The Tom Tom | October 2016

THE STUDENT VOICE OF ANTIOCH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

VOLUME 55, ISSUE 2 + OCTOBER 2016 WWW.SEQUOITMEDIA.COM + @ACHSTOMTOM + @SEQUOITSPORTS 1133 MAIN STREET + ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS + 60002

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CONTENTS

VOL. 55 NO. 2

PERSPECTIVES

17 | SEEKING OUT A FIELD OF DREAMS

4 | EDITOR’S NOTE

20 | WALKING AWAY AND COMING BACK AGAIN

18 | TOM TOM TRIES: FIELD HOCKEY 30 | WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO RACE GOKART

23 | TITLE IX HELPING GIRLS SHINE

OFF THE FIELD 5 | THE COACHING EFFECT

BEYOND THE FIELD 24 | THE ROOKIES RUNNING THE SHOW

8 | PREPPED AND READY

28 | THE ALUMNA ON A MISSION

9 | ALL ABOUT THAT BASS (AND POM PONS)

28 | THE PASSIONATE SOCCER MOM

10 | GRANDSTAND QUARTERBACK

FEATURES 11 | ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET

ON THE FIELD 15 | THE BIG, THE SMALL AND THE TOWERING

13 | READ THE FINE PRINT

16 | WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

26 | RUN FOR THE MONEY

21 | ROTTEN TO THE CORE

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R THE STUDENT VOICE OF ANTIOCH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

VOLUME 55, ISSUE 2 + OCTOBER 2016 WWW.SEQUOITMEDIA.COM + @ACHSTOMTOM + @SEQUOITSPORTS 1133 MAIN STREET + ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS + 60002

ON THE COVER

Junior Rolando Vazquez, Jr. (RJ) embodies originality as the captain of the Varsity boys soccer team, as well as being involved in wrestling and the musical. Vazquez exemplifies our lead headline, “Road Less Traveled,” because of his drive and desire to accomplish his goals not by what’s traditional, but instead by what he believes in most.

Off the fiField the TOM TOM staff

2016-2017 executive team

KRISTINA M. ESDALE Editor-in-Chief PATRICK R. JOHNSON, MJE Adviser PAIGE HOPE Managing Editor REBEKAH L. CARTLIDGE Digital Director JACK A. CONNELLY Digital Director JILLIAN M. EVERETT Print Director JASON R. WOOD Print Director Editorial Board DEPARTMENT EDITORS Rachel Beckman Grace Bouker Booker Grass Benjamin Gutke Lauryn Hugener Gabrielle Kalisz Abigail Russell Kaylee Schreiner SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORS Haley Edwards Dylan Hebior Megan Helgesen Marc Huston SENIOR EDITORS Christina Michaels Natasha Reid Alexander Ruano

staff journalists Jayme Bailey William Becker Lauren Bluthardt Peter Boeh Nico Chiapetta Jared DeBoer Emma DeJong Abigail Ellsworth Taylor Feltner Branden Gallimore Chloe Grass Griffin Hackelor Emily Hanes Daeshaun Hawkins Symone Henderson Brenna Higgins Emily Holmes John Howe Jacob Johnson Michael Kawell Jessica Lamberty Chloe Moritz Anthony Murray Nicole Peterson John Petty Alexandra Rapp Ashley Reiser Steffanie Richardson Matthew Rowe Allison Smith Ashley Stephens Annie Wagner Logan Weber Kyle Whitley Monica Wilhelm Kat Zamudio mission statement

The Tom Tom provides fair and balanced news reporting for the Lake County area.

The Tom Tom is a student-run news organization that serves the Antioch community through a monthly print news magazine and daily online content.

It is our duty to encourage the involvement of town activities and sporting events. The Tom Tom is an open forum publication and strives to inform, educate and improve the atmosphere and student body at Antioch Community High School.

EDITOR’S NOTE

ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Sometimes it isn’t about the expectations or the majority; sometimes it’s about following your heart and being the best you.

KRISTINA ESDALE // Editor-in-Chief

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hen I think of an original, I think of someone who isn’t scared to take risks and make their own plans. I think of someone who’s independent and strong in their beliefs. Someone who isn’t afraid to walk down the path of the road less traveled.

I am one who is constantly taking the road less traveled.

In our most recent magazine, the “O” issue, I wrote a feature about sex. For some, this topic is a road they would prefer that a high school student publication wouldn’t travel down. As I traveled down this path that hadn’t really been traveled down before, I was aware of my surroundings. Trust me, I can hear you. Going down the road less traveled is original, but it’s not always easy. Most of the time, it’s about taking a risk and hoping for the best, and that’s exactly what I did. With my head held high, I wrote about a topic that I thought would be beneficial and relatable to some of our student body. My intentions with the story were to make people read between the lines. The point was for people to find comfort with the fact that they weren’t alone, no matter what the topic was. I traveled down the road of going against the grain, being different and breaking expectations in order to discuss something that I felt was important—something that mattered.

The value we as a staff are founded on is that the road less traveled is the one that gives a voice to the voiceless. A part of that means that not only are there fluffy stories to tell, but also stories that are a lot darker in nature. In order to correctly show the student voice, there are positive and negative stories to be told. We can’t always just tell a story that everyone wants to hear. Sometimes stories are more on the controversial side because that’s just the way the world works. The state of Illinois finds this concept so important that this summer they passed the HB 5902 law, which states that students in public high schools will now have a legally protected right to choose what content will be part of their publications, even those produced for credit as part of a class.

This magazine was the start of a road that had been traveled once before, but for the staff that produced it, this was a brand new journey. The “R” issue, or the fall sports magazine, is the product of our brand new Sports Media class, which brings together students from all over the school to talk about, live in and produce quality content about sports. While this issue obviously completes the fall season for our Sequoit athletes, we felt that exploring issues related to fall sports was certainly a road we wanted to travel down. This magazine will also be organized differently than the sports magazines last year. We felt it was

4 Tom Tom October 2016

PHOTO // NATASHA REID

important to define the sections of the sports magazines, much like we define the sections in our student life magazines. Throughout the “R” magazine, you will see three sections: off the field, on the field and beyond the field. We believe these three sections represent the holistic experience each athlete is accustomed to in whatever sport they play.

In this magazine, you will see a variety of perspectives about coaching, understand what happens when siblings get a little competitive, and recognize why size does matter. Additionally, we tackled topics like parents being a little too invested in sports, athletes that balance band and another sport and we gave it the good’ol Tom Tom try at field hockey. On a heavier note, the features in this magazine are concerned with issues that pertain to all of our sports, each of which has, like the “O” magazine, cliche headlines; this time they will all begin with “R.” Off the field, we focused our time on two features: one on the Vikings feeder program written by managing editor Paige Hope and another on the athletic code of conduct written by digital director Rebekah Cartlidge. Once we venture on the field, department editor Ben Gutke and senior editor Alex Ruano found out what it means when an athlete is truly “Rotten to the Core.” Lastly, beyond the field includes a number of personality profiles of athletes, an alumna and a parent. Additionally, our final feature, “Run for the Money,” written by department editor Kaylee Schreiner, looks at the role of scholarships and their impact on the future of Sequoits’ athletic careers.

We thank you for taking the time to read our magazine and hope that you, much like us, decide that sometimes the road less traveled is the road worth taking. TT

THE COACHING EFFECT

ILLUSTRATION // BOOKER GRASS

Coaching is their job, but going above and beyond is what makes an impact like no other on their athletes.

WILLIAM BECKER // Tom Tom Staff ABIGAIL RUSSELL // Department Editor KAYLEE SCHREINER // Department Editor

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or the coach, it was just helping with homework, an extra hour after practice to work on throwing or just a person to talk to. But to the athlete, it was the start of something great. This is the coach that stood out in the athlete’s mind and made a lasting impression on him or her. These relationships built on and off the field have improved not only the athlete’s performance, but their attitude towards the sport. For many athletes at Antioch, finding a coach who makes them better on and off the field is easy. For senior Gretchen Wagner, this bond with head JV field hockey coach Dawn DeServi started her sophomore year. Two years later she has built a relationship with her coach that she will remember forever. DeServi began to stand out in Wagner’s mind one day a few years ago. “[I remember] one day I was just having a really rough day, and Dawn was there to give me great advice and just make me feel better,” Wagner said.

DeServi’s want to go above the basics and help her athletes did not stop there. She has

helped many of her athletes overcome their challenges on and off the field. According to Wagner, DeServi always makes time for her athletes when they need her.

“If I texted her and asked her a question, she would respond immediately,” Wagner said. “She will [always] give me good advice about whatever is going on.”

For Wagner, it is these small things that make her coach have a lasting impact on her.

It was helping her on the field to become a better player and leader, as well as off the field helping her through rough times in her life.

According to Wagner, this parent-like attitude from DeServi has made her team’s environment more positive and made the team stronger all around. From helping them improve in the game to helping them through a bad day, the team knows that they can count on DeServi and that no matter what she will always be there.

Another Antioch athlete who has felt the impact of his coach is junior Max Barton.

Barton has been running track and field and cross country for three years. Head cross country and boys track and field coach Christopher Bailey has gone above what he needed to for Barton.

“At practice, you can just tell that he is passionate,” Barton said. “Not only for [his athletes], but for running as well, and that is almost essential for a coach.”

Bailey was a college athlete, running track and field and cross country for Illinois State

University, and he was very successful. He has been coaching and teaching at Antioch for nine years. According to Barton, this helped build a trust for his coach right away.

This also made him believe in the benefits of training that Bailey tells them to do. Bailey’s knowledge has given the runners the ability to connect to Bailey as more than just a coach.

“He’s very good at appealing to others,” Barton said. “He’s a very good role model because he was a good runner himself, and that appeals to a lot of people” According to Barton, the whole team trusts Bailey’s actions in and outside of their practices and meets. Not only has Bailey made an impact on Barton, but also on his teammates as well. One of Bailey’s most significant impacts in Barton is his encouragement to bring the team closer together.

“He wants us to do a lot of team bonding things, like pasta parties,” Barton said. “He highly encourages it and it’s nice.”

This not only brings the team closer together, but it also creates a team atmosphere that is positive and makes the team like a family. Yet for Barton, what makes Bailey stand out more than any other coach he has had are those that go unnoticed.

“It’s the little things,” Barton said. “Like the emails he sends to us before races, encouraging us to do our best and letting us know everything that is happening and the cheering during races and practices.”

These “little things” have not only helped Barton improve on his natural talent and run The “R” Issue

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Off the fiField on the Varsity track and field and cross country teams for all three of his years, but also develop a love for both sports.

While Barton and Wagner both find great qualities in their coaches, it is the actions their coaches do that go above and beyond that will make them remember and appreciate their coaches for their entire lives.

WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

A coach defines a large part of a player’s experience on a sports team. They run the practices, create drills, push discipline and, most importantly, lead the team. Despite this, a coach can have a lasting impact on a player’s performance and mindset.

At Antioch Community High School, there are 23 different sports teams. Nine of them are fall sports, with a variety of coaches leading the teams. The success of Antioch teams can be attributed partially to coaches. Coaches can help their players perform well and they should treat their players well to create a successful team.

Senior David Lonski is a member of the Varsity soccer team. He explained how a coach should be straightforward with his or her players.

“You can’t just sugarcoat while coaching,” Lonski said. “I feel like it should be you tell me what my mistake is, you tell me how to correct it and I’ll correct it.”

Other athletes like junior Andrew Hare share Lonski’s opinion. Both athletes think that coaches need to be there for their athletes and help them when they need it.

“Coaches should respect their athletes in the way they play, and helping them out wherever they need it,” Hare said. “If they are doing something wrong, fix their mistakes.”

Both Lonski and Hare said there are clear differences between a coach that manages

SEQUOIT SOUNDOFF

PHOTO // ABIGAIL RUSSELL For runner Max Barton, coach Christopher Bailey provides the structure and push to succeed at all times in his sport. Barton, much like many other Sequoit athletes performing on and off the field this fall, looks to his coaches for mentoring and support.

his or her team well, and a coach that does not. A coach that does his or her job well will support their team, point out what the players are doing wrong and help them fix mistakes. He or she also needs to help his or her team prepare for their upcoming opponents.

Although coaches may do these tactics, not all will.

Hare has had negative experiences with coaches over his years of playing in sports.

“They sort of brought it down to a point to where you’re like, ‘I just want to get on with the season and move on to the next sport,’”

What coach had the most significant impact on you and why?

“Coach Larsen, because he is very nice to me and being nice to me helps me.”

TRESHAWN WATSON FRESHMAN

“Coach Harrington had the most impact on me as far as a student, an athlete and my overall personality. She taught me how to be the person I want to be and to push myself to the limit.”

JESSICA BORKOWICZ SENIOR

6 Tom Tom October 2016

“Coach Pechauer because he teaches us the correct fundamentals to being great linemen.”

JARED STROHMAN JUNIOR

“Since my [college] coach would not allow her players to play if they had below a C in any class, I found myself pushing to be better.”

MARY EASTON

“I think that Coach Farlow has a great impact on me because he’s helped me become a greater player and person overall.”

KYLE JILLY

Hare said. “It sort of brought down the level of playing with my other friends and teammates by the sport not being as fun as it should be.”

Junior Julia Murillo discussed how bad coaches can negatively affect players.

“I’ve had multiple coaches that have had odd styles of coaching, where they rely more on players to coach, and they stand by and don’t help the players,” Murillo said. “It always made me enjoy the sport less. It wasn’t exciting to go to practice and it wasn’t something to look forward to.”

Hare and Murillo both expressed how a negative coach can lead to an athlete’s lack of interest in the sport. The enjoyment they used to have in playing was lost.

In some cases, players disagree with their coaches so heavily that they will eventually quit the sport.

Senior Quinn Landl is a former athlete who quit after he started to disagree with and dislike the way he was being treated by a coach.

“One of the main reasons I stopped playing was because one of the coaches I had to work with played heavy favorites,” Landl said. “In practices, I would have to work a lot harder than the other person.”

When a player quits a sport, some will regret their decision and come back. This is not the case for all athletes. Landl misses playing, but not enough to return to the sport.

“Sometimes I regret my decision because I’m not able to play in the games,” Landl said.

“I love playing, but getting away from the coach because he didn’t respect me as a player, I don’t regret that at all.”

PHOTO // NATASHA REID No matter the season or the sport, many of the Sequoit coaches are current or former ACHS teachers, which helps their athletes tremendously in finding a place to feel at home and safe. These teacher-coaches find themselves at an interesting crossroads: balancing the toughness of coaching with the finesse of teaching. However, for some, this balance is relatively easy as they can shift between the roles with ease.

Not all coaches have a negative impact on their players. There are many coaches who can affect their players positively. A coach who enjoys their job will create a better experience for their players, according to Murillo.

“Most of my coaches are always on the good side,” Murillo said. “They are the ones that take charge and know what they are talking about because they’ve had past experience. They love the sport as much as they enjoy being there and enjoy teaching. If you have someone who knows the sport and loves it as much as you do, it gives you a better experience.”

Players expect their coaches to be a positive role model for the team; they want them to want to be at practice.

“The coach is someone you look up to,” Murillo said. “You expect them to be there, and want to be there as much as you do because they are the main role models in the situation.”

IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM; ON AND OFF THE FIELD

Every student has a different personality when they are in the classroom compared to the one they have outside of the classroom.

However, many people forget that teachers have lives outside of the classroom as well.

For English teacher Jamie D’Andrea, that life involves coaching.

D’Andrea teaches all levels of English, including AP classes. She is also the Varsity girls and boys tennis coach and the assistant

girls Varsity basketball coach.

On the court, D’Andrea is seen as a tough coach that inspires her athletes to succeed.

She encourages the idea that hard work will amount to success, but creates a fun atmosphere for her athletes while doing so.

“Coach D cares really deeply about all of her players,” sophomore Varsity tennis player Megan Lawrence said. “She likes to laugh and have fun, but she is also tough and expects us to work hard.”

The biggest difference between the court and the classroom are the relationships that coaches are able to form with their players that teachers are not necessarily able to form with students.

“The coach-athlete relationship is definitely different because I know the players on a more personal level than I know most of my students,” D’Andrea said. “We’ve been through difficult games, we’ve been on long bus rides together, and we’ve gone on overnight trips for one reason or another, and so you get to know those kids a little bit more.”

In the classroom, D’Andrea works hard to create a similar, fun atmosphere for all of her English students. She mentioned that since every student has to take an English class every year, the students do not always want to take the class. However, she tries to create a comfortable environment that encourages students to work hard.

“Ms. D’Andrea allows us to have fun conversations but still get our work done,” junior

RJ Vazquez said.

D’Andrea also finds that her personality on the court and in the classroom stay very similar, and that she has most of the same values when it comes to teaching and coaching.

“I have no problem telling an athlete that I think he or she can be doing better than they are doing, and I would do the same thing in the classroom with a student,” D’Andrea said.

Everyone has certain aspects of their personality that are magnified in different situations and environments.

D’Andrea, who usually describes herself as sarcastic and fun, admits that sometimes on the court her personality can get more intense.

“Coaching and sports are a little more passionate than in the classroom,” D’Andrea said.

“I might accidentally slip and tell someone to work a little harder in a game or practice, whereas I probably wouldn’t say that to a student in a classroom.”

The difference in atmospheres from the classroom to the court allows some changes in personality to occur.

“I think sometimes my sarcasm comes out a little more while coaching, and at times I feel like that could be read differently,” D’Andrea said.

Most teachers have a somewhat different personality from when they are in school to when they are out of it. For staff members that coach and teach, there are many consistencies between the two. T T The “R” Issue

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Off the fiField

PREPPED AND READY Athletes everywhere are able to perform at their peak level only if they prepare in the ways that are best for them.

JOHN PETTY // Tom Tom Staff

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thletes everywhere are looking for an edge.

After all, the methods used to prepare for an event may be the key to starting strong and performing in the clutch. Ways to prepare vary from person to person, but typically include strong diet, mental readiness and the use of music effectively.

Many of the world’s best athletes are able to picture their best highlights before they happen or find their groove before the game starts. One primary idea to take into account is a strong diet. Depending on the performer, it has been shown that foods with low added sugar content are typically better. This basic guideline helps with finding energy that will not cause a crash later on from added sugar; however, fruits do have a rather high amount of sugar, but are a better alternative to processed energy. Junior Julius

SPOTIFY: FRIDAY PUMP UP

Catalan supports eating light foods in order to stay nimble.

“I typically veer toward more carbohydrate-dense foods because I know they will give me energy, as well as fruits,” Catalan said. “Anything greasy makes me feel bloated and nauseous come game time, so I typically stay away from those foods.”

Aside from nutrition, mental preparation is a major key to success within an event. Not all methods work for everyone, yet it is common to desire either an excited state of mind or a calm equilibrium. It is also common to listen to music that fits the desired mood before performing. Typically, those looking for excitement will listen to louder and more upbeat music.

Yet those in search of a free mind may better fit with slower tempos and a more relaxing volume. Knowing which mental state to choose is very important and can help greatly with being ready to compete.

“I prefer to listen to loud and exciting music before a game because when I’m playing the environment I’m in reflects that kind of music,” Catalan said.

These techniques can be used by all and are all part of performance while competing. An athlete’s preparation for competition often determines how well the event will go and finding success is all about trying new things and finding the right preparations. TT

Today is the first football playoff game at home against the Wauconda Bulldogs.

TOP FIVE THINGS TO WEAR TO A SEQUOIT FOOTBALL GAME Grass skirts, coconut bras, neon colors and white face paint are just a preview of what you may experience as a Cardinal Crazy at a Sequoit football game. Being a part of the group means you have to dress up for the different themes. The top items that Sequoit fans wear to a football game vary from body paint, clothes to match the identified theme, the school colors, bandanas and different types of hats.

At the camouflage themed game, students had brown, green and black paint all over their bodies, camouflage ghillie suits and camo shirts.

“I usually wear something that matches the theme, but is still comfortable,” junior Deighton Butenschoen said. “For warmer [games], I’ll wear shorts and a T-shirt, but when it gets colder, I’ll dress warmer.”

These outfits can be as simple as matching the colors of the theme, to dressing as Moses or even Abraham Lincoln.

Want to get prepped and ready for the game just like the football team?

Follow the Tom Tom (ACHSTomTom) on Spotify and see what the football team is listening to to get ready to take down the Bulldogs for the second time this season.

“I love the black out to pink out games because we all started out in black and then [all of a sudden] at halftime, we were all bright and pink,” Butenschoen said. “I do think it does [bring out more fans] because when we have a good theme, people want to dress up and it really shows our school spirit.”

Join the fun and dress like a Cardinal Crazy fan at the next football game, you won’t be disappointed.

Want a sneak peek? Here are some of the songs you can find on their playlist.

TAYLOR FELTNER // Tom Tom Staff

“Stronger” by Kanye West “No Church in the Wild” by Jay Z

PHOTO // ABIGAIL RUSSELL

“Eye of the Tiger”

by Survivor

Junior Julius Catalan enjoys listening to music before every game to get focused on his opponents. In addition, he finds eating healthy and avoiding greasy foods as being key to maintaining quality on field performances. For members of his team and other fall sports, certain rituals, playlists and foods all contribute to the athletes’ focus in action.

8 Tom Tom October 2016

ALL ABOUT THAT BASS (AND POM PONS)

Halftime is usually a time to do one of three things: relax, perform or get ready for the second half. For these athletes, halftime is a delicate balancing act between two different “lives.”

SYMONE HENDERSON // Tom Tom Staff

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tudents stand in the The fact that Miller and middle of the football Beake spend about nine field, flags high in the hours in school and an adair, with hats and plumes ditional five at practice simnice and clean, instruments ply shows the dedication to shined to perfection, uni- both extracurricular activiforms straight and unwrin- ties. kled. Unlike these people “I think I’m there for are a few others who stand the most important stuff,” out from the rest.

Beake said. “I try In the middle to do other things of the field, in too. I have a job lines of student and a girlfriend, instrument playso I have [those] ers, marching to juggle, too. I try band uniforms my best to work and multi-colored EMMA MILLER // everything around flags, a handful those two things.”

SENIOR of students stand “They’re both with pride for our school hard, but cheer is much in their sports uniforms. more physical, while Students like senior Emma marching band definitely Miller and sophomore Pat- requires constant thinking,” rick Beake are two students Miller said. “If I had to pick who participate in both a one, I would say cheerleadsport and marching band. ing is harder.”

Spending over five hours Giving up that much time every day at both practic- after school is a lot of time es seems to only faze those sacrificed for high school who don’t do it. students. Instead of hang“I don’t get home until ing out with friends or goabout 8:30, nine o’clock on ing shopping, they dedicate some nights,” Miller said. hours upon hours of their “So what keeps me in it is time to something they love. basically just my love for the Knowing how much time two things.” they spend practicing for

PEOPLE TO KNOW

KARINA STEITZ FIELD HOCKEY

BART KRUMPOS SOCCER

JACK BAY CROSS COUNTRY

PHOTO // EMILY HOLMES Sophomore Patrick Beake plays both the trumpet and football, which gives a little insight to what his life is like after school. “It is a lot of work, both physically and mentally,” Beake said. “I have to learn formations for football and marching band and when you throw in fatigue, it becomes very hard.”

games and competitions, both Miller and Beake have said that had they not involved themselves in both marching band and a sport, it would have had a significant impact on their social lives.

“I’ve made so many friends that I wouldn’t have seen myself making,” Miller said. “In middle school, I didn’t really know if I was going to cheer or if I was going to do band, so both of those combined

Fall sport athletes also in the marching band.

RACHEL RICKERT VOLLEYBALL

GRACE LOCKEFEER VOLLEYBALL

JOE SCULUCA CROSS COUNTRY

LEAH FANELLA DANCE

just puts me in an amazing place to meet so many differDID YOU ent people in school.”

KNOW? The social dynamic that is created for these two stuON AVERAGE, dents is an amazing one. STUDENTS ARE Being included in both ac- ASSIGNED UP TO tivities is something that 17.5 HOURS OF is highly recommended by HOMEWORK PER WEEK. the two of them. Keeping in mind that school comes first, THIS MEANS students like these are those THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE who succeed solely because INVESTED IN of their determination and EXTRACURRICwork ethic. TT ULARS, ESPECIALLY MORE THAN ONE, ARE WALKING A FINE LINE BETWEEN SUCCESS AND EXHAUSTION. THIS LEADS TO SIGNIFICANT STRESS IN STUDENT ATHLETES.

ADALIA TATE FIELD HOCKEY

IAN GUGEL SOCCER

SOURCE // U.S NEWS

The “R” Issue

9

Off the fiField

WHAT TO EAT BEFORE A SPORTING EVENT Athletes need energy before a game to perform to their full potential. Eating a meal that contains carbohydrates is beneficial because carbs convert to energy quicker and more efficiently than other nutrients.

A pre-game meal should be eaten about two to three hours before the game or event for maximum success.

Try looking at the glycemic index of foods: this is a measure of how fast a food will cause your blood sugar to rise. It is best to stick with low to moderate glycemic index foods.

Good foods to consume are…

Breads Pastas Proteins Fruits Veggies JILLIAN EVERETT // Print Director

PHOTO // JACOB JOHNSON No matter the sport and no matter the fan section, parents are traditionally at the sides of their athletes. However, being at the side isn’t always as positive as it may sound. For some parents, cheers become taunts and feedback becomes directives. For this type of parent, sitting in the stands is something more than being a spectator—it’s an opportunity to be a coach.

GRANDSTAND QUARTERBACK

Over the top parents oftentimes feel they might be better off playing down on the field.

NICO CHIAPPETTA // Tom Tom Staff

W

e’ve all heard it. That voice barreling from the grandstands. Whether aggressive or shrill, it amplifies off of the metal and pings off of the rails. No, it’s not a coach. No, it’s not an athlete. Well, it could be former coaches and athletes, but the voices aren’t the ones you expect or should hear that clearly. Instead, it’s a parent--one that is possibly looking to make a statement and looking for his/her players and coaches to listen. This parent, one in the bunch, is the outrageous one. This parent is over the top and one that just can’t let go.

According to Coach Brian Glashagel and junior Joseph Karolewicz, one of a coach’s and player’s biggest pet peeves is parents. From screaming at the coaches that they need to “get their head out of their ass” or shouting “bad call, ref,” they are always yelling.

“I can’t really hear parents in the stand all that well, but in the past I’ve heard people yell ‘you’ve got to blitz’ or ‘you’ve got to throw the ball,’ but parents don’t really know what is going on,” Glashagel said.

10 Tom Tom October 2016

Sure, many parents might know what is actually going on, but they don’t know the game plan the coaches want to run, and they don’t have the same mindset as them.

“The most irritating thing that parents do at the game is trying to coach from the stands,” Karolewicz said.

“Our coaches know exactly what they are doing to put the team in the best position to win.”

Karolewicz is an athlete with a dad who is used to coaching his son for years. Of course, he is going to give his best effort to help his son, even though he is not on the sideline during high school games. But, a big problem that parents have a hard time accepting is that they cannot be there to coach their kid anymore. Players are growing up and starting to become more independent.

While parents are trying to coach the team from the stands and run what they think is right, the coaches know what they are doing and do not need extra help. If a parent has a problem with it, they should let a coach know separately. But talking to a coach off

the field has not been the greatest of ideas. It should be the athlete to ask the coach about his playing time, rather than the parent.

In Glashagel’s first season here, a fan approached him during the homecoming parade and started yelling at him over a decision that was not important to the outcome of their season.

“Our team was on the float and we were coming down Main Street, and a guy in front of the Lodge runs up to the float, obviously intoxicated,” Glashagel said. “He started screaming at me about the last game we had and the decisions I made, and a cop had to come in and pull him away. I was feeling pretty attacked. It was one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever seen a parent do.”

One of the bigger problems that coaches face with parents is players and playing time. Parents are going to think their child is the best athlete and deserves to play as much as possible, but the coaches address how playing time and starters work before the camps and season actually start.

“Every year we have the same problem: parents ask about their son and playing time,” Glashagel said.

Although parents may have the best intentions for their children, sometimes they need to step back and leave the coaching to the coach. TT

ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET 1. To treat someone or a group of people like royalty by providing them with lavish hospitality.

PAIGE HOPE // Managing Editor PHOTO // NATASHA REID

F

riday night football games. Being out under the lights, surrounded by friends and teammates. Whether it’s the football player on the field running for the touchdown, or the cheerleader on the sidelines doing stunts and tucks, eyes and attention are constantly on the athletes.

Some of those people sitting in the stands are watching their role models play before them and wishing that one day it will be their faces under the lights and their names being shouted over the speakers.

One of those set of eyes that looks on as the Sequoits win game after game is sixth grader Joey Neumann.

Neumann attends Antioch Upper Grade School and has also been playing football for the Antioch Vikings Youth Football program for four years. Inspired by not only his hometown Sequoits, but also by collegiate and professional players, Neumann decided to take up football through this organization.

Although he is young, Neumann works just as hard as an athlete that is any other age. He spends hours upon hours bettering himself as a player and teammate.

“Including practice and playing, I spend about ten hours with the Antioch Vikings program a week, and four hours a week watching the other Vikings teams,” Neumann said. “A typical practice contains blocking each other, tackling each other, reviewing offensive and defensive plays, conditioning, and about once a week, scrimmaging another Vikings team.”

With all the dedication and hard work that Neumann puts into his football career, it seems as though it is enough to wear an early middle schooler out. However, Neumann already sees the benefits that the Vikings program has on his life, both as an athlete and personally.

“Athletically, I have learned better hand-eye coordination and have gained better strength and agility,” Neumann said. “Non-athletically, the Vikings program has taught me discipline, how to show respect and how to work well with other people, and I was taught that through the coaching staff.”

Neumann has learned at a young age valuable lessons such as respect and the importance of teamwork, as well as getting experience on the field. He knows that these lessons will become even more vital in the future, as it will prepare him for continuing with the Vikings program for the rest of his middle school career, and then one day being a Sequoit football player.

Neumann knows that if he works hard enough, he will be able to be a Sequoit football player one day. One Vikings alumnus that followed this same course of action and is now playing on the Varsity football team is sophomore Zachary Grindley.

Much like Neumann did, as a young child Grindley watched the Sequoit football team on Friday nights, imagining what it must feel like to play in front of his entire town. He decided to turn these dreams into reality when he began his football career with the Antioch Vikings program.

Grindley played for the Vikings for a total of five years, and has already begun to reap the benefits that Neumann has predicted the program will bring him as well. When Grindley came into football as a freshman, Vikings had placed him at an advantage compared to those who had not been involved with the program.

“My freshman year, I was one of the leaders of the team,” Grindley said. “I also had a bit of a head start, as I already knew some of the plays and techniques that [coaches] were teaching.”

Even though Grindley had only been in Vikings for five years, he could see a difference in those that had played Vikings and those who had not.

“We knew the smarts of the game as well as the physical part,” Grindley said. “Those who played Vikings were either one of the leaders or captains of the team, or helped others significantly.”

Not only was the Vikings program a great way for Grindley to get a jump start at freshman tryouts, but it has still given him the upper hand when it comes to skills.

“Playing with the Vikings for a while and having the Vikings coaches teach me how to get better at the game for several years has gotten me a Varsity spot as a sophomore and numerous colleges looking at me for football,” Grindley said. “I believe Vikings causes this because the program builds leadership on and off the field, and also teaches you how you can play to your best potential on the field.”

Grindley attributes much of his success thus far in high school to what he was taught in his younger days in Vikings. Also, while the program was a great way for Grindley to improve as a football player on the field, it also taught him important life lessons that he still finds applicable today when off the field.

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“I learned that you should always respect people, whether they are your coach, teammate, opponent or any person,” Grindley said.

“I also learned that you should take advice from people that know what they are doing, even if you disagree with it; they are just trying to make you better.”

Vikings is a great program for kids to start off in at a young age and grow accustomed to the sport and the traits that are expected of that athlete later on in life. But the Vikings program doesn’t just offer football; the program also includes cheerleading for young kids.

Eighth grader Katie Howe is a cheerleader for Vikings and has been involved for seven years. Although she initially joined the program because her older brother was involved in football through Vikings, Howe quickly learned to love the sport and the people within the program. She dedicates herself to the sport not only during practice, but outside of practice as well, and she wants to improve her own skills in order to excel in high school cheerleading.

“We work really hard every practice to perfect our skills and our competition routine,” Howe said. “Between practices, tumbling, games and competitions, I spend about five or six days a week with my team. Personally, I try to stretch and tumble as often as possible, even on days without practice.”

Spending so much time practicing in a week can be very difficult; however, Howe knows that her determination will pay off in the long run.

“I think cheering for the Vikings will eventually help me cheer in high school because

12 Tom Tom October 2016

of how much the program collaborates with the high school cheerleading program,” Howe said. “We have the opportunity to be coached

by Coach Matt Dawes, who not only helps us as a team, but also helps us as individual athletes, which will later help us try out for the cheer team come tryouts.”

Much like Neumann, Howe learns not only athletic skills through Vikings, but she has also been taught life lessons, like how to work hard to accomplish her goals and the importance of teamwork. Howe thinks of her team as a family, and appreciates the pride and spirit that those involved in Vikings have.

“You could walk around town and see tons of people wearing Vikings wear,” Howe said.

“Even at away games or far away competitions, we all proudly wear our Antioch Vikings clothes for everyone to know who we are.”

This bond that is shared among Vikings players—cheerleaders, football players and parents alike—is one thing that former Vikings cheerleader and current Sequoits cheerleader, sophomore Graci Leineberg appreciated about the program.

“My favorite part of the program was how close knit it was,” Leineberg said. “All of the cheer teams were always very supportive of each other and were always cheering each other on during any type of performance. The program as a whole was very supportive; the football players supported the cheerleaders, just as the cheerleaders supported the football players.”

This family-like program that Leineberg was a part of in Vikings taught her to be a team player, and has helped her throughout

her high school cheerleading experience.

Because she was introduced to new people and grew close with them at a young age, Leineberg’s tryout experience was less nerve-wracking since she had people that she was comfortable with surrounding her.

“I knew most of the freshmen and knew we were all going through the nerves together,” Leineberg said. “I am very thankful to have gone through my first high school tryout experience with people I had cheered with for many years and was very comfortable with.”

For Leineberg, the Vikings program not only put her at an advantage in terms of skills, but it also introduced her to new people that she was able to maintain and continue to build relationships with.

Beginning at the young age of five, children are able to join the Antioch Vikings Youth Football and Cheerleading program, and participate up until the age of 14. This program is a way for young athletes to get involved and improve their football or cheerleading skills. It also teaches kids discipline and respect, as they learn to be a team player and follow instructions given by coaches.

As both Grindley and Leineberg can attest to, the Vikings program puts athletes at an advantage when it comes time for high school sports tryouts. It properly trains and prepares kids for what they will experience during their four years of high school. Vikings is constantly producing more and more successful athletes that filter into Antioch Community High School. As these Vikings progress through the feeder program, aspiring to become Sequoits, all that is left for us to do is roll out the red carpet. TT

READ THE FINE PRINT 1. Closely examine the details of a deal or contract to make sure you understand them.

REBEKAH CARTLIDGE // Digital Director PHOTO // NATASHA REID

T

he “Code of Conduct” is the document that every athlete in the school needs to sign, no matter their grade level or level of competition. There is no greater feeling of defeat than asking for a clearance card and realizing you and your parent have yet to sign the “Code of Conduct.” Naturally, the athlete will rip the back page from the stapled papers and hand it off to their parent or guardian for them to sign without ever reading the attached packet. Most may think they are signing a waiver to secure safety for their child, while giving them permission to compete in their sport, which is a primary concern of the article; however, there is a lot more to the document that the student body and their families may not realize.

There are 13 main points expressed in the “Code of Conduct,” starting with curfew and ending with concussion information. A much wider range of guidelines is in the document that everyone may not realize; it’s the no-brainers like school rules and eligibility requirements, but also a couple topics that may seem strange, like rules on hazing and lines of communication. There is so much packed into the “Code of Conduct” that may seem unimportant, but all have the common

goal of protecting the students.

The nine-page document is packed with information that not too many athletes are aware of at first glance. Senior Marshall King had an idea of what is included in the “Code of Conduct,” but was not too sure of exactly what was in the information without reading more closely.

“I think it has something to do with being able to search students,” King said. “And by signing it, I give full consent to whatever they say they want to do.”

King admitted to never reading the “Code of Conduct,” just like many other athletes admit to as well. The document doesn’t so much focus on being able to search the students; however, random drug tests are allowed to occur whenever the school chooses to participate. That means once a student signs the “Code of Conduct,” it now opens them to being chosen for a random drug test, which they are not allowed to deny.

“Athletics and parking on campus are a privilege and not a right,” SAP Coordinator and paraprofessional Emily Sobczak wrote in an email. “We as a district can require different things of students to do if it is something that goes beyond the scope of the 8-hour ed-

ucational day. Having drug testing in district for the last 10-ish years has been a way to show that we hold our athletes and school representatives to higher standards than just a ‘pay-to-play’; we do it because we care. It is also a great excuse for student-athletes to turn down any temptations or peer pressures that may be presented to them because they can say, ‘sorry, I can’t; I get drug tested at school.’”

A signed copy of the “Code of Conduct” lasts quite a long time. It expires a year from the start of the sporting season in which the athlete last played, which is another caveat some athletes may not realize or choose to disregard—especially in the months school is not in session.

While the majority of the document addresses the consequences of drugs and alcohol, there is a lot more information to know from reading it thoroughly and critically.

Eligibility is another main focus; in Community High School District 117, coaches tell their athletes, “you are a student-athlete,” emphasizing the word student coming before athlete. Academics are the reason an athlete is in school, and sports are considered a luxury, so athletes must do well in school before they do well in a sport. Students must maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPA and be passing at least five classes; if an athlete drops below that, the student will be put on academic probation for three weeks, constantly working with the coach, parents and staff to help raise their GPA. “I think the ‘Code of Conduct’ explains The “R” Issue

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what is expected of you being a Sequoit athlete, and what criteria you need to meet in order to be eligible to play a sport,” junior Katherine Sorensen said.

Just like King, Sorensen has not read the “Code of Conduct” either, but she had a good idea of what is packed into the nine pages.

The word “eligible” means so much when it comes to the “Code of Conduct” because one wrong move can have someone sitting on the bench unexpectedly; whether that be from substance abuse or bad grades, being an athlete is a privilege that should not be taken advantage of. It takes a very talented and determined person to be able to play sports and do well in school. Senior Nathan Nuengchana recognizes this and also realizes what it takes to be a student athlete.

14 Tom Tom October 2016

“I agree on the guidelines and grade expectations and what someone can and cannot do,” Nuengchana said. “Those are good guidelines that aren’t too extreme and it keeps order.”

Both Sorensen and Nuengchana realize the expectations of grades, and agree that, as a Sequoit athlete, grades need to come first.

Something that is not heard of much is hazing, and this is something taken very seriously in the “Code of Conduct,” as the consequences of those actions are straightforward.

The “Code of Conduct” explains hazing as, “any act whether physical, mental, emotional or psychological which subject a student who is joining or affiliating with a student organization to any situation or expectation that may potentially abuse, mistreat, degrade, hu-

miliate, harass, harm, intimidate a student, denigrate either an individual or another group or compromise a student’s inherent dignity as a person.” These actions are by no means accepted at ACHS or District 117 as a whole. Hazing may be seen as a joke in the movies, but in this district it is prohibited and could lead to suspension or even criminal prosecution.

The last two pages of the “Code of Conduct” are about concussions and how seriously they should be taken. A giant list of symptoms and signs is listed at the bottom of the page to ensure an athlete’s safety. A concussion is one of the most serious injuries, as it can cause long term damage both from a student perspective and an athlete perspective.

This was added to the “Code of Conduct” to provide precaution and safety for the athlete.

The “Code of Conduct” is not something to be taken lightly; with all the information it contains, it may be worth taking the 15 minutes to read through it. It has a lot of hidden information that not every athlete may realize. Something as simple as missing gym class may be the reason you’re sitting on the bench during a game that day. Athletes have to be able to hold the highest of standards, and it’s pretty safe to say they live up to them quite well. TT

THE BIG, THE SMALL AND THE TOWERING

Perspective

THE LITTLE ENGINES THAT COULD “Size matters,” “go big or go home” and “bigger is better” are all sayings associated with the advantage of size, which holds especially true in athletics.

But change is in the air: the “smaller” athletes are dominating, and even changing, the game with their crazy athletic ability and undying love for the game.

We always hear about these athletes playing with a chip on their shoulder; to us smaller athletes, it seems like the the smaller the athlete, the bigger the chip. Athletes that do not have the size advantage must fight, scratch and claw their way to the top, hoping to be successful.

PHOTO // NATASHA REID

No matter the sport, disadvantage or advantage, size always matters.

LOGAN WEBER // Tom Tom Staff

R

eaching something off of the top shelf or being able to see over a crowd are both situations in which having a height advantage would be beneficial. In sports, size seems to be even more of an advantage than in daily life.

Height and weight are magnified even more when it comes to sports. Certain sports, like volleyball, traditionally require height to be successful. Senior Alexa Spokas recognizes this as an essential piece to the game.

“Size is necessary to play volleyball because it helps you in being able to reach over the net easier, whether it’s to block or hit,” Spokas said.

In many sports, whether it be basketball or volleyball, being tall can be very beneficial. However, in other sports, like football, weighing more

than the opponent can give the athlete the upper hand in the game. Junior Jared Strohman recognizes these necessities, but he also realizes that someone cannot be too big on the field.

“It could be beneficial, but you need to also have [agility],” Strohman said. “You can be as big as you want, but in the situation I’m in, I have to have quickness of the ball. There is a fine line on the football field between how big someone can be and whether or not they excel at their position.”

To some, size has no impact on how well they perform. Junior Cameron Norris believes in the idea that it is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.

“Size doesn’t matter if someone who is smaller than you is

a lot stronger than you,” Norris said. “Just because you are bigger than someone else does not mean you are as strong as them.”

Some sports do not require size, and it could be unusual to be taller or bigger than everyone else. In a sport like field hockey, it could be detrimental to be a taller person. One of these athletes is sophomore Carrie Miller.

“When you’re shorter, it is a lot easier to keep form in a game without having to think about it,” Miller said. “My back usually hurts at the beginning of the season, but then I get used to it when we start playing more games. There’s not really much to do to prevent it.”

Being tall is not everything.

Someone can be shorter or smaller than others, and still succeed in sports. Although this is true, those extra few inches or pounds can be the difference in whether the athlete will succeed or fail. TT

We say embrace this change. The smaller athlete is good for competitive sports across the United States. We are starting to see the 5-foot-8-inch high school basketball player go on to to play NCAA Divison I basketball, or even the shortest girl on the collegiate volleyball team who plays front row and dominates the net.

This gives hope to athletes everywhere that their size will not impact their athletic glass ceiling. For example, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has overcome the height barrier in the NFL and found immediate success after being selected to the Pro-Bowl and also leading the Seahawks to a road playoff win as a rookie and even a Super Bowl championship in only his third season.

It is athletes like Wilson who are paving the way for the future generation of athletics. Increased speed and attention to size are leading to harder hits, diving catches and even plays where outrunning the ball hit directly to the shortstop are not out of question.

On all levels of athletics, the smaller athlete will help improve the game by encouraging all athletes of any size to follow their dreams and work for success. People want to see the “little guy” win; they root for the underdog and love the comeback story. It will not be long before the “little guy” is the favorite.

Getting rid of the stigma in athletics that bigger is always better might just end up being the greatest thing to happen in the world of sports.

MICHAEL KAWELL // Tom Tom Staff

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Rank

On the fiField

HOW THEY

PHOTO // TAYLOR FELTNER

THE TOM TOM BREAKS DOWN THE TOP SIBLING PAIRINGS IN SEQUOIT SPORTS.

4

1

JACK AND MARC GILLESPIE

JADEN AND JACKSON DEVAUGHN FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL

FOOTBALL

5

2

JERIANNE AND STEPHANIE BONAGUIDI

PIPER AND JILLIAN FOOTE SOFTBALL

SOFTBALL

6

3

GAVIN AND REECE ELDRIDGE

ANNA AND ASHLEY HRADISKY

BASKETBALL

FIELD HOCKEY

WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE Siblings not only deal with one another at home, but also in their sport.

BRANDEN GALLIMORE // Tom Tom Staff

S

iblings at times can be the best of friends or the worst of enemies. They can be the person to go to for anything, or the person to fight with over everything.

But for the Filippone brothers, it is much more than just a friendship. Sophomore Dan Filippone and alumnus Nick Filippone are siblings off the court and teammates on the court. Friends can get to know each other well, but there is nothing like siblings knowing each other and one another’s play. Having a sibling can mean being with them night and day, automatically becoming best friends. Being separated by four years did not change a thing for the Filippone brothers. On or off the court, the Filippone brothers just click.

16 Tom Tom October 2016

About halfway through the basketball season last year, Dan was pulled up to the Varsity basketball team as a freshman. Realizing he would be playing next to his older brother Nick, a senior at the time, Dan was excited.

“I was nervous at first,” Dan said. “Having my brother on the same team made the transition up to Varsity a lot easier.”

Last season for the Sequoits, the Filippone brothers took part in an IHSA Regional Championship victory, Antioch’s first since 1996.

“It was a great way to end my basketball career,” Nick said. “It was even better having my brother there with me.”

But before all the fame, the Filippone brothers had to adapt to playing with each other.

“It was a little different at first,” Dan said.

“But we’ve always trained together and it made everything a lot easier.”

Dan and Nick got to develop together at an early age by playing against each other, which eventually paid off on the court.

A lot of the time, siblings argue and fight over many things like who is their mother’s

favorite or who gets the bathroom first. This was no different from the Filippone brothers on the court.

“We’ve always been super competitive,” Nick said. “When Dan started getting more minutes than me, it definitely made me upset, but he deserved it and I was very proud of him.”

People can always catch a Filippone brother with a ball in their hands. People can also catch them shooting hoops or working out in the weight room.

“Nick always works his hardest no matter what he is doing,” Dan said. “He’s taught me to always give it my all, and that’s the reason that he’s my role model.”

Whether it’s hanging out at home or playing on the court together in a regional championship game, the Filippone brothers are best friends; playing on the court together only brought them closer as brothers. They have always pushed each other to be the best that they can be and would not be where they are today without being by each other’s sides and pushing one another to be their best. TT

EYEING UP THE ENEMY According to members of each fall sports team, below are the biggest rivals and the schools that the teams don’t enjoy playing.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Biggest rival: Lakes Least fun to play: North Chicago PHOTO // NATASHA REID Sophomore Sebastian Scofield gives every practice 100 percent effort in order to get varsity playing time. In this photo, Scofield is seen at practice, focusing on his goal to see the field and more playing time during the regional tournament, which the Sequoits ended up losing in the opening round to new conference member Grayslake North. “The one thing that keeps me pushing myself is knowing that there is always a better version of myself that I have not reached yet,” Scofield said.

SEEKING OUT A FIELD OF DREAMS Athletes don’t get playing time with ease. Athletes work for it.

PETER BOEH // Tom Tom Staff

P

eople think that Varsity playing time is easy to get, but it really is not. Varsity athletes have to work hard to get where they are, and it is oftentimes difficult to get on the team and especially to play in the games.

“Everyone is going for that same goal at tryouts, and that goal has a limited number of spots available,” sophomore Sebastian Scofield said.

Athletes want to be the star of the show, they want the starting Varsity spot and they want to have playing time. Athletes want to prove that they deserve everything the coach gives them, and one way that they do that is hard work.

Athletes who are working hard and going the extra mile for the coach, and especially for the team, will prove that they deserve that spot. Working hard shouldn’t come from the coach. If the athlete truly loves the sport, they will have that determination, that drive, that passion to work hard and do more

than anybody else.

“The thing that drives me to work hard at practice every day is the fact that I always want to improve,” junior Brianna Vettese said.

“I know that if I am always working hard, I am also always bettering myself. A quote I live by is ‘hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard,’ and I live by this quote because I know that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to if I am always working hard and giving it my full effort.”

Varsity playing time is not equal; it isn’t a guarantee that every kid will play in every single game. That is why working hard is so important for athletes. Working hard in practice is what separates the athletes that play from the ones that sit the bench. Practice isn’t enough to get playing time; athletes work on their own, which gives them the chance to play.

“I practice more and work on things that I might not get the chance to in practice or things I personally need extra work on,” Vettese said.

Playing on Varsity is a privilege that most kids will not get. Working hard on and off the field will only benefit the athlete. Hard work matters to the athlete and the coach

because it shows the coach what the athlete can do, and it helps the athlete in the long run.

“The harder you work or push yourself, the more you will improve,” Scofield said.

Just because an athlete isn’t naturally talented doesn’t mean they can’t get on the field— that is where hard work comes in. Students who work their butts off in practice will most likely see the field. Hard work gets kids to the next level; it’s not always talent that wins.

Hard work spreads throughout the whole team. Once one athlete starts working harder than anyone else, everyone else tries to catch up with that person. Athletes are always competitive no matter if it’s conditioning, a drill or in a game.

Teammates push one another to get better and work even harder.

“I believe hard work makes teammates work harder with each other,” Scofield said. “Teammates are always there for each other and want one another to push each other harder and once that happens the whole team is working harder.”

Varsity playing time is given to athletes by their hard work and dedication to the sport. Athletes want to earn every minute they can get on the field. TT

CROSS COUNTRY Biggest rival: Grayslake North Least fun to play: Grayslake Central BOYS SOCCER Biggest rival: Lakes Least fun to play: Richmond FIELD HOCKEY Biggest rival: Lakes Least fun to play: New Trier FOOTBALL Biggest rival: Lakes Least fun to play: Round Lake BOYS GOLF Biggest rival: Grant Least fun to play: Wauconda GIRLS GOLF Biggest rival: Lakes Least fun to play: Grant GIRLS TENNIS Biggest rival: Lakes Least fun to play: Lake Forest JILLIAN EVERETT // Print Director

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TomTomTries:

FIELD HOCKEY

See what happens when three football players decided putting on goggles and grabbing a stick was a good idea.

PHOTO // REBEKAH CARTLIDGE NICO CHIAPPETTA // Tom Tom Staff

W

hen most people think of field hockey, they would assume that you just hit a ball and then chase it across the field. Field hockey is actually way more difficult than it is made out to be. The girls are ten times more aggressive than you would ever expect that they would be. Sometimes I would catch a few elbows here and there, and at times receive some surprise hits to the chest.

Trying to control the ball with the field hockey stick is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Since one major rule of the game is that you have to control the ball with the smooth side of the stick, and not the round part, you have to sometimes turn the stick in multiple directions to dribble the ball down the field without losing control. Also, if you hit the ball too far, it will most likely get stolen because all the girls are quick to move to the ball.

Another one of the more difficult parts of playing field hockey is passing the ball. Since all the girls are fast and aggressive, you have to pass it quickly and accurately. During practice, one of the worst decisions I made was passing it

18 Tom Tom October 2016

WANT TO WATCH? The boys spent two hours at field hockey practice this month. If you would like to see how well they did, or at least watch them try their best, head over to sequoitmedia.com, click on this story and watch the video by senior digital director Rebekah Cartlidge.

Don’t want to go through all of that clicking? Scan the QR code below to go right there.

across the field diagonally. As soon as I released the ball, two girls came across the field and swept the ball away. The rest of my team told me that is the worst thing I could have done, and that I need to pass it vertically or horizontally, but only if a teammate is nearby.

My favorite part of playing field hockey was playing defense because, like in football, I can charge the offensive player and try to take the ball away from them before they score. Although I was not allowed to actually tackle the girls like I usually do in football, I still had a great time.

MATTHEW ROWE // Tom Tom Staff

When I first got to the field, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know how the game was played or how the rules were applied. The field hockey team gave me a stick and a pair of goggles. We started off practice as any practice should: warming up and stretching. After, we started to pass around the field hockey ball and I had a very tough time trying to stop the ball on my stick and get it in front of me. There was a rule that made it more complicated for me to stop the ball: you only could use the right side of the stick. I was very confused why, but that is how the game is played. On top of that, the girls taught me that there are many ways to pass the ball, depending on where you are located on the field.

I play football for the school, and football is a very aggressive sport. I didn’t think there would be much contact in field hockey, but I was very wrong. The team was very

aggressive with how they played, which was a good thing. At points in practice when I was playing defense, I would run up to steal the ball from an offensive player, but then got scared because they would hit the ball so hard; it actually made me jump out of the way a few times.

Field hockey was an exhilarating experience for me. I learned a lot of new things about the sport. I still don’t think I got any better, but I learned how to play. I would have to say my favorite thing about playing field hockey was playing offense because I liked the way the girls and I went down the field— moving quickly, passing to each other and trying to get the ball in the goal.

DAE’SHAWN HAWKINS // Tom Tom Staff

Field hockey has always been something that has caught my eye because of how aggressive the girls play, but I never knew how difficult of a sport it really is. Many times I would see girls running towards me like they were a lineman trying to knock me on my tail or with their sticks swinging in the air like they were going to break my legs. It was a rough day and a completely new experience. I would even say I was manhandled out there.

When I first arrived at the field, I thought it would be a walk in the park, but I was very

wrong. We started off with the basics, which I was already struggling with, and it definitely didn’t help that my field hockey skills were horrendous. There was a specific pass that you are supposed to hit with a lot of force; however, I was unsuccessful with that and just ended up embarrassing myself by missing the ball every swing.

It was time to see what we had. Nico, Matt and I were able to see what it’s like to play both offense and defense. I for sure wasn’t a fan of offense. I had to get used to passing and stopping the ball with the correct side of the stick.

I then had to deal with someone running at me and stopping me in my place, eventually being swarmed by other girls. This may sound like a great time, but not when they’re trying to take a ball away from you at full force.

Defense was my favorite part of field hockey because that wasn’t too different from playing defense on the football team. Finding the person with the ball and containing your area was the message for defense, and if you did your job right, no one would score. Overall, I speak for the boys when I say that it was a fun experience and a great way to stay active. We are thankful that we were given the opportunity to practice with the field hockey team. TT

The “R” Issue

19

On the fiField

WALKING AWAY AND COMING BACK AGAIN

PHOTO // STEFFANIE RICHARDSON Senior Ashley Mosquera is one of the few athletes at ACHS who quit and returned to a sport. For her, it was this experience, cheering on the football field, that she missed most. “It kind of felt weird to be sitting in the stands at the assemblies instead of performing,” Mosquera said. “When I saw the performance, it made me feel a little disappointed in myself.”

Student athletes quitting a sport or club and later regret it, seek out an opportunity for athletic redemption.

JOHN HOWE // Tom Tom Staff

S

tudent athletes oftentimes complain about how much they do not enjoy their sport or activity and consider quitting, but acting on these thoughts doesn’t always pay off in the end.

For some students, quitting is just that: walking away and never returning. For others, quitting is only a temporary fix to whatever the issue may have been, ultimately realizing they miss certain opportunities provided by school athletics or activities.

Whether he was missing teammates, needing to continue in an activity for credits or just to keeping active and busy, every athlete has a different story about coming back.

Senior Ashley Mosquera oftentimes felt distressed while at cheer practice and was unable to enjoy her time.

“Some things made me frustrated that I didn’t know if I could do another year,” Mosquera said.

After practicing with a different team, she did not feel at home there. She was missing spending time and competing with her

20 Tom Tom October 2016

friends. Upon her return, Mosquera felt welcomed for the most part; however, she felt left out of a number of the close-knit groups.

To this day, she still feels left out on certain topics, but is able to overcome those thoughts now that they have become better friends.

Senior Madison Pierce felt a similar way during her freshman year of field hockey.

She felt that the drama from the team was unnecessary stress and she wanted a change.

During her year off, Pierce felt bored and there was something missing in her life.

“I noticed how much field hockey and being a part of a close-knit team affected my life,” Pierce said.

The following year, Pierce rejoined the team in an attempt to fill the void.

At the beginning of her junior year, senior Mallory Andre was feeling the pressure of balancing school, volleyball and band. This is what led her to quit marching band and focus on academics; however, it was not that easy for the striving musician.

“In order to be in the top wind ensemble at

our school, you have to do marching band,” Andre said.

Thus, Andre decided to rejoin for the following year in order to remain in the top band.

Head cheerleading coach Matt Dawes believes that every student athlete has something different going on and deserves a second chance.

“Every situation is different; athletes may not actually be acting selfish although it may seem like it,” Dawes said.

Dawes also holds a strong belief in not treating these athletes differently, and tries the best he can to keep his other athletes true to this as well. His fear is that other students on the team will view a teammate quitting as them being selfish and only thinking of themselves, not the team as a whole. As a coach, Dawes is constantly attempting to seek out the best in every individual, which is why he strongly believes that second chances are necessary to build a redeemed athlete.

At the end of the day, both coaches and student athletes need to understand that everyone comes from a different background and has their own issues they are dealing with in a variety of ways. When quitting an activity or sport, there may be more factors coming into play than those that meet the eye. High school students make impulsive actions, may seem stressed in that moment, and may even regret those decisions in the next. Everyone deserves a second chance, especially in something they love. TT

PHOTO // STEFFANIE RICHARDSON

ROTTEN TO THE CORE 1. A person who is very bad. 2. A person with no good qualities.

BENJAMIN GUTKE // Department Editor ALEXANDER RUANO // Senior Edior

W

hen going into an anticipated game, there is always one player who is on the watch list. Referees, umpires and officials attempt to take these players out of the game, but as soon as they look back, the player breaking the rules is miraculously the most innocent person on the field, or ice in this circumstance.

The National Hockey League (NHL) dealt a total of 39 suspensions for 176 total games.

They also delivered 26 fines for a total of $2,747,105.27—a dent in any professional hockey player’s salary. Throughout those 39 suspensions, one player in particular stood out: Milan Lucic.

Lucic, a member of the Edmonton Oilers, first decided he was being treated unfairly by Arizona’s Kevin Connauton in their match up on January 24, so, in retaliation, Lucic abruptly skated over to the Arizona defensive man and delivered a nasty sucker punch to Con-

nauton. Lucic was sent to the penalty box and given a minor penalty for roughing and game misconduct. This did not stop at the game.

After the game and after Lucic had a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety, he was sentenced to a one game suspension.

While noting the way Lucic plays, former Lakers hockey team member senior Jack Klem felt passionately about the play.

“It’s part of the game; if it’s a ridiculous hit where someone gets really injured then that’s too far,” Klem said. “But I believe that big hits are meant to be in hockey. If someone gets hurt then it is just part of the game, there is no complaining.”

Dirty play may be a part of the NHL, but, with all the suspensions and fines, they are clearly attempting to remove that kind of play.

“I think it’s awesome the way Milan Lucic plays the majority of the time,” Klem said. “It is aggressive and I like that. His play where he punched that guy was just uncalled for, and he needed to be suspended for that. I was even surprised when he was only given one game.”

These actions are seen negatively because hockey is one of the only sports where fighting is still acceptable, with a minor penalty for fighting.

“Teammates know about rivalries like that and it adds to the fun,” Klem said. “It was when he punched that guy that it got out of hand. People who sucker punch other people and they don’t have the ability to fight back are just cowards. Those guys don’t have a place in hockey.”

Although dirty play takes place in the NHL, the majority of the play is very safe considering the experience that every player has.

“Everyone has good awareness,” Klem said.

“If a kid is playing dirty, we share to everyone on the bench to watch out for that kid. Playing as a team is so important in hockey and we all have to watch out of each other.”

The National Hockey League deals out suspensions to handle athlete misbehavior and misconduct, but targeting other athletes and playing dirty may not be the only way one can be a bad teammate. Being rotten to the core does not require a suspension or something even addressed among the team. According to senior Alexa Castino, being a bad teammate has more than one meaning, especially in cheerleading.

“Cheerleading is very much a team sport, and has a high demand of teamwork,” Castino said. “Especially in the sense that we have to trust each other with our lives because the sport can be so dangerous. A bad teammate The “R” Issue

21

On the fiField

ILLUSTRATION // JESSICA LAMBERTY

would be someone who others feel they could not trust to hold them in the air, assist them with a flip or simply not having their back.”

Being thrown in the air multiple times in one routine requires some trust on both the flyer’s end, as well as the base’s.

“Additionally, cheerleading revolves heavily around mental strength and positive attitudes,” Castino said. “If a team member is negative in anyway, it can bring the whole team down and inhibit the team’s ability for success.”

Being a good teammate is so much more than a successful performance on the field, court or mat. It is about supporting one another on the team as if they were family.

“Overall, a good team member must be

22 Tom Tom October 2016

positive, caring of others and put everything else aside when they come to practice or when they come to perform in order for the team to see its best results,” Castino said.

Rivalries are good in any sport, even though they can get out of hand easily. Sportsmanship between teams is a good way to maintain the clean play throughout the whole game. When sportsmanship is lost, games will get out of hand. Players that compete like Lucic benefit from the lack of sportsmanship and see it as an opening to play dirty. Sportsmanship plays a key role in keeping a civil environment during competition.

“Cheerleading becomes more competitive each year and with that comes more intense rivalries,” Castino said. “It is important to

show good sportsmanship whether we are cheering at a football or basketball game, as well as if we are cheering at a competition.

One way our team shows sportsmanship is by going out of our way to tell other teams good luck before a performance.”

Every sporting event will have competition, and a key to not allowing that competition to get out of hand is to consistently show good sportsmanship. That sportsmanship will enrich the game and will have a positive impact on every aspect of it. Even though the majority of athletes treat others with respect, always be on the lookout for those athletes that are rotten to the core. TT

TITLE IX HELPING GIRLS SHINE Men and women should be treated equally in the sports world—Title IX ensures that.

MONICA WILHELM// Tom Tom Staff

U

p until a few decades ago, opportunities for women were far more limited—not because they were incapable of being an athlete, but because they just didn’t have the chance to be an athlete.

Title IX was enacted in 1972 and it changed the world of sports forever. Title IX prohibits federally funded education systems from discriminating against athletes based on sex. and it gave women the same opportunities as men: to competitively play the sport that they love.

In terms of field space, equipment, game numbers and coaches, high school and college athletic programs have justified Title IX in both their women’s and men’s athletics.

However, the interpretation of the law could be taken into account differently.

“When I was on an official visit at Michigan State University, the men’s lacrosse team found out that their program was being cut,” head Varsity soccer coach and PE teacher Marni Polakow said. “The rationale behind cutting them was that the numbers were off for male and female sports and the school did not have the money to add another girl’s program. The answer, according to school officials, was to cut a men’s program. I do not believe that this law was created to take away programs from people.

When I see teams being affected in this way, whether male or female, I do not like the law.”

Participating in sports not only encourages physical activity, strengthens mental toughness and instructs kids on the importance of teamwork, but it also teaches what it means to truly have a passion for something. Logistically speaking, sports present a few challenges involving the skill level, motivation and comfort of co-ed teams.

ILLUSTRATION // KAT ZAMUDIO

“I think both genders should be able to train and practice together, but I do not believe they should play on the same teams in competition,” Polakow said. “When it comes to athleticism, body type and size, teenage boys tend to be larger, stronger and faster than their female counterparts. I am not saying that a female couldn’t handle playing with the males, but it would be a significant advantage for a girl’s team to have a male player.”

Although Title IX is prominent in many high schools around the country today, there is a shift in equality among women’s and men’s sports in the professional world. The Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) has been a profound example of the development in women’s soccer today. This team has been ranked as number one in the world, having won three Women’s World Cup titles, four Olympic women’s gold medals, seven CONCACAF Gold Cup wins and ten Algarve Cups. Despite

“

In the professional world, there is not equalit y among women and men’s athletics.

this success, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has a salary of just $37,800 per player. Comparatively, that’s not even an eighth of the average salary of men’s Major League Soccer, which is around $300,000.

Each team in the NWSL has a salary cap of $265,000, compared to the men’s salary cap of over three million. The USWNT has spent the year after their record-breaking World Cup win celebrating in a notable way. “Equal play, equal pay” has been a fight for the equality of salaries among women’s and men’s professional sports.

“In the professional world, there is not equality among women’s and men’s athletics,” Polakow said. “For example, the US Women’s National Soccer Team has won more trophies, games and tournaments than the male team, yet the men earn significantly more in salary and bonuses.”

Despite the inequality among professional athletes, without Title IX, women would never see the field, court, gym or track to begin with. Without Title IX, we would see a change in the roles that women play in society. Without Title IX, the Mia Hamms, Ronda Rouseys and Serena Williamses of the world would never achieve their full potential. Without Title IX, their dreams would remain just a figment of their own imaginations. T The “R” Issue

23

“

Beyond the fiField

THE ROOKIES RUNNING THE SHOW

PHOTO // EMILY HOLMES

CHARLIE SMITH

ners are older than they are. But Smith wants what is best for the team and says that him being fast is what will motivate his teammates to push themselves and run faster, hopefully getting them to state, which is his ultimate goal for high school cross country.

“My main goal is to place top three at state throughout my four years, at least once, and go to state at least twice,” Smith said.

Setting high expectations and goals is a defining aspect in being successful in anything a person does. Smith is a great example of this.

He takes pride in his work ethic and his goals. That is one of the key components in his success in cross country.

Another way Smith makes sure he can be at the top of his game is off-season training. Smith participates in many other sports and activities to also help him dominate in cross country.

“During the off-season, I’m usually in another sport, but the summer is my biggest training period [for cross country],” Smith said.

Smith staying active throughout the whole year is another reason why he is one of the best at what he does. Some athletes believe that quitting other sports or clubs to try and train will make them better at the one sport that they are looking to prosper in, but that is not how Smith sees it. He believes that devoting himself to as many activities as possible is what makes him such a tremendous athlete. He still has the dedication, tenacity and willpower to use up that free time to train for cross country along with other sports. Smith is an exceptional student-athlete who uses his ambition to his advantage to allow him to be the astonishing athlete he is.

JARED DEBOER // Tom Tom Staff

F

reshman Charlie Smith is a humble, hardworking and incredibly talented athlete. He is only a freshman, but is leading Antioch's Varsity cross country team in three mile times. Upon joining, he was confident in his stamina because he was a swimmer before he decided to join cross country. He had no clue he would be faster than all of the older athletes.

“I knew I would be up there, but I had no idea I’d be faster than them,” Smith said.

Staying humble while being a freshman that is faster than the upperclassmen is easier said than done. Smith makes sure that the spotlight is on the team and its leaders, rather than himself. When he was asked what the biggest factors were that affected his running time, he immediately mentioned senior Patrick Schoenfelder.

“Pump up, group talks and motivation,” Smith said. “Pat Schoenfelder: he’s the leader of all of that.”

While Smith may have the fastest time on the team, he still has older kids to look up to and help motivate him. But that does not stop him from working to help others. Smith has the integrity to not only try to make himself a better athlete, but also to try to make sure his teammates are still progressing and bettering themselves as athletes and as individuals. He enjoys helping the team in any way possible by pushing them to go as hard as possible all the time.

“I definitely try to push them, and I know they probably don’t like to see a freshman in front of them,” Smith said. “I think it’s motivating them to go faster.”

Some athletes may get overconfident when other runners have a hard time keeping up with them, especially when the opposing run-

24 Tom Tom October 2016

PHOTO // KAT ZAMUDIO

SARAH SMITH ASHLEY STEPHENS // Tom Tom Staff

Freshman Sarah Smith never expected to be on the field with a stick in her hand; she always played a sport with a ball using her feet. Smith is a rookie to the sport of field hockey and is already on Varsity. While she may not have had any experience with the game, she plays sports very similar to it: floor hockey and soccer. Both of those sports helped her to be a better field hockey player. Despite her never playing before,

Smith’s athleticism and determination led to her becoming a starter on Varsity, which is a huge accomplishment for any freshman athlete.

“My older sister mentioned that she regretted not playing field hockey in high school, so over the summer I went to the school’s camp,” Smith said. “I have played soccer and floor hockey for a long time, so I thought a mix of those two sports would be very fun.”

Adapting to a new sport and team can be a difficult thing for many people, except for Smith. Coming into field hockey she already had the experience of playing with older girls in other sports and already had the athleticism to adapt to this new sport. There are some challenges she has faced at the Varsity level, one being her size. Playing against girls twice her size can be intimidating, and although size does not give any advantages in field hockey, being strong and big helps to be physical and dominant on the field.

“I’m not very similiar to most of the girls on the team,” Smith said.

“I am a lot smaller, younger and inexperienced, yet I still get along and play well with all of the girls.”

Smith has tough practices of varying difficulty every day. Usually the team starts off with a warm up, dribbling, a variety of passing drills and stretching. There are times that the girls run long distances and take laps around all the McMillen fields and the paths. Some practices the team does shooting and passing drills, as well as corners for the whole time. Smith works hard at practice to become better, especially because she has never played the sport. Her main goal is to improve her skills and strength to become successful in games in order to help her teammates win.

“Sarah is very hard working and one of the strongest freshmen on Varsity and always gives it her all,” teammate senior Gretchen Wagner said.

Smith has a bright future ahead of her, whether it is in field hockey or soccer. She has not yet decided which sport she would like to play in college. Soccer has always been her favorite sport, but field hockey has left a positive impression on her. Smith is going to continue to have fun with her teammates and play field hockey throughout high school.

“Sarah is a strong athlete that has potential to be a standout in field hockey in the state of Illinois,” said head Varsity field hockey coach Terry Dewing.

Smith proves her abilities to her team, coach and herself, despite facing a lot of challenges being a rookie at the sport and a freshman starter on Varsity. The level is very difficult for her at times, and there have been ups and downs this season. She looks forward to learning and improving her skills as a dedicated player. The field hockey season gave her a great support system, new friendships and great memories.

“I have learned ways of teamwork, hard work and dedication from the sport,” Smith said. “I love my team and we all take care of each other like sisters.”

CENIE FRIESON

ANNIE WAGNER // Tom Tom Staff

Typically, when a freshman gets pulled up to a junior varsity team, nobody gives it a second thought; it’s not Varsity, right? That’s not the case for freshman Cenie Frieson. Being a freshman on the JV team is a big deal to Frieson because it’s rare for underclassman to be pulled up in the volleyball program.

“I feel honored, and very happy that they saw potential in me to be able to play at a higher level,” Frieson said. “My sister started playing before me, so I was always in the gym for her practices so I just started playing.”

After eight years of playing and a supportive family influencing the start of her career, Frieson has a lot of people to give credit to for her successes; however, one in particular stands out most.

PHOTO // KAYLEE SCHREINER

“My dad is my biggest supporter because he’s always signing me up for different camps, and always pushes me every game and practice to be the best that I can be,” Frieson said.

Being the youngest on any team always has its highs and lows, but for Frieson the ups definitely outweigh the downs, especially in regard to her teammates.

“It was different because being a freshman having to go with juniors and seniors is different, but they were all really nice and accepting and helped me through all of the drills and everything,” Frieson said. “They made it really easy to adjust.”

The same can be said of Frieson by the one she looks up to most: senior Jackalyn Geraty.

“She’s really fun to be around and a person you can always depend on to be on their A-game,” Geraty said. “If you were to watch her on the court, you would never guess she’s a freshman by the way she plays.”

Just like any other student athlete, it’s important to find a balance between sports and academics. So far, Frieson seems to have it worked out.

“Any chance I get, I try to get as much school work done [as possible],” Frieson said. “Volleyball is right after school and it goes pretty late, so I don’t have time to do it. Whenever I have a free time during school I’ll hurry up and get as much stuff done as I can. It also helps that we have study tables before volleyball games, which helps create a good balance between the two.”

Outside of the school team, Frieson plays for the Wisconsin Juniors Volleyball team. She devotes most of her free time to the sport.

“Volleyball takes up too much time, I don’t really have time for anything else,” Frieson said. “Without volleyball I wouldn’t have the friends that I have now, and I wouldn’t have had the same opportunities. It’s taught me a lot about teamwork because in volleyball you need to be able to talk to your teammates. It has helped me with my [communication] skills and how to work together.”

Even though she is young, she already has her future mapped out Currently, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Marquette University are at the top of her list.

“I’m hoping to play in college; Division I, of course,” Frieson said. TT The “R” Issue

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Beyond the fiField

RUN FOR THE MONEY 26 Tom Tom October 2016

1. Describes the situation where an opponent or challenge causes you to work hard and to your very best.

KAYLEE SCHREINER // Department Editor

I

t happened in an instant. The second they picked up the ball or the second they stepped onto the court, they fell in love with the game.

Most athletes have the dream of playing their sport at the next level; whether it is a middle schooler hoping to play in high school, or a high schooler trying to compete in college. But when only the best of the best receive scholarships at $10,000+ a piece, how far will the athletes run with it?

THE ODDS

ILLUSTRATION // NATASHA REID

As little as two percent of all high school athletes are given the chance of obtaining an NCAA scholarship. To put it another way, out of eight million high school athletes, only 480,000 of them will compete beyond high school on scholarship.

On top of those odds, the average athletic scholarship only gives the recipient $10,400 at most. The only four scholarships that offer full ride scholarships are men’s and women’s basketball, football and women’s volleyball. These scholarships are only given to athletes by Division I and Division II schools.

Most colleges have a specific budget that they are allowed to spend on sports. So just because one school is offering an athlete $10,000, it does not mean that other schools will offer the same thing.

Varsity soccer player junior Gabriel Tijerina is optimistic about earning a scholarship, even though the odds are against him.

“The small odds of getting a scholarship scare me for sure,” Tijerina said. “But I know if I work hard and always train to get better, then I can be successful in receiving a scholarship.”

Even though the odds of getting a scholarship are low, they only push the athletes to work harder to earn one.

THE RACE

Colleges do not hand out $10,400 scholarships to just anyone. Many athletes practice their entire lives and never get to compete at the college level. For senior Jillian Foote, the process was almost too much. Foote recently committed to University of Wisconsin—Green Bay on a scholarship to play Division I softball.

“I was really set on committing to Green Bay, but then the coach left for another school,” Foote said. “I was really upset and thought about giving it all up and quitting.”

The recruiting process is often overlooked by athletes who are looking to get an athletic scholarship. It all starts by making a list of potential schools to look into and finding information on the program and the coaches.

Foote mentioned that not only did she have to go to the college and talk to the coaches, but she also had to put in extra work inside and outside of softball to even earn that privilege.

“I started off emailing like 50 schools once or twice a week,” Foote said. “That number got narrowed down a lot after I visited a few colleges and they got to see me.”

Aside from just emailing the coaches of these schools, athletes often attend camps or showcase tournaments that college coaches take part in. Oftentimes, an athlete can try out for a team that plays in these types of tournaments to help them gain exposure for college.

Varsity soccer coach Marni Polakow encourages her athletes to get out there and get noticed as much as they can. “[Athletes] need to put themselves out there,” Polakow said. “Especially coming from such a small community, coaches are not going to find them on their own.”

The more time an athlete spends talking to schools and putting themselves out there, the better chance they have at getting noticed by college coaches.

THE FINISH LINE

The passion an athlete has for the game is something that not everyone gets to experience, and many never experience playing a sport at a college level. Even some athletes that do have the potential to make it end up quitting because of the overwhelming obstacles that come with pursuing a scholarship.

“I kept playing because of the passion I have for the game,” Foote said. “I really admire how aggressive you have to be and all of the competition. You get to see the best of the best and it’s really fun when that happens.”

Although earning a scholarship is a tiring process on the athlete, it is a huge accomplishment and comes with many benefits. Without her scholarship, Foote would be paying $15,331 per year to attend University of Wisconsin—Green Bay. Scholarships from sports not only provide athletes with a chance to compete at a higher level, but also a chance to further their education.

“The whole process has been super stressful for a few years and I’m glad to say that I finally have a home,” Foote said. “I’m super excited for what the future holds.”

Foote said the most important thing she did was to keep trying and putting herself out there, even when her plans did not always work out the way she may have wanted. Her advice is to “never give up, because I was about to and because I didn’t I was able to get this opportunity.” TT The “R” Issue

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Beyond the fiField

THE PASSIONATE SOCCER MOM ALEX RUANO // Senior Editor PHOTO // JOHN LAPOINTE

THE ALUMNA ON A MISSION EMILY HOLMES // Tom Tom Staff

A

shley LaPointe stepped off the team bus in 2014 full of hope for the first time as a collegiate athlete, three weeks after starting her first semester of college at Lindenwood University. Her parents were always her biggest supporters, so when she saw them for the first time in weeks, a number of emotions and thoughts went through her head. After a solid warm up with her new teammates, she laced up her spikes and went to the starting line. When the gun went off, her natural instincts took over and she ran like she always had.

“I felt good so I went out as my usual fast self and got up to the front,” LaPointe said.

She soon realized that the pace that worked in high school would not fly in college because with every step and every breath the sun seemed to be beating down harder and harder. This made every kilometer harder than the last. But, even with the sun, goosebumps covered her body head to toe and she could not figure out why.

While getting on the bus her body ached. She reached for her Gatorade, but she could not move her arms or any part of her body for that matter. She then recognized that these were the signs of dehydration. She took care of herself on the way home and recovered quickly, while also learning a very valuable lesson.

But dehydration was not the biggest obstacle LaPointe had to face during her first few years of college.

The summer after her freshman year, LaPointe told her closest friends that she would not be competing during her sophomore year of cross country due to a torn labrum. LaPointe was devastated when she heard the news. Her high school cross country and track coach, Christopher Bailey, was also emotional when he heard the news.

“I was bummed out,” Bailey said. “She is someone who has worked so hard and come so far and I know it crushed her. But knowing Ashley, she’s the type of person that has always been someone to get right back up and be more determined than she was prior to an injury.”

Despite being devastated, LaPointe kept pushing through the pain of the first surgery only to find out that her other labrum was torn as well.

“They told me since my pain tolerance was so high that I should go and get an MRI on the other hip as well,” LaPointe said.

Another tear meant another surgery and another season off. But just like before, LaPointe pushed through and recovered faster than before.

“For the second surgery, I was only on crutches for less than a week where last time it was longer,” LaPointe said.

LaPointe ended up redshirting for both cross country and track her sophomore year of college. Now, she is an academic junior, but has the eligibility of a sophomore, because according to NCAA rules, an athlete has five academic years to play four athletic years. Despite all of this, LaPointe came back stronger than ever and has been a very big contributor this season to her cross country team, just like she was her freshman year. TT

28 Tom Tom October 2016

Off the field, the Varsity soccer team continues to get the support it needs to replenish after fighting through each game. One super-fan, Anne Krumpos, mother of junior Bart Krumpos, succeeds in making sure the Sequoits’ stomachs are filled with delicious homemade baked goods and meals.

Krumpos has been a passionate team mom for the Sequoits since 2006. Krumpos provides food and beverages for the Varsity soccer team after long away games and tournaments. The tasteful food drives the soccer boys crazy as they beg for seconds after devouring Krumpos’ homemade baked goods or nutritious meals.

“I don’t do it for the accolades, I do it because I like to.”

Krumpos said. “There are only three of us at home, so if it’s something that the boys appreciate, great.”

Krumpos is not in it for the reward. She volunteers her time and money to provide for over 20 boys with huge appetites. A tasty homemade meal that takes Krumpos a few hours to make can go a long way as the food has a tremendous impact in the eyes of the players.

“We all love and appreciate Bart’s moms’ food,” junior Gabriel Tijerina said. “It’s always so delicious. Plus, it’s great to have a chance to get the nutrition we need to prepare for our next game or practice. We all have to keep our appetite in check and Mrs. Krumpos helps us achieve that.”

The favorable meals made by Krumpos can range from baked breads to full dinners. Various forms of apple, banana, chocolate and even pizza bread have been gulped down on the back of the soccer bus. The warm food rapidly gets passed down the bus aisle as each player begs for seconds. The team devours the mouthwatering meals, but finds a way to savor each delicious bite.

“Mrs. Krumpos’ bread is bomb,” senior Zachary Espitia said. “I’ve got to say, my favorite was her rice mix. All of the food tastes so good, but the rice mix filled me up. I couldn’t imagine a long bus ride home without that rice.” TT

PHOTO // KAYLEE SCHREINER

TIME TO MANAGE YOUR OWN MONEY? TELL YOUR PARENTS YOU’RE READY TO TRY WITH:

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Antioch • Genoa City • Grayslake • Kenosha • Lake Villa Lindenhurst • Round Lake Beach • Spring Grove 847-395-2700 | www.sbotl.com 1. The bank does not charge its customers a monthly card usage fee. No transaction charge at any ATM in the Allpoint, MoneyPass, or Sum surcharge-free networks. Other banks outside the network may impose ATM surcharges at their machines. Surcharge reimbursements do not apply to transactions performed on MyFamilyCard Prepaid MasterCard®. Up to five (5) surcharge fees assessed by owners of other ATMs outside the network will be reimbursed per statement cycle. Reimbursement does not include the 1.10% International Service fee charged

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Beyond the fiField

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO

RACE GO-KARTS

BY TYLER KUXHOUSE AS TOLD TO EMILY HOLMES

M

ost kids dream is to be just like their dad and I was no different. My dad started racing go-karts when he was 14 years old. I have always loved racing and wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps.

I started racing my dirt go-kart when I was eight years old and I’ve loved every second of it.

Racing is a sensation like no other. When I am racing, I am the go-kart. I can feel everything that happens. If it is a little sideways, I can feel it 100 percent. Since I can feel this, I am able to think about and figure out what I need to do in order to fix it to make me go faster and race better. It is just me, my kart and the track.

Racing is a mental sport. It is too loud to hear anybody unless they start screaming at the top of their lungs. You are in your own little kart, so there is nobody to talk to besides yourself. After every turn, I sit there reflecting on how I could have made that turn better and what I did well with it. After the race is over, I can think about what I need to do in order to make my go-kart faster for the next race. There are no friends when you are racing because it is so intense out there. Nothing else matters when I am racing.

When I race, I feel nothing. Every pain and thought in my head goes away the second I step onto that track. I don’t even feel like I am breathing when I race. Racing literally takes my breath away and my body feels weightless. I cannot describe the feelings I get from

30 Tom Tom October 2016

racing. It is an emotional rollercoaster that you have to experience first hand.

When I am stressed, I race. If I get into a big fight with my dad, I just go outside, get in my kart and race any bad emotions away.

When I am done, I feel ten times better and I am more relaxed. This really helps with my relationship with my dad because he gets it.

Racing is a family sport in our house. My older brother and sister both race, and my dad started racing when he was 14. When I have to race against my sister, it gets very competitive because neither one of us wants to lose to the other. My mom is like the family paramedic. She deals with all of the injuries we get from racing, which can be anywhere from a minor cut to a broken bone. Racing is definitely a giant risk that I would take again and again.

I remember a couple of my injuries that make me cringe just thinking about them.

Once when I was racing, I got a concussion because somebody hit my tire and then jumped over me. While they were jumping over me, they hit me in the head with their cart in the process. That was the most painful injury I’d ever had until about a month or two ago. I was in the middle of a race and I was feeling good. Then out of nowhere, somebody hits my tire and traveled over me, but this time, he landed on top of my shoulder. All of the weight from his kart and him was pressed on my shoulder and I could not really move it.

But, that is the small price to pay in order to do what I love.

Even though the risk is huge, not racing is

not an option because it is such a family-oriented event. Not being able to race in my house is like not being able to breathe; it just does not end well. I love that everybody in my house loves racing. It helps us bond better since we all have something that we are interested in, in common.

I cannot wait to be able to graduate to racing actual cars like my older brother does. My older brother Cam won the championship race at Wilmot recently. When I do really well in a race, my family is always there to support and back me up. But when I do poorly, I can always see my dad on the sidelines screaming, “What are you doing?” Sometimes I question why I race when I do something really stupid because I fully agree with my dad at certain points. But then I get this amazing feeling after it is all over and I cannot imagine myself not racing.

Once racing is in your blood, you cannot get it out. It is an addiction like no other for me. Even if I am not racing, I have to be doing something racing related; whether it is watching races on television or going to the track to watch people. There have even been a few times where my family and I have traveled around the country just to watch races —all dirt of course. Racing is a sport that is not only fun to watch, but is also fun to do, because everybody just gets so into it.

When I am older, I want my family to be able to experience the same adrenaline that I feel when I am racing. It brings my family closer together and I could not be more thankful for it. TT

PHOTO // EMILY HOLMES

The “R” Issue

31

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I K S N O THIS IS L HE’S AN ORIGINAL.

Scan here to watch a video about David Lonski and why he loves being a Sequoit.

PHOTO // NATASHA REID