Fighting for the Right to Compete

By: Stephen Conway

Helen Maroulis Flying the Colors
(Photo cred: Ryan Remiorz)

J'den Cox Representing the U.S. Well
(Photo cred: Jamie Squire)

In February 2013 the International Olympic Committee voted to remove the sport of wrestling from the summer olympics, thus allowing only 25 “core sports” to compete in the games. This caused a great uproar in the wrestling community and many people were set on debating this crucial decision to keep the great sport of wrestling in the highest level of completion that there is. With the pressure to reduce the number of events in the summer olympics after the games in the 2012 games in London, the International Olympic Committee began studies on the 26 “core sports” that had the most impact on the game and what sports had the most worldwide grassroots support. The goal for the International Olympic Committee was to change the number of “core sports” from 26 to 25 starting in the 2020 olympics. On February 12, 2013 the Committee voted to recommend the removal of wrestling from from the 2020 olympics and from future olympics. You might ask, how could the Olympic committee even think to remove one of the founding sports that started the olympics? After the announcement from the committee there was a major disagreement stemming from the wrestling community. This spurred a worldwide petition that spanned from wrestlers of all ages to fans of the sport. These signatures made a major impact on the deciding factor to keep the sport in the sport in the olympics.

Battle Gear

On September 8th, 2013 the International Olympic Committee announced that wrestling won the bid to stay in the olympics in which wrestling was competing with baseball/softball, karate, wake boarding, squash, sport climbing, roller sports, and wushu to stay in the future games. This goes to show that this ancient sport which is said that originally spawned the olympics means a lot to the people who are involved with and these people themselves saved the future of this sport in the olympics for the time being. In the other related news wrestling in the 2016 Rio olympics went on as planned as 3 Americans medaled in freestyle wrestling. Missouri native J’den Cox placed 3rd in mens freestyle in the 86 kg weight class and Kyle Snyder who took the gold in the mens freestyle 97 kg weight class. On the flip side women’s freestyle wrestling American Helen Maroulis took the gold in the 53 kg weight class upsetting the defending 3 time olympic champion Soari Yoshida of Japan by the score of 4 to 1.

For Thoes Who have Fallen For Us

By: Stephen Conway

Our firefighters, Police, and EMT's that have risked there lives for us

We Are The Champions

By: Stephen Conway

A very anxious dugout.

Terrific pitching after 3 innings.

Flawless catching from the veteran.

Teamwork makes the dreamwork.

A close score kept us on our toes.

HAAC Champions, let the celebration begin!

GT-R's Are Exciting

By: Stephen Conway

One thing that has always grabbed my attention ever since I was a little kid has been fast cars. From playing with Hot wheels to owning my own vehicle at the age of sixteen I have always loved cars. There is one car that has always excited me more than the others, and that car is the Nissan Skyline. The first Skyline to roll off the production line was in 1957 and ever since then Nissan has continued to carry this series to the present day. My favorite car in this historic series is the R32 model that they made from 1988 to 1994. The Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R to me is the ultimate sports car ever made and this car has the trophies to prove it. From 1989 to 1993 the R32 GT-R dominated the Japanese Touring Car Championship by winning 29 of the 29 races that it competed in, after this winning streak the car was dubbed the name "Godzilla". 

The R32 GT-R is one of the most iconic Japanese sports cars due to its sleek design and innovative features like all-wheel steering and electronically controlled four-wheel drive. The Skyline was exclusively made and sold in Japan and not legal for import in the USA due to its emission standards and its right side driving design. As of August 2014 the R32 Skyline was legal to import and operate on U.S. soil due the the 25 year rule, this rule means that any car that is 25 years or older may be imported and legal to operate even if it does not comply to federal emission standards. This rule was a Godsend for enthusates like myself because one day soon I plan on purchasing my dream car and I can't wait for that day. Since its only been 2 years that this model of Skyline has been legal in the U.S. it is a rarity to see one of these on the streets, but whenever I do see one I get the biggest rush of excitement and I feel like a kid again.

Healthier Choice

By: Stephen Conway



Cant Go wrong with the Greens

Fruits That Give Natural Energy

Fruit For Thought



Know What Your Putting In Your Body

The Realization Of What We Drink

Its Not Always Bad To Settle For Water

Beauty and the Beast

Where the magic happens

If you have ever been walking around Avila's campus and heard a beautiful heavenly sound coming from a piano, its probably being played by Javon Goodman. The infamous pianist has only been playing the piano for a year but from listening to him play you'd think he has many years of experience. Javon's love for playing music roots back to when he was a kid listening to artists such as Ray Charles, Charles Mingus, and Oscar Peterson. Javon says that he is a bit of an old soul because not many kids at the age of ten listened to Doo-wop, Old Blues, and Free Jazz like he did. All of these genres of music are what laid the path for Javon's music career. While Javon isn't playing the piano he devotes his time to being a football player but don't let Javon's ability to play beautiful music distract you from his aggressive ball carrying skills on the field. Javon plays the full back position here at Avila where he plows through defenders and makes key blocks. Football is very important to Javon and is one of the big reasons why he is here at Avila. Balancing school work, social life, and football Javon seems to always take time out of his day to play the piano or pick up one of his many guitars to create musical perfection for all to hear. Music is a great way for Javon to release the many stresses of a typical college student and uses music to display his creative side. When Javon isn't busy on the weekends he goes and plays for his church along side his father who sings, with both of their talents they bring together congregations of people to rejoice their faith. If you are ever in Goppert theater or passing through the chapel and see or hear Javon playing don't be afraid to take some time out of your day to stop and listen to the wonderful sounds Javon has to offer, you won't regret it.

Javon in his natural habitat

Fingers do the talking

Leonardo's Lesson

Portrayal of Hugh Glass
Photo: 20th Century Fox

Finally, He did it. Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar for his performance in the Revenant. In the film Leonardo portrays an American frontiersman who is left behind by his brothers after being attacked by a bear while on an expedition. This riveting role earned Leonardo his first Oscar for actor in a leading role. This was a huge win for not only Leonardo but the fans as well, Previously Leonardo had been nominated 5 times for his roles in The Aviator, Blood Diamond, Wolf of Wall Street, and What's Eating Gilbert Grape where he he played many diverse roles that many think he deserved to win. This was a long time coming for this 41 year old actor and In his case the 6th time was the charm. As his name was called to receive the award many knew that he would have a lot to say about the hardship of making the film and of course all of the thank you's that follow but no one was expecting what Leonardo ended on.

Leonardo on the Red Carpet
Photo: Jason Merrit

After all recognition was rightfully given Leonardo went to the subject of climate change. The Revenant is a film that shows the connection between man and nature, Leonardo's experiences while making this film opened up his eyes to the real world problem of global warming that he explained by stating "Our Production team needed to go to the southern tip of this planet just to be able to find snow; climate change is real and it is happening right now. " If this doesn't open every human being's  eyes there is a serious problem. Leonardo goes on to say that we all should support world leaders who do not support polluters and big corporations. This speech brings our worldly predicament to light and is meant to stop the procrastination and carelessness when dealing with our environment. Climate change isn't something we can't talk about or shove to the side, if we do not take actions to change our ways we will put the future of humanity in jeopardy.

Leonardo's Speech
Photo: Paul Drinkwater