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Junior tennis player balances activities, schoolwork

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By Sydney Sears

As junior Erin Patterson enters into school each day, she has more than just her school work on her mind.

“I play varsity tennis, I sing in a Cappella choir and chamber singers. I am also secretary of student council for this 2013-2014 school year. I am also traveling to Washington, D.C. with the constitutional government debate team this April,” said Erin.

Along with all of Erin’s extracurriculars she is also one of the top ranked students in the Junior Class. Erin shares that although it is hard to keep up, she tries not to procrastinate.

“Erin is an exceptionally fast learner. She can read or listen and comprehend things usually on the first pass through. She also has a sharp memory that allows her to recall things exactly as presented,” said Erin’s father, Kevin Patterson.

He also shared that Erin is extremely driven and completes her homework as soon as she arrives home from school.

These qualities, along with others, have allowed Erin to persevere through high school and prepare for her future.

“She’s not afraid to speak her mind and stands up for what she believes in,” said junior Bailey Smith.

Tennis coach James Markert has also seen Erin’s characteristics in tennis.

“As good as our teams have been over the years, our personality qualities have been even better, and Erin definitely showcases this.  She’s competitive, she’s a team player, she’s always willing to help her fellow teammates for the betterment of the team, and she likes to have fun on the court, which is crucial to our success,” said Markert.

Her parents have also helped her with preparing for the future.

“Hopefully, we have helped Erin by providing her the tools to be successful. Whether it is a computer, car, racquet, book or tennis shoe, we have tried to make sure she has what she needs,” said Kevin.

With all the activities Erin participates in, tennis is what she enjoys the most.

“Tennis is my favorite activity. I have been playing for years and I really enjoy the sport and the people with whom I play,” said Erin.

Markert has seen Erin improve vastly.

“I’ve seen her tennis skills improve every step of the way because those are more visibly noticeable, but she’s also making mental strides, as seen in some big wins last season during the heart of the run to state,” said Markert.

He has also seen Erin’s personality qualities shine.

“As good as our teams have been over the years, our personality qualities have been even better, and Erin definitely showcases this.  She’s competitive, she’s a team player, she’s always willing to help her fellow teammates for the betterment of the team, and she likes to have fun on the court, which is crucial to our success.”

Boys Swimming, Sports

Boys’ swimming prepares for state competition

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By Delaney Smith and Sydney Sears

Shaved heads and bleach blonde hair are now a new addition to the halls of FC thanks to the boys’ swim team. They are traveling to the IUPUI Natorium this weekend the compete in the state finals.

The swimmers have started to focus on their speed and cleaning up their technique so that they can make everything the best they can.

Sophomore Brendon Smith said that the practices have been a lot more intense and the team has been working a lot harder to get ready for state.

The boys are seniors Colin Lyell and Nathan Manias, juniors Elijah Anderson and Marc McCormick, and sophomore Brendon Smith qualified to compete in the upcoming state competition out of the team of about 17.

“We are hoping to be at our best for the end of the season. we took some chances at the sectionals not ‘shaving’ some of our guys to give them the opportunity to be going their fastest at the state championship,” said boys swimming coach Joe Perkins.

The state championship preliminaries are this Friday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. and the finals will be held on Saturday, Mar. 1 at 1 p.m. The swimmers are planning to swim their best times and hope to have the team place higher at state than in previous years.

“I am personally hoping to get top 16 in both of my events and top eight in at least one of the relays,” said Anderson.

Smith and McCormick are also planning on swimming their best times and Smith is also hoping to break some school records.

“We are looking to score as many events as we can, this is the first time in 14 years we have taken all three relays to state and have a good chance of scoring all three,” said Perkins.

A&E, Christian DiMartino

Oscar Watch: Columnist provides Oscar predictions and preferences

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By Christian DiMartino

The Academy Awards, which airs Sun. March 2, is drawing near, and the competition is getting tough. Some of the categories are obvious. That said, others, such as Best Picture, are up in the air. Here is what will probably win and what should win on the big night.

Best Director

Alfonso Cuaron- Gravity

Steve McQueen- 12 Years a Slave

Alexander Payne- Nebraska

David O. Russell- American Hustle

Martin Scorsese- The Wolf of Wall Street

Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron

Alfonso Cuaron is winning pretty much every directing award for his groundbreaking sci-fi film, Gravity. He is pretty much the one to beat. If anyone can take him down, it is McQueen. But count on Cuaron for this category.

Should Win: Alfonso Cuaron

Watch about ten minutes of Gravity, and it goes without saying. Each of these directors directed great movies, but none of them are quite as devoted as Cuaron. This is the greatest visual achievement since Avatar, and it is even better. This is a film that sounds nearly impossible to make, but yet Cuaron did it. It has been said that him and his crew had to create their own technology to bring the film to life. So, if anyone is truly worthy, it is Cuaron. McQueen is a close second.

Best Supporting Actress

Sally Hawkins- Blue Jasmine

Jennifer Lawrence- American Hustle

Lupita Nyong’o- 12 Years a Slave

Julia Roberts- August: Osage County

June Squibb- Nebraska

Will Win: Lupita Nyong’o

Jennifer Lawrence seemed to be the favorite at the start of the race, considering she won a Golden Globe. But now it seems like all of the attention is being directed toward Nyong’o for her performance as the tragic slave Patsy. Nyong’o is taking home the awards, and will probably take home the biggest one. It is not set in stone though. Lawrence could swoop in, because she recently won the BAFTA. This race is a tough one.

Should Win: Julia Roberts

There is no love for August: Osage County, so Roberts doesn’t stand a chance, but I thought this was her best work since Closer (2004). Roberts’ performance is borderline over-the-top, but yet it was one of the most entertaining performances of the year. Watching her fight with practically everyone onscreen helped the film’s entertainment value. This is a tough category, because all of these women, particularly Squibb and Lawrence, steal the show. Roberts is my vote. She probably will not win, but she should.

Best Supporting Actor

Barkhad Abdi- Captain Philips

Bradley Cooper- American Hustle

Michael Fassbender- 12 Years a Slave

Jonah Hill- The Wolf of Wall Street

Jared Leto- Dallas Buyers Club

Will Win: Jared Leto

It seems as if Jared Leto cannot be stopped. He is winning practically every award for his scene-stealing performance in Dallas Buyers Club. Leto does quite a transformation here, and the academy loves a good transformation.

Should Win: Jared Leto

Part of what makes Dallas Buyers Club special is its acting, and Leto is a huge contribution to that. Leto steals the show as the tragic transgender sidekick Rayon. Rayon is possibly the films best character, and Leto, who has been overlooked for such a long time, is too great to ignore. I am also a fan of Abdi, Cooper, and Fassbender, but Leto is a done deal.

Best Actress

Amy Adams- American Hustle

Cate Blanchett- Blue Jasmine

Sandra Bullock- Gravity

Judi Dench- Philomena

Meryl Streep- August: Osage County

Note: Sandra Bullock gives the performance of her career in Gravity, not in The Blind Side (the film that won her Best Actress). So I would like to pretend that the Oscar she won for that film was actually for Gravity.

Will Win: Cate Blanchett

Blanchett is practically a sure thing for her performance as the mentally unstable title character in Blue Jasmine. She is being showered with awards. If anyone can take her down, it is Adams, who also won a Golden Globe. But count on Blanchett.

Should Win: Cate Blanchett

Amy Adams is a great actress, and she definitely will win an Oscar someday, but not yet. Bullock’s case has been covered (a very close second). By now, Streep goes without saying. She’s amazing all the time. The same goes for Dench and Blanchett, but Blanchett’s is the best. Blanchett gives the performance of her career in the best performance of the year, and easily deserves her long overdue second Oscar. Jasmine is almost too interesting. She’s a woman so trapped in the past that she cannot come to terms with reality, and watching Blanchett self-destruct is possibly the best work from an actress since Natalie Portman in Black Swan. So, to summarize, yes, she should win.

Best Actor

Christian Bale- American Hustle

Bruce Dern- Nebraska

Leonardo DiCaprio- The Wolf of Wall Street

Chiwetel Ejiofor- 12 Years a Slave

Matthew McConaughey- Dallas Buyers Club

Will Win: Matthew McConaughey

Ah, this is where things get tricky. The competition for this category has been hectic from the start. But all signs seem to be pointing towards Matthew McConaughey. He lost a ton of weight, and Dallas Buyers Club is a true story, and the academy loves both of those things. They love transformation (even though Christian Bale wasn’t nominated for The Machinist, the craziest transformation ever, and gained a bunch of weight for American Hustle).Aside from that, he truly is fantastic. He is winning pretty much every award he is nominated for. There is a slight chance that someone else could swoop in, but it is not likely.

Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio

All of these performances are terrific. Actually, it is pretty difficult to rank them. Once upon a time, Matthew McConaughey was a second rate actor. But now it seems like has really proved otherwise. He has become the actor he always should have been. That said, he has only been great for about two years, and does not deserve an Oscar quite yet. Leonardo Dicaprio, however, has been great for over twenty years, and has somehow never won an Oscar. The time is now. The fact that DiCaprio has not won an Oscar is outrageous, considering the fact that he has been so great for so long. DiCaprio gives possibly the performance of his career in this movie. He plays such a despicable human being, but yet DiCaprio makes this terrible person watchable. In fact, you sort of want him to get away with everything. DiCaprio has never done anything quite like this before, and it is definitely a bold performance, considering the content that is put on display. McConaughey will win, but it would be nice if the academy came to their senses and finally gave him the Oscar.

Best Picture

American Hustle                  Nebraska

Captain Philips                   Philomena

Dallas Buyers Club              12 Years a Slave

Gravity                              The Wolf of Wall Street

Her

Will Win: 12 Years a Slave

Ah, this is where things get even trickier. Gravity began this race as the favorite. Then came the arrival of 12 Years a Slave, which then became the favorite, and remained the favorite. Then American Hustle arrived to theaters in December and hustled its way into the race. So now the race is down to these three. Momentum for American Hustle seems to be gaining. With that said, I think we’re all overthinking this. 12 Years a Slave was the favorite for so long, and at the end of the day, there is no way that it can lose.

Should Win: 12 Years a Slave

This category is basically a toss-up between 12 Years a Slave and Gravity, but at the end of the day, there is no denying the power of 12 Years a Slave. Finally, for the first time since The Departed (2006), my favorite movie of the year actually stands a chance. 12 Years a Slave is a devastating, disturbing, raw, and intense look at possibly the ugliest chapter in America’s history. Solomon Northrup’s tale is one that truly needed to be told, and the film’s secret weapon the magnificent Chiwetel Ejiofor. Ejiofor carries this film, and so does the entire cast. If you were not in tears by the end of this movie (something that rarely happens to me during movies), then you must have no soul. This is the best movie of the year.

Well, hopefully this gave a little insight on what to expect on the big night. The race is tough, so don’t expect everyone to leave happy. In closing, there is really only one thing that must be said: TEAM DICAPRIO. Academy voters, please vote well.

Features, News

FCDM zumba class inspires participants

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By Haley Palmer and Amber Bartley

The floor shakes as the sweaty crowd shimmies and sways to the upbeat melody. Around thirty eager students showed up at zumba instructor Marcee LaHue’s second consecutive Dance Marathon zumba class.

“When I came here last year, I did not know what to expect. I was a little nervous about teaching Zumba to a bunch of teenagers, but when I got on stage everyone was so excited and enthusiastic and went with me,” said LaHue.

Zumba instructor Marcee LaHue directs FCDM participants. Photo by Amber Bartley.
Zumba instructor Marcee LaHue directs FCDM participants. Photo by Amber Bartley.

Numerous participants have personal connections to Riley Children’s hospital that inspire them to partake in the Dance Marathon activities. Sophomore Lucy Reising is motivated by her younger sister, Grace, who is getting a kidney transplant next year.

“My sister is in the hospital lot, so I know that hospitals can be really boring for kids. It’s nice to help them have fun while they’re going through a difficult time,” said Reising.

Others like junior Morgan Shultz have no personal connection to the children at Riley’s, but they participate anyways.

“I’m inspired by the Riley stories and what the hospital can do for the kids that wouldn’t have a chance otherwise,” said Shultz.

Whether those who participate in the marathon have personal reasons or are simply inspired by the emotional Riley stories, it’s a great way to support the community in a positive way.

“I think that your student body is so cool, diverse, and accepting. The energy level for students is amazing. I have a great time teaching zumba to the Floyd Central high schoolers and it is definitely the most fun class I teach,” said LaHue.

Dance Marathon

Attendees express opinions on 2014 Dance Marathon

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by Delaney Smith

The Dance Marathon is almost over but the excitement is still running high. This year’s carnival theme has everyone on their feet and guessing what is yet to come, whether it be the next Riley story or the next big event such as the real life Hunger Games.

“This is my second year coming to Dance Marathon,” said sophomore Kailey Haydon. “They really went all out; it has been a lot of fun.”

Students have enjoyed many of the activities throughout the event such as carnival games, inflatables, and many other small things to keep them up and moving for the whole seven hours.

“My favorite part about this year is learning the Morale Dance because I really like dancing,” said junior Allison Burkhart.

With many events left, everyone is looking forward to seeing what the rest of the night holds. The ending ceremony and the grand total are only a couple of the big events that are yet to come.

“I look forward to seeing the grand total and how much we helped out the kids at Riley,” said senior Kylie Davis.

FCDM is ongoing for the next hour and a half until 9 p.m. Continue to follow on-going coverage throughout the evening.