![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. [The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jess] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
When junior Fabian Fleischer came to Austin from Hamburg, Germany, to begin his 10-month exchange, his new peers did not expect him to be familiar with the American football scene. American football is not regularly offered at schools in Germany, but Fleischer was introduced to the sport through an after-school club.
Head football coach Thomas Gammerdinger said he was immediately impressed by Fleischer skill level in American football as an exchange student.
“I was excited to have somebody new,” Gammerdinger said. “I was surprised by how much knowledge of football he had. I think that would be my No. 1 impression: I was impressed with his skill level.”
Teammate, sophomore Aiden Ilai, said on the first day of practice he immediately took notice of Fleischer’s size and strength.
“At first I was like ‘Dang, that kid’s big; he’s huge, super tall’,” Ilai said. “‘He’ll hit somebody pretty hard.’ The first day of practice we were doing a drill, and he just came and smoked me completely.”
Gammerdinger said Fleischer’s broad abilities in football have set him up for success in adapting to the team’s playing style.
Learning our scheme would be what he’s improved on, alignments, our rules, he’s a defensive guy, so what our schemes are on defense,” Gammerdinger said. “He tackles well; he’s got some ball skills, so he’s got a pretty well-rounded skill set.”
During his time so far in Texas, Fleischer observed that the U.S. sports culture is much different than in Germany.
“You feel the emotions in the game, and it’s way more intense and way harder,” Fleischer said. “In Germany sometimes you feel like the kids have to do [sports]. They’re not doing it out of fun, but here people are focused.”
While Fleischer is here, Gammerdinger emphasized that he wants to try to include him as much as possible in team activities to immerse him into McCallum culture.
“We brought him with us to Taco Shack because I want him whenever he goes back to Germany to feel like he got the full experience of Texas high school football,” Gammerdinger said.
Gammerdinger explained the importance of including people from diverse backgrounds on high school teams.
“In order to work in the real world, you’ve got to work with all different kinds of people, and the same thing is true on the football team,” Gammerdinger said.
Aside from football, Fleischer’s main goal as an exchange student is to improve his English.
“That’s the goal, learning English and making a lot of friends,” Fleischer said.
Ilai said he’s personally enjoyed getting to know more about Fleischer and his background in Germany.
“He’s a super nice kid,” Ilai said. “It’s been nice getting to know his story and how he got here. I feel like everybody’s welcomed him in pretty well, I hope he feels that way. I know a little bit of German, so I’ve tried to speak [with him].”
As an exchange student, Fleischer said bring a part of the team has helped him integrate into McCallum during his first few months here. Fleischer said he hopes to try playing basketball and golf as well.
“I had a great experience at Taco Shack, and I feel like a part of a team,” Fleischer said. “That’s very cool because I’ve just been here for a month and I’m right into it, and I’m a part of it.”
Gammerdinger said Fleischer has been an awesome addition to the team.
“He’s great, I love Fabian,” Gammerdinger said. “Anytime Fabian makes a play, everybody gets excited about it. I’m excited he’s a part of it, and hope he’s having fun.”
This story was originally published on The Shield Online on October 29, 2024.