The Good
The good has been in athletics so far. Our Boys Soccer Team made a statement this year. The Soccer team posted their best record under Coach Cespedes (11-3-1; 8-2) and made their first playoff run since 1975. The Team featured several players who made the All-Metro 4A Team. Those include Carlos Casas, Juan Espitia, Y’Kun Fnu, Peter Tor, Amadou Toure, Tony Kdam. Juan took the Metro 4A Offensive Player of the Year, Peter took the Metro 4A Defensive Player of the Year. Coach Cespedes took the Coach of the Year. Juan Espitia als made the NC Soccer Coaches Association All State Team. Also, they became Co-Conference Champions sharing it with Page High. They also made it to the Second Round of State Playoffs. The defeated Southeast in the 1st Round, 3-2, but lost to Pinecrest in the Second Round, 0-3. The team looks forward to continue their success next season. The Football Team posted their best record since 2010 under 2nd Year Head Coach, Coach Kirkpatrick. They finished the Season at 4-7, 2-3 in conference, and their best conference mark. The Golden Eagles had players make the Metro 4A All Conference Team. On Offense, Tyrell Dumpson, Myles White, and Cameron Clark. On Defense, Janon Cooper, Desmond Rucker, Desmond Sturdivant, Jalen Clinard, and Darius Darden. Desmond “Chunky” Sturdivant was the Metro 4A Defensive Player of the Yar Cameron Clark signed with UNC-Charlotte the week before he played in the Shrine Bowl. The last Smith High Player to play in the Shrine Bowl was Eric Ebron. Yep, NFL Detroit Lions Eric Ebron. The Team also had a Statement Game in the Southeast Game, an emotional loss, 34-29 for the Golden Eagles, but they proved to the county that they are not just another team on the schedule but rather they are a team that can beat other schools, good schools like the Northwest loss, 13-7. Three Players also made the All-Area News & Record HSXTRA Team. Jalen Clinard, Desmond Sturdivant, and Cameron Clark. The Boys Basketball Team and the Girls Basketball Team are starting off good. The Girls entered the HAECO with a record of 4-4 while the Golden Eagles entered with a record of 6-5. The basketball landscape also see two new coaches. Coach Taylor for the JV Girls and Coach Jones returns to coaching for the JV Boys. This year also featured the Return of Ms. Pittman, Chorus Director, and Ms. Speight, the new dance instructor, with both putting on a great performance during the annual Holiday Concert. The band is also better, performing new songs and a field show. Also, the JV Cheerleaders trying to spread some Eagle Cheer to other sports. The cheerleaders was spotted at a Swim Meet and a Wrestling Match
The Bad
A bad part to the year was the Spirit Week. Spirit Week is supposed to be a time of fun and school spirit. Well, if school pride was already low, then the week made it lower. Many students including seniors argued that the week featured the same days as last year. The administration faced backlash over this year’s pep rally because it wasn't one. The rally happened after school before the Metro 4A Soccer Conference Championship game between Smith and Page. The main arguments was that a pep rally happens during school and how about those who wanted to attend the pep rally but couldn't stay after due to transportation issues and other things. Many students and faculty members made a point that you have 180-days in a school year, a pep rally is just for one class period. What can be lost if a person miss one class period? Also, the AP and IB Battle grew larger with the the IB Kids getting their own wing and their own Center, making many AP kids feel that the IB Kids are better. At least the AP kids didn't smoke out the center back in October.
The Just Plain Ugly
The Just Plain Ugly was at this years HAECO Invitational. The Page Pirates held our Golden Eagles to just two points in the 3rd quarter. Yep, just T.W.O. Also, the seniors behavior as not been all that great, showing up loud and rambunctiousness at their recent senior meeting. Hey, you can’t blame them. They’re seniors. Also, ugly is the reason that we have not had a Pep Rally and that we've rarely had pep rallies. We didn't have a pep rally last spring to congratulate the Boys Basketball Team on their Playoff Run. Nor did we have one this past fall to congratulate the Soccer and Football Teams on their seasons. Will the balance between school spirit and academics be found in the upcoming year or will Smith be known as “The School With No Pride?”
Hopefully, the New Year will bring new things for the Nest and hopefully the school will come together to work for the greater good it. But these are just thoughts, We Are Smith.
Wishing you and your Family a Happy New Year,
Eagle News