@LibertyPublicat www.pinterest.com/tyearbook January/February 2018 Volume 24: Issue 4 What is this delicious salad? Find out on Liberty High School Talon Yearbook page 3! Photo by Maria Cruz. 6300 Independence Avenue, Bealeton, Virginia 22712 and Patriot Press Newspaper Senior Athletes Aim for a Higher Level by Jasmine Beverly ~Staff Reporter joy playing very much. I would like to basketball in mid-December of 2017. was pretty much made up that I wanted to see how far basketball takes me and “I made my decision with Radford spend the next four year of my life there. if I get better in college, than hopeful- because I got to know the coaching staff so But it was not my original dream school. I ly play as a professional!” said Kestner. well and when I visited, I knew this was go- had always planned to follow in my mom’s Senior Julian Sams, a varsity ing to be my home for college,” said Lewis. footsteps, attending Penn State or attend- football player and varsity wrestler, has As juniors and se- ing Virginia Tech, but after visiting WMU, recently decommitted from a college as niors, students start to think of I realized that’s where I wanted to be. The well. He was originally recruited at Old where they’d like to attend college. atmosphere in Williamsburg is amazing Dominion University to play football. “I wouldn’t say this was my dream and the quality of education that a student “After a long talk with my family and college. Everyone always asked me where receives there cannot be matched. I really coaches, I’ve decided to decommit from I wanted to go and I would say I didn’t believe that it is a great fit for me. I made Old Dominion and re-open my recruitment. know, because I didn’t. But I knew Radford my decision to apply early, which is bind- Thank you Coach Wilder for offering me was for me when I went down there for my ing, but I knew that there were slightly bet- Senior Makaela Kestner dribbles the to play Division 1 football and thank you unofficial visit. I’m most excited to for the ter odds of me getting accepted and that’s basketball down the court. Kestner plans on Coach Bankins for recruiting me. Please re- amazing teammates I am going to make! where I wanted to go, regardless of where attending the Univeristy of South Florida in spect my decision,” Julian posted on Janu- All of the girls were so nice when I visited else I was accepted into. For those who ar- the fall. Photo courtesy of Talon Yearbook ary 17, 2018, after a weekend visit at ODU. and I can’t wait to go experience that again en’t completely sure, I don’t recommend Some of our very well Although he had opened his recruitment when I go as a freshman,” said Lewis. this option because you could be stuck known Liberty Eagle athletes have again with many offers, Kent State caught Senior Madison Humphries is committed to a college to contin- his attention, and Julian went for an offi- an athlete on the varsity field hockey ue playing their favorite sports! cial visit on the weekend of January 27th and varsity basketball teams, but for col- Senior Makaela Kestner is on the varsity and 28th. After the weekend visit, Ju- lege, she is strictly attending William and girls basketball team. In early January, lian committed to Kent State in Ohio. Mary University for academic purposes. Makaela announced she committed to “I would like to thank everybody for sup- “I visited the college of William University of South Florida for womens porting me through this long process, with and Mary over spring break last year, and basketball. Although she was not always that being said, I will be furthering my foot- fell in love instantly. After that my mind committed to USF, Makaela was originally ball and academic career at Kent State Uni- recruited to the University of North Caroli- versity,” posted Julian on January 28, 2018. na, but in early December she decommitted. Senior Elizabeth Waln is a var- “A couple years back they had sity softball player. She was recruited to a few problems with the NACC, so I James Madison University in early No- was afraid of something happening when vember of 2017 to continue playing the Senior Julian Sams (#55) heads onto the I actually got there, and I didn’t want to sport she loves most. She’s been playing field with his fellow players. Sams is head- take any risk,” said Makaela. She be- softball since she was in second grade. ing to Kent State in the fall. Photo courtesy lieves the University of South Florida is “I chose JMU because it felt of Talon Yearbook Staff. a better fit for because “I feel very com- like home when I stepped on campus fortable at USF with the coaches, play- and the coaches and players are welcom- going somewhere that you’re not one hun- ers, and the staff make me feel comfort- ing. I was so excited and relieved when dred percent happy with,” said Humphries. able there and they run a system, and I found out I was accepted,” said Waln. that is what I like to do!” said Kestner. Kinsley Lewis is a junior on girls var- sity basketball, and she already has her Senior Madison Humphries takes the ball She also said she wanted to down the court. Humphries is attending continue playing basketball in college future set for her! She signed to play for Radford University for womens William & Mary in the fall. Photo courtesy of “because it is a game I love and en- Talon Yearbook Staff. SWISH! Senior Makaela Kestner Breaks School & County Records Senior Makeaela Kestner recent- Press Newspaper and currently the Sports ly broke the school record held by alumna Editor. She successfully writes about boys Liz Wood, who previously scored a total of and girls basketball. She also recently 1,467. Kestner broke this record after the committed to the University of South Flor- girls basketball Kettle Run game, scoring ida after decommitting from the University up to a total of 1,478 and adding an addi- of North Carolina. tional 13 points.She only had 4 more points In addition to the school record, to score in order to beat the county record. Kester also broke the county record for to- The record was broken on Febru- tal number of points scored in her basket- ary 6, 2018 while the ladies varsity basket- ball career. Kestner has scored more than ball team took on Kettle Run on Kettle’s 1,496 points in her career total. home court. The entire Patriot Press staff and “I guess it was pretty cool,” said Liberty High School community is so Kestner. proud of Makaela and we can’t wait to see Kestner blocks a KR player from making a Kestner is a writer for the Patriot her succeed at USF! pass. Photo courtesy of Talon Yearbook Staff. 2 Features January/February 2018 Snow Days Kick Off New Term DECA Competes in The 2018 Spring Term by Kristina Rigsby had already had another child di- started off with a bang-a 2 hour ~Editor-in-Chief agnosed with cancer before and January by Kayla Wines and Brianna Yates delay the first day back and a were extremely devastated. The snow day the day after! As if LHS staff including Mr. Roper, hashtag #beLEIGHve floated all ~Staff Reporters that was not enough, the follow- Ms. Yorgason, Ms. Davenport around Twitter and made a huge Last year a handful of narios for different econom- ing Monday was also a snow and a new nurse, Ms. Waleska! impact on students all around. Liberty High School students ic situations,” said McCoy. day. January 16 was also a two- “This new term has been “I think the cam- went on a field trip with DECA, Many other DECA hour delay day. This is not much interesting. For me in particular paign was really a great thing the business and marketing club. members were very confident compared to previous years it is really odd because it’s my to do, not only to support It was a conference for DECA and laid back. They obviously where there have been multiple first semester without Latin and the family but also to raise students in our region for multiple had a lot of practice and guid- snow days before the term even I’m already missing Mrs. Kis- awareness about childhood categories, including fashion and ance from their teachers to be started or literally not coming sel more than life itself. The cancer. I am so glad they did sports marketing. They competed so sure that they would do well. to school a single day in Febru- teachers I have are good though the Change for Change drive testing their marketing, manage- "During the competition we ary due to consistent blizzards! and I enjoy the subjects so all too to support after prom be- ment and entrepreneurial skill sets. completed our role plays in Nonetheless, it is im- is going well,” said Sheppard. cause not only is it funding Mrs. Hermes, the lead front of judges then after that portant to look forward and em- “My new classes are our safe and sober after-prom, sponsor for this trip, teaches we shopped around until it was brace what is going on in the amazing.