By RYAN SUMMERS
 
      The past year has seen two major sports leagues go into lockouts. Both the NBA and NFL took precautions attempting to reduce the salaries of the players and also put regulations and restrictions on spending. During the latest Major League Baseball offseason, teams have done the opposite of what would be ideal for the league; they are spending millions of dollars signing players from all over the world to create a championship team. 
    There are teams buying players left and right; but then, there are also teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers are ownerless, broke, and practically paying the residents of L.A. to keep them in business. So how does a team justify a ten year, 254 million dollar deal to a middle-aged man who plays the corner of the infield and hits third in an everyday lineup? 
    A free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise in the offseason. Free agencies cause teams to spend insurmountable amounts of money and create heroes and villains in the eyes of sports fans around the nation. Trying to win a championship by spending extraneous amounts of money is absurd. If teams want to win a championship, it should be won based on talent that is created by the team, not talent that it bought through acquiring a free agent superstar.
     The Los Angeles Angels have been the biggest spenders this offseason, acquiring first baseman Albert Pujols and starting pitcher C.J. Wilson. Together, both of these players will cost the Angels organization over 285 million dollars over the span of the next ten and five years respectively. Pujols has spent the last ten years with the St. Louis Cardinals, but after the Cardinals won the World Series and his contract expired, Pujols moved on to bigger and better things; or in other words, where more money was. The Cardinals could not compete with the big spenders from the West Coast, and thus lost the bidding battle. This deal for the 32-year old player was the largest free agency deal made since Alex Rodriguez signed with the Yankees in ’04. But how can an athlete guarantee success for a period of ten years, and project to attain the same numbers at the plate through the ages where most athletes are at their peak levels of performance? For players such as Pujols, a team must take into account the probability of injury. Pujols’ age also starts to become a factor because in ten years, Pujols will be a 42 year-old man playing a game with athletes as young as 18. The money that these ‘superstars’ make is more than most people will ever see in a lifetime and all they want is more, which I think is incredibly selfish. I see this deal ending with Pujols’ hall of fame-like career numbers fizzling out, and Pujols riding the bench, ultimately soaking in all the cash from this multi-million dollar deal. 
     In efforts to stay up to speed with their American League West division rivals, the Texas Rangers have also spent insurmountable amounts of money on an athlete from a different realm by acquiring Yu Darvish from Japan. The Texas Rangers, I’m sure, were not planning to spend over 110 million dollars on a player that has yet to face the caliber of Major League hitters. To get this deal, the Rangers first had to part with 51.7 million dollars just to negotiate with this Japanese ace. People in America today are struggling to live; meanwhile, Major League teams can afford to spend over 50 million dollars just to negotiate with someone. Darvish ended up signing with the Rangers for a total of 60 million dollars over six years, in hopes that he can fill in the spot of free agent C.J. Wilson. This deal makes Darvish the most expensive right handed pitcher in Major League baseball history.
     The amount of money that goes into the free agency market is beyond belief. Practically buying a team of superstars has become a trademark of professional sports over the years. However, talent cannot be bought and money cannot buy championships. This spending gives fans false hope that championship teams will be acquired during free agency, when in reality, the team becomes indebted to a player that makes big promises that cannot always be fulfilled.

By BRIANNA GARCIA
     
    Students interested in staying in shape outside of school oftentimes exercise through outdoor activities. Biking, walking, running, and hiking are exercises that have recently become popular amongst students.  
     The Outdoor Foundation of 2011 defined walking, as a gentle, low-impact exercise, which increases the level of fitness. People can exercise locally by biking, walking and running on trails, or simply going on a hike. According to the Diabetic Lifestyle Magazine, hiking is another form of an extended walk for exercise. Hiking improves osteoarthritis in the knees by strengthening leg muscles.
    “Hiking is an enjoyable hobby and my favorite outdoor activity because it’s an activity that you can experience at our own pace, enjoy the nature, and take your mind off stress in life,” said sophomore J.J Von Eschenbach. “There is nothing better than coming home after a hike because you may be tired, dirty or aching all over, but you really feel alive.”
    The great North Fitness Revolution, an organization promoting healthiness and exercise in New England, reports walking to be the most popular fitness activity in America. The North Fitness Revolution also states that walking is the best form of cardiovascular exercise, which tones the body and boosts the immune system.
    “Find something that interests you and give it a try; if you get bored, try something else,” said Physical Education teacher Frank Gooch. “I found something that I loved and now participate in triathlons, which require waking up at 4 AM everyday to do most of my training. I am always swimming, biking, running, and weight training and have been since 1986.”
    Outdoor activities give people the ability to choose what muscles they are exercising, depending on the activity they select. Seminole Wekiva trail, which runs 14 miles from Altamonte Springs to the Wekiva River Protection Area west of Sanford, is a total of 28 miles long giving people the opportunity to preform exercises such as biking, walking, and running while working the muscles chosen to train.
      “Approximately 400 thousand people are counted through stationary electronic counters at various locations on the trail per day performing exercises to tone muscles,” said Seminole Wekiva trail Manager Bryan Nipe. “The primary muscles worked when running, walking, and biking are in your legs, such as the calf muscle, quadriceps, gluteus, hamstrings and calves.”
      Jeanne Segal, Ph.D of Helpguide, a nonprofit health organization, claims that the same endorphins that make you feel better also help you concentrate and feel mentally sharp for tasks at hand. Exercise stimulates the growth of new brain cells and helps prevent age-related decline.
     “All people need is to put down the video games and TV and be outside as much as possible, because fresh air clears all,” said Gooch. “Finding an outdoor activity that you are interested in can change your life and get you extremely attached, as well as in shape.”

 By SARAH SULLIVAN
    
   Teenage paintball participation is on the rise in various areas across the South, especially in Central Florida.  According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturer’s Association (SGMA), an estimated ten million people participate in paintball annually in the United States, with 1.9 million playing at least fifteen times a year.
     Paintball is a sport in which players are able to compete in teams or individually to eliminate opponents by tagging them with biodegradable capsules of mineral-oil projected from a paintball marker, which is commonly known as a paintball gun. The participation of people ages six and older in the U.S. has  risen sixty percent since 1998.
    “There is a wide demographic of players,” said Orlando Paintball President Spiros Kodounis. “There was a time when the demographic was ninety nine percent males and surprisingly in the last five years, females now account for about thirty percent of our clientele. The majority of players’ ages are fifteen to twenty five; you must be ten years old to play.” 
    The game is played at a constant and          quick moving pace to simulate military combat. Paintball tests players’ reaction time and reflexes, as well as their accuracy when it comes to shooting.
    “I love paintball because it is an action-packed, fast paced game that tests your ability to react to an enemy player shooting at you,” said sophomore Jordan Ballard. “You need a good reaction time to be able to shoot back and successfully defeat another player that seeks to get you out.”
    Many players participate recreationally at local paintball facilities, as opposed to playing for a team in an official league. Local teams, such as Orlando Delux, compete in weekend tournaments held at local facilities. A recent study conducted by American Sports Data Incorporated concluded that more than 10.3 million people played recreational paintball at least once within the past year.
     “It used to be that many local teams would come and play,” said Kodounis. “Due to the economy, people have shifted to recreational paintball because it is more feasible financially and for their own schedules. However, for the last two years there has not been a day where we have not had any players.”
     Beyond high school paintball, there is a non-profit organization created by college players known as the National Collegiate Paintball Association (NCPA). There are two distinct classes within the NCPA, class AA and class A. Class AA is an open-class division geared for newer teams that are typically more flexible, where as class A requires a season commitment for established programs.
     “I’ve been in the NCPA for one and a half years,” said NCPA front player Sean Pellino.  “I think the sport is becoming so popular because of the adrenaline rush that comes over you while playing; nothing can compare to it.”

By JANNA OSSINSKY

By RYAN SUMMERS
  

   Each year, several seniors decide to take their athletic abilities to the next level and sign to play in college. The process they go through is dictated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
    The NCAA has strict recruiting rules for each sport, and has certain rules prohibiting universities from contact with prospective athletes until particular dates in the athletes’ senior year. To be eligible for an athletic scholarship during the first year of college, an athlete must complete 16 core courses during high school and reach the minimum GPA and SAT or ACT scores required by the university.
    “Every athletic website has recruit questionnaires that a prospective student athlete would fill out in order to give a coach his or her information in a convenient way,” said senior Breanna Nguyen. “I started filling them out for all of the schools I was interested in so they would have my basic information, stats, and academic information. NCAA rules prohibit Division I coaches for swimming from initiating contact with you by phone until July 1 of your senior year.”
    Universities contact high school student athletes through mail, telephone calls, the internet, and campus visitations. Increased interest from a university occurs as the prospective athlete nears the end of their four year high school career.
    “During a student athletes’ senior year, a university can call up to once a week, and they can text or email the athlete whenever they wish,” said Athletic Director Jerri Kelly. “The athlete can contact the university as much as they want during the process of recruitment.”
    Players are contacted within what is called the ‘Contact Period,’ when a college coach may have in-person contact with a prospective student-athlete and the prospect’s parents on or off the college’s campus. Students may also have up to five official visits to a university and as many unofficial visits as they wish.
    “I would update college coaches via email on how my season was going and send them any more information about me they needed and once July 1 came, they would call me,” said Nguyen. “From there, we’d set up recruiting trip dates for the fall.”
    A student athlete at any time can make a verbal commitment to the college of their choice; a verbal commitment is a non-binding way for a student athlete to show that they wish to attend a certain university without signing a National Letter of Intent. A verbal commitment can change at any time, however, and the only way to secure a student athletes’ attendance to a certain university is with a National Letter of Intent.
    “Sometimes the recruitment process is done through an athletes club, coaches, or parents, and the student separates their recruitment from the school,” said Kelly. “We encourage all of the student athletes and coaches to tell us when an athlete has made a verbal commitment so that way in the spring we can highlight all the student athletes at an evening reception where we focus on the students’ athletic careers and what they plan to do in the future.”
    If given the opportunity a student athlete can also finish school early and move on to college in the winter semester of what would be the students’ senior year of high school. Former football player Joey Grant had this opportunity.
    “I think [graduating early and joining the football team at UCF] gave me a really big advantage,” said Grant.  “I knew the tempo, what coaches expected, and I was ahead in the classroom while other freshmen weren’t.”

By SAM TUCKER

By CHRISTINE ANEZ
  
   For the first time in Lake Brantley history, the Varsity football team achieved an undefeated regular season, recording 10 wins and zero losses. However, despite anticipation for the playoffs, the Patriots lost to the Fletcher Senators, 28-14. The team dominated every school it played during the regular season, having shut out Lyman (28-0), Winter Springs (49-0) and Orange City University (35-0).
    Despite losing 32 seniors last year, the Patriots managed to rank number one in Central Florida and  second in the state. Varsity head coach George Clayton believes that although the season may have looked easy at times, their success is due to the hard work put in by the team behind the scenes. 
    “The team really came together through hard work over summer and all year,” said Clayton. “Our players gave it their all in every game and at practice; our success was due to some talent, some luck, and a whole lot of good attitude. This season’s number one priority was to play the best we are capable of.  Every game was played as if it was the most important game of the season. Rivalries occurred every week in this county, and our preparation got us ready for anything.”
    In 1998, the Patriots were undefeated with a 9-0 season, having one game cancellation. The team then lost to Dr. Phillips in the first playoff game. Since then, the team has reached a 9-1 record four times in the last 20 years. However, no Varsity football team has ever gone 10-0 until this season. The coaching staff stated that they saw similarities between the 1998 and 2011 teams.
    “Both the 1998 team and the team this year are a lot alike,” said Clayton. “Both teams worked very hard and set goals to achieve an undefeated season. They were both very talented and teamwork-oriented with good work ethics.”
    Another key to the Patriots’ success this season was the talent of senior running back Tion Green.  During the October 14 win at Olympia, Green eclipsed the 1,000 yards rushing mark for the season.  On that night, Green also ran for 176 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Patriots to a 42-20 victory.  However, Green feels this year’s team was not a one man show. 
    “Working together and trusting one another have helped us so much,” said Green. “A motto that I share with the team is ‘F.A.M.I.L.Y.’ This stands for ‘Forget About Me, I Love You.’ This teaches us and helps us remember that there is no ‘I’ in ‘team.”
    During the first playoff game on November 18, the Patriots fell to the Duncan U. Fletcher Senators.  During the game, the team had 4 fumbles and several missed opportunities, making it harder to score. However, the team still managed to make one touchdown in each half.
    “The game on November 18 ended in a disappointing loss,” said Clayton. “Our team played a good game but made too many mistakes against a good team. I am very proud of the team for playing hard; but it just was not meant to be.” 
    The team began the season ranked outside of the top 10 teams in Central Florida and the state. By winning 10 consecutive games, the Patriots advanced their rank and eventually achieved top 5 rankings in both standings. 
    “Being so highly ranked this season, everyone was so proud to play for our team,” said junior starting quarterback and kicker Damon Haecker. “The main difference between last season and this season is as a team we worked harder together. After going 10-0, nobody suspected the outcome of game 11. Losing first round in the playoffs was certainly not ideal, but the team had a great regular season.”

By SARAH SULLIVAN

    Junior Hailey Luke’s volleyball performances have earned her a college scholarship to Florida State University. Luke will be attending the University upon her graduation in 2013.
    It is fairly uncommon for scholarships to be given to high school volleyball players. Only two and a half percent of female high school volleyball players play in college, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Additionally, only 12 full-ride scholarships are given to Division 1 female volleyball players each year.
    “Colleges are recruiting their players earlier in high school to lock in their players before other schools have the opportunity,” said Athletic Director Jerri Kelly. “Recruiting a player in their junior year takes the pressure off of them as a senior, making their last year more fun and enjoyable.”
    Lake Sumpter Community College and Florida Atlantic University have previously recruited volleyball players from Lake Brantley. Florida State University was recently added to this list with their commitment from Luke.
    “I have been in contact with Florida State University since my freshman year,” said Luke.“I have talked to them a lot over the past year getting to know the coaches better. I have been on campus for an unofficial visit and for volleyball camp.”
    Luke spends at least 12 hours a week on the court improving her performance and skills while also preparing for games and club tournaments. She plays for both Lake Brantley and a local club team in Orlando. 
    “I have been playing volleyball since I was nine years old, and this is my third year playing on varsity,” said Luke. “I also play on a club team for Orlando Volleyball Academy. We had five out of state tournaments last season.”
    Luke received the title of MVP at AAU Nationals in 2009 and 2010, and made the 1st Team All Conference for Seminole County in 2010. Luke was also named to the All Central Florida Team 3 in 2010. She has been recruited as a setter although she is able to play multiple positions across the court.
    “You have to be dedicated in training and practice. You have to constantly improve your fitness and your volleyball skills,” said Luke. “You need to be a good teammate, it is a team sport.”
    During the high school season, Luke plays at least two games a week along with two and a half hours of practice every day when she does not have a game and she works with her trainer three days a week to improve her performance on the court. For her high school and club team, Luke plays right side hitter as well as setter.
    “She always gives 100 percent effort on and off the court,” said teammate Tory Smartt. “She has put in hours of practices, traveling tournaments, and private lessons to become the player that she is today. She is very quiet but determined to be the best that she can be.”
    Luke’s three years playing have made her well known all across campus. She has the support of many of her fellow patriots as she continues to strive for excellence.She also enjoys beach volleyball, which was recently added as a college sport.
    “In my opinion, a lot of things go into being a successful volleyball player. You need to be a good student,” said Luke. “You need to be a good student of the game and always seek to improve and be open to learning new things.”

 By HANNAH WADE

    Attending private schools does not always provide the advantages with which they are stereotypically associated. Many private schools lack the athletic opportunities area public schools provide.
    A recent bill passed by Florida legislation states that students attending private middle and high schools with a population less than 125 students can play sports for their zoned public schools. These students need to file a notarized EL12 Form with the athletic director at that school. While the bill was only passed within the last 6 months, opinions are already being formed by administration, coaches, and athletes. Feelings towards the possibility of working with private school students on public sports teams are prominent despite the lack of private athletes at Brantley.
    “It is my opinion that [private school students] should not be allowed to play for Lake Brantley if they are attending another school,”  said Athletic Director Jerri Kelly. “Families choose private schools for various reasons. If sports are not provided, that is part of the choice they are making.” 
    If private school students decide to try out for these teams, they would fill positions that public school students previously would have filled. For some athletes though, this does not prove concerning. 
    “If you are a really good athlete, it shouldn’t matter what kind of school you attend, whether it be public or private,” said varsity lacrosse player Kate Schaefer. “Tryouts are a time to focus on your own play and skills at the sport you play and strive to perform to the best of    your ability.”
    Though some coaches understand the premise behind the bill, punctuality may be compromised. Many public school practices occur directly after school on campus, presenting a possible issue for private school students.   
    “I can see that the private school student should be allowed to play,” said varsity football coach George Clayton. “[The issue of timeliness] would have to be worked out.”
    In addition to the controversy over the new bill, the athletics department and school will benefit in no monetary way since funding is not provided by the state per athlete.     The Athletic Departments  are funded through ticket sales and team fundraising. Athletes are expected to meet quotas for fundraising to help offset their expenses, such as practice uniforms.
    “Funding for athletics is not provided by our tax dollars; it is provided for via the tickets you buy to attend the event,” said Kelly. “Most people do not know that the school board funds coaching supplements and some of the facility maintenance costs only.
     Many believe pride in one’s team and a sense of belonging are an important facets of being on a team. This can come from being around your teammates during school hours, in addition to practice and game time, an opportunity private school students may not have.
    “I personally would not feel any different about a teammate who went to a private school,” said Schaefer. “As long as they were hardworking, dedicated to the sport, and willing to contribute positively to the team to make it better.”

By RYAN SUMMERS

    With all the scandals and controversies exposed over the years, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is now enforcing rules that remove coaches from prominent positions and sideline star athletes. Current allegations and penalties in college sports are degrading the prestige of the NCAA.
     The most recent controversy in the world of college sports was the scandal involving team members and the athletic booster, Nevin Shapiro, at the University of Miami. Accusations from the NCAA stated that Shapiro gave gifts and cash benefits to players who played well at his favorite university, the University of Miami. Shapiro was said to have been involved with former National Football League star Michael Irvin, as well as athletes on Miami’s current roster, like senior quarterback Jacory Harris. These claims have forced the NCAA to sideline Harris and other involved teammates this season. 
    The suspended players have now returned to the active playing  roster. Miami is currently 3-3 on the season and has a highly anticipated home game this weekend against conference foe  Georgia Tech. The University of Miami is currently ranked 88th in the country in total offensive yards  and their leading passer is the recently suspended Harris. Miami’s most prevelant win this season came last weekend against North Carolina where they won by a score of 30 to 24. Harris threw three touchdowns in their victory.
    If a student athlete commits a crime while still in school, whose fault is it? It is not the fault of the university or the coaches but the fault of the players. So why should the NCAA punish entire schools for offenses made by a single player? 
    Instead of placing infractions and penalties on universities or coaches, the NCAA should swiftly condemn players if they expect punishments to work. If a student athlete can easily get out of a penalty for committing a crime, every athlete would assume it is okay to break rules in college sports. This concept seems to be a recurring theme in college sports. First, it comes out in the news that a school is under investigation, then the investigation takes place, and eventually people from around the organization get fired and the athletes that stick around long enough to foresee their punishment are penalized. If an athlete wishes to cop out of his or her punishment  he or she can leave their university and either apply for a professional draft or transfer to another university.
    The NCAA views its allegations and punishments as fair and just. However, the real problem is that they are punishing the universities and not the actual players who caused the controversies.
    The coaches that typically get fired lose their jobs for not telling the NCAA about broken rules. The coaches generally do this because they have a massive desire to win. They accept athletes with personal and sometimes behavioral issues just to make their team better and to increase their chances of winning a national championship. One of the issues the NCAA looks into is whether outside money and benefits persuade athletes to attend certain universities. 
    Teams who receive harsh rulings from the NCAA are sent from a high level of national ranking to the dog-house because the media portrays the school as the culprit, and not the individual player. Instead of pulling down the entire university, the NCAA needs to punish just the athletes who commit the crime.
    The NCAA should not penalize the coaches or universities for violations that they fail to report, but swiftly punish the athletes upon becoming aware of the allegations. If this were to occur, these problems that seem to be a dime a dozen in the news would not happen as frequently. The NCAA needs to see who the real offenders are. If it continues to handle allegations the way it has, the overall prestige of college sports will suffer.