The Voice April 2019

GNails 3 Giebler 5

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SPEECH TEAM AT NATIONAL COMPETITION Students Compete Alongside Peers

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By Gavin Struve STAFF WRITER

ight members of the speech team will head to Millard North High School in May to compete in Speech Nationals. A Nationals bid was one of the main goals for many team members when preparation for the season began in mid-summer 2018.

“Last year at nationals, I made it to the quarterfinals in my event,” senior Nicole Carraher said. “So my goal has been to do that again this season.”

Carraher, who is in her fourth year of speech, will be competing in Dramatic Interpretation at Nationals.

She enters the tournament having won three individual competitions and four group competitions, including a state championship in the group competition of Oral Interpretation of Drama (OID).

Seniors Carraher, Sophia Montemarano, Jedidiah Merriman, and junior Trystan Nord were the four members of the group.

“Our victory in OID helped us to win a second straight state title in the event,” Montemarano said. “We have won almost all the tournaments we have gone to.”

For most, the season ended in late March after State. However, the aforementioned group of eight, the largest group that coach Mr. Patrick White has ever taken to Nationals, will be competing further into the season. Despite the promising future, he is cautious not to overlook what the team has already achieved this season.

“At State, we got sixth and had two champions,” Mr. White said. “The OID

group and Sarah Ference in Informative Speaking.”

Much of the team is inexperienced in terms of Nationals berths, but that does not mean the high expectations subside.

Mr. White still thinks the team is capable of finishing among the nation’s best.

“The goal is for them to make it to the out rounds which are the finals, semifinals, and quarterfinals,” Mr. White said. “Ideally, they win Nationals. I think they have the power to do so.”

Mr. White and the octet will only have to travel a ways down the road, as Nationals will be hosted by Millard North this year. The team hopes for a historic end to the season as the program continues to build momentum.

Practice Habit Nicole Carraher (19) understands the importance of practice. The four-year member of the team has qualified for Nationals two years in a row. “Most of our practice, we work with the coaches,” Carraher said. “There is a lot of oneon-one practice. I have worked most with Gabriella Montemarano; Grace Kimnach and Ms. Taylor are the other assistant coaches.” (Carraher not pictured) Photo by Kaleigh Zollman

Coaching Speech Mr. Patrick White has grown accustomed to the large competitions and the ins and outs of high school speech. The GHS alum has been a part of the speech team coaching staff since the 2014 school year. “This is my fourth year as head coach,” Mr. White said. “I was assistant one year prior to that.” Photo by Kaleigh Zollman

SHOW CHOIR NATIONALS PREPARATIONS

Revolution Practices, Sings Up Storm

By Anissa Lemons STAFF WRITER

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National Showcase Revolution is working hard to perfect all of their moves before their upcoming appearance at Nationals, in Waukegan, Illinois on May 4. “We’ve focused a lot more on cleaning dance moves, making sure our movement is completely uniformed,” Nicole Carraher (19) said. “We’re focusing on the logistical stuff, like singing and dancing. We worked a lot harder on that this year.” Photo by Emily Parkinson

HS show choir, Revolution, is preparing to head to show choir nationals at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois, on May 4. They will be gone May 3-5. The team has been working diligently to prepare for the upcoming, highly-anticipated competition.

“After the musical, we are going to dig the show back up and try to get all performances ready,” director Mr. Patrick Ribar said. “We are going to make it a fun show and capture the essence of the fun of the show.”

For most students in Revolution, finding out they would be going to nationals in Illinois was exciting news. GHS show choir qualified to go to nationals back in 2017 but was not able to attend. For many seniors, being able to attend this year’s nationals before they graduate was very moving.

“It was really exciting,” senior Nicole Carraher said “We found out on the bus ride back from one of our other competitions.

This is a show that we really enjoy, so it’s really exciting to be able to take it that far.”

Not just anyone can qualify for nationals-it takes a special team and a special performance to be able to make it that far.

There are different requirements and ways of judging each and every performance.

“In order to qualify for nationals, you

have to be the grand champions of at least one competition,” senior Lauren Newstrom said. “Since we were grand champions at the Sioux Falls competition, we qualified for nationals.”

There is a significantly large difference between normal competitions and nationals.

Nationals are typically held at higher stakes.

More eyes and more judgment are sure to come. Unbiased and unprejudiced judges are chosen so every school has a fair chance.

“Judging is really specialized, they really rate vocalists,” Mr Ribar said. “There’s someone who rates movements, concept and band. They try to be unbiased, they work to try to avoid favoritism.”

Though some Revolution students are also participating in other things, such as the musical, everyone is still working extra hard before nationals roll around. Students are working hard to perfect their look and sound, directors are working hard to lead the team to victory and parents are working hard to get everything prepared for the trip to Waukegan.

“We’ve focused a lot more on cleaning dance moves, making sure our movement is completely uniformed,” Carraher said.

“We’re focusing on the logistical stuff, like singing and dancing. We worked a lot harder on that this year.”

Because of nationals, this year’s show choir competition season has been extended. Final competitions usually end around March, but this year, Revolution has two extra months to soak in show choir life.

“Being a senior, I don’t want it to end!”

Newstrom said. “Especially because our show is so enjoyable this year.”

These singing seniors have different paths that they plan to take in the future after this season. Some are planning to continue to compete and sing in college and further, while others cherish the time they spent in high school show choir, but plan to put an end to it after this season comes to a close.

“I think this is just a high school thing for me,” Carraher said. “It’s been a really great thing to be in, in high school but I don’t think I will continue it beyond that.”

GHS Revolution is set to compete at nationals in Waukegan, Illinois, on May 4.

All of the students, directors and parents are working hard to get everything prepared for the upcoming competition. No matter the result, this competition will be one to remember for GHS.

Travel Time Revolution is looking forward to their trip to Nationals this May. “We all have a style, and we’re going to focus on learning and growth,” Mr. Patrick Ribar said. The trip will push the performers to compete at their best, and learn from their competitors. Photo by Emily Parkinson

2 News

APRIL 2019

Volume 5 Issue 8

NEW NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERS

Sophomores, Juniors Alike Participate in Latest NHS Induction Ceremony

By Mary Matya COPY EDITOR

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ational Honor Society is an organization that recognizes students for their academic achievement, leadership, character and community service. The Gretna chapter of NHS will induct its new members on April 28.

“National Honor Society is a national organization,” NHS sponsor Mr. Neil Hammond said. “I was not around when it first began, but I would assume most schools do it, so we followed suit.”

The Gretna chapter has grown over the years. More kids are applying to enter this organization.

“My first year in National Honor Society as a sponsor was six years ago,” Mr. Hammond said. “We had about 250 members, and in the current year, we have about 370 members.”

There are certain steps prospective members must take to become a member.

For one, they must write three essays.

“There are three essays,” sophomore Mia Tarver said. “The essays are about leadership, service and character. The hardest part was making sure I had everything down on my essays” Many of the sophomores heard about the NHS through their junior and senior friends.

Others heard about it from Mr. Hammond.

“My brother is in NHS,” sophomore

Isabelle Schaefer said. “So are many of my upperclassman friends.”

There are difficult parts of the application process. These can vary from writing the essays to getting them signed by the sponsors. Some people think the process easy overall.

“The whole process was pretty easy,” Schaefer said. “But, writing the essays took some time to write.”

Students want to be a part of the NHS because it can benefit them. Since it is a national organization, it is well-known across the U.S. “It’s something that looks really good on resumes,” Mr. Hammond said. “It’s something that colleges look highly upon just because of the service aspect.”

The students who applied to NHS were notified of an acceptance decision on April 10, and they received a letter in their firsthour class.

For these students, getting the letter of acceptance is something that will impact their high school career and beyond.

New Opportunity Mia Tarver (21) received her her letter regarding her induction into NHS. “It was just something else I could do,” Tarver said. “I know I have the time to do the hours.” On April 10, new members got a chance to get a cinnamon roll from junior and senior members. Photo by Mary Matya

Induction News Isabelle Schaefer (21) received her NHS induction confirmation paper. “It looks good on a resume,” Schaefer said. The induction ceremony took place on April 28. Photo by Mary Matya

NEW LUNCHTIME COMMITTEE FOR FOOD Students, Teachers to Influence New Food Decisions

By Zane Mrozla-Mindrup STAFF WRITER

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Professional Experience Ms. Sharon Schaefer SNS believes that Gretna could incoporate more chefinspired meals. “I’m very optimistic that we can look to restaurants menus and create similar items for Gretna Public Schools.” Ms. Schaefer said. She has more than ten years in school nutrition and is a classically trained chef. Submitted photo

new committee is in the works at GHS seeking to involve students, staff and even the community more in one specific aspect of the school day--the very important 23 minutes of lunch. This food committee is an advisory board headed by chef and experienced school nutrition specialist Ms. Sharon Schaefer, is attempting to give the school stakeholders a more involved role in school lunches.

“This committee hasn’t met yet,” Ms. Schaefer said. “The point of this advisory board though is to brainstorm ideas about lunches. We really hope to bring some creative thinking into the process.”

The committee will be largely made up of students. Ms. Schaefer has already begun the hunt for student volunteers. Other members will be staff member nominated for the position. Other groups that will be invited include parents, teachers and members of the community. It is important to get this much input.

“We know that each group of people that have a stake in school meals also has a unique perspective,” Ms. Schaefer said.

“When we hear from them before making menu decisions, it helps guide us to find things that they would want to eat. Hearing from them regularly takes them off of the sidelines and make them a partner in their school meal program” One question that could linger for

students is how this new program could affect the current food that the cafeteria provides, such as mandarin orange chicken and Crispitos®. Ms. Schaefer believes that there are many ways that we can change up the lunch menu.

“I’ve seen sushi burritos, home-smoked BBQ, pop-up restaurants, food trucks on campus, edible gardens… the sky’s the limit,” Ms. Schaefer said. “I don’t have plans to eliminate things, but slow-selling items could be moved to the side in favor of new options.”

The benefits of an advisory board that takes in the opinions of the community can be boundless. At Oakland Unified School District in California, the school saw many benefits to creating an advisory board, including cutting $42 thousand from their annual budget. At Gretna though, Ms. Schaefer thinks it could have a different impact.

“The benefit of having a board like this at Gretna is it will broaden the amount of information used to make decisions,” Ms. Schaefer said. “I am only one person, I have a lot of great ideas… or at least I think so. Hearing from many people and a variety of types of people will increase the ideas, information, and participation of our programs.”

Ultimately, the introduction of this new program to Gretna could have many benefits for the school and generate more interest from the community. It may also provide an important window into the lunchroom for parents, and create a more fun, efficient lunch hour for students.

Potential Lunches SUSHI Changing it Up Student input could help lead to new food items. “Ask for a sample,” Ms. Sharon Schaefer said.

“A few weeks ago, we had a Cuban sandwich that many students tried and enjoyed.” Creating more exotic new options are a key part of the committee’s focus going forward. Submitted Photo

FOOD TRUCKS

BBQ

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FAVES CRISPITOS

MANDARIN ORANGE CHICKEN

NON-ROUND PIZZA Art by Ella Weaver

Volume 5 Issue 8

APRIL 2019

News

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RELOCATING GRETNA BUSINESS STAPLE GNails Crosses Highway Six in Move

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By Eliese Simon STAFF WRITER

f looking for a place to get pampered before a special occasion, GNails is one of the six nail salons located in Gretna. They were previously located closer to Gretna Middle School, but have recently moved across the street to 11922 Standing Stone Drive suite 100. Their movement across the highway does not affect the people who regularly go.

“GNails moving does not affect me too much; however, it is great that they are getting a bigger space because whenever I go there, they always have a waiting list,” sophomore Savannah Hytrek said. “So hopefully by them getting a bigger space, they will have more chairs and move people to work there, therefore, making the waiting list shorter.”

Photo by Bayleigh Koch

GNails’ move is appreciated by students due to a likely shorter wait. Students like junior Jada Scharff think that it is good for them to move locations.

“I think that it will be good for them to experience a new location, but personally, it doesn’t affect me because I live down the street from them,” Scharff said.

Not having to worry about it affecting the drive is another favorite part about the move, but for other students, the move brings a fresh update. Hytrek heard that with them moving, they are redoing the setup and getting new furniture.

“In my opinion, GNails moving is overall a good thing,” Hytrek said. “I have heard that they are planning on getting all new furniture, so that will be nice. I’m excited to see what the new place looks like and what the outcome will be.”

With the business being easy for people to go get their nails done they enjoy going there and walk into a welcome place. They make it a friendly environment and will talk well making sure the job is done well.

“I like how nice they are to the customers,” sophomore Emma Kanne said.

“They don’t rush when I go there, and the lady that owns GNails makes sure her workers are doing everything to the best of their abilities.”

A great location and friendly environment make the place welcoming. People like going there to get pampered for their special occasion.

New Building GNails’ new location will feature an updated atmosphere and may draw more consumer interest. “I’m excited to see what the new place looks like and what the outcome will be,” Savannah Hytrek (21) said. The spa is open 10:30-7:30pm on the weekdays. Photo by Eliese Simon

GNails’ Previous Building Photo by Eliese Simon

POTHOLE EPIDEMIC

Damage Causes Difficult Driving

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By Abby Leasure CARTOONIST

he slick and icy roads of winter are finally gone, paving the way to the new, pothole-riddled roads of spring. The 2019 pothole season is marked with larger craters throughout many commonly used roads in Gretna and surrounding towns. Spring weather can also worsen already difficult driving conditions.

“Especially when it rains, it’s really bad,” senior Lydia Stednitz said. “Usually I’ll drive slower. And there’s giant ditches—I have to be careful.”

Pothole season happens throughout spring. In winter, ice freezes within cracks of the road and expands, causing stress against the roads that lead to breaking and collapsing. Sealing cracks can help reduce the possibility of potholes forming in roads.

However heavy snows can prevent sealing from being possible, in addition to worsening the driving conditions that create potholes in the first place.

“If there’s huge potholes, I might try to reroute to a better road if I know one,” junior Cole Dostal said. “Generally, I try to stay on the same road, but if you’re able to avoid them without impeding traffic, then you should obviously try to avoid them.”

For those who cannot avoid the potholes on their road, the task becomes to go around

thm them while still driving safely. This can be especially difficult for huge potholes.

“Anybody that watches me might think I’m a crazy man because I’m swerving everywhere, but it’s just to avoid the potholes,” senior Jacob Stover said.

Swerving can be dangerous, but driving straight through potholes can cause tire damage that could come in the form of flat tires, tread separation or sidewall bulges.

This can also cause suspension damage and, in extreme cases, exhaust damage.

“Sometimes there’s a really big pothole, and there’s a really big bump,” Dostal said.

“That can be annoying, especially repetitive potholes, like one after another.”

Unfortunately, potholes are often encountered every day, multiple times per day. Pothole season lasts throughout spring, so until the potholes can all be filled, many students are left to deal with the situation on the road.

“I always feel like I’m going to get in a car accident every day because you pretty much have to go in the other lane to avoid some of [the potholes] because they go across the entire lane,” Stover said.

The icy roads of winter are not the end of risky road conditions. With potholes created from the ice that has frozen in the road over the winter, many drivers are doing what they can to avoid getting car damage in this situation.

POTHOLE FILLED ROADS 168TH -NEAR TIBURON @ CORNHUSKER -BY CENTER ST. -BY PACIFIC ST.

144TH

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144TH WAS SHUT DOWN BY THE CITY BUT WAS REPAIRED.

-BY 96TH ST. -BY 132ND ST. -BY BLACK ELK ELEMENTARY

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APRIL 2019

Volume 5 Issue 8

K-POP MORE THAN JUST A LANGUAGE Prejudiced Opinions On Diverse K-Pop Music Industry

By Anissa Lemons STAFF WRITER

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any people have strong opinions on many things, but it is easy to say that some those opinions are music based. One of today’s many controversial discussions is aimed towards K-Pop. K-Pop is a genre of music originating from South Korea. It is a genre that is sure to cause an uproar of mixed emotions between supporters and non-supporters.

Being a fan of many different groups and artists, I can say that I do see many prejudiced views against K-Pop from non-K-Pop fans.

The common question that K-Pop fans are asked is, “How can you listen to them when you do not even understand what they are saying?” Every time I am asked that question, I always make sure to express that K-Pop is much more than just music.

For some, the idea of listening to a song in a different language is difficult, but there are many ways to feel and understand what is being said, like translation devices and Youtube videos. Some groups do sing

in English occasionally. Though it may not seem like it, there is a place for everyone when it comes to K-Pop. K-Pop groups like BTS and Stray Kids talk about real issues happening in the world through their platforms. BTS started a campaign called “Love Myself,” and it is a movement they launched in partnership with ‘UNICEF’ (United Nations Children’s Fund) aimed at the protection of the youth.

BTS music and the story they tell through it follows the common theme of mental health issues, anti-violence, the K-Pop idol system and female empowerment. Stray Kids use their platform to talk about the high expectations for millennials held by parents and society. Popular songs “Voices” and “Grow Up” talk specifically about young people standing up for themselves and creating a life that they want to live in, reminding listeners and followers that they can choose their own path in life.

The genre of music is also different compared to many other genres that are often popularized in America. K-Pop incorporates dance, culture and lessons into each and all of their performances. Rather

than the songs just coming out with random videos with no correlation, almost all groups tie together their concept videos, allowing the fans to create theories, make stories and learn more about the culture of the groups and their songs.

As a big fan of K-Pop, I have heard many negative things about it over the years.

Whenever someone asks me what my favorite type of music is and I say K-Pop, people often seem confused or even disgusted at the fact that I do not listen to something that they are used to. K-Pop has unreasonably gained a bad reputation over the years simply for being in a different language. I know there are times where I used to find myself and my friends feeling the need to hide our support for the music and its artists because of the backlash we have received in the past for it.

Instead of pushing K-Pop under the rug because it is ‘not accepted,’, I am a part of a movement that is trying to teach nonsupporters about K-Pop, rather than allowing them to keep misconstruing it. Even though it is a different language and based in a different country, it does not mean that it does not touch many of its followers deeply.

Because of BTS specifically and their Love Yourself trilogy I know that they are helping me personally with self-confidence and selflove, along with many others.

Groups like BTS, Stray Kids, NCT, Monsta X, Blackpink and more are breaking through in the American industry. K-Pop is slowly becoming normalized in American society.

Fans of these groups have been using their voices to educate future generations about the unique genre. Social media has been a great platform to share K-Pop amongst people of all ages.

If you have never listened to K-Pop, rather than having a prejudice against it, my fellow fans and I suggest that you take a deeper look into the beautifully different genre of music. Though the language does seem to create a barrier, it can easily be overlooked.

K-Pop is able to bring together people from different states, countries, and continents and it is able to positively influence listeners to make the world a better place. K-Pop truly is more than just music in a different language; it is beautiful stories, new cultures and different sounds helping old and new generations come together to create a safe space and a healthy environment for those living in today’s world.

Art by Abby Leasure

Art by Abby Leasure

Photo by Joseph C Boone

The Green oice aff: V St By: Mary Matya COPY EDITOR

By:Casey Downing STAFF WRITER

By: Ella Weaver EDITOR-INCHIEF

By: Delany Jepsen STAFF WRITER

By: Jessica McKee NEWS/FEATURE EDITOR

By: Eliese Simon STAFF WRITER

By: Isabel Mancilla CARTOONIST/ COPY EDITOR

By: Brie Goday

STAFF WRITER

By: Lauren Eurich A&E/OPED EDITOR

By: Abby Leasure CARTOONIST

Photo by @picman2

By: Zane MrozlaMindrup

By: Kalei Renner

By: Gavin Struve

By: Anissa Lemons

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

Volume 5 Issue 8

APRIL 2019

Feature

5

HOMETOWN MUSICIAN IN HOLLYWOOD

Singer Recieves Golden Ticket From Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie

By Lauren Eurich A & E EDITOR

W

.hen given an opportunity, you have to take advantage of it. Grace Giebler had the opportunity to audition for American Idol on October second, 2018.

She has auditioned three times in past years.

For her, the third time really was a charm.

“I auditioned last year in Omaha and in person,” senior Grace Giebler said. “Then, I submitted an online submission and did not make it. The next summer came around, and they found my video I submitted a while back and wanted me to keep auditioning through several rounds.”

The audition process is different for everybody. Although Giebler made it to the audition in front of the celebrity judges, she had to go through four rounds before she auditioned for them.

“The filmed audition day took about 17 hours for me,” Giebler said. “It was a very draining process but worth it in the end. The city I auditioned in was in Denver, Colorado, so it was frigid outside while we waited for our chance to showcase ourselves in front of Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. I met some incredible people while waiting, who are still my friends today. I then was called to my audition.”

The audition process for anything can be very nerve-wracking and stressful, and there can be many different emotions. For Giebler, it was disbelief.

“Before the audition, I was excited but calm knowing that God was with me,” Giebler said. “During my audition, I was in disbelief of what I was seeing and that I was actually chasing my dreams. After the audition, I was very emotional and filled with joy.”

There are very few people who can share the same experience as Giebler. Almost all people who get to audition for American Idol never walk away with a golden ticket.

“Getting the golden ticket was a huge celebration,” Giebler said. “I got to give all of the judges a hug and thanked them for putting me through (to) Hollywood, and then I ran to see my family and started bursting into tears. My parents have supported me through every step of the way. It was a very special moment to rejoice with them.

I got lipstick all over my mama’s face from collapsing in her arms and hugging her. That is what you get for wearing red lipstick!”

Getting to experience an joyful moment like the one Giebler experienced comes with hard work, dedication and determination.

Giebler practiced and prepared for her audition to get to where she is.

“I practiced my three songs over and over again until I felt like they were worthy,” Giebler said. “In front of the judges, I only sang two songs, which were my original ‘Let Your Faith Be Greater Than Fear’ and ‘Make You Feel My Love’ by Bob Dylan.”

Although Giebler did not pass through Hollywood week, she is proud of her performance She could not have asked for anything better and will keep those memories with her.

“My favorite memory is after I got eliminated from Hollywood week,” Giebler said. “My friend Jade Flores came up to me and made me cry because of all of the kindness and the love she has given me since I met her in the audition city. She spoke words of wisdom and said ‘You are so special and different that you do not need this competition to be someone because you are amazing as you are.”

Even though Giebler did not advance in American Idol, she is not going to give

up. She plans to keep progressing and growing her passion.

“If I get the opportunity again, I will definitely audition again,” Giebler said. “I hope to keep growing like I have been for the past five years. I want to touch as many people’s lives as I can through my voice and who I am. Singing to live audiences is my passion, and I hope to continue to do so for the rest of my life.”

Giebler still plans to grow and prosper through her singing. She is ready to meet her future audiences.

Following a Dream Ever since Grace Giebler (19) was young, she wanted to be on American Idol. “Growing up I would sit there in front of the TV hearing the contestants sing,” Giebler said.

“I knew that I had what it would take to be the next American Idol.” Giebler is still pursuing her singing career. Submitted Photos

SENIOR SPEECH CHAMPION Sarah Ference Wins State Informative

S Speaking Up Sarah Ference (19) wins first place at the state Speech Team meet. “I enjoy writing speeches actually and I like learning new information,” Ference said.“ Doing speech throughout her high school career put Ference in a position to win the state title. Submitted Photo

Winning Together Sarah Ference (19) holds her medal alongside the awards of her teammates. “So I competed at state and got first in class A informative at UNK,” Ference said. Speech has allowed her to bond with friends and strengthen her speaking skills. Submitted photo

By Eliese Simon STAFF WRITER

enior Sarah Ference has been a member of speech team since her freshman year. Her inspiration for joining the team came from her eighth-grade teacher who thought it would be a good fit for her. At first, she was doing poetry but later changed to informative; this year, she gave an informative speech over the Streisand effect.

“I had an eighth-grade teacher who told me I was really good at giving speeches and stuff like that, and she was like ‘Why do not you try out for speech team?’” Ference said.

“I was like, I do not know, I do not think I will be good.”

Over the years, she continued to participate on speech team. Ference likes hanging out with her friends during competitions and giving her speech so she can inform people about the topic.

Due to other activities and school, one of the hardest parts of the speech team is her business schedule. Another thing that is difficult for Ference is not getting down on herself when something goes wrong.

“The hardest part was not getting discouraged when something didn’t go so right,” Ference said. “Like I said, early there were rounds and then finals, and sometimes you did not break into finals. And that was so hard ‘cause I gave all my time and all my stuff, but I did not make it. ” Along with speech team, Ference also participates in other events such as show choir, band and One-Act, 4-H and her church group. In college, she does not plan to join the speech team, but she will use the tactics she learned on speech team to help her with college and life.

“Well, I am not necessarily going into anything that will involve speech, but speech has helped me learn how to write

a proper speech, how to talk in front of people without being scared,” Ference said. “It has given me confidence, so while I am not going into something that revolves around speech, I will use those techniques I learned in speech to help me for my other jobs and stuff like that.”

Speech team coach Mr. Patrick White has helped with the speech team for nine years but has been the head coach for four years now. He thinks the process is interesting due to some students having no prior experience and still performing well.

“It is an interesting process because I get to see students grow as speakers,” Mr. White said. “They start out not knowing anything about speech team, and I instruct them on all the details of the speech team, then we start to create something together basically.

Whether it is informative like Sarah’s, or we cut together a script or I help them find a script and then they develop characters or in case of informative. They develop a speaking style, so it is a long but a fascinating process.

It is an activity you can see a lot of growth in a person over a short amount of time.”

Ference qualified for state and won first in class A informative. Mr. White was delighted Ference was announced as the winner.

During the season, he was trying to get the judges to see what Ference could do, and it finally worked.

“I was overjoyed,” Mr. White said. “I (had) probably not been that excited about a win because Sarah has worked painstakingly, and there were tournaments where it wasn’t connecting with people. She would make finals but would not top the finals, and I felt bad as her coach that I had not done enough to help her top those finals. Then for her to win the Class A state tournament was huge and incredibly well deserved. I had the biggest smile on my face. I kept nudging the other judges as they kept naming the places under first place cause

I knew she was a first place speaker, but I needed the judges to recognize that, and finally, they did.”

When Ference was waiting for the results she did not expect to win. Going into it she set her expectations low; when they announced her name she was ecstatic and surprised because she did it.

“So usually what they do is they have two rounds where you give your speech and if the judge thinks your good enough you go into a final round and compete with other people so I made it into finals,” Ference said. “I was like ‘oh my goodness’ I made it into finals that is farther than I thought I was going to get.”

The rest of the state speech team watched her walk across the stage to accept her award. Senior Nicole Carraher was one of the teammates who watched Ference win.

“Oh, it was really exciting for all of us to watch that happen, ‘cause I know she wasn’t really expecting it,” Carraher said. “...The state competitors are very great, like, it is great competition, so it was really exciting to see an individual member of our team win something at state.”

Since eighth grade, Ference has proven she has the ability to win speech but she always remained humble.

She enjoys writing speeches and learning new information.

Throughout her life, she will use the skills she learned from speech team and never forget the words her teacher once told her.

6 InDepth

APRIL 2019

Volume 5 Issue 8

TIME Art by Abby Leasure

Art by Abby Leasure

PSUEDOSCIENCE WITHIN POPULAR MEDIA Time Travel Utilized as Literary, Plot Device in Books, Movies, Shows Art by Ella Weaver

N O I T C I CE F

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By: Mary Matya COPY EDITOR

ime travel is an extremely popular concept. There are many books, movies and TV shows that incorporate time travel. Some examples are Kindred, “Back to the Future”, “Meet the Robinsons”, “Dr. Who” and “Umbrella Academy”. There are several reasons time travel is popular to readers.

“I think a lot of things are popular in books because it allows readers to escape,” librarian Mrs. Kari Bulgrin said. “I think that time travel has stood the test of time.”

There are many reasons why the idea of time travel is popular with kids. Time travel

allows for mistakes to be fixed and perhaps allows someone to become famous.

“The idea of being able to change bad mistakes you’ve made or get famous quick,” junior George Ames said. “It’s kind of a get rich scheme. You can really do anything with time travel.”

Readers usually go to books that deal with time travel because they can go to the future or the past. With some students, traveling to the past is better than the future.

“You know what’s going to happen,” Ames said. “If you time travel to the future, you are going to be way more confused. If you back to the past, you can plan ahead.”

A popular TV show that features time travel is “Dr. Who”. The show has aired 851 episodes and has run for 11 seasons.

“He (the doctor) travel out of a time machine,” Ames said. “ Time travel can teach us a lot about history.

It shows that not everything we read is accurate.

It also shows what we could do in the future.

“Time helps teach the importance that not everything in the books is accurate,” junior Noah Netzel said. “I think time traveling is popular because the concept of changing the past or seeing the future can provide insight of what the impossible is possible.”

Books about time travel are fun to read, and books about time travel would never be used in a school curriculum. One book about time travel is Kindred by Octavia Butler. Juniors who

take American Literature read this book. Many students have said it is their favorite book they read for school.

“It’s written so well, there’s great character development so it’s easy as a reader to really engage in the conflicts of the people in the book,” English instructor Mrs. Jennifer Long said. “It’s also mostly plot and action driven, there’s almost NO unnecessary description or anything like that. It’s all story.”

Kindred talks about time travel in a different way. The book follows the main character Dana, who goes back in time to the South and experiences slavery after living as a free person.

She goes back in time about 100 years.

“Dana moves back and forth in time several

times throughout the book,” Mrs. Long said. “It shows the trauma of slavery in a different way because Dana wasn’t born into it, she was born almost 100 years after the abolition of slavery.”

Another popular show that features time travel is “Umbrella Academy”. It features time travel in a different way than other books or movies. It is about kids who must save the world after their billionaire dad’s death.

“Umbrella Academy revolves around time travel because if not for them being informed of the future, they would have died,” Netzel said.

Time travel is a fun way to escape the real world through a variety of different books, movies and tv shows. Time travel has stood the test of time and will continue into the future.

Art by Ella Weaver

“WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE...”

Times Continue to Change in Gretna, Nebraska

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By: Delany Jepsen STAFF WRITER

ach decade is stereotyped based off of its

culture. The 1950s are popularly known for poodle skirts and diners, the 1970s are known for disco, and the 1980s for John Hughes movies and neon. Over time, customs and social values change, along with fashion and culture. When thinking about a decade, one usually thinks of a specific moment or item.

What makes these times memorable, how has Gretna changed, and what will we be known for?

“The goal that people are aiming for has changed,” freshman Anabelle Roquemore said. “What has stayed the same is the faith that people believe in and want to accomplish something.”

Over time many things have changed. The town of Gretna is included in this change as well. Gretna has grown from a small town into

Horse Power The original Gretna Schoolbus was a horse-drawn carriage. “I remember being in disbelief when Ms. Amy Muhs told me that when she grew up, they didn’t have a microwave,” Ms. Granger said. Before Ms. Muhs’ time, students didn’t even have a bus. 3 Photos Courtesy of “Historic Gretna”

the suburb it is today over a small course of time.

As of 2017, the population of Gretna was 5,062.

In the 1950s, the population was 438, and in the 1960s, it was 745. In 1960, a high school was built in Gretna which is now Gretna Elementary.

“I graduated in 1966 and grew up in the fifties,” Mrs. Eunice Legacie said. “All these kids have phones now, but my kids didn’t grow up (with a phone). We take everything for granted and we should not. Today, kids are so addicted to their phones. They should have fun together, not just everyone on their phone and not talking to each other.”

As history tends to repeat itself, many products are coming back in style. Things that were popular in the past are returning such as fashion trends and vehicles. Classic cars are worth quite a pretty penny today. Scrunchies are making a comeback after being popular in the 1980s. Past culture is seen in popular television shows and movies. Such shows include “The Goldbergs”, which takes place in 1980 something, and many Marvel movies including “Guardians of the Galaxy” which involves the 1970s and 1980s and “Captain Marvel” which takes place in the 1990s.

“I still have the big baggy pants from back in the sixties,” Mrs. Legacie said. “I liked the 1980s, it was more casual.”

During the 1970s, Gretna had a population of 1,557. In 1971, a junior/senior high school was built in Gretna, which is now Gretna Middle School. In the 1980s, the population of Gretna was 1,609, and in the 1990s it was 2,291.

“I was born in ‘93 and I was a teenager in the early 2000s,” Ms. Shea Granger said. “ I graduated high school in 2011, and one thing I remember is that computers were our way of

communicating with friends. There was AOL Instant Messanger, which we called AIM. A lot of us were limited to 30 text messages per month.

Our internet was through our home phone line, and if someone was on the phone you couldn’t use the internet.”

Technology has created an impact on today’s generation and has made communication easier. Social media has made staying in touch only a click away. There has been an evolution in technology over time including home appliances and personal devices, especially if one is looking at the cellphone.

“We had iPods, and their only function was music,” Ms. Granger said. “Prior to that we had Discmans, where you listened to CDs. I remember being in disbelief when Ms. Amy Muhs told me that when she grew up, they didn’t have a microwave. I feel like I was a part of the generation where they wanted to make everything faster.”

There is a lot of variety today when opening the Appstore. There are many social media platforms to chose from.

“We had Myspace, where you ranked your top friends,” Ms. Granger said. “That is like whom you have a streak with today. Facebook came out at the end of high school for me. When it first came out, it was designed for college kids.

I was on the threshold of that (social media) becoming a big thing.”

2019 is only just beginning, but before we know it, 2020 will be here. What will our decade be known for? 2000-2010 was known as the beginning of a new century. Will our decade be known for the rise and popularity of social media and streaming services, or ripped jeans and Birkenstocks?

Original Gretna schoolhouse, constructed in 1898

Volume 5 Issue 8

APRIL 2019

InDepth

7

FRESHMAN SCHEDULING STRUGGLES

Teens Juggle New School, Work, Sports, Clubs, Friends By: Kalei Renner STAFF WRITER

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any freshmen at GHS participate in activities that interfere with their schedule. Along with that, these students struggle with getting a full eight hours of sleep a night. One of these students, in particular, is freshman Chloe Irwin. Irwin participates in numerous activities ranging from Drama Club to musicals at GHS. During the Wizard of Oz musical, Irwin upheld the role of a private munchkin and an Ozian. An Ozian is a member of the City of Oz. “I usually get between four to six hours of sleep a night,” Irwin said. “I am a class officer, I participate in Drama Club,

Outside Plays Charles Sams (22) is joined by actress Sue Booton after the play The Doll Maker’s Gift. “I enjoy doing shows because it is like living another person’s life and expressing yourself as if you were there,” Sams said. Along with participating in outside shows, Sams also participates in One Act and musical at GHS. Submitted Photo

Pretty Penmanship: Nicole Carraher (19) enjoys using her bullet journal as a way to keep herself organized. Bullet journals are journals which feature syntax marks called bullets. “Rapid logging,” the language traditional bullet journals are written in, use bullets to organize events, tasks, and notes.

Submitted Photo

Spanish Club, Speech, voice lessons, the International Thespian Festival, musicals and other random events that pop up in my schedule.”

As Irwin was apart of the Wizard of Oz Musical, freshman Charles Sams was also kept busy with this musical. During the show, he was a munchkin and a gargoyle.

Since GHS could not use flying monkies in the musical, they used gargoyles instead.

Along with that, when he has free time, he enjoys to do homework, watch Youtube and hang out with friends.

“I don’t usually have a lot of free time,”

Sams said. “But when I do, I finish all of the homework I procrastinated on, I watch Youtube and I try to hang out with friends as much as possible.”

While many of these students have school functions right after school, studentathletes have to jump from practice to practice. For instance, along with school soccer, freshman Avery McLaughlin has to attend club soccer in the evening.

“During high school soccer season, I have practice every day after school,” McLaughlin said. “Once I get home from that, I have to eat a really fast dinner and go to my next practice.”

Another student-athlete who has sports all week long is freshman Skylar Mosser.

Mosser keeps herself busy with school soccer every day after school and club soccer immediately after school soccer.

Along with that, she participates in weekend tournaments and games.

“Every day after school soccer, I go to club soccer,” Mosser said. “From having school to multiple soccer practices a week, I get really burnt out. Along with that, I have to complete school work every night, so I don’t have a lot of time for my friends and family.”

From all of the activities and events that take up a freshman’s day, their family members can also be busy. For a lot of these students, when they arrive home from school or an activity, they are usually home alone until the rest of their family members arrive. This is because their family is usually working long hours, multiple jobs or they are off doing their own activities.

“My family members definitely have a busy lifestyle,” Irwin said. “My dad works during the day, my mom works two jobs with varying schedules, my sister is a cheerleader and my brother is in college.”

Throughout all of the activities, school work and sports these students participate in, they are left with a limited amount of time. Along with that, they are also left with limited hours of sleep. But even though time constricts them from not having enough time to sit back and relax, they would not change their schedules for the world.

Challenging Schedules Avery McLaughlin (22) participates in cross country in the fall. “Running gives me a challenge and makes me word hard at practice, McLaughlin said. Cross crounty is one of many activities McLaughlin participates in at GHS and that keeps her active. Submitted Photo

SELF-DISCIPLINE FOR ORGANIZATION

Counselors, Students Wisely Utilize Limited Time By: Jessica McKee NEWS/FEATURE

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s fourth quarter kicks into gear and spring sports roll into action, students find themselves balancing a list of homework, athletics and job responsibilities. The trick to being able to get work done, compete and have fun is to take a stab at time management.

“It definitely prepares me for the future, and it helps me avoid mental breakdowns,” senior Kelly Arnold said. “If it gets really close to a test or something, or if there’s a bunch piling up, by spreading it out and managing my time well I can avoid the tears.”

With one month of school left, many want to get out of class and hang out with their friends. The words “time management” might spark feelings of guilt, dread or even a little stress, but managing time can actually give students more opportunities for fun on the weekends.

“Everything is done, and I’ve scheduled myself for free time and I work for it,” Arnold said. “It allows me a bit more of a social life.

Even though it takes away more during the school days and nights, I’ll have a social life on the weekend.”

Calculus and physics instructor Mr. Matt Johnson introduced his students to a system using Google Sheets to effectively schedule their time. The calendar allows students to

TIME IT PS

Technologically Enabled Google Sheets allows students to create organized online planners. “I have a system, so I colorcode thing,” Kelly Arnold (19) said. Mr. Johnson’s students learned this organization method, but tutorials are available online.

map out future assignments, color code deadlines and stay on top of school work.

“One of the important skills, I think is seeing a spreadsheet as something that’s not ‘Oh gosh there’s another worksheet or assignment I have to do,’” Mr. Johnson said.

“So I can help you see the spreadsheet as a tool so you can use it on your own outside of assignments. I think that’s a victory.”

Many seniors have found this method of planning particularly helpful in balancing day to day tasks and activities. The program allows them to carry their calendar with them anywhere they go, update it and remain organized.

“I use Google Spreadsheets from Mr. Johnson,” Arnold said. “I have a system, so I color code things. Color-coordination lets

plan Before you go to bed, plan out your next day in detail and on paper! Knowing your plans before, during, and after school will help you stress less and live more.

me see that I have nothing due the next few days because I have them turned in, so it’s good.”

The Google spreadsheet system is not the only effective method that students can use.

Mr. Johnson offered a second prioritizing tool that divides your time into three categories.

“A tool I use is ‘gotta do’s, oughta do’s, and want to do’s,’” Mr. Johnson said.

“Gotta do’s are things that I’m contractually obligated to do. Oughta do’s are things I do for other people, such as obligations with friends, family and church. Want to do’s are selfish things that you don’t do for anyone except yourself.”

With summer vacation looming around the corner, it is easy to delay assignments and justify binge-watching your favorite show. With procrastination comes the added stress of late grades, detentions and upset parents. Utilizing time management may allow an individual to conquer their habit and complete assignments with a relaxed attitude.

“I’m not a procrastinator; it’s not natural to me, but it does happen,” Arnold said.

“I just don’t get my eight hours of sleep if I procrastinate, I guess. I gotta weight the pros and cons, but its more of having to force yourself to do it. Once I start getting something done, I’m okay with it.”

When students make the effort to conquer procrastination and create a schedule that works for them, they have more freedom with their time. However, with every

prioritize That biology final is probably more important than cleaning your closet, even if it’s pretty messy. Make a list of everything you have to do, and order it by most important to least.

Then, you’ll know which task you should tackle first.

Art by Isabel Mancilla

freedom comes a responsibility to one’s self and assignments. Sometimes managing time means saying no to social media for a few minutes or turning off your favorite show to study for a test.

“Find something that works with your schedule, and be wise with how you use your time,” Arnold said. “You don’t always need to watch every episode of “The Kardashians” or hang out with your friends every night. There are times when you can fit things into your schedule, even when you think you can’t.”

Not only does time management help students turn in assignments on time and study for tests, but it prepares them for the real world. As the habit is developed, individuals are more prepared to meet deadlines and spend time with friends and family. Instead of grumbling about homework today, think of each assignment as a pay it forward. The more time spent on school work now, the more success the future will bring.

track

Record how much time things take you. It’s a tool that will help you later.

For example, if calculus homework takes you fifty minutes most nights, plan for that tomorrow.

8 Feature

APRIL 2019

Volume 5 Issue 8

PARKING ADVENTURES, MISHAPS

Teenagers Suffer Parking Accidents By School

By Delany Jepsen STAFF WRITER

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eenagers may have a reputation for not being the best drivers, but they are just learning how to drive and are bound to make mistakes.

This is evident in the GHS parking lot, where accidents occur almost every day.

“I was parking in the high school parking lot and somebody decided I was driving too slow, so they tried to pass me through the parking spots,” senior Benjamin Schaefer said. “They went around me and accelerated, and when I went to park and they hit my front bumper pretty hard.”

There are many ways to try and prevent

being in an accident. A Drivers Education class is held at GHS in the summer to help students understand safer ways to drive.

“I have been a part of Drivers Ed for 20 years,” driving instructor Mrs. Jami Ewer said. “The leading cause of accidents for teenagers is not paying attention or going to fast. Eliminate distractions, focus more on what you are doing, slow down and take your time, don’t be in such a rush.”

Drivers Education is not a required course to obtain a drivers license. However, it may have positive benefits for new drivers.

“It helps with insurance rates and makes it easier to get your Provisional Operator’s Permit (POP, the Provisional Operator’s Permit, allows an individual to drive

unsupervised during an allowed amount of time.) and license,” Schaefer said. “Even if you don’t learn much, you still get a lot out of it.”

Driving is a new experience for teenagers.

Accidents can happen to anyone, and it is important to know what to do in an accident.

“If anyone is in an accident, they should stop and make sure they are ok, everyone in their car is ok, and anyone in the other car is ok,” Mrs. Ewer said. “Then, make sure the car is secure, shut it off and then call the police.”

For additional information about driving, visit the Nebraska DMV website or the school website for information about Drivers Education.

EXPLORING CLASS DIFFICULTY LEVELS

Students Take Classes of Various Rigor

By Gabriella Goday STAFF WRITER

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efore students enter high school as freshmen, counselors have a meeting with eighth-grade students and their families to decide what class levels would best fit each student. Students are able to take college prep, practical, or dual credit classes.

“We don’t push students to take something they don’t feel like they will be ready for,” Counselor Mr. Curt Mace said. “We also do a parent meeting with eighth-grade parents so they can sit down and make an informed decision with their child to choose regular, CP or whatever.”

Different classes help students learn at levels that best suit them. Some levels, such as dual credit, help students earn credits for college at a lower price than a college student.

“Say I have a subject area I’m not quite as strong in,” Mr. Mace said. “Say my reading and English skills are my weakest. I can take practical or just regular English nine or English ten to match my skills. A student can play to his or her strengths.”

The difference between the college prep and practical class level is pacing. Students in a college prep course might learn things on Monday and take a test on Friday. While students in practical might go approach the material at a slower pace.

“I feel like practical does help me,” junior Jaileigh Sorgenfrei said. “It gives me extra time to practice and focus on the topic I struggle with.”

Students who take practical classes have the benefit of being in a smaller class, making it easier to get help on subjects they may struggle with. In practical classes, students will go through material thoroughly instead of covering more.

“Some kids might only need one practice problem, and some kids need ten practice problems,” math instructor Mr. Jeff Depue

said. “It’s not fair, but every student is different, and so practical classes can be good for those kids who do need extra practice.”

Students may decide to go to fouryear colleges. To help prepare them for this transition, they may also choose to take college prep courses. Whereas other students who do not bear and/or have the desire to go to a four-year college, they may prefer to take practical courses. This choice depends on the student and what they think is best for their career path.

“The classes I have taken have set me up to have a less stressful year,” Sorgenfrei said. “They give me time to focus on my education, but also on spending time outside of school activities like powerlifting and with my friends and family.“ For the most part, dual credit classes are usually taken by juniors and seniors. There are dual credit classes in every core area and several electives. For example, public speaking is one of the most popular dual credit classes. Due to how many majors or programs require some type of three credit hour speech class, several juniors and seniors choose to take the course.

“The advantage of CP is that you would be ready to for the next level for college after taking the CP curriculum all the way through,” Mrs. Liz Rhodes. “That your skills would be sound that your reading and writing skills would be more than proficient and good enough to help you be successful in college.”

Public speaking is just one example of the many courses students can take to help prepare themselves for college. This step is a more affordable option and only costs $48 whereas actual college courses can run much higher in prices. The number of dual credit classes is growing every year.

Bringing more opportunities for the Gretna curriculum and cheaper ways to prepare for college. Every class level is there to fully benefit students and their learning levels from practical to college prep classes.

Student Aid Practical classes allow students to learn key concepts at a relatively slower pace. ”Not covering as much material and going a little bit slower allows them to really get the essentials,” Mr. Jeff Depue said. Many students enjoy taking this class level because it allows them to learn material at a more manageable pace. Photo by Jessica McKee

APRIL 2019

Volume 5 Issue 8

Sports

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GETTING A KICK OUT OF SOCCER Senior Class Spends Last of Four Years with Coaches By: Casey Downing STAFF WRITER

Brooke Downing (19)

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enioritis comes in many forms. Lack of focus, giving up on school entirely and of course, the realization that high school is soon over hits every senior at some point. One group of students that especially feel this realization are student-athletes. Most senior athletes have played in their previous years, and leaving their sport is something that creeps up on all of them in their final year. This transition is hard for many players because of the connections they’ve made on their team.

“I’m really going to miss my teammates,” senior Ashley Marsh said.

“On senior night, I was very emotional.”

This year’s senior players, however, are not the only ones in their fourth year, so are the coaches. Coaches Mr. Digger Hawkins, Mr. Joe Rauth and Ms. Alicia Elsenpeter joined on to coach the high school team in 2016, the same year this class of seniors were freshmen.

This has provided a unique experience for both the players and the staff. They received the opportunity to watch each other grow and find the perfect mesh.

Even coaches can’t escape this feeling in their fourth year.

“Watching the players the last four years was truly an honor,” Mr. Rauth said. “We kind of got to grow with them, and it will be sad to see them move on from

our program.”

These players, like most seniors, are the leaders of their team. Mr. Hawkins, head coach of the team, believes they are a central reason for the team’s success.

“The leadership our seniors’ display is great,” Mr. Hawkins said. “They really provide a goal for the underclassmen.”

The development of both coaches and staff in the same time frame has left a tight bond that will last. Next year will be the first time since 2016 that these players and coaches will not compete together. With that in mind, both parties are eager to make this last season together a memorable one.

Button Up The senior soccer girls can remember each other with memorabilia. “I’m really going to miss my teammates,” Ashley Marsh (19) said.

Similar buttons are available for other sports.

Senior Girls Pictured left to right: Libby Hurd, Morgan McLaughlin, Olivia Thompson, Brooke Brabban, Marissa Ellingson, Brooke Downing, Logan Christensen, Ashley Marsh, Taylor Simpson. “We kind of got to grow with them, and it will be sad to see them move on from our program,” Mr. Joe Rauth said. Many of the senior girls are headed to college soccer to continue their careers. Submitted Photo

MAKING THE CUT FOR SPORTS TEAMS

Students Require Perseverance, Strength to Join Fellow Athletes By: Gavin Struve STAFF WRITER

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ryouts have long been used as a determination of who is equipped for a specific role or team. A job interview is a tryout, as is an assessment to get into a school or an audition. Often, these tests are met with dread, and they almost always entail nerves. Sports are generally first to come to mind when talking about tryouts, and many of the activities at GHS have limited spots and thus require students to try out. The baseball and golf teams cut nearly half the students that tryout for the teams, while other spring sports, like track and girls’ tennis, are able to take everyone.

“Making cuts is definitely the hardest thing that we do,” baseball coach Mr. Jacob Wolf said. “Because you have to, unfortunately, tell someone that they can’t play for their school.”

These trials are routinely met with hurt feelings and even damaged selfesteem, which is why it is important that coaches make the right decisions when picking their teams and eliminating potential athletes. This can be difficult to do with a week or less to evaluate everyone.

“It is very challenging to get a look at everybody,” Mr. Wolf said. “And it makes the end of February and the first week of March very difficult.”

The limited number of spots makes for a competitive start to spring practice in these sports. As the number of students continues to grow, the

amount of spots on teams stays the same, making tryouts increasingly competitive.

“We had 81 try out this year, and we usually keep around 50,” Mr. Wolf said. “The players are dispersed through three teams--Varsity, JV and Reserve-- with some overlap.”

For golf, the coaches are not forced to make any decisions. The cuts are simply made based on who has the best score during practice rounds. The top twenty scores after a round of golf make the team and the rest are cut.

“It makes it a lot easier to have

tryouts not be subjective,” assistant golf coach Mr. Kyle Slusher said. “It is all based on score. However, it is tough when there are kids who make the team the year before and get cut.”

The golf coaches do not have to play any role in making cuts, as the cuts make themselves. However, students only have one round of golf to prove themselves.

“For tryouts, they play nine holes one night and nine holes the following night,” Coach Slusher said. “We started with 34 and cut seven the first night and seven the next night.”

Putting Off The weather delayed practice for several spring sports, which created conflict as multiple sports had to share indoor practice areas. “We split time in the cages with baseball and with girls tennis and track,” Coach Slusher said. “We first got outside the 20th of March and have only been outside since then.” However, golf was unable to practice indoors with the other teams. Photo by Colin Kitson

Second Chances Oftentimes, students who are cut from teams are able to join another team.“There are some kids who have played baseball in the past and switched to golf for us,” Coach Slusher said. For instance, track does not make any cuts, so anyone can join the team. Photo by Ella Weaver

Because of this tryout process, several students find themselves on the bubble unsure of whether or not they will make the team. There are only five varsity spots and five junior varsity spots. The next ten players have the ability to move into the top ten, but otherwise, they will not play very much golf outside of practice rounds.

“The golf tryout process can be brutal because your overall performance is determined by one or two days,” sophomore Andrew Blankenship said.

“So one bad day of golf has an impact on you making the team or not. I was close to the cut line this year, but I love living on the edge.”

There are negative implications to tryouts, as dreams will inevitably be crushed, and it is hard on both parties: coaches and athletes. Spring sports are in full swing with teams set, and once this season ends, hundreds of athletes will start proving themselves in the summer for fall sports.

10 Sports

APRIL 2019

Volume 5 Issue 8

TORRENTS TRAP TRAP TEAM

Trapshooters Continue to Practice Despite Problems By: Gabriella Goday STAFF WRITER

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rapshooting is a firearm sport.

Targets are launched away from the student, and the student shoots from where they are.

“So, trap is basically where you shoot these things called clay pigeons or blue rock,” freshman Connor Ford said. “So, there are five spots, one person goes on each spot. Basically, the first person shoots, so they do that five times, and after that, they move one to the right.

The person on the right goes to the left and then they continue ‘til they all shoot twenty five.”

Some students, like Ford and sophomore Garett Plambeck, joined trapshooting in middle school.

Trapshooting is available for students at the middle school, and they compete in the junior league. Middle school students do not have that many competitions, but

Automatic clay pigeon machine Photo by Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom

if they decide to join in high school, there are more opportunities. High school students would join the senior league and have more competition.

“I have been doing trap for five years since I was in sixth grade,” Plambeck said. “Because my brother was in it at the time and I like shooting guns with my friends.”

Students originally practiced at Ashland Gun Club, but due to past flooding, students were not able to practice there. The flood has set back many practices the team needs before their competition. But, the team has pushed past these setbacks and moved to Lincoln to practice instead.

“The flood has removed several practices needed before our competition,” sophomore Zachariah Peters said. “And has somewhat set back the team.”

During practice, students work on their shooting techniques. Some techniques students are improving on this season is their techniques, such as the speed of their shots, the emotion they put in the shot and what position they are shooting from.

“I have struggled with emotions and the shooting line,” Peters said. “Because, it can sometimes become frustrating.”

Just like Ford, students join trapshooting due to the welcoming community. The trapshooting community is very supportive and helpful, according to Ford. Others join for the experience

and the skill.

“I joined because my friends also participated and because of a medical condition,” Peters said. “ I can’t play contact sports and needed something else to do.”

Students who want to join trapshooting should get into contact with Coach Chuck Schulte or speak to a member.

Students who want to join should prepare themselves to be patient and push past their frustrations.

“My advice to new shooters and peers is to be consistent and practice every opportunity you can,” Peters said. “The more shells you shoot, the better you get.”

Trapshooting is a sport where

Another Shot When students are shooting, they use shot guns. “One thing I am working on this season is being consistent with my new gun,” Nathan Shulte (19) said. “It is a lot different than my old one, and I want to shoot better than I did before.” Students shoot clay pigeons, also called blue rocks. Photo by Kalei Renner

individuals will win awards, but so will the team as a whole. Trapshooting has a supportive and if students are looking for a new skill to learn, trap shooting is definitely an option.

Getting Better Students work on techniques to better their shots. “Techniques are just a lot of practice and listening to tips the coaches give you,” Garrett Plambeck said. “Just don’t get frustrated if you do it will get a lot worse.” Students prepare for the next competition while always improving. Photo by Kalei Renner

SERVING UP SUCCESS AFTER SUCCESS Girls’ Tennis

By: Zane Mzrola-Mindrup STAFF WRITER

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he girls’ tennis season began with wet and rainy days that kept them off of the outdoor tennis courts.

The season started with a string of early defeats. The Dragons did not falter, though, and the girls are back on the right track after a ten to one victory at the Omaha Gross dual.

“We are very excited this season,” head tennis coach Mr. Curt Mace said.

“We have a record number of girls out this year. Though we only have four seniors, the team is very talented all the way to the JV level.”

This season, most of the spring

Perfect Practices Kristin Ralston (20) focuses on her tennis shots during practice. “Though we only have four seniors, the team is very talented all the way to the JV level,” coach Mr. Curt Mace said. Kristin is only a junior and able to play another season.

Photo by Kinsli Auman

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Game

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sports teams have faced an unusual challenge: they have not been able to go outside and play. This was also true for the tennis team which was kept inside by the rainy weather until their fourth week of practices. They also had a dual with Lincoln Christian postponed because of weather.

“The weather has really made for a rocky start this season,” junior Ruth Isaacson said. “We weren’t even able to get outside until the day before our first game. It’s probably been the worst part of playing tennis this year.”

Despite a difficult start to the season where the Dragons lost back to back in a triangular against Skutt and Norris both three matches to one.

The team also suffered a tough loss of eight to one in dual with Brownell Talbot, but individually, players have seen success.

“In my first doubles match, we lost six to three,” sophomore Faith Leiting said. “After that, I won my second doubles match and then won my last match, a singles tiebreaker match, nine to eight.”

The Dragons

Game After

have begun to overcome their earlier challenges. On the court, they came away with a ten to one dual victory over Omaha Gross and have gone outside to practice more. They have also continued to focus on having a positive mindset.

“The best part of playing tennis this year has been bonding with the team,” sophomore Karlee Lobsiger said. “I think that how much we’ve bonded this year has really set us apart from teams of the past.”

With still more than a month to go in the tennis season and many more matches left to play, the outlook is good for the Dragons.

While the players are still focused on the season lying ahead, they do share some advice for future tennis players.

“Keep your head up,” Leiting said. “During matches, you have to forget the last point in order to keep the game moving. If you focus on all of your mistakes, you

Initial

Losses

Finishing Strong Jordyn Whitted (19) practices her tennis shots on the court. “The best part of playing tennis this year has been bonding with the team,” Karlee Lobsinger (21) said. This is Whitted’s last season playing with the GHS tennis team.

Photo by Kinsli Auman

will dig yourself in a hole and it will be hard to climb out of. At first, it will be hard to nail down your forehand and backhand strokes but they will come together.”

All in all, the forecast both literally and figuratively is very bright for the future Gretna girls’ tennis team. They have a wealth of youth and talent that could lay the foundation for a strong program for years into the future provided that they can play outside.

Volume 5 Issue 8

APRIL 2019

A&E

11

MARVELOUS MESSAGE MEDIOCRE PLOT

Captain Marvel Leaves Lasting Message with Overfamiliar Storyline

By Casey Downing STAFF WRITER

for Marvel.

The plot, on the other hand, falls flat.

There is nothing new that makes the plot of “Captain Marvel” stand apart from other superhero origin stories. Although a superhero discovering strength in their emotions makes for a solid foundation of a movie, it is overused by the film industry in every genre.

Another major plot point that failed to meet expectations is the loss of Nick Fury’s eye. Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, is the mysterious yet likable director of S.H.I.E.L.D., an agency that plays a major role in many of Marvel’s movies. Since “Captain Marvel” is set in the 1990’s it precedes the other films in the Avengers franchise. Nick Fury in those films is infamous for wearing an eye patch with a scar protruding from under it. Part of the hype for “Captain Marvel” was the long-awaited reveal of how he lost that eye. In this most recent movie, it is revealed that his eye is scratched out by something mundane and even humorous. Many fans feel let down, as they feel this event did not match the dark origin that was expected.

“Captain Marvel” is yet another blockbuster hit that has somehow become commonplace for the movie giant Marvel Studios and their directors. The brand name alone and its message to fans are enough to ensure the success of “Captain Marvel”, even with the use of a tiresome plot. “Captain Marvel” instills its viewers, especially young women, with the message that in each and every one of them is the potential to be super and to dream big.

M

arvel Studios and its parent company, Disney, are flying high off of the new release of its first female standalone movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Captain Marvel”. This film is centered around Captain Marvel, played by Brie Larson, and her adventure across the galaxy to Earth. This film serves as an origin story for several films yet to come, including this spring’s highly-anticipated movie Avengers: Endgame.

The movie begins on the far-out alien world of Hala. There, Captain Marvel, known as Vers, and later revealed to be Carol Danvers, trains as a soldier. Danvers has no recollection of who she was before she was brought to Hala and is in constant internal turmoil. She is taught to bury her emotions and any feelings she may have to become the perfect fighter. This leads to terrific character development as Danvers rediscovers who she was on Earth before being taken to Hala. This knowledge of her former life leads Danvers to embrace her emotions and become a strong protector for the weak.

This message resonates well with fans and is especially targeted for young girls, who now have the opportunity to see a female superhero take center stage in the MCU. Not only is Captain Marvel the strongest female superhero to be introduced into the MCU, but she is also arguably the strongest superhero to appear on the screen

“BEYOND GOLF” RESTAURANT REVIEW

Underestimated Sports Grill ‘Swings’ It up with Delicious, Gourmet Food

By Kalei Renner STAFF WRITER

U

pon walking into this restaurant, I instantly noticed that the entire facility was golf themed. For instance, the place had golf art, quotes and even virtual reality golf games. These golf games are what caught my attention. As I was sitting back, waiting for my glass of water, I noticed an abnormally large amount of screens covering the back wall of the restaurant. Along with that, there were metal golf bags with actual clubs attached to the floor. While I was observing these games for some time, I also noticed that there were people who were using these

golf clubs to swing at invisible golf balls.

Even though I was not able to give virtual golf a try, these games were one of the more unique things I noticed about this establishment.

Once I was finally able to get my food, I noticed that the food was not just the typical sports grill food. In fact, I could not even order fries with my sandwich. While this is extremely surprising, some places tend to substitute fries with a soup or salad.

For my first visit, I ordered the Gourmet Grilled Cheese with a Pork Poblano Soup.

And when they said gourmet grilled cheese, they meant gourmet grilled cheese.

When my sandwich arrived, it was loaded with two different types of cheese, red onions, some type of lettuce and a special sauce. Along with that, I was served a

pork poblano soup. This soup contained a variety of different spices that gave it a little kick. Also, the soup was served with three tortilla chips. Honestly, I wish they gave me more chips to dip into my soup.

Reflecting back on the restaurant, I really enjoyed how kind the staff was to me and the rest of their customers. For instance, every time I asked for a refill on my drink the waitress was quick to get me a new one. Along with that, she smiled every time she assisted me. I would say that their customer service was one of my favorite aspects of this grill.

Comparing this restaurant to other restaurants, I can say that I really liked how everything tied into the theme of the restaurant. From the virtual reality golf games to the phenomenal customer service,

I would totally recommend visiting this place during the afternoon or evening.

Even though there were many things that I really enjoyed about this restaurant, there were a few imperfections that I personally would change. For instance, I think they should really amp up their menu. Now, I know that they sell amazing flatbreads and sandwiches. I just think that if they added different types of sandwiches, soups, salads and appetizers, the place would be really outstanding.

Overall, I loved visiting this golfthemed grill. Even though I am not a big fan of golf, I was able to learn many new things about the sport. So if you're ever in a mood to eat some delicious gourmet food at a reasonable price or just play some virtual reality golf, Beyond Golf is the place to go.

12 A&E

APRIL 2019

Volume 5 Issue 8

COLORFUL CULTURE Mesoamericans Explored by GHS

By Isabel Mancilla CARTOONIST

E

xactly 500 years ago, the Spanish conquistadors stepped foot on the shores of modern-day Mexico, also known as a part of Mesoamerica.

The indigenous people were comprised of the Aztecs, the Inca and the Maya, as well as others such as the Toltecs.

Throughout courses such as World History, students learn of what happened to these natives and how they were treated. But, they are not given a true glimpse into the lives of the groups. For instance, the Maya had an extremely popular ball game. Historians are not completely sure as to if there was a proper name for the game, but it is mostly referred to in articles as the Mesoamerican ball game. According to History On the Net (HON), there were over 1300 ball courts scattered around Mesoamerica. It is also believed that the Olmecs were the first to play the game. The game consisted of soccer-like rules, using body parts besides the hands to hit the rubber-like ball into a hoop that is vertically connected onto the court’s wall.

Mesoamericans also practiced human sacrifice. Winning teams would be glorified and rewarded well, but the losing team was usually sacrificed. While they did not sacrifice someone weekly, it still occurred.

According to mesoballgame.com, the Mesoamerican life included a daily struggle between good and evil. They believed the gods would test them and they would have to prove their worth. Through offerings, sacrifices and tributes, they would almost attempt to “make it up” to the gods for displeasing them.

The Maya, the Aztec and the Inca were all polytheistic. In their religious beliefs, the gods decided whether the world continued spinning or not. Due to this, they believed that if the gods were displeased, they

would want a sacrifice or offering. Events like droughts would be thought of as a punishment for not offering enough. Ancient History Encyclopedia states that more than blood was offered. They would burn bloodsoaked papers and incense and tobacco, bury jade, and practice blood-letting.

While the Aztecs especially were known for human sacrifice, they were just as culturally inspiring as they were “dark.”

Their art was used to honor their gods as much as the sacrifices were. Poetry, music and sculptures were all used in their everyday lives. In one found poem, the lines mentioned prayers to a god or spirit-presumably in hopes of bettering their chances fishing.

Mesoamerican art was heavily influenced by nature. Gods had animal attributes or were animals entirely. Quetzalcoatl was the feathered or plumed serpent. Chac was associated with frogs and depicted as an old man, usually with other amphibian traits.

The Maya, Aztecs, Inca and more all built temples to their gods where sacrifices were held. The temples were an impressive advancement, as some were over 60 meters tall (roughly 196 feet). They were mostly made of stone and mud. They are thought to have been made by piling mud into a foundation and placing the stone on top of that.

Not every god was viewed as worthy of being given a temple, but every god had small tasks that still allowed them to be worshipped. For instance, there were gods that ruled over maize as well as other gods who ruled the wind.

Mesoamericans were spread throughout Central America and lived intricate lives.

Their lives included worship, farming, trade, fine arts, war, entertaining games as well as determining what was good and evil. Classes do not always cover the Mesoamerican lifestyle before the Spaniard’s invasion, but they lead colorful lifestyles that included many tasks.

SCENTS OF THE GRETNA COMMUNITY Students Express Themselves Through Perfumes, Colognes, Scents

By Ella Weaver EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“M

ackie,” by Bob Mackie, is the most popular perfume in Nebraska, according to Good Housekeeping in 2016. Calvin Klein’s “Obsession” was the most popular cologne, according to FragranceX. Both perfumes feature varied drying and layering notes that evoke different emotions and express different themes. These perfumes and many other fragrances are used

by Americans to express themselves and smell how they like- including GHS students.

Students have varied reasons for wearing fragrance.

“Well you see, I went to Bath and Body Works, and it was on sale,” senior Michael Aguilar said. “Devoid of any friends, I figured the best way to do this was to smell like garbage. So, I went and bought this cologne, and here I am being interviewed for the newspaper under the pseudonym--say it with me-- MAMA (Michael Adolpho Martinez Aguilar).”

Many students are brand loyal. In a survey of 22 students, 71.5% wore Bath and Body Works perfume. Another 9.6% wore Victoria’s Secret.

“Anything that I find at Bath and Body Works, I’m loyal to,” Aguilar said.

Some students are loyal to a brand, while others are loyal to a scent. Fragrances can be broken into categories, which include scents such as citrus or clean. Junior Margot Gissler, however, believes in mixing perfumes and

colognes.

“Sometimes the scent of one thing is not quite ideal,” Gissler said. “It’s (mixing fragrances) like putting condiments on something you’re eating. It just augments the flavor, but in this case, the scent.”

Perfumes and colognes are not the same.

While cologne is typically worn by men and perfume by women, the technical name actually reveals the concentration of scented oils. Eau de Parfum has a concentration of 15-20%, and eau de cologne has a concentration of 2-4%. Still, many colognes and body sprays can still be potent. High schoolers remember the days of Axe overuse in middle school.

“I remember some of the first times I used cologne, I didn’t realize how strong it was, so I was like ‘One spray isn’t enough,’” Aguilar said. “So, I used about four, and it’s very strong. I’m pretty sure as I walked by people and birds, they just dropped dead.”

Still, perfume is used by many students and used often. When surveyed, every student wore perfume at least 1-2 times per month, and nearly 45.5% of surveyed students wore perfume every day or nearly every day. However, some students have strong opinions about the fragrances their classmates wear.

“The people with the very sugary, cakey, caramelly --- (they) need to stop,” senior Amber DeVries said.

While students use a variety of perfumes and colognes and have differing opinions, some facts are clear. Gretna students wear perfume nearly every day, and it is mostly Bath and Body Works.