November 13

The Booster Redux IT’S FINAL Pittsburg High School 1978 E. 4th Street Pittsburg, KS 66762 Vol. 97, Issue 4 www.boosterredux.com

Friday, Nov. 22, 2013

New semester testing ppolicy implemented before end oof quarter

Fast and furious Auto tech transforms car Page 2D

In-depth Dance, cheer, gymnastics Page 4D and 5D

BY REECE BURNS

A

@reeceburns14

t the end of this semester all students will take a step towards being more prepared for college with the implementation of a new finals policy.

Late last week, students received forms which stated whether or not they would be getting their first incentive day off. The form came as a shock to some students as some were under the impression that, even though they would be taking all of their finals regardless of grades and attendance, they would receive their days off on the usual final two days of the semester for winter break.

The new system awards incentive days by giving students one day each nine weeks. Students are given an interval of approximately a week to choose the day they want to take off.

“I didn’t know they were doing this until now,”

sophomore Josh Lee said.

“I was a little upset, but I accepted it. It was kind of unexpected.”

The criteria to earn time off still consist of grades and attendance but only rewards students once every nine weeks. For instance, if a student finished the first nine weeks with all A’s and five absences, they would have been able to take off a day this week or Monday and Tuesday. If the same student accumulated another absence after Thanksgiving break, however, they would not receive an incentive day for the second nine weeks.

According to Principal Jon Bishop, this system made over 600 students eligible to take at least one hour off of school for the first nine weeks.

“I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback,” Bishop said. “Some kids have already taken their day off.

I like the flexibility part.”

While Lee believes

#phstweetsback

What do you think of the new finals policy?

EFFECTS OF MEDIA HOW IT CAN CHANGE VIEWS Page 6D

SEE IT’S FINAL PAGE 3D

Bringing home more than souvenirs Student Publications places fifth in Boston at national journalism convention

BY MORGAN PLANK @momoplank

When 21 publication students left for Boston, little did the 13 members of newspaper staff know they would return home as writers, designers and photographers of the fifth best 8 page or less newspaper in the nation.

The students departed for the annual Fall National Journalism Convention (NJS) sponsored by the Journalism Education Association(JEA)/ National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) on Nov. 13 and returned on Nov. 17.

Over the course of the five days, students toured the city, attended informative breakout sessions, heard speeches by journalism professionals and competed in JEA write-offs.

“Most of the classes were beneficial to me and I learned a lot that I could take back to my staff,” sophomore Alli Baden said. This was Baden’s first year

Posing in front of Harvard University’s library, Student Publications enjoy sight seeing in Boston last week.

Students traveled to Harvard Square, Fenway Park and old Boston. Students attended the journalism convention Nov. 13-17. “The architecture there was beautiful and I wish I could go back,” senior Parker Matthews said. PHOTO BY EMILY SMITH

attending the convention.

Out of the 2,032 participants that competed in the write-offs only 859 were recognized; seven of those being PHS publication students.

Junior Reagan Rink and Baden were two of the 259 participants awarded Excellent, or second place. Rink and Baden competed in Newspaper Layout and Sports

UPCOMING

Multigenerational Choir Concert Nov.

Writing.

“I was in complete shock,” Baden said. “I have not had much experience with sports writing so this was a big surprise and I am really proud of myself.”

Seniors Shelby Bicknell, Katie Phalen, Calvin Thyer, junior Rachyl Russian, and sophomore Sam Bollinger all received Honorable Mention, which is equiv-

Wrestling Purple and White Scrimmage Nov.

EVENTS 25 25

alent to third, in their respective categories.

Bicknell in Editorial Writing, Phalen in Newswriting, Thyer in First-Year Photo, Russian in Yearbook Copy/Caption, and Bollinger in Yearbook Layout: Theme.

In addition to the individual competitions, there were also on-site critiques including NSPA Best of Show.

Thanksgiving Break Nov.

Newspapers from across the country submit a copy of one of their newspapers from this year to be judged. Two years ago The Booster Redux placed tenth in this contest, and this year they came out fifth Best of Show.

“It felt awesome knowing that, from the year I started on newspaper staff to now, we improved that much,” said senior Editor-in-Chief Reece Burns. “If you look at our paper two years ago and our most recent issue, the differences would be crazy.”

This is the fourth year that Student Publications Adviser Emily Smith has been advising, and in two of those four years The Booster Redux has placed nationally.

“We are very excited and honored,” Smith said. “The kids worked so hard. It is good to see all their hard work rewarded and it is a good motivator to get better.”

Basketball Game @ Louisburg Dec.

27-29 7

Student highlights faces in the crowd Page 7D

Girls and Boys Basketball Purple and White Scrimmage Dec.

3

2 NEWS

Friday, Nov. 22, 2013

www.boosterredux.com

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Snapchat’s dead snaps not deleted, just hidden Android and iPhone apps make retrieving “10-second” dead pictures possible

BY JOBAN MENDPARA

@JobanMendpara

By Nov. 28, 2012, Snapchat’s users had sent over a billion Snaps, with 20 million Snaps being shared per day. In just one year Snapchat has become one of the most downloaded mobile apps.

Because Snaps would disappear completely, with no way to retrieve them, Snapchat was considered safe. However, just by doing some digging through iPhone’s or Android’s directories, dead Snaps can be retrieved, resulting in questionable Snaps being brought back from the dead for the world to see.

Mobile apps like Android’s Dumpster or iPhone’s iFile allowed the users to save dead Snaps to the mobile device’s internal storage.

Before the patches, dead Snaps

were easily accessible for anyone with an mobile app that let the user dig through the directories of the mobile device. However, due to discovery of Snapchat’s graveyard, a digital forensics company, Decipher Forensics, is currently charging $300 to $500 to extract dead Snaps. Even though the price may seem extreme, the possibility of a couple of high school kids pooling enough money for this service is still a possibility. Formerly the one app that promised discretion, Snapchat slowly loses its promise. The new Snap Save app allows users to save Snaps they’ve received.

“It’s fine if they forgot what they were sent,” senior Hanna Wade said “but if wouldn’t be okay if they wanted to retrieve old nude

pictures.”

Currently there is no guaranteed way to leave dead Snaps dead. The only way to prevent dead Snaps from being resurrected is to not use Snapchat. Whether it be a funny face, an interesting sight, or even a snap with questionable integrity, if it’s once been on the internet, it will always be on the internet.

“I didn’t know people could retrieve old snaps but if that’s something that could happen then I see it as a problem because that’s just another way rumors can start or personal pictures would get around when the person didn’t want that to happen,” junior Elizabeth Blansett said “If it gets to be such a big problem like that I would probably stop using it.”

COURTESY PHOTOS BY KATY SHORT AND DANTE RICHARDSON

Asking a question about the mechanics of the car, senior Loren Wettstein works on the engine of the soon-to-be drag car. Wettstein is the only girl currently enrolled in Auto Tech. PHOTO BY ABBY HARRIS

Fast and furious

Auto tech turns 1982 Ford Fairmont into drag race car for learning experience

BY ERICA SEAL

@sealgirl0603

This year’s auto tech class is fixing up a 1982 Ford Fairmont to make into a drag race car. The car has a inline six engine and will become a V8 engine, after the car is fixed up more it is planned to be painted purple. Adam Nunn who teaches this class came up with this project for his students and himself. The class began the project at the end of September and are still working on it.

“It will be built for drag racing and we’re gonna try to make it nice enough so we can put it in car shows too,” Nunn said.

The car is sponsored by Get Busy Livin’, a foundation that started after the passing of Dylan Meier

from Pittsburg, Kan., which started in 2011.

The foundation helps with scholarships and community service needs.

“They are extremely excited and they are enjoying it,” Nunn said.

The students get to work with older technology and be able to compare that experience with newer technology, which shows them how cars are made differently.

“I enjoy making the car because it is a learning experience,” sophomore Hunter Cress said. “It helps me learn things that I don’t know and helps me practice what I do.”

This is Cress’ second year in auto check and he enjoys the course. He plans on continuing taking

it through the rest of high school.

“My favorite part is being out in the shop because you get to work on all kinds of vehicles and learn different things about them,” junior Austin Slaughter said.

Slaughter likes helping with the car because it teaches him while allowing him do something he enjoys at the same time.

He is interested in learning how to fix any problems that a car might have.

Junior Robert Bustamante’s favorite part about the project is working on the engine.

“The engine is what makes any car stand out from the crowd,” Bustamante said.

Even though the engine

Taking a peek under the hood of a 1982 Ford Fairmont, junior Austin Sims-Vaughn learns about the engine of the car during class. Auto Tech purchased the car to reconstruct it into a drag car. PHOTO BY ABBY HARRIS

is Bustamante’s favorite part, he also enjoys working on all parts of the car and learning something new everyday in class.

The students also work on other cars in the shop but say they love working on this car especially.

“I like helping to make

the car because automotive technology is what I am going to follow through with for college,” senior William Capps said.

Capps enjoys working on the engine and is proud to be remembered as the first class to work on the car, Capps also

has taken auto check for three years and enjoys it because it’s something he is interested in continuing for his future career.

“It helps draw attention to our automotive program and helps gives those wishing to join a little perspective on what we do,” Cress said.

The Pittsburg Education Association salutes these 182 teacher members of PEA/KNEA/NEA. Thank you for all you do for the students of USD 250!

George Nettels Elementary Arck, Mandy Arnett, Micah Bartlow, Amy Dalgarn, Brandi Deierling, Tammy Eckelberry, Dena Harrison, Michelle Huebner, Amy Jackson, Diane Lovell, Missy Montgomery, Darlene O‛Brien, Lacey O‛Neal, Natalie Penner, Brenda Runyan, Linda Schaub, Kelly Shanholtzer, Katie Sours, Marty Ward, Susan Weber, Christa Wilks, Lori

Lakeside Elementary Amershek, Lisa Bishop, Mary Brown, Adam Bugni, Haley Burford, Matt Burke, Cindy Casey, Michelle Diamond, Stacy Diaz, Kim Goode, Ellen Grisham, Janice Kuhel, Emily Lawson, Linda Lopez, JaNell McCartney, Courtney

McGowen, Carrie Oliver, Cara Perez, Jennifer Ratzlaff, Cathy Redmond, Denise Robinson, Mary Stahl, Janice Thomas, Sadie Tims, Babs Turnbull, Sherry Vacca, Missy Walker, Bridget

Westside Elementary Anderson, Hannah Ausemus, Veronica Boehne,Sue Broxterman, Michelle Campbell, Kayla Dixon, Megan Ewan, Gail Graham, Kriztena Hanney, Paul Holland, Karen Prince, Sarah Smith, Jayne Pyle, LaDonna Smith, Lauren Southard, Rachel Stephens, Sheila Trowbridge, Susan White, Stephanie Womble, Kerstin Wood, Terri Woodrum, Gary

Meadowlark Elementary Buzard, Megan Clarkson, Jessilyn

Cook, Karen Degruson, Melinda Evans, Neely Graham, Abby Grisolano, Debbie Guiles, Diana Hall, Teresa Harrell, Tricia Horton, Teresa Jameson, Meredith Kitchen, Melinda Maiseroulle, Tyana Mantooth, Megan Mendicki, Lori Mikrut, Lacy Niederklein, Nathan O‛Ferrell, Jeremy Oertle, Diana Prince, Dustin Ruiz, Ana Runnels, Sandra Sisk, Sharon VanBecelaere, Vicki Winemiller, Kelli

Pittsburg Community Middle School Arbuckle, Melissa Barto, Doug Beasley, Becky Blancho, Teri Boulware, Caleb Collver, Kelly Darling, Virginia Dees, Sarah Dunlavy, Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, Denise Foster, Nicole Foster, Stacy German, Callie

Hull, Adam Kimzey, Robert Laflen, John Leiker, Lisa Lewis, Angela Lopez, Greg Martin, Erica Menghini, Jennifer Moss, Dan Niederklein, Jennifer Peterson, Kim Pflug, Danielle Polen, Debra Reid, Joella Riggs, R. Mitch Rooks, Shauna Rountree, Emily Schultz, Mashea Sievert, Shay Sutton, Terri Trezona, Rachel Wadell, Trey Watt, Christy Weaver, Jack Wescott, Lynette Wilbert, Tara Woods, Jordan

Pittsburg High School Ausemus, Gary Barberich, Linda Boyer, Robert Clark, Merle Collins, Monica Cummings, Abbey Dalton, Susie Dejmal, Lyle Downing, Larry Dunekack, Larry Foresman, Jim

Garner, Angela Giffin, Marjorie Harper, Amy Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Melissa Lackey, Caleb Laflen, Julie Lancaster, Bridgett Larson, Cheryl Lomshek, Rebecca Moss, Patrick Neef, Kristi Neil, Cooper Nickelson, Thomas O‛Bray, Leroy Packard, Mary Perez, Stuart Rieck, Scott Roelfs, Kiley Schultze, Lyn Schwob, Lisa Shaw, Greg Smith, Emily Stegman, Jessica Susnik, Jason Turnbull, Rebecca Turner, Linda Uttley, Kristie White, Anita White, Rhonda Willis, Rhonda Winemiller, Regina Wolgamott, Gary Wood, Ruth

Elm Acres Malan, Janice

St. Mary‛s Fleming, Leann

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3 Diabetes: effecting all ages and sizes NEWS FEATURE

Friday, Nov. 22, 2013

Two students must periodically monitor blood sugar

BY MEGAN MUNGER @DragonsTwirler

S

ophomore Stuart Comeau wakes up every morning, and checks his blood sugar level before he does anything else. Then after breakfast, he checks his level again and punches in some numbers on an insulin pump.

To most people, their blood sugar level isn’t a big deal. To others like Comeau, however, it’s something they can’t risk forgetting about.

According to diabetes.org, as many as 3 million other americans like Comeau deal with Type I diabetes on a daily basis. Type I diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. In

Type I, the body doesn’t produce insulin.

“I currently have two students that have Type I diabetes which means that they have to really keep a close eye on their blood sugars,” school nurse, Lisa Schwob said.

“They check [their blood sugar level] at home before they Pricking his finger, Stewart Comeau goes through the motions of his daily routine of living come to school, they check it two hours after with diabetes. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY REAGAN RINK & MIRANDA MOORE

It’s final: new exemption policy is put into place CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1D

the previous exemption policy was a superior one, he still appreciates the incentive days he will receive.

“Incentive days are still great,” Lee said. “This is a bit awkward now - we get a Thanksgiving Break - if we got the extra days before the big [winter] break it would be better because we still have to make up the work we are missing in class now.”

Lee, like others, understands the administration’s move to further ready high school students for the next level. Bishop wishes nothing more than to see graduates succeed after high school.

“I want to see more kids take the college route,” Bishop said. “I want to see PHS kids taking it to the next level, so if I can raise the bar and rigor and it creates better achievement after high school then that’s great.”

The initiative comes after feedback from colleges, such as Pittsburg State University, who say high school students, in general, are not as prepared as they need to be for college. Social studies teacher Gary Wolgamott feels that this is a fix to that issue and an overall better system.

“For students bound for college it’s a good experience,” Wolgamott said. “For students not college bound it’s a good way to measure what they learned.

I think it is better in that it rewards systems faster.”

Wolgamott also hopes to put students at ease over taking finals.

“Teachers giving finals aren’t going to make finals that are designed to make kids fail,” Wolgamott said.

“It’s just a measure to see what you’ve learned. I think with this early of a warning people will have enough time to prepare.”

Junior Lexi Germann has taken at least one final per semester since she was a freshman. While she is not worried about finals from an academic standpoint, she is not as positive about the new incentive system.

“I don’t like the incentive program; I think we should be able to save up the days for when we need them,” Germann said. “Overall I think the student body will be okay with taking [the finals] but not happy about it.”

eating breakfast, and again before lunch. Usually, they have symptoms if it’s really Sometimes, even in the middle of the high or really low, b ut sometimes, they afternoon they check it again. They are are surprised by what their pump reads.” also on insulin pumps which means In addition to Type I, there is also Type that they get a small amount of insulin II diabetes. Type II is the most cominfused into there system all day long.” monly known kind of diabetes. In Type Comeau was diagnosed with Type I II diabetes, the body doesn’t use insulin Diabetes over spring break in 2009. He properly. was really thirsty all of the time, and Since diabetes can also run in bloodthat’s one of the symptoms. His dad is lines and be genetic, some people can’t diabetic and diabetes is a genetic disease, control getting diabetes but, like many so they thought it would be wise to check other diseases, they can do things to his blood sugar. The doctors found that prevent it. his blood sugar was abnormally high.

“The best thing to do to prevent [dia“[When I was diagnosed] with it, I had betes] is by getting daily exercise and to start paying more attention to what I maintaining physical fitness,” health did. I didn’t really have to change much teacher Merle Clark said. “...in the case of my diet, but at first I couldn’t really of a genetic tendency toward diabetes, eat that much,” [a big part] is making Comeau said. “I sure that their weight couldn’t have any stays at a healthy level foods that were “IT’S A CHALLENGE. because when people high in carbs. Now THESE KIDS REALLY tend to get overweight, though, I can pretNEED TO BE RESPECTED insulin doesn’t do it’s ty much eat what I

BY THEIR FELLOW job [properly].” want.”

CLASSMATES BECAUSE Everyone is at risk Comeau has IT’S A DAY TO DAY, for Type II diabetes, been dealing with HOUR TO HOUR KIND OF whether they know it his diabetes for THING THAT THEY HAVE or not. As long as you almost five ACK TO KEEP IN THE BACK take precautions and years.

By ” OF THEIR HEADS.” treat your body right, now, he’s -LISA SCHWOB B you most likely won’t pretty used end up with it. to it. “...people need to be “It doesn’t realaware of their family tree [and] whether ly affect [my daily life] too much. I just there is diabetes in it,” Clark said. “If have to check my blood sugar at least there is, at any point, regardless of how three times a day,” Comeau said. “... If far removed, then they need to make [my blood sugar] is low, I’ll start to feel sure that their lifestyle is one that is active light-headed and I can’t keep my baland not overweight. [If they do that] then ance all that well. If it’s high, my mouth they stand a good chance at holding the gets really dry.” [predisposed diabetes] off.”

Despite knowing all of the symptoms “Type II [Diabetes] used to be a disease and checking blood sugar levels a lot, it is of older people who weren’t taking propstill a difficult disease to manage. er care of themselves, weren’t exercising “It’s a challenge. These kids really need properly, and were letting themselves get to be respected by their fellow classmates overweight. Unfortunately, we are seeing because it’s a day to day, hour to hour it in younger kids now more and more,” kind of thing that they have to keep in the Schwob said. “It’s never too early to start back of their heads.” Schwob said. “A lot taking care of yourself by eating right, of kids have trouble controlling their dia- getting plenty of exercise, and not letting betes. They have highs and lows. That’s yourself be a coach potato. You need to why it’s important that they come in and start now so hopefully diabetes won’t check [it] even if they are feeling good. affect you later on in life.”

“

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Clinicals prepare health science students for future careers in medical field Students spend hours working towards their CNA license

BY EMILY BADEN two groups. One group worked for three weekends, on @EmilyBaden Saturday and Sunday, for nine hour days. The others From helping the residents at Via Christi Village eat went Tuesdays and Thursdays, for six weeks, for approxidinner to taking them to play bingo, students involved in mately four hours. the Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA) course at the high “I like getting to have conversations with the residents, school accumulated hours at their clinical sessions to they always have something on their minds, and also earn their CNA licence. getting to paint their nails,” senior Alexis Gardullo said.

“At clinicals, we just follow the CNA’s around. At first “I learned that the residents love having somebody also we just observed, then once we got some hours under there to talk to and be there to help them whenever they our belt, we started assisting with taking care of the resi- need it.” dents,” senior Jeff Dunford said.

Biological Science Teacher, Jim Foresman, is a superAside from working on worksheets and preparing for visor of the course and feels the class will be very benefiquizzes in their health science III class, to become a certi- cial to the students taking it in the future. fied nurse’s assistant, the stu“I think they are going dents were required to obtain to find out if they want to a total of 45 hours of clinicals. be in health care or not,” “My favorite part of clinicals Foresman said. “I mean if ONE OF THE MOST IMPORis socializing with the resithey enjoy working with TANT THINGS I HAVE LEARNED dents and helping them get the residents, they don’t IS THAT THAT COULD BE ME ready for the day and using mind bodily waste, they SOMEDAY AND I WANT TO the mechanical lift that lifts a don’t mind behaviors and person. We can move them they can see beyond that TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY I to another chair or the toilet,” and see the patients for WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED senior Lauren Sullivan said. who they are, then I think IF I WERE TO END UP IN A “The worst part of clinicals is they will do well in health Y LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY dealing with the residents that care.”

-LAUREN SULLIVAN cry a lot and seeing them hurtDunford for examing or very uncomfortable. ple, aspires to be an Also it is difficult to work with Anesthesiologist and says the residents that get mean and grouchy.” earning his CNA is a great starting point.

During those hours of working, students would help “I’ve learned that the work CNA’s do isn’t as bad as I the residents eat, use the restroom, take showers, dress thought it would be,” Dunford said. “Once you get used them and even watch them sing karaoke. to how things work and you get used to the residents, it’s “I have learned that being a nurse or nurse assistant not bad at all. But my favorite part about clinicals is getis hard work. Taking care of the elderly is hard work but ting the experience for the future.” completely worth it knowing that I am helping them The health science III students will be receiving more live their everyday life,” Sullivan said. “One of the most experience for their future next semester as they will be important things I have learned is that that could be enrolling in an Emergency Medical Technician course me someday and I want to treat people the way I would through Fort Scott Community College. For this course, want to be treated if I were to end up in a long-term care students will be expected to accumulate 24 hours of ridefacility.” along experience in order to take the state licensing exam To achieve their hours, the kids were divided into after the course is over.

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4 FEATURE

Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 www.boosterredux.com

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FEATURE

Friday, Nov. 22, 2013

5

Hardwork overlooked Spirit squads not considered ‘athletic activities’ in student handbook

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

BY ABBY HARRIS

Similar to Kelley, sophomore Maiah Leonard believes cheerleading should considered an athletic program. Leonard has cheered for 10 years, but does not currently cheer for the high school; instead she competes for The Cheer Pitt.

BY PARKER MATTHEWS @PSpongebob

Whiplash, scratches, bruises, concussions, black eyes, fat lips, and even broken bones all are a result of athletics. Whether it be on the football field, the basketball court, or the wrestling mats. Yet all of these injuries did not happen to a football player, or a basketball player, or a wrestler, but a cheerleader and dancer.

Trisha Kelley is a senior participating in her fifth year of cheering for Pittsburg schools. In those five years, she has withstood the physical, and mental, strain of cheerleading. She puts in the tedious hours of practice (nearly every day) yet all of her hard work, as well as the other cheerleaders’ efforts, are not enough for cheerleading to be considered an “athletic activity” at the high school, according to the student handbook.

“People nowadays see cheer as girls on the sidelines with pom-pons, twirling around and doing cute little cheers,” Kelley said. “We still do that, but we also stunt, dance and work just as hard as any other sport.”

“Just like any other athletic sport, in cheer we condition [and] we practice two to three hours constantly,” Leonard said. “It’s not easy. It contains a lot of hard work and dedication.”

Leonard is definitely dedicated. She endures the strains that other athletes push through, but she has one unseen barrier to overcome each time she tumbles: Scoliosis.

Athletes who play through an injury are often idolized for their determination and loyalty. Scoliosis does not simply go away. It is an always-looming obstacle. “[Cheer] is a lot more dangerous than a lot of sports because we risk our bodies to be able to tumble,” Leonard said. “We take a lot of chances when we tumble because we never know if we are good until we make or break the pass. Other sports all they have to worry about is catching a ball or making the goal. Cheer is just as [much] a sport as football or basketball.”

Dictionary.com states that an athlete is a person

trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill. If a cheerleader meets the requirements for an athlete, why then i s cheer considered non-athletic?

Dance is another activity that involves athletes, yet it is also not considered an athletic activity. The dance team practices before school typically every day, because many of the dancers are involved with other after school activities which conflict with practice hours. They endure the obstacles that other sports press upon their athletes: sweat, blood, and tears.

“When there’s a routine where you have to land a certain way or jump then land on the ground you’re gonna get bruised at the least, it can get painful” Simons said. “I cried when I sprained the tendon in my foot this summer.”

An athlete is a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill as defined by Dictionary.com.

The cheerleaders and dancers put on a show each home game. They perform in front of the same crowd as the football team or the basketball team.

“We’re just as athletic as football players,” Simons said. “It’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff. Behind the scenes we’re working really, really hard so the crowd will enjoy it.”

Will has the will Jewett breaks barriers

BY EMILY BADEN

“

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THE STEREOTYPE OF BOY DANCERS IS THEY ARE GAY AND THAT’S NOT TRUE. UE.

”

-WILL JEWETT

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

BY ABBY HARRIS AND REAGAN RINK

@EmilyBaden Instead of lacing up football cleats for the big Friday night game or tying tennis shoes to finish the race, sophomore Will Jewett slips on his jazz shoes as he prepares to do eight pirouettes.

For the past six years, Will has devoted any free time to his dance career.

“I like how [dance] is a straight-forward way to express myself,” Will said. “I don’t have to explain it through words. I like making people feel something.”

Starting off in the program ShowBiz Kids through the YMCA, Will was asked to take another dance class strictly for boys, 45 minutes a week. After his first session, he discovered his love for the art.

He continued to sign up for more classes, including tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop.

After two years, he decided to audition for the YMCA Academy of Dance competitive team.

“I think [Will’s dancing] is great and I’m so jealous of him,” sister Sarah Jewett said. “He is so devoted to it and he’s grown exceptionally. He’s grown leaps and bounds for sure. Literally all he does is eat, sleep and dance. It’s amazing.”

Whether it is working hard at the dance studio for a required nine hours a week or improving his leaps and turns on a homemade dance floor in his basement, Will practices every day.

“Literally the second he goes home he’s either napping or in the basement practicing what he’s learned,” Sarah said. “If he and I are in the house by ourselves and I’m at the table eating dinner, he will dance over to me if the radio is on and get up all up in my face. I get really amused by it.”

With the dedication and practice Will puts into dance, it pays off when he travels to competitions throughout the year. Last year, he went to four competitions with his company, winning titles in the solo category at each one. This included Top Entertainer at Talent On Parade in Joplin, and Stage One Star, which granted him a scholarship to a dance intensive. Will also recently attended a dance convention in Kansas City, where he took an audition class. As a result of doing well, he received a $500 scholarship to perform in Branson during the summer.

“When he first tried out [for company] he couldn’t turn at all, he couldn’t do anything,” junior Kyla Massey said. “Now he’s the best turner in our company and also one of the best dancers.”

Although Will has proven himself as a boy dancer, his gender still has some drawbacks.

“A lot of people think that the stereotype of boy dancers is they are gay and that’s not true,” Will said. “I guess some are, but that doesn’t mean we all are. At first they are like, ‘what? A boy dancer, are you serious?’ They eventually get used to it.”

As of right now, Will is the only male dancer at his studio, but he says he doesn’t mind because there’s “no competition.”

As for the future, Will has high hopes to further his dance career.

“I want to go as far as I can with dancing,” Will said. “I hope to be in a dance program at a college and then be on Broadway someday.

I also want to try out for So You Think You Can Dance. It’s on my list. But my biggest dream is to end up on Broadway.”

Sweat never looked so good Cheer, dance just as difficult, strenuous as athletic activities

BY KATIE PHALEN @kphalen5

Throughout my years at the high school, I have done a lot of sweating. I’ve sweated on the basketball floor, tennis courts, softball fields and on the track. I know what it means to be an athlete. So as I flipped through the school planner this past fall and glanced at the list of school activities, I was genuinely shocked to see dance team and cheerleading under the “non-athletic” column.

I have been dancing for over 15 years. I have spent countless hours in the dance studio; stretching, turning, jumping, and yes, sweating. Dance is exhausting, and is easily in the top three most physically draining sports I’ve participated in, falling

only behind track and basketball.

When the dance team walks out onto the floor during halftime and begins our performance, most people don’t realize how much work we have put into our dancing skills over their lifetime. Most studio dancers start at a very young age.

They practice year round, conditioning and improving their strength and flexibility. Competition teams spend hours running their physically demanding routines over and over again, perfecting every little detail.

Often times I find myself bent over gasping for breath at dance practice, the numbness I associate with a tough workout present in my legs. I know how hard it is to be a dancer, that is why it makes me

even more upset when I hear people dismiss it as an athletic activity all together.

As physically-demanding as dance is, I was even more surprised to see cheerleading classified as “non-athletic”. I have so much respect for the sport of cheerleading. I love watching competitive cheer on ESPN and appreciating how much strength is required to execute the stunts they make look so easy.

Those girls and boys who participate in cheerleading, whether it be competitive or through their school, perform very dangerous moves and put their bodies at risk every time they go to practice. A significant amount of strength is required in order to prevent injury from occurring.

They need to train their bodies just like

every other athlete needs to. They lift people up above their heads, flip through the air, and get thrown high above the crowd, with only their teammates to catch them.

I really do not understand. Is it the glitter? The hair ribbons? Maybe it’s the fact that there is music involved? We use and depend on our bodies to participate in dance and cheer. That in itself should qualify these as athletic activities.

The hours spent training, the cardio and strength conditioning we endure, should qualify them as strenuous athletic activity. We run, jump, and cut just like other athletes do. The only difference is we cover our face with makeup so the crowds don’t notice how much we’re actually sweating.

Mind Matter Gymnastics takes mental toll on athletes

BY ALLI BADEN

Not only do gymnasts have to be strong physically, but mentally as well. Head gymnastics coach Janie Terry believes that the Freshman Olivia Joy walks through the doors of sport is 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical.

“You have to be in the right state of mind to do the big skills the YMCA. She strolls through the lobby, past the weight room, dodges flying basketballs and that they are doing,” Terry said. “You have to learn to trust yourlittle children to get to one place; the Pittsburg self to throw more advanced skills.”

According to senior Mattson Steele, the mental blocks of gymFamily YMCA gymnastics facility.

For 11 years, Joy has been able to call her- nastics were what eventually drove her to retire from the sport.

“I would get scared of one skill and it would just progress from self a gymnast. She is one of only six other high school students in the SEK area that has one thing to the next,” Steele said. “[The mental blocks] would happen over and over again and I was just tired of it. I feel like I kept gymnastics a part of their life.

“I think when people think of a gymnast gave up too soon and should have pushed past whatever I was afraid of.” they think of frilly little girlyTerry has found ways to help girls, but we are not,” Joy tackle each gymnast’s mental said. “Don’t be fooled by She gives each of her the leotards.”

I TH THINK WHEN PEOPLE blocks. gymnast a journal where they Joy spends four nights THINK OF A GYMNAST can write fears, worries, or proba week training her body to defy gravity, tumble THEY THINK OF FRILLY lems that they have been having at home or school. on a four-inch wide, four LITTLE GIRLY-GIRLS. “Sometimes it is easier to foot tall surface, sprint DON’T BE FOOLED D BY write things down rather than down a runway to vault talking about them,” Joy said. over a stationary object THE LEOTARDS. “After we write our coaches will and swing effortlessly -OLIVIA JOY write back and I think that helps around wooden bars. a lot.”

Doing this while keeping As one of the older members of the team, Joy is left with a leadperfect form and pointing her toes. Joy and her teammates also go through rig- ership role in the gym. Out of the 87 gymnast on the team, 67 are orous conditioning exercises to get their in elementary school and 14 are in middle school. “[Joy] is a positive influence on the younger girls,” Terry said. bodies in top condition to perform these “She really gives them someone to look up to.” skills.

Joy embraces the role of a leader because she knows what it is “Gymnastics is one of those sports where you have to use all different parts of your like to be in their shoes.

“I remember when I was one of those little girls looking up to body,” Joy said. “You have to be in good shape the big girls and wanting to be just like them,” Joy said. “Now I get and pretty strong.” to be the big girl.” @AlliBaden

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6 OPINION Booster Redux staff and policy Editors-in-Chief Emily Baden Reece Burns Bethanne Elliott Parker Matthews Katie Phalen Online Editors Qualen Pollard Evan Rajotte Staff Alli Baden Alivia Benedict Shelby Bicknell Katy Brown Kylynn Collins Abi Felter Molly Graham Ashley Hall Josh Jarvis Joban Mendpara Miranda Moore Megan Munger Morgan Plank Reagan Rink Rachyl Russian Erica Seal Caden Yantis 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.

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.

Friday, Nov. 22, 2013

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SECTION D

Media misrepresents modern society Radio, television shape Americans’ everyday lives

BY KATY BROWN AND MORGAN BURNS @katylady22

T

he media. We all know about it.

We are exposed to it everyday.

Whether the exposure be through the TV, computer, phone or magazines, everyone is affected by the media. Most of the time the media represents people in a negative way. Men, women, girls and boys are often misrepresented and portrayed as stereotypes. The media affects us, and it changes how we behave, perceive, and treat others.

Throughout the years, both male and females have received negative stereotypes that reflect poorly on individuals. Women are often stereotyped as the housewife, or unintelligent with no drive to succeed. Or, they are very intelligent and lack the attractiveness. On the other hand, they may be seen as very attractive with no intelligence.

Males are often seen as the dominant gender. They are sportsminded, have a trophy wife and perfect children, with a high-paying job and are the breadwinners of the family. Often in the movies, an unattractive male will have a relationship with an attractive female while an “ugly” female will have to have to undergo a transition into a beautiful woman before she can date the attractive male. This may not seem like a huge deal, but actually the portrayal of people like this can have long term effects.

From chilberth, the media has helped shape what we know, think, and do. Most of us have watched TV since we were old enough to sit up, and stereotypes started forming in our minds as soon as we were old enough to remember the episodes that we watched. Psychology Today, through its research on the brain, has learned that powerful images grab the attention of the audience and stay in their memories.

“All media exist to invest our lives with artificial perceptions

Online

and arbitrary values,” said Marshall McLuhan, Philosopher of Communication Theory at University of Wisconsin.

Unfortunately, most of the images we are exposed to lack acceptance and diversity.

The average youth will spend 1,200 hours a year watching TV, and see 16,000 thirty-second commercials according to Little Ladies Society.

With all that being said, who controls these major advertising companies? Time Warner, VIACOM, Vivendi Universal, Walt Disney, and News Corp own 95 percent of the media we get everyday.

These companies own the major entertainment theme parks, entertainment movie studios, television and radio broadcast networks, and programming, along with the video news and sports entertainment.

In the past, there used to be more companies that controlled advertising, but they have been bought out or have merged with the larger companies.

Influence from these media outlets can also take its toll on self-esteem. Miss Representation shows that 53 percent of 13 yearold girls are unhappy with their bodies. That number increases to 78 percent by age 17. Body dissatisfaction is most common in young girls and teenagers. This may suggest that prolonged exposure to mass media during adolescence and childhood, start the negative effects of media in early adulthood.

On the other hand, overweight people are often set up for teasing.

Overweight individuals are more likely to be portrayed as people eating huge portions of food, or eating constantly. In magazines

and newspapers, a celebrity can not be able to walk out of a restaurant without being on the verge of being overweight or pregnant. It seems that no one can escape the medias backlash .

The media does change how we judge others, and how we see ourselves. Media is getting away with

Offline

portraying people negatively.

It’s up to us as t h e consumer to not give them the power to make us feel like we have to be a certain way and yield to their stereotypes. The only way to change is to decide that you are going to change the way you think about others.

Should it be final?

New policy warrants second look

Staff Editorial @PHSstudentpub @

The implementation of the new finals system has left students and some faculty with different feelings and opinions. In the long run, taking finals will benefit every

By Molly graham and notes can be easily tedious for teachers and Laptops and iPads high school graduate. @xxxmollyxx taken. When using a students because access downgrade in quality Not only will students get a better feel Many teachers use printed textbook, my page to certain websites on the whereas textbooks are for the demands of colleges, but teachers technology as a way of can be marked and I have iPads require passcodes be more durable and last will have a better idea of how well students teaching their students. easy access to it whenever entered by the teacher. longer. retain their course’s material. Students who To me, using printed I need.

Many times, the According to StateImpact textbooks and assignments “From personal computer or software that Florida journalist Gina enter college without having taken any is more effective because experience from taking an is being used will correct Jordan, people who use finals often find themselves ill-prepared for it provides correct online class, I like having grammatical errors which more printed material the final exams they are required to take in information that is right textbooks and printed work can cause the users to understand more, college.

Let’s be honest, most teachers give in front of you and is better,” junior Zach Flood become dependent on the remember more and learn accessible at any given said. “It’s easier to follow software to correct their more than people who some form of formative assessment to all time. Not every student has and work on.” mistakes. use technology based of their students anyways. Teachers are internet access outside of To some students, In the case of a power information.

PeopWle not out to fail their students by making an school, and with a portable technology can become outage or problems with who use technology too un-passable final.

The previous final policy has created an textbook there shouldn’t a big distraction because the internet connection, much can develop health extremely negative mindset on final exams. be any excuses for late or of many accessible social- technology based problems such as loss in For students who have never taken a missing assignments. networking and non- classrooms have to eyesight and headaches.

When taking a math school related websites. postpone their lessons for Although there are final, the easiest way to get through finals class, or example, I want Many websites are the time being. Textbooks many positive uses week is to accept that it is happening; there’s to be able to have a printed blocked because of the cannot crash or be hacked. for technology, using no way around it and preparations are a sheet of paper that I can school’s internet policy Technology resources technology in education necessity. Start preparing for your finals keep all of my work and so researching for a paper can be costly and can take isn’t always reliable. So now. All of those teachers who hassle and notes on. Printed textbooks or project can be limited. money away from more in this case, the negatives require you to keep your work in binders are suddenly your best friends; finals will are easier to read through Using technology can be necessary things. outweigh the positives. not be over material unseen. Finals will not be any different from a summative or as a viable alternative to capitalism fit for labor and service did repine formative test. because they think it offers a solution that they should spend their time The incentive days, however, are not as to the basic inequities that exist in and strength to work for other men’s helpful. wives and children without being paid every society. The problem is that While the Booster Redux acknowledges taking money away from those who , (this) was thought (an) injustice.” the administration is advocating for good Special to What Bradford realized was that social earn it and giving it to those who grades and attendance by retaining the The Booster Redux don’t crushes incentive ( as well as collectivism (socialism) takes away jobs). Many have also forgotten about reward system, the staff feels that, from a incentive for each person to perform BRADFORD’S HISTORIC CHOICE student’s perspective, having an interval the 100,000,000 people murdered by at their best.

So the next year Bradford On Aug. 1,1620 the Mayflower sailed socialist/ communist like Stalin, Hitler, of days to take off makes the day less of a decided to try free market enterprise for the New World. Among the 102 Castro and Pol Pot in the last 100 years. reward. (capitalism).

Bradford wrote, “This passengers were 40 pilgrims fleeing While a student may have a day they Socialism had been a miserable failure had very good success, for it made all religious persecution. Their leader, can be excused from, they will still have in the former Soviet Union, China, hands industrious, so as much more William Bradford, had each family sign coursework to makeup when they return France, Britain, Cuba, Venezuela and a contract. The contract stated that the corn was planted than otherwise many others. Many of these countries which could further interfere with their would have been.” Their unused corn families would be given a plot of land are moving back toward capitalism to personal time - essentially no different from was sold and used to pay their debts to to grow as much corn as they could. spur their stagnant socialist economies. just skipping a day of school or having a merchants in London. Their success This corn was to go into a common parent call their student in sick for the day.

Capitalism is the only social system also attracted more Europeans in storehouse to be used as needed.

This can also cause problems from a what came to be known as “The Great that rewards virtue and punishes vice.

Bradford quickly recognized that the teacher’s perspective. With the interval Yes, there are winners and losers in Puritan Migration” most creative and industrious people of days to choose from, a teacher may capitalism. The winners are those Imagine what American society had very little incentive to work harder have six kids gone on one day, one kid who are industrious, prudent, frugal, would be like if we had continued than anyone else. By the end of the gone on another or every student gone responsible, disciplined and efficient. on this socialist pathway. Autos, first hard winter the bins were empty on a completely different day - all while The losers are those who are lazy, computers, medicine, the telephone, and many, including Bradford’s wife, the teacher is trying to maintain a normal extravagant, negligent, imprudent and and numerous other inventions were dead from starvation and disease. schedule and, now, keep students current.

Bradford wrote in his journal, “For this probably would never been developed, inefficient. With socialism, the only The bottom line is that if everyone has winners are the politicians. or their quality and affordability (collective) community was found to to take finals now, no matter what, and the breed much confusion and discontent, would have been greatly diminished incentive day means having makeup work, without the monetary incentives and Jeff Morey, and retard much employment…for nothing will stop a student from skipping competition that capitalism demands.

Science Teacher young men that were most able to days as long as finals are required.

Many young people see socialism

Teachers split digital and textbook educational styles

Lettersto the Editor

SECTION D www.boosterredux.com

FOCUS

Friday, Nov. 22, 2013

11.5 lbs 3.0 lbs 3.2 lbs 2.0 lbs 1.5 lbs 2.5 lbs

Textbooks Binders Notebooks Books Miscellaneous Backpack

7

17.4 lbs 3.2 lbs 4.5 lbs 1.8 lbs 0.5 lbs 2.8 lbs Senior Courtney Douglas’ backpack GRAPHIC BY REAGAN RINK AND PARKER MATTHEWS

Junior Chad Baker’s backpack

Achy breaky backpacks weigh students down

Heavy knapsacks misused; turned into dangerous everyday tools

BY CADEN YANTIS @CJYantis95

F

or junior William Lackamp, constantly having to carry around a heavy backpack during the school week has taken its toll. Physical activities during his freshman year caused back problems for Lackamp. He has had to deal with carrying a heavy backpack full of textbooks during the school week which does not help his situation.

Backpacks are designed to distribute the weight of a load among some of the body’s strongest

muscles. However, putting too much weight into the backpack can strain a back to the point where problems occur such as Scoliosis, sprains, back pains, and curvatures of the spine.

“Having a backpack this early in life [can] cause [students] to have future problems,” school nurse Lisa Schwob said. “Kids are always coming in to see me daily for Ibuprofen and Icy Hot to help with back pain from carrying a heavy backpack all day.”

Due to short passing periods students may not have enough time

Faces:

to go visit their locker to drop off materials which results in carrying a heavy load all day.

“I only have time to visit my locker only about twice a day” Lackamp said. “My backpack gets very heavy so I tighten my backpack straps to lessen the pain due to all the weight.”

By tightening the straps of the bag, this allows the weight of the contents of the bag to be easily distributed across the back.

“It gets tiring carrying a heavy backpack and it honestly wears me out a lot toward the end of the

week,” junior Sydney Lenati said.

“My back hurts every now and then, but I get used to it as the day goes on.”

Like Lackamp, Lenati carries two to three textbooks throughout the school day. Lenati, Lackamp and many other students do not realize how much weight they are actually carrying at school every single day.

“Backpack weight should never exceed over 10 percent of one’s body weight,” Schwob said.

Lenati carries roughly 17 pounds of weight and Lackamp carries 25 pounds. Lackamp, who weighs

Students transfer schools, bring unique interests

Ben Kangas

BY SHELBY BICKNELL @shlelbbick

Transferring from Palmdale, Calif., sophomore Ben Kangas underwent the transformation from black and gold school colors to purple and white.

Kangas and his family drove 1500 miles, across five states to get closer to his family.

“My grandma, my aunt, my grandpa and my uncle like us being around so we can visit more. My cousins like it too, so do my brothers and I.” Although Kangas likes living here, there are some aspects of California that he misses. “[I miss] going to the beach, can’t go to the beach here,” said Kangas. “I liked that the water was cold [around California] Out here the waters really warm at least in the summer, but I’m not gonna jump into a

BY RACHYL RUSSIAN @RachylRussian

Students move only once or twice in their school career. Sophomore, Shy Sorden has moved 13 different times since the age of nine years old. Pittsburg has been her last move in the process.

“I’ve been in foster care and I’ve moved a lot of times. I have been to 12 different schools,” Sorden said.

As a result of moving around so much, Sorden has had free time and decided to take up every sport she could to try to take her mind off of things. The sport she became to like was basketball. And the one she became to love was track.

Hoping to run track in college, Sorden’s

lake in the winter.”

Some things were easier to transition into than thought.

“I thought I would really miss the school because I knew everybody,” Kangas said. “I thought the teachers were really cool but everybody here is really nice.”

However, there are things about the high school Kangas was not expecting.

“Here there’s more school spirit, like a lot,” Kangas said. “Out there it’s kinda school spirited but nobody really cares too much.”

Pittsburg has brought Kangas some new opportunities to get involved in.

“Well I might play golf because some of my friends are,” Kangas said. “I like being here it give me more and different things I want to do than in California.”

passion is more intense to run because she is the only person in her family to play a sport.

“I’ve been running track since 6th grade,” Sorden said. “It’s my best sport. I ran the 800 and my best time was 2:20.”

Starting in seventh grade, Sorden joined that basketball team. She has been on three different teams at three different schools. As much as Sorden enjoys playing on a team as the next girl, she thrives to play by herself.

“I like shooting by myself because there’s more learning and on a team there’s no time to think,” Sorden said. “Whenever you start to like something, you just want to do it all the time,” Sorden said. “I use to shoot a lot, just shoot by myself.”

BY ASHLEY HALL @ashleyhall_16

Heaven Catser PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS

BY EMILY BADEN AND PARKER MATTHEWS

Being at a new school can be hard for students. No matter the individual, change is a difficult process to overcome.

Nevertheless, Freshman Heaven Critser makes it look like a breeze. Moving to Pittsburg, Kan. from Tulsa, Okla. in the summer of 2012, Critser is an involved freshman.

Every Saturday for the last month, she has been at debate tournaments across Kansas and has placed in two of those tournaments. On Oct. 26, Critser and partner freshman Jack Bertoncino placed second in the Novice division. The week after, sophomore Aubri Powell and Critser placed sixth again. Not only an accomplished debater, Critser is also involved with the cheer team at

185 pounds, carries more than 10 percent of his body weight every single school day.

“To be honest, I am not surprised” Lackamp said. “No wonder my back is always hurting,” Due to recent technology, textbooks and homework are being put online which directly effects necessary materials, and with it, backpack weight.

In order to prevent any future injuries and disorders, tighten the straps of the bag, wear the straps on both shoulders and use a locker throughout the day.

Teachers showcase their inner selves A little bit of restoration, crocheting, teaching

BY KYLYNN COLLINS @kylynn_c

Shy Sorden

Pittsburg High School.

Critser is on the varsity squad as a freshman, usually a difficult procedure for younger students. However, the small number of participants this year, as opposed to years past, has forced all of the cheerleaders to be placed on the varsity squad. Critser spends Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and the occasional Monday nights at cheer practice. In her sporadic free time, Critser plays the violin as well.

“I’m really happy about [being involved] because the cheer team gets to do all the pep assemblies, as well as the sporting events,” Critser said. “It’s really fun being involved with the school.”

Pittsburg has brought Kangas some new opportunities to get involved in.

“Well I might play golf because some of my friends are,” Kangas said. “I like being here it give me more and different things I want to do than in California.”

Not many students are aware of the personalities of a teacher until they get to know them. There are many teachers who bring their personalities to school, however there are teachers who leave others wondering.

“I would like to know what Mr. Moss does, everybody talks about how cool he is but I’ve never really spoken to him,” junior Wendy Rivera said.

There are teachers who leave students wondering what they do after school or what they do on their free time.

“I like restoring old cars,” history teacher Patrick Moss said. “It actually started when a friend of mine from grade school had a father who owned a ‘36 Ford. It’s always nice to have that link to driving a piece of history.”

Moss has altogether restored around six or seven cars. Not only does he like restoring old cars, but he also enjoys collecting historical artifacts. It is obvious when a student walks into his classroom because it is displayed, there will be different kinds of war jackets and many pictures of historical times.

Moss also someday hopes to be a published author. He is working on materials for young readers such as, treasure hunting, and historical figures.

Math teacher Rhonda Willis is also a teacher who has hobbies that not only describes her personality but also soothes her.

“Crocheting and knitting is therapeutic; after I started teaching, I needed something to get the stress off my mind at the end of the day,” Willis said.

After she is finished working on school tasks, she finds time to crochet or knit. Not only does she crochet and knit, but she also goes on long walks almost every day, about 5.3 miles, while listening to audiobooks.

“Its nice to listen to a book because I get lost in the story and I don’t think about how bad my feet hurt,” Willis said.

According to Willis, being a teacher is a stressful job. Trying to maintain teaching, planning periods and having to deal with students.

“I feel like as a teacher, I’m always having to motivate someone to do their best,” Willis said. “Outside of school I can be a normal person.”

8 SPORTS

Friday, Nov. 22, 2013

The sky is the limit Select seniors climb the ladder to the collegiate level

BY KATIE PHALEN @kphalen5

T

he sport of football means everything to some people, nothing to others, and somewhere in between for everyone else. To the players, it means a large time commitment and tough practices. For spectators it means an exciting event to watch. But for seniors Zach Stewart and Ethan PaulDavis, football is an opportunity.

“Football is giving me a chance to further my education,” Stewart said. “It’s giving me a chance to get out of Pittsburg.”

Stewart has decided to play for Hutchinson Community College next year, where he will receive full tuition. He played left guard for the high school this past season, and was also a team captain. He plans to continue to play on the of-

fensive line as a college player.

Throughout the season, the offensive line allowed only two sacks. Stewart personally had a total of 29.5 pancakes blocks, meaning he laid his opponent flat on the ground while blocking him.

“They’ve offered to pay for my full tuition” Stewart said. “I am very grateful for the opportunity.”

Hutchinson has been in communication with Stewart since last season.

“I’m excited to play football at Hutch because it will be something new to do,” Stewart said.

“It’ll be a lot different than high school.”

After playing at Hutchinson, Stewart hopes to continue his football career at a Division I school, and is currently considering the University of Kansas. In college, Stewart wants to major in communications and later become a police of-

ficer and a football coach.

“I want to have success as a coach now that I have had success as a player,” Stewart said.

Paul-Davis has not made a decision about which college he is going to attend next fall, but is looking at Fort Scott Community College, Friends University, as well as Hutchinson.

While playing wide receiver he had 700 total yards. As a defensive back, he had over 30 tackles. He was also a team captain along with Stewart.

“I like football because it teaches discipline and hard work,” Paul-Davis said. “I like the physicality of the sport,” While in college, Paul-Davis plans to major in science and become a chemist.

“I’m excited to test my skills at the next level,” Paul-Davis said. “I’m ready to move onto bigger and better things.”

Injuries keep athletes grounded Athletics have physical, emotional impact on students

BY JOSH JARVIS @JJarvis52

The ball was snapped.

The running back smoothly took the handoff. The blocks were set. The play ran just as it had been planned. The running back was tackled and the play was over. Just like all the plays before it.

Just an average day at practice.

But something wasn’t average. Senior Dylan Brizzee didn’t hop up with high energy as he usually did after a play was over.

He was down, clutching his knee.

One play can end a season. Anything can happen in sports. Anything can lead to the ever-so dreaded injury, robbing an athlete of his or her season. High school athletes account for an estimated two million injuries and 500,000 doctor visits each year according to stopsportsinjuries.org. All the hard work, sweat, and time put into a sport and it could be so quickly taken away, something Brizzee is familiar with.

Brizzee’s season ended with a tear of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and his meniscus in his left knee during practice in the second game week of his final season. An ACL tear recovery ranges from four to six months, depending on the severity of the tear and if the person had the tear surgically repaired or not. Brizzee is currently recovering from his surgery and is undergoing physical therapy.

“I’m attempting to regain strength [in my knee] and I’m trying to walk normally,”

Brizzee said.

Injuries not only affect people physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

“It dealt a lot of damage to me emotionally knowing I would miss the rest of the football season,” Brizzee said.

Junior Sierra Loveland said she is still in pain from her broken ankle suffered in her fifth softball game of her freshman year.

Loveland has also been emotionally damaged from an injury.

“I was mentally and emotionally drained,” Loveland said. “I was bedridden for a while and [I was] in a lot of pain and [I was] almost depressed.”

“I still have pain from [my ankle] injury,” Loveland said. “I had three surgeries, was put on painkillers for months and was in a boot on and off for ten months.”

Loveland was out for the rest of her softball season and missed her entire sophomore volleyball season.

“The physical therapy was hard and painful but it helped me gain so much strength and flexibility back,” Loveland said.

Junior James Clark has been inactive for over almost two months now because of his concussion suffered during a football game against Chanute. Like Brizzee, Clark is not done recovering from his injury.

“I am still recovering,” said Clark. “I have some memory, reaction, and eye problems. I get a lot of headaches and [I am] sensitive to lights and

sounds.”

Clark missed the last five games of the football season and may not be able to play basketball because of repeated concussions.

A report by WebMD shows that a person that has suffered repeated concussions is more likely to get longterm brain damage, including a condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease that is like dementia.

Athletes are at a much greater risk to reinjure a previous injury than athletes who are healthy and haven’t been injured. An article by Regenexx states almost 30% of previously injured athletes tested had reinjured their torn ACLs within the next two years.

Injuries are very prevalent in the world of sports but can be avoided by using proper equipment, stretching before activities and by not playing in pain or extreme fatigue.

Injuries are also a quick way to empty wallets.

According to New Choice Health, ACL reconstruction surgery from Century Surgical Associates i n Pittsburg costs

over $10,000.

In the case of Clark, an athlete can lose his or her season in a matter of seconds, but can also lose much more than just games.

“My concussion impacted [my] everyday life,” Clark said. “I was not able to drive and I could not attend school as much as I needed to for awhile.

Also, [I didn’t get] to participate in school activities... [My concussion] kind of just set my life back because I’ll have to make up all the time that I missed.”

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