NewsNorseVolume 31 • Number 3

Spartanburg High School • 500 Dupre Drive • Spartanburg, SC 29307

February 8, 2013

sRegion Orchestra-Jada Farr, Adriana Jones, Simon Patel, Nathan Brown, Sayaka Reed, Delaney Dalton, Dara Thompson, Kristina Tran, Caitlin Wright, Christopher Durham, Connor Smith, Noah Maritn, Tim Lindsey, Emilio Alverson, Madison Allen, Thavi Choun, Leslie Shealy, Tamara Sullivan, Javi Alverson. Leslie Shealy and Christopher Durham also achieved the honor of being named All-States

News Briefs

Climbing Capitol Hill

sRegion Band-Meg Huff, Oona Macdougall, Ashley Lyles, Veronica Weygandt, Jesse Hayes, Rachel Moore, Kelly Atherton, Katie Winch, Jordan Yates, Dillon Smith, Hunter Britanisky, Amanda Kenekham, Briana Ballenger, Casey Anderson, Susie Stephens, Ryan McGaha, J.B. Tabor, Daniel Brady, Michael Bass, Matthew Browns

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sAll-State Chorus- Clay Turner, Brenna Ryan, Audrey Ellis, Dara Thompson, Holly Deal, Amanda Kenekham, Natalie Brown, Christopher Durham, Sam Mathis, Nick Brown, Justin Fox, Anika Reichwald, Taylor Moody, Emily Leamy, Haley Flynn, Sherami Harris, Kayla Meadows, Devon Zimmerman, Aaron Cauthen, John Welters

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Students admired the Capitol building as well as many other U.S. monuments while on the Washington D.C. trip.

A group of Vikings look up at the breathtaking dome in the Capitol Building while listening to a tour guide. The travelers had the opportunity to take tours of many memorable sites.

Vikings witness 57th Presidential Inauguration

C rowded streets, chilly weather and enormous monuments are just some of the memories that the Student Advisory

Council and government classes gleaned from their visit to Washington D.C. this past January.

The trip included many opportunities for sightseeing and exploring. The tourists were able to view the Smithsonian museums, the Newseum, and the Holocaust Museum.

At the museums, the tourists could view historical items ranging from a painting by Leonardo DaVinci to Pulitzer Prize winning photos to the world famous Hope Diamond.

One small group visited the Library of Congress which also houses the library of one of our nation’s founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson. The library holds many other historical texts such as ancient Bibles and Torahs.

The travelers were able to tour famous monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and even the brand new Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial that serves to commemorate the figure’s influence on civil rights and politics in America.

The monument is surrounded with quotes by Dr. King about equality in America all throughout his time as a civil rights leader in the late fifties and

early sixties.The MLK monument

was viewed as a particularly important stop during the trip as MLK Day was the following Monday and the first African-American president was being inaugurated for his second presidential term on the same day as the holiday.

The following day, tourists were able to explore historic Georgetown and that night, they went to the Kennedy Center to watch the interactive play, “Sheer Madness.”

Another one of the trips on the agenda was a visit to George Washington’s historical home in

Mount Vernon. Senior Patrick Smith enjoyed touring the grounds

and seeing how Washington lived in his home.“Mount Vernon was a really cool place to visit. The

weather was really great and we got to see the house that our first president lived in,” Smith said.

Some were lucky enough to get close to the presidential family. Senior Faith Dunn had the opportunity to go to the White House during the trip where she spotted the First Lady, Michelle

(See Inauguration page 2)

Obama, leaving.“When I saw Michelle Obama I froze. It was so

surreal to be standing in the presence of our First Lady. I could have surprise-hugged her!” Dunn said.

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2 Norse News News Friday, February 8, 2013

361 East Kennedy StreetSpartanburg, SC 29307

864-573-5252

Fox brings poetry out of the boxRhyme anytime

1040 Fernwood-Glendale Rd. Spartanburg, SC 29307

864-582-3028

Kelsey RectorCover Editor

Senior Justin Fox performs at the regional Poetry Out Loud finals where he won the first place title. He will move on to the state finals in March.

When I saw Michelle Obama I froze.

It was so unreal to be standing in the

presence of the First Lady. I could have

surprise-hugged her!-Senior Faith Dunn“

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Students got to take in the breathtaking view of the Washington Monument and other scenery while on the Washington D.C. trip.

The main event, the Inauguration, was both stimulating and nerve-rack-ing with long waits in security checks and metro stations that were over ca-pacity. This resulted in long walks for visitors that had

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come to view the Inauguration.

For some, it was their first trip to our nation’s capitol, and for others it was their second opportunity to witness history.

Junior Kayla Ogle attended President Obama’s first inauguration in 2008, and she enjoyed this one just as much.

“Attending my second inauguration was an amazing experience. With a ticket [to the Inauguration], some of us were able

to get as close as the reflecting pool to the Capitol Building. It was truly unforgettable,” Ogle said.

The experience was even viewed as inspirational to some, such as senior Jada Williams.

“The inaugu-ration was great! D.C. was beautiful and the ceremony was definitely a great experience. Thanks to the trip, I would like to pursue a govern-ment career now!” Williams said.

The night after the inauguration, the group’s bus headed to Richmond, Virginia, as they watched the Inaugural Parade on television. The following morning, they left the hotel and began the long journey back home with their minds full of history and patriotic pride.

(Inauguration from page 1.)

Senior Justin Fox has excelled in school since a very young age. He participates in many after

school activities and he is involved in many clubs. In fact, he has been presi-dent of more than one club. He is Key-stone President and Sophomore Class President in Student Council.

He is in the Corporation and is a star athlete as well playing football. He not only participates in clubs at school but he also does activities outside of school.

With all of the clubs that Fox participates in and all of the tough classes he takes, he still manages to make some free time for things that he loves. One of those things is poetry.

Fox has not always loved poetry, but it grew on him. “I used to think that poetry was cheesy, but then I heard my sister’s spoken word and it made me realize that not all poetry has to rhyme and be about love and mushy stuff,” Fox said.

When the school held a Poetry Out Loud contest, Fox had to join in. He read the poem “The End of Science Fiction” by Lisel

Mueller and “The Way it Sometimes Is” by Henry Taylor for the school competition. He then won and moved on to region competition. There he read “The End of Science Fiction” again and “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold.

Sophomore Shiara Fitzpatrick, attended the competition. “I enjoyed that the contestants were really well prepared and really brought their poems to life. I am considering competing next year,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fox will go on to compete in the state competition on March 3, 2013, at the Columbia Musem of Art. He will be reading all three of the award winning poems that he read in the earlier competitions. He hopes to win a first place title for his performance in his next competition in March.

Norse News News Friday, February 8, 2013 3

Breaking the iceKelsey Rector

Cover Editor

Skating rink comes to downtown

Goodfellows gives backPatrick Ingraham

Sports Editor

Community provides nutrition

Through Goodfellows, the Spartanburg community gave back by helping those families in need during the holiday season.

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342 South Pine Street Spartanburg, SC 29307

864-582-5738

T he holiday season is a time for giving back, and for every year since 1947 the

Spartanburg community, with help from SHS student-athletes and the Herald-Journal, has helped distribute food to those in need through the Goodfellows mission.

Every December Goodfellows raises thousands of dollars from caring households, schools, churches, and businesses across the Upstate in order to get food and supplies and distribute them to the needy. This year the non-profit organization raised more than $60,000 for hundreds of local families in need.

Senior Julian Cope believes Goodfellows is a great community cause and effort.

“It’s great when a community can come together and work to help people during the holiday season,” Cope said.

Each year at the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds cars from all over line up and drive through to receive a week’s worth of groceries and other necessities from volunteers who helped unload, pack, and distribute the food. Some of the volunteers were Viking students, teachers, and parents who took time out of their busy holiday schedules to support a worthy cause and help hundreds of needy families. Sophomore Daundre Wilson is

happy that his school is involved in Goodfellows every year.

“It’s great that our high school students are able to help out with the families in need during Christmas

time,” Wilson said. For more than 65 years, Goodfellows

along with the Spartanburg community has given back at a time when people need help the most.

864-316-3761www.UpstateITS.com

New International Hairport280 S. Pine Street

Spartanburg, SC 29306

864-948-0112

Of all the entertaining events that happened downtown, this year Spartanburg was introduced to

something new. On November 16, 2012 an ice skating rink was opened in the middle of downtown called “Skating on the Square”. There were constantly people there enjoying it.

All of the different events that are held downtown are always a huge hit. Whether it is Dickens of a Christmas, Music on Main, Spring Fling, or any other event, there is always a huge turnout of people.

There were even more people this year, however, with the new rink up and running. Area shops and restaurants were

happy to have more traffic coming by their businesses.

The ice-skating rink also held performances and showed movies on a big screen.

Sophomore, Megan Green thought that

the hang of it, though it was really cool,” Green said.

Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook were overloaded with pictures of people ice skating at the rink. While most places that offer ice skating are indoors, this one was

The new ice-skating rink in downtown Spartanburg brought new en-tertain-ment and excitment to skaters and people visiting downtown. Ph

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outside in the fresh air. There was also food and hot chocolate available.

Junior Anna High enjoyed her experience ice skating. She and her brother made it a family affair.

“I liked that the rink had walkers for people who cannot skate so I didn’t have to drag my little brother around while I was skating with him,” High said.

Anybody and everybody tried their luck at ice skating. Those who did not know how, held onto the railings to help them learn so everyone could join in on the fun.

Sophomore, David Dunlavey had fun out on the ice skating rink.

“I had a lot of fun and managed to not fall the whole time,” Dunlavey said.

ice skating was fun even though she only went skating once.

“I had a lot of fun ice skating. Even when I fell on my face! Once I got

Dr. B.J. Staggs and Jason Glenn

Spartanburg High School500 Dupre Dr. / Spartanburg, SC 29307

(864) 594-4410 ext. 7236Fax (864) 594-6142

Vol. 31 / No. 4/ Feb. 8, 2013

Editor-in-Chief - Laura BlackerbyNews - Anna Nayfa

Op/Ed - Timothy LindseyEntertainment -Maron Tate

Centerspread - Laura BlackerbyFeatures - Danielle CassellsSports - Patrick Ingraham

Cover - Kelsey RectorStudent Life- Ellen Brown

Infographics/Photo Illustrator- Aaron RossCoverage Manager- Adam Hall

Ad Designers- Hunter Hicklin and Danielle Cassells

Adviser and Photography Instructor Lisa McCulley

Norse News is the student publication of Spartanburg High School. The editors and staff are

responsible for all editorial decisions. Therefore the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the adviser, the faculty, or the

administration. Letters to the editor and student submissions are welcomed, and can be delivered to room 107C. The editors reserve the

right to edit, shorten, or reject any or all materials.

Male, female athletesWho is more dominant in sports?

S ince the term was first coined back in 1885 by Mark Twain, the American Dream has al-ways been a staple in the cul-

ture of the United States.The American Dream is a basic idea

stating that hard work, a strong mental fortitude, and a small lump of cash can make a totally new life for someone.

There are many in America who believe that this lifelong dream is not only alive, but thriving. Others, how-ever, believe that it has been dead since the mid- 20th century.

For those who believe that this dream has become something of a nightmare, statistics show that their point of view may be somewhat true. The basis of their argument is simple: the American Dream can no longer survive though the current eco-nomic hardships, and the American Dream is restrict-ed to those who are extremely wealthy.

These non-believers also support the notion that America is no longer the place for the American Dream. They suggest that more suitable places, such as Norway, Singapore, or Canada, are much more ideal to practice such freedom and success. Due to the steady inflation of the dollar bill in America, one’s money can go much far-

4 Norse News Opinion Friday, February 8, 2013

Norse News

Staff Editorial

B eginning with the ancient Olympics, competitive sports has always been a male-dominated arena. It was not until the 1928 Olympic Games that the first

wide-scale international women’s track and field competition finally gave females a chance in athletics.

Because women are more flexible than men, and often learn proper technique faster, they have an advantage over men when it comes to sports such as taekwondo. The male ego, however, causes men to get into trouble in the sport of taekwondo since they spend time getting tense and upset.

When it comes to long distance running, women are on top. In a study done by scientists at the University of Cape Town, males started out stronger and faster in the beginning of a race, but at the 56 kilometer mark, both males and females were shown to run at about the same speed. However, the women began to outrun the men near the 65 kilometer mark.

Women also have the skill of multitasking, which comes in handy in many sports. But no matter how good of an athlete a female is, she is still undermined by the ordinary male, and in the professional world, she would even be paid less than a man.

Men are said to be better athletes than women, but in many areas this has never been put to the test. Is it because men are afraid of what the outcome would be?

Agreeing to disagree

Hunter Hicklin Justin Fox

A re males better athletes than females? Come on, even a child could answer that one. Females, though, are in denial and even get offended when we try to reason

with them. I do admire the feminine heart because passion plays a huge part in athletics. However, passion without the ability to win is pointless, and battles cannot be won on heart alone.

Men have dominated professional sports ever since the first sport, a chinese form of wrestling was created around 2697 BC. Historically only men were soldiers and women did not even fish or hunt for food. Sports were out of the question!

In todays society men don’t compete against women out of fairness and chivalry, not disrespect. Rookie leagues are separated from the professionals for the same reasons. No one likes a bully. Pick on someone your own size. In an effort to keep things fair, athletes are categorized by their levels of talent. And females are simply not on a masculine level.

Athletism has everything to do with physical strength and there is no doubt that males are physically dominant. It’s just ge-netics that generally makes us bigger, stronger, faster and therefore better suited for sports.

A woman’s heart may make them able to keep a steady pace longer, but that pace would be slower than a man’s and would not change the fact that the man would cross the finish line first.

The “American Dream” drives many Americans to work hard for the goals they want to accomplish in life. This “dream” can be accomplished by anyone despite race or background.

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New, modern American idealBelieving in a dreamther in these places than they would in America.

Also, these people hold true that the “American

Dream” is nothing more than a tool for government success; the government figure who can appeal more to the American Dream usually gets in office. Other fac-tors also contribute to the lack of an American Dream, in that skin color is, unfortunately, still a factor in the job market and overall success.

On the other hand, 74 percent of Americans still be-lieve that the American Dream is alive and well. Hard work, a good education, and a close-knit family unit is

all that one needs to succeed in modern day USA. The dogma of this fantastic dream dates all the way back

to the Declaration of Independence, in the popular excerpt of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

The American Dream received its new passion back in the 1930s when the Great Depression was the horrible reality for those living during that period. Need-ing a new way forward, they pushed for reform in the direction of the dream, in high hopes that their significant struggle would soon shape politics and eventually help the economy.

This still rings true to the 74 percent today. They believe that with a bit of faith, the economy will become more stable

and yield greater rewards for citizens who are out of work or struggling to even survive. It was be-cause of the American Dream that a majority of Ameri-cans finally pushed-and will continue pushing- through the economic downturn of the present era.

Overall, the American Dream’s true existence is left up to the individual to decide. Most still believe that the American Dream is, and always will be, what one makes of it, and that money isn’t always the key to true success.

nities and extracurricular activities, such as the school play or district musical.

Houston and Pine St. El-ementary Schools focus on all aspects of creativity along with a strong tradition of academic achievement. Per-forming and visual arts and creative writing are encouraged. Chapman Elementary offers a technology rich curriculum for the techni-cally minded student, and Mary H. Wright is exploring a Science, Technology, Engi-neering, and Math (STEM) initiative.

Recently, Cleveland Elementary was re-named Cleveland Academy of Leadership. The school has centered their work around preparing students to take on leadership opportunities later in life, such as attending college. This included making cosmetic

I t is very common in the South to say ‘yes ma’am’ and to hold the door for the

frantic mothers and elderly wom-en as they leave a restaurant. These kind actions which Southern soci-ety is so well known for have be-come almost obligatory.

As New Year’s approached, I tried to think of the last time I had committed myself to doing something thoughtful for another person. I saw a major need for improvement and decided that my resolution for this year would be the simple task of trying to do something kind for a stranger or a loved one every day.

Without getting into any per-sonal stories (one should never brag or try to get credit for these deeds right?), I can say that this challenge has already been power-ful and something that everyone should pursue. My challenge for readers is that, sometime during the month of February, try to do three tasks.

First, pick a valentine. Do not pick a crush or current significant other, but instead a family member that is not contacted enough, or an old friend that has moved away. Remind people that they are important.

Second, go the extra mile for a stranger. I have always wanted to go to a drive thru and buy the person’s lunch behind me. Who would not appreciate that? Give ten bucks to the guy who begs on the street cor-ner. Do not be skeptical about his intentions, just try to help.

Lastly, be kind to yourself. School, friendships, and jobs can be overwhelming, but do not for-get to go fishing, dancing, or start playing the guitar. Happiness starts on the inside and works its way out to others, after all.

Norse News Editorials Friday, February 8, 2013 5

Try it, you’ll like it

Kind acts of loveMore than good deeds

Laura Blackerby

A cross the district, positive changes can be seen in the halls and the classrooms. In 2008,

Jesse Boyd Elementary began the four year process to be named an International Baccalaureate school. In 2011 the school achieved IB status, meaning it focuses on building global learners while zoning in on academic success.

Visiting Boyd for a Teacher Cadet ob-servation, senior Becklin Blankenship noticed almost immediately the way the school had evolved since she had at-tended.

“They have IB attitudes on the wall … and the students’ portfolios were very impressive, which was an accumulation of all the work they’ve done,” Blanken-ship said.

Students have more service opportu-

District 7 first in classNatalie Brown

Staff Reporter

Teacher Jean Tate, of Pine Street, adapts to new policies by adding more creativity to her curriculum.

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Elementary schools focus on goals

changes to the building, with inspirational quotes painted on the walls. The school year was also extended by five weeks.

E.P. Todd is the first school in the coun-ty to include the Montessori program. This is an option for parents of students from pre-K to fifth grade who want their child to improve coordination, concentration, order, and independence. The program focuses largely on the development of the individual, rather than the majority.

A merican citizens frequently take for granted that they have the right to a free education,

forgetting that there are many places in the world that still do not protect that freedom. One such place is Pakistan, a land torn apart by the terrorist group known as the Taliban.

Malala Yousafzai is a 15-year-old student living in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district of Pakistan. The Taliban issued a warning that no students should attend school, but Yousafzai was determined to get an education. She continued to attend school, and disaster struck one day when she was returning home on a school bus.

The young girl was struck by two bullets, once in the head and again in the neck when the bus was ambushed by terrorists. She remained in extremely critical condition for the days, but miraculously recovered enough to be transported to an intensive care unit in the United Kingdom.

The girl made a near-full recovery, and she continues to advocate education rights for children throughout Pakistan.

AP US History teacher Charles Town-son realizes the global impact that a story

The Struggle For Education: Malala’s StoryPakistani girl survives terrorist attack to gain education rights

Aaron RossPhoto Illustrator like Yousafzai’s can have in

furthering her cause.“It takes tremendous

courage for someone like her to stand up in the face of such an oppressive regime,” Townson said.

Her powerful story of survival and dedica-tion was enough to draw the attention of organi-zations such as the In-ternational Children’s Peace Prize, the National Youth Peace Prize, the Simone de Beauvoir Prize, and even the No-bel Peace Prize.

Senior Taylor Hughes

At only 14, Yousafzai has shown tremendous courage by becoming a leader in human rights as she fights for free education in Pakistan.

sees eye-to-eye with Yousafzai on the universal right of free education.

“I believe everyone, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or financial background deserves easy access to public education. That’s a cause worth fighting for,” Hughes said.

Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown launched a petition to establish worldwide education rights by the year

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2015, code-named “I am Malala.” Nov. 10 has been officially named by the UN as “Malala Day.”

Yousafzai’s bravery inspired Junior Zach Greenfield.

“Standing up for what you believe in is admirable, no matter what you’re doing; Yousafzai’s story may be the spark necessary to start the wheels of progress in motion,” Greenfield said.

6 Norse News Entertainment Friday, February 8, 2013

Grammy predictionsAll nominees crossing fingers

Natalie BrownStaff Reporter

Just one too many KatherinesAward winning writer’s captivating novel

Anna NayfaNews Editor The Leaf takes flight

Rock group changes face of music

That’s unheard of!Aaron Ross

Fans are anxious for the Grammy awards to be announced on February 10.

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Ross Recommended Album: Flyleaf

Recommended Song: “All Around Me”

T he feeling of a eureka moment is what child prodigy Colin Singleton desperately

searches for to become a genius in John Greene’s award winning novel “An Abundance of Katherines.”

In this captivating novel, Colin takes an adventurous move and spends his last summer before college going on a road trip with his lazy, amusing, Judge Judy loving best friend Hassan.

On their twisted journey, Colin ends up with an odd summer job with an interesting “para-medic in training,” Lindsey Lee Wells and her mother in Gutshot, Tennessee.

In his search to prove his theorem of the curve of relationships, he tries to break his streak of dating girls only named Katherine after breaking up with his latest girlfriend, Katherine XIX.

Junior Clare Gaffney found Greene’s novel to be an enjoyable

T he Grammys are just around the corner as musicians and fans alike bite their nails

in anticipation. The nominees were announced Dec. 5, and music lovers have been voicing their thoughts on which artist deserves which award.

The first category, Record of the Year, looks like it could easily go to Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” (featuring Kimbra). The song was on top of the charts for weeks and sold more than five million copies in the United States alone.

Mumford and Sons’ “Babel” is a crowd favorite for Album of the Year. The band was nominated for six Grammys last year and stole the show with a performance featuring The Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan, but were not granted any awards. They trumped Green Day and No Doubt to sit at number one on the Billboard 200, and

hopefully will have more luck at the award show this year.

Having broken into the spotlight seemingly out of nowhere, Fun. is expected to walk away with the award for Song of the Year for their hit “We Are Young,” featuring Janelle Monae. The band is also nominated for Best New Artist; however, they face competition from both Hunter Hayes and Frank Ocean.

Kelly Clarkson’s “(Stronger) What Doesn’t Kill You” is anticipated to be named the Best Pop Solo Performance. Maroon 5’s collaboration with Wiz Khalifa is predicted to take home Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, however Florence and the Machine’s “Shake It Out” is a likely candidate for the same award.

Senior Abby Buice hopes Florence and the Machine takes home at least one Grammy, her other nomination being Best Pop Vocal Album for “Ceremonials.”

read, and had nothing but positive reviews for the author and his works.

“John Green is an amazing author. The book was a relaxing read that kept me entertained and laughing,” Gaffney said.

Green has written other award winning novels including “Looking for Alaska,” “Paper Towns,” and “The Fault in Our Stars.” He has delighted his fans time and time again with his novels, and readers cannot wait for another great read.

F emale lead singers are somewhat less common than their male counterparts

when it comes to rock music. Flyleaf took the road less travelled by entering the Christian rock scene headed up by Lacey Sturm.

Sturm was born into a bad home situation, to say the least. At age 13, she turned to drugs as a method of escape. Her home life continued to disintegrate and began to fill up with violence. When Sturm turned 16, she moved in with her grandparents.

Sturm’s grandparents provided a safe environment for her to deal with the turmoil raging around her. After a particularly harsh fight with her grandmother, Sturm was convinced to go to church, and, as one thing led to another, she eventually became a Christian.

When asked how her faith affects her music, Sturm was very vocal.

“Well, you know what? I don’t know what you mean by a ‘Christian rock band.’ It’s hard to say that because people all have a different definition of what that means. If it means that we’re Christians, then yeah, we’re Christians. But if a plumber’s a Christian, does that make him a “Christian plumber?’ I mean, we’re not playing for Christians. We’re just playing honestly, and that’s going to come out,” Sturm said.

In 2002, Sturm joined up with Sameer Bhattacharya, Jared Hartmann, and Pat Seals to form Flyleaf. They have since released three albums.

Sturm has recently backed down as lead singer to allow Flyleaf to progress as a band, though their music remains to rock on.

“Florence’s voice is very different. She doesn’t sound like the stereotypical girl singer, she has a unique tone,” Buice said.

For some, like senior Annalee Altman, not every deserving artist received a nomination of their own. Altman was hoping to see singer-songwriter Kimbra take home a Grammy, and while her collaboration with Gotye is likely to win an award, Kimbra did not receive a nomination

for any of her solo work.“I’m kind of obsessed with

[Kimbra] because she’s really unique and she does a lot of different styles, which is something most artists don’t do,” Altman said.

These are only a few possibilities for the total 81 categories. The 2013 Nominees CD, including 22 tracks of potential award winners, was released on Jan. 22nd and the 55th Grammys will be televised on Feb. 10.

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Norse News Entertainment Friday, February 8, 2013 7

Les MisérablesClassic story to musical film

Maron TateEntertainment Editor

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Les Miserables orginanlly began as a classic novel by French author, Richard Hugo. In the past year, the story has been adapted to a film and a musical shown around the world.

A film, musical, and novel loved worldwide, “Les Miserables” has grabbed

the attention of millions and won the hearts of countless fans. “Les Miserables” is a heart wrenching -yet heartwarming- story, first written by Victor Hugo in 1862. It is arguably one of the best novels written in the 19th century, and was made into a film December of 2012.

The film was enjoyed thoroughly by many, including junior Grace Knox.

“I’m obsessed. I want to go to see the play at the Peace Center in April right now! I listen to the soundtrack every day in my car,” Knox said.

“Les Miserables” takes place in 19th century France, particularly during the French Revolution. The most prominent character, Jean Valjean, is an ex-prisoner who successfully finds his place in life again, though he is still being hunted by the ruthless police officer Javert.

Jean Valjean’s gentle and loving

character is displayed through his acts of kindness, including raising the daughter of a factory worker’s daughter. The daughter, Cosette, finds herself in love with a young man whose life is saved by Jean Valjean. Freshman Haiden Lancaster thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

“‘Les Miserables’ is a moving tale of lovers in a hard time. They make it work, even though it should not,” Lancaster said.

“Les Miserables” is a story of love, passion, self sacrifice, and the survival of the human spirit that has captivated the hearts of thousands.

Sophomore Izzy Sumagui had nothing but good reviews for the movie.

“The singing looked and sounded phenomenal; the costumes were so well put together,” Sumagui said.

The wonderful film rose to rank number four in the box office with $16 million. Anne Hathaway has been nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and Hugh Jackman for Best Actor. The film, overall, was nominated

for the award of Best Original Song and Best Cast Ensemble. The film had four Golden Globe nominations, as well as Best Picture and eleven Critics’ Choice Awards.

Sophomore Jillian Hoffman adored the superior acting in “Les Miserables.”

“I was blown away by all of the acting and singing. The actors truly did an incredible job. Anne Hathaway was

amazing, and I love her even more now that I know she can sing,” Hoffman said.

It seems safe to say that “Les Miserables” was thick with raw talent, beauty, and emotion, which is what attracted fans so quickly and tenderly.

The musical is still playing through out the world, and the film will most likely remain a favorite of movie-watchers for years to come.

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Artist Winston Wingo sits in his studio among his many art books and sculptures. Wingo currently teaches art at Carver Middle School.

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Celebrating

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culture

Black History Mont h

Black art evolves

Winston Wingo is the art teacher at Carver Middle School and is a successful African American artist. His statues and paintings can be found locally around Spartan-

burg. He was previously an art professor at Wofford College and USC Upstate, and he has a statue on public display at both of the colleges. Each statue represents a message. The statue in front of Gibbs Stadium at Wofford, for example, depicts the black com-munity behind Wofford.

Wingo has been expressing himself through art since first grade, when his teacher hung up a picture of a giraffe that he drew.

“In my artwork, I like to express what is happening and how I feel; I just freeze that moment,” Wingo said.

Wingo explains African American art in three different forms: Mainstream, Blackstream, and the Black Art Movement. Mainstream is art that does not show that a black artist made it. Blackstream is an art form that depicts African Americans in their daily life. Wingo uses the art form of Blackstream in a lot of his art work.

“I like to paint about Jazz music, family, church, and home in a lot of my artwork,” Wingo said.

The art form of the Black Art Movement shows propaganda in the art work.

“A lot of my statues use Black Art Movement, like the one I made for the football stadium at Wofford,” Wingo said.

Wingo sculpts life

Singing wi th Soul Motown, jazz, and R&BTimothy Lindsey

Op-Ed Editor

Ellen BrownStudent Life Editor

Separate but unequal

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In this yearbook photo from 1972, black and white students rally together to celebrate their school spirit. Spartanburg High School was integrated during the 1970-1971 academic year.

F rom Sunday morning hymnals to billboard hits, black artists have influenced both American and international culture. The music genres of gospel,

jazz, R&B, and rap reflect the history and struggles of the African-American people.

African-American music also had, and continues to have, a profound influence on musicians today.

Earnest Thompson, husband of Assistant Principal Nicole Thompson, said the influences of Black music inspired him to play the trumpet.

“When I was young, I remember my uncle coming home from a tour with Rufus Thomas and the Soul Children and Isaac Hayes. I was in awe of the way he dressed, and he always had a wad of money in his pocket. I wanted to be like him and he influenced me to play the trumpet,” Thompson said.

The influence of black music can also be found in churches, where musicians often play in the praise and worship part of a service.

Junior Alex Thompson, who plays alongside his father in an orchestra at Silver Hill Baptist Church, says that the music they play often affects the mood of the people in the congregation.

“It always gives the congregation an exciting and happy exit to church. One lady donates to orchestra every now and then because she says the orchestra is really a blessing,” Thompson said.

A genre relatively known to both younger and older generations is Motown. The record label was founded by Berry Gordy, Jr., in 1959. Since, Motown has produced famous artists such as Smoky Robinson, The Supremes, The Jackson 5, and Boys II Men.

8 Norse News Centerspread

On their trip to Washington D.C., the Student Council visited the new Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial that was built in 2011.

James Talley From segregation to mayor

Inspiration is found in forms beyond people’s touch, but with local dignitaries, it lies within the grasp of anyone. Notable African American figures are

spread through history and have locally created great influences on the people around them.

Closest to home was local dignitary James Talley. Talley was born and raised in Spartanburg in 1940. His mother died when he was six months old, and Talley was raised by his maternal grandmother while his father worked to support the family. He later graduated from Carver High School with his future set.

He earned athletic scholarships in football, track, and tennis to Livingston College in Salisbury, NC. After graduating, he returned with his Bachelor’s Degree in mathematics and science, and, after serving for four

years in the US Navy, he became a teacher. He began his career at Carver High school and transferred to Spartanburg High School in 1971.

Junior Brittany Battisti was amazed to learn the story of such an inspiring local dignitary.

“I think it is amazing that Mayor Talley started off at such a low level of the pyramid and was able to work his way up and do it out of his love for the local people,” Battisti said.

After working with children for so long, Talley progressed to put his efforts towards his entire community and entered the political world. After serving on the City Council for eleven years, Talley took a temporary seat as mayor for six months and then took the official office as mayor for four years.

Anna NayfaNews Editor

Singing wi th Soul Motown, jazz, and R&B

In 2012, Americans witnessed the election as well as the beginning of the second term of their first African-American president. Americans have also given scholarships for people of all racial and social backgrounds to prestigious schools such as Harvard, Yale,

and Brown University. However, opportunities such as these were not always available to African Americans and children of other ethnic backgrounds.

The immoral institution of segregation has prevented many from following their dreams and goals. Sophomore Fletcher Bomar shares his feelings about segregation.

“I felt like segregation was very unfair to African-American children. They were not given the chance to have the same learning facilities as other children,” Bomar said.

In the fall of 1970, the all-white Spartanburg High School, which came from the former Evans High School, and the all-black Carver High School were merged into

Separate but unequalIntegration merges a divided Spartanburgone big high school. The integration of African-American and white teenagers brought new social diversity and change to the high school and eventually the town.

Head guidance counselor John Wolfe, Jr., was a senior when the integration was in-stituted. The summer before the 1970-1971 school year, Wolfe, along with fellow class-mates and former Carver Wildcats, formed a biracial committee to bring about a smooth transition in the school.

“The summer prior the fall of 1970, I was on the biracial committee, working on creating the school mascot, school colors, and other school reforms. The committee helped widen everyone’s perspective of each other,” Wolfe said.

The transition still has an amazing impact on students not just black and white but of all races and backgrounds at Spartanburg High. Integration has insured all Vikings that we can all “walk together as sisters and brothers.”

Timothy LindseyOp-Ed Editor

In this yearbook photo from 1972, black and white students rally together to celebrate their school spirit. Spartanburg High School was integrated during the 1970-1971 academic year.

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Former mayor James Talley enjoys time at his favorite childhood hangout, The Beacon. Talley was a city official for 15 years.

The influence of black music can also be found in churches, where musicians often play in the praise and worship part of a service.

Junior Alex Thompson, who plays alongside his father in an orchestra at Silver Hill Baptist Church, says that the music they play often affects the mood of the people in the congregation.

“It always gives the congregation an exciting and happy exit to church. One lady donates to orchestra every now and then because she says the orchestra is really a blessing,” Thompson said.

A genre relatively known to both younger and older generations is Motown. The record label was founded by Berry Gordy, Jr., in 1959. Since, Motown has produced famous artists such as Smoky Robinson, The Supremes, The Jackson 5, and Boys II Men.

The controversial genre of rap has influenced other music genres for years as the younger generations are swayed by the intense lyrics and beats of the songs. The soothing sounds and messages from R&B artists are featured in many rap songs, often offering a smooth musical blend.

Varsity basketball player junior Matthew Erps often listens to both rap and R&B songs before he starts a basketball game. Erps says the music calms and relaxes him before the big game.

“I have multiple artists I listen to before games. Usually, if it’s a big game, I like to listen to Alicia Keys because it relaxes me and keeps me calm. But I can’t go without music, it has to be something before each game,” Erps said.

From generation to generation, black music continues to shape society and the world around us by offering a look into new perspectives and ideas.

The Supremes were one of the most famous acts that were produced by Motown records in the 1960s. They influenced famous African American women such as Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg to become famous.

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Friday, February 8, 2013 9Centerspread

Every time that ball drops and changes the date from December 31st to January 1st, a

new year upon us. A new year can bring new ways of life for some. People see the New Year as a time to change their lives, or a time to better themselves in any way.

New Year’s resolutions can either be challenging or simple and easy to do. It all depends on what the individual decides to attempt for the new year.

Some of the most common New Year’s resolutions are just normal things people would like to work on. Those include drinking more water, being more fit, or being more kind or generous towards others.

However, there are tons of other resolutions out there. Statistics show that a lot of shared resolutions for 2013 so far are about driving habits, such as driving closer to the speed limit.

Junior Grace Knox feels that New Year’s Resolutions are really hard to achieve and that people have to work really hard at it. “I give props to the people who make

New Year’s Resolutions and actually follow them. It is really hard to make one and stick with it,” Knox said.

Some of the harder resolutions are the ones in which people try to quit doing something that they normally do all the

New year, new beginnings10Norse News Features Friday, February 8, 2013

Kelsey Rector Cover Editor

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Common New Year’s resolutions people make usually involve being more physically fit, eating healthier, smiling more, and being more religious.However, only 8% of people completely succeed with their new goals.

FashionFrenzy Maron Tate

Purr-fect collection Animal prints, furs galore

Healthy Habits Ellen Brown

Keep the heart beating longer with love

L ove is in the air this time of the year, so it is important to look at the many positive and

negative effects that love can have on one’s health.

Technically, there is no way to say that love is good for health or that love is bad for health, because there are so many different types of love and relationships.

It has been scientifically proven that love can improve health if a person is involved in a caring and tender relationship.

A recent study showed that men who were happily married or in a happy relationship only experienced half of the angina (chest pain) of men who were unhappily married.

Also, being in a happy relationship can increase one’s appetite, while experiencing a break up normally decreases appetite and has a negative effect on the individual’s health.

There was yet another study that revealed the importance of love. It showed that writing about love for a certain period of time can help to lower cholesterol.

Senior Faith Dunn is aware of the health factors that can be affected by an unhealthy relationship or neglect.

“I feel like when people do not feel loved or cared about, they stop caring about themselves, and that is why their health could slip,” Dunn said.

Similarly, motherly love is very

important for children, especially tiny infants, who require much love and attention. If babies are not held enough, they sometimes become mentally ill.

On the other hand, bad relationships can also lead to bad health. If one partner has bad health habits, the other partner may actually join in on that bad habit, and then it can have a negative health effect for the one that took on the bad health habits.

However, in a healthy relationship, an individual can actually help his or her partner break bad health habits.

The multitude of emotions that a person feels while in love can have both good and bad effects on health.

Loving relationships proven to boost one’s health

F ashion Week has arrived, and designers have unleashed some of their

cattiest, boldest, and coziest winter collections for 2013!

The most common trend that was seen on the runway in the past week was animal prints, textures, and fur, fur, fur. This look is totally high fashion nowadays and very easy to create with just a few simple pieces.

Designers such as Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta, and Fendi have incorporated tons of fur in their 2013 collections, as all fashionistas should have plenty of faux fur in his or her closet!

A fantastic outfit for school that can draw attention and still keep the wearer super warm is a big fur vest paired with cigarette pants or fitted slacks.

Another 2013 trend is animal prints, particularly leopard and cheetah print. Nothing is quite as adorable and fiery as a leopard print blouse under high waisted pants or skirts!

For men, animal accessories are no longer a feminine trade mark, as they are now appearing in male street style all over fashion magazines. Fur lined coats are an absolute must-have for men for this season’s wardrobe garments.

Louboutin shoes, famously classy and high fashion, are featuring mens’ loafers in animal prints, now! So, it is possible for guys to show off their wild side and redefine a new masculine look for the new year.

These ensembles and garments are great for winter and a perfect transition trend for the new spring season fashion! Animal looks can be found anywhere, from a Walmart to a Gucci Warehouse, as long as you have the eye and inspiration to be fabulous. Stay fierce!

time. It is usually harder to quit a habit that one has practiced often. People with addictions, such as caffeine or any other type of drug, almost always have an even

harder time with a resolution so big.

S o p h o m o r e Ruthie Foerster shares a New Year’s Resolution that she pretty much has every year, and many other people join her on it.

“My New Year’s Resolution is to eat healthier food,” Forester said.

Her friend, soph-omore Anne Taylor Hough, shared her resolution and add-ed one to it.

“My resolution is to stop biting my nails,” Hough said.

Statistics show that almost 50% of Americans usually make New Year’s Resolutions, and 38% never do; but only 8% of people are completely successful in achieving their New Year’s Resolutions.

Resolutions pave way to a new life

Emotional personalities uncovered Norse News Features Friday, February 8, 2013 11

Danielle CassellsFeatures Editor

I mostly use sarcasm to respond to petty or rhetorical questions

people ask me...-Senior

Sam Sibbett“

Unique personality traits reveal secrets about character

Females tend to respond in more emotionally expressive ways when dealing with sadness. Men tend to express sadness physically instead of mentally or emotionally.

T he outgoing, funny, disorganized, preppy, introverted, and/or flirtatious people that make up a family or classroom have

personality traits that compose their individuality. Each one behaves according to their experiences,

exposure to different environments, and people they meet that influence their lives.

However, people also adapt behaviors based on society, media, and other aspects of life that alter

their responses to different feelings and emotions.Generally, when faced with a bad situation, people

respond with anger. However, another reaction some tend to have is sarcasm. This 21st century reaction is now widely used to take the rough edge off any bad situation. It is evident in television shows, movies, and even real life tragedies today, that sarcasm comforts some people in dire times.

Some believe that this responding with sarcasm is not the right attitude to have towards certain situations, while others, like senior Sam Sibbett, use sarcasm as an automatic respond to a situation.

“I mostly use sarcasm to respond to petty or rhetorical questions people ask me; other times, I like to be sarcastic just for the fun of it,” Sibbett said.

Another response people have to the stresses of life is laughter. Laughter makes people feel better. It can cheer up a person in a sad condition.

Laughter is always a big stress reliever many people use to cope with hard times. Some, such as sophomore Kristian Anderson, believe that laughter is the best medicine for the aches and pains of life.

“I don’t intend to be a funny person, but sometimes, when things get too stressful, I shake them off with jokes, even though sometimes I don’t realize I do,” Anderson said.

Some responses to emotional feelings can be gender specific. For example, females tend to cry and eat more as a response to sadness or to a broken heart more than men do.

Men usually hold sadness in or let it turn into anger, which they resolve with physical action, such as punching a pillow. Senior Austin Bullock, like many other guys, can relate to this.

“Sometimes, when I get extremely mad, I punch

the wall or my bed to let my anger out. If I keep my anger bottled up, I might end up taking it out on someone that has nothing to do with my situation. I

would never want to do that,” Bullock said.Many times, the personality traits in a person

foreshadow tiny details about that individual. For example, people who are introverted are usually also emotional, thoughtful, and complex in character. On the other hand, those who are extroverted are usually creative, cooperative, and assertive. These are just some small examples of things that a person’s behaviors or characteristics can reveal.

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A rtists come in all different shapes and sizes, with as much

variety as the artwork they produce. Yifan Zhang may appear rather quiet and reserved as she slaves away on her latest masterpiece, but as soon as a conversation is started with her it becomes apparent that could not be further from the truth.

When asked what one thing people should know about her, Zhang chose to reply with one word: drawing. Zhang remembers watching her grandfather draw and eventually followed his methods to produce her own artwork.

Her artwork has always been far from that of the average elementary school student, winning awards left and right. Zhang has lost count of all the

Taking pictures with colored pencilZhang adds dimensions with artwork

12 Norse News Student Life February 8, 2013

Aaron RossPhoto Illustrator

&Q AI would change the dress code

so students can be them-

selves.

Jonathan Un, 11

School spirit. Viking pride is fizzling when it should be

sizzling.

It would be nice to have better choices of food

for lunch.

I think we should have

Bleacher Creatures for

baseball games because we are

awesome.

Homework- when it is

given on the weekend,it

gives no time for family

gatherings.

Standardized tests could be fewer,

because they are too time consuming.

I would like for the school to have a longer lunch time.

Implementing the “buddy” systemLyles, Heath plan fun at McCarthy-Teszler

Justin FoxStaff Reporter

Alexis Cheeks, 9

Adrianna Jones, 10

Fletcher Bomar, 10

Luke Renfrow, 12

Jada Williams, 12

Eliza Cox, 11

Cole Mason, 9

Junior Yifan Zhang enjoys drawing in her free time. Zhang is shown working on her AP art project.

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If you could change anything

about school

“Just seeing the smiles on their faces and the way they greet us, lets us know we are doing something special”

-Senior Demarlus Lyles“

The courtyard could be improved by putting

some flowers outside.

what would it be?pieces of art she has sent to be displayed

at fairs and shows.

S kipping school to go have fun, enjoy some food, and form lifetime friends and not get in

trouble for it. Sign me up!Senior Class President Demarlus Lyles

and senior Mercer Heath, who are chairs of the student council public relations committee, could tell you all about it.

No doubt, one of the most rewarding experiences one could have as a student council member is being able to partici-pate in the Buddy Program with McCarthy Teszler. Heath and Lyles have been heavily involved with this program since it started three years ago and they have loved every bit of it.

Heath loves the program because it does something for his pride that he can’t find anywhere else.

“It’s that unique feeling that you get when you can make someone’s day,” Heath said.

Mrs. Sina Guffey is in charge of helping

to plan events and pair students, and she has nothing but praise for the program.

“It’s a fantastic program because it helps our students broaden their perspective, and it gives McCarthy Tezler students a touch stone into a group of kids they might not otherwise have had contact with,”

Guffey said.Every council member on the com-

mittee is paired with a student from Mrs. Cook’s class at McCarthy Teszler and the bond is instant.

Buddies get to meet and hang out every so often at fun events. One such event is

the Fall Fun Day, which McCarthy Teszler hosts every year and invites our council to. While there, buddies get to spend quality time together and participate in fun ac-tivities. Another event that has become a tradition is the Buddy Breakfast which our student council hosts here in the cafeteria for their new friends.

This year the committee is also planning to buddy-up at a Valentine’s Day dance and even a trip to the zoo.

President Lyles has a busy schedule but he always finds time to help those less for-tunate than he. With some volunteer ac-tivities it can be left in question whether or not the service was appreciated or if it was even worth it, but Lyles says being a buddy is instantly gratifying

“Just seeing the smiles on their faces and the way they greet us, lets us know that we are doing something special,” Lyles said.

No matter the person, and despite the circumstance, one can always extend a cordial hand. One can always be a friend.

“Not to brag, but I’ve won a lot of awards. I’m most proud of the Scholastic Awards, since they are the most prestigious. I received [the first] for a photograph I took of a tree, and I’ve received two more this year,” Zhang said.

Before long, Zhang’s peers began to

realize her immense talent. Junior Blake Pathammavong works alongside Zhang

in Cynthia Goforth’s art class“She is an amazing artist

who loves art with a passion; she is creative, and she is my idol,” Pathammavong said.

Zhang has produced art in many different me-dia, though her weapon of choice is the colored pencil. Her favorite subject to por-tray is real life. She has an uncanny ability to portray the minute detail of a por-trait, allowing her to pro-duce drawings that could

easily pass for photographs.Junior Krislyn Moore is also in

Zhang’s art class, and enjoys having her as a fellow student.

“She is an inspiring artist with great talent. She is always on top of things, and I definitely know that she will go far,” Moore said.

Norse News Sports Friday, February 8, 2013 13

Football team finds new coach, leader in Miller Patrick Ingraham

Sports Editor

SCOrEBOArdCheerleading

SENIOr MEMOry

-David Berry, Varsity Soccer

“I’ll miss all the good times I had on the field with all of my teammates over the years playing here at

Spa’ High.”

Cross Country

W hen former head football coach Freddie Brown stepped down

on Nov 21, 2012 after five seasons, there was a certain angst and speculation at who the next coach of the Viking football team might be.

In the weeks following Brown’s resignation, Athletic Director Hal McManus was overwhelmed with the amount of feedback he got from more than 50 applicants and many others who were interested in the job, including former Viking, Clemson, and NFL linebacker Anthony Simmons and many other notable football names from the area.

Ultimately, however, former Byrnes head coach Chris Miller was selected as the next head football coach for the Vikings.

Miller, who served as an assistant coach under head coach Doc Davis during the Vikings’ 2001 State Championship season, is back at SHS, this time at the helm of the football team.

While coaching at Byrnes for sev-en seasons, Miller achieved success

that speaks for itself: a 78-11 record, three region championships (07, 09,

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Varsity Wrestling Northwestern 45-36 (W)Berea 18-55 (L)Whitmire 60-22 (W)Ware Shoals 66-9 (W) St. Joseph’s 57-21 (W)Landrum 45-36 (W)Riverside 18-55 (L)Byrnes 30-45 (L)County Meet 8th PlaceDorman 6-70 (L)

Varsity Boys Basketball

Newberry 65-68 (L)Daniel 64-49 (W)Broome 78-42 (W)Riverside 99-40 (W)Byrnes 45-68 (L)Dorman 46-66 (L)

*Dorman Upward Tournament**Peachtree Ridge (GA) 46-56 (L)**Jupiter (FL) 52-55 (L)**Rock Hill 46-45 (W)*

Gaffney 75-59 (W)Mauldin 71-54 (W)Wade Hampton 67-64 (W)Boiling Springs 70-63 (W)Daniel 67-46 (W)Riverside 86-28 (W)Byrnes 77-56 (W)Dorman 48-59 (L)Mauldin 81-37 (W)

Football

Newberry 57-30 (W)Broome 50-13 (W)Riverside 64-42 (W) Byrnes 65-44 (W)Dorman 53-58 (L)

*Dorman Upward Tournament* *Mauldin 59-62 (L)**Elizabethton (TN) 53-55 (L)*

Gaffney 66-45 (W)Wade Hampton 55-40 (W)Boiling Springs 86-16 (W)Daniel 72-83 (L)Byrnes 69-42 (W)Dorman 66-74 (L)Mauldin 52-44 (W)

All RegionHaley Patrick, Ashton

Stephens

Region Athletes of the Year Bret Freed, Evie Tate

All RegionJamie Bowe, Justin Bridges-Thompson, Simeon Byrd, Tim Gentry, Doug Jeter, Demar-lus Lyles, Jamarkus Means,

Rashaad Miller, Dwight Rogers, Branch Wilson

GolfAll Region

Anne Taylor Hough All State & North-South All- Star

Katy FunkTennis

All RegionClaire Coleman, Isabella

ZollingerVolleyballAll Region

Krislyn Moore

Chris Miller (center) was recently introduced as the head coach of the foot-ball team after Freddie Brown’s resignation. Miller was a former assistant at SHS before coaching for Byrnes, winning numerous region and state titles.

11), and four state championships (2007-08, 2010-11).

Superintendent Dr. Russell Booker said, despite many worthy applicants, Miller was clearly the front-runner for the job with his outstanding re-sumé and background in coaching in the Upstate.

“It was clear-cut, but there were some other outstanding candidates.

We were all pleased at the interest in this program,” Booker said.

Miller was introduced as the head coach in an official press conference on Friday Dec 14, 2012, where players, parents, school staff, and coaches were present.

Miller expressed his intentions on getting the Vikings back to a title game in the coming years.

“I want to bring the Vikings back to the glory days when we were perennial

contenders, more competitive, and winning state championships. There’s plenty of talented student-athletes across this area, but we have to focus and work hard to get back to where this program used to be,” Miller said.

Although the results might not be immediate, there is a largely optimistic future for the football team with an experienced coach like Miller.

Hal McManus believes Miller will be a great example for not only players and students at the school but also the entire community.

“I am confident that our football program will be successful and that our players under Coach Miller’s leadership will make us all proud on the field, in the classroom and as community citizens,” McManus said.

Seemingly everyone in the community is excited about the future of the Varsity football team, even current seniors like DeQuan Campbell, who will not get to play with Miller.

“Miller’s a good choice for the football team’s future, and I wish my younger teammates and the coaches the best of luck next year,” Campbell said.

Varsity Girls Basketball

JV Boys BasketballByrnes 60-28 (W)Dorman 54-40 (W)Gaffney 43-39 (W)Boiling Springs 71-48 (W)Riverside 71-28 (W)Byrnes 43-33 (W)Dorman 38-48 (L)

Coach Miller gains the football reins

14 Norse News Sports Friday, February 8, 2013

Hunter Hicklinstaff Reporter

Stridiron: the pint-sized powerhouse Senior wrestler finds his place on wrestling mat

were an available option, but Stridiron decided to give wrestling a shot.

“I mainly chose to wrestle because the sport doesn’t discriminate against size. You can be short, tall, skinny, or stocky and still be a successful wrestler,” Stridiron said.

Without much else to do after school, Stridiron continued to take shots out on the mat and continued to harness his technique.

“I couldn’t stop because I had devoted so much time working hard in the wrestling room, and I knew I was getting better. No turning back.” Stridiron said.

His ability to turn the tables on what appeared to be a physical disadvantage and transform it into great talent speaks wonders towards his consistent effort and determination.

It also serves as an example of what one can achieve through the hard work and the desire to achieve greatness. Head Wrestling Coach Mark Gauthier

Relaxing to the max on the slopes part of going skiing is drinking hot chocolate at a bonfire with family and friends,” Jackson said.

Skiing is a sport that’s fun to do with friends, and it’s also easy to make challenges and

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S kiing is a fun activity and competitive sport in which the partici-

pant attaches long runners or skis to boots or shoes on the feet and uses them to travel on top of snow. Aside from com-petition, skiing has been used for military purposes and even travelling in areas that experi-ence heavy snow falls.

Students like to go skiing around the holidays in a group for a good time and some go multiple times during the win-ter to get the snow atmosphere that everyone dreams of. There are different types of skiing that students enjoy.

Georgia Stone is a sopho-more who enjoys skiing as a hobby during the winter with her friends.

“Skiing is not only fun, but

it’s a way to meet up with your friends to have a good time,” Stone said.

Alpine skiing, also called downhill skiing, typically takes place at a ski resort or dry slope. It originated in the European Alps, and is characterized by fixed-heel bindings that attach at both the toe and the heel of the skier’s boot.

Nordic Cross-country ski-ing, or backcountry skiing, is the oldest form of skiing and was developed in Scandinavia as a way of traveling over snow. It uses free-heel bindings that attach at the toes of the skier’s boots but not at the heels.

Sophomore Daron Mullin is an athlete who stays active through physical recreation.

“Last winter my mother went backcountry skiing with a couple of friends. I plan to go

this winter with her to capture that experience with her,” Mullins said.

Skiing can be a great social ac-tivity. When looking down at the ski hills most notice how many people seem to be enjoying t h e ms e lve s . They notice how many strangers meet each other on those ski lifts, and then gather together afterwards for coffee or hot chocolate.

Sophomore Amber Jackson tries to stay o u t g o i n g through skiing.

“The best

contests. Other sports have re-strictions like single players or teams, but skiing can be made into whatever that person wants it to be– a physical pastime or a way to socialize with friends.

Students go skiing for competition, relaxation

W eighing in at a whopping 126 lbs. and standing at a towering 5’3’’, he may

not be hard to overlook in the hallway, but senior Harrison Stridiron is hard to mistake out on the wrestling mat.

Towards the end of his six year career, Harrison can look back down the halls of remembrance and see how high school wrestling has made him an overall tougher person and taught him the value of working hard for success.

Stridiron’s journey began in the seventh grade at Carver Junior High School. At the time, he was barely 90 lbs. and most of his 4’8’’ was dominated by his shoulder length hair.

According to the commercial about seat belt laws, “Four-foot-nine is the magic number!” He was not even tall enough to ride in a car without a booster seat.

With his stature, not many sports

also speaks highly of his athlete. “Harrison is one of the most

dedicated and hardest of workers on my team. He hardly ever misses practices or workouts, and it shows in his performance,” Gauthier said

Stridiron has made the best of what is sometimes derogatorily known as “Little Man Syndrome.” It causes small people to seek compensation for their stature by achieving great things.

What Harrison lacks in height he has excess of in confidence. This extra confidence is the reason he achieves far more than is expected of him.

Stridiron says that he stuck to wrestling because he is “too good” for any other sports.

Apparently, all other sports are beneath him. But with his 23 wins so far this season and his 2nd place finish in the Spartanburg County meet it is hard to argue with him.

Wrestling to Stridiron means a great group of close friends and a fantastic

way to stay fit. Stridiron has certainly found his niche in the Athletics Department and has finished a great season with his teammates.

Justin FoxStaff Reporter

Harrison Stridiron (right) has found his place on the wrestling mat, working hard and excelling at the sport he chose to compete in de-spite his small stature.

Norse News Sports Friday, February 8, 2013 15Power to the Women

Cheerleaders bring huge spirit Kelsey Rector

Mia goes HammSoccer player achieves

and scores goals

Let’s go blue and gold!Danielle Cassells

Features Editor

M ariel Margaret Hamm, also known as Mia Hamm, was born on March 17, 1972, in Selma, Alabama. Mia was born with partial clubfoot. She had to

wear casts to correct the problem. The treatment worked and she was healed at a young age.

Her family moved around a lot because her father was in the military. While living in Italy, she got to see what soccer was truly all about. When she and her family moved to Texas she started playing for a club.

Mia kicked off her career at a young age. She was 15 years old when she moved to Virginia and attend Lake Braddock Sec-ondary School. She was noticed by the United States Women’s Soccer Team and became the youngest to ever play on the team.

Mia did not stop there. After she graduated high school she went on to play at the University of North Carolina while con-tinuing to play for the national team. She led the team to victory and four straight national titles. She was also their top scorer.

Mia Hamm won two world cups with the national team. She also went on and won two Olympic gold medals. She was FIFA Women’s Soccer Player of the year twice in 2001 and 2002. She currently holds the record for most international goals scored by a player, both male and female, with a tally of 158.

Mia Hamm’s accomplishments help to give power to women all around the world. She has and will continue to go down in history as one of the most famous soccer players to ever live.

F riday night basketball, the sound of Nikes squeaking against the

gym floors, the chatter, the snacks, and the cheerleaders–what high school memories are made of.

The cheerleaders are a big part of all the excitement, cheering on the athletes in their dazzling uniforms, rib-bons and makeup, and pep-

ping up the crowd. This year, there were five

cheerleading squads: JV Foot-

ball, JV Basketball, Varsity Football, Varsity Competi-tive, and Varsity Basketball.

During this competitive season, the Varsity Competi-tive cheerleading squad dom-inated the mats and scored honorably in competition.

The team placed first at the Eau Claire Invitational, receiving credit for Best Stunt Sequence and Most Spirit. They also finished in the top

three at every competition they attended this year.

To make this happen, the cheer-leaders de-voted at least three hours out of ev-ery day and

practiced individually as well. All the girls endured

the long, hard practices

and are thrilled with their results in competition, like sophomores Deja Foster and Precious Collins.

“We did very well. It was a major improvement from last year, and I am very proud to be a Spartanburg High School Varsity Cheer-leader,” Foster said.

“I think we put a lot of hard work in going into competi-tion. We worked really hard to perfect our competition routines and stunts. It was a challenge but overall we did an excellent job,” Collins said.

Coach Tanya Ruff, the Varsity Cheerleading coach, is also very pleased with the achievements her squad was recognized for this year.

“They gave one hundred per-cent at every competition. The team scores improved on aver-age at least 40 points from the beginning of the season to the end,” Ruff said.

The competitive cheer squad (above) was one of five cheerleading squads this year.

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