It is homecoming week here at Trinity Christian Academy, and the student body has had a great week getting to dress down and show its school spirit. Monday kicked off with a day of cartoon characters, bringing anyone from Superman to Fred Flintstone into the halls. Tuesday came back as yet another awesome one as "Animal Day" turned the school into a zoo! Wednesday, students came dressed to impress in their preppiest attire, some even making a jab or two at the school down the street, USJ. Thursday brought celebrities of all ages to TCA-- including Forrest Gump and even a trio of Beibers. And now we have arrived at Friday, with everyone decked out in their purple, black and white to support the Lions and Lady Lions.
But despite all the hype over dress-up days and the Homecoming Court voting, we cannot forget about the game against cross-town rival Jackson Christian tonight.
Having lost in their last meeting with JC, TCA's girls are itching for revenge. The Lady Lions come into their matchup against the Lady Eagles sorely needing a district victory to ensure that they will not have to travel to Middleton or Riverside to play the first round of the district tournament. However, unless something totally unexpected happens over the final two weeks of the regular season, the Lady Lions will most likely have to lock up a road win in the first round to return to the Lion's Den for the remainder of the tournament.
TCA's boys come to play tonight with district rankings on the line. With a win tonight and another next week, the Lions will lock up a first round home game when the district tourney rolls around. Trinity won a close game at Jackson Christian several weeks ago and is looking to complete the season sweep.
Both of these games will be tough matchups as both schools will rely on hot shooters, tough defense, and momentum swings-- with a little pride on the line.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
The "Student" Athletes of UNC
Mary Willingham, a former learning specialist with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has recently spoken out with some appalling news regarding the student athletes of the university-- or maybe we should just call them athletes... because according to her findings, they really aren't much of students.
Early in Willingham's tenure with the school, a young athlete came into her office for help with his studies, and she "panicked" when she realized that he couldn't read or write. Later, Willingham came into contact with another that couldn't read words with multiple syllables and yet another who wanted to learn how to read "so he could read about himself in the news." A recent CNN study of a few schools discovered that many students that play basketball and football could only read at an eighth grade level.
Willingham decided to conduct her own research and screened 183 athletes that played either basketball or football for UNC in the years since 2004. 60% were able to effectively read between a fourth and eighth grade level, and 8-10% were able to read no higher than a third grade level-- shocking statistics at such a academically prestigious university. However, this isn't the first time that UNC has been investigated on similar issues. A few years back, the school was accused of giving passing marks to student athletes who had, in fact, never attended the class or even turned in an assignment.
The university has now refused Willingham permission to report her findings to the media, and continues to question the integrity of her research.
Now, by no means are collegiate athletes who struggle in the field of academics an uncommon thing, but being unable to read just seems ludicrous. In my opinion, collegiate student athletes should be required to retain a certain grade point average while keeping up with their studies, and their professors should be checked periodically, because after all, many of them will not pursue professional careers in the NFL, NBA, or MLB This current event makes me wonder just how prepared the former student athletes, now turned businessmen and women, are to run our world today.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/us/ncaa-athletes-reading-scores/index.html
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/01/20/u-north-carolina-shuts-down-whistle-blower-athletes
Early in Willingham's tenure with the school, a young athlete came into her office for help with his studies, and she "panicked" when she realized that he couldn't read or write. Later, Willingham came into contact with another that couldn't read words with multiple syllables and yet another who wanted to learn how to read "so he could read about himself in the news." A recent CNN study of a few schools discovered that many students that play basketball and football could only read at an eighth grade level.
Willingham decided to conduct her own research and screened 183 athletes that played either basketball or football for UNC in the years since 2004. 60% were able to effectively read between a fourth and eighth grade level, and 8-10% were able to read no higher than a third grade level-- shocking statistics at such a academically prestigious university. However, this isn't the first time that UNC has been investigated on similar issues. A few years back, the school was accused of giving passing marks to student athletes who had, in fact, never attended the class or even turned in an assignment.
The university has now refused Willingham permission to report her findings to the media, and continues to question the integrity of her research.
Now, by no means are collegiate athletes who struggle in the field of academics an uncommon thing, but being unable to read just seems ludicrous. In my opinion, collegiate student athletes should be required to retain a certain grade point average while keeping up with their studies, and their professors should be checked periodically, because after all, many of them will not pursue professional careers in the NFL, NBA, or MLB This current event makes me wonder just how prepared the former student athletes, now turned businessmen and women, are to run our world today.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/us/ncaa-athletes-reading-scores/index.html
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/01/20/u-north-carolina-shuts-down-whistle-blower-athletes
Friday, January 17, 2014
TCA vs. Middleton 1-17-14
The Lady Lions of Trinity Christian Academy will face off against the Lady Tigers of Middleton High School tonight in Middleton, Tennessee. Coming off two straight district losses on the road, the Lady Lions (2-4, 15-A) are in desperate need of a road win to put them back in contention for the 15-A title. The Lady Lions have shot poorly on the road so far this year, only winning one game not in the Lion's Den. Senior shooting guard Savannah Seeley may make a return tonight after missing the last several weeks due to an ankle injury sustained previously during the season-- the Lady Lions have sorely missed her three-point stroke. The Lady Tigers remain ranked as one of the top teams in the state at #8 with one of their star players returning this year after a knee injury to join two other standouts, hoping for a shot at the district title. Middleton's big three have played extremely well, carrying the Lady Tigers throughout the season with some physical, athletic play. Even tough TCA has had trouble getting started in Middleton over the past few seasons, one can rest assured that this will be a contest for the ages.
http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20140114/SPORTS/301140017/H-S-BASKETBALL-Four-West-Tenn-girls-teams-ranked-Class-A
http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20140114/SPORTS/301140017/H-S-BASKETBALL-Four-West-Tenn-girls-teams-ranked-Class-A
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