The Tiger Print — August 2013

the

TIGER PRINT newspaper BLUE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Vol. 44 Issue 1 August 2013 Stilwell, Kan. A SUMMER IN REVIEW Significant summer news events highlighted, explained page 2 SAVING SWIMMERS Many students lifeguard at local pools over summer, take on new responsibilities page 7 BACK IN BLACK & GOLD Fall sports begin training for new season, anticipate successful records pages 14-15

Camp Craze: Students spend summer break at various camps, establish long-lasting friendships. Pages 8-9.

Photo courtesy of Savannah Spicer.

2

inthenews

August 2013

Events Calendar Aug. 16 — All School Picnic Freshman Class Day Aug. 19 — Fall sports begin Aug. 21 — Fall sports pictures, 3 p.m.

Back to School Night, 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 22 — Fall speaker assembly

summer news in review June

26

Supreme Court: Supreme Court rules on June 26 that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. The court determined that DOMA violated the rights of gays and lesbians and also interfered with the states’ right to define marriage. The same day, Supreme Court overturned Proposition-8, the ban on same-sex marriage in California.

Aug. 27 — Fall Sports Night, 5-8 p.m.

Sept. 2 — No School, Labor Day Sept. 6 — Pizza Dance, 9 p.m.

Sept. 7 — ACT Test Sept. 11 — Choir Parent Preview, 6-8 p.m. in the PAC Sept. 12 — Fifth Wall, 7 p.m. in the Black Box Theater

Egypt Protests: Over one million people gather in Egypt to protest and participate in demonstrations on the anniversary of their president Mohammed Morsi’s inaugaration. Protesters called for the president to step down from office due to Egypt’s poor economy along with many other issues.

July

6

Sept. 16 — Talent Show Auditions, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Sept. 18 — Wrong of Passage, 6:30 p.m. in the gym/PAC Sept. 19 — Picture retakes Sept. 25 — Fall play auditions, 3 p.m. in the PAC

Sept. 30 — Hearing and vision screening in the PAC

13

Oct. 1 — Blood Drive Oct. 2 — Homecoming Bonfire, 6:30 p.m. on the practice fields Oct. 4 — Homecoming Parade, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 — Homecoming Dance, 7 p.m.

While landing at the San Francisco International Airport, a passenger jet headed from Seoul, South Korea, crashes and catches fire. Three were killed and over 180 were taken to the hospital. The cause of the crash is not clear. Asiana Airlines sues a local TV station for reporting racist, false names of the pilots.

George Zimmerman:

July

30

San Francisco Plane Crash:

A Florida jury finds George Zimmerman not guilty of murdering Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot and killed Martin on Feb. 26, 2012, after an altercation between the two as Martin was walking home from a convenience store.

The decision sparked much controversy over the Internet along with protests in several cities.

Sept. 26 — Homecoming Assembly Fall play auditions, 3 p.m. in the PAC

June

July

13

Cory Monteith: “Glee” actor Cory Monteith was found dead in his hotel room on July 13. Police did not suspect any foul play, and an autopsy later revealed Monteith died from a mix of heroin and alcohol. Lea Michelle, “Glee” actress and Monteith’s girlfriend, has resumed production on the TV show along with the rest of the cast. Monteith’s character Finn Hudson will be written off the show.

The Royal Baby:

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Prince William, gives birth to a baby boy on July 22. The couple makes their first public appearance on July 24 with the newborn baby while leaving the hospital and announces the baby’s name: George Alexander Louis.

The Royal Baby is third in line to the throne.

July

22

Story and design by Anna Wonderlich.

August 2013

payin’thebills

20% "

3

ÞÊ- âiÊ- Ì i

8154 West 135th St Overland Park, KS 66223 t. 913.851.4844 Exp. 9/30/13 6> `Ê>ÌÊÌ iÊ>L ÛiÊ V>Ì Ê ÞU ÌÊÛ> `Ê vÊÀi«À `ÕVi`U Ê Ì iÀÊ` ÃV Õ ÌÃÊ>«« ÞU" iÊV Õ« Ê«iÀÊVÕÃÌ iÀ

50% "

8154 West 135th St Overland Park, KS 66223 t. 913.851.4844

Take the Robeks quiz.

A Robeks smoothie is...

A. An ideal meal replacement B. A healthy treat C. A guiltless pleasure D. All of the above

You always make the right choice with a Robeks smoothie!

the

TIGER PRINT newspaper

ÞÊÓ{Ê ÀÊÎÓÊ â° - Ì i

Exp. 9/30/13 6> `Ê>ÌÊÌ iÊ>L ÛiÊ V>Ì Ê ÞU ÌÊÛ> `Ê vÊÀi«À `ÕVi`U Ê Ì iÀÊ` ÃV Õ ÌÃÊ>«« ÞU" iÊV Õ« Ê«iÀÊVÕÃÌ iÀ

Check out our website for updated news coverage, exclusive stories, photos and digital issues of the paper.

www.bvtigernews.com

4

outloud

August 2013

SELF REFLECTION

Staffer recommends self-reflection on actions, perspective; suggests change in attitude if necessary

alexkontopanos photo editor I’m not going to sugarcoat this: high school can be really hard, especially when you’re entering your last year.

Between completing summer assignments, finishing standardized testing and eventually filling out college applications, there’s not a lot of time left to really focus on yourself or those around you. But if you’re reading this, just take 15 minutes of your time doing a bit of self-reflection.

Even if you aren’t a senior, you’ll still benefit from these next 15 minutes.

Let’s go back to elementary school.

Your teachers were really nice to you, you got to draw a lot in class and you had a big group of friends that you hung out with at recess. The meanest thing somebody did to you was steal your brand new Spiderman pencil case or forget to return your glittery hair elastic.

Now let’s fast-forward back to where we are.

Things have changed since your elementary years. People say mean things to you without apologizing, they stab you in the back and they don’t always stick to their word. We’ve become more aware of what’s around us. We understand there are bad people in this world, and it’s not rainbows and butterflies anymore. We all have bad days, and sometimes we wake up in an annoyed mood for no reason. It’s not Designed by Hailey McEntee.

as if we intentionally try to hurt people’s feelings on a daily basis. But have you ever met people who are proud to be mean?

Because I have.

Being mean is when someone purposely tries to hurt someone or several people.

And that’s not justifiable. I’m not going to write an article about how we should all be peaceful and hold hands and sing “Kumbaya” all the time because I’m not perfect.

I’m not going to preach something I don’t practice every day of my life.

But I do want you, as a reader, to think.

I want you to question your actions and your perspective. I want you to ask yourself, “Am I happy with who I am? Do I make others feel good? Do I appreciate people? Do I support others and stick up for those who are hurt or are not treated fairly?”

I will never understand people who are content knowing they have purposely hurt someone’s feelings. I can’t fathom why people think being mean to those around them makes them respected, acknowledged, assertive and confident.

Personally, I lose respect for people like that. It shows weakness and a lack of inner strength when the only way one knows how to make oneself heard and stop others from pushing him/her around is when he/ she puts others down.

To those living within this delusional mindset, I sincerely apologize.

I apologize that you don’t know how to respectfully and properly stand up for yourself. I apologize that other people around you who are too shy to face you have to fear you. If you think being rude to others will get you far, you’re wrong. If being mean got you what you wanted, congratulations. I bet if feels good knowing

you pushed other people down the ladder as you climbed up. Maybe in high school, it’s hard for some of us to face mean people, and most high schoolers would probably let it slide. But in college and later on, people won’t respect you. They’ll look down on you.

If you strive to be malicious because you think it will make your voice heard, take a second to think if that’s how you want to be remembered in high school. Do you want people to remember you as the person who was rude to everyone?

If there’s one thing in life that is hard to forget, it’s the way somebody made you feel. I won’t tell you how to live your life, but these are just some of the questions you should ask yourself.

You can stick up for yourself and for others without being unkind. You can be firm and confident yet still be a pleasant person to hang around with. It’s just about finding that balance, and I have to admit, it’s a thin tightrope to walk. But it’s worth it. There are enough mean people in this world.

That being said, I honestly think that what you give is what you get, and if you’re giving love and sincerity, you’ll be surprised at how much better life gets. Doors will open up for you, and more people will approach and listen to you because you possess positive and happy vibes.

Make yourself respectable, and speak up for yourself and others in the classiest way possible. Be honest with mean people.

Maybe they won’t care about your opinion, but it lets them know you’re not going to put up with their negativity.

People say high school is about finding ourselves, so why not begin that journey by being a genuine and good person?

August 2013

outloud

5

picking the

POSITIVE INFLUENCES

STUDENTS ENCOURAGED TO SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH UPLIFTING PEOPLE, CHOOSE FRIENDS WISELY

This summer, I went to a life-changing event called the Steubenville Conference.

One of the speakers there said, “If you keep swimming in the dirty ocean, you’ll start to smell like fish.”

This might sound silly at first, but it’s really true.

If you surround yourself with bad influences, you’ll conform to bad habits and attitudes.

Too many high school students walk around with no goals, no passions and no inspiration at all — they just mope through life and do the bare minimum to get by. They really don’t care much about anything or anyone. These people hold you back from reaching your full potential.

Don’t let these people suck you into their habits.

Keep your eye on the prize and strive to achieve your goals.

I have been blessed to find the amazing friends I have — they are a positive influence, they encourage me to fulfill my dreams and they overall make me want to be a better person. And I hope they feel the same way towards me.

“

“

haileymcentee co-editor

I wouldn’t trade the deep talks and life-changing conversations I’ve had with them for anything.

By surrounding myself with people who build me up rather than tear me down, I am able to grow in faith and friendships that will take me far in life.

Freshmen — high school is your chance to find that group of people who will be there for you and make you a better person. This is your opportunity to build relationships that will help form you into the person you will be. That sounds like a lot of pressure to find the right people, but don’t worry. It’ll all work out, and you’ll love every minute of it.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors — you probably already have a group of friends who you would associate yourself with, and that’s awesome. But just take a step back and think about if these people are a positive influence on you. If they are, that’s great — keep growing closer to them and cherish every minute you have with them. But if they aren’t a positive influence, maybe consider branching out and meeting new people. There are so many people to meet at Blue Valley, so don’t limit the amount of people you get to know. You could come across a new group who you really fit in with. And even if you feel like there’s no way you could get out of a bad friend group, just keep in mind that it’s never too late to turn things around after making mistakes.

So don’t get caught up in the big smelly ocean, and don’t let others drag you down and drown you.

Seek out the friends who lift you up and make you want to be a better person.

By surrounding myself with people who build me up rather than tear me down, I am able to grow in faith and friendships that will take me far in life.

Designed by Anna Wonderlich.

6

outloud

August 2013

staffeditorial TIGER PRINT newspaper the

co-editors Hailey McEntee Anna Wonderlich

photographers Mollie Hogan Molly Johnson

photo editors Raine Andrews Alex Kontopanos

cartoonists Caroline Kalmus Kiet Phan

news editor Sally Cochran

staff writers Matt Antonic Rachel Cannon Maddie Davis Catherine Eatherly Sheila Gregory Bridget Howard Jessie Jilovec Rachel Lock Makayla Nicholis Cassie Nichols Tori Pippins Meredith Strickland

features editor Maddie Jewett entertainment editor Danielle Williams Cartoon courtesy of Drew Sheneman, MCT Campus.

Bullying still remains an issue, not taken seriously enough er they want, especially online, after countless lessons on bullying?

When people are given the ability to be anonymous online, it gives them a sense of agree disagree power to say whatever *11 out of 25 staffers voted. they want.

Anti-bullying.

A lot of students honestly We’ve all heard it a million think a deleted online post, times. The concept has been especially if it was posted jammed in our heads since anonymously, is gone forever. grade school, and when we It’s true, once something were old enough to unonline is deleted, it’s hard for derstand it, so was suicide the average Internet user to prevention. go back and find it; but, in As bad as it sounds, it the rare case someone bullied seems like everyone’s gotten online contacts the authoritired of it. ties, deleted posts, anonymous It’s so common to hear posts and anonymous acsomething like, “Oh my God, counts can be retrieved easier we get it,” when we have yet than one would think. another anti-bullying lesson People are so quick to in Tiger Time. announce how “cruel” our soSo, why is it still an issue? ciety is when news of another Why are teenagers still getteen committing suicide is ting away with saying whatevout, but usually a lot of these

staff editorial

9

2

people are the same ones fueling our society’s ways.

They’re the same ones sending anonymous hate to their peers — the ones “jokingly” telling others to kill themselves or initially criticizing the fact that anyone could ever be anything but happy in a place like Johnson County.

People don’t realize it’s the little things that trigger others.

A simple online post could be the last straw.

Not only would you have to live with the fact you were partially responsible for someone’s death, but also that sort of crime can stay on your record for the rest of your life.

This is not about “putting an end to bullying” — we’ve all heard that enough.

This is about the consequences you could face for contributing to what our society considers “a joke.”

opinion editor Riley Miller sports editor Gennifer Geer adviser Michelle Wilmes

The Tiger Print, published seven times a year, 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 are encouraged for publication. The Tiger Print reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content. Letters should be submitted to room 450, emailed to thetigerprint@yahoo.com or mailed to: The Tiger Print c/o Blue Valley High School 6001 W. 159th Street Stilwell, KS 66085

lifeguard ON DUTY daniellewilliams entertainment editor Wearing a red and white swimsuit to work every day and blowing a whistle at misbehaving toddlers is a part of the job description for most summer lifeguards.

Many Blue Valley students have taken on this responsibility for their summer job.

“My job consists of watching everyone in the pool and keeping them safe, opening [and] closing the pool, keeping the pool clean and making sure people are happy,” lifeguard senior Will Munholland said.

Munholland said he became a lifeguard because he enjoyed being at the pool and spending his summer outside.

“My favorite part was when no one was at the pool — the other guards and I would do tricks off the diving boards,” Munholland said.

Munholland lifeguards at three pools including Hampton Place, Lionsgate and Nottingham Forest South.

“It’s important because I protect and save the lives of people,” Munholland said.

Making $8.25 an hour and working almost every day, Munholland said lifeguarding has not only become a very profitable job, but also a fun one.

“I did make a lot of friends on the lifeguard team and also got a lot of my friends jobs there too,” he said. “It was a great time meeting and bonding with new people.”

Munholland said even though the job came with many perks, it was difficult at times, too.

“The hardest part is watching everyone when the pool is busy,” he said. “It’s very hard to see what everyone is doing in all the chaos.”

Munholland has saved three people this summer.

“All [the kids] were young and weak swimmers whose parents weren’t watching them very well,” he said. “Fortunately, all

August 2013

upclose

7

Students enjoy responsibility, friendships from lifeguarding

I had to do was jump in and pull them out before they went under.”

Junior Braydon Huschka lifeguards at Young’s Pool.

“I decided to become a lifeguard because a friend told me about it, and I’ve always wanted to be one,” Huschka said.

Huschka works 30-40 hours a week, making $9 an hour.

“The hardest part of my job is probably working eighthour days over and over again, especially when the temperature can get to be 90-100 degrees,” he said.

Huschka said one of the many reasons he enjoys being a lifeguard is the friendships he’s made.

“I am very good friends with the guards I work with, and it was very easy to form relationships with them,” he said.

“They are all people your age, and chances are you have things in common with most of them.”

Huschka said his favorite memory from lifeguarding was getting a five-star rating.

“Being a lifeguard entails long training sessions before the summer starts and long days of work, but it was worth it,” he said.

Huschka has never personally saved anyone, but has witnessed a few savings.

“One [saving] was a little girl who couldn’t swim who went off the diving board, and the other was a person having a seizure in the water,” he said.

Junior Haley Koenig also became a lifeguard this year.

She works at Stonegate Pool making $8.25 an hour and working at least 40 hours a week.

“I decided to become a lifeguard because I always went to the pool as a kid, and I like the responsibility,” she said.

Koening said becoming a lifeguard is a huge task.

“It means you have people’s lives in your hands, and it is our responsibility to keep everyone safe,” she said.

Koenig said the friendships formed with her co-workers are one of the things she will miss most during the school year.

“This summer I’ve met so many new people from all over, and we’ve all become extremely close,” she said. “I’ve had so much fun hanging out with everyone at work and outside of work.”

Koenig said lifeguarding this summer would not have been nearly as enjoyable without the friends she made.

“Without them, the days would be so much longer,” she said. “They’re the ones who keep the job fun and entertaining.”

Koenig said she had one save this summer when a little boy jumped off the diving board and couldn’t swim.

“All I had to do was jump in and help him out — nothing too scary,” she said.

“At the time I was so nervous, but looking back, I’m glad I got it out of the way.”

All three lifeguards said they are eager to continue their jobs next summer because of all the great memories from this year.

“I love my job and the responsibility that it comes with,” Koenig said. “Everyday I wake up and am excited to go to work.”

Photo by Alex Kontopanos. Designed by Anna Wonderlich.

8

a

indepth

August 2013

summer well spent

Students participate in camps, make memories

(Top) Posing as the sun sets behind them, a cabin of senior girls at Camp Tekawitha takes a group photo. Campers spent nine days growing closer to each other and to God. “The atmosphere at camp is amazing,” senior Mallory Hickey said. “It is so joyful and filled with God’s love. It is such a fun place to be, and you can’t get this atmosphere anywhere else.” Photo submitted by Mallory Hickey.

(Bottom left) During the prison scene in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Stageworxs camper sophomore Lance Jewett sings a solo. Jewett participated in Stageworx, a six-week summer theater camp. “I became friends with a lot of new people and became even closer with old friends,” he said. Photo submitted by Maddie Jewett.

(Bottom right) Painting their chests during a tribal competition at Kanakuk, senior Jeff Jacobs and cabin mate are elected chiefs.

Jacobs said Kanakuk, a Christian summer camp, creates life-long friendships. “My favorite part is definitely the people I meet,” he said. “It’s just an amazing experience with God with no distractions.” Photo submitted

by Jeff Jacobs.

Stories by Maddie Jewett & Hailey McEntee.

Page designed by Hailey McEntee.

August 2013

Camp Tekakwitha

Over the summer, multiple Blue Valley students attend Camp Kateri Tekakwitha, a Catholic camp in Williamsburg, Kan., open to incoming fifth through twelfth graders. Campers partake in countless religious activities in addition to outdoor activities including ropes courses, horseback riding, canoeing, mountain boarding, biking and swimming.

“I like going to camp because it is just so much fun,” senior Mallory Hickey said. “I get to strengthen my relationship with God, be around some of my closest friends, make new friends and do crazy things like jump off of a 30-foot telephone pole.”

Over the six summers Hickey went to camp, she said she encountered Christ.

“My favorite memory from camp would have to be deep prayer night going into my freshman

indepth

9

year,” Hickey said. “It was the first time I had ever been to adoration. That night I felt the Holy Spirit and really fell in love with God.” Hickey said her life would be very different without attending Tekakwitha.

“If I hadn’t gone to camp, I don’t think I would be where I am today,” she said. “My faith life and relationship with God would not be nearly as strong. I would have never formed friendships with some of the people I have been friends with for five or six years.”

Junior Allison Gliesman also attends Camp Tekakwitha every summer.

“The camp community is so different from any other,” Gliesman said. “It creates an atmosphere of crazy love, genuine friendship and just pure joy. Everyone is there for the same reason — to grow in their relationship with God — and

that makes everything so much more authentic.”

Hickey said campers build strong relationships at camp.

“At camp you share all of your struggles and challenges that you face at home and at school,” she said. “You are in such a vulnerable state, and your cabin mates and brother or sister cabins get to know you on a very personal level. The friends I have made at camp are some of my closest friends. They are my brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Since Hickey is a senior, this was her last year.

“Words can not explain how much I am going to miss camp,” she said. “It has been such a big part of my life, and I have grown in so many aspects of my life there. I would not trade my experiences and friendships I have made there for anything in the world.

without camp. Wonderlich was a narrator, one of the lead roles in Joseph this summer.

“When my mom asked me if I wanted to do camp again this summer, I thought she was joking,” she said. “How could I not want to come back?”

Wonderlich said the relationships created at camp were unlike any other friendships.

“My favorite part about camp this summer was definitely the bond created between me and several people I wouldn’t have known otherwise,” she said. “Camp has a way of making people get close to each other a million times faster than they would under normal circumstances.”

Stageworx also collects money and goods for various charities around the community.

“The fundraising aspect makes it more special because it’s different from other places in that we do things other than just putting on a show,” Jewett said.

Wonderlich said Stageworx has changed her for the better in more ways than one.

“Camp has made me so much more outgoing than I ever imagined I could be,” she said.

“I probably wouldn’t have known how to make friends freshman year if I hadn’t done camp.”

The camp is for students in sixth through ninth grade, so this was Jewett and Wonderlich’s last summer of camp.

“I’m going to miss the feeling of family between the staffers, campers, and me,” she said.

“We all just really love each other.”

Stageworx Holding hands, the campers gather around the stage, tears streaming down their faces. They look around at each other with love in their eyes.

And then they sing: “Goodbye friends.

Goodbye friends. Goodbye friends, until we meet again.”

Sophomore Lance Jewett is a 7-year camper at Stageworx. This summer Jewett was the lead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

“I would describe camp as a 6-week long summer theater camp,” he said. “But the friends and experiences you have there are worth so much more than that.”

Two-year camper sophomore Maria Wonderlich said she couldn’t imagine this summer

Kanakuk

Senior Jeff Jacobs spent about a month of his summer at Kanakuk, a Christian summer camp for people ages 7-18.

“Everyday you have a schedule,” he said.

“You specialize in a sport and have some minors in other sports. The guys lift weights every day.”

Jacobs said Kanakuk taught him how to live his life every day.

“Camp has really taught me to live my life out loud for Christ,” he said. “It gets you spiritually ready for the year ahead and helps you grow deeper in your relationship with Christ.”

Senior Savannah Spicer said Kanakuk has helped her grow in her faith.

“I first went to Kanakuk last year because I’ve been raised a Christian but didn’t really know how to live my life as one,” she said. “I continued to go because of the amazing experience

— I get to spend a week or more learning about how to better my life and the lives of others, I get to meet friends from all over the country and I get to stay in a positive atmosphere.”

Spicer said she decided to go to camp for two weeks this summer rather than just one.

“My favorite part of camp was staying for a second week,” she said. “For the second week, we basically worked at camp. We had to clean bathrooms, help make meals in the kitchen and be mini-counselors for the junior kids. It was very challenging but was so worth it.”

Spicer said camp taught her to live her life at home the same as she does there.

“For me, camp acts as my goal,” she said.

“Every year I go, I have the time of my life and leave with the goal of living my life at home in the same way I do at camp. I strive to stay in

God’s word every day, to stay friendly to everyone and to stay fired up about Jesus when I’m home. At camp all of these aspects come easily.”

Spicer said Kanakuk counselors tell the campers it isn’t the actual camp that’s so inspiring, but what campers do there that changes lives.

“Kanakuk has taught me that I can live my life following Christ no matter where I am,” she said. “It’s not as easy at home as it is at camp, but it’s something to strive for. During closing ceremonies, they always tell us, ‘There’s nothing special about Kanakuk. There is nothing here that makes you all love God or desire Jesus. It’s reading God’s word daily, surrounding yourself with other Christians and having fun in God’s name that makes Kanakuk so different.’”

10

upclose

August 2013

new season,

new coach

Photo by Molly Johnson.

Designed by Anna Wonderlich.

Cross Country team welcomes new assistant coach gennifergeer sports editor For Blue Valley cross country runners, change is in the air. No, the humidity level isn’t going down, and they’ll still need to “charge the hill.” Cross country is undergoing a different change entirely.

Former assistant coaches Kyle Braden and Rachel Cunning will no longer coach the team, though both will return to BV as teachers. Fortunately for BV cross country, a new assistant coach is stepping in.

Business teacher Mallory Joseph starts her first year of coaching at BV after three years of student teaching at Blue Valley West. A cross country and track veteran from Fort Hays State University, Joseph coached those sports for two years at West. Along with instructing her Personal Finance, Marketing: Promotion & Advertising and Accounting classes, Joseph joins coaches Manal Siam and Diana Huber in whipping cross country runners into shape.

“She’s definitely a good runner,” cross country member sophomore Marie Hornung said. “I think she’s going to be a really good coach and good for the team.”

Joseph came aboard the BV team when a teaching and coaching position opened up. She said she fell in love with the culture at BV and looks forward to a great year. Before cross country officially began, the coaches encouraged runners to join the team on summer runs held every weekday.

These runs gave Joseph the opportunity to get to know the cross country runners.

“It’s a great atmosphere to get to know kids before they get busy and stressed,” she said. “It’s surprising how many people I didn’t know — I only knew a handful of students.”

Joseph said her favorite part of cross country is meeting the runners, but a coach-athlete relationship differs from a teacher-student one.

“You see one side of the students in class and meet a different side of the students outside of school,” she said.

“They open up to you more.”

Joseph said she has also grown closer to fellow coaches.

She said the coaching style led by Huber allows everyone to be an asset.

“Huber is great at letting us do what we excel at,” she said. “I’m happy to be a part of BV’s cross country team.”

Hornung said Joseph has a “coach-ness” to her that makes her a perfect addition to the cross country team.

“Cross country is like a family,” Joseph said. “There are a lot of people there to support you and build you up.”

Joseph calls herself “lucky” to be a part of the family, and said she has high hopes for the season.

“I’m hoping for a successful and healthy season for everyone from varsity to C-team,” Joseph said.

August 2013

upclose

11

Blue Valley, BV Southwest seniors play on summer recreational baseball team Story by Maddie Jewett and Anna Wonderlich.

It’s a hot, sunny Sunday afternoon on Field 16 of the Blue Valley Recreation baseball complex.

The Bluejays baseball players, dressed in their royal blue and white uniforms, take their positions on the field.

In the outfield, one player is doing push-ups while another sits down and draws pictures in the dirt. A player on first base takes out his cell phone, calls one of his friends sitting in the stands with the other fans and proceeds to have a conversation with him while the game continues.

Repeatedly striking out, unnecessarily sliding into home plate and cheering just because a player actually hit the ball is not uncommon for this team.

As you can see, this is not your typical baseball game.

This is a Bluejay’s baseball game.

The Bluejays, made up of senior boys from Blue Valley and Blue Valley Southwest, is a recreational team who played every Sunday and Monday throughout June and July this summer.

Senior Connor Lotz said the team was made strictly for having fun.

“We made the team because we all wanted to play and just have a reason to mess around,” he said.

Since some of the players rarely got hits, Lotz said everyone cheered crazily when the players finally did.

“My favorite memory was when [senior] Ben [Marquardt] got his first hit,” he said. “We all went insane, and it was hilarious because he hadn’t gotten a single hit before that.”

Senior Scott Urso said he enjoyed getting to socialize with his teammates while playing baseball.

“The best part about being on the team was probably just getting to mess around with my friends and do stupid things while we were still able to play an organized baseball game,” he said. “We messed around because there isn’t really any point in trying to win other than bragging rights.

{

}

bluejays by the numbers

Photo by Molly Johnson.

Designed by Anna Wonderlich.

Only two of the teams actually took it seriously. I think it was definitely more to just have fun.”

Bluejays superfan senior Meghan Kennedy said she has many memories from going to the games.

“The funniest thing I remember from all the games I went to was definitely when [senior] Kyle [Nunnally] called [Bluejays superfan senior] Mallory [Hickey] from the outfield,” she said. “I was sitting on the bleachers, and all of a sudden Mallory got a call from Kyle. Everyone on the bench was like, ‘Why is Kyle calling you? He’s supposed to be playing.’ It was just really funny because you wouldn’t expect them to do that.”

Urso said the Bluejays games were a good way for his friends to still get together during the summer.

“Playing with a lot of my friends was really fun because a lot of us were busy throughout the summer, so it was sometimes the only time we could all hang out,” he said.

Urso said there were many funny memories from the season.

“After every game, this try-hard team would throw water in our dugout,” he said. “So, the last time we played them, we caught on. After we shook hands, I saw the kid getting the water jug so I just sprinted over and grabbed it and threw it on the ground. Then, [senior] Jake [Ackland] dumped the water all over the other team.”

Kennedy said watching the Bluejays play was a highlight of her summer.

“Baseball is one of my favorite things, so being able watch that twice a week with a bunch of friends was an awesome experience,” she said. “The players on our team just took each game as a joke, and they didn’t really care if they missed a routine fly-ball or if they lost by 14 points. I have so many great memories from going to the games on Monday nights and then the occasional Taco Bell or Sonic run afterwards with the team.”

12 games 9 losses 13 players 3 wins

12

centerstage

August 2013

fashionable for the

FALL Stories by Sally Cochran.

“Guys Wear Ties Days Fridays” Junior creates weekly fashion holiday, encourages wearing ties every Friday It’s a Friday morning.

Junior Luke Conners as well as other Blue Valley students can be seen walking to class sporting a tie — over a T-shirt.

It’s “Guys Wear Ties Days Fridays.”

Conners created this weekly holiday of sorts in October of last year. “[I] had to dress up for marching band, but I didn’t want to dress up for rehearsal that morning, so I just put a tie on [over my T-shirt],” he said. “It was fun, so I just decided to do it every week.”

Conners said he acquired his five ties from a variety of places, such as Christmas gifts or around the house. He can be seen wearing neckties, but does not approve of bow ties.

“No bow ties,” Conners said. “That’s cheating.”

Sophomore Billiam Liu said he participates in “Guys Wear Ties Days Fridays” because it’s unique.

“For me, it’s fun in a weird way,” he said. “I mean, ties are awesome, and Fridays are awesome, so why not both?”

Conners said only he has participated every week, but a few others have taken part.

“I’d be pretty thrilled and pretty surprised [at a larger interest in ‘Guys Wear Ties Days Fridays’],” he said.

Conners’ fashion advice to other BV students?

“Stay classy.”

August 2013

centerstage

What are you planning

Junior Abbie Piero: “I usually don’t wear a dress the first week of school. Usually I just wear cute shorts and a T-shirt, but I don’t wear like Nike shorts either. I wear something in between.”

week of school?

Senior Shannon Dowling: “I’m going to probably wear a jean jacket with an Aubrey Hepburn T-Shirt and high-waisted shorts.”

13

What are your favorite summer trends?

AP: “I like all the fun prints like chevron, the cool aztec print, polka dots — I love polka dots.”

SD: “I’m into the hippie look, so, like, high-waisted shorts and skirts — trendy, chic things.”

Junior Ashleigh Tysick: “I like high-waisted shorts and regular V-necks.”

How do you get the most for your money?

AP: “I try to look for sales wherever they are. I don’t go to a certain place necessarily.”

SD: “I try my best to do sales.”

AT: “I make the most out of my clothes. If I’ll wear it a lot, I’ll get it.”

Have you done any online shopping this summer?

AP: “I shop online at the Nordstrom’s anniversary sale because the deals are better online. I bought a dress, a pair of Toms and a bracelet.”

AT: “I ordered a pair of Toms off the Internet from a Pinterest link.”

Do boys go back-to-school shopping?

Junior Sam Reber: “Yes, I go shopping for clothes and shoes as well as supplies like binders and pencils and paper, etc.”

Sophomore Nathan McLain: “Yeah, I usually get one new back-to-school outfit.”

Junior Luke Conners: “Nope, what’s the point of that? I don’t understand why people do that ever.”

Sophomore Billiam Liu: “No, not really.”

Junior Ben Keling: “Not really, just for school supplies.”

Junior Joel Thomas: “No, I just use what I have.”

Junior Mark Ekis: “Not normally, no.”

Junior Cody Nelson: “No.” Senior Sam Roselli: “Nope.”

Designed by Hailey McEntee.

14

tigerturf

August 2013

back in the swing Stories by Raine Andrews.

Designed by Anna Wonderlich.

VOLLEYBALL

Last fall, the varsity volleyball team ended their season 4-1 at State and were ranked number two in the state overall.

Volleyball captain senior Chloe Rogers said the team began training for the new season once the club volleyball season ended.

Officially beginning their training on June 24, Rogers said the team kicked it into high-gear for the last few weeks of summer.

“We lift weights and do strength training workouts,” she said. “Then we will do cardio that coach [Dave] Johnson emailed me.”

Led by the seniors, Rogers said the captains push the players.

“We will do one-on-four training sessions in the gym with one coach and four players,” she said. “This is later in the

day, so right now we are doing two-a-days.”

Although tryouts are not until the school year starts, Rogers said she foresees a successful season.

“I predict we will lead the [Eastern Kansas League] and hopefully take it all at State,” she said. “We lost in the finals last year [with a team] that graduated — around seven seniors.

[We] will have a tough road to replace them.”

Rogers said the team’s current goal is preparing for EKL. “We have two seniors at workouts who are verbally committed to play volleyball in college, so the focus is completely on training and building confidence in the underclassmen, so they are prepared to play in the EKL.”

CHEERLEADING

Varsity cheerleader junior Peyton Marek said the team has been working hard since tryouts in May. “We start practice that consists of stunting and putting our stunt groups together,” she said.

Every summer, the cheerleaders participate in a yearly cheer camp held in Columbia, Mo. “We learned more cheers for games and a couple of dances,” she said. “Our team did really well this year, and we ended up getting blue ribbons for the cheer and routine portions.”

Marek said this year’s seniors are extremely helpful and talented.

“We have awesome seniors this year again,” she said. “They really helped us to be successful

at camp, and we’re all looking forward to a fantastic season.”

With practices beginning Aug. 5, Marek said the team will attend choreography camp for their competition routine.

“We learn a new routine with dance, stunts and pyramids every year,” she said. “It’s a long choreography camp because our choreographer, who rocks, makes it all up on the spot.”

Marek said the coaches are with the team every step of the way.

“Our coach Michelle [Wirt] is an awesome cheer coach,” she said. “She goes to camp with us as well as the JV coach Madi Wirt and the freshmen coach Hannah Hall. All of them are at our practices and [our] choreography camp.”

BOYS SOCCER From technical training and small-sided games to lifting weights, the varsity boys soccer team practices four days a week.

Aside from practice, varsity goalie junior Eric Rimmer said he and several other teammates trained on their own time.

“With the team, we just scrimmage,” he said. “On my own, along with some other players, we just go up [to the school] and shoot around.”

Rimmer said he focuses on strength-building and cardio in his own workouts.

“On my own, I went to my goalie trainer, lifted weights

and ran.”

Also playing for a club team over the summer, Rimmer said their practices are consistent.

“First, we warm up by running and doing some drills like passing to each other or small-sided games,” he said.

“Then, we normally just scrimmage full-field. To end it, we do some shooting drills like shooting from the top of the box or doing volleys.”

With nine starters returning from last season, Rimmer said he predicts a strong season.

“I think we will be a lot better than last year and win more than three games,” he said.

CROSS COUNTRY Kicking off their training on June 4, the cross country team runs Monday-Friday over the summer to stay in shape.

“Everyday is basically just different running distances,” cross country member senior Sean Finnegan said. “The more focused runners treat everyday to a different type of workout whether it’s speed or hill workouts.”

Finnegan said the team’s hard work will pay off during the season.

“By the time school starts, you for sure notice the difference on who ran in the summer vs. who hasn't,” he said.

With about 100 runners last year, Finnegan said the beginning of each practice focuses on getting to know everyone.

“Everyone meets up, and we do a small warm-up jog,” he said.

“We then have a daily question to get to know everyone better and to more importantly remember their name.”

Finnegan said each runner has a different mileage during the week.

“Everyone will run different miles depending on how hard they really want it,” he said.

“Varsity runners run the most because their status as a varsity runner shows their work, but some will slack off while others push hard to become better.”

Although each workout is challenging, Finnegan said it mentally strengthens a runner.

“Hill workouts and speed days can be miserable in the heat, but it helps grow mental toughness — something that can really push someone to win a race,” he said.

August 2013

Fall sports athletes prepare for upcoming season, predict successful outcomes GIRLS TENNIS Varsity tennis player senior Jenny Moon said the team decided to change practices this year by making them more challenging.

“For the past three years since I've been on the team, we’ve just been playing matches,” she said.

“Just playing doubles and singles, whichever coach thought we would play at State, we practiced for.”

Although last year’s practices were more laid-back, Moon said they wanted to focus more on drills.

“Even though practice was a lot of fun and helpful for us to work on our game, [varsity tennis player senior] Shivani [Patel] and I, with the approval of our coach, [Nelson] Elliot, decided we were [going to] mix up the practices this year,” she

said. “We decided we should definitely do more drills for repetitive ball hitting to keep the feel of the ball. Also, we were thinking about doing some more conditioning, like relay running. For the tennis team, I want us to focus on improving our game for the next game or the next season. That's why I want to put more focus into more drills and conditioning this year.”

Moon said she has positive hopes for the upcoming season.

“I’m predicting our number one and two varsity players will make it into State no doubt and do a fantastic job,” she said. “I also predict [Patel] and I will come along as well to help support and add points to the team.”

tigerturf

TIGER

TURF BV SPORTS

sports in brief FOOTBALL

Upcoming Action: 9/6 vs Gardner 9/12 vs Bishop Miege 9/20 @ Salina 9/27 @ BV North, DAC

VOLLEYBALL

Upcoming Action:

9/3 @ Olathe East 9/12 @ Mill Valley 9/14 @ Lee’s Summit West 9/17 @ Aquinas

BOYS SOCCER Upcoming Action:

FOOTBALL Training and preparing yearround, football captain senior Joe Forlenza said the Blue Valley football team has been working hard since the end of last fall.

“Most of the guys started lifting in the weight room right after the previous season and continued working throughout the winter,” Forlenza said.

Officially starting workouts on May 28, the team practiced weekdays from 6-8 a.m.

“Weights [are] during the actual workouts,” he said. “They split up two groups — one group goes inside [to lift] and the other group [does] footwork and conditioning drills such as hurdles, ladders, abs, etc.”

15

After each group has done both exercises, Forlenza said they come together for final drills.

“Towards the end, the two groups go together and finish the workout off with conditioning such as gassers, Driskells and Murrays,” he said.

Generally lead by the coaches, Forlenza said the football captains sometimes have the opportunity to alter a practice.

“Captains are in charge of picking conditioning on occasion,” he said. “Captains are me and [seniors] Logan Brettell, Henry McGrew, Blake Freeman, Caleb Kjergaard and Hunter Murray.”

9/5 vs Shawnee Mission West @ SM Complex 9/17 @ BV Southwest 9/19 vs Topeka Seaman, DAC 9/23 @ Gardner-Edgerton

CROSS COUNTRY

Upcoming Action: 9/5 @ Lone Elm Park 9/14 @ Paola 9/21 @ Blue Springs, Lake Jacomo 9/26 @ Prairie View High School 9/28 @ KU Invitational

GIRLS TENNIS

Upcoming Action: 8/24 @ Wichita Collegiate 8/27 @ Shawnee Mission Northwest 8/29 vs BV Northwest 9/4 @ Lee’s Summit North

GIRLS GOLF

Upcoming Action: 9/17 @ Alvamar, Lawrence 10/14 @ Regionals 10/21 @ State

16

snapshot

August 2013

makin’

memories Blue Valley students spend summer break in various ways, submit photos Designed by Anna Wonderlich.

1.

2.

3.

(1) Kicking his opponent, junior Brandon Fordiani competes at the 2013 Taekwondo National Championship. The competition was held in Chicago over Fourth of July weekend. “I got fifth out of 32 [places],” Fordiani said. “I got fifth [place] last year as well, and I want to medal really badly.” Photo submitted by Brandon Fordiani.

(2) Posing as the sun sets, juniors Grace Frederick and Annie Little spend a week in Dennis, Mass. on Cape Cod. “Our favorite part was walking around in Chatham, Mass. on the cape,” Little said. Photo submitted by Annie Little.

(3) After hiking to the Mt. Harvard summit, senior David Coventry sits at 14,403 feet. Coventry went on a three-day camping trip with his parents. “It was a great trip, and I really want to go back next year — probably a little better equipped for the weather,” he said. Photo submitted by David Coventry.

(4) Sophomore Sam Cordes and the Church of the Resurrection youth group visit the inner city of Chicago for six days in July.

Members volunteered at community centers, food pantries and daycare camps. “I learned what a fortunate bubble we live in and that we need to be grateful for all we have,” he said. Photo submitted by Sam Cordes.

4.

5.

(5) Smiling proudly, sophomore Kobe Gelles stands next to a shark he caught off Sanibel Island. Gelles was on a charter fishing trip with his family. “It was actually the third shark I caught that day,” he said. “What more could you want before Shark Week?” Photo submitted by Kobe Gelles.