A Look into the Life of a Fellow Patriot: Pouliot Takes Charge

This weekend, one of our Patriot Football Players received the honor of being chosen as one of the Top Twelve senior football players for this year. Not every school has a nominee. The players are picked solely based on their performance. Northside was represented in this year’s Top Twelve by Mr. Tyler Pouliot, number 37. Tyler has proven his dedication by playing for the team all four years of high school. Being chosen is a huge honor and Tyler was “beyond excited” when he found out he was chosen and he “couldn’t believe it.” As team captain, he is very optimistic for this season.

Tyler has high expectations for Northside’s performance on the grid iron. One of his major goals for the season is to “break their even win-loss record from last year (5-5)”. When asked about his future college career playing football, he says he “does plan on playing football and is already being looked at by different colleges.” He plans on getting into college with a football scholarship. The next game for the Patriots is this Thursday, September 6^th at Memorial Stadium against Jordan at 7. Be sure to show up to one of the games posted below and give our Patriots all the support they will need! (2012 Schedule shown)

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Michaela Olafson, a senior on the Northside varsity volleyball team, also got a surprise as we took her out of her class to interview her.

 

Apparently winning their first game against Callaway sprung a winning streak. The girls have won five out of seven games and are excited to see how the rest of their games play out. Tonight, August thirtieth is another game against Callaway and they’re hoping to pull a win again.

 

“State is a long ways away,” Michaela said when asked about it. “I’m pretty sure it’s a team goal of ours to go, though.”

We also interviewed Morganne Harper, a freshman about how it felt making the varsity team.

 

“It was a pretty big accomplishment to me. Knowing that I had made varsity as a freshman is pretty good,” Morganne said.

 

 

 

 

The First Game!

     Jonathan Karastury, the starting quarterback for the varsity Northside High School football team, got a big surprise when we pulled him out of Mrs. Housand’s AP World History class to interview him about their first game against Shaw High School. He didn’t really know what to say when we interviewed him, but it seems he eventually found some good answers for the questions we had prepared for him.

“I’m pretty excited because I know we will beat them,” he told us while laughing. How does he know that? I could say the many days after school with bone-crunching practices

Jonathan also told us how he think the season will go. “We have a lot of good players so I expect it to be a pretty good season.”

If you want to go and cheer the Patriots on to give them even more motivation to win against the Raiders, be at Kinnet Stadium at seven.

Underwood Inspires

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By: Gabby Wilson 

Wilma Rudolph once said, “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.”  Being an athlete requires a person to have a winning mentality.  When I sat down with Northside freshman Travis Underwood, I understood what being an athlete truly means. 

Underwood was born with Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy.  Cerebral Palsy is a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination that is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development or infancy.  It is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination.  This condition is not “curable” in an accepted sense; however, therapy and applied technology can help those with Cerebral Palsy lead productive lives. 

Cerebral Palsy has taken a toll on Travis’ life, but he does not let that hinder his love for sports.  Talking to Travis gave me a better understanding of what playing sports is like for Travis, and I learned that he is everything an athlete should be and more.  When I asked Travis about his love for sports, he lit up with excitement.  “I love sports,” Underwood said.  “I have never allowed my disability to stop me from playing sports, and the Muscogee Lions have given me an opportunity that I never could have imagined having.”

The Northside football team welcomed Travis as their football manager when he was a freshman.  Travis describes his love for football by saying that, even though he is not able to participate, being the manager is just as satisfying.  “I still get to learn more, and help the players and coaches,” says Underwood.  “I loved getting to know the players throughout the season.  They are like a family to me, and I am so blessed to be a part of the team.”

Outside of school, Travis plays wheelchair basketball, handball, and football through Muscogee County’s adapted sports program.  He began playing with the Muscogee Lions in the 7^th grade when he caught the game winning touchdown catch that won his team the State Championship.  At the time, Travis was the youngest player on the team, and now he is the oldest and enjoys being a leader for his fellow teammates.  This past year, Travis helped lead his handball team to be the state runners-up.

“Travis does not allow his disability to slow him down one bit, he will try almost anything,” says Gloria Brown, Muscogee Lions football and handball coach.  “He is a wonderful young athlete who sets positive examples for his teammates both on and off the court.”

When I asked Travis who his role model was, I did not know at the moment that I would be writing a list of names.  “My brother Caleb and my cousin Seth have always pushed me to never give up and of course my parents,” he began.  “Coach Brown, Coach Ingram, Coach Wilson, Coach Dee, and Coach Reid are important to me because they gave up their valuable time to help me and the Lions.  Mr. Brakefield deserves huge thanks from me because without him, I would not be where I am today.”

Travis’ passion and determination is contagious.  He is a wonderful young athlete who is an inspiration to all.  The Northside football program and the Muscogee Lions program would not be where they are today without him.

 

Northside Rifle Hopes for State Title

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By: Gabby Wilson Northside High School has proven itself worthy of recognition in many areas of the athletic world.  While some only keep record of the more popular sports such as football, basketball, and baseball and tend to overlook sports that are not as common, Northside recognizes their Rifle Team as one of the best […]

Swim Team Visits The Dawgs

The Northside Patriot Swim Team visited Athens this past weekend for a major meet at the University of Georgia. Only select swimmers from the teams were allowed to compete due to a limited number of spots in each event. In spite of this limitation, there were a whopping 600 swimmers in attendance (which is huge compared to the normal 400). Swimmers arrived at Northside at 5:15 in the morning in order to make it to Athens in time to warm up at 9:50 am. Upon their arrival at the University of Georgia, the team was amazed by how incredible the facilities were and the amount of competitors in attendance.

“There were so many swimmers there and barely anywhere to wait for our events,” said senior, Emily Fitts who will be attending the University of Georgia next fall.  “Overall, the meet took over fourteen hours to complete. I had to compete in two events I had never done before, so I was pretty nervous. Even though it was long and kind of nerve-wracking, it was a really great experience being able to swim at such a great facility.”

Emily, along with several other swimmers, competed in numerous events that they had never participated before.

However, some swimmers stuck to their strong suits and competed in the events they knew would guarantee a win for the team. Adam Wilder, a senior and one of the team’s captains, swam the 200 IM (a difficult event that combines all four strokes), the 100 breaststroke, and two relays with three other teammates.

“I was surprised by how many people there were at the meet,” said Adam. “I was overwhelmed and a little nervous, but I actually swam better than I normally would because I happen to work well under pressure. Overall, it was a really great first time experience swimming in Athens.” This proved to be true, as Adam cut time on both his individual events as well as the medley relay which he competed alongside teammates Kevin Savabi, Trey Brown, and Jonathan Lovern.

Swim season is almost over with only four meets left. The City-Wide meet will be held next Thursday, the 26^th at 4 pm at the D.A. Turner YMCA off of Warm Springs Road. So come out and support your Patriots on their own turf when they compete against Shaw, Columbus, and Hardaway High School.

Two Thumbs Up for Northside

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The competition cheerleading squad of Northside High School was region champion for the second year in a row.  With a squad primarily comprised of underclassmen, the squad surpassed Northside’s sky-rocketing standards.  As region champions, the squad received an automatic bid to the state championship.  The girls began training for a victory during the summer with […]

High Expectation for Lacy

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By:  Gabby Wilson, Editor-in-Chief Compared to Northside’s former quarterbacks, Jalen Lacy is one of the best.  Lacy explains that not just anything can capture his love and dedication like football.  At an early age, Lacy played on the Northeast football team, and then later played for the Blackmon Road Middle School football team.  Not only […]

Guiding Northside Students and Athletes On and Off the Field

By: Gabby Wilson, Editor-in-Chief

 

Northside High School principal James Wilson called promoting Chris Porch to Northside’s Guidance Director Position one of the easiest decisions he ever made.  “Chris is a great young man.  He’s a family first person who has a gift to lead young people, whether they are our guidance counselors, students, or athletes.”

 

Porch began his career in education as a Special Education teacher at Kendrick High School in 2005, while teaching and counseling at Kendrick, Porch served as the Head Track coach from 2006-2008 where he earned the All Bi-City Coach of the Year Honor in both 2006 and 2008.  In 2008 moved permanently from teaching to counseling.  He joined the guidance department at Northside in 2010, and then later in 2011 was promoted to Guidance Director when former Guidance Director Lance Henderson was promoted to an assistant principal’s position at Columbus High School.   He returned to the football sidelines this year and has played a vital role in the Patriots 5-4 season. 

 

The 1998 Shaw High School graduate made the All Bi-City Team for football in 1997 and received All State track recognition as the states AAA Long Jump Champion in 1998.  Porch signed a football scholarship to Albany State where he played as a freshman.  He transferred to the University of Georgia after his freshman season and was a member of both the Bulldog football and track teams. 

 

 

When asked about his role as a counselor and coach, Porch stated, “In many ways, being both a counselor and coach prepares me for success in the opposite role.  Both roles require listening, teaching, and encouraging students to work through life’s obstacles and to meet their personal goals.  My goal for all students that I work with, on and off the field, is for them to be prepared for success beyond high school.  I approach both my counseling and coaching duties with this goal in mind.  As a counselor and coach that means emphasizing that all goals both academic and athletic are obtainable with hard work and a positive attitude.”  Porch went on to say, “Often times being a counselor and coach means long days and late nights, and I’m so thankful to have a wife that supports both aspects of my life.  It is with her love and support that I am able to manage being a father, counselor, and coach.  This year was full of memorable events for my wife and I as I have resumed coaching after two years of taking a break.  None have been more memorable than the birth of our first child, Kennedy Grace Porch.  Through God’s grace, prayer, and the support of our family, friends, and co-workers she is doing well after being born three months early.  Whether it is a long and stressful day or a game loss, nothing gives me more strength than my daughter Kennedy.  She is our little miracle.”

Senior Haley Elver Leads the Way on the Field

By: Gabby Wilson

Northside’s Haley Elver knows a thing or two about softball.  This season’s starting pitcher has proven to be quite the leader on and off the field.  She led this year’s varsity team all summer and will continue play softball for her team rather than just herself.  Elver says that the team this year is wonderful and loaded with talent for every position. 

“We have never had specific captains on the team, but Haley has gained much of respect from the team and has shown us that she has respect for the team as well, and that is what makes her a leader,” says junior, short stop Marybeth Wilson.

Elver always puts the team first.  She shows this by her game and always gives pep talks to the girls to help them gain confidence and shake their nerves before every game.  Elver says that her most memorable moment from this past summer with her team was a trip to Dahlonega, Georgia, where the girls bonded by zip lining, watching movies, playing charades, and finishing strong in their tournament.

“Every time Haley is on the field all the girls have more confidence in the game,” says junior centerfielder Ashleigh Heard.

Watching Elver play gives you an exciting rush.  Northside holds high hopes and expectations for Elver and the varsity softball team this year.  We hope to see them finish strong.