STAMPEDE 2021-2022
SPORTS ISSUE
OCTOBER 2021 c. m. rUSSELL CHEERLEADERS
Photo by Isabel Foley
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Editors
EDITOR IN CHIEF Kerrigan Edwards PHOTO EDITOR Isabel Foley EDITOR Marissa McMickle
Staff Amillia Threadgill Ashley Lugo Roman CJ Kiernan David Case Emily Carter Jack Sparks Jessica Moore Jordan Clark Justin Bollich Kayla Muston Madison McMurphey
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 copies 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 letters 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 or Newspaper Editors/KRT Campus High School Newspaper Service.
03 GOLF 04 CROSS COUNTRY 05 VOLLEYBALL 06 FOOTBALL 07 SOCCER 08 BASKETBALL 09 SWIMMING 10 WRESTLING 11 SOFTBALL 12 TENNIS 13 TRACK AND FIELD
03
The Stampede
Rustlernews.com
GOLF
Photo by Izzi Rukavina
hitting the
Links
Juniors make their mark on the course Brady Corn, 11
Starting fgyfydrfyfytonly this year, a junior takes his swing. fyftygfyhgfy One doesn’t always think of golf as the most intense sport, and it certainly isn’t. “It’s relaxing, and it’s more of a mental game,” eleventh grader Brady Corn expressed in an interview. Corn describes preparing to play as needing to “get into the thought process.” This being his first year, the golfer said, “I felt like I made a lot of improvement.”
Tristan Zaremski, 11 Planning to play again next year, Tristan said “I’ve been playing golf since I was 6 or 7.”
“We’ve had our ups and downs this year,” he stated, but said that they had a pretty good year. BY DAVID CASE AND SIERRA HIGHWOOD, STAFF WRITERS
Olivia Martello , 11 Alex Madsen, 12 “This season was definitely tricky [because] the schedule is really hard. [Also], a lot of our girls were a part of Homecoming [which was the same day as state].
Brevyn , Goosen, 12 “[After I graduate], I plan of playing for fun.” Photos by Isabel Foley
Since fgyfydrfyfytshe was about ten years old, Olivia fyftygfyhgfy Martello has been enjoying herself while playing golf. “I did lots of girls golf camps as a kid,” Martello said. She went on to state that her favorite part of playing was her teammates. “[We’re] all very close; we all hang out together.” When asked about her improvement, Martello said that she definitely did better this year. “I didn’t get in my head as [easily] as I did before.”
04
The Stampede
Rustlernews.com
CrossCountry
The man who runs every day BY JACK SPARKS, STAFF WRITER Sometimes, running Brady has been isn’t just a hobby; it’s a way coaching for 51 years, of life. For C. M. Russell High starting after his college School cross country coach days. Starting at Great Falls Branch Brady, running is an High School with his sister, activity that he did every day he has met, coached, and without fail for 34 years. ran with thousands of people. “Well, I had a string He enjoys helping kids learn going and I lasted [until] to run and appreciate the fact about five years ago. It was that they are runners in order 34 years and seven months, to help create the desire to eight months, and you run continue running for years to every day without missing a come. day,” Brady said. “My sister came Picking back up back from college. I’d run in with running every day, Brady college, and my sister was has started running every a head coach at Great Falls day again for the last 3 years High and she asked me to and hopes to continue. He help her and I’ve been going was never discouraged when since then,” he said. he ran, but did feel it was Brady started inconvenient at times when running for cross country he would have to jump out of during his senior year of bed because he’d forgotten high school. He recalls that to run that day. he initially got into it when
Q&A With Cross Country Captains
Ashton Blake and Hannah Bingham, Boys and Girls cross country team captians, stand side by side on Sept. 12. Photo by Jack Sparks
the coach at his high school “came and said you’re going out to run.” He also tried track and field, and says he is drawn to both equally and certainly appreciates the presence of both in his life. Brady is glad he’s spent so many years running, and doesn’t regret any of it. He runs at cross country practices with his students and has a wednesday night running group that he actively goes to. “This is literally my life. I connect with kids and connect with other adult runners. We have even a Wednesday night running group that all runners and we meet every week. [Everything has] allowed me to meet hundreds of kids. I’m sure it’s thousands by now.”
Ashton Blake Hannah Bingham
&
BY JACK SPARKS, STAFF WRITER Q: What is your favorite Q: How long have part about being the you been doing cross Boys’ team captain? country? A: “I’ve been running all A: “Being the boys captain four years of high school, has been unique for me, in elementary school, especially in the realm of [and] middle school.” sports. I’ve had a lot of other leadership roles but Q: What made you decide this one has been cool. To to do cross country? be with teammates that are relatively new to the A: “A large part of why program to kind of set an that cross country is example for some of the because my family is in up and coming runners a strong position with all that will soon be taking my older siblings. And it’s the stage as mentors, something that I’ve never there’s several kinds of really questioned as to new features.” whether or not I want to do this. I just decided to do it because my older siblings have all set an example.”
Q: How long have you been doing cross country for? A: “This is my fourth year in highschool but I’ve been running since kindergarten.” Q: What’s the big thing that made you decide to do cross country? A: “Originally, cross country was a way for training for my other sports, but eventually I just really fell in love with the people in the community, they really motivate you to be the best.”
Q: Is cross country your favorite sport? A: “To this day, cross country probably is not my favorite sport. But just because of the competition aspect of it, I really love the ease of just running.” Q: Do you have any plans of doing cross country in the future and through college? A: “When I go to college, I really want to join a running club, even possibly a marathon club, but by no means do I want to compete at the enterprise level.”
Rustlernews.com
05
The Stampede
C. M. Russel atheletes play Volleyball on Oct. 7 against Bliings and Skyview. Photos by Jack Sparks
BY AMILLIA THREADGILL, STAFF WRITER Since fourth grade, For six years, senior Jordan Belote has pursued sophomore Maddie Belote has something she absolutely been doing something she loves. And this year, her last really loves. This is her second year on the team, things just got year doing this here at the sweeter. Belote is a defensive school. Playing as the libero specialist on the volleyball team, on the team, Maddie is making which is currently undefeated her way through the volleyball for the 2021 season. She said team. One thing she is looking she is looking forward to the forward to is playing X-Town opportunity of winning state, this year. She also really enjoys adding that they have come the fact that she gets to play with close before. Her sophomore her friends on the team which year they came in third place, makes playing more fun. She and in her junior year they also thinks that there should be made second place. Jordan more players because volleyball became interested in the idea is something that is really fun to of volleyball when she saw her do and participate in. She really sister playing it. After seeing her enjoys playing and is looking sister join, she decided it was forward to the years ahead. something she wanted to do.
VOLLEYBALL
Hillers discuss relationships in Volleyball
BY ISABEL FOLEY, PHOTO EDITOR In his 28th year coaching, one CMR coach has not lost his love for Volleyball. “I love building a program. I like taking programs that maybe aren’t in the best place, and then [creating] a place that’s healthy and positive that has a lot of success for young women to play,” Nathan Hiller said. This is his 5th year at CMR and he has had much success in that time. Hiller said this year has a great outlook for the team and that they are shooting to win state. “Our goal is to get to divisional and try to win divisional and then get to state and try to win state,”Nathan said. Two years ago the team took third place and last year, they placed second. He said he is looking forward to the success the team holds in their future. “This is absolutely the best volleyball team I’ve been around when it comes to every aspect, every portion of the game, defense, offense, IQ. This is the best team I’ve ever coached it’s exciting to see what happens for them,” Nathan said Having coached at many other schools, Nathan said that CMR has something that other schools don’t: support and discipline. ““The administration really has a lot of support for their coaching staff and for their athletes,” he said. Nathan said that along with the support from administration, having enthusiastic athletes is incredibly helpful. “I have a lot of girls that really enjoy playing volleyball, which makes my job really easy,” Nathan said. He said that as well as being good athletes, the majority of his players do well at balancing school and sports. If they ever need extra time, he is more than willing to give that extra time. “I like to always tell them if they ever need time, if they ever need a break from practice, if they ever need more homework time or time to study their academics always take precedence over volleyball,” Nathan said. One player on Nathan’s volleyball team has advice for maintaining the balance of sports and school. “I would say to take care of assignments and things early because then sports can be fun without being overloaded with other things,” Tennison Hiller said. She said that this balance is not normally an issue for her as she enjoys doing assignments. “Balancing school and sports isn’t too hard for me because I usually actually love doing school work.” Tennison said. Aside from the balance of school work, Tennison said she also has to maintain a balance in her relationships with her dad. Tennison said that it has taken a while for them to figure out the dynamic and separations of sports and home life but they are still close. “We are very close outside of volleyball and so we work to bring the right aspects of that relationship to practice along with the right aspects of the coachplayer dynamic,” Tennison said. Nathan said that while they have their difficulties it is easy to remind himself of how much he cares for his daughter by looking at his phone, with a picture of her as the lock screen. “I remember when she was eight years old, the first day I let her actually play organized volleyball, and it’s pretty simple to look at that picture and be like, That’s my little girl,” Nathan said.
06
The Stampede
Rustlernews.com
Top 5 to Bring
Photos courtesy of Damon Cottrell and Vincent Murphy
01Pillow 2
FOOTBALL
Damon Cottrell Photo by Emily Carter
03
Two Chargers
Earbuds
4 Blanket
05
PHONE
Morris coaches players during warm ups on October 12. Photo by Emily Carter
Photos By Emily Carter
Time on the
Road
BY JUSTIN BOLLICH AND EMILY CARTER, STAFF WRITERS The football rustlers always have time to prepare for their next battle to prove their courage to the opponent. “Gives us time to flip the switch to be game ready,” says Damon Cottrell. Using the analogy of flipping the switch is how Cottrell describes the bus rides for their games. Taking the bus to out of town football games is a long journey, sometimes 3 or 4 hours each way. All the athletes, coaches, and managers, sometimes up to 40 in total, have to find a way to entertain themselves.
“Well someone brings card games or something, that’s pretty fun.” said Cottrell. For the athletes, the bus ride is time to prepare themselves for the game, physically and mentally. “Everyone just like gets hyped up right before we go out to the field and you’re ready to play,” said Vince Aggas-Murphy Win or lose, the ride back home is usually pretty quiet after the 1st 15 minutes. “[Its] super hyped up for like 15 minutes. Everyone sleeps afterwards,” said Murphy.
SOCCER Rustlernews.com
The Stampede
07
Two coaches have different solutions for a win BY MADISON MCMURPHY, STAFF WRITER At C. M. Russell High School, coaches play a big role in sports. For these coaches they have one thing in mind: team work. Girls coach Steve Skaer is looking for improvement from his team as the season is ending. “Our goals are to continue to improve and get better each and every game”,” Skaer said. He wants his team to be more competitive while heading to the end of the session. Skaer said he thinks that coaching is an extension of teaching ,and it helps his team get to know him outside the classroom. “I think it also gives the girls a perspective on me ,and I get a different perspective on them outside of the classroom, which is such a joy,” he said. Being valued and letting them just come together as a family, he said. “I just want them to know that they’re valued and that they play an important role whether they are standing on varsity or coming off the bench in a JV game,” he said.
“Last year, we lost our playoff game and I think, even though it’s a different team than last year. He added. I still think we’ve got a lot of room to improve,” Skaer said. Kumal LaCasse, the soccer coach for the boys, thinks success is a great way to finish up the season. “I would like to let them see what it feels like to have a win, let’s finish with a win,”he said. Before he coached”,”, LaCasse played soccer in England. In England, people live and breathe soccer, also known as football over there. “It continued to be a passion of mine and I just love training young adults,” he said”,”. When it comes down to motivating his team, he said that they talk about family. They play for each other and after a game they always pick each other up like a family, he added. Not only that, LaCasse wants to finish strong no matter what the outcome is. “We’re going to push and keep trying to get better,“ LaCasse said.
What do you feel is the hardest part of soccer? “There is a lot of running in it, like staying in shape is a big challenge.” Darby Everhart, Freshman “Chemistry and working with your teammates.” Connor Broast, Sophomore “Being able to oommunicate on the field when it’s intense.” Jazmyn Goosen, Junior Photo by Amber Kegel
The Stampede
Rustlernews.com
08
Kendra Smith blocks shot from opposing team member. Photo Courtesy of Kendra Smith
KENDRA SMITH
BY KERRIGAN EDWARDS, EDITOR IN CHIEF After playing for two years on the C.M. Russell basketball team, senior Kendra Smith decided to take another path to continue her experience on the court. Smith is involved in the Heisey center and all that they do with basketball. As well as playing in a separate high school league, Smith also finds another way to get involved. “Right now, I’m coaching a first and second grade girls team.” But, her coaching overall does cover kids from kindergarten all the way to middle school. Smith helps out with a variety of summer camps. Her involvement in the Heisey camp is all due to one of her middle school coaches. Smith was asked to volunteer for the basketball camps, and then after reflecting on her performance, she was hired. Smith enjoys her job and working with the kids. “I want to further my career with children, and they’re fun to work with, and you never know what to expect out of them.”
BASKETBALL BY JORDAN CLARK, STAFF WRITER For one senior, passion for the court started early on. “I just always loved it from a young age,” Rosie Burke said. As a little girl, Burke started playing basketball for Heisey to make friends and stay active. Since then, the sport has turned into much more for her. Burke is getting ready to tackle her Rosie Burke plays crosstown final season of CMR basketball, and there basketball against Great Falls are certain things she’s been looking forward to. Her favorite team tradition, she said, is the High. locker room dance party before games. Photo by Amber Kegel
ROSIE BURKE
“My goal really is to have fun,” she said. Although basketball is fun, there are challenges that come with it. According to Burke, the biggest challenge is when they lose games, but she says it motivates her to go to practice and prepare herself for the next one. Her motivation doesn’t just come from herself, however. When things get tough out on the court, Burke said her team is what keeps her going. “When we lose a game, we all motivate each other to work hard to win the next game.”
ROGAN BARNWELL
Rogan Barnwell plays basketball. Photo by Amber Kegel
BY KERRIGAN EDWARDS, EDITOR IN CHIEF For Senior Rogan Barnwell, his time on the basketball court has shaped the way that he acts as an individual, and taught him that hard work surmounts all else. Basketball has “taught me how to manage my time and that if I want anything in life, I have to work hard for it. I can’t just sit back and watch everything go by. I have to practice,” Barnwell said. Over the course of the last four years, Barnwell has been shaped by a multitude of individuals and credits part of his successes to them. One mentor that stands out is University of Montana alumnus, Kareem Jamar. Barnwell started practicing with Jamar and has developed a strong respect and connection to him over the span of their relationship.
Jamar now plays professional basketball for Austria’s Kapfenberg Bulls. Barnwell also mentions that his relationship with his coaches and team members is also a valuable part of the sport. His coach, John Cislo, has helped him understand that “there’s you can learn a lot about life and then a lot about the game. It just teaches you both sides.” Along with the relationships that Barnwell builds within his high school team, the friendships he has made solely because of his participation in the sport are valuable as well. “I actually have quite a few good friends from around the state from just basketball. the relationships that I’ve created with other people through the game of basketball,
Rustlernews.com
09
The Stampede
Lepard discusses love of swimming
Photo courtesy of Paige Lepard
BY ISABEL FOLEY, PHOTO EDITOR For one senior, swimming has brought discipline, commitment, and her best friends. “Most of my closest friends I have met through swimming. It’s taught me so much about hard work and dedication as well as time management,” Paige Lepard said. She said that staying on top of homework can become a struggle at times but having everything written down really helps her. “The best advice I have would be to invest in a planner. It really helps me keep track of everything I need to get done,” Lepard said, adding that staying off her phone while doing homework benefits as well. She said that she usually does her homework during her open periods or on Sundays during swim season. Despite the amount of time required Lepard has kept at it, she is going into her ninth year of competitive swimming, but does not plan to continue in college. “It’s such a commitment and I want to leave the sport still loving it. I think if I continues throughout college I would end up hating it and would never come back to the sport,” Lepard said Though she said that she has always loved to swim, at first, she said she hated the idea of competitive swimming. “I loved swimming but hated the idea of
doing it to compete. My parents wanted me to do it for discipline, so I did a two week trial and loved every second of it,” Lepard said. She said that the people are truly what makes the program so great. “The highschool program here is like no other athletic program I’ve ever experienced. It’s truly incredible and so hard to explain how great it is unless you have experienced it yourself,” she said. Along with swimming, Lepard said she also participates in Track and Cross Country, though swimming is by far the most demanding. “Swimming is by far the hardest sport I’ve done and I’ve done a lot of [sports],” she said, adding that she believes most people underestimate how close the team is, and just how taxing swimming can be. “I think most people don’t know how exhausting the sport is and they don’t realize how close we are; it truly is one family,” Lepard said, encouraging anyone who can to join swimming this upcoming season. “If you don’t do any other winter sports you should try out for swimming. If you stick with it, I guarantee it will pay off. The practices are hard but the coaches and teammates are so invested in the success of each swimmer, no matter who they compete for or how good they are.”
The teams’ journey towards Swimming
BY ASHLEY ROMAN, STAFF WRITER Kyle Carroll is really excited about what is coming soon. Though Carroll gets stressed from swimming he feels the need to work hard towards what he is passionate about.
“Having stress means you care,” said Carroll. Carroll has been swimming all through his high school years. As a team they do distant sprints, swim together, stay positive, and their coach gives them motivational speeches. Carroll understands the way his coach, Ed McNamee feels about swimming. “Mac screams during practice because he used to be in the military.,”
he said. Carroll likes to put all his focus towards swimming. As a team, Carroll wants to make sure everyone is okay and tries to stay in a positive energy. Throughout her swimming career, Onika Gray has built a connection to the sport. “Swimming is one of those sports that you can do forever.” And that’s what she intends to do. At a young age Gray had a family who
gave her swimming lessons. Growing up, Gray has been going to preseason swimming to stay in shape. “Pre-season is one of the first step to be getting in shape and have a good swim season” Gray said. From experience Gray knows that nothing is perfect, “Don’t be upset with yourself if you’re not perfect because it’s unachievable,” Gray said.
SWIMMING
10
The Stampede
WRESTLING
Rustlernews.com
by Jack Sparks, staff writer
Sports vary in many ways, but there is one common factor that all athletes must face. That common factor is the amount of work you have to put in. For Gabe Price, a senior at C. M. Russell High School, the hours and difficulty of wrestling has made the sport even more rewarding. “[The hardest part is] definitely the practices leading up to tournaments and big duels,” Price said.
Price has been wrestling since 6th grade. He first got into wrestling just to try it out and see if he liked it or not. Now, he has placed in state tournaments and beat many “higher level guys than I thought I could.” For Price, as with many other wrestlers, losing weight has been a challenge for him. In his sophomore year, Price recalls that he had to cut 10 to 20 pounds each week and that it was a struggle.
CMR wrtestlers compete against opposing teams. Photos by Amber Kegel
Price stated that during his junior year, it wasn’t as hard for him and that his sophomore year had been particularly tough. One of the main contributors to weight that he has to cut out is water. He has many ways to try and help get rid of water weight, but it can still be a struggle for him. “We wear 4-5 layers to sweat out, a bunch of water weight you spit in bottles, and stuff.”
Q&A
BY MARISSA MCMICKLE, EDITOR
How long have you been coaching?
“This is my 13 year and I was an assistant coach for two years over at Great Falls High [School].”
What is one of the best parts of coaching?
“I think wrestling is a physically and mentally demanding sport so when you see kids work hard and achieve goals and make breakthroughs they did think that they could, it’s pretty rewarding.”
What made you want to go from wrestling to coaching?
“I had some really influential teachers and coaches in my life growing up and I wanted to be able to give that back to kids in the future.”
What is your favorite part about coaching?
“We’ve had kids win state in Billings and that’s always a special moment when those kids work hard for years and they achieve something and they get to be on top of the podium. That’s a pretty rewarding experience for the coach to see the kid put that work in and it pay off.”
MADELINE HAMMA BY KAYLA MUSTON, STAFF WRITER
SOFTBALL
The Stampede
Rustlernews.com
Ever since One thing to help kindergarten, Madeline prepare for the Hamma has had a lot upcoming season is of fun playing softball. going to open gyms She first started playing and training with in kindergarten and weights. she loved it so much ” I think we just need so she decided to keep the teams to go to a with it. She is a senior lot of our open gyms,” this year. she said. She is also When Hamma was 9 planning on going years old she decided to college with good to get on the traveling academics and where team for softball and she can play softball she loved it so much there to. that she decided to “ I would definitely like stay on the team. to play in college, but I Hamma wants to go to would first rather get a state this year. school that has good “Yeah, I think we academics, rather than have a better chance just go there to just Current senior Madeline Hamma plays making state this year,” play sports.” varsity softball. Madeline Hamma said. Photo by Isabel Foley BY KERRIGAN EDWARDS, EDITOR IN CHIEF
Dual sport athlete Abby Fatz spends her spring season on the softball field. Fatz predominantly pitches and remains as a second baseman and spends down time focusing on how she is going to play her position. “I’ve learned a lot of different techniques in playing, and just learned a lot of how to be better and learn new positions,” she said. Off the field, Fatz spends time bonding with her team and learning more about who they are outside of softball. “We had a few scavenger hunts around the school that were just fun to get to know people and dinners together, just to make good memories,” she said. Fatz got involved in softball from a young age and owes her participation to a family member. “My sister did it, and I just wanted to do it because she did.” Fatz has been playing softball ever since. Photos courtesy of Everhart and Fatz. BY KAYLA MUSTON, STAFF WRITER Since day one, Della Everhart fell in love with playing softball. She loves watching softball with her grandpa. “I grew up watching baseball and eventually watching softball with my grandpa, he was a big baseball player,” Everhart said. She has been playing softball for 11 years. “I started with T-ball around the age 4 or 5,” she said. She is now 16, so she has been playing for 11 years. She recently just had fusion tryouts. “I worked on hitting and fielding in my backyard with my little sister because she plays softball, too,” Everhart said, adding that she tries to get outside as much as possible. “I try to get outside and throw a ball as much as I can,” she said. A lot of girls are coming in this year to play. “Yes, a lot of girls [are] coming in this year,” Everhart said. She has not gotten a full experience yet because of Covid. She said she is hoping that she can have a normal season this year or at least as normal as possible. One of the things she likes about softball is that she loves to be loud along with other girls.
ABBY FATZ
DELLA EVERHART
11
Softball player Sydney Showen stands with teammates her sophomore year. Photo courtesy of Sydney Showen.
SYDNEY SHOWEN
BY KERRIGAN EDWARDS, EDITOR IN CHIEF Although junior softball manager Sydney Showen isn’t involved in all of the competing action, she is able to experience the rush that her teammates experience, all from the sidelines. During her sophomore year, Showen was given the task of manager and hopes to do it again. “Being a manager is still being part of the team. So I still have their energy and just being there with them. It’s just the same as playing basically,” she said. Softball has been a part of her life since the third grade, and Showen said she is happy to still be involved, without as much of a time commitment. “I just decided that it’d be easier for me to be a manager instead. So I could focus on school too,” she added. Showen values the relationships that she has built through softball and finds it important to recognize how her friendships have expanded because of her extended time with the team. The job of managers entails warming up the girls for practices, running the scoreboards for the varsity team, and traveling with the players during away games. Showen plans on staying a manager for the rest of her high school career. “I just really like the team and the coaching staff. And I think it’s just fun to have something to do other than school every day.”
Rustlernews.com
The Stampede
Walker reflects on upcoming tennis season
BY CJ KIERNAN, STAFF WRITER Sophomore tennis player Ryann Walker said she plays tennis because it’s a fun sport and it’s not that competitive. Walker said her favorite part of the game is playing with her friends, while her least favorite part is long days at tournaments. Walker said that tournaments can be long for a number of reasons. “If they’re cold or it takes a long time.” In the off season Walker said she likes to “practice with her friends.” In the coming season, she said she hopes to qualify for state.
12
BY JORDAN CLARK, STAFF WRITER For one student, tennis has given her so much to look forward to each spring. But there is one thing that really gets her excited for the season to start. “My favorite part is definitely the team,” senior Leslie Miller said. Miller started tennis as a little girl, following in her sister’s foot steps. Since then, she has found the ups and downs the sport has to offer. She said the hardest part by far is the mental aspect. Although it gets hard, Miller can count on her team to support her. “We’re like a big family,” she said. And to prepare for the season, Miller said she works out and eats the right foods. As a result of all of this preparation, Miller is hoping to improve as much as she can this season. “This season I really just want to get better.” Another goal she wants to achieve is to play singles one day and keep playing Tennis as a life long sport.
Teammates make tennis worth the commitment
TENNIS
Rustlernews.com
The Stampede
Q& A
Kamree Baumann
&David Bergstad
What are you doing to prepare yourself? Kamree “I will be running stairs all day throughout the winter and doing half marathon training after cross country” David “run every morning and night with my dogs and stay active during the day” What are you most excited for? Kamree “I am excited for team dynamics, because the distance isn’t very big which makes it feel more comfortable and more personal. My best friend’s run with me” David”[ i am excited for] long distance and hurdles” What is the event? Kamree” 1600 and 3200 which combined 3 miles that’s almost a cross country meet. It’s not a big change from what I am used to” David “long distance and hurdles as my sport”
David Bergstad jogging through the halls on Oct. 5. Photo by Justin Bollich
Brian Greenwell planning for the season at his desk on Oct.12. Photo by Justin Bollich
Coaches and athletes prepare for the spring season By Justin Bollich, Jess Moore, and Madison McMurphey, staff writers
Brian Greenwell, a psychology teacher at CMR has been coaching since 1989 so he knows how to prepare for the season. “We’ll basically have open gyms and still promote going to the weight room,”he said. He encourages kids to keep participating in other sports out of the season. The only thing that’s gonna be different this year is himself, he added. “I’m in the same position, I coach high jump but I am just in charge,” he said. He is looking forward to how laid back track and field is because it’s a little different then most sports. He also gets excited when the kids improve every year. “I get excited about seeing the kids come back and you see how much better they are,”he said. Watching the kids have success is one of his favorite things to see in his team and watching them feed off of the success. “my favorite part is to watch them progress through it and in any sport”, he said Unlike other sports you both coach and spectate when it comes down to Jazmyn Goosen practices long jump during track meet. Photo by Isabel Foley divisionals, he added.
TRACK AND FIELD
Kamree Baumann running in the hallway on Oct. 8. Photo by Jess Moore.
13