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The Hype Awakens Felix Varela Sr. High School * 15255 S.W. 96 St., Miami, FL 33196
Hits and misses
n i t e l l u b d r a o b
The Vipe r Vibe I sponsored ssue 3 by: The Fau bert Fam ily The Vald es Famil y The Delg ado Fam ily The Mon ge Famil y The Cast ro Famil y The Varg as Fami ly The Gue vara Fa mily The Mau ra Fami ly The Dal ey Fami ly The Mal kin Fam ily The Leh am Fam ily The Pon ce De Le on Fami ly The Sal cedo Fam ily Interact Club
Congrats to Docents! Carlos Escobar, Diane Escobar, Natalie Castillo, Lara Bukens, Marina Rogers, Cindy Alonso, Rodalfo Amaral, Mira Echemendia, Agnes Pagan.
Starman took his last flight, Snape taught his last potion’s class and no one is at the Hotel Califorina. RIP David Bowie, Alan Rickman, and Glenn Frey.
We at The Viper Vibe are disappointed that the bear from The Revenant was not nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens was actually really good. Though in all honesty, is anyone surprised.
The editors are still starstruck over our Matt Smith, Douglas Booth, and Lily James interview.
We’d make fun of the wallls if we weren’t so chicken.
From th e Ed itors
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NEWS
View p oints
19 sports
the Bard is Back...........................5 Basketball/Soccer....................20 Shakespeare’s First Folio will be coming Winter Sports are coming to an end. to Florida International University’s Frost Check out the latest on the Basketball Art Museum in February. English teachand Soccer teams. ers from Varela will be acting as docents, sharing the Bard’s collection of plays with visitors from all over Florida.
Mr. Varela.....................................8 NCAA..............................................23 This year’s Mr. Varela featured 13 young men who showcased their talents, dancing and swimsuits for the coveted title. Adding to the already daunting challenge was the change of venue due to the auditorium flooding.
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In a game for the history books, Alabama’s Crimson Tide took on the Clemson University Tigers in the NCAA National Championship Game at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
sith lords
EMPEROR-IN-CHIEF Cj Salcedo Section Editors Devoun Cetoute Laura Chirino Giovanni Del Fa Danielle Malkin Krystal Valdes
Imperial Staffers
lifestyle
Movies.......................................................................................................10
Star Wars has taken over theaters along with the final installment of The Hunger Games. Editors also got a chance to talk to the stars of the new movie Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
Music.........................................................................................................16
Selena Gomez is growing up, One Direction is going on hiatus, and Justin Bieber has a Purpose. Hamilton is the new must see Broadway show and Y-100 celebrates another year with their Jingle Ball.
Games........................................................................................................18
Last year saw two huge games released. Call of Duty: Black Ops III introduced many changes to the flagship series while still maintaining that core formula fans love. Developers Treyarch are also releasing some massive downloadable content (DLC) in 2016. Bethesda also released Fallout 4, the fourth main entry in the open-world series, to glowing reviews and strong sales. The Viper Vibe looks at both massive releases in this issue’s Lifestyle section. About the cover: This issue, we chose to celebrate the impact that Star Wars has had on both the movie-making world and society in general. Government/Economics teacher, Raisa Garneff is one of those fans whose life has been impacted by these seven movies. We featured her on the cover due to the fact that she calls herself a major Star Wars fan. photo by Alicia Garcia Illustrations by Hermes Martinez
Talk to us: thevipervibe@gmail.com
volume 15 feb ‘16
Your thoughts may be featured in the next issue of the Viper Vibe!
Taylor Daley Michael Espinoza Alicia Garcia Shannon Guevara Yunier Iglesias Kathleen Maura Hermes Martinez Christine Monge Amparo Morais Amy Moscoso-Orella Alexia Ponce De Leon Jahhel Thernelan Kelvin Valdes Rehyny Vargas Brandon Vergara
grand moff Elizabeth Cardenas
Editorial Policy The Viper Vibe is the student newspaper of Felix Varela Senior High (15255 SW 96 St. Miami, FL, 33196). It is an open forum for student expression. The opinions expressed in the publication do not reflect the official opinions or policies of the school. The Viper Vibe welcomes letters to the editor, but requires that they be signed and reserves the right to reject, edit and condense letters. The staff and advisor can be contacted at 305-752-7900 or thevipervibe@gmail.com
Ads The Viper Vibe solicits advertising but reserves the right to reject any material deemed obscene as to minors, defamatory or materially and substantially disruptive of school activities.
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Viewpoi nt s
F rom t h e E ditors
the editor says: change is welcome Earlier in December at 48 years old, Scott Weiland, most famously known as the frontman for grunge band Stone Temple Pilots, died from cardiac arrest. Among a life filled with addiction and and a substantial amount of criticism, Weiland possessed a gift. A gift used to create sounds that not only helped build the sound of the 90s grunge scene, it spoke to a lot of people for different reasons. Weiland’s ability to transform a troubled personal life into art is nothing new. Many artists have demonstrated that before Weiland’s time; yet, for some reason, it has stayed with me. Why is this over-sentimental look at the death of a rockstar relevant at all? Well, Weiland’s story made me think about how short life can be. How important it is to make the most of it. This drive to create has caused me to rethink the way I see The Viper Vibe. Now, nearly halfway into my last year of high school, I know how I want this magazine to be remembered. As a product of a point in my life where I wanted to change myself for the better. Along with the Vibe’s evolution into a new
state of student expression, I felt that I should evolve as a person. It may sound largely ostentatious. My ambition has been known to overstep my reach. Yet with an exceptionally talented Editorial staff who I am blessed enough to call a family, I foresee a lot of positive change for both myself and this magazine I am fortunate enough to helm. I foresee a new era in the way students can express themselves. And I am happy to share it with Felix Varela Senior High School. Ciro Salcedo, Editor-In-Chief The Viper Vibe
We bring back the theater experience Say: One of the editors writing this editorial spent the weekend good, and don’t forget the extra ten that it might cost for popbefore in a movie theater for two days straight. corn and soda. Both films, The Revenant and The Hateful Eight caught It’s a little ridiculous. their attention the most. The fact that theaters are only a place to go for a date or for To the average moviegoer, it seems like a waste to watch an when the next Avengers movie comes is saddening. art film and a western on a big screen. Considering how expen- Now, with the rise of DVD and digital transmission, people sive tickets are (matinee tickets go up to $12, just for standard think there is no reason to go to a movie theater anymore. The digital formats). whole “I’ll just wait a few months to watch it at That’s what got us thinking: is the modern mindset is strong among people. The fact that the- home” age of cinema dead? Do the theaters only be This needs to change. aters are only a place We at The Viper Vibe feel everyone should go long to summer blockbusters shown digitally for only a few weeks? the movies. to go for a date or for to We say no. The way things look, say some We should keep the idea of that experience when the next Aveng- alive. thing else. In a recent roundtable discussion presenters movie comes oUT is Bring ticket prices down, bring back film ed by The Hollywood Reporter, several direcreels, and just go see something on a big screen. saddening. tors of 2015’s best films discussed issues plagu Nothing compares to watching a movie on a ing the industry. large screen with a room full of strangers all ex Quentin Tarantino, director of The Hateful Eight, was periencing the same thing. talking about how movie theaters used to be, as he described, We realize that it’s hard to do all of that, for different reasons. “a working man’s thing,” saying that it was entertainment for But, it’s the only chance there is at keeping something anyone who wanted to watch a movie. magical alive. Now, the movie theater is like some big commitment. Now, if you excuse us, we want to catch another screening Paying over $10 for a film that no one is sure will be any of The Big Short in theaters.
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Aro u n d Varela N ew s
News The Bard is back In honor of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the Folger Library is sharing his First Folio with all 50 states. The winning bid in Florida was Florida International University here in Miami. To celebrate this momentous event, Varela has scheduled some special events and several of our Language Arts teachers will act as docents at the FIU Frost Art Museum where it will be displayed. “It would have been impossible to convince the Folger that we could have this educational outreach program when hardly any kids were going to come look at it,” English teacher Mr. Carlos Escobar said. He is the creator of the Symposium on the Study and Teaching of Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s First Folio, a first edition collection of plays, and original manuscripts, has made its way to Florida International University’s Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum, culminating a month long celebration of William Shake“I gave 27 hours of instruction to speare in South Florida. teachers at FIU on the teaching of “I think South Florida was chosen Shakespeare. We’re gonna take 300 because it obviously is such a great hub. Varela students to see the event with What Shakespeare has taught us is that he the nine docents. is speaking to the human condition,” Es- Carlos Escobar, English Teacher cobar said. “I think it cements the notion that Shakespeare is for all kinds.” However, housing the Folio was easier said than done. The Frost Museum could house no more than 80 students a day based on size and staff, making it impossible to showcase the Folio to students from all over the state of Florida. Therefore, Escobar and Dr. James Sutton, the English Department Chair at Florida International, created the Symposium on the Study and Teaching of Shakespeare, where 38 teachers from around Miami-Dade County were immersed in Shakespearean music, theater, book making, the presentation of his works on standardized testing, and most impor“It’s a neat experience. I love shaketantly, what it takes to teach Shakespeare. speare. I can talk about him all day. Varela has the highest number of To be chosen is an honor and I hope docents in the county at nine teachers. I can bring what I learned back to my In doing so, Escobar provided the students.” - Lara Bukens, English Teacher photos by Devoun Cetoute
museum with 38 doBy Danielle Malkin cents, making FIU’s Managing Editor bid for the First Folio @_Candidani more feasible. Bringing the Folio to South Florida provides students with more than an introduction to the bard himself but with an integral piece of human culture. “They’re not going to see a book, but they’re going to be in the presence of a part of their cultural heritage,” Escobar said. “Not as Americans, not as Hispanics, whites or blacks, but as part of our human culture heritage. There are very few things that can be given that tag line.” The biggest worry for Escobar and other docents is that students will find the Folio to be just a book. While the book itself appears to be just another museum artifact, it exposes students to literary and human history. So many of modern television and movie plots are based on the storylines composed by William Shakespeare, many of which are found within the First Folio. “They need to understand that what they’re looking at is not just a book. They’re looking at the source from which our favorite plots, words, expressions, ideas, and fears arise. And that’s rare.” Escobar said. The First Folio will be on exhibit at the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University throughout the month of February. The University will also host Shakespearean themed family days and community lectures, dinning opportunities, and cultural experiences during February.
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New s A ro u n d V arel a
Inside the Staff Lounge If aliens were to come down to earth, What profession other what would be the first things out of than yours would you like to attempt? their mouths?
“They’re stupid. Golly!”
Ms. Raisa Garneff
Ms. Garneff has been teaching for 38 years. This will be her final year. Currently she teaches U.S. Government and Financial Literacy in room 57. She is also a die hard Star Wars fan.
What sound or noise do you love?
Children laughing 6 t h ev i per vi b e @ g mai l . com
Criminal Law
What sound or noise do you hate?
Who would make a better president, Kanye West or Donald Trump?
Gun fire
Kanye West
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
“Welcome!” What is your favorite word?
No What inspires you?
Knowledge
What is your least favorite word?
Stupid
Who’s your favorite president and why?
What profession other than yours would you not like to participate in?
Franklin Roosevelt; He was the last great American Accountant/ thinker politician
These questions are based on the French television series Bouillon de Culture hosted by Bernard Pivot. Information gathered by Krystal Valdes photo by Alicia Garcia
Arou n d Varela N ew s With only five months left of the school year, Varela informs soon to be and interested college bound students about their future institutions. Throughout the year we have had multiple college forums, fairs, and tours. Varela has made its mission to keep us informed by bringing schools to us and taking us to them.
Mascot: Sharks Colors: Gray, Blue and White Tuition: $1558.68/12 credits Average GPA: 2.0 SAT: Math 500/Verbal 440
What’s the most interesting thing you have found while researching colleges?
ACT: Math 21/Reading 17 Room/Board: None Population: 66,298 Student/Teacher Ratio: 24:1
Mascot: Bulls Colors: Metallic Gold and Green Tuition: $2564.00/12 credits Average GPA: 3.81-4.0 SAT: 1150-1300 total
ACT: 26-30 total Room/Board: $4700/sem. Population: 36,108 Student/Teacher Ratio: 24:1
Mascot: Eagle Colors: Cobal Blue and Emerald Green Tuition: $2,447.28 Average GPA: 3.0 SAT: Math 460/Verbal 460 ACT: Math 19/Reading 19 Room/Board: $4,712/sem. Population: 13,300 Student/Teacher Ratio: 22:1
Mascot: Knights Colors: Black and Gold Tuition: $2,544/12 credits Average GPA: 4.0 SAT: 1261 total ACT: 27 total Room/Board: $4,882 Population: 52,532 Student/Teacher Ratio: 31:1
“The acceptance rate, FSU, was almost to a 50%. I thought they were gonna be lower. I was surprised.” - Stefany Lopez (11)
“ I found that FGCU offers a lot of great opporunities in terms of scholarship and student housing and this university is very underadvertised.” -Griffin Baker-Royo (12)
information gathered by Danielle Malkin, Devoun Cetoute and Giovanni Del Fa photos by Alicia Garcia
Mascot: Gator Colors: Orange and Blue Tuition: $1,343.04/12 credits Average GPA: 4.3 SAT: Math 460/Verbal 460 ACT: Math 19/Reading 19/ Writing 18 Room/Board: $4,815/sem Population: 49,913 Student/Teacher Ratio: 21:1
Mascot: Panther Colors: Navy Blue and Gold Tuition: $2,466.84/12 credits Average GPA: 3.3 SAT: Math 460/Verbal 460 ACT: Math 19/Reading 19 Room/Board: $5,352/sem Population: 40,974 Student/Teacher Ratio: 27:1
Mascot: Seminole Colors: Garnett and Gold Tuition: $2,602.80/12 credits Average GPA: 3.8-4.3 SAT: Math 500/ Verbal 500 ACT: Math 21/Reading 22 Room/Board: $5,338/sem. Population: 40,255 Student/Teacher Ratio: 26:1
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The boys are back in...the cafeteria By Taylor Daley This year Mr. Varela had 13 candidates all rep-
Above: Mr. Varela contestants perform a dance number to open the show. Below: Randall Elkind, Mr. Class of 2016, danced his way to runner-up. photos by Fox-Mar
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staff reporter resenting a Varela club or activity. The young men IG: captainjamaica24 worked for about a month and a half to prepare for the show. With the unexpected flooding of the auditorium, the venue was changed to the cafeteria where drama teacher Mr. Reynaldo Bode and his department set to work setting up a stage. “His students worked unbelievably long hours to set up the cafeteria so it would be perfect,” Activities Director Ms. Felicia Christin said. Working alongside Bode and his students was drama and history teacher Mr. Osvaldo Quintana, helping to secure sound and light. “I helped put the platform together working on fitting the legs and latches on during fifth period [day of],” freshman Mateo Farnsworth said. “With the auditorium flooded many presentations were either put in the cafeteria or the library. There was a college presentation going on at the same time. We had to be quiet. It took longer than expected if it was in the auditorium.” “The show was the same even though it was in the cafeteria. They pulled it off either way,” junior Rubie Melendez said. “I still had fun. I went to support Henry and Andoni.” The weeks leading up to the show were filled with afternoons of rehearsals learning the opening dance number, working on their talents and going through interviews by the judges. The boys learned all the steps to their opening number and walking down the “cat walk.” Every rehearsal the boys went to was in Varela’s auditorium which was the show’s original venue. That all changed with the flooding. “The Monday of the show we practiced in the cafeteria. Wednesday, the day of, we cleaned up the spacing issue,” senior Rico Shelton (Mr. Ebony) said. “We had to make a ‘pretend’ dress rehearsal. The day of the show was the first time they actually practiced on what would be their stage that night,” Christin said. “We made a dressing room out of tables in the back corner of the cafeteria.” The show started off with the opening dance number where the crowd first sees all 13 candidates. The introduction of the candidates consisted of what club each candidate represented. The cafeteria being a smaller place than the auditorium there was easily issues with chair placement.
Aro u n d Varela N ew s
Drama kids keep heads above water
Rico Shelton, Mr. Ebony, was crowned this year’s Mr. Varela. For his talent, he rapped an original piece. photo by Fox-Mar
The beach attire competition is where the boys strut down the stage flexing and posing, while the audience learns more about each candidate. “During the swimsuit competition, I saw that Mr. Viewfinders was hot,” senior Daisy Melendez said. But there was more to these boys than just walking and posing. The judges talked to each candidate one on one in pre-interviews, asking questions to try and understand each candidate better. The audience got to see portions of the interviews in a video. “They [judges] asked questions that you had no idea they would ask,” senior Augusto Zagarra-Caba (Mr. Travel and Tourism) said. Not all thirteen candidates could win, so close to the middle of the show, three candidates were eliminated without showing off their talents. The talent portion of the show highlighted just how special our Varela boys are. While there was the expected singing and dancing, there was also solving a Rubik’s cube, DJ mixing, trumpet playing and rapping. The judges narrowed down the contestants to a top five which included Mr. Viewfinders (senior Giovanni Del Fa), Mr. Class of 2016 (senior Randall Elkind), Mr. Ebony (Shelton), Mr. SGA (senior Rodolfo Salazar) and Mr. Chorus (senior Carlos Gurdian). These five boys stood center stage as they were asked a final question before the judges and the audience. “The questions can really express your mind set,” Shelton said. Mr. Congeniality went to Zagarra-Caba, Voted on by all the competitors, the boys felt that Zagarra-Caba represented the best of them in terms of friendliness and good sportsmanship. This year’s runner-up was Mr. Class of 2016. Elkind danced to a medley of songs from both the past and present. The winner was Mr. Ebony. Shelton performed an original rap that he wrote called “Gravity.” “I was surprised I expected Randall to win,” Shelton said. The auditorium flooded with nearly 6,000 gallons of water less than a week before the annual Mr. Varela show. photo by Liliana Fonte
Five days before the annual Mr. Varela show was By Danielle Malkin set to hit the stage, the Felix Managing Editor Varela auditorium was flood- @_Candidani ed with nearly 6,000 gallons of water, in an attempt to drown the dreams of contestants and fans alike. The first reaction came from Activities Director and Mr. Varela coordinator Felicia Christin. “The administration was too chicken to tell me,” Christin said. “Nini [head of security Enrique Gonzalez] calls me on the phone and they were standing by because they were afraid to tell me that I had a little problem.” Christin and the 13 boys fighting for the crown had less than 3 days to either move the show’s venue or change the date. There was an option of utilizing the auditorium at Hammocks Middle School, but the theater technical crew was hesitant to take the show outside of Varela. “I don’t want to know owe anyone any favors,” said Drama teacher Rey Bode, who manages the technical side of Felix Varela stage productions. “We also wanted to keep the event here in school.” After talks with Christin Monday morning, Bode and the technical crew said producing the show in the cafeteria would be more than feasible. “It’s similar to coffee night but three times larger. We’ve done it before for smaller events but we had to incorporate more lighting.” Bode said. “The day before the show, I found out. I knew we could do it, but it would be hard.” Mr. Varela stage manager and drama technician Isabella Gianquinto said. The new setup in the Varela cafeteria consisted of a 20 by 40 foot stage, originally marked by blue tape. Within a few hours, the stage, along with sound boards, spot lights and lighting rails found their way into the cafeteria, while the Mr. Varela contestants ran their first and only run through in the new venue. The night finished with a phenomenal performance and the crowning of Mr. Varela 2015, Rico Shelton of the Ebony club. “There were a lot of little loose seams, but nobody else knows that,” Christin said. “It was great. This wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t had been for Rey and Ozzie and our Drama tech kids. We may not be a magnet school but these kids can outdo anybody.”
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lifestyle
Star Wars: The Force Awakens STARRING Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Harrison Ford DIRECTED BY J.J. Abrams RATING PG-13 LENGTH 2 hrs., 16 min.
By Ciro Salcedo “Chewie, we’re home.”
Editor-in-chief It’s rare that a single line can cause such @ cj_fett_salcedo an unprecedented amount of cheering in a theater. Yes, by my side were grown men in Jedi robes, tearing up and screaming in pure joy at their heroes Han Solo and Chewbacca finally making an appearance on screen. It’s moments like this that make Star Wars: The Force Awakens a different film experience than most. It never feels cynical or corrupted; it manages to bring this sense of nostalgia with every viewing. Yes, the movie may feel incredibly similar to A New Hope. Yes, certain plot elements beg even bigger questions and yes, some things don’t make sense. Yet that never takes away from the experience. The story, with its many callbacks, manages to bridge the gap between remake and sequel. Director J.J. Abrams has successfully found a way to satisfy longtime fans who remember the days of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, and give newcomers a reason to go to the movies. He does so with near-perfect precision. Blending real and CGI environments, and working with a committed cast who bring energy and passion to a film series where acting was never the strongest point. It’s this kind of simple filmmaking
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Peter Mayhew and Harrison Ford in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. photo with permission Lucasfilm/TNS
A scene from the full trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. photo with permission Screenshot/TNS
that makes you remember how much work went into the original movies. How George Lucas spent his own money for live sets and extras, who all wore elaborate costumes and makeup. Thankfully, it also helps that Abrams co-wrote an excellent script with Lucasfilm veteran Lawrence Kasdan. For once, dialogue wasn’t so foreign. Now, interactions between characters felt natural. It was, in a way, the first human Star Wars movie (Lucas was known to be very stiff and not communicate as much as the cast would have liked); something that casual fans can follow, but hardcore fans can finally appreciate. The callbacks to the original trilogy, although a bit forced, are some of the highlights of the film. Seeing a huge AT-AT walker buried in the sands of Jakku or the stories characters tell (there’s a really funny joke about the Kessel Run) seem like fan service, but add some of the lore not seen since the Opera House sequence in Revenge of the Sith. From the opening crawl (that brought tears to my eyes) to the superb ending featuring an interesting choice of music and a familiar face, no other film has inspired a wave of joyful emotions in the longest time. The force has awakened with this picture, and it’s a delight to have Star Wars go back to a time where simple filmmaking, triumphed over spectacle.
$50 million + Amount of advance ticket sales for The Force Awakens.
By the numbers
$5.5 billion + Worldwide box office total of Star Wars franchise.
5
Number of Oscar nominations Star Wars has received over the years
10
1138
The number of puppeteers used to control Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi. His voice was recorded by Larry Ward.
The number referenced in several of George Lucas’ productions, starting with his debut, THX-1138. Other examples include droid numbers, license plates, and even orders barked by Imperial Officers.
The number of feet Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) measured. His audition merely consisted of him standing up in front of George Lucas.
The world of Star Wars expanded in December with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Like it or not, this franchise has broken box office records, taken over toys and video games, and branched into separate novels and story lines. It has become its own culture with millions of dedicated fans.
27
The number of actors who almost played the part of Han Solo. They include: Kurt Russell, Sylvester Stallone, Nick Nolte, Christopher Walken, and Al Pacino.
7.2
Star Wars
30
7
Number of Oscar wins by the franchise
1998
900
Age of Yoda when he died in Return of the Jedi.
The year audiences flocked to see Meet Joe Black just to get a glimpse of the Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace trailer.
200
The number of pages the original script for Star Wars had. On average, screenplays tend to have between 95-125 pages.
0
The number of times Ewok is mentioned in Return of the Jedi.
How old George Lucas was when he wrote A New Hope.
information gathered by Ciro Salcedo photos with permission Lucasfilm/TNS
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Lif est y le
M ovies George Lucas is interviewed by Charlie Rose during a Chicago Ideas Week session at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014. photo with permission Chicago Tribune/TNS
photos courtesy of ROAN and Fox
The buildin
By Ciro Salcedo
Editor-in-chief @ cj_fett_salcedo
A
long time ago, before superheroes ruled the silver screen and Michael Bay was a punchline, there was a dream. A dream to blend the action and adventure of a Flash Gordon serial with the complex themes and archetypes of an Akira Kurosawa film (Seven Samurai, Ran, Yojimbo) was something ambitious, and that ambition would define the career a young University of Southern California alumnus. George Lucas wasn’t a household name in the early 1970s. His debut
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film, the dystopian thriller THX-1138 was released to modest box office returns and mixed reviews. After that film had wrapped shooting, he was throwing ideas around for a space fantasy film, and even considered adapting the Gordon serials in cinematic form. Unsuccessful in buying the rights, Lucas was dead set on developing his own space opera. ‘[George] was very depressed because he had just come back and they wouldn’t sell him Flash Gordon. And he says, ‘Well, I’ll just invent my own’,” friend and fellow director Francis Ford Coppola once stated. Originally called The Star Wars, Lucas spent most of 1973 writing several drafts of the story where he came up with the strange names and mythology. In March of 1976, he finally finished the script for Star Wars. Filming commenced after Lucas had found his three leads, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. Little did any of them know that they would all change cinematic history forever. “Star Wars is more than just a movie for these fans,” senior and Editor-in-Chief of South Dade Senior High
School’s newspaper The Scene Samantha Moffett said. “It’s become a part of their lives and a way of thinking.” Unfortunately, as in the case with The Beatles when they were recording The White Album or The Police on Synchronicity, most acclaimed art comes at a price. Tension. Although no one got into fistfights or complained about blisters on fingers, problems did arise. Constant scrutiny from 20th Century Fox concerning the budget rising, actors working in terrible conditions, and skepticism from Lucas’s peers (Brian De Palma and John Milius were dissatisfied with the film) all plagued the production. No one had hope that this indie adventure would find any success anywhere. That is until, the film was released. Universally loved by both critics and fans, Star Wars became a cultural phenomenon, reinventing the way not only films were made, but how merchandising and copyright was handled. With just one movie, Lucas had built an empire that would make even Darth Vader cower. Nearly 40 years after its release,
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From the classic Star Wars Trilogy, Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) during the opening ceremony of the Star Wars Celebration, April 16-19 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., on Thursday, April 16, 2015. photo with permission McClatchy D.C./TNS
ng of a film empire Star Wars has become one of the most influential films of all time. Director Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator), whose latest film, The Martian, won the Golden Globe for Best Picture-Comedy or Musical, spoke about the impact Star Wars has had on filmmaking during his acceptance speech. “We had success and then Star Wars’ majestic success, actually it’s inspiring,” he said. “You got to stay hungry and keep bouncing the ball.” “It’s ushered in a new style of filmmaking,” Christopher Columbus Senior High School junior Anthony Martinez said, “with incredible character design and attention to detail that really draws the audience into a galaxy far, far, away.” The year 2015 saw a resurgence in Star Wars interest. Electronic Arts released a reboot to the popular Star Wars: Battlefront, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures released the seventh installment in the series under the title The Force Awakens and dozens of new tie-in products were being released. “I think my favorite movie would be The Force Awakens, since this was my first real Star Wars premiere,” senior Christopher Pinango said. “The overall experience made it all worthwhile.” Though criticized for being similar
to the first film, director J.J. Abrams struck a chord with audiences. The film has broken many box office records, attaining the highest-grossing worldwide opening of all time and reaching $1 billion faster than any other film. The film has been praised for its nostalgic feel, while managing to remain fresh. Some critics and fans hail it as an adequate introduction to the universe, which could explain its success with both longtime fans and newcomers. “For non-fans, I would tell them to try watching Episode 7,” University of Central Florida junior Jonathan Reyes said. “The Walt Disney Company introduced an Avengers-like feel to Star Wars. I think Episode 7 is made to cater to more people than the previous six episodes.” The quality of the film is not the only thing that has people interested. Lucas profited greatly off of returns from the first film. Not to mention, he was able to secure special rights when it came to merchandising and distribution. Now, 39 years and over $6 billion later, the legacy of a young director is very much alive.
illustrations by Hermes Martinez
Despite fan criticism over his changes to the original trilogy and the negative, critical reception of the prequel films (The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith) the impact the original made, changed the very landscape of filmmaking itself. “If you aren’t a fan of Star Wars, you should still watch the movies,” Martinez said, “and understand the impact it’s had on the film world and society in general.” The force has been awoken, as well as a cultural boom.
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Pride and Prejudice and Zombies STARRING Lily James, Sam Riley, Lena Headey, Matt Smith, Douglas Booth DIRECTED BY Burr Steers
By Ciro Salcedo
February is often a dumping month for movie Editor in Cheif studios. @CJ_FETT_SALCEDO Movies like Fifty Shades of Grey, countless Taken sequels, and a plethora of awful Nicholas Spark adaptations rear their ugly heads around this time of year. Director and screenplay writer Burr Steers changed that. His latest film, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, proves that not all films released around this time have to be terrible. Based off of the Quirk books parody novel of the same name, the film takes the plot of Jane Austen’s classic, amidst the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse. Achieving a Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez-like feel makes this something special. The film never sets out to be completely campy or over the top. Instead, most of the humor comes from the melodrama and the fact that the characters are so serious throughout. Aside from all that English drama, are also action scenes that feel reminiscent of Tarantino’s Kill Bill films (all that was missing was some RZA-produced music or a sultry Nancy Sinatra tune). Of course a good cast who all played these classic characters (Lily James as Elizabeth Bennet, Douglas Booth as Mr. Bingley, and Matt Smith as Mr. Collins) made this go a long way. They all possess a certain charm to them, one that enchants audiences and makes death seem like nothing whenever they crack a joke or share a dramatic scene. It’s something fun. Which is more than can be said than past years’ filmography. Zombies managed to kick start a revolution of some sort. One where it’s okay to release a movie around this time of year. That’s what truly astounds me. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is not a perfect film. It is however, better than anyone could possibly expect it to be, and that always has to be good sign.
Lionsgate
RATING PG-13 LENGTH 1 hr., 48 min.
The Viper Vibe got to sit down with three of the stars from the movie Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Here’s what Lily James, Matt Smith, and Douglas Booth had to say.
Viper Vibe: How does doing this movie compare with your previous experience in period pieces? Lily James: It was great. I really think all period pieces should have zombies now. (laughs) Douglas Booth: The fact you have zombies in your world just blows the whole open and means anything is really kind of possible. Matt Smith: It gave us this kind of poetic license to do whatever, since the central love story is so strong.
VV: How did you go about meshing the original characters with the new story elements? LJ: I read the original source material and tried hard to be an honest interpretation of Elizabeth Bennet, give her all the flaws and complexities of the original character. But, as soon as she’s doing a scene where she’s killing a zombie, everything became heightened and it all became about life and death. She was angrier and fiercer because of that.
VV: There was a lot of physical activity in the movie, how did you guys train for that? LJ: (To DB and MS) How did you boys find the dancing? (Laughs) MS: (Laughs) The dancing was a car crash! I hated going to dance rehearsals. I’m not a good dancer, I mean I’m a good dancer when I can freestyle. DB: The girls did most of the [fight] training. LJ: The Bennet sisters all trained together and we got really close. It was like the Spice Girls with swords. (Laughs)
VV: The movie has a very campy vibe to it and is reminiscent to movies like From Dusk Till Dawn and Kill Bill, did you guys watch anything like that to prepare for your roles? MS: (Laughs) That’s a compliment. DB: Not really, because what I set out to do was not play that side of the story. To not play any of the campiness. We didn’t want to wink at the camera or anything like that. We had to play the characters as they were in Pride and Prejudice but the humor would come out of the situation they were in. It wasn’t “Oh no, we’re in a zombie film!” It was more, “We’re in Pride and Prejudice, and there are zombies.” photo by Danielle Malkin
Movies
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Mockingjay: Part 2 STARRING Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth DIRECTED BY Francis Lawrence RATING PG-13 LENGTH 2 hr., 17 min.
By Christine Monge The recent film from
Staff Reporter the saga The Hunger IG: scarletmarked Games brings the exhilarating series to a close. In The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 we follow the heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) on her mission to fight against the capitol of Panem, which has restricted and terrified its people for too long. Everdeen finds herself the leader of a revolt, guiding the people of Panem. The movie’s description is by far more intriguing than the actual film. Contrary to the previous film, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is slightly more exciting. For the most part, Lawrence brings to the table amazing archery, but other than that, the rest of the film is dull and uninteresting. Anticipated scenes, such as the scene in which Everdeen loses her beloved little sister Prim, are extremely subtle and undramatic. Granted, Mockingjay is a slow paced book, but when going to watch the film you expect certain scenes to be dramatic, considering losing a loved one should be dramatic, in any front. Additionally, whatever little action this film does have, does not have enough time to build up and give the viewer some sort of tension or mystery. However, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 does do an excellent job of depicting the dark and ominous setting of Panem, during the revolution Katniss Everdeen is leading. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 closes the Hunger Games series, and may leave fans wondering if it is “real or not real.”
Still from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2. photo with permission Lionsgate/TNS
Hunger Games How Suzanne Collins changed the YA novel
In 2008 Suzanne Collins introduced the world to a new By Michael Espinoza dystopian world called Panem and it took all of us by storm Staff Reporter with The Hunger Games trilogy, carrying us in this story IG: _itsmikesaaan_ through the eyes of everyone’s favorite female, bow and arrow expert, Katniss Everdeen. In 2012 audiences were introduced to The Hunger Games film and it took fans by storm, introducing us to the Oscar winning actress, Jennifer Lawrence, and popularizing the teen dystopian genre. The original movie was directed by Gary Ross and, back in 2012, made over $400 million, instantly greenlighting it for a trilogy. Although Gary Ross directed the first movie he chose to not direct the sequel due to scheduling conflicts, and so we were introduced to the man who would take the helm of directing the final three films of the franchise, Francis Lawrence. Francis Lawrence would evolve what Ross created and turn it into something magnificent. When Catching Fire hit theatres in 2013 it completely changed not only the story but introduced us to a whole new side to all the characters in The Hunger Games. We got to witness a leader, a soldier, and the true mockingjay in the movie’s protagonist Katniss, the love and care Peeta held in his heart, and the fighter we never really got to see in Gale. With Catching Fire we actually got to see not only the suffering of District 12, but we also got to witness the beauty of it. Catching Fire was a key role in the hunger games franchise. In 2014-15, the world was in shock when the series was finally coming to a close. In the final two-parter movie called Mockingjay, the world had to prepare for the conclusion of not only the movies, but also the fan rivalries, such as team Peeta vs team Gale, the conclusion of seeing Lawrence portray one of Hollywood’s favorite female protagonists, and also the conclusion of a series that for many of us has been spoken around by many since we were young. Now that The Hunger Games is over, it is safe to say that these movies have impacted Hollywood in such a great way introducing us to new, and different teen dystopias such as Divergent, Maze Runner, The Fifth Wave, and many more. But for us fans, The Hunger Games will always hold a special place in our hearts, and to wrap up this look back on the years of The Hunger Games and how its impacted everyone globally, I feel there is only one thing left to say. May the odds be ever in your favor.
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One Direction is Made in the A.M. By Amparo Morais Consisting of four now,
Selena is done with that “Same Old Love” By amy moscoso Selena Marie Gomez, born in Grand
Staff Reporter Prairie, Texas on July 22, 1992, was amymoscoso14@gmail.com named after the infamous Selena Quintanilla-Perez. In 2013 Gomez released her debut studio solo album, Stars Dance. Gomez was released from her contract with Hollywood Studios in 2015 and soon signed on to Interscope Records to continue the finalization of her second album, Revival. In her album Revival, Selena recorded the song “Same Old Love,” a midtempo electropop song with lyrics describing a breakup. At iHeartRadio, Gomez went on to say “I think ‘Same Old Love’ represents a different kind of identity with love… and how much it means to respect your parents and have a healthy relationship with them because it trails on into your relationships when you’re older.” In my perspective, Gomez came out from the rock she’d been hiding under and rose to the top once again capturing everyone’s attention and leaving us all in awe. Her song “Same Old Love” shows us a mature and sexier side of her that hasn’t really been seen before. She’s saying that she’s “sick of the same old love” therefore she’s leaving a guy behind and moving forward with her life. It is safe to say that Gomez has definitely grown and her next hit is anxiously awaited for. I myself have downloaded the song and I am loving it.
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Syco
One Direction has gotten a whole new style, releasing their new album, diversified with sound. Made in The A.M (their fifth album) was released on November 13, 2015, by Columbia Records and Syco Music. Songs on the album include: “Hey Angel,” “Drag Me Down,” “Perfect,” “Infinity,” “End of the Day,” “If I could Fly,” “Never Enough,” “Olivia,” “I Want to Write You a Song,” “History,” “Temporary Fix,” “Wolves,”and “A.M.” When Billboard asked about the song “History,” Louis Tomlinson responded with “Actually, conceptually, ‘History’ is more about the relationship as a whole, you know? As a band. We’ve all been through this together and we’ll never forget it but also we’ve been in this
Staff Reporter amparomorais13@yahoo.com
relationship with the fans and that’s … that’s kind of as far as it goes,” referencing Zayn Malik and how the song might perhaps have been about him. “If I Could Fly” is a beautiful actoustic song that tends to send me into an abyss of tears. The song includes soft piano and guitar riffs along with perfectly written lyrics. Honestly, I’ve never heard such a sad song that makes me so happy. “Olivia,” another song that is review worthy, truly caught my eye...well ears. I was confused at first as to why it wasn’t on a movie soundtrack, but after I got over the four perfect forgein boys I realized getting number one on the music charts was good enough. Since One Direction will be taking a break and not touring for this album, fans will not be able to witness them sing any of these songs live sadly.
“How many nights does it take to count the stars? That’s the time it would take to fix my heart. - Infinity
Justin Bieber is back with a Purpose The last time Belieber fans had By shannon guevara a taste of Justin Bieber’s music was back Staff Reporter in 2013 when he released his album, ig: _sguevara13 Journals. Ever since, Bieber has been silent in the music industry. Purpose is the album Bieber has recently released. His album was a big hit, reaching #1 in the Billboard charts. In his album, Bieber collaborated with well-known artists such as Nas, Travis Scott, Ariana Grande, Big Sean, and Halsey. The song “I’ll Show You,” is showing everyone that sometimes the public image is not necessarily the whole true story. There’s more behind what he has done wrong, as much as many people think they know. In another track “No Pressure,” featuring Big Sean, Bieber’s vocals are reminiscent of his love life. In this track, he’s telling a girl, which many assume to be Selena Gomez, that there’s no pressure to moving things further in their relationship. He also admits that he made mistakes during the time they were together. His last song on the album, “Purpose” was his most heart-felt track. This song brings out a sincere, vulnerable side of Bieber. Examining his lyrics, he talks about his relationship with God, along with giving inspirational lyrics. This was such a perfect song to end the album. Bieber’s fans got a taste of his new electro-dance sound. His album is peppered with songs of apologies and redemption.
Music
Broadway’s Hamilton blows us all away Staff Reporter took Broadway by IG: scarletmarked storm this summer, and continues to sell out seats for the upcoming months. A play written by Lin-Manuel Miranda brings one of the founding father’s lives to the stage, with a rich story and talented cast. Hamilton tells the story of Alexander Hamilton; being one of the many influential people during the American Revolution. With an intense storyline and
Atlantic
The newest pro-
By Christine Monge duction, Hamilton,
diverse cast, there must be an equally intriguing soundtrack—and Hamilton is sure to deliver. The music isn’t the usual you hear on Broadway; Miranda managed to mix rap and history, which has been captivating and alluring audiences since August when the show opened. Of course, the soundtrack has some classic Broadway elements with enchanting vocals from Renée Elise Goldsberry, who plays Angelica Schuyler, Phillipa Soo who plays Eliza Hamilton, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who plays the lead, Alexander Hamilton. A two-disk album with 23 tracks in each, Hamilton’s most popular tracks are “Alexander Hamilton” (the production’s opening song), “Take A Break” and “Say No To This.” Hamilton’s unique soundtrack allows the production to be easily comprehended. Lin-Manuel Miranda has received praising reviews from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and New York Magazine.
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“Don’t be shocked when your history book mentions me. I will lay down my life if it sets us free. Eventually, you’ll see my ascendancy.” -Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alexander Hamilton
Jingle Ball comes to the BB&T Center By Amparo Morais Tickets for the annual I Heart Radio
Staff Reporter and Y100 Jingle Ball went on sale amparomorais13@yahoo.com back in October for the December holiday concert. Prices ranged from $51- $251. There were several ways for fans to win tickets if they were not able to purchase them, as prices tended to be pretty high. The radio station Y100 was also giving away tickets to listeners. The artists that performed included The Weeknd, 5 Seconds of Summer, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Zedd, Shawn Mendes, Tove Lo, Charlie Puth, Hailee Steinfeld, R. City, Conrad Sewell, and DNCE. In Y100’s yearly holiday concert, lucky winners were able to meet artists and have a one on one interview with them. Also, Y100 hosted a free Jingle Ball Village from 3 p.m. until the concert doors opened, on a stage outside the venue. Fans that weren’t able to get tickets were still able to see some of the artists that performed by pictures and videos of last year’s and this year’s Jingle Ball. They can be found at Y100.com. This event has a different host every year. Last year it was Nick Jonas. This year’s host was the on-air personality, Mack. The concert lasted until roughly 11:30 P.M. Senior Jennifer Soler said she had an amazing experi-
ence at this year’s Jingleball. “I think Jingle Ball is a great way to get into the holiday spirit with your friends and enjoy your favorite artists singing to some of your favorite songs that you listen to on a daily basis. I have been to the past two Jingle Ball concerts and I hope to come back every year for the holidays.” Fans that are planning to attend next year should be advised to bring a sweater because the arena tends to be a bit cold. Additionally, wearing comfortable shoes is highly advised since the audience tends to roam around the stadium dancing and trying to get pictures. Joe Jonas performs with his band DNCE at the annual Jingle Ball. photo by Amparo Morais
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Black Ops III brings new life to series acters all played by cult actors (including Jeff Goldblum as a sleazy Call of Duty: Black Ops III is the third installment to the popular Black Ops series magician) and a story about redemption and mystery. Staff Reporter and is one of the best games that came out in The other campaign features the classic characters from the IG: ovo_hermes 2015. previous Call of Duty games fighting through a mass of undead creatures. There are three game modes includ Overall, the game is great and is easily one of the best Call of ed in the box. The first is the Campaign Mode (available only on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) which features an amazing story. It Duty games ever released. The gameplay is amazing and the storyline is fun. takes place 40 years after Black Ops II, and tells the story of Black Ops marines fighting a war where soldiers are now equipped with cybernetic abilities. The campaign changes the formula by allowing four players to play cooperatively in a more open setting. The next mode, and the one where most of anyone’s time will be spent, is the Multiplayer. This year, Activision and Treyarch are releasing a bunch of DLC for this mode. Skyjacked is the first map included in this map pack. It is very similar to the “Hijacked” map from the previous game. The next one is Splash and would be a really interesting map because it’s a water park and players make their way through the tubes fighting others. Then there’s Gauntlet and it has three different environments there, jungle, arctic, and construction site. It looks amazing like the rest of the game. The Multiplayer is fun and there’s always a bunch of people online and ready to play. The last mode is the Zombies Mode. In it, four players must try and survive an infinite wave of zombies. There are two versions of this mode. One campaign features four char- A scene from Call of Duty: Black Ops III. photo with permission Activision/TNS
By Hermes Martinez
Fallout 4 takes players back to the wasteland
If you woke up one
By Yunier Iglesias day and the world
Staff Reporter you knew was about yunierjr@gmail.com to end by a nuclear warhead, what would it look like? Fallout 4 gives players the closest picture. With its surreal monsters, animals, and people Fallout 4 shows the harsh truth of a world destroyed, filled with chaos and disorder where anything goes and it’s ether kill or be killed.
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Players must survive this radiation decayed world developed by Bethesda, making hard choices and saving friends, loved ones and strangers. In the game, there are seven core skills: Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck. Each core skill has 10 sub skills players can get as they level up, which means there are a total of 77 skills to get. Strength affects how much characters can carry and how much damage dealt. Perception is what helps environmental awareness and sixth sense; it also helps with accuracy in V.A.T.S. Endurance affects total health and action points used when sprinting. Charisma affects the ability to convince
others. Intelligence measures overall mental acuity, allowing players to earn more XP points. Agility is overall finesse or reflexes, and also the number of action points used when in V.A.T.S, and the ability to sneak. Luck is the overall measurement of general good luck and the ability to recharge critical hits faster. These seven core skills will unlock other skills like Blacksmith, Gunslinger, Lady Killer, and Sneak. Like in any normal RPG game, there is a type of currency in Fallout 4 called Caps. Players can get caps from anyone or anywhere but only in small amounts. Caps can also be received from missions. It is a better way, but the harder it is the more caps are available. This is the same with XP which are available from doing normal actions or missions. There are numerous ways to get XP like lock picking a safe or hacking a terminal, and killing bugs, robots, other humans, and mutants. Finding the best ways to earn Caps and XP in Fallout is important so a player can level up as fast as possible.
A scene from Fallout 4. photo with permission Handout/TNS
Varela S p or ts
sports Harley Garcia-Hall
by Laura Chirino “I just really love soc-
Section Editor cer.” IG: LauraC_3 Senior Harley Garcia-Hall plays forward and center mid for Varela’s girls soccer team. She is also the captain. While soccer is important to her, so is her education. She takes several honors classes, and is in the Dual Enrollment program. Being a scholar athlete is very important to her as she feels she has to be a role model to her three sisters and brother. Garcia-Hall was born in Miami, but her mother is Jamaican and her father is from Puerto Rico. Not only is she captain of her team here at Varela, but she also plays for a club in South Kendall. Every athlete has a story to tell with their jersey number and in Garcia-Hall’s case it’s no different. She wears number three and has worn it
photos by Fox-Mar and Alicia Garcia
since freshman year all because she was the last one to pick a number. She stuck with it all four years of high school. Garcia-Hall has many goals for the future, but right now she’s focusing on making a decision to play college soccer. She currently has several offers but is leaning towards Nova Southeastern University, and planning on doing a pre-dental major. Womens U.S.A. soccer player Carli Lloyd is someone she aspires to play like, but her number one role model would be her father. He has played soccer all his life and he really pushes her to strive for the best and nothing less. “He inspires me because he played his whole life and he really inspires me to play,” Garcia-Hall said. This season meant a lot for Garcia-Hall as she really wanted her team to go far. Unfortunately her team had
five wins and nine losses. “It felt like we could’ve won more,” she said. But that won’t stop Garcia-Hall from pushing and striving on the field and in the classroom.
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Team makes comeback, headed into Regionals Boys soccer team came up By Rehyny Vargas shortThe in the regular season with two
Staff Reporter wins, four losses and three ties. With rehynyvargas@gmail.com the leadership of seniors Abraham Chavarria and Kevin Guerrero, the boys are pushing through the final games of the post-season. “I feel like this season started out rough in the first round of districts due to losing some of our key players because of injuries and club team interferences. However in the second round of districts we got our chemistry going and started playing much better and were able to surprise everyone who doubted us by playing our game and winning,” senior Julian Gigante said. The team has high hopes to turn their season fully around, and both statistically and historically, they have everything they need to make it happen. Their only setback is that one of the best players from last year, senior Gian Artuso, got injured the second game in the season and will be sitting out for the rest of the season. He is still supporting the team from the bench. Now with the best comeback in the season, the boys went into district semi-finals, with a record of nine wins, four losses and three ties. The Vipers believe the hardest team they have played would be Palmetto. “In the beginning of the season they thought they were invincible, now they are playing as a team and not as individuals,” Assistant Coach Raymundo Diaz said. In district semi-finals, the boys came up short, losing to Killian 6-7 in penalties. They will advance to regionals, despite the loss of district contention. Senior Julian Gigante makes a pass. photo by Fox-Mar
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Varsity Basketba By Alexia Ponce de Leon & Jahhel Thernelan Staff Reporters alexia0114@hotmail.com @_JT13
Boys Basketball The boys Viper Basketball team ended their season 8-14 in their regular season. The Ferguson Falcons defeated the Vipers with a score of 49-61 in their season opener. The season then kicked off with a win against Palmetto. They went to overtime with a score of 62 and won 7771. “I played a strong game, I had a lot of assists from my teammates that helped us win the game,” junior Sebastian Brizuela said. Their next home game was against Homestead. Senior Brandon Zapata rated their performance a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10. “We did well the first half and then we let it slip the second half,” he said. Unfortunately they were defeated with a score of 36-47. Vipers won against Killian with a score of 60-42. Next, Vipers
played against one of their hardest rivals, Doral Academy and were defeated with a score of 43-54. “They were a good team with a great coaching staff. They played hard,” senior Jahhel Thernelan said. After Winter Break, the season continued on with Southridge. They lost with a score of 40-51. Vipers played South Dade next and lost with a score of 42-47. For the boys’ next game, they played the Braddock Bulldogs and swept them off the court with a score of 51-31. “We executed offensively and we stifled their defense. They couldn’t score on us,” junior Robert Echavarra said. On the Vipers Senior Night, Thernelan, Zapata, Reneiri Ramos, Malik Leywsang, and Diego Petrosemolo, started their game against Coral Reef. After a strong fight, sadly, they lost
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Varela S p or ts
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photos by Fox-Mar
with a score of 55-66. Next year’s team will be fairly young. There will a lot of players moving up from the JV team. “The team will need more leadership and size in the post next year,” Thernelan said. Girls Basketball The girls basketball team has been putting in a lot of work these past few days. The Lady Vipers have advanced to a record of 7-2 over this week’s span as they faced Palmetto, Braddock and Sunset. They destroyed their rival, the Palmetto Panthers by a score of 57-44. “We’re very glad of this win, but we know we have more to go through to get to where we want to go,” junior point guard Natasha Polanco said. She led the team in scoring and assists for that game. Later on in the week the girls had to face off against the Braddock Bulldogs. It
was a tough game for the Vipers being down by seven at the end of the 3rd quarter. They came back to win that game by six. The comeback was led by Polanco and sophomore Danielle Guillama. The whole team was pleased for the win but weren’t as happy as they could have been. According to Senior Andrea Nieto, “We could have beat them by a lot more, but we came out soft in the beginning half and most of the 3rd quarter, but we pulled through.” The last game of the week was versus neighborhood rivals, Miami Sunset. It was a breeze for the Lady Vipers advancing to one of the top teams in their district. Senior Laura Chirino came away with 22 points four rebounds and four steals. The girls won the district semi-finals against Southridge and are now headed into the district finals against South Dade.
The Lady Viper soccer team had a by Kelvin Valdes rough season with a 5-9 record, Staff Reporter They started the season against MiIG: kelvin_cr7 ami Palmetto with a devastating defeat of 8-0. The ladies would go on a losing streak for the next five weeks until their first victory against Miami Southridge with a score of 5-0. The next victory came against Homestead High, where the ladies put 8 points on the Broncos. Following the injuries of top defender Gabby Blandon and sweeper Alison Gonzalez, the girls fought through adversity and defeated Miami Killian in their second encounter. They went on to defeat Miami Southridge and Homestead High before ending the season. The changes in district contention made a large difference in the team’s ability to advance into district play. “It was a tough season. Over all, we had a young, unexperienced team but we still managed to give it our all every game. Although we didn’t end with the results we wanted, we all played with our hearts out on the field,” senior center mid Paz Vergara said. With only four starting seniors this year, the team looks to grow next year as it matures and builds its chemistry and teamwork. Graduating senior Rehyny Vargas thinks this could be a good thing. “More underclassmen means that they will have more years to work together and improve the team,” she said. Rookie goalkeeper Isabella Fadhel surprised everyone this year with her skill, being that she is only a freshman. With a few more years under her belt, she may be one to look out for.
Senior Rehyny Vargas dribbles the ball down the field. photo by Fox-Mar
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Sebastian Larios by Laura Chirino Most athletes are worried about playing at a higher
section Editor level, but not Sebastian Larios. Larios’ goal is to finIG: laurac_3 ish college so he can support his family in any way he can. ”Having a tough mom that is serious about my education really pushes me to try harder in school,” he said. Larios is a junior here at Varela, and he is also a member of the boys basketball team. He plays power forward and wears number three. “I wear number three because it fits me,” he said. He has been playing basketball since he was eight years old. In his freshman and sophomore year he was put on the boys junior varsity team and he says it was a big transition from JV to varsity because “there’s a lot more plays you need to know, scouting reports too.” He also feels that he’s very shy and wishes he were more confident and athletic to help his team more. Larios has one little brother and two little sisters. “It’s pretty annoying [bring a big brother],” he said, “but I feel like I have to be a role model to them.” He was born here in Miami to immigrant parents. His mother is from Peru while his father is from Nicaragua. He embraces his roots as he states, “I love Hispanic food but my favorite is fritanga.” Larios speaks very highly of his father because he teaches him about life’s obstacles and how to overcome them. But his dad isn’t the only person being a role model in his life. NBA star Dwyane Wade is a big inspiration to him. “I just love the way he does his spin moves so smoothly,” he said. Larios hopes to attend Brigham Young University because most of his friends are planning on attending the school as well. He would like to major in something having to do with law.
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photos by Fox-Mar and Alicia Garcia
Pro S p or ts
The Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) drives against the Milwaukee Bucks’ Tyler Ennis (11) in the second quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. photo with permission Bay Area News Group/TNS
Bucks cut Warriors streak, bounce back by Laura Chirino After a great 24-0 streak run, the Golden
section Editor State Warriors were held down 108-95 by IG: laurac_3 the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, December 12. “What they did to start this season, there’s no reason for anyone to hang their head in that locker room for losing that game,” said interim coach Luke Walton at the after game interview. Stephen Curry was leading his team in double digit points every game, averaging 32.3 points. It appeared nobody was going be able to defeat the NBA champions, but Milwaukee had a different plan in mind, with lead scorer Greg Monroe who dropped 28 points and 11 rebounds to finish the night with a double-double. “I just told the guys that now we can have a regular season,” Draymond Green said after the game. “It’s been kind of a playoff feel just with the streak, all the media around, all the attention around.” Most people may agree with Green as they have to focus on bigger and better things. One loss won’t affect the team’s rhythm and their chance on winning a back to back championship. “But ending with our first loss, you can kind of appreciate what we were able to accomplish,” Curry told USA SPORTS. Curry has had a few bumps in the road with a shin contusion on the game versus the Portland Trail Blazers. He wore soccer-style shin guards during the game to protect his leg. The Warriors seem to be doing a great job offensively and proved they were back on their “A” game as they beat the Bucks six days later with a score of 121-112. Recently, they took on the Sacramento Kings where sibling rivalry took center stage. Seth Curry, who is Stephen’s brother wasn’t capable of guarding the shooting phenomenon. Curry sank eight three-pointers and one of them was almost out of bounds and on his brother Seth. The Warriors took the game with a score of 128-116. The warriors are now 41-4 and plan on continuing to have a successful season.
Derrick Henry (2) of the Alabama Crimson Tide strikes a Heisman pose after scoring in the fourth quarter during the National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers on Jan. 11. Alabama won 45-40. photo with permission Zuma Press/TNS
Alabama achieves win against Clemson The University of Alabama’s Crimby Brandon Vergara son Tide washed over the Clemson Staff Reporter University Tigers by defeating them in IG: Brandon_V13 the NCAA National Championship. Alabama came into the game with a record of 13-1, just under Clemson’s 14-0. The game was played in the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ on Monday, Jan. 11. All the hype was on Clemson, even though they had a very young squad with only with four starting seniors. However, their record was no match for the experience of Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban. This was never more evident than when Alabama opened the score board with a 50-yard touchdown by the Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. During the regular season, Clemson’s o-line did an amazing job protecting their quarterback Deshaun Watson, allowing him to throw for more than 4,000 yards, an FBS first. However, it felt like they fell apart during the championship game. Alabama stepped up their defense and stopped the ball. Henry led Alabama’s offense by rushing and putting them in a good position to score. He set his school’s rushing record with 2,219 yards in a single season, a record that has made him the 5th best rusher of all time. In spite of minor errors, both teams played very well and Alabama walked away with the win and the trophy with a final score of 45-40.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scores in the second quarter against Oklahoma in the Capital One Orange Bowl at SunLife Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Clemson won, 37-17. photo with permission Miami Herald/TNS
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