NEWS............................1-5SPORTS........................6-8

OPINIONS.....................10-11PHOTO ESSAY..............12

THUNDER..........Section Two

Serving Memorial Since 1962MAY 2009

MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL HOUSTON, TX. MHS.SPRINGBRANCHISD.COM

VOLUME 47 • ISSUE 8

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near YouStars from two of summer’s biggest movies talk to The Anvil about their upcoming films

Indie darling Zooey Deschanel has captivated audiences

with her blue, wide-eyed whimsical roles and her work with M. Ward as the critically acclaimed band She & Him. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been in the business since a child, with the 90s born generation remembering him as Roger in Angels in the Outfield.

The two, who have already shared the screen in the intense Manic, say that this time around couldn’t “have been anymore different”.

“[500 Days of Summer] is a different type of intensity,” Deschanel said. “It’s more lighthearted. Manic was [also] lots of improv, about 60% improvised.”

500 Days of Summer was also “much easier” to get in character for Gordon-Levitt, as Manic was “more about trying to stay focused on pain and strife,” he said. “It was much easier....Zooey is easy to play madly in love with,” he added, to a giggling Deschanel. “At heart, it’s a very

We ALL have had moments in our life

when we have worked exceptionally hard only to fall short of what we wanted. Post Grad is about a girl who has a plan for the way her life’s supposed to go and instead it goes completely wrong,” Alexis Bledel said.

Viewers all over the

country fell in love with Gilmore girl Alexis Bledel as they watched her grow up on her seven season run as Rory and again as the Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants sweetheart Lena. Now she is back as college graduate Ryden Malby.

“I try to always sort of play a character that’s evolving, and my part is just a little bit older than what I played before,” Bledel said. “Just because it’s interesting for me, just to have sort of a progression.”

Friday Night Lights quarterback Zach Gilford; a graduate from Northwestern University who in his free time leads backpacking, ice climbing and diving expeditions plays Ryden’s hometown partner in crime Adam.

Adam is “ Ryden’s bestfriend, he’s a pretty-laid back kid who’s trying to decide if he wants to go to law school at Columbia or follow music which his heart is,” Gilford said. “He’s the good guy, the one that gets overlooked as a romantic option and he kinds of rolls with that.”

Melissa Marr, author of fantasy teen novels Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity, promotes her book Wicked Lovely at Blue Willow Bookshop. Blue Willow is located on Memorial Drive in between Dairy Ashford and Tully. Wicked Lovely was released in June 2007, and is available at book stores nationwide.

Avery Bonora

entertaining film.....a good summer movie.” o

500 Days Of SummerBy Devin Brown, Lierin Pena, Brian Ranck

Co- Editors at Large and Ads Manager

Post GradBy Alexa Junek and Katie Klein

Sports Editor and News Editor

As movie goers we always wonder how much of the stars real character we actually see. The answer according to Bledel was “I try not to put any, but some of it always creeps in.” Gilford looked at Bledel and let out a quick laugh before adding “but there’s gonna be parts of you in there.”

A big punchline in the movie is to not stress about unemployment especially right out of college. Gilford reassures the audience by sharing that he “ was unemployed for a long period of time, but I found stuff to do. I worked at a school in Queens for a while, whichwared me out I also worked in retail and whatever I could do to keep busy and stuff.”

Giving some advice to current and future college students Gilford says “Finish college. I didn’t want to, but I did.” Bledel quickly added “It’s hard. It’s really hard. Unless you have to work, then you work and then go back, and finish.”

Post Grad hits theatres Friday, August 21st. o

“”

500 days of summer is a different type of in-tensity. It’s more light-hearted. Manic was also lots of improv, about 60% improvised.-Mr. Richard Haworth

Shui wins teacher of the year for secondary teachers

Mr. Bingiee Shiu, director of the Memorial Orchestra won the very prestigious award of secondary Teacher of the Year for SBISD. Assistant director Danielle Prontka says this about her co-worker, “He knows how to harmonize each part to make a complete whole. This is not due to the talent; this is due to the dedication, love and respect he shows his students and they return that to him tenfold.”

By Annie ScavonePhotographer

Annie Scavone

2 NEWS THE ANVIL MAY

Mi l l i o n s worldwide are taking extra

precaution when it comes to personal hygiene.

The Swine Flu, a mutated H1N1 strain of influenza has created global havoc in last few weeks and caused the Global Health Council to raise warning levels to 5, on their 6 point scale.

The H1N1 influenza is a mutation between influenza virus’ of swine, pig, and human’

On May 6th, the first American citizen was

pronounced dead due to Swine Flu. Judy Trunnel, a 33 year old teacher in Harlingen Texas, delivered a child shortly before dying from the flu.

“I don't think that anything will happen with the swine flu,” senior Joseph Kurtin said. “It's not as big of a deal as people are making it.”

As of May 5th, 1, 500 accounts have been recorded worldwide. Only 30 have resulted in deaths. Speculation has caused some to compare the recent epidemic to the Great 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic. However,

many differentiating factors between these two diseases are evident. The 1918 influenza lasted two years, killing between 50 and 100 million worldwide, more than the total casualties of World War One. The disease spread quickly, attacking low immunities and more impoverished families with lower hygiene. Treatment was not medically advanced and initially patients were misdiagnosed. The two strains of H1N1 do however have one thing in common: both influenza strains affect people in their 20s

Schools buckle down as officials worry about swine scareRecent H1N1 influenza virus has left many wondering about potentials of world pandemic

Howie travels abroad

By Alexa Junek and Kate Raley

Sports Editor and Reporter

By Emmie MartinFeatures Editor

Dodge for a cause! The Memorial athletic department pulled

together a dodgeball tournament to raise money for their very

own coach, Tina Young. Coach Young was diagnosed with

cancer late March and the team has organized this beneficial

game to raise money for her cancer fund. The dodgeball

campaign began mid April.

Volleyball player Alexandra Ciacco said, “She is the best coach

ever and we just had to do something to show our appreciation.

It is so cool that we got the whole school involved and that the red

and white pep rally could be a part of this. It’s more meaningful

when people actually get involved and do something rather

than just donate money. Coach Young is so awesome and she

really deserves it - we wanted to do anything to help.”

The tournament will be May 18th, 19th and 20th .

Avery Swope

Dodge for a cause

Don’t breathe on me! Juniors Leah Lappin, Rebecca Linville and Katie Anderson’s sanitation masks personify the student effort against Swine Flu.

He’s traveled the world, been to college, and spent the last five years in Mrs. Ammon’s senior dual credit English class. Who is this elusive student? Actually it’s Howie, Mrs. Ammon’s mascot, who isn’t a student at all.

“We don’t really know what he is,” Ammon said. “Students say he’s a monkey.”

Mrs. Ammon, who teaches senior dual credit English, originally found the sock monkey in a rag bin at a toy store, ready to be thrown away.

She took him home and he spent three years in her home before she decided to bring him to school.

“My class took a vote and decided to name him Howie,” Ammon said. “And it stuck.”

Pre-Howie, Mrs. Ammon had a stuffed rat named Nicodemus. He was thoroughly abused, however, suffering such injustices as numerous toilet swirlies, and getting a reversed Mohawk shaved down his head.

After his tail was

torn off and had to be surgically replaced, Mrs. Ammon was forced to retire him.

However, students immediately loved Howie. After a while, Mrs. Ammon received requests for students to start taking him to parties.

Although hesitant at first, she gave in and Howie began circulating the senior party circuit.

“I told them that Howie has morals; he doesn’t smoke or drink,” Ammon said. “I’m sure he’s thoroughly corrupted by now though.”

Soon, students wanted to take Howie farther and requested his accompaniment on their Spring Break trips. After reluctant approval from Mrs. Ammon, Howie began circulating the Spring Break circuit well.

Internationally, Howie has visited Cabo San Lucas, London, Iran, and France. He has been to multiple proms, skiied in Aspen and Crested Butte, and lounged the beaches in Hawaii. He has also been skydiving.

“He’s booked for the next two weekends,” Ammon said.

Once a student reserves a time to take him out, they get to pick out the outfit he wears on his outing. Howie has a chest full of clothing, including a Halloween costume, boxers, pajamas, a leather jacket, and numerous t-shirts.

Currently, Mrs. Ammon and her students are trying to locate a chair or desk and school books for Howie. Students frequently donate new items for their friend.

They understand the importance of taking care of Howie. He is an important part of Mrs. Ammon’s class.

“He has been kidnapped twice for ransom,” Mrs. Ammon said. “But I don’t pay ransom. I just withdrew from class, and one day he magically returned.”

To receive the privilege of taking Howie out on weekends, it is a requirement to be a student in Mrs. Ammon’s class.

“I don’t let students from other classes take him,” Ammon said. “I can’t let anything happen to him, it would be devastating.”

Howie lives in O-105.

and 40s, alternating from regular Influenza which mainly affects infants and the elderly.

“It's scary that a lot of people are getting it, especially now that it has hit our city,” junior Will Grosbek said.

President Obama released a statement April 27th regarding the flu, stating that “if there was ever a day that reminded us of our shared stake in science and research, it’s today,” Obama said. “We are closely monitoring the emerging cases of swine flu in the United States. This is obviously a cause for concern and

requires a heightened state of alert. But it is not a cause for alarm.”

So far four Houston areas schools have been closed, and officials are investigating 30 Houston area reported cases. Episcopal High School, located in Bellaire, closed their hallways for 2 weeks, in order to sanitize and stabilize the learning environment. The schools reopened on May 6th.

Not all students are taking the Swine Flu scare as seriously however.

“It’s a government conspiracy, junior Marley McConnell said. “Obama was using it to try and get

his health plan passed.”The Global Health

Council predicts that the virus will die out during summertime, due to increased temperatures inhabitable for a living virus. However, they cannot yet predict the ramifications if there should be a relapse in the fall.

Regardless of warnings, most are hoping for the best and faithful that the Swine Fluis more speculation than scare.

“I wanted to get out of school but this will all blow over.” junior Nick Glanzman said. “It’s just a matter of time.”

By Avery SwopePhotographer

Devin Brown

3ADSTHE ANVILMay

4 NEWS THE ANVIL MAY

The only two students from their school to qualify for UIL State Academic competition, seniors Ky-Anh Tran and Van-Anh Tran also happen to be brother and sister. The two academically accomplished siblings are also receiving nearly full rides to their respective colleges.Q: What factors contribute to your success?

KA: I attribute my success to my parents and teachers. They taught me self-discipline, determination, and a love for academic pursuit and discovery. Initially, my motivation stemmed from witnessing the hard work of my parents, and from my Vietnamese roots. I realized how fortunate I was, compared to the many Vietnamese children who study under the scourges of poverty and hunger. Over time however, I developed a true fascination with my academic pursuits, and my curiosity for subjects such as biochemistry and physics forces me to learn to this day.

Q: How do you feel about receiving your full rides to college and winning your respective UIL competitions?

VA: My brother fully deserved to go to State for UIL Science but I was extremely surprised and lucky to go to State for literary criticism as English is my third language. I am already especially grateful to all my teachers for helping me improve my English during these years, and especially my English teachers: Mrs. Ponder, Mrs. York and Mrs. Kohlmaier who had me for two years and helped so much with my essays.

Q: Do you have any tips for other students who aspire to achieve similar levels of success?

KA: Learn to appreciate the elegance and beauty of each academic subject you are learning. It really makes studying less of a chore, and more of a hobby. Also, there is no limit to what you can learn. Seek extra resources (UIL competitions, Olympiads…) to challenge yourself and grow personally.

VA: Although it is tempting, rather than “build your resume” with a laundry list of activities, do what you love and find pleasure in learning and helping others and it will automatically reflect in your application. And listen to your teachers and parents.

Q: Where will you guys be heading to after high school?

KA: I had the extreme fortune of being admitted to several schools such as Princeton, Stanford, MIT and Rice University. I have decided to go to MIT, because I absolutely loved the energy and academic curiosity of the student body. I also want to be close to my sister, who is going to study in Boston at Wellesley College.

VA: As I love everything from fine arts, to math, sciences and humanities, I find it difficult to choose which path to take, especially when I do not shine in any of them. However, I am hoping that going to a liberal arts college will help me decide and although I worry that I will not be prepared for college, I am extremely excited to go to Wellesley.

Q & A with Power Siblings:

By Ruby GeeEditor in Chief

Brains of SteelBrilliant seniors work on engineering goals

By Daniela ArboledaEntertainment Editor

Caroline Hanson

From colleges in the Northeast to colleges in the West, seniors were admitted into schools across the country. In addition to Ky-Anh Tran and Van-Anh Tran (who received nearly full rides to the Massachussets Institute of Technology and Wellsley College, respectively), seniors Shelby Sutton and Eric Perkins were offered

Scholarship Recipientsseveral prestigious scholarships as well.

Sutton received the Jefferson Scholarship from the University of Virginia, a very valuable scholarship that is offered to 30 students in the United States every year. The merit-based scholarship, which involved a rigorous nominatipn and selection process, chose students who demonstrated excellent qualities in leadership, scholarship,

and citizenship.Eric Perkins also

received a scholarship from Washington and Lee Uniersity: The Fox Benton Scholarship is one that is awarded to one boy and one girl in the Houston area. In addition to essays and teacher recommendations, the application process involved interiews with three alumnis on topics ranging from cars to college. The scholarship is valued at $155,000.

By Vaibhav GoelOnline Co-Editor

Ruby Gee

A few select students explore the fun and excitement that goes into the Academy of Engineering.

Our school’s Academy is a part of a nation-wide group called Project Lead The Way. This organization is designed to get high school students informed about engineering and promote interest in the subject.

The AOE started back in 2001, which is the same year that the Academy of Finance started. The people in charge of bringing this program to MHS are Mrs.. Emily Gresham (Physics 1, Physics 2B, Digital Electronics) and Mrs. Shelly Tornquist (IED, Computer Applications).

“We want people to see math and science in action, coming together to do something,” Mrs.. Gresham said. “It gives students a reason to want to learn, not just

because the school is making them, but because they want to.”

These two teachers still lead the program today and teach the courses, but next year another teacher will be added to the team, Mrs. Alexander.

To be selected to be in the Academy of Engineering, a student must be in at least one of the four AOE courses. Courses incorporated with the AOE include Introduction to Engineering Design, Computer Integrated M a n u f a c t u r i n g , Digital Electronics, and Principles of Engineering. These classes range in subjects from developing 3-D models on a 3-D printer to simulating manufacturing of robots.

As engineering continues to grow into the largest business profession, the AOE wants to make sure that students get a chance to experience it first-hand. Students will learn the

fundamentals they will need to continue in college if they choose to study engineering.

“We educate students on possible careers they can pursue after high school and give them a solid springboard to jump start these careers,” Gresham said.

Many students are intellectually brilliant but do not necessarily have good common sense. Students that come through the engineering academy are brilliant and have the common sense and knowledge to apply information that they have learned. Colleges know that if a student has been through this program that they can build what the college programs need.

AOE will benefit senior students that are preparing for college by fine tuning their engineering skills.

The knowledge students acquire throughout the year is put to the test in the end-of-course exam that studentsd take.

TheAnh Trans

5NEWSTHE ANVILOCTOBER 5ADSTHE ANVILMAY

6 ADS THE ANVIL MAY

Think you know all about Houston Community College?

HCC Fast Facts: 1st in associate degree transfers in Texas 1st in workforce placement in Texas1st in international student enrollment in the nationAmong the top 100 associate degree producers for two-year and four-year institutions.4th in number of associate degree awards in the nation Among the highest student passing rate on nursing exams in TexasHighest number of exemplary workforce programs in TexasOne of the largest and most diverse student bodies in the countryDual credit classes offered at local high schoolsSmaller classes and flexible schedule Opportunities to travel, do research, apply for internships and scholarships

Partnerships with UH, SHSU, Rice University, NSF, Johnson Space Center and others Science classes offered in the evening and weekendsPerforming Arts Center at the Town & Country Campus International Business program and an Export AcademyBusiness plan competition with thousands of dollars for the winners Faculty members are nationally, and internationally, renowned experts in their fieldsStudent associations, clubs, and intramural sports available

Want to learn more? Sign up for a campus and information tour by calling our recruiter at 713.718.5707 or send an email to student.recruiter@hccs.edu

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Whole EarthProvision Co.

7NEWSTHE ANVILMAY

School sponsored stu-dent programs have opened up various op-portunities for teenag-ers to travel and study abroad this summer.

Two trips will depart within a period of two days. One is a Nation-al Geographic/ SBISD summer school class trip to Spain, the other is a trip to China given by EF (Education First) Tours.

Five students are going on the China trip: sopho-mores Sarah Blackwell, Yasmine Khairandish, Blake Keeling, and ju-niors Ian Cason and James Preng.

Students will depart June 15 and head to Bei-jing where they will meet up with their native tour guide. From there they will travel from Beijing to Xi’an, Shanghai, and then a special extension to Hong Kong.

“I think the kids will be amazed at the diver-sity and stark contrast between old and new China,” World History teacher and chaperone Perry McCall said. “The Chinese are proud of

Students Anticipate Trip to China, Spain

By Blake Keeling & Lierin Pena

Opinions Editor, Editor at Large

their long heritage but are racing to embrace the future.”

The process needed to successfully prepare for the trip is important. Vi-sas must be required ei-ther through EF Tours or the Chinese Consulate, as well as recent pass-port photos and updates on vaccines.

Throughout the entire trip the students, with AP World History teachers Katherine Haworth and Perry McCall, will see historical sites as well as visit markets and other locations frequented by locals.

Popular destinations such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City are on the agenda, as well as a visit with Chinese high school students and observe acupuncture techniques performed by professionals.

A trip to China isn’t as common place as a regu-lar tour around Europe.

“I’m proud of these stu-dents for moving out of their comfort zone,” Mc-Call said.

Students who are go-ing to China came to the choice to go out of cu-riosity and for many, a genuine interest in the culture.

Lodging at local hotels will be provided, and eating out with the group will be paid for by the company for most meal-times, food which will consist of Chinese cui-sine such as dim sum.

“Fortunately EF tours has done student trips for years and they have a great reputation for low cost well-run stu-dent travel,” McCall said. “They do all the work ar-ranging hotels, air travel, transportation, food, etc.”

Students will be given some free time in which they are allowed to ex-plore their surrounding in a local setting.

The Spain trip will be-gin travel for Madrid on June 16, and return to the states on July 6. They will be traveling with An-vil advisor and photogra-phy teacher, Cathy Bot-toms, and Spring Woods High School photogra-phy teacher Pam Karter.

Students on the Spain trip are juniors Lierin Pena, Robert Sauer-mann, Alexa Junek, El-len Eilers, Avery Bonora, Hanna Mecom, Allison Rask, Merritt Shivitz, Kylee Piatczyc, Kate Ra-ley, Clark Norris, Connor Rensimer, Jamie Ged-

des, Shelby Thibodeaux and sophomores Bran-don Frey and Eve Pfer-dehirt.

The group will travel from Madrid to Grana-da, then to Malaga, on the coast. Two National Geographic guides will accompany the group throughout their jour-ney. For five days on their three week excur-sion, renowned National Geographic photogra-pher Tino Soriano will join them in Granada.

“I’m incredibly excited for Spain,” junior Kylee Piatczyc said. “I can’t wait to experience the culture, as well as take professional, amazing photographs throughout the trip.”

Soriano has contributed to National Geographic Traveler magazine for many years. He has also received a first prize from the World Press Photo Foundation.

“I can’t wait to work with Tito Soriano,” Sau-ermann said. “I don’t really know that much about photography, so it’s great that my first lessons will be with such an expert.”

All Spain students will receive a Fine Arts credit for this travel course.

NEWSin Brief

Teacher Kimberly Howell and her husband Wayne run a program called ‘Wayne’s World of Snakes and Reptile Rescue’. They go around the city and state to rescue snakes and other reptiles in people’s home as well as to educate the citizens on why they shouldn’t kill the animals. They take in reptiles who can be kept as pets and put them up for adoption. Their web site is www.snakeworld.com.

Howell Runs Reptile Refuge

English IV AP Todd McCardle has recently been awarded a $5000 individual grant by ‘Fund for Teachers’, a program that allows teachers to travel the globe and pursue different opportunities as they study. Through an application and selection process, they award it to the top proposals given to them. McCardle will be taking a two-week literary tour around England and France to visit homes, museums, and other locations connected to leading literary figures and authors from as early as the Middle Ages.

McCardle Chosen for ‘Fund for Teachers’

The theatre department is putting on three encore shows of Beauty and the Beast in the auditorium on June 11-13 to raise money for their trip to Nationals June 21-28. The show was selected to perform on the main stage at Nationals in Lincoln, Nebraska by the Educational Theatre Association.

Beauty and the Beast Reshow

The Memorial HS Library is hosting a summer reading book sale from May 18th to the 22nd.The vendor times are: May 18th: 12 noon to 3:30 pm May 19-21: 7:30 am to 3:30 pm May 22: 7:30 am to 12 noonA list of each grade levels summer reading requirements is available on the school website.

Summer Reading Book Sale

Working with the Spring Branch Education Foundation, Coach Rene Rosales has organized the Luis Jaimes Rosales Scholarship golf tournament to award financial aid to students of Hispanic descent. The tournament will be held on June 12 at Southwyck Golf Course. Entry deadline is June 4. Entry fee is $55.00. Contact Rene.Rosales.@springbranchisd.com for questions or donations.

Coach Rosie’s New Project-Scholarship Golf Tourny

Travel Buddies. Students going on the Spain and China trip get together for a meeting. AP World History teacher Perry McCall helped plan and organize the China trip and gave valuable information to the Spain students. From left to right: juniors Kate Raley, Merritt Shivitz, Avery Bonora, Allison Rask, sophomores Sarah Blackwell, Blake Keeling, Perry McCall, juniors Alexa Junek, Ellen Eilers, Clark Norris, and Shelby Thibodeaux.

International Historical and modern marvels await eager high school travelers

Summer SchoolSchedule

Session 1: June 15th – June 30thSession 2: July 6th –July 21stSession 3: July 22nd – August 6thMonday - Thursday 7:30 a.m -3:30 p.m.The registration deadline for every course is June 3rd, 2009.

Taylor Harper wins Tommy Tune Award

Junior Taylor Harper won the Tommy Tune Award of Best Supporting Actor for his role as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. The prestigious TUTS Tommy Tune Awards honor the best high school actors in the Houston area.

Cathy Bottoms

Despite the postponement of UIL sports, floods, TAKS, AP tests, and swine flu, the school year comes to a roaring conclusion

8 PHOTO ESSAY THE ANVIL MAY

Finishing Up

5

4Katherine Christie

Tim Kleinhenz

can finally relax now

that she knows she is

through with TAKS.

She enjoys spending

downtime clearing her

head before the stress

process starts up again

as final exams approach.

Finally it’s Friday

where students get to-

gether for a weekly bible

study at Freeway Burg-

ers. They can talk

about their week and

share some laughs. “This

is where I come and get

away from everything. I

love all the girls and we

have so much fun,” Allie

Clark said. Spring

sports stood still as well

Many fine art programs

conclude their year with

a show that highlights

their talent. This

photograph was taken

at the Markettes Spring

Show on Friday, May 1

in the Memorial High

School auditorium.

Dancers Libby Roland,

Casey Goldfine, Erin

Schwatz, and Shelby

Schumacher perform to

the song Breathe Me.

Marina Saitoh and

Kayla Stewart execute

perfect split leaps as

they reach for the sky

in the Officer Hip-Hop

number.

“Thankfully TAKS is

over, it was so stressful

and such a long pro-

cess,” says sophomore

Rachel Moody. Moody

1

2

3

4 5

as the ball (see photo).

May 11 finally came and

the teams resumed

competition. Fresh-

man Ben Carl, follows

through with his pitch

in the JV game against

Hastings.

9PHOTO ESSAYTHE ANVIL MAY

Finishing Up

1

2

Jaclyn Worbets

Jaclyn Worbets

3Chelsea Berchon

10 ADS THE ANVIL MAY

11SPORTSTHE ANVILMAY

Ready! Set! WAIT! On April 29, UIL teams in SBISD

found out that their competition dates were being postponed. Due to the H1N1 outbreak (Swine Flu) in North America, the University Interscholastic League decided to postpone all games until the middle of May. Track, s o f t b a l l , baseball, and lacrosse were the major sports affected.

The players were quite upset with the change because if the UIL games are postponed, the rest of the season is too. Like a domino effect, this change delays the rest of the season games and tournaments.

All of this means that players must rearrange their entire schedule for the month, and must cancel any plans they may have already made. With finals around the corner, and AP exams behind them, the players were initially upset by this, but eventually took it positively.

Each sport was affected differently. Varsity baseball will see their playoffs delayed by a week, with games starting on May 16th

UIL Delayed while State Meets Played Team playoff competitions are delayed by three weeks, while tennis and golf compete in their state tournaments

By Dhruv Goel and Emmie Martin

Online Editor, Features Editor

and that puts them dangerously close to finals.

“We will accept and respect their decision and work hard to keep our rhythm and timing and deal with the cards we are dealt and take it game by game,” Varsity Baseball head coach Jeremy York said.

V a r s i t y

lacrosse is greatly impacted by the change. In order to compete in the lacrosse playoffs before the end of the school year, the final four games are currently being scheduled If they want to win state, they will have to play four games in six days during w e e k s where many

players have two to three AP exams. Even though this makes May a very chaotic month for them, they have accepted the change .

On May 11, lacrosse played one of those four games, against Klein and won 19-11. At press time the team is scheduled to play Stratford on Wednesday for the city

championship of

Division II.“Everyone has been

working hard at practice and our coach has worked on making practice fun so we don’t lose the intensity and desire that made us so successful during the latter half of the regular season,” junior Robert Sauerman said. “Although the Swine Flu suspension is a pain, we’re just going to have to deal with it

because everybody e l s e

does too.”

Varsity track is

s i m i l a r l y a f f e c t e d . They will

have their r e g i o n a l

track meet on May 15 and May 16,

and their State meet on June 5

and 6. “I have two

more weeks of workout that I didn’t plan for. It

was inconvenient but we all have to

persevere through it,” junior Joseph

Owens said.Even though many

were unhappy by the date change, softball was not upset by this. Softball

did not mind this change because their playoffs marked the end of their season, with the playoffs postponed they had more time to practice.

“It is not an issue for us as we have chosen to take the positive approach of having more practice time and getting our younger kids more reps,” varsity softball coach Tina Young said. Unfortunately, softball was not able to win their playoff game. They lost 0-3 on May 8 against Cinco Ranch.

Even though some dates were moved around, tennis and golf were able to dodge this bullet. Tennis players, seniors Jonathan Chang and Adam Putterman advance to the state tournament on May 11. Chang came in second in the boy’s singles division.

The boys golf team is also going to state, which is in Austin on May 14 and 15. Representing the Mustangs are: Sophomore Greg Rochna, Juniors Philip Hotze and Cory Whitsett, and Seniors Tyler Gann, Lawrence Chang, Jes Schneider, Zach Goodwine.

“I am excited about returning to the State Championship. It is a great tournament with some great golfers. My team is the best group that I have seen since coaching at Memorial High School,” said varsity golf head coach Sands.

A One Man Team. Sophomore Nathan Strutton stands on the Memorial High School baseball field in hopes of finding some peace and quiet from all the hype about the Swine Flu. The Swine Flu has postponed the Mustangs 2009 season, “I don’t think the Swine Flu delay has affected our team at all. They are still managing to get out to practice everyday and are playing against each other in scrimmages, “ said Strutton.

Avery Bonara

Above: The boys golf team gathers right after they win regionals, they now advance to UIL state.Top Left: Senior Tyler Robertson practices cradling the ball during a practice. The lacrosse team has a heavy schedule with back to back games during an already busy AP week. Top Right: Senior Marissa Dobbins, and Junior Ellie Scott run around the track trying to beat their best time. With UIL competition starting back this week, the track team will finally compete in the regional meet this weekend.

Danielle Curran

Avery Swope

John Herrin

Tonja Goodwine

12 SPORTS THE ANVIL MAY

Out with old, in with new

Seniors pass torch to new football, cheerleader, Markette teams

May 21st marks a new begin-ning. With the

school year coming to an end, the 09-10 Varsity football team and cheer-leaders make sure that they leave the students in excited anticipation for the season ahead. Unique in its defense vs. offense set-up, the Red and White game is a trial run for new plays and positions for both new and old constituents.

Although the com-petition is fierce, play-ers have a chance to play against their own team, and get insight into the areas which

may need more work. “The Red and White

game is always fun be-cause we get a chance to play against all of our fr iends,” j u n i o r P r e s -ton Bur-kett said.

In ad-dition to f o o t b a l l p l a y -ers, the new Var-sity cheerleaders get to showcase their hard work as well.

“The Red and White game is like the passing of the pom-poms from last years Varsity to this years Varsity, junior Molly Walker said. “Even

though a lot of people on our team cheered togeth-er last year on JV, the Red and White game is a chance to show off how

well we get along and work together.”

L a s t but not least are the Mar-k e t t e s . A f t e r w o r k i n g

hard at officer tryouts the new leaders are ready to dance their way into their new positions.

“Being a Markette is a ton of after-school work and dedication,” Mar-kette Kayla Moody said. “But it is always worth

By Katie KleinNews Editor

the work when you get up in front of the school and show the students what you are made of and what you have worked so hard for.”

While the Red and White game is played more for a moral vic-tory than for an ac-tual numerical victory it gives the seniors of ‘09

an opportunity to step down and the juniors of ‘10 to step up take their spots as the new se-niors on campus for the 2009-2010 school year.

Alumni win UT intramural championship. Five former MHS basketball players won the University of Texas Intramural Championship. They get their picture hung in Gregory Gym and their name in The Daily Texan. They are the first team from MHS to have this honor. The fact that they were all Sorority girls must also be some kind of record. The final score was 38 -33. They came from a 10 point deficit to win. It was a well played game and many parents and friends were there to cheer them on. Team members include Lara Lapin, Ashley Sunderhaft, Ce Ce Cohen, Cristen Moerer, and Kristen Patchell.

”“Being a Markette is

a ton of after-school work and dedication but it is always worth the work when you get up in front of the school and show the students what you are made of.

-Junior Kayla Moody

Danielle Curran

13ADSTHE ANVILMAY

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Spring into actionBy Emmie Martin

Features Editor

As the school year comes to a close, second semester sports wrap up their seasons. Trophies and

championships in hand, athletes remember long, sweaty practices and hours upon hours of hard work.

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Page Gregory

Will Groesbeck

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5NEWSTHE ANVILOCTOBER 15ADSTHE ANVILMAY

16 ADS THE ANVIL MAY