Raider R from Monica Rodriguez on Vimeo.

By: Isaac Saba

Staff Writer

Of all sports rivalries, none are more competitive or important than the one between Gulliver and Ransom Everglades.  Because Gulliver and Ransom are two of the top private schools in the area, it is only natural that the two are fierce rivals.

According to Coach Mark Schusterman, this legendary rivalry dates back to the early years of Gulliver.

“I have been here twenty nine years and the rivalry was here before I was,” said Schusterman.

The rivalry may have originated from the athletic skills of both schools, but some students believe it began when Ransom started claiming Gulliver’s Raider mascot as their own.  This tarnished history between the competitive schools has led to discussions breaking out on social media debating which team is better and who holds the title to the “real” Raider.

During games, this animosity plays out in an intense atmosphere that makes athletic events all the more enjoyable. However, the biggest athletic rivalries occur in the sports where both teams are evenly matched, such as soccer and water polo.

“I would say the strongest sports in the rivalry are boys basketball, water polo, track, tennis, and swimming.  In other sports, however, our rivalries are with Ransom’s football or softball teams, in which the rivalry is almost non-existent unless the teams meet in the playoffs,” said Schusterman.

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Senior running back Bo Ellis is committed to Harvard University after being offered a football scholarship to the school. His dedication to both his academic and athletic careers played an important role in his acceptance into Harvard to join the team roster this fall.

The recruiting process was a long one, but Ellis ultimately decided he would take the scholarship after visiting Boston and getting a feel for the campus and how the school operates.

“It started when Harvard sent me letters, and then the football coach called and talked to me. He asked me about my grades, how I was doing in school, and we discussed football. I decided to commit after visiting the school. I’m very excited to attend Harvard next fall, because it isn’t an experience a lot of people get to go through,” said Ellis.

Though he will be playing the same position of running back for the Harvard Crimson as he did for the Gulliver Raiders, his surroundings, teammates, and goals will differ completely. Starting at a new school and in a new town where everything is different is a tough and intimidating transition, but Ellis looks forward to beginning his college career.

“It’s going to be fun up there. There are a few other guys on the team I know, including my past teammate, Daniel Melow, so it won’t be like I’m by myself. All in all, having some friends there will make the whole thing a better experience. I have one goal in sports: to set the total yards football record in Harvard history,” said Ellis.

As an Ivy League school, Harvard presents difficult academic challenges that Ellis is ready to face. The football aspect is familiar to him, but the rigorous academic course is going to be a challenge.

“Since football isn’t really challenging to me, I think the hardest thing about going to Harvard will be keeping my grades up and focusing on my studies. I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to study yet, but I’ll probably end up majoring in economics,” said Ellis.

Beyond academics, the new environment will also be a change from what Ellis is accustomed to. Coming from Miami, Ellis fears that Boston winters will prove difficult to adjust to.

“I like the cold weather somewhat. I don’t hate it, but I think it’s going to be difficult to play games in the snow. Growing up in south Miami, I’m not familiar with playing in cold weather, but I’m up to the challenge. I honestly have no idea what it’s going to be like going to college at such a prestigious school. It’s so different from what I’m used to, but I imagine it’s going to be unforgettable. I wish I could graduate and move up there today,” said Ellis.

Even though Ellis is entering a whole new atmosphere both academically and athletically, he is bound to succeed at Harvard due to his outstanding record at the Prep.

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Nationally, there are increasing encouragements and pressures for America’s youth to exercise for at least one hour every day. Outlets for exercise are commonly accessible through school sports, physical education classes, dance programs, health fitness centers, and, of course, the stretch of nature in our own backyards.

When the word “exercise” comes to mind, many do not associate martial arts with a typical activity.  However, junior Elsa Trojaola is accustomed to the confused reaction she receives when others find she uses kick boxing as an exercise outlet.

“Every kick boxing session is an effective workout because my trainer pushes me to a greater limit each time. I leave feeling complex, relaxed, and in great shape,” said Trojaola.

With a passion for the sport, Trojaola, who has only been kick boxing for less than a year, is addicted to the pure exhilaration and adrenaline that it provides her. To Trojaola, this sport not only acts as a method of exercise, but also as a way to vent her stress and anger.

Trojaola thinks kick boxing has a definite future for exercise and catharsis. She encourages students who have an interest in the sport to pursue it. Equinox Fitness Clubs offer a kick boxing program with dependable and passionate trainers who focus on helping clients reach their full potential.

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On Jan. 8, the junior International Baccalaureate class and Japanese language students visited the Morikami Japanese Museum and Gardens. Coordinated by IB faculty member Ms. Linde Barrett, the trip is designed to allow students to immerse themselves in Japanese culture and correlate observations made in the museum to the Japanese book taught in Barrett’s class, “Thousand Cranes” by Yasunari Kawabata.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity because most students have never experienced Japanese culture in such an enriching way. Embracing Japanese culture, walking through the gardens, and witnessing the traditional Japanese tea ceremony really brought the literature we read in class alive,” said Barrett.

After taking Japanese language in school for many years, senior Jasmine Johnson enjoyed her walk through the gardens and appreciated the countless hours of work put into each of the sections of the gardens in order to represent various dynasties in Japan.

“I loved it because I’ve been taking Japanese for four years so it was nice seeing the culture. It was also nice how the gardens emulated the landscape. The Bonsai Garden was definitely my favorite part,” said Johnson.

The International Baccalaureate students also had the opportunity to observe a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, similar to those performed in the early twentieth century. The tea mistress, who is well known for being honored by the Japanese emperor with an award, guided the students through the various steps of the tea ceremony.

“When watching the tea ceremony the various steps that was a part of it, I felt like I was transported to Japan,” said junior Jordan Rodrigues.

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When it is finally time for lunch, students rush from their classes to the cafeteria. There, they are able to make themselves a sandwich at the Panini station, grab a burger at the grill station, or choose from a variety of salads at the salad bar.  Many of the foods served may appear healthy, but they can be bad choices in large quantities.

“I really like the French onion soup, every time it’s served in the cafeteria I get two bowls. I had no idea that one cup of it is almost 400 calories,” said sophomore Gustavo Mogollon.

This can be misleading to students who are trying to eat balanced meals. Foods like granola appears to be filled with the whole-grain goodness of oats, but it is what you do not see that can be harmful. Added fats and sugars that turned those healthful oats into granola make this a snack to enjoy in moderation.

Many foods that seem to be healthy alternatives might not be the best choice.  Pita chips are sometimes eaten as a substitute for regular potato chips.   A bag of fried potato chips has 153 calories and an ounce of baked pita chips is 110 calories, according to Fatsecret.com.  If those pita chips were fried it would bump up the calorie count to 170 per ounce. The way different foods are cooked greatly affects the amount of calories it has, regardless if its seemingly “healthy” appearance.

“We try to provide a wide variety of food choices for students.  All of the food we serve can be part of a balanced diet if eaten in moderation. There are students who think eating a certain type of food is beneficial for them, which may be true, but eating a plate full of it can be unhealthy,” said Food Service Director Mauricio Jaramillo.

The misconception of how nutritious food really is occurs commonly and can lead to poor eating choices.

A cheeseburger with French fries and ketchup amounts to around 500 to 700 calories.  Some students choose a different meal, rather than this one, because it appears it may not be the healthiest choice.  For example, a student might choose to eat a beef taco with chips, cheese, sour cream, and salsa on the side instead of the burger meal. In fact the taco meal, depending on the quantity, can amount to about 700 to 900 calories, making it a less healthy choice than the burger.

“In order to avoid this, we placed different colored dots that represent the nutritional information of the food on the labels.  So students can gauge how much of each food they should eat at a glance,” said Jaramillo.

This guideline program should assist students on making health-conscious decisions about the food they eat and answer any questions students might have about the health facts of the food they are served.

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Breaking Dawn — Part 2, the final segment of the film series based on Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight novels, is completely different from the other movies. Up until this point in the series the plotline consisted of a Romeo-and-Juliet-like romance between a vampire and young girl. Now, Bella is no longer a delicate, lovestruck teenage human but a powerful vampire and mother.  The movie is standard Twilight material, with mediocre special effects, cheesy dialogue, and laughable moments during what are supposed to be dramatic scenes.

The movie starts following the birth of Renesmee, Bella and Edward’s half vampire baby, and focuses on Bella’s transformation as a vampire. The main conflict is presented when the Volturi, the oldest vampire coven that enforces the law, mistakenly believes that Renesmee is an “immortal child.” Turning children into vampires is not acceptable in the vampire world, because they cause too much destruction and death, so the Volturi steps in to exterminate the problem. Bella and Edward’s family call on all their vampire friends and family across the world as witnesses to their daughter’s true disposition. The introduction of all these strange new characters is one of the film’s highlights.

By now, Twilight fans are probably familiar with the poor acting that remains consistent throughout all the films, and while Breaking Dawn– Part 2 has more than its fair share of over-the-top lines,  a few of the actors leave lasting impressions. Lee Pace, one of the Cullens’ witnesses, plays a wearied, ancient “survivor” who fought in many famous wars and battles throughout history, around the world.  Michael Sheen also does an extraordinary job at playing the creepy, and quite odd character of Aro, the head leader of the Volturi.

The climax is one of the best parts of the whole film.  The huge battle fought between the “good vampires” versus the “bad vampires” is enthralling, even though the special effects are not the best. The producers should have focused more on the special effects and less on the computer-generated imagery of the characters. Many of the characters, especially baby Renesmee, seemed fake and transparent in appearance.

Four years ago, Bella and Edward first met in their school cafeteria and now they are married and have a child together.  Breaking Dawn — Part 2 is definitely not the greatest movie, but it serves as a good final installment of the saga. The Twilight journey was a long one, but it at least stayed relatively true to form over the years.

By: Camille Kelleher

Photographer

Sundancers captain, senior Ashley Sanchez recently competed and placed fifth out of 105 couples at the prestigious Latin Ballroom World Professional Amateur Championship in Columbus, Ohio. As an aspiring professional Latin ballroom dancer she furthers her progress towards her goal with this honorable achievement.

Along with this title, Sanchez is a two-time Latin Ballroom National Champion in the Youth Division, has finished third and fourth in the World Championship and has opened two shows for the Dancing with the Stars tour. Her motivation and passion for ballroom dancing stems from the excitement generated on the dance floor.

“I wish that everybody would be able to feel what I feel when I am dancing on that floor. At ballroom competitions, you feed off of the crowd, your partner, and the judges. It is a beautiful sport,” said Sanchez.

Sanchez travels to Coconut Creek three or four times a week to practice with her Russian coaches. A typical practice is three hours and consists of warm ups and specific styles of ballroom dances. Along with school, the Sundancers, and her individual ballroom practices, Sanchez also teaches students ballroom dancing.

Sanchez uses her experience as an achieved ballroom dancer to be a supportive and dynamic captain for the Sundancers.  Although the Sundancer competitions are completely different from her ballroom competitions, she is able to influence them and push them to do well.

“I enjoy Sundancer competitions more because I am with a group of 20 girls, who are like sisters. You have worked so hard together. Winning as a group is more rewarding in a way,” Sanchez says.

Recently, Sanchez was invited to a competition in Canada. However, she will not attend because she has a Sundancer competition the same day. In the future, Sanchez wants to travel the world, competing in international competitions and earning titles.

“I am very focused; that is the only way I am going to make it in life. Luckily I have decided what I wanted to do with my future at an early age and I have just been training and training. We will see where it takes me,” she said.

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Imagine being one strike away from a perfect score.  Senior Jon Leeds knows the feeling.

Out of a possible perfect score ranking a 300, this past season Leeds earned a personal record of 277.

“When you are one frame away from a perfect game, you get very nervous.  It’s exciting,” said Leeds.

Getting so close and missing the goal by so little, he has a newfound passion to continue working up to that coveted perfect score of 300.  Each bowling game consists of ten “frames,” which is an individual turn to roll the ball.

A score of 300 requires a strike in the first nine frames, and three strikes in the final frame. What this means is that in each of Leeds’ ten frames, he either bowled a strike or a spare, knocking down all pins.  He was one frame away from all perfect frames.

Leeds joined the bowling team in his freshman year.  He remained dedicated ever since.

“My mom bowled in high school and that is one of the reasons why I joined the bowling team,” he said.

During the season, the team practiced twice a week at Bird Bowl.  The teammates all got along quite well, sharing their dedication for their sport that demands a great deal of concentration and finesse from each player.

The bowling team recently came back from state competition.  Leeds called it a stressful experience because he did not realize that people dedicate their lives to the sport, giving them a major advantage over many other avid bowlers.  Regardless of the competition, Leeds takes pride in his near-perfect game and hopes to continue striving for the best.

“I hope to continue bowling.  The feeling of getting so close to a perfect score motivates me to keep trying.  Maybe I will soon score the 300,” he thoughtfully concluded.

By: Rachel Legon

Entertainment/Lifestyle Editor

Playing an instrument in high school has stepped outside of the band room and into the garage for sophomores Danny Garcia, Brett Gilbert, Andy Hernandez, and Marc Fiol who formed the band Thanks last year. With an alternative sound drawn from all of their different musical interests, Thanks have already written and produced two songs which have been released on iTunes.

“I like playing music with other people because it makes the people listening happy,” said lead guitarist Danny Garcia.

Their two singles are on iTunes, using the website tunerecord.com, which allows musicians to release their own music without having to go through a record company or a professional producer. The lead guitarist, Danny Garcia, produces the music himself using professional software.

Thanks has proven how rock music has not completely disappeared from the high school music scene. With a sudden emergence of DJs, it seems as though playing a core instrument like the guitar or drums is becoming increasingly uncommon. Their old school approach to producing their own music out of a garage and releasing the music themselves independently has not only been a hobby to the high school band, but has allowed them to make a profit. The band has sold about 100 songs so far on iTunes and is currently growing more popular outside of the Gulliver community.

The members of the band include Garcia, guitarist and producer, Brett Gilbert, pianist, Andy Hernandez, singer and bassist, and Marc Fiol, drummer. All four members have distinctly different styles, giving their music a unique independent sound. The band writes all of their own music, but likes to model their sound off of bands like The Black Keys. Their unique sound stems from developing their music as a group.

“We start by writing chord changes and then build from there, like writing lyrics and adding in drum beats,” said Garcia.

Together, Thanks has found a way to incorporate a multitude of genres and styles in a way that makes rock music more relatable and interesting for high school students. Rock music is slowly fading out of the music industry, but alternative rock has newfound hope with bands like Thanks that introduce new styles of music to students in high school. Most emerging artists have chosen to shape their music into a pop style, but when people develop independent styles, they offer up a different genre for people to listen to.

Thanks takes the term garage band to a new level by bringing back a raw way to produce music and introducing indie alternative sounds to students.

By: Ravi Patel

Sports Editor 

On October 2, my classmates and I in the International Baccalaureate class had the opportunity to experience different religions and traditions from across the globe. Our day started at the Wat Buddharangsi Buddhist temple here in South Florida. We arrived only to be mesmerized by a large Buddhist temple designed with Thai architecture. Covered in red bricks and gold statues, the temple seemed to illuminate from the Florida morning sunshine. We were greeted by one of the various monks residing in the temple who welcomed us with open arms and throughout my experience, made me feel like a true Buddhist.

Walking in, I saw a 20-30 foot gold plated statue of Buddha, whom embodies all of the principles that define Buddhism. In order to pay reverence towards both the monks and Buddha, I along with the other students took off our shoes before entering and quietly sat down while admiring the beautiful designs and religious statues that were inside. Dressed in a traditional orange robe that represents their humbleness and simple lifestyle, the monk briefed us on the various fundamentals that define Buddhism. Throughout the “lecture”, I reflected upon my life and how I embody many of these same concepts that the monk preached to us. The lecture was then accompanied by a moment of deep meditation, which put my mind at ease and relaxed my entire body. “Intention to walking, lift and touch” uttered the monk repeatedly as we participated in an exercise which included utilizing all of our muscles and our tranquil state of mind in order to maintain balance and control over our bodies. Visiting Wat Buddharangsi and participating in the various exercises with the monks and Abotts was truly a gratifying experience that I feel benefitted me as a person and opened my eyes to other religions.

“Wait, what’s that? Is that spicy? This is so exotic!” were phrases that I heard various times throughout our lunch at Imlee, an Indian restaurant which debuts all the flavors and cuisines of Northern India. Because of my Indian heritage, I was familiar with most of the meals offered to me yet I was ecstatic to see many of my American or other international friends enjoying my culture’s cuisine.

In the afternoon, we visited a Hindu temple in Cutler Bay that was not a new sight to me, yet was different than all of my past experiences in a Hindu temple. Because of my upbringing in a Hindu-oriented family, it was comforting seeing the statues of Lord Krishna, Ganesha, Shiva, Ram, Parvati, Hanuman, and all of other figures in Hinduism when walking into the makeshift temple as the actual temple was under construction. As we took off our shoes and walked in, I could tell the Brahman was happy to have us here in that he welcomed us with open arms and a big smile. He covered various topics that I was able to relate to by recalling these morals that were taught to me throughout my childhood. As I looked around the room, I could tell everyone was intrigued by the Brahman and the witty jokes he cracked throughout our time there. It was also nice seeing my fellow peers originating from various backgrounds immersing themselves in a religion that is special to me. Living in Miami, I have come to terms with the fact that Hinduism is not a dominant religion amongst the masses. Seeing my close friends and other acquaintances learning about the religion that I adhere to was the highlight of this field trip to me.