![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
Sophomore Gabriella Gray Becomes First Female Wrestler in Chattanooga to Qualify for State Tournament
Karleigh Schwarzl
GABRIELLA GRAY MAKES HISTORY — Sophomore Gabriella Gray talks to Coach Ryan Mallory for a strategy to win her match.
March 3, 2021
Central’s wrestling program continues to grow and make history. Last year, the program featured the first female wrestler in Central’s history. Foreign exchange student Anna Markstrom was the first to break the barrier for women in the sport. This year, Sophomore Gabriella Gray carried the torch and made history as the first female wrestler in Chattanooga’s history to qualify for the state tournament.
Gray is coming off of a strong freshman year; after barely missing out on the tournament last year, she is eager to make a mark and become a pioneer for women in wrestling.
“Wrestling is the fastest growing sport for women in the country, I hope that people will give it a closer look, and that more schools will open their wrestling rooms to young ladies in the future,” stated Coach Massengale.
Women in wrestling is becoming more and more common. As the fastest growing sport for women, wrestling is becoming one of the more popular sports amongst high school and college. For Central, the wrestling team seems to improve year after year and with no signs of slowing down.
Coaches Ryan Mallory and James Massengale have played arguably the biggest role in the successes of the Pounders’ wrestling program. They have built the program back up and hope to run the table in the coming years.
Many successful wrestlers have come through the ranks at Central, and Gray continued that chain. There is no doubt that with her successes, more female wrestlers will start to look towards the sport and will join the program.
The state tournament is not easy to get into, so for Gray to become a regional finalist is a big accomplishment; it is an even bigger accomplishment that she was able to do so in only her second year.
“We’ll spend a good amount of time reviewing our wrestling fundamentals, making sure [Gray’s] technique is on point. We’ll work on improving [her] physicality; there are no ‘fish’ in the state tournament; [she] needs to be prepared to fight for every point she scores,” commented Coach Mallory about preparation for the state tournament.
He hopes that he can help her keep her mind focused and on the right track.
A state tournament is not a joke in any sport. Gabby’s qualification for the state tournament is even more impressive due to the fact that she had to endure some of the worst effects of the coronavirus. There was much confusion as for if the season would continue or not this year. Wrestling is especially hard to conduct during this time, mainly because it is an all contact sport. The obstacles that Central’s wrestlers have been through this season is rough, but their hard work must not go unnoticed.
“I’m excited, but I’m less nervous than I was last year,” commented Gabby about the upcoming tournament.
This story was originally published on The Central Digest on February 22, 2021.
