![After placing second in their respective LDEs at the Capital District contest in early November, freshman Jesus Jaramillo-Gallegos and freshman Wyatt Pickett will compete at the Area XII LDE contest in Georgetown on Nov. 23. Jaramillo-Gallegos is competing in Greenhand Spanish Creed Speaking, while Pickett’s LDE is Greenhand Creed Speaking. “Honestly, [I’m excited for] just traveling around, maybe meeting more people,” Jaramillo-Gallegos said. “And [I’m] nervous about probably just not being able to define my weak areas. I feel like I did decent for my first time ever doing this. I just think it’s fun.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Navy-and-Yellow-Simple-Group-Project-Presentation-1200x675.png)
![Holding up T-wolves, the tour group poses for a picture in the Chinese classroom. Sophomore Lydia Ou, junior Phu Trung and senior Yushan Pan gave a tour to Taiwanese diplomat Andrea Yang on Nov. 8. “I was so excited when I heard I would get to give the tour because it’s a big deal,” Ou said. “She’s from the US embassy for Taiwan, so she’s really important. I’m so privileged [to get this opportunity] and I’m so excited.” Photo by Skyler King](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Main-Taiwan.jpg)
![Sitting at a desk past the rows of books laid out for the Book Fair, senior Kimberley Walters assists people in purchasing books and finding titles. The Book Fair is taking place Dec. 16 through Dec. 20, and is an annual event during which students and faculty have the opportunity to go and purchase books and other trinkets in the library. Kimberley said she encourages all to go to the Book Fair, even if they think they don’t like to read. “If you make reading something that is fun for you and you find the things that you like to read, it will never be a chore,” Walters said. “So [the Book Fair is] a good opportunity to find something that will respark your want to read [like] when you were a child and you went to the book fair and you loved the ‘I survived’ books. Maybe you'll find your ‘I survived’ books of your high school experience, and it'll re-spark that kind of love for reading that may have died out.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Addie-L-47-1200x800.jpg)
![Smiling at the camera, sophomore Olivia Mahlmeister and seniors Samantha Jameson, Adhit Eswaramoorthi and Justin Khadavi celebrate completing first chamber in the Congress Meet. All four students advanced to the final chamber. “Out of the 20 kids in the final chamber, we had a seventh, ninth, 11th and 13th, and they took the top four to move on to state,” AP US History and Debate teacher Josh Marsh said. “[Even though] we didn't make state this year, all four of them moving on [and] placing is phenomenal.” Photo courtesy of Josh Marsh](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-Regional-Congress-Team.jpg)
![Standing in front of a small audience, senior Kimberley Walters shares a social criticism poem titled “Pity the Nation” by Lawrence Felinghetti. Every month, sponsored by the poetry club, the library hosts a poetry reading. “I never thought I would be interested in [poetry readings] because I’m not the biggest poetry fan,” Walters said. “I think poetry is a very succinct way to express feelings and get a story across. Whereas lots of books have a span of a whole story, but it’s put in a lot of words. The power of poetry is that you can be so succinct within, and there’s a lot of power within the words that are used.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KIM-1200x800.jpg)
![Smiling at the camera, Author Ehigbor Okosun, members of Page Turners, and other students reflect on the author's visit. “I thought the visit was great,” Senior Amia De Leon said. “It was interesting talking to her and [getting to know] her process and her thoughts and books in general. But I think the reason it went well [was that] people got to ask questions. I'm glad that she said so much in response to the questions and it wasn't just one and done. [The author’s responses] felt very articulate.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sebastian-5-1200x800.jpg)
![Holding the Grand Nationals trophies, drum majors Helashi Wijayawardhana, Abigail Pettey and Eddy Kim pose for a photo. The BOA Grand Nationals competition took place in Indianapolis on Nov. 14-17. “My favorite thing was just looking back at the field, and I was like, ‘Oh, crap. I know all of their names, I know who all of them are’,” Wijayawardahana said. “It's just insane to me that I was able to make so many connections. [Being a drum major] taught me how to build relationships with people who I’m not really that similar to, and how to juggle a ton of things all together.”
Photo courtesy of CPHS Band SmugMug](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AJC.GrandNatsFinals-169-1200x801.jpg)
![Standing in front of the field at a freshman football game, cheerleader freshman Jacob Gaudreau along with teammate freshman Bella Gibson pose for a photo during halftime of game. “[Cheer has] definitely given me a much more outgoing personality,” Gaudreau said. “I used to be very introverted, so it's definitely made me more extroverted towards people.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ingrid-204-1200x800.jpg)
![Holding a wooden pizza toy, senior Taylor Peterson plays with small children in Bucaramanga, Colombia. During the summer, Peterson traveled to Colombia to help build an elementary school that only had two classrooms but five or six grades with one teacher. “We add[ed] two more classrooms,” Peterson said. “It’s kind of hard when you have two or three grades in one classroom and you only have one teacher. It’s very hard to actually get some beneficial learning. [The extra classrooms will give the students] a better quality of education because they’ll actually have a place specific for their learning.” Photo by Taylor Peterson](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Taylor-P.png)
![Sucking in a breath of air, freshman Lily Pope competes in the 200 yard individual medley. On Oct. 25, the swim team competed in the AISD Swim Invitational. Overall, the girls team took second place and the boys team came in eleventh. “My favorite stroke is butterfly because I do the best in that stroke,” Pope said. “I feel like [butterfly] can test how [your ability] to convince yourself to keep going. The hardest part of swimming is convincing yourself to stay strong and keep pushing during a hard race [when] everything is tired.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/POPE-1200x804.jpg)
![Swinging with his arm extended, senior Nolan Park hits the ball smoothly over the net and to the opponent’s side. Park is one of four varsity tennis captains and helped the team win district championships. “Winning district champs was a pretty awesome feeling,” Park said. “We had lost to Liberty Hill a couple of weeks before, but when we played them [again], we came out and really took care of business. We took them out and it was just a really awesome night.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kassidy-419.jpg)
A Rotten Listening Session
Top Five True Crime Podcasts
I’ve been invested in the true crime world for years, and a great way I’ve been learning about cases lately is through podcasts. Read more below to find my top true crime podcasts which may or may not make you question humanity.
I’m obsessed with crime. Well, not the act of crimes happening, but the retelling of crimes that occurred. I’m what you call a true crime junkie and before you ask, “Isn’t this the same girl who labels herself as a ‘scaredy cat,’ watches a horror show and then writes about it?”
Yes, hello that’s me, nice to meet you.
However, I make an exception for gore and scary situations when it comes to true crime. I still get scared and I’ve gained a lot of fears due to the crimes I’ve learned about, but there’s something very captivating about the storytelling that I adore.
Now, let’s get started on podcasts that I know will knock your socks off.
1. “Crime Junkie” (5 out of 5 microphones) 
If you know anything about true crime and podcasts, you might know that the podcast “Crime Junkie” is a classic. This podcast is co-hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat as they dive into the different aspects of true crime from missing people, cold cases, serial killers and murders. What I like about this podcast is how interactive the podcast is; listeners can view posts on their website with photos and additional sources about the case or suggest a case. There is also a really unique aspect to their podcast, as there are times in which they are able to get in contact with family members of friends related to the victim and include the interview in a later bonus episode. If you are interested in listening to this podcast I recommend Episode 22: Kenia Monge. It’s a good episode to dip your toes into the world of true crime and podcasts.
New episodes are published every Monday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.
2. “Rotten Mango” (5 out of 5 microphones)
Although my love for true crime podcasts is somewhat recent, this podcast is one I religiously listen to every week. This podcast is co-hosted by Youtuber Stephanie Soo and her fiance. If you like a host with a bit of spunk and a big personality, this podcast is for you. They dive into the dark and unusual world of murders, serial killers and cannibalism (I wouldn’t recommend eating anything during those episodes.) What draws me into this podcast is that they not only discuss crimes in the U.S but also foreign crimes. Soo’s storytelling skills are superb which will make you anticipate the next episode. My recommendation for a case in the U.S is Episode one: “Toy Box Killer,” however for a case outside the states I recommend Episode two: “The Murder of Junko Furuta.” All episodes contain explicit language and are NOT for the lighthearted. Seriously, if you haven’t explored the world of true crime, “Rotten Mango” is not for you.
New episodes are published every Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.
3. Paper Ghosts (5 out of 5 microphones)
This is a fascinating podcast that blows my mind every time a new episode is published. Investigative journalist and true crime author, M. William Phelps, investigates four different cases for the disappearance of four missing young girls in the 1970s with recorded interviews, new leads and unseen documents. What I find intriguing about this podcast is that Phelps lived in the area where the disappearances took place and has been trying to find the person responsible for the abductions for more than a decade. is experience and his connection to the case brings in a whole different perspective that is needed for the cases discussed. If you’re like me and can’t remember facts to save your life, this podcast is a match. Phelps includes a small snippet of the crucial parts told in the previous episode in the following episode, which I LOVE because it saves so much time and a lot of the brain cells that I’m told I lack (my younger sister is vicious.)
New episodes are published every Wednesday on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.
4. “My Favorite Murder” ( 4 out of 5 microphones) 
You wouldn’t think you would laugh because of a crime podcast, but this one will crack you up. This podcast is co-hosted by comedian Karen Kilgariff and Cooking Channel host, Georgia Hardstark, a great duo that knows how to make you feel like another friend in the group. What makes this podcast so engaging is the entire concept of it, two friends tell each other their favorite crime stories and also include listeners with their minisodes. Minisodes consist of listener-submitted hometown murder and paranormal stories, secrets and any other topics Kilgariff and Hardstark request. Although I love the full-length episodes, the minisodes are my favorite. If you’re going to give “My Favorite Murder” a chance, I recommend minisode 186 and episode 32: “Just the 32 of us.”
Full-length episodes are published every Thursday and minisodes are published every Monday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Episodes do include explicit language.
5. “Solved Murders: True Crime Mysteries” (4 out of 5 microphones)
This is the podcast that I’m not super familiar with yet but thought I would include anyway because it’s very different from the other podcasts I’ve mentioned. This is a series produced by the Parcast network and co-hosted by Carter Roy and Wenndy Mackenzie. What sets this podcast apart from the others is the audial reenactment and sound effects included. It shocked me the first time I heard the podcast, but I learned to enjoy it. Roy and Mackenzie discuss the facts and with a seamless transition, the reenactment of the case fully paints the scene of the case. It’s something new that I experienced and if you’re someone who likes to really immerse themselves in a story, this podcast is for you. This also is a great choice for people who like to know all the answers to a case, as all of the cases are solved. For this podcast, I really recommend the episodes revolving William Guldensuppe, the whole case is very bizarre.
New episodes are published every Wednesday exclusively on Spotify.
That’s it! Now, there are five podcasts you can listen to and possibly gain paranoia from. That sounds fun, right? If you listen to any of these podcasts, please let me know. Comment below or contact me at [email protected] and tell me what you thought of the podcast(s) you listened to.
Estefani or Stef is a senior and third-year reporter. This year marks her second year as Editor-In-Chief and she is very excited to continue producing articles the community is interested in. In addition to being a staff member of The Wolfpack, she is also part of the yearbook staff. She enjoys learning and writing about peoples' stories and passions. Estefani hopes to attend UT next fall to major in Social Work. Some facts about her include; her love for tea (the beverage not drama), socks, funky earrings and artists Ashe and Harry Styles. She is still prone to tripping over her own feet, losing socks and laughing at bad puns.
