Opinion Pg. 2 It’s okay to be a nerd Sports Pg. 4
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Just keep swimming
Feature Pg. 3 Student Publication seniors say final goodbyes
The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School
Pittsburg, KS
1978 E. 4th Street
Vol. 102 Issue 2
P I T T S B U R G
Out with the old, in with the new Gym floor under construction, subject to be done by end of May Words by | John Lee nforeseen acts of vandalism in Pittsburg High School has forced PHS’s primary gymnasium to undergo a repair. School administrator Jeff Staley said that this was all caused by a break-in into the school that took place a couple of weeks ago. “The intruder proceeded to flood the gymnasium with water, and for four hours, they did damage to the gym,” Staley said. Problems continued to arise as time went on. Staley, as well as other administrators, found out that this act of vandalism caused internal damage to the gymnasium floor. “We didn’t think that there was damage to the floor itself in the beginning, but over, time as that water saturated the wood, it caused the wood to start warping,” Staley said. “It progressively started getting worse, where the floor was bubbling and the insurance company deemed it a total loss.” PHS and the insurance company decided to completely replace the gym floor, instead of trying to repair it as a result of
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the damage done. “We tried to fix it at first but [the insurance company] found out that the entire subfloor underneath had standing water,” Staley said. Not only has this whole ordeal become a task for the administration as well as their insurance company, but it has also burdened classes involved in physical education due to a lack of space. “Since we don’t have a main gym, Physical Education classes would be outside instead of in the Mallet,” Staley said. “But when it’s raining, they sit down in the commons and use it as a study hall.” This sudden change in students’ everyday routines brought up questions about what was going on with the gymnasium and why there were certain restrictions on a variety of things. “I had a lot of questions from students. ‘What happened? Why did [the intruder] do that?,’ Lots of those types of questions. But as time went on, most students just knew that we were having to redo the gym floor.” As for how much longer students and staff will have to wait until everything reverts back to normal, we see that the rest of
this semester will be met with an unfinished gym floor. “We are working on repairing of the gym floor quickly,” Staley said. “But right now the goal is to have it finished by the end of May, so for the rest of the school year it’s not going to be usable.” However, as this issue gained more and more public attention, people within the community have been trying to branch out and help PHS as much as possible. “We’ve been very fortunate. The middle school has worked with us; some of the evening activities that use our gym have moved to the middle school. The YMCA has been great to work with, and Pittsburg State University has let us use their facilities,” Staley said. “I appreciate the community effort to get us through this.” But most importantly, throughout this process, Staley recognizes the changes that students and staff are experiencing right now. “I am pleasantly surprised at the lack of complaints,” Staley said. “But I really do appreciate our teachers’ and student’s patience and understanding.”
SAVE THE DATE
Saturday,
Hutchinson Field
May 14
9:00 a.m.
OPINION
May 2022
2
It’s okay to be a nerd Gray discusses stigma around academic commitment in post high school education Words By | Hannah Gray s a four year varsity athlete, college softball was always thought to be in the cards for me. I visited camps, met coaches and, seemingly, had a plan for my next four years. However, after my recent commitment to Pittsburg State University Honors College, I’ve received many comments about softball “not working out for me,” or how I chose to “be a nerd instead.” For myself, and many others, committing to college for academics is not a back-up plan, nor is it something we had to settle for. In reality, softball just didn’t fit into my four-year plan. Nursing school, two jobs, being a big sister, that makes for a busy schedule. Softball would have added hours of weights, conditioning, practice, games and team events to those. Not to mention the benefit that the Honors College has on my education during and beyond undergraduate school. Honors College is a place for high achieving, hard working honors students. For starters, students not only have to be accepted into the college at which they want to join an academic program, but there are many requirements to be eligible to apply for these specific programs. In my
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instance, PSU honors college requires that individuals have a 28 on the ACT and a 3.5 unweighted GPA for first consideration, and a 27 on the ACT with a 3.5 unweighted GPA for second consideration. Meeting these requirements is a process that has to be started freshman year of high school, and continued throughout all four years. PSU even has a second round of the application n that consists of an interview in front of a panel made up of current ren e t staff and students, as well as alumni. umn m i. In addition to this, students wh who ho are members of the honors college eg ge commit themselves to working hard for the next four years in order to maintain eligibility. Most programs have requirements for completing ing n honors credits and graduating with honors. Some ome m programs also require hours of community service vice or campus involvement as well. I encourage every student torn between academics and athletics to never close the door to the latter. It’s okay to be a nerd, and we should all embrace it. There will be people who tell you it’s
not the same, you don’t deserve to have a public signing, you’re not as “cool” because you didn’t commit for a sport sport. Don’t let them influence your decision. It’s okay to be a nerd.
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Convenient cup of coffee Arck joins debate over new coffee stand at PHS
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Words By | Greely Arck Coffee is arguably one of the best things to ever be created. Personally, 99% of my blood is made up of caffeine. Have I been late to school for a Starbucks run? Yeah, many times. However, the new iced coffee stand the amazing cafeteria staff has started in the commons has been the best thing to ever happen at PHS. Instead of waking up 30 minutes early to sit in a drive through line that wraps around Scooters or
Starbucks, PHS students can easily grab an iced coffee at school. Not only is this extremely convenient, it is also extremely cheap. My usual order from Starbucks – an iced shaken blonde and ristretto espresso with oat milk, if anyone was wondering, costs almost six dollars for a grande, Starbucks’s name for a medium. Here, an iced coffee is only three dollars, and it’s a little bigger than a grande. They even have different flavor options, like vanilla, caramel, brown
sugar, hazelnut, English toffee, chocolate, and more. They are also expanding their flavors, and will soon be offering seasonal syrups like Belgium cookie, pumpkin pie, and salted caramel. I hate to call them out, but Starbucks doesn’t even offer some of those. While I feel like I’m cheating on my first love, PHS’s coffee is giving Starbucks a run for its money. Of course, there are some differences. If you like hot coffee, which should be a felony, you cannot get that
here. If you’re a frappuccino person, what are you, five years old? Just kidding, but that’s something that is also not offered. For most PHS students though, iced coffee is their go-to order, making the commons coffee a quick and easy grab. Not only can you get your coffee fix, you can also grab a free breakfast right next to the stand. It is the perfect set up, and has saved me time and money. Make sure to snag a cup the next time you have a few dollars on you.
Simmons sitting on the sideline Sullivan expresses doubts about Simmons future NBA career Words By | Ian Sullivan The Brooklyn Nets, the preseason favorites to win the 2022 NBA Finals, have been eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Not only did they lose, they were swept by the Boston Celtics, 4-0. Watching these losses from the bench was 2016 #1 overall draft pick, 2017-2018 Rookie of the Year, three time NBA All Star, Ben Simmons. Simmons spent the first five years of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, before refusing to play after the 76ers collapsed in the 2021 playoffs. He skipped the entire offseason, preseason, and season opener because he was upset that the 76ers were
seeking to trade him. Eventually, he began to claim that he was not mentally ready to play, and that the 76ers were damaging his mental health. After months of attempting to trade him, the 76ers successfully traded him, along with draft picks and players, to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for superstar James Harden. Once Simmons was traded, he seemed ready to make his 2021-2022 season debut. However, he didn’t play a single minute for the Nets from Feb 10 to April 25, when they were eliminated. Simmons has officially been sidelined with back soreness, but I’m not buying it. His antics
over the 2021 offseason lead me to doubt the validity of his inactive e status. In my opinion, Ben Simmons simply lacks any competitive spirit.. He is sabotaging his own career by not ot playing and he has lost over $19 million from fines by the 76ers. On top of damaging his own career, he is letting ting down his team. While they fought the Celtics in the first round, Simmons sat and watched as they got swept 4-0. 0. While I am a believer of Ben Simmons’s ons’s abilities on the court, if he never plays lays again, I question his mental maturity. ty. Art By | Francisco Castaneda
FEATURE Booster Redux Staff & Policy
May 2022
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Student Publication seniors say final goodbyes
Editors-in-Chief Ashlan Brooks Hannah Gray
Online Editors Ashlan Brooks Hannah Gray
Social Media Manager Mattie Vacca
Sarah Alcantar
Braden Benson
Bethany Blessent
Ashlan Brooks
Francisco Castaneda
Multimedia Editor Emma Barnhisel Natalie Ruiz Alaycia Harris
Business Manager Katie Davis
Staff Greely Arck Francisco Castaneda Addi Foster Hailey Gray John Lee Heather Mowdy Kate Poling- Cummings Ian Sullivan
Adviser Nicole Foster
The PHS Student Publications Department and newspaper class produce The Booster Redux. Please call us with comments at 620-235-3200. The Booster Redux's purpose is to inform, educate, enlighten and entertain readers fairly and accurately in an open forum. Opinions expressed in editorials or opinion columns do not necessarily reflect views of all members on the Booster staff. Digital photos have not been altered to manipulate reality. Photo illustrations are labeled to reflect any technical alternations. Anonymity may be given in the following cases: the information is unable to be presented another way, the information warrants anonymity, the source's privacy and/or reputation requires protection and the source must be protected from damages. A student or faculty member death during the coverage period will be covered with a short obituary. The Booster Redux is a member of Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Kansas Scholastic Press and International Quill and Scroll. The Booster Redux encourages letters from students, teachers and community members under 300 words and signed with a valid signature only. The Booster Redux reserves the right to edit contributions if they are libelous, obscene and for length. Any grammatical errors at the fault of the writer will be printed. Corrections of errors printed at the fault of the Booster staff will appear in the appropriate section of the next issue.
The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School Student Publications 1978 E. 4th St. Pittsburg, KS 66762
Hannah Gray
Joy Lee
Sarah Alcantar I always thought being on a newspaper staff in highschool would be something that I wanted to take part in. However, I never imagined that being on a newspaper staff would allow for me to experience an amazing highschool career. From going on trips for writing competitions, staying at the school late for work nights, or even interviewing people, I was able to gain new experiences from being on staff. Not only has being in student pub helped me in the realm of communicating and being prepared for the “adult world” but it has also led me to find my real friends who I can truly be myself around. I will be forever grateful for joining student pub. It has been one of the best decisions that I have made which will have a lasting impact throughout my life.
Braden Benson When it comes to Student Publications, there is a different atmosphere in the room in comparison to an ordinary high school class. It is filled with simulations of what life after high school might actually look like. Having a kind of preparation like that is a value that maybe only a few classes can actually offer within Pittsburg High School. Publications has taught me how to respond to a boss and how to manage my time better. Publications helped me to be coachable and to receive constructive criticism on my work. Being unprepared in these areas when working a real job can be detrimental to someone’s career. This class has allowed me to express myself to people, and to share my story with people in the community. Not to mention, my peers in student publications have become people who I deeply care about as well. In addition to real life skills, one of the biggest skills I have taken out of student publications is the ability to write. I was then able to transfer those skills over to English related courses. Student publications has changed my high school experience without a doubt. I just hope that I might have been able to shape someone else’s high school experience with the work I have been able to do in student publications.
Bethany Blessent I joined the Student Publications team as a freshman and decided to become a member of the photography team. I liked that I got to be behind the scenes and produce something that everyone would get to enjoy after the event was over. I soon realized I enjoyed the design aspect of publications so I joined the yearbook team as a sophomore and have loved it. Once I got into yearbook I didn’t have as much time to take photos so I ended up not taking photos my junior or senior year because I wanted to put all my focus on design and yearbook. Since then I have become a co-editor in chief in training as a junior and I am now a co-editor of the Purple and White yearbook as a senior. In college I plan on taking photography classes and experimenting with portrait photography and product photography, as well as design because it will help me in the future with my major. Next year I plan on attending Pittsburg State University and double majoring in Web/Interactive Design and Graphic Design, I also plan on minoring in Psychology.
Ashlan Brooks If you had told me as a freshman that the student pub staff would become some of my closest friends, I wouldn’t have believed you. I couldn’t have asked for a better staff these past four years, and a better group of friends to get me through high school. Room 314 truly became the central point from which everything else revolved for me at PHS. I learned to write, communicate and design. I had the opportunity to create award-winning newspapers and travel to a national convention. Our former advisor, Emily Smith gave me a foundation from which to build a career in anything I choose and for that, I couldn’t be more grateful. I wish everyone on staff the best and cant wait to see what the program accomplishes after we are gone.
Ian Sullivan
Mattie Vacca
got together, wrote a letter, and were fighting for my role in the class, I truly cannot thank them enough for all they did. After four years, I learned how to be a team player, a leader, and most importantly, a better person. I have been honored to be given the opportunity to tell people’s stories and make a difference in the world. I am not finished telling people’s stories, but I also want to help the future generation tell stories just like Smith encouraged me to tell stories. I want to follow in her footsteps and become a journalism adviser one day.
Hannah Gray Unlike many other journalists, my love for storytelling didn’t come naturally. In middle school I dreaded the classes where I had to pick up a pen and write. Having only a few options to fill my schedule freshman year, I enrolled in Introduction to Journalism. Looking back, taking that class was the best decision I could’ve made. After every story, I would shyly ask an editor to review my work, waiting for the loads of criticism I felt I deserved. As time went on, my interviews became heavier and my stories deeper. Now, I jump at the opportunity to write a tough story, or the chance to do an emotional interview. I continued to apply for editor positions, striving to be a mentor like the ones that had taught me. The shy girl in middle school would laugh if you told her that I would become an accomplished and captivating writer, in addition to a confident, strong leader and editor. I can confidently say that publications has helped me find my inner confidence, along with the people I now call home. In the fall I will be attending Pittsburg State University to major in Nursing with a minor in Psychology. I will also be a member of the Honors College. I want to thank Mrs. Smith, Dr. Foster and my peers for breaking me out of my shell and showing me my true potential. I will forever cherish the memories and lessons I’ve learned while in student publications.
Joy Lee I have been on the Pittsburg Student Publication Staff for the four years of high school, and I have had some of the best experiences. In student pub, I have learned the complicated works of a successful staff, worked under some of the most talented and compassionate mentors, and have grown close to my peers at late work nights. I am a designer on staff and have been for most of my time in publications. The experience that PHS provided me with resources such as Adobe Applications and the ability to print broadsheet newspapers has made these last four years worthwhile and has given me a creative outlet. Whether it was the newspaper page I was given to design for a bi-monthly issue or the KSPA design competitions every year, designing for PHS media has allowed me to freely create. More than anything, student publication has given me a reliable work ethic and the ability to balance various responsibilities. I do not plan on pursuing a career in journalism, but I am confident that the skills I have attained from pub will go far with me into my undergraduate education and plans for medical school.
Ian Sullivan To say that student publications have affected my high school experience would be an understatement. Throughout the past four years I have been a part of this great program and have accomplished many great things. I have also had the privilege to work with some of the most talented students around and the best newspaper advisor in the country. I’ve made some of my closest friends and best memories in student publications. The biggest impact that student publications have had on me is that it helped me realize what I want to study in college. Starting in the fall semester, I will be attending the University of Kansas and studying journalism. Although I’m not entirely sure what career I will pursue, I hope to continue writing about what I love, which is sports. I will be forever grateful for Mrs. Smith, Dr. Foster, and all of my classmates that I have worked with over the past four years.
Mattie Vacca Francisco Castaneda Being in Student Publications has affected my life in a huge way and has defined who I am. Freshman year I was known as that kid who took that football picture, but now it’s the kid in journalism. If it weren’t for Emily Smith, pushing me to try new things, I feel like I would have stayed in my zone. She pushed me to go to take photos of that one event, write a story about native speakers enrolled in Spanish class, apply to become a yearbook editor, but most importantly, to fight for what is right and to take pride in my work even if you risk it all. All of that has taught me to take ownership and to go out and create something that no one has done before. I have made strong bonds with the senior staff, they are my family. I was taught that these people will become family. Through every laugh, every argument, and every tear shed, we became close. When problems occurred during the semester, they didn’t sit there and wait, they all
As a shy little eighth grader in a panic, I decided to take the Newspaper Elective freshman year to fill up my schedule. What seemed like such a small decision at the time turned out to change the entire trajectory of my high school career. Joining the program has not only helped me step out of my comfort zone and break me out of my shell, but it has also presented me with life long friendships that I am forever grateful for. I can not imagine what my high school experience would have been like if I would not have joined staff. I have learned so much, not only about Journalism, but also about life outside of school and I can not wait to continue to grow my skills in college. In the fall, I will be attending Pittsburg State University to major in Elementary Education with a minor in dance. I will also be a member of the Crimson and Gold Dance Team. I want to thank Mrs. Smith, Dr. Foster and all of my peers for helping me grow and creating so many memories that I will cherish forever. I am beyond grateful for all of the opportunities and lifelong friendships that I have been presented with through this program.
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SPORTS
May 2022
Putting through the season Lowe and O’Brien continue to perform as assests of the boys golf team Words By | Addi Foster he Pittsburg High School boy’s golf team has had a successful season so far. The players have been able to carry the team well. One of these players is freshman MJ Lowe. Lowe has been playing golf ever since he was five-years-old. “The golf season has gone super good, in my opinion,” Lowe said. “I have had lots of fun with my team and the van rides are fun.” Lowe has been getting, on average, second and third place at his tournaments. Such success as this calls for a lot of preparation. “I prepare for golf tournaments by first, going to the range. Then, after that I go and chip for a little bit,” Lowe said. “Right before the tournaments starts I putt, so I know if the greens are fast or slow.” This year, Lowe is the only freshmen that consistently plays for the varsity golf team. “I don’t really feel like an outlier on the team, but it is a new experience for me,” Lowe said. “It is a little different than middle school because we go to more places.” As for many athletes, there is a reason as to why they participate in their sport. “I participate in golf because I have done it all my
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life and it is my favorite sport,” Lowe said. “My favorite thing about the golf team is getting out of school and playing the sport I love with all my heart.” Mary Packard, science teacher and golf coach, has contributed greatly to the team’s success on the season. “The boy’s team has done well this season. I have mostly returning players and they have improved significantly since last season,” Packard said. “As the season goes on, our scores are lowering, which is exactly what is supposed to happen.” As a team, Packard thinks that the boy’s golf team is able to hold their own. “We have a solid group of guys right now,” Packard said. “They know they still need to improve, but they can see that when that happens we will be even more competitive next season.” This season, Lowe has brought certain qualities to the team that have led to success. “MJ is a known factor. He is a very good player and that gives the other guys confidence,” Packard said. “He will be fun to watch over his high school career.” Brock O’Brien has also been an asset to the boy’s golf team. “Brock has been really consistent for us this season, taking up where he left off
last season,” Packard said. “Brock, Zach Ward and MJ are in the top 4 for scoring each tournament and the 4th score usually changes depending on someone’s round that day.” As for a team, they do different things to prepare for a golf tournament. “Besides working on specific areas of our game, we study a course map that I put together that points outs areas like out-of-bounds, water hazards, etc,” Packard said. Just like the athletes, Packard has a reason as to why she took it upon herself to coach. “I have played golf for over 50 years and have played in quite a few competitions,” Packard said. “I have coached high school sports for 33 years and I was approached to take over the girls program and then took over the boys program the following season.” After you gain a lot of experience in a sport, there are certain things about it that you favor. Packard has a few favorite things that she likes about coaching the boys golf team. “Seeing the boys improve their game over the season and their high school career,” Packard said. “Celebrating their milestone PR’s and competing as a team.
Junior Brock O’Brien and freshmen Mj Lowe pose with their medals in their golf uniforms. Photo provided by | Mary Packard
Just keep swimming Fort Scott provides PHS athletes with the opportunity to join swim team Words By | John Lee
participate. Although not well known “Not everyone sees in USD 250, Fort Scott’s swimming as a competitive cooperative swim team with sport…but your team sees you its surrounding districts has at your best and at your worst, proven to be very proficient. so I think it makes us stronger “Fort Scott began swimming individuals and stronger as two years ago in a cooperative a team,” freshman athlete agreement with Parsons and Jazzlynn Rose said. then moved into their own Co-op with surrounding schools last year,” current Coach Madeline Not everyone sees swimming as a competitive McCoy said. sport…but your team sees you at your best and Although it is her at your worst, so I think it makes us stronger first year coaching Fort individuals and stronger as a team,” Scott’s swim team, McCoy herself has Jazzlynn Rose, 9 had a history coaching swimming, as well being a part of the sport. Some might argue that “I have been coaching only two years of experience swimming in some capacity in the swim league wouldn’t for the last five years and allow for athletes to see much before that I had assisted competition, but McCoy says while competitively swimming otherwise. myself,” McCoy said. “I have “This sport is extremely been a part of the competitive competitive and comes with swim world for 12 years as a large amount of fun. My either an athlete or coach.” swimmers will attend 10 swim But regardless of the fact meets this season,” McCoy that swimming has only been said. “I currently have two a part of Fort Scott’s academic athletes who have outright program for two years, it’s had qualified for state this season, an impact on the athletes who and I have many who are
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extremely close with great state consideration times.” Rose, as an athlete on the swim team, pledges the same idea as her coach. “You can get scouted anywhere you go…you just have to get your name out there,” Rose said. “I can tell you the competition is so fierce between the group of 15 to 18 year old girls, it’s crazy. With competition comes practice and effort, and Rose shows that both are needed to excel in the sport “I practice every day. We get weekends off, but practicing is all we can do to prepare for meets,” Rose said. Even if this extended practice doesn’t give the results intended, it’s the fact that effort was given in the first place that really counts. “These athletes come prepared and ready to work hard every day,” McCoy said. “I have athletes who are being recruited and looked at during swim meets. It is very exciting that some of them have an opportunity to swim at the collegiate level.”
Switching it up Sophomore competes in new track and field event Words By | Hailey Gray Lissette Allen started track when she was in seventh grade. After taking two years off, she has decided to join again this year as a sophomore. When Allen was in seventh grade she ran the 400 and has not competed in track since. This year she is participating in all throwing events which consist of javelin, discus, and shot put. “I decided to switch from running in seventh grade to throwing now because I don’t enjoy njoy running, running,” Allen said. “II tried running just to try it, but I’m defi finitely not one of those people who likes to run n for fun.” According to Allen, throwing is a lot more about form than most events in track. “From throwing this year, I like discus the best,” Allen said. “It’s It’s really fun trying to figure out justt the right way to throw it.” The most obvious diff fference between running the 400 and competing in throwing g events is the amount of running ng involved. According to o Allen, this difference is the reason eason she decided to change e events during her time e off. “You hardly do any running if you’re just throwing,” Allen said. “However, all the throwing wing events are different because cause there’s a lot you have to o w.” consider for each throw.”
da Photo by | Francisco Castaneda