MCSH leads high schools in blood donationBy Emily Crace

Students participate in the blood drives at school for various reasons: Some do it because they know the impact; some do it to get out of class. No matter the reason, every donation matters! Students can count donating blood as community service. Also, students can earn a cord to wear at graduation by donating a gallon (eight pints) of blood. MCSHS has had 13 students graduate with the cord, 8 of those being from last year’s graduating class!

We, as a school, have been participating in blood drives for the last 10 years. In those 10, we have donated 3,409 total pints of blood. Each pint that is donated can potentially save 3 lives. If you do the math, that’s 10,227 lives that have possibly been saved by Titan staff and

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By Mac Guay

Under direction of new coach Tonya Barnard, the 2013-2014 Mercer County Titan Cheerleaders received the 12th Regional Championship 1st place trophy on November 9. This is Mercer County’s largest cheerleading team they have ever had consisting of 24 girls and 2 guys, making it Mercer County’s first co-ed team. This team of talented athletes competed for a State Title on December 14th at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. At regionals, the Titans competed against 3 other schools: Casey County, Lincoln County, and East Jessamine. Mercer was the second team to compete among the four; however they had confidence and knew they were going to win. “I was nervous at first,

but right after we competed I just knew we won,” said Co-captain Laura Cohee. This team has overcome many obstacles to accomplish the things they have. A major one was trying to find a second guy to compete. KHSAA rules say that only having one male you cannot compete co-ed, but you also cannot compete all girls. Senior Mac Guay, Mercer’s first male cheerleader, and the team were all devastated to hear the news. Thankfully, after a few weeks of worry, junior Clay Bryant, decided that he would help the team out by joining them in competitions. When Coach Tonya was asked about her team she said “ When we started the season, I was nervous that we would not get to compete as a co-ed team, but things worked out and we continued on page 3

Cheer Champs: Mercer takes Region

Mercer Students produce “An Evening of 10-Minute Plays” - Page 4

Austin Sparrow reflects on the basketball team’s trip to the Bahamas - Page 5

TITAN TIMES MERCER COUNTY SENIOR HIGH/ DECEMBER 2013/ ISSUE 01

Inside the Issue...

Senior JT Long reflects on a problem faced by many his age: “Senoritis” - Page 3

A Fashion ‘Ugh’ featuring UGGsIN TUNE WITH...A

MUSIC POLL

BY LAUREN BEAMS

MULTIPLE STUDENTS WERE ASKED TO NAME

THEIR FAVORITE TYPE OF GENRE, ARTIST, AND

SONG. THE RESULTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

ARTIST- TOP 5

LUKE BRYAN

BLAKE SHELTON

KATY PERRY

CARRIE UNDERWOOD

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

SONG- TOP 5

“MINE WOULD BE YOU”

“COUNTRY GIRL”

“ROAR”

“WAKE ME UP”

“GAS PEDAL”

55% OF THE STUDENTS SURVEYED ADMIT THEY

DO NOT LIKE CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

By Lauren Goodlett

There is nothing better than throwing on a big sweater and a pair of comfy leggings to curl up, sip on some hot chocolate and relax by the fire place. This time of the year brings about many exciting events and holidays, as well as some adorable fashion items. Scarves, boots, oversized sweaters, and leggings are just a few of the adorable styles for the winter days. Although I have observed some extremely cute and sassy outfits for the winter days I have also witnessed a few ensembles that have me shaking in my boots, my UGG boots that is.

You guessed it; one funny fashion is shorts and UGGS. I mean is anyone else confused by this awkward combination? Do not get me wrong I am a fan of both UGG boots and shorts, just not together. Both shorts and UGGS serve a purpose, however they serve two completely different purposes. Shorts are worn to keep you cool during the hot summer days while UGGS are worn to keep your feet nice and toasty on those chilly winter nights. So for all you seasonally confused ladies out there, use this rule of thumb. If it is cold enough to wear UGGS it is too cold for shorts, and if it is warm enough for shorts then for the sake of roasting your little piggy’s do not wear UGGS.

The Rule of ThreeBy Ryan Sanders

Many of us are well adept to our favorite music, films, and many other forms of entertainment; but have you ever wondered what your teacher’s favorite things are? Prior to first period, I sat down with English Teacher, Ms. Milburn to ask some crucial

questions. Three questions will be asked: Top 3 Favorite Artists/Bands, Top 3 Favorite Films, and another Top 3 question that relates to the subject that they teach.

Top 3 Favorite Artists/BandsChicago, Dan Fogelberg, David Gray

Top 3 Favorite FilmsGladiator, Braveheart, The Patriot

Top 3 Favorite BooksThe Bible, Mere Christianity, Lonesome Dove

By JT Long

The last semester of senior year can be the hardest of a student's career. As the last semester gets closer, the pressure of graduation begins to set in, and so do the symptoms of senioritis. Although many students believe senioritis is a myth, the truth is, senioritis is an illness that can get a hold of even the best students. Typically, well, for me, senioritis sunk in on the second day of this year!

Common symptoms of senioritis include: laziness, playing hooky from school, the uncontrollable urge to procrastinate (my biggest downfall), frequent naps(not for AP Lit students, thank you Mrs. Milburn) and an overall distracted feeling when it comes to work of any kind. As a high school senior, I have had every senioritis symptom out there, and I have many friends who have been affected by senioritis. If you feel these symptoms taking over, don't worry, we've all been there and it's okay! We've got a few treatments guaranteed to fight off those senioritis symptoms and get you back on track.

Use the buddy system: Buddy up with a fellow senior who needs focusing and get those assignments, papers, Balfour forms, and everything else done and it's not quite as mind-numbing and boring as if you go it alone!

Stay organized: Before you know it graduation day will be here, and if you're not organized you can miss out on important deadlines and due dates. Keeping a planner with a set schedule can really help keep you from slacking off. I find that having a well-organized

planner can make all the difference, even though I have never once written anything down in a planner... I'm sure it helps people hold themselves more accountable for their actions and helps them to feel relieved when they finish.

Plan for the future: Although sometimes school may feel like it will never end, the end will be here sooner than you think. Senioritis has a tendency to infect students when they're close to the finish line. Or, if you're like me, it's already sunk in and you struggle to get things started, like Lit assignments! :(

Make it count: It's your last year of high school so you've got to kick the sickness and make it count. Don't be afraid to break up your rigorous routine and explore new things. Take a chance and step out of your comfort zone and try something different because you don't have many chances to be a senior. Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you get out of bed before three in the afternoon and take advantage of your opportunities before they are gone! We've got to make everyday count!

Find a balance: It is most important that you find a good balance between work and fun. Well, mostly fun! If you're not having enough fun then there is no reason to do what you do. Staying on track and beating senioritis doesn't have to be all work and no play, it should be some work and most play. It's important to have fun and reward yourself for all of your hard work (PLAY).

Follow these simple steps and you'll be on your way to successful graduation before you know it!

Senoritis: A true and common condition

Titan Times OnlineEmail: mercercountytitantimes@gmail.comTwitter: @Titantimes Coming soon: Find the Titan Times on Facebook.

Blood Donation (from front)students! In the 10 years we have participated, we have been the #1 school in Kentucky in number of donations for 7 years, and for that, we have our school bookkeeper, Cindy Robinson, to thank! Cindy was made coordinator 7 years ago. When asked about her motivation for the blood drives, she said, “It’s comforting to know it is always on hand in an emergency. If something happened to my family, I would like for it to be there, ready.”

Cheer (from front)

and we registered with KHSAA as the first ever co-ed team from our school. This team has worked through so many injuries, illnesses, and absences, but their dedication and hard work at 6-7 practices a week for several months is what brought home the Region 12 coed title. I am so proud of these athletes, and this is just the beginning.”

Update: This past weekend, in December 14th the Mercer County Cheerleaders went to compete for a state title being their first time competing in the co-ed division.

10-Minutes of fun: Students write, act in short plays

by Morgan UnderwoodThe students of Mercer County Senior High School have joined ranks with individuals such as William Shakespeare, Arthur Miller, and Tennessee Williams as great playwrights; with the fall student performance of An Evening of Student Productions. This includes eight plays written by the students of Mr. Charlie Cox’s Creative Writing and Drama Classes. This was something Mercer has never attempted before, to portray the works of Mercer County’s own students. This talented group of people took on roles such as students, old women, and teachers discussing issues like teen pregnancy, dementia, and hot teachers.

Even if you missed the fall production you can still look forward to the Spring Musical, “Dracula The Musical?” a comedic musical spoof based off the well-known classic gothic novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. Set in a 19th Century mad house with the familiar characters of Jonathan Harker, Mina Seward, and of course Count Dracula. The play is sure to one

of great hilarity and laugh out loud fun. So make sure to save the date, Saturday and Sunday, March 21st and 22nd, because this will be a production you won’t want to miss.

Students Taking Action: MCSH raises Pennies for Patients

By Morgan UnderwoodIt is important to remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves; this is a message that is constantly displayed in Mercer County Senior High School, most recently with the Pennies for Patients money drive sponsored by FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) and its advisers Mrs. Miranda Goodlett and Mrs. Brittany Sexton. The previous year, the students of Mercer County Senior High School joined together raising over 5,000 dollars, surpassing the set goal. This was a large amount of money to go to a worthy cause. This year the students raised over 3,000 to continue the fight against Leukemia for many young children who need. For those of you who are unaware, Pennies for Patients is a program of the non-profit organization of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where for three weeks out of the year elementary school, middle school, and high school

are asked to dig into their piggy banks and pockets to donate money to help find the cure for cancer. Since 1994, the organization has raised millions of dollars for research to discover a cure for cancerous diseases such as Leukemia and Lymphoma. It is an easy way for students to get involved in a worthy cause that teaches them the importance of actively working to help others. So when next year rolls around be ready to empty your pockets for an upstanding cause, the fight against cancer. A problem that has touched the lives of many members of our community, our state, our nation, and our world, losing loved ones to this disease, something that we continually fight against and have hope that one day we will win by finding the cure. Mercer County Senior High School’s active role in Pennies for Patients is bringing The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society one more step closer to reaching this goal.

Athlete of the Month By Chase Moore

Chris Crawley-Goodman, of the Mercer County Titans football team, has been selected for athlete of the month. Having the job as captain of the offense running the quarterback position, he led the Titans through tough victories over the month of November. Throughout the playoffs he led them past tough competition. Knox Central with a score of 31-14, who put Mercer out of their season the previous season. After putting out Knox, Crawley-Goodman and the Titans came face-to-face with their district rivals, the Boyle County Rebels. Leading the Titans past the undefeated Rebels with a score of 31-30 in the second round, he put Mercer in the Regional Championship game in a position to make history. Crawley-Goodman and the Titans had their second winning season in a row for the first time since 2007 making history in his school. Athlete of the month, Chris Crawley-Goodman.

By Austin Sparrow

As an athlete at Mercer County I never would have thought I would get to experience the trip of a lifetime. I never dreamed I would experience my first plane ride, a trip out of the country, and staying at a resort that provided everything you would want on a dream vacation. But that’s exactly what the Titan basketball teams experienced. On November 30th the Lady Titans and the Titans flew to the Bahamas to play 3 basketball games and have an awesome experience staying at the Atlantis Resort. 120 players, parents, and Titan basketball fans took the Bahamas by storm and created one of the most fun environments you could possibly imagine.

We left at 2:00 am from the high school because we had such an early flight, and the girls followed us with a flight at 10:00 am. Many of us had never flown before, and some players were very nervous. Going through security, and customs kind of made you feel like you were a criminal, getting searched, wanded, taking off your shoes, and walking through a metal detector on the way to the Bahamas, and upon return to USA was an eye opening experience.

We arrived at the Bahamas and immediately went to board busses that took us to the Atlantis. We had a 30 minute bus ride and got to see a lot of the culture as we drove to the resort. The homes, the straw mart, the small businesses; all surrounded by palm trees, sand, and the ocean. Some homes were really nice and others were broken down and looked like no one lived in them, but you would see kids playing outside in the yards.

We arrived at the Atlantis Resort, checked in, and then went to our rooms to unpack. We stayed at the East Royal Towers and the girl’s team was at the West Royal Towers. The first night was a free night with no games being played. We got to walk around the Atlantis and eat at one of the Atlantis Restaurants. After eating

we went and watched Kansas and UTEP play in the consolation game of the NCAA Tournament “Battle 4 Atlantis.” The games were played in a ballroom. They had taken a hardwood court and laid it down and brought in seats that were nice and soft. It was not your typical arena seating. We were so close to the floor that you could hear the players talking, and coaches communicating to the players. It was a great experience! The girl’s team went to the championship game later that evening.

On Sunday, we got to go to Dolphin Cay were everyone (including Mr. Davis) put on bodysuits and then got to experience the dolphins close up. Each player both boys and girls, and the parents got to kiss a dolphin. That was such an amazing experience! The bodysuits on the other hand, let’s just say I’m glad we didn’t have to wear them for very long. We got to rub their body and feel the texture of their skin and when you went to kiss the dolphin you could see their teeth up close. No one was really nervous or scared to touch or kiss the dolphin. (Well, actually my mom did freak out) After visiting Dolphin Cay we went to the Atlantis water park for the day. They have amazing water rides. It was kind of like riding a roller coaster and a water ride all at the same time.

That evening everyone that went got to experience Bahamian food. There was a buffet with jerk chicken, spicy Mac and cheese, and well let’s just say some food that was not very tasty. But at least we can say we have tried Bahamian food! Afterwards, between the girls and boys team we started doing the limbo, which then resulted in the beginning of a dance party. Let’s just say the Mercer County teams were fun to watch and got all the other teams involved; whether it was the limbo, dancing, crowd surfing, we were the leaders! It was a great time had by players, coaches, and parents!

The next day started the games. The girl’s team handled their opponent pretty easily with a huge victory. The girls beat

all the teams they played by 20 points or more. Our girls team is young but they are sure fun to watch play! The boy’s team watched the girl’s first game and cheered them on. Mercer fans were definitely in abundance and the loudest fans there! We played in the afternoon against Fairview from Colorado. We struggled in that game getting in the rhythm and handling the inside play of their post players and varsity lost, but JV handled them well and defeated them by a good margin. That evening we attended an Italian buffet were each table participated in a challenge game. The night ended with all the teams attending a dance party. We went in early from the dance due to playing at 7:15 am the next morning. But a good time was had by all.

Early to bed and early to rise, to play against Stanclaus, out of the state of Mississippi. We were ready to play that morning and defeated a solid basketball team even on a full stomach from the awesome breakfast buffet we had each morning. The JV followed up with another victory and the girls played that afternoon and once again brought home another Titan victory, defeating another team by a large margin. That night we went to a buffet that served hamburgers, and hotdogs, good old American food! It was also a pool party that turned into a water dodge ball, and then a karaoke contest with our own Louis Price killing it on stage. By this time, the other teams were pretty jealous of all the fun Mercer was having and banned together to try and beat Louis in the karaoke contest. Louis was defeated but he did a great job!

The last day both teams played and brought home victories; we defeated Episcopal out of Canada by a large margin and once again the girls team won by large margin. We ended the trip with a 2-1 record, and the girls brought home 3 victories. Afterwards, it was time to pack and head to the airport and back to Kentucky, back to the cold weather, and school.

continued on next page

Experience of a lifetime: Basketball goes to the Bahamas

On Target? A look at new NFL regsTitans Links to Checkout

Mercer County Basketball on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/p a g e s / M e rc e r- C o u n t y -Titans-Basketball/

Mercer County Football on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/mercercountytitansfootball

Mercer County YouTube Channel

Mercer County Football on Twitter:

@mctitansfball

FROM THE EDITORSo this is it: the first edition of the news Mercer County Senior High School newspaper. This issue reflects the hard work of several students, and we’re very proud of it. Having said that, definitely consider this a work-in-progress. There are always kinks to be worked out with new ventures and projects, not excluding this paper. Enjoy, and certainly get involved with the

paper if you are so inclined. We look forward to serving the student body!

Bahamas (from page 5) There is a quote, I’m not sure of the exact words or who said it but it is something like this, “You may not remember the score of the games you played; but you will always remember your teammates.” I know that with this trip I will always remember the experience, the fun time, and just being with my teammates experiencing something

I will never get to experience again. I am forever thankful to the coaches and parents for making this trip possible. I thank you and I know all the members of the Lady Titans and Titan basketball team does as well, for the countless hours spent fundraising, selling, buying, and organizing just to make this trip possible. This was truly the greatest experience!

The football coaching staff at Mercer County is dedicated to their players on and off the football field, and the excellent relationship allows them to poke a great deal of fun at us.! It’s all in good fun, with advantages and disadvantages. It’s good in the sense that they aren’t 100% angry every second of everyday, but they are also bad because you are never safe from a light wisecrack based upon your performance on the field, court, weight room, or even out in public.

I had the regrettable experience of being the smallest starting person on the offensive line for our football team at school, and I promise every time I saw Coach Charlie Cox I lost 5 pounds immediately. In real life I am around 180 pounds but to Coach Cox I was around 120, and if I didn’t have food in my hand I was getting yelled at for “starving” myself! And through my experiences with Coach Cox, watching Coach Frank Crossman always mess with poor, unlucky Chris Crawley-Goodman, and Coach Rowland with...everyone, I have

the only two ways to deal with these types of situations, you can: 1. Try to have fun and be a wise guy also, which you should be extremely careful doing considering it could end in you running until you puke your guts out. 2. Or you can do the smart thing and ignore what they say, turn the other cheek, and walk away taking big breaths in and exhaling slowly.So the choice is up to you! Just don’t get mad if you end up having to run next time you have practice! But really, I wouldn’t change it for anything

By Gage Redimarker• • •Over the past few years, the NFL has been cracking down on how defenders are supposed to make tackles. According to the NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, the league has been plagued by head injuries to receivers and running backs, most notably concussions, and all due to the fact defenders are hitting too high on their tackles. Recently, the NFL did pass several new rules regarding defensive backs hitting high on receivers, and causing an overwhelming amount of concussions. With the new set of rules in place, which include: the mentioned players must tackle below the shoulders, runners are now restricted from dropping their head, and along

with the hefty fines of $20,000 and up that come with high hits, defenders are forced to tackle down low.Now, you make think that is a good thing, you know, to lower the number of concussions; but now receivers are getting hit down low, and one unlucky helmet-to-leg hit can destroy their leg or knee entirely, and possibly end their career. Think about it. Get a concussion and miss a few weeks, or tear an ACL and miss an entire season along with multiple surgeries and months of rehab? Roger Goodell is making this league virtually unplayable for defensive backs; they’re powerless under Goodell’s new rules and restrictions, they’re forced to hit down low, and then they’re blamed for the consequences.

Surviving Smart Coaches by Trevor Gibson