Tag Archives: FCHS

Dazzlers, Sidney Reynolds, Sports

Dazzlers already preparing for nationals in the spring

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By Sidney Reynolds

Yells of encouragement ring throughout the gym as the Dazzlers start practicing their routine.

“We go over our routine a lot and I ask my teammates to watch.If they see something is wrong, they tell me how I can correct it,” said sophomore Kayleigh Brewer.

At practice it is common for the Dazzlers to support each other not only to make adancer better  but also to make the entire team stronger. To have a strong team everyone on it must be supportive of each other. It helps make the performance better and more enjoyable for the entire team.

For the Dazzlers, dancing helps them in more ways than just getting fit and having a hobby. “Dazzling is more than just dance. It teaches you life lessons. Also, you make friends you can hangout with outside of practice,” said senior Brooke Lentz.

The Dazzlers have been working hard to make sure their routine is perfect this year for nationals in  February. They have a year round season with practices four times a week for two and half hours long.

 “Practices are long and hard but are completely 100 percent worth it at the end of the day,” said sophomore Coral Portman.

Nationals are their biggest competition and is held in Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The Dazzlers will be there foran entire week.That is much longer than their normal competitions, which generally last around six hours.

“This early in the seasonwe are looking good, but we have to work todo before nationalsin February,” said Lentz.

 The Dazzlers have won in Orlando from 2003 to 2012. Last year they doubled titled in varsity pom and hip- hop at nationals.

“I don’t go into the season expecting to win nationals because I don’t want the girls to just think they will win every year. I want them to go into the season giving a 100 percent plus an extra 20 percent to be better then last year,” said coach Todd Sharp.

 This year the team is training to have an 11th consecutive win. “We had done what present Dazzlers, past Dazzlers, and Todd had pushed us for, our 10th consecutivewin in varsity pom,” said senior Regan Wimsatt.

They still have a while until nationals, but they will train for it at practices and performing at football games.  They also have many competitions between now and then they use to prepare for nationals. Their next performance is during halftime at the home game tonight. 

 “I can’t image dancing for anyone else because when we go to a competition I see the ways the other teams look at us and I am so proud to be a Floyd Central Dazzler,” said Portman.

Features

New student seeks fresh start

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By Megan Hardin

Starting over at a new school can be a very frightening experience for some students. Not knowing how that school works or the people in it can leave a person feeling as if they have to start back up from scratch. For junior Anna Gibson that new start is just what she needed.

“At my old school there were a lot of issues with small town drama, but now at Floyd Central it is so big that even if it does happen it won’t matter; the people here don’t judge you,” said Anna.

There is more than meets the surface with Anna’s transfer to FC, though.

“There were people [at my old school] that were trying to start a lot of drama with me and they began harassing me and it got to the point where I was being bullied,” said Anna.

As soon as Anna told her parents she was being bullied they took immediate action to try and stop their daughter’s pain.

“After I found out what was going on I was sad and felt helpless because I wanted the best for her and want it to stop. We told her to go to the counselor at school, but when they didn’t help I knew that we would have to do something about it and there needed to be a change,” said Pam Gibson, Anna’s mother.

The change that they were looking for was FC.

“We decided that she would go to Floyd Central because it is closer to home than the other schools and it has more education options. She also has a few friends there so we thought that the transition would be easier,” said Mrs. Gibson.

Having a few familiar faces at FC has helped Anna feel more like she belongs.

“It definitely helped having some friends here to start with so that they could help me out and be there with me. Now I’ve made more friends and my experience so far has been amazing here,” said Anna.

Senior Heaven Bailey has known Anna for three years and was excited to have one of her close friends become a Highlander.

“I was so happy when I found out that she was coming here. It’s sad that she had to come here under bad circumstances but now it will be so much easier and better for her to be at FC,” said Bailey.

Even with being at a new school Anna still keeps in touch with a few of her friends from her old school.

A friends of Anna’s,  Erica Daly has been with her for all of her high school career up until now but still manages to catch up with her when she can. Even though she is sad that one of her close friends no longer goes to school with her, she knows that it is for the best.

“Now that she changed schools you can tell that she is happier now and relieved that she doesn’t have to deal with the people who were bullying her anymore,” said Daly.

Though she no longer has to deal with her bullies Anna still notices how being bullied has changed her.

“I’m much more shy now and less talkative. I don’t let people get as close to me as I used to. I have also learned that we shouldn’t be so mean to people because we don’t know where they are coming from.”

With the bad there always comes good. Anna along with her family and friends can all agree that coming to FC is the best thing for her to do.

“I actually wake up wanting to go to school now and not dreading the day,” said Anna.

Her coming to FC was not only the best thing for Anna but it was also the best decision for the entire family.

“I love her coming to FC. I can actually have some peace of mind now knowing that she will be okay and she actually smiles now. If she is happy then we are happy, and she is the happiest that I have seen her in two years,” said Mrs. Gibson.

News

NJROTC members honor fallen soldier

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By Eric Ordonez

Tomorrow, on the Saturday before Veteran’s Day weekend, members of the NJROTC around Floyd County and others will continue a highly regarded tradition. They will show their respect to a recent local fallen soldier.

It is something that has had great experiences in its first few years.

This weekend it will be the fourth annual nine-mile walk, in which approximately 110 NJROTC cadets will march from the rotunda in the front of the school down to the gravesite of the fallen soldier at the National Cemetery located on Ekin Avenue.They plan to begin their memorial march no later than 9 a.m.

The walk will focus on recognizing the duties of this soldier, and anyone else who has ever served.

“There is only one reason we do this, and that is because the cadets sacrifice themselves to really honor a fallen soldier,” Colonel Ben Gipe said.

Along with the FC cadets, the walk will consist of National Guard personnel, some active duty, 100 Washington High School cadets, and about 100 New Albany High School cadets. Along with these groups, the FC cadets will be escorted by the Floyd County Police.

“The veterans have done so much it isn’t a big deal to walk nine miles for them,” said senior Marissa Samons.

Four years ago, this tradition was begun by Senior Chief Michael Beal and Gipe.

“Colonel [Gipe] thought of it while he was in Iraq, so when he got home he said ‘Let’s do it’,” said Beal.

Through the majority of the walk they will try to remain a fun and entertaining environment. They have two breaks where Gipe will hand out an assortment of snacks. Also, Jay-C and Walmart will provide water for the cadets and members of the walk.

“We get honks…people honk like crazy. We also get a lot of support from random people on the street, veterans say ‘thanks,’ and families often come back and thank them and they appreciate us,” said Beal.

Tomorrow’s ceremonial march will be one to remember for everyone involved. The cadets, in Gipe’s mind, owe it to soldiers and soldiers only. Gipe is certainly excited for it, and said people in general owe the utmost respect to veterans.

“Not teachers, lawyers, police, none of them. It’s veterans, because they give us our rights. They’re the reason we have our rights,” said Gipe.

Claire DeFrancisci, Features

The Lanesville Heritage Festival will kick off the fall season this weekend

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By Bekah Landers and Claire Defrancisci

The sound of roaring tractor engines and the sight of whirling fair rides sends one into a flurry of crisp fall memories. This is the Lanesville Heritage Festival.

“I’ve never been there but I’m going this year because the rides sound really fun and I heard that you can milk a goat. That sounds really exciting,” said sophomore Garrett Glass.

The festival offers a wide variety of things to do this year such as helicopter rides on Saturday and Sunday, tractor pulls, the traditional hot air balloon glow, and the main parade on Saturday at 1 p.m. featuring FC’s NJORTC.

“I’m thrilled to be in the parade this year,” said sophomore ROTC member Alessa Farnsley. “We practice after school and warm up before the parade and then we march and represent FC.”

The Lanesville Heritage Festival also offers plenty of camping spaces.

“I’ve been camping there for four years now and it has been really fun,” said sophomore Gunner Turner. He added that he and his cousin go four-wheeling during the day and then ride the rides in the evening.

The rides at the festival are a popular attraction that some teenagers look forward to the most.

“My favorite ride is the ferris wheel that goes upside down and spins around; I ride it every time,” said Turner

“I really like all the rides,” said sophomore Caroline Wiseman. “I could eat an entire thing of nachos and then go and ride the hamster wheel and not be sick.”

The festival is a chance for teens to hang out with their friends, try new foods, check out interesting booths, and ride their preferred rides.

“My favorite memory was the night that I went with my friends, and we all just hung out and had a good time together,” said freshman Zach Robinson.

The festival has something for almost every age. Rides and games for small children, agricultural exhibits and booths with all sorts of different products for adults, and more mature rides for teenagers.

“The little kids hang out with their families, but the older kids tend to go off and do their own thing,” said Robinson.

The festival is located on the Heritage grounds behind Lanesville High School at the west end of town. There will be a shuttle that runs from the high school to the Heritage grounds as well. There will be a tractor and truck pull that runs tonight and Sunday afternoon. The spectator fee is $7. The Hot Air Balloon Glow will be held tonight at 9 p.m. and the main parade is at 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.

The three-day festival will be held today, tomorrow, and Sunday with free admission and free parking.

Be sure to check out this article later this weekend for photos of the fun.