Chasing dreams across an ocean
Alexis Perno, Print Editor
October 9, 2019
When senior Kailee-Rose Casey stepped into the Boston airport for the first time, the first thing she noticed was a Dunkin’ Donuts. “I kind of never thought that the day would actually come, so like when we got off, I was like 'holy cow we're in f****** America',” Casey said. C...
Student finds camaraderie through fantasy game
Ava Nelson, Features Editor
October 3, 2019
Casting spells, strategic play, card advantage and resource management, contests and champions are just a few aspects of fantasy card play, a familiar activity to senior Riley Schofner. In middle school, Schofner bought his first set of cards from Walmart for the fantasy game Magic: The Gatheri...
Sisters unite volleyball team
Hartley Hill, Copy Editor
September 26, 2019
The girls volleyball team takes the court as the reigning 8A state runner-up, but that is not the only reason they are a force to be reckoned with. Not one but two pairs of sisters build this team to their greatest potential. Lily and Birdie Frierson and Macy and Adele Cassidy have sh...
Teacher openly speaks about mental illness
Ava Nelson, Features Editor
September 23, 2019
As students present information on select art works from AP Art History’s top 250, teacher William Renninger asks specific questions regarding the pieces to encourage academic discussion. Holding the highest passing rate in the nation for his class, art, culture and history are all researche...
Swimmer qualifies for Olympic Trials
Kate Carnante, Sports Editor
September 19, 2019
Ten times a week, junior Ella Bathurst arrives at Bobby Hicks Pool for swim practice and has been doing so since she was 6 years old. “Originally, I got into swimming because my parents wanted all my siblings and I to be safe in the water,” Bathurst said. “We all had to do one season of ...
Siblings given opportunity to play soccer in the Caribbean
Cole Morgan, Staffer
September 17, 2019
Siblings Jake and Elyse Iller will be playing on the U.S. Virgin Islands national soccer team as of summer 2020 after finishing their senior and junior year respectively. Both siblings were invited to the national soccer camp in the islands for a week last summer to see if they were a good fit for the team. After pro...
Plant adds five new teachers
Ava Nelson, Features Editor
September 6, 2019
As freshman raced to reach unfamiliar classrooms and seniors traced through old hallways, five new teachers awaited students the starting day of school. AP Economics teacher Scott Donald returned to Tampa after teaching AP Human Geography in his home state of Indiana for a year. Donald had previo...
Student helps design 2020 Special Olympics logo
Ava Nelson, Features Editor
August 19, 2019
Q: Can you tell me a little about the design, like what it means to you, where the inspiration came from? A: I got inspired by other artists and my mentors and I talked about Florida, Orlando Special Olympics and I drew out many designs for the logo. Q: How did you draw the designs? ...
Student shares struggle with eating disorder
May 20, 2019
Junior Leah Burgin, a student with a history of disordered eating starting around seventh grade, recently went into residential treatment for six weeks after a relapse in summer. She was diagnosed in August and is currently in Partial Hospitalization Program for the disorder. Content warning for mentions of eating disorde...
Freshmen create knitting group
Jordyn Lutz, Staff Writer
May 14, 2019
The process of creating a club includes going to the main office, getting a form to fill out and even joining an official waiting list. But despite the long process, two freshmen, Gabriel Moore and Shannan Adams, are working on creating a new club, the Knitting Club. They applied in October and plan to be official...
Student becomes finalist for the Cadet of the Year Award
Carol Kornworcel, News Editor
May 8, 2019
Senior, Junior ROTC student and cadet Annahlia Hernandez became a top ten finalist for the Cadet of the Year Award from the Air Force Association March 28. “I didn’t know what I was getting myself into because no one from Plant who had been nominated had made it that far before,” Herna...
Ice hockey club places third in states
Nicole Prus, Online Editor
April 26, 2019
Skates glide quickly across the ice to pass the puck amongst teammates to score a goal. At Ice Sports Forum Rink, where the team is led by Coach Dax Burkhart, this is a reality for hockey club members who practice there once a week. "Me being Canadian, I have always played hockey, and when I moved to Flori...
