SLA Media

SLAMedia is a publication of the news for the Science Leadership Academy community. Writers come from the student body in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. We work in unison to create a functioning paper with biweekly postings on a variety of events.

Sports

SLA Cross Country Team Travels to States

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By Deshawn Mcleod

Staff Writer

On November 4th, the SLA cross country team headed down to Hershey, PA for the State Championship. Junior Matthew Ferry, captain of the boys cross country team, qualified for the competition. Running a 18:14 at Belmont Plateau for the District XII Championships, he placed 11th.

Along with Ferry, other runners on the SLA cross country team joined to cheer their teammate on. Ferry had a test run on the course, but that wasn’t the first time he had stepped foot on the Hershey course. This was his second year qualifying for States.

Ferry commented that, “Belmont Plateau is a lot smoother that Hershey’s course. It was a lot difficult because there was a lot of people and I kept getting boxed in.”

Ferry also noted that, “I enjoyed the hotel stay, but I didn’t enjoy my race. I’m going to use it as a learning experience for the future.”

Sophomore Katherine Hunt was two spots away from qualifying for States. She also went to Hershey to support Ferry. “Well [the course] seemed difficult to an extent. I thought the course was beautiful and I wished I would have practiced on those hills instead.” She said if she would have qualified for States her preparation would be drinking at least 44 oz. of water everyday, get rest, and do speed workouts.

Junior Sasha Sapp, another member of team, said, “[Hershey] was beautiful, the scenery was tranquil and the trail was awesome.”

She also enjoyed the races. “I remember feeling the entire ground shake beneath my feet when we all lined up along the outskirts of the trail. That was deep. Especially towards the ends of the races, both divisions, girls and guys, watching the runner literally get themselves to that final hell hill. It made me what people are capable of. That last hill…. and then that last sprint out? That’s true will and sheer determination at that point.”

This year at States, Ferry ran a 18:58, which placed him in 219th. This is a significant improvement from last year running a 20 flat and placing 256th.

SLA Senior Wins Disney Marathon Trip

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By Marina Stuart

Staff Writer

Everybody loves Disney, so why on earth would you not want to run 26.2 miles through the Disney parks?

For one lucky runner that dream actually came true. Senior Markia Johnson, who is a member of Students Run Philly Style, has won a spot in the Disney World Marathon in 2012-all expenses paid.

SRPS is an organization in Philadelphia that helps students around the city become long-distance runners.  There are about 45 different teams and they are located at different schools and neighborhoods.

This year an organizer who works with students run and CIGNA, the marathon sponsor worked out the following arrangement: One SRPS member will get an all expense paid trip to run in the Disney World Marathon. Students were nominated by their team leaders and had to write an essay explaining why they deserved the opportunity.

Of the 250 students nominated all around Philadelphia, only one was selected, and that was Johnson.

According to SLA organizer Jeremy Spry, “Markia was nominated because she has been with Students run for seven years and is a senior so it was fitting that we nominated her.”

When asked about being nominated, Johnson said she didn’t really think it would happen and didn’t actually ask her parents for permission to enter the contest.  However, when she did find out she got the award she immediately called her parents who agreed and were very excited for her.

 As a part of her weekend at the marathon, Johnson must also help with the kids Disney World “Fun Run” and be part of a speaker series and the Disney world expo.

For her essay, Johnson “wrote about how this was my last year in students and I finished three marathons, which is current goal. I also wrote about how doing the Disney World Marathon would be a good way to end my students run career.”

Johnson will participate in the Disney World Marathon run on Jan 8th 2012.

Soccer and Cross Country Advance to Playoffs

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Junior and Cross Country Team Captain Matthew Ferry with his trophy for placing at the Public League competition.

By Natasha Ashby

Staff Writer

Soccer

For the first time ever at SLA, the Boys Soccer team qualified for the playoffs. Their record this season was 6-6 and the players’ range from freshman to seniors.

The team consists of various skill levels, and come together on the field to play in unison. Before they begin their season, they spend an immense amount of time conditioning from workouts to running up Lemon Hill multiple times.

The Rockets were thrilled to qualify for playoffs this year. Unfortunately, they lost their first playoff game against Lincoln High School on Thursday October, 20th, knocking them out the PIAA playoffs. They also lost against Masterman on October 26th, which was their last chance of clinching a district title as a team.

Douglas Wallace, a senior and two-year goalie, has accomplished something all on his own. He has been named all public as a goalie by all C division coaches. This season alone, he has made between 80 and90 saves, allowed only ten goals and has had three shutouts.Wallace was named to the all public team on October 17th. “I was shocked,” he said. “That’s kinda crazy. It means I am one of the best goalies in my division.” Compared to last year, the way he prepared himself was very different, because he put in more effort to get stronger and faster in order to be ready for the season. Thanks to Coach VK for training him and giving him the confidence he needs to do well. As a goalie, he educates himself and his team about the pros and cons of the game as a way of mentally preparing them for future games.

Cross CountryCross Country runners competed in the Public League on Thursday October 20th against all public schools in the Philadelphia School District. Matt Ferry, captain of the boys team, who has placed twice during his years running in the Public League, and Maggie Long, captain of the girls team, have long prepared their team members for this meet and many meets to come such as Districts and States.

During Public, the entire team qualified for districts — Seniors Tyler Hankinson, Rick Kinard  and Mustapha Idriss, Juniors Maggie Long, Matt Ferry, Tenzin Ngawang, Sasha Myuzaki and Katherine Hunt, Sophomores DeShawn McLeod, and Freshmen Amy Chen and Reggie Simmons.

Ferry is fully aware of what it’s like to be a leader and a competitor. Having been apart of the team for two years now, he has learned how to be a captain.

“Many responsibilities are placed on me, all of which I love. Whenever my teammates need help, I give them racing strategies, warm-ups, and just someone who they can depend on. During both the boys and girls races I’m along the course cheering my teammates on. As soon as I finish my race, I go right over to my coach and wait with her to help motivate my teammates to stay strong till the end.”

In 2010, he came in 8th place and had a personal best time of 18:25. Now, this year he placed 13th, qualified for Districts and is now on his way to the State competition on Saturday, November 5th in Hershey, PA.

The team attributes its success to the fact that they are like a family. Whether it was while stretching, warming up or during the race, an SLA student voice could always be heard cheering on another.  According Maggie Long, “Running clears my mind. It’s good exercise and I love my coach. It’s a team sport but individual at the same time. I don’t have to rely on others to win. My whole goal is to beat myself and improve each time I run.”

SLA boys soccer players and cross country runners are quickly rising through the ranks of the public league, while staying true to themselves and to their team.