| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: MAY 8 – MAY 13 | |||
| MONDAY | MAY 8 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 3:30pm | Boys JV Golf Conference Match | Highland Nine | |
| 3:30pm | Girls Varsity Golf vs. Humboldt | Highland National GC | |
| 3:45pm (JV) 4:00pm (V) | Tennis vs. St. Thomas Academy | V: HOME JV: St. Thomas Academy | |
| 4:00pm | Softball vs. Harding | HOME | |
| 4:30pm / 4:30pm 7:00pm | Baseball vs. Central | V: Toni Stone Stadium JV: HOME C: Jimmy Lee Rec Center | |
| TUESDAY | MAY 9 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 1:00pm | Boys Golf 9-Hole Tournament | Como Golf Course | |
| 3:00pm | Track and Field True Team Meet | Mounds View High School | |
| 3:30pm | Girls JV Golf vs. Harding | Cedarholm Golf Course | |
| 4:00pm | Softball Conference Tournament | HOME | |
| 4:30pm / 4:30pm | V/JV Baseball vs. Como Park | V: Como Park High School JV: HOME | |
| WEDNESDAY | MAY 10 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 3:30pm | Boys JV Golf Conference Match | Highland Nine | |
| 3:30pm | Girls Varsity Golf vs. Central | Highland National GC | |
| 4:00pm / 4:00pm | 2:45pm | 7:00pm | Badminton Conference Tournament | V: Harding High School JV: HOME |
| 4:00pm | Softball Conference Tournament | HOME | |
| 4:30pm | Tennis vs. MPLS Southwest | Linden Hills Park | |
| 4:30pm | Baseball vs. St. Paul Academy | St. Paul Academy | |
| THURSDAY | MAY 11 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| Boys Varsity Golf Conference Match | Highland National GC | ||
| 3:30pm | Girls JV Golf vs. Humboldt | Cedarholm Golf Course | |
| 4:00pm | 2:45pm | 7:00pm | Badminton Conference Tournament | Harding High School |
| 4:00pm | JV Softball vs. Harding | HOME | |
| 4:30pm / 4:30pm 4:30pm | Baseball vs. Kennedy | JV/C: Home V: Kennedy High School | |
| FRIDAY | MAY 12 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:00pm / 4:00pm | Tennis vs. St. Paul Academy | St. Paul Academy | |
| 4:15pm | JV Softball vs. St. Agnes | HOME | |
| 4:30pm | C-Squad Baseball vs. Humboldt | Humboldt High School | |
| SATURDAY | MAY 13 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 9:00am | Track and Field Invitational | Simley High School | |
| 12:00pm | Softball Twin Cities Game | University of Northwestern | |
All posts by HPSH Plaid Line
My top 5 favorite albums of the 2020s (so far)
By: Charlie Boone
So much incredible music has come out in the past three years, so here are 5 of my favorite albums from 2020-2023, from any genre, in chronological order.
LEYA – ‘Flood Dream’ (2020)
LEYA is an experimental music duo from Brooklyn, New York consisting of harpist Marilu Donovan and vocalist/violinist Adam Markiewicz. Their 2020 album, ‘Flood Dream’ is a haunting and hypnotizing experience combining Donovan’s low-tuned and dissonant harp with Markiewicz’s ghostly operatic vocals for a final product that is as beautiful as it is petrifying. There’s a very distinct eerie quality that feels cinematic but in a very unorthodox way, like it’s the score to a VHS tape that kills you if you press play.
Favorite track: “INTP”
ZelooperZ – ‘Valley of Life’ (2020)
Throughout his time making music in the exciting and ever-evolving Detroit rap scene, ZelooperZ has paved his way as a creative talent, melding elements from both underground and mainstream hip-hop, as well as jazz and club music. He’s an incredibly consistent artist with multiple albums out this decade that could all be on this list, but 2020’s ‘Valley of Life’ stands out to me as a particularly fleshed-out and replayable experience.
ZelooperZ plays with various styles of rap, melding them together with a constant personality and distinctive production style. “Fooseball” features a jazzy lo-fi beat with a unique and infectious groove, while “What2du” (featuring an incredible verse from New York neo-soul artist Fousheé) has what is probably my favorite beat on the album, with eerie synth stabs and sparse yet bouncy percussion reminiscent of Soulja Boy and Tisakorean.
Favorite track: “Just Me”
Brand of Sacrifice – ‘Lifeblood’ (2021)
In the early 2010s, deathcore was at its peak, creatively and commercially. Bands like Suicide Silence and Whitechapel were establishing their footing as the current top dogs of extreme metal, while bands like Winds of Plague and Disfiguring the Goddess were experimenting with technicality and orchestral elements to further expand the sound.
Over a decade later, the deathcore scene seems to me like it’s going in two different directions, one focused on the revival of what made the old scene so great, and the other focused on modernizing and polishing the sound to make it fresh.
In my opinion, the 2000s revival scene is much more interesting with a rawer, more aggressive edge, but the biggest exception to that is Brand of Sacrifice. Their 2021 record ‘Lifeblood’ is pretty much the perfect embodiment of mixing mind-bending brutality with fantastic modern production, and the closest thing to the logical conclusion of what the 2000s deathcore bands were experimenting with.
Favorite track: “Lifeblood”
Ghais Guevara – There Will Be No Super-Slave (2022)
Philadelphia rapper Ghais Guevara has been making waves in the underground recently with incredible, entirely self-produced rap records that are, in my opinion, some of the best and most groundbreaking hip-hop projects I’ve heard in recent memory, combining the aggressive and energetic sounds of East Coast drill and Jersey club with a calmer, more introspective style both over masterfully selected soul and pop samples. ‘There Will Be No Super-Slave’ is definitely Ghais’s current best work and a great showcase of his massive amount of talent.
Still, it’s clear that this isn’t the furthest he wants to go with his sound, and given the way he’s been talking about his upcoming record, I am very much looking forward to what he comes up with next.
Favorite track: “Face/Off”
Danger Mouse & Black Thought – ‘Cheat Codes’ (2022)
The Roots’ Black Thought teams up with super-producer Danger Mouse to craft a jazzy hip-hop soundscape full of dusty drum breaks, fantastic sample work, and countless double entendres. The album’s old-school boom-bap style doesn’t necessarily lend itself to innovation, but with the addition of features like the late MF DOOM and New York staple from Griselda Records, Conway the Machine, ‘Cheat Codes’ is genuinely a perfectly constructed hip-hop album that feels like a portal into a dusty crate of old vinyl records with one of the greatest MCs of all time spitting at the top of his game.
Favorite track: “Aquamarine” (feat. Michael Kiwanuka)
Interview with a Timberwolves fan on the 2023 NBA season
By: Caden Kipfmueller
The 2022-2023 Timberwolves basketball season has been a tumultuous one to say the least, with increasing chemistry issues and fan backlash following the trade for Rudy Gobert this past offseason. The Wolves have had their fair share of issues, but they still managed to make the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Denver Nuggets in five games. While I am not personally a Timberwolves fan, I recently had the opportunity to interview one. He’s attended a large number of games this season, including all of their home playoff games, so it is fair to say that he is a big fan.
Q: Who has been your favorite player this season and why?
A: Anthony Edwards because he is one of the best young players in the league and he will lead the Wolves to at least one championship in the next few years. For his age, his stats line up with the best ever.
Q: Who has been your least favorite player this season and why?
A: McLaughlin, I like the guy and he has had good years but he has been in a pretty bad slump. He hasn’t made a basic layup in ages and has only gotten worse since the play in. I was at a Lakers game late in the season and he kept trying to shoot Kareem-like floaters over Lebron like an idiot. He’s the shortest guy in the NBA, so why does he think he can take those shots?
Q: What are your thoughts on the Timberwolves’ new City Jerseys?
A: I think it makes zero sense because they use so many random shades of colors that are not Wolves’ colors. We should be black, blue, green and white. Their justification for the red was that it’s the red from the wolves’ tongue, but I think that is stupid.
Q: Overall, do you think this season has been a success or a failure?
A: Definitely a success and the best one we’ve had in a long time. The Timberwolves aren’t good normally so it is nice to make the playoffs for a change.
Q: Do you agree with the Timberwolves’ decision to trade for Rudy Gobert last season?
A: I like that we tried for him but we gave up too much. However, Gobert has been very necessary and is the only reason we don’t collapse defensively especially right now with two bigs out. He gets booed even after being clutch and putting up clutch double doubles which is stupid. People need to stop whining about the trade.
Q: How bright is the Timberwolves’ future in the next five years?
A: It will come down to what we do with all the free agents. We have the potential to be better than this year for sure, but we just can’t focus on rebuilding.
What I’ve learned from doing crossword puzzles for over a month
By: Daniel Kendle
Happy holidays dear readers, I hope you’re having a good winter break. I got a gift for you! Here, open it.
(Crumpling paper) Oh hey, it’s a box. With a piece of paper inside. Turn it over, you’ll see.
Why, it’s a crossword puzzle! Those thingies are always fun to do on a whim. You know, sitting down with a cup of juice in the morning, struggling on the 3rd word until you inevitably give up and look up the answer key on Google, good times.
What? Why am I giving you a present? Well, it’s the holiday season, why not? It’s April? Ha, what ludicrous nonsense. My watch says otherwise.
10:02, Monday, April 24.
Oh. Maybe it’s time to get a new watch. Why does it say that it’s April?
Well, getting back to the topic at hand, crossword puzzles are one of the USA’s favorite newspaper pastimes, alongside the comics section and advice columns. I decided to take it upon myself in order to fascinate the world with this age-old puzzle. Thus, I’ve done the challenge of doing a crossword puzzle every day for over a month (March-April).
For the specific puzzle, I chose to complete the New York Times’ crosswords, specifically one known as the Mini. It’s basically a smaller, bite-sized square that has about 10-15 words, and is more digestible. This isn’t to say that it’s easier, but quicker, yes. Mainly because it takes a solid chunk of time to do a large crossword puzzle, and I wanted to make this article sooner rather than later.
For those who don’t know how crossword puzzles work, you basically have a bunch of boxes to put words in, and those boxes intersect with other boxes to connect to each other with shared letters. The Mini works like this, though is just more tightly wound.
Anyways, I’ve prepared 3 rules from my gatherings in the field to help others with their dreams of crossword claim. Here they are.
1.) ALWAYS LOCATE THE EASY JUNK
Whenever you start a new puzzle, it’s always important to look for the brain dead phrases. Stuff like “What sound does a cow make?” moreover than “What’s my home address?” (Don’t answer that). Once you’ve found the gimmes, then you can move onto the harder stuff.
2.) AUTO-CHECK IS A FRIEND. A VERY VERY VERY GOOD FRIEND
In life, we always have “that” friend. The friend that is by our side no matter the circumstances. The friend that is willing to give their entire financial credibility to help us out of a problem. The friend that’ll dig a hole into their room to get them out of being grounded (thanks Lil’ Timmy!) and in this case, your friend is Auto-Check. This system checks to see if a letter is correctly placed in a square, that way you’re not just blindly guessing. Some call this a cheat-sheet, though I moreover think of it as a helpful little…cheat-sheet.
3.) BE SMART
There are numerous different words in the English lexicon – at least 10, last time I checked – and it takes time for one to memorize to remember words and such. So do it. Read up on dictionaries, quiz with cordial associates such as your loved ones, and read through solved crossword puzzles to know what kinds of questions are asked.
Alright, I hope all of this has been helpful to you and your crossword-solving pursuits. Let my experience guide you forward into the blissful beyond that is The New York Times crossword puzzle. In fact, here’s a link to their page with all their games!
https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords?scrlybrkr=5a2a8e49
Happy solving!
The rise and fall of Chris Froome: One of the sports most accomplished cyclists
By: Toby Martin-Kohls
Background and early life
In the world of professional cycling, few cyclists have reached the highs of Froome’s career and subsequently plummeted so quickly.
Christopher Clive Froome was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1985. His parents were British, and he grew up mainly in Kenya and South Africa. His parents continued British customs and culture while living in South Africa. This culminated in his want to represent Great Britain in the world of cycling.
He first participated in his first organized race at 13, a charity race, which he won. It was there that he connected with David Kinjah who became a mentor and training partner for Froome.
After finishing primary school in Kenya, Froome attended St. Andrew’s School and St. John’s College in Johannesburg. He was the school’s cycling captain and kept in contact with David Kinjah. This is where he started to focus on road cycling.
He didn’t turn professional until he was 22, in 2007. He started road racing in South Africa, specializing as a climber, for now-defunct Team Konica Minolta. His strong performances in 2007 caught the attention of a British cycling coach, Rod Ellingsworth. Although Froome was racing for Kenya at the time, he made it clear to Ellingsworth that he felt British and wanted to race under the British flag.
In 2008 he signed a two-year deal with a British-based, South African-backed team, Barloworld. His first professional win came in March 2009 with the second stage of the Giro del Capo in Durbanville, South Africa.
Grand Tours and takeoff of his pro career
He then participated in his first Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia. There are three Grand Tours in road cycling, they are the hardest, longest, and most prestigious races. They are all three weeks long and tackle everything from flats to cobbles, to hills, to mountains. They are held every year in three separate countries, one in spring, one in the summer, and one in the fall.
The first Grand Tour of the year is the Giro d’Italia, also known as the Giro or the Tour of Italy. It is arguably the second most prestigious race behind the Tour de France. The Giro is usually held during May and sometimes into early June. Like the other Grand Tours, the modern editions of the Giro d’Italia normally consist of 21 stages over a 23 or 24-day period that includes two or three rest days.
The second Grand Tour of the year is the Tour de France. This is the biggest and most prestigious race on the cycling calendar. It is usually held in July of each year, except for the 2020 version which was held in September due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is primarily held in France but sometimes starts in other countries. It is the oldest Grand Tour, being started in 1903.
The last Grand Tour of the calendar year is the Vuelta a España which is held in Spain. Inspired by the success of the Giro and the Tour, the Vuelta was founded in 1935. While the route changes each year, the format of the race stays the same, with the appearance of at least two time trials, the passage through the mountain chain of the Pyrenees, and the finish in the Spanish capital Madrid.
Starting in 2011, it didn’t take long for Froome to make a name for himself on the international stage. He had remarkable stamina and unparalleled climbing skills. From 2012 to 2018, he dominated the road cycling world.
Froome won 4 Tour de France from 2013 to 2017, with the lone exception of the 2014 edition, in which he crashed out. This placed him second all-time in Tour de France victories. He fell just short of the very exclusive 5-time winner group.
In 2012 he was on the same team as the eventual winner, Bradley Wiggins. Most fans feel that Froome was the stronger man that year and that he was held back by his team in order to support team leader Wiggins. He finished 2nd overall, 3min and 21sec back from his teammate.
In 2018, he attempted the famed Giro-Tour double. He won the 2018 Giro and aimed for his 5th Tour de France victory that July. He came into the race as the team leader and favorite, having won the previous three years. He was simply outridden by his teammate and eventual winner, Geraint Thomas. He came very close to joining the all-time greats and possibly becoming the first person ever to win 6 editions of the Tour.
Downfall and controversy
Despite his great success, there was a shadow over his career achievements. There were allegations of ethical misconduct and doping, though never proven. In 2018, Froome faced an investigation into the use of the drug salbutamol, which is used to treat asthma. The drug itself is not banned, but there is a limit on how much athletes can use. Many riders in the pro peloton have asthma as a result of cycling. Ultimately, the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) dismissed the case before the start of the 2018 Tour de France, allowing him to race and no suspension was given.
The 2019 Tour was seen as one of Froome’s last opportunities to capture an elusive 5th title. At age 34, it was likely it would have been his last good year in terms of Grand Tour form. Most professional road cyclists peak around ages 26-33, however currently there is more of a youth revolution.
In June 2019, disaster struck. While on a race recon ride for the Critérium du Dauphiné, which is considered the most important prep race for the Tour de France, Froome crashed into a brick wall at 37mph after losing control in high winds trying to blow his nose.
He went into intensive care via airlift after breaking a leg, ribs and an elbow. He then missed the rest of the 2020 season recovering.
He returned to professional cycling in 2021, this time with a new team. He departed the powerhouse Team Sky/Ineos Grenadiers and signed a five-year deal with Israel Start-Up Nation for a reported 15 million euros. However, he was a former shell of himself, finishing in 133rd place in the 2021 Tour de France.
In 2022, he managed his best result since his horrific crash with an 11th place at the Mercan Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes. On Stage 12 of the 2022 Tour de France he bridged a gap up to the eventual stage winner Tom Pidcock to finish 3rd on Alpe d’Huez, one of the most prestigious and famous climbs of the Tour. It was the first time he finished top 3 in a stage of the Tour since 2018. Unfortunately, he tested positive for COVID after stage 18 and was forced to abandon.
It was unfortunate for a legend to go out in the way that he did, but Froome certainly made the most out of his career. He still races today, for Israel-Premier Tech. He is currently a resident of Monaco.
Tony’s restaurant review
By: Mae Skold
Tony’s restaurant is a quaint Italian restaurant in the heart of Monaco. Monaco is a luxurious, beautiful city-state right next to France on the sea. Being just a few hours away from Italy, Tony’s restaurant knows how to cook real, authentic Italian food. The outdoor seating and hospitality right when you get to the door lure people into the restaurant.
When walking down the beautiful street the restaurant’s on, the owners of Tony’s are there to greet you. After getting seated at the table, the menu given is filled with endless pastas, pizzas, salads, each one better than the next.
For an appetizer I recommend the Caprese salad. It has fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and garden grown basil that all tie together beautifully. The balsamic glaze and olive oil served with it are also great flavor enhancers. This dish is the perfect start to your meal.
For entrees I recommend two, the carbonara and the pesto pasta. The pasta is home made fresh in the restaurant and cooked to a perfection. The carbonara is tossed in a creamy, peppery sauce and topped with prosciutto. This salty, creamy pasta is a must when ordering. The pesto is made with the same fresh pasta but cooked in a butter, basil pesto sauce. This pasta is light and a more refreshing option on the menu; perfect for warm weather.
To finish off your meal Tony’s offers a variety of traditional Italian gelato flavors. They make their own gelato in house and have up to 15 flavors to choose from. A fan favorite is the espresso flavored gelato that has espresso churned into the gelato. This desert is the perfect end to a delicious meal.
Tony’s truly has everything to offer when it comes to a restaurant. Not only is the food delicious, the people and charm is its hook. If visiting Monaco, make sure you stop in Tony’s restaurant.
University of Minnesota competitively for 2022-2023
By: Joseph Nelson
The University of Minnesota has always been a very competitive school with it being part of the Big Ten colleges in the U.S. but how competitive was last year for the freshman class of 2022-2023 and how has it changed for the class of 2023-2024?
The U of M is one of the biggest colleges in Minnesota with over 6,700 freshman joining the Gophers every year. But how many applications did the applicant’s office have to go through in order to select these students? Well, for the class of 2022-2023, over 37,000 applications were submitted to the University. That’s about 1 in 5.5 applicants to be accepted into the University. These students weren’t just randomly picked though as the University looks to grab students with a heavy extracurricular activity background and academic achievement (along with many more minor details). So what were the exact stats of the applicants?
As of the 2023 year, the University of Minnesota looks for students that average 3.59-3.96 GPA and have gotten either 27-32 on their ACT or 1330-1500 on their SAT tests. Granted, depending on what major you go in for, the requirements might vary, but this is the general admission rates to get into the 2022 year. This was one of the University’s most competitive years and it seems to continue growing as in only 9 years, the acceptance rate has gone up from 53.29% all the way up to 73%. That’s almost a 20% difference right there.
So how can you increase your odds of getting accepted into the University of Minnesota? Well the 2024-2025 year has no predictions yet on whether or not it will be as competitive as its previous year but if we look back on the past few years then I wouldn’t doubt we’d see around the same results as we did last year. Like stated before, the University loves picking up students who have a large background in extracurricular activities and large academic success in their schools so joining a team or club at your school would help your portfolio immensely for your application. Along with your extracurriculars, averaging around a 3.8-3.9 GPA is highly recommended as this is the golden area of all acceptances of the 2022 year (All A’s and a B here and there).
The U of M is a part of the Big 10 schools so of course it’s going to be attractive to many looking towards going to college. It’s going to be challenging to get in, and sometimes you might feel like quitting, but if you’re considering a future there I cannot recommend going to a Gopher game enough. It always reminds me of the goal to become a Gopher like my parents before me.
For more information, please visit:
- https://admissions.tc.umn.edu/admissions/freshman-admission/frequently-asked-questi ons-about-how-we-determine-college-admissions
Why the 2023 Met Gala theme is controversial
By: Mya Olson – Williams
On Monday, May 1st, was the annual Met Gala in New York City. This is one of the most popular events, especially for those involved in the fashion industry.
This year, the theme was “In honor of Karl”. Karl Lagerfeld was a well known designer who has worked with brands such as Chloé, and Fendi before joining Chanel alongside his own high-fashion brand name.
Most don’t know about the controversies of Lagerfeld. To many, specifically models and the ones who worked close to him, he was an amazing man with a huge impact. In other’s eyes, he’s not all that.
According to The New York Times, in 1994, Lagerfeld dressed a model in an outfit which was embroidered with a cherished Muslim text and sent her down the runway. He said, at the time he had no idea what it meant, and apologized.
There is no question when considering if Lagerfeld is fatphobic.
In 2009, he defended himself when using strictly size 0 models, saying “[N]o one wants to see curvy women”. During an interview with New York magazine, he was quite honest when talking about Andy Warhol, saying “I shouldn’t say this, but physically, he was quite repulsive”.
As said in Time magazine, fatphobia wasn’t all that was wrong with Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld was strongly against the #MeToo movement. In 2018, he defended Karl Templer, a man with allegations of attacking multiple models in which he denied. In Templer’s defense, Lagerfeld stated that he was “[F]ed up with it”.
Some boycotted the event due to its theme, by simply not showing up. Others are believed to have worn outfits the opposite of the theme as another silent protest.
Though Karl Lagerfeld will always be remembered for the creative and unique designer that he was, there’s more to him.
For more information, please visit:
Popular spring sports
By: Thea Berg and Rose Ramadan
As students in High School, there are many different sports that our classmates and friends play during spring. Many schools offer a variety of spring sports such as softball, baseball, track and field, golf, boys tennis, badminton, lacrosse, and club sports such as disc or frisbee golf. But apart from the sports our school provides some other popular spring sports include rowing, or fencing. All of these sports reach out to different audiences, so each sport has a large variety of people playing.
Springtime sports participation is both enjoyable and important. Spending more time outside is a crucial aspect that starts to influence our lives as the weather starts to become warmer. People’s ability to spend as much time outside depends on a variety of factors, including work, school, and other responsibilities. You may gain fitness while enjoying time outside in the warm weather by signing up for a spring sport.
One popular spring sport is golf! Golf is one of the sports that Highland provides for students to join. We have both a boys team and a girls team.
Golf is a very popular sport all around the world with many different audiences. It is a sport that people of all ages play and enjoy. Golf is a very good spring sport to be a part of. Golf is a very personal sport, and you can easily set goals for yourself.
Around the Saint Paul and Como area there are a couple of great golf courses that you can easily play. Highland National Golf course, The Highland 9-Hole, Cedarholm, Como Park Golf Course, Phalen Golf course, Mendota Heights Par-3 Golf Course, and the Town and Country Club golf course. All of these courses except for T&C are easily accessible without a membership, as long as you set up a tee time. At public golf courses such as the ones we mentioned above, the going rate for the price of a tee time is usually around $30. Some 18 hole courses include the price of the golf cart in the tee time price, and other courses have that as an option to pay separately.
We think that golf is a great option for those who are looking for a spring sport that is fun and not a lot of pressure.
Baseball and softball are two more popular spring sports. In our school, softball is a very popular sport practiced by female players. Male athletes enjoy playing baseball, which is also highly well-liked. They are both similar sports. The pitching regulations and the size of the ball are two differences. Despite not knowing the rules, we occasionally enjoy watching a good baseball game.
Badminton is also a sport played at Highland Park Senior High. Though not as popular as other spring sports, it is still very exciting to watch. It is a lot like tennis but played indoors. It includes hitting a birdie across the net to the other side. It may sound like an easy sport but it includes a high amount of commitment and athletic ability.
The team here at Highland consists of only women athletes. They split into teams of singles and doubles, either playing on the court with one teammate or alone. Games are played up to 21 points. Each match is best out of three. If you are unfamiliar with badminton, we would recommend trying it out. Watching it is very satisfying and playing it is very fun.
In the end, we highly encourage you to commit to a sport here at Highland. We also highly recommend coming to any sports events including lacrosse games, golf matches, and ball games.
2023 NFL Draft reaction
By: Toby Martin-Kohls
The NFL draft concluded last weekend in Kansas City, with 259 players selected over 7 rounds (compensatory picks are included in this number). Here is a sum-up of the quarterback storyline at this year’s NFL Draft.
Quarterback Drama
As the QB is the most crucial position in football, eyes are usually on the top signal callers when the draft comes around. This year there was no shortage of first-round talent, as 4 QBs were projected to go in the first round by almost every draft analyst.
It was a way stronger QB class than last year when Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett was the only first-round QB selection going to the Pittsburgh Steelers at pick 20. After that, the next QB wasn’t taken until Desmond Ridder in the 3rd round at pick 74 to the Atlanta Falcons.
This year, there was an early run on QB talent, as there were 3 selected in the first four picks. Bryce Young, who won the Heisman Trophy for best college QB in 2021, was selected first to the Carolina Panthers. He was widely expected to be the first pick in the draft, along with fellow QB C.J. Stroud. Young is a natural passer with an instinctive feel for throw location and play extension. He has the high-end intangibles and talent required to become an impact starter in the NFL. The one knock on Young is his size and durability, as he is vastly undersized standing at 5’10” and 204lbs.
The second QB taken was C.J. Stroud out of Ohio State with pick 2 to the Houston Texans. He was also considered to be a possible choice for the number 1 selection. As a redshirt freshman at Ohio State, Stroud was a Freshman All-American and First Team All-Big 10. He followed that up with his redshirt sophomore season getting named Second Team All-American, Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-Big 10. Stroud is considered an outstanding rhythm passer with great touch, pacing, and ball speed control to carve up a defense. His weaknesses are his need to develop his athleticism and escapability to the modern NFL.
The third QB taken was Anthony Richardson out of Florida with pick 4 to the Indianapolis Colts. Richardson is considered to have the highest ceiling of anybody in the draft, with his freakish, one-of-a-kind, athletic ability. He displayed this superhuman athleticism at the NFL Combine, running the 40-yard dash in a time of 4.43sec, which was the 4th fastest by a QB at the Combine since 2000. But his size really made this unprecedented, as he stands at a towering 6’4” and 244lbs. He set a new QB Combine record with a 40.5in vertical jump and another QB record in the broad jump, jumping 10’9”.
Unlike the other two QBs picked before him, Richardson had an up-and-down college career, starting only a total of 13 games over two years. He was essentially a one-year starter at Florida, and his 53.8% completion percentage is awfully low for someone picked so high. That being said, the quality of his pass catchers did him no favors. He is also a year younger than Young and Stroud.
Overall, Richardson’s volatile accuracy and decision-making cloud his evaluation, but he is a freakshow talent with special size, speed, and arm strength, and he put enough promising plays on film to be optimistic about his potential ceiling. He fits an RPO or NFL vertical-passing offense that will also utilize his athleticism, but he needs on-field reps and a patient coaching staff willing to weather the early storm. The Colts are running a massive gamble, and we’ll see if it pays off.
The last QB thought to be selected in the first round was Will Levis out of Kentucky. Levis was thought to be one of the most prototypical NFL QBs in the draft, with good size and exceptional arm talent. He struggled with turnovers during his college career and needs to work on his read efficiency and ball placement to succeed at the next level. He has an NFL starter’s skill set with his impressive physical tools (size, arm, athleticism) and exceptional competitive toughness.
This is where the surprise of the first round was. Levis was projected by very nearly all draft experts to go in the first round. A solid amount even had him going top 10. In fact, Levis was the oddsmakers’ favorite to go No. 2 overall in the days leading up to the draft. This obviously did not end up being the case as he slid down all the way to the second round and was picked at pick 33 by the Tennessee Titans. ESPN had given him just a 0.1% chance to still be available at pick 23 of the first round. It will be interesting to see how he can develop behind starter Ryan Tannehill and fight for the backup job with 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis.
Personally, I think the best part of the draft is looking back at the selections in 3-4 years and seeing the inevitable busts and hits of the draft. Especially with this QB class, this year should be no different in the excitement level when looking back at these picks in the future.
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