February 2019 Issue

Brookfield Central Tyro

F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 9

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

BROOKFIELD, WISCONSIN

VOL 66 ISSUE 4

Brookfield Central athletes earn WIAA state titles

“

I’m no different than anybody else, but if you put the work in, great things happen. I hope I left BC Wrestling with that work ethic installed into the program. Wrestling is a great sport to be a part of, and I hope people will give it a chance in the years to come. ~ Jake Somlai (‘19) to his teammates

Jake Somlai Reed Ryan Waunakee

Brett Wittman Kimberly

Division 1 Boys 220 lb class

ALAN HERZBERG

ALAN HERZBERG

DAVE RADCL:IFFE

DAVE RADCL:IFFE

Final Pin Time 3:56

NIRBHAY VIG

PHOTO OF MICHAEL

Michael Linnihan

Andrew Martin

1:39.00

Middelton 1:39.75

Caleb Blischke

Waukesha South/ Catholic Memorial

1:40.98

Division 1 Boys 200 yards freestyle

James Kostrzewa

Michael Linnihan 44.94

Franklin 45.39

Isaac Casey Madison West

45.61

Division 1 Boys 100 yards freestyle

MORE INSIDE NIRBHAY VIG

NIRBHAY VIG

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BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

FEBRUARY 2019

news

Linnihan achieves two state championships

Maggie Teng Reporter

Michael Linnihan (‘20) to graduate early for Olympic trial preparations

I

caught a bug that made me addicted to swimming.”

Linnihan’s top events are the 50 and 100 meter freestyle. His goal in

“Up on the blocks…

all those

expectations are gone.

the 100 meter free is to become a member of the U.S. junior national team, and eventually become the 18-and-under world champion. For the 50 free, Linnihan is hoping to qualify for the Olympic trials at the NCSA junior national meet this upcoming March. Linnihan ultimately

hopes to become a world champion at the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships.

Linnihan attributes a large portion of his success to the support from his family. He says his family is incredibly encouraging of his goals and decisions, especially his parents. “My parents are a huge part of my success and I can never thank them enough.”

To prepare for the upcoming Olympic trials in 2020, Linnihan will be graduating early from Brookfield Central. He will be walking with the class of 2019 at graduation on June 9, 2019. He intends to prepare for the trials by training with Elmbrook Swim Club under coaches Brent Boock and Dwight Sanvold. Along with continuing his existing training

Photos by Ellen Linnihan

BEFORE BCHS

n his final high school swim season with the Brookfield Barracudas, Michael Linnihan (‘20) claimed two state champion titles in both the 100 and 200 yard freestyle at the Division 1 WIAA State Championships. Despite the pressure of being expected to win, he says, “Up on the blocks… all those expectations are gone.” When asked about his three years with the ‘cudas, he claimed that he wouldn’t trade his experiences with the team for anything.

Linnihan began his swimming career after his mother tried to find an outlet for her children’s excess of energy. Him and his siblings happened to gravitate towards swimming, and they all ended up joining the Elmbrook Swim Club (EBSC). “I just

BCHS Records** 100 Free: 44.94

September 2013 Iron Kids Nationals Champion

2020 Olympic Trial Cut-Offs* 50 Fly: 23.19 100 Free: 50.49 200 Free: 1:50.79 100 Fly: 54.19

200 Free: 1:39.00

Personal Records*

100 Fly: 50.52

50 Fly: 23.59

200 Medley Relay: 1:36.61

100 Free: 51.27

200 Free Relay: 1:27.52

200 Free: 1:53.51

400 Free Relay: 3:12.24

100 Fly: 56.09

March 2015 200 Free State Chamption (13-14 age category)

June 2013 Open Water Zone (midwest) Champion

February 2013 First State Champion

Five Years Old First Elmbrook Swim Meet

schedule, Linnihan will begin cross training and optimizing post-workout recovery to aid in his preparation. He expects that these methods will allow him to drop a significant amount of time in his events and allow him to acheive his goals.

June 2014 Open Water Zone (midwest) Champion

*distance in meters **distance in yards

Undefeated: Somlai wins first wrestling title for BC Janani Sundar Editor-in-Chief

Saturday, February 23, 2019— Senior Jake Somlai was crowned Division 1 state champion in 220lb category. Jake is the first ever wrestler from Brookfield Central to win a state title in wrestling.

Somali was undefeated throughout the season with a record of 47-0 and was ranked 10th in the nation going into the state tournament.

After placing fourth at the WIAA tournament in 2018, Somlai went into the 2019 tournament with an all or nothing mindset. “[My mindset was] to win the state title and that nobody could beat me. It was either state title or nothing.” He was the only undefeated wrestler in the 220lb Division 1 tournament. He played three rounds of competition before making it to finals to wrestle senior Reed Ryan from Waunakee. Somlai emerged and took that top spot by pinning Ryan down in 3 minutes and 56 seconds. “When I won I just felt accomplished and [felt that] all my hard work paid off. I was so energetic and happy. I didn’t even sleep”.

Somlai started wrestling in fifth grade when his dad decided to put Somlai into a kids club

because he thought Somlai was too aggressive for sports like basketball and soccer. Somlai played football as well but became serious about wrestling in 7th grade.

Competing at the state tournament is not just about the one day there. To be able to compete at the state tournament requires a lot of dedication and hard work throughout the season.

Somali had been preparing himself

“I knew I needed to

do everything in my ability to make myself the best wrestler possible.

all season for that one moment. The head coach, Mr.Demos, and the other coaching staff prepared Somali for all possible situations. “I’ve been pushing myself really hard all season. I had a lot of motivation after coming up short last year at state,” said Somlai.

Behind every successful athlete is a huge support system. Somali

attributes his success to his coaches, Coach Demos and Coach Askren.

“Coach Demos has really helped me become the person I am today. Coach Askren helped me make my style of wrestling and [taught me] how to compete.” Somlai would also like to thank his family for their unconditional support, especially his father. “My dad motivated me until I was able to motivate myself. My dad has been their day in and day out whenever I needed him.” After high school, Somali hopes to continue wrestling. At the moment, Somlai has not officially committed to any schools yet, but he is speaking to a couple programs.

He plans to be committed by April.

It can be said undoubtedly that Somlai has left a big impact on this school and the wrestling team. “I want my team to know what happens if you put the work in. I hope I left the BC Wrestling team with that work ethic installed into the program.” He wishes well for the future of the BC Wrestling team and hopes that more people will give it a chance in the years to come.

Fifth Grade Begins Wrestling

Seventh Grade Fourth @ Youth State

Eighth Grade Third @ Freestyle and Greco Nationals Freshman Year Sectional Qualifier Sophomore Year UWW All-American Seventh Place Freestyle and Greco Champion

Junior Year Fourth @ WIAA State Fifth @ Folkstyle Nationals All-American

Senior Year

Freestyle State

WIAA 220lb Class State Champion

Champion

Nationally ranked tenth

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

FEBRUARY 2019

3

activities

“Viva La Femme!: the DYW competition has commenced” Kennedee Henry Reporter

BOBBIE KNOPP

Emily Petrie(‘20), performed “River Flows in You” by Yiruma on the violin. Petrie also competed At-Large.

BOBBIE KNOPP

Riley Feng(‘20), DYW of Brookfield, performed a gymnastics routine and she won the overall talent section.

F

BOBBIE KNOPP ifteen young women stood anxiously on stage at Wisconsin Hills Middle School on January 12, 2019, as the judges deliberated over who would be selected to be the 2020 Distinguished Young Woman of Brookfield. Announced by former Distinguished Young Women alumnus, Mrs. Linnihan, the competition eventually declared Brookfield Central junior Riley Feng as the DYW of Brookfield 2020. Following her were competitors Ananya Rajesh (First Alternate), Madhavi Mani (Second Alternate-BEHS) and Neha Ajjampore (Third Alternate). In addition, BC junior McKenna Popek was named 2020 DYW of Pewaukee through the AtLarge Program.

But what makes a young woman distinguished from her peers? Is she defined by her remarkable accomplishments, her personal experiences, her growth? Or is she constrained by the judgments of others on her physicality and her status? According to Distinguished Young Women--a national scholarship competition aimed at celebrating the outstanding efforts of high school girls--merit, leadership, and talent Ananya Rajesh(‘20) performed Bharatanatyam, a classical are three of the most essential elements of being a prominent woman. Its aim is to type of dance originating from South India, as her talent. empower young girls, develop significant life skills and build community.

BOBBIE KNOPP Although the structure of the program resembles a beauty pageant, it does not even remotely consider its contestants’ outer appearances. Instead, each contestant is evaluated on certain components of self: Academic Merit (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%) and Self-Expression (15%). While academic merit is determined and interviews are conducted before the official local program, the other three facets of competition are presented to judges in front of an audience. To break up the monotony of having fifteen girls perform the same competition components, the girls are split into three groups: red, green and blue. The three groups alternate, some performing the five minute fitness routine first, others showcasing their extraordinary talent or oratory skills before demonstrating their athletic ability.

Both Popek and Feng, newly crowned Distinguished Young Women, will represent their communities at the state level in August, competing against other talented junior girls to win additional scholarship money and the DYW of Wisconsin title.

To Feng, the opportunity to compete in such an instrumental program was just as rewarding as winning the title. “Overall, it was a super fun experience!” she exclaims, “Those interested in joining will definitely appreciate the chance to gain important life skills and bond with other girls [in the program].”

McKenna Popek(‘20), DYW of Pewaukee, participated in

the At-Large Program designed for out-of-city competitors.

WSMA 101: helpful guide for new competitors

2

Autumn Lee Reporter

1

The Basics

To begin, WSMA requires a performer to prepare a piece--whether it is a solo, duet, trio, quartet--that is properly registered and picked from the WSMA festival list, which has pieces ranging from A class (highest level of music) to C class (lowest level of music). With this piece, the performer must have: An introduction. Performers should state what piece they are performing with their name, grade and school, the piece’s name, composers name, an interesting fact, and, if they have one, the name of their accompanist.

A copy for themselves, their accompanist (for solo events), and for the judge. It is important to have an original copy for the judge. If a performer does not have a copy for the judge, they will not be allowed to perform. Performers also need to number the measures on both copies.

A properly prepared piece. It sounds simple enough, but many performers fail to look at the requirements for their piece and occasionally miss the fact they need another movement to be prepared, which is awkward for both the performer and the judge.

6

K

WI

DI

E IM

What should an inexperienced performer expect? What are the judges like? What should I wear?

What about breaks in between events? Let’s address the most important subject: judges. For many, the thought of being judged is a scary notion. But it’s not as bad as it seems. Performers should expect 99% of the judges to be kind, straightforward, respectful, constructive, and helpful. Some may give harsher criticism, but this will allow you to become a better musician, and that is the end goal of all judges. Never take a judge’s comments personally. The last thing you should worry about is how scary or mean the judge will be. But if you are unprepared, rude, overconfident, and disregard their criticism, be prepared to get an angry judge.

S

ON

MM

O AC

The Judges

4

Pace Yourself

It is important to note overplaying.

Don’t cram last second. Take it slow and steady. Take many breaks and, if you aren’t used to practicing for an hour, slowly build up to that time.

Don’t go from practicing 20 minutes to 2 hours in one night, you’ll feel overwhelmed and frustrated. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you take your time, focus, and relax, the results will show.

5

The Breaks

As for breaks, there should be food present at the cafeteria, but be sure to bring your own water bottle and a few snacks, especially if you have more than 2 events. Be sure to know when you are performing and when to take breaks. In addition, people may use their breaks to go and watch other people perform. You are allowed to an audience as you play, but if not, be sure to make it clear to your friends and other people. It is also important to make sure you get to your spot 5-10 minutes before your performance. Be aware that time frames may shift and areas may be going faster/slower than predicted.

3

The Attire Attire is also a major factor that can affect a musician’s first impression. Here are a few tips: Girls: wear a nice, comfortable dress. Don’t go all out with designer high-heels and expensive hair extensions. Something casual, such as a cute floral dress, will do. If you want to be safe, stick to black and white attire. Don’t wear heels!

Guys: wear something casual. Don’t come in with a suit and tie. Try some khakis and a simple white shirt with a fancy tie. If you want to be safe, stick to black and white attire.

Theatre Solos: dress the part! Go all out!

The Grading Process There is a “grading” system in place. A 1* means that the performer has the opportunity to go to WSMA State, which happens about a month after the competition. A 1 indicates that the performer performed at an exceedingly high level. A 2 shows that the performer has good skill in their musicianship. A 3 means the performer showed average skill. A 4 and a 5 indicates the performer showed a level below average. Most performers will not get this score as long as they prepare the piece correctly. A disqualification is given if the performer did not prepare anything at all or was missing a requirement.

4

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

FEBRUARY 2019

sports

Meghan Kiese excels in final cheer season Rena Gao Reporter

M

eghan Kiese of the BCHS class of 2019 has been involved in cheer since she was an eight-year-old in third grade.

The length of her cheer dedication is rivaled only by the length of her full name: Meghan Su Fei Makanamaikalani Kiese Way back in 2000, one baby girl was born on December 1 in Pearl City, Oahu. When she was just a few months old, she moved to Brookfield with her mom and her older brother. Fast-forwarding about 18 years, Kiese is Team Captain of the BCHS cheer team and the MCU. But who is Kiese really, you ask?

Well, in her own words: “I’m a mommy’s girl…partly because I don’t

have a dad.” In all seriousness, Kiese has exactly three interests: cheer, shopping, and binging TV shows like MEGHAN KIESE

Riverdale .

She attends cheer-related practices seven days a week, which is more dedication than most of us have for school. This still isn’t enough for her, apparently, because she has tried out for and received the position of UCA Staff Counselor. This entails teaching routines to numerous cheer teams at six to ten different summer camp sessions.

In her non-cheer-related downtime, Kiese can always be counted on to have numerous tabs open to any number of online shops, and while we might bully others for such shopaholic tendencies, Kiese’s latenight browsings did, after all, earn her the Best-Dressed senior super-

lative, so we suppose all’s well that ends well.

In addition to all this, Kiese is the loving owner of a five-yearold chihuahua named Carson and a “very old” cat named Kasey, and the less-loving owner of two golden retriever puppies named Honey and Bear. “We have fish too,” Kiese says.

“They’re…fish aged.”

After she finishes her incredible run as a Brookfield cheerleader, Kiese will be attending the University of Alabama and plans to continue her cheer career there, and despite her COMPLETELY unfounded fear of not making team, she remains optimistic.

Members tackle slopes at state

Elianne del Campo Editorials Editor

Amanda Meyer (‘20) competes on a slalom course at the state competition. She ended up placing 48th out of 127 competitors.

Boys Basketball celebrates senior night Rajat Mittal Sports Editor

The Brookfield Central Boys Basketball team have had a very successful season and finished the regular season with an 18-4 record with their win against Germantown on Friday, February 15. Despite the snow day on February 12, the team celebrated their ten seniors: Michael Stocke, Jack Cooney, Michael Osman, Ryan McDermid, Cole Nau, Gage Malensek, Drew Leszczynski, Connor Kolb, Connor Shady, and Tallulah Nummerdor. Cooney reflected upon

the support that they received that night, “The student section was in full force and it was awesome to see so much support for the seniors.” He also went on to say, “Marquette was an important game for us because we wanted the best seed possible in the playoffs.” The Lancers ended up beating Marquette 79-55 and secured the #2 seed. The Lancers now look forward to performing in the playoffs for a chance at the WIAA State Championships in Madison, WI.

Wisconsin High School State Championships: Amanda Meyer (‘20) and Garrett Miner (‘19). For senior, Garrett Miner, this has been his fourth year qualifying for state, while junior, Amanda Meyer competed for her first time. “Our season was really one to remember and I will never forget all of the memories that were made” commented Garrett Miner about his last season. Amanda Meyer, also expressed her excitement before the state competition, “I had so much fun this season! I am very excited for state since it is my first year qualifying and I don’t know what to expect, but I know it will be a lot of fun. Also, the team is super close so we have a lot of fun together. Hopefully, we can take both teams to state next year!”.

Congratulations, racers, and get ready to dominate next season!

Boys Swimming • Michael Linnihan (‘20)(2019 WIAA Champ in 100 free & 200 free) • Overall 5th Place finish at State Boys Wrestling • Jake Somlai (‘19) (220 Pound State Champ) Girls Basketball • Regional Champs • 16-9 record Ski Team • State competitors: Amanda Meyer (‘20) and Garrett Miner (‘19) Girls Hockey • 7-16 record Boys Basketball • 18-5 Record Girls Gymnastics • Sophia Latona (‘20) (5th Place on beam & qualified for state) • 5th Place overall Lancerettes • 2019 Wisconsin Championships Spirit • First in dance • Third in hip hop • Fourth in poms

ALAN HERZBERG

GRIFFIN CASPER

The Ski Team had yet another remarkable season as they finished hitting the slopes at the end of January.

The team has consistently devoted their Thursday and Saturday nights to this sport, and has finished on a strong edge. Throughout their five races, the team has shown how they are able to overcome adversities due to the unexpected weather conditions.

Even when the slopes were more ice than snow, when the weather was below freezing, or when raining fogged their goggles, they were still able to perform extremely well. Their hard work and dedication to this sport have also clearly shown throughout the season with their improved ski skills and faster times!

This year, two outstanding skiers took a trip to Mt. Lacrosse on February 17 and 18 to participate in the

Results

Elise Joplin (‘19) looks to the basket amid a sea of red defenders from Tosa East. The girls basketball team won the game 47-30 to achieve a 16-9 record.

Girls Basketball dominates the court with the power of teamwork Kate Burzynski Reporter

ALAN HERZBERG

Cole Nau (‘19) drives to the basket against Marquette University. He has committed to Hillsdale College to further pursue his basketball career.

The Brookfield Central Lancers Girls Basketball team has won four crucial games in a row against Sussex Hamilton (62-53), Menomonee Falls (55-31), Wauwatosa West (4134), and West Allis Hale (59-38).

Junior Ellery Prusko on the Varsity team explains that the team’s second win against Hale is especially significant because it exemplifies the team’s hard work and growth; Hale was first in the conference last year and the Lancers lost both times they played them. Prusko also comments that the first game against Hale this year was another highlight because it was one of the best team games, meaning everyone did well; in fact,

Prusko cites that there must have been over twenty assists (a pass from a player to another that then scored) that night. The team’s astounding camaraderie contributes to their collective determination to improve, which yields results, Prusko adds.

She elaborates, “Out of all teams I’ve been on, this year has the best chemistry, no cliques, and [we] are always dancing and joking around in the locker room. Games can get intense, teammates keep it fun.”

From the start of her basketball career, Prusko’s favorite part of the sport has always been the team aspect, whether it be in Upward basketball in Kindergarten, the St. John Vi-

anney or Junior Lancer team, her club teams, or her high school team. Sure, her dad got her into the sport when she was younger, but she continues for the love of the teams and the love of the game. In terms of the game, Prusko shares that her favorite part is defense. She feels that it doesn’t matter if you are the fastest or strongest, it just matters how much grit you have, and how much effort you put into defending. She emphasizes that man to man defense is her favorite because it is a personal battle, or little competition, between you and your opponent.

Prusko and the team are excited for the next couple games of the season.

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

FEBRUARY 2019

features

5

Golf reflection receives Scholastic Art and Writing Competition award The national program rewarded the exceptional writing talent of BCHS student Bonnie Jin with a Gold Key Stephanie Chen Editor-in-Chief

I

n her award-winning piece, “An Honest Man’s Game,” Bonnie Jin (‘19) writes on the value of honesty in golf. This is Jin’s third year participating in Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Jin first tried out the program in her sophomore year after her freshman year English teacher, Mrs. Veeder, recommended it to her. “It’s been a yearly journey and experience to write narratives and share my experiences with the people who read it.

Every year I grow a little more and can convey that growth through my writing,” said Jin. This growth is mirrored by Jin’s growth in golf, a consistent focus of her entries. Jin has played golf since her freshman year and has been a member of the varsity team for three years, serving as team captain during her last year. As a tradition, Jin has written one piece on golf the past two years; this year, she submitted two.

Jin described the inspiration for her winning piece: “After my final season, I felt that my years of golfing had shaped and changed me. Thus, that inspired me to write this.”

Jin spent about a month working on her piece, though the idea, she said, “had been there for quite a while.” She begins her piece with a description of a conversation she had with a fellow golfer when the golfer suggested they each take off a stroke from their score. She then emphasizes the importance of accurately reporting scores in golf and accepting penalties when deserved, using professional golfer Tom Watson and a personal anecdote as examples.

“In an era where civic corruption is common and even academic figures engage in such lowly behavior, veracity and morality are becoming scarce. The golf course is the exception; it is the foundation of the very game.”

- From “An Honest Man’s Game,” by Bonnie Jin Jin concludes with a statement on the revelation of a player’s integrity through golf. “Golf,” she says, “is definitely an honest man’s game.”

Jin was notified of her award through email. Originally, her award had been listed as a Silver Key. Later, Jin received more emails informing her that she had received a different award. When Jin cleared it up with the organizer, she received a pleasant surprise: she had been awarded a Gold Key. “I was ecstatic! I didn’t expect my piece to resonate with so many people.”

This year marks the final stretch of Jin’s Scholastic journey, one she encourages other students to try out.

“It’s a great opportunity to improve your writing and read other people’s work. I would suggest that everyone try it since there are so many categories and something for everyone.”

Still, for Jin, it is not all about winning. “My goal in participating in this competition wasn’t for the awards, but rather to reflect on myself every year and find where I can improve myself. I want to share my experiences with people and let my voice be heard.”

A well-deserved congratulations to Jin on her achievement, and the best of luck moving forward.

JIAN-GUO SUN

Bonnie Jin has been playing golf since her freshman year, and she has been on the varsity team since her sophomore year. This year she was named team captain. In her reflection, she writes about the integrity of the sport: “Truth and sincerity are the essence of golf, and without it, the game becomes empty.”

Students provide insight into winning works; share thought process behind creation

Reid (‘19) accepts numerous awards for artwork submissions

Neha Ajjampore Features Editor

Bonnie Jin Reporter

ABAGAIL KAEPERNICK

Faces In A Crowd, Abagail Kaepernick (‘22); Mixed Media, Gold Key. “I think winning this award made me think about the impact my art has on other people. It opened a lot more doors for me and a lot of opportunities,” says Kaepernick.

She looks forward to developing her art skills, and she “… strongly encourage[s] others to find what inspires them.”

BOBBIE KNOPP

Mackenzie Reid (‘19) was one of many students that received recognition for her work. She submitted three works — “Insecurities,” “Lily Pads,” and “Peace” — as well as a portfolio entitled “Spectrum.” There was no shortage of awards for her! “Insecurities” won an honorable mention, “Lily Pads” and “Peace” each won a Gold Key, and “Spectrum” won a Silver Key. The two Gold Key pieces will be submitted for national review and judged once again.

Most of Reid’s pieces were created using a digital media, with the exception of “Insecurities” and a few portfolio pieces. A common theme in her artwork is the focus around issues in today’s society. According to Reid, the work that took the longest — over twenty hours in total — was one in her portfolio entitled “Ladders.” The piece is “…a social commentary on the detrimental treatment towards

African Americans throughout the course of history,” she says. In this work, she chose to portray the dual nature of both serenity and uneasiness. She states that the piece is “… somewhat satirical, as it portrays a representation of the oppressed as resting and existing peacefully — with their faces, and subsequently their humanity, non-existent.”

Upon hearing that she had won awards, Reid was ecstatic. “Much of the dirty work of art is completing pieces and studies and letting them fade into the metaphorical void,” she says, “and Scholastic gives me the ability to showcase what I’ve worked at for my entire life.” As a senior, this was her last year to express herself through the Scholastic competition, and she has certainly done so.

There’s no denying the talent that Reid possesses, and we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors!

MYA FIELDS

MACKENZIE REID

Lily Pads; Digital Art, Gold Key. Regarding her inspiration and artistic process, Reid says, “I love exploring the fantasy genre of stylized art, by seeing what otherworldly ideas I can portray while eliciting the best response from my audience.”

Phalanges, Bobbie Knopp (‘20); Digital Art, Gold Key. Knopp describes the process of creating her piece: “It was just a picture of a friend lit up by a few light bulbs…I added the triangles weaved between the fingers!”

Skydeck, Mya Fields (‘22); Photography, Gold Key. On hearing of her success, Fields says she was really surprised and grateful to receive an award, and she hopes to become more involved in photography in the future.

Check out our online issue at bctyro.com to see the rest of the winners and their artwork!

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BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

FEBRUARY 2019

entertainment

DC manages to stay above water in Aquaman Neha Ajjampore Features Editor

L

et’s be real: the DC comic franchise doesn’t exactly have the greatest record when it comes to movies. Of course, we can’t forget Wonder Woman in all of its empowering feminist glory, but it goes without saying that movies like Suicide Squad and Justice League did not live up to superhero movie standards (ahem, we’re looking at you, Marvel). So with all of this in mind, it shouldn’t be surprising that I went into the theatre to see Aquaman with low expectations.

I’ll be the first to admit it that I was wrong. In fact, I can honestly say that Aquaman has become one of my favorite superhero movies of all time — right up there with Spiderman: Homecoming and Black Panther.

And yes, it was unfair of me to form a negative opinion about something that I hadn’t seen solely based on my judgement of its relative movies.

(There’s a deeper lesson hidden in there, somewhere.)

The main plot of Aquaman revolves around Arthur, the half-Atlan-

tean/half-human who is the rightful (and reluctant) heir to the throne of Atlantis. He travels a long journey and faces many obstacles in order to to unite and save the seven kingdoms from destruction. There are several subplots that run alongside the main storyline, including but not limited to: a vengeful pirate armed to the teeth, a power-hungry monarch with a deceptive streak, and a mysterious lost trident that can only be wielded by the true king. All of this may seem tough to follow, but the movie does an excellent job of making sure that each subplot clearly ties into the primary one. The storyline doesn’t stray or go crazy with endless twists and turns, and by the end everything is wrapped up in a neat bow without any loose ends.

In addition to the expertly woven plot, the cinematography throughout the entire movie added to the overall energy. The action sequences were incredibly strong, the fantastical settings were beautifully designed, and the CGI was impressive. The charac-

AQUAMANMOVIE.COM

It seems like DC’s finally getting on the superhero trend that took over pop culture in the past few years. While Marvel definitely has a monopoly on the superhero-film industry, Aquaman seems to be proof that Marvel isn’t the only talent out there.

ters were not vague or random; each individual had their own interesting backstory and role within the plot.

Also, I have to acknowledge and appreciate the fierce female warriors throughout the movie who, both liter-

ally and figuratively, slayed.

In summary, Aquaman had the right amount of action, adventure, sentiment, and comedy, as well as a sprinkle of romance, that altogether creates an energetic and engag-

ing movie. Plus, as an added bonus, Aquaman took a page out of MCU’s book and included a cliff-hanging mid-credits scene — which leaves me and many others very excited for the sequel.

: we’ll be there for you Elianne del Campo Editorials Editor

“Oh… my… god!”. By far, one of the scariest things for us “F.R.I.E.N.D.S.” fanatics this new year was finding out that Netflix was going to be taking away one of the best sitcoms in history. However, lucky for us, the Holiday Armadillo helped us out and Netflix gave us one more year of lobsters, sandwiches, trips to Yemen, and smelly cats.

The show, “F.R.I.E.N.D.S.”, officially ended in 2004 - 15 years ago!

Yet, generations after generations cannot seem to stop the overwhelming obsession over this spectacular show. Rachel’s urban princess attitude, Ross’ three divorces, Monica’s cleaning mania, Chandler’s sarcastic quirks, Phoebe’s strange songs, and Joey’s aspiring actor career just get better and better throughout every episode. These six iconic friends are able to capture (mostly) everyone’s hearts from the first moment we see

them at the best coffee house in New York City, Central Perk. “Could they be any better?”.

Before we get too in depth about the great aspects of “F.R.I.E.N.D.S.”, however, we also have to acknowl-

Ross and Rachel will forever be each other’s lobsters, even though they were on a “break” edge that not everyone is a such a huge fan of the show. Besides Ross, which many people argue that he should not be part of the show because he simply is not as interesting as the rest of the characters (something I don’t necessarily agree with), many criticize the lack of African American characters and some of the LGBTQ not-so-fun-

ny punchlines. I definitely agree that the show should have included more diversity. It would have been able to attract a greater audience and it definitely would have been a million times more relatable. Nevertheless, if you are watching for the funny remarks and the slightly suspenseful plot-line, then “F.R.I.E.N.D.S.” is not such a bad show.

In many ways, “F.R.I.E.N.D.S.” shows friendships that a lot of people would like to have. How each of the characters always ends up being there for each other and having extremely strong connections is something many aspire to have with their friends. The show has shown us that sometimes, you need to lay back, quit the gym, pivot a couple couches, never share food, and remember, Ross and Rachel will forever be each other’s lobsters, even though they were on a “break”.

VISHNUNS @ DEVIANTART

These six iconic friends are able to capture (mostly) everyone’s hearts from the first moment we see them at the best coffee house in New York City.

Birdbox fails to fly above the hype Leah Cape Reporter

ETHAN SCHOLZ

In “Celebrate All Kinds of Love This Valentine’s Day”, Ethan Scholz (‘20) calls out th e need to bring in all kinds of love into the Valentine’s Day lexicon (especially the relationships with Netflix).

Netflix’s Birdbox does not soar above expectations.

With incredibly fast paced action and an intriguing plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, it is no surprise as to why Netflix’s Birdbox, received such an abundant amount of media attention. Based on Josh Malerman’s book (Bird Box), the whole story is derived from the idea that unknown forces can compel individuals to commit suicide when eye contact is made. This creates a storyline rather similar to that of A Quiet Place, where you are forced to give up a part of you that feels necessary for survival.

The sci-fi thriller commences with the main character, Mallory, (Sandra Bullock) attempting to plant the strategy for survival into the heads of two kids, neither of which can be older than the youthful age of ten. Right as the three individuals are about to embark on their treacherous journey to some destination the audi-

ence does not know of yet, a sudden flashback takes the viewers to five years ago. The day seems to start out normally: Mallory argues with her sister, they make amends, then they both see the doctor to check on Mallory’s baby. This all occurs on the brink of a new apocalypse, for shortly thereafter, a setting of demolition and destruction is displayed to the viewers. Humanity is shown to have little hope against the mysterious (yet infinitely dangers) threat as the whole population is either committing suicide or seeking a safe place to wait out the world’s collapse. Separated from her sister, Mallory follows the example of many others and enters the nearest house, which is already occupied by a few individuals. In this house, problems such as determining whether random strangers in need and possibly affected by the unidentified forces - should be let in, how to obtain necessary resources without looking outside, etc, are addressed.

All of the inhabitant’s responses, including Mallory’s, to the previously stated issues play a pretty significant role as to how Mallory ends up lecturing two children on survival five years later.

While Birdbox does a superb job in grabbing the audience’s attention, there were just a few too many unanswered questions along with unrealistic outcomes. It certainly does not help that the Netflix production has such a large presence on social media, for it is extremely easy to go into the movie with high expectations, and finish rather disappointed. Essentially, the ending is just not entirely satisfying. With such a unique and eerie plot, one would expect a more emotionally captivating conclusion, but the producers do not deliver on this. Altogether, the movie is a recommend for any thrill seeker, but watching A Quiet Place has the same concept with exceptionally better execution.

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

FEBRUARY 2019

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entertainment

91st Academy Awards turns over a new leaf Ananya Rajesh Features Editor

T

he Dolby Theater hosted the 91st annual Academy Awards on February 29, 2019. Dubbed “Hollywood’s biggest night”, the Oscars entertained the industry’s biggest names in a night that honored their biggest accomplishments. For the first time in 30 years, the Oscars were held without a host after Kevin Hart had to step down when homophobic tweets from a decade ago resurfaced.

The night opened powerfully, with Adam Lambert joining Queen to perform some of their biggest hits.

Musical performances spanned the evening, with each of the songs up

for Best Original Song performing a rendition. Roma and The Favourite lead with nominations, each boasting 10 nominations including Best Picture. Roma and Black Panther walked away with the most awards, eaching receiving 3. Black Panther donned great success at the ceremony; not only was the film nominated for 5 awards, including Best Picture, the film won 3, becoming the first superhero movie to ever receive an Oscar.

This year, the awards show took on a more progressive approach, seeing a more diverse group of nominees and recipients; a result of the Acade-

my of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences bringing in a more diverse voting body. The 91st Academy Awards had an unprecedented number of African American winners and female directors in the shorts and documentary categories. However, there was was one aspect of the night that fell short of the progressive narrative.

The Best Picture award, considered the highest honor of the night, was awarded to The Green Book.

Director Peter Farelly and his fellow colleagues accepted the award. However, the pristine moment was tainted with the immense controversy that

had surrounded the film. Director of BlacKkKlansman, Spike Lee (who also won an Oscar this year), walked out of the theater when the award was announced, sparking discussion about the movie. The Green Book has been accused of promoting “the White Savior” trope, one that is often perceived as offensive to the African American community.

On the other hand, the night was filled with multiple historic moments.

Ruth Carter and Hannah Beechler made history on Sunday, becoming the first African American women to win in their category of Costume

Design and Production Design respectively.

Best Actor in a Leading Role went to Rami Malek for Bohemian Rhapsody and Best Actress in a Leading Role went to Olivia Colman for The Favourite. “We made a film about a gay man, an immigrant who lived his life unapologetically himself,” Malek said in his acceptance speech, referring to the diversity and reform the Oscars have gained. wOverall, amid the controversy and speculation, the Academy Awards retained their glamour and satisfied most audiences alike.

Best Picture Black Panther BlacKkKlansman Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite Green Book Roma A Star Is Born Vice Best Director Spike Lee — BlacKkKlansman Paweł Pawlikowski — Cold War Yorgos Lanthimos — The Favourite Alfonso Cuarón — Roma Adam McKay — Vice

The cast of The Green Book accepts their award for the ‘Best Picture’, the highest award of the night. The Green Book was nominated for 5 awards, winning 3.

(Left to right): Rami Malek, Olivia Colman, Regina King, Mahersshala Ali hold their Oscars for Best Actor, Best Actress, Supporting Actress, and Supporting Actor respectively.

Best Actress in a Leading Role Yalitza Aparicio — Roma Glenn Close — The Wife Olivia Colman — The Favourite Lady Gaga — A Star Is Born Melissa McCarthy — Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Alfonso Cuaron accepts his Oscar for Best Director for Roma. Cuaron recieved 3 Oscars on Sunday, all for Roma; he has recieved 5 Oscars total, out of 11 nominations. Roma became the first Mexican film to win in the Best Foreign Film category.

Best Actor in a Leading Role Christian Bale — Vice Bradley Cooper — A Star Is Born Willem Dafoe — At Eternity’s Gate Rami Malek — Bohemian Rhapsody Viggo Mortensen — Green Book

Directors Raykha Zehtabchi and Melissa Berton win the Academy Award for Documentary (Short Subject) for their film Period. End of Sentence. “A period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education” Berton said regarding the film about menstruation. Zehtabi addressed the fact that the topic of menstruation is taboo not just in India, where the documentary is set, but around the world.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role Amy Adams — Vice Marina de Tavira — Roma Regina King — If Beale Street Could Talk Emma Stone — The Favourite Rachel Weisz — The Favourite

Lady Gaga accepts her first ever Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Shallow” from A Star is Born. At the 91st Academy Awards, Gaga recieved two nominations, winning one. The film itself was nominated for 8 awards. Gaga’s win comes after a successful weekend at the Grammy’s two weeks prior, in which she won multiple awards for her rendition of “Shallow”.

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.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role Mahershala Ali — Green Book Adam Driver — BlacKkKlansman Sam Elliot — A Star Is Born Richard E. Grant — Can You Ever Forgive Me? Sam Rockwell — Vice Pictures taken from oscars.com

Spike Lee hugs Samuel L Jackson after he won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for BlacKkKlansman. This is Lee’s first Oscar out of 5 previous nominations. BlacKkKlansman was nominated for 6 awards this year.

Brookfield Central Tyro 2018-2019 Staff

Editors-in-Chief Stephanie Chen, Kevin Jacobson, Sanjana Tarigoppula, Janani Sundar

Features Editors Neha Ajjampore, Ananya Rajesh

Online Editor-in-Chief Kevin Jacobson

Activities Editors Sam Patterson, Sanjana Tarigoppula

Business Manager Adarsh Rajaraman

Entertainment Editor Julianne Sun

News Editors Stephanie Chen, Janani Sundar

Editorials Editor Elianne del Campo

Sports Editor Rajat Mittal Oscars Editor Ananya Rajesh Online Editor Emily Otten

Contributing Reporters Neha Ajjampore, Lana Behmke, Kate Burzynski, Leah Cape, Stephanie Chen, Elianne del Campo, Rena Gao, Kennedee Henry, Autumn Lee, Rajat Mittal, Nicole Orejula, Emily Otten, Ananya Rajesh, Julianne Sun, Janani Sundar, Maggie Teng

Adviser Mrs. Ellen Linnihan Printer American Litho Printing Contributing Photographers Elianne del Campo, Brett Gruetzmacher, Alan Herzberg, Sabrina Huang, IMBD.com, Hannah Keehan, Jim Kelsh, Janet Otten, Hannah Prudlow, Nirbhay Vig, Bobbie Knopp

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BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

FEBRUARY 2019

editorials

Jam for the win; BC students vote for top ships Elianne del Campo Editorials Editor

Top TV/Movies Ships

E AN TH

H OL SC

JANANI SUNDAR

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In celebration of Valentine’s Day, cartoonist Ethan Scholz (‘20) brings a message from BC students’ favorite TV couple: Jim and Pam.

Celebrity Top Ship

High school tea: to date or not to date Emily Otten Online Editor

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Blyan Ryan Reynolds x Blake Lively

FLICKR

Books Top Ship

FLICKR

Percabeth Percy Jackson x Annabeth Chase from Percy Jackson and the Olympians

School Top Ship

Tyli EMILY OTTEN

Tylan Farrokhnia (‘20) X Lili del Campo(‘20) Check out bctyro.com for full results for all surveys

eenage romance is idolized in countless movies, books and songs.

All of these different forms of media are pushed towards teens, telling high schoolers that dating in high school is the status quo - but that’s not the case. In fact, most kids never end up dating in high school for one reason or another, and save romance for college, or even after that.

Even with all of these varying opinions, teenagers should have the opportunity to date in high school, and should try to date if possible.

High school is overall a fun experience, especially when it comes to hanging out with friends and going out, there isn’t really a big pressure surrounding dating. Of course, experiences differ from person to person, but being a teenager should just be about learning and having fun; therefore, it is the perfect opportunity to learn about what it is like to be in a relationship, and how one feels about relationships.

High school dating is generally a low-stress environment, there isn’t really any worry about having a defined future or stressing about moving in together - it’s just fun.

Though, if you do not have a date, or do not have any dates on the horizon, you shouldn’t stress about it either.

Sure, high school relationships, like I previously men-

tioned, are fun, but they are certainly something you can live without. Some people feel a lot of pressure to get into a relationship, and even begin to date because of that pressure.

However, that just makes a relationship boring and it sucks the fun right out of it. High school relationships aren’t made for some people, and that is perfectly fine. It's much better to be living happily by yourself than unhappily with another person.

In all, if you want to date in high school, you should.

High school is an opportunity that you might not get later in life, so you have the chance to try new things out and learn with your experiences, which is what makes dating in high school so interesting. Still, if you aren’t interested in dating in high school or haven't gone on a date, don’t feel pressured to. Some people just learn new things later in life. The movies and songs pushing the idea that dating in high school is required, don’t apply to everyone. Dating is definitely not necessary, and it is different for each and every person. The main thing to remember about relationships and dating in high school is just not to worry. Whether you have a date or not, it doesn’t matter. Enjoy your experiences and cherish the time you have with your loved ones.