Wrestling, the sport of the strong-bodied and strong-minded, may be wrapping up its season, but recent competitions are results of training and mentality from throughout the season.
Both boys and girls wrestlers are competing in their final matches, as girls’ wrestling just sent junior Abi Lemon to the state finals, and the boys’ wrestlers get ready to compete in regionals this weekend at JHS.
As junior wrestler Scarlett McRae said, “Wrestling isn’t just a sport; it’s a daily choice to suffer so you can stand taller later.”
While Red Devils wrestlers are standing taller as they compete this winter, the season technically begins in the early months of the school year with conditioning.
Sophomore Jaylen Howard gets a pin for the Red Devils. Howard advances to regionals to compete this weekend. Photo by Magdalene Conrad.
In the fall is when the fun – or suffering – actually begins. The girls’ season officially starts right after fall break each year, and the boys are not far behind, starting at the end of October.
Sophomore wrestler Jaylen Howard said, “Wresting is more than just a winter sport because it starts the day school starts in August and ends July the next year — just in time for the season to start again, creating a never-ending cycle.”
What most people don’t know is that, unlike some sports, wrestling doesn’t end with an in-season break. As soon as the technical season ends, wrestlers jump right into the off-season, whether it be coaching local elementary students or going to meets across the country.
“It’s a year-round thing. Every single weekend is seen as a new opportunity to get more matches in. Anything less and you’re selling yourself short while your competition is getting better,” 2024 graduate and wrestler Dawson Slaughter explained.
Off-season isn’t just about training for those in high school. It’s also about teaching those who may eventually participate in high school. The Jeff wrestling program is bigger than just the high school.
Junior Abi Lemon shows determination during a wrestling meet. Lemon is a four-sport athlete who advanced to the state finals this season. Submitted photo.
“Wrestling’s a year round thing, whether you’re helping younger kids with their wrestling careers or trying to improve yourself for the next season,” said Lemon, a four-sport athlete who advanced to the state finals this year.
Middle and elementary school wrestlers are considered a part of the Team Jeff wrestling program and family, too. Jeff High wrestlers teach and practice with these younger athletes, so they know a friendly face in the coming years.
“Going to the middle schools allows for us to become greater leaders and know who we are leaving the program to when we are finished,” said senior Abril Andres.
Wrestling has never been described as an easy sport. In order to compete, participants must have a strong mind. They must be able to fight the odds and keep going. This is what makes wrestling what it is.
As junior wrestler Will Honaker said, “The definition of wrestling is to struggle.”
This shows not only the difficulty of wrestling but also the mindset the participants are in. They know going into it that it’s not going to be easy, but still, they do it.
In December 2024, the Indiana State Board of Education adopted new high school diploma standards, which will take effect beginning with the Class of 2029. These new standards will affect all current and future Indiana freshmen.
With the Indiana High School diploma remaining significantly unchanged for several years, the Indiana Department of Education aims to provide students with more work-based learning opportunities and increased chances to achieve their goals.
Engineering Academy counselor Whitney Roberts said the new standards are in response to employers’ increased need for employees who are ready to enter the workforce upon graduation.
“They are trying to get away from a college-focused curriculum, and instead are trying to keep up with employers that need a more ready workforce,” she said.
According to Roberts, the new standards feature a base diploma and three core principles.
“The new diploma splits, it’s three E’s: Employment, if you want to go to work after high school; Enrollment, if you want to enroll into a college, and Enlistment, if you want to go into the military,” she said.
“They are trying to get away from a college-focused curriculum, and instead are trying to keep up with employers that need a more ready workforce.”
Engineering Academy Counselor Whitney Roberts
Greater Clark County Schools wants to ensure that students meet their work-based learning goals while still enjoying extracurricular activities.
“Greater Clark County has purchased an online system to allow students who have lots of after-school commitments to still meet work-based learning goals for high school students,” she said. This should help students meet some work-based requirements through their extracurriculars.
Freshman Academy counselor Andrea Schedler explained that the biggest change from the previous diploma is that the number of credits needed for graduation has increased.
“The biggest thing is now it’s 42 credits instead of 40,” she said.
Graphic by Daysha Gray.
Indiana Diploma Standards have been well known as the “Core 40” for 15 years, since it took effect in 2011, owing to the now-outdated 40-credit graduation requirement. Before this, the diploma standards had not seen any changes in a decade.
Among these new standards, some classes have now been labeled as graduation requirements.
“For English 10, they are going to either take Speech or an advanced English class. Another big change is the College and Careers Credit, which, along with Computing Foundations and Personal Finance, has become a required graduation class,” Schedler said.
Prior to the new standards, College and Careers was not a graduation requirement, nor did Computing Foundations exist until this school year. Preceding Computing Foundations as the semester 2 successor to College and Careers, was Personal Finance, which has now become a required senior class.
Unlike the “Core 40” diploma, the new standards feature more honors academic options.
“In the old diploma, there was only the base diploma, academic honors, and technical honors. Now there are more options, like the honors seal and the honors plus seal,” Schedler said.
Each diploma (Enrollment, Employment, and Enlistment) have their own specific requirements to obtain the honors and honors-plus seals to ensure success in each field.
Schedler said that there are advantages and disadvantages to these changes, and they could put a lot of stress on students’ shoulders
“I think there’s good and bad. The good thing is that we give students more options, but the requirements for the honors plus seal for employment can be very difficult. It requires 650 work hours,” she said.
Public Service Academy Principal Chelsea Jordan elaborated on the difficulties of building direct relationships between students and their work.
“We’re going to have to work with teachers to find ways to build more career-driven, hands-on experiences in the classroom,” she said.
Principals and teachers alike are taking any step necessary to stay informed on the new changes to better help the students meet their goals.
“We’ve already spoken with our teachers about it and kind of brainstormed different ideas within the academies of how to make adjustments,” Jordan said.
Jordan, however, is more skeptical about the changes and how they actually benefit the majority of students.
“I think it’s a little extreme. You have kids in sports, or other extracurricular activities, and it can be hard for them to meet their diploma requirements,” she said.
College and Careers teacher Michael Moody believes giving kids more options other than enrolling in college is a benefit.
“College isn’t for everybody. One of my friends actually went into the military, and they paid in full for her college after serving for nine years,” he said.
Moody helped create the college and careers program at Jeff High and described it as a gateway into figuring out what teens would like to do during their high school careers.
“We have basic jobs that we’re supposed to do mainly to help you have an idea of where your skills and aptitudes match in the pathways,” he said.
With college not being for everyone, the new diploma also helps students realize easier paths to success in their future fields.
“Why should you go to a four-year college and spend tens of thousands of dollars to get a job when you can go and get training and you get started getting paid right out of school?” he said.
Ultimately, teachers, counselors, and the State Board of Education all agree that the changes to this diploma were made to encourage and support students to achieve their goals, whether that be Employment, Enrollment, or Enlistment.
Despite the snow, ice, and on-line classes, JHS student photographers photographed some images of January’s cold weather as part of their Digital Photography class.
Most images are a part of their unit on black and white photography as they study the work of Ansel Adams this month.
Click on the images in the gallery below to view their photographs.
Photo by Abygail Lawson.Photo by Dery Posas Reyes.Photo by Kayleen Alvarado.Photo by Kingsley Asare.Photo by Tytionna Wickliffe.Photo by Aaliyah Flowers.Photo by Abril Blas Peralta.Photo by Donna Muncy.Photo by Isaiah Stewart.Photo by Mariana Castro.
Editor’s Note: Proceed carefully, Stranger Things fans, as the following feature story contains spoilers.
by Shelby Keesee
On Dec. 31, 2025, at 8 p.m. EST, the highly anticipated Stranger Things series finale, written and directed by the Duffer Brothers, aired on Netflix, and later was accessible for viewers to see in select theaters.
The series ran for almost 10 years (2016-2025) and gained numerous fans through its 1980s nostalgia, references, unique plot, and most importantly, its characters.
Prior to the finale, two volumes containing episodes of the fifth season arrived on Netflix, with Volume 1 (episodes 1-4) releasing on Nov. 26, and Volume 2 (episodes 5-7) releasing on Dec. 25.
The Crawl
The first episode, entitled “The Crawl,” is set in 1987 in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. The episode begins with a flashback to Will’s vanishing in the Upside Down, which was the first event that led viewers into Stranger Things’ complex and emotional story.
“My first thought was, ‘Oh my God – they were babies. They were such little babies,’ and now they’re like, grown men and stuff,” stated Student Council sponsor Natalie Woods. “I don’t know if it did it justice – if I’ve never watched seasons one, two, three or four, and I just watched the flashback, I don’t think I would’ve been able to get the gist of what happened. So I feel like if they really wanted to do that fairly, it should’ve been an episode all on its own.”
The episode then reveals that Hawkins is under military occupation due to an “earthquake,” which leads the main cast into frequent “crawls” to look for Vecna, one of the main villains, in the Upside Down.
The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler
The second episode, entitled “The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler,” contains the season’s main storyline – Holly’s vanishing, orchestrated by “Mr. Whatsit,” who is later revealed to be an alter ego of Henry Creel/Vecna.
“They focused on Holly a lot. She was definitely the main character of this season, and if they were planning on making a Stranger Things follow-up, she’s the start of the next generation of kids.” said English teacher Eric Watson.
“I loved episode 2, probably my favorite of the whole season,” stated English teacher Allison Clary.
The Turnbow Trap and Sorcerer
“The Turnbow Trap” contains Derek Turnbow’s addition into the plot, and the fourth episode, “Sorcerer,” leads viewers into a turning point – Will’s realization of his sorcerer-like powers.
“But, my next one was number four, ‘Sorcerer,’ because, of course, that was so shocking — none of us knew Will had those powers,” said Clary.
Volume 2
The second volume, containing “Shock Jock,” “Escape from Camazotz,” and “The Bridge,” gave us key events prior to the final adventure. The episodes, containing Nancy and Jonathan’s near-death experience, Max’s escape, and Will’s vulnerable moment, received mixed feelings from viewers. Critics expressed that the Duffers’ writing in the volume either lacked professionalism, was rushed, or lacked character depth.
“The part with Max was kind of confusing to me. She’s in a coma, but she’s still alive and functioning with other people who are stuck in the Upside Down,” stated history teacher Kent Porter.
“I know on the internet, a lot of people were really upset that Will had his whole coming-out scene and everything,” English teacher Holden Henderson said. “I mean, I think it’s great to give people representation – that is a very emotionally taxing moment, and so it makes sense that he would feel that way, but I do think for the story itself, I feel like they (Duffers) spent too much time on it.”
“The Rightside Up” is Stranger Things’ final episode, and it mainly focused on the group teaming up to successfully defeat Vecna.
“The thing about the final episode is the build-up for this season – all of these Demodogs and Demogorgons and all these monsters having to do with all this stuff, but when they actually go into the Upside Down, it’s not there,” said Henderson. “A couple of episodes before, when the Demodogs were fighting all the soldiers outside of the gate, like, that was a huge fight with lots of monsters and stuff – you’d think Vecna would’ve probably tried to defend himself a little bit.”
But the finale’s emotional ending has sparked a contentious question among fans; was Eleven’s sacrifice an illusion – or did she actually die?
In the debate, some believe that she didn’t perish, with an example being Woods.
“I don’t think she did. She’s too strong to have died just like that. Out of all things that poor child has gone through, that’s it? She’s gonna be whisked away with the wind?” Woods stated.
Some others believe she truly died, including Porter.
“I think she did. The way they just kind of left it there with her being in the Upside Down with everything breaking apart, I think it got her.” Porter said.
However, others have a more neutral stance, like Watson.
“I think the way they did the ending was the coward’s way out. They gave everyone a happy ending, they had a dramatic moment where like, it was a pyrrhic victory; they won, but they had lost something very valuable,” stated Watson. “And I feel like leaving the hope that Eleven is still alive undercuts that in a way that was disappointing. I would’ve been happier if they would’ve picked one.”
One of the Greatest?
Despite the common criticism over season 5, the season and the series still appeal to fans as one of the greatest they’ve seen yet.
“I loved the whole series, and I overall loved season 5,” Clary said. “I know some people were disappointed with the very last episode, number 8, but I was not disappointed at all. It was a great way to wrap up everything and everybody – all the characters kind of climaxed, and I understand why Eleven had to go.”
“Season 5 I thought was very enjoyable, as far as a watching experience, I enjoyed watching it,” stated Henderson. “But, part of that was taking a step back from a cinema graphic, or a movie critic style approach, and more of just like, ‘Hey, I really like this series, I want to enjoy it.’ There were definitely some flaws, there were definitely some weaknesses, but overall, it was enjoyable.”
The Characters
Even though a percentage of the audience has not viewed season 5 yet, the characters in Stranger Things are unforgettable and complex.
“Favorite character? Either Steve – the babysitter guy, or Dustin,” stated math teacher Cory Densford, who has yet to watch the final season. “Those are definitely my favorites. I really liked Steve’s character arc. I always have a soft spot for those kind of villain characters.”
“I liked Hopper a whole lot. I’m a pretty sarcastic dude, and he delivered the most sarcasm, I think. And also, he’s just surrounded by teenagers and exhausted all the time, and that’s relatable to me,” Watson said.
“Everyone wants to say Will, because his character led up to that culminating point where he mind slayed Vecna, but I feel like it’s going to be Lucas for me,” said Woods. “He had such a role of keeping the group together. He didn’t have these main character storylines, but he was always the one that was there – if something went good, if something went bad, he really had the answers to everything.”
Because of these characters’ relatability, viewers tend to feel more of an emotional response while watching Stranger Things.
“I think maybe part of that is because it’s taken place over nearly 10 years,” stated Clary. “I’ve literally watched since the first year, so a lot of people who have strong feelings, sometimes it’s because they’ve been watching for so long.”
“I think some of it has to do with the writing style and the characters. You usually feel very realistic towards them, so when we see characters we can kind of imagine as ourselves or our friends or our loved ones, we can see similarities, and since they are more realistic, we see them going through these things, so it seems more emotionally real to us as well,” said Henderson.
“Having characters that have flaws are important in media,” Densford stated. “Nobody’s perfect, and if they’re perfect, it’s hard to relate.”
The exceptional, emotional story and character depth has led fans to share the series with their friends and family.
“I’ve heard about it because my wife’s a big fan of it,” stated English teacher David Kummer, who has not yet watched the show. “She started watching it a couple of years ago and binge watched it.”
“Honestly, my son – he was the one who recommended it, and the minute we watched it, it stuck.” Woods said.
Overall, Stranger Things has made its impact on numerous fans, and its popularity will continue to rise over the years.
The series’ versatility in multiple areas, such as its writing, unique plot, and in-depth characters makes it a historical show for viewers. Regardless of season five’s criticism, it still remains a favorite for many.
“It seems like there’s always a show every 10 years or so that becomes bigger than some of its parts,” stated Watson.
All photos by Magdalene Conrad, Kirk Owen, and Parker McCloskey. Click on each photo in the gallery below.
Sophomore MaKenna Taylor highfives her teammates during the announcement of the starting five. Photo by Parker McCloskey. The Jeffersonville Girls’ Basketball team, coaches, family, and friends gather for a photo after Senior Night celebrations. Photo by Magdalene Conrad.Senior Kelis Dansby looks to rebound during the warm-up period for Jeffersonville. Photo by Magdalene Conrad. Before the game the team pledged to the flag, presented by the JROTC Apollo. Photo by Kirk Owen.Senior Maizy Smith goes for a fade away shot with three Seymour players surrounding her. Photo by Kirk Owen. Senior Kelis Dansby performs a layup during Tuesday’s game against Seymour. Photo by Parker McCloskey. Senior Maizy Smith takes a shot contested by Seymour’s senior Claire Skaggs. Photo by Magdalene Conrad.Sophomore Alicia Mangrum takes a shot for Jeffersonville. Mangrum scored 20 points in the game. Photo by Magdalene Conrad.Sophomore Alicia Mangrum hits a jump shot for 2 points in the first quarter. Photo by Kirk Owen. Senior Kelis Dansby drives the ball against her Seymour defender. Dansby scored 10 points. Photo by Parker McCloskey.The Red Devils cheer on their teammates during the match-up against Seymour. Photo by Parker McCloskey. Sophomore MaKenna Taylor performs a jump-shot. She scored 10 points in the Tuesday night win over Seymour. Photo by Parker McCloskey. Sophomore MaKenna Taylor shoots a three-pointer for the Red Devils. The Red Devils faced Seymour this past Tuesday. Jeffersonville defeated the Owls 69-41. Photo by Magdalene Conrad.
All photos by Malachi Conrad and Macaleb Conrad. Click on each photo in the gallery below.
Senior Zion Mitchell attempts a layup through contact. Photo by Malachi Conrad. Coach Sherron Wilkerson gives his team advice and motivates them to win the game. Jeff beat Floyd Central 49-48 on Jan. 16 in the closing seconds of the game. Photo by Malachi Conrad. Sophomore Fred Stone shoots a 3-pointer in the 2nd quarter against Floyd Central on Friday. Jeff won 49-48 in the final seconds with a go-ahead basket by senior Terrence Nord. by Photo by Malachi Conrad.Junior Vontrell James looks to pass the ball at the Jeff-FC game on Friday. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Sophomore Mason Longest looks to pass the ball while being defended at Floyd Central on Friday night. Photo by Malachi Conrad.The starting lineup in Jeffersonville’s game against Providence talks to each other before the jump ball. The Red Devils beat Providence 50-39 Saturday night. Photo by Malachi Conrad. Junior Jacob Wilkerson shoots a wide-open mid-range shot against Providence. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Junior Vontrell James scans the floor, preparing to pass the ball. Photo by Macaleb Conrad. Senior Germaine Perry begins to drive the ball in the third quarter. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Junior Jacob Wilkerson makes a layup at the end of the game. The 50-39 win against Providence capped off two days of victories against local teams for Jeff High. Photo by Malachi Conrad.
From taking down No. 9 Alabama 38-3, to then embarrassing No. 5 Oregon 56-22, the undefeated 15-0 Hoosiers don’t seem to be slowing down as they head into Monday’s national championship game against Miami (13-2).
On Monday, Indiana hopes to win it all in Miami. Since 1899, the Hoosiers have never won a football national championship and have been among the programs with the most football losses.
Hoosier fans hope that changes Monday night.
“I think they’ve worked harder than anyone else and deserve it. They’re professional when it counts and don’t show mercy, which is why they’re so good,” said sophomore John Steele.
Some are sure Indiana will beat Miami, but others are still nervous only because they are used to losing.
“Miami is obviously a great team, but I think we may be even better. I am still nervous but I think some of those nerves stem from so many years of watching IU football lose. I’ve been conditioned to expect us to lose and I am still trying to remind myself that we have a real possibility to win the national championship,” said Northaven Academic improvement coordinator Kelly Allen, an IU fan.
This national championship game is bringing many long-time fans together to watch their all time favorite team.
“Family had a lot to do with me being an IU fan. But in 1987 I was 15 years old watching Keith Smart hit a last second shot to win the basketball national championship against Syracuse. If you have to pick a moment, that’s when I knew I was a Hoosier,” said IU fan Robert Denbo.
Fans have always been giving a lot to the IU community, doing anything they can to show true support.
“I show my support for my team by sharing stuff on social media and wearing my IU gear. I give to the Alumni Association as well. IU has the largest Alumni Association in the entire nation and it has the most people raising lots of money by going to games and by watching games on TV,” said Northaven principal and Hoosier fan Laura Morris.
While some fans have been cheering from home on their TVs , others have actually been going to the games.
“Seeing the joy on IU fans’ (of all ages) faces as they attend these games has been so exciting. It has been a thrilling time for fans,” Allen said from experience after being to many games.
When Allen says “of all ages,” she means it. Students all the way to teachers and parents have been ecstatic and call it a “miracle.”
“It’s crazy. I went from not even thinking about Indiana when it came to football as a fan, to now about to win a national championship. It’s a miracle,” said sophomore Liam Wooden.
The Hoosiers football team has brought hope to many, and this hope is shown and expressed in different ways, reaching all audiences.
“The way the team works together to accomplish this year’s wins has given me so much hope. Our Heisman (winner Fernando) Mendoza has also been performing better than amazing. Since 1975 I’ve been an IU fan and they’ve never come this far,” said JHS graduate and IU fan Kathleen Brennan.
With the national championship on Monday, Indiana fans are pumped up more than ever, with very high expectations.
“I think Indiana has a pretty good chance of beating Miami in the national championship because the Hoosiers have proven to be a powerhouse with trust in each other throughout the season,” stated Josie Zoeller, 2024 JHS graduate.
No. 1 Indiana (15-0) will play No. 10 Miami (13-2) in the 2026 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026:
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
TV/Radio: Broadcast on ESPN. Radio coverage is available through the IU Alumni Association, featuring Don Fischer’s call synced to the telecast.
All photos by Magdalene Conrad and Parker McCloskey. Click on each photo in the gallery below.
Senior Kelis Dansby is called during the starting five walkout and performs her signature handshake with junior Lila Schur before last night’s game at New Albany High School. JHS won 60-48. Photo by Magdalene Conrad.Senior Kiya Boatwright tips off for the Lady Red Devils. Jeffersonville defeated the Bulldogs 60-48 last night in a Hoosier Hills Conference match-up. Photo by Magdalene Conrad.S Senior Kiya Boatwright shoots a layup for the Lady Red Devils against New Albany junior guard Alyviah Lewis-Redd. JHS won 60-48. Photo by Magdalene Conrad. Sophomore Makenna Taylor competes and shoots during last night’s Hoosier Hills Conference game at New Albany. JHS won 60-48 after taking control during the second half. Photo by Magdalene Conrad.Sophomore Alicia Mangrum dribbles the ball. JHS defeated New Albany 60-48 last night. Photo by Parker McCloskey.Sophomore Mckenna Taylor prepares to pass the ball. Photo by Parker McCloskey. Sophomore Makenna Taylor shoots a three pointer during last night’s game at New Albany. Photo by Magdalene Conrad.Senior Kelis Dansby shoots a free throw during last night’s 60-48 win against New Albany. Photo by Parker McCloskey. Senior Kiya Boatwright shoots the ball from mid-range as New Albany plays defense. Photo by Parker McCloskey. Senior Kelis Dansby brings the ball up the court against New Albany last night. The Red Devils took control of the game in the second half. Photo by Parker McCloskey.
All photos by Magdalene Conrad and Malachi Conrad. Click on each photo in the gallery below.
Senior Gavin Grisham goes for a pin against opposing Charlestown in last night’s matchup. Photo by Magdalene ConradSophomore Logan Vidit maintains control, trying to stand back up. Photo by Malachi Conrad. Sophomore John Steele submits his opponent. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Freshman Noah Sparkman applies a submission hold to try to win his match. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Senior Quinten Smith deflects his opponent’s grab attempt, maintaining a good defense. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Sophomore Chandler Cooke mentally prepares for his match against his Charlestown opponent. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Junior Rodolfo Olvera showing the spectators his win against Charlestown during last night’s match. The Devils lost 42-29. Photo by Magdalene Conrad.Senior James Dyer attempts to submit his opponent at last night’s event. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Junior Elijah Lahrman picks his opponent’s legs up while on the ground, trying to get in a winning position. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Sophomore Dylan Grismer looks at his opponent, trying to figure out his next move, going on to win the match later on. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Sophomore Jaylen Howard gets a pin for the Red Devils. Photo by Magdalene Conrad.
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