CMR Stampede Dec. 2014

The Stampede

c.m. russell high school great falls, mont. dec. 18, 2014 vol. 49, issue 5

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.

2014-2015 STAFF

CONTENTS 1 - Cover photo by Peyton Fulbright 2 - Table of Contents NEWS 3 - Peyton’s column, Yearbook progress 4 -5-Timeline 6- Fruit sales OPINION 7 - Editorial, Laura’s column 8- Speak your mind 9- Same-sex marriage FEATURES 10- Holiday Names, Olivia’s column CENTERSPREAD 11-14 - Class C Experience FEATURES(cont.)

15- Dancers 16- Tasha Schalin, Slushy Queen ENTERTAINMENT 17- Corda/Olson release 18-Charlie Brown review SPORTS 19- Winter sports preview, Lindsay’s column 20- Underwater Athletes, Player reaction to end of football season 21- Wrestling 22- Student athlete struggles 23 - Rustler Athlete, Stats BACK PAGE 24-What else is turning 50?

editor-in-chief peyton fulbright

online editor tony lynes

visual content editor tom gruner

news/opinion editor laura marsilio

features/ entertainment editor olivia rudio

sports editor

lindsay martinez

advertising manager jaylynn mitchell

staff

drew brennan elea roberts katelyn smith jesse whiteman macquaid brennan logan cowdery april hummel nate johnson shannon o’neil sarina calaman amanda cornwall carli dieruf tamara miller clara mcclain jara wilkinson iris kaiser

adviser

beth britton

principal

dick kloppel

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.

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NEWS

Russellog editors reveal how the 50th edition of the yearbook is progressing Visiting the secret world of yearbook, how it gets made by april hummel, staff writer Those people walking around with a camera and a press pass, chances are they are taking pictures and getting interviews for the Russellog, the yearbook that comes out at the end of every year. The students on staff work from the beginning of the year until early May to get the yearbook out in time.

Right now in the two classes, first period and sixth period, yearbook is in it’s third deadline, which means they are working on 46-50 pages of the book. There are six major deadlines, and the staff turns in at least 46-50 pages each deadline.

This year is full of many surprises, which senior Caitlin Soltesz, the Photo Editor for the Russellog, said is the best part of the book.

“The yearbook this year is going to be wonderful because we are incorporating 50 years of CMR into one book. The photos are excellent, the writing is wonderful, and the design is unique and exciting. Make sure and reserve your copy, you won’t regret it, “ Soltesz said.

The 50th pages are specially created for only this yearbook.They are pages that feature flashbacks to the past using pictures from yearbooks from the past 50 years.

Photos and the 50th pages are not the only things that are amazing, according to Sports Editor senior Payton Netz.

“Well as you know it is the 50th year and it shows how much the school had changed in the past years and also the sports section is pretty cool,” Netz said.

With two Editors in Chief and 36 people on staff, students can expect the yearbook to be spectactular. For senior Editor in Chief of Design Brady Bridgeman the best part of the book is all the new creations.

“It’s new, fresh and different from everything we’ve done in the past,” Bridgeman said.

Some of the innovations Bridgeman is referring to that make the yearbook “new, fresh and different” this year includes videos, which can be accessed through QR codes.

“My favorite addition is the videos we’ve added in. Being able to look back at what happened in 20 years is incredible,” Bridgeman said.

For JJ Mitchell, the business manager, the best thing about the 2015 Russellog is the family environment and the independence she has in class.

“The family environment we have in here. The indepedence that we have. We aren’t stuck at a desk for 50 minutes. We get to move around and have independence in our own work, “ Mitchell said.

Mitchell said that yearbooks are important because when students are 70 they can look back and see how things have changed.

If you would like to order the 2015 Russellog they are $55 in the finance office until second semester, when the prizes raise to $65. You can place your order online at www. yearbookordercenter.com. Use order #7732.

3

What’s New: Videos Extended Coverage 288 pages Special 50th Anniversary pages

Editors 2015

Editor-in-Chief

peytonfulbright

Brady C. Bridgeman: EIC of Design Jacob Bernhardt: EIC of Content April Hummel: Academic Editor Cassie Storm: People Editor Tamara Miller: Student Life Editor Caitlin Soltesz: Photo Editor Payton Netz: Sports Editor JJ Mitchell: Ad Manager Jordyn Merchant and Annie Lewis: 50th Editors New Year’s Resolutions are stupid.

And not to be the pot calling the kettle black, but if you have to wait for Jan. 1 to make a change, you’re probably really lazy.

Now don’t get me wrong. I completely believe that change is a good thing. Changing yourself to be happy? Even better. My problem with the matter is waiting for the New Year to start bettering yourself. Want to lose 15 pounds? Put down the food now instead of waiting another two weeks. Do you want to get shredded? Sign up for a gym membership today instead of waiting for January. There’s

During yearbook class staff members work hard on deadline 2 on Nov. 24. Photos by April Hummel.

going to be fewer people anyways, so maybe you can actually enjoy it.

I’m not just talking the talk, I’m walking the walk, too. I already started my resolutions. I want to get strong again.

I’ve never been big, but when I did martial arts, I was strong.But then I had a transition period in my life where I started practicing the ancient art of laziness, and completely lost all of the strength I had built over a few years. But now I’m back to lifting and already seeing improvements and feeling better about myself.

My other resolution is to get better at skating. I already started getting back to skating, and want to

make it a habit to get out every day that I can and ride so I get better. And when I go to college next year, I’m going to skate to class whenever the weather allows me to.

Although skating might not seem like a very productive resolution, it’s important to me because it gives me time to get into my head and think through things that I normally would try and avoid.

So this year, I encourage you not to make a New Year’s Resolution. Instead, make a December 18th resolution, or whenever you read this. As long as it isn’t the third of never.

4 news

Nov. 3, 1967

Rustlers Flying High

Ken Wilson cinches up Rick Golie for his first parasailing ride at the Golie Ranch North of Great Falls.

12.18.14 The Stampede

Dec. 20, 1968

California Here We Come

CMR’s band was seen marching across millions of television screens Jan. 1 in the Tournament of Roses parade.

Oct.30, 1970

Dress Code Gets Favorable Response

School dress code regulations involved, hair lengths, dress jeans vs. blue jeans and sideburns.

Nov. 21, 1973

Thanksgiving to 1st Graders Mountain View Elementary first graders get asked, “What comes to mind when you hear Thanksgiving is coming?”

Dec. 22, 1977 Bison No. 1?

Key Club members clean the skull after vandals made their mark.

April 3, 1981 We Got Spirit

CMR fans show their school spirit at first state game.

Generations before and after

Thinking about how era’s have differed through the years by tamara miller, staff writer Thinking about the topic of “50 Years Ago” puts a million thoughts through my head. I question so many things, like what happened during an average school day or what did they do for fun.

When I watch movies like “Grease” or “Footloose,” that is what I imagine it was like. Teenagers going to a local restaurant just hanging out and enjoying themselves. When you see teenagers today we are not always communicating. We are just on our phones texting.

In my eyes it seemed so much more relaxed than it is now. We deal with the drama of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. 50 years ago they didn’t have to deal with technology, they didn’t have to deal with miscommunication through electronics.

My generation, my whole entire life has had electronics in it, only getting more and more advanced. I sometimes wonder how

my life would be life without it, how my life would be if I was born in an earlier generation.

When I hear parents and teachers tell us about how it was when they were our age I always want to know the feeling. I want to know how our generation really is different. They have their similarities, but the way teenagers acted then and now are different, or that’s what I believe.

Back in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s I wonder what they thought the future we live in now would be like. Some of the teenagers from those generations are still alive today, and I want to know if what they thought back then is real now.

If time travel was possible, I would most definitely want to go back to one of those time periods just to get a feel of a different generation. Somewhat similar but in the end very much different.

Feb. 23, 1988

Traveling Twirlers

Last performance of the year for the senior drill team.

12.18.14 The Stampede

50 years in the Making 1966 graduate Candy Koby reflects back on her past experience at

news 5

C.M. Russell High School

by candy koby, Class of 1967 Harken back with me, students of CMR High School to a goodly heritage to the first graduating class in 1966.

The school spirit was through the roof as our aspirations were aimed high! The schools songs unified us.

People were proud to wear gold and green. I remember games along with track and wresting events. Students and family would go, and afterwards we would cruise the drag with gold and green decorations on our cars.

There were no curling irons, girls. These are the things I remember. And it was windy in Great Falls, so you would go to the girls room with about 100 others to look in the mirror to rearrange your hair-do.

Got a date on Saturday? Then you wear jumbo curlers on your hair on Saturday afternoon while running errands which meant you had a date that night! The Sonic on 10th used to be the famous Burger Master which was packed with students from all three high schools, CMR, Great Falls High, and Central.

School dances were formal, she wore a formal and he wore a suite.

When did we go to the DeMolay for dances with a live band? It was every Saturday night that there wasn’t a school game!

School pride. It didn’t matter if you were in drama, speech, or pep club. We all wanted our school to win.

Period. It was evident in our school paper and yearbook. Our pages were filled with an abundance of pictures of school pride.

We were the first school to model our school government after the federal government with a President, Vice President, House of Representatives, and Senate. We got things done. This put CMR on the map! Those days, we didn’t find what was wrong, we encouraged what was right.

A school pep assembly. First year in the gym we all cheered as one for over 11 minutes. Record setting. Many students wore smiles and tear stained faces, teachers too. We all knew we cared about each other, our school, and we all had our hopes and dreams nurtured at CMR! There were no cell phones or computers. If you needed an answer you had to dig for it. The library was packed.

Encyclopedias were our best friends! Also, our parents and teachers were a wealth of information. Typing class was a must.

Your term paper had to be typed. If you made a mistake, white out

May 20, 1993

Should Hanging remain in Montana?

Questions about hanging law, should it stay or should it go?

Oct. 4, 2007

Right to Work for MT

Local Prospector burns down.

Fire crews from around the county come in to help put it out.

was your best friend or you had to start completely over!

The west court was the senior’s court, and seniors only could go in there. The sophomore and junior court was the east court. No one questioned this. Also, out of due respect and school tradition, no one walked on the skull on the floor in the commons area.

Thursday pizza in the lunchroom was great! And it was the solemn duty of the Dean of Girls to check the skirt length of the students. If questionable, the said offender was to kneel on the floor, and if the skirt didn’t touch the floor the girl was to be sent home. The boys wore slacks or dark blue jeans with their shirts.

The classes of 66-67 our junior and sophomore years respectively attended great falls high as CMR didn’t open until 1965. Thousands were on split shifts at Great Falls High. Classes there were from 6 AM to 12 PM for the early morning shift, likewise the afternoon shift was from 12 PM- 6PM. So, therefore, the following year, of a crosstown rivalry was very friendly as students had friends in each other’s schools including central high.

The stockyards just south of CMR were filled with cattle in the spring, and remembering our heritage, as the school is named after the famous cowboy, Charles M. Russell, artist, man, who made his home in Great Falls, who’s western paintings are known worldwide. He has a spirit of excellence with his evidence in all of his work, and so for the first classes, this was our heritage, as a student displayed the spirit of excellence as well. Charlie would have been proud. And he would be proud of you, too. You can begin today carrying on this, you heritage, as it’s a matter of the heart. And in light of the season, as to borrow from the book Charles Dickens, “A Christmas carol”, “and so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”

Feb. 25, 1999

Band/Choir Perform Before Hundreds Band and choir performed in Portland.

April 21, 2005

Farewell, East Middle School Students leave East Middle School on a recent afternoon.

Sixth grade got moved down to elementary.

Feb. 19, 2004

Wranglers Rank National

Wranglers Brittany Hankinson, left, and Jessica Carranza, right, practice their high kicks.

Oct. 25, 1999

Apple Computers

Before Apple iphones, apple had something almost 10 times bigger.

May 18, 2000

College Around the World

Students show where in the world they’re heading to college next year.

6 news

12.18.14 The Stampede

The more you know: Fruit Sales Top Sellers

designed by laura marsilio, news/opinion editor, and katelyn smith, staff writer

The amount of oranges sold equals = 20lbs of oranges to roughly 16.5 bears

24

Choir

Tyler Johnson $1,504 Megan Packer $1,500 Kathleen O’Dell $1,432

Cups of Apple juice can be made from the apples sold.

1.6 miles in grapefruit length was sold

$106,614 Sold During Fruit Sales

Band

Bryce Baker $1,462 Talya Vaira $1,282 Kyle Korb $1,292

A total of 35,700 miligrams of caffeine came with the 119 boxes of coffee Orchestra

471 crates of pears were sold

Kelsay Jensen $646 Jordyn Voss $620 Andrew Aron $592

For a video on the fruit experience, follow the QR code.

news

12.18.14 The Stampede

Somewhere over the rainbow Montana same-sex couples recently given freedom to marry CON

PRO

Levi Long Same-sex marriage is now legal in

Montana, and sophomore Levi Long is supportive for more reasons than one.

“I feel it will not only help the well being of people in the LGBT community, but will also help people in Montana understand what it means to be gay,” Long said.

With the new law in place, Long said he thinks it will pave the way for longer, happier marriages for couples in the LGBT community. He also believes the decision will positively affect teens struggling with their sexuality, and he believes that it will help people be open about their sexuality.

“From pansexual to asexual, everyone has a preference, and voicing that preference increases self-confidence and reduces risks of depression, anxiety, and self-harm,” Long said.

Rebekah Howell

Thanks to gay marriage being legalized, Rebekah Howell will be able to marry the girl who she says is the love of her life.

“I was so excited I almost cried,” Howell said. Howell believes that no matter what, anyone should be allowed to marry who they love.

“Everyone should be allowed to get married and be happy like everyone else.”

There are many opinions on whether or not it is a choice to be gay or if it is an act. Howell says that you love who you fall in love with and you cant help it or change it.

“Being gay is not a choice. You just fall in love.”

7

Saydi Harris

by drew brennan, staff writer In 1997, hope for many was crushed by the powerful boot of the Montana State Legislature. A bill was passed banning same-sex marriage throughout the state of Montana.

In 2010 same-sex couples filed a lawsuit against the State of Montana. A year later, the court ruled against the plaintiffs and the ban on same-sex marriage stood.

On May 21, 2014, four same-sex couples filed a lawsuit while being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The lawsuit was designed to challenge Montana’s constitutional definition of marriage.

Just a month ago on Nov. 19 a federal judge struck down the ban, allowing for samesex marriage immediately. The following day several couples in Great Falls scrambled to the courthouse to get a marriage license.

One of the couples, who filed a lawsuit in May, was Tonya and Angie Rolando of Great Falls.

Soon after filing their lawsuit, Tonya Rolando was told it could be years before any progress would be made.

Six months later, Rolando received an e-mail from her lawyer that would change her life and the lives of many others. Gay marriage is legal in Montana, effective immediately.

“I had to read the e-mail three times before it sank in. It’s kind of a surreal feeling.

There’s no word to put on the emotion,” Rolando said.

Rolando and her partner have a marriage license and are in the midst of planning a wedding for the end of March.

Some of Montana’s other same-sex couples got married in other states, without recognition here. For Rolando, the piece of paper was not the point.

“We had already had a commitment ceremony [but] we wanted to get married here to have the same constitutional rights and benefits that other couples had,” she said.

Rolando compared same-sex marriage to interracial marriage in the 1950’s.

“I think people are scared of what they don’t know. Now we have interracial marriage and we don’t think anything of it. In 50 years people will look back and wonder what we were thinking.”

Senior Saydi Harris has a strong opinion about same sex marriage. As a Latter Day Saint, she said there is no moral law or decision that can override or nullify the moral standards of God. “Marriage between a man and a women has been continuously attacked through divorce, cohabitation, adultery, and many other social issues,” Harris said. “Same sex marriage will further weaken the family unit over time.”

Harris believes that marriage consists of a male and a female and that God set this for a reason.

“I believe that it has the potential to strike at the heart of family, have great impact on moral, standards, and values,” Harris said.

Jensen Allestad

Sophomore Jensen Allestad is against Montana’s new law on same-sex marriage for more than one reason.

“I’m Christian. It’s against my beliefs.

I was raised to think that it’s wrong,” Allestad said.

Many people who are against the new ruling oppose it due to religious beliefs, like Allestad, though that’s not the only reason he’s against it. With so many people opposed to same-sex marriage he said he doesn’t understand how the state could pass the law.

“I was raised against it; I don’t like the idea of it. It makes me angry,” Allestad said. “The words I would use to describe my feelings are not acceptable.” by carli dieruf and amanda cornwall, staff writers

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OPINION Holiday hospitality: Giving Back

8

People need to stretch their generosity throughout the year

Volunteering can be a heartwarming experience, as well as This time of year, the sad Sarah Mclachlan commercials buying a fun present for a less fortunate child during Christmas come on and everyone’s hearts break. They run to their wallets time. These people who are on the receiving end of the generosity and pull out a twenty and send it off to the company and briefly that comes with the winter holidays are greatly thankful for the feel like they have made a difference in the world. But why do people who help them out. That on its own is a great way to these people only do this during the holiday season? Why do justify being charitable during this time. the sad commercials that make you feel guilty come on during Could you imagine being able to give these people the time when you are reflecting on how lucky you are From the happiness and joy that the misfortunate may only to be you? point of view truly experience at the end of the year? It would be so Maybe it’s a corporate mind-control trick, but we worth all the hard work that comes with volunteering, all still feel like it’s necessary to be generous towards the less fortunate during the holidays. People volunteer for worth the lack of those few dollars that you were only going to Thanksgiving, donate for Christmas. But what do they do the rest spend on something unnecessary anyways. The companies aren’t of the year? The less fortunate aren’t just less fortunate during the asking you to give thousands of dollars to them, when they say last two months of the year, they’re less fortunate all year long. “every penny counts” they mean it. Those pennies add up over People stand on the streets with their heartbreaking cardboard time after all.

Now we aren’t bashing the people who do donate and signs every day of the year, but most people choose to ignore volunteer during the holidays, and we aren’t bashing the people them.

Sure, random acts of kindness are performed all the time who don’t. What needs to be seen however, is that maybe as you during the year, but towards the end of the year is where it take time out of your winter break to volunteer, consider the skyrockets. More than 30 percent of annual giving via Network thought of volunteering with that business during April or June, for Good’s website donation processing system is during the as well as December.

Embrace your inner generosity. Don’t let the holidays be the month of December. Now we understand that people may not be able to even give during anytime of the year and that is okay. only time you show respect to people you wouldn’t even look But even to those who cannot give during the year, they can keep twice at on the streets during the rest of the year. Take it upon the good thought in mind. Don’t let this be your excuse though. If yourself to be kind to everyone and everything, no matter the opportunity to volunteer presents itself, and you aren’t busy what occasion. Show everyone that you can be good all year round. with anything, consider taking up that opportunity.

OUR

MINI EDitorials

News/Opinion Editor

lauramarsilio

As the jingle bells ring, and the Christmas carols start playing, driving also becomes a very dangerous task.

The snow and ice start to form on the road and drivers get ‘clumsy’. So many accidents happen during the winter.

The worst ones, are often because of reckless driving.

Reckless driving isn’t just speeding as most students think. Reckless driving is drifting, speeding, tailgating, anything that shows you don’t care.

We see drifting the most during the winter, because its more ‘fun’ as your tires spin more because of less traction.

We cannot express enough how important it is to be safe. No matter who you are, somebody cares about you and that should be a big enough reason to drive safe. But make sure you have an enjoyable holiday break as well.

For what seemed like weeks we saw comments on Facebook attacking Superintendent Tammy Lacey for how the district handled the Samantha Sipes case. They need to close the schools when the weather is bad, they said.

While we feel like it is important for the school to recognize Sipes’ death and try to fix any problems that may have contributed to it, we also feel it is important for students to take responsibility for their actions and listen to the communication the school is trying to provide about the roads.

A few weeks ago, Principal Dick Kloppel came over the intercom and said the roads were icy and that if we could avoid it, we should not be out driving. Yet, after walking out the door to grab things from our cars or walk to Sam’s Club, we found dozens of students driving, as if Taco Bell was more important than their lives. Many of these same students had made the comments one year ago on Social Media.

People need to be less hypocritical, to realize their voice is important. Do not protest something just to get out of school for the day, because if a girl’s death is a reason to miss school, then it sure as hell is a reason to miss lunch.

Hipsters. The one word that I have been hearing a lot lately, mostly about myself. Apparently my music taste and clothing choices happen to fall in this category. The definition of a hipster when searching on Google was “a person who follows the latest trends and fashions, especially those regarded as being outside the cultural mainstream.” I don’t understand how this works for me if I tend to stay in this “cultural mainstream.”

When looking through Wikihow’s “How to Be a Hipster” the first rule is to dress like one. Apparently that means wearing local clothing and making sure you layer.

As you scroll down the next two rules state that you should wear skinny jeans and glasses. Since when are skinny jeans and glasses not “mainstream”? Most of the students at CMR wear one of these two.

After asking some of my friends what they thought a hipster looked like, they all came to the same conclusion scarves, glasses, and a coffee in hand. Apparently the

stereotype of the hipster is well and alive. The Wikihow page also stated that the number one place for hipsters is Los Angeles. So if you live there you’re apparently a hipster.

My conclusion is simple, that real hipsters don’t really exist. It’s just this convoluted idea that emerged within the depths of the internet. Doesn’t a statement saying that “you’re a hipster” go against the idea of the stereotype? In the end these useless stereotypes will exist no matter what.

It frustrates me to no end that these stereotypes seem to plague the internet and reality. I feel like I should blame society for this in a way. We’ve been taught to judge people based on their appearances, and not by who they actually are. It’s strange to think about how present these ideas are that if you dress one way you’re automatically judged.

In the end, I think we all have a little hipster inside of us.

We tend to hide these concealed loves from others so that they stay special to ourselves. Embrace your inner hipster, it’s bound to keep you out of the mainstream.

KEY CLUB

Hope you have a merry and joyful Christmas!

Love, Key Club!

Meeting Mondays at 4 p.m. in room 325

opinion 9

The Stampede 12.18.14

Speak Your Mind

DIFFERENTIATED DIPLOMA

explained

What do you think of a differentiated diploma?

“I think we need to work more towards an Honors diploma.”

- Terri Jones, media specialist

“It’s good for kids to have the

opportunity to get the Honors diploma, but there needs to be more dialogue.”

- Erica Davis, French teacher

“If it gets students to work hard and take pride in their work? I’m all for it.”

- Beth Britton, teacher

“I think they’re a very good idea for people who want to focus on what they want to be later in life.”

- Dylan Sandefur, 11

GFPS EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS

OPTIONS

General Diploma(23 credits) 4 credits of English

“It’s kind of stupid. It’s just showing academics and how everyone is different.”

- Hannah Andersen, 10 “I really like the idea. Each person is different and people have different values and interests. It gives students more opportunities.”

- Emily Rogers, 10

Differentiated diplomas have been an interesting conundrum for the staff and students here at CMR. For the most part, students have only a vague idea of what “differentiated diploma” actually means.

These options allow students to have a diploma that showcases the classes they took throughout their high school years, whether they focused on a career, fine arts, humanities, or honors classes.

“I think it’s dumb because everyone should get the same diploma.

I don’t approve.”

- Chloe Geary, 9

“We need more dialogue from teachers, students, and parents before anything happens.”

- Jamie Williams, media specialist

“I don’t think, as far as colleges, they don’t look at diplomas.

They look at the classes you took.”

- Kobe Rowe, 9

1 credit of Fine Arts

3 credits of Math 1 credit of CTE

3 credits of Science 2 credits of Health/PE

3 credits of Social Studies .5 credit of Financial Tech Skills

Concentration(23 credits) 4 credits of English 1 credit of Fine Arts 3 credits of Math .5 credit of CTE 3 credits of Science 2 credits of Health/PE 3 credits of Social Studies .5 credit of Financial Tech Skills

Career: 3 credits in chosen career, 2 credits in the same area.

Fine arts: 3 credits in fine arts Humanities: 3 credits in humanities

Honors(26 credits)

“I would like to see it, so Honors kids get more credit. An Honors math grade is a lot different than a regular math grade.”

- Mike McLean, math teacher

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4 credits of English 1 credit of Fine Arts 4 credits of Math .5 credit of CTE 3 credits of Science 2 credits of Health/PE 3 credits of Social Studies Minimum GPA, 6 or more credits .5 credit of of 3.3 Financial Tech Skills

from any combonation of honors or AP classes, 3 credits of Humanities

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FEATURES

10

‘Tis the names of the holiday season oliviarudio by carli dieruf, staff writer

With the winter holiday comes family activites, different foods, and even names based upon the true meaning of Christmas and what it means to the parents.

Joseph Grasseschi

Why did your parents name you Joseph?

“My parents just like the name, they think that it is nice.”

Do you like your name?

“I like my name. Its quick and simple and not hard to pronunce and I wouldnt change it because, I like it the way it is.”

Grace Rabe

Why did your parents name you Grace?

“My parents were going through a hard time and they needed an inspiration when I was born.”

Mary Odell

Why did your parents name you Mary?

“My father is a pastor so they decided on the name in honor of the mother of Jesus.”

Do you like your name?

“I love my name, I would not change it because it is uncommon nowadays but it is still a classic.”

Christian Rodriguez

Why did your parents name you Christian?

“The doctors told my parents that they wouldn’t be able to have me and then they did so it was their miracle.”

Do you like your name?

“Yes, it expresses my faith and it is not a very common.”

Do you like your name?

“I do like my name, it has meaning.”

Angel Nadeau

Why did your parents name you Angel?

“My parents named me Angel because they thought I was going to be sweet.”

Do you like your name?

“Yes, I like it because it reminds me of winter. Angels go along with the Christmas theme.”

Nicholas O’ Toole

Why did your parents name you Nicholas?

“I’m not entirely sure why my parents named me Nicholas, but we are Catholic.”

Do you like your name?

“Yeah, it doesn’t bug me. I’m fine with it.”

Features Editor

Music can convey so many meanings to different people.

Sometimes without words, music transcends logical reasoning to communicate with us in ways we may not explicitly understand, but comprehend in an almost magical way.

To receive certain musical sentiments can be to engage in a sharing of emotions that makes us universally share in a specific expression.

To me, the most significant time to receive these powerful sentiments at Christmas.

My mom has a rule that during December the only music we are allowed to play at our house is Christmas music.

This is a tradition I begrudgingly appreciate because while there is a limit to how much one person can listen to the song “Frosty the Snowman” in one month, there is no better way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Perhaps the most important Holiday music tradition I have is going to the Great Falls Symphony’s Christmas concert to watch my mom sing in the choir.

This concert has always been the kick start to my holiday spirit, and now that it’s my last year I found it extra special.

I even felt a little more festive than I had in previous years, which came as a surprise to me because I’ve discovered the older you get the harder it is to be as bright eyed and bushy tailed over Christmas as you were when you were younger.

But to me, the concert encompassed a powerful sentiment about the true meaning of Christmas.

It wasn’t so much the song selection, as most of the selections are the same ones you hear every Christmas.

Instead, it was the compositions of guest pianist Philip Aaberg.

His compositions were soulful renditions of the classics without straying from the true sentiment of Christmas—something I find rare as most artists who try to jazz up carols end up sounding completely superficial.

However, the big sound of the symphony and choir lead by an energizing piano conveyed a very authentic Christmastime feel that made me feel like a kid again.

features 11

12.18.14 The Stampede

Montana Exchange Exploring different small schools within the state

Each class C school offers something different, and we went on a mission to find it. To find what made these schools tick, what made them so community driven. We visited 6 schools in the surrounding area: Belt, Cascade, Central Catholic, Highwood, Power and Simms. And

from the small size, to the four day school weeks, we fell in love. These schools, while wildly different from CMR, had their own offerings, and that made this an event we will never forget and also one that we are excited to share with the rest of our student body.

photo by Tom Gruner

14 features

The Stampede 12.18.14

Rivers and Roads (Continued from 13) Highwood the kids were ecstatic, exchanging high by elea roberts, staff writer For just a minute I thought he was a fives with their friends and jittering with college chemistry professor. The tweed the prospects of their own awards.

During lunch there was a student coat, the tie, the graying Stossel stach and the way he walked into the room with council meeting in the library, where students discussed the ideas they had for only one word on his lips.

“Questions?” Highwood teacher Pete the community, from donating food to selecting a kid to get a Christmas gift for.

Kevielle asked.

Most of the other classes were similar The class was silent, but Kevielle almost snickered. Soon enough the class to those at CMR, at least until I walked embarked on an orchestrated dance of into leadership class, the class that their question and answer. No hands were principal, Jane Suberg, teaches.

I had never experienced a raised, but every single class taught by the principal student’s name was called. of the school, but this didn’t I checked.

Seniors feel like a formal class.

While this was the Instead it seemed to be a most intense class period Total personal bonding time for I have probably ever had, Students some of Highwood’s juniors it took place in none other and seniors. For attendance than Highwood School, a class C, K-12 school in the small town east she asked a question, which Nov. 18 was “what is your favorite part about life at a of Great Falls.

I was dazzled by the lack of chit chat in small school?”

“Academic possibilities,” senior Mary class and the focus the students seemed to have. I almost found myself daydreaming Bricks said.

“It makes you adapt to the people about what my daydreams used to be like, but then Kevielle said, “if you want around you,” senior Darren Malek said.

“We develop a tolerance for all kinds,” to join the club, these are the rules you got Suberg added. to follow.”

The list went on and on, but above all That’s what I wanted to do -- join this club of small-town high school students, else, most agreed that “It’s not just the and to do that I had to leave CMR school, it’s the community as well,” said senior MarKaela Francis, who attended daydreams behind.

The chemistry class was different Great Falls High School in previous years.

The school is a subdivision of the enough, but it was only when I realized that the class alternated between physics community, representing over a decade and chemistry every year that I had that in ages, which I further discovered in the class period I spent in the elementary epiphany.

The next class I went to was a study school.

The pure fun that exuded from the hall, which would be a rare commodity at CMR because these kids actually studied. classrooms made me smile. In one of the I saw pages of “Hamlet,” seas of math classes I visited the kids were supposed to problems, and some impressive Mac read a paragraph about a job while their computers. The library was small, but the partner acted out the career. They leaped information being processed there was as ballerinas, looked at me strangely when they discovered I wanted to be a not.

Leaving the study hall, I quickly chef, and swung a bat as a baseball player.

By the end of the day I was exhausted, ventured out into the school. I found their canned food drive, a Cat and Griz- absorbing every image, every word and themed competition for the greater good every smile that I saw. And while I enjoyed of the community, the art projects of the every aspect of the school, I am glad I middle school history and art classes, and am a representative of CMR, otherwise I an awards assembly for the elementary might not have been able to go out and see the school and I would only know the school.

The awards were given in the 14 students in Highwood’s senior class cafeteria, some for attendance, some for instead of the 315 seniors here. good citizenship. It was undeniable that

14 90

Cascade by macquaid Brennan Ok game face. It’s just another day of school, I reminded myself.

My stomach was clenched into tight knots and the cold pierced every part of exposed skin. I took a deep breath , and tried to soothe my nerves. It was like the first day of school all over again.

Naturally, I walked in looking like a deer in the headlights looking for some sort of comforting face or a sign to point me in the right direction to the office. I found a smiling face selling his famous cinnamon rolls, and he was ecstatic to help.

I entered Principal Kevin Sukut’s office to find him smiling ear to ear. He greeted me with a firm handshake and welcomed me to their high school. He then brought in a tall, elegant blonde with sky blue eyes. Senior Elsie Carpenter instantly became my safety blanket.

I was hidden behind my camera while we toured the school and was relieved to find out there were no stairs, and thank the high heavens there was more than adequate heating. Everything was sectioned off. Lockers towered above my head as we passed through the middle school hallway, the freshman and sophomore hallway, the junior hallway, and finally the senior hallway, where all 22 members of the graduating class were milling around by their lockers.

“I never exactly lock my locker,” Carpenter said. “Usually I’ll just leave things on the benches. It’s not like anyone will take it.”

At CMR, Veteran’s Day is like every other school day, but in Cascade the entire community came to the school for an assembly.

To my astonishment, K-12 and their families fit on one side of the gym with room to spare.

Every branch of the military was represented by a veteran. I had the privilege of watching the middle school students sing every branch’s song, and kindergarten-first grade recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The microphone went out halfway through, but that didn’t matter. The speaker just raised his voice. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and heartwarming. There was coffee and cookies for everyone afterwards.

Everybody knew everyone, and all of the teachers talked with the kids not at them. I had to clutch my stomach I was laughing so hard at the teachers’ jokes.

Cascade High School is a magical place. Filled with teachers throwing laptops and talking about how they Seniors used to “cruise the drag” in high school. Teachers who related to Total students, and a community that was Students involved in everything. The school seemed to be the central meeting place where everyone joined together. Everyone’s smiling face seemed to fall into place, and their laughter echoed through the halls.

The warmth that radiates through the building seems to be bursting through the population. From AP English to shop class and advanced to botany every class flowed like a stimulating conversation.

By the end of the day I was no longer the “new girl,” but the visitor with the camera who had promises of bringing a paper back.

My nerves were calm and I was relaxed. Cascade High School was no longer unknown to me, but a place I hope to visit in the near future.

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The Stampede 12.18.14

TheDancing Queen

features 15

“We have a contract and can only have one unexcused absence,” Skawinski said, explaining that when working with a team, “it’s hard to fix anything when one person is gone.”

Especially when of seven dances she is working on this year, most are small group dances consisting of approximately five other girls similar to her age. With this in mind, Skawinski commits to dance practice every day of the week except Fridays and Sundays.

“It takes up a lot of time -- you kind of miss out on a lot of stuff, but you don’t really miss out because it’s fun,” she said.

Although Skawinski most often performs contemporary and jazz, she practices and has performed ballet, tap, character dance and musical theater as well.

“It’s good to be trained in everything, especially ballet.”

According to Skawinski ballet is like math. It consists of the most basic techniques, but “tap is better for rhythm.” She takes tap on Mondays and ballet on Wednesday’s.

While practice gives her an opportunity to learn the routine and fine-tune special details of the dance from pointed feet to facial expressions, competition helps provide feedback for the “ideas on what you need to improve.”

“I need to work on my turns,” Skawinski said, “you have to spot your head, keep your arms in a certain position-a lot goes into it.”

And while she continues to compete against herself, she finds “healthy competition” in her dance squad, the “elite team” as well, but despite the “sibling rivalry” she grateful for her teammates.

Photo by Peyton Fulbright.

“It’s really helpful,” she said, “especially when you’re going out to competitions and their all sitting, watching such as when she got to choreograph a little red headed five-year old’s solo character piece where she dances as and cheering for you in the audience.”

As captain of the elite team one of the most discernable Pippi Longstockings. issues she has to face is how to unify the team.

Skawinski has been dancing since she was 3, and “It’s harder because everyone is different ages and along with getting the opportunity to teach dance to younger girls, this year marks her fifth year of competing different ages mesh differently.”

Although Skawinski is currently the oldest dancer from regional to national level competitions.

“Competition is what drives you to improve,” she in her academy, next year she will end up back as the youngest as she plans to go to Boise or Arizona to join said.

In her fifth year of competing, Skawinski is happy to their dance team.

“They perform at all the games, do appearances and be dancing with Soul Dance Academy, run by Cortnee Doll, which focuses heavily on competition rather than national competitions,” Skawinski said.

But until then, Skawinski still has 7 more competitions dancing just for fun. While Skawinski appreciates left in the year and will keep leaping across regional and the concentration on competing, the commitment to national stages to wow the judges. improving and preparing for competitions is rigorous.

CMR senior devouts her days to dance

N

by olivia rudio, features/entertainment editor o matter the elegance and grace senior Baylie Skawinski commands on the stage, she found how her control of a studio can easily by undermined by the wrath of a five year old. In Skawinski’s final year of dancing in high school, she’s only expanded her obligations to her love of dance. And while she certainly did not envision her senior year to consist of compromising with a cantankerous toddler making random animal noises, Skawinski said loves the opportunity to teach dance classes to younger girls.

“It’s kind of hard sometimes to teach little girls,”Skawinski said, who explained speaking to 4,5, and 6 year olds is like dealing with a language barrier.

Despite the hardships, she said teaching is worthwhile

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16 features

The Stampede 12.18.14

Tasha Schalin: Industrial Icon

Slushy Queen Sophomore Iris Kaiser takes over the concession stand slushy window by clara mcclain, staff writer

Senior excels in the welding workshop pays off for senior

by shannon o’neil, staff writer The harsh shrieking sound of metal hitting metal pierces the ears like a knife. Blowtorches bind together the pieces that will make a memorable metal masterpiece.

This work place sounds extreme, so seeing C. M. Russell senior Tasha Schalin in the midst of all this creation is a bit odd. That is unless you know she is a female wonder at the art of welding.

Since the second that she stepped into the Intro to Welding class freshman year, Schalin said she has had a ton of fun discovering the hidden skills inside of her that make up her tremendous talent in the industrial fields.

From that point on, she developed her skills even further throughout her high school years, except for her last.

“It’s a 7 a.m. class, and you know, [I’m] tossing around the possibility of [taking the college course],” says Schalin on why she didn’t take any welding classes this year. She did however take High School House and is enjoying her time there.

Schalin is a great example of how if you work hard at something, you can discover that you really enjoy it. Her former welding teacher, Paul Hogan, has nothing but great things to say about her work ethics in the past.

“[She] did a great job while she was in here,” he said. “I never had to tell her to go to work. She’s really good, [and when she] leaves high school it’s good [for her] to have those skills in [her] toolbox.”

Though she excels in the field of industrial creation, she has decided to make it more of a hobby than a lifestyle. “[It will end up] being bad for my eyes.

Plus there is premature aging that comes with working [with these materials],” Schalin said.

Instead of becoming a welder, she plans to become an EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) in the Air Force, where she can use her talent in the mechanical arts for years to come.

Top: Only one of the many great works that she has done, Tasha’s beautiful rose and flower pot, both made completely out of metal.

Left: Illustration by Shannon O’Neil.

Q: How much does abortion cost? getting an abortion may seem like the A: Although best way out of a hard situation, it’s much more expensive than the doctor’s bill alone. Besides the possible physical complications and the continuing guilt and regret that lasts for years, a child must die for an abortion to be “successful.” How much does an abortion cost? One human life.

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What started out as a joke for “Slushy Queen” Iris Kaiser turned into a really fun experience within the windows of the concession stand.

Apparently not everybody is happy with her claim to the throne.

“Logan and I jokingly fought about who was the real slushy queen, him or me, at the last meeting,” Kaiser said.

As a freshman last year, Kaiser decided to take over the slushy window while everyone else manned the popcorn machine. Even though there are a few strange customers, Kaiser said she likes preparing and serving the slushies.

“I had a guy ask if we had a fried chicken-flavored slushy once,” Kaiser said, still a little confused about the request.

Most of her customers are in and out with their desired cold drink with no fuss, but occasionally she gets a few who decide to waste her time and the time of everyone in line behind them by getting distracted by the game. To add insult to injury, some people order more slushies than they actually need, but then Kaiser just takes the extras home to her family.

“We find stuff in the ceiling, and it’s a toss up for anyone that wants to take it home,” Kaiser said.

There was a basketball that was taken home, and Kaiser has a hacky sack that got stuck up there.

Even with rude customers, the slushy queen has a lot of fun and loves working with everyone at concessions.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Corda, Olson release debut album, form new band, share processes by jesse whiteman, staff writer Five people crowd behind a rectangular table in a bustling bar. Music plays slightly louder than the murmuring of the community members enjoying themselves as the afternoon begins to fade into the evening.

Slowly the lazy table is gently overtaken by people purchasing pristine copies of Joel Corda and the No Account’s debut album, “St. Somewhere.” The release party continues, and music teachers Corda and Steve Olson mingle with the incoming patrons.

As the titular song from the album comes on, the five present members of the six-person band continue signing each newly purchased album.

“It was great to see so many people come out and support us,” front man and song-writer Corda said. “It’s nerve-racking because you’re putting a piece of yourself out there.”

Corda said that support is helpful when creating art due to artists being “horrible at selling themselves,” and it is difficult to ask people to let the album “be part of [their] lives.”

The concept of the album, Corda said, was to try to make it relate to more than one group of people.

“I like the idea of an ambiguous symbol,” he said. “A good song needs to be universal.”

In order to achieve this goal, Corda said that each song must be unique in its creation.

“The process is incredibly different for each song. Some of them seem like gifts,” he said.

Corda emphasized that when writing songs, it is important not to force progress.

“I’ll write a verse or a chorus and I’ll let it sit for five years before it’s finished,” he said adding that he writes when “there’s something I want to write; something I want to say.”

In July, Corda gathered five other musicians: Steve Olson, Matt Johnson, Lindsey Nussbaum, Nikki Herzog, and Dusty Peterson.

“They’re such virtuosos. A lot of

them are composers and poets on their own,” Corda said.

Utilizing the creativity of each individual talent, the No Account relied on either chord sheets or nothing at all.

“Nothing’s written down,” violinist Olson said. “Every time we play pieces it’s different. You’re never happy with what you want to do.”

Olson said that the chord sheets did little aside from “making the process faster.”

“You just make it up. The chord sheet just helps prevent more mess-ups,” he said. “If you clash, you make things work. You just lean into it.”

In order to minimize major clashes, the No Account met up July to frame each song.

“We just had a couple jam sessions. [Then] we met in the studio and laid them out,” Olson said.

Olson said that the album’s story does not carry as much of an emotional bearing on him and some of the other members as it does with Corda.

“We’re all side musicians,” Olson said. “We haven’t been tortured and tormented by our craft.”

He still boasts positive views, however.

“I think it’s a great album.

It’s local talent.

Everything is down here in town,” Olson said.

“It’s a testament to Great Falls.”

“Just getting to hear my songs alive, that’s a big deal,” Corda said.

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Album above par

by jesse whiteman, staff writer The stories behind the music are what make an album good; more than the story told by the lyrics, but also the emotion that each instrument tells you to feel and what happens behind the scenes.

Joel Corda and the No Account’s premier album “St. Somewhere” – St. as in saint not street – is one such example.

While the music itself can hold its own, piecing together the story Corda, a music teacher at C. M. Russell High School, tells allows for a more emotional experience.

On the album’s second track, “Wyoming,” Corda asks the question “why can’t I stop missing you?” in the chorus and why he would want to be anywhere but by, the implied, her side. “[Wyoming is] a love song to my wife. I was doing some professional acting and we were separated for the summer,” he said. “For us we needed to be in one place.”

The song then changed its meaning from “why am I here” to “why would I choose to be apart from the woman I love,” Corda said.

Extending beyond the individual song, Corda said that the album addresses choices and decisions made in life.

“The world will do stuff to you, and you have to decide how to react,” he said.

This song also shows an Achilles heel of the album: the instrumentation.

Each and every song was improvised on the spot in the studio resulting in some interesting sounds, but at times it felt disorganized.

It makes each instrument have equal importance in their moving lines so one would have to focus on individual parts instead of the music as a whole.

In certain songs, this can make one focus solely on Corda’s lyrics or Steve Olson’s occasional runs leading from verse to chorus.

The album does use some unique instruments like a didgeridoo and an accordion, which adds variety.

“St. Somewhere” is overall a good album, but it just seems to be a little short of being a great one.

18 entertainment

Charlie Brown spikes the spirit

The Stampede 12.18.14

Review

Charlie Brown cast brings on the Christmas excitement

by jara wilkinson, staff writer Of all the scenes in “You’re a good man Charlie Brown” the supper time act, really spoke out to this dog owner. It reminded me of my dogs reaction to dinner time. And Snoopy’s act made me fall off my seat laughing.

Anna Evans, a junior at CMR, proved her spirit and excitement during the nights of December 1113. She assisted in the production by playing the role of Snoopy. The dog couldn’t have been played better. She pranced around the stage, she sang her heart out, and put on a big boom at the end.

Along her side, senior Anthony Tanguma showed off his talent by creating the set design. He also played the role of Schroder. Although being an understudy, he acted as if he was born to do so.

With a last minute health scare of whooping cough, senior Logan Kropp pulled threw, and also pulled out an outstanding show. He was the main role as Charlie Brown. He danced around the stage, and led off quite a few songs.

The role of Sally was played by junior Kaylee Osentowski. She was in charge of the choreography, and also incorporated her background of the Wranglers. She worked hard, and let her voice be

heard.

The lovely role of Linus, was played by De’Angelo Sterling. Being the only sophomore, his voice was heard, and he had the crowd almost falling off their seats.

Last but not least showing her passion of performing, and a past of drama junior Kathleen O’Dell played the role of Lucy. Being in drama since her freshman year, being a part of this high school production was an honor.

These students came together as a drama family and created an amazing show. The amount of excitement the cast brought into the auditorium was felt as you walked through the door. The ninja’s took care of the set between acts, while the cast took care of making the audience laugh.

Leslie and Chris Evans are also ones to thank.

They have been running the drama department for five years now. Putting up with the students is easy, but pulling off an amazing show is a bit of a harder task.

The set was put together, with lots of tears, sweat and effort. However, it was pulled into a masterpiece.

In all: Kathleen O’Dell; Logan Kropp; Brady Bridgeman; De’Angelo Sterling; and Kaylee Osentowski; practice during a dress rehearsal

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SPORTS

19

Winter sports seasons get underway

by lindsay martinez, sports editor

During a win over Glacier Dec. 12, senior Zach Harper (33) makes a no-look pass. Photo by Peyton Fulbright.

Basketball teams aiming for trip to Butte

lindsaymartinez

Sports Editor

In the second weekend of March, scores of high schoolers will be heading to Butte and donning their spirit gear. That’s because the state basketball tournament will take place at the Butte Civic Center, just about 20 minutes away from Fairmont Hot Springs.

The main goal for the CMR boys basketball team is to advance to this event.

Zach Johnson is a senior post, and said of the Butte venue, “It’s a big floor, and it’s a different kind of basketball played on that floor.” Back in 2009, the state tourney was played in Butte and won by the Rustler boys.

Johnson said, “We have to play harder than the other team because we’re undersized ” to accomplish the team’s goals. So far, the Rustlers have won one game and lost another. They play tonight in Missoula against Sentinel High.

Like the boys team, the Lady Rustlers varsity team will have lots of new contributors. The squad has just one returning starter: senior guard Taylor Edwards.

Nine players from last year’s team were lost to graduation, but the girls are looking to improve this season, the second year for head coach Brian Crosby.

Unfortunately, the girls team had its first two games postponed due to whooping cough cases among team members. The games may be rescheduled. The team did play Tuesday night against Missoula Sentinel and hosts Helena High tonight.

Boys, girls swim teams earn early successes

The girls swim team has already tasted success this season, and they intend to keep that trend going.

The team ran away with a victory Dec. 6 in a nine-team invitational in Kalispell, and the boys took second at the meet.

Then, in a meet in Havre on Dec. 13, both the girls and the boys teams won.

Of course, the Rustler swimming team is no stranger to success. The girls team won every state tournament from 2008 to 2012, the latter being the freshman season of this year’s seniors.

Morgan Shaw was one of those freshmen the last time the girls team won state.

“It was really stressful,” Shaw, a senior, said.

Because the team had won four years in a row and wanted to win the fifth straight title, Shaw described the event as “very intense.”

She competes in both the 100 meter freestyle and 50 freestyle this year. She started her season by earning second place in the 100 freestyle and first in the 50.

For the girls to experience success this year, Shaw said, “everybody just needs to keep their head in the game, try hard, and practice hard.”

Shaw said she thinks the boys team also will be successful this year. Several key team members missed the Dec. 6 competition, but the team still swam to second place.

“They would have done a lot better [in the Kalispell meet] had those people been able to attend.”

The swim teams have a meet at 4:30 Fri. at the Great Falls High pool.

Practicing her strokes, senior Jaycee Baird works out Dec. 15.

Photo by Sarina Calaman.

With three games down and a whole bunch more to go, the basketball season is underway, and I have a request for Rustler fans.

Over the last three years, attendance at the girls basketball games hasn’t exactly been stellar. It’s common for the gym to be pretty empty and worse, quiet. Oftentimes, the only fans at the game are the players’ families and half a dozen subdued students.

There’s nothing more uncomfortable than playing in a nearly silent gym. All that can be heard is the squeaking of shoes, talk between players, and coaches yelling out commands. A hushed gym feels like a practice at 6 a.m. or one during a holiday break.

My main complaint, however, about empty gyms is that players can’t get excited in a silent venue. This is because everyone can hear you if you have an emotional moment when you get fired up and yell out something. There’s no crowd noise to swallow up talk on the court, and there’s no

Junior Noah Danielson faces off against his Bozeman opponent Dec. 9 in the CMR Fieldhouse. Photo by Peyton Fulbright.

Wrestlers looking to peak by state tournament

Although the team across the river has won the past two state titles, this year’s CMR wrestling team has winners too.

That’s because five members of the varsity wrestling team played on the Rustler football team that was the runner-up for the state title this fall.

One of those two-sport varsity athletes is senior Nick Grasseschi, who wrestles at 170 pounds. He said that Great Falls High sent 29 wrestlers to the state tourney last year, while the CMR team sent only 12 competitors.

Four of those wrestlers wound up placing in state.

Grasseschi has several goals for this season. One is to “get more people to compete” at state, which will be held Feb. 13-14 in Billings. He also wants to make it to the state finals and win, earn all-state for wrestling, and achieve academic all-state.

As for now, “we’re doing all right,” Grasseschi said.

He said the team has had lots of individual placers at duels.

However, Grasseschi said, “It’s not time to peak yet.”

In order to improve and get into top shape, the wrestlers will be practicing over the holiday break.

“You really see a lot of improvement there,” Grasseschi said of practicing while school is out.

“Christmas we can really take the time and hammer out some things.” He also said that the holidays are a good time to practice technical skills.

Before the break though, the Rustlers will compete in the Holiday Classic Wrestling Tournament.

other students to share in the excitement with.

Contrasting a quiet Saturday afternoon game against Havre, for example, is a Crosstown matchup. This is my favorite atmosphere to play in, because the student section is loud and their energy inspires athletes to play with passion.

Crosstown usually rolls around only twice a year, though.

The rest of the time, I can’t help but feel embarrassed when other teams come to play us and we have so little support. This year, let’s not allow the visiting school to have more fans than we have in our home gym.

Basketball is truly one of those sports where energy and excitement have a huge impact on the game. So, my request of my fellow C. M. Russell students is that they come out to the basketball games for the rest of this winter.

But, if I still haven’t convinced you that it would be worth a couple hours of your busy life to come watch a game, I’ll tell you this: the Lady Rustlers promise to always put forth our best effort and, if we can, be entertaining.

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The Stampede 12.18.14

20

Punter ponders past seasons

by jacob bernhardt, guess writer I don’t have brothers. I never had anyone to play catch or anything like that with other than my dad occasionally. My sisters certainly wouldn’t play with me. I wasn’t into football at all when I was young. I took summer tennis lessons because my mom forced me to, but soon found that I liked it. Once I went to public school in 6th grade, I was around more sports and played my first football game at recess one day. All I remember of that is that I caught the ball and ran one way, not even sure if it was the right direction. In middle school, I still wasn’t into football but I saw many of my friends playing and by eighth grade I was considering playing at the high school level.

My freshman year came and went and I didn’t sign up. I started attending football open gyms the spring of my freshman year and while I was probably the worst player there, I enjoyed it. I watched Remember the Titans, We are Marshall, and other football movies during that summer to try to get an idea of what football may be like. I expected up-downs at every turn, incessant running until you puke, and terribly rough practices.

But what I found was an atmosphere of encouragement and fun. The movies gave me a total misconception of how fun football really is.

I got more serious about the sport and started playing my sophomore Junior Patrick Brennan swims at practice Dec. 15. Brennan swims the butterfly and individual medley. Photo by Sarina Calaman. year. During that season I learned a lot about the game, but it took until the end of the season to even realize if the play called was even coming my way. Coach Crawford gave me the job of keeping stats, and while many past statisticians think it is a lousy job, I enjoyed it. I was able to learn the playbook more and stay more involved in the game.

I learned the playbook in the off season more and by the start of junior Like Packer, junior Tana Debolt appreciates year, I had improved. The JV team that year only lost one game and I knew by sarina calaman, staff writer Junior Megan Packer has a specific way of meeting new people. Debolt said she likes that if we combined some of the JV guys with the experienced varsity guys describing her experiences this season in swimming. swimming because McNamee makes it fun. She has the next year, we would go to state. I figured Glacier was our only real She claims that she and her fellow teammates are been part of the team for three years and plans to threat. We started the season with Coach Lowry ready to go and learn continue swimming in college. She hopes to attend every day. Coach Maki gave me the job of signaling plays at the beginning like one big family.

Packer has been on the team for only one year Carroll College even though it does not have a of the season which was great because it allowed me to be involved in the and said she loves every minute of it. She has one swim team. game.

Her expectations this season are to improve specific goal in mind going into her second season.

We became tougher with each game and the defense got better as the “I expect to be more relaxed this season,” Packer her butterfly stroke and become faster overall. year went. We accomplished so much by getting to the state championship Including in freestyle, her favorite stroke. She said and although we ultimately fell short of a win, our season was nothing said.

She said she gets really nervous when it comes she started to swim in seventh grade and has loved to hang our heads about. Our team this year became strong by our to a meet, but things that calm her down include swimming ever since. brotherhood of sorts. We overcame a lot of adversity and had a tough Unlike Packer and Debolt, German exchange schedule to boot. Even with that, our O-Line helped get Andrew Grinde listening to music, talking to teammates, and student Karl Reuther has never been on a swim 2,177 yards rushing; a huge accomplishment. Practicing every day gave me standing next to head coach Ed McNamee.

“He really calms me down, and I’m not sure team. something to look forward to. Going from just starting football all together In his hometown, swimming is considered three years before, I am glad that I chose to play in the end. The game why,” Packer said.

Although Packer loves swimming, she said more of a club than a sport, and Reuther said he and the atmosphere taught me a lot about life. After the 60 minutes had she does not want to continue the sport in college. did not begin competing in the sport until he was expired from the clock at Legend’s Stadium in Kalispell and football was She swims to stay active, busy, and out of trouble. 15 years old. over, I was sad it was done and went down the way it did, but couldn’t be “I swam on and off when I was younger,” said more proud of my team. To all of my teammates who became my brothers One thing she especially enjoys is the social aspect and how she has become friends with people she Reuther, who is a multitalented athlete and also and the coaches, who I looked up to through all the work both on and off plays tennis. wouldn’t normally talk to. the field, thank you. You guys changed my life for the better.

Just keep swimming: CMR style Expectations high for Rustler swimmers

sports 21

12.18.14 The Stampede

WRestlers prepare for

Holiday Wrestling Classic

Meet the Rustler Wrestlers

by april hummel, staff writer On Dec. 19, the fieldhouse will be full of wrestlers from across the state and from all classes of schools for the Holiday Wrestling Classic, which, according to senior Jared Dickson, is even more important than the state tournament.

“It’s nice to have everyone there to watch you wrestle,” Dickson said.

Dickson has been wrestling since he was four years old, he says wrestling is an art because everyone has his own style and wrestlers put their own flare on the moves.

For Dickson, wrestling in the Holiday Wrestling Classic is a family tradition, his dad competed in the Holiday Classic during his high school career. Wrestling has grown on Dickson throughout his time in highschool, he said, but the workouts are still his favorite. “ You get a good feeling afterword, like after a tough workout,” he said.

Dickson said that the two hour wrestling practices take his mind off the stress of the day.

For junior Jacari Murphy, the Holiday Wrestling Classic is a tournament that showcases the spirit of wrestling and the gathering of different schools.

“It demonstrates the coming together of different teams; it is a fun competition,” he said.

Murphy, who has been wrestling since seventh grade, said that the sport has taught him several lessons.

“It’s taught me discipline, will power, heart, and the ability to be persistent throughout all endeavors,” Murphy said, adding that wrestling itself, is a way to better not only your body, but your mind.

“I like wrestling because it is a great sport. It is a great way to stay in shape,” Murphy added.

When University of Great Falls wrestling coach Caleb Schaffer starts to recruit a wrestler he said what he looks for is the degree the athlete is going into, high personal character, high academic performance, and then the athletic performance of the wrestler.

When it comes to the Holiday Wrestling Classic, he said it truly shows who the best in the state are, as the wrestlers come from all over the state to comepte and from all class schools. “[It’s] one of the best [tournaments] in the state, it has a mixture of all classes, so [I] definitely get to see who is the best in the state,” Schaffer said.

For wrestling coach Aaron Jensen the Holiday Wrestling Classic is huge because of the meaning behind it.

“It’s important because it’s a CMR sports tradition. It’s been around for 40 years.”

Jensen also said that the Wrestling Classic is one of the best high school tournaments because it has state champions from all different types of classes. So winning a match at the Holiday Wrestling is better than winning the state tournament.

Jensen said that the Holiday Wrestling Classic shows how his JV and Varisty boys wrestle bettter then some wrestle off’s can.

For senior Jared Dickson his expectations for his last Holiday Wresltling Classic is to mostly have fun.

“My expectation is to win it but I also want to make it as enjoyable and as fun as I

Jared Dickson, 12

Nick Grassechi, 12

Tanner Grubb, 12

Weight: 160 lbs

Weight: 170 lbs

Weight: 145 lbs

Bozeman Duals: won 10-4

Bozeman Duals: won 18-3

Bozeman Duals: lost pinned in 1:48

Butte Duals: won 6-0

Butte Duals: won 18-3

Butte Duals: won 3-2

Payton Sexe ,12

Noah Durnell, 10

Weight: 205 lbs

Weight: 132 lbs

Bozeman Duals: won 6-4

Bozerman Duals: lost pinned in 1:16

Butte Duals: won 6-4

Butte Duals: lost pinned in 1:16

The Stampede 12.18.14

22

The plight of the student-athlete Sportsmen struggle with balance of extra-curriculars, school work, pressure to advance to collegiate level

I

by peyton fulbright, editor-in-chief n case athletics weren’t stressful enough, school compounds these difficulties for student athletes.

Between worrying about the presence of scouts and the risk of slipping grades, students such as junior Eme McLaughlin feel the pressures. McLaughlin has signed a letter of intent to play soccer for the University of Great Falls after she graduates, but she must maintain a 3.2 grade point average.

“It’s a lot of pressure. I told myself when this year started, before I signed the letter of intent, that I wanted to get good grades anyways this year, so it shouldn’t be any different. There’s still e-mails from other schools though, because it’s only a letter of intent, but I’m pretty set on going to UGF,” she said.

According to McLaughlin, scouts began looking at her more than a year ago.

“Sophomore year I had a really good high school season, so during all club-season scouts were looking at me and talking to me,” McLaughlin said.

Although scouts’ opinions are based entirely off of physical performance, their presence provides a set of mental struggles.

“It’s very mental. I worry that scouts won’t want me if I have a bad game in front of them,” McLaughlin said. “At the start of the game, I think about it, but then I’m sucked into the game after a few minutes and the stress goes away until the end of the game. Then I analyze how I did and wonder if I was good enough.”

Senior Dallas Farren shares the same feelings.

“Before the game, there’s definitely pressure, but it goes away when the game starts. I just get too focused to pay attention to it,” he said.

Farren isn’t completely set on his college decision, he believes that he will be going to Montana Tech of the University of Montana. After Christmas, he plans on making a visit to the Butte school, where he will stay in the dorms with a few football players and tour the facilities.

Photo illustration by Peyton Fulbright.

Many of his teammates received interest from schools before Farren, causing him a substantial amount of stress.

“You start to get really nervous when schools start to call some of your friends and they start getting in, so I was just waiting around to hear from a school, but then I finally heard from Montana Tech,” he said.

The pressure on student athletes doesn’t end after high school. It is amplified at the collegiate level. During the 1980’s, psychology teacher and defensive line coach Brian Greenwell played college football for the University of Missouri, where he experienced first-hand the pressures of being a student athlete.

While he never benefitted from special treatment, he believes that one of his best friends experienced “special favors” that would make his school experience easier, paving his way to a future National Football League career.

“I don’t know if it was set up that way, but it seemed to me that he got special favors. Now, this was 1985 or 1986. I would see that he had papers done, but he didn’t write them. He seemed to do well on the tests, though, so I always wondered,” Greenwell said. “To some kids, things were made available. I knew it, he knew it, and they knew it that he was going to the pros. The class I had with him was school law. It was a hard class. You learned how to govern schools, things of that nature.

He’d show up to class with his notes done for him. And you know he sure wasn’t the only one.”

While a conspiracy to build up an athlete may sound like a Hollywood storyline, Greenwell says its origins trace back to reality.

“You look at these old movies and see people getting stuff, in a folder. You might open it and find a paper you didn’t write. Things from the movies like that come from something, and that is real life,” he said.

Greenwell believes that the mass media has caused a major decline in academic cheating in college sports.

“It’s been brought to the forefront so much now that

people expect that to happen. There’s such a spotlight on the situations that it’s too hard now. Not saying that someone can’t write papers for someone anymore, especially in a big class with more lenient grading,” he said. “It still exists, now though kids aren’t necessarily instituted by the institution. The coach isn’t as much of an influence anymore.”

Greenwell says that actions of this nature could possibly exist at the high school level, but he personally has never seen it at CMR. He attributes this to a lack of necessity.

“If you pass all five classes in the spring, you’re eligible to play football in the fall,” he said.

Despite there being no rules preventing athletes with failing grades from playing, the coaches at CMR still place importance on their players’ grades.

“The ‘F list’ gets sent out every week, and the coach always addresses it to those players,” he said.

Greenwell understands the struggle of balancing extracurricular activities and school, and he reflects this in his teaching policies.

“I do that with everybody anyways. Everybody has a lot of things going on in life. I learned a long time ago that if you can’t be flexible, you’re not going to be well liked. The world’s a pretty flexible place. It really is,” he said.

McLaughlin struggles with the lack of time for study and recreation.

“Up until after the high school season, there are no free weekends. There’s a couple free months before club season starts, but I still train almost every day during the off-season,” McLaughlin said.

Farren relates.

“During the season, you practice every day. There are open gyms and lifting practices. There’s the game then one off day. You have to love it, and if not, you don’t belong there.”

12.18.14 The Stampede

How well doyouknow your

Rustler Athlete? by peyton fulbright, editor-in-chief You see them on the field. You seem them in the halls. You see them going to practice, but how well do you actually know them? C.M. Russell High School has one of the most prestigous athletic programs in the state, made up entirely of student athletes. Although they get attention from the media about their games, wouldn’t you like to know what they are really like? In this monthly feature, three in-season athletes will be profiled in a brief Q&A about their personal life.

What’s the most embarassing thing to happen to you?

Any time I make a funny joke, or at least it is in my mind, and nobody laughs at it.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to deal?

When my mom, my brother and I had to move in with one of her friends for the summer because we were without a house at the time.

What’s your proudest accomplishment?

Getting the Gatorade Player of the Year.

Who is your biggest role model?

My dad because he does hard labor every day for a big chunck of the year at our farm.

He’s fifty-years-old, but he has had great success with it financially and is a happpy man because of it.

Andrew Grinde, 11 Who is your biggest moustache role model?

White Goodman [From “Dodgeball”].

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to deal with?

Remembering that pressure isn’t somethng that can affect my life. Sometimes there seems to be a million reasons to stress.

One time I put my singlet on backwards right before a wrestling match.

Do you plan on wrestling in college?

I don’t plan on wrestling in college.

Then what does it feel like to know it’s your last season?

What’s the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to you?

Part of it gives me goosebumps knowing that this is a big part of my life that will be gone, but seeing how short it is and how little I have left makes it all the sweeter.

What’s the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to you?

Do you see a future in basketball?

Jared Dickson, 12

Walking into the guys bathroom at the start of last year, at my old school.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve had to deal with?

Moving. I’ve been to three high schools, so meaving a lot means new friends, new sports teams, so scouting is hard. Getting comfortable.

Briana Easton, 12

Definitely. A bunch of east coast schools are looking at me.

Who is your biggest role model?

Candace Parker. She’s an amazing basketball player, and she shows a lot of effort when she plays. She plays a position I would like to play in college, so she shows me confidence. Also, whever her team is losing, she motivates them. She’s a good team leader.

sports 23

RUSTLER STATS The wrestling team started their season with a 3rd place finish out of 12 teams Dec. 6 in Havre On Dec. 6 the CMR girls notched 338 points to win the Kalispell swimming Invite The wrestling team has 5 members who were on CMR’s 2nd place football team The girls basketball program has 5 players who also were on CMR’s championship soccer team The boys and girls swim teams earned 1st place Dec. 13 in a Havre meet.

The boys basketball team opened with a 17 point home victory over Glacier High School

24

The Stampede 12.18.14

Bewitched

The Addams Family

“The thing I remember is when people would twitch their noses like the show.”

- Terri Dahl

“One of my favorite shows as a kid. I always watched it with my family.”

- Mike Lathrop

Creator: Hasbro

Created by: Charles Addam

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Ford Mustang

Lucky Charms

“The absolute best Christmas movie of all time.”

- Jennifer Packer

“My first car I ever got to drive. It was a 1964 and a half.”

- Dawn Thompson

“My kids picked out all the marchmallows and ate only them all the time.”

- Shawna Miller

Created by: Robert L. May

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Co.

Manufacturer: General Mills

TURNING 50 Diet Pepsi

Manufacturer: PepsiCo.

“I love diet Pepsi. I can never go a day without it.”

- Andrea Carroll

Belive it or not but CMR isn’t the only one who’s turning 50 this year. Memories of past shows, foods, and more are also hitting their 50th celebration. page by tamara miller and jj mitchell

G.I. Joe

Creator: Hasbro

“My kids’ all-time favorite toy to play with, they always had it with them.”

- Mary Breuer

The Underdog Show

The Rolling Stones

“I always remember the saying “Have no fear, Underdog is here.”

- Earlene Graham

Marching band and Golden Spurs form the CMR. Picture from the 1966 Russellog.

“I remember about them is Mick Jaggers lips and the song “Start me up.”

- Janette Kemph

Jeopardy

Buffalo Wings

Gilligan’s Island

“Wings always mean you’re with friends and watching football.”

- Mike Beck

“Stupid show! It never made sense to me that the people had unlimited outfits and gear for a 3-hour tour.”

- Beth Britton

Created by: W. Watts Biggers

Program Creator: Merv Griffin

“It helps to see how smart or stupid you are; it’s always fun.”

- Pam Dougherty

Years active 1962-present

Created by: Charles Addam

Aried from 1964-1965

Arby’s

Manufacturer: Leroy Raffel, Forrest Raffel.

“I love the lean roast beef, I always get it.”

- Brian Held

Kelloggs Pop-Tarts Company: Kelloggs

“Pop-tarts ARE life.”

- Chris Hibbert