PANORAMA
LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL 1201 S. WARSON RD. ST. LOUIS, MO 63124 MARCH 2022 VOL. 70 ISSUE 7
02 | TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPREAD DESIGN BY SOPHIA LIU
TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS 5 6-7 8 9
Diving Into Diversity Spring Sports Preview Go Fish Start A Racket
SPORTS: PAYING TO WIN Pages 20-25 | In-Depth
FEATURES 10-11 12-13 14-15 16 17
This Pink Won’t Gray One Heartbeat Bragging Rights How ‘Bout Them Dawgs On Your Mark
INFOGRAPHIC 18-19
Month of Madness
IN-DEPTH 20-23 24-25
Sports: Paying To Win $17 Billion Industry
OPINIONS 26 27 28 29
Editorial: Pano Perspective Objectification At Play Settling The Debate Stop The Talk
LIFESTYLE 30-31 32 33 34
Trying The Trend What’s In My Bag Stretch Your Limits Picking Out Parks
HEALTH 35 36-37 38-39
Athlete’s Appetite Investigating Injuries Blockaded
PHOTO 40-41 42-43
En Pointe This Is Ultimate
Success as an athlete not only comes from hardwork or talent, but money too
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
THIS PINK WON’T GRAY
STRETCH YOUR LIMITS
ATHLETE’S APPETITE
EN POINTE
Pages 6-7 | News
Pages 10-11 | Features
Pages 33 | Lifestyle
Pages 35 | Health
Pages 40-41 | Photo
Looking into water polo, soccer, track, pole vaulting, baseball and lacrosse
Seniors who played under the late Coach Gray help continue his legacy
A beginner’s guide to yoga: basic poses, origins and health benefits
Nutritious foods that help athletes find success in their sports
Explore the beauty of pointe ballet through the lens of junior Millie Gyawali
TABLE OF CONTENTS | 03
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
PANORAMA STAFF
BUSINESS MANAGER
NEWS STAFF
EDITORS IN CHIEF
NEWS EDITOR
FEATURES STAFF
FEATURES EDITORS
IN-DEPTH STAFF
Domenic Fenoglio Sophia Liu Marissa Mathieson Rhea Patney
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Abbey Carrico
Caroline Edgar Allen You Olivia Hu
Clayton Coughlin Lucy Lochmoeller Oviya Srihari
IN-DEPTH EDITOR
ART EDITOR
HEALTH EDITORS
Danielle Zhang
PHOTO EDITOR Ginger Schulte
WEB EDITOR IN CHIEF Annie Pan
Max Eastman Joanne Sung Tariq Lashley
LIFESTYLE EDITOR Ryan Tung
OPINIONS EDITOR Mika Kipnis
Mac Huffman Riley Coates
Avery Anderson Sophia Hillman
HEALTH STAFF Emmi Walker Mimi Zhou
LIFESTYLE STAFF
PHOTOGRAPHERS MJ Bezzant Sydney Collinger Jack Reeves
STAFF WRITER
Tarek Al Husseini
ARTISTS
Phoebe Chen Scarlette Maier
ADVISER
Sarah Kirksey
Olivia Chen Pranavi Chintha
OPINIONS STAFF Luke Lochmoeller Carly Woodhill Annie Zhao
EDITOR’S NOTE In the locker room after our final game, after my coach talked to my basketball team about the successes of our season, I asked to say a few words. I didn’t talk about games we won or lost, the scores or any shots I made. Instead, I reached into my wallet and pulled out a Chick-fil-A giftcard my coach had given me a year earlier for helping a teammate pass enough classes to play; I had never used it. I explained to my team how important it was that I was able to make a difference and thanked them for giving me the chance. Sports have the ability to connect people, teach lessons and even change lives. While fans may pay close attention to the final score, athletes have stories that extend far past the field. We chose to create a sports specialty issue in order to help focus on the stories that sports help to tell. While we did choose to use a specialty font, the largest difference in the design of this magazine compared to previous months is our use of photos. Sports offer a chance to take breathtaking pictures, so we tried to utilize photography as much as possible in this issue. In addition, we cover lifestyle changes that can be beneficial such as yoga and proper dieting. This issue has information for those who have been playing sports for their entire lives, but we also chose to talk about the stigma around getting started. It is important that everyone feels comfortable with their bodies and is not afraid to better themselves or participate in sports. We cover a record breaking swimmer, the legacy of a late girl’s basketball coach, the pep band and so many others who have involved themselves in the world of sports. For our in-depth, we chose to take a look at the extreme costs behind competitive sports and the inequities that exist as a consequence. I have never been more excited about an issue than this month’s, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Marissa Mathieson
Domenic Fenoglio
Sophia Liu
Rhea Patney
04 | TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPREAD DESIGN BY RHEA PATNEY | MAC HUFFMAN
PANORAMA POLICY Panorama is a monthly newspaper that strives to inform and entertain students, staff and community members and to uphold professional standards of accuracy and fairness. The publication hopes to engage the student body by eliciting dialogue among students. It aims to reflect the diversity of the population it serves and to observe the journalistic principle of doing no harm. Panorama is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and
Journalism Educators Association. All surveys are completely anonymous and the results cannot be used against respondents. Panorama is produced by the newspaper class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School at 1201 S. Warson Rd., St. Louis, MO 63124. The publication lab is located in room 1311, (314)-993-6447 ext. 5844. Read more stories online at laduepublications.com. Follow @laduepublications on Instagram. EIC photo by Sydney Collinger. Front cover photo illustration by Mac Huffman and Sophia Liu. Cover design by Sophia Liu.
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NEWS | 05
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
DIVING INTO DIVERSITY A look into how identity affects role of coaches and athletes in sports
SPORT’S ORIGINS
OLYMPIC HISTORY A timeline of the largest sports competition
Where and when popular sports came to be Focuses on putting as much power into one Japan: 17th impact point during century open hand combat
Karate
1900
Polo
Iran: 5th century Created to improve soldiers’ ability to ride horseback
illustration by | MAC HUFFMAN
Surfing
1936
Hawaii: 400 A.D Evolved throughout Polynesia from body surfing to using surfboards for efficiency. It’s often a part of religious ceremonies
Lacrosse
Algonquian tribe: 12th century Played with hundreds of people at large celebrations
GENDER IN COACHING
Sources: Britannica, NBC, NCAA, Studio Republic, Ohio University, New York Times and Womens History Museum
Female coaching statistics and experiences in NCAA, high school
NCAA COACHES OF WOMENS’ SPORTS female
male
The first female Olympians competed at the Paris games. They competed in tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrianism and golf.
100%
(during 2020-2021 seasons)
57% of coaches are
MALE
IVY
LEAGUE
50%
43% of coaches are FEMALE
percent of female coaches in NCAA conferences
55%
SUN
BELT 42%
BIG
12
28% 0%
Jesse Owens, a Black American, wins four gold medals in Nazi Germany. He was not congratulated for it by Germany or the U.S.
1960 The first Paralympics takes place in Rome for physically and mentally disabled athletes.
1968 At the Olympic award ceremony, medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fist in protest for Black rights, creating the Black power icon.
2020 At multiple events, athletes take a knee before the game starts to advocate for racial justice.
2020
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I truly love the sport of cheer. What motivates me to coach is my athletes. Every student should have [the] opportunity to become a part of a team.” MERRI CROSS | CHEER COACH
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Coaching as a woman is powerful. There [are] struggles as a female coach [and] athlete. However, it is extremely important for future generations.” CECE ETTER | SWIMMING COACH
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Representation is important. It’s important for female athletes to see female coaches, especially coaches that have played before and have been in that situation.” KELLY MCGOVERN | LACROSSE COACH
For the first time, the Tokyo games had the same amount of women and men competing.
2020 The first transgender Olympian, Laurel Hubbard, competes in weightlifting for New Zealand.
06 | NEWS
SPREAD DESIGN BY MAC HUFFMAN
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
ABOVE: Junior Adonis Whitley does running jumping jacks as he warms up at practice with the track and field team. The first timed trial for sprinters was March 16. “The best part about track is the meets,” Whitley said. “It’s a fun and thrilling experience. It’s the feeling of excitement when you’re going to run against other people.” RIGHT: Freshman Harper Buxner trains for the 200-meter race at her first high school practice. After having COVID-19, she’s had to adapt the way she runs and recovers. “I have bad asthma, especially with getting COVID a few months ago,” Buxner said. “It has hurt my recovery time dramatically.” (photos by Mac Huffman)
GIRLS SOCCER
ABOVE: Captains Julia Armburster, Jordan Hunt and Sydney Frelich pose before practice starts. The captains help their coach, David Aronberg, lead the team. “This year I’m looking forward to seeing Clayton again because they beat us in districts last year, and I think with our new team, we’ll get revenge this year,” Hunt said. RIGHT: Armbruster practices her throw by tossing to Frelich. Armbruster’s younger sister, freshman Amanda Armbruster, is joining the team this season. “I’m looking forward to first playing with my youngest sister, it’s really exciting,” Armbruster said. LEFT: Frelich practices her kicks on an empty goal to get ready for the team’s first game March 10. Frelich is going into her fourth season of playing varsity soccer for Ladue. “I’m looking forward to improving our already strong team bond,” Frelich said. (photos by Mac Huffman)
TRACK EVENTS
ABOVE: The water polo team practices every day after school. They split their practices between conditioning in the weight room, conditioning in the pool and scrimmaging. “I am looking forward to getting even better and contributing to the team effort to be the best in state, which we have potential to [win] this year,“ junior Ryan Peter Britto said. RIGHT: Britto tries to score as his teammate guards him. The first water polo game was March 14. ”I [struggled with doubting] if I was good enough and whether I was doing enough to contribute to the team,” Britto said. (photos by Mac Huffman)
WATER POLO
Looking into water polo, soccer, track, pole vaulting, baseball and lacrosse
POLE VAULTING
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
NEWS | 07
UPPER LEFT: Junior Maddie Pierce shows to her teammates how to space out their steps before they vault. Seasoned athletes help their coach teach the new athletes. “We don’t have captains because all of [them] can be leaders,” coach Richard Witt said. LOWER LEFT: Senior Danny Byer practices rotating around the pole. After vaulting for around a year, Byer has reached a personal record of 12 feet.“The most challenging part is keeping a good attitude when competing,” Byer said. (photos by Mac Huffman)
BASEBALL
ABOVE: Junior Augusts Mikits completes a full pole vaulting run while trying to kick as high as possible to hit a bungee cord. His record for jumping the bar is 10 feet. “We put it up high so it gives you something to get to,” Mikits said. (photo illustration by Mac Huffman)
ABOVE: During practice, junior Jared Settler runs to first base. Although this is Sandler’s first high school season, he has been playing since he was 6 years old. “Everyone on the team knows each other and over the season, the bond will get stronger and stronger,” Sandler said. LEFT: Freshman Brody Sandler practices his swing. Sandler has been playing since he was 5 years old but this is his first year on varsity. “I have struggled with my footwork a lot in the past,” Settler said.
BOYS LACROSSE
RIGHT: Junior Owen Newman practices his form as he stands second in line to bat. The varsity and JV team practice together at the Fifth Grade Center every school day. “We have a pretty strong team bond since most of us have known each other for a long time,” Settler said. (photos by Mac Huffman)
ABOVE: Senior Russell Malone hits a Priory student to the ground at the first boys lacrosse game of the season. Ladue won 10-6. “This is my first year playing [in] high school,” Malone said. “It has been a challenge to catch up to some of my peers skill-wise, but I spent a lot of time working to get better.” LEFT: Malone runs towards the goal after stealing the ball from a Priory player. Boys lacrosse is not a school sponsored sport, so students from other schools can play on the team. “The team is very close, especially the group of seniors,” Malone said. “We all hang out on the regular outside of lacrosse and it shows with our team chemistry on the field.” (photos by MJ Bezzant)
GO FISH 08 | NEWS
SPREAD DESIGN BY CAROLINE EDGAR | MAC HUFFMAN
Fishing club plans for spring return TAREK AL HUSSEINI staff writer
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LEFT: Junior Mikey Kodner fishes at a nearby park. He has been a member of fishing club for three years. “I remember the first time Mikey came to fishing club, it was his first time fishing, and he ended up catching like 10 fish,” senior Jeremy Toledano said. “Ever since then he’s been hooked.” (photo courtesy of Jeremy Toledano)
ith the spring season bringing warmer weather, the fishing club is planning new events and activities for its members. The goal of the fishing club is to create a fun and educational environment where students can practice and learn tips and tricks about fishing. The club plans trips for its members to meet and spend time outdoors by the water. “We haven’t planned any trips for this spring yet, but now that the weather is starting to get nicer, we are going to try to plan some trips for after spring break,” co-president and senior Jeremy Toledano said. “We generally have trips on weekend afternoons about once or twice a month.” People who are interested in attending any of the club’s fishing trips are encouraged to look towards the club’s Instagram page (@laduefishingclub) or ask members for information. “We have a GroupMe where we send out updates and emails,” Toledano said. “If you’re interested in joining the club, we are always accepting people.” With the growing popularity of the club, each trip the club takes generally has a good turnout. “Typically we get like 20 people,” co-president and senior Jerry Zhang
said. “We’re normally out there for like two hours, but some people choose to stay longer. Some people choose to leave early, we’re very informal.” The club usually meets in local fishing spots like Forest Park or Des Peres park. However, no matter where they are, the wide range of skill level and flexible nature is a distinguishing trait of the club. “More experienced members get to teach the new members,” Zhang said. “Everybody has a good time.” Fishing is a recreational activity known for being a good escape. The simple act of fishing is a known tool to relieve stress levels, something students and busy individuals often need. “It’s really relaxing. You can clear your head and think about other things,” Zhang said. “But also it can be exciting at the same time when you actually get something.” The calm, still nature of fishing also allows the creative mind to wander. This and common interest allows strong bonds to form between people fishing and adds to the club’s atmosphere. As the club grows, the leaders seek to stay true to their relaxed and fun-loving values. “I see it becoming Ladue’s favorite pastime,” Toledano said. “A club that everyone at Ladue knows about and wants to be a part of and a place where people can go to make new friends, enjoy the outdoors and catch some fish.” P
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
NEWS | 09
START A RACKET Boys tennis team plans for strong season with competitive lineup OVIYA SRIHARI associate editor
A
fter advancing to the state semifinal last year, the boys tennis team is training to win a state title this season with, according to coach Margaret Shapiro, its strongest varsity lineup in Ladue tennis history. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a team this strong,” Shapiro said. “We’ve had standout players but this strong that far down the lineup? It is unheard of. The boys that I sent back to JV would be on varsity of any other team in the St. Louis area. Our team is that good.” This strength lies in many areas; team members attribute their success to skill, experience and motivation. “It’s obvious that our team is extremely abundant in talent and depth,” team co-captain and junior David Ju said. “I think we have a really good chance of doing just as good — if not better — at state.” Of 12 players, 10 are returning players, who, according to Shapiro, bring different skills to the table. The only two new players, freshmen Ryan Li and Charles Randall, are also spoken highly of by the team. “Our strength is depth,” junior Amit Kadan said. “Our one through 12 are really good. We’ve got even more depth because we have two new players, and we haven’t lost anyone.” In addition, every team member plays competitively. According to Ju and Kadan, this builds team spirit. r) e
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“Everyone, one through 12, has played some sort of competitive tennis, which is rare,” Kadan said. “Usually only the top one, two or sometimes threes are competitive, and the rest play for fun.” Others added that the opportunity to play together, rather than against one another, has helped their performance and team chemistry overall. “It’s fun because everyone’s on the same team,” junior Nathan Chan said. “Outside of school, we’re all opponents. It’s nice to be able to work together.” While the team remains strong in talent, injuries and absences can complicate matters. Chan is returning after spending last season injured, and Shapiro will go on maternity leave as the postseason begins. The team is more worried about the former, with Ju explaining that the team’s consistency is derived from their ability to stay healthy and avoid injury. “The plan for the season is to stay healthy,” Shapiro said. “If we don’t, that will be our Achilles heel.” As for Shapiro? She plans to “get through the season” and stay present for districts before her due date. “I think we’ll do just fine,”
RIGHT: Junior Nathan Chan takes a swing during a varsity tennis practice at the Ladue Fifth Grade Center. Although the season has not yet started, tryouts have concluded after two weeks, the 12-player varsity lineup has been announced and positions will soon be assigned before the team begins playing other schools. According to Ju, Kadan, Chan and Shapiro, tryouts this season were far more competitive than a typical year. “Most of the kids that were cut and put on our JV team would probably play top spots on other varsity teams for other schools,” Ju said. “We just got lucky with how many kids in our school play competitive tennis.” (Photo by Mac Huffman)
Chan said. “We’re all at the maturity level we need to be at in order to not slack off. [Shapiro] is there to push us, but all of us can find it in ourselves to push each other.” With a lineup of new and familiar faces, strong competitive background, close team bonds and hard work, the team believes a state title is within their reach. “With all of the expectations we had last year going into the season, I think we were the favorites to win state,” Chan said. “We lost in the semi[final], but all of us learned the lesson that we can’t really take anything for granted. Everyone’s worked hard throughout the summer, and going into this season, we feel like we have something to prove. Our team is capable of winning state.” P
10 | FEATURES
TOP: The starting five players link arms during the National Anthem. The 2021-2022 season ended with a 54-24 loss to MICDS. “I’m not going to keep playing at a high level, but Gray really helped me understand the importance of enjoying it while you’re at it,” senior Anika Speicher said. (Photo by Cassie Friess) BOTTOM LEFT: Senior Destini Rogers dribbles the ball. Rogers ended the season with a leg injury but will play basketball at Culver-Stockton College next year. “‘One of his sayings that always sticks with me is ‘make believers out of non believers,’” Rogers said. (Photo by Cassie Friess) MIDDLE RIGHT: Kendrick Robinson coaches from the sidelines. Robinson coached with Gray when he began the tradition of the pink jerseys because of his experience with breast cancer. “The hardest part of that sophomore season was our last game, we lost in pink. That hurts,” Rogers said. (Photo from file) BOTTOM RIGHT: Senior Anika Speicher guards a Clayton player. Like Rogers, this was Speicher’s fourth year on varsity, and she had previously known Gray from her club team. “Gray just knew the game so well. He knew how to coach and how to teach people,” Speicher said. (Photo by Cassie Friess)
SPREAD DESIGN BY LUCY LOCHMOELLER
FEATURES | 11
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
THIS PINK WON’T GRAY The last group of seniors to have played under Coach Gray help continue his legacy LUCY LOCHMOELLER associate editor
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lashes of bubblegum pink run around the court as the girls varsity basketball team battles against Clayton High School at the Coaches versus Cancer game Dec. 10. However, the iconic and vibrant jerseys are more than a nod to the biggest basketball game of the year; they pay tribute to breast cancer awareness, a tradition put in place by the late girls basketball coach Rich Gray. On the front, big white font writes the numbers of each senior — the only class left of players to have known Gray. For players who knew Gray, he was one of the most loved coaches at Ladue. According to senior Destini Rogers, “he made basketball fun.” The pink jerseys continue to serve as a mark of Gray, who passed away from breast cancer surgery complications April 23, 2019. Besides coaching Ladue for two years, he knew a lot of the girls from other youth programs. Rogers met him in eighth grade when he coached her club team before playing with him on varsity her freshman year. “He was always dancing and would have music on all the time,” Rogers said. “Since he passed, on the bus we always play his favorite song, which was “My Girl” by the Temptations. [“My Girl”] was the energy he brought.” Traditions like this keep Gray’s spirit alive. In addition to the song, the team still uses the same plays and various drills he created during practices. However, the main gift he left behind was the legacy of the pink jerseys and the fight they instilled within the team. “His biggest thing was when we wore pink,” senior Anika Speicher said. “We wear pink for all the people who’ve suffered from breast cancer, but it’s also for him. He made us do a car wash my freshman year because he wanted to buy the pink jerseys for us. He was the
reason that we got the pink jerseys in isolations, injuries and forfeited games. the first place, so now every time we With many of the players in and out, it wear them, we wear them for him.” has been “shaky” according to Speicher, To continue the tradition, coach Joi but she says Gray’s legacy has helped Lathion bought pink jerseys for the juthem through. nior varsity team. After the head coach “[Gray] would probably tell us his spot was left empty, Lathion, a Ladue motto ‘trust and belief,’” Lathion said. “I girls basketball alumnus, moved up think he would say to trust the process, from assistant coach into Gray’s place. weather through the storm of the ups Now, the team and downs wears pink for right now the Coaches and beversus Cancer lieve we Even if people didn’t know him, game as well as can make they’ll see the pink jerseys. It’ll be any away game it to the a reminder of what he did for this they want. other side.” school and program.” “Gray was G r a y a great coach’s and his coach,” Lathicoaching on said. “I say left a lastthat because he ing impact helped my professional development on the individual players, team dynam[as a coach] a lot in two years. It helped ic and program. Speicher explained that prepare me to be the next head coach Gray’s tremendous knowledge with here. He was a great teacher.” basketball made him extremely valuThese past three seasons since able to the team. Rogers explains, “he Gray’s passing have been full of highs had so much experience.” and lows. The first season without Gray “The way he would tell you how was one of Ladue’s best with a 23-5 reto work on stuff never came across cord, winning districts and almost qualas condescending,” Speicher said. “It ifying for state. Rogers shared that the was ‘this is what you’re doing, this is bond Gray left within the girls on the how you can change it and let’s work team was “unexplainable” and that they together.’ He would show you specific “told each other everything.” The intenthings like he wanted you to touch your sity the girls played that 2019-2020 sealeg with the ball before you shot. It was son with was “unmatched.” always easy to understand. You could “It pushed us in ways that in the betell everything he did was because he ginning I didn’t think would help us,” wanted to. That love for the game and Lathion said. “But for that first seamaking people better was great.” son [without Gray], I had four seniors Yet, as these seniors leave the proplaying in his honor. So, it defined the gram and new players come and go, intensity with which we were moving. one thing will remain: pink. Even That was the best season in the last 10 though there will eventually be players years. We came in runner-up for state, who never got to know Gray, his legalosing to Incarnate Word. It gave us a cy will last through the Breast Cancer different drive and determination the Awareness jerseys. last couple of years.” “Gray would say ‘when we play in However, this past season has been pink you fight’ because he had breast rocky for the team. The girls have been cancer,” Rogers said. “He’d say pink was challenged with multiple COVID-19 for fighters, in pink you don’t lose.” P
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ANIKA SPEICHER | SENIOR
12 | FEATURES
LEFT: Greg Kendall works in his office. He is excited to experience what Ladue has to offer in terms of events. “I know that the [football] games here are super exciting, and I know that there’s just all kinds of energy, so I’m really looking forward to being able to take it all in,” Kendall said. (photo by Ginger Schulte)
SPREAD DESIGN BY ALLEN YOU ALLEN YOU features editor
I
ONE HEARTBEAT Activities Office enables sports and activities to succeed RIGHT: Jenifer Strohbeck types on her computer. She’s responsible for athletic records, a major undertaking at the beginning of each athletic season. “I do all of the data input for MSHSAA. I put all of the rosters for each sport, all the students and all the schedules for each sport,” Strohbeck said. (photo by Ginger Schulte)
LEFT: Nick Gianino checks his email. He says he must stay on top of things because there’s constant work to be done. “The activities world never sleeps,” Gianino said. “What I mean by that is there always is something going on in this building 12 months a year.” (photo by Sydney Collinger)
n his junior year of high school, Greg Kendall donned the Lafayette Lancer jersey against the Ladue Rams in the 1987 second-round football playoff game. 35 years later, he’s wearing a Ladue lanyard. Attached is a badge: “Greg Kendall — Activities Coordinator.” “Looking at places where I wanted to coach and teach, I remembered the reputation of Ladue, and I knew what a great organization I’ve always thought the Ladue schools were,” Kendall said. “So it was one [place] that we took a real close look at, and I was very, very fortunate that Coach Gianino was looking for someone.” Kendall, who started Feb. 23, joins a team that consists of Activities Coordinator Jenifer Strohbeck and Director of Activities Nick Gianino. Together, they form the Activities Office, a name that’s self-explanatory in its purpose. “I think an easy way to explain [our job] is anything that doesn’t take place during the instructional day from 7:30 to 2:30 falls in the lap of the Activities Office,” Gianino said. “So, it’s a number of things. It’s all of our athletic programs. It’s all of our clubs and organizations. It’s our co-curriculars [and] trying to find ways to support our students holistically.” At the heart of their work is a simple motto: Ram Pride. These words were devised by Gianino himself after he arrived at Ladue in 2017, according to Strohbeck. Besides rolling off the tongue well, they concisely describe Gianino’s aspiration and his admiration for the Ladue community. “It’s been a blessing, to be quite honest, to come here five years ago, not really knowing the culture of this building, the culture of the staff, and taking the time to sit back and take it all in,” Gianino said. “Our students here are special, and I think something that we’ve really focused on is the celebration of success and creating that pride in what we do.” Strohbeck, who possesses the longest tenure of the three, started out as an administrative assistant for the previous
FEATURES | 13
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
A timeline of necessary game day preparations SOME TIME AGO*
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WIN, LOSE OR DRAW
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Activities Office. Back then, it was just leaders within. And to me, that’s very, Strohbeck and the previous Activities very important.” Director, which limited the effectiveness It’s this relationship with coaches, of the department. But with new addiplayers and sponsors that strike the tions in personnel and facility upgrades, chord of their other guiding phrase: the Activities Office gained the increasOne Heartbeat. It’s a phrase that reing ability to expand extracurricular flects teamwork and cooperation toand event potential. wards a common goal which, according “When we were able to add that third to Strohbeck, is something they try to person, that made a huge difference in incorporate into their values and work. making our office more efficient and be“It’s really important to have a strong ing able to support the students,” Strohwork ethic with integrity and empathy. beck said. “When I started, [we had] I believe transparency with others is the old football stadium, games were also very important,” Strohbeck said. always on Saturday afternoons and we “Communication is key to keeping redidn’t usually have much of a crowd. lationships healthy with coaches, sponNow with Friday night games, it’s huge, sors and students. I think we have really fun and it’s what everybody wants. It good positive relationships with them. I just gives that Friday Night Lights exhope they feel that the same and know citement, which is a huge morale boostthat we have an open door policy.” er for everybody.” Sports and For the Activclubs, for them, ities Office, it’s are more than just rewarding to see events, competiI think something that we’ve the effects of high tions and paths really focused on is the morale on stuto college. Indicelebration of success and dents. It’s an effect vidually, they are creating that pride in what that reverberates foundations for through the Ladue identity and rewe do.” halls and student lationships. Colbody, putting “a lectively, they are NICK GIANINO | ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR bounce in their foundations for step” and “a smile the community. on their face,” according to Kendall. “There’s a lot of time and effort that “My first day, I saw everybody greetour students put into becoming who ing each other and happy to be here,” they are,” Gianino said. “So it’s just doKendall said. “That was the overwhelming everything on the front end to creing impression that I got. This is a place ate a prideful environment, allowing where students feel excited to be [at], or making sure that our students take and that’s really that’s invigorating for full advantage of that and have pride in an educator, that’s for sure.” what they’re doing here in the building.” They also emphasize that they take High school is short. It’s the Activino credit in the successes of the organities Office’s goal to make every day of zations within the school. Instead, they high school worthwhile and each memact as a support staff, enabling students ory everlasting for all students. to reach their potential. “I think the most important thing “Our staff 1,000% deserves all the that administrators can do is to make credit for what they do for our stuactivities accessible to students and dents,” Gianino said. “I will say that make those activities and those organithe philosophy within our offices is a zations impactful [not only] for the invisionary philosophy. [It’s] to create a dividual, but also for the community so vision of which all of our programs and that everyone understands the lessons organizations can operate under. It’s not that being involved teaches,” Kendall a micro management type of vision. It said. “That’s a big part of why kids are is a vision that provides ownership to excited to come to school every day.” P
14 | FEATURES
SPREAD DESIGN BY RILEY COATES
BRAGGING RIGHTS Pep Band captains carry on traditions
RIGHT: Seniors Kian Howe and Jake Goldman show off some moves with their sousaphones. The iconic faces on the tubas were a gift from a senior class of 2021. “On Number 12 in our books, Uma Thurman, when there’s a baseline we jump up every single time,” Goldman said. “It happens like 10 times throughout the piece. So there’s a lot of jumping and you know, we have fun kind of moving around in the pieces as well.” (photo by Sydney Collinger]
RILEY COATES features staff
A
cool drizzle falls over the anxious faces of hundreds of students, the rain barely noticeable with so many people packed together, all dressed accordingly for the games’ theme. Many stand enraptured with each play, while others cease to follow the majority of the game, happy to socialize in the stands. So how is it that all the people in attendance, whether they’re paying attention to the game or not, come together as one to celebrate when a touchdown is scored? A song bursts out, one recognizable to the entire Ladue community. A symphony of drums, saxophones, flutes, tubas and more that invades the ears of each person in the stadium in unison. This is the effect of the Pep Band, a group that people know so little about, and yet would notice the absence of immediately. Aaron Lehde — his face recognizable from one of the sousaphones played at events, the other sporting the face of Mr. Harris — has been Band Director at Ladue for 20 years. His favorite part “is always the kids,” and watching them grow as musicians and as people during their time in band. “I think about the sousaphone players I mentioned before, neither one of them are real outgoing,” Lehde said. “Neither one of them are huge extroverts, but they can play that role
when they’re playing music, and that’s awesome. That’s just part of why we’re doing what we do.” Jake Goldman and Kian Howe — first and second chair tubas in Symphonic Band, respectively — have been playing together since sixth grade. Both joined band after growing up trying all types of instruments and became Pep Band captains together as seniors. “My mom played trombone in Marching Mizzou during her college years, and she really enjoyed that and talked about it a lot,” Howe said. “She still had a trombone, and I occasionally messed around with it. Then, just to spite her, I decided not to play trombone at first and go with a different choice, but I knew I still wanted to play in band.” For those less knowledgeable on the inner workings of Ladue Band, there are two levels: Symphonic and Concert, both playing bass, percussion and woodwind instruments. This includes flute, bass, drums, piano and guitars. Within each band, there’s also a chair system. “So, let’s say in the Symphonic Band, there’s three tuba players,” Howe, said. “The first chair tuba player would be the one who is considered to be the most proficient at tuba and the third chair being the least in that band.” Over the years, traditions have developed and persevered through generations. Pep Band points, awarded and withheld by Mr. Lehde, are of the utmost importance. The word of
FEATURES | 15
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
the day, chosen by the aforementioned captains, is yelled out The iconic songs resonate with the players as well, giving them during a play through of “Land of 1000 Dances.” Last but not too many favorites to pick. least, the tuba cheer. “I’d say the most fun one to play is definitely Uma Thurman “It’s something that gets handed down from tuba player to number 12, because we’re jumping around and stuff like that,” tuba player,” Lehde said. “This catchy litGoldman said. “But also, number seven, tle tune that, if you pay attention after which is Seven Nation Army. That one’s a game as the band is leaving, the tubas a lot of fun to play because it starts off I think our goal is to be an will play. It’s like the cherry on top of the with just the two of us playing—” sundae.” “And we get to have a lot of fun just integral part of the events, An instrument with as much perputting out all of our sound,” Howe said, because we have a lot of sonality as a tuba certainly deserves finishing his sentence. fun with it. Hopefully people the attention of the crowd, and Howe For most of the Ladue community, Pep have fun listening to us.” and Goldman exemplify this with some Band is the most visible part of the promoves to accompany their songs, both gram, and it’s where players get to have matching the energy and increasing it. fun putting out music for a crowd. While “We’ve come up with a couple [dancsports events are a big commitment, haves] of our own,” Howe said. “We’ve had ing football games every Friday, it’s not some passed down to us, and we’re trying to pass them down all the band does, check out the Symphonic Band’s upcoming to the current underclassmen tuba players. I think one of them spring concert April 28. has it.” “I am fond of saying that there’s a place for everybody in As much fun as the crowds have listening to Pep Band play band,” Lehde said. “Some people want to rule the world through at events, it can be just as much fun for the players, “not hav- band. Some people just like to hang out, they like to be a part of ing to care as much how [they] sound,” according to Goldman. a group here at school. We got a place for those people.” P
“
KIAN HOWE | SENIOR
WHAT’S ON REPEAT Common tunes played by the pep band
BEFORE GAME TIME: Seven Nation Army Give Me Everything (Tonight) Firework Star Spangled Banner
Number 7 Number 6 Number 23 Number 2
WHEN A TOUCHDOWN IS SCORED: Fight Song
Number 3
HALFTIME: Land of 1000 Dances
Number 20
Build Me Up Buttercup
Number 15
Take on Me
Number 9
AT THE END OF A GAME: Crazy Train
Number 18
Uma Thurman
Number 12
TOP: Percussionists junior Gramm Raedeke and senior Drew Eickel look ahead at the game as they prepare for the next song to be called. The band is dressed accordingly for a whiteout theme, showing support for the football team along with the rest of the Ladue section. “I think the main goal of pep band is in the name, it’s to bring the pep,” Howe said. “ We like riling up the crowd and getting everyone excited.” ABOVE: First, second and third chair tuba players, Jake Goldman, Kian Howe and Rohan Suri, play in anticipation of a field goal. As the playing continues they will wait for a song to be called by director Lehde. “I’ve been to a basketball game when there’s no pep band, and it’s fine,” Lehde said. “But when we’re there it’s like a party, you know, we bring the party.” (photos by Cassie Freiss)
16 | FEATURES
SPREAD DESIGN BY OLIVIA HU | ALLEN YOU
HOW ‘BOUT THEM DAWGS An in-depth look into the school-renowned Bulldogs fan OLIVIA HU features editor
S
ports are everywhere. Whether it be football, skiing, diving and everything in between, sports are a large part of our society and culture. And that’s no exception at Ladue. Occasionally you’ll see students who quickly check ESPN during the school day or hear large (and sometimes violent) discussions about weekend games the Monday after. Maybe you’ll even have a teacher who has been a die hard fan of a team for their whole life. For students of history teacher Matt Horn, the latter is certainly true. “I’ve been a Georgia Bulldogs fan for as long as I can remember,” Horn said. “But middle school is when my memory starts to become clear. I had a buddy who was a big LSU fan, he was my best man at my wedding. We were in band together but weren’t very good; we were at the end of the trumpet line. He would talk smack about Georgia, and I would talk
smack about LSU. We built a little friendly rivalry.” After leaving Atlanta for college, Horn continued to keep tabs on the Bulldogs and still does to this day. Through the years, a familiar routine has formed for his family: his wife (who’s been morphed into a Bulldogs fan), his daughter (who’s too young to understand sports quite yet) and his dog (who’s named after former Georgia starting quarterback Aaron Murray). “In the fall, it’s a tradition in our house,” Horn said. “It’s Saturday afternoon and it’s like, what are we cooking up today? What time’s the game on? We plan our whole day around it. Just to build up to it is fun but for those three hours watching it, it’s like I’m in a different world for the time being.” But, as for every team, there have been many ups and downs. Unfortunately, Horn says he’s had his “heart ripped out so many times.” Fortunately, his heart certainly stayed in his chest after Georgia won the College Football Playoff National Championship last year.
“When [the Bulldogs] won, Mr. Horn came running at me in the hallway going, ‘AHHH!’ because I was talking trash before,” senior Ethan Taylor said. “Every single emotion that goes through your body and mind — Horn was feeling it. I completely disrespect his views, but I respect that man and his dedication.” Horn has put his passion for sports to good use through coaching for the Ladue football and baseball teams. English teacher and assistant football coach Nick Buckvar has seen — and definitely heard — about his dedication to the Bulldogs. “He’ll come out to football practice and at some point during the week, it would be either the breakdown of the Georgia Bulldogs game or him commenting on the upcoming game,” Buckvar said. “His passion for Georgia is intense, but it’s also very genuine. He has a lot of care for what happens.” Outside of coaching, he also connects with Ladue students and staff through sports talk. Specifically, sports trash talk. And although he’s made some bad calls when he “riles people up,” he’s also made some pretty good ones. “Jared Rhodes, Mr. Superstar, is a big Michigan fan,” Horn said. “He thought Michigan would beat Georgia this year in the Orange Bowl. And they didn’t. They were massacred. He’s been awfully quiet since that moment in time.” P
BULLDOG BIOGRAPHY
“THE GLORY YEARS” 2017 - 2022
Timeline of the Georgia Bulldogs’ largest events
1980
The Bulldogs are national champions after winning against Notre Dame 17–10. This would be the last time for 40 years.
Sources: Mr. Horn, SicEmDawgs
2008
Aaron Murray (former quarterback whom Mr. Horn’s dog is named after) verbally commits to Georgia in April 2008. illustration by | OLIVIA HU
2017
Georgia loses the College Football Playoff championship against Alabama 26-23 on the last play of the game.
2021
The Bulldogs become national champions after winning against Alabama 33-18.
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022 RIGHT: MJ Bezzant swims the 100 yard breaststroke at the state meet. This is the event where she broke the school record. “[When I’m swimming], I really try not to think that much. I think about what my coaches told me to do in my race. They tell me, ‘MJ you need to go back to the fundamentals of your swimming,’” Bezzant said. (photo courtesy of Brandon Bezzant, photo illustration by Allen You)
FEATURES | 17
ON YOUR
MARK
Sophomore swimmer MJ Bezzant breaks school record and wins state championship
RHEA PATNEY editor in chief
W
hen sophomore MJ Bezzant climbed out of the pool after the conference 100 yard breaststroke finals Feb. 2, she couldn’t decide if she felt exhilarated or frustrated. She had outperformed her fifth seeding, placing third in the race and making it onto the podium. But, she swam a 1:07.43, just tenths shy of the school record time of 1:07.23, set by Ladue alumnus Sophie Fredman. She was just on the brink of breaking the record, but wasn’t quite fast enough for the title. Or so she thought. Two weeks later, the coaching staff realized that the time posted on the record board was incorrect. The record time was actually 1:07.53. Bezzant had been the rightful owner of the record for two weeks without her knowledge. “This season felt particularly long,” Bezzant said. “I started out the season on track to break the record. I had already broken the 100 breaststroke record outside of the season, I actually did the weekend after the last high school season ended. So, I knew I could do it. But [this season], I felt like I wasn’t improving at all. I actually was swimming times that I hadn’t gone in like two years. The beginning of the season was really slow for me. I kept going and I was like ‘should I quit?’” Bezzant suffered what assistant coach Robert Peglar described as “a plateau.” Sophomore and junior swimmers often “get to a certain point and their times kind of even out. It becomes very difficult to improve and swim faster times in races.” After breaking through this plateau and setting a new school record, Bezzant had an extra boost of confidence going into the girls Class 1 Swimming and Diving state championship meet. “We were feeling very good,” Peglar said. “The state team of the swimmers and our two divers were practicing all together and the experience was really high. Everyone knew we were going to put on a really good performance, the spirit going into the meet was really good.”
At the state meet, Bezzant swam the 100 yard breaststroke as well as the 200 yard individual medley (I.M.), which consists of 50 yards of all four swim strokes. During the preliminary race, she placed fifth in both events, qualifying her for finals. In the finals, she placed third in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:06.27, beating her own record she had set weeks prior. In the 200 yard I.M. final, she placed first and was crowned state champion. Amidst the 200 yard I.M. race, Bezzant had no idea that she was in the running to win. “We’re all neck and neck, we hit the wall and [I remembered that] my coach had told me ‘make sure you do your dolphin kicks [and] don’t breathe off that wall,’” Bezzant said. “I thought through that, and I pulled up in front. I didn’t know I was winning or anything. I’m just like, ‘I’m so close to being done.’ I touch the wall and then I hear screaming.” When Bezzant climbed out of the pool, all of her competitors immediately hugged her. She described that moment as her “favorite moment from this whole day.” Senior captain Marlee Singer appreciates how Bezzant’s love for the swim community motivates her to serve as an experienced leader on the team. “She’s a great motivator to everybody,” Singer said. “I think a lot of other people look up to her because she might be younger, but she has a lot of years of experience when it comes to swimming and she’s always willing to help people who are just starting. She’s a great influence on what you should be doing during practice [and] she is always in the pool working hard.” In the future, Bezzant hopes to claim the 100 yard breaststroke state championship title and break the 200 yard I.M. school record. She also hopes to eventually become a collegiate athlete and swim for Brigham Young University, further continuing her passion for swimming. “I just love swimming. It’s the one thing that is so constant in my life,” Bezzant said. “It brings me so much pure joy to be in the water, and my goal is to keep that love for it. I feel like that’s not something that you find that often. In the end, I just love it so much. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing.” P
18 | INFOGRAPHIC
SPREAD DESIGN BY OLIVIA HU
MONTH OF MADNESS History, predictions and statistics about NCAA tournament March Madness illustration by | OLIVIA HU
BY THE NUMBERS Student opinions and statistics on present and past tournaments
PREDICTED CHAMPION
AUBURN ARIZONA PURDUE
PREDICTED FINAL FOUR
DUKE
LADUE’S LOOKS
74-54 UMBC (16) vs Virginia (1)
CINDERELLA STORY
16.9
VIEWERS
According to a student survey1
2018
in 2021 watched
March Madness on TV
47.4
ADULTS
Loyala Chicago
ST UPSE T
MILLION
who filled out a bracket in 2021
GE G I B
2018
MILLION
filling out a bracket
36.7
ADULTS
STUDENTS are planning on
GREATEST
MILLION
WITH THE
21% OF
intended to bet on games in 2021
Panorama surveyed 118 students March 3
Sources: Statista, NCAA
Ladue students and staff give their opinions and predict March Madness outcomes
“
“
“
I think Duke is gonna win. They don’t have much depth, but they have the best starting five in the nation, and that’s all you need in March.”
Gonzaga’s gonna win. They’re really well rounded and have Chet Holmgren who’s just a beast. They also have a good defense and spacing, just stacked.”
I think Gonzaga’s gonna win because they’re deep and well rounded. Their coach is experienced and can make good adjustments when necessary.”
CHARLIE KRASNOFF | SENIOR
BRYSON LIANG | JUNIOR
CHRIS GEISZ | TEACHER
“
I heard Gonzaza [Gonzaga] is gonna win, but I don’t know much about March Madness. I’m excited to see the build up for the tournament.”
RUTH WORKINEH | JUNIOR
INFOGRAPHIC | 19
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
Finished his Duke career with four tournament records: most games by a player, most points scored, most free throws attempted and most free throws made
HALL OF FAME
Won three “Most Outstanding Player” awards and is still the only player to win the award three times
Impactful players and coaches
JOHN WOODEN
DEAN SMITH
COACH
COACH
UCLA, 1948–1975
North Carolina, 1961–1997
CHRISTAIN LAETTNER
LEW ALCINDOR*
Duke, 1988-1992
UCLA, 1966–1969
PLAYER
PLAYER
*Better known as Kareen Abdul-Jabbar
HEFTY HISTORY
A timeline of the origins of March Madness
Sources: NCAA, Britannica, bleacherreport
1939
1985
2011
The first NCAA D1 men’s basketball tournament is played
The NCAA tournament field expands to 64 teams
Three opening games are added for the original First Four
1939 Henry V. Porter uses the term “March Madness” for the first time
TOP TEAMS Teams with the most championships and appearances
1987 One Shining Moment is first aired
CALENDAR MARCH
Source: NCAA
UCLA
11 wins and 47 appearances
KENTUCKY
8 wins and 58 appearances
NORTH CAROLINA
6 wins and 50 appearances
27 6 13 20
28 7 14 21
27
28
3
4
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25 1
5 12 19 26 2
first four
sweet 16 / elite eight
first / second rounds
final four
20 | IN-DEPTH
SPREAD DESIGN BY CLAYTON COUGHLIN
SPORTS: PAYING TO
WIN
Low-income six children are ly like times more s t to quit spor n Institute
ct Play Aspe
Source: Proje
Success as an athlete not only comes from hardwork or talent, but money too MAX EASTMAN in-depth editor
W
e would love to offer you the chance to play…” These are the 10 words that change any student athlete’s life in high school. These 10 words separate the elite from the average. The phenomenal from the ordinary. The extraordinary from the mundane. Or do they? College athletics are competitive, with only a little over 7% of high school athletes playing at the collegiate level and even fewer, less than 2%, playing at the division one level. Achieving this goal requires a lot of hard work and total dedication.
$4
50
$40
“
Numerous hours spent in the batting cages or on the pitch. Day after day of grueling morning workouts and long practices after school. Countless mornings of agonizing soreness after a game. Traveling across the U.S. just to play in front of highbrow college coaches. At face value it seems to make sense; college sports are extremely selective, therefore those who work the hardest will reap the largest rewards. However, what if the player who works the hardest on the field also has to work the hardest off the field? What if that player has to help support their family, either through working an extra job or sacrificing their time to watch younger siblings? What if that player doesn’t have consistent rides to and from
$18
RECEIPT
TOTAL: $668.00
20
$1
$10
$30
SAMANTHA HILLMAN’S FIELD HOCKEY GEAR
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LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
“
football, buy equipment to even begin playing a sport. This adversity ends up keeping many low income children out of sports, with 6.1% of low income children quitting because of “increasing expenses” compared to high income children quitting at only 1.0%. Freshman Nelson Vickar has experienced this hardship firsthand when having to buy a set of hockey equipment. “Goalie equipment is not cheap,” Vickar said. “The big pads that I wear on my legs and also my gloves alone are
DAVISON BIRCHFIELD’S LACROSSE GEAR $250 RECEIPT
50
$1
TOTAL: $1030.00
60 $1
practice, causing them to miss important a week. And everytime I drive out to practice time? What if that player is practice, it’s between 35 to 45 minutes attempting to depending on play on an empty traffic.” stomach because 20 hours a If you don’t count lifting, [I usually they are unable practice] four times a week. If you count week, six to seven to eat a healthy or practices a week lifting, at least, and I mean at least, five nutritious meal? to six times a week. And everytime I drive — the amount Suddenly, the of time Widjaja out to practice it’s between 35 to 45 recruiting process and Moore minutes depending on traffic.” doesn’t appear spend practicing very equitable, NELSON VICKAR | FRESHMAN — is equal to rather favoring or exceeding a those with the normal funds and time to put in the immense part time job. This required amount of effort needed to play sports commitment means that many at a collegiate level. If this issue is not student athletes are simply addressed in all forms of the recruiting unable to put in the amount process, ranging from simply having of time necessary to succeed time to practice to the ability to travel the in the sport. country, colleges will continue to miss This is the first barrier out on talented underprivileged athletes, to being competitive for and these underprivileged athletes will a college roster spot: the never be able to reach their full potential. ability to give time to The process of being recruited to play practice. Furthermore collegiate sports requires many different student athletes are sacrifices. One of these is intrinsically required to, with a available to all people: the ability to few exceptions take time out of one’s day to practice. s u c h It is imperative that student athletes as high who wish to play at the collegiate level school practice regularly. Junior Lauren Widjaja knows this especially well with her busy gymnastics schedule. “I practice around 20 hours a week,” Widjaja said. “Monday and Friday, we do four and a half hours. And then Wednesdays are three and a half. Thursdays are two and a half and on Sundays we have five hours practice.” This experience is not unique to Widjaja or gymnastics. Junior Will Moore also has an extremely hectic schedule playing baseball. “If you don’t count lifting, [I usually practice] four times a week,” Moore said. “If you count lifting, at $170 least, and I mean at least, five to six times
$3
00
22 | IN-DEPTH
SPREAD DESIGN BY CLAYTON COUGHLIN $180
$210
00 $1
50
$15
0 $50
$45
0
$30
0 $3
0 $6
$2
WILL MOORE’S BASEBALL GEAR
RECEIPT
$60
0
$6
TOTAL: $1630.00
illustration by | CLAYTON COUGHLIN
$2,000 together. And that’s just those to spend. They sell complete sticks which four pieces. There’s a lot of extra gear are the shaft and the head of the stick also so all in all, I’d say top end gear is put together and that would be probably close to four or five thousand dollars for around $150. But if you want the top of the complete set. I buy a set of pads and I the line stuff you can get a nice shaft for use them until I grow out of them. That’s like $200 [and] maybe a nice head for what a lot of people do. Obviously, once I like $150. If you want to do it yourself stop growing I’ll probably get a set every and get the best of the best, it’ll be more year and a half or two years. But right expensive.” Getting merely the time to practice and now, I change [gear] whenever I grow out of it. And since I’ve been playing the equipment to play a sport can range anywhere from competitive high hundreds to, level hockey for Goalie equipment is not cheap. The more commonly, seven years, I big pads that I wear on my legs and my thousands of think I’ve had gloves alone are $2,000 together. And dollars. These seven different that’s just those four pieces. There’s a lot two obstacles sets of pads.” of extra gear also so all in all, I’d say top alone block many The problem end gear is close to four or five thousand student athletes of equipment dollars for the complete set.” from being able costs spans to competitively many different NELSON VICKAR | FRESHMAN match up with sports, those who can admittedly affecting some more than others purely afford these sacrifices. But time and because of the nature of the sport. Senior equipment are not all a student athlete and lacrosse player Davison Birchfield needs to play sports in college; highly has also experienced the obstacle of high competitive teams — especially the ones that college coaches pay attention to — equipment prices. “You have to buy all the equipment are very expensive. “It’s a lot,” Vickar said. “Triple A out of pocket and then, even for just the jersey, you have to pay a jersey deposit hockey is very high level hockey, so other to be able to even get a jersey,” Birchfield clubs aren’t even close to as expensive. said. “To get a full set of equipment it It’s $10,000 to $12,000 just to play on the really depends on how much you want team.”
“
by the numbers Panorama surveyed 119 Ladue students March 3
69.4%
of students
travel for their sport
22% of students spend $$$
more than $1000 on travel for their sport
48.8%
of students
believe they can
play their sport at a
college level
IN-DEPTH | 23
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
Admittedly, Vickar does play for an extremely elite hockey can range up to $800. You have to go to them to get in front of team and hockey is an inherently expensive sport, but the college coaches.” amount he pays is not dissimilar to many other elite teams. The pressure to go to these showcases is felt even before high Another facet of the problem of high tuition fees for high school begins. Freshman Samanatha Hillman first encountered level sports is conventionally school sponsored sports being these demands during the summer before her first year at the cut from the list of school affiliated sports due to budgeting high school. reasons. Both hockey and lacrosse are commonly chosen as “I flew to Philadelphia last summer and played in front of sports to be cut from school affiliation. This national trend seven different schools I liked with their coaches evaluating proves true at Ladue with both Ladue lacrosse and hockey me,” Hillman said. “You can also do individual clinics with a being private, separate entities. specific college so you can get a feel of their coaching and what “Ladue lacrosse is not school sponsored and it’s not a it’s really like. These are when you really want to show interest MSHSAA sponsored sport either,” Birchfield said. “We don’t in a specific school.” get the glory of being able to go and practice on the nice turf Another unexpected expense, but necessary to some degree, field like football does every day or get pads issued from the is the purchase of a subscription service to market yourself, school.” which can end up costing hundreds of dollars. One could now assume that a student athlete has all they “I use this recruiting service called SportsRecruits,” junior would need to play collegiately. However, while a few student soccer player Taylor Babb, who recently committed to Southern athletes are lucky enough to live Illinois University Edwardsville, said. where the elite tournaments are “It just makes it easier to send out hosted, the majority are required to emails and videos to coaches and You are paying to travel and travel to said tournaments, creating colleges.” an additional expense for potential Tallying travel expenses and to play in front of division student athletes. shelling out money for equipment one coaches to try [to] get “Last year, counting both summer makes becoming a student athlete scholarships. You’re definitely and fall, I traveled for a minimum more and more expensive. Sports of 10 tournaments, easily,” Moore cannot be the great equalizer when paying a pretty penny for that.” said. “Each one lasts a minimum of the playing field is not the same for two days, and some last almost a full DAVISON BIRCHFIELD | SENIOR all participants. week. We always stay in pretty nice In reality, the playing field is hotels as a team also. The hotels are a mountain with those able to probably around $150 a night.” pay sitting at the peak, while those less fortunate clamber The tournaments Moore refers to are only one of the two fruitlessly at the cliffs. Instead of those with skill and athletic ways to play in front of college coaches. The other is showcases prowess succeeding in competitive sports, it is based on how where players do drills in front of college coaches. Today, much money they have access to. showcases are a growing industry, meaning they are becoming “I’ve been thinking about that [how much money is needed increasingly necessary for hopeful collegiate athletes. to do gymnastics] a lot,” Widjaja said. “You have to be well off “When I first started [going to showcases], I tried to go to enough to join gymnastics. If you don’t have the money to buy as many as I could,” Moore said. “They would all be at least all the equipment and cover tuition fees and stuff you really $100 to $200 and some of them, like the perfect game ones, just aren’t able to compete. It really sucks.” P
“
tolls to travel
Breaking down how much traveling for competitive sports cost HOTEL
Cost per night:
Nights per trip:
Athlete
Trips per year:
Will Moore
10 tournaments
$150
$3,000
Samantha Hillman
8 tournaments 2 recruiting clinics
$100
$3,000
Lauren Widjaja
5 trips 1 state trip
$200
$2,400
Total:
24 | IN-DEPTH
SPREAD DESIGN BY AVERY ANDERSON & SOPHIA HILLMAN
$17 BILLION INDUSTRY
The real cost of competive sports FAST FACTS of high school athletes earn athletic scholarships
1/3 of parents’ income goes toward their children’s expenses, which include sports
1
Equestrian (horse, trainer and competitions)
2
Bobsledding (bobled, track and trainer)
3
Pentathalon (5 different trainers and equipment)
WHAT FAMILES HAVE TO SURRENDER TO COVER THE COSTS OF SPORTS
CRAZY COSTS
7% house
17%debt
19%
11% or bank 36%
downsize
incur more
Get a loan
Get a second
job or work
from family
overtime Sell personal
take fewer
and prized possesions
vacations
inju ri 466,000
illustration by | MAC HUFFMAN & SOPHIA HILLMAN
torn achilles
can heal in 4-6 weeks but may have lasting impacts for months
on average it takes 9 months to recover
otball n fo si
0
265,0 0
63%
high ankle sprain
u inj
ries in ba s a ll
a ll
231,0
18%
00
injuries in bicy c g lin
e
11%
takes 7-14 days to heal
tb ke
njuries in ba 0i
b se
er cc
0
The cost of sport-related injuries at the high school and collegiate level is $20 BILLION DOLLARS
8%
concussion
570, 00
INJURY BASED ISSUE njuries in s o 0i
sources: dailyhawker, ASPE, USA today, the harris poll
credit card
to a smaller
14%
The amount of money parents spend each month on sports
577 ,0
2%
MOST EXPENSIVE SPORTS
1.9 million people were treated for sports related injuries in 2012
IN-DEPTH | 25 $7 00
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022 $35
$5 00
$30
$15
0
0
MENTAL MISERIES 8%
25%
of athletes that of athletes who of female college have had injuries stuggle with mental athletes suffer health reach out
develop depression
$1000 -$1999
from bulimia
levels of depression
$100 -$499
Torn ACL can take between 9-12 months heal
Broken leg can take up to a full year to recover
Football
exhausted
seriously overwhelmed outside their sports
Wisconsin
Texas Qubec Canada
Floridia places students have traveled Home state
face head
Baseball
a physical therapy
session can cost anywhere
Basketball Soccer
between $20 to $150
the average cost of a
a wrist x-ray is between
$120 and $2,175
fingers knee
THE ROAD TO RECOVERY when an athlete is injured, the biggest loss is their time spent not playing their sport
Vermont
Orgeon
MOST COMMON INJURIES Bicycling
33%
Sources: athletes for hope, cost helper, USC Trojan family
One of the biggest costs of competitive sports is travel. Here are some of the furthest places Ladue students have traveled to play their sports based off a survey sent to the student body. Panorama surveyed 119 students March 3.
$500 -$999
30%
of athletes have of college athletes of student athletes of the last statistic clinically relevant feel mentally reported feeling struggle with tasks
TRAVELING FOR TALENT
$2000 or more
25%
ambulance rides
cost anywhere from ankles
$400-$1,200
postoperative knee
braces can cost
up to $300
2 x THE PAIN
10%
51%
Mental health issues in all levels of athletes are more common and costly than people realize
26 | EDITORIAL
SPREAD DESIGN BY LUCY LOCHMOELLER | ANNIE ZHAO
illustration by | DANIELLE ZHANG
PANO PERSPECTIVE Stop shaming people at the gym for how they look and how experienced they are 28 out of 28 Panorama staff members agree
I
t’s either 6 a.m or 6 p.m. The lights are too bright or strangely dim. There is usually some sort of horrible cable TV playing silently on TV screens, the subtitles are lagging and no one is wiping down their equipment when they should be. Whether you go seven days a week or seven days a year, gyms are not exactly welcoming places. But for those starting out, the prospect of entering a space filled with unfamiliar equipment and people who seemingly know what they’re doing can create a feeling we’re all familiar with: embarrassment. This isn’t a unique experience. A recent UPI study shows that over three-quarters of Americans want to work out regularly, but among the largest barriers is feeling too “out of shape” to start and not knowing how to begin, while another three quarters said they struggled with self-comparison to others in the gym. For almost all of us, getting started with anything — let alone a habit so closely correlated with our self-esteem, mental health and outward appearance — can be an intimidating prospect. If this is such a common experience and an equally tall barrier to getting in shape, why shame people for taking a step to better their health? Recent trends on social media and in real life show people mocking beginners in the gym who may not know what to do or don’t have the “ideal” body type expected of frequent exercisers. Extreme examples include a TikTok trend of ridiculing those new to the gym — almost always individuals who don’t fit conventional body standards. However, not every instance of this practice is exaggerated or intentionally malicious;
shaming can be as innocuous as a comment assuming someone “can’t” or “doesn’t” work out or as unintentional as laughing at a friend for not being able to keep up. This stems from a variety of harmful assumptions and sentiments and has equally harmful impacts. Shaming beginners implies that the person in question deserves to be ridiculed for their appearance. It creates an environment that intimidates newcomers — not just the individual targeted, but others around them — and dissuades people from trying. Ridiculing beginners for their appearance in particular ignores the fact that “healthy” looks different on all of our bodies and perpetuates the idea that only ideal bodies should be respected or allowed to exercise without judgment. Most importantly, making fun of someone for getting started ignores the fact that everyone had to start somewhere. Rather than react with disgust or condescension, it’s important to remember that everyone has the same goal: improving themselves and staying healthy. While this goal looks different for everyone, and we start in different places, we should encourage others who want to live a healthier life. Beyond just stopping our personal judgment, there are many ways we can do this, whether intervening when others make assumptions or reaching out to support and give advice to beginners who were once in your shoes. It is intimidating and often overwhelming to take those first steps to a healthier lifestyle as is — especially when you don’t fit the acceptable standard of “conventionally fit.” Don’t make it harder on people. P
Editorial Note: Each editorial, Panorama selects an issue that the staff thinks is important to address and expresses a view that belongs to the majority of the staff. Panorama welcomes the opinions of its readers, and encourages letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to room 1311 or email Panorama at publications01@ladueschools.net. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions for length as long as original intent remains unaltered.
OPINIONS | 27
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
OBJECTIFICATION AT PLAY
How uniforms in women’s sports lead to objectification CARLY WOODHILL opinions staff
E
ver since I was a child, I have been aware of the “dress code” that society expects women to abide by: to adorn themselves with costumes designed to catch the eyes of men. Female superheroes seemed to have impractical and revealing costumes, performers wore less than washcloths and even things as innocuous as school uniforms were sexualized. It was inescapable and suffocating. Even now, I struggle with being true to myself and dressing as I please; the thoughts of what men expect of me linger in the back of my mind. I know that I’m not the only one that feels this way. My mother, my grandmother and all the women in my life have experienced similar thoughts and fears. There’s a sense of solidarity in it. Yet, when we try to question these expectations, we are ridiculed. We are told that we are perceiving an invisible problem, making a big deal out of nothing. I hear the same gaslighting arguments when it comes to the difference in uniforms between men and women’s sports. For example, consider the difference between male and female tennis uniforms. Despite the loosening uniform guidelines in recent years for international matches, many places still require not only that women wear skirts, skorts or dresses but that they dress completely in white as well. The dress code that athletes must follow is decided by committees, most often led or dominated by men, and this is a problem. It gets worse. Sometimes, women’s sports are deliberately transformed into a sex-appeal based activity designed exclusively not to test and admire the skills of the players but to garner the attention of men. “Lingerie Football” comes to mind. It’s a pathetic mimicry of a sport – much like curling. (I mean seriously, you push a stone around with a stick? I don’t
get it). Because of the fact that sports viewership is dominated by men, impractical uniforms are used as a way to draw in views. But, it’s extremely dehumanizing. Let me make it clear that this is not just about revealing clothing; it is an issue about the restriction of choice. Historically, women have had their rights oppressed, their emotions doubted and their opinions completely disregarded. It should always be up to a woman to choose for herself; degrading uniforms is one facet to a larger issue with the world. “But what about men?” What about them? If you’re going to try and argue about male swimming uniforms being degrading too, congratulations. You’ve recognized the problem. The solution? Change that too. I’m sick of hearing people bring up men’s issues only to combat the problems that women face. Guess what? Dehumanization is bad. Full stop. That applies to everyone. Stop trying to use these kinds of issues as a counterpoint instead of recognizing them as part of the argument for a solution. Some may remember the conflict that arose in 2019 when Norway’s female beach handball team came together and decided to wear sporting shorts to their next game rather than the assigned bikini bottoms. The team was fined $1,700 for this clearly egregious offense, because how dare these women think that they deserve to be recognized for their efforts, right? Obviously, women’s sports only matter if they can be sexualized. And clearly, it isn’t the fault of any men, because – and this excuse has been told to me so many times – they can’t help it. All decent human beings can “help it.” It’s not hard to just not sexualize women. I’m not going to soothe you about making slow progress or how it’s not all men. Just try harder. If you’re going to argue about that, you’re probably the issue. P
ATTRIBUTES OF ATTIRE
Facts regarding women athlete’s dress code
25%
SMALLER
48%
of an IPHONE
ATTIRE AND POSES
Bikini’s side width is
sexually dressed compared to MALE athletes
Women are
10 TIMES more likely to be
of women athletes
than the size
MORE women athletes were
illustration by | ANNIE ZHAO
objectified by camera angles
are shown in sexualized
pole vaulting outfit volleyball outfit
tennis outfit
Sources: BT Sport, New York Times, IJHSS, National Public Radio, The Rep Project
28 | OPINIONS
SPREAD DESIGN BY MIKA KIPNIS
SETTLING THE DEBATE
Dance should be considered a sport ANNIE ZHAO opinions staff
A
rms flow to the rhythm of the music and freeze for a second as the beat drops. Legs quicken, synchronous to the tempo, then gradually slow down, creating thumps. Sweat glistens on foreheads and then slowly drips down onto the polished wooden floor. This fluid movement is only present for around four minutes on stage, however the energy resonates much longer. But, what some may not realize is that beyond these four minutes could be 14 years of blood, sweat and tears. When you deny dance as a sport, you ignore and discredit all the work dancers put into their passion. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “sport” as a “physical activity engaged in for pleasure” or “a particular activity so engaged in.” While dance easily matches the criterion of a sport, dance being considered a sport is still widely debated. This begs the question — how is dancing not a sport? In 770 B.C., the first Olympics were recorded in Olympia, which included wrestling, jumping, foot races and javelin throwing. Thus, the Ancient Greeks
brought forth a well-known, technical definition of sports: requiring teams or individuals to compete against each other. People may propose dance is purely an artistic performance, not entailing intense physical demands. All of this has molded dance to an offset of sports or the notion that it is considered a sport has been pushed off completely. First, we must break down these presumptions of whether dance is or is not a sport and consider the facts. Paintings etched on cave walls illustrate the length of which dance has been in existence. Around 5,300 years ago, ancient Egyptians crafted alluring cave engravings of the traditional festival dances to their gods. Evidently being a part of human culture, even dating back to our earliest civilizations, dancing has evolved and merged into the common forms we are familiar with today. Some of these popular types of dance include ballet, hip hop, jazz and contemporary. Furthermore, dance requires skill, physical power and competitiveness. One must train, learn and practice over and over again to become successful in their dance field. With the basics of stamina and perseverance, dancers need to possess a good awareness and control over their
body. It is essential for a dancer to have authority over their body, since music foreshadows and guides movement. After refining one’s technique, dancers can then participate individually or in teams, anywhere from regional to national competitions, gaining experience and also proving their skills. Dancing takes both a physical and mental toll on a person. So dancers need to not only take care of their body but must also take care of their mind. As a person who danced for six years, I can testify that dancing takes a lot of effort and strain on your body. I danced ballet for two hours at least three times a week, but this pales in comparison to professionals. Professional ballet dancers spend most of their day dancing and on top of that, the aftermath of ballet’s exertions on the body is apparent with the roadmap of scars lining their toes. Therefore, dance is a language that is more ancient than words. When you witness a dance performance, it’s more than just a sport. Dance is poured out of a passionate heart and guided by imagination and emotions, as it will for generations to come. Thus, sports are a competitive expression of passion for something you love. P
CHEER
YES NO
“I think that if it’s in a competition, then it is considered a sport.”
BOWLING “Bowling fits the same requirements as any other sport, so yes.”
CHESS “It’s a sport because there is a sense of competition to it.”
EMERSON LINDEN | SENIOR
EMAAN WAHEED | FRESHMAN
RYLAN WILSON | FRESHMAN
“I only think competitive cheer is considered a sport. Not sideline cheer.”
“Not really, but if you throw the ball really hard, I think you could consider it a sport.”
“It’s not a sport but an activity that has a competitive scene to it.”
MYER JACOBS | FRESHMAN
NICOLE LI | JUNIOR
DAVID LIN | JUNIOR
illustration by | MIKA KIPNIS
TO SPORT OR NOT TO SPORT? Student opinions: are cheer, bowling and chess sports?
OPINIONS | 29
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
STOP THE TALK
You talk about your sport too much
illustration by | DANIELLE ZHANG
school making sure that everybody knows how tired they are from an early morning workout opinions staff or practice last night. They’ll make sure you know with the constant exaggerated sighs and hen it comes to student athletes, there complaining the second they receive an assignare two kinds of people. There are the ment because they are “too tired to do it.” Or ones who go about their lives normally, when teams post about an upcoming game, and almost as though they don’t play a sport. And the ENTIRE team posts about then, there are the ones it, leaving all of my socials who haven’t gone to school flooded with the same medioin almost two months withWhen people try this hard to cre edit of a game. Now while out wearing some sort of team apparel and have all get people to pay attention I am completely guilty of this, I still feel for the people who of their socials decoratto their sport, it almost have to see it over and over ed with sub-par photos of has a negative effect in my and over again. them playing. Another way sports are That person is me. I can’t opinion.” overshared is that they are help it. Since I’ve been playLUKE LOCHMOELLER | SOPHOMORE always in people’s conversaing different sports for multions, no matter what. It betiple teams over the years, I comes a problem when you have built up an impressive can’t seem to talk about much without them tyamount of sports gear. Almost every single day I ing something back to their sport. Also if somethrow on a dri-fit shirt. Since most of the cloththing big happens, like a buzzerbeater, it will be ing I get from teams usually have a more athon everything for the next two weeks — from letic feel to them, without even knowing which Snapchat and Instagram stories to montages of team it’s from — it could be Ladue hockey, my the game highlights on the school TVs around club hockey team, football, club lacrosse team or the hallways. school lacrosse team — I’ll wear it. Although you When people try this hard to get people to pay won’t usually find me in a sports hoodie, I have attention to their sport, it almost has a negative my days. It becomes a lot, so it’s always on my effect in my opinion. Seeing it all the time and mind. As such, it’s probably going to come out hearing about it can just be annoying. So while I in a conversation. do want to see it and care about it, I would only Now, while I am guilty of being someone who like to see it as a cool hype video on a team’s actalks about my sports too much, here are some count, and not some mediocre Google Slideshow examples of people that overshare or talk about on every players’ story. P their sports too much. Some people come into
LUKE LOCHMOELLER
W
“
30 | LIFESTYLE
SPREAD DESIGN BY RYAN TUNG
TRYING THE TREND Panorama tried healthy lifestyle trends — here’s what we found RYAN TUNG lifestyle editor
EIGHT GLASSES A DAY Stressed? Drink water. Want clear skin? Drink water. Want to feel energized, get your taxes done and become immortal? Eight glasses a day, they say. So I tried it. Eight glasses of water later, I can definitively say that I am indeed not immortal – rather a bit annoyed by the constant need to use the bathroom every 30 minutes. Quite honestly, I don’t feel different at all. Granted, a full week of extra hydration may yield stronger results. But if you’re looking for a quick fix for life, I’d suggest looking somewhere else.
STANDING DESKS
COLD SHOWERS
ll u
i
A standing desk is great...until it’s not. For the first five minutes, standing is actually quite comfortable. But when the five minutes pass, the ensuing carnage begins. Legs start twitching; backs start slouching. By the 30-minute mark, the stiffness starts to settle in. At one hour, I’m more focused on not sitting down than finishing my actual work. That’s not to say that standing has no health benefits at all. However, if it means I can sit on my butt, I’ll choose to get my physical activity through any other way.
s tr
atio
n by | P H O E B
H EC
EN
“Holy sh–” No two words can better describe the feeling of stepping into a cold shower for the first time. It’s cold – a “sweet mother of Jesus” kind of cold. For the first 30 seconds, you regret being born. But then the shock passes, and the experience actually becomes quite enjoyable. After just one five-minute shower, I feel more alive than I have ever felt in my life. The initial cold is an instant, albeit very intense, energy kick. Accompanied by an instant boost of energy, a cold shower is incredibly refreshing. Granted, the energy kick does wear off in about an hour, and for those afflicted by the chronic “I’m always cold,” this frigid shower may be the last thing you need. But if you’re looking to refresh and reset, try it out: you’ll be surprised at what you find.
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
LIFESTYLE | 31
MEDITATION Of all the healthy lifestyle trends I tried, I never expected meditation to be one of the most enjoyable. But surprisingly, it’s great. Really great. There’s something about mindfulness – sitting, breathing and letting your thoughts wander – that is deeply relaxing. Maybe it’s the peace and quiet; maybe it’s the breathing. But whatever it is, taking a few minutes to just sit and ponder is calming to the deepest degree. If you’re stressed, anxious or just want a quick and healthy break, I’d give it a shot.
EARLY BIRD WAKE-UP People who wake up at 4:30 in the morning love to brag about their productive morning routines. But I’ll tell you the truth. Hit the snooze on this one. For the first two hours, you actually feel quite normal. Then the drowsiness hits, and if you aren’t already crazy enough to wake up at 4:30 a.m., you will be by the end of the day. By seven at night, you aren’t alive. Could I be more productive with two extra hours? Maybe, but I’ll choose my sleep.
ORGANIC OVERLOAD I tried an organic apple. It was good. But to have the audacity to charge an extra dollar per bag, that apple better be the best thing I’ve ever tasted. It was not. Aside from the eye-watering cost premium, organic and conventional foods really have no perceivable difference. The real difference comes from the source. Organics are grown more sustainably with no synthetic fertilizers and chemicals. Is it the end all be all to climate change? No. But if you can shoulder the extra cost, it might just be worth it.
WELLNESS SHOTS If you’re ever in the market to abuse every sensory organ in your body, a wheatgrass shot may be the right product for you. One tiny cup of blended grass is the most revolting thing I’ve tasted in all of my 17 years of life. Not only does it reek of a Home Depot garden center, it tastes like it too: a putrid blend of grass and dirt with some lava rocks thrown in. Even a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and an Almond Joy couldn’t save me from the aftertaste. For a $5 “wellness” shot, I don’t feel well; I doubt anyone else would either.
32 | LIFESTYLE
SPREAD DESIGN BY OLIVIA CHEN | PRANAVI CHINTHA
LIZZI E ES
“I have to sew each individual piece of the [pointe] shoe, such as the ribbons and elastic, so I can stay on my feet.”
TH ER
( 10
“These rollout balls are used to roll out foot and calf muscles. Before class, I will sometimes roll them out to warm up.”
“This is a perfect compartment for my hair pins. I usually use 20-30 bobby pins.”
S ’ T A
H W
e
Ag
o th t n i e lanc
? G A B Y M IN d
s
gs o
a
sb t r o sp
ni n e t fa
r an e y a pl
“I have had these rackets for several years now. The tension of the string and [the] overgrip on the handle are unique to me.”
) WAD (10 MATTHEW A
“Occasionally I get blisters or sores from playing. I use these bandages to cover them to enhance my recovery.”
ncer a d t balle
“Staying hydrated is important in tennis. My water bottle is half a gallon and insulated so my water stays cold.”
)
LIFESTYLE | 33
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
STRETCH YOUR LIMITS
A beginner’s guide to yoga: basic poses, origins and health benefits
Cobra Pose
Bound Angle Pose
Child’s Pose
Bhujangasana
Baddha Konasana
Balasana
Difficulty Rating:
Difficulty Rating:
Difficulty Rating:
Camel Pose
Low Lunge
Bridge Pose
Ustrasana
Anjaneyasana
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
Difficulty Rating:
Difficulty Rating:
Difficulty Rating:
ORIGIN
HEALTH BENEFITS
Yoga finds its roots in Northern India in 2700 B.C. The names of yoga poses originated in Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages in the world. Along with Nyaya (justice), Vaisheshika (logic), Samkhya (numbers), Mimamsa (reflection) and Vedanta (conclusion), Yoga is one of the six philosophies in Hinduism. Though originally a spiritual practice, it later developed into an activity that cultivates mental and physical wellness. illustration by | PRANAVI CHINTHA
Yoga is beneficial in many areas of health. Primarily, it helps abilities such as flexibility, strength and balance. Muscle pain can be eased as yoga improves mobility and increases blood flow. It reduces stress levels which decreases the chances of heart disease. Yoga is also used as a relaxing meditation practice that cleanses the mind. The benefits of yoga are universal to all ages but are especially useful to those who are recovering from a physical illness.
34 | LIFESTYLE
SPREAD DESIGN BY RICHIE JIANG | MIMI ZHOU
PICKING OUT PARKS Reviewing some of the best parks and trails near St. Louis RICHIE JIANG lifestyle staff
With over 92 state parks to choose from, Missouri has an extensive amount of options for a day outside. However, with so many options, it can be hard to choose. So, if you’re looking to see what the best choices are for a day with family, observing nature or getting your steps, read ahead. No guarantees though.
FAMILY FUN
Image 13725 Marine Ave., St. Louis
(photos by Richie Jiang)
Sometimes the thought of a long trail can be exhausting, especially when a younger sibling (or you) might be complaining. As an alternative, these parks offer trails on the shorter side, with the focus on sightseeing and relaxation. At Elephant Rocks State Park in Iron County, the titular formations of gigantic, red boulders are perfect to climb on, pose by or simply admire. If the sun scorched rocks are too hot for your taste, then head down to Creve Coeur Lake park to cool off. With activities such as fishing, boating and even golf, the park has many fun ways to spend a day. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can use one of the grills available in the park near the many shelters, or head to the Lakehouse Restaurant instead.
WILDLIFE
With elk, bison, turkey and more, a drive through Lone Elk Park will be sure to make photo worthy memories. Although there are only two trails at four and seven miles each, the main focus of the park is on observing the wildlife, with a road winding through the entire area. And if you need a rest, relax by the lake in the middle, where you’ll see families of ducks, and if you’re lucky, a turtle or two in the water. Whether it’s “oohing” at bison just feet away from the car window, staring at an elk among the trees with hushed breath or watching ducks glide over the lake on a sunny day, Lone Elk Park will be sure to leave you marveling at nature. Or, you know, you could just go to the zoo.
Image 1 Lone Elk Park Road, Valley Park
WORKOUT
6990 S. Missouri 94, St. Charles
Lewis and Clark covered over 8000 miles in less than three years in their expedition through the Pacific Northwest, but the Weldon Spring Lewis & Clark Hiking Trail is slightly less demanding of hikers, with two medium-length trails named after the explorers. The Lewis trail clocks in at 8.2 miles and the Clark trail at 5.2 miles. These trails serve as more challenging experiences while still easy to complete in a day. The area is quite scenic too, with both trails offering a view of the Missouri River from up high. The terrain is nothing too terrible, but be sure to check the forecast beforehand. Rain can turn the trails into muddy messes quick, which, trust me, does not make for a enjoyable hiking experience.
HEALTH | 35
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
ATHLETE’S APPETITE Nutritious foods that help athletes find success in different aspects of their sports
HEART HEALTHY
“Godiva chocolate is my favorite brand, and it supports [your] heart.”
contains: fiber, flavonoids, antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids
OATS
ASPARAGUS
DARK CHOCOLATE
GRAPE TOMATOES
GRACE GORMAN | FRESHMAN
FUEL AND ENERGY
“I eat toasted bread because it gives me energy for rowing.”
contains: complex carbohydrates, potassium and healthy fats
WHOLE GRAIN BREAD
EGGS
APPLES
POTATOES
AVA HILLEBRANDT | SOPHOMORE
BUILD MUSCLE
“Hummus is good especially with chips and it has protein, which helps [for] soccer. ”
contains: protein, carbohydrates, phytic acid and magnesium
GREEK YOGURT
ALMONDS
SWISS CHEESE
HUMMUS
MESTERE GETAHUN | SOPHOMORE
IMMUNE BOOST
“Before cheer games I like to put lemon in hot water.”
contains: vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc and copper
LEMON
ZUCCHINI
CORN
BELL PEPPER
KATHY BIAN | JUNIOR Sources: Lancaster General Health, Healthline, WebMD
36 | HEALTH
SPREAD DESIGN BY MAC HUFFMAN & EMMI WALKER SPREAD DESIGN BY MAC HUFFMAN AND
INVESTIGATING
INJURIES A look into injury prevention and classification
DURATION
TISSUE CAUSES
CLASSIFYING INJURIES direct
indirect
overuse
causes fractures, sprains and bruising
torn ligamints and pulled hamstrings
stress fractures, joint injures and sprains
external force
internal force
repeated use
soft tissue
hard tissue
sprains, strains, tendinitis and brusing
fractures and dislocations
muscles, ligaments and tendons
bones
chronic
acute
tendonitis and runner’s knee
sprains, fractures and torn ligamints
long term illness
short term illness
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION *seek professional medical help before treating an injury
and use
keep it simple
illustration by | SCARLETTE MAIER & JOANNE SUNG
R.I.C.E.
R- rest the injured area I6 Ice to prevent swelling C6 Compression to prevent swelling E6 Elevation to alleviate blood pressure
Steps to prevent injuryry< 1. Wear the right gear 2. Take time off 3. Increase strength and flexibility 4. Don’t play while injured
HEALTH | 37
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
LILY TA (9), Tendinitis
ASHER SPEICHER (10), Lisfranc Injury
“In sixth grade I was diagnosed with tendinitis in both shoulders. I’ve been swimming for so long that it’s been a lot on my body, but I haven’t had the time to recover. The injury was over time and it progressively got worse because as I kept swimming and using my shoulders, I wouldn’t let it get better. It became a really sharp pain in the inside of my shoulder. Being unable to perform at my fullest is hard because I always have that extra pain level that holds me back.”
“In the backfield of a football game I twisted my foot. At first, I thought it was just a sprain so I took a few weeks off to let it heal, [and] after that I went back to playing. However, towards the end of the season it was hurting a lot. MRI’s and weight bearing Xrays confirmed it to be a lisfranc injury. I was out for the rest of the season. It was a difficult experience to push through. I go to physical therapy to keep [healing] my body.”
ANECDOTES ON AFFLICTION Student athletes share their experiences with sports-related injuries CAMI WISE (11), Back Injury “My back injury got really bad this November. I can’t row because the injury would hurt every time I took a stroke, and I wanted to avoid making it worse. Mentally, it’s been tough because I love rowing so much, [and] it’s really hard seeing the rest of your team practicing while you’re stuck at home unable to do workouts because it’s too painful. [Because], I’m a very competitive person, I really don’t like not being able to keep up, especially because rowing is so individually competitive.”
JACKSON FREEMAN (11), Wrist Injury
CAMILLA TRAN (12), Neck Injury
“Around six weeks ago, I injured my left hand in basketball [while] going up for a layup. I thought it was just a sprain, but as time went on it got a lot worse. I was out for the rest of the season. It hurts to be on the sideline for the rest of the season and not be able to help the team. To strengthen my hand I’ll be starting physical therapy. It’s still unclear if I will be playing baseball, but I think I should be ready to come back.”
“In gymnastics on vault I got lost in my flip and landed on my head which caused my neck to break. I had to stop competing because it was too dangerous to keep going. I had been in gymnastics for so long that having to quit was mentally tough. Out of nowhere I lost all the work I had put into the sport. I was scared throughout the whole process, and it was mentally draining having to deal with the fact [that] I wouldn’t be returning to gymnastics again.”
38 | HEALTH
SPREAD DESIGN BY JOANNE SUNG
BLOCKADED Athletes often face mental blocks and challenges in competition TARIQ LASHLEY health editor
T
he clouds, as if they were maudlin in a pity yet to come, darkened in rain. She felt prepared — confident, even — as she made her way to the Missouri State Track and Field Meet. However once she arrived, all confidence seemed to drain away, replaced with stress and anxiety. Trepidation spread from her brain to her neck, from her neck to her torso and from her torso to each hand. From finger to finger it spread like a burrowing worm and before she knew it, the battle had been lost before it even began — worry had taken her skill, and stress had cost her victory. Her botches were exponential: the first few failed jumps compounding into failure after failure. What senior Sydney Adams experienced was not some illness or malevolent curse. Nor was it due to a broken bone or anything physical — it was merely the mind: a mental block of high magnitude. “It’s just like you feel like you’re going to fail, but then in reality it’s like, no
— you’ve done all the practice and you have the skillset, just sometimes putting it all together can be scary,” Adams said. It is her experience that was inscribed earlier showing just how damaging a mental block could be to performance. To Adams, mental blocks came not just during general practice but whenever she thought it truly mattered. “As soon as that bar is put up, it’s like, ‘oh my god I’m going to hit it, or land on it,’” Adams said. “In pole vaulting, you get three tries on each height, and once you’re down on that last one you’re like, ‘I can’t do it; I’m just going to mess it up.’” According to Dr. Aoyagi from the National Alliance for Youth Sports,’ “Mental blocks are when one has the skills to achieve their goals, but through mental underlying mental issues or stress one is simply unable to carry through the movements. This can happen to any-
one, regardless of age, skill level or type of sport.” Ladue swim coach Hap Gentry speaks similarly. “A lot of the athletes on the teams that I’ve coached run into [a mental block] at some point over the course of a season, or even a career,” Gentry said. Many people may not recognize a mental block, and even so, they lack the understanding on how to overcome them. Often, the undercurrent of stress or other mental issues are a direct factor. Sophomore Lily Hsieh describes in detail the mental strain which causes such blocks in her athletic experience. “There’s the pressures of school and
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
HEALTH | 39
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illu NE
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everything, but also the amount of commitment you have to make and the results that you get,” Hsieh said, speaking to the more mundane repetition and slow escalation of difficulty climbing that internal mountain. “Mentally it got a lot harder. You have to push yourself from a limit you don’t know. You have to be there; going to practice everyday is hard enough but actually mentally being there is another thing.” For Hsieh, the mountain got larger and larger,
and the climb became more akin to a sheer cliff. However, it isn’t just her: according to Athletes for Hope, 35% of elite athletes suffer from a mental health crisis, which may manifest as stress, eating disorders, depression or anxiety. “It didn’t seem fun anymore, and it was hard to see an end goal,” Hsieh said. “There was one day where I just could not get out of bed to go to practice. I was crying and it was heartbreaking because I love the sport so much, but I knew I couldn’t handle it anymore.” It’s at epidemic levels with surveys reviewing concerns of mental health surrounding college athletes were 150% to 250% higher than those historically reported. When under such critical stress, our brain essentially shuts down, thus at these times the athlete can’t perform. Like said previously, experiencing these blocks aren’t some sort of flaw of character — no, these are simply a battle to be fought and prevail in.
“You feel like you have an expectation for yourself, and other people have certain expectations for your game,” Hsieh said. “The most important thing for me was to have fun and love the sport again.” So the question is how exactly can we come back from this? How do you climb back to mental grace? While the challenge may appear insurmountable, Gentry speaks of it in simple terms. “First is building hope, and confidence for themselves,” Gentry said. “One of the other ways is for them to realize they have a host of other good things going on. Look at the past, you had goals and you achieved those — no reason why you can’t achieve these next ones. Maybe we set up the wrong practice for you; that’s a part of the solution, focusing on one particular goal when there are other steps that make it easier to redevelop or reinforce that they can be successful and those are the stepping stones to the final goal.” P
40 | PHOTO
SPREAD DESIGN BY SYDNEY COLLINGER
EN POINTE RIGHT: Junior Millie Gyawali stands in fourth position looking forward. This pose is an imitation of the famous Edward Degas sculpture, “Little Dancer of Fourteen Years.” “[With Ballet], you’re always striving for more, there’s always more to improve on,” Gyawali said. (photo by Sydney Collinger)
Explore the beauty of pointe ballet
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
PHOTO | 41
TOP: Junior Millie Gyawali lays down to stretch her legs. Her intricate tutu features beading and gold detail. Online dance classes were a large part of her early pandemic experience. Although many others in her dance studio quit, she persisted and pushed through to the Nutcracker, which took place in January 2021. “Being able to do [our end result, the Nutcracker], even though we had to film it instead of having a live audience was just really amazing,” Gyawali said. ABOVE: Shown are the pointe shoes that Gyawali will dance on until they get too “dead” to dance on. Even though pointe ballet can be very painful, Gyawali has kept her morale high for many years. “I can look back on all the dances I’ve done and say, ‘I did this,’ and ‘I’ve completed it,’” Gyawali said. LEFT: Gyawali extends into an arabesque. An arabesque consists of balancing on one leg while the other leg is held up behind the back. While ballet looks graceful and effortless, oftentimes, observers don’t see the effort put in to make it look the way it does. “I do close to 12 hours of dance every week, depending on what time of year it is,” Gyawali said. “And [I] just put so much time and devotion into it.” (photos by Sydney Collinger)
42 | PHOTO
TOP LEFT: A player holds a frisbee that says “the future is female.” The ultimate frisbee team is a coed sport. “This year it’s been great to have enough for a girls team,” senior Katie Silver said. “I think it’s a sport that almost anyone could get into if they tried it out.” MIDDLE LEFT: Junior Olivia Biernacki races to catch a pass. She has been playing ultimate frisbee since eighth grade. “It is a competitive sport, but people on your team as well as the other team want to see you succeed and be your best,” Biernacki said. BOTTOM LEFT: Senior Sam Liu catches a frisbee thrown by his teammate. Liu played youth club and has been on the Ladue team for three years. “I love seeing people work together at every point to try and win,” Liu said. “I love giving people high fives and congratulating people on their good plays and raising their spirits.” TOP RIGHT: Senior Ryan Silver laughs with his teammates. Silver started playing ultimate frisbee at his summer camp 10 years ago. “High school frisbee has beaten my expectations,” Silver said. “It’s a lower-commitment, easy-to-understand sport that makes it easy to join.” MIDDLE RIGHT: Sophomore Rory Lustberg throws a frisbee. This season, around 13 girls are on the team. “I’d love more girls to join the [ultimate frisbee] program,” senior Katie Silver said. BOTTOM RIGHT: Senior Avi Kamath leads a group cheer. Kamath is captain alongside senior Sam Liu. “‘We rep blue and white, championship in sight, we doing aight,’ then I finish with “RAMS ON 3. 1. 2. 3. RAMS,” Kamath said. (photos by Ginger Schulte)
SPREAD DESIGN BY GINGER SCHULTE & LUCY LOCHMOELLER
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | MARCH 2022
PHOTO | 43
THIS IS
ULTIMATE
A look into what goes on during Ladue’s Ultimate Frisbee practice ABOVE: Senior Avi Kamath jumps to catch the frisbee. Kamath has played ultimate frisbee for four years. “The best part of the team is the community we’ve built and how we all feel like a little family,” Kamath said. (photo by Ginger Schulte)