Freshman Kate Accardo joins rowing club

DIG PINK AWARENESS

Varsity Volleyball defeated Bishop Ward High School in two sets for the annual Dig Pink game Oct. 1 It was organized this year by seniors Savannah Friedebach and Megan Flanagan to mark the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The annual Dig Pink volleyball game helps raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. To raise money, Friedebach and Flanagan held a bake sale and sold Dig

Pink shirts that were worn the day after the game at school.

“Raising money at the bake sale was really fun,” Friedebach said. “It felt good to raise money for them.” (Photo by Grace Parrott)

TENNIS DISTRICTS

The tennis team lost in the District semifinals against St.

Teresa’s Academy Oct. 2 on the Plaza Tennis Courts. Tennis

Districts started Oct. 1 with a win against Lee’s Summit at Lee’s Summit High School. “In the first match I think

I played really well,” sophomore Addie Vance said about playing Lee's Summit. “My second match I think I could have done better.” (Photo by Lilly Concannon, Le Flambeau)

FIELD HOCKEY SENIOR NIGHT

The field hockey team honored five seniors Tuesday Oct. 16 at their last home match versus the Titans of Pembroke Hill

High School. Senior Grace Watkins is pictured left as she is introduced with her mom, Heidi Peter. The game resulted in a loss with a final score of 0-4. The team lost their final game 0-4 Oct. 22 at Pembroke to close out their season.

However, JV won 2-1. “I’ll just miss having them around,” junior Lilly Denney said. “I love our captains this year. I love their energy and how they lead the team.” (Photo by Dani Rotert)

DANCE TEAM HALFTIME

The Dance Team performed at the Rockhurst Football game against Blue Valley High School Oct. 1. They performed their pom routine, choreographed by coach Shelli Vaughan.

The next day the team had a kick technique intensive to prepare for the upcoming season. Senior Chandler Rawson, pictured left, performed at her last Rockhurst football game.

“There is still the pressure of a big crowd but there are no judges there so it is more fun,” Rawson said. (Photo by Ava Rawson) Accardo’s New Wave Freshman Kate Accardo tries rowing for her first time and loves it.

BY SELA KINCAID REPORTER

Hauling a long thin rowing boat to the banks of the Kansas River on a clear Saturday morning, freshman Kate Accardo began her weekly rowing practice. She strapped in her oars and waited for the sign to enter the water.

For the first time this fall, Accardo was eager to tryout rowing. It is a water sport that involves a team of people in a rowboat competitively working together to make the boat go faster. She rows 8s.

“I didn’t know what it was about and then I tried it out one day and I thought it was pretty fun,” Accardo said.

After her mother, Shannon Accardo, began rowing earlier this year, she became inspired to pursue the sport. She joined the Kansas City Boat Club at the beginning of September and practiced four times a week.

“I think she should always be active, playing a sport,” Shannon said. “And I think rowing was a great choice.”

Accardo enjoyed the sport so much that she invited many of her friends to try out it out, including Kiley Condon a sophomore at St. Teresa’s Academy. They have been best friends since fourth grade at Visitation and now row together on the same team. They took this opportunity to keep

Freshman Kate Accardo carries her oars after practice on the Kansas River Oct. 20.

in touch since they go to different high schools.

“Rowing was a good excuse to see each other, as well as great exercise,” Condon said.

At a normal practice, Accardo starts off in one direction down the river and halfway through her two-hour long practice, she and her team turn around and make it back to their starting point.

Accardo said rowing is a team building sport that takes many committed team members to form a consistently strong and fast group. Not many people row, which is why the sport is considered out of the ordinary, according to Accardo.

“It’s not usually done in the Midwest,” Accardo said. “It’s not a typical sport like volleyball or basketball. It’s unique.”

Rowing is becoming a bigger part of Accardo’s life the more she learns about the sport. Since it’s a fall sport, her season ended in mid October, but she plans on continuing next year.

“I really enjoy the feeling I get when we start on the water. It’s just really cool,” Accardo said. “I plan on continuing past this season.”

STORM SCHEDULE

STORM FIT

EVERY MONDAY WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY IN THE GYM AT 7:00 AM

OCT 28

SPORTING KC VS LOS ANGELES FC CHILDREN’S MERCY PARK

NOV 11

CHIEFS VS ARIZONA CARDINALS ARROWHEAD STADIUM