Free Press: Issue 3, Edition 24

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issue 3 April 15, 2021 edition 24

FSJ Staff, Designers Ella Marshall Hannah De Guzman Kaitlyn Fisher Lauren Tao

Photographers Addison Driscoll Emma Hardesty Karmina Douglas

Reporters Jack Bellemere Nathaniel Ankenbauer Nisa Khosh

Illustrator & Cartoonist Gus Cordova

Want more? Visit our website here:

EDITORS

https://www.fsfreepressonline.com

Baya Burgess Photo Editor Mary Kate Shultz Copy Editor Zanna Ingram Copy Editor Ben Shryock Sports Editor Renna Folsom Business/Marketing Editor

Newspaper

Follow our social media: @fsjournalism

Isis Norris Editor in Chief Alexandria Brown Managing Editor Emily Zeller Design Editor

Yearbook

Elana Ho Co-Editor in Chief Emma Holsclaw Co-Editor in Chief Emma Nelson Design Editor

@fsjournalism @FSJPreps

Online

Alexandra Decker Co-Editor in Chief Maya Pavlyak Co-Editor in Chief Angel Singhal Design Editor Brooke Burgess Social Media Editor

@FS Journalism

@fsj_snaps

Cover In this issue...

top: junior Mady Gray center: Max Bates bottom: Rebecca Feng

The Free Press is an open forum that accepts letters to the editor and guest writing which must include the writer’s name and telephone number. Letters may be edited due to space limitations, libel or inappropriate content. Submit letters to Room 203 or mail to the Free Press in care of...

Lawrence Free State High School

4700 Overland Drive

Lawrence, KS 66049 FSJournalism@USD497.org The opinions expressed in the Free Press are not necessarily those of the Free Press staff, the school administration or that of the USD 497 Board of Education.

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pages by Emily Zeller

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 Diving into Victory 6 A Shot of Relief

8 Beyond Graduation 10 Countless Implications 14 State Legislators Debate Trans Youth Rights 18 Finding Their Footing 20 Businesses of the Pandemic 22 Gray Gets the Gold 24 Marvel Multiverse 26 Artist Inspires 28 Bird’s Word 30 Firebird Art 32 Photo Essay

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diving into

Victory

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or many sports, COVID-19 proved to be a challenge that would greatly impact the season. However, the boys swim and dive team managed to have a successful season amidst the changes brought on by the pandemic.

The team focused on social distancing and having shorter practices to limit the chance of exposure. They also wore masks any time they were out of the water. While the season looked different than previous years, the swimmers were happy to be able to compete.

“You would think the boys would be resistant to being socially distant or following those directions and protocols, but they were so good about it,” head coach Annette McDonald said. “I would credit that to leadership, they wanted to swim the whole season and not have to quarantine.”

More than ever, McDonald is proud of her team and the way they managed to maintain high standards and positive attitudes.

“The seniors just did a great job of being positive role models,” McDonald said. “We always had a mindset this could be our last meet or our last practice.”

While the state championship was marked by safety protocols, the team took the changes in stride.

“Everything moves the same, it just takes a few more steps to get there,” freshman Dawson Bonnell said.

Despite the challenges, the season still turned out to be beneficial. By completing the 100 meter breaststroke in under a minute, senior Riley Sirimongkhon-Dyck achieved a personal goal.

“I had been working [towards that] for around two to three years,” SirimongkhonDyck said. “I also became the league champion in that event, which was exciting.”

The swim and dive team placed fourth out of 11 teams at Sunflower League, a special moment for the coaches and swimmers to share.

“The guys were all so excited to see that their hard work had paid off and I was so incredibly proud of them,” McDonald said.

“Divers and swimmers both did incredibly well and we were really fortunate to have divers that contributed to the team and helped the score by quite a bit.”

Swimming freshman

Dawson Bonnell • Honorable mention All Sunflower League

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senior

Riley Sirimongkhon-Dyck • First team All Sunflower League • Second team All State • State: third place - 100 fly, sixth place - 100 breast

SPORTS pages & photos by Ella Marshall story by Nisa Khosh illustration by Gus Cordova

Boys Swim, Dive places fourth in league Starting off the blocks, junior Max Bates swims the 100 backstroke at the state meet. “Competing is one of my favorite things aout swimming and this year was a great competition at State,” Bates said.

Diving in, Freshman Noah Mast swims the next leg of the relay as junior Alex Moore finishes. For many, the season was unlike any other. “We faced a lot of challenges this season… but we made it through and had an amazing time along the way,” Moore said.

Honors sophomore

Elliot Alyhers • Honorable mention All Sunflower League • State: fifth place - 1

senior

Finn Vandyke • Second team All Sunflower League

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NEWS pages by Lauren Tao story by Zanna Ingram

A

a SHOT of

Relief

s of March 22, over 86% of staff who signed up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine have received at least one dose.

Julie Boyle, USD497’s executive director of communications indicated the district believes the percent of staff vaccinated may actually be higher because not all members of staff updated the form after receiving their first dose.

“The district has completed our staff vaccination prioritization plan,” Boyle said. “Staff who indicated an interest in receiving the vaccine have received at least two opportunities to schedule an appointment for their first dose.”

The district asked members of staff to fill out an interest form if they were

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interested in receiving a vaccine. Based on that, four phases were created based on an equity formula that prioritized in-person staff, staff working with large groups of students and staff in racial groups at higher risk from COVID-19.

“This helped us maximize the number of doses allotted to our staff and to assist [Lawrence Douglas County Public Health] with efficient vaccine distribution,” Boyle said. “The signup was voluntary. We did not require staff to share this information.”

Although most staff members are on track to be fully vaccinated, the district is still taking as many COVID-19 safety measures as possible to ensure that all students and staff stay safe and healthy.

“According to the CDC, the medical

• Special education teachers, paraeducators & other staff members working closely with students

• In-person & hybrid teachers • 75% of these doses are reserved for elementary-level staff

Phase 1

Phase 2

Staff react to vaccine eligibility community is still learning how effective the vaccines are against variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, how well the vaccines keep people from spreading the disease, and how long the vaccines protect people,” Boyle said.

Although there is still unknown information regarding the vaccine, many members of staff are relieved to finally feel protected.

“With two high-risk parents that I care for, having to be mostly isolated in my home for months, and now preparing to return to full-time teaching, having this protection is a huge weight off of my shoulders,” health science and biomedicine teacher Gabriel Dalton said.

Dalton received his first dose on February 24 and his second on March 19.

“The simple truth we need to keep in mind is that the more individuals that are vaccinated, the less likely [the] spread of the virus is to occur” Dalton said.

“If we can halt or at least greatly slow this spread we can begin to look at life getting back to the normal world we were experiencing over a year ago now.”

Like Dalton, math teacher Stephanie Harris has also received both doses of the vaccine.

“I was very happy to be notified to receive the vaccination,” Harris said.

“Personally, I feel it is important to get vaccinated because it is one more step to going back to a somewhat normal life.

I think that our world has been forever changed by the pandemic, but I miss seeing my family, friends and students.”

• All other classified staff members working in-person

• Staff members working remotely

Phase 3

Phase 4

Scan for more information

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COVID affects senior college choices

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ue to the pandemic, traditional paths seniors would take when selecting a college may not have been realistic. For many, in-person visits to universities and dorms are not possible.

Guidance counselor Mark Conover has had to help seniors consider different ways to visit campuses.

“I recommended that students talk to the admissions representative of the colleges they are interested in,” Conover said.

“They can help provide any information you might need and set up virtual meetings with faculty, which can be very helpful if you are interested in a specific major.”

One of those who struggled due to these changes was senior Nethni Weerasekara.

“We don’t have the opportunity to visit campus or meet people who attend that college, so you kinda have to trust your gut,” Weerasekara said. “However, colleges have adapted well to the pandemic and have done a great job making virtual

opportunities available.”

For senior Payton Krug, the pandemic gave her an unique opportunity to connect with her future college coach and teammates.

“The pandemic actually really helped me have more calls and honest conversations with coaches and schools I was looking at,” Krug said. “I was able to Zoom with the girls in my class and just chat about what swimming looks like for them now, which was really nice to get to know them.”

Thanks to teachers like special education teacher Erin Campbell, senior Alayna Baker was provided with opportunities that eventually led to her decision to be a high school special education teacher.

“For my three years I have gone to this school, I have been able to take an Interpersonal Skills class which has allowed me to interact with my special education peers,” Baker said.

pages by Ella Marshall story by Nisa Khosh illustration by Gus Cordova

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FEATURE

beyond

GRADUATION

Payton Krug Alayna Baker Nethni Weerasekara

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countless

implications

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nline classes can be especially difficult for students who rely on essential school services. While meals have been served and WiFi assistance provided, Individualized Education Program services for students with special needs aren’t so easy without in-person interaction.

“Our students are struggling because of the online format, for sure,” autism paraeducator Kyleigh Leslie said. “With the population I work with, it’s harder to fulfill online. With some kids, it’s almost impossible. For a majority of our students, online is not a reliable way to achieve IEP goals.”

The Kansas State Board of Education provided guidance for virtual special education services in March 2020. According to special education

department chair Anita Nelson, the special education program has followed all state guidelines.

“The case managers and the IEP teams have worked really hard to make sure services have been provided,” Nelson said. “The majority of the services have been provided during this time for a majority of our students as they were written in the IEPs, and for those services not provided, the IEP teams agreed to make changes, to best serve the needs of the students, in cooperation with families.

During remote learning at the end of last school year and the beginning of this school year, students receiving special education services faced challenges that were out of their control.

Navigating technology was often the biggest challenge, many students needed support to operate

“ We have to work

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“

twice as hard to regain momentum.

FEATURE

IEP fulfillment difficult during online and hybrid learning the websites and programs required for their classes. While paras are available for students during school hours, the responsibility after class fell to parents, who were often at work or helping their other children.

Senior Daniel Saripalli experienced difficulty receiving his services during fully remote classes.

“My parents’ schedules [made online school hard],” Saripalli said. “We tried to find someone to help me, but it didn’t work out.”

Allowing students with special needs to come back in-person has been essential for IEP progress.

“The district did allow us to bring our kiddos back a little bit earlier than everyone else,” Leslie said. “We are able to start forming that relationship that should have been started at the

pages by Angel Singhal story by Mary Kate Shultz

beginning of the year. We have to work twice as hard to regain momentum.”

Saripalli agreed being back at school has improved his experiences.

“In early November, I started coming in four days a week,” Saripalli said. “I like coming in the building, it’s fun. Seeing a lot of my friends is making me happy. I started going to Just Food for work experience and doing fun things in IPS.” Nelson emphasized that adaptability and problem solving have been the name of the game this year for special education.

“It all goes back to a case by case basis, which is what special education is,” Nelson said. “We look at each student individually to determine specifically each student needs.”

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StateDLEBegislation A

Trans Rights TES

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Students targeted in new bills

uring a year filled with fallout from the pandemic and political uprisings, some Kansas legislators have focused their attention on other matters: transgender youth.

proven high testosterone levels increase muscle mass, heart size and the amount of oxygen in the blood. All of these qualities can give an advantage in athletic ability.

Supporters of the bill are suggesting high school and college-aged males could publicly transition just A History of anti-LGBTQ legislation to have the opportunity to compete and win against females. ansas is no stranger to discriminatory bills. In “Letting biological boys compete in biological 2019, seven representatives sponsored a bill that girls’ high school and college sports is not equal, it aimed to outlaw same-sex marriage doesn’t level the playing field and it’s by classifying homosexuality as a Our kids deserve certainly not fair,” Senator Roger religion whose followers participate in Marshall (R-KS) said. compassionate an “organized daily code.” During the While SB 208 was introduced on government and a state wave of “bathroom bills” in 2016, the level, Marshall presented a bill leadership and... that would make this a national law.

Committee on Federal and State Affairs sponsored a bill allowing students to The original bill proposed a the Senate has sue their district for up to $2,500 if they physical examination in response failed them found a person of the wrong sex in their to disputes over a student’s gender - Dinah Sykes school bathroom. that would evaluate the athlete’s During this year’s legislative session, three bills reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup and naturally directed at transgender youth have been introduced: produced testosterone levels. There was no mention Senate Bill 208, House Bill 2210 and a matching bill of how these examinations would be paid for or what in the senate. would happen in the case of an intersex student.

The Senate Committee on Education removed this language from the final bill.

“This bill may be one of the most extreme The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act examples of this type of hateful legislation,” said Committee Ranking Minority Member Dinah he Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, SB 208, aims Sykes, D-Lenexa. “Our kids deserve compassionate to ban transgender women from participating on government and leadership and... the Senate has women’s sports teams. The bill says women are at an failed them in their duty to provide that. Trans youth inherent disadvantage in athletics when compared to are seeing how little their elected representatives men. This is true: the National Institute of Health has value their lives and contributions to our state. I am

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SB 208

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NEWS heartbroken for them and promise that I will continue to fight for their dignity and rights.”

In 2015, the Kansas High School Activities Association passed guidance on the participation of transgender athletes.

The policy allows each school to determine what team the student will play on. It also recommends for the school to consider the impacts of allowing the student to play on a team that correctly aligns with their gender identity. Additionally, it recommends schools to allow transgender students to use their preferred name, pronouns, gender presentation and bathrooms.

This guidance hasn’t been an issue in the A tryptic by Wren Smith, Free State alimni. With three canvases, each represents a different stage in their life--their past (blue), present (yelpast. low), and future (red). Combined, the artwork represents what their “We essentially have 105,000 youth that identity means to them. @/wrenstrays on instagram are participating in sports in the state of Kansas,” said Tori Gleason, a transgender Gender Identity: A person’s conception of being anywhere on or outside health activist who works with the advocacy of the gender spectrum. It’s their own personal experience of gender. group Equality Kansas. “We have five youth athletes competing in the NCAA signed a letter asking that we know of that are trans or non-binary [that compete in high school activities]… so the reality the organization to not hold competitions in states that pass bills discriminating against transgender athletes. is, when you look at that, it’s a non issue in Kansas.”

This will greatly affect the state, since the 2022 NCAA Others take issue with legislators’ reasoning for Division I Women’s Basketball Championship is the bill, since other athletic organizations allow scheduled to be held in Wichita. transgender participants.

Similar bills have been introduced in 25 states, “I don’t think it has really anything to do with with Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi signing this the integrity of sports, or maybe groups like the legislation into law.

NCAA would be for the ban of trans youth, which The exact language that was introduced has been they’re not,” said Christiana Cranberry, a Lawrence connected to the Alliance Defending Freedom, a paraeducator and transgender woman. right-wing non-profit organization. The ADF also The NCAA has gotten involved with transgender rights before, boycotting the state of North opposes abortion and marriages or civil unions for same-sex couples and advocates for forced sterilization Carolina after they passed a law in of transgender people. Former Education Secretary 2017 preventing transgender Betsy DeVos and Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney people from using the Out of around bathroom that correctly Barrett are both connected to this organization.

“This kind of legislation is expensive and it takes aligns with their space where better legislation could be happening,” gender identity. student athletes in Kansas, Cranberry said.

This year, On March 17, the Senate passed the original bill more than there are only on a 24-10 vote.

500 student known trans or story by Isis Norris pages by Hannah De Guzman non-binary athletes illustration by Delaney Rockers in the state

105,000

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art submitted by Wren Smith

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SB 208 Gut and Go

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HB 2210:

“Making it a crime for doctors to perform gender reassignment surgery or hormone replacement therapy on minors”

fter the bill passed through the Senate, the legislature set up what is known as a conference committee. This committee was composed of three B 2210, was declared dead when it did not pass Senators and three Representatives. In the 10 minute through the Committee on Health and Human meeting, Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, Services. It attempted to outlaw gender-affirming proposed a motion to strip the contents of SB 55, medical treatments on anyone under 18. Any doctor which originally regulated a chiropractic school and charged with performing these treatments would have inserted the entirety of SB 208. their medical license revoked and be charged with a This action, called a “gut and level eight felony, which carries a This is based on an go,” prevents any amendments to sentence of seven to 23 months in outdated view that we jail. the bill and leaves legislators only to vote “yes” or “no.”

A similar bill passed in Arkansas, are divided into ‘male’ Last Friday, the House voted and ‘female’ rather than which was vetoed by the governor.

76-43 and the Senate voted 25The legislature then overrode the the more complicated governor’s veto. There are 40 bills 11 to pass the bill and send it to Governor Laura Kelly to sign. Kelly understandings of gender, focused on transgender youth’s can choose to veto the bill and, since medical care proposed in 21 states gender identity and neither chamber had the approval this spring. gender expression margin to override the veto, the bill Transitioning, at any age, can - Senator Marci Francisco might not become law. take many forms. According to While the bill has support in the Mayo Clinic, the American Topeka, senators and representatives from Lawrence Pediatric Association and the American Psychological have denounced it.

Association, if a child decides to medically transition, “This is based on an outdated view that we are a doctor will typically prescribe hormone blockers. divided into ‘male’ and ‘female’ rather than the more These stop the body from producing the hormones complicated understandings of gender, gender identity that create the physical changes seen during puberty. and gender expression,” said Senator Marci Francisco, Hormone blockers can be stopped at any time and D-Lawrence. leave no lasting effects on the hormones naturally Another Lawrence representative, Dennis “Boog” produced within the body. Essentially, this treatment is Highberger, D-Lawrence, also disagrees with the bill. completely reversible.

“I expect the legislators who introduced these bills “Think of a blocker like a pause button,” Gleason don’t really know any transgender individuals and said. “If you push the pause button, you don’t get all don’t understand how hurtful just introducing bills like those changes [seen during puberty].” this can be,” Highberger said.

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In short, gender identity is how one percieves themselves on the gender spectrum, while gender expression is how they choose to show this. Not all people present their gender identity, for multiple reasons.

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Gender Expression: How one outwardly presents their gender. Based around societal standards which define what’s masculine and feminine.

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Eastern Colorado, Gleason draws on her own experiences as a transgender woman to help others understand how to properly care for patients with a variety of gender identities.

Rep. Brett Fairchild, R-St. John, co-sponsor of HB 2210, believes the bill is a way for the state to protect children from being forced to transition by a parent or guardian. The Free Press reached out to the bill’s other co-sponsors, who did not respond.

Fairchild points to a custody battle between Anne Georgulas, Jeffrey Younger and their 7-year-old transgender daughter as an example of a parent forcing a child to transition. Georgulas and Younger were attempting to finalize a divorce in Texas when Georgulas said their child wanted to present as a girl.

Younger denied these claims. The case was subject to heavy scrutiny from conservatives, who said Georgulas was forcing her child to present as a girl. In 2020, a judge ruled both parents would have joint custody and both would need to consent to any medical treatments performed on the child.

Although he didn’t expect the bill to be signed into law, Fairchild hoped it would bring attention to what he sees as an issue facing young Kansans. However, Fairchild insists he holds no hate towards transgender people.

“If a young person feels they want to transition to the opposite sex, they can still do so once they turn 18, when they’ve become mature enough to make that decision for themselves,” Fairchild said.

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Medical transitioning can involve different treatments from person to person, and not everyone transitions medically.

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Some see the legislation as motivated by more than protecting children. “[This legislation] basically stifle[s] or keep[s] young trans kids from becoming healthy, because they don’t want older trans people to become successful and healthy,” Gleason said. “You know, it’s there for a reason.”

Life after Legislation

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or Cranberry, the next steps involve calling on transgender youth and their allies to be more engaged in politics from a local level.

“I believe it’s important to be politically active, but I think it’s really very necessary everyone feels safe to do that,” Cranberry said.

She suggests transgender people and their allies form a group to advocate against passage of the bill and others like it with letter writing campaigns.

Even though the bill might become a reality, Lawrence school board president Kelly Jones has made her position clear.

“These transphobic bills are abhorrent,” Jones said. “It’s the board’s obligation to provide you an environment where you can be exactly who you are, which needs no explanation. Period.”

Gleason agrees this legislation and other bills like it are an attack on children.

“Our bullies are not our classmates, our bullies come from Topeka,” Gleason said.

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finding their

E

T O O F

ven in a typical year, many students find their freshman year stressful.

Entering a new school, taking more challenging classes and having new weight put upon their shoulders can be challenging.

In the midst of a pandemic, teachers are having a harder time helping students adjust the stress of high school than they normally would.

To help students through this difficult time, Sandy Liechti, freshmen interim counselor, and WRAP therapist Katie Coldham host a ninth grade social hour on Flex Wednesdays.

Freshmen are invited to socialize and meet new classmates.

“We started to give freshmen a place to get to know each other, because a lot of them haven’t been in the building,” Coldham said.

“We just wanted them to have a place to come talk to us and make connections, especially during a pandemic.”

Hybrid learning limited the days students were allowed to attend school in-person, so joining a team gave freshmen the opportunity to meet people who shared their interests.

“It really helped me get to know some of the great people at Free State and make even more really good friendships and the upperclassmen,” said freshman Blake Wohler,

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a member of the cross country team.

During an average year, participating in athletics can be an easy way for students to make new friends. This year, however, it became a lifeline.

“Being a part of soccer has definitely been my favorite part [of the year,] because it feels like I am a part of something bigger than just being a student in a classroom,” said freshman Elaina Zung, a member of the girls soccer team.

Others were just glad to have a way to socialize.

“Even talking to other kids within my group at tournaments can be fun, chatting with kids that I never wouldn’t have even known existed if it wasn’t for golf,” said freshman Ty Ankenbauer, a member of the boys golf team.

While this year has been challenging, students have learned to adapt to an everchanging environment.

“When we first started coming back near the end of first semester, I found it harder to adjust only coming one day a week,” Ankenbauer said, “but as second semester has gone on and I’ve been able to develop more of a schedule going four days a week and have been able to adjust to the bigger environment a lot better and feel more comfortable.”

FEATURE pages by Kaitlyn Fisher story by Nathaniel Ankenbauer

How freshmen have adjusted to an exceptional year

In-Person vs. Online Unknown 9 freshmen

In Person

299 freshmen

?

Term Remote 24 freshmen

Year Long 119 freshmen

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FEATURE Students use quarantine to help the community

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Cakes by Emma Day

pages by Hannah De Guzman photos submitted by Emma Day & Lucia Cloud story by Nisa Khosh illustration by Gus Cordova

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@

ne of the positives that emerged during the pandemic has been small businesses.

With normal activities cancelled, students find many ways to use their free time.

Junior Lucia Cloud decided to use her free time to make masks and help the community.

“When the pandemic started I decided that I had to learn how to make really cute masks, anticipating the lasting power of this crisis,” Cloud said.

Cloud started doing custom masks for people around town and soon started to make kid’s sizes for her mom’s store, Malula Kids Resale.

However, Cloud struggled with not overworking herself with her business. A con of running a business is it’s hard to respect personal limitations.

“When you are your boss, there is no one giving you set hours so what is keeping you from adding too much to your plate,” Cloud said.

Joining in on the mask-making opportunity, freshman Evan White also participated in making masks for the community, but for every mask she sold, she donated one mask to a local assisted living facility

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or the hospital.

“My family was looking for masks online and they were selling out very quickly, so my mom suggested I make some,” White said. “I made a couple for my mom and her friends and then started donating them to a few different places. “ Students used their skills not only to help others but also to take care of themselves. Junior Emma Day used her time in quarantine to start her own allergy friendly bakery from the comfort of her own home.

Day has always loved to bake, and with so much free time during the pandemic, she started practicing baking and decorating cakes. She created an instagram account and posted her newest creations.

Her business grew, averaging over a thousand followers on her baking instagram account.

For those struggling to find a focus during the pandemic, Day encourages others to “just go for it.”

“You don’t need to have it all figured out when you start, the great thing about having a small business is that you get to learn and grow and figure it out as you go,” Day said.

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usinesses of the

andemic

“Having a dog during quarantine has given my family a reason to get outside more as well as keep our screen time to a minimum.

We decided to get Josiah because quarantine seemed like the best time to train a puppy and a new pet could lower our stress levels.”

Holly Covington

Masks by Lucia Cloud

“My pets have brought me a lot of joy and distraction from COVID-19. I can relax and watch my fish or play with my hamster when I’m stressed out. I decided to get them because I think fish are really cool and super interesting, and I’d wanted a hamster for a couple months before COVID-19 started, so it was the perfect time to get a new buddy to spend quarantine with.”

Stella Grove

“My dad and I chose to get a pet because I had been bothering him about it because it was really boring just being home.

And he made a difference by giving my life something different everyday. He’s always getting into stuff, always giving me things to clean up.” “[My geckos] made it more Jade Shaw bearable. I got them because an old friend of mine had geckos too and I thought they were a really cool pet to have.”

Amanda Nelson

Pets Pandemic of the

Stuck in quarantine, families turned to new furry friends for comfort.

21

Graygets the

Gold D uring her high school career, junior Mady Gray has never lost a match in girls wrestling. In fact, Gray has never lost a state championship she has qualified for.

Gray first went out for the middle school wrestling team in seventh grade as a way to find her interests and meet new people. She had no idea what laid ahead of her.

As a freshman in 2018, Gray competed for the boys team.

At the time, wrestling was only sanctioned as a boys’ sport by the Kansas High School Activities Association. This meant she competed against boys at meets and in practice unless there was another girl competing in her weight class.

She was unable to compete in an official state championship that season since KSHSAA did not host a distinctive championship for girls. Gray won an

unofficial state championship in the 130-pound weight class through an organization outside of KSHSAA. However, 2019 marked the first year girls wrestling was sanctioned by KSHSAA. This didn’t bar female wrestlers from competing against boys, Gray primarily wrestled girls in the 2019-2020 season but faced off against boys on occasion.

Gray celebrated the inaugural state tournament with a victory in the 130-pound weight class, a proper finish to her undefeated 34-0 season.

Entering her junior year her goal was clear, her eyes were set on a third state title.

Randy Streeter, first-year head coach, shared her expectations for the season.

“It was clear that Mady had her goal of another state title locked in,” Streeter said. “There was no negotiating that. We just did whatever we could for her

“It was very exciting to become an official state champion for the second time, it means I’m one step closer to being a 4-timer”

Junior Mady Gray is focused while she scrimmages with teammate senior Clare Benton. According to Gray, Wrestling demands mental and physical persistence. “One of the most amazing feelings in wrestling is all that hard work paying off and all the adrenaline and relief from winning that match,” Gray said. It’s a mind blowing feeling.”

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SPORTS pages by Ella Marshall story by Ben Shyrock photos by Baya Burgress

Wrestler goes undefeated

Junior Mady Gray hugs assistant coach Brent Hoffman after a scrimmage match. For Gray, the wrestling team is one she can rely on. “I know I can trust both my high school team and my club team if I need them and vice versa,”Gray said.

Pinned down, senior Clare Benton wrestles junior Mady Gray. Benton has been wrestling for five years and has found her closest friends through the sport.

“Without wrestling, I wouldn’t have been as motivated to work hard in school,” Benton said.

to reach that goal.”

The changes within the team both encouraged and motivated teammates to support each other, elevating qualities that already made Gray a prolific competitor on the mat.

“She makes everyone around her better by being the hardest worker in the room,” senior Clare Benton said. “She not only pushes herself to do better, but she pushes the whole team to work harder. I was Mady’s practice partner most days this season and I can honestly say she made me better.”

Gray finished the season undefeated, going 17-0 against female wrestlers. She won every match by pin (holding an opponent’s shoulder to the mat for a given

period of time resulting in automatic victory), an unheard of statistic in wrestling.

Gray also went 8-4 against boys this season.

She capped off her perfect year by sweeping the bracket and claiming the state title in the 130-pound weight class.

In doing so, Gray became the first ever wrestler in school history to win consecutive state championships, and although she has already boasts a historic career, Gray hopes to improve in her senior year.

“Even though my freshman year state title wasn’t official, I still count it,” Gray said. “It was very exciting to become an official state champion for the second time, it means I’m one step closer to being a four-timer.”

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S

multiverse

uperheroes are an inspiration to many and give adolescents someone to look up to.

Many teens have spent their days reading comic books focusing on these heroes.

Over 15 years years ago, Marvel Studios released Iron Man. The film would go on to become a box office hit and launch the most successful cinematic franchise ever.

Fast forward 10 years to the Avengers: Endgame, the cumulation of 21 films and the end to the Infinity Saga. Marvel had to figure out how to top the over the top ambition of the previous 21 entries for their next phase. With the end of WandaVision and their scheduled slate for the next two years, it seems they’re going to expand on the multiverse theory.

Spoilers ahead for WandaVision.

In WandaVision, many noted Quicksilver wasn’t played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the original actor from Avengers: Age of Ultron. Instead, he was played

by Evan Peters, who played him in the Fox X-Men movies. This discrepancy left fans theorizing: Where exactly did he come from?

Did Wanda pull him out of his own universe?

Did a third party pull him out of his universe to mess with Wanda?

Or, was this a Flash situation, and Quicksilver came to this universe himself and somehow wound up in Wanda’s bubble?

As it turns out, none of these fan speculations were true: he was just a regular guy who happened to look like Quicksilver from the X-Men universe.

Many were disappointed and frustrated that Marvel used Peters as stunt casting and quickly gave up on the idea of a multiverse.

However, during one of the end-credit scenes of WandaVision, viewers see Wanda utilizing her full power and becoming the Scarlet Witch. In doing so,

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she’ll inherit and master new powers.

With these abilities, she could tear through the multiverse and attempt to bring back Vision and her children. She may inadvertently destroy the multiverse and open it up to the likes of Tobey Maguire’s Spiderman, The X-Men universe, Fantastic Four or even Wesley Snipes’ Blade. The possibilities are endless.

With its release in January, WandaVision welcomed in Phase Four of Marvel content. Phase Four is Marvel’s large lineup of content for the next few years. It is set to cover 10 movies and eight TV shows, with four movies and six TV shows set to release in 2021.

The 2021 lineup includes TV shows such as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, What If…, Hawkeye and Ms. Marvel. The long-awaited Black Widow movie will join the lineup in May along with three other movies: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals and Spider-Man 3.

The lineup for 2022 and 2023 will be more movie-heavy, bringing six movies and two TV shows.

The TV shows Moon Night and She-Hulk are set to release in 2022, joining the four other movies set to release the same year. March 2022 to November 2022 will bring Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther 2 and Captain Marvel 2. Phase Four closes out in 2023 with the releases of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and Guardians of the Galaxy 3.

Many of these shows and movies will play off pre-established characters, but some will welcome new heroes and villains into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Marvel Cinematic Universe certainly has an exciting three years ahead of it, full of content to give eager fans.

CULTURE

Phase Four sets to expand

pages by Kaitlyn Fisher story by Alexandria Brown & Nathaniel Ankenbauer illustration by Gus Cordova

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artist

S

Inspires

enior Rebecca Feng considers being Asian American to be a huge part of her identity. She has been involved with the Asian Culture Club, and this year she has worked on a project about her and others’ experience with being Asian American.

“Essentially my project surrounds the culture, lifestyle, inside jokes and social issues of Asian Americans, which I felt like was an underrated topic given... a lot of what the media depicts as ‘Asian’ tends to surround itself around East Asia and exploring the ‘foreign’ parts of it,” Feng said.

In order to include the full spectrum of experiences, Feng had friends fill out a Google Form detailing their lifestyles. She also interviewed Hamlet Chang, the owner of Formosa bakery and held an art competition for students from her Chinese community.

“I wanted to bring more light onto the Asian American community here,” Feng said.

“Although there are similarities between the ‘motherland’ we definitely have our own cultural aspects and social issues that go unaddressed.”

One of the people who shared her story, senior Nora Gerami says having a broad scope on issues like these is important because everyone has different experiences with culture in America.

“It’s about spreading awareness and educating because not everyone realizes the true extent

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of what happens to so many of us and how it’s different for each of us,” Gerami said. “Although there is a blanket term, all of our experiences have been different and it was a chance for all of us to share our reality.”

Since her freshman year, Feng has taken many art classes with art teacher Rachel Downs; Downs never fails to be impressed with the work that she creates.

“My favorite thing about having Rebecca as a student is the element of surprise,” Downs said. “Rebecca’s mind is really complex and her artistic spirit is also really complex, so together they make out of this world type of visual art.”

After introducing Feng to an artist named Robert Shimomura, a retired KU professor whose art addresses the socio-political issues of Asian Americans, Downs helped Feng when needed but ultimately stepped back to let her propel herself.

“She’s a living, breathing example of what she’s making the work about. She’s able to use herself as a subject matter, but she’s also stretching and exploring, talking to other people, [doing] interviews, things like that,” Downs said.

“I think when you are creating from your own experience, it tends to be more authentic and more powerful.”

“They can’t burn us all”

PROFILE

Student project connects a community “Ye Ye”

pages by Emily Zeller story by Zanna Ingram photos submitted by Rebecca Feng

“Banana” “Formosa Bakery sketches”

“Expectations from Asian Media”

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Bird’s Word Ben Wessel

Freshman, he/him/his “I wish I would have told myself to try some new things. Maybe learn a new language or a different skill I haven’t tried before. Instead I chose to focus on the things I enjoy more because I had so much time to spend on them. This last year was a perfect time to learn something new and I wish I would have acted on it because I’m sure it would have helped me in the long run.”

Grace Branson Senior, she/her/hers “To stick with it and be patient.

It all works out in the end.”

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BIRD’S WORD

What is something you wish you could have told yourself a year ago?

Maxine Finch Junior, she/her/hers

pages by Lauren Tao collected by Mary Kate Schultz

“Be prepared to grow.

A lot.”

Laura Woolfolk Teacher, she/her/hers “Oh, my . . . first, I loved my 2020 spring COVID classes -- we tried out some unique lessons such as ‘lyrics as literature’ and explored how music has a message. Also, I would tell ‘2020 me’ to stop baking and stop eating.

Finally, I wish that I would have invested in companies that manufacture black stretchy pants because I would be rich right now.”

Wyatt Sutton

Sophomore, he/him/his “This might last a little longer than you think it

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ART pages by Lauren Tao collected by Mary Kate Schultz

Firebird

art

Olivia Smart, freshman

“Most people would just see it as a skull with a crack but I was trying to go with a much more deeper meaning. I guess you could say I was inspired by some traumatic events that I have heard or seen in my life. The crack in the skull is meant to be a representation of trauma. I was wanting to give a more physical representation of trauma, where the event was so impactful that it left a crack in the head. This can also connect to the mental health of a person. Not many people know what others are going through or what they have been through because it’s on the inside and not the outside. I wanted others to see when they ask about my piece that not all things can be healed and so you should just try to make the best of life while you can because you never know what can happen and how that could affect you.”

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“Ms. Downs hosted a Wednesday session called Ekphrasis that linked poetry to visual art, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I love discovering new ties between mediums of art, and I ended up creating this piece because of that passion.”

Taylor Sharp, freshman

Poem: Waking I am warm In my heart In my head In my lungs For the first time in nights My head is not hung I feel hopeful Like there’s something Near potential in my veins I feel rested, reborn It is a welcome change of pace

Shea Dailey, junior

“This is one of the pieces from my sustained investigation and it’s about this reoccurring dream I had when I was in preschool, where basically a bunch of ghosts drove me off of a cliff.

I thought it would make a really interesting piece and it fits in with my theme of growing up and reflecting from my childhood.”

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photo

essay Junior Quez Lee leaps across the long jump at a track meet.

Sophomore Caroline Börk performs in the auditorium alongside members of the improv group. For many thespians, the show was their first live performance this year. “Because of the pandemic we weren’t able to do much physical comedy, so when we finally met in person it was fabulous,” Börk said.

Coming up for air, senior Riley Sirimongkhon-Dyck changes directions during a race.

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AFter getting out of the water, sophomore Evie Stull puts on her mask. Swim practices were two hours long and meets could last as long as five hours. “Getting home at 9:30 [p.m.] and then having to go home and do school work is hard because swimming takes a lot out of you,” Stull said.

Senior Georgia Rea shouts encouragement to her teammates.