Tag: Amber Rowe

The Addictive Nature of Drama and Gossip

gossip-by-amber-rowe

Once a teenager reaches their high school years, they will quickly learn the notorious nature of tension amongst their peers. Though it is unspoken, there is a very apparent culture of having a chip on everyone’s shoulder, and saying one wrong word on someone else’s name can cause an uproar of backlash on social media, in the classrooms, and out.

The word “drama” has lost its association with theater. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines drama as, “a state, situation, or series of events involving interesting or intense conflict of forces”.

They also define the word “gossip” as, “a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others”. However, most teens would disagree with this definition, as the majority of “gossip” that is spread is far from factual.

Both of these definitions have a negative connotation, but why are they so common?

High school is a strange time of transition for every student. In the short span of four years, a student will almost inevitably be exposed to several crucial life experiences such as the loss of friendships, falling in love, betrayal, failure and so forth. We’ve all been there.

With that being said, it’s not so surprising that those who haven’t yet reached the maturity to take these experiences with a light heart, are acting out.

This phenomenon has been a relevant issue this year at Jeff High, and predominantly within the underclassmen. According to several seniors and juniors, there is more tension amongst the school than anyone has ever seen before.

It is extremely easy to walk the halls at this school and hear about who did what over the weekend, which friends are fighting, which couple is breaking up… as if any of that information is anyone else’s business except for the subject’s.

And those involved are not adamant to stop it. They feed off of it. Much like an addiction.

There are several theories as to why this is, which span from the emotional turmoil that is puberty to lack of attention at home. For those of you concerned that this inevitable phase of life won’t come to an end, just take a step back and breathe. High school isn’t near as long as it seems.

By Bella Bungcayao

Photo by Amber Rowe

by jhshyphen

Sports: Spring Previews- Baseball

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With the boys baseball team winning sectionals and coming runner-up in regionals
last season, they have a lot to live up to. With five returning seniors this year, they plan to do everything they can to bring home a state title.

Senior, and USI commit, Drew Taylor, has a lot of hope in his team.“Losing seven seniors in all, and four starters, is going to be tough and no doubt will put a toll on our team,” he said. “But I have all the faith in the world that our new, and returning players, can get just as far, and hopefully further, than we did last year.”

The team finished with a winning season last year, going 24-6.

They project to continue their incredible accomplishment in the 2019 season. Despite having most of their players returning this year, the boys also have a talented freshman class joining them. According to incoming freshman Chate Amick, “The upperclassmen go out of their way to make sure we feel welcomed and are always teaching us new things to help us prepare for our first high school season.”

The team started the regular season on March 29. “We hope to see you come out this spring and support your Red Devils!” Amick said.

Written by Adley McMahel

Photo by Amber Rowe

by jhshyphen

Sports: Spring Previews- Softball

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Softball Starts Season With a Win

The Jeffersonville High School softball team started their season with a win against Butler High School on March 18. Last season the team ended with a record of 11-17, but this season we should see a lot of improvement. Coach Shadd Clarke thinks this season is going to be different from others due to all the talented underclassmen and impressionable seniors. “I’m excited for this season because we have lots of new, young talent and strong senior leadership,” said Clarke.
The team has three returning seniors (Casey Schweitzer, Cassidy Bott and Elizabeth Coons), two of which are signed to play in college. “I think this is going to be our most successful season in about 5 or 6 years, definitely the most successful season since I’ve been here,” Schweitzer said. In addition, Jeff softball is receiving the largest amount of experienced freshmen that we’ve seen in a long time. “I think we’ll much better this year. There are a lot of good incoming players,” said freshman Elliot Mays.
Throughout the season the team is looking forward to rivalry games. “Our rivals are mainly New Albany and Floyd Central, but really any conference team,” Clarke said. “Another rival is Assumption, from Louisville.”

Written by Joselen Lopez and Mattie Blanton

Photo by Amber Rowe

With Reporting Assistance from Rachel Lowe

by jhshyphen

Sports: Spring Previews- Girls Tennis

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Girls Tennis Team Prepares for a Successful Season

After losing their assistant varsity coach and head JV coach, the Jeff High girls tennis team is nervous but excited to see how this season will go. Freshman Adalaid Scott said, “This season is going to be really fun and I’m really excited!”

Everyone is looking forward to a fresh start and a good season filled with athleticism and competition. This is especially true for head coach, Curt Roehm.

“I think we’re going to do well this year. I hope we have a fun, competitive year. We have a lot of experienced seniors and talented underclassmen. So the competition to get a position on the varsity team should be really good. Hopefully with that competitive drive, we’ll be able to get a sectional title this year,” Roehm said.

Everyone on the team has a lot of faith in themselves this season, especially sophomore, Lydia Kittrell.

“We will hold our own in sectionals. I look forward to the competition, being with friends and just getting playing time,” Kittrell said. She added that the team will miss their previous assistant coach, Nathan Cross, “but I think we will be okay.”

Everyone is looking forward to a good season and the chance to claim the sectional title as their own.

Written by Mattie Blanton

Photo by Amber Rowe

by jhshyphen

Basketball, Swimming and Wrestling Season Previews

Girls Basketball

The Lady Devils return to the court this season with many returning players – including senior Tori Handley and juniors Nan Garcia and Kelcie James – as well as returning coach Mike Warren. Based on early successes, the team looks poised for a sectional title this year. The Lady Devils have scored 60 or more points in games that they have won this year and look to continue their high-scoring streak as the season goes on.

The Lady Devils started the season off by defeating the 16th-ranked North Harrison Cougars 66-44. “It was a big win for us after being so close in previous years,” said team captain Tori Handley.

The sectional title is particularly important for the team this year, since it was taken from their grasp by a late, game-winning shot in last season’s sectional match-up against Bedford North Lawrence. “It was a terrible feeling, but we all know our roles and what we need to do to succeed as a team,” said Handley.

Written by Braxton Troutman

Boys Basketball

Every November, if a high school basketball team has lost a lot of senior talent, people call it a “rebuilding year.” Although Jeff High lost several seniors from last year’s strong team, not much rebuilding is needed this year. In fact, the 2018-2019 Jeffersonville Boys Varsity Basketball team, under the direction of coach Joe Luce, is poised for an exciting and successful season.

For returning junior starter Trè Coleman, this season he will have to take the court without the experience of his brother Jaden Coleman and the leadership of Bailey Falkenstein, whom they lost to graduation. Coleman said he is “expecting a great season and a good run when it comes to sectionals.” The Red Devils will have eight returning players on their Varsity bench and Coleman feels like the 2019 Seymour Sectionals is a wide-open playing field. “With all our returning talent, we should consistently get better during the season and be competing for a sectional title in March.”

Written by Hannah Thibideau

Swimming

The Jeff High team is diving into another season for boys and girls swimming by getting back to their routines: morning practices, workouts, and vigorous afternoons in the pool. Their coach, Mike Pepa, couldn’t be happier with the work ethic on his team. “It’s difficult. We put in a lot of hours, probably the most hours of any team in the school,” Pepa said. “But it’s a lot of fun and good camaraderie. You’re part of one of the most successful teams in the school if you join, but it takes a heck of a commitment.”

To get to their level of expertise in their sport, they don’t take the season lightly. When the end of October comes around, the girls team starts warming up. “I’m really excited to have a great season with the girls, everyone is so fantastic and sweet,” senior Haley Vescelus said, “ we have a strong team and I’ll be sad when it’s over.”

Starting the season off right, the girls won against Bedford North Lawrence in their first meet. The boys team season starts two weeks after the girls, by the beginning of November. Both teams are in the water working to better the team and themselves.

Last year’s state qualifier, Kameron Case, has high hopes for his senior year swimming. He plans to continue his career in the pool in college. “I’m looking forward to this season,” Case said, “ I hope this year will better prepare me for college level competition.”

While the team practices for hours and days, all of that work goes toward a smaller, yet larger, goal: shaving off mere seconds (or fractions of seconds) from their time on meet days. A swimmer must rely on their own strength and put those hours of training into trying to beat competitors on the clock. “You’re always trying to beat your best time,” Pepa said. “You’re not just benefiting the team but improving yourself as well.”

Written by Haylee Hedrick

Wrestling

The Jeffersonville High School Wrestling team is coming off yet another successful season. After a phenomenal 2016-2017 season, where the team qualified 14/14 Wrestlers to Regionals, the current 2018 team has qualified 13/14 wrestlers last season. “Team 60” also had 11 sectional champions.

As the wrestlers succeed on the mat, the team also gets it done in the classroom. Last year, there were six Academic All-State wrestlers, and the team also had the top two team GPAs in the state for the past three years.

With Coach Struck coming off of his sixth sectional championship, he looks forward to the new season. “My goals only change slightly from year to year. But our vision stays the same,” he said. “My goal is to make it to state, national and international championships, but the purpose of our program is to inspire our athletes to be the best versions of themselves they can be.”

Despite losing a class of wrestlers to college, there is still a major upside for the new and improved squad. Senior wrestler Isaac Hall says, “I feel we have a really strong lineup and I think it’s going to be a shock to everyone because of how many first year varsity wrestlers we have. They just haven’t had their time to shine and I think they are going to show out in a big way this year.”

Written by Jack Ellis

Boys Basketball Photo by Kyle Tincher
Swimming and Girls Basketball Photos by Amber Rowe
Wrestling Photo Submitted

by jhshyphen