The Paw Print Volume IV, Issue 2

Kansas City Christian School Prairie Village, Kan.

PAW

PRINT

Everyone’s obsession and where you can get the best in town

Learn what makes the new kids tick

Volume 4 Issue 2 January 30, 2015

Generation Y: a look into the lives of Millennials

Test your knowledge of the school with the crossword.

14

KCC Trivia

The new era of basketball rises up from the sophomore class.

6

Sports

Think you know the school? Well, you’ve probably never heard these myths.

3

Feature

Get the skinny on the new online class format being used in Advanced Worldview.

News WHAT’S INSIDE...

Paw Print Staff

Olivia Madderom

Editor-in-chief

Alyssa Elliott

Copy Editor

Turner Jones

Photo Editor

Caroline Nichols

Staff Writer

16 Hannah Peterson

Staff Writer

Derrick Cook

Staff Writer

Jake Fields

Staff Writer

Kylie Briggs

Adviser

table of contents | 2

moorssalC deppilF

Flipped Classroom

ADVANCED WORLDVIEW CLASS MOVES INTO NEW STYLE OF LEARNING Alyssa Elliott Copy Editor Your phone reads 7 p.m., you’ve finished sports practice and family dinner and it’s finally time to start homework. You finish up your math assignment and read a few chapters of your book for English. For seniors, however, there is one more thing left to do.

Advanced Worldview teacher Ben Williams has spent these past few weeks transitioning his class to the flipped classroom style, recording his lectures and uploading them online rather than giving them in class.

“Flipped learning is to make more space during a class period for projects and discussion of key ideas,” Williams said. “Flipped learning itself is a pedagogical and growing practice. The goal is better comprehension.”

Using the website EDpuzzle to post lectures, Williams is able to add quiz questions into the videos to check for basic comprehension as well as to ask deep thinking questions. Putting these quizzes in the videos gives Williams a better sense of where the in-class discussions might lead.

“I’ve been able to walk into class knowing what you [seniors] do and don’t know,” Williams said. “This way of teaching tends to help people who struggle with content because they can go slower and those who love the content can go deeper.”

Senior Colleen Carroll appreciates the ability to take more time with understanding the material.

“I like it because you can go at your own pace and you can rewind it if you didn’t catch something,” Carroll said. “I can actually understand it better without being lost and I can actually comprehend what he is talking about in class.”

Others, such as senior Johnny Goodwin, like the switch to the

flipped classroom format for a different reason.

“It’s been extremely beneficial since I am gone a lot for tennis,” Goodwin said. “I can keep up with lectures and assignments and catch up and not get behind.”

Though the idea of the flipped classroom seems sudden, Williams has been doing research on the idea and contemplating it for a while.

“I wanted to do it three years ago, but I took some classes and the technology just wasn’t quite there yet,” Williams said. “In the last few months I’ve seen success with it, and it is only recently that the technology has caught up.”

While the idea is not a new one to Williams, it is something new to the school and not every student has enjoyed the change.

“I personally prefer in-class lectures,” senior Katelyn Holst said.

“You get to interact with the teachers and ask him questions if you don’t understand. I feel like in the online class it’s not as personal and I don’t get the full understanding that I would in the classroom.”

For those who dislike it, Williams offers assurance that the entire school will not be transitioning into this style of learning.

“We are not moving the entire high school to a flipped learning environment,” Williams said. “We are just looking at a couple of classes where it may fit the content because we are always looking at new ways of teaching.”

So seniors, once you’ve done your math assignment and your reading for English, don’t forget to make sure you’ve watched the lecture for tomorrow.

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To each his own Individual music tastes should be encouraged our 80-year-old grandma probably wouldn’t appreciate the melodic, electronic vibes of Alt-J, and 13-year-old bubblegum pop listeners are likely to dislike heavy metal artists like Five Finger Death Punch (I bet your grandma wouldn’t appreciate that one either). Good taste in music is relative. The music a person chooses to listen to is a reflection of who they are.

While my dad is inclined toward classic rock and jazz, I primarily listen to indie pop, rock, and folk. Each of us may have different tastes, but each of us recognizes and appreciates the music we choose to listen to. Different generations appreciate different music.

Often, music taste is reflective of the culture with which you surround yourself. For example, I grew up in a pop-abhorring family, so I naturally dislike pop. However, my biased taste in music isn’t me trying to be some pretentious hipster. I appreciate music for it’s quality and for the most part, the bands I listen to offer complex, intricate music with meaningful lyrics.

Frankly, as I’ve removed myself further away from pop, I’ve realized why I dislike it. My problem

Y

an opinion

by Hannah Peterson Staff Writer

with pop primarily lies in the lyrics. They are so well hidden by catchy electronic instruments that many listeners don’t comprehend what is being said. But, pop does have its place in culture.

Sometimes people just want upbeat music to play in the background of their car to make their morning drive to school more bearable or maybe they’re just looking for some songs to energize a party. For that, I believe pop is totally acceptable. Others search for deeper meanings in music. Maybe they sit in their room pensively unraveling complex metaphors laid out by Death Cab for Cutie. Either way, it’s different people listening to music for different reasons.

Some people define good taste in music as being well-rounded. Others appreciate only one genre of music. The point is, we have no place to judge others’ taste in music. Their taste in music is as unique as they are.

Whether you jam out to T-Swift or you quietly let the folksy vibes of Fleet Foxes play while you’re doing homework, your taste in music is unique to you, and that’s a good thing.

Animal cruelty rampant in pet stores hen you adopt a pet, you find your new best friend and you save a life.

But what’s so wrong with getting an animal from the pet store? When someone buys a dog or cat from a pet store, they’re unknowingly supporting puppy mills, large-scale breeding operations that put profit ahead of animal welfare. One commonly cruel act is toward the mother dogs. At mills, female breeding dogs are forced to produce litter after litter until they can no longer breed, at which point they risk death.

Tragically, according to Humane Society, 6 million to 8 million dogs and cats are put down each year in the U.S. This is simply due to the fact that not enough pets are being adopted from shelters.

But this is not the only offense. Many puppy mill dogs have never even been out of their

W

an opinion

by Caroline Nichols Staff Writer

4 | opinion

cages. They have never felt grass under their feet; they’ve never been hugged in a way that makes them know that they’re cared for or patted on the head just for being cute. Most wouldn’t even know how to react if you tried to play with them.

So why pick shelter animals? The simple truth is to do a basic act of kindness. Shelters take animals out of harm’s way and give them an opportunity to live a life of love and comfort.

Whether it’s rescuing them from abusive owners, pulling them out of national emergency areas, or saving them from the perils of puppy mills or other places where they would be abused or euthanized, shelters give them a fighting chance.

By saying NO to a pet store pet, you’re saying NO to animal cruelty.

As the old Narnia saying goes Their warm hearts cling to the hope of spring, to the promise of justice, to the knowledge that things will get better. They notice the lengthening of days, the shortening of nights and the an opinion ever-growing hint of green that

by Alyssa Elliott bleeds into the world around Copy Editor them.

These are the people we t sometimes feels should strive to be. We ought like spring will never to desire to become people come, like the who see the injustice of the ache of eternal world, and rather than fall idle winter has settled permanently and watch from afar, throw into our bones. ourselves We see people the pain.

It seems like there into around us that Ferociously have hardened on is no way to free loving as if they have those who been turned ourselves from the think they to stone. They idea that we hold don’t deserve are calloused it, we should power because be willing to against injustices and would we so desperately burn ourselves rather continue up to give numbly on than want to believe it. them warmth. risk causing But why? dissension. Sitting Why should idly by, they watch the world we willingly sacrifice ourselves? continue on in its perpetual It appears fruitless, like trying to winter. melt a frozen lake with a single Some relish in the candle. This is the deception metaphorical cold because in that we must overcome. We it, they are kings and queens think that we are the ones in that hold a disillusioned power. charge, but we aren’t, and When others are stuck in an putting ourselves up like that endless cycle of despair they narrows our view of life. leap in and preach that it is We ought to be a people that up to ourselves to discover a will relinquish all control in our solution. They promote the lie lives to the One who created that we are the ones who are us and burn bright. We need to in control because they have cling to a hope for the future bought into the deception and remember that, as the old they preached.

Narnian saying goes: It seems like there is no way to “Wrong will be right, when free ourselves from the idea that Aslan comes in sight, we hold power because we so At the sound of his roar, sorrows desperately want to believe it. will be no more, Those who have escaped are When he bares his teeth, winter the ones who wish to shake meets its death, apart this old world that has And when he shakes his mane, been encapsulated in ice. we shall have spring again.”

I

staff editorial Staying informed, following current events matters Teenagers are the future. What this generation decides to do or not to do, the decisions this generation makes now, affect the course of history. Keeping up with current events is a way to stay plugged into the world and accurately form opinions on critical issues.

The ways for a teenager to get the news are practically endless. With blogs, online newspapers and news outlets’ Twitter accounts, it is easy to stay on top of current events.

This unparalleled access to local, national and worldwide news should prompt teenagers to stay in touch. But, for the most part, it doesn’t In some ways, teenagers do take advantage of these resources, but they seem to access news in only the most trivial ways. Teens know their ratio of followers to following on Twitter, when the Grammys are taking place, or who’s starring in the next blockbuster movie. But, unfortunately, most don’t know the governor of Kansas or the financial stimulus program that Europe’s Central Banks are embarking on. In general, teens crave entertainment instead of hard facts, and, with neither the time or the attention span to go deeper, many teenagers do not read past the headline or maybe first paragraph for the majority of their news.

Many teenagers also lack an interest in politics. With renewed attention only around presidential elections, most teens spend the other three years with very limited knowledge. It is up to the individual to stay informed on political matters, or, in short, to care.

All in all, teenagers need to take their job of becoming informed citizens more seriously. Research the information on your own and form your own opinion. Read the full story, pay attention to politics.

Knowing what’s going on around us, instead of what’s going on in front of us, and forming our own opinion is not to be taken for granted and should be pursued. Ignorance is not bliss.

opinion | 5

The Paw Print Staff consults alumni to find out the best

KCC

Myths And

Legends Caroline Nichols Staff Writer Disclaimer: These stories are purely speculation and have not been proven to be true. All of the following stories have various accounts, but here are some of the most popular...

Secret passages

There are tunnels that run below us, at least that is what everyone has heard. Some say they go beyond the grounds of the school and that is how kids get in to do things like senior pranks. Others say that they connect upstairs classrooms with the basement and below.

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“Personally, I’ve never seen the tunnels, but I am a firm believer in them. I’ve heard that there are several different ones too. They’re often in classrooms hidden behind big filing cabinets or in the back of a closet. There’s also one in the boiler room, and most people say that the phantom comes in and out through that one.

They were put in because of the whole bomb shelter thing, which is why it would make sense for them to go beyond the school grounds. Sadly, most of them have been filled in or covered up to prevent students sneaking around and other obvious safety issues,” alumnus David Nelson said.

Phantom menace

Students, past and present, have whispered about a shadowy figure known as the phantom. This character has been seen by few but is known by many. Rumor has it, the phantom is a homeless man that lives in the school and sneaks around via the secret tunnels that run below the building. He is said to be dressed in a dark hoodie, black pants and beat up tennis shoes. Eerily enough, it is said that when he walks there is no sound, and he seems to be able to vanish before anyone can get a good look.

“The first time anyone ever heard of this guy was back in the late 90s. There used to be an old janitor that was cleaning one night when he noticed a light on that he hadn’t touched. It was coming from the broom closet across from the front office. He walked over to it and opened the door and sitting up on the shelf was the phantom. The janitor was so completely freaked out that he shut the door and locked it to keep the man inside. He called the police, and when they got there the man wasn’t in the closet even though it had remained locked. The next day the janitor turned in his resignation due to ‘dangerously high blood pressure’ that everyone equates with his mysterious encounter. And ever since then, people have been seeing the phantom,” alumnus Kurt Nichols said.

Boys will be boys

Students have been known to skip class for centuries in the past.

KCC, has taken skipping to an all-new level, with its famed “ping pong club” and other mischievous events. Students have found ways to make the long day endurable.

“For years I heard whispers of a certain “entertainment room” that the boys used to talk about. That was all they would ever say, but later I found out that they had an Xbox set up in one of the supply closets downstairs and would skip class to go play. None of it was true, of course, but it was fun to think about!” alumnus Sarah Gentry said.

Other cases of mischief have popped up in KCC history as well.

“One day several years ago, we got a call from a woman in the neighborhood. She wanted to let us know that there had been kids sneaking around the night before by the back of the school.

We had problems before with kids sneaking up to the roof, so Jim climbed up there and found several lawn chairs. The kids had been tanning on the roof for a while now, and we hadn’t even known,” Bible teacher Allan Chugg said.

Being the school’s tallest tale, there are countless more tales of the mysterious man.

“The scariest phantom story I know is the one about the Garner twins. It was one night after a practice or a basketball game. One of the twins was injured and on crutches. They had parked back behind the school, by the windows of the classroom closest to the end. There weren’t many people or other cars out there, and it was later at night so it was obviously dark. Well, they went out there to get in the car and nothing was weird that they noticed. They both got in, but the one not on crutches had forgotten something inside so she ran back in to get it. The other one started the car to warm it up, and when she flipped her headlights on, there was a man standing right in front of the car. The girl freaked out and screamed. She jumped out of the car without her crutches and ran inside to get somebody. When she came back with one of the boys, there was no one outside,” alumnus Elle Fields said.

Duck and cover

The school being a bomb shelter is well-known legend. The strange layout of the basement, with its low ceiling and cement walls have given way to the mumblings of air raids and wars for as long as its been around.

“I heard that there used to be a bomb shelter during WWII and then KCC was built on top of it. The lunchroom had nasty ceilings which used to be concrete. Which, if that was true then I would honestly be worried about being down there during threats of a bomb. If one got dropped and the ceiling cracked and collapsed, then wouldn’t that be worse? I don’t know, maybe it was and maybe it wasn’t,” alumnus Kate Whitsitt said.

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Our Generatio

WILL MILLENNIALS RISE TO BECO

Olivia Madd Editor-in-C Millennials.

Generation Y. The Me, Me, Me Generation.

Judged as lazy, narcissistic and entitled but praised as innovative, confident, positive and longterm planners, this generation has a near limitless future and the technology available for a worldwide stage.

The Millennials are born from 1980 to the early 2000’s. Most high school students are on the tail end of the generation, and many of their teachers spearhead the generation.

“They’re the most threatening and exciting generation since the Baby Boomers brought about social revolution,” freelance writer Joel Stein said. “Not because they’re trying to take over The Establishment, but because they’re growing up without one.”

Let’s take a step back and look at how Millennials were raised.

Millennials’ parents, for the most part, are at the tail end of the Baby Boomers (also known as the “Me” generation) or the beginning of Generation X. Baby Boomers mostly grew up in the suburbs, and they watched the hippie movement unfold. Many lost money in the stock-market crash of 1987 and will postpone retirement due to the recession.

The second set of parents who spearheaded Generation X have the largest amount of accumulated debt. Generation X is generally self-reliant and skeptical, approaching the job market as a free-agent with the idea to work to live.

These generations’ children, the Millennials, are the very first to grow up with new media (as I type this on my personal laptop,

my iPad and phone next to me) and in the wake of 9/11.

Millennials classically are self-obsessed and want to customize every area of their life; and they’re the most educated generation. “[Millennials are] going after what they want,” Jon Murray, creator of “Keeping up with the Kardashians” and “The Real World,” said. “It can be a little irritating that they want to be on the next rung so quickly. Maybe I’m partly responsible for it. I like this generation, so I have no issues with that.”

Instead of going through industrial or social revolution like previous generations, Millennials are going through an information revolution. Armed with technology Millennials have the ability to get enough information on any subject to receive a PhD and are changing the way of the individual.

“The information revolution has further empowered individuals by handing them technology to compete against huge organizations,” Stein said. “Hackers vs. corporations, bloggers vs. newspapers, terrorists vs. nation-states, YouTube directors vs. studios,

baby boomers Born

1943-1960

How do you spend you free time?

Millennial: “I play video games and soccer. I also hang out with friends. I just like to chill,” senior Cody Friesen said.

Gen X: “I play with my children in my free time, and I also play basketball two or three times a week,” math teacher Brian Miller said.

Baby Boomer: “By reading, it takes me to another world. It’s a nice way to relax,” math teacher Les Wagner said.

“Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.”

-David McCullough, Jr., in his graduation speech

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generation x

Bo

What is your prefe to m

Gen X: “I don’t mind iTunes or way is a real radio and being a station,” computer teacher Eri

Millennial: “Spotify, there’s mor quickly listen to something I wa Conkling said.

tion’s Potential

BECOME THE GREATEST GENERATION?

a Madderom or-in-Chief

appmakers vs. entire industries.

Millennials don’t need us.

That’s why we’re scared of them.”

The statistics on this generation though can be discouraging. According to Time magazine, however, more people aged 18 to 29 live with their parents than with a spouse. In 2009, 58 percent more college students scored higher on a narcissism scale than in 1982, 40 percent of Millennials believe that they should be promoted every two years regardless of performance and over 60 percent expect to hear back from companies within 24 hours. On average, a Millennial will hold seven jobs before they turn 27.

“I think Millennials as a whole get a bad reputation. A lot of people think we’re lazy or disconnected,” junior Bryce Johnson said. “But I think that they overlook the fact that we’ve had to successfully adapt to a world that’s gone through so much change during our lifetime.”

Society’s stress on the individual, instead of the community, was heightened with the 1960s New Age movement. The

x

Born 1961-1980

ur preferred way to listen to music?

d iTunes or Pandora, but my preferred nd being able to tune into a radio eacher Eric Arnold said.

here’s more choices and options. I can ething I want to,” English teacher Micah

“Our generation has had no great war, no great depression. Our war is spiritual. Our depression is our lives.”

-Chuck Palahniuk from “Fight Club”

millennials

ramifications of an over-individualistic society has instilled in Millennials the idea that their opinion, no matter how uneducated, carries weight and can be voiced in many different media facets.

“I think that we [Millennials] struggle with being able to respectably understand and then disagree with other people’s opinions,” freshman Ian Ko said. “I do believe, however, that we succeed with rallying against a common evil or to support a common good.”

At over 80 million, Millennials just surpass the Baby Boomers with 76 million people . An average 1-year-old American child already has more pictures of them than a 17th century king. Our generation has yet to be defined by how we handle challenges, like how previous generations have been defined by how they dealt with World War I and II, the Great Depression, or the social and civil reform of the 1960s.

“Whether you think Millennials are the new greatest generation of optimistic entrepreneurs or a group of 80 million people about to implode in a dwarf star of tears when they’re expectations are unmet depends largely on how you view change,” Stein said. “I choose to believe in the children. God knows [Millennials] do.”

Born 1981-2000

How do you get your news?

Baby Boomer: “I get my news through the newspaper, on the Internet, and on the radio,” Bilbe teacher Allan Chugg said.

Millennial: “Twitter because I can look up whatever is happening right this minute,” junior Rose Campbell said.

“They want to be recognized as individuals, but individuals play a smaller and smaller role in society.”

-Robert Kennedy

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New Faces

Jake Fields Staff Writer

Can you remember the moment you chose KCC as your source of primary education? Or what about your first day? For many, their parents chose KCC for them at quite young age, way back in elementary school.

Going into 2015, the school has gained a diverse expansion in its student population. Each new student is different in his or her own way and, honestly, super cool. Despite the difficulty of starting high school at semester, these new students have already integrated themselves into the student body.

If you have not had a chance to get to know any of the new students, here’s a little bio of fun facts about each student. After reading this, I strongly encourage you introduce yourself and get to know each of them personally if you have not done so already.

Sophomore James Amabile (pronounced Ah-maubyew-lay), the youngest of six children, comes all the way from Massachusetts.

A critical thinker, the first thing Amabile said about himself is, “I really enjoy problem solving of any kind. Even in my free time.”

Abby Swafford

James Amabile

Hannah Coleman

Junior Hannah Coleman hails from neighboring high school, Shawnee Mission East, and she is quite the “Jill of all trades.”

Being a fan of writing and news reporting, Coleman plans to join journalism as soon as she can next year. Not only that, but she is also “a huge fan of music,” which is evident in her training in classical guitar and piano.

Junior Connor Christians is a soccer player from Blue Valley Northwest. The only junior, and boy, in Spanish IV, Christians has some foreign language skills.

With thoughtfulness, Christians said, “I have really cool siblings that I love.”

Connor Christians

Sophomore Emmanuel Fleming has gained a reputation for his skillset.

Fleming said he enjoys choir and singing. He likes football and is considering pursuing the culinary arts. He is also cousins with staff writer Derrick Cook.

Emmanuel Fleming

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Freshman Abby Swafford has enough character and creativity to be like three new students. She enjoys gymnastics and sparkles and said her favorite animal is a lobster. For Swafford, coming to KCC just felt right.

“I’ve wanted to go here for a while, actually. Before here, I was at Shawnee Mission East.”

Swafford said.

Anna Bahng

Sophomore Anna Bahng comes all the way from South Korea and was surprised by the contrast between school here compared to her homeland.

“P.E. class is intense! You workout hard here. In Korea, P.E. class is nothing,” Bahng said.

Despite the physical fatigue, Bahng has met a lot of people.

“People are much more open and approaching. In Korea, if you are not friends with someone, you would not come up to them just to say ‘hi,’” Bahng said.

Blurr Productions Fulfilling your music needs

Need a song?

We work with individuals to produce creations tailored to their needs.

Contact Arthur Beck and Jacob Butler

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Caffeine Crawl Story by Alyssa Elliott and Turner Jones

Thou Mayest

Oddly Correct

Second Best Coffee

Quay Coffee

12 | feature

Five Paw Print Staff members met up on a Saturday morning to try out four Kansas City area coffee shops. These are their findings.

ALL PHOTOS BY TURNER JONES AND HANNAH PETERSON

Second Best Coffee Tucked away in a Waldo strip mall is Second Best Coffee, home to bicycles and Kansas City pride. The large front window allows for natural light to brighten the coffeehouse that is lined with dark, salvaged wood. While the seating is not the most comfortable, the open layout gives it a clean feeling that contrasts with the rustic exterior. If you’re big about supporting small, local places and where you live, this is the place for you.

Best Drink: The Cappuccino. It had a great initial taste, primarily espresso instead of an overpowering amount of milk and achieved the perfect balance between the two elements. Not only that, but the latte art was picture perfect.

We give it a 4 out of 5.

Oddly Correct

Oddly Correct’s small and eclectic shop, located in Midtown, is a haven for coffee purists. It definitely lives up to its name; it’s weird, yet it feels right. The bright colors contrast with the brick walls and the vaulted ceilings make it feel more spacious than it is. The limited seating takes away from the charm of the shop, but the unobstructed view of Main Street makes this a prime location for early morning people-watching.

Best Drink: Negele Gorbitu Co-op coffee, hailing from Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia (try saying that five times fast). It was earthy with a strong aspect of lemon, it’s full body taste living up to it’s incredibly long name. Our staff rating for it was a 4.5 out of 5.

Thou Mayest Creating a cabin environment in the heart of the Crossroads, Thou Mayest provides a calm location for introverts and extroverts alike. The downstairs has a stronger social presence with the echoing of music and voices bouncing off the high ceiling. Upstairs, however, is more subdued.

With comfy couches and voices in volumes reminiscent of a library lobby, it is the perfect spot for someone looking to do homework or lose themselves in a good book.

Best Drink: Americano. A medium roast that, with its mellow bitter taste, was hard to peg but still appealing. In the words of Staff Writer Jake Fields, “It presented itself like a well-behaved gentleman that escorted my taste buds to caffeine Nirvana.” It earned a solid 4 out of 5.

Quay Coffee Windows stretching from the floor to the 20-foot-ceilings give Quay Coffee an open and industrial feeling. Clean and modern, the well-lit coffeehouse is the perfect place to catch up with friends and relax in the mellow atmosphere.

The classy yet hipster environment blends in perfectly with the surrounding River Market, providing a plethora of seating for shoppers and coffee connoisseurs alike.

Best Drink: Kyoto Cold Brew. This (slightly) famed drink had a strong taste that wasn’t harsh and had a rich, smooth and creamy palate. Also, it has a square ice cube, which is pretty neat. This iced beverage earns a cool 4.5 out of 5.

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The Beginning

of an era0

Sophomore boys bring energy to basketball program Derrick Cook Staff Writer

PHOTO BY KATELYN HOLST

Dribbling away from two opponents, sophomore Mitchell Paul gets around the defense to look for a shot.

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Full of adrenaline and determination, sophomore Mitchell Paul takes off on a fast break. He is fouled while shooting and scores before heading to the free throw line for the old-fashioned three point play. He sinks it and the team takes the lead, now on their way to a win in the final seconds of regulation against Riverside High School.

This is not the only way the sophomores have contributed to the team this year. The group has become a crucial part of the boys basketball team, bringing energy and an exceptional style of play to the team. They each know their roles and what they need to do to help the team win.

“I think I can impact the team by doing my job as a point guard,” sophomore Mitchell Paul said. “Consistently scoring, controlling the team and playing good defense.”

Sophomore Davis Gunnigle’s 6 foot 4 inch height puts opposing players at a disadvantage while guarding him.

“I can impact the team by being a spark and a scorer that knows how to play basketball,” Gunnigle said.

The boys understand the fundamental saying, “there is no ‘I’ in team.”

“This team has an opportunity to be really good, go out and string some wins together.,” sophomore Sam Coleman said. “This year is a turning point for the program, how we see and play the game mentally, how we fight back

“This year is

a turning point for the program; how we see and play the game mentally, how we fight back through deficits, and how we pull together as a team.”

-sophomore Sam Coleman

through deficits, and how we pull together as a team.”

Mental toughness is huge in the game of basketball, and because of their youth, the sophomores sometimes struggle in this area.

However, as the season progresses mental strength is being developed.

“My mental toughness hasn’t been great. I think I could really improve that. I think Chugg would agree,” Paul said.

This season could be a turning point for KCC basketball. In addition to their technical skill, the sophomore group brings a level of camaraderie to the team. This group has been nurturing a love for the game since they were young.

“I think I play basketball because it is my dad’s favorite sport. Growing up around it, I have learned to love it,” Coleman said. “I love the game and want to get better at it. I love my coaches and my teammates--it’s time well spent. Also, it helps me grow and learn to be disciplined in other aspects of life.”

The boys also know they are playing for more than just themselves and see the positive change that they are experiencing.

“I’m loving this basketball season, we’re a tighter-knit group than we have been in the past. We have developed some skill and mentalities that, while still a work in progress, are headed in the right direction,” Coleman said.

PHOTO BY KATELYN HOLST

PHOTO BY KATELYN HOLST

Sophomore Sam Coleman plays defense on the inbounding play.

Focusing on his form, sophomore Davis Gunnigle takes his time to position his shot for a free throw.

sports | 15

Crossword Across 3. Millennials outnumber which previously largest generation?

5. What runs rampant in pet stores?

7. Which new teacher is thought to have sang on Kids Bop? 8. High school students are a part of which generation?

11. What is the new classroom style for Advanced Worldview?

13. What coffee shop is tucked away in a Waldo strip mall?

14. What is the name of the mysterious figure that has been allegedly seen around school?

15. Who is the new freshman student that loves lobsters?

16. What crayon color is Samuel Peterson?

17. Which new student is from the East Coast?

19. Who is the boys head soccer and basketball coach?

20. Who is the high school principal?

Down 1. What is the website that Mr. Williams uses to post lectures?

2. What sophomore basketball player is 6’4”?

4. What coffee shop has a cabin environment?

6. What class of basketball players represents the new era of boys basketball?

9. What new sophomore is cousin to staff writer Derrick Cook?

10. Allegedly, what did boys used to do on the roof?

12. Which sophomore basketball player often plays point guard?

18. What coffee shop sounds like ‘key’?

Student Spotlight What exotic pet would you like to have?

A tiger

If you could live in any other country for two years where would you go? England If you were a superhero what outfit would you wear?

All black suit

What’s your preferred playing piece in Monopoly? The racecar If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Navy Blue What is the first thing you notice about someone? Their hair

16 | crossword