Warren Central Owl

THE TASSEL WAS WORTH THE HASSLE

Photo by Khalil Gillespie

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editor-In-Chief:

WARREN CENTRAL PROM was once again hosted at the Indiana Roof Ballroom on April 29. The fun-filled night included dancing, eating, and the crowning of the king and queen.

Page 3: Valedictorian: Christian Herron

Page 4: Anti-Trans Laws Awareness Column

Khalil Gillespie

Assistant Editor: Cameron Harris

Page 5: Mental Health Awareness

Page 6: 16th Street Soul, News Briefs

Page 7: Prom, Senior Superlatives

WARREN CENTRAL BASEBALL is playing an upcoming game against the highly ranked Carmel Greyhounds. The Warriors are building off of some great games to try and upset one of their biggest rivals.

Page 8: Letter from a Leader

Page 9: Summer break activities

Page 10: Baseball, Softball

Page 11: Boys Track, Girls Track

Page 12: Girls Lacrosse, Sports Briefs

Page 13: Girls Tennis, Boys Volleyball

SENIOR CHRISTIAN HERRON earned the position of Valedictorian of the Warren Central class of 2023. Herron is very involved within the school and has big plans for the future.

SPORTS FEATURE OPINION

PRIDE MONTH TAKES place all around the world every June. This is a time for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate their strength and courage over the years.

2: TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 14: “Barbie,” “Spiderman,” “Four Found Dead,” “Suicide Squad”

Page 15: Entertainment Briefs

News Editor: Camryn Whatley

Feature Editor: D’Aysia Jackson

Entertainment Editors:

Qaden Childs

Nora Fisher

Staff: Aaron Durham

Latasha Markey Kaydon Spivey Adviser: Suzanne Williams

Principal: Masimba Taylor

The Owl - Warren Central - May 19, 2023 - owl.warren.k12.in.us

CHRISTIAN HERRON’S JOURNEY

Shining a light on a hard-working scholar in the Warrior Nation

By D’Aysia Jackson Feature Editor

Senior Valedictorian Christian Herron has worked hard to get where he is today. With a GPA of 4.211, his success is worth acknowledging and praising. The young man is a scholar athlete, and shows great leadership with keeping up on schoolwork while participating in sports at the same time. Herron’s achievements gave him confidence that keeps him motivated and de termined to strive for his goals.

“Being Valedictorian is an amazing feeling, especially since I have set myself to achieve this goal since middle school. It gives me an unimaginable level of confidence that reminds me every day that I can achieve anything that I put my mind towards,”

Herron said.

The responsibilities of being valedictorian can be challenging at times. You have to stay up on things, even when it gets hard to stay motivated.

“The most difficult thing I faced through my journey includes finding time to juggle all my AP classes while doing two sports and many other extracurriculars,” Herron said.

Being valedictorian is an achievement in itself, but the things leading up to it are just as important. His hard work and dedication have traveled from middle school with receiving a Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year award to now and he has earned awards to acknowledge that.

Herron has represented what it is like to strive for excellence. His hard work has paid off in the long run and has shaped him into the person he is today. Some of his biggest achievements leading up to his position of valedictorian include being a Rising Star of Indiana, a 2023 Regional Academic All-Star Award winner, an African American Recognition Award winner, a Brilliant Firefly Award winner

(given by the Lieutenant Governor), and many more.

“I am truly nothing without my hard work and dedication. Hard work has made me the career-focused, intelligent, physically fit, and strong-willed individual I am today. You can be as talented as you want, but hard work truly is the difference maker,” Herron said.

Throughout Herron’s journey, he gives credit to his mom, pushing him to strive for more and has helped him along his journey.

“My mother was especially my main inspiration through my journey. She never discouraged me or believed I couldn’t achieve the high goals I set. Instead, she always held me up and pushed me to improve, attain my goals, and accomplish more,” Herron said.

His graduation speech will be about the hard work it took to get where he is, and if one puts their mind to something it can happen.

“My speech will be about all the hard work and perseverance that was required to be valedictorian and graduate and about what the future holds for everyone,” Herron said.

Herron’s journey is the definition of hard work always pays off. Going for your dreams and achieving them with no hesitation will only lead you to success.

“Consistent hard work and dedication can get you far anywhere. Especially if you want to be valedictorian or successful, you need to understand that laziness even for a dull moment just won’t do it. If you want to be a part of the 1%, you need to be doing what the other 99% aren’t. And this most likely falls under the level of effort you place into achieving your goals,” Herron said.

HERRON’S AWARDS

HERRON RECIEVES RECOGNITION by the Indiana office of CTE for being an Outstanding Student in the state of Indiana. Herron is a four year participant in the Engineering program and will continue this path by studying aeronautical and astronautical engineering at Purdue University.

HERRON STANDS BESIDE Senior Julien Patton, Senior JJ Calmes, and Coach James Abbett on senior night, celebrating their last year being on the high school soccer team. Herron has been on the team for all four years of high school.

CHRISTIAN HERRON POSES for a picture after being presented the Brilliant Firefly Award from Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch. Herron was nominated for being an exceptional leader in his school and community.

Photo provided by Christian Herron

Photo provided by Christian Herron

Photo provided by Christian Herron

THE FIGHT FOR RIGHTS

Trans-youth gender affirming care under attack across the country

By Khalil Gillespie Editor-In-Chief

Since the start of 2023, the Human Rights Campaign has tracked about 341 anti-trans youth bills. Among those bills, which range from the topic of drag queens to banning gender-affirming health care, there is undoubtedly an underlying goal: the eradication of transgenderism in this country. It is imminent and, without strong pushback from you and the rest of the community, there will be the blood of countless transgender youths on lawmaker’s hands.

In Indiana, on Apr. 5, lawmakers passed a bill that would ban all transgender youth from receiving any form of gender-affirming care. Youth who are already on hormones or who are receiving other forms of treatment such as puberty blockers, have to cease all care within the next six months. Stopping care will reverse some of the main effects of the hormones and result in major dysphoria. Lawmakers have made it impossible for kids to continue their care, even if both the youth and their parents or guardians consent fully.

In my experience, after coming out in seventh grade and speculating my gender before that, hormones were an ultimate goal in my life. In fact, I would consider them a necessity for me. Without hormones, my life would be extremely different and ultimately less happy. As a transgender man, when I started my hormone journey almost five months ago, I became so much more happy and comfortable with myself. Even within the first few weeks, I saw small but notable changes. Some that may seem small to others who are not trans, but that made a difference for me. Things like a little bit more facial hair or a small amount of raspiness in my voice made me feel comfortable in my body for the first time in my life. For so long, I felt like I was in the back seat watching my life go by, but now, I feel like my own person. For many others, the experience of starting hormones is similar.

Fenway Health states that between the ages of 14-15 years old, being on hormones decreases the amount of discomfort and mental health problems drastically. The process is invasive and sometimes painful, as well as expensive to keep up with, so, realistically, transgender people such as myself would not go through the hormone process for the rest of their lives over something that they were not completely sure of. We need to allow people to know their bodies and act accordingly.

As someone who hasn’t been 18 for very long, it’s devastating to me to think about what I would have done during these times if I were impacted. One of the main reasons that transgender youth want to go through treatment earlier than later is because it stops some of the early effects of puberty and replaces it with the desired effects of puberty of whatever hormone they are on. Treatments are already tough enough to locate and the complete erasure of healthcare is absolutely unacceptable.

This is not just an issue in Indiana, though. Across the rest of the country, bills like this are seemingly popping up everywhere. In Tennessee, some of their proposed bills want to do a plethora of entirely unconstitutional and unfair things. For starters, they have an almost identical record to Indiana with their ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Tennessee has even started to focus on other bills,

There are 18 anti-trans laws in Indiana. 3 have been passed into law and 15 have been defeated

92% of trans youth continued to socially transition consistently for a minimum of 5 years

such as a ban on drag queens in the presence of children. Some places around the states have also started to attempt all gender-affirming care regardless of age.

These lawmakers have a lot of conflicting controversial ideas that really shows us that all of this is coming from a place of bigotry. Lawmakers in anti-trans states push for the idea of “saving kids,” yet they refuse to ban any form of a gun, even heavy assault rifles. Since the start of 2023, there have been 202 mass shootings. Among those mass shootings, eight trans people were killed. This has nothing to do with saving kids. It is about taking control over situations that don’t follow their traditionalist mindset.

I feel like a major part of the issue is a lack of true understanding. The constant stream of new bills and other hateful speech spread by right wing media is extremely draining for everyone involved. Specifically, Bill 480 has sparked a lot of outrage in the community and the American Civil Liberties Union or ACLU has taken action and filed for a lawsuit against the state on the basis that it goes against our constitutional rights.

The American Civil Liberties Union is planning on fighting back and has started the process of suing the state. The ACLU states that “The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Indiana today filed a lawsuit on behalf of four transgender youth and their families, as well as a doctor and health care clinic, challenging an Indiana law that prohibits health care professionals from providing or even referring transgender young people for medically-necessary health care. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges that Senate Bill 480 violates the U.S. Constitution on multiple fronts, including the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”

If more of these bills are proposed or passed, they will have an extremely detrimental effect on trans people. Scientific American states that more than 30,000 transgender people report less mental distress and discomfort after taking hormones. This study sparks the question of how much longer will kids have to dread whether or not they can break free of their depression and finally live in the body and brain that they deserve? How many kids will commit suicide before they realize their mistake?

These are just the early steps of the process, but what the community can do to continue the fight can be anything from reposting or spreading information via social media to getting out and protesting where there are opportunities or calling your representatives and other officials to let them know how upsetting the recent legislature is. This is not something that will go away on its own or something that is just talk as a country. We are moving in the wrong direction and if it gets any more extreme than the current situation, people will have their civil rights and personal freedoms ripped right out of their hands. Kids will die, mothers and fathers will lose their children and at the center of it all will be lawmakers working purely off of their own beliefs rather than the good of transgender youth. For more information, visit the ACLU website to keep up to date with anti-trans legislation across the country.

FAST FACTS

Less than 2% of the trans population stopped care after starting the process

Puberty blockers decrease mental health problems

such as suicidal ideation by at least 70%

19 states have banned transgender people from playing sports that coincide with their gender identity

1.3 million doctors from top institutions state that affirming care is a necessity

MIND OVER MATTER

Talking about my experience with mental health in an attempt to educate

By Khalil Gillespie Editor-In-Chief

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which opens the door to talk about the stigmatized topics surrounding mental health disorders.

Disorders such as Bipolar Disorder are constantly misrepresented in the media. These false narratives have surrounded the conversation of mental health and deceived viewers as to what it’s actually like to have these disorders. Understanding the countless amounts of misinformation surrounding these disorders is vital. Movies such as the “Silver Lining Playbook” and “Empire” essentially romanticize the disorder rather than provide a real portrayal of it, further muddying the waters for those who do not experience it.

As someone who experiences this disorder, I understand what it is like to live with such a serious disorder as well as the importance of breaking down those barriers so that we, as a society, can move forward with treating and helping those who need support. You have to learn the basics of this disorder and be able to differentiate from other types of mental issues to truly comprehend it. Bipolar is a disorder where the person will experience extreme euphoric highs called mania and extremely low bouts of depression, regardless of if they are going through an episode or not. Bipolar disorder can include behaviors such as impulsively dying one’s hair, cutting it, or going on a shopping spree to other manic traits. As someone with this disorder, I know it is much more complicated than that.

Some may not know, but Bipolar disorder is broken up into two types, type one and type two. Type one is diagnosed after someone experiences a manic episode that lasts longer than one to two weeks. To diagnose type two, the person must at least experience a hypomanic episode, which lasts about three to four days. While they are going through an episode, these experiences are extremely heightened.

When people who have not experienced this think about a “heightened” state, their idea usually does not correlate with the severity of what we are experiencing while going through these episodes. It is not just being impulsive or having high energy, it’s wearing your body out past the point of exhaustion and doing really irrational and unsafe things because unlike you normally would, you can’t see a reason not to.

For me, my last episode was a mixed episode that lasted about two to three weeks, where I was switching back and forth from depression to mania and ended up spending close to 700 dollars. Then, when the episode ended, I was filled with a lot of numbness, guilt, and disappointment in the things I took part in.

What people don’t understand is what happens to your sense of control during an episode. Outside of an episode my brain is clear, I’m level-headed and able to act and think rationally. However, when I am manic, my entire mindset and attitude change.

To understand mania, imagine the most euphoric exhilarating feelings of your life constantly going for days on end, regardless of how tired your body physically feels. For people who have never experienced this type of episode, this may sound like fun, but while it causes high energy, it also makes you think recklessly, like this high will never come down. Something that’s always stuck with me is that the highs are high, but the lows are incredibly low.

Another hallmark of the disorder is depression. Depression with bipolar disorder differs from a regular depressive moment in that it comes with these overwhelming, heavy emotions that get dangerously low. For me, I get thoughts that convince me that this state has always existed and that it is permanent. For many, the disorder completely flips your mind around and makes it hard to remain consistent.

People with this disorder will realistically be on medication for the majority of their life because, without it, they risk entering an episode. During manic episodes, we are highly impulsive, more

inclined to spend large amounts of money, engage in unsafe sexual behavior, and have extreme amounts of energy, despite a lack of sleep. Like me, many people with this disorder experience extreme shifts in moods, and constant irritability. For me personally, my early warning signs for an episode can be stopping my meds and thinking that they are not working or that I am fine, so I do not need them.

In order to improve, everyone, whether they experience this or not, must fight back on the stigma surrounding talking about mental health disorders by talking about them. We must listen to and amplify the voices of those with the disorder and experts on it and learn to get comfortable interrupting and addressing those who are misrepresenting the disorders.

Mental health struggles can be very difficult to manage and it can take years for people to finally be able to lead a normal and happy life. While I can not speak for everyone, for me personally, being bipolar affects my life in significant ways. Although it’s a hassle sometimes, it helps me to explain what it is and what it’s like to those around me. For me when I am surrounded by supportive people who have been educated on my experience, it ensures that I have a support system that I know I can trust when I’m going through an episode. Sometimes it truly is just the little things that make a difference, making sure we do not skip our meds, we are sleeping at a normal time, and avoiding bad decisions. Even if you don’t think that you know anyone with a mental disorder, educating yourself and maintaining an open mind to hear the experiences of those impacted allows you to have a better grasp of the issues that impacted people may face. You might be surprised to find that someone in your life is struggling with this or another mental health disorder and by educating yourself, you can be better equipped to understand and support them. For more information and research, visit the website of the National Alliance on Mental Illness or NAMI for short.

FAST FACTS

PITCH PERFECT

16th Street Soul competes at Nationals in New York

By Camryn Whatley News Editor

This year, Warren Central’s Acapella group, 16th Street Soul, went to New York City for their first-ever nationals competition. 16th Street Soul was a group that started in 2022 as an all-girls group, and started the 2023 school year with only one returning member, that transitioned into an all-inclusive team with many fresh faces. The group formed a bond quickly and had voices that worked well together.

“We grew a bond so quickly because all of us except Ronni are members of Connection, our advanced show choir. We see each other every day during fourth period and fifth period. We also hang out outside of school. We can also trust each other to hold ourselves accountable for our roles in the group. I hope the returning members will use this method next year,” Senior Jordan Monk said.

These students spend hours together, even outside of school and practice, to form bonds that help better the group so that they can function well together and be more comfortable with each other’s voices.

“This class is our honors advanced choir here at WCChoirs. After a short day or two of learning the music independently, we bring the voices together and create the song as a group. They meet every day during 5th period,” Head of the Choir Program Brian Long said.

Long started the group with the intention of bringing up confidence and independence in students. The group came first in the ICHSA Semi-Finals and as the coach, he seems to be genuinely proud of them. He would not change anything about how the students performed.

“I was in complete shock when they announced that we won the ICHSA Midwest Semifinals. I think in some ways, I still am. Not only did we win, but we beat the 2022 ICHSA Finals Champion. We were extremely prepared for the competition and there isn’t anything that I can say about their performance other than they did what we expected them to do. It just happened to translate into a huge victory,” Long said.

As the group returned from their nationals competition, it

was unfortunate to hear that they had not placed in the top three, but the students and coach say that they believe they were already winners before walking on the stage.

“Honestly, it was [big] just the fact that we were in New York and for everyone to be there just enjoying each other’s company,” Junior Jalen Brailey said.

The students and director speculated about how next year might be.

“We keep going. This is just the beginning of a ton of opportunities for a group like this. We aren’t worried about the four seniors who will transition to alumni status. We auditioned singers on April 18-19 for all of the choirs at WCChoirs. We found the exact vocal instruments that we need to keep this journey moving in the right direction. Miss Coram and I strongly believe that nothing is guaranteed so, no there isn’t a guaranteed spot for previous or current members wanting to stay in 16th Street Soul. Every year will be different. It might have all of the current students and it might not, but it will be exceptional regardless,” Long said. Students that decide to return to 16th Street Soul will have to audition against other students to get back into the group. Most students, even the departing seniors, believe this is a good thing and can be used as healthy competition and new voices that can switch up the sound of the group.

“This is one of the highest choirs so it’s important that people not just get put into the group but also to see what voices would fit together,” Brailey said.

As the season comes to an end, five out of the nine students in 16th Street soul will be graduating. Senior Tiana Finely left some inspiring words for the groups in hopes that they do their very best for the upcoming year.

“I would tell the team that being ourselves is what makes us sound good but trusting each other is what makes us sound the best together,” Finely said.

NEWS BRIEFS

WALL

The Theatre Recital is the end of the year performance by the top theater students. They will be performing original scenes and monologues, which will be premiering an original short film titled “Why You Should Join Theatre,” written and directed by Senior Seth Purvis. The recital is free and open to the public, and will be on Tuesday, May 23 at 6 p.m. in the Studio Theatre.

The Thommie Awards will be held on Monday, May 22. The Thommie Awards are a long-standing Warren Theatre tradition, and it is an award show to celebrate the actors and performances from the current year. Some of the awards include Best Actor, Best Ensemble, Best Techie, Best Solo, and more. They will also be announcing the performances for the 2023-2024 school year.

Rock the Street, Wall Street is open to new members. New sessions and/meetings will start again in February. New members will have a mentor who will help them gain a new perspective on the business world. Anyone with questions should reach out to Sponsor Jenna Burns.

The Senior Luncheon will be held in the Fieldhous, near the football field. One of the parent perks for being a PTSA member is that parents of seniors or graduating juniors will be given the opportunity to volunteer at the senior luncheon in May. The date has been set for Friday, May 19.

THEATRE THOMMIE AWARDS

STREET SENIOR LUNCHEON

16TH STREET SOUL performs at a national choir competition in New York City. They qualified for this event after placing highly at the Midwest quarterfinals in Hilliard, Ohio.

Photo By Naomi Eastman

PROM 2023

“UNDER THE LIGHTS”

By Khalil Gillespie Editor-In-Chief

This year’s prom king and queen were seniors Howie Swain and Sierra Espinoza. Winning helped these two finish out their senior year with a bang. They could not have been more excited.

“In the moment, it was wild. I have

“It was hard going out and asking and talking to people, but the other campaigning was easy. It was easy for me to put videos together and making the posters was really fun. It was all just pretty cool,” Swain said.

SENIOR

SUPERLATIVES

BEST HAIR

Demarion Harris

MOST LIKELY TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY

Daniel Gray

MOST LIKELY TO BE A TEACHER AT WARREN

Julien Patton

MOST SPIRITED

Da’Nae Webster

De Kelly

MOST LIKELY TO BE PRESIDENT

Christian Herron

Maggie Zheng

MOST LIKELY TO BE ON A REALITY TV SHOW

Qira Gray

MOST LIKELY TO BE SOCIAL MEDIA FAMOUS OR AN INFLUENCER

but I had fun with my friends and

David Taylor

Teddy Feuzing

MOST LIKELY TO WIN THE LOTTERY AND LOSE THE TICKET

Joe Walker

MOST INVOLVED

Aasha Watkins

Chris Jordan

MOST LIKELY TO BREAK A WORLD RECORD

LETTER FROM A LEADER

Christian Herron talks about his academic career, accomplishments

By Christian Herron Guest Writer

Throughout my twelve plus years in Warren Township, I must say that my experience was nothing short of amazing. I was not only blessed to have such superb teachers and staff as influencers and role models throughout my time as a student, but I was also blessed to be in such an amazing class, the class of 2023.

During my time at Warren, I have been in a lot. I have been a part of the Walker Career Center PLTW engineering pathway for four years now. I have also been a member of the Science Olympiad team, NHS, student council, soccer, track, and both principal and superintendent advisory councils. Throughout involving myself in these pathways and extracurriculars, I have been able to witness just how amazing and talented the class of 2023 is.

For instance, when I was a sophomore, I was heavily invested into Science Olympiad. Unfortunately, my team wasn’t gifted with the opportunity to go to state the prior year due to COVID, so we were hungry to win on the high school team. However, due to COVID, team membership was low and tournaments and competitions were all placed online. Nevertheless, amongst these setbacks, my team stayed strong and positive. My partner and I continued to study hard and remained motivated, which allowed us to place at the state competition. Times like these were important and helped to embody the spirit of the class of 2023 to me because even amongst adversity, we students remained resistant to back down when a challenge was faced upon us.

We are just too self-motivated to not achieve greatness. And this goes on for all aspects of Warren. Warren Central is full of success. We have social media personalities, such as those running the morning announcements or the school podcast, that have already interviewed celebrities and obtained much attention. We have multiple student athletes continuing their athletic career in college such as all-district goalkeepers, state leading 100 and 200 meter dash runners,

MIC champion track runners, up-and-coming division one football and baseball stars, ferociously talented basketball ball players, and far much more. We have students already employed at businesses, such as auto-dealers and banks, from signing up for work based learning offered through the Walker Career Center. We have award-winning musicians and dancers in our orchestra, band, and color guard. We have phenomenal artists and photographers that can create breathtaking pictures. We have students like me that have been awarded scholarships and full-rides to continue our academic career at a college or university. And we have students that have enlisted in the military in order to fight to protect our country.

Such talent like this is hard to come across, but there is something distinct that I appreciate most about the senior class of 2023 is our comradery and leadership. Especially this year, I can see how much of a bond we have built for one another. How much love and respect that has been created, and I couldn’t be more happy or proud. Moreover, this applies to the bonds we have formed with the underclassmen too. We, the senior class, have continued to positively lead the younger generation, no matter if it is in sports or academics, in the right direction through our example this year, and I hope we can continue doing this going further after graduation.

As we leave high school and enter into a new phase of life, I ask the graduating senior class to remember these past few years, good or bad, and use the past as motivation for the future. If your life wasn’t so great, seek ways to improve it. If times were great, cherish them, and can continue to build off of what went right.

Never lose focus on your goals, Warriors. Keep your eyes on the prize, and represent your Warren Central brothers and sisters correctly. Once a Warrior, always a Warrior, so let’s continue to carry on what we have generated here onto the undetermined future ahead.

THE KEY TO HIS SUCCESS

Adefining moment in my life was when my Grandma passed away. Looking back at my life before this tragedy, education wasn’t a big deal to me. However, my mindset regarding education took a dramatic shift when both my grandparents passed away. At that moment, I had to make a decision. Either keep things how they were or live up to what my grandparents knew I could be. In this world, education is the key to success and glory. Thus, from that moment on, I knew I had to live up to my full potential. By the end of elementary school, I decided I didn’t want to be common. I wanted to be unique, something that would make those that believed in me proud.

Along the way, I had lots of family members that saw my potential, including my mother and grandparents. Since I was born, my grandparents always said that I had a bright future ahead of me. They always spoiled me and call me a genius.

I was on the honor roll each year to make my parents happy, but fun was my top priority. However, I was competitive, and I was always up for a challenging competition. I can remember the timed math questions we did in elementary school and the math competitions we did every year. I strove to do my best because I didn’t want to lose. Looking back, that was how I stayed sharp in academics even though it wasn’t my main priority.

Entering middle school, I was determined to make something of myself. I engulfed myself in all forms of knowledge and information that I could obtain. Soon enough, my fifth-grade teacher saw my potential and recommended that I join the Excel program. Unfortunately, my first years in the Excel program didn’t go as I had

predicted. The work in the class began to pile up and I eventually fell behind in standardized test scores as compared to my peers. I started to become discouraged. I contemplated whether I even deserved to be in the program. However, if there was one thing I remembered that kept me on track, it was the teachings of my mother. Since I was a child, my mom always stressed how practice makes perfect and how failures make the best learning experiences. This unrelenting mindset would end up being the solution to my many problems. I began to take my mother’s advice by studying the questions I missed on tests and asking my teacher for personal advice on bettering my performance. By the end of the sixth grade, small but significant alterations enabled me to have some of the highest scores in my class. And by the end of the year, my strive for greatness encouraged my middle school teacher to nominate me for the school’s Indomitable Spirit Award, which I later won.

DAY TRIPS IN INDIANA

Fun trips to take with family and friends over the summer

By D’Aysia Jackson Feature Editor

Indiana Dunes

For those looking for a one-day road trip to a beach, Indiana Dunes may be the place for you. The beach is surrounded by great scenery, fun-filled shopping, camping spots, and outdoor adventures. The beach has more than 350 species of animals and migrating birds. The National Park is located at Porter, IN 46304, and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. To get more information on the historic Hoosier landscape, go to https://www.indianadunes. com/.

Hidden Paradise Campground

Having something fun to do in Indiana can be rare at times, but Hidden Paradise Campground offers unique adventures. The campground offers tubing, canoeing, swimming, and more. Hidden Paradise Campground has modern cabins and RV and tent sites to stay. The camping paradise is located at 802 E Jefferson St, St Paul, IN 47272. They are open from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. For more information, go to hiddenparadisecampground.com.

Marengo Cave

Marengo Cave is an enjoyable and learning-filled summer trip that family and friends can check out. Tourists can have a sleepover in a cave, mine for gemstones, explore caves, and more. The cave is one of a few caves that are connected to one another. The cave is located at 400 East State Rd 64, IN 47140. They’re open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, for more information go to https://marengocave.com.

Deep River Waterpark

Another good activity to do in the summer is going to a waterpark. One of the largest waterparks in the northern part of Indiana, it is called Deep River Waterpark. Go to their website https:// www.deepriverwaterpark.com/ for additional information on how to register and buy tickets. The address of the waterpark is 9001 E Lincoln Hwy in Crown Point. A site that is similar to Deep River is the Freedom Springs Aquatic Center. It is located at 850 W Stop 18 Rd in Greenwood.

Bluespring Caverns Park

Indiana’s largest sinkhole is an unforgettable way to spend your summer and enjoy yourself out in nature. An hour-long boat ride will get you as close as possible to the natural attraction. The sinkhole includes four different caves like Marengo Cave, Indiana Caverns, Bluespring Caverns, and Squire Boone’s Caverns. This unforgettable opportunity can only be experienced at 1459 Blue Springs Cavern Rd, IN 47421, and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on this incredible sinkhole, go to https://www.bluespringcaverns.com/.

Indy Acres Paintball

One of the most unique summer activities is paintball. One location to visit is Indy Acres Paintball, which is located at 7225 E Raymond St Indianapolis. It is open from 4-8 p.m. For more information, you can check out their website at https://indyacrespaintball.com/. A second option is Indy Paintball Battleground, the address is 2350 IN-37 in Greenwood. Their hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For extra information, visit https:// battlegroundindy.com/.

WANT TO READ MORE?

Summer Break Activities

Go to the QR code to read more about fun things to do over the summer

WARRIOR UNDERDOGS

Warren baseball prepares for tough matchup

By Cameron Harris Assistant Editor

Warren Central baseball, which is currently having a historic season, is coming up to one of its toughest games of the year. This matchup against the Carmel Greyhounds will be some of the toughest competition that the Warriors see this season. The Greyhounds are a top-five team in the state and will be a huge win for the Warriors if they can get it.

Players and coaches are doing everything they can to prepare each other for this game to prevent another loss to the Greyhounds.

“Warren hasn’t done so well against Carmel the past few years, but this year we plan on turning it around. It will be a tough battle throughout the whole game, but I believe we will come out on top,” sophomore Keith Jackson said.

Making it a tough battle is what the Warriors will have to focus on. Warren Central’s offense has shown its capability of piling on runs many times this season and will have to do it against a remarkably good pitching staff from Carmel that typically holds its opponents to few runs.

“Playing Carmel is such a big game because every year, they are always on top, with great players and great coaching. They are always ranked in the top five, so being able to upset that big team would be historic and monumental for us,” junior Jackson Hobbs said.

Starting pitching for the Warriors will most likely be Eli Shaw, whose sub-2.00 ERA will be a challenge for the Carmel hitters,

who are used to being able to score a lot of runs in all of their games. Shaw, an Indiana University Baseball commit, has been dominant so far this season, with a high strikeout and low walk rate.

“It’s great competition, year after year Carmel is consistently one of the top teams in the state so it’s a good measure because playing the best brings out the best in you. I know some guys on that team so it’s always fun playing guys that I’ve played on summer teams with, Shaw said.

Overall, the Warriors have to keep a positive attitude and mindset throughout the game to be able to pull off the upset. If they go into the game with the idea that they can win and do everything right, then they will have more success than they would otherwise.

“We are prepared for every game, no matter the team. We know what we are capable of, so we have that mindset that keeps us prepared,” Hobbs said.

BATTING AROUND

New coaching staff leads softball team to improvment

By Aaron Durham Sports Writer

Since the beginning of the season, the softball team has been getting better and strengthening their team. At the start of the season, the team was just getting back into it. Coach Warner took pride in getting the girls to where they needed to be. One step at a time, by keeping the errors down and the bats hot, Coach Warner slowly but surely shaped these players into the ideal team.

“We are always working on our hitting. From a defensive perspective, we are continuing to work on the foundational mechanics of glovework and footwork for the infield. For our outfield, we are working quite a bit on footwork and tracking. We have spent a lot of time working individually with our pitchers and catchers as well,” Warner said.

A big thing for Coach Warner was the mental game and how the players were mentally preparing for the games. It is no surprise that they have been so calm and collected on the mound.

“We are continuously working on the mental game with our team and preaching the champi-

onship mentality. Knowing that each player is supported and the rest of the team has her back really helps keep the energy up,” Warner said. These skills translate from practice to games. Coach Warner is already looking forward to the sectional to see what progress they have made from the beginning of the season and what they need to work more on in practice to stay prepared.

“We keep a close watch on the mistakes we make in games and that is our priority at the following practice. We understand that mistakes will be made but it is our job to figure out why it was made and what adjustments the players need to make to eliminate them from happening again,” Warner said.

This team has made jumps since the beginning of the season started, and in time they’ll make more. All the hard work that the coaches and players put in will show in the games and the stat sheets. Coach Warner is turning these girls into a competitive team going into sectionals.

“Our staff knew going into this season that we had a lot of ground to cover and time to make up so we have set realistic expectations. Our record and the scoreboard doesn’t truly reflect the significant amount of improvement that each player has made so far this season or the number of small wins we have collectively had as a team. As coaches, we love to teach the game and help each player along their journey and we are doing just that every single day,” Warner said.

SPRINTING AHEAD Girls Track team hopes for return to glory days

By Cameron Harris Assistant Editor

This season, the girl’s track team is ready to get back up top. This team has recently won several state championships as well as state runner-ups, and they are excited to reach that potential once again. With a lot of athletes being ranked highly in the state for certain events, the girls are hopeful for their chances to return to greatness.

“I know some of us upperclassmen who have been on the team since freshman year have been to state before and gotten a ring and know what it feels like to win and we all want to have that feeling again,” junior Jacqueline Hartman said. This group of juniors mentioned is the class that saw many athletes qualify for the state meet their freshman year, including junior Laila Smith who qualified for not only Long Jump, but also the 300-meter hurdles. Smith experienced a season-ending injury last season and was not able to make it back to the state finals meet. Smith, along with many others ,hope that the bond between this group of athletes can and will help them along their road to state.

“Being able to stand on the podium in front of everyone and collect your medal makes it real. It is important to the team because it shows how far we have come as a team and how we all come together in different events to get points to win individually and together,” Smith said.

The togetherness of this team is a huge aspect of why they have found success this season, and why they have confidence in each other doing the best they can.

“Some things that make track enjoyable are getting to work out and improve with my friends and team every day. I also enjoy when I’m competing at meets and I PR in any event. It helps me know that I am improving and it makes me feel great when I know that I’m getting better,” junior Jila Vaden said.

Vaden is also a state finals meet hopeful, being one of the fastest athletes in the state, currently ranked top eight in the state for the 100-meter dash and the long jump.

Another thing that the team values and will use to help them in the road to state, is the leadership present on the team. The leaders for the Lady W arriors help keep the spirits of their teammates high and help motivate them to push through adversity to get the best results they can.

“Another goal for me and the team is to remain positive. It has been kind of a struggle since the indoor season and if we can continue trying to be positive, working hard, and taking it seriously we could have a good outdoor season and be ready for the state meet,” Smith said.

ON THE RIGHT TRACK What the track team is doing to improve their season

By Latasha Markey Sports Writer

The Warren Central Boys track team is applying essential skills that they have learned throughout this season. The increased effort that they have been putting into practice has been evident in their performances at meets.

“The harder you go in practice, the easier it is to do at a meet,” senior Jaelyn Reeves-Lile said.

According to Reeves-Lile, the team struggles with self-discipline, however, the boys keep motivating each other by getting each other’s heads ready for the next meet and staying focused.

“[We try to] let each other know that there is another race and get that person to refocus,” Reeves-Lile said.

The boys’ goal is to get each other to make it to the state finals. They want to be able to get the best score they can to achieve this.

“The team goal is to get as many people to state as possible, while also being ranked high,” Reeves-Lile said.

Essential things the boys look forward to are having everyone at the major meets and proving that they can represent the school well by standing out. The boys want to show the team there is still something to talk about.

“We are looking forward to a lot of big meets this season and we are looking forward to showing that Warren still has a track team to speak about,” Reeves-Lile said.

Other essential things that the boys have learned are that

teams will have hard times with the sport, and each other, and learning to get through it together can help.

“I learned that teams can go through tribulations and that we can get through it as a team. We had a lot of arguments and stuff like that, but we got through it as a team. I feel that we can work together and work really hard,” senior Joseph Walker said.

A weakness for the boys is putting the blame on each other. They want to be able to not keep faulting each other and work more as a team.

“One weakness I feel like is when we’re down, everyone gets to point fingers. But I feel like if we stop pointing fingers and take the loss as a team, we’re good,” Walker said.

The boys’ goal is to do their best and compete in the state finals meet. They want to work harder and learn new things as the season progresses.

“Our goal is to win state, but I feel like our goal as a team is to take every day as a lesson and get better every day,” Walker said.

A CAPTAIN’S ROLE Closer look into role of Girls Lacrosse captains

By D’aysia Jackson Sports Writer

Celeste Wilkerson and Morgan Isaac have been a big asset to the team, showing leadership and giving motivation to the players. Being on the team has given them unbreakable bonds. “Lacrosse has helped me become more confident in myself. By playing lacrosse, I've built strong bonds that have helped me become more social in life. I have been able to be more confident in what I do and how I achieve it,” Wilkerson said.

Being on the team has taught them social skills, and other important skills to use out in the real world. Learning to have fun and show sportsmanship is key to leading the team to victory.

“Lacrosse has taught me the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship. The lesson I have learned from playing lacrosse is to work together as a team to bring home the win,” Isaac said. Bringing home the win is always exciting, but it never gets accomplished without working as a team and using communication. While playing lacrosse, you might get put into a position you aren’t familiar with, but communicating with teammates that have more experience always helps in the end.

“Lacrosse has taught me to value communication because one of the key things in defending is communicating with your teammates to know what zone you need to be in. It has also taught me the value of teamwork because in lacrosse teamwork is a necessary defense, midfield, and attack must work together in order to get the ball,” Wilkerson said.

SPORTS BRIEFS

UPCOMING GAMES

Boys Golf - Away vs. Franklin Central - May 20 - 8:30 a.m.

Unified Track - Away vs. Sectionals - May 20 - 8:30 a.m.

Baseball - Away vs. Carmel- May 22 - 6:00 p.m.

Softball - Away vs. Roncalli - May 23 - 5:30 p.m.

Girls Track- Away vs. Franklin Community - May 23 - 6:00 p.m.

Boys Track- Home vs. Shelbyville - May 25 - 6:00 p.m.

Wilkerson and Isaac are this year's team captains for the team and it is a big responsibility. Keeping your teammates as well as you on the right track could be challenging at times and takes some time to get used to, but they both manage it very well.

“Being captain this year is an honor and I am grateful to lead our team. I like to encourage my teammates and give them positive feedback,” Issac said.

While it may be challenging, it also is a special thing, they have underclassmen looking up to them as role models and helping them develop leadership skills for the future.

“Being Captain is one of the best things I could ask for. It has given me a leadership role that has allowed me to grow and evolve as a person. I know people are looking to me and others to set a good example for the team. To keep the team motivated, I try to encourage everyone to do their best and also be positive around my teammates because positivity allows my teammates to believe in their abilities,” Wilkerson said.

Being on any sports team or even club comes with good memories that are worth cherishing. Those are the moments that outshine the not-so-good ones or the days that just aren’t the best. “My most memorable moment was chalk and Croc day last year. It was a great team bonding day and allowed us to enjoy the beautiful bonds lacrosse can create. I had a lot of fun creating different artwork with the team as well as running in our Crocs,” Wilkerson said.

FEATURED ATHLETE

Name- Andru Wright

Grade- 11

GPA- 3.4

What he enjoys- Going to the gym, playing basketball with friends, spending quality time with family, and helping his dad’s business

Favorite volleyball moment- Helping the volleyball team to their first win of the season

Who supported him most- His family and his coaches

Goals after graduation- Attend college and pursue a career in being an athletic trainer

BASEBALL PHOTO OP

HEAD BASEBALL COACH Chris Ulrey talks to his team after a long inning. The Warriors won this game 2-1.

Photo By Cameron Harris

JUNIOR JUSTIN CONCEPCION holds the Flashes runner on first base. The runner attempted to steal second base, but Julien Patton threw him out.

Photo By Cameron Harris

SETTING UP FOR SUCCESS

A look at the beginning of the boys volleyball program

By Cameron Harris Assistant Editor

The Warren Central Boys Volleyball team is in their first season, and they are putting in their best efforts to make it memorable. As a group of athletes that are starting something new at Warren Central, they have a lot of expectations as to the positive narrative they have the opportunity to create about Warren Central’s Boys Volleyball team.

Of course, being a new program is difficult, due to most of the players not having played the sport before and just learning the basics every day. However, the boys are doing everything they can to compete this season.

“The goal I have for our season is to show that even because we are a first-year team we can play amongst the best of them, and show heart,” junior Andru Wright said.

A lot of the team shares a passion for the game, even though they just started playing. The excitement for the sport is one of the reasons it started to become the sport that it is today. A lot of boys that liked volleyball were previously only to play it as a club sport outside of school, but now they have the opportunity to create that same amount of passion and excitement for the game in a school environment.

“It’s very important that Boys Volleyball is becoming an official sport because it gives young men another opportunity to express their talents rather than the sports we usually see,” Wright said.

Boys Volleyball is not a newer sport in general, but specifically at Warren Central, it is. The athletes on the team are excited to

be the start of something new for the Warriors and hope to see it get even more prominent in the Warrior Nation.

“Over the years, people will talk about the team who started it and who made it possible to play against other oppo nents,” junior Hector Juarez said.

Another good thing about Boys Volley ball is that everybody plays a role in the results of the team. When one person gets better, it is beneficial to the whole team.

“The most enjoyable part about playing volleyball is being a part of a team and playing an essential role in the team’s success,” junior Evan Wilson said.

Overall, the team just wants to bring a name to this new program and help it grow into a bigger sport at Warren Central that competes on a state championship level.

“I think a lot of people still don’t know much about the team. Over the years, more people will join and it will finally get the attention it deserves,” Juarez said.

MAKING A RAQUET Girls Tennis players lead their team to success

By Cameron Harris Assistant Editor

The Warren Central Girls Tennis team is growing in all areas, one of them being leadership. The top two players on the team, currently holding the spots of number one and two singles, have stepped up to become prominent leaders.

One reason that they have brought themselves into this position is their love for the game. Both of these girls have been playing tennis since they were in elementary school, and it has helped them grow into better athletes throughout their tennis careers.

“I started playing tennis when I was around six years old. My parents thought it would be a fun sport for me and I haven’t stopped playing since,” sophomore Makynna Oconi trillo said.

Oconitrillo is the number one singles tennis player for the Lady Warriors, due to her athleticism and ability to get to so many balls hit in different areas on the court.

“I have high hopes for Makynna because she’s re turning as a sophomore playing [number one singles],” head coach John Patterson said.

Her teammates also have high hopes for her, including number two singles player Karsyn Asher, a freshman who came in this year as one of the best tennis players on the team. She has been playing tennis for a long time and is continuing to grow into an even better student-athlete.

“My determination, playing a sport, and keeping up with my schoolwork has been challenging. I have always been able to push

through it and end up succeeding,” Asher said.

These two leaders on the team are also really close to each other, creating a relationship that helps them lead their team. Each of them knows that they play a big role in the team’s success and the attitudes of everybody around them. One reason Asher enjoys tennis is because of the fun she has while playing and being around people that

“Tennis gives me an outlet to get my stress out. It has always helped me mentally and has given me friends that I will hopefully have for a lifetime, such as Makynna,” Asher said.

Another reason these girls are doing as well as they are is the support they have received along the way. These athletes have been guided by amazing people that continue to make them better day by day.

“My coaches have helped me become a stronger player since I started high school tennis. With their amazing coaching and support, I am the best I’ve ever been. My parents have been with me through my whole tennis journey and have always supported me,” Oconitrillo said.

Overall, this duo is hoping that they can support and guide their team to a great rest of the season, and get results that are not typically seen out of the Warren Central girls tennis program.

“I know that with their great attitudes and determination for the sport, we can be the greatest we’ve ever been,” Oconitrillo said.

LIVING IN A DREAM WORLD

A look into Barbie’s new adventure in the real world

By Nora Fisher Entertainment Editor

The world-famous doll, “Barbie,” is coming to the big screen this summer. The film will take a look into Barbie’s new adventure in the real world. The Barbie movie is set to release on Jul. 21.

The movie will star Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. Both of the actors have given high reviews regarding the script. Gosling even went as far as to say it is the best script that he has ever read.

The film will follow Barbie’s journey to the human world after being shot down in the Barbie realm for not being a good enough Barbie. The cast will also feature other well-known actors such as Will Ferrell, Simu Liu, Michael Cera, and Kate Mckinnon in various roles throughout the movie. Although Barbie is usually regarded as a children’s film, the movie is rated PG-13 because apparently, it may be somewhat inappropriate for preteens.

The director, Greta Gerwig, is expecting a high turnout for the film. The rival movie, “Oppenheimer,” actually changed its release date out of fear of losing viewers. Fans have been posting on social media about the film and there are more adults excited than people might think.

There is a lot of pressure put on the producers and actors of the movie due to the high amounts of nostalgia surrounding it. The first ever Barbie was released on Mar. 9, 1959. The franchise has produced around 40 animated films since 2001. This will be the first-ever live-action Barbie adaptation of the entire series. Fans can see the film at local theaters.

“FOUR FOUND DEAD” EMERGES

Horror story takes place on a sinister night shift

By Qaden Childs Entertainment Editor

The last show has ended, but the nightmare is just beginning. “Four Found Dead” is a young adult horror story, where a group of seven movie theater employees get chased through a soon-to-be abandoned shopping complex.

The story begins at the Tempest Theaters, the last business in an unnamed defunct shopping mall. Jo, the story’s protagonist, and her six other co-workers are on their last night shift once all the moviegoers have left. However, things take a dark turn when a mysterious stranger arrives at the establishment with a terrible accusation - followed by the power going out and the manager with the keys to the lobby doors and theater safe going missing. Things then go from 0 to 100 when Jo discovers the body of one of her co-workers, prompting everyone else alive to go into a fear-induced panic - before they try and find an exit while a killer stalks them throughout the derelict mall.

The author of the book, Natalie D. Richards, has amassed a grand following. Born in Central Ohio, Natalie was writing stories that kept readers wide awake starting in the second grade. She has already written up to 10 stories, with a few examples being “Six Months Later,” “Seven Dirty Secrets,” and “One Was Lost.”

Overall, “Four Found Dead” is a great story that will leave readers gripping the edge of their seats as they flip through every page. The story is set to come out on May 23, with the cheapest price being $7.99 on a Kindle and a physical paperback copy being $10.79.

TASK FORCE X

New game allows players to kill DC’s iconic superhero team

Grab some kryptonite and add some more nails to your bat, because Metropolis just became a villain’s new playground. “Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League” is a new game in the DC universe that allows players to, as the name states, kill the jus tice league.

For those who are unaware, “Task Force X” - more com monly known as the “Suicide Squad” - is a group of supervillains assembled by U.S. Intelligence Officer Amanda Waller, for highrisk covert operations in exchange for reduced or even nullified prison sentences. Of course, not many members of this group receive such an achievement, as all of them are expendablemeaning that if one member of the group dies, another villain will take their place.

The plot of the game is that the “Suicide Squad” - com posed of Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and King Shark - are sent on a covert mission to Metropolis. However, once the group arrives, they swiftly realize the grim reality of the situ ation: Brainiac, an alien who harvests planets to fill his collection and satiate his obsession for knowledge, has been brainwashing the innocent inhabitants of Metropolis for a full-scale invasion of Earth. To make matters worse - his influence has spread to the members of the Justice League - making them his top enforcers. Now, the Suicide Squad will have to go on a rampage to stop each

member of the League before they take over the Earth in the name “Rocksteady Studios,” the creator of the game, is a British video game developing company based in London, England. This company acts as a subsidiary of “Warner Bros. Games” - with its crowning achievement being the Arkham franchise. The company was first founded in 2004, with its first game - “Urban Chaos: Riot Response” - coming out on May 19, 2006. Three years later, on Aug. 25, Rocksteady Studios developed the first game in its beloved series - “Batman: Arkham Asylum,” which depicted the tale of Batman fighting the Joker and many of his villains while trapped in Arkham Asylum. On Oct. 18, 2011 - “Batman: Arkham City” was released to the public, telling the story of Batman’s nightly crusade, only except he’s stuck in a city filled with Gotham’s criminal

At the current moment, the game’s mechanics are unknown. The only ones that are known are the fact that the game allows for four-person multiplayer and that each playable charac-

All and all, “Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League” is hopefully a game that’ll amass fans just as well as its predecessor has. The game is stated to be released on Feb. 24, 2024 - at an ex-

THE PERFECT LINEUP Everything entertainment for summer break

By Nora Fisher Entertainment Editor

“Fast X” is set to be the last movie of the Fast and Furious working to take out Dom, the releasing today, May

With everything that is going on within the MCU and with so many characters to balance, sometimes it’s easy to forget just how strange Nick Fury’s story has been in recent years. Samuel L. Jackson’s Fury hasn’t been as omnipresent in this series these days, as he’s had a pair of Skrulls impersonating him on Earth, as Fury flies around space in a Skrull ship. But also, after 15 years in the MCU, it’s about time that Nick Fury gets his own

With the help of Nora, “The Electric Mayhem Band” tries to go platinum with their clamorous music and personalities. The band comes face to face with the current-day music scene as they go platinum. Nora is tasked with managing and wrangling the mayhem that is the The old fashion muppet band “Electric Mayhem Band.”

“Transformers: Rise of the Beast” is releasing the same day as “Strays” as a competitor and is hoping to bring in more profit than “Strays.” The movie features some major stars such as Anthony Ramos, Pete Davidson, Liza Koshy, Michelle Yeoh and of course, returning actor Mark Wahlberg. Head out to your local theaters on June 9 to see some animal-based

A modern-day take on the classic 1988 Cronenberg film, the show follows twins Elliot and Beverly Mantle (both played by Weisz) as they push the boundaries of medical ethics to bring women’s health to the forefront of the conversation. sure to be a wild ride that never stops.

SENIOR JORDAN ALEXANDER prepares to throw the ball after catching a fly ball in the first inning of a county tournament game against Roncalli. The Warriors lost this game twelve runs to one.

BACK The Owl - Warren Central - May 19, 2023 - owl.warren.k12.in.us

Photo by Cameron Harris