UP IN SMOKE
The growing trend in vaping leads students and faculty to examine legal and health consequences of e-cigarettes p. 6-9
GRAND HAVEN HIGH SCHOOL Volume 73 Issue 2, bucsblade.com
November 21, 2017
staff 73 EDITOR IN CHIEF Maddie Brockmyre
letter from the
NEWS EDITOR Jack Nicholson
EDITOR
SPORTS EDITOR Chris Hudson Jack Reus LIFE EDITOR Caitlin Shampine PHOTO EDITOR Julia Drabczyk Maddie Monroe BUSINESS MANAGER Wyatt Eikenberry Caleb Berko REPORTERS Al Bishop Caitlyn Cooling Jaime Cowman Morgan Dreese Maddie Fogg Nick Garvale Xavi Golden Savannah Hankinson Sophia Jaeger Kelly Klouw Paul Moffett Lauren Morgan Carlos Rappleye Gabe Rutherford Ryan Tongue Lucy Toppen Ashton Voorhees Alexis VanSingel Kiley Williams Ayebah Wilson Sam Woiteshek Morgan Womack
Dear readers, Moments before I wrote this letter, I was scrolling on my Twitter feed procrastinating writing it when I read that up and coming artist Lil Peep had died, presumably after overdosing. Earlier this month, a gunman opened fire at a church in Texas, murdering 26 people. Tuesday, another terrorist in California attacked several places, including an elementary school, killing at least four people. Not to sound like the inspirational poster of a cat on your middle school teacher’s wall or anything, but life is short. For some reason, despite those three words being constantly drilled into our thick skulls, we have a hard time remembering that fact. It’s one of those cliche sayings that go in one in ear and out the other, the value in it lost along the way. It’s not until we get smacked in the face with tragedy that the truth in that statement finally registers, and by then it’s too late. Although I firmly believe there are measures to be taken that could prevent those mentioned events, like effective background checks and substance abuse awareness, we can’t control everything. Which is why it is essential we stop letting life pass us by, stop watching it race down the tracks and saying “I’ll take the next one.” There is no next one. I know this letter is starting to sound like a Tumblr post that someone on Twitter screenshotted and reposted with the caption, “So true [heart emoji]” but it pains me to see my friends, peers and even myself stop short of living the best life possible. Tell people you love them, be honest, try every club and sport you have ever wanted to, just go out and do something that makes you happy. Do it all. Find a reason to enjoy being alive while you have the chance. And always remember: Life is short. Thank you for reading.
2 INDEX
PHOTO BY Julia Drabczyk The Blade examines the effects and consequences of vaping among students
Contents
NEWS
p. 3 Adaptive arts p. 3 Senior pictures p. 4 Briefs
LIFE & ARTS
p. 5 Reviews p. 10 Marching Band p. 11 Lily Sportell p. 12 NaNoWriMo
SPORTS @bucsblade
PUBLICATION POLICY The Bucs’ Blade is a student-produced news publication that publishes information relevant to the times as well as material that is essential to the overall well-being of its readers. It is The Bucs’ Blade’s responsibility to cover school, city, state, national and international events and issues that affect the concerns of the campus, its students or its readers. The Bucs’ Blade operates as a designated public forum for student expression. The Editorial Board consisting of student editors is the sole decision-making and policy setting body of The Bucs’ Blade and has final say over all content decisions.. The adviser and administration have a non-review role and may offer advice on sensitive issues and will offer criticisms as warranted after publication but the Editorial Board reserves all rights to determine what material shall be published. Editorials represent the collective opinion of The Bucs’ Blade staff.
ON THE COVER
@bucsblade The Bucs’ Blade Maddie Brockmyre Editor in chief
www.bucsblade.com
p. 13 Head to head p. 14 Calling it like I see it p. 14 Cross country p. 15 Aaron Dean’s career
INDEPTH
p. 6-9 The popularity and consequences of vaping, staff editorial
Letters and submissions: Opinions expressed by individuals and in letters to the editor represent those of the author. Letters to the editor should be typed, double spaced and must include the author’s name, signature and class or position. Names of individuals may be withheld upon request, pending a vote of the Editorial Board. Letters may be submitted in hard copy to room 0205 at Grand Haven High School or via email at bucsblade@gmail.com. All letters are subject to review by the Editorial Board. Letters will not be edited except to fix space limitations. Should the Editorial Board deem a letter to be potentially libelous or containing content inappropriate for publication it will return the letter to the author with an opportunity for corrections. The Editorial Board is solely responsible for these decisions. Letters need to be received one week prior to print publication dates to be included in print.
November 21, 2017, www.bucsblade.com
SUBWAY TO HALLWAY Artist’s Advancement Students in the adaptive arts join a movement focusing on inspiration By Lucy Toppen The brightly colored human figures pasted up in the hallways recently are a part of an art project by the adaptive arts program inspired by the work of Keith Haring. Keith Haring is well known for his bold and colorful artwork which depicted shapes of humans with expressive lines to show their movements. The high school’s adaptive arts program introduced their students to Haring’s artwork to influence their most recent project. “We try to expose the kids to different genres of art and different artists,” adaptive arts teacher Eva Clark said. “We kind of use that as a jumping point to create our own art and inspirations.” Following Haring’s strong desire to make his art available to the masses,
Carlos Rappleye THE BUCS’ BLADE HELPING HANDS: Toothpaste, soap, coats and more neccesities are given out to students in need in pod four, Eva Clarks room.
Impact Program
A project initated to help students in rough times www.bucsblade.com, November 21, 2017
By Carlos Rappleye
the class decided to put the figures up in the halls to expose their artwork to the masses. “We wanted the kids to see what we did in art class.” Junior Michael said. The gleaming smiles on these student’s faces gave away their excitement about the art, it is clear they all worked very hard and are extremely proud of how the project turned out. This adaptive art class is a great opportunity for students to utilize and apply their creativity into making art during the day. “The highlight of the day for some of our students is to be able to be artistically creative.” Clark said. The Keith Haring figures are only one of many projects the adaptive art class will be working on this year so keep an eye out for more artwork to be displayed throughout the school soon.
Lisa Cober found herself leaving her home with a backpack for herself and two for her kids. She was equipped with clothes, school supplies and food. But when she arrived at a homeless shelter, she realized the had forgotten a little acknowledged necessity. “We didn’t have any shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, anything,” Cober said. “I only had $22 for a week and there was no way I would be able to buy anything.” Years later after Cober had moved back to Grand Haven, her son made a friend who couldn’t afford school lunch and was being given cheese sandwiches. School policy was that her son couldn’t buy him food, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. Grand Haven’s Impact program
Lucy Toppen THE BUCS’ BLADE ALL TOGETHER: The adaptive arts program’s students standout next to the artwork they’ve created.
was started by Cober and principal Tracy Wilson to help provide lower socioeconomic students with
“Your job as a student isn’t to worry about having a coat, or where your next meal is coming from. Your job is to learn, first and foremost.” Lisa Cober the necessities needed for those students to be successful. The Impact program provides basic necessities and assistance for students and community members.
Mainly run off of donations, the program disperses the items given to them out of special ed teachers Eva Clark’s classroom, 4107. “We provide clothing, prom dresses, formal attire, just whatever a student has a need for,” Clark said. In her classroom, Clark has coats, shoes, toiletries and food available. “If they don’t have those kinds of things then they’re not going to be successful at school.” Cober and Clark are currently accepting donations at the high school’s student services department. “I do it just because you wonder what it would be like yourself to not have that.” Clark said.
3 NEWS
briefs
Food Pantry
By Caleb Berko
The school has a food bank now available to students
STOCKED UP: The pantry is stocked with canned goods along with other food items to give out
“It’s a food pantry for all, discrete and no paperwork,” counselor Angie Prieditis, who is helping out with the pantry, said. “It’s bucs caring for other bucs.” The pantry was officially started by Whiting-Womack, a teacher at West Ottawa Public Schools where a similar system exists to better serve the food insecurities of students there. The immediate goal of the pantry at Grand Haven is to start
Anything Goes By Savannah Hankinson
What: The Grand Haven High School
Drama Club will stage a musical called “Anything Goes” a story about people on a 1930s cruise ship. A stowaway stockbroker (Andrew Barney) is in love with a debutante (Anna Bremmer) who is set to get married to a wealthy englishmen. The stockbroker wants to turn everything upside down so he stows away on the boat creating hijinks and disguises. When: November 17-19 Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Where: Performances will take place in the Grand Haven
4 NEWS
Drama club’s next show is coming in hot
Maddie Fogg THE BUCS’ BLADE
meeting the needs of students by Thanksgiving break. “I really just want students to be positive about it,” Womack said. “I really don’t want there to be any stigma around what we’re doing.” *If you are a student that is in need of assistance in meeting your personal meal and/or hygiene needs, please visit Student Services for more information.*
Senior Photos
The rights and wrongs of senior photos By Jack Nicholson
Performing Arts Center of the high
school. Featuring: junior Madison Smitts plays the lead role, Reno Sweeny a nightclub singer on the cruise ship. Senior Andrew Barney who plays the role of Billy Crocker, a stow away stockbroker up to no good. Sophomore Anna Bremmer plays Hope Harcourt, a wealthy debutante about to get married. Director’s Notes: “The story is a lot like boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl kind of thing” Drama club head, Rita McLary said. “There’s also a lot of huge comedy turns played by Nick Vance and the rest of the cast does a stunning job of backing them up whether they are Reno’s back up singers, the angels or the sailors who perform a couple of songs as well as the whole chorus but they all shine in their own way.”
SNIPED: Senior Katie Hohmeyer takes a photo of junior Hattie Mulligan for future use
RIGHT
Color photo Head and shoulders Portrait orientation Digital Submission
Julia Drabczyk THE BUCS’ BLADE
WRONG
Black and White Full body Landscape Hardcopy prints
Submit photos to hersheyb@ghaps.org www.bucsblade.com, November 21, 2017
reviews what’s hot and what’s not
top charts CAMILA CABELLO Havana (feat. Young Thug)
EMINEM Walk On Water (feat. Beyonce)
POST MALONE rockstar (feat. 21 Savage)
KEITH URBAN Female
SE TE NOTA
PARKING LOT
LWYMMD
Looking for another lit song to add to your party playlist? “Se Te Nota” by Dominican singer Miguel A. Duran, Jr., better known by his stage name Fuego, is the perfect song to get turnt to on any occasion. From Fuego’s second studio album Fireboy Forever II, the latin hip hop tune with trap and Bachata influence brings culture to your ears for three minutes and 41 seconds. The rhythmic merengue beat carries the song through Fuego’s rapped spanish verses, but if you haven’t taken a spanish class since 7th grade, worry not. Understanding the lyrics is a great luxury but not required to get down to this bumpin’ song. Fuego sampled Joe Vera’s 1996 song “Se Te Nota” off of Vera’s album Con Mas Amor, the upbeat guitar strums combining with rich instrumentals and powerful bass lines to flood your speaker with a vibe different from typical American rap music. Trust me, es fuego.
If you’re in need of some feel-good music to help you through this gray and chilly weather, consider searching “Parking Lot” by singer and rapper Anderson .Paak. The song has almost a west coast, carefree feel to it that makes you want to be on a beach in California. The album it’s featured on is even called Malibu. I first put “Parking Lot” on my summer 2017 playlist and it was a perfect match to the rest of the happy, upbeat songs. From the first few seconds, the funky tune will put a smile on your face even if the cold has you down. The lyrics don’t really follow any particular story or train of thought, but the overall vibrant sound of the song is what makes it so great. Not to mention Anderson .Paak is the definition of underrated music artist, so if you haven’t heard of him, be sure to look into the rest of his music as well.
I’ve always secretly been a fan of Taylor Swift. As a kid, I went to her Fearless tour and I loved every second of it. I still have the t-shirt I bought for it and even though it’s an extra-small, I have no intention of getting rid of it. I have listened to her music most of my life and always had a connection with it. I loved her soft exterior and the emotion behind her songs, even though many people have made fun of her for her lyrics always being about relationships and breakups. So after listening to “Look What You Made Me Do”, a bit of my heart broke. The singer I fell in love with had taken a strange turn. The lyrics confuse me -- I don’t understand how someone who seemed so happy could make a song with such a dark message, especially when many of her previous songs have had such an important meaning. The song didn’t cheer me up like it had before, instead it made me shiver. It was something I would immediately switch off if it came on the radio. I want the old Taylor back. Even though, as said in the song, “She’s dead.”
By Lucy Toppen
ANDERSON .PAAK
By Jaime Cowman
By Maddie Monroe
DOWN TO EARTH
Come shop at Down To Earth for your Holiday dresses, gifts & for anything that's on your Holiday wishlist! Use your Silver & Gold card for a discount up to 15% 105 Washington Ave, Grand Haven 10am-6pm weekdays, 10am-8pm Fridays, 11am-5pm Sundays www.bucsblade.com, November 21, 2017
INDEPTH 5
UP IN SMOKE As the popularity of vaping among students grows, faculty examine how to tackle the issue while health experts evaluate the consequences
By Maddie Brockmyre, Morgan Dreese, Maddie Monroe and Caitlin Shampine Photos by Julia Drabczyk
6 INDEPTH
November 21, 2017, www.bucsblade.com
T
he grey bathroom door shuts behind *Jasmine and she breathes a sigh of relief as the stall lock slides into place. She reaches in her pocket and pulls out a small, sleek square. The blue light at the end shines as she takes a hit of the Suorin Air, vaporized
nicotine filling her lungs. “I vape pretty consistently throughout the day,” Jasmine said. “Basically every chance I get. I used to just do it as a social thing but ever since I got my own it’s been more easy to gravitate towards it. I do it for the buzz and
*Editor’s note: Names have been changed to protect privacy
www.bucsblade.com, November 21, 2017
since my body depends on it. I guess you could say I’m addicted.” Created in 2003 by Beijing pharmacist Hon Lik, e-cigarettes were marketed to heavy cigarette smokers wishing to quit the habit. By 2014, they became the most
popular nicotine product among high school students, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “When I first started [vaping] I barely knew of anyone who really did it,” Jasmine said. “It was sort of
just a select group of people that was into it. Actually, I remember when it was more lame to vape than cool and people would make fun of it. It was commonly joked about, honestly sometimes I did it just to be funny. Now it’s so common for teenagers
INDEPTH 7
It’s not something you’d get made fun of for anymore.” A 2015 CDC survey reported that nearly half of all high school students have tried vaping and like most trends, many teenagers are first introduced through social situations or encouragement from friends. With teenage use becoming increasingly common, a wider variety of products have emerged from the $2.5 billion e-cigarette market. While the more traditional vaping devices like mods are still widely popular, more compact and incognito options like JUULs and Suorin Airs have gained traction this year. “I think a reason that teens vape more than smoke cigarettes is because it’s a lot easier to hide, since you won’t smell like smoke after you hit a vape unlike a cigarette,” Jasmine said. “However, I have seen a lot of people who started with vaping move onto cigarettes to get a better buzz.” And the buzz is what most students are looking for. Nicotine is known for giving users what is described as a “strong head buzz” that can occur within moments of using a vape. Users can become dependent on the rush of adrenaline released by the brain when it interacts with nicotine.
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES Although vaping is better for you than smoking cigarettes, it does have health risks. So no matter if you vape for fun, or as an alternative to smoking, it will have consequences. “Many of them contain the drug nicotine, which is one of the most highly addictive drugs we can consume,” health teacher Jodi Heard said. “Not only that, studies show that nicotine exposure can make some chemical changes in the brain (as all drugs can/do) - that make other drugs feel more rewarding. So, it is believed that using nicotine can increase the risk of addiction for other drugs.” 95 percent of people that try to break their nicotine addiction fail, and nicotine addicts also has the highest relapse rate. Health experts fear that the rising rates of teen nicotine usage of vaping devices will create a serious dependency on the drug among them. “[Kids] are going to need more and more,” North Ottawa Hospital pulmonologist Dr. Mehul Patel said. “They may start using it once a week, and next thing you know it they are using it several times a day. We see it in cigarette smokers. It all starts at a social gathering, and then turns into someone smoking 2,3, even 4 packs a day.” Even if they don’t contain nicotine,
8 INDEPTH
The addiction to nicotine is very serious...I’ve never heard one person say they were happy about starting and continuing their nicotine addiction. Jodi Heard e-cigarettes still contain chemicals and flavorings. Although they may not be as harmful as actual cigarettes, they can still have dangerous effects. The aerosol, which is what the heated liquid turns into, is known to contain harmful and cancer-causing chemicals. Unfortunately, some of the few studies on vaping have found traces of nicotine in most juices, even those supposedly free of the drug. “The addiction to nicotine is very serious,” Heard said. “Ask any adult smoker about their nicotine addiction, and how difficult it is for
them to stop. I’ve never heard one person say they were happy about starting and continuing their nicotine addiction.” According to the FDA, e-cigarette use by high-school students has grown from 1.5 percent in 2011 to 15 percent in 2015 with the number still growing. More and more teenagers are developing nicotine addictions without even knowing it. “For smokers who are already smoking, e-cigarettes might decrease their actual tobacco usage,” Patel said. “But people who are not smokers often believe that e-cigarettes are not harmful. So they often develop a nicotine dependence which ultimately could lead to a dependence to nicotine especially in high school kids.” This is what makes vaping so dangerous for teenagers -- they often are not educated on what they are putting into their body, making it easy for them to start and hard to stop. “Students can protect themselves by staying away from them,” Heard said. “If they think they won’t be addictive in nature, that is simply not true. In short- it is far healthier to not vape than it is to vape.”
LEGAL CONSEQUENCES The rise in teens vaping not only makes parents uneasy, but school administrators as well, making them have to find new ways to stop the problem. Although possessing a vape is not illegal, you still can’t have one on school property. If you are caught with a vape it will be seized by the school and a first offense will be three days of in school suspension, with the punishments increasing in severity if it continues to be a problem “Every school district in the state has policies against smoking whether that be vaping, cigars, tobacco or cigarettes,” Ottawa County Deputy Ryan DeVries said. “Any look alike thing that you are smoking, is going to have a policy or procedure in the student handbook against it.” Vaping is not just a problem in Grand Haven. High schools nationwide are dealing with it, forcing school faculty to attempt to prevent students from using them on school grounds or at all. “I think vaping is very predominant,”
November 21, 2017, www.thebucsblade.com
DeVries said. “I’ve talked to Hudsonville schools, I’ve talked to Jenison, Zeeland, we are all dealing with the same issues of vaping. It has just not stopped. And it’s one of those things where the law is against us because it’s not illegal for someone to possess a vape.” For DeVries, this means sharing his stories in classrooms to help the students become more educated about the risks and consequences of vaping, drugs and alcohol. Along with a replacement program for DARE called TEAM (Teaching Educating And Mentoring). “I can tell you for a fact it’s going to be more of a priority for me to spend more time on vaping,” DeVries said. “I think if you guys are educated on it, that’s what will make the difference. So by going into the health classes and sharing my stories I think that could help. We have been doing a lot more TEAM so the teachers get to pick which lesson to show based on what they are seeing from their students, which now with vaping being such a problem will be featured more often.” To combat the rise of vaping in schools, programs have been established to provide students with a financial reward in exchange for information on illegal activities among students, including use of e-cigarettes. The amount varies based on the impact of the reported knowledge. “Technically I can give up to $450 and that’s up to me depending on what information is gathered,” DeVries said. “If someone comes to me anonymously and gives me a lot of information and I’m able to get a lot of drugs out of the school I can then figure out what’s appropriate.” Most situations in which a reward will be given surrounds intel on alcohol and drugs, but with vaping becoming a bigger issue, the pressure to find ways to prevent students will continue to grow. This may lead to more frequent searches, harsher punishments and an increased search for information. “First time offense is three days in school suspension period,” DeVries said. “After that it just increases and can change depending on the situation. But what I’ve always preached to kids is look at the bigger picture. If you don’t think something like this stays on your record and doesn’t affect things like college, you’re wrong. Take two seconds and think about what you are doing and how it can affect you.” The rise in vaping means a rise in consequences, and as the faculty starts to face the problem head on, students are forced to evaluate what that means for their habits. “My advice would be to anyone who thinks about vaping is to just not start,” Jasmine said. “It truly is addictive and even though you think you can stop whenever you want, sometimes you can’t.”
www.bucsblade.com, November 21, 2017
11
percent of students say they vape at school
60
percent of students believe that vaping is better for you than smoking
15
percent of students say they would not stop vaping even if they knew it had health risks
30
DONT LET MONEY DO THE TALKING Policy pays for information from students, will create tension within school
flow of cash may come to Buccaneers who decide to inform staff members of their peers’ actions, but a wave of bullying may come as well. It just creates a more hostile environment with students at each other’s throats trying No one likes a tattle-tale. This is something to figure out who snitched, and why. Never that was instilled in our brains as young kids doubt the pettiness of teenagers. Kids will take advantage of the opportunity, back on the playground and still creating rumors and tension within applies today. That’s why the new the school for a couple bucks. We school policy that offers money as believe the trust between high an incentive to students to report peers who have drugs or alcohol schoolers and staff will be at jeopardy if this policy continues to with them won’t work. be enacted. According to Ottawa County If a student is in an Deputy Ryan DeVries, the bounty STAFF uncomfortable situation they can reach as high as $450 for those EDITORIAL should have an outlet to tell who have sufficient evidence and Support 7-0 administrators. However we feel the guts to inform. Cracking down that it will just inflict more harm, on illegal substance use amongst bribing students for information, no matter students may make the school better off, but adding an extra variable into the already messy the circumstances is wrong. Instead of offering equation of students, faculty and trust could money, creating a strong relationship between students and staff would make students more lead to a downward spiral. With how cliquey high school already is, likely to talk if they were in a tough situation, there is a possibility that a student could be making it so they would do the right thing harassed for such action. Under this policy, a instead of just wanting money.
percent of students that vape use a MOD
26
percent of students that vape use a SUORIN
14
percent of students that vape use a JUUL
according to a Bucs’ Blade poll of 795 students
INDEPTH 9
MARCHING TO A NEW BEAT
THE BUCS’ BLADE Carlos Rappleye WHO THEY SAY GON’ BEAT THE BUCS’: The colorguard and marching band performing their halftime show on a Friday night football game. The instruments can range from brass, woodwind and percussion.
Student body begins to see the halftime show in a new light By Lucy Toppen
T
he halftime show has long been sanctioned as a marching band’s sole purpose during a football game. But many schools are breaking this boundary, including Grand Haven. Every home game, well into the second half, the Buccaneer Marching Band (BMB) makes their way over to the east end of the bleachers to further energize the eager student section. This has not always been the case on Friday nights. Ten years ago, the connection between the student section and the BMB did not exist. “It really was sort of that ‘band geek’ mentality,” band director Iain Novoselich said. “There was no interaction with the [students] whatsoever. The band did not play many stand cheers at all, and was away for the majority of the third quarter debriefing about their halftime performance.” This all changed with one conversation. Six years ago, 2011 high school graduate Will Verduin came to Novoselich with a plan to get the marching band more involved with students at the home games. “I was approached in fall 2011 by senior Will VerDuin about increasing the use of cheers and chants during games.”
Novoselich said. “It was from this conversation that the band introduced ‘Seven Nation Army’ to the student section. This has since been labeled a game-day tradition.” Thanks to Verduin and the willingness of the band to get involved, now students are able to jump and holler while the band plays the infamous White Stripes tune. These passionate moments created by the BMB have unveiled an even more spirited side of the students. “The GH marching band brings the best out of our student section,” senior Collin Reenders said. “I love going to football games and supporting my boys on the field and the band is always there to hype up the crowd and get us going.” Positive energy and excitement from the student section has become a regularity for home football games. This energy forged a strong connection with the students of the band. The relationship has taken a major step forward this year and has left an outstanding impression on BMB marchers. ¨The student section has been really great this year about appreciating us,” senior Drum Major Megan McCarthy said. “I’ve heard a lot of people complimenting us and actually listening to us for once. This year has been the best year for the student section and the marching band getting along.” The unbroken respect of the fans during the halftime show this year has been happily accepted by all marchers. It is definitely more of a ‘One team, One family, One GH’ attitude. ¨I think that it [the relationship] has actually changed a lot,” senior member of the drumline Leanna Sanchez said. “The student section always used to do their own kind of
stuff when we did the halftime show and they never paid attention, but this year they have been making an effort to consciously watch the show. And that’s something I’ve never seen before.” This positive relationship has been built over years of effort from both the marchers and the students and has not come simply. However over the most recent seasons, the BMB has noticed a remarkable difference from their first years as marchers. “Especially my freshman and sophomore year, I felt as though they always had this distaste for the band,” McCarthy said. “Nobody really cared a ton about it.¨ This gloomy mentality was the unfortunate reality of the past years. The lack of attentiveness from the buccaneer crowd affected the way the marchers performed on the field. “I just remember feeling like what’s the point of performing at football games,” Sanchez said. “It was kinda like go out and do the show and if it’s bad whatever because no one is paying attention.¨ The past years of outstanding student support have influenced the band to continue to work hard and perform an amazing show. This trend is likely to advance as students begin recognize the band’s desire for support beyond the home football games. “I’m glad that the atmosphere has improved so much, but if they do love us, they should support us and come to our competitions,” Sanchez said. “Watch us perform for real. Come to our concerts. We are more than just football, we are a lot more.” Rum quam vent eatem simoluptatia consecae
THE BUCS’ BLADE Julia Drabczyk BIG IN NUMBERS, BIGGER IN SPIRIT: Buccaneer marching band has a total of 107 students. Their practices start as early as May and band camp is a five day sweat fest to perfect their performances.
10 ARTS
www.bucsblade.com, November 21, 2017
The Songs Inside Her Head
Junior Lily Sportell expresses emotions with self written verses By Morgan Womack
With trembling hands, junior Lily Sportell steps out from behind the curtains. She walks nervously over to the piano, and sits down. Placing her fingers gently on the ivory keys and adjusting the microphone toward her glossy lips, she takes a deep breath. The anxiety begins to fade, replaced by a passion for doing what she loves the most. All of Sportell’s auditions follow this same pattern. Every time, she feels as if her stage fright is going to take over, but something within her conquers it. “Getting over my nerves is what I’m always focused on,” Sportell said. For years, Sportell has auditioned for numerous roles and vocal competitions. This particular scene is so familiar to her, but her last audition was much different. Sportell qualified for a singing contest called WZZM Idol. At first, she wasn’t planning to try out. However, right before the deadline, she decided to send in a video. On August 30, she got the call that she was the winner. “It was crazy,” Sportell said. “I cried a little bit.” From there, she was invited to another audition. However, she knew she didn’t make the winning place. But, she was later asked to come back for a so-called “followup interview.” What Sportell didn’t know is that she was going to win a silver ticket, which invited her to audition once again for a spot on the show American Idol. Unfortunately, none of the members in Sportell’s group made the American Idol audition in Nashville, but she made it far and received a lot of support from friends and family. “This is a very far and hard www.bucsblade.com, November 21, 2017
competition, so I’m really proud of her for that,” said junior Carly Anderson, one of Sportell’s closest friends. “It just makes me happy to see that she’s getting to pursue her dreams.” Sportell has always had a strong talent for the arts. Ever since she was little, it was just something that came naturally to her. Even then, she was a songwriter. “The first song I wrote, I was 8,” Sportell said. “It was called the Backstreet Café and it was very angsty, I could’ve been a 90s alternative artist.” It was clear from the start that Sportell’s life would revolve around music. When she was younger, she attended West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academics (WMAAA) until 8th grade and there she was enrolled in multiple music and drama classes. Lorraine Feenstra, one of Sportell’s previous music teachers at WMAAA, describes her personality as vivacious and outgoing. “She just bubbles over with enthusiasm in everything that she does and everything she enjoys doing,” Feenstra said. This is what makes her singing so unique. She puts real emotion into every performance because she learned how to connect songs with a specific moment in her life. Feenstra could see, even from a young age, that Sportell had an intense desire for the arts and performing. But now, deeper inside, she uses her passion to overcome issues in her personal life. “When I’m sad it helps to write songs,” Sportell said. “It gets my feelings out and I can express myself. The first step in her songwriting process is to play some piano chords that have the sound she’s looking for. Next, she adds the words. These come from real life events that have impacted
her in some way. Then, to add some flair, she likes to add sections for riffs and sections where she can belt. Most of her songs have a negative undertone, but that definitely doesn’t take away from the real, raw emotion being captured in her singing. She has performed a few of her originals, but she mostly creates them for personal reasons. Where some people would use a diary, Sportell uses music. Her mother, Nicole Orlow, could tell she was born with an aptitude for music. Today, she’s still constantly writing and singing. Music has been something always influencing Sportell’s life, and often something that illustrates it. “She can make beautiful songs out of life experiences,” Orlow said, “It helps her sort things out.” Sportell thinks of
music as a way of life. Without it, she wouldn’t be where she is today. When she’s onstage, she feels at home. “I just feel really empowered,” Sportell said. “I feel like it’s what’s meant to be.”
THE BUCS’ BLADE Julia Drabczyk
LIFE 11
Can YOU write an entire novel in one month? By Xavi Golden side; only about 11% of their 2016 participants finished Come fall, prospering and likely perspiring writers everywhere must decide whether or not they shall don their armor, their novels. There are also those who believe that the very purpose of NaNoWriMo is offensive to career novelists, that mount their steed, and ride the lands to face the petrifying the organization attempts to diminish their craft into a mere beast known as NaNoWriMo. race to be run, insisting that only true authors have the ability National Novel Writing Month, a nonprofit organization, to write a novel. encourages people to indulge their productive impulses and However, NaNoWriMo itself emphasizes the inclusivity of tell a story. First, authors are asked to create a profile on the its purpose. The organization maintains that anyone can and NaNoWriMo website and announce their novel with a temporary title and synopsis. With resources provided by the site, should achieve their goal. Their site states that every year, EXHIBIT COMING SOON: WITHOUT FEAR: actors people go into COURAGE the month of November as mechanics, writers are encouraged to brainstorm ideas for their story and teachers and come of it as novelists. before they start. Then, there’s the hard part; throughout THE REDtheARROW DIVISION INout WORLD WAR I In their 2016 survey, almost 90% of respondents said that NaNoWriMo entire month of November, authors are required to write a helped them exercise perseverance and change their outlook novel that reaches the minimum of 50,000 words. on writing for the better. Predictably, there are those who object to this mountainSo, according to the organization, there are clear benefits ous undertaking. The most common (and obvious) reason to completing the task. Potential participants will have to being that it is no easy task. The average student would have choose whether or not they are willing to sacrifice the time to write about 44 pages a week in order to meet the goal, and resources necessary to achieve that end product. Howwhen most struggle to finish a 10 page essay in that same ever, days into November, some may think it’s too late to amount of time. The majority of the people who take the time to sign up on the website never even finish. Some critics make that choice. But there’s still time to sign up, so if you you can slaymember this dragon withor dramatic haste, start your of NaNoWriMo believe that the 50,000 word is, a think To minimum become museum to find quite simply, insurmountable. They have numbers on their novel today.
Tri-Cities Historical Museum provides a full calendar of family fun each year!
WHERE TO GO: Sign up to join NaNoWriMo by going to nanowrimo.org, you can track your progress on the website and also get support from other writers who are participating too.
out more about our programs, exhibits, and events, please vist our website at www.tri-citiesmuseum.org.
WINTER HOURS
12 ARTS
TUES - FRI 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
SAT & SUN- 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
www.bucsblade.com, November 21, 2017
HEAD TO HEAD
The best football to watch
NFL football: They’re the pros for a reason
College football: Always intense
Thanksgiving is around the corner which means we get a day full of food, family and NFL football, the best football there is. You cannot beat an NFL football game. Many will argue that college football is the greatest football, but in many ways it pales in comparison to the NFL. In the NFL there are no bad matchups. Every Sunday, Monday or Thursday, the best football players in the world play for four, 15 minute quarters or more. You see extraordinary catches that defy the rules of gravity, bone crushing hits and stellar athleticism. It is no cakewalk in the NFL. Any team can lose on any given day. In college football however, you see early season matchups with clear favorites to win. It’s all boring blow outs early on. Just take five minutes of your day and look up week one college football scores, all you will see is beat down, dominant wins. This is due to athletic directors scheduling easy non-conference games to ensure wins. College football finally produced a playoff system in 2014. Fans had been waiting for years to have a college football playoff. This system however, is flawed. Four teams are voted in by a committee, which sparks all sorts of controversy over who should be in and who shouldn’t. In the NCAA, your season is all about résumé.Your team could have a phenomenal, playoff worthy season and still not make it in simply because a 13 member playoff committee doesn’t believe your team is good enough. In the NFL, teams who make the playoffs earn it 100 percent on their own; there is no committee. Each conference has six teams who make the playoffs: four division winners and two wild card teams, which makes it much more interesting. Also, in college football it is nearly impossible to make the playoff if you have more than one loss. In the NFL however, you have many inspirational comeback stories that go down in history. Take into account the Dallas Cowboys. In 1993, they started off the season 0-2 Junior Jack Reus and ended up winning Super Bowl XXVII. Lastly, the NFL is full of iconic athletes that we fans fall in love with. Players like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, John Elway, Joe Montana… and more. We build trust around these individuals and get to know them very well on the field as well off the field. These guys leave a legacy of blood, sweat and tears; and we admire them for it. We see these guys as heroes and honor them when they retire, we purchase their jersey as well as more of their gear. Organizations also retire the number they wore on their uniform in some situations. In the NCAA, players are only there on average four years, a lot of times less, leaving no time for fans to rally around an athlete and become connected with them. All in all, we can all agree that American football is a wonderful thing whether we’re talking about NFL or NCAA football. However, in more ways than one, the NFL bests college football.
It’s coming. We are just a few short days away from the greatest long-weekend in the world of sports. Beginning on Thanksgiving Day, the onslaught of non-stop football comes at us head on, which brings a tough decision within every American living room: should you watch college or NFL football? Typically the two don’t intertwine, with one playing on a separate day than the other. But with Thanksgiving comes different meals and altered football schedules. Just another decision added to a fan’s plate. However, the best choice for what to tune into still remains simple: college football. It rises above what the inferior NFL will only hope to be: a league without flaws. For starters, college football has few outside distractions. There isn’t any nonsense for a fan to worry about like contract holdouts or suspensions being reinstated for their top fantasy player, or even not having to fear a Roger Goodell-esque figure consistently making poor decisions that the players or teams have no say on. The NCAA has built a strong foundation that promotes the fun and intensity of the sport in the best way possible, with players participating for the love of the game and working as a team, rather than individuals trying to suck as much money as they can out of the game, occasionally affecting the outcome. With this, college football avoids encouraging areas that have negative connotations, like what the NFL does. The collegiate game also adds more intensity and spirit to the sport and the world around it, while the professional game can come off as very flat, paling in comparison. It starts with the fanbases as its roots and grows from there. College tailgates are much more prominent than those on NFL Sundays. Proud fanatics like those at Ole Miss dress in their best attire, as tailgating for them is similar to weekly mass for church. Cheering on their team and having a good time at a tailgate and the excitement at game time is nothing but expected. Not every school styles themselves like Ole Miss, but they do support their team just as much. Plus, you can anticipate a lot of effort and determination, in hopes to do anything to prevent a loss in a college football clash. There are only 12 regular season contests Junior Chris Hudson set for a given team, with each being more important with the College Football Playoff, created just a few years ago, and even bowl game invitations up for grabs. If you look at the NFL, players can easily be spotted not giving their best efforts to prevent themselves from injuring their bodies, possibly resulting in them losing more money, which is what they eat, sleep and breath for. It is a realm of wealth, not a game of love and passion for the pros. College football brings rankings, unpredictability, heart and a whole lot of intensity week in and week out. It makes each contest more fun for the fans and players knowing every single game counts to get to the top or earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. Every player fights for their team and sacrifices everything for a victory. Nothing can compare nor beat this game, not even the pros. Whatever the outcome, you’ll know you won’t waste your precious time watching college football.
www.bucsblade.com, November 21, 2017
SPORTS 13
Calling It Like I See It Sam Woiteshek A tale old as time. Two teams: the school up north and the school down south. Bo vs. Woody. Harbaugh vs. Meyer. Hail to the Victors vs. Script Ohio. One rooted from a rich history and another making its mark in the present. Their color schemes are different too. One team provides the optimistic, yet competitive maize and blue. The other is the dark, cocky and readyto-battle scarlet and grey. When these two teams take the field this Saturday for the 114th time, more than the right to brag will be on the line. Instead, it’ll be the next chapter of a glorious rivalry. It’s Michigan vs. Ohio State. I know what you’re thinking: Ohio State has been incredibly dominant since the beginning of the 2000’s. Michigan’s last win against the Buckeyes was it’s dark ages under head coach Brady Hoke. Yet, a fight can always be expected. This year, Michigan hasn’t been quite themselves, struggling to find a consistent quarterback under quarterback guru and head coach Jim Harbaugh. Meanwhile, Ohio State has been up and down, getting walloped at home by Oklahoma and on the road versus Iowa, yet also pulling off the unthinkable, beating the once scary good Penn State. Both teams have been on an emotional roller coaster and this game will only heighten that feeling. It’s a rivalry, for heaven’s sake. Rivalry. People often think of the Red Sox and the Yankees or the Celtics and the Lakers, but Michigan vs. Ohio State is another classic that should be added to this Mount Rushmore. It can be hard for fans outside of these to schools to care about this battle. People choose to forget the storied history between these two national powerhouses, because, who cares? Rather, they decide to live for the moment and whatever team comes with that is the team they cheer for. Here in Michigan, this is particularly the case. Our state is divided between Michigan and little brother Michigan State. The only difference is, Michigan State isn’t Michigan’s biggest rival. It’s Ohio State. For Ohio State, it’s Michigan. The esteemed rivalry is heightened when each team is nationally ranked. So far, OSU has hovered around the top 10, while U of M has been shaky. Still, what’s the importance? “The Game” has not only made a name for itself in college football, it has defined college football. Think about it. Would anyone have ever tried to strike the Heisman pose after Desmond Howard first did it following a punt return touchdown against Ohio State? Would players put roses in their mouth to show that they were going to the Rose Bowl after Charles Woodson did after beating the Buckeyes? The trademarks of college football have come from the Wolverine-Buckeye rivalry. Michigan vs. Ohio State has produced some of the greatest games in the sport’s history. In 1997, Charles Woodson ran back a punt and caught a game-winning interception to seal Michigan’s undefeated season, 20-14. In 2006, the right to go to the national championship was on the line in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in Columbus, that the Buckeyes won 42-39. Most fans can easily remember last year: No. 2 vs No. 3 for the a spot in the Big Ten Championship and ultimately the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes won that too in two thrilling overtimes, 30-27. The satisfaction of winning is amazing for these two teams, but the unsettling emotion of losing means a whole lot more for these two squads. So, on Saturday, the nation will wake up, turn on the TV and watch this timeless football game. Why? It’s Michigan vs. Ohio State.
14 SPORTS
COURTESY PHOTO CHAMPS: Boys cross country team poses with trophy after winning the O.K. Red for the first time since 1995.
Bringing down a dynasty Grand Haven Cross Country team runs the table and becomes the fastest team in Bucs history.
By Wyatt Eikenberry 22 years. That’s how long it’s been since Rockford has lost the O.K. Red varsity cross country conference title. The Rams have created a dynasty, full of dominance. Well now that all ends. With a fair mixture of raw talent and determination, the Bucs brought an end to Rockford’s reign on October 19. It wasn’t easy, their season didn’t start off heading towards success. “Earlier this season we weren’t finishing races,” head coach John Tarr said. “We were giving up at the end, we were five minutes, even five meters away from the finish line and guys were backing off and just kinda jogging through.” The beginning of the season didn’t really go as planned, but the team knew that they were going to have to pick it up if they wanted a shot at taking down big teams at conference. The Bucs had lots of work to do but coach Tarr had a plan, one that could be trusted for potential success. “For every guy there is a different physiological makeup, so we have to train every guy in a different way,” Tarr said. “We often have four different running groups every day that are running at four different paces and are running four different workouts.” The boys were going up against a few of the best teams in the state, like Rockford and Hudsonville who have some really great runners, and there wasn’t really much room for error at the last conference meet. Every second mattered for the Bucs to come out on top. “That was just the talk all week,” Tarr said. “Nobody could have a bad race, nobody can run bad, everybody’s gotta give 110%, everybody’s gotta run through the whole race and throw themselves through the line.” Often times in sports, it takes more than talent or
Conference Times: Jack Nicholson: 15:54.7 Andrew Ireland: 16:29.8 Aidan Martin: 16:34.6 Dom Weatherwax: 16:43.2 Cole Rowden: 17:00.5 Kyle Eveland: 17:03.4 skill to overwhelm a repeating champion. Each runner needs dedication, something that pushes them to want to be better enough to act on it, they need to have that drive, and in that race the guys did. “We’ve had a bunch of dedicated guys who are pretty good athletes who run all winter and all summer,” Tarr said. “They run track and then they show up in shape so that we can train them the way that they need to be trained to be champions.” Running up to 65 miles per week, the Bucs really gave it their all and it paid off. They defeated Rockford 52-53 at the last conference meet. Literally throwing themselves over the line and edging off opposers by tenths of a second, they performed better than anyone asked of them, spectators and even their coach. “I asked those guys to give me five races,” Coach Tarr said. “And we got six great races that day which was pretty amazing.” www.bucsblade.com, November 21,2017
THE DEAN OF SOCCER Buccaneer head coach Aaron Dean announced his retirement following the end of the 2017 season. He goes back through his top moments while he was a part of the program By Chris Hudson
2008: The three musketeers Dean looks back at this season as one with incredible talent and athleticism, which pushed the team to new heights. Players Nick Heyboer, Mike Rosso and Matt VanZytveld led the crew with 58 goals and 37 assists combined. Those three made a solid foundation of an attacking offense for future teams. “They were men among boys that year,” Dean said.
2011: A run for the ages
Coach Dean loved the strength and passion the team showed during the 2015 campaign, coming together after the death of teammate Carter Dyke that year, but also for other former Buccaneer soccer stars like Mike Herman and Adam Provencal who had passed away years earlier. “These were amazing people whose time was called too soon,” Dean said. “No. 17, No. 4, and No. 18 are always in our hearts.” www.bucsblade.com, November 21, 2017
BLADE
2015: A purpose to play
It was crunch time when the Bucs took on conference foe, East Kentwood and needed outstanding play from Goalie Ethan Beswick to pull out a crucial victory in penalty kicks. Dean remembers how Beswick played like a champion, as he contributed on both sides of the ball. “He asked to be one of our PK shooters in the shootout,” Dean said. “He made his shot but then also won the shootout with a clutch save.”
E BUCS’
While taking on Rockford earlier in 2013, the Rams ran a crafty set-piece that almost scored against the Bucs. Dean kept that play in his backpocket all the way until that postseason, when Grand Haven faced Rockford again. “On our third or fourth corner kick of the game we ran the same play,” Dean said. “As we’re setting up, their coach realizes what we’re going to run and starts yelling at his guys, but before they can adjust we run the play and score what turned out to be the game-winner.”
2011: A Swiss Army knife of soccer
onroe TH
2013: Taste of their own medicine
This year stood out for Dean as the squad was known for their defensive prescence and hard-nosed style of play. Goalie Will Morlock and defenders Adam Beswick, Hayden Creswell, Jon Kline, Colin Ottenbaker, Travis Redman and Ryan Schoonover were the ones who earned the team a school record for lowest goals against average that year “They only gave up 13 goals all season,” Dean said.
Maddie M
When the Bucs had a postseason surge that took them all the way to the state finals in 2011, Dean was amazed by the effort the team showed and the will to never give up. Even though the squad didn’t capture a state title, Dean still thinks of that group as one of the best he has ever had with their unyielding determination to go for it all. “Being that close and not winning still stings but I remember a conversation with coach Farley and him saying there are a lot of coaches who spend a whole career coaching and never get close to a finals game,” Dean said.
2009: Lock down defense
2014: Battle for bragging rights Nothing got more intense than a clash against Rockford, especially with a district trophy on the line. The Bucs beat the Rams on a corner kick from Mac Mahacek, who was a sophomore pulled up for district competition and he showed Dean a tremendous amount of grit and skill in the match, being a key piece to helping the team earn a victory. “He served the ball in and Mason Harloff beat his defender to the ball and blooped a header to win the game on a buzzer beater,” Dean said.
SPORTS 15
Body Art
Students embrace their permanent artwork for a deeper meaning. For more go to bucsblade.com By Julia Drabczyk
ISAIAH 43:2: Senior Grace Glessner has four tattoos and got her first one when she was 16 on the first day of school. Kinda on a whim, her and her best friend wanted a tattoo. “So we called our moms and went to Crows Nest with a lot of paperwork and it just happened super last minute,” Glessner said. “We didn’t really know what we were doing.” They had a plan to get sailboats, however they did not leave with sailboats. They ended up getting a wave on the back of their right calf with a bible verse that states, ‘when you go through deep waters I will be with you.’ Senior Elise Betten received the same tattoo and has been Glessner’s closest friend. In 8th grade Betten’s dad passed away, and Glessner was alongside her for support throughout it all. On the other side of it they have sailed together, so they have many stories that follow along with that. “It just kinda all fit together when we got it,” Glessner said. She also has plans on getting more tattoos once she turns 18. “I model a lot of tattoos that I want to get about things that I wrote,” Glessner said.
FAITH NOT FEAR: After junior Jamie Gretzinger’s mother passed away from pancreatic cancer last year, 30 plus members of her family gathered at crows nest. “Faith not fear was her saying throughout the cancer journey, just making sure you put your faith above your fear,” Gretzinger said. So, her whole family got the saying ‘faith not fear’ somewhere on their body in memory of Gretzinger’s mother. She is planning on getting another tattoo of her mom’s lyric that will say ‘my anchor in the storm’ because she was really serious about her faith and was a worship leader at their church. “It was a really cool experience to have everyone in my family there and to have a tribute to my mom,” Gretzinger said.
WINGED TREBLE CLEF: Sophomore Kyle Kuhn was 16 when he got his first tattoo of a treble clef with wings. “My oldest sister got a heart with wings, so the wings are from her,” Kuhn said. “My other sister has a treble clef with a ‘K’ for her name, so it’s just a mixture between both and it’s on my shoulder because that’s where they got their first tattoos.” Kuhn plans on getting another tattoo with his sisters that would be a Triforce from a video game. “It represents wisdom, courage, and immense power,” Kuhn said.
16 PHOTOSTORY
www.bucsblade.com, November 21, 2017