News: 2-4 Opinions: 5-7 Features: 8-12 Sports: 13-17 Reviews: 18-20

the Sword & ShieldVol. L No. 2 Mountain Brook High School December 14, 2015

By JULIA JANE DUGGANStaff Writer

Elizabeth Leitner, a sophomore, was recently crowned Miss Olympian 2015. A dancer from age two, Leitner joined a dance company in third grade and has been dancing competitively ever since. “I wanted to be in the pageant to show off my talents and wanted to make new friends because I heard the pageant is a lot of fun,” said Leitner. The basic qualifications for entering the com-petition include a love for service, love for others, and talent, all of which Leitner exceeds upon in performance. “The best part of being in the pageant was the audience,” Leitner said. “They were really sup-portive and that was always fun when you were done; they cheered really loudly.” Leitner was nervous during the competition. “I was so worried I was going to trip in my dress. My dress was huge, I had the only blue one and thought I was going to fall, but I didn’t.” Despite fears of tripping and nerves about performing, overall “the experience was more fun than stressful because everyone was nervous to do their best but no one was worried about winning,” she said. “Everyone was there to have fun and make friends.” Her prep for the competition included learning her solo dance and having one meeting with her ballet teacher to help her prepare for evening wear and the interview. For her contemporary dance number, Leitner chose the song “Station” by Lapsley. When asked how the pageant compared to other competitions she has been

involved in, Leitner said, “Well, usually when I go to dance competitions, ev-eryone’s there doing the same thing; we’re all there to dance. But with this, I’m competing against seniors and then also the interview aspect is different and evening wear.” Other Mountain Brook students who placed include 1st runner up Frances Gaut; 2nd runner up Emily Donahue; 3rd runner up Kathryn Sours; and 4th runner up Meghan Beck. Sarah Gladney was awarded Miss Congeniality.

Photo courtesy of Russ VandelveldeElizabeth Leitner shines on stage upon winning the 2015 Miss Olympian Pageant.

Photo courtesy of Russ VandelveldeElizabeth Leitner is crowned by last year’s winner, Sophie Brint.

The Olympian Pageant Staff

Kaylyn Greene and Caroline Shea, Directors of

Production

Carlton CooperCharlotte TurnerMadeline TurnerCaroline Cross

Libby LawVirginia Peak

Ellie Polk

Frances MorrisAnnie LoveladyVirginia Cain

Janie CreightonEmily Barber

Virginia WinnElizabeth Gillespy

Sponsors: Jill McGee andBrooke Hawkins

Retired Sponser: Martha Hudson

INSI

DE → New band director, page 4

→ Hoverboards trend, page 7→ Holiday crossword puzzle, page 11→ Church League basketball, page 13→ Four-wheeling trails, page 20

Miss Olympian Pageant 2015Elizabeth Leitner wins the crown

Happy Holidays from The Sword & Shield

2news The Sword & ShieldMonday, December 14, 2015

Holiday events around town for all agesBy NATALIE READ

Staff Writer

Many people our age spend their holiday times indoors, fearing going outside in the cold weather and being seen at events that are labeled as “childish.” But we encourage you to ignore those people and temperatures and make your way to one of the many festivals, shows, and parties hap-pening in Birmingham. Birmingham is a bustling city, and a lot is happening this holiday season. On Dec. 3, Red Mountain started its annual “Holiday Spectac-ular” show. It lasts through Dec. 20 and features “A big variety of songs this year that will even have a twist in them to represent our hometown,” said sophomore Blake Fields, member of the Red Mountain performing ensemble. Many other Mountain Brook students are also featured in the show, which is always popular with all ages. The Jingle Bell Run is another Birmingham favorite. Coming Dec. 12 at Railroad Park, it is a 5k, 1k, or Santa Chase, open to all ages. The event will also provide music, food, drinks, a warm-up with Santa, and activities for everyone to enjoy. The race gets its name from the fact that the run-ners are encouraged to don their best jingle bells and make it as festive as possible. All proceeds raised will go towards the Arthritis Foundation, so you’ll be running for a good cause.

Always a popular favorite, “The Nutcracker” has made its way back into the BJCC. It is being performed Dec. 12-13 and is a show you don’t want to miss. It’s the show’s 20th anniversary, and the Birmingham Ballet is eager to share the breathtaking story with its beloved city once more. Junior Emily Ferguson said, “I always love going to The Nutcracker because no matter how many times you see it, it will never get old. The Nutcracker is one of those shows that really makes it feel like Christmas.” The ballet features whimsical dancing, aerial ballet and exciting charac-ters. Tickets to the show are available for purchase online. There are some holiday classics that will never get old, no matter how old you get. One of those is the ZooLight Safari at the Birmingham Zoo. It began Dec. 4, and runs until the 31st. It transforms the zoo into a winter wonderland, featuring over a million lights. The event features a Candy Cane Train, Jingle Bell Carousel, Yuletide Slide, story time for all ages,

animal demos, a hayride and an all new ice skating rink. Be-come captivated by even more lights, this time on a Christmas tree because each night at 6 p.m. you can watch them light the 30-foot tall tree. And Santa comes to visit each night until Dec. 23. According to sophomore Anne Heaton Sanders, “The train and the carousel are really fun whether you’re in elemen-tary, middle or high school!” Tickets are $8 at the door, with additional costs for the train ride and ice skating. You may have seen the theatre in downtown Birming-ham, donned with a large, lit up sign reading “Alabama.” Well that dusty landmark truly comes alive with holiday spirit

this year. Starting on Dec. 11, the Alabama theatre will be showing all the truly classic movies during their annual Alabama Theatre Holiday Film Series. Such movies as “It’s a Wonderful Life, ” “Christmas Vacation, ” “Elf, ” “Home Alone, ” and “The Polar Express” will be shown on various nights. It is a remarkable experience to watch these movies in a theatre that dates back to 1926. You are transported into the storyline of each film. You can go with your family, friends, or just by yourself. Any experi-ence will be worth it. Tickets are $8 and available for purchase online. Be sure to truly embrace the holidays this season and remember there is no age limit on seasonal fun.

Photo courtesy of Google ImagesRunners participating in the Jingle Bell Run cross the finish line.

Photo courtesy of Google ImagesBallerinas return to the stage to perform “The Nutcracker.”

Photo courtesy of Google ImagesMembers of Red Mountain dazzle the stage in their annual performance.

3newsMonday, December 14, 2015The Sword & Shield

Published authors take the prize in variety of competitionsBy JAKE SANSOM

Staff Writer

Recently, several students from MBHS have created not one, not two, but three publications. Why the sudden surge of initiative? Surprisingly, none of the three are related. The publication season began last year when senior Angela Fu submitted a short story to a contest hosted by the popular magazine “Teen Ink. ”Her story began as a personal narrative, written as a part of Ms. Catherine Lowe’s 11th grade AP English Language class. “Ms. Lowe suggested that I send it off to a competition,” said Fu. “And that gave me the idea to just send it off to a magazine to see what would happen.” Just a couple weeks later, Fu got back the results she had hoped for: she had won the annual contest for travel and culture with her story about people-watching on airplanes. Soon after Fu was senior Jennifer Lauriello, who authored the book “Eliza.” Lauriello said, “In November there’s a program called National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) where you write a novel in 30 days.” Inspired by the chal-lenge, Lauriello got to work, writing over 1,000 words a day to keep up with her quota. “It was a lot of work,” she commented, “but it paid off because somehow I finished.” Knowing that she had written a novel, Lauriello’s English teacher Mr. Peter Perez came to her with the idea to enter a contest hosted by Books-A-Million. The contest called for any work of fiction at least 20 pages long written by a high school student in Birmingham. Lauriello submitted “Eliza” and was awarded second place, giving her the opportunity to sell her book in the Brookwood Mall Books-A-Million and online. “Mr. Perez actually came down to my history classroom and told me to check my email. It was really exciting,” Lauriello said. In addition to Lauriello, the Muse Staff of 2014-2015 submitted an entry to Books-A-Million’s contest. The Muse, a class where students participate in week-ly writing exercises, is designed to foster creativity and improve writing skills.

After Mrs. Denise Trimm, the Muse teacher, brought up the idea of entering the contest, the entire class pitched in. Senior Adelaide Kimberly said, “it was a collection of short stories and poems and even some photography.” Books-A-Million ended up awarding the book, appropriately titled “The Muse, ” third place in the contest. “It was a lot of work just trying to put it together . . . it shows that dedication really does pay off,” said Kimberly. When asked about the experience of being published, all three of them had positive responses. “What did I get out of it? I guess just more confidence in my writing abilities,” responded Fu. “It was really exciting to actually say, ‘Wow, this is my book!’” commented Kimberly. Lauriello even remarked, “I would recom-mend this to anyone even though it was stressful at times because it was totally worth it.”

Photo by Jake Sansom“Eliza” and “The Muse” on display in front of the printing machine at Books-A-Million

4news The Sword & Shield

By THOMAS COONEYNews Editor

The Mountain Brook High School Band has new energy, lofty goals and major travel plans in the coming years under new leadership. After 13 years, Dr. Frank Blanton stepped down last year, and now Jason Smith hopes to move the band in a new direction. “I wanted to bring a heightened energy and excitement to the program,” said Smith. Smith has no lack of experience. He has worked with the Western Carolina University Band, the En-terprise High School Band and was Director of Opelika High School Band. Smith said, “It was time to give someone else the opportunity in Opelika...and Mountain Brook is a great school system.” While Smith has plans to revamp the program, he admired Dr. Blanton’s teaching style. “I’ve known him for a long time and you get a sense of profes-sionalism and musicianship that not a lot of bands get, and that’s why these kids play so well,” said Smith.

“The door is always open if kids need someone to talk to if its musical or life related. Ultimately, I’m a band director, but I’m a teacher too. I’m here to guide kids through anything.” Smith and the students have adjusted well to the change. “The adjustment period was a pleasant one. The students definitely had to get used to how fast I talk and the fact that I hold my kids responsible for many things that maybe they’ve never been account-able for,” Smith said.

Smith has wasted no time in elevating the program. This year the band has competed in two separate marching band competitions, taken first place and received a superior rating in every category. The MBHS Band has also been invited to play at the 75th Pearl Har-bor Anniversary Memorial in Hawaii next year. In addition to the trip to Hawaii, the band is also participating in the Holiday Parade, Band Holiday Concert and the Fine Arts Holiday Concert. With one football season under his belt, Smith is just getting started. His theme of “Going Back to Cali” during the halftime show, complete with the dancing shark, is indicative of Smith’s wit and style. “I thought the Cali show was a fun show to perform, and I looked forward to it every Friday because the crowd was always interested,” said

Dorian Mary Fletcher Snow. Smith has big plans for this program and hopes to have some fun with his students along the way.

Photo by Thomas CooneyJason Smith and the MBHS Band prepare for the upcoming concert season.

Jason Smith hits a high note as new band director

Monday, December 14, 2015

5The Sword & Shield OpinionsOUR VIEW

Sid Ortis: One person can make a difference

Strength grows and builds and multiplies. A show of character and quiet strength has the power to change atti-tudes and perspective. It deep-ens the understanding and appreciation for human life. It is often easy to dismiss the power of character. In a world that values physical, tangible results and evidence, it seems corny to assume that displays of character could impact someone’s life. But those who were witness to the strength of the late Sid Ortis understand the power of quiet fortitude. As we approach the new year, we are increasingly aware of the brevity of our time here at the high school. Our actions will undoubtedly impact our peers; the question is whether we take control of that impact.

Will our actions and words prove insignificant to our peers or positively shape their view of the world? We are given time and experiences, and we have the responsibility of decid-ing how to use that time and those experiences. Our character leaves an imprint on those around us, and we ultimately choose whether to accept the responsibil-ity of defining that imprint or leave it to chance. Moments, hours and days often seem insignificant, even disposable. But we are all too aware of how brief life can be. This understanding redefines the value of a moment, a conversation, an interaction. With this understanding, we are forced to face the reality: my life is more than mine to live. As we approach the holidays, we all should remember that each of us can make a difference. In his short life, Sid Ortis certainly did.

The Sword & ShieldCo-Editor-in-Chief: Coke Matthews

Co-Editor-in-Chief: Mathilde SharmanArt & Photography Editor: Cole Summersell

News Editor: Thomas CooneySports Editor: Will Davis

Features Editor: Angela FuOpinions Editor: Jeffrey JonesReviews Editor: Patrick Doud

Business Manager: Jackson Sharman

Staff WritersSponsors: Ms. Catherine Lowe and Mr. Peter Perez

Letters to the Editors PolicyThe Sword & Shield welcomes Letters to the Editors from its readers. We re-serve the right to edit any letters for grammar, length, or libel; however, the meaning will be preserved. Whenever possible, changes made with a letter will be discussed with the author prior to publication. All letters must be signed, but

names may be withheld upon request. Email letters to mbhsgosands@student.mtnbrook.k12.al.us

Alex DebrugeJulia Jane Duggan

Carter EnnisJack Kennedy

Margaret KennedyLeigh Lewis

Caroline LoweNatalie ReadLily Smith

Emma TaylorAnn McQueen Whatley

The Sword & ShieldMountain Brook High School

3650 Bethune DriveMountain Brook, AL 35223Telephone: (205) 414-3800

Fax: (205) 969-8113

Printing made possible byAlabama Web Press

1793 Eva RoadCullman, AL 35055

Telephone: (256) 734-5104

By JEFFREY JONESOpinions Editor

It is 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 19. I have been awake for 5 hours, and the school climate indicates a forecast of 13 hours to go. For anyone interested in the math, assuming I wake up at the same time tomorrow, I can expect roughly 6 hours of sleep. Today is just an average Thursday, certainly not exceptional for me, and probably not exceptional for many if not most of my peers. In her presentation at the first ever All In Mountain Brook student confer-ence, Dr. Mary Halsey Maddox, M.D., recommended an average of 9 hours and 15 minutes of sleep for optimal performance for adolescents ages 15-17. She continued by saying that 56 percent of teenagers average 7 hours or less, and that extended sleep deprivation of 2 hours or more results in cognitive function of someone with a blood alcohol content of 0.1%. The result: about half of teens in the United States are driving around, attend-

ing school and living life sleep-drunk. While I do find this conclusion a bit melodramatic, I am not refuting the validity of these statistics. However, I do question the usefulness and practicality of implementing such a regimine from the students’ perspective. Students, like the rest of the population, contend with a myriad of interests all vying for our time commitments. We value taking challenging classes, partici-pating in extracurriculars, maintaining some semblance of a social life, and yes, even sleeping. The problem doesn’t stem from ignorance or indifference con-cerning the benefits of increased sleep; it stems from our willingness to prioritize other interests over biological ones. The perceived gravity of the situation has led the American Academy of Pediatrics to officially support a school start time of 8:30 a.m., yet less than one in five schools nationally have adopted their suggestion. While a later start time might sound attractive initially, it would ultimately fail to resolve the issue. Add-ing 30 more minutes of morning sleep would inevitably be lost as 30 less min-utes of night sleep. Furthermore, a foreseeable negative consequence would be that extracurriculars would start and end later. Sports teams would be forced to practice at later hours when players are more drowsy and with even less daylight during winter months. Most importantly, it fails to address the root cause that has perpetuated the sleep problem. Students cannot afford to fail classes, quit the activities they love or sacrifice relationships with friends to accrue a few more hours of compara-tively less vital sleep. Living with sleep deprivation is not a deliberate choice, but rather the un-avoidable byproduct of numerous, unchangeable environmental factors that prohibit optimal sleeping patterns. We must not train ourselves to fret excessive-ly concerning our general lack of sleep. As a class, there is something to be said for the self-sacrificing culture evidenced by our dedication to our involvements at the possible expense of ourselves.

Don’t lose sleep over the sleep problem

Monday, December 14, 2015

Photo courtesy of Scott OrtisA champion of faith and hope, Sid Ortis galvanized his community.

6 The Sword & ShieldOpinions

By MARGARET KENNEDY

Staff Writer The U.S. consumes enough water bottles each year to wrap around the Earth 190 times. I know we’ve all probably heard that fact too many times to count, but if you really think about it, this has terri-fying implications. Sure, the bottles could wrap around the world, but they don’t so what’s the problem? The problem is that an insane amount of water bottles are piling up somewhere. They may not be locking the Earth

in chokehold, but they are filling up landfills and releasing harmful chemicals into the soil. As the younger generation obsessed with per-sonal health and wellbeing, it is our job to promote

greener living for ourselves and our environment. Throwing an aluminum can or plastic water bottle into the garbage may be just another thing you have to do on your way to class, but that simple action can wreak havoc on an ecosystem. Aside from taking up space, that soda can you mindlessly tossed into the trash can take anywhere from 200 to 500 years to decompose. Throughout that span of multiple centuries, your Coke can releases harmful toxins into the soil. These chemicals can affect crops and become harmful to humans and ecosystems alike. Some poor child could get terribly sick because you, a student at Mountain Brook High School, are too lazy to walk a

few more feet to a recycling bin. Unlikely, right? Actually, according to a 2012 study, good old Alabama is ranked third in the na-tion in the release of cancer causing chemicals into waterways. Now that we’ve all been coached up a little on the effects of failing to take proper care of the environ-ment, we need to figure out how to work together and make recycling a priority for MBHS. As much as we love to blame the administration or other facul-ty members, they work hard on making sure their efforts are focused on the interest of the students. We have to make it clear that we, as students, support greener living. Many people have said they would recycle if it were more convenient. If we express interest in making recycling bins more accessible and take the initiative to organize a program, the administration will listen. They are here for us, and we should be there for the environment.

Go Green, Spartans!

Why are MBHS service clubs so selective?

By LEIGH LEwISStaff Writer

Last year I spent over an hour filling out my Interact application, so when I found out I was not accepted, I was a bit upset. I then had a couple of friends apply to Key Club, and when they did not get in, I began questioning the clubs’ application processes. Why is it that two clubs with a purpose of serv-ing the community are so exclusive? Wouldn’t more people in the club only lead to more of an impact? In order to answer these questions, I gathered information on each club’s application process from the sponsors of both clubs (Mr. Jesse Tilton and Mrs. Katrina McGuire). Interact and Key Club’s applications are similar in that they both require personal information about the student applying, along with at least one essay. Both applications ask students to suggest practical service projects for the clubs to take a part in. The applications effectively assess each student’s true interest in serving the community. Although both applications are similar, the clubs have different review processes. For example, Inter-act applications remain anonymous, while Key Club applications do not. According to Key Club sponsor, Tilton, current members of Key Club actually look at the students applying and consider who the student is when evaluating applications. Key Club’s goal in doing this is to learn about the applicants to deter-mine if they will be a good fit for the club.

The problem is that human nature leads current members to choose their friends to be in the club. Putting names on Key Club applications invites an unconscious bias into the selection process. After learning the general information on each application process, I proceeded to gain insight on the number of people accepted into each club and why each club is so exclusive. Both Interact and Key Club have a set number of people that can be accepted into each club: 100 for Key Club and 120 for Interact. As we have close to 1,000 students in our school, most people will not be able to be in either service club simply because such a small number of spots are available. I wanted to know why Interact and Key Club do not accept anyone willing to serve the community. The only reason I was given was that too many people would make the clubs unmanage-able, and therefore less effective, so a limit had to be put in place.

Although the clubs may be less manageable, technol-ogy could help overcome this barrier. Student leaders can coordinate service projects with texting and group chats along with apps, such as Remind and GroupMe. In addition to low acceptance numbers, ser-vice club acceptance policies cause upcoming 11th and 12th graders to have a lower chance of being accepted. As 12th graders graduate, the clubs give most of these newly available spots to upcoming 10th graders. Because students at the Junior High are not exposed to the existence of these clubs, few incoming freshman apply. These students then apply as upcoming 11th graders, but because not many are accepted both clubs lose many students who might have been perfect for either club. Both Interact and Key Club take part in success-ful service projects, but both clubs could increase productivity with greater exposure and expanded membership.

“As the younger generation obsessed with personal health and wellbeing, it is our job to

promote greener living.”

Monday, December 14, 2015

Photo by Caroline LoweInteract club members raise the walls of a Habitat home.

7OpinionsThe Sword & Shield

By ANN MCQUEEN wHATLEYStaff Writer

As I drive up the street into my neighborhood, I see them. There in the dead center of the street are two boys, eyes glued to their phones, standing on their hoverboards. Slightly infuriated, I slowly creep towards them in my car, waiting for them to notice me, so they will get out of my way. Once they finally look up, they glance at me then stare back down at their phones and roll an inch toward the side of the road. Giving up, I swerve around them and continue up the road. Hoverboards have begun to take over the streets. A hoverboard is a self-sta-bilizing, motorized vehicle that is operated by standing on it and leaning for-ward, backward or to the side to steer it in the direction that you want it to go. Instead of walking, biking or skateboarding, people everywhere are now riding hoverboards. Or, like the boys in my neighborhood, instead of riding hover-boards they are standing on them, playing on their phones, using the exact same amount of energy it takes to sit on the couch. Sitting on the couch is much cheaper than buying a hoverboard though. Why would someone buy an expensive item like a hoverboard, when they can buy a much more affordable bike, scooter or skateboard that accomplishes the exact same thing? The most inexpensive hoverboard is over $200 and the highest priced hoverboard is an IO Hawk, priced at $1,800. This means you are spending anywhere from $200 to nearly $2,000 on a board with two wheels and a motor attached to it. Forget the damage to your wallet though and look at the long-term dam-age hoverboards can have on a person’s health. Hoverboards only feed people’s laziness. It is just too easy to hop on a machine that will do all the work instead of using energy yourself. Walking, biking and skateboarding are slowly going out the window as hoverboard-users move closer towards the appearances of the un-healthily overweight people seen in the Pixar movie Wall-E. Junior Ann Chap-man Haynes also noticed this problem of laziness. “Yesterday I saw my neighbor ride 50 feet to get his mail on a hoverboard.” It comes down to the simple fact that in order to be healthy one must at least get the basic exercise that comes with walking, biking or skating places, whether long or short distances, and if everyone is “hoverboarding” around everywhere who is actually moving their body and getting this exercise? An average hoverboard weighs between 22 to 25 pounds, is about 2 or 3 feet, and is basically just a flat board. This makes it pretty hard to store assuming

that you do not want your $200-$2,000 glorified skateboard to get stolen. How and where are you supposed to store it when you are on the go, which I would assume you always would be with a hoverboard? Also, there is the added worry that you could be hoverboarding from place to place as it loses its 6 hour battery charge leaving you to what? Walk? Oh no! Recently, hoverboards have even been made illegal in New York City. Ac-cording to the NYPD, they have been outlawed because they are motor vehicles that cannot be registered. People will even be fined up to $200 if they are caught riding hoverboards on New York City sidewalks. If you desperately have to hov-erboard though, they are still allowed in parks. In the end, hoverboards are just one example of how our world is becoming too dependent on technology. The people standing on hoverboards, playing on their phones, are taking over the streets. Nothing positive can come out of decreased exercise and spending hundreds of dollars on a machine that does the exact same thing as a bike, scooter and skateboard. Finally, while hoverboards are new, fun and exciting, they are ultimately pointless and get in the way of good health, budgets and people just trying to drive down the street.

Hoverboards: “Back to the Future” predicted this new trend

Photo by Ann McQueen Whatley

The average hoverboard, as seen above, is taking over the streets.

Photo by Ann McQueen Whatley

Forest Whatley motors around his neighborhood on his hoverboard.

Monday, December 14, 2015

8 The Sword & ShieldFeaturesBy ANGELA FU and EMMA TAYLOR

Features Editor and Staff Writer

For many seniors the near future holds the scariest decisions of their lives. A select few seem to have it together, and the superlative “Most Likely to Succeed” asks the senior class to identify those few. While most senior superlatives such as “Most School Spirit” and “Best All Around” give a glimpse at the present, “Most Likely to Succeed” looks to the big, scary thing called the future. For once seniors have a chance to look up from their busy lives and envision the future. Most Likely to Succeed forces students to foresee a person’s future accomplish-ments. This begs the question “Are people voted ‘Most Likely to Succeed’ actually successful later in life?” For Cacky Sullivan Oztekin, winner of the title in 1978, the answer was a resounding “yes.” Oztekin, now the CFO of Kent Corporation, found success rather quickly. While studying at Emory, she noticed how difficult it was to see her friends. “You couldn’t happen upon the local pub and know that your buddies were going to be there. So I daydreamed of my friends and opening a place in Atlanta where we always knew that’s where our friends would be, so we didn’t have to try and organize that.”

A few years later, after moving home to Birmingham, she brought that dream to life in the form of Cacky’s, now known as Otey’s. “I thought, ‘What’s the perfect neighborhood around here that doesn’t have a bar?’ and it was Crestline. It was safe, it was secure, and most of my friends all live around there, so that’s where I opened it. It was Cacky’s, the neighborhood pub.” Even with the rapidly transforming times of today, Oztekin remains firm in her resolve to lead a successful life.

Back in her day there were few academic barri-ers separating successful student leaders from the senseless slackers. According to Oztekin, “It was less segregated by your ambition level. Everyone was pretty even. Unless you knew some-one who was taking a language or physics and chemistry and all that, you really didn’t know if they were ambitious or not whereas now, it seems like, ‘Oh, you’re all AP?’ We didn’t have that sort of thing at all.” Now, however, with the rise of Advanced Place-ment classes at Mountain Brook, the social culture at Mountain Brook is much more competitive. Seniors Helen Catherine Darby and Leo Styslinger, the two voted Most Likely to Succeed this year, both admitted to feeling the pressure. Styslinger added that five minutes after he had won, he received a congratulatory text from his father that “goes on for quite a good bit about how this is a big responsibility, and I need to live up to it.” However, any impending pressure was temporarily forgotten in the excite-ment of the moment. “I was really excited. I was kind of surprised, but it was very flattering that everyone in our grade voted,” said Helen Catherine Darby. In the meantime, both seniors are refining future plans and narrowing down college choices. Darby said, “I want to go somewhere up north in a big city, hopefully meet a lot of people and make a bunch of connections. I don’t really know what I want to do either. I don’t want to go into anything medical, so maybe business school or law school after college. I haven’t really decided. I have to figure out what I like the most.” While Styslinger also isn’t sure where he wants to spend the next four years, his post-college plans are a bit more definite. “I still don’t know where I am going, but maybe after that I might want to try to go to Harvard Business School and after that, maybe a job.... And then of course Presi-dent of the United States is a given.”

Does high school decide who succeeds?

Photo courtesy of The OlympianDarby and Styslinger dress for success.

Photo courtesy of The Olympian Oztekin was bound to succeed from the start.

Monday, December 14, 2015

9The Sword & Shield FeaturesChristmas on a budget: Best thrift store options

By ALEX DEBRUGEStaff Writer

Budget cuts at Santa’s workshop? No problem! This Christmas season, you can treat your friends and family to some very fascinating gifts, all while saving yourself some cash. First, many people are obsessed with the latest electronics. Why, you ask yourself, would you even think of buying someone a new piece of gadgetry that has not been proven yet when you can buy, say, a fine VCR that has stood the test of time? Available at yard sales and thrift stores alike, the VCR is a fine tool both for watching “A Christmas Story” and making a bootlegged copy of the same movie. When choosing a VCR, search for models that appear to have been gently used and be absolutely certain that the device in question was manufac-tured in Japan, due to that nation’s superior quality control techniques. Maybe Mom needs a coat. It simply doesn’t make sense to spend hundreds of dollars on a new Patagonia or North Face when, once again, the trusty thrift store can offer up a teal-and-purple ski jacket that hails from the early ‘90s. May-be Dad needs yet another tie. Ties of unique design have hit the bottom of their

depreciation curve, often selling for less than $2. From ties featuring snowflakes to Santa Claus, thrift store ties never disappoint. Nothing helps a cold winter day like a cup of hot cocoa. Of course, that cocoa is pretty useless if you lack a mug to pour it into. Recently, mugs have gone on sale at Lovelady Thrift for a paltry 25 cents, meaning that you can take home enough mugs for the family for less than a single paper cup of cocoa at Star-bucks. These aren’t just any mugs either. They often advertise arthritis medica-tions or the 1996 Olympics or even bygone stores such as Parisian. How about a microwave? This item alone can bring the family countless hours of enjoyment, whether it involves making popcorn before watching Elf for the umpteenth time or stuffing it with calculators and tinfoil and then watching the sparks fly. Microwaves can be picked up for around $10 and are surprisingly tough, being able to endure both open flame and outdoor elements for extended periods of time. Regardless of what you decide to buy, you will certainly save big at thrift stores.

Photo by Cole SummersellDebruge’s VCR stands proudly, perched atop a microwave, accompanied by a fine Christmas tie

Monday, December 14, 2015

10 The Sword & Shield

By ANGELA FU and EMMA TAYLORFeatures Editor and Staff Writer

Debate? Like a heated discussion between two people, right? Most high school students only have a vague idea of what a debate looks like, let alone what the High School Debate team does when they practice tirelessly and travel cross-country to compete. How do they do it all? With lots of help from their head coach, Ms. Liz Wood Weas, as well as their three new assis-tant coaches, Lee Quinn ‘ll, Lee Mallette ‘10, and Kary Reynolds ‘14, all of whom competed on the team within the past seven years. Most parents would agree arguing is a waste of time. However, with predetermined topics and piles of carded evidence, debate takes on an intellectual aspect and shapes the minds of young people. According to Mallette, once captain of the team, “The ideas you are exposed to in debate also help you form your philosophy on life.” Wow. Hard to see high schoolers thinking about much more than their latest Instagram post or Snapchat story. The biggest advantage of alumni coaches is their ability to relate to teenagers during a time when they do not always listen to adults. “I’m not that much more mature than y’all are, so I don’t feel as if I’m totally disconnected from you situation,” said Quinn, a current law student at Alabama and a recent graduate of Wake Forest University, where he debated all four years. Unlike other varsity athletics, debaters aren’t on the track every day or in the weight room. You’ll find them hard at work in the Social Stud-

ies hall, discussing something different nearly every practice. There’s never a dull day because in a room full of passionate people, there’s bound to be a fierce discussion or two. It’s this kind of energy assistant coach Quinn channels into his instruction. “The biggest obstacle is trying to make y’all care. Trying to make y’all want, on your Fri-day night, to do debate work, which is next to

impossible. Putting that fire in y’all, making y’all care about debate.” Practice begins 8th period and lasts until the coaches head back to Tuscaloosa, where all work or attend school. It’s hard to believe anyone, young or old, would willingly spend time with unpredictable teenagers. Yet somehow, these coaches have found a way to make a lasting impression. “Whenever we come out of rounds, they’re always there. We can talk to them about what went wrong and what went right and just really reflect on how we did,” said sophomore Jack Smith T. As students and citizens of Alabama, the suc-cess of our debate team goes far beyond bring-ing home trophies and awards. “Getting beat by a kid from Alabama in de-bate changes some kids’ perspectives on South-eastern ignorance. It looks great for the state of Alabama as a whole when we field a nationally competitive debate program, and it does a lot to check back against prejudicial and essentialist statements about the ignorance of the South,” said Quinn. Quinn knows a lot about that. He won numerous national tournaments and qualified for the Tournament of Champions, arguably the most competitive debate tournament of the year, all three years of high school. In a state focused on its debate programs, there’s less attention shed on false stereo-types and more time spent on developing new thoughts and ideas. After all, according to Mallette, “Teenagers are great. They have ideas that no one else in the world would think of and they’re not afraid to express them.”

Former nationally-ranked debaters return to coach

Features

Photo courtesy of Coach Lee QuinnCoach Quinn preps for the prestigious ACC Debate Championships.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Wood WeasCoach Lee Mallette and Mountain Brook debaters anxiously await results.

Monday, December 14, 2015

The Sword & Shield 11Holiday Crossword

Features

Monday, December 14, 2015

Answers

Puzzle designed by Natalie Read

12 The Sword & ShieldFeaturesDISCO is not dead: Birmingham’s music scene thrives

By CARTER ENNISStaff Writer

Though many may think the local Birmingham’s music scene is some-what stagnant, Desert Island Supply Company (or DISCO) and other venues like it are out to prove them wrong. Tucked away in an unassuming location in Woodlawn (not too far from Woodlawn High School, in fact) DISCO sits precariously on the line between being a refreshing, DIY venue that is fighting for a cause and possibly being one of the most important musi-cal fixtures in Birmingham. Michael Harp, a former Mountain Brook student, who currently attends the University of Alabama in Tusca-loosa, is an ex-member of the local dream pop group Velouria and regu-larly books shows for DISCO. DISCO is a space that lives two dif-

ferent, but interconnected lives. By day it is, as Harp describes, a “nonprofit organization started by Chip and Liz Brantley, who are two professors at the University of Alabama. The organiza-tion is dedicated to providing creative resources to kids in the Woodlawn Community.” However, by night (at least twice a week) it turns into a DIY paradise. Artists, musicians and people from all walks of life gather at DISCO to ex-change ideas and cultivate friendships. A person’s sense of unfamiliarity and discomfort is shattered the instant they walk through the door. Harp said, “I’ve never met a single person who felt like they didn’t belong in there. You walk in and you feel like you’re at a party in someone’s loft.” In fact, it is with the help of places like DISCO that the barriers to entry

of the Birmingham music scene have been torn down. Guitarist of Snake Church Eli Daggett said, “You just really have to come to shows and talk to people. Come with a group of friends, talk to people, start a band and then you’re in.” After personally attend-ing many shows in the Bir-mingham DIY music scene, I can say that it is about time for Mountain Brook to join in on this phenome-non. Though as guitarist of Catholic Easter Colors Cash Langdon said, “DISCO has filled a gap that was in the Birmingham music scene for a long time and still kind of is. Birmingham is very dominated by punk and hardcore music.” After seeing Brookstock this year, it is apparent that punk/hardcore are not popular genres amongst MBHS groups. DISCO, which routinely hosts rap, dance, alternative and other comparatively non-aggressive genres would serve as a good jumping off point for aspiring (and willing) Mountain Brook bands. The Birmingham music scene has never been as accessible as it is now.

DISCO and other small DIY venues have effectively closed the proverbial gap between aspiring musicians and the Birmingham musical elite, giving them places where both are equal and have the opportunity to play on the same stage. As Daggett wisely said, “Don’t not be timid, come to a show. Everyone is really nice.”

Photo by Carter EnnisTerror Pigeon of Nashville, TN performs an intimate set at DISCO.

Monday, December 14, 2015

The Sword & Shield 13SportsA rivalry renews: Church League basketball

By PATRICK DOUDReviews Editor

The weather is cold and exams are getting closer; that can only mean one thing: Church League bas-ketball is here. A favorite time of year for Mountain Brook High School students, Church League basket-ball season entails competitive fun for all students who participate. This year is looking especially competitive based on the amount of talent and the star-studded lineups that some teams have acquired. Early favorites to win the coveted Church League championship are the senior St. Luke’s Oxen and the Birmingham Yarn. After a solid campaign in the 2014-2015 season, the Oxen look to build upon their successes and take the next step to obtaining the elusive throne of Church League basketball. This all-star caliber squad is capable of sitting on top of the standings by Feb. as long as they can avoid injuries and increase produc-tion from center Bailey Womack and shooting guard David Kirkpatrick. Jackson DeWine, senior captain of the Oxen, said, “After an offseason of hard work, we’re determined to win this year’s championship.” The Oxen have just recently acquired the three- point marksman forward Eric Weintraub to bolster their already stellar frontcourt. The Oxen’s major weakness last year was perimeter shooting, and Wein-traub should help tremendously. It will be interesting to see how the addition of Weintraub affects the team chemistry in the Oxen locker room. Having won the trophy as 9th graders, senior starting small forward Wells Thomas said, “We are just grinding for another ring. We’re hungry.” The Oxen seem determined to make their presence known in the league. Senior Head Coach James Franklin said, “We will win the championship. Mark my words.” Rivals to the Oxen, the Birmingham Yarn are serious contenders and proba-bly the early favorites to win the league. The Yarn have made no relevant acqui-sitions this offseason aside from sophomore Philip Bethea, but lost star point guard Ben Nelson to Coach Bucky and the Varsity Basketball Team. Without Nelson, the Yarn need someone to step up and fill his role as scorer and facilitator. Senior Parker Bethea, the long range specialist, is confident that the Yarn will overcome this important loss. “Losing Ben is no doubt going to hurt, but I think we have enough talent and scoring ability to be a contender this year.” The Yarn’s strength is their depth at forward, with savvy senior veterans Ben Parker, Sam Hirsberg, and Hunter Chitty rotating in the frontcourt. Parker, a

previous Oxen, took his talents to the Birmingham Yarn after the 2013 season and is excited to take on his former team saying, “I like those guys, don’t get me wrong, but I just want to destroy them physically and mentally.” With the emer-gence of Graham Lejeune as a blossom-ing superstar, the Yarn will be hard to stop offensively. This year promises to be a highly competitive one in the world of Church League basketball. If you have some free time and enjoy watching quality, hard-nosed, physical basketball, come out to the JCC on weeknights and support.

Photo by Patrick DoudOxen sharpshooter Wells Thomas banks in a three over Yarn mem-bers Parker Bethea and Hunter Chitty.

Monday, December 14, 2015

14 The Sword & ShieldSportsKline inks with University of Alabama-Huntsville

Parker Stewart aims for ParalympicsBy JACK KENNEDY

Staff Writer

The Paralympics are often overlooked by many people around the globe, but it is sophomore Parker Stewart’s dream to reach them. “Goalball is a very challenging sport. It’s fun to play and some of my great friends play with me,” Stewart said of the team. “I joined the Lakeshore Founda-tion to get a physical challenge, and one of my friends’ mom suggested that I join the goalball team since I had a visual impairment.” Many people have no knowledge of goalball. The court is 59 feet long and 30 feet wide, which is roughly the size of a volleyball court. At the end of each court, there are two goals that span the length of the court. Just like soccer, if the ball goes into the net, it is a point for the team that threw it in. The score can be very defensive like 1-0 or a very offensive game like 15-14. The players have their eyes covered with eyeshades so they cannot see the ball. The three-pound ball contains multiple bells that allow the players to hear where the ball is going. The game consists of ten-minutes halves. Stewart started playing goalball in 2010 when he was 11. He and his team practice three times a week when it is in season, working on chemistry and skill. Early in the school year, he has to miss multiple days to travel and play teams from across the U.S. The Lakeshore Foundation youth goalball team has won three consecutive championships, which are played in various places across the US. In Oct., the team traveled to St. Augustine, Florida, to play in the national championship. “I’m very proud of our teams accomplishments in the past few years. We plan on winning more championships in the future,” Stewart said.

By JACK KENNEDYStaff Writer

Senior Jack Kline’s dream was to play basketball for UAH, and he signed to play for them on Nov. 12. “In 8th grade, Jack said if I’m able to play at UAH for Coach Acuff, it would all be worth it, and now we are here celebrating him signing for that very team,” said Coach Bucky McMillan. UAH is a very successful Di-vision II basketball program. The Chargers have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament eight times under current head coach, Lennie Acuff. In 2012, the Chargers defeated their first Divi-sion I team, North Texas. Mountain Brook varsity basketball coach, Stu Stuedeman, also played under Coach Acuff at UAH for two years. “UAH is the perfect place for me in an academic and basketball standpoint. Ultimate-ly, it came down to UAH was the best fit for me,” Kline said. “I cannot wait to further my education and play basketball beyond high school, which many other players are unable to do,” Kline added. Kline has been on the varsity team since ninth grade and is 13 wins away to becoming the

winningest player in Mountain Brook basketball history. Also, he will go over 1,000 points and 700 re-bounds this season. Kline is averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds for the season. McMillan said, “Jack is the only player right now in high school basketball to play in three state cham-pionships, which is amazing.”

The Spartans are 8-1 for this season. They won their first three home games, which extended their home win streak to 26 games. The team competed in Capstone Classic at Shel-ton State Community College in Tuscaloosa. They defeated Hale County and Bryant in the quarterfi-nals and semifinals, respectively. The Spartans fell in the championship to Bessemer City by a score of 61-51 on Nov. 25.

Photo by Jack KennedyJack Kline signs his Letter of Intent to play basketball with University of Alabama-Huntsville as his family watches.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Photo courtesy of John PuttsParker Stewart, second from the right, and his team capture 3rd consecutive national title.

The Sword & Shield 15SportsBy wILL DAVIS

Sports Editor

Every single season, one team is crowned state champions, but very rarely do seasons like the one the Mountain Brook volleyball team just completed come to fruition. For the Spartans, it was a season that saw the team rewrite the record books, stay on top of the state polls for the entire season, and become the first team in school history to crack the top 25 nationally, all on the way to winning their second straight 7A championship. “There’s a lot that can be said from this year,” Coach Haven O’Quinn said. “From the very beginning we just took off from where we finished last year.” The Spartans were able to follow up last year’s state championship team with possibly the greatest team in state history. “It’s so difficult to repeat,” O’Quinn said. “Everybody just wanted to see Mountain Brook lose. We got every-body’s best game. I couldn’t be more proud of the matu-rity and consistency of this team.” While the pressure of winning back to back cham-pionships and having a historic season was discussed, it never seemed to phase the team. “We just played like we were out there to win,” senior Sara Carr said. “We weren’t trying to avoid losing.” “There’s always going to be pressure,” senior Sara Chandler Mitchell said. “We always talked about playing with a target on our backs and in the end we just played for us rather than trying to live up to expectations.

This was the first Mountain Brook team to ever win 50 games in a season, finishing with a record of 57-6. The team also placed four players on the All State tournament team, seniors Carr, Mitchell, and Payton Selman, as well as junior Emmy Kilgore. Carr was named the MVP of the tournament. A few players now hold individual school records as well. Carr was named Alabama Gatorade Player of the year for the second consecutive year. Carr also holds the all time career and single season kills record, as well as the single sea-son record for aces and is headed to Emory on a volleyball scholarship next year. Mitchell now holds the all time career assists record, as well as the record for most assists in a single season. “I play a position that’s centered around my team,” Mitchell said. “So, the fact that I have set any record is just a testament to my team.” “Volleyball is my passion, so it means a lot,” Carr said.

Mountain Brook volleyball team shatters school records

Photo by Jackson SharmanMountain Brook huddles during a game against Vestavia.

Monday, December 14, 2015

16 The Sword & ShieldSportsBy JACKSON SHARMAN

Business Manager

This past Nov., the cross country teams finished strong at the 7A state championship with the girls capturing their 13th title in a row and the boys finishing runner up to Auburn. Leading the girls was senior Francis Patrick with a time of 18:18.78 and a first place finish. Junior Anna Grace Morgan, the second Spartan runner to finish, placed fifth. The Lady Spartans capped off a season in which they were dominant, winning the majority of the meets which they competed in. “The win at state was the byproduct of a long process where we worked extremely hard and had lots of fun,” said Patrick. She was voted this year’s girls team captain but attributed much of the program’s success to the coaches. “Some coaches just don’t care, and some coaches are crazy, but our coaches are a happy medium and do a great job.” For the boys, senior and team captain Drew Williams and sophomore Charlie Slaughter were the first Spartans to finish with times of 15.53.15 and 15.55.12, respectively. Last year, there was a lot of depth but many new faces, and this year Coach Michael McGovern and his staff built upon that depth with more experience. The boys ended last season with a third place finish in 2014, and this was due to the runners going out too fast at the beginning of the race and then gradually falling spots in the later segments. This year, however, the running was very competitive at the state champi-onship, a theme that was present for the team all season. Williams, who was a consistent top runner all year, said, “This team was always very persistent. We never pulled out.” An unusual aspect of the boys team this year was that they really did not have a set order of top runners. The depth chart for the top five runners was con-stantly shifting, and while this might be damaging to some teams, it helped the Spartans push each other and hold their teammates accountable. A characteristic of this year’s team was a concentration on the goal at hand, for both the boys and girls. “This was a very focused group,” said Coach McGov-ern. “They were very selfless-a sign of a strong team.” Sophomore Charlie Slaughter is optimistic about next season, although right now he is focused on indoor track: “Even though we came up short, we were happy with our finish [at state] because everyone tried his hardest. Our goal next year is to bring home a title, and we are preparing now for a great track and field season.”

Cross country teams take top places at state meet

Photo courtesy of Richard RileyThe cross country team visited the landmark, the Beam, before their meet in Chicago.

Monday, December 14, 2015

The Sword & Shield 17Sports

By THOMAS COONEY News Editor

The Mountain Brook baseball team stepped up to the mound last year with more on their mind than just winning the games. For ev-ery strikeout the team throws, money is donated to cancer research. The “K” Cancer Challenge has already raised tens of thousands of dollars in honor of Sid Ortis. Pitcher Cole Alexander said, “I loved the idea for raising money because my grandmother is a cancer survivor. When I’m on the mound now I know that I might be making a difference.” The team has raised $46,000.00 in less than one month. Dona-tions come from the Dugout club and sponsors of the team. Pitcher Christian Johnson said, “After hearing about Sid, we all felt that we had to do anything and everything in our power to help.” The “K” Challenge offers anyone the opportunity to donate any amount for every strikeout thrown by any MBHS freshman, JV or Varsity pitcher. Anyone can donate by going to rallyup.com/k-cancer. The largest contributors so far are, Ken McPherrson giving $2,300 and Andrew and Lis Pharo who have given $5,000. The donations go to pediatric cancer research here in Birming-ham to Children’s of Alabama Hospital. The fundraising campaign has raised over $46,061 so far and are close to their goal of $50,000.

By COKE MATTHEwS Co-Edotr-in-Chief

Senior Frances Conner, member of the MBHS Swim and Dive Team, cannot walk. Let me rephrase that. Her feet lose all their blood leaving her immobile after swim practice and meets. So why does Conner, who is being heavily recruited in pole-vaulting and has the skills to be a cheerleader in college, spend her winter after-noons struggling to stay afloat? “With all the stress of college and schoolwork, swimming has become a sort of vent for me. It’s something that I picked up when I was four years old and has been a part of my life ever since,” she said. On weekdays, Conner drives to the Jewish Community Center, trades her cheerleading uniform for a speedo, then dives into the pool to work on her butterfly and freestyle strokes. Senior Jack Tucker has a more competitive approach to the team. After taking a break from swimming to focus on cross country, Tucker dove right back into the sport of swimming. “I wasn’t plan-ning on swimming this year, but Coach Brittany Wilson called and asked me to swim for the team again. I want to help out my team and my school, but more importantly I want to end my high school swimming career on a positive note.” A previous sponsor for the team, Coach Wilson stepped in as head coach for the Mountain Brook Swim and Dive team this year. Coach

Wilson is no stranger to the pool. She swam for Auburn Aquatics as a butterflyer and a freestyler. Recently, she has had swimmers qualify and reach finals at the Southeastern Swimming Championships, Zone Cham-pionships, and Sectional Championships. A new component the team had to deal with this year was the addition of cuts to relays. Before, there used to be cuts only on individual meets. However, the Spartans pushed through adversity and sectionals on their way to the James E. Martin Aquatics Center at Auburn University for the state meet on Dec. 4-5. At the state meet, freshman Gaston Petznick, sophomore Lauren Crabtree and junior Hannah Elliott all made it to finals. The team had two relays and three individuals, that were the top finishers from preliminar-ies, swim in finals. The boys and girls 400m freestyle relays also made finals. “We final-ly finaled in a relay for the first time in four years. The relay was led by junior Ryan Kirk,” said Coach Wilson about the boys finals. In response to the accomplishment, Kirk said, “I was super excited to be able to swim in a final. We have worked really hard to get Mountain Brook boys back in the finals.” The boys finished 21st in the state for 1A-7A schools while the girls finished 20th.

Photo courtesy of Jack TuckerSwimmers explode off the blocks at Sectionals on Nov. 21.

Photo courtesy of Jack TuckerSwimmers wait for the gun during Finals on Dec. 5.

Photo courtesy of Image ArtsAndrew Autrey throws out a batter while playing shortstop.

Monday, December 14, 2015

New coach pushes swim and dive team to state

Baseball team raises money to strike out cancer

18 The Sword & ShieldReviewsBy JULIA JANE DUGGAN

Staff WriterIf you want to know what all Mountain Brook High School students have in common, look no further than one of the many Mexican restaurants located here in Birmingham. It is here where our favorite snack, game-day food, and side-dish is served: queso. The Sword & Shield newspaper staff went on a quest to five different local Mexican restaurants for the best queso this fall.

The Quest for Queso

La PazAnother centrally located Mexican din-ing option, La Paz has been renowned as “Birmingham’s Best Mexican for 24 Years and Counting!”, and its queso certainly lives up to the hype.

Embedded in the thick cheese is an assortment of spicy peppers which gives the dish a unique, zesty flavor.

La Paz queso scored a four out of five for its interesting addition of spice and thick consistency.

price: $6.99

RojoTucked away on Highland Avenue, Rojo is a quaint Latin and American food restaurant which has gotten a shout-out from Bob Dylan.

At first glance, the preparation of the dish may seem simple, but the classic taste makes up for the plain presenta-tion ten-fold.

Rojo’s queso scored a four out of five for the quick service, good presentation, and incredible taste.

price: $6.99

Moe’s Arguably one of the most popular restaurants for MBHS students due to its affordable prices and convenient lo-cation, the queso at Moe’s is a trademark of the Southwestern grill.

Senior Helen Camp, queso fanatic, says, “Don’t over think it. Moe’s. It is superior to all other quesos. If you disagree, you are wrong.”

Upon first sight of their cheese dip, one might be disappointed by the simplicity of how it is served.

However, for the affordable price and trusted quality, it is a great addition to a meal there. Moe’s queso scored a three for its price, yet lack of finesse.

price (large): $6.50

Taco MamaLocated in the heart of Crestline, this lively au-thentic Mexican cantina serves a thin and delicate version of the queso dish.

Spices and vegetables are absent; however, the independent flavor makes up for the lack of zest. The chips are an integral part of the queso experience, as their crisp flakiness makes a per-fect match with the fine queso.

Overall, it scored a three for it’s light, satisfying ability to quench your queso appetite.

price: $3.00

El CazadorCompared to the other Mexican restaurants, El Caz on Montclair Road has more character than most. A thin, delicious salsa is also served with the queso.

Senior Jeffrey Jones says, “eating El Caz’s Queso is like dipping a chip in the elixir of life, happiness, and unicorns.”

The complexity of the cheese dip is in its simplic-ity. It is a rare exception to all other quesos in that is has the perfect balance between taste and texture.

El Caz receives the highest marks out of all the quesos tasted.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Photos by Julia Jane Duggan and Caroline Lowe

By CAROLINE LOwEStaff Writer

The wait is finally over, and the end has finally arrived: the fourth and final movie in the Hunger Games trilogy, “Mockingjay Part 2,” is here. Opened Thanksgiving weekend, the movie covers the second half of Suzanne Collins’ ”Mockingjay.” Does it meet eager viewers’ expectations? For the most part, yes. Those who have read the book will definitely be moved by several tear-jerking moments near the end of the movie. “Mockingjay Part 2” sticks closely to the text, so readers can anticipate which scenes will be emotional. The emotional parts are combined, pretty effectively, with nonstop action as Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and her team try to take down the capitol, Panem, and kill the evil President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Lawrence’s acting, as always, carries the film. Watching Lawrence’s eyes and facial expressions, I realized that much of her acting is done without speaking. Her Katniss is determined to fulfill her mission against Snow, played by Suther-land at his menacing best. The story continues where “Mockingjay Part 1” left off. Katniss is removing her neck brace after almost being choked to death by Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) after he returns from the capitol “high jacked,” or brainwashed, to kill her. Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), president of District 13, and Plutarch Heavensbee (played by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in his last role) are plotting to use Katniss as a public relations tool to stir up the districts against President Snow. In fact, the film seems to criticize the way the media covers wars, as Katniss is used as a propaganda tool. Katniss is joined by Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), Cressida (Natalie Dormer), Boggs (Mahershala Ali), Messalla (Evan Ross) and Pollux (Elden Henson) who all help her on her mission to reach the capitol and take Snow down. The action is nonstop from this point on. The group, which must face hidden booby traps on the mission to Panem, becomes smaller and smaller until only a few of the main characters in the series are left. The most intense scene involves Katniss, Peeta, Gale and Finnick as they fight off lizard-like mutts in order to carry out their mission. This scene is also one of the most grueling scenes in the book and will have you sitting on the edge of your seats. Whether you have read the book or not, you will be wondering what will happen next. I was so tense and nervous during this scene that I can defi-nitely say that the action scenes work. The movie is quite dark in many of the scenes with Katniss and her allies, but given the subject matter that is not surprising. Without giving away too much, I can say that the only thing bad about the movie is the ending. Many book readers were not satisfied with the ending of the trilogy; the film does not stray from that ending. Aside from the ending, the movie was good. I still think “Mockingjay” could have been one movie rather than separated into two, but the producers clearly recognize a way to make more money off of the franchise. I give the movie 4 out of 5 stars.

The Sword & Shield 19ReviewsMockingjay Part 2 concludes Hunger Games trilogy

Monday, December 14, 2015

Photo by Caroline Lowe

20 The Sword & ShieldReviews

By COLE SUMMERSELLArt and Photography Editor

As you can clearly tell by looking at the enormous, mud-caked trucks in the parking lot, the off-roading community is alive and well at the high school. Many students may wonder when and where four-wheeling enthusiasts use their trucks; after all, a common criticism of 4x4 vehicles is that there’s nowhere to use them. “The vast majority of the trucks in the parking lot have never seen off-road use,” said senior Alex Debruge. If you know where to look, however, there’s a plethora of four-wheeling opportunities in the Birmingham area, both official and otherwise.

Officially Sanctioned Stony Lonesome OHV Park

This huge 1456 acre park is only an hour north of Birmingham, and it offers a more civilized and elaborate alternative to Choccolocco. Its 150 miles of trails, an impressive number unmatched anywhere in the state, are open Thursday through Monday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm daily. Stony Lonesome is owned by Cullman County and offers a vast array of trails, though you can spend the night in a cabin instead of a tent. $10 per day, an extra $5 for riders. Its incredible size, well-maintained trails and proximity to Birmingham give it the top spot among local off-roading venues.

Choccolocco Mountain

‘This 450-acre Off Road park in Jacksonville, Alabama is quite a drive but well worth it. Its 54 trails, open for riding Friday through Sunday, vary from mild rutted tracks to extreme rock crawling. The park offers camping sites if you are so inclined, though you probably would need a few days to explore the whole park. Rates are as follows: Daily Pass: $20 per driver, $5 per passenger. Weekend Pass: $30 per driver, $10 per passenger. Though it’s further from the city and significantly smaller than Stony Lonesome, it’s still a great destination and well worth a weekend trip.

Photo by Cole SummersellLakeshore Right serves as a tame alternative to Lakeshore Left.

Photo by Cole SummersellA calm moment during a day at Choccolocco.

Off The beaten path in Birmingham

Local and Informal

Lakeshore Left

If you don’t have a weekend to spend on the trails, there’s a much more local but poorly maintained alternative here in Birmingham. For a wide variety of trails, listed on Google maps as a public road, you can’t beat the Left. Constructed to access sewer caps out near the end of Lakeshore Parkway, it’s widely used by off roaders and provides several hours worth of unique trails of varying difficulty. “It’s definitely my favorite place to go off-roading in Birmingham,” said senior Thomas Shoe.

Lakeshore Right

Almost directly across the street from the aforementioned trail is another, more exciting trail system. Right down the hill from the Fort Red Rock paint-ball course, this trail system is best travelled northeast and up the mountain. A branch trail leads to a clearing on top of the mountain with a lovely view of historic Bessemer. Continuing down the other side of the mountain leads you down an old railroad bed, and you can find an abandoned coaling tower from Birmingham’s iron ore mining days. The trail terminates on a public dirt road in the outskirts of Bessemer, so turn around and head back. The Right is a more scenic and tame supplement to Lakeshore Left.

Monday, December 14, 2015

The best trails for four-wheeling adventures

Please note Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market has a beautiful new location: 3300 3rd Avenue

South, Birmingham, AL