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THE ROYAL NEWS Volume XV, Issue 2
Prince George H.S. - 7801 Laurel Spring Rd. Prince George, VA 23875 www.trnwired.org - November 4, 2016 - @RoyalsMediaNow
STUDENT GAMERS TEAM UP TO BE NATIONALLY RANKED P. 13 p. 10-11 SPECIAL WINTER SPORTS SCHEDULE p. 15 FIELD HOCKEY CONTINUES TO DOMINATE p. 18 FOOTBALL TEAM HONORS ANTHEM NOVEMBER TWITTER POLL QUESTION Where will you spend your Thanksgiving? 72 Responses Via Twitter
At Home 62%
Out Of Town 38%
Senior Tyler Comfort holds his Xbox One controller. Comfort and his team of five are ranked in the 19,000’s out of 200,000 nationally. Photo by Carlee Lively.
2 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.4.16
FRIDAY 11.4.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 3
OP/ED
Voter Turnout Predicted To Decrease
theRoyalNews
C
O
ur mission as the school
newspaper for Prince George High School is to provide a form of media that represents all aspects of student life. The goal is to present factual accounts of newsworthy events in a timely manner. Our publication will be informative, entertaining and reflective of the student body’s opinions. It is the desire of the staff to reach every student and tell as many of their stories as possible. We invite your commentary: The Royal News Opinion page is a forum for public discussion and shall be open to all students. The Royal News will print as many letters as space will allow. The Royal News reserves the right not to print a letter. The Royal News publishes a wide variety of opinions. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Royal News, PGHS, 7801 Laurel Spring Road, Prince George, Virginia 23875, or bring them to room A2, or e-mail them to trnwired@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, legality, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. 500 word maximum. Thank you for the support this year. Please continue to communicate on trnwired.org. Publication theft. A person commits the offense of publication theft when he or she willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over more than three copies of an edition of a publication distributed on campus or in the surrounding community [with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading that edition of the publication]. A “publication” includes any periodical that is distributed on a complimentary or compensatory basis. In addition to the imposition of other campus disciplinary penalties, a person who violates this provision is responsible for compensating the publication for all reasonable costs incurred, including, where appropriate, the refund of advertising fees.
Section Editors Front page: Paul Dennis Jr. , Op/Ed: Matteo Reed, Features: Kattie Iwanski, Doubletruck: Aaliyah Capers, A&E: Chance Thweatt, Sports: Wayne Coleman, Photo Editor: Matteo Reed Online Editor-in-Chief: Carlee Lively
Writers Kylie Cargill- Breanna Rackley-Tyler Brock-Shanice Davis-Tiara Whirley-Tiffany Whittington-Tatyanna Thaxton-Anna Mitchell-Miracle Connoway
Editor-in-Chief Chance Thweatt
Adviser
Chris Waugaman
Managing Editor Paul Dennis Jr.
Professional affiliations & awards Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Gold Medalist 2008-2013 CSPA Gold Crown Winner 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 Virginia High School Association Trophy Class 2006-2016 Col. Charles Savedge Award for Sustained Excellence 2010 NSPA Online Pacemaker Winner 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 SIPA All Southern 2008-2015
The Royal News, PGHS trnwired.org
7801 Laurel Spring Road Prince George, Virginia 23875 804-733-2720 The Royal News is printed at The Progress-Index in Petersburg, Virginia
Illustration by Anna Mitchell.
Mock Election Campaigns Spark Student Body Chaos
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s the presidential election approaches, the high school has decided to conduct their own mock
election. Students enrolled in Advanced Placement Government have created campaign posters to inform student voters of the candidates. This mock election imitates the official election taking place on November 8th, 2016. The students in AP Government chose a candidate to impersonate for the mock election, and these students took to PGTV to record their election speeches. However, in the past two weeks, this mock election has caused tension in the school. Unfortunately, students have been expressing their political feelings by tearing down many of the campaign posters placed around the school. If the high school was considered private property, then students participating in tearing down posters, could face penalties up to $ 1,000.
Although the high school is not private property, it is still not permissible to tamper and destroy the work of others. Although students have different political views, it is vital to respect the work of others. It also important that students keep our learning environment positive. Students should be able to agree to disagree on their choices for political office. If necessary, keep your political views to yourself. Instead of tearing posters down to express political views, use that energy in learning more about the candidate you support. Students can also get involved in political rallies, to learn more about the way elections work. By taking these actions, it will help make our school a more constructive place. Students will be able to voice opinions and express political feelings without fearing reactions from their peers. At a further look, students should participate in the mock election to practice exercising their civic duties.
linton. Trump. Johnson. Stein. The fervent 2016 Presidential candidates are trying to gain and secure their final supporters in preparation for the elections nearing end. However, it is expected that more people than ever before will not be casting their BREANNA RACKLEY vote. Heavy discontent with the presidential candidates is evident throughout the country causing many people to choose to withhold their vote. Yet, others are warning that this is not the solution. According to First Lady Michelle Obama, now, each and every person’s vote is more important than ever before. With Election Day coming up on Tuesday, November 8th, several others are stressing the same idea— voting is important. There are several reasons as to why voting is extremely important. The larger amount of people that cast their vote means a larger number of people whose opinions and preferences are accounted for. Thus, voting makes the American democracy more representative of its citizens. According to www.huffingtonpost. com, many policies that are commonly supported by a significant group of Americans, such as minimum wage increase, are never acted upon in Congress. This is due to a poor voter turnout, and hampers the validity of the representation of the American people. Thus being said, voting can be very beneficial to people personally and in their communities. Many fail to realize that who votes makes a huge impact on the government’s actions as well. Communities with larger voter turnouts are paid more attention to when it comes to public policy and other political concerns, compared to a community that hardly showed up in the polls. Most importantly, voting is ones voice. It is the chance for one to have a say in and an impact on their government. Throughout history endless people have fought to exercise this right and have their voice heard. This should never be taken for granted. It is vital to remember, especially in this 2016 Presidential Election, that every vote counts, every vote is heard, and every vote is important.
4 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.04.16
OP/ED
Can Stress make Or Break A Person? November 4, 2016 is National Stress Awareness day. Stress affects students and adults equally because it can cause mental and emotional breakdowns or cause someone having stress to push themselves to new heights never imagined. Is all stress bad?
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tress can sometimes be a good thing. Stress is a state of mental, emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. Stress is also the body’s way of reacting to certain events that happen in one’s life. There are different kinds of stress: acute stress, episodic acute stress (EAS), and chronic stress. All of these are bad stressors. Good stress is called “eustress”, people feel eustress when they are happy or excited about something. Studies have shown that even if someone is happy or excited about something, they can still be stressed about the thing they were happy or excited about. Studies have also shown that positive stress can have different effects on a person’s physical and mental state, as in positive stress can have positive effects on a person’s mind and negative stress can have negative effects on a person’s mind. Eustress can benefit someone in many ways like: helping a person learn independence, helping boost one’s brainpower and learning abilities, increasing immunity, Making someone more resilient, motivating a person to succeed more, enhancing child development, can help a person stay focused and motivated when completing a task, and helping someone accomplish tasks more efficiently, stress is also used as a warning system. Stress can help improve how someone’s heart may work, stress can protect a person’s body from infection. Studies have shown, individuals who experienced moderate levels of stress before surgeries were able to recover faster than individuals who had low or high levels of stress. Not all stress is bad, but too much stress is not good for one’s health. Distress is not associated with the type of damage that long term periods of negative stress can do to someone’s mind and body. Eustress is good for the body while distress is bad for the body, it’s okay to be stress as long as the body does not have too much of it.
PRO CON MIRACLE CONAWAY
AALIYAH CAPERS
“Stress is a state of mental, emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.” “People who had higher levels of stress and depression in the study, were 48% more likely to have a heart attack or die during the study period.” “Not all stress is bad, but too much stress is not good for one’s health .”
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tress has more negative outcomes than positive. According to livescience.com, people who had higher levels of stress and depression in the study, were 48% more likely to have a heart attack or die during the study period. November 4th, 2016 is National Stress awareness day according to nationalcalander.com. This day was created to identify bad stress factors, also known as distress, and eliminate them. Stress has many mental and physical health issues. Some major physical health problems include: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Mental health problems that can be caused by stress include depression and anxiety disorder. The top leading stressors that affect teens are: parents/family, social life, time management and sports. Ranking at the number one top stressor for teens living in America is school according to Sutter Health Palo Alto Medical foundation. In their study, they found that out 124 students, school related topics such as: GPA, tests, college, and finals weeks were mentioned 138 times. More than half of the surveyed teens say school is the reason they are stressed. There is a lot of academic pressure for most teens in their sophomore through senior years of high school. The pressure comes from teacher, parents and other students to get good grades to receive scholarships and college admission. Teachers put on the pressure by giving us the constant reminder of “If you want to be successful in life you have go to start putting in more work to get better grades so you can get into college.”. Stress can be a good thing sometimes, but majority of the time, stress only leads to lack of sleep,
FRIDAY 11.4.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 5
THE WEEKS AHEAD
Veterans Day Honored Next Friday
Report Cards: The Ending of the 1st Quarter
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ome would say that it seems as though the school year has just begun. Others would argue that the school year is dragging by at a slow pace. Report cards are being released to students on November 15, 2016, and the rush to turn in assignments and boost grades is on the rise. Students scramble to complete assignments that teachers hand out as teachers scramble to put grades in the grade book. November 7, 2016 is the last official day of the first quarter. “You don’t realize how quickly time passes because you aren’t thinking about it,” said Korry Rill. It is true that time can pass quick-
ly the less you actually think about just making it through the day. However, Quincy Rice had a different opinion. “It goes by slowly during the school hours. Each class seems like it’s four hours long,” Rice said. However you view the way time has passed during the beginning of the school year, there is no denying that the second quarter is on the horizon. Teachers are handing out assignments and entering grades to finish the first quarter and prepare for the second quarter. Students are eager to move into the next chapter of the school year and get it out of the way.
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rmistice Day, now known in the United States as Veterans Day, is historically referred to as the closing of World War I, which was considered to be the “war to end all wars.” This cease-fire took place on November 11, 1918, at 11:00 am, and is still celebrated within the Allied nations today. President Wilson proclaimed Armistice Day as a national holiday in November, 1919, and this idea was legalized in May 1938 by Congress. Armistice Day was originally a day set to honor those fallen soldiers in World War I; however, after World War II and rising tensions with Korea, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all soldiers who have fallen in battle, those still serving, and those who have returned to their families and retired from their service.
Thanksgiving Day Will See More Stores Closed
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s stores rush to throw out Halloween decorations and prepare for Christmas, the holiday in between known as Thanksgiving seems to be forgotten. Especially with Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming directly after Thanksgiving, this major holiday is often overlooked. However, Thanksgiving is vital to the lives of many individuals and their families. Public schools across the nation still uphold the tradition of giving students the day before, the day of, and the day after Thanksgiving off. This is often referred to as Thanksgiving Break or Autumn
Reprieve. Many businesses also allow their employees to take the day before, the day of, and the day after Thanksgiving off as well. This year several stores are making a point to be closed on Thanksgiving to give their employees an opportunity to be with family. Several of the local stores which will be closed include: Lowe’s, Home Depot, Tractor Supply, Sam’s Club, Dillards, PetSmart, Staples, HHGregg, and Marshalls to name a few. For more stores which will be closed go to: https://www.theblackfriday.com/ stores-closed-on-thanksgiving-day.php
In present day America, Veterans Day is still celebrated by military families and common people alike. Fireworks, parades, and cookouts take place all across the nation in celebration of the brave men and women who sacrifice so much in order to maintain the safety of our great nation. Dylan deSanno, a former JROTC participant, describes what Veterans Day means to him and how it should be celebrated. “It’s a day that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. These veterans fought for our country and many paid the ultimate price. To the ones who are still alive we should give thanks each and every day. Without them, there would be no America,” deSanno said.
6 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.4.16
FEATURES Czech, Slovak Festival Returns Generations attend festival in Virginia to connect with their heritage Breanna Rackley TRN Writer
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our generations ago, in the late 1800s, over seven hundred Czech and Slovak men, women, and children fled their homeland. They landed on the east coast of the United States, many in Virginia. Settling on the farmlands of Prince George and the surrounding counties, the Czechs and Slovaks began their new lives as American citizens. Now, over one hundred years later, Czech and Slovak descendants embrace and celebrate their heritage and their ancestors with the annual Virginia Czech and Slovak Folklife Festival. On October 15th, 2016, the fourth annual Virginia Czech and Slovak Folklife Festival took place in Prince George County. This annual festival has been hosted by the Prince George County Regional Heritage Center and the Virginia Czech/ Slovak Heritage Society since 2013. With the festival growing larger every year, activities, displays, and more continue to expand and improve. The festival began with a traditional opening ceremony. Members of the Heritage society dressed in traditional Czech/Slovak attire and joined the crowd in song. They sang the national anthems of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic as well as the Star Spangled Banner before hearing from various guest speakers. These guest speakers shed
light on the history of their Czech/Slovak ancestors and welcomed everyone to the festival. Following the opening ceremony, attendants dispersed throughout the area. To many, one of the most valued parts of the festival is the food. Several authentic Czech/Slovak foods such as kolaches, cabbage rolls, and more were served along with traditional Czech/Slovak beverages. “The food was absolutely amazing. It reminded me of what my grand-
Young Czech and Slovak girls are preparing for their dance performance. After the performance other dancers performed the chicken dance. Photo by Breanna Rackley. parents used to make all the time and practically took me right back to my childhood. The kolache was delicious and is still one of my favorite deserts,” said spectator Donald Rackley. He even purchased several dishes to take home. A large section of the festival was
dedicated to displays and activities. The displays were centered around the traditional farm life of the Czech and Slovak settlers. These included photos of the original families that settled in Virginia, antique machines such as the Benthall Peanut Picker, and more. Aside from that, there were many activities for kids and adults alike. These ranged from a cow milking stimulation and a petting zoo to cotton picking and face painting stations. The newest edition to the Czech/ Slovak festival is the Cultural Heritage Building and Gallery. It opened during the third annual festival in 2015. The building includes a photo gallery of the Czechs and Slovaks who came to Southside Virginia in the late 1880s as well as traditional clothing and other artifacts that are on display. Outside of the building, children, men, and women perform Czech/Slovak songs and dances periodically during the festival. This, along with new Heritage Building continue to attract more and more people to the festival. “The Virginia Czech and Slovak Folklife Festival is very special to me. My parents and grandparents are full Czech,” Joyce Spain said. “It brings back so many memories of my childhood. There were always stories, faith, family, good food, dancing, and lots of love and laughs.” “The memories will always be in my heart and the festival gives my children and grandchildren a look back in the past of their proud heritage. I have attended all four festivals so far,” Spain said. Spain plans on attending the future festivals with her family and friends. This year over two thousand people from several different states attended the Virginia Czech and Slovak Folklife Festival, thus being its largest turnout yet. The Prince George County Regional Heritage Center and the Virginia Czech/ Slovak Heritage Society are planning to host the fifth annual festival next year to continue remembering, honoring, and celebrating their Czech and Slovak heritage.
FRIDAY 11.4.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 7
FEATURES
Veteran Shares Story About Military Kelly Mckenzie Serves Twenty-One Years In U.S. Army Tiffany Whittington Features Editor
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elly Mckenzie paused for a moment as she reflected back on a deployment to Iraq. “It was one of those days that I was getting ready to go, but I missed my convoy. We had contractors on their way to Camp Doha and they were ambushed and everyone was killed. That made me realize I’m at war. There are people who don’t want us here,” McKenzie said. Kelly Mckenzie served for twentyone years within the Army branch of the military, and achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3. McKenzie served from 1984 to 2005. “I started out as a 76 X-Ray which dealt with class 1 which is food in the Army. And then I reclassified to a 76 Poppa which was a Stock Control clerk. Soon after that I was converted to become a 92 Alpha, which was a Supply System specialist,” Mckenzie said. Her job is working with logistics which includes receiving, storing, issuing, and analysis of the materials & supplies the military uses. Mckenzie enlisted at the age of 20 and started active duty at 21 years old. “I signed up in July in the delayed entry program.” Mckenzie said. “I was still taking some college courses that I wanted to finish and then I went to basic training in September of that year,” Mckenzie also gained international experience with her service. She lived in foreign countries such as Germany, Iraq, and Kuwait, and traveled across the United States to bases in Texas, New Jersey, Washington, Virginia, Alabama, and North Carolina. “I was with the 19th Support Center and I deployed to Kuwait in November 2002 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. I did 8 months there,” Mackenzie said. McKenzie is also thankful for how the Army positively and helped her learn more about herself. “I think it made me a stronger person, able to go out there in the world, and because I had been around so many different people it opened my eyes up and I
BY THE NUMBERS
23.2 million military veterans in the United States.
1.8 million veterans are women.
7.8 million wasn’t afraid to try new experiences. With my father being in the military, I traveled quite a bit. Myself joining the military, I continued that travel and I continued to broaden my experiences around the world and with people. I think it made me appreciate who I am, my country, and enjoying life,” Mckenzie said. Mckenzie explained how her gender affected how hard she had to work to gain respect. “Coming into the Army in 1984 there wasn’t a lot of women in the military. It was sort of looked at as a man’s job. There was still discrimination within the ranks between males and females,” Mckenzie said. McKenzie retired in 2005 after 21 years of active duty within the Army. She had mixed feelings about her decision, but decided it was the right time to leave. “It was bittersweet. In fact I was going to retract my retirement, but my husband said ‘No you’re not.’ Being called a Soldier
Photo contributed by Kelly Mckenzie. for 21 years, you take pride in it, and I didn’t want to stop being a Soldier. I think that even in the career I have now, I still feel like a Soldier and I don’t think that feeling ever goes away,” Mckenzie said. After retiring, Mckenzie took on many jobs and continued her travels as a civilian. “I went back to Germany as a civil servant. I was a GS-12 and I pretty much did the same thing I did in the Army. I am now working on a project to build a system for the Army that encompasses all logistics. It is a big deal,” Mckenzie said. Overall Mckenzie would strongly recommend a career in the Army. “I would,[recommend a career in the army] yes, definitely. Everything was perfect,” Mckenzie said, “I would recommend anyone who wants to learn leadership skills to join.”
veterans served during the Vietnam War era (1964-1975), which represents 33% of all living veterans.
5 states have more than one million veterans in their population including California, Florida, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania Information collected from http://www.history. com/topics/holidays/ veterans-day-facts.com
8 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.4.16
Yankee Coffee Shop
2557-A S. Crater Rd. Petersburg, VA 23805 (804)-861-4990 Hours of Operation: Thursday-Monday: 5:30 A.M.- 1:45 P.M. Closed: Tuesday & Wednesday
FRIDAY 11.4.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 9
FEATURES
Making the Switch Students hurry to change classes before deadline Shanice Davis TRN Writer
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ith the start of Novemb e r , many teache r s are finalizing their students’ grades in preparation for report cards. As the grading period comes to an end, so does the opportunity to switch levels of core classes. Students switch for different reasons, but sometimes due to the difficulty of their class. “Most people [switch their class] because they realize their schedule is too tight. They have too many expectations going on between having sports and four other honors or AP classes. They need to break up their schedule a bit,” Curtis said. Curtis also stated the importance of understanding that only core classes are to be switched. “If you are in an elective class [art, for example] and you decided that you do not like art anymore, you cannot drop art at this point. If you were to drop it, you’d get an ‘F’ in the class and you can’t go into a new class, you’d just have to take an ‘F’ and have to audit another class somewhere else,” Curtis said. Several students, such as juniors Katie Helm and Rachel Pitts, have made the switch already. Helm had transferred from regular history to honors due to a schedule mishap. While the process of getting into an upper level class was necessary, Helm found it rather tedious to complete the exchange. “I had to go to guidance and fill out a sheet to see my counselor and switch that class. When I switched that class, my whole schedule flip-flopped and changed,” Helm said. Upon those few days which Helm found herself in a regular class, she had a bit of advice for those who desire increasing their level.
“Be prepared to work harder than you did; be forewarned that the classes include participation grades so you have to speak up and discuss. Working ability and time management is needed to take an honors class, trust me,” Helm said. Pitts’ story was a little different. As a matter of fact, Pitts switched twice. Once from AP to regular, then from regular to honors. “I noticed that AP had a really heavy course load and then when I went to regular, it was way too easy for me. [Between the classes] the biggest difference is probably the amount of work and the depth of what is being taught. For me, honors is a happy medium,” Pitts said, describing the classes. The process to switch classes was relatively the same for Pitts as it was for
Helm. “I just went to guidance and asked for a schedule change form. The first time I changed my class, I didn’t even have to go to guidance, I was just sent a new schedule. With my history class, I was called down because it [was not typical] to go from AP to regular. Overall, the process was quick and simple.” When it came to advising those who were considering switching, Pitts agreed with Helm, only adding a few additional words of advice. “My best advice would be to really think about it before you make the switch. If you have too much on your plate with honors/AP classes then you may have to move, and that’s okay. Don’t let it get to the point that you’re overwhelmed because your other
Junior Katie Helm sits down and fills out her transfer slip to move from regular to honors VA and US History. This was due to scheduling difficulties at the beginning of the year. Photo by Shanice Davis. classes will suffer too. Remember that [switching] is your choice and nobody else’s.” For those still desiring to switch their course, they need to go to guidance to request a schedule change form. They should fill the form out, have parents sign to confirm the changes, and turn it back in by November 7th. No changes will be accepted after that date.
12 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.4.16
Powderpuff Game November 21st 3:30 PM PGHS Football Field Contact Us:
FRIDAY 11.4.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 13
A&E
Burks Introduces Acabella Choir
BY THE NUMBERS
19 The number of females in the choir.
Tyler Brock TRN Writer
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hristian Burks is a choir teacher at Prince George High School. He likes teaching and being around the kids. Some of Burks favorite activities are creating and singing music. The choir teacher would later go on to create the Acabellas. Additionally, Burks has been interested in music his whole life and has been in the choir since the second grade. Burks was inspired to go into choir when he was in his junior year in high school and his choral director was ill. Unfortunately, his director was diagnosed with colon cancer and couldn’t make it to the concert. “I stepped in for him and directed our ensemble for three months while he was out of work,” Burks said. The concerts he performed solidified him on what he wanted to do. So, when he graduated high school, he wanted a career in music. He would later become a choir teacher at Prince George High School.
“I decided to reintroduce the Acabellas because I wanted to give more diverse choral experiences for vocalists who enjoy singing in the pop style,” Burks said. Also, he expects the very best from his Acabella members. They’re all expected to be committed vocalists, required to stay after school for rehearsals, and of course, have a passion for singing. Sophomore Nikaylah Brown is one of the many members who bring valuable experience and passion to the group. “I’ve been singing since I was two years old and I have loved it ever since,” Brown said. He wants to take kids on a musical journey and help them become more experienced, excited, and interested in music. His sole mission for the girls is to “perform in the correct style and feel successful after doing-so.” The choir teacher is not the only one who is excited for the coming year. Senior Emily Bowie has been apart of many singing groups and has high hopes for the Acabellas.
Sophomore Nikalyah Brown rehearses one of the songs the Acabella’s will be performing. Photo by Monica Thornton.
“I’ve been singing in competitions since I was in fourth grade and honestly, as a group, we are always improving,” Bowie said. Even though they’re just starting, they’re currently practicing to Christmas songs, but will venture into “pop” music as well. When we’re past the Christmas season, the club will sing songs from the most famous and popular artists throughout history “We haven’t had any performances yet, but I am sure that the girls will bring a great energy and build confidence as we grow as a group,” Burks said. Additionally, they’re open to performance opportunities, if anyone has suggestions, but they’ll primarily be featured in choral concerts. Finally, they want to bring a harmonious melody to everyone’s ears at each and every performance. The choir teacher wants to inspire the Acabellas through music to do good things while always staying positive.
2 Performances coming up, but possibly more
28 Choir rehearsal for the school year
1 Song currently being practiced
Information collected from Christian Burks and members of Acabella choir.
14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 11.4.16
A&E
Comfort Brings Intensity To Gaming
Student Gamers Team Up To Be Nationally Ranked
GAMERS
$ 454k Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel earned From 35 Tournaments
$437k
Carlee Lively Online Editor-In-Chief
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s senior Tyler Comfort grasps an xbox controller, he can hear his teammates through the headset as they battle mythical gods. Playing the video game Smite about everyday, now Comfort is a master at the game. Comfort and his team of five are ranked in the 19,000’s out of 200,000 nationally. Smite is a free downloadable game that allows singles, as well as teams to battle each other. Out of all the players on his team, one of his teammates is his best friend, who is fellow senior named Ryan Patrick. “Tyler introduced me to it two and a half years ago, he said it was free and now we play together,” Patrick said. Smite makes it’s money by allowing players to upgrade fast and buy powerups for the players. As the game continues to grow, Smite now has it’s own tournament. The team is made up of players who are better than average and enjoy playing together. “With a team is more fun, you get closer with your team and really bond with them. They help you in the game and you can save them,” Patrick said. Each team is comprised of 5 players that can be located anywhere in the United States. It can add elements to the game play, though many teams are in the same area. Comfort and Patrick’s team are planning to compete in the Smite Pro League next year, “It’s in March, it usually is in California but this year it is in Georgia so we are all planning to go down there. If you win, it is a million dollar prize for the
Top Paid
Lee “Flash” Young Ho earned From 40 Tournaments
$377 k Jung “Mvp” Jong Hyun earned From 42 Tournaments
$374 k Lee “Jaedong” Jae Dong - $374,528.83 From 35 Tournaments team,” Patrick said. Professional teams from all around the world compete at the beginning of this year. The teams often do not just play but let the game consume most of their time. “I work now so I play about an hour or so everyday. Before I worked, I could not tell you, [I played] a lot,” Comfort said. Video gaming can be a stress relieving activity for many students but this level of gaming can add more. The stakes are high, but their hobby can make them richer than the team that started. Comfort had now fallen in love with the game, he used to play just to pass the time but now it’s habit. Comfort tells all his friends to play with one simple message, “Just give them a try and don’t give up because you will probably not be good
Senior Tyler Comfort showing off his favorite X-box one controller. Comfort has been playing daily for as long as he can remember. Photo by Carlee Lively. at first.” Many gamers turn this hobby into a lifestyle by competing in competitions, gaining sponsors and testing new game options. Comfort is now sponsored by Reddot designs, a clothing and accessories company for gaming. In the future, Comfort wants to make his passion a career, “ [I want to] run my own community online, as an organization. The players sign up to be able to play with other members and be a part of a gaming team.”
$367 k Jang “MC” Min Chul - $367,902.12 From 64 Tournaments.
Information collected from From Business Insider
PH TOGALLERY
FRIDAY 11.4.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 15
LADY ROYALS WIN RUNNER-UP REGIONAL TITLE, HEAD TO STATES RIGHT: Junior Carlee Lively battles a Maury defensemen during the second half of the regional final. The team scored a total of eight goals in defeating Douglas Freeman and Deep Run in the tournament. They lost in the final to Maury 2-0. Photo by Wessam Hazaymeh. BELOW: Senior Alexis Harrell charges with the ball past a Maury player. Harrell is one of six seniors on the varsity. Photo by Wessam Hazaymeh.
TOP RIGHT: Sophomore Abby Warren secures the ball as she heads towards the opponent’s goal. Warren was named Conference 12 Player of the Year for 2016. Photo by Wessam Hazaymeh. LEFT: Coach of the Year Maggie Roberts offers encouragement at halftime of the regional final. Roberts is in her first year as the Lady Royals coach. Photo by Wessam Hazaymeh.
For more photos of the regional final go to www.trnwired. smugmug.com
16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.4.16
Starting Positions available in:
General Laborer With Advancement in:
Heavy Equipment Operation Pipefitting Welding
FRIDAY 11.4.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 17
A&E Gamer's Corner & Critic Review
Players Leap Into WWI Era
B
attlefield 1” Open Beta was released on August 31, 2016. With the complete version released October 18, 2016, initially October 21, 2016. Despite it’s name, BF1 is the fifteenth installment in its franchise and follows the period of World War 1. EA expects to sell less than 15 million copies in a year. Currently BF1 is available through the Xbox One, PS4, and the PC gaming company, Origin. Players can now take control of various armored vehicles, light and heavy tanks, armored tanks, biplane aircraft, battleships, zeppelins, as well as ride horses into battle. Each of the playable soldiers is an actual Tatyanna Thaxton soldier who fought in the first World War. A name is said to appear on the screen, along with that person’s birth year. Gamespot rolled out some details on BF1’s Limited Collector’s Edition, which contains an exclusive statue of the cover art who is seen to be one of the main characters. The story will revolve around a collection of war stories, each of a different point-of-view from soldiers of different nationalities. Expanding our views
on the entire war itself. In the Deluxe Edition of BF1, which is called the Early Enlister, you can access the game earlier starting October 18th instead of October 21st initial release. You then, have access to the Hellfighter DLC pack, the Lawrence of Arabia pack, and five Battlepacks. One of the most exciting inclusions is the Red Baron Pack. Which, should include a custom red Fokker lll tri-plane that Manfred von Richthofen flew in during WW1. According the game’s designer, Daniel Berlin, the campaign mode has larger and more open environments. Which hold more options and choices in terms of paths to completing levels. Like, Black Ops 3 and FarCry 4, you can play with friends in campaign. While you choose you’re own class, which include; Assault,
Photo courtesy of playstation.com. Medic, Support, Scout, Tanker, Pilot, Cavalry, and Elite. Players make use of WW1 weapons. With DICE, the Swedish developer of titles such as Battlefield itself, introducing new melee weapons such as; sabres, trench clubs, and the legendary shovel. I for one, recommend the game to be played. You could learn a thing or two about WWI. Eight out of ten stars would cover the game itself.
Season 6 Marks The End Of Teen Wolf
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he last season of the MTV series, Teen Wolf, is premiering November 15th. It’s finally pushing forward after a major setback with a key member of
the cast. Dylan O’Brien, who plays Stiles Stilinski, was hit by a car while working on a movie for his ongoing series The Maze Runner. This caused a stir up amongst the fandom. Questions arose from many viewers wondering if Stiles would make an appearance in the final season. In the trailer Stiles is forgotten from all reality except from Lydia, the teenage banshee who can predict death. Scott McCall is determined to save Beacon Hills and his friends before the end of his senior year. On the other hand, Tyler Posey, who plays Scott McCall, is saying goodbye to his character of five years. Holland Roden is playing out her character, Lydia Martin, who is always developing her new traits as a teenage banshee. Dylan Sprayberry is resuming his role as the young beta of the pack, Liam
Kylie Cargill
Dunbar, who made an entrance back in season four. Season 5B left off with the pack defeating the Dread Doctors and the Beast. Fans await the new enemy and how their horrors will be stopped by the pack. Many also question the relationship status between Lydia and Stiles. After the end of Malia and Stiles, viewers wonder if producer, Jeff Davis, will finally put Lydia and Stiles with one another. Before Malia, played by Shelley Hennig, Stiles claimed to be in love with Lydia but nothing ever sparked out between the two. Tyler Hoechlin, who plays Derek Hale but left after season five, is rumored to be returning for the final round. Nothing has been confirmed by the producers but fans are hopeful. Crystal Reed took on another character in season 5B after her character
Photo courtesy of tvline.com. Allison Argent was killed off the show in previous seasons. No other characters have been rumored to come back. Fans are looking forward to Teen Wolf ’s final season. It will air on Tuesdays nighs on the Music Television Network, at 9 p.m Eastern time.
18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 11.4.16
FALL SPORTS
Senior Spotlight
Football Team Honors Anthem
Wayne Coleman Sports Editor
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he season is coming to an end for Royals football. While their season’s end draws near, other leagues are making a mid-season push, such as the case for the National Football League. While the athletes and fellow students watch their teams put together their season, it is hard not to miss the controversy among the players of the NFL. The action players are doing to cause this shake-up: taking a stand by not standing. 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sparked the situation with his knee during the National Anthem, and it has since sprouted its way into popular culture. However, the football squad is divided when it comes to the controversial stand made by their sports idols. Junior Christian McCamish describes the discussion the varsity football team has had about the issue. “Yes we have [discussed protest], and we decided that we would stand for the National Anthem,” McCamish said. He and other players agree that standing during this portion of the game shows honor to those serving. “I think it shows respect to the veterans that have served in the military,” McCamish said. For those like senior Lamontiese Wil-
liams and coach Daniel Hamlet however, it goes deeper than just not standing. “For me, I come from a military family, so you’re disrespecting me in a way,” Williams said. The players and coaches have different opinions about what they are doing individually, but the message is clear: stay away from negativity. “We all kind of felt the same [about the issue], we felt we need to block out negative connotations,” Williams said. “We all knew we needed to stay together to make the playoffs.” Staying united was also a major concern with the team, and coaches have made it very clear. “Yes it was discussed amongst the team [the protest],” Hamlet said. “What was said was we want the team to show unity. We wanted them to understand the purpose of the protest.” While players did agree to stand during the anthem, some say if they were to protest, they would want those who saw to understand the world today. “[The message I would hope to send protesting is] that society is messed up currently and we need to focus on the other problems in the world other than political stands,” McCamish said. Others feel that the broader message it’s not based on background. “If you got to protest that black lives matter, then all lives matter,” Williams said. As for coaches, they hope their athletes look beyond the base of these protests, and
Junior Caleb Hamlet, freshman Reggie Renolds ,senior Spencer Rotzoll, senior Theodore Cotcamp, and freshman Sydney Rose stand during the national anthem. Photo by Breanna Rackley. take the lessons that are hidden beneath the surface with them through life. “If you don’t stand for something, then you’ll fall for anything,” Hamlet said. “Your beliefs are who you are now.” The players and coaches also have to keep in mind their fans in the stands. Seniors Ryan Turner and Tyler Blanchard feel the message of standing shows more than respect for the country. “It shows that we all stand tall together,” Turner said. The fans feel like the players who stand for the anthem are standing for the country they live in. “I think it shows respect to America and its ideals,” Blanchard said. Protesting also shows that the players are entitled to what they think and if they feel strongly, then stand for it. “I think people should have freedom of opinion,” Blanchard said. “Their actions speak louder than words.” If they were to protest, the squad has their fans in the bleachers behind them supporting their stand. “I think it’d be a good message that they understand the issue in the world,” Turner said.
Ayla Goodwyn
Girls Volleyball
When did you start playing volleyball? “I started playing in 8th grade for a travel team and I just fell in love with it.” What do you love most about the sport? “The players on the team. My teammates are really easy to get along with and we are always motivating each other.” What was your favorite moment from the season? “I always enjoyed spending time in the team room before games. We were all together, bonding and having fun.” What are your plans for the future? “I was considering playing volleyball in college, but I’m probably going to just do travel ball after school ends.” What are your goals for the season? “I would have to say that my goal, and most of the team’s goal is to have a successful conference, and finish the year strong.”
FRIDAY 11.4.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 19
FALL SPORTS
Students, Teachers Use Powderpuff To Assist Charity
Paul Dennis Jr Managing Editor
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he annual Powderpuff game is returning and the juniors and seniors prepare to face off. Amidst all of the practices and exciting game play, students might lose sight however of the reason why the game is actually played. The game is going to be sponsored by a new foundation, The Royal Initiative. Government teacher Karen Webb is one of the leaders behind the initiative. “The Royal Initiative is not a club you have to or are forced to join. It’s a charity movement where we want to meet once a month and give back to the community in some way. The goal is for anyone to come out and just help others in need, and the Powderpuff game is an example of just that,” Webb said.
Library Media specialist Allison Heath is one of the people responsible for pushing The Royal Initiative. “It’s a movement that Mrs. Webb, Mr. [Hezekiah] Butler, and I are trying to start that will get students who want to be more involved into some charity work,” Heath said. “I think it’s exciting that the girls will get to go out there, show their talents, and play. It’s a great outlet. At the same time, people get a chance to have fun and help charity at the same time. This year we want to focus on the charity part more than we have [in the past] because it is easily forgotten.” “The rule is, to get into the game (if you’re not a player or coach) you must either bring a can of goods or three dollars. We usually give the goods to the PG Food Bank and the money goes to the Elf Helpers for Christmas time, but if they aren’t able, then the money will also go to the food bank,” Webb said. “The reality is, our school’s Powderpuff game is about citizen participation,
which is vital to a democracy. I mean at some point in their life, everyone has either been down in luck or will be, so I see it as paying forward. Someone was always there to help me in life, so I am choosing to pass that on and help others. It is just a plus that you get to have so much fun simultaneously,” Webb said. So the challenge was to try and find a way to keep the excitement at a high level, while raising the awareness of the charity donations. And the Royal Initiative may have found the perfect way of doing it. “We are calling it the ‘Three Point Contest’. The juniors and seniors will compete to see who can collect and bring in the most cans as a class,” Heath said. “Whoever brings in the most cans from November 8th to November 17th will receive a three point lead in the game.” Students, players, and coaches will now have to go a step further to ensure victory for their class. It also gives people who aren’t involved to give back to
Senior Keith Brown (center) leads last year’s juniors in their Powderpuff team chant. Brown was the former head coach for the class of 2017 team. Photo by Dejanae Gibson. the community. Junior Elizabeth Newbold was picked to be on the team and agrees with the change. “I think it is a great idea because it focuses more on the actual importance and idea of why the game is played,“ Newbold said. “I know it can be very easy to start thinking about the wrong things. I am very excited and nervous to play in front of all those people, but you have to draw the line and consider exactly the event is about. People just get too wrapped up in the competition and popularity and all that.” The hope is that people will begin to give more thought to the source of exactly why these events are taking place. Fusing students’ competitive nature and the common good together will be the focus of this year’s event.
Winter >> Sports
UPCOMING
Varsity Boys Basketball scrimmages Sussex at PGHS on Friday, November 18th at 6:30 PM.
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On Nov. 21st, the Annual PowderPuff football game takes place at 3:30 PM.
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Girls Varsity Basketball tournament takes place Thursday, December 1st at 6:30 PM.
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Varsity Boys Basketball plays Hopewell at home on Tuesday December 6th, at 7:15 PM.
New Wrestling Coach Brings Experience
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Senior Aaron Freidhof attempts to take a L.C. Bird wrestler down. Freidhof is a four year varsity wrestler. Photo by Royals Media Staff. Use this QR Code to view more images from our winter sports season.
Anna Mitchell TRN Writer
or the past 20 years, Prince George County’s wrestling team, the Wrestling Royals, has been coached by physical education teacher David Emory, with Glen Thomas as the assistant coach. But starting this November, Thomas will be taking over as the team’s new head coach. “I’m anxious to really get the season started- to get it going,” Thomas said. “[I’m excited] to be able to get everything flowing and get into a routine and get into a schedule.” Thomas has worked with the wrestling team as assistant coach for approximately 12 years. As he steps up to the role of head coach, he is not worried about a rough adjustment with the wrestlers. “I think [the wrestlers will] react well to me,” Thomas said. Glen Thomas “They know I’m demanding, that I want things done a certain way. ... I think they’re excited about this season, especially coming off of a regular season title last year. We’ll try to do that again this year. We’re adding some pieces. We’re missing some guyssome seniors who graduated- and [we] gotta fill some holes, but I think we could so well. I think they’re excited about the season.” Even though a different coach is in control, the team’s regular practices won’t work very differently. The team will primarily focus on technique and conditioning this season, Thomas said. “I’m a big technique guy, also a big conditioning guy. I think wrestling’s one of those sports where you have to be in shape but you [also] have to know what you’re doing,” he said. “So if you have skill and you have technique, and you have conditioning, you can win a lot of matches.” Not only does Thomas coach two sports, but he works with a Hopewell radio station as well. The coach stays quite busy throughout the year, but he balances all of his activities quite well. The team is looking forward to another successful year of wrestling. Last year they received a regular season title, and hope to get even better this year. “We just like to wrestle,” Thomas said. “We just have fun with it. [It’s] a great group of guys - energetic, coachable, teachable. And they just want to win.” “Truth be told, I’m not ready for football season to end,” he said. But he is ready to take on the challenge.