The Searchlight January 2023

WHS students participate in annual District Festival

Five students performed in Southeastern District's annual event

By Gianna Pompeo Staff Writer

Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA)

Junior and Senior District Festivals are state-wide music programs that require auditions and acceptances in order for students to take part in them.

From Walpole, five students were accepted into the Junior and Senior Southeastern District Festivals from orchestra, chorus and band. Senior Zoe Jagelski was accepted into the senior orchestra for viola and received an All-State recommendation based off of her audition score. Seniors Aden Levenson and Gianna Pompeo, both of whom also received AllState recommendations, were accepted into the senior chorus ensemble along with junior Arvind Narayan. Lastly, freshman Julianna Avelar was accepted into the junior band ensemble.

This year’s district festival was Levenson’s first time audi-

tioning for it and also participating in it. Although auditioning for districts is no easy task, he still approached it with an open mind and a willing attitude, which led to a positive festival experience.

“It was a great experience. I got to sing with over 200 people, so it was fun to participate in a chorus with people from all over the Southeastern District,” said Levenson.

All within 48 hours, students learn new music with a conductor that they do not know. On Friday Jan. 6, students who were accepted into the festival attended a rehearsal at Somerset Berkley

Regional High School from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m under the supervision of WHS orchestra teacher, Andrew Bedrossian. During this rehearsal, the WHS students met up with accepted students from schools within the Southeastern District of Massachusetts. Singers and instrumentalists alike rehearsed for hours, preparing for their performance the next day.

On Saturday Jan. 7, the students departed with WHS band teacher, Tim Flemming, from Walpole at 7:40 a.m. in order to rehearse their repertoire one more time before their concerts. At 1 p.m., the con-

certs of Jazz Band, Treble Choir and Mixed Choir began. After those concerts finished, Orchestra and Symphonic Band performed their concerts at 3 p.m. WHS chorus teacher, Kendra Nutting, was chosen to be the manager of the Southeastern District Treble Choir Ensemble this year. As manager, Nutting’s job consisted of finding a conductor, picking the program, ordering the music, organizing the singers, finding accompanists and maintaining timelines and organization.

“I think the festival went amazing. This was the first normally functioning festival we have had in two years. I’m proud of [the students] for working together under such a short time span,” said Nutting. Within the choruses, the orchestra and the band groups, the success was spread throughout the festival’s ensembles as each group was able to learn their music and perform it all within 48 hours.

Aspiring journalists create first JMS newspaper

JMS Journal features original articles written about middle school life

By Toby Moses Sports Editor

Before winter break, students at Johnson Middle School (JMS) published the first print edition of The JMS Journal, an original newspaper containing stories from the school. Meeting weekly during the extension block, students created a professional looking paper complete with articles, pictures and more.

JMS teacher Corey Coogan ran the extension and assisted with the creation of the SeptemberDecember edition of the paper.

“Time was definitely our biggest nemesis,” said Coogan. “We only met once every seven school days. This forced us to work on articles over a few months rather than a few weeks.”

Students controlled much of the creative process, able to choose their own topics and write about what interested them.

“We spent our first

few extensions brainstorming ideas of what we could cover,” said Coogan. “We talked about news and what would be interesting to our audience. Then students picked one of the ideas and ran with it .

Students covered several events that have taken place at JMS over the past couple of months, such as the Halloween dodgeball tournament and football games. Middle school student Connor Vigneau interviewed students participating in the tournament as well as teachers who ran the event. Interviews can be difficult for new journalists, but students were able to obtain detailed information from their peers and their teachers in this edition of the paper from both in-person and remote interviews.

Another article outlined the recent success of the middle school football team who recently reached the Super Bowl. Both coaches and students on

the team were interviewed for the article. The paper contained several interviews by students Aneesa Maity with new teachers at JMS and student Grace Savickas covered the difficult transition from elementary school to middle school. The article featured advice from a counselor at the school as well as quotes from students about the transition.

“We only had four articles in our first edition,” said Coogan. “I would love to increase that to five or six.”

Readers can expect future editions of The JMS Journal over the course of the year, with even more content about the middle school. Students are currently in the brainstorming process for the next paper, but the ideas so far are looking promising.

“[We] might do a March Madness piece, and there are also some fun activities that students are excited to cover like the ski trips, the

school play and maybe even the spelling bee,” said Coogan. With plenty going on at JMS, writers at the paper have many options to choose from. Readers will not have to wait too long for another edition; according to Coogan, the next issue of the paper should be released before April vacation.

Photo/ Sarah Pompeo

Music students across Southeastern district recognized for ability at annual District Festival.

Editors-in-Chief

Sophia Brownsword

Kristyn Dentremont

Isabelle O’Connell

News Editor

Grace Ryan

Sports Editor Toby Moses

Opinion Editor

Liam McDonough

Lifestyle Editor

Annie Cameron

A&E Editor

Ciara Foley

Feature Editor

Erin Malinn

Social Media & Business Manager

Meg McNeil

Staff Writers

Second Year Writers

Liv Carney

Jess Cruz

Gianna Pompeo

Emily Sullivan

First Year Writers

Sahithi Ajjarapu

Emily Botelho

Violet Burgess

Alexa Dayaa

Jaylee Fitzpatrick

Maxwell Grant

Kaitlyn Jones

Nicole Martin

Sophie Murray

Adonai Paulos

Nicole Scotton

Governor Baker’s term reaches a close Baker leaves Massachusetts in economic prosperity

By Grace Ryan News Editor

Jan. 5 marked the end of Governor Charlie Baker’s eight years as the 72nd Massachusetts Governor as Governor Maura Healey was sworn in. Baker, a two-term Governor, has guided Massachusetts through challenges and changes since 2015. Although a member of the Republican party, Baker has been known for his bipartisan efforts as well as uniting Massachusetts during the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and economic development.

Baker, in his eight years, turned around the Massachusetts economy with his support of tax relief, creation of jobs and increasing surpluses, including the 7 billion dollars in the savings. Baker also focused on community development and sought out grants for low-income communities and signed the Community Compact Initiative in 2016. Similarly, he invested money in affordable housing and created the Massachusetts Public Housing Initiative.

Baker also placed significant focus on the labor department during his two terms. Baker, like many other government officials, worked to lower unemployment, but also went a step further by investing in equipment for vocational high schools and community colleges. In 2018, Baker signed into law the “grand bargain” bill that increased the minimum wage incrementally to $15 by 2023.

Baker invested in public education as he increased investment into math and science classes. Baker signed into law a bill that invests in education for immigrant students, especially for those whom English is a second language. Baker also invested in school safety. In 2017, Baker signed a law to require all schools to have automated external defibrillators in case of heart related emergencies. More recently, in 2022, Baker sought to improve school security and emergency response preparation.

In response to growing climate change reforms across the country including the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Baker also signed a climate change and clean energy bill in the last year to continue his efforts to combat climate change. The bill allowed for fossil fuel bans and improvements to wind energy. In the area of climate change, Baker has made efforts to decrease greenhouse gas

emissions by promoting electric vehicles, and he promoted recycling and clean water initiatives.

Although Baker’s efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic received mixed reviews, Baker did keep the state afloat by supporting health care professionals, small businesses and schools during a difficult time. Baker worked to keep necessary resources like COVID-19 tests and masks in stock for those in need while his administration worked to publicize vaccinations. Through his eight years of work, Baker not only kept the state afloat during a tough time, but also managed to expand the state’s resources and outreach. Now, after his work as governor, Baker has become the next president of the National Collegiate Athletics Association—a surprise to many. Baker will use his experience as leader of Massachusetts in a different area where he will continue the development of college sports.

UNICEF club hosts donation drive WHS club supports More Than Words nonprofit

By Liv Carney Staff Writer

This winter, WHS’s UNICEF Club is organizing a donation drive for the More Than Words foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports people ages 16-24 who are either court involved, in the foster care system, homeless or not in school. The drive will collect donations such

as books, records, CDs, DVDs, video games, linens, clothes and shoes that will then be sold by the organization’s young adult employees that run their storefront.

More Than Words seeks to foster independence and stability in young adults by employing them in their physical and online stores. Through these work opportunities, the young adults employed gain important work experience and build professional skills to help them transition into the workforce in their later years. The program serves 314 individuals as of now, and helps 92% of their participants earn a high school diploma or equivalent certificate.

“For me, what made More Than Words special was follow-through,” More Than Words alumna Jayna said on their website. “A lot of times, adults don’t do what they say they’ll do for you, or they give up when there is a roadblock. When More Than Words said they’d help me with something

they did, even when it was hard.”

Students in the UNICEF Club hope the drive brings awareness to the foundation in order to bolster the organization’s efforts to empower young people. The club supports affiliate organizations of the international humanitarian organization UNICEF (United Nations International and Children’s Emergency Fund) in their mission to protect disadvantaged children around the world

“UNICEF Club is really excited to be a part of donating for the More Than Words enterprise to show our support for their mission goal of allowing young individuals to take charge of their lives while learning the importance of business,” UNICEF Club president Rachel McDonough said.

The designated dropoff areas for the More Than Words drive include the main lobby of WHS and the Walpole Public Library and the drive will run to Feb. 17.

Baker will utilize his leadership experience as the new president of the NCAA.

Photo/Flickr

TikTok product hauls negatively influence viewers

Hauls promote a culture of overconsumption and materialism

By Annie Cameron Lifestyle Editor

TikTok has remained a leading social media outlet in the 2020s; however, a large number of TikTok trends that have emerged promote toxic behavior that needs to be left in 2022, specifically hauls.

The ever-beloved hauls are an extremely popular trend with a largely negative influence. Especially following Christmas, hauls have been in excess throughout TikTok with a variety of creators posting their present hauls for everyone to see. Creators also often post hauls from popular clothing brands such as Shein, Aritzia, Urban Outfitters and Brandy Melville, as well as hauls from stores such as Amazon, Target and Sephora. Although watching hauls can be entertaining, the videos simultaneously promote both overconsumption and materialism. These are two prevalent issues in society, as people often look to material possessions in order to cure stress or emotions,

and fill some sort of void inside themselves. These issues already plagued society prior to the influx of hauls on social media, and have since continued to grow as a result. Influencers take pride in sharing clothes or products that have “changed their lives” or that are a “must have,” especially for the new year. Thus, viewers will look to purchase these items in

order to enhance their own life. If the influencer owns that product and leads a happy life, then

anyone who owns that product will lead a happy life, right? Additionally, influencers will often post these haul videos several times a week, further promoting these unrealistic expectations that are cast upon society. Viewers are overwhelmed with haul-content every day, and naturally feel the need to keep up on the current products as much as possible despite how unrealistic this expectation is. Products are expensive, and prices add up fast when consumers are purchasing items as often as influencers encourage. In most cases, influencers promote the products throughout their videos and highly encourage viewers to invest. However, what is often overlooked, are the paid promotions between influencers and these product brands. Majority of the time, the influencer receives a certain amount of revenue from the brand or company each time a customer purchases their product through their link or using their code. Thus, the influencer has a reason to show these

products in a positive light, in order to make more money, neglecting the actual quality of the product. Although some of the products influencers reviewmay be good, they are likely not “life-changing” as described, and just a ploy for more sales. Moreover, influencers often boast about what a good deal buyers will get on these products, or describe them as being a “dupe” or knock-off for a different name-brand product. However, these “cheaper” items are still costly, and add up quickly, which influencers often fail to mention. Despite how unrealistic these standards are, many viewers still feel jealous as a result of these haul videos, which can often lead to more spending. Seeing haul videos constantly flooding social media feeds normalizes these expectations and subsequently causes many viewers to spend unnecessary money on these advertised products in order to “fit in.” As a result, the most popular trend of all is perhaps also the most dangerous: overconsumption.

The NFL should prioritize players’ health

Recent injuries in the NFL highlight a need for reform in the industry

By Nicole Scotton Staff Writer

On Jan. 2, the NFL’s Buffalo Bills defensive back, Damar Hamlin, collapsed on the field after tackling Cincinnati wide receiver, Tee Higgins. It was later discovered that Hamlin had suffered from cardiac arrest, most likely coming from the hit. The game was ultimately suspended only after the NFL debated over whether or not to keep playing. This controversial discussion of whether or not to resume the game upset fans on both teams and led to the question of whether or not the NFL is taking the right procedures in regards to their players’ health. Does the NFL prioritize their players, or do they only care about their business?

It has been made evident that the NFL is more focused on business transactions and monetary value rather than the players’ wellness. To them, the talented football stars that have been transformed into celebrities seem like merely a pawn to their game. The $132 billion company attracts 184 billion fans that they do not want to disappoint, because after all, the fans are where they acquire their money from. Many fans at the Monday game were visibly upset, most shaking their heads and covering their mouths with their hands after discovering how the NFL

had handled the event. While the NFL does have a notorious tight schedule, it is still inexcusable to disregard somebody’s health. The big industry reacted to the event as if it was meaningless and unimportant, disregarding the talented players’ wellbeing. The fact that there was ever a debate on whether or not to resume the game shines light on their questionable morality of the NFL. If the NFL truly cared about what their audience wanted, the game would have been postponed immediately. Although this problem is more pertinent when it comes to national sports leagues like the NFL, this problem is also relevant to high school sports. Many student athletes feel pressured to still play in their sports despite not being in good health. Many athletes will run on injured ankles, perform despite having concussions, and even overexert their bodies when they are not feeling their best. Doing so can cause serious and even irreversible injury, but high school students feel so pressured to carry on their athleticism as college is nearing that they are willing to take these risks that are prone to lifelong difficulty. Schools must provide more education and support with respect to school sports for the wellbeing of their students. They should prioritize their student athletes’ health, and must

be able to identify when the student could be concealing an injury. More injury related education should be provided to emphasize why students should avoid putting themselves in danger. Critics may argue that the eager football stars are aware of exactly what they are signing up for when they commit to the sport; however, the NFL should still take substantial injury-preventive measures to protect their players. Football is a major contact sport, so injuries are bound to happen. Common football related injuries include muscle strains, broken and fractured bones, concussions and many others. However, the aggressive sport unfortunately can also lead to many more serious injuries,

such as brain trauma-related injuries and heart complications due to the aggressive nature of the tackles that the players endure each game. It is important to avoid complications such as these, as they can be fatal. Although high-paying NFL players are willingly signing up for the sport and are aware of the many dangers that comes with it, they are participating in the sport for their love of football, not to put their lives on the line. Despite the mostly-unavoidable risks that come with football, the NFL should still prioritize its players’ health, as it is common human decency to do so. Football, or any other sport for that matter, should never be responsible for taking somebody’s life.

Hauls are some of the most popular videos on Tiktok nowadays.

Fans rallied around Bills player Damar Hamlin after he suffered cardiac arrest during a game.

Photo/Pittsburg Post-Gazette

Graphic/ Annie Cameron

Leading a healthy life is becoming a privilege

and wellness culture in the United States is not accessible for all

By Meg McNeil Social Media & Business Manager

“New Year, new me”—a phrase used by many to promote a healthier lifestyle in the new year; however, this goal is often unachievable because of the obstructive pricing of healthy food in America. The United States economy is going through a period of inflation, causing prices of consumer goods such as food to increase–healthy foods in particular are soaring in price, opposing the less nutrient rich foods being the only affordable option. With food prices increasing, those in lower-income situations do not have equal access to healthy food, causing deficiencies in their levels of nutrients. Unhealthy food can result in overall physical and mental health issues such as depleting high energy levels, high blood pressure, and more. Unhealthy food elevates the chances of obesity which are already at an all time high in America. Another factor of increased obesity in America is the availability of high-calorie, large portions of food at lower prices than nutritious food. The link between poverty and obesity is strength-

ening as the wealth gap between the upper income families and lower income families widens. Not only is living a healthy lifestyle often unachievable, but so is accessing basic dietary needs for those who are intolerant or allergic to certain

ished areas with higher quality supermarkets selling most to all of the products deemed healthy. These high-quality stores are not usually found in impoverished areas. So, lowering the availability of these products to those who already struggle to purchas-

Graphic/Meghan McNeil

organize household items. Specifically, videos showing organized fridges filled with an exorbitant amount of food being put into containers with the sole purpose of gaining popularity online, causing great amounts of food waste across the world.

Personal fitness, as well as nutritional food, work together for the goal of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and correctly balancing both is necessary to achieve this lifestyle. Although gaining access to physical activity might seem as simple as going for a run or doing some push-ups, for those who work multiple jobs to make ends meet, budgeting time into an already stressful schedule to be healthy is difficult to juggle while concurrently struggling to make enough money to buy food for the week. Following a healthy lifestyle is beneficial to all parts of one’s life, but factors of America’s economic standing and fluctuation cause many to consume an inadequate amount of nutrients.

food products. Affording alternatives to products with dairy or gluten for those unable to consume it can be high in cost. Availability is another key concern for those already living in impover-

ing food regardless of the level of nutrients and affect on the body. to even afford unhealthy foods.

Many social media websites such as TikTok have trends that glorify “aesthetic” ways to

If the U.S., as well as the rest of the world, wants to progress as a functioning society, change is crucial for healthy food and physical exercise as it needs to be made

Should schools consider a four-day week? Why an abbreviated school week could actually work

By Liam McDonough Opinion Editor

It is no question that many students this year have been pushed to the brink with heavy workloads, extracurriculars and outside responsibilities. Unfortunately, if students are looking for a break in the chaos, they are going to have to wait several months. The problem with the current school year format is how overwhelming it can become, day in and day out,

for five days a week, 40 weeks a year. In fact, in a 2020 survey done by Yale University, approximately 80 percent of high school students around the country reported feeling stressed and overwhelmed from academic rigor. And when students finally make it through the week, their reward comes in the form of a two-day break that is usually spent by doing more schoolwork in order to prepare for the week ahead. While it may seem like an impossible problem to solve, the

root of this issue is very apparent: there is simply not enough time to live stress-free with the challenges of school towering over students. During the week, five days are spent in anticipation of the weekend, with students trying to deal with many different aspects of their own lives. Then, the two days of the weekend are meant for recovery, but there is barely any time to recover. The solution to this is an idea that is constantly brought up, yet repeatedly dismissed because of its radical approach: a four day school week. When it is initially considered, a four day school week seems inefficient and unprofessional, given the fact that it just seems like a way to extend the weekend for students; however, this concept has only been analyzed on a surface level. If a four day week was actually considered, the benefits would be made much more clear to people.

First of all, a shortened week would provide students and teachers with much more time to complete all academic work. With this additional time, students would be able to realistically manage their homework, along with their outlying activities. With the opportunity to handily accomplish all their tasks, students, as well as teach-

ers, will feel less pressured during the weekend to rush to get their work done in order to come into school on Monday wound-up and sleep-deprived. Secondly, a four day week would lead to a better overall academic performance from students. An abbreviated week would allow for students to gain more sleep, which helps immensely with memory retention. In that same survey conducted by Yale University, approximately 70 percent of participants reported that they feel inattentive and bored during the school day. If this adjusted schedule was implemented, it would lessen the amount of information thrown at students during the school week, and, in turn, help them to learn in a more progressive, engaging and spaced-out manner. One of the biggest rebuttals for this argument is how it would dramatically decrease the length of the school year by more than a month’s worth of school days. If summer vacation and midyear school vacations were to be shortened, though, the lost time would be made up with ease. And although students and teachers may disagree with this approach at first, it could very well lead to an increase in quality of life in the long term.

Health

Foods higher in fats are often cheaper and more readily available than many health foods.

Four day weeks can provide a multitude of benefits, including additonal sleep.

Graphic/Kristyn Dentremont

“Get ready with me” videos trending in 2023 GRWM vlogs featuring famous influencers amass millions of views

By Jess Cruz Staff Writer

The internet’s new star Alix Earle has gained her growing platform through “get ready with me” (GRWM) videos. GRWM is becoming popular content once again. The GRWM acronym can be traced to the early 2010s, pertaining to vlogging content on social media that shows the creator getting ready for the day, showing viewers their typical mornings or nights routines, usually consisting of putting on skincare, makeup and an outfit and sharing their plans for the day. Similar styles of GRWM vlogging was popular among YouTube stars in the last decade. TikTok GRWM creators are just beginning to grow, and even partnering with exclusive brands that are subsequently featured in their videos.

Earle is a 22 year old Univ. of Miami student who gained nearly 3 million TikTok followers in the time between Thanksgiving 2022 and New Year’s Day. Insider.com reports that Earle is earning $70,000 per TikTok post despite her few

weeks of popularity after skyrocketing on the app through GRWM content. Earle typically sits in her room and talks about her day’s plans while putting her makeup on screen, pausing to share the name of the makeup product before continuing her routine. Her conversations vary by TikTok, in some of her content she applies her makeup while insightfully sharing her experiences with personal matters like her acne history and anxiety.

Earle’s GRWM content has led Earle to partnering with popular brands like Amazon and Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez, which she now promotes. In mid-January, Tarte Cosmetics took Earle and several GRWM creators on a partner trip in Dubai. However, creators have also collaborated with smaller creators like Sophie Ayre (Fenty Beauty by Rhianna), and Darcy McQueeny (lululemon), both accumulating 4 million combined TikTok followers.

Earle has already cultivated major influence among teenage girls in the nation to be like her. Makeup stores such as Ulta and Sephora cannot keep up with their rapid sell out of prod-

ucts due to Earle’s influence on beauty. Despite many of Earle’s products already being best sellers, thousands of TikTok posts by teenage girls admit to dedicating purchases because Alix Eare uses a product. Many users expressed that they wanted Earle to post her gifts because many wanted to purchase the products she got, #AlixEarleEffect and “Alix Christmas Haul” became trending tags on TikTok during Christmas. However, Earle explained she would not post her gifts as it may have come off as privileged or “distasteful”. Many describe GRWM posts like watching a friend talk-

ing to you, however these posts are beyond just pure entertainment, as it is becoming a successful way to influence viewers with products through how pleasing or convenient a product can be. Brands are successfully promoting their products when partnering with creators. The revamp of GRWM content has proved to be a popular form of media, and is providing many TikTok users a sense of comfort through its friendly vlogging. GRWM content has also become a strategic and consumer approved manner of influencing products.

Work study students enter job placements

The new program allows students to pursue interests beyond the classroom

By the Searchlight Staff

At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, WHS staff members Bailey Tighe and James Connelly implemented the first ever work study program at WHS. In order to be eligible for a second semester work placement, senior students in the program took adjusted classes throughout the first semester in order to fill graduation requirements before they began their internships in the spring semester.

In order to graduate, all students at WHS must pass four years of English courses. Throughout semester one, all work study students took a double section of English in order to fulfill the graduation requirement.

“Based on what the students’ interests are, we could day different activities and cover different information. If kids are planning on going to college we do a bit more in terms of citation and research paper function,” work study English teacher Bailey Tighe said. “But if they are not planning to go to college, we still do research, reading, writing, and presenting all of those aspects of what English looks like outside of [high school].”

Along with taking classes during semester one, work study

students were also tasked with figuring out what exactly they wanted to do during their placement. Some students knew exactly what field they wanted to work in, and even where they wanted to intern. However, some students required extra exploration and assistance from the program’s coordinators in order to find a plan that worked for them.

“We have them take aptitude tests; plus, some kids know what they want to do and where they want to go. A lot of it is honestly cold calling, we call the

Senior Ryan Fowkes entered the work study program with the plan to become a firefighter after graduation. Massachusetts firefighter requirements include receiving at least a highschool diploma or GED as well as EMT training, along with the physical and mental tasks assigned at the academy. As a part of the work study program, Fowkes decided to enter into an EMT school to receive the necessary training, allowing him to kickstart his future before his highschool graduation.

ple in some way, ” Fowkes said.

Walpole’s work study program allowed seniors this year with any intended future plans–college, trade school, entering the workforce, etc.—to garner work experience and build their resumes before receiving their diplomas on June 4.

“I think it is so valuable for students who are not on a traditional academic track to have things to try and to see ways to be successful, financially stable, and independent without a struggle who are also not going to college,” Tighe said.

The work study program staff hopes to expand the student body’s knowledge about the program as the program grows. As this was the first year the program was implemented at WHS, there were seven senior students who joined and followed through with the program to further their interest in their field of work. As for the future of the program, the school hopes to introduce the program to students earlier on in their high school careers.

number of different companies we’ve reached out to alumni and parents within the school to see if their companies would take high school students,” work study coordinator James Connolly said.

“I had always wanted to become a firefighter, some older relatives were and it inspired me to become one and my dad always wanted to become one. I always wanted to help peo-

“We do hope to have more students moving forward and more college track students,” Tighe said. “I think the perception that work study is just for kids that don’t want to go to college is a misperception and we’re working to combat that idea.”

Photo/TikTok

Students began their work placements at the beginning of the second semester.

Photo/ James Connolly

Earle discusses her daily schedule while applying makeup products.

in school, the expectation was that students were still learning the material they were supposed to, but over a computer screen. The ways in which students handled completing their school work from home carried over to their following school years and academic success. Mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression also play a big role surrounding the school environment for students post-pandemic. As students were deprived from social interaction for several months at a time, students returned to school more anxious and depressed than ever. Students grew attachments to their homes, and now it is difficult to think of sitting in a classroom for seven hours a day. As the seniors this year were freshmen during the pandemic, they will be the last grade to understand the effects COVID-19 had on all four years of their high school careers. Each grade and each student was affected differently and had to adapt to the changes in their environment. The WHS alumnus, now college students, set the precedent for school culture going forward in their initial reactions to the pandemic. Now that school is seemingly back to nor

casts and radio shows. all that they were–unknown, term side effects, accurately predict extent of. Fast forward a sample survey of proved that of about 98% felt that had left lingering academic performance, levels and ability as well as their interest personal level of development of other “I just feel doing school at tivation for coming and doing work an anonymous 68.6% of dents answered that their academic performance affected by the 81.4% believed their demic motivation Not only is it students’ achievement that but their motivation schoolwork itself. are able to overcome motivation and not performance, which in the 12.8% increase who believed their affected but not their “I had to keep I wanted for my couldn’t let my grades I knew I wanted petitive healthcare college,” senior Ally While some able to retain their els because of set tions, many were to their full academic “I used to completed and give

shows. But that’s were–unknown, longthat no one could predict or project the forward three years, of WHS students those surveyed, that the pandemic lingering effects on their performance, motivation ability to concentrate, interest in school, of stress and the other social skills. feel like ever since home my mocoming to school work has lacked,” student said. of survey responthat they believed performance was pandemic, while their personal acawas also affected. students’ academic has been altereed, motivation to complete itself. Some students overcome their lack of not let it affect their which can be seen increase of students their motivation was their performance.

keep in mind what future and that I grades slip because to apply to comhealthcare programs from Ally Brown said. some students were their motivation levset future expectaunable to live up academic potential.

to have my work give no excuses on

if it was not. Now I have little to no motivation with my work and school is dreadful to go to,” another anonymous student said.

Students surveyed described this lack of motivation as not only a decrease in the amount of effort dedicated to schoolwork, but also as increased levels of procrastination, lack of focus in class and a greater desire to not go to school entirely. In the first semester of the 2019-2020 school year, the number of students–18 and older–that dismissed themselves from school was 109. During the first semester of 2022, this number jumped to 311. “Senioritis” has long been a thing before the pandemic, but after the pandemic, it seems as if students are becoming more and more affected by it.

According to Harvard’s Graduate School of Education Magazine, happiness and motivation levels are distinctly linked. However, when students are forced to try and fit four years of education into roughly 2.5 years, there is going to be added stress. And when their is added stress, this can affect factors such as levels of happiness, and subsequently levels of motivation.

In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that during the first year of the pandemic there was a 25% increase globally in prevalence of anxiety and depression–young people seemingly being the most affected. If motivation is directly linked to happiness, the lack of motivation stemming from the pandemic at WHS makes sense considering the increase in mental illness around the world.

The widespread loss of motivation in students does not affect students’ individual class performances, but also how they value education as a whole. When this lack of motivation and effort affects students from all ages throughout school systems, the effects can be detrimental to learning environments. Motivation fuels cognitive development, and it enhances the brain’s capability to learn; therefore, mo-

tivation is necessary in students.

Teachers are some of the greatest planners in the world. They prepare lessons for students, establish deadlines and organize their courses for students to have the best chance at acing final exams in the spring. However, there is not enough planning and organization in the world that could have prepared educators for the unexpected events in March of 2020 when their careers took a dark, unprecedented turn. After being conditioned to wake up at 5:45 am, order an iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts and arrive in their classroom with a computer and a pop quiz for each of their students, it is reasonable to assume teachers were unprepared for the new-age of learning the pandemic forced onto schools. Using unfamiliar technology, teachers had to educate their students from home for three months, and then through a hybrid model in the following school year. Now, almost three years later, schools are back in order, and things seem “normal” again. While that may be the case for some, many educators in the district, as well as the rest of the world, are still recovering from the stressful online-learning model and simultaneously adapting to changes in the classroom dynamic.

One may argue that the most fulfilling aspects of being an educator are the hands-on learning environment and the “Ah-hah” moments that students experience when teachers help them finally understand challenging lessons.

Over a Google Meet, however, teachers found that their work to educate students was not nearly as appreciated as it was in the classroom. During a social and emotional learning workshop conducted by WHS English teacher Kerry McMenimen, WPS teachers were asked about obstacles they have continuously encountered in the classroom since the pandemic, and a common response referenced the “lack of respect” students seem to have for teachers and their work.

“Students in general

have become more passive,” history teacher Gillian Hogan said. “Students take less ownership and responsibility for due dates, as well as taking and keeping track of materials.”

Besides receiving less respect from students, teachers have also noticed students exhibit weaker emotional skills and avoid social interactions, likely because of how heavily students relied on technology during the pandemic. During in-person learning, students constantly interact with their peers and teachers —even if they do not want to—and as a result, students develop socialization skills and emotional maturity. After switching to Google Meets, however, students were given a dangerous amount of power when they learned they could shut off their cameras and microphones. -Students could disengage from all social interactions, and teachers are seeing the results today as students find it very difficult to communicate with them. Teachers now have to play a guessing game in order to figure out how they can help a struggling student who will not reach out for help.

“Students are lacking in emotional and social intelligence by years,” an anonymous WHS teacher said.

Teachers foster challenging and motivational learning environments because their job is not only to educate, but to inspire students to build a better future. COVID-19, however, changed the relationship between teachers and students, leaving teachers across the world with the same question in mind: How can they inspire students to want to learn again?

All in all, every aspect of school systems was affected by the shutdown–teachers, students, learning itself. The long-term effects of the pandemic are alive and real at not just WHS, but schools around the globe. School systems currently face a pandemic of their own, one where students are not interested in learning and teachers do not yet know how to help them.

Graphics/ Kristyn Dentremont

Tips to stay motivated for New Years resolutions

Progress looks different within each individual’s goals

By Emily Bothelo Staff Writer

As 2022 ends people are looking to leave behind old versions of themselves and start fresh in the new year. For most people, these minor improvements are called “New year’s resolutions,” and often disregard them after only a few weeks. From going to the gym to making your bed every morning, the size of these resolutions varies from person to person.The start of a new year is considered a “fresh start” that allows individuals to take small steps in order to achieve bigger long term goals.

The pressure of achieving these goals is often exactly the reason they do not come true. We enter the new year full of motivation to better ourselves, which some people easily continue throughout the year. For others, that drive is harder to maintain after just a few weeks of trying to better ourselves.

Once you learn to keep this motivation present after the first few months, new

year’s resolutions will simply become accomplished goals. Staying motivated is easy for some people, but for the majority, a little help may be need ed. The first way to remain motivated is to choose realis tic goals you can see yourself accomplishing. Knowing yourself well enough to accept what goals can and can not be reached with in these resolu tions will only help you in the long run. Choosing unattainable goals will only cause frus tration when they are not be ing met, rather than being happy with your progress. Everyone’s goals for the new year should be specific to bettering their own life and working hard towards your own personal goals. Too often, resolutions are created with the intention of pleasing others.

Working to achieve a goal with other people in mind will cause motivation to diminish quickly. New Year’s resolutions should be fun, and focus on bettering one’s own life. Another way to keep your motivation up is to stop comparing yourself to others. Everyone’s goals are completely different. Comparing your own personal goals to the goals of someone else will only cause you to judge your own path. It is no secret that everyone accomplishes their goals at different paces. To some people, it’s best to accomplish their goals fast to get them out of the way. To others, slow gradual progress is best and that is okay. The

speed in which you accomplish your goals is unrelated to the amount of progress you made. Another way to remain motivated is to track your progress.

Keeping tabs on how far you have come while acknowledging how much more you have to go. Tracking your progress allows you to actually see your growth in accomplishing your goal. The more you see yourself getting closer to your goal, the more motivated you will be to accomplish it.

Regardless of how significant your New Year’s resolution is, staying motivated is a crucial part of achieving your goal. Remember that New Year’s resolutions are not about changing your entire life,but taking small steps towards achieving your goals. Instead of trying to accomplishing all of your goals at once, resolutions allow you to take small steps to better yourself little by little. Through some mindful choices and realistic expectations, achieving one’s resolutions can be a sustainable and fulfilling way to become your best self.

Self-improvement is too normalized in modern era

Most journeys of self-improvement are not linear

By Ciara Foley A & E Editor

As humans, we naturally crave the next big thing—wanting to achieve higher status than peers is a part of nature. It is the sole reason as to why hustle culture, through its variety of standards, has still ceased to exist today. People begin obsessing over improving different aspects of their life to fit their idealistic dream selves through self-help tips, and a strive to follow such restrictions.

Rather, following such culture presents pathways to various results: burn out, mental health declines and ceaseless comparison. It jeopardizes the main objective of the mission—to take care of your mind and body, as it is the best thing you can do for yourself.

For those who hope to meet the charisma of society’s standards, the torment of it can materialize quickly. Podcasts, TED Talks, YouTube Videos and TikToks all demonstrate how the mindset can swallow one whole through surrounding yourself with “positive” social media accounts and self-help influencers. The never-ending abyss of content reminds those who open practically any social media app to not give up, as creators post pictures and videos of their own life experiences and journey results.

Instead, such “motivation” creates confusion that allowing personal mental breaks is influencing laziness, disregarding what the body needs most after long hours of productivity—rest. The necessity for consistent self-improvement, especially when not allowing yourself typical enjoyable things, forms a deep lack of motivation.

On top of that, cravings usually intensify overtime, leading to heavy mood swings and poor mental balance of understanding what is benefitting one’s self and what is not.

Acknowledged or not, every single person has insecurities existing within some aspect of their life. The entire reasoning behind self-help is to present consistent change in people’s personal lives that refines such insecurities to self-love, furthermore guiding an optimistic outlook of life. It requires addiction and dedication that penetrates into a cycle of denying realistic cravings and routines, leaving those entering it hopeful for quick, long-term results.

While obsessively targeting and attempting to improve something eventually leads to results, with endless self-doubt follows irrational goals to fix every single problem. Many attempting to improve themselves create such irrational goals from disappointment regarding unexpect-

ed results, and from additional insecurities or other problems that build onto such false hope.

Instead of promising selfimprovement, individuals commonly welcome developments of unconfidence and are even more hesitant about their appearance than how they felt prior.

Self-improvement trending should not be seen as a negative thing—it could even be referred to as one of the practical topics to result from social media. At the same time, it should be kept in mind that social media creators purposefully create colorful and attractive posts to lure viewers into the illusion that the life of a creator is possible. This trend

and social media overall can, in most cases, be one of the most unrealistic aspects of the internet. Comparison emerges from these platforms that makes a typical life seem bland and unappealing, opening a door for inadequate feelings. The fact should be acknowledged that, as human beings, it is not in our nature to constantly push one’s self to improve.

Perfection is improbable and is sadly a goal most of us attempt to achieve—instead, attempt to focus on giving yourself mental breaks and appreciate where you are, as everyone deserves to treat themselves with compassion and understanding.

The media portrays a simplistic journey to self-love, depiste how complicated it can be.

Graphic/ Kristyn Dentremont

Graphic/ Emily Botelho

Top podcasts to stream in the new year Podcasts provide listeners with an educational form of entertainment

By Emily Sullivan Staff Writer

Living in a world where society revolves around the use of technology, people should take advantage of the beneficial resources it provides. Instead of scrolling through a phone for hours on end and feeling unproductive, listening to a podcast is an alternative solution to getting work done while using social media. Podcasts can be listened to while doing simple tasks such as driving, cleaning or even exercising. Not only do podcasts help cut down on screen time, but they also help people gain knowledge through the simple act of listening. The number one podcaster on Spotify in 2022 was Joe Rogan. The comedian and UFC commentator started the “Joe Rogan Experience” on Dec. 24, 2009. This podcast was created to feature a wide variety of guests that listeners would normally not hear on a podcast. Some guests include Elon Musk, Bernie Sand-

ers and Mike Tyson. This podcast has become so popular over the past few years due to the wide variety of guests and little to no editing that is done on the one to two-hour podcasts. This podcast is good to listen to if you are interested in a discussion on pop culture and different current events. Another top podcast with

a high number of listeners in the past few years has been “Anything Goes” by Emma Chamberlain. This podcast was created in early 2020 as a way to express specific topics that she likes to talk about. The podcast is geared toward teen and young adult audiences to help normalize different feelings about different teenage years

experiences. There are over 150 episodes and fans describe this podcast as something interesting to listen to because there is always a new and different topic of discussion. From daily advice to a random story that happened five years ago, this is a podcast to look forward to every Thursday. For people who enjoy suspense and action stories, the “True Crime Daily The Podcast “is one to listen to. Emmy Awardwinning TV journalist and host, Ana Garcia, narrates this podcast. This podcast is designed to cover murders, investigations and unsolved crimes. Recently they have covered the Idaho murder which provided an analysis of everything that happened during the investigation. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars, this podcast is something to listen to during free time to educate oneself while experiencing first-hand suspense. As the new year is settling in, taking advantage of podcasts is a great way to lower screen time while gaining knowledge through portable entertainment.

“Glass Onion” keeps fans of “Knives Out” riveted

The film follows Rian Johnson’s 2019 mystery film

By Violet Burgess Staff Writer

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” came out to the public Sept. 10, 2022. The movie later started streaming on Netflix on Dec. 23, 2022. Once the movie was released, and later became easily accessible to the public, numerous viewers enjoyed every aspect of the movie as it quickly became a top watch.

The movie is the first of the franchise, “Knives Out”. Many raved about the first movie, so the second had a high standard to meet in order to please fans. The movies are very different, yet have similar connections with plot and the same detective across both movies.

In “Knives Out,” the plot of the story begins with the murder of Harlan, the patriarch of a rich family. Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) leads the investigation alongside the nurse Marta (Ana de Armas) and the greedy family members of the Thrombey family. In the second movie, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”, the only character that returns from the first film is Blanc.

The sequel follows the same idea of a murder mystery crime; however, this time, it begins as a game. Just as in the original film, all the characters in “Knives Out: Glass Onion” are related, connected by their

want and need for wealth, status and security from their friend Miles Bron (Edward Norton).

Both movies live up to their expectations, maybe even surpassed expectations, and neither disappointed in the end. Neither movie outshined the other and both were entetaining in their own aspects.

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” is classified as a murder mystery movie, yet adds little remarks of comedy to keep viewers on their toes. With every change of scenery, viewers never know what is coming next, it could either be a secret being exposed, a funny joke being pointed out or a surprising murder coming out of nowhere. The second movie competed

greatly compared to the first, and continuosly kept viewers entertained wanting to watch more. Each character has their own specific traits and it is difficult to understand the group’s connections, until they get exposed for their real purposes of friendship. Viewers truly never know what they are gonna get next.

After watching the second movie, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” most fans can only post how the movie is better than the first. In many viewers’ opinions, which is not always found with movie sequels, is that the movie is more satisfying compared to the first and is not trying too hard to connect the movies or try and improve the plot.

Viewers enjoy the film’s

use of clever foreshadowing without the gimmicky or deceiving misinformation that many mystery films rely on. Similar to the first movie, viewers are given clues and easter eggs, making it possible for the audience to solve the mystery as well. The movie is a perfect murder mystery and not a single scene failed to impress.

By adding this aspect to the movie, it keeps viewers awake and unable to take their eyes off the screen. The movie contains action, thriller, mystery and slight twists that still follow the plot of the movie without confusing viewers.

Thanks to its talented cast, smart writing, and engaging plot, “Knives Out: Glass Onion” stands out as one of the most entertaining films of the year so far.

Daniel Craig’s Detective Benoit Blanc is the only returning character from the original “Knives Out” film.

Podcasts of all genres are rising in popularity with young listeners.

Graphic/ Kristyn Dentremont

Photo/ TV insider

“Drag Race” controversies outshine its 15th season Beloved show known more for its drama than its positive representation

By Erin Malinn Feature Editor

“Rupaul’s Drag Race” has served as a platform for the LGBTQ+ community for over a decade, representing contestants of all backgrounds and identities. Though the show has allowed for positive LGBTQ+ representation in the media, the press has not always been optimistic. With the premiere of its 15th season on Jan. 6, long-time fans are reminded of the many controversies that have been attached to the show.

Season nine finalist Peppermint confessed to her fellow contestants that she identified as a transgender woman during her season in 2018, receiving nothing but support. After the season aired, however, Rupaul denounced transgender contestants in an interview with The Guardian, explaining how entering the show after receiving gender-affirming surgery and hormones can be classified as “cheating”. The backlash to these comments recieved as little as an emotionless apology on Twitter.

“You can identify as a woman and say you’re transi-

tioning, but it changes once you start changing your body”, he said. “You can take performance enhancing drugs and still be an athlete, just not in the Olympics.”

Like many reality and competition shows, “Rupaul’s Drag Race” has been accused of cutting clips together to forge scenes for drama and views— what many fans refer to as the “villain edit.” Multiple contestants have received excessive hate after the airing of their season because they have been depicted as overly rude and outspoken by the editors. Season four finalist Phi Phi O’Hara serves as one of the biggest examples of the villain edit. Her appearance was almost entirely consumed by a feud with winner, Sharon Needles, though this feud was confirmed to be planned by the two contestants. O’Hara’s appearance on “Rupaul’s Drag Race: All Stars”—a spinoff to the original series—was no different, feuding with season five contestant Alyssa Edwards rather than Needles.

“It’s like watching a completely different show,” O’Hara said in an interview with the Vulture. “It’s nothing like what happened on set.”

Season 12 of “Rupaul’s Drag Race” was forced through a different setup than other seasons, ending shooting while the pandemic began. While this only affected the final two episodes, much of the footage had to be relooked after accusations of one of the contestants came to light. Sherrie Pie—who had almost made it to the end of the competition—was disqualified from the show after being accused of impersonating a casting director to solicit explicit audition tapes from five different men. Pie, born as Joey Gugliemelli, manipulated five young aspiring actors to act out degrading and embar-

rassing things for a fake audition process. The season aired with a disclaimer at the beginning of every episode to ensure an understanding of her disqualification, stating that the season was filmed before the accusations came out. Reality shows become consumed by drama, hanging onto it to stay on air. “Rupaul’s Drag Race” is no different, its six Emmy wins proof of that. While much of the shows’ drama is placed on screen by editors, a competition setting is known to bring out the worst in people. With over a dozen big personalities on one small set, conflict is unavoidable.

Prince Harry’s memoir gives insight into royal life The book follows the prince’s controversial exit from royal duties

By Sahithi Ajjarapu Staff Writer

On Jan. 10, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, published his memoir, “Spare.” A chilling story of his life fueled by outrage–elevated by the talents of a ghostwriter–the book planned to expose more about his life. It recounts events of his childhood following the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, reflects on his time in the military and ends with the falling out between the two couples: Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince William, Duke

of Cambridge and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

The book has roughly three parts. The first part of the memoir follows Prince Harry as a child, from the death of Princess Diana until he graduates school.

The second part of the book is about his military service. The third and final part is an amalgamation of him meeting his wife and leaving the royal family.

The book title comes from the royal colloquialism of a spare for the heir to the throne; essentially, if something were to happen to the heir, there is a spare, a spare heir if you will. The spare is not only expected to be the throne in case the heir were to die, but also if they were to need a kidney, bone marrow, etc.

The book begins with Prince Harry and Prince William are staying with their father, King Charles, and are told that Princess Diana has died. For the better part of Prince Harry’s life, he reportedly convinced himself that Princess Diana was still very much alive and hiding.

Prince Harry also comments about how his father often joked about Harry not being his biological child. Not only does this portray the royal family as less than adequate but also as slightly abusive, despite their reputation.

Continuing on, he remi-

nisces on his time at a British boarding school where Prince Harry supposedly had to get bathed until he was 13 years of age.

All in all, the book comments on his life in the royal family. Prince Harry claims that he often felt out of place and neglected while in the family. However, he also admits that he himself is a person who is out of touch with the real world. As a descendant of the royal family, and a senior royal, it is hard to imagine Prince Harry as a down to Earth individual. At one point in the

book, he claims that he ia a fan of the show, “Friends.” Details like this help further differentiate Prince Harry from the rest of his family, who are often viewed as stuck up or out of touch.

The publication of Prince Harry’s memoir allowed him to take control of the narrative that was heavily constructed by the British monarchy. Within the memoir, he paints himself as a as a flawed yet sympathetic product of circumstances out of his control, cementing the cultural decline of the royal family.

Rupaul’s Drag Race announced its 15th season on Dec 13.

Photo/ Variety

Prince Harry and Markle caused controversy when they stepped away from their royal duties.

Photo/ Penguin Random House

Photo/ Flickr “Spare” provides intimate details into the life of a modern-day member of the royal family.

Patriots fall short of expected NFL playoff race New England’s season ends in disappointment

By Toby Moses Sports Editor

The New England Patriots have been a football dynasty since the early 2000s, winning six Super Bowl titles under head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Since Brady’s departure to Tampa Bay in 2020 however, New England football has not been the same. Between the struggle to find a franchise quarterback and losing key members of the team such as Rob Gronkowski, fans question whether the Patriots will find any sort of postseason success in the near future.

The Patriots finished the 2022-2023 NFL season with a record of 8-9. With this record, the Patriots finished in 3rd in the AFC East, missing the playoffs. The AFC East division has seen massive improvement in recent years with the Miami Dolphins adding talent and the Buffalo Bills becoming a Super Bowl contender behind star quarterback Josh Allen. By missing the playoffs, the Patriots secured the 14th overall pick in the 2023 draft. In last year’s draft the Patriots did a decent job finding talent, notably picking players Marcus Jones and Tyquan Thor-

ton. Many fans expect the Patriots to draft offensive talent with their early pick, hopefully giving their quarterback a stronger core of receivers. In order to compete with the contentious AFC East division, the Patriots offense must improve in the offseason.

With high expectations after his Pro-Bowl rookie season, Patriots quarterback Mac Jones struggled more in his second year. Jones performed poorly early on in the season and eventually went down with an ankle sprain, causing rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe to take his spot as starter. Zappe played two great games against teams with poor defenses, forming the narrative of a QB controversy in New England, although Patriots coaching staff ultimately viewed Jones as the clear starter.

Despite offensive struggles, the Patriots defense remained solid. A lead contributor to the defense is linebacker Matthew Judon, who has continued to play at an elite level. Judon ended the year with 15.5 sacks, representative of his dominant pass-rushing ability. Other solid defensive players such as Kyle Dugger, Devin McCourty and Marcus Jones contributed to the success of the secondary.

A point of controversy this season derives from the new Patriots offensive coordinator, Matt Patricia. Patricia’s questionable play calls and the struggling Patriots offense made him a clear target for fans who were aggravated over the team’s struggles. Patricia’s vision for the offense does not align with the talent on the roster, as good offensive coordinators should adapt their offense to what their team is capable of. Currently, the Patriots plan on keeping Patricia for next season but fans have been calling for his firing since the middle of the season. As the teams in their di-

vision rapidly improve, the Patriots’ regression has fans worried about the years to come. The team has a great opportunity to add a talented offensive weapon in the upcoming draft, a way to improve the passing game and give Jones more targets. In order to succeed next year, the Patriots offense must be revamped. Whether under the coordination of Patricia or another coach, the offense can not continue to struggle like it did in 2022. Through free agent signings and next year’s draft, the Patriots have a chance to return to the playoffs next year if ownership makes good decisions.

College football season ends in storybook fashion Georgia concludes 2022 season by winning repeat championship

By Liam McDonough Opinion Editor

With the college football season officially over, fans are now wondering how the season could come to end so quickly. And even though the script has played itself out, this season was still one to remember, with classic rivalries, inspiring narratives and a storybook ending for Georgia and their sixth-year quarterback Stetson Bennett IV. The introduction of the season schedule highlighted one of the most anticipated matchups of 2022. Conference rivals Michigan and Ohio State were set to go at it on Nov. 26 in a game that would have serious playoff implications. Michigan’s victory over Ohio State in the year prior added a little extra tension between

the two rivals, given that Ohio State had largely dominated for a very long period of time, which expanded back several decades. The game itself lived up to expectations due to exhilarating action, including a handful of big plays, and a four touchdown game from Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. In the end, Michigan walked away with a decisive 45-23 victory on their way to an undefeated regular season and a second consecutive playoff berth.

Georgia, the defending national champion, was looking to repeat last year’s success with their talented and solidified core. Many fans assumed that, in order to have the chance to repeat, Georgia would have to first go through the mighty Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide; however, that matchup never materialized due to an unexpected season collapse by Alabama. Georgia was able to lock up the No. 1 seed after an undefeated season and a convincing victory over LSU in the conference championship.

While the powerhouse teams were certainly fun to watch, perhaps the most compelling story coming from college football in years would

be the unprecedented success of Texas Christian University (TCU). From being unranked before the season’s start, TCU took the league by storm, finishing with a 12-0 regular season record and earning the No. 3 seed in playoffs. Led by rookie head coach Sonny Dykes and senior quarterback Max Duggan, TCU’s historical run marked the first time that an unranked program earned a spot in the playoffs since Georgia Tech 1990.

TCU marched into the playoffs with a blatant chip on their shoulder as they were matched up with No. 2 seed Michigan. While Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh achieved plenty of success this season, his previous playoff runs served as a kryptonite for his reputation. While the game was close all the way through, TCU was able to eke out a close win, defeating Harbaugh’s team in a game that was deemed controversial by fans due to referee inconsistencies.

In the other semifinal, No. 4 Ohio State was left with the tall task of taking down Georgia, and they almost did just that. However, due to a last second missed field goal attempt, Georgia narrowly escaped with a 42-

41 victory and advanced to the championship. To the surprise of many fans, the national championship was the least entertaining of the three games. Georgia could have practically been crowned the title midway through the first half as they trounced TCU 65-7, and they became the first program to win back-to-back championships since Alabama in the 2011 and 2012 seasons. While the final weeks of the season played out in somewhat of a predictable fashion with Georgia ultimately winning the championship, the football world saw baffling events unfold before their eyes throughout this season. Fans were entertained with an extremely tight playoff race that featured teams such as Clemson, Tennessee and Alabama who barely missed the mark. Fans also got to see the emergence of University of Southern California’s quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, who led the Trojans to an overall record of 11-3. Whether it was the incredible run by a forever underdog in TCU, or Stetson Benett’s picture-perfect ending in a last stand for Georgia, the 2022 college football season will be looked back on for years to come.

Mac Jones gets stiff-armed for the game winning touchdown

Stetson Bennett IV holds up trophy.

Photo/ Twitter

Photo/ Instagram

Walpole wrestling falls to Framingham at home Despite hard fought victories, team loses

By Max Grant Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Jan. 4, the Walpole wrestling team hosted their second home meet of the season against the Framingham Flyers. Walpole was looking to rebound after a crushing defeat to the Natick Red Hawks, losing 46-6 in the home opener.

Walpole is a young team with no seniors; however, they have proved their ability to compete as long as they wrestle hard. While no seniors are a part of the team, junior wrestlers and team captains Matt Mourad and Stephen Hutnick, have improved over the past year since joining the team.

The return of reigning sectional champion at the 106lbs division, sophomore Logan Murphy gives Walpole wrestling a great future to look forward to. Walpole looked to display that future against Framingham. The meet started with Walpole forfeiting the 106-lbs division match, giving Framingham a quick 6-0 lead. Walpole tied the lead at six points with Murphy pinning his Fram-

ingham matchup 36 seconds into the second period.

What followed was a string of quick losses for Walpole. A pin by Framingham in the first period against sophomore TJ Frasier, another forfeit win for Framingham at the 126-lbs division, junior Matt Bruen getting pinned after leading for the majority of the match in the second period and junior Edmond Fitzgerald getting pinned 53 seconds in the match. Walpole’s string of losses allowed Framingham to establish a convincing 30-6 lead with more than half of the weight classes left to wrestle.

Mourad looked to provide for a struggling Walpole team by getting more points on the scoreboard to cut the Framingham lead down. In the first period alone, Mourad scored eight points to match his opponent’s six points in the first period.

A quick takedown from Mourad in the second period guided him to a pin and six points for Walpole. A spark of hope was lit for the slumping Walpole team. That spark fizzled out quickly as Walpole dropped the next three matches to Framingham,

who gained a strong 51-12 lead going into the final match of the night for the varsity team.

Hutnick, starting varsity heavyweight-lbs division for Walpole, was riding a victory in Milton where he pinned his opponent in the third period. Hutnick led by one point entering the third period against his Framingham counterpart.

Thirteen seconds into the third period, Hutnick pinned

his opponent and celebrated his victory with a fist pump in the air. The celebration was short lived as Walpole lost 51-18 at the end of Hutnick’s match “The kids wrestled hard, that’s all I can ask for out of them. We just didn’t get the results we wanted,” coach Paul Murphy said. Walpole faces Braintree at home on Jan. 19, where they look to rebound and come out victorious.

Girls hockey team loses to Milton at home

Lady Timberwolves fought until final buzzer despite tough opponent

By Alexa Dayaa Staff Writer

As the Walpole girls’ hockey team nears the middle of their season they’ve so far played nine games total and played five of those games for the Herget conference. They currently sit at fifth place in the standings with three unfortunate losses and two ties. With eleven games left in the season, the Walpole team is hoping to turn their season around.

This team has shown signs of potential, especially in their game against Milton on Jan. 11. Though the team took an unlucky 4-0 loss, there were many opportunities and moments for Walpole that led to

the outcome. Junior Elena Govini started the Timberwolves off strong with two close shots against a very talented Milton keeper. Later, an unlucky rebound put Milton up 1-0 with 12:18 remaining in the period. Shortly after, Govoni pressed the Milton defense with a shot to the left side of the goal and consistently penetrated the defense for most of the game. Senior captain and goalkeeper Maddy Clark had five saves in the first period with the help of a strong defensive line. Milton came back to score a goal right at the buzzer, leaving them with a 2-0 lead with two periods left to play. Milton went on to score another two goals before the 4-0 unfortunate loss.

Walpole had 36 shots on net compared to Miltons 22, proving that the team has controlled the game but have not received ideal results. The entire Walpole line held their ground through three periods. The score sheets do not tell the story of how well this team has been able to compete this season.

Coaches Bob England and Mike Roof have confidence in their team going into the second half of the season, and they have team goals heading into the second half of the season they would like to achieve.

“Being more consistent each period by skating and playing from the first puck drop to the final buzzer. We are going to be that team that nobody thought would be there at playoff time,” England said.

In his first season with the team, England said that he started the season wanting his team to understand the system. Not only has the team been successful in understanding each other and the system, but the team has also successfully scored more goals than they have conceded during the season. The team’s losses have been extremely unlucky in very close games.

The Walpole girls’ hockey team will be hosting a fundraiser for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

against Natick on Feb. 1 to benefit the 4 You I Will Fight. Also, they will be hosting their senior night where they will celebrate seniors and captains, Shannon Morris and Sophia Theofilou along with Clark on Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. against Mansfield. The team hopes to improve their record in the second half of the season and continue their competitiveness in their next games.

“We are hoping to win with upcoming games and continue to improve, I think we definitely have a shot at playoffs if we continue on this upward trajectory. We have had a blast during this season so far and look forward to continuing the positivity going forward,” Clark said.

Photo/ Jake Gondleman

Junior wrestler and team captain Matt Mourad wrestling against Framingham opponent.

Walpole’s Lady Timberwolves team features talent of all levels this 2022-2023 season.

Photo/ Twitter