The leading print and online news source for all things Leon since 1931 The Leon High Life Vol. XCV Issue 4 leonhighlife.com Dec. 2014 ‘02 alum survives Strozier shooting at Florida State University

gunman’s ammunition got jammed or ran Leon graduate shot in out. horrifying, late-night Unsuccessful in his attempts to unjam the gun, May left Scott with one injured leg gunman encounter and a life that could have ended so easily. “It could’ve ended today, you know,” at library Scott told WTSP of Sarasota. “Could’ve been the last day I had.” Julia Chodyla Scott declined to be interviewed by the News Editor Leon High Life after being contacted by e- mail. He said he was done with interviews. On Nov. 20, shortly before 12:30 a.m., Shortly after May left the library’s front 30-year-old Leon alum Nathan Scott was desk area, Scott bravely began to warn oth- shot in his left leg at the Strozier Library on ers in the library to take precautions. FSU Campus. His friend, Daniel Francis, said he was “It was kind of surreal,” very impressed and proud to see that Scott Scott’s coworker Ricky Nave said, “It took was helping others even after his traumatic everyone probably like two minutes for peo- experience. ple to realize there was actually a shooting.” “All of his friends and I were super- Very lucky to have kept his life, Scott proud that he would be shot and further risk remembers what it was like exactly at the himself to go warn others,” Francis said. scene. Two others were hurt at the scene. Scott was working his regular shift as a Ronny Ahmed is now paralyzed from library assistant. the waist down and Elijah Valdez was mere- He was sitting behind the front desk. ly grazed by a bullet and was treated at the He was unprotected, lacking any secu- scene. rity, from his post near the main entrance. Officers from the Tallahassee Police de- Suddenly, 30-year-old gunman Myron partment arrived on the scene and ordered May appeared and him face to face, shooting May to down his weapon. Lea Marshall Scott in the leg. When he refused, May was shot and “I was checking stuff in and there was killed. Sukhi runs his personal record for five kilometers with a time of 14:52 at this year’s a really loud bang,” Nave said. ”We just regional competition. To read about his running career in his own words... thought something fell.” SEE STROZIER, SEE SUKHI, PAGE 11 Directly afterward Scott was shot, the PAGE 3 Unknown hero recognized for work Anthony Phoenix Julia Chodyla News Editor Branca: Rest in power Most Leon students never get Bella Banka a chance to see janitor Winston Pe- Guest Writer ters on the job, but they are missing something special. When someone you love Peters, who works from 1-9:30 dies, you see their entire life p.m. each weekday, was recently flash before your eyes. named the school’s Minority Em- You are blinded by their ployee of the Year. smiling face dominating var- “Mr. Peters is not only an ex- ious backdrops: the beach, in tremely hard worker, but a genuine- the midst of a Nerf gun fight, ly great guy,” building maintenance graduation day. You spend supervisor Kevin Halpin said. hours, soon days, unable “He is the type of employee to remember what you’ve everyone hopes to have on their done because all you can remember is days with that team.” Muireall Brown A native of Jamaica, Peters has person in them. Life is held Winston Peters poses outside of Leon shortly after arriving for his shift. a thick accent and a constant smile at a standstill. The world has on his face. leave my two sisters in Jamaica,” sion of one such story. been without Anthony Phoe- “I get along with everybody,” Peters said. One day he was sweeping the nix Branca for 33 days now, said Peters, who was formerly em- “It was an opportunity I had to hallways and he heard someone’s and a baffling part of that ployed as a farmer in Jamaica. “I take, and I knew I could help them footsteps walking into the bath- is the fact that most of the Bella Banka always try to be good to people.” later on.” room. A door slammed and the world doesn’t even know the Anthony Branca smiles. Peters has two sisters, who still Prior to making Tallahassee his toilet flushed, but he never saw a difference. live in Jamaica, and a brother, who permanent residence, he worked person. So here I am, sitting down try- everyone that met him felt that. He resides in Tallahassee. for nine years in Clewiston for the “I really do believe in ghosts,” ing to sum up this unbelievable hu- was a guy who randomly renamed Many times, Peters visited his United States Sugar Company. Peters said, “but I never want to see man being on one small piece of himself Bob and stuck by it for three brother and it opened his eyes to There are many different ghost one.” paper, so that those who never got the possibility of moving here. stories that are associated with the chance to know him might still. To read more stories about Anthony was a force of nature, and “It wasn’t really that hard to Leon, and Peters has his own ver- SEE PETERS, PAGE 3 BRANCA, SEE PAGE 4 2 Dec. 2014 Opinion The Leon High Life UPCOMING EVENTS Guns aren’t always used to kill Teacher Planning Day Jan. 5

Students Return people, but they sure make it easier Jan. 6

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No Muireall Brown and Caroline Zapert beyond economic viability, would be ridicu- (and tragically) the country simply doesn’t school Editorial Editors lous and deadly. have the resources at its disposal to effec- Jan. 19 Talk about a massacre. tively enforce a gun control policy, to keep Americans have long had a fixation on But beyond vague grumbles concern- its citizens safe. Blood Drive guns so intense that virtually any interna- ing the Second Amendment, federal tyranny On the other hand, Finland, which does and unlikely conspiracies, one argument have a higher rate of gun ownership (again, Jan. 20 tional caricatures of “the American” that do not include obnoxious tourists are focused often used in opposition to gun control is largely due to the fact that the average Finn that limiting legal access to guns will simply can much more easily afford a gun than Junior class bake sale on stereotyping our deadly love affair with serve to keep them out of the hands of law- the average Honduran) also has highly Jan. 23 - 30 firearms. While this fixation can present certain abiding citizens, whilst meanwhile nefarious developed gun control policies, including issues, simply having an interest in guns is, criminals run wild, recklessly slinging guns registration and training requirements, and in of itself, not a bad thing; they’re remark- fresh from the black market. this serves to allow stable people to own LETTERS TO THE able tools and they can make for an enjoy- In response to this, we would first cite non-military grade guns in a controlled able hobby. Brighton University Criminologist Peter environment. This also results in a far lower EDITORS What is bad is when we, like stubborn Squires’ statement that “ a need for effective rate of gun violence and homicide than the children, are so insistent on defending a con- crime prevention is not invalidated by the one seen in the United States. argument that criminals break the law.” With that in mind, let’s look at a country DEAR EDITOR, stitutional amendment that the vast majority of us haven’t read and don’t understand that Of course criminals break the law! That that truly stands as a triumph for compre- doesn’t mean that we should just hopelessly hensive policies aiming at reducing violent You know what really grinds my gears? we cling to our increasingly deadly weap- do away with all laws regarding our well crime, a country from which the United The fact that parents either don’t know, ons, even at the expense of thousands of being. States could stand to learn. or don’t care, how parent pick up works. lives: 105,485 annually, on average. In 1996, in the wake of a terrible mas- There is one distinct lane for pick up and From cries of “they’re gonna take our sacre, Australia’s government established a drop off and one distinct lane for thru traffic. guns away” to conspiratorial insistences that “...We have legislative series of gun control policies. But what ends up happening? Both lanes guns are necessary for citizens to defend Though this initial legislation mostly are jam-packed bumper-to-bumper. themselves against a theoretically tyrannical focused on banning all semi-automatic Seriously, you won’t believe how many federal government, to clumsy citations of the power to weapons, as organized crime became an in- times I have been late to first period just be- the Second Amendment, people don’t under- creasing issue in Australia, it was necessary cause I get to school in time, but it takes ten stand what gun control policies would be, greatly reduce to expand these laws. minutes to get from the school entrance to how they would work, and why they need As of 2006, every gun bought in Aus- my parking spot. to be instituted. tralia must be registered with the Australian And it isn’t just a problem for me, but for According to the Second Amendment, gun violence, government, and every gun-owning indi- everyone with an up-top spot. “A well regulated Militia being necessary to vidual must be licensed and trained. Either SGA or the administration needs the security of a free State, the right of the and every life Borrowing another’s gun is not permit- do something about this tomfoolery. people to keep and bear Arms shall not be ted unless, in some regions, it is of the same infringed.” type as one’s own. Regards, Keep in mind, first and foremost, the saved by gun What’s more, when applying for a Jeff Strongman term “well regulated”--meaning that the un- restricted, decentralized, and anarchic flow license to buy a gun, the civilian must cite of deadly weapons so stringently advocated control policies and comply with “genuine reasons” for gun for by various groups is not on the national ownership such as hunting or target shoot- DEAR EDITOR, agenda. is absolutely ing or collecting. Second, the “right of people to keep and And it seems to be working. Every day there are kids shoving through bear arms shall not be infringed,” meaning According to the American Journal of the hallways trying to get to their next class. that the government cannot and will not, as worth it...” Law and Economics, Australia’s rate of The hallways get backed up and students get the constitution stands now, take all your gun violence from 1996 to 2010 is down 59 frustrated. weapons away. Nevertheless, a recent Harvard study has percent, an astronomical number as these They need to take the amount of hallway Finally, the Second Amendment argues even proposed that gun control policies have things go; what’s more, like most European room into consideration to student rations that militias are necessary for the security of negligible effects on violent crime (citing countries who have had the sense to institute and give us more time to get to class. Getting a free state. the fact that countries like Honduras, which similar gun related legislation, those rates stuck in hallway traffic is frustrating and time As in, necessary to safeguard against an has rather low levels of gun ownership, are are far lower than the ones seen by the consuming but most importantly its avoid- aggressively tyrannical government. still torn with violence while countries with United States. able and could be dangerous. Unfortunately, we’re hear to tell you high rates of gun ownership, like Finland, (As an aside, Australians still own a If kids on one side of the stairs are rac- that ship has sailed. This is no longer are not). total of over 3 million guns, indicating that ing down and the other side is shoving their the 18th century, and the founding Fa- Though this argument may seem valid effective gun control doesn’t require guns to way up someone could easily fall and hurt thers definitely didn’t foresee Unmanned from a purely statistical standpoint when be “taken away”.) themselves. Aerial Vehicles and high powered machine we look at a violence-torn country like the Though ultimately humans have proven Giving us more time could help avoid guns. aforementioned Honduras, it ignores certain themselves time and time again to be violent injuries and frustration. These days, in the remarkably unlikely legal aspects and societal circumstances that creatures, capable of horrendous atrocities, event that the federal government took it largely serve to invalidate its argument. right now we have the power to greatly Sincerely, upon itself to crush us all, your personal First and foremost, rates of gun vio- reduce gun violence, and every life saved by Brittany House stockpile of guns isn’t going to make a dent lence are contingent on many factors beyond gun control policies is absolutely worth it. in the U.S. government’s arsenal. the simple number of guns in circulation. It’s time for the United States to em- To truly be faithful to the spirit of the For instance, Honduras is torn with brace the common good and to get with the Second Amendment, everyone should be violence for reasons extending far beyond times before it’s left behind entirely by other given their own tank and drone, which, even bureaucratic gun regulations--additionally first-world nations.

The High Life Staff The High Life

Editors-in-Chief: Rachel Joyner, John Ike Smith- Page Nine Editor: Will Rasmussen The High Life is the official student newspaper of Leon High School. The Schoenwalder Page Ten Editor: Hannah Rodriguez newspaper staff controls all aspects of content and design. Kevin Record, the Page One Editor: Julia Chodyla Page Eleven Editor: Traci Creel journalism teacher and adviser, provides guidance, supervision and assistance. Page Two Editor: Muireall Brown Online Editors: Maribeth McClenny, Emilee Bickel The publication does not intentionally publish material that is libelous, ob- Page Three Editor: Caroline Zapert Business Manager: Traci Creel scene or that may cause a substantial and material disruption of school activities. Page Four Editor: Lauren Henderson Photo Editors: Hadley Richter, Paulette Jordan Questions and comments: Page Five Editors: Michaela Westmoreland Staff Writers: Chloe Patterson, Derek Bell, Logan [email protected] Page Six, Seven Editors: Michael Manias, Sella McLanahan 550 E. Tennessee St., Tallahassee, FL 32308 Kinch Artist: Stevenson Johnson Phone 488-1971 ext. 2630 Fax 922-5311 Page Eight Editor: EmmaLea Reed Adviser: Kevin Record www.leon.leon.k12.fl.us The Leon High Life Opinion Dec. 2014 3 Guns don’t kill people, people kill people

Maribeth McClenny internationally in the total number of murders you have to buy a federal stamp each year for What are you going to do in that situation if committed. The murder rate in Russia, where the state you are hunting in. This money goes Hannah Rodriguez guns are illegal? guns are banned, is significantly higher. towards conservation of habitats and it’s in- Millions of Americans own firearms Just a few weeks ago, a shooting oc- Switzerland has one of the highest gun habitants. and as a result, sleep easier at night. That curred on the campus of Florida State Uni- ownership rates in the world, with 45.7 guns Organizations like Ducks Unlimited is because we, as Americans, have the right versity, rekindling the debate over gun con- per 100 residents. However, they fall behind have helped contribute to a tremendous in- to decide how to best protect ourselves, our trol. the U.S. in the crime index and have a greater crease in waterfowl populations, thanks to families and our property. Studies show that If you take a glance at The Constitu- safety rate. hunters. Not only are firearms used for pro- in places where gun ownership is illegal, tion of the United States, you’ll quickly see This is because of education. Men in tection, but they also allow us to provide residential burglary rates are higher and more the Second Amendment, which states: “A Switzerland are required to have proper mi- food for our families and conserve habitats frequent. well-regulated Militia, being necessary to litia training. They learn how to use guns and animals. A harsh reality that we have to face is that the security of a free State, the right of the safely and effectively. Getting rid of our government cannot guarantee our safety. People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be Another one guns won’t get rid of Protecting yourself, your family and oth- infringed.” of the many incor- criminals using them. ers should be a personal responsibility. The In contrast to other sections of the Con- rect arguments mis- “...A harsh We can compare gun government should not be able to deny this stitution, this amendment contains no quali- construed by gun control advocates to responsibility. fiers, no “buts” or “excepts.” It is a straight- advocates is that reality we have prohibitionists. “The criminal elements of our society forward statement affirming the people’s it is simply unsafe I (Hannah) hate carry concealed weapons despite laws de- right to possess firearms. to have firearms in to be the bearer of signed to prevent that,” said Steve Nolan of The Constitution was forged along with households because to face is the bad news, but Pro- Activist Post. “If our laws do not deter illegal The Bill of Rights in order to protect citizens children who are too hibition did not stop use of firearms in the commission of a crime, from governmental tyranny. One of the most young to know what government people from mak- they certainly should not prevent or deter important protections we have against this they’re doing, or are ing and drinking the lawful use of firearms to prevent such tyranny is that we are presumed innocent simply uneducated, alcohol. Drug laws crimes.” until proven guilty before a jury in a court are at a greater risk cannot implemented now do According to Gary Kleck, law-abid- of law. to hurt themselves. not stop people from ing citizens use guns to defend themselves Thomas Jefferson, founding father and In Florida, how- guarantee our obtaining and using against criminals as many as 2.5 million president, said, “The strongest reason for ever, having guns drugs, and if gun times each year. people to retain the right to keep and bear that are not properly control laws were Kleck also says that less than 8 percent arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves stored, or that are ac- safety...” passed they would of the time, the intruder is wounded and as against tyranny in government.” cessible to children, not stop people from many as 200,000 women use a firearm to de- Gun control advocates are declaring is a crime punishable by jail time or a hefty getting guns. fend themselves against sexual abuse every some gun owners guilty without any sort fine. What’s more, not only would guns still year in the United States. of trial just for simply owning guns even When I (Hannah) was introduced to fire- be around, but they’d be in the hands of crim- An experiment in Kennesaw, Georgia though millions have never used them in an arms at 11, my dad first taught me how to inals who will use them with an illegal intent. was performed in 1982. They passed a law illegal way. This condemnation is not only use them safely. And when we are not at the Even worse, you would be taking away the where the head of each household had to keep immoral, unfair, and just flat out ridiculous, shooting range, they are locked in his room average citizen’s right to protect themselves at least one firearm in their house. The bur- but goes against the principles on which in a safe that I don’t even know the combina- and their property from victimization. glary rate dropped 89 percent. America was founded. tion to. The shooters involved in school shoot- Guns themselves are not an issue. They Ask any gun control advocate their Not only are guns used in our defense, ings are breaking the law by going on to a are inanimate objects. They do not pull their opinion and they will immediately discuss but hunters also have concerns about the gun campus and firing a gun. own trigger with deadly intent. the common misconception that getting rid control debate. I (Maribeth) have been duck They aren’t following this law, so why Gun control advocates have a tendency of guns will lower the amount of violence in hunting with my dad since I was six years will they follow one that makes guns illegal. to personify guns by saying, “Guns are bad,” America. Getting rid of guns will not get rid old. We eat every duck we kill. Permitting the right to bear arms will not or “Guns kill people.” This is not the case, of violence. It eliminates the chance citizens Many people believe hunters to be bad resolve murders and mass shootings. It sim- however. People holding the guns with dead- have to defend themselves. people that are simply killing animals for the ply allows for the criminals and the police to ly intent are bad. Criminals use guns to kill A Harvard study, conducted by Profes- heck of it. Yes, there are people like that out be the only people with guns. people. sors Don Kates and Gary Mauser, comparing there, but there are bad people in any sport. How are you supposed to defend your- So why don’t we put the responsibility the U.S. to other countries, such as England The majority of the hunting population self and your family when an armed indi- where it belongs, with the owners of guns. If and Russia, proved that after gun control is interested in conservation, however. Since vidual comes into your house in the middle he or she is responsible and does not use the laws were passed, the violence and crime I (Maribeth) just turned 16, I had to buy my of the night, threatening your life? When guns in a harmful or illegal way, no crime has rate increased dramatically. first hunting and fishing license. I bought a seconds count, the police are minutes away. been committed and the government has no For example, the U.S. ranks just seventh lifetime license that cost $500. In addition, What if you don’t have access to a phone? right to take them away. STROZIER PETERS It is history, but one not worth FROM PAGE 1 FROM PAGE 1

Following a successful surgery, Retired custodian John celebrating Scott should have a simple six-week Odom told Peters that he not Patricia Singletary for their home country by waving though there may be accounts of recovery . only saw a ghost at Leon, Guest Writer an American or state flag, but do slave owners treating their human not say the Confederate flag has property nicely, it was not incred- “When I heard it was Nathan, on but also spoke to it. The Civil War was about slav- the same meaning. Also, that flag ibly common and does not excuse some level, I knew he would be fine However, the infamous ery. There may have been many does not solely represent southern- the fact that the slaves were still because he’s just a very resilient guy,” ghost, commonly referred to other issues surrounding it, like ers’ heritage of seceding from the being treated as belongings, no Francis said. as The Lady in Blue, quick- states rights, but such issues were union. The Confederacy had an in- matter how well the management Classes at Florida State were can- ly vanished. The stories are just reasons used to justify slavery. credibly weak central government was. One can glorify the Old South celled the following day. numerous. Owning people is just not okay and and could hardly make a decision all he or she wants, pretend it was Here at Leon, Deputy Thomas In addition to his role as the reasons for that should be clear, since it was every state for itself, like Gone with the Wind, but bear- Stege wants Leon to try to prepare for a a janitor, Peters also serves so why is it acceptable to proudly so what makes you think that they ing the flag one believes represents shooting as best as it can. However, he as night watchman, but he display a flag that represents a na- could choose a single flag? The it is not tolerable. understands it is hard to prevent things has never truly encountered tion that thought it did? One may one seen most often was one of the The Confederate flag most like these. any intruders. say that it is “heritage not hate”, flags used during that time period, commonly seen today was not “You can’t be everywhere all the He did recall, however, but how can that be when one’s but it wasn’t truly given the official used to solely embody the Confed- time,” Stege said. “If somebody is com- that the building was van- heritage is hate? flag of the Confederacy title until erate States of America, but rather mitted to doing a terrorist act, it’s going dalized by Lincoln football I have nothing against hon- 1948. That year, the Dixie Crats, for hateful purposes such as pro- to happen. If someone wants to come to players shortly after he left oring your family history, but do southern Democrats, began to use testing African Americans receiv- Leon and do what they’re going to do.” work. not claim that you are representing it in protests against Harry Truman ing the same rights as white peo- Stege acknowledges that Leon does “I love to come to work where you were born and raised integrating the military. ple. Why is anyone proud of that not practice the lock down procedure as and do what I need to do,” since the Confederate States of The flag was soon used in state past? And if they are, they need to much as it should. Peters said. America existed from 1860 to capitols across the south, meant be able to admit that they are proud School shootings are truly treacher- “I love everyone who 1865, so no one alive today was to represent the glory days of the of this abhorrence of equality and ous, but every school should begin to works around me. raised in them. I have absolutely no Old South, which, may I remind not hide behind the claim that they form some kind of plan and remember “I just love everyone at issue with someone claiming love you, involved owning people. And are honoring their heritage. that it is possible to happen at any time. Leon.” 4 Dec. 2014 News The Leon High Life Anthony Phoenix Branca: Gone but not forgotten BRANCA FROM PAGE 1 years. He was an adult who loved an adventure. There is honestly no to dress up as a very convincing pi- way to sum up Anthony Branca, rate and raid the neighborhood with or the impact he had on our small his little brother. He part of the world. was a son who still He was an adult handmade his gifts “...He who kept the won- for Mother’s Day der and joy from and left notes by childhood, and he his dad’s coffee ma- made the shared that energy chine. He was the and light with any- friend who would extraordi- one lucky enough bring you Taco Bell to come near him. when you broke both nary feel He cruised through your feet. He was an the halls of Leon, employee who spent like a nec- making friends and his first paycheck on music, fighting that darn no pajama a Zelda sword. He ‘Whether you knew him or not, Anthony left his mark on the world.’ Bella Banka was the boyfriend essary part rule, and just living that taught me how life. He always said to love and how to of life...” he never wanted to let the bad times go grow up, and even ‘Simply the most amazing person’ and to laugh harder and be weirder then I always knew he would never him offering his dazzling smile. I always knew how amazing than I’ll ever admit to being. fully grow up. He would always Faith Hill He shone in the Marching Anthony was but the out pour of Anthony changed people’s be the same goofy goober at heart, Guest Writer Redcoats here at Leon too. An- people who have been affected by lives just by existing in them, and even if he lived to be a grown man Every once and while there thony loved playing saxophone his passing and who have shown his death has only amplified that. with a beard and desk job. will be a person who completely and making music. He was in the their support is unbelievable. Over He cared so much about any and Whether you knew him or not, changes your life. Someone who Symphonic band and Jazz 1. Every- the past month Anthony's friends every one in his life, and had the Anthony left his mark on the world. you could never forget and whose one looked forward to seeing him and family have spent almost all best ways of showing it. Sitting I don’t doubt that the world will al- personality is just infectious. An- and his ridiculous outfit choices at our time together remembering him around with everyone these past ways feel a little emptier to those thony Phoenix Branca was that per- marching band rehearsal. He was and asking ourselves "what would couple weeks and hearing every- who knew him, but Anthony was son for EVERYONE he met. There able to make being hot, sweaty, and Anthony do?" It's funny to think one’s Anthony stories was incred- too positive of a force to mourn is no way I could possibly express tired fun. about how amazing Anthony was ible. I knew what he had done for normally. in words how truly incredible he Death is never easy, especially to have so many people try to live my life, but I didn’t even realize the We’ve cried sure, but we have was. when someone is taken so young. their lives as he would. widespread impact he had. all laughed even more. Anthony Anthony Branca would put his Anthony will live forever in his A part of me has been miss- He made the extraordinary feel Phoenix Branca, you truly were the heart into whatever he would do. loved ones stories, thoughts, and ing since November 7th and I don't like a necessary part of life, and greatest. Whether he was building a comput- memories. Anthony's father said think I'll ever feel whole again but honestly made just about anything er, being a camp counselor, learn- something recently that I think re- I know that if he wasn't important ing to be a park ranger, playing sax- ally captured Anthony's spirit. He then it wouldn't hurt. Want to write about your favorite memories with ophone, or making art. He was the said "living everyday with Anthony Anthony Phoenix Branca is Anthony Branca for online? best friend a person could ask for. was extraordinary. My 'normal' was simply the most amazing person Come by IA-4 or talk to an editor He was always there when I needed extraordinary, because of him." I've ever met. Hard work pays off over half-century Band direc- like you want to perform, and The Redcoats tor Brett Pikuritz hard work comes through in was a part of the the end.” earn Supe- Florida State Uni- Being in the Redcoats is versity Marching demanding. rior rating at Chiefs. He led the “Band is very taxing on saxophone section. students with school,” senior MPA for After graduating Ben Reams said. “And if sixty-fifth from FSU, he was they are like myself, another assigned to volun- sport (swimming) just makes year in a row teer at Leon and the schedule even busier. worked toward be- “The program is hard Lauren Henderson ing the band direc- work but also very reward- News Editor tor. ing.” “The success Junior Matthew Sick- For 65 years in a row, definitely isn’t just inger leads the trumpet sec- the Leon Marching Redcoats because of me,” tion, and has been playing have earned a Superior rating Pikuritz said. “We trumpet since he was in at the annual Marching Per- stand on the shoul- middle school at Cobb. Sick- formance Assessment. ders of giants. The inger has had many big op- “We’re perfectionists,” people who came portunities as a Redcoat. sophomore Reid Kirkland before us laid the “Going to London with said. groundwork. friends as a high school is The MPA is held locally “Now we are something most people don’t Photo courtesy of Marching Redcoats at Gene Cox Stadium. The The Redcoats march in the annual Veterans Day parade. maintaining the ex- get to experience,” Sickinger band is judged and Superior cellence.” said. is the highest “grade” pos- the Redcoats performed in year they placed second. At The band “season” be- Pikuritz hopes Leon alumnus Vann sible. two competitions, Battle on Oviedo, they were sixth out gins at the end of July. In the to stay with the Leon Red- Streety was a Redcoat from This is not a competi- the Border in Valdosta and of 19 bands and they quali- fall, the Redcoats practice coats for a long time and to 1980-84. tion, as more than one school Oviedo Preview of Champi- fied for states. every Tuesday and Thurs- continue earning Superior “The one thing I really can receive a Superior rat- ons. To be a Redcoat, stu- day from 6:00-8:30 p.m., ratings. remember is the pride I felt ing. But Leon has the longest Two years ago, they dents must play an instru- and perform at home foot- “Band has a lot of par- of being a part of such an streak on record. were grand champions at ment and be enrolled in sym- ball games and in-town away allels with sports,” Pikuritz incredible tradition,” Streety In addition to the MPA, Battle on the Border and this phonic or concert band class. games. said. “You have to practice said. The Leon High Life Features Dec. 2014 5 Bulecza storms the stage with passion

Michaela Westmoreland Features Editor

Tori Bulecza has been practic- ing almost every day since early September to perfect her part as the lead in the Ballet Arts Conserva- tory of Tallahassee’s production of Snow White. The show will be Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. at the Lincoln High School auditorium. “I love working hard to make everything the best that it can be, “ said Bulecza. “I am always amazed at how dancing really makes me feel alive.” Bulecza practices every week day, with times varying depending on the rehearsal, but on the week- end she starts as early 9 a.m. and leaves as late as 6:30 p.m. The amount of time Bulecza puts into her dancing leaves her with little time for others things such as homework and band prac- tice. Tori Bulecza “I really have to focus on get- Tori Bulecza, shown on the right in the left photograph, dances ballet, jazz and tap, and has danced since she was three years old. ting my school work done before or after dance class,” Bulecza said. the lead dwarf, in the Snow White creation they dubbed “Windows to “I know that she loves danc- and try new things,” Bulecza said. “As for band, my dance directors production, is a firm supporter of the World.” ing and that she’s been doing it for “It is something that has always [Amy Lowe and Annette Barcelo- Bulecza in her role as Snow White. “I hope dance is always some- a long time,” Kadzis said. “I’ve helped me.” na] and band director [Brett Piku- “She’s been dancing for a long how a part of my life,” Bulecza known her since I was seven years To Bulecza, no one aspect of ritz] are extremely reasonable and time,” Gunter said. “She’s a strong said. “I love dancing and I serious- old and she’s become someone who her dance life is harder than another understand that I can’t be in two dancer and I think being the lead ly can’t imagine my life without it. is extremely graceful and entertain- and every day is a new start. places at one time.” of the ballet is something that will “It will always be a part of ing to watch when dancing.” During the play, Bulecza will Bulecza puts more time into help push her when it comes to me.” Both Kadzis and Gunter have have to do quick wardrobe changes her dancing than into her flute prac- dancing.” Phoenix Kadzis plays Sneezy taken Jazz dance and Contempo- as she has two different outfits for tice for band, but she says band is Bulecza has been in a number in the Snow White production and rary dance with Bulecza, who also different times in the play. still something that takes up a sig- of plays since she started taking although she practices less than takes tap dancing. Gunter believes that it is easy nificant part of her life. ballet when she was three, includ- Bulecza, she tries just as hard to “Ballet is my main focus but I to see Bulecza’s passion when she Claire Gunter, who plays Doc, ing Cinderella and the studio’s own meet expectations. think it’s always good to branch out dances. Prasse works with his own curriculum exciting teacher,” said sophomore Michael Guitar teacher Thomas, who is in the middle of taking his second year of guitar class with Prasse. “I look forward to his class every day.” influences stu- Adam Shelley, the guitar player for the hit band American Authors, was taught slide dents around blues and opening tunings from Prasse dur- ing the three years he took his guitar class, the world and is someone Prasse is glad to have been able to teach. Michaela Westmoreland “It’s never about the type of music we Features Editor play or the time it takes,” Prasse said. “It’s about the experience.” Not only does guitar teacher Ed Prasse Last year, Prasse taught his daughter, use music books in his class that historically Hannah, who has taken an abundance of mu- capture the guitar teaching at Leon, but he sic-based courses, including orchestra, jazz also co-wrote them. band, chamber orchestra, choral and Mane In late 1999, Prasse was asked by previ- Event. ous guitar teacher Nancy Marsters to help co- Prasse’s entire family is musi- write a guitar book for her publishing com- cally inclined, including his wife Hadley Richter pany that would push the fundamentals of Prasse poses with his guitar during the final PAWS rehearsal. Lisa, who teaches music at Faith learning to play guitar without having a bias Presbyterian Preschool, and sons Zac, who on a particular genre. From Bach to Rock, Prasse teaches ev- “I’ve been teaching at Leon for 21 years, plays drums and Philip, who plays bass. “It’s more about teaching them to play erything under the sky. and each year the kids seem to become more Musicians like Eric Clapton, John May- guitar than teaching them a song,” Prasse “I decided that incorporating all types and more advanced,” Prasse said. “The gui- er, Jimmy Hendricks, and Joe Bonamassa are said. of genres in my teaching was the way to go tar one student can do what the guitar two people that Prasse is greatly influenced by. The music books are now in use around because I respect what it takes to make mu- students did last year, and the guitar two stu- Prasse is currently a guitarist in a band the United States and have gone internation- sic,” Prasse said. “I went from Def Leppard dents can do what guitar three used to do.” called “Jim Ed Tim Ed” with Jim Martin, a al, with its most popular foreign buyer being to blues rock music all because I’ve come to Prasse believes that the highlight of each friend of Prasse’s and Tim Peck, a former Kuwait. realize the work put behind it, no matter the year is the guitar Roar concert. student. Prasse takes pride in knowing that he has genre, is enormous.” His fresh start each year gives him time Each of the members play acoustic guitar been a part of teaching many children around Each year, Prasse changed the songs and to re-create the Roar concert that happens in and sing during their gigs. the world with his music books. format of his classes because he finds some- the spring where he comes up with each song The group performs at local restaurants “It’s an extension of what I do,” Prasse thing new that works better for the students that will be played by his high level classes. or patios in Tallahassee and they plays music said. than it did in the previous years. “Mr. Prasse is such an interactive and ranging from Led Zeppelin to Lady Gaga. 6 Dec. 2014 The Leon High Life The Leon High Life Dec. 2014 7 8 NPOs Leon takes pride in volunteering Not-for-profit organizations Eight businesses which offer Leon students an opportu- From the desk of Assistant Principal Sarah Hembree Leon students depend on nity to volunteer service hours “Goodwill strives to Ten great ways to not get volunteer hours Ten great ways to get volunteer hours enhance the dignity 1. and quality of life of individuals and families by 1. Creating ongoing community projects, such as helping people reach their 1. Tutoring siblings at home full potential through educa- 2. Teaching someone how to ride a bike a community garden tion, skills training and the power of work.” 3. Singing in a church choir 2. Providing after-school service to Leon, such as 4. Counting 24 hours a day for a multi-day mis- tutoring sion trip 3. Volunteering with summer programs, such as 5. Taking care of and grooming their own hair to summer camp be donated 4. Lending a hand at the senior center 6. Sleeping (on a youth group trip) 5. Helping at a nursing home 2. 7. Playing online multi-player video games to 6. Working at museums in town “keep kids off the street” 7. Contributing with the Migrant Education Pro- 8. Participating as a teacher’s aide during a class gram period 8. Joining a service club at Leon 9. Helping with the Tallahassee Youth Triathlon 9. Being an unpaid employee at a family store Liz Joyner Series Senior Rachel Joyner explains a rail gun she upgraded at the FSU’s renowned Mag Lab’s 10. Babysitting siblings annual open house. 3. 10. Helping with the Special Olympics “The mission of the Tallahassee Garden Club is to A look into why service hours are important, and further education of the members and the public in the fields of gardening, horticulture, botany, how they can later impact students floral design, landscape design and environmental awareness…” Sella Kinch The organizations she volunteered at varied from the Radiology Department, Features Editor Rehabilitation Center and Family Care Facing the impending pressure of Unit in Tallahassee Memorial Hospital to a scholarships and college applications, Young Actor's Theatre Costume Assistant, most students begin the search for service where she logged nearly 500 hours. hours as soon as possible. "I think that service hours are impor- 4. In the colleges and universities clutter- tant because of how you feel involved and ing the United States, something that could how you can qualify for random scholar- disrupt the balance of getting accepted into ships," Joyner said. Alie MacVicar Birdie Culbreath Leta Ashebo Caroline Kirk a school could be the amount of time spent Among the colleges Joyner applied for volunteering. were Harvard, Stanford and the University “I have seen students with just about of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where “A national non-profit organization the exact academic transcript apply for a she applied for the Morehead-Cain Schol- with a mission to affirm and safe- Some students’ experiences while volunteering school to have one be accepted over anoth- arship. 5.guard the human dignity of indi- er because of his time spent volunteering,” "While doing service hours I figured viduals as they age and to promote assistant principal Sarah Hembree said. out a lot about myself," Joyner said. "For I better care for those near the end of life.” Sella Kinch of eight and eleven,” Lockhart them. said. “When we were getting For the highly esteemed scholarship varied from volunteering at Young Actor's Features Editor “I’ve encountered many incidents with ready for bed I noticed a huge squirrels running around the facility due to contest Best and Brightest, 200 hours are Theater to working at Tallahassee Memo- needed to apply. Hembree says that you rial Hospital." Due to the extreme necessity of ser- cockroach right next to my head them getting out of our hands because they can start collecting hours in the summer Senior Mary Dixon was nominated for vice hours for every student’s future, the in the bunk bed. I completely get so feisty when they are hungry,” Nel- after eighth grade. the Best and Brightest’s English category. collection of volunteer credit can be very acted like an eight-year-old and son said. “But to give them rehabilitation, I Best and Brightest, an organization Dixon collected roughly 300 hours stressful. the other counselor had to try couldn’t let go of them so I eventually got limited for Leon County schools, has 15 working at various places during her years Assistant Principal Sarah Hembree and kill it.” used to all the scratches.” 6. categories that roughly 30 students this in high school. stresses how important they are. Lockhart went on further to Throughout her stay at St. Francis, she year applied for. Those who get chosen "The main thing I volunteered for was “Volunteering is key for these applica- explain that the other counselor has encountered a pig that loves avocado, into these categories will be awarded mon- counseling at the summer camp Sci Girls," tions,” Hembree said. quickly tried to kill it with a T- possums hissing at her and a turtle that ey for future education paths. Dixon said. From filling out lengthy service hour shirt. once found its way to the fridge. “The idea of Best and Brightest is to The colleges Dixon is interested in are reports to finding opportunities to get out “Luckily, she disintegrated “Basically when I’m there, I help with honor the students that make the world the University of Virginia and University “Big Bend Hospice pro- into the community and perform service, the cockroach, but broke her whatever needs to be done,” Nelson said. more exciting with them in it,” Hembree of Florida, and she is considering studying vides expert health care, there is much involved in the process. finger in the process because “I feed the animals and clean dishes along said. Material Engineering. encouragement, hope, A service done often by high school she was hitting the concrete re- with doing laundry. A lot has to be done 7. Along with non-profit organizations "To get service hours you need to do compassion and compan- students is taking care of younger kids. ally hard trying to kill it.” Lock- to keep the animals healthy and comfort- covering Tallahassee, there are many clubs them here, there and everywhere," Dixon ionship to people with a limited Many students can balance caring for the hart said. able.” Chloe Nelson that desperate students hungry for service said. "I got most of mine over the summer life expectancy so that they can children in between school, for most help Senior Chloe Nelson at St. Francis Wildlife Refuge. While both Sheldon and This February, Nelson will be leaving hours can join. Among these are Anchor, because of my free schedule." complete personal goals and is needed at summer camps, after-school Lockhart had nearly catastroph- her job at St. Francis Wildlife to intern at Interact and Key Club, while most clubs, For most high school students, it can find spiritual peace.” programs and in other activities on week- across the street to catch her and bring her ic experiences with kids, senior Kate Sullivan Elementary School for the like the honor societies, interact with the be difficult to find places to volunteer. ends. inside. It was stressful.” Chloe Nelson has had an externship at St. rest of her senior year. community around Tallahassee also. Dixon recommends to just put yourself out Sophomore Zoë Sheldon worked at a She heard of the summer camp from a Francis Wildlife in Havana since Septem- Students all through Leon have stories For the Best and Brightest Award, a there. summer camp last June in Melbourne, tak- friend that volunteered there a year earlier ber. like these from volunteering, for as they committee comes together to determine "Think of something you want to do ing care of young kids that attended the and when she traveled down to Melbourne While working with the animals in the collect service hours they gain experience which seniors best fit the categories giv- and go for it,” she said. “Most people will program. One day while working at the on a church trip, she worked seven-hour habitat, Nelson explained that she had to of other professions they hadn’t considered en. The recommended students go to the be eager for free work." camp, Sheldon encountered a situation shifts at the camp for five days. get used to the scratching and hissing of before. school departments and administration. Said Hembree: “There is more to life that involved one of the young girls in her Junior Grace Lockhart collected ser- some of the animals. With the help of these volunteering Senior Rachel Joyner was nominated than a perfect transcript. The Best and 8. charge running out into a street nearby. vice hours by being a counselor at an over- Additionally, she mentioned that the opportunities, students like Sheldon, Lock- for the Science and Health category. Brightest Award celebrates people who “One of the girls bolted out the door night summer camp. squirrels at the preserve would often es- hart and Nelson are gathering new skills, In her last three years of high school, take time out of their personal life to make and ran across a busy street,” Sheldon said. “Another girl my age and I were look- cape and run around the facility until all of capabilities and understanding of the she has compiled over 1,021 service hours. “I had to sprint out of the building and ing over about ten girls between the ages the volunteers and employees could catch working world. the world a bit better.” 8 Dec. 2014 Features The Leon High Life 2014-15 Best and Brightest

125 hours of community Goldstein-Green- service. LEON “Volunteer hours are wood receives huge,” Goldstein-Green- NOMINEES: wood said. “It’s a big part recognition for of Best and Brightest.” Goldstein-Greenwood Ella Smith musical talent helped out at music camps Art in middle schools through- EmmaLea Reed out Tallahassee, such as Features Editor Cobb and Fairview, to ob- Emily Dempsey tain service hours. Athletics Goldstein-Greenwood Leon High School senior Jacob Gold- says that Samuel Cherrier- stein-Greenwood was named this year’s Vickers, last year’s winner Irj Tajdar Best and Brightest in the music category. of the Best and Brightest in Business Goldstein-Greenwood is all about per- the music category, was his cussion. He’s been practicing percussion main inspiration for apply- since he was in sixth grade at Fairview Brittany Asbury ing for the title. Middle School. This year, he is the captain “Jacob is a great guy,” Career/Technical of Leon’s marching band in the percussion Cherrier-Vickers said. “He section. has always had his pri- Maxx Marshall Goldstein-Greenwood said that the orities straight and put the main reason he became involved in band Drama and Performing Arts music first. He is also an was because he was inspired by his older extremely talented musi- brother, Jonah Goldstein-Greenwood. cian, and combined with “I always just wanted to do what he Jacob Goldstein-Greenwood Mary Dixon his hard work, he always Jacob Goldstein-Greenwood playing during the London trip. English and Language Arts did,” Jacob said. had his parts down A plus. At Leon, Goldstein-Greenwood is in- I think he is a very good nomination for it, and he’s extremely glad he did. volved with marching percussion, jazz Leon High music Best and Brightest.” Goldstein-Greenwood wants to major in Stephanie Thompson band, and several other groups that have to Until this year, Goldstein-Greenwood evolutionary biology. As he goes off to col- Foreign Language do with percussion. didn’t really plan on applying for Best and lege, he plans to keep involved with some Over the course of his high school ca- Brightest, but the encouragement from his sort of percussion group wherever he ends reer, Goldstein-Greenwood has put in over Muireall Brown friends and teachers gave him the will to do up. Journalism and Media Produc- tions and Brightest because I do most of things he trical engineering in college. Student strives to tells me to do,” Roddenberry said. As of now, he has no top preferences Kennedy Wilhite In applying, Roddenberry had to submit and would just simply like to go somewhere Leadership major in electrical an essay and document his community ser- cheap. vice hours. “I am interested in engineering because engineering “I wrote some stuff down on paper on it is all about developing new things and ap- Mitchell Roddenberry why I should be nominated and simply hoped plying new concepts,” Roddenberry said. Mathematics for the best,” Roddenberry said. “It is also very math heavy theoretically.” Maribeth McClenny Roddenberry enjoys both science and Roddenberry estimates that he performed Online Editor about 90 community service hours for Best Jacob Goldstein-Green- math. Currently, he is in AP Biology. He took AP Environmental Science his and Brightest. wood Senior Mitchell Roddenberry did not freshmen year, AP Physics his sophomore “I’m pretty sure I don’t have the stron- Music have a clue about the Best and Brightest year and AP Chemistry his junior year. gest service out of all of the nominees, but I competition until this year. Roddenberry has had a rigorous schedule think I have a pretty strong merit,” Rodden- berry said. Amber Hannah Even after applying to be Leon’s nomi- throughout his four years of high school. nee in the math division, he wasn’t neces- He is currently enrolled in Calculus BC. He completed his hours through tutoring Public Speaking sarily striving to win. Roddenberry completed Algebra 1 and with Pierian and working with the Florida Nevertheless, he won. Geometry in middle school for high school Board of Professional Engineers. Rachel Joyner “It means a lot to me to be recognized,” credit. His freshmen year he took Algebra 2, “I mostly did office work at the Florida Board of Professional Engineers,” Rodden- Science and Health Roddenberry said. Pre Calculus his sophomore year and Calcu- “It is not going to affect me significant- lus AB his junior year. berry said. ly though.” “I like math because, compared to other “I was basically an office slave.” Patricia Singletary In actuality, the only reason he went subjects, it is clean,” Roddenberry said. In addition to enjoying academics, Rod- Social Science through the application process was be- “I see math as viewing axioms and deriv- denberry is in steel band, a member of Sci- cause AP Biology teacher Matt Guyton en- ing every thing from there.” ence National Honor Society, the president couraged him to do so. “It’s very cut and dry.” of Mu Alpha Theta and a member of Pierian. Rachael Steverson “I listened to Mr. Guyton about Best Roddenberry would like to major in elec- He was also in marching and symphonic Technology band his first three years of high school. The Leon High Life Sports Dec. 2014 9 When FSU Seniors selected as Heisman wins, the com- munity wins finalists

Will Rasmussen Dempsey recog- Sports Editor nized for excellence We have now reached the time of year when football season is coming to a close. in volleyball and Bowl season is underway and only four teams are in national championship conten- academics tion. Will Rasmussen In a little under a month, Florida State Sports Editor will make its way to Pasadena, California to take on west coast foe Oregon, and Alabama Senior Emily Dempsey already has a will take on Ohio State as all four teams whole host of accolades that she has earned compete for a shot at a national champion- throughout her high school volleyball career. ship. Her hard work on the court and in the I have watched the Seminoles play from classroom may lead to another award in the the time I could hold a football. I remember trophy case. 7-6 seasons with Xavier Lee at quarterback, Dempsey has been nominated for the I remember barely defeating teams like the Wendy’s High School Heisman award that is University of Alabama-Birmingham. It has given to two senior athletes from each local been great to see the Seminoles bring the high school, one boy and one girl. Emily Dempsey winning tradition back to Tallahassee. Candidates are judged based on their Winning 29 games in a row is no easy academic achievements, athletic accomplish- task. With Jameis Winston at quarterback, it ments, community leadership and involve- Brightest for athletics. ball team went on to win a 6A State Cham- seems as if the Seminoles just refuse to lose ment in various extra-curricular activities. Dempsey’s mother played volleyball in pionship. a football game. As Florida State heads into Dempsey will represent the Lions along high school before taking on an opportunity Though Dempsey did not receive a lot post-season play, there are still some unan- with football player Bradley Coogan. to run track at San Diego State University. of playing time, she still relished the experi- swered questions. “I am honored to be a nominee of this “My mom is definitely a big inspiration ence. Can Florida State even get past Oregon? award,” Dempsey said. “It is great to see that for me,” Dempsey said. “She pushes me re- “Being part of a state championship Can they compete with Alabama? Is the all my hard work is beginning to pay off.” ally hard and wants the best for me.” team and seeing how passionate we all were Southeastern Conference bias getting old? In her four seasons with the Lions, she Dempsey contributed on varsity all four about the game was such a great experience,” The answer to these questions is “yes.” Flor- earned the most valuable player award and years, but there is one moment she will never Dempsey said. ida State has exactly what it takes to win the was a team captain in a senior year that was forget. Teammates of Dempsey have noticed her college football playoff. highlighted by a trip to the FACA All-Star She was given the call and moved up to dedication to school and volleyball. There is so much more that goes into game at St. Leo University. varsity for the last few games of her fresh- “She is a hard worker and I couldnt winning a national title than just the success In addition to the Heisman nomination, man season. think of a better candidate for this award,” of the athletes. The support of the fans is the Dempsey was also named Leon’s Best and That same year, the Lady Lions volley- co-captain Grace Pickron said. most crucial proponent in winning football games. In the last few weeks, Florida State and ber University and Uni- the city of Tallahassee have faced more than Finalist Coogan versity of West Flori- just a challenge. They have had their backs da). to the wall. With the death of officer Chris shows leadership However, he is be- Smith and the shooting at the Florida State ing recruited heavily by library, the most important thing the Noles on and off the field Elon University. can do is win football games, and that is ex- “The recruiting actly what they are doing. Will Rasmussen process has been crazy Florida State winning football games is Sports Editor and suspenseful but greatly impacting our community. It makes there is no better feel- me proud to be a Tallahassee native. There is Bradley Coogan is known by his team- ing than knowing I can no place like home here in Tallahassee. mates as a leader on and off of the football play college football,” Many people complain about Flori- field. Coogan said. da State by saying it got “lucky” or that it It is for that reason that he will be rep- After having a very doesn’t play anyone. resenting Leon High School as a recipient of successful senior cam- I say one thing that is constantly reiterat- the prestigious Wendy’s High School Heis- paign, Coogan has one ed throughout a Taylor Swift melody: “Hat- man award. stand-out memory that ers gonna hate.” “Bradley is one of the most humble guys he will never forget. While the rest of the country wishes for that I know,” senior Travis Amey said. “He “I scored my first Florida State to fall short in the national title works hard every day and has a great atti- touchdown against run, I can assure you that most individuals tude. Florida High and it with the 850 area code have the Seminoles “He’s the MVP of the year, in my opin- was a WCTV play of back as they look to claim their second na- ion.” the week nominee,” tional championship. Coogan, along with volleyball player Coogan said. Pam Coogan After a week of tragic events in Talla- Emily Dempsey, will represent the Lions “That’s something hassee, Jimbo Fisher reminded media that as one girl and one boy are selected from Receiver Bradley Coogan catches a ball at the 2014 Red vs. White game. I will remember.” one of the best ways to fight through rough 30,000 different schools around the country, Friends of Coogan tion that uses athletics to share God’s word. times is through athletics. narrowing down to six finalists for the award. notice his passion for football and his hard All of Coogan’s success did not come While Florida State continues to win “It’s great to be recognized for this work on and off the football field. without hard work. football games, Tallahassee continues to award, and it’s an honor to represent Leon,” “Bradley is a very studious guy and a He first spent two years on junior varsity grow and come together as a community. Coogan said. great person,” junior Paul Cunningham said. before securing a spot on the varsity roster. With all of the things that Jameis Win- The High School Heisman recognizes “He is very passionate about everything In his senior season, Coogan tallied 11 ston is dealing with off of the football field, senior athletes not just on athletic ability but that he does, he always gives his all.” receptions for 235 yards and four scores. there is no way the former Heisman trophy on how well rounded they are as an individ- Coogan still finds a way to stay humble These stats don’t go un-noticed among winner can continue to find ways to win ual. through all of his success. Coogan’s teammates. without the help of this community and all While Coogan is a star on the field, he “My mom wouldn’t even let me play “Bradley plays like Riley Cooper (Phila- of his supporters. also finds a way to get it done in the class- football until seventh grade,” Coogan said. “I delphia Eagles wide receiver),” teammate I would not want to be a fan of any other room. guess she was afraid of me getting hurt.” Brison Williams said. “He is a clutch receiv- team. Through a season of ups and downs , Coogan has maintained a 3.7 grade point Five years later, Coogan is getting ready er.” Florida State still found a way to finish the average while being heavily involved in Fel- to fulfill his dream of becoming a college Coogan has been hearing from several regular season unscathed. lowship of Christian Athletes, an organiza- football player. Division I programs (Elon University, Web- 10 Dec. 2014 Sports The Leon High Life Freshmen earn soccer varsity spots

Hannah Rodriguez cisions. would really like to improve cer at the Associated Soccer Sports Writer “It’s hard having to think her touch on the ball. Group on the U15 team. about so much so quickly Amanda says that she There, Amanda plays Making a varsity sport and make fast, good deci- would like to strengthen her center defense and Presley as a freshman and seeing sions,” Reeves said. mental strategy; making the plays forward which she significant playing time is However, for Presley, simple passes that are open. greatly enjoys. unusual enough. the most difficult aspect is When asked to rate each “Scoring goals and win- Freshmen Presley and just the sheer amount of run- other, each sister gave the ning are two of my favorite Madison Reeves are not ning and fitness conditioning other an eight, because, al- parts,” Presley said. only breaking that norm, but they do. though they are talented, Both agree though that they are also two of three They both enjoy playing they still have room for im- just playing with friends is triplets. on varsity much more than provement. what makes it so fun. Presley and Madison JV. Both of them agree, They both like how are both transitional players “We’re more on the however, that the most chal- competitive club is, but en- on the junior varsity and var- same level with them and lenging part mentally is be- joy playing at Leon more. sity soccer teams. they’re more experienced,” ing so young on the team. They like the coaching Presley said. “We also learn Although not necessarily here more and say that it is They play and practice John Ike Smith-Schoenwalder a lot which is great.” shy, they both feel as though a more enjoyable experience. with varsity unless JV is Presley Reeves attempts to steal the ball in the Lions’ 5-1 However, when either it’s hard for them to be asser- “They are very good ath- down a player and they are victory against Lincoln on Dec. 12. needed to fill in. player is pulled down to fill tive or to truly express them- letes and have both already They began playing in for a JV member, it is tak- selves on the field since they made big contributions to soccer at the age of six. en as an opportunity to bond are the youngest on the team. the team,” head coach Tony Their mom decided with teammates. Despite their youth, both Kidd said. to sign them up for soccer Presley and Madison try players feel that when they “The best thing about recreationally, where they to teach and help their JV play, they are up to par with them though is their attitude. found their passion for the teammates in any way pos- the abilities of the upper- They are fearless. sport. sible. classmen girls on the team. “They’re polished and By the ages of nine and They both look up to se- “When we sub in, it’s their tenacity is amazing.” ten, the Reeves sisters knew nior Maddy Keenan as a role an even skill level,” Presley Neither triplet is sure that soccer was the only model who they view as an said. “It’s not like we’re the whether they want to pursue sport for them. amazing all-around player. weak ones on the field.” soccer in college. They are very competi- “They’re both strong Sophomore Kate Carter “It depends. If I got a tive with one another, but players,” Keenan said. says they are a really good scholarship then I would always treat each other like “They’re both hard workers, addition to the team. want to,” Presley said. regular teammates on the they’re easy to work with “They’re crazy, fun to Kidd sees a very bright field. and I think they’re a really play with and they work future on the team for both Presley is a right for- good addition and they fit re- super hard, and have great triplets. ward and Amanda plays as ally well with the team.” work ethic,” Carter said. “They’re going to be right mid-field. However, they both feel “They really are just killers huge for the program in the they still face challenges in on the soccer field.” future,” Kidd said. “They For Madison, the most John Ike Smith-Schoenwalder challenging part about her their skills. During the off-season, both easily have the potential Madison Reeves defends the ball during the Lincoln game. position is making quick de- Presley says that she the Reeves play travel soc- to play in college.” McGriff invited to 2015 Under Armour game

John Ike Smith-Schoenwalder 2013 season more than doubled his 1007 all- Co-Editor in chief purpose yards from the 2014 season. McGriff racked up only 15 yards in his Division I prospect D’Anfernee McGriff sophomore year, as he played mainly on de- suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in fense. October and won’t be able to compete in the McGriff, however, believes that the drop upcoming 2015 Under Armour game. in stats is incomparable to his maturation as McGriff, who has verbally committed to a football player and a quarterback. Auburn, was notified of his selection into the “At first, I just wanted to run, run, run,” Under Armour game during the summer, but McGriff said. “Then, I started maturing at the afterwards suffered a season-ending injury in position and now I can make all the throws I a loss to Lincoln on Oct. 16. couldn’t last year.” “I was nervous about getting the in- His teammates have noticed what he has vite,” McGriff said. “But, then, I finally got done on and the field. a chance to play [in the Under Armour game] “[McGriff] is a great athlete and a hum- and I was delighted.” ble guy,” teammate Travis Amey said. However, he faces a six-month recovery They see his development on the field time. and the personality he brings to the team. “Next April or May, I will be ready to go “[McGriff] is a great person to be full speed again,” McGriff said. around,” teammate D’Eldrick Campbell Although unable to compete, McGriff said. “He feeds off the energy of his team- will attend the game. Verbally committed to mates and it excels his play, and I believe that Auburn, he looks forward to talking with Au- will help him in the future.” McGriff’s peers recognize his ability to burn commits. C & S photography McGriff is one of 100 players throughout make clutch plays and inspire others. Senior D’Anfernee McGriff shows off his Under Armour All-America jersey during the event at Leon. the nation selected to compete in the game. “[McGriff] is a hilarious guy and makes McGriff is one of 100 football players across the nation selected to compete in the Under Armour game. In his three-year career at Leon, McG- everyone laugh,” teammate Javon Williams riff played 23 games and racked up 3067 all- said. “He is able to make game-changing defenders have trouble tackling. The game will be on Jan. 2, 2015 at purpose yards. plays that help out the team big-time.” Even though he played the quarterback Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. McGriff’s quarterback rating, a measure As of Dec., 2014, McGriff is rated as position for the duration of his three years on McGriff will officially announce his de- of the performance of passers (usually quar- four-star athlete and is number 208 on ES- the team, McGriff is being recruited as a re- cision on National Signing Day, Feb. 4, at terbacks) saw a spike from his junior year to PN’s Top 300 list, which ranks the top 300 ceiver. Leon. senior year, rising from a 55.0 to his senior football players in the nation. The Under Armour game is a premier op- “I want to be one of the best players to year’s rating of 68.9. At 6’2”, 220 lbs, McGriff is a formidable portunity for prospects to compete and prove ever come from Auburn,” McGriff said. Yet, his 2045 all-purpose yards from the sight on the field. His large frame is one that themselves to scouts. The Leon High Life Sports Dec. 2014 11 ‘The guys on the track’: two-time state champion Khosla and his brothers

It was looking fantastic. And the 900 Four years of cross miles in the summer showed that we were ready for it. country as told by Then the last cross country season. I was on top of my game this season. I won every the champion race and broke 15 minutes twice before state. As a team, we had won a few races, but himself our rival, Chiles, was ready to put up a fight. At the pre-state meet they had beaten us by a Sukhi Khosla mere two points, but we crushed them at the Guest Writer regional meet by 17 points. We became one of the top ten ranked teams in the country. “Who are those guys? Why are they Finally, it was the day. That dreamed-up going the wrong way? Why don’t they have senior year state championship, a day that we shirts on?” had talked about literally thousands of times. To answer everyone who gives us funny A day where we would prevail. A day that we looks in the mornings on the track, we are the never thought would come, but one that we boys cross country team. will remember forever. We run twice a day almost all year round, Again I finished first. As I turned around Lea Marshall we take ice baths, we don’t have “cancelled at the finish line, I saw Hunter Scott coming practice.” I have been at this for four years Sukhi Khosla runs 2011 Carrolton Invitational, his first high school race, with a time of 18:11. in hard for a solid fourth place. I couldn’t now, and it’s been a long, interesting trip. hold in my excitement, seeing the next two It all started in the summer before fresh- guys - Kyle Buchholz and Wil Luca - come man year. I had been running for a year at that in with each other was what would make the point, but it was time to go to high school, to difference: we had to have won! move up. As I started adding the points in my head, I had heard horrible things about the I realized that Wil was not the fifth runner of Leon coach. He had been called crazy, mean, our team to cross the line. Where was Adam and unreasonable. This all changed the day Wallenfelsz? I met Coach Andrew Wills. He wasn’t the Our sophomore, Matthew Cashin, and the 500-pound, red-faced demon I had imagined, last senior, Maxx Marshall, crossed the line and little did I know that I would see him al- almost together in almost exactly the same most every day for the next four years of my times as pre-state. Walking back through the life. shoot and to the tent I was scared. The points Then came the races. Freshman cross were still being added for what seemed to be country was disappointing. I ran slower than forever. I was predicted to, and we only placed ninth People were congratulating me left and as a team at the state meet. right but I couldn’t hear anything. I had to Going into the winter, I knew I had to find out the scores. Then I got the news. take better care of myself; I was starting to It was 13 points: they beat us. The tears take this sport more seriously, and so was the came immediately. No one could understand rest of the team. why I was so upset since I had won, but I We decided we would win state as se- didn’t care at all about that. niors, and this idea would found its way into Lea Marshall It was heartbreaking in the worst sense our heads every time we ran together for a Maxx Marshall, Sukhi Khosla, Kyle Buchholz, and Wil Luca sit after learning that they had lost of the word. This felt like a nightmare, a bad very long time. to Chiles at their final attempt for the state title. dream that came true. It was unreal. In track, I ran harder, faster, and ran the After a few days, the pain hadn’t unset- top freshman time in the state of Florida for time with each other than we had with our in the 3200, and doubled at the state cham- tled. 2 miles, and fourth at the New Balance Out- families. pionship for two gold medals in four hours. After over 10,000 miles, we didn’t win. door Nationals Freshman 2 Miles. Maybe I I had improved tremendously, and I The same year, Adidas flew me to NYC We tried one last time at the Nike Cross could win state as an individual. wanted to give us the one point. for the Dream Mile, where I finished 13th on Regionals, and we got sixth. Only the top two Maybe. Cross country is scored very simply. a bad day; Brooks flew me to Seattle where teams make it out to nationals so we didn’t Then the summer again. A lot of miles. Each team member receives the amount of I finished a bit better in sixth. Still one more make it. It was a sour note to end our time as So many miles. 10 milers, 12 milers, 14 mil- points of the place they finished, so 1st place year to go. a team, but it doesn’t compare to the fun and ers, speed workouts, hills, two-a-days. This equals one point. Then the scores of the top The last summer. Every year, we go up to great experiences we have had. Disappoint- was where we won our races, not out on the five runners on the team the Blue Ridge Mountains ing, yes, but we will still remember these track or on the course, but in the trails of For- are added up and this is in Georgia for a week. We years forever. est Meadows; we won our races in the woods. the final team score. The “...We’ve been run insanely hard, but it’s I still got to go out to nationals as an Then the races again. Cross country was team with the least points one of the most fun weeks individual and had a great time in Portland. exciting, I went from a 17:22 as a freshman wins! So it was important doing this for four of the year. Finishing 35th wasn’t my best race, but it was to 15:42 as a sophomore: from 105th in the for me to place as high years, twice a day, At the end of the a loaded field and I wasn’t too disappointed state to 13th. as possible, because if I week, we do a 5.2 mile since it was such a great experience. But I was hungry for more, and more im- scored only one point, it and have run about race up the side of a moun- We still have one track season left. My portantly, the team got sixth. We were mov- was like we were scoring the same amount of tain. This year I wanted main goal is to become the sixth high school ing up. only four members to ev- the record that not even runner to ever run a sub-four minute mile and The winter was brutal, we worked harder eryone else’s five. miles as the distance Matt Mizereck, six-time to break the all-time Florida state records in than ever and it showed in track. I ran the And I did. I scored state champion and all- the 1600 and 3200 meter races. overall fastest sophomore time in the state, the one point. from Tallahassee American, could break: Overall, those weird guys with their made it to state again, and was one of the top I won the state meet to San Diego. Five sub-30 minutes, held by shirts off that you see in the mornings are us. guys in the predictions, until I got sick the by 20 seconds, ran sub 15 times...” none other than my coach. We’re the cross country and distance track day before and ended up 13th place again. It minutes for the 5K, and It was almost a myth, team. only fanned the flames of my desire to win. the team placed fourth on because he didn’t put it on We’ve been doing this for four years, Then the third summer. The one where an extremely sub-par day. But it didn’t mat- the records we kept, but everyone knew. This twice a day, and have run about the same we hit the 100 miles in a week. The one ter, we were set to win it next year. summer, I went from last year’s 31:55 to the amount of miles as the distance from Talla- where we did 16 milers. The one where we In track, I exploded. elusive 29:57. hassee to San Diego. Five times. became a team that was poised to win a state I worked insanely hard during the win- My track season was carrying over to So maybe we didn’t win it all, but under- championship, and if we couldn’t pull it off ter, even ran on Christmas and New Year’s. I cross country and I knew it would be excit- stand the ridiculous amount of work that we this year, we would for sure be able to do it went from a 4:24 to a 4:05, and finished the ing. have put in. the next. regular season with the number one 1600 me- One of our best friends also transferred We were still second in the state and one When the races came again, we were ters in the country. (1600 meters is 9 meters from Lincoln this year and was most likely of the best teams in the country, and we are basically brothers. We probably spent more short of one full mile.) I broke nine minutes our number two man. best friends, my brothers for life. 12 Dec. 2014 Sports The Leon High Life

WINTER Buy an ad in SCOREBOARD the paper. Looking for a way to Boys Basketball advertise? Date Event 11/18/14 West Gadsen, L 66-53 Come to IA4 or contact 11/25/14 Wakulla, W 58-52 our Editors in chief 11/28/14 Madison, W 56-50 11/29/14 Jefferson, W 69-16 12/02/14 Thomas, W 64-47 12/05/14 E. Gadsden, W 56-51 12/06/14 Colquitt, W 68-64 12/09/14 at Chiles, W 80-54 12/11/14 Godby L, 73-54 12/12/14 at Lincoln L, 77-69 12/19/14 Raines 12/20/14 Ribault 12/22/14 West Florida

Girls Basketball Date Event 11/06/14 at Rutherford, L 80-61 11/10/14 Wakulla, W 48-32 11/14/14 NHCA, L 80-17 11/18/14 Chiles, W 45-41 11/20/14 Godby, L 50-44 11/24/14 Madison, L 77-52 11/25/14 CFCA, L 50-45 12/05/14 at Wakulla, W 47-34 12/08/14 at Lincoln, L 54-47 12/09/14 Gadsden, L 52-45 12/11/14 Rickards, L, 63-23 12/22/14 Mosley 01/09/14 Lincoln

Boys Soccer Date Event 11/07/14 at Lincoln, W 3-2 11/12/14 at Chiles, L 4-1 11/14/14 Tate, W 6-2 11/21/14 at Episcopal, W 3-1 11/22/14 at Mandarin, L 3-1 11/25/14 Lake City, W 6-2 12/01/14 Columbia, W 6-2 12/06/14 Rutherford, W 6-1 12/09/14 Chiles, L 2-1 12/12/14 Choctawhatchee, L 4-1 12/19/14 Lincoln

Girls Soccer Date Event 10/27/14 at Godby, W 8-0 11/10/14 Gainesville, W 2-0 11/18/14 at Lincoln, W 3-2 11/20/14 Maclay, T 1-1 11/21/14 at Wakulla, W 3-0 12/03/14 Columbia, W 5-0 12/06/14 Rutherford, W 3-1 12/06/14 Jenkins, L 1-0 12/09/14 Chiles, W 3-0 12/10/14 Rickards, W 8-0 12/11/14 Lincoln, W 5-1 12/19/14 at Gainesville 01/06/14 Wakulla 01/08/14 FSUS 01/09/14 JP II