VIKING
LO N G B OAT
11.20.2012 Haslett High School
5450 Marsh Road Haslett MI 48840
Volume 18 Issue 3
Senior Taylor Grenawalt with his parents Michael and Rebecca Grenawalt in the cafeteria on the day he signed his letter of intent to wrestle at Brown University. Photo by Sierra Dove
Bright Future
Relief on I-96
Wreslter commits to Brown Confidence on commute by Patrick Gifford
by Zach Hebel
His last season ended with frustration and disappointment. A move he had used several times before was suddenly whistled illegal and a disqualification from the state tournament was doled out from the Michigan High School Athletic Association preventing him from pursuing his life goal. This year, however, begins with hope and excitement as senior wrestler Taylor Grenawalt has
A calm, well-spoken and alert 43-year-old stay-at-home dad. A graduate from St. Johns High School and Michigan State University with a degree in geology. He has no prior felonies or misdemeanors in Michigan, but that may change
BRIGHT FUTURE on page 7
now. He is facing 60 serious felonies and is denied bail. The crimes Raulie Casteel is being charged with may not fit his given characteristics, but the Michigan police are fairly certain the man they have in custody is the man who shot at 24 cars between Oct. 17 to 29.
RELIEF on page 3
Alternative Options
Seniors look to the future by Alexa Walkowicz There are many options available to seniors after high school. College, in-state or out of state, military scholarships or enlistment. Most seniors have chosen to go to college in-state. Some of seniors, however, have chosen to take the road
less traveled and decided on alternatives to in-state college. Senior Thomas Grubb has applied to only two schools: Michigan State and the University of Alabama. He is not planning to apply to any others and said, “I’m pretty sure I’m just going to call it.”
ALTERNATIVES on page 3
OPIN ION
2
November 20, 2012
Staff editorial: Peer to Peer something to boast about For a stranger to the halls of Haslett High School, there is something different in the air, something that wouldn’t be sensed in most other schools. Students with shirts reading “Haslett Peer to Peer;” kids called LINKS guiding other students to their next classroom; in the morning, the anticipated and ever-loved voice over the announcements, emphatically bellowing “Good morning Haslett High... this is your morning news.” The Peer to Peer program we know now at Haslett has been a long time in the making. From the days of middle school lunch meetings with about 10 kids, the program
has escalated into the Viking Room-packing, Anthony Iannifeaturing, role-modeling organization it is today. And it’s changing the school for the better. Peer to Peer has divided and conquered, and is conquering yet. While meetings may appear to just be watching videos and eating pizza, there is much more going on. Seeds of kindness and understanding are being planted in the minds of students. These students learn about the minds of their autistic peers as well as how to treat them with compassion. They venture into the halls and love on the special education students, those who may be over-
looked or even tormented in other schools. And other people see these interactions. The seeds germinate as appropriate behavior and humane treatment toward these students and spreads throughout the rest of the student body. An unkind word about the autistic students is a rare occurrence within and around the walls of Haslett High, and is generally frowned upon by the public majority. For one student teasing another, a hundred others have the victim’s back. This is not true for most other schools, where people can be downright brutal to those who act differently. We thankfully find quite the oppo-
site here at Haslett High. It’s no wonder other school districts in the area are using Haslett’s LINKS program as a healthy model for what any student aid program should look like, with eight students participating the first year and 31 the next, the program displayed unprecedented growth. People truly care at Haslett, and this is what is bringing in the wave of special education students to the school with a magnetic pull. And the kids with enough heart to sacrifice an hour of their schedules to tend to a student with autism are the magnets. Of course, even the slightest amount of bullying is inevitable
in any school. Our school is not perfect. But Haslett has proven to provide a haven for students once unaccepted and unloved by their peers, in much worse environments. Elsewhere, those students would have had no chance of thriving and making friends, but are now attending classes without problems, developing to their full mental capacities, and forming friendships with the “cool” kids. Hope from hopeless situations has been born at this school. Miracle stories have undoubtedly been created. From here, the Haslett student body needs to continue on the path it is headed down.
From the unexplored mind of a first-time voter Emotions and experiences of the 2012 presidential election by Reid Fowler I held the pen in my hand. It was secured to the table by a string so as to retain its position. Glancing upward from my seat, I noticed the others in the room. My dad, halfway across the room, deep in thought. An older man to the left of me. And to my right, a young female, also voting for her first time. I smiled, thinking that only a month and a day before this moment, I had become a legal adult. Now I sat there, ballot in front of me, “Barack Obama” and “Mitt Romney” staring back at me, my hand able to swipe the pen to dictate which man I wanted to be President of the United States, and count. Indeed, I voted in this year’s presidential election. Millions of people across the nation did the exact same thing that day. To many, it was an old routine. Four years after four years after four more years. Same old, same old. To others, it was an enthralling new experience. The overwhelming majority of college-aged voters were first-timers. To a few, however, it was a spectacular, insightful glimpse into the entirely real world of politics and American history from their high school-infested lives. Once they left the poll, they returned to their homework, boyfriends/girlfriends and college applications. But, for a brief moment in time, they got to set aside these tasks and contribute to something on a much grander scale. At first, it didn’t feel real. There were bursts of excitement and anticipation, and as I scribbled marks on the ballot, I felt an exaggerated sense of power seep into my bloodstream. I wanted to stand on the table and shout to the sky out of nothing more than youthful drive. Returning home, however, I didn’t sense much change. My life was back to flustering myself through calculus homework and eating Jet’s pizza. I had nearly expected to be instantaneously altered, to feel like a brand new man, ready to take on the world, sword held high. The change came, though, but more gradually. I came to realize that I had been part of a voice much larger than myself, one that existed in all 50 United States and contained approximately 130 million people, easily the most colossal collection of people I’ve ever been incorporated with. This fact sunk in on me. It made me feel tiny, but it also brought me a sense of accomplishment. I felt important. To think that I had an impact on the next president, the one who could start wars, make history-defining decisions, and lead the country out of failure or very likewise into it, no longer made me feel like a barred opinion. My voice was no longer restricted by
pesky age limitations. I was also reminded of the great freedoms we have in our country, that I was able to participate in the election fresh out of youthhood. It was fairly intimidating, being the youngest in the room at voting time. In a way, it felt like cheating. It didn’t seem like I was supposed to be there. It was as if I was getting a sneak-peek of a test to come. I felt like a baby who had learned to walk before it had even exited the mother’s womb. Nevertheless, I was perfectly eligible. I was even encouraged by many. Friends and family jumped with joy to hear that I could vote, in part because of the additional vote to their party obsession. But also out of pure, genuine excitement for me. It was comforting to know that I was viewed not as a naive, waste-lifeaway teenager, but as a competent American citizen. T h e woman w h o checked me in seemed more ecstatic about my presence in the poll than I was. And the woman who scanned my ID proceeded to explain how she had been dying for her niece to name her son Reid, which never happened. A sense of American hospitality was in the air, and I knew I was right where I was supposed to be at that moment.
The ball needs to keep rolling, and from the looks of it, that exact thing is happening. Love must continue to be dispersed. Knowledge must continue to be attained. Iron fists must be brought upon the bullies and foul-hearted. If Haslett can achieve these things, our special education program will go where no other program has gone before. The Peer to Peer organization is in the wake of something momentous. The shuttle has just launched, and it is about to reach the stars. It is this that makes Haslett stick out from the rubble.
The Viking Longboat Editor-in-Chief Erik Frobom Features Quinn Alexander News Nick Lemmer Opinions Reid Fowler Sports Patrick Gifford Photography Sierra Dove Nick Gregory Design Editors Zach Hebel Amy Baumgartner Advisers Julie Price Jayna Salk Staff Cory Berry Madison Brady Jonah Brown Bridget Farhat Michael Garnett Katelyn Harris Sunny Havens Stephanie Hilker Marcus Hooper Caitlyn Laidler Hanna Lee Samantha Leifker Breanna McGuire Jordon Walling Alexa Walkowicz The Viking Longboat is a monthly publication of Haslett High School, 5450 Marsh Road, Haslett, MI 48840. It is published by the fifth hour Newspaper Production class and Journalism class. The Longboat has been established as a student run public forum circulated within the school and to subscribers in the community and outside the school district. Letters to the editor are accepted at the discretion of the editorial board. Forms of speech not protected by the First Amendment will not be published. Letters must be signed by the author and may be edited for grammar, spelling and style. Direct all questions to the Publications Room, Room 411.
N E WS
November, 20, 2012
3
Alternatives Seniors are Taking
from page 1
Students consider non-college options for next chapter of their lives
by Alexa He wants to go to the University of Alabama and study physics, with possibly a second degree in economics. He applied to the school on Oct. 5, but hasn’t received a letter back from it yet. “I’m probably just going to tell my parents that that’s where I’m going,” Grubb said. Going to the University of Alabama means that, because of his National Merit award, a majority of his bachelor’s degree would be paid for. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, he plans to pay for his graduate work at a better school, perhaps at California Tech or MSU. Grubb has met some opposition to his attending U of A. “My mom really wants me to stay close to home,” Grubb said. However, “she’s been accepting it more and more,” he said. Grubb has decided to attend U of A instead of another, maybe more prestigious school for several reasons. He said some of the deciding factors for him were the financial aspects and the bigger school atmosphere of U of A. After school, Grubb hopes to get a job doing research. Senior Mitchell Arnold has also chosen to go to college. To pay for it, however, he has chosen to apply to the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship. This is a naval scholarship. In return for four to five years of service in the Navy, Arnold gets a full ride scholarship for college. While looking for scholarships, Arnold was attracted by the NROTC scholarship because it pays for all his schooling and because of his father’s military past. His dad has been in the Navy and participated in the Gulf War. He has also been in the National Guard and is currently in the Coast Guard, serving in Virginia. Arnold plans to go into construction management, which he
Relief
has been preparing for at the Capital Area Career Center. He has been looking at different schools, one being Ferris State. But since becoming a Christian last year, has been looking more at christian schools. “It’s changed my outlook,” Arnold said. A christian school would “help me be an example for God.” During school, in addition to his regular classes, Arnold will take certain classes to prepare for the Navy. After school, he will enlist in the Navy and instantly be promoted to a naval officer. This allows him to have a management position in construction. If he had just enlisted instead of going through the scholarship program, he would have been doing the groundwork as a private. After the Navy, “it’s whatever God wants me to do,” Arnold said.
Locked batherooms annoy
from page 1
by Zach Hebel Coined “The I-96 Corridor Shooter,” the reward for the information leading to the discovery of the suspect reached $102,000 prior to Casteel’s arrest. The story had been picked up by major national news outlets, such as USA Today, Huffington Post and CBC News. The highway’s proximity to the high school caused a considerable amount of talk among students and staff, especially those who drive and/or have to traverse the stretch of highway. English teacher Stephanie Livingston was initially worried about the commute between work and her home in Howell. “I did not love it,” she said. “I was especially alarmed after the Saturday a man was injured, because I had just followed that stretch of road a couple of hours before that injury happened and I had my 5-month-old son in the car. So, the following days in the afternoon, I took Grand River home.” Rebecca Kipp, who also makes the commute every day, opted not to change her driving habits. “Maybe I’m a little more aware while I’m driving, to look out for suspicious behaviors,” Kipp said. “But my biggest thing is you can’t stop living because of fear of something, and so I still have to drive. I did consider taking an alternate route.” She mentioned that she drives on the main
Instead of choosing to go to college, senior Austin Lindsey plans to enlist in the military right out of high school. He will be enlisting in the Navy as an aircrewman and a rescue swimmer. As an aircrewman, Lindsey would ride in a helicopter and make sure all the technology is working correctly. As a rescue swimmer, he would still ride in the helicopter, he would just “be jumping out of it instead,” Lindsey said. Lindsey decided to enlist, in part because his father was in the Navy. His family has had six generations of military men, and “I thought, hey, tradition is cool,” Lindsey said. Also, “the military is a really smart choice for anyone getting out of high school.” He is very excited, and “I would leave right now,” Lindsey said. After graduating, Lindsey has a month off, then he starts training. He will go to boot camp and then to aviation school in Pensacola, Fla. There are three schools there that he will attend. Lindsey will then go to a SERE, or Survival,Evasion, Resistance, and Escape, school in California. “Basically what they do is capture you and torture you,” Lindsey said. “It’s like in GI Jane when she’s in the wooden box, except less dramatized.” Depending on his grades, Lindsey could be deployed anywhere after completing his schooling. “I’m going to be all over the world,” Lindsey said. While in the Navy, Lindsey plans to save his money and invest it, so that when he gets out of the military, he will be able to go on a backpacking trip around the world. He plans to go to Australia first and then maybe the Netherlands, and after that, Europe. Lindsey could see himself having a job after his trip and does see himself having a family, perhaps meeting someone in the military or on his travels. “Either way, I feel like it’s going to happen at some point,” Lindsey said.
part of the highway, and not near the portions where most of the shootings occurred. The suspect in custody is widely believed by law enforcement to be the shooter. The certainty of the police and media that Casteel is guilty has brought feelings of relief to many who travel the roads. “It was alarming to me that someone had been shooting randomly at cars, but it was even more sort of alarming the sort of frequency and randomness it appeared to be happening,” Livingston said. “It seemed like, ‘When was it going to stop? And was it multiple people?’ There were too many unanswered questions. I was relieved when they seemed to have caught the person who did it.” The story behind why he was seemingly shooting at random cars may become more apparent in coming months, but right now professionals suspect undiagnosed mental disorders. The suspicions are backed up when going through Casteel’s Twitter feed that he may be suffering from paranoia. The Tweets consist of anti-government statements, Tweets about “the planes watching him from overhead” and many, many cryptic anti-Obama messages. “It makes me a little more relieved that he’s hopefully going to get the help he needs, and he’s not out there able to hurt random people,” Kipp said. “I don’t know what his intent was... but hopefully he gets all the help he needs.”
by Hannah Lee She ran out of class with a red face from laughing and a bladder about to burst. As she ran to the ladies room her only thought was not to wet her pants. She reaches for the door, tries to turn the handle and finds it’s locked. Now what? The last few weeks at random times, the main bathroom doors have been locked. Apparently for no reason. The staff who have keys to the bathrooms have not been aware of the situation. “They shouldn’t be locked,” principal Bart Wegenke said. “Someone probably forgot (to unlock them).” Both Wegenke and head custodian Steven Kioski were puzzled and had not heard about this before.
“Which ones?” Kioski said. “If the doors happen to be locked let someone know. (If they’re locked) come tell me or Jerry.” Students have become increasingly annoyed by this unpredictable change of routine. “It’s inconvenient, those are the cleanest bathrooms. If they’re locked I go try to find a janitor or give up,” senior Bianca Nieto said. Lately, students have been asking why the choir bathroom doors are locked all the time. “Not enough security,” associate principal Andrea Rumsey said. After talking to multiple students and a few teachers, it is well known among the school why these bathrooms are locked. In the past there has been inappropriate behaviors in the choir bathrooms. The best solution is to keep these doors locked.
Drug searches coming to the school by Amy Baumgartner The Meridian Township Police Department will begin doing sporadic drug searches during school. The searching will be done by trained dogs who can detect drugs and alcohol. The school has decided these searches will “keep our school as safe and secure as
possible,” principal Bart Wegenke said. The entire school will be searched including lockers, bathrooms and the parking lot. Senior Maher Al-Sheikh believes the searches will benefit the school. “So many people would be busted. It would be good,” Al-Sheikh said.
Senior Echo Meike-Durso was unaware that searches would be taking place. “People who bring drugs to school are stupid,” Meike-Durso said. Consequences for those caught could be as severe as a $100 fine, substance abuse services and rehabilitation for first time offenders.
4
LIFEBOAT
November 20, 2012
LIFEBOAT
November 20, 2012
5
students’ lives. students’ stories
Leading with LINKS School blazes trails with autism program by Erik Frobom Haslett High School has a leading program in LINKS. The program was adopted January of 2011 to benefit students with autism. Two years may sound like a short time, but the program itself is not much older. Other schools have not been as quick to accommodate a LINKS program, and those that have number few. Haslett models its LINKS program after that of Grand Ledge High School. East Lansing High School has begun to implement LINKS practice. In considering LINKS, “Haslett found a need, a value,” said Lisa Basore, the supervisor of Haslett’s LINKS program. Through peer interaction, LINKS encourages students with autism to interact with the same everyday environments that oth-
er students face. According to Basore, it was found through research to be a “best practice” for students with autism, a buzzword that applies in this instance to a superior developmental technique. The school’s eagerness to adopt the new program is exemplary, as shown by the number of students involved. East Lansing’s program serves only one student. Haslett’s serves five, four of them all-day students, and its mentor roster lists the names of 31 student volunteers. These volunteers spend time relating with their autistic peers, exchanging experiences that simply cannot occur within the confines of a designated special education classroom. Besore said the initiative is “to establish friends and, hopefully, close connections – that is the ultimate goal.”
There is evidence of these goals being reached. “I can’t speak highly enough of the program. It’s doing everything the research says it is supposed to do,” Pat Miller, a Haslett parent, said. Miller’s daughter, Katie, has been benefitting from Haslett’s LINKS program since November of 2011. Miller was disheartened with the lack of effort and understanding that the administration at Katie’s previous school showed. She turned to the Statewide Autism Research and Training program (START) at Grand Valley State University, an organization devoted to finding practices suitable for the development of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. There, mention of Haslett’s LINKS program came her way. “They spoke highly of it,” she said. Katie had previously not been
w
a part of many experiences that her peers took for granted. This year’s homecoming parade and dance were attended by many as repeat events, but for Katie these were firsts. LINKS provides not only attention, but interaction. “This is the first time in her life that she has been invited to do things outside of class; outside of school,” Miller said of her daughter. She said the students in Haslett’s community are especially accepting and that she is “really impressed with Mrs. Basore.” Amy Matthews has been on the faculty of the psychology department at Grand Valley State University since 1998. She now directs the START program, working with educators around the state on training and awareness. Matthews said the the program has a positive effect on the
students who serve as LINKS to students with autism. According to her, at-risk students made improvements in their attendance in behavior after dedicating themselves volunteering. “It’s a win-win,” she said. Programs like these bridge a gap that had been previously unspanned. According to Basore, no similar program preceded LINKS at Haslett. The installation of the program represents a shift in how schools are dealing with autistic students. Adult support is being phased out with peer support. “You learn an awful lot from your peers, about socialization, behavior,” Matthews said. If the same development is to be made by students with autism, autistic students must have genuine peers of their own. This is very possible, according to Matthews. “Once they
“Listen up” Liam wakes up the school with the morning news by Quinn Alexander
photo by Mark Keck
Liam Hill and senior Taylor Braatz start a schhol day with the morning announcements
You sit down in your first hour, a full day ahead of you. Your ears instantly perk up as the morning announcements come on and you hear an energetic voice say “good morning, this is your morning news.” Junior Liam Hill is the voice behind the introduction to the announcements and walks in with complete confidence. “I am really confident because I enjoy doing the morning announcements,” Hill, who is on the autism spectrum, said. Hill took on the job of announcing by asking principal Bart Wegenke. “I really wanted
to see what the school is up to and I wanted to see what becoming a morning announcer was like,” Hill said. Hill also hopes to be on next year’s announcements. “It would definitely be a good honor.” However, after high school, Hill doesn’t plan on pursuing a career in being an announcer, but in music. “I want to work in a music store,” he said. As Hill walks into the office, he is filled with excitement. “I love to do the announcements and I enjoy working with (senior) Taylor Braatz.”
understand autism, we find that students just jump right in,” she said. The research that drives LINKS shows that students with autism are able to make more progress when they have opportunities to relate with other people who share their ages and interests. For Katie Miller, this seems to be the case. Her mother has noticed a “blossoming in her communication” in the year that Katie has been in Haslett’s LINKS program. “What 18 year-old wants to associate with adults?” Basore said. The statement resonates with truth. Clearly those who support the LINKS program stand by its logic. Senior Drew Choma sits himself on a bench before exercsing in the pool.
photo by Sierra Dove
Life as a LINK
Champion Choma
Staff writer describes experience
Drew displays progress, accomplishment
by Sunny Havens
by Quinn Alexander
Being a LINK has been a great experience for myself to meet new people and to help students with their work. I love being able to work with students who need my help, whether the situation is easy or hard. I began working as a LINK second semester of last year. I was learning the basics of what it means to a LINK, and what we are supposed to do in a certain situations. Junior Theresa Whaley was my helper for learning what is needed to be a LINK. We were both working with junior Liam Hill in his U.S. History class. LINKS are able to help their students with learning social skills while in a class. These skills will be able to help the student in the future. When finals come around, we go on social outings like going
to the movies, hanging out at the zoo or hanging out somewhere where the student is able to interact with other people their ages. This year, I am working with Sophomore Katie Miller in her life skills class. We are working on how we should act during and after school. During this class, Katie and I have been learning how it is for people living with a disability and their challenges. The whole class went on a field trip to Peckham to hear the story of Kyle Maynard and his challenges as he was born with congential amputation. On Wednesdays, the class goes around the school to collect bottle recycling, to learn how to work as a team or a group. The students are learning the life skills of what it may be like in future careers and to learn what it is like to be interviewed for a job.
Senior Drew Choma walks into class, followed by his LINK. He sits down at his desk and doesn’t leave until the bell rings. “During freshmen year, he would sit in class for about 10 to 15 minutes,” senior Hannah Greenberg said. “Now he is sitting through the whole class periods, which is a really big step for him.” Greenberg is one of Choma’s seven LINKs who help him in his classes and help him achieve his goals throughout the year. “Each year he has an IEP (Individual Education Plan),” Greenberg said. “Some are long-term goals, which are for all four years. And some are short-term goals that we hope to accomplish by the end of the year.”
Currently, the biggest longterm goal for Choma is to get him ready for life beyond high school, like getting a job and being able to be in a working environment. “Right now, his fifth hour is a job skills class where he goes and cleans up the cafeteria,” Greenberg said. “He enjoys cleaning.” Depending on what the goal is, it can be easy or difficult for Choma to achieve. This year they are working on a small, menial goal. “One of our goals right now is for him to hold the door open for people,” Greenberg said. “just so that if he goes for a job interview he knows to hold the door open.” Every now and then, Choma’s LINKS remind him to hold the door open. But he learns best by example. “His LINKS will show how he is supposed to act and he cop-
ies a lot,” Greenberg said. “It helps to have kids his age in a classroom rather than adults. He is more likely to mimic them.” The LINKs also record Choma’s progress on an application on their iPad. “It records certain things he does and commonly used words,” Greenberg said. “We keep track through that.” Overall, the biggest triumph for Choma over the past four years has benefited both him and his family. “Drew is able to go to church with his family,” Greenberg said. “They couldn’t go as a whole family before.” Just like every other senior, Choma is looking forward to getting his diploma as well. “He is excited to graduate this year,” Greenberg said.
S PORTS
6
November 20, 2012
Newfound leaders
Coaches bring forth fresh expectations by Marc Hooper Wrestling coach Alan O’Donnell and lacrosse coach Brent Taylor were hired this current school year and these two coaches have many hopes and goals for their players in the upcoming seasons. After winning all-league and all-district in both high school wrestling and football, O’Donnell knew he would be involved with athletics. “My coach inspired me because he had many ideas and styles of coaching,” O’Donnell said. “That helped me keep motivated and strive for my goals.” O’Donnell attended Lakewood High School, and went on to attend Michigan State University. Along with majoring in human biology, O’Donnell wrestled all four years of college, earning a spot in the starting line-up. “Wrestling in college helped with building many life skills, and also with observing many coaching styles,” he said. After graduating from Michigan State, O’Donnell started coaching wrestling at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky, and also
at Michigan state. O’Donnell does, however, lack experience when it comes to coaching high school kids. “From coaching college kids mainly, the first year may be challenging,” he said. “But the team should still have a good season. The coaching styles I have should still remain the same from season to season though.” Wrestling at the high school has always had a problem with low participation. The low numbers leads to the problem of filling the whole line up. “My first priority with being a coach, is filling the line up,” O’Donnell said. “Whether or not a student has no experience in wrestling. ”After focusing on this, O’Donnell is planning on helping individuals with their short-term and long-term goals. “Wrestling is a fun sport and it helps kids with their high school lives outside of school as well,” he said. Coming from coaching Haslett youth level and junior varsity lacrosse for a few years, Brent Taylor feels honored to take on the varsity assignment.
“Knowing the players before the season on and off the field, helps build a team stronger,” Taylor said. Growing up in East Lansing, and attending Michigan State University, Taylor did not have the opportunity to play lacrosse. “In the 80s lacrosse was not offered at the high school level nor the collegiate,” he said. “I hope coaching will fulfill my ambitions of once being a lacrosse player.” Taylor believes every team must have goals to strive for. “I think winning is a choice. Not one to be made at the game or practice, but now,” he said. The lacrosse season is still months away, but the coaches and players aren’t acting like it. “They attend pre-season sessions, they hit the weight room, run hills, and do whatever it takes to become a better lacrosse player and team,” Taylor said. Last year, the lacrosse team had a strong season, ending the year in the regional semi-finals. After having such success last year, Taylor has high hopes
First year wrestling coach Alan O’Donnell is set to lead his team to a strong season.
Photo by Breanna McGuire
for what he wants to achieve.. “My first priority is obtaining a top ten rank in the state and making it a regional finals appearance in the playoffs,” he said. Both of these goals
The hiring process
Feguson confident new coaches will be good for programs by Jonah Brown One theme of high school sports is change. After every season, seniors graduate and a new class of varsity athletes emerge. For three teams this year the athletes aren’t the only thing changing. The competitive cheer team, the lacrosse team and the wrestling team are all transitioning to new coaches. After a run to the regional semifinals last season, coach Brandon Schwinn was hired to coach for the Michigan State University men's club lacrosse team. The man taking his spot is father of junior lacrosse captain Noah Taylor. Brent Taylor is not just coaching for two years until his son graduates, though. “It was a definite concern of mine, but we talked and he told me that he will keep coaching after Noah graduates,” athletic director Darin Ferguson said. After a good year last year,
players are hopeful for the upcoming season. “He’s a lot more relaxed so it should really help with team chemistry,” junior Tyler Mehigh said. Chemistry could be what the team needs after the team last year received complaints from nearby houses the coach was being too obscene and vulgar during practices. ”By the end of the season last year there was no chemistry anymore,” Noah Taylor said. Despite the fact they are going through a coaching change, wrestlers who are part of the team don’t sound too worried. “He’s awesome, he’s really good at getting through to the younger guys and the older guys as well,” senior wrestler Taylor Grenwalt said. The he that Grenwalt is speaking of is new coach Alan O’Donnell. Coach O’Donnell could be
just what the program needs, “I think he will breathe life into the program,” added Taylor Grenwalt. O’Donnell is filling a position left open by last year’s coach, former teacher Sam bird. He retired from teaching and the retirement of coaching came with it. “He (Bird) coached me my whole career, but in this case, I think change is good,” senior Bruce Geisen said. For any new coaching position that opens, Ferguson posts a bulletin internally to teachers and staff to see if there are any staff members who potentially want to coach. “When a coach is also a teacher, they get to see the student athletes in school on a daily basis and get to know what they are like out of their sport,” Ferguson said. “Coaches who are teachers are preferred, but it comes down to who’s more qualified.”
Despite both the lacrosse and wrestling teams having successful seasons last year, there wasn’t a rush of coaches searching for either position. In the case of the wrestling team, it took some effort to find a new coach. “I initially informed the athletic directors within the CAAC (Capitol Area Athletics Conference) and got nothing back. Then I informed all the athletic directors in the state to try to find a coach,” Ferguson said. It wasn’t until Ferguson asked a source at Michigan State that he found Coach O’Donnell. The position for the Lacrosse was not quite as difficult. Ferguson didn’t have to mediate any fights between any coaches trying to get hired at Haslett, but did already have a coach in mind when Schwinn left. Brent Taylor was the assistant coach for the junior varsity team last year.
set out by Taylor, have never been reached at Haslett. “We also want to be recognized as a team that does it the right way, with a good attitude and a healthy respect for every-
one we react with on and off the field,” he said. “Something that my team will remember is something very simple, compete hard, never quit, and do whatever it takes to win.”
Intense Icers Two juniors dedicate time, energy to travel hockey teams by Stephanie Hilker Juniors and Erik Brown and Alex Rowe have been playing hockey most of their lives. Brown is the defender on the Lansing Capitals U-18 traveling team. His team travels to California, Minnesota, Chicago, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas. On Nov. 9, Brown’s team went to Chicago to face the California Titans. He expected it to be “a good trip with the boys.” Practicing three times a week at Suburban Ice, and traveling frequently makes completing homework a challenge. Players have to get assignments in advance, and complete them on the bus or airplane. “It gets tiring,” he said. Although it creates a busy schedule, being part of the
Capitals is “more competitive” than high school hockey as college and even professional coaches attend games to scout players. Junior Alex Rowe, center for the Capitals U-16 team, loves hockey because of “how fast moving it is.” He also enjoys “how creative you can be on the ice.” Rowe was watched at Chicago on Nov. 9 by Texas junior league teams. Rowe said the weekend’s game would be “a big showcase”. Both Rowe and Brown hope to continue their hockey careers. Brown’s “dream” is to play for Michigan State University. Rowe would like to play for Ferris State and even the National Hockey League down the road.
S por t s
November 20, 2012
Bright Future
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Wrestler grows from last season’s dissapointment by Patrick Gifford committed to wrestle next year at Brown University. Even with his future plans set, Grenawalt remains hungry as he heads into his final year of high school wrestling. “I really want to end my high school career with a state title,” senior Taylor Grenawalt said. “It has been a major goal of mine ever since I was a little kid.” And Grenawalt has used the controversy of his junior season as fuel to motivate him for a strong senior year. “What happened last year has definitely been the biggest driving force for me this year,” he said. Grenawalt’s disqualification last year not only prevented him from competing in individual districts, it also dropped him in the national rankings (he is currently ranked number 23 in his weight class by Wrestling USA Magazine). “All of the awful effects that came out of what happened last year have only fueled his fire even more,” senior team-
mate Bruce Giesen said. But what the events of last season could take away from Grenawalt in terms of eligibility, could not mask his immense talent. As Grenawalt narrowed down his recruiting process, two schools seemed to emerge: Brown University and Columbia University. He took an official visit to both schools, stayed in their dorms and talked to both wrestling coaches on a weekly basis. Grenawalt eventually discovered that he favored the way his academic career would play out at Brown University. “They have an open curriculum, so I won’t have to take classes that I don’t want to take or classes I am not interested in,” he said. When considering the several colleges that Grenawalt was looking at, he was sure to consider their academic reputations more so than their wrestling programs. “I’ve always put academics first, so to be able to wrestle at a Division I level and go to an Ivy League school is the best of
both worlds,” he said. “It’s a dream come true.” Planning on double majoring in Psychiatry and International Studies, Grenawalt knows that balancing academics and athletics will not be easy. It’s no doubt going to be tough,” he said. “But I know I will enjoy going to class and figure out new ways to learn more effectively.” As a student athlete, the majority of Grenawalt’s day will be very busy. “I will be spending a lot of my days on the mat and in the classroom, but that’s something I am ready and excited for,” he said. Just as Grenawalt has a set of goals for his final season of high school wrestling, he has much he intends on accomplishing with his time at Brown University. First off, he hopes to make an immediate impact on the team as a freshman. There are around 30 wrestlers on the team and the best wrestler at each weight class earns a starting spot.
Senior Taylor Grenawalt poses with his family after signing his letter of intent to Brown University. Grenawalt plans on wrestling at 140 pounds in college, and is optimistic about his chances of starting. “There will be a pretty good senior at my weight class,” he said. “But I’m confident I can break the lineup.” This confidence is also shared by his current teammates. “He will definitely do well,” Giesen said. “His work ethic is unbelievable and it will take him to the top soon.” And as he becomes an upperclassman on the team, Grenawalt hopes to “qualify and
Young team makes history Varsity volleyball wins district and regional championships by Patrick Gifford The varsity volleyball team won the school’s first-ever regional championsip in the sport
with a victory over the Chelsea Bulldogs on Thursday, Nov. 8. The Vikings were in control
most of the match with the exception of the second game in which they faced a 17-7 deficit.
Sophomore Makenna Ott hits a serve against Dearborn Divine Child in the state quaterfinals.
Photo by Tasha Bolda
The team responded with 10 straight points to win the game and eventually the match 25-21, 25-20 and 25-16. This victory put the team into the state quaterfinals as it played Dearborn Divine Child on Nov. 13 at Eastern Michigan University. This is where, however, the team lost its first game of the state tournament and went on to lose the match in four games 22-25, 16-25, 25-23 and 22-25. The exciting state tournament campaign came off a season in which the Vikings were both co-champions of their league and district champions. The greatest season in Haslett volleyball history is sure to serve as a springboard for a youthful team that will only lose two seniors. Although it came to a dissapointing end, the future is bright for a team that is sure to build on their experiences from this season.
place at the NCAA tournament.” With that, however, Grenawalt’s main priority will be furthering himself academically. “I love wrestling, but I’m going to Brown for their academics and to learn as much as possible,” he said. Grenawalt’s commitment to Brown University not only sets up him well for the future but it helped the senior to move past the disappointment of his junior season. “When (Brown University) heard about it they were just as upset as I was,” he said.
Photo by Sierra Dove
“But they really wanted me to move forward and that was a big help.” And with a university and teammates that support him, Grenawalt is poised for an exceptional senior year as he can put the stress of the college process behind him. “Committing to Brown was the perfect combinations of both relief and hard work,” he said. “Knowing that everything I’ve ever worked for has culminated like this is really special.” A special feeling for what is sure to be a special future.
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Makenna Ott
Sport: Volleyball. Grade: 10. Age: 15. Recent accomplishments: 17 kills against Lansing Catholic Central for district championship and 18 kills in regional championship victory over Chelsea. Favorite part of volleyball: The excitement and adrenaline rush of games. Best thing about team: We had great team chemistry and worked hard for each other. Pre-game ritual: Listen to hip hop before every game.
T H E S T E RN
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Game On
November 20, 2012
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Cast and crew fervently prepare for their first unveiling of ‘Damn Yankees’
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6 4 photo story by Nick Gregory
1. Middle school teacher Jennifer Brooks styles junior Katie Lyon’s hair early Wednesday moring for the play previews. The cast and crew performed three previews, one for the middle school and two for the high school students. 2. Sophomore Mannon McIntosh applies stage make up in preparation of preview day. 3. Junior Joanna Henry practices the lighting queues for the production. 4. Senior Joel Reynolds runs through some of his lines for an early morning mic check. 5. Junior Emily Fulton runs through one final mic check before Wednesday’s previews. 6. Sophomore Stephanie Walker reviews her music before warming up with the rest of the pit on preview day.