YEAR IN REVIEW
2 | Contents
In this Issue
The Staff Editors-in-Chief Hannah Johnson Megan Kohman
Assistant Editors Makenzie Allison Blair Pullman
Copy Editor
Lauren Roman
Business Managers Kaylee Gunzelman Beth Snow
Photo Editor John Jacobsen
Photographers Evan Fruhauf Peter Lundrigan Rachel Maneth
Reporters Katie Collins Brooke Dreiling Tyler Harris Madison Henry Tyler Koch Ashley Kramer Jackson Mace Stephanie Ng Avery Niernberger Jameson O’Connor Quinn O’Connor Renee Price Abigail Samuelson Daniel Saunders Helen Soultanian Colin Williams
Advisor Julie Calabro
News 3
Briefs
Curriculum-State Debate
5
Iran Thespian Conference 6 New food requirements 7 The marijuana debate
Feature 9 10 11 12
Darraja Parnell, sophomore
Black Light Ball outfits Living in siblings shadow Room decor ideas Year in review
Beth Snow, junior
Opinion 14 Columns Musics influence on teens
Skyler Snodgrass, Jackson Mace, seniors
16 CliffsNotes cheating 17 Unspoken school rules 19 Pro/Con Drinking age
Sports 20 Year in review sports Highlights of pro sports 22 Sports Briefs Homecoming games 23 Bowling 24 Photoblock: Homecoming
Jaguar Cheerleaders
Adrian Perez, freshman
USD 385 rethinks core tenets Common Core introduced, curriculum to see shake-up
O
n the surface, the business of educating children might seem relatively stable. However, seismic changes are brewing that promise to shake up the landscape of public education. In an effort to better prepare students to compete in the global economy, 45 states have stated that they will now follow the Common Core, a set of rigorous standards in core subjects, when they plan their curriculums. The Core details the skills students should possess after each year and was developed by teachers and education experts. Math classes will be the first to experience upheaval. Brett Randolph, the high school team leader for the mathematics department, explains the rationale for the switch. “The ultimate goal would be for students to leave high school college and career ready in mathematics.,” Randolph said. “In a lot of areas they [the new standards] are asking mastery of a concept 1-2 years earlier.” While the old curriculum only sought to get students through Algebra II, “the new standards are asking every kid to get through FST.” The Common Core has already been implemented at the middle school and will be gradually rolled out in high school. It
will not affect current students. Incoming freshmen will have two classes available, Algebra I or GST (Geometry, Statistics, and Trigonometry), and their classes thereafter will be adjusted accordingly. The Core will allow performance to be measured between states more accurately. Because nearly all states will follow the same guidelines for curriculum, it will be easier to compare standardized test scores across the nation. “There are a couple consortiums developing tests [for the new standards]. Grades 3-8 will take the same tests as before,” Randolph said. Some have expressed concern that the new standardized tests and harder curriculum will result in scores dropping. “Drops are normal -- anytime new standards are implemented there is a learning curve for both teachers and students. Over time we’ve seen a steady incline [in test scores],” Randolph said. COLIN WILLIAMS
Scan the QR code for 2013-2014 district goals.
Duo successful at state debate
A
fter a long season, it was time for state debate for seniors Daniel Saunders and Luke Roy. The tournament was held at Fort Scott and the two Central students competed against 60 other students. “The move to 4A put us really out of our element because the judging pool is less technical. I was surprised by how well we did,” Saunders said. In order to qualify for State the debaters had to have a record of 50 percent or better over
the course of four tournaments, which their record surpassed. “A lot of hard work went into state debate. Daniel and I prepared positions to cater to parents and their political views at state debate, because the parent judges there are not used to our usual positions. So instead of criticizing them we ran arguments that appealed to them. We worked on adapting,” Roy said. At the tournament itself the team that attended went four to two and made it into the elimination
rounds. They lost in the first round of the top 16. “They are one of the best teams I’ve coached in a long, long time,” Jodee Hobbs, debate coach, said. “Getting to the level Daniel and Luke are takes years. There’s lots of outside time involved. They read intense amounts of information. Other schools have college debaters help them along the way, but Daniel and Luke do it all on their own.” HELEN SOULTANIAN
Briefs | 3
Upcoming Dates February 1 FBLA Conference February 2 Groundhog Day February 3 Booster Club meeting February 6 Regional Scholars’ Bown Tournament February 8 ACT test February 13 StuCo Blood Drive February 14 Valentines day All schools closed February 15 State Scholars’ Bowl Tournament February 17 Presidents Day All schools closed February 18 Senior athletic/activity parent night
4 | Ads
Keep Calm and Prom On
News | 5
Politics endangers Iran deal
A
nuclear deal has been struck with Iran. The nation has agreed to halt uranium enrichment while the United States plans to ease sanctions on the country. Additionally, the deal opens Iran’s nuclear facility to inspections. There are numerous threats to successful implementation of the deal. “Have you seen that picture on the internet of Iran surrounded by American military bases? We have put so much tension around the border of Iran. If anything were to happen we would be able to defend ourselves but it has created so much tension it makes it hard to be negotiated,” senior Gabby Ale-Ebrahim Senator Menendez has been pushing for a fresh measure of sanctions, a bill that appears to have bipartisan support. Menendez argues that his bill would only go into effect if Iran is not faithful to its end of the bargain, as a delayed measure. Iranian officials have stated that any action by the Senate would be in bad faith and violates the terms of the deal.
“I think that hopefully President Obama and our president are going to make a deal and have diplomatic relations because there haven’t been any for 30 years,” Iranian and junior Arman Ortiz said. Sanctions have brought economic hardship to the country. The economy has experience instability and currency inflation. Most countries no longer trade with the country and banks are fined for working with Iranian accounts. With the most recent diplomatic agreement, the sanctions are being eased. “A lot of people think Iranians are against us and are like “death to America” but that is just the government not the people. There a lot of misconceptions about bombings but that is only in certain places. Another misconception is that it is not safe for tourists but that is not true,” Ortiz said. The election of moderate president Hassan Rouhani has helped facilitate some of the recent diplomatic meetings. However, a conservative dominated parliament
Commerce continues in Iran despite high levels of sanctions These sanctions may soon be reflaxed. PHOTO ANITA ORTIZ
has criticized the president for cooperating with Western demands. All political decisions are ultimately determined by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has agreed to the recent deal.. DANIEL SAUNDERS
Soultanian serves as State thespian officer
O
n the last night of the annual State Thespian Conference, Helen Soultanian, junior, decided to take one big selfie with every attendee in the conference. Soultanian was a State Thespian officer for this year’s conference held on Jan. 10 and her main role in the conference was presenting the evening theatrical performances. “I was the face of the conference. I had a sash, first of all. There were performances in the evening so I got to introduce them and make announcements. I came in a day early to get everything set up. We had to make gifts bags for all the workshop people and teach-
ers,” Soultanian said. The State Thespian Conference is an event designed for high school actors and actresses. In the mornings, there were workshops to teach about all aspects of theater. In the evening there were performances from various well received plays from around the state. At night there were various events including a dance. Soultanian enjoyed her duties. “The coolest part was presenting the shows in front of thousands of people. The attendees were all really excited so they would cheer at anything you say. Getting marriage proposals was pretty cool, too. We were really well
prepared and had everything we needed to say in a bulleted list,” Soultanian said. State Thespian officers have an elaborate process for getting the position. “Mr. Whittredge selected me to be on the State Board of Representatives.
We attended this meeting and we were asked if we wanted to run for State Thespian Officer. Then we went to another meeting where we had to sell ourselves and give speeches. And then I got elected,” Soultanian said. DANIEL SAUNDERS
Soultanian poses with the other three Kansas State Thespian Officers. “Thespian conference was a high school memory that I will always have with me for the rest of my life,” Soultanian said. COURTESY PHOTO
6 | News
District hires new food service company, gains healthier options
P
otato chips, pizza, cheeseburgers, and almost anything deepfried is popular with the teenage generation. However, the effects of these unhealthy eating habits are evident all over the country. New health concerns caused many schools to change ideas on what to serve students. Taking the initiative to serve fresh and healthy choices, Central switched food management companies to OPAA. “They came in and we have a lot more fresh items. We have more choices now, which is good. We have the salad bar and most of the bread is baked here every day from scratch. A lot of the stuff we do now is made fresh,” kitchen and catering manager Tara Nichols said. This new cooking method meant more work for the cafeteria staff. “We are more tired when we get home. There is a lot more to do. It was frustrating in the beginning, but now we have it down,” cafeteria worker Christy Page said. Many students appreciate these changes. “The food is looking better choicewise. They are starting to take away some foods, and it has gotten a lot better. The taste is better,” junior Sierra Molina said.
The lunch staff observed similar attitudes among other students. “Usually they will say ‘Gosh there are so many choices I do not know what to eat!’ We hear a lot of things like that from students.
“I feel like there are not enough choices. I would like more choices and larger portions,” sophomore Carleigh Camacho said.
“I have been going out to eat more often because it is better than the food at school,” senior Allan Rankin said.
We really like to hear what they think about the food,” cafeteria worker Mazie Ash said. The changes are starting to affect the teaching staff as well. “I feel that people are enjoying [the food] a lot more. It seems to be going
well. The staff is coming in more, which is awesome. That is what we want. More meals are being eaten this year,” Nichols said. Much of the transformation is due to new government regulations. “Things have changed for us personally with the regulations. Every meal needs to have at least half a cup of fruit and veggies. That has to be on the plate for it to count as a meal. Next year, or the year after, is when all the big changes will happen,” Nichols said. One problem caused by the changes is the cost of meals. “My freshman year I ate a lot here but then I started to just bring my lunch when it got expensive,” Molina said. The staff has a solution for this. “[If it is not a full meal] you have to charge separately and it costs more. That is one thing I wish people would understand. If they get a full meal it is cheaper when you get a fruit or milk or a veggie,” Nichols said. Along with the new meals, new pride is shown toward the healthier product. “I think it is great, honestly. I have been to culinary school and I take great pride in the food I serve and I feel that the food that we serve is good. I could not work here if it was not,” Nichols said. The hope is that by encouraging students to eat healthy at school, they will continue to do so in their every day lives. This life changing development starts with switching a bag of potato chips for vegetables in the lunch line. PAGE, STORY BETH SNOW
“The food is fresh and there are a lot of healthy choices. It is considerably better than the food in middle school,” freshman Kristin Miller said.
Feature | 7
Colorado sparks debate Students express opinions on the legalization of medical marijuana
A
s the ball dropped at midnight January 1 in New York, many at home and in Times Square roared with applause, cracked open bottles of sparkling cider and began to celebrate. In Colorado, however, people were ecstatic for different reasons. At midnight on January 1, a law was implemented making marijuana effectively street legal for the first time in more than 70 years. While new laws regulating marijuana are sure to affect those living in Colorado, equal effect will be felt in neighboring states like Kansas. “Marijuana being legalized recreationally in a few states is really going to change the argument in Kansas,” junior Tyler Traylor said. “I feel that Colorado is going be an experiment. If things go well then states like Kansas have to start entertaining the idea of changing marijuana laws.” Bills that would allow for the controlled, doctor-prescribed use of marijuana have failed to reach the
Medical marijuana
is legal in
20
states & D.C.
floors of the Kansas State and House in recent years. Regardless of this, students feel that the taboo surrounding marijuana is starting to lower. “People who smoked marijuana used to be viewed as lazy and without drive or responsibility,” senior Michael Grendahl said. “This stereotype is starting to fade, though. Smoking marijuana is viewed more as something that you do instead of an identity.” Other students disagree. “Kansas is a very conservative state and taboos definitely still exist against those who smoke marijuana,” sophomore Erik Jacobson said. “Personally, I don’t judge people for making their own decisions, but I know that some do and that Kansas is a long ways away from changing laws regarding marijuana.” Some believe that marijuana shouldn’t be legal anywhere. “I don’t think that marijuana should be legal anywhere. It’s harmful to the body and smoking it raises the chance of hurting yourself and others,” sophomore Sterling Block said. “Smoking marijuana and driving can be as dangerous as drinking and driving.” Students also understand the political and economic tensions that come
658,231
people were arrested in 2012
for marijuana law violations
with the legalization of marijuana. “Keeping marijuana illegal seems kind of trivial. People will continue smoking it anyways and keeping it banned is costing the government millions,” senior Kalie Belt. Government spending on marijuana regulation as well as the violence involved in smuggling drugs into America from Mexico are prominent factors in the argument for federal legalization. “The violence amongst cartels in Mexico far outweighs whatever detrimental effects legalizing marijuana would have. If marijuana were legal, the cartels would have no reason to spend money smuggling drugs and weapons across the border,” senior Michael Grendahl said. “The drug cartels negatively effect people living in Mexico and that obviously crosses the border.” No matter what the opinion, morally or politically, on marijuana, most can agree that marijuana is an issue that will be further pressed into the conscience of the Kansas citizen. “A decision has to be made,” senior Jacob Murray said. “Kansas has to take a stance and make a decision about marijuana.” JACKSON MACE
California would raise an estimated
billion $1.4 if they regulated marijuana sales
51
billion dollars
spent annually -on the-
War on Drugs
8 | Ads
20% off
Feature | 9
Creative clothing major part of Black Light Ball
L
oud music, people dancing, and neon colored clothing were all a part of Black Light Ball. Since black light ball is an informal dance, students can be more creative with what they wear. Students made clothes or, like senior Gwen Schaulis, chose to buy something and put an outfit together. “[Instead of making shirts, my closest friends and I] got matching neon pink skirts and threw on other shirts with them,” Schaulis said. The outfits were a hit and so was the DJ. He got the music playing and
Kaleigh Smith, junior pink crop top, black parachute pants, and turquoise necklace.
everyone was out on the dance floor. “I would say the music wasn’t bad. It was better than homecoming,” sophomore Annie Kruse said. Students were told not to engage in bad behavior like inappropriate dancing and wearing inappropriate outfits. If caught they would be asked to leave the dance without a warning. “Since the students knew that BLB was on the line it persuaded them to act more appropriately,” student body president Katie Kretchmar said. None of the students engaged in any poor behavior, so the dance will
Gwen Schaulis, senior - blue crop top and neon pink skirt.
continue to happen. “I enjoyed the dance. The music was really good. I [hung out] with my friends and had a good time,” junior Kaleigh Smith said. Some students have suggestions on how to make the dance better for next year. “The neon [didn’t] glow as much, [so] I would darken the commons more,” sophomore Olivia Parker said. The tradition of Black Light will continure next year. STORY, PAGE BROOKE DREILING
Olivia Parker, sophomore - neon pink tanktop, black shorts, pink tutu, neon leggings.
Feature | 10
Life in the shadow
Students with older siblings deal with constant comparison
T
hree siblings, three paths to follow, three paths to break. Erik Jacobson, sophomore, is the youngest in his family, with three older siblings. Youngest siblings often struggle with living in the shadow of older siblings- they have to deal with comparisons to them in every aspect of life. “My siblings were involved in tennis, dance, swim team, cheerleading, FBLA, scholars bowl, key club, and NHS. I’m not compared to them too much, but I do similar activities to my brother, so we are sometimes compared in that way,” Jacobson said. These comparisons come from everywhere, flying from the mouths of parents, teachers, and friends. “I am compared to my sister all the time. I’m compared to my [older] sister’s grades by teachers who had her and by my parents,” sophomore Christine Laflin said. “I’m often compared [to my sister] by my mom because [my sister] was really smart, and I’m compared to her at my dance studio by my dance teachers,” sophomore Annie Kruse said. The comparisons exceed just school; they are carried over into personality and looks, too. “People often say [my brother and I] look alike, but we aren’t compared in school,” junior Caitlin Hartline said. Younger siblings deal with comparisons in varying ways; some use it as inspiration.
“I usually take the comparisons as encouragement. It pushes me to go harder in school because I have their expectations to meet,” Jacobson said. Other students simply let it roll off their backs. “It kind of sucks being compared to [my older sister] because it’s hard to live up to her achievements, but it doesn’t really drive me to do anything; I just ignore it,” Kruse said. “I don’t feel the need to compete with [my brother] because I already know that I’m better than him,” Hartline said. Some students feel the need to compete with older siblings. “When I’m compared to my sister, I feel like I’m not trying hard enough, so I study more. I also feel the need to do things that she wasn’t able to. For example, my sister didn’t get into NHS, so I am doing my best to get into the club,” Laflin said. Despite the differences highlighted through comparisons of older and younger siblings, the rift between the siblings is hardly permanent. “Even though my sister and I are competitive in dance class and school, in the end it makes us closer,” Kruse said. “The comparisons used to affect our closeness, but as we got older it brought us together,” Laflin said. PAGE, STORY, PHOTO ILLUSTRATION LAUREN ROMAN
Feature | 11
Room decor tips and ideas for the winter season
T
o avoid the winter chill and prepare for nights filled with Netflix, tea and popcorn, use these simple tips to achieve a cozy room. Color is incredibly important. The colors that surround someone can change their entire mood. Optimal winter colors are a deep maroon, a navy blue and a light green. Using the light green in contrast to the other dark colors will give a cheerfulness to the gray outdoors and green items can be used again in the Spring.
“I get out seven blankets and about 12 pillows, then make sure that they are of varying colors to keep me happy,” junior Olivia Jacoby said. Pillows and blankets are a necessity to a winter room, as well are candles. A baked goods scent adds a homey feel. To add more light to your room, bring out your old Christmas lights or paper lanterns and hang them up. If on a budget, a simple “do it yourself” is the way to go, get cute room décor with minimal expense. HELEN SOULTANIAN
ROOM ACCESSORIES Pillow and Lantern- Anthropologie Candle- Bath & Body Works
12 | Feature
2013 Year in
CT
1. Hunger Games
w.i m te ur
sy
M
ht tp://ww
m/title/t t1723 .co 12 1 db
Co
2. Frozen
/
CT lose/ M ay C r r u
urte Co
sy Disne y/M
Students weigh in on 2013’s overall best movies, games, f Top Three Movies The second film of the series stars Jennifer Lawrence as protagonist Katniss Everdeen. Katniss fights to live through the Hunger Games in the midst of a revolution. The second installment of the series came in first for movies of the year. “I thought [Catching Fire] was a really good but I like the first one better because it had more action and fighting, and the second one had more plot,” senior Madison Zimmer said. “I thought for a movie adaption [Catching Fire] was pretty well directed,” freshman Winona McGregor said. “[Catching Fire] is better than the first one by far,” freshman Bailey Baldwin said.
Disney’s latest animated musical is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story “The Snow Queen”. Princess Anna (Kirsten Bell) treks through the blizzard her sister Elsa (Idina Menzel) created to bring her home and save Arendelle.
3. We’re the Millers
Drug dealer David Clark (Jason Sudeikis) pulls together a fake family by the name of the Millers in order to avoid suspicion while transporting marijuana from Mexico. “I thought [We’re the Millers] was pretty funny,” freshman Megan Bruey said.
a.o r
n.wikipedi
rand_Theft_
Au t
V
p://e ht t
G iki/ /w
o_
g
Top Three Games
Favorite Fashion
1. Grand Theft Auto V
The fifth installment of the Grand Theft Auto series was released on September 17, 2013. “I thought [Grand Theft Auto V] was fun and better than the other games. The free roaming was better,” sophomore Thomas Genovese said.
T MC
2. Call of Duty: Ghosts Set in an alternate time, where the Middle East is destroyed in a nuclear fall out, a force of United States Special Ops personnel, the Ghosts, go on missions behind enemy lines.
MC
T
3. Assassin’s Creed IV
Sarah Johnson freshman
Sydney Black freshman
Kailin Stinson junior
“I’ve always worn combat boots for boots, and I still wear them now that they are popular,” freshman Sydney Black said.
“I like the style of leather jackets because they are comfortable. They are also warm and cute and go with my style,” junior Kailin Stinson said.
Leggings Combat Leather Many girls wear Jackets Boots leggings. They come
in many different Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag polled at colors and patterns. at number 3. “I like wearing leg“I liked [Assassin’s Creed] a lot. Assasgings because they sin’s Creed III was good but Black Flag was are comfy,” freshbetter, and the underwater scenes are cool,” man Sarah Johnson sophomore Michelle Jeffries said. said.
Feature | 13
Review dy
sgusting.co -di
1. Sleepy Hollow
m
A modern day retelling of Washington Irving’s short story, Sleepy Hollow follows Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) as he adapts to a new society and solves supernatural mysteries with Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie). The show has aired one season and is to air a second in the fall.
rte ou /C
sy of A
BC C /M T
Bob D’Amic o
ht tp://b l oo
fashion, shows, school sports and activites Top Three T.V Shows
m
www.statu
ef
.co um or
2. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Agents of S.H.I..E.L.D revolves around Phil Coulson’s creation of a special team of agents. Together this team will fight together to save the world from the supernatural. “I think [Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.] is a nice extension of the Avengers,” sophomore Kyle Toom said.
3. Teen Titans Go!
The third ranked show, Teen Titans Go! got mixed reviews. “Teen Titans Go! brings back memories of the old show and it’s good,” freshman Megan Reinhart said. “Teen Titans Go! Is adequate but it pales in comparison to the original,” sophomore Jacob Schilmoeller said.
Top School Sporting Events
1.
2. Andover/Andover Football Game- Blake Meier, senior, JOHN JACOBSON PHOTO
P
om
Ha r Tyler
O
TO
Katie Kre tc
FRUHAUF
re Byers, Molly Clai Th
AN
ar, senior, EV hm
HO
O
3. Andover/ Campus Basketball Game- Darraja Parnell, sophomore, EVAN FRUHAUF PHOTO
1. Black Light Ball
nior, Ryan B , ju a
OT
OT
ris
AUF PH
PH
UH FR
A R NH O L D
, senior, EV ar t A
ju
ZA C rs, nio
nw
a
Top Activity
N
1. Andover/Andover Basketball Game- Andover students react. EVAN FRUHAUF PHOTO
s
3.
2.
“Black Light Ball was awesome, because I got to dance, and it was really fun,” senior Ryan Menke said.
2. Football Season “I enjoyed football season because I liked dressing up for the themes,” freshman Sarah Kohman said.
3. Basketball Season “Basketball season is awesome, all the games have been exhilarating,” senior Michael Grendahl said.
Top Songs of 2013 1) Radioactive- Imagine Dragons 2) Sail- Awolnation 3) Let Her Go- Passenger 4) Royals- Lorde 5) Roar- Katy Perry 6) Wake Me Up- Avicii 7) Can’t Hold UsMacklemore 8) Mirrors- Justin Timberlake 9) Thrift ShopMacklemore 10) Wrecking BallMiley Cyrus
“The playlist is pretty good, most of the songs I like. I don’t like that there are quite a few that I do not know. I think my favorite is “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons,” freshman Braeden Winters said. “I like Wrecking Ball [by Miley Cyrus] just because a lot of people didn’t like it,” junior Hadley Hanna said. “I don’t know any of the songs,” freshman Miranda Ballowe said. “Can’t Hold Us [by Macklemore] is a really upbeat and fun song,” junior Jennifer Mendenhall said. PAGE MEGAN KOHMAN, RENEE PRICE, 160 STUDENTS SURVEYED
14 | Column
Musical talent, ability revealed through live performances
F
or music enthusiasts nothing beats going to a great concert. That being said, being disappointed by a live performance can ruin a band’s reputation in the mind of a fan. Musical groups prove their validity as talented musicians on stage. Producing a successful album is a significant accomplishment, but if a band cannot produce as good of a sound live, listeners will speculate that their album’s magic is from in-studio tweaking and perfecting. Assessing a musician’s ability to perform, however, is more about up keeping a standard of talent in society’s view of music verses condemning musicians not good enough to listen to. In a culture where the top charts in music often feature artists with limited musical knowledge, I think it is vital to develop an understanding between studio magic and raw talent backed with dedication in order to give respect to those who deserve it. This mentality puts an angle of pressure on concert-goers seeing band’s they are fans of for the first time. Recently, this happened to me. The Head and the Heart is a folk group whose music I have cherished throughout high school, especially on road trips and during nights of studying. Their clean, balanced sound on album made me hesitant to see them live this winter because I was scared they would not live up to my expectations. However, they blew them out of the water. Not only did they mimic the energy on their recent album release “Let’s Be Still” - they improved it. Pairing their songs with the band member’s passion on stage gave life to their music in a way that I had not experienced listening on my own. This ideal performance made me gain immense appreciation and respect for what these musicians do, making listening to them more worthwhile. Like I stated before, however, a truly awful live performance can tarnish a musician’s chances at earning an audience’s respect. Before the established pop artist Lana Del Rey reached her current level of notoriety, she had a potentially career ruining performance on the NBC show Saturday Night Live. Critics attacked her for sounding “pitchy and strangely guttural” during the performance, which could possibly be
blamed on nerves. Regardless, reviews were unanimously terrible, damaging her reputation. I do not believe that one bad performance can adequately judge a musician’s talent because any number of components such as stage fright, lack of experience, or sickness could play into a bad performance. Lana Del Rey, for instance, has recovered immensely from her disaster on SNL, improving her live performances and topping pop charts with her recent releases. I do believe, however, that talent can be assessed over several performances. If a band is habitually awful live, I lose respect for them as musicians to some extent. Today, musical performances are also often masked with smoke and lights to disguise the fact that the quality of music is low or nonexistent too. Just a few decades ago venues were not equipped with enough technology to provide a spectacular show visually as well as musically, so the music had to make up for both areas. Stage technology now can damage societies view of talent in the music industry - shifting it from who is the most talented musically to who can put on the best show. An example of this was the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards performance from Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke. Cyrus was criticized by the public for many angles of the show such as her outfit and hair style choices as well as the vulgarity of her dance moves on stage. Ironically, the actual music was perhaps the least scrutinized component of the performance. This was perhaps because the music was intended to be a secondary aspect to the show in terms of stage theatrics. And while there is nothing wrong with a visually heavy concert, equating visuals to music talent is unfair to artists incredibly dedicated to studying and creating impacting music. Losing respect for an artist’s performing abilities does not mean you can’t still enjoy their recordings. Like I stated, judging the talent of an artist from a live performance is important specifically for the purpose of holding standards to talent in the music industry. And also, because listening to a band that is not only great on album but also has earned your respect live, is the most humbling way I’ve discovered to appreciate music. HANNAH JOHNSON
Students share concert experiences
I
really liked the Rascal Flatts concert I went to at Intrust Bank Arena. Their vocals were just as spot on as what I’ve heard on the radio and their albums. - freshman Anna Grendahl
I
went and saw Avenged Sevenfold and I really liked their studio recordings but their live show really let me down. The awesome part about their studio recording was how well the guitar backed up the vocals but live the guitar was really overpowering. - senior Sharad Richardet
Ads | 15
GO JAGS!
PROBLEM
16 | Staff Editorial
The
with
study guides
Students use online study guides to ‘cheat ’
M
illions of students all over the world use some sort of study guide tool, such as CliffsNotes or SparkNotes. While teachers acknowledge the prominent use, are these “study guides” potentially allowing students to get away with cheating? Students are generally assigned the tedious task of reading a classic novel or analyzing a literary work. Teachers unknowingly fall under the assumption that students are actually reading the entire assignment. While many diligent students do, there are always a select few that just read the CliffsNotes. A study guide is a tool that helps facilitate learning, either by summing up chapters or conveying important information. Now it is just known for giving quick answers. In the past, study guides were more popular in book form. They allowed more of a “learning” experience while using them. With the transition to the Internet and the progression of technology, many study guidepublishing companies did not survive. The convenience of the Internet offers quick access to information in ways that books fail. But on the other hand, easy access to these study guides through the Internet and cell phones has enhanced students’ abilities to cheat, and essentially get away with it. For example, remember those annoying 10-point quizzes over certain chapters? While many students painstakingly read through those chapters, others skimmed over the CliffsNotes five minutes before class started.
Staff Vote Agree: 6 Disagree: 20
Or what about the humongous research papers students are forced to write over a book? Many read the first half of the assigned book, then read the summaries online. Study guides are useful tools, but they allow students to stop trying. As the use of study guides become more popular, students stop actually reading the text and rely more on the answers given to them. If study guides are really as “helpful” as they are made out to be, then why are students not putting in as much effort as they should? When a student skims over a summary to ‘study’ five minutes before class, they use short-term memory. Afterwards most of the information will be forgotten and the student will have learned nothing. Most professors of any topic would agree that depending on a study guide to learn leaves out essential information. Study guides are study guides. They are not to meant to be answer keys, they are meant to help students solidify their learning. There is something more valuable about sitting down and reading the actual text than simply skimming over a study guide. STORY, PAGE STEPHANIE NG
“It depends on how they use it. If they use them instead of doing the reading that they’re supposed to do, then that’s immoral. If they don’t quite understand, and they use the cliffnotes to help them, I think it’s fine,” sophomore Christine Laflin said.
“I think it is moral. It actually helps with the class that you’re taking. I don’t think they can be used for cheating. It doesn’t have exact answers. It’s more of a reference,” junior Arman Ortiz said.
Seriously?
I forgot we had a quiz today! I’m just going to look up the summaries. “If you use Cliffnotes to cheat, you won’t actually absorb the information. Rather than gaining knowledge you’re expected to know for the class, you plagiarize someone else’s work,” senior Malkie Hematillake said.
Unspoken Rules
Opinion | 17
School days are filled with awkward social situations. It is all a part of this place called high school. These situations are a part of a well rounded high school experience. They can happen anywhere on campus and at any time in the school day. To pay homage and respect to these awkward situation veterans, a variation of their stories has been compiled. Pay attention, rookies.
Hallways
Bathroom
A trip to the bathroom is an easy way to get out of class and leave a stuffy classroom. Yet the once go-to sanctuary is another place of blundering situations.. This unspoken etiquette changes if you know the people accompanying you in the bathroom or if it is a complete stranger. “Do your business and and get back to class with the least amount of awkward situations possible,” freshman Carolyn Estes said. If you know the person in the stall next to you, certain manners are necessary. “It is always polite to have small talk on mutual topics of interest. Topics can include weather, popular movies that are out and local events that are happening,” senior Chris Forbes said.
PDA
No one wants to PDA (public displays of affection). Almost everyone has a story about these displays of enduring love; it is part of the high school experience. “Absolutely none at school, keep a distance from each other at all times. We are at school, so therefore we are here to learn,” senior Taylor Ochsner said. Stories range from mild to extreme displays of affection. “People who are attached at the hip need to stop, it is the most annoying thing ever. Another thing I have noticed are couples who use the entire passing period to say goodbye. I swear you will last the next fifty minutes of class without your special someone,” senior Juliana Karber said.
Not only do social interactions happen on Twitter, but they flow into face to face contact. The good, the bad, and the ugly can all happen on twitter. Due to secrets being let out and fights the public has learned that that statement is absolutely valid. “Is there proper etiquette on twitter? The best tweets are sometimes the ones that have the shock factor. But also, remember to be respectful to others,” senior Lauren Gould said. There is an unspoken rule, that certain boundaries should not be crossed. For some this could be pertaining to manners. “Don’t cuss on twitter, no one appreciates that. People also need to learn to be respectful other people’s races, religion, etc,” junior Hadley Hanna said.
Brief moments of eye contact in the halls force people to think quickly about how they want to handle the momentary awkward contact. Anyone from your past can be seen in the five-minute passing period or class if you leave. “Typically I just always look straight ahead and try to make no eye contact. It makes sure I have the littlest amount of awkward situations as possible,” junior Doug Hoffman said. Yet, in contrast, some enjoy making these situations as awkward as possible for those around them. “One of my favorite things to do is to knock people around when I need to get to class,” freshman Zac Cox said. Stories always vary of how people handle this awkward social contact. “I tried to put my friend in a locker, he fell into it and then dropped his books, a teacher saw the whole thing and yelled at me,” junior Chris Hess.
Student Section
At high school the student section is important and includes a hierarchy. Those who do not listen and follow the rules will get a nasty reaction from upperclassmen. “The biggest deal is the seating arrangement; freshmen need to go to the top of the stand. There is nothing wrong with that, everyone has to go through that stage. It makes moving up even sweeter,” senior Ryann Kimberly said. Another big deal is following the theme of the game and getting involved. StuCo makes themes so that it makes the games more exciting and fun to get into. “Always dress up for the games. You can never be too cool to involve yourself in that. Also, do the cheers with the student section. If you’re negative it only bums everyone else around you out,” junior Miles Redfern said. STORY AVERY NIERNBERGER, PAGE QUINN O’CONNOR
18 | Pro Con
Pro | Con:
Lower the drinking age?
T
he 18th birthday of a young person is an iconic one. At that age, young people are officially full-fledged citizens of the United States. They are granted the right to vote in all elections and are required to enter their information to the Selective Service, so that they may be available to fight their nation’s wars. They begin searching for a career path and a place to further their education. When a person turns 18, they begin planning the rest of their lives. All of these responsibilities are entrusted to each young person at that age, except one very prevalent one: the right to consume alcohol. The laws of every state in our union, except Louisiana, state that no one may consume alcoholic beverages until they are 21 years of age. Before that, it is believed young people cannot handle the task of maintaining their cognitive abilities enough to behave responsibly. When referencing reason why to keep the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) where it is at, one might mention the culture of “binge drinking” prevalent across the country, specifically on college campuses. That was the reason the MLDA across the U.S. was raised. Or was it? It was not. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) pushed for the MLDA to be raised to 21 due to the apparent raise in alcohol-related car accidents in the decades following the passing of the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ending the Prohibition Era in the U.S. In Kansas, the MLDA was raised to 21 in 1985. So has it worked? In many ways, no it has not. To law enforcement agencies, enforcing this law is simply not a priority. An estimated two in every 1,000 cases of underage drinking has actually resulted in an arrest. When young people observe the lack of enforcement, a culture of disdain for our laws results. This may lead to ignorance of other laws as well. Additionally, there is no proof that young people have been involved in less alcohol related accidents. Also, what logic is there in the fact that a young person can choose who our nations leaders should be in elections, or have the power to take a life while serving in the military, yet they cannot consume alcohol? In conclusion, our experiment had next to zero impact on public safety. It really only makes sense to move it back to the age of 18 to induce a more law-abiding, responsible, and mature youth population. JAMESON O’CONNOR
S
ome people would like for the drinking age to be lowered to 18, but this idea is outrageous, ludicrous even. Think about it; the last thing society needs is more people drinking because driving while under the influ-
ence is at a high. Last September the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future study did research that showed about ten percent of high school seniors have engaged in extreme binge drinking, which is drinking ten or more alcoholic drinks in a single sitting. Now imagine that these students then drive home. They could very easily get into an accident. Now not only would this injure and maybe even kill the driver but it could also kill or injure innocent people in the other car that didn’t drink any alcohol. With facts like that, why is lowering the drinking age even being considered? If students are doing it now, what message does it send them if the age is lowered to 18? It sends the message that drinking is okay, which could lead to poor decisions from still immature minds because if drinking is okay then what else that was illegal is? As students make poor decisions, it affects their future. Think about younger children; if their older sibling is still in the house, then they look up to them. So if their older sibling is drinking alcohol then it looks “cool” to the younger sibling, and why would you want to influence kids to start drinking alcohol? That would increase the chance of alcoholism to develop, and once someone develops an addiction it is tough to break it. According to a study by Harvard Health Publications, young people who start using alcohol before age 21 are more likely to be involved in violent behaviors, attempt suicide, engage in unprotected sex or have multiple sex partners, and develop alcohol problems later in life. As students grow older the chance that they will use alcohol increases. Approximately ten percent of 12-year-olds say they have consumed alcohol at least once. By age 13, that number doubles, and by age 15, approximately 50 percent of students have had at least one drink. Lowering the drinking age would encourage students to drink more, because if the age is lowered then drinking alcohol is not considered bad. The last thing we need is for the ten percent of 12 year olds to turn into ten percent of 11 or ten year olds that drink. Lowering the drinking age does not only affect 18 year olds, it also affects younger ages. If you lower the age then kids will simply begin drinking illegally at an even younger age. While being 18 may technically make people adults, it does not mean they can make smart decisions all the time. 18 year olds are just being introduced to the real world and most are overwhelmed with choices and decisions about where to go to college, who to vote for, whether or not to smoke, or if they want to go clubbing. The last thing they need is to also have to decide if they want to drink or not, because all of the pressures they go through could make drinking appealing as a form of stress relief, which can lead to alcoholism and then the negative effects that come with alcohol. As the facts have shown, there is no good reason to lower the drinking age. It affects not only the person drinking, but also the people around them, so how can we, in good conscious, lower the drinking age? PETER LUNDRIGAN
Sports | 19
Indoor soccer proves fun for all involved
T
he winter off-season is a time to improve for any athlete, especially soccer players who, in the cold and storms of Kansas winters, are forced to play indoors. With leagues ranging from elementary to adult, multiple indoor complexes in town, as well as a professional team, indoor soccer is a major part of the Wichita metro soccer community. Many students are part of these leagues and love to play the game. “I’ve played indoor for six years,” junior Miles Redfern said. “I’ve played competitively with my club team in past years, but this year I’m playing on a co-ed team with other Central students.” Played on a smaller field surrounded by walls, with no immediate out of bounds or offsides, indoor soccer is a much quicker game than outdoor. “You have to be in better shape to play indoor. In outdoor, sometimes the game slows down, but that doesn’t happen in indoor, you’re running the entire time,” senior Kenzie Tennyson said. Tennyson, who coaches the indoor team that includes Redfern and other students is never surprised when she sees someone she knows on the west side of town
preparing for a game. “So many kids play whether it be club or just for fun. There is always the chance that you’ll run into someone you know,” Tennyson said. Along with Tennyson’s team, Eastminster Presbyterian Church fields a high school aged team. “The players from our team come mostly from Central and old school,” senior Jacob Murray said. Murray has coached the team for two seasons, and has played for four years “Magnum, our team, has gone through many incarnations. The team has been around for six years now and it’s always been a great way to involve members of our youth group,” Murray said. “While it’s fun to win, the game isn’t about winning, it’s about becoming closer to the rest of the team and having fun.” That seems to be the consensus amongst most students who play indoor soccer. Geoffrey Leu, senior, goes to church at Eastminster and has played on Magnum for three seasons. “While playing indoor has helped me get better at soccer and kept up my athleticism in the winter, that’s not what matters. I was never that good at soccer but
Coach Q&A: Jacob Murray
Q: What is the atmosphere compared to outdoor soccer? A: The game is more centered on fun. A lot of the players aren’t even athletic.. Its a competitive league but our team isn’t very competitive so we have a good time. Q: How did you get involved with coaching Magnum? A: Coaching is a tradition passed from one coach to another. They notice a prospective underclassmen in the youth group who they choose to take over. Q: What does your team do to make the games fun? A: We do theme nights. This year we did cross-dressing and superhero nights. After the games we usually eat at IHOP or Emperors, win or lose. COURTESY PHOTO
20 | Sports
2013 sports, a year in review A year full of upsets, surprises, and records Final Four brought surprising results
R
on Baker and the Wichita State Shockers “Shocked the Nation” last March dancing all the way to the Final Four. The Shockers always planned on being good, but no one except for the team themselves expected to accomplish what they did. This year no one is selling them short; they have been ranked since the first week and posting the longest winning streak in school history. This streak includes victories over the Tennessee Volunteers, Brigham Young, and an overtime win over conference rival Missouri State. They have racked up twenty straight wins and are ranked number five in the nation. This is something Shocker fans did not expect; yet none of them are going to complain.
Volleyball team celebrates after winning substate. PHOTO SHANNON HOWELL
School records set
The volleyball Jags made their first appearance in the State tournament. Losing in the first round of the state tournament cut the season short, though. Also making state appearances, the baseball and softball teams clawed their way into the tournament. But lost early in the first round.
Scott, Dufner golf results
Adam Scott is not exactly a household name, but it is one all golf fans have come to know. As this thirty-three year old wins his first major tournament, walking away with a green jacket and a spot in the record book, he was the first Australian to win the Masters. Much the same as Scott, Jason Dufner, won his first major in 2013 winning the PGA Championship.
“Pretty much beating Creigton at home was the best part of the season,” senior Chris Forbes said. “That kind of started it all.”
“It wasn’t a happy ending,” junior Becca Schulte said. “But we were the first ever team to go to state which is something to be excited about. I’m really proud of the girls.”
The clock struck midnight once the Shox played in Atlanta, losing to the Louisville Cardinals in the Final Four. Louisville had a little extra motivation because one of the five starters had arguably the most gruesome injury in college basketball history. The image of Kevin Ware lying motionless on the sideline with his leg bone showing as everyone around is hiding his or her eyes is maybe even a larger story than Ware starting for the Cardinals the first game of the 20132014 season.
Spo
36
As the Louisville Cardinals win the school’s first national championship since 1986 they celebrate their huge victory. Just a few months later the Miami Heat won their second straight NBA title. The Heat bandwagon seems to be growing larger as does the Jordan vs. James “Greatest of all time” conversation.
Sports | 21 Boston tragedy brought unity to city, teams “Every year I say ‘Chiefs are going to the Super Bowl’ but I never actually believe it,” junior Brock Schaffer said. “After about the third game I actually started to believe that they could go all the way.”
orts
65
“I was so happy the Sox won,” senior Austin McKenna said. “Coming off of the bombing and then the championship seemed to unify the city.”
S
ome people may not consider running a sport, but everyone can agree that the Boston “Bombing” Marathon was nothing to sell short. This twenty-six point two mile race was cut short due to a band of brothers’ detonating bombs close to the finish line. These bombs resulted in three deaths and two hundred sixty-four injuries. This event seemed to have united the United States and for sure the city of Boston as the Red Sox held moments of silence before their World Series games. Some say the Red Sox won on pure talent and hard work, others say they had extra motivation, or to win for the city of Boston and the victims of the Boston Bombing. The players will never tell their secret, but everyone witnessed greatness when team captain David Ortiz belted two home runs and brought in six runs for the Sox. Being named World Series Most Valuable Player, Ortiz could not control his emotions and accidentally cursed on live television.
(Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald/MCT)
(Zia Nizami/Belleville News-Democrat/
Football brought upsets, changes, stability
The era of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) comes to a close after the 2013 season and no bowl series seems to have been more exciting. Auburn beats Alabama in the Iron Bowl on the famous “Kick Six,” Kansas State wins the Buffalo Wild Wings Bow, and Oklahoma upsets the Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS Sugar bowl. Texas A&M miraculously overcomes a 21 point deficit and closing it out Jameis Winston was able to overcome rape charges and be named the Heisman Trophy winner walking away from his freshman year with a BCS National Championship ring on his finger. With the Kansas City Chiefs finishing the 2012 season with only two wins and no coach, they were asking questions only Andy Reid could answer. The Chiefs have not won a playoff game in nearly twenty years; Reid and the Chiefs were trying to break the streak and fell short. This is nothing to be disappointed about for Chief fans because this was more than a step in the right direction. The Chiefs now have a feeling of stability in a solid coach, quarterback, and running back in Jamaal Charles. One team the Chiefs were not able to trump in 2013 was the division rival Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning appears to be full health, breaking a total of seven records. These records included most passing touchdowns in a season-fifty-five-most passing yards in a season-fivethousand four-hundred seventy-seven-most games with four touchdowns,-nine-most games with two touchdowns-fifteen-tied the record for most games with four-hundred yards passingfour-most games with a passer rating of ninety or higher-fifth-teen. All these records mean is that Manning and the Denver offense was nearly impossible to stop averaging almost thirty-eight points a game. STORIES, TYLER HARRIS PAGE, BLAIR PULLMAN, ASHLEY KRAMER PHOTOS, MCT CAMPUS (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)
22 | Sports Briefs
Boys dominate Ark City
T
Darraja Parnell, sophomore, goes for the lay up in the Ark City game. Parnell had 19 points to the Jags’ 62-32 win. JOHN JACOBSEN PHOTO
he Jaguars took on the Arkansas City Bulldogs for the 2014 Winter Homecoming match up. The Jags dominated the entire way, jumping to a seven-point lead right off the bat in the first quarter. “We got off to a great start, feeding the ball down low really well. Then with that, guys on the edge were able to hit some big threes,” senior Chris Forbes said. The student section did “Silent Night” in the first part of the game, waiting until the boys scored ten points to make a single noise. It did not take long to score that much, and when ten points was reached the crowd went crazy. They resumed the game after halftime at the same tempo as the first half, building their lead. The Jags sliced easily through the Bulldog defense, scoring almost at will. Darraja Parnell, sopho-
more, led the Jags with 19 points, usually driving to the basket, with multiple assists coming from Forbes. Forbes also had a double-double that night, with 11 points and 11 rebounds. “This was a good confidence building game for us with big games against Maize, Andover, and Goddard Eisenhower coming up. [The games] will be tough, but if we play to our potential, then we will be alright,” senior Logan Kirkhart said. The Jaguars defeated Andover at Andover High before Christmas on a lastsecond shot from Zane Downing, senior, and were beat by the Eisenhower Tigers at home. If the Jags can win those two games, they will make big jumps in the League Standings. The Jags play Andover at home on February 7, and then travel to Goddard Eisenhower on the 11th. Both are AVCTLII match ups. JAMESON O’CONNOR
Wrestlers set sights on State Girls beat Bulldogs, restlers worked hard this season to reach goals like making it to State and learning from mistakes. Eagles, improve to 8-2 “I feel like we are doing pretty well, we’ve had a lot
F
ollowing a 68-22 win over the Ark City Bulldogs, the Lady Jags improved their record to 8-2 with a win against the Maize Eagles. “We had to make sure we played our game well and didn’t overlook anyone and play too lightly,” junior Becca Schulte said. Schulte scored 11 points in the Ark City game and contributed eight points in the win over Maize. “Homecoming night was super fun. I thought we executed great and it’s always nice when one of the girls gets to be homecoming queen. We also beat Maize on Tuesday, who is one of the top teams in state. It was an excellent win for the program. It was an absolute team effort and there will be times where we are a little outsized, but I have the confidence the girls will find a way to outwork everyone else,” head coach Stana Jefferson said. The girls’ win over Maize showed the potential this team has. “I think we all realized after the Maize game how good we could play as a team. Even when you’re the underdog, you can still win and shouldn’t give up,” sophomore Amanda Kakoulias said. The girls are hoping for success as a team in state. “We just have really good chemistry cause we are all friends. If we continue to play together as a team, it shouldn’t be a problem to make it to state,” Schulte said. STORY, PAGE KAYLEE GUNZELMAN
W
of people step up, making the team good,” sophomore Grant Schoonover said. The team did not do as well as they had hoped against Andover and lost for the first time in 12 years. “We had a lot of matches that we definitely could have done better in,” Schoonover said. With about a month left in the season, the team set the bar high as they prepared for State. “My individual goal would be to win the State Championship and a goal for the team would be to win the State Championship as well,” sophomore Dakota Rodd said. Winning a duel always leaves the wrestlers feeling great. “Getting my hand raised after I win is probably my favorite overall experience,” Rodd said. The team recently finished 17 of 27 at the two-day tournament in Newton, one of the biggest tournaments of the season. “When we had down time most of us would try to take a nap or eat a little bit; when people on our team were wrestling, we’d watch them. We kind of just hung out and talked to other teams and stuff like that,” Schoonover said. ASHLEY KRAMER Looking to pin his opponent, sophomore Dakota Rodd wrestles in the Newton Tournament. MIRANDA ANAYA PHOTO
Sports | 23
Striving for perfection Bowling proves to be a challenge
T
he bowling team, lead by new head coach Doug Snyder begin their season. The team has several bowlers with a lot of experience. Many bowlers play in leagues outside of school during the offseason, but agree that school bowling is different. “School bowling is more challenging. You go head to head against people. A girl from each school bowls in the same lane as you. There are usually about two other schools at our meets,” freshman Natalie Howarter said. The bowling team practices just like any other team. “We have a meeting before each practice and then we bowl three games While they are laid back, we still have to focus so we can fix the things we are doing wrong,” junior Caley Wheeler said. Although practicing outside of school may not come easy to others, it is something senior Keri Ladigo puts a lot of time into. “I practice everyday during the offseason. I usually bowl a few games. Sometimes I work on stairs, and other days I’ll work on changing my target so I become more versatile,” she said. They say practice makes perfect, and in Ladigo’s case, this is absolutely true. “My record is 300, which is a perfect game. I have bowled three of those,” Ladigo said. Bowling poses mental differences from other sports. “Bowling is different from other sports because it is a mind game; if you are mad or something, you are not going to bowl as well. We’re not like other sports like volleyball, or football that have set plays,” Wheeler said. Despite the work that they put in, bowlers agree that they do not gain the recognition that they deserve. “I wish people recognized it more, not just our school, but everyone because we put in a lot of work and people don’t realize how hard bowling actually is,” Ladigo said.
PICTURED IS FRESHMAN, ADRIAN PEREZ PAGE, STORY BLAIR PULLMAN PHOTO, MEREDITH MOXLEY
Homecoming game vs. Ark City 1.
2. 3.
6.
4. 5.
1. In the annual boy-girl dance, senior Gabby Ale-Ebrahim performs the girl’s section of the routine. PHOTO JOHN JACOBSEN 2. After winning homecoming king, senior Jackson Mace takes a selfie with queen Skyler Snodgrass. PHOTO EVAN FRUHAUF 3. Masen Stamp, junior, goes up for a layup in the Homecoming game against Ark City. The girls beat Ark City 68-22. PHOTO EVAN FRUHAUF 4. Members of the student section senior Lauren Gould, junior Jacob Thompson, and senior Kier Stamp cheer for the boy’s basketball team. PHOTO JOHN JACOBSEN 5. Bryan Brison, senior, and junior Andy Robles dance at Black Light Ball. “Black Light Ball was very successful. The administration was very pleased and the dance will continue next year,” Student Body President Katie Kretchmar said. PHOTO ZAC ARNHOLD 6. Cheerleaders hit their final pose after completing the Homecoming routine at the pep assembly Friday morning. PHOTO SIERRA SWENSON PAGE KENZIE ALLISON, COVER DESIGN EVAN FRUHAUF