THE
TIGER
Vol • Issue
Blue Valley High School
W th St • Stilwell Kan • Friday March
Attempted robbery in area forces school lockdown lindsaypond
managingeditor
S
pring sports tryouts were halted, coaches ush-ered athletes back into the school, and the cus-todial staff locked the doors. After receiving a call from the Overland Park Police Department, the school’s administration issued an external lockdown on the building just before 4 p.m. Monday. “The police department asked us to secure the building and keep all external doors locked,” associate principal Mark Dalton said. “We didn’t want to take any risks.” School officials asked students to stay indoors, and they could only be released to a parent or guardian. “I was finishing some work after school in Mr. Johnston’s room,” senior Morgan Campbell said. “I thought he was just joking when he said I couldn’t leave the classroom; then he told me that we were under lockdown.” The lockdown ended by 4:20 p.m., after which extracurricular activities resumed. The lockdown itself had a simple explanation; the school administration had complied with the police department. However, the cause of the lockdown was more complex. “There was a situation in the community around the school,” Principal Dennis King said. “An unknown individual tried to run over a police officer and then proceeded to take off on foot.” A suspect was chased by police after breaking into the Overland Park Fraternal Order of Police Lodge located at 7355 W. 162nd Terr., a building that is currently under construction. A female suspect was also taken into custody out-
Blue Valley West
Blue Valley High
Within minutes the police arrived and wrestled the suspect to the ground. “They put him in cuffs and sat him at the end of our driveway,” Bisel said. “It all happened within like five minutes.”
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ustling down the hallway, pushing through the crowd, sophomore Greg Allen rushed to get to class. Think this is crowded? Just wait. In the next five years, the projected population growth for Blue Valley High School, according to the 2004 District Boundary Report, will be between 1,700 and 2,100 students; nearly 150 percent capacity. To combat this situation, the Blue Valley Board of Education approved a new boundary plan on Feb. 9, which affects not only BVHS, but schools at all levels throughout the district. However, it is only a short-term plan and should not be considered a long-term solution. “We can expect to see more boundary changes in the next few years,” district
planning and demographic research coordinator Robert Schwarz said. “We are starting to plan for where we see enrollment pressures.” With a school that can accommodate only 1,400 students, the growth won’t just affect boundary changes. There is also the potential for more mobiles, and even a new high school six years down the road, he said. It is predicted that it will be placed south of Blue Valley West and Blue Valley High. “It’s kind of a wait and see approach,” Schwarz said, “but we need to have something in mind for enrollment relief. Present enrollment is now 1,167, but by next year, the school’s population will already be closing in on capacity and the projected growth will be at least 100 new students every year. “The numbers help demonstrate the
Traveling Cheap
Seven journalists qualified for the State Journalism contest at Regionals on Feb. 20. They are now eligible to compete at State May 1 at the University of Kansas. Those qualifying were: Kyle Rogers, first editorial writing; Lindsay Pond, third newspaper design; Michael Johnson, third news writing; Maneeze Iqbal, honorable mention news writing ; Katie Abrahamson, honorable mention feature writing; Nicki Kirkton, third yearbook sports writing; and Jessie McCampbell, honorable mentionyearbook layout.
A man who tried to cut his travel costs by shipping himself across the U.S. in a cargo crate has been given one year’s probation. Charles McKinley, 25, shipped himself from Newark, N.J., to Dallas Fort Worth Airport in Texas last September. Judge Charles Bleil told him: “I don’t like what you did. It was wrong and very stupid. But I’m glad you are standing here this morning, rather than having met a fate much worse by the stupidity of your actions.”
weirdnews:
Journalism regionals
courtesy of www.davesdaily.com
need for new facilities,” Schwarz said. But what does this mean for Blue Valley students? For some, who don’t exercise the “grandfather clause” (the grandfather transfer means returning to one’s own school), it means going to Blue Valley North next year. The new boundaries have been moved south in between 135th street and 143rd street, as well as north in between 151st and 143rd street and west to Nall Avenue. District office was busy March 1, with over 1,200 student transfers to handle from elementary and middle schools alone, which, along with high school transfers, were also due the same day. The Board of Education met regularly from September through December to develop a Boundary Master Plan for the district. The plan was first proposed in fall of 2002.
Excuses, Excuses
excusesexcuses:
adamlary
original boundary
The stolen semi veered off Metcalf as police chased the robbery suspects. The police arrested the suspects as they fled on foot. photo by kristen palmer
District moves BV boundary lines staffwriter
Blue Valley North
west
Blue Valley North
side the police lodge. Although the two male suspects attempted to run over a police officer, none were harmed in the chase. “They were what we call dumb criminals,” officer Chris Tegnazian said. “They apparently broke into the wrong place.” According to Tegnazian, the male suspects sped down 162nd Terrace in a stolen semi truck after their attempt to injure the police officer. Another officer opened fire on the suspects. The two suspects proceeded to speed through potential traffic and drive the semi into a field near 162nd Street and Metcalf, just three blocks from the school. The officer’s gunfire did not hit either suspect. “We took the first suspect into custody, but the second fled toward the school,” Tegnazian said. “Our officer notified the school to warn them that he was headed that direction.” The suspect ran across the field toward the Blue Valley Riding subdivision, but police soon caught up, and a Johnson County sheriff’s deputy made the arrest. To students who live in the subdivision, it was a “weird” experience. The suspect allegedly attempted to break into sophomore Justin Bisel’s car. “We heard our dogs barking outside, and me and my mom went out to our front yard to see what was happening,” Bisel said. According to Bisel, the suspect was drunk and appeared to have a small handgun in his pocket. “I had left my keys in the car, but the battery was dead,” Bisel said. “I asked him what he was doing, and he asked to use our phone; we could smell the alcohol on him.”
Senior T.J. Trum planned to read a print out of his sonnet to the class. “I printed a copy of my paper, but I found later in the day that it was gone ,” Trum said. “I burned a copy of it on a CD. The CD works on every computer in the school except [the teacher’s].”So Trum took out his Laptop. “I actually read the sonnet from my computer to the class.”
Senior Count Down: days
PromP committee employs news pros for decorations RINT
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air is done and tuxedos are on. It’s Prom night, and everyone is excited. April 3, 2004, however, the Blue Valley Prom will look slightly different than it has in the past. “I think the decorations will look more professional,” Prom sponsor Tonya Merrigan said,
“and I think it will make [Prom] a better experience.” The dance is at the Ritz Charles on 137 St. near Miller’s Woods baseball/ softball complex. Last year’s location, The Overland Park Convention Center, was not an option. “The Convention Center was not available any of the dates that worked
newsnotes
into our schedule,” Merrigan said. With the change in venue comes a change in procedure. The Ritz Charles has provided limited preparation time, so student decorating is impossible. “We only have two hours to set up,” Merrigan said, “and we wanted more extensive decorations than we
BV Rec announces spring musical
maneezaiqbal
The Blue Valley Youth Players, sponsored by Blue Valley Recreation, announced The Boyfriend as the spring musical. The audition workshop was Feb. 28 from 9- 11 a.m. at Overland Trail Middle School. Auditions will be Saturday, March 6 at 8 a.m. The Boyfriend, directed by Jay Coombes, is a comical portrayal of relationships. There are 65-75 parts available for the musical. Musical performances are set for April 30 through May 2. For more information contact Blue Valley Recreation at (913)685-6000.
katieabrahanson
Repertory theater closes season
Repertory Theater will close its season with the Neil Simon play, Lost in Yonkers at 7:30 p.m. March 25 - 27 in the Black Box Theater. Lost in Yonkers, directed by senior Shannon Boyter, tells the story of a family trying to live with one another. Lost in Yonkers features senior Maggie Steinmeyer, juniors Matt Crooks, Kaitlyn Davidson, Salar Pankonin and Sandy Sauer and sophomores Brett Bolton and Jordan Foote. “It is extremely hard to direct students,” Boyter said. “In one show you’re acting onstage with your peers, and in another show you’re telling them what to do. It’s so rewarding because I have a hand in everything, and I’m responsible for everyone’s characterizations.” Tickets cost $3 at the door.
Forensics team remains number 1
maneezaiqbal
The Blue Valley Forensics team participated at the Olathe North tournament where the team placed in all the categories last weekend. Students competed in events such as oration, domestic extemp, Lincoln— Douglas debate, poetry and many more. Students who competed included seniors T.J. Trum, Jason Pollard and Sameera Ali, juniors Derek Mayer, Matt Crooks, Kristen Trum, Mandie Payton, Dan McGillivray, Brett Farmer, sophomores, Tosin Morohunfola, Eliza Smithson, Brett Bolton, Chirs McGillivray, Sam Barton and Ian Smith. Ali placed first in Lincoln Douglas debate, while TJ Trum placed first in Domestic Extemp. Smithson placed first in poetry and dramatic interpretation. Teams Mayer and Morohunfola placed first in duet and Chris and Dan McGillivray placed first in duo. Today and tomorrow the forensics team will participate at Olathe Northwest and Blue Valley West tournaments.
could provide.” Merrigan and fellow Prom sponsor Diane O’Bryan decided upon a professional decorating team that specializes in high school proms to accommodate The Ritz Charles’ restrictions. “Other schools have used them,” Merrigan said, “and they had a date available [when we did].” BV Prom committee
members have worked with Kathy Haverkamp of All Season’s Rentals on decoration plans. “We gave her a budget of $5,000,” Merrigan said. “They work with that.” The junior class raises money for the dance, and the PTO donates a portion of the cost.The Prom committee decides where the money will be spent. Money goes toward the
venue, decorations, senior invitations and a gift. “They’ve done a great job,” Merrigan said. “The [junior] officers have been there consistently.” Tickets for the dance will be on sale March 29 through April 2 in the lunchroom. Juniors and outside dates cost $25 in advance while seniors are free. Tickets will cost $30 for everyone at the door.
Bullet casing leads to search in junior locker area for gun maneezaiqbal
newseditor
opinionseditor
kylerogers
FRIDAY MARCH
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locker search usually means that there is going to be a drug bust — big German shepherds sniffing for a hint of an illegal substance. However, when the drug dogs are absent it means that there is a weapon. A bullet casing and a bullet were found in the junior locker area last Wednesday. The Over-
land Park Police Department was called to direct a locker search. “The underlying priority was to assure the safety of the school,”assiociate principal Mark Dalton said. The adminstrators and the police met to decide how to best handle the stituation. They decided to search the lockers in the vicinity of the bullet. “We felt that it was a large
enough scope for this stituation,” Dalton said. However, the locker search turned up no gun. The admistraion sent out a voice mail to all parents notifying them of the situation. “There is no normal procedure [for this event],” Dalton said. “We look at all the information for that particular situation and decide on the best way to assure safety.”
BV security cameras reliable michaeljohnson
entertainmenteditor
T HE TIGER
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ver since the act of vandalism last fall that cost Blue Valley $9000 in damages, some students ask how well the security cameras actually work. Officer Ken Braden assures students that they do work, and that Blue Valley is under good surveillance. “We solve up to 20 problems each year due to cameras,” Braden said. The 48 school cameras helped solve problems dealing with theft, fights, etc. The cameras are used for review when Braden receives complaints. “The school is safe as far as we know,” Braden said. “However I encourage everyone to fill out a complaint form if there is a problem. Some people expect us to work miracles without ever informing us about a problem.”
One of these problems is the school locker rooms. Braden said it’s illegal to keep the locker rooms under surveillance. Because of this, all four locker rooms are hot targets for theft. “The only way to keep this from happening is for students to keep their stuff locked up,” Braden said. This is a good way of keeping possessions safe in the locker rooms, but one student still complains that locks just aren’t good enough. “Someone stole two watches, a few shirts, my whole wallet, my gameboy advance, and my new sneakers from my gym locker while it was locked up,” junior Kevin Lynch said. “The next week I forgot to get a new lock and my Pocket-pal was stolen. Someone around here digs the electronics.” The administration has in-
creased the tightness of security since the vandalism attack. They monitor the halls more and keep the doors locked. Braden says that this is all the modifications that will be made. He doesn’t see the school going to extremes such as metal detectors to ensure school safety. “Metal detectors wouldn’t even work that well,” Braden said. “If someone really wanted to get something into the school, they could. All it takes is someone to open another door for them.” Blue Valley has never had a history of serious crime within the school, so overall the school has a reputation of being a very safe place. “I never feel in danger of anything at school,” , sophomore Mila Altman said. “I don’t see others dealing with too many problems either.”
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FRIDAY MARCH
T HE TIGER
feature
Leaving its Mark
staffwriter
katieabrahamson
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austinisham
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any scientists say that they have evidence of markings on Egyptian and Nubian mummified human bodies dating back to 3000 B.C. There are also references to tattoos in classical writings referring to the Greeks, Germans and Gauls. The Polynesians and American Indians are credited for reviving the tattooing craze in Europe during Europe’s conquests to colonize the world. The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word “tattau”
which means “to mark”. These tattooed American Indians and Polynesians drew a crowd during the 18th and 19th centuries. Tattooing changed over time from decoration, to social rank, to rites of passage. The Romans used tattoos for identification. They would tattoo slaves and criminals and soldiers so everyone would know their status. Tahitian tattoos were primarily rites of passage and told the story of a person’s life. Many sailors would collect tattoos as souvenirs when they would travel to foreign lands. The sailor with the most tat-
toos and the greatest stories about each would be highly respected among the other crew. Along with the reasons for tattooing, the methods changed as well. The American Indians, North and South, used to tattoo by lightly pricking the skin with a needle. In Polynesia, pigment was pricked into the skin using a small device resembling a rake. A New Zealand people, the Maori, used wood-carving techniques and a bone-cutting tool to make small colored grooves in the skin. This was the closest step toward the tattooing we see today.
Tiger Tattoos
AdamMonks What is your tattoo? A Dragon When did you get it? Last April Do you think you will regret it? No, I’m adding on to it.
Emmy Bridges What is your tattoo? Heart and Ivy When did you get it? January of ‘04 Do you think you will regret it? No, it means something.
You’re Invited to…
7:54 p.m. every Monday night starting Feb. 2 at The Conveyor (151st and Travis/Metcalf).
Come see for yourself, it’s not like anything else.
photo poll by: jamiehisle
magine sitting in a chair, waiting impatiently for a stranger to prick your skin with a needle in the design of a butter fly, Chinese art or a religious symbol. To some, tattoos can make people cringe, but others become giddy just thinking about which tattoo they want next. Students at Blue Valley and across the nation decide whether a tattoo will change their appearance, struggle against unwilling parents and worry about the many health risks associated with tattoos. Tattoos are a permanent form of expressing one’s individuality and usually have special meaning for the person. Senior Emmy Bridges recently got a tattoo with the other female members of her family. Reluctant parents can be a hurdle for some students to overcome, but Bridges’s mom did not have a problem with her daughter getting the tattoo. “My mom supported me getting the tattoo, because she knows that it has special meaning to me,” Bridges said. “I was so scared when I went to get my tattoo, but the pain was definitely worth it.” Other students, however, had to fight with their parents over the decision. Senior Lauren McCoy got a tattoo the day after her eighteenth birthday despite her parents’ protests. “I have a rebellious nature,” McCoy said. “My parents weren’t necessarily upset, just disappointed. There wasn’t a lot they could do.” Once students persuade their parents to let them get a tattoo, some worry about the risks of tattoos, if the tattoo will alter their appearance, if they will still be happy they got the tattoo 10 or 20 years down the road and how the tattoo will look as a senior citizen. “Some people were surprised that I actually got a tattoo, but I definitely did not get it for show,” Bridges said. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be happy with my tattoo when I’m older because it truly has a special meaning.” “I hope I may be happy with my tattoo, but if I ever have children, it could stretch out.” McCoy said. Other students at Blue Valley cannot even imagine what it would be like to have a design on their body for the rest of their life. “I probably won’t get a tattoo because the color fades in time and it stretches when you get older,” sophomore Mike Rollins said. No matter what the student decides, tattoos are simply another, possibly painful and expensive way of declaring one’s individuality through the medium of body art.
Markings been around for centuries
staffwriter
Tattoos express personality
PR I N T
Lauren McCoy What is your tattoo? Half a moon and stars When did you get it? Nov. 17, 2003 Do you think you will regret it? Hopefully not
T HE TIGER
PR I N T
opinion
FRIDAY MARCH
Vandalism raises question: What’s wrong with kids these days? lindsaypond
justpondering
K
ids these days...” Adults use this trite phrase with both skepticism and amazement at the follies of youth. We must be all-round losers, each delinquent in his own way. Teens are condemned from cars to grades to choices of hair color. Adults criticize us from our bad music to our bad judgment. Personally, I’ve never thought “kids these days” were that bad — I am one. I believe most teens are decent, if not good, people; however, I recently caught a glimpse of what leads adults to believe otherwise. It came in the form of lewd images spray painted on our school mascot, pointing that all was not well with the youth in the happy valley. For the second time in a year, an unidentified vandal desecrated
our mascot. My first reaction to the vandalism was to blame Blue Valley West. The vandal made his mark just after our basketball team’s triumph over the Jaguars. Given the circumstances, it seems likely that one of West’s students was responsible for the paint. Yes. Exactly. It seems likely that one of West’s students was responsible. Actually, it could have been one student or five, but number is not important. The fact is that a few individuals from any school acted without thought, class or respect. However, it’s much easier for us point our fingers west and blame the entire school. In an attempt to belittle Blue Valley, the vandals also cast some shame on West. A few individuals, whether West students or not, condemn West by association. In the end, it seems both schools’ reputations were damaged.
Despite my frustration with the vandalism, I cannot help but think of how Blue Valley students acted the night of the vandalism. We weren’t just victims. As fans at the game, we were less than wholesome. Taunting chants of “Sit down, Donnie,” to West’s head coach were on the same level as the spray paint on our mascot. To say the least, we did not represent Blue Valley well. We were rude. We fit the image that adults have of teens. Blue Valley is better than that. We earn state championships, citizenship awards and scholastic honors. As a school we strive to be well rounded, refined and accomplished; it’s time we started acting that way. Our actions should not contribute to adults’ “kids these days...” mindset; Blue Valley students should prove that such mindsets are myths not facts.
Staff Editorial
T HE TIGER
Blue Valley High School
6001 W. 159th Street Stilwell, Kan. 66085 (913) 239-4946 The_Tiger_Print@yahoo.com
Priorities appear amiss
Staff ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Managing Editor~ Lindsay Pond Opinions Editor~ Kyle Rogers News Editor~ Maneeza Iqbal Sports Editors~ Kevin Loftus & Brandon MurrayMazany Entertainment Editor~ Mike Johnson Photo Editor~ Jamie Hisle Assistant Features Editor~ Andrew Robinson Advertising Manager~ Kim Hieber Adviser~ Susan Agee Reporters~ Sam, Boyd Adam Lary, Katie Abrahamson, Chris Bubeck, Nick Speed, Austin Isham, Michaela Cross, Dusty Riedesel, Matt Galloway Photographers~ Kristen Palmer & Brandon Lutz Artist~ Kelly Baker 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 administration or Blue Valley School District # 229.
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s soon as students set foot at home after a long school day, all they want to do is kick back and relax, even if they have a pile of homework waiting in their backpacks. However, there is a burning question in the back of their minds; homework or fun? Unfortunately, most choose the latter. This is why students have trouble getting their work done on time. Even so, it is possible to complete homework first, while still getting to go out and have a good time. By setting priorities, students can allow themselves plenty of time to work as well as getting a chance to relax. Every day in class, at least one teacher complains about the number of students who don’t turn their work in on time. Nine times out of 10, the reason is because students go home, and rather than doing their homework first, they sit on the couch with a bag of chips and watch TV, or just lie down and go to bed. That is the problem with students today; they are unmotivated. There is no reason why they shouldn’t get their work in on time, especially when given more than one day to get it done. Most students have poor time management skills. They need to give themselves time to complete their work and avoid being overloaded. Unfortunately, students procrastinate. It’s a fact. They
seem to think that since they still have three more days to do an assignment, it’s not important until 11 p.m. the day before it’s due. By doing a little bit of the assignment every day, students would have less work to do and more time to have fun, rather than pulling an all-nighter and being exhausted the next day. If students could learn how to manage their time well, there would be less late work to turn in, and they would be more prepared for college. Try turning in a late paper to your English professor in college and see what happens. Here are a few ways that students can improve their time management skills: Make a list of things that need to be done, and do them. - Allow yourself plenty of time to complete an assignment. - Rather than waiting until the last minute, work a little bit on an assignment every day. - Get the easy stuff out of the way first, so that you don’t have to worry about it later. Using these strategies, students can lighten the workload while still giving themselves a chance to unwind. They can even schedule a break in order to rest and recharge before continuing with their work. However, the most important tip about time management is this; don’t procrastinate. Also, remember that teachers can help. Learning Communities and Tutorial Time are perfect opportunities to get help. Don’t assume that they will accept the classic “I didn’t understand the assignment” excuse. Time management is key in having an organized life while still having a chance to go out and have a good time. By setting a schedule and allowing plenty of time to work, students can decrease the chances of having a late assignment.
T HE TIGER
opinion
FRIDAY MARCH
PR I N T
Sound Off: Talk on the phone or study? Tigers choose
“Talk on the phone because I can accomplish more on the phone with my friends, rather than by myself.”
“Talk on the Phone because you can talk with your friends about your day so you don’t worry about it.” “Uh, duh! Phone! You can get your mind off it.”
juniors Cecily Miller and Morgan Robbins
sophomore Emily Kuykendall
“Talk on the phone! This way you can gossip about your crushes, but I don’t do that.”
sophomore Jake Habermeyer
“Actually, study because my last phone bill was $300 over my limit.”
junior Kendra Kruse photo poll compiled by Brandon Lutz
Country debates President Bush’s proposal to ban gay marriages dustyriedesel
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staffwriter
disagree with homosexuality, but I want there to be no confusion. That is not the reason that I am writing this article. I want it to be clear that I have no problem with gay people. I respect them as individuals, as unique and capable as any other human beings on the planet. However, I do not think allowances should be made so gay people can be married on the account of love and equality. I have read a lot about gay marriage ever since President Bush stated that a ban on gay marriage might be necessary in the near future. Thousands of activists, some mentally inactive, sprinted to their computers to tell the world about the United States’ homophobic leader. These e-militants declared that no man, President or not, would be allowed to stand in the way of love. He would not deny the American people their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These people don’t understand the issue. Allowing gay marriage opens a floodgate. If the only requisite for marriage is love, how is any marriage to be stopped? What prevents a brother from marrying his sister, or a daughter from marrying her mom? What is to prevent polygamy?
In light of situations like these, especially polygamy, people are forced to think about financial situations. There is taxation stipulations connected to marriage. Polygamy, paired with wedded incest, makes taxes horribly taxing. The government would most likely have to cut any support of marriage whatsoever. Where does one draw the line? What is marriage? Could someone marry his favorite pet, or could an adult marry a child? That is disgusting. There are a lot of people out there that think homosexuality is disgusting. The difference is that homosexuality has gained enough widespread acceptance that marriage has become an issue. You might be surprised to see how many people visit bestiality and pedophile websites. Finally, I want to say that there shouldn’t be gay marriage because it’s not the way things should be. That is why I agree with Bush’s position on the sanctity of marriage. Homosexual and heterosexual marriage are not the same. I think that homosexuality is natural, but that is only because homosexuality is a desire, and wrong desires can be natural. When I was 13 years old, I was at the batting cages
at Miller’s Woods. At the playground nearby, I heard a kid making fun of my little seven-year-old sister by calling her fat and ugly. I was so mad at the kid that I wanted to hit him in the face with my baseball bat. I wanted to split his skull wide open, but I didn’t. When I told my mom about it, she said that it was natural to want to hurt that kid and protect my sister, but it would have been the wrong thing to hit him. It doesn’t matter if the feeling is natural; it can be wrong to act upon, but nowadays, people have stopped caring about what is right. People are involved in more forms of grotesque sex (check the internet), violence (watch a movie) and language (walk in a school hallway) than they ever were in past years. I know older adults will agree. The moral debauchery seems to be growing with each generation. Things that would have been appalling have become as accepted as earrings (pointless, yet indulged in). Even if homosexuality is a natural desire, those desires do not merit action such as marriage. Because, to be quite honest, homosexual marriage is not the same as heterosexual marriage, in form or product, so why should it be treated as the same?
Proposed amendment violates spirit of constitution, individual freedom opinionseditor
kylerogers
P
resident Bush now supports an amendment to the constitution banning gay marriages? It seems Bush is using a political play for the upcoming election. Instead of talking about the on-going war or public education, the country is talking about the proposed amendment. The President has decided to sponsor an amendment that is being lobbied by a group of religious leaders. Religious leaders. The President of the United States — the man in charge of enforcing the laws of the same constitution that guarantees a separation of church and state — will endorse a bill lobbied by church leaders. Where’s the separation in that? According to the President’s beliefs, being gay is wrong — many religious people agree — but that doesn’t give Bush the right to take away other people’s
freedom. He needs to separate his duties as President from his beliefs. The constitution protects the right to religious freedom, so the President is free to practice as he chooses, but now he is trying to take freedom away from a group that doesn’t share a common belief with him. In fact, many biologists contend that sexual orientation is predetermined, much like having blonde or black hair. With this explanation, how can the government keep homosexuals from getting married? Would the President try to keep redheads from getting married? No, so the country shouldn’t keep homosexuals from being married either. To make matters worse, the President endorses an amendment that is inconsistent with the rest of the amendments ever passed. All others, except the 18th, which was later repealed, guarantee a right that was previously denied. Now, the President is trying to
deny a right that the Supreme Court has recently allowed. As President, it would appear that he has a problem with giving gay couples the same tax benefits heterosexuals receive when married, but that is not the case. Bush will allow civil unions but ban marriages. Apparently, Bush will create a distinction between civil unions and marriages that is currently only made by religions. The United States’ government views civil unions and marriages as one, united entity. Having said that, how will gay marriages be truly banned? They won’t. All President Bush proposes to do is create a device for homosexuals wishing to be united that is separate from the device heterosexuals use. Separate but equal didn’t work last time Mr. President.
T HE TIGER
feature
PR I N T
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Pictures identified clockwise from top: Travellers enjoy the nightlife of Chicago, catch an aerial view of Cancun and relax at a resort in the Caribbean. printed with permission from michael cermak, Jr.
mattgalloway
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staffwriter
et’s face it; as much as you Tigers love living in Stilwell, Kan., 365 days a year, we all need a little time away from the simple life to celebrate. Leaving the humble farm scene can bring new destinations, but as the fun rises, so does the price. Whether you are suffering from a down economy or your pockets are filthy with green, there is one time of year everyone can escape: Spring Break. For those willing to shell out cash, traveling to the Gulf of Mexico might be the best option. Jamaica is located south of Florida, and while pricey, the view alone is unforgettable. The Relax Resort in Montego Bay runs at $79.95 per night, making it a cheap and affordable stay. On the other hand, the Sandals at Montego Bay, just a short drive from the Relax Resort, costs $570 per night. Hotels.com gave the Sandals the thumbs up, issuing it a fourstar rating. For those who wish to stay in the United States, Miami is a classic Spring Break hot-spot. A oneroom hotel at the ultra-popular Loews Miami Beach Hotel runs $429 per night. A more affordable hotel in Miami is the Sea View Bal Harbor Hotel, whose price is not an accurate reflection of its quality was rated five stars by Hotels.com. It runs for $199.95 per night, but is already sold out for March 19. If these two destinations aren’t appealing, the Spring Break capital of the world, Cancun, Mexico, surely will be. The film flop, The Real Cancun, does not do Cancun justice. The classy Ambiance Villas and Club runs at a discounted $167.96 at Hotels.com and is a great fit for any couples special week together.
spri
ho sp
(and
katieabrahamson
staffwriter
Satisfaction guaranteed; prices vary
FRIDAY MARCH
After two long months in the dead of winter, students are looking forwa rest and warmer weather. Here are the Top 10 vacation destinations for
Caribb
New York City Cancun Cancun is the stereotypical party city for
1
Spring Breakers. According to a spokesperson from U.S. Department of State, 100,000 American teenagers and young adults travel to Cancun every year during their Spring Break. What high school or college student would not love to party with friends on the sandy beaches, elaborate resorts, swim-up bars or enormous nightclubs?
Chicago
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The windy city is perfect to get spring shopping done on the Magnificent Mile, at stores like Gap, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Saks Fifth Avenue, H & M, Niketown and many others. Navy Pier is the home to a 150 ft. Ferris Wheel, Mini Golf, Carousel, various restaurants and many cruise and boats.
Cruises Traveling to ports and visiting many different cities within days describes a cruise. Popular cruise lines include Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Carnival and Princess Cruises, with trips ranging anywhere from Alaska, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Mexico. Most cruises supply fun both on deck and in port.
Stilwell For those that either don’t have enough money to travel across country or just don’t want to leave the comfort of their sofas, Stilwell is a cheap, reliable city that can guarantee a very low-maintenance break. 151st St. will be sure to provide barrels of fun, such as getting a bite to eat at Jalapeño’s or shopping at the new Target.
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For those who miss the big-city feel that Stilwell does not fulfill, the hustle and bustle of NYC is perfect. The city that never sleeps, has exciting activities for all. Award-winning Broadway shows are a must-see for those who love theater, while others may be more interested in getting tickets for The Late Show , Saturday Night Live or The Today Show. Sandy beaches, sunny weather and beautiful
Florida
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resorts are found all along the coast of Florida. Popular beaches include Key West, Daytona Beach, Naples and San Destin. Others may want to relive their childhood in Disney World. Florida’s relaxed, stress-free atmosphere can easily clear away all troubles from a busy life. From Dallas to San Antonio to South Padre
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They’re the e swimming in From swimmi parasailing an Caribbean Is spots. The Ba home to regga laxation at its b are absolutely nior Randi L “It’s a place I c
Ski Tow Texas get away from st Island and Houston, travelers can stomp their
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boots in this western state. Taking a trip to the historic Alamo in San Antonio, visiting colleges in Dallas and tanning on the Gulf Coast of South Padre Island can put anyone in a summer mood. Scottsdale, Phoenix, Sedona and the Grand
Arizona Canyon are all hot spots that families enjoy visiting in Arizona. The beautiful red mountains and cacti will definitely put travelers in a summer mood. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the Royals’ Mike Sweeney and his teamates in Surprise for their spring training games.
Ski Towns - Brec Park City, Jacks Butte and others those who just winter weather. B tures rise and th lies jump at the th mountain slopes Many ski towns such as spas, sho at quaint restaura chocolate to warm after a long day
ingbreak
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PR I N T
feature
FRIDAY MARCH
T HE TIGER
Southern states Mexico entice partiers nickspeed
S
staffwriter
pring Break and under —age drinking kind of go together like peanut butter and jelly. Students go to places like Cancun and South Padre Island because they think underage drinking is allowed. It’s not. These days there are very specific laws that are enforced with enthusiasm. This year 450,000 students are expected to visit Panama City, Fla. On Florida beaches, where most of the student springbreakers are, no alcohol, no nudity and no sleeping is allowed except for Panama City, in which alcohol is allowed but not in glass containers. South Padre Island, Texas and Daytona Beach, Fla. are each expecting 150,000 students to visit on Spring Break. Both are still in the U.S., so you can’t get thrown into a Mexican jail never to return. However, South Padre Island is cracking down on under—age drinking. In 1987, South Padre police officials arrested 1200 students for underage drinking activities during Spring Break. It has only gotten worse since then. But considering only 1,200 students out of 150,000 students are caught, the ratio may not seem bad for drinkers under 21. Askmen.com rates a Top Ten list for places to visit during Spring Break. They list Daytona
Beach as number one, Cancun as number two and the list goes on with Panama City, South Padre Island and New Orleans. Four out of the top five vacation spots are located in the United States. That might be because of the Mexican laws. In Cancun, the drinking age is only 18, but everyone older than 16 is tried as an adult. Granted most bars in Cancun don’t card anyone because they make more money, but if you do get caught, don’t expect it to be easy trying to get out of a Mexican prison. If this happens, the springbreaker should contact an American embassy and hope they act fast. Cancun is only expecting 40,000 students this year for Spring Break. This might be because of the possible jail time or its previous popularity. Whether students plan to stay in the United States or travel to Mexico, they should remain leary of underage drinking laws. The safest play for those under age is to follow the rules and not drink.
“South Padre Island is cracking down on under-age drinking.”
d not so hot)
18V.
ard to 11 long days of fun, r Blue Valley students.
epitome of warm weather and n clear blue ocean. From swimolphins, parasailing ving, Caribbean t spots. The Bahe home to ic and relaxst. “The islands y beautiful,” seeiker said. “It’s n go to get ress.”
owns
reckenridge, Keystone, ckson Hole, Crested ers are ski towns for st can’t get enough er. Before the temse and the snow lies jump at the ding down mountain zing conditions. Many ve other activities, such ping and eating at urants that serve ate to warm rs after a long day Senior Michael Denning went skiing last year over springbreak. This year he is going to the Cayman Islands.
michaelacross
staffwriter
bean Islands
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id you know if someone is born in Jamaica or China they can legally drink the day that they are born? In places like Austria, France and Germany, a person can legally drink at 16. America has the highest drinking age in the world at 21. After Prohibition ended in 1933, most states restricted alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. However, between 1970 and 1975, 29 states lowered the MLDA, or the minimum legal drinking age, to 18, 19 or 20. When research studies showed that lower drinking ages meant more accidents among the teens, 16 states changed their MLDA, all by 1983. Although Europeans have higher alcoholic-related diseases according to the American Medical Association, drunk driving is less of a problem because teens don’t receive driver’ licenses until age 18. Some people say the age to obtain a license should be changed to 18 and the drinking age lowered to 18. If one can smoke, join the army and vote at age 18, then why is the legal drinking age 21? Besides the age debate, it has been reported that many counties don’t enforce the drinking laws. According to AMA studies, only 27 percent of the counties in Kentucky, Michigan, Montana and Oregon filed charges against licensed establishments selling alcohol to minors. People, especially teenagers, will continue to object to the legal drinking age. The disparity between rights, other countries’ drinking ages and enforcement fuels their arguments.
Should drinking age be lowered to 18? “We can do a lot of things when we turn 18. Why not drinking?”
Yes
No “It doesn’t matter to me. I can’t drink. I’m Mormon.”
No “Although people abuse the drinking age now, it would just make it that much worse.”
“ If we are old enough to fight, die and make decisions about our country, then we are responsible enough to drink.
Yes
T HE TIGER
PR I N T entertainment FRIDAY MARCH Students join growing internet gambling trend staffwriter
dustinriedesel
J
ust 15 minutes before this was writ ten, Senior Chris Bubeck made a hor rible decision. He bet $212 in a game of Texas Hold’em. He had a 10-8 offsuit. A few of the players were scared off and they folded, but the chip leader of the table, drunk247365, wasn’t going anywhere. He quickly called Bubeck. The flop (the first three cards) had nothing for Bubeck. The turn and the river (the next two cards), much to Bubeck’s titillation, revealed a 10. “Oh ho ho, looky here,” Bubeck said as he rubbed his hands greedily together at the prospects of doubling his money. Unfortunately for him, a pair doesn’t beat a full house, kings over sixes. $212 down the drain, gone, undoubtedly in the hands of a boozehound.
Senior Hilary Clack plays a hand of Texas Hold Em, a popular type of poker game played by many seniors on pokerroom.com. photo by kristen palmer
“Well, guess I have to refill,” Bubeck said. Such is the greatness of Pokerroom.com, a fad that has come on strong not only at Blue Valley High School, but just about everywhere, as the average player count has jumped nearly 6,000 in the last two weeks. Players start off with $1000 in play money, and they keep running accounts that will grow and shrink, according to lady luck. While Texas Hold’em is undeniably the most popular game at the site, it is not the only gambling that web surfers can participate in. Other poker games offered include Chinese Poker, Omaha and Seven Card Stud. Along with poker, the site offers an eclectic array of casino games. So no matter the size of the gambling jones, Pokerroom.com will be able to alleviate it.
‘Passion’ is artful movie despite controversy staffwriters
samboyd/michaelacross
P
assionate discussion and lots of controversy surrounded the premiere of The Passion of Christ on Ash Wednesday. This movie, which made over $117 million in its first five days, has been accused of being antisemitic and too violent. Criticism aside, this movie is an artful reflection of Jesus’ life and a testimony to Mel Gibson’s talents as a director. “By his wounds, we are healed” Isaiah 53:5. Gibson opens the movie with this quote from the Bible. This pulls the moviegoer into the story of Jesus’ crucifixion beginning with the Garden of Gethsemane. The opening Garden scene is extremely powerful because of the native tongue that is used throughout the movie and how Jesus is portrayed bargaining with God for his life, while being tempted by the Devil. As the movie progresses, the story goes deeper into the final 12 hours of Christ’s life. The cruelty is depicted in a very life-like fashion as he is punished for his rising popularity among the people.
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Mary’s relationship with Jesus is emphasized in these last 12 hours. The movie watcher can see how Mary lends her strength to Jesus and how she is the strength for his followers. Gibson adds to the emotion with his artistic editing skills to portray interaction between the characters with meaningful stares and pregnant pauses. The actors show strong emotion for the characters they depict, and this helps create a lifelike setting. The original story of Jesus is a violent story, and the violence is depicted in its original form. The lashes he receives by the Roman legions and the final crucifixion are shown very graphically; however, the potential viewers should not be turned away because these scenes lend to the message that Jesus was trying to convey. As a whole, the movie is a vivid depiction of Jesus and how he died for the sins of his believers. The movie is beautifully told and will be enjoyed by believers and non-believers alike.
entertainment
FRIDAY MARCH
T HE TIGER
PR I N T
The big night for Hollywood Students select winners for major awards staffwriter
kimheiber
T
he 76th annual Oscar awards took place last Sunday. Just as any other year, many awards were given out and many were honored; however, to high school students, those who should be honored for the entertainment industry of 2003 were slightly different from those who actually won. A survey was taken of students to see who should win the awards under the categories of Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Motion Picture, Best Score and Best Visual Effect. There was a total of 170 students that participated, and the results are as follows. Under the category of Best Leading Actor, the nominees according to students, should have been Johnny Depp for Pirates of the Caribbean, Sean Astin for The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Toby Maguire for Seabiscuit and Ewan McGregor for Big Fish. Winning out by 61 percent of the votes, Depp was considered best actor of 2003 for his amazing performance in Pirates of the Caribbean. Sean Penn actually won. Moving on to the category of Best Leading Actress, the nominees included Nicole Kidman for Cold Mountain, Kate Hudson for How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days and Keira Knightly for Pirates of the Caribbean. Kate Hudson should be the win-
ner of this award, according to 65.5 percent of the students polled, not Charlize Theron. Under one of the lesser known categories, Best Score, the soundtracks of Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Big Fish and Finding Nemo were nominated. The award went to both Pirates of the Caribbean and Finding Nemo for a tie with a total of 75% of the votes. Another lesser known category, Best Visual Effect, was a close race between nominees Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. It was close, but the award went to Pirates of the Caribbean with a 2% difference in the votes. Finally, the most popular category, Best Motion Picture, included the nominations of the movies Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Big Fish, and Seabiscuit. Winning by a whopping 65.7percent of the votes, not surprisingly, was Pirates of the Caribbean, not Lord of the Rings, which got the nod from the Academy. The Oscars are slightly different through the eyes of high school students . Most impressively, Pirates of the Caribbean won four out of five of the awards we gave out and is obviously the most-loved movie among teens.
A little groom performs in big show mattgalloway
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staffwriter
egrading? Maybe. Shocking? Possibly. Hilarious? Absolutely. Fox’s The Littlest Groom may offend some because of its blatant exploitation of midgets for ratings, but when have reality shows not exploited their cast and contestants? (Fear Factor contestants eat maggots while walking a tight rope in a clown suit). This show is just a prime example of the American rule that all reality shows must be trash to be embraceable. The show is an oddity in itself. Think of ABC’s The Bachelor meets the Oomph Loopas. When the show began it did not seem that harmless, little
people deserve to have fun too, right? The fun was about to come to a screeching halt with 15 minutes remaining in the show. The directors threw a curve that was too much to believe; three smoking’ full-sized women entered the show to compete against the littlest bachelorettes for the chance to marry their 4"5 knight in shining armor named Glen. Could Glen remain truthful to his previous suitors? Obviously not, because the bachelor lacking stature was immediately chilling in the jacuzzi with the three new beauties. This left one of the most unintentionally (and shamefully) funny TV moments of the year as the little bachelorettes bickered among each other, feeling short-changed (no pun intended).
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Critics have blasted the show for its stereotypical portrayal of little people in general. However, this does not even hold ground with the star of the show, Glen, who remains supportive of the show even under heavy criticism. “I’ve dated more averaged-sized women than little people,” Glen said. “There’s really no difference - it’s really more about heart. Heck, we’re as normal as everyone else.” Whether some believe that the show is degrading or insensitive is irrelevant. Shows are created primarily for entertainment, and The Littlest Groom pulled it off with flying colors. Indeed, good things do come in small packages.
Have a Happy Spring Break from the tiger print staff
T HE TIGER
PR I N T
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o a player in front of a big crowd, after a big game, the last thing on his or her mind is being hurt or partially paralyzed. Recently, this tragic scenario became a reality at Tucson High School in Tucson, Ariz. On Feb. 6 Tuscon basketball player Joe Kay was injured by his classmates at the end of a league game when fans stormed the court. Kay, a senior forward, was headed to Stanford on a volleyball scholarship before he was partially paralyzed. After the tragedy I begin to wonder if precautions should be taken by high school officials so that these freak accidents never happen again? I don’t think so. Although this accident may seem extraordinary to many, it is a fairly common for people to get injured in similar situations. On Oct. 31 last year, I was fortunate enough to be at Virginia Tech to watch them play Miami in one of the most hyped college football games of the year. Tech was up 31-7 with seconds left, when team managers came out with forklike objects to begin lowering the goalposts. Following them were swarms of police lining sides of the fields. Standing in front of the student section I began to feel a surge behind me. I began to panic. As I turned around thousands of students began pushing their way down to the field. Instead of getting out of the way, I went with the mass of bodies. People began falling off 10-foot walls to celebrate the win on the field, but were tackled brutally by police as well as sprayed with mace. After the police realized they were at a loss, they gave up. At BV it is a school rule not to allow fans to rush the floor or field for safety reasons, which makes sense when you hear about incidents like the ones mentioned. For now, our administration will do their best to stop such tragedies. So, there are two sides to this story: don’t let fans rush the field and keep everyone safe, or allow the emthusiastic fans to show their appreciation and love for the game by rushing the field. Personally I say let people do as they please; after all, accidents do happen.
Senior volleyball player Austin Isham signs with Graceland; basketball player Parker Snedden signs with Mid-America Nazarene kevinloftus
sportseditor
Fans: for better or worse
FRIDAY MARCH
Two more sign to play at next level
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t seems like it’s becom ing a regular event, get ting a scholarship to play sports in college. During the past two weeks, Blue Valley’s senior class added two more to the list of signees. Seniors Parker Snedden and Austin Isham signed to MidAmerica Nazarene University and Graceland University respectively. Snedden, a two-year starter on the varsity basketball team, signed with Mid-America on Feb. 18. Snedden, a 6-foot guard, is known for his defense and his ability to penetrate into the lane for the easy basket. “He leaves it all out on the court, every night,” MidAmerica head coach Rocky Lamar said. While Snedden is looking forward to playing at college, he still has some unfinished business at BV. With substate this weekend, Snedden is looking forward to another trip to Topeka. “Right now, I’m just focused on winning substate,” Snedden said. “I can think about college
after the tournament.” Isham is in a league of his own when it comes to the sports. Isham received a full athletic scholarship to Graceland University, a NAIA school in Lamoni, Iowa, for volleyball. Isham has been playing club volleyball for the past four years and looks to make an immediate impact. “I think I can bring a lot to the team,” Isham said. Being 6’4, you think that Isham’s area of expertise would be attacking, but Isham is more of finesse player and is a primary setter on his team. Senior Travis Upah, Isham’s teammate, thinks he has what it takes to succeed at the next level. “Austin is a very versatile player,” Upah said. “He does a lot for the team with his leadership and motivational skills. With these two signings, BV’s total of students with scholarships to play at the next level comes to 11. This is the most number of signees in school history, and we may not be done yet.
Signing paperwork Wednesday to play at Graceland University next year while his mother watches, Austin Isham can’t help but smile. Isham is just one of the 11 seniors who have signed to play collegiate sports next year. photo by brandon lutz.
ESPN contestants vie for ‘dream’ job andrewrobinson
featureseditor
brandonmurray-mazany
brandnewlook
sports
W
ith reality television taking America by storm through shows such as Survivor, The Real World and My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancee there is no question that someone would take it a step further. And that is what cable network sports giant ESPN has done. ESPN has taken reality tele-
vision and mixed it with some sports and journalism. Its new show features 12 contestants, all wanting to become the next SportsCenter Anchor. They come from all types of backgrounds including car salesmen and attorneys. Each week a contestant will be eliminated, until after six weeks when the newest SportsCenter anchor will be named. The show first aired on Feb.
22 and viewers were able to represent 20 percent of the vote when deciding who was the first contestant to leave the show. The other 80 percent of the vote was divided evenly among four judges who include Tony Kornhieser, Kit Hoover, football player LaVar Arrington and the ESPN talent recruiter, Al Jaffee. On the first episode six contestants tried their skills at the
SportsCenter highlight side of things or the competition called “My SportsCenter.” Each hopeful put his best foot forward and give his own punchlines as he plowed through the highlight. “Dream Job” has changed the face of reality televison and sports together; it will be interesting to see if the show proves to live up to its hype.
T HE TIGER
PR I N T
sports
FRIDAY MARCH
Wrestlers have a strong showing at state, finish fifth Sophomore Brad Harris goes for the pin in a dual aginst Blue Valley West on Jan 28. Harris was one of 13 wrestlers who qualifed for the state tournament. photo by holly goode
opinionseditor
kylerogers
T
he wrestling team continued this year’s tra dition of excellence last weekend by plac ing fifth at the state wrestling meet. Five individuals medaled, including junior Keaton Baker who became the state champion at the 125pound weight class. “I hadn’t wrestled [my opponent] before,” Baker
said, “but he beat a kid in the semifinals that I lost to twice this year.” Despite his opponent, Baker who placed fifth at state last year, wrestled well and won 6-4. “My confidence was up because people told me [about my opponent],” Baker said, “but I knew if I could shoot and take him down I would win.” Keaton’s twin Grant placed second in the 130-
pound class to a two-time state champion. The rest of the BV wrestlers were successful as well. Sophomore Tyler Madl placed 3rd in the 112-pound class, and senior Dane Hammett placed 4th in the 160pound class. Junior Kyle Leutjen placed 6th in the 140pound class. “I was happy with the way we wrestled,” coach Matt Ortman said. “If a match or two would have gone our way we would have done better [as a team].” The team scored 155 points, falling behind local team Turner who becomes the first area team to win a state championship since Paola did in 2001. BV took wrestlers in all 13 weight classes to state after winning regionals for the first time since 1998. The regional also included Paola, Gardner-Edgerton, Pittsburg, Bishop Miege, Olathe Northwest, Ottawa and Mill Valley. Five wrestlers won their regional bracket, and every team member finished in the top four. “Regionals was a lot of fun,” Ortman said. “We got on a good roll. We got some momentum and kids found ways to win.” The wrestling team also won the EKL title this year, a feat that may be more difficult than any of their other championships. To win EKL, the team had to defeat St. Thomas Aquinas who was fourth at 6A State and Blue Valley Northwest who took fifth at 6A State.
Season of highs, lows prepares Tigers for state run featureseditor
andrewrobinson
W
hen Andy Ty l i c k i started this season he had his boys’ basketball team thinking about the Fist, not the fist that was thrown at Geno Waters during the Blue Valley Northwest’s game, a different kind of fist, a fist that brings a team together. The fist represents everything that a team should revolve around: communication, trust, responsibility, caring and pride, and the coaches saw it everyday. “On a daily basis, everyday we have practice we see those
five traits,” head coach Andy Tylicki said. Seven seniors with plenty of experience led the team; they also carried a sub-state championship into the 2004 campaign. The Tigers opened their series with a disappointing loss at Shawnee Mission East. That loss didn’t stop the Tigers as they continued to get through the competition as they won the Blue Valley Shootout for the first time in history beating Center, Lee’s Summit and Ponca City. The Ponca City victory came after a last second shot from Marshal Banks.
Boys’ Basketball
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he varsity boys’ basketball team team took on Gardener-Edgerton in the first round of substate on Wednesday. If they won they will play the winner of the Mill Valley/Olathe Northwest game tonight at Paola High School. Scores for Wednesday’s game were not available at press time. The Tigers wrapped up the EKL and regular season on Feb. 27 with a 54-45 loss against Blue Valley North. Senior Marshall Banks led the way with 19 points, including his first three pointers of the year. On Feb. 20, the Tigers took on arch rival Blue Valley West. It was a close game until the Tigers pulled away for a 51-43 victory, completing the season sweep of West. Banks pitched in 12 points and junior Geno Waters played stellar defense. “It was an incredible feeling,” senior Brandon Murray-Mazany said of the win. Before West, the Tigers looked for revenge against Bishop Miege on Feb. 17. The Tigers did get their revenge, winning the game 68-57. Senior Andrew Lasche had 19 points as did Banks. This was the first victory aginst Miege in coach Andy Tylicki tenure as both a head coach and an assistant. The JV boys’ basketball team ended its season with a 10-10 record. The team gelled toward the end of the season as a number of the juniors truly developed. “The JV team runs the break and plays great defense,” Banks said. “They were really good toward the end of the season.” The JV team was a junior-dominated team that was
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The Tigers are believed to have success in the season because no one has an ego, and no one cares about how they get the points. “We don’t care about who scores, or who does what, as long as we get the double-u,” six-foot senior Marshal Banks said. When the Tigers returned from winter break they ran into a wall against Schlagle losing by one point. The Tigers knew that they were going to have to become more consistent heading into EKL play. Then they knocked off St. Thomas Aquinas in a 15-point victory.
“We knew that the difficult games prepared us very well for the future,” Tylicki said. The Tigers continued their campaign though January beating Blue Valley West and winning the Valley Center January Jam by beating Wichita Southeast, the defending 6A state champion by 23 points. In Feburary the Tigers said good bye to seven seniors. Following the ceremony the Tigers got revenge against Bishop Miege 68-57, and continued to make their way through the EKL competition. “We hope the seven seniors set the tone for the coming
years and keep the program positive,” Tylicki added. When it comes time for substate, Tylicki said the Tigers are well prepared, and they hope to have much success. Tylicki also said that their competitive schedule they play would help them and no matter where they ended up playing, they would come to play. Will the fist stand its greatest test of the year and will the Tigers bring home another substate championship?
helped by a good class of sophomores. Hank Driskell also performed well as the only freshman representative. Standouts were Connor Humphrey as a shooter and Nick Biagioli defensively. Jay Vaglio and Ryan Robertson also split time between the varsity and JV teams.
“Our goal for next season is to continue to work together,” Morris said. “My personal goal is to just do my best all season.”
Girls’ Basketball
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he Lady Tigers took on Ottawa at Ottawa last night in their first round of substate. The other teams in their bracket consist of Bishop Miege and Pittsburg. “We’re all playing well as a team right now,” head coach Rick Rhoades said. Melissa Stevens is the leading scorer with an average of 12 points a game, while Kaley Miller is leading the team in rebounds and defensive stops. “It’s hard to pick out one player that is playing the best because all the girls are playing at a high level,” Rhoades said. The girls’ JV basketball team’s season ended last Thursday with a loss to Blue Valley North. The team finished 2-16 for the season. Junior Kaitlin Morris, a starting guard for the team, believes their record would have been better if the team stepped it up during the close games. “We lost too many games that depended on just a few shots,” Morris said. Positive reflections to the season, according to Morris, included team unity. Like so many sports teams of Blue Valley, the players bonded throughout the season to become fairly close.
Swimming n Saturday Feb. 21, the boys’ swimming team traveled to Manhattan, Kan., to compete in the state swimming meet. Sophomore Parker Sargent won the 50-yard freestyle with personal best time of 21.44. seconds Sargent also placed sixth in the 100-yard backstroke. The Tigers finished 13th as a team.
Wrestling
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n Feb. 14th the JV wrestling team ended its season hosting the JV EKL tournament. The Tigers took third overall. Sophomore Kevin Allen won at 160 lbs, junior Jameson Zakoura won at 152 lbs and sophomore Hunter Madl 135lbs. “We had a really good season at the junior varsity level,” head coach Matt Ortman said, “We won a lot more matches than we lost.” The JV overall record was 353-274. Sophomore Kyle Combs, freshman Cameron Weir, and Austin Quarles all finished second in their respective weight classes at the JV EKL tournament.
T HE TIGER
PR I N T
profile
FRIDAY MARCH
BYE-o-logy After three decades McDonald retires story by chrisbubeck
Biology teacher Harry McDonald takes a break during his science classroom during the 1979 school year. photo courtesy
...and 25 years later MacDonald instructs his Honors Biology class during fifth hour. photo
of the 1979 Reflections yearbook.
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hirty-two years of teach ing and 30 years of dedi cation to Blue Valley High school. That’s what teacher Harry McDonald has contributed to the world of education. McDonald has been at Blue Valley since the days of the five-year high school that included the eighth grade. He has seen the growth and the change of a community and the durability of a special pride and tradition possessed by this high school. After a 30-year tenure, McDonald is planning to retire immediately following the
by andrew robinson 2004 school year. Behind him McDonald leaves an intricate legacy filled with great times and high achievements. For the better part of 30 years McDonald has been the coach of the high school cross country and track teams. One of his most vivid memories came when his cross-country team won its league title. As McDonald leans back in his chair and remembers the event, a smile comes to his face. “We won the league title, and afterward my kids came up behind me and poured the cooler of water all over me. I
was honored.” While McDonald’s achievements on the field are very commendable, his excellence in the classroom is where he makes the most advances. In 1996, McDonald was presented with an award for being an Outstanding Kansas Biology Teacher by the National Association of Biology Teachers. Just last year, McDonald received yet another award: the Presidential Award of Excellence in Math and Science. “That is probably the award that I am most proud of,” he said.
Mile Markers: A Look at Marathons -The standard marathon is 26 miles, 385 yards. -Abebe Bikila, a barefoot Ethiopian, is one of only four men to break a world record twice. The first time he set the record barefoot (1960). The second time he wore shoes (1964). -Greta Weitz set four world records in a row from 1978 to 1983, but her final record only lasted for one day. -Khalid Khannouchi is the top U.S. male marathoner ever with a time of 2:05:38 on 4/14/02 -Deena Drossin is the top U.S. female marathoner ever with a time of 2:21:16 on 4/13/03
staffwriter
Making Junior Chinery Strides runs marathon nickspeed
Y
ou can drive 26.2 miles in a car in less than 30 minutes. You can probably even walk 26.2 miles in less than a day. If you were wondering, you could crawl 26.2 miles in less than a year. It takes something special to run 26.2 miles. Brad Chinery ran 26.2 miles in just under three hours and 20 minutes. That is a little longer than a “Godfather” movie. “I think it’s amazing,” crosscountry Marsha Parr said, “three hours and 18 minutes is a great time for the general population; it is spectacular for a 17 year old.” Chinery finished 53rd out of 1500 runners and second in his specific age group (under 20). The only person under 20 to beat Chinery bested him by only a minute. The race was held in Myrtle Beach, S.C. 1500 people from different states, with different ages and backgrounds came to Myrtle Beach to compete while challenging themselves. While some people spent the winter eating too much,
playing basketball or wrestling, Chinery spent the winter training. His workout regimen consisted of long distance running. “Some days I would run 18 miles,” Chinery said, “Other days I would run 5-10 miles, and if I didn’t feel like running that day I wouldn’t.” To stay in shape he also had to have somewhat of a healthy diet. “I basically got to eat whatever I wanted,” Chinery said “I tried staying away from processed foods, though.” The week before the race Chinery limited himself to mainly carbohydrates like pasta and lasagna. He also had to hydrate himself with water. If you didn’t already do the math Chinery ran 26 seven and a half minute miles. At lap 19, Chinery had to overcome a little adversity. “Right around mile 19 I felt my legs starting to get tight,” Chinery said. “I thought about stopping and stretching, but I decided to finish the race.”
With such high credentials, McDonald has definitely left his mark, to say the least, here at Blue Valley. McDonald isn’t just going to go into a cave and hibernate after his retirement. He plans to teach a class on Elemental Science at Webster University, and to start up his own biology newsletter. He also wants to lower the stress of his everyday life by taking more time for himself. “I’d like to try to play a round of golf every week if possible,” he said.
McDonald said that his father died just two years after he retired, so he never had time to stop and smell the roses. “I want to start smelling the roses before it’s too late,” he said. McDonald looks forward to retiring, but he says that he will miss Blue Valley and the strong sense of family/community that it brings everyone involved with it. “It’s a special school,” he said, “unique to all other schools in the district, I’ll miss it.”