Girls Basketball

By Ovi Davis

For the girls’ basketball team, this is “the building year” Every coach, teacher, and administrator says it “The girls are building a team from the ground up,” they say “They’ve come such a long way” While there’s no doubt the girls’ basketball team has come a long way, and no doubt the WCS community should be proud of them for their tremendous effort, with so high to climb, it can sometimes be tricky to see the next step

It’s difficult to build a program with only one senior on the team or so coach Dylan Heath told the Voice. “[It’s] a lot of hard work,” he said “A lot of patience ” It’s especially hard when the bulk of the girls on the team are underclassmen “Even those sophomore girls,” he explained, “they have maybe 80 practices after combining this year and last year”

When asked about being the only remaining upperclassman on the team, senior Erihana Vincent told the Spartan Voice, “I will say, first and foremost, it gets a little lonely. In the beginning of the year, I thought there would be more upperclassmen It was definitely overwhelming going into senior year knowing that not only is it going to be hard with a new coach, but I don't actually know [who's going to be there] "

There's no doubt that these new and often uncomfortable situations allow the members of the team to get close to one another “I try to be a leader,” Erihana told the Voice “I definitely want to give other girls a chance to do so, but I try to do things not because I’m the bossy senior, but because they know me, and going through a season like last year’s together really gets you pretty close with one another because no one really gets it except for the people you went through it with This year we're doing a good job of not letting it be as much of a mental battle "

Both Erihana and Coach Heath are very proud of everything the team has accomplished this year “We’re totally at the bottom of this huge mountain, and we’ve come so far already since the beginning of the season,” said Erihana Coach Heath told the Voice, “From where we were once to where we are now, we've made leaps and bounds " The girls' basketball team really has come a long way At the beginning of the year, the team averaged close to 30 turnovers a game--now, they've halved that Their points per game have also shot way up since the beginning of the season.

Looking ahead, Erihana is ready for substate, but she is particularly excited about Senior Night on February 17 when the girls play El Dorado. "I think we can look forward to playing teams like Rose Hill and El Dorado again because El Dorado was a really close game but we just barely lost," she said "El Dorado will be fun to play at home, and Rose Hill-we'll see if we can beat them again That would be a huge momentum boost "

Collegiate Students...In the Black Box...With an Awesome Script?

by Julia Longsworth

In case you haven’t heard by now, the Upper School recently put on the play Clue! I was lucky enough to see it on the show’s closing night, and, let me just say, the show was amazing It starred Andrew Porter, Arman Issa, AJ Nagabhushan, Erihana Vincent, Cooper Winters, Cooper Ryan, Maddie Carpenter, and Price Johnson as the main cast The combination of the play being performed in the Black Box theater and the expertise of the technical crew truly made me feel like I was in the Boddy Manor along with the characters It was clear that each and every single person involved with the production put their all into creating a wonderful show!

I had never seen Clue the movie or played the boardgame, so it was very exciting to guess who had murdered who and to find out what had actually been afoot on that cold, dark, evening. I mean, what’s a great play without some homicide? Moving on, the comedic timing was incredible as well The performance was often punctuated by laughter, mostly due to the semi-alcoholic tendencies of Mrs Peacock (played by senior Erihana Vincent) However, I will say that the homophones of Mr Boddy being killed in the Boddy Manor by the real Mr Boddy, which turned Mr Boddy into an actual body, certainly made my brain short-circuit for a bit.

Of course, the entire production wouldn’t be possible without director Ashley Winters Overall, the play was incredibly well done, and it was truly a joy to be able to go and see it It was no surprise to hear the roaring applause and raving reviews after the show. It’s only natural to give a hats-off (not heads!) to the humorously homicidal production that was Clue!

However, as exciting as the rest of the season may be, what's most exciting is the next one. Erihana told the Voice, "I think they are going to be awesomecoming off of this season of a lot of progression " Coach Heath add, "i'm most excited to seee how this grows from year to year. In my short coaching career, this is the most fun I've had coaching a team, which makes it really easy to come to work each day"

Europe News Report, Late Winter 2022-23

by Hannah Ternes

Pope Benedict’s death

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, born with the name Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, who made history as the first German pope in a thousand years and the first pope to resign in six hundred, died on New Year’s Eve in 2022 Benedict’s eight-year papacy ended in 2013, when he resigned and was replaced by the current pope, Francis Pope Benedict XVI was buried on January 5, 2023, in a Vatican crypt in St Peter’s Basilica His funeral Mass was led by Pope Francis

North Kosovo crisis

Tensions have flared in the northern region of Kosovo

Kosovo, whose population comprised of over 90% Albanians and 6% Serbs, was a territory of the former Yugoslavia and sought independence after the latter broke up in the 1990s. The Kosovan War ensued between Kosovo and the country who claimed governance over it, Serbia. Despite declaring independence in 2008, only half of the countries around the world recognize it as an independent country; the other half consider it a province of Serbia

Because of this, Kosovo is neither a member of the United Nations nor the European Union (Serbia has been a member of the UN since 2000, and applied for membership in the EU in 2009, though accession negotiations are still ongoing )

Kosovo’s government is dominated by Albanians, leaving the Serbs, who largely live in the north, feeling unrepresented Tensions came to a head when the government requested that many Serbs use Kosovan-issued license plates rather than Serbian, and 50,000 Kosovan Serbs refused, citing that they do not recognize Kosovo’s independence. In the summer of 2022, Kosovan Serbs formed a barricade and shots were fired On January 8, 2023, NATO denied Serbia’s request to station 1,000 troops in North Kosovo

Czech elections

On January 28, 2023, Petr Pavel was elected president of the Czech Republic with 58% of votes He formerly served as the chair of NATO’s Military Committee and defeated Andrej Babiš, who was the Czech prime minister from 2017 to 2021

Pavel will take office on March 9 He succeeds Miloš Zeman in the presidential position

EU Sues Facebook’s Parent Company

Meta Platforms, Inc , which is a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus, was sued for 390 million euros (over 410 million USD) by the European Union on January 4 The EU argues that the company’s policy of using online activity to target users with ads violates the EU’s privacy rules This fine comes after the news that the EU had opened an investigation into Meta’s possible antitrust violations due to it owning both the social media platform Facebook and the online shopping program Facebook Marketplace, on the grounds that Facebook’s ad data could give Facebook Marketplace an unfair advantage over other competition in the online shopping market The US Federal Trade Commission has filed two similar antitrust lawsuits

South America Report

by Satvik Kolla

The country of Brazil was shocked in December when Pelé, widely considered to be the greatest European football player in history, died at the age of 82 in Rio

The only player in history to win three World Cups, Pelé made his debut for the Brazilian team at the age of seventeen He scored twice in the 1958 World Cup Final and still remains the youngest ever goalscorer in a World Cup final In his storied 22-year career with FC Santos, the Brazilian national team, and the New York Cosmos, Pelé scored a Guinness World Record 1,281 goals in over 1300 games

Pelé was the first global superstar of the game of European football, and was a pioneering force in how the game was played His athleticism and technique were unmatched, and his style of play influenced many of the greats of the game who followed him He was a Brazilian icon, dubbed “The King” for his influence on the country and its visibility to the world Thanks to Pelé, Brazil became known for the game of European football. The team played with a vibrant, cohesive style that was aesthetically pleasing and effective in getting wins and scoring goals In times of political crises and hard times for the people of Brazil, Pelé transcended politics with his play, bringing joy to every man, woman, and child who enjoyed the game, regardless of their race or class

His impact on the black population in Brazil was also tremendous He was the one of the first black men to rise to prominence in Brazil, and won the World Cup in 1958 only 70 years after slavery had been abolished there He gave the black community hope, that it was possible for them to have visibility despite the poverty and racism they faced and continue to face today

The legend was given a send-off worthy of a king, as his coffin was taken through the streets of Santos, with thousands showing up to pay their respects Pelé was an icon of sport, and a reminder of the power of entertainment

Argentina Triumphs in Thrilling World Cup Final

by Satvik Kolla

Every four years, the world (well, most of it) gathers to witness the grandest sporting spectacle on the planet The World Cup El Mundial Copa do Mundo Weltmeisterschaft Whether the title be in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or German, the joy and excitement the World Cup brings remains the same Living in America, we fail to grasp the significance of this event, or of European football in general For the rest of the world, however, this World Cup was like every other before it: a massive festival, a celebration of the beautiful game And what a celebration it was

I could talk about a lot After all, it’s the World Cup But I want to focus on Argentina La Albiceleste fought incessantly throughout the tournament and reached the summit, winning the World Cup for the first time in 36 years And this win was more special than anything Because Lionel Andrés Messi finally got his hands on the Jules Rimet Trophy

Even if you’ve never watched a minute of European football in your life, you know who Lionel Messi is That in itself is indicative of the level of player he is Genius Maestro Sent from the stars to play the beautiful game, to enchant and enthrall millions around the world Yet despite his storied career, there was one thing that he was missing, until this tournament He’d had four European cups, ten Spanish League titles, and seven Ballon D’Ors (the award for the best player in the world for that season) The World Cup And that’s what made Argentina stand out in this tournament It was Messi’s last dance, his last chance to lead his country to the apex, to repeat what the great Diego Maradona did all those years ago, and to tie a bow on the greatest career of all time Tie the bow he did In what is possibly the greatest World Cup final in history, Argentina overcame France in a six-goal thriller Going 20 up in the first half, Argentina seemed to be in total control, until one man single handedly carried France back into the game: Kylian Mbappe Lottin, considered by many to be the frontrunner for the title of greatest player in the world. He scored two goals in 90 seconds, the second of which was a beautiful volley, one of the greatest goals ever in a World cup final The game then went to extra time, when Argentina came back and Messi added a third Then France was awarded a penalty, which Kylian Mbappe converted into a goal to tie the game again and become only the second player ever to score a hat trick in a World Cup final The game then went to a penalty shootout, where Argentina was able to finally settle the match, beating France Lionel Messi had finally achieved the most important victory of his career.

Why did so many want to see Lionel Messi win on December 18th? I believe that it’s because of the same reason why we watch sports Because our favorite players captivate us with their skills When they captivate us, we become attached to them, following their victories and their losses We see them at the peaks of success and the pits of despair When Messi and Argentina lost to Germany in the World Cup Final eight years ago, the world watched as a heartbroken Messi walked past the trophy In the eight years since, the world has seen Messi retire from the Argentinian team, win another European cup, and score goals outside of our wildest dreams He worked, and toiled, to get another shot at winning the World Cup In a sense, those who watched the tournament and followed the sport were all with Lionel Messi that day 798 goals and 388 assists in his career, each one of them capturing the heart of another fan passionate about the game All of those fans, including me, were with him that day And when he finally lifted that coveted Jules Rimet trophy, all of us either smiled, laughed, or cried in joy, as we saw the man who had given us so many amazing memories complete the beautiful game

World News Asia

by Caroline Kuglich

China: According to a Peking University study, COVID cases in China have risen to an astounding 900 million, with 64% of the population contracting the virus at least once International health experts estimate about 1 million COVID-related deaths this year in China Last month, China abruptly disregarded its Zero COVID initiative and opened its borders, leading to protests breaking out across the nation

With Chinese Lunar New Year (CNY) celebrations commencing from January 22 to February 1st, tens of millions of people are returning home to ring in the New Year Traditions from a reunion dinner with extended family on CNY Eve, to watching Lion and Dragon dances and giving red envelopes or 红包 to children create the meaning of CNY

Iran: Over a hundred days since they began, the longest running antigovernment protests since 1979, have shaken the country, killing more than 500 protesters since its start in mid-September The protestors started after the death of twenty-two-year-old Mahsa Amini’s death from Iranian police brutality One resounding slogan of the protest has become “Jin, jiyan, azadi!” or "Woman, life, freedom!”, which represents a woman’s universal struggle These solidarity protests reverberated from Berlin to New York, with fashion brands of Gucci and Balenciaga posting the slogan on their Instagram feeds

Afghanistan: In August 2021, the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, restricting basic human rights, including those of women They took away the right to attend secondary school, and dismissed any women in leadership positions, now requiring them to wear facial coverings and be accompanied by a male relative when traveling outside After the Taliban banned female aid workers from its workforce, the UN Security Council urged the lifting of its oppressive measures, as these women are essential in Afghanistan Adding on, the climate crisis strains communities already debarred by the conflict and humanitarian crisis

Cooking for Two; Sanity for...None

by Vivian Baughman

Hot stuff coming through!

Expectation: Aw, babe, you so are <3

Reality: What? Aaaaah! It burns!!

Pass the honey, please.

Expectation: You’re my honey <3

Reality: Pass the freaking honey already

Waiting for food to cook/bake

Expectation: *Romantically dancing throughout kitchen*

Reality: Dishes Cleanup Catastrophe

Final product.

Expectation: Beautiful Delicious Pinterest worthy

Reality: Burnt Ugly Tastes like cardboard

Eating product.

Expectation: Cuddling and feeding each other

Reality: ... we should order takeout.

Editor's Note:

Expectation: Love means never having to say you're sorry

Reality: Love means laughing with the one you're with even when plans fall apart

World News Africa

by Caroline Kuglich

Nigeria: With an upcoming presidential election set for February, pressure is put on young voters eager for a more effective government, with a record number of voters registered for the election The president, Muhummadu Buhari, had a long list of crises to manage, including rising unemployment, violence from armed groups, and corruption, but led the country to economic turmoil and heightened insecurity

Ethiopia: In November 2022, Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front signed a declaration to cease fire in Pretoria, South Africa The fighting has stopped, but roadblocks remain in Ethiopia’s way to achieving peace and the end of the country’s two-year civil war However, there are positive signs of reconciliation as Ethiopia addresses the humanitarian crisis in Tigray

Somalia: It’s no surprise Somalia tops the International Rescue Committee’s 2023 emergency watchlist, because more than 40% of its population currently or will soon require food assistance, after a two-year drought beginning in 2020 However, Somalia’s food situation has not been classified as a famine A failed rainy season is expected to push 8 3 million people (half of Somalia’s population) toward extreme poverty and hunger by mid-2023 Multiple facets, including rising violence from terrorist groups, combined with the droughts and little rainfall, will lead to further hunger and conflict

Tunisia: Tunisian president Kais Saied has ruled the country as a one-man show He dissolved Parliament, forced out independent judges, and wrote/adopted a new constitution limiting Parliament’s power to increase his own Opponents of Saied called his actions a constitutional coup, but there’s a silence among world leaders about his power grab. The country is on the verge of bankruptcy, leading citizens to migrate to Europe Furthermore, with rising food costs in Tunisia, it’s likely Tunisians will take to the street and protest his rule

Wedding Crashers Review by

Johnny Abromeit

Oh February, a month you either love or hate; there is no in between, the reason being it all comes from the famous holiday of Valentine’s Day for the ones who aren’t in a relationship or just don’t like Valentine’s Day find this month rather cold and repetitive. As February is known for Valentine’s Day, couples around the nation and world come together to celebrate their love and sacrifice that they have made for each other To some it may look like a fancy dinner at a nice restaurant or maybe a special event, but to the typical high school relationship it’s a box of chocolates, a blanket, a teddy bear and a rom-com Although when you think of romantic comedies, you think of the normal lovey dovey sob stories that are heartfelt and sweet, but I can tell you that even if you are in a relationship, situationship, “complicated”, or just single, I can assure you that you will get a good laugh out of watching Wedding Crashers

Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn portray two divorce mediators (John Beckwith and Jeremy Grey) who have an extreme hobby in crashing weddings in hopes of having a good time and to advance their romantic agenda One day as they are working Jeremy comes to John in hope of going to US senator Cleary’s daughter’s wedding To them this is the holy grail of weddings, until John meets Claire Cleary, senator Cleary’s other daughter, and from there the rest unwinds and unfolds

Crazy Rich Asians Review

By Satvik Kolla

The genre of a rom-com is a tricky one, because it’s really easy for a rom-com to blend in, to be clumped together with the wide swath of movies already existing in its genre. Most of them, you can’t really tell the difference between any two They’re turn-your-brain-off, silly, cheesy, corny movies But that’s exactly what makes Crazy Rich Asians all the more special It’s more than a rom-com

Crazy Rich Asians came out in 2018 and was the first Hollywood production to feature a majority Asian cast since The Joy Luck Club in 1993 It follows the story of Rachel Chu, a Chinese-American professor at NYU who travels to Singapore to meet her boyfriend Nicholas Young’s parents and is surprised to discover that the Young family are one of the richest families in all of Asia and the world Beneath a relatively simple plotline, what makes Crazy Rich Asians stand out is its exquisite combination of fun, laughter, culture, and messages You can simultaneously turn your brain off at this movie and keep it turned on at the exact same time The movie talks about the importance of family, tradition, and duty, addressing both the positives and the negatives Along with showcasing the glitz and glamor of modern Asia, Crazy Rich Asians also showcases the simple, everyday cultural aspects that are wondrous to see, from the hawker markets in Singapore, where every cuisine from Asia can be found, to a simple mahjong parlor where Rachel has an important conversation with Nick’s mom

Oh, and let’s talk about Henry Golding, who plays Nicholas Young. A brilliant performance in his very first film; he showcases Nick’s suave, debonair style, with a calm, cool confidence and caring heart all the same While the characters of Nick Young and James Bond are nothing alike, I have a gut feeling that he’ll make an excellent 007 Cast him already, MGM

So yeah, if you’re looking for a special rom-com this Valentine’s Day, Crazy Rich Asians is for you.

10 Things I Hate About You Review

By Julia Longsworth

In my humble opinion, 10 Things I Hate About You is one of the most quintessential rom-coms ever made I will admit that it is not the best movie ever but created,