Sports & Wellness

Patriots Explosive Rookies

By: Cameron Darulla, 9 

11/21/25

The Patriots have been on a killing this season. Some key players this season are starting QB Drake May. Also starting cornerback Christian Gonzalez, and rookie phenom Will Campbell.

Right now, the Patriots are sitting at an 8-2 record sitting at the top of the AFC east division. They are sitting at a seven game winning streak their longest since 2021 their new head coach Mike Vrabel an ex pro. Their star player, second year quarterback Drake May is having an MVP caliber season.

The team is exceeding expectations with a top 10 offense in the league currently. Their undefeated 5-0 road record further highlights their dominant performance and possibly a potential return to their winning traditions.

Drake Maye, the young quarterback, has already started to show signs of greatness by breaking the Patriots franchise record for single game completion percentages as he got 91.3% compared to Brady’s 88.5%. That game was versus the Tennessee Titans. He also holds the record for the most consecutive games with a passer rating of at least 100 breaking Tom Brady’s 2007 record.

The Patriots had a lot more players such as running back Trevyon Henderson, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and kicker Nick Folk, who has been perfect this season on all his field goals and extra point attempts.

The only question is, can they keep this up or is the hype not real?

Leo Messi Visits the Camp Nou after Barcelona's win against Celta Vigo

By: Kirolos Meawad, 9

11/21/25

FC Barcelona gets back in the league race after Robert Lewandowski’s hat trick at the Abanca Balaidos Stadium on 11/9. Closing the gap between them and Real Madrid CF who drew against Rayo Vallecano, making the difference 3 points only, and Lionel Messi visits the Camp Nou after 4 years.

Barcelona’s mentality shines again in a wild 4-2 win. The Catalan trail the leaders by just 3 points now. The potential comeback for the league 1st place raises the excitement for the league race, especially with the renovated camp now opening soon against Atlético Bilbao next match.

The game exploded early, but Barcelona dominated in the second half. Lewandowski bags 3 goals and  Lamine Yamal adds one. Their pressing overwhelms Celta Vigo, who scored once from Hansi Flick’s high defensive highline, and the second is a rocket from Iglesias.

Hansi Flick praised the team after the match, saying that the team showed real character. Players like Frenkie de Jong controlled the midfield despite Pedri’s injury. The 37 striker, Lewandowski as well, was leading the front line despite Raphinha being injured.

The win before the international break boosts morale at critical times, especially after the unstable results of the team. The game follows the return of the Camp Nou as it’s going to be the revenue game against Athletic Bilbao. Injured stars return soon, boosting the squad’s depth and efficiency. Raphinha, Gavi, and Joan Garcia started to train back with the players.

Lionel Messi returns to the Camp Nou and gets a huge welcome from the fans. The blaugrana legend visits the stadium quietly in a secret visit right after the international break started. Lionel Messi shares the photos on his Instagram account and says that he would love to say goodbye as a player “as I never got too…”

At the end this win sparks a huge relief to both the fans and the players especially after the unstable results looking forward to a comeback in the league.

NFL Going into Week 5 

11/3/24

By: Dan Chelmo, 12

All the NFL players have played their four games in the 2024-25 NFL Season and a lot have happened in these few games. There has been one game every Thursday night, a couple of Friday games, and then most of the games being played all game Sunday with a few Monday night games to end the NFL week. Thousands of people watch these games and are interested in football for multiple reasons. 

The most surprising thing about this NFL season is the leaders in the divisions. In the NFC, the top teams right now are the Commanders, Vikings, Buccaneers, and Seahawks. No one would have thought they were that good before the season started. In the AFC, the Chiefs are still on top with an undefeated record going into Week 5 with the Texans, Steelers, and Bills right behind them.

There has been some great play from rookies this season from players like Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, and Marvin Harrison Jr. Their teams are definitely grateful to have spent a top-10 pick on these guys. There will always be some surprise breakouts from players, but I expect these three players to have great careers for the next several years. 

Sadly there have been some brutal injuries in these first couple of weeks including a couple of star players that will impact their teams. Arguably the biggest injury of Week 4 was to Chiefs star wideout Rashee Rice. There were also a lot more injuries, way too many to list, hopefully everyone will have a healthy recovery and be able to get back into the game of football as soon as possible.

As the season goes on, there are going to be more changes and some unbelievable things that will happen, but that’s the fun about watching these football games, you don’t know what the outcome is until you watch the games. 

NFL Draft 2024 Picks

5/1/24

By: Travis Riley, 11

The NFL draft has been completed and there are a lot of interesting things that have happened. The NFL draft is the national football league having a draft of everyone eligible, and the worst team gets to pick first to the best team picking last. This year the worst team was the Carolina Panthers, but they traded their pick to the Chicago Bears, meaning the bears got to pick first. With the first selection, they took Caleb Williams, a so-called generational prospect. 

An interesting thing that happened this draft was the top 14 picks were all offensive players. This shows that the league is becoming more offensive than defensive. This has never happened before, and usually defensive players are always taken decently early.

My favorite thing about the draft is the last pick. The team that has the last pick gets to choose “Mr. Irrelevant.” They call this person this because they are the last pick in the draft and the team that has the pick usually never wants to trade it even though the pick has little to no value to other teams. How do you feel about the NFL draft this year, or do you even watch it?

WNBA Draft Salaries Spark Controversy

5/1/24

By: Riley Richardson, 12

In the recent WNBA draft, the drastic difference in salary between men and women in professional sports was shown. Record-breaking college basketball player, Caitlin Clark, recently got drafted into the WNBA and shocked fans with how little money she would be making. 

   Clark was the point guard for the University of Iowa and broke many records. She had some of the best records in women’s college basketball. After her recent first draft pick into WNBA, it was released that she would be making less than $400,000 dollars in four years, which is also one of the highest salaries in the WNBA. 

   In the previous NBA Draft, the first draft pick got 55 million dollars, and Caitlin's salary is just a fraction of that. Yes, the NBA draws in a bigger audience because it is “more entertaining,” but the playoff game between Iowa and UCONN, had the highest viewing rate out of any NBA game in the past few years. With all the attention Caitlin Clark has been drawing in and how much she has helped women’s basketball rise in fame, to be paid under half a million dollars is not fair to her or her career.

NFL Fans Speaking Up About Super Bowl 58

2/4/24

By: Reese Mullaney

The Chiefs and the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl. February 11th, 2024 the Super Bowl will be held at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. 

There have been multiple outbreaks on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc. Fans from other NFL teams came together, cheering for the 49ers and Chiefs. There seem to be more fans behind the 49ers because they are the underdogs.  

This will be the Chief's 4th Super Bowl appearance in the past 5 years. The Chiefs are fighting for a back-to-back Super Bowl win. If they can pull this off, they will be the first team to achieve this since the Patriots won in 2003, and 2004. 

The Chiefs seem to have the advantage in this battle because they are in their prime right now. They have the top quarterback in the league, (Patrick Mahomes) as well as the top tight end in the league. (Travis Kelce) Mahomes and Kelce seem to have a good connection on the field giving them a good chance to perform well in the game. 

Brock Purdy is seen as the underdog in this Super Bowl. He was the final pick in the NFL draft, drafted at 262. Fans were calling him “Mr. Irrelevant”. He had the best record in the NFC West last year, as well as this year. He is a two-year rookie, going to his first Super Bowl. This is very impressive, especially for a 262 draft pick. This is one of the main reasons lots of fans, from all teams, are routing for the 49ers, especially Purdy.

Sunday, February 11th, fans with gather together to watch Super Bowl 58, to witness who will earn the win.

Boston Celtics acquire Kristaps Porzingis in blockbuster 3-team trade

9/19/23

By Keyller Thomas, 9

On June 22, 2023, Kristaps Porzingis, Marcus Smart, and Tyus Jones were all involved in the blockbuster trade that involved the Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Memphis Grizzlies. 

The original teams were the Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and the Los Angeles Clippers. As reported by Shams Charania, they were all discussing a deal that would send Porzingis to the Celtics, Brogdan to the Clippers, and Gallinari to the Wizards. This was all supposed to happen before midnight.

Around 10:50 p.m., ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the trade fell apart because the Clippers were concerned about Malcolm Brogdan’s injury. They needed to complete this trade by 12:00 a.m., or Porzingis would become a free agent. The whole trade would fall apart. Gallinari and Brogdan would remain a Celtic, and Jones would remain a Grizzly.

Around 11:30 p.m., it was announced that the Memphis Grizzlies were the new team to continue this trade with Boston and Washington. At 11:45 p.m., Shams Charania reported that the trade was complete. The Celtics got Kristaps Porzingis, a 2023 First-round pick, and a 2024 first-round pick. The Grizzlies got Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart. The Wizards got Tyus Jones from the Grizzlies, Danilo Gallinari, and Mike Muscala, and a first-round pick from the Celtics. But Kristaps still had to either opt into his contract or he will become a free agent. But at 11:56 p.m., he announced that he would op-into his contract to complete the trade.

Some Celtics fans were left happy about the trade, but some were left sad. Marcus Smart was a fan favorite for the Celtics. Some people called him the “Heart and Soul” of the team. He gained this nickname because of his decisive leadership and effort. He left everything on the court and helped the Celtics get to their first NBA Finals in 14 years. Many expected him to retire a Celtic, including himself.

Although Celtics fans are left disappointed, they are excited to see Kristaps Porzingis in a Celtics uniform this upcoming season.

Underdog Florida Panthers beat Boston Bruins in crazy game 7

5/11/23

By: Ryan Costa, 10

The Boston Bruins, in favor of winning the Stanley Cup, lost to the Florida Panthers in a crazy game 7 series. 

The Boston Bruins have been a dominant hockey team, breaking many NHL records. However, they did not come ready to play in the games 5, 6, and 7 of the series. The Bruins had a 3-1 lead in the series and blew it. The President Trophy curse struck again. It was very sad to see after the end of the game, knowing that it might have been Captain Patrice Bergeron and David Krejic’s last season in the NHL and for the Bruins. 

The Panthers really came ready to play. They played fearfully and like each game was their last. It could have been when the Bruins had the 3-1 series lead. Florida was intense and took many opportunities to shoot the puck no matter where they were on the ice. Boston, however, would wait until they were in the sweet spot to shoot the puck. Sometimes it’s best to shoot the puck, especially when it’s going 85 mph+ toward the goal with people standing before it. You never know what can happen.

Panther’s Captain Aleksander Barkov had a very quiet start to the series against the Bruins. Up until they won in game 5 Barkov has been dominant for the rest of the Boston series and is still in the Maple Leaf's series. Panthers leading that series 3-1 currently. Mather Tkachuk has been very aggressive, leading the league in penalty minutes for the playoffs. Overall, he plays very dirty and has some questionable hits after plays and separation from the refs. 

Overall, the Panthers have defeated the most outstanding team and have a very high chance to win this cup. They have proven themselves once and can do it again. They just need to keep playing smart hockey, and to make sure they do not sell a 3-1 lead against the Leaf’s series.

Will the Panthers continue to play like they want the cup?

My Softball Incentive and Inspiration

3/30/23

By: Maggie Schlossberg, 9

I play softball for myself, I work hard and want to feel successful. I also play for the people that can no longer play for themselves. Lauren Bernett, James Madison's all-star catcher. She made amazing plays and frames for international sensation pitcher, Odicci Alexander. She was a key in JMU’s succession in Oklahoma City for the WCWS.

It was too much for her, too much pressure, too much stress, she had to balance school, softball, being a leader, and maintaining her high level of play. She took her life on April 25, 2022. She might have loved the game, hated it. It could have been too hard to walk away. I just wish she could have known that she could have walked away, her coaches would have supported her. Watching the James Madison University softball team compete is hard for me, knowing that a fellow player took her life because of this game. 

Another player I play for is Eliahana Cruz Torres. Eliahana was 10 years old when her life, her bright future was very wrongfully taken by someone who didn’t even know her, he didn’t know her favorite color, her favorite class, and he didn’t even know her name. Eliahana Cruz Torres was a fourth grader at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. She was currently competing in her first season of Little League Softball, in Uvalde. She had practiced for hours pitching. She had pitched in one game before and was just hours away from pitching again. Additionally, she was also waiting on results whether she would make the Uvalde All-star team. 

On May 24, 2022 18 of her peers and 2 teachers at Robb elementary would cruelly have their lives taken. Eliahana will never get the chance to know if she made the All-star team, but more importantly, she will never get to play the game she worked so hard for and loved. 

It isn’t fair for Lauren or Eliahana. They deserve to still be playing softball, so I've devoted my hard work and my love of the game to players like Lauren Bernett and Eliahana Cruz Torres, who could have made a huge mark in softball but will never have the chance. 

Philadelphia Eagles will win Super Bowl LVII, Here is Why

2/8/23

By: Ryan Costa, 10

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the 49ers 31-7 in the NFC Championship. The offense had a great game, having a total of 269 total yards. The defense also played a great game, having 3 sacks and 18 pressures, with 7 QB hits.  

The Eagles had 4 rushing touchdowns; two going to Myles Sanders, 1 to Boston Scott, and 1 to Jalen Hurts. This makes up for Jalen Hurts only has 15 of 29 attempts for 121 yards with 39 rushing yards. 

This season, Hurts has thrown for 3,701 passing yards with 760 rushing yards. Although Patrick Mahomes had 5,200 passing yards he only rushed for 580, and with his ankle injury, he will be running less during the Super Bowl. A.J. Brown, Eagles wide receiver 1, has 88 receptions for 1,496 yards with 11 touchdowns. While Juju Smith-Schuster, Chiefs wide receiver 1, only has 78 receptions for 933 yards with 3 touchdowns. Overall, the Eagles have a better wide receiver core to get the ball down the field to score as many points as possible.

The Eagle's defense was able to sack opposing QBs 68 total times as a team. They were also able to intercept opposing QBs 17 total times. C-j Gardner Johnson tied the league for first with 6 interceptions. The Chiefs only sacked 55 opposing quarterbacks and intercepted the ball 11 times.

Safe to say, the Eagles have a better overall team than the Chiefs and will be able to win the Super Bowl on February 12, 2023, at 6:30, in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Attention student-athletes, we need to talk about your mindset

2/6/23

By: Maggie Schlossberg, 9 

Being a student athlete is a difficult task. You have to balance sports and school while maintaining your grades and your spot on a team. Having a strong mindset will make life easier for you. It helps improve your game and grades.

Setting Goals

Setting small, achievable goals will definitely boost your confidence. Focusing on one aspect of your game can help you succeed and truly improve in that area. Take your goal one step at a time. If your goal is to shave off a minute on your mile time, start by focusing on 10 seconds. The more you do something, the better you get at it, the faster you could run. There is nothing better than achieving a goal.

Short Memory

After you make a mistake, bouncing back from it can be the hardest thing you do. Instead of dwelling on a past mistake, do something to distract yourself, like cheering on teammates. You cannot change the past, but thinking about it can alter your future. Having a short memory will help you free yourself from the things holding you back. Mistakes happen, and they help you and others learn and improve.

Competition

Some people use rivalry as motivation and will rise to the occasion. Competition is great, but make sure that if you are working hard to improve yourself, it is for the right reason. Set a goal and do it for yourself. Social media and statistics don’t show everything. Don’t compare yourself to other people or teams stats, think about how you want to play and push yourself with that goal in mind.

Motivation

With the right motivation, for the right reasons, you can reach a goal. Motivation comes in many forms. You can be self-motivated and do something because you want to be better, or you can be extrinsically motivated because you want to beat someone else, prove someone wrong or wow someone. Some people are not scared to share their opinions about you. You can use negative voices and make them something positive. Using others' comments about you as motivation is extrinsic because you are motivated to prove someone wrong. To add to that, if someone is putting you down constantly, you do not need them. Surround yourself with people that lift you up, not put you down. Being a student-athlete is difficult to balance, having a stable and strong mindset will make life easier.

Tom Brady announces retirement from NFL 

2/6/23

By: Anonymous, 10

For the second time in his NFL career, Tom Brady retired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on February 1, 2023. There is no surprise due to his age, 45, has teenage children, and just got divorced from his wife, Gisele Bundchen. Along with many other reasons that are unknown to the public.

Nobody can deny that Tom Brady is one of the best players in NFL history, if not the best. He has achieved things nobody else could ever imagine winning SEVEN super bowls over THREE decades! Brady has played in the NFL for 23 seasons (over half of his life!). The average quarterback plays for around five years. Brady played on the New England Patriots from 2001-2019 (23 seasons) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2020-2022 (3 seasons).

Most people have heard that Tom Brady had recently filed for divorce from his wife, Gisele, of 13 years. People believed that this was because Gisele wanted Brady to retire to spend time with his family over football. People thought this could have been a significant factor. Tom choosing to retire right after their divorce shows that it may have been much more than just family time. Brady and Bundchen agreed to joint custody of their children.

Since Tom now has joint custody of his teenage children, maybe he decided that he needs to be there for them and that football may be too much for the circumstances. Together, Tom and Gisele had two children, Benjamin (13) and Vivian (10). With his first wife, Bridget Moynahan, he had one child, John (Jack) (15). People may argue that having custody of 3 teenage kids and playing football full-time during football season is not ideal, especially when the kids are going through many family changes due to the divorce.

Now that Tom Brady has retired from the NFL, he can start his 10-year deal with FOX Sports as the network's lead NFL analyst. Brady had agreed to this $375 million deal in May 2022 to begin immediately after his playing career. Many people will be happy to see their favorite football star on TV even though he has retired! Hopefully, Tom keeps his word on retirement, seeing as he has already retired once!

Damar Hamlin Returns to Buffalo to Continue Recovery

1/12/23

By: Gage Williams, 12

Damar Hamlin, safety for the Buffalo Bills, was released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on Monday following his cardiac arrest. Hamlin continues getting treatment at the Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute. 

“He is currently listed in stable condition,” said the hospital, “and continues to make significant progress in his recovery.” The team of doctors working with Hamlin continues to be “ecstatic” with his recovery process each day. Hamlin was already walking around with assistance this past Friday, less than a week after the incident. Although Hamlin’s condition seems to be improving, he is still expected to undergo a series of tests to see what caused this scary incident. 

Once Hamlin returned to Buffalo, he started receiving visits from Coaches and teammates in the hospital. “He’s doing well, and a little bit tired, but it was good to see him in person for the first time in a while.” stated head coach Sean McDermott. “He seems happy and happy to be back in Buffalo and around some familiar area to him, and so, I know he’s just taking it one step at a time.”

This past Sunday, the Buffalo Bills played the division rivals, the New England Patriots, in their first game back since the event. While the Bills secured an exciting win over the Patriots, the main focus of the game was all on Hamlin. Players wore “3” patches on their jerseys, and a ceremony for Buffalo’s medical and athletic training staff was held before the game. Hamlin watched the game from his hospital bed, “When the opening kickoff was run back, he jumped up and down. Got out of his chair, set, I think, every alarm off in the ICU in the process, but he was fine, it was just an appropriate reaction to a very exciting play," Doctor Pritts said.

Patriots rookie QB Bailey Zappe makes his first career start against the Detroit Lions

10/14/22

By: Nate Clark, 11

On Sunday, the Patriots and rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe shut out the Lions at home. The Patriots coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Packers in Green Bay a week ago, come back home trying to avoid starting 1-4 the Patriots avoid this after beating the Lions 29-0. 

Bailey Zappe in his first career start had 17 completions on 21 attempts for 188 yards. Bailey also threw for a touchdown and an interception. The game went the Patriots' way all day. Nick Folk the Patriots kicker was 5/5 on field goals with a long of 44 yards. Rhamondre Stevenson the Pats running back rushed for over 150 yards on 25 rushes. Receiver Devante Parker had 2 catches and one of those catches being Zappe's first career touchdown pass. On defense, the Pats shined even brighter with safety Kyle Dugger returning a fumble forced by Matthew Judon for 59 yards and a touchdown. As well as this rookie corner Jack Jones caught an interception. Following this game linebacker Matthew Judon was awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He had three tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble that set up a defensive touchdown.

The Quarterback room for the Patriots was being heavily questioned after second-year player Mac Jones was ruled out for at least four weeks following a high ankle sprain. 36-year-old veteran Brian Hoyer was ruled the QB1 following Jone’s injury. Hoyer quickly exited the game in Green Bay with a concussion in the first quarter. This gave the Patriots only one man to step up and be the starter Bailey Zappe the rookie taken in the fourth round out of Western Kentucky. As a Senior in college Bailey Zappe broke two college football records. The records that now belong to Zappe are most passing touchdowns with 62 and most passing yards at 5,967 total.

NFL is Back

9/21/22

By: Gage Williams, 12

Turn on your TV for Sunday nights because the National Football League is back and better than ever for the 2022-23 season. With Week 1 of the regular season down, fans can’t wait to watch their favorite teams for the 16-plus weeks to come. This season week 1 of games did not disappoint. Between blowouts, overtimes, upsets, and even a tie it's safe to say that this year is going to be eventful. 

Kicking off the games the Buffalo Bills take the first win of the season while in fashion by scoring 31 points on the Super Bowl finalists, the Los Angeles Rams. The beating was mainly led by the 4-year quarterback. Josh Allen, as he and the Bills' offense were able to put together 21 unanswered points in the second half. Another highlight game from the opening week would be the nail bitter between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals. Both teams went back and forth throughout the game, but in the end, it was Pittsburgh that nailed the field goal into overtime to win the game 23-20. A second game of the week also went into OT but proceeded to have a different outcome. The Indianapolis Colts faced the Houston Texans, in what some may have seen as a clear win for the Colts. The Texans were underestimated though as they achieved a lead of 17 over the colts by the third quarter. With one quarter left to go Indianapolis buckled down and found a way to get back those 17 points and send the game into overtime. Both teams couldn’t find a way to score in OT which resulted in a Tie for their record.

One thing that makes the NFL so entertaining is anything can happen in a game, there is no clear set winner for each game. One team that made themselves known as the New York Giants as they just barely squeak out the win against the Tennessee Titans 21-20. Returning from his injury, running back for the NY Giants, Saquon Barkley set himself apart from the average running back as he rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown. Another upset in week 1 would be the highest rated Denver Broncos vs. the Seattle Seahawks. Over the Offseason, the Seahawks lost their starting quarterback, Russell Wilson to the Broncos. Many saw this game as a blowout for the Broncos, but Seattle was able to rally behind the new quarterback, Geno Smith as he lead the hawks to a 17-16 victory over the Broncos. With week 1 behind us now, NFL fans find the weekdays to be even longer as they anticipate more football games like the ones we just had.

Mac Jones and the Patriots squeak out a win in Pittsburgh

9/19/22

By: Nate Clark, 10

The New England Patriots and second year starting quarterback Mac Jones took their talents to Pittsburgh to challenge the Steelers on Sunday. On Sunday the 18th the Patriots went to Pittsburgh PA to challenge the Steelers in the newly named Acrisure Stadium. The Patriots went into week 2 following a loss to the Dolphins in Miami. Pittsburgh came in following a week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in dramatic fashion. In this game the Patriots started off well with kicker Nick Folk getting them on the board early with a 28 yard field goal in the first quarter. Before the half, 24-year-old quarterback Mac Jones connected with Nelson Agholor for a deep 44 yard touchdown to close out the first half at a 10-3 Patriots lead. 

Coming out of the half Damien Harris the running back out of Alabama ran for a touchdown to make it a 17-6 game in the third quarter. The Patriots defense looked very good throughout the game but their only blemish came on the first play of the fourth quarter when quarterback Mitch Trubisky throws a seven yard touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth the tight end out of Penn State college. The Steelers would go for and convert the 2 point conversion to make it a 3 point game in the final quarter. The Steelers would then fail to get even a first down for the remainder of the game which sparked the crowd to start chanting for 1st round pick in this years draft quarterback Kenny Pickett. The Final score of the game was 17-14 in favor of the New England Patriots. This win brings the Patriots to 1-1 and avoids them falling to 0-2 for the first time since the 2001 season.

Unfair treatment of NFL Cheerleaders 

9/19/22

By: Elizabeth Chelmo, 12

NFL cheerleaders have been working in unfair environments with cruel pay and deranged expectations for years. Becoming an NFL cheerleader is insanely competitive and a huge achievement in itself. Most cheerleaders think they are living the dream with a glamorous job, but they quickly realize how miserable their experience is going to be. They attend 1-2 games a week cheerleaders participate in practice, training camp, games, appearances, photo shoots, and charity events. While getting paid $22,500 a year isn’t sustainable for the cost of living today. 

Cheerleaders spend hours before the game doing their hair, and makeup, and getting their outfits on which they don’t get paid for and cost money to do. They will get fired if their appearances aren’t up to the team's standards. If they are seen in public wearing sweatpants they will be fired. If they gain weight which happens to grown women they will be let go. They will also get fired if they post scandalous pictures on Instagram. Most people agree with the athletes that these expectations are ridiculous. 

Cheerleaders from the Bills stated that they were constantly weighed and subjected to a jiggle test to see if the fat on their bodies moved. Additionally, the San Francisco cheerleaders will be banned if they interact with any player on social media or employees about professional interactions. Cheerleaders spend hours before the game doing their hair, and makeup, and getting their outfits on which they don’t get paid for and cost money to do. 

There is an unfair double standard between the football players and the cheerleaders. Bailey Davis, an ex-New Orleans Saints cheerleader stated that if they are at a party or restaurant and a player enters the cheerleader has to leave to protect their image. Davis explains that she's making only $10.25 an hour as a four-year cheerleader. Football players are allowed to interact with any cheerleader they see fit, but the cheerleaders have to block players on social media. Most cheerleaders believe that the double standard is unfair because they need to regulate the action of the players. While the players can do whatever they want. 

When the cheerleaders leave or get fired they have a hard time finding jobs in the entertainment industry because they aren’t allowed to self-promote on any of their social media platforms. It is upsetting because players are allowed to connect with fans and self-promote in any way they see fit. Even though cheerleaders have a very demanding job with high expectations and rules to follow they are underappreciated and underpaid. 

Patriots falling short in week 1 of NFL football.

9/19/22

By: Tyler Henderson, 9

Patriots off to a bad start falling to the dolphins 20-7 in week one game. Although they lost there were many upsides throughout the game. The New England Patriots flew down to Miami during week one of the NFL Season to play the Miami Dolphins. Well the Patriots looked decent coming into the year, they didn't make many moves over the offseason, unlike the dolphins picking up the fastest wide receiver in the league Tyreek Hill. 

This game took place September 11th at 1:00PM at Hard Rock Stadium. Although the Dolphins came out flying with a big win against the Patriots, there were a few positive moments throughout the game, including a young bright running back duo, Meyers becoming a solid receiver, and Bourne becoming a deep threat to defenses. 

Although letting up 20 points the defense didn't do half bad going up against one of the most explosive teams in the NFL with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Raheem Mostert. The Patriots may have lost the game but they can definitely make a run for the playoffs if they catch fire. 

A big part in becoming a playoff contender is having a good quarterback. Mac Jones, the quarterback for the Patriots, looks like he's going in the right direction to becoming a superstar quarterback in the NFL. As long as he doesnt get injured he should play very well with his 2nd year offense. Some people are mourning over the loss, but others see the potential in the Patriots this year.

Dak Prescott Out Due To Fractured Hand   

9/19/22

By: Nick Harriman, 10

Dallas Cowboys quarterback will miss multiple weeks due to a fractured bone in his throwing hand. He got hurt in the fourth quarter of the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when his right hand hit Shaquil Barrett’s helmet. Initially he thought he had just jammed a finger, like he has many times before, but on the next play he realized he couldn’t grip the football. Prescott said he will see a doctor Monday and have surgery after that. After initially being checked on the sideline, he jogged to the locker room and had X-rays. After the x-rays he was told that the injury “was much cleaner than it could have been.” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the injury is above his thumb, and behind the joint.

Prescott’s 2020 season ended in the fifth week due to an ankle injury. He returned last season to throw for 4,449 yards and 37 touchdowns as the Cowboys won the NFC East. This year, they lost the season opener without even scoring a touchdown. Hopefully he will only be out for a few weeks and won't have to miss the entire season, but if he keeps getting injured like this he will have an early retirement.

Bruins fans completely heartbroken 

5/16/22

By: Meaghan Powers, 12

The Boston Bruins lost in game 7 of the first round  to the Carolina Hurricanes.  The past two weeks 16 teams have been fighting for the chance to win the stanley cup.  In the NHL, teams fight through 56 total games through a season to be the best. In the end only 16 of those teams made it to the postseason. This year's matches were not surprising and it's been the same couple teams that cycled around the playoffs. This was Boston's 74th playoff appearance since the team was created.  Every year Bruins fans are hopeful they will bring home the Stanley cup. The last time they won was in 2011.  May 2nd, 2022 was the first game of a possible 7 game series. In the NHL two teams go up against each other until one wins four games.  This year it was Carolina and Boston facing each other, Carolina being the first seed and the Bruins being the 4th.  The first two games were played in Carolina and were won by the Hurricanes.  The next two were played in Boston and won by Boston. The series was tied 2-2 going back to Carolina. Home ice advantage was a huge factor in these games, as well as skill and determination.  Bruins won all their home games and unfourtal so did carolina.  Being the first seed gave Carolina the advantage of playing at home more than the bruins.  In Game 7, the final game of the series the Carolina Hurricanes outplayed and out hustled the bruins and ended up winning the game 3-2.  Although the bruins fans are sad, we are now excited to see what rebuilding the team does for next year.  We will always be rooting for our teams and praying they bring the Stanley Cup back home where it belongs. 

What the carnivore diet can do for you

4/29/22

By: Aidan Purcell, 12

If you are interested in improving your health, the carnivore diet may be for you. As a result of being a long-time listener of the Joe Rogan podcast, one of the many things that I have learned about is the Carnivore Diet. Joe Rogan himself tried this diet 30 days straight and said he felt great while he did, meanwhile losing a decent amount of weight, 12 pounds. 

Inspired by this, and also bored during vacation, I decided why not give it a shot. So I set the goal to reap the benefits of the carnivore diet for 2 weeks. One of the main benefits of the carnivore diet is that you have a constant flow of energy. Rather than being wide awake at some points in the day, and then dead tired at other points, you pretty much feel the same the whole day. After hitting the one-week mark today, I have found this to be very true. It’s like a steady line of energy throughout the day, morning to night time. Another benefit is rejuvenated skin. This is also one that I will vouch for. My skin has cleared up tremendously and my face is not oily. Along with this, it does help with weight loss. After a few days into the diet, from consuming no sugar or carbs your body goes into something called ketosis. This is when your body can no longer burn carbs for energy, so it switches to burning fat. Along with this, it is hard to hit a high number of calories while only eating meat. However, you’ll have no problem hitting your protein goals. And along with that, research shows that this diet increases testosterone. So between the two, this should be a great diet for increasing strength and muscle. Extra benefits include improvement in heart health, immune function, sleep, gut health, many diseases, and mental health.

Celtics are surprising the Nets

4/25/22

By: Josh Meskinis, 9

The Boston Celtics are now in the playoffs! They are playing the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs. Before the playoffs started many people thought that the Boston Celtics were gonna lose to the Brooklyn Nets. The Boston Celtics surprised everyone and are leading the series 3 to 0. The NBA playoffs are best of 7 games so it's first to win 4 games. The Celtics are one win away from knocking out the Brooklyn Nets, and moving onto the second round. If the Celtics move onto the second round (which they probably will do) they will most likely play the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks are a really good team. The Bucks are the 3rd seed in the eastern conference and the Celtics are the second. If they play each other in the second round it should be a good series. As of right now the Celtics look like the best team in the playoffs. Either the Celtics or the Phoenix Suns will win the national championship. Jayson Tatum is also looking really good and is really stepping up in this playoff series. The last time the Celtics won the championship was in 2009. This would make a great comeback for Boston and boost morale among the fans!

Rams vs Bengals who will win? 

2/16/22

By: Spencer Orfino, 11

It is unbelievable how the Rams have rebuilt the last few years. Since Sean Mcvay took over the Rams in 2017 he is yet to have one first round draft pick on his team. The Rams have rebuilt around trading and free agency instead of developing young rookies. Some of the biggest pickups for the Rams have been Matthew Stafford, Von Miller, and OBJ. Through the three playoff games the Rams have played they beat a very talented cardinals team by 23, almost blew a 24 point lead against Tom Brady and the Bucs, and finally for the first time Mcvay finally beat Shanahan as the Rams advanced to the Super Bowl. The Rams play the Cincinnati Bengals who have been the Cinderella story of the year. The Bengals have been rolling as they beat the Raiders, Chiefs, and Titans to get to the Big Game. Cincy finished 4-12 last year but thanks to Joe Burrow Cincinnati looks to win the Bengals their first Super Bowl.

 Looking at the matchup the Bengals do not match up very well with the Rams. The Rams stellar front seven, and the Bengals bad O line will be very difficult for the Bengals to do much on offense. Sean Mcvay will devise an offensive scheme to tear apart the Bengals defense. The Bengals have a much better fan base but the Rams will be playing at home. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been stuck in Detroit his whole career and he finally gets a chance to win a ring and he will get one. Additionally, Rams receivers Cooper Kupp and OBJ will eat the Cincinnati secondary alive, and Jalen Ramsey will lock up rookie phenom Jamar Chase. Everything is pointing in the Rams direction to win this game, and it will not be close. Viewers will watch the Rams lifting the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night. 

Rookie Star Mac Jones Shines Against The Browns

11/15/21

By: Wil Long, 12

The Rookie Quarterback Mac Jones, from the University of Alabama, is continuing to shine.  On Sunday Mac Jones threw for 3 touchdowns in a blowout win.  Mac Jones was making veteran decisions and looked the best he had all season.  Some credit for his success should be given to his linemen.  Jones completed 19 out of 23 pass attempts for 198 yards.  Mac began throwing deep balls, something we have seen very little of this season.  If Jones continues to make these decisions and gets more comfortable throwing deep passes, New England's offense may catch fire and become a force to be reckoned with. Mac’s recent success has many people comparing him to a young Tom Brady, and this comparison may not be far off.  Both quarterbacks have a similar style, they are both pro-style quarterbacks who do not like to scramble or run.  Many people are saying that right now Jones is playing better than Brady in his first starts.  This is music to Patriots fans' ears as they seem to have found a franchise quarterback.  Mac Jones will face off against the Atlanta Falcons next, a matchup that may prove tricky due to it falling on Thursday, creating a short week of practice.

Patriots Upset Chargers with a 27-24 Win 

11/1/21

By: Natalie West, 10

Are the Patriots finally starting to look like a playoff picture team? The Patriots advanced to 4-4 on the season with a huge win over the Chargers this past Sunday at SoFi Stadium. Most people thought the Chargers were going to win this game and advance to 5-2. They were favored by 3.5 points with the over-under being 50.5 points. The Patriots ended up winning with a score of 27-24. This was Mac Jones' first win against a non-rookie quarterback. 

The game started with the Chargers scoring on a 75-yard touchdown drive and people thought this was going to be a blowout, but the Patriots answered with Damien Harris taking it in the endzone for a touchdown. LA scored another touchdown at the start of the second quarter. The Patriots had a chance to score again but ended up having to kick a field goal to make the score 14-10. Before the end of the half Chargers QB, Justin Herbert threw an interception. This resulted in another Patriots field goal which made the game 14-13. It was a really tight game going into the half.  

The start of the 3rd quarter was not so good for the Pats. They fumbled the ball and the Charges ended up getting it. Throughout the rest of the 3rd quarter, the Patriots and Charges both got another field goal to make the game 17-16. At this point, everyone was getting nervous because the clock was winding down. Justin Herbert threw a pick 6 in the 4th to make the game 17-24. The Patriot defense forced the Chargers to punt and then the offense marched down the field to make the game 27-17. There was still plenty of time for the Chargers to make a comeback though. Justin Hebert and the Chargers offense went on a 72-yard touchdown drive to make the game 27-24. The Chargers were forced to try an onside kick with about a minute left in the 4th quarter. The Patriots special teams recovered the kick and that was the end of the game. 

Everyone on the Patriots was looking really strong throughout the game. Mac Jones threw for 218 yards. Damien Harris rushed for 80 yards and 1 touchdown. Nelson Agholor caught 3 of Mac’s passes for 60 yards. The defense looked good with Adrian Phillips catching 2 interceptions and Matt Judon having 1.5 sacks on the game. Nick Folk was also 4/4 with his field goals. Overall the Patriots looked really strong for most of the game and if they keep this up could possibly be a playoff contender. 

Red Sox shock the World

10/14/21

By: Spencer Orofino, 11

Red Sox to the ALCS! After beating the arch-rival New York Yankees in last Tuesday's wild-card game, the Red Sox went to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays.  It was a season of ups and downs for Boston, and it was no different against the Rays.  After one game the Rays dominated the Sox winning 5-0, many people thought this series would be over very quickly.  That was not the case though.  During the game, two the Rays got off to a 5-1 lead in the first and chased Red Sox starter Chris Sale in the first inning.  The Red Sox didn’t give up though as they went on to blast 5 homers and win game two, 14-6.  Following game two came a wild and controversial game three.  A back and forth 13 inning struggle for both teams, tied at 4 heading into the 13th a runner on first for the Rays.  Kevin Kiermier hit a ground-rule double that hit the wall and bounced off of Red Sox outfielder Hunter Renfroe and over the wall. The Rays were furious saying the runner on first would’ve scored but the call would stand and the Red Sox would get out of it. In the bottom of the 13th, Christian Vasquez hit a clutch walk-off 2 run homer and the Red Sox won despite the controversy. Then, game four came and in the bottom of the third, the Sox would jump out to a 5-0 lead. Tampa would pick at that lead for the rest of the game eventually tying it in the 8th inning. The hottest hitter on the planet, Kike Hernandez, came to the plate with runners on the corners and no outs. Hernandez delivered, and the Red Sox would upset the top-seeded Rays and move on to the ALCS to face either Houston or Chicago. Nobody, at the beginning of the season had predicted the Red Sox to make it this far. This team has made a great run and have continued to be unstoppable this season. 

Are the Patriots in trouble?

10/7/21

By: Wil Long, 12

This Sunday, October 3rd, our New England Patriots will be facing our former beloved quarterback Tom Brady in a home game VS the Buccaneers. There's no doubt Gillette Stadium will be packed for Sunday night's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This will be an emotional game, a must-win for both teams.  Brady will be determined to prove himself against his former coach, and Belichick determined to prove he doesn't need his former star to win games.  After spending 20 years with the Patriots, Brady is at an advantage.  Tom Brady knows Bill, and how he will prepare for Sunday's game. The in-depth knowledge of the coaching staff and program is no doubt an advantage for the Buccaneers. The Bucs red hot offense is favored to outscore the struggling Patriots offense under rookie Mac Jones, but who knows what Bill Belichick has up his sleeve. Tension at the stadium will be at an all-time high, with fans wondering who to root for.  Brady gave the Patriots nine Super Bowl appearances and had a historic career, creating a special place in the hearts of Patriots fans. There's no doubt this game will be a must-watch, for both avid NFL fans and people looking to be entertained on a Sunday night.