The Booster Redux October

"Bryce will not be going to college, have a girlfriend, get married, or have kids. To a parent that is heartbreaking.

But I will find him a job and he will continue to be the happy go-lucky Bryce everyone knows and loves."

-Mandy Commons PHOTO BY ABBY HARRIS

a king amongst commoners Bryce Commons: the man behind the mascot

BY EMILY BADEN

T

The Booster Redux

o start off his daily routine, senior Bryce Commons unzips his Buzz-Lightyear lunch box and takes inventory of the food packed inside. He double checks to see if his all-jelly sandwich, white chocolate candy bar, Go-Gurt, and apple are present. If any of these items are absent it could ultimately decide a good day from bad. Now that his lunch is checked, he is ready to start his day.

Routine is what drives him. He eats bacon every morning. He always wears a lanyard with Selena Gomez around his neck, his waterproof watch on his wrist. He carries a pink square eraser in his hand and always sits in the same chair at lunch. Bryce thrives on repetition.

“Bryce has good days if his days are consistent,” said special education teacher Gene Hendrickson. “If it stays routine and nothing messes it up or

stresses him out, he has a great day.”

One of Bryce’s great days rose to an all new level when he found out he made the ballot as a homecoming candidate.

“When I found out he was on the ballot for the top four it shocked me actually. I cried for an hour, I just couldn’t believe it,” said Mandy Commons, Bryce’s mother.

Mandy “never in a million years” would have believed that her son

would be a nominee for the 2013 fall homecoming king.

Bryce was asked to be the purple dragon mascot during his freshman year. The idea of becoming the dragon became a reality and the opportunity to spread spirit changed the outcome of his high school years. It enabled him to get involved in school and earn a spot on the ballot. “[My favorite part of being the mascot is] flapping my wings, boogie

SEE KING AMONGST COMMONERS PAGE 2D

Seeing the benefits everyday Taking it beyond the text Key Club members plant seeds for Beautification project

BY ALLI BADEN

F

The Booster Redux

rom organizing can food drives to ringing bells for the Salvation Army, Key Club deals with making a difference in the community.

On Oct. 21 they brought their community service back to the high school for the Beautification Project.

The Beautification Project consisted of nine Key Club members planting two trees in the courtyard outside of the school. Key Club sponsor Lyn Schultze first came up with the idea of a Beautification project two years ago.

“I’m an avid gardener so I just thought we could spruce up the campus a little bit,” Schultze said.

Unfortunately, the club could not afford to purchase the plants. But last year, the Pittsburg Zone 6 Gardening Club offered a grant to help pay for these plants.

“I wrote up a grant proposal and on the last day of school we found out we got the grant of about 150 dollars. That was our seed money.” Schultze said.

After hearing of the approved grant, the administration agreed to

American Government students receive unique learning opportunity

BY EMILY BADEN

The Booster Redux merican Government students that are seniors will have the opportunity to take their learning beyond the textbooks. On Nov. 5, the Kansas Supreme Court is traveling to Pittsburg State University (PSU) and these students get the chance sit in on the court hearings.

“We talk about the supreme court a lot, in government class in particular,” American government teacher Gary Wolgamott said. “[I’m excited for my students to] just actually see the justices and to see the arguments actually being presented. I think it adds a whole different perspective to just studying it out of the book.”

According to Carol Green, clerk of the Kansas Supreme Court, coming to PSU is a unique opportunity for the Court and the public, because travel is an exception for the Supreme Court, rather than a rule. This is because the year of Kansas’ 150th anniversary. The Court decided return to the historic courtroom in the Capitol Building for one day of hearings. Due to the appearance being so well received, the Court now leaves its own courtroom for a limited number of dockets. The appearance in Pittsburg is only the fourth travel docket in the Court’s history.

“This session [in Pittsburg] is part of a public outreach by the Supreme

A

First year key club member, David Su tends to one of the freshly planted shrubs that is a part of the beautification of PHS. The club received a grant and used it to buy gardening materials for the courtyard. “I really liked it because its physical work and I’m into botany and gardening,” said Su. “I enjoy doing activities that help the community.” PHOTO BY CALVIN THYER

double the grant fund money allowed Schultze raising the total amount and the Key Club members to 300 dollars. The extra to purchase a second tree.

Court to provide an educational opportunity for students and the general public alike to learn about the justices - who they are, what they do, and how they do it,” said Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss.

Green contacted principal Jon Bishop to invite American Government students to participate in the hearings. Bishop then handed the torch over to Wolgamott and another American Government teacher, Anita White, to arrange the rest. Wolgamott was able to reserve 50-55 for the day of Court hearings, allowing a maximum of 55 students to attend.

Senior Garrett Harmon is one of the 55 students attending the hearings and is excited he gets to witness them.

“I find the process of determining whether certain actions are constitutional and I find the interpreting of the constitution interesting,” Harmon said.

As the cut is 55 students, Wolgamott and White selected the students. They based their choices on a student’s academic performance, participation in class, and attendance.

“The Court hopes that students will better understand the work of the Judicial Branch, one of the three branches of State Government, after hearing arguments before our State’s highest court,” Green said.

SEE SEEING BENEFITS PAGE 2D

WALKING DEAD Locks of Love TENNIS GROWS New season premiere leaves Player donates hair at game in fans baffled | 4D memory of Rachael White | 7D

Coach John Seal helps to start plans for new courts | 8D

NEWS

◗ Page 2D

Giving the gift of life

SECTION D

BOOSTER REDUX

Friday, October 25, 2013

Treating those who hardly eat

StuGo hosts annual blood drive

Students and teachers organize a food collection drive

BY MORGAN PLANK The Booster Redux

BY KYLYNN COLLINS

A

patient is lying in a hospital bed in need of one thing to save their life: blood.

According to www.redcross.org, every two seconds someone in the U.S. is in need of blood.

Every day the American Red Cross takes part in up to 17 blood drives across the country.

This year the high school held its 8th annual blood drive, with the help of the American Red Cross, on Oct. 16. It took place in the Megan Mallatt Activity Center between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

During those hours students, staff and community were invited to come and donate to the American Red Cross blood bank.

There are three requirements for donating blood; being in good health, being at least 16 years old and weighing at least 110 pounds.

However, those who are 16 must have parental consent in order to be able to donate. In addition, the donator must answer a set of questions, each of which impact their eligibility to give.

Over 25 students, faculty and community members came and took part in the blood drive.

The Booster Redux

Staring at the ceiling to distract himself, junior Jacob Hall donates blood. On Oct. 16th Red Cross visited the high school to give students the opportunity to donate. “I thought I was going to pass out,” Hall said. “But then I got mad because I couldn’t donate my blood.” PHOTO

BY MEGAN SMITH

“The blood drive did not have as many people come out as in the past, but every pint of blood counts and really helps someone out,” StuGo President Reece Burns said. “We are happy with what we can get.”

For every one person that donates blood, three people’s lives could be saved.

Blood is divided into three different components: plasma, platelets, and red cells. Each have

their own important uses. Plasma can be used to treat massive trauma victims, platelets can be given to cancer patients to use as a clotting agent, and red cells help those who are anemic.

“I like how we are able to save lives by donating blood,” senior Deli Hernandez said.

Hernandez says she enjoys giving blood and will continue to do so in the future.

After blood is taken, it is then sent through four additional steps: processing, testing, storage, and distribution. Each pint of blood undergoes 12 tests to ensure the safety of the blood for the future patient.

The need for blood is always in great demand, as blood only has a shelf life of 42 days before it can no longer be used. Blood is one thing that cannot be manufactured.

Asher moved by students’ performance of 13 Reasons Why New York Times best selling author attends the second production of his novel

BY REECE BURNS The Booster Redux

As senior Bailey Bennett prepares for her final performance as Hannah Baker, she adds the final piece of her apparel. Even though no one will see it while she’s on stage, Bennett’s role in the production 13 Reasons Why took a turn when Jay Asher arrived to give Bennett an unique necklace. Asher’s gift has the word ‘Hope’ on it to resemble the prominence of the aspiration in his book.

“I feel if there is one thing that Hannah loses from the beginning to the end of the book is hope,” Asher said. “For anybody, that is one of the most important things to have.”

The necklace came from a jewelry shop close to where Asher resides. Bennett made a last-minute decision to wear it for all of her performances.

“Receiving something like this is such a personal gift and only three people have received,” Bennett said. “Without it, personally, I feel like it has saved me in the show, at least six times. It’s a little hope reminder.”

Bennett is one of three girls to have received this necklace from Asher. The first was given to the lead of the first production of 13 Reasons Why in the U.S. The second was given to actor Selena Gomez, who will be portraying Hannah in the

future 13 Reasons Why film.

“It’s such a privilege knowing that only two other people have received this gift,” Bennett said.

Asher was beyond excited, as well as nervous, to see his production come to life once again as the Theatre Department is only the second group to take on the novel as a play.

“It seems like the director, or whoever organizes it, gets creative with the stage and just talking to him [Director Greg Shaw] all the characters have red, except Hannah and Clay, and they had a swing on their stage which the other play didn’t,” Asher said. “To me, that’s really fun to see how everyone makes it unique and it lets them be very creative.”

The red on the supporting casts’ clothing represents the character’s hand in Baker’s demise. Asher is taken back nearly six years ago when he finished writing the book as he sees it come to life in play adaptations.

“It’s fun because there’s these characters I created years ago,” Asher said. “To see them as a person acting as them is just the coolest thing to see.”

Asher has had more requests from schools to perform his novel since it’s been available as a play. Typically an author charges a fee to use their play but Asher has no interest in charging

A king amongst commoners: Commons receives crown

Showing off his scepter, senior Bryce Commons beams a smile to the crowd as he celebrates his victory as 2013 fall homecoming king. Commons was voted king by the student body. “If any one deserves king it’s Bryce. He wanted it more than any candidate. It really shows how accepting our school is,” senior escort Emily Baden said. PHOTO BY ABBY HARRIS

schools to bring his book to life.

“It’s the hugest honor to see that something you wrote, thinking it was just going to be a book, and having people take it and do something else with it,” Asher said. “I don’t charge anything for it because to me it’s just a huge honor that they want to do it. I know what people get out of the book so students can take it as their own to share.”

The students are helping Asher in his effort to push the message of his book and have an impact on their school as well as their community.

“The main thing I was trying to say in the book is that you don’t know what anybody else is going through at any given time,” Asher said. “So the way we treat people, it does impact them for good and bad. But it’s the recognizing that you don’t know what’s going on in someone’s life.”

After viewing the show Asher was so moved by the interpretation of the show that he told the cast he would be taking film of their show to Hollywood.

“I’m going to take a video to show Selena Gomez this is how it should be,” Asher said. “I wrote the book, it’s been a huge part of my life for 10 years and seeing your interpretation of it allowed me to let go of my view and be like a normal member of the audience. I never cry, but at the end, I had tears in my eyes.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1D dance, raise it up high, raise it up with the sign and yell for noise,” Bryce said. “I love it.”

Dressing up as the mascot for Friday night football games is just another part of Bryce’s typical weekly routine, except for the night of Oct. 11. On that night he exchanged his head piece for a crown.

“When he was announced king, not only was I bawling but I noticed there was another king candidate that was jumping up for joy with his helmet, just ecstatic when Bryce’s name got announced,” Mandy said. “Then, I heard the student section yelling so loud that you would’ve thought the team scored a touchdown. The whole student section was so excited, so it just proves it wasn’t a joke, that everybody truly loves [Bryce.]”

Junior candidate Quincy Muathe received First Lord, which is the runner up to the king. When Bryce won, Muathe was more than thrilled with the outcome.

“I figured if you can make a person happy for a lifetime or give them a great memory why not help them achieve that goal,” Muathe said. “Bryce really wanted to become the king, if you already couldn’t tell by the expression on his face after he won. I knew it meant a lot to his mother. I walked up to her and talked to her before he was crowned and told her that I voted for her son and the look on her face was beyond happy.”

Bryce winning homecoming king set the bar for the school, the district, for other schools; for everybody.

“It sets the example for other schools to show equality of all students,” said junior Katy Short, homecoming queen. “I am really glad that my school got to set this example. I’m really honored to be Bryce’s queen.”

So why such a fuss that Bryce won homecoming king? Isn’t homecoming royalty reserved for the popular? Not at this school. Bryce is a special education student with autism.

“Bryce will not be going to college, have a girlfriend, get married, or have kids,” Mandy said. “To a parent, that is heartbreaking. But I will find him a job and he will continue to be the happy-go-lucky Bryce everyone knows and loves.”

Students will be conducting a canned food drive on Oct. 29 and will be placing papers on front doors all over town to let them know about trick or treat so kids can eat. Local residents that would like to help would just leave a bag or a box of nonperishable on their front porch with the flyer that they had placed on the front door. In the past, they have collected four to five thousand pounds of food that have been sent to the local food banks.

“It is a national philanthropy, drama club organizes it, all kinds of thespian drama clubs across the country are involved,” drama director, Greg Shaw said.

For the past seven years the organization has been growing more and more. Julie Laflen and Greg Shaw are the only teachers that are involved with this organization.

Last year they have made it to 1,500 homes altogether.

“Mr. Shaw and I work closely together considering we share a lot of the same students between drama club and debate,” Laflen said.

The students dress up in costumes to help with the Halloween theme and go pick up the canned food.

Jason McDonald who is apart of debate and drama club will be dressing up for this organization.

“I will be going as Robin Hood.

Robin Hood takes things from the rich and gives to the poor. That is the same ideology behind trick or treat so kids can eat. We get help from those who are fortunate to help the least fortunate,” junior Jason McDonald said.

In this situation it would be a give and not take. The students in drama club that are participating are getting a chance to help the community and is teaching the students ownership.

It also gives the students an opportunity to bond and to work as a group together other than work on theatre rehearsals. Former president of drama club and senior Erin Simons will be involved with this organization, Simons will be dressing up as a gypsy for her costume.

“I feel great! It always amazes me to see how much we bring back. It really makes me feel like I’m helping people out and I think everyone who helps collect the food and donates food should be proud of what we are doing,” Simons said.

Seeing the benefits everyday: Key Club beautifies courtyard CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1D

After meeting with a landscaper to pick the right plants, Schultze and the Key Club members were ready to take on the challenge. Freshman Karen Campbell was one of those members who was ready to tackle the project.

“It is a great opportunity for people to get involved in school stuff in a fun and creative way.” Campbell said.

But along with planting the trees, the first year will require some maintenance on the Key Club members’ part.

“Once we get it planted, we really soak and water it,” Schultze said. “It does need to be continuously watered its first year. I will take care of it the first year and after that, the grounds keepers will take care of it.”

Schultze hopes to repeat this project in the years to come because of such positive feedback from members. “[The members] were pretty excited about it,” Schultze said. “Most of what we do is usually out in the community. This is something we will get to see the benefits of everyday.”

After a morning of planting, Key Club president and senior Ashley Hall was proud of all the hard work members put into this project.

“It’s good to see students doing hard work outside of school,” Hall said. “And doing it for the school and the community is great.”

OPINION

■ Page 3D

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 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.

SECTION D

BOOSTER REDUX Friday, October 25, 2013

Schooling yourself on the ABC’s of the ACT Breaking down how to do your best on the big test

BY REECE BURNS The Booster Redux

With the end of October fast approaching, seniors are in a mad dash to finish their college applications before that pesky Nov. 1 deadline in order to qualify for early scholarships.

Now there are a few things an applicant may have to submit along with their actual application. This usually ranges from ACT scores to a full high school transcript, and if you’re like me, then you’re taking the ACT tomorrow expecting to get your scores up to snuff for your prospective school. Talk about tight scheduling.

I took my first ACT in the spring of my junior year.

My biggest regret for that particular test was the fact that the test was my first. I was always advised to take my first ACT during junior year. I followed that advice, I believed having more classes under my belt would leave me with an advantage during the test.

Sadly, there is no material from advanced math, AP calculus, chemistry, physics or even biology on the ACT. Sorry juniors and seniors.

If you have ever opened an ACT prep book then you know that the entire science section of the ACT has basically nothing to do with your knowledge you retained in your science courses but focuses on your reasoning. It could almost be considered an extension of the Reading Comprehension section of the test. Practice, time management, and some more practice will help your science score.

Looking into the math section, you’ll find that most of this section revolves around basic concepts you learned in algebra I, geometry, and slightly touches on algebra II. Those juniors and seniors who took geometry freshman year can be at a disadvantage because they haven’t seen geometry in two or three years. Remember how I said I regret taking my first ACT my junior year? I could have done much better on the math section at the beginning and end of my sophomore year just because I would’ve been fresh off the topics the section covers.

The English and reading sections of the ACT, like every section, can be easily overcome with better time management. Develop a system with a watch that gives you an easy way to keep track of time.

Practice the system at home and on your practice tests.

Start taking the ACT sophomore year. If scores aren’t up to par, you will have an idea of what

areas you need to work on and have up to two years to get them there. Despite what the ‘experts’ say, taking the ACT multiple times will not reflect poorly on a college application. Counselor Burl Powell, who teaches the ACT preparatory class here at PHS, agrees with my view on the exam.

“It’s not too early to take the test when you’re a sophomore,” Powell said. “Brush up on your geometry especially [if older].”

The difference between a 28 and a 30 can be astronomical in terms of scholarship money. I recommend taking the ACT at least

three times. Chad Cargill, now a speaker on ACT success, took the ACT 18 times while he was in high school, raising his score from a 19 to a 32. Due to the rise in his score, Cargill was able to attend Oklahoma State University with plenty of scholarship money.

If you get an early start on the ACT, the mad scramble to get an ACT score that looks good on an application right before scholarship deadlines will not be a problem.

Community service takes rightful place on priority list High school puts in work in order to return favor to populace

BY THE BOOSTER REDUX EDITORIAL STAFF The Booster Redux

As the holiday season approaches, so is the time of year that everyone is searching for the perfect gifts for their families and loved ones.

Though unwrapping material items from pretty boxes is always nice, this time of year is also the perfect season to volunteer and give back to the community.

This year, the administration has made volunteering and community service a priority at the high school.

All seniors are required to have

20 hours of community during the semester they are enrolled in American Government, and several other clubs and sports teams have been stepping up to do their part.

The community has done a lot for our school, especially in the past few years. Contributions from community members have built a new track, new softball field, renovated the auditorium, and given the student publications students the opportunity to travel to the National Scholastic Press Association convention the past

three years.

The success of the programs at the high school would not be possible without the members of the community who have donated their time and money to the students and the organizations that they care so much about. We at the Booster Redux greatly appreciate all that the community has done for us in helping us become the publication we are today. Without their support, we would certainly not have had the opportunities to learn and grow as we have over the past four years.

As a school, we highly rely on the town of Pittsburg and the surrounding area. Community members are the ones who fill up our football stadium on Friday nights and buy the tickets to come watch our theater students perform their shows. Giving back, even if it is only in a small way, is, and should be, a major priority for all of the students at the high school.

The community has allowed us the opportunity to become better, so it is our responsibility as a school to return the favor.

Dressing up to express and covering up to impress Teenage girls can take two approaches when picking costumes

BY MOLLY GRAHAM

The Booster Redux The U.S. Constitution guarantees that freedom of expression is a right that we all are entitled to. So why should women feel like they do not have the freedom to wear what they want, especially on Halloween?

A common type of costume with teenage and young adult females are provocative, “sexy” versions of costumes that many of them wore as little girls.

Sexy Halloween costumes are nothing new to the Halloween scene, and with Halloween coming just around the corner, many girls are looking to purchase and wear a costume that expresses them as a person as well as includes something that they have interest in.

Nothing negative should be said to the women who decide to wear revealing costumes, especially since we have seen these types of costumes for years.

Women should be able to go out on Halloween wearing whatever their heart’s desire without getting bashed on by other women and hit on by sleezy men.

Women should not feel ashamed because of their Halloween costume decisions.

A common negative comment is that the woman wearing the costume has no self-respect, when in reality, self-respect has nothing to do with sex or nudity; selfrespect means that you are making decisions that make you happy. Isn’t wearing a Halloween costume of your choice going to make you happy? Why should someone feel bad about being able to comfortably walk around in a costume that shows off their beautiful body? You should be proud of yourself for having the confidence to do something that most women might not do because of how they feel about their body.

Halloween is one night out of the year when women can wear something that they would otherwise not even dare to. It’s one night out of the year when women can be free to dress in anything they please. Does that do any harm? Women do not dress up in a provocative Halloween costume because they want to look a certain way, but because of the way wearing a sexy costume makes them feel. Why can’t women choose to feel sexy on at least one night of the year? Especially when that night is dedicated to dressing up as someone or something that they, on the 364 other days, may not be?

BY KATIE PHALEN

The Booster Redux

Over the years, Halloween has become an exception to society’s typical code of conduct in that dressing inappropriately has become acceptable, if not encouraged. Though I have never participated in this trend, I have several friends who have in the past, and are planning on it this year. I know that most of these girls are not dressing up to get attention from boys, or to cause a big controversy; they’re just doing it because dressing up is fun.

However, I don’t think any girl should feel that it is expected of them to dress up, and they should not feel pressured to put themselves out there like that.

Just because all your friends choose to spend their Halloweens like that does not mean that you have to. There are a lot of fun ways to enjoy the night without dressing up in revealing outfits or going to parties. With that being said, there are also ways to dress up in a classy way, while still having fun.

Halloween is the one night of the year that you get to pretend to be someone you are not, but that does not mean you should throw away your morals and values along with your identity. If you are not comfortable wearing the short skirt and crop top that your friend insists would look really cute on you, don’t wear it. It is not right that high school girls are expected to dress sexy just because it is a certain night of the year, and the pressure that is put on some of us is unfair.

It also isn’t right that the perception of what is sexy is becoming so askewed. Instead of wearing low cut tops and spandex shorts, why not leave a little bit to the imagination? In my opinion, dressing classy, sophisticated and mature is far more sexy than wearing a crop top that you have to keep readjusting so you don’t expose yourself to everyone. I encourage girls this year to take a different route when choosing your costumes. Pick something that makes you feel confident and beautiful, not something that will get the most attention from the guys at the costume party you are going to.

ENTERTAINMENT

■ Page 4D

SECTION D

BOOSTER

Friday, October 25, 2013

How to do Halloween right with literature New horror books available

BY ERICA SEAL

The Booster Redux

T

o set the mood of October, the school library has received new horror books that are available to students.

“Horror is just very popular right now,” librarian Cheryl Larson said.

The library has ordered all types of horror books, including paranormal romances -- stories about falling in love with vampires, werewolves or any other fictional character. There will also be undead novels featuring zombies as the focal point; frightening futures with an unusual twist to society; psychological horrors that take an abnormal spin on terrifying the reader; and paranormal horrors that focus on the ghost and ghoul side of the fictional world.

“I like horror books because of the adrenaline,” freshmen Karis Mengarelli said. “Like why people ride roller coasters, it’s that type of thing.”

The library has a majority of the new horror books now and should receive the remaining books by the end of October.

For those students looking for something not-too-scary but are interested in reading one of these books Larson recommends the Dead series by Marlene Perez; the series begins with “The New Black.”

Another recommended book is I

hunt killers by Barry Lyga.

“There’s something for everybody in the new horror,” Larson said.

The library staff have entered all of the new books into the library’s database to make the books easier to find.

Romance stories are read more often by girls than guys, but that does not mean it is the only genre for girls. Sophomore Lexi Heckert prefers horror stories.

“People like suspense, people like the unknown,” Heckert said.

Heckert is reading the series Warriors, which she describes as being “very suspenseful” and follows along the lines of horror.

Some of the novels have movies based on these books that are planned to release in the next couple years, such as “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.” Students and teachers enjoy and are looking forward to comparing these horror books to their movies.

Larson hopes for students to suggest books.

“Anytime you have stuff that students want to read that’s good for the library,” Larson said.

The library hopes getting these new books will improve the students reading interest, reaching their Accelerated Reader goals and provide a new genre to students.

GRAPHIC BY REAGAN RINK

The undead stumble on to TV Third season of The Walking Dead premieres

BY CADEN YANTIS The Booster Redux

The long awaited return of The Walking Dead (TWD) with its fourth season finally arrived on Oct. 13th. Season three ended in late March which has left fans of the show waiting for seven months just to see what would happen to Rick and the group. The viewer rating for the premiere turned out to be a shocking 16 million viewers which makes the season four premiere of TWD to be the most-watched drama series telecast in basic cable history. This season has been highly anticipated for quite sometime by many, and judging how the show progresses, the viewer ratings could increase or decrease. TWD for this season, is going to have 16 episodes as did its previous season. Many fans were left baffled at the season three finale and were left with many questions unanswered.

According to Talking Dead, (a talk show about TWD) this 4th installment is going to take the series in a darker direction than ever before.

(Spoiler alert) Nearly six to seven months have passed since the events of the third season had occurred where the Woodsbury group came to join Rick’s group at the prison. The prison group

has grown substantially, with the addition of the Woodsbury group and numerous others that have joined over the six month time period. The survivors have come to accept the prison as their home and have structured the prison to meet their needs. Over the

time span from the third season to the fourth, the survivors have created a council to overlook all the decisions that are decided, made a small farm, organized runs to gather supplies/food and even have a small school for the kids. It becomes clear

that the survivors have accepted the fact that the world they live in will never be normal again.

Notably, it was found to be quite impressive how the group has adapted to this apocalyptic world and have adjusted to this new way of life.

As for the characters the fans have grown to love, they have evolved in some way, shape, or form. Just as life appears to be better than ever for the group, certain events unfold quickly and the group is thrown back into the chaos (which comes as no surprise.) TWD does not take it easy on the shows characters and the weight of the apocalypse is seemingly always taking its toll.

As the first episode comes to an end after the shocking events that were witnessed, it becomes clear that the horror is far from over. Due to many complaints about TWD’s increasingly excessive gore and content, the series is now listed as Mature Adult. However, this certainly won’t stop the TWD from delivering another great season as its predecessors. TWD is bigger than ever and is far from being over.

Number one in our hearts and number one on the charts Luke Bryan releases new album

BY KYLYNN COLLINS The Booster Redux

Luke Bryan’s new album, “Crash My Party”, has made its way to number one on Billboards airplay chart. It hit stores August 21, 2013.

Selling 527,783 units has made this album the biggest debut for a country male artist since 2004. Bryan has appeared on many national talk shows such as NBC’S Today Show Summer Concert Series, ABC’s Jimmey Kimmel Live!, and E!’s Chelsea Lately to talk about his new album. This album has had 45.5 million listeners and sold 2.1 million downloads according to Luke Bryan News.

“I’ve never been this excited about an album that I have put out, and the response I have gotten is really humbling and mindblowing to me,” Bryan said.

I am a big fan of Luke Bryan and I think that he has really stepped it up, especially compared to albums that he has sold in the past. His latest hit single “That’s My Kind of Night,” really showed that he is more into writing fast

country songs instead of sad, slow songs. Also, this song is positive and is about having fun. When I listen to the song, it makes me think of a song that you would sing around a campfire and dance on the back of a truck.

“Out like that,” is another example of a good song that is not sad and is fast paced.

“I am lucky to have some of the best fans in the world, and I am happy to see them enjoying this album as much as I do. I’m just so thankful for my fans and for the country radio for the amazing support,” Bryan said.

If there were ever a time that I would recommend listening to new music, Bryan’s new album would definitely be on my recommend list. Before listening to his new album, I would recommend listening to his old albums first. I think that his old albums are good because he wrote meaningful songs, which would be a good introduction for new listeners. His new album has improved by the way his music is written.

Bennett prepares for her first lead role with zeal Lead roles are more than an abundance of lines and stage directions

BY PARKER MATTHEWS The Booster Redux

After a series of minianxiety attacks, senior Bailey Bennett takes a few deep breaths to regain her composure. It is the opening night of 13 Reasons Why. It is the first time Bennett has been the lead of a production. It is the second time the play has been performed in the nation.

Although Bennett has practiced every second of this play over and over again, it is still nerve-racking to think of performing it in front of an audience.

Remembering 50 pages of lines, always keeping in mind her blocking -- stage directions. There is no room for error. She is Hannah Baker, the lead role in 13 Reasons Why. Not only does the play revolve around her character, but all of the other actors rely on her memory; on her punctuality; on her nerves.

“The pressure is so immense, and I usually don’t cope well with pressure.

I’ve already had anxiety attacks and we’re only two performances through,” Bennett said. “If I mess up, it could throw off the rest of the cast. The entire cast relies on [me].”

Roles consume actor’s daily lifestyles, even at the high school level. While play practice begins right after school, Bennett’s practice started the moment she woke up.

“A little breakfast and a little line rehearsal is how I start my day off,” Bennett said.

Play practice is like practice with any other activity. Just as football players rehearse specific plays, actors rehearse the lines and blocking of specific scenes. Albeit, 50 pages is a lot to remember, blocking is a key part in depicting the true intentions of a script.

The little things, often unnoticed by the audience, are crucial through the eyes of a performer.

“I am really bad with hand motions, so I’ve worked a lot with my hands to build on it,” Bennett said. “[We] work on the little things because they convey the real emotion.”

Although there is a lot of work involved with a lead role, the self-gratification is instantaneous.

“As I was walking up to check the cast list, Ashley Hall ran up to me crying and hugged me and told me I got the [lead] part,” Bennett said.

“Once I saw it for myself, I just sat down in the corner and cried. I was happy when I heard I got a call-back.

When I learned I was the lead, I was - it was the most amazing thing ever.”

Her freshman year, Bennett earned a role as an extra on All Shook Up. Sophomore year, she was

able to work her way up to a speaking part. Bennett did not audition for Sweeney Todd her junior year, because she was determined to keep her job at Subway.

In retrospect, Bennett would not have been inspired to audition for 13 Reasons Why had a particular event not occurred.

“I wasn’t planning to audition, but then I heard the author was coming,” Bennett said. “I quit my job the next day.”

Lead roles consist of more lines and more blocking than any other role in a play.

While the time put into these extensive roles replace any time for leisure activities, the overall positive return can outweigh the negatives.

“It’s amazing to tell a super complex story to an audience of all ages,” Bennett said. “There is nothing equal to being a lead Senior Bailey Bennett, starring as Hannah Baker, practices her lines role, it just gives and gives in front of a selected audience during Media Night. . PHOTO BY and gives.”

MIRANDA MOORE

ACTIVITIES

■ Page 5D

SECTION D

BOOSTER REDUX

Friday, October 25th, 2013

Active club hosts multiple events year-round

DECA sponsors fashion show, sells pizza in midst of state events

BY SHELBY BICKNELL The Booster Redux

F

rom pizza and school memorabilia sales, to Royals games and camping trips, DECA proves to be one of the most active clubs at PHS. DECA is a business group that stands for “An Association of Marketing Students” and is sponsored by Linda Turner. Turner has been the advisor for 19 years.

In order to be eligible as a club member, it is required that you are enrolled in one of Turner’s classes.

Her classes include business essentials, entrepreneurship, marketing, and marketing management.

“I’m most passionate about the community service DECA does and the friends I make from other schools at competitions and conferences,” DECA President Josh Allmon said.

The other club officers include Loren Kutz as Vice President, Lauren Angermayer as Secretary, Stephanie McCabe as Treasurer, Christian Reece as Reporter, Levi Kester as Historian, and Nicole Broyles as the Parliamentarian.

DECA participates in activities throughout the school year. Their most recent event was their annual fashion show, organized by senior Johana Hernandez.

“I had to plan it all and talk to a lot of people in order to make it happen,” Hernandez said.

In order to qualify to be a model, students must be

Boston:

enrolled in one of Turner’s classes. The dresses and tux are from Sara Loree’s and Fort Scott Cosmetology school provided assistance with hair and make up. All money raised went to St. Jude’s foundation.

DECA tries to meet every third Friday of the month. During meetings, the group discusses upcoming events and talks about each student’s state project, which can range from a 5K to a pancake feed.

“My state event is the Everybody Plays Powder 5K and Kids Dash, it goes into the Public Relation Category,” senior Stephanie McCabe said. “We have to write a 30-page paper over how we completed our project and what we learned from doing this.”

The 5K was located at Wilderness Park.

The money went to the Everybody Plays foundation. Everybody Plays is a organization that puts handicap-accessible playground equipment in Schlanger Park.

While DECA participates in community service projects and prepares for state events, it also is meant to teach the students leadership skills.

“In Mrs.Turner’s class, you have to be open to getting out of your comfort zone because we do a lot of leadership activities,” Allmon said. “You have to be friendly because we do a lot of projects that involve the community and you have to be ready to be a leader at any moment.”

The one who organized it all, senior Johana Hernandez, gets fashioned up to raise money for St. Judes with some help down the stairs by junior Logan Chapman. PHOTO BY MACY FRASCO

Student Publications host fundraiser that earns $2,500 for national journalism convention

Health science students take field trip to learn about history of medicine

BY ABI FELTER

The Booster Redux

In recent years the Student Publications staff has gone to some of the largest conferences in the U.S. The locations of these conferences range from Houston, Texas, Kansas Citty, MO, and San Antonio, Texas and this year some students from the Student Publications program will be attending the National wil Journalism Conference in Boston, Mass. Freshman Noah Vaughn is looking forward to attending the trip.

“I have never gone to a Student Publications [conference] before, but I’m really excited for the trip.

I anticipate to learn more about writin ing.” Vaughn said.

The conference plans to prepare nearly 400 practical and professional learning sessions, from high-profile keynote speakers to specific, efficient tips for problem solving, hands-on workshops and discussion groups.

The conference will differ from the others because the transportation will be by flight. This will the first time Student Publications has flown to a conference.

“I’m really excited for the trip because it will be my first time on an airplane,” freshman Aspin Durbin air saaid. “I have heard so many good th hings about flying. The only things I’m m nervous about is taking off and landing.”

Of course, the conference and the plane tickets aren’t free, so the Student Publications staff held a chili feed on Oct. 21. The purpose of the chili feed was to fundraise for the Boston trip, and it was a success. Cinnamon rolls and chili was served, and a lot of it; nearly 380 pounds of hamburger and 1400 cinnamon rolls were made. The chili

NHS

BY RACHYL RUSSIAN The Booster Redux

Dishing up a pint of chili for a to-go order, junior Miranda Moore coordinated all of the deliveries students sold to local businesses. Parents and students involved in the student publications program prepared 380 pounds of hamburger and sold out. The proceeds benefited students attending the national journalism convention in Boston. PHOTO BY CALVIN THYER

sold out and the grand total of profits was around 2,500 dollars. The chili feed will make the payments a little easier on those who are attending.

The conference will be held on November 13-17. More students are expected to attend because of the convenient date. The event falls on

‘dead week’ (the transition from fall to spring sports which athletes have a week to rest). Also, because of the weekend and a in-service day, students going to Boston will only miss two days of school. The Boston Conference will be an educational, and a learning experience for all students attending.

2013 Inductees

Seniors: Joban Mendpara Caden Yantis

A blast from the past

Juniors:

Reagan Rink Patrick Biggs Priscila Ruiz James Clark Haley Uttley Ethan Hawn Cooper Wade Joseph Mathew Mark Weaver Miranda Moore Emily Wood

Banquet will be held on Nov. 4 at the Presbyterian Church on 6th and Pine Street. It will begin at 6:30 p.m., and tickets can be purchased beforehand or at the door.

When science teacher Jim Foresman started teaching 28 years ago, he would take his anatomy and physiology classes on a field trip to Kansas University’s medical center. Foresman now teaches health sciences, biology and molecular genetics. He has taken to traveling with his health science students on trips with the club he sponsors, Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA).

The students visited the medical center on the KU campus on Oct. 10. Before leaving Lawrence, the health science classes went to the KU medical center library, where they were able to look at the extensive book collection pertaining to the history of medicine.

“It was really unique because some of the things you did back then are completely different from now because of less technology,” sophomore Suhani Mendpara said.

“But it was still accurate from what we do today.”

The students were the most excited about getting to experience the educational side offered by the library. Not only were they interested about getting to see how much medicine has changed, but they also realized how similar the past practices are similar to the practices of today.

“The books were really interesting. They actually had hand drawn artwork on them. It’s really interactive,” junior Zach Lyons said. “[The history of medicine is]

actually pretty similar to how we do everything now, the procedures, the stitches and the sewing.”

Foresman looks at the document collection from a historical standpoint.

“It’s the originals, so it’s a chance to go back in time and see books that have influenced medical history,” Foresman said.

HOSA State fall conference is held in Wichita every year.

Any person in HOSA is invited to come if he or she pays a small fee. This conference is a school-day-long event and is a good way for the students to get information surrounding any medical profession.

Foresman has taken HOSA to this conference for four years.

The conference in Wichita took place on Oct. 2.

Freshmen Kelsey Fuchs was the first person to run for state officer from Pittsburg High school since Foresman has been the sponsor. Meeting the requirements to become an officer depend on what kind of grade point average you have, and being able to pass a knowledge test about HOSA with an 90 percent or higher.

“The Wichita fall conference was really interesting. I want to run for office next year, [since I didn’t get the papers in on time this year],” Fuchs said. “I had learned different leadership skills, different professions and how to accomplish stuff.

I wanted to see what it was all about before I did anything.”

FEATURE

■ Page 6D

SECTION D

BOOSTER REDUX

Friday, October 25, 2013

School resource officer offers his resources

Petrey donates time to tutor students after school

BY JOBAN MENDPARA The Booster Redux

I

f he is not directing traffic, or solving conflict between students, School Resource Officer Dave Petrey can often be found tutoring students after school in Dragon Den. After retiring in January from his previous job of being a state trooper, Petrey found a new job at our high school as the school resource officer.

“When I was a state trooper, the culture was completely different than the culture at the school,” said Petrey.

Although, his job description and work history states nothing about tutoring, Petrey offers his knowledge to students who need it the most.

“I just see if there are any kids that would like my help,” Petrey said.

“Specifically I am probably better in geography and history.”

Petrey decided to help tutor in Dragon Den because he wanted to help the students in any way he could even though he has had no formal training.

“You can have a mentor,” Jon Bishop said “they may not have formal training as a teacher, but if they understand something they can help direct you and help some of those kids with their guidance.”

Despite not having any formal training in education, Petrey volunteers for altruistic purposes rather than practical purposes.

“I like doing the tutoring because then I get to meet the students one on one,” Petrey said.

After Petrey is done directing traffic, Petrey devotes much of his time to tutoring students. He says he usually stays and helps the students until they all leave.

“I think it’s important that people know that not only is he here to help

protect the campus and doing the morning duty, but he’s here for the kids, helping them academically too,” Bishop said.

Petrey’s dedication is appreciated by the high school’s teachers as well as the students.

“He explains the stuff I don’t get in class. He explains it better to me and works me to get it done,” junior Wilson Ramirez said “He is really patient.”

Students who receive one on one help are able to perform much better at that particular subject. Tutoring works because the tutor provides timely, relevant and clearly explained help that is targeted to the student’s specific needs.

Free from interruptions, peer pressure and fear of failure, tutoring creates an environment completely conducive to learning.

“I had some help in math from teachers after school in high school,” Petrey said. “I liked it because I had more time with the teachers to understand what they were teaching.”

Petrey not only sacrifices his time after school, but also before school. Many times after the morning drop offs, Petrey drives to other elementary schools to help them with directing traffic as well as early drop offs. When his duties are finished there, Petrey comes back to the high school and helps the students.

“He is not only helping Pittsburg High School,” Jon Bishop said, “he also helps in elementary schools like Meadowlark or George Nettles, and that has helped things tremendously.”

Even though Officer Petrey has had no formal training in educating students, he can still be found around the school, as well as the district, supporting the Skimming the textbook, Resource Officer Dave Petrey aides a student with her homework after students in their everyday school work. school. Petrey has been donating his time after he finishes directing traffic each day to help “He is rarely found in his office,” students raise their grades. PHOTO BY KATY BROWN Bishop said.

Reaching new heights: debate program continues competitive streak Squad ranked nationally in top five percent, sights set on national tournament

BY ALLI BADEN

The Booster Redux

It is a quarter until nine on a Wednesday night. The hallways are peaceful and silent. Only the light shining through room 303 interrupts the otherwise completely dark school. It’s debate work night and 25 debate team members are inside gathering evidence, executing practice rounds, and preparing arguments for specific cases found in the SEK. Unknown to the majority of the student body is the diligence and success of the debate students in this room.

The 2013 season has brought many achievements to the debaters including three sweepstakes trophies, all of which were third place or higher. They have also had many individual teams place as well. This has had a large impact on the program. A couple days ago, Laflen received a letter from the National Forensics League telling her that the team was accepted into the 200 Club putting them in the top five percent of all debate teams in the nation. To get accepted into the 200 Club, the team must have experienced a 200 degree change. They receive degree changes by placing well in tournaments.

This success, in the opinion of junior debater, Miranda Moore, can be attributed to the influential leadership the current students have had in the past two years.

“I think that the success we have been experiencing this

year is a result of our past debaters setting it up,” Moore said.

Moore and her debate partner junior Haley Uttley have placed first in all three of the tournaments they attended.

In fact, last weekend at the Ft. Scott tournament there was an open team in every quarterfinals round, two of which

“The letter said that we were in the 200 Club and I’m familiar with this, but not really because we have never been in it before. We have had 200 degree changes in one year which puts us in the top five percent of the nation.”

-Julie Laflen advanced to semifinals. These two teams won and ended up closing out finals with Ethan Hawn and Joseph Mathew placing second and Moore and Uttley placing first. Along with this they also earned a first place sweepstakes trophy.

“The seniors that graduated last year were able to advance themselves to a very successful point and in turn they helped my class learn faster, allowing us to advance

Dunekack recongized for STEM program Technology department presented School of Excellence award

BY MEGAN MUNGER The Booster Redux

The International Education Association (ISEA) is an organization that serves as a bridge between all areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and helps to make classrooms full of fun, engaging real-world activities. Annually, ISEA holds a conference in Branson, Mo. where they award excellence in STEM Programs and STEM teachers alike. This year, the technology department was awarded the STEM School of Excellence award. Larry Dunekack, the developer and teacher in the Center of Applied Learning, was awarded with the STEM Education Champion award.

It all started last spring, around April, when the STEM teachers (Larry Dunekack, Stuart Perez, Kris Mengarelli) collaborated with the PSU Technology Center and created a STEM-based project for the students.

“We built a car and then it launched off of a ramp to see

which student’s car could go the fastest, stay the straightest,” math teacher Kris Mengarelli said. “We ran different tests similar to that and the winners of the different tests got different little awards and gifts.”

The STEM-based project was a success and the STEM teachers are hoping for there to be more projects like that one.

“We [Dunekack and I] would like to put together a STEMbased project each semester,” Mengarelli said. “We are going to start meeting about that and planning it all out here soon.”

Now with the STEM Program in place at PHS, Dunekack attended this year’s conference on Oct. 6-8. He was the only STEM teacher who was able to attend. While he was at the conference, he gave six presentations.

“When I received the award, I was very surprised, first of all,” Dunekack said. “It was part of a really nice ceremony that took place on Sunday, the eighth.”

Like any other award, there is a nomination process.

Principal Jon Bishop played a major role with this.

“There was a nomination form for the award and I felt like he was definitely deserving of it considering it was his baby to get started here at PHS,” Bishop said. “So, I filled out the nomination form, Mr. Mengarelli and Mrs. White filled out letters of support, and we sent a lot of the things that he does in his classes to the national committee.”

During the same ceremony, on Oct. 8, is when our school received the excellence award regarding our STEM Program.

With our STEM Program growing and an annual ISEA conference already in place for next year, the future of STEM can only get better.

“I have devoted a lot of time and effort to share my teaching and the things that I believe about STEM with other teachers,” Dunekack said.

“I have promoted the STEM Program here at PHS and I will continue to do so.”

to nearly their level in half the time,” Moore said. “The learning curve being cut down was vital to the success we have been experiencing this year.”

In fact, last year’s debaters still have an impact on the program according to Uttley.

“The past debaters still keep in touch with us and e-mail us evidence all the time,” Uttley said.

Every year, Laflen has had an abundance of seniors leading the team and helping out new debaters. Currently, there are no seniors involved in debate. Because of this, leadership has been a delegated responsibility to the juniors on the team.

“I’m really proud of [the juniors] for stepping up basically a year before they were needed to,” Laflen said.

Laflen agrees with the past debaters leadership helping with the success of this year, but she also believes it is everyone’s hard work put into it as well.

“In debate you get as much out of it as you put into it,” Laflen said. “The ones who are really competitive put in five to ten hours a week.”

Second-year debater sophomore Josh Lee has really enjoyed how quickly the junior class took charge of the squad.

“They have always been this beacon to show us where to head,” Lee said. “Even at tournaments, it is just the fact that they are there that encourages you.”

Rules of the Road How many car and deer collisions happen a year?

According to insurancejournal.com car and deer collisions cause 200 deaths and cost $4 billion a year. An estimated 1.23 million car-deer collisions occurred in the US between 2011 and 2012

Always wear your seatbelt.

Statistics show that most people injured or killed in deer-related collisions were not wearing seat belts.

Most serious crashes occur when drivers lose control when trying to avoid animals.

Did you know?

Generally, Kansas mating season for deer (called the rut) usually runs October through December. *Info compiled by Kansas Highway Patrol

FEATURE

◗ Page 7D

SECTION D

BOOSTER REDUX Friday, October 25, 2013

tweeting back:

@mercedes_vogel

(ABOVE) Supporting their teammates, freshman Taylor Muff, sophomores Savannah Edwards, Rachel Folk, and Sam Bollinger, junior Sierra Loveland, and assistant coach Bridgett Lancaster watch as their teammate Mercedes Vogel donates her hair to Locks of Love. PHOTO BY ASHLEE BEITZINGER (ABOVE LEFT) Reaching to set the ball from a pass, senior Mercedes Vogel attempts to set up her hitters during the annual pink-out game. PHOTO BY MIRANDA MOORE. (ABOVE RIGHT) Greeting Vogel with a supportive hug, senior Mattson Steele praises her friend and teammate after Vogel donated her hair to Locks of Love in honor of a close friend who died of neuroblastoma. PHOTO BY CALVIN THYER

10 inches closer to heaven Vogel donates hair in memory of close friend

BY KATIE PHALEN

I

The Booster Redux

t was silent. The gym was packed with fans from two rival schools, but no one made a sound. Besides the occasional echo of a sniffle, no one made a noise.

The crowd had just witnessed 10 inches of senior Mercedes Vogel’s distinctive red hair fall into her lap.

It was senior night for the volleyball team, as well as their annual breast cancer awareness fund raiser. All eyes were fixed on the smiling girl sitting at center court. She had just cut off nearly a foot of her hair in honor of her late friend, Rachael White.

“Rachael and I were very close, we spent a lot of time together and her loss was very difficult for all of us,” Vogel said. “She’s remained in my heart over the years without her here, and I always felt like I didn’t do enough to help when she was here, so in eighth grade, I decided to grow my hair out to donate in her memory.”

Vogel planned to donate hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to children experiencing longterm medical hair loss. She decided the pinkout game would be a perfect opportunity to share the act of donating her hair with her teammates and community.

When Vogel approached Coach Mary Packard, she agreed that it was a great idea.

From that point on, only Vogel, her immediate family and Packard knew about Vogel’s plans.

White was 10 years old when she died of neuroblastoma, the most common extracranial solid cancer in childhood and the most common cancer in infancy. She was diagnosed on May 23, 2000 at 4 years old, and after undergoing treatments for her illness, lost all of her hair. As children, Vogel and White were best friends and attended George Nettels Elementary together.

After the commencement of senior night, Principal Jon Bishop announced to the crowd what was about to happen. Marta Bolinger, a local hairdresser, walked onto the court with a pair of scissors and sat Vogel down in a chair placed at center court. As Bishop went into a description of what White meant to this year’s graduating class, he could not help but get emotional. Though Vogel said she was nervous at first, as her hair was being cut, she was all smiles.

“As she was prepping my hair to be cut, I was definitely a little anxious, but I said a little prayer and I knew Rachael was right there with me, and that was comforting,” Vogel said.

White attended USD 250 schools from

kindergarten through fourth grade. She was also a member of the Y Academy of Dance, Lucky Riders 4-H Horse Club, Countryside Christian Church, and the National Family Youth Rodeo Association, where she competed in barrel racing. In 2002, she carried the torch for the Pittsburg Relay for Life.

“Seeing Mercedes cut her hair made me remember all of the good things about Racheal and what a special person she was,” said Erin Simons, senior and one of White’s former classmates.

“The fact that she means so much to us eight years later shows how important she is to us and how m u c h of an impact she has had on us.”

After her hair had been cut, Vogel said she could not stop thinking about how a beautiful little girl, just like White, was going to finally have her wish come true when she received her hair. She has never felt better about a decision before.

“Honestly, I’m not sure how to explain how I felt, there just aren’t words to PHOTO ILLUSTRATION explain the joy and

BY REAGAN RINK love I felt that AND CALVIN THYER night,” Vogel said.

SPORTS

■ Page 8D

SPORTS UPDATES FOOTBALL This year our football team is 6-1. On Oct. 11, the Dragons beat Coffeyville, 42-14, making them the SEK champions.

On Oct. 18 they played Blue Valley West and lost 56-35.

Tonight they will be playing Blue Valley Stilwell and next Friday they will be playing Blue Valley Southwest.

VOLLEYBALL On Oct. 24, the volleyball team went to Chatters to bond as a team and get prepared for the game they will be playing this Sat. On Sat. Oct. 26, the Lady Dragons will be traveling to Kansas City Tuner to play for substate.

They will play two games on Sat. If the team wins the first game, they will play in a second. If the Lady Dragons win both games they will be able to play for State.

Tennis courts to be built on campus

BY JOSH JARVIS The Booster Redux

T

he head coach of the tennis program at PHS is John Seal.

Seal has been the head tennis coach at PHS for only a few years now, but the tennis program has really picked up since he became head coach.

“The tennis community is expanding greatly with all the camps we have during the summer,” junior Katy Short said.

“With the number of little kids we had at our camp it looks to me like the future is very bright for Pittsburg tennis.”

“There were maybe 10 girls when I started and probably around 12 guys. Now we’ve got over 60 kids playing so I think it’s grown a lot

since I started [at PHS].

The new facilities that are going to be built will help it grow even more,” Seal said.

The new facilities that Seal mentioned are new courts that are planned to be built at PHS. According to Athletic Director Doug Hitchcock, the new courts are an important new addition to the school.

“We are always wanting to upgrade our facilities and we’ve needed tennis courts for a long time now,” Hitchcock said.

The tennis players currently have to travel to the courts in Lincoln Park or to The Caves -located in Carthage to practice. The demolition of the tennis courts at Pitt State made space for the Center for the Arts, but destroyed space that the tennis players could use.

“We want to have tournaments held [at the new tennis courts] and we want to open them up to the public and the college,” Seal said. “We really want to get the college involved. We lost six courts at the college.”

The location and production date for the tennis courts have yet to be decided, but they could be built very close to the school, possibly west of the bus loop or in front of the school. These courts are in large part a thanks to Seal’s contributions and advances with the tennis program at PHS. However, he doesn’t believe they are done improving.

“Two state qualifiers has never happened with the girls. That’ll provide interest with others and help it grow as well. The JV squad coming up is really good so I think that’ll help it grow even more,” Seal said.

The tennis players also enjoy having Seal as a coach.

“I love having Coach Seal,” Short said. “Coach Seal has made the program better because he goes out of his way to try and make [the player] better.”

PHOTO BY MACY FRASCO

Pink out the night for those who fight Annual Dragons for a Cure event raises $1,800 for Angels Among Us

The soccer team is kicking its way to a great start. As of Sept. 16, the soccer players have an undefeated going into the Coffeyville game last night. At 3-0, the team has defeated Paola, Fort Scott, and College Heights 2-1, 6-0, and 4-1, respectively.

GIRLS GOLF On Oct. 15, the Girls Golf team traveled to Kansas City for regionals.

Freshman Gracie Lopez scored 104 with 10th place and sophomore Violet Biggs scored 110. They both qualified for state and traveled to Wichita’s Tex Console Course for state on Oct. 21.

Lopez shot a 101 and won the award for Best Freshman Player.

GIRLS TENNIS On Sat. Oct. 19, Emily Baden and Laikyn Long traveled to Mill Valley and played a first match against Blue Valley Northwest, losing the first set 5-7 and winning the second set 6-4. They then lost in a tie break 4-9. The girls then went on to win their second match against St. Thomas Aquinas with 9-8 in a tie break.

They lost their last match against Leavenworth 4-9.

The Booster Redux

A

s junior Ryan McNeely blows a kiss to his girlfriend, sophomore Abby Harris, she leaps into the air and hits the volleyball toward the opponent; nobody can get to it in time, the ball reaches the ground and the Dragons score a point.

McNeely was one of dozens of fans in the stands cheering for the Dragons during the Pink-Out tournament. In recent years, the volleyball team has organized one tournament in October to raise money in honor of breast cancer. All proceeds are donated to Angels Among Us, a local organization designed to benefit individuals who have been diagnosed with a form of cancer by providing funds for necessities. To fully expose breast cancer awareness, players, coaches, and fans wore pink clothing and accessories.

Even Fort Scott and Osawatomie (the two away teams present at the tournament) were involved, Fort Scott wore light pink jerseys and Osawatomie accessorized with pink hair bows.

“It’s fun to cheer on my girlfriend and the team. You get to yell with your friends and try to mess up the other team,” McNeely said.

Before the games began, senior Mercedes Vogel -- to the surprise of everyone in attendance -- had her hair stylist cut three locks of her hair off at center court. This act was dedicated to Rachael White, a classmate, and dear friend of Vogel, whom died of cancer in 2005.

“Mercedes and her mom told me how [Rachael] had fought so hard and never complained about the chemo,” said volleyball head coach Mary Packard. “She would have been a member of the girls athletic group that I work with year-round. ... [The ceremony] showed a side of Mercedes that most people don’t realize is there.”

When a fan buys a T-shirt and attends the Pink-Out games, he or she does not only represent a great cause by wearing pink, but supports the Lady Dragons, which can make a huge difference.

“We’ve had a history of good senior groups and excited fans.

It’s just more fun when [the fans]

Ain’t nobody got time for that Students juggle sports, school

BY PARKER MATTHEWS

SOCCER

Friday, October 25, 2013

Home improvement

CROSS COUNTRY Running their way to the awards, the girls and boys Cross Country teams have placed well in their most recent meet. As a team, the girls placed 4th and the boys placed 3rd. On Oct. 24, both teams will be traveling to Bonner Springs for regionals.

SECTION D

BOOSTER REDUX

BY JOSH JARVIS The Booster Redux

S

Decked out in pink, seniors Logan Fields, Garrett Harmon, and Josh Schooley scream encouragements at the varsity volleyball team during the annual Dragons for a Cure pink out event. The lady dragons defeated Osawatomie in their first game, but fell to Fort Scott in their second game.

PHOTO BY CALVIN THYER

stand and cheer. We had some to the Pink-Out tournament, big games where the fans helped the volleyball team -- headed by us get over the edge, like when Packard and her sister, Deanna we played the pink out game for Fields -- ran a stand which sold SEK, it really helped,” Packard treats, clothes, and accessories to further said. “My girls were “We’ve had a history of good rm ao in se ey like ‘ it’s for Angels so much senior groups and excited Among Us. better with fans. It’s just more fun when the [fans] stand and cheer.”

This time fans.’” around, the “[Fans] girls were help us get -Mary Packard able to raise pumped up. It’s really good to see friends over 1800 dollars.

“It’s just a really good cause to and family in the stands cheering us on,” senior Chelsea Baker support,” senior Megan Webb said. “I’m proud to be a part of said.

During the week leading up it.”

ports are an enormous part of American life and athletes are some of the most famous people in America. The Super Bowl has accounted for the top 21 most watched programs in American history. However, do all athletes play sports to be nationally recognized?

Being an athlete isn’t all about the glamour and fame according to some athletes at PHS. “I play sports because they’re fun and they teach you a lot of life lessons. The teamwork is a good experience and it’s good to be active,” said sophomore Will Mengarelli.

Mengarelli plays football and wrestles for PHS. Senior Garrett Harmon runs track and cross country for PHS, but he also runs for his religion.

“I play for the glory of God,” said Harmon.

The time it takes to play sports might be more than some can handle. Juggling practice, film studying, scouting reports, playbooks, schemes and homework on top of all that could be troublesome.

Student athletes might have to stay up until early in the morning to get all of these tasks completed. That doesn’t even include family time or leisure time. On game days, from traveling to warm-ups to the game itself take much of the little time studentathletes have for homework. Volleyball players and wrestlers have tournaments on Saturdays which can vary on time from a few

hours to up to nine hours.

Being overwhelmed can often lead to anxiety so student-athletes have to adjust their schedules with their sports as their first priority.

Even when they aren’t playing these sports student-athletes are lifting and conditioning in the off-season to get better for their upcoming season. Afterschool weights can last until five and practice during the season can last until seven. Studentathletes don’t just spend time after school, but also before school and during the summer as well.

“I probably spend two or three hours every day during summer for football. I’ll also run on my own to keep in shape,” Mengarelli said.

Summer weights for football consists of over 40 scheduled sessions from June through the beginning of school, including various camps, practice and weightlifting sessions.

Some may say all that time and effort isn’t worth it, but Harmon disagrees.

“I can never put in enough effort to achieve my goals. More training equals more results,” said Harmon.

Harmon would like to continue his athletic career after high school.

“I love hurdling and I would like to be able to play at the collegiate level if I can.”

All athletes have their reasons for playing, and often times they don’t do it to be famous. From the love of the game to the love of their God, athletes dedicate much of their days to their sport and play with their greatest effort.