East Scroll Issue 2

SCROLL December 2017

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Co-Editors in Chief

Abby Folkerts Toni McPhee

Elaina Rothmayer

Feature Editor Copy Editor Gwendolyn Major

Nikki Grove

Alyssa Ayersman

Toni McPhee

Design Editor

Social Media Editor

Staffers

Shelby Alsted Carver Bartz Lynsey Borgen Jakiest Canty Caleb Cook Elise Dowler Caleb Enos Caitlyn Hexamer Siara Kozeliski NaShay Palmer Madison Stout Fallon Trenter Mayson Williams

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Cover

Mayson Williams

Adviser

Natalie Niemeyer

Principal

Leslie Morris

Malique Ziegler

A feature about East Alumni and current MiLB player, Malique Ziegler.

Parental purgatory

A true story about a child in the middle of two battling parents. Featuring depression.

State debate teacher of the year

Jennifer Medina wins state award for top speech coach.

Transparent

A look into the life of transgender student, Christina Hope Rose.

DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY STATEMENT

The Des Moines Public Schools prohibits discrimination in educational and employment prog rams and activities based on age, race, creed, color, sex, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.

In addition, the District prohibits acts of intolerance or harassment toward employees or students that are not related to the individual’s employment or education.

ADS POLICY

Ads are available in quarter page, half page and full page sizes. Ad inquiries should be directed to Natalie Niemeyer at natalie.niemeyer@dmschools.org.

The Scroll reserves the right to reject ads deemed not in the best interest of East students. The paper is printed every four weeks by Wilcox Printing in Madrid, IA.

LETTER POLICY The Scroll welcomes letters but reserves the right to edit for space as needed. Outside contributions are subject to the usual restrictions of libel and obscenity and must conform to general paper policy, which is available upon request. Signed commentaries represent personal opinions, not views of the staff. Also, your letter needs to include your full name and grade. Unsigned letters can not be printed. You can deliver your letter to Natalie Niemeyer in room 3060N.

NOTE: All contents are the product of the EHS newspaper production staff. Occasional stories are contributed from the Journalism Intern program.

The Scroll is a public forum for student expression.

Page Editor/G. Major

Caleb’s Story/ C. Cook

e v i t i n fi De winter guide

You’ve been laying in your bed, scrolling through Twitter all day. You haven’t seen your friends all weekend, and you’re desperate to get out of the house, but have no ideas of what to do. Well look no further, to your definitive guide to winter fun in Des Moines.

Outdoors Winter is a great time to get outside and enjoy the weather that only comes once a year. Although activities may be limited, when one door closes, another one opens.

Get creative Getting outside and enjoying the snow is a great way to get active and hang out with your friends.

You can have a snowball fight (the more people the better) you could go sledding, or if you’re really bored, you could even build a snowman.

The only limit is your imagination. You could also make snow angels. But only if you’re really bored.

Outdoor sports There are plenty of activities you can only experience in the winter. Destinations such as Seven Oaks, Sleepy Hollow, and Brenton Skating Plaza are all great places you can ice skate, snowboard, or go snow-tubing.

photo/ A. Arroyo

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Watch sports

Indoors A lot of the time, it’s just too cold to do anything outside. So being cooped up all winter is going to leave you with even more free time than any other season. But despite what you may think, there are many things you can do inside this winter.

Work out

Just because you can’t get outside and play your sport doesn’t mean you can’t do anything. Fill some of your time by working out or practicing for your sport. A good place to do this is the YMCA, where you have access to various training facilities for only $20 a month (Teen Membership), and financial assistance available to those who qualify. “[I work out] to get in shape for rugby, and just overall better my physical appearance and get stronger,” junior Robby Duff said.

Learn something new You’ll be inside a lot during the winter, and chances are, you’ll become really bored. Take this time to learn something new. It could be anything as simple as learning to do card tricks to anything as complex as learning to play the piano

photo/ @sevenoaksrec

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There are plenty of opportunities to watch sports this winter. As far as professional teams, you can go to an Iowa Wild or an Iowa Wolves game, both of which take place at Wells Fargo Arena. You could also go to an East Basketball game, swim meet, or wrestling meet with your friends, which is cheaper, and also doubles as a social outing. But don’t take my word for it. “[Everyone should go to swim meets becuase] it’s fun, and it can be exciting sometimes,” varsity swimmer Alex Liu said

Give back The holiday season is a season of cheer, so why not spread a little bit yourself. Take some time to give back, whether it be through something as small as paying it forward at a restaurant, being a secret Santa, or most importantly, volunteering. The holiday season has a lot of moving parts in order to properly function, so it is a great opportunity to help out at a homeless shelter, package meals, or just help others. “Volunteering stands out on college and job applications. It helps you build connections with people and organizations who can attest to your work ethic,” former East community coordinator Jill Padgett said.

photo/ C. Cook

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Brenton Skating Plaza

Seven Oaks

Grandview Park

Located in downtown Des Moines, this is a great place to come skate with your friends and family, and certainly won’t break the bank. Adult Admission is 8 dollars, with a 4.50 skate rental, and for kids and seniors, admission is 5 dollars. Brenton is open M-TH from 3 P.M. to 9 P.M., Friday and Saturday from Noon to 11 P.M., and on Sundays from Noon to 6 P.M. More information is available at www.dsmpartnership.com/brentonskating

Located in Boone, Iowa, this is the best place to go if you have an itch for outdoor sports this winter.

They offer skiing, snowboarding, and snow-tubing for all ages. Lessons are offered for beginners, and all of the aforementioned sports have equipment available for rental. For specific pricing and hours, check out www.sevenoaksrec.com

If you’re just looking for a nice, relaxing, and more importantly, free afternoon, look no further than Grandview Park. Located on the East Side of Des Moines, this park offers a variety of activities.

From disc golf, to a hike through nature trails, and some great hills for sledding, this is a great place to visit. However, you will have to bring your own equipment, and park hours are Sunrise to Sunset.

More information available at www.dmgov.org

Page Editor/ C. Cook

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More than just music

photo/ G. Major

story/ E. Rothmayer

An inside look on the difference between being in band and being a band kid

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ubas, trumpets, and trombones galore. Everywhere you turn there’s another instrument in your face, but who are the faces behind them?

From the outside, band seems like a tight nit group, but when looking deeper you can see it’s more of a family. With every family comes those outliers that aren’t as well liked as the rest.

Band is no different. There are kids in band, and then there are band kids. What’s the difference?

“Everybody in band is in the class, obviously, but the difference would have to be in the involvement the students

have, because the people who are considered “band kids” are the ones that are involved in the program and care about the program whereas the kids that do band just show up and play and leave,” senior section leader Josie Weber said.

Band director Joseph Thering has noticed a difference in the atmosphere as well.

“There’s some people who really take on the full personality, which is creative, and smart, and unafraid. And there are some people who are

here who haven’t become a full member of the community.

I usually help people become part of the community by taking them to meet other

that sometimes makes them less popular, even though it’s what going to give them money in the end,” Thering said.

Band is everything to some students, it’s why they’re in school, it’s why they try in classes, it gives Ian them a purpose and a family.

“Being in band, when I go into the band room I feel home.

There’s a bunch of people that I know fairly well and I’m comfortable around that are just out there, besides that I feel comfortable in the band room,

“Moments like these are why I’m still in band,” Delk said.

band kids at other schools, like at honor bands and parades, it usually helps out. Some people I think look at the band kids as tryhards which is totally true and I’m proud of that fact,

and that’s what band is: being comfortable,” senior drum major Andrew Yenzer said.

A family is diverse and as different as it can be, a band is just the same “Band is an eclectic crowd with mixed achievement levels through challenges and through fun things that we get to do during the summer and stuff, grow to become a family,” director Thering said.

Fun is for sure a common thing in and out of the band room, from a trip to Texas to the senior prank, there are certainly stories that deserve to be shared.

Band memories “Our section went and got burgers but we couldn’t decide where to go, so Colton got B-Bops but then we went to McDonalds.

He brought his B-Bops into the McDonalds and then refilled his B-Bops drink while there,” senior Ian Delk said. photo/ J. Weber

photo/ J. Hayworth

“The senior prank was spectacular, at one point I was probably 2-300 cups into the 700 cups of water, cleaning up the room, and thought “ya know, this carpeting is polyester, it not gonna mold. What’s underneath it is concrete, what if I just pour all the water on the floor and hope for it to dry” I poured out the water before I realized it wasn’t going to dry in a couple days, so I went back to unloading into a bucket and taking it outside, pouring it all little by little into the driveway. It took me three hours, it was one of the most sophisticated, if not the most sophisticated senior pranks I’ve ever seen. 700 cups full of water,” Thering said.

Page Editor/ E. Rothmayer

photo/ J. Weber

photo/ J. Hayworth

“On our most recent band trip to San Antonio, Texas we stayed at a hotel with a pool in it, but it was an outside pool.

We went to the hotel and we couldn’t swim the first night but the next night it was cold, it was like 50 degrees outside at most and we all decide to jump into the freezing pool. Ciara, Paige, and Kayla all jump into the pool with all of their clothes on,” senior Josie Weber said.

“We went to the Alamo, and there’s this kid who graduated last year named Nick Loffredo.

Eight of us bought recorders there, me included. We would play stupid songs like Darude Sandstorm, We Are Number One, and others. Nick took it to another level, he literally played songs on the recorder for four hours. At first I was annoyed, but then I realize that I might as well join him. So I started requesting songs, we did everything from Taylor Swift to the Beatles,” senior Gabe Ewert said.

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Q&A

“

Chris is a very responsible individual who has learned to balance school, athletics and work throughout high school, so I know he will be fine. -Coach Cassler

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hris Trevino

Story/F.Trenter

Deciding what you want to do with your life is one of the hardest things you have to do in high school. Should you join the military? Just go to college and see where it takes you? For East senior Chris Trevino there was no this or that, he decided both is the answer. While most incoming seniors were enjoying the Iowa State Fair, parties, and not worrying about their future, Chris Trevino put his foot down; straight into boot camp.

Take your step into boot camp....

4:30am wake up 5:00am roll call 5:30am training 7:00am breakfast 8:00am training 12:00 lunch

1:00pm training 5:30pm dinner 7:30 personal time 8:30pm bedtime

Page Editor/ F.Trenter

Why did you join the National Guard?

Trevino joined the military in order to get a free college education. But he also joined to represent his country. “I joined to serve. It’s the national guard, its only part time, so I’m not going to be serving full time,” Trevino said.Trevino explained how the branches work. “It goes us army, us army reserves, us national guard, so, I did the national guard because it’s part time, and obviously to serve,” he said. “Nobody else in the family besides my cousin is in the military, and i’ve always wanted to do it too, since I was little.

I liked to see people In the uniform, like what I think that’d be cool to do. So, now I’m doing it,” Trevino said.

What are the benefits?

"The biggest one right now is 100 percent college tuition paid," Trevino explained how the only thing that doesn't get paid is room and board, and books, but will use other scholarships and FASFA for that. The family benefits are also important to Trevino. "You get all of the family benefits, there's health benefits, there's money your family gets if you die, they would get around $150,000 to pay for everything,” Trevino said What are you going to college for?

Trevino expressed how he is going to major in sociology, his original plan was to major in criminal justice, but he quickly changed his mind. "A police officer told me that you learn that in the police academy, so that be kind of dumb to like learn or major in that just to learn it all over again. I want to be a detective, so a good major to major in is sociology, you work with people, you see how they are, and you get to know them better and talk to them,” Trevino said.

How are you going to balance both?

Chris said how training is over the summer and how during the school year you only have to go one weekend in a month. “It won't inflict or have a big impact on college, because it will be during the summer, but the thing is, you do it one weekend a month, and two weeks out of the summer."

What did you do this summer with the national guard?

"It was just basic combat training, you learn the basics of becoming or getting into the military,” Trevino said.

Do you think others should also do both?

"Yeah! Since you can go to school all week and then just go to your drill whenever your weekend comes up, it really won't interfere with school as much. The only thing it effects in high school right now is swim meets, but my swim meets aren't as important compared to training I have to go to,” Trevino said.

What are things you do outside of the National Guard?

Chris recently started a job at Chuckie Cheese. He swims, hangs out with his friends, occasionally vapes, and drives around his new car.

What will be the hardest thing for you?

Trevino said how being deployed would be the biggest struggle for him. "It'd be hard to be away, I'm not used to spending that much time away from family,” Trevino said.

Tell me about your family...

Chris lives with his mom and dad, and also has a brother and a sister. "My brother says he wants to join the national guard but he isn't sure, my sister wants to join but she isn't sure either," When Chris wanted to join, his mother said it was his decision and she supported what he wanted to do. He joined at 17 years old, so he had to have his mom sign off on it. "My dad was all for it, he said it's cool and great that I wanted to serve.

He wanted to serve when he was like 18, he really wanted to go active in the us army, but he couldn’t because of his English speaking skills.

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The one & only Brittany Ferrell

An inside look on her life and all of the ups and downs

photo/S.Alsted

Page Editor//S. Alsted

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story/S.Alsted

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he gym is loud as cheerleaders bang their hands against the mats, athletes come out one by one addressing their opponents.

Brittany Ferrell walks out, stopping the crowd in their tracks. Brittany is not phased one bit, staying humble and doing what’s expected of her. As the only female wrestler last season, this was a weekly occurrence for Ferrell.

But she had not even a shred of fear.

“I was there to compete and wrestle just like any other wrestler that was there,” Ferrell said.

Ferrell is a junior at East High, she was a wrestler last season. Although she will miss it, she is not going to participate this season due to getting a job to save up for a car and other expenses. Ferrell is definitely going to attend meets when she is able, and will support the team to the fullest.

Ferrell talked about the pros and cons of being the only female on the team. Having a whole locker room to herself was probably the best, but there was a few cons. Ferrell admitted to being insulted, and made fun of from the boys on the opposing teams, but never her own teammates.

“Brittany was always a hard worker, just like all of us other teammates,” Adam March said.

Ferrell was not treated any differently than the boys on the team, she was not expected of less or expected of more. Ferrell was familiar with the coaches because her brother used to wrestle, prior to her.

“I’ve tried to be physically, and mentally tough my whole life. I always try to be the strongest and the best at

Page Editor/ S. Alsted

everything I do,” Ferrell said.

Ferrell is seen as a bad ass by most at East High. She is a very driven young woman.

Ferrell is always determined to work hard and be successful. Mikey Lopez, Ferrell’s boyfriend, is one of the closest to her. Lopez stated how Ferrell is always pushing him to do his best, and never lets him slack. Ferrell always tries to be as blunt, and real as possible. Ferrell says that she is not one to sit and dwell in her problems, instead she takes action and tries her best to defeat them. Ferrells favorite thing to do is prove people wrong. If somebody were to tell her she can’t do something she goes above and beyond to make sure she can.

“Britany has definitely changed my life for the better, she is my idol and I truly believe that no matter what she decides to do with her life she will be successful,” Lopez said.

A side of Ferrell that you can’t physically see would be that she is adopted. It has been a very long, emotionally draining process but she was adopted on Sept. 6, 2016. Before she was adopted, Ferrell was placed in a shelter. She was put into a foster home in Knoxville after being in the shelter for a week. After staying in the home in Knoxville for six months, she was placed in a home in the South side of Des Moines. Ferrell was not happy in this home, so she was put back into the shelter she was originally in. Shortly after this Ferrell was told that an old family friend wanted to take her in. Ferrell was placed in her now, permanent home on Jan. 29 of 2016, where they had to foster her for six months before they could have Brittany be their child permanently.

“I believe that the process through my adoption definitely had an effect on my mental toughness, it has made me stronger,” Ferrell said

”

“I’ve tried to be mentally and physically tough my whole life...”

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Mal ique

Ziegler

Story/ A.Ayersman

San Francisco Giants

“In the 22nd round of the 2016 MLB draft, the San Francisco Giants select, Malique Ziegler.”

Many may recognize the name “Ziegler” from multiple East High athletics throughout the years.

Whether it was on the basketball court, or out in the baseball field, Ziegler lead multiple East teams to success in his high school career. Ziegler attended and played baseball for East High for all four high school years, graduating in the Spring of 2014, but his baseball career did not end there.

“It was a dream to go to the league in every sport I played,” Ziegler said.

As a young boy, Ziegler dreamed of playing in the NFL. Those dreams shifted when he was introduced to the game of basketball and again when he fell in love with the game of baseball.

Ziegler was a big-name player at East High in the four years he played. He played varsity since his freshman year starting every season, along with helping the team make it to a state tournament.

Ziegler also broke a few records in his time at East; single season runs and career stolen bases.

“He actually thought he would be going to college for basketball,” Varsity baseball and varsity basketball coach Carlos James said.

Ziegler’s talents provided him many opportunities.

After high school, Ziegler packed his bags and headed to Northern Illinois University to play baseball. He spent one year in Illinois until he packed his bags again, only to leave and move to Mason City to play at Northern Iowa Area Community College, again to play baseball. NIACC was the turning point in Ziegler’s career. He earned many well-deserved awards during his time in Mason City, before he got his offer from the San Francisco Giants. A tough

“

decision was to be made, either transfer to Iowa City to play at the University of Iowa, or sign with the Giants.

“I was ready for the challenge, I had options so it was big!” Ziegler said.

Ziegler has been playing for the San Francisco Giants minor league team, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, for three years in the spring of 2018.

Spring training starts right off the bat after the winter break session, leading into the summer season. From the start of spring training, Ziegler will spend all of his time with his Giants family, preparing at competing over t h e summer and fall. The players have no spare time to go home, training, games, and practice consumes all of their time.

Ziegler is home for the winter to spend the holidays with his family and his one year old son, Braxton. This season he is not just bringing home gifts for the family, but he is bringing home a special batting camp for young baseball prospects themselves to improve over the off season.

“My purpose for the camps are for everyone to get better and grow,” Ziegler said.

The camp is hosted by Ziegler himself so the young boys will be learning from one of the best. They get to interact with a professional baseball player who not only will be able to show them the ropes to becoming a better ball player, but get inspiration to become the best themselves one day. Ziegler knows the potential that the athletes around East have, and he hopes that with providing these camps for those players that they will put what he teaches them into play one day.

We come from the Eastside where a lot of people doubt us

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The path to success 20102014

20142015

20152016

Current

Photo/Contributed

Page Editor/ A.Ayersman

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Down to the wire The transition from high school to college sports Story/ A. Folkerts

photo/ N. Niemeyer

Page Editor/ A. Folkerts

me, an escape from any issues or stresses I was facing, but it started to feel more like a job rather than a hobby and I hated that feeling,” Copley said. Losing passion for the game that you’ve dedicated so much of your life to isn’t easy for any athlete. Since quitting volleyball, Copley fell in love with yoga, and is currently working on becoming a yoga instructor.

Not all experiences with college athletics are bad, however. On the opposite side of the spectrum, is East High English teacher Kortny Williamson. Williamson competed in gymnastics at the University of Iowa.

Being able to perform at the collegiate level was her dream since sixth grade. Not only did she love it growing up, she fell even more in love with it once she started competing at the college level.

“Gymnastics is a sport that gets better when you get to college, and for me, it became something I truly

“

If you want to continue a sport in college, make sure it is something you want to do, not something a coach or parent pressured you into.

-Teacher Kortny Williamson.

“

It’s five o’clock on a Tuesday afternoon. You’re sitting in your dorm room, and you glance over at the clock and start to freak out because you have practice in a half an hour. Frantically searching your room looking for clothes, you realize that this is no longer your life. The one constant thing that has been such a big part of your life for eight years suddenly has no place in your life anymore. Athletes understand the hard work, dedication, and time commitment that it takes to excel in a sport. Between going to school all day, having practices three to five times a week and having tournaments most weekends, it leaves us with little to no time to have a social life. So what happens when that part of your identity becomes non-existent?

“I didn’t necessarily feel lost after quitting track.

Quite frankly, I believe that I found my true self. I really felt like I was starting to grow into the woman that I was meant to be once I started to invest my time into things I wanted to do,” Burton said.

Meet EHS alum Shirah Burton, who is now a sophomore in college at Grand View University.

Burton was very involved with athletics and all of the activities that East High has to offer. Not only did she just participate in track in high school, she furthered her career and competed at the college level. However, Burton encountered financial issues and realized that she was losing the love for the sport, which led her to end her track career.

“It wasn’t a spur of the moment when I quit but it also wasn’t something I was planning. Unfortunately, financial issues played a huge role in this particular situation. Not only that but deep down in my heart I knew that I was losing the passion for throwing and in my opinion that was not fair to the amazing coaches and teammates that I was surrounded by,” Burton said.

Burton now invests most of her time outside of school into working out and painting. Another EHS alum, Chloe Copley has a very similar situation in comparison with Burton. In high school, Copley was involved in volleyball, track, NHS, NCYL, yearbook, and Ambassadors. Copley is now a freshman at Grand View University, who was originally planning to play volleyball in college. As heartbreaking as it was, she eventually decided to walk away from the game she dedicated a large part of her life to.

“I did not enjoy the sport in the same way anymore.

I dreaded going to practice everyday and as much as I loved the team, I felt like the fun was being taken out of the sport I loved. Volleyball was always an escape for

loved rather than something I just did because I was good. That just made it easier for me,” Williamson said.

Not only was she able to fulfill her childhood dream, she also learned two major life lessons during her career with college gymnastics, that have inevitably stuck with her ever since.

“My mom likes to say ‘There’s always a silver lining’ and I never believed her until I became more and more competitive. It helped me focus on what I did good on rather than that one failure, and I think that helped make me a stronger person overall. It’s really easy to get knocked down with the negatives in a sport, so learning how to find the positives was a game-changer. It’s important to continue to look at the positives and focus

photo/ D. O’Connor

on those,” Williamson said.

“The other big life lesson I learned was time management. When I got to college, I had a really strict schedule so my spare time was very limited. With the combination of practice, lifting, study hall and going to classes, I really had to prioritize and hold myself accountable because my parents were not there to do it for me.”

If any student at East has a wish to pursue their sports career into college, Williamson wants to assure student-athletes that it is worth it, if you are willing to put in the hard work and dedication.

“If you want to continue a sport in college, make sure it is something you want to do, not something a coach or parent pressured you into it. There are a ton of benefits that come with participating in a sport in college, but I had teammates who did the sport in college only because their parents wanted them to or they were pressured into it by coaches, and they were miserable and injury-prone. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons because it can be the best challenge you’ll ever experience,” Williamson said.

If student-athletes are, or not, planning on playing in college, these three ex-athletes assure that life will be okay either way.

Although it may feel intimidating, Copley and Burton want to reassure students that there is a life beyond the limelight of sports, and you’ll be just fine without them.

“Everything happens for a reason. If you wanted to play a sport in college but it didn’t work out, know that this is not the end. Do not stress out or worry because who knows what else could come along. This is only the beginning,” Burton said.

“Take advantage of your free time, but do not get lazy. Go out and find new things you enjoy and take the time to really find yourself as a person and not just an athlete. It will be super weird for awhile and a lot of people are going to have opinions about it, but just know you are doing what is best for you,” Copley said.

For now, just focus on playing those sports that you love while you’re still in high school. These four years of high school fly by and you’ll be in college or the next stage of your life in no time. You never know when the last time you play will be, so take advantage of it and make the most of every opportunity that’s given to you.

photo/ M. Walling

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PARENTAL PURGATORY A true story from a child in the middle of two battling parents.

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eing a child stuck in the middle of two constantly battling parents is one of the hardest things a student can go through. Child support, step family, personal space, scheduling, travel, responsibilities, and guilt. Everything that ties into divorce is a struggle, yet we overcome.

STEP MONSTERS

Step family can be one of the hardest things about divorce. In my experience, stepfamilies are a piece of work. It feels like your mom or dad is bringing home this stranger and says, “Congrats! This is your new parent!” They also come with four children, a set of grandparents, and fifteen cousins. Oh, and don’t forget the cat you’re allergic to. Not to mention, your special birthday tradition that’s just you and your dad, is now you, your dad, his wife, the four kids, and all the other family members they decide to bring with them. I don’t know about you, but it feels like all I got was socks… bummer.

SCHEDULING

A child of divorce has a crazy calendar. Being a full time student, athlete, and having a part time job or activity you are committed to, makes juggling a busy schedule pretty difficult. It gets even harder when you incorporate not being able to drive, and parent schedules.

Say you have soccer and your mom is supposed to take you to practice on the other side of town, but she gets called into work at the hospital. So you call your dad to take you, but since it’s not his weekend, he made plans with his partner and they’re at a movie. Now what? You call everyone you know, or you start walking. Scheduling a weekly or monthly calendar is difficult, but holidays are even worse. Around Christmas time, the schedules fill up faster and faster.

There’s always this argument of who gets the kid on Christmas. The excuse is always, “Well you got them last year.” Parents don’t even consider what their child wants and how they feel about the situation.

Being a product of divorce is just letting each parent drag you in opposite directions. You can scream, you can cry, you can kick and punch, but nothing will do the trick. They’re the adults, they’ve waited their entire life to make the decisions, and they will. Pray that your arms don’t get ripped off in the process.

TRAVEL

For some, traveling from one house to another isn’t a big deal. However, for others, it’s the biggest deal.

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Page Editor/ G. Major

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Personally, I travel five hours in a cramped vehicle. Airline tickets are more expensive, but travel time is cut in half. However, traveling alone is terrifying, yet, so many children do it. Most often however, parents are stuck paying for the gas to meet in the middle, or one drives the whole distance to the other. With gas as high as three dollars, the cost of a trip can be pretty expensive. Don’t forget the suitcases! Traveling with a van full of luggage for a week long trip at your moms house may seem excessive, but it’s not. Fitting every article of clothing, makeup, videogames, shower accessories, shoes, jewelry, basketballs, phone chargers, and tablets is a difficult task. It takes me three suitcases and a duffel bag to get to my mother’s for Christmas break.

Tip: Bring an empty bag with you to carry Christmas presents or souvenirs back. Just in case.

COMMUNICATION

Parents that don’t communicate with each other makes life a lot more stressful for the child. It becomes the child’s responsibility to communicate schedules back and forth and this sometimes creates arguments. The parents then argue through the child, and they often shoot the messenger. When parents don’t communicate with each other, the child is thrown into the middle, and is forced to be the adult in the situation. Witnessing a loss of love in a child’s home makes them wary of love in the future.

GUILT

Parents who guilt trip their children are the worst. Making a child feel awful for the things an ex spouse has done is inconsiderate, and can deteriorate the relationship you have with a child. Divorce is not, and will never be, the child’s fault. A divorce is caused by the lack of trust, stability, or the loss of love for another person. Do not give in to the idea that the separation of your parents is your fault, because it isn’t.

Ultimately, divorce is hard, but it can greatly benefit you and your family.

Talk to your parents about how you’re feeling. Parents, talk to your children about how you are feeling, and why this decision has to be made. Be open minded and accept that you may have to live with a situation you don’t like. If you’re able to keep the conversation going there is hope for a successful divorce.

Page Editor/ G. Major

Break theSILENCE when you witness

VIOLENCE

Students and teachers speak out of how to fix violence going on in East High Story/ T McPhee Senior Tiera McKnight walked into a hospital room, flushed with emotion as she saw her brother fighting for his life, who was a victim of a gunshot wound to the liver. Trying to imagine the reality of the situation he was going through. Knowing her brother had been shot did not feel real to her and she felt as though she was a bad sister for not being able to help.

Violence like this has become the “norm” for many different groups of individuals in the Des Moines community and McKnight has first handedly had to see one of the many the results of violence.

“I am also a very emotional person so I get emotional when I see students physically hurting each other over issues that they won’t care about in ten years from now,” relationships teacher Kayla O’Connor said.

Fighting is the main source of violence most students result to at East. Students see fights often because with conflict many student’s first reaction to arguing is wanting to fight another student. Adults look back every day at the choices they made in high school and regret some choices they made, but in today’s society fighting has become a norm to conflicts students come upon.

“A lot of people view violence as power. I also think that if you only ever saw the people are using violence/aggression to deal with issues then you normalize it as a way to handle conflict.

So many

“

want to be seen as a ‘pussy’ or weak and in order to prove themselves to their peers they choose violence,” O’Connor said.

Power: great or marked ability to do or act; strength; might; force. As a result to fighting student will feel like they are on top of the world after winning, feeling as though they are powerful.

On the other hand there are students whose last interest is violence but are peer pressured into putting themselves into violent situations at East.

“My brother had been trying to deal with it alone because he is going through a lot internally so i feel like mending relationships is the last thing he has to do. I just hope it’s his best choice because we are always going to be family and I’m always going to be there for him,” McKnight said.

A tragedy to someone that has been involved with violence can be bring a lot of stress to an individual. I can be hard to deal with the so called rumors that go on with such a devastating experience . The best thing to do for someone is to let them find their self and give them the space they need until they are ready are speak out.

“Students will also often say that they, ‘Don’t give a shit’, about the person or the situation. So my response to that is, if a person really doesn’t mean shit to you, then why are you willing to face consequences on

Violence doesn't fix problems, it only creates more

students don’t

Page Editor/ T. McPhee

their behalf. What are you willing to sacrifice for a person you don’t care about?” O’Connor said.

Solving violence at East can come from things such as talking things out and not always going straight to wanting to beat up another student. Everyday East High students see these fights and circle around waiting to see what? Another student laying on the ground?

Students may not always have serious injuries but the more students fight the more serious the injuries become. This violence we face can affect each student’s future that is willing to instigate with solving their problems with aggression.

“Growing up seeing violence everyday when there are problems can be a major cause to kids (being violent) at school,” junior Jazzy Johnson said.

Some students do not have a choice in the violence they are involved in. Growing up in hardships, violence has been the only resolution to many students problems as children. Others have gotten caught up with the wrong crowd, whether it is gang affiliated or just hanging around people who believe solving issues with violence is okay, some students did not get to pick their future, their future picked them. Even though students may feel they cannot get out of the violence they have been brought into, our community can push to make a change for the better of every student, from any background.

“I think if we all had a day to come together and let people speak out on what they have been through and where they have came from like most of the people included in violence grew up the same way and we could really come together and make a change to stop violence,” senior Deala Brown said.

photo/ T. McPhee

page /12 feature

Technology at East

Should _East _utilize _technology _in _the _classroom StStory/C. Bartz

According to Statistic Brain over 80 percent of teachers believe technology should be utilized in the classroom, 64 percent of high school seniors have said that tablets helped them study, and almost 100 percent of classrooms have at least laptop, but how does East feel about technology in school.

With technology advancing at the rate it is today, it’s becoming more easily accessible and more prominent in everyday life, so how should it be used in school? Or should it not be used at all?

“The whole concept of cell phones, the idea to keep a device in your pocket that holds an incredible amount of information is amazing, unfortunately they’re used for the wrong reasons, they can be very distracting,” East Teacher Don Heese said.

Heese has taught at East since 1999 and says that teenagers

started carrying cell phones several years ago, but it was rare at first, since then it has become significantly more common for teens to have a cell phone.

Heese wishes phones would come with rules of etiquette so that cell phones can be used for the right reasons.

“Honestly, you can say technology extends learning, but no matter what, there’s going to be students that will not use it for learning,” Junior Devin York said.

Some students and teachers share concerns with how we can ensure that students are actually using their devices for educational purposes.

York explains that technology has the potential to help students with learning, but some students if not most students will be distracted by their phones.

“Cell phones allows to have an entire world of information

Page Editor/ C. Bartz

and knowledge at our fingertips we can use,” Junior Jordan Jack said.

Even though there are concerns with if students are using the technology properly, it seems to be agreed that technology has a lot of potential for improving education.

“All classrooms have computers and smart boards, and it’s had a positive influence, but some kids seem to be more interested in their Snapchat rather than their school work,” East Vice Principal Elizabeth Ahrens said.

The consensus at East is clear, technology is a valuable tool for education, however many students are easily distracted by their devices because of social media and other forms of entertainment. It seems teachers would like to use technology in the classroom, but they need a way to prevent students from being distracted by their devices first.

38%

of students say that they regularly use Facebook to collaborate with classmates on school projects.

80%

of 9-12 students have a smart-phone.

90%

of students admitted to using their phones for non-class activities during class

page /13 feature

State debate teacher of the year East High’s Jennifer Medina, more than a coach Story/C.Hexamer It’s your turn to present in class, you’re sweating bullets and the students in it. Teaching is an important and you got very little sleep last night. Here it comes, the job and it’s not easy either, to be able to teach teacher is calling your name and you’re walking slowly up in a way that students understand is a talent that to the front of the room to give your speech. You look is important and needs to be acknowledged. up and see her there. “Breathe” she mouths and smiles “I can learn really well from her way of at you. East High Speech and debate teacher Jennifer teaching,” senior debate student Parker Gay said.

Medina helps people overcome these fears every day.

Medina is the head debate coach with Kimberly “I teach to help others become confident Traczyk as her assistant coach. As a coach of debate in the ways that they express themselves, and a teacher, Medina helps students to overcome fears writing and speaking,” Medina said. and open up. Since Medina loves the art of speech, Medina has been teaching since 2001 at East it helps her to critique and support her students. as a creative writing and debate teacher. Medina’s “I actually prefer the speech events and that is classroom is accommodating for everyone. She has a what East is known for on the circuit we compete set of desks in the back that are for students who are on. The people and ideas that are communicated having a bad day and need space. These desks show are encouraging and refreshing, “ Medina said. that she cares for her students and she trusts them.

Medina and Traczyk as teachers hope their “She was there when I needed her and she students learn but at the same time they are gave me space when needed just as a teacher learning themselves. Students are sometimes should,” sophomore Christina Tillotson said. the best teachers about the ever changing world.

As a coach, Medina has many achievements, “It’s always an adventure and always ends up including: She coached East students to Nationals 11 teaching all of us a little or a lot about life,” Traczyk said. times, East was recognized as the leading chapter of In Medina’s teaching career she has been at all of West Iowa last year, Medina has been elected many different places including Orchard Place, A by her peers to be on the West Iowa board for the mental health ward which taught her many things, National Speech and Debate Association for almost such as patience. Where she teaches also reflects 10 years. She has also helped on the rules committee who she is. As an East High graduate, she knows for National Speech and Debate Association. She the school and community and they know her. has not however gotten the Coach of the year award “I think that teaching at the school that I graduated from the University of Iowa yet. Despite all of the from and the area that I live in gives me a strong sense personal success, Medina’s focus’s in on students. of the community that I serve. I have high expectations “But the biggest award is seeing the of the students, their families, and teachers to carry students grow in their speaking,” Medina said. out the responsibility of educating the next generation Medina is a caring teacher, she loves the school of citizens that come from East,” Medina said.

Medina’s 11

Trips to Nationals

on the West Iowa 10 Years board for National Speech and Debate

1 of help on the National 12 toSpeech and Debate Association rules committee

2017-2018 Debate Teacher of the year in Iowa

Medina and her debate team are inviting East High Students to join them on the debate team.

Page Editor/ C. Hexamer

Honors

Photo/C. Hexamer

page /14 feature

New at school Introducing new U.S. History teacher Randi Fitzgerald story/N. Grove

Substitute after substitute. Stranger after felt if I was in that situation or what I would stranger. This is what U.S. History students have done if it were me,” Fitzgerald said. dealt with after the sudden departure She wants to share her love for the subject of their teacher, until now. Meet Randi with her students and help them learn.

Fitzgerald. A history teacher with a love “I wanted to become a social studies for the “Twilight” saga and Tasty Tacos. teacher because I wanted students to begin “I’m excited to be at East. It’s bigger than to see that history is about more than just a schools I’ve been at in the past,” Fitzgerald said. bunch of dead guys who fought in wars, and She started that we are living history her job at East on today,” Fitzgerald said.

It’s very obvious she cares She also wants students October 27. She is coming in after to not hate history and she a lot about her students former teacher, hopes to become a better and works very hard Aaron Kelly, was teacher while she is here. dismissed earlier “It’s very obvious to encourage all of her in the year, but she cares a lot about she isn’t letting the her students and works students to succeed.” situation interrupt very hard to encourage -East teacher Don Heese all of her students to her teaching.

“It’s a unique challenge but since I’ve succeed,” East teacher Don Heese said. been a sub for four years, I’m used to coming When she isn’t in the classroom, into new classrooms,” Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald loves spending time with her So far, Fitzgerald has been welcomed at family. Whether it be out on her farm East with open arms by both students and staff. with her fiancé or at a sporting event with “Students and staff love her energy and her sisters, she is always doing something. her positive outlook on life and teaching,” “My sisters and I like to go to School Improvement Leader Sherry Poole said. anything that has to do with Kansas Fitzgerald has had a love for history City sports teams,” Fitzgerald said. since she was 10, so the job fits her interests.

She takes advantage of her summers “I enjoy finding out about the lifestyles and also, she spends them pool side. habits of people from different time periods “I’ve been a lifeguard in the summer and trying to figure out how I would have for the last seven years,” Fitzgerald said.

Page Editor/N. Grove

3Facts top

has four . She little sisters favorite .Her show is “Grey’s Anatomy”

travels to . She Chicago every month to visit her fiance’s family page /15 feature

She writes her story/S. Kozeliski

T

he hallway is long and it makes the entrance to the classroom seem small and rather narrow. Rows of chairs filed on the floor, the aridity of the air filled the room and left a choking sensation in the stemming of the lungs. Tools left scattered from the previous class. Before the eyes can fully scan the room, eyes pierce through the very being of you in all shades: brown, hazel, green, and blue.

And then you realize the reason why; you’re the only female in there. You take the seat in the back. You’re already questioning your choice of engineering.

Words began to flood your head, while others exclaim, “Wow, there’s a girl!” The creation of complete isolation of the group. The insipidity begins to burn more and no amount of analyzing is helping. The only female cannot comprehend the pure allure that engulfs her very being. She is more than a mere female. She is a compelling source of determination.

She is a marvelous entity.

Gender norms weren’t in any part of my mind. I first wanted to be an architect because I was infatuated with building but then I wanted to be a mechanic (mostly from kindergarten until second grade). By fourth grade, I decided that a chemical engineer was what suited me most. Every time I mentioned it, I was often looked at with a head tilt and pout followed by, “Why don’t you pursue something in fashion? No girl wants to be an engineer”. But that just fueled my fire of motivation and I was more determined than ever. The pure fascination combined with the ignorance of the world around me would send me on the path less traveled.

I carry my aspirations in a well bounded suitcase resistant

own story

A female’s goal to pursue a career in science to chipping. I grew up in a huge family yet I was the only grandchild in my age group. I forged my own interests without the appeal of my peers. I loved everything, including learning. I

“

knew my alphabet, each sound, and how to write and even spell some words before I reached the age of three. I was obsessed with everything under the sun, vying for more knowledge. I never went to preschool and rarely interacted with children my age until I was in kindergarten.

Although, by the time I reached eighth grade, I had found my new interest that I still possess today. I gaze at the stars from billions of years ago wondering what’s looking back at me.

Space was different and left me dumbfounded. I reveled in

Age 2-4

My obsession with building began. Not to mention, also learning.

Page Editor/ S. Kozeliski

pure bliss while partaking in the studying of stars. I can, and in complete honesty, listen to lectures about space for hours upon hours. Yet, every time I seem to mention it, I receive

..I’ll be

damned if I’m confined to the ‘role’ of a woman,

“

a face of disgust. But, like always, I kept pursuing what I love because I’ll be damned if I’m confined to the “role” of a woman. This revelation led me to pursue a job as an aerospace engineer. I decided to keep the engineer title because I felt that

Age 5-7

I thought cars were really cool but I still really loved building.

it had been a part of me for so long. My freshman year made me feel compelled to enroll in Intro to Engineering Design.

I was in for a shock even as I continued this class for another

year. My class had a complete inadequacy of girls. It shouldn’t have been shocking to me yet it was. I was never expected to comprehend anything in that class unless I was approached by another girl. I shouldn’t have to feel uncomfortable in my own field of work.

I dropped aerospace engineering from my list of future jobs and aspirations.

Not just because of the male dominated field itself, I just didn’t particularly like that class and part of that was the atmosphere. I got over that,

Age 8-13

By the time I reached this age, I wanted to be a chemical engineer.

though. Instead, I decided that I was best suited as being an astronomer or astrophysicist. I have been planning and studying for my whole high school career to set me up for college to become an astronomer. I often face many oppositions telling me it’s too hard and that it’s truly a “man’s” job. My ability to achieve and excel in my study of choice is not at all related to my gender. So what not many women are scientists?

I am a tree that will not waver in any strength of wind. I’m just someone who happens to be female who is also ready to take on the world. A vagabond initiating her own story.

Each generation of women continues to flourish, breaking boundaries and smashing glass ceilings. Yet, it seems as if people are still doubtful of the capability of women. Women, along with men, were destined for greatness in respect to each other. Our fight stemming from many years ago is proof of our potential. Still, our battle is not over as we continue to face many adversities. Women should be allowed and encouraged to pursue their own career path, stemming from their own interests. It’s important for us, as humans, and for all, to dismantle genders norms and the negative stereotypes that they project onto others. I also believe it’s important for women to join organizations specified for STEM or their career of choice to aid them in their journey. Women as a whole need to continue to just keep pushing through and demolishing the glass ceilings. The work field should prepare for the new age.

We are the new age of women.

It’s time to fight like a girl.

Age 14-

Now

Astronomy was officially my overall career goal, and the beginning of my journey.

page /16 feature

s

r to

y/

am illi W .

M

Transparent

Imagine being

neglected and denied by society

for being yourself. Imagine

not feeling comfortable in your

own skin and feeling nothing but

hatred when you look in the mirror

at your own reflection. Imagine living

with a fake identity for someone else’s benefit. For 15 year old East High sophomore Christina Hope Rose this goes beyond imagination.

S

“I’m pretty sure I’ve known my whole life. I like dressing up and wearing heels. I knew for sure in middle school. One day something clicked and I knew I didn’t want to be a guy. So I went to my friend and said ‘I feel like a girl.’

And they just said ‘okay.’ None of them were surprised,” East High sophomore Christina Hope Rose said.

Being born into a life that is destined for struggle, Rose was adopted by her family at age three and came out as a transgender female when she was 13. Rose’s given name is Christopher Tillotson but after the hardship

of coming to her senses she realized that isn’t who she truly is. There needed to be change.

“I was 13. I cried a lot and just felt depressed,” Rose said.

Rose revealed that it took a long time for her to come out to her parents as Christina and not Chris. Although Rose’s parents were kept in the dark during the time period before her formal coming out, Rose’s younger sister and older brother, Tanner, had known months prior.

“I can’t say I really felt anything when she came out. There was a little confusion at the start but I never felt uncomfortable. But I was confused because one day I just kind of saw her walking around in a dress at school and there was no actual coming out to me, per say.

One day she broke down crying and told me but I just said that I knew because I would always see her walking around in the halls,” brother Tanner Tillotson said.

With Tillotson being Rose’s number one support system at home, Rose continued to be herself while at school but always hiding in the shadows at home. After leaving middle school, it was in high school that Rose truly thrived; especially after meeting choir teahcer, Traci Squires.

“Something that stands out about Christina is how comfortable she feels in her own skin when she dresses very femininely. It makes me happy to see her like that,” Squires said.

freshman year in choir class.

Although Squires first met Rose as Christpher, she soon realized that that wasn’t who “Chris” truly was. Over time, Squires and Rose bonded and Squires acquired a big role in Rose’s life.

“I have very bad gender disphoria.

For every trans person it varies but mine is very bad because I can’t even take a shower without wanting to cry. I just hate looking down at myself,” Rose said.

Gender disphoria is the condition of feeling one’s emotional and psychological identity as male or female to be opposite to one’s biological sex. Living in skin that doesn’t feel like your own causes Rose problems that will have traumatized her for life.

Within these next three years of high school Rose prays to become a more confident version of herself and hopes that she will have the body that will evolve with her mindset.

“There is nothing more liberating than being yourself,” Rose said.

Squires met Rose during

Rose’s

Page Editor/ M. Williams

page / 17 feature

Graduating and new beginnings Seniors leaving the boys and girls swim teams, and the experiences of freshmen

Photo / L. Borgen

Swimming the Butterfly stroke at a Boys swim practice, John Rickabaugh swims to improve his Fly form Story / L. Borgen

Y

ou walk into the room and you’re instantly hit with the sound of the crowd screaming and cheering, air horns blasting, and teammates cheering each other on. The coach’s red face comes into view along with the stands full of parents and spectators. The judges are sitting at the table, waiting for a mistake. You can feel the adrenaline in your veins as you wait for the race to start. The horn goes off, the starters on the block jump off. The smell of chemicals and chlorine hit your nose as swiftly as the people diving into the water. This is what an East High School swim meet looks like.

When you go to a school swim meet you can see and feel the determination in all of the swimmers; whether its boys or girls, they have high goals for themselves that they strive to reach. Contrary to people’s beliefs, you don’t have to swim your whole life in order to be a good and dedicated swimmer. Some people have been swimming their whole lives, while others started in high school.

“I started swimming my sophomore year,” senior Gabe Ewert said, going into his first year of swim in tenth grade, Ewert barely even knew how to swim. For new swimmers is hard for them to learn all of the swimming strokes, and to make sure that their form is as good as it can possibly be.

There’s all different kinds of swimming skills on both swim teams, which overall makes the team stronger with new and old talent coming into the swim teams like freshman who are diving right in.

Freshman Alaya Blake has been swimming for 10 years.

“I’m the youngest so sometimes I needed some help,” Blake said.

This was the first year that Blake has swam for a high school team.

Both the boys and girls team have a wide variety of talent whether it’s your experience in the sport, or the skill level of your strokes. Although the difference in skill level may cause some drama, the teams always get over it through their bonding whether it’s in the pool, or outside of practice.

“With girls, we have our drama but get along in the long run,” senior Mackenzie Prewitt said. “We do enough team bonding, it makes us become closer, better as a team, and a little friendlier.”

Most teams go to practice and only hang out with certain friends they have on the team. But with the swim teams, both the guys and girls try their hardest to involve everyone, and although sometimes they can’t find the time to get together outside of practice, there is plenty of time to bond in practice.

“Being with the team 10 practices a week is enough team bonding,” Ewert said.

And although that seems like a lot of time in the water, you can see the emotion on the swimmers faces when they have won a race or accomplished one of their goals.

“A goal I set for myself going into my first-year swimming in high school was to swim my best,” freshman Emma Luft said. She has been swimming for three years, this is her first-year swimming in high school. Although Luft isn’t new to the sport, she still has goals to set for herself like everyone else.

“I want to reach a 28-29 second 50 free, 1:10 100 free, cut a few seconds in 100 fly, and make Varsity,” freshman Cody Vansylalom said.

What is in a swimmers bag? Top 5 things:

Girls: *Hair ties

*Swim suit *Snacks *Sharpies

*Pain reliever

Page Editor/ L. Borgen

Even though most people set their own goals for themselves, they all can range in different varieties, whether it is to drop your time, or go all the way to state.

“My goal going into high school swimming was just to learn how to swim, and now my goal is to make it to state as an alternative or on a relay if I’m good enough,” senior Chris Trevino said. Everyone has different goals for themselves, but all of them involve the same thing, getting better. “I feel like I mainly accomplished my goals. I got a varsity letter for swimming, and I’m trying to go to state this year, but I made it to districts last year,” Trevino added.

Even if the goals swimmers set are big or small, all of them can be achieved.

Even though at some point it might take more time than they originally hoped.

“I don’t feel it yet but I know I can reach my goals by working hard,” Vansylalom said.

Even with all the progress the teams make, there is still some hard practices and meets yet to come. All of the practices are going towards getting all of the swimmers ready for all of the swim meets and reaching their highest potential in swimming. Though for most it’s just the start of their journey for the team. But for some, it’s the end of their high school years.

“I feel like I’m ready to leave the team as a senior. Even though swimming is fun, some practices are really long and hard, I try my best not to complain but I can’t help but do it sometimes on my bad days,” Trevino said. “Overall it will be bitter sweet when the last swim meet comes,” Trevino adds.

Most seniors are ready to leave, but know it will be a little hard to do when the time comes.

Boys: *Goggles *Food

“I’m not ready to leave, I still feel like a sophomore,” senior Zane Pettis said.

Although there is always a time to come when the seniors have to leave the team, they aren’t always 100 percent ready, and neither are all of the people on the swim team with them.

“It’s going to be different without them, some of them really helped me, and since I’m the youngest on the team, when the seniors leave it will be a weird adjustment,” Blake said.

Because the teams have such strong bonds, it will be hard to see some of them move on and see the end of their season come so soon.

“Most of the seniors are pretty good and it will hurt the team a little when they leave,” freshman Andrew Lien said.

Although the seniors leaving will hurt the team a little emotionally, it will affect their swim meets. Some seniors hold school records in some events, and once they leave, all of the others will have to work hard in order to maintain those records and to keep the team at top shape. And although every year the circle of swimmers coming and going comes around again, there’s always advice that everyone can take away from the whole experience.

“Even though swimming is hard work, it’s worth it. The sport it’s a healthy sport, puts you in shape, and because you’re in shape you can almost eat whatever you want,” Prewitt said.

Sometimes you just have to focus on the little things that keep you motivated. And with your teammates you know they have your back, and you all can watch each other get better together, and always remember, “Anything you think isn’t possible, is possible,” Pettis said.

*Jammers *Warm ups *Kick board

Page /18 feature

Hit the mats

Story/ M. Stout

An inside look on the Scarlet wrestlers and their new facility at the Walker Building.

With a new facility and the same work-hard attitude, the 2018 Scarlet wrestling team is in the midst of another season. The Scarlets are a team blazing a trail hoping to take home that State trophy. The stakes are high, can they do it?

Although everyone is excited to see what’s in store for the team as a whole this season, three wrestlers to watch this season are juniors Deville Dentis and Matthew Jordan and sophomore Brock Espalin. All three of them made it to State last year and are hoping to make it again this season.

Coach James Giboo has been working hard to groom these wrestlers to be the best that they can be and to have them strive to hopefully take home that big trophy.

“My plan to achieve our goals this season is

to do more circuit type strength training and a lot more CrossFit. Our practices are a lot of blood, sweat, and tears and we are constantly working on our weaknesses, we focus on us and our abilities, not the opponent’s,” Giboo said.

When it comes to being a wrestler, with triumph comes many sacrifices.

Junior Matthew Jordan knows exactly what it’s like to have to miss opportunities in order to achieve his dream and how these past few years have shaped him into the wrestler he is now.

“These past few years have for sure changed me, I’ve definitely put myself all into this. I’ve had to sacrifice hanging out with friends, most after school activities because I had a practice or I had a workout.

It was very hard but it paid

EHS WRESTLING

Name- Deville Dentis Grade- 11th Weight Class- 145 lbs Goal for this Season- To qualify for State and to make it into the top 5 and maybe win the whole meet.

Page Editor/M. Stout

off in the end,” Jordan said.

It wasn’t just Jordan that felt like wrestling had shaped him, East’s own coach, Giboo had his fair share of wrestling experience. He has been the wrestling coach for seven years. Giboo has always been a part of wrestling and loves sharing his experience with the student wrestlers.

“I have been involved in wrestling and competing my entire life. I have got to travel all over this country thanks to wrestling and most of the time for free.

Wrestling created so many opportunities for me that it is hard to explain it all. I can tell you, I would not be in education or this state if not for wrestling,” Giboo said.

It’s not just the sacrifices that can shape someone, the way they work hard on the mats can also have

EHS WRESTLING

Name- Brock Espalin Grade- 10th Weight Class- 132 lbs Goal for this Season- To qualify for State and to make it into the top 5 and maybe win the whole meet.

a huge impact in the long run. Working hard will not just help you athletically but teach the long-term effects of a good work ethic and help with balancing out time between friends and athletics.

“I’ve learned that wrestling shows how much work that you actually put in and how much it matters and if you work hard enough, you will do great things,” Espalin said.

Wrestling isn’t just the physical aspect of it for these athletes. It also has benefited them mentally and socially.

“Freshman year, I was not disciplined and was in a lot of trouble and then as I started to wrestle, I learned the value of hard work and how to be mature in stressful situations,” Dentis said.

After a successful season this past year, the

Scarlets are ready to come out stronger than ever and Athletic Director Lyle Fedders is standing right behind them. Fedders is most impressed with how much the team has grown after such a success last year and with the new and improved wrestling facility at the Walker Building.

“I feel like the whole team dynamic has changed due to the new facility.

Before it was varsity in one room and then junior varsity in the other, now that we have a big enough space to for everyone to be together and for everyone to learn something from a fellow teammate. I’ve also noticed that thanks to last year’s success, we’ve had a lot more kids wanting to try it out and hopefully have a good season,” Fedders said.

EHS WRESTLING

Name- Matt Jordan Grade- 11th Weight Class- 132 lbs Goal for this Season- To qualify for State and to make it into the top 5 and maybe win the whole meet.

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Dec. 19, 2017

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