Hodges involved in extracurricular shooting club
by Katelyn Lease, staff reporter

In order to survive, humans have used shooting to obtain their meals and protect themselves. However, in the early 1800s, people began organizing shooting matches for personal enjoyment in which a variety of firearms were used. Today, shooting competitions have grown, and one of Etowah’s own is a national champion.

Junior Rachael Hodges has what it takes to beat the best in shooting competitions all over the country. She has the accuracy and precision to hit the target almost every time.

Starting when she was just nine, Hodges practiced with her team, Cherokee Youth Shooting Club, two days a week at the armory in Canton, Georgia. In practice, the team works on the natural point of aim, moving sights, targets and the follow-through. Their training begins in September and ends in July.

Hodges attends 12 to 13 competitions a year. “My favorite part of shooting is competing and meeting new people. I also like to see my progression through the year,” says Hodges.

Hodges shoots precision air rifles at ten range targets at a 10-meter distance. “Sometimes, when I’m at a competition and there are people watching, it can be scary. Also, you never know if college scouts are going to be there or well-known shooters, so you have to always be on top of your game,” Hodges says.

Hodges hopes to pursue shooting in college. For her, practices occur at home too. “When I’m not working with my team at practices, I practice with my dad upstairs at home. He helps me out a lot and works one on one with me,” Hodges says.

When Olympic shooters are training, they keep a journal to write down goals for practice, how practices went and what they need to improve. “I don’t write in my journal as much as I should, so I think that will be my New Year’s resolution, keep updating my journal,” says Hodges.

Last year, Hodges had the opportunity to compete in the Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs. The competition was held at the shooting range where the Olympic shooters train and there was a lot of pressure to perform well. Hodges believes that her nerves got the better of her.  “I didn’t do so well but my coaches knew that and they just wanted me to have the experience and have a good time. It was a great experience.”

Sophomore Hannah Rogers and freshman Amanda Rogers train with Hodges. They joke around and encourage each other in competitions.

Hodges is ranked 85th nationally. She has many accomplishments and is determined to earn more.

Wrestler’s Passion Drives Him to the Top
by Laila Goharioon • photography by Ally Hellenga and Laila Goharioon

When off the mat, junior Jeremiah Lutz is a quiet individual.  When on the mat, his ambition and ability for wrestling shine and his attitude changes into that of an aggressive wrestler. Lutz’s relentless aggression on the mat helped him earn a national ranking of number 28 in his 130-pound weight class.

Each year, USA Wrestling ranks the top wrestlers in the nation based on tournaments, tournament wins, exposure on the national circuit and state level, high school matches and some opinion. Lutz is the only ranked high school wrestler in the 130-pound weight class from Georgia. “It is my first ranking and it is nice to know that all the wrestling I did over the summer and years have earned me this title,” Lutz says.

Along with the national ranking, Lutz was third in Georgia in 2009 and 2010. He has been named All-American and has placed seventh in Greco wrestling in addition to other awards. In Greco wrestling, holds and moves below the waist are not allowed. Lutz’s passion for wrestling began in second grade when his older brother, James, started to wrestle. “I realized I was pretty good at wrestling when I was in sixth grade,” says Lutz. “That was the year I won state championships.”

Lutz shows his commitment to wrestling in other areas of his life. He maintains good grades, because he knows he would not be able to wrestle if his academic s suffered. “He is determined to be the best, no matter what,” says coach Eric Burton. “He wrestles at practice here at Etowah and then goes over to his wrestling club and practices there for a couple hours.”

Lutz spends more than five hours a day wrestling. His countless hours spent practicing paid off when he became eligible to compete in the 2010 state championship, where he had his most memorable play of the season. Wrestling in the semifinals against Bazel Partridge of Collins Hill, Lutz did a spladle on his opponent. “A spladle is a highly skilled and risky maneuver. If you hit [it], it pays off. But if you miss it, you are in trouble,” Burton says. Most wrestlers, when in a spladle, will go down. But Partridge, who would become the 2010 AAAAA State Champion in the 112-pound weight class, did not. “Even though I didn’t win the match against Partridge, it was still a memorable game for me because I got to use the spladle and I was in the semifinals for state,” Lutz says.

While Lutz is serious about his sport, he shows his humorous side when among friends, according to senior Walter Leyva. “Lutz is great on the mat,” Leyva says. “He teaches me new things and brought me to where I am at now.”

Cross Country Star Spreads Her Wings on the Track
by Heather Perona

Portia Keene had never thought of joining the cross country team, or any other athletic team, at Etowah High School. She was unaware of her running ability, which was not fully discovered until Etowah cross country coach Joe Robinson saw Keene running on the high school track six years ago.

“I could tell that she was going to be a star on the cross country team in high school,” Robinson says. “When I met her for the first time, I could see that she had a hidden running talent, and I knew that it would shine in the future.”

Keene remembers that moment clearly, but she did not take consider the sport until later.  “More and more of my friends wanted to try and join the cross country team for Etowah during my freshman year,” Keene says, adding that her primary motive for joining the team was to see her friends more often.

Keene earned a spot on the junior varsity team during her freshman year but did little to prepare for practice. She was unaware of the necessary, intense and vigorous training.

“I remember that the first practice I ever had on the team seemed to go on forever, and I cannot even begin to describe how relieved I was when we were given water breaks,” Keene says. “The two hours of practice felt like a lifetime as we did our usual route around Towne Lake. I was out of breath half of the time, but I was just happy to get less than 30 minutes on my run.”

It was not until Keene was a sophomore that she noticed a change in her athletic ability. Her 5K time, which is currently 20:40, dropped an average of two minutes each year. Now that she has been named as the team’s top female runner, Keene is appreciative of the many role models who motivated her.

“The seniors on the team during my freshman and sophomore years really kept my hopes high when I tried to accomplish my goals for the season,” Keene says. “They made running enjoyable and fun, which made me appreciate it more and therefore work harder during the races.”

As Keene continues to outshine her competitors, especially in the county race in which she placed sixth among 35 runners, many of her teammates look to her for advice and words of wisdom about running long distances. Over time, Keene and her fellow runners have formed a strong bond.

During the past two seasons, Keene has learned the essentials of maintaining proper running techniques. Living by the motto “Perfect practice makes for perfect performance,” Keene knows that breathing and posture greatly affect the outcome of the runner’s final time.

“I tend to slouch when I run for a longer period of time than normal,” Keene says. “My coach and I have been working on a way to help straighten my posture when I run, and hopefully, I will be able to see and feel a difference.”

Keene’s family has experience with cross country. Her father, Douglas Keene, ran for Ashbrook High School in North Carolina.  He encourages her and her brother Logan, a freshman, to always give more than 100 percent in practice and in a race.

“My dad always told me that ‘Excuses are for losers,’” Keene says. “That quote stuck with me, so now I keep that in mind whenever I run.”

Keene is looking forward to becoming a senior next year.   She hopes to be elected as team captain, set a time and distance record for Etowah High School and run a 5K in under 19 minutes. She also hopes to receive a cross country scholarship from the University of Sydney in Australia.

Runner Seeks to Beat His Own Time
by Justin Brown

At first sight, junior Jake Hildebrandt looks like he would be a good basketball player. However, Hildebrandt uses his 6’2” height to his advantage on the Etowah cross country team.

Hildebrandt ran his most recent 5K in 16:26, the fourth-fastest time in Etowah history. With the accomplishment, he earned first position on the team.

His new goal is to break 16 minutes. “I want to get top 10 at state and run a 5k under 15 minutes and 30 seconds,” Hildebrandt says.

He believes he can achieve his goal by surviving the difficult training program developed by cross country coach Joe Robinson, which averages 40 miles per week. “Coach Joe has a positive influence on me and he is an all-around good coach,” Hildebrandt says.

Not only does Hildebrandt have weekly practices, he trains during weekends to increase his speed. “I just keep my goal of being the best in my head to help me never give up,” he says.

Hildebrandt believes that to be a good runner, one must have a strong desire to outperform other runners. He says he sometimes preys on the insecurities of his opponents. “My favorite part of running is breaking other runners’ wills,” he says.

To prepare for a race, Hildebrandt listens to his iPod. His playlist contains music that increases his adrenaline. “Sometimes, before a race, I get pre-race jitters,” he says.  Whenever he becomes nervous, Hildebrandt says that he has to “get tough.”

Although Hildebrandt is a rising star, he believes he can improve by working to run faster, become stronger and develop a stronger endurance.

Hildebrandt also performs well in the classroom. “I would like to attend and run for Georgia Tech, mainly because I want to become a doctor,” Hildebrandt says.

Eat, Sleep, Cheer
by Ally Hellenga and Alexis Cape • photography by Ally Hellenga

Endless hours of practice, dedication to the sport and the desire to take home the gold are what Etowah’s competition cheer team is all about.

“Competition cheerleading is most definitely a sport and I am proud to be a part of it! It requires gymnastics, stunting, jumping and serious endurance,” Melissa Paurowski, competition cheer coach, says.

Competitive cheering requires athletic ability and enthusiasm to succeed. The Etowah squad practices three to four days a week for about two hours each day.

“Cheerleading has always been a big part of my life,” senior Sam Hale says. “I am usually running to one practice right after the other, so it can be stressful and time consuming.”

The varsity competition cheer team recently received second place at the Dawson County High School Cheer Competition. The team has several upcoming competitions, including one on their home turf on October 30.

A panel of judges scores each routine in a variety of categories. Spirit, tumbling, sportsmanship, volume, execution, choreography and other gymnastic components earn points on a scale of 5 or 10 for each category.

“At a competition, you're very nervous.  Once you get on the floor and the music turns on, a rush of adrenaline goes through your body,” junior Kaitlin Bereszniewicz says.

Hale and Rachel Morris serve as cheer captains, keeping morale high and lending support to the squad.  Morris and Hale and take spirit and competiveness to the next level.  “I calm everyone's nerves backstage by making them laugh,” Morris says.

Although the captains offer leadership, it takes all 16 members for the team to shine. “Everyone is a star on the squad. It takes all girls to make the routine a hit,” Paurowski says.

The team strengths this year are tumbling, jumps and stunts. Hale believes it takes more than just technique to make a squad. Their friendship makes the squad different from any other.

Cheerleading is a major part of the girls’ lives. It takes hard work, dedication, a strong spirit and energy to make a well-rounded cheerleader. Some feel they live by the words “eat, sleep, cheer.”

Rachel Morris: Cheerleader
by Ally Hellenga and Alexis Cape • photography by Ally Hellenga

Etowah senior Rachel Morris was recently nominated for the Cheerleader of the Year Scholarship in Georgia based on her talent and dedication in cheerleading. She made it into the finals due to her high grade point average and American College Testing scores.

Once in the state finals, Morris performed a two-minute original routine at Columbus State University and received her state ranking for cheerleading.

Throughout the years, Morris has earned many awards for cheer, including Most Spirited, Academic Awards for Football Cheer, Why American Needs Cheerleaders Award and multiple national championships with the Stingrays Cheer Company in Woodstock.

“Not to sound corny, but I honestly love cheerleading. I love competing in front of a huge crowd and in front of the school at football games. I basically just love everything about the sport,” Morris says.

Morris began cheering as a three-year-old. She started taking part in All-Star cheer in first grade. Morris’s talent and skill level has since increased to a superior level.

This year, Morris is on the Etowah varsity competition cheer team, the Etowah varsity football cheer team and the Stingray Allstars Senior Coed Level 5 team. Being active and involved in cheerleading, Morris proves to be an effective captain for the Etowah varsity cheer team.

“I am kind of the motivator,” Morris says. “I convince the team that we can win.”

Morris plans to cheer for a Division I college, either the University of Georgia or Mississippi State University, and will receive a partial scholarship.

While she is looking forward to cheering at college football games, Morris says she has no plans to pursue cheerleading after college.

“The cheerleaders for professional football and basketball are a different style than the kind of cheerleading which I do,” Morris says.

In addition to competing, Morris takes part in community service and school clubs. She is an active member of Beta Club and Math Honors Society, and she is a Relay for Life participant.

For Morris, life is a balancing act between academics, cheerleading and community involvement. Her commitments make her a well-rounded student and athlete.

Eagles Soar To Athletic Success
by Alexis Cape, Laila Goharioon, Ally Hellenga, Morgan Hinchey • photography by Ally Hellenga

Star athletes at Etowah High School have more than just passion for their sport; they have the talent and endurance to compete at a rigorous level which exceeds that of others. Whether on the green or in the pool, these high school seniors take their sport to the next level.

On August 4, 2010, Anders Albertson, Etowah high school senior, shot a double eagle at the Junior Professional Golfers Association Championship in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Albertson is the second golfer in JPGA tournament history to shoot a double eagle, taking him another step toward his dream of becoming a professional golfer.

“It was one of the highlights of my career,” Albertson says. “They are the rarest shot in golf.  They don't come around very often in one's life, so I feel very blessed to have one.”

At the age of 14, Albertson showed enough talent in golf to capture the attention of Georgia Institute of Technology.  Since then, he has been planning to attend in the fall of 2011.

“Georgia Tech is one of the top universities in the country, and to have the opportunity to go there is truly an honor. I hope to play great golf at Georgia Tech and continue to add on to the rich history of the program,” Albertson says.

Albertson, ranked 32nd nationally among junior golfers, remains grounded with the help of his major role model – his father. “My father took me to a driving range when I was younger, and ever since then I have loved the game of golf,” Albertson says.

After playing local courses, Albertson decided to start competing when he was nine. During his golf career, his focus has been to improve his game. Albertson motivates himself by practicing and working hard every day in the hopes of making his way to the PGA tour.   

Albertson not only plays golf with passion, but he studies legendary players such as Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Bobby Jones and Jack Nicklaus.

“I love relying on myself, having all of the blame and all of the glory,” Albertson says.

His success has not only brought him glory, but has also led him to experience courses around the country, including tournaments in Indiana and Hawaii.

Senior Alec Cohen is not only a top Etowah swimmer setting most of the school records, but he is also an accomplished state and national swimmer. Ranked second in the state and fifth in the nation, Cohen, 17, qualified for the 2012 Olympic trials in Nebraska for the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:07:00.

“Along with qualifying for the Olympic trials, I also qualified for the 2010 Speedo Short Course Junior National Championships in three events which will be at Georgia Tech in December –  the 200 IM, 400 IM and 400 freestyle,” Cohen says.

Cohen made the cuts for both the Olympic trials and Junior Nationals at the Southeastern USA swimming sectionals held in Athens, Georgia. The sectionals included highly-ranked swimmers from all over the Southeast.

Cohen’s swimming has allowed him to visit new places and countries. In the summer of 2009, Cohen traveled with a USA team to Israel to compete in an international meet. While there, he won three gold medals for the USA with his lifetime best swims.

“Because of my swimming I know people from all over the country and have made many friends. Making national teams gives me the chance to meet other swimmers and build friendships with them,” Cohen says.

Swim is not just a sport for Cohen, but a way of life. He swims three hours a day six days a week. On Tuesday and Thursday, he gets up at 4:30 a.m. to train before school with his year-round team, the Stingrays. During the high school swim season, he competes in meets for Etowah.

“I swim for the Stingrays year-round, so during Etowah’s swim season I practice with the Stingrays but go to Etowah’s meets. I love them both, but I think I like Stingrays more just because I am closer with the people on my team,” Cohen says.

School is also important to Cohen.  He hopes to swim in college and would like to attend the University of Georgia, Florida State University or Georgia Institute of Technology. He also has been awarded the All-American Award, which goes to an athlete who makes the sport cut and has good grades.

The other swimmers on Cohen’s team are not just his teammates. The team spends so much time together that they all cannot help but be friends. Many of them are also ranked nationally.

A big part of Cohen’s success is his support system.

“For me, my parents and Ian Goss, the Stingrays coach, are the people who have supported me and kept me grounded during the years,” Cohen says.

Swim is an intense sport that requires hard work, determination and lots of training. Cohen has the drive necessary to succeed, and Etowah looks forward to what he will accomplish in the future.