Sports

BY BRADEN BABKA

Editor

There is nothing quite like lacing up sneakers, putting on the uniform, walking on to the gym floor and hearing the excitement from the fans. Kaneland basketball players were thrilled to get back to what they love doing, and fans have shared the same enthusiasm about being able to come back this season to watch and enjoy the 2021-22 version of the Knights boys varsity basketball team.

The boys started their practices on Monday, Nov. 8, but they had been encouraged to do offseason lifting, conditioning and skill development throughout the summer and fall. Their practices are held in one of the four gyms between the high school and the neighboring Meredith building, and here the players do many different things to work on all areas of their performance.

“After stretching we usually start a practice with some simple shooting drills,” junior Austin Lilly said. “After that we might do some passing, practice our offense or do some defensive drills. We usually end practice with some sort of scrimmaging against ourselves.”

Just like varsity players, freshmen athletes also have a specific practice routine.

“Early on in practice, we do a lot of shooting. The goal is a minimum of 150 shots per player, per day, as well as some other full-court drills,” freshman basketball coach Michael Cimino said.

Players are also expected to continue their practice on days they are off to stay in shape and to keep improving.

“The expectation is that players will

Photo by Braden Babka Sophomore Troyer Carlson shoots over a Rochelle defender. Carlson finished with 29 points against the Hubs.

Photo by Braden Babka Senior Jacob Harrison attempts to finish at the rim during a Dec. 3 game against the Hubs. The Knights lost by a score of 74-69. do what they can in their free time to continue to work on the skills we discuss at practice. In other words, we hope that, even on off days, the players grab a ball and get some work in, either at home or at the local gym,” Cimino said.

After two weeks of pre-season training, the varsity team was ready for their first game at Woodstock High School’s annual Hoops for Healing tournament. The season officially started on Nov. 22, with Kaneland defeating Marian Central Catholic by a score of 72-64. The Knights went on to defeat Woodstock North before losing to Hoffman Estates in the championship. Coaches and members of the team have high hopes and standards for the remainder of the season.

“My hopes for this season are to win at least 20 games because I think I remember [head varsity coach Ernie Colombe] saying that only nine Kaneland basketball teams have won that many in the last 50 years,” Lilly said.

Sophomore players have similarly high expectations for their season.

“Our hopes are to win conference and to play the best we can,” sophomore Zachary Ramos said.

Freshmen players are hoping for success so they can go on to play at the higher level in the future.

“My hopes for this season are for the players to improve their skills and become assets to the program in the future,” Cimino said. “[Also] for the players to continue to develop into well-rounded young men and, most importantly, for the players to have fun.”

Bringing these goals to reality will require teamwork and strategy, and the boys basketball program knows how to do just that.

“We are absolutely focused on the whole team rather than the individual. As the freshman basketball coach, it’s of utmost importance that I set this standard for the players right away, so they know what to expect throughout the remainder of their time in this program,” Cimino said.

On the varsity level, the coaches use many strategies to give their players the best chance for success on the court.

“We are a program that focuses on motion offense and man-to-man defense,” Colombe said. “Our strategies also are specific game to game based on our opponent and what they run. We try to take away some of the strengths of our opponents each game. In a team sport, we focus on the team while trying to utilize the strengths of each individual.”

As fun as competing against other teams can be, players also make many memories with their teammates throughout the season, and seniors who have been with the program for four years have a lot to look back on.

“My favorite memory of high school basketball is during my sophomore year when we beat Morris at home to win second in our conference,” senior Aidan Pawlak said.

Some of the athletes’ favorite memories don’t involve winning an important game but something they found particularly funny or entertaining.

“My favorite memory from basketball was last year when [my teammate] got a technical foul for pointing that we had the ball,” Ramos said.

With the popularity of the sport at Kaneland seemingly growing each year, Colombe is aware of the benefits of more interested players and has a sense of what it takes to ultimately see the program succeed.

“Our plan is to continue to grow the program. Our numbers have been excellent, and more and more students are trying out each season,” Colombe said. “We want to be one of the best programs in the area and in Class 3A. In order to do that, we have to do a lot of work in the offseason.”

The Knights will next take the court at LaSalle-Peru on Saturday, Jan. 22, followed by their next home game against Ottawa on Friday, Jan. 28.

BY NICHOLAS MITCHINSON

Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print

Coaches of various sports can have drastic effects on their players’ struggles and successes. Games may be altered based on coaching decisions, for example, but their players’ current and future mindsets beyond the game can also be impacted. A coach will forever be one of the greatest influences on the student-athletes they work with. Coaches who work hard on all aspects of their sport, from physical improvement to mental toughness to keeping the sport enjoyable, are very important in keeping the players engaged and motivated to continue growing in the games they love. Sophomore basketball and baseball player Parker Violett believes having fun is just as important as putting in the hard work because when both of those things occur, it becomes more likely that a player will enjoy the process a lot more. “I like coaches that know how to let us have fun,” Violett said. “Finding a balance between fun and hard work is important.” Coaches also understand the importance of allowing their athletes to have fun while maintaining their various coaching responsibilities. Having fun while playing or practicing a sport can lead to a greater amount of effort from the athletes, which also leads to a greater likelihood of individual and collective improvement. Kaneland sophomore girls basketball head coach Jenna Thorp realizes that to get the most out of her athletes, she must make sure they are also enjoying the game. “If [the athletes] do not have fun doing what they are doing, I think they are not going to give you full effort, and without full effort you will not get that complete team chemistry you want to be successful,” Thorp said. “Whether we are doing a drill in practice or scrimmaging, I think it is important to have a good balance between fun and still learning and improving.” As a coach, being a role model for your student-athletes is extremely important and allows a coach to create a positive culture. As a result, their athletes will enjoy themselves more. Kaneland head wrestling coach Kenneth Paoli is aware of how being a good role model will help him and other coaches succeed along with their athletes. Beyond success in a sport, a coach has the ability to develop their athletes most significantly by helping them become a better person. “Coaches can push athletes to quit or distance themselves from the sport if

Photo courtesy of David Rohlman Head varsity girls basketball coach Kelsey Flanagan addresses her team during a timeout. Basketball is a sport that involves a lot of effort, preparation and attention to detail from those who coach it.

they are too hard on them. Coaches need to find a balance between building relationships with athletes and correcting them. If all they do is correct and are too hard on the athletes, they will lose them. I think it is more important for a coach to be a good role model than to know a lot about the sport,” Paoli said. “Without a good role model as a coach, you may have a good program competitively, but the team culture may be toxic and you will likely not be developing character in your athletes.”

Paoli applies this philosophy to the wrestling program at Kaneland and is confident that his athletes become better people and appreciate the community and atmosphere the team has developed.

“[I try to develop] character and make better men and women out of my athletes

Photo courtesy of Kaneland Knights Wrestling Kaneland wrestlers surround head coach Kenneth Paoli at the conclusion of one of their practices. Paoli has tried to create a family environment. while creating a sense of community in our program. I’d like to think that each athlete leaves our program better than when they came in. Not every athlete buys into the culture of the program, though,” Paoli said. “I think all of my athletes feel a sense of belonging in the program, as one of our core values is family.”

The ability to comfortably interact with coaches can develop a stronger connection between players and those who lead them, which can ultimately lead to improvement of skills, confidence and in-game performance. This is all done through coaches taking the time and putting in the effort to build positive relationships with their athletes.

“Building relationships with each wrestler is the number one strategy I use to develop character and create a sense of community in the program. I do not think character development or creating a sense of community can be done without building relationships,” Paoli said.

Athletes greatly appreciate when their coach takes the time to develop a personal relationship with them because it shows they truly care. Senior soccer player Audrey Salamon is an example of an athlete who enjoys when a coach tries to make a personal connection with her.

“I do believe it is important for coaches to build relationships with their athletes so the athletes feel like they make an impact on the team. My coach was the reason I believed in myself,” Salamon said.

A coach’s impact on the mental and physical health of their athletes can be life altering; coaches can influence the biggest changes in a young athlete’s mindset and goals throughout their sports journey.

BY PAIGE WHITESIDE

Editor

It is a well-known fact that school can cause a lot of stress in someone’s life. Between due dates, heavy homework loads and personal drama, high school can be a tricky place to navigate. However, students are not the only ones who face a lot of stress during the school year. Teachers also have to deal with certain challenges in a school environment, especially in recent years. The shifting circumstances due to the pandemic have created heightened challenges for teachers, and although students have struggled as well, turning the spotlight onto some of the difficulties that teachers have had to deal with is also important. Throughout the 2021-22 school year, there have been many changes and new challenges to deal with. With this year being completely in person with a five-day school week versus last year’s hybrid and even fully remote schedules, the return to semi-normalcy has challenged teachers and students alike with settling back into a more typical school environment. Aside from the pandemic, teachers deal with their own issues in relation to their teaching careers. Figuring out how to provide the best tools and apply the most useful tactics for teaching students can be tricky, especially when considering how each student learns best. Working hard to teach the necessary skills to a class while also attempting to create strong bonds with groups of students who have unique social-emotional needs takes a lot of hard work. In the end, it is worth it to teachers who are passionate about “ their careers. Choir teacher Deanna Cates agrees with the idea that this year has been difficult so far, however she is still managing to stay positive by continuing to connect with her students and teach her classes as normally as possible. “Music is such a personal experience, and having to wear masks can be a challenge when directors cannot see students’ expressions or their faces as they sing. This definitely makes teaching more difficult,” Cates said. “I am going to try to be an optimist, though, and I am hoping that we can quickly return to having a sense of what we considered normal in the past.” Teachers like Cates have had to adapt to new ways of teaching due to changes

Photo by Paige Whiteside New Kaneland English teacher Luc Al-Sakhria helps freshman Charles Capes with an essay. in the school. Finding new ways to teach can be difficult, but it gives teachers learning experiences of their own. Modifying certain activities and altering them to be safer for the students and faculty alike gives teachers new opportunities to test themselves in a classroom environment, sparking creativity. Physical education teachers have also faced similar challenges with accommodating changes in the school setting. For a class so dependent on physical activity, wearing masks while exercising can be difficult for students and hard for teachers to enforce. P.E. teacher Jill Carpenter, though, is handling her classes by running things I am going to try to be an optimist, as close as possible to though, and I am hoping that we can how she ran them in quickly return to having a sense of previous years while what we considered normal in the trying to make sure past. everyone is still stay-

“ing safe. “Honestly, I have been running my classes pretty normally, although it has -Choir teacher Deanna Cates been difficult for some of my classes to transition back indoors. The masks do make things a bit uncomfortable, but most of my students have had a really good attitude about this, trying to not let this bother them,” Carpenter said. Changes resulting from the pandemic have called for the rethinking of teachers’ plans, but these are not the only challenges that teachers must overcome. While dealing with COVID-19 is a tough task, solving other problems and learning new ways of teaching are things that happen in a typical school environment as well. Just like teachers who have been

Photos by Paige Whiteside (Top) Choir teacher Deanna Cates teaches junior Nicholas Johnson a song on the piano. (Bottom) P.E. teacher Jill Carpenter teaches junior Isabella Fleshman how to play tchoukball. teaching for multiple years, first-year teachers have to work hard to form bonds with their students and teach in the most effective way possible. However, since first-year teachers are new to the school, they have to work extra hard to establish the type of learning environment that will work best for them and their students. English teacher Luc Al-Sakhria, a new teacher at Kaneland this year, feels that his year is going well as he adjusts to a new environment.

“I have enjoyed the school year so far. There have definitely been some challenges, though, such as getting used to procedures at Kaneland versus the rules where I previously taught,” AlSakhria said. “At the end of the day, I have formed some great relationships with my students, and really, that’s why I do what I do.”

Teachers put in a lot of hard work to simultaneously improve their students’ learning experiences and improve their own teaching abilities. Students have their own issues that they have to deal with, and they can often fail to see the work that teachers do for their benefit. Appreciating teachers and being respectful and understanding of their time is key to becoming a better student yourself.

BY ALAN TAPIA

Editor

In this day and age, more and more people are opening up and experiencing different cultures around their communities and places of gathering. Ranging from our neighbors down south to our neighbors across the pond, today’s world is more accessible than ever before. But in a society where it is expected to come across many different cultures in many different types of communities, where do acts of cultural appreciation end and cultural appropriation begin? While many people seem to understand the boundaries on such a topic, it’s not uncommon to commit the occasional mistake. It is necessary to be able to understand these boundaries to be mindful of yourself and others. People of all generations, beliefs and backgrounds can learn more about this issue so that all of us can grow from past mistakes and not make them again.

Let’s start with what exactly cultural appreciation is. Cultural appreciation is understanding and respecting another culture to broaden one’s horizons and knowledge of the world. Spanish teacher Michelle Jurcenko tries to pass on her appreciation for Spanish culture to her students.

“Appreciation is when you take something from another culture and use it as part of your daily life, knowing where that item came from and giving appreciation to it,” Jurcenko said. “But also giving credit where credit is due and understanding why you’re doing what you’re doing and not just taking it from another culture, using it as your own.”

One of the reasons why this is important is to be able to properly connect with others who may come from different cultures and backgrounds than your own. This might involve learning a new language, visiting culturally rich areas and befriending individuals from different backgrounds. Rather than cherry-picking different cultures for their cuisines or popular pastimes and traditions, those who appreciate them go to the lengths of learning about their history, mannerisms and lesser known customs. Whereas someone may go to a culturally significant site to learn and grow in their understanding, someone who may be insensitive may only be there to take pictures and post them online for clout.

It’s easier than one may think to appreciate rather than appropriate. It all comes down to honesty and earnest intention. If you feel as though you want to understand the culture of those around you, simply ask. Asking questions and obtaining accurate knowledge helps in understanding culture. Cultural diversity is part of our everyday lives, and as such, we should embrace opportunities to appreciate cultures we don’t understand. If you’re a student, you might have a language class where you learn about the culture. Jurcenko uses cultural appreciation in her day-to-day life and especially loves teaching her classes about different celebrations.

‘’In the classroom, teaching kids where stuff came from around the holidays and teaching about how in other countries, especially the Hispanic countries, they celebrate some of the same holidays we do while also celebrating their holidays,” Jurcenko said. “For example, el Dia de Los Muertos, we don’t necessarily celebrate it here, but it’s heavily [celebrated] in Hispanic countries, so we see a lot of the artifacts of Dia de Los Muertos in our stores and decorations. [I enjoy] teaching them not only about those traditions but where the root of those came from to actually appreciate the culture whose holiday it is celebrating.”

APPROPRIATION

Unlike the act of appreciation, appropriation is a negative term used to describe the act of inappropriately taking an idea or item from another culture without understanding what it is or where it came from.

“Cultural appropriation is more like taking something from another culture and using it to represent something that it wouldn’t necessarily represent in that culture and then using it for your purposes or your design,” social studies teacher Jessica McNally said. “Maybe even to the point of giving it a new meaning that it doesn’t [actually] mean.”

Appropriation can be very offensive towards those who are targeted. This is often seen in stereotypes or myths presented as insults and beliefs against cultural groups. Senior Archita Joshi, a Hindu, has also experienced this behavior.

“I’ve seen people do Bollywood dances but kind of mocking it, and that gets offensive because I know you’re not respecting the culture. I take pride in who I am and where my parents came from, where I come from, so seeing people mock my culture hurts me,” Joshi said.

If one hopes to know how not to appropriate someone’s culture, education is an important first step in doing so. If you feel that you are unsure of someone or something’s cultural significance, there are many things you can do. Asking questions and researching are ways you can help yourself understand and

APPRECIATION

Photo courtesy of Archita Joshi Senior Archita Joshi wears a half saree, which is a mix of two diferent styles of clothing, a saree and a lehenga. She attended a Christian-Hindu wedding.

empathize with others.

Beyond understanding the boundaries of your knowledge, it is important to know where such negative beliefs came from. Lots of problems and misunderstandings came from times of conflict and strife. Things like war, cultural differences and religious and ideological guidelines can cause fear towards others and contribute to appropriation.

“That fear I feel could certainly be subdued if people just talked, asked questions or tried to understand. I do feel like what we’re seeing right now comes from this fear that fuels this hatred and creates people to have some sort of outlet for that,” McNally said.

Photo by Anna Olp Spanish teacher Heather Spaetzel features a variety of Mexican, Spanish and Barcelonian plates in her classroom. Featuring these plates allows her students to appreciate the culture of these countries.

HIGHLIGHTING THE PEOPLE OF KANELAND

BY KEVIN SIGRIST

Editor

Student communities are found in every school and work as a way for students to build camaraderie and relationships during their time there. There are many different kinds of communities here at Kaneland, but they are more similar than they appear.

BAND

The band, when viewed as a community, is a very welcoming group. It is a relatively large time commitment, but it is full of people who are passionate about what they do, making it a unique environment within the school.

“Student communities are really important because they help students who are new to the school or don’t have a lot of friends find people who share similar interests,” junior and trombone section leader Matt Manugas said. “For my situation, band has become a great part of my life. I have met a lot of great people through it and found a hobby along with it.”

As band is both an extracurricular activity and a class, members participate in a wide range of activities and spend a lot of time together throughout the year. Manugas has had quite the range of interactions within the band community.

“We spend a lot of time together, so we build a lot of relationships both inside and outside of the band, and it becomes a very tight knit community,” Manugas explained.

He elaborated on how a strong sense of community is formed through everyone helping each other and committing to improvement over the course of the year. “I was a section leader this year, and I love to see how my section improved a lot, from not really knowing how to march or play properly, to seeing them improve and really play to the best of their ability,” Manugas said.

Student communities built with academics as the primary focus are unique to other communities in that they are not necessarily formed through a common interest, but common challenges to overcome.

As a student who has taken several Advanced Placement (AP) classes, junior Paige Sparber has had some experience with these challenges.

“I have friends who aren’t in AP classes, and they don’t completely know what is going on,” Sparber said. “Having relationships with those in my classes allows me to learn of certain people who are good at certain things, and as a team, we work together to help each other.”

Not only do these students understand each other and form relationships, but they help each other in their classes.

“We have group chats for some classes where we’ll share Quizlets and other studying things. Everyone is trying to help each other,” Sparber said.

While sharing a class does not make students immediate friends, they are able to find people who are similar to them and develop bonds that last

“There’s a type of person who would take the AP classes, so a lot of times, people have similar personalities, so even if I don’t talk to my peers much outside of the classes, I don’t talk to them solely because we are in the same class,” Sparber said.

Photo by Kevin Sigrist Kaneland students play in a chess match at McHenry High School. The Kaneland chess team competed against McHenry, Harvard and Huntley High Schools in this chess tournament on Dec. 7.

ACADEMICS ATHLETICS

Athletics create some of the strongest student communities at Kaneland due to the highly competitive aspect of sports alongside the need to physically improve. On top of this competitive nature, student-athletes must help each other succeed or they will fail as a team.

“In the sports teams I’ve been on, it’s interesting how everyone has gotten along really quickly because it’s a small group of girls, and we are all going through the same experience of difficult sports,” sophomore Abigail Fitts said.

In addition to cross country in the fall, Fitts plays soccer in the spring. Because of these commitments, sports are a large part of her life.

“I’ve met all sorts of people through sports. I’ve reconnected with old people as well, especially with people from soccer teams I haven’t played with in many years. Also, sports are something that you go to or do every day, so it becomes a major part of your life,” Fitts added.

While people may begin playing a sport simply because it’s fun, a lot of the time, they decide to stick around because of the peers they are surrounded by.

“The end result of a meet or game is extremely rewarding because it makes you realize how connected everybody is, which is why while athletics and fitness are obviously a part of why I do sports, if I didn’t like the people around me, I wouldn’t do it,” Fitts said.

Photo courtesy of Rachel Giles The cast of the 2021 fall play, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, stand together on opening night. This year’s spring musical will be Cinderella. Junior Ethan Volkening rides a tractor at the Homecoming parade in Maple Park. Volkening pulled his fellow club members along the parade route.

THEATER

Theater is a great community at Kaneland. Rather than competing on a field or court, this group must develop their acting skills for a live audience. Knowing each other and building a sense of community is not only socially beneficial for those in theater, but it is also very important for the sake of a performance.

“School community is built through everyone helping each other over a shared obstacle. Doing the same thing of trying to adapt to how you’re going to play a character in a scene really brings people together because it’s a shared goal amongst the cast,” sophomore and fall play cast member Jackson Guidry said.

For Guidry, who has been in choir and theater since early middle school, theater has become a very important part of his life and has significantly helped him meet new people.

“Being in theater and choir has definitely impacted my life in the way that I interact with people and the amount of friends I have because of the community that formed,” Guidry said.

The community not only helped Guidry meet new people, but it also helped him become more outgoing and friendly, as those characteristics are needed to put on a good theater performance.

“I used to be so nervous and shy about singing and acting. I would never want to do it in front of people, but I’ve grown so much since middle school to now,” Guidry said. “I’m more confident in so many ways just because of being able to perform and having that group of people that I’m comfortable with and expanding it to an entire audience.” Page design by Ashley Vanderhoff

Photo courtesy of Brooke Heinsohn

FFA

The FFA community is a very strong and welcoming one. Covering a variety of job fields and activities like animal science, soil judging, public speaking, farming and more, they appeal to a lot of different people and personalities. Junior Ethan Volkening discussed the impact of FFA on his life.

“Being in FFA has changed my life for the better. I have been able to serve as an officer of the team, and I’ve been able to meet new people, have new relationships and build myself as a person, and that has just been really great. It’s an experience that everyone should have,” Volkening said.

FFA members and officers have many opportunities to bond as a community.

“One of my favorite memories of FFA is when we did our officer retreat last year, which is a great time when I get to bond with my fellow officers,” Volkening said. “We also do a whole bunch of events that we do with the whole FFA chapter that everyone’s allowed to be a part of, and those are a lot of fun as well.”

FFA members meet almost every day, whether it is for practice, competitions, general meetings or fun activities. While the outside perception may be that FFA is only for farmers, there is a place for everyone.

Despite his experience in FFA and passion for agriculture, Volkening does not believe that to be the biggest takeaway.

“In the future, the thing I will remember the most about FFA is the relationships I built with people. They will go on past my time in high school, and without FFA, that wouldn’t have happened in the first place,” Volkening said.

The community of students that make art is unique to the other types of communities at Kaneland. Rather than a focus on team bonding, it is very individualistic.

Senior Mason Rogers has created art for a very long time, and he has had plenty of experience with others in the art community.

“Art is unique in that it is different for everyone who experiences it. There are a lot of patterns and consistencies in the other types of communities, and they all have things in common, but I think art really comes down to each individual and the places their art takes them,” Rogers said.

Rather than art being about bonding with others, it’s a way for people to express themselves and show that expression to others who understand them.

“I struggle with verbalizing thoughts and feelings inside of my head, and sometimes the only way that I can get a point across is through visual representation,” Rogers said. “It is interesting because while I’m trying to get a point across in my head, it’s up to the interpretation of whoever sees it.”

There are many different ways that people can express themselves through art. Rogers has his own way as well.

“I love to show colors all over the place, even when they don’t make sense. Colors are extremely important in expressing what you’re feeling, as well as the lack of color,” Rogers said.

While art is not like other communities where people are constantly helping each other and have to act like a team, it is a very important one that allows students to express themselves in a variety of unique ways.

Photo courtesy of Mason Rogers Senior Mason Rogers enjoys creating a variety of artistic works, including this self portrait. He uses very diverse colors in an interesting way to express himself artistically. Centerspread 13