Graphic by Harper Jay
A look at Lawrence High School’s
HALL OF HONOR
REPORTING BY ZANA KENNEDY
Corrine Brinkerhoff
Television writer/producer
Corinne Brinkerhoff has lived out the dream of video producers and writers alike — working in television. Brinkerhoff, who graduated in 1998, is living out the career of a TV writer and producer, having worked on prominent television series including Boston Legal, Elementary, Jane the Virgin, American Gothic and The Good Wife. She received the Writers Guild of America Award for Best New Series in 2010, as well as an Emmie nomination for her work writing and producing The Good Wife in 2011. Her most recent project was Miss Farah, the Arabic translation of Jane the Virgin in 2020. However, she connects her career back to LHS, where she first submitted and published her writing professionally, which would eventually lead her down the path of success.
Dr. Larry Kwak Physician and Scientist
Dr. Larry Kwak’s work in science has contributed to one of the most important fields of health research — a cure for cancer. Graduating from LHS in 1977, he committed 20 years of research on a vaccine for follicular lymphoma. His research is in the third phase of its trial and is waiting to get approved by the FDA, but is looking optimistic. His commitment has earned him recognition among the top 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine. Through all of his accomplishments, he remembers LHS as a high school that set him up for success in the real world, especially in the English department. “I felt I got a great education going through LHS,” Kwak said. “I even tell my kids about my English teacher and how painful it was, but how well she prepared me for the rest of my life. She really taught me to write.” He now holds the title of Professor and Chairman of the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
SPEAKING OUT
LHS frequently exercises its right to protest. Here are a few from the past four years.
REPORTING BY ZANA KENNEDY
JULY — Protest over sexual assaults in schools
DECEMBER — Sit-in over proposed cut of girls gymnastics team
MAY —
Walkout over overturning of Roe v. Wade
The Budget Features
LHS has a long list of alumni. While all graduates have impacted the school in their own ways, many have made an impact on the world. From Olympic athlete to musician, to TV director, Lawrence High has helped this little corner in Kansas find a voice in the sea of national recognition. This is why we created our Hall of Honor, with the first member being inducted in 1994 to celebrate the contributions and memories of notable LHS graduates. In honor of our recent October 6 Hall of Honor Induction, here are some of the most notable Lawrence High Alumni .
Robby Steinhardt
Musician
Always proud of his Kansas roots, Robert Steinhardt made sure to honor his home state with his band name. A proud LHS and KU graduate, Steinhardt and his bandmates founded the rock band KANSAS in 1973, but with a twist: the incorperation of a violin melody performed by Steinhardt. The band was active 1973-1988 and 1997-2006. His passion for music was showcased at Lawrence High as well, serving as the LHS orchestra concertmaster and sitting as first chair. He died a proud Kansan and LHS graduate through and through and was buried with his parents in Pioneer Cemetery, KU.
Brady Tanner
World Special Olympic Gold Medalist
Brady Tanner, who graduated in 2001, started his athletic career as a football manager in high school. However, he quickly rose to powerlifting Olympic gold medalist only five years after graduation. Despite being born with a condition known as Rubenstein-Taybi Syndrome which affects his fine motor skills and his ability to learn and speak, he was supported by the environment of LHS, inspiring him to push himself. He found his passion for powerlifting soon after high school, training in Haskell University gyms and earning recognition on a national level. In 2011, Tanner was chosen as one of 16 powerlifters to represent the United States in the Athens World Special Olympics which he left with three gold and one silver Olympic medals. He continues to compete nationally and his story has inspired many.
MARCH — Walkout over anti-transgender bills in the Kansas Legislature
MARCH Students wear black armbands over concerns about Gaggle
MAY — Walkout over Palestine and Israel conflict
Quarterbacks face off B.B. VS B.B.
Football brings more than wins
BY BRYNDAL HOOVER CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE BUDGET
Friday Night Lights brings back memories of good times and fading friendships, reminding many of late bus rides home after thrilling wins and tough losses. For two long-time friends, Boston Baker and Banks Bowen, these words carry a different meaning as they prepare to compete on opposite sides of the 50-yard line.
Baker and Bowen have been friends since elementary school, forming what they considered an unstoppable duo.
“We played football together until seventh grade. We were on the same basketball team some years and played baseball together, too,” Baker said. “Through sports, we became really good friends”
During middle school, their teamwork as quarterback and wide receiver led to many victories. Even when Bowen’s family moved to Texas for a short period of time, life didn’t keep the two apart for long.
“We have some great memories, but one of the best was when he surprised me by moving back to Lawrence in eighth grade,” Baker said.
Both players have heard people talk about this year’s City Showdown even before the season started.
“It’s been brought up a lot, being the big city rivalry showdown,” Bowen said. “It’s more about the game than me and Boston. It’s not only about us playing: people focus more on the whole school, which is good.”
With the focus on school pride, concerns about sportsmanship arise each year.
“We need to keep it classy and avoid any disrespectful behavior,” Bowen said. “Things can get heated after the game, but Boston and I won’t have any issues maintaining sportsmanship on the field.”
“The rivalry and atmosphere of this GAME SHIFT so much.”
—Banks Bowen, senior
Bowen’s return let them finish middle school playing together However, high school brought new challenges when they ended up at different high schools on opposite sides of town.
“We’ve stayed great friends through high school, but the rivalry between the two schools here in Lawrence definitely has a big affect on it,” Bowen said.
Baker and Bowen aren’t the rivalry. Their match-up is part of a larger competition between Lawrence High School and Free State High School. Whether it’s East Side vs. West Side, red vs. green or Lions vs. Birds, there are many ways that the schools try to showcase who is “better.”
“Everyone has a sense of who’s going to win, but in high school football, anything can change pretty quickly,” Bowen said. “The rivalry and atmosphere of this game shift so much”
The power of this game has been felt throughout both schools. The tension has intensified as both quarterbacks use the strategies they once created side by side on their respective teams to execute a win. With the support of their teammates, student body, and families, the stakes have never been higher.
“It feels cool to play against him, but as a player, you have to treat it like any other game,” Baker said. “I’m excited for the moment but need to keep my emotions in check to focus on the game.”
Both have been preparing for this moment, sharing the unknown feeling of what the outcome of this game may be.
“This will be a game I’ll look back on for the rest of my life,” Baker said.
The night will begin with a toss and end with cheers and tears. However, these two friends share a bond that goes deeper than football.
“It’s definitely an awkward feeling going against Boston because we both have that competitive nature and that’s what pulled us together as friends,” Bowen said. “But competing against each other is tough because there will be a winner. No matter the outcome, it will be a memorable moment for all of us.”
Photo contributed by Banks Bowen, Boston Baker, Nathan Friedman, Piper Journey
Graphic by Ruby Hull
Designed by Ruby Hull
LHS students become UNIFIED
Unified Sports and IPS make athletics welcoming to everyone
BY ZANA KENNEDY CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE BUDGET
Unified Sports is going into its 10th season as an organized sport stronger than ever as enrollment numbers continue to rise.
Coached by award-winning IPS and English teacher Susie Micka, Unified Sports gives students of all abilities the opportunity to participate in athletics. The program offers unified club sports including basketball, bocce ball and soccer throughout the year and unified bowling is supported by the Kansas State High School Activities Association.
This year the program has had a larger enrollment than ever with nearly 50 students participating, and Micka attributes this to her students’ passion for the program.
“The enthusiasm coupled with the overall willingness to make the program grow always has to come from students,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how much I want it to be a thing here at LHS. If the students don’t want it to be a thing, then it will wither”
The unified team has been successful in the past couple years, having been recognized as two time National Unified Champion school. Freshman Jacob Micka said he thinks that part of this success comes from their numbers.
“The student participation and all the students getting involved in it … We just have a really strong student section here at LHS,” he said.
Susie Micka said she thinks that the success of programs is also possible because of the community at LHS.
have other benefits for people with intellectual disabilities who are involved.
“I think we have a value on health,” Susie Micha said. “Research has shown that those that participate… in Unified Sports grow faster socially, and physically than they do when they are in traditional Special Olympics. When we play as a unified group, we learn that every person has value and we learn teamwork and sportsmanship.”
Magnuson said the program is meaningful to students because it gives them the opportunity to make new connections with all different types of people.
“It definitely encourages inclusion throughout the school because our IPS classes…are only junior and senior classes,” Magnuson said. “It gets those freshmen and sophomores started early making those connections with people that they’ll be going to school with for multiple years.”
“It’s just a big community of people who all WANT TO BE INCLUSIVE and connect with each other and just make new friends,”
—Aubrie Magnuson, senior
“There’s a lot of other schools that have really struggled to get it going consistently,” she said. “Our administration has been super supportive. Our coaches of our traditional sports have been super supportive as well. We get a lot of our traditional athletes who want to come and play unified and share that love of competition with all of their friends. And they really drive our program.”
The success of the team is also meaningful to many students including senior Aubrey Magnuson because of its accessibility.
“These are people who just learned how to play basketball,” Magnuson said. “But now they’re competing against other people and have learned to love this sport and make these friends throughout it when normally they wouldn’t be able to have that opportunity.”
The opportunities provided by Unified Sports also
This athletic opportunity also extends into LHS’ Kindness Just Because program, which has been particularly encouraging for senior Valeriano Aguinaga when he joined the team.
“It’s part of Kindness Just Because,” Aguinaga said. “Kindness Just Because is an activity group for learning how to be kind, selflessly”
Aside from its success, ultimately the purpose of Unified Sports is inclusion.
“It’s just a big community of people who all want to be inclusive and connect with each other and just make new friends,” Magnuson said. “I think that’s pretty cool”
Celebrating a win, Susie Micka and many Unified Sports participants gather at Pack the House in 2023. They celebrated their National Unified Champion School for the years 2022-2026 Photo by Maison Flory
Reaching for the block, senior Connor English puts up strong defense against fellow Unified member Tate Belveal. English said he enjoyed being able to play against the other half of Unified basketball during Pack the House.
“I thought Unified did really well this year,” English said. “I definitely saw a lot of energy throughout the game” Photo by Sama Abughalia
Hyped, senior Brooks Jones flashes a smile to his Unified teammates as they take the court for Pack the House. Jones found the moment meaningful. “I could tell for my team that this game was very important,” Jones said. “A lot of people were involved which showed the true power of Unified Sports” Photo by Maison Flory
Designed by Arabella Gipp
Long family linage carries on LION’S PRIDE
Silvers family discusses evolution of long-standing traditions
BY NATASHA TORKZABAN, MIMI ROSADO, DANNY PHALEN, AND BRYNDAL HOOVER
Founded in a church basement in 1857, Lawrence High School has been a pillar in the Lawrence community for 167 years, creating intergenerational connections.
The Silvers family lineage is an example of how the school community has pre-served its pride through 96 years of attendance — the latest student being senior Ty Silvers, a fifth-generation Chesty Lion.
“There is some pressure with being fifth-generation, but I am honored to be able to carry on the legacy,” Ty said. “Hopefully my kids can carry on the legacy here at LHS as well.”
Ty said he stays involved in the school community by partaking in extracurriculars, including tennis, football, Link Crew and IPS — an inclusive leadership class. It’s no surprise that Ty remains well-connected to the school community, as he honors his family by reliving the stories he grew up listening to.
also great that they still come and help out at the event now that my sister and I participate.”
Angie and Tim were high school sweethearts from the graduating class of 2003. They participated in the marching band, which has a history dating back to 1901. The couple were involved in traditions they now see their children carry on.
One of the most memorable experiences for Angie was the homecoming parade and Rally Around the Lion, a celebratory bonfire that follows the parade.
“It was a big deal every year. Back in the day, we used to go all the way down from South Park… We got to see the kids and throw candy to [them],” Angie said. “In the marching band, we would stop and play a part of our marching show to the residents. It was really cool to get the whole community involved and then we would end it at Lawrence High and ‘Rally Around the Lion.’”
“I was ALWAYS AT LHS, whether it was for sports games or in the classroom with my mom on her days off,”
—Ty Silvers, senior
For Angie and Tim, it was never a question whether their children would attend LHS. From the beginning, Angie and Tim wanted their children to share the same memorable high school experiences.
er role… I can remember what it was like being a student, but it’s easier now to put myself in the adult side of things.”
Another proud Chesty Lion in the Silvers lineage is Ty’s grandfather, Brad Silvers — graduating class of 1981. Brad currently resides in Topeka, but still visits Lawrence to revisit his memories as a Chesty Lion.
“That high school was just the best,” Brad said. “There was a lot of pride there.”
When Brad was a student, LHS was the only high school in town. This strengthened the school’s presence, merging school spirit with Lawrence as a whole. At the time, Lawrence was a farm community, allowing LHS students to attend weekly farmers markets and participate in the livestock trade.
“Saturday was a big day because we’d always go into town to the sale barn — for livestock buying and selling,” Brad said. “It was just really a good, honest, wholesome farm community… You go to town, you see people. No matter where you go, [you see] your family and friends, it was just a great place to grow up.”
Like his children, Brad’s fondest memories from LHS came from the community and pride within the marching band.
“I was always at LHS, whether it was for sports games or in the classroom with my mom on her days off,” Ty said. “It’s been really cool to be an LHS family, we’re trying to keep the traditions alive.”
One high school tradition Ty shares with his parents, Angie and Tim Silvers, is LHS’s annual mud volleyball tournament, where more than 500 students, staff and parents gather to compete in the mud. As former players in the long-standing tradition, Angie and Tim support the event by preparing the courts and refereeing games.
“It’s really awesome that I get to participate in something they also did when they were in high school,” Ty said. “It’s
“When my husband and I bought our house in Baldwin, it was honestly never even a consideration to have them go anywhere else, not even a thought,” Angie said.
Angie is one of many LHS alumni who returned to the school as a teacher. Today, Angie experiences the school culture from three perspectives: a parent, teacher and former student.
“At the beginning of my career, it was a little strange to come back to the school that I thought I remembered,” Angie said. “It originally was hard for me to put myself out of that student role and into that teach-
“Every year, there was band day at KU up at the stadium. That was something that we always looked forward to because bands from all over Kansas would come and we’d have this huge parade and everybody would end up going,” Brad said. “The football game and bands would play at halftime, it was just really cool.”
Brad shared his high school experiences with his mother, Peggy Silvers, as well as his grandmother, Ruby Caruthers — who marked the beginning of their LHS history.
Lawrence High School has been a part of the Silvers family since 1928.
“You feel pride in the school,” Brad said, tearing up. “Chesty Lions, that legacy lives on.”
and Tim
tournament.
Adjusting the tennis racket, junior Ty Silvers prepares to head to an away tennis meet. “My siblings and I were raised in sports,” Silvers said. “We’ve always been on the field or on the court”Photo by Bryndal Hoover
Introducing a subject, math teacher Angie Silvers gives a lesson to her students. “This is my 14th year teaching here at Lawrence High,” Silvers said. “I graduated in 2002, eight years before I became a teacher.”Photo by Bryndal Hoover
WINNING TEACHERS
LHS has a rich culture of winning
Reporting by Juliet Outka
Bob’s Award Winner 2024
"To be kind of be in that group is flattering. I’m so honored. I JUST LOVE LAWRENCE HIGH. I love all those kids I work with,” (Lawrence Times)
—Brad Stoll, Photo by Bryndal Hoover
Bob’s Award Winner 2023
"It is overwhelming to win such an award. There’s so many others who deserve it. I’ve just shown up every day for 22 years and done my job. This place is an amazing place. IT’S MY HOME.” (The Lion’s Roar)
—Valerie Schrag, Photo by
Sama Abughalia
Secondary Teacher of the year 2024
"To me, immediately the thought is that it’s a reflection of the community I’ve literally grown up in as a teacher. I’VE BEEN HERE LITERALLY ALL 24 YEARS OF MY TEACHING CAREER.”
—Tracy Murry, Photo by Lydia Folks
Angie
Silvers at mud volleyball
Photo contributed by Angie Silvers
Rivalry Game: Controversy through the years
EDITORS
BY ZANA KENNEDY
CO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE BUDGET
Lawrence High School and Free State Lawrence High School have been cross-town rivals since Free State was founded. We have had our fair share of showdowns, from sports to academics, but also harmful activities including hate speech vandalism. However, the two schools’ journalism staffs have decided to collaborate in order to present the best of both high schools to both student bodies in one exclusive collaborative issue. So here is what we have to offer. While Free State may have dominated soccer for the past couple of years, our school environment has created famous athletes, doctors and TV producers; shaped generations of families; and made a large net impact on the world at large. We have award-winning teachers who were nominated because they have made meaningful
Dang..just because we are the poorer school...
relationships with the many students who nominated them over the course of many years. Our newspaper is more than 100 years old. High school is only four years. LHS has been around long enough that our impact is bigger than anything that can be accomplished in high school. We will always be the only number one high
we were here first.
school in Lawrence, Kansas because
Our theme is bird hunting/camo, so we’re wearing a Free State color
Our theme is funeral/black out, so we’re wearing a LHS color
*Burn mark*
Who burned our football field!! It must have been FSHS nuh ah, why would we touch your field
The Great Mystery of who runs the Barstool accounts...
by Arabella Gipp
SONG OF THE MONTH
LHS Alma Mater
Scan Me to listen to the song of the month
"It’s our overly extravagant, perhaps grandiloquent, long-winded, slightly repetitive and utterly-brim-with verbiage composition of verbose praise for LHS."
—Ashlyn Tell, Co-Editor-In-Chief of lhsbudget.com
"The LHS alma mater is the best song to exist. It connects us in ways nothing else could. The sharpness of the 'k' after lack gives me goosebumps. We truly lift our hearts in praise of red and black."
—Lydia Folks, Co-Editor-In-Chief of the Red & Black
"I think that it’s great that we mention sportsmanship because it’s so important to respect other inferior schools."
—Rhubarb Brubacher, Co-Editor-In-Chief of lhsbudget.com
JOURNALISM STAFF
MISSION STATEMENT
The Budget is committed to providing the Lawrence High community with objective, inclusive news that ensures relevance to its readers. The staff devotes itself to the exercise of First Amendment rights and upholding the highest of journalistic standards. While the paper is a tool to publish student voices, it works to help students grow as journalists and help readers access information.
ABOUT US
The Budget is published every six weeks and distributed free of charge to students and faculty at Lawrence High School, 1901 Louisiana, Lawrence, Kan. The Budget is produced by students in the Digital Journalism and Digital Design and Production courses with occasional contributions from 21st Century Journalism and guest columnists. The newspaper’s goals are to inform, entertain, and present a forum of expression for students, faculty, administrators and community members. The newspaper is financed through advertising and fundraising. The editorial staff is solely responsible for the content of this newspaper, and views expressed in The Budget do not necessarily reflect those of the administration of Lawrence High School or USD 497.
STAFF
Aaminah Ahmed, Heidi Anderson, Clark Barber, Lola Brown, Alexis Clark, Leila Celune Elkhamri, Karen Cruz Santos, Ruby Flanner, Elise George, Kennedy Glasgow, Ida Harrington, Ruby Hull,
Harper Jay, Piper Journey, Carter Kingery, Ronan Kemme, Claire Lindemyer, Sophia McLaughlin, Prairie Mulligan, Alexa Nauholz, Eliza Naumann, Jordan Nguyen, Zoe Peterson, Eliza Pultz-Earle, Oliver Reynolds, Grace Sanders, Josie Segraves, Cadence Scholz, Audrey Stock, Miles Wade, Selah Wolfe, Anne Woolverton, Eileen Zhao
THE BUDGET EDITORS
Arabella Gipp Co Editorin-Chief
Bryndal Hoover Co Editorin-Chief
Zana Kennedy Co Editorin-Chief
Juliet Outka Co Editor-in-Chief
LHSBUDGET.COM
EDITORS
Rhubarb Brubacher Co-Editorin-Chief
Channing Morse Co-Editorin-Chief
Ashlyn Tell Co-Editor-in Chief Naomi Sui Pang 308 Connection Manager RED & BLACK EDITORS
Lydia Folks Co Editor-in-Chief
Delainey Haase Co-Editorin-Chief
Avery Sloyer Co-Editor-in Chief
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS
Beatrix Johnson Co Editorin-Chief
Mimi Rosado-Schmitt Co Editor-in-Chief
Barbara Tholen Adviser
Flip issue upside down to begin reading the Free Press’ rivalry experiences.
#3 ETHAN CURRY
#8 JOSH GALBREATH
#26 NOAH RICHARDSON
FREE STATE Our side starts here.
Flip issue right side up to begin reading The Budget’s rivalry experiences.
#6 LIAM STRAMBERG
#22 NOAH SIMPSON
#9 BRALIN PRESTON
Design by Lilly Wall.
THE GAMEDAY
Story By Rakshan Ossen
MASTERPLAN
MASTERPLAN
Behind the Operations of the City Showdown
Being one of the most anticipated sporting events in the city of Lawrence, the annual football match between the Free State Firebirds and Lawrence High’s Chesty Lions brings in a massive influx of spectators. When the matches are played at home, preparation for the big day is done months ahead of time — leading these efforts is Athletic Director Jered Shaw.
After taking the position of athletic director and assistant principal in 2022, Shaw was given the task of managing the athletic departments and overseeing logistics behind any athletic activities.
Shaw’s responsibilities on game day extend to writing scripts for the PA announcer, assigning crew members, managing concession stands, arranging special events organized by the Gridiron Club and scheduling halftime performances on the field.
The City Showdown, Shaw mentions, requires even more planning than a regular season game. A majority of the planning goes towards arranging traffic and getting more police officers to help with security.
“I’ve been working on this for quite a while just because of the overall magnitude of the game, and how many people are there, and all the different dynamics of that game,” Shaw said. “[It] just caught our grounds for a little bit of extra planning.”
One of the biggest challenges of hosting a City Showdown is keeping the flow of traffic smooth and to also keep the spectators safe, Shaw said. To do this, he collaborates with Assistant Principal Matthew Renk to make sure the environment allows for safe and easy access for spectators supporting their teams.
“The biggest thing is we want to put our kids in positions to be appropriate at the game that goes for both sides,” Shaw said. “Some inappropriate things can happen … So we have to make sure that we’re taking that into consideration first and foremost, just keeping kids safe.”
Student sections travel every game to support their teams. From cheering on their players to hyping up the crowd, students aim to create an electric atmosphere and represent pride in their school’s culture. However, Shaw notes that the intensity of the rivalry can sometimes lead to inappropriate behavior such as unsportsmanlike chants, calling
out players and officials or even storming at the field.
“We want our student section to be as loud and positive as we possibly can and cheer for Free State. That’s where we try to point them out. If we’re not cheering against the other team, we’re cheering for Free State,” Shaw said.
Shaw is also mindful of protecting the officials who are often the target of frustration from the stands.
“Part of the whole game day atmosphere is people get angry at games because of calls,” Shaw said. “We have to make sure that our officials are safe too because they’re providing a service and we have to make sure that we don’t have people in our stands saying something to them.”
As both teams look to come off strong for the win, this will be their last game for the 2024 regular season. Behind the excitement and intensity of the City Showdown lies months of preparation for students, athletes and fans to unite in celebration of their schools. For Shaw, hosting a game is more than just tradition: it’s a way of giving back to his students.
“Athletics played a large part in my success in school …. so giving kids a place where they can feel passionate about something and do something that they love and also feel connected to their school, I feel helps them,” Shaw said.
BOUND BY RIVALRY
Collected By Arianna Waller
Recapping Student Traditions Around Rivalry Games
Cross Country Head Coach Steve Heffernan requires all his runners to dress up the day before their League meet.
Free State Spirit Squad members make 3-5 signs each for the Football team.
Steve Heffernan
I like the idea that it puts extra emphasis on the meet for that day. We do it to celebrate the meet itself, but also just the last day we’ll spend as a team that season.
Junior Kara Alexander
It helps boost their spirits the night before and gets them really excited about the game.
Every year, StuCo sells “Lions 4 Lunch” bracelets the week of the football City Showdown.
Senior Kinsey Lake
The Lions 4 Lunch bracelets are a quick and easy way not only to promote student involvement and support for our athletes, but bring a sense of community to the student body.
Photo collected from @freestatecheerleading on
Photo collected from senior Greta Barnett
Photo collected from StuCo
SAY GOODBYE TO STATE WEEK
State week removed from the schedule
In previous years, students could expect a week during late fall to be jam-packed with LHS vs. Free State games in all sports; however, this year the rivalry games have been spread across multiple weeks.
According to Athletic Director Jered Shaw, the games were never purposefully scheduled to fall all at the same time despite the excitement built around the week. Shaw says the dissolving of the state week this year
was just as unintentional as each sport’s season was scheduled separately by different people.
“It wasn’t like something purposeful that they split up the games,” Shaw said. “In the past, it just has seemed that way, because there’s a lot of things that we do at the same time.”
To many students, the change hadn’t become apparent until the LHS vs Free State soccer game fell significantly earlier in its season this year. Varsity soccer player
Story by Evie Chancy
Blanchard said that the absence of state week makes it harder for students to know when the rivalry games are and show up.
“This was both a good but a bad decision,” Blanchard said. “Spreading out the games helps get more students and fans, but when all the games are in one week it feels more hype when it’s LHS week because of all the different things Hype Club and the school are promoting during the week.”
However, the change has led to some positive change for student athletes, like junior Annika Lintecum. The loss of state week has allowed her to go to more games because she’s not busy with her own.
“I honestly like that we get excited in different weeks, versus having one huge week,” Lintecum said. “It’s really fun to get to go to different games throughout the seasons and not have it in the same week.”
Overall, many students, like Lintecum, are hesitant about the change. Lintecum said she likes the ability to go to more games but she misses the traditions and spirit week that came with
Design by Katie Campbell
FRIENDS TO
Athletes emotions behind playing against their friends at city showdowns
As the cross-town rivalry game comes around each year, both teams compete to hold pride in their school. However, this game, more than any other, brings a heightened sense of emotions and competition; facing off against longtime, close friends is what sets the game apart from any other.
Growing up, senior middle blocker Ainsley Linhos played club volleyball with friends from Lawrence High School. This year, Linhos competed against five friends from the opposing school, who she played with for six years.
While she said she felt excited to see friends at the rivalry game, she also must outthink them to win the game. As Linhos described it, the game came down to which team can outsmart the other, especially with knowing tactical habits of old teammates.
“We’re all close, and it’s funny playing with each other,” Linhos said. “You’ve played with each other for so long, and you know what they’re going to do, so you have to be smarter.”
On top of the psychological gameplay, the energy quickly becomes more competitive. Players, like sophomore soccer player Surete Sulitan, explain that the competitive atmosphere boosts the relationship to create a more enjoyable game.
“If you do good, you get to brag and show off to them after the game. It builds the friendship and makes it a lot more fun,” Sulitan said.
Story by
Phoebe Morris
RIVALS
Sulitan is on junior varsity and has grown up playing with many LHS friends. On most weekends, he still meets up with these friends to practice. Sulitan said he believes that understanding and communicating how they trained played a part in winning this year’s rivalry game, as he already knew their favorite tendencies on the field.
“Knowing your teammate and knowing what they will do next can really help with team bonding,” Sulitan said. “We would compare our team and the chemistry between our players, and the differences we could see in the field.”
In addition to the weight of the cross-town rivalry created by community members, the game can act as a memory for athletes who face off against their childhood friends for the last time. Senior quarterback Boston Baker grew up playing with LHS senior quarterback Banks Bowen for six years.
Baker describes this year’s rivalry football game as a personal game for the two. He said that with the rivalry game being the last of the regular season, he will take a professional approach to enjoy what will likely be their last organized game together.
“The game means a lot because it’ll be our last game being on the same field with one another, but I’m excited for the moment,” Baker said.
As for any City Showdown, the excitement rises for both schools, filling student sections and growing school spirit. To honor many seniors who will move on in the spring, the games will turn full circle: right back to where they started, playing with their friends.
“It’ll be a sweet and sour moment for whoever wins and loses, because these are our friends for the past five or six years, and it’s over since this is our last time playing together,” Linhos said.
Senior Ainsley Linhos (24) and the rest of the Kansas United Club Volleyball team pose for a picture after competing in a tournament in Kansas City during Linhos’ sophomore year. Photo collected from Ainsley Linhos
Story by Elliot Skillman
MORE THAN CHEERS
Spirit Squad considers the dedication required for their program
At the center of several athletic events are the cheerleading and dance squads, which work together to build excitement and an active environment at each activity they attend. Serving a pivotal role in how athletic events go, this joint program — better known as the “Spirit Squad” — requires significant commitment because of the long season and amount of time needed to prepare for each event.
Each summer, the spirit program is expected to participate in a camp. Then, once the school year starts, the program prepares for its August to early March season.
Junior Kara
Alexander, a three-year member of the dance program, said their season is very demanding.
“It’s long because all types of sports deserve to have a little bit of extra attention at their games, because everyone works hard. And the spirit squad is there to help acknowledge that,” Alexander said.
Cheer Coach Dena Johnston said that she wants to make sure that each person she mentors knows that she is there for them if necessary.
“It’s important to me that [these athletes] feel heard, respected and know that I have an open door policy when they have a need,” Johnston said. “It’s inspiring to work alongside each of them and become a small part of their journey through high school and often into college.”
Alexander also underscored the group’s capacity to energize crowds, noting that their planned chants and choreography help create a cohesive and engaging atmosphere at each game.
Moreover, Spirit Squad Director and Head
Having been coached by Johnston for four years now, senior cheer member Liv Brack said she has developed with this program as such an important part of her life.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot about discipline and pushing myself. I learned how to balance [school and cheer] ... which has helped me grow as a person. And I’ve learned so much from Dena pushing us to keep going and keep working. It’s really taught me a lot about what I can do while not limiting myself,” Brack said.
TACKLING
THE PAST
Story by Nick Sprecker
TFree State alumnus
Mikel Ruder reflects on his experience during the crosstown rivalry football games
he Free State vs. Lawrence High School rivalry is one that dates back to 1997, when LHS split apart. Players, parents and coaches across various sports have the City Showdown circled on their calendars in large anticipation each year.
Free State alumnus Mikel Ruder (‘07) was a first team all-state selection as a two-way lineman his senior year under head coach Robert Lisher, and was selected to play in the 2007 Kansas Shrine Bowl AllStar Game.
He started in all three of his years at Free State and holds the career record for unassisted tackles (202), doing so from the nose guard position and tallying 77 of those tackles his senior year.
Alongside Ruder, key players like Ryan and Bryan Murphy, Christian Ballard and Kyle Weinmaster helped rally the team to a state semifinal appearance in 2006.
Just like it is now, Ruder said that there isn’t any feeling in high school football quite like rivalry day.
“The Lawrence High versus Free State [games] were always special,” Ruder said. “There is no other way to put it and it didn’t matter the sport. There was always a little something extra in the air on game days.”
Growing up in Lawrence, Ruder’s rivalry experience was rooted in much more than high school. Throughout his childhood years, he said experiences made in youth and middle school football shaped a realization about just how much the showdown means.
“The start of this ‘rivalry,’ for me, was created in youth football — playing for the Cougars against the Hurricanes — and further strengthened in Jr. High when I played for Central and battled against South, West and Southwest,” Ruder said.
Through those years as a kid, Ruder said the teammates and opponents
that he met along the way gave the City Showdown a unique aspect.
“Myself and many of my teammates at Free State grew up playing with or against those players at Lawrence High,” Ruder said. “The rivalry, competition, but more importantly, friendships, were created years before the [rivalry] game … The cumulation of years and past games against one another created special bonds and friendships for me, which only deepened the rivalry.”
Ruder’s senior year rivalry game performance was nothing short of dominance — he recorded 16 solo tackles, posing a nightmare for the Chesty Lions’ offense as Free State triumphed to continue its successful season.
“I do remember having an absolute blast that game,” Ruder said. “Our team played extremely well, and any time you can get a win against LHS, it’s just that much more special. If I remember correctly, the game was played at [David Booth Memorial Stadium] too, which was pretty awesome.”
20 BAND TOGETHER
Asking Drum Majors about their role in marching band
Lauren
H a n nah
Collected by Morgan Sponholtz
Gage M o nse
Q: What has been the most challenging part?
I’m not playing anymore, and I like to play my instrument. And so to be taken away from that has been really hard.
You’re an example to the whole band, so you have to show up every single day with a good attitude.
Q: What is your pre-performance routine?
Gage and I talk to each other about how we want the night to go, what we expect, but also, we remind ourselves that we’re both doing a good job.
I walk around and talk to everybody, and I tell them they’re going to do a good job and not to worry.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part?
I’ve seen a lot of growth in myself personally… also see the band piece together everything, and to see all of it come together.
You get to see the band improve in a different way than if you were marching... when you are conducting and you hear the band sound good, it makes you feel good.
Photos by Nathan Friedman
HISTORY OF SUCCESS
Free State soccer breaks down the formula to beating LHS for seven straight years Story by
Jonah Frye
For the past seven years, Free State has come away with the victory in the boys varsity soccer cross-town rivalry game.
On Sept. 19, 2024 at the LHS soccer field, the Firebirds beat the Chesty Lions 4-2 in the boys varsity soccer rivalry game.
Free State head soccer coach Joseph Waldron said the rivalry is a huge motivation for players, describing it as a magical environment not often found in high school sports.
“It’s fantastic, it’s magical… no matter where you are, there are teams that have a rivalry with one another but the Lawrence High and Lawrence Free State rivalry is unique,” Waldron said.
Waldron also said the teams’ knowledge of each other makes for a particularly special game. He said the two teams have an almost sibling-like rivalry.
Junior and two-year varsity member Eli Stone said that, unlike regularseason games, the cross-town rivalry has so much more energy.
“Everybody’s so amped up and it really means more playing a cross-town rival, so the energy is through the roof,” Stone said.
Waldron said the single biggest factor in the rivalry game has been the support from students and fans.
At this year’s rivalry game, senior varsity member and captain Hudson Robinson said he saw far more Free State fans show up compared to LHS fans.
“I want to brag on our student section a bit because we always get people lined up on the fence,” Robinson said. “Seeing how many people showed up to support us, it gave us a boost of energy and it made us want to play harder and win for [the students].”
For Stone, the presence of seniors and especially the captains has helped the culture feel more tightknit and closer.
As a senior, Parker Bentley said the seniors being such good friends off the field can help with the overall team cohesiveness.
“The team culture is deeply influenced by our seniors, specifically our captains. The presence of our seniors definitely plays a crucial part for our juniors and sophomores as role models on and off the field,” Bentley said.
McCall
Members of the soccer team and the student section link arms on the field after Free State wins the city showdown.
Photo by Mallory Thompson
NEWS STAFF
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Lilly Wall
Nick Sprecker
Phoebe Morris
MANAGING EDITORS
Evie Chancy
Maria Mosconi
DESIGN EDITOR
Geneva Sabatini
PHOTO EDITOR
Mallory Thompson
CAPTIONS EDITOR
Elinor Russo
SPORTS EDITOR
Rakshan Ossen
COPY EDITOR
Elliot Skillman ONLINE
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Simon Williams
Ember Klein ONLINE
MANAGING EDITOR
Baila Love
SOCIALMEDIAEDITORIN-CHIEF
Katie Campbell
ASST. SOCIAL
MEDIAEDITOR
Delaney Bayliss
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Chloe Cook
Lilly Wall
Eli Roust
Geneva Sabatini
Mallory Thompson
Nathan Friedman
Anders Benson
REPORTERS
Arianna Waller
Elliot Skillman
Evie Chancy
Jonah Frye
Morgan Sponholtz
Nick Sprecker
Phoebe Morris Rakshan Ossen
DESIGNERS
Abbie Veeder
Amanda McCall
Gevena Sabatini
Katie Campbell
Mallory Thompson Willow Marable
BUSINESS TEAM
Amanda McCall
Piper Northrop
CONTENTS
FEATURE
Pg. 14 - The Gameday Masterplan
Pg. 15 - Bound by Rivalry
Pg. 17 - Friends to Rivals
Pg. 18 - More than Cheers and Choreography
Pg. 19 - Tackling the Past
Pg. 20 - Band Together
Pg. 21 - History of Success
NEWS
Pg. 16 - No More State Week
ABOUT THE ISSUE
On behalf of the Free Press, we are thrilled to present to you the rivalry speciality issue! From the flipped layout to the collaboration with our neighboring high school, this issue is entirely the first of its kind. With this magazine, we hope to bring varying perspectives and shed light on a storied and special rivalry game.
ABOUT THE COVER
Senior Running back Noah Simpson celebrates in the endzone after scoring a touchdown against Shawnee Mission East. The Firebirds went on to beat the Lancers 12-3 in their opening game of the season. To raise awareness for childhood cancer, students and players wore the color gold in accordance with the “Go Gold” theme worn annually in the month of September. Photo by Nathan Friedman.
SOCIALS MISSION STATEMENT
Ainsley Linhos
Curious Free State journalists will amplify voices, gather superior sources and tell pivotal stories of our community in a visually creative way in order to serve our audience and foster quality scholastic journalism in Lawrence, Kansas.
