Ranking my Classes Pt.2

By: Logan Mims

   This weeks blog is part 2 of ranking my favorite classes from my favorite to my least favorite. So far I have Digital media as number 1, Engineering as number 2, and Senior Seminar at number 3. The three classes I have left are AP Bio, Brain Body and Balance (BBB), and AP Pre-Calc. 

   Ranked number 4 out of 6 is my 5th period class Brain, Body, and Balance (BBB). In this class we weight life on Monday Tuesday and Thursday. We don’t lift on Wednesday because it is a short scedual but we usually stretch on Wednesday and Friday is just out day off to catch up on all of the work from that week in our other classes. I actually do like this class it just isn’t in the top 3 because some days I really do not feel like lifting but I still have to. It is a pretty layed back class overall and we are aloud to talk with our friends so overall it’s a good class and I’m glad it’s on my scedual. 

   Ranked number 5 out of 6 is my 7th period class AP Pre Calc. This class isn’t ranked low because it’s one of those extremely boring classes. I actually like the class and enjoy my classmates and teacher in there. The work it just very hard. This is the first year that this class is a thing at Wilson Hall, but also a very new class overall. The ways the questions are asked are just different then most classes and it is much harder than any class I have ever taken. Usually math is my best subject but it has just been a little harder this year.    Lastly, ranked number 6 out of 6 is my 1st period class AP Bio. For some reason I just really do not like this class. It’s hard and really boring. Some people do enjoy the class but I guess I’m just not as interested in biology as some of the other people in my class are. I do like my teacher in that class so that is a plus and I sit beside my friends, but other than that there is nothing else good about this class. 

MLB Preview

By: Carson Wilsey

For baseball fans worldwide, the 2025 MLB season is looking to be an exciting year. There is a lot of excitement surrounding the new roster additions, trades, and intriguing prospects making their big league debuts as teams prepare for the upcoming season. In order to improve their offensive, add depth to their defensive groups, and boost their pitching rotations, teams made a number of high-profile offseason additions. The return of several of the league’s most dynamic players from injury, including great pitchers and power hitters, is one of the most exciting parts of the 2025 season. These players will be hoping to recover and reclaim their position as important contributors to their teams’ success. 

The postseason race will likely be intense as usual. Teams with established stars and deep rosters, such as the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves, continue to be the league favorites. Nonetheless, a number of up-and-coming teams, such as the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles, are hoping to advance and make a strong playoff run. Because more clubs will be able to compete for a position in October due to enlarged playoffs, the regular season is even more important. The division races will be fierce, particularly since some divisions appear to be as close as ever and a few significant victories could mean the difference between a wild card and a division title.

Beyond the team conflicts, the season’s plots will also heavily rely on individual players. There is always fierce competition for the MVP and Cy Young awards, and 2025 looks to be no exception. While seasoned veterans like Mike Trout and Mookie Betts are always a threat to regain the spotlight, young talents like Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Julio Rodríguez will continue to dominate headlines. As the MLB continues to enact rule changes intended to quicken play and produce a more thrilling brand of baseball, the game’s evolution will also be important this season. With anything from new hitting approaches to altering laws, fans can expect lots of shocks during the season.

Best Steaks

By: Carson Wilsey

For good reason, the New York strip is regarded as one of the best steak cuts. This specific cut, which comes from the cow’s short loin, has the ideal ratio of flavor to tenderness. The New York strip has a rich, meaty flavor with just the perfect amount of marbling, in contrast to the ribeye, which is renowned for its fattiness, or the filet mignon, which occasionally lacks a strong beefy taste. The steak maintains its juicy and soft texture while maintaining its gratifying meaty flavor thanks to the marbling, which is the subtle strips of fat that run through the flesh. The texture is firm but soft when cooked to the ideal medium-rare, and the crispy exterior sear provides an enticing coating that seals in all the mouthwatering flavors. 

The New York strip’s flexibility in preparation is another factor that makes it the greatest cut. The New York strip cooks well in a range of ways, including grilling, pan-searing, and broiled. The cut is sufficiently large to retain its juicy, soft interior while developing a crispy, delicious outer-layer. Its natural qualities are enhanced by a simple seasoning of salt and pepper, but it also goes well with a wide range of marinades, rubs, or sauces, such as a street taco seasoning or a traditional garlic and herbs. The steak offers versatility beyond the conventional steak because of its strong yet delicate texture, which also makes it a great option for thinly slicing and serving in recipes like fajitas or steak salads. 

The New York strip is the perfect steak for both informal and formal eating because of the balance of size and presentation. The New York strip provides a generous serving without being overpowering, in contrast to some of the more flashy cuts, such the porterhouse or tomahawk steak. It is frequently cooked in a way that accentuates its soft texture and rich, savory flavor, and its size is ideal for a filling, substantial lunch without going overboard. The New York strip is always a tasty and satisfying supper, whether it is consumed at a fancy restaurant or prepared on the grill at home. It is the best cut because of its taste, texture, and adaptability.

Benefits of Isometrics for Athletes

By: Ford Wilder

To begin, isometric training is an exercise in which you contract a muscle or muscle group without moving the particular muscles or joints. They typically increase movement and stability within certain joints, tendons, and muscles. I use isometric training at least 2-3 times per week with my weight training, and I have noticed many benefits to come from it. There are many benefits to using this type of training in performance and the ability to apply them at any time or muscle group.

One of the greatest benefits of isometric training is its flexibility. You can perform isometric training every single day because it is less fatiguing than typical resistance training. This means you can build up muscle or joint durability on a weak link of your body every day. I perform many knee isometrics because I often have tendon pains from all the jumping I do. The more I perform these exercises like lunge holds and wall sits, I have noticed my knee pain dwindle and my knees feel stronger.

Isometric training is particularly effective when coming off an injury. Using isometrics builds up the strength of the injured part and the areas surrounding it, which will cause the affected area to be stronger than before the injury. You can also come back quicker from an injury with isometrics since you can rehab every day.

Furthermore, another benefit of this form of training is that it builds muscle endurance. This is because isometrics stimulate slow twitch fibers, which are key to fatigue resistance within certain muscles. I do many isometrics that are knee and quad-focused, and I have noticed that while running, the burning sensation I typically get is not there as much. Also, my legs can withstand strenuous games without getting hurt from overuse.

A final benefit is the mind-muscle connection. By performing an isometric exercise, your brain can focus on the working muscles only and see how they work. This puts your mind in tune with how your muscles work. This contributes to greater athletic performance since your muscles can perform at their maximum capabilities. I have noticed great strides in the performance of my lower body since implementing these into my lifts. My vertical jump and speed have most certainly improved in games.

Ultimately, isometric training is very beneficial in a jumper of ways. I have gained these benefits in every sport I play. My sprinting in football, jumping in basketball, and both sprinting and jumping in track have all increased. The benefits of mind-muscle connection, muscle durability, and endurance are all key to an athlete’s performance. I believe that isometric training is what many athletes need to increase their body’s overall health, strength, and performance.

Why Being a Multisport Athlete is Beneficial

By: Ford Wilder

To begin, many high school athletes fall into the belief that they have to focus on one sport solely if they want to be the best and get offers in their sport. I am a firm believer that this is not true. Plenty of evidence shows that the greatest professional and collegiate athletes played not just one sport in high school but two, three, or even four! Some examples of people who fit this category are Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, Michael Phelps, etc.

There are many downsides to specializing in one sport. The biggest one is getting tired or burnt out of that sport. I play three different sports throughout the year so I never really feel burned out since I am switching seasons every few months and mixing it up. Instead, I am eager to make the switch between seasons and this makes each sport enjoyable as I am ready to jump back into action and get back on track for each one. Those who get burnt out also tend to have poor performances in their sport due to a lack of enthusiasm and effort towards their practices and games. This will then often lead to a poor mental state all because they wanted to fall into the trap of specialization in high school. Specialization has a time and place which is in college because that is when your sport becomes a job and the competition picks up.

Another flaw of single sport specialization is not having another plan. I play three different sports and I am unsure of what I want to do at the next level. I am also unsure of which sport will open up the most in recruiting so I do not want to close any doors in case the one I choose does not end up working out. I have watched many great athletes in my area specialize in just football or just basketball and quit their sport which has led to them not getting an opportunity to play at the next level. 

Furthermore, one of the benefits of playing many sports is mastering many different skills. This allows for a stronger mind since you have to overcome many challenges in not just one sport or area but in many different ones. You also have to stay extremely focused and can not slack off in between seasons since you are always competing. I have noticed great benefits from this since my competitive edge is always high and I am always ready to compete. This has made my mindset one of the greater parts of my game. Whether it’s my favorite sport, basketball,  or my sport of lesser importance to me, track, I am just as competitive in both due to the mentality I take into being a multi-sport athlete.

Ultimately, I believe that the greatest athletes are those who perform many sports in high school and do not specialize too early. I have noticed the greatest improvements in my all-around mental and athletic performance through playing multiple sports.

Should Teenagers Drive a Manual or Automatic Transmission

By: Stirling Tindal

          A question that not too many people think about today is “Should teenagers drive a manual or an automatic transmission?”. Most cars nowadays are automatic; however you can get some cars that are left with the manual transmission. I drive a stick shift Nissan frontier and I believe that a manual car will always be better than an automatic.

          When I first learned to drive, my dad taught me in a manual jeep wrangler. It was very challenging to learn at first for me. I may have stalled out at least 300 times before I got the hang of it. After I figured out that you have to let off the clutch slowly and let it start driving for you very slowly was when I finally figured it out. I loved changing veers while driving, it made me feel like I was a professional race car driver. I love it so much that my dad got my truck as manual as well.

          I’ve learned many beneficial habits from using a manual for so long that I will keep with me for a long time while driving. When you have to change gears every so often you have no time to be on your phone. A manual is a big factor in keeping people off of their phones while driving and keeping them focused on the road. Another habit I have picked up is that I continually check my RPMs while driving. I always have to know my RPMs so that I can change gears at the correct time and not waste gas. When driving an automatic you wouldn’t have to worry about your RPMs and may not notice if something is wrong. Something else I love about driving a manual is the control of your vehicle that you have. Being able to change gears to what you want can make traversing rough and muddy roads much more simple than in an automatic.

          A manual really had no negatives for teenagers. They can only make them more aware of what they are doing. I truly believe that if everyone drove a manual transmission, the roads would be much more safe than they are now.

Baseball

By: Cooper Scott

Baseball has been one of my favorite sports ever since I was a little kid. I started playing baseball when I was 4 years old t-ball of course. Whenever I got to coach pitch something I will never forget is we were in the playoffs and I hit a walkoff homerun against Bynum Insurance, and they were like the best team. My first year of kids pitch, my dad was the head coach, and our team was called Colonial Urgent Care. I was left handed so there is only an unlimited number of positions I can play. Ever since 9 and 10 youth baseball I have pitched and played first base, but my strongest ability in baseball has always been hitting. I always played baseball during the fall growing up as well. The next year I broke my leg and was unable to play b-team in the 6th grade, and I was very bummed out about that. 7th grade year was my first year of baseball at Wilson hall. We were very talented that year but our season came up short because of covid. My first year as J.V Coach Neil Moerson was our head coach, and I got best offensive player at the banquet at the end of the year. The next year I think I can safely say is the most fun I have ever had playing baseball. Luke Pederson, Jones Deschamps, Tyler Jordan, Slade Custer, and Peyton Price and I were all on the same team. We would have to run at practice every other day for the stupidest stuff, and we were also very good, probably the best J.V team I was on. My 10th grade year I went out for varsity, and unfortunately I got cut, but it was okay. I went back down to J.V. for the third year in a row, but I wouldn’t trade those three years for anything. I had a very successful season my 10th grade year, and decided to play for the Junior p-15s. I played for 2 summers in a row and the second summer we won the state championship, and I met a lot of new friends from different schools. My junior year I played varsity, and I did not get to play very much. Now we are on to this year, and I am looking forward to playing for the senior p-15s one last time this summer.

Duck Hunting

By: Cooper Scott

Duck hunting has been my favorite hobby since I was a toddler. The first word I ever said was duck, and I am so grateful that duck hunting has been my family’s tradition for 50 plus years. I remember when I had this Shirt with ducks on the back of the shirt and I used to wear it backwards so I could look at the ducks all day. I went duck hunting for the first time when I was 6 years old, and I shot my first duck when I was 7. I look forward to the opening day of duck season every year, and as soon as duck season is over duck depression sets in. My dad, brother, and I travel all throughout the midwest to go duck hunting. Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Kansas are usually the states we make it too. We usually get three or four trips out west anywhere from 3 to 6 days. We hunt public land so we are constantly battling other hunters to get to the hunting spot so we have to wake up very early or even spend the night sleeping in the spot the night before. Ducks are surprisingly smart so it takes a lot of preparation and hard work to have a successful hunt. First we have to find the spot we are going to hunt, typically a main lake point, an open hole in the woods, or the back of a cove or slough. Then we make sure we can wade the hunting spot and put out anywhere from 40 to 80 duck decoys which is very time consuming. Then we usually cut a few branches or bushes to blind up the hide so we are hidden better from the ducks. Next we have to get our guns, blind bags, and stools out of the boat and set all of this up where we are hunting. Then you have to go and hide the boat pretty far away from where we hunt and cover the boat in burlap until it looks like a big bush. After you do all of this you are waiting for shooting time and enjoy the hunt. Duck hunting will be my favorite hobby as long as I am alive.

Jurassic Park Review

By: Wyatt Meyers

o one has ever made a better blockbuster than Jurassic Park, which was directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 1993. It changed the film industry with the combination of suspense, adventure, and ground-breaking special effects, making it the greatest blockbuster of all time.

First of all, the story is both thrilling and scary. In the film, John Hammond, a MultiBillionaire, builds a theme park with actual dinosaurs. Before releasing it to the world, he asks his grandchildren and a group of professionals to look at it. Everything appears to be OK at first, but then the dinosaurs escape as the power goes out. All of a sudden, the park becomes a nightmare where people must fight to survive. From beginning to end, the film keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The special effects in Jurassic Park are a big factor in the film’s quality. The dinosaurs were brought to life in the movie using a mix of CGI and animatronics, and they still have a realistic appearance today. In 1993, this was amazing. The effects in the majority of those films are out of date, but Jurassic Park is still good. One of the most well-known scenes in film history is the one in which the dinosaur, T. rex, escapes its cage.

The film is also excellent because of its characters. Each of the three doctors—Drs. Grant, Sattler, and Malcolm—have a unique personality, and their responses to the dinosaurs seem genuine. Instead of being annoying like in some movies, even the children, Lex and Tim, add to the plot. Of course, there is John Hammond, whose dream goes very badly. Every character contributes something significant to the story.

And last, the soundtrack to Jurassic Park is amazing. John Williams’ songs are amazing. The primary theme lends the film a sense of adventure. You most likely still recognize the soundtrack even if you haven’t seen the film in a long time.

Jurassic Park is the ultimate blockbuster because of its excellent music, unforgettable characters, spectacular effects, and thrilling story. It remains one of the greatest pictures ever made and established the benchmark for action movies.

Why we need Physical Fitness

By: Owen Meyers

With more and more people becoming overweight every year, obesity is becoming a bigger problem in the US. Nearly 42% of American adults are obese, a percentage that has gradually increased over the previous few decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Poor food choices, inactivity, and irregular exercise are some of the causes of this concerning trend. To fight obesity and advance better health, it is imperative that we as a country place a higher priority on fitness and include more physical exercise in our everyday routines.Due to a lack of physical activity, many Americans gain weight and develop other health issues. With the development of desk jobs, technology, and convenience-based living, the average American lifestyle has become progressively less active, contributing to the obesity pandemic.Preventing chronic diseases is one of the main reasons we should exercise daily. Numerous health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, are associated with obesity. Exercise reduces the risk of these illnesses by strengthening the heart, lowering cholesterol, and assisting in blood sugar regulation. Regular exercise also increases metabolism, which makes it possible for the body to handle food more effectively and avoid gaining too much weight. Enhancing general quality of life is another compelling argument for making fitness a top priority. Engaging in physical activity boosts energy, improves stamina, and strengthens bones and muscles. This makes it possible for people to age independently and carry out everyday duties with ease. Exercise also enhances memory and sleep habits, which guarantees a clearer head and greater attention all day long.Americans need to strive to include exercise in their everyday routines in order to fight the obesity pandemic. Simple adjustments like walking or bicycling rather than driving short distances, using the stairs rather than the elevator, and scheduling time for organized exercise can have a big impact. Communities, workplaces, and schools should all support active lifestyles by offering resources and encouraging fitness programs.To sum up, America needs more exercise to boost public health and fight the rising obesity rates. People can improve their quality of life, lower their chance of developing chronic diseases, and help create a healthier society by making a commitment to regular physical activity. It’s time for us to put fitness first and do something about this worrying trend.