CMRStampedeMarch2014

The Stampede

Rustler Spirit

Charlie Russell, CMR’s namesake, turns 150 years old p.20

c.m. russell high school great falls, mont. march 6, 2014 vol. 48, issue 6

An open forum for student expression

www.rustlernews.com

The Stampede

The Stampede staff strives to produce a publication that is relevant to the CMR student body while maintaining journalistic standards. We help to provide a free exchange of ideas and establish a student voice in the school community.

1 - Cover photo by Kendra Hix 2 - Table of Contents NEWS 3 - Peyton’s column, HOSA fundraising 4 - School Budget 5 - Contemporary American Problems Class 6 - AA Orchestra OPINION 7 - Abby’s column, Editorial 8 - Speak Your Mind FEATURES 9 - Olivia’s column, Freshman science projects, Logan Kropp CENTERSPREAD 10/11 - Hockey FEATURES (cont.)

12 - Senior Projects 13 - Teacher Talents ENTERTAINMENT 14 - Greighsen’s column, Prom Infographic, Best and Worst Apps 15 - 12 Angry Jurors, Understudies SPORTS 16 - Lindsay’s column, Concessions 17 - Results, Linda Morin 18 - Basketball, swimming and wrestling results and standings 19 - Gary Lowry named new head football coach BACK PAGE 20 - Charlie Russell 150th birthday

Duck in to room 325 and become part of the largest high school volunteer organization on the planet.

Meet with Key Club in room 325 Tuesdays at 4 p.m.

editor-in-chief peyton fulbright

online editor zach pottratz

design editor kendra hix

visual content editor kim michelsen

news/opinion editor abby lynes

entertainment editor greighsen adams

features editor olivia rudio

sports editor

lindsay martinez

copy editor

stephanie mccracken

staff

TOP LEFT, MIDDLE LEFT: During the Pep Assembly on Feb. 12 teachers Chris Hibbert and Rhonda Moore defend the staff dodgeball team. BOTTOM LEFT: Seniors Cori Enseleit and Maggie Reilly dance along to the beat at the Pep Assembly. TOP MIDDLE: As part of the drama department’s performance, senior Guil Poelsma introduces the “Bison of the apocalypse.” MIDDLE: Senior Jake Allison performs his drum solo during the pep assembly. BOTTOM MIDDLE: During the pep assembly on Feb. 12, sophomore Noah Danielson carries junior Tanner Grubb on his shoulders when the athletes for the state tournaments walked out. RIGHT: Jumping to dodge a ball, sophomore Knox Semenza helps the students in their victory against the staff dodgeball team.

Photos by Peyton Fulbright.

Editorial Policy

The Stampede -- produced by journalism classes at C.M. Russell High School -- is a public forum for all voices on campus. These voices include the students, parents, faculty and the community at large.

The opinions and views in this publication are not necessarily those of the Stampede staff, the student body, CMR employees or the school administration.

The Stampede strives to cover the news accurately and fairly; however, when a mistake is made, a correction will be printed in the following issue. All writers are responsible for the content of their articles.

Editors will edit all copy to be free of plagiarism and libel, and all writers will double-check their facts before publication.

Letters to the editor and guest essays are welcome. Letters are limited to 200 words,

and essays 350 words. All submissions must be signed and include a phone number so authenticity can be verified. The editors and/or adviser reserve the right to edit all letters for grammar and spelling as well as content that may include profanity, be libelous, obscene or not meet general editorial guidelines. Anonymous letters are not accepted. Submissions can be dropped off in room 326 or e-mailed to: stampede@gfps.k12. mt.us.

The Stampede maintains membership in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association and Quill and Scroll.

Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/KRT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

cori bonilla drew brennan tom gruner whisper harris jadon jennings tony lynes laura marsilio elea roberts max roux katelyn smith jesse whiteman

adviser

beth britton

principal

dick kloppel

GET CONNECTED

Visit our website rustlernews.com for updates, bios on our staff and other news about CMR and the surrounding community!

Follow us on Twitter @RustlerNews OR follow our sports feed for all things Rustler sports @SportsStampede!

NEWS

HOSA

3

School organization fundraises for Multiple Sclerosis, gears up for state competition

Sophomore Roya Blake supports HOSA while participating in pep band during the March 3 game against Billings Skyview.

The Lady Rustlers huddle in their HOSA T-shirts before the battle against Skyview. CMR defeated Billings 44-36.

Editor-in-Chief

peytonfulbright

Color Guard members present the flags and their support for MS on March 3.

by olivia rudio, features editor For senior Caitlin Engen, joining HOSA continues following a passion of supporting Multiple Sclerosis.

“It’s kind of like an unsung problem so I think it’s important to make the community aware,” Engen said. Her grandmother and friend’s husband both struggled with the disease.

MS is a disease that attacks the central nervous system.

“It ruins how your muscles work,” Engen said.

The HOSA fundraiser for MS involved selling orange T-shirts, selling raffle tickets and hosting a bake sale at the Lady Rustlers basketball game March 3. Engen plans to donate the money to the MS society of Great Falls during the society’s walk for MS. According to Engen, HOSA also plans to create a team to walk at the event on May 17.

The cumulative sales amounted to $1020, although parts of those funds still have to be deducted to pay for the T-Shirts.

Another first year HOSA member, senior Alyssa Valdez, has been involved with the fundraiser and will work with Engen to create a portfolio to present at State for the Community Awareness Competition for CMR HOSA. “I love it,” Valdez said.

Basketball players and fans alike also showed their love for the program by donning their orange shirts Monday night.

Engen was pleased to see the players wear the shirts as their warm-ups before

I applaud the courage of Michael Sam and Jason Collins, but I wish I didn’t have to.

Jason Collins came out of the closet as a retired athlete, but he rejoined the NBA on Feb. 23, becoming the first openly gay active NBA player. When the Brooklyn Nets signed him, it was a major news story because he is now an important sports name due to coming out. Michael Sam took things a step further and came out during a period where every NFL team would be evaluating his every nuance so they can make their best draft picks. When the NFL draft begins on May 8, Sam could become the first

the game.

“I was really shocked that they bought all those shirts,” Engen said.

Those like junior Harly Rowe cheered on HOSA and the team from the stands with her orange shirt.

“I supported MS because I feel like conditions like MS and others don’t get as much funding or awareness as others like cancer,” Rowe said.

“The least I could do is help and support this cause.”

Science teacher Mike Beck agrees.

“It’s a good cause and it’s good for school spirit,” Beck said. “It’s a common disease in society and brings everyone back to focus on it,” Beck said.

According to Valdez, the Community Awareness competition requires students to share a six-minute presentation with a panel of judges and answer questions after.

State is being hosted in Great Falls this year. Valdez signed up for the maximum events including “community awareness” she and Engen will present their fundraiser progress to raise money for MS. “All the money donated goes to MS,” Valdez said.

Beyond “community awareness,” Valdez has been prepping with her three teammates for HOSA Bowl, a competition in which the judges can “ask you anything and everything.”

“It’s really intense. You definitely have to be on your toes,” she said.

Despite the high difficulty level of the competition, Valdez is confident her team will do well.

openly gay NFL player. Sam already is a household name, but little of that has to do with his athletic merits, but instead because he’s gay. I’m glad that these men have become ambassadors for gay rights, but I resent the fact that our culture views them as different.

We are living in a time when it’s news for anyone to come out, especially for an athlete in a sport known for gratuitous violence and a general acceptance for bigotry amongst its athletes. While Sam’s announcement took more than guts, it’s time for our society to get to a place where it doesn’t matter. When Jackie Robinson became the first African-American in a major American sports league in 1947, it was a big deal. It divided Americans on racial debates. Now, more than 60

As part of their fundraising, HOSA members paint faces for students . Senior McKenna Quinn gets her face painted with a CMR skull on Oct. 25. Photo by Tom Gruner.

A Community member purchases a $10 T-shirt for HOSA’s MS fundraiser. For every T-shirt sold $5 will go to the MS society of Great Falls.

Photos by Caitlin Soltesz.

Senior Caitlin Engen manages the bake sale on CMR’s Senior night on March 3.

years later, the color of one’s skin means nothing in American sports.

I genuinely hope that it doesn’t take that long for Sam, Collins, and other homosexuals to get to a place where they don’t have to worry about coming out. I hope it doesn’t take that long for our society to get to a place where they don’t need to come out because nobody cares, because we should be there now.

Until then, we must wait. Our society has shown a progressive trend that will make our next generations more accepting of all, so challenge those who don’t agree. Make your beliefs known, because if everyone stays silent, it turns gay rights into a silent cause, and change takes noise.

4 news

The Stampede 3.6.14

Budget Options School board budget committee recommends mill levy campaign A $1,015,000 Additional support to be determined in coming weeks Mill Levy for strategic plan needs of

by abby lynes, news and opinion editor The Great Falls Public School Board convened on March 3 in the last installment of a series of budget meetings to discuss budget plans for the 2014-2015 school year.

After discussing options for obtaining funds and hearing public comment, three members of the budget committee – Bob Moretti, Jan Cahill, and Johnny Walker – voiced their support for a mill levy of at least $1,015,000.

The district was informed late last week that it would receive $629,000 less than expected from the state and must decide if withdrawing more funds from reserves, or savings, or campaigning for a mill levy is a more viable choice.

Walker, who describes himself as a fiscal conservative, said he is reluctant to withdraw more funds than necessary from reserves.

“I’m very opposed to draining reserves,” he said.

“With my philosophy, I can’t help but look at the longterm consequences... Our costs continually go up. We can’t continue operating without continued help from our community.”

Most people attending the meeting were opposed to taking all funds from reserves.

“There is an overwhelming majority that supports some levy,” Moretti said.

In previous meetings, leaders discussed current and projected expenditures and presented information on where funds from a levy would be allocated.

Along with providing student addiction support and upgrading technology, Superintendent Tammy Lacey said that, on the high school level, the school district hopes to “enhance facilities with safety in mind.”

“This is still a real problem for our community,” Lacey said.

At the end of each meeting, the public has voiced their concerns and asked questions, and district leaders have addressed them.

Objects of concern have included everything from Common Core standards to infrastructure problems.

Most speakers at the March 3 meeting were in favor

of campaigning for a mill levy with a few voices of opposition in the mix.

Brad Talcott, owner of James Talcott Construction, said there has been a call to action the community has not responded to, and it is time to respond.

“We’ve been saying no way to long. It has been OK; it has been accepted. It’s not OK anymore – it’s time to step up,” he said.

Talcott said education is an important investment.

“It’s just common business sense to invest in your future. We have that opportunity now,” he said.

Several educators and Great Falls residents spoke up.

Cahill said he has seen more community involvement in recent meetings than ever before.

“We have never had this level of participation in the nine years I have been here,” he said.

Walker attributes the increased level of public input to the district’s goal to be transparent in the budgeting process.

“I’m proud of the fact that we have listened to the public,” he said.

Moretti said the public has a great deal of efficacy in the budgeting process, and he encourages community members to continue to attend board meetings and contribute their input.

“The budget is designed for the public to help, and we need the public to help,” he said.

Walker said that the public’s support of education is apparent, but, with differing opinions on how money should be spent, district leaders and community members must work together to determine what measures are necessary in order for the district to continue operating at current standards as well as promote further growth.

“In general, everyone supports education. I believe there are different opinions in how far we have to go and how much money we have to spend.”

The school board will announce its decision regarding the mill levy on March 10 at 6 p.m. at Paris Gibson Education Center.

There will be a time for public input and community participation is encouraged.

.

Take $629,158 from Impact Aid Reserve Fund.

Mill Levy for some of the

B

strategic plan needs and some of the budget shortfall for $1,015,000. Take

$359,159

Mill levy for strategic plan

C

needs of $1,015,000 and $629,158 shortfall.

For a total of $1,644,158.

D

Mill levy only for the shortfall of $629,158. No strategic plan initiatives.

E

Take $629,158 from Impact Aid Reserve Fund; no levy or strategic plan initiatives.

F

Strategic plan initiatives of $745,000 and $628,000 shortfall from reserves to equal $1.3 million taken all from reserves.

Jobs Available from the Park and Recreation Department!

HIRING NOW FOR SUMMER! APPLY ASAP! Salaries Range from

$7.90-$13.79

depending on position

from reserves.

• Seasonal Laborers and Irrigators for Parks and Golf Course Divisions • Lifeguards, head Lifeguards, Pool Cleaners, Cashiers and Concessions Workers • Camp Counselors, Building Monitors and Program Assistants for the Recreation Center

Apply at the Human Resources Office, room 202, Civic Center, online at www. greatfallsmt. net, or call 4558545 for more information.

g n i y m r f o n e e D th

3.6.14 The Stampede

cial o s t a e f ts de Students’ class projects P A Studen C varied n i ns o i t from joining a t c e exp random people’s conversations to playing peekaboo with people at the food

court. by laura marsilio, staff writer Mangan said that a lot of people gave Running around, playing tag. A typical them strange looks, and only one kid childhood game that, at a younger age, was actually participated. The experiment, seen as a regular activity. though, taught her that sometimes you have Playing tag as a teenager with strangers to feel awkward in life. can seem irregular, but for senior Taylor “I learned that you have to sometimes Mangan, it became a normal get out of the box,” she said. part of her day. With “Whenever you violate Mangan also learned partners Kirsten Kaste and what it felt like to be a a social norm in a Samantha Pietrykowski, social outcast to random Mangan played tag with strangers. situation you become strangers in different stores.

“Until you do it, you an outcast.”

“It was a little awkward. don’t know how it feels to You had to just go for it. be socially out of the norm,” Once you tagged someone Mangan said. you’d never see them again,” she said.

Another senior, Christalie Kuglin, with Students in Burke Allen’s class were group partners Rebecca Maki and Whisper challenged to defeat the social norms that Harris, decided for their project to sit in the people accept as normal.

Burke Allen

middle of the walkway of restaurants and eat their food.

Kuglin said that the experience was awkward for all of those involved.

“People scrunched up their eyebrows at first and then they just sort of ignored us and didn’t look at us. They stepped over us,” she said.

Kuglin said that she thought the experience was good for learning about going against a social norm, but she admits she wouldn’t do it again.

Her group decided to do the experiment because everyone tends to sit in the hallways at school when eating, but no one had ever done so in a restaurant.

“It kind of makes you realize why we do things, and that we don’t question what we do,” Kuglin said.

Allen, a history teacher, said that this project allowed students to see the outcome of defeating the social norm.

The students also learned that many people do not question the social norms.

They simply follow them.

“Whenever you violate a social norm in a situation you become an outcast,” he said.

Students realized this quickly after starting their experiments.

Along with violating the social norms, students also found toys and commercials from when they were younger and looked at social norms and gender roles.

“It shows that we are all a product of social normalities,” Allen said.

news 5

Noted projects: Student name(s): Macoy McLaughlin Talking to random strangers at Great Falls International Airport Student name(s): Emma Bridenthal, Taylor Gillespie, Kaylee McDunn Asked for toilet paper and made conversation with people in bathroom stalls Student name(s): Brandon Stout, Torrey Hudspeth, Hakeem Samuels Singing orders at restaurants Student name(s): Lexi Kjono Joining randomly in on people’s conversations at the Peak

6 news

Focusing on the guest conductor, senior Taylor VerColen plays his part with as much emotion as he can. The players repeated small portions of the music many times in order to perfect their technique and their sounds. Photo by Kimberly Michelsen.

WATCH THE VIDEO Use this QR code to watch a video of the AA Orchestra Festival.

The Stampede 3.6.14

Musicians learn to express themselves at orchestra festival

by kimberly michelsen, visual content editor With a legacy of trumpet players in her family, sophomore Jordyn Voss had a hard choice in front of her at the beginning of fifth grade. The decision was made a little easier by her inability to physically play a trumpet.

“I wanted to play the trumpet because for the last four generations everyone in my family played trumpet, but I couldn’t do the lip thing,” she said.

So instead, Voss chose to play the violin. Because of this choice, Voss was able to participate in AA Orchestra Festival on Feb. 24-25. The Chamber Orchestra, combined with Flathead’s high school orchestra, performed “Pirates of the Caribbean”, Nabucco Overture, and Slavonik Dances No. 8.

Voss said that her favorite song was “Pirates of the Caribbean” “because it’s so iconic. I love the movies and the song. It’s just written extremely well.”

However, not everything was fun and games. Voss said that her stamina was challenged as she sat up straight and played with the orchestra for two days straight.

“You can only hold yourself like this [in position of holding a violin] for so long,” she said.

One of the things she said she enjoyed from AA was learning how to play her violin loudly. There was one movement she had to perform that was particularly difficult.

“It was here and at All-State. Having to hit the string so hard that it actually bounces the bow. It’s called a ricochet. It’s incredibly hard,” she said.

Voss explained that this ability was extremely important because of the full symphony they were playing with. She said that her favorite part of the entire event was “getting to play with a big symphony.”

Viola player Ashley Shutz agrees.

“I like playing with band members [because it helped me] to listen to everything around [me] and follow the conductor,” Shutz said.

Being a part of AA was bigger than just playing music to Shutz.

She said that music in general in enjoyable.

“Being a musician, I feel like I can be a completely different person with my instrument than I can without,” she said.

Shutz said she enjoyed AA because it gave her a sweet surprise.

Normally violas focus on harmony parts, but she said that this time “the violas actually had a really good part.”

Along with all the fun, Shutz faced a large learning experience. “[It was hard] adapting to the way the conductor was. It was really hard to connect with her,” Shutz said.

Sophomore Walker McAllister and fellow orchestra member agrees that the conductor was different. He said that it took some time to “get used to the new conductor and how she did things.”

McAllister said he enjoyed working hard to pull off the concert. Out of the three songs the combined orchestra performed, McAllister said he had a favorite.

“I liked Slavonik Dances No. 8. That one was really fast and fun. I liked the tune and the dancing sounds,” he said.

As first cellist McAllister had some extra responsibility. He said that “some of the notes are hard to maneuver around,” so he comes up with fingerings to make it easier for all the cello players.

All the players, whether their instrument is a violin, a viola, or a cello, said that AA was a good experience and they enjoyed the music.

“Just making music is fun for me. Interpreting what someone else put on the paper with those notes,” McAllister said. “I think that’s the best part.”

OPINION

7

OUR

teachers.

District tests are a perfect example of forcing teachers to teach to the test. In Texas between 2004 – 2007, 700 schools were investigated for cheating, eleven schools were caught cheating in Washington D.C. in 2012, and in 2011, 23 schools in California were caught cheating, these teachers have been accused of changing incorrect responses or filling in missing ones. Teachers can face negative repercussions if their students do poorly.

Oftentimes, no matter how well or poorly a teacher has prepared his or her students, how well they do is often not representative of the teacher but of the personalities they have in a class. If a class is full of apathetic students, it is reasonable to suggest that they also take tests in an apathetic manner.

Society has turned students into a test score, and everyone is more than a number.

The current testing method does not often match up to the information taught in the classroom, and therefore we do not believe that tests are a useful means to measure how well students are doing.

The way that tests are formatted now, they are a waste of students’ time. The information that they produce is not useful, students are apathetic to tests and do not take them seriously. And, in the end, they do not fairly emphasize students’ strengths, but instead the cramming and recitation of facts, to be forgotten as soon as the test is over. art by kendra hix, design editor

Embrace everyone’s eccentricity, individualism by kendra hix, design editor It’s time for change.

It’s time for an end to judgment of any kind toward anyone.

As human beings we are all individuals. We declare our individualism by expressing our freedoms. And in those freedoms, though they may not be stated in the First Amendment, we find the freedom to be ourselves. A freedom to say that we are who we are and we won’t be accepted for any less.

I’m talking about the freedom to be different. In a society that claims to value the individual, we instead hate, bully and discriminate against anyone who shows the slightest inclination to be themselves.

Instead, I feel, we should celebrate everyone’s eccentricity.

Let’s celebrate the individual. The artist. The rebel. The one who decides to be different because being that happy within yourself is something to truly value.

I’ve heard from many people that everyone who tries to be different is just being the same.

Those people are wrong.

Instead of sitting around criticizing others who desire to be different, those people should stop “being the same” as everyone else and judging others who are comfortable enough in their own skin to be who they are.

Too many people let others get in the way of their happiness. Stop worrying about what people will think about you and just do whatever makes you happy. Unless, of course, that involves something like setting

fires. That’s just weird, and you should probably talk to someone about that.

I’m not saying I don’t judge. I’m not saying I am perfect. I’m just saying that I am ready for a change. I’m ready for something different. I am ready to meet and understand people for who they really are.

I want to encourage you to do the same. Make someone laugh or smile. Wave at someone new. Just do something to make someone happy because you’ll probably feel a lot better about yourself. Then, by showing that little bit of consideration and kindness, you’ll in turn make someone else’s heart smile.

Let’s all show little more kindness, care and love toward each other by accepting one another’s flaws and little quirks because we’re all a little weird.

News/Opinion Editor

Test: a procedure intended to establish the quality and performance of something or someone.

Tests can be good, they ensure that people and things are up to quality, and that good and useful information is being provided.

The Great Falls Public Schools district, however, misuses and overuses tests.

From A good test is measured by its ability point of view to accurately represent educational material and the usefulness of the information. Testing people excessively does not provide good information, and in fact makes kids apathetic to the material being tested.

Cramming exists because students understand that knowledge is not valued. A test score is.

We believe that “teaching to the test” is what degrades our education system because it encourages the recitation of information, not the keeping of it.

During the CRT’s some students do not take the test seriously. They fill in bubbles that will create a picture, or at random because they feel like these tests are useless.

The ACT and SAT tests do not effectively measure what is learned in school because they do not emphasize what students are good at. There are artists, musicians, and many other students who do not excel in math, science or English, but excel in other, equally important areas of study.

One of the best examples of this is that teachers have cheated for students on tests.

What these teachers show us is that teachers recognize what the stakes of these tests are, not a student’s future, but the effects of their score on the school and

In an effort to be transparent and involve the public in the budgeting, the school board has held periodic meetings to explain the process in-depth and respond to questions and concerns of the public. I attended one of the final meetings on Feb. 20, and I found the more democratic approach the district is taking to involve community members in the process to be highly effective.

About 100 people came to the meeting, a greater number than some board members say they have ever seen.

Many people asked questions, and most of them were answered right on the spot.

The language used to explain finances was clear and easy to understand, and any jargon used was explained in-depth.

After witnessing the meeting’s success, I hope that people continue to attend board meetings and become involved in the school district. The more people feel that they have a voice in what the district spends their tax dollars on, the more likely they are to vote for a mill levy, which I believe will be necessary in order maintain and improve programs within the next few years.

The board has made no indication of whether or not they will campaign for a mill levy this year, but the district will need one within the next few years to continue operating according to current standards and to improve.

Out of all the AA school districts in Montana, Great Falls has the highest poverty rate. Incidentally, its taxpayers also pay the least towards public education in taxes.

Change is needed. Enrollment in Great Falls is not projected to increase, and to sustain programs and provide the same level (and hopefully, higher) of quality education, public support and community involvement will be needed.

abbylynes

Tests do not accurately represent student knowledge, encourage cramming, cheating

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Speak

8 opinion

The Stampede 3.6.14

Your Mind What is the biggest obstacle regarding graduation?

97% 86%

On-Time

Complete

On-Time graduation refers to the students achieving their diploma in the recommended four years. Completion means that the student eventually earns a diploma.

“Senioritis.

It’s quite a tragic disease.”

“I think what happens is kids start missing school and they don’t learn what was missed, and eventually they don’t know what it takes to be successful in the class.”

Brandon Barnes, 10

Terri Dahl, Math

“Failing classes from the get-go is a problem. Failing freshman classes causes problems all through high school, when you get behind it takes the fun out of school. Poor attendence, poor work ethic, and lack of family support snowball into a big issue.”

Karen Spencer, Chemistry

Joseph Michelloti , 12

GFPS has the

by max roux, staff writer design by kendra hix, design editor

2012 Completion vs OnTime Graduation for GFPS

“I’d say meeting the requirements with a good GPA, a good resume, community service, and good classes. Basically making everything impressive in the college’s eyes.”

2nd highest graduation rate in the state

“Nobody is there to tell them of the rewards and all the doors that open because of a diploma.

They don’t feel the reward of hard work.”

James Pollock, 11 “People get overwhelmed and think they can do fine without a degree, or they just don’t enjoy going to school.”

“Time management.

There is a lot of things that kids are involved in, and trying to manage all of their extracirriculars, honors and AP courses, and still have a life with their friends and families is very difficult. If you can do it, it is very rewarding because you get to be really involved in the school and experience high school to the fullest.”

Drew Austin,12 2012 seniors who had more than 23 credits

Claire Knox, 12

“The attention span required to stay motivated for four years.”

82.7%

Annie Lewis, 11

“The biggest obstacle is lack of environmental support, kids that come from environments that don’t support graduation. Kids fail if their parents don’t care.”

Dick Kloppel, Principal

FEATURES Logan Kropp qualifies for national competition

9

“You have to do the piece justice.”

Logan Kropp

Features Editor

oliviarudio

by abby lynes, news and opinion editor He lowers his head and takes a deep breath. Then, he looks up and slowly begins to speak, pulling his audience into the heartbreaking story of Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man who undergoes a surgical procedure to increase his intelligence in Daniel Keyes, “Flowers For Algernon.”

Not many could walk viewers through Charlie Gordon’s journey in a matter of only ten minutes, but, for speech-and-debate participant Logan Kropp, it’s all in a day’s work.

“You have to do the piece justice,” he said.

Kropp, a junior, will be one of three students from Montana to perform his piece at Nationals in Kansas City, Kans. on June 1520 in the dramatic interpretation event. He won first place in the state for his piece at the National Forensic League qualifier speech meet in Missoula on Feb. 14-15, and he will be the only student from Great Falls competing at Nationals. He continuously worked on the piece and has performed it since September.

“It has been a work in progress in what

works, what doesn’t, how to capitalize on emotional moments, and how to make the most out of emotional moments,” he said.

Before meets, Kropp said he gets nervous, but he doesn’t let it affect his performance.

“It’s good to have some nervousness because it shows you care,” he said. “It’s all about channeling that nervous energy to help you with your speech.”

He said that having supportive teammates from across the state is a big help.

“I have made so many friends from speech and debate,” he said. “It’s amazing to see them every weekend.”

Kropp said he has found that dramatic pieces tend to be his forte over the more comedic ones he did his freshman and sophomore year.

“I have been surprised this season because I didn’t place at all last year, and this season I have been placing a lot,” he said.

“This season has been amazing.”

It is rewarding to see reactions to his speech, he said. It brought one of his teammates to tears.

“To see her like that, it was sad, but it was cool to see that I had made that emotional connection,” he said.

Kropp hopes to make the same connection with judges at Nationals, and he is grateful to have been chosen to perform at the meet.

“Going to Nationals is really just an honor in itself,” he said. “It is every speech and debater’s dream to go.”

WATCH THE VIDEO Use this QR code to watch a video of Logan’s monologue.

It’s crunch time. At least that’s what everyone keeps telling me. If you’re like me, instead of “crunching” through preparations beyond high school, I prefer to enjoy an aggravatingly prolonged mastication of future plans.

I know for a fact that when Pandora’s box was opened procrastination was the first evil that came flying out. I have approximately 50 unread e-mails from different colleges that I have yet to look into, and since I still haven’t taken one of the personality quizzes to find out what my major should be, my future career prospects are looking bleak.

Yet I know I have only myself to blame. Unfortunately

With his heart rate and blood pressure being measured, freshman Justin Motschenbacher acts as a subject in Dallas Mysse’s science project, which tests the effect of certain genres of music on people’s health. The projects are due March 25. Photo by Kimberly Michelsen.

Freshman experiments reach across boundaries by kimberly michelsen, visual content editor Music and health don’t often appear in the same sentence, but freshmen Brina Martin and Dallas Mysse predict that music can have an impact on heart rate and blood pressure.

“Most people like listening to music,” Martin said, adding that it is interesting to know how music can affect people.

Mysse, her project partner, said that it can be very important for some people to know.

“People who already have high blood pressure [would] figure out what genre is best for [their health],” she said.

Their project is just one of many that freshmen in Murray Metge’s Foundations of Science class are completing during the month of March. Students have chosen to test everything from how different drinks affect your teeth to how different artificial sweeteners impact yeast reproduction.

Martin said that she and Mysse will take 10 students from their class, and give them each four songs to choose from. The students will order their preferences from favorite to least favorite, and then Mysse and Martin will take their blood pressure before and after playing each song for 30 seconds.

“Our hypothesis is that their favorite [genre] will change them the least,” Mysse said.

knowing this does not make it any better. However, looking at the reason behind why I procrastinate so much just might help.

At the risk of displaying an inflated ego, this is my theory. During elementary school, middle school had all this big hype of being the “real deal”, so when I ascended the academic ladder and became a North Middle School Grizzly I discovered it wasn’t as high of a rung as I was led to believe.

As a result, I probably just convinced myself that I was smart enough or capable enough to put any sort of work off until the last minute without having to endure any suffering. Of course, this thinking has led me

In another partnership, the two aren’t quite as unified with their hypothesis.

“We’re going to test between four insulators which is more efficient in keeping in heat,” Jayden Harrison said.

He predicted that the cotton would be the best.

His partner, Asia Gratreaks, disagrees.

“I think the wool is going to be the best. I’m kind of torn between the two, actually,” she said.

The other two materials are shredded paper and denim. Although they are not typical when one considers keeping in heat, Gratreaks said that the last two insulators “just kind of came to mind.”

With this project, Harrison acknowledges that there will be challenges.

“The hardest part is probably getting accurate temperatures,” he said.

Their current procedure involves removing the lid of a box to test the temperature inside, but they recognize that if the air from outside the box mixes with the air inside, the temperatures may change. Therefore, Gratreaks has a solution.

“If we made a little opening, it might be easier to test the temperature,” she said.

Out of all the projects, Gratreaks summarizes the freshmen’s excitement.

“I think testing it will be fun, to see what happens.”

directly to a generous amount of suffering over the past few years. and Even though time and time again this has been proven wrong, it’s become a habit that seems to be immortal. Still it’s something I have to cope with and realize that I have only myself to blame if I let it get the best of me.

Because if there’s one positive thing I’ve learned from procrastination, it’s understanding the importance of being accountable to yourself and to others. And truly it’s worse to let someone down than it is to sit down and finish the work you need to get done.

10

Malachi Bushey

Sean Morris

Arizona natives take on Montana hockey by lindsay martinez, sports editor any people find it difficult to adjust to a cross-country migration, but Marvin Simmons’ move to Great Falls encompassed not only coming to a frigid climate from Phoenix, but also leaving his family at home.

Simmons, a senior at C. M. Russell High School, moved to Montana this year to play for the Great Falls Americans high school hockey team. The center forward on the ice lives with a host family that has a son who also plays for the Americans. Simmons began to attend CMR and play for the club hockey team after learning of the opportunity to play for the Americans from a friend’s dad.

“It’s cheaper and has better hockey, so I opted to come,” said Simmons of Great Falls.

Since arriving, Simmons said he has played on the high school team as well as participating in seven games with the professional squad from the Great Falls Junior A team.

The senior said he will remain at CMR for the rest of the school year, even though the hockey season ends soon with the state tournament.

Simmons said he thinks the team will win.

“We h a v e great team chemistry and work well together,” he s a i d .

Simmons also said he has

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Malachi Bushey

enjoyed living in Great Falls.

“Everybody here is so nice and welcoming,” he said, adding that he likes the support the team receives from other high school students.

Simmons said his parents have only been able to watch a few of his games, and he especially misses his mom and her home cooking.

Simmons isn’t the only Arizona player on the Americans though. In fact, Dylan Mattfeldt played on the same hockey team as Simmons in Phoenix before coming to Great Falls this year.

“My dad grew up here, and he made a deal with the junior coach to come up here and play for the high school team,” Mattfeldt said. The sophomore now plays forward on the team and occasionally practices with the professional Junior Team while living with his aunt. Mattfeldt said the team has had success and that “it doesn’t matter how much technique one person has, it is about the whole team.”

According to Mattfeldt, his club hockey team in Arizona was unorganized with no set times for practices. Playing hockey also is several thousand dollars more expensive in Phoenix than it is in Great Falls.

Still, playing hockey in a cold and distant place from home has its challenges.

“Probably the hardest part is staying away from family,” Mattfeldt, a forward on the team, also said he will stay at CMR for the school year and then will go home in June.

Differing from Mattfeldt is senior Malachi Bushey, who plays on the Americans but will be returning home to Tucson at the conclusion of the hockey season this month.

“I got asked to come up here in late May and decided it’s a better opportunity,” Bushey said of how he decided to come to Great Falls and play hockey. Bushey also said of Great Falls that “the coaching is better here and I’m skating more here than I would have at home.”

Overall, all three Arizona natives have found their Montana experience enjoyable and look forward to the upcoming state tournament, which the Americans believe they can win.

THE AMERICANS

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3.6.14 The Stampede

Coach Mike Zook

Bridger Croft

Blake Miller

by peyton fulbright, editor-in-chief, and tony lynes, staff writer his Sunday, senior Bridger Croft and the Great Falls Americans are hoping to end the night singing their victory song at the state tournament in Billings.

“After every win our coach comes in and we all start clapping in rhythm and sing our victory song. I have no idea where it came from, but we started doing it this year,” he said.

Senior Malachi Bushey, however, knows the roots of the tradition.

“It’s a song that our coach used to sing with his team when he was younger, and he carried it on with us,” Bushey said.

Going into the state tournament tomorrow with a record of 23-3-2, the team is confident in its chances to win it all.

Bushey is especially confident.

“We’ll win it. We’ve beaten every team pretty handily. We’ve been playing really well and all of the things we’ve been working on in practice are coming together. All of the small things are building up at the right time,” he said.

Croft agrees, believing that team chemistry has helped the Americans this season.

“We’ve had a great season. Everyone is just really coming together as a team, and it’s making this year a lot more fun than the previous years,” Croft said.

Senior Cole Funseth says that the year has turned out better than any of them thought.

“Everyone wants to be there, and it turns to a family bond,” he said.

Their success included winning the Casey Cup on Feb. 16, despite it testing their ability to make adjustments.

“The toughest part about the Casey Cup was that we weren’t really familiar with any of the teams we had to play against, so we just had to play our best and hope that it was good enough

to win,” Croft said.

Junior Blake Miller, who was the MVP of the Casey Cup, said that the Casey Cup victory very well could be a precursor to success in the state tournament this Friday through Sunday in Billings.

“We’re going into it in first place, so we’re hoping it turns out good,” Miller said.

Senior Marvin Simmons agrees.

“We’re completely capable of winning. It all just depends on who comes to play,” Simmons said.

Although the Americans have had a good year, there have been some low points.

According to Miller, the lowest point was a game in which they led until the opposition tied it with one second remaining.

Sophomore Sean Morris said the lowest point has been a constant battle with injuries.

“I got hurt in practice, Bridger and Luke [Wilson] got hurt in a tournament in Butte, and Cole got a little dinged up in our last game,” Morris said.

Simmons believes that the low points are miniscule compared to the highs of the year.

“Right away, out of the gates we went 7-0. Then we lost one but won a few more,” Simmons said. “This whole year we never lost two games in a row. We won two tournaments: in Salmon, Idaho and the Casey Cup here in town.”

Americans’ season comes to close over weekend

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Blake Miller

Cole Funseth Marvin Simmons

Cole Funseth Bridger Croft

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16

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Bridger Croft Malachi Bushey Dylan Mattfeldt Marvin Simmons

forward

forward

forward

forward

24

39

23

Sean Morris

Cole Funseth

Blake Miller

forward

goalie

All photos taken on Feb. 25 during the Great Falls Americans practice at the Great Falls Iceplex. Photos by Peyton Fulbright.

defense

Marvin Simmons

12features

The Stampede 3.6.14

Six

Senior Projects in progress

years and counting

Senior Project English allows students to discover passion for hobbies, test career fields by greighsen adams, entertainment editor As students signed up for next year’s classes, one thought weighed heavy on the mind of Jamie McGraw, Senior Project English teacher.

“We need at least 40 students [in the program],” McGraw said.

Those 40 are necessary in order to present in front of the entire student body. As of this year, there simply aren’t enough.

“We don’t have enough students presenting to filter 1,400 students,” she said.

Senior Project English, a program that has been running for the last five years, has diminished in interest. Teachers were excited to have a program in which students could lean towards a more creative side, as well as pursuing passions in a career field.

“Five to six years ago, we went to go watch Senior Project in Missoula,” McGraw said. “And then we were excited about it. We sent about six teachers to New Orleans [for training].”

Senior Project is a year-long program that takes the place of senior English, but it still meets the requirements of an English class.

Along with hobby-based projects, like piloting or music, another category was added to the pot last year.

“We started doing internships last year,” she said. “The internships have changed and opened [the door] to other careers.”

The second part of Senior English is the research paper, which, according to McGraw, hasn’t changed much.

“It has to be a controversy in the field you’re studying,” she said. “We try to make it as specific as we can.”

Next year, there will be 14 students doing internships, but six more will be recruited by the end of this year, and 24 students with hobby-based projects. Next year, McGraw hopes to have her students present their senior projects in front of the student body.

“I’m going to see how it goes because if we have enough students, then it could go either way,” she said.

Like McGraw, social studies teacher Burke Allen, who teaches the government part of Senior Project, also notes the lack of curiosity.

“Every year, it seems like the interest has gone down,” he said.

Allen believes Senior Project is more than just a class.

“It’s a great opportunity for students,” he said. “If you can create something you’re passionate about, the product is going to be better.”

Senior Project allows students to be a bit more creative while testing the career in which they’re interested.

“Students doing a Senior Project in career fields are beneficial because students find out if that career suits them,” McGraw said.

Along with a project and a research paper, students also must complete 15 hours of community service.

“I can’t think of many kids who’ve had a bad experience,” McGraw said. “The community service is one of my favorite parts.”

McGraw said one of her favorite projects was Jesse Hardin’s trip to Africa.

“The first year, we had a girl get her pilot’s license,” she said. “[She] learned to fly a plane.”

Why did you decide to take Senior Project English?

Why did you choose the project or internship you’re doing?

Drew Austin

Education, Art, Photography Internship

“I could gain experience and actually see if teaching [or] photography was the career path I wanted to follow. I also learned a ton about my camera, helping me with AP and with [a] future career.”

Sierra Krantwashl

Gluten Free Baking, Recipes

“Cooking has always been something I’ve loved, and I wanted to learn more about [it] so I decided that this would be a great opportunity.”

Lexi Kjono

Memoire Writing

“It’s [a] good experience and it gives a lot of room for growth.

I’ve learned a lot of things in my life and if I shared it’d help others with things in their life.”

Blaize Wegner

Orchestra Composition

“I did Senior Project because I knew it would be a different challenge than normal. I chose my project because it’s a part of what I’m planning to go to college for.”

Cori Bonilla

Organizing a Dance Production

“I thought it would be beneficial to my future career. I chose it because I’ve always loved to dance, but I’ve always been on stage, never behind the curtain and I wanted to know what that’s like.

features 13

Hidden H idd e n Talents Ta l e n t s

3.6.14 The Stampede

Teachers reveal pastimes, hobbies, abilities outside of school

by cori bonilla, staff writer The realm of newspaper in room 326 grows to an eerie quiet as teacher Beth Britton belts out a lovely opera aria.

“I really like entertaining people, and I love singing,” Britton said.

This talented teacher has been singing since she was a young girl. Her dad, Jerry, was an amazing singer, and her mother, Loretta, was very into Broadway, she said.

“I grew up in a family where we sang all the time,” she said.

Britton didn’t think about her singing ability until she was in middle school, though she didn’t have time to sing since she was in orchestra. She did, however, put together an all-girl group, and they wanted to be like Pat Benatar. It was a little rock group, according to Britton.

Britton said she remembered thinking, “Wow, I’m really good at this” after realizing her singing ability.

When she went to New York City for college, Britton decided to take voice lessons and sang alto in the Columbia Glee Club. However, after a conversation with her voice coach, she discovered that

she had a high soprano opera voice.

“There’s something about singing opera when you can belt out high notes in a classical style. It’s an amazing feeling,” Britton said.

Britton and her vocal peers often put on concerts while taking lessons.

Wimpy singers can’t sing opera; power is necessary, Britton said.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Britton said about the feeling singing gives her.

Other teachers in the school have hidden talents as well. Brian Halverson, a government teacher, plays squash, a game similar to racquetball, to keep in shape.

“I don’t play as often as I’d like,” Halverson said. However, he does play at least three times a week. One of those times is Wednesdays at the Peak, where he facilitates a league.

“I don’t like thinking about exercising,” Halverson said.

To him, the game doesn’t feel like a workout so it’s the perfect way to stay in shape. An added bonus is that he loves the game.

Halverson first fell in love with the

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game about 12 or 14 years ago when he started playing during the racquetball off-season with some of his college buddies. Only in the last five or six years has he started playing both racquetball and squash.

“I’ve found that with my limited skill set that I’m good in smaller spaces,” Halverson said. It’s a nice fit because it’s a quick game but fast.

Halverson would like to get more kids involved in the sport because it’s easy to stop exercising during the winter.

Both of Halverson’s sons play squash and enjoy it. Over the years his three children have watched him play a little bit.

Halverson hopes to be playing even when he’s 80 years old because, to him, squash is a lifelong sport.

Scott Clapp, senior and AP English teacher, also enjoys a rather unusual pastime. He spends his free time with the old-style skill of blacksmithing.

Clapp started blacksmithing about 15 years ago. “[Blacksmithing] lets me work on my creative side,” Clapp said.

He has made practical and artistic objects to give as gifts and sell. The list includes skewers, fireplace irons, beaver traps, gun parts, arrowheads, and knives.

“I certainly enjoy it,” Clapp said. He first developed his passion for the rare hobby when he visited Williamsburg, Virginia, as a teenager in high school.

“I’ve always had a really strong interest in it. I like the allure of those oldstyle skills,” Clapp said.

His great influence in learning to be a better blacksmith is Paul Blystone. Clapp visits his house on a weekly basis to forge.

One common misconception people have about blacksmiths is that they shoe horses. However, Clapp said that he doesn’t shoe horses. Instead he laughingly said he shoos horses and tells them to go away.

Clapp said he likes the quiet time blacksmithing gives him to think and reflect. He also likes working with and shaping the metals.

“Blacksmithing is one of the oldest occupations,” Clapp said. “[It] has helped human kind get where it is today.”

Dance with your date, not death

For Prom 2014...

Don’t drink and drive, and never drive impaired.

A message brought to you by the Cascade County DUI Task Force

ENTERTAINMENT Flapping, snapping and laughing Best, worst apps on students’ cell phones by greighsen adams, entertainment editor

Temple Run 2

I have to make the guy grab onto the rope, while simultaneously collecting coins and avoiding being eaten by a very angry gorilla that can’t seem to run any faster than me and has difficulties catching up. I love playing Temple Run 2 because there’s more to be done in this runway than there was in the first Temple Run. It’s a rush to have to beat my high score, but every time I die, I end up frustrated with the game.

Facebook

Facebook, although not as popular as it once was, is my favorite app on my iPhone. I love seeing what other people are doing or have done as well as check up on friends from different cities or states. Using Facebook, I get to watch videos other teeneagers make that crack me up. I also love looking at all the funny photos throughout Facebook. Although a great way to waste time, the app does have its benefits like communication.

iFunny

Another classic favorite, iFunny always knows how to make me smile. Granted, the sense of humor of some iFunny users can become pretty risqué, but it still has some great memes or .gifs that can impress. iFunny is broken up into two main categories: Featured and Collective.

Featured happens twice a day, and the iFunny employees pick the top 20 funniest pictures while collective is those humorous artists who didn’t quite make the cut. I have never been featured, but that could be becuase I don’t have an iFunny account.

Pandora

When it comes to music, I’m hitting up Pandora. It not only gives me a variety of music, but it also allows me to pick my favorite artists and be introduced to new ones.

I like to have the ability to control my music. The only downside is the ads that occur after every few songs. I’m too cheap to upgrade to ad-free listening, but for $3.99 a month, it certainly isn’t a bad deal. There are only six skips per station.

14

Be in the know

about

PROM

YouTube

Although you can’t play it continously unless you have an acoount and a playlist to match, YouTube is a fantastic way to look up that song that you just can’t get out of your head. I like having the ability to control what plays on my phone, my compter, in my car, or in my room when I want it to play. As much as I like using YouTube, I must admit, Pandora is better because I can just let the music play.

Flappy Bird Granted, Flappy Bird isn’t on my cell, I have played it and absolutely hated it. It’s such a pointless game. I’ve watched people spend more time playing that game than doing homework or classwork and end up getting in a lot of trouble. From what I know, you play as a bird that does nothing then you hit the screen a few times to get the bird to fly. Yeah, that’ll hold my attention alright.

Another downfall of the pointless game is the amount of frustration and anger that teenagers build up. That’s gotta get out at some point and usually their cell phones take the brunt of the anger. Though, I must admit, the vines all over Facebook about Flappy Bird are pretty hilarious.

SnapChat Gah, the worst of all present day apps. What exactly is the point of SnapChat? The problem is the ability to screen capture anything that’s on your phone’s screen. I don’t like the amount of time wasted on SnapChat. I watch my sister drive, and when she’s at a red light she whips out her phone to get the perfect shot of her face so some guy or her best friend can look at it for 10 seconds, then quickly send an almost identical photo back. SnapChat, like Flappy Bird, is a pointless waste of time and can probably lead to negativities such as grade drops.

The problem with all apps means your ability to pay attention in and outside of class decreases if you can manage your time and your constant need to be on the phone playing games, surfing the web, texting friends, or using social media apps, then there will be virtually no difficulty balancing school, work, and social times.

Just remember, there is a time and place for all things, including cell phones and their apps.

The festivities will be held at the airport 11 10 9

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1 2 3

The theme 7 5 6 is black Party will start at 8:30 tie or and last formal until 11:30 attire

8

4

$20

Tickets will be Now-March 28

NOTICE Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Parking is free.

greighsenadams Entertainment Editor

graphic design by kendra hix, design editor I’ve seen that new commercial for the Nissan Rogue that aired during the Super Bowl.

You know, the one where she’s driving, the man looks at his watch, says they’ll be late, then miraculously they arrive early?

I am absolutely amazed that they have to place at the bottom of the ad, an advisory for viewers, not to attempt to jump a train or that cars cannot actually jump a train and it’s nothing but a fantasy.

It’s sad that we live in a day and age that ads and toys must say “Do Not Attempt” or “Not Edible” because we’ve gotten to the point where we need these warnings because our common sense isn’t as strong as it was a couple generations ago.

When my parents were young, their toys

didn’t need choking hazards; they knew not to shove the blocks down their throats. Heck, when I was a kid, my Saturday morning cartoons didn’t need to remind me that gravity apparently only works if you look down or that being hit in the head with a hammer was going to hurt.

Unfortunately, our society is flawed and children of today need constant reminders that things that look painful usually are. I know from experience that if you touch the hot stove, it’s going to burn, but I only had to test that theory once. I have had to remind kids I babysit not to eat the steaming food, but they do it anyway, burning their tongue and finding out that I might actually know what I’m talking about.

When I waas younger, I was playing in the alley by my house. My friends and I found a piece of wood, and, like children, decided to make something with it. I noticed a nail on one end of the plank. I looked at everyone and

announced that the nail was there and they shouldn’t go near that side. I knew that nails could do some serious harm from watching my dad get hurt by one. One of my friends thought I hadn’t a clue what I was talking about, and she proceeded to jump on the nail. Not only did she hurt herself, but the nail pierced all the way through her foot. She screamed and ran to my mother. Let’s just say she learned that every now and then, others are right.

It’s taken me about 16 years to understand the true wisdom of those around me. We’ve all had different experiences and have learned from those experiences.

Next time someone offers a piece of advice, take it.

They’ve probably already dealt with something similar and are simply looking out for your welfare. And those “Do Not Attempt” signs actually mean use some common sense; this’ll hurt if it doesn’t work.

entertainment15

3.6.14 The Stampede

12 women and understudies prepare to get angry

Drama department to present play March 13-15 by tom gruner, staff writer “A pool of estrogen.”

That is what drama teacher Chris Evans said some audience members will experience on the nights of the drama department’s next production, “12 Angry Women.”

“12 Angry Women,” originally written as “12 Angry Men” by Reginal Rose, is the story of a young man who was convicted of the murder of his own father. It follows 12 jurors who are stationary throughout the entire show, debating whether the boy is guilty or not.

Senior and four-year drama member Sarah Johnson takes the role as juror No. 6.

Juror No. 6 is kind of confusing, Johnson said.

“At first she thinks the boy is guilty, but then [she thinks] he’s not and she just keeps bouncing back and forth between verdicts,” Johnson said.

Since the department’s last production, “The Foreigner,” had so many male roles, Evans decided to change “12 Angry Men” to an allfemale play.

“It made me happy when I found out it was all girls,” Johnson said. “I read the male version

of the play and I thought it’d be interesting to see with women.”

Even though Johnson originally joined drama because it seemed fun, she said she ended up becoming passionate about it, and that’s one of the reasons she decided to audition for this production.

Fellow drama member Lexi Kjono’s personality drew her to the drama department. “[I decided to join] because I’m over dramatic and I have a big personality,” Kjono said.

Kjono’s role in the production is juror No. 7. “[Juror No. 7 is] one of the sassiest people in the play,” Kjono said. “My juror has tickets to ‘Cats’ and she wants to go, but I’m stuck in this jury. I basically just want out of there.”

While her character wants nothing more than to escape, Kjono is excited to work with the cast.

“These are some of the coolest chicks ever, and working with them will be quite the experience,” Kjono said. “This play is going to be a bunch of cats with their claws out. There will not be a dull moment.”

TOP: During rehearsals on Feb. 26, understudies sit attentively in the background. BOTTOM LEFT: Drama department leader Chris Evans supervises Angelina Birdwell and Lexi Kjono running through a scene.

BOTTOM RIGHT: The cast of “12 Angry Women” surrounds a table in their immobile postitions. Photos by Tom Gruner.

Working for a chance at the spotlight by stephanie mccracken, copy editor When it comes to a drama performance, the performers get the applause and praise, but behind those performers waiting to hit the spotlight at a moment’s notice are the understudies.

“They learn all the movements with no expectations of getting on stage,” drama teacher Chris Evans said.

Evans started using understudies in 2011.

“I wanted to give students more opportunities,” he said. Primarily freshmen, but sometimes sophomores, are given an understudy role.

“There are some perks; they get points towards the honors society,” Evans said.

The drama honor society is the International Thespian Society. To become a Thespian, drama students collect points which are essentially hours. Understudies have the advantage of collecting points by showing up for rehearsals, helping with the set, and watching the show.

They also have the advantage of watching how everything is run before taking a main role.

“They know how I work,” Evans said.

While being an understudy is an advantage, they have also been amazingly

helpful to drama.

“It’s been used to our advantage,” Evans said.

During “The Foreigner” they ran into a last-minute challenge, and the problem was fixed by an understudy successfully stepping in for a lead role.

In the current play, “12 Angry Women,” they have actually lost some understudies.

“I got some freshman girls learning two, maybe three, roles,” Evans said.

One of these understudies, Katie Morano, is prepared to step in for juror No. 11 if anything happens.

“My part’s kind of hard for me right now; my person has to speak in a Russian accent,” Morano said.

For Morano, being an understudy is a good thing.

“I like being an understudy to see how everyone works with each other,” she said. “Every day I sit in on rehearsals.”

She learns her lines, and while she is prepared to step in it is uncommon for an understudy to take a main role, according to Evans.

“It’s an amazingly thankless job,” Evans said.

SPORTS

Parents, Key Club members offer assistance with concessions

Sports Editor

lindsaymartinez

by drew brennan, staff writer The buzzer rings, instruments clatter against the bleachers as the band flows down the steps like water being channeled into a single stream. They flock like geese to the concession stand. It’s third quarter, third quarter is another term for rush hour in the concessions.

Mike Jensen, parent of a freshman basketball player, volunteers his time periodically to work in the concession stand at C. M. Russell High School games.

“It can be hectic at times,” Jensen said. He has volunteered for both basketball concessions as well as football.

Parents are asked to volunteer for four games per season, choosing the games they desire to do. The money made by the concession stands goes to travel for the team he said.

Jensen does it alongside his wife, which he said is always a plus.

“It’s kind of fun, but I wouldn’t want to do it every game,” Jensen said.

According to Jensen, four people run the stand for every game; each time he volunteers there are new people there.

“Everyone works together, everybody does a little bit of everything. It’s very loosely organized,” he said.

Just a few feet away from Jensen are the members of Key Club alongside advisor Mike Lathrop in their own concession stand.

Lathrop acts as the club’s advisor, overseeing all events such as the concessions.

The Key Club is a service organization that consists of 12-20 members, all of whom work to better the lives of others, Lathrop said.

They are involved in the Teacher of the Month recognition program, a barbecue for all different fundraising walks, and concessions at CMR. Lathrop said that various organizations do different things to raise money, and the concessions are just one way that the Key Club raises funds. The club sells more popcorn than it does anything else, slush puppies the next most, and green Gatorade the least.

“I hate doing slushies,” Lathrop said. “They’re wet, cold, and messy.”

It’s March 6, and we are just 12 days away from the opening rounds of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, “March Madness.”

Never mind that the championship game of college basketball isn’t until April 7 (should we rename the tournament April Anguish?) at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex.; this is one of the best times of the year for sports fans.

And of course, equally as important as what team wins the National Championship is which American sports fan can fill out the most accurate NCAA bracket, thus earning bragging rights galore.

I, however, have never had much luck filling out a bracket. I used to always pick Kansas University to win the tournament in hopes of winning my family bracket challenge and sending good vibes to my favorite team. The Jayhawk squad, if you’re wondering, is my

favorite team because Kansas is my birthplace. Every time I picked KU, though, they failed to win it all.

I had no choice but to move on to a new strategy: pick a different team so as to not curse Bill Self and his team.

One year I picked the Pitt Panthers, another the Syracuse Orangemen, but it still resulted in an inaccurate bracket being filled out and Kansas being upset in the tourney.

As a result, I think I have determined that there is no harmony between supporting your team and filling out a bracket. There is no way to fill out the winning bracket and root for your team to win it all.

This year, I won’t be putting as much thought and emotion into my bracket, although I will still fill one in the spirit of the season. It is the only way to avoid disappointment.

I will, however, root for the Jayhawks and enjoy watching as much basketball as I can. There are so many terrific players to see, and March Madness has to be one of the best sporting events there is.

16

Waiting between customers, parent Debbi Ottis volunteers during the March 4 girls basketball game. Photo by Peyton Fulbright.

The emotion and effort of college basketball players during the tournament greatly exceeds what I see in the NBA during a regular season game. In fact, I think the NCAA tourney is the pinnacle of sport for its diversity and excitement.

No other spotlight event brings together the winner of the Big Sky Conference a team from the Big Ten or SEC. And when David meets Goliath, there are so many opportunities for Cinderellas. Upsets are the best part of March Madness, and every year sports fans find themselves rooting for Florida Gulf Coast, Butler, or George Mason after their own teams fall.

So, whether you are a bracket-ologist, a diehard college basketball fan, or the casual person filling out a bracket for your family pool, enjoy the conference tournaments and build-up towards the NCAA tournament, and everything that comes with it.

sports 17

3.6.14 The Stampede

R

s t l u es

Teams gain strength through program, injuries decline

The girls junior varsity and varsity basketball teams participate in Results, helping them build strength before games. Photo by Stephanie McCracken.

by stephanie mccracken, copy editor One hour-long workout is slowly crawling to the last five minutes. All that can be heard besides the labored breathing of the girls junior varsity and varsity basketball teams while in the middle of a scissor exercise is “Get results!,” which is shouted by some of the girls to keep going those last few minutes.

Results is a training program out of Benefis Health System that was started seven years ago by Dan Groux, who is the Results supervisor and one of the trainers who goes around to the high schools and works with teams. The program was designed to build strength and conditioning in the athletes so injuries would decline.

“Injury prevention is a big thing,” said Jamey Galbraith, who has been a

trainer in Results for five years.

Depending on their game schedule, girls usually have Results one day a week, while boys have it on Mondays and Wednesdays.

“We want their legs to be fresh for the game,” Galbraith said.

According to Galbraith, this season they haven’t had any no-contact injuries, which is any injury not caused by contact between two or more people during the games or practice. Their main worry was ACL injuries, and nothing has happened this year.

This is coach Brian Crosby’s first year with the girls basketball teams.

Previously he coached the boys basketball teams, and he has been using Results with them since about 2008.

“We hire him just for the basketball varsity and junior varsity teams,”

Crosby said of the trainers.

He said it’s been beneficial, and overall endurance and stamina have improved while injuries have decreased.

“They do a really good job,” Crosby said.

Despite the results of the program, it’s never a fun day.

“It’s usually a dreaded day,” Crosby said.

He said he likes it because “from a coach’s standpoint you don’t always have to be a bad guy.”

Having trainers Dan Groux and Jamey Galbraith do conditioning with them gives Crosby the chance to work out with the team.

“I try to do it with them,” he said.

“It’s going to make us better.”

CMR alum provides sweets for teams

Two things are scattered about Lynda Morin’s house: Disney characters and Rustler attire. “I have Rustler stuff everywhere,” Morin said. Photo by Jesse Whiteman.

by jesse whiteman, staff writer A self-portrait of 9-year-old Russell Morin playing basketball hangs in the hallway at his parents’ house.

His mother, Lynda, said that Russ had always known that he wanted to play basketball for the C. M. Russell High School Rustlers.

“R-U-S-S-E-L-L! Russell, Russell, that’s our yell!” 1978 graduate Lynda recited at the games she attended with her youngest son.

“That’s how he learned how to spell his name,” Morin said of her 2012 graduate son.

Last year Morin began to bring cookies to football and basketball players the day before they competed in a game.

During this previous football season, Morin said she was incapable of bringing the players her special cookies for the first four games. When she brought her cookies, the boys began to turn their record around.

“They’re good luck,” Morin said.

During Morin’s sophomore year of high school, CMR had never beaten Great Falls High School in football. At the 1975 crosstown game, she said that the Rustlers ousted the Bison in a field goal win 11-10.

“That was when my Rustler Pride started,” Morin said.

Her pride grew when the following year the boys basketball

team won state, prevailing over the Bison.

Morin also said that her pride comes from what the coaches and players do.

“I appreciate the athletes and the coaches’ dedication to hard work,” she said. “CMR has been fortunate to have great coaches.”

Boys basketball coach John Cislo is appreciative of Morin, adding that she is a great Rustler.

“She’s been a Rustler since the ‘70s,” Cislo said.

After Morin graduated, she continued to show her Rustler spirit.

“She loves watching us beat the Bison,” he said. “She puts the team first,” adding that Morin has continued to contribute to the team after Russ graduated in 2012. “She takes a lot of pride in the kids.”

Cislo said that Morin’s presence at the basketball games also brings brighter thoughts to the players.

“Kids like seeing her there,” Cislo said. “They know somebody cares about them.”

Morin enjoys letting the player “know someone is cheering for them” and reminiscing on her high school days.

“It was a good time in my life,” she said. “Football and basketball are special to me. Crosstown is big to me. I love all the hype and the school pride that goes with it.”

18 sports

The Stampede 3.6.14

WINTER SPORTS STANDINGS WRESTLING

SWIMMING

BOYS BASKETBALL

4-15

9th with 94 points

Boys - 4th with 121 points Girls - 3rd with 115 points

10-9

state tournament:

state tournament:

state tournament:

state tournament:

“It’s been enjoyable, every minute of it. We’re building something for the future.”

“Improvement, we made major improvements.”

“The seniors did a remarkable job setting us up for the future.”

“We’ve had our peaks and valleys, we just continue to get better.”

GIRLS BASKETBALL record:

March 13-15, 2014 Billings

Brian Crosby

results:

Feb.14-15, 2014 Billings

Aaron Jensen

results:

Feb.14-15, 2014 Butte

Edward McNamee

record:

March 13-15, 2014 Billings

John Cislo

sports19

3.6.14 The Stampede

RUSTLER FOOTBALL

STATS

Lowry named new football coach

by peyton fulbright, editor-in-chief lthough he understands the pressure of his situation, new football coach Gary Lowry is prepared to deal with any success or failure he finds at the helm of his program.

“At any level, the next person is always looked at under a microscope, but I look forward to the challenge. If we’re good it could be because of coach Johnson, and if we can’t it’s my fault, so it’s a no win for a few years,” Lowry said.

On Feb. 14, GFPS Athletic Director Gary DeGooyer accounced that Lowry would be the successor to Jack Johnson’s role as head coach, a role Johnson held for 41 years.

Lowry has been a part of the CMR coaching staff for 30 years.

Previously, he played for Johnson before going on to play for the University of Montana Grizzlies.

While Lowry, a 1980 CMR graduate, has extensive experience with Johnson’s coaching style, he says his style differs in some aspects.

“Everyone is a little different.

It’s all of the same messages. I think I’m not a vocal, butt-chewing type.

I’m not a screamer, even when I was younger,” Lowry said.

Despite a more reserved approach, Lowry values the traits that Johnson made a staple of the program.

“I expect the players to make good choices on and off the field. In this game you learn a lot of important

A

life lessons that had been a good “There are always things you year.” have nothing to do with football. You would do different looking back.

It was need to learn to be I think the agony of defeat lasts during his time a good guy on the longer than the thrill of victory, as a teacher at field, in public, and Great Falls High in the classroom,” so there’s always something when Kloppel different. You could do a better first he said. realized Principal Dick job or make a different call, but I Johnson’s power.

Kloppel, who loved every minute of it.”

“I remember was in the district sitting in the Jack Johnson bleachers in 1975 when Johnson began coaching, when Great Falls recognizes the impact that he had.

High was an absolute powerhouse, “Before coming to CMR, football but CMR won the game 11-10. The was an August to October sport. student body chant that year, and With him he brought off-season many after, was ’11 to 10, do it conditioning, the idea of camps, again,’” he said. and innovation. He raised the level Johnson himself recognizes the of athlete performance radically,” importance of that game.

Kloppel said. “He took us from “I remember that very well, I do. lower to middle of the pack team to It really got things started for the consecutive champions. He gave us Rustlers, and we went on to win the our competitive culture.” championship,” Johnson said.

Johnson brought not only Although he understands innovation, but brought success in the significance now, it wasn’t terms of 13 state championships. immediately apparent.

“What Jack did for CMR “I didn’t know at that time, football, and in particular our high but it led to CMR’s first state school, was create and maintain a championship in my third year. competitive tradition that caught on That season we had a strong senior for all of our sports. Those rugs in the and junior class. It got the tradition fieldhouse don’t just happen. Jack started and was a springboard to our was part of building expectations, second the next year,” Johnson said. culture, work ethic, and giving your Upon arriving at CMR in 1973, best. He influenced an awful lot of Johnson knew he had found his people through his career,” Kloppel home. said. “He made CMR synonymous “I did it for the long haul, not just with winning across the state. For a springboard to move on. From the a lot of schools, if they beat CMR it time I got here, I knew it was a good

school, good administration; it was great,” he said.

Johnson’s proudest moment is the longevity of his success.

“Including before my time at CMR, I won championships in five decades, but I’m most proud that it wasn’t a hit or miss thing. We were consistently a top program,” Johnson said.

Deciding to step away wasn’t an easy one, but Johnson felt that it was time.

“I’m getting a little older, and you know that ‘Father Time’ is undefeated. Coaching takes its toll.

We do 90-hour weeks during the season. You work on Sundays and Saturdays so there are no days off, so it really drags on you. I’m still feeling good, so I want to be able to travel with my wife and do some other things while I can,” he said.

Throughout his four decades coaching at CMR, Johnson has few regrets.

“There are always things you would do different looking back.

I think the agony of defeat lasts longer than the thrill of victory, so there’s always something different.

You could do a better job or make a different call, but I loved every minute of it,” he said.

340 CMR victories, 41 years, and 13 state championships later, all of Johnson’s dreams came true.

“I always wanted to be a coach and nothing else. I never wanted to be a suit, stuck behind a desk.”

Johnson coached the Rustlers for 41 seasons before announcing his retirement in December During that time, the Rustlers won 340 games while losing just 112 contests After Johnson’s retirement, CMR received 7 applicants for its head football coach position Gary Lowry was on Johnson’s staff for 30 years before earning the top job Coach Lowry graduated from CMR in 1980 before heading to the University of Montana In 2014, CMR will look to win its 14th state championship, with 13 rugs already hanging in the fieldhouse

20 Charlie Russell

The Stampede 3.6.14

Years of Charles M. Russell 1864

1916

March 19

Charles M. Russell was born in St. Louis, Mo.

Charlie and Nancy adopted their son, Jack.

1882

1926

Charlie moves to Montana after securing a job as a night herder in Judith Basin.

1896

Charlie dies. All Great Falls children were let out of school to watch his funeral procession. Four black horses pulled the carriage in which is body was carried to Highland Cemetary.

This portrait of Charles M. Russell by artist Robert Christe III hangs in the CMR main office.

Russell marries Nancy Cooper.

September 7, 1965

1897 Received $10 each for three of his paintings. It was quite common for Russell to exchange his paintings for low wages and even sometimes traded paintings and sketches for whiskey at local bars.

Charles M. Russell High School officially opens.

1969

Charlie points to cowboys and Indians in the distance in the painting Charles M. Russell and his Friends.

The first year of Western Art Week.

1912 Russell was commissioned to paint a mural to cover the wall behind the speaker of the House of Representatives’ platform in Helena.

1965

March 20-23

A cowboy encounters a native man in the painting Toll Collectors.

2014

The Russell: An Exhibition and Sale to Benefit the C.M. Russell Museum. by elea roberts, staff writer