Tag Archives: Michael Pepin

Features, Michael Pepin, News

Theater management changes affects students

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By Michael Pepin

Unbeknownst to many, over winter break the Great Escape 16 movie theater franchise was sold to Regal Cinemas.  With this sudden change in ownership, many students and workers are wondering what will change in the movie theater.

“I was surprised when I learned that Great Escape was gone, but I understood that the owners had a good reason to sell it.  I don’t think that Regal will be that different than Great Escape; in fact I think it might be a good change since they are now a larger company,” said senior Gannon Yeaton.

While the majority of people do not think there will be a large change, senior Michael Clark remarks that most people have not realized a lot of the change because they do not come often.

“I was hired a week after Great Escape changed to Regal Theater, around late December and early January.  While a lot of things haven’t changed, the rules and policy are a lot more strict due to the fact that we are now part of a large corporation rather than a family business,” said Clark.

However, some believe that the future changes Regal theater will enact will be beneficial to customers.

“People might miss the Great Escape name, but you have a lot more access to reward benefits.  Regal plays some of the smaller movies that you would not find otherwise, or monthly special feature shows like operas.  Regal also has a lot more wiggle room than Great Escape because they are so big,” said senior Katelyn Rowe.

For the students working at Great Escape, there are many changes that customers would not see.

“Clocking in for work is more complicated now, you have to sign into this computer and the hours are more set in stone than they were before.  Everything is a lot more uptight than it was before, and we even now have secret inspections where the district manager goes to the theater as a customer to evaluate how the service is.  There is a lot more pressure when you are working there now because you know everything is being tracked,” said Rowe.

Regal Theater does not plan on immediately changing the name of the theater due to the fact that they may lose customers and it costs an exorbitant amount.

“I see these changes being better in the future because Great Escape is now a large corporation, they have access to more resources and it makes it a better experience for viewers.  If someone didn’t know that Great Escape had changed hands, then I doubt they would be able to tell.  A movie theater will always be a movie theater, whether it is Regal or Great Escape,” said Clark.

Michael Pepin, Uncategorized

Football season starts early for eager athletes

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By Michael Pepin

Football season is months away, and yet the members of the football team are already training for the far off games with early conditioning.  Conditioning started around Thanksgiving for most of the team, who use their PE elective, Advanced Personal Conditioning (APC), in order to train during school hours.  For the rest of the team who have no room in their schedule, they come to football coach Brian Glesing Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays after school to avoid falling behind the rest of the team.  For many, such as junior Nick Uhl, conditioning begins when football season ends.

“The sooner you start getting better, the greater results. “If you take a long break, then you get out of shape and it takes a lot of effort to get back in shape and you lose a lot possible improvement,” said Uhl. “The training never really ends in Football.”

Staying in shape is the main goal of conditioning, so that players can be at optimal performance by the time the football season rolls around.

“Our goal is to keep playing as long as we can next season and win more games.  We were 2-8 this year which wasn’t good.  Football is so competitive that it is year round.  The team needs to be constantly building in order to succeed,” said Glesing.

The majority of the team takes APC  rather than coming after school to train.  In this class, they follow a rigid schedule of exercises designed to heighten their performance.  They begin stretches and form running exercises, and then move onto speed improvement activites and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, move to the weight room to lift.  They follow a specific program of sets and reps in certain exercises, but they always do the bench press and the squat.

“APC is a way to get faster and stronger while at the same time staying in shape for Football so we can do well.  It also brings the team together because everyone does it,” said junior Even Rue.

No one is technically required to attend or participate in the football conditioning, but it is highly recommended.

“It’s easy to tell if you aren’t doing conditioning because you get passed up by all the players who do.  It hurts the whole team when one person decides not to train or put forth the amount of effort he is capable of.  Also you have to run laps to make up for the work you missed when season begins,” said junior Brandon Stout.

There are no individualized workouts for players in conditioning, everyone goes through the same hardships, but this is why Rue claims that it brings the team together.

“Sometimes you never really want to be there, but you know its for the best and you go anyway.  I am for conditioning because it makes the whole team better,” said Stout, who agrees with Evan Rue that it brings the team together.

The football players will have an assessment of their progress in March this year and hope to beat their previous scores.  With the new season slowly approaching, every member on the football team is determined to make this season their best yet.

“I think it’s a great program…you are constantly working towards improvements and have the ability to track progress on a regular basis.  It also benefits the players themselves…it really begins to pay off when next season begins,” said Glesing.

Michael Pepin

Chess team prepares for future tournament

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By Michael Pepin

Every Monday and Tuesday after school, the members of the chess team hone their skills with the other members of the chess team week after week.

“We come every week so that we can play chess and practice for the tournament at the end of the season.  I like chess because it is a game that is not dependent on luck or chance; everything that happens is entirely on you, so success is greater because you know it wasn’t all hinged on the roll of a die or a card,” said senior Brian Young.

Young has been a member of the chess team ever since his freshman year, and has worked his way over the years to his place as first board of the chess team.

The scholastic tournament is the driving force for many of the members of the chess team, as it is an opportunity to put to use all the strategies and skills they have acquired over the past year with the chess team.

“We hope to win the tournament at the end of the year, where we play against a bunch of other students.  It is one of our top goals to win the tournament,” said junior Sam Glesing, who has been a member of the team for three years.

The chess tournament is between 20 different chess teams, as they battle for the title.

“It consists of five rounds and is held on two afternoons.  Each player has to play the clock and is given one hour for each game.  It is held in Atherton High School,” said German teacher and chess team sponsor Noel McRae.

Many members look up to past club members such as FC alumnus Chris Harbeson, who is considered one of the best players to compete on the chess team.

“I want to become a better tactician in chess through the chess team.  The team this year lacks the skill that one of its senior members, Chris, possessed, but there is a lot of potential with many members and we are almost on his skill level,” said Glesing.

Though the current chess team is competent, McRae said they will need hard work to attain their first place goal.

“The current team is in a good position to place second in their division. While the team is pretty good this year, players need to study the game to become outstanding, and I have a few players now who are willing to invest the time and effort needed to truly advance their game.  Players always get to a point where merely playing will cease to improve their game.  They’ll need to study the games of professional players, to get insight on truly effective strategy,” said McRae.

Boys Swimming, Features, Michael Pepin

Senior leaves lasting legacy

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By: Michael Pepin

Senior Oscar Anderson slices through the shining waters of the pool, the sun not even beginning to poke through the early dawn.  So continues yet another practice, one of many that he has attended, and one of his last as a member of the swim team as his senior year draws to a close. This fall semester, he also spent countless hours with the marching band, helping them win a state title.

Anderson’s position on the swim team represents years of hard work.

“I first started swimming seven years ago because I thought it would be something fun to do and I liked to swim,” said Anderson.

On an average day, the alarm clock  4:45 a.m. when he finally pulls himself out of bed in order to meet an early swim practice before school until 7 a.m.  From there, the busy school day takes over until after school where swim practice reigns again back at Highland Hills Middle school.

“I don’t really have time for almost anything because of the swim team.  In the fall, I am barely able to squeeze in Marching Band, but that is it,” said Anderson.

He plans on attending Kenyen university in Ohio after graduating as a member of the class of 2013.

“They have a wonderful academic program and a high rating as a medical school.  I want to be able to keep swimming in college and still become a doctor, so Kenyen is a great school for me,” said Anderson.

In the Marching Band, Oscar plays the baritone saxophone. Many describe him as an eccentric and good natured individual.

“You can’t really describe Oscar with one sentence, it just doesn’t work like that.  He is unique and funny, slightly spontaneous at times.  He is exellent with the baritone sax and as one of the leaders of the saxophone section,” said junior Brad Harbeson.

Even though Anderson has a lot going on, he still makes time for his family.

“Oscar and I are really close brothers, and I kind of look up to him at times, he is like my best friend.  We do a lot of stuff together, like swimming, marching, hanging out with friends, we just do random stuff together all the time since we share the same interests. I am going to miss Oscar very much, even though I am going to get his room, it will still suck for him to go away to college,”  said sophomore Eli Anderson, his brother.

Anderson also acknowledges that his family had a big impact on both his swimming career and his overall character.

“If there was anyone who ever influenced my life, it was my couch and parents.  They really grew on me, the whole swim team.  That’s kind of the reason I am the person I am today,” said Anderson.

Anderson claims that his senior year has been his best season yet, and his coach, Joe Perkins agrees.

“Last season Oscar surpassed my expectations for the season. He has earned a top 8 finish at the state meet last year in the 200 IM and a top 16 finish in the 100 backstroke.I am hoping he will be able to repeat his performances from last season at the high school state swim meet and continue to improve his times,” said Perkins.

With a college already chosen, Anderson can focus on his senior year and finishing his high school swim career.

“Its been a pleasure to watch Oscar grow as a person and a swimmer over the past four years.  It is always a joy for a coach to watch hard work pay off.  I hope he continues to swim in college and have great success at the next level.he has been a great kid to work with over the past 4 years. Like any senior I hope he has a great season, one he can truly enjoy and look back on without any regrets,” said Perkins.

Features, Michael Pepin

Students share Thanksgiving traditions

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By Michael Pepin

Thanksgiving break is right around the corner, and many students are preparing to see their friends and family over the brief vacation.  At this time of year, there are many different traditions that all center around Thanksgiving break and the famous dinner.

“I am really looking forward to thanksgiving break, it’s a chance to get out of school, get a break from everything, and have great food.  The food is the best part,” said senior Eric Ordonez.

Some students spend their break with their family.

“We always go hunting during Thanksgiving break. It’s deer season and I enjoy going hunting with my brother and dad, its always more fun with more people,” said junior Austin Carl.  In fact, he said he has gone hunting with his dad and brother ever since he was first able to hold and shoot a gun, and has not missed one year since.

However,  the famous dinner is the event that many people are looking forward to at this time of year.

“Thanksgiving dinner is a tradition we do, in fact I think almost every family looks forward to the Thanksgiving dinner. We always put really spicy seasoning on our turkey because we’re from New Orleans,” said Ordonez.

Many agree however, that spending that time with your family is the best part of Thanksgiving.

“We always go to my grandparents for thanksgiving dinner, so we can have the whole family at the table when the turkey comes.  I like seeing my grandparents and afterwards we always watch thanksgiving day football together. I watch Christmas vacation during this time of year as well, and have been for a couple years,” said senior Daniel Sheppard, who also admitted that seeing his grandparents is one of the highlights of Thanksgiving, and has been seeing them every thanksgiving without fail.

However students choose to spend their break, Ordonez said it is important to remember what the holiday is all about.

“I think for me Thanksgiving has a much deeper  meaning than the food and the family and the football. It’s a way to remember all the things we have taken for granted, things that many others do not have and might never. A lot of people don’t remember what thanksgiving is really all about when they get all caught up in the traditions.  It’s about being thankful for what you have,” said Ordonez.