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Established 2006 Volume 7 Issue 4 February 2012 South Pointe High School Rock Hill, S.C.
Stallion champs recognized at State House
Taylor Snyder/SPiN
Ciara BurrisManaging editor
“This is just the icing on the cake,” said athletic director Michael Drummond.
As AAA State Champion winners, the varsity football team was presented on the floor of the State House Jan. 26.
Bringing home the title a second time to South Pointe was an honor for the football players. Finishing off their season defeating the undefeated Bluffton Bobcats 42-27 couldn’t have been any better.
“It felt good to win. I refused to lose,” said senior Montay Crockett.
As a prelude to actu-ally getting their rings at the football banquet, the team got to go to Co-lumbia to be honored by state legislators.
Entering the State House through metal detectors, the team lined up along a stairway waiting to enter on the floor of the legislature.
Principal. Al Leonard was really ex-cited about being at the State House for the second time, the first being in 2008, when the Stallion defeated rival Northwestern.
“I’m just proud of these young men,” said Leonard.
Leonard even stated that he told Coach Strait Herron to get used to this.
Representative John King made a dec-laration for the Stallions winning the State Championship this season. King spoke on
behalf of the House of Representatives.“Such victories do not come over
night,” King said.King also recognized Stallion players
for the honors they have. He spoke on how South Pointe won the Charlotte Observer “Sweet 16” and The Herald “Team of The Year.” Junior quarterback Devin Pearson was recognized as The Herald “All Star,”
AAA State Champion varsity football team stands on the steps of the State House on Jan 26. The team was recognized by the state legislature for their accomplishment.
(left to right) Defensive linemen Janaris Chishom, (assistant defensive coach) Pat Burris, Ta’Cori Brock, Malik Jamerson, Marleek Reid, Dreon Gordon, Corey Neely, Tay Hicklin, Jay Hart, Josh Massey and JaRyan Jennings gather in the State House yard after the recognition ceremony.
Brandan Barber/Contributor
Strait Herron is presented a plaque (above right) congratulating the team and coach-ing staff on their state title. Herron presented the speaker of the house, Robert W. “Bobby” Harrell, Jr, with a Stallion visor and state champion t-shirt.
Taylor Snyder/SPiN
It was a good experience. I’ve never been there before so it was a good experience for me. It makes me want to do better in life.
“”Brandan Barber
Taylor Snyder/SPiN
Representative John King and head coach Strait Herron stand outside the legislative chamber before the recogni-tion ceremony. King’s nephew, Justin King, also plays for the varsity football team.
senior Corey Neely was recognized for The Herald “Defensive Player” and senior Tay Hicklin was recognized for playing in the Shrine Bowl.
“I felt honored,” Hicklin said about being recognized by King in his declara-tion.
After King gave his declaration, Coach Herron was presented with a plaque. King also thanked South Pointe for allowing his nephew, Justin King, to play on their team.
“It was a great feeling that my uncle, a state representative, gave a coach I’m close to the plaque,” King said.
Coach Herron later presented the Speaker of the House with state cham-pionship Stallion gear.
The speaker placed the Stallion visor on his head.
Each player exited the state floor shaking King’s hand.“It was a good experience. I’ve never
been there before so it was a good experi-ence for me. It makes me want to do better in life,” junior Brandan Barber said.
Page 2 February 2012
Mary Hannah NeilNews editor
HIV/AIDS awareness sweeps South Pointe
Catawba Care Prevention Specialist De-nise Rivera gives facts about HIV and AIDS and how to prevent them.
Juniors face college decisions
Mary Hannah NeilNews editor
South Pointe’s PROGENY club host-ed an HIV/AIDS Awareness workshop af-ter school in the Media Center on Jan. 25. About 25 students and five staff members attended the workshop, including the boys’
basketball team.Throughout the workshop, a guest
speaker named Denise Rivera, who is a prevention specialist at Catawba Care, explained how the disease is caused and spread. She also talked about the miscon-
and maybe they’ll want to learn more about it,” said Belizare about what she hoped to achieve by having the workshop.
“The students learned more infor-mation on HIV and AIDS,” said Dawson. “They could see that things can truly hap-pen. Normally people say ‘It can never happen to me,’ when they don’t know any-thing about it.”
PROGENY gave the teachers a work-sheet to give their students an opportunity to receive credit for their class. The assign-ment consisted of 10 questions and space to write about what was learned in the workshop.
Dawson said she thinks it really was a good opportunity to receive credit, because it makes you think, ‘How is this going to pertain to my life?’ and what they received is better than any grade.
While Dawson gives her opinion from a teacher’s point of view, Belizare does the same from a student’s perspective.
“Most students don’t want to go be-cause they are scared of how they will be looked at. If they have an assignment it will make them come and learn, even if they weren’t planning on it,” she said.
Belizare also said it is better to have the workshop in the school where they stu-dents are comfortable rather than a place where they’ll never go.
Varsity basketball coach Melvin Wat-son required the boys’ varsity basketball team attend the workshop because he said they need to know about life and the situ-ations.
“A lot of kids nowadays are ‘active.’ If you partake in these activities, know the
ceptions about AIDS. There was a video presentation on a girl with the disease that discussed how her poor decisions affected how she was living.
English and Creative Writing teacher Carlo Dawson is the founder and one of the advisers of the club, along with science teacher Richard Pickering and English teacher Michael Henthorn.
The presi-dent of PROG-ENY, senior Lakisha Be-lizare, said of the HIV/AIDS A w a r e n e s s w o r k s h o p , “People need to know what’s out there. They pretend to know, but they don’t really know.”
She also said she hopes that people will learn how to protect them-selves, how
to be smarter, to help others in that situation
and how to prevent something like that from happening to them.
Dawson and Belizare both used the words “eye opener” when describing the main achievement of the workshop.
“I hope people will be more careful,
Vinita Maigur Reporter
For college-bound juniors in high school there is one critical choice they have to make--picking the college they wish to attend. And this state has so many choices. Colleges such as Winthrop University, the University of South Carolina and Clemson University offer a variety of majors and de-grees in fields students may be interested in.
“People pick their majors because of money, based on parents’ thinking, intern-ships and trial and error,” said guidance counselor Jan McKiver.
That’s exactly what junior Hannah Jones is doing.
“I plan on going to the College of Charleston because I want to major in Ma-rine Biology. COC is near the coast and is right on the beach to where I can really do experiments and run tests rather than going to a school that’s not near water. I would be able to have hands-on experience.”
Finding out what South Carolina col-leges offer and what they cost is a good starting point.
Winthrop offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and Specialist degrees; there are 42 under-graduate and 26 graduate degree programs, according to Winthrop’s official website.
“Special programs at Winthrop in-clude Interior Design, Digital Information Design, Forensic Chemistry, and Environ-mental Science,” said Megan Rolf, senior admissions counselor.
Winthrop also offers the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business
Administration, Richard W. Riley College of Education and the College of Visual Per-forming Arts.
“Many students choose their majors based on their career goals. Academic Stu-dent Services at Winthrop helps students through advising to find the major that de-velops their potential and leads toward a fulfilling career,” Rolf said.
“Academic advisors play a large role in helping students choose majors and meet their major requirements. Winthrop also has a Center for Career and Civic En-gagement. CCE’S Career Development provides resources and programs for stu-dents to conduct effective career searches and make informed career decisions,” said Rolf.
USC offers the College of Arts and Science, Moore School of Business, Col-lege of Education and the School of Jour-nalism and Mass Communication, just to name a few, according to USC’s official website.
Although junior Marc Holley knows he wants to go to college because of his mother’s influence and plans to go to USC because his grandfather went there, he said, “I don’t know what I am going to ma-jor in.”
“I went on a visit to tour the campus and there are great opportunities,” the fu-ture Gamecock said.
Although students may be set on a uni-versity because it’s a family tradition, they need to realize whole new majors have opened up since past few generations at-tended.
“Schools are adding new majors that
consequences,” said Watson.He also said he wants them to know
how HIV works and how quickly you can get it if you are being careless.
“I went because I wanted to learn about HIV and eat pizza,” said senior Co-rey Neely about the reason he went to the workshop.
Belizare said it is better to have the workshop in the school where they stu-dents are comfortable rather than a place where they’ll never go.
PROGENY also hosted it at South Pointe because S.C. is ninth in the top 10 states with HIV.
Stallion boy basketball players receive more information on HIV and AIDS. The workshop was held in the library on Jan. 25.
weren’t there in the past,” said McKiver. Technology and current trends drive some new fields—such as USC’s Mass Com-munications and Clemson’s bio-fuels re-search--while others have age-old tradi-tions of excellence.
“We are the only school in the state who has an architecture program,” Jenni-fer Setzler of the Clemson University Of-fice of Undergraduate Admissions said.
The Tigers at Clemson get degrees in Accounting, Agricultural Education, Ar-chitecture, Industrial Engineering, Chem-istry—to name a few, according to Clem-son’s official website.
“Most of our students have their ma-jors decided when they enter into Clemson as a freshman. If they are not sure, most will visit the Career Center or various advi-sors, but ultimately the student needs to do research on their own to find out what they may want to do,” said Setzler.
Junior Monica Mayer wants to go into the field of Sports Medicine, “whether it’s orthopedics or athletic training.”
“My cousin goes to Clemson,” said Mayer when asked why she wants to go to that university.
Mayer plays violin in South Pointe’s orchestra. She also plays softball and hopes to continue playing in college.
Mayer is originally from Ohio and has had thoughts about going to Ohio State. “With Ohio State, you feel like a number, not a student, but with Clemson you feel like a student,” reasoned Mayer.
There are some easy things that can be done before heading to college and it all starts right now in high school.
“When thinking about careers, you should job shadow, take inventory tests and get some exposure in middle school because you don’t want to spend two years in college undecided,” McKiver said.
When picking a major that will even-tually turn into a long time career, students should find something they enjoy and are willing to invest their time and energy in. Finding a major can be tough, but with the right resources and counsel in their junior year, seniors can pick the right major and college that fits them.
Erin Fields/SPIN
Erin Fields/SPIN
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illistrated by Mary Hannah Neil
February 2012 Page 3
Gilmore pursues NFL dream as college junior
Sierra GilmoreReporter
Just after Christmas, people typically think toward the quickly approaching New Year and make life-changing decisions about their future. Although we call them “resolutions,” no one is ever really re-solved to keep their plans going for more than a month or so.
But in a brick house on Ogden Street, it was a different story four days before
New Year’s. Around 10:15 p.m on Wednesday, Dec.
28, 2011, the Gilmore family sat down in the living room as a family to help oldest sibling Stephon make a major life decision: should he as the starting cornerback for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks declare for the National Football League draft as a junior?
It was 70 percent for going versus 30 percent for staying. Gilmore looked to his family for guidance and support.
“What do you think about my interest
on leaving?” the 21-year-old asked each of his siblings: Sabrina, 19 and a sophomore at USC; Sierra, 17, a junior at South Pointe; Steven, 12; Scarlett, 11; and Savannah, 9.
Parents Linda and Stevie Gilmore joined the kids in their answers: The fam-ily concluded that if he stayed at USC his senior year, then there would be room for regret; but if he decided to enter the draft early he would be on his way to fulfilling his dream. This confirmed his decision, but the decision was up to him at the end of the day.
“That’s all I needed to hear,” Gilmore told them.
The Gamecock left to go to the Capital One Bowl in Florida, where he announced his choice publicly. On the field, wearing the same Number 5 jersey he wore in high school, Gilmore had an interception that put two points on the scoreboard and made five tackles against the Cornhuskers.
For the year, Gilmore led the Game-cocks with four interceptions. He had eight interceptions and 181 tackles in three sea-sons.
After the bowl game, his last as a Gamecock, he went home, packed and left again for Florida for the NFL combines with no hesitation. “Well, I’m a bit excited because I’ve dreamed of this very moment and now I can live it up. I know at the combines I will excel. I’m also thankful because I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for God and my family,” he said.
“I could care less about the money that comes with it, I just want him to be able to live his dream and continue to be success-ful,” said sister Sabrina.
A junior at the University of South Carolina, Gilmore will finish classes on-line to get his degree. He graduated in 2009 from South Pointe High School, where his name will always be around. Gilmore was offered football scholarships from a lot of D-1 schools, but decided to attend USC because it was close to home. He feels it’s also a great school to attend as far as aca-demics. His senior year at SPHS he won South Carolina’s Mr. Football and went to play in the all star football games, the UnderArmour All American game and the Shrine Bowl.
Dr. Al Leonard was Gilmore’s prin-cipal from middle school and throughout high school.
“Humble, led by example, never heard him brag was the type of person Stephon was,” Leonard said of the former Stallion. His first time seeing Gilmore play high school ball was Stephon’s ninth-grade year when they played against Rock Hill High
and he ran a 60-yard touchdown on the first play.
“I knew then he was something nice,” said Dr. Leonard.
“Gilmore has a relentless worth eth-ic, the hardest working player I’ve ever coached,” said York head varsity football coach Bobby Carroll, who coached at SPHS its first six years of existence. “I can honestly say he helped put South Pointe on the map and I’m proud of him, and there is no doubt about it--he’ll do great.”
Carroll was head coach and Gilmore was quarterback when the Stallions won the first football state championship in 2008.
Current South Pointe head football coach Strait Herron, who this year led the Stallions to a second state championship, said similar things about Gilmore, who also stood out as a cornerback when Her-ron was the defensive coordinator. USC recruited Gilmore at that position.
“I am very happy for him. I know this is a dream he has had,” said Herron. “I believe he will have a long and excit-ing career because he is goal driven, al-ways works with a purpose, and has a great amount of self-confidence. I think he made a good decision but I expect him to finish his college work and get his degree.”
Gilmore has started every single game since his freshman year at the college level. “Gilmore has always been quiet, competi-tive and always let his actions do the talk-ing,” said his sister Sierra. “He’s always succeeded at everything he did; God defi-nitely shows favor over his life. My family is very competitive, and he has definitely set the bar high for us younger siblings.”
Mom Linda Gilmore couldn’t agree more. “My children, husband and I are very proud of Stephon; words can’t even explain. I can remember when he was only six years old he woke up at four in the morning, went to my room and told me that he had a dream that he would be playing in the NFL one day. The funny thing about it was that he was determined and serious,” she said. “I know he’ll continue to be suc-cessful and keep God first. If he’s happy then I’m happy.”
Gilmore said even if he is the first per-son from South Pointe High School to en-ter the draft, he is sure he won’t be the last. Currently in Florida at NFL combines train-ing, Gilmore is applying the same dedica-tion, focus and humility he has to football all his life, ingredients that complement his extraordinary talent and skills, and create a recipe for success. Will he be drafted, and will he go in a top round?
Stay tuned to your television April 26 for the 2012 NFL Draft.
Former Stallion Stephon Gilmore makes his first interception during the Sept. 3, 2009, N.C. State game. This was Gilmore’s first game as a USC Gamecock.
GamecockCentral.com
(right) Stephon Gilmore capi-talizes on a blocked Nebraska kick to run the ball back for the two-point conversion dur-ing the 2012 Capital One Bowl. This game was the last time Gilmore would wear his Game-cock Number 5 jersey. (left) Gilmore wears his trademark number five as a senior Stallion at practice in 2008. He started at quarterback but also was a standout as a cornerback for South Pointe High School be-fore being crowned South Car-olina’s “Mr Football.”
Ashley Herndon/SPIN GamecockCentral.com
Page 4 February 2012
Brianna-Marie Ealy Opinion editor
STAFF
Editor-in-chief...................Taylor Snyder
Managing editor..................Ciara Burris
News editor...............Mary-Hannah Neil
Features editor......................Erin Fields
Opinion editor..........Brianna-Marie Ealy
Centerspread editor...........Jarvis Carter
Sports editor..................Ashli Simmons
Photography editor..........Kendra Harris
Copy editor......................Blake Roberts
Webmaster..............................Alex Culp
Reporters.....................LaSharra BarberO’Brian BrownJosh DavidsonSierra GilmoreKaylia Givens
Skylar JacksonVinita Maigur
Marlana MaytonOlivia Smith
Contributors.................Brandan BarberShirley Nicholson
Latisha Degraffenreid
Executive Producer ofSPiN in the morning......Catherine Allen
Adviser.................................Cindy Koon
Principal...............................Al Leonard, 2009 Journalism Education
Association Administrator of the Year
SCSPA 2011 Palmetto Award Winner 2010 SCSPA Sweepstakes Award Winner
Blame for poor graduation rates falls on everyone’s shoulders
Our generation has a vote
Brianna-Marie EalyOpinion editor
You hear them on the radio, on your television, you see the signs everywhere you go and they even appear on your Pandora station. Candidates running for President are placing their campaign ads wherever they can, all filled with tactics they think will help them achieve the votes from voters.
There is one thing they’re forgetting, the youth of America are just as important as the adults. Teenagers are the fu-
ture of the United States and they could care less about politics, elections, or political candidates.
At South Pointe 44 out of 54 students confessed they would not be voting in the upcoming Presidential election. Why aren’t they caring more about what’s going on right now with how the govern-ment is going to be run?
“You’re the future of America,” said sophomore Gabe Paxton, who believes teens should vote whenever they have the chance. “Your votes matter now just as they will 20 years in the future.”
Students, though, aren’t always to blame in this situation. When it comes to elections and politics, there are just some things teens don’t know about.
“A lot of teens are ill informed,” said sophomore Shelly Restificar, and she is very right. A lot of students, mainly seniors, don’t now what a presidential primary is. It’s an election political parties use to nominate who will run for the of-fice. Ignorance is a common reason most teens don’t vote in the elections that occur.
Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Newt Gringrich are the Republican cadi-dates running for presidency this year. The election will be held on Nov.2.
O’Brian BrownReporter
South Carolina and the number 48: what could they possibly have in common? Well, more than you think. According to Beaufort-Tribune.com South Carolina ranks 48 out of 50 states for the lowest graduation percentage with the two states behind us being Nevada and New Mexico.
While our num-bers are constantly below average nation-ally, we have to ask ourselves how we let it get to this point. This is something for underclass-
men to think about because there is only one way to improve these numbers and that will have to be future classes staying in school and graduating.
The last time South Carolina had a somewhat decent gradua-tion percentage was in 2003 with 78 percent of students graduat-ing. Last March, The Herald reported the state’s rate at 72.6 percent, while District 3’s rate had
declined below the state average to 70.7 percent.
“Not good, but what you have to take into consideration is that if one school district has a very high gradua-
tion percentage and the districts in the state are lower, they bring the other averages down,” Princi-pal Al Leonard said. And our district, despite the decline, does much better than others in the state.
“It’s disappointing,” ninth-grade football coach and assistant athletic director Lance Roberts
Unfortunately candidates’ campaign tactics aren’t exactly helping to persuade teens to vote for them or to get them en-gaged in any important election.
“It’s sad,” said Principal Al Leonard, who is worried about the quote-on-quote “mudslinging” from both political parties.
Campaigns now-a-days aren’t show-ing us how the candidates are going to help us, the people. They only show what opposing candidates have done wrong in their lives. How are teens supposed to vote when they’re only seeing the trash talk and back stabbing from party to party?
No matter how bad these campaigns are they’re not the only thing influencing teenage voters. There’s also the pressure from parents on who they should vote for. Parents have a big influence on their child’s voting decision. Teens are more likely to vote for a candidate based on their parents’ views and opinions and not their own.
Getting out and voting is a big thing, so no matter what anyone tells you, get out there and put your opinion into the boiling pot called politics. Take the time to go and vote.
Brianna-Marie Ealy/SPIN
Art Illustrated by Brianna-Marie Ealy
said. “The blame goes on everyone: teach-ers and students. To some people, it’s all right to just pass. One’s standards
being watered down doesn’t help anyone, but affects everyone.”
English teacher McKenzie Campbell said, “It’s really disappointing, and I’m surprised, but with the cuts and education funding prob-
lems, that doesn’t help.” So is there a difference
between South Carolina and other states?
Science teacher Susan Fields had this to say: “It makes me feel sad. Students need to take more responsibility. I try to give them the best science opportunity that I possibly can. In New York when you have a test, you study and do your home-work. Some kids down here are more like, ‘I don’t care, what’s for lunch, and I’m ready to see my friends’,” said Fields.
So this is clearly something for future classes to think about. There’s only one way to change this and that’s for students to stay in school, seek help where needed and graduate.
Assistant Athletic Director Lance Robets
English Teacher Mckenzie Campbell
February 2012 Page 5
New semester scheduling causes problems
Ciara BurrisManaging editor
The decision between Carowinds or Winthrop Lake is the big commotion about where senior day is going to be located this year.
In the past, South Pointe has had its senior day at Winthrop Lake on May 18 along with Northwestern and Rock Hill High schools. All of a sudden last year the Bearcats branched off from the Stallions and Trojans and made their way to Carow-inds instead of Winthrop Lake.
Now seniors at South Pointe are getting the impression that senior day is going to be located at Carowinds this year, but from the looks of it, Carowinds is go-ing to be a no go.
Carowinds would be a great way to end our senior year.
The problem with Carowinds seems to be the cost.
Carowinds would be money out of our pockets rather than being free.
Rock Hill High School paid $15 per senior to go to Carowinds last year.
I’m sure that’s not a problem for many of us, but for some students who aren’t financially supported, it could be a slight problem. I understand the fact that senior year is too expensive to be going
somewhere that costs rather than having a fun free event.
“The bigger the group, the less mon-ey,” said senior Kaleb Hemphill, referring to the theme park’s group rate.
Assistant principal Denise Khaalid stated that Carowinds doesn’t open until 10 o’clock and not everyone will be able to go. Rock Hill High students left their school around 9 a.m. that morning and
returned to school around 2:30 p.m. According to Tiffany Rollins, a 2011
graduate at Rock Hill High School, that was plenty of time to enjoy everything.
Rock Hill High set standards that their students had to have good academ-ics and good behavioral in order to even attend Carowinds. There was even a discussion about doing fundraisers to help
out kids who couldn’t afford the trip. “I loved the trip to Carowinds! I
thought it was a blast and that our money went a lot farther than it would have if we had gone to Winthrop,” Rock Hill High 2011 graduate Logan Orihuela said.
But on the other hand, I don’t think it would be fair for our students who couldn’t afford Carowinds not to be able to enjoy their senior day with excitement.
The problem of cost can be eas-ily avoided with some source of school fundraising.
However, Winthrop Lake is a free event that Rock Hill School District 3 rewards the schools with.
Alumni that experienced Winthrop Lake in previous years really enjoyed their time.
“It made me feel like a big kid again because it was like another field day,” Northwestern 2011 graduate Kanajah Blake said.
Winthrop Lake is more than just sit-ting in the grass and starring at your friend in the face. There are activities such as football and “bouncy house.” They also have free food and entertainment music.
South Pointe 2011 graduate Chelsea Thomas stated that she wouldn’t recom-mend that we go to Carowinds this year because we would have to stand in long lines and you would have to pay for food.
While we’re on the topic of senior day, I hope someone in thinking about the t-shirts we have to wear. I like the idea that all the seniors’ names are on the back of the shirt. The 2010 senior class year there was an enormous “X” on the back of the shirt. I thought that wasn’t creative enough. The main reason there was no names on the back of the shirt was because no responsibility was taken to get the names sent.
Senior Taryn Thompson suggested we should have the names of seniors in the shape of a twelve.
Dress code is not enforced on senior day. I’m sure a lot of us love that idea.
I never understood the purpose of girls cutting up their shirts. I believe it takes away from the shirt. I guess that’s their ‘personal style.’ I do think that should be a dress code standard of not cut-ting up your shirt until after the senior day. After that you can do whatever you want with it. I mean, you get to wear booty shorts.
Why can’t we voice our opinion as a senior class altogether?
Marlana MaytonReporter
Unorganized schedule changes stirred up trouble and caused agony on our fellow Stallions this semester transition. The guidance office was packed with unhappy faces on both students and counselors.
“It was frustrating,” said junior Bran-don Pitchford, who signed up for a class that required more than what he could handle. “You have to go through all that to get your schedule changed.”
Pitchford was signed up for Health Science 3, which involved paying a fee and going to the hospital to do clinicals.
Students should be more informed on classes they select instead of walking into the classroom and feeling overwhelmed. Some students were even placed back into classes they had previously taken.
“I signed up for Digital Desktop Publishing, but I was put into Inaugurated Business, which I took in ninth grade,” said junior Olivia Smith.
When asked if this problem was fixed, Smith replied, “Yeah, now I’m in Pre Engineering 2, even though I didn’t take the prerequisite.”
Finding a class to be put into is only
half the battle. Some classes don’t even have open seats or it’s a class that the student has already taken. To put this as being “between a rock and a hard place” is an understatement.
Another problem students ran into was with Applied Technology Center classes. If they wished to switch their ATC class with a South Pointe High school class, they were required to go to guidance offices at both locations.
“It was hectic,” junior Ammen Kumar said. “Since my schedule involved
ATC classes, I had to go to ATC and change my classes, then go back to South Pointe after and fix my classes there.”
Isn’t this only adding to the chaos? Also, the order in which students were
called up to sort out schedule changes irked some Stallions.
“Having freshman called up first was stupid. They should have called upper-classmen first,” said Smith. “Seniors and juniors are getting ready to graduate, so they need their classes right first.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum
the counselors were also dealing with problems. Asked why some classes can be changed and some not, Rogers said, “If they choose it they can not be changed. They can only be changed if they didn’t choose it or if there was a conflict, like math and English the same block.”
“Students didn’t either like the class or the teacher,” Rogers said.
“She helped me as much as she could,” Smith said about her counselor, Jan McKiver.
With schedules being written in stone and endless lines at your counselor’s door, it seemed impossible to get anything done.
One high point in the process was that many students say receiving schedules in Pointe Time was much easier and less hectic than in the gym.
With course selection materials for next year in your hands, you might want to think twice before you choose.
To complicate matters, the cost for college credit classes that York Tech and ATC provide has drastically increased for next year. For example, Medical Termi-nology went from $50 to $336.50.
“York Tech couldn’t afford to offer classes at that price; they couldn’t finan-cially do it anymore,” said Rogers.
Ask all and any questions you have during your scheduled Electronic Individ-ual Graduation Plans with your counselor and guardians.
Also, be sure to pick up the 2012-2013 District Course Catalog which is outside of your counselor’s door and also online at the Rock Hill School District Three website.
Senior day should be our way
2011 senior shirts sport a list of seniors names along with the class graduation year and the ever present stallion horse shoe
Joe Koon/Contributor
Students meet with counselors about scheduling changes. Students and parents flocked to counselors offices when changes needed to be made.
Marlana Mayton/SPIN
Lang Bigham
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Lakyn Evans
Ian Hinson
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Courtney Brock
Jeremy Hopkins
&
Alex Glasscock
Corey Neely
&
Tyrone’ Carter
1. Whendidyoufirststartgoingout?
2. Whatattractedyoutoeachother?
3. Whatdoyouplantodoafterhighschool?
4. Whatdoyoudislikeaboutyourpartner?
5. Whatdoyoulikeaboutyourpartner?
1. Aug. 19, 20082. Ian: “She’s cool, she understands me.”3. Ian: “Go to school and play baseball.”4. Ian: “Nothing.”Courtney: “Nothing.”5. Ian: “She’s pretty.”Courtney: “His personality he’s funny and looks good.”
1. Sept. 5, 20102. Tyrone’: “We love each other.”3. Tyrone’: “To raise our 4-month old daughter Khori, and go to college.”4. Tyrone’: “His attitude, at times.”Corey: “Nothing.”5. Tyrone’: “His personality.”Corey: “She has a pretty smile.”
1. Feb. 24, 20102. Alex: “We have the same personalities and are just alike.”3. Alex: “To become a veterinarian.”4. Alex: “He’s loud.”Jeremy: “Nothing.”5. Alex: “He is compassionate.”Jeremy: “Everything.”
1. Oct. 1, 20102. Lakyn: “I met him through a friend.”3. Lakyn: “Become a dental hygienist.” Lang: “I don’t know yet.”4. Lakyn: “He’s cocky.”Lang: “She’s controlling.”5. Lakyn: “Everything.”Lang: “Her personality.”
1. Dec. 26, 20102. Renada: “We had history together, and have known each other since we were little.”3. Renada: “For me to go to college, and for him to go to the navy.”
4. Renada: “I dislike his smart remarks.”Kaleb: “Nothing.”5. Renada: “I like his swag and I love the fact that I have someone I can be goofy with at times.”Kaleb: “Her personality.”
Kaleb Hemphill
&
Renada Massey
High SchoolSweethearts 2012
i love you. i love you. i love you. i love you. i love you. i love you i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
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. i lov
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. i lov
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. i lov
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u
- Musiq
SoulChild
i love you. i love you i love you. i love you. i love you. i love you .i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
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. i lov
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.
Illustrations by Ashli Simmons Photos by Kendra Harris
Lang Bigham
&
Lakyn Evans
Ian Hinson
&
Courtney Brock
Jeremy Hopkins
&
Alex Glasscock
Corey Neely
&
Tyrone’ Carter
1. Whendidyoufirststartgoingout?
2. Whatattractedyoutoeachother?
3. Whatdoyouplantodoafterhighschool?
4. Whatdoyoudislikeaboutyourpartner?
5. Whatdoyoulikeaboutyourpartner?
1. Aug. 19, 20082. Ian: “She’s cool, she understands me.”3. Ian: “Go to school and play baseball.”4. Ian: “Nothing.”Courtney: “Nothing.”5. Ian: “She’s pretty.”Courtney: “His personality he’s funny and looks good.”
1. Sept. 5, 20102. Tyrone’: “We love each other.”3. Tyrone’: “To raise our 4-month old daughter Khori, and go to college.”4. Tyrone’: “His attitude, at times.”Corey: “Nothing.”5. Tyrone’: “His personality.”Corey: “She has a pretty smile.”
1. Feb. 24, 20102. Alex: “We have the same personalities and are just alike.”3. Alex: “To become a veterinarian.”4. Alex: “He’s loud.”Jeremy: “Nothing.”5. Alex: “He is compassionate.”Jeremy: “Everything.”
1. Oct. 1, 20102. Lakyn: “I met him through a friend.”3. Lakyn: “Become a dental hygienist.” Lang: “I don’t know yet.”4. Lakyn: “He’s cocky.”Lang: “She’s controlling.”5. Lakyn: “Everything.”Lang: “Her personality.”
1. Dec. 26, 20102. Renada: “We had history together, and have known each other since we were little.”3. Renada: “For me to go to college, and for him to go to the navy.”
4. Renada: “I dislike his smart remarks.”Kaleb: “Nothing.”5. Renada: “I like his swag and I love the fact that I have someone I can be goofy with at times.”Kaleb: “Her personality.”
Kaleb Hemphill
&
Renada Massey
High SchoolSweethearts 2012
i love you. i love you. i love you. i love you. i love you. i love you i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
e yo
u
- Musiq
SoulChild
i love you. i love you i love you. i love you. i love you. i love you .i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
. i lov
e you
.
Illustrations by Ashli Simmons Photos by Kendra Harris
Erin FieldsFeatures editor
Senior Diamond Hope gets a customer’s order together on Feb.6 at Burger King on Saluda Street.
LaSharra Barber/SPiN
Stallions remember Breon Fisher
William Fisher and Jerilyn Fisher, his mother, take picture at their family reunion.
Working Stallions balance school and jobsPictures were provided by William Fisher’s Facebook page.
LaSharra Barber/ SPiN
Kendra HarrisPhotography editor
Stallions returned to school after winter break, many of them talking about what they received for the holidays. Only a small number of them knew what they had lost before Principal Al Leonard appeared on the classroom televisions to open the Jan. 2 morning show with a moment of silence.On Christmas Eve the South Pointe family lost sophomore William Breon Fisher in a fatal car crash on a Lancaster highway. Three people were found dead on the following Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011: Fisher, his uncle Darrell
Christopher Fisher and his mother Jerilyn Fisher.
“He was always fun to be around. He kept a smile on everybody’s face when he was around.” said junior Porshe’ Simril. According to The State, the victims were in a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu four-door heading northbound on U.S. 521 when the car, driven by Darrell Fisher, traveled off the roadway into the median. The
car continued up the median out of control before going off the overpass between the guard rails and down a 40-foot embankment, clearing the railroad tracks, said the Columbia newspaper. Some students had a hard time talking about the terrible loss of their fellow classmate. “People thought he was a troubled child, but when he was around me he was such a
bright and sweet student,” said ninth-grade academy Principal T.K. Kennedy. Kennedy learned the terrible news by going on The Herald Online to see if the South Pointe basketball team had won its game. “I found out the bad news on
Facebook; I was just so shocked to find out he had died,” said sophomore Shacuria McCullough.On the other hand, some students found out the bad news from the television. “I was watching the news when I found out that William had died,” said credit recovery teacher Melvin Watson. “If there was one thing I would say it was for him to strive to reach his goal to finish school,” said Watson sadly.
LaSharra BarberReporter
Everyone needs money and everyone needs an education. You need to have a job in order to have money and you need to go to school in order to have an education. But does juggling the two become a struggle? Most students here at South Pointe say it’s not
a struggle as long as you know how to manage it. Mainly, seniors are the ones working while attending school so they can save up money for college in the fall.Senior Taylor Brechbiel, who has been working since sophomore year, said, “It’s not hard once you get the hang of your job schedule, and doing your homework before you go to work makes it a lot easier.”Brechbiel has been at McDonald’s over three years now and
works over 20 hours a week. Not very many students are capable of juggling the two like she does. Other students, such as Diamond Hope, find it a little challenging. Hope has been working at Burger King for over a year and works around 18 hours a week.“Yes, it becomes a little hard sometimes, because my schedule mainly has me working
right after school. So I catch up on my work whenever I have free time,” said Hope. Some students choose school over work and end up losing their jobs, and some students choose work over school and eventually drop out because of too many absences or falling behind in their assignments. “Students’ success in jobs and school will be determined by their ability to balance them,” “said guidance counselor Kay McNutt.
Senior Taylor Brechbiel takes a customer’s order during her shift at McDonald’s on Her-long Avenue on the evening of Feb.2.
Page 8 February 2012
February 2012 Page 9
Olivia SmithReporter
“It’s fun to hang out and to build things with people
that enjoy doing the same thing as I do,” said junior Reid Motsinger.
Students interested in building, constructing and engineering should consider the Stallion Engineering Club, which just started back in October of this year, and enhances the knowledge of engineering in its members and gives insight into the real-world applications of math and science, according to members.
“This year the Stallion Engineering Club will design a floating arm trebuchet,” said Pre-Engineering teacher William Vetter, adding there will be lots of activities to give students that real-world engineering experience.
“It offers all students the chance to learn what engineering is about, with the mind and hands working together to accomplish a task,” said Vetter.
Meetings are held on Mondays and Fridays from 7:10 to 8:15 a.m. and Tuesdays at 4 until 6 p.m.
In addition to the Stallion Engineering Club, there are more clubs that go unnoticed by Stallions.
For instance, there is the Library Book Club, which is sponsored by Dr. Andrine Weaks in the Media Center on Tuesday mornings.
“The students will be given a list of the South Caro-lina Young Books,” said Weaks. “They will read at least read three books, and then vote on their favorite.”
This club helps to get students involved in reading and helps to boost reading skills to the highest level.
To learn more about clubs here at South Pointe, Stal-lions should check page 31 in the Student Handbook.
Recognition for unknown clubs
Sophomore Troy Fletcher and junior Ty Hall are members of the Stallion Engineering Club. They are building a floating arm trebuchet, or in other words, a weight-driven catapult.
Olivia Smith/SPIN
Kayla Boston/SPIN
Members of the Library Book Club are showing off books for Black History Month.
Research has shown that students that are members of clubs in high school feel better connected to their school.
“”Dr. Al Leonard
Josh DavidsonReporter
Intense fighting scenes, double crossing agents and contract killers stopping at no cost to eliminate one of their own colleagues. “Haywire” brings a story of one of the best agents in the business being blackmailed by her own company and hunted down by skilled contract kill-ers throughout numerous lo-cations on the globe. Steven Soderbergh (“Ocean’s Eleven”) directs this nonstop action film that will leave you itch-ing for more.
Mixed Martial Arts fighter Gina Carano stars in Soder-bergh’s latest film as Mal-lory Kane, a highly trained agent that works for a government security company. Kane goes to Barcelona, Spain, on a rescue mission to save a Chinese journalist held hostage. During her mission, she is double crossed and left to die. Mallory then travels with a hired agent by the single name of Paul
(Michael Fassbender) to find more information on her mission and why it went wrong. “Haywire” has a list of strengths which kept me in my seat throughout the whole film. The location of Kane’s missions really grabbed my attention because of the realistic atmosphere. The audio and clear picture made it feel as if I was sitting in the old pub where Kane went to find more information in Dublin, Ireland. The strongest element in this film would have to
be the cast of actors and actresses, in-cluding Kane’s former partner Henry Aaron (Channing Tatum), Kane’s father Eric (Bill Paxton), Kane’s boss (Ewan McGregor) and Scott Jacob (Michael Angarano), who lent his car to Kane.
Even with the strong cast of ac-tors, “Haywire” came with a crucial list of weaknesses. One would be the first scene of the movie. It opened with Kane walking into a local restau-rant and being joined by Henry Aaron (Tatum). Aaron suddenly splashed hot coffee in Kane’s face and they started fighting. Then Kane grabbed a young man trying to stop the fight, Jacob (Angarano), and fled away with him in his car. This confused not only me but also my father because the fight scene seemed completely random. The main flaw of the movie was the scene where Kane was attempting to retrieve the hostage. There was no audio through-
out the whole scene which caused my father to fall asleep because he said it was “boring.”
Overall, this movie entertained me enough to keep me seated throughout the hour and 33 minutes that it lasted. I would recommend this to movie-lovers who
Reviewer goes ‘Haywire’ for spy thrillerenjoy plenty of action with a sexy Mixed Martial Arts fighter starring as the protagonist in the movie. I give it 3.5 out of five stars and one thumbs up.
Page 9 February 2012
Future dreams become realityAshli SimmonsSports editor
“Georgia Southern and Newberry are great football schools. I’m excited,” varsity football coach Strait Herron said as Montay Crockett, Corey Neely, JaRyan Jennings and Tay Hicklin were walking through the media center door to go sit at the signing table on Feb. 1, National Sign-ing Day.
“He’s done good. I’m very proud of him,” said Mary Crockett, Montay’s mother, about his high school football career.
Crockett, Neely and Hicklin all signed to play football at Georgia South-ern. All three of them got full rides, or a “package deal,” as Herron said towards the end of the ceremony.
Jennings signed with Newberry Col-lege and got a full scholarship deal. “I’m glad he didn’t get caught up in the street life, and proud that he accomplished this;
you can’t beat a full scholarship,” Jen-nings’ sister Jaquadra Jennings stated.
“I feel good because he’s not far away from home; I can watch him play, and it’s a good school,” Mary Crockett also said.
At the end of the ceremony, Her-ron stated that when the football team went down to Columbia to be honored as state champions, the University of South Carolina showed them a highlight video. “We saw (Jadeveon) Clowney, (Stephon) Gilmore and (DeVonte) Holloman,” Her-ron said of former Stallion standouts who signed to be Gamecocks.
“These boys are going somewhere else, so it’s time to see something new,” Herron said very enthusiastically, antici-pating seeing Crockett, Neely, Jennings and Hicklin in college highlight videos.
The signing ended with a lot of happy faces. Herron said, “Some people haven’t paid attention, but they’ve been captains through all the games. They deserve this.”
Taylor Snyder/SPiN(left to right) Montay Crockett, Tay Hicklin, Head Coach Strait Herron, JaRyan Jennings and Corey Neely stand in front of the AAA State Championship trophy. The four Stallion varsity football players signed Feb. 1 with their colleges, where they will continue their football careers.
Ciara Burris/SPiNSenior JaRyan Jennings signs with Newberry College with his mother Chelsea Jennings and father Antwain Chisolm at his side to support his decision.
Ciara Burris/SPiNSenior Tay Hicklin signs with Georgia Southern University with his mother Regina Hardin and father Marcell Sanders to help support his decision.
Ciara Burris/SPiNSenior Montay Crockett signs with Georgia Southern University with his father James Hemphill and mother Mary Crockett by his side.
Ciara Burris/SPiNSenior Corey Neely, Jr. sits with his mother Twana Watkins, baby sister Tamarrah Wat-kins, girlfriend Tyrone’ Carter, brother Corterious Neely and father Corey Neely, Sr. as he signs with Georgia Southern University. (not pictured Martrell Herndon and Tamarion Watkins)
Ciara Burris/SPiN(left to right) Seniors Corey Neely, Jr., Montay Crockett, Tay Hicklin and JaRyan Jen-nings pose for a picture after signing with their colleges.
Family members gather in media center to witness National Signing Day actions
Some people haven’t paid attention, but they’ve been captains through all the games. They deserve this.“
”Strait Herron
Ashli Simmons Sports editor
Febraury 2012 Page 11
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Meet The Player: TyrellNeelyKaylia Givens
Reporter
Senior Tyrell Neely started wrestling at Rawlinson Road Middle School only because he didn’t make the basketball team, a funny start that’s going to help him attend the Citadel to major in educa-tion.
“He’s a hard worker and if he keeps it up he should be a state champion and have success on the college level,” said team-mate Cameron Pike.
Neely said that a challenge for him as a wrestler is his height because he’s always been shorter than the guys he wrestles. And as a student he struggles with narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a chronic disease and a main symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness.
“It’s cool. I just have to make sure
I get a good night sleep, have my medi-cine and sometimes I fall asleep before a match,” said Neely.
The State Championship last year was Feb. 24 and 25.
“Last year I didn’t get to go because I had to bump down to kind of help a senior out, but I know that I have a good chance of winning this year,” said Neely.
“He’s been with us for four year old and he’s progressed a lot in four years. If he works hard this month, then he has a good shot with being a state champion,” said head varsity coach Eddie Cook.
Words Neely always go by are, “Be prepared, do your best and always give 110%.”
Marvin Gallette (106 lbs.)Charlie Keesee (120 lbs.)Mike Miller (126 lbs.)Will Irby (132 lbs.) Cameron Pike (138 lbs.)Tyrell Neely (145 lbs.)
Ricky Blackman (160 lbs.)Ben Strong (171 lbs.)Jamari Boger (182 lbs.)Corey Morgan (195 lbs.)Albert Hughes (220 lbs.)
Region AAA Wrestlers
Kaylia GivensReporter
Talent comes in all dif-ferent shapes and sizes. And ninth grader Breana Davis proves this statement. Davis first started playing basketball when she was seven years old at the YMCA. Now she starts her high school basket-ball career as a back-up point guard for varsity.
“She’s fast, brings a lot of energy, and she’s only a freshman so her future is bright,” said junior point guard Sierra Gilmore.
Davis aver-ages 1.3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 2.5 assists per game, accord-ing to Coach Brett Childers.
“Playing on varsity as a freshman there’s a lot of learning to do and it’s a
challenge too step up and lead girls who are older than me on the court,” said Davis.
But she stays motivated by remem-bering that when she’s on the court not to think about the mistakes made but what
she can do to make them better.“When my team needs me, I
step up and try to lead the team to a win.”
It’s hard for everyone that has to juggle sports and aca-demics at one point and time, and Childers takes academics very seriously.
“Being a student-athlete is a challenge because I have to be on my A game at school and on the court,” says Davis.
But when her high school career ends Davis wants to go to school and
study psychology.“Breana has a lot
of potential, she’s a smart player, quick, has
good court awareness and she possesses good leadership qualities,” said Childers.
Breana Davis
Senior Tyrell Neely turns Chester Cyclone wrestler into a turk at the Jan. 19 match against Chester High School.
Shirley Nicholson/Contributor
Varsioty boys AAA Region champs
Page 12 Page 12
Kendra Harris Photography editor
‘whoop, there it is!’
Photos by Ashli Simmons, Kaylia Givens and Ciara Burris
Varsity basketball round out regular season
Photo essay by Ashli Simmons
