April 2019 Issue

Brookfield Central Tyro

April 2019

1 6 9 0 0 W. G E B H A R D T R D .

BROOKFIELD, WISCONSIN

VOL 66 ISSUE 5

Boys’ Basketball wins first state championship for Brookfield Central

The boys’ basketball team emerges victorious over the Sun Prarie Cardinals to clutch the gold ball

Neha Ajjampore and Jahnavi Hansaria

H

undreds of fans gathered at the Kohl Center on March 16 to cheer on the boys basketball team at the Division 1 State Basketball Championship. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as Brookfield Central went head-tohead on the court against Sun Prairie High School. Finally, after an intense game of impressive talent and sportsmanship, the Lancers claimed the title of state champions with a final score of 69-52.

Emotions were running high for everyone, both on and off the court.

“Our main concern was that the boys were able to settle in and handle the emotions of the championship game,” reflected boys basketball head coach Dan Wandrey. Cole Nau (‘19) described the nerves he felt as the game began: “Obviously, going out there and playing at state is going to get you nervous. But I was confident that our team had what we needed and prepared well enough,” he continued.

Even with all of the distractions, David Joplin (‘21) noted that he and his teammates were laser-focused.

“We knew we had a job to do, so we wasted no time and took control of the game,” he says. “As those early moments went by,” Wandrey added, “it was obvious that our boys were dialed in and ready to play.”

Andrew Rohde (‘22) shared the thoughts that raced through his head during the initial moments of the

NIRBHAY VIG

Narrowlly dodging an opponent, David Joplin (‘21) sprints down the court., ball in hand. Though only a sophomore, Joplin is one of the key players on the team and has received recognition for his contributions (see awards box below). “Being [a] part of school history is awesome, especially being the first [state champs]. Knowing our group is one of the most special BC has seen is cool to think about,” said Joplin.

game: “I was thankful to be able to be in the position me and the team were in. Lots of people don’t get to experience that feeling of playing in the Kohl center.” Rohde caught attention as the only freshman on the varsity team. He dedicated his success in part to his siblings, who “made [him] understand how much time and dedication you need to play this game.”

The team made BC history this year by becoming the first boys’ basketball team to bring home a WIAA State Championship title. Recounting the happiness that came in the moment when the buzzer sounded, Joplin stated that he felt relieved that their goal was finally achieved. “After that game,” he said, “it was hard not to find a smile on our faces.”

Nau remarked on the pride that he and his teammates felt that day, saying, “It’s really special to know that you’re the first team to bring that gold ball back for the sport of basketball.”

In addition, Rohde asserted that he felt honored to be part of school history. “It is something I will never forget, with the best teammates I could ask for,” he said.

The victory was undeniably meaningful to everyone, but it was especially so for the team’s head coach.

“To see [the team’s] hard work, determination and togetherness be rewarded with a state championship was an amazing feeling,” stated Wandrey.

He accredited the win to the resolve of each member: “We faced our fair share of adversity throughout the season, but it never rattled our players.”

A major part of the team’s success is attributed to the bond between the players. “The boys believed in themselves and believed in each other from the first day of the season. That unselfish attitude was on display as we made our way through the playoffs,” said Wandrey. The players seemed to agree. Joplin elaborated on the cohesion of the team, noting that “…the chemistry made our team successful because each game we got better and better at learning each other and how we want to play.” Furthermore, Nau stated, “I’d say the bonds that the guys created off the court [made our team successful]…we had

a lot of easy guys to talk to, everyone was very outgoing and I thought that really brought our team together.”

Aside from a trophy and a state champion title, the players took home with them life lessons that don’t just apply to their time on the basketball

those early “As moments went by,

it was obvious that our boys were dialed in and ready to play. ~ Dan Wandrey

court. Nau credited Coach Wandrey with teaching him to stay positive and keep pushing through. “He was very positive with us and he kept saying to me, ‘You can do this’…so I think that’s something that can be helpful with anything in life.” Joplin reflected on his growth throughout the entire season. “This season was filled with pressure and adversity,” he stated, “and once we overcame it, our confidence was through the roof.”

It is, without a doubt, the perseverance and grit of each and every player that ultimately drove Brookfield Central to become WIAA State Champions.

NIRBHAY VIG

NIRBHAY VIG

Coach Dan Wandrey proudly accepts the golden ball after the Lancers claim their victory against Sun Prairie.

“Every team wants to end their season hoisting the gold ball, and to actually experience that was incredible, said Wandrey. “I couldn’t be happier for our players! I am extremely proud of them as well!”

Cole Nau (‘19) drives the ball down the court, tailed by a player from Sun Prarie. “It’s really special to know that you’re the first team to bring that gold ball back for the sport of basketball,” said Nau, “To come back [in the future] and see the trophy, that’d be sweet.”

NIRBHAY VIG

NIRBHAY VIG

TEAM + INDIVIDUAL AWARDS All-Freeman Coach of the Year: Dan Wandrey All-Freeman First Team: Cole Nau All-Freeman Second Team: David Joplin Honorable Mention All-State: David Joplin First Team All-State: Cole Nau Milwaukee Journal Sentinal Coach of the Year: Dan Wandrey Milwaukee Journal Sentinal Second Team All Area: Cole Nau Milwaukee Journal Sentinal Honorable Mention All Area: David Joplin Left: Cole Nau (‘19) follows through on a successful shot. Nau plans to continue his basketball career at Hillsdale College, a Division Two school in Michigan. There he will also be pursuing a degree in finance.

Jack Anderson (‘19) holds up a sign proclaiming the Kohl Center as the “Cole Center” in honor of team captain Cole Nau (‘19).

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BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

APRIL 2019

prom

Red carpet rolled out for Melton and Cape, 2019 prom king and queen

Stephanie Chen Editor-in-Chief

Junior class celebrates Nights in Vegas; Grand March on catwalk

A

sea of colors presses up against the catwalk as the 2019 prom court lines up on stage. Each of the twelve girls holds a rose wrapped in navy blue paper in their hand, waiting for the cue. 2018 prom queen Lila Nelson (‘19) steps on stage, ready to pass on the crown. All eyes are on the girls as they begin to unravel their roses. White.

White. And then a blossom of red emerges. Cheers erupt and clapping ensues as Nelson places the crown on the head of the 2019 prom queen: Leah Cape.

Earlier in the year, planning for prom 2019 ran into a snag when it was discovered that the InterContinental Hotel, the traditional prom site for BC, was under construction. This meant that the staircase was no longer available for the Grand March. Instead, the Grand March was held in the main gym at BC. When the news first got out, most of the junior

class was apprehensive. The elegance of the staircase had made it a prime spot for pictures--a popular prom activity.

In comparison, the gym, while useful for large group yearbook shots, was not what most would envision as the backdrop of a prom photoshoot.

Principal Mr. Gruetzmacher, however, came through with his promise to make the march spectacular. With the help of the BC theater crew, a catwalk lined with lights was set up in the main gym. To complete the Las Vegas feel, ceiling lightning was reduced to sweeping spotlights, and a large screen was set up to project the pairs and trios as they walked down. Junior class advisor Mrs. Linnihan opened the event before handing the mic off to Mr. Fuchs. Most participants walked in pairs or groups of three, but two chose to walk alone: Will Whitaker (‘20) and Rylah Kluck (‘20). Both

received well-deserved applause for this.

At the conclusion of the march, prom court was invited back on stage for the coronation of prom queen and king.

Through the unveiling of a red rose, Leah Cape was named queen, receiving the crown from Nelson; Desmon Melton received his crown as king from Adarsh Rajaraman (‘19). Though a large portion of the junior class expected it, Cape was surprised to receive the title: “I felt honored just by getting nominated among so many other great candidates for prom court. Honestly, I was a little nervous and surprised to have been selected at the grand march, but I’m so glad that I got to experience it with Des!” The two went down the red carpet amid cheers from their peers. All together, from 5:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., prom lasted for almost ten hours, but for many, the experience will last them a lifetime.

ALAN HERZBERG

Arms linked, Jacob Tan (‘20) and Caroline Durham (‘20) stride down the runway, this year’s alternative to the staircase typically used for the Grand March. Tan and Durham were the third couple in the march.

Promposals of the year: Chobani flip, Distinguished Young Women, & music Neha Ajjampore Features Editor

Anja Logan & Leonardo Ruiz

Michael Linnihan & Riley Feng

Chandra Chouhan & Jonah Morioka A Chobani flip in hand, Jonah Morioka (‘20) and Chandra Chouhan (‘20) pose with Morioka’s promposal poster. The promposal incorporated both Chouhan’s nickname, Chobani, and her love for Chobani flips. As a joke, Chouhan had rejected Morioka at first, but in the end, the promposal still won her over. “It was really cute and personal. I’m excited to go [to prom] with Jonah.”

BELLA POST

ELLEN LINNIHAN

NEHA AJJAMPORE

Not only did Riley Feng (‘20) win the title of Distinguished Young Woman of Brookfield, she also won a DYW promposal complete with flowers. Junior class liason Michael Linnihan (‘20) delivered his promposal in the classroom of junior class and DYW advisor Mrs. Linnihan. Feng was pleasantly surprised by the gesture: “I was totally not expecting it at all that day!”

In the classic BC student hangout area of the one and only band room, Anja Logan (‘20) is all smiles as she accepts her promposal from Leo Ruiz (‘20). With both Logan and Ruiz as band students, the musical theme of the promposal is no surprise. “I was really excited when he asked me, and I really liked the sign he made,” said Logan.

ALAN HERZBERG

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LAS VEGAS

2018 ing Twenties Roar The

2016 Hollywood 2015 Ancient Greece

2014 Great Gatsby

2010 Alice in Wonderland

2011 A Midnight in Rome 2009 A Night in Times Square

2012 Lost City of Atlantis 2013 Masquerade

2008 Masquerade 2007 Never, Never Land

2006 James Bond

2017 Secret Garden

2019 Prom Court: (Top row, left to right): Tylan Farrokhnia, Matt Mauermann, Peter Jeong, Connor Bednar, Ben Seegert, Liam Flatley, Michael Crivello, Warren Treis, Leo Ruiz, Charlie Uczen, Ryan Johnson. (Bottom row, left to right): Emily Busch, Ananya Rajesh, Ellery Prusko, Carissa Kinnart, Mary Quinn, Rhea Ramachandran, Bobbie Knopp, Nicole Yang, Anja Logan, Chandra Chouhan, Sydney Smith

Stephanie Chen Editor-in-Chief

Prom themes through the years

From James Bond to Las Vegas

2019 Prom Queen and King Leah Cape and Desmon Melton

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

APRIL 2019

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activities

Young Democrats offer a unique platform to express thoughts for eager students Three students band together to form new political club at BC in order to improve political awareness Julianne Sun Entertainment Editor

T

here’s a new club in town which will allow students to make their voices heard and to engage in pressing real-world issues.

Founded by Chandra Chouhan (‘20), Kevin Jacobson (‘19), and Ananya Rajesh (‘20), along with Mr. Keir as the advisor, the High School Democrats of Wisconsin is a club that is devoted to getting students more involved in politics - and not just from a Democratic point of view.

When asked about the origins of this new club, Chouhan said that “it all started in AP Seminar, when I asked Kevin, ‘hey, do you want to start this club,’ because in light of the 2016 election and what’s been going on in terms of national administration and in our country, we wanted to bring more people to school who identified with the ideals of the Democratic party. We want to bring more involvement in the community and the general area, so we started this to do more work for the community.”

Jacobson agreed with Chouhan and immediately gelled with her proposal: “I already knew of some groups like the Democrats of Waukesha, and I just wanted to bring that to a high school level.” At such a level, after all, people will be able to look at

that branch.

As for looking towards the future, the sky’s the limit. Jacobson commented point-blank that “the Waukesha county and the surrounding areas are inherently Republican, and we know that a lot of students probably

“Most students aren’t aware of the political

culture and climate and getting them involved will help them become more informed citizens.

~ Ananya Rajesh (‘20) more pieces of the picture instead of having only a myopic view of what they see on the news or hear on the streets.

According to Chouhan, there are fourteen high school chapters of the Democratic party, but Brookfield is lacking; this is also another reason for Jacobson and Chouhan to open

don’t agree with their parents views, and don’t have anywhere where they can express themselves. We just want to offer them that opportunity.”

Chouhan also mentioned that “the county branch of our club has a lot of community events that we’re hoping to eventually be a part of and send people to volunteer at.”

Since the High School Democrats of Wisconsin is inherently a political club, one can’t help but ask a few uncomfortable questions. The name of the club has Democrats in the title, after all. Where did all of the Republicans go? Chouhan and Jacobson, however, seem to have already solved that problem. “We had actually talked to Republicans in our school about starting a Republican equivalent, and we don’t intend to try to push for the support of the Democratic party at all; it’s just to bring people who are interested and who want to be more aware. We don’t intend to campaign for any party or to change anyone’s views. It’s just to get people involved.” The Republican equivalent that Chouhan mentioned, by the way, was supposed to be introduced at the same time as the Democrats of Wisconsin. The Democrats just got around to starting their club sooner.

While there may be a imbalance in the political clubs at Central, it (hope-

fully) won’t be for long.

If the Republican branch ever does come into existence, Jacobson (‘19) hopes that there is amiable competitiveness and understanding between both clubs. As a part of the club’s potential future, Jacobson and Chouhan were looking towards joint meetings with the Republican club to have political discussions on current events. By approaching adversarial feelings in this manner, the Young Democrats of Wisconsin hope to educate other people on the issues that they speak about - issues that will still be tinged with politics, but will also offer them a broader view of the world.

At the very least, everyone can agree on the fact that voters should always be as informed as possible, whether they’re a Republican or a Democrat (or somewhere in between).

Science Olympiad State concludes Niyati Hansaria Reporter

WISCONSINSO.ORG

Sophie LaRose (‘19) and Bonnie Jin (‘19) team up for Disease Detectives, one of the first events of the day. The event consists of a written exam in which participants are asked to answer some questions on public health and common diseases, analyze an actual or hypothetical outbreak, identify patterns with a provided set of data, and propose prevention strategies. This is the third year LaRose and Jin have participated in this particular event.

WISCONSINSO.ORG

Right: Zara Ammar (‘20) and Shweta Panda (‘20) put their heads together as they work on the written exam for Fermi Questions. In the event, students are supposed to roughly estimate quantities that are either impossible or extremely difficult to measure directly. Some examples include estimating the number of water droplets in the ocean and estimating the number of United States dollar bills it would take to equal the weight of a school bus.

Answers are given in the form of a power of ten, making guesstimation a bit easier. Panda offers up a rule of thumb for guessing: “When in doubt, pick five.”

#Ready for it: BC DECA ready to take on ICDC 2019 Stephanie Chen and Rajat Mittal

After a successful state competition in early March, 22 competitors will be heading off to the DECA International Career Development Conference(ICDC) in Orlando, Florida. These are some of the best DECA competitors in the state who have some big shoes to fill! Last year in Atlanta, GA, Grace Chialiva (BC ‘18) placed second in the world which was a huge moment for BC DECA. This year, BC is competing in thirteen different categories, including projects, roleplays, and the SBE Academy. ICDC officially begins with the opening session on Saturday, April 27 and ends with grand awards on the last day of April. During that

time, competitors will go through testing (Sunday), preliminary competition (Monday), and possibly finals (Tuesday) should they qualify. Senior Janani Sundar holds an optimistic outlook on the competition itself: “I feel that we have a pretty strong team this year, and I expect us to do well.

Obviously there will be a lot of competition since it is internationals, but I think we are well prepared to put up a good fight.”

The competitors are also looking forward to enjoying their Florida experience. Julianne Sun (‘20) said, “The competition is definitely a big part of it, but I’m going for the experience. After districts and state, you

just kind of feel like you put in all the work to get to where you are, and now you can just relax.” On their first full day in Orlando, BC is scheduled for a day at Universal Studios. For Sun, this is expected to be a highlight of the trip. “I’ve always loved The Wizarding World of Harry Potter because I’m a Potterhead, so that’s definitely part of the allure. I’m really excited to revisit that and Universal this year because I’ll be experiencing everything with my friends instead of my (sometimes obnoxious) family.” BC will also be visiting Cocoa Beach and Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot parks to conclude the trip. Good luck to our Lancer competitors at ICDC!

There were many students who represented Brookfield Central at the Science Olympiad State Competition on March 16th. Participants from more than 45 schools met at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, with the hopes of showing off their scientific skills. The competition included up to 36 different events. Students were to come prepared to display their knowledge in a vast amount of topics, ranging from computer coding to human body systems. Though the preparations and hard work the students put in paid off, the road to qualify and perform at their highest wasn’t an easy one.

The competition started off with a regional qualifier that happened 2-3 months in advance at the University of Milwaukee. Students were required to demonstrate proficiency in areas like being able to perform laboratory experiments in a chemistry-oriented environment, build and program their own mechatronic devices, construct an architecture and engineering-oriented design (much like Rube Goldberg) to accomplish a task, and take tests assessing their knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, along with those of other species in the animal kingdom.

Teams of two people covered every category and rounds lasted the entire day, as students braved the freezing cold weather and rushed across every inch of the vast campus trying to reach events on time. “It was an in-

tense amount of pressure and nerves all bundled up into a weekend full of science and engineering,” recollects Jahnavi Hansaria, one of the competitors who qualified for the state competition.

After passing the regional qualifier, the intensity that came with state was even greater, and this time 16 students would have to cover the 30+ events that would take place the day of competition. Students gathered on a bus and withstood a 4-hour long ride to the Stout campus the Friday before the actual event. Upon reaching, the preparations began and the weekend passed by filled with tests, lab coats, numbers, and equations.

While the event was an experience filled with celebration and weekend with friends, there were disappointments too. Our team did not place for any of the events, thus making the journey bittersweet.

However, the defeat only made them more determined and encouraged to perform better for future years - and to encourage others interested in science to join the club. Manasvi Paturu, a sophomore who competed in this year’s regional event supports this.“Science Olympiad is something that all students should consider participating in because you don’t necessarily have to be very good at a certain event to compete in it. It’s a great way to experience something new and make friends - while learning things along the way.”

ANNOUNCEMENTS Fall 2019 Musical: Hunchback of Note Dame State Forensics Awards Ravina Sachdev (‘19): 3rd Poetry Acting Shweta Panda (‘20): 4th Info Speaking Sophie LaRose (‘19): Finalist Oratory Rayyana Hassan (‘21): Finalist Extemp. Speaking Upcoming Events French Trip Meeting: April 23 @ 5 p.m., library French Club Cooking: April 26 after school

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BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

APRIL 2019

features

Student musician receives award for solo jazz performance at Charles Mingus Competition Bassist Hannah Sternberg (‘19) shares her journey through music and the events that led up to her achievement Niyati Hansaria Reporter

P

eople say that music has the power to bring people together and turn around the saddest of days into the happiest. BC senior Hannah Sternberg’s musical talent has earned her recognition; her passion for music and her dedication towards the arts shined through when she became the recipient of the Jazz Outstanding Soloist award. I sat down with her to learn more about her journey and how she received this prestigious title.

When did you first Qstart to become in:

volved in music?

A

: I started playing music when I was five when a violin teacher would come to our school every Thursday and give lessons. I really liked it, so my parents started giving me private lessons. Over the years I loved playing but never thought about it besides being a hobby. In middle school, I started to get into jazz and played violin in jazz band when I was in eighth grade. Once I got to high school, I knew I had to be in the jazz band. I walked up to Mr. Gillette, and he told me directly that violins were not normal in a jazz band, and he liked to keep things authentic. I told him I wanted to be in it no matter what, so he recommended that I learn the bass and join.

The very next week I walked in to rehearsal, and he looked surprised to see me so soon. Thus, I started jazz through school, and eventually got heavily involved with the Wisconsin

Conservatory of Music’s jazz institute and classical areas.

LEIKO NAPOLI PHOTOGRAPHY

What are your Qcurrent or recent :

involvements in music?

A

: I was in the Symphony orchestra freshman year, and then moved up to Chamber, along with starting Jazz Band in freshman year.

I have also been in the pit orchestra on violin for the musicals Oliver and Cinderella, and I played bass for Newsies. Outside of school, I am in the Wisconsin Intergenerational Orchestra (three years) on bass and violin. Furthermore, I am a part of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music’s Jazz Institute. That is a program that meets for 3-hour sessions once a week, including one hour of jazz combos, one hour of music theory, and one hour of Big Band jazz. At the Conservatory, I am involved in their Advanced Chamber Music Institute.

Tell us about the Qaward you received. :

A

: At the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, I rose to their top jazz group after two years of dedication.

We are called the Batterman Ensemble, and we went to New York in February for a competition. There I won the Outstanding Soloist award.

Our coach at the Conservatory, Eric Jacobson, said he wanted us to try learning some new tunes for a competition. The competition was called the Charles Mingus Compe-

“I was not expecting the award at all...I was so happy to be chosen for such an amazing honor; I never thought I would get that — not even in my wildest dreams.” tition, dedicated to Charles Mingus, a very well known bass player who wrote hundreds of tunes. We had to play three of his songs for the video application. Our expectations were very low about getting in, since only

three groups were chosen to perform in New York. But after a month, we heard back and found out we made it!

Upon reaching the site of the competition, we decided to rehearse.

I had planned on taking a solo on our

slowest song, but my coach figured the performance would go over our time limit if I did, so the day before the performance, he switched what song I would solo on. I had one run through to practice. To add, when you solo or walk a bassline in jazz, you improvise — make it up as you go while following the chords.

The day of the competition, I didn’t feel confident, but I played through it. We came back for the awards ceremony, and that was when I found out I won. The members of the Charles Mingus Big Band chose me for this honor after listening to all of the groups. That night, I got to sit in with the Mingus Big Band and play on the same bass as the late Charles Mingus. I was not expecting the award at all, since I only started bass three years ago, whereas the people in this competition have been practicing for months, and had taken more than one solo during their performance that day. I was so happy to be chosen for such an amazing honor; I never thought I would get that — not even in my wildest dreams.

Hannah’s goals for the future include a profession in the arts, most likely as an orchestra teacher. She has already started preparing herself for this role, by starting an Independent Study in Music Theory with Mr. Gillette and involving herself with the LAUNCH Future Teachers program.

“I have learned through experience, and the class of LAUNCH that I do love to teach, and I can see myself doing it for the rest of my life,” she says. Congratulations to Hannah, and good luck to her on future endeavors!

Anonymous meme accounts poke fun at BC on Instagram; owners share inspiration behind posts Run by students, the pages gained popularity by posting lighthearted memes centered around school events Stephanie Chen Editor-in-Chief

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, in the depths of space floated an object like no other. There were no words to describe it. It had no definite shape, carried no definite message. It simply existed, unknown to the rest of the universe. Then one day, three BC students, the “OG kings,” stumbled upon it. This, according to the current masterminds behind the username, was the start of Brookfield Central’s iconic @lancer.memes.

The current account holders inherited the page after its owners graduated in June 2018. “We are forever grateful to the OG GODS,” they said, “We know some snitches out there are upset about how much content we put out, but we’d rather keep the legendary status and quality over quantity.”

With 842 followers and a legacy left behind by its previous owners, the account has a reputation to uphold.

Following precedent, @lancer. memes makes all of its content itself. Most of the time, inspiration is drawn from current school events and trends. From Radium Girls to the ACT to Boys Basketball State, anytime something noteworthy occurs at BC, a new meme can be expected. @lancer.memes’ most recent post: a “NOT CLICKBAIT” identity reveal video clip that first shows a freshly printed meme, then pans to a hooded figure whose face is revealed to be… associate principal Mr. Bauer.

As with most meme accounts, the true identities of the people running @lancer.memes remains a mystery — even to the Tyro staff. And despite the implications, its most recent post does not appear to have dropped any real hints. For @lancer.memes, however, each meme serves its own purpose. The main objective: to serve the students of BC. “We love when people DM us about how our meme page has brightened their day,” they stated.

When looking ahead to the next year, @lancer.memes will continue to be passed down from one meme master to another. The two candidate requirements are quite simple: one, continuing the lighthearted spirit of the page, and two, maintaining the “secrecy of the brotherhood.”

Inspired by the pioneers of Lancer meme pages, new this year are several other Instagram meme accounts, each with its own focus. From music to foreign languages, meme pages have become the go-to place for class-based inside jokes (case in point: “You’re a 500 lb canary,” a statement in the form of a text message on a @bcchoirmemes post in March). Still, a good portion of the memes posted on these accounts can be appreciated by all members of BC, regardless of whether or not they fully understood the reference. To give a brief rundown, here are two of BC’s most noteworthy meme accounts:

‘Jason Gillette,’ @lancer_band_memes

‘Choir Memes,’ @bcchoirmemes Like the band meme page, @bcchoirmemes started up in November 2018 with one account creator. Now, three people run the account. For the most part, choir memes are created by finding meme templates and applying current events to them. Though @bcchoirmemes does not have a favorite meme so far, their work is rewarded whenever Mrs. Hickmann references the account in class — a common daily opener, although Mrs. Hickmann is still in the dark on who runs the account. When asked about the motivation behind the page, the creator said, “Meme pages are an extension of the student voice...It represents the general mood or culture of the student populace.” @BCCHOIRMEMES

@LANCER_BAND_MEMES

Named after BC’s favorite band teacher, @lancer_band_memes started out as a meme page for band students, though it later expanded to include outside topics. For the most part, the account’s creation was one of individual effort. The creator felt that @lancer.memes wasn’t updating as frequently as expected, and they wanted to fill the gap with their own memes. Specifically, memes about band. “I said something along the lines of ‘I’m going to make a meme account, but just for band because nobody else deserves memes,’ and was instantly told I would never be able to gain popularity. Spurred on by this, I threw together the page,” they described. Mr. Gillette is apparently aware of the account’s existence but has no clue as to who runs it and has yet to reference it in class.

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

APRIL 2019

features

“Double trouble”: BC twins

Freshman: George and Grace Katsekes

Jahnavi Hansaria Reporter

DISCLAIMER: Spot the fake twins!!!

Birthday: September 3rd Who’s Older: George is a minute older Similarity: Playing piano and board games Difference: Grace swims and George likes playing video games

“When you have a twin, you grow up with there being someone to share your memories with and when you’re apart there’s a sense of feeling lonely without them being there with you because there has always been someone right next to you for your whole life.”

- Grace Katsekes (‘22)

GRACE KATSEKES

GRACE KATSEKES

Sophomore: Gina and Joeseph Alteri Stephanie Chen Editor-in-Chen

Birthday: July 25 Who’s Older: Joseph, by one minute Similarity: They both play sports Difference: They are two different genders

MARY BETH ALTERI

“It’s like having a normal sibling.

We’re always together on vacations and stuff. It’s nice having someone your own age. We’ve worn matching outfits sometimes a few times, kinda funny” - Joseph Alteri (‘21)

]

Emily Otten and Elianne del Campo

SUSAN THOMAS

Junior: Hannah and Mollie Thomas

MARY BETH ALTERI

“Having a twin is honestly not as exciting as most people would think. We don’t have telepathic powers together or our own language, which is kind of a bummer because then I would be really excited about having an identical twin. At times it’s annoying, but that’s just what happens when you Birthday: November 20th Who’s Older: Mollie older by 6 minutes have siblings.”

Similarity: They are both in track - Hannah Thomas (‘20)

y

Difference: Mollie is more extroverted than Hannah

MOLLIE THOMAS

Senior: Benjamin and Elizabeth Tan Janani Sundar Editor-in-Chief

Birthday: November 4th Who’s Older: Ben is older by 2 minutes Similarity: Neither of them play any serious sports Difference: Ben plays the viola and Elizabeth plays the violin

“When I was ten, me and Ben were sledding and I franctured my leg and he literally had to drag me back to our house.”

- Elizabeth Tan (‘19)

SHANNON TIGER

KRISTEN TAN

Tyro Twins: Ananya and Vibhu Rajesh

GEETHA RAJESH & REVA NAYAR

Birthday: April 1st Who’s Older: Vibhu by 4 months and 3 days Similarity: Both are extroverts, friendly, and Indian Difference: Vibhu has better hair

“Vibhu used to be slightly smarter than me in elementary school; he would always get one place higher than me in the Math Bee. Nice to see that the tables have turned now.”

- Ananya Rajesh (‘20)

GEETHA RAJESH

Stephanie Chen Editor-in-Chief

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BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

APRIL 2019

sports

Cheers from cafeteria: BC gathers support for teen golfer

Updates

Sarah Balding (‘22) places third at Drive-Chip-Putt nationals in final year

Bonnie Jin Reporter

T

he Masters at Augusta National were kicked off with the national Drive, Chip and Putt contest. Accompanied with her coach, Chuck Wood, Sarah Balding (‘22) spent an eventful weekend at the esteemed Augusta National golf course where the Masters take place every year.

Balding’s journey, however, started last summer. To get to Augusta National, she had to place in the top three in local qualifiers, top two in sub regionals and win the regional

qualifier at Whistling Straits. As the name states, each stage is comprised of three parts: driving, chipping, and putting. Each golfer hits three drives, three chips, and three putts. The points given depend on well the shots have been hit and then the players are ranked based off their total score.

As family and friends watched from the BC Cafeteria Sunday morning, April 7, Balding didn’t let the nerves get to her. She feels that she performed very well, stating that “My first drive went out of the grid

because I was a little nervous, but other than that it was good. Obviously, I would change some of my plays, but I’m still very proud of my performance.” From back home, BC students gathered to cheer and wish her luck, even gaining momentary fame on national television.

However, it wasn’t just her achievement that made everything so special. Being able to play at Augusta was “amazing, and I loved the whole experience. It’s something I will never forget”. What Balding

Baseball

experienced was something very few golfers get to, and it is a memory she will definitely treasure. As Chuck Wood says, “Sarah experienced Master’s lore that many have talked about, but few have lived”.

To other golfers, Balding urges them to seek out their potential. “If golf is something you’re passionate about, and you put in the time, your potential is endless. You are the person who controls how well you do, so enjoy the game and try your best!”

BRIAN SCROBEL

• Season score: 2-1-1 Boys Tennis • Finished 15 out of 32 in Coaches Classic Tournament • Overall 4-5 record Boys Track & Field • 2nd place overall at conference • Six 1st place Rashad Lampkin (‘20): 55 meter dash Blake Boles (‘19): 1600 meter run Relays: 4x160 meter, 4x240 meter, 4x400 meter

• Three 2nd place • Five 3rd place Cheer • WACPC State Sportsmanship Winner Gathered in the cafeteria at BC, over 90 students, staff, and community members show their support for Sarah Balding (‘22) as she competes in the Drive, Chip and Putt Nationals at the Augusta National Golf Club. Halfway across the US, the Lancer community scores a chance to be on the Golf Channel as they cheer Balding on.

Freshman varsity wrestler places fourth at state is adjusting to a new coach, a new team, and a new environment. As a result, one of Roth’s biggest challenges was shifting to wrestling at the high school level. When asked about her experience as the only freshman on varsity, Roth replied; “It’s a huge change going from a big 8th grader with everything figured out to a little freshman with no idea how it works.

Going against more experienced seniors can be intimidating and taking more losses can be hard but in the end, it’s all wrestling. Someday I’ll be that senior. It just takes time and I’m willing to be patient.” She continues to keep a positive mindset when approaching the major shifts in her life and does everything she can for the love of this sport.

However successful Roth has proven to be, many personal mental and physical setbacks made it difficult for her to get to where she is today. She added that; “State wasn’t

STACY SCHISEL

• Season score: 3-0 Girls Soccer • Season score: 1-1-1 Girls Track & Field • 2nd Place overall at Conference • Two 1st place Amy Keane(‘19): 55 meter low hurdles Julia Neustedter (‘21): 800 meter run

• Two 2nd place • Four 3rd place Marisa Roth (‘22) squares off against a wrestle from Tomahawk. Being only a freshman, Roth still has four years to continue her varisty wrestling career at BC.

• Indoor State:

my desired conditions and learning to adapt to them and face adversity is something I’ve had to deal with a lot more in high school.” Even further, the dedication she feels to the sport can be seen with her ambitious goals.

Amy Keane (‘19): 6th place high jump & 8th place 55 meter high hurdles

When asked about her long-term projections, Roth expressed to; “keep doing what I enjoy while doing it to the best of my ability. As for now, I want to make the world team and we’ll see where I go from there.”

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Athletes of the Year Nominations

Girls Volleyball: McKenna Wucherer (‘22) Girls Golf: Bonnie Jin (‘19) & Sarah Balding (‘22)

Boys Basketball: Cole Nau (‘19) Boys Swim and Dive: Michael Linnihan (‘20) Girls Hockey: Zoe Sternberg (‘19) & Taelyn Bintzler (‘19) Wrestling: Jake Somlai (‘19)

FALL SPORTS

Football: Drew Laszczynski (‘19) & Rashad Lampkin (‘20)

WINTER SPORTS

Overshadowed by several major events along the Brookfield Central timeline, many staff and students are unaware of another State tournament; one that took place on March 3, at Marshfield High School. Out of the 97 contestants at the all-girls wrestling tournament, freshman Marisa Roth, a hardworking wrestler who continues to push herself, competed as the only female varsity wrestler on behalf of Brookfield Central.

Roth has been wrestling since sixth grade starting at Wisconsin Hills. She has taken part in many demanding wrestling camps such as the legendary J. Robinson Wrestling, a grueling camp that lasted 28 days, filled with countless exhausting drills, which concluded with a 15mile run. From all the strict diets and harsh workouts over the years, she has learned to adapt to many different situations. Nevertheless, one of the biggest transitions for an athlete

Jahnavi Hansaria Reporter

Girls Lacrosse

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

APRIL 2019

entertainment

Mr. Stark, I don’t feel so good about the Avengers: Endgame trailer Nicole Orejuela Reporter

N

early one year ago, the world watched in utmost horror as their favorite heroes vanished in front of their very eyes. With a snap of his fingers, Thanos infamously wiped out half the universe, including Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man. Indeed, the 2018 Kids’ Choice Award winning film Avengers: Infinity War left viewers speechless as they witnessed the deaths of numerous super heroes, leaving the audience practically salivating for clues regarding the fates of the disintegrated Marvel characters. However, information about the highly anticipated sequel remained mum and left the public largely disappointed for months on end— until now. The movie dubbed Avengers: Endgame released its official trailer earlier this March and sparked an immediate media frenzy. In fact, the two-minute clip spread like wildfire throughout the internet as viewers devoured the new material, analyzing each scene with excruciating detail.

Indeed, the suspenseful trailer begins with Tony Stark narrating the

opening scenes from a probe in space as he reminisces his transformation into Ironman. The trailer pushes forward with flashbacks regarding the origins of the oldest heroes (Captain America, Hawkeye, and Thor), followed by powerful individual shots displaying the overwhelming sadness and disbelief generated from the Avengers’ loss to Thanos and the events that transpired thereafter. Nonetheless, the group of resilient warriors band together - with the assistance of characters such as Ant-man, Rocket and Nebula - for a perceived “last ride”. In fact, the last portion of the clip reveals the Avengers wearing flashy new suits to accomplish the task of defeating their most powerful opponent to date, thus resulting in another wave of wild predictions generated by the excited fans.

One more common theory, for example, is that the Avengers will travel back in time through the Quantum Realm with the aid of Scott Lang (Ant-man), since he’s practically an expert in that world, and destroy

Thanos before his “snap of death.”

Moreover, the ending scene of the trailer ties in widely-popular female hero Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel). Danvers’ presence is an obstacle in terms of formulating predictions for the upcoming movie, as her role within the team remains somewhat unclear. Her immense powers became abundantly clear with the release of her personal movie, Captain Marvel, but how do these abilities come in play when fighting Thanos? Danvers certainly adds a necessary boost in terms of raw strength and power, but could her powers be utilized in other ways that extend beyond pure fighting?

The public will undoubtedly develop countless more theories before the eventual release of Avengers: Endgame on April 26, but within all of the questions regarding the overall fates of the characters, the strategy utilized to defeat Thanos, and the various hidden clues revealed in the trailer, one fact remains quite clear this will be a movie that no one wants to miss.

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FLICKR.COM

Tyro Throwback: Mean Girls is still fetch Emily Otten Online Editor

When done correctly, a teen movie can make you feel as if you and your experiences are completely represented on the big screen, as if the writers and director understand high school. When done poorly, as most teen movies are, the flicks just feel like a big budget production company threw a bunch of old men in a writing room and forced them to think about how Jessica would react if Brad didn’t ask her to the prom.

Most modern teen movies have been the latter. Whenever a new Netflix original film advertised for teens is announced I can’t help but feel an enormous sense of dread for the emo-

Dumbo disappoints audiences

FLICKR.COM

Elianne Del Campo Editorials Editor

Like with most original Disney movies that have recently been “brought to life,” audiences usually expect to see the originality of the first movie reflected in the newer, real-life version. Beauty and the Beast is a great example of this. Both the original version and the newer one are immensely similar and both are able to captivate the viewers tremendously. With Dumbo? That was lacking.

It was disappointing to see that there were a lot of differences from the original version in the new version. For example, where was the cute little mouse that helped Dumbo?

In the original movie, he was one of the most important characters. Perhaps this newer version tried to get the two little kids to, possibly, represent the mouse; however, it did not have the same feeling. The movie focused a little bit more than expected on side characters than on Dumbo himself. Additionally, the bond between Dumbo and his mother is one of the most heart-warming aspects of the original movie. In this newer version, the producers skipped that delightful introduction of Dumbo

spending more time with his mother.

The original version of Dumbo lasts one hour and four minutes, while the 2019 version lasts one hour and fifty-two minutes. For that time difference, the producers could have cut off some extra scenes and made the movie less action based and more sentimental. Also, where in the movie did Dumbo appear wearing his iconic yellow hat and flaring red and yellow collar? Because it definitely wasn’t in there. Lastly, the timing of events like when Dumbo first flew or when the bubble elephants appeared was completely off.

Still, even with all of the criticism that, “Dumbo 2.0” did a nice job showing the overall message of self-confidence. It shined not only in Dumbo but also in the little girl’s dream to be a scientist, with the father, and with the other people in the circus. Overall, the movie had great action sequences, and it was very well produced. It is a great movie for families to watch. Nonetheless, the biggest disappointment was that the audience was not able to feel proper nostalgia found in the original version of Dumbo.

tionless attempt this new movie will be. That’s why Mean Girls sticks out in my head as the perfect teen movie.

Call me basic, but Mean Girls takes the outline of one of these aforementioned dry and detached teen flicks and pairs it with Tina Fey’s incredible sense of humor to create a relatable and hilarious film.

Mean Girls uses every single trope in the book: the new girl, the three popular girls (the queen bee, the dumb blonde, the cynical best friend), and the quirky teacher. Even with all these tropes, the film is able to pull off the cheesiness of a teen flick and pair it with that raw and relatable emotion

should “We all just

stab Caesar!

“

“She doesn’t

”

even go here!

~ Gretchen Wieners

It’s like I have ESPN or something.

“ ”

~ Karen Smith

that makes a perfect teen movie.

Not only that, but Mean Girls has withstood time and still remains relevant today. Everyone knows the iconic quotes from “We should all just stab Caesar!” to “It’s like I have ESPN or something” to everyone’s favorite “She doesn’t even go here!”.

Every once in a while I find myself quoting this movie that’s almost as old as I am, which shows just how impactful Mean Girls has been in the world of teen movies. Hopefully in the future these big production companies will realize how impactful a quality teen flick can actually be.

”

~ Damian Leigh

On Wednesdays we wear pink. ~ Regina George

”

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BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

APRIL 2019

editorials

Staff Editorial: shut the side door for good

Everyone is at fault, and money is the number one reason behind it

Tyro Editors-in-Chief

Student Voice Column Short Days Needed Featuring Rena Gao (‘19)

F

ingers type feverishly as a student rushes to log into their admissions portal. This high school senior has been counting down the seconds to the day their dream college releases its admission decision. What seems like a million hours spent in clubs and tests could possibly pay off at that instant. A wave of euphoria washes over the student as they open the online portal…they were denied.

While this student may have been very deserving of a spot at this university through a polished application, hard work, and achievements piled up over the years, they were denied because some other students got the spot by way of a “side door” their families created for them through the optimal tool of influence: money.

“If I can make the comparison, there is a front door of getting in, where a student just does it on their own. And then there’s a back door, where people go to institutional advancement and make large donations, but they’re not guaranteed in. So that was what made it very attractive to so many families, is I created a guarantee,” explained William Singer while in court (William Singer, the Man in the Middle of the College Bribery Scandal. New York Times).

Sure, it can be argued that Singer

worked out most of the dirty work, but a large portion of it— faking student acceptance onto sports teams— would not have been possible without accomplices within the colleges themselves: the coaches. And what, might you ask, did the coaches receive in return for committing an act of fraud to allow a student to enter a university they did not deserve acceptance to? Ding, ding, ding; you guessed it! Money. In other words, what this threefold scandal really boils down to is the passing of money from one part to next, only made possible by the wealth of the source and the greed of all three.

What this leads to, then, is the question of whose fault is it really?

The parents with a poor choice of investment? Singer and all his accomplices that worked out the whole deal? Or the institutions themselves, for letting this go on right under their noses. And then, of course, there is the question of the students themselves. The truth is that in one way or another, everyone is at fault.

The parents are at fault for bribing the colleges, but also for setting a bad example for their kids. By doing this, the parents are doing their children a huge disservice. Instead of encouraging their children to study hard, be involved, and do what they can to stand

out, families are encouraging laziness and cheating. Additionally, in a way, the parents are setting their children up for failure. If the student was not capable of getting into the particular college on their own, then it most likely means that that college is not the right place for them. So in this case, how will the student survive once they get there? These students that get in through such scandals will have a hard time adjusting to the college if they weren’t meant to be there in the first place. They might have a really hard time keeping up with the rest of the competition which can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety. So in the end, the parents ended up not helping at all.

Colleges have been taking measures to prevent similar frauds.

According to CNN, the main colleges involved in the scandal (USC, UCLA, Stanford, Yale, etc.) have updated their admissions review policy and/or turned to an outsider third party to review their admissions process.

Will this solution be effective? To some extent, but not completely. As long as the factor of money plays a role, loopholes will always exist and someone will find their way through them. After all, humans are still human.

ALL LOGOS TAKEN FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Lancer tunes: BC’s top music genres

Elianne del Campo Editorials Editor

Early. Release. Is. Not. Optional.

I have no idea how long ago it was that humans first popped up on planet earth (probably a few hundred years at least), but I feel like we've made a fair number of medical improvements from then to now.

For example, we no longer let leeches drain people of their blood and then proclaim them cured of whatever disease they had. Instead, we have figured out how to set broken bones, cure the common cold, etc. We also figured out that hey, you know Jane who lives thirty miles down the road and gets really nervous? Turns out she has anxiety!

Which is all well and good, except for the fact that we don't have Early Release Thursdays anymore, and they were the only thing keeping my school-triggered depression from completely destroying my entire life (there's only the BAREST amount of exaggeration here).

Those bad boys were the STAPLE of my public school experience. I RELIED on them to cram in studying before finals, a big test, a nap, and now they're GONE. I understand that we have to make up for the ridiculous number of snow days we had, but why not just throw in another virtual learning day (wink wink shoutout to all the teachers that assign a reasonable amount of work) and be done with it?

The whole point of ruining early release (and coincidentally everything I know and love) was to avoid making us come in for another full day of school, but an extra 10 minutes of class really isn't going to provide the same effect in the end. Teachers can't exactly cover a new topic in a coherent and effective way in that time, so now we're all just stuck in the rather awkward position of not accomplishing anything while pretending we're hitting our stride.

It's not a great look.

The district thinks its the best idea they have, so I guess we can try it, but my money's on at least one person (me, it's me) losing everything over it.

Online Exclusive Mr. Schroedor named WHMS principal Full article: prom 2019 Chemistry Olympiad EBSC Nationals

Softball season begins Review: Leah on the Offbeat Trailer: Frozen II Trailer: Stranger Things 3 Full article: staff editorial

This survey is a compilation of 160 responses by Brookfield Central students.

Published throughout the year (no June, July, or August issue) by the TYRO staff of Brookfield Central High School, 16900 W. Gebhardt Rd., Brookfield, WI 53005-5199 and printed by American Litho Printing in Milwaukee, WI. Yearly subscriptions will no longer be for purchase. This publication is a public forum. The policy of this newspaper is to inform the Elmbrook community of school and civic activities in a fair, accurate way, and to provide a vehicle for responsible opinions. Letters, columns, and cartoons incorporated within do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of all staff. Written submissions must be signed, are limited to 250 words, and may be refused and/ or edited.

Brookfield Central Tyro 2018-2019 Staff

Prom Editors Stephanie Chen, Janani Sundar

Editorials Editor Elianne del Campo

Features Editors Neha Ajjampore, Ananya Rajesh

Sports Editor Rajat Mittal

Business Manager Adarsh Rajaraman

Activities Editors Sam Patterson, Sanjana Tarigoppula

Online Editor Emily Otten

News Editors Stephanie Chen, Janani Sundar

Entertainment Editor Julianne Sun

Editors-in-Chief Stephanie Chen, Kevin Jacobson, Sanjana Tarigoppula Online Editor-in-Chief Kevin Jacobson

Contributing Photographers Mary Beth Alteri, Alan Herzberg, Ellen Linnihan, Leiko Napoli Photography, Reva Nayar, Bella Post, Geetha Rajesh, Stacy Schisel, Brian Scrobel, Kristen Tan, Mollie Thomas, Susan Thomas, Shannon Tiger, Nirbhay Vig, Flicker.com, Wikimedia Commons, Wisconsinso.org, @ bcchoirmemes, @lancer_band_ memes

Adviser Mrs. Ellen Linnihan Printer American Litho Printing Contributing Reporters Neha Ajjampore, Stephanie Chen, Elianne del Campo, Rena Gao, Jahnavi Hansaria, Niyati Hansaria, Bonnie Jin, Rajat Mittal, Julianne Sun, Janani Sundar, Nicole Orejuela, Emily Otten