Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” is poised to win Album of the Year due to its innovative sound, emotional depth and cultural impact. The album showcases Eilish’s attention to detail involving lyrics and production. Tracks like “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” and “LUNCH” have soared in popularity and made Eilish’s return to music one to remember. 

     Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” is widely predicted to win Song of the Year thanks to its unique blend of catchy melodies and lyrics that have struck a chord with listeners worldwide. The track has gained significant attention for its bold and classic-pop sound which landed it in the No. 1 Billboard charted-song for three weeks straight after its release.

     After releasing her debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” it is no wonder why Chappell Roan is in the running for the spot for Best New Artist. Roan’s nomination and predicted win is a testament to her rise and undeniable talent. With her breakout album, Roan has crafted a sound that blends pop, indie and theatrical influences into a captivating experience. Her deeply personal lyrics and dynamic stage presence resonate with listeners, making her an authentic voice in modern music. 

     From viral hits like “Pink Pony Club” to her unapologetic anthems, Roan has established herself as a fearless and innovative artist.

     The lead single off of Taylor Swift’s new album, “The Tortured Poets Department” is widely predicted to take the win for Best Music Video. Directed by Taylor Swift herself, “Fortnight” is a vivid video that unfolds a visually stunning narrative, blending surreal imagery with deeply personal themes of self-reflection and transformation. 

     Featuring intricate set designs, seamless transitions, and Swift’s attention to detail, “Fortnight” pushes the boundaries of the music video format. Its emotional depth, paired with captivating performances including co-writer Post Malone, has gathered widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike, solidifying its status as a frontrunner for the prestigious award.

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     This trial was about, in Wukich’s own words, “a rivalry ending in larceny.” This case was particularly new, so she and her students did not know much about it and are “still learning what the case is about.”

     Wukich had said that her favorite part was seeing her students evolve, stating that her students are intimidated at first, but as the class progressed, the students became more confident and “strong lions.” 

     The topics of the trials are different each year. These can include business, criminals and rivalry. The cases are all sent by the PA Bar Association to every high school in Pennsylvania each November. The teams in the school district compete with one another. The team who wins goes to regional, then the winning team goes to state but they only send one member to compete. 

Although these are only a few answers to our many questions, we received an inside look from Wukich about the mock trial and our team.

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After being out for injuries earlier in the season, juniors Boss and Ben Lenart were back to help the P-T Warriors (8-6, 5-4) cruise past the Albert Gallatin Colonials (7-9, 2-7) in a 20-point victory.

The Section 1-5A showdown at P-T High School featured 17 3-pointers, dominant senior leaders and key players back from injuries. Last time the two teams met in December, P-T lost 43-42, but this time won with certainty.

For P-T, senior Brayden Stone led the team with 17 points spread throughout each quarter. Stone, a Seton Hill baseball commit, made critical free throws in P-T’s 59-54 overtime victory against Franklin Regional last month.

Help from Boss and Lenart, who scored 3-pointers on the outside, and inside help from Ethan McDonald (13 points), secured another Warrior win.

Albert Gallatin relied on 6-foot-3 forward Jason Jackson to lead the team. He scored all 13 of the Colonials’ points in the first quarter, 12 being 3-pointers. Also a dominant force in the paint, Jackson stepped up to the free-throw line on seven occasions, attempting a total of 15 shots.

Jackson ended the night with a game-high 23 points.

Penn-Trafford will next play away at Thomas Jefferson (7-8) in a non-section matchup.

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The P-T Warriors girls basketball team (16-0, 8-0) won every game in the first round of Section 2-5A play and added on their most recent 61-45 win over Greater Latrobe (8-7, 3-3) this Monday.

Head coach John Giannikas credits his team’s success to hard work and unity.

“We have a lot of good leaders, and they all play for each other, so it makes it fun to coach them,” Giannikas said after the Warriors’ 57-34 victory over Greensburg Salem on Friday. “They’re happier for each other’s success more than their own.”

Known for their deep bench, P-T subbed through ten players in their win against Latrobe. 

“I know that if I don’t hit two shots, any of the kids sitting on the bench will come and hit two, so it helps build confidence and helps the team all around,” said point guard Torrie DeStefano.

Players from every grade level contribute to the team. Sophomore Izzie Fontana, junior Hanna Weishaar and DeStefano and seniors Kamryn Pieper and Lauren Marton all started against Latrobe. Freshman Raya Johnson was the first sub in.

While the Warriors graduated leading scorer Olivia Pepple, who now plays at Gannon, they regained DeStefano (previously out for knee injury), and freshman Johnson this season.

Johnson scored three three-pointers in the first quarter alone against Greensburg Salem.

“It’s a big accomplishment [to play varsity],” Johnson said. “I’ve been waiting to play basketball in high school.”

DeStefano, who plays point guard, also plays a pivotal role for the Warriors. She led the team with 20 points against Latrobe, scoring 10 of those in the fourth quarter. 

We knew we had to beat Latrobe, and we knew we could, so we just did what Coach G told us and it worked,” DeStefano said.

Defensively, P-T has held their opponents to an average of 35 points per game. The Warriors have also had consistent scoring on offense; in 12 out of their 16 games, they have scored in the 50s. 

P-T will face their hardest games of the regular season at the end. The Warriors will play home against Indiana on Feb. 6, then travel to Upper Saint Clair on Feb. 8.

“We want to make playoffs and be playing our best basketball going in the playoffs,” Giannikas said.

Last year the Warriors made it to the first round of WPIAL Class 5A playoffs, before being knocked out by Lincoln Park 43-42. 

The Warriors will play next at West Mifflin on Jan. 23.

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P-T (14-0, 6-0) won their biggest section matchup against Indiana this Monday, which secured a victory over each of the six section teams in Section 2-5A.

But the Warriors are not done yet. They beat Hempfield (7-7, 1-4) by almost 20 points, led by senior Lauren Marton with 21 points. Marton, a Shippensburg commit, had 12 rebounds and scored in every quarter.

For the Spartans, Allie Cervola, an Ohio University softball recruit, led her team with 15 points.

After the first few plays, P-T began to take control of the game and led 15-9 by the end of the first quarter. P-T junior Torrie DeStefano drove past defenders to the net, scoring a total 11 points throughout the night.

The second quarter ended in similar fashion; the Warriors scored double the amount of points as Hempfield, increasing their lead to 27-15 by halftime.

Both teams scored their most points in the third. The Spartans scored 12, but the Warriors responded with 19. Despite Hempfield hitting a small scoring streak late in the third, P-T held onto their 46-27 lead going into the final quarter.

Both teams subbed through their bench in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors secured a victory. 

P-T beat Hempfield 54-36 and will play next against Greensburg Salem on Thursday in a section game.

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Q. What was your favorite memory from the football season?
A. Having that seven-game win streak and knowing the feeling of being able to turn the program around for the better.
Q. What motivates you to improve each year in football?
A. My guys, who are doing the exact same thing to succeed on and off the field.
Q. What are your goals for the wrestling season?
A. Be able to get to my 100th win, go to states and place and win the conference as a team.
Q. Are you planning on going to college for sports? What schools are in mind?
A. I would love to play football in college. I currently have offers from Robert Morris, Slippery Rock, Clarion and Wheeling.
Q. Who has helped you the most throughout your athletic career?
A. I would definitely say my parents and my main coaches – especially coaches like Ruane, Travis, Larry, Pug, Stew and Yogi.
Q. What other hobbies or activities do you do in your free time?
A. I love to spend time with friends and family

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     The Encore and Ovation chorus classes at P-T High School have understood that assignment, performing holiday songs in their annual tour throughout the district.

     Joined with the jazz band, these musical classes visit each elementary and middle school to perform holiday-related songs from Dec. 16 through Dec. 20. 

     “Touring is always fun because the kids are always so happy when we come,” said Bryn Urban, one of the Encore dance captains.

     Jeffrey Fox, the teacher of Encore and Ovation classes, hopes that the performances excite younger students for the holidays and raise interest in the choir and band.

     “[The performances] are how I figured out about encore when I was a kid in elementary school,” Urban said. “I saw them dancing and singing, and I was like ‘I want to do that.’”

     To become a part of the class, upperclassmen have to follow a set of auditions.

     “It’s a two step process,” Fox said. “You have to audition to get into Select Choir, and then if you get into Select Choir, then you also audition to be in Encore or Ovation.’’

     Fox’s favorite song is “Fruitcake,” which is performed with different vocal types split into groups, each dancing and repeating an ingredient of fruitcake.

   “That’s also the kids’ favorite too,” Fox added.

     The classes first started practicing their carols in early October, following their Fall Festival performances.

     “Christmas started early for us,” said Urban.

     This year’s touring follows the annual holiday concert, performed on Dec. 7 at the High School.

     “I’m excited for touring season… this is more of the fun stuff,” said Fox.

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P-T took a 9-0 lead, including two three-pointers from Raya Johnson, and West Mifflin was forced to take a timeout with just under 6 minutes left in the first. By the end of the first half, P-T had a 41-point lead.

The Warriors picked up their third section win and maintained their undefeated season record (9-0, 3-0) in Section 2-5A.

The Warriors shut out West Mifflin in the first quarter 21-0.

With a little less than 7 minutes left in the second quarter, West Mifflin’s Modesty Brown scored the Titan’s first points. Brown led West Mifflin in scoring with 10 points throughout the game.

The second quarter was the highest scoring for the Warriors (24 points). Hanna Weishaar led the quarter with 7 points for P-T.

At the end of the half, P-T had a 41-point lead over the Titans (45-4).

In the third quarter, Brown scored another four points. Paired with strong defense and P-T’s missed shots, West Mifflin scored 7 points compared to the Warriors’ 13.

P-T led at the end of the third quarter 58-11.

The Warriors subbed through their bench in the fourth quarter and held onto their dominating lead. 

P-T finished the game 62-17 over West Mifflin. Top scorers for the Warriors were Lauren Marton with 12 points, and Kamryn Pieper with 10.

Penn-Trafford increases their record to 9-0 and will play next against North Hills on Dec. 27. 

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     Q: What position do you play in basketball?

     A: I can play all positions but mainly I play the stretch forward and I can either bring up the ball or like on the post.

     Q: What drew you to Point Park?

     A: It is just so different then all the other colleges I have been to that are all surrounded by trees and there is less to do. Just being in the city, it is way more energetic. 

Q: What are you planning on studying at Point Park?

     A: I am looking towards psychology but I am not sure what field though. 

     Q: What is your favorite part of playing basketball?

     A: Just the excitement you get whenever you have completed what you feel like you need to do for the team and just being a part of something. 

     Q: How many years have you played on varsity for the high school basketball team?

     A: All four years of high school.

     Q: What do you enjoy most about playing on the high school team?

     A: How I have been able to grow up with the girls I have been with since second grade and seeing everyone grow together. Just having that bond with each other.

     Q: What is your favorite memory on the high school team?

     A: With my grade, we always played [basketball] at like Turtle Creek and that is probably where we had most of our character development and we just got to learn each other. We beat some teams that we never thought we would beat, I mean we were good and I do not know why but we were pretty good. 

     Q: Do you play on a club team outside of the high school team?

     A: I play for Western PA Bruins.

     Q: What do you enjoy about playing for the Western PA Bruins?

     A: I enjoy it because I get to meet people from other states, different schools in the area and so I have created so many friendships from just being on that team and going to tournaments.  

     Q: What is the team goal for the high school team this season?

     A: As of right now to go undefeated, win the section, make it pretty far in the playoffs and potentially win WPIALs.

     Q: What is your personal goal for this season?

     A: My personal goal is I want to win the section because we did it in volleyball and I want to double it by winning it in basketball.

     Q: What are you going to miss the most about this team when you graduate?

     A: The girls I have grown up with especially from Turtle Creek, those few I have always played with and we never quit on each other. We have always been together.

By Mia Williams; Managing Editor

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     The dance, which is being sponsored by the Community Action Program (CAP), has a semi-formal dress code with long dresses encouraged, but all students are welcome to wear what they feel comfortable. The Snow Ball is scheduled to take place on Jan. 25 in the main gym, formatted like Homecoming with students able to go into the cafeteria to relax and talk. The dance is open for students in any grade, with tickets being sold for $20 in the cafeteria during lunch or in Nurse Popovich’s office from Jan. 6 to 21.

     The Snow Ball was the brainchild of sophomore Skylar Matz, who came up with the idea while chatting with her friends.

     “My friends and I were talking about wanting another dance and I remembered that Norwin had a Snow Ball every year, so I decided to do something about it and make it happen,” stated Matz.

     Once the dance got official approval from the administration, the project needed a sponsor, so Matz approached CAP, which she is a member of, about making the dance officially happen. Lisa Popovich, who is the CAP sponsor, agreed that it would be a fun opportunity for many students and that CAP would take it on.

     “[The dance] is wonderful because it is a winter thing,” stated Popovich. “After Christmas, there is a let-down, so by having this dance it is something to look forward to.”

     From there different details of the dance were hammered out, like the decision to make the dance a Sadie Hawkins.

“I chose it to be girls asking guys because I wanted to give girls a chance to show the guys it is really not that hard to do, and honestly I think girls could make much more creative proposals,” stated Matz.

     Matz and the rest of CAP are hoping that the event will become an annual tradition for P-T like Homecoming and Prom. 

     “I’m hoping that this event stays and we continue to do it for years to come,” stated Matz. “I think this event could be just as fun as Homecoming, but it’s honestly up to us as high schoolers to make it fun and make the best of it.”

     The Snow Ball will be just one of the many projects that CAP participates in across the high school and community every year. They are also a part of multiple food drives, a winter toy drive and the ever popular Big Buddy Program. 

     With 539 members, CAP has a mission of volunteering and helping high school students to understand the importance of giving back.

     “We need to help others in the community,” stated Popovich. “CAP helps teach students to not think just about themselves, but thinking about others and how what we can do together can make things better for others.” 

     If any students are interested in joining CAP they are always welcoming new members. All a student has to do is sign up on their website, https://www.pthscap.com/, and pay the $10 fee, which can be turned in at the Nurse’s office. 

     “We [CAP] always have things going on,” stated Popovich. “It is a great way to get your 30 hours of community service and a great way to help the community.”

By Mia Williams; Managing Editor

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