September 2012

Vol. 89, Iss. 2 • Salina Central High School www.chspylon.com • September 20, 2012

pg 10

pg 12

Not just the ‘Boys Next Door’

Homecoming photo spread

It doesn’t matter if you judge me...

It doesn’t matter what you think of how I look or feel...

Things will be so much better when you realize this is

More than

front just a

Page 4

What’s inside

Student organizes 5K for colon cancer After not getting his Eagle Scout project idea of a 5K race approved, freshman Michael Gage is still choosing to organize a run for his cousin, a colon cancer survivor.

Page 3

Breaking down the student section The student section at the football games has been filled with more pep and enthusiasm than last year, and it is only the beginning of the season. With a variety of spirit groups, each one has put in a lot of effort to support our team at every game.

Pages 6-7

2

September 20, 2012

the Pylon

Sham Wows

Sham Wows are positive and negative words or phrases that describe the month.

These were chosen by the Pylon staff for September. If you have a sham or a wow for the October issue, go to chsPylon.com and leave a comment to submit your suggestions.

Shams •

54 days until new “Call of Duty”

•

Colder Weather

•

Construction hits the school

Wows •

Boy’s soccer team making a come back

•

iPhone 5

•

Theatre presenting “The Boys Next Door”

Sudoku Difficulty: Hard The solution to this sudoku puzzle will be posted in the next issue of the Pylon.

Last Month’s Puzzle

Emily Wood and Sarah Gage, Editor-in-Chiefs editor@chspylon.com

iTunes Top 10 1.

6.

2.

7.

3.

8.

4.

9.

5.

10.

“Gangnam Style” PSY

“We Are Never Getting Back Together”

Taylor Swift

“Too Close” Alex Clare

“Whistle” Flo Rida

“One More Night”

“Good Time”

Maroon 5

Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen

“Some Nights” F.U.N.

“Clique”

Kayne West

“As Long As You Love Me” Justin Bieber

“Home”

Phillip Phillips

Jorrie Dykes, Afton Miller, and Sara Ingrassia, Business Team business@chspylon.com

Student Life

Opinion

MacKenzie Morris, Editor studentlife@chspylon.com

Sammy Jordan, Editor opinion@chspylon.com

Sports

Entertainment & Web

Carson Jett, Editor sports@chspylon.com

Brantley Straub, Editor webmaster@chspylon.com

Photography

Videography

Maggie Vernon, Brianna Chora, Paige Johnson, Eli Berner, Sydney Kossow photography@chspylon.com

Dakota Rowlison, Katie Kelemen, Ruby Garcia video@chspylon.com

Art & News

Feature

Hayley Hager arts@chspylon.com

Emily Wood feature@chspylon.com

Copy Editor

Cartoons

Anna McHenry

Brantley Straub

Staff reporters: Sydney Dauer, Chandler Burris, Bailey Driver, Austin Huynh, Genna Salstrom, Beth Cash J.D. Garber, Adviser jd.garber@usd305.com (785) 309-3578 The Pylon gladly accepts contributions from guest writers on any subject. Please email your submissions to editor@chspylon.com.

The Pylon is the official student newspaper of Salina High School Central.

It is produced entirely by students of the newspaper production class, daily on chsPylon.com and monthly in print.

The Pylon wants to hear your opinion Email your letters, preferably limited to 500 words, to editor@chspylon.com. Submissions must contain a full name for inclusion and we will contact you to confirm that you are the author of the letter. Letters may be edited for clarity.

The purpose of the Pylon is to relay important and interesting information to the students and administration of Salina Central High School. Central’s newspaper, the Pylon, will cater to the interests and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students. The Pylon is distributed once each month. We firmly support the First Amendment and oppose censorship. The content of the Pylon is determined by our staff and editors.

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September 20, 2012

News Updates

Leaving their An abundance of mice and their droppings have been discovered throughout the school

By Sarah Gage The Pylon Sophomore Mikalyah Williams was sitting in the art room working on a collage when she heard Brittney Degraw’s scream.

She turned in time to see a mouse scurry across the window ledge to its safe place behind a cabinet.

She screamed in response, immediately lifting her feet from the ground and onto her chair.

However terrifying this may have been, though, it was not the first mouse to show itself this year.

“We have a bunch of mice!” art teacher Mr. Cullins said.

Seeing mice has become a regular occurrence in several classrooms, including Mr. Cullin’s art room, Mrs. Hoff’s

M RK

classroom, the main office and truly enjoy the sponges in our sinks,” Cullins said. the journalism room. Both the journalism room and Hoff fell In a room as large as the victim to the mice because of the art room, it’s harder to catch the mice than it is in a smaller food kept in the classrooms.

“They took a bite out of six of classroom. Sticky traps and mothballs are my chocolates,” Hoff said. being used, “Mice eat everything. They Now, Hoff but they don’t truly enjoy the sponges in our seem to be has gotten rid of all her candy making much sinks.” of a difference and keeps her teas in a tin in the mouse Mr. Cullins population. to prevent the Art teacher mice from The getting into maintenance staff became aware of the mice them again, though they appear before school started, so they to still try, as as she has found mouse poop in her desk drawers immediately thought, “we’ll just several times. The art room is take care of it”. They placed traps in the infected rooms and the another story, though.

“Mice eat everything. They district plugged holes to prevent

mice or bats from entering the school. However, food in classrooms is not the entire reason that mice have become abundant.

“It’s something we deal with every year to a certain extent,” maintenance worker Frank Armes said.

Because of the extreme heat and dryness from the summer, the mice look for somewhere cool to go until the weather gets nicer. As well as being cooler, the school seems to have proven to be a nice food source for them.

“It’s just something we deal with. When a bat or a bird comes in, we just deal with it,” maintenance supervisor Kenny Vanauken said.

Running a race to raise awareness

3 What colleges REALLY

look for

With scholarship deadlines, college admissions and writing application essays, here are a few things you should know.

By Sammy Jordan The Pylon

• Grades DO matter.

• Although schools are looking for well-rounded students, it is equally impressive if students stick with one activity and excel.

• Try to be in the top

10% in your class.

• The more years of foreign language you have, the better when applying for out-of-state colleges, four years is preferable.

• While dual credit is a good way to save money, AP classes are more effective in preparing for college courses.

• The essay is the most Sarah Gage/ The Pylon important part of the Freshman Michael Gage hangs flyers to advertise the Thaxton 5K. application. include a one mile fun run/ • Thoughtful letters of For more information or walk and the opportunity to buy T-shirts and wrist bands. Proceeds recommendation. Give to register for the race, from the event will be given to the your reference enough go to Colon Cancer Foundation.

“I’m really looking forward to time to write a letter that www.thaxton5k.com the outcome of the race and how shows you off in the best many people attend,” Gage said. light possible.

• Schools look for leadership roles. permit access to the app.

As far as activation is • Service hours in “I think it would be a lot concerned, Witt does not yet the community are know what it will require on more convenient for students their part. to check their grades and important. they could be more proactive “From a teacher’s • Your ACT and SAT because of the convenience,” perspective, I probably scores are important. If junior Addie Justus said. wouldn’t do anything more with it, but from a student’s “Students or parents with you are considering out of perspective I can see it being iPads and so forth would be state, sign up for the SAT able to get it on the way to or very beneficial,” math teacher on the way home from a game.

Josh Gooch said. along with a few of the I think it would make students Gooch, like a majority subject tests. However, of students and staff, was more accountable,” Gooch said. unaware that a mobile app colleges are moving away version of Skyward was even In preparation from standardized testing available. of the app being With the passing of the activated for our so don’t stress yourself new cell phone policy, access district, you can out. to grades and schedule download it from

Freshman organizes 5K to honor his cousin, a colon cancer survivor

By Beth Cash The Pylon For freshman Michael Gage, a Life Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, the title of Eagle Scout is imminent. To reach this privilege, Gage planned on executing a community service project in the form of a 5K run in honor of his cousin, Tammy Thaxton, a colon cancer survivor.

“My cousin recently completed her radiation in June after suffering from colon cancer. I figured this would be a great way to not only reach my goal of becoming an Eagle Scout, but also to raise awareness for colon cancer,” Gage said.

However, fund-raising is not allowed in the Eagle Scout community service project, making it impossible to charge

admission to the race and sell merchandise for the benefit of the cancer foundation. Gage’s project was rejected by the Scout Committee, forcing him to start over.

“There would be no point planning a run for colon cancer if there would be no proceeds to go towards the colon cancer foundation,” Gage said.

Despite needing to create a new project to achieve the title of Eagle Scout, Gage continued to plan the run and create a website independently so fund-raising and admission charges would be allowed.

The Team Thaxton 5K Run for Colon Cancer Awareness will be held during the Assaria Fall Festival on Saturday, September 29 at 9:00 a.m. in Assaria, Thaxton’s hometown. The event will also

Skyward app a future possibility

By Emily Wood The Pylon With the new Skyward online grading program, students and parents may soon be granted access to the mobile app version. The app is downloadable in iTunes and Android app stores; however, the district has not activated it yet, so USD 305 cannot log in.

“We just found out about this,” executive director of school management Dr. Corbin Witt said. “Right now we are focusing on getting students and parents access to the portal (online version).”

The app would allow students, parents, and even teachers access to their

Skyward accounts on their mobile phones, iPads or tablets. A few of the features of the app are: allowing the user to view student schedule information, finding health needs at the time of an emergency, checking students grades and attendance records, and finding food service information.

“This is something we will look at as we want to continue improving the Skyward system even more,” Witt said.

At this point, the district is still working on training teachers and has to focus on sending in state reports.

“We haven’t had time yet to look at the app,” Witt explained.

Tom Gates

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Check out for pictures, videos, stories and more!

4

September 20, 2012

Student Life

Homecoming dresses through the

years

Year: Style:

Year: Style:

More than

By Hayley Hager The Pylon

2003 Knee high slit

Proud of who she is

The first time I came across freshman Naudia Carroll, I heard her expressing her love for Spongebob Squarepants. I would soon come to find out that Spongebob is the only boy she will ever like.

“The words ‘I’m gay’ never came out of my mouth until seventh grade,” Carroll said.

“But it’s not a big deal, I’m just like everyone else.”

While some people are quick to judge, Carroll is simply living her life.

“I know some girls do it for attention or to fit into a ‘trend,’ but I’m not doing this to be an outcast.”

Carroll learned at a young age that she wasn’t interested in dating boys, but that has only left more time for disapproval in her life.

“My mom is in denial,” Carroll said. “She just doesn’t support me.”

and I don’t have the urge to go party or anything; even though there have been plenty of opportunities.”

In previous months, Peet had been used to partying and

Salina, but there are always parties; people doing crazy stuff to make it interesting,” Peet said. “But in treatment I learned coping skills; how to say no to drinking and drugs.

I really learned a lot about myself though.”

Peet accepted the fact that he wasn’t always making the best decisions, but after treatment he realized that what he really cares about now is going to school and working. He is ready to progress towards a brighter future.

“I’m mad at myself for doing stupid things, but I’m glad for the experience; I learned a lot.

I’m a better person.”

“I know some girls do it for attention or to fit into a ‘trend’ but I’m not doing this to be an outcast.”

Naudia Carroll Senior

The only people in Naudia’s family to know about her sexuality are her mom, her mom’s boyfriend and her sister. Her sister, who is also

gay, is the only who supports her.

“I tried for the longest time not to like girls. I dated boys and stuff because I saw everything my sister went through, but it just wasn’t right,” Carroll said.

Even though she faces obstacles at home, Naudia finds calm here at school.

“Everyone at school is really chill; nobody really says anything. If they do, I’ve learned to shrug it off.”

Carroll is comfortable in her skin and she is not only happy with, but proud of who she is.

“Just because someone may not approve doesn’t mean they can put others down. God has a plan for you, so why would he put me down this road for nothing?”

2006 Sparkled strapped

Thankful for change Approaching junior Dante Peet during ELO, I found him sitting at a table by himself, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire freshly cracked open. This was not the Dante I expected to see.

It’s not weird to see Peet on my Twitter timeline or to run into him at a party on the weekend, but once school started I noticed I hadn’t seen or heard from him in what seemed like forever. I couldn’t help but wonder what he had been up to.

“Well… I got an MIC and the they sent me to treatment. I’ve been back for about two weeks

Year: Style:

just a front

2009

Being a teen mom

Strapless sparkles

Cartoons by Kate Martens / The Pylon

“I learned coping skills; how to say no to drinking and drugs.”

Dante Peet Junior hanging out with friends, but he is thankful for the positive influence time in treatment had on him.

“There’s not a lot to do in

I’ve gone to school with senior Sharon Jensen since middle school, but we’ve never engaged in a real, in-depth personal conversation before.

Last year it wasn’t hard to spot her pregnant belly roaming around the halls and now it’s not hard to miss the purple and turquoise hair on her head. It’s easy to make comments and assumptions about things that stand out so much about a person, but I wanted to know what Sharon was really like.

“When I was younger I really didn’t have many friends, but as I got older I started hanging out with more people,” Jensen said. “My friends kind of showed me who I am.”

You can see the influence Sharon’s friends have had on her; some also having bright hair, wearing colorful outfits composed of band tees, skinny jeans and Converse, but when Sharon isn’t supporting the local music scene at Indian Rock, you can find her taking care of her precious daughter.

“Lilium is adorable,” Jensen

“I am unique, but I’m just being myself and it doesn’t matter what anyone else has to say.”

Sharon Jensen Senior

said. “If I ever have a bad day or get upset I can look at her and she just brightens up my day. Other people even ask me if they can see her because she is so cute.”

Jensens had her daughter, Lilium Dark Star, during the second semester of last year.

Taking care of her daughter has become a full time job for her, but expressing herself still comes as naturally as motherhood did.

“I am unique and people are going to bad mouth me, but I’m just being myself and it really doesn’t matter what anyone else has to say. I mean, my purple hair doesn’t mean anything, I just wanted to do something different. I’m just me.”

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5 How much

September 20, 2012

Student Life

Fall fashion

By MacKenzie Morris The Pylon

Jera Richardson Freshman

Joe McKenna Senior

Squared earrings $3 Forever 21

you

did spend on

homecoming?

The girl’s side: BROOKE PETERS Junior

Plaid button down $4 Goodwill

Dress: Printed lace top $30 Buckle Flared jean shorts $65 Buckle

Skinny Jeans $20 T.J. Max

$150

Parrot-fa-Nalia

Hair:

FREE

Done by friend

Shoes:

$30

Parrot-fa-Nalia

Boutineer: TOMS shoes $56 TOMS

TOMS shoes $65 TOMS

Top 5

men’s fashions • • • • •

Top 5

women’s fashions

Honey-gold print Mohair sweaters Classic suits Raincoats Dark purple prints

• • • • •

Red print Heavy sweaters White belted dresses High necklines Black and blue prints Courtesy of www.glamour.com

A swaggy way of expression Polo, frat styles become popular trends for guys

By Austin Huynh The Pylon The Polo and Frat look has been seen around the college scene, and recently it has been adopted by the high school population. From flat-front khaki shorts to short-sleeve polo shirts, this apparel is of high interest in high school males. There are many different reasons why the look appeals to guys.

“The look is super classy and it gives guys a good reason to dress nice,” junior Noah Hadnot said.

There are a lot of people that rock the Polo. Some people wear it to get the classy look.

“One of the big differences is the choice of pants you wear with your Polo swag. If you wear cargo shorts instead of flat front shorts, you’re trying to be swaggy with it. Also, footwear is key. If you wear Jordans, you’re not gonna come off with the classy look, but if you wear Birkenstocks or Sperrys, you’ll look classy, fratty and professional,” junior Kyler Bell said.

Some people, instead of going for the classy look, they go for the swaggy look.

“The way I rock Polo is different from the way the preppy people wear it,” junior Aaron Thomas said. You gotta button yo Polo all da way up. It’s gotta have a lot of color and you gotta match your Polo with your Jordans, Griffies, and Chucks.

You also gotta have a nice pair of cargos to go with your Polo.”

Even though Polo is worn a lot, there are some people who don’t believe in the look of Polo

and refuse to wear it. To some students, it’s a hassle to spend so much money on clothing, and Polo is not cheap to buy.

“It’s too preppy for my style; it also ain’t worth buyin’,” junior Dajon Samuels said. “One shirt is $40.”

In the end, Polo is seen from many different perspectives.

Some people wear it to obtain a classy feel and look professional when they go to school, and others wear Polo just to express themselves in a swaggy way.

$17

Flower Nook

TOTAL:

$197

The guy’s side: Grant Dodge Senior

Pants:

$2

Goodwill

Shirt:

$20

Dillards

Shoes:

$50

Journey’s

Corsage:

$30

Flower Nook

TOTAL:

$102

6

September 20, 2012

In depth

Packed with

PEP

It’s been a while but the student section is back and better than before

By MacKenzie Morris

F

The Pylon

rom the beginning of the school day to the final seconds in the fourth quarter of the game Friday night, a wave of excitement and spirit crashed through our students.

As painted black bodies and bejeweled overalls filled up the stands, it was soon clear that the student section had a very different look than the years before.

“I had heard from my wife and numerous others how incredible the student section was and that it was the best it had been in years,” football coach Mike Hall said, referring to the first home football game against Hutch.

In recent years, the student section’s main focus was usually not on how loud they could cheer on the boys to victory, but merely to see how many underclassmen could be yelled at for sitting in the wrong section that was “assigned” to their class.

While past years’ Friday night games were focused on drama, this season has been all about raising the spirit for our sports teams.

This change in spirit has not only affected our student body, but has also made sport’s players, especially the football team, feel appreciated

“With everyone out there and being that loud for our team, it makes you want to play better.”

Luis Jimenez Senior for their hard work to prepare for the season.

“It’s good to have the support of the students in the student section,” senior football player Luis Jimenez said. “With everyone there

Countdown to

kickoff

The hour-by- hour of what students are doing on gameday leading up to the games at home on Fridays

and being that loud for our team, it makes you want to play better.”

While more students have been attending the games, groups like Overall Swag and Stang Nation have added to the immense spirit occurring throughout the student body.

“Before the first game, I had sent out a mass text to the numbers I had, asking if they wanted to paint their bodies black for our home games,” junior Treyton Hines said.

Students have been tailgating hours before the game: grilling food, playing games in the parking lot, and covering their bodies in black and maroon paint.

One impressive factor of all this spirit is that the upperclassmen have been urging the underclassmen to join in on the festivities and fun to support our team.

“Having everyone join our groups has made our student section better,” said Hines.

“People actually get crazy now and cheer loud.”

7:00a.m.

Maggie Vernon / The Pylon

The football team huddles inbetween plays during the home game against Hutch.

5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:

The girls’ basketball team decorates the fences around the stadium with different words with paper cups.

Student-led tailgate begins in the south parking lot. Students also start painting their bodies and getting ready for the game.

Maggie Vernon / The Pylon

Booster Club tailgate begins outside of the Stadium. $5 for a hamburger, chips, and unlimited soda.

The and d com and p a pre show field

7

September 20, 2012

In depth

Spirit & of the student section groups

Do’s

dont’s

Do:

Get to know the outfits and styles of the student section

Bring newspaper to rip up and throw when we score Wear maroon and white Go to the pre-game Be on the field when the team runs out Encourage others to cheer Bring signs and posters to hold Wear a shirt and pants Know your place to stand Dance to every song the band plays

Overall Swag

Don’t:

Be afraid to get loud Wear skimpy outfits Diss your own team Sit in front if you aren’t going to cheer Stand in front of the front row Sit Throw things (except newspaper)

Gameday rituals Firin’ up the grill

Filling the fence

The student tailgate begins in the field behind the south parking lot starting at 4 p.m. on game days.

About an hour before kickoff, they begin painting their bodies or getting their outfits ready for the game.

At 7 a.m. before school on gameday, the girls’ basketball team meets outside the staduim with nearly a thousand paper cups. They write different words and sayings in the fence to encourage the team and get the students excited for the game that night.

Shredding the sky Prior to the game, several students bring newspaper and start passing it around to rip up into small pieces.

Students keep those pieces until the first Mustang touchdown of the game is scored and then they throw them all in the air to celebrate.

band drumline me out perform egame w on the d.

“It is a group that starts tailgating at 4 p.m. every home game. About an hour before the game, we all paint our bodies (preferably black paint). Most of us have white masks as well.

I try to get the student section to come alive and just get as many people as I can to have a fun night.

Anyone in high school can be involved.”

-Treyton Hines, ‘11

The football team comes out of the locker room and runs through the helmet and line of people.

Students, VETS and cheerleaders go down on the field and form a tunnel for the team to run through.

Maggie Vernon / The Pylon

Stang Nation

6:55 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

6:50 p.m.

:40 p.m.

“Overall Swag is a group of upperclassmen girls that get together and decorate old pairs of overalls to wear to the football games.

We join the ‘Stang Nation’ group for their tailgates before the games.

We hope to spread spirit through the student section and encourage other people to cheer. We want to be LOUD.” -Sydney Dauer, ‘12

Maggie Vernon / The Pylon

Kickoff

Maggie Vernon / The Pylon

8

September 20, 2012

Emily’s Extra Point

Athletes & Sports The meaning behind the sledge Interview with Coach Hall

Q: What do the sledgehammers represent?

A: The big hits from the previous week.

Q: Is there a history behind it?

I picked up the idea from A:aNo, coaching clinic and thought it

Emily Wood The Pylon

Athlete drug testing should be mandatory Drugs have unfortunately become a popular part of high school life for many students and most are not seeing the direct consequences of their actions.

The same thing is true for the athletes who are choosing to do drugs during their sport’s season, or at all, for that matter.

Therefore, the school district should have mandatory drug testing for all athletes.

Random drug testing throughout the sports seasons would take care of the problem immediately and effectively. If a sport was important to an athlete and they knew it would be taken away completely should they be caught, then I am absolutely sure that they would be more conscious of their decisions off the field or court.

Several years ago, I recall occasionally seeing drug dogs sniffing up and down the lockers, looking for drugs in the building. Maybe that was not the most efficient or effective method, but it was still an effort to control the problem. What do we have now? What is stopping students from doing this?

Mandatory drug testing would hold student-athletes accountable. Sure, if the sport wasn’t that important to them then maybe it wouldn’t solve anything, but I don’t believe that that is the case. I think that mandatory drug testing would make most of the athletes with this problem stop and evaluate their choices, particularly during season.

Ideally, top athletes or leaders of the teams would choose not to do drugs or jeopardize their chances of being successful. However, that is not always the case.

Other schools in our league already require mandatory drug testing for their studentathletes.

Yes, it would be an expensive endeavor for our already limited district budget. However, I think that requiring mandatory drug testing for athletes would be an effective method of holding athletes accountable and maintaining a good reputation for our school and district.

buy your yearbook today in the main office.

$70

Maggie Vernon/ The Pylon

The football team runs onto the field with sledgehammers before the Hutch game.

would help motivate the team.

Off to another strong start Doubles team of Morris, Briggs still undefeated

By Bailey Driver

“Our main focus for the year is to win state, or to place higher than we did last season,” Briggs After placing third last and Morris said. season in the state tournament, To reach this goal, Briggs and senior Gabby Briggs and junior Morris have put in countless MacKenzie Morris knew they hours outside of school practice would be back to finish on top. improving their game.

“We have high expectations for “Over the summer I played in this season,” Morris said. “This a bunch of singles tournaments, is our third season as partners and worked on finding little and we’ve gotten much stronger parts in my play as a doubles that needed team.” to be tweaked Together “This is our third season and corrected,” Briggs and as partners and we’ve Briggs said.

Morris are Morris also working gotten much stronger as spent much of towards her summer a doubles team.” becoming on the courts league working in champs, MacKenzie Morris individual regional junior lessons with a champs, and coach, while making it playing in back to the several doubles tournaments state tournament with a perfect with her partner, Briggs. record.

“Overall, I just want to enjoy This will be the last season my last season together with my Briggs and Morris will play team, making it my best season,” together as a doubles team, and Briggs said. “I just want to end they’re looking to go out with a the season on a positive note and bang. leave it all on the court.”

The Pylon

Maggie Vernon/ The Pylon

During an early season match doubles partners junior MacKenzie Morris and senior Gabby Briggs prepare for their next point.

Freshman football dominates their opponents

By Sydney Dauer The Pylon The freshman football team could be classified as little boys with big dreams, but by starting out the season undefeated, their dreams may be coming true.

“I hope the upcoming seasons will be some of the best seasons in history, but I’ve always thought that dreaming is one thing, but making it happen is a whole ‘nother story.”, freshman running back Dalton Peters said.

Most boys on the team have been playing tackle football since fifth grade. Their chemistry on the field is evident to anyone

Maggie Vernon / The Pylon

The freshmen defensive line prepares for a snap against Hutch. who watches them play together.

Even newcomer Adrian Castelli was able to fall right into place with the boys after transferring

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“We all know how each other plays the game. We have fun out on the field; and by fun, I mean

win,” Castelli said.

“Our chemistry is like no other. We have only been together for two years, but we all have each other’s back.” freshman Travis Bigler said.

All of the boys on the team have high hopes for the years to come. Castelli believes that with the addition of upperclassmen to their squad, next year will be even better than this one.

“Hopefully we can go undefeated this year. Next year I would like to do the same.

Senior year, who knows? A state championship would be nice,” Bigler said.

9

September 20, 2012

Athletes & Sports Soccer starting to look like themselves again

By Chandler Burris

and the amount of fans that show up to games is unbelievable.

The Pylon In Italy you do not have soccer The soccer team had a slow teams for your school, you start to the season with a record would have to join a club and no of 1-2 before winning the one would ever show up to the last three games they played. games,” junior Umberto Rossetto Their latest game consisted said. of a five to nothing win over Last season’s record was 17-2, Newton. The team hopes to win the second best record in school league, regionals history. The team “I like soccer here. The made it to the and state.

“It feels good support for the team is quarter finals to come back and lost to the amazing.” from some team that would tough losses; go-on to take our defense has Umberto Rossetto the state title. really stepped up Expectations Junior their game and were high are making sure the other team coming off a season performance doesn’t get a chance to score,” like that. The 1-2 start was not senior Preston Gapter said. ideal, but things are looking “The key to winning our much better. matches to come will be to “Assisting the forwards in continue the synchronization getting the ball up the field is a between every player on the large priority for me, and I hope team and work to push the ball that we can have a great season forward on the field. Also to keep this year. I am really enjoying my on going out and supporting the time playing for Central; there team in any way possible.” is a wonderful soccer program “I like soccer here. The here and the players are very support for the team is amazing, good too,” Rossetto said.

The Pylon

Emily Wood / The Pylon

Senior Courtney Olson competes in the Manhattan meet.

Athletes in the mix Jack Shetlar Cross-Country Erik Arias Boys’ soccer Kylee Campion VETS Quintavian Hill Football Nicole Morgan Volleyball

With new coaches and more runners out for cross-country, this year has a slightly different feel than years in the past.

There are some major, physical changes to the cross country team like changes and additions to the coaching staff. With these changes came changes in the team and the goals for the crosscountry team this year. Last year the team only had 14 runners, while this year there are 20.

“The head coach is in the building this year, and I’m able to promote the sport. Also, having younger coaches helps us get more students involved,” Coach

numbers a quick look at numbers and stats about the fall sports season

19

The number of years the doubles team of junior Mackenize Morris and senior Gabby Briggs have been playing tennis.

275

The longest drive by a girls’ golfer this year, shot by junior Alissa Kim. Eli Berner / The Pylon

Senior defender Barkley Edison gets ready to boot the ball to the forwards up the field during one of the home soccer games.

Cross country different than in years past

By Carson Jett

By the

Gooch said.

Not only have the numbers gone up, but the expectations of being competitive in practice and in meets are stressed.

“So far this year is going pretty good. The kids are reaching their goals or getting closer to their goals. We had three individual medals at Heston and we will be running with a full varsity squad for girls and boys at Hays,” Gooch said.

This year, one of the goals for the team is to get runners ready and in shape for other sports.

Many athletes are running crosscountry in order to get in shape for winter sports like basketball and swimming. But this isn’t the goal of everyone.

On the Spot Our school is most like what reality TV show

Favorite athlete

“The Office, because the most random stuff happens”

“Collin Klein”

Senior runner Courtney Olson has more serious goals for herself throughout her last year of crosscountry, “This year I am going to try and get to state and have a good season,” Olson said.

14

The number of boys on the team

The number of girls on the team

3

6

The number of returning lettermen

The number of new runners

15

There is nothing I hate more than “When people complain about school for no reason.”

“Jersey Shore, with all the Grenades”

“Neymar da Silva”

“Crusty school lunches”

“Man vs. Food... JK we don’t get food”

“Vince Johnson”

“Stupid subtweets”

“True Life”

“Brian Cushing”

“Fake people”

“Jersey Shore, with a whole bunch of Snooki’s”

“Candace Parker”

“Cocky athletes”

12

The number of black pentagons on a soccer ball.

253

The number of assists junior setter Emily Wood has had so far this season.

92

The number of yards freshman Dalton Peters ran for a touchdown in the Newton game.

20

The number of miles the cross-country team runs during practice in one week.

358

The number of kills the volleyball team has had in the first fifteen games.

CAN’T WAIT A MONTH? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER FOR DAILY UPDATES.

@chspylon

10

September 20, 2012

Fine Arts About the show When: 7:00 tonight Sept. 20-22 Where: Salina Central Auditorium Cost: $6 Adults $5 Students & Senior Citizens

Brianna Chora / The Pylon

Since the expanding of the Center for Theatre Arts, the Salina Community Theatre offers classes for people of all ages.

l a c o V cting &a Creative drama Vocal classes

Grades 1 - 8

Maggie Vernon / The Pylon

The cast of ‘Boys Next Door’ runs through the set in preparation for opening night.

‘Boys’ are ready to take the stage

Fall play dominated by experienced male talent

By Hayley Hager The Pylon The Fall play ‘Boys Next Door’ explores the everyday lives of four mentally challenged men living in a group home.

Characters include senior Joe McKenna as Barry, senior Eli Beery as Arnold, junior

Malik Grassity as Lution, junior Shekinah Jones as Norman and senior Trent Brown as their care taker, Jack.

While the boys must find comfort in taking on these difficult roles, director Chad Nulik says that time has been the biggest challenge they have had to overcome.

“The show happened so fast

and we had to get everything together in a short amount of time,” Nulik said. “But the guys are doing really well and I think we’re ready.”

Ready and eager, Nulik looks forward to the opening of the show tonight.

“I’m very excited for the boys. I think we’ll be in great shape.”

Acting classes

Grades 1 - College

e c n a D Ballet

Grades 7 and up

Advanced Ballet

Grades 8 and up

Musical Theatre Jazz Grades 7 and up

Tap (beginner) Grades 7 and up

Jazz

Ages 15 and up

Intense Hip Hop

Grades 7 and up

Brianna Chora / The Pylon

The drumline makes some noise as they cruise down the street during the Homecoming parade.

Drumline prepares for strong year

By Genna Salstrom The Pylon Although the drumline lost its star, David Weiner, to college, and a few others for various reasons, the general consensus is that this year will be even better than last.

The bass drums are more organized, according to Mr. Rohrer, the instructor, and they have a gig on October 13 with local band Joe’s Pet Project.

“So far we’re doing even better than last year and we’re learning more. Losing David

wasn’t even a factor because we gained me, and he and I were on the same level last year,” junior Aaron Thomas said.

With 7 of the 19 drummers being freshmen, all of the older talent on the line makes it intimidating for them.

6 of the drummers are girls, which makes the line not only freshmen dominated but also female. Since a lot of the girls haven’t played before, the boys have to teach them the tricks of the trade.

“We call ourselves the DLW’s: Drumline Women. I try

to encourage the freshmen and girls to play their drum as loud as humanly possible,” senior Beth Cash said.

In order to raise money for transportation and new drum equipment, the drumline puts on shows after every game.

The after-shows are extremely loud and highly intense, and everyone always has a great time.

While they’ve made a lot in the past, their show after the first football game against Hutch didn’t bring in as much as usual.

“The after-show is where you go to get enjoyment out of the game. They’re hype,” Thomas said.

Senior Spencer Schrader has been on the drumline since freshmen year, but made the decision to do football this year instead.

“It sucks because I wish I could be there, but I trust the other guys, and I know they’ll be fine without me,” Schrader said.

“Spencer, we made it without you,” junior Aaron Thomas said.

OCTOBER 9

9:00-2:00 IN THE SMALL GYM.

11

September 20, 2012

Editorials & Opinion Versus- Is the cost of college worth it?

By Sammy Jordan The Pylon The cumulative student debt in our nation is exceeding $1 TRILLION in student loans. Colleges are sitting on millions, sometimes billions in endowments. If they aren’t going to cooperate and adjust their prices according to inflation, then the scholars of our nation need to retaliate.

According to the pew Research Center, 57 percent of Americans feel that higher education fails to provide students with good value for their money spent.

This is because the threat of unemployment and unreasonably high debt students face out of college can be higher than the annual income of a college graduate. The average student loan debt right after college ranges from $950 to over $55,000, according to The Project on Student Debt survey.

Colleges know that they can charge whatever they want because the government ensures that everyone can get a government loan. But the students have to pay that back, as they can not default on student loans.

Our lack of knowledge with how the free market system works, is going to be detrimental to our generation, as there is no incentive for universities to lower the prices without competition.

The government and universities alike need to be called out, or the price will

continually be driven skyward.

By Bailey Driver The solution? Self education.

The Pylon We have this thing, it’s called the google machine No one wants to be that with information for days. I’ve stereotypical high school dropbecome the master of locating out that ends up spending the answers on the internet, rest of their life slaving away at cranking out an entire work McDonald’s. The solution to this sheet in about four minutes. We problem isn’t rocket science; live the the most graduate technologically high school advanced period “Companies are going to realize and go to where selfthat they can hire students right college! education is not Although out of high school.” only possible, the overall it’s free. Soon cost of companies are college Sammy Jordan going to realize can be a Opinion Editor they can hire lot, there students right are steps out of high to take to school who express interest in ensure that you’re not a part of their field, enthusiastic to begin the 8.7% of unemployed after training instead of spending you receive your high school their time and money taking diploma. Financial aid, student classes such as “Survey of Art loans, grants, and scholarships History” or Anthropology. are all there for a reason. Take Although it is true that that opportunity! unemployment rates are higher The average college graduate for high school graduates to makes $46,000 annually, while those with bachelor degrees, other high school graduate a college education does not averages only $28,000 annually. always ensure financial stability.

Almost 10 percent of students Does the cost of college out of grad school are facing currently facing unemployment.

I’m not trying to dissuade everyone from attending college, as even I’m not brave enough to stand up to the man. I will be attending college, no doubt. But if you are considering a career 9 out of 17 in a field such as business, staffers voted yes personal research, grit, and real life training could be enough. In many cases, the cost of college simply outweighs the benefits.

To some, that may not seem like much, but it is. I mean, who wouldn’t want to make $18,000 more in just a year?

Without a college degree, your career options will have already decreased significantly.

Receiving your college degree could be the difference between a professional and successful business hiring you, instead of that other guy who only received his high school diploma.

Now don’t get me wrong, graduating high school and walking across that stage to receive your diploma is a huge accomplishment and a great step in the right direction, but once you obtain a college degree, your benefits increase dramatically. I t sets you up with better access to employerpaid health insurance, and decreases your chances of unemployment and poverty.

Studies have also shown that a college degree is good for your health and the future of your children’s brainpower.

So, go to college.

outweigh the benifits?

8 out of 17 staffers voted no

Kudos & Call outs The following are situations in which our students and faculty deserve praise for a job well done or to be called out for dropping the ball.

Kudos:

-Hayley Hager. You go girlfriend.

-Cinnamon rolls are served at lunch. They’re healthy?

Okay.

-”Yoga pants,” -Kamen Kossow.

-Senior boys for their mad dance skills at the homecoming parade. Grant Dodge, you owned that field.

-Chandler Bryan for following his dreams and meeting Victoria Justice. #yngluv -The football players with sledgehammers...What?

Call outs: -The kitchen is literally collapsing. This construction is about to blow -You rachet if you use the word “rachet.”

-Seniors didn’t win with their REAL nice float. Come on.

Who is judging?

-Black body paint girls, Y U NO WEAR CLOTHES? -Don’t block my overall swag at games.

Staff Editorial: Homecoming candidate catastrophe

By Sydney Dauer The Pylon With parade rain-outs, gym pep rallies replacing actual parades and unreliable nominations the weeks leading up to Homecoming, have been a complete mess.

Ok, so there isn’t much the school can do about rained out parades, but voting mishaps are easily handled.

Administrators need to take time and think about how the decision will affect everyone in

the long run, instead of trying to cover their mistakes quickly.

Last year, candidates that had borrowed fancy cars for the parade didn’t get to show them off.

Students that worked hard on class floats didn’t get to present them to the public. Why would we be celebrating football season in the basketball gym?

Was rescheduling not an option?

Voting for homecoming is not that hard. Send a piece of paper including the voting instructions on top of the ballots to all of the

teachers and this crisis could’ve easily been averted (see the rules at the bottom).

The student body also needs to be aware of the days they are to vote. An announcement in the morning would’ve alerted students who could’ve reminded the forgetful teachers.

There are several easy fixes to this voting problem, but I feel the administration’s attempt was unsuccessful.

Allowing the students who didn’t vote to place a ballot may even out the numbers, but this

doesn’t fix the fact that there are juniors votes in the mix.

With our anonymous voting system, there’s no way to weed out those votes and take them out. Whoever was in charge of counting the votes had to know that something was wrong when the number of votes didn’t match the number of senior students.

The nominee results shouldn’t have been released until all votes were accounted for.

The only way to have reliable numbers is to hold an entire re-vote, but our administration is too kind-hearted to crush any of the nominees dreams. I say crush them.

Will things continue to go wrong? Hopefully, the administration learn from these mistakes so that future students don’t have to deal with a frustrating Homecoming season.

Sydney’s rules for voting 1 Upperclassmen get the privilage of nomination.

2 Only SENIORS vote on the final ballot.

3 Seniors cast ballots during lunch.

4 Seniors make up voting in ELO.

12

September 20, 2012

the Pylon

Homecoming; a week to remember

Brianna Chora/The Pylon

The defensive line gets ready for a play against St. Thomas Aquinas.

Paige Johnson/The Pylon

Juniors Jeffrey Michael and Shekhinah Jones get in a conga line with sophomore Christian Jacobs at the homecoming dance.

Brianna Chora/The Pylon

Mr. Finch rides his motorcycle with his “Finchy baby” t-shirt in the homecoming parade on Wednesday, September 12.

Maggie Vernon/The Pylon

Senior Hayley Hager is overjoyed when she is announced as homecoming queen.

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