VOLUME 82 December 2007 ISSUE 3

H I L I F E2305 East Main, LEaguE City, tX 77573

Semester finals after winter holidays: study now

Mix IT Up pg. 11

Allie HingA

Class ‘08 Senior Musical presents Pirates of Penzance RutH RozAs

With the winter break approaching, students at Clear Creek High School are hard at work in their classrooms, trying to wrap up the semester. In previous years, teachers would be preparing students for their midterm finals. This year, however, testing will take place after the break, January 15-18. The dates for the finals have been pushed back as a result of the later start date for Texas schools. In order to complete the eighteen weeks of instruction required for a semester, the last two weeks of the first semester will take place after students return from the winter break. Finals will be held during the second week after students return to class. Taking finals after a two-week break comes with a number of advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, students will be able to use the break to study. They will have time to review without having to worry about homework due the next day. Students have entire days to study, instead of just afternoons and weekends. The extra time will allow them to complete a more thorough review of the material they have learned over the past semester. On the other hand, moving the finals to January 2008 will cause a number of inconveniences for students. Many will have to realign their study schedules to meet the demands of different testing dates. Some students worry that they will forget all the material they have learned over the extended break, and others may either

forget to study or procrastinate until the end of the break. Another concern is that teachers will not give formal reviews until the week before finals, so students will not be able to sufficiently study over the winter holidays. One student, junior Mary Crnkovic, summarized both the advantages and challenges of later testing when she said, “I think I’m going to forget everything, but I think it would give me more time to study, but I would forget to study over New Year’s.” Tenth grader Mie Millard thinks that the change is ultimately a loss for students, “I think it’s going to hurt, because we’re going to be distracted by the Christmas Break, so for two weeks, our focus will be on having fun.” Despite the possible problems occurring as a result of a new testing schedule, students will still need to prepare for their exams. In order to be sufficiently prepared for the tests, proper study skills will be important. One key part of studying is being organized. Students should decide how long they will need to study and schedule time to review. It is suggested that students begin organizing a week before the test date. Once they have organized the material, students may want to skim through the textbook chapters that will be covered on the test, looking for main ideas, vocabulary, and important concepts. Reviewing study guides from previous tests, and also reviewing the tests themselves, may also be useful. Studying with other students and discussing the material covered may help students absorb what they have learned. It

may also be helpful to ask the teacher what concepts are most important to study. When studying, it is important not to panic in the days before the test. This can increase stress, which may interfere with study time. Take regular breaks between study periods. Spreading out review time can help make study more effective. Students should find a study method that works well for them and use it. Cramming right before the test is not suggested, as it often leads to a superficial and confused knowledge of the material. Getting a good night’s sleep before the test will help students remain more alert during their exams. According to the University Learning Center at Penn State University, on exam day, students should make an extra effort to be on time for class, so they can begin testing as quickly as possible. A quick review of the test before beginning can help students begin thinking about the material and budgeting the time they can spend on different sections of the test. Answering the easy questions first, then returning to more difficult questions at the end of the exam allows for more questions to be answered. Students should use the

entire time allotted for testing, taking time to answer questions and to review their answers at the end of the test. Despite any difficulties that might come about as a result of a later testing date, students will still need to be just as prepared as in previous years.

Fall Exam Schedule

Tuesday, January 15Period 1 7:20 a.m.- 9:23 a.m.Period 2 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

Wednedsay, January 16Period 3 7:20 a.m.- 9:23 a.m.Period 4 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, January 17Period 5 7:20 a.m.- 9:23 a.m.Period 6 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

Friday, January 18Period 7 7:20 a.m.- 9:23 a.m.Period 8 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

Dismissal at 11:30

Reminder* transportation is not provided until 2:30 p.m.

The senior class of 2008 will be presenting Pirates of Penzance on January 30-31 and February 1-2 in the Clear Creek High School Auditorium. All shows will start at 7:00pm and tickets are ten dollars at the door. December 31, 1879 was the premiere of Pirates of Penzance in New York City at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. The cast included J.H. Ryley as Major General, Hugh Talbot as Fredrick, and Sgr. Broccolini as Pirate King, Fred Clinton as Sergeant, Blanch Roosevelt as Mabel and Alice Barnett as Ruth. A revival was made of the play as a major Broadway production on January 8, 1981 featuring Kevin Kline as Pirate King, Rex Smith as Frederic, and Linda Ronstadt as Mabel. It took place at Uris Theatre and had 772 shows. In 1983 a film was made which featured Kline, Smith, Ronstadt, and Angela Lansbury. The story Pirates of Penzance is about Frederic, an adolescent Pirate apprentice indentured by mistake to the pirates. His

half deaf mute nanny was supposed to indenture him to a pilot but got it all wrong. Frederic now has made up his mind to rid himself of the pirates forever. Though he

feels strongly about his fellow comrades, he decides to dedicate his life to the extermination of all their kind. Frederic, still a pirate till midnight, decides to point

out the pirates’ one flaw: they are too feeble of heart. Supposedly, a captive of these pirates only has to proclaim he is an orphan, and they will release the person.

Fredric, having never seen another woman besides his aged nurse, once upon the shore spots a group of ravishing

maidens. Upon seeing these women, he instantly falls in love with the fairest of the flock, Mabel, who offers to reclaim the “Poor Wandering One”. Completely swept off his feet, Frederic forgets that there are still pirates around. Without warning his fellow crew is closing in. Very lonely, these pirates find the women a delight and quickly realize that this is a great chance to get married with immunity. Right in time, the girls’ father, Major-General Stanley, appears and immediately falsely states he is an orphan resulting in the concise release of his daughters. Terrified that the pirates will find out his secret, he turns to Frederic, who calms him by assuring he will seize the pirates and stop their voracious actions. Though when Frederic is met with the news, he is still indentured to the pirates due to a formality. The conflict rises. The director, Timothy Estelle, along with choral Directors Dr. Sean and Kyle Pullen, Orchestra Director Michael Astwood, and Choreographer Traci Carpenter see great potential in the show. Come join the tradition of CCHS by attending one of the show and experience the tale The Pirates of Penzance.

Creek studentscompete in

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Jacob Lux

Reporters:Alina GregoryChelsea HuebnerHailey StephensChristine SulkisTaylor Long

2 OpiniOn“If it snowed and school got canceled, how would you spend your day?”

Principal:Adviser:Executive Editor:Editors-in-Chief:

News Editor:Features Editor: Assistant:Sports Editor: Assistants:

Creek Speaks Editor:Centerspread:Online Editor:Ads Manager:Ads Designer:Layout Editor:Photo EditorVideo Editors:

Scott BockartWynette JamesonJan O’NeilStephanie Haechten,Jessica O’Neil, Olivia HuynhHayley BoultinghouseRuth RozasSarah CisnerosSarah PooreTaylor FreudenburgDestinee WalkerAllie HingaCassie Lee, Amanda ComptonRyan GriponDrew WalkerAdam VencilOlivia HuynhMicah Wesley, Fallan DragoMatt Lara

2006-2007 HiLife StaffCLEAR CREEK HIGH SCHOOL

SENIORS

SOPHOMORES

JUNIORS

FRESHMEN“I would stay outside all day and snowball fights and make snowmen.” - Krysten Kuli

“I would try making a snowman but I know I would get too cold, so I would go inside and roast marshmellows and eat.” -Corrinne Pena

“I would drink hot chocolate with marshmallows, build cowboy snow-men, hand out with friends, have snowball fights, sit by the fire place and hang out with my boyfriend.” -Michaela Adams

“Just chill. Literally.” -Princess Daniels

“I would call all of my friends and tell them to meet me in the Hyde El-ementary field. Then we’d have a huge snowball fight. And of course I would light the fire and drink lots of hot chocolate.” - Katherine Watts

“I’d play guitar all day in the snow.” - Anthony Bastida

“I would eat the snow, if it isn’t yellow.” - Clay Dragg

“Sleep in, make hot cholate, and watch cartoons and Full House until lunch. Then I would go outside and have a snowball fight. Then make snow angels.” - Jessican Whitten

“I would stay inside, in front of the fire in the fireplace drinking hot chocolate and make s’mores.” -Raquel Kilgore

“I would get my friends together and have a huge snowball fight.” - Kegan Loyd

“I’d do what the animals do ... sleep all day.” - Kenny Stromile

“I would call my best friend and we would go out and walk through the town center and go shopping. Then it would be Godiva’s pepper-mint hot chocolate. Definately snowball fights and candycanes and mistletoe.” - Katherine Li

“I would start the morning with some starbucks and spend the rest of the day with my tv, computer, and heater.” - Matt Haviland

“I would make snow angels and drink hot chocolate.” - Jill VanPaffen

“I would have a snowball WAR! Beware!” - Angel Willa

“If it snowed and school got canceled, I would spend the whole day just chillin’. I would go call my friends up to have a snowball fight. I’d probably even build a asnowman. Anything is better than school.” -Christen Valcoviak

“I would make hot chocolate and snuggle with my teddy bear by the fire.”- Jessie Bennett

“I would go skiing down the roof of my house.” -Valerie Bowen “I would make a giant snowman and then I would get a sleigh and have fun throwing snowballs.” - Melissa Kenedy

“Sleep in at home till 12:00 pm. Then I would go to the Galleria and ice skate with my friends.” -Adrian Davila

“I would build a Texas size snowman, than I would walk my puppy Lola around the neighborhood. To warm up, I’d drink a humongous cup of cocao with a candy cane.” -Kim Johnson

“I’d have a huge snowball gith with my friends, then sit by the fire roasting marshmellows and watching movies.” - Jessica Manriquez

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STAFF“I would wake my children and we would go out to build a snowman, and have a snowball fight. Then we would go in and have hot choco-late.” -Mrs. Cathy Donahue

3EditOriaL

G e t t h e s p i e l w i t h O ’ N e i l

S a y “ W h a t ’ s u p ? ” w i t h S t e p h a n i e

stepHAnie HAecHten

JessicA o’neil

“The truth is, every runner in a marathon is a survivor, or nothing”

This is my pre-running checklist: fully charged iPod, bandana tight around my forehead, double-knotted running shoes, a new piece of Orbit gum, and my current quote of encouragement written in permanent marker across my left arm. Ready, set, run! There are many aspects of my life that surprise me, such as, being so involved in Newspaper, taking Calculus, and being a big sister. Don’t take me the wrong way. I enjoy every single part of my life [most of the time]: being an Editor, endless studying of derivatives, and trying not to get mad at my younger brother, William, when he tells me I can’t wear my favorite pair of black shoes with a brown shirt. I simply mean, I never imagined my life being filled with all of these diverse responsibilities. But of the many activities I’m involved in, training for the Chevron Houston Marathon, by far, is the one endeavor that always makes me shake my head and laugh. Me, a runner? I think so. Some days it is difficult to imagine myself running 26.2 miles, but by noon on January

13, 2008, I will officially be a marathoner. After six months of sweat-filled bandanas, three pair of headphones, two sets of shoes, ice baths, pedicures, and hundreds of training miles, I will have accomplished a task I once labeled impossible; I will have competed in a full marathon. My running career began a little over a year ago because of a good friend, mentor, and church small group leader, Melissa ‘Mayhem’ Cooper. All of us in the youth group at Clear Creek Community Church call her Mayhem; it is a simple story, and the nickname ‘Mayhem’ stuck. Mayhem trained and competed in the Half-Marathon the previous two years, but last year, January 2007, after complications with a surgery, her doctors told her she would not be participating. The news was not easily accepted. The first night I was able to see Mayhem, she sat in recliner, wrapped in a dark comforter. I sat on the floor and listened as she spoke of nothing but the Aramco Half-Marathon. She told me training was difficult, but race day was worth it; there are crazy participants dressed in chicken costumes, local bands set up in grocery story parking lots, people from everywhere meeting for one common purpose: to cross the finish line. I was only allowed to see Mayhem for about thirty minutes. I felt incapable; it broke my heart because I could not make her better. I couldn’t maker her well. She was sick, and no matter how much I cared for her, there was nothing I could do to make her healthy. I left the Cooper’s house that night with an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

There was no way Mayhem was going to race this year. Even though she was weak, there was an undeniable passion in her voice. I wanted her to be strong. I wanted her to be healthy. On my drive home, while I replayed her stories over in my head, I decided I would race for Mayhem. I went home that night and registered for the 2007 Houston Aramco Half-Marathon. October 2006, I hit the road running, although it was at a crawling pace. I began training, not for fun, not to check ‘compete in a half-marathon’ off my list of things-to-do-before-I-die, but simply to demonstrate my commitment and love to a friend the only way I knew how. I ran five days a week, through the loads of homework I had junior year and the aching muscles from every run. My inability to heal my friend forced me into my running clothes and back onto the pavement every day. My desire to help her had no outlet besides pacing the sidewalks of South Shore Boulevard. I trained for four months, never telling Mayhem that my strenuous running habit was the way in which I felt I contributed to making her well. I watched her get better and with every hug during those four months, I was really telling her, “I have prayed for you with every mile that my feet have carried me.” January 14, 2007 I crossed the Aramco Half-Marathon finish line in downtown Houston for Mayhem. I would be lying if I told you that running quickly became a passion of mine, because it definitely did not. The first four months were painful, physically and emotionally. There were many days when I wanted to stop; such as the first time I trained in the

pouring ran, my first twelve mile run, and simply being sore all the time. There were many moments when I felt I had absolutely nothing left to give, but I always forced my thoughts to Mayhem, my family, and friends. I allowed memories to invade; then my heart overpowered my tired body and I pushed through until the end. Running has taught me endurance, to keep fighting no matter what, which I am learning to apply to every aspect of my life. After the half-marathon last January, I could not just go back to sitting on the couch. My brother and I ran the Galveston Mardi Gras 5K and for a couple of months, I simply ran for fun. (Seriously) Then, I met Kendra Kornegay at Kingdom Ranch this past summer. Her first marathon was on a beach, talk about pain. After a couple of crazy conversations with Kendra and seeing her wear her entirely earned yellow Marathon Finishers t-shirt, I thought, ‘Yeah, I could run a marathon.’ That was July. Now, early December, I have been training for nearly five months for my first Marathon. Training has been quite different than when I trained for the half. I’m running for myself, to prove that I can achieve what I once deemed impossible, and on January 13, 2008 I will compete in the Chevron Houston Marathon along with 17,000 other spirited participants. All I have left to say is thank you Mayhem. You unintentionally brought running into my life and it changed me forever. To all the Chevron Houston Marathon/ Aramco Half-Marathon participants,I wish you the best of luck!

As November wanes and December approaches, I am eager to see how all the work put forth by the Christmas Dance Committee comes together to create this year’s Christmas Dance. We have worked since the end of last year to create a wonderful night and a beautiful “Christmas in New York.” The Christmas Dance Committee is made up of 30 junior girls from all organizations.

The officers this year are President Dallas Wilson, Vice President Skyler Yancey, Treasurer Stephanie Segura, Secretary Elizabeth Tormey, Decorations Officer Allison Cornell, and Historian Raquel Kilgore. The other members are divided into subcommittees that are lead by an officer. Our hard work began over the summer as we held car washes to raise money. Thanks to everyone who dirtied up their car and brought it for us to wash! In between car washes, we met to discuss a theme for the dance and decoration ideas. As school started, we were excited to choose our little sisters. Our little sisters are sophomores who will take our spots next year after we show them the ropes of putting on the dance. As is tradition, on the morning of the Creek/Lake football game, we kidnapped our little sisters, dressed them up, took them to breakfast, and had a small Christmas concert in the courtyard

for those who came to school early. Thanks little sisters for being good sports! The next weekend was the traditional sleepover. The little sisters are dressed up, again, and help their big sisters in a scavenger hunt. The sleepover is a lot of fun and allows everyone to get to know each other. Then it is back to work. We spent the next several weeks fundraising by selling lollipops and poinsettias. And as everyone prepares for the dance, we will be at the Doyle Convention Center the night before and the day of the dance putting on the finishing touches. Though a lot of work is involved, being on Christmas Dance Committee is an honor and a lot of fun. I have made lots of new friends and have met so many new people. It is neat to see so many different girls with different interests coming together to put on a memorable dance. As seniors, we are no longer members of the committee.

When I come to school and see next year’s little sisters ridiculously dressed up, I will remember my year as a little sister and the ridiculous things I had to wear. When I attend the dance, I will appreciate how much hard work goes into it because I have been there. Being on the Christmas Dance Committee was a highlight of my high school career that I will always remember. Great work this year Christmas Dance Committee of 2007! This dance will be wonderful, memorable, and beautiful thanks to all your continuous hard work. The Christmas Dance will be held on Saturday, December 15, at the Doyle Convention Center in Texas City. Tickets are available to senior and junior girls only. Tickets cost $75 (includes a ticket for your date) and will go on sale starting Monday, December 3. Junior girls that buy tickets this year will not need to purchase tickets their senior year.

Christmas Dance Committe gives Creek ‘Christmas in New York’

4 CrEEk spEaksBoBBy MuRpHy

Early dismissal for Creek Because of changes made by state legislators to the education codes, students will be dismissed for this year’s holiday break on December 21. As a reward for students, staff, teachers, and the community in the district, all schools district-wide will receive an early release time the day of dismissal for the holiday. An early release waiver for that day was granted by the Texas Education Association (TEA). For the past ten years, CCISD has received a recognized rating and has been recognized as the best larger school district in the state. To achieve the title of a recognized district means that that district has excelled in all forms of academics and has also received exemplary scores for all grades taking the TAKS test in all subjects, including reading, math, writing, social studies and science. In CCISD, 95 percent of all students passed the TAKS test last year in reading, writing, and social studies. In math and science, more than 85 percent of all students district wide passing

the TAKS in these subjects, according to a press release dated November 13. CCISD has a high school completion rate of 96 percent, one of the highest in the state and the country, along with one of the lowest annual dropout rates in the country. TEA rewarded the district this year for its performance because of the changes made to the school year. Districts statewide with recognized ratings were allowed to appeal for an early release waiver for the final day before their holiday break. Clear Creek received their waiver several days before the fall break and released the news on November 13, stating it would be one of a group of high schools across the state which appealed for and received a waiver from TEA for early release. CCISD schools will be dismissed three hours earlier on December and students will not return until January, and continue the second nine weeks. At the district’s four high schools, finals will not be held, as in the past on the days preceding the holiday break.

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Most of the students and teachers at Clear Creek High School are United States citizens. However, one teacher, Mrs. Lydia Wharton, was sworn in as a United States citizen on October 30. The event was marked by much celebration by the faculty at Clear Creek High School and the Clear Creek Independent School District. Mrs. Wharton was born in August of 1975 in Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Mexico. After graduating from high school, Wharton took English classes in San Antonio for six months, and before returning to Monterrey. She enrolled in the Universidad del Norte. In 1996, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business and majored in marketing. After college, Mrs. Wharton worked as a manager at an importing business with a desire to start her own business as a consultant. Her career gave her opportunities to work for companies around the world. Mrs. Wharton commented on this period in her life, saying, “During this time, I realized the importance of speaking different languages in order to communicate with my clients and business partners.” She learned to speak Portuguese in Brazil and enrolled in Italian classes. After missing an opportunity to travel to Italy in 1999, Mrs. Wharton decided to take a vacation to visit a friend in Galveston. It was there that she met her husband. “He is the reason I moved to this country,” Mrs. Wharton said. “After having children, I realized the opportunities of the school system. I retired from the international business world and decided to try teaching.” She began her teaching career as a Spanish 1, 2, and 3 teacher at Abundant Life Christian School. A year after she began teaching, the campus was converted into a charter school. Mrs. Wharton realized that the charter school system was not for her and sought employment at Clear Creek High School. Mrs. Wharton achieved her goal, teaching Spanish 1 during the previous school year. This year, she teaches Spanish 2 and Spanish for Spanish Speakers. This is her

fourth year as a high school teacher. Mrs. Wharton commented on her experiences at Clear Creek High School, “CCHS has been the best teaching experience I have had. We have top of the line technology and resources available for teachers and students. The staff in this school is literally committed to reach every kid that walks in our doors.” To become a United States citizen, Mrs. Wharton had to take a verbal test and write sentences in English at the office of Homeland Security, Immigration and Naturalization offices in North Houston. She took her test in September and passed. She was invited to a ceremony where she would give her oath of allegiance. The ceremony took place on October 30, 2007 at the M.O. Campbell Arena. U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller presided over the ceremony, and his assistant led the pledge of allegiance. Over 2,700 people from 116 nations took part in that oath. Mrs. Wharton is excited to have become a citizen of the United States. She said, “It is an honor to be a citizen of this great nation. It is overwhelming to think I’m a part of a country that cares about issues and believes t*hat it can be part of a change. America was, is, and always will be a land of opportunity.” As a teacher, Mrs. Wharton wants her students to know what people from other countries see in America. On November 1, some of the faculty held a celebration for Mrs. Wharton. She would like to thank counselor Mrs. Cheryl Crawford for telling others about her citizenship and getting them involved in the festivities. Mrs. Wharton would also like to thank district superintendent Dr. Sandra Mossman for her time and the basket of authentic Texas goodies. Representative Larry Taylor of the Texas House of Representatives sent Mrs. Wharton a Texas flag that was flown over the capital. Mrs. Wharton is grateful for the gift, “This flag represents so much more than a symbol, it is a legacy that will be passed to my children and grandchildren to remind them to be a part of our community, as teachers, public service workers, doctors, or whatever they want to be. It’s their dream. Now, let it come true.”

Cit izen WhartonAllie HingA

5nEwsHarmful hookah smokingsHAnnon o’neil

Hookah smoking, which originated in Africa during the 14th centery, is becoming more common than ever in the United States. According to chron.com hookah bars, a public place to smoke hookah, are becoming increasingly popular among people of the ages of 18-24. Hookah smoking is when a person uses a pipe to smoke tobacco mixed with water. People tend to say that hookah is a way to stop smoking but some researchers worry that hookah is more dangerous than actually cigarette smoke. Chron.com stated that in 2005, a report by the WHO advisory said that a single hookah session lasting around 45 minutes would be like smoking 100 cigarettes. The tobacco in a Hookah pipe is filtered through water but as researchers studied there are still dangerous chemicals in the tobacco.

According to MayoClinic.com, these chemicals include carbon monoxide, heavy metals, nicotine, and carcinogens. The actually damage caused by hookah is not known because people are not studying smoke made from these machines. The real hookah smokers might use smaller amounts of tobacoo at different temperatures and use different charcoals to keep it burning.

Researchers are worried about the effects of the hookah on smokers.

According to chron.com hookah smokers are 5 times more likely to develop gum disease compared to cigarette smokers.

Hookah smokers say that going to the hookah bars is a way to talk to people they would usually ignore. Smoking for them is a way to socialize. Alu, an interviewed Hookah smoker, stated,

“It’s a way for people to socialize without drinking at a bar, then driving and endangering people.”

Chron.com stated that in the United States, hookah bars number over 400 and that California housed the largest amount of hookah bars. Cigarette smokers find that smoking hookah has helped them stop smoking. Which one is worse for you is still to being researched. According to chron.com the number of smokers is probably around 100 million. In the past 40 years smoking has been greatly reduced by about 60 percent. Hookah bars are all over the United States and even in Texas. There is even the Challal Café in League City that is a hookah bar. These bars can also be found in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and more Texas cities, according to MapMuse.com. Also according to MapMuse.com, there are a total of 17 hookah bars in Texas. California has a large total of 77 bars. Though not much is known about the effects on smoking Hookah many researchers agree that smoking Hookah is quite like smoking a cigarette.

Coach Franchione resignscHRstine sulkis

Saving grace: baby girl identified

Sixteen year old Kimberly Ann Trenor gave birth to a baby girl she named Riley Ann Sawyers. Two years later, in July of 2007, that little girl went missing. Three months after that, in October of 2007, the body of Riley Ann washed ashore in Galveston, dead in a plastic box. The same woman gave her life is accused of bringing that life to an end. The crime was not committed alone. Police arrested both Trenor and her husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler, residents of Spring, Texas. They are currently being held on charges of injuring a child and tampering with evidence. The pair could possibly face more severe charges. They are to remain in custody with individual bonds set at $350, 000. An affidavit filed with Galveston county authorities provided insight into the last moments of the life of ‘Baby Grace” as the girl was dubbed when she was found dead. Trenor claims that she and Zeigler, the child’s stepfather, both beat the girl with leather belts. They then proceeded to hold the girl’s head under water in a bathtub. Trenor also claims that Zeigler picked up the toddler by her hair and flung her across the room causing her head to smash against the tile floor. This abuse lasted 4-6 hours. The motive for beating her was that the child’s manners were not improving. She refused to say things like “please” and “yes sir”. When the girl eventually stopped breathing, Zeigler refused to let Trenor call an ambulance. There were then attempts to give the child pain medication and CPR, which proved unsuccessful. The girl was dead. Later Zeigler covered her body with a towel. He and Trenor then left to go to

Wal-Mart to purchase the items they would need to hide and dispose of the body. The shopping list included a blue plastic container, bleach, a shovel, and latex gloves. They hid the container with Riley’s remains in a storage shed. It would be two months before they took the final step to dispose of the body. Trenor and Zeigler drove the 75 miles from Spring to Galveston to throw the container off of the Galveston Causeway. The body of the girl was found October 29, 2007. She was wearing a pink skirt and shirt and light up tennis shoes. She was originally thought to be Madeleine McCann, the four year old British girl who disappeared from a hotel in Portugal in May. As more details of the crime unfold, Robert Sawyers, the girl’s father, faces unimaginable grief. “It’s very tough,” Sawyers said, “I’m just so stressed out through all of this…I keep saying that ‘It’s hard’ would be an understatement. The girl’s grandmother, Sheryl Sawyers provided the initial tip that “Baby Grace” could be her granddaughter. It is unclear whether she will be able to collect a $20,000 reward offer that had been previously offered by authorities for any information leading to the identification of “Baby Grace”. Authorities are working around the clock in attempt to tie up loose ends. “She is more to us than just a case number….She is very much a human being. She is someone’s child, someone’s grandchild, someone’s cousin, someone’s best friend, and to us that is the most important part about the case,” said Galveston County Sheriff’s Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo.

HAyley BoulingHouse

Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione resigned Friday, November 24 only an hour after beating the Aggies’ biggest archrival, the Texas Longhorns, 38-30. Franchione replaced R.C. Slocum in December 0f 2002. He was head coach at Texas A&M for 5 years and finished with a record far short of expectations. In the Big 12 games, Franchione was 19-21. He only won 3 out of 15 games played against the Aggies’ rivals Texas Tech, the University of Texas, and Oklahoma. In late September, Coach Franchione was caught selling information about his bad players to a secret newsletter. He wrote a weekly newsletter titled “VIP Connection” that offered information about his players’ injuries and other negative information on his players. He has been selling this newsletter for the last 3 years. Franchione only sold the newsletter to selected boosters, but he did it without telling the A&M athletic director, Bill Byrne. “I think the whole thing started as something well-intended, to keep a number of people who were good donors to the university forever informed about things that were going on. It just got out of control…My supposition is someone came to Fran and said, ‘You mind if we do something like this for some people?’ His thought was, ‘No go ahead.’ My guess was he never saw it after that. He concentrates on football.” Said Byrne. Byrne ordered Franchione to shut down his personal website and said he would consider the scandal when he evaluated him at the end of the season. This newsletter produced an income of $80,000 leaving Franchione with a profit of $37,806. This in addition to his contract which pays him $1,700,000, 2 cars, a country club membership, and supplemental payments in the event that he wins the Big 12 championship ($37,500), is named Big 12 coach of the year ($25,000), appears in

a bowl game ($37,500 for BCS, $75,000 for BCS), wins the national championship ($100,000), or is named national coach of the year ($50,000). He also received a $3 million life insurance policy and an expense allowance of $12,000 per year. Franchione violated this contract by not reporting his income from the newsletter, releasing information about his student-athletes, and violating Big 12 Conference standards of sportsmanship. In late September, just after Franchione’s efforts were uncovered, a reporter from Yahoo! Sports said, “The good part for Coach Fran is it’s just a matter of time now before he gets fired—either for this or for the fact that his team isn’t very good. So at least he’s got a start on his future media career. We imagine the newsletter was actually well done. Franchione obviously has a lot of free time to work on it since he doesn’t waste time teaching players how to tackle.” According to several media sources, A&M wanted to fire Coach Fran earlier in the season because the team wasn’t doing very well. The newsletter just sealed the deal. As of November 26, just three days after Coach Fran resigned, A&M’s new head coach will be Mike Sherman. He is going to complete his second season as head coach of the Houston Texans before coming to A&M. “Coming to College Station is like coming home”, he said. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be introduced as the 28th coach at Texas A&M.” Sherman is the former head coach of the Green Bay Packers. He is the second highest-percentage winning coach; he led the Packers in five consecutive winning seasons from 2000-2004, and won three consecutive NFC North Division titles. Sherman has coached many other teams as well including UCLA, the Seattle Seahawks, Tulane, University of Pittsburgh, and Holy Cross. He was also the assistant coach for A&M in the early 1990’s, when R.C. Slocum was still head coach.

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7divErsiOnsF O L I O L I N E M c C l a t c h y - T r i b u n eF O L I O L I N E

GEOCHALLENGE 06MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

1. How many African coun-tries are landlocked (with nosea coast)?

A. 20B. 18C. 15D. 12

2. Which two countries doesthe annual Serengeti animalmigration cross?

A. Kenya and Tanzania B. Tanzania and Rwanda C. Kenya and Ethiopia D. Tanzania and Uganda

3. Which African country isentirely surrounded by oneother country?

A. Swaziland B. LesothoC. Togo D. Guinea-Bissau

4. Which mainland Africannation has the longest coast-line?

A. MozambiqueB. LibyaC. SomaliaD. South Africa

5. Which of these Africancountries does not have theequator running through it?

A. SomaliaB. GabonC. UgandaD. Tanzania

6. What is Africa’s highestmountain and in what countryis it located?

A. Mount Kenya, Kenya B. Mount Kilimanjaro,

Kenya C. Mount Kilimanjaro,

Tanzania D. Mount Kenya, Tanzania

7. Which two countries shareVictoria Falls?

A. Zimbabwe and Zambia B. Botswana and Zambia C. Zimbabwe and

Botswana D. Zambia and Angola

8. What is the biggest countryin Africa?

A. SudanB. Democratic Republic

of Congo C. AngolaD. Algeria

9. What is the longest river inAfrica?

A. ZambeziB. CongoC. NigerD. Nile

10. What is the smallestcountry in mainland Africa?

A. DjiboutiB. LesothoC. BurundiD. The Gambia

11. The Sahara runs throughall but which country?

A. ChadB. MaliC. BeninD. Algeria

12. What is Africa’s biggestlake?

A. Lake Tanganyika B. Lake Victoria C. Lake Chad D. Lake Volta

13. Cabinda province, bor-dered by the Atlantic Ocean, theDemocratic Republic of Congoand the Republic of the Congo,is part of which country?

A. AngolaB. GabonC. Sao Tome and Principe D. Equatorial Guinea

14. What is the capital ofSouth Africa?

A. BloemfonteinB. PretoriaC. Cape Town D. All three

15. What country is home to the Central Kalahari GameReserve, one of the last out-posts of the San Bushmen?

A. South Africa B. NamibiaC. Botswana D. Zambia

Many films have beenset (although not nec-essarily filmed) inAfrica. Can you matchthe movie with its cor-rect setting on the mapbelow?

1. “Casablanca,”Morocco

3. “The EnglishPatient,” SaharaDesert/North Africa

4. “Murder on the Or-ient Express,” Egypt

2. “Black HawkDown,” Somalia

5. “Ali,” The Congo,formerly Zaire

7. “Out of Africa,”Kenya

6. “Hotel Rwanda,”Rwanda

9. “African Queen,”German East Africa,primarily what is nowTanzania

8. “Madagascar,”Madagascar

10. “Cry, the BelovedCountry,” South Africa

Africa conjures up so many images — from the pyramids in Egypt to thewildlife that roams the savannas in Kenya and Tanzania, from the vast Saharato the current human tragedy of genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

To mark Geography Awareness Week, the third week of November,we offer a geography challenge with a spotlight on the continent.

A recent National Geographic-Roper Public Affairs geography litera-cy study, aimed at young American adults between the ages of 18 and 24,revealed their limited knowledge of the world. (It wouldn’t be surprisingto find that many Americans beyond age 24 are every bit as clueless.)Consider these findings:

■ Six in 10 respondents couldn’t find Iraq on a map of the Middle East.■ Nine in 10 couldn’t find Afghanistan on a map of Asia.We trust that these quizzes and questions will enhance your knowledge.

Remember: This is not a pass-fail exam, but a tool to help you learn more aboutthe world. — Alfred Borcover, Chicago Tribune

Here we offer photos of five famous sitesin Africa. Can you locate these land-marks in the map below?

The following questions were written by Laurie Goering, the Chicago Tribune’s Africa corre-spondent since 2002. Goering, based in Johannesburg, has reported from 25 countries on thecontinent.

ANSWERS:1.C., 2.A., 3.B.(LESOTHO, SURROUNDED BY SOUTH AFRICA.), 4.C.(1,859.6 MILES), 5.D., 6.C.(MOUNT KILIMANJAROAT 19,340 FEET), 7.A., 8.A., 9.D., 10.D., 11.C., 12.B., 13.A., 14.D.(BLOEMFONTEIN IS THE JUDICIAL CAPITAL;PRETORIA, THEADMINISTRATIVE CAPITAL;AND CAPE TOWN, THE LEGISLATIVE CAPITAL), 15.C.

ANSWERS:1.B.,2.C., 3.A., 4.E.,5.D.

ANSWERS:1.A., 2.D., 3.B.,4.C., 5.J., 6.F., 7.E., 8.H.,9.G., 10.I.

ACROSS1. - - - O ZAU. Town north of Congo Rivermouth4. - - - - - - - - - O. Famous crater10. D - - -. Situation in Darfur11. - - - - - - I. Capital of Kenya13. A - - - - - -. Mediterranean nation15. PR - - - - IA. One of three (administra-tive) capitals of its country16. RED - - -. An eastern border of Africa17. D - - - -. Capital of Senegal19. - - BIA. Ancient name for northernSudan20. PO - - SAID. Suez city21. Reaching the top24. C - - ENAICA. Ancient name, part ofLibya25. Capital across the Red Sea from Africa,alt. sp.27. Algerian seaport29. ENTE - - E. Former capital of Uganda30. - - ORY COAST. 31. WIND - - EK. Namibia capital32. Entrance hall34. N - - AL. South African province, inshort35. Cecil Rhodes was a - - - NEER36. TS - - -. Same as 22 down38. L - - -. Volcano emission40. - - - ERIA. Founded by U.S. blackfreedmen41. P - - - N. Serengeti

DOWN1. War with Brits2. B - - UNDI. Landlocked nation3. Guinea capital4. Another landlocked nation5. - - - - - ZIMBABWE. Ancient metropolis6. GHA - -. Former Gold Coast7. AL - - - - -. Capital city of Mediterraneancountry8. P - - - ELIZABETH. South African city9. CAME - - - - - - -. Citizen of west Africannation12. SALZ - - - - -. Town in Namibia13. VICTORIA FAL - -.14. CARD - - -. Of the heart18. Flying adjective22. Kenya park 23. - - - - - - NE. Botswana capital26. R - - AT. Morocco capital28. GREAT - - - - - - - - EY. Site of discov-ery of early homo sapiens31. - - - DELBERG. Just outsideJohannesburg33. EG - - T.34. M - - SAI. East African people, alt. sp.37. MONR - - - - . Capital of 40 across39. - - - DJAN. De facto capital of 30 across

MACON DUNNAGAN/MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

1. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

RANDY CURWEN/CHICAGO TR IBUNE

2. Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe

TONI STROUD/CHICAGO TR IBUNE

3. Sphinx, Egypt

MAGGIE STEBER/MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

4. “House of Slaves” on Goree Island, SenegalREMER TYSON/DETROIT FREE PRESS

5. Timbuktu, Mali

PAGE EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE SUNDAY, NOV. 12, 2006.

1. What is the term for the dubious feat

of striking out four times in a

game?

2. A batter with an average be-low .200 is said

to be below what?

3. What term refers to the play when the bases are loaded,

with two outs and a full count, when all the runners take off

with the pitch?

BASEBALL

1. Situation: Team A is inbounding the ball from the baseline. In an attempt to throw a length of court pass, Team A throws the ball through the opposite baseline. The ball has touched no player, no

backboard or rim or even the floor in bounds. Where will the ball be awarded to Team B.

BASKETBALL

2. At what point during a two-shot free throw may a substitute enter the game?

1. At the spot where Team A attempted to inbound the ball, 2. Between the first and second shots, 3. 91

1. Golden Sombrero, 2. The Men-doza Line, 3. Merry Go Round

1. Who was the first high schooler to break the four-minute barrier in the mile?

3. What was the largest jersey number that a player

had in 2005?

ARE YOU READY FOR NEXT SEASON?

1. Situation: Team A is inbounding the ball from the baseline. In an attempt to throw a length of court pass, Team A throws the ball through the opposite baseline. The ball has touched no player, no

backboard or rim or even the floor in bounds. Where will the ball be awarded to Team B.

BASKETBALL

1. At the spot where Team A attempted to inbound the ball, 2. Between the first and second shots, 3. 91

1. Who was the first high schooler to break the four-minute barrier in the mile?

3. What was the largest jersey number that a player

had in 2005?

ARE YOU READY FOR NEXT SEASON?

3. Which relay is only open to girls(at all track meets)?

2. What is another name for the triple jump?

1. Jim Ryun, 2. The hop. The skip, and the jump, 3. The 800 medley relay

TRACK

2. The 2004 European Na-

tions finals saw England lose out again on penal-

ties. Two players missed a kick for England, David

Beckham missed first, but who

missed the cru-cial second pen-

alty?

SOCCER

1. In the World Cup 1990 semi-fi-nal, England first suffered the pain of being beaten through the pen-alty shoot out, who beat them?

3. Portugal defeated England on penalties in the European Nations finals of 2004. That night England

missed twice. This meant how many players had missed penal-ties for England in shoot outs?

1. West Germany, 2. Darius Vassell, 3. Seven

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MiX it up 11

12 FEaturEsCreek Students compete in Special OlympicsstepHAnie HAecHten

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” The preceding quote is not only an expression of endurance; it is the Athlete Oath of the Special Olympics. All year long, more than 2.5 million children and adults, from 165 different countries, with intellectual disabilities train and compete in sports that encourage acceptance between people with and without disabilities. This past year four athletic and dedicated students from Clear Creek competed in the 2007 Special Olympics: William Jarboe, David Higgins, Katelyn Fitzgerald, and Sara Keller. William Jarboe, senior, has been very involved in Special Olympics since the age of nine. He began competing in softball and track, then golf, bowling, and basketball between the ages of 11 and 16. He currently competes in golf and bowling. This past year, Jarboe went to College Station for the State competition in golf, and San Antonio for the State competition in bowling. “I just play for fun,” said Jarboe, on why he played so many sports. David Higgins, junior, has been a Special Olympics participant for eight years. His very first year, Higgins earned the title ‘Rookie of the Year’. He competed in golf, bowling, and basketball. This past year, his primary focus was golf. His hard work paid off. He received a Gold medal during Area tryouts in Houston, Texas, enabling him to compete in the State tournament.

Sara Keller

David Higgins

David Higgins and William Jarboe

Katelyn Fitzgerald

William Jarboe

Sara Keller

* Will be selling Holiday Ornaments with your message to someone special

Date to Purchase: Dec 11/12Where: Cafeteria

Price: $1.00Delivery Date: Dec 19/20

All of the Funds will go to the “Invisible Children”“Invisible Children”

He placed 2nd at State in College Station, Texas. His 2nd place title promoted him to the National competition in Florida, where Higgins took home a Silver medal. “Don’t hit the ball in the water,” Higgins said about playing golf. Good advice for any golfer; novice to professional. Katelyn Fitzgerald, freshman, is a very spirited team player. For Special Olympics, Fitzgerald has played on team sports such as, basketball, volleyball, and softball. Also, Fitzgerald competed in swimming and bowling. This past year, she competed at the State competition in College Station, Texas. She has taken home several medals: two Gold medals for basketball, three medals for volleyball, and a Bronze medal in swimming. Sarah Keller, freshman, is a very competitive swimmer. She has participated in many local swimming competitions in Sugarland, LaPorte and CyFair. Keller has been swimming since she was seven years old. “I really just like getting in the water,” said Keller about why she began swimming. During Special Olympics, Keller competed in the backstroke, freestyle, and butterfly races. This past year, Keller received a Gold medal in the 50 meter free style at the State meet in College Station. William Jarboe, David Higgins, Katelyn Fitzgerald, and Sara Keller were fierce competitors at the 2007 Special Olympics, playing in every sport, from basketball to volleyball. They won many medals in various competitions, but even more so, their bold attempt in every sport is what makes them winners.

David HigginsSara Keller Katelyn Fitzgerald

Top Ten Holiday Gifts for Your

Sweetie

Do you need help gift shop-ping for your special some-body? Well here are some ideas that were brought to our attention by students at

Clear Creek.

Girls1. Jewelry2. Victoria Secret Gift Card3. Mixed CD4. Flowers5. Chocolate6. Build-A-Bear7. Abercrombie Gift Card8. Perfume9. Concert Tickets10. Puppy

Guys1. Concert Tickets2. Mixed CD3. Personalized gifts (any-

thing with his name on it)4. Zumiez Gift Card5. Hoodie6. Electronics7. Spencers Gift Card8. Dog Tags9. Belt10. Cologne

studEnts pOLLEd by kaitLyn bOryk and shauna FErErrO-dOnahuE

13FEaturEs

TV and film writer strike causes show delays

It’s already happening: reruns of popular television shows are airing at “special times” and taking the place of other shows. Those abandoned sitcoms were most likely the first victims of the Writer’s Guild of America strike, which started on November 1, when the WGA’s contract ended. Members spent

eMily DisMukes11 hours in negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers before calling for the strike, according to CNN. The writers want more money from DVD sales and a share of the income from Internet sales. The studios refused, saying that the requests were unreasonable. The first shows that were affected were the late-night talk shows, which are not written in advance. Daytime soaps are

Running raises money On June 24, all the students came together at the Rhein River, and we started our run. While the students were running, there were places to get snacks and drinks in front of the school for the parents or the people who spocered the students so that they could sit and wait for the runners to come back. At every mile of our running course, we had checkpoints where you could stop your run or continue to the next stop.We didn’t have to run the entire time, we could also walk or take breaks. The students at my school were not only helping others, but we were having fun while doing it. There were students who ran two or three times and in the end a lot money was raised. All together we raised over 20,000 euro ($29,547 American dollars) which was a really exciting turn out for the students who participated. Our partner school was able to provide their students with a better education. Everybody had fun doing this event and thought it was successful enough to do again. Our school is going to repeat this race to continue providing help to our school in Peru.

My name is Hanna Fuhrmann and for the first semester I am an exchange student at Clear Creek. I am originally from Bonn, Germany, and I attend school at Beethoven-Gymnasium. In 2005, we had a special fundraising event at my school. The idea was to raise money for our partner-school in Peru and give them the opportunity to buy new schoolbooks or other important things, because without our help they couldn’t afford their education. We decided to put together a fun-run. Every student had to ask people to donate money for every mile they ran. Students tried to find as many sponsors as possible. People signed up to donate amounts as low as 50 cents per mile, all the way to 5 euro or more, which would equal about $7.40 in American dollars.

expected to last about a month, while prime time TV can continue to the end of the year. Filling empty time slots with reruns is only one of the tactics that studios are using. If the strike continues, the schedule will be filled with news and reality shows. Networks may also substitute foreign versions of American TV shows, such as the UK version of The Office. The movie industry may also be affected, though not as

deeply. Movie studios typically have stockpiles of movies to release.

It all depends on how long the writers decide to maintain their picket lines. The most recent WGA strike, in 1988, lasted nearly 22 weeks. If this one lasts through June, the writers will be joined by members of the Screen Actors Guild as well. This strike is expected to last through the new year.

Recently Facebook announced their new policy for businesses advertisements. This program is called “Facebook Ads,” according to Mark Zuckerberg, facebook’s founder, in New York. Because of the new tool, when one Facebook user goes to an advertiser’s page, all of their friends will receive advertisements about the business. By clicking on anything on the advertiser’s page, Facebook will send the information to all the user’s friends, with a small ad from the advertiser. Mark Zuckerberg thinks the new advertisements will be a good idea because, “a trusted referral is the Holy Grail of advertising”. He hopes that the friends, after receiving the information that their friend was on the page, along with the company’s logo, will be influenced to visit the advertiser’s page themselves. Many large companies and popular brands will now have a page on facebook. About 100,000 pages have been added to accommodate these companies. Facebook is expecting to add many advertisers. They believe companies will take advantage

of the opportunity to have their advertisements added to the new program. Facebook claims the number of ads would not change but that the ads will be marketed to user’s interests. Myspace has also launched a similar advertising tool. There are some concerns about security. According to pbs.org/newshour, some media experts claim that social network users do not realize how much personal information is being shown in the online public sphere. They argue that people should have a say whether or not the marketers should be allowed follow a user’s online movement. Facebook hopes that the new advertising will have a positive effect on the site. They are still unsure of the users reaction. The website, www.publications.mediapost.com, says that if users think that marketing is becoming too intrusive, it may reduce interaction on Facebook. While Facebook thinks that this new way of advertising will work, some people have said that it will have no effect. Just because someone gets the information that their friends have been to a page, it will not cause them to go to the page themselves.

tRAcey gRiffitH

Facebook ad program

14 spOrts

Photo by Wendy WrightFootball season comes to an endsARAH pooRe

Deep into district play, Creek was facing the Alvin Yellow jackets. The Wildcats were looking to add weight to their 2-2 record. Creek started strong with a 4-yard run by Guidry. Alvin answered with a touchdown, but the Wildcats came back with Michael Thomas’ 27-yard blocked punt in the second quarter. Creek took that velocity further with a 1-yard run by Warden. The Yellow jackets seemed to get a boost late in the second quarter with a 6-yard interception, but the last touchdown would belong to Creek. Guidry completed a 9-yard run, and the Wildcats took home the win at 28-14. The game against Galveston Ball was something to be handled with careful

confidence, because a loss by12 points or other implications would prevent Creek from entering play-offs. However, the Wildcats seemed unfazed as they took to the field, scoring early in the second quarter with Guidry’s 3-yard run. Ball managed to score twice thereafter, but the Wildcats stayed true to the attitude they’ve maintained all season and kept pushing. Creek came back in the middle of the third quarter, with Warden’s 26-yard pass to Justin Smith. The score was tied for a tedious fourth quarter, extending into over time. The Wildcats were safe from play-off elimination, but the game win was still being compromised. Finally, Nick Mencacci got to play hero for the Wildcats with a 16-yard run, taking the victory for Creek 20-14. The Wildcats were headed to play-offs.

Hightower, a very successful team out of Sugarland, was a tough opponent for the Wildcats. Creek opened strong with an incredible 66-yard run by Guidry. The Wildcats tried to keep Hightower at bay but the Hurricanes scored four touchdowns following Creek’s moment of glory. The Wildcats were eventually able to get a 91-yard safety from Bobby Basset, but this would be their last time to light up the scoreboard this season. Hightower was able to score one more time, and the night ended with a Wildcat loss of 8-30. This was a disappointing end for the team that fought hard and played with heart all season long. The season stats are 5-6 overall, 4-2 in district.

Photo by Wendy Wright

Basketball takes to the court

Photo by Micah Wesley

As winter approaches, Creek’s boys’ basketball teams have started their season with a new coach and an old dream. The Wildcats held their own with an early victory against Friendswood and several wins at the Texas Invitational against Corpus Christi Carroll and San Antonio Warren. When the Wildcats returned home, they knew another important tournament that would take place on their home court. The Clear Creek Tournament is one of the biggest tournaments in the Houston area, and this year’s roster included a team from Deridder, Louisiana. On the first day of the tournament, Creek was able to win both games against Clements and Austin Reagan. Creek was the only team from Galveston County to make the gold bracket. Unfortunately, the Wildcats lost both games the next day to Deer Park and Desoto. However, on the last day of the tournament, they were able to squeak out a 64-63 win against Hendrickson behind Ian Davis’ 25 points. The Lady Wildcat teams have been just as successful with early wins against Deer Park and Angleton. They also had a taste of district competition as they beat the defending district champions,

Clear Brook, 46-39 with a lot of help from Caitlin Hill’s 11 points. The girls’ team has 6 seniors, 3 juniors, and 2 sophomores making it an experienced and well-rounded group. “We really don’t have one key player or one go to player, we have a good group of seniors and players,” says Coach Jana Williams.

AlBeRt nkAnsAH

15spOrtsAthletes of the Month

Photo and story by Destinee Walker Photo by Amanda ComptonStory by Albert Nkansah

Micheal GuidryBecky Bekelja

Volleyball season overviewtAyloR fReuDenBeRg

Paula Radicioni, The Den 1962

The Lady Wildcats had an amazing season this year, making it all the way into Regionals. The Creek volleyball team finished second in Region III out of 249 teams. The Lady Wildcats were fourth in the district, with a record of 9-3, and an overall record of 22-12. Creek made a clean sweep against Clements, the first game of the season, on August 14th. The final scores were 25-23,25-23,and 25-12. Megan Pendergast led the team with 13 kills. This was a very good way to kick off the 2007 volleyball season. The next stop for the Lady Wildcats was the Duncanville Tournament. The tournament was a double-elimination, winning two out of three games. The team finished ninth out of 36 teams. They beat Duncanville, with the final scores of 14-25, 28-26, and 25-17. The next game was against Marcus. The Lady Wildcats swept the team 25-19 and 25-20. The team then challenged Amarillo and Plano West, but were unable to pull out the wins. Before going to the Spring Branch ISD tournament, the Lady Wildcats played Stratford. The team beat Stratford with final scores of 25-19, 25-13, and 29-27. At the Spring Branch ISD tournament, the Lady Wildcats finished fifth out of 36. This tournament was also a double-elimination,

and a best two out of three-match layout. The Lady Wildcats were unstoppable until they met cross-district rivals, Pearland. The Lady Oilers beat the Lady Wildcats 20-25 and 21-25. The Lady Wildcats placed nineteenth in the Pearland Varsity Tournament after a total of six games. The Lady Wildcats won against Katy High School, 25-17, 25-17, and were able to beat both Atascocita and Clements. They beat Atascocita 20-25, 25-10, ad 25-15, and Clements 25-14, and 25-21. The Lady Wildcats lost to the Elkin Knights, and San Antonio. The Lady Wildcats played well this season against all of the district teams, although there were losses against the Clear Lake Falcons (they lost to them twice) and the Pearland Oilers. The Lady Wildcats made it to the fourth round of the 5A State Playoffs, beating Fort Bend Travis High School 25-18, 25-17, and 25-12. In the second round, they beat Deer Park, 25-19, 221-25, 25-21, 18-25, 15-12. In the third round of Regional Quarter Finals, Creek defeated the Lady Falcons of Clear Lake, 25-22, 24-26, 26-26,25-21,15-8. The next round, Regional Semi-Finals against Cinco Ranch, the Lady Wildcats were unable to pull out the win, with the final scores of 25-23, 25-15, 25-23. The Lady Wildcats finished the volleyball season with more wins than losses, 9-3 and 22-12.

The Peggy Whitley Classic is a tradition deeply embedded in Creek’s history. December 6-8 will be the 50th annual basketball tournament. Generations of basketball athletes and fans are anticipating this event.

This competition was once called the Clear Creek Classic, but four years ago the name was changed to honor long time coach Peggy Whitley after she retired. The purpose of this tournament is to bring together the current players at Creek and many players that have graduated several years ago to celebrate the district’s girl’s basketball programs. It was created to honor its successes, traditions, and history. Several unique memories have been formed through this tournament, including a cancellation due to a snowstorm several years ago. Most of the teams that participate have been attending since the Peggy Whitley Classic first began. This year, six teams will be attending the tournament, many of which are top teams in the area. Some of the teams involved are Cy Fair and Pearland, as well as top 4A team the Dickinson and top 5A team Cy Fair. Peggy Whitley is excited about the upcoming event. “I am honored that the Clear Creek tournament has my name attached to it. It has been a tradition since the school opened. I’m looking forward to seeing all of the staff and students participating out on the court.” Students and fans are encouraged to come and support this historical event.

sARAH pooRe

Whitley Classic continues

Our December Girl’s Athlete of the month, Becky Bekelja, started her volleyball career at a young age. She began participating in the volleyball program at the YMCA in fourth grade. It was obvious that Bekelja was a natural athlete. She played several sports through intermediate school, including volleyball and soccer. Bekelja plays setter, a vital position for the Lady Wildcats volleyball team. At the end of the season she had over 80 kills, 29 aces, 18 blocks, 372 digs, and averaged 10 assists per game. Bekelja really started getting into volleyball her sophomore year and is now one of the pivotal junior starters for Creek. Bekelja has decided she would like to continue her volleyball career and wants to pursue playing in college. “I’d like to get a scholarship to play in college, but I’m not sure where I’d like to go yet.”

Athlete of the month, Michael Guidry has been a main component in Creek’s success on the football field. This senior’s talent is hard to deny. Guidry had no intentions of playing running back this year. He had been playing on varsity as a defensive back, but after J.J. Mullins and Nathan Baggs graduated, the coaches decided to make the move and never looked back. Guidry is Creek’s leading rusher and is ranked 5th in the district in both rushing attempts and rushing yards with 135 attempts for 866 yards. He is also a team player. When asked what he would like to tell the team and coaches, he replied, “I wish the best for the juniors next year, and I hope y’all win state.” Guidry has been meeting with colleges, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Texas State and Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas. When asked what his most memorable moment of the year was, he replied, “When we faced Kingwood and won 41-30”.

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16 phOtOFinish