the
print TIGER BLUE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL bvtigerprint.com
Vol. 40 Issue 1
August 2009
Stilwell, KS
It’s back to the grind, so keep yourself busy with activities page 6-7 inside BVSW Update
Construction on the new school continues, timeline for school opening set page 2
Trip across the pond
Band student ventures to Europe, participates in traveling band over summer page 8
Rock ’n’ roll, pop ‘n’ soul
Various music groups visit, perform for the Kansas City crowds page 10
inthenews
in the halls... 1. New schedule in place BV, BV Northwest, BV North Schedule
CAPS Students’ Schedule
Regular (Mon/Tue/Fri) Hour 1............ 7:45-8:35 Hour 2............ 8:41-9:31 Hour 3.......... 9:37-10:27 Hour 4....... 10:33-11:27 Hour 5....... 11:33-12:58 Hour 6............ 1:04-1:54 Hour 7............ 2:00-2:50
Regular (Mon/Tue/Fri) AM—CAPS.............................. 7:30-10:00 Travel/Virtual Course......... 10:00-11:33 PM—Travel and Lunch..... 11:27-12:20 CAPS.......................................... 12:20-2:50
Odd Block (Wednesday) Hour 1............ 7:45-9:12 Hour 3.......... 9:18-10:45 Hour 5........10:51-12:47 Hour 7 ..........12:53-2:20 TCB.................. 2:25-2:50
Odd Block (Wednesday) AM—CAPS............................. 7:30-10:00 Travel.......................................10:00-10:51 PM—Travel and Lunch.....10:45-12:20 CAPS..........................................12:20-2:50
Even Block (Thursday) PLC Time........ 7:30-9:00 Hour 2.......... 9:00-10:27 Hour 4.........10:33-12:30 Advisory........12:36-1:17 Hour 6............. 1:23-2:50
Even Block (Thursday) AM—CAPS............................. 9:00-11:00 Travel/Course/Lunch.........11:00-12:36 PM—Travel............................12:30-12:50 CAPS......................................... 12:50-2:50
2. Construction results in new offices, updated bathrooms throughout school With construction beginning immediately after school ended last May, workers had the span of ten weeks to complete the front office project, along with other phases. Over the summer the Commons were littered with sinks and toilets, the Fixed Forum was filled to the brim with exercise equipment and construction supplies were strewn through nearly every hallway. But the end result will have a large impact on students and staff alike. Secretary Pam Arnott looks forward to the convenience of the redone office, and the new layout. “It’s nice because everything is right here, counseling, nurse and registrar,” Arnott said. The construction has provided a larger room for campus police officers, an office for registrar Ellen Weber and has two spacious conference rooms. Construction crews began clearing out of the new offices Aug. 3, and staff members moved their items in Aug. 14 and 15. The bathrooms adjacent to the Fixed Forum, lockers in the senior hallway, faculty bathrooms and the replacement of exterior wall structure were also under construction this summer. Room 451, formerly occupied by Robert Asquith, was turned into a second teachers’ workroom as well. By Caitlin Holland.
on the cover... Practicing for marching band season, sophomore Jenna Drake has a little fun along with the rest of the group on crazy hat day Aug. 5. The band has been up at the school practicing since July 27. Photo by Tess Constant.
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Work-inProgress
BVSW construction continues, juniors to declare senior option
Work on BVSW began in February 2008 and is scheduled to be completed in August 2010 before the school year. The new school will be made up of students coming from BV and BVW. Photo by Jackie Lippert.
caitlinholland news editor The completion of Blue Valley Southwest in 2010 is leaving many juniors with a difficult decision to make in the next year. Students in the class of 2011 will have the choice of attending BVSW their senior year, or staying at BV to finish their high school experience. Junior Alexa Mealy, who lives within a mile of BVSW, has considered the option of attending the new school. “It would be really cool to be the first graduating class,” Mealy said. “You would be remembered forever as the first graduating class there.” Even though the new school is down the street from her house, Mealy plans to attend BV her senior year. “All my friends go to BV and we’ve been together since sixth grade,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to change my senior year at Blue Valley.” Mealy, who has two younger siblings who will attend BVSW in upcoming years, knows that going to the new school would help her parents’ morning commute. “I think they really leave it up to me,” Mealy said. “My younger brother and sister will be at BVSW, but I will still be here at BV.” The new high school, at 175th Street and Quivira Road, is on track to be completed by August 2010. Crossland Construction worked on completing the baseball and softball fields over the summer, and have made progress in the PAC, front office and courtyard. BVSW principal Scott Roberts goes to the new school two or three times a week to oversee the construction progress. Roberts looks forward to next year, helping every BVSW student adapt to the new school and start traditions. “I want students at BVSW to feel it’s their school,” Roberts said. “And they have a say in what their traditions are.” Roberts will establish an advisory committee
Timberwolf
timeline
October 2009 - Football schedule and classification determined November 2009 - 20 teachers are selected to work at BVSW December 2009 - Senior option declaration deadline August 2010 - BVSW opens Information provided by bluevalleyk12.org.
made up of BV and Blue Valley West students to lead discussions about starting new traditions at the school. There will also be a parent advisory committee and one made up of staff members as well. “We will have our own school identity,” Roberts said. “You were Tigers and Jaguars, but now you are Timberwolves.” Roberts, who once was a yearbook adviser at BV, and left his position at BVW to become the new principal said he finally found the job he’s been waiting for. “This is my dream job,” he said. “This is what I’ve always wanted to do.” Roberts said that before first semester ends juniors will declare their senior option, either choosing to stay at their current school or to attend BVSW the next year. Second semester, sophomores and freshmen who live within the BVSW boundaries will sign transfer papers to attend the school in the fall of 2010. Roberts asks that any student who has a question about the new school go to the new BVSW website, which will be launched in a few weeks. The website will feature polls and surveys to get student and parent input about the project, as well as a place to find reliable information about progress.
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outloud
The Final Frontier (kind of...)
Senior year provides final chance for students to leave lasting impression on peers my voice
ajbarbosa Well, here we are. Three years ago we stepped into these doors as freshmen. We were a handsome lot. We had our share of emo kids, skaters, jocks, red necks and provocatively dressed girls. For the first semester, our groups of friends were mostly segregated by which middle school we went to. That first journey into the 200 hallway still ranks as one of the most awkward moments I’ve ever experienced. But now, as cheesy as it sounds, we are one. We put in our three years of time north of the senior hallway, trudging through everything from
learning to conjugate verbs in foreign languages, to making it home before our pre-midnight curfew. We envied those tall, intimidating seniors who always told the funniest jokes, did the most ridiculous things, and influenced us the most. In that time, we bonded as a class. To be honest, we’re the closest-knit class to pass through this school in years. In a way, I wish I could have realized this earlier. I have been a jerk to some people in the past few years, but I’ve recently been trying my best to make it up to each and every one of them. I used to shun certain people for the sole reason of maintaining a certain image. As I’ve matured, I’ve realized how incredibly stupid that is. Sorry for the cliché, but life really is too short. The sad part is that some of us are still doing that to this day. We don’t need to love everyone in our class, but we at least need to
respect and treat each other like decent human beings. Last year, my dad helped plan his 30-year high school reunion. For a while, it was his main concentration, so I couldn’t help but absorb a lot of the things he talked about. Although they had a big turnout, a pretty large number of his old classmates didn’t attend the reunion. I was shocked by the number of people who had passed away since graduating. I also saw how hard it was for him to get a hold of certain classmates, because they
“We’re not all going to make it to our reunions. Sadly enough, some of us are going to pass away while we’re still young, and some of us won’t even want to attend the reunion.” had moved away and no one had heard from them. Inevitably, we’re not all going to make it to our reunions. Sadly enough, some of us are going to
Procrastination Frustration Senior’s experiences lead to unnecessary stress during year my voice
torifreisner There’s a bumper sticker on Facebook that reads: “Welcome to high school. Please choose one of the following: 1) good grades, 2) sleep, 3) a social life.” And it took three years, but I finally got it. Scribbling down numbers five minutes before class does not qualify as doing your math homework. Looking off of your best friend’s notes right before a test isn’t studying. And “I’ll do better next time” isn’t an acceptable excuse to offer to your parents when you get a bad grade. Unfortunately, this realization came to me five months before I leave Blue Valley forever. And if you were to ask the thing I regret most about high school, the answer wouldn’t be any of the embarrassing moments,
cringe-worthy haircuts, or awkward yearbook photos. It would be that instead of enjoying my time and trying hard in high school, I spent the last three years dreaming of getting out of it. Every adult’s insistence that our four years are going to fly by doesn’t make block days in Spanish 3.5 go by any faster, as much as you’d like it to. But as much as I hate to admit it, they were right. Let’s face it: we’re teenagers. Most of us are apathetic, self-indulgent and running on too few hours of sleep. But don’t use that as an excuse for throwing your high school years away. It’s too late to start thinking about improving your GPA when your parents start talking about scholarships and student loans. Realizing that I may not get into a college that I love is a bad feeling. And knowing that I spent my high school years just kind of floating by is even worse. When you’re a freshman,
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pass away while we’re still young, and some of us won’t even want to attend the reunion. It’s nearly impossible to predict who will and won’t be there. So this year is our last shot to leave a positive impression on everyone around us. It would kill me to think that some of my classmates still viewed me as a jerk later in their lives, because that was the last way they saw me act. So think about it. When graduation day comes, it’s probably going to be the last time you’re going to see nearly a hundred people for
the college application process isn’t something you think about. As a sophomore, it’s a little bit closer, but still far away. You’re more worried about getting a car than a student loan. You may take an AP test or two, but for most of us, it’s to humor our parents, not to earn college credit. Junior year is when the thought of college becomes a little less abstract, but you still face another year of high school. And senior year? Well, I don’t know yet. But I know that for me at least, it won’t be spent making up excuses for why my homework is non-existent or cramming for a 6th-hour test after lunch. And whether it’s your first day of school as a freshman or you’re a senior with a bad GPA, you should do the same. Today is the first day of a new school year. And no matter what grade you’re in or what your GPA may be, use the fresh start to your advantage. So get to it.
the rest of your life. You’ll never get a second chance to apologize to them. You’ll never get another chance to make things right for the way you acted
in high school. As petty as it is, they’re going to remember if you put them down and degraded them. Let’s try to make this year the best we can. It’s cheesy and everyone says it, but these really are the best years of our lives. We’re young, we’re healthy, and we’ve got the world in the palm of our hand. We have a ton of great athletes and talented performers, but most of all, genuinely good people. I’ve never seen 375 people get along as well as we do, and we all seem to have fun with each other. There’s no use in fighting over stupid things and creating useless drama, because there’s going to be too much going on this year to be burdened down by it. We’ve got 10 months until this ride ends, and most of the graduates who I have talked to say it all flies by. One day we’ll be in our parents’ shoes reminiscing about these years.
The Tiger Print Editorial Policy The Tiger Print is published nine (9) times a year for the students, faculty and surrounding community of Blue Valley High School. It is an open forum for student expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the administration or of Blue Valley Unified School District #229. The goals of this newspaper are as follows: 1. Inform readers in an accurate, objective and complete manner. 2. Entertain readers. 3. Provide leadership. Editorial comment will be frequent, but only within opinion pieces. 4. Adhere to journalistic standards and ethics. 5. Provide a forum within BVHS for the free exchange of ideas. 6. Validate and report on the concerns of students and the community. 7. Acknowledge any mistakes that may be made and correct them in a timely matter. Letters to the editor and other reader contributions are accepted and encouraged. In accordance with communications law, the standards of libel and obscenity will be upheld and free speech may not be used to disrupt the educational process and must not attack anyone in a personal manner. Generally, letters should be limited to 350 words and any letter, regardless of length, may be edited for space or content concerns. All letters must be signed unless the opinion editor and editor-in-chief agree that individual circumstances warrant withholding the name. Advertisements are published in the newspaper and advertising rates are available upon request. Special consideration for advertisements are as follows: 1. No advertising for illegal products or substances will be accepted (i.e. tobacco, alcohol, gambling, illegal drugs) nor will ads of a sexually
suggestive nature. 2. The Tiger Print reserves the right to decline or edit any advertisement that conflicts with the editorial board philosophy. 3. The staff reserves the right to assign rates for its ad space, which will be in line with those of other high school newspapers in the area. 4. The Tiger Print will not make exclusive contracts with advertisers. 5. The Tiger Print staff, its adviser and editors and the administration of Blue Valley High School are not liable beyond the cost of the ad for mistakes made within its design, editing or production. Regarding the coverage of tragedy: Should a student, faculty member, school official or prominent community member die during the coverage period, the staff will treat the death journalistically and in a tasteful manner. All individuals will be treated in the same factual way. Depending on the circumstances, the death may be treated as a major news event. In every situation an obituary will be written in the news section that will include the individual’s name, date of birth, date and manner of death (if appropriate), a school photograph and any other pertinent information. The individual’s school activities, his or her contributions and the reactions of those who will miss the deceased may be included. In the case of a suicide or other sensitive situation, the words “died unexpectedly” may be used as a cause of death. Poetry or cliché visuals will be avoided. As always, letters to the editor regarding the deceased are welcome, although they may or may not be published depending on the quantity of letters received and nature of the death. All situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis. In summary, The Tiger Print will strive for journalistic excellence and will aim to be a vital part of the Blue Valley High School community.
outloud
raise your voice What would you like to see in the Tiger Print?
“Stuff that’s interesting and directly affects me.” Senior Jacob Taylor
Cartoon by Emma Mosier.
Tiger Print seeks to keep students and community informed Blue Valley strives for excellence in every aspect of the school, and The Tiger Print is no exception. As an award-winning newspaper in both regional and state contests, The Tiger Print is here to educate and inform the student body. But what exactly does that mean to our readers? For starters, this is a publication made for students, by students. Our staff works together every month to produce wellresearched and well-written stories. We are committed to keeping coverage of the school and community objective. The Tiger Print is not here to promote the school, but to promote the truth. Our staff has little adult intervention and the paper is not censored by any school or district administrators, thanks to the Kansas Student Publications Act. This state law is a serious privilege that not every high school in the country has. However, that doesn’t mean we will publish gossip stories or fabricated
staff editorial news. The Tiger Print staff works together to run stories that are the most pertinent and timely for the student body. Throughout the school year, it’s likely you may be interviewed for a story. With this in mind, there are two very important things to remember during an interview — the phrases on the record and off the record. If you are asked a question on the record, The Tiger Print reporter has the right to use the quotes and information you give. If you specify something is off the record, we will not include that information. Along with a written publication, the newspaper staff has been working hard on creating an online version of the paper. This is a tool for the school to stay up with the most current sports scores, club briefs and other news regarding school and student
activities. The Tiger Print Online is updated as often as possible with the most recent news. Because this is a student-made publication, input from you, the reader, is crucial. Maybe you disagreed with a column about Facebook or found the story on the freshman tennis star truly inspiring. Let us know. Never hesitate to write a letter to the editor. This gives you the power to say what you like and dislike, so don’t be afraid to share your opinion. Letters to the editor are always accepted and are considered for publication in the following issue. Be sure to sign your letter with your full name and drop it by room 450 in a timely manner. The 2009-2010 school year promises to be another busy and exciting year full of Friday night football games, school dances, class competitions and everything else in between. You can depend on The Tiger Print to keep the students and administrators informed and educated through it all.
“I want to see what my friends are doing outside of school.” Sophomore Kaylee Snedden
“I love the coupons. I cut those things out like there’s no tomorrow.” Senior Erica Bowden
The Tiger Print co-editors-inchief Allison Kohn Stephanie Roche
entertainment editor Rachel McCullough
multimedia editor Tori Freisner
sports editor Ryan O’Toole
news editor Caitlin Holland
photo editor Jackie Lippert
opinions editor AJ Barbosa
ads manager Jacob Pruitt
features editor Katie Louis
circulation manager Chris Roche
Haley Schroer James Statham Jane Webb
staff writers Sam Brennan Emily Brown Annie Burress Connor Cape Brice Goldenberg Matthew Gruber Matthew Holloway Jordan Huesers Jordan McEntee Sara Naatz Carlee Ray
photographers Haley Hickman Christian Huesers Maegan Kabel Emma Mosier Callie Ronan adviser Jill Chittum
The Tiger Print is published nine times a year for the students, faculty and the surrounding community of Blue Valley High School. It is an open forum for student expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrations of Blue Valley Unified School District #229. Letters to the editor and reader responses are encouraged for publication. The Tiger Print reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content and encourages
letters to be no more than 350 words. Letters should be submitted to room 450, e-mailed to thetigerprint@yahoo.com or mailed to: The Tiger Print c/o Blue Valley High School 6001 W. 159th St. Stilwell, KS 66085 phone: 913-239-4800 The Tiger Print also encourages guest photography. Photos should be submitted to room 450 with information pertaining to the photo.
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upclose
Sophomore selected for European tour with honors band maegankabel photographer
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myself to the conductor and to the countries as the best trombone player in the band,” Hennerberg said. All of the time and dedication put into his instrument paid off in helping Hennerberg achieve his goal. “I was extremely proud of him and his excellent preparation for his audition,” Berlin said. “I was certainly not surprised because of his constant practice and discipline.” The tour traveled to England, France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, Italy and Germany, using large coach buses to get between countries. Not only did Hennerberg get the opportunity to play with the honors
ú s M i c a l a Sixteen days. Seven countries. Four concerts. The Kansas/Kansas City Ambassadors of Music honors band is made up of 135 band students, ranging anywhere from freshmen in high school to freshmen in college. It is an opportunity to see Europe while showing off and growing their musical talents. Sophomore Stephen Hennerberg got the nomination and passed the audition to become part of this tour over the summer. “I have always been impressed with his musical ability, his work ethic, his strong desire to be a
band, but he also got to experience different European cultures and customs. “After each concert you’d have people coming up and talking to you in different languages,” Hennerberg said. He also got to experience new delicacies. “Switzerland was my favorite, it’s a beautiful place,” Hennerberg said. “Swiss chocolate is definitely the best thing ever. Either that or Mövenpick. It’s this combination of gelato and ice cream. “ Being involved in the band also gives Hennerberg something to put on his resume for colleges and music schools in his future. He hopes to attend Indiana University for their low brass program.
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(Above) Hennerberg poses in front of the Swiss Alps. (Right) Hennerberg performs with the band in Rotherberg, Germany. He plays the trombone and practiced almost every day prior to the audition. Photos submitted by Stephen Hennerberg.
better musician, and his self-discipline,” said Russell Berlin, Hennerberg’s symphony director who recommended him for the band. “Other attributes that contributed to his nomination were his character, respect shown to adults and peers, and his wonderful attitude.” Hennerberg, who plays trombone and is part of Blue Valley High’s symphonic band, Stridin’ Tiger Band and pep band, practiced almost every day for two weeks to prepare himself for the audition. The audition was crucial for him to reach his highset goal of becoming first chair among the six other students and the staff member on tour. “I was hoping to prove
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Music: the universal language
Allegro choir travels to Ohio to perform in festival
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kids at the festival, providing them an opportunity to be role models for the younger ones. “I’d have to say my most memorable moment was this little boy that we met. We were both first sopranos and he could sing higher than I could. So it was pretty hilarious,” Fowler said. “I really loved just meeting everyone and being an example for them.” Another highlight of the trip was an opportunity to write their own music. All the choirs worked together with composer Jim Papoulis to throw out ideas and compose a song that they actually got to perform. “He really just like gave us pen and paper and let us write our own song,” Ebling said. “I’ve never been able to do anything like that so it was super neat.” Papoulis would play different chords and the kids would throw out what they were feeling. “The chords sounded kind of lonely and we all caught on to that, so through the song, it’s sort of like we’re searching for something,” Fowler said. “So it was a play on words of being lonesome, striving for a goal, then reaching it. Then by the end of the song it’s like now we are what we wanted to be.”
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Although summer means a break for most Blue Valley High choir students, a few of them are members of Allegro Children’s Choir. This select group spends its summers on local, national and international tours, rehearsing, performing and meeting other choirs. Seniors Hannah Ebling, Kaitlin Long, Emily Mosburg and Jessica Mussato, juniors Maddy Fowler, Michelle Stratman, Raven Brower and Mariah Davis, and sophomore Kendyl Frerking travelled to Cincinnati, Ohio, to take part in the Queens Children’s Choir Festival June 18-21. “It was such a humbling experience,” Fowler said. “As a choir, we are really proud of our work and it was really cool to see all these choirs around the United States doing the same thing and having the same values as us. That was awesome.” Two summers ago, the choir toured Europe. That trip required a lot more rehearsal and preparation, making the Ohio trip much more laid back for the girls. “Last year we had to do a lot more prep with packing and all the culture shock stuff,” Ebling said. “This year it was a lot more low-key and relaxed.
We had time to chill and meet other choirs, as well as bond with our own.” The choir stayed at the University of Cincinnati. Compared to the multiple hotels they stayed at in Europe, the dorm rooms were a little uncomfortable. “I didn’t enjoy staying in the dorms very much because they were little but it was still fun,” Frerking said. The girls had 2 to 3-hour rehearsals twice a week to prepare for the Ohio trip. They also practiced daily in Cincinnati. “We did a lot of rehearsing. I mean that was most of it,” Mosburg said. “We got to have fun at night. We went to Newport Aquarium and our choir had a balloon animal contest, because we’re just that cool.” They performed at the festival, at a music hall at the school’s conservatory, and even at an amusement park, Kings Island, which was many of the girls’ favorite part of the trip. “My best memory is from Kings Island,” Ebling said. “I rode this roller coaster that you lay down in. It’s like a flying Spiderman move.” One part of the trip that meant a lot to the girls was meeting the other choirs and getting to work with them. The Allegro choir had the oldest
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(Above) Composer Jim Papoulis teaches a workshop at the festival and helps the girls write their own song. (Above) the Allegro girls strike funny poses in front of Kings Island Theme Park in Ohio before a day of fun in the park. Photos submitted by Maddy Fowler.
upclose
Chance of a Lifetime
Senior chosen from more than 500 nominees for trip to Washington, D.C., participates in mock Senate
Nesse Godin, a Holocaust survivor and speaker from the Holocaust Museum in DC, greets Kansas Senator James Geary. Each year Nesse speaks to the Boys Nation program on the horrors of the Holocaust she experienced as a teenager, as well as current human rights crises, such as Darfur. Photo by Thane Chastain.
connorcape staff writer It was a hot week in early June and while most of us were focused on forgetting about school, senior James Geary was in Manhattan, Kan. discussing politics and vying for a one in a million experience. He was elected by his peers from a group of 500 students to spend a week in Washington D.C. visiting all the war memorials, the White House, and even hearing Senators Claire McCaskill and Pat Roberts speak. Geary was selected for this honor while attending a camp called Boys State sponsored by the American Legion. The American Legion is an organization that promotes programs relating to politics. In 49 states, participants meet on a college campus for one week. The program is open to high school students heading into their senior year. They are given the chance to participate in a mock legislature and pass bills and laws similar to how their own home state is run.
After listening to his father’s views on politics from a young age Geary knew they were interesting and important in today’s society. “He affects my political views in a lot of ways,” Geary said. “Along with television programs such as MSNBC.” Geary was excited about the trip, and it proved to be a very memorable experience. “We went to Capitol Hill, listened to Senators speak, heard a story from Pat Roberts about an ash tray from Saddam Hussein’s palace, and saw all of the war memorials,” he said. “Seeing a veteran finding a fallen friend’s name with all that emotion. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.” While in Washington, Geary was involved in a mock federal senate with the other Boys State participants. The mock senate passed bills and laws concerning health care, renewable energies and foreign policy. However, the best part was engaging in a shouting match after being so fired up about political views and beliefs. “People were so into their ideals and their own views,” Geary said. “Someone
Following the elections for president and vice president, all of the Boys Nation senators pose for a countrywide photo. Each state, with the exception of Hawaii, which does not have a Boy State program, sent two delegates to the Boys Nation program held annually at Marymount University in Arlington, VA. Photo by Thane Chastain.
always lost their mind and would end up yelling. We all thought we were right all the time.” Even with all the intensity, they still managed to come back together cracking jokes late at night. “I’ll treasure the friendships I made,” he said. “All of them will be lifelong friends after this trip. It was such a
unique and incredible experience. Nothing compares to it.” Geary would also like to encourage all juniors who will be seniors next summer to get involved in Boys or Girls state. “Everyone should definitely know how their government works and be involved in it,” Geary said.
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‘09 ummer S centerstage
Concerts 1. A beautiful summer night, with a crowd of beautiful hipsters. Starlight Theatre was filled with over 20 “hippie-headbands” on July 22. The audience was a little dull during the opening acts, more interested in standing in a long line for a T-shirt than seeing the groups perform. Jack’s Mannequin played an energized set and basically begged for the crowd to get on their feet (at which time, five more people stood up). Once The Fray took their places the crowd finally showed a little enthusiasm, but not wanting to over-due it, remained pretty stale throughout the set. Hits like “You Found Me” and “Over my head (Cable Car)” got the biggest responses. During the encore they even broke out a cover of Kanye West’s “Heartless.” Photo by Stephanie Roche.
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5. Laughter poured through the crowd as Matthew Thiessen, Relient K’s lead vocalist/piano/guitar player mixed up the flavor of the night with a parody about the popular show, The Office. Thiessen highlighted situations of the on-going romance between Jim and Pam to break up the set list on July 2, at the Granada in Lawrence. Opening for Relient K was a techno-flavored band that harmonized their bittersweet voices with the house drummer and their instruments on Apple computers. The crowd seemed to like the feel of Owl City as they moved to the modern beats. The surprisingly mellow crowd perked up on well-known hits “Who I am Hates Who I’ve Been,” “Be my Escape” and “High of 75”. Relient K also introduced tracks from their upcoming album Forget and Not Slow Down, which will be released Oct. 6 of this year. Photo by Rachel McCullough. 6. Despite the on and off rain, screaming fans streamed through the entrance of Sandstone with ponchos and umbrellas in tow. Red, White, & Boom featured Safety Suit, The Veronicas, Blue October (pictured), and David Cook from American Idol. Cook was the highlight of the night. Photo by Emily Brown.
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2. Blistering heat covered the shoulders of fans as they shouted out lyrics to “Desperate Times, Desperate measures” along with Underoath (pictured) at Sandstone. Underoath was just one of the many bands that rocked one of the seven stages on Aug. 4, at Vans Warped Tour 15. Show goers kept cool in the heat by crowding in shaded areas or became victims of periodic water gun attacks. The heavily populated, all-day event showcased over 50 bands including The Devil Wears Prada, 3OH!3, Escape the Fate, and Forever The Sickest Kids. Photo by Rachel McCullough. 3 and 4. With an older crowd of crazy, classic rock lovers, REO Speedwagon and Styx (along with 38 Special) played an array of Top 40 Hits at Starlight Theater on June 4. The guitar picks were flying out to the front of the crowd all night. Styx played hits such as “Renegade” and got a great crowd sing-a-long to “Come Sail Away.” New lead singer to the group after a fall out between band members years ago, Tommy Shaw (pictured), truly lived up to job. The set from them was nearly perfect, even with a cover of The Beatles “I am the Walrus”, but fell just short without the inclusion of “Mr. Roboto.” When REO Speedwagon hit the stage, photo montages of the early years really got the crowd into an uproar. If you get queasy thinking about your parents making-out, you would not have wanted to be there during “Keep on Loving You.” Another fan-favorite was “Ridin’ the Storm Out” at which time lead singer, Kevin Cronin, gave a shout out to a gig at Arrowhead back in the 70’s. Photos by Stephanie Roche.
Headlining bands were showcased throughout the Kansas City Area this summer
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GIRLS XC
BOYS XC
VOLLEYBALL
FOOTBALL
athletes to watch Tyler Disney
Honorable Mention all-EKL
Softball loses in extra innings, looks to build off team for new season Beth Rogers
Top 10 EKL serve percentage Honorable mention all-EKL
Tyler Smiley State qualifier 3 varsity letters
Alyssa Luker
2-time state qualifier All-EKL All-metro honorable mention
GIRLS TENNIS
GIRLS GOLF
SOCCER
Tom Adams
1st team EKL 1st team Johnson County 1st team all-sun 2nd team all-Kansas City
The Tigers during happier times, posing with the regional plaque after defeating rivals Blue Valley West May 29. The team went on to lose to Wichita Northwest early in the state tournament. Photo submitted by Matthew Gruber.
Valarie Gaughn 2 individual Medals
Ashley Tiefel
Placed 4th at State sophomore year
spring recap Baseball
The Tiger baseball team made a return to the state tournament on May 29 to defend their title as the 6A state champions taking on the Lawrence Lions. The Lions came ready to play and the game ended more quickly than expected. “Our pitchers struggled throwing strikes and fell behind in the count so Lawrence was able to sit on fastballs,” Varsity Coach Matt Ortman said. “Once they got rolling we couldn’t do much to stop them.” The game ended 17-0 after three innings of play. The Tigers have many returning players next season, only losing three seniors. “This year we return a lot of key players, most who have started since their sophomore year,” Ortman said. “We will be a senior dominated team so we have some high expectations for this year. I think it is everyone’s goal to reclaim the state title.” By Matthew Gruber.
Track
Marathon game delivers disappointment, promise
The following people placed at state May 29-30: juniors Mizani Hobson, Ariel Smith and Rachel Supple, seniors Nicole Berry, Melissa Illies and Alyssa Luker and 2009 graduate Devin Freeman. By Ryan O’Toole.
matthewgruber staff writer The Lady Tigers softball team was well-rounded. Composed of three freshman and four seniors with a lot of promising young talent, leadership and experience. Senior Sarah Smith said last year’s team was different from the previous year; they were just overall a better, more complete team. They made their second consecutive trip to state after winning another 6A Regional title May 29, beating rival Blue Valley West in a dominating performance 4-1. “We were more hungry for the win in state than last year,” Smith said. The Tigers started off the tournament against the Wichita Northwest Grizzlies. “If we hit there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll win state,” Smith said. Smith also said their game plan consisted of making the extra effort and not worrying about missing a tough play. The team took the diamond that Friday evening with the mind-set to leave it all out on the field. The game was scoreless through the first seven innings. Both teams had runners on base, but timely hitting seemed to be nonexistent. In addition, both teams’ defenses
made spectacular plays in the field, refusing to let anything past them. In the bottom of the twelfth, the Tigers pulled off something crucial and unheard of, a triple play. It started with a shallow pop-up behind second base that 2009 graduate shortstop Leslee Kinnison was in pursuit to retrieve but ended up deflecting into the air. At that time, the runners took off knowing that she dropped it. However, junior outfielder Stephanie Goodwin somehow caught the ball off the deflection for one out and tagged second base for the second out. She then threw to 2009 graduate first basemen Heather Gruber for the third out. The Tigers came close to scoring
Then what probably would’ve been the last half-inning of play before postponement, the Grizzlies were up to bat. They led off with a single to left field and an error that let the runner reach second. After a fly-out to centerfield, the next batter was able to knock in a blooper to left field advancing the winning run to third base. Then a well-hit double to left-center field ended the game and the Tigers came out empty again after 19 innings. “At the end we were all so tired, we held them that long, but couldn’t hold on,” Garton said. Garton said if they played WNW again, they could definitely win the rematch. The Tigers will have to rebuild next
“At the end we were all so tired, we held them that long, but couldn’t hold on.”
Maddie Garton when Goodwin tried scoring from second off a single from sophomore Maddie Garton but got thrown out at the plate sliding. The game continued, as both teams prevented each other from scoring. The Tigers managed to get Smith on third base with two outs after two sacrifice bunts, but couldn’t get the job done.
season after losing both their 2009 graduate pitchers Lindsey Mueller and Gruber and Coach Heather Sheppard. Sheppard helped build the softball program, leading them to two straight regional titles and state appearances. Garton says their team will have more underclassmen, but they have a lot to look forward to and to build off of after this past season’s success.
AUGUST 2009 1 1
preview monday
saturday
National Thrift Shop Day
Walk for Wishes 2009
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Oh shopping. Nothing could be better after a long, difficult day of school. Check out some local thrift stores today.
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Oak Park Mall at 9 a.m. Admission is $20. Help raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation at this indoor walk.
sunday
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American Idols Live! Tour
Sprint Center at 7 p.m. All of your favorites from season 8 will be there.
September friday friday
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Freshman Class Day
Get to know your classmates and learn about all the traditions here at Blue Valley. Be there or be square. Tiger Mentors must be in attendance.
All School Picnic
My idea of a perfect lunch? Sweating my bum off out on the bleachers along with a thousand other students. But don’t get me wrong, I love hearing about how all the sports and activities are doing. Don’t forget $2 for pizza and a drink.
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First home football game & pizza dance
vs. Manhattan High School. Get decked out and black and gold to support the Tigers. The pizza dance will be in the commons following the game and is $3 to get in.
monday
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No School
Labor Day. Actually, this is a day not to do labor. Confusing, yes. Perhaps it should change its name to No Labor Day.
saturday
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Kansas City Aviation Expo and Air Show
AUGUST
Golden Knights and Red Barons will fill the sky today and tomorrow. Visit www.kcairshow.com for more information.
monday
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Back to School Night
A great opportunity for your parents to get to know your teachers and what your class load is going to be like. Just make sure they are following the dress code before they leave the house and throw in a lecture about being respectful.
wednesday
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Fall Sports pictures
Iron the uniforms and get ready for the flashbulbs – the toughest opponent you’ll face all year.
2 4 AUGUST 2009
saturday
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Responsible Dog Ownership Day
Keep your kitties inside! This is a day for the dogs. Make sure you are taking care of our furry friends. Before adopting a dog (the best option) make sure you are going to be able to care for him or her.
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