Smyrna High Defeats Northwest and Mount Juliet in Wrestling

By Andrew Freund

            Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer            

            MOUNT JULIET, Tenn. -- The Smyrna High School wrestling team starring Cameron Henderson fought hard against Northwest and Mount Juliet high schools, on Nov. 20 winning by a score of 42-28 against Mount Juliet and 30-24 against Northwest.  

            The matches were held at Mount Juliet High School. After the Smyrna High team finished its weigh-ins it started to warm up and prepare to wrestle in the first match against Northwest High. Northwest is a well put together team that was ready for battle.

            The competition began in Northwest’s favor with two wins over Smyrna. The Smyrna High Bulldogs had to win the next three contests to win the team match. With Smyrna wrestlers Brandon Leiva, Fernando Bravo and Cameron Henderson left to wrestle, it was looking promising for Smyrna High School.

            Leiva took the mat to wrestle against Northwest’s 115 pounder and was up the whole match with a significant lead of 12-6 going into the third period. Leiva began to run out of energy. A take down and back points coming from Northwest put the score at 12-11, barely in Leiva’s favor with only 30 seconds left. Leiva came out on top with an escape, and the match ended with the score 13-11.

            Bravo was up next. He was full of confidence as he walked out for his match. He landed the first takedown in the first 30 seconds of the match, coming out strong and finishing the rest of his takedowns with ease. 

            By the end of second period, Bravo was up 12-5. As the third period started, Bravo was elbowed in the mouth and bit his tongue. He was forced to leave the mat temporarily because of the bleeding. Smyrna had only one minute to get Bravo back out on the mat ready to wrestle.

            Bravo ran to the mat just in time to finish the match for his team. There were only 42 seconds left. Bravo won by a score of 16-6.

            “I had to swallow the blood and try not to focus on my tongue bleeding so I could win this match,” said Bravo.

            Henderson was the last wrestler to take the mat for Smyrna. He is Tennessee State champion for the 138-pound weight class. He pinned Northwest's wrestler in less than 30 seconds after the whistle was blown.

            “Wrestling is a sport that you must work hard in,” Henderson said. “It is a lifestyle and not just a hobby. You must train and be disciplined to be the best out there because it is your will verses another. No one to help you, just you and your opponent.”

            The Smyrna High wrestling team was ready to fight against Mount Juliet High School. Henderson wrestled against one of the State qualifiers from Mount Juliet, Donovan Henry. Although Henry fought hard, Henderson was the victor by a score of 13-2.

            “Donovan was not an easy opponent, and he still isn’t to his full potential yet this season,” Henderson said. "He will continue to get better as the season gets into full motion. I look forward to seeing him in the future.”

Smyrna has started this season off 2-0 and looks forward to keeping an undefeated record throughout the season.

            “Cameron puts the time in on the mat and is disciplined off the mat,” said Smyrna High Wrestling Coach Mattew Proctor. "Cameron has been leading the team and pushing them to be the best. I look forward to seeing where his discipline and hard work take him in this sport.”

            For more information about the Smyrna High School wrestling team, including a schedule of upcoming matches, visit www.smyrnahighathletics.com.

Motlow Dual Enrollment Program Experiences Rapid Growth

By Deidra Wheeler

Motlow Buzz Reporter

         SMYRNA, Tenn.—The Dual Enrollment program at Motlow State Community College will experience an unprecedented growth in fall 2017, providing numerous courses on a variety of subjects to high school students in the state of Tennessee.

Dual Enrollment allows high school students to gain college credits while still attending their own high school classes every day. By completing the program, students are one step ahead of regular students when they enter their first year of college. If a high school student is using the Dual Enrollment grant, then the program is completely paid for. 

MSCC’s Dual Enrollment students come from all Rutherford County schools, homeschool associations, and even surrounding areas. 

According to newly hired High School Representative for Rutherford County and the High School Programs & Digital Learning Coordinator at MSCC Mary Kay Bell, the college is expected to expand the program even more next fall. There will over 100 students attending classes on campus alone.

“Those taking Dual Enrollment classes throughout Rutherford County will be more than 300 students,” said Bell. 

Mary Kay Bell

Maggie Bollinger, 16, a junior who is homeschooled in Nolensville, Tennessee, enrolled in Motlow’s dual enrollment program in the fall of 2016. Bollinger took a sociology course in the fall. She is now finishing a psychology course. Bollinger plans to double major in psychology and physical therapy after finishing her homeschool classes in Nolensville.

Bollinger has one sister and two older brothers who have dual enrolled at MSCC, and she has a few friends who are planning to dual enroll in the future.

“Being in this program is a great opportunity of learning on the college level,” said Bollinger. “It helps to know what the classes are really like, and what it is like to have a college schedule.”

Jeremy Wright, 17, a senior at Riverdale High School, enrolled in a college dual enrollment program in the fall of 2016. The dual enrollment program offered an advanced class for Wright that was not available on the Riverdale campus. He wanted to get into the dual enrollment program to be ahead in college in the fall of 2017.

He is planning to major in Spanish after high school to become an interpreter. Wright appreciates the fact that the dual enrollment program offered an advanced Spanish class that was going to put college credits toward his college career.

            “Don’t hesitate,” said Jeremy. “Take the advantage of not having to wait until the time is necessary to take a college course.”

            Meagan Pack, 18, also a senior at Riverdale, was enrolled in a college dual enrollment program in the fall of 2016, taking an English 1010 course. She plans to take the advantage of the Tennessee Promise Scholarship in the fall of 2017 at Volunteer State Community College. With that said, Volunteer State only accepts dual enrollment credits through its campus.

            Pack wants to continue learning after high school in the veterinary science program with a goal to earn her doctorate in veterinary medicine. She plans to attend the University of Tennessee Knoxville after completing the Tennessee Promise program. Her goal is to open her own veterinary practice to help all kinds of animals.

“I was raised on the farm,” said Meagan. “This is what I wanted to do from the start.” 

Left to Right: Jeremy Wright, Meagan Pack

Bell explains that the dual enrollment program is a great benefit for anyone who is planning to further their education on a post-secondary level.

 “We have a strong enrollment with LaVergne High School, Oakland High School, and Smyrna High School,” said Bell.

A Dual Enrollment student can participate in any regular course that is offered through MSCC. As with any student, all prerequisites must be met. A student must have a 3.0 GPA; must have completed the 10^th grade; have a sub-score of 19 or greater on Math, 19 or greater on Reading, and 18 or greater on English on the ACT.

If a student does not meet the ACT requirements, they can challenge their scores by taking the COMPASS test at any MSCC campus. 

Another good factor about being a Dual Enrollment student is that there are three convenient options for someone to take a course. He or she can either take the course at you’re their zoned high school, online, or on a MSCC campus.

MSCC has 48 students from LaVergne High School who come to the Smyrna campus for either biology and chemistry each day. Another 50 or so come from a variety of other schools and homeschool programs around Rutherford County. The numbers will substantially increase in the fall of 2017.

Students who are interested in the Dual Enrollment program can apply online at http://www.mscc.edu/dualjoint/ or call Mary Kay Bell directly at (615)-220-7814. There is no fee to apply, and the process is quick and easy.

With the help of the dual enrollment program, these students are taking the advantage of getting the help they need to further their education. They see this program as a way that benefits them in the future to reach their personal goals.     

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Smyrna Defeats Lavergne in First High School Football Alumni Game

By Cornelius Frands

SMYRNA, Tenn. – Former football players for Smyrna and Lavergne high schools took the field for an alumni football game at Smyrna Robert L. Rakes Stadium on Nov. 5, with Smyrna winning, 16-14.

            In 1988, Smyrna High was split into Smyrna and Lavergne, causing a fierce rivalry between the two schools ever since.

 

            This was the first alumni football game Smyrna and Lavergne have ever participated in. Many fans packed the stadium eager and ready for kick-off. This game featured alumni players from the years of 1988-2015.  

The Smyrna Bulldogs received the ball first, leaving the Lavergne Wolverines left to defend. Smyrna’s former running back, P.J. Whitaker, scored the first three points with a field goal in the first three minutes of the game.

Former Smyrna wide receiver, Nick Smart, scored a touchdown right before halftime increasing the lead to 10 to nothing. The crowd went crazy wild in the stands. During the 12-minute half, there was a short performance by the 615 House of Dance School’s dance team.

Smart scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the kicker missed the extra point, giving the team six more points.

“It felt great to be back on the field again,” Smart said. “Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.”

Former Lavergne running back Juju Wright scored a touchdown, giving the Wolverines seven points.

The Wolverine fought long and hard all game, and finally at 1:59 left to go, Lavergne scored another touchdown bumping the score up 16-14.

            The Bulldogs won the game, 16-14, sending the Wolverines home once again with their 30^th consecutive loss.

“This is the closest they’ve ever been to winning against us,” said Chelsea Wilkinson, a fan of the Bulldogs. “It’s been almost 30 years since they’ve beat us. They know their place.”

            For more information about the game, visit www.alumnifootballusa.com.

 

 

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Tennessee Promise Expected to Increase Student Attendance

By Trenton Short

 

Motlow Buzz Reporter

 

            SMYRNA, Tenn. – Tennessee Promise is expected to raise the quality of higher education in the state of Tennessee, providing the opportunity for more students to attend college and not worry about the cost of tuition.

            Motlow State Community College professors and personnel expect student numbers to increase next fall because of the Tennessee Promise program. Many professors and students are excited for this increase next fall.

            “I feel that it will help enrollment for the fall with many more students filling the classrooms,” said Gary Winton, assistant director of student services for the Motlow campus in Smyrna, Tenn. “I think it is an exciting time for the state of Tennessee for students that aren’t able to get a higher education after high school.”

            Winton said he feels that the classes will continue to grow each year because of Tennessee Promise and an altering economy. Winton, along with others, can’t think of any negatives for Tennessee Promise. Many are planning to take advantage of the opportunity to receive a cost-free education at the community college level.

“I wasn’t planning on going to Motlow or any type of community college until I heard about it,” said Richard Mulligan, a local Smyrna High School senior. “I was really considering going to MTSU, Lipscomb or Union University.”

Mulligan feels that the only con is that there could be overflowing classes without enough professors to teach them.

            “Tennessee Promise is something I’m very excited to be a part of, and I know I’m not the only one that feels that way,” Mulligan said.

            Tennessee Promise is more of a scholarship program meant for mentoring to increase the number of students in Tennessee. A scholarship will cover tuition for students coming in next fall and the following years.

            Students must go to all of the mandatory meetings to stay eligible for Tennessee Promise. They must also complete eight hours of community service and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in high school.

            To get more information for the Tennessee Promise, visit www.tennesseepromise.org.

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