Volume 17 Issue 3 March 2019

Sandra Day O’Connor High School

25250 N. 35th Ave. Phoenix, AZ

Volume 17. Issue 3. March 2019

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DATING IN HIGH SCHOOL: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY. PAGES 10 - 11

Students with tattoos Page 6

PERSONAL STORIES FROM OHS COUPLES AND MUCH MORE.

21 Savage

Page 13

Baseball and Softball PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CASSIDY MOORE

Page 17

Bloom 365 works to stop teen dating abuse

By PEYTON THOMPSON

So I think it’s given a lot

News Editor

who wouldn’t normally get Nowadays, it is not that training,” said Shane Hesse, health teacher. teenagers in relationships SWAT (Student Wellness in high school. However, Advocacy Team), OHS’ what can go hand in hand method of promoting with dating in high school a positive and safe is teen dating abuse. environment on campus, Sometimes abuse isn’t has partnered with Bloom necessarily recognized 365 to help students foster right away and can fester healthy relationships. into something more toxic “SWAT is the vehicle for later. which we drive health and Bloom 365, a program wellness for our teachers that’s sole purpose is to and students on campus end teen dating abuse and this is one dimension of before it starts, helps to wellness that our students nurture healthy and happy relationships through peer embed it into the SWAT to peer promotion. program and that is why to students that wouldn’t normally know how to handle a bad relationship or [know] what a challenging relationship looks like.

have a Bloom 365 team,” Hesse said.

Although originally started in 2006 as the Purple Ribbon Council,

years of development and growth passed and by 2012, Bloom 365 has become what it is today. Donna Bartos, CEO and founder of Bloom 365, explains why she decided to start the Bloom program.

“I was angry that not enough was being done in our communities and across the country to prevent domestic, sexual and teen dating violence before it started. And so, I started the organization just as an awareness effort to help people understand that this is happening in every community in many homes; everyone knows someone who has been impacted by it but we’re not talking about it enough,” Bartos said.

Students belonging to SWAT teams dedicated

PHOTO BY PEYTON THOMPSON Bloom 365 member’s goal is to spread awareness on teen dating abuse.

365 program go through the training to become peer advocates as they learn what teen dating violence is all about.

“We have four Bloom 365 teams this semester. Their goal now, because they are now peer advocates, is to go to different classrooms

on campus and different schools in our district and then train others and teach others about the seven doses of Bloom and then they can expand the horizon of peer relationship and teen dating violence,” said Shane Hesse, health teacher.

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March 2019

OC’s Got Talent takes the stage with auditions

By HANNAH LORENZO

Features Editor

OHS makes an effort to present the school in the best way possible. From interactive clubs to eyecatching events, there’s never a dull moment as students and teachers alike witness school spirit at its peak every week.

To add to the excitement, the performing arts department is introducing a brand new event for students to partake in: OC’s Got Talent.

OC’s Got Talent plans to be a major success as it is a new concept for the school. In the actual show, each class in the performing arts department will have the chance to execute their crafts that they practice in class for a total of nine minutes. Along with these classes, there will also be room for even more talent.

On Feb 21, auditions will be held in the black box in room 220 in the performing arts building after school, which will bring hidden talents out of the shadows. With the show arriving on Mar 1 at 7 pm in the main auditorium, lots of interest has already started to form as this idea becomes a reality.

“I think it’ll really bring us together. It’ll show people

who have talents that maybe we didn’t know, great singers or great artists,” said Hazel White, senior.

Although the spotlight seems to be focused more on who takes performing arts classes, that’s not the case here. According to Madelyn Sperry, senior, OC’s Got Talent strives to include everyone.

“I think it’ll be a chance to show off more of what all of the arts departments can do as well as students from all departments of the school,” Sperry said.

As the talent show further develops, it also leads a pathway for those participating to gain experience and recognition for the future.

“I think it’s trying to achieve showcasing the performing arts and all that they do, so that they’ll get more of an audience next time they have something coming up, and then there’s also showcasing the amazing students we have here,” White said.

Teachers will judge each performance to see who will earn the title of OC’s Got Talent Winner, so the competition is bound to be

PHOTO BY EMMALEIGH ALLIE Connor Davidson, freshman, sings a song in the “OC’s Got Talent” show. to the acts who don’t win, on,” said Toni Fioramonti, they will grow stronger with performing arts teacher.

School spirit is a goal for abilities. every school, and OC’s Got “Well, students who have Talent sets out to increase performance-based skills or that fervor on campus. There any skills that they want to may be some doubt as to show, it’s an opportunity whether or not the talent for them to get in front of show will be in the people’s an audience and really test those skills and get feedback becoming more well-known about what they’re working and relevant to those with

special gifts of their own.

“I think any opportunity where students can display their passion on stage and show the rest of the community what they have to offer is always a good way to bring the community together and see what our students have to offer,” Fioramonti said.

30 day project reaches out to graduating class

By TEANNA MEAGHER

The 30 day project is an ELA 7-8 and ENG 101-102 endeavor. The main idea behind this project is for these college bound students to read a book that could potentially affect them. For 30 days, these students will document the changes and effects of the book.

“They apply what they learn to their lives for 30 days and they monitor the progress and report on it,” said Susan Henry, senior ELA teacher.

This assignment is set for the mindset of seniors due the the level of maturity and the growth from the past four years spent in high school.

“They are mature enough going to get in the way of their future, so I think they are mature enough to say ‘I need to make a change in order to get everything I want to get out of life,” Henry said.

Although the project may seem like just a grade, students put a lot of thought

and effort into making changes that will impact their future.

“Students take something really small, they always a really small change rather than the kids who want to do an overall of their whole life that just doesn’t work,” said Henry. want to make may seem like nothing, but in all reality, they can drastically affect the outlook on life or people.

“When I see really small ones like, ‘I want to be kinder to my mother’, or stuff like that and they practice, they’re the ones who usually you see a big epiphany of, ‘oh my gosh my moms an actual human being and she’s trying hard,” Henry said.

Besides the fact of changing how students are towards others, this project is designed to recognize and bring forth new things about themself. Jumping from highschool to college pushes students to try to steady future lifestyles without bringing the same unhealthy habits they used to have.

“I want them to discover that is very hard to break habits and it takes repetition in order for things to stick, so they have to be very repetitive and really commit to it.” said Henry.

The 30 day project is not just a grade but a learning and growth experiment for

students on their last year of high school to change before entering the adult world. Seniors have learned to respect not only others but themselves. This project was brought forth to allow new found ideas and aspects of their lives that will be brought alongside the 2019

class while receiving diplomas and potentially years later.

“I see students who graduated years ago and told me they remembered the 30 day project and they took away one small tip. They are so glad they still do whatever they did.” said Henry.

PHOTO BY PEIGHTON GELLINGS Seniors are required to read a self help book for their 30 day project.

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March 2019

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Gaming Subscription: the next step for gaming

By CHRIS BONIFAZ

Imagine a kid goes to the local Blockbuster with his mom. Mortal Kombat Nine has just come out, so he sneaks it to the cashier and hopes his parents don’t see it in the pile of rom coms and basic action movies his family is also renting. He plays it all day and night because he knows he has to return it the next day. Those days, while memorable, are over and are now achievable at the press of a button.

While most people buy games because they want to keep the game forever and don’t want to be told when to stop playing, game streaming services have been getting more and more popular as time goes on.

The reasons for switching had multiple different factors such as availability, price, and quality. It also mirrors the rise in streaming services wanted access to movies and shows without having to buy

every individual box set or blu-ray disk.

First of all the prices for games have been going up more and more over the years, but they have plateaued at 60 dollars for a long time.

With so many different games coming out the price gets overwhelming making players have to choose one game over another.

However streaming games problem. A perfect example slogan which gives gamers the freedom of “choice” without the risk of regretting a purchase.

On the surface that sounds like the truth because users get to play hundreds of games without committing to anything, but it actually gives even less freedom.

Gamers have to choose from “their” lineup of games that “they” chose. Imagine being super excited for an upcoming release and the subscription service decided not to pick it up. Overall this showed that subscription services actually

PHOTO COURTESY OF BONUSACCESSORY.NET

limit your horizons instead of broadening them.

Another argument against the use of these services is the quality of the game people are playing. Before gamers get into this part you have to understand that when you stream a game it’s quality is based on either their setup or internet connection. If the computer or console isn’t powerful enough to live stream the game then it has to be downloaded. Also if players want to stream the game so they don’t have to go through the hassle of downloading it, they have to have a strong enough WiFi connection to keep a constant lag.

The platform of streaming games isn’t advanced enough for the common player to use it to its fullest potential without having to put all their money into their setup and WiFi. If this is the one part of the subscription service that makes it different from buying the game on its own, what does it truly have besides a cheaper price tag.

Nevertheless as time goes on more and more services are upping the game on how diverse their collection is and lowering the minimum requirement for streaming.

The prospect of gaming subscriptions is getting so huge that even apple is looking to dip their toes in the water. world of gaming because it is uncharted territory. Their plan is to release a mega subscription service that has a little bit of everything.

Rumors and a lot of leaks

PHOTO COURTESY OF DIGITALTRENDS.COM from Apple have said that that all those other services their service will have all do not. How they will HBO shows like Hulu and overcome the problems of other movies and tv shows the other players in the game is anybody’s guess, but they making originals like both are gonna start making services. announcements very soon.

However, the kicker is In the end, gaming Apple will also offer games subscription services are not alongside everything else worth the “steal” of a price making it have something they try to sell you.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WCCFTECH.COM

ROTC teaches respect, responsibility, and work ethic

By CHRIS BONIFAZ

ROTC is a class on campus that, on the face level, seems like a class for and about the military. However, that is not what ROTC is about at its core.

The class tries to teach the kids more than just military knowledge, “We learn leadership skills and life skills as well as space and aerospace junior.

In ROTC, students will learn how to apply leadership and camaraderie with real life situations, so that if they go on to not join the military they still know how to work well with a team and how to lead one.

When people think of ROTC, they think of boot camps and rigorous training to become the toughest soldiers possible.

In reality, ROTC isn’t as

bad as it seems, “While it is challenging at times, we are not constantly pushing it because we also do other things like sports,” Mills said.

Mills also talked about how it’s not too bad because you have the full support and motivation from Lt. Col Simmons and MSgt. Badey throughout every exercise or activity.

However, don’t think it’s all fun and games because there are more responsibilities to uphold before and after school.

“It really depends. We always have members of the senior staff early in the mornings to help out the younger cadets or other times doing a little physical senior.

They also do a lot of events after school usually with other clubs or classes around campus.

“For example,

going to go out to the track to run for a bit and we are going They also have to leave during class some of the time to attend assemblies or events for the school itself.

While all these activities and responsibilities seem overwhelming don’t feel worried because there is a lot of wiggle room when it comes to complete dedication to the class.

ROTC in front of school because Simmons and Badey make sure that we know that grades should come before any ROTC event,” said They have enough time to focus on any other responsibilities they have outside of ROTC and never have to focus solely on ROTC. Overall the vibe of the class is very lenient, but it is not without its hardships regarding physical activity, events, or lessons.

PHOTO BY CHRIS BONIFAZ ROTC stands up tall and greets students,in full uniform, while they enter school.

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March 2019

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Neutralizing the attacks against open internet

as New York and California, are passing their own laws regarding an open internet.

Despite their attempts, the FCC, as part of their rollback order according to the Washington Post, included a provision which pre-empted states from creating their own regulations and under the Trump administration, the DOJ, De-

By AUDREY SERRANO

Copy Chief

This new digital age has presented several questions to both consumers and suppliers when it comes to the use and distribution of the internet.

When it comes to the regulations of fair internet use, there really is no right solution since no one can really monitor and control the net 24/7 because of its millions of users worldwide. neutrality restarted Feb 1 a Washington Court. Since then, three separate bills were introduced attacking net neutrality.

The main points that the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission, is attacking was passed under the Obama administration in 2015 and stated that broadband carriers, such as Verizon and AT&T, can’t tamper with internet speeds based off if a company or individual pays more for the privilege of faster internet. The rules put in place also mean that these telecommunication giants can’t interfere with data

transfers they don’t like.

On Dec 14, 2017, under the Trump administration, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who previously worked for Verizon, voted to repeal these rules. This meant that as of right now, there is no ban that is keeping carriers from demanding extra fees from companies in order to deliver faster service speeds. For

and Youtube, this isn’t much of a stretch but for smaller businesses hoping to expand or promote themselves online, it’s harmful.

The Internet in the U.S. as we know it is run by an oligopoly, meaning that only a few telecommunication giants control it. Carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast

PHOTO COURTESY OF CNBC argued that the 2015 net neutrality laws “hurt investment cording to cnet.com. back the repeal of those 2015 laws is between the states backing up pro-net neutrality consumer groups and Firefox publisher Mozilla in suing the FCC in federal court. Along with this, several states such

lawsuit attacking California’s own net neutrality law, arguing that it violates the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, which states that the federal government regulates interstate commerce and not state governments.

What does this mean for average consumers, though?

As of right now, nothing much has changed. In the long-term though, it is unsure if major changes will take place. Many protests against this repeal argue that the FCC is attempting to regulate free speech by allowing these telecom giants to have most of the control.

Everyone is unsure as to where net neutrality stands as of now but wherever it is, it’s either about to take a turn for better or for worse.

Continued from page 1, Bloom 365 works to stop teen dating abuse where but that awareness is ultimately going to lead to the policy and law changes that say domestic violence, sexual violence, teen dating violence are crimes and we should not accept them as okay or as the norm or as the standard. We need to build healthy safe relationships that have empathy, and kindness and respect and good communication as the standard and that is our big goal… and we relay said Donna Bartos, CEO and founder of Bloom 365.

Together, teenagers can

PHOTO BY PEYTON THOMPSON Students work hard to prepare an informationl meeting for their fellow Bloom 365 members.

As a part of the Bloom 365 from there really mobilizing them in a way that is showprogram, students are taught young people, your genera- ing empathy or a way that the seven doses (lessons) tion, to change the culture shows power and control? about dating abuse and what around you that has enabled And then the other piece of a healthy relationship should to fuel tank stuff to become that is for all young people the norm or become social- to know whether they have ly acceptable to change the gone through our seven doses or not is that there are caring and how to recognize it, and Donna Bartos, CEO and and trusted adults around - founder of Bloom 365. them ready and willing to lisBloom 365 is a place where ten and help them through if teens can go to get help or ask they feel like they need some the media and people in their for advice if need be. A part help navigating any of these community. of the Bloom curriculum is “[These] multi lessons help considering blooming/wilting Like everything, nothing teens understand, in your behavior or factors in a rela- gets accomplished without world what is relevant to you, tionship and how people treat work. Spreading awareness what is healthy/unhealthy each other in the process. about teen dating abuse and [and what] caring/controlling “Really thinking about the abusive relationships could relationships look like. But relationships you have with eventually lead to greater, beyond that, how do we grow others whether it is friend- more impactful outcomes. relationships that are based ships or dating relation“Bloom 365 stands for in good communication, con- ships… just thinking about bringing love on others more - the way we’re treating other 365 days a year... [And] spect, showing empathy and people and are we treating awareness has to start some-

change the way the world works and create a better future not only for themselves but others. To see the things that are wrong in the world and put action behind a plan to change them, is where the power lies.

“Teens today are leaders of today, not the leaders of tomorrow. And teens today, you have the power and potential to change the culture around you when you see these things that are happening and no longer accept it as

PHOTO BY PEYTON THOMPSON A group of dedicated freshmen students help spread awareness around OC.

Features 4

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Page 5

By LEXI GASS

In the crowded buzz of every corner of the room

day. In the back of the room,

they notice when I have on a

PHOTO BY ISABELLA FOSTER and joy to the job. cafeteria at OHS. At the end

and we want to try to make

By TEANNA MEAGHER

with each other and they

continue to return for a drink

have an attitude around

each drink.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THRILLIST.COM AND TABLEHERO.COM The ultimate choice is yours: Dutch Bros or Desert Eagle?

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6 March 2019

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You’ll want to remember this: Say cheese! editors often serve to teach their staffers if they need any refreshers or pointers.

“My favorite part has

By EMILY MAI

The Yearbook staff is tasked with preserving the memories we make in high school; every sporting event, spirit week, and smiling face captured and sealed into the history book of our lives.

Each year they deliver a with quirky senior quotes, dazzling in-the-moment photoshoots, and stunning spreads that cover everything from individual clubs to all the sports teams.

There are four different sections in the yearbook: and student life. The staffers from each section; they’ll write for a different section after every deadline date.

“You have to go to [the events], take pictures, write a story about it, write captions about it, just write everything about it. You basically have to fully immerse yourself whatever else it is that you got assigned,” said Makayla O’Bannon, senior Yearbook staffer.

PHOTO BY ISABELLA FOSTER The Yearbook staff works tirelessly to create their best yearbook yet.

The Yearbook staff goes senior sports editor, Jolyn out of their way to make sure Oprea. Together they assign to include everyone into the pages and run through edits. yearbook. The people that The staffers are able to take they interview come from all certain creative liberties when sorts of groups of students it comes to their spreads. and staff around campus to “I really love taking photos. ensure that they get a diverse I’m really into photography; cross section of students. that’s what drew me into the “I really love [getting] to meet a lot of new people when love the creative freedom that you go out on interviews. You we get to have with taking just have to be out constantly pictures and along the way taking pictures with the I found out that I actually teams and groups. You really really love writing about get to know them well after sports,” O’Bannon said. all [that],” said Presley This also means that Simon, sophomore Yearbook Yearbook is student taught. staffer.

Students are advised to take The yearbook is student led a year of journalism before and run by senior editor-in- joining the yearbook staff chief, Josephine Russell, and but given those that don’t the

nice people on staff. They’re really supporting and if you need help you can ask somebody and there’s always someone there. It’s a really accepting [community],” said Alexis Gilreath, sophomore Yearbook staffer.

The yearbook serves as a window into the past and can be preserved for years to come. They hold in them an entire year’s worth of memories and experiences.

“When you look back ten years or however many years later you want to remember high school and you want to remember it in a good way.

It’s just really nice to be able to look back and remember [everyone]; it’s a good time,” said Makayla O’Bannon, senior Yearbook staffer.

The Yearbook staff spends the entire year working on that year’s book. Each deadline they meticulously go through edits and changes in an effort to put out their best work. Every year the

yearbook is special and different from those prior to it and that takes a lot of hard work and effort.

“I don’t think [the rest of the student body] know just how much work goes into the yearbook. They don’t understand our struggle and they focus [on the negatives].

We work really hard and try to make it as good as we can,” said O’Bannon.

If you are interested in purchasing a yearbook, see Mrs. Simon in room 505 to pre-order yours today. The price goes up every month and it caps off at $90 in May. The seniors will receive their Breakfast.

“

We work really hard and try to make it as good as we can.”

-Makayla O’Bannon

Think before you ink: pros & cons of tattoos

By EMILY MAI

A new wave of body positivity has changed the way we “ink”; tattoos are becoming a common sight on teens and have made appearances in our very own halls. Whether it’s a simple design, tattoos are on the rise and they’re not going anywhere. You can legally get a tattoo as early as age sixteen with parental consent which is what many teens are taking advantage of.

One of the biggest misconceptions about tattoos is the level of pain they induce. Placement plays a key role in this. There are certain places on the body such as on the hands, feet, head, and ribs that are more sensitive and are considered the most painful places to

PHOTO BY EMILY MAI Cassidy Meyer displays her simple .

get inked. That’s not the only thing to consider; throughout the years the industry has advanced considerably and a new thinner needle has been developed and widely used.

This new needle decreases the levels of pain and chance of bleeding while also helping to improve precision. This results in a more striking tattoo achieved with less pain than the typical nib would cause. It all varies from person to person and for some people like sophomore, Ava Moran, tattoos don’t hurt at all.

“It doesn’t hurt as much as people think it does.

It tickles, in my opinion, because the needle [would] hit my ribs and vibrate back and forth; it tickled so much that I was trying not to laugh the entire time,” Moran said.

Prices of tattoos vary depending on the size and complexity of the piece and the individual artist. Quality tattoos can cost well over $100. Although this may seem high, the price factors in the commission of the artists and the use of the latest tools and materials, all of which are contained in a sterile environment. It’s important to go to a professional to avoid any health or quality complications.

Shayna Pomeranz, senior, recently friend in Los Angeles.

“If you’re going to get something permanent on your body get it done right if it’s expensive, ‘oh well!’

The price shouldn’t deter

you, there’s so much that goes into the whole process.

We planned [everything] to the last [detail]; we emailed the shop, we researched the artist. It’s going to be on you forever, you might as well put the work into it,” Pomeranz said.

The design aspect is perhaps the most important detail to research. When deciding on the use of color it is important to note that colored tattoos do eventually fade and may need touchups in the future. Black and white ink on the other hand may be a cheaper alternative with the drawback of less vibrancy. The image or text itself can be anything within the human imagination and many students use this opportunity to convey deeper meanings and connections to their own lives. Paige Doyle, senior, is one of those students.

“I love simplistic tattoos because I feel like simpler tattoos have a bigger meaning; my heart [tattoo is something that] I’ve always drawn on my hand. Me and my mom got matching [hearts] so it has a lot of meaning there and the bird [tattoo] I got for my grandpa because we used to always listen to The Beatles and the bird represents the song Black Bird,” Doyle said.

Many teens even plan their tattoos out years in advance. because] my grandma is a gardener and she absolutely loves plants and I always

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAYNA POMERANZ Shayna Pomeranz shows off her tattoo of a matching set with a friend. have too. I’ve always wanted your body and you should my tattoos to have some kind make the decisions for your of meaning and so this one body and nobody should tell was one that reminded me you otherwise,” said Moran. of my grandma. I’d had the Tattoos can be a positive design picked out for a good source of inspiration, three years,” Moran said. creativity, and hope. The There has always been meaning behind the ink a stigma against tattoos.

Many people argue that a empowering for students in permanent art such as tattoos need of extra encouragement. can be the source of many “I don’t think I will regret regrets later in life. Even them just because they all so there is still a numerous have some sort of special amount of people that don’t meaning to me even if that let that fear stop them. meaning changes over time.

“If it’s something I do know that each of them meaningful, beautiful, or symbolize something that something that I have a was very important to me deep interest in then I don’t at some point in my life, it see why I would regret it. If in a way boosted my self I’m waiting to do something because I might regret it just something that I really 60 years from now that’s like. I really like art and so like me when I’m 60 saying, it makes me happy when I ‘Hmm why would I wear see them; it’s like a nice little this shirt because 20 year old reminder to have on you at all me would’ve thought it was times,” said Cassidy Meyer, ugly?’ In the end it doesn’t senior with three tattoos. really matter because it’s

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March 2019

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Culture Club strives to bring the world to campus

By EMILY MAI

Every single person grows up with different traditions, beliefs, and even foods; that is the culture that they grow up in. There are nearly 200 different countries around the world and each one has its own unique customs and people that make it completely different and interesting. The problem is experiencing all these different cultures and being able to embrace them in a positive and accurate way. As of this semester that problem is being solved for students on campus thanks to Culture club.

Culture club endeavors to encourage its members to branch out and try new things, and to meet new people all in the hopes that they can learn to appreciate the unique richness that each country possesses. It is a place for students to educate themselves so that they are equipped with the knowledge that allows them to accept people for their differences.

“It’s about educating people about the different backgrounds and places that other students grow up in.

Especially in 2019, it’s good to learn to respect people’s culture especially because [in the] media [people] either

greatly disrespect or obsess over them so I think it’s good to get the word out and help do away with some of that negativity,” said Kaley Schmidt, sophomore and president of Culture club.

Each week Culture club hosts a different guest speaker to come in and talk about their customs. For a parent who came in to talk about South Korean life. She spent time going over the language, special holidays, and even brought in food and clothing for the students to see and enjoy.

“They talk about their home country and it’s so different from the American lifestyle here. So many people don’t know more than what they personally experience and about all these traditions that people care so much about. The culture here isn’t it; there’s so much more out there that people have no clue about,” said Hannah Magick, sophomore.

The club started as a way to educate the students but it people from other places around the world through charity and fundraising. In this way, students here can learn about places around the world while they lend their

Photo by Peyton Thompson help to people in need.

“I was in Africa this summer because my mom is from West Africa and we were talking about schooling.

I found out that schooling for one kid for one year is around $200 here but there it’s around $500. I realized that it would be so easy to start

a club to start supporting people in Africa and getting them to school so that’s how that started; culture just came with it,” Schmidt said.

The Auto Club likes to drive cars

By PEIGHTON GELLINGS

Cars are apart of everyone’s life one way or another. They are what gets us to the places we need to be, but to some they are more than that.

They are a hobby to some and a career, whether it be in mechanics, selling or racing,

for others.

OHS is offering an auto club to its students so that they can learn more about cars and give them a place where they can explore their passion. Elijah Seals, senior, is a dedicated member of the club.

“Our main purpose is to

The Auto Club presents their best cars at the homecoming parade

bring together people that have an interest in cars; it doesn’t really matter what type whether it be trucks, cars or motorcycles. Then our main goal is a car show that we put on every year,” Seals said.

In high school, a good majority of the students are

Photo by Isabella Foster

either just learning how to drive or have only recently gotten their license so there is often a great deal that they don’t know about cars. Jake Ball, senior, is apart of the club that is hoping to change that.

“Our mission is to get people more informed with cars. We had a lot of people that didn’t even know how to change a tire and so we had a whole lesson on it to inform the people more,” Ball said.

The car show will take place on March 16 and serve as a gallery to showcase what the members are proud of, but it is open for everyone to participate in.

“The car show will be down here [OHS] and everybody is welcome. Usually it’s like a 5 dollar entry fee and that usually gets you a slice of pizza or some food. Then that will also enter you into the competition where we’ll have our judges go around and we’ll have people’s choice and different trophies that we’ll hand out,” Seals said.

The auto club’s main purpose is to bring people together that have a common interest and over the past year, they have managed to bring in more and more people. However, they are hoping to have even more students join in order to expand the potential of the car show.

“Last year we didn’t have as many members as we would have liked. This year

quite a bit so our goal is to have a large car show to the point where we can bring out things like food trucks and companies to come support on a larger scale,” Seals said.

Members of the club do more than just see each other at the weekly meetings, they it into events outside of school.

“We had a drive a couple months ago; most club members went up to South Mountain. We talked about what our future goals are, what we want to do and what everyone wants to see,” said Ball.

Overall, the auto club has managed to bring many students together that share a rather uncommon passion.

The club has introduced students like Evan LaRue, senior, to others that he wouldn’t have necessarily met without it.

“It opened me up to a lot more people who know about cars and share the same interest about cars because usually I’m kind of alone with that kind of hobby,” LaRue said. “I’m usually only able to interact with older people who share the same interest; there’s not a lot of people my age.”

8

“

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Don’t look at the negatives in high school, yeah some stuff will suck, but overall if you just go into it with a positive attitude you’ll come out of high school with really great memories and friends

“

Madi Gackle junior

I love government; I grew up in a very political family, so it was a conversation topic all the time. I learned very quickly that to understand government you have to understand economics and most people don’t. It was always nice reading far ahead and knowing that I knew more than other people around me.

“

“

Richard Weyker government teacher

@OC_CAPTURED

Interviews and photography by Isabella Foster and Lexi Gass

@OC_CAPTURED

aptured

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Johnny “Jazz” Mitchell sophomore

When I was in middle school, these 7th graders that I didn’t know came up to me and asked if I made music, and I just acted like I did. I had no clue how to make a song, so I stayed up for hours looking up how to do it. They asked me if I wanted to make a song with them, and we ended up becoming really good friends because of it. We recorded the song, we released it, and when we put it out, everyone liked it. And then, the talent show comes around. So we go out on stage, and everyone got so excited when they said our names.

We actually felt good. When the song came on, everybody started chanting it back to us.

“

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10 March 2019

Is dating in High School worth it?

YES

By CASSIDY MOORE

Having someone to watch your back, understand what you’re going through and to help you navigate life is something many strive for.

Finding true love in high school, although rare, is the reason many embark on countless dates and relationships until they feel that spark.

Dating does not have to be all about true love and also be about having fun with someone who makes you feel good. Dating as a yourself and understanding what makes you happy. No one should be stressed and pressured to date the perfect person; dating in high school is a way to grow before you reach college.

NO

By NIKKI HAZELETT

Love is what you make it.

There is no handbook, no guidelines, no requirements.

Love can be shown in an assortment of ways and hold very different truths for individuals.

It can be the most beautiful thing you have ever been blessed with experiencing, but it can also be devastating. The act of loving someone requires you to be able to assess what love is to you, and how you decide to act upon it.

Some individuals begin dating in their teens, while others wait until adulthood.

In my own experience and heartbreak, I wish I would have waited to fall in love until I was older and ready to handle the hardships that can be attached to a relationship.

I walked into a high school relationship very naive and in bliss of being with someone who I thought was my

However, those who do someone in high school and falling in love can lead to cial someone through high heartbreak. Nevertheless, school friendships and ro- it can also be an experience mances often express how that you will grow from, or vital their partner was in maybe even end in meettheir journey to college and ing the person you want to spend the rest of your life you spend a majority of with. your life with, it is comfortYou learn how to deal ing to have someone that you grew up with and went er in a way that is healthy, through tough times with. rather than screaming at This is especially import- each other like children. A ant when you need to widen relationship allows you the your comfort zone. chance to grow and become When you date some- an adult. This is why dating one you are introduced to in high school might be bena whole world of new people, mindsets, and experi- are seeking to experience ences that you would not more things and mature have otherwise. These ex- along the way. periences are what make High school in general can dating a special someone in be a time of changes and high school so magical. The emotional breakdowns, havmemories that you make ing someone you trust can and the people you meet are help make your four years a measure of how dating is easier to handle. Being a for you. teenager is all about making Meeting your special mistakes and learning from

them. I don’t think dating at this age is necessarily harmful for all young kids, as long as students are being safe and healthy, that is all that matters.

No matter what age, everyone deserves the chance to experience love and everything that comes with it.

From dates to new places, Valentine’s day gifts, and prom-posals, having someone to share in these fun activities with can make all high schooler’s doubts and stresses about dating worth it. Even after your time in high school is over, the time you spent with people will always help you grow and will be life lessons and memories that you will keep all through your next journey in life.

best friend. We dove head ent things. Yes, at any age, heartbreak can be close to ship that I don’t think either of us were truly ready emotional pains to work for. I think this happens through.

However, as an adult, it’s to a lot of people in their teenage years; we become easier to not lose yourself so insistent on creating and because you can rationalize maintaining the world’s your surroundings easier. most perfect relationship As a teenager, I think many that we don’t notice all the of us who have experienced this felt like the world was Dating in high school can ending; I felt like I was prove to be very messy. Both drowning in sorrow, and I parties are incredibly young was scared that I might nevand barely have much life er resurface.

The world clearly doesn’t experience. end after a split, but in the I did the whole “off and on again” relationship and mind of the youth, I believe while I loved him, we would it does. have been better in the long very immature, much like run as simply friends.

At such a young and im- many other high school stupressionable age, it’s hard dents. I say things I don’t to look at someone and con- mean and I do things out of anger. I am far too young to spend the rest of your life indulge myself in a serious with them. What you want relationship, or any type of at 18 is not always going to relationship that would be be what you desire at age 30. healthy.

I believe this is the same Every day and every new experience grants our youth case for must students my with moments of learning age or younger. We want to experience love, we want to and growing.

Dealing with heartbreak look at someone and feel like as a teen versus an adult they are our home. Howevare two completely differ-

it can be to be in a committed relationship when you as a person are still trying to develop.

I believe teenage years should be about experimenting and discovering the things that make you who you are. Students need to focus more on their own well-being, rather than a tionship is for when you are with your own self that you can take on another’s problems.

In the long run, teenagers are going to do whatever they please because it is in their rebellious nature. Dating is fun and adventurous, and it allows you to expand your friend groups and feel more mature. But there will be a heartbreak attached to every “I love you”, whether you see it coming or not.

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The good, the bad, the ugly, of teen

dating

By EMILY MAI

that show that a digression from the norm is okay and It’s not uncommon to see set an example for everyone teens start dating in high else that love is love. These school. During these four are the couples that aren’t years we develop and grow in traditional heterosexual “When this started a lot alongside each other; some- relationships or even date times that means grow- interracially. Senior couple, of things were going on in ing apart from each other Lauren Kisicki and her girl- our lives with him planning on going into the military and sometimes that means and him not having family we can grow even closer. both categories. behind him, it became reIn terms of dating in high “I really hope that if there ally vital to have someone school there’s a full range are any small freshmen gay of diversity and abundance; kids out there and they see in legal standing that could take care of him. It became there’s couples just starting out, couples planning to get married, straight couples, same-sex couples and each and every one of them is a match worth celebrating.

There are some pairings that people look up to and admire the steady strength of. These are the ones to nominate for class royalty. But in the end they too started from humble beginnings just as senior couple Makena Gesino and her boyfriend Bralen Trice did.

“I think that [our relationship has] progressed a lot with trust we’ve gotten a lot closer because we’ve been through so much together through the three years and we’re like best friends.

I’ve found that the more you go through together the more you realize you can do it, instead of just ending the relationship whenever something happens,” Gesino said.

The two earned both the titles of Homecoming King and Queen and Prom Prince and Princess during their time together.

“It’s just a title it didn’t really change anything for me I still love her. To me love is being able to withstand someone for so long and not get bored, just every time you see them and knowing that they’re all you need, that your life is complete with them,” Trice said.

There are some couples

11

and it’s normal. My freshman and sophomore year I joined Youth for Tolerance and that’s how I knew this campus [would accept me] ly breathe especially around those people. I hope there are freshmen out there that can look up to us now and do the same,” Cross said.

The two have been dating for just over three months.

As they approach the end of their senior years they also date knowing that after high school they’ll end up in different states on different coasts.

“It’s always been my plan that I was going to leave after this year and go to the east coast. This year we started getting really close and we realized that there was some really strong feelings, having that expiration date for when we leave has helped us, and made it feel more real. It made both of us hold back less because we’re making the most of the time we have left,” Kisicki said.

It’s not often that you hear of the success stories of high school sweethearts getting married years down the road. Yet despite the odds there is one such couple that is already engaged while in their senior year of high school, Thackery seph Weygant.

friend, for your parents, and for someone that you want to spend the rest of your life with. You just want to be close with them to see them succeed every step of the way,” said Thackery O’Leary, senior.

For others love can be very

ly it turned to me wanting to spend the rest of my life with him, I want to do my taxes with him, I trust him to take care of me if anything should happen,” O’Leary said.

They are both seventeen and have been engaged for several months. With their young age there have been many obstacles and resistance from the people around them, even still they are going on one year strong.

“I really don’t care what people think. I know what I’m doing, she knows what she’s doing even though we’re not fully adults we’re smart enough to make decisions for ourselves, for us.

We really want to get married because we trust each other completely and we want to begin life togeth-

That emotion can be what you think and feel when you think of something or someone that you love.

“Love is when you realize that you want to be with that person and you just want the best for them you notice all these different things about them that you love and that you hadn’t noticed before. Even when they drive you crazy you know that you love them and that’s just the predominant emotion that you feel when you look at them,” said Lauren Kisicki.

Not every couple will last forever and not every couple will end up together and happy in the end. The important thing to remember is that we are each our own person and we each deserve love and respect both from Weygant said. our own selves and from the The concept of love is ab- people around us. stract and it can manifest in “If you really like somedifferent ways for different one and know what you people. Each person experi- want in a relationship and ences it in their own unique you’re clear with them way and they each express about it, you know who you it differently. Love can be are, you know what you’re expressed in what you want struggling with, what your to do with that person or even for that person with that I think that’s the “Love is the admiration of best thing you can do. Relasomeone to the point that tionships are up to so much you want to see them suc- circumstance and chance,” ceed you want to see them said Kasey Cross, senior. do the best they can whether or not you’re with them.

You can have love for a

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474 Art by Kasey Cross

Opinions 4

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Editorial: AZMerit poses countless issues

Supposedly, the only inevitable things in this world are death and taxes.

High school students, though, probably beg to differ and would claim that standardized testing should top the list of life’s certainties. No school year can pass without the allimportant AZMerit which is the bane of many students and teachers.

The problems with AZMerit vary: there are complaints regarding the new policy that allows students to bump their grades up, objections to the fact that teachers are graded based on this test, and issues with the very test itself.

This year, the Deer Valley decided that any student who

score on the AZMerit would have their letter grade bumped up. For example, a student who earned a B grade would then be pushed up to a A. Now there are many issues with this. First, not a single student was consulted about these changes, despite the fact that they are largely affected by this, and it seemed to take ages for the student body to learn all the details.

This seems to be a running problem of communication

in the classroom. Instead, the end of every semester a student’s success than standardized testing does,

between the district and students; for instance, the misunderstandings about half-days next year that resulted from a lack of communication.

Additionally, this change is unfair to upperclassmen and dedicated students.

Upperclassmen never got this opportunity to improve their grades and if they had perhaps just been born a year later, they too could enjoy the luxuries of lower grades. By implementing this system of raising grades based off one test students have an edge over the years of students that earned their grades the old fashioned way, through hard work. But instead, this change occurs at a arbitrary time and thus affects so many students. Now, students may not care as much about their semester grades and would be content with a B or C if they excel on the AZMerit test.

Meanwhile, more dedicated students will be consistently

giving their best, but in the end, they will be seen on the same level as a less committed student.

However, because of this incentive, students may be more likely to actually try on the usually meaningless AZMerit. The policy will also give students who legitimately try on the test a reward, while students who do not perform as well are not punished in any way.

Additionally, teachers may because their students will most likely receive higher scores, and so teachers will be graded higher by the district.

But the fact that teachers are graded on their students’ scores on a test that many students still will not care about is an entirely other problem. Teachers should that students will likely never fully try on. Teachers cannot force their students in any way to truly care about the test, yet it seems

PHOTO COURTESY OF EDULASTIC.COM that is precisely what they are graded on. Additionally, teachers are graded based on their students’ improvement, not their actual scores.

This means that teachers are tasked with improving students’ scores from last year, when those students were taught by a different for teachers to show improvement when they are working with students who have been taught different techniques by different teachers and focused on different standards. And teachers who have smarter students who have previously had better AZMerit scores may actually be at a disadvantage because there is less room for improvement.

Yet one of the largest issues with the test, is the test itself. The test is not a valid measure of what students have learned during the school year. Multiple parts of the test seem to not even be related to what we learn

students on everything they have learned. A test across the entire state may be helpful for gathering statistics, but every school, classroom, and student are different and one test cannot measure a teacher or school’s success rate.

Overall, the AZMerit is not a viable option to measure the intelligence of students nor the quality of teachers.

AZMerit is not a good test in of the material students have learned and the new grade policy will just increase laziness in regards to school work, though it may also result in an uptick in interest in the AZMerit. However, with other standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, and AP tests, students simply will never care about the comparatively useless AZMerit leading to teachers being graded unfairly. So the AZMerit and it’s up to our state’s and our district’s leaders to take some action.

Metro Exodus brings survivalism into the spotlight

By CHRIS BONIFAZ

Survival, fear, and anxiety are the perfect adjectives to use for 4A Games and Deep Silver’s new game Metro: Exodus. Metro: Exodus is survival horror and stealth elements. It is the third installment in the franchise which also based a series of novels by the same name by Dmitry Glukhovsky.

The series overarching setting is a post nuclear Russia where everyone lives in the underground metro system to escape the transformed animals and radiation on the surface while also dealing with other hostile factions in the metro.

To take a step back and

PHOTO COURTESY OF DENOFGEEK.COM games is important because gameplay a little too far in the of how far they have come. backseat because the carriedover mechanics felt lazy focused on the gameplay and repetitive. They didn’t and didn’t have much of a try to introduce anything story. Not to say the story new making the overall feel wasn’t good, it just felt disappointing. underdeveloped compared Finally, we get to Exodus to the beautiful landscapes, which takes everything they creature designs, and overall gunplay. games and enhances them In the second game to their fullest potential.

Right at the beginning of the had already done enough to game they plunge you into the gameplay so they put a dirty and gloomy sewer that in the backseat and with no end in sight. The completely focused on the player goes through the sewer plot and cast of characters. while noises from seemingly nowhere and spider webs the characters and the twists cover the landscape instilling and turns actually made you a crippling anxiety fueled feel some kind of emotion fear.

This proved the developers nothing memorable ever didn’t want to make the happened. same mistakes that “Last However, the game put the

sure to add detail every little thing. The environments have the slightest things to dust particles having physics instead of just staying still in the air. Then they have huge skyscrapers adding to the apocalyptic scene perfectly.

They also added an in-game weather, day, and season cycle in the game meaning in real time the game changes between night and day, winter and fall, or rain and snow.

The developers didn’t hold back with the mutations as their are new species of monsters on the surface that are more fantastically but still seem plausible from today’s animals. They have huge beasts that make you feel small and weak while also having crawling small enemies that scurry across from area to area.

While the gunplay couldn’t get better they added a crafting and upgrade system to make the item aspect a little more interesting than previous installments. These mechanics certainly aren’t anything new or ground breaking, but they add something to a bland part of

the game.

Finally we have the numerous characters and the overall plot. Like the the characters as much as possible to get you attached and familiar at the same time.

One thing they did perfectly in past games was make the villains truly evil and make you root for their downfall as much as possible.

They make them just as diabolical giving them the perfect amount of edge where it’s not stereotypical or cringy in any way. The returning friendlies are just as charming and hilarious went from not just Artyom’s partner on the surface, but is now his wife. Their chemistry is well written as there is never lines that feel uncomfortable or awkward.

It also never skirts the line of weird conversations that don’t go anywhere or are unnecessary to character building or plot. the obvious culmination of everything good about the Metro franchise conveniently packed into the perfect single player experience.

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13 March 2019

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21 Savage exposes the immigration system ROHAN PATEL Sports Editor There are many British celebrities that have become popular in America: Ed Sheeran, Benedict Cumberbatch, and, surprisingly, 21 Savage.

Apparently, the Atlantabased rapper is, in reality, British-born, and only moved to Atlanta as a child.

21 Savage, whose real name is She’yaa Bin AbrahamJoseph, was born in London, England and moved with his family to Atlanta when he was only seven years old. Now aged 26, he has spent 19 years establishing himself as a premier rapper on the hip hop scene. He was scheduled to perform at the Grammys, but suddenly, his career came to a crashing halt when he was detained

by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who claimed that AbrahamJoseph had overstayed his visa, and he now faces the possibility of deportation.

This unexpected action is a disgrace. Abraham-Joseph has been a resident of the United States for 19 years and never once during that time period was he alerted that his visa was expired, despite the fact that it had expired 13 years ago. Never mind the fact that this is a world-famous artist; if this happened to any person it would be a travesty. Now, Abraham-Joseph is not a fantastic person by any means, as he has had run-ins with the law multiple times.

In seventh grade, he was expelled from every school in his district for possessing a gun. He was convicted of By

By CASSIDY

MOORE Editor-in-Chief

dripping down the walls.

Dark woods and a chilling scream. These classic horror movie staples are what have Hollywood. As of recently, movie subscription services creating movies for their viewers to enjoy without having to leave their own couch.

“Velvet Buzzsaw” hit

a drug felony in 2014. And in 2016, he was forced to alert police when his condo was robbed.

Yet interestingly enough, these incidents both strengthen his case and also highlights the faults of the immigration system. To begin with, ICE claims that Abraham-Joseph moved to the United States when he was 14. However, he was already in Atlanta when he was in seventh grade, likely when he was younger than 14, as evidenced by his expulsion from school. And he has supposedly outstayed his visa for 13 years, yet if he moved to Atlanta at the age of 14 as ICE suggests, than 26 as his visa would not have expired as soon as he came to the United States.

Claiming that AbrahamJoseph arrived at the age of 14 is one of the most ridiculous claims made by ICE, as it can be easily seen that their version of events is simply not mathematically possible.

Additionally, AbrahamJoseph’s repeated involvement with law unaware of his precipitous legal stance and reveals the lack of organization of law enforcement. How could no one have possibly ever realized that AbrahamJoseph was not a US citizen throughout his entire felony procedure? He was sentenced to 12 years of probation, too, and during that entire period of constant monitoring, he was never alerted of his immigration status. He even expunged his felony from his

televisions across the country as Jake Gyllenhaal (Morf Vandewalt), Natalia Dyer (Coco), and John Malkovich (Piers). Velvet Buzzsaw focuses on the contemporary art world of Los Angeles and the interesting characters who deal with the paintings within. clean and mature setting at an art show in Florida.

Each quirky character is

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

COURTESY OF HIP HOP DX record and this legal action most minor offenses, such as never raised any alarms. talking too much.

Abraham-Joseph was of Abraham-Joseph’s also originally denied innocence is his appeal to law bail, even though he poses enforcement to assist him absolutely no danger to the when he was the victim of a robbery. There was no way risk. While he does have a a person with something to past of criminal history, at hide concerning their legal this point it is clear that his matters would ever contact character has changed for the law enforcement as the risks better. He has hosted backwould be too dangerous. to-school drives in Atlanta Still, the most disgraceful and has donated $10,000 to part of this ordeal is not an anti-bullying campaign. the missed chances nor the He has made large efforts ignorance of law enforcement. to teach students about What is most troubling is the fact that a black man with that they don’t take the an aspiring career was taken same path that he did. Yet into custody as if he were a despite all his work in the dangerous criminal. In fact, community, law enforcement Rolling Stone reports that he is being held in “one of bail, until Abraham-Joseph the worst detention centers” had spent over a week in the in the United States. This detention center and was detention center has a history able to post bail, though it of ignoring sexual abuse and cost him $100,000. He does often puts inmates in solitary have the drug felony, but that has been expunged, meaning

his only legitimate crime is overstaying his visa, which is obviously not a violent crime and so he should not have had to spend a harrowing week in a terrible detention center.

Abraham-Joseph should never have been arrested and thrown into a detention center with no bail. He is a Grammy-nominated artist who has worked his way up to success in America and has given back to his community.

Of course, he has to take the necessary steps to become a legal resident of the United States, but the actions that ICE chose to take were extreme. If he were a prim, white Brit, there is no chance he would have received the same treatment. But instead, he is a black man trying to better his life, and he will be forced to endure the treatment of a lowly criminal while facing deportation despite his immense talent.

Issa shame.

introduced in the opening scenes, ranging from classic art snobs like Vandewalt to nervous students attempting

colors and aesthetically pleasing settings during the most horrifying of scenes brings a different feeling of dread and uneasiness to the audience. Possibly the most chilling part of the whole movie is the seemingly unceasing steady assault of the cursed art as they continue to be sold and moved around the world.

Watching the characters of “Velvet Buzzsaw” go insane all because of art, shows a deeper message of how art can affect you. As the setting in the Los Angeles art scene implies, the movie focuses on the different ways modern art is viewed by the public. A dead body is seen as part of an art exhibit, an older artist leans to drinking in order to get creativity, and smaller art exhibits are ridiculed and stepped on by the wealthy. All these

scene. movie is building the background of each character and their relationships with each other. Essential to the progression of the plot, but was done so in a way that left viewers wondering, when the sinister aspects would appear. Gyllenhaal brings the movie to life, however, as his pompous personality and style, ambition, and controversial opinions, stir each character differently and create drama from the very beginning.

After an accidental discovery of, deceased artist, Vetril Dease’s stash of dozens of beautifully detailed paintings and sketches, the movie takes a dark shift. The beginning signs of the curse that the art might bring is shown after each painting

was meant to be destroyed after Dease’s death. As the story progresses, those who end up dying, all in ways connected to the paintings.

From animals coming to life, to terrifying hallucinations, each character dies off in shocking and gory ways.

The classic scary curse and demonic qualities of the plot are done in a way that avoid boring and predictable dialogue. Each character faces their downfalls in unique ways, leaving their bodies to be found mostly to submissive and quiet assistant Coco (Natalia Dyer).

This contemporary fresh air from the average super natural/mysterious movies that make up average Hollywood blockbusters.

Dan Gilroy, writer-director, created a fantastic thriller with a setting never before shown as creepy before. His contrasting use of bright

the viewer to ponder on how they interact with art in their lives.

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Arts & Entertainment March 2019

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music video, her next single, imagine, brought a change of style and mood to Grande’s discography.

Compared to her last full studio album, “Sweetener”; “thank u next” has more soulful tones than the pop feels of the albums before.

The album was slightly underwhelming for many diehard fans, not “slapping” as hard as her previous works.

Many have complained that the album lacked the diversity that has been seen in her previous works, claiming that songs blend together and sound too similar.

Nevertheless, the twelve song collection features a nice split

By CASSIDY MOORE

Editor-in-Chief

After her famous breakup with Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson, renowned singer/songwriter Ariana Grande dove head three singles and a full album less than six months after her last award-winning album, “Sweetener”. “Thank u album, was released to the public on Feb 8.

Grande’s hit single, “thank u next”, was released after her breakup with Davidson, shocking fans with its message. The song, like the title implies, thanks Grande’s former boyfriends for what they have taught her, a surprising truth brought to life so close after her breakup. Riding the hype from the hit song and iconic

as well as real and soulful pieces.

Songs like “needy” and “ghostin” bring R&B style vocals while more mainstream hits like “thank

u next”, “7 rings”, “bad idea” and “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored” bring the upbeat and catchy lyrics more familiar with Grande’s previous style.

Grande’s song “NASA”, a song about distance in a relationship, is a mix of the previously stated soulful voice with an upbeat and catchy chorus. Another unique song on the track is “bloodline”. The fourth track on the album seems to allude to Grande’s last relationship with Pete Davidson. The song preaches not wanting someone in her “bloodline”, possibly referring to her quick engagement with Davidson.

Controversy cannot escape even the most seemingly of perfect artists like Grande.

After the release of music video of her track, “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored” on February 7th; the

Page 14

kissing the implied girlfriend of the boy she was chasing.

This arose annoyance in the LGBT community as Grande is a straight woman who can get away with (almost) kissing a girl in her music video, something that can be seen as belittling to those who are not heterosexual. Fans of Grande argue that the ending scene of the video was meant to represent Grande’s self-love, chasing a girl who looked similar to her, instead

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUNKEE.COM of a man.

No matter your opinion on Ariana Grande, her work ethic can not be questioned.

After a career of hardships, from surviving a terrorist attack and the death of her ex-boyfriend, Mac Miller, her art. Creating an entire album and high quality music videos, so close to her last one, Grande is sure to take 2019 by storm and continue changing those around her.

The Prodigy brings a nightmare to life

By HANNAH LORENZO

Features Editor

CAUTION: SPOILERS. Read at your own risk. It is considered a miracle when a baby enters this world with a fresh beginning and experiences. But what happens when that beginning turns out to be for the worst?

Can a child really become a nightmare? Watch as the life of a family alters completely when they discover that their seemingly innocent child has sinister intentions for them.

“The Prodigy” arrived in theaters on Feb 8 to present with a unique story. Orion Pictures brought their own piece to a new era of horror, shocked audiences to their core. Full of jump scares and unexpected twists, “The Prodigy” did not fail to produce its ideas of a reality where children can be the victims and the villains.

This story puts the

attention on a little boy named Miles, played by Jackson Robert Scott. To his mother Sarah, played

by Taylor Schilling, and father John, played by Peter Mooney, he is the perfect child with two different colored eyes. And to add to their surprise, Miles is found to be a genius with the skills for knowledge. However, he has one more trait that they do not know he possesses.

Although this may seem like a normal family, their bond with each other heads downhill as Miles grows older.

He becomes violent but is unaware of his actions. Sarah out as she observes Miles’s strange sleeping habits and his connection to terrible events that occur within their family and overall life.

As Miles continues to act stranger and stranger, Sarah is worried for his safety and tries to get him help. But the situation they are in is more

PHOTO COURTESTY OF ORION PICTURES

dangerous than she assumes, especially with the idea of reincarnation coming into the light, which develops slowly and increases the tension of what could possibly be wrong.

Sarah passes the thought of someone being reborn into another person as insane.

To her, Miles is her own son and is just sick. Still, she decides to do research about reincarnation, and the more she studies, the more she believes that it is actually real.

And the clues match up.

Miles’s behavior shifts from one personality to an entirely distinct one, and it could happen at any time. Sarah notices this peculiar change in how he responds to her and John and how he interacts with them, including an odd obsession with hands.

What’s even more unsettling is that Miles is oblivious when this other side of him comes out, and all he can do is suffer from the confusion, and depressing atmosphere.

Not all hope disappears, though, when the name Edward Scarka pops up.

According to her sources, Scarka, played by Paul Fauteux, was a crazed criminal who murdered several women before being shot by police one night.

To Sarah’s dismay, she learns that Scarka died on the same day and time Miles was born, which brought the idea of reincarnation back into her mind. With an increasing fear, her suspicions are proven true when she pieces together Scarka’s and

that they have the exact same characteristics, like speaking another language and containing memories unknown to Sarah.

With horrifying information, she wants to turn Miles back into her son because in this case, reincarnation involves two of one body. One will remain superior, while the weaker soul dies, although not much else is said about the idea after that. And the only way to accomplish her goal is to so that his soul can move on.

But what Sarah must do is something her stomach cannot bear. Margaret St. James, played by Brittany business because she is the only one of his victims that escaped. This is a major point in the story that successfully strikes fear as audiences are unsure if Sarah will really go through with a murder.

Once she meets Margaret, however, Sarah is unable to do what Scarka never could, but the famous killer comes back when Miles takes a knife and stabs Margaret to death.

Sadly, the revealed truth is that Scarka took over Miles’s soul and body for to continue his terror while he plays the part of an innocent little child, and this fact really hit hard due to a false sense of hope that Miles would come back.

In the end, Scarka is triumphant with murders

under his belt and a new body to go with it. The movie Scarka looking straight back with an evil stare, showing that reincarnation has dire consequences, as well.

After delving into “The Prodigy”, it can be agreed that audiences will Although it has the usual horror features, the main story and its background give an experience that is not overly showcased.

In this case, more detail could have been added here as reincarnation is really only touched upon by the movie. Reincarnation is an interesting topic, but not enough was put into that part of the storyline in order to effectively make it understandable.

The movie does drag longer than it needs to be, with each scare becoming more dull as the storyline progresses.

The story’s focus being on Sarah rather than going into more detail with Miles makes the story a little awkward.

With all of the events tying together, it leaves the feeling as it abruptly ends with Scarka being victorious with no possibility of a twist change.

Besides these points, “The Prodigy” is still one horror unnerving feel and shocking ending. It may not be overly hyped, but it is certainly not afraid to add one more thing to someone’s fear list: children.

The Talon

thetalonohs.com

By AUDREY SERRANO

Copy Chief

Recently, there’s been an odd fascination with true crime, most notably serial killers and the psychology behind their crimes.

Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes 24. Within a few days of its release, the four episodes has already gathered controversy.

The show contains interviews and archived footage of 1980’s serial killer Ted Bundy. The series also follows those affected by his murders. in 1975 for aggravated kidnapping and attempted assault but ultimately was via electric chair until 1989.

In that decade, he confessed to 30 homicides between 1974 and 1978 in seven states and managed to escape prison twice. There is a possibility that he may have murdered more but investigators have never solved it.

Bundy was convicted with aggravated kidnapping, attempted murder, burglary, murder, and rape. He was also known for necrophilia, meaning that he’d often violate his victim’s body after he murdered them.

Part of Bundy’s allure was the fact that he did not look like the stereotypical serial killer: he wasn’t old and ugly, and he wasn’t “weird”. In fact, a lot of public opinion during his trials was that he couldn’t have murdered those women because he didn’t look like someone that would— he was young, handsome, clever, and very charismatic, and he used those qualities to lure in his victims.

The docu-series is quite bland as it simply takes you through the trial as if you were watching its progression in real time. The editing and the brilliant structure of

his actions.

They’re not. producers of the separate what made Ted Bundy such a

March 2019

fascinating, twisted killer and simply presented it. Bundy was spotlighted because he wasn’t the stereotypical serial killer and that’s how he kept getting away with

constructed this weaves the murderer’s tale in a very distinct way, but it was enough to stir up controversy.

Along with this show

Shockingly Evil, and Vile” also premiered at the Sundance Film Festival around the same time and will also premiere in theatres this fall, starring Zac Efron as Bundy.

With Bundy back in the limelight, many people question whether or not Efron was a good casting “romanticizing” Bundy and

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDb

15

it. Casting a fairly handsome actor to portray a serial killer who was known because of his looks and charisma barely sounds like a problem.

That was the point of Bundy’s case: he was able to accumulate such a high body count because everyone looked at him and saw a potential boyfriend instead of a serial killer.

However, the “Ted Bundy Tapes” could have focused a lot more on his victims and other affected by his crimes.

With such a large case, there could have been so many other stories to tell, such as those of his childhood friends or the people whose lives he tarnished because they were a link to one of his victims.

Remembering a serial killer is one thing, remembering whose lives they stole is another.

Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes really doesn’t add anything special to the table, especially with all these other true crime shows and movies coming out or have already come out.

It’s straightforward, and interesting for those who did not know much of who like true crime documentaries in general, but other than that, there’s really nothing that makes it stand out.

Isn’t It Romantic

By KATIE CACCAVALE

Equipment Manager

The new rom-com movie, Isn’t It Romantic (2019), feafull of laughter and relatable content. This movie isn’t like the main idea of the story line is far away from the regular boy and girl fall in love.

This movie talks about selflove, cliches, personality barriers, and much more. a very relatable and unique.

It strays away from normal cliches but also shows normal stereotypes in romantic movies. There are the dance

breaks/songs, the hero, the handsome man, and “the gay best friend”. Everyone is in love and all happy, but in reality that is impossible to maintain.

During the movie, Natalie, played by Rebel Wilson, talks about all the downhow they are so predictable.

However, she ends up living in one. She shows viewers and valued but at a cost.

Natalie tries to get out of the polar opposite world by trying to make the handsome man, Blake, played by Liam Hemsworth, fall in love with her. Soon, she realizes that she didn’t need to have some guy to fall in love with her, but that she actually needed to love herself. This main turning point in the story line is one many viewers can relate to. Most people go through a time in their lives where they don’t love themselves fully or emotionally. So having this part shown in the movie is a huge surprise because viewers have never seen a main actress in a romantic

PHOTO COURTESY OF VANITY FAIR

herself rather than some guy.

Along with that part, there are many other scenes that viewers are able to relate to as they watch the movie.

-

gushy and loving but in reality it’s far from that. Sure, there are some ‘aww’ moments and “teary-eyed” ones as well but the audience is also given moments of laughter and relatability.

Even when this movie tries to stay away from typithe best friend duo, Natalie Wilson and Adam Devine, who have acted besides each ended up realizing their true love for each other as Natalie returns to the real world.

Taking a moment away from the amazing things this movie provides viewers, this

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAILYVENUSDIVA many people don’t know. romantic comedies in history that featured a plus-sized woman as a lead. Again in main actress is usually very that not all leading actresses in romantic movies have to be perfect. Again not saying that Rebel Wilson isn’t perfect, but the directors and other people involved with the production of this movie raised the standards and showed that anyone can be loved by others or by themselves.

16

The Talon

March 2019

thetalonohs.com

By NIKKI HAZELETT

Editor-in-Chief

Caution: spoilers ahead read at your own risk Originally gracing the presence of Australian television in July of 2017, the new reality show “Yummy Mummies” has raised an eyebrow The producers of the show zons, successfully getting the

“Yummy Mummies” has become my newest guilty pleasure as it focuses on the lives of four, undeniably starts with a squad of three Melbourne pregnant womThe women include: Lorinska Merrington, Rachel Watts,

less to say, she could have stayed behind the camera, along with her entitled and The show revolves around the instagram account @

melbourneyummums, which previews photos of the three women living lavishly while gaining views and popularIt later becomes a “competition” as Maria discovers their account and believes they are her own Adelaide yum mums account, which indeed did In further episodes we

these women have, most of the money either earned by makes me sick to my stomach to have seen the price tags on some of the products purAs Maria is introduced to the audience, the show reveals her obsession with fuses to dress her soon-tobe-daughter in anything but that would be the equiva-

ish decorations, but instead even get me started on Maenough to not even be considThe meeting between the mothers was very awkward

While the baby shower seemed to be going swimmingly, Rachel called to tell her friends that she had gone into labor and delivered a The best part of the entire show was when Maria

nervous glances, as Maria made commentary how rude it was of Lorinska to not

had birthed two children in

at the things that come out

the entire episode whining like a child and screaming at her family for trying to help

know what the word “con-

cation to designer, she plans the “biggest Versace baby shower Adelaide has ever

her family allows her to be a

other yum mums to her shower in hopes of feeling out who

that she invite Maria to her

the preparation of the event, Maria is seen arguing with an employee over which room

her mother arrive to Melbourne and automatically begin critiquing the scenery and decorations at the par-

The ending episodes cap the season with the birth of

of sophistication and grace, something Maria and her

as oblivious as the yummy

to demand that the wedding booked in the bigger venue be postponed so she may throw her baby shower in that par-

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDb

needless to say their arrival

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDb push present it is a gift given to the mother after birth, as a reward for the labor, as if the

Back in Melbourne, the three women prepare for their voyage to Adelaide, and

A few episodes later, Lo-

In all honesty, the show was incredibly entertaining and

Editors-in-Chief:

Sports Editor:

Staff Writers:

Cassidy Moore* Nikki Hazelett

Rohan Patel*

Lexi Gass*

Editorial Chief:

Katie Caccavale

Audrey Serrano

editor must be signed those of The Talon and dropped off in The Talon Room 508, e-mailed thetalonohs@ is an award winning to The Talon online at publication with dozens of awards for Letters may be edited for content and/or

beautiful daughter, Valenti-

is surprised with a brand new Range Rover as her push pres-

Copy Chief:

The Talon is well as ranked the top published as a forum online publication and Obscene or libelous for student opinion at one of the top print statements will not publications in the

of the episode, the audience

Rohan Patel

Chris Bonifaz

News Editor: Adviser:

Cindy Garraway Photo Editor: Isabella Foster

Peyton Thompson

Teanna Meagher

Features Editor:

Sadrac Rainey

Hannah Lorenzo Arts and Entertainment Editor:

Peighton Gellings

Chase Wyatt Emily Mai*

*Denotes member of editorial board.

Sports 4

thetalonohs.com

By PEYTON THOMPSON

News Editor

Varsity

As another season of winter sports comes to an end, spring sports step up to the challenge to make it a great season. Baseball in particular is one sport that is revved and ready to go.

After last year, with baseball winning the state championship, the team would like to see another successful season be added to the record books.

“We’ve developed our players for the last two or three years for most of them. There’s a lot of guys returning from last year, twelve guys returning from last year that played for us.

So we’re just trying to keep this thing rolling,” said Jeff Baumgartner, head baseball coach.

With most of the same players coming back for another season, teammates are taking advantage of the opportunity to build onto relationships created last year to create a stronger team atmosphere.

“We’ve actually gotten closer this year than last year cause we had a lot of underclassmen play last year so they didn’t really know much but this year we have a lot of upperclassmen so we feel more closer as a team,” said Brayden Nichols, senior.

A lot of training and preparation is needed from

By ISABELLA FOSTER

Photography Editor

Varsity

As the new season for spring sports comes to a start, student athletes are anticipating the games in months to come. Beach volleyball moves straight from tryouts to practicing for success in the new season.

After getting knocked out of state last year and having new students on the team

the players before season starts.

Physically and mentally they need to be ready for the games and playoffs to come. “[We’ve prepared from] a physical aspect just kind of working out, staying strong, throwing stuff like that. Mentally realizing that this is kind of a big year in fact coming off of the state championships just kind of preparing for that and realizing it’s going to take a whole team together not just one individual,” said Chance Van Dyke, senior.

With baseball’s win at state championships last season, there is a certain amount of pressure to do just as well and even better this season.

“This year I hope to accomplish making playoffs in baseball because last year we made playoffs and actually won state so I’d like to re-do that,” Nichols said.

Baseball has started off their season well with their High School at 3-1 and they have a 2-2 record.

However, a team is not made of one person and therefore one person is not able to carry the entire team.

It takes every player to make a successful season.

“I think we’ve realized that it needs to be a very well balanced team and growing in the fact that not one of us is going to carry the whole team it’s going to take a whole effort to come together,” Van

this year, beach volleyball is optimistic about the season to come.

In this season, varsity has their eyes set on winning state.

Returning player Taylor Pope, senior, sees their competitions going well.

“I see us really working more as a team and becoming more of a family and working together to get to state,” Pope said. “We were in the and I think our team has

PHOTO COURTESY OF PRESLEY SIMON Ally Fuller, senior, helps her team by scoring points during her match.

Page 17

PHOTO BY ISABELLA FOSTER Levi Meyer, junior, hits during batting practice on February 19th in preperation for the start of their season.

“We have some new coaches their heads up and move to Dyke said.

Their next game will be on staff, we have two new JV the next play. We don’t want against Desert Vista on coaches that have really been anyone to get their hopes March 5th, coming off a 3-2 helpful and are really going down or anything cause it win against Mountain Pointe. to work with us. And then could create just all kinds of one of my JV coaches moved problems and bad chemistry,” JV Just as many opportunities up to varsity to help with the Sullivan said.

As a whole, players feel await JV as the varsity team. are always looking to bring prepared for the oncoming The prospects of a new out new drills just to keep season and are excited to season present themselves everything fresh and to keep make it a great one. as some players may have the guys working hard and “I feel really prepared for the opportunity to play on trying to experience a little this season, everybody feels varsity. change as they go through really prepared for this season “I hope to, kind of like last year, just hit well, play well, the season,” Baumgartner because they just really were excited for this season to and just overall do a good said.

Part of being a good come after last season,” said job. And then hopefully get teammate is looking out for Cole Dickson, sophomore. some innings in varsity on one another and building the mound and the see what happens next year,” said each other up when they feel game against Tolleson Union at their lowest. in a 10-3 blowout. Their next Aidan Sullivan, sophomore.

“We make sure that if game is on March 5th against With new coaches and fresh someone makes mistakes we Desert Vista. minds inspiring players, there don’t let them get all worried Jump to Page 19 is hope in maintaining an about it we make them pick exciting season.

really built up from last year to be able to win this year.”

The beach volleyball team has plans to make improvements in the season to come. Working together more that ever in the early practices on techniques. It’s all trial and error, but their hoping to push themselves through many wins. working hard, more than we have in the past years to get to where we want to be,” Pope said.

Beach volleyball works in teams of two. Getting to know their teammates helps contribute to the success of their team as a whole.

“Sand volleyball is more partnership rather than a team, you have to really work with your partner to make sure you have a good relationship,” Pope said.

The differences between traditional volleyball and beach volleyball are what got the team interested in their

sport.

“I played indoor volleyball for four years and heard about sand volleyball, I fell in love with it as soon as I hit the sand,” said Morgan Pacione, junior.

The teams love for the sport is pushing them to work hard this new season.

They are coming off a 5-0 win against Campo Verde and will play Mountain Pointe next.

JV

JV is taking this new season as seriously as their Varsity team, with expectations high, good things are coming for them this season. Plenty of freshman and sophomores have joined the team, and returning members are back for the thrill of playing beach volleyball. Working through the new year, JV Sand Volleyball works through improving their skills for great success in upcoming games.

Newcomers are hoping to become a part of a family and Alexis Battles, freshman is no exception. Being a part of the JV team has opened her up to a variety of new friends for years to come.

“I hope to grow and bond with the upperclassmen on the team,” said Battles.

Hard work is going to help push them towards what they hope to become as a team in the season to come.

“We’re all looking forward to this new season and I think that everyone on the team is working really hard to improve and get better,” said Battles.

The JV beach volleyball team is working on improving their skills in upcoming practices and they are bright. Their next game will be against Canyon View. *Due to The Talon going to print, scores for the Mountain Pointe game can be found at AZpreps365.

18

The Talon

March 2019

thetalonohs.com

Softball catches a big win to start the year team chemistry up because if we can play together and trust each other then I know that we’ll do well,” Villaescusa said.

Being apart of a team sport means more than just playing the game; it is vital for teammates to support each other so that they can build trust among them which is a very

PHOTO BY ISABELLA FOSTER Zoey Jackson, freshman, starts every practice with an intense warm up. how to play, then I think

By PEIGHTON GELLINGS that we are going to do really Arts and Entertainment Editor well,” said Emma VillaescuVarsity sa, sophomore.

The spring sports season is The varsity team, especialunderway and with it comes ly, is focusing on team bondthe start of softball. The ing just as much as physigirls have been working tre- cal practices since stronger mendously hard to make sure that this is one of the best directly correlate to better seasons yet. With one game already under their belt, the “The chemistry that we season is starting off in a have is probably our stronfairly exciting way. They are gest talent that we show, so just coming away with a win I think that we all just genfrom their more recent game uinely love each other,” said against Tolleson Union with Rylee Holtorf, sophomore. a score of 22-3.

“Our communication on the At the very start of their season, the girls had several just helps us stick together.” expectations as to how they The physical aspects of wanted to play individually preparing for the season are and as a team, needless to not only taking place during say they are accomplishing practices. The girls are takand exceeding them. ing power training in order to “This season I hope that strengthen the abilities that we’re going really far this they will need to utilize at year. We have such great games and practices. team chemistry and such “Right now we are just great new faces and if we getting back to basics and work together I really think working on communication that we could go all the way. because that is the biggest If we just play how we know factor and really getting our

“We know that no matter what happens, at the end of the day, we are going to love each other. It’s more than just a game for us. We come back to each other for anything whether its for softball or anything else,” Villaescusa said. “We know that we can talk about anything with each other, and it really helps us push each other to the best that we can.”

With practices being 6 days a week, the girls are already spending quite a bit of time together without outside activities. They are also working on keeping their excitement up during games by instilling a new thing that they like to call their “hype bench”. There they cheer on their teammates and keep everyone’s spirits up with cheers and chants.

“We keep connected a lot during the day, talking all the time, sitting together at lunch. We have really good chemistry on the team this year, probably the best it’s been in my four years of playing. Coming together that way is really huge when you’re on a team. You have to have chemistry to play well because you can’t win a game by yourself, you have to win together,” said Anna Jenson, senior.

As the season is starting, it is the last one for the many

seniors on the team and they hope to leave a legacy for future players.

“It’s hard to wrap my head around cause these girls have been my girls for the last four helped shape who I am, withwouldn’t know how to work well in a team situation. It’s going to be really hard, the girls are my best friends, I’m just trying to lead them and be an example for this season,” Jensen said.

JV

After their game against Tolleson Union ended in a 16-6 score, the JV team is starting the season off on the right foot.

Every season starts the same way. Girls come, tryout and some of them end up making the team. They all put a great deal of hard work into preparing for tryouts and the season itself, before it even starts.

“I prepared for tryouts by going to the park with friends and just throwing balls around and grounding them. Then I went to the batting cages a few times and the camp that the school provides for us,” said Nikole Schlomer, sophomore.

After the roster is released and the girls are told that they made the team, it comes down to the practices in order to really bring the girls together as a team, and get them ready for the season ahead.

“With practices, you are practicing what you are going to do at the game, so you are supposed to make good habits during practices so you don’t make bad habits during the game,” Schlomer said.

At the e nd of the day, whether the game is a win or a loss, it is all about coming together as a team.

“It’s not all about winning games. It’s about being a team and getting better as a team and individually,” Schlomer said. “When you’re on defense it’s all about talking to each other and knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses to help make the play.”

Freshmen

The future of the OHS softball team lies in the hands of the very capable freshmen team as they started their season with a game against Tolleson Union.

The freshmen team is trying to follow in the varsity team’s footsteps by arranging more team bonding activities to try and get to know one another better.

“A lot of the girls are really supportive and if you don’t do something right they’re like ‘It’s okay you’ll get it next time’ but they will also help you do better if you mess up,” said Sydney Farr, sophomore.

Overall, the freshmen softball team has a lot potential to come together and be very successful throughout their high school careers.

“It helps me become person [and] be less self conscious talking to people because I made friends with a whole team in a year. It helps me talk to people more openly and not be a lonesome person,” Farr said. *Due to The Talon going to print, scores for the Mountain Pointe can be found at AZpreps365.

Boys & Girls tennis rallies up a new team

By LEXI GASS

As winter comes to an end, spring sports begin to emerge from the cold. Tennis recently had tryouts, and have compiled JV and Varsity teams for both girls and boys.

Girls

The girls team is composed of mostly varsity members, having only 2 JV teammates compared to the 6 girls on varsity. They expect to bring energy to the courts this season.

“We have a relatively small team this year, so we’re hoping that we can do a lot more drills,” said Ria Saraswat, sophomore on the varsity team. “We’re really hoping that we can practice more, do some team bonding, and really do well this year.”

Since much of the varsity team already knows how to play tennis, the girls are hoping to improve their skills.

“We want to focus on getting better, strategy, and drills,” Saraswat said. “This year, we are just hoping that we can all just improve, because we are all experienced, and everyone is working to do better than they did before.”

Coming up, the girls will compete in a tournament against many other good teams in the valley.

“Tournaments are always so much fun,” said Rebecca sity team. “We have some really tough matches, so that should be fun.”

Boys

The varsity team has begun practice for their upcoming season, helping a lot of new members improve their skills.

“The new people are showing a lot of progress so far; there are a lot of competitive players out there.” said Soren Younger, senior.

Although the team hasn’t competed in any matches,

they are hoping to perform just as well as they did in the previous year.

“On the varsity team, we have a lot of the same guys that were on the team last year, so hopefully we’ll go in the same direction, if not better, than last year,” Younger said.

On top of being competitive in matches, the team wants to focus on improving personal skills as well.

“I hope all the guys are happy with where they’re at on the team and with tennis,” Younger said.

The team consists of two different groups, singles and doubles.

“The varsity team usually consists of 6 people, but this year we have a doubles team, so there are 8 of us,” said Shayan Afzal, senior on the varsity team.

The teams are gearing up to play their best this season, ready to take on some of the

best schools in the valley.

“We’re in the highest division, so we’re playing a lot of really good teams,” Afzal said. “We need to improve

our team and get the new guys so we can be able to win these matches against these really good teams.”

PHOTO BY LEXI GASS Soren Younger, senior, warms up for his match against Millennium.

The Talon

thetalonohs.com

March 2019

19

Boys volleyball serves up another season

By ROHAN PATEL

Sports Editor

Varsity

The OHS boys’ volleyball team has not quite forgotten about how close they came to winning the state championship last year.

Their amazing run to the last year ended in heartbreak as they lost to Desert Vista.

This year, however, the OHS team has high hopes that their determination and constant practice.

Daniel Chelmenski, senior, still remembers how it felt after last year’s crushing defeat.

“Well it was obviously disappointing and everyone was sad, mad, whatever, but I still had another year left so on the next year which is this year,” Chelmenski said.

The sting from the championship game has not quite yet subsided, but it has made the team even more intent on getting back to the championship this year.

good because we learn from that and we’re going to see if we can build from that this year,” he said.

Last season has also served as a learning experience that has helped players grow more determined.

“It helped us be motivated every practice, and try every hard every practice, and keep pushing every day,” Christensen.

Their quest to get back to the state championship started on the right foot as the varsity team picked up a win against Mesa on February 26th. Their early success has been the result of constant practice and hard work.

“Consistent practice has helped us because we worked on things that we struggled last year and things that we need to work on this year and work on stuff to win a state championship,” Christensen said.

Every player has become dedicated to that singular goal and are constantly pushing themselves to give their best for their teammates.

While the players still are bitter, Trevor Broadway,

a better mindset on practice with my teammates and I try to better myself everyday whether I’m doing good or not,” Chelmenski said.

Additionally, many of the

showed the potential the OHS team has for this year and is optimistic about what this team is capable of accomplishing after having grown from last year.

“Well after that it was a good experience to get to the state championship but it kind of stinks to lose but it’s

players are in a volleyball power training which gives them another opportunity to strengthen their skills.

“That helps a lot too because it gives us make time to do stuff because we have like three hour practices a day now including power training,” Broadway said.

and wanted us to become successful this year and try harder,” said Kolten

All of that time spent with each other has formed a great chemistry within the team that allows them to communicate well on the court.

“We can comunícate well easy for us and we can have fun and be serious at the same time,” Chelmenski said.

At the end of the day, all the communication, all the chemistry, and all the practice are in hopes of the one thing that evaded them last year: a state championship. And they certainly will not forget about last year until they have achieved their goal. “[It] made us determined because we worked so hard to get that far and than to lose and then so we basically want to win this year,” Broadway said.

Varsity’s fell to Chandler in their last game and they will now take their championship hopes to Highland on March 5th.

JV

While the JV team doesn’t get the same high expectations as varsity, they still have dedicated volleyball. They also won have a record of. Their early success has also been the result of practice, hard work, and chemistry.

Practicing everyday after school has proven to help the team strengthen their teamwork and has allowed players to work out what they want to do during their actual games.

“We learn what we want like where we want to pass the ball, where the setter wants

PHOTO BY PEYTON THOMPSON Sam Zaporowski, junior, takes a break after a successful round. get closer as a team and more prepared for the games,” said Will Bryant, sophomore.

Additionally, many JV players are also on power training which gives them extra time to work and practice with each other. “[Power training] helps a lot because we get to know each other beforehand and work together in a class to do volleyball and other team building activities,” said All the constant practice helps bring the team closer together and forge a chemistry that translates to success on the court.

“We have practices everyday single day after school and we do some get

to know you’d and we do allot of drills together and conditioning,” Bryant said.

By the end of the season, the JV team hopes to have picked up many wins and play well, but most importantly, they look to build a lasting bond for years to come. “[We] work together, working with different teammates when we practice and stuff like that to get along with everybody and get said.

JV has started with a 2-0 record with wins against Mesa and Chandler. Their next game will be against Highland on March 5th. *Due to The Talon going to print, scores for the Highland game can be found

Track starts the season with a strong lead

By CHASE WYATT

Track season is starting back up and the track team is extremely excited for the upcoming season and stronger than ever. The team this year is looking forward to winning the district meet and it all starts with how hard they’re working towards it.

The new head coach, Eric Bolus, is already showing his prowess as a head coach and pushing the team to work harder than ever before.

Bolus, head coach of the varsity track team, has been pushing the team to have a “championship mentality.”

He formerly taught at Deer Valley High School, and was the head coach there too.

They won the district meet last year, but this year, Bolus is looking forward to beating his former team.

“I’m absolutely hoping to beat my old school. When we go head to head against those kids, the upperclassmen will

and it’ll be kind of one of those things where you don’t want to get beat by your brother,” said Bolus.

Maurice Archbold, senior, has high hopes for the team this year and is glad to be on with a group of players like

with his skills this year and teammates, too.

“Personally, I like them.

They’re hard working, and I mean, they pay attention.

Great group of kids. I feel skill we got on this team, I feel we all going to get somewhere. Only going to get better,” Archbold said.

Samantha Stumpf, sophomore, has been on varsity track since her freshman year, and is happy with the new head coach this PHOTO BY ISABELLA FOSTER year, and likes the way Bolus The track team runs twp laps around the track as a warmup before practice. runs the program.

“He’s pretty good. He’s likes to talk about, and that year as on March 1 at the Their next competition will very hard work oriented, means putting in 100 percent Mountain Ridge Invitational, effort in everything we do,” and the had a strong showing be at the Husky Invitational we like to work hard and Stumpf said. s the mean’s team placed 4th on March 9th. have this championship overall and the women’s team mentality that he always