by Abram Hurtado
published December 2023

This girls' swimming team started the new season with lots of the same talent, new talent, but most of all, a group of hard working athletes. 

After their last meet, which resulted in a loss against Morton, the team wants to buckle down and really try to beat everyone in their way. The team is led by Head Coach Sue Mathewson. Her goal is getting the team to sectionals this year.

“This is my 26th year coaching swimming in the district.  I was at Hammond High for 23 years and Hammond Central for three.  I have been around swimming for most of my life, having been a lifeguard and swim instructor earlier. I enjoy all sports and I love that girls have lots of opportunities to participate in a variety of sports,” Mathewson said. 

According to Mathewson, she wants to team to improve from least year and try to get some of the team members in the top six at sectional competitions. 

“Our Sectional is very hard to get out of, but if we could get at least one swimmer out, that would be great,” Mathewson said.

The swimmers are required to have a swimsuit, cap, goggles, and of course a towel. The team uses the process of progression in teaching kids the strokes.  

“We start with basic instruction and add arms, legs, and individual tips to help them to improve.  When they get good at the strokes, we work on getting faster and better,” Mathewson said.

Although her current focus is on getting her team ready for competition, Mathewson encourages everyone to learn how to swim. She stated that swimming is a great way to stay in shape and have lots of fun.  

“The swimming team is great fun, and we go to different schools to swim against each other but it’s also a great way to find friends as well.  Competition is fun and challenging and I love to see the swimmers drop their times and find success in swimming,” Mathewson said.

published November 2023
by Jamie Alekna

This year marks the first time that Hammond Central will include a majorettes team to the list of extra curricular activities that students can be a part of.

The inspiration behind the Rebel Wolves Majorette team comes from junior and coach Vataia Shorter’s experience at her previous school. She thought it would be a great addition to the HC line up so she began the process of making it happen. 

Shorter stated that dancing has inspired her because it makes her get along with people and that it makes her feel free. 

Head Coach and school social worker Starr Williams explained the history behind Majorettes. It is a carnival dance that uses batons as a dance team and it gained popularity in the 1960s specifically in Black colleges,and universities. It infuses West African jazz and hip-hop dance styles. The difference between a cheerleader and majorette dancer is that cheerleaders do more dancing and it includes acrobats and tumbling and majorettes are primarily beside the bands.

Williams stated the benefits of joining a majorettes team is getting to have new experiences, the ability to express arts and self expressions and it could also help build confidence. Consistency is key when it comes to practice. Williams encourages the team not to miss practices and practice as much as they can at home. 

“If one of the girls is late they either put money in the bucket or they run. They do this because it helps with accountability and time management,” Williams said. 

One of the biggest goals in setting a good example for everyone on the team is how each member conducts themselves. Williams tries to instill the importance of self image to the girls on the team. Ensuring that each member conducts themself as a lady and maintains a good image, good posture, and crosses their legs is important as a team whole.

“There needs to be mutual respect, an understanding of teamwork, and shared responsibility and values. And since they are a new organization, we are planning on working to instill these core principles into every practice, game, and performance and make these moments teachable and valuable,” Williams said. 

Along with keeping a good image, there are many other qualities that dancers must be tested on. Shorter stated that her greatest strength as being a dancer is that her patience has grown, has good time management and a good attitude.

“My teamwork experience and skills are being creative, trying to make a sisterhood and a safe place for her teammates, and communicating well. Some of the  most important traits I consider are necessary to be a dancer are being able to ask for help and constantly communicate,” Shorter said. 

Junior captain Janiya Gayles stated she likes dancing because of getting to meet new people, and the rush of excitement you get when you can show everyone what you have been practicing and working on making a dance look good. 

“Dancing has inspired me because I want to pursue it in college and be on an HBCU majorette team. If you want to dance, just make sure it's what you really want to do. Put have to put your all into it because it's easy to fall off,” Gayles said. 

Gayles stated that some of the important traits she considers to be a good dancer is confidence, building bonds, good people skills, team work, and being a team player.

The Majorettes team performed at the HC Homecoming game. Shorter stated that she believed the team did great considering they had to put together five different dances in only six days with limited time. 

Gayles stated that she was so proud of everyone even when it was a bit overwhelming b at halftime due to everyone recording their dance. 

The Majorette dance team does not compete outside of the school yet but Williams stated they are trying to have a battle competition against an Illionios school. She has been reaching out to several schools in Illinois to see who is interested in competing.