Liberty Ledger - Issue 4 - May 3, 2019 by The Ledger Magazine

The

LEDGER

Vol. 6

Issue 4

May 3, 2019

Content

News

Film Festival

WSD hosted the third annual film festival

Merritt

Learn about Mrs. Merritt and why she’s support staff of the year

Features

In Depth

Rishi Kondapaneni

Rishi Kondapaneni is one of the National Merit finalists

Whitmore’s Class

Learn about Whitmore’s class and what the students do

Seniors

2019 Seniors

Class of 2019 is counting down their last days of high school

Interactive Fun Games

Flip to this page to have the chance to win a gift card

Opinion

Sports

Standardized Testing

Does standardized testing really matter?

Spring Sports

Get an update on all of Liberty’s spring sports

Volume 6 Issue 4

Editors Olivia Holler* Chasteanne Salvosa* Alyssa Bailey* Brooke Huffman* Design Editor Jessica Gibson* Online Editor Caleb Woods* Reporters McKenzie Bartels, Shae Bowsher, Nicholas Howard, Lauren Polydys *Each editor also serves as a reporter

Intentions

The Ledger is a publication that releases 4 issues (one per quarter) throughout the year, distributing 1,000 free copies to the student body, faculty and administration of Liberty High School as well as the surrounding Wentzville and Lake St. Louis communities.

The Ledger magazine is a part of the district’s curriculum and is designed to provide a practical journalistic experience for written expression on a variety of topics. It is a student-led publication class that reports on stories relatable to the school community. Students write, take photos and design the publication and the adviser will supervise the student journalists. The opinions expressed in this magazine may not be those of Liberty, nor the Wentzville R-IV School District, faculty, staff or administration. The main editorial, when included, expresses the opinion of the Liberty editorial staff.

Reacting

Letters to all editors can be submitted in room 239, emailed or mailed to Liberty. All letters must be signed. Limit letters you wish to be published to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space requirements and libelous material to the discretion of the editors. If you have a news story idea or comment, please contact us in room 239.

Credentials

The Ledger is a member of the Sponsors of Student Publications of Greater St. Louis.

Advertising

To further facilitate the space available for student writing, advertising will not be offered in The Ledger.

Upcoming Events

Seniors Final Schedule Thursday, May 16: 1st hour Publications Seniors Friday, May 17: 3rd, 6th, 2nd hours Seniors in Publications Monday, May 20: 8th, 5th, 7th hours

Seniors who have helped the publications program grow

The LEDGER

Content | lhstoday.org design by: m.bartels

Final Schedule for Fr., Soph., Jr. Wednesday, May 29: 2nd hour Thursday, May 30: 1, 3, 5 hours Friday, May 31: 6, 7, 8 hours Other important dates May 6-17: AP Testing May 14-22: EOC Testing May 20: Seniors Last Day May 27: No School, Memorial Day May 28: Graduation Practice 9 a.m.-12 p.m. May 30: Early Release for Finals May 31: Last Day of School June 2: Graduation at 2 p.m.

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Twitter: @LHSJourn

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LHS Today: LHSToday.org

A 2019 School Newspapers Online Distinguished Site

Service Is Out Of This World

Taking Gold

by Emily Barnett Reporter

by Sruthi Ramesh Reporter

photo provided by Ms. Borders

FCCLA members Katelyn Yoder, Emma photo provided by FCCLA Benesek and Audrey Chambers took gold in the category of food innovations and finished first out of 18 other teams March 16-19 at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, which advanced them to the national conference held June 30-July 4 in Anaheim, California. Their project included creating an original recipe, hosting focus groups, refining the product, calculating nutritional value, producing packaging prototypes and calculating profit margins in which they created a presentation board and 10 minute speech for judges.

Liberty To Send 14 Students To State Solo And Ensemble

Out of nearly 100 Wentzville students to qualify for the state music festival, Liberty sent 14 of their very own musicians and singers to the University of Missouri-Columbia on Friday, April 26

by Chasteanne Salvosa Co-Editor in Chief

On March 14 at 8:15 a.m., Key Club’s cabinet got on a bus to ride all the way to Springfield, Mo. for a District conference of Key Clubbers from Missouri and Arkansas. During their three day stay at the conference site, they attended competitions and forums about different topics that many Key club chapters held. Competitions ranged from video contests and poster contests to public speaking and scrapbook making. – Mikayla Bowman & Jen Deters won the Instagram contest – Bowman and freshmen Sruthi Ramesh qualified for the MoArk Talent Show – Deters was recognized as a distinguished secretary – Greta Rompel won second place for the T-shirt design – Christina Bertenshaw won third place in oratory contest

– Ianne Salvosa & Sruthi Ramesh won first place for video contest – Maddie Ashlock & Mahathi Manikanadan won second place for the poster contest – Chapter got second place in single service – Chapter won publications award – Greta Rompel won member of the year

HOSA Tackles State by Emily Barnett Reporter

photo provided by Julia Amery

Within the 14 students being sent to state solo and ensemble are six soloists and four ensembles from both band and choir, that received “Exemplary” ratings at the MSHAA District Music Festival, held at Fort Zumwalt East High School on Friday, March 8. From choir, juniors Emily Gann, Wesley Nichols, Dylan Taylor, sophomores Emily Grant, Alyssa Place, Michelle Yoder and freshman Michael Gannon will represent Liberty at state solo and ensemble. And from band, senior Maya Angeles, juniors Lamonya Lathon, Dylan Nordmann, Elaine Amery, Henry Roos and sophomores Aadi Kadam and Kailey Cain.

On March 25-26, Liberty students who take part in the National Program known as HOSA (Future Health Professionals) attended a leadership conference at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri. There were 1,353 students in total and many chapter advisors who attended the conference. The top three medalists in each of the 56 competitive events and all qualifiers in eight recognition events have an opportunity to attend the HOSA International Leadership Conference held in Orlando on June 19-22. The students who medaled include: Lanni Guffey Josh Geisler, Lauren McDonell, Aubrey McCain, Sarvani Kunapareddy, Kailey Cain and Cassidy Widlowski. Widlowski, who actually qualified through a recognition event instead of a competitive event, received the Gold Level of the Barbara James Service Award for completing over 250 community service hours related to health. photo provided by HOSA

News | lhstoday.org design by: m.bartels

Displaying True Dedication Robotics club members put in extensive hours leading up to Worlds by Lauren Polydys Reporter

If there is one club that knows what it means to be dedicated it is the robotics club, the Ratchet Rockers. They spend an average of 25 to 30 hours a week outside of school working together to create innovative robots that they compete with. All the hard work they put in was so that they could compete at Worlds in Houston, Texas April 17-22. First, the team had to design the robot they were going to create. Then they completed their six-week build season. During this time they had to create their robot from start to finish. After the build season is over, they are required to put a vacuum bag over the robot and they are not allowed to work on the robot any further. This process is called “bag and tag” because they cannot open the bag back up until they get to the competition. There are six weeks of competitions before Worlds and the Ratchet Rockers competed in week three and five. “The most challenging part is the time constraint every year,” senior Mike Coyle said. “You always feel like you are running out of time no matter how far ahead of schedule you are because it is six weeks and no matter how much you meet, you still don’t get everything done you want to.” The theme for this year’s robot was “Deep Space” and the Ratchet Rockers created an elevator system robot that is able to go up to about 8 feet tall. On the elevator there is a hand and it is on a pair of slides that can open and grab the game pieces. The main goal of the competitions was to earn the most points. The team earned points by being able to put hatches, or discs, into their ship/robot. When creating their robot, the team was separated into smaller subgroups that were assigned specific tasks to help build it. They have a computer design team, programming team, build team, and a business team. “The business stuff is actually a really big part of the team that doesn’t require you to actually use the math and science aspect of it as much,” sophomore Abby Shields said. “Because it is more like looking at data and being able to advertise and fundraise, which is what people don’t think about with robotics.”

After competing in all their competitions, they got the chance to go to Worlds. “[My favorite part of the club] I would say seeing your robot compete and being able to feel that I accomplished something with my friends,” junior Mitchell Harbour said. This season while competing at the regional competition in Knoxville, Tenn. They won the Engineering Inspiration Award. The award was given to them since they showed an advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within their school and community. It also rewarded them for making measurable efforts of outreach in their community beyond building their robot. Since they received the award, the team earned a spot at the World Championship Competition in Houston, Texas on April 17-20. Their spot in the event was also paid for and sponsored by NASA. All the hard work that each team member contributed is what helped them stand out in the competition. Even though they didn’t win the regional competition, their effort and teamwork was seen and rewarded. Through this award they are able to show their strengths at Worlds. When the team went to worlds they placed 34th out of a total of 67 teams. Even though they didn’t win, they had many good games and had a great time in Houston. Overall, this club is a great way for students to express their love of creating. It is also a great way to meet a wide variety of people who are all working towards the same goal. For more information about the Robotics Club, visit their website http://ratchetrockers1706.org/

The Robotics team had the chance to compete in districts, regionals, and worlds during this season of competition.

News | lhstoday.org design by: l.polydys

photos provided by the Ratchet Rockers

All Ages Had a Chance to ‘Be Scene’

The Wentzville School District hosted their 3rd annual Film Festival by Elizabeth Hamby Reporter

ith a chance to win a GoPro camera on the line, students, teachers and their family members of all ages gathered in the C.H. Jones Auditorium at Holt High School to celebrate their achievements April 2 for the Wentzville Film Festival. Everyone was in a hustle and bustle to get everything ready for the students to feel special. When the student filmmakers walked into the high school, there was a red carpet rolled out for them to walk and pose on. “Our main goal for tonight is to celebrate students and for everyone to see how awesome our kids are at Wentzville are and celebrate that with our community,” Amanda Moody, a coordinator that has helped all three years of the film festival, said. This year’s festival was themed “Be Scene” and the event was student-led from promotion to the production of the event. “Every year the kids kind of dictate what changes about it,” Moody said. “So I think we will have more students doing the promotional piece of it. And they push it because for the first time there is an animation section, just because we had a bunch of animation entries. So that’s just an example of how it’s grown.” The night kicked off at 7 p.m. and the hosts Jace Nielsen, Dylan Soberg and Mason Wilbanks filled the room with happiness and laughter. “Tonight is going to be a lot of fun and we will definitely be having fun on stage,” Nielsen said. For each category presented, the hosts had something arranged pertaining to the topic. The performances included was a kazoo band for the music category and lightning news for the news category. Liberty was well represented as four filmmakers won in four different categories. Sophomore Ianne Salvosa made a film in the Public Service Announcement (PSA) category called “Speaking Silver.” “Speaking Silver” was about awareness for hearing loss and deafness and telling their story. Senior Braden McMakin made a film for the story category called “Stained in Red,” which he was super passionate about. Although filming only took two school days to film, it took five months to edit. The film was about suicide prevention and really emphasized that you are not alone. To commemorate his film, he wore a red sweatshirt the night of the festival. Freshman Alex Alehult made a film in the instructional category called “Basketball” and was the only freshman that won from Liberty. His film was a compilation of videos that demonstrated him boosting the audience’s confidence of being able to play basketball. And last but not least sophomore Britney Thai with her film, “Mind and Heart over Wealth” categorized in the new animation category of the festival. Her film displayed that people should not be classified by their financial standing but by what is in their heart. She was really surprised to hear that she had won because she was not there the night of the festival. Liberty was not the only school well represented at the festival, there were multiple winners from elementary schools. Besides the class films made, there were also some dreams displayed in addition to film making. Fifth-grader Myleigh Turnipseed made a tutorial film about making homemade ravioli. But when she was interviewed, she explained a much deeper story than that. It turns out her grandpa featured in the video ran his own restaurant with his wife called Yacovelli’s and it was a family recipe. Although she loves filming, she says she has a true passion for cooking and wants to be a chef when she grows up. The film festival isn’t just about students submitting films for recognition. There are many more stories to tell, it’s about much more than that. It’s about encouraging kids to be whatever they want to be because if you can dream it, you can do it.

What the Liberty filmmakers had to say on the red carpet

“I came up with the idea for my film when I was reading the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost. I became inspired by how he used nature to portray his theme and I decided I wanted to do the same but convey it through film.” - sophomore Ianne Salvosa

“My favorite thing about filmmaking is the endless opportunities you have, there’s virtually no limits when it comes to sketching ideas.” - senior Braden McMakin photos by c.salvosa

News | lhstoday.org design by: l.polydys

Seniors’ Time to Shine Liberty’s theatre program produces its first annual senior directed one acts by Brooke Huffman Reporter

Within the past five years, Liberty has started various traditions, from the bridge walk to Lady Liberty. The Thespian Troupe is no exception, announcing a new annual tradition - senior directed one acts, which will be directed solely by students instead of Ms. Gehrke. Not only that, but Ms. Gehrke will be completely separate from the set-making, costuming, and all other aspects of the plays. This will give new directors the chance to make their production completely and absolutely their own, from the actors to the lighting. The selected seniors are Paxton Linnemeyer, Devin Eckardt, Marissa Pukala-Whitaker and Emily Stabile. Show dates are set for May 10 and 11, so don’t forget to support your thespians. Paxton Linnemeyer is directing “Jimmy the Antichrist,” a play by Keith J. Powell. This show centers around Jimmy, and the shocking revelation he reveals to his family. “It’s about this young man who comes home from college for Thanksgiving dinner, and he tells his parents that he’s the Antichrist, and a lot of stuff happens after that. It’s completely bizarre, it’s pretty out there, it’s a satire, and it’s gonna be fun,” Linnemeyer said. While he has acted in many of Liberty’s production, this is his first time directing. “I’m not really nervous, more excited than anything else cause I’ve always wanted to do something with directing. I feel like I’ve got some good ideas, and it’s always interested me so I figured I might as well,” Linnemeyer said.

This is the smallest cast out of all of the one acts, with only six people. “It was kind of hard casting, not gonna lie, there were some roles that were pretty easy, I knew,” Linnemeyer said. “There were also a couple roles where I was completely like, ‘I don’t know where to go with this,’ but eventually after I figured it all out it came together.” When asked what he’s loved most about directing, Linnemeyer knew exactly what to say. “Getting all of my thoughts out, and being able to see it come together on stage. I feel like it just helps me get a development and an understanding of what different aspects of theatre are like. I’m looking forward to being able to work with people in a new way,” Linnemeyer said.

Devin Eckardt and Marissa Pukala-Whitaker co-direct “The 10 Best/ Worst Things about High School,” a play by M.G. Davidson, which focuses on the ups and downs of high school. “It’s basically about these two kids, one who loves high school and thinks everything’s great about high school, and then the other one obviously has not had a good experience with high school, and they’re basically going back and forth from different perspectives. It’s just fun how they play off of each other, and it makes it really funny,” Pukala-Whitaker said. Unlike her fellow directors, PukalaThe 10 Best/Worst Whitaker has directed before. Her repertoire Things about High contains various videos on the Amethyst School Pictures YouTube channel. However, this is Co-Directed by Marissa Pukala-Whitaker her first time directing a live show. “It wasn’t super planned. Devin had asked me if I wanted to direct with him and

The 9 Worst Breakups of All Time Directed by Emily Stabile

News | lhstoday.org design by: c.salvosa

Jimmy the Antichrist Directed by Paxton Linnemeyer

I was like, ‘Yeah, sure,’ so it was kind of a spur of the moment thing to gain experience,” Pukala-Whitaker said. However, the challenges that come with directing presented themselves quickly to Pukala-Whitaker, the first one being casting. “It was definitely very strange picking the cast,” Pukala-Whitaker said. “Because you’d have someone who fit the role perfectly but then you’d have this person who took it in a completely different way that you’d love to see.” Directing does have its downsides, but Pukala-Whitaker prefers to look at the positives. “I’m looking forward to see how it turns out in the end, to see, ‘Did I do this right?’ It definitely shows me the more behind the scenes side of it because most people see what’s going on on stage, but it’s getting a look behind everything Co-Directed by Devin Eckardt else,” Pukala-Whitaker said.

Emily Stabile is directing “The 9 Worst Breakups of All Time,” a play by Ian McWethy, a history of awful breakups and relationships. “It’s about this girl who gets over a nasty breakup because her boyfriend cheated on her, and this girl Eve shows her, ‘Oh, this isn’t the worst breakup ever, I will show you nine of the worst breakups of all time so you can get over it and start dating again.’ It’s really funny, it’s really weird, and I think it will give students a really different perspective of how dating works and how breakups will work,” Stabile said. Stabile is also a first time director, and is currently undecided about whether she’s excited or nervous.

“This is just something I really wanted to try to help build up more leadership skills, and just see what it’s like directing a show,” Stabile said. “I’m most looking forward to working with the actors and making the show come to life and I’m nervous about things going wrong.” But before Stabile could look forward to working with the actors, she would have to cast them. “It really wasn’t an easy process casting since I had so many roles,” Stabile said. “I had to narrow it down to placing certain characters with certain actors so it’s not too complicated for their costume changes.” Excited to venture into unknown, Stabile is looking forward to the show.

Mask-Your-Age

Teachers earn a hat trick over the seniors, winning their third Swofford game in a row by Ally Schniepp Reporter The third annual Swofford game took place on Friday, April 5 where the teachers earned a win over the seniors for the third year in a row. The final score of the game was 52-33, the students only scoring six points in the second half total. Ms. Runa Swofford came out before the game started to explain the meaning behind why seniors were about to battle the staff. The reason of the Swofford game taking place is to raise money for the Swofford scholarship. Scott Swofford was a coach at both Holt and Timberland and his wife came out to start the game off right, by explaining why they were all really there. “Especially with everyone being together as a family,” Swofford said, setting the mood of the game. After Swofford ended her speech, the audience applauded and then waited for the tip off. With the score of the game, you would think the student section would be dead and boring, but not Liberty. The student section cheered for their seniors loud and proud. The students were only down by one at the end of the first quarter. Senior Hunter Perkins led the students to their comeback by hitting some big 3-pointers. He led on the floor in the same way he does when leading cheers in the student section during the regular basketball season. “Smooth as butter,” Perkins said after the game, referring to his nickname “Butter” on the back of his shirt. As much as Perkins did to help the team, by the end of the second quarter teachers were up by eight, 35-27. The grand total fundraised for the night was a whopping $2,641.45, exceeding the goal of $2,000. In the second half, hoops were lowered and many players, whether that be student or faculty, were interested in dunking. Let’s just say the teachers were a bit more successful in that department, scoring nine points in the third quarter, students only scoring three. Going into the fourth quarter, the score was 44-30, teachers winning. As hard as the seniors tried to get back in the game, they lost to the teachers for a third year in a row, 52-33. To view more pictures from the Swofford Game and prom, visit lhstoday.org/tag/lens photos by m.morris and l. spakowski

Prom King and Queen Hunter Perkins and Brittanie Tabers

Prom | lhstoday.org design by: s.bowsher & c.salvosa

Rising Above the Rest

Support staff of the year award is presented to Ms. Merritt by McKenzie Bartels Reporter

s. Merritt received the Liberty support staff of the year award for not only her hard work in the resource room, but also for her compassion and sympathetic heart that makes any student feel welcome at Liberty. “I was shocked when I heard I got support staff of the year,” Ms. Merritt said, who was selected in a vote of teachers and staff. “I’m photo by a.riley really shy and they said my name Ms. Merritt’s job isn’t easy and every day and at first I didn’t believe it. But looks a little different. The best way to put it would be that she is a problem solver for all I’m really happy about the whole students. thing and glad that I can make a difference in some people’s lives.” Everyone feels that she is deserving of this award, especially assistant principal Dr. Kiely. “Ms. Merritt has made resource her own, helped many students have successes, and provided a safe space for many,” Dr. Kiely said. This is Ms. Merritt’s first year working in the resource room, although she began working at Liberty in 2017 as the attendance secretary. She first started her educational career pursuing her bachelor’s degree in nursing and switched to teaching after finding a passion for it. Since switching to the resource is her job, it looks a little different now than it did as the attendance secretary. Her job isn’t easy and every day looks a little different. Some of the typical things she does may include: reading a test to a

student, helps students come up with ways to talk to their teachers about their grades or resource can be a quiet space for students to be. It can also serve as a place when students have a crisis at home and they can go there as a safe place. There are many things Ms. Merritt does, but the best way to put it would be that she is a problem solver for all different students. “I’ve been gifted the opportunity to connect with and mentor some of Liberty’s most extraordinary kids. My classroom has become an extension of my home where each student is valued, championed, believed in and challenged to grow,” she said. Freshman Brianna Spies looks up to Ms. Merritt and loves having someone talk to too whenever she needs it at anytime of the day. “I love Mrs. Merritt and it’s a good place to go whenever I need it at school,” Spies said. There are many supportive staff members here at Liberty, and it’s hard to find one that doesn’t deserve this award, but Mrs. Merritt stood out this year and proved that she is well deserving of such a photo by b.mcmakin great award. Ms. Merritt received the support staff of the year award from principal Mr. Nelson. She was the former attendance secretary and now teaches in the resource room.

A Sense of Belonging Braswell’s personality and teaching style have students feeling more at home by Olivia Holler Co-Editor-in-Chief

Ms. Braswell’s personality and teaching style go hand in hand with her caring personality to her unique style of teaching. Juniors Josie Biondo and Aries Williams both think highly of Ms. Braswell. She is caring and understanding. “There are so many things I can say about her, she is such an amazing person, she has been there for me through tough times. She is very caring and loves her students with all her heart,” Biondo said. “She is the person I go to when I have good or a hard time. I feel comfortable to talk to her about anything and I’m glad I had a teacher that made me feel that way.” Williams explains that if students are struggling with something, she focuses on how to help them better understand the concept.

News | lhstoday.org design by: a.bailey

“She just is an overall really good teacher, she’s always willing to help and wants the best for you,” Williams said. Braswell teaches English I, Reading Enrichment and Reading and Writing Workshop. She has taught for 11 years, and student taught at Ritenour High School which turned into a long term sub job for a full semester and then summer school. She was hired at Frontier and worked in seventh grade ELA for six years before coming to photo by o.holler Liberty. Braswell tries to make the class more relatable to When students walk into Braswell’s classroom, life. She continues daily to encourage students with her loving and understanding personality there are couches and comfy chairs all over her and unique teaching style in order to get the best room. There are no desks with uncomfortable version of themselves. chairs. Her teaching style is like no other. Story continued on lhstoday.org

Shaped by Music

Junior Dessa Outman performs her original song, “Don’t Let Me Go” at the 2019 Winter Pep Assembly. Students lit the bleachers with cell phone light as Outman performed. photo by b.mcmakin

Talent show winner Dessa Outman shares her growth as a songwriter by Lizzie Kayser Reporter

essa Outman’s safe place consists of simply her notebook, pencil and guitar. “I feel this need to decipher my own emotions. [Songwriting] is sort of a release for me,” Outman said. “It helps me understand how I’m feeling, how I feel about other people and how to deal with that. It’s my therapy.” An aspiring musician, Outman, a junior, won Liberty’s second talent show and performed her original song “Don’t Let Me Go” at the Winter Pep Assembly. Her passion for songwriting, however, started long before she had the chance to step on stage. Outman first remembers sitting on the floor of her bedroom as a child, listening and singing along to Hannah Montana songs on her radio. In second grade she discovered Taylor Swift. “I was like, ‘she’s so good because she writes her own music’,” Outman said. Shortly after she was inspired to write her first song. Now, songwriting has become an essential part of Outman’s everyday life. While some use writing as an escape, she has found that it helps her process life’s ups and downs. When her emotions are at a peak, she sits down and plays her guitar. She then writes the lyrics in order, beginning with the first verse and leading into the chorus. “I normally go with the chords first and try to find a sound that fits how I’m feeling,” Outman said. “Then I try to say how I’m feeling, which is the most challenging part.” Though finding the right words can be difficult, the second she

grasps them Outman is able to create something beautiful. She is most proud of her lyrics “I’ll mold myself to you so our pieces fit together even though I know they’re not supposed to” and “I wanna know how you did it, how you draped this love on top of me ever so carefully.” Following recent talent show success, Outman remains humble. Having no idea she was going to win, the sound of her name echoing through the auditorium was a pleasant surprise. “There were so many incredible musicians in that talent show. It’s insane,” Outman said. “I would love to play with any of them.” Outman is working diligently so she can pursue a career in music outside of high school. From recording to performing at open mic nights, she is beginning to make a name for herself in the community while growing as an artist. Junior Julia Bailey, a friend of Outman, has watched her flourish into the musician she is today. Bailey has been supportive throughout Outman’s journey and listens to songs she creates. “She’s really talented,” Bailey said. “I think if she tries hard and puts in the effort she can really make it as a musician.” When asked if she plans to become a singer/songwriter, a smile appeared on Outman’s face. “It would be my dream job,” Outman said. “I don’t know if it will go anywhere. I think I’m just going to see where it takes me.” Though Outman’s future is unknown, one thing is for certain: music has shaped Dessa Outman into the person she is today, forever engraving handwritten melodies onto her heart.

News | lhstoday.org design by: l.kayser & a.bailey

The National Merit Scholar

Rishi Kondapaneni has been awarded a prestigious scholarship by Mollie Banstetter Reporter

It’s no surprise to anyone that knows senior Rishi Kondapaneni, that he has achieved so much academically. Kondapaneni was named as a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship earlier this year. Finalists represent less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, and have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million. Kondapaneni was the only Liberty student to be named as a finalist. Jasper Pendino from Holt was the only other Wentzville School District student to receive this. “This is definitely a big deal for me, it’s opened up a lot of opportunities,” Kondapaneni said. PSAT stands for the Preliminary SAT, which is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The PSAT tests math and evidence-based reading and writing. Kondapaneni’s first college choice, University of Florida, awarded him the scholarship through the program. “I totally didn’t know it existed, my dad actually told me ‘Hey you should take the PSAT.’ and I was like why?… he says ‘well there’s actually this scholarship you could get if you take it.’ And I didn’t really care much about it because it was just like another standardized test, but then I scored well and it opened up a lot of opportunities and I’m really thankful for it.” After stumbling upon the PSAT, a year and a half later,

Kondapaneni got a letter and a certificate letting him know what he just achieved. “I was like ‘nice cool lol’ photo by c. salvosa cause I don’t really care much about things,” Kondapaneni said, referring to his reaction when finding out that he received the National Merit Scholarship. “He has always excelled in academics, I think that’s obvious to any teacher that has had him,” HOSA advisor Mrs. Strathman said. Now he has the scholarship to prove it. Kondapaneni, scored a 1480 out of 1520 on the PSAT, just in case you were interested – that’s 40 points away from the perfect score. “It’s very easy to get the scholarship, the hard part is just taking the PSAT, because you’re competing with people around the nation…it’s really important to study hard for the PSAT because it’s the first step and the hardest step,” Kondapaneni said. Although this may seem braggadocious there is a point to this; that point being that yes, though academics may come easy to Kondapaneni, anyone can take the PSAT and could be the next recipient of the prestigious scholarship, required they put in the hard work.

Non-Stop

Senior Mike Coyle is named on Missouri Scholars 100 list by Chasteanne Salvosa Co-Editor-in-Chief Senior Mike Coyle sounds like a rarity on paper, with an ACT score of 35, a 4.52 GPA, is the current Technology-Student Association (TSA) president, photo by c. salvosa Varsity Scholar Bowl Co-Captain, CAD Co-Captain and Strategy lead for the Ratchet Rockers Robotics Team, is an AP Scholar with Distinction, ranked first among the class of 2019, is currently enrolled in multiple weighted courses, volunteers his time as a tutor and a mentor and is bound to study physics and chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. However, as unreal as all of Coyle’s resume sounds, he has recently also added Missouri Scholars 100 to his already impressive repertoire. “In February, Ms. Gerringer gave me an application for Scholars 100,” Coyle said. “She told me she gets one application for the senior class every year, so I filled it out, I submitted it and I got something back in the mail that I’d been named one of the Missouri Scholars 100.” Coyle is the first Liberty student to receive this distinction, which is presented by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals. In order to become one of the state’s 100 most accomplished high school scholars, students must apply and meet certain academic requirements in order to join the cream of the crop. All students who are nominated to become a Missouri Scholar must meet the “Academic Decathlon” requirements which are comprised of 10 “events” or qualifications. Such qualifications include a minimum GPA of 3.75, a minimum ACT score of 29, a top 10% class rank, enrollment Features | lhstoday.org

10 design by: a.bailey & b.huffman

in upper-level courses, good attendance and heavy school activity involvement. In addition to the many requirements of becoming a Missouri Scholar, all students were required to write an essay over a community service that they’ve completed. And in checking off all of the criteria, the witnesses to Coyle’s work ethic not only describe him as hardworking but motivated as well. “Always curious to know more,” Dr. Deatherage said of Coyle. “Like he’ll often ask questions beyond like, ‘How does this thing relate to this thing we’ve already done?’” Deatherage, however, does not only observe Coyle’s work in class, she is also a sponsor and mentor for the same robotics team Coyle serves as CAD Co-Captain and Strategy lead on. “Absolutely non-stop. Does not take a break,” senior Maya Angeles, who has also collaborated with Coyle on the robotics team, described him. And non-stop are the correct words as Coyle gears to head off and graduate with the class of 2019 and attend UPenn in the fall. But as for Coyle, the inspiration behind his motivation relates to his past as a student and the future of the others around him. “Setting an example for my younger brother and my younger sister and really, all the younger kids at Liberty,” Coyle said. “I was not a motivated kid, especially in the first year of high school, but then I kind of found my stride. So doing what I do now I’m hoping that somebody, a kid like me, will look up and be like, ‘Hey, that’s what I should be trying to do.’”

photo by m.foster

Up for Interpretation The impact of the Sheldon Art Gallery and how that experience has affected me by Alyssa Bailey Assistant Editor Picture this: you’re an art student in Pre-AP Studio Art. You have deadlines of when your artwork is due and there’s not enough time to finish everything. You’re scatterbrained… you have to think of something off the top of your head… and quick. That’s an example of what it’s like being an art student in a class setting like that. This class, at times can be stressful and exasperating but I can’t help but love it. The environment, the creativity, the freedom of expression… it all envelops me into a tranquil state of mind. I can’t help but feel inspired to be in a room full of talented art students that demonstrate their individuality through each of their pieces. I can only speak for myself when I say this, but the feeling of being recognized and commended for something that I created is staggering to me. The hours of work I put into my art has helped me learn and gain new techniques that I never knew I could do before. This year has been a learning curve for me, especially Pre-AP Studio Art and even though I have a long way to go, it was still an honor to be showcased in the Sheldon Art Gallery in St. Louis on March 1. In my experience, this was the first time my artwork has been displayed in such a dignified setting. My artwork has, in previous years, been displayed at art shows but they weren’t shows where my abilities were significant. In these shows, I never took the concept of creating art very seriously. Making art was always seen as a hobby or an activity that I enjoyed doing, but it was never considered. However, I did have some family members that were dedicated to making art and were wanting to build upon new skill sets. At the time, I didn’t understand why it was important or why people chose to put their focus into hours of arduous, frustrating work. I figured that getting irritated or angry over creating something that you’re probably going to forget, later on, wasn’t worth it.

It wasn’t until high school that I remembered the joy and achievement I felt after thinking of an idea, bringing that idea to life and finishing it. Looking back on most of my pieces, I don’t show any pride in them because what I thought was amazing at the time was really a colossal mess compiled together to form some strange shapes. There was no deeper meaning, no theme, no concentration of why I was creating what I did. Even with some pieces that I created this year, I still feel that way. The two art pieces I chose to display in this art show weren’t my very best work either, but they were stepping stones in a larger picture. These pieces had helped me discover the type of media and theme I want to focus on. Now, in second semester, I have contentment with the newest pieces I’ve been working on. I’ve grown immensely with my abilities this year and I’m grateful for that. I feel just as grateful for that as being represented in the Sheldon. My peers and I had a wonderful opportunity to be included in this gallery. Other schools in the Wentzville area also had the privilege of being involved in this art show, as well. Not to mention that our principal, Mr. Nelson, decided to have this gallery catered for all the art students attending the show. For that, I’m thankful for everyone involved in the process of helping put this gallery together because otherwise, art students would have never had this opportunity. Attending this show had shed light on other artists around the Wentzville area. I got the chance to see what it’s like exploring the meaning of other students’ work and how the most important moments in their life, whether that be uplifting or depressing, affected the way they perceive the world. I got the chance to listen to other voices and opinions about different subjects and themes other artists want to showcase. I got the chance to be heard.

photos by Amethyst Pictures

Opinion | lhstoday.org design by: a.bailey & b.huffman

Strive for Success

What is your favorite part of teaching?

Ms. Whitmore is committed to her students

by Olivia Holler & Lauren Polydys Reporters

very teacher strives for their students to succeed and this is especially the case for Ms. Whitmore. “My favorite part of teaching is when you are working with a kid on an important topic and they might be struggling and then all of the sudden they get it and they have that ‘aha’ moment that is my absolute favorite thing, it’s when they get a skill accomplished,” Whitmore said. Whitmore teaches basic life skills that students need later in life. The goal is to make her students as independent as possible by the time they graduate high school. “We want them to be employable and would like them to live as independently as possible,” Whitmore said. While Whitmore feels she has found her calling, this was not what she Ms. Detz photo by j.gibson originally planned on being her career. She went to Southeast Missouri State Ms. Whitmore teaches basic life University (SEMO) for elementary education which is what she got her degree skills that students need later in life. The goal is to make her students as in. “I had never worked with kids with special needs before and when I independent as possible didn’t get an elementary position I became a paraprofessional in the Fort Zumwalt District,” Whitmore said. The summer before the next school year, Whitmore participated in a program during summer school for special needs in the Wentzville School District. “Seeing the difference in the progress that the “That was really my first experience with working with students with special needs. students make.” When I student taught I had a student in the classroom with special needs and that was when I really thought maybe I was doing the wrong thing, maybe I shouldn’t have Ms. Jolliff gone into elementary and done Special Ed,” Whitmore said. “That whole experience solidified that I needed to working in a special education environment.” Once she found her passion, she tries to make everyday the best that it can be. “It is really hard to find a job where you go to it everyday and you find something there that makes you smile everyday in here,” Whitmore said. “Every day in here something good happens. In some jobs that is not the case. There is always something that makes me smile, makes me “Getting to know the students.” laugh, it is a feel good job for me.” Her dedication and teaching skills really shows through the Ms. McMillen Mr. Luedecke students she works with. The students are not the only ones who love working with Whitmore either. “She is organized, she always has fun things to do and she always has a different way to teach if someone doesn’t understand. She does it so well by knowing different strategies for each kid,” “Building relationships instructional assistant Abbie Bollwerk said. “The relationships that I with all the students.” make with the students.” Outside of school, Whitmore likes to hang with her daughter Natalie, her Ms. Sachs Mr. Schumacher Ms. Novak husband and dog. Even with her own busy life, Whitmore always makes the time and effort to give her students 100%. Her dedication that she puts forth everyday is what makes her a great teacher and helps her “The interaction with “Getting to interact with students become “Building relationships with students and that no matter the students every day.” students.” the best people how terrible of a day I may be having, by the end of the photos by o.holler that they can first hour I have had at least be. one smile on my face.”

In-Depth | lhstoday.org

12 design by: o.holler & l.polydys

photos by c.salvosa Students in Ms. Sachs and Ms. Whitmore’s class had a unit over holiday traditions in different countries. Each time they finished learning about traditions, students did an activity to learn more about the holiday.

Creating New Connections

All of Us club is a way to make friendships and connections across Liberty by Olivia Holler & Lauren Polydys Reporters

he second you walk into Ms. Sachs’ room the first thing you will notice is everyone’s bright smiles. They are excited to be able to socialize with many different types of people in All of Us club. “My favorite part about the All of Us club is all of the laughter that we have and all of the smiles I see and just getting to see those relationships develop in a completely different way from academics,” Ms. Sachs said. There are about 10 to 12 people in the club. The students meet every other Wednesday after school in Ms. Sachs’ room. “I hope that it gives people a better understanding of diversity,” Sachs said. “I know we talk about diversity over and over again and sometimes it feels like that is all we are ever talking about is making sure everybody is included. But I think there is a very big value in that and that it is not just an ethnic thing, it is not just a race thing, it is not just a cultural thing. There are so many different components to a person and just kind of getting people outside of their shell and getting to interact with populations that they normally wouldn’t think to is super important.” Ms. Whitmore and alumnus Eva Herling started the club a couple years ago and now Ms. Sachs leads the club along with Olivia Holler. Students in the club decided this year to have the club be more student led so they created officers. The officers include a president, vice president, historian and treasurer. They each have a different role in the club. The officers this year are senior Olivia Holler, sophomore Callyiah Bell and juniors Annette Oliphant and Dessa Outman.

“[I joined the All of Us club] to social with other people and help others,” Bell said. Since this is the first time having officer roles, the roles have not been established completely. But the hope is to make the club more organized and student led in the years to come. “[Through the club I hope] to encourage people to get along with each other and help them out,” Bell said. Students look forward to going All of Us for many reasons - mostly for spending time with friends and making new ones. “My favorite part about the club is hanging out with my friends,” senior Nathan Laws said. The club does something different during each meeting. One week students could be playing games, the next week they could be coloring or even baking cookies. During the holidays, the officers plan a party or holiday themed day. “[My favorite part is] coming here and seeing everybody’s smiles and playing games,” Bell said. Not only do they do various activities after school, the club participates in school events such as football, basketball, homecoming activities and even Red Night cake auctions. In the past, they have gone to pumpkin patches and seen Christmas lights. All of Us club is a great way for students to come together and meet many new people as well as having fun in the process. As it says in the name, the club is open to all so anyone is welcome to stop by and have some fun.

In-Depth | lhstoday.org design by: o.holler & l.polydys

January 30, 2016 LHS hosts its annual winter dance with the theme being Nintendo LHS

1 August 13, 2015 Freshman year begins

46 “All the seniors have been together for four years that we’re all so used to each other.” -Josh Roberts

Both the auditorium and the small gym were being constructed in the 2016-17 school year.

-Gabe Scalise

“It was really cool that they gave me that opportunity to go to Hawaii to get away from everything that was going on back then.”

October 27, 2016 Two Liberty students have their wish granted by the Make-a-Wish Foundation

January 30, 2016 Liberty wins the Jim Butler Auto Group safe driving pledge challenge

August 11, 2016 Sophomore year begins

Both additions to the 300 and 400 hallways were still under construction in 2016.

Fun fact: The theme of the 2015 homecoming was Dancin’ in the Diner

October 2, 2015 Liberty defeats Dancing in the Barat Academy Diner picture in homecoming game

“As a team, we grew so much and they’re my brothers now. So if I could say one thing, I would just say I love my brothers and that they’ve made these four years what they’ve been.” -Donny Arrington

Seniors | lhstoday.org

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100 94

June 2, 2019 Class of 2019 Graduation

January 25, 2019 Key Club hosts the 2nd Annual Liberty Talents Show

August 16, 2018 Senior year begins

April 21, 2018 Class of 2019 hosts A Starry Night, Libertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third prom

August 21, 2017 Liberty witnesses a full solar eclipse as it passes over Missouri

September 8, 2017 LHS hosts their second KSDK Prep Rally

Seniors | lhstoday.org design by: c.salvosa

August 17, 2017 Junior year begins

Where Are We Headed?

As senior year comes to an end, its time to see where everyone is headed. Based off of information that was given to LHS Publications:

IDAHO:

BYU-Idaho:

Mikayla Bowman

COLORADO:

University of Colorado - Boulder: Courtney Harmon

Fort Lewis:

Paityn Schlosser

ARIZONA:

University of Arizona: Sabrina Martinez

TEXAS:

University of TexasTyler: Hyatt Hines

KANSAS:

KU:

Andrea Medrano Savana Wiegand

NEBRASKA: University of Nebraska

Brittney Pearson Abigail Reed

OTHER: Marines:

Ashlynn Thompson

Air Force: Luke Carter

Italy:

Lucia Cancian

Seniors | lhstoday.org

16 design by: j.gibson

Dear graduates, As the final days of high school come to an end, it is important to realize all the memories and lessons you’ve learned throughout your journey. Don’t look back at the past four years as days of deadlines and study guides. Look back to remind yourself that you did it. Remember the days before high school in elementary and middle school, when you couldn’t wait to be a senior and grow up. That time is here and as we go our separate ways, we all have one thing in common. We are Liberty.

OHIO:

Case Western Reserve: Emily Ristevski

Lake Erie:

Christian Zeik

MICHIGAN:

Western Michigan: Hope Harbour

IOWA:

Iowa Wesleyan: Mitchell Winn

PENNSYLVANIA:

University of Pennsylvania: Michael Coyle

WEST VIRGINIA:

University of West Virginia: Kentessa Lawson

MISSOURI: Mizzou:

Kevin Berry Kristen Biondo Caitlin Buckley Madison Carver Katherine Cool Olivia Crecelius Marisa Ebenstein Cathryn Elam Sarah Groves Olivia Holler Emma Horsley Matthew Jacobsen Colin Kussman Kirsten Lawson Megan Maetten Joseph McLaughlin Julianna Pritchett Mykaela Reiland Colin Rice Marjori Russo Evan Sacks Chasteanne Salvosa Gillian Sanford Alex Vigor Millie Ward Ashley Yeazel

SCC:

ALABAMA: Alabama:

Nolan Bone

Auburn:

Danielle Gregory

GEORGIA: Georgia Institution of Technology:

ILLINOIS: McKendree:

Abby Behlmann

Lake Forest: Marlee Doniff

Zainub Ahmed

Parkland:

Chase Hoeber

Quincy:

Bradley:

Zoee Harrington Luke Paulus

MacMurray:

Lilly Lankford

Jack Douglas Mia Eshoo

Lindenwood Belleville: Jessica Gibson

Illinois College: Chicago College of Performance:

MISSISSIPPI: Ole Miss:

Taylor Cunningham Kate Benes

FLORIDA: University of Florida:

Rishi Kondapaneni

Eradyn Bailey Stacy Bamberger Jack Cambell Britney Forrest Hannah Gamble Alivia Girard Olivia Harris Julie Jaggie Cameron Jones Camryn Jones Ryan Lammert Katherine Maull Michael O’Hearn Hailey Peterson Kelsey Pettig Brandi Rector Donald Robinson Laura Sanders Emily Stabile Madison Stumpf Brennar Watkins Caleb Woods

Lindenwood:

Alison Aguilar Abbey Brzycki Evan McCulloch Zoeane Wake

S&T:

Jacob Martin Elisabeth Roberts Brady Voss Maxwell Warren

SEMO:

Allison Knaust Hunter Perkins Brittanie Tabers

MO State:

Kara Collier Jenna Knobbe Paul Krekeler Chase Krogman Sonya Timchenko

MO Bap:

Loryn Dotson John Kavanaugh

Truman:

Mckenzie Bartels Jacob Krause Abigail Worobec

Maryville:

Jessica Boyer Caitlin Rodriguez

UCM:

Jennifer Deters Cassandra Frank Nicholas Howard Katie McVey Morgan Stevens

SLU:

Kyle Kaestner Sylvia Young

Central Methodist: Emily Albers

STL Forest Park:

Claudia Wallace

William Jewell: Grant Baker Jonathan Sanders

Webster:

Braden McMakin

UMSL:

Lauren Polydys

UMKC:

Mar’Shay Riggins

Rockhurst:

Lauren Linden Jenna Parmentier

Paxton Linnemeyer

Seniors | lhstoday.org design by: j.gibson

How Many Seniors? 303 total seniors attending LHS both semesters

The Year of the Firsts Lip Sync Battle

Powderpuff Game

71% of baseball team are seniors (more than any other sports club at LHS) 1 (Rishi Kondapaneni) National Merit finalist photo by a.jordan

3rd graduating class 5 (Christian Zeik, Brandon Jones, Trentin Helton, Lanni Guffey, Marjori Russo) total wrestling and swimming individual state qualifiers in the first clap out at LHS. 5 (Autumn Jones, Olivia Crecelius, Loryn Dotson, Jen Deters, Karra Collier) Educators Rising seniors qualified and competed for state 3 (Kara Collier, Katie McVey, Megan Maetten) dance team seniors that helped them win the program’s second state championship

Seniors Liam Finnegan and Luke Carter have a duet performance going against LHS staff member Jesse Graf.

photo by c.salvosa Seniors that participated may have lost to the juniors 20-13, but they all did their part in making the game successful by giving the crowd laughs and having a good time.

Liberty kicked off their first ever lip sync battle on Nov. 28 sponsored by Educators Rising and cheer bringing the audience to laughter and tears in front of a big crowd in the theatre. The teachers and students had prepared for awhile and could not wait for people to see what they had been practicing. If you won the battle, you received a small trophy of a microphone, so if you were a winner you were able to take this trophy home. The friendly competition was truly a night to remember and hopefully will happen again at Liberty sometime in the future.

On Sept. 19, the first Liberty powderpuff game was held at Dames Park. The flag football game consisted of the girls as the players and the boys were the cheerleaders. The matchup was the juniors going against the seniors and all the money to watch the game went towards grad. night. The event was a huge success with the amount of people that showed up to watch the game. The moms of seniors Tayte Sanders, Nick Lovell, and Peyton Carroll took the huge role by setting up the game. Between the boys being in the place of the cheerleaders and the girls playing in the game as the football players, the event should continue to be a junior and senior tradition for the future.

TVs in the Hallway

Painted Parking Spots

33 points seniors scored in the Swofford game on April 5 4 (Paxton Linnemeyer, Emily Stabile, Devin Eckardt, Marissa Pukala-Whitaker) seniors directing One Acts 5 TV’s that senior committee purchased for school use 2 days into June that seniors officially graduate from high school 10 (Maya Angeles, Zainub Ahmed, Olivia Harris, Marissa Pukala-Whitaker, Caleb Woods, Mykaela Reiland, Colin Rice, Alex Vigor, Cat Frank, Paxton Linnemeyer) seniors that participated in the talent show

photo by f.flynn Televisions were put on the walls throughout the schools showing announcements every week.

There were bulletin boards containing monthly information and upcoming events, but now Samsung monitors are attached to the walls. The project idea was proposed by Liberty’s 2019 graduating class of seniors. After many brainstorming sessions and ideas, they decided on gifting the school with televisions.

Seniors were allowed to paint their parking spots for the first time this school year. National Honor Society (NHS) allowed the seniors to paint what they would like in their spots as long as it was school appropriate. Only seniors were allowed to paint them for $20 at their own parking spot. Students used their own paint and art supplies to design their spot.

Other firsts this year were: Pink Night Powder Toss photo by s.ramesh

Seniors | lhstoday.org design by: n.howard

photo by b.morris Senior Abby Worobec paints her parking spot during the fall to make it stand out from the other spots.

photo by m.morris

Governor for Missouri Boys State (Albert Edney)

Dear seniors,

Class of

‘19

It’s been a long, difficult journey but you finally made it! Congratulations! But before you leave Liberty, we just wanted to say we’re so proud of you, and grateful for all of the work you have put into each of the magazines throughout the years. We wouldn’t be where we are if it wasn’t for each and every one of you. You have all contributed in different aspects of each issue and we’ve all seen you grow and your talents develop. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye because of all the amazing friendships we’ve made, but we know that you’ll go on to do bigger and better things. Publications will never be the same without you, and we are all thankful for everything you have taught us. It’s important that you know how much you all mean to us. You are all a great, gifted bunch and we wish you the very best for all your future endeavors. Your dedication, and tireless effort can never be replicated, you’re all one of a kind. You certainly raised the bar for next year’s class and it’s going to be difficult filling in your shoes but with your support and guidance, we have learned what it’s like to build a great staff, thanks to you. From the Ledger Magazine, thank you, we love you, and we’ll miss you. Ledger Magazine Staff (2018-19)

Everyone knows who she is, she’s the co-founder who built this program from the ground up. One of the most ambitious people that have ever been in this class to make it what it is, today. Her awe-inspiring ability to be a natural born leader and capability to remain calm in the most stressful situations is the definition of amazing. She might be the most organized person you will ever meet; she’s always prepared to show off her fancy calendar and be one step ahead of everything, which is what makes this staff so innovative. -Chasteanne Salvosa

She’s the other half, the co-founder, the pearl in the oyster… you know her, you love her. She’s the attentively, diligent co-editor of the magazine. She puts up a stern front but it’s not hard to see how big of a heart this gal has. She cares so much about this staff and each issue that’s released. The power of her voice radiates through her writing because she’s never afraid to speak up for what’s right, no matter what. Her courageous spirit brings much joy to all of our hearts. -Olivia Holler

We all know who the layout goddess is on our staff, from her freshly designed pages to her charismatic attitude. This gem is nothing short of determined. She’s one of the most hardworking people you will ever meet, and it’s through her unique ideas that help this magazine thrive. -Jessica Gibson

Typically the reserved individuals in publications have a great sense of humor, and this gal is definitely one of them. She may be quiet at first, but she has a bold personality that shines through her work. The staff can always depend on her to go above and beyond when it comes to deadlines, not to mention her creative ideas that keep our readers engaged. -McKenzie Bartels One of the most dedicated people to have ever walked through Liberty’s hallways. With his magnetic attitude to his boppy tunes, he’s always brightening up the classroom and our lives. The staff has never seen him without a big smile on his face. When the staff isn’t feeling the most motivated, we can always count on him and outgoing personality. -Caleb Woods

She’s an absolute savage. Constantly producing quality content, with each story better than the last, this girl knows how a staff is put together. She’s incredibly smart, whether that’s on the page or in the class, and it shows through her refreshing flare. Her ability to be a team player is what makes the staff beam. -Lauren Polydys The only sports reporter this staff has ever had and it’s unbelievable how much effort he puts into his craft. He’s talented in not only writing but creating sports reels, and we couldn’t have the magazine we do today without him. He’s one of the most good-natured people on the staff and his humor is something that can never be replicated. -Nick Howard

)

Seniors | lhstoday.org design by: b.huffman & a.bailey

How Ariana Grande’s music inspires others

Amelia Larocca “I used to think I had to be sad when something bad happens but then her music basically tells everyone that you don’t have to have that sad mindset but that you can use that to grow for future experiences. She just changed my mindset that I had in those type of situations.”

Nicole Krohn “She makes a song, bounces back and mourns over it.” referring to Ariana’s coping mechanism. photo by c.salvosa Ariana Grande illustrates the changing of her mindset through tumultuous times in Sweetener and Thank U, Next.

The Queen of Pop

Ariana Grande’s continuous reign over pop is never ending

Kaitlynn Mauck “I love the way she empowers women.”

by Mollie Banstetter Reporter She’s loved and she’s lost, but she certainly has achieved major success. The Queen of Pop, Ariana Grande, has proven her title to be true. She had three songs hit number 1, 2 and 3 at the same time on the #Hot100, which is the first time this has been achieved since The Beatles in 1964. Shortly after “Sweetener,” an album about finding her love, Pete Davidson, and dealing with anxiety, Grande went through immense heartbreak. The death of her ex, Mac Miller, took a toll on her and is suspected to be the reason why Grande and Davidson broke off their engagement. Her following album “Thank U, Next”, which was released six months after “Sweetener”, illustrates how she has grown as a person through that tumultuous time. The album also explores the ending of her short engagement with Davidson, her learning to save some time for herself and wanting to break up with your girlfriend, because frankly, she’s bored. Grande is not only a musical inspiration, but she inspires people to be stronger. Entertainment | lhstoday.org

20 design by: m.banstetter & b.huffman

“She bounces back from literally anything...she just told the world, it’s okay[...]she has shown over the years, you can love yourself without worrying what people think of you,” freshman Amelia Larocca said. Junior Nicole Krohn looks up to Grande saying, “I personally have really bad confidence, but sometimes I’ll just be scrolling through her Instagram or listen to her music to try to pump me up and make me feel better about myself.” “I love her style, I love her fashion, I love the way she dresses herself and I love the way she carries herself,” senior Kaitlynn Mauck said. Grande empowers her fans to be more confident in themselves and teaches them that they can dress however they want as long as they are comfortable. Grande has done so much in such a small amount of time. She has achieved things that so many artists have not, especially for such a young age. She has and always will be an inspiration to many.

Julia Bailey “If I’m in the car going to work and I wanna hype up, I listen to Ariana.”

Ariana Grande posts a picture of her dominating the Hot 100 list with the caption, “i laughed when i saw this bc i thought y’all edited it. thank u from the bottom of my heart. for so many reasons. first time since the beatles huh (and first time for a solo artist?)...”

They’re Us

A look into Jordan Peele’s latest masterpiece by Brooke Huffman Assistant Editor Whether you know Jordan Peele from his comedic work like “Key and Peele,” or his delve into thrillers such as “Get Out,” and his reboot of “The Twilight Zone,” there’s no doubting his work is nothing short of brilliant. His latest movie, “Us,” is no different, displaying how well comedy and horror mix together. After its debut on March 22, the movie has raked in $236.2 million, currently ranking at No. 7 on the charts. Peele’s film shares the story of humanity and their doubles, peering beneath the facades and showing us what lies below. The movie features Black Panther’s Lupita Nyong’o as Adelaide and Red, two young women who are not what they seem. Also from Black Panther is Winston Duke as Gabe, Adelaide’s loving boyfriend, and Abraham, his double. As their kids Zora/Umbrae and Jason/ Pluto are Shahidi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex. Their performances are nothing short of spectacular, each thriving in both of their roles. Nyong’o exemplifies this with her two equally complex and compelling characters, her portrayal falls nothing short of spectacular. The story centers on the Wilson family, specifically Adelaide, on their vacation to Santa Cruz. We learn that Adelaide has faced some sort of trauma on the pier as a kid, but no specifics are given. As coincidences become more and more frequents and Adelaide’s

behavior grows increasingly paranoid, we are introduced to the Tethered - an underground race of identical doubles that mirrors your every move, led by Adelaide’s double Red. They’ve returned to the surface in hopes to begin a process called the Untethering, the killing of their above ground double so that they can live on land. The Wilson’s are forced to fight for their lives as secrets are revealed and the story delves deeper and deeper. The movie was an amazing blend of comedy and horror, something Peele has proven himself to do quite well in the past. With sarcastic quips, witty remarks, and truly hilarious situations, you’re able photo by c.salvosa to catch a laugh in between the more Director Jordan Peele’s new film “Us” debuted in theaters March 22. serious scenes. Peele also has shown his talent to create authentically horrifying duality of man. It’s certainly a hard feat to scenes, moments that send shivers down achieve but Peele does it seemingly with ease. your spine or create chills on the back of your “Us” is still screening in theaters, and its neck. It’s genuine terror, something rare in the soundtrack is available on both iTunes and age of jump scares. His concept of the Tethered Spotify. Whether you’re looking for a thriller to and tunnels lurking beneath the surface wasn’t pump your adrenaline or a movie to make you too unbelievably far fetched. Secret government question what you’ve always known, I would projects are thought to be a thing of the past, highly recommend watching it. This movie just but it begs the question of how much we really goes to show that Jordan Peele’s mind is the know. It’s strange to think that the same movie gift that keeps on giving, and I’m excited to see that makes jokes centered around an Amazon what he’ll do next. Echo knock off also leaves us criticizing the

What are students saying about upcoming movies?

freshman Avery Schlattman “It (Dumbo) wasn’t very good. It wasn’t like the original for many reasons. It wasn’t funny and it was long and boring.”

senior Ashlynn Thompson junior Dylan Lindke

“I’m excited to see Pet Sematary because I really liked the original one and from what I’ve seen this new one looks really cool.”

“I’ve been looking forward to seeing Shazam because Zachary Levi has always been one of my favorite comedic actors.”

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Where Did Teachers Go To High School?

Last Day of School

by Ayrianna Franklin

Using the clues below, circle where teachers went to high school Mr. Hall really loves his (Alton/Civic Memorial) Redbirds.

Ms. Kennedy was a part of (Holt/ Timberland)’s music program.

Ms. Greminger graduated from (St. Joseph’s Academy/Parkway West)

Mr. Kling went to (Francis Howell/ Francis Howell North).

Ms. Berghoff went to (Marquette/ Marquette Catholic).

Mr. D’Antonio has (Edwardsville/ Metro-East Lutheran) Tiger pride!

Mr. McFadden has (Fort Zumwalt West/ Hazelwood West) Jaguars.

Ms. Wilke really loves her (Bishop DeBourg/St. Dominic) Crusaders.

Ms. Webb attended (Marquette/ East Prairie) High School.

Mr. Eldredge must really love his (Francis Howell/F.H. Central) Vikings.

He Said, She Said Liberty students give their opinions on certain topics around school Vending Machines “I think it’s “I like that good because the vending we can get machines offer popular soft a variety of drinks such as foods. It’s like Coca-Cola.” a convenience store.” senior Lawson Murphree senior Olivia Harris Lockers “All of my “Most people textbooks carry their are on my stuff. With the Chromebook. 4 minutes we Why waste have, lockers time when I aren’t really have every in feasible.” my backpack.” freshman Michael Gannon freshman Sruthi Ramesh Transportation

Ms. Magno went to (St. Charles/ St. Charles West).

Mr. Jolliff attend (Holt/Liberty) High School.

“The bus can be improved. The problem is space, there is no room to get comfortable.” sophomore Shawn Paluczak

The first person who brings the completed page to Room 239, wins a QT gift card.

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“You can get places on your time. Instead of waiting 30 minutes on the bus.” sophomore Gabby Travis

Suntans and Sunburns Everyone is getting ready to break out the sunblock for summer by Shae Bowsher Reporter

photo by s.bowsher

The sun is setting on the school year and will soon be rising into summer.

The excitement is starting to rise just like the heat. Everyone’s favorite pastime is just around the corner, summer. Summer has been the stable factor for kids’ sanity for decades now; filled with laughs, fun adventures, suntans and sunburns. Summer is what everyone counts down to and start to make plans with their friends on what they hope to do. “I plan to hangout with some of my best friends, lots of swimming and girl trips, maybe I’ll even go to Florida,” sophomore Ulyana Tonkikh said. A majority of people have been planning for summer for weeks now. Trying to analyze their plans for maximum fun in their adventures while also trying to find the best new places to explore and expand their list of accomplishments. “I have swim practice a lot and I’m going on vacation with my

family. We are going to Costa Rica and I want to hang out with my friends and have fun,” sophomore Caroline Myers said. Summer is the time for relaxing and sitting on the poolside with your friends. Summer is meant to be jam packed with fun memories and trying to make some that you’ll remember forever. “My friends and I plan where we can hangout the entire day and have sleepovers. We like to plan activities with each other and have as much fun as we can before summer is over,” freshman Kate Blackstock said. Summer is a break from the madness of school and a time to take a step back to have some fun. This summer, try to do things you have never done before and plan an amazing vacation or a relaxing day in. The most important thing is to have fun because school will be back before you know it.

Horoscopes: Fact or Fiction?

Does your zodiac sign determine your personality, values and possibly your future? It’s about time we dive deep on this controversial debate

by Sara Bailey Reporter

What are Zodiac Signs? There are 12 Zodiac signs, each with their own unique characteristics, dependent on the day you were born. The signs in order are: Aries (assertive, impulsive, independent), Taurus (sensual, stubborn, grounded), Gemini (dynamic, mischievous talented), Cancer (sensitive, practical, friendoriented), Leo (proud, popular, creative), Virgo (clever, creative, people-pleaser), Libra (adventurous, lavish, indecisive), Scorpio (powerful, secretive, independent), Sagittarius (open-minded, insensitive, traveler), Capricorn (hardworking, straight-forward, loyal), Aquarius (distant, eccentric, innovative), and Pisces (sensual, sensitive, can’t function alone).

“I do believe in the zodiac signs because mine defiantly fits me, but I also believe that the astronomers that created it to make it so generic that it appeals to everyone.” - Mr. Wheeler (Gemini)

“I do believe that the planets and stars and all that kind of stuff affects us. The moon affects the tides, why can’t it affect us? But I don’t think the daily horoscopes are accurate.” - sophomore Abby Shields (Libra)

“I think a lot of horoscopes tell you what you want to hear. There’s a huge culture on the Internet constantly reinforcing the traits that your sign has.” -freshman Paige Bostic (Capricorn)

Scan me for more of the horoscope story!

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The Issue of Coldwater Creek Revisiting the unattended health issues surrounding the St. Louis creek

photo by s.seger

by Sophia Seger Reporter Chances are the name Coldwater Creek is meaningless to you, but to others it’s something that has permanently impacted their lives. This creek has taken kids’ parents and parent’s kids, it has given people terminal cancers that have restricted them from maintaining a normal happy life, or has caused them to pass away. Many children have been born with horrible birth defects including cases of conjoined twins, but what is Coldwater Creek? Coldwater Creek starts at St. Louis Lambert International Airport and runs through Florissant, Black Jack and Hazelwood, Mo. Coldwater flows into the Missouri River which runs through the middle of the United States. In 1942, Mallinckrodt Chemical Works started processing the original Belgian Congo Uranium for the first atomic bomb. In the 1940s, Mallinckrodt began to run out of space to store the leftover waste and started to move waste to separate locations, one of these locations being St. Louis Lambert Airport. At this point in time, no one knew how hazardous these chemicals were and how to properly dispose of them. The toxic waste was placed on the edge of the airport above Coldwater Creek and covered with nothing other then tarps. When it started to rain, the toxic waste would run off into the creek and the water would track the toxic waste all around North County, bringing deadly chemicals into victims homes, backyards and play areas.

Coldwater Creek ran through kids’ backyards. In the 1940s to the 1980s, kids spent most their time playing outdoors so of course when they found a creek near their homes, they played as kids do. At the time, no one thought there was anything wrong with the creek and walked, swam and played in it daily. As time went on, people started getting sick, very sick. An alarming amount of people were getting diagnosed with very rare cancers in a small area, which raised suspicion. In 2015, people began to become informed about the hazardous things that the Mallinckrodt corporation covered up for years, and awareness began to be spread. Groups such as Just Moms STL started trying to inform everyone they could, they even went to Washington D.C. to protest the issue, but they were ignored by multiple government officials. The documentary “Atomic Homefront” was created in 2017, which featured victims of Coldwater Creek. All of the sick victims in the documentary passed away before the film was released, which should alarm many. People continue to try and fix this issue, but it’s impossible to remove all of the hazardous waste as its been seeping into the soil for decades, but the waste is not as dangerous as it used to be. The people who are currently dying from others’ mistakes, are the ones who need our help.

photos by s.seger The pictures above depict the scene near Coldwater Creek today as the effects of the toxic, radioactive material from World War II are still felt today in the community’s increasing health concerns.

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Scan me to listen to ‘Silent Killer’, a podcast on the creek’s dangers

Is Standardized Testing Really That Important? The stigma surrounding standardized tests debunked

by Brooke Huffman Reporter

I first took the ACT when I was in seventh grade. I wasn’t particularly excited to take it. It hadn’t really been my decision. Instead, it had been the choice of my parents, pressured by various teachers that thought being a semi-smart middle schooler with a fairly decent grasp on grammar means you should take a test primarily meant for seniors in high school. I did somewhat well, which started this need to watch my score climb and climb and climb until I was finally satisfied. All because of this test that wasn’t even necessary. Standardized testing, such as the ACT, the SAT, is posed as this enormous responsibility that will determine your entire future. They’re not easy tests, they’re incredibly unpredictable. Studying for standardized tests is like stumbling around in the dark - you get an outline of what might be on the test, but nothing is certain. The prep work that you’re given for everyday classes is completely off the table, you’re all on your own. When explaining the importance of these tests, teachers and parents tend to follow a domino effect line of logic - you need a good ACT or SAT score to get into a good college, and get a good career, and fulfill your purpose. This line of thinking is toxic, don’t teach already anxious students that one failed test could ruin their entire future. Ideas like these have led to the biggest stereotype everybody seems to believe about standardized testing - it determines your intelligence. That’s simply not true. Completely false, absolutely illogical and entirely wrong. Your intelligence isn’t measured by a number or a letter, you’re not suddenly stupid because you didn’t do well on the science section. Everybody has strengths and weaknesses - you might be a creative type that leans more towards music and art, you might be brilliant at English but lacking in math, you might be able to name each and every president off the top of your head but can’t balance a chemical equation. That doesn’t mean you’re any less smart, it means you’re human. Hardly anyone is able to thrive in every single subject without at least some struggle, you win some and you lose some. The ACT isn’t written for creative types, it doesn’t let you focus on the areas you’re specialized in. It’s broad, spanning across the four core subjects, each one having an equal pull in what your final score is. There are individual scores but let’s face it, nobody is going to care about your 33 in reading if

they see your 16 in math. This mindset students seem to have about standardized testing being the most important thing is another flaw in the American education system. We’re not learning to learn, we’re memorizing facts that we’ll forget after our next test. We’re not paying attention because we’re excited to soak up new information, we’re listening because we want a good enough GPA to get into college. We study and study and work and work not because we care about learning, we care about this path that we’re all supposed to follow if we want to be successful. This strict road to success is suffocating students, we’re cracking under the pressure of SAT prep books. We’re being told that the only way to get through life is to be a math whiz, when in reality things like calculus won’t be used past college. Students that seek a future in art, music or theater are scoffed at for their ambitions, while aspiring businessmen are praised for theirs. We’re being told what we need to be good at to succeed, and standardized tests that push “jack of all trades” ideals aren’t helping. I’m not telling you not to take the ACT. I’m not saying that you should skip studying, give up on grades, rethink your entire future. I’m asking you to take a step back. Think about the last time you were excited when you stepped into a classroom, genuinely wanting to learn, and not just passively listening so that you can pass a quiz. When did the idea of school (beyond the social aspects) sound appealing to you? No test, no grade, no letter or number should ever have ability to make you feel like an idiot. Standardized tests are built up to be the biggest test you’ll ever take, a test that requires days of studying, thousands of practice tests, and an overflowing amount of knowledge in every core subject. In reality, they’re just another test. Just another Scantron, just another set of bubbles to fill. Do they matter? Yes, as much as any other test matters. As much as you’re willing to let them matter. Don’t waste your time stressing out about impossibly high standards you hope to reach, just do your best and know that’s enough. No college, no teacher, no piece of paper can tell you otherwise.

photo by b.huffman Junior Nash Gilbo flips through an ACT review book, one of the most commonly utilized study tools for students planning to take the ACT.

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Trust and Commitment

Insight of the new coaches at Liberty and how they have shaped their teams by Alyssa Bailey Assistant Editor

Playing a sport in high school only lasts for so long, but the memory of who inspired you to grow as an athlete carries throughout the rest of your life. For many athletes, their inspiration and determination comes from their coach. A coach has various jobs, which range from giving advice and guidance to acting as a photo by b.corgan trustworthy, supportive The varsity baseball team is off to a strong start in coach figure. Clements first season as head coach. Coaches always have your best interests at heart and they know your capabilities. They often see the potential in each player before the player sees it and it shows how much effort they are willing to put into a team. Mr. Clements, the varsity baseball coach and Ms. Althage, the swimming coach, both demonstrate that through their first seasons coaching at Liberty. Clements has been coaching baseball for a total of five years. Previously, he was a freshman baseball coach at Holt High School in 2015-2017 and then he began coaching the JV baseball team in 2018. He has been teaching and coaching in the Wentzville School District in those five years, which has prompted his desire to coach at Liberty. “I loved how new the school is and how it is still creating its own identity. I always have had a great impression of the school and enjoyed being around here,” Clements said. “I viewed this as a wonderful opportunity to build a culture that makes the kids want to play baseball and want to come to practice and be around the baseball program as much as possible.” Clements’ love for coaching has brought a new dynamic to the baseball team. With a record of 12-4 to start the season, there’s been an evident development in how the team has improved. For each practice, he spends about 45 minutes composing drills, stations and situations that he thinks will benefit the team. Clements also spends an hour preparing lineups, stat sheets, scouting reports and game plans against the opposition for each game. He notes specific improvements the team can make during the games and spends one to two hours checking and entering statistics, as well as pros and cons, after each game. Within his five years of coaching, he has experienced challenges and obstacles that have taught him the importance of trust and leadership. “You want players to trust your game knowledge but you also need to show them your leadership capabilities and instill confidence in them that you will do everything you can to put them in a situation to succeed,” Clements said. “You also need to develop a relationship with your players, they need to know you are there for them and are always putting them first. Players don’t care how much you know, unless they know how much you care.” Sports | lhstoday.org

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Clements had to learn these lessons through experience but he’s had some great coaches to influence his style of coaching as well. “I coach for my players, they do not play for me. I consistently tell my players I am there to help them get better and I thank them for allowing me to be a part of their team,” Clements said. “I view our players as much more than just baseball players. They are a group of talented individuals on and off the field and it is my motivation to help mold them into the best young men they can be. It truly is the greatest job in the world.” In a similar way, Ms. Althage, Liberty’s swim coach, demonstrates the same dedication to her team. This is her first year coaching swim and teaching in the Wentzville School District. She had heard about this position through her swim coach when she was in high school. Prior to Liberty, she coached club volleyball for St. Charles Stars for two years and had coached at Fort Zumwalt West for one year. Like Clements, Althage ensures that she’s always prepared to be the best coach for her team and loves the environment each athlete brings to the table. “Practices last between one and a half to two hours. But they are never the exact same. Between the different strokes, sprints and long distances, drills…there’s lots of variety,” Althage said. “I want to be the best coach I can be for these athletes photo by m.foster so I just wanted to Coach Althage talks to senior Lanni Guffey and junior Rees make sure I was Lewis after a meet. This is her first year coaching swim. well prepared. Being around motivated, hard-working (and very entertaining) athletes makes it a blast.” Through a student’s perspective, having a new coach can raise skepticism. Adapting to another coach’s style can be difficult since you don’t know who they are. Junior Dessa Outman, at first, experienced concern then joy when Ms. Althage first began coaching swim. “When we heard we were getting a new coach, I was really skeptical. But she pushed us to be better, made us want to commit to this. Her coaching helped me improve more than I ever had before,” Outman said. “Coach Althage is such an inspiration. She is so positive to become better, every day.” Althage not only assisted Outman on her techniques but this year, Outman swam her fastest 50 free. Althage has helped tailor every workout for how each swimmer wants to improve, prove what kind of competitor they are and what kind of competitor they want to be. “She found the perfect balance of challenging us and giving us space to breathe. I’ve been swimming for a long time, but her coaching helped me improve more than I ever had before,” Outman said. “Coach Althage was different from all the coaches we had before because she really listened.”

Passing And Pitching: A Passion Chase Hoeber talks about going from the court to the field by Nick Howard Reporter

Being a major contributor to two different sports in one year has been a big deal to senior Chase Hoeber. In his final year of high school, not only has he developed to be dedicated student, but he’s also been involved on two of Liberty’s sports teams in basketball and baseball. Hoeber was put into sports when he was around 3 years old as he grew up around sports in general from an early age. His true love for baseball started when he was 7 years old when he really found out how much he enjoyed to play the sport. Both of his parents pushed him to be the athlete he is today. “[My parents] pushed me to be the athlete I am today not just on the field or in the gym, but off the field too,” Hoeber said. “They have done everything they can to get me where I am now.” During the basketball season, Hoeber brought out physical education teacher and coach Mr. Jolliff for teacher appreciation night. Hoeber says that Jolliff has been a huge help to him along the way throughout his four years of high school. A former baseball coach for the Eagles, Jolliff has seen Hoeber develop right in front of his eyes for the past four years he’s been a high school student. Not only is he proud of how far Hoeber has come from being an athlete, but he’s someone he can count on to be a great student as well in the classroom. “His mental development as an athlete is what sets him apart [from others],” Jolliff said. Being a pitcher not only has Hoeber had a true love for baseball for the past four years, but he also was involved in basketball here at Liberty. He didn’t play his junior year of basketball as he found out how different it was from AAU, or travel basketball, to playing in high school. After missing the sport, he decided to come back and play his senior year on the varsity team and he was glad he made the decision to do so.

photo by m.coyle Senior Chase Hoeber is one of the top pitchers on the team with a 5-0 record and a 1.56 ERA. He was put into sports when he was around 3 years old.

“Baseball is my main sport but I still loved playing basketball,” Hoeber said. “It makes me a better athlete and they both bring me around some of my best friends I’ll never forget playing with.” Not only has Hoeber made friends on the field, but he has made true friends in baseball away from the field as well. His teammates see him as someone who works very hard on the field, in the court and in the gym. Senior Chase Mitchell is one of his teammates from baseball who has had a close bond with him that goes beyond the past four years of high school. “He’s like a brother to me, I’ve known him since kindergarten and we’ve always been really close,” Mitchell said. After Hoeber finishes his high school career for baseball, he plans on attending Parkland College (Champaign, Illinois) to play the same sport. It only goes up from high school and his peers have no doubt that everything will be successful for the senior that isn’t only hardworking on and off the field, but a friend and a son that makes many others proud.

End of Season Victory

Winter Guard places first at championships by Allison Holtschlag Reporter

For spring sports, the season just started but for winter guard, it just ended. Between having good and bad moments, the winter guard season ended strong. “Being on the floor hearing we got first showed how far we have came,” sophomore Eric Welker said. Taking first place at the Mid Continent Color Guard Association (MCCGA) Championships at Nixa High School (Springfield) with a score of 89.72, the guard moved up to a higher division. The winning performance was “An Ode To Hollywood” which was making tribute to songs and from some of Hollywood’s movies and shows. The show included the songs “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, “When You Wish Upon A Star” from Pinocchio, “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” by Marilyn Monroe, “Singing In The Rain” from the movie Singing In The Rain, “Putting On The Ritz” by Fred Astaire and “There’s No Business Like Show Business” by Ethel Merman. Using songs that people of many ages can know, got them even more involved with our performance. Throughout this season, many of the members have been able to come closer with one another. “I was able to get closer with more people because it showed

how hard we all were working for something this big,” freshman Kat Gniatkowski said. Many of the members had no clue who any of the others were, but this season brought many people from different places together. Even though this season was huge for most, this was the third gold medal that the winter guard was received in photo provided by KC Welch the program’s history. “This is definitely the largest Winter guard placed first in championships and scored an 89.72. In result they moved guard we have had and also having up a division. the most success. The show was unique in the sense of all the songs played making it easy to be apart of weather you were performing or just watching,” senior Christian Tebeau said. The season went through a lot of bumps and turns making them work even harder to get where they got. With the growth of the guard, the team hopes for more people to join next season.

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Baseball 12-4 overall record, 6-2 GAC Central record After losing their first game of the season, varsity baseball went on a five game winning streak. Chase Krogman leads the team in hits (19), home runs (4) and RBIs (26)and a .404 batting average. Chase Mitchell and Brady Voss have contributed 18 and 11 RBIs, respectively. Pitcher Chase Hoeber is 5-0 with a 1.56 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched. Set a new school record for 14 home runs in a season.

Girls Soccer 6-7-1 overall record, 3-3 Conference record Team won two out of their first three matches to start the season strong. Chole Netzel leads the team with 13 goals and 3 assists for 29 points. Genevieve Johnson has scored 3 goals and earned 2 assists. Jenna McVey has recorded 2 shutouts as goalkeeper.

Boys Tennis Team won the Hannibal Invitational Tennis Tournament. Picked up big team wins by defeating rival Holt and Francis Howell South.Team finished fourth overall in the Holt Tournament. No. 1 doubles team of Evan Sachs and Josh Roberts are undefeated in conference. Both are undefeated in singles. No. 5 doubles team of Braden Bond and Jackson Koelling have only one loss in conference.

Boys Golf Liberty golfers placed third at the Warrenton Invitational. Hyatt Hines shot a 74 and finished in third place. Ro Razavi had an 81 and was 11th and Sam Schreiner shot an 82 for 15th place. Hyatt Hines had the low round of both team shooting an under par of 34 against Fort Zumwalt South at the Falls Golf Club. Despite losing to Timberland, freshman Ro Razavi had the low round for Liberty. Team champions of the 1st Wentzville Invitational Golf Tournament. Hines and Schreiner both placed first. Sam Scognamiglio and Ian Herling both placed third.

Track Karlie Wooten has set new school records in the 200 and 400 meters and set a new personal record in the high jump (5’0”). Ally Kruger is ranked No. 1 in Class 4 state in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs. Taylor Peoples broke her own triple jump personal record. Nolan Bone set a new P.R. in the pole vault (15’3”). Jeff Radichel is ranked in the top 10 in the state in the triple jump. Bruce Jordan has won multiple hurdle events in both the 110 meter and 300 meter hurdles.

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*Records and statistics as of April 24 photos by b.corgan, k.swanson, a.jordan, b.morris, m.foster, m.coyle