tilghman bell - Paducah Public Schools

THE
TILGHMAN
PADUCAH TILGHMAN HIGH SCHOOL
2400 WASHINGTON STREET
BELL
PADUCAH, KENTUCKY
MON. AUGUST 27, 2012
VOL. 89 NO. 1
The Final Chapter
Tilghman writes the end of the story
Photo by Katie Paxton
The Blue Tornado Football Team rushes onto the Lone Oak field to warm up against Lone Oak on August 18. See Page 9 for a recap of the game.
PTHS students earn
perfect ACT scores
by Catherine Miller
Tilghman boasts 12
AP Scholars
by Will Hancock
Photo by: Wayne Walden
Photo by: Wayne Walden
Back
row,
from
left
to
right:
Alexandra
Goreing,
Catherine
Miller, Marissa
From Left to Right: Andrew Zaninovich, Marissa Davis, Will Hancock
Davis, Jacob Holtgrewe
Congratulations to senior Marissa Davis and juniors Will Hancock and Andrew Front row, from left to right: Alicia Humphrey, Bobby Caldwell
Zaninovich for each earning a perfect score in one of the four sections of the test.
Last year, Paducah Tilghman students showed their commitment to acaThe ACT is a standardized test used across the nation as a tool to gage a student’s progress in high school and to predict a student’s performance in college, demic excellence on the AP tests offered at Tilghman. Twelve Tilghman stumaking it a key part of the college admissions process. The test itself is comprised dents were awarded the prestigious title of AP Scholar, indicating that they
of four timed sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning, have received a score of 3 or higher on 3 AP exams. Two students went even
each scored on a scale ranging from 1 to 36. Both Will and Andrew scored a perfect further, with Alicia Humphrey becoming an AP Scholar with Honor and Madi36 on the Reading section, and Marissa pulled off a 36 in both Reading and English. son Whelan taking the title of AP Scholar with Distinction. An AP Scholar
As listed by the ACT Inc. website, “College Readiness Benchmarks” are with Honor has passed 4 tests with an average of 3.25 or higher, and an AP
the minimum scores that will most likely result in success on collegiate lev- Scholar with Distiction has passed 5 tests with an average of 3.5 or higher.
Tilghman’s successes on the AP tests didn’t stop there. According to District
el course-work. If a student meets or exceeds one of the benchmarks, then he or
she has approximately a 50% chance of receiving a B or better and a 75% of earn- Superintendent Dr. Green, Paducah Tilghman had a passing rate of 60% on all
ing a C or better in the equivalent college class. The benchmarks are as fol- AP exams, which is nearly twice the rate of the nation--29%. Students passed
lowed: an 18 in English, a 21 in Reading, a 22 in Mathematics, and a 24 in Science. exams in a wide range of topics--from AP Calculus to AP 2-Dimensional design.
These successes have come at a time when, according to the Washington
Though “ACT” is such a small acronym, the mere mention of it has the power to
reduce millions of high school students across the country into trembling puddles of Post, AP test pass rates are falling dramatically. AP Central states that their
anxiety. To remedy this, Will Hancock promotes remaining calm and keeping a lev- purpose is to, “ensure that every student in the United States... is prepared to
el head during the test. “Don’t stress out, because you have more time than you re- succeed in college.” However, large numbers of unprepared students are takalize,” he reminds future test-takers. Marissa Davis provides some excellent advice ing the exams, bringing down national percentages. These 12 AP Scholars have
for the Reading section: “Scan the passage, underline important facts, and use those shown Tilghman’s commitment to academic excellence on a national level.
facts as tags for what the questions ask for. At the five minute mark, if you aren’t finTilghman’s AP Scholars include Mackenzie Bruce, Bobby Caldwell, Kaitished, bubble in the remaining ones all the same letter—statistically, you have a bet- lyn Curry, Marissa Davis, Alexandra Goreing, Jacob Holtgrewe, Amber Huster chance that way than randomizing.” Above all else, previous test-takers ham- sian, Haley Massad, Catherine Miller, Justin Wynne, Alicia Humphrey (AP
mer the importance of staying focused and using some form of time-management. Scholar with Honor), and Madison Whelan (AP Scholar with Distinction).
College Expo
September 18th
Tilghman Gymnasium
5:30-7:30 P.M.
Beat
Mayfield!
Political Forum
hosted by Student Council
September 24th,
8-9:30 A.M.
in the Auditorium
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2
T I L G H M A N
B E L L
COMMENTARY
A Tip of the Hat...
by Katie Paxton and Andrew Zaninovich
New Students: What do you
like about Tilghman?
by MaKayla Holt and Susannah Wilson
“Sports are more
disciplined.”
Jesse Dunigan (9)
A tip of the hat goes out to all of you YOLO sayers. We here at The Bell would like to extend to you our
most sincere gratitude and appreciation. Some of us have been foolishly living under the impression that
we lived twice! Imagine our surprise when we, for the first time, heard people proudly exclaim, “YOLO” as
they attempted to justify some crazy life-endangering action. So the next time one of us takes a walk on the
wild side by jumping off a bridge on a dare, we’ll think of you as we triumphantly cry, “You only live once!”
A tip of the hat goes out to the Kony2012 supporters. We salute you, the faithful, noble, courageous, and diligent crusaders. You shook the world to action with your courageous retweets and wallposts. You spread the word about a terrible crime against humanity in hopes that maybe someone,
somewhere would actually do something. (Not you, of course. You were busy. You had an important
paper due that week.) But then, a strange thing happened. The whole one week of passionate activism ended, and you, having already given your glorious contribution to society, moved on with life.
A tip of the hat goes to the United States of America. We salute you, America, for your refusal to
conform to the rest of the world stinking in the majority of sports. Russia may have their gymnastics,
Jamaica their sprinting, China their ping-pong and badminton matches, and Kenya their long distance
running, but America proves to be superior in almost every event, even in the events other countries
consider their specialties. I think we speak for all of The Bell staff when we say, “I’m proud to be
‘murican.”
...a Wag of the Finger
“I love seeing my sister
McKenzi every day.”
Parker Belt (9)
“School spirit!”
Cassie Presnell (9)
A hearty wag of the finger goes out to the new four minute passing period. It’s hard enough to
get from choir or band all the way across the building to biology or physics, but what if you
have to stop at your locker to get a book? What if your locker is located by the dean’s office? We are forced to sacrifice being swept just to get last night’s homework from our locker.
A wag of the finger goes out to Ryan Lochte and the words of wisdom that he so generously bestows onto the unworthy masses. Lochte is a grand reminder of how being famous requires no actual intelligence, but what it does require is a six-pack and a massive, blind following of adolescent
girls. Ryan, your quotes and actions have inspired us all to be like you: the second best. #YEAH
A wag of the finger goes to Michelle Obama and her healthy school lunch campaign. First Lady,
you have no business taking away our perfectly seasoned fries and chicken wings. No bowl of raw
broccoli will ever make up for your snatching away of our beloved Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. In fact,
you are practically promoting anorexia because no one wants to eat this garbage you claim to be “nutritious.” Healthy eating habits cannot be shoved down our throats. Not cool, Michelle. Not cool.
“Wag of the Finger” and “Tip of the Hat” are trademarks of
Stephen Colbert and his TV show, The Colbert Report.
Neither Paducah Tilghman nor the Bell Staff claim any ownership of these trademarks.
“How much attention is given to the
drama program.”
Bradley Duncan (9)
“I like how friendly
everyone is.”
Joeshawn Starks (12)
Photos by Katie Paxton
The Tilghman Bell
Debate continues over Duck Island;
movement’s attempts successful
by Jacob Holtgrewe
Recently erosion has become a great issue for the island near the south end of the Noble Park
pond. This slowly shrinking island containing a small house is where many ducks and geese sometimes congregate; thus it is dubbed “Duck Island.” The Paducah City Parks Department had the
idea to remove the island because keeping it would greatly increase the cost of repairing the erosion
damage of the entire pond. There is, however, a group that disagreed with the Parks Department.
A love for the very insignificant house and island in the pond at Noble Park brought people
together to try to save Duck Island. I wonder where all these people were when new bike trails were
debated or when actual people were in danger of losing residence when “Tent City” was closed
in the Winter of 2011. Where is the love for a safe place to exercise or for your common man?
Though the movement was ludicrous, “Save Duck Island,” the name the group gave
to their Facebook group, was in fact successful. At a Paducah City Commission meeting on Tuesday, August 14, Paducah Parks Services Director Mark Thompson introduced options to repair the erosion at the Noble Park pond that include repairing Duck Island.
Now, although I do not agree with the Save Duck Island movement, I’d like to applaud their efforts to fight for something they care about. They showed that no matter what issue happens to be, people can take part in government processes and make their voices heard.
The Tilghman Bell, a product of the journalism class, is an open
forum for student expression and is distributed monthly to the
students of Paducah Tilghman High School free of charge.
Editor-in-Chief: Alicia Humphrey
Co-Editors: Will Hancock, Katie Paxton
Business Managers: Susannah Wilson, Makayla Holt
Feature Editor: Megan Cantwell
Advertising Editor: Avery Harriman
News Writers: Lilly Burba, Miles Butler, Megan Cantwell, Will
Hancock, Margaret Hines, Amanda Hooker, Catherine Miller,
Will Smith, Cole Spicer, Jacob Underhill, Cason Walden, Susannah
Wilson, Savanna Whelan
Sports Writers: McKenzi Belt, Jacob Blankenship, Alex Boyd,
Jordan Kendall, Matthew Moore, Sabel Overlin, Emily Whitson,
Andrew Zaninovich
Arts & Entertainment Writers: Alex Boyd, Will Hancock, Catherine Miller, Audrey Withrow
Commentary Writers: MaKayla Holt, Jacob Holtgrewe, Katie Paxton, Susannah Wilson, Andrew Zaninovich
Photographers: Katie Paxton, Savanna Whelan
Cartoonist: Savanna Whelan
Adviser: Susan Hancock
Cartoon by Savanna Whelan
T I L G H M A N
NEWS
Tilghman Students Take on New
Classes with 7-Period Day
by Miles Butler and Will Smith
This year, students at Tilghman are experiencing a different
schedule from last year as RTI
(or “halftime”) has been replaced
with a new seventh period. Upon
being asked why the additional
period was added, Assistant Principal Overlin stated, “We think it
will be better for all students as
they will have more opportunities to take electives and vocational school classes. It will also
reduce scheduling conflicts that
previously existed, and give students more opportunities to become career and college ready.”
With the new seven period
day comes a few more changes. First, the passing period
Photo by Will Smith
in between classes has been shortened
from five minutes to four. Additionally, Caroline Washer (12) studies crime scene investigation in Forensics
school starts two minutes earlier this class at Tilghman, a new class added this year.
year—at 7:26 this year instead of 7:28.
Lastly, each class period has been shortened by a few minutes. These small changes were made to balance the minutes per class and still meet the
minimum number of minutes of school required per year.
Senior Olajuwon Harmon was asked how the new day compared to last year’s six period day. “It’s better because
you learn more in seven classes than in only six with halftime/RTI,” said Harmon. “You also have opportunities to take
more classes,” Harmon added. Junior Cassie Arboleda also shared her thoughts on the new day: “It’s very
beneficial, as we no longer have to waste time in RTI.”
Twitter transforms the
2012 Olympics
by Sabel Overlin
Being called “Socialympics” by some,
this year’s Olympics had all eyes on the
athlete’s Twitter accounts. With everyone
from Hope Solo to Tom Daley in on it, the
focus of this year’s games was taken off the
sport and diverted to their tweets. While
most athletes were posting positive tweets
and receiving encouragement from fans,
some got caught up in drama and were
even not allowed to compete.
This year the attention wasn’t on the US
women team Hope Solo’s keeper skills, but
instead on the Twitter feud between her and
soccer legend, Brandi Chastain. Chastain,
famous for ripping her shirt off after scoring
the game winning goal against China during
the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, commented that US defender, Rachel Beuler,
needed to work on keeping procession of
the ball. After the game, in which the US
beat Columbia 3-0, Solo took to tweeting
rather than celebrating. She posted, “Its 2
bad we cant have commentators who better
represents the team& knows more about the
game @brandichastain!” Most fans took
this as a rather bold statement, considering
Chastain was a key player on the team that
revitalized women’s soccer. Chastain took
the high road and said, “My only comment
is that I am in London to cover women’s
soccer in an honest and objective fashion.”
If Solo had only ignored the criticism, her
Twitter antics wouldn’t have overshadowed the team’s hard earned gold medal.
The biggest Twitter embarrassment during this year’s games would be Greek athlete, Voula Papachristou’s, tweet. After the
West Nile Virus- carrying mosquitoes appeard in Greece, the athlete tweeted, “With
so many Africans in Greece, the West Nile
mosquitoes will be getting’ some good
home cookin’!” Papachristou tweeted this
before the start of the Olympics, and was
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therefore not sent to London. Since the offensive tweet was sent out, Papachristou has
been kicked off the team and released and
apology saying, “My dream is connected to
the Olympic Games and I could not possibly
participate if I did not respect their values.”
In perhaps the most disturbing Twitter
event of this year’s Olympics, a British
teenager was arrested for harassing British
diver, Tom Daley. Daley was hoping to win
a medal this year to honor his father who
died of brain cancer this past year. After
placing fourth, the teen first tweeted that
Daley had let his father down and later
tweeted that he was going to find Daley
and drown him in the pool. The teen boy
quickly posted an apology, but went back
to posting threatening tweets after supporters flocked to Daley’s side. According to
the Huffington Post, in Britain, tweeting
messages that are considered menacing,
offensive, or indecent can be a criminal offense. Police quickly tracked the teen down
and arrested him for harassment. The only
comment Daley made was, “After giving it
my all, you get idiot’s sending me this…”
Twitter has been a great way for athletes to keep in touch with family and
friend, post news about the games, and
connect with their fans. Athletes during
these games were under scrutiny more
than ever before because of their tweets.
Some, like Solo and Papachristou, cracked
under the pressure and humiliated their
team. Most however, like Daley, were
able to use Twitter for its intended purpose
and overcome the thoughtless critiques.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/31/
brandi-chastain-responds-hope-solo-twitterattack_n_1724384.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/
technology/01iht-tweet01.html?_r=1
3
PT Updates
ROTC
The Paducah Tilghman High School Navy Jr.
Reserve Officer Training Corps (PTHS NJROTC) is
aiming to be the number one unit in Kentucky for
the third year in a row this year. They also hope to
win their seventh consecutive Distinguished Unit
Award.
The NJROTC unit has over 90 members this
year. The commanding officer and the rest of the
company staff haven’t been announced yet.
The PTHS NJROTC unit will be marching in the
upcoming Paducah Labor Day Parade. This will be
the unit’s 12th year marching in the parade.
As the year progresses, the unit will participate
in a large amount of community service. Near the
end of the year the unit will go on a trip to a city
or military base that has not been determined.
Past end of the year trips include New York City,
Philadelphia, San Diego, and Norfolk, Virginia.
TEAM Donors
Tornado Team
Lori and Danny Butler
Dr. Lisa and Mr. Blaine Lasher
Cheri and Richard Paxton
Lonna and Shawn Washer
Missy and Kelvin White
Big Blue Team
Cherryl and Vernon Arboleda
Ann and Brian Boyd
The Burbas
Jill and Anna Chambers
Sid and Justin Hancock
Team Players
Amna and Shaukat Ali
The Benzing Family
Lori and Greg Doss
Susan and Rowland Hancock
Trish and Jeff Hines
Tammy and Mike Holt
Alyson and David Kelly
Liz and Tom Kohler
Lisa and Luke Mitchell
Ashley and Tom Shadoan
Angie and Kevin Shannon
Karen and Stephen Story
Teammates
Anonymous
Patty and Keith Bickerstaff
Nancy and Chris Black
The Blankenship Family
Joni and Mark Chambers
Kim and Jim Eickholz
Lee Emmons and Alan Noneman
Susan and Jeff Golightly
Lisa Guill
The Ladd Family
Holly and Dan Mattingly
Stacey Overlin
Tammy and Keith Potter
Sheri and John Robertson
Rochelle and Will Shelby, Sr.
Mitzi and Brett Stuart
Christine and Forrest Wynne
Katherine Zaninovich
Olympics Recap
by Cason Walden
-USA wins the most gold medals and overall medals.
-Michael Phelps earns 6 more medals with a total of 22, 18 of which are gold,
making him the most decorated Olympian of all time.
-Mo Farah of Great Britain wins gold in the 5,000 km and 10,000 km races.
-Usain Bolt repeats his 100 meter and 200 meter sprint wins.
-Jamaica’s men win the 400 meter relay with a world record time of 36.84
seconds.
-USA women’s 400 meter relay team wins with a world record time of 40.82
seconds.
-The USA women’s gymnastic team nicknamed the “Fierce Five,” win the
team gold.
-Gabby Douglas wins the overall individual gold in women’s gymnastics; she
is the first African American to do so.
-The 2012 London Olympics were the first to have a woman representing
every country that was present. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Brunei had their first
ever female athletes.
-Andy Murray of Great Britain wins gold in men’s singles tennis. He is the
first British tennis player to win a gold men’s single tennis at Wimbledon in
102 years.
-Kirani James wins Granada’s first ever gold after winning the men’s 400
meter sprint.
-Oscar Pistorius of South Africa is the first double amputee to compete against
able bodied athletes at the Olympics. He ran in the open 400 meter and the
1600 meter relay.
-The men’s and women’s USA basketball teams both win gold.
-The USA women’s soccer team wins gold after defeating World Cup champion Japan.
-USA’s Keri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor win gold in beach volleyball for
the third straight time.
-David Rudisha of Kenya wins the men’s 800 meter in 1:40.91, a world record
time.
-15 year old Katie Ledecky won the 800 meter swimming freestyle.
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4
Tilghman Gets a Facelift:
Renovations Completed
by Amanda Hooker and Catherine Miller
This past summer, the extensive renovations of Tilghman—lasting over three
years—were finally completed. When interviewing Mr. Davis about these renovations, he emphasized the enormity of the sweeping changes in Tilghman’s halls over
the past three school years. Updates include brand new wiring, windows, lights, floors,
and ceilings, in addition to a refurbished gymnasium and modernized technology.
Mr. Davis, himself, believes that of all of the new renovations, the updated technology is the
most beneficial addition to our learning environment. From shiny new projectors to impressive Smart Boards and Mobis, the new additions to Tilghman’s technology are present in every classroom. Students, especially, have a new appreciation for the technological updates, because it means a decrease in ancient, blurry projectors and cracked, ink-stained whiteboards.
The whole renovation cost approximately nine million dollars. Four years ago the Paducah City School Board of Education was faced with a decision: to tear down the school
and rebuilt it from scratch, or completely renovate the building. And of course, to preserve
the tradition in Tilghman, the decision was made to renovate. Mr. Davis humorously said that
“They had been patching and patching things, but now was the time to do more before the
school fell in.” Once permission from the community was acquired to raise an extra five cents
to their taxes so that the necessary renovations could be made, renovation began full force.
Walking around the halls of Tilghman now, the changes to the school over the past few
years are obvious. Though the physical building of Tilghman has undergone many changes
over the past few years, the pride and dedication of the Tilghman community will never change.
Candidates look forward to
National Convention
by Megan Cantwell
With the 2012 Presidential election just around the corner, politicians are doing speaking
engagements, rallies, and most importantly to the parties, the parties’ national conventions.
A paper prepared by the Library of Congress Congressional Research Service stated,
“National conventions combine three important functions: nomination of candidates for
the office of President and Vice President; formation and adoption of a statement of party
principles-the platform; and adoption of rules and procedures governing party activities, particularly the nomination process for the presidential candidates in the next election cycle.”
This year’s Republican National Convention will be held in Tampa, Florida from August 27th-30th in the Tampa Bay Times Forum. The convention will have delegates from all
50 states and speakers to talk about the Republican Party platform and various other topics.
The convention expects nearly 50,000 people to visit the Tampa Bay area during the convention. Republican nominee Mitt Romney will give a speech at the convention, which will
set the tone for the rest of the election. Seen by voters as stiff and unlikeable, this convention could be Romney’s chance to generate more excitement for the Republican Party.
Likewise, the Democratic National Convention is pivotal for the party in the upcoming
election. The convention will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina from September 3rd-6th. The democrats say they will focus on important issues during the convention such as the
economy and creating more jobs, as well as reelecting Barack Obama in the 2012 election.
Several speakers will be attending the convention including former President Bill Clinton and
Julian Castro, who will be the first Latino to ever give a keynote address at the convention.
As a time for parties’members to get together to discuss important issues facingAmerica, the National
Conventions are an integral part of every election, not only for the candidates, but also for the people.
Sources: www.gopconvetion.com; www.demconvention.com
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T I L G H M A N
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NEWS
Buzz surrounds ChickFil-A president’s remarks
by Margaret Hines and Susannah Wilson
Chick-Fil-A has become a hot topic all over the country due to the
comments the chain’s restaurant President made on same sex marriage.
Dan Cathy, the aforementioned President, stated that his company supports “the Biblical definition of the family unit” and that he “prays God’s
mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to
think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about.”
Many different reactions have been sparked over this after he weighed
in on this topic. His statement that his company only supports same sex
marriage has become quite the controversy. CNN reader Joe Brown called
it “backward and ignorant” and said, “No more Chick-Fil-A for me! I am
not in the stone-casting business as a Christian.” The Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation even promoted a National Same-Sex Kiss Day
to be held across the country on August 3rd in response to the comments.
The other side of the controversy came across for those who support
Cathy’s claim. High-profile Christian leader, Reverend Billy Graham, praised
Cathy for the strong stand he made for his Christian faith. CNN reader Greg
Tanner also showed his appreciation toward Cathy, saying, “Even though
I’m a foxhole Christian and don’t practice any particular religion, I do wholly believe that marriage is between a man and a woman…Stand up for what
you believe!” Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Texas Governor Rick
Santorum also promoted a “Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day” on August 1st.
Chick-Fil-a had a total of 4.1 billion dollars as an annual sale last year.
Public perception of the Chick-Fil A president’s comments could potentially
have a major effect on sales this year, depending heavily on public opinion.
Sources:
www.CNN.com/2012/07/27/US/Chick-Fil-A-controversy/index.html
www.huffingtonposts.com/2012/07/27/chick-fil-a-president-anti-gay-comments-inspire-movements-n.0506.html
PTHS student brings home
gold in Karate Competition
by Will Hancock
Paducah Tilghman freshman Jackson Rudolph was busy this summer,
but not with summer assignments.
Instead, Jackson was competing
in the US Open for Sport Karate
in Orlando, Florida. While there,
he joined Team Paul Mitchell,
one of the most prestigious karate
teams in America, and competed
in both open-handed and bowstaff competitions. And he won.
Jackson is one of America’s prePhoto by sportmartialarts.com mier Sport Karate competitors in
the Junior (seventeen years old and under) category. This year alone,
Jackson has competed in three Grand Championships in Atlanta, Orlando, and New York, and won all three. In the past weeks, Jackson has won
a competition in Myrtle Beach, SC. In addition, Jackson won the ISK
(International Sport Karate) World Championship for the third year in a
row, appearing on ESPN II for his victory. He is a 23-time World Champion in various Sport Karate divisions, including traditional and creative
karate. To go by the numbers, Jackson is ranked number one nationally
in his age division in all four categories he competes in: traditional openhanded, creative open-handed, traditional bowstaff, and creative bowstaff. His successes have brought nine gold medals home to the United
States. Jackson will compete in the Diamonds Tournament later this year
before finishing off the season with a competition in Miami, Florida.
Despite his busy schedule with both karate and his course
load at Tilghman, Jackson also teaches seminars and private lessons in Paducah. He says that he hopes to teach people not just karate, but also “how to set goals for themselves.”
Jackson’s skills are also used outside of his sporting competitions. He has acted in commercials and public service announcements
and has even been a model in photo shoots for Lifeway Christian
Bookstore. He has auditioned for roles on TV shows aired on Disney, NBC, ABC, and Lifetime, from all of which is waiting to hear.
However, when asked about his future, Jackson admits that he doesn’t
want to pursue karate as a career. Instead, he explains that he wants to
“focus on something in the health field.” More specifically, Jackson
hopes to be “a neurosurgeon or a sports medicine specialist.” While both
are lofty goals, Jackson has definitely shown that he is capable of working for what he wants to accomplish. As for his future in Sport Karate, he
explains that the International Olympic Committee has not yet approved
Sport Karate as an official Olympic sport, but might by 2016 and almost
certainly will by 2020. Jackson says that he hopes to represent America—
and Paducah Tilghman—in Sport Karate as soon as the IOC approves it.
by Savanna Whelan
Come support Tilghman at Coldstone Creamery on September 16 from
2-4 P.M. Proceeds will benefit Project Graduation.
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FEATURES
Confessions of the
Fashion Flashback: Recent
Unappreciated Sophomores trends copy 80’s apparel
by Megan Cantwell and Avery Harriman
You see them prowling the hallways… or maybe you don’t. They either
blend in, or no one cares enough to notice them. They’re not new enough to be
freshmen, but they’re not cool enough to be upperclassmen. They’re basically
that awkward gray area of high school that no one really wants to talk about.
No special privileges. No respect. And not quite old enough to get their driver’s license. These are the confessions of the under-appreciated sophomore…
I walked into the doors on the first day of high school anticipating glory and respect. Surely, I would be an official part of high school: laughing at the new, ignorant freshmen, not being glared at as I walked down
the hallway, and finally having the seniors’ respect (and by respect, I meant
not being cut in the lunch line, glared at, or being shoved in the hallway).
Why, you may ask? Because I was finally a sophomore, and yet, the previous glares I was so accustomed to were replaced by curiously blank stares.
At first I was confused, but then I decided to try my hand at making fun
of the freshmen to take my mind off of my apparent new status of “nonexistent.” To my surprise, the seniors rolled their eyes at my attempts to belittle the freshmen. One rather large senior even went so far as to spit at
me that I wasn’t any better than a freshman! Even more shocking was
the fact that none of the freshman seemed at all intimidated by my comments; they even went so far as to laugh in my face. The nerve of them!
However, my concerns were soon dwarfed by the overwhelming workload. I couldn’t believe my eyes, let alone the weight of my backpack. Was
this what sophomore year was: overwhelming workloads and being completely
ignored? Not to mention, I was now expected to know everything, yet nobody
would tell me what I was supposed to know! I was perplexed. Weren’t all of
the years after freshman year supposed to be the best of my life? Sophomores,
as a rule, are just under-valued. Without us, there’d be a horrible jump between
the newness of freshman year and the unending toil of junior year. Without
us, there’d be nobody to warm the varsity benches. Without us, who would
go up the down staircase just because as “not-a-freshman” we feel entitled to
break the everyday rules of Tilghman life? Face it, without us, you’d be lost.
PTHS student attends
nuclear engineering camp
by Cole Spicer
PTHS student Alex Story
spent five days this summer at a Nuclear Science
camp at Missouri S&T in
Rolla, Missouri, where approximately 35 high school
students from a variety
of states got the chance
to work under Professor
Arvind S. Kumar (the head
of the nuclear science department at Missouri S&T).
Alex explained that
most of the camp was
Photo provided by paducah.k12.ky.us
spent using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA).
Alex Story stands outside the Missouri
Alex described NAA as a
University of Science and Technology, where
quick and effective way to
he attended the Nuclear Science campt this
detect the variety of elesummer.
ments in any given sample
of metal or plastic without damaging it. The procedure includes irradiating the sample then looking at the energy count and frequency it produces as it decays in order
to determine the unique energy signature of each element in the sample.
When Alex was asked if he enjoyed the camp, he responded, “Yes; it was hard work, but the free time was enjoyable.”
5
by MaKayla Holt
Flashback! Look around, wherever you may be
at this very moment. Seem familiar? Welcome
back to the 80’s! Let’s just start by saying that
over the last few years, our generation has taken on a whole new image. An old image actually, it’s just new to us. If you were to walk into
Hollister today, you would find that the front
table is piled down with nothing but the latest,
bright-colored skinny jeans. Go home and pull
out a few old photographs of mom; you just
might find that her fashion sense is very similar to that which you’re wearing! You would be
Photo by centrestage shocked at some of the things you saw. Converse,
Vans, off-the-shoulder blouses, leggings, headbands, skinny jeans, big hair—the list goes on.
Are you freaked out yet? It’s sort of like we, as a new generation, are becoming
clones of our parents in their teenage days! Don’t worry; it’s not as bad as you think…
there are some advantages! For instance, you may have just come across a way to save
money. Instead of going out to the mall to buy those $50 Vans you’ve been wanting, or
the new, neon yellow jeans you found in Hollister, why not raid your parent’s old boxes
of things that have been sitting up in the attic? You may get lucky and find just what
you’re looking for and also have that extra cash in your pocket for another day!You
may even start to realize that some of the things you find also have more value! Ride
up to school wearing your dad’s old Ray-Bans, and I know you’ll catch some attention.
You can’t change who you are. In some ways, you really are “your parents made
over.” That’s something we’ve all heard before. Go ahead and admit it, parents can
be cool. Back in the day, they may have walked the same hallways here at Paducah Tilghman. It may be hard to sit and think about a day when your parents
were maybe considered “hot,” but just remember, they were once your age too!
The clock is constantly ticking, and times are continuing to change. Every twenty
years or so, fashion takes on a whole new trend. The styles begin to differ, and we start
seeing new “looks” in the stores we shop in. Who knows, maybe we should start putting
away clothes for our kids, the next generations?
Freshman Burn
by Alex Boyd and Audrey Withrow
Welcome to your first year of high school!
This is a new page to your story and we
don’t want you to fail miserably because
you probably would without our help. From
all of us at The Bell, here are some unwritten rules that you would be wise to follow.
-First and foremost, we ARE better than you. Just embrace it and observe, but don’t be a swagger jacker.
-Get out of the way! This is for all of you too
dimwitted to realize the hallway is not the
place to stand around and talk about your
nonexistent social lives. Try not to be offended if we “accidentally” clothesline you.
-Cutting line is in NO way acceptable if you
are a freshman. Running to lunch is useless
because you will get cut. We have seniority; we deserve to be in the front of the line.
-Learning
your
place
QUICKLY
would
be
a
good
thing.
-For those of you who have older siblings
that also go to Tilghman, don’t try to associ-
ate with them or think you’re going to get any
special favors…you may as well be swine.
-And what’s up with all the Vera
Bradley tote bags? You are all carbon copies of each other and your
bags are bigger than your whole body.
-It’s time to grow up. Your personality and your height aren’t cutting it anymore; you’re in high school even though
you’re at the bottom of the food chain.
-Most
importantly,
we
AREN’T
friends. Don’t add us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
P.S. I’m sure you’ve heard about all the
renovations to the school so if you haven’t
had a chance to check out the new pool, it’s
on the on the third floor and the Paducah
Swim Team can’t wait to start practice.
P.P.S. You’re too juvenile to understand
now, but maybe one day you can wrap
your tiny little brain around all of this.
These tips are for your own safety.
Tilghman welcomes new Exchange Students
by Lilly Burba
Paducah Tilghman High School has hosted students from other countries for plans to play on Tilghman’s tennis team when the spring rolls around this year.
many years, and this year is no different. A globetrotting group of foreign exRisa Sonoda, a 15-year-old sophomore from Japan, is another of Tilghman’s
change students have arrived in our hallways, and they could not be more ex- exchange students this year. While she likes talking with her friends at Tilghcited to be here! The school is proud to have students from three countries man, she does miss her school, friends, and family back home. She also plans
and two continents joining us for a great year of learning and making friends. to be on the Tilghman tennis team when the season starts up, noting that playJonas Seiffert is a 15-year-old sophomore from Germany. When asked what he liked ing tennis is one of the things she has likes most about being in America.
best about America, he proudly exclaimed
Enrico Bleve, a 17-year-old sethat he likes everything. Jonas plays on
nior, comes to Tilghman from Italy.
the Paducah Tilghman soccer team. He
Although he cannot make pizza, he
very much enjoys playing soccer; so much
does miss the food from Italy. He
so that he says playing soccer is his favorhas really enjoyed meeting new
ite thing about being at Tilghman this year.
people at Tilghman and elsewhere
in Paducah. Enrico declares, “I
Ilka Knoke is also a student at Tilghreally like the organization here
man this year who hails from Germany.
at Tilghman.” He plays soccer
While she is a senior at our school this
and basketball in his downtime.
year, her education will continue when
We are very glad to have these
she returns to Germany. In addition to
students
in our building and commuspeaking English, Ilka also speaks Gernity
this
school
year. Make them feel
man and Latin. While she misses seeing
welcome,
just
as you would want
her friends and family from Germany,
people
to
welcome
you. Who knows,
Ilka is very excited to be at Tilghman this
you
might
make
a
new
friend or even
year. She has also enjoyed making new
learn
something
interesting
about
friends here at Tilghman, adding that
Photo by Wayne Walden
another
culture.
Let
these
students
everyone has been very nice. “My faknow that Tilghman is the place to be!
vorite thing about America is that every- Top row, left to right: Ilka Knoke, Enrico Bleve, Jonas Seiffert
one is so open-minded,” Ilka states. She Bottom row, left to right: Risa Sonoda, Yuka Tanaka, Yoshimune Sameshina
PAGE
6
T H E
T I L G H M A N
B E L L
FEATURES
A Day in the Life of Mrs. Valentine-Hall
by Catherine Miller
This year, Tilghman is happy to welcome a new member into its beloved English department: Mrs.
Valentine-Hall. Mrs. Valentine-Hall starts her mornings off at 5:20 sharp, waking up to care for her two dogs
and her newborn son. After a busy morning of walking and feeding her two dogs, Laila and Izzi; showering
and dressing for the day; and seeing that her son gets settled with the babysitter, Mrs. Valentine-Hall heads off
to Tilghman, arriving early to prepare for her classes.
After she graduated from local Heath High School in 1998, Mrs. Valentine-Hall went on to study English
at the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Once she graduated with an undergraduate degree from SIU,
she progressed to pursuing and completing a Master’s Degree in Reading and Writing from Murray State
University. Mrs. Valentine-Hall has a wealth of teaching experience under her belt already, from an Illinois
high school, to the local Western Kentucky Community and Technical College, to Tilghman’s own archrival
Mayfield.
Here at school, Mrs. Valentine-Hall can be found in the recently renovated Room 110, where she teaches
two classes of AP English Language and Composition, three periods of Reading Lab, and one hour of Sopho
Photo by Katie Paxton
more Honors English. Her passion for teaching was largely inspired by one of her own high school English Mrs. Valentine-Hall prepares for her AP Language and
teachers, and everyday she feels rewarded by being given “the ability to help students; to shape their lives, and Composition classes by reviewing their current novel of
the people they become.”
discus sion, Frankenstein.
In her free time, Mrs. Valentine-Hall values spending time with her husband and son. Cooking and traveling
are two interests that she and her husband share and enjoy pursuing together. Their favorite vacation destination? The beach, as nothing can compare to reading a good book
with the sand between your toes and the soothing sounds of waves in your ear! The couple actually exchanged their wedding vows on a beach in Florida, so it’s not surprising
that it’s one of their favorite spots to visit.
With Mrs. Valentine-Hall’s evident passion for teaching and prowess in the field of English, she is a perfect fit for Tilghman.
New faces take old places: New teachers at Tilghman
by Margaret Hines and Jacob Blankenship
Tilghman is very happy to have twelve positions
filled by new staff members as well as returning members into our school. Coming from a variety of backgrounds, these talented new teachers and staff members will greatly add to our beloved school’s legendary
tradition of excellence.
Mr. Tucker is a recycled face at Tilghman. After
leaving Tilghman a few years ago, he decided that he
loved it too much to stay gone. He teaches physics, as
well as algebra. Mr. Tucker enjoys watching Tilghman
football, gardening, golfing, and sailing in his spare
time. When asked what he liked about Tilghman, he responded, “Just Tilghman, I don’t know anywhere else
with the students, teachers, and parents like ours.”
Mrs. Hamilton, another familiar face, took over for
Mrs. Shaw this year as the school’s Business Manager
and is now very busy attending to various tasks. When
asked about her thoughts of her new position, she answered, “I love my new position because I get to have
more community involvement. However, I miss seeing
the kids everyday.”
“I love my new job at Tilghman. Tilghman is in
my blood. I went to school here and played ball here.
I’ve been coming to Tilghman events since I was eight.
So now that I’m working here, it feels like everything
is coming full circle.” Mr. Hamilton, Mrs. Hamilton’s
husband, will also be joining us this year working in
Special Education. It is obvious that Mr. Hamilton
loves Paducah Tilghman, and we look forward to having him.
Previously working in guidance, the students of
Tilghman will now see Mrs. Bedeau in her new position as the coordinator for youth services center. “We
want to empower students and families. We’re here
to remove the non-academic barriers.” With Mrs.
Bedeau’s help, Tilghman will become an even better
school than it is already.
Mr. Snyder, a Murray State graduate, is one of the
new instructional assistants here at Tilghman. He provides assistance in the classrooms three times a week,
and helps individual students with math and reading
two days a week. “It is a great environment,” Mr. Snyder commented, “Great school, great students, great
teachers, and a great administration.”
Mrs. Thomas is another new instructional assistant,
primarily for algebra and geometry. Originally from
Monroeville, Alabama, Mrs. Thomas attended Murray
State. She is considering teaching a business class in
the near future. When asked how about her new job,
she replied with much excitement, “[I’m] Loving it!
It’s awesome; no complaints!”
Previously the choir director at Ballard Middle and
Ballard High, Mr. Hinz will now direct Tilghman’s
choir. He has come here to be a part of one of the greatest music traditions in Western Kentucky. Mr. Hinz
and the choir are looking forward to performing great
music with each other.
Mrs. Fox is the new cafeteria manager for breakfast and lunch this year. She is doing a great job so
far, keeping the cafeterias organized and the food as
good as ever. We look forward to eating her delicious
lunches for the
rest of the year.
Ms. Griggs, a former student teacher here at Tilghman, is now teaching in the Special Education Department. We are glad to have Ms. Griggs and we hope she
continues to enjoy her time here at Tilghman.
Mrs. Goodyke, once an Instructional Assistant here,
is now the new LBD Teacher. She loves her new job and
has loved Tilghman all three years she has been here.
She adores
the students and faculty and would not want to be anywhere else. She wants to be a benefit to the students
like she always has been!
Mr. Campbell is the new Instructional Aide for
handicapped students. “It’s interesting being around
the kids. It’s why I got into it in the first place.” Mr.
Campbell made this comment after being asked about
his new position. His goal is to treat his students like
his own children and hopes to one day get his own
classroom.
Mrs. Morehead is the Special Education teacher.
She loves her new job and is so glad she came from
Mayfield after teaching there for five years. She lives
here in the city with her husband who is also a teacher
here and says it is nice to be close to home. Her goal
is to teach the kids to learn respect and to make them
laugh every day.
Mayfield Week
Monday: Jersey Day
Tuesday: Decades Day
Wednesday: Hick Day
Thursday: Nerd Day
Friday: Blue and White Day
Students show off their
Tilghman Pride during
Lone Oak Week
Photos by Katie Paxton
ADS
T I L G H M A N
B E L L
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T I L G H M A N
B E L L
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
LOOK-A-LIKES
by Savanna Whelan
The Dark Knight Rises to
face America’s New Fears
by Will Hancock
Jacob Holtgrewe (11)
Mark Zuckerberg
Brock Sigler (12)
Tom Cruise
Ben Gamble (11)
Barack Obama
Trevor Bunte (10)
Dobby
Photos by Savanna Whelan
Sources: askmen.com; harrypotter.wikia.com; en.wikipedia.org; pramitshah.blogspot.com (coourtesy of Google Images)
Christopher Nolan’s famous
Batman trilogy concluded this
July with the release of The Dark
Knight Rises. Coming from the
same man who directed The Prestige, Memento, and his most famous movie Inception, The Dark
Knight Rises provides closure for
Nolan’s “new breed” of superhero movies. In these, such comic
book heroes as Batman are overlaid upon a very real backdrop
with much of the emotional pull
coming from the very real problems of terrorism and class warfare. Like Nolan’s acclaimed 2008
From left to right: John Blake (Jospeh Gordon-Levprequel, The Dark Knight, The
itt), Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman), BatDark Knight Rises finds the action man (Christian Bale), Bane (Tom Hardy), Selina Kyle
and adventure a Batman movie
(Anne Hathaway). Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
requires amid the vividly personal
story of BruceWayne, Commissioner Gordon, and others. Christopher Nolan’s style has adapted for The Dark Knight Rises, allowing him
to continue playing up the insecurities of American social life to the challenges facing a new decade.
In The Dark Knight Rises, Christian Bale reprises his role of Bruce Wayne, reclusive billionaire, who at one time became the crime-fighting Batman, but who has become grief-stricken after losing his love in the previous film. Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman also return to their roles from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Tom Hardy, Anne
Hathaway, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt all make brilliant additions. Hathaway portrays Selina Kyle, a master jewel thief who has risen from Gotham’s notorious slums and is hinted to
be Catwoman, although she is never explicitly given that name. Gordon-Levitt plays John
Blake, a young police officer who, like Bruce Wayne, is an orphan and becomes one of Batman’s trusted assistants in the finale. Both Hathaway and Gordon-Levitt prove to be equals to
the veterans like Caine, Oldman, and Bale with smart dialogue and full character arcs, allowing Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) to become an everyman’s alternative to Batman, with fewer rules and less moral authority. John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), meanwhile, shows himself as a younger, hot-headed, and more curious foil to Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman).
It is Tom Hardy, however, who has the largest shoes to fill. As Bane, a mercenary with the mission to
destroy Gotham, Hardy is forced to live up to Heath Ledger’s spectacular performance as the Joker
in The Dark Knight. Bane shows himself to be an entirely different beast from Ledger’s Joker. While
the Joker was unquestionably insane, Bane is a cold, calculating, and brilliant mastermind who is also
Batman’s equal in combat. Even his soldiers are elite - the opening scene portrays Bane and his men
destroying a CIA plane and killing multiple soldiers sent as guards. Bane’s sophisticated rhetoric and
slight British accent distinguish him as a villain in his own right, and although he doesn’t emit fear
like Ledger did, he is surely just as strong a character with an infinitely more compelling backstory.
In many ways, Bane’s character represents the way Nolan views the fears of Americans. In
2008, the Joker represented all the things America feared about terrorism - mass panic caused by
the killings carried out by someone who is, while brilliant, absolutely insane. Bane’s character
shows a new insecurity. He is the enemy within, the destruction brought about by class warfare
within our very borders. Much of Bane’s personality revolves around an anarchist agenda, resulting in multiple references for the movie’s more well-read viewers to Charles Dickens’s A Tale of
Two Cities with the “People’s Tribunal” and the sly Mr. Barsad. Nolan also illustrates his view of
the Occupy Wall Street movement when Bane literally occupies Wall Street and later paints the
picture of a lawless society that Americans fear. The challenge of revamping a series to display an
entirely new set of insecurities is surely a challenge that The Dark Knight Rises lives up to in full.
Of course, no movie is without flaws. The entire first act of the movie centers around a plot
that is ultimately pointless, and while Hathaway’s and Gordon-Levitt’s performances are solid,
they result in very little screen time for Michael Caine and Gary Oldman, two of the best men
in the franchise. It is also underwhelming when Batman returns. At the beginning of the movie,
it is shown that eight years have passed since Batman was last seen, and yet his return is solely
for a car chase with the police while Bane escapes - hardly the kind of reaction any would expect
from a city that hasn’t seen this man in eight years. Despite these faults, The Dark Knight Rises
combines the action of a superhero movie with a smart story that echoes the fears of 2012 America, and the result is a satisfying conclusion to a trilogy that has redefined the Superhero genre.
NPR Releases Top 100 Novels for Young-Adults
by Catherine Miller
Young-adult fiction: one of the most beloved and
ambiguous genres of all time. Though technically defined as fiction marketed towards those aged twelve to
eighteen, YA fiction constantly manages to grow past
this rigid definition, deeply rooting itself into the hearts
and souls of bibliophiles of all ages.
Over the summer, National Public Radio attempted the daunting task
of narrowing down the top one hundred young-adult
novels of all time, and the results managed to be both
predictable and surprising.
Over 1200 novels were nominated, and out of those,
235 titles made it to the finals. From there, NPR asked
the audience for their input, and more than 75,000 people voted for their top young-adult picks. Here are the
top ten:
1. The Harry Potter Series (1997-2007) by: J.K.
Rowling- An obvious pick for the number one spot, the
seven Harry Potter novels enchanted the entire world
through a masterfully-spun plot filled to the brim with
adventure, friendship, fantasy, romance, and of course,
magic.
2. The Hunger Games Trilogy (2008-2010) by: Suzanne Collins- Made popular by the recent blockbuster
movie of the same name, The Hunger Games and its two
subsequent sequels are addicting reads that entrance the
reader from start to finish. Full of vivid action scenes,
frustrating cliffhangers, and a love-triangle, this dystopian series does not disappoint.
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (1960) by: Harper LeeA staple for middle and high school English classes
around the country, readers get a glimpse into the harsh
reality of the Mississippi during the extremely racially
tense decade of the 60’s, all through the eyes of innocent grade-schooler Scout Finch.
4. The Fault in Our Stars (2012) by: John Green- The
most recently published title on this entire list, author
John Green manages to awe readers through the sheer
beauty of written language, a feat rarely accomplished
in modern literature. While viewing the world through
the eyes of protagonist Hazel, a witty and self-deprecating cancer-survivor, your own life will be changed.
5. The Hobbit (1937) by: J.R.R. Tolkien- A classic
in children’s literature and the prequel to Tolkien’s epic
saga, The Lord of the Rings, readers accompany Bilbo
Baggins on his quest across the mystical Middle-Earth.
It has recently been adapted into three films, the first set
to come to theatres this December.
6. The Catcher In the Rye (1951) by: J.D. SalingerDescribed by the BBC’s Finlo Rohrer as “the defining
work on what it is like to be a teenager,” protagonist
Holden Caulfield’s feelings of alienation from society,
lack of direction, and ever-present angst apply to readers of all ages and across all decades.
7. The Lord of the Rings (1954) by: J.R.R. TolkienOriginally written as a short sequel to his popular children’s story, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings quickly
grew into an epic saga and true masterpiece. Tolkien
created a whole new world, and each turn of the page
brings about a new discovery.
8. Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by: Ray Bradbury- Along
with fellow classics such as 1984 and Brave New
World, this book serves as the wise and intellectually
superior grandfather to the current young-adult dystopian novel fad.
9. Looking For Alaska (2005) by: John Green- John
Green’s critically acclaimed first novel, set at a boarding school in the Deep Douth, is the coming of age
tale of Miles “Pudge” Halter. Readers will laugh at the
escapades of Pudge and his friends, will be moved to
tears when tragedy strikes, and most importantly, will
be provoked to truly think.
10. The Book Thief (2006) by: Markus Zusak- Set
in Nazi Germany, this novel shows the impact of World
War II on young, recently-orphaned Liesel as she interacts with her foster family and neighborhood under the
constant threat of death. A beautifully written book, it
is impossible to read this in its entirety without shedding a tear.
A good book stays with you, long after you turn
its final page. These novels, and the ninety others on
NPR’s list, have and will deeply affect readers of all
ages, regardless of their “young-adult” label.
T I L G H M A N
B E LL
PAGE
T H E
SPORTS
Dominance
Continues
27-0
9
by Jordan Kendall
The “Final Chapter” has ended, and it was a long,
sad story for the Lone Oak Purple Flash. After 27 alltime meetings between the Paducah Tilghman Blue
Tornado and the Lone Oak Flash, Tilghman has come
out victorious in all of them. Saturday night, the two
teams met for their final battle, Tilghman looking to
remain undefeated against their cross-town rival and
Lone Oak looking to get their first ever win in a series
dominated by the city school.
Paducah Tilghman held the momentum for much
of the first half with a mix of powerful runs and deep
passes to keep the Lone Oak defense on their toes.
Early in the first quarter, Tilghman junior quarterback,
Jordan Tyler, connected with senior receiver, James
Hill, on a thirty-yard completion to give them a first
down after facing third and long. Having their backs
against the wall later in the drive, Tyler exploded past
the line of scrimmage on fourth down and three yards
to go to give the Tornado another first down. Sophomore running back, Tyler Scarborough, then fought
off would-be tacklers to give Paducah Tilghman the
first points of the game with 7:36 left to play in the
first quarter. A converted point after touchdown (PAT)
by junior kicker, Miles Butler, pushed the score to 7-0
in favor of the Blue Tornado.
Lone Oak took over the next drive looking to
strike back and bring the game even before ending
the first period of play. Running back, DJ Sherrill,
helped move the Purple Flash slowly up the field with
a few powerful runs, setting them up in nice position
to score. Quarterback, Cole Ousley, saw a man down
field and heaved the ball up, but Tilghman junior safety, Darrius Spivey-Nunn, read it like book. SpiveyNunn intercepted the long pass from Ousley and ran it
all the way back for Tilghman’s second touchdown of
the first quarter. Butler converted the PAT once again,
pushing the score to 14-0; Tilghman leading.
With many of the remaining minutes of the first
quarter going back and forth between the two teams,
Lone Oak entered the second quarter with the ball
looking for their first points of the game. On the third
play of the quarter, Lone Oak’s Sherrill fumbled the
ball, and the Tilghman defense pounced on it to take
possession once again. Looking for the deep man
downfield, Tyler found junior receiver, Travon Jones,
in the back of the endzone to give the Tornado their
third touchdown of the first half. Tilghman attempted
the two-point conversion, but it was shut down by the
Lone Oak defense holding the score at 20-0 with 9:24
left to play in the quarter.
A scary moment occurred late in the second
quarter when Lone Oak blocked the attempted punt
by Tilghman’s Butler, leaving Butler lying on the
ground in pain after the play. Fortunately, the injury
was not serious and Butler was able to return later in
the game, but Lone Oak now had the ball inside the
Tilghman thirty yard line. Ousley took a shot deep in
the back of the endzone after a two plays that moved
the ball three yards, connecting with receiver Morgan
Alexander to put the Purple Flash on the board. Lone
Oak was unable to convert the PAT, marking the score
at 20-6 with 2:28 seconds remaining in the half.
Once the first half ended and it was time for the
Flash offense to take the field in the third quarter,
Sherrill put the team on his back and carried them into
Tilghman territory. He broke through multiple Tor-
Photo by Katie Paxton
nado tackle attempts, fighting
for twenty yards on one carry and fifteen yards the
next carry. With the Flash deep in the Tornado’s side
of the field, Ousley found receiver Rasheed Jones
in the corner of the endzone for Lone Oak’s second
touchdown of the game. A failed two-point conversion by the Lone Oak offense held the score at 20-12,
and the Flash looking to start a comeback.
After a Tilghman fumble on the ensuing drive, Lone
Photo by Katie Paxton
Oak was able to take over on offense once again. Momentum seemingly in favor of the Flash, Tilghman was
looking for some way to stop them from scoring once
again. On fourth and long, Lone Oak attempted to pass
their way into a new set of downs, but a sack by Tilghman junior linebacker, Tre Coleman, gave possession
back to the Tornado.
Chippy was the word to describe the fourth quarter,
as both teams played very physical and were called for
multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Nonetheless, Darrius Spivey-Nunn picked off a pass from Lone
Oak freshman quarterback, Ziaiyre Hughes, to swing
the momentum back in favor of Paducah Tilghman.
Now in Lone Oak territory, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Purple Flash put Tilghman on the
three yard line, where Jordan Tyler was able to punch
it in the rest of the way for a fourth Tornado touchdown
in the game. A blocked PAT held the score at 26-12
with 9:11 left in the fourth quarter.
Another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the
Flash moved them back to the three yard line, where the
Tornado were able to sack Hughes in the endzone for a
safety on the following play, leaving the score at 28-12
for the remainder of the game. Lone Oak looking for
a couple of miracle drives late in the game turned into
their closing the book on the “Final Chapter.”
Due to the consolidation of the three McCracken
County schools, this was the last chance Lone Oak had
to prevail against Paducah Tilghman, but their efforts
were not enough to withstand a 27th all-time victory
by the team in blue. All the pages in this book have
been read and the final chapter reads: “Paducah Tilghman 27, Lone Oak 0.”
Be sure to come out and support Tilghman football:
8/31
Mayfield
Away
9/7
Graves Co.
Home
9/14
Crittenden Co.
Away
9/21
Heath
Home
9/28
Fort Cambell
Away
10/5
Trigg Co.
Away
10/12
Northeast
Home
10/19
Webster Co.
Home
PT Golf teams host Invitational Redemption in mind:
boys’ soccer preview
by Jacob Blankenship
Every year, the Tilghman golf team
hosts and competes in the Paducah
Tilghman Invitational Tournament.
This year, 130 players, 66 girls and 64
boys, and a total of 23 teams from all
over the state of Kentucky convened at
Paxton Park on Saturday, August 11 to
compete in this massive tournament.
The Tilghman boys and girls golf
teams, unfortunately, did not place.
However, Tilghman’s very own Teri
Doss placed second in the girls’ individuals with an impressive score
of 72, only one above par. When
asked about placing second, Doss
Photo by Wayne Walden
stated, “I felt like I played pretty
well, but had one swing that cost me a
lot of shots.” Anna Hack of Calloway County placed first with a score of 69.
Daniel Taylor of Caldwell County placed first in the boys’ individuals with a
69 as well. The Graves County boys placed first as a team with a total score of
301, and the Calloway County girls team placed first with a total score of 311.
Both Tilghman boys and girls teams are looking forward to the Regional tournaments
that will be held at the end of September. Doss is especially looking forward to her rematch with Hack. When asked about the Regional tournament, she responded, “You learn
from your mistakes and prepare for when it really matters at the Regional tournament.”
by Andrew Zaninovich
The Tilghman boys’ soccer team has its eyes on Regionals this year after a disappointing loss to Lone Oak in last year’s district semi-final. The loss to Lone Oak
kept the boys from a regional berth even after having the best record in the region.
The soccer team has had a promising start to the season this year after attending
the Bluegrass Games, a state-wide preseason tournament; two big scrimmages; and
one regular season game.
Tilghman’s first scrimmage was a home match against one of the best teams in
the region, Marshall County. Junior Jake Humphrey scored a hat trick in the first
half, and after another half of play, Humphrey scored a fourth goal along with goals
from juniors Jacob Holtgrewe and Trae Hampton. Tilghman ended the game as a
shutout, 6-0.
Redemption was sweet in the second scrimmage against Lone Oak, who fared
no better than Marshall against an equally strong performance by the Tornado.
Brock Sigler, coming off of a hip flexor injury earlier in the preseason, scored two
goals against the Flash. Two other goals were produced by junior Miles Butler and
freshman Noe Ramirez.
Last Thursday, the boys team was set to play their first regular season game at
Murray High School. Jake Humphrey was able to score a goal early on in the first
half. Unfortunately, the game was cancelled due to poor weather conditions soon
after Humphrey’s goal, and the game is to be rescheduled.
Tilghman’s defense is also a force to be reckoned with. Goalkeeper Quinn
Olsen, who is a senior this year, most likely won’t be seeing too much action this
year behind Tilghman’s solid defensive line consisting of two all-district defenders
from last year, seniors Griffin Watson and Hayden Mattingly. Junior Justin Holt
and Logan Besaw, a sophomore transfer from Lone Oak, also contribute to the
rock-solid defense.
All in all, the Tilghman boys are looking at a great season this year. Expect many
goals from their high-octane offense and few goals allowed against their quick,
solid defense.
PAGE
T H E
10
T I L G H M A N
B E L L
SPORTS
New coaches
Upcoming Sporting Events
take charge at PTHS
PTHS Golf
Roche’s return
by McKenzi Belt & Emily Whitson
The hardcore, no nonsense varsity women’s soccer Coach returns! After
three years of pursuing her Master’s degree, Jamie Roche regains her position
as head coach for the 2012 season. Roche says, “The timing could not have
been more perfect; I finished my Masters in December 2011 and the position
opened up that May.” Roche coached the Lady Tornado Varsity squad from
2005-2008, leading to three District tournament appearances. With a fighter
mentality, Coach Roche has already begun to instill in her team a sense of
pride, specifically ‘Tilghman Pride.’
When asked about Roche’s immediate impact on her return to the Tilghman soccer program, sophomore Molly Thompson replied, “I think that she
has brought a lot of much needed discipline to the team. I really like her, and
I believe her positive attitude will push us to be our best. I look forward to a
wonderful season with my girls.”
The Lady Tornado started off their season with two shutout scrimmages
defeating Union County 4-0 and Christian County 1-0. Roche commented,
“The team’s performance really proved we can play with anyone, but we
have to play aggressive from whistle to whistle, all 80 minutes.” Coach
Roche is “excited to be able to coach a team with so much talent.” She’s
highly impressed not only by the amount of talent the team already possesses
but also in the improvement of players since she left in 2008; particularly the
present Seniors whom she recalled coaching during their eighth grade Junior
Varsity season.
Coach Roche has many goals for the 2012 season, including a definite
District Championship along with a shot at a Regional Title. But, of course,
head Coach Jamie Roche isn’t bearing the load alone, she has two new assistant coaches to help her every step of the way. Junior Varsity Coach Jessica Pearson and keeper Coach Joe Pearson come with “the same vision for
the team” as Coach Roche. Roche stated that they work well as a group and
recalled that upon first meeting the couple she felt as if she had known them
for years.
The team agrees that the trio meshes well and balance each other out.
With as much focus and drive as Roche has, it’s hard for the girls not to be
ecstatic about the season that is just beginning to unfold. With two wins under their belt and many more to come, the team could not be happier to have
Jamie back. Ask any PTHS soccer girl and she will tell you that practices
hurt, but the extreme improvement and love of the game Coach has brought
to the field has been worth all of the 6 A.M. practices and 2-a-days. The team
continues to work hard while the recently returned Coach continues to push
the girls to reach their full potential. Thanks to the fresh energy Coach Roche
has brought to the team, the girls are ready to take their district by storm this
season. Welcome home, Coach!
Cunningham joins
volleyball team
by Sabel Overlin
With no returning starters, the girls’ volleyball team knew they had a
challenge before them. Instead of throwing in the towel, the players made a
commitment to challenge themselves to make daily improvements in practices and games.
First year head coach, Mary Cunningham, couldn’t be prouder of the girls’
efforts. Cunningham, a former Murray State volleyball player, said in a Paducah Sun interview, “I like the team’s motivation and attitude to learn and get
through these growing pains.” Eslobanka Loaiza, coined a “Player to Watch”
in a recent Paducah Sun article, said of Cunningham, “She knows when to be
tough in practices, yet is very helpful and understanding off the court.”
The frustrations of having few players left with varsity experience would
drive some teams to ruin, but Loaiza says they have been able to bond as a
team through the difficulties. Between showing patience with each other
during practices and going to pasta dinners together before games, the girls
have started to get along really well.
Being such a young team, the girls and coaches are hopeful for the future
of the program. Loaiza says, “The team has a lot of individual talent and
shows potential.” Even with the struggles during the beginning of the season, the team is confident that they will have a successful year.
August games- 23rd: at Fulton County, 25th : All A, 28th : At Graves
September games- 4th : at Ballard Memorial, 6th : at Hickman, 11th : Fulton
County, 17th : at Reidland
Johnson has high hopes
for PTHS baseball team
by Matthew Moore
Paducah Tilghman High School has a new baseball coach this year. Chris
Johnson is a 34 year old graduate from Christian Fellowship where he played
infield for his high school baseball team. Coach Johnson played college baseball at John A. Logan, and Murray State University. He went on to play in the
Cincinnati Reds Farm System League.
When asked about the expectations for the team this year, Coach Johnson
said, “We have three transfers from CCA and a lot of kids returning from last
year. We only had two seniors graduate and are a young team. I expect to
compete.” He said it was an honor and a privilege to get the job here and had
nothing but good things to say about this coming year. Coach Johnson cannot wait to work with the team. So with eager Coach Johnson, new transfers,
and returning young players, Tilghman is looking forward to a good year in
baseball.
Date
August 27
August 29
August 30
September 1
September 8
September 10
September 12
September 13
September 15
September 17
September 19
September 20
Opponent
PTIC
Livingston Co.
Lyon Co.
Marshall Co.
Murray
Massac Co.
Lone Oak
Heath
Graves Co.
Crittenden Co.
Marshall Co.
Graves Co.
Reidland
Livingston Co.
Crittenden Co.
Location
Paxton Park
Drake Creek
Paxton Park
Calvert City
Murray CC
Metropolis CC
Paxton Park
Paxton Park
South Highland CC
Deer Lakes
Paxton Park
Paxton Park
PTHS Volleyball
August 27
Heath (F/JV/V)
September 6
Marshall Co. (F/JV/V)
September 10
Graves Co. (F/JV/V)
September 13
Heath (F/JV/V)
September 15
Massac Tourney (V)
September 21-22
L.O. Quad State (V)
September 24
Reidland (F/JV/V)
Away
Away
Away
Home
Away
Away
Away
PTHS Girls’ Soccer
August 28
Crittenden Co.
August 30
Heath
September 4
St. Mary
September 6
Mayfield
September 8
Owensboro
September 10
Hopkinsville
September 13
Heath
September 15
Reidland
September 17
St. Mary
September 20
Ballard Memorial
September 24
Calloway County
Home
Home
Away
Home
Away
Away
Away
Away
Home
Home
Home
PTHS Boys’ Soccer
August 30
Heath
September 4
St. Mary
September 6
Mayfield
September 10
CCA
September 13
Heath
September 20
Ballard
PTHS Cross Country
September 4
St. Mary Greenway Trail
September 8
Purple Strider Invitational
September 15
St. Mary Invitational
September 22
Gatorland Run
Home
Away
Home
Away
Away
Home