The 2014-2015 school year has been one for Linganore’s records.  With so many successes in academics, athletics, the arts, and a significant influence in the community, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with just how great of a school Linganore is and how much Lancers have accomplished.  While all achievements this year were of equal importance, we’ve selected a handful of highlights that should be remembered throughout the years: Lancer Media has 2014-2015’s greatest hits.

graphic by Jeweliana Hendrickson
SEPTEMBER

Linganore is famous for its massive student section, led by energetic seniors who make up “The Tribe.”  Though they show support for several Lancer teams throughout the year, the Tribe’s presence is most prominent during football season, where they tailgate before every game, decide the student section’s theme, paint up, and lead the loudest student section around.

Tribe member senior Chaz Atchison said of his experience, “I loved standing next to my best friends and cheering on the boys.  We have the most competitive community which helps make our school the best.”

Atchison also ran the Tribe Twitter page to announce the theme of each game, which he says was a great honor.

Senior Evan Rowan said, “I feel proud to go to such a great school.  It’s the passion of our students that sets us apart from others.  I loved being able carry on the tradition of painting up every Friday and cheering on my brothers.”  Though they quite literally bear the name on their backs,all students contribute to the pride of school and community that the Tribe represents.  Even after graduation, the Lancer community will forever be One Tribe.  Thank you to the 2014-2015 Tribe for making Linganore proud.

graphic by Jeweliana Hendrickson
OCTOBER

On October 18, Linganore’s annual homecoming parade kicked off homecoming spirit week.  Members of the Linganore community, as well as this year’s homecoming court, marched through historic New Market to celebrate Linganore and its alumni.

The week’s festivities continued with themed spirit days at school  (including the popular Team Maryland day), a massive pep rally, the victorious football game against Tuscarora, and ended with the homecoming dance.

Elected member of the junior homecoming court and Varsity football player Tyler Fleagle was excited to participate in the festivities.  “It was fun being involved with everything because I was able to have a good time with all my classmates,” said Tyler.  “My favorite parts of homecoming were the pep rally and the spirit days.”

graphic by Jeweliana Hendrickson
NOVEMBER

November was a victorious month for fall sports at LHS, including Girl’s Soccer and Field Hockey, who competed in their state championships.  The Varsity football team also had another chance to claim a state title.

Senior and football captain Grant Waxter said, “We owe our success to great coaching and amazing senior leadership.  Everyone had a great attitude and always wanted to come out to practice everyday to get better.”

“As a team, we have a hunger for winning,” said senior Darrick Edwards. “Everyone always gave 100%.”

Linganore football has a history of success.  Grant said, “My favorite part about playing for Linganore was playing for Coach Connor and knowing the history of people who have also played for Linganore: just holding up the tradition and continuing the legacy Linganore football has.”

The 2014 Linganore football team will be missed, and Darrick knows what he’ll miss most about playing for Linganore.  “I’ll miss playing under the lights on Fridays, knowing that friends, family, and the whole school are cheering us on.  The entire Linganore community comes out for each game and fills the stands.  Everyone is really One Tribe.”

graphic by Jeweliana Hendrickson
DECEMBER

December was the month for Lancers to give back.  Students donated toys and books to Toys for Tots using donation boxes outside the front entrance.

Other Lancers brought in winter clothing, such as hats, coats, and gloves, to the Lancer Giving Tree to be given to families who could not afford them.  Members of the Linganore community of all ages participated in the Quentin Ingram Egg Nog Jog to raise money to find a cure for Leukemia and Lymphoma.  Last but not least, Linganore held its annual Candy Cane Lane for children in the Lancer community.  Candy Cane Lane is a holiday event held at run by LHS students where kids of all ages can make crafts, buy presents for their family and friends, listen to holiday stories, and get their picture taken with Santa.

Sarah Zetts was one of the volunteers at this year’s Candy Cane Lane.  She said, “It was fun to meet new people and be able to serve the community by helping the kids.  People seem to love Candy Cane Lane because it helps spread holiday cheer and the spirit of giving.”

graphic by Jeweliana Hendrickson
JANUARY

January was marked largely by the number of days Linganore had off of school.  White landscapes and frosty temperatures were a norm, and so were the frequent snow days.  Linganore students spent their precious snow days in several ways: watching movies, catching up on homework, playing outside in the snow with friends.

Junior Joe Calder always made the best of his days off.  “I’d always take advantage of sleeping in when I could.  Then by noon, if the roads had cleared up enough, I would get my snowboarding stuff ready and drive to Liberty Mountain to shred the gnar,” said Joe.  “I would definitely have to conclude that my favorite snow day activity would be snowboarding.”

graphic by Jeweliana Hendrickson
FEBRUARY

During the month of February, both the cheer and poms teams put on their game faces as they entered their winter competition seasons.

Varsity Cheer started off their season by placing first in counties…again.  “It was very exciting being able to win my last county competition,” said senior cheerleader Alex Palmer.  “This was my last season competing with my team so it felt good leaving on a positive note.”  The victory made the girls five-time county champs and allowed them to advance to the regional and, finally, state competition.

Poms also had a successful season, which began with their first competition in February where they placed first in every dance and were the overall champions of the competition.  Their winning streak continued all the way through their state competition where they took first and became Grand State Champions.  Senior and captain Jenn Berardi said, “We couldn’t have done it without the great coaching, the team’s dedication, or the time and commitment of all the captains.  It was an amazing way to end my senior year on poms.”

graphic by Jeweliana Hendrickson
MARCH

March was a busy month for LHS, but much of what made it so special was the excitement surrounding Mr. Linganore.  Leading up to the competition, the 12 contestants, all exemplary seniors at Linganore, participated in fundraisers, chose an iconic graphic novel character to represent, were fitted for tuxedos by Men’s Warehouse, and took part in numerous rehearsals.

Though all participants put countless hours into the production and did a wonderful job, only one walked away with the title.

“I was shocked when I found out I had won.  I didn’t expect it at all,” said Mr. Linganore 2015, Dillon Mitcham.  “Everyone deserved to win because they’re all talented in different ways.  I’m so proud of everything they did.”

graphic by Jeweliana Hendrickson
APRIL

April was filled with excitement at Linganore, but no one will ever forget the day that our 27 of our students “died.”  On April 22, selected Lancers participated in a simulated car crash to warn students against the consequences of drunk driving.  As teenagers, students had heard this message before, but what made this year’s lesson stand out was its realistic simulation of loss.

Every 15 minutes, a life is lost to drunk driving.  As a result, a student was pulled out of class every 15 minutes without warning and could not contact anyone for over 24 hours.  These victims acted as “voids” in the community and demonstrated what it would actually feel like if your friend or sibling evaporated from your life.

Junior Olivia DuBro was one of these VOIDS.  She says about the dramatic experience, “Not many of us know how it feels to truly lose someone.  We’re not used to it.  This lesson had a direct effect on students because it took away their friends, their siblings without them knowing.  It made such a big impact because it really did shock people.”  Olivia and her fellow voids sat down and talked about the realities of what their community would miss if they, or anyone else, were lost to drunk driving.  “My favorite part about the experience was the serious talks we had about what we and the rest of the school would take away from the experience,” says Olivia.  “I just hope everyone thinks before they make decisions and really considers the consequences.”

graphic by Jeweliana Hendrickson
MAY

On May 2, Linganore students dressed in their very best and headed off to prom.  The night was filled with music, dancing, friends, and of course, the crowning of the prom king and queen.  This year’s prom king, senior Casey Alvarado, was about to call it a night when he heard the winners being announced.  “My friends suggested we stay and just see who won, then my name got announced and I was ecstatic and shocked.”  Casey’s coronation wasn’t the only highlight of his prom experience.  “My favorite part about prom was definitely dressing up.  I went for the Leonardo DiCaprio look for my hair,” explained Casey.  “I also really enjoyed being with my friends throughout the night for my senior prom.  It was a lot of fun.”