Myers Park Hoofprint

The Myers Park High School Newspaper

Campus News

Wren Burnette

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Introduction: 

When it comes to creativity, Myers Park is at no shortage- from photography and film classes with Ms. Holder, to mural projects with the National Art Honor Society, to learning art with Ms Wu, we see passionate students everyday going out and making new things. However, some students take it outside of the Park too. One example being Wren Burnette, a talented painter and artist who was gracious enough to let me interview her. Wren is currently a senior at Myers Park, taking AP Drawing, Advanced Visual Art, and an Art Appreciation course at Central Piedmont Community College. She currently spends her time outside of school working at a flower shop, doing art, and most recently preparing for her work to be shown and put up for sale for the first time- a milestone that’s been a year in the making.

Finding Inspiration

When asked what inspires her art, Wren shares that she gets her inspirations from noteworthy or interesting colors, patterns, or even outfits she sees. This includes her friends and family, who she adds on saying they have an impact on her art too – she tells me her mother is even a SCAD alumni who did art and graphic design in college!

When asked what influences her art, Wren shares that she gets her inspirations from noteworthy or interesting colors, patterns, or even outfits she sees. 

This personal connection to her work is evident in her favorite piece from her upcoming show: a painting of cowboy boots. The painting is done in acrylic on canvas, and there’s light blue sticking on the boots, which are set in a home, propped up on hardwood flooring. The detail is in every brushstroke, and the subject feels personal and comforting. She tells me that they’re her moms boots, and they represent her and how hardworking she is. 

Artistic style and process 

Wren also notes that her artistic journey has transformed significantly over her high school years. “My art has definitely changed,” she reflects. “I used to focus on improving technically and experimenting with style, but now I explore putting meaning into my artwork and making it personal, as well as adding little details.” I can personally account for this too- meeting Wren in my sophomore year art class, her artworks strongest quality was realism. Now, as we enter an AP art class together senior year, I notice many changes- more colorful pieces with backgrounds and stories behind them. The time and practice put into this skill is evident in the transformation of her work throughout her academic career. 

Overcoming Challenges

Like many artists, Wren admits that she faces creative blocks. She says that she is “still working on it, but just picking up materials and working helps, as well as immersing yourself in what inspires you.” She also credits different artists as a source of inspiration, and adds that even just looking at other work can help spark motivation.

Advice for fellow student artists

For students looking to get their artwork seen, Wren offers some advice – “Make friends with other artists to get connected, and get involved at school. Have a good relationship with your art teacher – they have resources.” She credits her teacher Ms. Wu for offering her the opportunity to sell her art at markets, which eventually led her to the gallery opportunity at a local brewery. 

Looking Ahead

Wren isn’t slowing down anytime soon. She’s excited about her art assignments at school and is taking four art classes between Myers Park and CPCC. Her dedication to her craft is evident in every painting and every conversation about her work.The gallery show represents more than just displayed artwork—it’s the culmination of years of growth, experimentation, and finding her voice as an artist.

Final Thoughts:

So go support a fellow mustang- next time you’re visiting North Davidson from October 13th to December 8th, check out Freerange Brewery on 2320 N Davidson St to see her paintings up for sale! 

New Drainage Systems around Myers Park

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Students returning to Myers Park this year were greeted not just by new classes and familiar faces, but by something noticeably different: the Quad. In place of muddy patches and flooded walkways, there are now stretches of rocks, new grass, and visible efforts to reduce the flooding the campus has faced. These changes are part of a drainage project supported by the PTSO completed over the summer.

For years, rain left standing water across walkways and seating areas, especially in the lower areas of the Quad. “[The flooding was] caused by the clay soil and the fact that you guys walk over it every single day, which compresses it,” explained APES teacher Ms. Zornow. “It basically becomes like cement.” That compression makes it nearly impossible for water to soak into the ground. In response, the school added drainage systems, including underground systems and, surface level changes designed to direct and absorb stormwater. 

“Usually there’s some kind of pipe that will take [rainwater] away to a larger pipe which… feeds directly into our streams and, creeks and, rivers.” Ms. Zornow said, explaining how storm drains work in Charlotte. “It doesn’t go to a treatment plant.” “You dig a pit down and then you put down gravel and then perforated tubing, which has holes in the very top of it. Then, you put more gravel, and it looks like ground. You’re walking on grass, but that’s sucking up a ton of water and carrying it away when it does rain.” While she is waiting to see how the new system performs during the first storm, Ms. Zornow is optimistic. “I’m sure it does [help], because somebody came in and evaluated it and said that this was the best way to do it.”

One of the most visible changes is the addition of rocks in areas where grass struggles to grow. “It will create more porous spaces which will allow more water to go into the ground quickly,” Zornow said, noting that rocks were placed around troublesome walkways. “So I expect, especially in certain walkways, you won’t have the huge lake and puddles that you have to traverse.” However it has changed walking patterns through the quad. I shared with Ms. Zornow that I’d already heard some students stating that they find the rocks more difficult to walk on and that some people have even tripped over them. Ms. Zornow agreed. “Smaller rocks, like gravel are easier to walk on but not as pleasant to look at.”

One factor that has made flooding worse over time is the loss of mature trees around our campus. “Trees suck up an enormous amount of water,” said Zornow. “If it’s a slow, steady rian, they will suck up an enormous amount of water because they are doing photosynthesis—they need to pull that up into the leaves.” “If you’re in high-traffic areas, such as the Quad, it is hard to have trees survive because you’re walking on those roots and compacting the soil above it. So you have to have really hardy trees.” While some new trees have been planted over the years, the challenge remains in keeping grass alive in areas where students frequently walk. “It needs time to establish,” she said, pointing out parts of campus that are blocked off to give new grass a chance to grow. 

According to Zornow, the hill outside the SET building is still in need of attention. “It’s eroding quickly, because kids walk on it, the grass isn’t staying, and at the very bottom of the hill is sand which is from erosion.” While the quad may never have the perfect grass of drainage, the new systems are a step toward a safer, more functional outdoor environment. “It’s a high traffic area,” said Zornow. “The quad will never have great grass. But the changes they made should help.”

College Preparation

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With the 2025 college admissions season approaching, many students in the Class of 2026 are beginning to prepare their own college applications. Between accumulating volunteer hours, brainstorming essay topics, participating in extracurricular activities, working part-time jobs, studying for exams, and reaching out to college counselors, these students have a lot on their minds. In a series of interviews, Myers Park juniors gave insight into their plans for life post-high school, and what they’re doing now to help them realize those goals.

Students expressed interest in attending schools both in and out of state. Several want to remain in North Carolina for college, aspiring to attend Davidson College, NC State, or UNC Chapel Hill. Others who intend to study out of state are eager to apply to a long list of secondary education programs at the University of California – Los Angeles, Virginia Tech, the University of Florida, and more. Some also dream of Ivy League schools such as Columbia or Harvard University. 

In anticipation of submitting their applications, students like Zain Al Safadi (11) and Rachel Stitt (11) are beginning to seek advice from professionals and fellow upperclassmen regarding writing their admissions essays. They expect to start writing their official essays over the summer. “Once AP exams are over in May, I’m going to start on my essays. That way, I can apply to a lot of colleges with less stress,” said Al Safadi. Similarly, Stitt exclaimed, “Over the summer, I’m going to write all of my essays and formulate all of my applications so I’m ready to submit!” In addition to formulating essays, many juniors are currently studying for the SAT and ‘locking in’ on their classes in order to boost their GPA. Nora Kapur (11), says that she has regular SAT prep on Saturdays and hopes to take two CPCC classes over the summer. 

Such preparations appear to be accompanied by a wave of emotions. Many students confessed to feeling overwhelmed by the thought of applying to college. When asked about how often he thinks about college, Charlie Price (11) reported thinking about college “at least once a day.” Several other students ranked the frequency of college-related thoughts and concerns between seven and nine on a scale of one to ten. Eva Doolittle (11) stated that preparing to create the perfect college application can be “very time consuming and takes a big toll on mental health.” Fiona Smith (11) adds, “I would definitely say that the idea of preparing for college admissions is stressful…it takes a lot to look good on an application nowadays. All of the recommendation letters, the essays, trying to make sure everything’s perfect… It’s just a lot, especially when you’re applying to prestigious schools.” 

With each passing year, universities are receiving record numbers of applications, forcing them to decrease their acceptance rate, thereby making it harder for students to be accepted into the schools they wish to attend. According to Business Student, a business education website, the average admissions rates at the top 50 US universities have dropped a shocking 37% from 2006 to 2018. Since the pandemic, these numbers have only seemed to worsen. This adds increased pressure for applicants to stand out in order to get into the schools of their choice, motivating students to strive for awards, club leadership roles, and scholarships. All of these factors cause stress for students juggling a multitude of activities while also managing their regular school work. 

However, students remain enthusiastic about their pursuit of a higher education even despite their hectic schedules. “I’m excited to apply to college so that I can gain new experiences and meet new people,” said Al Safadi, who, much like some of her peers, looks forward to gaining independence after high school. “I’m also looking forward to challenging myself

Mustang Athletes on the Next Level

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Photo contribution by Lexi Barry

Myers Park has a long history of creating athletes destined for greatness. Every year, a new crop of Mustang athletes graduate and head off to play at the next level of sports, and this year is no different. The Class of 2025 has six athletes, across five sports, headed to six different schools. 

Lucy Curtis will be headed to The Ohio State University to play Division 1 Field Hockey for the Buckeyes. The three-year varsity goalkeeper was a captain on this year’s team, which went 12-5 overall and undefeated in conference play. Curtis also plays for the Charlotte Ambush Field Hockey Club. She officially signed to the Ohio State team last November. 

Reid Heaton will also be moving to the next level of sports, as he committed last September to play Golf at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. “I’m excited to compete, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to play for a team that has such a good program, and try and do something special, win the first national championship in school history,” Heaton said. Last year, the Washington and Lee Men’s Golf program was one of the strongest in the nation, finishing the 2023-2024 season ranked 8th out of 297 teams, and Heaton will make an important addition to an already strong team. 

Standout Volleyball star Lia Skufca will be headed to Princeton University to join forces with one of the strongest teams in the Ivy League conference. Skufca played with the Mustangs for all four seasons of her high school eligibility, ending with a career high school record of 64-33. She won two conference championships with the team, in her junior and senior years, and will look to continue her winning traditions at Princeton, who won their 20th Ivy League conference championship last year. 

Cameron Bucci, a swimmer on the Myers Park Seastangs committed to swim at the University of Delaware this October. Bucci swam for Myers Park for all four years of his high school career, also swimming for the Aquatic Club of Mecklenburg (ATOM). Bucci has been one of Myers Park’s strongest swimmers and looks to continue his swimming career with a top-50 swimming program in the nation. 

Elizabeth Rudisill will play golf at Vanderbilt next year. The standout player who led the Myers Park team is also currently ranked third#3 in the American Junior Golf Association girl’s rankings. Rudisill has already made the cut for an LPGA event, competing in the FM Championship last September in Boston. At Vanderbilt, she will look to develop what has already proved to be an outstanding career and continue to dominate on the course. 

Emerson Sule with Women’s Lacrosse will head to Wingate University to continue her athletic career with the Bulldogs. Sule has been a standout with the team for three years so far and will be looking to finish her high school career strong with one final lacrosse season. With the Division II Bulldogs, she will look to help Wingate remain a strong perennial contender for the South Atlantic Conference Championships. 

Finally, Thomas Price will play Golf at Berry College in Georgia next year with the Vikings. “[I’m excited] to make the lineup and be a part of the team,” Price said. When asked about his favorite memory of playing high school golf, he reflected on his teammates and coaches. “Just the traveling with the team and making relationships, it’s less the golf, more the relationships you make. My relationship with Coach Lockwood, which has been really good to have.” Berry was one of the strongest Division III men’s golf programs last year and ended the season ranking 20th nationally. 

All of these outstanding Mustang athletes will look to continue their athletic careers at some of the strongest college sports programs in the nation. Their hard work and dedication throughout their high school sports careers has paid off, and they will all be valuable members of their respective teams. 

Note: After the time of this writing, Jared Lockhart (Jackson State University), Elijah Barber (Catawba College), and MauriAngelo Skanes (Emory and Henry University) all committed to play football at thier respective schools. This article does not include athletes who signed after 2/4/2025. We would like to congratulate all our fantastic Mustang athletes on their accomplishments.

A Culture Unlike Any Other

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It’s more than the product, it’s about the process. Starting about a year before they see the final edition, the new editors for the yearbook meet and start to plan out how they are going to produce a product that will be a symbol for students of their high school years for the rest of their lives. While it starts off with a meeting of the minds, it requires focus on the broad details, and the little details, from the cover design to the punctuation on page 160 for it all to come together. After months of hard work, when students finally get their hands on the yearbook, the smiles and laughter that students experience are all a result of the work and dedication the yearbook team puts into it.
“It’s a very meticulous process, it starts early in the year, we have to design each page, page by page,” said senior Sophie Earnhardt, one of the three Editors In Chief for this year’s yearbook. Sophie has worked alongside Darden Cone and Lexi Barry to lead the staff of 40 people in roles from taking photos, writing captions, and even creating promotional videos to get more people to join the student-led class for the following year. Yearbook is different from any other class on campus, having the opportunity to work alongside fellow peers and create something that will last and hold more memories than any essay or assignment ever would. Another reason yearbook is different from any other class is the diverse opportunities that are offered. “The class is meant for anyone because there is a pictures aspect and a writing aspect that builds skills that help [staff members] for their futures” added Sophie. Sophie herself has used yearbook as a way to grow and change, saying “It helped to get me out of my comfort zone, talk to teachers, talk to students, and build relationships outside and in yearbook.” Sophie will use these relationships, her leadership, and interview skills to help her succeed at the collegiate level and into her personal career. This in itself shows the beauty of the class; it overcomes the norms of what a high school class looks like by emphasizing creativity and self motivation as the driving factors in getting a good product, not a letter grade in Powerschool.
Lia Skufca (12) added, “Yearbook has allowed me to see a lot more of what goes on around the Myers Park community, it allows me to get involved with people I usually would not spend time with.” Along the same lines, Sophie said, “Getting to know Darden and Lexi more, we knew each other, but now we weren’t really friends and we have a really strong bond we wouldn’t have without yearbook”. The main takeaway from these individuals is that the yearbook has built a culture of community. While much of the work may be independent and meticulous, the reason the staff shows up and works hard every day is because of the relationships and the sense of togetherness. It starts at the top, with the seniors who show the way for underclassmen. “I love being able to help people problem solve, and show people different tools to help them succeed,” said Senior Sarah Fox. One of the editors, Lexi Barry, described that as an editor, she has to oversee all of the processes and delegate different tasks to different staff members. This leadership is not only key to the success of the product, but is critical to building the culture of community around the classroom. This culture has allowed for strong relationships such as the ones Lexi, Darden, and Sophie have to form year after year.
If you are looking for a class that will provide you with a different challenge and help you form memories and friendships that last a lifetime, look no further than S-7 and yearbook to help you make the Park your own.

A New Era For MPB

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Reid Heaton and Dimitri Katsanos

On May 3, a new era began for Myers Park Basketball as the school hired Andrew Glover as the next men’s basketball coach. Coach Glover sat down with the Myers Hoofprint to introduce himself to the student body.

Glover is a Charleston native who “has been in a gym my entire life,” he said. Glover’s love for the game came from his mother, who has served as a basketball and volleyball coach for 42 years. “I’ve been in the athletic scene for forever,” Glover said. After high school, Glover went on to play college basketball at USC Aiken, and after his playing career ended he went into coaching. “I always knew I wanted to coach, it came natural to me and when the playing career ended it was a smooth transition into coaching”. 

Glover may be on the younger side for a head coach, but he is not lacking experience. Right out of college he got his career started by coaching a 17U AAU team, “It was a blast… I got to learn and it was trial by error with everything”. Glover then was hired at Gray Collegiate Academy as an assistant coach where he was part of a powerhouse program in the state of South Carolina. Glover won two state championships as an assistant there and was able to coach high-level players and play a very competitive schedule, Glover added, “Getting exposed to that level of high school basketball was pretty awesome, it  was a level I wanted to get back to”. After his time at Gray, Glover coached at USC Aiken and Eastern Kentucky, but when a new high school opened in Charleston, he knew it was time to go home. Glover built the program at Lucy Beckham High School from the ground up, and he went 1-11 in his first season, but continued to get better as he led the Bengals to the Sweet Sixteen this past season. Even though he had built the program at Lucy Beckham, Glover knew change was coming. 

“I had this weird feeling a couple months ago that there was some sort of change happening… I didn’t really know what that change was”. That sense of change led Glover to send his information to Coach Poore, and a few months later that feeling was right. Glover is now the man in charge of the program at Myers Park. Glover told us that he had always aspired to get to such a high level of competition again and that “being called to Myers Park, I felt like it was natural, it was a decision for me that it was hard to say no to.”

Glover described his vision for success as “putting work in” and he is a community and family-oriented individual. Glover plans on building upon the already strong student and alumni community at Myers Park, he enjoys engaging with individuals from all aspects of the program and wants “everyone to feel welcome and everyone to feel a part of it.” Coach Glover gave much praise to the program and to Coach Scott Taylor and Nick Jones for the success that they had created during their time and hope to continue their success. Glover understands the immense culture and personnel change the program is going through and that, “it might take a little bit of growing pains early” but that the ultimate goal “is to keep that rich tradition of success and winning alive.” Glover plans to achieve this goal through his high-energy coaching style, and “energy, effort, and enthusiasm is something that I do not lack” he added.

Glover is walking into a program that is built on winning. Myers Park won a state championship two years ago and was ranked as high as #4 in the nation last year. This is not just any high school basketball job but if anyone is up to the challenge of sustaining the winning culture of MP Hoops, Coach Glover is. 

Mustang Mothers

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This year, on Sunday, May 12, we will take a day to celebrate the mothers in our lives. Whether by blood or circumstance, the women we call mothers shape our morals and nurture us into the people we become. Similarly, the hours we spend in school with our teachers shape our future success and teach us valuable life lessons. The Hoofprint staff was lucky enough to sit down with three Myers Park teachers who are mothers or grandmothers themselves to gain some insight into the various aspects and overlaps of motherhood and education. 

Mrs. Harris, mother to two girls (five and seven years old) teaches world history. Although she generally teaches seniors she believes that her students are more similar to her young daughters than one might think. Harris stated,  “My students might have different challenges than I face with my girls but the same patience and understanding is needed at the end of the day.” She believes, “Keeping patience with my students and remembering that they’re just kids who are learning how to go through life exactly how my little ones are” is a major overlap between her work and home life. Mrs. Hamm, the school’s security monitor, is the mother to two sons and ten grandchildren aged 2-22. While not a teacher, she believes that, “guiding children, directly or indirectly” is a characteristic of both education and motherhood. Ms. Blackert, an IB math teacher, has a sophomore and a senior here at the park herself. She agreed with Hamm, explaining, “While we aren’t our students’ parents, we see them for a large portion of the day so it’s our responsibility to help them learn some of the things they need to develop as they grow.” Expanding on that, Blackert believes it’s a big responsibility of both mothers and teachers to care for the health of student’s brains. She says, “Especially since COVID, a lot more students struggle with their mental health and as a parent, I want to protect my children and help them, and I try to do the same with my students in the classroom.”

Mothers are full of life experience and wisdom that goes way beyond their children’s years. Surprisingly enough, they had to learn it from somewhere too. These teachers were each guided through life by their mothers and various other strong female figures, the advice which they carry into their motherhood as well as the classroom. Harris specifically shouted out Mrs. Allison, an English teacher at the Park, whom she’s known for the past 20 years. Harris said, “I watched her kids grow up and she’s watched my kids grow so I’ve always gone to her for advice. She always says that [childhood] goes by so fast, they’re only going to need you and want you for a few more years until they just want to see their friends or not need you anymore so you need to cherish every moment now.” Blackert was advised not to expect perfection out of anyone, especially yourself. She expressed, “All we can do is our best. We know that we’re making decisions and doing things that we think at the time we think are the right thing to do and then we learn that maybe it wasn’t working or whatever but we just learn from it and not punish ourselves.” Alternatively, Hamm believes the one thing that is perfection is showing compassion. In her closing statement, she said “ Always let your children know that you love them.  Be patient and kind as they learn and grow.”

This Mother’s Day, and the rest, make sure to show the mothers in your life how much you appreciate them. We owe so much (if not our whole lives) to them so take some time to give back!

CIS at MPHS

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If you walked into the library a few weeks ago, you may have noticed the large stack of board games that filled the room. The Myers Park community came together and donated 1,000 games to a local organization called “Furnish For Good.” The games will go to families who are going through housing transitions. This successful drive was run by the MPHS Furnish For Good Club and the Myers Park Chapter of Communities in Schools (CIS), and the board game drive is just one example of the impact CIS has had here as a key part of Myers Park. 

Communities in Schools is a national organization all over the United States. The purpose of CIS is to provide one-on-one relationships and support students who might not have access to certain resources and support.  CIS has aimed to bring together the school and outside communities by bringing in resources to aid and help students on their education journey. 

At Myers Park, we are lucky to have two great site coordinators, Olivia Hughes who specializes in youth development, and Stacey Weinstein, who focuses on education and career development. Mrs. Weinstein and Ms. Hughes sat down with the Myers Park Hoofprint to give an inside look into CIS here at Myers Park. Currently, CIS at Myers Park supports over 200 students as “resources for students and staff across campus,” said Hughes. CIS works directly with a portion of our students at MPHS, but CIS is continuing to leave an impact on the Myers Park Community as a whole. CIS is an outside organization not directly related to CMS which has allowed Weinstein and Hughes to “have a ton of creativity and bring a lot of things to this school that you can’t get if you’re a teacher or a counselor,” said Weinstein. CIS has the freedom to do so much more from supporting staff to bringing in outside resources or doing things such as the board game drive. Weinstein added, “We are an added layer they otherwise would not have for support or to bring in opportunities to the kids, we are here to enhance and support”. 

This creative freedom has allowed CIS to step up and play a role in different service initiatives and support initiatives seen around the Park.  This year, CIS was responsible for the successful board game drive, and last year, CIS ran a book drive. They partnered with “She Built This City,” which is an outside non-profit organization, along with communities on campus such as the National Honor Society and Swim and Dive. CIS collected the books and then built six community libraries in neighborhoods surrounding MPHS that have low reading scores. They also donated some books to Bruns Elementary, which led to a reunion for Mrs. Weinstein, “When I went to Bruns Elementary, their librarian was a former CIS student at Myers Park High School who worked with me.” The drive also inspired one former CIS student to do a similar drive with his Fraternity at NC A&T. Weinstein describes it as “a total ripple effect.” This drive represents everything CIS does here at MPHS. CIS makes a direct impact on students’ education,  brings different communities together and it leaves lasting impacts on the students for the rest of their lives.   CIS is also responsible for support initiatives such as the Kindness Cards students write for teachers around Thanksgiving every year. “It’s something I look forward to, and teachers look forward to, it helps to build that community,” added Hughes. 

CIS is deeply rooted within our MPHS community and has been for a long time, one of the former MPHS CIS coordinators was our very own Principal Mr. Folk, showing the community and connection CIS creates and brings to Myers Park year after year.

Spring Sports Special

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Photo contributed by Myers Park Softball

As the flowers bloom and the sun shines longer and brighter, spring sports come into the light and shine through the school year. Myers Park is known for our sports team, most notably our basketball team, but this season is for spring sports. Spring sports at the park offer an array of different events that are for everyone. From traditional favorites like baseball and track to sports like girl’s flag football, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! As winter comes to a close and the weather starts to get warmer, more athletes emerge to prepare themselves for the next exciting season ahead and that season is spring sports season. At the crack of a bat, our baseball and softball teams take off to a good start of the season.

Well, let’s take a look at the track, where Senior Ryann Smith takes over the track and dominates her events in every meet. I spoke with her to ask about her excitement and motivation for the spring season. I asked her “ Why did she choose track?”  “I chose track because I’ve always loved running and felt pretty fast. I knew it wasn’t an easy sport but I felt like it was something I could do well in. Maybe even go to college for it.”-Smith.  I followed up the question with “What motivates her to strive on the track and succeed?” “Family and my teammates is what motivates me to strive on the track and succeed. I want to be able to say that my family is proud of me not only for my academic achievements, but also for my ability to balance athletics as well. I would also love to be that person that my teammates can look up to and remember how hard to work once I graduate.”-Smith. Finally, I asked about her opinion on spring sports at the park and how it affects her as an athlete. “Honestly I love all things spring. I think it’s a great time to play any sport. For me, I feel happier and more energized in during the time of spring sports. Like it’s literally just a whole new atmosphere that I would hope most athletes, including myself, can thrive in.”-Smith. Let us take a sprint from the track and onto the field, where senior Chassidy Long will take over the field as she prepares to take on the flag football season on our most recently added girl’s flag football team. I spoke with her about this upcoming season, what motivates her, and how she feels about spring sports at the Park. I started off the interview with asking about her thoughts on the spring season of flag football: “As a senior, this season is a little nostalgic for me because this is my second year participating and I’m really enjoying the bonding and new experiences but a little sad I’m going to be leaving my teammates behind.”-Long After this I asked her why she chose flag football? 

“I chose women’s flag football because it piqued my interest as a male sport, but specifically for women, and I wanted to try something new to jump out of my comfort zone.” I followed up with asking her about what motivates her,  what keeps her going and striving on the field, “Knowing that I have a whole team and supportive coaches that have my back on and off the field motivates me.” Long.  Track, flag football, baseball, and softball are not the only spring sports this season; at the park, we also have golf, girls’ and boys’ lacrosse, soccer, and tennis. Sports and opportunities for students to strive and break through traditional sports like baseball and soccer and persevere through sports like flag football and golf. There is something for everyone here at the park!

Winter Sports Recap

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Photo contributed by Dimitri Katsanos

After an impressive fall sports season, the Mustangs backed it up with a jaw-dropping winter season. Multiple sports made the State playoffs, led by the Women’s swim team, who won the state championship, and the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams who both made it to the 4th round of the State Playoffs. Additionally, Mary Bonner Dalton helped lead the women’s track and field team to a 10th-place finish at States.

The Myers Park Seastangs Swim and Dive team had an excellent season under first-year head coach Ben Sharrer. The win by the Women’s team was the third consecutive State Title for the program. The Men’s swim team also had a solid, 6th-place finish. The Dive team also had an outstanding performance led by Sophomore Nate Robinson who won 4th place overall. Seastang Kayman Neal also received the NCHSAA Sportsmanship Award at States.

The Men’s Basketball team had a dominant season and was nationally ranked, being as high as the number 3 team in the country. They lost to North Meck in the 4th round of the State playoffs, but went undefeated in conference play and won the conference tournament, finishing the season with a 27-3 record and were the highest seed in the 4A West. The team won their first-ever John Wall Holiday Invitational Championship and won both of their games at the City of Jasper Holiday Classic. Also, the players were not short of individual accolades, with Seniors Sir Mohammed and Bishop Boswell, accumulating over 1000 points. Junior Sadiq White also accomplished the feat this season, achieving it in just 3 years. White’s dominant play also earned him the honors of SoMeck Conference Player of the Year. He made 1st team all district along with Mohammed and Boswell, who both received the honor for the second year in a row.

The Women’s Basketball team had an equally impressive season, also going 27-3, earning the 4th seed in the 4A West division of the Conference. The team made it to the 4th round of the playoffs before losing to Watauga, who was the number one seed. The team went undefeated in conference play during the regular season and made it to the championship game of the conference tournament, narrowly losing 53-51 to Ardrey Kell. The team had many high-performing players, led by Senior Jerin Truesdale, who won her second consecutive SoMeck 4A Conference Player of the Year and received 2nd team all-district honors. She also scored her 1000th point and gathered her 500th rebound this year. On top of that, Freshman Amani Barner and Junior Chayla McDaniel were both selected for the SoMeck All-Conference team. Coach Barbra Nelson was named the SoMeck 4A Women’s Coach of the Year for the team’s outstanding season.

The Myers Park Indoor Track also had an excellent performance this year with Senior Mary Bonner Dalton leading the way. At States, she placed 1st in the 3200 Meter Race and 2nd in the 1600 Meter. In the Shot Put competition, Solomon Young finished 5th, and Mariama Hunt placed  6th in the Triple Jump. The women’s team had a standout performance, finishing 10th at the State Championship.

The impressive winter season will go a long way for the Mustangs as we compete for the Wells Fargo Cup in the 4A classification and for the Conference Cup. Both awards are given to the top overall performing school in their respective classification and conference. Points are earned based on the performance of each of the school’s eligible teams throughout the year. The top-ranked team in the State will receive a Silver Cup and Banner. The top team in each conference will receive a Silver Cup as well. After the winter season, the Mustangs are in. Congratulations to all of our athletes and coaching staff on a tremendous winter season.