The Courier Issue 1

Crockett High School Cougars 201

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The Courier

12 The Courier | Issue 1 | Crockett High School 2013 - 2014

News

The Courier Staff

Nicholas AnzuresSophomore - News Writer

Madyson BinghamSenior - Sales Executive

Philip JohnsSophomore - Staff Writer /

Photographer

Lee MartinezSenior - Designer

David MesserSophomore - Staff Writer /

Photographer

Anastasia MilazzoJunior - Staff Writer / Pho-

tographer

Mickey PesinaSophomore - Features Writer

Joseph TeddlieSenior - News Writer

Keifer WillieJunior - Editor / Staff Writer /

Photographer

Tania ZapienSenior - News Writer /

Photographer

Courtney GreenSenior - Sales Executive

A Letter From the Editor

Richard Campanaro

Advisor

The 2013-2014 school year represents a new beginning for The Courier. As the journalism adviser overseeing news-paper and yearbook production I am excited to join the Crockett family and guide our budding journalists toward success as writers, designers and will continue to push our news and year-book staff members to grow as leaders on campus. I am extremely proud of the efforts my news writers put forth for our first is-sue. They have shown dedication and a sincere sense of ownership of their products. They continue to learn and perform outstandingly as they learn this trade and develop a sense of community on campus. We appreciate all of our supporters; the teachers, students and administrators that graciously take time out of their days to sit down for interviews, provide data and information, submit photos and story ideas. I encourage any student interested in publishing there work to come to our news room, room 102, and speak with myself or any staff member about con-tributing to the paper or yearbook. Currently, we are looking for a cartoon-ist, editorial writers, and feature writers to examine movies, books, music and entertainment. The follow serves as our guiding ques-tion for all materials:“How can we as journalists promote a sense of community at Crockett and the surrounding neighborhoods?”Let this be your guide to develop your writing, artwork and photography and please do not hesitate to contact myself or any of our writers!Thank You!

Hanna Mcguinness Sophmore - Columnist

From Cubs to Cougars 5 | Putting Things In Perspective 8 | Rise to the Challenge 10

October 2013

Bonzai!Kamikaze

KateCuts Up

Audiences | 2

Crockett High School Cougars 2013 -

2014

The Courier

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?Photo By: Tania Zapien | Courier Staff

2 The Courier | Issue 1 | Crockett High School 2013 - 2014 11The Courier | Issue 1 | Crockett High School 2013 - 2014

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Crockett Class of 2013Highest College Application Rate in Central Texas from the Austin Chamber of Commerce (100%) • Crockett Seniors: 5.2 million+ in college scholarships and grants. • AVID National

Certified School • Sarah Dille: Austin ISD Teacher of the Year • High Schools That Work: One of 80 Most Improved Schools out of 1300 Schools • Crockett Marching Band: State Champions, USSBA Division AA Open • Sweepstakes Award for Band Program • Marching Band Division 1 UIL Rating • USSBA DeMoulin Challenge Regional, 1st Place, Winner- All

Captions • USSBA Central Texas Preview, 1st in Division, Best Music, Best Overall Effect, Best Visual, Best Percussion, and Best Color Guard • Crockett Seniors: Dell Scholar, 2 Gates Scholarship Finalists • Marcellus Henderson: 6th in State in Discus • Baseball: District Runner-up, AISD Coach of the Year • Construction Trades: Expansion of Facility Approved • Softball: District Champions, Undefeated in District, Coach of the Year • Crockett Art: 36 Medals, 2 State Level IV • Lou Kuhn: National Board Certified Teacher • Crockett Guitar: 1

Rating at UIL • Crockett Orchestra: Superior and Excellent Rating • Megan Sweeney: National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist • Meriel Marcum: Texas Art Association Visual Art Award • Crockett Theater: District Champion One Act Play, All Star Cast • Academic Team: UIL District Champions • Crockett Wrestling: District Champions, 7th in Region, 20th in State:

Jeremy Lucero, Max Webster 4th in State • Crockett Soccer: Bi-District Playoffs • Crockett Girls’ Basketball: District Runner-up (2nd time in school history) • Boys’ Basketball: Bi-District Playoffs • Texanns: Grand Champions • Football: Freshmen: District Champions, Undefeated, Varsity: Bi-District Playoffs • Volleyball: Bi-District Playoffs • District Convocation held at

Crockett • Attendance: Largest Increase in Attendance (all schools in South Austin) • Met all State Performance Standards • Highest Graduation Rate Since NCLB Law2011-2012

Crockett Class of 2011: Highest College Application Rate in Central Texas from the Austin Chamber of Commerce • Crockett Seniors: 10 million+ in college scholarships and grants. • AVID National Certified School • Crockett Attendance: Most Improved Attendance Award for Austin ISD 2011 • Crockett Marching Band: State Champions, USSBA Division AA Open • Sweepstakes Award for Band Program • Marching Band Division 1 UIL Rating• March in Main Street Parade, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World • USSBA DeMoulin Chal-lenge Regional, 1st Place, Winner- All Captions • USSBA Central Texas Preview, 1st in Division, Best Music, Best Overall Effect, Best Visual, Best Percussion, and Best Color Guard •

Crockett Seniors: 3 Named Terry Scholars, 2 Dell Scholars • HOSA 2012 State Qualifiers • Crockett Volleyball: District Champions • Joshua Lumsden SXSW Film Selected for Presenta-tion • Crockett Art: VASE State Qualifier Maria Arias •Crockett Soccer: District Playoffs • Girls’ Wrestling: District Runner-Up • Riley Chandler 2nd Place Shakespeare • Crockett Guitar

students perform at Austin Classical Guitar Society concert on the ACL Live stage • Superior Rating at UIL • Crockett Track: Marcellus Henderson, Texas Relays Qualifier, JV Boys and Girls District Champions • Crockett Tex-Anns: Choreography Award, Best in Class large team, Grand Champions Team, Team and Officer Sweepstakes, Judges Award • Crockett

Winterguard: 2nd in State • Girls’ Basketball: Playoffs for 5th year in a row •Crockett Softball: District Champions (Undefeated in District) • 21 Seniors Earn National High Schools That Work Award • Crockett Academic Team: Second in District, Kellie Teague 1st place in Ready Writing at Regionals •Crockett Journalism: 1st Place American Scholastic Press Association

•Crockett Mariachi: Invited to play at Tejano Movement Sculpture Ceremonie• Crockett Golf: 1st, 3rd and 4th in District• Crockett Baseball: District Playoffs • Benjamin Henderson: United States Mathematics Finalist • Riley Chandler: Seedling Scholarship Winner •Crockett Journalism: 9 State Medals •Virginia Gannaway National Board Certified Teacher • School-

wide Standards-Based Grading System 2010-2011

High Schools That Work National School of the Year Award • Austin Chamber of Commerce: 1st in Central Texas for college applications, most improved high school for students attending college • Crockett UIL Academic Team: District 26-4A Champions • Adam Garibay: Gates Millennial Scholarship Award • Crockett Studio 44: National Webby and Telly

awards • Crockett Football: Division II District Champs (beat Travis 10-7 with last minute touchdown) • Crockett Marching Band: UIL Marching Contest: First Division Rating; UIL Concert Contest: First Division Rating; UIL Solo & Ensemble; 24 Gold, 18 Silver and 3 Bronze Medals; 8 Students qualify for the State Solo & Ensemble Contest; USSBA Central Texas

Regional, 1st Place, Winner All Captions • Crockett Volleyball: District runner-up • Crockett Tex-Anns Dance Team: Best Overall Technique, Presentation, and Precision- Team, Bio-gime Sportsmanship Award, Best in Category- Team Jazz, Team Modern, Officer Modern Tex-Anns Overall Champions, Best of the Best• Crockett Guitar: Superior Ratings at Solo and Ensemble • The Crockett International Exchange Program: 16 Crockett students spent part of the summer in Piedrahita, Spain with host students from Spain who also visited Crockett • Mayor Lee Leffingwell proclaimed April 28, 2011 Crockett High School Mariachi’s De Oro Day in Austin, Texas • Crockett Theater: UIL Champions • Crockett Girls’ Basketball: makes

playoffs for 4th year in a row Crockett Softball: 1st in District • Yearbook national recognition • Journalism team 1st in State for headline writing from the Women’s League of Texas • African-American Heritage Celebration host school • Austin City Council host school for regular meeting • Austin Corps inaugural class • Crockett Girls’ Soccer: Playoffs • Crockett Baseball: Playoffs • Sandra Salgado: National Spanish Teacher Award • 24% Increase in ESL Graduation rate and 33% increase in ESL students passing all 4 exit level TAKS exams •

Crockett seniors earn $5.5 million in college scholarships, 2nd in district 2009-2010

Crockett Cougar Football: Playoff team • Crockett Marching Band: UIL Marching Contest, First Division Rating; UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Contest, First Division Rating; UIL Sweepstakes • Crockett Girls’ Basketball: District runner-up (first time in history) • Crockett Boys’ Basketball coach, John Morgan, selected to coach in 2010 Dennis Johnson All-Star

Game • National Art Congressional Award, Eric Carrizales • Crockett Girls’ Soccer: Playoffs • Crockett Boys’ Soccer: Kiwanis Club sportsmanship award • Crockett Boy’s Track JV Dis-trict Champions, one student went to State • Crockett Baseball: Bi-District Champions • Mark Davis selected to Texas State baseball all-star team • Crockett Studio 44: Webby and Telly awards • Inaugural year for Crockett Construction Trades Program and Construction Trades Advisory Board with teacher Jim Strickland • Crockett becomes a High Schools That Work

school with a $200,000 grant • Crockett is named Austin ISD’s first Leadership Development School • Crockett named one of three Advanced Placement Incentive School’s in the District • Seedling Foundation beautification project • Inaugural year for the Crockett Twilight School (17 graduates in 1st year)

2008-2009Crockett Football: District Champions (1st time in history) • Crockett Boys Basketball District 26-4A Runner-Up, Bi-District Playoffs • Crockett Tex-Anns Dance Team: perform in the

nationally televised Neiman Marcus Adolphus Christmas Parade in Dallas, State Champions Team Pom, State Champions Team Modern, State Champion Duet Lindsey Callaway and Ally Breaux, Outstanding Director Award- Ginger Jarosek; performance at Epcot Center World Stage • Crockett Girls’ Wrestling: District Champions • Crockett Girls’ Soccer: Playoffs •

Crockett Baseball: Playoffs • Crockett PALS: Volunteer Group of the Year.

Bonzai! Kamikaze Kate Cuts Up Audiences

Voices echo through the hollow class-room backstage in the PAC as three dozen teenagers fill the black void with tension and anxiety.“…we’re in this together whether we like it or not,” Christina Burbank said, “I want people to walk away saying, ‘Wow, what a performance.’ Not, ‘was that really worth five dollars?’”It was showtime for the Crockett The-atre Production, which prepared to take the stage hand-in-hand for the first time this school year Sept. 27 - 28. Crock-ett High School’s theatre performed its rendition of Kamikaze Kate - John Summons’s family-friendly 1989 play focused on children, family and the ef-

fects of war. “I felt the kids did a great performance,” Burbank said.The showing takes place in the present about a little girl who is fascinated by war and everything about it, down to the weapons, cavalry, and navy. War be-ing her favorite thing, she collects arti-facts and souvenirs. One day her grand-father, who once served in the military, gave her a worn down samurai sword that was actually used by the Japanese during World War II. The only twist is that the sword is possessed by a former Japanese warrior who used it during the era. Although she is first scared of this ghostly man, she grows fond of him and her aspect of war changes. What was once a love for it transformed to the awareness that it in fact is a harsh real-

ity that everybody suffers from. Butter, Eden, Libbie, Megan, and Jessie had to put on their best performance because they took Kamikaze Kate to district last year. The show took about two weeks to prepare, with roughly forty hours to get it to the level it deserved. “I like the history and how every char-acter is significant to Kate’s life,” Alberto “Butter” Martinez said. “This school and community should expect to see a variety in every show at our best per-formance.”With fundraising for the theatre pro-gram in mind, the show required little to no expenses because they owned all the set pieces and costumes needed. With only five people in the show, the other performers in Theatre Produc-tion all put on their own small scenes.

The students’ scenes focused on an in-dividual theme highlighting; listening, honestly, sharing, and anti-bullying in an attempt to reach their intended audi-ence of children under 12.Casey Calderon-Smith, freshman, 14, performed a short scene focused on the value of listening. She said it felt amaz-ing to be up on a high school stage after only one month enrolled at Crockett. “You’re entertaining somebody,” Calde-ron-Smith said. “It’s like, wow they’re laughing at me, they’re crying, they’re smiling, it’s all this emotion, all of what you’re performing, it goes straight to them and they feel that.”Christina Burbank’s production stu-dents performed, monologues and short scenes with each focused on an individual theme highlighting; listen

By Joey Teddlie

By Tania Zapien

Staff Writer

Contributing Writer

Theatre Production Cast and Crew. TOP LEFT to RIGHT: Joe Hodge, Dani Reyna-Alvarado, Andy Gomez, Fran Beharry, David Pena, Alberto “Butter” Martinez, Alicia Withers, Vincent Milazzo, Bruno Maples, Bobbie Greenough, Mattie Rhoden, no name, no name, Katy Holderle, Andrea Rodriguez, Daylin Flores-Martinez, Brandon Gonzales, Danny Bookman, Libbie Barnes, Perla Granados, Casey Calderon-Smith, Josh Ryon, Hilarie Smuts, no name, no name, Cheston Dorman, Luis Parra, Megan Sweeney, Eden Free-man, Jenna Banda, Jesse Hernandez, Holly White, Ramone Cordona

Five years ago Principal Craig Shap-iro entered Crockett High School well aware that the school fell at the bottom of several of the districts ratings lists. Academic performance lagged behind other schools – earning the state rating “Academically Unacceptable”, atten-dance statistics revealed a lack of com-mitment from students and many were left looking for someone to blame. After three months of looking around, Shapiro said he thought of a solution to make Crockett a better school. He cre-ated the five year plan and the following mission statement:“In order to create a more collaborative environment on campus Shapiro and his leadership team will implement a new observation protocol for teachers designed by teachers, use customized professional development for teachers, establish professional learning commu-

10 The Courier | Issue 1 | Crockett High School 2013 - 2014

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nities, strengthen master scheduling for teachers, assign students to advanced classes and develop intervention plans for struggling teachers.”Now, in its sixth year under Shap-iro’s leadership, almost everything has change. Attendance increased roughly 7 percent, math scores shot up nearly 20 percent and the school now graduates dozens of advanced placement students each year. Crockett continues to grow each year - surpassing state and district-wide performance averages in nearly all core subjects. Discipline issues are going away too. Home suspensions hit an all-time low in 2012 - though the past year saw a slight uptick in the rate of off-campus suspensions.In recent years, Crockett amassed a long list of achievements, which Shap-iro ensures are proudly displayed in the courtyard - from attendance accom-plishments to our first district cham-

pionship in 2009. These awards haven’t gone unnoticed by Austin ISD but have seemed to be overlooked by some of the Crockett community. Junior Stevie Sanchez said that the new and improved school has changed a lot but still has the daunting reputation of the old school. On paper, Crockett stands out but by reputation the school still carries a stig-ma from those low performing years. Junior Brooks Murray said he hears stu-dents criticize the school but that they complain without giving the school a chance. Physics teacher Marty Wise is in his second year at Crockett. He previously worked at Travis and Eastside Memori-al High Schools. He said people seem to be in a better mood this school year as issues with attendance, grades and test performance improve. “Crockett’s reputation is on an up-swing,” Wise said.

As Crockett’s five-year plan wraps up, Principal Shapiro looks forwardEven so, Crockett has a waiting list of students seeking to attend the school; students perform at the top of the dis-trict academically as well as in extracur-ricular activities. The school has seen its share of changes for the better even though some stu-dents disagree. “The school is definitely on the way up and the five year plan emphasized that,” Wise said. Students have not realized that since the five year plan was initiated their educa-tion has grown to excel at all levels and it will pay off in the long run helping to prepare them for college and future ca-reers. Though students disagree and complain about the mechanics of Crockett they fail to realize the small complaints – lunch, grading system, about were once big problems six years ago. Now, Sha-piro is focused on preparing to elevate this school over the next five years.

By Nicolas AnzuresStaff Writer

Principal Craig Shapiro hangs banners in the courtyard to recognize the accomplishments Crockett achieved since his start in 2009. Photo By Nicolas Anzures

Shapiro addresses the Crockett students before their first football game against Akins August 29th. Photo By Nicolas Anzures

Rising to the Challenge

3The Courier | Issue 1 | Crockett High School 2013 - 2014

News

Rahelio giving Casey Calderon-Smith a scratch on her arm during their scene based on good listening.Photo By Joey Teddlie

Bruno Maples sharing more toys with Katy Holderle than she can handle in their short scene on sharing. Photo by: Tania Zapien

Top:Holly White styling Jesse Hernandez’ hair to get ready for the show. Photo By Tania Zapien

Bottoom:Perla Granados performing her monologue between short scenes Photo By Tania Zapien

Top: Bobbie Ray Greenough putting make up on Alberto “Butter” Martinez’ face in preparation for his role as “Captain Kuroda” Photo By: Tania ZapienBottom: Luis Parra and Cheston Dorman served as Masters of Cer-emony throughout the performances. Photo by: Tania Zapien

Brandon Gonzales let’s Danny Bookman know he’s not welcome at their lunch table during his short scene on anti-bullying. Photo by: Meghan Longoria

Snooping Around |Kate’s moth-er, played by Libbie Barnes, searches “Kate’s” room look-ing for Cpt. Kuroda.Photo by: Joey Teddlie

ing, honesty, sharing, and anti-bullying. They hoped to successfully reach out to their intended audience members of children under 12. “They feel the lessons that we taught today on stage, so I hope kids go home tonight and be better listeners,” Calder-on-Smith said. While the performance ran smoothly with exception of one technical diffi-culty on the first evening, the show ex-perienced some disruptions Thursday night as soda cans cracked and squeaky house entrance doors caused noises and light to bleed through the theatre dur-ing performances. The proper etiquette for theatre productions is that audience members enter the theatre quietly be-fore the start of a show. Doors should remain closed until intermissions or the end of the show. With the fall show around the corner Theatre Production students will per-form “Snow White” Nov. 7 - 10.“This was just icing on the cake,” Bur-bank said. “All the work making the cake was great but it’s the small details put into it that make it the best.”

“Ms. Fig” played by Libbie Barnes harrasses “Kate” as only a terrible teacher can. Photo by: Joey Teddlie

Tips from Doc

•Have a proper stretch pre game•Get taped up when needed•Have good mental focus; don’t go in to the game thinking you will get injured because then you will•Practice proper technique •Have a good nutritious diet

Doc has been a trainer for 23 yearsHas been a trainer at Crockett for 14 yearsDoc got his degree in sports medicine at Texas StateAnd a degree in sports administration at Louisville


News

Mindieta returns from injury hesitant but ready for action

By Anastasia Milazzo

Mindieta never realized how much stepping on the field meant to him until it was gone. For almost two seasons he found himself on the sidelines, cheer-ing on his friends and teammates as he recovered from an incapacitating knee injury.“Don’t miss this tackle.”That was the last thought going through freshman free safety Marshall Mind-ieta’s mind as he stepped into the gap to block the Travis High running back when the unexpected happened. The next thing he saw was the shoulder pad of his teammate heading straight toward his knee. “I tried to push him off but I was too late,” Mindieta said.He felt two cracks and knew he broke something. Coach Waugh ran onto the field along with Doc and carried him off the field. “I let everyone down - my dad, mom, girlfriend, and all my friends who came out to support me,” he said.Coach Waugh and Doc set him down on the sideline bench. He said he could barely utter the words “my knee”. He felt pain shoot up his leg as he applied pres-sure and one thought lingered on.“I’ll never be able to play on the field again.” His coaches carted him to his mother’s car to head to the hospital; it was the longest car ride Mindieta said he ever took. Every small bump, every tap on the break another shot of needle like pain shot through his leg.

“once I heard the word surgery I lost it.” he said. “I was sedated with pain medi-cine and fell asleep only to wake up again to a doctor putting a mask over my face telling me ‘everything will be okay’.”Now he is back.“It feels great,” he said. “A little unsettling but it’s just great to be back out there.”The junior quarter-back waited all sea-son to be back on the field. His comeback made him look at his playing performance dif-ferently.“Being in a wheel chair for two months and crutches for three, made me realize how things can just unex-pectedly change,” he said.Mindieta admitted it was challenging for his family and friends for him to step back on the field after the trauma-tizing injury, especially on his mother, Katrina.

“She wants to cover her eyes every time I’m about to hit,” he said.Returning to the field meant working harder and catching up to where he left off on the field that night. “Not being able to play crushed me,” he said. “I was in the bleachers every game wishing I was out there with my team,”

he said.The team welcomed Mind-

ieta back with open but wary arms.

“It’s always great to see one of your friends to get back up and spring back into action when almost all hope

was gone,” said for-mer teammate, Mark

Cavazos. Mindieta said he never

thought he could lose so much in so little time.“That feeling you get when playing Fri-day night will eventually fade and there wouldn’t be a single day you wouldn’t want that back,” he said. “Nothing is guaranteed, give everything you got in every play ‘cause you never know when it’ll all be over.”

LEFT: Practice Makes Perfect | Marshall Mindieta warms up his arm with co-quarterback Zach Ochoa before their first game against Akins. BELOW: Getting Ready | Mindieta takes a snap from the shotgun after returning from his knee injury.Photos By Anastasia Milazzo

Staff Writer

Top 5 Ways toPrevent Injury

Soon after their summer waned to a close, Crockett students headed back to school, parents in tow, Sept. 11 to introduce teachers, coaches and administrators on the annual Back to School Night. Crockett Principal Craig Shapiro began the vent with a presentation in the per-forming arts center, highlighting the school’s progress and his plan to continue Crockett’s successes.Lia Steinhardt-Keely, a member of the science club and UIL team said she enjoyed the evening. “It’s cool to see everyone’s so involved and promoting their interests,” Steinhardt-Keely said. “It makes you recognize how much people care.”Various clubs, sports teams, and extracurricular classes like the Anime Club, vol-leyball, the Science Club, AVID, cosmetology, and The Texan - Crockett’s year-book - lined the hallways promoting their groups, handing out drinks, snacks, fliers and order forms to attract students to join their organizations and persuade parents to purchase products. Cosmetology students even gave their mannequin heads a makeover right in the hallway to demonstrate their skill at making even lifeless models beautiful. Adding to the chaos in the halls, the Crockett Band, cheerleaders, Tex-Anns and Color Guard held a pep fest in the courtyard drawing attention from passersby with their dancing, spinning flags to the award-winning Cougar Drumline.Parents then followed their students’ schedules, meandering from class to class meeting teachers as they received syllabuses and explanations as to what students need to succeed.

Back to School Already?!

By Keifer WillieStaff Writer

Crockett High welcomes parents to campus during Austin ISD Back to School Night

Patty and Robert Gaston receive syllabuses and ask Iheke Emileke questions regard-ing his Einstein Physics class. This is his first year teaching students in the Einstein group. Photo By Keifer Willie

Top: AVID, Girls Basketball, and Soccer students man their booths.Left: The Cougar band makes its entrance into the courtyard. Photos By Keifer Willie

Sports

“Give everything

you’ve got in every play because you never

know when it will all be over”

- Marshall Mindieta

Cougar Survival Guide


Lorie Henry has poured her heart and soul into Crockett High for the past 15 years. Thirteen of those were spent coaching volleyball. For most of those years she dealt with plenty of issues – players skipping practices, not passing classes, though lately she is dealing with something much more heart wrench-ing. The week before the 2012-2013 school year ended, doctors diagnosed her 13-year old daughter, Kelsey, with ovarian cancer. When Kelsey stepped into the doctor’s office, she immediately prepared for surgery. She couldn’t lie on her back be-cause the incision was left open for four days. After 96 hours spent lying in bed with her back cut open she went into surgery to remove the tumor. The tu-mor began in her ovaries and grew into her abdomen. Coach Henry said Kelsey is fighting on

Putting Things In PerspectiveOne family’s battle makes petty problems seem less important

By David MesserStaff Writer

and doing great. She said the support of the school and her volleyball teams have helped her endure through this tragedy. She said her daughter is a trooper and joking playfully and her personality hasn’t changed. “When she found out her hair was go-ing to fall out she decided to just cut it off so she didn’t have to watch it fall out,” Henry said. The tumor weighed 6.5 pounds - rough-ly the size of a football. She is in stage 3 of the cancer but now that the tumor is out the struggle will be going back and forth to the doctor for chemotherapy. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2013, about 22,240 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the United States, according to the Web site, www.ovariancancer.org.The likelihood of children Kelsey’s age being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is 1.2 percent. Coach Henry will fight alongside her daughter as she receives chemotherapy. Coach Henry said her daughter Kelsey has really been the one getting the whole family through all of the strug-gles. Coach Henry also said Kelsey will joke about everything going on to make everyone smile. “She has not cried once throughout this whole thing,” henry said. Kelsey’s fighting spirit helps everyone keep fighting on and never give up hope.

source: http://www.ovariancancer.org/about-ovarian-cancer/statistics/

People People

13-year old Kelsey Henry before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Photo By Shan-non LaFayette

Kelsey Henry after she cut her hair because she didn’t want it falling out in patches. Photo By Shannon LaFayette

From Cubs to Cougars

With each passing year we all change as constant as our classes. The one guaran-tee in high school is that nothing lasts forever – not friends, nor teachers nor us as people. Sometimes life doesn’t turn out as planned and our expectations of what high school should be don’t always turn out the way we think they should.Freshman Alicia Withers said she wants high school to be fun but her education is her first priority. This is Withers first year at Crockett. She said she already witnessed signifi-cant changes in her classmates. She said she feels like her friends eventually will drift apart - that some students choose to get involved with drugs, and not in-vest in their school work while others make better decisions for themselves such as get their homework turned in and making good grades.Senior Baida Jasso said during her freshman year she was the loner in the class; the one who would do all the work by herself while others would join groups. As a senior she feels confident enough that she can walk into any class and talk to any person. She gained new experiences by joining many organiza-tions such as the school book club, win-ter guard and UIL Academics. Though, not every cougar feels the same way. Jasso has only been here for two years and has felt welcomed every day of the year. She felt that there were no signifi-cant groups as if the school was one big family. Sophomore Edward Gilbert claims he has not seen any significant changes in

his friends and continues to surround himself with the same group of people.Most students come to Crockett ex-pecting high school to be full of parties and nothing but fun. When in reality it is about school work and keeping up a good GPA and focusing about your fu-ture and some extracurricular activity. For example senior Joey Teddlie came into Crockett expecting to meet a whole bunch of new kids and new teachers and having a great time in high school. As he progressed through the four years of his high school career he noticed dramatic changes in many of his peers every year, even himself. “From freshman year I was a jock but I wasn’t really the type of jock who hung out with everyone,” Teddlie said. “I was there just to play football. Now I like be-ing a journalist and now I am interested in piercings and accounting.”Even though students around campus cannot see changes on the outside they definitely occur one way or another. Not only students are seeing these sig-nificant changes. Teachers see students go through the process. Reading teacher Summer Hammond said she sees different changes; emo-tional, physical and spiritual in her stu-dents. The change of people is like a metamor-phoses just waiting to happen behind the school walls. Friends change like the seasons. That one best friend who was attached at the hip won’t even look at you in the halls. Lunches used to be filled with jokes and crowds of people surrounding the class clown who now sits alone in the corner in the hallways reading to himself; searching for that true friend and wondering who they will stumble upon next.

How four years of high school changes studentsMickey PesinaStaff Writer

We all experience that nightmarish teacher and the terrifying realization that we are stuck in their class. They might drive you crazy, you might de-spise them, or you both just can’t stand one another. What matters is that you enrolled in their class, and the priority you have is making the grade. Dealing with teachers can be a hassle at times, but there are ways to talk to them with-out driving yourself insane. Teachers are people too, and since they have feelings just like you, treat them how you want them to treat you. Teach-ers have bad days too and you’ll regret it if the one student who ruined their day was you. Respecting a teacher might also help you out in the future.Teachers can’t stand excuses; do your work, do it well, and submit it before the deadline. Your teachers won’t care if you spent the entire night saving kittens from a burning building; they just want your work. If you didn’t finish your work, just be honest and arrange to turn it in later. Maturity and responsibility are expected in a high-school environ-ment but these skills also help you in-teract with teachers in a more construc-tive way. If you do happen to fail an assignment, retaking or making up the paper as fast as possible will show that you care, and teachers appreciate that. Attending somebody’s class does not make you that teacher’s top priority. You cannot expect somebody to drop all their work just so you can receive tutor-ing from them, especially if they have more than a hundred other students to worry about. Teachers don’t have spare

#1 Getting Along With Teacherstime, so schedule a time when you can see them and take care of your work. It will be easier to talk to teachers if they are not swarmed by other students. Usually one-on-one time with a teacher could mean the difference between un-derstanding the curriculum and hav-ing no idea. Taking a few extra minutes during lunch to talk to them can save your grade and the relationship.This is the easiest part of working in harmony with teachers: get to class on time. It doesn’t take half an hour to go upstairs and across the hall. Tardiness just leads to extra work when you get to class. Teachers get frustrated by in-terruptions in the middle of a lesson, so arrive on time and don’t insist on show-ing up fifteen minutes late to your first class with Starbucks. Teachers are all different. Working well with each one might take some time but, learning about your teachers is the easiest way to pass a class. Classes are easier to pass when you are comfortable with teachers and you know what they expect from their students. Dealing with teachers won’t be as difficult if you treat them well and get to know them.

Hannah McGuinnessColumnist


Zach Ochoa hands the ball off to Justin Miller during his first varsity game against Akins. Crockett lost the game but the experience prepared the team for district com-petition. Photo By Phillip Johns

Ready Or Not, Sophomore QB Steps Into Varsity

Standing just over 5 feet 8 inches, Zach Ochoa is considerably undersized for starting varsity quarterback but he can still contend. Ochoa is part of a new wave of incoming talent leading Crockett High School’s athletics program. He may be new to the varsity environment but on the field he looks like as comfortably as a veteran senior. He said he does not see himself as the strongest leader on the field but he believes that in his later years he will earn the trust of his teammates who will follow his lead. Nikko Tamez said he trusts Ochoa’s leadership throughout the season thus far evidenced after the second touch-down during the Lockhart game Sept. 6. He said he doesn’t simply place his faith in whoever fills the role of starting

quarterback.“It comes from the hard work he puts out in practice; getting better every day makes me have faith in him,” Tamez said. “He gets the ball where it needs to be.” His presence does not command atten-tion like some of the seniors on the field but as he develops through the season he plans to earn the respect of his op-ponents as a force to reckon. Yet, he still seems like a strong leader which comes along with 10 years’ experience in the quarterback position, which should give Crockett faith that their sophomore quarterback will elevate their team. Ochoa still faces several challenges. Fortunately, he does so with the sup-port of his team. He said the continued confidence of those following his lead enables him to grow more comfortable as the season progresses. The early ex-posure in varsity will provide him with

maturity needed to lead the team as his fellow sophomores eventually elevate to varsity.Even though the Cougars have yet to re-cord one in the win column this season in their out-of-district games, they will likely content in the top tier in their dis-trict and could potentially secure a spot in the bi-district tournament. It helps with leadership from players like Zach Ochoa and his go-to receiver Nikko Ta-mez.Ochoa said he believes he must earn his spot as a leader through hard work and strong performances on the field but he continues to demonstrate that he does not have much farther to go. He confessed that the one thing that plagues his performance is learning to match his confidence in himself with that of his teammates.Ochoa said he shows his dedication to the team with additional practice to help prepare for a game. He spends an additional three hours practicing with his receivers to help them have a better connection on the field and to prepare them for when they get into a bad po-

Q & A: Crockett QB Zach OchoaWhen did you find out that you were going to be on varsity?At the end of freshman year.Do you see yourself as a leader on the field?Not yet. There are so many strong players out with me I need to earn my right to be a leader.How long have you been playing?I have been playing since I was 5.How did you get to where you are today?Hard work, lots of practice, and the support from everyone around me.Who is your go-to receiver?There are so many great players on the field that I don’t really have a go-to guy.Do you ever fear for your safety on the field?No, Not ever. I have faith in my line and my teammates who are block-ing.Does your teammates’ support help you feel comfortable on the field?Yes, most definitely. The faith they have in me really makes me feel more confident on the field.How do you define leadership? Someone who steps up to lead the team to greatness.

sition on the field. And with this extra practice it will continuously boost his confidence which is what Ochoa be-lieves he is lacking in his game. Even if he believes he doesn’t have confidence his coaches have it for him. J.V. coach Olivares believes that if he continues playing and progressing in his game Ochoa will be college bound.Ochoa would love to play college ball but he understands that he is small for that level so he prepares for a normal college life he continues to make good grades so he continue to play. He under-stands that his grades come first he say if you want to play you need to get your work done. He knows what he needs to get done and this truly shows his level of responsibility which is something very important for a leader to have. The future for Ochoa looks bright he may be small now at the height of 5,8 and weighing in at only 130 he still has plenty of time to grow, as does the success of the Crockett cougar football team. He may not become an NFL star but he could become one of the most successful quarterbacks in Crockett football history.

Sports Sports

Tennis Set for District Showdown

The Crockett High School tennis team is now sitting in third place in its dis-trict after wins at the Lanier-McCallum tournament at the Austin Tennis Cen-ter on Sept. 11, against LBJ High School Sept. 19 and McCallum and Reagan Oct. 1.By the time McCallum arrived, Crock-ett had taken the lead against Lanier 14 to 1 as they prepared for the toughest match in the tournament against Mc-Callum. Each player performed a key role. Had one match been lost, McCal-lum would have taken the tournament and the first seed slot in district. Head Coach Keith Knedlik said no single person deserves credit for the win but collectively a strong team effort pulled off the victory for Crockett.Women’s singles player Cintya Lara, se-nior, said her matchup was a challenge but with all the effort put out by the team, they pulled through it. McCallum was looking for revenge Wednesday at the district tournament. Crockett placed third behind LBJ, and

McCallum.Crockett tennis competed and prevailed against LBJ at home Sept. 18 securing a position in the area tournament and hopefully a spot in regionals. Men’s doubles player Noah Placke, sopho-more, said that he believes Crockett has a good chance of obtaining the spot in regionals due to the influx of new, tal-ented players and the experience of vet-erans on the team. Crockett will headed into the district tournament seeded first but was outpaced by LBJ and McCal-lum, landing third overall but still in the running going into the area touorna-ment.The future for athletic programs such as the Crockett tennis team looks promising and hopefully Crockett will continue to gain players with this level of talent and heart as this year’s group has.

By Phillip JohnsStaff Writer

The Crockett Tennis team heads home after the district tournament Oct. 1. The team earned third place overall. Photo By Phillip Johns

Kyle McClanahan playing in first match against McCallum.Photo By Phillip Johns

TenYears of practice finally pays off

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The Courier Issue 1