Sophomore wins state title P H aper
ighlights
Lahari Yelamanchili ‘19 garners 2A individual state tennis championship by Sydney Hansen @_sydneyhansen
Down four to six in the third set tiebreaker at the 2016 IHSA girls state tennis finals, Lahari Yelamanchili ‘19 focused in on the match against Evanston Township’s Anastasia Goncharova. Though the match remained close throughout, Yelamanchili would win the match by two points and claim the Class 2A individual state title on Oct. 22. “[Yelamanchili is] one of the most consistent and tenacious kids I’ve ever coached,” varsity Head Coach Bill Wham said. “She’s playing to win—it doesn’t matter who her opponent is.” After experiencing a knee injury as a freshman, Yelamanchili came into her sophomore season recovered from the injury, Wham said. Playing singles for the first time in her high school career, she went undefeated in the 2016 Lahari Yelamanchili ‘19 accepts state title for girls singles. (Yelamanchili) season with a 23-0 record. Despite Yelamanchili’s perfect re- going to play,” Wham said. “This played doubles with Stefana Vasic cord, the state tournament is tough, year [LT athletes] wouldn’t know ‘16. The incredible duo recorded a and athletes sometimes do not know a third of [their] opponents because record of 31-2 for the 2015 season matches and tournament weekends and placed fifth at the 2015 IHSA their opponents, Wham said. “[Yelamanchili’s] game would defi- got rained out all of the time, leav- state tournament. nitely get her to the state semi-finals, ing LT short nine to 12 matches.” “[Yelamanchili] is a great douAs a freshman, Yelamanchili bles partner,” Vasic said. “She’s but you just don’t know who you’re
always super upbeat and positive which makes her a key aspect [of] the team.” When not in high school tennis season, Yelamanchili plays tennis through the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Through USTA she plays individually in tournaments against other players from around the country, Yelamanchili said. As of early November, she is currently ranked first in the Midwest for U16 players and 30th in the U.S. for U16. The opportunity to play alongside teammates at LT is a change of pace from what is typically an individual sport. “[My teammates] have been amazing,” Yelamanchili said. “I definitely could not have done any of this without them.” Even though Yelamanchili is now a state champion with a desire to play collegiate tennis, she plans on keeping the same attitude towards tennis as before, Yelamanchili said. “I’ll have the same attitude because it’s just really fun being on a team,” Yelamanchili said.
Weapon threats worry community Two unfounded reports in 10 days frighten LT community
thing is credible or if they haven’t seen something, don’t pass it on as fact.” Weapon threats are rare at LT, but national statistics point to the administration’s rapid and by Tim Mikulski serious reaction. In a 2015 Center for Disease @t_mikulski Control survey, 4.1-percent of students reported On a cloudy October Saturday, the West Sub- carrying a weapon on school property in the urban Conference Silver cross country meet at past 30 days. While a frightening number, it is South Campus was evacuated due to a reported decreasing rapidly—down from 5.2-percent in suspicious person with a possible weapon. Ten 2013, and from 11.8-percent in 1993. days later, an unrelated report following two Brian Budds, the Public Information Officer fights at SC resulted in 222 students missing for the Western Springs Police Department, said school the next day over safety concerns. Both that the police attempt to collect personal inforreports were resolved as unfounded, but the ques- mation during reports to help assure credition from students and parents bility while maintaining close alike remains: how did these sit- “We value and greatly communication with the LT uations escalate, and could the Other methods appreciate all the administration. administration have lessened it? include conducting interviews, “Student and staff safety is our support and sharing reviewing camera footage and primary goal, so we are going to monitoring public social media. of information the During the Oct. 15 investigatake the approach of making certain we take any threat like this Budds estimated approxstudents provide.” tion, seriously,” District 204 Superimately 20 regional police -Officer Brian Budds intendent Dr. Timothy Kilrea departments were involved. said. “We value and greatly On Oct. 15, a report was made to an LT secu- appreciate all the support and sharing of inforrity staff member, who contacted the police. On mation the students provide,” Budds said. “The Oct. 25, the police were contacted first and imme- department encourages all students and staff diately reached out to the LT administration. Both to ‘speak up’ whenever they see or are aware of reports were based in speculation, Kilrea said. something suspicious.” “Unfortunately, I can’t see that there’s any Local police departments were involved way to stop that, except for to have individuals closely with the LT administration throughout assist us to determine the credibility of the situa- the response. tion,” Kilrea said. “Or, if they don’t know if some“Our police department, and there was more
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than just Western Springs, helped put to bed some of these [reports] showing them as not credible because of physical investigation work,” Kilrea said. There was an increased police presence at South Campus after Oct. 25, but returned to normal by that Friday. A conference was held with the administration and police to make that decision, Kilrea said. An important change to be made after the events involves LT’s automated phone system. “We learned about our software program we thought would be able to get the calls out immediately, and some calls were delayed up to an hour,” Kilrea said. “That’s not timely and this has since been rectified.” Another significant takeaway was the impact of social media during incidents with unconfirmed details. English teacher Patrick O’Neil, a witness to the events on Oct. 25, spoke about social media amplifying rumors in an October interview with LION Online. “I hope that kids stay off their phones,” O’Neil said. “I think that a lot of times, the social media aspect ends up making things worse.” Kilrea said that going forward, these incidents would be an example to remind students about the need for responsible use and immediacy of social media. “I can’t stress enough that social media can be an effective and efficient communication tool, but when inaccurate information is passed along, it can also heighten anxiety levels without any concrete or verifiable reason,” Kilrea said.
Look here for some quick reads on this issue’s features. Page 2: Read about new classes and changes to the LT curriculum. Page 3: What’s up with the car burglaries in Western Springs? Coverage on page 3. Page 4: Get the full scoop on the recent career opportunity seminar at SC. Page 5: How are LT and LaGrange celebrating Christmas? Turn to page 5 for our holiday coverage. Page 6: Do any parents deserve Dad of the Year compared to this Dad? Check out Odd News! Page 8: LION’s Charlie Stelnicki ‘17 and Henry Groya ‘17 debate whether or not you should be worried about President-elect Donald Trump. Page 10: How will LT boys basketball fare against Hinsdale this year? Page 10 has full coverage on returning players and expectations. Page 11: Rhiannon Schuenemann ‘17 displayed great leadership for LT girls volleyball. Turn to page 11 to read more. Page 12: Who is LION’s Athlete of the Month? View page 12 for the answer. Page 16-17: How does social media effect your personal body image? LION provides the full coverage. Page 18: Want to know the wackiest holiday traditions? We came together to find some of the most obscure stories that you have to read. Page 19: Are you Type A or Type B? Check out the full coverage on page 19. Page 20: Looking for new food combinations? We found the place for you on page 20.
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See the full story on page 4
32.8% of teens have used a cell phone while driving...
...even though it slows your reaction time to a 70-year-old’s.
1 in 5 of 16-year-old drivers has an accident within their first year of driving. Crash risk for teens increases incrementally with each mile per hour over the speed limit.
100 S. Brainard Ave. LaGrange, Ill. 60525 South Campus
3.7 times greater than the average driver. compiled by Spiro Kass and Tim Mikulski
Sources: dmv.ca.gov and dosomething.org
North Campus
A 16-year-old’s car crash rate is
4900 Willow Springs Rd. Western Springs, Ill. 60558