Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 May 26, 2015

Valedictorian Jung pursues dream

In Korean, “freshwater” is 민물의. “Forest cycle” is 숲 주기. “Igneous rock” is 화성암. This is how Seeun Jung taught herself Honors Earth Science sophomore year. Jung, who transferred to

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 May 22, 2015

Leesville Baseball eliminated in state quarterfinals

In front a raucous and packed Friday night crowd, traditional rivals Millbrook and Leesville dueled pitch by pitch, hit by hit for a spot in next week’s 4A East Finals.

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 May 8, 2015

Lacrosse cruises past Green Hope in playoffs

Eric Fitz factored in on seven goals, scoring four and assisting on three, to lead the Leesville lacrosse team to its first playoff win in program history. Fed by the

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 April 29, 2015

Leesville Lacrosse captures conference title with win over Enloe

By the time that Conner New, the lone four-year letterman on the Leesville Lacrosse, scored his only goal of Tuesday’s Senior Night game, the celebration of Leesville’s conference title was

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 April 27, 2015

Leesville Library trail lives up to some expectations

It has been almost a year since the completion of the paved trail by the Leesville Community Library, which provides a convenient shortcut between Whitley Drive and the Leesville school

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 April 22, 2015

Brad Wilson bringing community focus to Leesville football

When the Leesville football team takes the field next autumn to the roar of the Loonies student section, a new man will be there to hear the sound for the

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 April 6, 2015

Baseball competes against nation’s best

While most of Leesville enjoyed spring break far away from the Triangle, the Leesville baseball team spent theirs embracing a special stage: the USA Baseball High School Invitational tournament in

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 March 4, 2015

Wake County students displeased with Saturday School decision

The Wake County School Board’s decision to make up school days missed to snow on Good Friday and two future Saturdays upset many high schoolers throughout the county. School was

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 March 2, 2015

Leesville Basketball falls to East Wake in playoffs

The Leesville men’s basketball team rallied from a large second-half deficit but fell in the closing minutes to East Wake in the first round of the 4A state playoffs, ending

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 February 20, 2015

Wake County inundated by snow and ice

[View the story “Wake County Inundated by Ice, Snow” on Storify]

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 January 23, 2015

Heritage stuns Leesville Basketball in final seconds

For 31 minutes of basketball on Friday night, Leesville and Heritage played to a deadlocked 58-58 tie in a battle for third place in the Cap-8 Conference. Then the most

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 January 22, 2015

Leesville swimming concludes regular season

The Leesville swimming team will enter next week’s Cap-8 Conference championships with momentum after another strong showing in Wednesday’s meet. Facing teams from Cary, Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina at the

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 January 16, 2015

Mike Hobgood out as Leesville football coach

For the second consecutive offseason, the Leesville football program will experience a head coaching change. Mike Hobgood, who came to Leesville from South Granville High in May 2014 and went 5-7

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 December 15, 2014

Leesville Band enjoys Raleigh Christmas Parade experience

In front of more than 60,000 spectators crowded along the streets of downtown Raleigh, the Leesville Symphonic Band and Colorguard marched among 115 floats, bands and groups in the 70th

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 December 15, 2014

Leesville Swimming embraces unusual coaching situation

Two of the most well-known figures in Leesville’s Athletics Department — Jack Rogers, athletic director, and Guy Civitello, head baseball coach — are taking on a new and different responsibility

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 November 25, 2014

Leesville Basketball defeats Panther Creek, enters Thanksgiving Break 2-2

Ben Zemonek scored 21 points from the floor, interim coach Nick Pendergraft re-focused his team’s excitement after some early foul troubles and Leesville men’s basketball team downed Panther Creek 71-49

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 November 15, 2014

Reflecting on the 2014 Leesville Football season

Mike Hobgood’s first year as Leesville head coach proved a tumultuous one, as the Pride (5-7, 3-4 Cap-8) lost their last four games (allowing 35 or more points in all

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 November 14, 2014

Leesville Football season ends with loss in playoffs

The offense failed to gain traction until the fourth quarter, the defense again found Bryce Love impossible to contain and the 2014 Leesville football season ended with a 42-13 loss

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 November 7, 2014

Turnovers doom Leesville Football to third straight loss

Eight seconds into Friday’s regular season finale, the Leesville football team committed its first turnover, fumbling on the opening kickoff return to give Wakefield the ball. The first play proved

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 October 31, 2014

Leesville Football can’t contain Marshall, loses to Millbrook

In a game of big plays and prolific offense, Leesville’s passing attack proved slightly inferior to Millbrook’s running game, and the contrast made all the difference in Friday’s rivalry game.

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 October 24, 2014

Leesville Football falls short in Wake Forest

Clay Vick, junior quarterback, rolled out to his right, evaded a Wake Forest lineman and threw a nine-yard pass to Trey Keeney, senior tight end, in the endzone. Leesville now

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 October 17, 2014

Leesville Football downs Enloe for homecoming win

Clinging to a 14-13 lead late in the third quarter, the Leesville offense — backed up on their own 20-yard line after two threatening Enloe drives produced no points —

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 October 13, 2014

Leesville Football overcomes Sanderson, Mother Nature

Seventy-one hours and 18 minutes after the opening kickoff at Sanderson, the Leesville football team made one last tackle, the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard and the Pride secured

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 October 8, 2014

Inside Leesville Football 2014: The new generation

For the second consecutive year, we spent the first game week of the 2014 season immersed inside the Leesville football team. What happens when the team isn’t under the spotlights

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 October 8, 2014

Q&A with new lacrosse coach

Last month, the Leesville men’s lacrosse team landed a new head coach: Franklin Zirkle, a former state champion coach at East Chapel Hill and an administrator for the Carolina Hilltoppers

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 October 3, 2014

Leesville Football rallies to spoil Broughton’s homecoming

When the Pride needed it most, Leesville’s stars took the initiative and led their team to a critical comeback win on Friday night at Broughton. Mike Dehaney, senior running back,

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 September 26, 2014

Leesville Football can’t find offense against Heritage

For the second consecutive game, the Leesville offense failed to create any momentum or find the endzone, cursing the Pride to a 14-3 loss to Heritage on Friday, Sept. 26

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 September 19, 2014

Leesville Football shut down by injuries, turnovers and Panther Creek

A woefully depleted Leesville offense committed six turnovers and sputtered to just five first downs as the Pride lost 27-0 to Panther Creek on Friday, Sept. 19. After leading 13-0

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 September 12, 2014

Leesville Football surges past Athens Drive

A critical defensive stop and ensuing 99-yard drive helped the Leesville football team earn a 27-16 win over Athens Drive on Friday, Sept. 12 at Hamilton Stadium. 6:11 remained in the

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 August 28, 2014

Leesville Football thrashed by Apex

The away sideline and visitors’ bleachers sat in hushed disbelief and concern as Khamari Alexander, senior running back, lay motionless and surrounded by paramedics. The scoreboard clock read 6:25 remaining

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 August 22, 2014

Leesville Football victorious in season opener

Quarterback Clay Vick threw three touchdowns to lead Leesville to a season-opening 34-12 win over Durham Jordan on Friday at Hamilton Stadium. Vick, junior, completed 13 of 16 passes for 241 yards, three

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 June 3, 2014

Mike Hobgood brings new coaching perspective to Leesville Football

The reins of the Leesville football program have found a new Santa. Mike Hobgood, former UNC lineman and South Granville head coach, will take over the coaching duties for the

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 May 22, 2014

Investigation: Leesville students speeding through Springdale

A popular shortcut route to the Leesville campus has become a haven for speeding. The so-called “Springdale Loop” — a 1.4-mile section of O’Neal Rd. often used to escape the

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 May 16, 2014

“Turn Blue” launches Black Keys to new high

If Danger Mouse didn’t spoil the Black Keys’ individuality, if the profit lures of pop didn’t corrupt the Black Keys’ unique genre, if fanbase impatience didn’t force the Black Keys

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 April 28, 2014

Coming of El Nino could disrupt Raleigh weather

In the winter of 2014, the “Polar Vortex” brought historic snowfall and near-zero temperatures to North Carolina. Now that sunny skies and 70 degrees have banished polar weather back to

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 April 16, 2014

Future trail would expand Leesville accessibility

For Leesville community members living in neighborhoods to the south of the library, park and school complex, a new route to the area’s public facilities may soon begin construction. A

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 March 21, 2014

McGarry, Espinal continuing career journeys

Two popular Leesville teachers are now enjoying their transitions to administrator. Both Amy McGarry, former Leesville English teacher, and Jose Espinal, former art teacher, are in the midst of principal

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 February 27, 2014

Broken Bells establishes identity with “After the Disco”

The music identity has always longed to define the Broken Bells as a spinoff of established sounds: lead singer James Mercer’s own The Shins, ‘70s alternative pioneer band Bee Gees,

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 February 24, 2014

Leesville Basketball stuns Jordan to advance in playoffs

Brandon Staves, Leesville senior and basketball team captain, just “wanted to play one more day.” Monday, he accomplished that goal one more time. Staves exploded for 13 points in the second

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 February 21, 2014

Leesville Basketball defeats Wakefield, concludes regular season

An explosive second-half jump led the Leesville Men’s Varsity Basketball team convincingly over Wakefield on Friday, Feb. 21, as the Pride clinched third place in the Cap-8 Conference. Leesville scored

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 February 4, 2014

Leesville Basketball cruises past Enloe

Jumpstarted by a decisive start and balanced scoring attack, the Leesville Men’s basketball team defeated Enloe 74-58 on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The Pride (5-4, 9-10) jumped out to a 14-2

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 January 31, 2014

Wake County paralyzed by snow

With most of Wake County hunkered down in anticipation of a 3-6 inch snowstorm Tuesday night, the official 1.4 inches of powdery snow which blanketed the Triangle came as a

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 January 3, 2014

Leesville Basketball loses double-overtime thriller

The Leesville Mens’ Varsity Basketball team fell 79-75 to Cap-8 rival Sanderson in double overtime on Friday, Jan. 3, failing to translate a rousing second-half comeback and double-overtime lead into

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 December 17, 2013

Students need longer breaks

For months, Winter Break tantalizes the minds of Leesville students like a pie on a windowsill: the sole motivation to slog through the bitter, five-day weeks of autumn. In recent

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 December 16, 2013

Winter Sports updates

View on the online compilation of our brief articles on each winter sport, as seen on page 16 of Monday’s paper, below: Swimming The Leesville swimming team has begun

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 December 16, 2013

Basketball: behind the scenes

For the first full week of the regular season, we followed every move of the Leesville Men’s Varsity Basketball team. From the high-energy drills of practice to the prime-time plays

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 December 4, 2013

Leesville Basketball rallies to win home opener

The Leesville Mens Varsity Basketball team beat Apex for the second time in two weeks Tuesday, scoring 16 of the game’s final 18 points to capture a 47-43 victory. Trailing

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 November 15, 2013

Leesville Football’s season concludes with loss to Millbrook

Marshall L. Hamilton stadium was silent. Gone was the steady beat of the band, the roar of the student section, the shriek of the referee’s whistle, all the sounds of

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 November 8, 2013

Leesville football falls to Wakefield in final seconds

One by one, the seniors of the 2013 Leesville football team walked out with tears streaming down their faces. Elation over an apparent Braxton Berrios game-winning touchdown catch with no

by Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015 November 1, 2013

Leesville football grinds past Millbrook

As the rain poured down and the hoards of Wildcat fans filed quietly from the stands, the Leesville football team celebrated a crucial 7-3 win over rival Millbrook without an

Author: Ben Pope, senior editor 2014-2015

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