January 2011
Transcription
January 2011
Wadsworth High School Newspaper II/III January 2011 The 1870 - 2011 Wadsworth City Schools: “Celebrating 141 years of Excellence in Education” BRUIN 625 Broad Street Wadsworth, Ohio 44281 Volume XXXVI No. 4 $1.00 Calamity days pose problem for Ohio schools Photo Courtesy of MCT CAMPUS Photo Courtesy of MCT CAMPUS Photo Courtesy of MCT CAMPUS Snow has hit Ohio hard, making it difficult to go to where one needs. These snow storms make it hard for school buses to drive around and drop off kids, while cleaning off cars is a major hassle for students. BY MALLORY GRUICH AND NICK TAVANELLO Many students and staff members returning to school after winter break have one question on their mind. “What will happen if we have more snow days?” With Wadsworth City Schools already using the maximum three snow days, students may find themselves making up days of school later in the year if bad weather continues. The calamity days that schools have been allowed in Ohio have been reduced from five to three. With half of the winter season remaining, hundreds of schools find themselves having already used all three calamity days. Schools that have used three calamity days are trying to find alternative ways to make up the missed time. One solution that schools N u m b e r students would rather do school work at home during a snow day or come in for makeup days at the end of the school year. “If we had to take online classes on snow days, I would feel like the snow days would be pointless. Snow days are lazy days, not work days,” said Erika Scarberry, 12. Under Former Governor Ted Strickland, the number of calamity days was reduced from five to three- a big drop for Ohio schools. Strickland and Co. wanted to eventually not allow schools to have any calamity days. New Governor John Kasich, who was sworn in January 9, said that he will be doing his best to allow two more snow days, due to the weather conditions causing safety issues. Although schools may be granted more calamity days this year, we are not promised more in the future. The underlying have used in the past is delaying school two hours to see if the roads clear up. WCS does not use this, however. Difficult bus routes, temporary child care arrangements and transportation changes make it hard for the school system to utilize this method. In Cincinnati, OH, the possibility of having school online during snow days is being strongly considered. However, complications with whether or not all students have access to the Internet, let alone a computer, obscure matters. With approval from the Ohio Department of Education, one Ohio District has been investigating a one-year pilot program to see how it could provide schooling to students with or without Internet access during snow days. Although doing school work on a snow day is disappointing, the question arises whether C o f a l a m i t y 3/3 3/3 H i g h l a nd Wadsworth Inside the D problem of determining the amount of snow days Ohio has per year still exists. For seniors, adding extra days onto the end of the year does not sound very appealing. For the senior class, the school year ends May 6, and since the three calamity days allowed have been used, days will be added on to the shortened year. So, many of the seniors are hoping Governor Kasich will expend the amount of calamity days back to five. “As a senior, I would feel mistreated if snow days were added to the end of our school year. I would like to get out of high school and carry out my master plan as soon as possible,” said Dom Owens, 12. These days being added would not affect regular schooling for students but may affect final exams. The normal exam week procedures would still be the same, just a few days later in the week. a y s A The school year ends for the rest of the school on May 27, and with Wadsworth going over the calamity days, the end of the school year would be extended. Students would have a couple days of their summer break taken away. “I would be angry if our school year ended later than May 27. I look forward to getting out of school earlier this year. It would ruin part of my plans for summer,” said Hannah Centea, 9. With many more days of winter left, many people hope the new governor extends the number of calamity days back to five instead of the three we have. If he does not extend the days, Ohioians will find themselves adding a few unfortunate days onto the end of the school year. But, if the number of days is extended back to five, students can take a sigh of relief. l l o w e d / U 3/3 3/3 cloverleaf Medina s e d Bruin: GUIDE TO IMPROVE SPIRIT EPIDEMIC SETBACKS STRIKE SCHOOL IN 2010 Tips one how to improve the student section are given. The top ten moments that setback WHS are revealed. – page 5 – page 10 most entertaining teachers revealed KODAK MOMENTS The top moments captured on camera are displayed. – page 8 teachers are rated on how entertaining they and their classes are at WHS. – page 11 index Page News.............................................................3 Opinion......................................................4,5 Ads .....................................................6, 7, 14 Entertainment............................................... 9 Picture Pages ........................................10, 11 Features .......................................................8 Of the Month...............................................15 Sports....................................................12, 13 Speakout.....................................................16 Visit the Bruin Online at: http://ww2.wadsworth.k12.oh.us/whs/bruin/ 2 January 2011 Academic integrity lacks in final semester Editorial It is hard to believe that we are already starting the third grading period of this school year. Despite the fact we are halfway done with another year, students need to remember that every grading period counts. We at The Bruin feel that students, seniors especially, need to buckle down and finish the year strong. For the class of 2011, time is running out! May 6 and 22 are quickly approaching and students need to be aware of what is in store for us. As seniors, we are able to opt out of taking a final if we hold an A or B average in most classes and do not receive a discipline report. This might seem like an easy task, as most students feel they are able to coast in the last semester of the year. However, teachers are becoming more and more aware of “senioritis” and are doing whatever they can to keep students motivated. Juniors need to be ready for what is to come in the following year. Senior year seems to be a time full of fun and excitement, but the stress of searching for the right college often goes unnoticed. College dreaming, alongside current school work, can be an overload for some students, and the upcoming class needs to prepare themselves for the final year in school. As for the underclassmen, you still have a lot of time to spend in these great halls. However, do not dig yourself in a hole with your grades. Your GPA is fragile and hard to build up in a short time, so do not let up and keep on pushing. Good luck to all students and finish the year strong! It will be worth it. E ditorial The Bruin Brewin’ Debate Is Kinect for Xbox 360 better than Wii? YES NO By hayden kilbride By brad virgin If anybody thinks that the Wii is better than the Kinect, then they should learn the meaning of fun. In the dictionary you will see a picture of the Kinect for the word “fun.” Not only are the few games for the Kinect better than any game that the Wii could come up with for the last couple of years, but they have perfected it in such little time. Kinect is clearly better because there are no controllers that you need to deal with, or worry about using. You are actually in control of the game that you are playing. If you love to play beach volleyball, then you are actually able to play in the middle of December. “Ever since I got the Kinect, it has been almost impossible to stop playing it. I have never enjoyed a game console more,” said Matt Woods, 12. Even though the Kinect does not have the impressive sales stats like the Wii does, just wait a year and the sales will certainly surpass those of the Wii. This is not even a debate. The Wii is a much better product. First of all, the Wii can be played by any age, unlike the Kinect which cannot pick up some players... “The Kinect is not very reliable, and can break very easily, while the Wii picks up movement much better than the Kinect.” said Haley Hassinger, 10. Also, Bri Clendaniel said the following when asked what she thought about Kinect vs. Wii, “The Wii has many more games and has a wider variety to choose from.” In July of 2008, Wii had already sold over 10.9 million systems. In December of 2009, it sold over three million units in the U.S. The Kinect is not doing that well. Wii is better for everyone from any age group. Worldwide, Wii has shipped out over 79.5 million units as of September 2010. Also, as of September 2010, the Wii has sold over 67.71 million copies of their game Wii Sports. All in all, the Wii is simply a better system than Xbox 360’s Kinect. Letters To the editor...... Dear Editor, Right before winter break, we had a Career Day when students went to learn about professions they were interested in. I visited Nursing and Physical Therapy. Going into it, I was thinking that I wanted to be a physical therapist and that it would be the most interesting. It turned out to be that I was wrong. The nursing one was very interesting, and very informative. This is why Career Day is necessary for all students. It gives students a chance to learn things about the profession they will be doing in the future, and answer any questions they have. Danielle Trenta, 11 Dear Editor, I think that the group and leader themes at the basketball games are really cool. It lets kids have fun and stand up and show how they’re different and gives them the confidence to be a leader. It is something I believe a lot more people should do because not too many people these days are able to be a leader or show that they’re different or have as much confidence as they should have. Plus it really shows how our school itself stands out from all of the others and how we’re able to come together as a whole and overcome obstacles. Sean Greear, 12 Dear Editor, There is no doubt that midterm week is very hectic. On top of all the studying, taking the tests are very stressful. Often times, midterms are broken into two halves that are anywhere from 50 to 100 questions, and hard to complete in one class period. I think it would be better if we were on a different bell schedule for midterms because even if the tests are divided into two parts, sometimes it is still difficult to finish them in time. It would make more sense if, like the middle school, we had our morning classes one day and our afternoon ones the next. That way, we would have more time to complete the tests and check our work. Holly Pantalone, 10 Dear Editor, I believe that the new groups and leaders in theme and spirit for the basketball games are ridiculous. It has been taken too far and is becoming too organized. Just because some kids said some “bad” things at a game doesn’t mean everyone should be punished for it. The things that kids said weren’t even controversial; I believe it was no big deal. The punishment they got was too harsh as well. We should be allowed to express and show our theme just like every other school. Making us go through principals and directors is not fair. We have the right to show our spirit and taking that right away is unconstitutional. Nick Kirven, 11 Dear Editor, I just wanted to say that I find it very annoying when we come to any computer based class and our P-Drives do not work. If you Bruin Staff Editor-in-chief: Adam Woodard Assistant Editor: Evan Dammarell, Mackenzie Blanton Copy Editors: Samm Malkowski, Kayleigh Miller, Hayley Douglas Marketing Manager: Tate Moore Front Page: Page Editor: Nick Tavanello Editorial: Page Editor: Adam Woodard Reporters: Hayden Kilbride, Brad Virgin Entertainment: Page Editor: Kara Long Reporter: Josh Kipfer Speakout: Page Editor: Claire VanFleet Reporter: Roy Tate Moore Opinion 1: Page Editor: Kayleigh Miller Reporter: Samm Malkowski Opinion 2: Page Editor: Luke Lyren Reporter: Natalie Davis Features: Page Editor: Tiffany Weiss Reporter: Jack Snowball News: Page Editor: Kaitlin Sherrill Reporter: Alexa Baier Picture Pages: Editors: Hayley McQuate, Callie Ray Sports 1: Page Editor: Tom Calhoun Reporter: Brett Amadon Sports 2: Page Editor: Matt Doyle Reporter: Garrett Cutting Of The Month: Page Editor: Elaina Lanson Reporter: Molly Priest Ads/Business Manager: Hayden Kilbride Assistant: Brad Virgin Adviser: John Gramuglia miss school or are just behind in work it makes it more difficult to make the work up when you have fewer days to do it. Also, if you have a deadline grade set by a teacher they have to change their plans for the week to fit in the unfinished work . It is a major problem with the computer system in WHS and just causes problems when they go down. They should be one of the top priorities to fix so that the high school becomes more efficient for both Wadsworth students and staff. Chandler Lowe, 11 Dear Editor, I attended the Girls varsity basketball game at Green High School over Christmas break and I do not think that it was deserving of all of the slams we are getting in the local papers! I think the student section was out of line with some of the chants, but I don’t think it was as big of a deal as the papers are making it out to be. I also don’t think it is fair that the papers are singling out our school. There are mean high school student sections all over the state who haven’t had articles written about them. I think the new student section committee is a good idea, and I’m also glad these articles haven’t stopped our student sections from all the enthusiasm we like to hear. Kayla Lockwood, 10 Dear Editor, I don’t think that there are any problems with our basketball student section. We just have a lot of Grizzly spirit. The papers are bagging on our student section for having “vulgar” chants, but we are not the only school doing this. We may have gone too far by focusing on one player, but we get blammed and Green gets nothing bad said about them. I think the whole situation is dumb and they should just let us cheer whatever we want. It is called freedom of speech. They should let us have our rights and freedoms that we have. Nathan Pound, 10 Editorial Policy The Bruin is a monthly publication produced by the Newspaper II and Newspaper III students at Wadsworth High School. The Newspaper I class produces the May issue. The staff will do its best to inform the student body and the community of intra-school, community or national events that affect the student body. This paper provides on-the-job training for the staff members. All decisions are made by the staff members with the advice and suggestions of the adviser. The school administration works closely with the staff to ensure accuracy. We, as the students of journalism, hold the same rights and the same responsibilities as professional journalists as we strive for professional standards. These rights include the right to print any material that is not libelous, obscene or excessively disruptive to the school process. The Bruin will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion, color, creed or sex. The staff members accept full responsibility for everything appearing in this publication. The staff strongly encourages students to express their opinions through the letters to the editor column, which is printed every month. The staff also encourages the members of the community to express their opinion as well. Space permitting, all letters will be printed. Because the staff accepts the responsibility for the contents of the paper, we must reserve the right to edit or omit any portion of any letter. All letters must be signed, but the name will be withheld upon request. N ews The Bruin Physical education pushed aside BY ALEXA BAIER Despite the efforts to increase children’s activity and exercise, physical education classes are being put to the side with obesity at its all time highest. This is becoming a trend that seems to be spreading not only throughout the state, but even nationwide. Starting with this year’s freshmen, students are given the option of taking gym or simply participating in two seasons of a sport or being in PHOTO BY ALEXA BAIER News Briefs Lauren , 10, takes a foul shot while playing basketball in physical education. the marching band. There are some schools in the nation where gym is simply cut due to the fact they just cant afford it. Nationwide schools and states have been urging people to eat healthier and exercise more regularly. “Gym teaches me how to stay fit and be healthy,” said Amanda Davies, 10. At many schools, students have an option of completing their Physical Education classes in their own free time. “I think everyone should have to take gym classes because there are many benefits that are not just physical. You learn many lifetime skills and staying healthy for life. You also learn social skills as well,” said teacher, Lance Currens. Obesity in children has been such a huge issue, and physical education being removed seems to only be taking steps in the wrong direction. Obesity is the nations number one problem. There are only five states left where gym is mandatory. These states are Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Vermont. In these states gym is to be taken in all grades K-12. “I feel that physical education limits students ability to explore multiple fitness and athletic challenges,” said teacher, Mike Sladky. Physical Education classes have undergone such a drastic change so suddenly throughout the nation. Obesity on the other hand has not made any improvements and is still a pressing issue. Construction Update There was a shooting near Tucson, Arizona on January 8. The shooting occurred during an open meeting held by Representative Gabrielle Giffords at a super market. Giffords, along with 18 others, were shot by 22-year old Jared Lee Loughner. Nine of the shots proved to be fatal. The youngest victim of the shooting was only nine years old. Loughner was arrested at the scene and has five charges against him, with the possibility of receiving the death sentence. Loughner’s motive behind the shooting still seem to be unclear and he has invoked his right to remain silence. Already this year there has been snow found on every state in America; Florida being left in the dust. Snow was even found in Hawaii. Pirates There are new pictures of Wadsworth High School’s new building online on the Wadsworth City School’s web page. take over cruise ship The United Kingdom’s Spirit of Adventure, a cruise ship, was pursued by pirates while sailing across the Indian Ocean. Career Tech. Programs Course Selection The deadline for Career Tech. is coming up. The applications are to be turned into the guidance office by Tuesday, February 1. The parent’s meeting about course selection for next year will be held Thursday, February 3 at 6:30 P.M. in the West Gym. parent meeting Redefining school spirit BY KAITLIN SHERRILL Since the controversial events at the Lady Grizzlies’ basketball game at Green, Wadsworth’s athletic director, Mr. Rich Berlin, has finally been given a reason to try to implement his plans for a more positive student section in the future. Spirit, as defined by Dictionary.com, is an attitude or principle that inspires, animates or pervades thought, feeling or action. The “spirit” that has been written about our high school has been described as disrespectful and malicious. As a result, administrators would like to change those negative words to positive ones. “School spirit means cheering loudly and supporting Wadsworth Grizzlies with a positive attitude; being mean to other schools is not okay,” said Katie Youngson, 11. For about three years now, Berlin has been thinking about the culture of student sections for all sports and how he would like it to be changed. His goal is to form a student-based leadership group that would be in charge of the attitudes of the members of the student sections at sporting events . “I don’t believe our students are negative by nature, they just got caught up in the heat of the moment. I see the Green game as a teachable moment. We can get better from any experience,” said Berlin. The group would consist of about 15 students: six seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. Members would be selected based on the attendance at the games and they also will portray confidence as a leader. Their duty would be to start positive cheers rooting for our team, but not to bring down the opponents’ fans, coaches or players. To make being a part of this group worth while, Berlin would like to allow them a few privileges. First of all, they would have a chance to be in the front row, closest to the game. Second, he would like them to be admitted to the home games for free since the selection in based on attendance. Third, to distinguish these students from the rest of the crowd, they would be given red T-shirts to wear with the group name on the front representing their city. “I think it would be cool to get incentives for leading positive cheers. This is a good idea to get a lot of people to come to the games,” said Nick Seme, 10. One of the biggest goals for this initiative is to have it practiced throughout the entire Suburban League. Berlin has already met several times with other athletic directors from surrounding schools since the incident. Most of them are on board with the idea, including Green. “I think this group would encourage more positive school spirit in the league because every school would have leaders that give students uplifting cheers to shout and keep people organized,” said Bri Clendaniel, 9. An additional goal would be to increase the school spirit among the faculty and other students at the school. This core group is still in the early planning stages of development and will not be set in stone this year. January 2011 3 Principal’s Message As noted in previous columns, during this school year The Principal’s Message will highlight the “Six Pillars of Character - Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship”. In the November issue, I addressed Trustworthiness, in December, Mr. Fortner addressed Respect, and in this month, Associate Principal Moore will offer comments regarding Responsibility. “Responsibility is defined several ways in the dictionary but my favorite is to be able to answer for one’s conduct and obligations. (In order for you to be responsible you need to be held accountable for your actions and obligations and do what is right.) Students, teachers, administrators and parents all need to be responsible citizens for our society to run as designed. The three groups that I would like to address in the area of responsibility are students, teachers/administrators and parents. Students, we ask a great deal of you to maintain grades, be active in the school, behave appropriately and honor your word. Sometimes that responsibility can be overwhelming for you, however, that is the real world. Each of you is at a different phase in your life. Freshmen and sophomores are adjusting to high school life, along with added responsibility and expectations. Juniors and seniors are trying to finalize college and career plans. Your responsibility is to make good choices as you enter the adult phase of your lives. Teachers and Administrators need to remember that we are not perfect. We have made the same mistakes that our students have made and will need to continue to not judge the students but to try and correct behaviors that will make our school better. Parents need to realize that your sons/daughters do make mistakes. That doesn’t make them bad people, only that they had a moment of non-brilliance. It is your responsibility to hold them accountable and support the corrective behavior if necessary. As we just finished 2010, look back and see if you fulfilled your responsibility to yourself and others. If you did then great, but if you didn’t, what are you going to do? Let’s have a great 2011!” We appreciate Mr. Moore’s advice regarding the character trait of Responsibility. In the February issue, the next guest writer will address Fairness. Character – do you have it? More importantly, do you LIVE by it? Or are you simply a character! “We are . . . Wadsworth!” Mr. Parsons 4 January 2011 Stop, breathe; hard work will pay off OPINION BY KAYLEIGH 7:37 a.m. - School starts. 3:00 p.m. - Extracurriculars. 7:00 p.m. - Work. 10:00 p.m. - Begin homework. 12:00 a.m. - Go to sleep. This is the typical life of a hard working teenager, and although it seems tough and overwhelming now, one day it will all be worth it. High school: some say your four years in high school are some of the best years of your life. Some teens like to take the easy route and float through high school, avoiding any tough classes, late nights and jobs. Personally, I believe that challenging yourself in high school will help out in the long run. Take those classes that might PHOTO BY KAYLEIGH MILLER Lauren, 10, is not only involved in many school sports, but also manages to keep her grades up. challenge you. Give up your favorite T.V. program one night and study a tad bit more, while putting more effort into things that you would normally brush off. Do not be afraid to take tough classes. They will challenge you in a healthy way that will help prepare you for college. College prep classes are a great idea and will give you a sneak peak into college life. “I am glad I have put work into school. Taking college prep courses will prepare me for the work load I will have to endure in college,” said Hannah Gospodinsky, 12. Sports and clubs are another way high school students fill their time. Being a part of a team or club will help you in numerous ways in life. Without a doubt, you will learn how to deal with group problems and situations, respect teammates, and communicate with coaches. Sure, you might be exhausted after a two hour practice, but your hard work will eventually pay off. Juggling games, practices, and meetings will eventually pay off. You may seem super busy now, but in a few years having a full schedule will be normal. Finding a job in high school may be difficult for some, but the benefits of a job are endless. Future employers like to see the work experience on a resume. You will gain many skills and learn new traits when you are employed. “Managing school, basketball, and a job has taught me time management. I am confident that in the future I will be able to handle a busy schedule,” said Bret Baughman, 11. Staying busy in high school will lead to success in life. All of the tight schedules and late nights will one day pay off. If you enter college with this drive and hard working mentality, you will be prepared for anything that comes your way. “I am already working hard trying to prepare myself for the future,” said Tyler Wise, 9. Keep working hard and setting goals for yourself. I promise, one day all of the hard work will be worth the trouble. O pinion 1 1 Think big; dare to dream 2 Give without expecting anything back 3 Be persistent, even when it all looks too hard 4 Speak positively about yourself and others 5 Never stop learning High school etiquette needs to show improvement OPINION BY SAMM Having proper etiquette is something that every person is taught at a young age. I believe that in high school these manners should be commonplace- when in fact, it is becoming a rare trait among our peers. When walking in the hallway, you do not need to walk as slow as a turtle. When a person does this it causes the hallways to become congested and backed up, causing others to be late to their classes. You also do not need to kiss your significant other goodbye before going into a classroom. I am sure you will see them again after school. “These couples need to take a picture and put it in their assignment books, it will last 47% longer,” said Ryan Murphy, 12. The hallways here at WHS are small enough already. Your whole group of friends does not have to walk horizontally like we are playing red rover. There is not enough room for this, and if cliques just stop doing this, the hallways will become less crowded automatically. Another way to keep your high school life easier is to not bring drama upon your social group. There are several ways you can do this. You can bring attention to yourself when “naming” your group of friends. This is unnecessary and will just cause people to talk about you, and now you will have to deal with drama that is uncalled for. If you want to survive high school, you probably should not talk smack about other people. This will cause plenty of unnecessary problems for both the parties involved. Stop the gossip. This is the way many fights at this high school break out, and these type of things should not be happening when we are all mature young adults. If you do not know if 23% Slow, turtle walkers in the hallways. PHOTO BY SAMM MALKOWSKI Ali, 12, and Justin Sovine, 12, walk hand in hand down the narrow hallway, sometimes preventing fellow students from arriving at class on time. something you have heard is true or not, do not keep telling people the wrong thing. This will just get you in trouble, and make you look like the bad guy in the situation. “Stop gossiping and worry more about your homework!” said Hannah Kelley,10. If you are going to cry at school, at least do it in the bathroom. You do not need to draw attention to yourself by Public Displays of Affection. causing a scene and making your problems visible to everyone. Also, after you cry you will be the talk of the school, at least until the end of the day. Excuses do not make anything easier. When you have moved out of high school people are not going to listen to your excuses, so you should learn to stop making them in high school. If you did something, own up to it. Do not try to lie your way 17% Drama, Drama, Drama! out of the situation. The truth is always discovered one way or another and good things can never come of telling a lie. It is most likely your fault that you messed up, so own up to your mistake. You will be more respected and it will make you feel like you are a better person for it. By following these few simples tips, your high school life will be better than ever. 13% Liars. O pinion 2 January 2011 The Bruin 5 Guide to improve spirit epidemic OPINION BY LUKE School spirit in Wadsworth has become a very hot topic. Everyone has a point of view. The administrators feel the students have crossed the line. The students feel the administration needs to loosen up. The cheerleaders say no one cheers with them. Others say the cheerleaders need to cheer louder. Alright, stop all the bickering. I have created a simple guide for all of Wadsworth to bring the city back to the loud sea of red as it once was proud to be. Students: Rules are rules. Get over it. Even if you do not agree with our administration, they are still the boss. Ten years from now if you keep complaining about your boss, you will find your butt on the street. Keep cheering, but do it for our team, not against the other, because it is the right thing to do. It will also benefit the Grizzly team you are cheering for. Mr. Berlin: Your ideas of positive cheering throughout the Suburban League well intentioned, but you seem to be making a mountain out of a mole hill. Principals: It seems like you are spending all of your time and effort babysitting our student section, but are there not bigger fish to fry? What if you put all this effort into stopping our kids from walking right outside our building to smoke everyday? There sure as heck would not be a cloud of smoke hovering over the Gazebo anymore. And also, let us have more spirit. Why can we not paint our faces on gameday? Why is it that the most spirited day of the year is the day before the Ohio State and Michigan game? How many of you actually went to Ohio State, and how many of you work at Wadsworth? Teachers: There is no excuse as to why you all do not wear red on Fridays. How about you all come to the games for once? Mr. Berg, kudos to you. Your music in the hallways and microphone during football season were awesome. Keep up the good work. Student Council: You do a ton for this school, but our pep rallies are weak. Popsicle eating contests? How about we get Mr. Moore, Mr. Postak and Mr. Flaherty to fast for a day and have a pizza eating contest in the afternoon! And PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT TAYLOR Wadsworth students have shown their support for the Girls basketball team all season long. For the Twinsburg game, they dressed up as officials for Referee Appreciation Night. also, pick a topic and focus on it. If the topic of the pep rally is the big game vs Green, talk about the big game vs Green! Last year we had to pause our wrestlers’ State Championship celebration to introduce our Speech and Debate team. Give them their own pep rally, but those two do not mix. Cheerleaders: When our sports teams walk into other schools, they are greeted by signs throughout the hallways and on players lockers. You guys do your job, but you could go above and beyond. If the students need to be more involved in the game then it is the cheerleaders job to get us there. Also, it seems like our students are the ones making up the cheers, not the cheerleaders. Parents: We all know you can sit up in the bleachers and criticize who is coaching, who is playing and what plays are being run. How about we let the players play, the coaches coach, and the officials officiate, while we let the parents parent. You have raised fine young men and women, so support them! Stand up and Cheer! Wear your Grizzly gear and start a “Wadsworth (clap clap) Grizzlies (clap clap)” chant every once in a while! Band: You are awesome. Everyone knows you are all really good at playing your instruments, but show some spirit while doing so! Join in on the cheers, come to more basketball games, heck, come to some away games! I was just at a St. Ignatius game and they brought over 50 kids to an away game with a rockin’ atmosphere.! Entire School: Do not get all mad reading this. Read it, take in the constructive criticism, and show more school spirt. Anyone in Wadsworth: If you have any problem with the way things are being done, you are officially welcome into the student section at any time to help us out. We are, Wadsworth! Beware: Facebook is not a book OPINION BY NATALIE As much as our generation loves to stay connected through the use of Twitter, texting, Facebook, and other forms of “new” communication, it would be best if these formats never displace the traditional methods of the written word, including literature. It does not matter how much a traditionalist may shudder to think of a novel condensed down to a short story, it would be even more of a travesty to attempt any sort of story-telling in a format that relies on 140 characters or less. “Can you even imagine how many tweets would be required to tell the story of Tolstoy’s mammoth War and Peace?” said Ryan Bonzo, 12. President Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope, would certainly lose some of its audacity if we had to read it via text excerpts, rather than reading it from a book (even if that “book” was a Kindle). Think about what would have happened if Martin Luther King Jr. had not made the effort to put pen to paper during his time spent Many of us have been assigned her and her family many months in jail during civil rights protests. the reading of Anne Frank’s The before they were eventually Rather than the eloquent Letter Diary of a Young Girl at some discovered. Her messages would from Birmingham Jail, with lines point in our school life. It is likely have short, choppy notes such as this: difficult to believe that we would that gave little insight to her inner “I am in Birmingham because be touched as deeply by her words feelings. injustice is here. ... Injustice if she had chosen to use Twitter Instead, her diary writings anywhere is a threat to justice to share her thoughts versus during those 25 months in hiding everywhere. ... Never again can taking the time to write down her were thoughtful, showing to we afford to live with the narrow, feelings while in hiding. This is the millions that would read the provincial ‘outside agitator’ idea. an excerpt from her diary: words many years after she died Anyone who lives in the United “I’ve reached the point where in a concentration camp what States can never be considered I hardly care whether I live a teenager also felt during a an outsider anywhere in this or die. The world will keep on horrible time in history. country. ... We know through turning without me, and I can’t “I was touched when I read painful experience that freedom do anything to change events Anne Frank. It would not be the is never voluntarily given by the anyway. I’ll just let matters take same if she had tweeted it,” said oppressor; it must be demanded their course and concentrate on Jenny Wise, 10. by the oppressed.” What we as teens have to studying and hope that everything Dr. King may have instead will be all right in the end.” remember is that our modern tweeted this message: Instead, sharing her despair forms of communication, while “@kingdoctor stuck in B-ham via Twitter might have gone wonderful in their own way, cuz protest march ‘went south’ something like this: should not serve as a replacement LOL. Need freedom for all in USA “@hidingteen still avoiding for the ability to write someone sooner vs L8R and all ppl need to nazis had dinner of crackers + a thoughtful letter, engage act like BFFs - no matter race or water again today. no hope to in a meaningful face-to-face religion, IMO.” leave this hiding place unless conversation, or even to try our What if William Shakespeare ww2 ends soon. ugh.” hand at creative composition. Let us provide Fast, Friendly & had been fondRof Focused tweeting when service If tweeting, might have A quote from President Ronald to Anne fulfill your wellness he wrote the classic, Romeo and needs! been taking a chance that the Reagan sums it up: “As long as Juliet? Perhaps Juliet would not Nazis could have traced her books are kept open, then minds have uttered these familiar lines: communication and discovered can never be closed.” “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Ritzman Wants To Deny thy father and refuse thy Be YOUR Pharmacy! name; Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn IT’S EASY... R We will transfer your prescriptions my love for you...just call us! And I’ll no longer be a R Your co-pays will be the same Capulet.” R We offer a $4 prescription She may have instead sent a savings club Fast, Friendly, Focused on Your Health! text: “Wussup? Where r u? RITZMAN PHARMACY 120 High Street - Wadsworth Montague or Capulet? Choose 1.” 330-335-2595 IF PAUL REVERE USED FACEBOOK Paul Revere : Silent rowing tonight across the river, but made it to Charlestown shore. April 18, 1775 at 8:54 pm via iPhone - Like - Comment Thomas Smith : Great work PR! Heading to Old North Church to hang lantern. Be safe! John Hill Come to Charlestown Livery Stable. A fast steed waiting for you. Paul Revere : Riding fast now. Passed Medford village. All lonely and quiet. Only sounds are barking farm dogs and clanking of pewter mugs at the tavern. April 18, 1775 at 10:53 pm via iPhone - Like - Comment Paul Revere : Galloping into Lexington. Two blocks from Adams and Hancock. Lantern should be hung in Boston church. Mission nearly complete! April 19, 1775 at 12:59 am via iPhone - Like - Comment Thomas Smith : Yes. Lantern signal hung in Old North Church. Thanks for update PR. Rebecca Revere Paul, on your ride back home, pick up some milk and eggs. John Adams : Good work Revere! Maybe someone will write a famous poem about your adventure tonight! 6 January 2011 THE BRUIN A DS A DS THE BRUIN January 2011 7 8 January 2011 Picture THE BRUIN PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF Julie McCabe spoke at our school’s bullying assembly. McCabe came in to talk about what bullying really is and how to stop it. PHOTO BY MR. TERINGO One photo opportunity took place when Alice, 9, competed at the State’s golf tournament. She was the first girl at our school to go to States. PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF Proud wrestlers hold the DIV I State Championship trophy. A public school has not attained a trophy within the past 33 years. PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF 2010 was the eighth year in a row of receiving the Excellent Award from the State Board of Education. PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF During half time at a varsity football game, the trombone section flawlessly performed trombone suicides. PHOTO BY MR. BERLIN Russell, 12, placed sixth in the State Cross Country Championship in Scioto Downs. His school record time was 15:36. PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFFF Our very own show choir performed many songs and dances in our annual winter assembly. PHOTO BY MR. MAGNACCA Busy construction workers are building the new high school and community center. PHOTO BY Robert Taylor Veterans listen to our concert bands for our annual Veterans Day Assembly. This event brings Veterans from our community together. K O D A K M O M E N T S PAGE I N T R A M U R A L S January 2011 THE BRUIN PHOTO BY CALLIE RAY Mariah 10, Emily 10, Maddie, 10, Abby, 10, and o, 10, come together as one. PHOTO BY CALLIE RAY Freshman team, Team Super Léon, gather with their mascot after an early Saturday morning game. PHOTO BY CALLIE RAY Joanna 12, passes on the fly to teammate Paige, 12, as they make their way down the court. PHOTO BY CALLIE RAY Sophomore team, Un-Witnessed, takes a time out from warm ups for a quick picture. PHOTO BY CALLIE RAY A group of teammates from sophomore team, Party of 7, take a break at halftime. PHOTO BY CALLIE RAY Sarah, 9, manages to make a break away from her opponent for a lay up. PHOTO BY CALLIE RAY Sarah 11, pulls up for a jumper as Molly Harp,11, makes an effort to block her shot. Jordan, 10, Reagan, 9, Sarah 9, Brittney F, 10, Jenny, 10, Amanda , 10, and Sabrina ,10, pose for a quick picture after an exhausting win in overtime. PHOTO BY CALLIE RAY Clay, 10, Alex, 10, Kyle , 10, Jack, 10, Chris, 10, and Jake, 10, discuss the game. 9 PHOTO BY CALLIE RAY PHOTO courtesy Raquel Richards Junior girls intramural basketball team, 21 Forever, capture a moment in the Commons sporting their team T-shirts. 10 January 2011 New year brings fresh start BY TIFFANY WEISS As students say goodbye to 2010, a positive attitude is attained to say hello to 2011. A new year brings a new beginning, another chance to get it right: mend friendships, rekindle love, and accomplish a resolution for a new year. To start off the new year most individuals set goals for themselves, something they want to achieve in the new year. To help in one’s quest for a resolution, here are a few of the most frequently chosen goals for 2011. The most frequent resolution is to spend more quality time with friends and family. Polls show that over 50 percent of people vow to appreciate loved ones by spending more time with them. Time cannot be taken back, and anytime one has to spend with family should be taken advantage of and cherished. Many people are very hopeful to acquire a regular exercise routine. Studies show that it reduces a person’s risk of cancer as well as enhancing moods and lowering blood pressure. “I plan on staying in shape by playing Badminton,” said Amanda Davies, 10. Getting in shape and staying healthy helps people with their confidence and overall appearance as well. In all, exercise makes people feel and look better. In 2011 people desire to enjoy life more. With the hectic lives people live today it is no wonder it has become a high priority. Taking time out from the tiring routine of life can give a person a new perspective about what they are really doing with their time. By taking time out to relax people get a chance to realize what they love and maybe make a change. Many people are taking this year to learn something new. Whether they are taking a course or just reading an informational book, individuals are taking advantage of the benefits that learning something new could bring them. Another reasonable goal that made the list is getting organized. Today, people neglect the organization they need and in turn they fall into messy and uncomfortable situations. There are many online resources for organizingand professional organizers are available. People are very accustomed to getting things fast. They want to arrive fast, eat fast, go fast and do things fast, but most people will miss out on lifes moments if all they do not slow down. That is why in 2011 many people are willing to drive slower. Driving fast, can cause a potential accident. Especially around the winter months, people need to slow down and drive closer to the speed limit. Another priority for 2011 is F EATURES THE BRUIN giving back to others. This can be not only rewarding for the person receiving the kindness but also rewarding to the giver. Many are committing to a solid amount of volunteer hours per week. Whether it be protecting the rights of animals or helping at a soup kitchen, anyone, anywhere can make a difference in their community by just jumping in and helping out every once in a while. Ending a bad habit is on the wish list of many for the year of 2011. Everyone is subject to a few bad habits and learning what makes the action appealing can help one quit doing it. A bad habit can cost people time and money. Ending a poor habit can only bring benefits to the people performing the habit and the people around that person. In all, people take the start of a new year and make it an opportunity to try something new or spend more time with loved ones. But whatever they do, hopefully it is something they are proud of. Setting goals can benefit anyone, and a new year is a great time for a fresh start. R S t u d e n t e s o l u t i o n s Jon, 12, (top left) says his New Year’s resolution is to gain American citizenship. Spencer, 12, (top right) wishes to grow 5 inches in 2011. Amanda, 10, plans to become a professional Badminton player! Hayden, 9, aspires to be in one of Brazier’s garage projects. Maria, 9, wishes 2011 will bring her good grades. PHOTOS BY TIFFANY WEISS PHOTO BY TIFFANY WEISS Jay, 12 and Kyle, 12 show their athleticism goals for the year. Setbacks strike school in 2010 SUBMITTED BY ALLY MALKOWSKI EDITED BY JACK SNOWBALL From the halls of Wadsworth High School to the west gymnasium, this past year has brought the weird and the even weirder. Sports teams having to deal with a significant number of injuries, and fire causing hazards, difficulties have arose in the school. Our school has given us a good reason to complain about the problems we have all faced in the year of 2010. These are just 10 of the many bad moments we have overcome. 10. New school under construction: The new high school has been the cause of much commotion because we no longer have Steiner’s for people to go to and we also have no tennis courts there anymore. As well as no recreation center, the construction is also causing loud noises, causing students problems concentrating. 9. Cross Country team suffers injuries: The girls’ cross country team was hit with an injury bug this season causing eight of their 28 runners to be out. One of the eight runners lost was junior Paige Szabat, who ran at the state meet both her freshman and sophomore year, while also grabbing the Suburban League championship both of those years. “It was hard not running with my team, but I still loved going and cheering them on,” said Szabat. 8. Limited parking causes problems: Due to the band having to practice on the side parking lot, students had to park all the way in the back in what used to be Steiner’s parking lot. Because of all the cars being packed into one space there was an accident on the first day of school. 7. No more snow days for students: The three snow days given to students have been used all before Christmas break. This could eventually cause an extended school year for everyone if we have another snow front come through. Sitting in school in January sounds a lot better then sitting in school in June. 6. Binder gets toasty in oven: In Nutrition and Wellness, a binder was found in an oven that had been on, and it was burnt causing a problem for a student whose papers were destroyed. There is a new one for all you non-homework doers out there, “The oven ate my homework.” 5. Fire drill gives students recess: The fire alarm had some troubles turning off in May, making students return back outside after being called in. They remained out there for almost 30 minutes waiting for the problem to be fixed. 4. Football team is injury prone: Our football team had some trouble all staying on the field this season. There was a total of 23 players who suffered from at least one injury during the season. “It’s pretty tough when you have that many guys out for majority of the season,” said Nick Kirven, 11. 3. Student section takes cheering too extreme: The student section took their chants at the girl’s basketball game to an extreme, causing problems for the multiple people involved. We always love our students coming, just not getting in trouble along the way. 2. Power outage causes lock down in school: It was a cold afternoon for students as the electricity and heat went out in the school. They had to undergo a lock down for a whole period so workers could start fixing the problem. Bekkah Dee, 10, said of the complications, “It was weird that the school had no electricity, and it was quite chilly.” 1. Streaking goes public: A student at one of the boys soccer games decided to streak across the field after the final buzzer sounded. It made Fox8 news the next day, causing controversy to some. Kenny Tollet, a sophomore who was at the soccer game, said of this, “It was pretty funny, but not the smartest thing to do.” All in all, there have been some setbacks throughout the year. Hopefully, 2011 brings more cheers than jeers for the students at WHS. It can only go up from here. I have a good feeling about this year. How about you? PHOTOS BY: MCTCAMPUS With all of these setbacks hitting WHS, such as the loss of power and the construction of the new school, the staff and students have definitely tried to cope with these changes. E ntertainment THE BRUIN January 2011 11 Most entertaining teachers revealed BY kara long Wadsworth High School is lucky enough to have a staff full of excellent teachers. Each teacher has their own unique style of educating their students. Some teachers take an approach that students find more amusing than others. The teachers that have gone above and beyond have been chosen by students to be on the list of Most Entertaining Teachers. 5. Mr. Singleton - He teaches Honors English 3 and General English 1. Singleton states that passion and fun are what drive him as an educator, “The most important thing for me is to be excited about what I’m teaching, and that makes the lesson more entertaining for everyone.” What sets Mr. Singleton apart from other teachers is his laid back, fun personality mixed with the true passion he has for 1 2 3 4 6 8 10 5 7 9 teaching all of his students. 4. Mrs. Mathews - She teaches Spanish 2 and Spanish 3. Mathews, also known as Señora Mateos, matches her effervescent personality with even more radiant and colorful clothing. In the classroom, students feed off of her positive attitude. Another thing that makes Mathews entertaining is her opera singing. “The best thing about Senora Mateos is that she understands the student’s workload. If we have a lot of homework two days in a row, she makes the next day fun,” said Danielle Braman, 11. 3. Mr. Kibler - He teaches Marketing. Whether one has him in the classroom, or just sees him in the hallways, Kibler always has something interesting to say. He uses his humorous side to catch students attention. The day of the Ohio State vs. Michigan football game Kibler strolled the halls with yellow and blue tape on his shoes representing the Michigan team yelling “I can’t get these ugly colors off me!” Little instances like this make Kibler one of the most entertaining and funny teachers at Wadsworth. 2. Mr. Berg - He teaches Speech 1, Speech 2, and English Literature. Students starting Speech 1 are often apprehensive about speaking in front of their peers. With the help of Mr. Berg’s witty, outgoing personality and his encouraging teaching skills, almost every student leaves his class as a speaking expert. One thing that always catches the students’ attention about Mr. Berg are the random animal noises he can make. 1. Mr. Callaghan - He teaches Honors English 2 and Senior Comp. One thing is for certain: a student will never have a boring day in Callaghan’s class. With his creative catch phrases, each student leaves his classroom thoroughly entertained, not to mention well educated. “Mr. Callaghan’s class is really hard sometimes, but the fact that it’s fun makes the work a lot less tedious. Not to mention group projects are awesome,” said Ally Malkowski, 10. Although the vote was close, the majority of BY JOSH KIPFER television set, not to mention room around you to swing your a r m s There are also many different games for the new game system, from Kinect Sports to Dance Central. “Dance Central for the Kinect would destroy Just Dance 2 for the Wii any day,” said Jesse Beal,11. students agree, Callaghan is the teacher that entertains them the most. The votes have been tallied and the students have spoken, the list of Most Entertaining Teachers is certainly full of great educators. PHOTO BY MCT CAMPUS Mr. Berg poses with his seventh period Speech 1 class proudly after being presented with second place for Most Entertaining Teachers. Xbox’s Kinect is popular among teens One of the most popular Christmas gifts given this past holiday was the Microsoft Kinect, which came out on November 4, 2010. Families have replaced the ever so popular Nintendo Wii with this 3 dimensional m o t i o n controller for Xbox. All critics and game users agree: Kinect is easy to use and instantly fun! Kinect has two eyelike cameras that capture the movements of the gamer. The cameras allow for depth perception, so Kinect can pick up almost every form of motion without a video game controller. This new found technology lets players shake their hands, and feet while watching their character do the same movements on screen. To play, one will need six feet between the player and the Across the board people say that the Kinect is just all around better that the Wii. “It is just so much more fun when you can jump around and not have to worry about holding the controller” said Peyton Booth, 9. Also the Kinect Sports game is another fan favorite. It includes soccer, beach volleyball, bowling, table tennis, track and field, and boxing. “Soccer for the Kinect is the best video game I have ever played, it feels like I am really playing soccer every time I turn it on,” said Zack Taylor, 11. Some question whether the Kinect as a motion game system will be able to keep up the hype that it has acquired over the first few months it has been out. “I think the Xbox will win out over all and everyone will go back to Call of Duty,” said John Halstead, 11. But right now the Kinect is definitely the hot topic. It is all people can talk about and students have a hard time in school because they just want to go home and play their Kinect. 5. Craigslist - Craigslist is video is Kittens inspired by Kittens!” Emily Steinkerchner, one of the world’s busiest sites 11, said. One can view almost for job listings, and buying and anything on Youtube including selling things as big as houses. 6. Ebay - Ebay is an online commercials, movie clips, and auction website. One can bid even the number one most watched video “My favorite YouTube in 2010, Charlie bit video is Kittens inspired my finger - again! by Kittens!” 3. Wikipedia - Students love to use Wikipedia. It -Emily Steinkerchner, 11 is easy to find what someone is looking for on a project or anything. “I bought my piccolo assignment. It is also the world’s on Ebay!” said Jenna Kelly, 11. 7. Blogger.com - There’s largest online encyclopedia. 4. Amazon.com- Amazon has 8 million people using this been a popular place to buy and website. One can share anything sell things for quite some time that’s on their mind with now. It’s grown a lot, and people the entire internet. “I love are using it more and more to blogger!” said Natalie Bendel, buy things they use everyday. 10. If one is looking to start a blog, this is the place to do it. 8. Twitter.com - Twitter is a place to tell people what someone doing, when their doing it. One can tell all their friends things going on in their life, or how they are feeling. Twitter has become a unique place where one can share their thoughts. 9. Myspace.com - Myspace is one of the oldest and well known social networking websites. Many think the site is dying due to the recent popularity of Facebook. 10. CNN.com - CNN.com is a great place to look and see the news. It has a user-friendly set up, and many different types of stories. The internet is a big part of life as a teenager. Are these on your most visited websites? and legs. Other than space, all one needs is any Xbox 360 model. A Kinect will cost $150 which includes the game Kinect Adventures, which includes five different games, 20,000 Leaks, River Rush, Rally Ball, Reflex Ridge, and Space Pop. Millions pay visit to busiest websites BY AMBER SOMMER As a generation, people are always plugged into technology. Whether they are constantly texting friends, updating twitters, or checking facebooks they spend a lot of time on the internet, and these are the top ten websites of 2010. 1. Facebook - It seems like everyone has a Facebook. Users are friends with their parents, classmates, friends that live in other states, Aunts and Uncles, parents, and even Grandparents. It’s a fast and easy way to check up on everything in a person’s life. 2. Youtube - Youtube is a place where one can watch and post videos. “My favorite youtube 12 January 2011 THE BRUIN Suburban League titles on the line BY TOM CALHOUN As midseason approaches for boy’s and girl’s basketball, both teams are in the running to win a league title. Girls The girl’s team is 8-2, and they are sitting on top of the Suburban League. As they approach the halfway mark in their schedule, Coach Booth spoke about how he would grade the first half of the season, “A rising C+, due to our six returners fighting injuries.” Christy Cingel tore her PCL and had a concussion, Sharlee Bailey and Jessie Gearhart tore their menisci, Kara Long sprained her ankle, Robyn Rotterschmidt has tendonitis in her knee, Taylor Woods had a cut below her knee cap that would not heal correctly, and Sabrina Parsons also suffered two concussions. Finally, after recovery time, the team is dominating once more. Taylor Woods is averaging 11 PPG, Kara Long is averaging Photo by Robert Taylor Prescott, 12, goes up for a dunk against the Cloverleaf Colts. He is leading the Grizzlies in PPG this season. 10 PPG, Jessie Gearheart is averaging 8 PPG, and four other players are averaging between 5.6-6.6 PPG. Coach Booth has also pointed out that the first year varsity players have adjusted really well to the speed and pace of the game. The two losses they acquired came from Twinsburg, 61-41, and Hudson, 51-46. Some would argue that Twinsburg is the top girl’s basketball team in the state with one of the best players, Malina Howard, who stands at 6 foot 4 inches. Two games are all that the Grizzlies have left at home. One of them is against Green which the outcome could determine the winner of the Suburban League. Their next game is against two time defending DII state champs, Hathway Brown, and is one of tougheset teams left on the schedule. The Grizzlies also have a tough district in the playoffs with almost every team having no more than two losses, so a good seed in the bracket is vital. The Lady Grizzlies look to finish off the season strong and make a good postseason run. Boys The Boy’s team has a overall record of 5-3 and 2-2 in the Suburban League. They are currently tied for second place in the Suburban League. Prescott Williams leads the team with 19.9 PPG, and Josh Kipfer is averaging 14 PPG and 9 rebounds per game. Tyler Perry and Brett Baughman have both improved and shown consistency throughout the first half of the season. Perry has stepped up to fill the void left by Jack Snowball, who is recovering from multiple collarbone surgeries. Brett Baughman has also stepped in and is a valuable player coming off the bench with size and strength. The Boys have had a difficult schedule. The Grizzlies played the number one team in the state, Jackson, on January 11. They also played Revere, who has not lost a league game in two years. The Medina Bees also are a challanging team Wadsworth will face. They are led by Kenny Kaminski, a 6 foot 9 inch Michigan State recruit. Orrville, the 2010 DII state runner up is going to be good competition for the Grizzlies as well. Finally, they finish with toughest four Suburban League games which include Green, Barberton, Copley, and Revere before entering Sectional play. If the Boys put together a streak of good games they could be a threat to make a postseason run. S PORTS 1 Boys Basketball 6-4 Prescott Williams is leading the team with 19.9 PPG Girls Basketball 9-3 They recently went 1-1 at the Classic in the Country, which showcases some of the best teams in the state. Wrestling 12-1 The team is ranked #2 in the State pollbehind St Eds who they unseeded last year. Swimming 5-1 Both Girls and Boys hold the same record in the Suburban League. Most coveted college award brings curse SPORTS OPINION BY BRETT AMADON Winning the Heisman Trophy is one of the most illustrious awards in sports, but as history proves, it turns out to be the pinnacle of most careers which falter shortly thereafter. While the fame and glory which comes with this coveted award is nice, winners need to be aware of its two curses: failing to win the BCS national championship and having a short career in the NFL. Let’s start with the BCS National Championship. Being crowned national champs is a hard feat to accomplish, especially when the opponent is dialed in on eliminating one shining star. Here are the facts, the Heisman Trophy is an individual award; a national title is a team accomplishment. One cannot expect one player to carry a team all year long. All players, no matter how much hype or skill, are prone to letdowns. “Heisman winners do not win titles, teams do,” said Jay Carpinello, 12. Also, there are five excruciatingly long weeks that occur between the final games of the regular season and the title game itself. Within those weeks, teams prepare, and study film, both of which levels the playing field. All in all, Heisman winners are a not so stellar 3-6 in title bouts. However, with Mark Ingram, Alabama, and Cam Newton, Auburn, winning the last two years, the curse may be fading. In the past twenty years, college football has seen some of the greatest players to ever step foot on the gridiron. However, when these greats take the next step to the NFL, hard times await. Eric Crouch, Jason White, and Chris Weinke are just some of the quarterbacks to flounder once they hit the big time. “I cannot even name half of the players who have won the award within the last decade. They leave no impression after college,” said Matt Horner, 11. However, when you really look at the numbers, they are the majority. What I mean by that is in fact, since 1989, most of the winners of the acclaimed award do not last long in the NFL. The differences between the NFL and college football are extreme. Everything from the quality of the opponents to the individuals themselves creates an atmosphere where only the best can survive. “I believe they fail because in the NFL, you almost need an entire new skill set to compete,” said Zach Richards, 12. Most Heisman winners fail to stand among the consistency which is displayed in the NFL. They simply come in with such great hype, wallets fat, and egos expanding farther than the universe. There are a couple of reasons as to why these savvy young stars cannot compete at the next level. First, everyone must remember that college is just that--college. Teams do not play top caliber PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS Auburn quarterback Cam Newton lifted not only the Heisman Trophy, but also the crystal football as he led the Tigers to the 2011 National Championship over Oregon 22-19. opponents week in and week out. In fact, lesser opponents are a more common appearance on the schedule. Second, players can get away with miscues more easily. Since the players are not always up to par, a quarterback can throw into double coverage without coming back to the sidelines with a pick on his stat sheet. Finally, there is not the daily grind that there is in the NFL. The schedule is not as grueling with fewer games, and because the players do not get beat up as frequently, they are able to play with more energy each game without wearing down. Clearly, the odds are stacked against these glorified athletes. “Just because the Heisman is a prolific award, it does not mean it seals one’s fate in the NFL,” said Bilal Hoblos, 11. In the end, no matter how much we scrutinize these young athletes, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the Heisman Trophy goes to the best college athlete. In order to win a title, a team is necessary. It is also not an award for who will perform the best in the NFL. Ultimately, whether we remember these players or not, just be glad that you got to witness S ports 2 January 2011 THE BRUIN 13 Athletes and officials drop the ball in 2010 SPORTS OPINION BY Matthew Doyle The year 2010 was filled with many heart-warming moments that will stick in the minds of fans for the rest of their lives. For instance, the New Orleans Saints brought their first championship to the city that was once devastated by Hurricane Katrina. However, inspiring stories like that were unable to overshine the top ten most controversial and saddening moments that occurred in 2010. 10. Sidney Crosby During the last Winter Olympics, the United States hockey team experienced great success that took them to the Gold Medal Game and found themselves playing North American rival Canada. The game was tied heading into sudden death overtime when Canadian star, Sidney Crosby, hit the game winning shot to spoil the dreams of the United States. 9. Mark McGwire McGwire, the one-time holder of the home run record, came out in 2010 and admitted to using performance enhancing drugs. McGwire is famous for his 1998 home run chase with Sammy Sosa where McGwire ended up with 70 home runs and had that record for three years. Barry Bonds, who is also suspected of using steroids, broke the home run record in 2001 and still has the record today. 8. Duke University By The Numbers The Duke Blue Devils have been an enemy to all college basketball fans since their inception. In March 2010, Butler University, led by Gordon Hayward, captured the attention of all college basketball fans by making it to the National Championship against Duke. Unfortunately, fans were disappointed as once again, Duke prevailed and brought home another championship to Durham, North Carolina. 7. Brett Favre When fans think of Brett Favre, they think of a gray-haired man running around playing football in his Wrangler jeans. However, when Favre decided to send pictures to Jenn Sterger, a former New York Jets employee, he seemed to forget to put on his Wrangler’s. Favre’s legacy will not be diminished because of the inappropriate pictures never being proven true, but his career has officially come to an end after a horrific season in 2010. 6. NCAA The recent suspensions of the Ohio State Buckeyes’ football players has caused many to believe that the leaders of the NCAA play favorites. Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton reportedly stole laptops and cheated while at the University of Florida. However, he was not suspended. The Ohio State football players were suspended for five games in the 2011 season for selling memorabilia for free tattoos. What the Ohio State players did was wrong, but did the NCAA handle that PHOTO courtesy of Mct campus LeBron James jerseys burned on the night that he announced his decision to go to Miami, making him the most hated athlete of 2010. Vick. He was involved in dogfighting. The recent success that Vick has had with the Philadelphia Eagles has led people to either forget about the past dogfighting experiences or hate him more. Dogfighting will be a part of Vick’s past wherever he goes and no matter how hard he tries, he will never be able to escape it. There will always be those that completely “At least the Browns do not hate Michael Vick. have anyone getting accused 2.BenRoethlisberger Let this be a warning for sexual assault.” to all women who get -Cody Lamielle, 11 asked to go to the bar with Roethlisberger: Rodriguez’s name in the record books. he was suspended for four games in “McGwire and Rodriguez admitting the 2010 season for being accused to using steroids in the same year is too of sexual assault. Some fans, mostly much for me to handle,” said Kyle Pittsburgh Steelers fans, have forgiven Karaffa, 10. Roethlisberger for his actions, but there 4. Tiger Woods are many people that will never be able Last year marked the return of to view Roethlisberger the same. former golf legend Tiger Woods. “At least the Browns do not have Woods, coming off a divorce with anyone getting accused for sexual his wife, struggled the whole 2010 assault,” said Cody Lamielle, 11. golf season failing to win any major 1. LeBron James golf tournaments. Some believe that To end this year on a bad note, Woods deserves to struggle, but others LeBron James has gone from one of are sad to see a legend die so quickly. the most likable athletes to the most Tiger Woods’ year was so devastating hated in 2010. In case some have not that he earned himself a spot in the first heard, James left for Miami over the issue of the Obituaries. summer and has turned from being “I am happy that Tiger struggled this Batman to Robin. Actually, James year because it proved to the world that came out and said he has accepted you cannot treat a woman that way,” being the villain of the league. Does said Jani Bailey, 9. that mean he is the Joker now? Sounds 3. Michael Vick like the perfect nickname for the most It is quite simple why people hate hated athlete of 2010. 90 5 Number of consecutive games won by the Connecticut Girls basketball team before losing to Stanford. The number of games the Ohio State Buckeyes suspended players are out next year. 10 Difference between BYU basketball star Jimmer Fredette’s total points, 47, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, 57, on January 11. situation fairly with Newton’s? It is debatable. 5. Alex Rodriguez Rodriguez is another baseball slugger that admitted last year to the baseball world that he used steroids. Rodriguez is on pace to break Barry Bonds’ home run record, but this confession adds an asterisk next to Popular sports figures offer fictional New Year’s resolutions SPORTS OPINION BY GARRETT CUTTING Every January, millions of people decide they need to change part of their life in some way; that could be just saying they do not want to make the same mistake again or they want to alter an aspect of their personality. These are known as New Year’s Resolutions. Almost everyone has done it, but few keep with their resolution and accomplish what they set out to do. A few athletes have sent me some of their fictional resolutions, so I have decided to share them with the students and staff of Wadsworth High School. Ben Roethlisberger - “I will not be charged with another sexual assault this year.” They say people learn from their mistakes, but Roethlisberger, a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, did not. In 2009 and 2010, Roethlisberger had to deal with two separate sexual assault charges that caused him to be suspended for four games of the 2010 NFL season. In his best interest, but not in the interests of Cleveland Browns fans, he has vowed to not be charged with another sexual assault this year. Jim Joyce - “I will not cost another pitcher a Perfect Game because I blew a call.” Pitcher Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers came one out away from throwing the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball history last season. Jim Joyce, the PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS It is nice to see Terrelle Pryor on the field and not in the tattoo parlor trading trophies and rings he won for free tattoos. After his New Year’s Resolution, Pryor will not be suspended any more games because of irresponsible behavior off the field. first base umpire, blew a call on Galarraga’s second to last batter, and now that is the only thing he is remembered for. “Joyce better not miss another important call or the MLB will not let him umpire anymore, so it is good he made a New Year’s Resolution about it,” said Andrew Whitman, 12. Brett Favre - “I will not send any more inappropriate pictures.” Even though the NFL said that there was not enough information to conclude Favre violated the personal conduct policy, it is thought by many that he sent Jenn Sterger, a sideline reporter for the New York Jets when Favre was on the team, inappropriate pictures of his 41 year old body. “Favre should have gotten more than just a $50,000 fine for failure to cooperate with the investigation because I think he sent the messages and voice mails which were very inappropriate,” said Libby Coleman, 10. Terrelle Pryor and the rest of the suspended Buckeyes - “I will not sell any other memorabilia.” Five members of The Ohio State Buckeyes football team will be suspended five games in the 2011 season for selling sports memorabilia in return for tattoos. Thank goodness they said they would not do it again because fans would hate to see them be on the sidelines playing tick-tack-toe and I Spy. It is refreshing to see these sports figures admit their past mistakes and try to learn from their intriguing 2010. I hope to see more athletes make resolutions in the future and stick with them. 14 January 2011 THE BRUIN A DS Patrons 2010-2011 Al and Amy Mavity Allison Parsons Amy Alic Amy LaMonica Anne Mellinger Barb McConnell Becky Dills Beth Lance Bill and Deanna Lyren Bill and Sharon Powell Bob and Kathy Calhoun Brian and Paula Sherrill Carol Simmons Chris and Leslie King Craig King Dale and Debbie Fortner Dave and Laura Bennett David & Karen Cutting Deb Tavanello Debbie and Gary Lake Dee Bennett Delbert & Sandy Killough Diana Maddox Don and Carol Grey Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Manning Dwain Kibler Elizabeth Khoury Jeff and Kathie Priest Jeff Teringo Jessica Henry Jill Krug Jim and Shelly Davis Joe & Kellie Baughman John and Chris Perebzak Jon Kipfer Jordan Cutting Judy Lepley Kristin Contini Kirt and Leanne Virgin and Family The Bertuzzi Family Larry Kaufman Family The Capron Family Lauren Woodard The Csaky Family Leslie Georgiadis The Dammarell Family Linda Kramer The Douglas Family Lisa and Ken Owens The Fusco Family Lisa Feltes The Gahan Family Lisa Jones The Hamilton Family Mark and Cheryl Gilbert The Lanson Family Mark Postak The McQuate Family Mark Schoonover Matt, Kristin, and Jude Cole The Ray Family The Sidol Family Max and Diane Miller The Van Dyke Family Melissa Eaton The Vanfleet Family Michael Pellish The Williams Family Mike Schmeltzer Sr. The Wise Family Mr. Parsons Thomas Tavanello Mr. Shepherd Tim and Judi McNutt Mr. Sladky Todd and Kelley Dorland Mr. Steve Moore Tom and Mary Ann Postak Mrs. Barb Klaus Tom and Tracy Penrose Nancy King Pappas Construction Co, Inc. Trish and Dave Swanson Paul and Roberta Woodard Walt and Betty Gairing Phil and Leighanne Baier Rachael and Ed Hantzsche Rich and Cheri Long Rich and Cynthia Doyle Rich Berlin Rita Couch Robinson Water Systems Inc. Rocky and Lori Robinson Roscoe and Raetta Gasser Sarah & Judge McIlvaine Spencer Schleigh Sra. Mateos Steve & Karen Blankenship Sue Fisher Tamara Amadon Tavanello’s Pizza The Berg Family The Bruin thanks you for your continued support! Kitchens, Baths, Offices, Libraries, Entertainment Centers, Bars, Residential & Commercial - Quality Cutsom-Made Cabinetry Reflecting your Personality Built by Local Craftsman [email protected] O f the month TEACHER FEATURE January 2011 Career Tech. Students of Mrs. Anne Layton BY MOLLY PRIEST What inspired you to become a teacher? I was in business and was completely bored, so I quit, went back to grad school and became a teacher. I was looking for something with more of a challenge and I’ve definitely discovered it. What is your favorite thing about being a teacher? I enjoy getting to know different types of kids. I try to appreciate something about ALL students, not just the ones who get straight A’s or play on the football team. What is a favorite, funny teaching moment of yours? Once, as I was dismissing my class, I was at my desk in the middle of something else. As the Song 15 the month PHOTO BY ELAINA LANSON Mrs. Anne Layton strikes a pose while teaching her seventh period Freshman English class. English is her favorite subject to teach. bell rang I blurted out “Bye, bye...Mommy loves you!” My class thought I was crazy! What is your favorite thing to do outside of school? Spend time with my daughter. What is your favorite show on TV? We usually watch Nick Jr. at my house, but I can’t miss a week of “90210.” I’m a sucker for teen drama. What is your favorite book? To Kill a Mockingbird. My daughter Harper is named after the author, Harper Lee. What was your childhood dream job? I always wanted to be a movie star, pretty typical. Joanna Alex Marketing Engineering Design and Technology Students of the Month Maria Movie What is your favorite class? Toss up between AP Calc and AP Chem. What is your favorite thing to do outside of school? Spend time with my wonderful friends! “Grenade” Plans for future? Attend either The Ohio State University, Duquesne University, or Miami University. By: Bruno Mars Advice to others? Laugh a lot, have fun, and be yourself. Don’t let anyone get you down. Country Strong Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Leighton Meester, Garrett Hedlund Jonathan What is your favorite class? Music Appreciation and Theory. Plans for college? Music education with a focus in vocal and piano. Favorite memory from high school? Conducting the marching band at the Massillon Band Show. Quote Advice to others? Don’t take crap from anybody! Be bigger than the person and remember there is always two sides to every story. Take the most out of every moment in high school. JUNK OF THE MONTH Athletes Johnny “Things turn out the best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” BY ELAINA LANSON Johnny Keith, 12, rolls into the school parking lot in style with his 1990 Toyota Camry. This vehicle was handed down to him from his grandmother, which led to the nickname, “Granny.” “There may be a lot of things wrong with the car, but nothing a little duct tape can’t fix,” says Keith. These inconveniences consist of rusting paint, a missing hub cap, and a burned out back tail light. When carrying around extra luggage, Keith must go -John Wooden PHOTO BY ELAINA LANSON Johnny, 12, lays across his Camry and recalls different memories he has had with his car. through the back seat entrance to get anything out of the trunk. The trunk latch is jammed, and there is no way to open it from outside the Camry. Even with the car being in less than mint condition, Keith still enjoys driving this vehicle. “The stereo is the best part. The CD player doesn’t work, but the original sound system isn’t bad,” Keith explains. Keith reminisces the few months he has used “Granny.” “I was coming home from work and hit the back of Lacy Tinney’s car. She was stopped at a red light, it was rainy, my foot slipped and hit the back of her car.” Keith says. The Camry has been through a lot, but Keith is appreciative that “Granny” gets him to work, school, and everywhere he goes. Robyn, 12 Personal Achievements: Leads the Girl’s Basketball team in rebounds, and scored the winning basket against Green. Plans for the future: Has earned a full scholarship to Ashland University. Kagan 11 Achievements: Placed 1st at the Brecksville tournament, 1st at the North Canton Holiday tournament, and 4th at the Ironman tournament. Plans for the future: Receive a scholarship to wrestle in college. 16 January 2011 S PEAKOUT THE BRUIN TEACHERS If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? 1. e and m i t e d th a take h I d l f I u o yIw d the n mone u o r l. ise a a cru to see it al world fman u a K arry L . r -M 2. 3. I wo Switz uld go ba c e most rland. It k to wa be ever autiful pl s the a b smell een. The ce I’ve s and sight s, b breat eauty we htaki re ng. -Mrs. Sand ra Ne doh 4. 1. o o back t iful, g d l u o t Iw so beau aid s i t I . i i Hawa l, warm and l peacefu There are also o back. g and n n i g n i r no bells s to grade. exam lliott E y b b A -Mrs. I woul d go to next ye Super a B o w l...as th r’s Brown e s are g o i n g to in it ne xt year be . -Mr. St eve Mo ore 4. 2. ee want to s Greece! I ruins, the t n ie c n a the d an Sea an e n a r r e it he Med ionysus. T D r e t a e h es the T re intrigu u lt u c le o wh me! 5. Csaky -Mrs. Pam 6. 5. I would go to En gland, v the famo isit all us stadiu ms, watc training h sessions and go t watch R o EAL foo tball gam es. -Mr. Joh n Johnso n 3. STUDENTS: 6. What was your favorite childhood TV show? Zim. vader In 12 yder, Sn -Blake Hey Arnold ! Because I will always love a man with a football sha ped head. -Megan Har p, 10 Spongebob ,9 Roc to s ket P ow ka hai te and er! I w r ju a st l have nted p ike -Ta Reg urple y gie . Folor rDHic iffekrlein tgL ,1 iv1i -Loga n Ram Dragsoeny, T 12ales. rato Labo , 11 uss K n o -J Kenan & Ke l. -Carley Car ris, 12 ts. -Mark Cas alinova ry. r’s Dexte Squarepan -Jessica An derson, 9 Are -Ra you che Afr Da aid of rk? th l Go e dda rd, 10