Clear Creek HiLife

Vol. 81/Issue 5March 2007

Hi Life

Read more on page 7

Tori Wycoff

When students today are taught of the history of the country and world, both heroic men and women are studied. This, however, was not always the case. Prior to 1970, women’s history was rarely studied and there were barely any women historians. But in 1978, Sonoma County, California designated a “Women’s History Week” which included March 8, which is International Women’s Day. This sparked senators from Utah and Maryland to establish a National Women’s History week. In 1987 was expanded to National Women’s History Month and is celebrated throughout the month of March. America and the world would not be what it is today if it was not for women and their impact on society. There are many well-known women that are often spoken of in school such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Rosa Parks, but some really amazing women have impacted the world and are not household names. These women include Waris Dirie and Kathy Eldon. Thus, with this being National Women’s History Month, it is necessary to document the lives and impact of twenty remarkable women, some well-known and others who are relatively unknown by the general population.

Ten Well-Known Women

Susan B. Anthony was raised as a Quaker and at the age of 29 she became involved in abolitionism and temperance. She focused on woman suffrage, and she helped found the American Equal Rights Association in 1866. She, along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, founded the National Woman Suffrage Association. Anthony tried to cast a test vote in New York to make a point that the constitution already permitted women to vote, but she was found guilty. Anthony did so much for the plight of women that her image was chosen to be put on a dollar coin and became the first woman to be seen on United States currency. Marie Curie was the first well-known woman scientist in the modern world. She was the first woman to earn a Ph. D. in science in Europe and the first woman professor at Sorbonne. She won the Nobel Prize in 1903 for Physics and 1911 for Chemistry. With her husband, Pierre, she discovered polonium and radium and in 1902 Marie Curie isolated pure radium. Later in life, Curie contracted leukemia from her work with radioactive substances. Her journals cannot be read due to their high levels of radioactivity. Anne Frank was a young girl in Germany that lived during the Holocaust. She received a journal from her father for her thirteenth birthday and documented the life of a Jew hiding from the Nazis during World War II. She was sent to a concentration camp where she died, but her journals were later published and now give the world a view of a life full of hiding and secrecy from a personal level. Eleanor Roosevelt was the wife of Franklin Roosevelt, thus making her the First Lady of the United States. She had a great sensitivity to all underprivileged people regardless of race. She broke the precedent and held press conferences and traveled all over the world to give lectures. When her husband died, she became an American spokesman in the United Nations. Mother Teresa was a nun that traveled the world to aid people in need. She started her own order called “The Missionairies of Charity” which provided love and care for those people that no one was prepared to look after. Her society has spread all over the world and they provide help to the

Women’s History Month: Honoring those who shape our country

2305 East MainLeague City, Texas 77573

poorest people and undertake relief work in the wake of natural catastrophes. Mother Teresa received the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize and the Nehru Prize for her promotion of peace. Coretta Scott King took an active role in the civil rights movement while in college and joined her school’s chapter of the NAACP. She married Martin Luther King, Jr. and helped him in his search for equality. After her husband was killed, Mrs. King built a center named after him to carry on his legacy. She also wrote a biography about their lives together. Amelia Earhart is often remembered as the woman pilot who was lost at sea. She was also, however, a nurse’s aide and a social worker. She saved her money and bought a plane and quickly fell in love with flying. IN 1935 she became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific from Hawaii to California and she wanted to be the first woman to fly around the world. She took off on July 2, 1937 and was followed by a ship named the Itasca which eventually lost contact with her. The government spent four million dollars and searched 250,000 square miles but she was never found. Maya Angelou is an author, poet, historian,

Maya Angelou at the International Radio and TV Awards. Corbis. 2007.

unitedstreaming. 30 March, 2007<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

songwriter, playwright, dancer, stage and screen producer, director, performer, singer, and civil rights activist. She became the northern coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1959 at the request of Martin Luther King, Jr.. Angelou became he first black woman director in Hollywood and was nominated for a Tony award twice. Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist, social reform and racial justice advocate. She is known for her actions on December 1, 1955 when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. This started a bus boycott that lasted for 381 days and ended the segregation on buses in Montgomery. Althea Gibson was a member of the Harlem Cosmopolitan Tennis Club and won the American Tennis Association’s singles tournament then years in a row. In 1956 she entered the Forest Hills national grass court championship and was the first African American player of either sex to be allowed to enter. She was also the first African American to enter the tournament at Wimbledon and she won the French Open in 1956.

Coach Jim Mallory takes his 500th win with quiet dignity this 2006-2007 season at the Best

High School in Texas.

Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) throws to first base against Florida Marlins Dontrelle Wilis during the first inning of the season opener for the Nationals in Washington, DC April 2, 2007 (CHUCK KENNEDY/

MCT).

Creative Visions Foundation needs your help to help Ryan Gosling treat some injured children from

Uganda.

O PINION SURVEY

Clear Creek HiLife

Juniors

Seniors

PINION

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2006-2007 HiLife StaffReporters:

Lauren GillespieStephanie HaechtenCassie LeeTaylor LongAlbert NkansahRyan OwensMelissa DevittKirsty ReidRebecca RodriguezKearston RoweAllie HingaSarah CisnerosNadia AhmedTaylor FreudenbergDestinee Walker

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Clear Creek High School HiLife Newspaper

Freshmen

Sophomores

“If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?”

“Billy Wilder, because he is a film-making genius and I would like to pick his brain...” -Mitchell Collins

“Franklin Roosevelt because he is my favorite president.” - Bryan Mathew

“Saladin because I’d like to know how he managed to be so fair and honest before all those who stabbed him in the back in the Crusades. He kept his faith throughout it all.” - Ibreez Ajax

“God - Their is so much philosophy I need to talk with Him about.” - Josh Hale

“Muhammad Yuhus - I’d like t talk to him about his recent acceptance of the Nobel Prize and talk to him about his project to help the poor create buisnesses in Banladesh.” - Dylan Ketcham

“Hitler, because to meet a leader who led his nation to annihilate members of a race he himself belonged to would be fascinating.” - Taylor Thrasher

“Johnny Depp, just because the movies I’ve seen him in are all good, but what’s he really like?” - Holly Adams

“I would eat dinner with Steve Carrell. I love to laugh and he’s the funniest man alive.” - Ethan Gonzales

“Will Ferrell, obviously for the non-stop laughs.” - Ryan Holmes

“Paul McCartny, because he may be old, but he is a musical genius and I would love to get some insight.” - Samantha Brusnighan

“Mao Ledong - this way I could discuss (through a translater) he was able to gain power of such a large country.” - Dylan Ketcham

“I’d like to have dinner with Newton and talk about physics, why he tried to explain it, and what made him think about it.” - Juan Ortiz

“If I could have dinner with anyone, it’d deffinitely have to be Buddha. I’d like to ask him questions about his life and revelations.” - Valencia Maynor

“If I could have dinner with anyone, I would like it to be Muhammad(PBUH). I would like to ask now hard it was to preach Islam, how amazing it was to recieve revelations from Allah, and how it was to be a prophet.” - Rawan Harirah

“I would have dinner with my old friends. I would like to see them one last time.” - Zach Gibson

“I would have dinner with the school’s superintendent, and thoroughly discuss all of the issues concerning our school and why they’re not getting it fixed.” - Maria LaMont

“I would love to have dinner with Confucius so I can ask him how I can get that smart.” - Haotian Xu

“Tim Burton because I like his movie work. Mostly Edward Scissorhands and Nightmare Before Christmas.” - Faith Webb

“Bill Gates,so I wouldn’t have to pay the bill.” - Brett Bingham

“I would have diner with Oprah, just so I can talk to her and see what a great person she is!” - Sydney Johnson

“I would have dinner with John Williams because he is the ultimate idea of American movie music.” - Michael Hild

“I would have dinner with Tom Cruise so I could learn the hidden principles behind the world of scientology.” - Michael Henry

“Theodore Robert Bundy. Because he must have a lot to say.” - Haydyn Jackson

“Antonio Vivaldi, I would like to know about the four season, and the Phycological Clues in the music that define “the four seasons” during the Romantician Era.” - Erik Concha

“I would love to have dinner with John Mayer because he’s an amazing singer/song writer.” - Amelia Garrett

“Pope John Paul II - I would love to talk to him about his experience as the Pope, and I would love to hear his advice and wisdom.” - Emily Bastedo

“My family, I could invite any famous leader and learn a lot, but I have learned more from my family and friends than anyone else.” - Justin Harris

“Shakespeare because he could entertain me, while helping me pass my english class.” - Lauren Nunez

“Dane Cook, because I’d be cracking up the whole time!” -Julie Rapp

“B.B. King because he is a hero of mine.” -Sam McDonald

“Pete Maravich (Pistol Pete) because he is awesome at basketball.” -Kaylin Dugie

“God- He knows so mch more than me and could help explain a lot.” -Mie Milla

“Yugioh - because he believes in the Heart of the Cards.” - Bethel Glumac

“B.B.King because he is a hero of mine.” - Sam McDonald

Gail LoveWynette JamesonJan O’NeilTori WycoffOlivia Huynh, Jessica O’Neil

Haylet BoultinghouseHaley RushSarah PooreTori WycoffCassie Lee, Amanda Compton

Ryan GriponDrew WalkerAdam VencilMicah Wesley, Fallan DragoAustin YoungTravis Hallett, Micheal Sosebee, Andy Holcomb, Jacob Lux

Clear Creek HiLife

PINION 3

Tori Wycoff

To r i ’ s Ta l k :

BoBBy Murphy

Clear Creek finally has a new principal. On Monday March 26, the district school board named Scott Bockart the new principal of Clear Creek. His arrival comes after a long awaited search by the school board for a new head principal after the departure of former head principal Dr. Fred Hayes in October. Mr. Bockart has been with CCISD since he took his first district job as the associate principal of Victory Lakes, which opened in 2002. He did not remain there long, because the departure of Clear Creek’s interim principal, Mrs. Gail Love from League City Intermediate last year sparked him to apply for, and eventually receive, the vacant head principal job at that school, after only a few years as an assistant principal at Victory Lakes.

Mr. Bockart is currently in his first, and what will be his only, year of serving as the head principal of League City Intermediate and his move to Clear Creek will start his third transition between the schools in the

district. From now until the end of the year Mr. Bockart will continue manage the affairs for League City Intermediate and at the same time begin to become associated with the students and faculty of his new school. He will assume full duties at Clear Creek in May, when his former and his new school are late enough into the school year to manage their own affairs without being critically affected by

the transition of principals. At that time Mrs. Love will step down from her job as interim principal after six months of excellent service. More info coming soon in the next issue. Bear with us as we strive to make our next deadline.

New head principal at Creek

O NEWS

Regardless of which month passes us by on the calendar, it always seems like the twenty-eight to thirty-one days are dedicated to some cause. From February, which is known to the avid readers as “Library Lover’s Month” to June which is known to those who are adept at remaining unscathed, or possibly not, as “National Safety Month.” March, like all the other months, does have many different avenues to follow such as “Kidney Month” or “National Noodle Month,” but the arguably most important dedication that this month claims would have to be “International Women’s History Month.” There is an article later in the issue that goes further into the lives of twenty women who have really made memorable impressions on our world but what about all of the other women, the unsung heroes of every day life? Looking back on my life, women have really shaped the person I am today. From my mother, who is a Ph. D. and who has always been such a great role model to me because of her integrity and leadership and even my grandmother who is always there

for me any time I need her. But women outside of my family have also greatly impacted my life. We have all had teachers who have really done something that has become imprinted in our minds, and although I have had amazing male teachers, many great women have crossed my educational path. From my elementary teachers who sparked my interest in learning to the intermediate and high school teachers who have taught me that education is very important in the advancement of my life, while also teaching me lessons of honesty and compassion along the way. There are so many women in this world who make a difference in people’s lives every day and they are not always the ones that can be found in a quick Google search or in the pages of an encyclopedia. These women include Marion Crandall, the first woman to be killed serving our country in World War I, Harriet Quimby, the first woman to obtain her pilot’s license, and Sally Preisand, the first female rabbi. Without women, a lot of things that we use in every day life would possibly not exist. Margaret Wilcox invented the

car heater, Elizabeth Hawk made the first cooking stove, and Ida Forbes made the first hot water heater. Women also invented many life-saving devices such as the life raft made by Maria Beaseley and Stephanie Kwolek invented Kevlar, which bullet-proof vests are made out of. Women have even invented things from the washing machine to the refrigerator. Historically, women have often been tied to being the keeper of the household, but in modern society their role as a stay-at-home mom has been morphed into a more empowering role and the ability to be whatever they so please. Women are now CEO’s, Superintendent’s, and political leaders. All of this seemed so out of reach merely one hundred years ago when women were fighting ardently to even gain the right to vote. In the Declaration of Women’s Rights of 1876, Susan B. Anthony spoke the words of women of her time when she said, ““We ask justice, we ask equality, we ask that all the civil and political rights that belong to citizens of the United States, be guaranteed to us and our daughters forever.” Because of the efforts of suffragettes like Anthony,

women today have gained the access to voting and are now taking on the world. One of the only things a woman has not done to date, is to be elected the President of the United States. As Barbara Bush said at the Wellesley College Commencement in 1990, “Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps, and preside over the White House as the President’s spouse. I wish him well!” The impact of women on the world is apparent in every aspect of life. None of us would be here today if it was not for a woman. Not to let the men feel neglected, but this month is to honor women and their plight from oppression and submission to the status women own today. Maybe one day, as the next generation celebrates International Women’s History Month, they will be able to look back on these years of our lives and see even more progression in the plight of women. So take a moment this month to thank the women in your life for all they have done for you in the past and present, and for what they will surely do to better your future.

Women have historically had a huge impact on my life from the beginning

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Clear Creek HiLife

CREEK CLUBS

Auxilio!

Auxilio is still available for Spanish students who need help. Tutoring will be available on Mondays and Wednesdays in T-11 until April 30. The sponsor would like to thank Cory Rodery for her help in founding the club and wishes the best of luck to Eric Griffis who will take over the reins of the club for next year. Gracias.

National Honor SocietyThe national honor society is open only to members, although the entire student body is welcome to participate in their community service projects. The club will be inducting its members for next year on Monday, April 9 2007 in the auditorium, refreshments will be served. For more information on community service projects, visit Mrs. McNatt in P-05.

Creek International Affairs: C.I.A The C.I.A. meets occasionally to

discuss world politics, most recently the situation of young people in India based on Coach Cherry’s recent travel experiences. They are now taking donations of school supplies, books, and other basic necessities to send to the children he encountered. If you are interested in making a donation

please take it to N-120.

MSA MSA is the Muslim Student Association club. The members meet every Friday, at the Main Campus library. At the beginning of the meeting the members are involved in Friday’s prayer, which includes a short sermon and two raquahs. After Friday’s prayer the members have discussions about club programs, community service projects, school events and activities, and club fundraising. The MSA members formally invite you to come and be involved as a

MSA member.

Anime Club The Anime Club has meetings every Friday from 2:30-4:00 P.M. When students come in they grab a bag of popcorn and take a seat to watch anime for most of the meeting, and sometimes the club president speaks on upcoming conventions or teaches the students Thc club room is P-11.

Photo and Video Making Club Photo and Video Making Club is a club for students who want to convey their thoughts and interests about photography and video making. Members can share their pictures and videos with other members. They can also learn how to skillfully edit pictures and videos. The club is currently planning possible field trips. This club meets Tuesdays from 2:45 to 3:15 in room G-107.

CCHS Robotics The CCHS Robotics Team recently

participated in the local Robonauts competition at NASA. The members of the club helped to supervise the competition which is for younger kids. Delegates from all three of the high schools in the district were present at the competition. Mrs. St. John, the club’s sponsor would like to thank all of the students who participated in the contest.

Invisible Children Club The Invisible Children Club is currently raising money for the Schools for Schools campaign in Northern Uganda. The club, along with the HiLife staff plans to participate in the Displace Me campaign, and will take a bus of students from the school to Austin. The club looks forward to the success of the Displace Me campaign in Austin after a successful trip to Rice University last year for the Invisible Children Global Night Commute. More information will be given later.

C.L.E.A.RThe C.L.E.A.R club is dedicated to preventing the drug and alcohol use of high school students. At the end of March, a selected number of C.L.E.A.R members will be attending a community summit at NASA Gilruth Center to discuss the issues of life after high school and the beginning years of college. Also, in late May, the C.L.E.A.R club will be possibly sponsoring a no drug and alcohol end of the year party. The C.L.E.A.R club are always looking for focused and dedicated teens that want to help prevent drug and alcohol at Clear Creek high

school.

Attention Club Sponsors If your club is not mentioned here, and you would like to see it mentioned in the next issue of the HiLife newspaper, then contact the page editor bmurphy_hilife@yahoo.com with information about your club and we will do our best to promote the club in our next issue

HOSA HOSA is a club for students that are interested in the health field. Meetings are held every other Friday. 2:45-3:00 in room G12. The president of HOSA is Bette Redus. HOSA recently had a car wash to raise money. The money will go toward the competition that they will be going to soon.

French Club The French Club is not just for students who are taking French. The club helps others to experience and to become a part of French culture, among their fellow students. For more information about the club to find out when it meets, or to learn how to become an active member contact Mrs. St.Pierre, the club’s sponsor or talk to one of the students from her

French classes to find out more.

Link Crew Mrs. Bartlett, the link crew sponsor is beginning to take applications for new members of the club. Membership is available to students who will be juniors and seniors during the next school year. Informational meetings will be held on Monday, April 3 and Monday, April 10

in P-17. If you are interested then come by.

Clear Creek HiLife

5CREEK SPEAKSCreek competes in academic U. I. L

Melissa DeviTT

No matter who you ask at Creek, everyone knows Buddy Carlisle, a friend, a coach, and most of all a family man, but in next to no time the entire town of League City will be even more accustomed with this remarkable man. From 1968 to 1970, Buddy Carlisle attended Clear Creek High School. After graduation, Buddy went to Baylor University. At Baylor he played basketball for multiple years and also helped coach. After spending 5 years at Baylor, Buddy moved back to the League City/ Clear lake area. In a matter of a few years, Buddy began teaching and coaching at Creek. At first he coached junior varsity, but after a couple of years, he advanced up to the varsity team. Coach Carlisle immediately made a significant impact and

led the team to eight district championships. He was also named the District 24.5A coach of the year numerous times, most recently in 2005 and 2006. When the end of the school year rolled around in 2006, Buddy C a r l i s l e ’ s c o a c h i n g and teaching came to an end, after 30 years, Coach Carlisle retired. Everyone was upset that Buddy left because he had an enormous impact on Clear Creek High school. To honor his time

at creek, the basketball court in the Carlisle field house was named after him. His latest contribution for the town

of League City is running for Position 6 on the League City City Council. Coach Carlisle says, “I want to give back to the city that I love”. Buddy urges seniors to get registered and vote. He laughed and said, “Even though I might have stopped seniors from going off campus for lunch, or given

you a parking ticket, I hope you can let bygones be bygones and vote for me for city council.” Buddy is prepared for the responsibilities

and challenges of being on the city council. He is geared up to attend all meetings and is fully prepared for anything that might come his way. He prides himself on being honest and dependable, and will not attack other candidates.

He admits he has a lot to learn about city government, but he thinks he has the qualities necessary to be a good city council member. He has always been a sociable person and knows he has the intelligence to make great choices that will be of assistance to all of League City.

Coach Carlisle will put in the perseverance and care towards city council that he did for Clear Creek High School for 30 years. He is looking forward to continuing the tradition of community service that the Carlisle family has had the pleasure of providing to the citizens of League City for more than 50 years.

BoBBy Murphy

On Friday, March 23 and Saturday March 24, Clear Creek’s best and brightest took a trip down to Ball High School on Galveston Island, to compete in district 24-5A annual U.I.L. academics contest. The school sent competitors from all areas of study in order to bring back medals in contests ranging from current events all the way to calculator applications. The academics contest takes place annually, although few know of its existence. Each year, delegates from all of the schools in district 24-5A, which include: Clear Brook, Clear Lake, Pearland, Alvin, Brazoswood, Clear Creek and Galveston Ball, meet to compete and determine which school has the smartest students. Each contest allows students to compete in their respective areas of expertise. Contests in Math, English, Journalism, Science, Social Studies, Debate, and Computer Applications provide a wide variety of student interaction and competition. Points are awarded to students and their schools for placing either first through sixth in each of the their respective contests. Those placing first through third exclusively, advance to the regional competition, and eventually to state, should they excel at their contest. At the end of the competitions, the points are added together for a grand total, with the school having the most points taking first place back to their school, and acquiring the title of the smartest school in district 24-5A. Last year, Clear Creek took fourth place, out of the district of seven schools at the contest in Pearland, Creek did not place higher because students were not entered in all contests. Pearland took first place last year, with Creek’s rival school Clear Lake taking a close second. U.I.L academics coordinator Robert Judd has not yet released the rankings and results of this year’s competition, although he commented that he expects Clear Creek to finish higher because there were more students entered in more contests for the school this year. Next year’s contest at Clear Brook will no doubt prove to be just as, if not more, exciting and competitive than this year’s with new and returning competitors. In two years, Clear Creek will host the competition. Get ready.

Buddy Carlisle runs for League City Council

Honoring the women who shaped our country continuedTen Relatively Unknown Women

Kathy Eldon graduated from Wellesley College and has been an art teacher, television presenter, magazine editor, journalist, media consultant and television and fulm producer. She is the CEO of the Creative Visions Foundation which supports people who use media, technology and the arts to create awareness of global issues. She has also written sixteen books and has appeared in several publications including Kenya’s largest daily newspaper, The Nation.

Emme Aronson is the first plus-sized omen to become a supermodel. She was also a reporter for NBC and is very involved in increasing public awareness of eating disorders. She was the first model to speak before a Congressional subcommittee and is an active member of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Waris Dirie is a supermodel from Somalia that survived the traditional form of female mutilation in Africa. She is the United

Nations appointed Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation.

Dr. Julie Gerberding is the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. She played a major role in leading the CDC”s response to the anthrax bioterrorism events of 2001. She developed the CDCs patient safety programs to prevent infections, antimicrobial resistance and medical errors in healthcare settings.

Dr. Wangari Maathai is the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree. She is known all over the world for her struggle to attain democracy, human rights and for the conservation of the environment. She has also assisted women in planting over twenty million trees through the Green Belt Movement. Maathai’s work for the world earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

Safiye Amajan ran a school out of her home

NEWS6

Clear Creek HiLife

ryan oWens

Teen obesity is a constant problem here in the U.S. The health effects of obesity are commonly known: heart disease, diabetes, strokes and other chronic problems that can cause death. People who are extremely obese as children or into their early 20’s can expect to have significantly shorter lives, as obesity cuts your life expectancy dramatically. Obesity in children and adolescents is normally caused by the lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits. There is also the possibility of obesity running in the family. Society in the past decade has also played its own part in this issue. Television, computer and video games and other gadgets, are contributing to the rise in teen obesity. Adolescents are less motivated to stay healthy by regular exercise if they are prone to stay in their home all day playing video games. The Center For Disease Control (CDC) has reported that more than 13% of children and adolescents are seriously overweight. A way for parents to involved in help their child overcome obesity is getting he or she more involved with physical exercise. Parents can plan outings and activities that involve some walking, such as a trip to the zoo, a nature hike, or even just a trip to the

mall. Exercise and eating right go hand in hand but if the parents don’t encourage a healthier living for their obese child then it will be very hard for the child to lose weight, especially without support. The first step to overcoming obesity is eating healthy foods and less high-calorie junk food. Instead of snacks, the parents should provide alternatives that are better for their child, such as low- or non-fat foods, fruits and vegetables. There are many healthy foods that can substitute for junk food in a teen’s daily diet. Yogurt smoothies, fresh fruit, low-fat cheese and crackers, fat-free popcorn, frozen bananas, baked chips with low-fat cheese and salsa, are a few of the many choices. While eating right may be a very important aspect of losing weight for overly obese teens and adolescents, The American Obesity Association (AOA) does not recommend dieting as a way for teens to lose weight because it can prevent them from growing to their full height. Not every plan will work for every person battling obesity but there is a way,

Teen obesity: a problem with an answer

Comic by: MCTCampus.com

in Afghanistan during Taliban rule. She then served as the head of the country’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs where she opened several schools to educate women and girls. She was murdered in 2006 and the group that took responsibility for her death said that she was an American spy and only used the women’s movement to hide her identity.

Dr. Ruth Simmons is the President of Brown University and the first black woman to ever be president of an Ivy League school. No one that she knew had attended college but she worked hard and found ways to fund her schooling and graduated cum laude from Dillard University. She triumphed in the time of civil rights struggles and her belief is that, “we can learn respect from others no matter how different they are from us.”

Zainab Salbi is the founder and CEO of Women for Women International. She survived the bombs of Saddam Hussein’s regimes and according to Time Magazine, her organization is “a lifeline for women

in war-torn countries.” Since its founding in 1993, Women for Women has recruited tens of thousands of women to help women survivors of wars to rebuild their lives.

Kelly Perkins was diagnosed with heart disease in 1990 at the age of thirty. She decided that she was not going to let her physical states stop her from all of her activities. She received a heart transplant in 1995 and was able to climb Mount Whiney, Mount Fuji and Mount Kilamanjaro where she scattered the ashes of the woman who had died so that she could live.

Jody Williams began the International Campaign to Ban Landmines in the early 1990’s. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 and has urged countries to sign a treaty to ban the future use of landmines. Williams fights for the innocent civilians who are hurt by machines placed in wars since World War I. So, since March is known as Women’s History Month, take a little time and acknowledge the amazing women that can be found all over the world.

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Clear Creek HiLife

N EWS

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Clear Creek HiLife

DIVERSIONSThree Random Reads You Don’t Want To Miss

What: Gidget, by Frederick Kohner Who: Malibu sufergirl, 1957

Why: “I absolutely had to write everything down becuase I heard that when you get older you forget things, and I’d be the most miserable woman in the world if I fogot all about Moondoggie and what happened this summer.”Full of spunk but still on the edge of adulthood, Franzie is a “going on sixteen”girl growing up in California, 1957. The guys who live and surf on the beches in Malibu call her “Gidget”, short for girl midget. Doubtful of her skill at first, they soon grow to accept her as a member of the crew, and thats just the begining.

Advisory:Some language, teen romance and partying, guy humor

What: Life As It Comes, by Anne-Laure BondouxWho: Two completely opposite sisters

Why: With the recent death of their parents, sisters Mado and Patty have to make it on their own. Mado is a serious, intelligent fifteen year old and Patty is her a carefree, party loving, sister turned guardian. If getting along day to day wasn’t hard enough, Patty announces that she is several months pregnant. The two decide to escape to their family’s old summer home for what turns into a very emotional vacation, with Mado’s first love and Patty’s baby coming early.

Advisory: Language, pregnancy out of wedlock, dealing with grief

What: Zoli, by Colum McCannWho: A gypsy girl with a gift for poetry

Why: Spanning over several decades, this story follows the life and legend of a girl named Zoli. Growing up in a gypsy caravan in Slovakia on the eve of World War Two, Zoli gets the unheard of opportunity to attend school . She soon turns to writing poetry as a solace and as time goes on becomes the object of affection of a young Englishman, the postergirl for the new Soviet Union Woman, and an unknowing tool of the commuists. Things turn for the worst and Zoli is cast out by her people but soon finds the courgae to escape to the West.

Advisory: Some language, disturbing

WWII images, and romance

Graphics by: MCT Campus

NEWS 9

Clear Creek HiLife

Get InvolvedJoyce is a three year old girl living

in Uganda. Tragically she was involved in an LRA (Lords Resistance Army) ambush a year and a half ago. She was traveling in a vehicle with a large group when the LRA made their move. These roadside attacks are a common occurance in Uganda and everyone in the vehicle except Joyce was killed. She tried to crawl away several times but the LRA soldiers kept tossing her back into the car they had set ablaze. As a final attempt to take her life, the LRA wraped her in a burning carpet. About that time Ugandan army forces arrived and chased the rebels away.

Doctors without Borders (Holland) managed to separate her fused limbs but Joyce lives in constant pain and suffers form cerebral infection as well as respiratory issues.

Today Joyce is an inpatient at a hospital in Gulu. While she may be getting the best care in Northern Uganda, she still isn’t getting the best care available.

To help Joyce and others in her situation plese go to Creativevisions.org

Discover The Artsy Side Of LifeRothko Chapel The Menil Collection The Jung CenterSuday, April 22, 2007-3PM The Rothko Chapel extends its arms in an invitation to attend The Oscar Romero Award Ceremony. Come and “examine the human consequences of restricting boundaries around the world and, in response, celebrate the strength of compassion.

LOCATION: Corner of Sul Ross and Yupon in Houston’s Museume District (1409 Sul Ross St., Houston Texas, 77006)

CHAPEL HOURS: 10AM-6PM every day of the year, free admission, donations welcome

PHONE NUMBER: 713-524-9839

Febuary 23-May 13, 2007The Menil Collection is proud to present “Robert Rauschenberg: Cardboards and Related Pieces”. Begining work as an artist over half a century ago, Rauschenberg has been breaking ground ever since using, not the traditional pallette and clay, but a series

of “found objects” around various studios.

January 26-April 29, 2007Another jewel hosted by The Menil Collection is “Everyday People: 20th Century Photography”. A montage of The Menil Collection’s founders favorite images, “the show questions the commonly accepted boundaries between documentary reportage and

works of art.”

LOCATION: 1515 Sul Ross St. Houston Texas, 77008

GALLERY HOURS: 11AM-7PM, Wednesday-Sunday, free admission, donations welcome

PHONE NUMBER: 713-525-9400

April 3-30, 2007The Jung Center is pleased to be hosting Margaret Humphris’ “Into the Woods”. This magical collection depicts heros and heroines from famous fairy tales. “These paintings hint at life’s major transitions and spiritual transformations brought on by forays into

and out of the woods”.

LOCATION: 5200 Montrose Blvd. Houston Texas, 77006

GALLERY HOURS: 9AM-7PM Monday-Thursday, 9AM-4PM Friday, 10AM-4PM

Saturday

PHONE NUMBER: 713 -524-8253

THE TRUTH ABOUT

H I G H S C H O O L

10

Clear Creek HiLife

OpinionsOpinionsWe went around asking students and teachers

on their opinion on drugs, alcohol, weapons, and crime in school. Here’s what they told us:

Kharla Muniz’s opinion on

crime in school is: “It sucks how

people would break in a school if

it would affect all of us, not only

them.”

Carey Fain’s opinion on weapons in school is: “ I think its stupid when people kid about bringing a gun because your going to get in trouble. Duhh.”

Matt Pigg’s opinion on drugs in

school is: “ Drugs are completely

stupid. Its not the way to go. It messes

up your life. Never do them.”

Dr. Turner’s opinion in

weapons in school is: “There

is no place for weapons of any

kind in any school.”

Hannah Robinson’s opinion on drugs in school is: “I don’t think it’s right, people should be more smarter about not doing it.”

Anonymous’ opinion on crime in school is: “ It annoys me that people can destroy the new building, knowing that it affects everybody.”

Anonymous’ opinion on alcohol in school is: “If you want to be laughed at by everyone, go ahead and drink as much as you want.”

Anonymous’opinion on alcohol in

school is: “I knew a kid who filled his

water bottles with alcohol. I thought it

was sneaky and stupid.”

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Clear Creek HiLife

THE TRUTH ABOUT

FactsFacts

Alcohol is a drug — the most commonly

used and widely abused psychoactive

drug in the world. An alcoholic is someone

whose mind and body crave alcohol.

The school district and the school takes a position of “Zero Tolerance” in regard to the possession, use or distribution of weapons by

students. Consequently, the minimum consequence for students possessing, using or distributing

weapons shall include immediate out-of-school suspension; confiscation of the weapon; immediate

notification of police; parent or guardian notification; and recommendation to the superintendent of

dismissal for a period of time not to exceed one year.

Alcohol can:• Make you gain weight • Make you feel sick or dizzy • Give you bad breath • Make you clumsy • Slur your speech • Make your skin break out • Make you feel out of control• AND MORE

H I G H S C H O O L

12 NEWS

Clear Creek HiLife

Link Crew begins its search for next year’s membersBoBBy Murphy

On Monday, April 3 and Monday, April 10 orientations will be held in Mrs. Bartlett’s room, P-17, for students entering the 11th and 12th grade who are interested in becoming members of the link crew. After the club’s first successful year, Mrs. Bartlett is hoping that she will see many returning faces next year, along with new members. The link crew is a club that essentially “links” freshmen to the rest of the campus. The club was designed as a leadership program to unite the student body of schools that are divided between a main campus and a ninth grade center, much like Clear Creek. The program is a project of boomerang.com, a website designed to promote unity within high schools. The link crew is one of its many different program, which also include transition programs for students entering middle

school, and also programs that discourage classroom stereotypes and other problems that students face in school. According to the boomerang website, the link crew welcomes freshmen and makes them feel comfortable during the first year of their high school experience. Link crew trains its members from the junior and senior classes to be link leaders. These link leaders consist of the best motivators and teachers from around local high schools helping new freshmen students discover what it takes to have a successful high school career. The club has been proven to increase student success in the freshmen class. Since the start of the club last year, students have seen exponential growth in their grades in their first year of high school. In August of 2006 over 700,000 freshmen all across the country were welcomed into high school with the Link

Crew High School transition program, and last year, Clear Creek joined the group of over 100 schools across the country that have a link crew. Traditionally, all link crews across the country begin the year by hosting a freshmen orientation. At Clear Creek, the Fish Camp orientation, which takes place every year in August, which was previously coordinated by the PALS club, was taken over by the Link Crew. In it’s first year, the club welcomed over 900 freshmen students to Fish Camp, for a very successful orientation. Now, the club is looking for new faces to help. At the close of the club’s fist year, Mrs. Bartlett has begun the annual search for new link crew members. Any student entering the junior or senior class next year is eligible to apply for club membership. But they must be willing to help out the new freshmen students. New link crewmembers take a pledge

and sign a form stating their obligations to the club. Some of the promises on the pledge include staying out of trouble, maintaining confidentiality, taking a position of leadership and being a role model. Anyone willing to take this pledge is invited to attend one of the orientation meetings on Monday, April 3 and Monday, April 10. Anyone who cannot make these meetings but is still interested in joining the club can contact Mrs. Bartlett in P-17 for a private orientation and a club application The Link Crew has had a successful first year. With the help of new members the club can continue to thrive and to benefit the freshmen class. For more information check out the brief on the Creek Club page, or contact Diana Bartlett in P-17.

allie hinga anD naDia ahMeD

Every year many students from Creek join FFA to have fun, but there is a plus to being in the Agriculture classes. Many students participated in the judging, raising, or helping the animals put in the auctions. The top seller this year went for $13,000. FFA stands for Future Farmers of America, and the program has been doing auctions for some time now, and has been seeing the same results every year. FFA is an elective offered to students interested in learning about various aspects of agriculture, from raising animals, to agricultural science, to horticulture. The teachers include Mr. Cummings, Mrs. New, and Mr. New. There are many different auctions to attend, such as County Auction, State Auction, school auctions, and

many more. The auction and livestock show for Clear Creek ISD was held on January 25-27. For the show, students had to choose

form eleven different divisions in which they could be judged. Divisions ranged from showing animals, to agricultural science and horticulture. Awards were given for Grand Champion and Reserve Champion for each category of animals, and Best of Show award for all non-animal divisions. Any animal that won an award had to be auctioned. For the auction, the students entered various animals, from pigs and steer, to rabbits and turkeys. Kassie Bowen, a freshman, sold her pig for $1,100, and Michaela Adams, another freshman, sold her steer (cow) for $3,500. Even

though students are tempted to enter FFA for the money, they must remember that they have to work for what they earn.

“The day before the showing, I had to get up at 4 o’clock in the morning, go to the new barn to move my steer, and then go back to the FFA barn to clean my old pen, and then had to go to school,” says Adams. In addition

to the already enormous responsibilities of raising an animal, each student is constantly aware of the intimidating list of rules they must abide by to participate in the competition.

Overall, the show and auction attracted over 200 buyers, and raised $133,000 in scholarship funds for CCISD’s FFA chapter. The FFA has been a program that Clear Creek is very proud of, and will hopefully continue successfully for many years to come.

FFA Auction makes kids winners

allie hinga

On March 16, pet owners across the North America were shocked to hear of a major pet food recall. Ninety-five brands

of cat and dog food were included in the recall because they were found to cause acute kidney failure, which can be fatal, as some pet owners found out. After the recall, an investigation began to determine the source of the poisoning, and recently, a spokeswoman reported that rodent poison

had been found in the contaminated food. The recall was conducted by Menu

Foods, a major pet food producer based outside of Toronto, Canada that claims to

make food for seventeen of the to twenty North American retailers. It sells its food under store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway, and other large retailers, as well as major private labels, such as Iams, Nutro, and Eukanuba. When the recall was announced, it covered all of the company’s “cuts and gravy” style wet food sold between December 3 to March 6, including at

least fifty-one brands of dog food and forty brands of cat food. In all, sixty million cans and pouches were pulled off the shelves, costing Menu Foods between twenty-six and thirty-four million dollars.

Recently, the company began receiving complaints from pet owners

that their dogs and cats were vomiting and suffering kidney failure after eating its products. However, Menu Foods delayed announcing a recall until it could confirm that the pets had eaten its products before dying. Eventually, it was determined that the pet food did cause acute kidney failure. Symptoms of the disease include: change in urination, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, listlessness, and loss of appetite. If not caught quickly, it can lead to death. To date, the contaminated pet food has killed sixteen animals: fifteen cats and one dog.

The FDA began an investigation to determine the source of contamination in the food. It focused its search on Menu Food’s new supplier of wheat gluten, a source of protein used to thicken gravy

Dog food recall victims not sure of costly outcomein the pet food. The company is reported to have begun using the new ingredient right around the time the complaints surfaced. While wheat gluten itself does not cause kidney failure, it was believed that a common ingredient led to the contamination. Then, on Friday, March 23, a spokeswoman announced that

rodent poison had been found in the affected food. The actual chemical or source of the chemical found in the affected products has not yet been released.

In early April it was determined that melamine, a plastic derivative, was found in the food. The impact of this story is yet to be determined but many more animals are expected to be added to the list of injured or dead. Pet owners everywhere are rethinking what they feed their animals.

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Clear Creek HiLife

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14 fEATURES

Clear Creek HiLife

MTV shifts focus from music to reality based nick Warren

MTV, or Music Television, is a cable channel that began on August 1, 1981. At 12:01 AM that morning, MTV debuted with the words, “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll,” spoken by John Lack, which was accompanied by the original MTV theme song, a guitar riff written by Jonathan Elias and John Peterson, and played over a montage of the Apollo 11 landing. Both the first sounds and images of MTV would forever stick with young viewer’s minds as a new way of music. The early days of MTV were modeled similar to Top 40 radio. Fresh, young faces were hired as VJs, or video jockeys, to host programs and introduce music videos. Early videos played on MTV were often crude promotional or concert clips from whatever sources were available, but as the network gained popularity, record companies recognized MTV as a tool to gain recognition for their artists. Many bands from the 80’s became identifiable with MTV, such as Van Halen, The Police, RATT, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Eurythmics, and even “Weird Al” Yankovic. MTV was also a stepping block for music events. The rock band Kiss appeared on MTV for the first time without their trademark makeup, Michael Jackson launched the second wave of his career as an MTV staple, and even Madonna has used MTV to her advantage, being the most successful performer in the channel’s history. In 1984, MTV had its first MTV Video Music Awards Show (or VMAs), which is

synonymous with both new and old MTV viewers. To a seemingly endless supply of young music craving teens, the VMAs also served as a hip, young alternative to the Grammy’s. In 1992, the network added

a movie awards show, the MTV Movie Awards,that achieved similar success. Before 1987, MTV showed more or less nothing but music videos, but these patterns soon started to change. MTV News, Club MTV, Remote Control, and MTV Unplugged were the first programs on MTV that didn’t revolve around music videos. Granted, most of these shows still revolved around music in one form or another, but the basic principle of the station would soon, quietly fade away. In the early 1990s, MTV debuted its first reality shows, The Real World and Road Rules, both of which have become immensely popular with teens of today, and both of which have helped set the

stage for even more non-music shows on the station. Another kind of programming was emerging in the early 90’s: animation. In attempts to become a more diverse

network, MTV added animation to its lineup. Beavis and Butt-head, Celebrity Deathmatch, Daria, and Liquid Television are still the most well known, with most other animated MTV shows not being renewed for additional seasons. By the second half of the 90’s, MTV consisted mostly of non-music programming. In response to criticism for not playing nearly as much music in the the 90’s, MTV2 was born. Launched on August 1, 1996, exactly 15 years after the original MTV, this channel gave music fans a place to see commercial-free music videos, while MTV was beginning to focus on non-music programming.

Meanwhile, MTV created four shows that centered around music videos: MTV Live, Say What?, 12 Angry Viewers, and Total Request. In 1998, MTV combined Total Request and MTV Live to form the immensely popular Total Request Live, or TRL as most know it. The is the channel’s flagship program. In 1999, MTV shifted its focus to prank or comedic shows such as The Tom Green Show, Punk’d, and even soap operas such as Undressed. In the early 21st century, MTV put a very heavy focus on reality shows, building from the success of the Real World and Road Rules in the 1990s. Music videos were still on the channel, but rarely. Videos were either shown in the morning or on TRL. The reality show trend continued well into 2004, with such shows as MTV’s Fear, The Osbournes, Newlyweds, The Ashlee Simpson show, and Battle For Ozzfest. MTV’s 25th anniversary was on August 1st, 2006. On MTV.com, viewers could watch the very first hour of MTV, including original ads and promos. However, MTV itself only mentioned the anniversary once on TRL. When viewers turn on MTV they will often see other reality shows such as Laguna Beach, Next, Two-A-Days, My Super Sweet 16, and Parental Control. MTV’s main source of music is still TRL, which runs for 60 minutes Monday through Thursday. Regardless of the lack of music, MTV is as popular as it’s ever been. Ask most teenage kids about MTV, and they will say they watch it all day long and they will likely defend that it still plays music.

chris sTephensen

With spring training coming to a close and Major League Baseball’s regular season beginning, fans are looking at what kind of season is emerging. Will Barry Bonds pass Hank Aaron on the all-time home run list or will he be found juicing up on steroids? Will Roger Clemens come back? Will Daisuke Matsuzaka become the next big thing? And the most important question, who will win the World Series? Barry Bonds has been under major investigation from MLB and the United States Congress for his alleged steroid use. With his spring training doing well (.957 slugging average, the best spring he has had in a while), Bonds has a 50-50 chance that he will break the record. He has about a 50-55 percent chance of becoming the milestone. He is 22 HRs away, though it all depends on his health, and whether or not he is found using steroids. Roger will come back. He says he doesn’t like retirement. He is also 2 wins away from 350, with gives him more incentive to come back. The Rocket won’t be back until possibly May, but more likely in June or July. Then he has to start his workouts with whichever team he chooses (Houston, Boston, or the Yankees). He will have to go through the simulated games, and then up through the minors to the big leagues. Roger will be back, it’s just a matter of

when or where. In the American League East, look for the Yankees and the Red Sox to have a go at it once again. Boston doesn’t have much back end pitching but will be able to make it up with their starters. The Blue Jays may be able to keep pace. The Orioles and the Devil Rays will fall behind in May and won’t be contenders for the AL East pennant. Red Sox will win the AL East by one game. In the AL Central, which is poised to be the best division this year, four of the five teams will be in contention the whole season. The Kansas City Royals will be the odd team out this year but will be the spoiler of many team’s dreams. The Tigers, White Sox, Indians, and the Twins are all strong teams. The one two punch of Liriano and Santana along with Joe Nathan as reliever will prove to be too strong for the rest of the AL Central. The Twins will win the AL

Central by ½ game. In the AL West, the Angels are poised to have a great season. Garret Anderson looks to have a great season. He has had injuries the past three years but if he stays

healthy, Garret will have a great year. The As will be the other contender in the league, with the Mariners and the Rangers keeping pace until about August or September. The Angels will win the AL West by three games. The Wild Card for the AL will be the Detroit Tigers. With their pitching and with the addition of Gary Sheffield, they will go deep into the playoffs. In the NL East, the Mets will dominate. The

pitching and hitting will be too powerful for most of the teams. And once Pedro Martinez comes back from rotator cuff surgery, the Mets may have the stuff to go all the way. The Braves will miss out on the division title for a second straight year. The Marlins, Phillies, and Nationals will be 15-25 games out of first. The Mets will win the NL East by five games.

For the NL Central, the Houston Astros will be in contention with the Cardinals and the Cubs (that’s right, the Chicago Cubs are back). All of these teams have made off season transactions that will help their teams through the season. If Roger Clemens comes back to pitch for the Astros, they will become the team to beat in the NL Central. The Pirates and Brewers will be out by June and will not make the playoffs. The Chicago Cubs will win the NL Central by ½ game. Last but not least, the NL West. Look for the Diamondbacks, Dodgers, and Padres to be the contenders in this division. With pitching doing well for both teams in the preseason, all will be within 1 1/2 of each other. The Rockies and Giants will be a force early but die down and fall out by June. Barry Bonds will be three HRs shy from the record. The Daimondbacks have the NL West by one game. The Wild Card for the NL will be the Houston Astros. St. Louis will come close and there may be a game to decide who gets the Wild Card, but the Astros will win it. The World Series will be between the New York Mets and the Minnesota Twins. It will be a seven game series with two extra inning games. The Twins will win because they will play Game 7 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

2007 Major League Baseball predictions begin as season starts

15fEATURES

Clear Creek HiLife

Energy drinks: It’s time to unleash the real monstersTephanie haechTen

The seven-hour school day leaves many students not only tired, but also stressed from a backpack full of homework. Unfortunately, it’s crunch time; there is a project due for physics and three pages of pre-calculus homework. The natural thing for many high school students to do is grab an energy drink and buckle down for a long night of studying. But does anyone realize what really goes into your body when you drink a Monster or Red Bull. Although many energy drinks suffice as a short-term boost of vigor, there are still potentially harmful side effects. Caffeine, the most popular legal stimulant, is the ‘vicious punch’ that Monster energy

drinks promises to pack into every can. Consumed in reasonable amounts, like a cup of coffee, caffeine can increase mental alertness, but in excess, caffeine can cause anxiety, headaches, and the jitters. Even though caffeine moves through your body fairly quickly, you can feel the side effects up to six hours later. Caffeine

mixed with many other ingredients such as B vitamins, ginseng, and ephedrine can cause irregular heartbeats and can raise blood pressure. “The primary ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine,” said Jackie Farnsworth, the director of Salt Lake Community College. “Frankly,” said Liz Applegate, a nutritionist at the University of California at Davis,

2007 Major League Baseball predictions begin as season starts

“they’re nothing much more than caffeine in a can with a lot of sugar.” ‘Red Bull gives you wings’ is not just an advertising catch phrase. The extravagant amount of caffeine and sugar can be an overload to the brain, producing unwanted side effects. Still, energy drinks are not a complete waste of money. If consumption is moderate, two or three cans a week, drinks are considered to be as harmful as drinking a few cups of coffee. Consuming an energy drink once a week while cramming for an English test isn’t going to cause any long term effects, but don’t make drinking a Rockstar a daily habit.

16 PORTSS

Clear Creek HiLife

sarah poore

Coach Mallory has come to be a very familiar face around Creek, starting his career thirty years ago and continuing to be a solid staple in the Wildcat baseball program. Mallory recently celebrated his 500th victory as the Wildcats closed out a win over Deer Park. A pre-game ceremony was held at Alvin to commemorate this landmark in his career, but Mallory remained humble and focused, preparing for the game ahead. There is no question about his work ethic

and his steady attitude, which even during his own celebration remained in tact. Its not difficult to see how Mallory was able toarrive at his 500th win. With his team of assistant coaches behind him, Coach Mallory entered the regular season in mid February hoping to relive last years success. Although Creek did well last season, the region semi-finals came to a disappointing end as the Wildcats fell to Cy Fair after an impressive rebound from some hard losses in district. This season, Creek is looking for another trip to the top.

The 2007 regular season ended on March tenth. The Wildcats walked away with a record of 8-7, and currently holds a 3-1 record in district. The boys are keeping their own so far, and with talent comming from every part of the field Creek is sure to continue. Creek is hosting an impressive pitching staff this year, which includes retuning varsity players Jeff Denny, Jack Pollard, James Wooster, and several others. Jared Cosart is new to Creek baseball, but Mallory is hoping to put his promising talent on the mound after

watching him thrive outside of games. The varsity team is also welcoming back the light-footed Jereme Brooks, a three-year starter and weighty hitter in his senior year. Creek hasn’t been absent from postseason play in an astounding eleven years. The Wildcats are looking to make that record twelve as they head into district. With all of the talent surrounding the team and the structure that has been built up over Mallory’s 30 years of coaching, Wildcat baseball has a good chance of accomplishing that goal.

Baseball takes a swing at district

Creek’s track teams stay light on their feet

Photo by: Wynette Jameson

alBerT nkansah

Every four years, the world’s elite runners come together to represent their country at the Olympics. However, every Friday the best high school runners in the area get together to represent their school in several different events, and Clear Creek is well represented this year by a team of talented athletes. Coach Jordan is heading up a group of runners, jumpers, and throwers, working towards a shot at the district title. Taylor Echols, JJ Mullins, Anthony Ruben, Brandon Burton, and Marcus Davis are just some of the big winners this year. They have been successful in a very strong district. They have received 1st in the Clear Creek meet, 2nd in both the Strake Jesuit meet and Clear Brook Meet and 4th in the Spring Branch meet. Coach Jordan even said that this team has, “Overall better talent and should win the district meet.” Creeks recurring placement at the top has proven this statement correct. Creek has had representation at college meets like the Texas Southern University meet, as Bobby Bassett placed 3rd in the boys 400 meters with a time of 49.21 seconds. Miles Gay also placed 3rd in boys shot put, throwing over 51’ 9”. While some of the Creek runners were at TSU, there were also some winners at Pearland’s Oiler Relays. Zack Duncavage placed 2nd in boys’ discus as he threw it 160-4, and 1st place winner Taylor Smith threw the shot put 41-10 for the girls. Tre Mason represented the jumpers, getting a

6-4 in the high jump and getting 1st. The girls’ relay team rounded it off placing 2nd in the 800-meter relay with a time of 1:45.75.

The future looks bright for Creek track as well. The Junior Varsity has placed 1st in six meets, and the freshman have placed 2nd in three meets, and 1st in three, showing that the sky is the limit in the years to come. No matter which level, Creek has shown to shine bright. “We’re running very well and hope to get a few to regionals… it will be good to see how we do,” says Coach Zboril, and with district coming up, Creek is looking to be one of the favorites. This weekend, a few members of the boy’s team will be competing in Austin at the Texas Relays. This meet will include some of the best runners in the world on both the high school and collegiate levels. Hopefully, the boy’s will bring some medals back for Clear Creek.

17

Clear Creek HiLife

PORTSSAthletes of the Month

Ian DavisIt can be difficult to maintian

your place as a leader on a team and be where you’re needed but Ian Davis makes it look simple. Ian Davis has been playing basketball since he was seven years old, and plans to play as long as he can. Georgia Tech, UCLA, and Tulane have already recruited him, and he is just a junior! When asked who contributes most to the team, he said immediately, “Logan Lancon”. Both players were on varsity last year and have played a lot of basketball together. Ian Davis strives to be a complete player. He has 41 steals, 15 assists, shoots 74% from the free throw line, and averages 2.3 blocks, 4.9 rebounds, and 10.6 points per game. With one more year left for Ian, there is still so much he can accomplish. We can expect more good things coming from our Male Player of March.

Taylor freuDenBerg

The Creek Varsity softball team has been 9-11 so far this year. At the beginning of the season, Coach Andrea Cash pulled up a few of the junior varsity players onto the varsity team because of injuries, such as Amanda Windish with mononucleosis and Allison Bright with a shoulder injury. The junior varsity players pulled up are Princess Daniels, Jessica Hempfling, Kassie Bowen, and Taylor Freudenberg. The junior varsity players are allowed to play on the field for varsity, but they are still on junior varsity, and must abide by those rules. JV players can’t play more than two UIL games a week, so they can’t play more than two games. Although the junior varsity players aren’t allowed to be in all of the games, they are still ecstatic that they are getting to prove themselves on the field. “I feel privileged that I’m on varsity because I’m a freshman, and I feel like it’s a good opportunity to prove myself,” says JV outfielder Kassie Bowen. Last year there were only twelve players on the varsity team, but this year

there are fifteen players on the varsity team (including the pulled up JV players). As of March 21, Princess Daniels was pulled officially to play on varsity, so she no longer plays for JV. “This is a great group of girls, there’s so much talent, but it just seems that we can’t put it together...we need to start getting over those mistakes we make,” says JV pitcher/shortstop Jessica Hempfling,” If we put everything together, then we’d be undefeated.” The Creek team has a lot of individual talent, with junior pitcher Morgan Luska and senior third baseman Kara Rau (who has a scholarship to Texas A&M in College Station). “Overall I think we have a good team, and we’re doing okay right now. Our offense needs some work, but over all I think that we can pull out one of the playoff spots,” states Rau. The teams play on Tuesdays and Fridays, except for the week of Good Friday, when they play on Thursday. The Lady Wildcats are planning to defeat the competition and to keep the victories coming. Next week, the Lady Wildcats are playing Clear brook and Clear Lake.

Ladycats find success on the field

Elissa Loynes

Winning district was a #1 priority for girls’ soccer this year, and one of the reasons they accomplished that goal is senior Elissa Loynes. Elissa is one of the dual sport athletes at Creek as she also plays volleyball for the school. She is going to play volleyball at Lubbock Christian University. “I had been playing soccer for so long, so I wanted to continue volleyball,” she says. Being on varsity for all four years, she has had many memorable moments at Creek. When asked her most memorable, she said “Last year, since it was the first time we went to the playoffs, and first time Creek has been in like 10 years.”

Opposing goalies have had a miserable time against her as she leads the team in goals scored.

Going into the playoffs, Elissa will be a big threat for Creek, and you can expect more goals from our Female player of March.

Albert NkANsAh PhototogrAPher: MellisA Devitt

18 SPORTS

Clear Creek HiLife

DesTinee Walker

As the cold weather heated up so did anticipation of a district championship for the girl’s soccer team. The ladies were tied with Clear Lake for the District Championship, with our Girls ultimately coming out on top. The Lady Falcons took Tuesday night off while our girls hosted Alvin, sweeping with a 6-0 win. Allyson Crawford, Brittany Madrigal, Mariah Martinez, Rachelle Sloan, Karely Torres, and our athlete of the month Elissa Loynes each scored a goal while Michelle McCullough picked up her 17th shutout of the season. The win brought Creek to a two-way tie with rival Lake for district. Both teams won their tiebreaker games but Creek received the title because of the shutout against Alvin. The ladies played at home against Dulles Tuesday, March 27th winning with yet another shut out, 1-0, keeping them in the bracket for regionals.

Mariah Martinez, the freshman player who made the winning goal in the game remains confident in her team’s chance at state, “We communicate well on the field; I think we can do it.” With continued fire and determination our lady wildcats will strive toward a regional title, and hopefully, in the end take home the state championship. The guys finished out the season with a 2-5-5 in district and 12-6-7 overall. The team did well considering the loss of their fifteen seniors. When asked about the season Coach Cobb stated “This was a rebuilding year for us. We had a good season and we grew as a team. We will miss our seniors who will graduate and we are looking forward to a successful season next year.” Although they didn’t do as well as they had hoped, it was indeed a growing season, and they still have high expectations for next year’s season.

Girls Soccer Sweeps District, Boys Season Comes to a Close

Georgetown’s Jeff Green (32) is surrounded by teammates as they celebrate his last second shot to give them a 66-65 victory over Vanderbilt during their NCAA East Regional basketball tournament in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Friday, March 23, 2007. (Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

UCLA’s Darren Collison (right) and Kansas Darrel Arthur battle for the ball during second half action. UCLA defeated Kansas, 68-55, in the NCAA West Regional final game at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, Saturday, March 24, 2007. (Rich Sugg/Kansas City Star/MCT)

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Clear Creek HiLife

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Photo Layout By: Michael Sosebee

Girls Soccer Sweeps District, Boys Season Comes to a Close

Clear Creek HiLife

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