Sequoyah Chiefs Win Deep South Classic, Remain Undefeated
by Lexa Honea • photography by Ray Alexander

On December 28, 2010, the Sequoyah Chiefs participated in the Deep South Classic tournament at Brookwood High School. Ranked fourth in the state with their impressive 11-0 record, the Chiefs hoped to claim a trophy at the end of the tournament – their first since 1996.

The Chiefs faced the Mountain View Bears in the first round of the tournament.  Sequoyah senior point guard Sean Tate came out driving in the paint and went to the free throw line 23 times, where he hit 18-of-23 attempts.  Senior Cullen Roberts followed with a fourth-quarter dunk that erupted into an 8-0 run. Ben Rogers scored seven points with four rebounds and two assists.  The Chiefs went on to win, 60-50.  Tate ended the night with an impressive 29 points while Roberts recorded 13 points and 14 rebounds.  

In the second round, the Chiefs faced a team that ultimately proved to be their toughest opponent, the Sandy Creek Patriots.  When the final buzzer sounded, the Chiefs slid by with a 72-69 win.  Tate had 23 points and Roberts had back-to-back 3-point baskets, ending the night with 19 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Solomon Ajose chipped in 13 points and helped seal the win with clutch free throws late in the game.  Senior Brandon Alexander had seven points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots while senior Zack Chandler had five points and six rebounds.  The Chiefs would head into the championship game the following night.

Eager to support their team, Chiefs fans traveled from Hickory Flat to Snellville for the final game. Approximately 30 Sequoyah students, hoping to add another win to the record, cheered for their fellow classmates. McIntosh High School expected to hand Sequoyah their first loss of the season, but the Sequoyah Chiefs were determined to win the championship. With the help and support of their loyal fans, Sequoyah turned on the heat and cooked the McIntosh Chiefs, 63-50.  Tate again led the team, scoring 23 points and hitting 9-of-10 attempts from the free-throw line. Ajose had 11 points and six rebounds, Roberts had eight points with six rebounds, and Chandler finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Alexander had seven points, seven rebounds and a blocked shot by the end of this intense game.

Tate, averaging 25 points per game, was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Fellow Sequoyah senior Cullen Roberts was also selected for the All-Tournament team.  

As a result of winning the Deep South Classic, the Chiefs moved from fourth to second in state rankings. The team continued its win streak after the tournament and currently holds a 19-0 record, causing Chiefs fans to wonder if their team will go undefeated all season.

Chiefs Cheerleaders Pump It Up
by Sammie Snapp

Sequoyah’s varsity cheerleading team is creating many traditions for future squads. Their hard work and dedication pays off on Friday night. The team consists of 24 talented girls, possessing skills in different areas of the sport which are displayed during games and pep rallies. During pep rallies, the team fires up the crowd by interacting through cheers and chants to get students up on their feet.

Coaching the varsity team has been a wonderful experience for coaches Kasey Barth and Leslie Bentley. “The juniors and seniors work well with one another,” Barth states. “Our captains, Kerri Davis and Lera Gilleland have been great leaders.” Barth and Bentley’s styles of coaching complement each other as they have in previous years. Barth explains that the maturity level of the girls makes her job a lot easier.

Barth describes the reward of coaching as the pride she has in her girls when they perform: “Fans compliment us on the great job the girls are doing and the way that they represent our school.” Recognizing the dedication and spirit of Sequoyah cheerleaders is the greatest honor in coaching the varsity squad.

This year, the cheerleaders were joined by two Chiefs this year to help raise the spirit of the student body during games and pep rallies. Seniors Joey Reynolds and Dillon Adams added a great deal to Friday nights for Sequoyah football.  

Senior captain Kerri Davis describes the responsibilities of leading a squad of 23 hardworking girls: “Lera and I have to teach all of the cheers to the varsity, junior varsity and freshman squads, make the decisions after asking and voting on everything. We have to create new stunts and cheers to teach, and we have to inform every girl what to wear, where to be and what time to be there. We also lead the cheers every Friday night.”

Sequoyah’s biggest football games are against their two rival teams, Creekview and Cherokee. “It is so exciting to cheer for them when we are winning,” Davis remarks. “When we are losing, it’s not as easy to pump up the crowd.”

Getting the crowd pumped during games and pep rallies is important to Sequoyah cheerleaders. “Being on defense at an intense moment makes the crowd go wild,” Davis says, referring to the excitement of a varsity football game. This year, Sequoyah High School’s varsity cheer team added to their line of traditions. They added many different cheers and chants. When witnessing a Sequoyah pep rally, one hears the famous Sequoyah cheer, “Whose house? Our house!” being chanted throughout the gymnasium, exciting everyone in the room.

For Davis, the greatest part of cheering is knowing that she is captain of a squad. She says, “The girls are like my family and I love every second of it.” Perfecting their routines during practice, performing in front of Sequoyah’s entire student body and cheering on the sidelines of a football game, the squad’s passion for their team is reflected in everything they do.

Sequoyah’s Swim Team
by Melissa Raines

The overcrowded, yellow bus stops at its destination.  Far away from Cherokee County, Sequoyah’s swim team arrives to perform. Quickly, the warm-up is executed, and a cheer is bellowed.  The time is theirs as anticipation builds, cool air brushes wet skin and the moment is upon them.

So begins the season for Sequoyah’s 2010-2011 varsity swim team.  This year’s team consists of 47 swimmers, which has some impressive victories thus far.  Sequoyah’s first scrimmage was against the Woodstock Wolverines and the Creekview Grizzlies on November 12 at Gold’s Gym in Woodstock.  This meet ended in an overall first place victory for Sequoyah’s swim team, followed by Woodstock and Creekview, respectively in the final standings.

The next meet was held in Washington Park in Atlanta, which was the Cherokee County Relay Meet.  Unlike normal meets that have individual events as well as relays, this meet was comprised entirely of relays among Cherokee County’s six schools.  Sequoyah’s team placed third overall after Etowah and Woodstock.  Sequoyah swim team coach Nell Hess says, “The win over Woodstock was pretty encouraging, although I know they were missing several girls that are pretty fast. What was a bit more impressive in my book was that we were only about 45 points behind Woodstock overall in the relay meet and we were missing a couple of swimmers. That's not that much when you consider a first place earned 32 points. While I always feel good when we win, I feel great if the swims are fast and we have kids qualify for state.”

The next meet Sequoyah participated in was the Tiger Plunge Invitational at Adairsville High School.  Thirteen teams competed at this meet and Sequoyah won second place overall after a close point gap to North Springs High. Sequoyah’s girls had 382 points while North Springs’ girls earned a narrow win with 383 points.

Athletes are like in many ways when it comes to training and diet, but according to Hess, swimmers are also unique.  She says, “I do find that swimmers are usually very bright, hard working and they tolerate monotony well. They seem to have a lot of patience. After all, who would find staring at the black line on the bottom of a pool for many laps and hours appealing? I think this characteristic separates them from other athletes. Another is the fact that they participate in a sport where breathing isn't always easy to do.”

Sequoyah swim season is off to a great start. The team has already made many accomplishments and it is only just the beginning. Hess remarks, “This year's team has so many wonderful kids on it! It does seem to be a little closer too as I've heard a number of swimmers say that they feel like it's a family. I do think we have gotten faster overall since we have qualified a pretty large group of swimmers for states in the first two meets.  If the first part of the season is any indication, I look forward to this being a very good year for Sequoyah swimming!”

SHS Seniors Set Records
by Lexa Honea

Sequoyah’s hopes of making the state football playoffs for the first time since 2008 were spoiled when Woodland’s offense came out strong in what would be the last game of the regular season for both teams. Although the Chiefs’ season got off to a rocky start with losses in the first two games, they came back to win the next three, which put the team within reach of the post-season. A loss on homecoming night, followed by another loss to Chattahoochee, seemed to only motivate the team to work and play harder.

Determined and headstrong, the Chiefs came back to win the next two games. Their chances of continuing after the regular season still remained intact. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, their last opponent of the season arrived too tough to overcome. With the loss to Woodland on November 5, the chances of making it to the playoffs no longer remained with a 5-5 record.  Sequoyah’s seniors had played their last game.

While the season didn’t end for the Chiefs as planned, two senior standouts didn’t need the postseason to break school records. Sequoyah quarterback Ben Rogers had another outstanding season, breaking the previous school record of 1,000 yards passing with 1,330 total yards passing. The previous record belonged to Rogers’ former coach, Justin Cox. Rogers also tied the record for most passing touchdowns in a single game with four against South Forsyth on October 1.

Rogers’ main target was a fellow senior standout, Brandon Alexander. Although no detailed records were kept per game in the record books, Alexander’s four touchdown receptions are thought to be the most in the team’s history. However, Alexander did surpass a school record for most receiving yards in a single game. He had 230 yards when the horn sounded at the conclusion of the South Forsyth game, breaking the previous record of 167 yards. Alexander ended the season with 585 total receiving yards while averaging 21.7 yards per catch. When Alexander was not on the field catching passes, he was making tackles. He not only made plays on offense but had many game-changing plays on defense as well. He led the team with 73 tackles and four sacks. While on defense, he had three forced fumbles, an interception and a recovered fumble for a touchdown.

While these two outstanding players will not play under the lights of Skip Pope Stadium again, their names will remain forever in the pages of Sequoyah Chiefs football history and in the hearts of loyal Chiefs fans.

Making Baskets
by Amy Feinberg

Clocks change, daylight comes early, and Jack Frost gears up to make his yearly appearance. With the changing weather comes another change that is very important to many students at Sequoyah High School: basketball season. For the basketball players, this year’s practices started long before we all enjoyed an extra hour of sleep. The boys team began conditioning in September with the first official practice occurring October 25 under the watchful eye of head coach Jeremy Adams. The boys have a rigorous practice schedule which includes daily, two-hour practices until the first game, after which they will be able to “back down a little” on practices, according to Coach Adams.

This year will surely be a success for the hardworking players on the team. Coach Adams says he is most excited “just to see how we respond to making the playoffs last year.” He says that he would really like to see qualifying for the playoffs become a tradition for the Sequoyah boys. Coach Adams, who has worked with the Sequoyah boys basketball team for the past 11years, thinks that the team this year will have a very good shot at a repeat performance of last year’s excellent season. “The team has a great group of starters and great team chemistry,” says Adams.

Sequoyah fans are equally excited and looking forward to seeing the first games of the season in hopes of another great season for the much-loved Chiefs. There are currently 13 players who have earned a position on the varsity basketball team. Many of these players have been playing basketball for Sequoyah for several years now and it will be exciting to see the progress of the team during what will, for the seniors, be their last high school basketball season.

Coach Adams searches long and hard to find an adequate way to sum up his hopes for the season and his impression of the team thus far. “We can’t really be defined until we play,” he says. Adams believes that every year, the team develops its own identity that he says tends to come out after playing a couple of games. He says that what really makes a team strong or weak is how it holds up under different situations, such as during game time.

This year, the Sequoyah High School boys basketball team will have a wonderful opportunity to repeat the outstanding accomplishments of last season. The Sequoyah fans will certainly stay dedicated, cheering on the Chief basketball players to victory throughout the season.

Chiefs Cheerleaders Pump It Up
by Sammie Snapp

Sequoyah’s varsity cheerleading team is setting the standard by creating many traditions for future squads to come. Their hard work and dedication during hours of endless practice pays off at the end of the week on Friday nights. The team consists of 24 talented girls possessing skills in different areas of the sport which are displayed not only during games but at pep rallies as well. During the pep rallies, the team fires up the crowd by interacting through cheers and chants to get the students up on their feet.

Coaching the varsity team has been a wonderful experience for both Kasey Barth and Leslie Bentley. “The juniors and seniors work well with one another,” Barth states. “Our captains, Kerri Davis and Lera Gilleland, have been great leaders.”

Barth and Bentley’s styles of coaching complement each other as they have in previous years. Barth explains that the maturity level of the girls makes her job a lot easier. She describes the rewards of coaching as the pride she has in her girls when they perform: “Fans compliment us on the great job the girls are doing and the way that they represent our school,” Barth says.

The cheerleaders were joined by two chiefs this year to help raise the spirit of the student body during games and pep rallies.  Seniors Joey Reynolds and Dillon Adams added a great deal to Friday nights for Sequoyah football.  

Kerri Davis, senior captain of Sequoyah’s varsity cheerleading team, describes the responsibilities of leading a squad of 23 hardworking girls. “Lera and I have to teach all of the cheers to the varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen squads, make the decisions after asking and voting on everything,” says Davis. “We have to create new stunts and cheers to teach, and we have to inform every girl what to wear, where to be, and what time to be there. We also lead the cheers every Friday night.” Sequoyah’s biggest games are against their two rivals, Creekview and Cherokee. “It is so exciting to cheer in them when we are winning,” Davis remarks. “When we are losing, it’s not as easy to pump up the crowd.”

Getting the crowd pumped during games and pep rallies are of major importance to Sequoyah cheerleaders: “Being on defense at an intense moment makes the crowd go wild,” Davis says referring to the excitement of a varsity football game. This year Sequoyah High School’s varsity cheerleaders have added to their line of traditions. One example would be the many different cheers and chants they have added for their team. When witnessing a Sequoyah pep rally, one hears the famous Sequoyah cheer, “Whose house? Our house!” being chanted throughout the gymnasium, exciting everyone in the room.

For Davis, the greatest part of cheering on the varsity is knowing that she has gone so far to be captain of a squad: “The girls are like my family and I love every second of it,” she says. Whether it’s perfecting their routines during practice, performing in front of Sequoyah’s entire student body, or cheering on the sidelines of a football game, this passion for the team is reflected in everything they do.

Girls Basketball: Here We Go Again!
by Colby LaFever

Dr. Rick Bragg had some very positive feedback on his players, starting with senior Lisa Mitchell. Lisa is a two-year starter at the guard position. She has become a Division-I prospect with her ability to shoot three pointers and run the floor on fast breaks. Dr. Bragg calls Mitchell “one of the most dedicated and hardworking players I have ever coached.” In the 2009-10 season, Mitchell was the leading scorer in the second half of the season. She scored 21 points in one game against Cartersville.

Another returning player for the Lady Chiefs is senior Emily Caine, a two-year starter at the guard position. She has a great shooting range and is a very strong defender. Her top scoring games were against Pope and NW Whitfield. She scored 18 points in each of the games. “We have probably never had a shooter in our program with the range Emily has – she can force teams out of a zone very quickly with her ability to shoot from the outside which is what we are counting on her to do for us,” says Bragg.

Brittnee Jones is a junior and a two-year starter. During the 2009-10 season, she set a school record for the rebounds with 413. She had also made First Team, All-County and First Team, All 7-AAAA. Her rebound total last year led the state. Jones was also the leading scorer at 13 points per game. She is hoping to surpass the 1,000 mark for rebounds during the 2010-11 season. By the time she graduates, Jones is hoping to be the leading rebounder not only at Sequoyah but in the State of Georgia. “She is a presence in the post and has a knack for getting to the ball,” says Bragg. “She has a soft touch with the ball and great hands, which also makes her a threat on the perimeter.”

Junior Haleigh Tewksbury is a one-year starter and two-year letter winner. She is a difficult player to guard at her height (6’1”). She can play all five positions on the floor. Haleigh is an excellent outside shooter and at the same time can penetrate or post up. Bragg says “Haleigh’s size makes her really hard to defend. We hope to utilize this mismatch she will cause by isolating her on some of our offenses.”

Emily Ryan is a freshman on the team. She is a tremendous basketball player and has much talent. She can shoot from anywhere on the floor. “Emily has been one of the best pure shooters who has come into our program in a long time,” Bragg says. “As she learns and understands the game at the varsity level, she can become one of the best players we have seen in our program.”

Junior Savannah Turner is another player that will help the team this season. “She is an awesome scoring threat from the outside and sees the floor real well,” says Bragg.

Senior Precious Lane is another player Bragg is counting on to make contribution, to “she how to play the game. She can push the ball up the floor and get it to the right people to give them and our team a chance to score.”

The team has the talent to challenge for a region championship and a nice run in the state tourney. “One of the keys to the season will be how we handle the expectations associated with winning,” Bragg says. “We had a great season a year ago in which our young team surprised quite a few people.  I do not think we will sneak up on anyone this year. If we can handle the burden and responsibility that is associated with winning, we can have a really good season.”

The team hopes to do well in the Region 7-AAAA, but the competition will be tough. “Of the 11 teams in our new region, six made it to the state tourney last year in the region in which they competed,” says Bragg. “All six teams return key players, so the reality is two teams who are going to be good and expecting to play in the state tournament will not even make it out of the region.”

Bragg, who is in his fifth season with the program and sports a 75-30 record, sees Chattahoochee as the team to beat. “They return an outstanding senior class who has experienced tremendous success,” he says. “They have a guard who is one of the best players in the state and is being heavily recruited as well as a dominant post player. I also see Rome, NW Whitfield, Creekview, and Central Forsyth as teams that can make a run in our region and potentially take us out of the state playoff picture.”

To help prepare this year’s team for a difficult region schedule, Bragg geared up the early schedule to get his team ready for region play. “We have not had a more difficult schedule here in years,” he says. “We host the first night of the Cherokee Showcase and play Etowah, who is a top-10 team in AAAAA and who returns most of their lineup from a team that advanced to the second round of the state playoffs. We also play Cherokee and Woodstock in the showcase and we have not been able to compete with either of those teams for some time. We also play a very good Pope team and an excellent Northview team who had the leading scorer in the state from a year ago on their team. Our record may not be real good in November and December, but I hope we can learn from the first half of our schedule what we need to do to compete in the region.”

The team’s defense and rebounding needs to improve, according to Bragg, if the team is going to challenge for a region title. “I do not think putting points on the board will be a problem for us- we have quite a few weapons we can use, but I know a year ago there were quite a few times when in games we lost where we were simply outscored and outworked because our defense and rebounding tended to let us down,” he says. “If our players will understand that defense wins championships and really commit in practice to become better rebounders and defensive players, then the season will be a lot of fun for the team, program, and community.”

Bragg has the following expectations: “We plan to be in a position to compete in every game we play. I have always coached from a perspective that we do not talk about the need to ‘win’ until tourney time. Rather, we look at what we need to do to compete. For us to compete, we need to limit our turnovers, second-chance points by our opponents, and keep the teams we play from going to the free throw line too much. If we can focus on these components of the game, then I feel we can compete with the teams we are set to play.”

Hands Go Up for Competition Cheerleading
by Mary Kate Chandler

The Sequoyah Chiefs varsity competition cheer squad, dedicated to excellence and perfection, is a group of diligent, devoted girls always working to reign victorious. These 14 girls spend 6-12 hours a week working hard and perfecting their routine. Tara Butcher and Sharayah Owens are the skilled captains of this proficient squad. Butcher and Owens keep the girls in line but are always having fun. “Being a captain is completely different because we are responsible for making all the decisions and encouraging all the girls,” says Butcher. “It comes with a lot of responsibilities, but it’s really fun and we like it a lot,” adds Owens. When junior Jenn Maimone was asked about Butcher and Owens, she said, “I love them! I think they’re really strong captains.”

Veronica Blayton is the coach of the varsity competition cheer squad. Blayton is a U.S. history and sociology teacher at Sequoyah High School. Blayton says, “I love coaching competition cheer because they’re the heart of the cheerleading squads at Sequoyah. My favorite part of coaching is helping the girls with their confidence levels, not only in cheer but everyday life.”

Another important contributor to Sequoyah’s competition squad is volunteer Patricia Swart, a former cheerleader who attends Kennesaw State University. She is one of the Young Life leaders for the Sequoyah School District. Swart says, “I knew I wanted to get involved with Sequoyah’s youth and meet some high school girls. Being a volunteer for the team was a perfect way to meet amazing girls with loads of talent. Encouraging the girls and cheering for them at their competitions is my greatest enjoyment.”

In September, the girls received third place at one of their competitions and fourth at another. Sophomore Tija Passely says, “Competing gives me an adrenaline rush. Every time we step onto the floor, I feel empowered.”

One of the features of the Sequoyah competition cheer squad that makes it unique is that it allows freshmen to be on their varsity team; six freshmen make up the 14-girl squad. Freshman Alexa Zorzi says, “It’s fun to work with upperclassmen. The older girls can teach us from their personal experiences.”

Every girl on this squad is an essential part to the whole team. All 14 have a passion for cheerleading and their high school. The girls’ spirit and vigor is what gives them drive to always work and perform their best.

SHS Seniors Set Records
by Lexa Honea

Sequoyah’s hopes of making the state football playoffs for the first time since 2008 were spoiled when Woodland’s offense came out strong in what would be the last game of the regular season for both teams. Although the Chiefs’ season got off to a rocky start with losses in the  first two games, they came back to win the next three, which put the team back within reach of the post season. A loss on homecoming night, followed by another loss to Chattahoochee, seemed to only motivate the team to work and play harder.

Determined and headstrong, the Chiefs came back to win the next two games. Their chances of continuing after the regular season still remained intact. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, their last opponent of the season arrived too tough to overcome. With the loss to Woodland on November 5, the chances of making it to the playoffs no longer remained with a 5-5 record.  Sequoyah’s seniors had played their last game.

While the season didn’t end for the Chiefs as planned, two senior standouts didn’t need the postseason in their quests to break school records. Sequoyah’s quarterback, Ben Rogers, had another outstanding season, breaking the previous school record of 1,000 yards passing with 1,330 total yards passing. The previous record belonged to Rogers’ former coach, Justin Cox. Rogers also tied the record for most passing touchdowns in a single game with four against South Forsyth on October 1.

Rogers’ main target in that game was a fellow senior standout, Brandon Alexander. Although no detailed records were kept per game in the record books, Alexander’s four touchdown receptions are thought to be the most in the team’s history. However, Alexander did surpass a school record for most receiving yards in a single game. He had 230 yards when the horn sounded at the conclusion of the South Forsyth game, breaking the previous record of 167 yards. Alexander ended the season with 585 total receiving yards while averaging 21.7 yards per catch. When Alexander was not on the field catching passes, he was making tackles. He not only made plays on offense, but had many game-changing plays on defense as well. He led the team with 73 tackles and four sacks. While on defense, he had three forced fumbles, and interception, and a recovered fumble for a touchdown.

While these two outstanding players will not play under the lights of Skip Pope Stadium again, their names will remain forever in the pages of Sequoyah Chiefs football history and in the hearts of loyal Chiefs fans.

To the Beat of the Drum
By Miranda Wicker • photography by Sue McIntyre

Aldous Huxley once said, “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” For Sequoyah High School senior Adam James, nothing could be more true.

When Adam was a toddler, Rick and Karen James noticed their son happily played by himself more than their older children had at the same age.  He didn’t babble or point at objects. He didn’t make eye contact.  He would play with the same toy for hours.  His parents and older siblings often had a difficult time engaging him in normal social interactions.  By the time Adam entered school, it was clear that he was socially behind his peers.

Adam’s kindergarten teacher noticed that he had a peculiar habit of drumming on his table. But it wasn’t a random, nervous-energy release like that of other students.  Adam would hold a pencil in one hand and a glue-stick in the other and pretend to play the drums during class.  He developed rhythms, and his parents were told that he had a talent they should explore.

By age seven, Adam was diagnosed with high-functioning autism.

According to the National Institute of Health, autism is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by “social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior.”  These self-stimulating behaviors are often seen as distractive or abnormal.  Adam’s stimulating behavior, drumming, was calming for him. It was and is a way for him to release his emotions when he doesn’t know how to put them into words.  This “stim” was also a bridge to a more normal, less silent world.

Prior to high school, Adam was no stranger to marching band.  When he was in third grade, his older brother Lee joined the band, so Adam spent his Friday nights in the stands watching the Chiefs play and seeing the band perform.  It was during a football game that his family noticed he had lined up Coke cans and had begun to play the drum cadence along with the Sequoyah drum line.

Adam’s proficiency with reproducing their cadence on his make-shift drum set led to lessons.  His parents sought a drum tutor with an understanding of autism. By seventh grade, Adam was ready to join the concert band at Dean Rusk Middle School.  There was no question that he’d become part of the Sequoyah drum line once he entered high school.

Former Sequoyah band director David Harrison says, “It was heartening to see Adam let down his guard in the band room. He was truly at home and comfortable with the drum line.”  One of Harrison’s fondest memories of Adam came after a Spring concert in Harrison’s final year at Sequoyah. In an unusual display of affection, Mr. Harrison “received a huge hug from him last year after one of our concerts and I felt warm all over that Adam included me in his 'comfort zone.’”

Sequoyah percussion instructor Jefferson Doyle says he has been impressed by Adam’s willingness to work hard and his eagerness to please. Current Sequoyah band director Casey Eubanks says that he might not have known Adam was autistic if he hadn’t been told.  “After hearing how much he has improved socially, it is obvious he is a band success story,” Eubanks says. “Band has been good for him.”

Adam, however, says that he likes playing drums because “it’s just a fun thing to do!” During a halftime show, Adam is not “different.” He blends in. He carries his bass drum, marches in step, plays his part, and comes off the field.  In those moments, Adam is just one of the band.
Through music, Adam found a way to express the inexpressible.

Sean Lynch: A Leader in Many Ways
by Sarah Erwin • photography by Drema Mallchok

Sequoyah cross country team captain Sean Lynch has been running since sophomore year.

“I run because I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I finish a hard workout or race,” Lynch says.  “The pain quickly passes and is replaced by a feeling of euphoria at the thought of what you have just put yourself through.”  

His positive attitude encourages everyone on the team to be their best. “I believe I was chosen as captain because of my ability to be a good leader of our team. While I am certainly not the fastest on the team, I feel I am good at motivating my teammates to get better every day.”  

Lynch shines as a leader and motivator in his athletic and academic and careers. A scholar athlete in the top three percent of his class at Sequoyah, Lynch says he is “a student first and a runner second and puts forth 100 percent effort all the time.”  

In those rare moments that he has free time, Lynch likes to hang out with friends, go to the lake, and train to be a better runner.

Lynch is not certain where he will attend college but he does have future plans. “I do know that I want to be an engineer, specifically an Aerospace Engineer,” he says. “I do plan to continue running after high school, but not competitively.”

A Force To Be Reckoned With
by Julia Andretta • photography by Stacey Gibbs

In 2009, the Sequoyah High School Lady Chiefs varsity softball team finished fourth in state in Region 7-AAAA.   Having lost only three seniors, the 2010 Lady Chiefs are shaping up strong.  The team is led by senior Katelynn Howser on first and third bases and on the mound, and senior Jessica Goddard sturdy behind the plate.  Sophomore Liz Prance is impressive as the returning starting pitcher.  Infielders include Missy Perkowski, Courtney Gibbs, Sophia Andretta and Katie Collis.  Covering the outfield are Valerie Box, Hannah Kidd and Katie Vogel.   Playing multiple positions for the Lady Chiefs are Alexa Bennett, Olivia Black and Cara Wallace.

The team strength this year comes from bats – commanding, dependable bats.  The ladies have mighty impressive power with several players hitting the “long ball” on many occasions, including Missy Perkowski, Courtney Gibbs, Sophia Andretta and Olivia Black. But no one comes close to the dominant force of Howser, who has developed into a powerful hitter this year.  Launching six homeruns to date and boasting a batting average of well over .400, Howser will hopefully lead the Lady Chiefs to clinch their region.  Defensively, Prance can deliver the heat to keep this squad on top.  In her second season with the team, Prance is more authoritative and dependable than ever.

With the 2010 season more than halfway over, the Lady Chiefs are steady with a 6-3 record and only one region loss.  They currently stand first in their region and are confident that they will continue to do well enough to remain on top at season’s end.  These swinging softball stars are led by coach Todd Morrissey and assistant coach Tori Brown.

Coach Morrissey wants to aspire to the next level, which is the state tournament in Columbus.  To achieve this goal, Morrissey feels the Lady Chiefs must play out the rest of the season error-free.   “I talk to the players a lot about stability and the importance of playing like we practice,” says Morrisey. “I know they get nervous before big games and realize that this may affect their physical play, but I simply encourage them and help them stay focused.”

The girls are truly more than a team.  They support one another by continually picking each other up when they fall and praising each other when they conquer.  Their parental support is commendable.  Field improvements, running the concession stand, feeding the girls before away games, transportation and maintaining the team website with pictures and stats are only a few things provided by parents. This family commitment and dedication combined with the girls’ talent will continue to tip the scales in favor of the Sequoyah Lady Chiefs softball team.

Bullet in the Water
by Sarah Carnes • photography by Heidi Roy

When one mentions the name Taylor Roy in the swimming realm, people cringe. People flinch. People tremble. Taylor Roy is the “Michael Phelps” of national and local swimming circuits.

A junior at Sequoyah High School, Roy has been swimming since she was nine years old.  Her parents urged her to try swimming to see if she liked it, without knowing the sport would become a lifestyle. The sport would prove to be one she continued to love many years down the road.

“The adrenaline rush I get from racing is my favorite thing about swimming,” says Roy. That gratification keeps her practicing an average of more than 20 hours each week. “I usually swim six to eight miles per week, which is a lot when you think about it,” says Roy, who often swims at the crack of dawn. When many students are waking up for school, Roy is finishing her morning practice.

This past January, Roy competed at the Georgia High School AAAA State Swim meet, where she won first place in two events, the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle. In the 200 freestyle, Roy swam 1:49.51, outracing the second-place finisher by more than three seconds. Swimming the 500 freestyle in 4:52.41, Roy beat competitors by more than six seconds, a notable difference for swimming.

Roy says that she would not be where she is today without the support she constantly receives from her family and Swim-Atlanta coach Mark Minier.

After claiming two state titles and breaking two county records, Roy was awarded a state ring, presented by Sequoyah’s principal, Mr. Elliott Berman, at the first home football game. “I definitely didn’t expect anything for my accomplishments. I just did what I try to do at every meet – win,” says Roy.

Roy is a well-rounded individual. Enrolled in several advanced courses and an extremely talented artist and a music wiz, there is more to Roy than toned muscles and incredible swimming ability. She is a young woman with dreams and aspirations just like any other high school student. While Roy does have hopes of competing in the Olympics, she says, “I just have to trust that whatever happens is supposed to.”

Roy wishes to pursue a teaching career. If the opportunity presents itself, she would like to be a swim coach. “I love swimming, but 20 years from now, there will be other things on my mind,” she says.

While the trophies and kudos symbolize her success as a swimmer—which is a direct correlation to the time she devotes to the sport— Roy also devotes time to regular teenager activities. Because of her jam-packed schedule that features a constant routine of “eat, sleep, swim and school,” when Roy does find free time she relishes it.

“I just like hanging out with my friends and family,” says Roy. “[Swimming] takes up the majority of my time, but every Tuesday night you can find me plopped down in front of the television watching One Tree Hill. Otherwise, you will find me in the pool.”

This summer Roy was invited to attend the Conoco Philips National Championship in Irvine, California, a tournament for the best swimmers in the nation. Swimming sensations such as Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Natalie Coughlin were there. “One morning I was eating breakfast three feet from Michael Phelps,” says Roy.

Roy considers swimming to be much more than a sport. She doesn’t “participate” in the sport. She lives it. She breathes it. Crossing another finish line and making additional records is not something in the past for Roy – it’s something she’s going to be doing for many years in the future.

Back In Black
by Julia-Alyssa • photography by Julia-Alyssa

As a whole, the Sequoyah volleyball program has repeatedly proven itself to be an outstandingly decorated team, just last year earning their current rank of eighth in state.  Prior to his departure for Georgia State, coach Kelly Audia completed his 13-year Sequoyah volleyball career as 2009 Coach of the Year.   Following this abundant success however, unavoidable and possibly unrealistic precedents have arisen.  How will the 2010 roster cope with substantial expectations to live up to last year’s success?  Will Sequoyah be able to re-establish its pending status by the year’s final games?

There is one theme driving the Lady Chiefs to perform with the excellence they have shown in the past: persistence.  This simple word became the team’s core motto as new head coach John Edwards took the reins. Their practice jerseys reinforce the importance of a central goal by proclaiming the word on each player’s back. Every time a player sees a teammate in Sequoyah’s War Lodge, she is reminded of the inspiration that unifies the team.

Individually, each player is outstanding, but the Lady Chiefs have to learn to play as a team if they are going to exceed last year’s level of play.  Their differences in ability heighten the team’s potential. Despite having a new player transfer to Sequoyah from rival Creekview, veteran middle blocker Carley Roberts happily admits there is an established bond between players.

Roberts and her teammates step off the practice courts and into the new season with the determination to continue their persistence in the gym.  Will the Sequoyah volleyball program be able to make their way to the 2010 state competition?  Their intensity during practice and continuous positive attitude may foreshadow the results of the inevitable challenge ahead.  In the words of Paul “Bear” Bryant, "It is not the will to win that counts – everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters."