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Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018

Presenting:

Arnold Memorial

Elementary

Lake Forest

Middle School

Bradley Central High

School

George R. Stuart

Elementary

These Lake Forest

Middle School students

were recognized by the

PTO as being Caring

Students of the Month.

2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Thursday, February 22, 2018 www.clevelandbanner.com

‘Character Counts’ is a project of the Banner’s

Newspaper in Education program

The Character Education February issue is provided by

the Cleveland Daily Banner and American Profile

EDITOR’S NOTE: All photos

except AP photos are contributed

by the schools featured in the

Character Education edition each

month.

Character Counts

Editor

Gwen Swiger

Graphics and art:

Patty Hawkins

Photo imaging:

Carrie Pettit

Page Setup:

Tasha Beaty

Donna Kaylor

NIE Coordinator

Herb Lacy

www.clevelandbanner.com Cleveland Daily Banner—Thursday, February 22, 2018—3

arnoLd singers bringing cheer to Bradley Nursing Care facilities!

Arnold Memorial

ElementaryPrincipal: Michael chai

anderson arY dreams

that everyone will be happy and

kind.

KarMin Morgan

dreams that everybody will be

treated the same way.

Rainbow of

DReams

Ja’Kharee scott

dreams to one day be on a

SWAT team.

Xin Yu Liu dreams that

everyone will be happy and

smiley.

Mrs. Martin’s

class studied Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr. during

the month of January.

The students learned

about his famous “I Have

a Dream” speech. Mrs.

Martin’s students were

asked to reflect on what

their dreams for the

future could be. In back

are Ja’Kharee Scott,

Joseph Culver, Emily

Garnica, Annabelle Stepp,

Karmin Morgan,

Anderson Ary, Bryan

Suarez and Jaiden

Swafford; front, Meliah

Ezell, Juliana Whaley and

Trinity Kelly.


Mr. ChAi And Mrs. Kahrs celebrate student of the month for Respect, Responsibility and

Perseverance with doughnuts, milk and sub sandwich certificates from Jimmy John’s.

Arnold’s “sACK pack team” are getting ready to get to work dis-

tributing the weekly sack packs.

Love: What

we all need

Arnold Memorial

Elementary students

show their willing-

ness to show love by

helping others.

By NICOLE WILEy

Guest writer

Tragedy is a word that hasbecome part of our daily vocabu-lary. It is thrown around on ournews channels and our dinnertables, and I think that fact in itselfis a tragedy.

Of course there will be times oftrouble and times when the sundoesn’t shine as brightly as wewould like, but tragedy should notbe something that becomes normaland something we must deal with.

With the recent shooting in Florida, we must take a stepback and look at the underlying issue, the underlying causeof why these events keep happening. With an issue like this,it’s only given that hot political debates will come about, andI believe those conversations need to be discussed, but whatwe aren’t addressing as heavily is the lack of love for oneanother.

Every single day in our hallways and our classrooms, wehave the opportunity to be catalysts for change. We have theability to talk to that person who doesn’t like to strike up theconversation first and we have the ability to invite someonenew to our lunch tables, but the key word there is “ability.”Just possessing the ability to do something doesn’t necessar-ily mean that we follow through with that action, and at ourage perhaps the reason why is because we don’t want to puta damper on our reputation.

Being only 17 years old, I understand that I still have tonsto learn about living, but one thing I have figured out is thatreputation is not everything. Usually a reputation is some-thing that is put on so that society thinks a certain way aboutyou, but I would rather slash this so-called reputation if itmeant that I could be a positive figure in someone’s life. Thenext time you see someone in the hallways standing bythemselves, ask them how their day is, because you may bethe only one who asks.

The next time you see someone taking a hit through some-one else’s mean words, step up and stop the banter beforesomeone really gets hurt. The world needs more love in itright now before anyone else gets hurt. I have always beenthe person to try find the good in everyone, and the amountof love that I have in my heart for others is abundant, but I’llalso be the first to admit that I don’t always do my best atshowing that love. It’s not because I’m embarrassed to do it,but rather because I always think that someone else will do itfirst.

I’ve learned that I have to be the one to do it first, andwhen we all come to the understanding that we should bethe first to freely and abundantly give out our love, I believewe will see the world turn into a better place.

www.clevelandbanner.com Cleveland Daily Banner—Thursday, February 22, 2018— 5

aS part of Stuart’s Positive

Behavior program, students are

divided into “packs” and have a

monthly pack meeting to do activ-

ities to foster character and

school involvement. Here some

students from the “purple” pack

are working together to make

some decorations for Christmas.

Stuart

StudentS in

the primary grades

had a treat as they

gathered to watch

“The Polar Express”

and drink hot

chocolate prior to

the Christmas

break.

StudentS in Mrs. Denise

Longley’s class participated in

“Polar Express Day.” Activities

included making hot chocolate,

constructing a lantern, and “Polar

Express”-themed academic activi-

ties.

GeorGe r. Stuart

elementaryPrincipal: Richelle Shelton


STudenTS in Mrs. Denise Longley’s room traveled throughout the school to deliver gifts to special faculty and

staff members that positively impact their learning experience. Students were able to experience the gift of giving

before participating in their classroom Christmas party and receiving gifts.

STudenTS in MrS. Denise Longley’s room traveled throughout the school to deliver gifts to special faculty and staff members that positively impact

their learning experience. Students were able to experience the gift of giving before participating in their classroom Christmas party and receiving gifts.

"The best and mostbeautiful things in this

world cannot be seen oreven heard, but must be felt

with the heart." — Helen Keller


StudentS of the Month from Stuart Elementary are shown.

L C R U S H S F O D

O B R O C N M O C E

V W C H A R I T Y T

E O S S R N T L D D

F A F F E C T I O N

G L A D S T E K T I

L O V A E C N E E K

I U W O R S H I P O

K C U R T S N O O M

E N D E A R M E N T

— LOVE

— AFFECTION

— LIKE

— CHARITY

— CARES

— KIND

— CRUSH

— SMITTEN

— FOND

— ENDEARMENT

— WORSHIP

— DOTE

— MOONSTRUCK

LOVE

ANSWERS PAGE 10


Students of the Month — FebruaryBRADLEY COUNTY SCHOOLS

BLACK FOX

Kindergarten - Bailey Parks, Adrianna Wilson, Hezekiah Thomas, KnoxRakestraw

First Grade - Phoebe Davis, Sara Jones, Summer Fowler, Hayden PhelpSecond Grade - Delilah Blankenship, Macayla Beaty, Sarah Delatte,

Katelynn NationThird Grade - Mia Lindsey, Kane Cooley, Taylor Goins, Graycie MillardFourth Grade - Madilyn Pedrick, Conner Knight, Tanner Huffaker,

Ocoee ButlerFifth Grade - Mylee Goodwin, Sayde Blaylock, Macy King, Sarah

Jordan, Braxton Goins

CHARLESTON

Pre-K - Zoey BlackwellKindergarten - Marley Brownlow, Emmitt Dalton, Violet SikesFirst Grade - Avayah Cardona, Kilissa Fought, Jett FranzSecond Grade - Libby Kincaid, Brooke NixThird Grade - Jaxson Barrera, Alyssa Gibson, Patrick MatoyFourth Grade - Caden Leano, Madolyn RadfordFifth Grade - Cade Kepliinger, Bella Southerland

HOPEWELL

Kindergarten - Sawyer Bettis, Lexi Chambers, Sam AlmodovarFirst Grade - Kaden Towers, Conner Vest, Michael HeathSecond Grade - Ashley Matthews, Bella Belau, Zander Neuendorf,

Aubree Hysinger Third Grade - Jasper Robinson, Kadence Guyton, Kinna BrysonFourth Grade - Colby Ann Turner, Asa Davis, Chase Stephens, Gavin

StricklandFifth Grade - Kennedy Merritt, Bryson Marlow, Daniel Warren

LAKE FOREST MIDDLE

Lauren Hall, Taryn Freitas, Damon Marr, Jacob Defriese, Evany Park,Caleigh White,

Christian Beavers, Kimberly Robertson, Joel Cabral, Brody Stone,Gabbi Dunkle,

Emily Dumm, Ella Allmon, Sierra New, Brandon Payne, Stephanie Dela Cruz, Josey

Biscoe, Jonas Rayfield, J.J. Harrison, Joslyn Harvey, D’Anthony Reid,Destiny Chadwick,

Cannon Rehagen, Ashlee Allen, Paige Moody, Gracie Hartline, SusieRoblero-Velazquez,

Drake Longoria, Shaylee Weatherford, & Alex Wingard

MICHIGAN AVENUE

Kindergarten - Derek Scholten, Addie Maddox, Landon Day, DaxBurnette

First Grade - Braxton Lemons, Andrew Weekly, Bristol Walker,Carolina Kimble

Second Grade - Abby Ammons, Jaxon Stephens, Brayden Leach, JacobGalloway

Third Grade - Jude Deuster, Timothy Gay, Addyson Hobson, RileyWoody

Fourth Grade - Blake Congdon, Alex Smith, Caiden CoppingsFifth Grade - Kavion Browder, Ean Zakkas, Makenzi Gibson

OAK GROVE

Kindergarten - Tsion Cross, Avery Carter, McKenna RogersFirst Grade - Mariana Cruz Sanchez, Brayden Ghorley, Trevor WithrowSecond Grade - Breyona Stringer, Deonta Lindsey, Alyssa WareThird Grade - Jayden Harp, Madison Goins, June SalaicesFourth Grade - Joseph Conner, Jacob Blankinship, Gavin KirkpatrickFifth Grade - Katie Stroupes, Olivia Lockhart, C J Chastain, Lilly Fowler

OCOEE MIDDLE

6TH Grade - ARABIANS: Dru Dover, Christian Wilson, Lexi Riggs,Bella Guyton, Addie Ayala

BELGIANS: Daniel Dickinson, Brenden Guffey, Sawyer Hughes,Temperence Wright, McKenzie Doan

CHARGERS: Aaron McCroskey, Cutter Womack, Chloey Duggan, MaciStarr, Garrison Bess

PALOMINOS: Hannah Blankenship, Javan Bowe, Katie DavisSTALLIONS: Riley Stanfield, Maddie Lopez, Parker DeFriese, Hunter

Underwood, Isis McNamara7TH Grade – MUSTANGS: Honesty Ayers, Benji Falcone, Madison

Casler, Emilyn McManus-Dycus, Grayson HarrisPACERS: Baylee Robenolt, Anna Jordan, Brett Harris, Jonathan

Sosebee, Emma CoxPAINT HORSES: Christina Withrow, Emily Cleveland, Kaden Kelley,

Hannah Watson, David Cantrell8th Grade – SADDLEBREDS: Hailey Tabor, Olivia Mendoza, Alyssa

Higgins, Cooper Ensley, Miriam EachusSHOW HORSES: Alicze Janney, Ariana Curtis, Rachel Miller, Isaac

Hicks, Jesse DaughertyTHOROUGHBREDS: Caitlyn Stewart, Sarah Clark, Clayton Frederick,

Ashton Maynard, Jhada BatesWALKING HORSES: Lauren Hulsey, Lilly Maddux, Lilly Duke, Maney

Willard, Jaxon Smith

PARK VIEW

Kindergarten - McKinley Bender, Samuel Melnikov, Callum Mercer First Grade - Allie Hagy, Makayla Abercrombie, Madison McCannSecond Grade - Brayson Carter, Rilla Alderman, Nora Willis, Amariah

SheppardThird Grade - Jacob Kerley, Dax Brown, Emma Brafford, Grace StatonFourth Grade - Anna Henry, Ana Grace Taylor, Jacob Lebedev, Shaun

KinseyFifth Grade – Chance Nelson, Destiny Lewis, Charley Atha, Katelynn

Allmon

PROSPECT

Amylia KelleyEllie YoungEmmalyn LynamAubree HalsteadZious Whaley

Ilana GreerMarlee KincannonKenley JohnsonBrandon ChagalaReagan Norwood

Cayson HughesBrandon HallAnthony RobertsJenna EdgeworthSydney Sacca


Students of the Month - FebruaryBRADLEY COUNTY SCHOOLS

Students of the Month - FebruaryCLEVELAND CITY SCHOOLS

TAYLORKindergarten - Abegayle Evans, Izaak GuinnFirst Grade - Hunter Harvey, Andrina CooperSecond Grade - Samantha Lively, Haven ThompsonThird Grade - Kami McCleary, Tryson CharlesFourth Grade - Michael Mallick, Kali LittonFifth Grade -Aylisa Lapinne, Brydon Stedman

VALLEY VIEWKindergarten – Caroline Fohs, Kaylee Adam, Grace StilesFirst Grade – Micah Strickland, Brady StewardSecond Grade – Campbell Ellison, Lucas Reece, Beth Blair, Gabby MasonThird Grade – Madelyn Sponable, Eli BurchFourth Grade – Olivia Chastain, Gabby DefrieseFifth Grade - Haley Goins, Trinity Gibson, Chloe Frakes

WALKER VALLEY HIGH

Spencer KotlowskiMckayla RobertsAdrian BravoMarquezKhloe BroglinAdriannaBarrionuevoKobe HobbsIsaiah HinschSophia PageSophia ShopeMarquis WilliamsAyla ViehwegerLiam BunchCaden KimseyKayah MartinezRilen Gaylor

Paul PyatakEmma QuallsCayden MedlinMercedez WeimerLavie SmithVanessa CamposHailyn WeimerGina MoorshedAshlyn PendergrassLily WatsonAlyssa WayweatherRyan RahalL’Angel CookSarah HicksMariss StoneEmmeri Knight

WATERVILLE COMMUNITY

Haley JonesMacy GibsonEmma FirestoneKaylee ParkinsonRiley WhiteReid BergerNatalie ChurchGrace Stone

Cailey CarterJessica WhiteAnna Grace JacksonMorgan WhiteKaris MitchellSarah TurnerJack Anderson

ArnoldMemorial Elementary

Kindergarten: Hudson Randle, KorreyWilliams, Ka’Niyah ThompsonFirst Grade: Jaelyn Troup, Ayla McHoneSecond Grade: Alaycia Darden,Jimmy Mazzolina,Braxton

BelkThird Grade: Cooper DeBusk, Javen Trammell, Samuel

SukhrobarFourth Grade: Tameyah McCaskey, Isaiah Francisco, Cielo

OcampoFifth Grade: Elijah Gaeta, Celesta Gonzalez

Blythe-BowerElementary

Kindergarten: Arianna Ortiz, Xavi Castillo, Jordyn Ledford,Landon Daniels, Kole Roach

First Grade: Daniel Brown, Ella Gosnell, KevinGuevara, Lilly Pena Massengill, Chase Wells Second Grade: Denim Fincher, Ruth Banuelos,Julianna Pineda, Aden Cole, Tatiana Narcia-Gay, Don Jody

Mendez-Reynoso Third Grade: Jeremiah Curtis, Josue Castillo, Sophie Swem,

Rheleigh Paris Maxwell Fourth Grade: Wesley Walker, A.J. Ellis, Layla Shubert Fifth Grade: Aislynn Riley, Jenna Smith,Taylor Carpenter


Students of the Month - FebruaryCLEVELAND CITY SCHOOLS

Mayfield ElementaryKindergarten: Luis Aybar, Dawson Lane, Jetta Vail, Nick

CarterFirst grade: Mia Hernandez, Cooper Casteel, Giselle

Garcia Lopez, Karen PerezSecond grade: Natalie Sosa, Keturah Pitner, Jorge

Sanchez, Mariah Carr-JemisonThird grade: Serena Ellis, Tytianna Ritman, Emily

Wingfield, Hadassah OwensFourth grade: Karma Kirkpatrick, Ashtyn Brantley,

Monserrat Castro Silva, Jensen RodgersFifth grade: Cooper Scott, Beck Culpepper, MacKenzie

Gonzalez, Anessa Taylor

E.L. Ross ElementaryThird grade: AnnMarie Baker, Auriel Hopkinson, Ben

Anderson,Harper Hale, Jared Ramseur, Lila Dunn, Maggie

Eubanks, and Ramone BraggFourth grade: Charlotte Freeman, Dharma Patel, Eve

Goforth,MaKaylee Stanfield, and Xavier ArizmendiFifth grade: Addy Rollins, Alex Nguyen, Emma

Mountain, Genesis Lemus Rodriguez, MacKenzieMartinez, and Tamiah Tanner

George R. Stuart ElementaryKindergarten: Misael Espinosa, EmmalynHaun, Mary Elizabeth Hicks, Madison Stiltner.First Grade: Avery Beavers, MatthewBurchfield, Aaliyah Gary, Darsh Patel.Second Grade: Bella Bosken, DayneCarroll, Nehmyah Hicks, Tavin Neal.Third Grade: Abram Austin, BreannaGermany, Amelia Itson, Kearah Thomas.Fourth Grade: Geyron Escobar, RickyTorres, Sydney Schaefer.Fifth Grade: Evalynn Christmann,Maggie Christmann, Hayden Norman.

D. P. Yates PrimaryKindergarten: La’Niyah Eggleston, Addison Stampe,

ChloeBlackburn, William Lunnen, Reyna Hart, Maddie

Coleman

First Grade: Elly Hudson, Hannah Abbott, Addisyn Mitchell,Ethan Varnell, Kassandra Gomez-AlfaroSecond Grade: Josiah Perkins, Gigi Burgueno, Britton Gobble,Deegan Maney, Ryleigh York, Eli Tanguma

Cleveland Middle School6th grade: Regina Carreon-Velarde, KimberlyGodinez-Mazariegos, Malikai Goode, Jakyra Humes, Kristina

Osechko, Emily Rivera Lopez, Atticus Santiago, Kiley Welchance,Maleah Wright, Caden Young.

7th grade: Anyelo Arias, Hobie Brabson, Gracelyn Jackson, LeviKelly, Perla Lantigua, Morgan Miolen, Emily Moss, Natasha Pierce,Henry Pirtle; Luke Hanrahan and Jairi Gomez

8th grade: Alexis Allman, Ethan Gallaher,Chloe Graham, Eric Grano, Ashila Howard.

Cleveland High SchoolZack Caywood, LoganColbaugh, Caroline Parker, Elizabeth Passavant

L C R U S H S F O D

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Solution from Page 7


Students of the Month - JanuaryCLEVELAND CITY SCHOOLS

Arnold Kindergarten: Merlen Ewen, Ben ObarrFirst Grade: Israel Bernave, Sanvi Chaudhari, Parker

Moody Second Grade: Huntlee Dennison, Rosmery Albavera

ElvirJada DavisThird Grade: Brooklyn Pugh, Chloe Lewis, Jazellyn

ZunigaFourth Grade: Skylar Smith, Ava Prichard, John

WashingtonFifth Grade: Leah Hammond, Noah Hogan

Blythe-Bower ElementaryKindergarten: Victoria Pineda, Kaden Wampler, Ella

Ratliff, Magdalena Maeto First Grade: Konnor Runyon, Keatin Morrow, Mariah

Hudson, Chase Wells Second Grade: Tyler Pearce, Chloee Brackett, Araceli

Jackson Third Grade: Kalisha Fincher, Edwin Morales, Isaiah

Hinkson, Yenri Mazariegos Fourth Grade: Nicholas Blair, Dustin Fitch, Julia

Kondor, Riley Brewer Fifth Grade: Ethan Mikel, Pascual Sebastian Miguel,

Katie Pena-Massengill

Mayfield Elementary SchoolKindergarten: McKynzie Oltz, Jordan Rojas, Alan

Hernandez Ortega, Inaki Agulair, Gracelyn FrazierFirst grade: Aria Harris, Landon Davis, Matthew

Johnson, Wyatt LudwigSecond grade: Lucas Brennan, Lindsey Pellicer, Alex

Taylor, Aiden CartwrightThird grade: Carter Casteel, Garrett Corum, Cooper

Mason, Jacob SimonsonFourth grade: Angelo Merida Perez, Elayna Farrior,

Lilly TylerFifth grade: Ethan Renfro, Aninyah Purifoy, Natasha

Juarez Aguilar

E.L. RossThird grade: Breanna Davis, Carson Holmes, Cooper

Rominger, Ellie Lee, Gavin Reed, Navon Martin, SamuelCooper

Fourth grade: Anastasia White, Carrygan Brock, JosephArnett, Pearson Waller, Selena Ramirez

Fifth grade: Bianca Gutierrez-Osoris, Isabella Chapman,Kaleigh Bass, Jake Russell, Mario Ulloa, Symone Ngare

G.R. Stuart:Kindergarten: Yener Aguilar, Richard Contreras-Morales,

Misael Ordonez, Shanik Pietro, Conner WheelerFirst Grade: Francisco Anaya, Gilbert Morales Espinosa,

Carson Russell, Trinity SomenouSecond Grade: Kylie Cunnyngham, Leslie Lopez, Savanna

Massengill, Brooks McIntyreThird Grade: Colby Adkisson, Monica Ake Jimenez,

Camryn Dunn, Ashley MoralesFourth Grade: Eli Gallaher, Esmeralda Gallegos, Madison

Thomas.Fifth Grade: Elijah Eledge, Franklin Melgar Solorzano,

Adrian Perez.

YatesKindergarten: Jase Owenby, Ember Craig, Bryan Acosta-

Gutierrez, CJ Watterson, Colton Slaughter, Breanna ReussFirst Grade: Addison Montgomery, Jack Chapman, Ben

Condo, Carter Patterson, Zaira AlmarazSecond Grade: Tvesha Patel, Allison De la Cruz, Maddox

Googer, Holland Branson, Bronson Hayes, Tucker Thomas

Cleveland Middle School6th grade: Ian Bryant, Samantha Crowe, Rylan Hamby,

Ximena Medina, Jennifer Morales, Sawyer Stewart7th grade: Alexis Alejandro-Martinez, Eamon Al-Kinani,

Kadden Burns, Ashton Davis, Anita Felipe, Elijah Kyle,Natasha Pierce, Cayden Pope, Jalah Swinford.

8th grade: Kylie Connior, Roman Davis, Charlie Pirtle,Isis Raymond, Ruby Reyes.

Cleveland High Noah Avery, Mullek Bradford, Riddhi Patel, Lauren

Stutzman


Bradley Central Bradley Central

High SchoolHigh School

Fcla sTudenTs showed love by preparing M&M’s for police officers.

Kaylee Joyner interned with Nikki Mason’s class at Oak

Grove Elementary.

Teaching

as a Profession 4

students prepared

activities to edu-

cate students

about effects of

using tobacco.

Some students

spent the day at

Lake Forest edu-

cating students

there about tobac-

co. We want our

loved ones to be

around a long

time!

Principal: Todd Shoemaker


During the month of February, the Student Council at Bradley Central High School

was responsible for selling crushes and organizating Valentine’s Day deliveries.


BrAdLey CentrAL High School

Student Council was in charge of selling

crushes and organizing Valentine’s Day

deliveries.

Student CounCiL

has teamed up with the

Counseling Department to

implement a resource closet,

Bear Necessities, to provide

students in need with upscale

items. Student Council wants all

students to have an equal

opportunity in today’s society.

"And remember, as itwas written, to love anotherperson is to see the face of

God."— Les Miserables


The top 10 songs

and albums on

the iTunes Store

By The Associated Press

iTunes Official Music Charts for theweek ending February 15, 2018:

Top Songs1. God's Plan, Drake2. Meant to Be (feat. Florida Georgia

Line), Bebe Rexha3. Perfect, Ed Sheeran4. The Middle, Zedd,Maren Morris &

Grey5. Look Alive (feat. Drake), BlocBoy

JB6. Finesse (Remix) (feat. Cardi B),

Bruno Mars7. Pray For Me, The Weeknd &

Kendrick Lamar8. Havana (feat. Young Thug), Camila

Cabello9. You Make It Easy, Jason Aldean10. Say Something (feat. Chris

Stapleton), Justin Timberlake

Top Albums1. Black Panther The Album Music

From And Inspired By, KendrickLamar,The Weeknd & SZA

2. The Greatest Showman (OriginalMotion Picture Soundtrack), VariousArtists

3. Fifty Shades Freed, Various Artists4. Man of the Woods, Justin

Timberlake5. Sleepwalkers, Brian Fallon6. Evidence, Elevation Collective7. Crooked Shadows, Dashboard

Confessional8. Little Dark Age, MGMT9. Perception, NF10. 2 Heartless, Moneybagg Yo

United

StateS'

Jessica Diggins,

left, and Kikkan

Randall cele-

brate after win-

ning the gold

medal in the

women's team

sprint freestyle

cross-country

skiing final at

the 2018

Winter

Olympics in

Pyeongchang,

South Korea,

Wednesday. AP Photo/Kirsty

Wigglesworth

U.S. women win 1st Olympic cross-country medalPYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AP) — As

she headed up the steepest, most gruelinghill of her life in third place, Jessica Digginsthought to herself just winning an Olympicmedal was no longer good enough.

She wanted more. She wanted gold.Diggins dug deep, remembering all the

years of training she had put in, and of allher teammates waiting for her at the finishline to bring home the United States' firstmedal ever in women's cross-country skiing— and then she let loose.

Diggins reached the peak of the hill inthird place but sped past Norway's MaikenCaspersen Falla on the last big, windingdownhill. She rounded the final corner andtook dead aim at Sweden's Stina Nilsson onthe final 100-meter homestretch.

The crowd in the grandstand was on itsfeet sensing history, and at that momentDiggins said she felt "unstoppable."

"Around that final corner I felt like I wasuncoiling a spring and letting it go," Digginssaid. "Giving it everything I had, digging asdeep as I could and putting it all out there.When your team is counting on you, youdon't give up ever."

Diggins certainly didn't give up.She blew by Nilsson in a blur to capture

gold in the team sprint, bringing the UnitedStates its first gold medal ever in cross-

country skiing.As she crossed the line she collapsed in

exhaustion as teammate Kikkan Randalltackled her in the snow. Randall lay on topof a crying Diggins shaking her ski jacket inpure excitement and utter joy.

"That feeling of being able to cross the lineand have Kikkan tackle me was the coolestthing ever," Diggins said.

It was fitting Randall was her partner onthe two-woman team. She has been throughall of the tough times, competing with theAmerican cross-country ski team since the2002 Salt Lake City Games. She said it wasalso fitting that the American women wontheir first medal in a team event.

"I got to see in 2013 when we won theworld championships ... that team gold isworth far more than any individual acco-lade," the 35-year-old Randall said. "Whatreally kept me going over the last four yearswas trying to contribute toward a teammedal. To do it with Jessie one more time isjust amazing."

So move over Bill Koch, you have compa-ny — finally.

Koch was the only other American to wina medal in cross-country, taking home silverat the 1976 Innsbruck Games.

Diggins and Randall ended that 42-yeardrought and surely gave a huge boost to all

of the young cross-country skiers back homein the United States.

"Hearing it out loud, it still doesn't feelreal," Randall said. "It's what I've beenworking on for 20 years and with this teamfor the last five years and, wow, it's just sofun to put it together tonight — finally."

Added Diggins: "It feels unreal. I can'tbelieve it just happened."

It meant more that their teammates wherethere to celebrate — and family, too.

Diggins' father, Clay, said he had a feelingthis was the day the drought would end.Diggins had three top-six finishes at theOlympics and Randall was skiing well, too.And he said the entire American women'scross-country team came out to practice onTuesday morning with Diggins and Randall.

"There were only two of them skiingtoday, but the entire team came out to sup-port them — practicing tags and everything,"Clay Diggins said. "That to me is pretty cool.They wanted to be there for them, for theteam. And I think Kikkan and Jess felt that(support) on the course."

If not, they certainly felt it after the race.Diggins screamed as she crossed the finish

line, setting off a huge celebration for thered, white and blue. Her American team-mates were jumping and hugging each otheralong the fence line that guarded the track.


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