Booster Redux August 2014

The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School 1978 E. 4th Street Pittsburg, KS 66762 Vol. 98, Issue 1 www.boosterredux.com

Friday, Aug. 15, 2014

It’s a hard knock life

HOSA NATIONALS Students hard work earns national title

Page 2D

Students participate in PCT production of Annie

BY JOSH LEE

@iAmTheJoshLee

W

hile others travelled the country and hit the beach, the Pittsburg Community Theater (PCT) worked hard all summer to kick off this school year with a performance of what many would call an American Classic, Annie.

Containing cast members of all different ages, the five diligently prepared performances lasted for four days filled with song and laughter.

Among those who worked hard to entertain expecting audiences were nine students from within the high school.

Because of the wide variety of experience, age and background the performers had to offer, the show provided the students with not only a chance to have fun, but also with a chance to learn.

For those who have participated mostly in school productions, Annie was a completely different experience.

Senior Sarah Colyer, who was a part of the backstage crew and was in charge of all the younger members and children of the cast, enjoyed the diverse age groups.

“It was very interesting to get to see more experienced actors at work,” Colyer said.

“You get to work with a lot of people that have worked in theater for a long time, and they give you amazing tips and tricks to help you out,” added freshman Natalie Harris, who was a part of the teen dance ensemble.

And help them out they did. For three months, the thespians learned and performed with experienced actors, like the now-graduated PHS alumnus, Seth Golay, who now pursues a career in acting all across the state and occasionally the nation.

“It was fantastic coming back to PCT. Not only was the Memorial Auditorium the place I learned theatre, production and singing, I was coached by some lovely educators,” Golay said. “Truthfully, Pittsburg Community Theater is run just like a professional theater: the talent, the staff, the producing end of it.”

In addition to learning, the students had a chance to share their respective experiences and skills with the younger members of the cast.

Sophomore Lydia Winters, also a member of the teen dance ensemble, was one of those fortunate enough to be in that position.

“There were a lot of little girls in the cast and it was nice to pass on the skills I had learned when I was their age,” Winters said.

Senior Ashley Burch, whose roles, like Harris and Winters, included that of usherette and ensemble, also enjoyed the wide age

range the production had to offer.

“It was a little strange but fun at the same time, having the adults give me advice on how to be more successful in theatre, and helping guide the younger children around the stage,” Burch said. “It was fun seeing the knowledge kind of circle around through the generations.”

Theater Director Greg Shaw enjoys running community theater performances and the opportunity to work with old and new students.

“It is always fun to work with former students,” Shaw said. “Seeing how much they have grown and matured, both as actors and individuals is great.

It is great to get to work with current and future students as well. It gets me excited to start the year and starts me looking forward to the shows PHS will do in the future.”

Furthermore, this particular production may have had a bit more meaning to certain members of the cast and crew. Thanks to the different ages of the people involved through the community theater, many were able to take part in the performance with their family members.

“Every production is different, but this one had some special meaning to me, simply because my daughter McKenna played the role of Annie and my wife was in the Adult Ensemble,” Shaw said. “It was nice to spend the end of the summer working on a production with the entire family.”

While Annie, for those like Shaw, was a time to enjoy some family time while working together, others simply enjoyed the chance to perform onstage and share their talents with others.

“Even though there are long hours and it’s a ton of hard work, it all pays off in the end,” Harris said. “There is nothing better in life than getting up on stage and watching people smile because of your performance.”

BREAKING BOUNDARIES UTTLEY RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP FOR WOMENS DEBATE CAMP Page 3D

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MIRANDA MOORE AND REAGAN RINK

PreDistrict welcomes new, returning administration season Kidd, Fincher provide new qualities to high school, district from near and far swim party B

Club sponsor changes

@dragonstwirler etween living out of packed boxes at his new house and keeping up with the demands of his new job, Brannon Kidd is a busy man.

Kidd is the new Assistant Principal/ Activities Athletic Director. He and his family recently moved from Huffman, Texas, when he took the new job. Kidd was the assistant principal at Huffman High School before coming here and prior to that, he was the athletic director for the Cleburne Independent School District in Cleburne, Texas.

“Last year I was offered an athletic director position in Kansas City Public Schools. After further research, I felt like it wouldn’t be a good fit for me and my family but, at the same time, my wife and I knew that we wanted to move up this way,” Kidd said.

“Whenever I lived in Indianapolis, when playing for the Colts, I loved the Midwest area so, whenever this came open, I applied and it seemed like a good fit for me and my family.”

In addition to the position being new to Kidd, it’s also a new position to our school.

“It’s a big job and it’s a little bit dif-

ferent than what it’s been in the past. that need to be addressed and capiBefore, the position was only Activities talizing on the successes here and Athletic Director but, now it is an in the past,” Kidd said. “My first goal Assistant Principal/Activities Athletic will be to listen to [the coaches and Director so, he has some school activity sponsors]. I have a meeting duties along with the activity and ath- on Aug. 7, with all of the coaches and letic responsibilities,” Principal Jon after that, sparingly with the activBishop said. “So far he’s been doing ity sponsors for band, drama, vocal, a great job, though. Moving up here and all those groups. I’ll just listen to from Texas them, see what and not only needs they have, transitioning and see what we from anothcan do to work er town together to meet but, to an the needs of entirely difboth their proferent state, grams and the takes some students.” time. We are Along with definitely Kidd’s beginexcited to ning of the year have him up goal, he also has -BRANNON KIDD here.” another goal set.

Although However, he Kidd has plans to achieve a lot of work ahead of him, he has this one within the next 9 months. a plan and knows exactly where to “My goal for this school year is start. to bring the activities programs all “The first tackle is to conquer the together as one. Not that it’s not that transition from Texas to Kansas and way now but, [my goal is to] work dealing with those different rules and together even more, with my all for things. Also, it’s learning and listen- one, one for all type mentality,” Kidd ing to the problems and concerns said. “I want to be a resource for all of

“

I JU JUST WANT TO IMMERSE MYSELF INTO THE PITTSBURG URG CULTURE.

STUGO Regina Winemiller & Samantha Warren

Assistant debate & Forensics coach Emily Rountree

national honors society Gary Wolgamott

”

Room changes

BY MEGAN MUNGER

the activity sponsors and coaches, to be someone who is visible [for them].

I want to provide some leadership and help provide the resources they need to make their programs be successful, as well as our students.”

Kidd’s goals are not only shortterm and small.

“My long term goal is to eventually create something here in Kansas, which in Texas we call the Lonestar Cup. It’s a point system for all of our extracurricular activities. They grade the school districts of equal size by how they do in all their activities, including things like band and drama,” Kidd said. “I’d like to create that here in Kansas; to where it’s a statewide competition. In order to do that, all of our programs need to exceed in sub-state and state championships and things like that.”

In addition to Kidd’s new presence at the high school, the district also has another new presence this year.

Ronda Fincher will be serving as the Assistant Superintendent. She has served in the district before, in a few different positions.

“I actually graduated from PHS. I was band director here for awhile, and I was also assistant

Beth stockard - 103 Nidia Lopez - 111 Kristin Thomas -112 Matt DeMoss - 208 Rashell Yockey - 211 Regina Winemiller - 200

SEE NEW ADMINISTRATION PAGE 2D

Emily Rountree - 300 Abbey Cummings - 312 david simpson - 316 emily smith - 604 beth gilbert - 600 Doug Stanley - 600A

Fall activities celebrate new season at Pittsburg Aquatic center Page 4D

2 NEWS Booster Redux staff and policy Editors-in-Chief Alli Baden Josh Lee Morgan Plank Managing Editors Miranda Moore Coral VanBeceleare Design Editors Reagan Rink Kailey Curtis Copy Editor Megan Munger Online Editors Kailey Curtis Kylynn Collins

Staff Katy Brown Maddie Baden Meghan Baker Alivia Benedict Morgan Burns Autumn Gillis Molly Graham Ashley Henderson Christian Hyde Ethan Hawn Journey Jaramillo Josh Jarvis Mollie Jemison Adia Johns Joseph Mathew Karis Mengarelli Shelby Oldham Trina Paul Rachyl Russian Erica Seal Ivan Walter Jake Webb

Adviser Emily Smith The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School Student Publications 1978 E. 4th St. Pittsburg, KS 66762

PHS Student Publications Department and newspaper class produce The Booster Redux. Please call us with comments at 620-235-3200.

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Friday, Aug. 15, 2014

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Taking action with ALICE training

Teacher, students learn new strategies for school safety

BY MOLLY GRAHAM @molllygraham According to CNN.com, the United States has the highest amount of school shootings. Whether the shootings are caused by bullying, mental illness or drugs, they are always unexpected and have the potential of being deadly. But with the help of more effective evacuation procedures, more lives could be saved.

After the Columbine shooting in 1999, Lisa and Greg Crane worked together, with the help of others, to develop ALICE. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate.

According to their website, ALICE is the first evacuation plan that allows all citizens to know and use their skills and options when public shootings occur. ALICE and its instructors work to prepare students and bystanders to be able to help themselves in public and school shooting situations until safety services can arrive.

This year, Assistant Principal Chris Garzone, who is also the District Crisis Supervisor, chose ALICE as the district's new evacuation policy.

Garzone works with trainers from the sheriff department, the police department and other school personnel.

“I brought ALICE into this school and into our district because we want our students to be informed,” Garzone said. “We also want them to be helpful when they need to fight back, if something like that happens.”

Officer Chris Moore of the Pittsburg Police Department is one of the ALICE certified instructors.

“There was a general need for a safer school and district.” Moore said. "[ALICE] is going to make you all safer. It is going to give teachers the chance to make decisions. Before, we had one option; now we have many.”

According to the ALICE training website, the (A)in ALICE teaches students and its users to use plain and specific language, avoiding code words.

The (L) and (C) teach the importance of silencing

“

NOW WE’RE EMPOWERING THE STUDENTS TO TAKE ACTION TION AND SURVIVE VE.

”

- CHRIS GARZONE

cell phones, how to strongly barricade a room, how to communicate with reinforcements, how to plan other strategies and prepare to evacuate and counter, if needed and how to, if necessary, successfully distract the shooter.

The I teaches those in charge to have a clear emergency response plan and to always communicate with clear and direct information. The (E) in ALICE teaches techniques on how to have a

Kidd and Fincher:

safe and strategic evacuation.

“The old system would teach kids to hide in a corner or hide under a desk,” Garzone said. “We know when that happens kids are killed. Now we’re empowering the students to take action and survive.”

With this new policy, our school will benefit from the awareness that ALICE will create.

“10 years ago when [administration] talked about intruders they wanted everything coded,” Garzone said. “They didn’t really want people to know what was going on because it’s a very sensitive subject. It’s time to communicate and let our students know what's expected.”

The high school’s previous lockdown policy will still play a big part in ALICE’s evacuation procedure. A big part in the ALICE system is the importance of being able to give accurate information.

“If an intruder comes into a certain part of the building, like in the high school, the 600 hall, why is everyone in the 200 and 300 halls staying in the classrooms?” Garzone inquired. “Once a teacher receives the information then they are allowed to make decisions for themselves to evacuate.”

Evacuating students and faculty members would then go to the high school’s reunification site, where the teachers would then account for anyone who is missing.

“We’ve read and watched videos of actual active shooter situations and it’s just opened my mind to what happens, sadly enough,” Garzone said. “But it also lets us know how we can survive if we ever had to go through such a tragic event.”

Taking on new administrative roles

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1D

P

rincipal here,” Fincher said. “Plus, I did the School For Careers and the alternative school for a while. Then, I was offered the opportunity to be an elementary principal so I went that way, and then this came open and I felt like it might be nice to come back home.”

Unlike Kidd however, Fincher’s transition is a little smoother.

“I’ve adjusted back into the district pretty well. It’s different being at the board office rather than at the high school, but I’m definitely excited to be back. I still know a lot of the people who were here when I was, but there’s a lot of new [teachers], too,” Fincher said. “Until everyone gets back though, it’s hard to do a lot of adjusting.”

Although Fincher can not completely adjust until everyone returns, she does have some goals prearranged.

“My goals are to learn who everybody is, what we’re doing, and where we’re headed,” Fincher said. “I plan to achieve that by getting out in the buildings, meeting people, and working with them.

It started this week with professional development, I got Explaining his life and descision to move to the USD 250 school district, to meet a lot of the teachBrannon Kidd speaks to coaches and sponsors during a meeting last ers, see what they’re doing, Thursday. PHOTO BY MIRANDA MOORE

and what type of things we’re using in the classrooms.”

Even though Fincher has present goals, she also looks toward the future.

“I think I have a pretty good picture of where we’re headed and how we’re getting there but, I’m just going to try to get in there first,” Fincher said. “I’m not going to come in and make lots of big changes.”

Returning to the district, there are high hopes for Fincher.

“She has a lot of experience and has held administrative roles for a long time, so she is very aware of curricular programs, statewide and locally, which is a very good thing,” Bishop said.

“Graduating from PHS, and being a Dragon herself, she will definitely do what is best for Pittsburg. I think that she will be a great addition to our administrative team.”

Both Kidd and Fincher plan to make their first year successful, and their means of doing that are quite similar.

“I plan to get out, meet a bunch of new people, talk, and listen to concerns,” Kidd said. “I just want to immerse myself into the Pittsburg culture.”

Dragon time refocused on academics New schedule allotted for clubs, activities, tutoring

BY MORGAN PLANK @momoplank Between four clubs and two sports, junior Rachel Folk has somehow always made it work.

Her hectic schedule may become easier to manage this year thanks to an extra 25 minutes.

In the past, clubs have met and conducted meetings during Dragon Time. This year, directly after school and until 3:20 all clubs and extracurricular activities will have the opportunity to meet uninterrupted. Teachers can also use this time to help students with schoolwork. In addition, transportation will be provided for students after the activity period. Late buses will run at 4 p.m. and after practice around 5:30 p.m.

This will allow clubs to meet more often and for a longer amount of time along with allowing Dragon Time to be more academically focused.

“What was happening was that we had Dragon Time, which was supposed to help kids academically, but we had activities going all the time and kids being pulled here, pulled there, doing this, doing that, and we couldn’t just concentrate on the academic piece of it,” Principal Jon Bishop said.

When discussing whether or not to set aside specific time for clubs and activities, teachers who coach a sport or multiple sports played a key role in the decision making.

“We have teachers who coach multiple sports and sometimes they feel like they’re behind because they are not able to stay and help their students and that was one thing that was taken into consideration when talking about this,” Bishop said. “Teachers that are missing some kids after school are wanting to help them. They kind of feel like they’re disconnected a little bit as well.”

Kids are also feeling left out but in a different

way. With Folk being involved in FCA, STUGO, Spanish club, history club, and planning to join key club and FCCLA, this activity time allows her to attend every meeting of each of her clubs. She will no longer have to decide which club meeting to attend if two happened to be scheduled on the same day.

“It gives me time to actually be involved and do something in the club other than just say I’m in it,” Folk said.

Another goal for this time, according to Bishop, is to incorporate teachers having more of an advisory role to students.

“We want teachers to meet with kids once a week, see how they’re doing, call them up to show and discuss their grades with them,” Bishop said.

“I think that’s important that every single kid has more than just their teachers in the classroom but also have that advisory teacher.”

Teachers valuing one-on-one time with students is very important to Bishop. Whether it be five minutes or 25 minutes, teachers will now be able to use that time after school they never had before.

“If a teacher can spend 10 minutes after school to go over some directions with a kid or help a kid they’re still fine and getting down and getting ready for practice on time,” Bishop said.

Sometimes, though, kids are not able to get to school early in the morning for help. This is another advantage that Bishop sees.

“It helps kids who can’t get here early in the morning for academic help. They may be able to touch base with their teachers right after school,” Bishop said.

However, with all the advantages there also comes disadvantages. The new activity time pushes back the start time of practice which adds

an additional 10-15 minutes to students athletes days.

“Like most new policies the new activity time has some pluses and some drawbacks,” said health teacher and football coach Merle Clark.

“The new activity time will give me a third option to assist students which is a plus. As a football coach, this means starting practice later which lengthens an already very long day for all of our student athletes.”

Starting practices later is not a disadvantage for all, though.

“For me personally, the after-school activity time will be hugely beneficial, because I travel from the middle school to the high school. For the past few years, I have been arriving at the high school around 3:20 or 3:25 anyway, due to the fact that the middle school lets out ten minutes later than the high school; and then the after school traffic and drive over takes a little bit of time,” said head girls basketball coach Kim Peterson-O’Bray.

“My hope is that now I will not feel quite as rushed and stressed in my hurry to get to the high school, since everyone will be waiting to begin until 3:30.”

While waiting for practice to start, O’Bray believes athletes may utilize this time to begin work on schoolwork and homework.

“In addition, student-athletes can begin, if not completely finish, the homework that they would normally have to do later that night after practice and supper,” Peterson-O’Bray said. “This may be a pleasant change for those who are usually up extra late completing their schoolwork.”

Folk believes this additional time before practices will be advantageous in the long haul.

“We get extra time to work on our activities and in the long run it will benefit our athletics/activities.” Folk said.

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www.boosterredux.com

FACES

Friday, Aug. 15, 2014

3

Breaking Boundaries Uttley awarded scholarship to attend Women’s Debate Institute

BY MOLLY GRAHAM @molllygraham omen everywhere have debated the right to an education. Women everywhere have debated the right to have equal rights. But even when women have used debating as a way to reach these and other goals, they are very often treated unequally in high school and college level competitive debate. Women’s Debate Institute (WDI) works to change that.

Senior Haley Uttley, who has been debating at the high school since her freshman year, attended a summer camp at the WDI in Minneapolis, Minn.

WDI is a tuition-free camp that gives women the opportunity to be part of a strong community of women who love debate, according to their website.

“They [WDI] also aim to network girls in debate through this camp because they are largely outnumbered,” Uttley said.

WDI is designed solely on getting girls more involved in high school and college level debate.

“The WDI combines debate and empowering women, two things that Haley is passionate about,” Julie Laflen, the speech and debate/forensics coach at the high school, said.

Uttley found out about WDI and their programs by searching the internet for debate camps. She applied and was able to travel to WDI for five days.

“I wanted to apply to the WDI because I was really inspired by their whole mission,” Uttley said. “I was also really impressed with their staff, and their credentials are amazing.”

The WDI staff includes national winning debate competitors and coaches as well as a student to staff ratio of 3:1, which is another reason Uttley liked their program.

As a debater, Uttley has her own

W

After attending the Women’s Debate Institute in Michigan, senior Haley Uttley displays the camp motto, “Sisterhood is vocal. Speak out.” The camp focused on bringing girls together and discussing challenges faced in debate. PHOTO BY MIRANDA MOORE

impressive credentials. She and her partner, senior Miranda Moore, qualified for the National Speech Tournament in policy debate. They both then tied for third place at state debate. According to Laflen, these credentials are the reason Uttley got accepted into the WDI camp. Uttley’s experience also helped her prepare for the camp.

“Haley was a good candidate for this opportunity for many reasons,” Laflen said.

“First being that she works really hard. She knows what she wants and works until she gets it.”

While in Minneapolis, Uttley had received the University Fellowship Award which meant that she was awarded a chance to work with college debaters while at WDI. “I also wanted to attend [WDI] because I plan to debate in college, and the camp brings in college debate recruiters,” Uttley said.

Networking was a big part of the WDI camp. According to Cengage Learning, an educational content company, helpful networking involves developing relationships with other people, sharing information and providing encouragement on the path to reaching goals.

“This camp helped me in my future debate career because of all of the networking,” Uttley said. “I met girls from all over the nation that I can collaborate with. The more people you know in the debate world, the better.”

The camp at WDI not only offered debatebased activities but multiple networking activities, learning policy debate strategies, college workshops, group-building activities, canoeing and rope courses.

“I’m really proud of Haley for going beyond her comfort zone into a situation she is unfamiliar with to learn and improve her skills,” Laflen said.

Algebra 1 Consumer Math

Spanish 1&2

Algebra 1 Geometry

BRANNON KIDD

PATRICK

EMILY ROUNTREE

RASHELL YOCKEY

DAVID SIMPSON

STEPHANIE WITHROW

New year, new faces: meet the faculty

English 9 Honors English 10

Special Education

Athletic Director

First-years put Kansas on the map

HOSA members Fuchs and Blythe place first at national conference

BY MORGAN PLANK @momoplank History was made the moment freshmen Kelsey Fuchs and Justin Blythe were awarded the gold medal at the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) National Leadership Conference.

This honor not only made them national champions but the first competitors from Kansas to ever place at nationals.

“It really is a pretty big deal,” said health science teacher and HOSA sponsor Jim Foresman.

“I really am proud of those two.”

Foresman believes this recognition reflects greatly on the dedication of students and the school.

“The award speaks highly of the type of students our district is preparing during their secondary career,” Foresman said. “Since these competitions encompass all subjects (speech, English, science, math, etc.), it suggests to me that, for students who put forth the effort, they are receiving a good education that will serve them well in their post-secondary endeavors.”

Fuchs and Blythe competed in Forensic Medicine, which

consisted of two rounds. In the first part, competitors were to complete a 50 question multiple choice test and obtain a certain score in order to qualify for the following round. Those who advanced were given a case study and asked to identi-

“

The award speaks highly of the type of students our district is ring preparing during dary their secondary career -JIM FORESMAN

said. “Kelsey and Kolton also received first in their individual events. As such, Kolton chose to go to Nationals competing in his individual event, and Justin joined Kelsey in the team event.”

Because all four students had placed in the top three at state, they had all qualified and were given the opportunity to compete at Nationals. Nationals were held in Orlando at Disney World June 25-28.

Soon after becoming partners, Fuchs and Blythe began studying and assembling the necessary skills for Nationals.

“Kelsey and Justin did a lot of work on their own to prepare for the event. I have received accolades from the state, but, truthfully, they deserve all the recognition,” Foresman said.

All of their hard work and months of studying had paid off, along with help from Foresman.

“It’s such an amazing feeling knowing that we placed first and were the first ever from Kansas to place. Foresman always pushed us to be our best, and we definitely would not have been able to do it if it weren’t for him,” Fuchs said.

Winning a national title has brought out a new interest in

”

fy the cause, manner and time of death.

Fellow freshmen Morgan Burns and Kolton Darrow also competed in this category, however, not as partners.

“Originally, Justin was paired with Morgan Burns and Kelsey was paired with Kolton Darrow.

The results at the state competition indicated that Justin and Morgan had placed second, and Kelsey and Kolton had placed first,” Foresman

Posing in front of the school, after returning from the national HOSA convention in Orlando, Fla. Kelsey Fuchs and Justin Blythe show off their gold medals. PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY FUCHS Fuchs that she would like to pursue.

“Kelsey has expressed an interest in running for a state officer position, and I hope she is successful in that bid. I would like to help them get teamed up with professionals in the field to better prepare for competition,” Foresman said.

Blythe has big goals in mind for the future compe-

titions, too.

“My hopes for the future are to uphold our title as national champions in forensic medicine,” Blythe said.

Foresman also hopes the same for Fuchs and Blythe.

“They set the bar pretty high,” Foresman said. “I can only hope they have a repeat performance in California next summer.”

4 SPORTS

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Booster club unites fall activities at the PAC Football, volleyball, cross country, band, cheer, dance, tennis, golf attend back-toschool swim party

F

BY ALLI BADEN @AlliBaden

rom camps to open gyms to required practices, sophomore Kayla Clark spent a large portion of the summer break preparing herself for the upcoming volleyball and dance season. Along with all the practices, Clark spent a great deal of time bonding with her teammates. However, this makes little room for her to bond with members of other activities.

In order to unite the activities, the six fall sports, along with band, cheer and dance team came together Aug. 11 for the first booster club swim party. The Pittsburg Aquatic Center hosted the event. Traditionally, the Quarterback Club, the football booster club, hosted a swim party for football, dance and cheer.

The idea for a swim party that included more activities first arose when quarterback club president Angela Radell presented it to Brannon Kidd, the new Assistant Principal and Activities Director. Kidd agreed with Radell’s idea and began planning soon after.

“I wanted to get everybody involved, and doing something like [the swim party], where it is all fun, was the way to do it,” Kidd said.

Even principal Jon Bishop got involved in the event by providing hot dogs and hamburgers.

Clark thought the swim party was a great way for students to get together before the school year starts.

“I do think it was a good idea to bring all fall activities together,” Clark said. “Once school starts we will all be pretty busy with our sports or activities. So, it was nice to have this to get reconnected.”

Junior soccer player Makayla Bockover shared similar thoughts on the swim party.

“I enjoyed that all the different sports could get together and spend a couple hours swimming. Even

though some of us have not seen each other all summer, we could still hang out and have a good time,” Bockover said.

Because the swim party included a majority of the fall activities, Bockover believed that it was the perfect time to figure out which student belonged to what activity.

“It gave everybody an idea of who was going to be playing what sport and it also brought people together to ask each other what sports they were playing,” Bockover said.

According to senior football player Austin Sievert, the best part about the swim party was the freedom they received while swimming.

“I liked how they just gave us free reign over the whole pool and the lifeguards were not so controlling about what we did,” Sievert said.

“They let us mess around on the slides, like going head first.”

Sievert hopes that the school continues to provide more of these activity get togethers. Junior Will Mengarelli, who also plays football, agrees with Sievert but hopes that the get-togethers will reach out to more of the clubs that are offered by the school.

“I think it would be a good idea to bring more activities. It would just tie the school together,” Mengarelli said. “It would help kids meet new people and start to be comfortable with the school.”

However, Mengarelli did enjoy the bonding aspect of the swim party.

“It’s kind of like spring fling where everyone is family and we all just hang out together,” Mengarelli said.

And that is what exactly Kidd hopes to come by providing these opportunities for students, to bond with each other to help the school become one unit.

“It is my goal going forward to be one family and try to do things together, no matter activities or athletics,” Kidd said.

Having fun before the season starts, seniors Alex Barnes and Dante Richardson (ABOVE) enjoy playing volleyball during the fall activities swim party.

Many of the students attended the swim party at the aquatic center on Monday.

Celebrating their beginnings, freshmen Chase Curtis and Alex Kafka (LEFT) dive into a new school year.

Students took turns diving off the diving board and sliding down the slides while at the party. PHOTOS

BY MACY FRASCO

Post 64 strikes out opponents SPORTS Senior baseball players compete in state and regional tournaments

BY JOSH JARVIS

in Little Rock, Ark. A lategame breakdown resulted @JJarvis52 in a 3-10 loss to Mid West For five seniors, baseball City, Okla. in the first game season did not end after on Aug. 7. Post 64 then lost school let out. a close game, 6-8, against Drake Markley, Dante New Orleans the next day.

Richardson, Ryan McNeely, The two losses in regional James Clark and Lucas Redd play meant that the players played on Pittsburg’s Post would have to head home 64 Senior Legion team for empty-handed.

Colgan head baseball coach “It was Mike Watt upsetting to this sumrealize that mer.

I’ll never Getting get to play extra playwith those ing time seniors during again,” the sumMcNeely mer helps said. “They student were all athletes, great playaccorders and they ing to PHS were easy head baseto get along ball coach with.”

K e i t h According Matlock. to Coach “Being Matlock, the able to state and [get reps] regional in a game tournament situation experience The Post 64 team poses for a photo after winning the state championship at Jaycee Ballpark in Pittsburg.

Drake Markley, Dante probably Richardson, Ryan McNeely, James Clark, and Lucas Redd played with surrounding athletes to advance to the American Legion will help these b e n e f i t s Mid-South Regional Tournament in Little Rock, Ark. COURTESY PHOTO PROVIDED BY GUINN EHRHEART seniors in [the playtheir upcomers] more ing high-school season. field to join the dog pile was the playoffs. than just getting those extra “For the guys that played, almost like a reaction,” Clark “Everybody was confident reps in a batting cage or on [they] get a chance to be said.

“The feeling of wingoing in [to the state tourthe mound,” Matlock said. part of a state championship ning a state championship nament].

We were ready to They played multiple team,” Matlock said. “It’ll is heart pounding and to be play and ready to get the job games each week and commake [them] go to a different one of four teams to do it in done,” Redd said. peted for a berth in the 2014 level. I think more so [they] almost 100 years of legion Post 64 played six games American Legion World get an eyesight of what the baseball, it truly becomes an during the tournament Series (ALWS) championlevel is that [they] need to honor to join a small group in which it won five. Hays ship. The ALWS can only be get at, and how hard [they] of baseball players to achieve handed Post 64 the only loss reached, however, by being need to work to get there. I such a feat.” that would later be avenged both state and regional think now that they have an After becoming the top in the final game to deterchampions first. understanding of what it is team in Kansas through mine what team would repAfter a 30-plus game reguand what it takes to get there winning the state tournaresent Kansas in the regional lar season of ups and downs, they’ll have an example of ment, Post 64 advanced tournament.

Post 64 finished with an how to lead on.” to play in the Mid-South “It was an awesome feelabove-.500 record.

Regional Tournament held ing. It was exciting to be a “School ball is just a sprint while summer ball is a grind,” Clark said. “It was a hard fought season with a group of guys that came together and really bought into the game.”

Post 64 entered the postseason looking to win the state tournament and advance to the next round of

part of it because it’s only happened four times in 80 years,” McNeely said.

This was only the fourth time Post 64 won the state tournament, the most recent time being in 2008.

“The excitement is almost unexplainable and it seemed like it went so fast. Jumping up and running across the

briefs

FootbalL

BY IVAN WALTER

Last season the varsity football team went 6-3 after losing all games in district. Now, after a whole summer of workouts and conditioning, the football team is trying to go the distance and make the playoffs for the first time since 2007. After losing last year’s starting quarterback, Riley Cunningham, the team looks to Junior Spencer Turnbull to help them succeed in their districts. The dragons will take on Coffeyville for their season opener on September 5th.

Volleyball Last years volleyball team was a very senior oriented team with only 4 players on varsity who were not seniors. This season the girls will look for new leadership roles from different players as they head to parsons for their season opener.

Cross Country The varsity cross country team will travel to Labette County Thur. Sep. 4 for their first meet of the year. With a small senior class leading the team, they hope to have a successful season under coach Gary Ausemus.

Soccer Last season was soccer head coach Sean Lauderdale’s first season with the soccer team at PHS. Now after having his first season under his belt Lauderdale looks to take his team far into the playoffs with the help of a very talented senior class.

girls tennis The girls tennis team will be heading to parsons for their first matches of the year. The varsity team will have many new starters this season but look to build on their success last season under long time coach John Seal.