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Friday, March 24, 2017
Family Affair Senior Jordan Walker, who was selected as the state’s Miss Basketball, said that without her parents and siblings, she would not be as successful. page 16
Only the Locals Know pages 8-9
Helping Honduras pages 12-13
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editorial
The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
College Choices
Muskegon Promise good for all
$
6,466. That is how much the tuition for one year of college is minus room and board, according to collegetuitioncompare.com. However, it is possible to cut this price in half. With the Muskegon Promise and by meeting its requirements, one can get two free years of college at Muskegon Community College and Baker College of Muskegon. Requirements for this program include a 3.5 GPA or greater, a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), enrollment at either Muskegon Community College (MCC) or Baker College of Muskegon, and residency in and attendance at a high school within the MAISD boundaries. As a sophomore, I am just starting to look into colleges and thinking about my future. The Muskegon Promise is an opportunity I and my classmates should look into because of the many positives. For example, parents don’t have to spend as much money, especially if they have multiple children. Also, students will have fewer student loans after they graduate college. Another positive to exploring this option is being able to stay at home for those two years, which means no one will have to worry about the exAdviser Warren Kent III Editors-in-Chief Jenna Beemer Kendahl MacLaren Editorial Editor Caitlin McCombs Entertainment Editor Olivia Watson Profiles Editor Kaitlin Hermanson Features Editors Steffen Newman
Staff Editorial
Muskegon Promise Facts
It’s easy to find negatives; take time to see positives
In the movies, and, honestly, even in real life, high schools are full of cliques – everyone trying to be better than one another. However, we, the editors of The Sailors’ Log, believe Shores students can change this stereo•The Muskegon Area Promise makes a unique commitment type. When we looked at our fellow classmates, to the young people of our community – if they work hard they we realized that our school is full of amazing, will be able to earn at least a two-year college degree tuition free. talented people. •It provides the financial assistance necessary to obtain a two-year For example, talented athletes, intelligent studegree or its equivalent at an eligible partnering institution dents and kind individuals can be found throughwhen used in conjunction with federal, state and institutional grants. out the halls of Shores. •Eligible students will receive funding for tuition, books and mandatory The Sailors’ Log staff would like to encourfees up to the cost of obtaining an associate’s degree or its equivalent age everyone to (1) notice, (2) be kind, and (3) at the prevailing Muskegon Community College tuition rate. compliment. •Promise Scholarships are funded through a combination No. 1: Instead of focusing on ourselves, we of broad-based community support, major gifts from private donors, should look beyond our normal focuses and pay corporate and foundation investments and through federal or state financial aid available to Muskegon students. attention to those around us and the accomplishments of our classmates. •Students who live in the MAISD but use school of choice to attend school outside the MAISD do not qualify. No. 2: Instead of judging our classmates without truly knowing them, we should be kind. •Students who do not live in the MAISD but use school of choice Everyone has something amazing to share and to attend school in it also do not qualify. unique to teach, and we should take the time to My younger sister, who is an importlearn those. ant part in my life, will be a sophoNo. 3: When someone – popular or not, friend a column by more when I graduate, and if I choose the path of the Muskegon Promise, I or not – accomplishes something, we should take Caitlin can still live at home. the time to compliment them and tell them we McCombs If one was to attend MCC, there is are proud of them. a good chance many of her classmates Shores has the capability and the caring stupenses of renting apartments or the from high school will also be there, dents to make this movement possible. With 300 costs of dorms. Along with staying meaning she would have familiar facat home, students will already know es in the hallways and in her classes. students per grade, there is bound to be at least their way around, and it won’t take Overall, there are many positives to someone doing something amazing every day. time getting used to. applying for the Muskegon Promise, This is our encouragement to you to take the Students with younger siblings, for and one can get a lot out of it. positive nature at Shores and magnify it into example, me, will also get the chance As I look into my future, the Mussomething spectacular. to spend more time with them and kegon Promise is one thing I have as •The program began with the class of 2015 at Holton, Muskegon and Muskegon Heights high schools. The schools were chosen based on need, which was determined by percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunch.
other close family that lives in town.
Sports Editors Mal Meston Megan Swanker Photo Editor Alex Baker Staff Emmalee Dykstra Lucy Eyke Kailey Fellows Kali Jend Carlie McNiff Timothy Schneider Isaac Varela
an option.
The Sailors’ Log is a public forum for student expression distributed freely to students and faculty of Mona Shores High School.
The Sailors’ Log can be found at the following on-line sites:
• www.thesailorslog.com (contains current stories, photos, etc.) • Facebook: Go to “MSHS Yearbook - Compass Points” (provides photos after every Shores event) • Twitter: @thesailorslog (provides easiest way to get information to readers) • Instagram: @thesailorslog (provides Picture of the Day and story sneak peeks) • Email: kentw@monashores.net (provides communication with staff)
Our Voice is the opinion message selected by the editorial board of The Sailors’ Log. Your Voice, the letters to the editor section, is the opinion of our readers. All letters to the editor must be signed. This edition of The Sailors’ Log was printed by The Argus-Press 201 E. Exchange St. Owosso, MI 48867
editorial
The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
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Parental Pet Peeves
Students’ guardians should rethink their ways of raising their children
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arents. The people who take care of us. Whether it be a mother, aunt, or grandpa, we care about our parental figures. And although it might not be easy to admit for some, we owe the people who take care of us our eternal respect. They can make it awfully difficult though with their ridiculous rules and standards. I am a victim of such as my dad is often times a column by unnecessarily strict. Timothy Early curfews, unreasonSchneider able standards, and too many chores are a few things many of us suffer through. These are my parental pet peeves and how to avoid them. My own personal problem? An early curfew. As a freshman in high school, I understand that my dad doesn’t want me out late. But “late” to most of us is a lot different than “late” to my dad. I am not to be home past 9:30 p.m. on a weekend and cannot leave the house later than 8. This is incredibly cruel as most events don’t even get over until 10-11 p.m. Worse than that though, he doesn’t want me spending the night places because I’m not home enough, but if I had a later curfew, I could easily manage to be home more. In my opinion, a reasonable curfew for a freshman would be around 11 p.m. or probably later. This would give me time to have fun on the weekends without being out past city curfew or the option to spend the night somewhere. “My original plans for Spring Break are being moved to this summer. So for Spring Break, I will be getting prepared and studying for my AP exams.” – Braxton Wasilewski, senior
“For Spring Break, I am going on the senior trip to Cabo, Mexico. I will be going with about 80 other students and about five different school districts.” – Kevin Quigg, senior
“Over Spring Break, I will be traveling to Dallas, Texas, to visit my brother because he is a med student down there. Also, we are staying in a resort.” – Savannah Kendra, junior “During Spring Break, I will be traveling around the Midwest region and visiting colleges to decide what college fits best and explore my options.” – Dimitri Poland, junior
Artwork by Jenna Bitzer Also, parents are expecting way too much out of their children. With today’s classes, having all A’s, enough sleep, a social life, and extra curricular activities along with chores and family is asking way too much. When I come home at 6 after going to school and then Allegros practice, all I’m trying to do is homework and then rest. My dad, however, expects me to be able to go to school, practice, then home to do homework followed by a list of chores. He then proceeds to get angry when I turn in an
What are your plans for Spring Break?
Q the big
In each edition of The Sailors’ Log, eight students will be asked their opinion about a current topic.
assignment late. Sleep deprivation is a serious issue, and if I’m doing homework and I get ridiculously tired, I go to sleep because it’s not worth my health, and that is something parents need to understand. School comes before fun, but health comes before school. No matter who takes care of you, they need to understand all these are much more than just simple pet peeves… they are our basic social and physical needs. “For Spring Break, I am driving down to Florida with my friend Kale O’Toole and his grandfather. We are going to Pensacola, Florida, and we are going to hang out at the beach.” – Isaac Lee, sophomore “During Spring Break, my family, grandparents, and I will be going to Sanibel Island, Florida. There, we will be spending time with each other, going to the beach, and swimming.” – Taylor Keessen, sophomore “For Spring Break, my family and I are going to Arizona to visit family. In Arizona, we are going to go skydiving indoors.” – Chloe Knowlton, freshman “Over Spring Break, my family and I are planning on going to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I also plan to eat ice cream every day.” – Jarvis Walker, freshman
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news
The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
Senior Hunter Meyers participates in Together We Fight, a dodgeball tournament in the three gyms that raised $550 for the Make a Wish Foundation. (Isaac Varela)
Dodgeball tournament raises money for cancer patients
By Kendahl MacLaren Co-Editor-in-Chief
With a desire to make a difference in the lives of others, senior Cassie Jones took it upon herself to head up Together We Fight, an organization that raises money for cancer foundations through athletic events that involve five local schools, including Shores. “I came up with the idea to start Together We Fight as I was looking through old pictures from when I was going through cancer,” said Jones, who had a Wilms tumor on her kidney in second grade but is now in remission. “I realized I really wanted to find a way to give back and help other people that may be going through the same thing I did. I wanted to find a way to contribute to finding a cure and helping the cause.”
On March 8 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the first event, a dodgeball tournament, was held in the three Shores gyms. The fee to participate was $10 per team member. Donations were also accepted. “I came up with dodgeball because the event took place when the weather outside was cold, so I needed to use an indoor sport, and dodgeball is something that interests a lot of students,” said Jones, who is planning a beach volleyball tournament in May. Together We Fight partnered with Shores’ student senate to make the event possible. “The most challenging part of the event was getting other schools aware of the event,” Jones said. “Posters were made, and I talked to most of the schools’ leader of their student senate, but it was still difficult to get all of the students to know on a wider range.”
The first event included eight teams, with participation coming from Shores, Reeths-Puffer, Muskegon, and Muskegon Catholic Central. “The most rewarding part of the event was seeing how willing everyone was to come together regardless of what school they come from and participate in an event all for a common cause,” Jones said. “It was also really cool to see how much fun everyone had at the event.” Overall, $550 was raised with proceeds going to the Make a Wish Foundation. “I chose Make a Wish Foundation because they do everything they can to make sure kids who are diagnosed with cancer get to fulfill their dream,” Jones said. “Kids with cancer may often feel a loss of hope that they will no longer be able to achieve their dreams, but Make A Wish makes sure those dreams come true.”
Glass hallways to be upgraded over Spring Break By Kendahl MacLaren Co-Editor-in-Chief
Walking through one of the two glass hallways at Shores, students usually find themselves with a little extra chill, especially during the winter. However, after Spring Break, students will be coming back to new hallways that should keep them warmer. “The reconstruction of the glass hallways will be to install a little more energy efficient windows,” assistant principal Kent Higgs said.
“We are losing a lot of heat in the winter months in that area, so the new windows should help. They will also prevent some of the water issues in the doorways with better seals.” Higgs wants to assures students, many of whom thought regular walls were being constructed, that the hallways will look similar with full glass as walls. “Many people enjoy that stretch of school [between the main building and the cafeteria/athletic/math/ science wing], so it would be a hard thing to give up,” Higgs said. “It is still a glass hallway, only with better
windows.” The project, which will cost $154,900 with funds coming from the most recent Warm, Safe, Dry bond, will begin next Friday and should be completed the Friday before students return to school. “Both hallways are supposed to be finished after Spring Break; however, we’ve asked that they don't start anything they can't finish because we don’t want it interrupting the learning or school day, especially with testing happening,” Higgs said. “If they only get one finished, the rest will happen over summer.”
The glass hallways, shown here being decorated by senior Courtney Dunn in the fall, will be upgraded, at a cost of $154,900, over Spring Break. (Grace Hellman)
news Junior becomes first Sailor powerlifter to win state
First-person shooter games dominate By Kailey Fellows Staff Writer
By Kendahl MacLaren Co-Editor-in-Chief After becoming the first ever Shores lifter to become a state champion, junior Grace VanArendonk said she is extremely shocked and excited. “I went into the meet just trying to do my personal best, but I won, and that’s something to be grateful for,” said VanArendonk, who competed with her teammates at the state competition at Crosswell-Lexington High School on March 11. VanArendonk took first in the varsity women’s 114-pound weight class. She squatted 185 pounds, benched 105 pounds, and deadlifted 305 pounds for a total of 595 pounds. “A lot was going through my head as I went into the last lift [the deadlift],” she said. “It was a lot of pressure because I knew that if I got it, then I would win; otherwise, I would get second. I really wanted to get first for (coach Matt) Koziak especially and myself.” That last lift gave VanArendonk a state record for her wight class as she deadlifted 305 pounds, breaking the old record by 10 pounds. “It was kind of emotional because the girl before me broke the record for 300 pounds, and then, I broke her record,” she said. However, VanArendonk describes the day as a whole as laid back.
The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
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Junior Grace VanArendonk says her coach Matt Koziak, her hard work, and her positive attitude helped her become the first Sailor powerlifter to win a state championship. (Courtesy photo) “It seems weird because most people are really nervous, but for me it is more of an extra thing for me,” she said. “I did weight lifting for fun to go along with cheer.” VanArendonk said this wouldn’t have been possible without a lot of hard work, a positive attitude, and the people who supported her along the way. “The whole girls’ powerlifting team, definitely (senior Ke’Vonte’A Pegues) and (junior) Breon (Hooper), as well as Koziak and my parents were so helpful and supportive,” VanArendonk said. Even though she just broke records and became a state champion, VanArendonk is still continuing to set goals for her future in weightlifting. “My next goal is to hit 600 total pounds,” she said.
are playing for fun or in your free time, it will most likely have a positive effect,” Kinnucan said. “If you are a naturally violent person with Junior Nick Davis knows the gaming world a not-so-good home life, then it probably isn’t all too well. the best idea.” He’s one of the many who participate FPS games and even other games allow in playing first-person shooter (FPS) video students to get away from school and everygames, which are computer or console games day stress. It gives a competitive drive as well. where the player has a first-person view of ev- Whether it’s getting to the top rank or unlockerything and has control of their world. ing a new player, a rewarding feeling comes Davis said he as a bonus with started playing gaming. video games at the Junior Sylage of 6 after his vester Anthony father helped him knows competibuild a personal tion all too well. computer. “Competi“I love first-pertive Call of Duty son shooter games provides me with because they give a needed chalyou control of the lenge” he said. “It world inside the keeps me on my game” Davis said. toes.” “They’re super Davis, who strategic and fun.” has won more But Davis is than a $100 playjust one of many ing in tournaShores students ments, said he who play FPS With his involvement in NHS and multiple sports plays just about games. In a Sail- teams, junior Nick Davis said video games can help every genre of ors’ Log survey of relieve some of his stress. (Kailey Fellows) game from FPS 266 students, 124 said they play FPS games. In games to games about soccer. He said he likes the same survey, players said the most popular to play a variety of games to keep things interFPS games are Call of Duty, Battlefield, and esting. Rainbow Six Siege. “My favorite first-person shooter game is Junior Taylor O’Donnell said she enjoys probably Rainbow Six Siege because it replaying Battlefield 4 and Grand Theft Auto 5 quires team play and strategy,” said Davis. when she has time. “My favorite game out of all the genres is cur“Sometimes, you need to let your anger out rently Rocket League because it’s interactive.” in a positive and healthy way,” she said. “VidDavis is a member of The National Honeo games make that possible.” ors Society, so he understands the pressures of Ever since the first FPS game (Wolfenstein school. He also plays multiple sports includin 1992) was released, there has been contro- ing tennis and baseball. He admits that video versy surrounding the violence present within games can help to escape some of these stressthem. Many argue that the games that focus on es. killing and robbing banks is negatively affect“They’re just fun,” Davis said. “I get to foring teens, but sophomore Noah Kinnucan is get about anything that went wrong that day. confident that it depends on the teen. I’ve never once had a bad day playing video “It depends on the person you are. If you games.”
Educator of the Year letters to recognize honorable staff due April 28 After going above and beyond for the students at Shores, teachers and staff members deserve to be recognized for their excellence. For the third year, we, The Sailors’ Log staff, is giving an opportunity for students to show their gratitude and appreciation for staff members with the student-selected “Educator of the Year” award. Past winners were social studies teacher Steve Morell (2015), who was nominated by senior Katey Fritz, and English teacher Roxanne Schaner (2016), who was nominated by senior Julia Kwapiszewski. Any student at Shores may nominate any staff member (teacher, counselor, custodian, etc.) through a letter to the editor.
Letters will be judged on content, not on number of nominations per staff, by the editors on The Sailors’ Log. Requirements for the nomination letters are as follows: 1. Letters must be positive in nature. No slandering or critiquing of staff. 2. Letters must outline the qualities that make the staff member an excellent educator. 3. Letters must be signed. 4. A google form will be emailed where students can submit a letter and nominate a staff member. 5. The last day letters will be accepted is Friday, April 28, and the winner will be announced in the May 31 issue.
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The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
entertainment
Anything Goes continues on stage tonight
six It is no secret that Shores is well known for its musicals throughout the local theater community, putting on spectacular shows year after year. So in preparation for this year’s musical, here is a list of amazing musicals to get the theater pumping through the veins. Hamilton Hamilton: An American Musical is easily one of the best and most revolutionary musicals of our time. The hip hop/R&B musical biography about Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and the Founding Fathers has won the Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy, 11 Tony Awards and opened the doors for several young performers of ethnicity in the theater world. Sure, history is not always the most exciting thing, but the show’s creator Lin Manuel-Miranda has made the story of the rise and fall of Hamilton and his political rival Aaron Burr jump off the stage and into the hearts of fans everywhere. The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera is a classical musical centralized around Christine Daaé, a beautiful operatic soprano, who becomes the obsession of the mysterious, masked, disfigured musical genius who resides in the subterranean labyrinth beneath the Palais Garnier Opera House. While the music is more opera-like, the intensity of the Phantom’s love for Christine can pull in even the biggest adversary to opera, with wonderfully crafted songs to showcase the deep emotion in the story. Though the Phanotom’s obsession with Christine brings a hint of danger, this is one of the most romantic shows around. Whether one finds herself loving or hating the Phantom, one can’t help but cry for him when the end of the show comes. Wicked Wicked tells an alternative story to that of the film The Wizard of Oz. This adaptation features Glinda, the good witch, and the Wicked Witch of the West – whose
name we learn is Elphaba – before and after Dorothy comes to Oz. We are taken through the early stages of the life of Elphaba, learning that the wicked witch wasn’t always so wicked after all. One would think I wouldn’t take fondly to the musical, having seen The Wizard of Oz at least a hundred times in my life. However, I am absolutely in love with Wicked. How could I not be? Not only does it show the effect that harsh treatment of a person can cause, it makes one want to forgive Elphaba for all of her wrong doings and (in my case) give her a big hug because, gosh, the world is so cruel. The Book of Mormon Here, we have a good ol’ comedy. The Book of Mormon is about the journey of two Mormon missionaries who go to Africa to preach the Mormon religion. Although rated R, it is categorized as a religious satire, filled with comedy coupled with hilarious songs, more so than most comedic musicals. Many will know the writers of the show by their work in creating the animated comedy South Park. But their stage play is no joke, believe me. With the hundreds of laugh-lines and the music written by Robert Lopez, known most commonly for writing the music for Frozen, the show is a smash hit. Fun Home Here’s a more modern show for those who are into the contemporary. Fun Home is the musical adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s 2006 graphic memoir that follows her life, coming to terms with her sexuality, her relationship with her gay father and her view into the mysteries of life, all through the eyes of herself during
musicals Review by Olivia Watson, entertainment editor
three prominent stages of her life. The show doesn’t sell itself short as the first Broadway show with a lesbian protagonist but pushes through an emotional story throwing in sharp humor. Filled with quick wit, the show packs an emotional punch with every new revelation made by Alison during her journey. One of the most emotional moments is when Bruce, Alison’s father, sings a heartbreaking solo about his true identity and his jealousy of his daughter’s freedom and ability to express her sexuality before he (spoiler alert) steps in front of a truck. One of the truly underrated gems of the theater world, this show doesn’t fail to deliver, and no one leaves the theater without shedding a tear. Les Misérables (Les Mis) By far one of the most widely known musicals, Les Mis has been replicated in films and high schools alike (done by Shores students 10 years ago) and referenced in countless films, television shows and more. With beautifully crafted songs to make one cry and feel anger all at the same time, plus a story that relies solely on the performer to deliver the emotion unto the audience, this show has withstood 37 years in the theater community. Set in early 19th-century France, the story of French peasant, Jean Valjean, and his journey for redemption after serving 19 years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread for his sister’s starving child (yes, this is what France was like). We follow Valjean as he tries to start his life anew after breaking his parole, with side stories of multiple characters entwined in tricky situations before and after the French Revolution.
By Lucy Eyke Staff Writer Last night, the Shores Allegros kicked off its production of Anything Goes, the musical, which sets sail on a journey to discover the works of love. Anything Goes continues tonight at 7 and tomorrow at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets for the musical sell for $10-$15 and can be purchased in choir director Shawn Lawton’s room today after school, at the door, and online at www.showtix4u.com. Anything Goes is a complicated love story which takes place in the 1930s. “This show makes you want to dance, sing, and everything in between,” said junior Maura Wilcox, who is a member of the chorus in the show. “It’s really funny, and the humor relates to people of many ages, so it’s a crowd pleaser for everyone.” The story starts as friends, Reno Sweeney (senior Natalie Liegeois) and Billy Crocker (junior Jacob Rausch) are aboard a cruise ship, heading to England from New York. “My character is super confident and sassy, which I really enjoy playing, and loves to dance. I’m not always the most confident person, but I can be a little sassy, and I love to dance,” Liegeois said. “Playing this role makes me feel empowered and strong because her personality is so fun.” Also on board are two lovers, Hope Harcourt (junior Emma Nelson) and Sir Evelyn Oakleigh (senior Gabe Fox). “My favorite thing about my character is that he gets some of the most hilarious lines in the show and is incredibly fun to play,” Fox said. Aboard the ship, Billy tells his love for Hope to Reno. To help a friend out, Reno decides to seduce Sir Evelyn in hopes that Hope and Billy can be together. Along the way, there are many complications. Song and dance are a huge component in putting the story all together. Not only is Liegeois excited for her role, but being backstage with the cast is one of the best parts of the show, she said. “Every year, the cast always seems to be one of my favorite parts. I have made so many friends and have also strengthened many of my relationships with friends who I don’t necessarily get to see when I am at school,” Liegeois said. “It is really cool seeing the long days put into the production come together and be proud of the results.”
profiles
The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
Shores prides itself in helping students become college and career ready. For many seniors, that means heading off to a college or university in the fall. However, some have chosen to take a less traditional path. Out of the 116 seniors surveyed, 11 percent reported that they will not be going to college next year. Here, The Sailors’ Log meets with some of them to share their stories.
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The Road
Less Traveled
Senior set to join Young Americans By Kaitlin Hermanson Profiles Editor While many seniors will be packing up to move across Michigan this fall to pursue their education in a college setting, Natalie Liegeois is preparing to make the big move to southern California, where she will participating in the Young Americans program. YA is a non-profit organization whose goal is to influence schools to keep music education programs alive around the nation and globe. “I will be there for mainly dance,” Liegeois said. “However, I will be taking dance, vocal, and theater classes as well,” Liegeois, who has been dancing since the age of 3, said she first heard about YA when they came to Shores for a workshop
her freshman year. However, she realized she wanted to audition the summer of her junior year. “I really gained interest when my friend, (2016 graduate) Michael Kresnak, joined the program,” Liegeois said. “I realized that it was something that I really thought I would love and be able to do, and a lot of the kids in YA are really similar to who I am. They have a passion for the arts and want to work with children, so I knew then that it was the right place for me.” As certain as Liegeois was that Young Americans was the right step, her mother was at first much more reluctant. “She was totally against it at first,” Liegeois said. “She did not want me to go.” Eventually, after meeting with Kresnak and his mother,
Liegeois got approval. “(My mom) felt a lot better knowing that I’ll be getting my associate’s for two years while I’m out there and taking the same type of classes that I would if I were at MCC but also getting more experience and doing the things I love,” Liegeois said. However, it still was not a done deal – even though her mother was leaning toward allowing her to go. “It took about two months after I found out I got in, which was last October, to convince her to let me go,” Liegeois said. “At first, it was kind of the ‘Oh, we’ll see’ type of thing, but a few months later after we talked about it a lot, she was like, ‘We can totally make this work.’” Along with big changes comes a lot of excitement and a
lot of nerves for this 2017 New Kid, as the program calls its first-year students. “The whole point of the program is to influence schools to keep music alive because a lot of the time when there are budget cuts, music programs are the first thing to go,” Liegeois said. “I am so excited to be able to work with all of the kids, make a difference, and learn. I’m most nervous about meeting all of the other New Kids, but I know that even though we are all different, music is something that brought us all to the same place.” Next fall, senior Natalie Liegeois will participate in the Young Americans program, which has the goal of influencing schools to keep music education programs alive around the nation and globe.
Junior hockey next step for senior Liu to be one of the few, the proud
By Kaitlin Hermanson Profiles Editor
Senior Trevor Adams has been playing hockey ever since he can remember, and now, 13 years later, he has taken one more step in achieving his dream of playing division 1 in college. This past January, Adams signed to play with the Topeka (Kan.) Roadrunners, a Tier II junior team in the North American Hockey League. Adams “Next year, I’ll play out there and maybe take one or two classes online or at a community college,” Adams said. “I won’t be going to school full time; otherwise, I would lose my collegiate hockey eligibility.” Adams said moving away from home
will be a challenging transition, but one that will be more than worth it in its payoff. “I’ll be living with a billet family,” Adams said. “It’s a big step for me and my family because it’s the first time in my life being so far away from them, which I’m sure will be a tough move, but it’s also a good move because it will be the first time in my life that playing hockey will be completely free, gear and everything.” Though some people have been surprised at Adams’ decision to not continue his education right after high school, he is confident that this next step in the right direction for his journey. “I know this is the right decision because I will eventually go to college, just not now,” Adams said. “Hopefully, I will get my college paid for through hockey, which is an awesome combination of doing what I love and still having the end goal in mind.”
By Kaitlin Hermanson Profiles Editor
Senior Hao (Sunny) Liu’s interest in joining the Marine Corps began because of two individuals: a teacher and a friend. Social studies teacher Steve Morell, a former Marine, and 2016 Shores graduate Tony Musa, who is currently serving in the USMC, were influential in his decision. “I enjoy enduring hardships, traveling, experiencLiu ing other cultures, and helping those in need,” Liu said. Though his family was initially skeptical of his decision, Liu said he knew that enlisting in the military was the right step for him. “My parents were upset at first, but eventually, they realized that it’s my life and that
I should be in control of it,” Liu said. After heading to South Carolina for bootcamp, Liu said he hopes to specialize in communications and intelligence. Whether or not he will make a career out of it is yet to be determined. “I’ll do my four years, and if it’s enjoyable, then I will possibly make a career of it,” Liu said. “I’m looking forward to getting a degree in criminal justiceor psychology after my first enlistment.” He leaves for Parris Island, S.C., on Aug. 21 to begin his journey. “The first couple weeks should be fun, with a lot of screaming and physical fun things,” Liu said. Overall, he said he is ready to start the next chapter of his life. “I’m nervous about bootcamp and its challenges, but I am very excited to finally become a Marine,” Liu said.
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center section
The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
Lakeside
Max N Marley’s
(1950 Lakeshore Dr.)
Candy store, theater: the perfect fit By Jenna Beemer Co-Editor-in-Chief “I love how close Max N Marley’s is to my house, and I also think something that makes it great is that it has good prices, but the food it still really great.” – Maggie Duff, senior
BananaDog Tea
(1925 Lakeshore Dr.)
“BananaDog Tea is a great tea shop in Lakeside across from the Lakeside Emporium. The staff are super helpful, and they have a massive variety of loose leaf teas, as well as serve delicious tea drinks.” – Alex Forrest, junior
Lakeshore Drive in Muskegon is chockfull of small businesses that support the community, and for local business connoisseurs, it is like being a kid in a candy store. And if one visits Lakeside Emporium, he will literally be in a candy store. Lakeside Emporium has been in Muskegon for 14 years. Husband and wife owners, Gary and Loreen Samples, said they are happy their business is located in Muskegon; in fact, they could not imagine it any other way. “No question, Muskegon is my hometown; it was where we lived, and my family has been in business in Muskegon since 1930,” Loreen said. “We love the area and could not imagine our business anywhere else.” She said her favorite part of owning the candy store is not the delicious treats: “The best part is the getting to know the people in the area,” Loreen said. Students who frequent the store enjoy the relationship they have built with the owners. “I love to go to the Emporium because of the family environment,” freshman Connor Fritz said. “Every time we go in the store, they greet us by our names. They ask if we are getting the same thing as before. I just love how much they care about their customers.” The Lakeside Emporium has a wide variety of old-fashioned candy, chocolates crafted at the Emporium, a large selection of sodas, ice cream, slushies, and about any sweet treat one can imagine. “Every time I go into the shop, I always go straight to the cooler section and pick out a glass Root Beer,” Fritz said. “After that, I go
and ask the person that is working what their favorite candy is and then get that. It’s always different but amazing.” The uniqueness to the layout and store itself is one reason Fritz is a regular customer. “(I like) to look at all of the different kinds of candy in the jars,” Fritz said. “It gives me that kind of old-school vibe instead of the candy section at Meijers that is bulk.” After a trip to the candy store, it is the perfect opportunity to catch a movie at the Harbor Theater directly across the street from Lakeside Emporium. “I like the Harbor Theater because it’s cheaper than any other theater in the area, it is local, and it maintains the same quality as the theaters that cost more money,” senior Julia Kwapiszewski said. This theater, which opened in 1921, is a Muskegon classic. Ticket prices for the theater range from $6-$9 and include a small popcorn with every ticket purchased. “They play the top current movies, so it is a good idea to check there before reverting to other theaters in the area,” Kwapiszewski said.“They also often play reruns of classics.” The movies shown can be unique and the events hosted at the theater cater to the locals. “They often have events that make the movie they are playing that much more enjoyable,” Kwapiszewski said. “The Harbor Theater hosted a Rocky Horror picture night that included a costume contest, props used by the audience that were used to make the movie a more interactive experience (such as squirt guns to spray in the scene when they are out in the pouring rain), and an environment that brought everyone together in the wild experience that is Rocky Horror.”
Other Local Favorites Bernie O’s Pizza
La Casa Fierro
(321 Center St.)
(1427 W Sherman Blvd.)
“I really like Bernie O’s because of their twist pizza. It is unlike what I would order from any other place, so it makes it unique.” – Savannah Kendra, junior
“I like it because they have 99 cent tacos on Tuesdays, and they are better than Taco Bell. They also have great corn shells.” – Kariya White, freshman
Local culture enha By Jenna Beemer Co-Editor-in-Chief
Local shops. Local food. Local flavor. Each area of the greater Muskegon County – Lakesid downtown Muskegon, Norton Shores, and North Muskego – is a gathering place for community because of the uniq restaurants and shops that weave together to make up the co lective local culture. These locations have businesses that make people fe more like family than customers because of the supporti community. “I like to shop local because it gives me a sense of pri that I’m kind of helping the community,” freshman Conn Fritz said. “Also, I get to know the people that are working local shops and develop bonds that can last a lifetime.” The people who run local businesses encourage people continue to support small businesses. “It is important to support local restaurants and other l cal places because they are what makes our city unique fro other cities; they are what makes Muskegon home,” seni Madison Smith said. “I think (local restaurants, such as U 31 BBQ,) are cool because it’s a part of the old downtow Muskegon that never left; it just feels like home.” Shores students embrace the community by shopping loc and enjoying the community togetherness that small busine shopping provides. “It is important to shop locally because when you do yo
center section
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The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
Norton Shores
Toast and Jam’s
Muskegon Yoga
Plaza 1 & 2
(3462 Henry St.)
(255 Seminole Road #204)
(3450 Henry St.)
“When I eat (at Toast and Jam’s), I feel like I’m at my own house eating. It’s tasty and better than McDonald’s.” – Cooper Sabourin, freshman
“My favorite thing about Muskegon Yoga is the people. Everybody there is welcoming. It’s unique because it’s low pressure, and everyone is friendly.” – Kara Green, senior
“The best thing about Plaza 1 and 2 is that it shows some of the top-rated movies for a cheap price.” – Courtney Dunn, senior
Downtown
Coffee Factory
(930 Washington Ave #1b)
Variety abound in local establishments By Kendahl MacLaren Co-Editor-in-Chief
anced by businesses
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are supporting the friends, family, and neighbors of those in your community rather than a distant corporation,” senior Julia Kwapiszewski said. “It also creates jobs in the community which is always beneficial.” Supporting those around the community is not only seen in contributing to the revenue of the business but also the mission of the business. Many local places double as a community gathering place serving the area’s needs as well as a place of business. “Locally-owned businesses build strong communities by linking neighbors in a web of economic and social relationships, contributing to local causes, and we also hold many events in our center, and a lot of our revenue from donations are shared back with the community,” said senior McKenna Matthews, who works at the Coffee Factory. Not only does shopping local support neighbors, it promotes encouraging personal growth in local entrepreneurs and helps them be successful. “It is so important to shop local because Muskegon has the potential to thrive, but it can only do that with the help of the people that live in it,” senior Serena Schultz said. In an effort to spotlight the restaurants, shops, and locations that make West Michigan a great place to live, students shared their favorite places and spaces around town. These tried and true favorites from your family at Shores won’t be disappointing. Check out these places the next time you are in the area and support your community by shopping local.
Supporting local businesses is a huge factor in helping a community thrive. In downtown Muskegon, a plethora of restaurants and stores line the streets. In particular, Curry Kitchen, located at 1141 3rd St., is enjoyed by many students, including junior Anna Tardani. “(Curry Kitchen) always has Indian music and movies playing, and the food itself is to die for,” Tardani said. “I like how fast the service is and how cultural it feels. It makes a great place to go on dates without spending an arm and a leg to eat.” However, if one is feeling more patriotic, US 31 BBQ, located at 151 W Muskegon Ave., is an All-American BBQ that has been around for five family generations since 1939. “US 31 BBQ is unique because they have their own secret recipe sauce that they put on their BBQ’s so they taste different, and, in my opinion, better, than everywhere else,” senior Madison Smith said. “My favorite part about US 31 BBQ, besides the food, is the vibe. It has a very ‘feel-at-home’ atmosphere, and the people are so genuine and sweet. It is a very old building, and the set up inside is vintage.” After grabbing a bite to eat, students can head over to Third Coast Vinyl, located at 1115 3rd St., to buy their favorite new and old records.
“Third Coast Vinyl is one of my favorite places ever, and I go in there at least once a week,” senior Serena Schultz said. “I go in there so much that the owner Paul actually offered me a job, and I’ll be working there in early spring.” Feeling at home in a store is why local businesses are unique and special, which Schultz said is one of her favorite things about Third Coast Vinyl. “The thing that makes Third Coast Vinyl so unique is the atmosphere and vibe the place gives off,” Schultz said. “It is a small space, but it’s very cozy and inviting. I feel safe and welcome when I’m in there. I never leave there empty-handed, and I find something new every week. If an album catches my eye, I’ll most likely listen to it on Spotify and then buy it at Third Coast if I enjoyed it.” The thing that makes shopping local unbeatable are the people who own and work there. “Honestly, my favorite thing about Third Coast is Paul (the owner),” Schultz said. “He is a very down-to-earth person, and he was once an English teacher. I could be in there for hours just talking with him about music, books, or just how the world works. If I’m having a bad day, I’ll go in there because I always leave in a good mood. I also have an addiction to buying music, so it’s nice to be able to feed that addiction while keeping my money in Muskegon.”
“My favorite thing is the design and setup and how ‘industrial’ it looks. Even though it is a relatively new coffee shop, the interior looks ancient. It is unique because it is located in the old Shaw Walker factory. We had the old wood, doors, belts, tools, etc., refurbished, and we now use them as our furniture and decorations.” – McKenna Matthews, senior
Hennessy’s Pub (885 Jefferson St.)
“My favorite thing is the boxty’s because there are multiple choices, and it’s inexpensive, and they taste awesome. What makes it so unique is that it’s the only Irish-style pub in a 50-mile radius, and they have live music on weekends.” – Raine Jackson, freshman
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The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
Junior uses athletics for relief from arthritis By Emmalee Dykstra Staff Writer
Arthritis Facts
Junior Krissy VanGelderen, a cheerleader and a powerlifter, suffers from juvenile idiopathic arthritis and is on the spectrum for lupus. She was diagnosed for both when she was about 10, but she started showing symptoms at 8. Because of this, she has regular checkups every 3-6 months. “At times, it gets really hard to know that I will have to live with this forever, but I know it is my life, and I have to deal with it,” VanGelderen said. School, she said, is more of a challenge for her person-
•About 294,000 American children under age 18 have arthritis or other rheumatic conditions. •There is no known cure for juvenile idiopathic arthritis. •It usually occurs from ages 7-12.
ally, though. “School is one thing that is extremely hard for me because I don’t come a lot, and teachers don’t understand why,” VanGelderen said. “Sometimes, the pain from both
the AFFLICTIONS we have don’t DEFINE us, but they are a part of US Chronic illnesses are defined as any illness that lasts more than three months. While we may not know it, many students struggle everyday from these illnesses, including diabetes, arthritis, asthma, scoliosis, and so many more that we do not see. Many of these illnesses are ones that we brush off and don’t think anything of because they don’t seem too serious, but three students shared their stories about what it was like living with a chronic illness.
Karate helps freshman with asthma By Emmalee Dykstra Staff Writer Freshman Alina Hall has spent her whole life living with asthma. Diagnosed at 2 years old, she is now 14 years old and has found her calling doing karate. “Karate is the main thing I do,” Hall said. “It can get hard when I am running or doing things because I get out of breath so much easier than everyone else.” Luckily for her, she doesn’t miss a lot of school because of it. “School really isn’t something affected by asthma, for me at least,” she said. “I think I am pretty lucky for that.” However, the months before school started were a bit more difficult for her, though. “Last summer was bad for me. I was at the
VanGelderen
Asthma Facts
•Asthma is the most common chronic illness in childhood. •26 million Americans have asthma, 18.9 million adults, 7.1 million are children.
Hall
•Asthma results in 439,000 hospitalizations annually. YMCA, and we had to go underwater, and I ended up having to go to the hospital because I couldn’t breathe,” Hall said. Hall said she plans to continue karate, and she hopes to move forward and not let her disease get in the way of her everyday life.
diseases gets to the point where it hurts to write notes.” Sports are one thing that becomes difficult with both of her illnesses, but VanGelderen said they actually help her more than anything. “Sports make it better,” she said. “They stop the degeneration, but it hurts my joints because of the impact, and it hurts my organs because they are overworked.” If there was one thing she wanted all of her friends and family to know, it would be that she has a reason for the times she misses out on certain things. “People don’t understand why I’m always ditching them, but they don’t know that sometimes it just hurts too much to even walk or do anything,” VanGelderen said. “It’s nothing that they do; it just can be too much for me sometimes.”
Freshman faces struggles with double scoliosis By Emmalee Dykstra Staff Writer Freshman Grace Broadbent suffers from double scoliosis. She was diagnosed last year in April, and she ended up going to the chiropractor at least three times a week. Not only did this take a toll on her physically and mentally, the cost of keeping up with the visits started to add up quickly. “It costs around $50 every appointment, and I had to go three times a week for three months. It becomes a lot after awhile,” Broadbent said. Broadbent said she finds solace in her love for music, though. In addition to being in the orchestra, she plays many other instruments, including ukulele, piano, and penny whistle. While in school, Broadbent said she struggles some days to stay focused because of the pain. “While I am in school, I’m sitting for a large portion of the day, and that triggers pain waves in my back,” she said. “I usually take Advil four times throughout the day. Two pills each time, and it still hurts. Usually, I have to ask a teacher if I can walk around to take the pain away.” When it comes to school in general, though, Broadbent said that her disease has a lot to do with the time she spends away from it. “With my spine, it is usually hard to wake up in the morning due to the pain,” she said. “Usually, I pre-
Scoliosis Facts •Scoliosis in adolescents has no known cause.
•Scoliosis tends to run in families. Broadbent •Scoliosis risk factors include age (9-15-yearolds), female gender, and family history. tend I’m sick because my mom believes that I need to be sick to not go to school, which I totally I get. But the spine is connected to a lot of organs in the body, so sometimes it can cause a lot of mental issues, too. I suffer from severe anxiety as well as mild depression, and I feel my spine takes a portion of that. I usually miss school because of that as well.” There is some hope for relief in her future. “I am getting a back brace,” Broadbent said. “It looks like a whole bunch of ace bandages wrapped around the body, but I am hoping that it will take the pain away. I would have to wear it for 20 hours of the day for two years. I also have to do aggressive stretches that fit to my spine. You have to go to a specialist for some stretches.” Above all of the obstacles her double scoliosis throws at her, Broadbent remains able to do the things she loves, and she doesn’t let it define who she is.
feature The Promposal In this day and age, some teens go
SPEND
above and beyond to ask someone to Prom in the most gaudy yet marvelous way; however, some teens are spending hundreds of dollars on simply asking someone out for one night, such as buying a puppy or buying expensive jewelry. Use “Pinterest – DIY” and make something that means something. Most girls enjoy the simpler things, and sometimes, the expensive and elaborate can be overkill and intimidating. If one really wants to make it special, buy some flowers and ask him/ her in front of a large group of people.
Less on the
The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
DRESS
With a surplus of glitz and glam, one can quickly be drawn into the costs associated with Prom. Costs can reach into the $1,000 range when one combines buying the dress, getting ready, and going to dinner. According to Bustle.com, 2016’s average Prom cost of $919 was a decrease from recent years; however, there are still innumerable ways to save cash when purchasing the essentials for Prom.
Prom 2017
Theme: Under the Stars Location: Trillium, 17246 Van Wagoner Road, Spring Lake Date: Saturday, May 6 Tickets: $30 for one person, $55 for couple
The Look Dresses
Information compiled by Lexi Studabaker, staff writer
Prom dresses tend to cost somewhere in the three-digit range, with most averaging approximately $300. How can this price be cut in half? Use local resources. Cinderella’s Closet (622 Chatterson Road) is gaining popularity among students at Shores. This is because shopping here ensures that one’s dress will be unique. Also, one can sell her dress
back to the owner, and if someone else buys it the next time Prom season comes around, the money the buyer spent on that dress will be “paid back” in a sense. Other ways to save money on the dress is by borrowing or buying from a friend or family member. This ensures that one will get her money’s worth in the dress because it will be worn more than once. Flowers/Boutonniere/ Corsage While corsages by them-
self cost around $25, the price runs in the $50-$90 range for both the corsage and boutonniere, depending on the flower shop. Alleviate this cost by getting creative – make them instead of buying. Using artificial flowers (from Joann’s or Hobby Lobby on Harvey Street) and a cheap beaded bracelet can look just as beautiful as the alternative; and, they will not die the next day, which leaves a keepsake to remember the night.
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The Pre-game Pictures
Local and student photographers are a great source to get beautiful pictures at a lower price. But having a parent borrow or use a nice camera should not be counted out. There are still programs, like Lightroom, that allow photo editing if that is a big priority. Dinner Cheaper restaurants are as good as expensive restaurants. The most memorable memory of the night could just be going to Red Robin (5785 Harvey Street) with a large group of friends, and doing this would be way cheaper. Transportation Limos cost $100-$200; however, they do not seem to be a trend in the Muskegon area. Therefore, borrowing a parent’s car or carpooling with a friend is the best option.
The Beauty Process Having hair and makeup done profes-
sionally can cost between $50-$150+. Nuvo College of Cosmetology (919 W. Norton Ave.) is a hair school that offers services, such as nails, hair, facials, and spa at a reduced price. Another way to get one’s hair, makeup, and nails done for less is to have a friend, sibling, or parent do it. Just as a friend can do one’s hair, one can do her own hair and spend minimal in the process. Pinterest and YouTube have literally millions of tutorials on how to do certain hair, makeup, and nail looks.
Three students participate on local Youth Advisory Council Patel is joined on the council by two Shores students, dowment provides more than $60,000 annually that goes
By Kali Jend Staff Writer
Sophomore Niral Patel has found a second family in the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) of Muskegon County. “It is a great foundation, and I am really glad I’m a part of it. I get to make a lot of new friends,” Patel said. “Being part of YAC is like being part of another family.” One of the “family” things that Patel said he enjoyed was when the YAC adopts families around Christmas time and sets aside about $2,000 to send the members shopping for the families. Patel said he and the other members of the council had a fun time buying toys, towels, blankets, and many other useful things for the families. The Youth Advisory Council of Muskegon County encompasses teens from 16 school districts in the surrounding area.
freshman Ava Bentley and senior Kaitlin Hermanson. Bentley said, “I like being part of the YAC because it gives me an opportunity to be involved in the community, voice my opinion, make a change and meet kids from other schools.” Patel said he is enjoying his first year as a member of the council. “My favorite part of being involved in the YAC is that you get to work together with kids from other schools and help others in the community,” Patel said. The main goal of the YAC is to undertake issues and matters that youth in the area are facing. “Being a part of the YAC gives me a chance to be involved and realize what should be changed in our community,” Bentley said. “I get to voice opinion and open my eyes to new circumstances my peers are facing.” Members of YAC also serve as grantmakers. Their en-
toward projects for the Muskegon County youth. The YAC looks over grant proposals twice a year, in the spring and fall, in addition to a smaller grant round, also in the fall, called teacher mini grants. They choose causes with the biggest impact for their money. Recently, YAC has been using their grants to assist programs like the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance’s “Calling All Colors,” Planned Parenthood’s “Safer Choices,” Muskeon Public School’s “Growing Goods,” and the fourth annual Good for Youth Summit. The YAC meets once a month to discuss the issues in the community and to participate in local volunteer missions at non profit organizations. “I value how much I have learned about the organizations we have around town and how much they do,” Hermanson said. “It is so cool that it is entirely up to us high school kids to decide where money from the grants go.”
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The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
Filters give Honduran families hope
feature
HELPING INSIDE A BIOSAND FILTER
By Steffen Newman Feature Editor The chief goal of this year’s Interact mission trip to Honduras (Feb. 24-March 3) was installing biosand water filters in the mountain towns located outside of Comayagua. The project, run through a local Honduran mission El Ayudante (The Helper), was founded and sponsored by The Health Humanitarian Outreach Project (HHOP), which is a division of Rotary International and is focused on “supporting, promoting, and operating international health and humanitarian projects.” A group of 20 travelers, including seven Shores Interact Students and one Shores staff member, installed 32 new biosand filters and tested more than 50 existing filters. The biosand filter is run entirely off of natural processes and can be easy to install. The filter is made up of five layers: large gravel, fine gravel, sand, a biological layer, and water. In each of the layers, microorganisms are either caught in the various sizes of rock or eaten by the microorganisms that live in the biological layer. Each of the bottom three layers are rinsed in water before being placed in the filter. Team members were supplied with buckets and rinsed the gravel and sand by hand before carefully placing them in the filter. After this, the remainder of the filter was filled with water, and water began to flow from the nozzle. However, this water wasn’t entirely pure yet. The final and most important layer, the biological layer, takes approximately 15 days to form. It is in this area where the most organisms are trapped as the water flows downward. As more and more of them become trapped, a five-inch layer, filled with these microscopic creatures, forms. When new water is poured into the filter, the new microorganisms are either consumed by the existing ones or get trapped, and the water flows on.
Dirty Water
Biological Layer Sand
Fine Gravel Large Gravel
1 2 3 4 5
1. Dirty water is poured in. The strainer at the top lets only liquids through. 2. In this layer, pathogens are consumed by friendly bacteria. 3. Any bacteria that remains suffocates moving through the sand. 4. Small and large gravel trap any remaining contaminates. 5. Gravity moves the clean water up the pipe and out the spout.
ABOUT THE TRIP Organization: Rotary Interact Destination: El Ayudante Mission, Honduras Date: Feb. 24 - Mar. 3 Melissa Koziak (Spanish teacher) Annika Cotner (Senior) Caera Duff (Senior) Courtney Dunn (Senior)
Kaitlin Hermanson (Senior) Madison Dunn (Senior) Mallory Meston (Junior) Steffen Newman (Senior)
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The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
HONDURAS Trip gives purpose, fulfillment to life
Never in my life have I felt so full Prior to my trip to Honduras, I of joy as I did working with those had heard stories about how it would change my life and perspectives, so I families. I was dirty, sore, sweaty, and incredibly sure that in those mowent into it with an open mind. ments, I was leading a life of purpose All I wanted was to experience and fulfillment. love, understanding, and fulfillment, It wasn’t just about being able to and each day delivered that. give to these families; granted, it was Heading to college this fall has made me contemplate my future. My gratifying to know that with our help, they would have access to some of answer had always been ambiguous: their most basic human I wanted to be content KAITLIN needs. and have enough money There also was so to put fresh flowers on HERMANSON much to be gained from the table. Pretty simple. the power of human connection. Not knowing what specific path When my Spanish failed (which was I wanted to take has never bothered often), a smile or a laugh always me, as I am a believer that wherever delivered what my words could not. I am is where I need to be. Driving The graciousness with which they through the mountains to Lo De opened their homes and their hearts Reina, I had never believed in that to us humbled and inspired me to more soundly. leave the following week with an One of my revelations was that entirely new perspective. my vision of what I want for my I didn’t experience the “good to future looks a lot less ambiguous be home” feeling that usually comes than it did when I boarded our flight with returning from a long trip. I in Grand Rapids.
wished I was still smiling at shy Honduran children who giggled at us from behind their mothers’ skirts, or watching in excitement as a school of 30 tiny uniforms swarmed us the moment we brought out a soccer ball. However, stepping into the cold air in Grand Rapids was a reminder that part of my journey had come to a close. I realized then that my wish for the rest of my life was to experience the fulfillment that our service trip had given me, and I hope my future career can be one of many pathways to obtain that.
Love of soccer brings student, children together
Determination is abundant
All week, we were surrounded by an amazing variety of hard-working, appreciative, friendly people. Out of all of these individuals, however, one man, and his inspiring story, stood above the rest. Heraldo Zavala lives with his wife and young son. Additionally, Heraldo takes care of his brother who has special needs. To properly take care of his brother, Heraldo felt that his house should be located near his brother’s. So, for months, Heraldo and his family lived in a makeshift home made from poles and tarp across the street from his brother. He was at odds. Heraldo couldn’t move away from his brother but needed a warmer, safer house for his wife and son. So he turned to El Ayudante, a local Honduran mission, for help. Heraldo applied to be granted the materials necessary to build a new house of adobe and cement. He and his STEFFEN family waited for months for NEWMAN the approval. Once the approval came through, EA agreed to help Heraldo build his home, but there was one problem: the plot of land Heraldo had chosen was on the side of a hill. Nothing could be built until the land was flat. To remedy this, Heraldo, alone, shoveled away the entire hill – hundreds of cubic feet of rock and sand. It took him nearly a year to complete that project. Since then, EA has had multiple mission teams, including our group, assist Heraldo in the building, roofing, and flooring of his new home. Once our team was finished, the house was complete. It was simple, with only three rooms and no doors or windows yet installed, but it was a vast improvement from the tarp they had stayed under before. After we were finished, Heraldo’s gratitude and appreciation for not only El Ayudante, but for us as well, was evident. Doing life-changing work like this gave me a profound feeling of purpose all week, a feeling that is sorely missed by the members of our group. Going forward, I hope to be able to find this same sense of purpose in my everyday life here at home.
OUR STORIES
from 5 months to 11 years old. Who would have thought that soccer, or futbol as the As we were waiting for the filter rest of the world calls it, could unite two people who to activate, I went outside with a soccer ball, and there seem so different? First, there was me, the white American girl from Nor- was Naboo. He would take the longest run up to the ball and kick it with all his might. ton Shores. Then, there was Naboo, the 8-year-old boy We played pass, keep away and from Comayagua, Honduras. starting a juggling game. Even though My travel soccer coach, who Naboo and I didn’t speak the same owns a soccer store in Fruitport language, we figured out another way called Just For Kicks, donated to communicate: futbol. eight balls and two pumps for me I could not believe how much we to bring on the trip. My hope was were alike even though we were from to be able to give the balls to eight two different parts of the world. I individuals or families who touched knew right away that Naboo would be my heart in a way I would never be in possession of one of my soccer balls able to forget. for the rest of his life. Each day, I brought two soccer He and I made a strong friendship in just balls with me as we traveled into the mounMAL a couple of hours, and I hope I see him again tains on the back of a work truck. I gave six MESTON someday. Seeing Naboo grinning so adorably of my soccer balls away within seven days with extreme happiness as he kicked the ball of work. I will never forget the smiles on filled my heart with joy. When I asked Naboo and his the children’s faces as I gave them one of my balls. siblings, in Spanish, if they would like to keep the futbol, Even though I enjoyed giving the balls away to each they, of course, all said, “Si.” Not only did I leave a person, it was Naboo whom I will never forget. On our positive impact of those children’s and family’s lives, but third day of working with water filters, we went to a they left a lasting impact on my life as well. home with a family of eight, six of them being children
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The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
Passion for soccer guides new coach By Carlie McNiff Staff Writer
technology (K-6) in their elementary buildings. After a year and a half, he got a job at Marquette Elementary teaching a 5/6 split class. After that, he taught fourth grade for two years and is currently teaching his second year of third grade. Darga, who has been coaching soccer at two schools (JV girls at Reeths-Puffer and JV boys at Fruitport) for the past six years, said he chose to apply at Shores because of the high-level soccer program. “This is not an ordinary program,” Darga said. “Mona Shores girls’ soccer has a reputation of being a top program in West Michigan and probably the best in Muskegon County. It is an honor to be able to coach for such a great program and school. Everything is held to a high standard at Mona Shores, and the soccer program is going to be no different.” Darga said he is excited for the season. “I am looking forward to getting to know everyone as well as getting on the field and competing for conference, district, and state championships,” he said. “From what I have seen and know, we have the potential to compete at a high level. I cannot wait to get the season started.” Darga has one important mentality he encourages his players to be set on to motivate them. “I want my teams to hate losing more than they like to win,” he said. “This mentality will be seen on the pitch, at practice and even in the classroom.”
Soccer became Dylan Darga’s passion at a young age. “Soccer has always been an important part of my life ever since I can remember,” said Darga, the first-year girls’ varsity soccer coach, who began playing the sport at age 5. “It is one of my strongest passions.” After that beginning in youth soccer in Fruitport, Darga continued his soccer career at Fruitport High School. During his junior and senior years, the Trojans were back-to-back conference and district champions. “The things I love about soccer the most are the lessons we learn from it as well as the friendships we make playing it,” said Darga, who replaces Lindsey Thorsen. “The game can teach us so many life skills, such as discipline, work ethic, overcoming adversity, and sportsmanship.” After graduating from Fruitport in 2004, Darga attended Muskegon Community College for two years, studying general education. He also played soccer for their club team from 2004-2005 and was a captain. Darga then attended Grand Valley State University, graduating in 2010. During his time at GVSU, he was the coach of the JV boys’ soccer team at Sparta High School. At GVSU, Darga received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and minored in history. Eventually, Darga was hired at Muskegon Public Schools to teach
A Look Ahead Boys’ Golf from coach Scott Volkmann “I enjoy giving back to the game and helping our players get better. I love being around our guys. They are a good group. My goal for them is to get better each day and to be great teammates. Our top returning player is Garrett Norris. He had a top 5 at City last year and was All-Conference. The sky’s the limit with his golf game.”
History teacher to lead tennis team
Girls’ Track from coach Robert Jazwinski “I look forward to every aspect of running, throwing, and jumping. I love to watch each athlete not only improve her life on and off the track, but lives of those around her. The goals we want are conference champions, City champions, and at least two athletes at the state meet. We have Jordan Walker, Annika Cotner, Morgan Enos, and Justice Porter-Harris as co-captains.”
By Carlie McNiff Staff Writer
Spring Leaders
Dylan Darga (above) will lead the girls’ soccer program while Alex Parr (below) will take over as head coach of the girls’ tennis team.
Girls’ Softball from coach Jason Crago “We have a young but talented team and look forward to playing our rival Reeths-Puffer. Our team goals are to improve as the season progresses and to live up to the privilege of playing high school sports. Our three goals are being (City) champs, conference champs, and district champs. We return three 3-year starters in juniors: Taylor Dew, Veronica Kastelic and Grace Hall.”
There are certain components that new varsity girls’ tennis coach Alex Parr admires and enjoys about the sport of tennis. “I like the etiquette of the game,” said Parr, who replaces Heather Barnard. “I like that there is a ton of control and decisions that the player has to make all of the time. It’s a great mental game. You need to be able to have great concentration and confidence, and also the ability to forgive yourself for any mistakes you’ll make. I like that it is a sport that people can play from the age of 5 to 90. Finally, I like that the game has some international recognition.” Parr experienced these characteristics of the game while growing up and playing tennis during his high school years at Whitehall High School. “Playing tennis in high school was memorable for me,” Parr said. “My coaches cared about their players outside of tennis, providing good lessons that went beyond the court. I grew in my athletic ability, mental toughness, and teamwork because of the tennis program and my coaches. I want to provide that same type of environment for the players on my team.” After high school, Parr attended Grand Valley State University. He studied social studies as his major and history as his minor, preparing him for his future teaching career after graduation. He now teaches eighth grade history at Shores. Parr, whose most recent coaching position was this past year at the middle school, said he is excited for all of the possibilities in the upcoming high school season. “I’m looking forward to meeting students who I haven’t yet and reconnecting with those who I’ve taught before,” he said. “I’m ready to work hard to push Mona Shores to the top of our conference. I think this season will be very fun, and very rewarding. I can’t wait to get started.” Parr said he has some goals he would like to accomplish in the season, and he wants his team to have input in them as well. “I’d like to experience a great deal of success in the classroom,” Parr said. “I’ll be pitching the idea to my team to go for Academic All-State. I also want success on the court – performing well within our conference, giving our best effort, and being respected for our professionalism and sportsmanship.”
Boys’ Baseball from coach Brandon Bard “I am looking forward to getting on the field and watching our kids play. This group has worked so hard all offseason. My goals for this team are very simple: to have fun and compete every day. The rest will take care of itself. My top returning players are Nick DeBruin, Alec McNarland, Austin Flowers, Connor Belanger, and Caden Anderson.”
Boys’ Track from coach Joseph Latz “This year’s season and team will have a new face and identity. If we continue to grow as a team and mature in our events with kids getting comfortable and competitive, we could make some noise in the OK Black conference. Our goal is to GBED (Get Better Every Day). We return some key point scorers: Ke’Vonte’A Pegues, Evan DeYoung, and Colt Stout.”
sports that
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The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
Girls’ Basketball
Four teams and three individuals had successful season in terms of winning championships during the winter sports season. Cheerleading, girls’ basketball, hockey and boys’ bowling all brought home trophies while sophomore Tommy Cotner and wrestlers, junior Zach Zimmer-Donahue and sophomore Cam Stout, all made Sailor history.
Cheer places third at state By Mal Meston Sports Editor Making history and breaking school records. Simply speaking, that was the Shores competitive cheer team. “We knew this team was something special from the very beginning even before we competed for the first time,” coach Amanda Heethuis said. “From day one, they had drive, respect, and were very coachable.” That “something special” resulted in the team’s best finish in school history – third place at the Div. 2 state finals on March 4 at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids. At that competition, Shores set school records in each round as well as the final score (778.94). Along the way to the top three state finish, the Sailors took first place titles at city, conference, districts, and regionals. “In the beginning of the season, we knew we wanted to place in the top four spots at state finals, but we also knew that was the end goal; in order to reach it, we had to meet a lot of smaller goals along the way,” Heethuis said. While the third-place state finish was a team achievement, Heethuis said the eight seniors were crucial to the success. “Every member of our team was crucial,” said Heethuis, who led the team to seventh place in the state in 2016. “However, our seniors were outstanding. Four of them – Trisha Bennett, Autumn Lambert, Sydney Pieczynski and Braxton Wasilewski – have been on the team for four years, so this was their third trip back to state finals. They were able to offer a lot of advice and insight about what it was going to take to get to that state finals mat and the girls really respected them. All eight of our seniors will be greatly missed; they added so much to our team,
but because of their leadership and the work ethic of the underclassmen, we’ll be able to continue having successful seasons because of the legacy each senior class leaves behind.” They were able to achieve such high expectations through their hard work and dedication. Practicing five days a week, working on all of the rounds, did not give them much time to think about anything other than cheer. “All of our hard work showed when we beat all of our high scores of all three rounds at the state finals,” said sophomore Olivia Curtice, who is a flyer. “I knew going into every competition that I had to hit all of my stunts and not drop anything, but I always had my team and coaches by my side to help me along the way.” The Sailors made history, and it was all because of the hard work and having the ability to be coachable throughout the season. “I just hope this team knows how much I appreciate their coachability, kindness, dedication, and personalities; each of these girls is so important to me,” Heethuis said. “They accomplished so much, and I am incredibly proud to be their coach.”
Swimming
Wrestling
Sophomore Tommy Cotner, was named All-State honorable mention and had a 14th-place finish in the 1-meter dive at the state finals. He holds the school record with 415 points and was All-Conference. from the coach “Tommy has an amazing work ethic. He gets his strong work ethic from his mom, dad and sister. The training they do to be good in their sports has rubbed off. You can see where he gets his hunger for competition.” – Mick Homan, coach
Junior Zach Zimmer-Donahue and sophomore Camaran Stout both captured an OK Black conference title, Feb. 4. Zimmer-Donahue successfully defended his conference title that he earned during his sophomore year. from the coach “Cam and Zach are both great wrestlers. They both have been wrestling for a long time and it shows with their ability and accomplishments. (They) are workout partners which is great because they are able to push each other. They work very hard in the wrestling room and winning a conference title was payoff for all of that hard work.” – Patrick Lemay, coach
Cotner
For complete stories on all of these championship teams and individuals, go to thesailorslog.com.
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The competitive cheerleading team, including senior flyer Sydney Pieczynski, placed third in the state on March 4, at the Deltaplex in Grand Rapids.
Shores won its third straight OK Black title and its third consecutive district crown before losing to East Kentwood in the regional opener. from the coach “The string of championships here is amazing. The team worked their tails off from beginning to end of the year to make that happen, and I am really proud of that.” – Brad Kurth, coach
Hockey
Despite heading into the regionals with a losing record, the Sailors defeated Marquette 4-1 to win the title. from the goalie “The season started pretty bad, but in the end, we started to play as a team, and that’s why we started winning games and were able to win regionals.” – Anthony Shrum, senior
Boys’ Bowling
ZimmerDonahue
Stout
For the second year in a row, the boys’ bowling team won the City title. from the coach “It was surprising and amazing. I knew that we had the talent to win, but I’ll admit that I didn’t expect us to bowl that well.” – Sam Gautraud, coach
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The Sailors’ Log Friday, March 24, 2017
sports
Family Affair
Newly-crowned Miss Basketball owes success to athletic bloodline By Megan Swanker Sports Editor
Senior Jordan Walker, who was named the 36th winner of the Miss Basketball award, set two school records and will be attending Western Michigan University in the fall.
Basketball is a family affair in senior Jordan Walker’s household. Both mom (Danielle) and dad (Jarvis) played at Ferris State University. Older sister Jasmyn played two years at Valparaiso before sitting out this year after transferring to Western Michigan University, and younger brother Jarvis (Jay) was a freshman on the Shores varsity this past winter. But it is Jordan who is now the queen of the court, both in her household and in the state, as she was selected Miss Basketball on March 13. “When I found out that I was Miss Basketball, I was so unbelievably happy,” said Jordan, who will be joining her sister at Western Michigan University. “I had dreamed of the day for so long and pictured myself being a Miss Basketball, but to actually be one was mind blowing. I can’t even put my feelings into words.” Jordan, who was named the 36th Miss Basketball, given annually to the state’s top senior by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM), in conjunction with the Detroit Free Press, received 375 first-place votes and totaled 2,482 points. Warren Cousino’s Kierra Fletcher finished second with 291 first-place votes and 2,382 points. This past year, Jordan led the Sailors to their third straight conference and district titles. During her senior year, Jordan, a 5-foot-7 guard, averaged 22.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. As a junior, she averaged 20.7 points per game. Jordan also broke Shores’ all-time scoring record, surpassing former Miss Basketball finalist Jamie Ahlgren. Jordan finished with 1,648 points; additionally, she holds the school record with 351 assists. But through it all, it always comes back to family, and even those outside of her immediate family have noticed this connection. “First thing, she had parents who raised her right with a good work ethic, with a lot of faith, and with a love for basketball,” coach Brad Kurth said. “She was raised in a family that loved the game, and ever since I’ve known Jordan, I’ve always seen her around the game. She had a love for the game from a very young age.” Jordan said her parents have had a major impact
on her success as a basketball player. “My mom and dad have contributed so much to my career, (and) they have made many sacrifices to allow me to be the best player I could be,” Jordan said. “They have taken me across the state and country to allow me to see the different competition and be coached by others so that I could become the best player that I can be.” Jordan’s older sister Jasmyn has also had an impact on her sister’s basketball career. Jordan said she sees her sister as a role model who is always pushing her to be her best. “My sister has sacrificed as well,” Jordan said. “She has sat through my AAU tournaments and practices, taken me to practices, games, tournaments, when my parents couldn’t. She has always pushed me to be the best I could, and she has set a great example of a role model for me. She encourages me day in and day out. Going against her everyday in practice (my freshman year) really helped me get better and grow. I also watched how she led our team, and (I) took notes from her because I wanted to be like her.” Even Kurth knows how much her older sister means to her. “There is no doubt in my mind that one of the reasons she won Miss Basketball is because of the great career her sister had,” Kurth said. “Her sister set the table for her and gave us a framework of how to give a kid opportunities that we have never done before. Jordan got opportunities that Jas didn’t get and so we made sure that all of those opportunities were out there.” Just like her sister Jasmyn, Jordan’s younger brother Jay also has made sacrifices regarding his sister’s and his own basketball career. “My brother, Jay, has sacrificed as well,” Jordan said. “He wasn’t able to play a ton of AAU these past summers because I was playing, and he has watched so many tournaments and games. He also pushes me when we go to the gym. He creates workouts for me to do and I feel myself getting better. I want to set a good example for him like Jasmyn has for me.” The Miss Basketball title left Jordan elated yet speechless. The award has been a long-time dream for Jordan, and it has motivated her to continue to work hard. “The title has really humbled me,” she said. “God has blessed me once again. My faith has been strengthened even more. Seeing that so many coaches and people from BCAM voted for me and credit my game has motivated me even more because I know that they will be watching at the next level.” Watching her, just like her family will be because, well, basketball is a family affair in the Walker household.
As she receives her Miss Basketball award, senior Jordan Walker (in white dress) is surrounded by her mother Danielle, her brother Jay, her sister Jasmyn, and her father Jarvis.
Senior Jordan Walker has scored the most points and dished out the most assists in school history.
In the voting for Miss Basketball, senior Jordan Walker received 375 first-place votes and totaled 2,482 points. Warren Cousino’s Kierra Fletcher finished second with 291 first-place votes and 2,382 points.