Prom
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Dr. Riley
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Basketball
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THE VOICE
Photo by Emily Parkinson
FALLEN, NOT FORGOTTEN Behind Displays that Depict Heroes By Ben Randall COPY EDITOR
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very Minute Counts!” A voice bellowed that phrase, syllable by syllable, not to anyone in particular, but the vast expanse of the university. Quite often in our youth, we are preached at to be ready for our upcoming challenges, and the adversity that tomorrow will bring. However, hearing those words, and staring at the names of those who fell in the name of our country, can make life seem more present-tense. “Patriotic Productions--they created the “Remembering Our Fallen” exhibits about a decade ago,” social studies instructor Mr. Samuel Williams said. “The Nebraska wall has been traveling non-stop for the last ten years! Often I have helped set it up and constantly encounter new notes from loved ones left behind. There are 15 other state walls touring individual states and two national walls (with all of the nation’s Fallen from the War on Terror) that tour the nation.” The United States has been desensitized to death in certain ways; we see and hear about the deaths of countless veterans and soldiers in action, but it struggles to make an impact with society. However, what is the right way to handle this mass of death and dismay? The Williams family aims to honor the men and women whose stories are lost with elaborate displays all across the country. “Yes, I helped out with the display. I met my parents in the cafeteria after they had already started setting it up,” Mr. Williams said. “Mr. Cahill and Mr. Miller were down there as well assisting with the setup.” Crisp suede flags stood on each end, hovering solemnly in the air above multiple
panels. Within the display, names of those Nebraskans who lost their lives while serving our country are displayed. This display is unique in the sense that it is one of many, representing the veterans of each state, with their names and stories. “The Williams’ go around the country, making sure that the displays are neat and honor everyone who deserves it,” Janitor Mr. Larry Cahill said. “The display must be directly sized to the size of the state, so you can imagine the states like Texas and California have bigger displays.” One name, in particular, stood out, glimmering on the list of names like a beacon in the night: Joel Cahill. Sometimes realizing that we live amongst heroes and impactful figures makes one rethink their problems. People like Joel Cahill put it all on the line and paid the ultimate price in the end. “Joel graduated from Papillion-La Vista High School in 1989, and enlisted in early 1990,” Mr. Cahill said. “He thrived in his new military environment. He hit the ground running and never looked back. Altogether, he was enlisted for 15 years.” A fallen soldier is one that was stripped of his duty, released from his pain, and unshackled from the life that embodied them moments before. A fallen soldier is not a failed soldier. The soldier helped, if nothing else, with the task at hand, and created memories that trumped everything else of importance, sharing crucial moments with comrades turned best friends. “[Looking at the display], I feel sorrowful, grateful,” Mr. Williams said. “Most of the people on the wall are just kids, right out of high school, boys and girls, black and white--often the best of their graduating classes. Cut down in the prime of their youths.” While it is depressing that so much sorrow and pain is overlooked in our lives,
maybe it is better off that way. The beauty of the design of the Williams’ family’s displays is found in their simplicity. They show names, pictures, and stories that found their way into the public domain through familial ties or by chance. Sometimes these soldiers are overlooked, but the Williams’ make sure that every uplifting, and altogether powerful story is shared. “Seeing the display gave me a sense of pride. It was consoling to know that Joel was doing exactly what he wanted to do,” Mr. Cahill said. “He never went into the service reluctantly, he always gave it 110 percent. When I saw his name there, I felt okay. I felt good. I feel pride that his life meant something and that he lived it to the fullest.” Soldiers, from the Blackwolves Army ROTC, around Creighton University looked up faithfully to Mr. Cahill, as he gave a speech that would shake them to their very cores. This speech, given nearly seven years ago, was something of resolve and meaningfulness for Cahill, who just lost his son to the all-encompassing grip of death. Yet, as Cahill entrusted the soldiers with Joel’s story, there was a familiar glimmer in his eyes when talking about his son, the same glimmer that shone in a mid-day conversation years later. “I’m just going to emphasize the mission of the organization: ‘Man does not die until he is forgotten’” Mr. Williams said. “So let’s not forget.” Fighting for one’s country is the utmost act of bravery, and is a decision that depicts great sacrifice. Just like an artist pours not only pastels but their soul into their pieces, a soldier rips his heart out and puts it for all to see in the battlefield. As the glimmer remained in Mr. Cahill’s eyes, the soldiers stared up at him in awe, as he concluded his speech with three, spaced out words: “Every Minute Counts!”
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NEW ART MURAL IN ROOM 840
Students Create Portrait Representing Dragons By Bayleigh Koch STAFF WRITER
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rt club students have plan to paint a mural in the art hallway by art club sponsor Michael Moore. Mr. Moore is excited about the mural and has been trying to get more student art around the school for years, he is hoping this step will open more opportunities. “I want this to be the students work, not me behind it.” Mr. Moore said. “I tell them what to do kind of but for the most part it is all them.” The mural construction began in February and they are hoping to have it done by the end of March. The art club is in charge of painting the mural while the art teachers came up with the initial idea of the mural. The club started with a meeting and everyone came in with an idea before settling on the current design before adding more details such as: dripping paint, the Gretna tower, pottery, and the dragon.
“All three of the art teachers have wanted to do an art mural.” Mr. Moore said. “We have a huge art department that we are not really allowed to put up on the building.”. “This is the first official mural and we’re hoping doing this will give us more opportunities.” They had to grid it out and since the hallway is too small they had to duragrid (which means measure every brick and then sketch the mural via a grid) the mural and measure it based off that. That took about a week and all the students came on a Thursday night to settle the plan. To make things permanent they painted the sketch with light blue and now they are on the process of choosing the color scheme. “Mr. Miller approved it and gave us the okay and we started right away,” Mr. Moore said. “The kids are great and it is a fun experience for them.” The art club students will be working on this for a few more weeks and they are wanting to have it done by the end of March. Moore and the other art teachers are hoping that this will bring more opportunities for the art club to put up art around the school.
2 News
MARCH 2019
Page designed by Jacey Hammer
Volume 5 Issue 5
Changing it Up
New Location, New Date By Samantha Chase STAFF WRITER
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Bachelor Style With prom approaching, promposals are becoming a common sight. Gene Mannewitz (20) asked Payton Plugge (20) to prom using a sign based off of one of Plugge’s favorite show, The Bachelor. “I knew Payton liked The Bachelor, so I decided to base it off of that,” Mannewitz said. Submitted photo
ith prom night quickly approaching, students are gearing up for a night of fun, while the prom committee is working to ensure a memorable night. The prom committee is in charge of setting up the venue prom will be held in and what the theme of this year’s prom will be. The theme for this year’s prom is “Circus,” which was decided upon after discussing several different theme ideas. The prom committee looked back to previous year’s prom themes and decided to do “Circus” because they think it will be a unique theme that they can do activities with. “We had a lot of ideas,” junior Payton Shoup said. “For five people we actually had about fifteen ideas, which is crazy but we had to decide something that hadn’t really been done for a long time and something that was different. We had to go back and look at past years which was kind of difficult but we ended up coming to the circus theme.” Prom is being held at a new center this year, which is something that is exciting to the upperclassmen who plan on attending. The prom committee decided that after holding prom at the Sac Museum for three years in a row, it was time for a change of scenery and atmosphere. “We like to mix it up every couple of years,” prom committee leader Mrs. Kari Bulgrin said. “We went to the SAC museum three years in a row so it was just time to try something different. I reached out to some other event centers and this one will hold us all. We are a very large event, so it is difficult to find places that can hold us. It is at the Beardmore Event Center, which is in the parking lot of the twin creek movie theater
in Bellevue.” The prom committee plans on making prom different than previous years by the change of event center, theme and when it is taking place. They hope to make prom more enjoyable for everyone and a place where everybody can have a good time. “I think that prom will be different this year,” Shoup said. “I think the theme is super cool and I think the way we are setting it up and everything that will be going on inside of prom is super cool. Prom itself is going to be really well organized and very perplexing because we have a lot of different ideas going around. It definitely won’t be as cold inside because at the Sac Museum it is straight concrete and everything is kind of chilly, but at the hotel, it is very warm and comforting and it looks like a giant classical dining hall. I hope that prom this year is actually super fun and not boring because sometimes that happens where people don’t have as much fun at prom as they do at post prom.” One aspect of this year’s prom that has people asking questions is why is prom earlier than previous years. Prom is being held on March 30 this year, when it is typically held in the middle of April, which has students asking why it is so early this year. “It all depends on when Easter falls and when spring break falls and when the musical falls and the track meet that our school hosts,” Mrs. Bulgrin said. “Every year is different depending on the calendar. I don’t want it any earlier than when it is this year, and I don’t want it later than like April 15th so I have about a three-week window.” The prom committee plans on making this year’s prom a night to remember, whilst introducing a unique theme and a new event center. They have been planning prom for about two months now and cannot wait to see everything pull together for an eventful night.
Graduating Class Calls Limited Tickets Class Sizes Increase Causing Alternative Seats By Grace Coufal STAFF WRITER
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s the student population grows, the graduating class annually grows larger. This year’s seniors will be the first graduating class to receive limited tickets for seating at graduation. Each graduate will receive a certain amount of tickets to give to his/her family. In the past, there were no limitations to seating. In the past, it was always first to come, first serve. “Graduation was not a problem until last year,” principal Mr. Roger Miller said. “Our gym can hold about 1,700 people, and I always put about 400 chairs on the floor for parents.” This is the first year that there will be limited seating. Each student will get six tickets, the administration decided, because it gives tickets to your parents, siblings, and grandparents. When the graduating class becomes too big, they have two choices: to move it to an arena or keep at the high school but continue limited seating. Many Omaha area schools moved their graduation to arenas. “We did not choose on moving it because that takes away the
personalization and does not leave memories,” Mr. Miller said. “When it is held in an arena, it is like you are just running graduation in a factory.” If more family wants to come to graduation, the school will provide a live stream on a screen that will be set up in the theatre. The theatre is open because attendees in the past have found it uncomfortable being in a sweaty gym for over two hours. Additionally, the people viewing in the theatre do not have to pay for tickets. By giving away a certain amount of tickets to a student also means that people do not have to show up hours before to find a spot. “Now if you have a ticket, you can figure that you will have a guaranteed spot,” Mr. Miller said. “This gives parents a chance to breathe and know that they will be able to watch their son/daughter graduate.” The graduating students might be stressed for their families members who cannot watch them. The main problem is when the school has to have less than six tickets per family. When the number of tickets gets too small, it could become a problem for students and their families. “I understand the point that graduation will be moved because
of the number of students we have,” senior Claire Meerian said. “It also stresses me out because what if we have more families that want to watch us graduate, and they cannot because there are not enough tickets?” For some parents, it worries them on what family members get to see their child graduate. If they did move it to a place like Baxter Arena, it would give endless parking, and limitless seating. According to the Omaha World-Herald, thirteen Omaha-area schools booked the Baxter Arena for graduations last year. In the future, they might have to move the graduation because it might be too big. “The tickets were something that had to be done, because in years past the gyms is very cramped and uncomfortable,” parent Mrs. Mary Jo Coufal said. “I think that we should move it, that way the whole family can watch and not worry about getting a ticket.” From this point on, the graduating class will just continue growing, until they open the new high school, so in the meantime, something had to be done. Eventually, the graduation might be moved, but for now, they will not move it until it is a necessity.
Student Enrollment 2017-18: 4,890 2016-17: 4,499 2015-16: 4,116 2014-15: 3,815 2013-14: 3,559 2012-13: 3,348 2011-12: 3,155 2010-11: 2,993 2009-10: 2,808 2008-09: 2,633
Page designed by Jacey Hammer
MARCH 2019 OpEd 3 WILL YOU ACCEPT THIS ROSE?
Volume 5 Issue 5 Art by Emma Mayer
Marvelous Bachelor, Colin Kitson By Colin Kitson STAFF WRITER
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The newspaper staff is conducting an experiment. The staff has been split in two groups: green and yellow staff. Senior Ella Weaver is editor-in-chief of the green staff. Senior Jacey Hammer is editor-in-chief of the yellow staff. The main purpose of the split staffs is to get news out quicker and more current.
eason 23 of “The Bachelor” is currently in the process of coming to a close, with the show having only few girls left and a big decision for bachelor, Colton Underwood. Imagine this: next season you go to watch the bachelor, and you just see a realistic, averagelooking guy by the name of Colin Kitson. That would leave fans in shock when they see me up there because I am not even close to the same level as the previous bachelors. After watching an episode of “The Bachelor”, I am left with a weird and almost scared feeling. The show in my mind should be in the horror category because if a girl is not picked, they are emotionally ruined. Underwood is straight up evil, as he is saying, “I love you,” to multiple women and kissing them time after time. Now if you had me on the show, I would put the whole show in jeopardy because I would change everything. I love the idea of starting out with 30 women chasing me; that is a dream any guy has. I would never make my season too emotional because men do not cry, and I would never say anything too meaningful until I was down to the last girl because she is the winner and deserves it. I am not out there to destroy girls’ hopes and dreams. It would be hard for the girls from day one because I am the total package. I have an appealing build, average looks, but really where I drag them in is my personality, which is through the roof. The common mistake I see throughout the show is the whole idea of letting the girls know how he wants to be with them forever. This is not just one girl; it is multiple. Those
girls are actually out there thinking that the bachelor is the perfect fit for them, but in the end, most of them get sent home.. Even for the one lucky contestant who wins, there is not a good chance they will stay together. Especially when they have known each other for a few weeks. Only one couple is still together over the 22 seasons of the bachelor, one! I am not a statistician , but those numbers are absolutely horrendous. If I was on the show, it would be very simple. I would eliminate at least half of the girls on the first episode. With my standards being very unrealistic, I would honestly just send home the ones I do not think are attractive. Sounds harsh, but I would rather do that than have more women get attached to me, so I would just have to tell them how it is from the beginning. I would take some time with the rest and then choose which one I think has the potential to be with me. No kisses would be displayed on my episode or the typical “I love you.” I am not here to make this show PG-13, and to be honest, it is very cringy when they kiss because it is multiple kisses at a time. The “I love you” is such a joke on the show and a lie. Only one girl wins and the bachelor says it to more than one girl, which is so disrespectful. If you really think about it, regardless of the fact that it is a TV show, the bachelor is just one big player and a horrible person. I would not be able to change the whole player thing, but I would not be too up close with the women as the bachelor usually is. All in all, the bachelor would be much better if I was on it because not as many people would be emotionally torn. I would make the show more realistic and just a better experience for the audience.
The Voi ce: Yellow Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jacey Hammer (19)
STAFF WRITER
Colin Kitson (19)
COPY EDITOR
Ben Randall (19)
STAFF WRITER
Samantha Chase (21)
PAGE EDITOR
Emily Shurtliff (20)
STAFF WRITER
Bayleigh Koch (21)
PAGE EDITOR
Connor Bulgrin (21)
STAFF WRITER
Grace Coufal (22)
CARTOONIST
Emma Mayer (20)
STAFF WRITER
Regan Ehlert (22)
ADVISOR
Mrs. Baijnauth (88)
STAFF WRITER
Gabby Hytrek (22)
STAFF WRITER
Matt Goblirsch (19)
STAFF WRITER
Kaleigh Zollman (22)
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MARCH 2019
Feature
Page Design By Connor Bulgrin
Volume 5 Issue 5
INSTAGRAMERS ON THE RISE Students Use Instagram to Showcase Photography BY Bayleigh Koch STAFF WRITER
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tudents at GHS have many passions and hobbies. One extracurricular activity some students are enjoying is photography. Several students have created Instagram pages to present their talents in photography. A few of those students include Cade Suing, Kaiya Russell, Cecily Jones, Trinity Ortlieb and Ruth Isaacson. They post their photos for many reasons.
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“I have had an interest in photography since middle school,” senior Cecily Jones said. “I started out just taking pictures of the trees and flowers around my house. I never really pursued anything more until after I joined yearbook and became more fluent in my camera settings and editing.”
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“I was inspired to start photography after I had modeled for roughly a year,” Senior Kaiya Russell said. “I was interested in being on the other side of the camera for a change. It started as a fun thing to mess around with, but then I got very intrigued and wanted to continue to learn.” “Recently I’ve gotten more growth from shooting with models that are signed to agencies or go to other schools,” Russell said. “They are always interested in shooting and give great exposure. A lot of growth comes from word of mouth in the modeling/ photography world as well.”
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“Photography is my passion for many reasons,” sophomore Cade Suing said. “Most of my role models have had some impact on the world by being a photographer, such as Jimmy Chin or Ansel Adams. Through these people, I have found that photography can be so much more than just taking a picture. I want people to feel something when they look at my pictures, and I hope one day that’s something I can achieve. Photography is a way for people to find out about the world around them, and when it’s done well, it becomes a true artistic statement.” “I feel like what I’m doing now with my photography account is a great way to establish the foundation for a successful career of photography,” Suing said. “Which is something I hope to pursue far into my future.” “I have a few video projects I’m working on, including a few music videos,” Suing said. “The fact that I’m comfortable with a camera leads many people to ask me to help in certain projects.”
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MARCH 2019
Page designed by Jacey Hammer
Volume 5 Issue 5
Feature
UNSUNG HERO : MRS. LANE
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Making School a Better Place By Grace Coufal STAFF WRITER
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oaming the halls, making the school a better place and helping kids of all grades is someone that students might not expect. She seems to be working hard every day, special education teacher Mrs. Kathleen Lane is an unexpected hero that is always helping others. Mrs. Lane has worked at GPS for a year and a half. “I started out in the 8th-grade room last year,” Mrs. Lane said. “Then I followed them up to their freshman year in high school, and I really like watching them grow and develop.” Mrs. Lane worked as a certified nursing assistant for 20 years, where she did medical research and worked women’s services, which entails deliveries and post departure. She chose to work with special education because she enjoyed being at the school and working with the kids. She chose GHS because she felt a deep connection to the school. “We have lived in Gretna for about six years, and my last two kids graduated from Gretna,” Mrs. Lane said. “I liked helping my own kids being in school and I like the schedule that the school calendar gives.” Looking at her career, it is not a surprise that Mrs. Lane has a big heart for helping kids and putting others first. She works in the ACC room, andis at the high school five days a week for seven hours a day, always making a commitment to help
others learn. She is always in the hallways or in a classroom, helping students and putting her best effort in. She always has a smile on her face and makes sure that everyone who wants help gets it, even if it does not apply to her. “Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my children and grandchildren,” Mrs. Lane said. “I have one daughter that graduated last year, and three sons that are all grown up and married.” If a student ever catches Mrs. Lane outside of school, she will likely still be helping others in her own family. She enjoys spending time with her family as much as she can. Her oldest son is married and has three children of his own in Gretna. Her second son is also married and is living in San Francisco, while her last son will be getting married in the summer, and he lives in Phoenix. The youngest child of Mrs. Lane is her daughter, she is a 2018 graduate, and she is attending college in Nebraska. “The thing I love most about my job would have to be that every day is a new day and something different happens,” Mrs. Lane said. “I also love coming in every day and seeing the kids, they make my day.” A special education teacher, however small a part of a school, is just as vital to the ecosystem of the school as is the principal to most students she works with. She seems to always provide the river that nourishes students with information and a happy face, devoting her whole to making sure others are happy.
Unsung Hero Mrs. Lane is the unsung hero that roams the hall, doing the work that nobody seems to do. “Working with the kids, make me happy and want to go to school,” Mrs. Lane said. “Everyday is a new day, and I get to do new things.” Photo by Grace Coufal
Dragon's Final Journey
Dr. Riley moves onto Next Chapter By Gabby Hytrek STAFF WRITER
Dr. Riley and his family. Photo by Gabby Hytrek
Photo by Jacey Hammer
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eniors are not the only ones saying goodbye as the 2019 school year comes to an end. Superintendent Dr. Kevin Riley will retire this year after 37 years of working in the Gretna Public School District. He will be missed by students, teachers, administrators and parents for his love of education as a whole. “I think Dr. Riley is very passionate about what he does,” said GHS principal Mr. Roger Miller. “He’s very intelligent and he’s very compassionate and he has a lot of common sense to look at a big picture and say okay what makes sense.” Along with leaving his lifelong career behind, he will be saying goodbye to students, staff, community and the school board. Before coming to Gretna, Dr. Riley taught at Millard for four years while coaching both boys and girls basketball and golf.Then, he came to Gretna where he was first an art teacher, a vice principal, principal and finally superintendent. “I’ve liked all my jobs, I never
planned any of them, they just happened,” Dr. Riley said. “I only ever planned being a teacher and a coach.” Dr. Riley not only affects students, but he has made an impact on the staff in GPS. Mrs. Lottman feels his knowledge of school systems, his belief in teachers, students and his positive attitude are what makes him great at his job. She also believes his patient leadership skills and his deep care for the community and district has made a lasting impact on Gretna. Like many other staff members, she is going to miss many traits about Dr. Riley. She will miss most his smile and his partaking in many after-school activities. “Dr. Riley impacts students by taking an interest in school activities,” Mrs. Lottman said. “No matter what the event, Dr. Riley always makes an appearance, standing in the background and quietly observing.” Principal Mr. Roger Miller has worked with Dr. Riley for 31 years. Mr. Miller is most going to miss Dr. Riley’s humor, passion for education and guidance of the school district as a whole. He feels Dr. Riley impacted the district by knowing the ins and outs of every building.
“He just has such a strong passion for education and it doesn’t matter at what level,” Mr. Miller said. “He knows how important education is at every level in a student’s academic career.” Dr. Riley visits each school almost daily to see how they can individually improve. Dr. Riley was initially a principle at GHS, but tries his hardest to understand the other school buildings as well. “You have to leave the district and guide the district, he was a high school principal and sometimes the high school side is all they know,” Mr. Miller said. “Although, he’s smart enough to know the middle school buildings and elementary buildings all together to be an effective leader.” Like any busy adult, Dr. Riley is looking forward to having unscheduled time to himself. While he is off having a well-deserved vacation, his presence will be missed in the Gretna School District. Dr. Riley has left a lasting impact on the students, staff and community that will be hard to replace. All members of GPS and surrounding schools will never forget the hardworking, passionate and caring attitude of our superintendent, Dr. Riley.
6 In-Depth
MARCH 2019
Page Designed By Emily Shurtliff
Volume 5 Issue 5
Body Image
Media Pollutes our Perspective, Bodies By Ben Randall COPY EDITOR
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ur girl is born. She is wonderful, a little bundle of delight, squealing for her mother as she grows up. Her parents adorn her with sparkling fashion and luxuries, filling her world up with fabulous, rich ideals. Our girl is older now, teenage and is beautiful; she is an outstanding student with an excellent repertoire, and is perpetually the girl who personifies “gossip.” Magazines, articles and sitcoms have surrounded her growth, telling her that she is perfect, that she should eat less or that she should care about everyone else’s opinions. Our girl scrolls through her social media and begins to notice something: her friends and peers ridicule her for her frail skin and her bony arms. They tease her, they bully her, they shame her. Our girl does not know what imperfect is; our girl cares too much about hearsay. Our girl; once beautiful, intelligent, with the world in front of her, fell victim to her own obsession with her body. “[The problem is] self-confidence and self-assurance,” counselor Ms. Carole Carraher said. “That’s the biggest cause of body-image related problems, even over the internet and others’ influence.” Ms. Carraher deals with all types of student situations, ranging from scheduling, conflicts and even circumstances related to body shaming. Why, you might ask, do students pick on each other so harshly? It boils down to our essential human drives; our desire for competition and comparisons. “One of the obvious causes of bodyshaming is the value society puts on people to look a certain way,” counselor Dr. Melissa Hansen said. “This message comes from multiple sources such as advertisements, movies, internet, parents, friends. The messages are sometimes very blatant, such as taking a pill to lose weight, while others are more subtle, like sleek models selling perfume or comments about an outfit accentuating a part of the body.” Society has always been geared toward the reader. It is a rarity to see the media publicize information that justifies being a little overweight, being slightly weak or not being up to par. No, the more common theme is perfectionism. All of us have been brought up watching famous athletes, actresses and others, with their elegant physiques and charming looks. Even on television, many of
the widely-spread comedies express hilarity through stabs at people who are overweight. “We all want to be ripped, skinny, or something in between because of media influence,” Ms. Carraher said. “Each of us has things we would like to change about our bodies- it’s that old-age-adage that ‘the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.’” That fence, however, is insurmountably tall, taking time, effort and joy from those who attempt to get to the other side. And that grass, that emerald, perfect grass, that everyone is salivating for? A hoax, provided by both the media and our own minds, instilled to assure that we are never satisfied with what we have. So that producers can keep selling, and society can keep buying. “The ‘disappreciation’ for ones’ body, is a natural human trait that really becomes pronounced during high school,” Dr. Hansen said. “High school is in the stage of development where identity is formed and belonging is a basic need ~ see Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. One of the obvious things that can be used to include or exclude people from the group is their appearance; body shape, physical characteristics, clothing.” It is no secret that perfection is one of humanity’s desires. We have brilliant minds, with processing power to think an infinite number of thoughts that have yet to be thunk, and with the ability to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. Yet, there are problems with our ways of thinking, just like there are errors in a sequence of code. We compare, obsess and loathe over parts of our lives, causing us to make bad decisions. “If a student was considering making a bad choice in general, I would first assess their emotional state and the seriousness of their bad choice,” Dr. Hansen said. “I would speak with the student and help them develop a plan to get the resources and professional help they need to address the issue.” While we do have flaws in our nature, we also have the chance to look past them. Counselors and parents always tell their children to not compare themselves and to not be perfectionists, despite the society that influences them just the same. Students, people and our species as a whole should heed those words; that being yourself is way more important than being perfect. Our minds are powerful, with the ability to respect and bully, so the realization of our flaws could prevent our violent minds from yielding us violent ends.
Haslow's Hierarchy of Needs Portrayed by Self Social Media Actualization Twitter: Respect, Achievement
Tumblr: Creativity, Problem Solving, Acceptance
Esteem Belonging Safety
Instagram: Security
Physiological
Facebook: Family
art by Emma Mayer
How to Be Body Positive
Instead of picking out your flaws in the mirror, focus on the things you love about youself. Every morning, look in the mirror and think about five things that you appreciate and admire about yourself. If social media is becoming a problem, take a weekend and delete it. It will keep you from comparing yoursef to other people and allow you to spend time with people who make you feel confident. Look for the good in others. Once you stop picking out other people's flaws, you will stop picking out your own. When you find yourself thinking negatively about somebody else, give them a compliment in your head. This will lead you to do the same thing with yourself.
Page Designed By Emily Shurtliff
Volume 5 Issue 5
MARCH 2019
In-Depth
7
Mental Stress to Physical Best Body Image Continues to Shape Student’s Lives
art by Emma Mayer
By Gabby Hytrek STAFF WRITER
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ody image is all over social media, commercials and other types of ads. From ages as young as preschool, there are magazines, books and television shows that show what society may deem right to look like. Many children pick up on these images or messages in front of them from a young age. People see the effect of body image start to play into their lives during their teenage years. Health, Education and Research did a study of teenagers from ages 11-13 and found that 76% of teens, boys and girls, started trying to change their bodies at the same age they entered high school. This leads to teens trying to improve their shape to what they thought it was ‘supposed to look like.’ “Society presents a lot of body goals for teens our age,” senior Olivia Thompson said. “The most prominent is pushing people to be skinny, fit, tan, complete happiness and so much more.” Body image is portrayed differently at every high school. At GHS it can be used as a sense of identity or status amongst peers. As a teenage girl, she feels negative body image is most prominent in females. Thompson finds that the best way to ignore body negativity is to take a break off of social media as a whole. She also feels it is helpful to think about all the positives she has to offer as a person and keeps in mind the concept that she is never going to be like anyone else and to be confident with that. “The most important thing to remember when you’re feeling bad about your body is that you are not defined by anyone or anything but yourself,” Thompson said. Creating a positive mindset is one of the first steps to having a positive body image. Junior Juliana Hauptman feels that body image can put a lot of pressure on teens, and negatively affects one’s mental health. This can lead to some people taking extreme measures such as skipping meals, anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders to lose weight. Like Thompson find it easier to discover negative body image online, such
as expectations of what your body should be. At GHS she feels that body image is not very positive, but it matters whom you surround yourself with. Finding friends that support and motivate is a great way to cope with negative society expectations. “Ignore what people are saying and look at your own body and be proud of it,” Hauptman said. “In the end, it’s your own mind that truly matters.” Body image not only affects girls, but it also takes a role in many boys lives as well. Sophomore JJ Merriman and freshman Connor Dixon both feel there is an expectation
to be fit and athletic for young men. “I would say that in the 2019 society a lot of people judge themselves by what supermodels and what actors look like,” said Merriman. “Over-all this can degrade some people’s but I think that if you are confident with yourself you can try to ignore that.” Dixon said that to help these negative expectations people can focus on more of a mental mindset than the physical one they are worried about. It is better to focus on the many positives about yourself than any of the negatives you may see. “If you get a thousand compliments and
Healthy Life Tips for Teens Great Benefits of Exercise
By Connor Bulgrin STAFF WRITER
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Lauren Anderson (20) squats at track practice. photo by Hannah Fee
any students do not enjoy gym class, but it may be more beneficial than they think. Exercising can improve countless aspects of life. One of the more obvious ones is body weight and shape. A common tool to measure body weight and healthiness is the body mass index or BMI. The BMI uses height and weight to calculate body healthiness. It considers the amount of bone, muscle and fat in the body. However, flaws are starting to be pointed out in the use of BMI, as it cannot differentiate between muscle and fat. Therefore, the set charts of the BMI cannot analyze how toned a person is or how much fat they have. “We are moving away from the body mass index because there’s so many factors that go into like height, weight, what’s healthy and fat to muscle ratio,” nurse Mrs. Bridget Plathe said. “I think a lot more has to do with how you are eating, how
one negative compliment you are probably going to focus on the negatives,” Dixon said. “You just have to remember to focus on the positives to keep yourself going.” Overall, body image can take a toll on aspects of many teens lives. Boys and girls both deal with the mental and physical stress negative body image can take. Although there are ways to stay positive in the eyes of what society wants, surrounding yourself with supportive friends and things you love can lead you to a positive and healthy lifestyle. Ultimately, it all comes down to what you think of yourself, not the views of others. you are sleeping and are you exercising. Some people may think reducing calories is an ample way to stay fit; however, it has been proven that a well-balanced diet and exercise are a better option. Limiting calories can slow down metabolic rate this will delay weight loss. According to Healthline, exercise increases metabolic rate and burns more calories, leading to weight loss. “If you aren’t taking care of yourself physically, it’s going to affect you mentally,” Mrs. Plathe said. “You are going to get headaches, you are going to have trouble with memory and thing like that. I think there is so much more that goes into healthy living more than like a healthy weight.” Exercising and staying fit can be beneficial to various parts of life. It affects stress levels, energy, memory, skin, sleep and help lose weight. Exercise does not have to be strenuous; it can be simply taking the stairs or riding a bike instead of driving. “Some people can’t help their stature, it’s what are they doing to stay healthy,” Mrs. Plathe said. “Blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, all those things are factors in healthy living.” There are many factors that go into a healthy life. Things like the BMI limit to height and weight but there is much more that goes into it. The best way to a healthy life is a well-balanced diet and exercise.
8 Sports
MARCH 2019
Page designed by Jacey Hammer
Volume 5 Issue 5
Basketball Overview
Boys basketball R e c o r d : 1 5 - 4
Photo by Casey Downing
Photo by Emily Parkinson
Reco r d : 7-1 2
Photo by Emily Parkinson
girls basketball
Photo by Casey Downing
Photo by Casey Downing
Photo by Casey Downing
Page designed by Jacey Hammer
Volume 5 Issue 5
MARCH 2019
Sports
9
Class A State results
WRESTLING QUALIFIERS
Cole Huss (19)
TJ Huber (20)
Photo by Emily Parkinson
Jackson Arend (20) Cameron Cunningham (22)
Lucca Henkel (21) Jack Larchick (20) Photo by Emily Parkinson
Photo by Emily Parkinson
MEDALISTS Cole Huss TJ Huber
ALL STATS ARE FROM MAXPREPS
Photo by Emily Parkinson
Girls: Lily Brophy (22) Anna Stednitz (20) Bella Lindberg (22) Aisha True (22) Zian Cox (19) ** First time girls have gone to state
2nd 2nd
Photo by Emily Parkinson
swimming
QUALIFIERS
Boys: Kellen McLaughlin (20)
Riley Hekrdle (19) Jon Galles (22) Harrison Rowland (19) Philip Matya (22) Jordan Salkeld (21) Tyler Schwartzkopf (20)
Photo by Cade Suing
cheer and dance DANCE
cheer Side-Line Routine
5th
Photo by Emily Parkinson
3rd 9th Non-Tumbling
Nationals
Photo by Emily Parkinson
State
10th
10 Feature
MARCH 2019
Page Design By Connor Bulgrin
Volume 5 Issue 5
SPORTS, SCHOOL, SLEEP, REPEAT
Inside Look at Three-Sport Athletes BY Regan Ehlert STAFF WRITER
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ith hard work and dedication, junior Kellen Mclaughlin and senior Harrison Rowland are three-sport athletes. Both athletes participate in cross country, swimming and track. “With being a three-sport athlete, you have to devote a lot of time to that sport and the people in it,” Rowland said. “It is hard to have time to do activities outside of school.” Stress plays a role in Rowland and Mclaughlin’s lives due to everything they are required to balance. School, sports, family, friends and working on the weekends are just a few of the things they have to equalize. “Balancing school when you miss class for meets can be stressful,” Rowland said. “Your body can take its toll from practicing because of all the work and lack of sleep.” Although being a three-sport athlete can be stressful, doing different physical activities helps their bodies and stamina. Mclaughlin’s participation physically assists him while going from sport to sport. “It’s really cool how all the different sports help with other sports,” Mclaughlin said. “There’s a lot of research that being a three-sport athlete helps. A lot of the lung stuff you do in swimming helps your breathing control when you’re running, and the stamina you have in your legs from cross country can help with swimming when you kick. All three of the sports help out each other in some way.” Free time is a rarity when a student is involved in sports year-round. Mclaughlin
feels that it is most critical to find time to spend with family and friends. “Finding time to spend with family and friends is most important,” Mclaughlin said. “Balance your homework and sports, but building and keeping connections with others is so important.” Head swim coach Mr. Paul Duin plays a vital role during the winter season for Mclaughlin and Rowland. Both of them are team captians for the swim team. Coach Duin believes that Rowland is a big motivator for the team. “If I could describe him in one word, I’d choose motivator,” Duin said. “He was always able to get up and give on the fly speeches when going into both of our championship meets. Harrison has contributed a lot to the team this year as a team captain, state swimmer and a strong leader.” Duin also believes Mclaughlin plays a significant role for their team. In addition, Duin states that Mclaughlin is a hard worker. “Kellen’s work ethic is outstanding,” Duin said. “He is very focused at practice, he knows what his goals are, and he strives every day to work hard to meet his goals. It will be great to see him return for his senior year.” Rowland has been participating in three sports since he was a freshman. He enjoys being a three-sport athlete and all the friends that come along with it. “Being involved in a lot of school activities is good,” Rowland said. “You get to expose yourself to a lot of new, different people. You get to form new relationships and friendships with new teammates and
coaches, and that’s probably the best part of being a three-sport athlete.” Since Mclaughlin has been playing multiple sports for years, he knows a few tips and tricks on how to handle it all. He shares his greatest tip for multi-sport athletes: “My biggest tip is to learn time management,” Mclaughlin said. “You have
to get used to balancing everything, and once you do, it honestly gets a lot easier.” It is Rowland’s last year of being a three-sport athlete before he goes to college. Mclaughlin plans to continue competing in all his sports next year and as he goes into college.
Four Years Rowland(19) has been running cross country since he was a freshman at GHS. “Junior year in cross country, I didn’t do very well, but then senior year, I totally came back and ran some of my best times,” Rowland said. “It’s about pushing your body to the limits to see how well you can do.” Rowland finished his cross country season and is going to lace up his track spikes this upcoming spring.
Team PlayerTaking off his cross country spikes, Mclaughlin(18) finished his third year of doing his favorite sport. “My favorite sport is probably cross country,” Mclaughlin said. “I really like the team atmosphere and how everyone is there to support you. The team always has your back and will help you out.” He ended the season placing 12th in the Class A state meet.
Submitted photo
Submitted photo
Division I Volleyball Commit
Schaecher Makes Decision BY Colin Kitson STAFF WRITER
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he girls’ volleyball team had a talented spread from all grades and have great depth; one key piece of their success last season was junior Kenedy Schaecher. Schaecher helped the Dragons get to state and win their first round match. She recently committed for volleyball at a Division I school, Northern Colorado. Scheacher received interest from many schools to take her talents to the next level and one school that caught her the eye was Northern Colorado. She believes she will be a strong fit for the team and be an all around better player at their university. “I chose them over other schools because I loved the atmosphere, the team and the coaching,” Schaecher said. “I will benefit from college volleyball because it will keep me in shape and I get to create amazing friendships with my teammates.” Deciding where to go is a huge decision
to make when it comes to playing college sports. Colleges offer a variety of benefits to students who commit during their junior year because making that early choice shows their seriousness within that sport. “I decided to play in college because I love volleyball, and I could not see myself stopping after high school,” Schaecher said. To play a sport in college, especially at the Division I level, college coaches expect someone that stands out. The athlete needs to play more than high school, and that is what Schaecher does by playing club volleyball in the offseason. “I will prepare for it by working hard, keeping myself in shape and taking every rep I get seriously from now until I step foot into the gym at UNC,” Scheacher said. All in all, it is a major accomplishment for Schaecher to commit to play volleyball during her junior year of high school. She plans on working hard until she goes off to college in the fall of 2020. Commitment Kenedy Schaecher(20) proudly holds up her shirt with the Northern Colorado logo. She was a starter last season for the dragons and had a strong season. She will return next year for her senior season to make the dragons as good as possible.
Submitted photo
Page Designed By Emily Shurtliff
Volume 5 Issue 5
MARCH 2019
A&E
11
Sipping from Local Coffee Shops
Beanery, Scooters, Starbucks Fight for the Best Drink By Regan Ehlert STAFF WRITER
Iced Vanilla Lattes
In order from best to worst
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Medium Iced Vanilla Latte $4.67
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he smell of fresh coffee beans, blueberry muffins and brewing coffee fill customers noses as they walk into our cherished, local coffee shops. Convenient coffee shops around Gretna include The Beanery, Scooters and Starbucks. The challenge was to discover who made the best iced vanilla latte. I started off my coffee journey at The Beanery. This locally owned, little coffee house off of 216th St. is packed continuously on Friday with the morning rush, forcing cars to line up out onto the street. According to a survey, It is a favorite morning stop for GHS students. I went bright and early on one of The Beanery’s busy Fridays. Inside, the shop was neat and tidy, with cozy couches, newspapers to read and tables to sit at. In addition, they had many options on their menu, including around ten sugar-free syrup options, jumbo breakfast muffins and small treats for on-the-go. Customers were ordering coffee and other drinks left and right, but the inviting, kind service was brisk. I got my medium vanilla iced latte in no time, for a price of $4.67, the lowest price out of the three places. My drink was delicious, with a sweet creamy aftertaste. But, since I am a coffee fanatic, it could have had more coffee in my opinion. Overall, it is a great, friendly shop if you want a fast, fresh coffee on the go. Next stop, Starbucks, which was located in Target off of 180th and Center. With only a few people in line, I ordered my go-to coffee drink almost immediately. The service was welcoming, and I was greeted with a smile. My drink was fixed right up for the price of around $4.80. I got my regular iced vanilla latte. It was a perfect balance among coffee, cream and sweetness. The place was covered in dark, dim colors of black, brown and green. The only thing I
would comment on the area was that it was a little dirty. For food options, they included a variety of sweet-tooth cravings, like decadent, light pink cake pops and savory breakfast sandwiches. Generally, Starbucks is a fantastic place to run in and get your caffeine craving while casually shopping. For my last coffee run, I headed over to Scooters, which is located on 17935 Welch Plaza. There was no wait at all, so I got to order my classic drink right off the bat. I was greeted with positivity and ear-to-ear smiles from the employees, which left me in a cheerful mood. By far, I loved their decor and the home-like feeling out of all the coffee shops. It was open spaced, filled with cushy, cute couches and was inviting with colors of orange, blue, pink and yellow, making me feel at home. The area is the perfect place to go to study, get work done or just sit around and talk to friends. I got my cold coffee quick, and it satisfied my craving, but it was on the watery side for me. The price of my mediumsized drink was around $5.80, which was more expensive than the other shops. However, I recommend Scooters if you are looking for a peaceful place to sit and relax while slurping up your favorite coffee drink. In the end, there was one coffee shop that stood out to me out of all of them. I have had many other drinks than a vanilla iced latte from each coffee house, and I believe it is safe to say that The Beanery is my favorite. The coffee was by far the freshest out of all the joints, and it always tastes superb. The service was impeccable, and it was a pleasant place to sit down and relax. However, I would honestly recommend all of these coffee places. If you are like me and always have a coffee craving, any of these will leave you smiling and satisfied. Have fun guzzling down your favorite espresso!
2
Medium Iced Vanilla Latte $4.80
Medium Iced Vanilla Latte $5.80
3
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Lights, Camera, HairsprayNew Life to Old Classic
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By Samantha Chase STAFF WRITER
n 1960s Baltimore MD, rambunctious high school student Tracy Turnblad (portrayed by Nikki Blonsky) sings and dances her way through life in this 2007 remake of the classic film “Hairspray.” The movie opens with Tracy singing “Good Morning Baltimore” which sets the energetic, light-hearted mood for the rest of this remake of the 1988 film by John Walters. Tracy’s favorite afternoon television dance show needs a new cast member in the Baltimore area, and because of Tracy’s high-energy personality and her talented singing and dancing, she is quickly chosen to be the newest addition to the show. Despite being fat-shamed by some cookiecutter cast members on “The Corny Collins Show,” she manages to take a stand and sings about problems that characters faced such as racism and body insecurities. Director and Choreographer of “Hairspray,” Adam Shankman, portrays an excellent remake of the original classic while capturing the magic of Broadway with the breath-taking song and dance numbers seen throughout the film. Shankman shows real problems facing the world in 1963 while keeping the light-heartedness of the film. “Hairspray” is incredibly cheesy and over-the-top, but it is meant to be that way. The cast of “Hairspray” gave quality performances and made the magic of musicals come to life for the viewers.
Household names did their roles justice, such as Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes and Queen Latifah. John Travolta who, despite wearing a fat-suit and dressing in drag to portray Tracy’s mother, gave an engaging, entertaining performance. What made the movie worthwhile for me was that every young member of the cast blew me away with their singing and dancing. They grew more captivating with every note. This movie addressed racism and a number of other issues in the world but at the same time remained fun and engaging for the audience. I would not call myself a huge fan of musicals and over-the-top performances, but “Hairspray” might inspire me to watch more musicals. I really enjoyed this film for its moving plot-line and talented performances. There was never a moment where I was bored or wanted to change the movie, and I am considering giving it a second watch. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys high-energy, entertaining films whether or not they usually enjoy musicals or not. “Hairspray” had its ups and downs energy-wise because of the high-intensity musical parts but overall keeps the audience engaged throughout the film. “Hairspray” is so full of joy and unforced energy that it made me lose track of time while watching. It displays a world full of problems and discrimination and how characters overcome those obstacles while staying happy and energetic the whole film. I would give this movie five out of five stars for how much fun it is to watch and engage in.
12 A&E
MARCH 2019
Volume 5 Issue 5
Lions, Tigers, Bears, Oh My! Work Moves Forward on Annual Musical Production By Kaleigh Zollman STAFF WRITER
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utting in long hours, sharpening their skills and figuring out how to portray characters drastically different than they have before is now the everyday routine for many students in the vocal music department. Rehearsals for the school’s upcoming production of “The Wizard of Oz” are now in full swing. “I’ve done this show four times before,” director Mr. Patrick Ribar said. “I want it to make it new and creative because it’s been ten years since I did it. I don’t remember everything, but there are certain aspects I remember that I would like to add again. I like to surprise audiences.” Auditions were held on Feb 5 after school, and everyone was welcome. Students showcased their skills through their own rendition of one of two songs from the show, “Somewhere over the Rainbow” and “If I Only Had A Brain”. On top of their vocal audition, students also were asked to perform a short improv skit with a group and read lines from the main characters. “I think the audition process was pretty easy and relaxed,” freshman Belle Rangel said. “Mr. Ribar was very nice to the freshmen girls and made us feel at ease. I loved the singing part.” Students in all grades were excited to see their name make the cast list. For many seniors, it is a bittersweet ending, as it will be one of their last performances. However, the current freshmen are excited to begin their experience and grow as performers. “One thing I love about being in the musical is that I really get to grow as a performer,” Rangel said. “I’m excited to spend the next few weeks working on technique and my acting skills.” During rehearsals, students work closely with Mr. Ribar to prepare songs, dances and lines to make the show perfect. This year, sixth graders from the middle school have been invited to join the cast as munchkins
alongside the high school munchkins. “I wanted to have some middle schoolers in munchkin roles because of their size, mainly,” Mr. Ribar said. “I’m also trying to get more kids involved in the high school vocal music department. To make this production possible, over 60 students made the cast. Since a large portion of the performers are involved in other activities, including band and show choir, they must figure out how to properly manage their time. The end result makes the hard work worth it for students. “The rush of going on stage and performing makes it worth it for me,” Rangel said. “Since we are doing a kids show, I know that there’s going to be a young audience, and they really look up to the performers. I just love it.” The cast has eight weeks to fully prepare “The Wizard of Oz”. In past years, the musical has usually been later, allowing for more rehearsal time. To make sure everything is ready for audiences, rehearsals must be as productive as possible and sometimes run as late as ten at night. “Musicals are giant puzzles, and you have to teach your cast how to put them together,” Mr. Ribar said. “You have a limited amount of time to get them done. I have to recognize when myself and my cast are spread way too thin.” In the lead role of Dorothy is senior Lauren Newstrom, who has been heavily involved in music throughout her high school career. This is her fourth year in both show choir and the musical production. Newstrom plans to keep on this path, studying music at college in the fall. “Activities like musical can be stressful because you’re on a time crunch,” Newstrom said. “When you get to perform, it’s always worth it in the end.” Whether it’s looking back at the past or looking ahead towards the bright future, cast members are ready to work hard for this year’s show. “The Wizard of Oz” will run April 4-6, and it will cost five dollars at the door to get in. Based on past productions, it is sure to be enjoyable for all audiences.
Chloe Irwin (22)
Left: Christian Wintle (21) Right: Thomas Lamountain (19)
Left: Simon Kerr (22) Right: Matthew Meyer (21)
photos by Cecily Jones