to date, not bad for a first year expansion team.

It is simple to confuse this team with the team that will be coming to Nashville in three years.

This team will be a professional team in the MLS. They will most likely take the same name of Nashville SC, but for now, the D2 level team is all we have. Until the city of Nashville can build a stadium potentially on the fairgrounds, Nashville SC will be a D2 team playing at the Sounds Stadium.

Although this is all we can afford for

Soccer is not a top followed sport in Nashville, but neither was hockey.

now, Nashville could become an “it” city for sports in the near future with baseball, hockey, football, and soccer all represented.

For cities such as New York or LA, this would not be a hallmark or watershed moment. For Nashville, however, this is a major milestone in the growth that our city has recently prospered from. Nashville’s skyline has been transformed, our schools and suburbs, are filling up, and we are now the owners of a fourth professional sports team.

Soccer is not a top followed

sport in Nashville, but neither was hockey. When the Nashville Predators originally came to Nashville, they were not popular, and most of the arena was empty. The owner of the team almost sold the team to a Canadian city. Instead, the “Save our Preds” movement started, and ticket sales were enough to keep the team from moving.

Now, the Predators are atop the league, and, despite having their playoff hopes smashed, will definitely be in the fight for next year. This could be a similar path for the soon to come Nashville SC. Soccer has begun to become a sport on the rise. Suddenly, the MLS is being followed by fans, and games are becoming competitive to the point that the stadiums are almost full. In previous years, the MLS was looked down upon, and only foreign leagues had cult followings.That is not the case anymore, and soccer could become a top sport in the US just like overseas.

Overall, Nashville has a new team and a new fan base, making it an exciting time to be a Nashvillian.

THE BELL RINGER

May 31st, 2018

CLASS NEWS

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Freshmen Get College Offers

By Will Coulthard Staff Freshman

It has been a wild ride in high school for the Class of 2021, full of weekly service announcements from E-baby and an almost unfair amount of freedom relative to the halls of Massey. It was another mediocre season for the Class of 2021 football team, highlighted by offers from Tennessee for Lucien Brunetti, who was even able to get an in-depth tour of their football facilities. On the court, we were able to see the future of our basketball

program blossom before our eyes as freshman Will Montana and Miles Versa were able to contribute their skills to the team. On another note, we were all blessed by Jon Meacham’s Soul of America, as we hoped to find the soul of MBA as our year progressed.

A soul which is personified by Colyer Haddock: an athlete, scholar, and gentleman with a full-ride scholarship to Ole Miss. Speaking of rides, how about Matthew Fox’s Jeep? If you haven’t seen it, you have probably heard it while he is yelling out of the megaphone attached to his car as he

is rolling out of the MBA parking garage. And congratulations to Wyatt Bettis for placing 26th out of all high schoolers in the national history bee, congratulations to James Murff for winning the Medal of Honor, and congratulations to Norris Orndorff for almost being able to grow dreads.

Despite all these accolades our grade has acquired this year, we have lost many soldiers in our endeavors: we will miss Joseph McDougald, Chris Jackson, Will Turns, Taylor Dawson, and Michael Carlini next year… May you all have best of luck at your next

schools. And now, some advice to the following students: Zach Ricciardelli… third time’s the charm. Charlie Mason… Halloween is not everday; you cannot be Bassett every day (take off those Chelsea boots and sell them glasses). Jack Spivey…I would say pick on people your own size, but that did not work out too well. All in all, it has been a great year, and we hope next year will be just as fruitful. Have another beautiful day on the hill, gentlemen.

Sophomores Mourn Losses

By Matthew Kaplan and Zach Brown Editor-in-Chief & Staff Sophomore We must mourn the departure of two students from the Class of 2020: Clayton Malone and Coleman Rutherford. They will leave for different reasons, but they will both surely be missed. Their time was marked with much fun and disciplinary issues.

Although Clayton will travel to the North to pursue hockey, he will probably be remembered on the hill even though we tend to forget fallen soldiers quickly seeing that absolutely nobody remembers Blake Degner.

Coleman will remain in Nashville, and it is safe to say that he will remain attached to the community. He’s already decided that responding to all school emails is a good way to stay in touch.

There’s no better way to spend time during the day at MBA than responding

to all school emails. How could it possibly get better than annoying... everybody...and having...nobody think it’s funny. We wish them both the best of luck in their future academic careers and careers beyond. As we wrap up the year, we also mourn the departure of a beloved teacher and friend. Mr. Carlini, who began at MBA by teaching three Class of 2020 Honors Biology classes, will unfortunately be leaving the MBA community, at least in physical presence. We will all miss Mr. Carlini, and we wish him luck in his future endeavors. He served a great purpose for our class as a teacher and mentor, and we will miss him as an important figure to our grade. At this time, we would like to announce Mr. Carlini as an honorary member of the Class of 2020, joining members Nyles Robie, Colby Taylor, and New Pizza Guy. While some people will be leaving

the Class of 2020 this year, at least one new face will join the class for the following year. Although our class does not have a good history with new students outside of those who joined freshmen year considering Colby, Fandy, Blake Perdikis, and Blake Degner have all left MBA, we are certain that we will respectfully make an attempt to welcome the newcomers aboard with open arms.

Recent class elections truly represent the Class of 2020. The fact that every class officer ran unopposed in the election process truly speaks to the desire for “leadership” in our class. We figure that wanting to put something on a college application is outweighed by the task of random work.

Summer is upon us, meaning that many members of our class will go their separate ways. At the end of the year, it’s somewhat sad to part for the summer,

but nice to get a break. Will Farner decides that in light of recent events, he will take off for China for a month, unsure of whether he’ll return. Not to be confused with Joe Lucas’s car, which takes off at such high speeds that Joe loses it. Not to be confused with Will Crawford, who takes off so fast that people don’t even see him get out of his car when he pulls up on Fridays. Not to be confused with Will Mcevoy, who just pulls up.

As we depart from the Hill this summer, we must all remember one thing, that it is in fact the Hill that we depart from. We must all carry the things we’ve learned here this year with us as we embark on journeys to various places around the country and the globe and to Wilson Summer Classes.

Juniors Prepare to Become Leaders After Wild Year

By Sam Dugan Staff Junior The 2019 class has reached the end of the year and oh what a year it has been. In this edition of the 2019 class news, it is only fitting to reminisce on some of the memories from this year. For many it has been a year of triumphs, but for some, it has been a year of constant downfalls.

“Dirty” Dom Fisher has surely made a name for himself over the 20172018 school year. From his wonderful presence in the dining hall during break to his brief leave of absence following a slight setback with Mr. Liam Huber, Mr. Fisher has made this year one to remember. Dom hopes to only build on the strides he made as he makes his way

into his senior year. We thank him for his service to our class.

Professor Blake “Best hair in the grade by default” Andrews inspired a movement this spring on the Hill with his presidential campaign, using the slogan “Blake: A Fresh Start.”

He went against the grain, running a populist campaign, and truly speaking to the common students of the big red community, who just wanted their voice to be heard. His signature preds jacket from Cammy Jacobson was a nice touch as well. Blake defeated fierce competitors, Ian “Iron Legs” Hall and Jack “Ben Stiller” Harrington. We are all excited to see what our fearless leader has in store this upcoming year.

Perhaps the most exciting event of the year was “615” Mitarious Boyd’s

birthday party in the fall. It featured many familiar faces and was filled with plenty of excitement. Most notably, Mr. Jackson “3-star” Hannah made his presence known, both on and off the dancefloor. A source very close to Mit has revealed to us that he is planning to throw another rager next year as well.

We could not get through this article without of course mentioning the 310 event in March. Aside from the fire alarm issues, the night was a success.

Joseph Stevens stated, “I was blown away by the great variety of schools that were present. I hadn’t seen most of those girls in my life. It was great!”

We have heard from numerous members of the 2019 class that the Cuba spring break trip was a great time.

Brandon “Bobrow” Macdonald-Subban

said, “It is just good to have everyone back home safe.” Thanks B-Mac! As this year comes to an end, we all wait anxiously to see what our legendary football student section will be titled for next fall. Ingenious names such as “The Boneyard,” the “Gentleman’s Club,” “The Cockpit,” and the “Chum Bucket” have been rejected by Captain Norton thus far, but I’m sure our leaders can muster up plenty of other splendid ideas.

I have to say, this year may have been our best one yet, and that is saying something. I cannot begin to predict how senior year will go, but I’d like nothing more than to make it even better than this past one.

THE BACK PAGE Jackson Abbey - Most likely to man the grill as a dad Ty Allen - Most likely to keep his shirt untucked Harrison Avery - Most likely to own more than three boats as an adult Thomas Bellet - Most likely to get an 11-inch lift on his truck Sebastian Bess - Most likely to move to the mountains Ian Beyer - Most likely to become a smile model for Crest Clint Blackwell - Most likely not to study David Blaufuss - Most likely to lose a race to a sloth Parker Bowen - Most likely to get his actual ID rejected Ford Brewer - Most likely to get a concussion Oliver Briggs - Most likely to be confused Tyson Briggs - Most likely to make a joke at your expense Conner Brown - Most likely to be a bank manager Cal Bryan - Most likely to have a war movie made about him in 30 years Tim Buchanan - Most likely to be the da Vinci of the shoe world Alex Bulgarino - Most likely to play for Nashville SC Matthew Bulow - Most likely not to buy a class ring Owen Burns - Most likely to host a Comedy Central roast Patrick Butner - Most likely to be heckled. Nice, Butner.

Robert Cain - Most likely to start his own brand of duck calls Jack Capizzi - Most likely to disagree with you Thomas Carr - Most likely to walk-on the basketball team at Notre Dame and become the next Pat Connaughton JP Cooper - Most likely to end up in the ROTC #karma Ben Coulthard - Most likely to be a baseball journalist Daniel Cowan - Most likely to take over the position of MBA Mock Trial coach… from his father Robert Cowan - Most likely not to take over the position of MBA Mock Trial coach…from his father Jack Crawford - Most likely to sell his soul for a Pop-Tart Stephen Dashiff - Most likely to forget that he went to MBA Cole Deal - Most likely to own the Nashville MLS team one day Stephen Deane - Most likely to marry a younger woman Patrick Dennis - Most likely never to marry Thomas DeRoche - Most likely to work for the Red Cross Watson Dill - Most likely to escort a freshman Benjamin Dotye - Most likely to have a career in WWE Ben Elasy - Most likely not to smile Ben Evans - Most likely to be arrested on assault and battery charges when only trying to give a hug

May 31st, 2018 Will Evans - Most likely to move to Bangor, Maine Andrew Falls - Most likely to tell the truth, coach Christopher Falls - Most likely to have Benjamin Button syndrome John Farr - Most likely to go deaf from excessive ringing of cowbells Anderson Flack - Most likely to brighten your day Mac Fleming - Most likely to become MBA’s first professional bass fisherman Trace Fontana - Most likely to have his chest painted for a sporting event Miller Freeman - Most likely to take a fifth year of college for the sole purpose of finishing the last 25% of his exams Ben Frigon - Most likely to take a fifth year of college so that he can graduate Michael Garcia - Nice!

Clay Garstin - Most likely to win the lottery and lose the ticket Will Grana - Most likely to

sunburned Will King - Most likely to go to school in Colorado John Lang - Most likely to become the Kool-Aid Man Daniel Lee - Most likely to be the best dad Ray Lee - Most likely to be asleep and still learn more than you Coady Lewis - Most likely to get greasy Jackson Long - Most likely to kill you with kindness Evans Looney - Most likely to become involved with a pyramid scheme Brian Lu - Most likely to spend his time in the Vanderbilt Orchestra practice room Haynes Lynch - Most likely to beat you at spikeball Charlie Ma - Most likely to joke about his hair Ruff Maddux - Most likely to live in the remote wilderness (Alaska) Wiley Martin - Most likely not to

Class of 2018 Senior Superlatives spontaneously combust Harrison Graves - Most likely to never cut the back of his hair again Wesley Hall - Most likely to have it all work out for him James Harris - Most likely to… Wait, who is this again?

Houston Hartle- Most likely to have the exact same answers as you Rob Harvey - Most likely to disappear in Borneo only to resurface as a cult leader Tucker Harwell- Most likely to be Speaker of the House Joseph Hatcher - Most likely to complain Jack Hawkins - Most likely to become the next Mark Zuckerberg Chris Hawkins - Most likely to live with the birds Larry Hayes - Most likely to get caught Jack Heflin - Most likely to become the next Neil Degrasse Tyson Bradford Holladay - Most likely to be a Reddit meme lord Rhett Holzapfel - Most likely to have his last name spelled incorrectly Tobias Houghton - Most likely to teach sign language Yosef Howard - Most likely to start his own airline Owen Hughes - Most likely to go undercover for the CIA Ben Jablonski - Most likely to be an MBA Debate Coach Harrison Kidd - Most likely to end up starring on Broadway, accidentally William Kinard - Most likely not to go back to the Dominican Republic Centre King - Most likely to get

know what’s going on Alex McClellan - Most likely to become a bookie Carter McClellan - Most likely to disappear into Wyoming Jackson McFadden - Most likely to coach freshmen football, be an MBA English teacher, and the sponsor of the honor council Michael McGuire - Most likely to wedge it out James McKnight - Most likely to tell you about college parties Jake McSween - Most likely to tell you his GPA Mike Miccioli - Most likely never to visit MBA again Josh Morin - Most likely to break college club hockey records Josh Morris - Most likely to “almost” make the PGA tour Clay Mudter - Most likely to follow Josh Morris in the senior superlative list Tay Munoz - Most likely to put a chicken in the stove Sebastian Nigrelli - Most likely to solve Nashville’s transit woes Will Nutter - Most likely to be the dad playing pick-up basketball at the Y Jack O’Brien - Most likely to become Secretary of Defense Josh Okai-Tetteh - Most likely to oversleep a job interview Gray Patterson- Most likely to go missing in Las Vegas and be the main character of the next Hangover movie Gordon Pollock - Most likely to be more athletic than you Fenner Pollock - Most likely to be

THE BELL RINGER whipped McClain Portis - Most likely to direct a film that gets an Academy Award Ford Ray - Most likely to become a surfing instructor Alex Renkis - Most likely to rob the cradle Henry Rhodes - Most likely to move to Colorado Alexander Roberts - Most likely to be an alien Mac Roberts - Most likely to marry Marsha Blackburn Blake Robison - Most likely to get dentures Manny Rogers - Most likely to tell you about it Jamison Russ - Most likely to get lost in the Grove Rhys Rutherford - See above superlative Philip Scholer - Most likely to serve as best man at least a dozen times Isaac Sedek- Most likely to make a lot of money from questionable ventures Brady Slinger - Most likely to be in Cum Laude Brawner Smith - Most likely to have a hot wife Carter Smith - Most likely to marry into the British royal family Zach Smith - Most Likely to spill things that cause an indelible stain Colin Snell - Most likely to mow your lawn and have the lawn get worse Joe Spear - Most likely to run into you at The Mountain Goat during Bonnaroo Luke Speyer - Most likely to be Jim Morrison reincarnate, both in music and in lifestyle John Spurgeon - Most likely not to put forth any effort Matthew Stagg - Most likely to break Chris Kyle’s record Jack Sullivan - Most likely to cause a Jurassic Park incident Joseph Tarquine - Most likely to be a dirty dog Patrick Terry - Most likely to become a controversial figure who MBA attempts to bury in the record books Palmer Thombs - Most likely to be mentioned in a speech Rashad Townsend - Most likely to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company Will Trotman - Most likely to become the frontman for an indie pop rock band Dayton Upchurch - Most likely to win the next Pulitzer in photography (or most likely to land a role in a Jordan Peele film) Ben Wassynger - Most likely not to return from California Simon Webber - Most likely to take his shirt off Drew Weikert - Most likely to be the next Ronnie Mac Isaac Wills - Most likely to make a passage to India Cord Wilson - Most likely to see MBA lose to BA in Cookeville, again Bryce Wittman - Most likely to become heavyweight champion of the world