The Triangle, Issue 4, Vol. 103 by cnhsmedia

L L A E R ’ WE IN THIS TOGETHER

THE

TRIANGLE

Columbus North High School • 1400 25th Street, Columbus, IN 47201 • Volume 103 Issue 4 • Dec. 15, 2023

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Alex Osburn Ajay Singireddy Jasmine Yang

IN-DEPTH 16

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

IN-DEPTH TEAM Izzy Munn Sylvia Sasse Deshna Venkatachalam Lydia Weed

Examining the changes in school spirit throughout the years

PHOTO EDITORS Novah Ulm Grace Wheatley ART DIRECTOR Sylvia Sasse SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM Chloe LaVelle Brynn Stewart Deshna Venkatachalam STAFF Jocelyn Aguilar Sarynel Barbosa Nicolas Bowers Aidan Brown Liz Carrigan Gabe Carrillo Claire Davis Annie Green Jaedyn Greenlee Lois Guest Maia Jamieson Kiko Thompson Emma Warnock

ADVISERS Roth Lovins Rachel McCarver

IN MEMORIAM

ur sweet Kole David tragically passed away on November 15, 2023, at the age of 16. Kole was born on July 21, 2007. He immediately grasped his dad’s pinkie upon entering this world. This was a sign of the life that lay ahead of him. Kole fiercely loved his family. He cherished the time he spent loving and interacting with his two younger brothers and his little sister, yet his special bond was reserved for his momma, Kim. They shared a bond that can only be described as everlasting. Kole was a friend to many and was always willing to listen and help. His friend circle spread far and wide. His friends were not limited to any one school or group. He loved to communicate over his phone and pull all-nighters with his boys. He made friends easily and always wanted to be with them. Many of his friendships stemmed from his love of basketball. He played for many teams over the years. Kole worked very hard at basketball and spent countless hours with his dad honing his craft. He also loved riding 4-wheelers and UTVs. He could often be found making laps in the backyard while blasting the music he loved so much.

Most importantly, Kole gave his life to Jesus at an early age. He was baptized in the family pool many years ago. Kole is with Jesus and made whole today because of the blood of Jesus. Praise God. Kole will be missed by many. The loss of Kole leaves a great hole in all our hearts. He was an amazing son, loving brother, grandson, greatgrandson, nephew, and cousin. Kole is survived by his parents, Brian and Kim, his brothers Kael and Klay, his sister Kinley, his grandparents David and Jill Friedersdorf and David and Debbie Horine, his aunts and uncles, Mike and Kristi Conrad, Jeremy and Kelley Wright, Dustin and Karah Reoch, Brent and Amy Shewmaker and Kevin and Meghan Schafer. His cousins, Madison, Zane and Blake Shewmaker, Kaitlyn Conrad-Sprague (Kenny Sprague), Jacob, Joshua and Kenna Conrad, Jace and Kiah Wright, Dawson and Kendall Schafer, and Kyllian Reoch.

NEXUSPARK WELCOMES NEW BUSINESSES

NexusPark prepares to hist more medical practices and other services to the Columbus community

NEWS

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

NEXUSPARK WELCOMES NEW BUSINESSES

Students and event coordinators explain how they prepare for the Festival of Lights

St. Peter’s prepares an angel tree for the ones in need

NexusPark prepares to host more medical practices and other services to the Columbus community

DOUBLE THE DRAMA

STUDENT LIFE

CAN DO ATTITUDE

DOUBLE THE DRAMA

A glimpse into Student Assembly’s ongoing Can Drive

Behind the scenes of this years fall play, Clue

A look behind the scenes of this years fall play, Clue

PROJECT COMPLETION 10

Students and teachers explain the process for wrapping up a senior project

THE FINAL FINISH

Students are studying and preparing for finals

OPINION AI. APOCALYPSE

TWO HOLIDAY TALE

BUSINESS IS NOT GOOD

AN OKAY EVENT

Analyzing the upcoming effects of AI. becoming popular

With Halloween behind us and Christmas just ahead, a case can be made for one’s superiority Claire Davis investigates the reasoning behind closing restaurants in Columbus A review of the Game of the Year awards

SPORTS

THE STAGE IS SET 20

Members of the show choir share the preparation that goes into their competition season

CROSSTOWN COMPETITION 21

Boys and girls basketball players anticipate North versus East week

Editorial Policy The Triangle is the designated forum for student expression at Columbus North High School. The student staff chooses all content. Signed columns published in The Triangle express the writer’s personal opinion and not the views of The Triangle, student body, BCSC, administration, board of trustees or faculty of Columbus North. The Triangle practices ethical journalism by providing balanced and fair coverage as determined by community standards. The Triangle strives to achieve 100 percent accuracy by checking sources, spelling, and quotes and attaining multiple sources. The Triangle encourages letters to the editor, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter. The Triangle will not edit for content, but reserves the right to edit for

grammar and length. Letters should be submitted to room 1507 or sent via e-mail to administrator@cnhsmedia.com. All Letters much be signed by all persons involved in writing the letter, which the staff will check for validation. A letter sent via e-mail must be validated with a signature from the writer before The Triangle will publish it. If responding to a publication, letters must be turned in within one week of that publication’s distribution. In the event of death, The Triangle will run a standard obituary. Pertaining to work submitted via social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), The Triangle will only accept written submissions from the original poster and owner and will only publish entries with the permission of the original poster and owner. The Triangle will not edit submissions for content and reserves the right not to publish them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple submissions of the same topic, vulgar or incendiary

LASTING LEGACY 22

Senior athletes reflect on their time participating in winter sports

WHERE CHEERS COME TRUE 23

The Game Day Cheer Squad is going to Nationals at Disney

content. The Triangle will not publish photographs from Facebook. Posts on The Triangle’s social media pages by readers are owned by the readers and do not necessarily express the views or opinions of the staff. The Triangle is not responsible for their content and reserves the right to delete and report any inappropriate and unnecessary posts. By posting on The Triangle’s social media pages, the poster grants The Triangle permission to publish the contents of that post. In cases when a source’s information may bring ridicule or incrimination upon himself or herself, the editorial board reserves the right to cite the source as anonymous. The Triangle will never use composite sources and pass them off as anonymous sources.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Students and event coordinators explain preparations for the Festival of Lights

by Liz Carrigan design by Emma Warnock

photos by Grace Wheatley A city bus covered in Christmas decorations drives through the Festival of Lights parade.

TIMELINE OF FESTIVAL EVENTS

Festival Activities in Non-profit Showcase at the Commons

12:00-4:00

12:00-2:30

Pictures with Santa from Columbus Parks and Rec at the Commmons

NEWS

eople line the streets to watch elaborately decorated floats parade past. Children extend their hands expectantly, waiting for candy to shower down around them. Music fills the ears of all watching. Friends and family all gather to immerse themselves in the Christmas spirit encompassed within the Festival of Lights. The enchanting environment fills the hearts of all participants and viewers. The bright, colorful floats that proceed through the streets of downtown Columbus include an in-depth preparation process. Junior Ella Powell explained what the float building process looked like for the FFA float. “We are going to highlight our work with animals in agriculture,” Powell said. “We will have a large trailer being pulled by a semi. There will be lots of lights and music and fun. There will be farm animals on our flatbed trailer as well.”. Amy Berquist, one of the coordinators for the Festival of Lights, shares her involvement and favorite memories of the festival. “I saw the parade as a child [and] I participated the last time it was put on,” Berquist said. “[My favorite memories are] being part of the entry, handing out candy and seeing the kids having a good time.” Planning and participating in an event as extensive as the Festival

Santa’s Candyland Parking lot Party Location at Centra Credit Union on 5th Street

Reindeer Games with Columbus Parks and Rec Location at Centra Credit Union aon 5th Street

2:30-5:30

2:00-5:00 Sleigh Races at the Tony Stewart Foundation on 4th Steeet

of Lights can bring challenges. Berqusit shares the hardest part of her planning role in the event. “The hardest part is keeping track of small details,” Berquist said. “There’s so much that goes into it: safety, bookkeeping and making sure that marketing is complete. There’s tons of work behind the scenes.” Preparing for the festival brings a sense of anticipation surrounding the event. Senior marching band member Kingen Burbrink shares a few details about the band and his own excitement for the festival. “We are playing an arrangement of “Feliz Navidad” which is hype,” Burbrink said. “I am excited for the festival because it is my last time marching.” The Festival of Lights has been a part of the Columbus experience for several decades. Berquist shares how the festival is changing. “The parade has been a part of the community for over 30 years,” Berquist said. “This is our first year to be the one to organize the parade. It will feel a lot different this year. We plan to keep adding to it. We’re calling it “A new tradition begins.” We’re working on revamping the event.” Additionally, Berquist describes her excitement for the festival. “I’m excited for everything we worked so hard on to come together, and for the parade to be executed flawlessly and safely,” Berquist said.

4:00-6:00

6:00

Festival of Lights parade begins

Source columbusfestivaloflights.com

OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT St. Peter’s prepares an Angel Tree for the ones in need by Annie Green design by Jocelyn Aguilar

round the community, shoppers are visiting the stores, family members are cooking their holiday meal, children are nestled around the holiday decorations and multiple organizations around Columbus are getting ready to help families in need. Carol Wettschurack, a St. Peter’s employee, spoke about what happens behind the scenes of the St. Peter’s Angel Tree. “Members of the community that are experiencing financial distress are identified and interviewed,” Wettshurack said. “Once they qualify, a family may make a wish list of items they would like or need that could be purchased as Christmas gifts. These wish lists are individually listed onto a paper angel and given to local participating organizations. These organizations hang the angels where the public can see them and choose for themselves an angel they would like to “adopt” and then purchase the desired gifts listed on the angel they chose. The gifts purchased are then wrapped, tagged and dropped off at an “Angel tree” collection site.” Wettschurack also mentioned how the St. Peter’s angel tree is different from others. “St. Peter’s is different from many other collection sites in the way the gifts are distributed back to the families that made the original wish lists,” Wettshurack said. “St. Peters likes to make it a personal experience when parents or families come to pick up their gifts. Families are given hot chocolate and cookies, Each family is given an adult and a children’s Bible if they would like one. Each family is prayed

over and given a blessing before they leave St. Peter’s. And families are able to pick up a Christmas tree, and hats and gloves if they are needed.” Wettschurack lastly mentioned why St. Peter’s helps those in need. “For the past several years my family has helped distribute gifts to families, pass out Bibles and cookies and have been able to pray over families,” Wettschurak said. “I am always amazed at how generous people are to purchase so many gifts and take the time to wrap them special for each member of the family.” Diane Dadoup , along with Wettschurack, is involved with the St. Peter’s angel tree. Dadoup spoke about the Lincoln Central Neighborhood Family Center (LCNFC) being involved with the event. “Our program with St. Peter’s which we collaborate on is called photo by Alex Osburn ‘Angels of Love’ but it is a form Seniors Lison Cloteaux and Claire Edwards volunteer at the of an angel tree,” Dadoup said. Angel Tree at St. Peter’s on Dec. 10. “An Angel Tree is when families in need of holiday assistance register their children for presents. Then, organizations work with donors who ‘adopt’ a Statistics on the affordability child off of that list and provide of Christmas gifts Christmas presents for them.” Lastly, Dadoup spoke about how this organization differentiates itself from other angel trees. of U.S. adults said it has “What differentiates ‘Angels been more difficult to afford of Love’ is that very few the gifts they want this year organizations go up to the age of 18 and so we still accept children in the households up till the age of 18 as long as they are still enrolled in school,” Dadoup said “We would find it very disappointing to see your little siblings receive gifts, but of U.S. adults said they have you don’t because you’re older noticed higher holiday gift than them.” prices in recent months

HOLIDAY SPENDING

57%

69% Source CBS

NEWS

NEXUSPARK WELCOMES NEW BUSINESSES by Alex Osburn design by Sarynel Barbosa

NexusPark prepares to host more medical practices and other services to the Columbus community

n December 2018, the City of Columbus partnered with Columbus Regional Health and the Bartholomew County Heritage Fund to buy what was formerly Fair Oaks Mall. Their vision to transform the mall into a community space for recreation, medicine and wellness was officially named NexusPark in May 2021, and the facility has been undergoing construction since early 2022. The first Columbus Regional Health practice, OB/ GYN Associates, moved into NexusPark on Oct. 23, and other practices are slated to transition into their new offices beginning in January 2024. CRH Vice President of Strategic Facility Planning and Operations Dave Lenart is one of the board members overseeing the completion of NexusPark, and he describes what motivated the project’s beginnings. “[Mayor Lienhoop] saw the Fair Oaks Mall as a unique center point in the city that was going through an unfavorable change. As malls all across the county were transitioning to online commerce, brickand-mortar stores were becoming vacant,” Lenart said. “The vision was to improve the health and wellness of Columbus’ citizens through access to healthcare, fitness and sports. To accompany that vision, retail spaces would be included that would align with the vision and be another benefit to the community.” In the early stages of the project, COVID-19 presented its own obstacle to the

process of completing NexusPark. “Our largest challenge has been around the pandemic and its effects,” Lenart said. “The pandemic caused us to place planning on hold for close to a year as we worked to take care of the community’s needs at that time. After we came back together and started the project, much of our challenges were supply chain issues in getting equipment in time to meet the construction schedule.” After the community reconvened to begin work on NexusPark again, one part of the project involved deciding which medical practices would relocate to the new facility. CRH Associate Chief Medical Officer Rachel Reed describes this decision-making process. “In order to decide which practices and services would move to NexusPark, we assessed our current and future space needs and then aligned those needs to the health and wellness vision that we had for Nexus,” Reed said. “We wanted to be mindful that the services CRH placed at Nexus would fit well with the city’s plans to ensure a cohesive space in general. To that end, we prioritized moving the majority of our primary care offices to Nexus and made sure to include wrap-around services to create a more holistic experience for our patients.” Once these practices and services start operating out of NexusPark, Reed anticipates benefits in the community from a medical standpoint.

“NexusPark presents an amazing opportunity for both CRH and our community as a whole,” Reed said. “I’m excited to embrace innovation while we continue to deliver high-quality healthcare in the setting of exceptional experience. Nexus will afford our providers the opportunity to collaborate with their colleagues in a new way, share services and resources and develop and encourage best practices.” The opportunities NexusPark offers extend past just health-related benefits. Malini Patel, owner of Creative Eyes Eyebrow Threading, explains how NexusPark has remained a popular space, even through its transition from Fair Oaks. “This property, everybody likes it,” Patel said. “Even when it was a dead mall, people still came, walked around, and people liked to spend time in this mall.” Patel hopes that as the project comes to a close, the community will experience benefits from every aspect of the NexusPark vision. “In the future, hopefully, a lot of people come and the sports complex goes well, and kids enjoy the sports. That’s what we need, for young teenagers to play and all that,” Patel said. “So that’s a very good idea, to have that sports complex for the future of our kids so they can play, and this place is going to be nice in the future.”

NEXUS PARK MAP

1. Dunham’s 2. Creative Eyes 3. Rivera Maya 4. Valhalla 5. Nirvana 6. Mother Bear’s Pizza

7. Lucas Brothers 8. Carlos Pizza 9. Discount Shoe Source

8 5

photo by Alex Osburn

Stores still stand in conjunction with the new NexusPark space.

NEWS

4 2

CAN DO ATTITUDE A glimpse into Student Assembly’s ongoing Can Drive

by Gabriel Carrillo design by Aidan Brown

photos by Alex Osburn and Grace Wheatley

ith late fall comes the season of being grateful for the blessings in one’s life and enjoying great food with family and friends. The last few cans of vegetables, extra cranberry sauce or ramen packets that aren’t eaten can be donated to continue the spirit of giving. Thanks to the hardworking members of the Student Assembly, there is a place for such non-perishables to be given to those in need this fall. Senior Michelle Caldwell, the three-year Student Assembly member leading the Can Drive, gives insight into how the student assembly runs and organizes the annual Can Drive. “The Can Drive is put on by the Student Assembly every year and there’s two main chairs,” Caldwell said. “It’s almost always a junior and a senior, so that way there’s one person who can lead it and then for the junior it’s a two-year position. The junior

Doors were decorated in a door decoration contest to bring awareness to the Can Drive. will be next year’s senior and in charge of it, and so the Student Assembly can put it on every year.” Junior Neal White, the threeyear assembly member and co-chair of the Can Drive, shares how students can help out in ways other than giving cans and other non-perishables. “Students can get involved with Can Drive if they’re on student assembly, then it’s a lot easier of course,” White said. “But outside of that, if they want to get more involved, they could reach out to me or Michelle. We could probably help them get involved. We would be happy to help them with that.” Caldwell shares how the community is able to donate without being a student here. “So actually, how the Can Drive works is all the houses get little door hangers, and then the door hangers say when to set out cans,” Caldwell said. “Then we come around and collect them and then they end up at the

WHAT CAN I DONATE?

Christmas tree downstairs and in the Commons.” Leo Iorio, a member of Student Assembly helping with the Can Drive, connects the points of what he does for the Can Drive. “So I help with mapping all the maps, like all the routes that we go for the door hangers, and where we pick up the cans,” Iorio said. “I help create and distribute them.” Caldwell creates a timeline for when the Can Drive takes place and the important dates for students to remember. “We started collecting cans on Nov. 13,” Caldwell said. “That’s when we started boarding houses and the door hangers, and collections will take place from Nov. 13 all the way up until the last day before break, which is December 19, We have Can drive Day. Caldwell gives her goal for the amount of cans donated to the drive this year. “My goal is 10,000 cans,”

Caldwell said. “We used to consistently hit 10,000, of course COVID put a damper on that. White shares his thoughts on this year’s goal and what he hopes to accomplish next year when he becomes the chair of the drive. “Obviously, I want to surpass it, but the amount of cans has been a bit lower in the past few years than before,” White said. “So especially next year when I’m like the head person, I’d like to try and get it back to where it was before.” Iorio opens up about his favorite part of being involved in the Can Drive. “It’s a lot of fun, being able to help people with your friends and going out pretty much every night with my friends, but still feeling like I’m doing something good for the community,” Iorio said. “It’s a fun time because you basically get to hang out with your friends while doing something good for people.”

Fresh fruit and vegetables

Canned fruit and vegetables

CAN

Ramen and pasta products Beans and other non-perishables

CAN’T

Bread products Milk and other perishables

STUDENT LIFE

DOUBLE THE DRAMA A look behind the scenes of this year’s dual cast fall play, Clue by Lois Guest design by Jaedyn Greenlee

MAGIC IN THE MAKING

Q&A with Clue director Justine Lykins

photo by Alex Osburn

The director of Clue, Justine Lykins

What was the audition process like?

I saw so much talent that I couldn’t cut that many people, so I made two casts.

I had people come up onstage and read for certain roles based on what they chose as their most wanted parts.

How could students prepare for the audition?

Students received selections from the script in advance so they could prepare for the audition.

Why did you choose to make two casts?

How many kids auditioned for the play?

I had 50 kids audition for the show.

STUDENT LIFE

erves, excitement and adrenaline run through an actor’s veins before a performance. Memorized lines echo throughout their minds. All they can do is take a deep breath and get ready to immerse themselves into their character. The stage awaits, along with the audience, ready to see a successful and well put together show. This year’s fall play put together by the theater program is Clue, based on the classic board game and the 1985 movie adaptation. The performance was held during the second weekend in December, but rehearsals were held throughout the second quarter of the school year. Sophomore Bella Zigler, who is playing Henrietta Peacock describes what happens during rehearsals. “We have been working with tech, trying on costumes, working with props and we did a memorization exercise where we all sat in the audience and projected our lines to see how loud we were,” Zigler said. While the actors are practicing their lines, members of the crew are hard at work preparing the behind the scenes aspects of the play. Senior Aryan Tatnis is the house manager meaning he decorated the lobby and managed a concession stand throughout the performances. “Preparations go from after school to 5:30,” Tatnis said. “We go to the shop next to the auditorium and we build stuff, do stuff on the computers and just do whatever needs to be done that Justine wants.” Many cast members, including Junior Natalie Cantu who is playing Yvette, in the play used their own time at home to prepare for the play. “I watched the movie, and I have a friend that’s French so I had her help me with my French accent,” Cantu said. “I also watched other plays on YouTube to see what I could add to mine.” Research like this is essential to any theatrical performance and is crucial to not only the cast, but the outcome of effects and the set. “We watched the movie and we’re kind of trying to translate that into a theatrical performance,” Tatnis said.

”The script is pretty much the same so we’re trying to make [the effects] as identical as possible.” As an actor, a major challenge during rehearsals can be staying in the scene and keeping focus. The cast has to keep each other accountable in order to have a successful rehearsal. “It’s a lot easier when everyone else is focused, so I maintain my focus by reciting my lines and staying in the scene,” Zigler said. Keeping in mind how an actor wants to perform in front of the audience also keeps the cast focused. “I just embody myself in the character and I just focus on what I’m doing at that moment,” Cantu said. “I’m thinking about how I want to perform on the day of the show and what I want my character to give out to the audience.” Cast and crew have their individual rehearsal processes, but there is some overlap that includes collaboration between everyone. “There is a decent amount of cast members that are also doing crew stuff, by helping build, move and donate stuff,” Tatnis said. “They’ve been very helpful.” One unique aspect of acting is that everyone can interpret their character in their own way. This is especially significant in this play since there are two separate casts. “I auditioned with an accent and it wasn’t even part of the script and they were just like ‘you’re going to keep it,’” Zigler said. “The other Mrs. Peacock doesn’t have one, so I would say it’s different.” As a performance weekend approaches, excitement, nerves, and anticipation are at an all time high for any cast. “Right before going on stage it is really hard,” Zigler said. “Especially because you are living up to the expectations of the director because it is show time and she wants it perfect. I’d say the best way to cope with it would be expressing how you feel with your other actors and just push through because everyone makes mistakes.”

1 1

Junior Natalie Cantu plays Yvette during Clue on Dec. 10.

2 3 4 5

Freshman Izzy McGill plays the Cook during Clue on Dec. 8. Senior Colby Lovins plays Mr. Green during Clue on Dec. 10.

Junior Ben Stevens plays Wadsworth during Clue on Dec. 8. Sophomore Bella Zigler plays Mrs. Peacock during Clue on Dec. 8.

5 photos by Alex Osburn STUDENT LIFE

PROJECT COMPLETION

Students and teachers explain the process for wrapping up a senior project by Liz Carrigan design by Maia Jamieson

enior projects have been a photo by Novah Ulm tradition in BCSC for numerous SENIOR years. Encompassed within the project, students are able to PROJECT Senior Caleb Michael use their skills and passions for presents his senior project TIMELINE the betterment of our community. They on Dec. 6. learn to present their ideas coherently, involve themselves in various work PROPOSAL environments and develop character through service learning opportunities. Senior projects’ effectiveness is often debated. Senior Evie Hipwood explains her perspective on the projects. CREATE A “Yes, [they’re] definitely [effective], PORTFOLIO everything from the planning to the presentation required skills that high schoolers don’t normally require,” Hipwood said. “It was great practice for JOB presentation and see how proud they are with the real-world projects, both professional SHADOWING outcome of their project,” Miller said. and personal. Hipwood describes the mindset requirements Additionally, senior project advisor Scott Seavers needed for a successful senior project. shares his personal experience with the effectiveness “[You need] confidence in your own abilities to of the projects. SERVICE plan, execute and communicate,” Hipwood said. “I absolutely [would say projects are effective LEARNING “Also patience for not only yourself, but others who in the community],” Seavers said. “I became a fan you are relying on.” after I saw what the kids could do and what they Miller describes what her goal, as an accomplished; to see them pushed and grow and do administrator, for students’ Senior projects is. ADD THE things that they can’t do in any kind of a traditional “My goal as an administrator/ coordinator in RUBRIC FOR THE class.” Senior projects is to help students find a project that projects have many components that must ENGLISH PAPER be Senior completed in order for the project to be successful. they are passionate about and are willing to work hard to achieve personal success while benefiting the Seavers explains the physical requirements and ADD TIME LOG documentation needed. community,” Miller said. Senior projects are something students of all “There’s quite a bit of requirements. First of all, TO PORTFOLIO grades will eventually have to complete. Seavers we have to have a proposal, so we put together an idea and once we do that you have to have a portfolio gives his advice for students who are beginning to think about their senior projects. “Get your job created, and in the portfolio the requirements are, MENTOR shadow and service learning done. Don’t let that job shadowing, there’s two of those, for a total of 5 be a barrier or create some anxiety or problems hours, we have to have service learning which is 10 EVALUATION your senior year because you’re trying to cram all total hours plus a 500 word write up that goes with the other stuff in as well,” Seavers said. “Also, start that. Also, in the portfolio we will put the rubric for thinking about what they’re good at and for needs the english research paper, when you pass that and PROJECT SELF we also put in your time log, your mentor evaluation, in the community that they can fulfill and help somebody or help some organization out.” your project self-evaluation, and documentation that EVALUATION Finally, Hipwood, who organized and cleaned the you did the project,” Seavers said. VEX Robotics materials for C4 Engineering, shares Senior project coordinator Erin Miller describes the best part of her senior project experience. what makes a project stand out to her. DOCUMENT “[The best part was] showing my love for the “ To me, what makes a project stand out is the C4 department and the teachers who have forever student’s personal growth that is gained and also changed my life,” Hipwood said. how much the project benefits the community. I love it when I have the opportunity to hear a student’s

STUDENT LIFE

THE FINISHING FINALS Students at North are studying and preparing for finals

by Annie Green design by Emma Warnock to fail,” Edwards said. Along with Edwards, sophomore Toby Gover spoke about how he studies. “For me, studying and processing information, I do more efficiently alone, listening to music and when I am focused,” Gover said. Gover explained his favorite studying method and why it works for him personally. “My favorite study technique is flashcards,” Gover said. “I can just go through them and the repetition over and over helps me retain the information.” Along with Edwards and Gover, junior Alex ShortDuncan spoke on their opinions on the finals at the end of the semester and what they wish they could improve upon. “My anxiety and overthinking,” Short- Duncan said. “I often run out of time photo by Novah Ulm and I have a lot of testing Finals were Dec. 12-15 with alternating days and periods. anxieties where I second judge myself. Often, in the end, I get the question wrong even tudents rush and buzz around the though I was right the first time.” hallways at North during the last full Short-Duncan also mentioned why they week of school. Underneath all the fun prioritize studying. holiday anticipation, all the students “It helps you get good grades. Which, are preparing for the end-of-theobviously, is a good thing so that colleges will semester finals. want to have you in their school.” With every student having to take at least Short-Duncan lastly mentioned their favorite one final at the end of this semester, there studying technique and why it helps them. are multiple ways to prepare for a big test. “My favorite study technique is reading and Freshman Carly Edwards spoke about how she taking notes and then revising,” Short-Duncan prepares for each of her finals at the end of the said. “Reading and writing down notes and semester. revising because writing things down helps me “A study guide helps me study and process information better,” Edwards said. “I feel like on remember information more effectively.” Lastly, senior Amrit Kar shared his thoughts most study guides, teachers say, ‘this is what is along with Edwards, Gover and Short-Duncan. going to be on the test.’ As long as you study “Studying can help you remember the this, you’ll be fine for the test.’” material you’re being tested on so it’s Edwards also spoke on what she would like extremely beneficial to study so you can pass to improve on in the future. your finals,” Kar said. “Using flashcards helps me memorize Kar also spoke on what his favorite studying information for the long term,” Edwards said. technique is. Edwards mentioned her personal opinion on “Reading and writing down notes and when the best time to study was. revising because writing things down helps me “The best time to study is as soon as you can, around a week before a test,” Edwards said. remember information more effectively and my favorite study technique is reading and taking Edwards also spoke on what she wishes she notes and then revising,” Kar said. could improve on. “The ability to think I am going to do well on a test, rather than always thinking I am going

SMART STUDY TIPS 1. Make a finals game plan. 2. Study with others. 3. Prioritize getting enough sleep. 4. Stay hydrated and eat healthy meals. 5. Plan more time to study for your toughest classes. Source The Princeton Review

STUDENT LIFE

OPINION A.I. APOCALYPSE Analyzing the upcoming effects of A.I. becoming popular by Annie Green

ure, society has very mixed feelings on the thought of A.I. It can be used to benefit so many things and people. Different jobs and encounters have been changed forever with the help of artificial intelligence. But, will there be a step that’s too far? In multiple science fiction works, a robotic apocalypse has been occurring for decades, long before A.I. was even created. But, now with A.I. in our pocket everyday, is the end of the world closer than it appears? Artificial intelligence affects our everyday lives constantly. Without it, we would all be in a technological set back, and would hold us form our fullest potential. But, what draws the line between using A.I. as a helpful tool and cheating to get your way? What is drawing the difference between using A.I. as a resource and using it to help do your homework? The most recent phenomenon, Chat GPT, has been used by students all over the world. Chat Gpt can help you write essays, speeches, and homework answers in a matter of seconds. The web platform can create articles of words and it can create its own images by a user’s description. Along with Chat GPT, there are multiple different types of A.I.’s that can help people, or give them amusement. Another recent A.I. breakthrough is the A.I. voice users. With advanced technology, users can type in a body of text and have a celebrity, pop culture icon, or a historical figure read their heart’s wishes and desires. I see both sides of the artificial intelligence argument. There will always be the fear of the world coming to an end through technology, but what if we could prevent the world’s next big disaster through technology? Will humanity have a good judgment about right and wrong when it comes to Artificial Intelligence? At this moment in time, I feel as if there are more pros than cons. Sure, people use A.I. to their advantage to help them cheat through their goals and their tasks. Yet, A.I. can help multiple occupations and situations with just the lifting of a finger.

OPINION

TWO HOLIDAY TALE With Halloween behind us and Christmas just ahead, a case can be made for one’s superiority

by Emma Warnock hildren scream with excitement at the sight of unlimited neighborhood candy. The crisp, fall air flows through their hair, practically guiding them from house to house. This is the day for fun-loving children and thrill seeking adults alike: a day where weirdness is rewarded and joy can be found in strange places. This is Halloween. Unlike its ugly younger sister, Christmas, Halloween does not have as many expectations. You could go all out and make a beautiful costume from scratch, or you could draw cat whiskers on your face and call it a day. Either way, no one would bat an eye. During Christmas, however, everything must be perfect or Great Aunt Helen will make family gatherings hell on earth for everyone around. The tree must be perfect, the food must be perfect, and don’t get me started on the presents. Gift expectations can be the core of holiday stress for most people. Finding the best gift for family, friends, and the coworker you didn’t want to get for secret santa can be very challenging. All that I have to do to stop the neighbor kids from egging my house is grabbing a variety pack of candy from the Dollar Store and dumping it in a festive bowl on the stoop. People can argue the good sides of Christmas such as the heartwarming comfort of family gatherings or the time off from school and work. And though these are valid reasons, just as people have the right to put their Christmas tree up on November 1st, I have the right to ignore them all. Choosing between Halloween and Christmas is like choosing between my cat and the man who killed my cat. Halloween is better than Christmas. Prove me wrong.

BUSINESS IS NOT GOOD

Claire Davis investigates the reasoning behind closing restaurants in Columbus

by Claire Davis n the past few months, Columbus has been feeling the impacts of failing businesses; specifically, restaurants. Three places have closed due to business not being good. These places are Johnny Carino’s, Buccetos’, and Sophia’s. To me, some of these closings have come as a surprise, especially Johnny Carino’s, since I saw little warning to their end. A few weeks ago I was driving past and saw Johnny Carino’s unloading all of their supplies. This was surprising because I had no clue that they were closing. I am not going to miss that restaurant very much. It was good, but my family only went there a few times. Nevertheless, their food was really good, especially their soup. And their family discount nights were something that a lot of people looked forward to, so it’s too bad that it’s no longer in Columbus. I believe they simply didn’t have enough customers consistently to stay open, and it didn’t help that they were in a weird part of town by the movie theaters, where not a lot of people drive past. Bucceto’s was the pizzeria downtown, which in recent years changed management, as it used to be named Puccini’s. When I first moved to Columbus I remember that restaurant always being busy, but this summer, right before their closing, it was normal to drive or walk by and see little to no customers inside. This is a shame because I loved their calzones and pizza, and it was nice to have another place to eat downtown. This closing, however, wasn’t a surprise, as they announced they were closing a month in advance so that residents of Columbus could eat there one last time and say goodbye. Lastly, and most heartbreakingly, Sophia’s closed. Not a lot of people even knew about this restaurant, which had moved into the old Texas Roadhouse building. I loved eating there during lunch because it was close and cheap. Their food was delicious and the atmosphere of the restaurant was really calm. The food was good, but I see why they closed. They were never crowded when I ate there and so they most likely, like the other restaurants, couldn’t afford to stay open. A few Honorable mentions are Joe Willy’s and Savory Swine, other restaurants that have recently closed. It’s unfortunate that these restaurants in Columbus have all gone away this year. I believe that people simply haven’t been going to sit-down restaurants as frequently, but instead cook at home. Perhaps these specific restaurants just weren’t popular enough. All in all, I think it’s important that we go to small businesses and restaurants to both show our support and keep them in Columbus.

AN OKAY EVENT A review of the Game of the Year Awards by Aidan Brown

s of writing this, 163,000 people have watched the official Game of the Year broadcast and far more people have seen highlights of the announcements, winners and trailers. Going into this year’s event, the top competitors were “Baldur’s Gate 3” and “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.” “Baldur’s Gate” won the Game of the Year and the audience voting, which is completely deserved. The voice acting, story, gameplay and graphics are all fantastic. Not all of the winners made as much sense as “Baldur’s Gate.” “Alan Wake 2” won best art direction, best narrative and best game direction. “Alan Wake” is a solid game, but the art and game direction weren’t stellar. Although the art was good, it wasn’t any better than other modern games that run on high-end systems. “Tears of the Kingdom” would have been a much better fit for the award, as it managed to have amazing art direction even with the limitations of running off the Nintendo Switch. The other award that was grossly misgiven was the Most Anticipated Game Award. A “Final Fantasy VII” remake won the most anticipated game. There is a deafening minority of people hyped for the second remake of “Final Fantasy VII,” but a loud minority should not dictate the most anticipated game. I think “Hades II” should have won most anticipated, as it is an entirely new game with a decent-sized fanbase. The other awards were given fairly, and I am glad the phenomenal “Last of Us” TV series on HBO won best adaptation. The event highlights are always the debut trailers and announcements that drop each year at the awards. This year’s announcements were subpar, with only a couple of noteworthy announcements. The winner last year, “God of War: Ragnarok,” announced a downloadable content (DLC) that will be free with the game. The studio behind the amazing “No Man’s Sky” announced a new expansion that will also be free, as well as a new game: “Light No Fire.” Like “No Man’s Sky,” the game will have a truly endless world that will be identical for all players, but this time with a fantasy theme. The indie studio that created the horror game “Inscryption” is back for another game, “Pony Island 2,” that looks like it has some promise. I was sad at the lack of “Hollow Knight: Silksong” news, but I was probably getting my hopes too high. Altogether, the event wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. During the threeand-a-half-hour livestream, there were only a couple of noteworthy announcements, and several of the awards were given out unfairly or simply didn’t have good nominees. I hope next year will be better.

OPINION

RAISING SPIRITS N The Triangle staff evaluates alternative ways to increase school spirit

orth-East week. Homecoming. Formal. Blah week. Prom. Although school spirit is usually associated with athletic events, there are opportunities far beyond attending a football game or cheering on the basketball team for students to take pride in their school. Athletic events tend to take precedence over general school events, however, in order to create a thriving, spirit-filled school environment, students and staff should work to prioritize these general events just as much as athletic events. Having a sense of school spirit throughout the entire school community leads to benefits outside of simply celebrating game day victories. According to the Connecticut Association of Schools, school spirit contributes to students having stronger academic performances, emotional and civic engagement and overall happiness. When students are proud of their school, they’re more willing to get involved and put energy into their work. This positive feedback loop, once it begins, will contribute to greater benefits in educational communities as students grow prouder of where they learn. Although a united feeling of school spirit is one factor that can lead toward a positive environment, schools around the country have suffered recently from a decline in school spirit. One hundred percent of the Triangle staff believes that school spirit has

died over the years. This could be partially due to the restrictions COVID-19 placed on attending school-sanctioned events. Traditions that developed strong feelings of school spirit had to limit the number of participants and spectators for anywhere from two to three years as a result of these restrictions. Underclassmen gained no knowledge of these traditions, leading to a natural downfall of the spirit of the student body in the last few years. Another factor that has contributed to the downfall of school spirit is the everincreasing amount of stress and commitment that students have experienced in recent years. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, a survey conducted during the 2013-14 school year revealed that students, on average, were involved with eight extracurricular activities. Among those involved in extracurriculars, 51 percent said they decided to join in order to find ways to be involved in the school, and 34 percent said they were involved as a way to show school spirit. Unfortunately, since students are becoming so busy as a result of their commitments, they are unable to dedicate as much time towards school spirit compared to students ten years ago. A lack of time ends up resulting in a lack of spirit within the student body, which fuels a cycle of busier students that care less and less about supporting their school community.

COMICS BY KIKO

comic by Kiko Thompson EDITORIAL

When analyzing the repercussions of declining school spirit, it is important to acknowledge how a strong sense of school spirit creates an environment that allows students to have a strong motivation to succeed. Seventy-seven percent of the Triangle staff believes that school spirit is important in order to have a thriving school environment. While athletics makes up the most well-renowned category of school activities, focusing on other events such as school-wide dress-up days, parades and dances can build a sense of unity between students who might not otherwise interact. Since these activities happen during the school day, every student would have the opportunity to be involved, even if some might participate in these activities begrudgingly. Bringing together groups that remain separate for most of their high school years builds relationships between everyone in the school, regardless of their background. In order to have a thriving school environment, it is important to focus on the activities that take place during the school day first. After all, the only environment where every student is sure to be found is at school during the school day. A strong first step toward a prideful, motivated and successful school is ensuring everyone is able to experience these traditions and activities that are catered toward building school unity.

Kiko Thompson illustrates the cycle of school spirit in high school

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L L A E R ’ WE IN THIS TOGETHER Examining the c ha

by Deshna Ven

nges in school sp

katachalam, Izzy

IN-DEPTH

irit throug

hout the years Munn and Lydia Weed design b y Sylvia Sasse

igh School Musical displays the upbeat school spirit scene with a school-wide dance number. However as illustrated in the depleting number of student section participants this “We’re All in This Together” attitude differs from North. The Class of 2024 was the last to experience a high school setting amid online learning and social distancing. Only 250 tickets were sold for football games, and basketball did not allow a full gym either. Nonetheless, senior class president Alex Clark tried to participate in the limited activities revolving school spirit as much as possible. “I go to many games, mostly football and basketball,” Clark said, “I used to play football, so I enjoy seeing both sides of it as a player and now a fan in the student section. I’ve also enjoyed basketball for the past couple of years.” There are numerous traditions that occur during an evening in the Dog Pound, or the portion of the bleachers dedicated to the Bull Dog student fans. Clark discusses one of his favorite traditions that bring all the student fans together. “I love the themes. I think it’s always fun seeing the school in unity and seeing some funny themes like Hawaiian or Christmas,” Clark said. “It’s super cool seeing us unite in the student section and throwing the other team off guard with some funny theme.” Aside from student sections, spirit themes transfer over to the school day in the form of “Dress Up Days.” Being a member of the Student Council with a leadership position, Clark gets to be a part of making decisions regarding the themes. “I’m really enjoying the themes this year because I’m on council and I get to make the decisions, so I get my own input on that,” Clark said. “[My favorite theme is] twin day because I’m a twin, so I got to be a twin with my twin.” Additionally, Student Assembly aims to promote participation in student events by hosting “Blue Out” days. “Fisher Mantooth started to implement Blue Out, in which all of Student Assembly is supposed to be going to one sporting event for every single sport,” Clark said. “Say we all go through the days and we pick a game where every assembly member will show up to [an event] that not many people go to, like cross country, volleyball, and golf.” For years, Student Assembly has been pushing for more school participation. Alumnus Floyd Athaide (CN ‘18), discusses how being on assembly made it easier to market events. “One of the biggest things for us was that all of us were involved in Student Assembly and I think that played a huge role in that passion and how we were able to add that support and make sure it was marketed throughout the school,” Athaide said. A method of communication used by those students was Remind 101. This app sends out messages and reminders for various events. “A lot of the time, people didn’t know what was going on around school and so Remind really helped make it known for all the students,” Athaide said. “It wasn’t only used for the big sports like basketball, it was for every single sport that Columbus North had to offer.”

photo by Annie Green IN-DEPTH

The use of social media also played a role in advertising. The Dog Pound X, formerly known as Twitter, account was run by alumnus Matt Ruehman (CN ‘20), who is now president of the Indiana University Student Athletic Board. “Anytime we had home basketball, football, volleyball, and any games like that, we would always send out a theme. That way we can all show up in the same color and things like that,” Ruehman said. Student Assembly helped these students vocalize their support and spread the word. But this was not enough for Nicholas Stevens (CN ‘18), one of Athaide’s fellow assembly members and student section leader. Together, they attempted to revive the CHAOS club and were successful. “The tradition was the student section leaders would get passed to seniors on the soccer team. I played soccer, so that got passed to me senior year,” Stevens said. “I looked through past yearbooks to see what they were doing or what was cool and I found this club called CHAOS.”

The CHAOS Club’s goal was to promote school spirit and have high participation in North events. That took off and we had a really great group who were all very actively engaged,” Stevens said. “We would try to do weekly meetings, we had Remind chain, we would post stuff on Twitter, print posters and tape them up around school and we would try to go to every event we could.” CHAOS’ efforts were not limited to just sports events. “We would advertise choir, show choir, or theater,” Stevens said. “We tried to do a bit of everything. We were actively involved by having lots of communication and lots of great students who wanted to take part in that spirit and be there for their classmates.” Senior Annie Miller, an avid member of North Drama and Choir, can also be found in the Dog Pound. “There’s so many of us that participate in so many different things, so whenever we’re all in the student section, it’s kind of like we’re all on the same side,” Miller said.

However, she still sees a lack of support towards the performing arts department. “I feel like people come and watch, but it’s not as much like a sports event,” Miller said. “A lot more people should come and watch because, you know, we have talents too.” This lack of school spirit can also stem from the previous pandemic. Miller discusses the impact Covid had on her school spirit experience. “I’ve seen an increase [in school spirit] for sure. Back then it was Covid, not a lot of people wanted to go out,” Miller said. “This year for sure there are so many more people that want to go and support.” Taking over two years worth of high school experiences, Covid caused a large loss of traditions. Additionally, as years progress, traditions can get stuck in the past. Ruehman talks about how this can play a big role in lack of school spirit. “You’re not really sure what the traditions are or how things are supposed to be run just because you

THEN

What did student sections look like circa 2019?

45% yes 55% no

Have you been to games other than the North vs East games?

IN-DEPTH

Have you participated in a student section before?

74% yes

26% no

didn’t have that experience as an underclassman, or at least a very limited experience,” Ruehman said. “For me, it just kind of takes one person or a group of people, because that’s what it goes back to. We had Floyd and [Nicholas] with their friends, and me and my friends, and we had a group that was so passionate about making the student section loud and crazy. Looking back at pictures and videos, seeing everyone’s faces going crazy, there is no better

feeling. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.” The alumni reminisce about the student section traditions that would take place during the soccer games. “We go back to those traditions that we touched on and bringing the couches and recliners for the North versus East game was an all-time tradition that I always loved,” Ruehman said. “We could get on, and sit on, the grass and you’re only about two feet away from the sideline. We built couch bleachers one year and that was really cool,” Stevens said. The group held on to their passion for school spirit as they moved on to Indiana University. “At IU, with the help of Stevens and Floyd, we were in the

same fraternity and they were a part of another organization at IU called the Student Athletic Board,” Ruehman said. “Just because we had known each other through the student section at North, I was like this is something I want to be a part of.” Athaide explains that school spirit isn’t confined to just one group. He illustrates to achieve “We’re all in this together” attitude all students must find their place in the school. “I think the biggest thing is being welcoming to everyone. It doesn’t matter who is coming to the game or what student groups you’re in, just get as many people involved as possible,” Athaide said. “If you think about the games that the most students are at and then replicate that for every game, you’re in a good spot for great school spirit. One person or a group of people will grow into a bigger thing throughout games and more and more students will start to come.”

NOW

What do our student sections look like today? Have you participated in a student section before?

73% yes

32% no 68% yes

Have you been to games other than the North vs East games?

27% no

IN-DEPTH

THE STAGE IS SET

Members of the show choir share the preparation that goes into their competiton season

by Lois Guest design by Nicolas Bowers hythmic. Theatrical. Expressive. These words can be used to describe show choir performances. Schools across the country have been preparing for their upcoming competition seasons starting in January going through the spring. Junior Caroline Brucken discusses how show choir has affected her high school experience. “It’s definitely given me several different outlets to have fun and be competitive,” Brucken said. “It also gives you a really good group of friends because these are the people that you are with for the entire year and with during competitions outside of school.” Even though the competition season starts in January, the show choir practices during the summer and throughout the whole school year. Junior Olive Mantooth is in both Vocal Pointe and North Stars. “In the summer we do a week-long choreography camp for each choir,” Mantooth said. “During that week we learn the choreography for each of the songs and then throughout the school year in the class we’ll learn the vocals for the songs. Then we’ll put it all together during rehearsals after school.” For some members of show choir, balancing other extracurricular activities as well as their homework can be pretty difficult. Sophomore Mia Bowers is a dancer as well as being in show choir. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have dance right after school then I have to go to show choir,” Bowers said. “Then on Wednesdays

I have show choir and then I have ballet right after, so that leaves about no time for homework.” Part of the preparation process includes figuring out costumes that correspond with the overarching theme that the show choir is representing. “Costumes play a very big role because they can definitely help your show and depending on what your theme is it can definitely hurt it,” Brucken said. “Our theme this year is weather so we have kind of stormy dresses that are dark blue. I think they can just add more visual appeal to your already appealing show.” There is anticipation throughout the whole preparation process, but it all starts to feel real for the members of show choir during tech week. “Tech week means that we are so close to competition season and it makes you so excited because everything is coming together now and you see the actual vision,” Brucken said. When it gets time for an actual competition the mix of nerves, excitement and anticipation can be a lot to handle. “Right as we are about to go on stage I jump up and down a few times because there are so many nerves going through me,” Brucken said. “Then I always give everyone a high five and tell them that they are going to do so good.” One of the major challenges throughout a performance is keeping your stamina. “It’s really hard when you are singing

as loud as you can while still having harmonies,” Brucken said. “I’m an alto so I never sing the melody, and it’s hard because you have that going through your mind, and you have to figure out what ripple you are on and when certain moves are. Then you are also wearing heels and a dress.” Senior Blake Cooper also discusses the difficulty of timing. “Having an entire group perform the exact same choreo and it look clean and professional is really hard to do,” Cooper said. With all of these challenges, Mantooth describes the importance of keeping your head up. “I would just say that don’t give up and just keep trying,” Mantooth said. “You may not be the best person in the choir but you still add something.” As a whole the show choir wants to win as much as possible this season, but some members also have goals not relating to their win streak. “I hope we perform at our best ability and bring the best show that we can to the stage,” Bowers said. As a senior, wanting to have the best season out of all of your seasons is not unheard of. “I just want this show to be the best that I’ve had here in my four years at North,” Cooper said. “I just want it to be as great as it can be.”

COMPETITON CALENDAR Competition Dates Other Performances Booster Meetings

FEBRUARY 4

photo by Novah Ulm Vocal Pointe practices for the competition season.

SPORTS

JANUARY

10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

MARCH 7

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

25 26 27 28 29

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

CROSSTOWN COMPETITION

ilence fills the gym as eyes are drawn toward the court. The spectators wait with bated breath to witness the outcome of the free throw shot. A swish of the basket can be heard all around the gym. Cheers erupt from the stands and the players celebrate while simultaneously getting back into the game. A scene like this is commonly found in a basketball game. Despite the anticipation often associated with North versus East week, junior Hadassah Hurt explains how the girls basketball team approaches the game in a similar manner to every other game. “We treat it the exact same [as any other week],” Hurt said. “We go over the scouting report and do things normally. At the end of the day, we do want to beat them, but it’s just another team.” Sophomore Kenna Conrad describes the behind-the-scenes of how the team prepares

Boys and girls basketball players anticipate North versus East week

for their games. “We usually watch some film and look over what they run for offense and defense and practice against that with our team,” Conrad said. “We watch some of our films to see what we can improve on.” Beyond preparing for the upcoming game, the basketball teams utilize practices as a way to generate a strong team bond. Sophomore Mason Acton describes how important this practice is for the boys basketball team this year. “This year, I think we lack experience, and so we’re just trying to get that experience,” Acton said. “[So far] learning to play together has been a little difficult.” These hours of practice have the opportunity to do more for the players beyond their experience on the court, as Acton explains. “[My favorite part] is probably just the relationships you build with other people,”

by Jasmine Yang design by Claire Davis

Acton said. “[I’ve been able to learn] just how important relationships are because I’ve met my best friends through basketball.” Hurt, on the other hand, describes how her favorite part of basketball focuses more on the feelings associated with the court rather than the relationships built. “I found [basketball] as a safe place to just play and not think about anything,” Hurt said. “You have no stress about it, you just play.” Even though basketball has the opportunity to be a stress-free environment for players, games bring a new dynamic to the court. Hurt describes how emotions can affect the game. “We try to treat [the North-East game] like every other game because you [can’t] get too nervous,” Hurt said. “I mean it’s going to be a lot more packed than most games. I feel like we need to treat it like it’s any other game and play it to our best.”

BLAST THROUGH THE PAST The results of the Varsity basketball North versus East games for the last five years

2022 2021 2020 2019 2018

photo by Novah Ulm Freshman Tyler Dillingham dribbles the ball during the match against Silver Creek on Dec. 1.

North win

GIRLS BOYS

No reported game

East win SPORTS

LASTING LEGACY Seniors athletes reflect on their time participating in winter sports by Nicolas Bowers design by Sarynel Barbosa

he sound of a buzzer. The screech of a whistle. The voices of judges and referees. For some people, these sounds mean nothing to them. To basketball players, gymnasts, wrestlers, swimmers and divers, these sounds can signify the beginning, or the end, of what is a very heated competition. For the seniors playing in these sports, these sounds might signify something even more notable: the end of an era. For senior gymnast Laney Acton, this year represents over a decade of work. “I’ve been doing it [gymnastics] for Columbus North for all of high school, but I started when I was five,” Acton said. It’s a similar story for senior swimmer Brock Smith. “I’ve been doing it since about fifth grade, so this would be my eighth year,” Smith said. Despite this being her first year participating, senior diver Elise Preston has enjoyed the new experience of the sport. “My favorite memory so far has been making new friends,” Preston said. “I’m going to miss this team’s camaraderie.” For senior basketball player Kaitlin White, North-East games have stayed fresh in her memory. “Beating East last year was really nice,” White said. “This year, we hope to beat East again and win conference, like last year.” Aside from valuable memories, all of the athletes expressed how their respective sports

helped them grow as people. Senior wrestler Josiah Green noted that wrestling has been very helpful in developing his work ethic. “It’s given me a lot of determination and a hard-working attitude that tells me to keep going and not stop,” Green said. Meanwhile, White said basketball has helped her focus on the positive things in life. “There will be ups and downs, and it’s about how you react to it instead of focusing on the bad,” White said. “There’s always good in every situation.” Smith spoke of how swimming has helped him become more social. “It’s given me a community that I feel comfortable in, and that’s kind of allowed me to find my friend group and all that stuff,” Smith said. “That’s definitely changed how I act in life.” While thinking about each of their athletic journeys, some of the athletes brought up how their coaches have helped them over the years. Preston noted that her coach has done her best to grow her confidence as a new diver. “I’d like to thank Nicole Decker, because she’s my coach and has definitely pushed me to be the best diver I can be,” Preston said. Green was similarly thankful for his coach. “I’d like to thank Coach Joyce,” Green said. “He’s helped me so much through all four years. He’s just been a great help. He’s an inspiration.”

BLAST THROUGH THE PAST 40

photo by Novah Ulm

Top to Bottom: senior Elise Preston senior Brock Smith senior Kaitlin White

Girls Boys

SPORTS

10 0

Basketball

Swim & Dive

Gymnastics

Wrestling

Cheerleading

WHERE CHEERS COME TRUE

The Game Day Cheer Squad is going to Nationals at Disney

by Alex Osburn design by Maia Jamieson neakers dance across the gym floor. Music swells as cheerleaders flip through the air. On Oct. 29, North’s Game Day Cheer Squad placed second in their division at the Universal Cheerleaders Association Regional competition, allowing them to move on to the UCA national competition at Walt Disney World Resort in early February. Freshman Lillian Donica reflects on how gaining this ticket to Nationals early in the season will allow the team to focus on improving going forward. “I think it’s really helpful that we already got our bid to Nationals, so we don’t really have to worry about that anymore,” Donica said. “[In terms of] going to Nationals, I think we’ve really improved from the last time we competed and we have a chance.” Along with growing throughout the season, junior Morgan Johnson looks forward to showcasing the team’s talents against the others at Nationals. “This is my first year doing the competitive game day cheer team, so I’m pretty excited about that. We’re actually leaving on my birthday, so that’ll be fun,” Johnson said. “But, I’m kind of nervous though, because I know a lot of the other teams are going to be really good. But I have high hopes that we’ll do good.” Similarly, junior McKenna Johannesen anticipates both the opportunity to bond with other cheerleaders at the resort and the experience of her first national competition. “I’m very excited to go to Disney. I’ve never been there,” Johannesen said. “And then I’m very excited to kind of get out of our element. I’ve never been there, and so I’ve never done this before. This is my first

MUST-HAVES FOR SUCCESS

year on [the] game day [squad], so I’m excited to see what it’s like and hopefully be prepared more for next 1. Brush year.” 2. Hair bow To ensure the cheerleaders are 3. Hair spray at the top of their game, Johnson 1 describes how the squad is focusing 4. Lipgloss on perfecting their routine in 5. Bobby pins practice. “In practice, we’re definitely 4 working on being louder and having more enthusiasm throughout the whole routine because it has to be three minutes, and you have to be going nonstop,” Johnson said. “So having the endurance to do that is what we’re kind of working on.” Junior Mia Nickels describes how repeating the routine helps build this endurance, along with fine-tuning certain aspects to further improve. “We just keep doing the routine over and over,” Nickels said. “From the last routine, they gave us little deductions, and then we just keep looking over those, trying to fix them or rework them in some way to make them better.” In her time cheering, Nickels has learned that these kinds of adjustments require time and patience. “It takes time to get better,” Nickels said. “If there’s something you’re wanting to do or looking forward to doing, you can’t get it on your first try. I mean, some people do, but you have to have the mindset of taking time and practice.” Along with the value of practice, cheering has taught Johannesen to be adaptable to any situation to succeed. “I think I’ve learned that you have to be flexible,” Johannesen said. “You can’t just stay in one spot and then expect to be perfect. You need photo by Novah Ulm to be well-rounded and you have to The Game Day Cheer Squad practices for nationals. work well with others.”

SPORTS

‘TIS THE SEASON by Ajay Singireddy

Student data for the holiday season

“My favorite part of the holiday season is giving back to others who need it” junior Paige Terry

DO YOU TRAVEL OUT OF STATE?

31%

Yes

69%

COLORFUL LIGHTS OR WHITE LIGHTS?

“My favorite part of the holiday season is the nostalgia from the music and atmosphere” senior Luke Dornfeld

Colorful White

WHEN DOES THE HOLIDAY After Halloween SEASON START? After Thanksgiving

5% 17%

45%

55%

Beginning of December Week of Christmas

NOVEMBER

30%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

DECEMBER

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

48%

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A total of 160 students were surveyed from the Library and Resource Centers