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The Fall Off of Tim Anderson

By: Benson Elmore

Tim Anderson, the Chicago White Sox shortstop, could have had a historic career for the Chicago White Sox, and he had very high hopes for the future. Here’s a breakdown of how severely one of the most electric players in recent years has fallen off since his amazing season in 2021:

2021: In 2021, Tim Anderson made hitting in the majors look easy. He hit .309, showcasing his strong hitting ability and consistency. He was known for his excellent contact skills and agility on the base path. Anderson made the All-Star team this year, underscoring his status as one of the best all-around shortstops in the league. His defensive and offensive production were key for the White Sox, who were very competitive in the American League Central division that year.

2024: By the year 2024, Tim Anderson was just another “could have been” kind of guy for baseball fans. His batting average had settled around .218, reflecting a decent dip from his peak performance causing productivity concern. Injuries and changes in the White Sox roster in 2024 caused Anderson to be sent to Miami Beach to play for the marlins where he is now not half the player he was imagined to be. Ever since the infamous fight with Jose Ramirez, his career has never been the same, even seeming to affect his attributes, such as having no home runs this whole major league season. Since becoming a marlin though, Tim seems to be a simple name brought up only when someone needs something nostalgic to ponder on.

When the name Tim Anderson appears in your mind, you probably think of the talented all-star shortstop for the White Sox, but that Tim Anderson seems to not exist anymore. The downfall of not only Tim Anderson, but the whole White Sox organization should be studied. Though Tim is no longer the electric middle infielder we all know, he will always be remembered for how significant his role was on the White Sox throughout his short-lived major league career.

Fall

By: Alexis Dawkins

This series is going to be about the seasons. Out of the four times of year, there is an order of best to worst. Spring, summer, fall, and winter is the only correct way of the seasons. Since summer is wrapping up and fall is starting, I’m going to explain some of the best fall activities around here. Fall is a time of year to be enjoyed by all. The air is crisp and clean and after a summer of scorching heat, the cool air is refreshing. The Fall Festival with the school is in October and that is a fun activity for the kids. They can dress up, play games, win prizes, and a new addition that is being brought back is the haunted house. Another fall activity is pumpkin picking. You can take a family trip to a pumpkin patch and then go home and carve funny or scary faces in them. Something that is more geared toward the women of the world is Starbucks and their fall drinks. From the Pumpkin Spice latte to the Pumpkin Cream cold brew. Back to October, Halloween is a fun holiday for kids. They get to go around with friends and family and get candy. It is a kids dream come true, to be handed candy while doing nothing to earn it. The best thing about fall is that Christmas is right around the corner, but before then is Thanksgiving. A time for family and food that lasts for days. This is a holiday that kids enjoy a little less but parents and grandparents love having time to come together especially if they have not seen each other for a while. The cousins get to reunite and play and be best friends as they are everytime they see each other.

Ranking Celsius Flavors – Space Vibe Edition

By Anna Kate Coker

Although energy drinks are often controversial on whether they are really good for you or not, they taste delicious regardless. This variety pack of celsius’s includes astro vibe, galaxy vibe, and cosmic vibe.

Ranking at Number 3: Galaxy Vibe

Coming in with a flavor blend of strawberry and watermelon, it just falls short in comparison to the others. The can illustrates a purple, orange, and yellow image of palm trees and a planet. One of their other energy drinks with only watermelon, has a stronger flavor, tasting better than this combo. The website claims that this drink will “take your taste buds to a vibrant mystic galaxy”, but this observation is just false. This drink was a good idea and isn’t too bad, it was just executed poorly and it is hard to tell what tanginess you are really tasting.

Ranking at Number 2: Astro Vibe

This energy drink portrays the flavoring of blue raspberry almost perfectly. Tasting almost just like a blue jolly rancher, it does well with quenching your thirst. Astro Vibe was very close on ranking first, but there was just one problem. I am simply not a fan of the after taste. I can’t quite figure out exactly what it tastes like, but I am left wanting something else to eat or drink after it. On the upside, the can is very nice and aesthetic to look at, showing shades of blue, greens, and yellows.

Ranking at Number 1: Cosmic Vibe

I may be biased, but Cosmic Vibe celsius is my favorite, all time, flavor. This drink is a sparkling fruit punch. It is a perfect representation of how it felt to drink red fruit punch kool aid in your childhood. This flavor combines several fruits: strawberry, lemon, orange, blueberry, and combines them perfectly. The red can is gorgeous to look at, with a planet and strawberries. It is easy to drink, whether you want to chug it or sip it.

My Favorite Things: Wilson Hall Track

By: McKenzie Gray Mills

In this week’s blog I’ll be talking about one of my favorite things, Wilson Hall track. Volleyball is my main sport, but in the spring I enjoy participating in track. My sophomore year I was a mid-distance runner. I ran the 400 and 200 in meets. In my junior year, I took a very different route. I did the triple and long jump. While I probably should have stuck it out with mid-distance because I’m not the tallest person or have a great vertical, I oddly really enjoyed being a jumper.

Jumping practice is much different than a mid-distance practice. It starts out with the whole team doing the two-lap warm-up and stretching routine. Once we get over to the “jumping area”, we mark down our spots and do about five to ten jumps depending on if there’s a meet coming up. When we are waiting for our turn to jump we usually all sit in a circle and talk about what’s going on or try to sneak our phones to look at TikTok or Snapchat quickly.

Wilson Hall’s track team is unique from others, we all get along so well and truly enjoy being out there with each other. On Friday we take part in Popsicle Friday. This is where each senior gets a turn to talk about their favorite track memories and share a piece of advice with the lower classmen who still have some time at Wilson Hall, while everyone enjoys their popsicle of choice. For my last year being able to take part in this wonderful activity, I plan to keep going with the triple and long jump. I might not miss hearing Coach Rip tell the jumpers it is their turn to do some running, but there are so many more things I will miss

Dogs in Need

By: Campbell Cromer

Every year, many dogs find themselves in shelters, abandoned, or living in unsafe conditions. These dogs are left in need of care, love, and a safe place to call home. While it’s easy to overlook the situation, we all have the ability to make a difference in these animals lives. Many of these dogs come from difficult backgrounds. Most are strays, many others are surrendered by families that can no longer care for them. They are often in need of medical care, rehab, or simply a love and a good family. Shelters and rescues work hard to care for these dogs, but they are often have too many dogs for the amount of money they have.

Adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue is one of the best ways to help. Homes that suit dogs are filled with love, attention, caring for the dog the way it needs to be cared for. These homes provide a safe home, proper health regulations, exercise, and routine veterinary checks. A truly good home also offers friends and treats dogs. By giving a dog a loving home, you not only save that animal from their prior situation, but also make space for another dog that need help. There are many strays in Sumter and all over the world and many of these dogs need to be adopted.

If adoption isn’t possible, fostering could be an another way to help dogs in your community. It gives dogs a temporary, loving home and helps them adjust to family life. Volunteering your time at a shelter, donating supplies, or raising awareness about the issue are other great ways to help dogs in need. Even little differences like saving a single dog can make a huge difference in the lives of these animals. Every dog deserves a chance at a happy, healthy, and well cared for life. Whether through adoption, fostering, or volunteering, you can help many dogs in need

Rating Crumbl Cookie Flavors

By: Morgan Aycock

I will be starting a series of rating the Crumbl Cookie flavors of the week. As many know, Crumbl Cookie has soared throughout the internet and blown up all around the US. The company, founded in 2017, was recently deemed the fastest-growing chain of dessert shops in the US. This viral sensation is popular for their weekly-changing menu which consists of six cookies. The company uses social media to acquire customers and gets customers to purchase when their favorite flavors are available and plays on the fear of missing out. My ratings are solely opinion based.

This week’s menu items (September 2-7):

Semi-sweet chocolate chunk

The afterlife cake

Banana bread

Churro

Strawberry shortcake cookie

Triple chocolate chip

Strawberry shortcake cookie

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A cakey cookie topped with silky whipped cream, freshly chopped strawberries, and a house-made strawberry jam. (4.4 stars)

I have not tried this cookie, however, I think I would like it the most because it has whipped cream and not their traditional icing with the strawberries on top.

Semi-sweet chocolate chunk

Crumbl Cookies’ description: Chocolate chip, but make it chunky—a delicious cookie filled with irresistible semi-sweet chocolate chunks and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. (4.6 stars)

Crumbl has this flavor every week. Although some say it gets old, I believe that it is a classic and Crumbl has yet to fail with this cookie.

Triple chocolate chip

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A chocolate cookie packed with semi-sweet chunks, creamy white chips, and milk chocolate chips. (4.3 stars)

I have had this cookie numerous times, and it has been pretty good every time. It is a little boring as a whole, but there is not much to mess up on, and I like how warm it is.

Churro

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A warm cookie bursting with cinnamon flavor and topped with a swirl of smooth cinnamon buttercream and a dusting of cinnamon sugar. (4.5 stars)

I also have not tried this cookie, but I think I would like how it is served warm. I have watched reviews on this cookie from numerous people, and they have all said that it tastes almost exactly like a real churro. However, I think the immense amount of cinnamon would overpower the cookie and I do not think I would like it.

The afterlife cake

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A ghostly two-tiered dark chocolate cake layered with vanilla and dark chocolate cream cheese frosting, NATURALLY colored by rich dark cocoa, and finished with sprinkles and a special-edition topper. (4.3 stars)

I do not think I would like this cake and I also think the idea of a Beetlejuice cake is not popular. Many people have said that the cake is bland and dry, and I do not like the dark chocolate and vanilla mix. I think it should be a more interesting cake and have more flavors.

Banana bread

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A fluffy banana bread loaf topped with a crunch of brown sugar and cinnamon-packed streusel. (4 stars)

With this being the most on average lowest rating of the week, it obviously had to be last. I think that Crumbl should stick to only selling cookies, and after watching many reviews on this bread, many have said it is bland and dry. I have also heard that it had no banana flavor in it.

What are the best dogs?

By: Olivia Cogswell

Golden retrievers and german shepherds are two of the best dog breeds for families and individuals. These types of dogs are good for first time pet owners, families with small children, and older people to take care of. They are one of the most intelligent dogs which make them quick learners. Golden Retrievers have a kind and friendly temperament which allows the owners to take them out in public to socialize. The dog breed makes good companions for walks, runs, swims, and even hunting activities. Golden retrievers make very loyal and protective companions.

This dog breed tends to be an expensive breed, and could come with many possible health issues such as: allergies, hip dysplasia, and skin issues. They also tend to not be very good guard dogs due to their loving and open personality, they will greet anyone. Along with the fact that they are a very high maintenance breed due to grooming, high exercise needs, and the need for socializing. If time and energy are given to a golden retriever, they will make great, loyal companions.

German shepherds are very attractive dogs that make great family pets. They are very protective of their owners and have great instincts. However due to their very protective nature they can be violent with strangers who they feel threatened by, making it hard for the owners to take them out in public. Although due to them being very easy to train, you can train them not to be so territorial and aggressive. This breed also tends to be healthier than others, which prevents expensive vet visits. While this breed can be good for all types of pet owners, they do require a more active lifestyle. If they do not get enough exercise they become bored, anxious, and even destructive. Considering this, these dog breeds make good companions for everyone.

Bryce Young and the Panthers will prove all the haters wrong

By: Knox Buxton

The 2024-2025 NFL season started on Thursday, September 5th and there is much excitement about this season. Lots of NFL fans and analysts have been counting Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers out, but I do not think they should be doing that quite yet. The Panthers open their season on Sunday, September 8th in New Orleans against the Siants. The Saints are favored to win, but I don’t think it is as easy of a pick as people make it seem. Last season, the Panthers did go 2-15 and finished with the worst record in the league.

On top of that, they didn’t even have their first round pick because they traded it the year before for the first pick in the 2023 draft where they ended up taking Bryce Young. Bryce Young did not have a great rookie season, but I don’t think that it was all his fault. He was playing behind the worst offensive line in the league and also had one of the worst receiving rooms in the NFL. This offseason, the Panthers made it a point of emphasis to go out and sign offensive linemen and add receivers for Young. Carolina went out and signed Robert Hunt from the Dolphins and Damien Lewis from the Seahawks in hopes that it will boost their offensive line’s performance this upcoming season. They also traded up with the Buffalo Bills to draft Xavier Legette from the University of South Carolina with the last pick of the first round. Legette was a standout receiver in college and has all of the physical attributes to be a great player in the NFL. The Panthers acquired receiver Diontae Johnson from the steelers through a trade in March and he has potential to be elite in Carolina. Now that Carolina has made those moves this offseason, I am confident that the Panthers have set Bryce Young up for success in his second year as a pro and have the ability to surprise a lot of people this season

What Is F1 Compared to NASCAR?

By: Lottie Bynum

Many Americans don’t know what Formula 1 is, they usually refer to it as European NASCAR. While this statement is true, European racing, F1, is vastly different from NASCAR in terms of rules and the obvious car and race track shape.

Although racing of this type had been around for quite awhile before then, Formula 1 Racing was first named in 1946. The name Formula 1 came from the sport’s many rules and now continues in usage in the lower levels of the sport Formula 2(F2), Formula 3(F3), and the F1 Academy which is a junior level for girls.

Additionally F1 has vastly different standards than NASCAR in terms of cars. Most every car in NASCAR is exactly the same aside from the driver, however F1 is different. While F1 has regulations and spending caps for their cars to be uniform, the best teams have the most money to spend on their cars leading there to be continuous dominance of certain teams who can afford the best car and the best drivers. Teams like Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren fall under this category while others such as Williams, Alpine, and Haas have less capital to afford the best car and drivers and therefore usually settle lower on points and scores in races. This is not to say F1 drivers don’t have to be skilled to drive because again the best teams usually get the best drivers too due to the amount they are willing and able to pay them to come to their team.

The physicality of drivers in both sports have different qualifications as well. Both F1 and NASCAR drivers have to maintain some level of fitness, reaction time, and spatial awareness, however each sport emphasizes different things. Since F1 is an open style car with the drivers being exposed to the air and lots of gravity they have to train to strengthen their necks and how to withstand G forces as pilots do. NASCAR drivers train for G force as well, although not as much as F1 drivers since they aren’t as exposed. NASCAR drivers do however need to be better at spatial awareness since they deal with more cars around them making it challenging to drive. Due to the difference in tracks where NASCAR drives in loops and F1 in different tracks every time, F1 drivers can memorize the tracks so they won’t crash on tracks where it isn’t quite clear or they have difficult turns such as Silverstone in the British GP or Monaco.

Wilson Hall Volleyball

By: Addie Griffin

One of the best things is volleyball. The feeling you get when you make a perfect pass off of a hard hit and everyone goes crazy. The feeling of serving an ace off of a team that is known for their serve receive. Cheering on your teammates whenever they have an incredible hit or get an impossible dig. These are all unbeatable feelings. However, Wilson Hall volleyball is so much more than just passing, serving, or hitting a ball. It is unlike any other volleyball program around, solely because of the people. Wilson Hall Volleyball is where you find girls you never thought you would be friends with. Where different grades and ages become one as a team, and you become closer than you could ever imagine. They even become some of your best friends. Wilson Hall volleyball is filled with love and laughter (only during appropriate times of course). Wilson Hall volleyball is where you learn the most about your teammates. Where you have the deepest conversations and hear the most shocking stories on the long bus rides back home. It is where you all share countless laughs about things only the team would find funny, and where you do stupid dances right up until the referee blows the whistle. Wilson Hall volleyball is getting a piece of encouragement or, “the quote of the day”, before every practice from one of your teammates, and everyone claps or sometimes giggles, depending on how poorly executed it might be. It might seem crazy, but these small details are what make Wilson Hall volleyball unlike any other. When all is said and done, you will not remember all of the good plays that you made or the games you won, but the memories that were made over your short years of Wilson Hall volleyball.