November

B&W

the black and white. nov. 2013. volume 22 issue 4. 5152780449. 6501 NW 62nd ave. johnston, ia

t he black and white november, 2013

Meet the boys of the 515 band

Scheduling made simple

A look into a local high school alternative rock band

Editorial board invents ideas to help with the scheduling process

American vs. Olympic wrestling

pg. 3

pg. 6

pg. 7

t

Find us on Twitter! follow us @jhsnewspaper

f

Wrestlers give insight into benefits of both styles

Find us on Facebook! Friend and like us on Facebook Jhs Black and White

www.jhsblackandwhite.com

index

the b&w p.2 layout Eileen Lagerblade

S taff Head Editor in Chief

You’ve been warned

Laura Scieszinski

Learn why some students still choose to smoke cigarettes despite knowing the health risks

Provided/Spencer Jenkins

Backstage pass to 515 A peek into the lives of a high school boy band

4/5

Online Editors in Chief Jeremy Caracci Mallorie Goodale

Sports Editor Anne Rogers

Design Editor Kenzie Foldes

Find new ways to make scheduling a pain free process

7

Sub Design Editors

Sarah Ross Zoe Wilson

6

Sub Editor

Carly Kinning

Staff Writers

Spotlight on specialty sports

Folkstyle not the only style

Anne Rogers/BW

Mollie Greenwood

Juggling schedules

3

Learn the different styles of wrestling present in the world, and preview the upcoming high school wrestling season

Print Editor in Chief

Provided/Monica Stutzman

Online Peview

Shirts show support for student with cancer

Facing the truth that a friend has been diagnosed with cancer is not easy.

Senior Callie Alvarez thought she needed a way to show her support when her friend, senior Allie Bierle, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Alvarez had the idea of making t-shirts after a previous experience at her church. There was a woman at her church who had leukemia and Alvarez decided that t-shirts would be a fun way to show her support for the woman.

Alvarez had to organize all things for the shirts and thought it was a lot of work but worth it.

Vist jhsblackandwhite.com to read more

Students who participate in unusual sports share their experiences

Ellen Bennett Senad Besic Carly Campbell Sarah Caporelli Clare Farrell Myles Glandorf Aaron Gray Meredith Gwennap Medina Jusufovic

8

Eileen Lagerblade Natalie Larimer Anna Larson Sarah Margolin Daisha McAvaddy Courtney Mithelman Elizabeth Schraeger Evan Trainer Kevin Wu

B&WPhilosophy

The Black and White is published solely by the Johnston High School newspaper staff. Its goal is to inform, enlighten and entertain Johnston students. It is an open forum. In accordance with Iowa law and board policy, students assign and edit material and make all decisions of content. The paper is published ten times per school year. The paper will avoid material that is libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy.

The law does not require parental permission to use student quotes. Ethically, we believe students can speak for themselves. Staff editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Editorial and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the adviser, school officials or the district.

Letters to the editor must be signed. Like all material, letters may not be libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. Bring letters to room 413 within one week after publication to be considered for the next issue. The Black and White strives to report accurate and timely information. If you believe that an error has been printed, please contact the editors at jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com. The Black and White is a member of CSPA, NSPA, Quill & Scroll, and IHSPA. Recent issues of the paper earned these honors: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist, National Scholastic Press Association First Class rating, Quill & Scroll Gallup Award, IHSPA state placings and sixth in the National Best of Show.

Coloring&Crossword

1

2

3 4 5 6

7

8 9

*Spaces not included in crossword. Clues come from articles in the Black and White.

10

ACROSS 2. How fast was the ball going when it hit the player in the stomach during Stuzman’s lacrosse practice? (pg. 8) 4. The type of cigarette that does not contain tobacco. (pg. 4/5) 5. How many ideas are there for making scheduling easier? (pg. 6) 6. How old was student B when they first started smoking cigarettes? (pg. 4/5) 7. The type of wrestling unique to America and is . (pg. 7)

8. How many times a week does the 515 try to practice during the school year? (pg. 3) 10. Who should “mentor” new sophomores? (pg. 6) DOWN 1. The style of wrestling that is all upper body. (pg. 7) 3. What member of the 515 was added last? (pg. 3) 9. How many different styles of climbing do climbers compete in? (visit jhsblackandwhite. com to find the answer)

the b&w p.3

515

FOR

Backstage pass

feature

Local high school alternative rock band uses natural talent to intrigue listeners

I do,” Jenkins said. He uses Brandon When the band members make

by coming up with their own individual They have played during many community races, such as the Des Moines Marathon and Dam to Dam. a junior, contracted illness, the 515

band members knew they had to make

“We have all been friends for a while,”

Pohlmeyer said. “We thought it would

be cool to play music together, since

a quick change. Junior and drummer of

its something we all love to do.” This all

ing. Making quick decisions made it hard

meyer played “Smoke on the Water” in

the band Shane Burgess took over singfor the band members to focus during

their gig. “The hardest thing is agreeing

on what to change it to because every-

started when Shane Burgess and Pohlthe fourth grade at Wallace. “We just

added more guys as we got older,” Pohlmeyer said. Jenkins, the final member of

one will have a different idea of how to

the band, was added during his fresh-

Jenkins and Burgess, along with ju-

The band makes many of their own

change it,” Shane Burgess said.

niors Henry Pohlmeyer, Troy Ikeda, and freshman Kyle Burgess, created a band in the fall of 2011 known as The 515 band.

The 515 band is an alternative rock

band, performing small shows and gigs.

Henry Pohlmeyer GRADE: junior

INSTRUMENT: bass guitar MUSIC INSPIRATION: Incubus

man year.

tracks, however they cover songs by other artists as well. “My favorite song

to cover is “Higher Ground”. It’s not very difficult, so I don’t need to worry about

messing up,” Kyle Burgess said. “It’s just overall a fun song.”

Troy Ikeda

GRADE: junior INSTRUMENT: piano

MUSIC INSPIRATION: Imagine Dragons

for the new song. “It just comes to me naturally, there is not anything special

their own music, each member begins

When lead singer Spencer Jenkins,

words Meredith Gwennap layout Zoe Wilson

music special for their instrument. Once everyone has their part done, they play it all together. “If it sounds good we use it,

if it doesn’t we forget it happened,” Jenkins said. Each member brings something different to the band.

The piano and guitar parts are made

together. Since there is not a rhythm guitar in the band, Ikeda fills the gap with his

piano. Guitarist Kyle Burgess decides a chord progression and tells Ikeda. Ikeda

plays the chords that Kyle Burgess’ part is based off of. “Sometimes I add some

countermelodies based on the notes the chords are in,” Ikeda said. “My keyboard

parts complement the guitar parts so it is easier for us to write them together.”

Pohlmeyer finds it easier to play the

bass guitar when the strings are warm.

“With colder srtings, the string itself is coiled more tighty,” Pohlmeyer said.

Jenkins then comes up with lyrics

Boyd, the lead singer of the band Incubus, as his main source of inspiration.

“His lyrics are moving and he has a very unique style.”

Shane Burgess is the last member

to make his part of the song. He waits until the main parts are established, and

then he comes up with his own. After adding his part to the rest of the music, he tweaks it for the best possible sound.

Currently, their main focus is an al-

bum they are recording. “We hope to

sell copies of our album after perfor-

mances and make them into mp3 files,” Shane Burgess said. They hope to have the album completed in January.

During the school year the band

tries to meet at least once a week, but with busy schedules it proves to be difficult. Ideally in the summer they meet two to three times a week.

They hope to stay together and pro-

duce music for as long as their schedules allow. “If we could make a living of

off making music that would be awesome,” Ikeda said.

Spencer Jenkins

Shane Burgess

INSTRUMENT: Singer MUSIC INSPIRATION: Sting

INSTRUMENT: drums MUSIC INSPIRATION: Questlove, The Roots

GRADE: junior

GRADE: junior

Kyle Burgess

GRADE: freshman INSTRUMENT: guitar MUSIC INSPIRATION: Incubus

the b&w p.4&5 words Clare Farrell & Kenzie Foldes layout Kenzie Foldes

teen smoking

november 2013

You’ve Been

Warned Cautioned students still choose cigarettes

Despite all the education about the hazards of smoking cigarettes, many teens still decide to do so. Three individuals who decide to smoke cigarettes in high school were interviewed and are represented by the false names Student A, Student B, and Student C.

Student Student Student

A

B

Age started smoking: 12 Cigarettes/ Week: 14-20 Current smoking status: currently

Age started smoking: 14 Cigarettes/ Week: 20 (one pack) Current smoking status: currently

smoking

How they got started

smoking

At the age of 15, Student A gave cigarettes a try. “They say that kids start smoking to look more mature or cool,” Student A said. “But for me it was more of a ‘I just tried it and I liked it.’ ” Like most of us, Student A sat through all the drug prevention lectures and took health classes in middle school and high school. “I know it’s bad for me, because others have told me it’s bad for me,” Student A said, “but I’m the type of person that has to see it happen to know how bad it is. I have never seen an individual atom, so I’m not 100% certain that everything is made of atoms.” Student A made the life choice to smoke after the education he received on the hazards of cigarettes.

Student A did not plan on it to be a life choice, however. “When people start smoking, they like to think that it’s not going to be permanent or a one time deal,” Student A said. As time passed, smoking became a part of Student A’s daily routine.

“At first when you start smoking, it’s like a new experience,” Student A said. “It’s exciting and new. Then after a while it just becomes relieving. It’s like if you’re thirsty and you take a drink of water- it’s relieving.”

Student B’s decision to smoke differs from Student A. Unlike Student A who decided to smoke purely out of experimentation, Student B thought smoking cigarettes equaled maturity. “I think the main thing that got me started [smoking cigarettes] was I thought it was cool,” Student B said.

C Age started smoking: 15 Cigarettes/ Week: 91 (half pack/day) Current smoking status: currently

Different view of peer pressure

The Johnston School District educates its students about the hazards of cigarette smoking at a young age. “People smoke because of peer pressure, stress, and they think that they will look cool,” Emma Roethler, a 5th grade student at Beaver Creek Elementary, said. Roethler is currently in a program called 411 as well as all 5th graders in the Johnston Community School District. It teaches students about the hazards of harmful substances as well as anti-bullying strategies and skills on how to resist peer pressure.

“It was about three or four years ago that our police department decided to use 411,” Eric Toot said, principal of Beaver Creek Elementary. “They now personalize the curriculum to our community.” One way 411 was personalized to Johnston was teaching students the skills needed to

Want to grab a coffee?

smokes only e-cigarettes

Student B’s first cigarette was at the age of 14 and was given to Student B from a friend. Despite Student B’s friends’ warnings, Student B pressured the friend to hand over the cigarette. “I did not have any feelings of guilt,” Student B said. “The friends I was with were telling me not to smoke, but I convinced them to give it to me.”

This feeling of maturity went away as Student B got older. “When you first start [smoking], you may feel like you’re cooler than everyone,” Student B said, “but as you go on you realize that it’s a choice I made- I’m not cooler than everyone. After high school smoking isn’t considered to be cool.” Being cool is one way teens may decide to smoke, but others are influenced by their environment.

Around the age of 15 was when Student C began smoking cigarettes. Student C was in a group setting; some of Student C’s friends were smoking, others were not. When offered a cigarette, Student C accepted it. “My mom and my dad both function, they both work,” Student C reasoned at the time. Student was raised in a household where smoking was prevalent; Student C’s mother and step-dad smoked.

Student C was already around smoking, so Student C thought that smoking wasn’t as bad as the text books made it out to be.

“I thought to myself, ‘Okay, I’ll give this a shot,’” Student C said. Like Student A, B, and C, teenagers make the life decision to smoke for various reasons.

resist peer pressure. Students are taught how to say no when someone is pressuring them to do things that could be self harming, such as smoking. However, peer pressure isn’t always a situation when a peer is pressuring another to take part in something.

“Peer pressure, I think, the way it is represented in the media isn’t portrayed correctly,” Jesse Dowell, an A.P. psychology teacher, said. “It’s really not a thing where your friends go up to you and say ‘Smoke this cigarette or else we won’t like you anymore.’” Humans have a natural drive to fit in, according to psychological research. Although an individual may be not be pressured by peers, he or she may feel an internal urge to go along with the crowed. Students A, B, and C were all with friends at the time they smoked their first cigarette. “The number one predictor if a teenager will smoke is if their friends

smoke,” Dowell said.

Student C’s decision to smoke was not due to pressure from peers but rather a personal judgement (according to Student C). “It was a decision I made myself,” Student C said. “People think it’s just peer pressure but it’s not really like that...It’s just a decision that an individual makes that they think will help get rid of stress or make them feel better or cool, because they get this idea that smoking brings something more than just harming your body- but it doesn’t.”

Student B was also told by friends not to smoke. “The friends I was with were telling me not to smoke,” Student B said, “but I convinced them to give [a cigarette] to me.” Knowing the side effects to smoking may prevent smokers from allowing individuals to start the habit. “I will never give someone their first cigarette. Ever,” Student B said.

Smoking can be considered a social activity that teenagers do with friends, like grabbing a coffe. Here’s what someone would spend on their daily habits, whether it would be smoking or hitting up a coffee shop.

grande vanilla latte*

$4.66 a day

$32.65 a week

$1,700.90 a year

Smoking becomes social

One reason many teens decide to smoke is for the social aspect of it.

“If I were to make a T-chart, I don’t know what would go under the pros. It’s like a social thing,” Student A said. “It’s kind of like asking someone to go out for coffee.

It’s just like a shared activity you have with your friends and something you can use to connect to each other.”

The majority of Student A’s closer friends smoke which played a part in Student A’s decision to smoke. This is true for many teen smokers; their environment influences their perspective. Although they were raised to think badly of cigarettes and other drugs, smoking to them has become acceptable.

“It’s two sides of the same coin: [smok-

at Starbucks

Need your morning cup of joe? This is what would cost you to get a kick start to your day.

Malboro cigarettes*

in Iowa There are 26 cigarettes in one pack of Malboro cigarettes.

If you were to smoke 5 cigarettes a day, you would spend...

$1.43 a day

$10.02 a week

$521.95

ing] isn’t something you should define us by, but in the same way it’s a culture because it is something that we have been raised around and are around on a regular basis,” Student C said.

Student C’s mother and step dad smokes cigarettes, so when they became aware that Student C smoked they turned a blind eye. When Student C was at the peak of his addiction, Student C would smoke with friends at home after school in the garage. It was a shared activity Student C had with friends, and the more free time Student C and friends would have the easier the cigarettes would disappear. “It was for the simple fact that when [my friends and I] spent more time together, it gave us an excuse to smoke more so that addiction get’s worse,” Student C said. “Soon you will just be talking to your friends, chain-

a year

* with tax

smoking, and then when you stop hanging out with your friends and find yourself thinking, ‘Wow, I really want a cigarette.’

And that is when you realize ‘Oh my gosh, I already had six today.’”

On an average school day Student C would smoke around five cigarettes: one in the morning and two to three after school and other activities. Students A and B also tend to smoke approximately five cigarettes a day. School days were stressful and smoking helped ease this problem.

However, the weekend is filled with free time that is spent with friends. “I think I smoke around four cigarettes a day, but if it’s the weekend it’s whatever,” Student B said. “If you want it, you want it.” Without school distracting teen smokers, they are more likely to smoke without realizing, or even caring, how much.

Anatomy of a E-Cigarette LED light

Lights up when user inhales/takes a drag; this stimulates a lit ciarette; also lets you kow if the battery is working or running low

Battery

Is what makes the device work by charging the atomizer to produce vapor

Microprocessor Controls the heater and the light

E-cigarettes promote quitting

After three years of smoking Student C made the decision to break a smoking habit. Student C’s parents brought home an e-cigarette in order to help Student C quit. Ecigarettes are electronic cigarettes that look like a standard cigarette but do not contain tobacco.

"Both of my parents knew I had a problem,” Student C said. “I was a menthol smoker previously, and one day they brought home this mint flavored thing. Ever since then I haven’t smoked a cigarette.”

E-Cigarettes are said to have helped many people slowly quit smoking instead of quitting all at once. “[Quitting] cold turkey will turn you into a monster,” Student C said. “I didn’t want to do anything for school work and I was cranky around my friends.”

Instead of having tobacco in the ecigarettes there is a mechanism that heats up liquid nicotine. This turns into a vapor that smokers are able to inhale, which leads some to believe that e-cigarettes are healthier than normal cigarettes.

“The idea is, you start yourself off with the same dosage you would be getting if you were smoking an actual cigarette and then you can weigh yourself down to zero percent (nicotine level),” Student C said. Once someone starts using these electronic cigarettes they eventually move to no nicotine cigarettes to end their habit completely.

“When I started off and I was really craving [nicotine], I had a 1.8 percent nicotine level in the e-cigarette,” Student C said. “But in the past couple days I have been [smoking nicotine levels of] 1.5 and then 1.2 and I haven't encountered any problems or cravings.”

Currently it is unknown by the FDA if

(Electronic Cigarette)

Cartridge

Holds the liquid that comes in different strengths and flavors

Flavor Liquid

Comes in many different flavors such as cherry, chocolate, mint, strawberry and more

Atomizer

Heats the liquid

inhaling only the nicotine in these e-cigarettes bears a potential hazard, and the FDA is taking measures of having e-cigarettes labeled as a drug delivery device. In a press release, Attorney General Tom Miller says he is working to prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, as well as restrict the ingredients and advertising.

“I’m concerned about this product, which is really nothing more than a nicotine delivery device,” Miller said in a press release written

by Communications Director Geoff Greenwood. “I don’t think any reasonable person thinks it’s okay for these companies to sell e-cigarettes to children, which is one of many good reasons why the FDA needs to act.”

Student B’s positive opinion of e-cigarettes has compelled Student B to smoke them sometimes rather than normal cigarettes. “[I started smoking e-cigarettes] as soon as I found them. I knew someone who smoked them and as soon as I knew what they were I started smoking them,” Student B said.

Student B has tried to quit as well, but has never truly quit. “I have tried to quit three or four times,” Student B said. “One of those times was because my [significant other] said it was gross that I smoked. I was going to try to quit but it didn’t really work out. I smoked a lot less, but honestly it’s just addictive you just like the feeling of smoking.”

Unlike traditional tobacco products, there are no federal age restrictions that prevent children from obtaining e-cigarettes, therefore they are able to purchase them without proof of age.

“Manufacturers are adding fruit and candy flavors, some are using cartoons to advertise, and now we’re seeing ads on television,” Miller said. “A lot of the marketing efforts pretty clearly try to appeal to children.”

editorial

the b&w p.6

Juggling schedules

Ways to make scheduling a pain-free process

Coming into a new school with new classes, teachers, and people is an overwhelming experience. Students do not know whether to take Anatomy or Life Science, or to take Teen in the World or On the Road. We need to offer more ways to help scheduling as an underclassman become easier and less stressful.

Readable handbook

Shadowing Going into a big school knowing only if they want to continue on the path one-third of the people, high school that they are planning to go on. can seem like a scary place. SchedulOr maybe they will find that

More students will look at the The handbook at first glance, can be extremely overwhelming. Con- handbook to make better decisions fusing language can cause struggle once the handbook is written in words

ing can ease the fear by having under- chemistry is more interesting than classmen shadow upperclassmen. they thought it would be. It opens The students would complete a sur- doors for new outlooks on the high vey that would match a few underclass- school experience. men to a single upperclassman. They

Spanish

would spend the day together and the underclassman would sit in on all the

Pre-Calc

upperclassmen classes.

They will get a taste of what they are

The handbook needs to be writ- understand handbook) would help ten in words that are easier for a kids put more thought into which high school student to read and com- courses they choose to take.” junior prehend. No one wants Cole Balmer said. “My English class

Anatomy

to take the time to read isn’t at all what I thought it was going something that makes no to be.” sense whatsoever.

getting themselves into. They also can

choose based on the classes they sit in,

FCS

Class previews On those few early out days, teach-

when figuring out which class is the that are easier to comprehend. “ I think that (having an easier to right one.

It would be like career day

ers struggle with trying to find a good in the sense that you would lesson plan to cram in 20 minutes. At have sessions you go to every least one of those days could be used twenty minutes or so. They would sit in to help underclassman narrow their the class and experience what it would

search when deciding which classes to be like if they were to take the class the take by having a class preview day. following year. Seniors during this day The day would last just as long as would do one of the graduation prep an early out, but instead of going to stu- things that are held in the spring. dents’ normal schedule, the students

This will help the underclassmen

would be able to go to whichever class get a better sense of what each class they were interested in taking the next entails and will hopefully reduce the year. amount of dropped classes.

Choir

Senior advisors

“Advisory is the place in which

Every experience is different,

students register for next years

but this at least opens up new

visors help the students as they go

classmen as they choose classes

classes,” Brent Riessen said, “ad-

thoughts and ideas for under-

through this process.”

for the next year.

tions but advisors do not always

agrees that senior advisors would

seniors should be assigned adviso-

experience with classes and they

them questions they have about

classes,” Orr said.

The truth is, students have ques-

Sohomore

Elizabeth

Orr

have the answers. Once a month,

be beneficial. “Seniors have good

ries to “mentor”. Students can ask

can give you their opinion about

classes and seniors can share their experiences.

Helpful hint

Scheduling is a stressful experience for us all. As of now, scheduling in the fall is a must due to the number of students that have to be placed in classes. Although many

students wish it could be changed to the spring, it is simply not an option. This doesn’t mean that what you choose in the fall is set in stone though. You can always talk with your guidance counselor about scheduling changes or any questions you may have. They are some of the nicest people in school, so don’t be afraid to go talk to them. If you are still having trouble making decisions on what to take, go and talk to a teacher who teaches that class. No one knows that class better than they do.

The editorial is an opinion held by the editorial board of the newspaper. It needs a simple majority to pass. This month’s vote was 5-2.

sports

the b&w p.7

Folkstyle not the only style

As the season approaches, athletes understand importance of three wrestling styles

Freestyle and Greco-Roman Olympic wrestling

When junior Henry Pohlmeyer finished

Most wrestlers have a wrestling style

the 2012-2013 high school wrestling sea-

preference. “Kids who like to tie up, throw,

“I train in the off-season for freestyle and

son with a state title, he was not done yet.

Greco-Roman,” Pohlmeyer said. “The lessons, what they teach you, are very different than high school wrestling.”

Freestyle and Greco-Roman are the

school off-season is the Fargo meet in Far-

didn’t place in Greco,” Pohlmeyer said.

freestyle, just because of all the openness

and Greco-Roman. Athletes qualify in their

Aaron Tecklenburg said. “Some kids love and lots of chances to score.”

Pohlmeyer prefers freestyle the most.

ecute more moves. “When you wrestle

there are more occasions to score points.

Folkstyle

Pohlmeyer has competed in the Far-

is made for them,” head wrestling coach

and do a lot of body locks, Greco-Roman

wrestler is not able to attack his oppotler is able to attack legs and upper body;

wrestle freestyle, there are multiple ways

go tournament since his freshman year.

He likes the relaxed atmosphere with the

nent’s legs or feet. In freestyle, the wres-

layout Zoe Wilson you can finish that move out.”

two styles of wrestling in the Olympics.

Greco-Roman is all upper body and the

words Anne Rogers

opportunity to score more points and exfolkstyle and you do a certain move,

there’s only one way you can finish that move,” Pohlmeyer said. “But when you

One prestigious tournament in the high

go, North Dakota, which includes freestyle

own state in order to compete. Tecklenburg has seen six from Johnston compete in Fargo in his five seasons here. “Three of

them came away with All-American status, meaning they placed somewhere in the

top eight in the country,” Tecklenburg said.

“Qualifying to compete at Fargo is always something we encourage.”

“That year I got seventh in freestyle and

“Sophomore year I still didn’t do as well as I hoped.” He believes he can go back this

coming summer and place in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. “My goal is to place at

least top four for freestyle and top eight

for Greco,” Pohlmeyer said. “Last year I held back on practices because I thought I would get worn out, but what I’ve learned is that you need those extra practices to get ahead of the competition.”

American wrestling Sophomore Anthony Piagentini trains

thing to do with the school involvement

style is that our style gives you another

of wrestling. “I tried freestyle once and I

learn the fundamentals, make it a fan-

Pohlmeyer said. “By wrestling folkstyle,

mostly folkstyle during the off-season wasn’t a big fan,” Piagentini said. “I like

folkstyle mainly because that’s what we

and the ability to learn the scoring system, friendly sport to enjoy.”

Folkstyle is a combination of both free-

chance to prepare for freestyle or Greco,” you can understand how to properly take a shot, how to throw, how to do all that dif-

wrestle in high school.”

style and Greco-Roman wrestling. It has

is practiced in high schools and colleges

styles.

folkstyle throughout the year is proving to

why America does folkstyle versus ev-

international level after high school and

to practice all three styles because it helps

freestyle and Greco-Roman,” Tecklenburg

Roman from folkstyle.

Unique to America, folkstyle wrestling

around the nation. “I’ve never found out eryone else around the world wrestling said. “My thought would be it has some-

Anthony Piagentini

different point scoring than the Olympic Wrestlers who hope to compete at the

college must switch to freestyle or Greco“The advantage of having a different

Wrestling freestyle, Greco-Roman, and

be beneficial to wrestlers. “Wrestlers tend in the winter season,” Piagentini said. “It gives us more moves and helps with technique, which is what wrestling is all about.”

WINTER WRESTLINGPREVIEW

“For me personally, I

Nathaniel Standish

“I hope to place at state.

Anne Rogers/BW

Sophomore Anthony Piagentini (top) and junior Nathaniel Standish (bottom) practice a referees position at a preseason practice.

Aaron Tecklenburg

“We plan on being a

want to get to state. I want

I think I can if I really work

team with a winning record.

win most of my matches,

how much time I put into it.

a staff, and that is that our

to at least stay positive, so

hard, but it really depends

have a winning record. As

better spot than it was last

to not win for themselves,

improving and working hard and do well.”

wrestling program is in a

ning record, everyone has

last year, so if we just keep

I think we can get to state

We have one main goal as

For the team to have a win-

a team, we did pretty good

sophomore

ferent stuff.”

year, better as in a group,

but win for the team.”

junior

as a culture, as a wrestling

head coach

community.”

backpage

the b&w p.8 Lacrosse

Sophomore lacrosse player Morgan

Stutzman jumps up to catch a pass from his teammate. A player from the oppos-

Spotlight on

specialty sports

ing team knocks his feet out from under

him, causing him to tumble over the back of the player. “We were playing the dirti-

est team in the league, so I was expecting to get pushed around, but not quite like that,” Stutzman said.

Stutzman joined the Valley Club

lacrosse team three years ago. “I went

to a camp they were offering and had a blast so I decided to go for the team,”

Figure Skating

words Carly Campbell and Natalie Larimer layout Courtney Mithelman and Kenzie Foldes slipped and hit my head really bad. There

Set to a song from “Pitch Perfect”, senior Maren Bettis and junior Aly Bowen could be serious injuries in figure skating.” practice their figure skating routine for their duet. Their rehearsal was at 6 a.m.

Bettis and Bowen’s team competes

and they were the only two skating at the out of state sometimes. There are competitions held in Omaha, Kansas time.

Bowen started figure skating when

City, and Minnesota. “In competitions

Stutzman said.

Ten players comprise a lacrosse team.

Native Americans played the sport as a way to prepare for hunting. Respecting

the origins of the game is very important.

“Lacrosse is said to be a lifestyle and not just a sport, and I believe this is true,” Stutzman said. Defenders stay on the

defensive half and forwards stay on the attacking half. Stutzman is “middie,”

which means he can play on both halves.

Stutzman thinks that catching is much

she was about 5. “My neighbor played

where it’s actually our level, we do pretty

harder than throwing the ball. “I used to

him when he had practice and I just kind

a competition and the teams there are

a lot of my free time just practicing my

said.

because we only have about 8 people on

still while watching TV anymore because

hockey and I would go to the rink with

well,” Bettis said. “Sometimes we go to

be really bad with the ball, but I spend

of started skating eventually,” Bowen

way above our level, so we don’t do well

stick work,” he said. “I actually can’t sit

the ice instead of 16 like other teams.”

I’m just always cradling the ball.” Cra-

Bettis started figure skating when she

was about 7. Her brother played hockey,

Even though figure skating demands

and she and her mom would always pick early morning practice and tough competition, Bettis and Bowen believe it to be him up. “(My mom) said, ‘Hey do you want to start skating?’ and I was like,

dling refers to the way a player holds the ball as he runs down the field. Cradling

the ball as well as keeping it close to the

worthwhile. “I’ve been skating so long

player’s head decreases the chance of

Bowen said. “I love it so much and it’s

closer to the head, defenders will be less

‘Sure,’” Bettis said.

that I can’t even imagine not doing it,”

a defender stealing it. When the ball is

a figure skating team, but they are not

literally my life now.”

likely to swing at it. Head shots result in

Bowen and Bettis now compete on

highly ambitious. “I’m not a huge com-

a penalty.

It is common for Stutzman to come

petitor, I just do it for fun,” Bettis said. “I At one competition Bowen’s coach

had her dress up as a Hershey’s Kiss and skate to the song “The Kiss” by Faith

Hill. “I completely forgot my program, so

For junior Noah

when I’m not climb-

second place. At the time I didn’t think it

the walls is an ev-

“I’m always thinking

rassed, but now I think it’s absolutely

Zenor is a member

Figure skating also has hazards,

at Climb Iowa. “I’m

I ended up just skating around like an

idiot,” Bowen said. “Somehow I still got

Zenor, climbing up

was very funny because I was so embar-

eryday occurrence.

hilarious.”

of the climbing team

however. “I had a friend of mine who got

slit with a blade accidentally at practice,” Bettis said. “Once when I was little, I

Senior Maren Bettis practices a spin as junior Aly Bowen watches.

Natalie Larimer/BW

bruises. “Basically anything from the

shoulders down is fair game,” he said.

“Obviously there are a few exceptions

to that, like players can’t raise their stick further than 90 degrees when swinging

at someone, but that’s really the only big penalty.” Each player wears a helmet,

a mouth guard, and a pad covering the most of their torso, but that does not

prevent all injuries. “I’ve seen plenty of

broken bones, bloody noses, and concussions,” Stutzman said.

The worst thing Stutzman has seen

was a ball going through the goal net at

85 miles-per-hour and hit a player in the stomach. The player sat out the rest of practice that day.

Even though injuries occur, Stutzman

likes the sport. “It can hurt sometimes,

but it’s still a really fun sport,” Stutzman said. “Johnston should really consider getting a team.” Stutzman has gotten

two of his friends to join, one sophomore Carter Spurgin.

“It’s really unlike anything I’ve ever

done,” Spurgin said. “It’s like the running of soccer, the hitting of football, and the rules of hockey.”

Sneak Peak...

home from a game or practice with a few

really like the atmosphere.”

Provided/Monica Stutzman

ing,” Zenor said.

that I want to get

back on the wall.”

constantly thinking

about climbing even

To read full story, go to jhsblackandwhite.com

Senad Besic/BW