The Lion's Tale - Volume 62 - Edition 3 - Oviedo High School

OPINION

FEATURES

SPORTS

PAGE 5

PAGE 8

PAGE 10

Students reflect on mental health training

Brinkman wins Student athletes teacher of the year explain the commitment process

LION S TALE

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • 32765 EDITION 3 • JANUARY 31, 2022 • VOLUME 62 • OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM

Education opens doors

2 | NEWS | THE LION’S TALE | JANUARY 31, 2021

New year, new Covid variant and happenings at OHS In central Florida, 2022 brings not only a new year, but a new strain of the Coronavirus. Averaging just over 1,000 cases a week in Seminole County alone, the Omicron variant is nothing short of an interruption.

Local urgent care centers have a minimum of a two hour wait for a PCR test, and many test centers are quickly running out of tests as the virus spreads rapidly through Oviedo.

We at the Lion’s Tale hope that you take the necessary steps to combat Covid during this surge in cases. Booster shots for the virus are available at most pharmacies, and although they don’t necessarily provide full protection against new variants, they can help lessen symptoms and prevent hospital visits.

Similarly, taking all steps to avoid contracting the virus is important in

order to stay healthy during these peaks.

Continue regular hand washing, wearing a mask when necessary, and social distancing as much as possible.

However, the Omicron variant has not changed much here at Oviedo High School (OHS). Masks for students and teachers are suggested, but not required.

Classes remain in person, as well as school-related events.

With the new year, OHS has lost Ed Kershner, the namesake of our basketball court and longtime coach. Kershner was 81 when he passed, and coached boys basketball for 27 years at Oviedo.

We will be covering the legacy Kershner left behind at OHS and with his players in our features section.

On a lighter note, beloved biology teacher Cherie Brinkman was crowned

as SCPS’s Teacher of the Year at the high school level. Brinkman is the second teacher at OHS to win this award, and the complete story will be covered in our features section.

Our features section will also be covering the importance of mental health resources in schools, as well as the impact that ‘BookTok’ has on today’s readers.

The start of a new year brings new seasons, and we will be covering all winter sports, including basketball, soccer, and wrestling. Our sports section is also giving readers an overview of the college commitment process for a look inside how OHS’s athletes take the next step in their careers.

Meanwhile, our entertainment section will be covering the new releases of

OUR WORD

highly-anticipated shows and movies such as HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ and Netflix’s ‘Don’t Look Up’.

We will be covering the most hyped releases coming in the new year as well, so be sure to head over to entertainment for the full story.

Be sure to check out our opinion section for opposing views on whether 2022 will be a better year or not, and future plans regarding college.

Our culture section will be covering fitness related New Year’s resolutions, and predicting what the newest trends might be in 2022.

Whether or not 2022 is “better” than last year, we hope that our readers take time for themselves this year.

Finally, the Lion’s Tale staff wishes everyone a happy, healthy new year and second semester.

Meet The Lion’s Tale staff Veronika Maynard Art director Veronika is a senior and this is her third year on staff, as art director and opinion editor. After graduation, she plans to attend Savannah College of Art and Design to pursue illustration. In her free time, Veronika enjoys consuming media to critique it. She mainly writes opinion stories and creates the covers and illustrations for the Lion’s Tale.

Mackenzie is a sophomore and this is her second year on staff, and first as sports editor. She has been playing volleyball for seven years, and is a part of Oviedo’s student government.

Mackenzie’s favorite sport to watch is football, and she roots for the Packers. She hopes to go to college for volleyball and major in either criminal justice or journalism.

Editor-in-Chief Emma Yost Managing Editor Hannah Warrner News Editor Hannah Warrner

Opinion Editor Veronika Maynard

Online Editor Hannah Warrner

Features Editors Ashlee Ross Penelope Banks

Art Director Veronika Maynard

Sports Editors Mackenzie Holmes

Jr. Art Director Audrey Strembicki

Reporters Entertainment Editor Kaden Bryant Elliott Woodmansee- Nelly Campos Siress Audrey Choate Jaden Cordonero Culture Editor Joemi Cordonero Kait Peterson Vincent Crook Laura Cruz

Eric is a junior and this is his first year on staff as a reporter, and second on publications. He mainly writes sports stories and is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.

After graduation, Eric wants to renovate or “flip houses”. He is on the wrestling team at Oviedo and enjoys renovating houses in his free time.

Merrick Dicarolis Eric Esquivel Esther Guevara Mikayla Philpot Madisyn Rummel Riley Sanderson Alexis Shaughnessy Nathaniel Zoucha Photographers Diego Lara Audrey Strembicki Danielle Stein Faculty Adviser Ben Langevin

Admin Adviser Nancy Diaz Principal Dr. Trent Daniel Oviedo High School 601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 P: 407-320-4199 F: 407-320-4213 Population: 2800 students across in person and online settings 29 newspaper staff members

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL •JANUARY ??, 2021 • VOLUME 62 • EDITION 3

FRONT PAGE DESIGN BY VERONIKA MAYNARD

Danielle is a junior and this is her first year on staff as a photographer. She loves to take candid photos of both school events and sports. After graduation, Danielle hopes to attend UCF to pursure photography. She is a part of Oviedo’s design program and club, and enjoys making floorplans. Danielle’s favorite type of photos to take are candids of people and of nature.

Eric Esquivel Reporter

Audrey Choate Reporter Audrey is a freshman and this is her first year on staff as a freshman. This year, Audrey hopes to improve writing skills and express ideas through publications.

She is in yearbook as well, and involved in Beta club. Audrey is passionate about music, her favorite bands are The Cure, Slowdove, and The Smiths.

Danielle Stein Photographer

Mackenzie Holmes Sports editor

Joemi Cordonero Reporter Joemi is a junior and this is her first year on staff as a reporter.

After high school, she wants to have career that helps children. In her free time, Joemi volunteers with children at daycare. She also enjoys reading, and loves romance novels. Joemi spends free time journaling about her day to day life and likes to watch bad movies.

members.

Mission Statement The Lion’s Tale is the student newspaper of Oviedo High School, located in Oviedo, Florida.

Our mission is to provide news, feature stories, editorials and opinions relevant to our readers while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards.

The Lion’s Tale follows copy standards outlined in the Associated Press Stylebook, 42nd Edition,

published in 2007 by the Associated Press, and is a member of the CSPA, NSPA and FSPA. Distribution 800 copies of The Lion’s Tale are distributed free to all students and staff at Oviedo High School. Subscriber information is available on OviedoJournalism.com.

Reader Contributions Letters to the Editor are

accepted and may be sent by post, e-mail or dropped off in Room 5-020. The Lion’s Tale does not accept guest columns and reserves the right to edit Letters to the Editor.

Full policy is available on OviedoJournalism.com.

Advertising Policy The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse advertisements. The full advertising policy of The Lion’s Tale is available on OviedoJournalism.com.

OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM

DESIGN BY EMMA YOST

JANUARY 31, 2022 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | 3

Month in Photos DEFENDING THE BALL. Player #21 Makenna Smith is going for the goal.

PHOTO BY AUDREY STREMBICKI

THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG. Students in anatomy disected cats to learn the analysis of a kitty.

PHOTO BY DIEGO LARA

LEARNING TO SIGN. Senior Kayla Michalkovich is learning how to sign the states in ASL 2.

GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME. Sophomore Makhi Hernandez is focused on making a basket.

PHOTO BY DIEGO LARA

PHOTO BY AUDREY STREMBICKI

PHOTO BY AUDREY STREMBICKI

TAKING ACTION. Members from the school board help register students to vote and take suggestions about the schools image.

EXPENDING YOUR VOCABULARY. Jack Youngman is studying Spanish vocab.

PHOTO BY AUDREY STREMBICKI

DESIGN BY AUDREY STREMBICKI

4 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | JANUARY 31 , 2022

Predicting 2022

STORY BY MIKAYLA PHILPOT As we step into 2022, many have high hopes for the new year. However, it does not seem like it’s going to go particularly well. The pandemic, as usual, will have a huge hand in that. Especially with the recent introduction of the Omicron variant.

Many hope that the pandemic is going to come to a close this year, finally allowing us to slowly get back to a “normal’’ life, or something reminiscent of it.

Especially since vaccines for COVID-19 were introduced last year, now available with FDA approval for those ages five and over. In addition, the booster shot is available to those 12 and over.

However, according to data collected on the CDC’s website, around 32.6% of the approved population is not fully vaccinated.

Many have expressed their hesitation towards the COVID-19 vaccines.

Some are even going as far as to theorize about government conspiracies regarding it, despite them being entirely unbacked.

In addition, Omicron is spreading far more rapidly than previous variants, something likely not helped by the high percentage of unvaccinated individuals, within the US. According to the CDC, the first case of Omicron in the United States was discovered on November 22nd, 2021.

Since then, cases have skyrocketed.

According to data from the CDC, on November 22nd, 2021, there were 153k new cases, with a 7-day average of 94k cases per day. However, in the

past month, cases have shot up, averaging about 600k to 800k cases per day, throughout the course of the entire month.

This high level of spread is going to worsen the effects of COVID-19 felt by businesses and schools, alike, this year, if it hasn’t already. For example, many school districts across the country have recently been forced to temporarily close, due to staff shortages, as more and more catch the virus.

Unless we are able to get a firmer grasp on this virus, things are going to get continually worse. And it’s unlikely that we will be able to, considering how divisive the country has become on the issue, as well as how many are still failing to take the virus seriously, including some of the United States’ more conservative leaders.

While this more pessimistic viewpoint on how this year is going to go, may seem unnecessary and depressing, it is important to be realistic. Unfortunate as it is, COVID-19 is a wide scale issue that we now all face, regardless of who you are. So, it’s important to acknowledge how it affects us, whether it’s changes in how things operate, or those we love most becoming part of the often otherwise easily ignored statistics, and the year we will face ahead of us because of it. If we do not do so, it will only lead to greater disappointments later on.

So, as we head into 2022, I urge you to do so with realistic, rather than sky high, expectations.

Reasons for voluntarily joining the military % of soldiers saying reason was important

88

Post 2001

93

Pre 2001

75 65 55

53

28

To serve the country

To receive education benefits

To travel

Because jobs are hard to find

War and Sacrifice in the Post 9-11 era, Pew Research Center, 2011

DESIGN BY VERONIKA MAYNARD

25

STORY BY AUDREY CHOATE In regards to every new year, there is always a tendency to believe that the year in question will be worse than the last. As 2022 begins, this is especially true for Americans; according to an Ipsos poll, just 71 percent of Americans are optimistic about 2022, compared to the global average of 77 percent.

This inclination towards pessimism is well-documented and infamous, but it begs the question as to whether such a predisposition is justified or not.

One may observe COVID-19 and economic data from the previous years and come to the conclusion that it is improbable that such a situation could ever get any worse. This view is reflective of the ‘pessimistic optimism’ of the years that preceded 2022: no matter how bad things are, solace is found in the opinion that it cannot get any worse than it already is. It is vital that an optimistic yet realistic view is taken about 2022 and the years that follow it, as a hope for the future and a want for change is the driving force for improvement in society.

While absolute pessimism is understandable, it is not useful. It is not productive to decide that a certain year will be terrible in its first month. While it is not possible to say for certain if COVID-19 will end, we should hope that the problems the world is facing, including COVID-19, will improve this year, even just slightly. This is not to deny the seriousness of these issues; these problems do need solutions, but useless pessimism without any mean-

ingful solution being proposed does not help the current situation.

It is clear that 2022 will not bring the “return to normal” such as the years before 2020; it is important that we keep this in mind. Absolute optimism, or the expectation that all of the world’s major problems will end this year, is unrealistic and nigh-impossible. One should not expect a total end to COVID-19 lockdowns and procedures this year; one can be an optimist without denying the real threat these issues pose. However, perhaps we should look forward to small improvements to the current situation this year, even if there is still work to be done by the end of this year.

It is possible that such an optimistic view, even one that is modest in its expectations, will not age well. Perhaps, contrary to the views of many, it will get worse this year. Even so, a modestly idealistic view is not necessarily a bad thing to have. As previously stated, a sense of optimism and hope is what drives improvement and change in our world.

If this year proves to be as bad or worse than the years preceding it, it shows that there is a need for work and change next year. Absolute pessimism does not drive societal change or improvement. Simply stating that a certain situation will only get worse while eschewing the proposal of any solutions does not drive said change. Thus, it is clear that within any solution for a serious problem, there is a sense of hope and optimism that such a solution will work.

The trading of lives for an education STORY BY VERONIKA MAYNARD College prices are on the rise.

Students scramble to earn scholarships, competition to earn any sort of money skyrockets. Amidst all of this pressure for students exists a stable presence, the military.

Students know that if they can’t earn enough money to be able to send themselves to college, they can always join the military for a chance at affording a degree.

The military has been involved with funding college since a little before the end of World War II. During that time, the GI bill was passed, which is what began military education benefits.

In the late 60s, the percentage of the U.S. population completing highschool or higher, or completing four or more years of college spiked (U.S. Census, various years).

This in part was due to schooling becoming more monetarily accessible due to bills like the GI bill, but another big reason for this increase in rights for minorities, no longer limiting college to a select few. And then only a few years lat-

“ People joining the military for education benefits changed from 55% in 2001, to 75% in recent years. ” Pew Research Center, 2011

er, college became more accessible for women.

So suddenly, the number of people going to college increased

off the charts, and the government chose to begin to lessen the number of federal grants they gave out instead of increasing them to meet the growing demand. As a result this encouraged student loans, led to a spiral where as more loans were given, colleges amped up their prices, increasing tuition exponentially.

With more students gaining greater debts, some began to rely on the military to help them manage it. And while the overall number of military personnel dropped, the ratio of people joining the military for education benefits has increased in the past years.

This could be tied to the rapid increase in college education costs and people seeing no other way to get an education besides joining the military, at the possible cost of their life.

JANUARY 31, 2022 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 5

Students react to controversial mental health training STORY BY KADEN BRYANT Mental health care has been stigmatized for centuries. Families avoid it at the dinner table, bosses dismiss its importance, and educators gloss over it in school settings - but within recent years, society has begun to embrace the previously forbidden concept.

Rather than past tortuous forms of treatment like cruel electroshock therapy and forcing the depressed into convoluted insane asylums, people are now normalizing practical talk therapy and psychiatric care. This includes the discussion of it being brought into classrooms, though many students are against the current approach schools have taken.

“The school mental health training can lack an emotional side to it,” said junior Grace DeCoursey.

“I don’t think we should shy away from talking about the darker, more traumatic side of things just as much as we talk about the solutions to them.”

-Naman Doad, 11

Coping Skills for

Mental Health

Coping skills are strategies used to adapt to environmental stressors and provide psychological comfort in times of need.

Writing or journaling Immerse yourself in a world of characters, carefully crafted poetry, or record your feelings to look back on in the future.

Practice a hobby Hobbies can give you something to look forward to, are a great way to feel better, and keep your mind active. Sports, music and art are all great options.

Meditation Meditation exercises mindfulness to achieve a mentally clear and stable state.

PHOTO BY DANIELLE STEIN MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING: Students create a mental health PowerPoint for class.

DeCoursey added that because many students base their self-worth off of their academic achievements, it’s easy to become depressed or develop anxiety if their confidence is lost, and many teachers don’t seem to understand the sizable workload teenagers have on their shoulders. This becomes a vicious cycle and is a serious weight dragging down the mental stability of adolescence.

But the problem is rarely the teacher themself. Individual teachers aren’t always qualified or trained to be attentive to all of student matters. Mental health is a complex subject and teachers have hundreds of kids that they see on a daily basis. While it’s possible for them to be more forgiving about homework assignments, and many have been due to the pandemic’s chaos, they can’t be expected to pick up on every single student’s mental state. However, solutions are possible and attainable.

“I think they should bring in real mental health counselors and have them talk about the complex matters a Nearpod can’t cover on its own,” said junior Naman Doad. “I don’t think we should shy away from talking about the darker, more traumatic side of things just as much as we talk about the solutions to them.”

Bringing in professionals would be more beneficial to students. Having them available on campus is helpful, but not enough on its own. People want a more personal approach that goes beyond staring at a screen that’s providing generalized advice.

Some students think that the material is thorough enough, but agree that the method could be better executed in a way that’s accommodating for all individuals.

“The mental health training is effective in terms of what it goes over, but how it’s presented in a class could be improved upon,” said senior Louis Tocco.

“They need to make it grab and keep people’s attention.”

There are students who desperately want and need help but are too afraid to reach out for it. The system built has made it extremely difficult for students to be honest about their feelings because they’re constantly afraid of being Baker Acted - a law which allows the involuntary institutionalization of a person at risk of potentially harming themselves or someone else.

Accidental

12,533

Suicide

6,488

Homicide

4,965

Cancer

Students are wary to open up about their traumatic experiences and what internal battles they’re fighting because of the county policies that have been mandated. The fear of being institutionalized holds them back from speaking to their counselor or a mental health professional, which then prevents them from receiving help.

“Not all therapists are the same, but after the experience I had with a counselor, I will never be opening up about anything personal that has happened in my life,” said junior Kiana Wilkerson. “I’m afraid to seek out help because they might use my words against me and cause me harm.”

If there was a more effective system set in place, it would greatly benefit those who are struggling with their mental health. Students won’t be vulnerable in a setting where they don’t feel comfortable or safe enough to do so, which results in an influx of issues like anxiety, depression and suicide attempts.

According to America’s Health Rankings annual report, the rate of suicide in adolescence has increased to an unimaginable degree. It’s become the second leading cause of death among young people between the ages of ten to nineteen, making it vital to properly educate students while they’re still in that dangerous age range.

“In the last few years, the addition of district mental health counselors and workshops has been a great shift in promoting mental health awareness,” said licensed mental health therapist Crystal Conley.

“That being said, I believe there is still room for growth. Many counselors are stretched thin due to the amount of money provided to the district to be utilized for mental health.”

Society may be moving in the right direction, but the main concern is whether or not it’s moving fast enough.

There are teenagers out there today that are in need of psychiatric care but are terrified to receive it because of the structure behind mental health education and the unimpactful way it’s presented to them.

Now is a fragile time in any teenager’s life. They need real guidance from a professional mental health counselor that will genuinely reach and benefit them. It’s possible to achieve this, but not before adjusting the broken system.

1,792 1

15,000

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Suicide. National Institute of Mental Health Statistics Research 2019 of Fifteen Thousand Youth Deaths

DESIGN BY KADEN BRYANT AND JOEMI CORDONERO

: T O N R O HOT COLLEGE?

6 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | JANUARY 31, 2022

STORY BY ASHLEE ROSS AND PENELOPE BANKS College is a big stepping stone for many high schoolers. The decision of attending college is very different for everyone. Some see it as an opportunity for success but others see success in other routes.

Many students are told from a young age that college is a necessary step in achieving their goals. As students grow into their own skin, they learn to form their own opinions on what is best for themselves and their futures. In more recent years, choosing not to attend college has become much more common. There are many available paths to take involving newer technology.

Although some people find career paths without college, attending may open up a broader variety of opportunities. Having a college degree, opposed to just a high school diploma, creates a sense of security for job opportunities in the future. Different careers require different degrees and levels of experience, which college will provide.

Unemployment is less likely to occur for someone who has a college degree.

Depending on the degree, you can apply for a plethora of different jobs throughout your life, avoiding being out of work.

With college comes the opportunity to open and restart your social life. It allows you to be introduced to a whole new environment with new people and new experiences. This then creates further maturing habits in a way that you may not have been able to do while staying at home or not attending college. It encourages you to be self-sufficient and in some way gain ambition. This allows for you to learn the ways of working though life, independently.

College is, in some cases, the best option for certain individuals who are academically and financially capable. But for some people, the pecuniary aspect

of college just isn’t realistic. Nowadays, there are many options to counteract this, like financial aid, but many people just aren’t willing to take the initiative in figuring it out.

Many people go into applying for college with a negative mentality, convincing themselves they aren’t good enough or their grades won’t suffice. For some this may be true, but a lot of times these issues can be worked out and even improved. Taking extra credits over summer or just generally aiming to improve your grades and GPA while still in high school can broaden your chances of success for college.

An issue many seem to come across as well is not being able to maintain that college lifestyle. They may feel pressured into going due to those around them, this may lead to a path of conflict both academically and financially. In the scenario an individual attends college and “Flunks” out, they have now wasted time, money, and space within certain programs others may have been more adamant about.

The timeline for college can look very different for everyone. Many people feel it is necessary to attend college straight out of high school, but that isn’t always best for everyone. Taking a gap year to regroup is one option for someone who isn’t looking to go immediately. Another path could be attending a community college to gain credits and better your transcript, then later transferring to a bigger university.

In today’s age there are various options and resources for people to choose from. College isn’t for everyone, different paths work for different people. Depending on what kind of career you want to partake in, varying amounts of schooling and licensing is required. It all depends on what goals you are trying to achieve, and what works best for each individual.

Pros:

GOING TO COLLEGE:

- SECURITY IN JOB OPPORTUNITIES - COLLEGE GRADUATES TYPICALLY MAKE MORE MONEY - MORE LIKELY TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AND RETIREMENT PLANS

NOT GOING TO COLLEGE: - SAVE MONEY - GAIN OUTSIDE LIFE EXPERIENCE - GAIN INDEPENDENCE

CONS: GOING TO COLLEGE:

- STUDENT LOAN DEBT - A LOT OF JOBS DON’T REQUIRE COLLEGE EDUCATION - CAUSES STRESS

NOT GOING NO COLLEGE:

PHOTO BY DIEGO LARA COLLEGE READY. The college room here at Oviedo High School. Students can visit this location to discuss options for their future. On the walls, there are a plethora of college flags on display to look at.

- MAY NOT HAVE EMPLORMENT OPPORTUNITIES - LOWER INCOME - LIMITED NETWORKING

A DEEP DIVE INTO STUDENT'S FUTURE...

DESIGN BY ASHLEE ROSS AND PENELOPE BANKS

8 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | JANUARY 31, 2021

Biology teacher Cherie Brinkman moves on to top three for SCPS Teacher of the Year award STORY BY EMMA YOST Cherie Brinkman has been Oviedo High School’s (OHS) resident biology teacher for the past nine years. Now in 2022, she is in the running for the title of Seminole County’s Teacher of the Year.

Brinkman was first one of many contenders for OHS’s teacher of the year, and moved on in the running for the county-wide award, where she is now in the top three and grade level winne for high school.

“I went from the twelve, down to the now three of us,” Brinkman said. “Now after this step, they’ll announce for the three of us the actual teacher of the year for all of Seminole County.”

Brinkman has won at the high school level, and will now be up against the elementary and middle school teachers in order to win the title.

Winning Teacher of the Year (TOY) is a huge achievement for teachers, and Brinkman is the second teacher at OHS to win the title, after research teacher William Furiosi won in 2021 .

“It’s definitely an honor and a privilege, there’s so many wonderful teachers in our county and our school,” Brinkman said.

However, Brinkman feels that overall the award celebrates everyone in teaching positions, rather than the sole individual who receives the title.

“I don’t think that teaching is an individual award because we all help each other out and are kind of the sum of all the great parts of everybody,” Brinkman said. “It’s nice to be a part of something that celebrates teaching in such a positive way because it’s a really difficult job, so it means a lot that it’s for all of us.”

Prior to teaching, Brinkman worked in a lab, and always wanted to become either a teacher or a scientist.

“Teaching is actually my second career, I did work in a lab first, and I guess I never considered that I could take my two loves and combine them into one,” Brinkman said.

Brinkman’s passion for both teaching and science is evident in her classroom.

Junior Naman Doad was in Brinkman’s bi-

SCPSʼs ʻTeacher of the Yearʼ

quick facts: DESIGN BY EMMA YOST

ology class from 2019-2020, and felt that Brinkman’s enthusiasm for the subject accelerated her learning.

“Mrs. Brinkman made sure to engage everyone in her class and it made me excited, coming into it everyday,” Doad said.

“She was always super cheerful and positive in her lessons, and made the learning easy with lots of diagrams and examples.”

Similarly, senior Cassidy Conte, one of Brinkman’s former students, began her love for biology in Brinkman’s class.

“Mrs.Brinkman helped develop my love for biological sciences, which I will be pursuing in college,” Conte said. “She would talk about what she had worked on prior to teaching, specifically things she had worked on in labs.”

Having a teacher who was not only highly experienced in her area, but equally passionate as well, made for a more involved classroom according to both Doad and Conte.

“I think her success and achievement of becoming both school and district teacher of the year, especially after Furiosi in past years, shows that teachers with certain levels of involvement in students and their classes will always connect and educate the best; both of them engaged their students mentally and kept things professional, but weren’t unkind or unfriendly while they taught,” Doad said.

Engaging the class and connecting with students is a vital tool for understanding difficult concepts, and the results show through Brinkman’s success.

“I think this means the importance of forming connections with your students beyond just the material on a page, relating it back to the real world truly helps us grasp concepts better,” Conte said.

For Brinkman, winning Teacher of the Year means she’s found her true passion and purpose in teaching.

“It means that I found the right fit for me, and to be able to share my love for science with my students and be able to teach and help them, winning that award means that I found the right fit for me,” Brinkman said. “I’m just thankful that I get to do what I love to do everyday.”

2

teachers at OHS have won TOY at the high school level

SCPSʼs countywide TOY will be announced at the event on

IN ACTION: Brinkman teaches her biology students with her poster hung up behind.

CONGRATS: Brinkman poses next to the SCPS high school Teacher of the Year sign with her certificate.

Feb. 4th

finalists and grade level winners for TOY were announced

Dec. 9th

12

semi-finalists across elementary, middle, and high school

INFOCOURTESY SCPS.K12.US..COM PHOTOS BY DIEGO LARA

JANUARY 31, 2021 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 9

HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF

Coach Ed Kershner

Former OHS basketball coach’s kind heart and passion lives on STORY BY HANNAH WARRNER On December 15th, 2021, Coach Ed Kershner passed away at the age of 81 years old. He touched the lives of many through his kind spirit and undeniably astonish-ing coaching abilities. Not only did he care about how well his kids played, but he was also strongly invested in how successful they were and how they held them-selves.

“Coach Kershner believed in me as a leader. He said those same words of affirmation to his players, all of them. That is why his legacy lives on.” said Dr. Daniel.

While his 901 wins in his 45 seasons of coaching speaks for itself, Kershner’s ability to continue to receive new players every year and keep the program success-ful shows how effective he was as a coach and mentor. The inside of the RWL gym here at Oviedo High is named after Kershner, where his name is on the court. This is a reminder to all students and staff of him and his legacy at OHS. His lasting impact on not only the basketball program but also the school itself has brought nothing but positivity to campus and the lives of students and even their mentors.

“It was really great to have somebody so special to be able to mentor me throughout the whole process.

We had a great time in our hallway upstairs.” said Coach Darty.

Coach Darty, the head of the athletic department at OHS, had known Coach Kershner since she attended

STATE CHAMPS 2014: The boys basketball team with Coach Kershner after their win in the 7a State Championship in 2014.

901 45 2014

wins in his career

seasons of coaching

Boys 7a State Champions

and their future is what Coach Kershner lived by.” said Dr. Daniel.

Due to his passion for both the game and his players and students Coach Kershner’s legacy will live on.

Students will be reminded of him every time they step into the RWL for a basketball game, pep rally, volleyball game, and even when getting their pictures taken for the yearbook.

“Every time I attend a game, I look on the floor and see Coach Kershner’s name. I think about him and the “Speed Express”.” said Dr. Daniel.

His legacy isn’t defined by the number of wins he has or how many halls of fame he is in, it’s about the impact he has on our school and our town. Many people do not get the chance to say that their mentor or coach pushed them not only to be a better athlete but also a better person. His legacy and accomplishments will live on at OHS for a long time.

“I will always remember Coach Kershner and try to be what he was for me every single day” said former athlete of Kershner, *insert name* Coach Kershner inspired many of the adults and coaches students look up to now and they instill the same beliefs and passion that Kershner did to his own players and students. Hopefully, students will take what Coach Kershner has taught their own mentors and use it in their everyday lives and futures ahead of them.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRENT DANIEL

OHS and later on, mentored her into the coach she is today. His legacy goes beyond winning and state championships, it’s about the lives he touched and the people he inspired.

Kershner is the most winning basketball coach in the state of Florida and is in the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Indian Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2020 he became the first Florida coach to be selected for the National High School Basketball Coach’s Association Court of Honor.

Although his achievements are astounding, they weren’t everything to him. He prided himself more on the morale of his teams and how hard they worked. All of his achievements fell into place after.

“Belief in others and investing in the lives of students

’’

It was a privilege to get 900 wins. It was special to get that win during a championship run. It was an honor to get it at OHS. -Ed Kershner

’’ PHOTO BY DIEGO LARA

HONORING KERSHNER IN THE RWL: The banner from the state championship in 2014 hangs with pride in the RWL gym. .

DESIGN BY HANNAH WARRNER

10 | SPORTS | THE LION’S TALE | JANUARY 31, 2022

Student-athletes explain recruitment process STORY BY MACKENZIE HOLMES “I am SO excited to announce my verbal commitment to further my education…” is the post that starts the sigh of relief for a student athlete. Peers reposting, family celebrating, and soon a signing day follow this announcement.

Even after that, making the younger version of themselves smile knowing they are going places. These are the tools student athletes use to earn this spot. It is all behind the scenes work for these moments, but no one really knows how to get there.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has rules in place to where college coaches cannot formally reach out or talk to student athletes until the summer of the athlete becoming a junior. Athletes are allowed to email coaches, talk to them, and let them know where they are. OHS’s seniors took it the hardest.

Sara Ferrer, new committee to Newberry College in South Carolina, talked about her struggles of reduriting through COVID. “The most difficult part of the process was having to recruit through the Covid pandemic,” Ferrer said.

As most know, COVID-19 hit classes of 2020 ,2021 and even 2022. The NCAA gave an extra year for all athletes who were on a college level team leaving what some may call ‘super seniors’ or five to six year ‘seniors’. This left our highschoolers in a dead period in terms of college offers.

“A lot of times you would find yourself getting comfortable with a school and the coaching staff,” Ferrer said. “Then they would inform you that one of their players was deciding to take their extra year of eligibility and you were bumped off of their list.”

Amanda Waggoner, a goalie committed to Belmont College in Tennessee, also experienced the restrictions of COVID. “Coaches had to watch my games virtually and couldn’t email me back. I also wasn’t allowed to go on any unofficial visits,” Waggoner said.

With staying at home with no person-to-person contact, student-athletes have had to really push themselves to get college coaches attention.

Scott Waisanen, coach of the Oviedo girls soccer team talked about how to talk to coaches.

“Student athletes need to put themselves out there and figure out what schools they like and where they might like to go then be assertive in following up and proactive in contacting schools they are interested in,” Waisanen said.

Scott Dean, the girls lacrosse coach, agreed how important it is for students to be proactive.

“Be proactive in reaching out to coaches... they have hundreds of kids contacting them, so be the one who stands out as always communicating,” Dean said. “It is a long process, but worth it in the end.”

Jen Darty, the girls volleyball head coach and athletic director, emphasized on the point that you are always competing with other athletes in the country.

“What kids need to realize is that there are thousands of other kids in your position in your recruiting class” DESIGN BY MACKENZIE HOLMES

One element that can be taken into account is whether a college will even look at an athlete because of grades. Greg Odierno, head football coach, explained how important grades are to colleges.

“If you don’t have the grades it doesn’t matter how talented you are,” Odierno said. “You need to have a minimum of a 3.0 score GPA and 1000 SAT.” Darty added, “grades are incredibly important to a college coach – if you don’t have the grades, they will not be NCAA eligible and can not be recruited.”

When it comes down to two different athletes, a college is going to pick the one who is performing well in the class and the field. With that in mind, our student athletes’ difficulties weren’t just in the classroom, but really were finding the right home.

Senior Ellie Rothfuss, swimmer at OHS, struggled with this.

“I think the hardest part for me was narrowing down schools,” Rothfuss said. “There are so many amazing schools but there comes a time when you have to sit down and list out the pros and cons. I think the easiest part is knowing that (in the end) I’m going to end up getting a great education while also getting to do what I love!”

Daniel Baez, baseball second baseman, also encountered this challenge.

“Out of the whole process was finding what school was the best fit for me.” Baez said. “There are many factors that come in to play when deciding which school to choose such as how much it costs, their athletic programs, the location, and the weather.”

Other athletes’ problems weren’t just picking a new home, but deciding their life for the next ten or more years. Marin Rose, another swimmer, committed to the Naval Academy where after swimming for the team she will then have to dedicate another five years to the Navy.

“Deciding the next nine plus years of my life as a 17-year-old was not easy. But I’m glad I did it,” Rose said.

College and education go hand in hand which explains the “student” part of the name “student athlete.” Andrew Christensen, a senior swimmer, committed to Penn State to continue his business career.

“I have always wanted to go into business and I see college as the best path to being successful, especially to be a part of a great business school at Penn State,” Christensen said.

Caroline Przystup, pin hitter of the girls volleyball team, expressed that she always dreamed about being in college ever since she was young.

“Ever since I was younger I’ve always seen myself going into a bigger profession whether business or medical,” Przystup said.

Charlie Rose, swim and water polo coach, explained what most athletes should do when looking at schools.

“Make the school your first reason and the athletic team your second,” Rose said. “Try to use your sport to get you into a school where perhaps your academics may not. Be realistic about your performance and shoot for schools that you fit into” Some athletes also play in a club team, which allows them to play in the “off season” for

A little over 7% of highschool athletes go to college to play

Only 2% of high school athletes both play D1 schools and earn scholoarships

PHOTOS BY OHS PUBLICATIONS high school. Riley Finnegan, lacrosse goalie, explained that her club has a recruitment director who helps with the whole process for an athlete.

“She just handles all the kids, she suggests colleges to them, she reaches out to colleges and tells them Hey, there’s this kid that wants to go here,” Finnegan said. “And she just really helps us figure out where we want to go and helps us find schools that kind of pertain to our interest.”

Similar to Finnegan, Alex Saun-

ders, future South Dakota football player, also commented on what it was like having a coach help them through the whole process. “ [Ordieno] really put me on the mat with all these coaches,” Saunders said. “So I was talking to college coaches daily.”

Saunders also explained what it is like to talk to colleges.

“Different ones come here and there, it’s definitely an unpredictable process because you don’t know what’s gonna happen.”

ROARBOARD

JANUARY 31, 2022 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 11

PHOTOS BY OHS PUBLICATIONS

BOY’S BASKETBALL STORY BY MERRICK DICAROLIS The boys varsity basketball team has had their best season under Jason Vallery with a winning record of 15-5. The team had a good start but a rough ending to last weeks games. The most recent was against Winter Park high school ending in a win 55-52. Their next game is against Lake Howell high school.

BOY’S WRESTLING Oviedo Highschool’s Boys Wrestling team has continued to shine against their competition, recently defeating Lake Howell 70-9. Up next, they will face Hagerty on January 26th.

STORY BY HUNTER FUEHRER Oviedo Varsity Girls soccer is currently 101-3. Their most recent game ended in a 2-2 tie against Bishop Moore in a non-trust game.

The girls next game will be against Seminole for the Semionle Athletic Conference (SAC) semi finals. Winner will move on to compete for the SAC finals to win the championship and move on for states.

STORY BY MERRICK DICAROLIS The girls varsity basketball team is 4-16 this year. The most recent game was an away game at Boone high school, losing 39-24. The next game is at Masters Academy on Friday. Star player M’lani Vitela has been averaging 13.5 points and 2.5 steals per game. Her stats in hope will be able to lead the Lions to a victory over Master’s.

STORY BY HUNTER FUEHRER

STORY BY VINCENT CROOK

GIRL’S SOCCER

GIRL’S BASKETBALL

BOY’S SOCCER Oviedo Varsity Boys soccer is currently sitting at 8-6-1. Their most recent game ended in defeat over home town rivals, Hagerty. The boys next game is against Semiole in the quarter final playoff game.

Coach Dave Tibbetts selected as FACA ‘Coach of the Year’ STORY BY RILEY SANDERSON Oviedo High School’s Dave Tibbetts was recently selected as one of three recipients of the Coach of the Year award by the FACA Hall of Fame committee. Tibbetts’s outstanding work in his seven years coaching the OHS cross country and track and field teams along with his wife, Michelle Tibbetts, has set the school’s programs apart from those of other Florida high schools. In the 2021-2022 school year alone, Oviedo’s cross country team qualified for both regional and state meets.

According to Tibbetts, he has been a runner his whole life and wanted to share his passion through coaching cross country and track and field.

“I’ve met the best people through running and seen some of the most beautiful things while out on a run,” said Tibbetts. “My favorite part by far is the lifelong friendships I’ve developed with my athletes and their families.”

Not only does Coach Tibbetts get to spread his love of running with Oviedo students almost everyday, but he gets to do it alongside his wife.

“I mean, how cool is it that we get to share this together?” said Tibbetts. “She loves running and is a great coach. I think we make an awesome team together! It’s so fun to be able to share this with each other.”

Tibbetts was shocked to find out that he won the Coach of the Year award.

“It was a complete surprise and I am deeply humbled to be recognized by the FACA Hall

of Fame committee and my fellow coaches,” Tibbetts said.

Despite the individuality of the award, Tibbetts explained that he didn’t earn the title on just coaching alone.

“Well, yeah, I was given this award, but honestly I believe it should be a ‘team award’.

Everyday the guys and girls on this team worked incredibly hard- and it paid off,” Tibbetts said. “When everyone else counted us out, we defied the odds and the guys’ team ended up as District Champions.”

Back in October during the cross country season, the OHS boys team earned 1st place to win the district and the girls placed 5th, qualifying both teams for the regional meet.

At regionals, the boys managed to finish in 8th place to qualify for the state meet and the girls placed 14th.

Oviedo High School has exceeded expectations and had a successful cross country season. They mentored the students on the team who were willing to put in the work to make the journey from Oviedo to Tallahassee for the state championships.

“The success of this team is really due to the great leadership of our captains, Ellen Cocurull, Sophie Johnson, Connor Kracht and Connor Densberger,” Tibbetts said.

With Tibbetts as FACA Coach of the Year, the Lion’s track and field team are positioned for a successful 2022 spring track season.

DESIGN BY ERIC ESQUIVEL

12 | CULTURE | THE LION’S TALE | JANUARY 31, 2022

There are only 50 yearbooks left.

When we’re out, we’re out.

Order now on oviedojournalism.com Gym culture and its impact on teens’ confidence STORY BY KATHRYN PETERSON As teenagers, it is not uncommon to want to fit in or struggle at times when it comes to our image, especially body image. There is a lingering and most of the time exaggerated stereotype that being tall, thin, and within a certain weight is what makes you desirable to those you might have interest in.

Gym culture is a rising phenomena throughout millennials and gen z alike -the impact- both sometimes good and sometimes bad.

Throughout the various social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram, a surge of content creators who post workout videos, “what I eat in a day” videos, and other gym related media like gym clothing brand reviews and comedic gym skits, has entirely taken over in the past few years.

This constant exposure to working out in the media has caused an uprise in the number of people throughout the community and as well as Oviedo High who have found the motivation to begin their fitness journeys.

Many freshmen through seniors alike have found the love and passion for lifting, while some do it leisurely or to just maintain a healthy lifestyle, others have even gone as far as competing not only for the school team, but for competitive clubs in the area as well.

Senior Emma Hennigan began lifting around the early summer months of 2021, and quickly fell in love with the sport and the stigma behind being in the gym.

“I remember doing a clean for the first time in the summer and I really wanted to get better at it so I decided to join the girl’s weightlifting team at the school,” said Hennigan.

DESIGN BY KAIT PETERSON

The Lady Lions’ lifting team has opened a door for many girls to learn and compete when it comes to weights.

“It ultimately made me want to continue to compete in Oly-lifting (Olympic style lifting) at a team in Winter Park called ‘Orlando Strength’, the team is a great way to grow at a higher level when it comes to competition and

it’s a very rewarding experience” Hennigan said.

The vast majority of those who lift at ohs do it for the fun of it, or to meet certain goals that pertain to their physical appearance or healthy well-being.

“I started lifting to help boost not only my personal health both physically and mentally, but to also become more confident in myself and my appearance,” said sophomore Isa Mayorga.

Many teenagers struggle with finding their confidence when it comes to physical appearance, as society can tend to pressure people to conform to unrealistic, gender-specific appearance standards.

“I feel like being young in an age where beauty standards are so unrealistic now, it can be hard to be confident, but lifting and having a consistent routine has really helped me personally, seeing the gains and the results give me the motivation to keep doing it,” Mayorga said.

EDITOR’S PICK: GYMWEAR BRANDS

TOTAL FITNESS TAKEOVER: Crunch Fitness, located in Casselberry, Florida, has a wide variety of machines and other fitness related equipment and spaces to cater to all physical wellness needs or preferences.

PHOTOS BY KATHRYN PETERSON

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January 31, 2022 | THE LION’S TALE | AD | 13

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14 | ENTERTAINMENT | THE LION’S TALE | JANUARY 31, 2022

Centered around a Colombian family blessed with miracle gifts and a magical house, Encanto follows Mirabel Madrigal, the only member of the Madrigal family without a superpower. When the safety of their encanto and the existence of their magic is threatened, Mirabel goes on a hunt for her estranged uncle, Bruno, who could see into the future.

Encanto exploded with popularity when it was released on Disney+ earlier this year, the soundtrack trending on TikTok and the themes regarding gift child syndrome and generational trauma resonating with many peoples, kids and adults alike.

After discovering a comet just inside Jupiter’s atmosphere on its way to collide with the Earth and cause a planet-wide extinction event, two astronomers, Kate Dibiasky and Dr. Randall Mindy, attempt to warn the population of their incoming doom, but are met with apathy. As the comet continues to approach the Earth, people debate on whether to destroy it, mine it for resources, or if the comet even exists, showing the arrogance and greed of humanity.

Don’t Look Up puts the woes of humanity up for display, the whole movie acting as a mirror to the modern world and the real dangers many ignore.

When a top-secret weapon falls into the hands of a shady terroists organization, four women: CIA officer Mason “Mace” Brown, DNI agent and psychologist Graciela Rivera, a rival German BND agent Maria Schmidt, and ex-MI6 agent Khadijah Adiyeme, come together to retrieve the tech and prevent World War III. The team make a break to save the world while trying to stay one step ahead of MSS agent Lin Mi Sheng, following their every move.

The 355 is the latest in the genre of international spy thrillers in the vein of Misson Impossible, Charle’s Angels, and The James Bond Series.

PHOTO CREDIT: MARVEL STUDIOS, SONY PICTURES

FULL REVIEW BY: ELLIOTT WOODMANSEE-SIRESS

PHOTO CREDIT: UNIVERSAL PICTURES

FULL REVIEW BY: JADEN CORDONERO

PHOTO CREDIT: NETFLIX, HYPEROBJECT INDUSTRIES

FULL REVIEW BY: VERONIKA MAYNARD

PHOTO CREDIT: WALT DISNEY STUDIOS

FULL REVIEW BY: JOEMI CORDONERO

THE LION’S TALE BOX OFFICE

With his identity revealed to the public, Peter Parker goes to Doctor Strange in hopes of wiping the world’s memory of the former beinging Spider-Man. However, when the spell goes wrong, a series of villains begin to leak in from alternate realities, threatening the stability of the multiverse and the lives of Parker’s loved ones.

Spider-Man: No Way Home acts as the ending to Parker’s first trilogy and the beginning of his origins in the MCU, leaning off of the older Spider-Men and their rogue galleries to both celebrate the web-head and to set up his brand new future in a, now much larger, universe.

------------------ FULL REVIEWS OF ALL MOVIES AVAILABLE ON OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM ------------------

A struggle between reality and fantasy: “Euphoria: Season Two” STORY BY EMMA YOST PHOTO CREDIT: HBO

HBO’s hit show, Euphoria is back for a second season. After two years of patiently waiting, fans can stream new episodes of the show every Sunday at 9pm.

However, the new release has brought some controversy.

Euphoria follows teenage drug addict Rue and friends, as they navigate high school amongst drama and dangerous situations. Season Two picks up right after Season One’s finale, set at the winter dance. The first episode takes place at a New Year’s party, and gives viewers a quick update on where the characters are at. Both the first and second episodes of the new season serve mainly to set up

the new storyline.

Euphoria comes with a mature warning label, and the new season has brought up concerns from viewers. Is the show an accurate representation of high schoolers and their experiences? The answer is, it depends. The main characters are ages 17-18, but played by actors who are in their twenties or even thirties, and characters who don’t look their age can take away from the realism in the show. However, drug use and nudity is common for almost all the high school age characters, so the actors had to be over 18.

Regardless, it’s hard to watch high schoolers in the show go through overdoses and assault, but this unfortunately is a reality for some. Euphoria dives into topics like these that many shows typically avoid, which helps some viewers feel seen.

However, some feel that the show is totally off. With out of control parties, characters getting together left and right, and drug use at school; it seems to be an extreme. Euphoria is narrated by Rue, many of the party scenes may be exaggerated, just how something minor may seem like a huge deal through the eyes of a high schooler.

Overall, the high school experience depicted in Euphoria is an extreme one, but not completely off. The writers displayed a range of experiences and emotions that are not uncommon for high schoolers, making the show worth the watch.

DESIGN BY ELLIOTT WOODMANSEE-SIRESS

JANUARY 31, 2022 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | 15

Elliott’s top five anticipated A “Five Nights At Freddy’s” works of 2022 Retrospective STORY BY ELLIOTT WOODMANSEE-SIRESS

Acting as the flagship title for the Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - one of my favorite titles in the series - reimagined the entire Zelda franchise, transforming it from a linear puzzle adventure series to an open-world titan, where the player could travel as far as the eye could see.

And now, coming sometime in 2022, the yet-to-be-named sequel to Breath of the Wild will explore far below and high above the land of Hyrule, along with promising the grand return of the demon king, Ganondorf, main antagonist of the series.

The Umbrella Academy left us and the titular dysfunctional family in a new, alternate timeline where the father and lost sibling Ben are still alive, but now run a new group of seven superhuman misfits, known as “The Sparrow Academy.”

Not much is known about this team, or Season 3 itself, although it appears that the Sparrows will feature a new set of bizarre abilities, including one who can turn into a murder of crows, one who can vomit black energy beams, and another who is a floating, telekinetic cube. This show of flawed superheroes has captured me, and I’m intrigued to see where Netflix takes this family.

Okay, this one I’m really excited for because 1. Into The Spider-Verse is one of the best superhero films of all time, and 2. It’s coming out on my birthday October 7. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Part One will see the return of Miles Morales to the web of Spidey universes, teaming up with a new set of web-heads while, presumably, being hunted by the Spider-Man of the year 2099, Miguel O’Hara, throughout a series of colorful, loud and enthralling worlds… wait for it… across the “Spider-Verse.”

PHOTO CREDIT: TRAVELLER’S TALES, WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, MARVEL STUDIOS, WALT DISNEY STUDIOS, NINTENDO, COLUMBIA PICTURES, SONY PICTURES ANIMATION

Last year, I shared with you all some of my favorite works of entertainment from 2021, reflecting on them and how they impacted me throughout the past twelve months. And now, I thought I’d come back to share with you five of my most anticipated works of entertainment for the new year. Hopefully I and other reporters of The Lion’s Tale will get to cover these more in depth when they come out, but until then, let’s look forward to what 2022 has in store.

Finally coming out this April, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. Yes, I am still excited for LEGO games. Yes, I am a child. Like many, I grew up playing the original LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, starting fights in Mos Eisley and constantly replaying the Mustafar duel. And now the game is coming back!

Remastered, expanded, and now with the new sequel trilogy of films. Creators TT Games promises a galaxy-spanning open world adventure through all nine Star Wars movies with over 20 planets to explore and over 300 characters to play as.

After premiering at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to cast the MCU into a kaleidoscopic mess of alternate realities, variant characters, and nightmarish magic. Strange is my all-time favorite superhero and I’m beyond excited to see what is in store for him. The plot for the film has remained under wraps, and all we know is that some multiversal danger will force the ex-Sorcerer Supreme and the newly Scarlet Witch to work together with a universe-hoping America Chavez, fighting against wizard-hunting Baron Mordo and an evil alternate version of Strange himself.

STORY BY ELLIOTT WOODMANSEE-SIRESS

PHOTO CREDIT: SCOTTGAMES, STEEL WOOL STUDIOS, ILLUMIX

Back in 2014, the internet was rocked by a small indie horror game, where players sit in a dingy office at the back of a pizzeria, fending off from a series of child-haunted animatronics attempting to break in and stuff you in one of their empty suits. Back in 2014, the internet was rocked by a small indie horror game named Five Nights At Freddy’s.

Five Nights At Freddy’s is as simple as it comes in the realm of horror video games. You sit in an office, you have two doors on either side of you and a laptop in your hands. There are two buttons near the doors, press the first one to turn on the hallway light and press the second one to shut the door. Doing this drains your power. Hit the button at the bottom screen to pull up your laptop, click through the cameras to view the pizzeria.

Doing this drains your power.

But regardless of how straightforward the game is, people were hooked.

YouTubers like Markiplier got the game to explode in popularity online through their playthroughs, while others like The Game Theorists explored the hidden lore and peaked fan interest in the story. Throughout the next five years and six more games, creator Scott Cawthon would further develop the story of “FNaF.” The next two sequels would follow a similar format, the second game stripping away the doors and adding twice as many animatronics while the highly anticipated third game would see players face off the original murderer - William Afton - himself, now trapped inside the rotting springlock suit he used to lure and kill his victims. And although that last title was set up to be the final in a trilogy, Cawthon’s quick turnaround with titles and the fans’ love for these games set the stage for the story to expand even further, and become even more puzzling.

Five Nights At Freddy’s 4 would follow a young child haunted by nightmarish an-

imatronics during the dead of night. The fifth installment, Five Nights At Freddy’s: Sister Location, would see older brother to the last game’s unnamed protagonist and first son of the murderous Afton decend into the depth of a rental facility to free the soul of his young sister trapped inside the animatronic “Baby.”

And with spin off titles and a series of books further fleshing out this universe, the core series would end with Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria Simulator and Ultimate Custom Night, the former game finding you run a franchise while William’s old business partner Henry collected Afton and his many victims so he could put their souls to rest, and the ladder game acting as a sit-and-survive in the vein of the old titles with 50 characters to fend off them, showcasing Afton’s eternal hell at the mercy of his vengeful victims.

Looking back at the franchise, it’s amazing to see where the games have come from, even if the story is mind-numbing and the games themselves can be frustrating to play. But the thing is, the heart of these games isn’t either of those things. The heart is the fanbase.

The most recent title, Security Breach, has thrown me and many others back into their “FNaF phase”, but honestly, I’m happy to be back. Growing up alongside this series, watching every Game Theory video on the games and books, jumping to the cheap scares and even trying out the demos of FNaF 2 and FNaF 3 on my first phone, all of those are special memories from my childhood. I still remember arguing with friends of if the whole story was all a dream or not during gym class in the 5th Grade.

I’m excited to see where this franchise goes now in the hands of Steel Wool Studios, and I’m happy to see this nearly decade-long running series find its rightful place in the video games hall of fame.

DESIGN BY ELLIOTT WOODMANSEE-SIRESS

16 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | JANUARY 31, 2022

Advice from an avid cat lover: cats are an excellent coping skill STORY BY KADEN BRYANT

As human beings in our society, we all have problems. We share the burden of deceased loved ones, of lost opportunities, of disappointment and failure again and again. While it may be part of life to cope with these unfortunate events, all of these issues have one unexpected solution in common.

Whether you’re heartbroken from a failed relationship, mourning a beloved relative, or just struggle to get out of bed in the morning - there is a cure. A cure in the form of a feline companion.

Instead of crying yourself to sleep alone, you could have a fuzzy friend to cuddle with. And this one won’t cheat on you like Jacob. Though a cat may not be able to dry your tears with its sock-like paws, one can certainly lick them away if it’s feeling peckish. Just don’t mind the sandpaper.

A cat is no replacement for a loved one, but they are often more likable than Aunt Teresa who commented on your weight at every family gathering. Cats will never tell you there’s too much food on your plate. Mostly because they are unable to speak, but also due to their indifferent nature. And desire for belly rubs.

And don’t worry about getting out of bed. Cats each come hand-delivered with an alarm clock embedded in their mouths that go off in the form of relentless howling whenever it’s time to be fed. Your severe depression and rapidly declining mental health are no match for Mitten’s breakfast time.

Cats are a gift to the world and a solution to all of its problems. Kitty litter tracked around the house and torn up furniture is a small price to pay for salvation. And remember, they’re not trying to moon you. They just want pets.

STRETCHED OUT: Carly O’Donnell’s cat “Sybbie” being playful and silly while laying down.

PHOTO BY KADEN BRYANT

FURRY FRIEND: Kaden Bryant’s cat “Pickles” snuggles in his hand while falling asleep.

Pickles was named after Kaden’s favorite food when he was four years old.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLY O’DONNELL

Renata Zeiguer’s “Old Ghost” brings powerful message to viewers STORY BY JADEN CORDONERO Renata Zeiguer’s history in music is long, from bouncing around as extras in bands, to forming her own band, but her first major personal footstep was Old Ghost. In 2018, Zeiguer released her debut album with such unique taste and versatility, it almost feels like it was generated spontaneously with the universe. She was able to distribute the album through Northern Spy Records.

Old Ghost is an amazing album, it’s mystical and tantalizing, with an archaic framework. The album has this gradual decay throughout its run, producing this riveting feeling of back-and-forth. There’s a heavy use of string instruments in each and every song, and great emphasis on percussion. Yet, with the Classic Rock feeling, it still has it’s clear influences from Jazz. The impressive thing is that nearly every instrument played is done by Zeiguer herself, not to mention the impressive and out of this world vocals done by her as well.

The way how this album’s meticulously crafted melodies get stuck in your head also works perfectly with

DESIGN BY HANNAH WARRNER

the lyrics. Old Ghost is a truly enigmatic and enchanting album in every aspect, with every song having this grave sense of ambiguity, nearly everything is up to the listener’s interpretation. Some noted impressions from listeners have pointed out that the songs portray the clashing feelings caused by severe anxiety, others take to the whimsically grim imagery and present it as accepting depression. However on Zeiguer’s official Bandcamp it explains that the album is about fear and forgiveness.

Zeiguer had an oddly distinct upbringing, she was raised learning classical composers and performing their music, and in the meantime split in two, experimenting with her culture and the things she loved. Her unique tange of life resulted in an incredibly diversified album that speaks from her heart. The fear and forgiveness aspect drawn from this album comes from the idea that she needs to accept who she was to know who she is. Yet, during the whole run of the album, she constantly has this dreadful feeling that she knows she will never be fully accepting of herself.

It’s this constant attack creates the emotional rift in the album, and the songs perfectly represent it, by having this progressively growing story seems like it would have a perfect conclusion to a indecisive bout with herself, only for it to come full circle. Although there’s a sense of resolution, it’s still apparent that the mental chasm that initially caused this gash in her mental judgment is very much so there and only hidden from our eyes. It becomes especially apparent when listening to the alternate version of Gravity, the closing track of Old Ghost, in which this fantastical feeling is suffocated by dread that is pointlessly covered up, since it bleeds through.

All in all, Old Ghost is a remarkably powerful album that tackles its themes well and has a powerful message. Now, in April of this year, Zeiguer plans to release her second full album, “Picnic in the Dark” which is described on her Bandcamp as “a kaleidoscopic metaphor for the process of letting go of the seemingly safe and familiar in a pursuit of a healthier and freer life.”