The Newsrack Online

Boys, girls team begin track and field season

newsrack — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:31:32 +0000

By peyton white
With the year bringing a fresh new start to the track and field season, many athletes are preparing themselves for new challenges, new goals and another season in their chosen events.
For sophomore Hannah Leslie, this is her second year running track. Leslie typically runs in the 100, and 200-meter relays, and participates in long jump. This season she plans on trying out something different than normal.
“This year I have set myself higher standards, mainly focusing on long jump and experimenting with pole vaulting and triple jump events,” Leslie said.
With their first meet Feb. 19 against Mansfield, individuals have been preparing themselves for the season. Junior James Dye participates in the 100-meter sprints, so in order for him to say in shape, he conditions his body by running long distances daily, he said. Dye also plans on going to state, but in order for him to make it there and place, he plans on running more daily, and timing himself to see if he can improve his times.
Senior Clint Harris is also trying to achieve a record this year. A record that is held still at Burleson for the farthest distance thrown in discus. The current record is nearly 180 feet. Harris believes that, by working on his throwing technique everyday, he will be able to achieve his goal to beat this record.
“Going to state is also a goal I would like to achieve, and to win a medal would be an amazing accomplishment in my life,” Harris said.
With their first district meets March 6, the team has less than a month to make sure they are prepared physically and mentally.
“Track is a lot of fun, but it is a lot of hard work, and time consuming,” senior Destiny Romero said. “We have to run different workouts every day after school.”
With their first pre-district meet coming Feb. 19, the coaches are not sure about their team’s performance for their upcoming meet. Coach Ken Edwards said he’s looking forward to the season getting started but has some doubts about the first few meets.
“I’m excited for the season, but I do not think we are fully ready due to the weather,” Edwards said.

Boys see playoffs back to back

newsrack — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:31:06 +0000

By mariah powell
Despite the Weatherford Kangaroos giving them a run for their money, Feb. 16, the Elks enjoyed their last district victory, 42-35, at home and are qualified for playoffs.
“It was more of a challenge than we wanted it to be,” head coach Ted Tomchesson said. “I don’t think we were completely focused in the first part of the game. Hopefully, we can use that as a lesson in the playoffs.”
During the game, the team faced overtime. As the crowd pumped their home team, they went on to win the game.
“I think it went well overall, actually better than expected,” Tomchesson said. “This is the first time in 40 years going to playoffs back to back.”
The team is hoping to go far in the playoffs, especially the seniors since they were out in the first round last season.
“Our goal is to win playoffs and that’s what we want to accomplish,” Tomchesson said.
This year everyone agrees that their team chemistry has been better. Senior guard, Blake Dunson said this chemistry has helped them win more games.
“Hopefully we can advance,” Dunson said. “I think this has been one of the best seasons in the school’s history. We need to keep winning and go as far as we can go.”
There are six senior boys wishing to complete their senior year in playoff victory.
“We appreciate their leadership, hard work and dedication to the program,” Tomchesson said. “We have good players this year. We always have had good players but this year we have more, and that’s always better.”
Senior forward Ryan Marsh said he is looking forward to at least making it through the first round.
“We ended 10-2, I was really pleased,” Marsh said. “It’s been the best district season we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
Feb. 23, the boys will play Summit in the first round of playoffs. At press time a location and time were not available.
Summit defeated the girls Feb. 15, in the first round of the playoffs, 61-23, for the second year in a row.
“They have all worked so hard this year and became such a strong team in all aspects of the game,” assistant coach Sarah Eden said.
To finish up their district games, Feb. 2, senior night, the girls played at home and defeated Richland High, 48-38, and went away to North Crowley, Feb. 5, and lost, 55-25. The score lacked, however, the team left no confidence behind.
“My thoughts in the last quarter was to just keep fighting and finish the district season strong with no regrets,” senior, point guard, Tori Jones said.
Jones said overall their season was successful and better than last year’s. The girls finished third in district. They admit things had changed since their last season.
“As a team, we get along better and have more fun,” senior post Chelsie Milam said. “Our hard work and dedication got us this far.”
With graduation approaching, Milam said she will miss playing basketball.
“These seniors are all very special in their own way,” Eden said. “My wish for them is that they will strive to do whatever it is they want in life. That none of them will settle for mediocrity, because they are all so much more than just average people. I hope they will always have a very special place in my heart. I will never forget some of the crazy things that were said and done during this year. They are some goofy girls that I will never forget.”

Feast for funds: Softball team raises $3,800 at spaghetti dinner

newsrack — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:30:37 +0000

By alex solomon
The softball team hosted a spaghetti dinner Jan. 30, to raise money for equipment and their Lake Jackson tournament near Galveston.
Assistant coach Amber Davis said she was happy with the turnout and the $3,800 they were able to raise.
“We had a much better turn out than last year,” Davis said. “The girls did a great job of getting out there making posters and selling tickets. I’m excited because now we can go to our tournament in Lake Jackson without any worries.”
Senior outfielder Michaela McNeely felt good about the spaghetti dinner and said she was happy with the results.
“I think the dinner went awesome,” McNeely said. “We raised a lot of money and it was really fun.”
Head coach Perry Young is looking forward to a good season and hoping to get to the state championship.
“We have a really good team this year,” Young said. “We have good athletes and we are really good at pitching, hitting and playing defense. We look forward to beating our district opponents and bringing home a state championship.”
McNeely said she is looking forward to a good season, the Lake Jackson tournament and hoping for some warmer weather.
“I think everybody’s attitude is different from last year which will hopefully make us better and able to go all the way to the championship this year,” McNeely said. “I can’t wait until the Lake Jackson tournament on the beach but I’m not really looking forward to the cold weather we’ll be playing in so I am staying hopeful that it warms up some before we get too far into the season.”
The team lost their first game at home Feb. 16 against Mansfield Legacy, 5-0. The team’s next game is set for Feb. 23 at home against Royce City.

Boys 3-2 in district, beat rival Abilene

newsrack — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:30:01 +0000

By peyton white

Starting their 2010 district season Jan. 30, the boy’s soccer team has won three of their games, and lost two, but defeated their rivals, the Abilene Eagles.
Last year, the Eagles placed first in district, bumping the Elks down to second. Jan. 30 they played the Eagles again, where the boys kept a close game. Staying tied 1-1 until the time expired, both teams went into a shoot out where the Elks took the lead and the win.
“I wasn’t too worried about loosing,” junior Kendell Rockers said about the game against Abilene. “We are an awesome team, and we probably could have beaten them with out the shoot out.”
As far as the district season goes, the team is 3-2 (as of Feb. 16). So far, they have already beaten Abilene, 2-1, Richland, 1-0 and Haltom, 3-2. They lost to North Crowley, 2-3 and Paschal in a shoot out, 2-1, but they still have seven more games to play after Feb. 16, and another chance to keep ahead of Abilene again.
“The key is to try and figure out how everyone on the team plays, before we move further on,” senior defender Joe Ciesynski said. “The fact is that we are young, and none of us have really played together up until now.”
But aside the fact the team is young, they have managed to keep up with and beaten some of the better teams in their area. With more games to come, the team needs to focus on how they can beat the other teams, and what they can do better when they play the teams again they have already played.
“Anybody can beat anybody,” coach Pete King said. “Sometimes it just depends on how the weather is. It can bring one team down who isn’t used to playing in the cold and the other team up who is used to it or vis versa.”

INJURIES HURT GIRLS TEAM
Starting their district season off with a rough start, the girl’s soccer team has played four games, with one win and three losses. Though, they may be behind right now, the girls soccer coach, Doug Ketcham believes that they will be able to make a come back and finish out their season strong.
“We are playing really good this season and we are working really hard,” Ketcham said. “But right now, we are working through a lot of injuries, and people being down.”
During their game against Richland on Feb. 5, the team was down five players, and the girls ended with a defeat, 2-0. One of the injuries this season happened during the game against Birdville, when junior goalkeeper Bailee Nance took a blow to her head on Jan. 19 from an opposing team member’s hipbone, causing her to black out.
“I was really scared when it happened, I only remember playing one minute, and then waking up the next,” Nance said.
With injuries keeping some of the team members unable to play, other remaining players feel the need to keep in mind their strategies on how they can improve.
“Right now we just need to work harder by trying to put the ball on to the offensive side of the field,” senior forward Taylor Franklin said. “But right now, we are sticking with our same positions every week, instead of moving people around.”

The Spot

newsrack — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:29:31 +0000

“To Save A Life”

The movie is about a high school senior Jake whose old friend commits suicide. Afterwords Jake begins to think about how he could have stopped his suicide. He meets a pastor named Chris who changes his life. The movie deals with issues like pregnancy, suicide and under age drinking. It is a tearjerker with a message of friendship and breaking free of peer pressure.
3 out of 5.
Jolly Ranchers Fruit Chews

Jolly Ranchers has a new product in the form of fruit chews. Instead of suckers and hard candy that breaks your teeth and hurts your jaw, these are soft and chewy. They still come in cherry, watermelon, green apple and blue raspberry flavor
5 out of 5.
Animal

Kesha’s new CD has her hit single “TikTok” along with many of her other tracks such as “Animal” and “BlahBlahBlah” eleven of the songs on her album all sound the same. They are upbeat and all have negative messages. In contrast, there are a few sappy songs like “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes”, that remind me of Taylor Swift songs, although not as catchy.
3 out of 5.

5 new teachers begin at semester

newsrack — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:25:22 +0000

By Lindsey davis
At the start of the second semester, five teachers were added to the staff.
The new staff includes algebra teachers Mrs. Diana Kroeker and Mrs. Amy Volkman and special education teachers Mr. George Burley, Mr. Homer Bill and Mr. Keith Goodman.
“Before I started teaching here, I tutored Mr. and Mrs. Allard’s son Hayden,” Kroeker said.
Kroeker said she was informed that the job was open by the Allards, and she was excited. She now teaches Algebra I and II.
“It keeps me pretty busy, I like it a lot,” Kroeker said. “If I could have any job, I would probably still pick teaching. It’s very ideal.”
This semester the new teachers have adapted to their school environment, and learned the schools teaching schedule.
“This is my first year to teach,” Volkman said. “I chose to teach here, because I graduated from Burleson. I had lived in Burleson my whole life, and the job sounded very convenient.”
Volkman said her favorite part of teaching is interacting with her students.
“I love teaching them something when they have finally understood something that I have taught them.”
Mr. Goodman taught in Arlington at Jane May Academy, but said he started working at the high school because it was closer to home.
“I taught at a school for the deaf,” Goodman said. “I taught every subject, just where they needed me.”
Goodman said he came to Burleson, because his wife teaches second grade at Frazier Elementary and it is much closer to home.
“It got where gas was too much money, and to be a little closer to home, this was my way in,” Goodman said.
Mr. Bill said he helps students in IPC and biology classes.
“I decided to work here, because it was a great opportunity to work with special needs kids,” Bill said. “That’s what I’ve really always been interested in. It’s the reason I wanted to get into teaching.”
Before teaching here, Burley worked at Bransom Elementary.
“My job is to work with the special needs kids,” Burley said. “The reason I came here, was because of one of my students Andrew. I’m his comedian. I crack him up. When the job came up, I decided to work here, because Andrew’s therapist recommended it to me.”
Burley said if he could have any job, he would be either a public address announcer for commercials or radio, even at stadiums to introduce the members of the team, or even be a voice for cartoons or animation.
“I love working here,” Burley said. “It’s a very nice place. The staff is great and I love the people I work with.”

On the move: Realignment means change to district 7-4A

newsrack — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:24:44 +0000

By Dalyssa o’brien
The UIL announced Feb. 1 that the high school will change from 3-5A district to 7-4A.
With the change comes new competitors in sports, academic competitions and other extracurricular events. Along with Burleson, Joshua, Mansfield Summit, Arlinton Seguin, Everman, Crowley, Cleburne and Granbury are in the new district. Realignments are made every two years in the state of Texas by the UIL.
“It happens every two years so it really isn’t good or bad, it just happens and we always have to deal with whatever outcome there is,” Principal David Priddy said.
With the addition of another high school in August, the student population will be decreasing, placing BHS in a district with other schools with similar populations.
“I think we’ll do better because smaller schools may not do as good,” junior Courtney Huskins said.
“It’s about fairness so equally sized schools have about the same number of students from whom to form their teams and organizations for competitive purposes,” Priddy said.
Athletics will be competing with the schools in the new district, including some that have been played in previous years. .
“I believe the new district will be very competitive,” Interim head coach Eddie Grimes said. “I think it could renew some old rivalries. At one time or another, in the past we’ve been in the same district with these schools with the exception of Seguin and we’ve played them the last several years in football.”
UIL calculator coach Joey Patterson says the new district will be more competitive.
“Traditionally Joshua, Granbury, Crowley and Summit are very well equipped,” coach Patterson said. “I feel it should be our hope as a district to compete against the best.”

Just another day

newsrack — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:23:43 +0000

By alex solomon
To most people Valentine’s Day is devoted to showing their love by giving expensive gifts, flowers and chocolates. But to others Valentine’s Day is just Feb. 14, another day on the calendar.
Valentine’s Day is not a holiday celebrated by some because they feel annoyed by those who get all wound up and head over heels for each other.
“It [Valentine’s Day] irritates me,” junior Anna Barrett said. “All these students talk about is Valentine’s Day and about Cupid’s Bash. How they’re so excited for this dance and how they already bought their dresses and how they can’t wait to fix their hair.”
Not only is it about the money but all the emotions that run high as well. It’s especially prevelant on Valentine’s Day or when the IFL students hand out carnations.
“If you’re single on Valentine’s Day or around it then it really sucks,” sophomore Katie Frisk said. “Not only when you don’t get a carnation do you feel bad and that you’re not important, some teachers will single you out.”
Some also feel that Valentine’s Day is the day where those who aren’t coupled off feel less special and depressed.
“Valentine’s Day in general is overplayed,” senior Gabby Quarzenski said. “It makes singles feel unimportant. It’s materialistic and make people feel bad because they weren’t thought of on Valentine’s Day.”
Another part of Valentine’s Day is when someone gets stood up or dumped on the special day.
“It [being dumped] made me feel bad because I really cared about him,” junior Elizabeth Eber said. “That Valentine’s Day in eighth grade really sucked and I think about it every year.”

It’s a day for love

newsrack — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:22:49 +0000

By Lindsey davis
To some, Valentine’s Day is a day that is devoted to their love ones, and to show their special someone that they are loved. Feb. 14, is not just another day on the calendar for them it is a day set apart from all of the other days of the year to share the love.
Valentine’s Day, some may argue, is just another day that vendors have come up with to make money. Those that disagree with this statement believe that it is a day where you can show your true feelings to another, and a day where anything can happen.
“I love Valentine’s Day, because the amour is in the air. I am a hopeless romantic. I love to get other people together I am a matchmaker,” senior Woody Tomlinson said. “My dream Valentine’s Day would be to find the girl of my dreams, and just be with her. I want love, not physical love I just want to find it. Everyone has a soul mate out there.”
People like to receive all kinds of gifts on Valentines Day. Some like to receive flowers, while some like to receive candy or even a teddy bear.
“I love Valentine’s Day for the presents. I love to give presents to my kids,” assistant principal secretary Ms. Krisanne Friedman said. “One of my favorite memories of Valentine’s Day, was when I was in high school, and my boyfriend gave me two dozen pink roses. If I could receive any gift, it would have to be jewelry. I love sterling silver of any kind. Bracelets, earrings just anything. I think that people should support Valentine’s Day, because you need to show the people around you, that they are loved.”
Many people believe, that giving expensive gifts, is the way to someone’s heart, but creating memories have more of an impact.
“My girlfriend and I had just broken up, and I found a video in my room on Valentines Day,” junior James Dye said. “The video was of her telling me how much she loved me, and how much she missed me. In the video, she told me to go out side my house at a certain time. She had forked my yard into the shape of a heart and in the center of the heart she had placed a heart shape cookie cake and she wrote, ‘will you be my boyfriend’ on it. It was the sweetest thing ever. I’ll remember it forever.”

Sound off: What is your opinion of the age restrictions placed on tanning beds?

newsrack — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:19:41 +0000

“I don’t think anyone should tan. I’ve had melanoma before. You should not put yourself at a higher risk for cancer just because you think you’d look prettier.”Diana Kroeker,
“Due to the immaturity at the age of 16, that is a good idea, but if you’re 18 you should be able to do what you want.”
“I think it’s kind of stupid. I can understand 16 and under, but 17 and up, you’re an adult. You can do what you want.”
“People should be able to tan regardless of their age. They should be able to do what they want.”
“I think it’s good because tanning beds cause cancer. I don’t like it, all these little girls walking around here [Burleson High School] look like wood.”
“I agree with the new laws because it can give you melanoma and it’s really bad for you.”
—Gwen Nicholls, 09