View - Coral Reef Senior High School

6 Sports
Coral Reef Sr. High
September 2008
Going for the ‘goal’
Reef athletes strive for number one
JULIAN ORTIZ
Staff Writer
Favre’s return
A commentary on the
football legend
RICARDO MARTINEZ
Staff Writer
Coming out of last year as third in the district, Coral Reef
athletics strive for number one.
“Our goal this year is to improve even more. We have
been top 10 since reef opened…but never first,” said
Athletics Director Ms. Deborah Margolis.
Coral Reef has made
several dramatic
changes in the
program in an attempt
to reach number one
in the district. The
first step was hiring a
completely new line
up of coaches.
“There are many new
coaches that bring
high expectations
based on their past
experiences and
success,” said Ms.
Margolis.
Considering
that 16 graduates
last year received
athletic scholarships
or grants, this new
mission of becoming
number one should
come easily.
“The numbers [of
Joe Jefferson, Jeff Mondesir, Nicole Fuentes, Cera Arthur, Shaena
Docampo, Mara Demaura-Mazzacane, and Genevieve Macias show their
support for Reef’s athletes.
awarded athletic scholarships] WILL increase,” said Ms.
Margolis. According to her, it’s almost a guarantee.
The new coaches here at Coral Reef are already making
dramatic changes on the teams. The new head football
coach, Mr. Clements, has gathered the team to make
several modifications and additions to the weight room.
Asking for donations and paint, the football team received
many contributions by supporters. With these donations,
the team has repainted and redesigned the weight room.
The team hopes to bring this new attitude onto the field next season.
As to whether Coach Clements feels the pressure of leading the football
team, he says he is not daunted. “I don’t get pressure from others, I put
pressure on myself. It’s what drives me and furthermore, my team.”
Mr. Roane, the
new badminton and
volleyball coach,
also agrees to the
fact that there is ‘no
pressure at all.’
“Although I have
to admit pressure
is what athletic
competition is all
about. Coaches
come and go, but
we’re Cudas, and
Cuda victory lasts
forever!” said Mr.
Roane. After hearing
that the athletics
department had
openings, Roane
decided to “offer
his services,” as he
amiably puts it.
Along with the
football team,
Girl’s Basketball,
Badminton, Boy’s Volleyball, Wrestling and Water Polo are all getting
new instructors for this year’s athletic season. Yet, our improved athletic
status is unknown to many students around the Reef.
“Really? I’m very surprised, but very proud of my Cuda family,” said
senior Erica Reyes.
With the beginning of a new athletics program, the athletics department
is optimistic that the improvements will show.
Brett Favre comes back in green, although
this time for a different team. Favre now
plays for the Jets and winning only one
game out of three pre-season games, things
don’t look quite as good as they did with
the Green Bay Packers. Although Favre
holds the most important records in NFL
history, some fans believe he should stop
before things go bad.
Favre mentioned that he is comfortable
with his new teammates. Although some
fans believe the game is about the team and
not one single player, there will always be
that one player on the team that stands out
and plays better than the rest. Others would
follow that Green Bay Packer or not, Favre
is still an amazing quarterback.
Brett Favre is one of those players that is
durable and through the years has earned
an exceptional record for doing the job
right.
“ It’s sad it came down to him leaving.
Brett wanted to play another season but he
loves the game so he did what he had to,”
said IB senior Adrian Llama.
Now the new quarterback for the Packers
is Aaron Rodgers. Even though he is not
Favre, he is still a good quarterback and
is looking forward to a good year with the
Packers.
Brett “Ironman” Favre is a perfect example
to every high school or college football
player. His attitude towards the game has
always been positive and apparently to not
quit, which will serve as an inspiration to
our athletes at the Reef.
Underfunded teams struggle
Budget cuts affect more than just electives
LEIDY PEREZ
Staff Writer
The Miami-Dade County Public School System has
worked to reduce the funds given to schools by an
estimated of $280 million this 2008 - 2009 school year.
These severe budget cuts have affected even “privileged”
schools such as Coral Reef Senior High School.
Many maintenance workers, coaches, and teachers
have been cut from the faculty because of these budget
cuts. These restrictions have not only made a difference
in the faculty and staff at Coral Reef but it has, and will
keep on, directly affecting the students.
“We have to pay for everything, the school can’t pay
for anything anymore,” said IB senior Desiree Sanchis,
former member of the school swimming team.
“They won’t even pay for us to practice at Miami-Dade
pools anymore,” said Medical Senior, Bianca Gilbert,
who is currently on the school swimming team.
“The truth is that the school has even lost the activities
bus that used to help take the athletic students home,”
according to the the athletic director, Mrs. Deborah
Margolis.
“The teams do not have money, busses, or uniforms.
They have to support themselves and fundraise for these
fundamental things now,” said Margolis.
She also stated that to run a normal high school sport
facility, approximately $150,000 is needed, money that
the school system is failing to provide.
“We are already in debt from previous tournaments
and what we raise will be to gain funds for those debts
and for the tournaments to come,” said IB senior Franck
Tameze who is currently a member of the Varsity
Basketball team.
He has observed that for their tournament in Kentucky
around December they
will have to fundraise,
do carwashes, presales
and persuade
small companies to
donate banners for the
school. (Each banner
is about $300)
On the other hand,
Coach Nelson, who
coaches the track and
field team at Coral
Reef, said that Reef
was one of the lucky
schools because some
were unfortunate
enough to have much
less.
Due to the growing
debt of MDCPS the
situation may only
worsen. Speculations
have been made that
the school system is
thinking about cutting
$40 million more off the already cut budgets.
Electives, class supplies, and atletic programs are all feeling the pinch under
the new budget restrictions.
Coach Clemmens affirmed positively, “That on a financial
standpoint you have to take what you get and move on,”
and that, “With or without the money given by MDCPS
we would improvise but find a way.”
He also stated some of the actions that have already
been taken by the school and the alumni. The weight room
has been recently improved: the room was repainted with
the donated paint from different companies and supportive
parents.
The athletes at Coral Reef have continued to keep a
positive attitude in the fields and are learning step by step
how to surpass the difficulties that they have to endeavor.