Edgewood ENVOY
THE
Edgewood High School’s Student Newspaper
March,2019
Teacher Shortage Looms Nationally By Ashley Van de Velde As the third quarter draws to a close, a surreal feeling is hitting many seniors: there is only one more quarter left in their high school career. Some may look upon this final quarter with nostalgia, joy, or concern. In any case, many seniors will soon be opening up their final college decisions and deciding where they want to go for what their potential major is. Very few seniors will be opting to enter into any area of teaching in the future, though. Far fewer college-aged students are hoping to become teachers these days. The drop in people entering the teaching profession is causing a shortage of these instructors. According to the New York Post, 4.6 percent of college freshmen planned to major in education. This number is down from the 10 percent that previously planned to do so in the 1970s. Of the seniors I spoke with, only one said she might major in education. She also added that she plans to use that major “to not be a teacher,” but for something else. At the same time, the amount of students attending school is also spiking. This leads to bigger class sizes. In order to make these classes smaller, countless numbers of new teachers would have to be employed. There are not enough teachers to accommodate this growth in students, so class sizes con-
tinue to grow and grow. Edgewood High School seniors say that they would not enter into the teaching career because of the low salary. They also said that having to deal with unruly kids would not be the most appealing. With a lack of teachers, the education field will be needing more instructors or will be looking for a different solution to this problem. When I talked to seniors, they all had different and similar reasons for why they want to attend college. They are excited to be out on their own in new places and leave the house. They want to have “new experiences and meet different people.” Another senior said that she wants to go to college get an education “to study what [she] wants.” High school is marked by many credits that must be fulfilled for certain classes. This often means basic classes and fewer classes concerning what the student is interested in but more what he or she is forced to take. Most of all, seniors are anxious to broaden their horizons, receive and expand upon their education, and have a community to share the great experiences that college life brings. Seniors also expressed the sentiment that they felt like going off to college was simply an obvious next step in order to “be educated” and “prepare for a bright and successful future.” Seniors said that
heading off to college is what it seems like one is supposed to do. It is true that those of this age group have been groomed with the idea that after high school one should attend college. The truth is that this path might not be for everybody, and that is what makes society operate. A lot of people want to go to college because they feel that it will set them up for a better livelihood. There is fact that jobs that require a college education can pay more money, and people often equate this with better lives for themselves. The spectrum was diverse when it came to what Edgewood seniors are hoping to major in. Some said they plan to major in biology, political science, business, journalism, international studies, or are simply still undecided. There is clearly a variety in the fields that students are interested in. Maybe the problem of too few teachers seems exacerbated and more students will change their minds and decide to enter the profession of teaching. College students often change their major and their mind about what they want to do as a career. As seniors will be heading on to their next chapter, whatever that may be, in the coming months they are confident that college will hopefully be a positive experience that will set them up well for their future.
Red Cross Blood Drive Returns
By Jordy Rothwell
The Red Cross Donating team will come to Edgewood High School once again to welcome any hardy blood donors who want to save lives. They will be bringing all of their supplies to the old campus middle school area on March 13 and will be collecting blood from only those who are brave enough from 7 to 2:30 pm. These volunteers for Red Cross have come to Edgewood for five blood drives here recently collecting 264 units. Each unit can save up to three lives. By having these drives, we at Edgewood alone have saved almost eight hundred lives. Algebra 2 teacher Holly Guenther brought this blood drive to Edgewood. When asked why she started this, she said, “I have had two close family members that have needed blood transfusions and understand the importance of having blood available
to save their lives.” She personally has donated to Red Cross over twenty times.
Other teachers and students who have donated have positive things to say about it. Mr. Regina has donated several times and is a double red blood donor. “Donating blood is a way to do things for people without them even knowing. The need is critical.” Over 309 students and teachers have participated at Edgewood’s blood drive, and 60 percent of those have been first-time donors. Junior Frankie Masciopinto, has donated several times to the blood drive. When asked why she donates, she said, “I donate because my parents are doctors and have told me how important it is to give blood because it saves lives.” She said also, “I like to do it because it’s accessible and easy. I like that I know it really makes a difference and that it’s a small thing I can do to help other people stay healthy.” Frankie encourages many others to donate, who haven’t already and
said, “It’s not that scary. You just need to not think about it and find a friend to go with you.” Anyone can volunteer for this drive or be a blood buddy. Blood buddies are people who hold their hands and talk to the people who donate blood. In order to donate, you have to be sixteen years of age, weigh 110 pounds and must be in good health and feeling well. You also have to be approved by the Red Cross team to give blood. signed up!
Mr. Regina donates “double reds.”
News
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Construction Projects Planned
By Clare Quinn Edgewood High School Has begun many new construction projects within our building, some to be completed prior to our seniors graduating in May, while others are to be finished by the fall. Each project is funded through a formula made by the Sinsinawa sisters. Before any construction may begin on any project funding must be 50 percent paid with money in hand, while the other 50 percent is in pledges still to be processed. Many of the upcoming construction projects are either fully funded or almost to the halfway mark Several projects are said to be completed. Our Performing Arts Center is to be completed at the end of May. The new student lounge space located near the Wilke Gym is very close to completion. Space is awaiting the new furniture. Students should be expecting to see new graphics, some large comfortable chairs, and end tables soon. The hope is to create seating for twelve to eighteen people. The lounge is predicted to be completed as soon as possible, so seniors can enjoy the space as well. Mr. Elliott would like to thank the students for respecting our new space. As I was meeting with President Elliott our official lighting permit for the new field was approved and delivered. Another project many students and athletes are much waiting is the new weight room to be located in our current music hallway. The updated weight room is almost
to the funding point where we can begin construction. The hope is to complete this update over the summer and have it ready for next fall. This update is allowing us to double our space for training and completely update our equipment. The new weight room will have free weights, machines, resistance bands, cycling, and a cardio center equipped with treadmills and ellipticals. The new space will be fitted not only with new equipment but multiple floorings including astroturf, rubber flooring, and floors made for lifting. This update opens doors for future training for all sports teams, as well as options for more physical education classes. Along with these projects, Edgewood has five more other projects to complete this summer. These summer plans include updating the office spaces, relocating the kitchen, updating the library to a more modern feel, and expanding the LRC and guidance offices. Our main office will be relocated to where the kitchen and old campus school are. Next year the Commons doors will serve as our main entrance. Along with that, the kitchen will begin its relocation to the back of the Commons. This update will be over a span of two years, as the bathrooms in the Commons need to be relocated in the summer of 2020. The library will also be getting a facelift this summer. The library will be removing computer workspaces and adding more collaboration spaces, more chairs for independent study and new colorful furniture. This update will create
a more current look and allow for more useable space. This update in the library will allow for more seating and accommodate for an extension to the LRC. The final update insured for the summer is the Student Services office. This update will allow for more lounge space, a conference room, some independent rooms, and wellness rooms for students feeling under the weather. Funding continues to come in to fund further projects to update Edgewood. Mr. Elliott is very excited for all our updates and the opportunities to enhance the Edgewood experience. I asked Mr. Elliott how he was feeling with all the updates and what made him excited and this was his response: “It feels rewarding to see that I am making an impact and will some day leave Edgewood knowing that I left in better than when I arrived. We have made many impressive changes and I can’t wait for more to come.” When Mr. Elliott began the fundraising push to update Edgewood, he was looking at a massive $24 million dollar update. So far we have raised nineteen million dollars with less than 130 gifts to our school. Mr. Elliott looks forward to continuing to update our school and would like to soon begin funding our upper level to the Commons, the repurposing of the weight room space to offices and a dance studio, and possibly updating our swimming pool, as our teams continue to thrive and earn state titles.
Drama Dept. To Perform Godspell By Ellie Trudgeon
already known from the Bible.
Edgewood High School will be performing the musical Godspell on March 15,16, and 17. Godspell is unlike anything else. It’s modern twist to common parables will leave you at the edge of your seat. The dancing and music are top-notch.
Godspell was originally performed on Broadway in 1971 and has since been produced by multiple touring companies and in many revivals. Edgewood High School is one of the many high schools to perform this musical.
Godspell is based off of the Gospel of Matthew, and it is a modern twist on these Gospel stories. This performance will tell the parables and stories in the Book of Matthew; however, because of the modern setting, the audience will view these stories from a new lense.
The main theme of the story is Jesus’s death and Judas’s betrayal of Jesus, as it was told in the Gospel of Matthew. The songs in this performance are modern and “jazzy” which will add to this performance.
Jesus teaches the other characters about his works through song and dance. This along with modern music and ideas will create an interesting environment, and will leave plenty of room for interpretation. Because of the modern setting, the audience may find ways to relate to these characters, even though they are characters that are
The cast and crew are ecstatic for this performance, and they feel as though it something new and different for the Edgewood Drama department. Senior performer Corinna Smith said, “Throughout the years, this cast has become a second family to me. I am ecstatic to get to share the stage with them one last time.” According
to senior Patricia Rivera-Torres, this play is very different from others that have been performed at Edgewood in the past. She said, “Because this musical is modern day and improv based, the audience will be able to interpret it in many different ways. There are a lot of themes portrayed in this musical, and I’m excited to see how the audience reacts to it.” Godspell is a musical unlike any other, and the Edgewood cast and crew have been working extremely hard over the past few months. There will be performances starting Friday, March 15 through Sunday, March 17.
The Godspell cast
News/ Feature
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Teacher Renovates Art Curriculum
By Michele Ta Mrs. Wellentin, the art teacher, grew up in Madison, and attended Memorial High School, where her favorite art teacher was Mr. Herman, who taught ceramics which inspired her to be an art teacher. In the interview, Mrs. Wellentin describes her views in art where she is able to work with different mediums and sees it as a discipline. Mrs. Wellentin explained that art can always help and support you in any way, and it teaches you ways of problemsolving. Mrs. Wellentin gradiated from Beloit College in 2005 she majored in studio art and minored in anthropology. Last spring she received her certification to teach PK-12th grade in art through the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This year is Mrs. Wellentin’s first year teaching at Edgewood, and she has many goals for the art classes. She hopes to change the art curriculum where it can fit students’ needs and their interests. Mrs. Wellentin said, “I have renovated the art curriculum for the next school year.” . She hopes to ensure these renovations meet students’ needs and make the art classes fun and interesting for students. Thefollowing classes
could interest certain students: 2D Studio Art 1, 3D Studio Art 1, Photography 1, Yearbook Publishing and Graphic Design will require no prerequisite for next year. For these classes such as, 2D Studio Art 1 involves basic drawing and painting and mixed media. 3D Studio Art 1 works with jewelry and sculpture, and ceramics. Photography 2 will work with different types of photography. This year, Mrs. Wellentin has a new direction for the art department, and she hopes to improve the art classes for students. These art classes will give students the creative ability to share their ideas and inspire them as artists. Mrs. Wellentin believes that making these classes important and accessible for all students will impact them in many ways. She said, “I want classes to be relevant and accessible to all students. My hope is that students will see how creating and innovative thinking are life skills which can be utilized across disciplines.” Mrs Wellentin said, said,“I’m mulling around how I’ll teach digital photo next year and I’d like part of that class to be about social media, how we present ourselves to the world, digital/ visual literacy. To get at the meat of these things, I’m thinking about having a class
Instagram page. I also want to share all our great visual art with parents and those who are not able to come in and see our display cases-- a digital gallery! I think there is a HUGE need to teach visual literacy to kids for their protection and well-being (who wants to explain that inappropriate prom photo to a future employer?).” Towards the end of the interview, Mrs. Wellentin described how Edgewood has helped her as an art teacher in incorporating her ideas, goals and direction for the art department. She has learned so much with being a first year teacher at Edgewood and it’s been a wild ride for her. Mrs. Wellentin is able to soak up so much information about the Edgewood community and learn more about the curriculum and make changes in the future classes. Lastly, Mrs. Wellentin talked about her favorite type of art, and she loves all art forms with their variety. Watercolor is her favorite because it’s easiest to carry and she can do a lot of manipulations which allow her to experiment. She loves the vibrancy and when she is not doing art. She enjoys knitting and doing crochet.
Senior Athletes Commit To Colleges
By Alex Richter
`The class of 2019 has a total of twelve Edgewood seniors continuing their athletic careers next year at some of top universities. This past fall the girls swim team continued their fourth peat, and won their swim state title another year in a row. Seniors Kaitlyn Barth and Issy Peterson have been putting their swim caps and goggles on for around twelve years. Issy committed to Butler University for swimming in the late fall. “I’m so thankful for my family, friends, and coaches who have supported me so that I can continue to do the sport I love at the collegiate level,”,said Issy. Her teammate and co-caption, Kaitlyn Barth, committed to the University of Nebraska in May of 2018. “I was so impressed with the team culture and values, campus and student-athlete support,”, she said. Although it is not a sport Edgewood offers, rowing/crew’s popularity is rising and the sport has sparked a passion in three of the senior athletes. Josie Ascione played competitive soccer for most of her life until she tore her acl twice. She realized that soccer was out of the picture, but still wanted to continue to pursue sports. She picked up rowing and committed to College of the
Holy Cross in the fall of 2018. Andrew Newton played football, basketball and baseball all four years of high school. Andrew recently committed to the University of Wisconsin Madison to compete on the men’s crew team. . Along with Josie and Andrew, Jack Clark committed to Stanford University for rowing as well.
Three seniors will be able to continue playing the sport they love throughout college. Jordy Rothwell has been on varsity soccer player all four years, and has competed with an elite traveling team. Jordy committed to Creighton University last October. “I’m excited for a fresh start and new opportunities and good education,” said Jordy. Co-captaining with Jordy this season, Maddie Cruz has also been playing soccer her whole life and is extremely excited to play for the Badgers next year. Maddie committed in the summer of 2016 . “I am excited to continue to play soccer at the University of Wisconsin- Madison,.” said Maddie. Sam Salzwedel loved the competitive sport ort and competitive atmosphere so much that he decided that he wanted to play at Wartburg College. Four other senior athletes will continue their love for their sports next year. Madison Moore has been playing softball ever since she was little. She committed to
Illinois Wesleyan University. “I am so thankful for Mr. Sulser and Coach Judy for pushing me to be the best I can be,” she said. Matthew Gilles has been running cross country and track all four years. Matthew committed to the University of St. Thomas this winter for both cross country and track and field. “I chose St. Thomas because it’s in a great location with great facilities. The running program is pretty good for Division 3, and it gives me the best opportunities for the next four years”, he said Matthew. Michael Mergiolli is following in his three older sisters’ footsteps. He has been working very hard. This winter Michael committed to St. Olaf College. “I’d like to thank Coach Z and the rest of the Edgewood coaching staff for helping me improve my game and allowing me to play at the next level,” said Michael. Finally, Thomas Hartlieb committed to the University of Iowa this winter. TThomas says he has always grown up watching the Hawkeyes, and it is a dream come true. “I’d like to thank Edgewood and the football program for providing me with all the necessary skills to play at the next level,” said Thomas. Battling through multiple injuries this season, Thomas is excited to bounce back and train with the Iowa Hawkeyes on their upcoming season.
Feature
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Student Becomes Skilled Photographer
By Sophie Brooks
There is a young and blooming photographer at Edgewood High School. Senior Michelle Ta has made her mark in the photography world. Growing up Michelle played sports, and loved reading and writing. But when it came it anything that allowed Michelle to express her creativity, that is what peaked her interest. She found her love specifically for photography at family gatherings. She would always be asked to take the pictures of the family. It was fun for her, telling everyone where to stand and in what position to stand so she could get the best picture possible. Around fifthh grade Michelle got her first ipod, with a built-in camera. This camera made it possible for Michelle to take family pictures, scenic views on vacation and some colorful food pictures. The camera also offered the opportunity for Michelle to practice photography more often. It was around 2016, that Michelle decided to take things to a more professional level. She bought herself a better camera, the Nikon D3400 camera. She used it to take pictures of her friends. These would be pictures of friends posing in the woods or downtown having fun. She still continues to take pictures of
her friends, but now she also works with modeling agencies. One of the modeling agencies that she currently works with is New Lazuli Modeling Cooperative at UW Madison. It is a modeling agency that works with local photographers and UW students. In October of 2017, Michelle began work with The Rock Agency, which is based in Chicago as well as different cities all around Wisconsin. This past summer Michelle had the opportunity to work with MTM Milwaukee Agency as well as Lori Lins Talent and Modeling agency. Through these experiences, she got to work with new models and work with different photographers. Michelle says she enjoys working with different agencies because it gives her an opportunity to work with different types of artists and allows her to grow her own creativity more. Michelle likes each picture she has taken. Her approach begins with inspiration. She gets a lot of her ideas from Pinterest and Instagram. First she finds something that she finds interesting. She then pulls ideas from there and changes the image to a whole new level. Another way Michelle gets her creative ideas is from a model. Each model has a special style and what may look good for one model may not look good on another one. She also looks at other photographers’ work. Some of
her favorite photographers include Adrien King, Bobby King, Nathan Lobato and Ben Sasso. Michelle says that her biggest inspiration comes from her little sister, Denise. Denise does gymnastics and has had some injuries. It is Denise’s dedication to gymnastics and how she keeps on going that inspires Michelle to take photography seriously. Michelle likes to use a Nikon D3400 camera with a 50mm lens f/1.8. She says “ The 50 mm is a good lens for portraits and I highly recommend it as a start lens.” The lens gives a really nice natural blur in the background. The software she uses is Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. The process she uses for editing changes for each photo and project. Sometimes it can take an hour to edit a photo and sometimes it can take ten hours. A set of images can take up to three weeks. If it is even a bigger project, it can take up to months. The time varies for each project. Michelle prefers to use light editing when it comes to her images. The models that she works with, have nice skin and she can keep to blending. In the future Michelle plans on continuing in photography. She sees it as her hobby or maybe a side job. Right now Michelle is an Edgewood High School up and coming photographer.
Restaurant Review: Vin Santo’s Cuisine Excels By Jack Clark Stepping into Vin Santo I felt like I was teleported straight to a small coastal Italian town. Inside, one will be presented with a cozy atmosphere, with a quaint dining room and a small bar on the left side. The soup special for the night was a cream of spinach, while the pasta special was a rough country pesto with roasted red peppers. There was one more special, which I ordered, which was a lasagna casserole with fresh pasta, ricotta, mozzarella cheese, and sausage. For appetizers, members of my party ordered a slew of the options, including the calamaretti, caprese, and bruschetta. The calamaretti featured a spicy roasted tomato sauce acting as a pillow for the calamari loops. It was a great dish, but my one complaint was that the sauce was at times overpowering. The caprese was a classic take on a caprese, with three tall individual stacks of tomato on top of mozzarella, topped off with a balsamic that made for a terrific and refreshing dish. The bruschetta once again checked all of the boxes with extremely crunchy bread, which is the ideal bread consistency you would look for in a bruschetta. The tomatoes and mozza-
rella on top add flavor to the dense bread and make for a tasty combination with the crunch of the bread and the burst of flavor from the juicy tomato, topped off with the savory and smooth mozzarella. Overall, the appetizers were a terrific experience and left me excited to try more entrees. For my main dish, I ordered the lasagna special, and others at my table ordered the Scampi Gabriella, Ravioli al Vin Santo, Scampi Diavolo, and Pollo al’ Tuscana. The lasagna special was fantastic, served in a blisteringly hot dish in which it was baked. The crispy lasagna noodles on top were caressed by a plentiful amount of marinara sauce and a hefty dollop of mozzarella. Inside was more ricotta, more noodles, and thick quarter-sized slices of Italian sausage. Overall, it made for a hearty and filling dish. The Scampi Gabriella featured jumbo shrimp on tortellini with small pancetta chunks scattered throughout. The sauce was creamy and featured white, which gave the whole dish a light and savory taste. The Scampi Gabriella is the single best item they have on the menu, and likely their most wellknown, as well. The ravioli al Vin Santo featured vegetable-stuffed ravioli purses
which included spinach and artichoke hearts, topped off with sun-dried tomato sauce. The sun-dried tomatoes made for a sweet addition to the dish, but the lack of sauce and the fact that it was so great once again left more to be desired from the dish. The Scampi Diavolo once again had jumbo shrimp, but also added sausage and chicken breast. All of that was sauteed with garlic and peppers and put into a seafood broth with fresh campanelli pasta. The Diavolo tasted wonderful and is a great choice if you want the classic Italian noodle feel while still wanting an array of protein. Finally, the Pollo al’ Tuscana once again featured chicken breast, but this time with fresh mushrooms and garlic. The sauce on the dish is the same creamy white wine sauce used on the Scampi Gabriella, which immediately makes this dish wonderful. The Pollo al’ Tuscana is a great choice if you are looking for protein but still want the light taste given by the sauce from the Scampi Gabriella. Overall, I give the restaurant a five out of five. It brings everything you want to the table, quite literally. Both the atmosphere and food were magnificent and left me wanting to return as soon as possible.
Feature/ Sports
Page 5
Bohemian Rhapsody Tells Queen’s Story
By Elena Watson Last October a film came out that painted a picture of the lives of one of the most popular groups that has ever hit the charts. Bohemian Rhapsody is the colorful tale of the band Queen. It shows how they started, their challenges, and their last hoorah at Live Aid in London.
The movie opens with a young Freddie Mercury going out to a bar by himself.
He sees a band playing and likes what he hears. Later that night he finds the guitar player and the drummer and offers them his songs. They inform him that the singer of their band just quit and he was too late. Freddie saw this as an opportunity and became the new lead singer of the band. They found a bass player and soon enough Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon began the everlasting tale of Queen. From here we are whisked on the band’s journey as they record their first album and grow more and more popular. We get to dive deeper into how the group created hits such as “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Another One Bites the Dust”, and “We Will Rock You.” The band learns what it means to be a family. Queen will be put to the test with experiences of struggle with sexuality, fame, and fortune.
Will they survive the hardships of life, and will they continue to write songs for the world to hear? Or will they break up the band? The soundtrack to this movie is outstanding. It gives the film life and an energy that one can only seem to experience at a rock concert. The movie mixes drama and comedy by combining the dramatic points in Freddie Mercury’s life with the playfulness of the band members. Rami Malek, who played Freddie Mercury, did a wonderful job adopting the mannerisms and characteristics of the great Freddie Mercury. Malek won an Oscar for his outstanding performance. Bohemian Rhapsody will make your heart throb, as well as make you want to get up and dance around the room. The accuracy and precision of the movie makes it realistic and extremely real. If I were to rate the movie out of five stars I would give it a five. The movie was accurate, well-made, and captivating all in one. The film was just released from theaters, so go out to your nearest Target and pick it up as soon as possible.
Rami Malek plays Freddie Mercury
Gymnastics Team Has Winning Season By Christopher Boll The Verona Area Madison Edgewood gymnastics team has been making waves this year as Annie Maher, team captain and head competitor, led the girls team to a winning season. The Verona Area Madison Edgewood gymnastics team is composed of a combination of athletes from both Edgewood High School and Verona Area High School students, as neither school has enough participants to warrant having separate teams. Annie has been a part of the team all four years. She thoroughly enjoys competing for her school alongside her classmates and with her combined Verona teammates. The team is annually successful and competes in the Badger conference against teams from large area schools such as Memorial, West, and Middleton. Annie, a senior at Edgewood this year, has been doing gymnastics competitively since she was five years old. Annie grew up watching her sister compete and learned to love the sport herself at a young age. She participates in all events for the team, but her favorite event is the balance beam. Along with competing for her school, Annie, also competes on a club gymnastics team, Gymfinity. She described her experiences of making it to regionals with Gymfinity as a definite highpoint in her career.
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Annie said she gets her inspiration from professional gymnast Shawn Johnson, an Olympic gold medalist in the balance beam. As a senior this year, Annie was selected by her coaches Hannah King and Rachael Hauser, to be a team captain alongside her teammates Hayle Donald, a Verona high school senior. The Verona Area Madison Edgewood team (also known as the “Wildcats”) came through with a stellar showing this season despite a few setbacks the team encountered along the way. One of these setbacks was the loss of Annie for the last few weeks of the season due to a herniated disk injury, along with the absence of other teammates also due to injury. Annie said, “The wave of injuries that hit our team was probably the low point of our season.” Despite this, the Wildcats managed to place fifth in sectionals while scoring an all-time high team score of 138 in competition, and even sending two players on to compete in individual state. Despite a frustrating end to her final high school season, Annie was proud of everything that she and her team accomplished throughout the 2019 season and throughout her full four years competing on the Verona Edgewood team. Annie was forced to sit out the entire last few weeks of the season due to injury, but she still made it to every practice and competition to cheer on
and support her teammates. Head Coach Hayle Donald, said, “Although Annie was out for injury late in the season, her energy and support made a huge impact on carrying the team through our sectional run.” Although Annie will not be going on to play gymnastics in college, she is very thankful for the opportunity to grow as a leader on the team and to form some longlasting friendships with her teammates as well. Instead, Annie will be attending the University of Iowa next year where she plans to study nursing, and she hopes to use the experience and sense of responsibility she gained in her leadership role as a captain of the team.
Annie Maher performs balance beam routine
Sports
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Girls Hockey Finishes Strong
By Maddie Cruz Edgewood, Middleton, Dodgeville, Memorial, Mount Horeb, Verona and West are local high schools that make up the co-op girls’ hockey team, the Madison Metro Lynx. The Madison Metro Lynx play their home games at the Madison Ice Arena. Madison Metro Lynx’s record this season was nine wins, eleven loses and two ties. Edgewood High School has three players on the team: Josie Dragoo (junior), Stella Raichle (freshman), and Alina Stiller (freshman). Alina Stiller is a center on the team. Alina has been playing hockey for eight years. When asked about how the season went, she said, “I learned a lot and it was a good community and the girls really get along.” Alina expressed how grateful she is for the coaching staff and their help to improve her knowledge in hockey. She also stated her excitement for next season and continuing to learn new skills and improve at hockey. Alina said that she is “very lucky to have met new people in the hockey community from playing on the Metro Lynx.”
Josie Dragoo is a junior defenseman for the Lynx. Josie has been playing hockey for eleven years. She said that she is very proud of how the team performed this season and believes that the Metro Lynx will continue to grow as a program. Next season, Josie said she is “looking forward to meeting new players and being a role model for underclassmen.”
Stella Raichle plays center position for the Lynx. She is one of two freshmen on the team. Stella has been skating since she was three years old, and her love of skating got her involved in hockey. When asked about what it is like playing for the Metro Lynx she said, “Even though I don’t see all my teammates at school, it is so great to be able to go to practice every day and share a goal and passion we all have in common.” Her favorite memory this season was scoring her first varsity goal. Stella is looking forward to next season and strengthening her relationships with her teammates and coaches. As the Madison Metro Lynx started off their season with two new freshmen, they also got a new coach and new jerseys. This will be Coach Mike McKersie’s first var-
sity head coaching position. Coach McKersie said, “We hadn’t had new jerseys in thirteen years.” With a new head coach and new jerseys, the Metro Lynx were off to a good start. Their luck continued as they beat topranked teams such as the Cap City Cougars from Sun Prairie and Beloit. They finished fourth in the Badger Conference. As playoffs came around, the Madison Metro Lynx were playing some of their best hockey. The first game of playoffs the Metro Lynx defeated Viroqua (3-1). Josie said, “We seemed to have just clicked as a team at the right time.” Unfortunately, the Sun Prairie Cap City Cougars ended the Madison Metro Lynx’s season in the semifinal game to go to state.
Josie Dragoo lines up a shot
Boys Hockey Wraps Up Season
By Zach Madson The boys hockey team this year was full of young talent. Multiple freshmen this year joined the varsity team, and two new sophomores transferred in as well. With this young talent, there were high hopes for Edgewood in playoffs. Unfortunately, the team was plagued with injuries this year. The team had at least one player injured for every game. Despite the injuries, Edgewood still had an impressive 15-8-0 record. The season ended in the first round of playoffs. Edgewood was the fourth seed coming into the game. They faced fifthranked Middleton at home in the Labahn Ice Arena. A goal from freshman Cody Menzel, assisted by Captain Hunter Stracka put the Crusaders up in the second period. The Crusaders then held that lead until there were just six minutes left in the third period. Middleton scored goals on consecutive plays to take the lead in the final minutes of the game. Following their second goal, a Middleton player received a five-minute major penalty for an illegal hit on an Edgewood player. With a man advantage, Head Coach Pete Rothering pulled the Edgewood goalie to have an extra skater on the ice in hopes of scoring a game-tying goal. Unfortunately, Middle-
ton was able to capitalize on the lack of a goalie and scored their third goal. Despite this unfortunate end to the season, the boys program still secured the conference championship for the ninth year in a row. Head Coach Pete Rothering said, “This season was a challenge in that we were very young. With just three seniors and eight freshmen in our varsity line up on a given night we had some growing pains. However, we showed we could play with anyone with big wins over Memorial, Middleton, and Notre Dame-Academy as well as one goal games with Superior and Sun Prairie - both ranked in the top ten all year long. In the end the guys worked hard and earned a ninth straight conference championship. We also built the foundation for future continued success as many young players earned valuable varsity ice time and thirty of the thirty-three kids in our program return. We thank our three seniors - Teddy, Zach, and Hunter - for all their efforts and leadership and wish them the best of luck!” Being able to play with teams that are ranked in the top ten all year shows how talented this year’s team was. With only three seniors leaving the team, there are high hopes for what Edgewood boys hockey may be able to do in the future.
Junior Matthew Moyes said, “It was a good season all around, a lot of growth for everyone, especially a lot of the younger guys who improved and got some quality experience in tight games. The boys definitely became a more cohesive unit.” Only losing three seniors this year means that the team will be able to retain many of its core players, and the style of play will have stayed more or less the same. With only three spots on the varsity team being vacated, it invites higher competition to fill the openings, meaning an even higher skill level for the team next year. Even though there are high hopes for the future, the team is sad to see some of its leaders leave the locker room for the last time. Frosh Parker Murn said, “I loved the boys, especially my partners Madson and Stracka. I love them and I’m sad to see them leave.”
Aiden Lenz takes shot
Sports
Page 7
Girls Basketball Remains Hopeful
By Madison Moore The girls varsity basketball team finished the season off better than they started. After beginning the season with a 1-8 start, it took some time for the team to find their groove and build chemistry together. Despite the challenges, the girls really came together and pushed through as the season marched on. This season the girls varsity basketball team was a younger team, with only three seniors: Erin Jenkins (guard), Madison Moore (guard), and Emily Schauer (forward). The underclassmen played a more prominent role on the team, as the two leading scorers, Sarah Lazar (forward) and Baluck Deang (forward), are only sophomores. “I feel that as a team we met our challenges with support for each other throughout the season,” said sophomore Sarah Lazar. “As our young team develops more grit and chemistry on and off the court we look forward to a great season next winter.” Last year, the girls varsity basketball team finished the season with a record of 14-9, one much better than the team anticipated having lost most of the state-winning team from the year before. This year, the team was challenged with finding their identity and learning to play together with a younger group of girls. Throughout the season, Coach Lora Staveness relied heavily on her senior leaders to teach and challenge
the underclassmen as the team took on one of the toughest schedules in the program’s history. “I’m going to miss the seniors a lot after this year,” said Head Varsity Basketball Coach Lora Staveness. “They always put the team before themselves, and they played the roles that they needed to play for us to be more successful.” The girls played several top-ranked opponents who were projected to compete for a state title in their respective divisions including Aquinas, Laconia, and Blackhawk. The Crusaders were able to navigate this tough schedule, ending the season with a record of 7-17. “I would say that we have improved as the season’s gone on and it may not show in our record because of the quality of competition we have faced all year,” said Coach Stav. The team gained some momentum going into the postseason. They defeated Poynette in their regional quarter-final game 57-36. Then they came out hot in their semi-regional game against number one ranked Prairie du Chien. However, they fell short in a tough battle 60-43 ending their season in a heartbreaker. “We had Prairie du Chien in our grasp for a while, but unfortunately ended up falling short,” said junior Lindsey Langlois. “They were a tough team, but I’m proud of how far we’ve come this season and we will continue to work towards success as we prepare this off-season.”
The lack of experience the majority of the team had posed an obstacle for them at the beginning of the season. Averaging thirtyone turnovers for the first five games of the season, the girls began to dig themselves into a hole losing eight of their first nine games. However, as the season went on, the team greatly improved and began to find their identity. The great combination of upperclassmen leadership with underclassmen talent served as a strong foundation for the team as they navigated their incredibly difficult schedule. With several games on back-to-back days, the team was challenged both physically and mentally in overcoming adversity in order to come out on top. The Crusaders have a bright future as the majority of the team will be returning next year. They will be able to build on what they’ve accomplished this year, and hopefully bring the Edgewood girls basketball program to its third trip to the WIAA State Tournament in five years.
Amber Grosse beats Milton defenders
Boys Basketball Thriving and Surviving By Sam Salzwedel The boys basketball team had been playing well this year. They came close against all the best teams in the Badger Conference. They had lost a string of five games in the last six games by five points or less. They had just beaten Oregon High School, the number one team in the Badger Conference on Friday night. This was Oregon’s second loss in conference. Their first came back in December to the Crusaders. The team is close together not only in age but in chemistry. “The team has great chemistry, and it’s great to be around this type of environment,” said sophomore Michael Reignier. “Last year I was on JV, and I could see and feel that the guys on last year’s team were not close at all. Our chemistry is way better this year. I am really happy with how well our team gets along together off the court. It is a great environment to be around.” As he said, the chemistry last year was not as good as this year’s. It is crazy to think that a JV player could notice and feel how our chemistry on the court was off. Last year was just a locker room team. They liked each other
in the locker room, but didn’t show it on the court. This year is totally different. We love each other in the locker room, and love each other maybe even more on the court. Jack Clark, a senior on the team, explained how he found out he loved playing this sport. “I learned that I loved this sport in kindergarten. I learned to love it because of the competition and the team aspect of it, my teammates were great, and they made it so much better.” I also asked where he thought the team was and how he felt they were performing. “I feel that we are right there, especially, because we have lost several games by less than five points. It seems like we are on the brink of being successful.” Jackson Wendler, another senior, has spoken about how much fun this season has been for him and how much he loves the sport. “I started playing basketball as soon as I could. I love the sport and love being a part of such a close team. We are an underrated team. We will prove people wrong, and show how close we are on and off the court. We always have each other’s
backs no matter what. Playing home games in front of the fans and students, it’s something about the environment at home that makes us thrive.” Those are encouraging and strong words said by a senior who has been playing well. Coach Z has been the head basketball coach for twenty-five years, and has been coaching for thirty years. He said, “The senior class. They have for sure made the season more enjoyable, and their chemistry is amazing. They are a top three senior class in the time I have been at Edgewood, and they love their teammates.
Mike Meriggioli drives past defender
Sports
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Swimmers Win State Title!
By Kaitlyn Barth
Edgewood boys swim and dive team swept the competition at the WIAA Division Two State Meet. The team swam with their hearts, as they won by over one hundred points. Their assistant coach, Marcus Pierce, was their true inspiration throughout the meet. All the wins throughout the meet were for Marcus.
Nate Frucht swims freestyle Earlier this year, Marcus had a synovial sarcoma in his leg. In the middle of the swim season, he had a leg amputation. Davis Petersen said, “He has been such a strong inspiration to all of our lives, and he is such a strong person who we all admire.” Marcus knew after his amputation that he would need to go through many rounds of chemo to make sure the cancer did not come back, but he decided to wait until after the state meet to finish coaching these boys. His big goal was to be able to jump in the pool with the boys, after they win the state meet. This goal was a big feat for the swim and dive team, but it seemed to be accomplished with ease.
Alex Moen powers through backstroke Ben Stitgen kicked off the meet with a first-place finish in diving. The boys medley relay followed with another first place finish at the state meet. Truman TeDuits said, “Starting off the meet with a win was amazing, one of my all-time highlights.”
Nate Frucht used that momentum to drive him into his win in the two-hundred freestyle, and Davis Petersen got fifteenth place. The third event was the two-hundred individual medley. Truman TeDuits had a first place finish, setting a team record, and Colin Senke placed ninth in the event. Then senior Tommy Beyer had a twelfthplace finish in the fifty freestyle. By the break of the meet, Edgewood had won five of the six events.
coach, Marcus. He finally got to drop his crutches, and enjoy the overwhelming moment of jumping into the pool after receiving the 2019 State Championship trophy. Tommy Beyer said, “It is truly hard to explain the impact that was made when Marcus jumped into the pool with us.” The boys swim and dive team had an unforgettable end to their season. The team scored 289 points, defeating their rival of many years, Monona Grove. Every morning practice and weight lifting session had paid off. The seniors agreed it was an honor to be a part of this team, and they cannot wait to see the incredible things that will be accomplished in the years to come.
Truman TeDuits backstrokes to victory Captains Sean O’Connor and Tommy Beyer kept the team pumped and motivated to finish the rest of the meet strong. Sean O’Connor said, “I am so grateful to be able to lead such a talented and fun group of guys.” After the break, Alex Moen placed second in the one-hundred freestyle, and Sean O’Connor was ninth. To follow, Nate Frucht placed third in the five-hundred freestyle. Edgewood’s sprinters scored a second place finish in the two-hundred freestyle relay. Alex Moen got third place, Colin Senke got fifth place, Davis Petersen got twelfth place, and Sean O’Connor got fifteenth place in the one-hundred backstroke. Next, Truman TeDuits had his third win of the night in the one-hundred breaststroke. Truman TeDuits said, “This event was big for me. I was so happy to get that third win for the team.” Edgewood boys closed the meet with their sixth first place finish in the four-hundred freestyle relay. Davis Petersen said, “We went into the meet not seeded to win any individual events, and won six events total. I could not be more proud.”
Truman TeDuits drives to victory
Congratulations swimmers!! You are the champions.
Edgewood accomplished their goal of a state championship. Nate Frucht said, ”Winning that title, had meant all of our hard work had paid off.” This title was not only for each other, but for their assistant
Note: For the first time in its history, The Edgewood Envoy is going paperless. Eliminating paper copies will cut costs, help the environment, and streamline distribution. Also our electronic capability enables us to distribute the paper to every student. Enjoy the read!!