Club vs School Volleyball

February 20, 2018 Stohion Staff Leave a comment

By Molly Richards

JO volleyball and school volleyball are two very diverse programs, from the games and practices to the over all goals, both have benefits for players of all levels.

JO volleyball or Club volleyball can vary in the different age groups and levels of play. In the younger age groups, the schedule is much less intense than the schedule at the high school level.

Club teams ages fourteen to eighteen, especially national and American teams, tend to have a much heavier schedule. This means having more practices during the week, and as players get farther into the season, tournaments are scheduled almost every weekend.

During the high school season, the goal is obviously to win as many games as the team can and hopefully advance into Championships. So most of the practices involve preparing for the teams they are going to play.

The setup is different for Club volleyball. During practices, coaches tend to focus more on individual progression and team chemistry.

Along with the schedule, the goals of each season also tend to vary. In high school, the goal for the season is to advance as far as the team can.

The goals each team makes during Club season can vary on the level at which the team plays. It could be about winning however many tournaments, qualifying for Nationals or even winning them.

As far my season usually goes during Club, my teams goals in the past have been qualifying and going to Natio and also making it to the gold bracket (the top bracket) in every tournament.

Considering the team and chemistry between players, the school season is where I have become closest with other athletes.

While Club season does create new friendships and close knit bonds with players who are not from an individual’s school, during the school season the team becomes a big family.

In high school, team members are always together whether it be during practices and games or outside of school.

The experiences may be different, but the bonds created with other players and improvements players can achieve in both seasons makes each special in their own way.

Editorials

Questioning Gun Control

February 20, 2018 Stohion Staff Leave a comment

By Shea Sullivan

So far in 2018, there have already been 25 mass shootings, and it is only February 15. Many are demanding change before more shootings occur.

Tragedy struck Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday. The shooting left 17 people dead and 14 injured.

The weapon used was an AR-15 rifle which was also used in the Orlando Nightclub shooting, Newtown Connecticut school shooting and the church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Americans are wondering why there have not been restrictions on guns like this. A main reason may be from government officials hesitating to take action on gun control.

Several senators including Arizona senator John McCain and Ohio’s senator Rob Portman have received over $3,000,000 in endorsements from the National Rifle Association (NRA).

This pretty much means that if senators endorsed by the NRA and thet do something against the organization’s wishes, then they will lose their endorsements and possibly their next election.

A vast number of politicians are trying to convince other politicians endorsed by the NRA to work with them in bipartisan agreements on gun control. Yet that is much more difficult than it seems.

“I have said it over and over: I would rather pass gun safety legislation than win the election, because people die from this,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said.

Since Trump has been in office, his administration has revoked many Obama era rules on gun control. Getting rid of those rules has made it easier for the mentally ill and fugitives to buy guns, New York magazine reports.

There has been no action taken under Trump’s presidency that would even attempt to prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands.

The United States is one of only three countries with the right to bear arms. Other modern countries allow their citizens to buy guns, but not without extensive background checks and certain regulations.

A vast majority of people in the United States want America to take steps in that direction.

Great Britain has some of the strictest gun control laws and one of the lowest numbers of gun deaths. In 2008-09, only 39 people died in the entire country as a result of guns.

Many argue that gun control violates the Second Amendment and that regulating guns would violate Americans rights. Yet others argue that it is not necessary to own assault rifles for self defense, especially ones that have been used in several mass shootings.

Americans have many differing opinions when it comes to gun control, but with more and more lives being taken from gun violence, many are ready for change.

Front/Home, News

Book Club brings stories and friends together

February 16, 2018 Stohion Staff Leave a comment

By Amaiya Green

Students who enjoy reading in the high school might also enjoy joining Book Club to discuss, review books and more.

Book club is more than sitting around discussing books all day: students are able to meet other students interested in the same books as them, creating a connection and possibly a long-lasting friendship.

Students are exposed to many new books and have access to young adult literature with a wide range of genres.

Students are also able to read books that might not have been officially published to the public, and once doing so, they can give their honest feedback on books directly to the publishers.

The Teens Top Ten is a national contest where teens nominate their favorite book of the year.

hs book club prize winner ian laing

Stow’s high school and public library are one of 20 schools and libraries across the country that can submit nominations at the Teens Top Ten (TTT).

Club members read and write brief reviews on the books they would like to nominate for Teens Top Ten.

During the school year, Book Club meets one Thursday of every month in the high school library, or the public library during the summer, to discuss and give feedback to each other on books they read.

During book club meets students are given free food and drinks to enjoy while discussing books.

At the end of each year there is a special raffle that goes on where students have a change to keep any of the books that were reviewed. They also give away other prizes, including autographed books.

hs book club jan 2018

Book Club is a very exciting club to do for those who enjoy reading for fun but also gives students a change to bond over something they like.

Feature, Front/Home

Seniors receive letters they wrote to themselves from sixth grade

February 15, 2018 Stohion Staff Leave a comment

Seniors Olivia Stark and Hanna McCauley open the letters they wrote themselves in sixth grade.

By Jurnee Starks

When I had first received the letter I had no idea what it was initially. At first, I thought I got in trouble, but then Mrs. Burmeister reassured me that it was just a letter I wrote in sixth grade.

I was anxious to see what I had written since I do not remember much from sixth grade. I remember that sixth grade was fun for me, overall. The first thing I saw when I opened the letter was, “You already know you are amazing.”

That sentence alone made me cry in the attendance office. After reading the letter some more, I remembered how unique I was. I could not continue

Senior Jayden Stovall enjoyed reading his letter and laughed at his sixth-grade self.

reading because I felt like I would cry. My letter talked about my goals, the things I loved and the things I wanted to achieve–some of those goals were achieved and some of them I did not.

In the letter I said I was going to be a singer and how that was going to be my job forever and how I loved chicken fingers (which I still do).

Overall I can say when it came to my letter I was really devoted to the idea of me being a singer and dancer walking on the red carpet.

Luckily Mrs. wyant was there and wanted pictures of people opening their letters, getting their reactions from them. So I picked from a pile of letters that was not very big. I chose a few people I knew personally and brought them to the guidance office to see if they would be willing to open their letters in front of me.

Senior Jayden Stovall was the first person to come in, and like everyone else, he believed he was in trouble when he first walked in. I reassured Stoval and the rest of them that they were not.

I asked Jayden how he felt when he first saw the letter and read it and he said, “I was shocked and totally forgot I wrote the letter.”

I asked what some of the funny parts were and he said, “Little me writing not to have unprotected sex.”

I later asked him what he did not expect from his letter, and his response was his handwriting and how it was so bad. He did not remember writing the letter at all, so this was a total surprise to him, along with me.

Overall , after reading the letter, it brought me reassurance and hope because ever since I was little, I always in a way knew what I wanted to do, and I also knew who I was at a young age, so it made me happy to see what I said. I still want to be the person I knew I always wanted to be–even in sixth grade.

SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING–Anyone can call the tip line: 1-844-723-3764 or email safehs@smfschools.org

Club vs School Volleyball

Questioning Gun Control

Book Club brings stories and friends together

Seniors receive letters they wrote to themselves from sixth grade

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