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Photo of the Month
Senior Alec Boyd stands at his Electrical Engineering booth at the Class of 2022's Senior Career Fair. This was the 7th year for this event, displaying the research seniors have completed, diving into careers they are interested in pursuing after graduation.
Important Dates
Weekly Meetings
Layla Jones is Cooking Up Something Great At The Career Academy
By: Chesney Mullins
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Sautéing. Tempering. Filet. Brining. These words may be unheard of to an ordinary person, but to a culinary student, these are part of their newly learned vocabulary. Layla Jones is a senior at the South-Western Career Academy. She is in the Culinary Arts program run by Head Chef Chris Wright.
“I am so glad that I joined the Culinary program. I absolutely love it.”
Jones loves the Career Academy because it is so different from Central Crossing. It is different because the Career Academy students have three periods a day where they strictly work in their Labs. This allows the students to get a lot of hands-on experience. Jones is very appreciative of this because she has had the chance to learn so much in the culinary world.
“My favorite part about the program is operating our in-school restaurant.”
During Jones’ lab, she gets the opportunity to run their restaurant called The Academy Grill. In the restaurant, Jones gets to experience what it is like to work in an authentic restaurant, and students get the opportunity to suggest and make new items for the menu.
“By being in the program, I have learned so much. The coolest thing that I have learned so far probably has to be the tips and tricks of using chocolate or the commercial equipment.”
While in lab, Jones has learned so much about dealing with different types of food. She has discovered that her favorite thing to cook with is seafood, meat, and poultry. She loves working with all these different types of things because you can do so many other things with them.
“Being in the Culinary program has allowed me to figure out what I want to do in the future.”
After Jones graduates, she hopes to go to college to major in Human Nutrition and Ecology.
“I plan on attending The Ohio State University, which is a dream come true.”
Fight until the End
By: Maddie Myers
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Female wrestlers aren’t common when you look at Central Crossing. However, Addi Rudolph (10) came into this wrestling season with a 5th place finish at the state tournament the previous year. “I was super excited for the season.” Rudolph stated. “I knew I wanted to do better this year.”
Rudolph won many matches throughout the season and qualified for the state tournament for the second year in a row. Her biggest supporters were her family, and Taryn Martin has influenced her the most when it comes to wrestling. “I’ve always looked up to her. She was the only girl just like me growing up. She wrestled the boys just like me and has been there for me since I first started wrestling.”
In order to prepare for the state tournament this year, and for all of her matches, Rudolph listens to music and just goes through the match in her head, and tries to relax. “I knew that my work from the previous matches was paying off and they motivated me for my next one because I knew I wanted to do better than last year, so I had to keep winning.” Rudolph expressed.
Rudolph walked away from the tournament with a third place finish in the state tournament, which is two places better than last year. “I was very happy with myself and knew that I got what I deserved.”
20 Years Sparks New Tradition
By: Amy Thompson
As CCHS turns 20, so do many Comet traditions. FFN, Comet Olympics, Productions, AP classes, Silver and Blue. This anniversary also creates some new traditions as well. Second generation Comets are now one of them. Juniors Lucas Miller and Madi Mohler are among some of the pioneers in this new generation. Both Mohler and Miller’s moms were a part of the first ever Central Crossing High School graduating class of 2004.
Miller (11) is proud he gets to share a new bond with his mom; “It feels so great to follow in my mom's footsteps,” Miller explained.
Miller is a part of the baseball team and his mom was a part of the softball team. They have always been able to bond over their love for the sports but being a Comet has helped strengthen this bond as well. “I am thankful to be able to play sports and go to school somewhere where my mom had such an impact,” said Miller. The two often bond over different stories and happenings at CCHS. They also shared many teachers including Mrs. Fischer and Mrs. Halleck.
Miller’s mom has also had a huge impact on his life, being one of his biggest supporters and role models. “There is no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for what my mom has done for me,” Miller explained.
His mom has helped him a lot in school but on the field as well. “She is the one that made me realize my love for baseball and she pushed me beyond my limits in the classroom,” Miller said.
Mohler (11) also feels a connection with her mom sharing the Comet tradition. “It’s interesting to see how different it is from when my mom was in school,” Mohler stated.
The two bond with their love for service and giving back to their school community. You can often find Mohler’s mom helping out and volunteering at different volleyball, choir, and school events to help support CCHS. “She loves to come to events and just be involved,” Mohler explained.
The Comet tradition doesn’t stop at 20 years. Miller and Mohler both have younger siblings who will be Comets one day too. They hope to share the Comet pride and continue the legacy with them as well.
Miller also hopes to raise future Comets himself. “I would like to give them insight on how to be a Comet and have the best experience possible,” Miller explained. 20 years of tradition has helped make CCHS, these second generations will help carry these traditions on forever. “I just really love being a Comet,” said Mohler.
Hard-Hitting News
Turning Dreams into Reality
Joey Taylor Commits to Evansville University for XC/Track & Field
By: Erin Brothers
On February 8th, Joey Taylor (12) committed Division 1 to Evansville University to run track and cross country. But before Taylor became the top runner at Central Crossing, basketball was his passion.
“Track really came into the picture when I had a very good breakout season my junior year” Taylor has played basketball his whole life but when he started running track he started to have a change of heart. “The turning point for me was really when the old basketball coach never played me, I started getting tired of it and I wanted to pursue track. Once I made regionals I knew track was perfect for me.”
Deciding to play a sport in college is a huge decision to make but Taylor tells me he always knew that's what he wanted. “I knew I wanted to play a sport in college especially when I realized I had potential and I could really get somewhere with what I was doing.”
Navigating college sports and the recruiting process is something that an athlete cannot do alone. Mrs. Kaulen, Central Crossings distance coach, was a huge part in Taylors recruiting process. “ The recruiting process was something very stressful at first. But coach Kaulen was my main guide in the process and she is the reason I am where I’m at today.”
Evansville is a small private university in Evansville Indiana. Taylor said “Evansville is the best for me because of the pre- med program. It’s pretty much direct access to getting into med school and interning at hospitals!” Evansville is known for their great academics. “I plan to major in biology but also be in the pre med program so I will be taking chemistry, anatomy, biology and other branches of those sciences.”
“I would love to run professionally after college if I get the chance. Making the Olympics is a huge dream of mine and I could possibly do that while in college.”
Comeback Season
By: Maddie Myers
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The Central Crossing Boys Basketball Program is no stranger to 6’5 senior Isaiah Bridges. Having been a part of the program all four years of high school, he has witnessed the changes brought on over the years. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic haven’t failed to make an appearance, but more importantly, there are some new faces on the sideline. New head coach Brent Cahill is in his first year of coaching with the Central Crossing program. As of January 10th, the current record for the boy’s basketball team is 7-4, which is the best it has been in years.
“Some people may think he is crazy, but it just shows his passion to win.” Bridges stated. “In the past we have always been viewed as the same Central Crossing. ‘They’re not that good.’ This year though, it doesn’t feel like we are just playing to play anymore. Everybody is buying in, and is striving to be better.”
COVID-19 also hasn’t failed as an obstacle in the Comets’ season. Multiple games have been postponed, and players have been quarantined.
“Having to play three games a week due to games being postponed and rescheduled is tiring.” Bridges explained. “Players having to sit for quarters due to being out is hard, but there isn’t anything we can do about it.” Playing another season through COVID is difficult, but everyone is doing the best they can, whether that be wearing a mask or constantly, washing your hands, and social distancing.
Nonetheless, this season will be one to remember. A record has been set for the Comets. This has been the first season in Comet history where the boy’s varsity team has had a 3-0 start to the season. The new and returning faces are coming together to create something special. A season to prove something. “We aren’t done yet.”
Friday Knights in 180
By: Sophia Toscano
CHECK it, mate. Chess is one of the most complex sports there are, a game of mental strength and strategy, and while everyone knows the game of chess, not everyone knows how to play.
Mr.Tiech is a math teacher here at Central Crossing, and he is also the advisor in charge of the chess club. He was very excited to take it over from Ms.McGraw who retired last year (2021). Tiech got into chess at a very young age,
“During 4th 5th and 6th grade I was part of a gifted program, and the coordinator for that program, when you had extra time after you had completed your responsibilities let you play games. And the first time it wasnt even my choice but that [chess] was all that was available to me, so I started to teach myself chess.”
Tiech went to a few chess club meetings a few years back, and a student of his wanted to keep it going and knew he liked chess, the student asked if he could keep it going. There's a lot more to the chess club, than just chess according to Tiech,
“It’s actually a lot of fun, it’s a good group of students and they’re all very funny, animated about the game they're playing, and it’s all out of good fun. There's no animosity about following the rules, a lot of the things are loose… and it’s just a great way to end the week.”
You quickly learn that being a part of the chess club is more than just playing chess, it's a community of students getting together at the end of a week to play games. They bring food and drinks, and members get together to hang out and have a good time. Not only is everyone in attendance there for the love of fun, but also for the love of chess.
“I like all of it, I like that every game can be different, and there's definitely a lot of logic and reasoning behind it. I'm a mathematics teacher, it tends to lend itself to that type of knowledge. You know I'm not the biggest fan of mathematics, even though I’m a math teacher, but chess is definitely in that same avenue.”
Tiech loves hanging out with the kids, teaching, playing, and enjoying the game of chess. He encourages all students to try the chess club, because of the wonderful, and playful atmosphere that they create.
Mindful Moves Made
By: Mohamed Ahmed
Zane Mccloud (9) was dealing with stress about not being able to finish this huge project that was going to eat his grades. He felt overwhelmed; he felt like he had no control
over his situation. So he went down to mindfulness, and he breathed in and out 5 times and he claimed himself down.
Then he thought about how to deal with his situation; he had help from his friend Evan. They finished the project on time, and that’s how Mccloud dealt with stress.
Pierson Siscom (9) who was also dealing with stress in his personal life. So one day he stopped by the mindfulness class. After that, he calmed down. Siscom said, “mindfulness helps me out with dealing with stress.”
Gymnastics [Taylor's Version]
By: Brianna Sammons
“Gymnastics has always been my one true love when it comes to sports,” said Taylor Redden (12), member of the Central Crossing Gymnastics team.
Redden is a Central Crossing student, but also a College
Credit Plus student at Columbus State Community College. It’s a heavy load for Redden, but she manages to cartwheel around it.
“I’ve learned to manage it, it’s helpful because I’ve done College Credit Plus classes since sophomore year. Having a lot of support from my professors, teachers, and friends, I’ve been able to mix it.”
Redden has been in love with Gymnastics since the 3rd grade, however before high school she hadn’t always had the best experience with it.
“I think that when I was younger, in some of the club gymnastics environments there was a lot of negativity there.” Redden said, “Being molded to believe you have to look a certain way and be a certain way, I think that growing up in that environment negatively affected me.”
However, as Redden got older and joined the gymnastics team in her freshman year, she learned that gymnastics can be positive and inclusive.
“But I think that taking a turn and going into high school gymnastics and being in a positive environment really deterred that negativity… I think that the high school environment has a lot of positivity especially within our team. I’ve been able to meet my best friend and meet a lot of new girls, and become a leader for them."
Shea Little Loves Living the Social Media Life
By: Chesney Mullins
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Share, like, comment, go live, swipe up. To some, these words have no meaning, but these are part of their everyday life for someone in the world of social media. Shea Little (9) loves to express herself and learn new things, primarily through social media. Little uses Snapchat,
Instagram, and TikTok.
"I do think social media has changed me as a person. By having social media, I am more aware of other opinions of me. I also get to see part of people's lives, and I'm so infatuated with how they live."
Little enjoys seeing new and different perspectives on things to try and understand why people see things the way they do. She also enjoys getting little glimpses into people's lives to see how they live in the crazy society that the world is today.
"Some benefits of having social media are that I can stay in touch with friends and learn more about the things I am interested in."
Little uses social media to learn and grow as a person. She is all about gaining knowledge on opinions and the things that interest her. This will help Little in the long run of her career. After Little graduates, she wants to pursue her dreams of becoming a special education teacher. Finding new strategies for each student's different learning styles and communication is vital in this field.
"If I could go back and never ever have social media, I would still have it; because you get to be involved in society, stay in touch with others, see other people's opinions, and see how people function in our crazy society."