Online Articles

These articles are the articles I have written for our online newspaper thechargeronline.com and are listed in chronological order. Because I am a part of the sports section, this is where I get to express my other interests in important school events and use my skills to report about them. I believe because we are still young writers, it is very important to not be limited to one area of expertise and be open to writing about every aspect of our community.

Students walk in support of Lowe, breast cancer awareness (October 17,2017)

Students participated at the third annual Breast Cancer Awareness walk at OHS on Oct. 13. Health teacher and founder of the walk Rose Hickey started the event to make students more aware of the effects of cancer.

“[I’ve done] a section on cancer ever since I started teaching health, and I thought why don’t we do something for the students,” Hickey said. “So one year my students got really involved, and that was the first year that we did it, and I continued it from there on.“

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 out of 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and Hickey wants students to be more aware of these statistics.

“It is telling students that anyone can get breast cancer whether you are 17 or 70, “ Hickey said. “And I think a lot of times that students just don’t learn or are aware of breast cancer or any type of cancer until someone they know is affected by it .”

Freshman Gracie Bourn wanted to join the walk in support of her great grandmother who was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“There needs to be a cure for cancer and for breast cancer,” Bourn said. “It’s such a big problem.”

The preparation for the event involved selling bracelets and t-shirts, along with organizing food for the event. According to Hickey, although preparation for the walk was a big part of it, the walk itself was Hickey’s favorite part. The event has now become a fundraiser as well as a walk to raise awareness.

“We try to raise a little money for the cancer society,” Hickey said. “Last year we made almost $2,000, and this year we will be somewhere around $1,000.”

Along with Hickey, Bourn also believed that the walk was worth all of the preparation and organization that it took to make the walk happen.

“My favorite part is how many students showed up and everyone walking together and being one,” Bourn said.

This year’s walk was dedicated to OHS’s own speech and debate teacher Barbara Lowe who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Freshman Suhani Patel also joined the walk to support the cause and show her appreciation for Lowe.

“It’s helping people with breast cancer,” Patel said.

In the future, Hickey hopes to expand the walk to a community-wide event instead of keeping it inclusive to students at OHS.

“One thing I’d like to do is have the walk on a Saturday morning and make it just a huge fundraiser,” Hickey said. “The reason why I started it here is to have to students really involved.”

Choir takes audience abroad with concert, performs foreign songs (October 19, 2017)

OHS Choir took their audience around the world with the first concert of the school year this past Tuesday. The choir, lead by teacher Thomas Ardrey, performed songs from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and more.

“I chose [the theme] because I think it is important to expose our students to a bunch of different cultures and music of different cultures and what not,” Ardrey said.

According to Ardrey, not only did the choir have to learn the new pitches and rhythms but also the language and pronunciations.

“We’d been practicing for the concert since school started. Rehearsals became much more studious and vigorous closer to the concert,” sophomore chamber choir member Prowell Smith said. “We finished what needed to be finished, and I am super proud of what we’ve accomplished in such a short time.”

According to senior Aleah Parks, the preparation took longer than expected.

“It was actually rescheduled so we had more time than was planned,” Parks said.

The nine songs chosen by Ardrey were selected to fit the choir’s strong points along with expanding the student’s variety of music.

“I tried to get a good geographical representation, so a couple things [from] the Africa continent, a couple things from Eastern Europe [and] South America,” Ardrey said. “Four out of the nine songs were things that I had known for a long time and wanted to perform for a long time.”

Smith, who has been in OHS choir for two years, was very impressed with the choir’s first concert of the year.

“I was very pleased with the concert. Everyone did exceptionally well,” Smith said. “My favorite part of the concert was the men’s chorus. I just felt proud of the boys.”

Along with Smith, junior and fellow chamber choir member Lauren Sink believes this year is going to be one of their best yet.

“There are so many talented people in my class, and I know in others. Mr. Audrey does such a great job teaching us,” Sink said. “I am thrilled to see what the rest of the year brings. There is so much potential.”

According to Ardrey, he enjoyed this concert because he was able to introduce the audience and choir groups to many new types of music.

“Everything is different. You know, going from music from Venezuela to Kenya to Germany to England to the Caribbean, there’s a lot of contrast,” Ardrey said. “I thought everyone did an incredible job. I think it was the best concert we had.”

The next concert will take place on Dec. 11 around the holiday season, and will be similar to this past concert.

“The plan is to do music around the world, but it explores different holiday traditions around the world not just our Christmas,” Ardrey said.

Softball, baseball players sign to play at next level (November 2, 2017)

Six Oxford High school athletes signed to continue their baseball or softball careers into the next level. Senior softball players Brittni Beard and Madison Crosby signed to attend Northwest Mississippi Community College while Parker Stinnett and Clark Stovall will attend the same place. Both Tyler Smith and Jacob Melendez have signed to play baseball at Itawamba Community College.

After receiving other offers, Brittni was very excited for the offer from Northwest.

“I chose Northwest, because it was a better choice for me not only as a student but also an athlete,” Brittni said.

For Stinnett, it was the best fit for him and his dream of continuing his baseball career.

“I’ve always wanted to play baseball,” Stinnett said. “It’s what I want to do with my life so being able to play in college is a good thing.”

Softball coach Tabitha Beard was excited for her athletes to go to the next level in their sport and achieve their dreams.

“Its always great for females to have that opportunity to have school paid for and to be able to continue to play softball,” Coach Beard said. “Brittni and Madison are both pitchers and both our middle infield. They are leaders in just about every category we have. Britt had over 100 strikeouts last year and Crosby’s bat and her defense helps tremendously.”

Not only is Coach Beard the softball coach but also Brittni’s mother.

As a coach, it is what you want for all your athletes but as a mom its just cool to watch the journey from start to end,” Coach Beard said. “Its a little emotional because I have had the opportunity to coach her just about her whole career. To let her go and and to let her go somewhere else its kind of what you worked for since the beginning. Its a really cool opportunity and its bittersweet.”

Along with looking forward to his college career, Stinnett is excited for this upcoming baseball season as a senior.

“I’m glad all these guys are seniors. I’ve been playing with most of them since I was really young and since it is our last year together, I am ready to do something big with them.” Stinnett said.

Brittni also is ready to begin the upcoming season and take on the role as one of the six seniors on the softball team. To Brittni, this offer is more than just an offer and she still has goals to accomplish before she leaves.

“It impacts me and the other kids at Oxford to show that they can do it too,” Brittni Beard said. “[Some goals are] be motivational and let the young girls know that we can do anything if we put our minds to it.”

Increasing issue with damaged computers along with limited amount of loaner computers leaves some empty handed ( December 3, 2017)

This school-year, several OHS students have had to experience the pencil and paper method due to the ongoing issue with breaking computer screens.

Sophomore Alexis Barlow’s laptop was one example of this issue.

“I opened my computer, started typing and then all of the sudden it had lines going through it,” Barlow said.

According to librarian Amanda Osborne, this issue has turned into a bigger problem than previous years because of the large number of student computers having a cracked screen, which in some cases are signs of a defect in the manufacturing of the laptop.

“There are so many [broken computers], and some students have reported that they didn’t damage it. They didn’t drop it or shut anything in it,” Osborne said. “[The computers] are just so sensitive.”

Another factor in the increase of damaged computers could be the cases students are using this year, according to OSD computer technician Sedrick Robinson.

“I believe that we have had an increase in damaged screens this year because a large amount of students are not happy with the new cases that we are using,” Robinson said. “Some students choose to not use their case which makes it easier to damage their laptop, especially their screens.”

The school library has only 10 computers that they are able to loan to students if something were to happen to their own computer. Due to the increased number of damaged computer screens, more students have been requesting these these computers, and sometimes there are not enough for students to use.

“It’s frustrating for the student to come to the library for a loaner and we don’t have a loaner,” Osborne said. “Then I have to go find kids who’s computers are ready and have to go take their loaner and swap that out and it takes a lot of time.”

According to Osborne, if a student damages their computer, they have to submit a tech request, then wait until they can get a loaner. Once their computer is fixed, they have to pay a $100 fee that covers the warranty which can be an issue for some students.

“[Students] do get an email from tech notifying them that their computer is ready,” Osborne said. “The students are supposed to know that if it was broken that you have to pay the $100, but students don’t check their emails regularly so they do not know that their computer is ready.”

Students waiting for a loaner have to manage without a computer until one is available. While a lot of school-work given at OHS is on the issued laptops, without a computer students have to stick to doing their assignments on paper.

“[It] took about a week and a half for it to get fixed,” Barlow said. “Now, I have to pay a little each week.”

According to Osborne, it is a tiring process having to run the loaner computers around to students that can’t use their own, especially with the limited amount of computers that the library has to hand out.

“It’s kind of a big ugly circle that we are involved in,” Osborne said. “It takes a lot of time to find people and get the devices, and then, hand them out to someone.”

Boys basketball team remains undefeated, gains last minute win against Ashland (December 8, 2017)

OHS boys basketball is in full swing, and the team has remained undefeated with six wins to start out their season.

According to head coach Drew Tyler, he had a few concerns about this year’s team before the season began such as only having two juniors in the program.

“We are anchored by six seniors, and a lot of student athletes that are in ninth and tenth grade,” Tyler said. “We are a fairly young team, kind of still searching for an identity, knowing what we lost to graduation last year.”

For senior and shooting guard Tucker Scott, the start of this season has shown the bond this team has.

“We work really well together as a team, and it definitely helps that we have played together a lot in the past few years and to have good chemistry,” Scott said.

According to sophomore J.J. Pegues, he was challenged mentally and physically when he made the transition from football to basketball season in November.

“Changing my mindset from football to basketball wasn’t easy at all,” Pegues said. “I had to get over not being in the playoffs and [getting] over my ankle injury, but once I had played my first [basketball] game versus Calhoun city, I felt like it’s time to forget about the past and dwell on the future.”

According to Scott, the teams that Oxford has played, despite being small schools, are “competitive basketball schools.” One of these being Ashland High School who Oxford played Nov. 28.

“We knew Ashland—small 1A school but really good—has been to the state championship the last three years, won the last two years,” Tyler said. “Ashland’s team is a lot like our last year’s team. They have been together since probably grade school.”

Oxford battled a 12 point deficit in the fourth quarter but came back in double overtime to beat Ashland 78-70.

“It was intense and good for our team to go through that,” Tyler said. “It was kind of like winning three games in one game. Some of my players had never been in that situation before, so to be able to get in that situation, come back, get a lead, make big plays, answer their big plays, and to get a win was awesome.”

During this game, Scott served as a catalyst for the team, scoring 17 points that game.

“I got in the zone and realized that we really all had to contribute if we were going to win this game,” Scott said. “I mean, we were down 12 points in the fourth quarter, and it got my blood flowing, and all of us had to step up and do something big, and that’s what we did.”

Pegues, also a high scoring player during the game against Ashland, made 26 points during the game.

“I scored that, but without my teammates none of this would have happened,” Pegues said. “I feel great, but I know that there is more than that to come in the future.”

As for the rest of the season, Scott wants to continue to win and improve skills with his team as district games approach.

“I definitely know that as the season progresses, we are going to face lack of height. We are definitely not the tallest team, but we areable to get rebounds,” Scott said. “Besides that, we all got to work on shooting. If we can do those things, we are set.”

Calhoon breaks season scoring record (January 31, 2018)

Oxford soccer player and senior Keaton Calhoon broke the season record for most goals scored by a single player during the Jan. 9 game against Tupelo High School.

“Going into the game versus Tupelo, the only real feeling I felt was belief that we were going to go in strong and come out on top,” Calhoon said.

While the team lost 3-2, Calhoon managed to break the record previously set at 26 goals. Calhoon did not expect to break the record during his high school career, but he knew once he was close to the amount that it was something that must be done.

“After breaking the scoring record, I was absolutely elated and so proud of how hard I’ve worked and how hard the team has worked to hit this benchmark,” Calhoon said.

With this goal accomplished, Calhoon is now second in the state in goals scored by a single player and Oxford High leads the state in overall goals.

“I think myself as well as the team were hit with a boost of belief and confidence that we are capable of achieving great things and that a repeat state title is something we very well can and will do,” Calhoon said.

From a coach’s standpoint, head coach Charles Sabatier was proud to see his player achieve this record.

“[Calhoon] is an extremely hard worker. He leads the team in almost every drill or exercise we do at practice and is very vocal on the field,” Sabatier said. “Any team that we play is very aware of his presence on the field, and that allows him to be a threat in many ways.”

According to fellow teammate and sophomore Stone Tosh, Calhoon has been there for his team in times of need.

“If anyone can get us [a win] Keaton can,” Tosh said. “Keaton is a funny teammate that everyone likes to be around. He cares about the game a lot.”

Since this season is the last for Calhoon, the record made his senior year a memorable one.

“Breaking the scoring record is important to me because now I’ve made my permanent impression on the Charger soccer program and our team will be remembered as a record breaking team,” Calhoon said.

Moving Metaphors brings students together for poetry, dancing (February 20, 2018)

The “Moving Metaphors” program recently made its appearance at Oxford High School allowing many students to experience the arts in a new, more direct way. This program reached Oxford High School through the partnership held between Ole Miss Student Dance and the local public library in Oxford.

“Some members of Ole Miss Student Dance were involved in the summer doing programs with [students], and we wanted to do a little bit more and wanted to start it in the public schools,” Ole Miss Student Dance member Victoria Burrow said. “We paired together to figure out what we can do in high schools around Oxford to establish more of dance presence there.”

The program was held in the Oxford High School library, allowed students to sign up to follow the dance exercises and techniques led by Burrow. The program also offered free cookies to anyone who came to the event. Sophomore Sophie Quinn was one of the students who participated in the event.

“I like poetry, and I am a dancer so I thought it would be fun to combine them. Also, free cookies,” Quinn said.

The event lasted the duration of power hour and had a broad variety of different techniques and dancing routines that were shown to the participants. One of which was a simple state your name “game” with a twist.

“[My favorite part] was when we got in a circle and [showed] how we were feeling. I like to do any type of dancing,” sophomore Gerryka Pomerlee said.

The name game was an introduction exercise that was used to describe the different emotions of each student. Along with this, the students also got to choose their own poem and perform a routine relating to their chosen poem.

“[The exercise] was fun to read the poetry and fun to see what people came up with when they put movement to words,” Quinn said.

The “Moving Metaphors” event was the first event that was held by the public library and Ole Miss Student Dance program at Oxford High School and, according to Burrow, hopefully will not be the last.

“[The goal] I think is just to be more comfortable in movement and maybe open themselves up to poetry or to expressing themselves through the arts so just learning more about themselves and the arts in general,” Burrow said.

Girls’ soccer seniors commit to play at next level ( March 6, 2018)

Seniors Addison Mills, Grace Joyce, and Ally Shinall all signed to continue their soccer careers at the junior college and collegiate level.

Mills signed with Delta State University while both Joyce and Shinall committed to Itawamba Community College to play soccer.

“I am really excited because Ally and I have been teammates since I moved here in 7th grade and became really good friends,” Joyce said. “It is going to be nice having her around because she is such a hard worker.”

According to Shinall, the decision to pick the right school was a stressful one for the girls.

“I went back and forth between schools. One of the main ones was Mississippi College, and I knew if I went to ICC it would lead to something maybe even bigger than Mississippi College,” Shinall said.

For Joyce, ICC was always one of her top choices for college.

“I just really liked the coach over there and what he is doing with the program and whenever I went to other schools I compared it to ICC and ICC was always on top,” Joyce said.

Both Joyce and Shinall have always wanted to play at the collegiate level and hope ICC will continue that dream for them.

“My mom was a gymnast at the University of Arizona and was on the national team too. Her brother was also a gymnast at UCLA. So being an athlete at that level is always something I wanted to do,” Shinall said.

Shinall picked ICC for many reasons such as coaching staff, location, her fellow teammates including former OHS soccer player Addison Meadows and also being near home for her little brother.

“I look forward to playing on that level. I hope that it is challenging and with everything with my little brother it is going to be nice still being close to home and seeing him grow up since he is fairly young,” Shinall said.

Head coach Hunter Crane is excited for his players to go off to play soccer after high school.

“You know it kind of reconfirms where we are as a program and how talented the soccer players are in Oxford and to have those three sign, who have been a critical part of our team is very special,” Crane said.

According to Crane, the girls have been crucial assets to the team since he arrived three years ago.

“I think they came out and set the tone of what we are about as a program. They went 55-12 in their three seasons with me, two state championships, three division championships. They have only lost one division game in three seasons. They set out and made a name for themselves but also put our program back on the map where we want it to be which is one of the best in the state,” Crane said. “I think that’s their legacy just that when I took over [the team] three years ago we built the team around them because of how quality they are as players and set the tone for what we want in the future.”

Softball recognizes Lowe in annual “Strike Out for a Cure” game ( April 12, 2018)

The annual “Strike Out for a Cure” softball game against Lafayette Commodores honored Oxford School District’s very own Dr. Barbara Lowe.

The “Strike Out for a Cure” game is hosted every year at Lafayette High School by head coach Katie Jenkins and her team. This is softball head coach Tabitha Beard’s second year to be a part of this game, however this is the first year she has been a part of the planning process.

“I really did not know anything about it. We didn’t participate, and I felt awful because I did not know. Afterwards, I talked to Coach Jenkins and told her I really want to be a part of it with [Lafayette] next year,” Beard said. “When we really got into the planning phase this year she asked ‘Do you know anyone?’ and Dr. Lowe immediately came to mind. I mean she’s been out since August, and I know that has to be rough. I know how much she loved her kids, and when I talked to the girls, her name was the first to come up.”

Lowe attended the game and was recognized before the Varsity game,—a touching moment according to Lowe

“One of the hardest parts about fighting cancer has been missing my students and interacting with students I don’t teach but get to know and love just the same,” Lowe said. “Having the girls and their coaches from both schools honor me reminded me that I may not be in the classroom, but I am still in their hearts.”

Not only was it an emotional moment for Lowe, but for the players as well according to junior and outfielder Kelsey Wilborn.

“It meant the world to me for Dr. Lowe to be at the game,” Wilborn said. “Just her spirit and energy is what made me want to go even harder, and it was just a joy for her to be there.”

Lowe walked through the team huddle and stood on the pitching mound with both teams for a speech before the game.

“I loved the smiles and high fives,” Lowe said. “Being surrounded by so much positive energy inspires me to keep fighting.”

All the proceeds earned at the game were given to Lowe to help with her treatments.

“She couldn’t stay long and got really tired so she stayed for the JV game, but just to see the appreciation,” Beard said. “You knew she was happy to be there and that it meant so much to her. It was pretty awesome to be apart of it.”

Although Lafayette won the game, Beard hopes this is a moving experience that vouches for the motto “playing for something bigger than us” that Beard sets for the team.

“One of the things we are talking about is “the strength to keep moving” and Dr. Lowe is a great example of that,” Beard said. “The outcome [at the game was] not what we wanted but the beautiful thing about softball and about life is you just got to stand in there and keep swinging and that is what I hope they take out of it.”

ROTC participate in annual 9/11 memorial (September 11, 2018)

The OHS ROTC joined the Ole Miss ROTC programs in a three mile run to honor the fallen of the 9/11 attacks 17 years ago.

“That run was to pay respect to the American lives that were lost 17 years ago today,” Major Brent Hampton said. “We are going to hold that run every year whether it is a Sunday or a Tuesday. We want to set aside a special day to pay respects.”

The run was held Tuesday morning at six and ran a route that started from the Lyceum on campus and continued through the Square.

“It’s a chance to remember the thousands of people who died and the thousands of people who have gone to battle since then,” participant Lea Fyfe said. “So many people suffered through that, and the least I could do is suffer through a three mile run.”

According to Hampton, the run is held every year in memorial of the day and began “at least five years ago.”

“We kind of want to band together to say, ‘Hey,’ and also honor the fallen first responders that dealt with the issues that day because our first responders in this community, same thing, they deal with issues daily that we never see, so we are paying them respects as well,” Hampton said.

ROTC member and junior Jah’heim Shabazz has participated in this annual run two times previously. This year, however, was his first year to hold to Marine Corps flag during the run.

“First sergeant [David Leach] always tells me that I am the face of the company, and our company is 82 or 86 people, so me carrying the Marine Corps flag is just an honor,” Shabazz said.

Members of the community also ran the route along side the ROTC programs.

“It is great because it just shows that the community still remembers those who lost so much and really at that time it brought our country together and really in a way this is bringing our community together to remember the freedoms that we have and the great nation that we are blessed to live,” Fyfe said. “It’s nice to have everybody to come and support our military and our police officers and our firemen and all our first responders.”

To Shabazz, the run was a way to raise awareness to the attacks.

“Remembering all the fallen people that risked their lives and saved others, it is great to know that we can give back,” Shabazz said. “I thank everybody for coming out and enjoying the run and being with other human beings.”

New generation of voters expect to impact outcome of upcoming Senate Race (November 5 2018)

Mississippi residents will be voting to fill two senate seats this election cycle. The upcoming election on Nov. 6 will be the first opportunity for many young Mississippians to vote.

According to Hannah Newsome, a high school senior from Magee, her first election is an important one.

“You know it is just we have a bigger impact than people like to give us credit for,” Newsome said. “Even though politics isn’t always talked about a lot at school, it is something important that needs to be talked about because when we hit 18, you know, it is something that we are going to have to go do and we don’t really know stuff about it.”

According to high school senior Bonnie Hill, from Madison, the new generation of voters is bringing a new perspective to the election.

“In general, I think it has a lot to do with technology and social median and all these things where ideas can spread so quickly,” Hill said. “This generation isn’t going to just take what their parents say at face value, but they are actually going to investigate on their own and do their own research to be like ‘What do I actually want to believe?’ and ‘What do I actually want to see happen in my community?’”

One of the two senate elections is to fill the seat left vacant by Thad Cochran’s retirement. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mike Espy, and Chris McDaniel are competing for Cochran’s seat while David Baria and Roger Wicker battle for the second seat. University of Southern Mississippi student Brandon Rue believes that this generation will impact the election.

“I believe that the youth is going to affect the election very much, simply because when youth get out and vote in large numbers, we tend to change the outcome of the elections,” Rue said.

Similarly, Shameka Jackson, a high school journalism adviser from Batesville, believes greatly in the young Mississippians and their influence.

“I think that if majority of them get out and vote, like they should, that we would get the results that we need,” Jackson said. “I think that a lot of them are going to take the initiative to make sure that they are going out and voting so that their voice can be heard, and I think that this upcoming age group plays a major part because they have to know that right and they need to voice their opinion.”

Hill plans exercise her right to partake in the voting.

“I’m just excited to be able to take advantage of the opportunity I have to really be a citizen and to be an active citizen,” Hill said. “To me, the midterms are more important than the presidential elections because it directly affects us, and so I’m excited just to be able to have a direct impact on the community.”