MUSTANGS VS PIONEERS Mustangs reflect on past games as well as their chances in future games

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sept. 2022 Mustangs to take on Kirkwood Pioneers

parker BRANDT

After the Mustang’s first loss of the season against Eureka at the Homecoming game, linebacker Brian Fitzmaurice, junior, said they’ve already faced their toughest opponent.

“The rest of our opponents aren’t as challenging,” Fitzmaurice said. “I think we’ll be able to end the year strong.”

The Mustangs won 41-0 against Northwest following the Homecoming game loss. The team will face Kirkwood tonight at Kirkwood.

Coach Michael Stewart recognizes Kirkwood’s ability and has a plan for the Mustang’s victory.

“Our job is to minimize their big plays as much as possible,” Stewart said. “We wanna lean on our running game as much as possible.”

Stewart said he is confident in the rest of the season. He said they need to achieve a certain level of consistency in order to succeed.

“It’s been a successful season so far, we’re really proud of our ventures,” Stewart said.

He said one of their downfalls this season has been that their running back, Connor Griebbenow, and one of their varsity defenders, George Gaston, both have been injured. He is confident other players will be able to step into their roles and work just as hard as they would’ve.

Senior Gavin Marsh, wide receiver, remarked how difficult the loss against Eureka was for the team.

“That Eureka game is where our flaws really showed,” Marsh said. “They are a better team but we were putting out the best we had.”

Although it was the loss that ended the team’s winning streak, Marsh said the team is focused on learning from it and moving forward.

“That was definitely our biggest setback,” Marsh said. “But I think it’s gonna be good moving forward because there was a lot to learn from it.”

Although the season hasn’t gone as planned, senior Will Malsch, utility/ outside linebacker, is looking forward to future games leading up to the Playoffs.

“There will definitely be some competition,” Malsch said. “But I don’t think it’s anything we can’t beat.”

Game Times

MHS’ defense forces a fumble against Eureka’s kick returner. During the beginning of the second half of the Sept. 9 game, the Mustangs trailed behind Eureka. While the fumble was recovered by Eureka, MHS was able to gain some momentum. MHS gathered near the end zone to keep morale high after losing 28-35 after MHS scored a last-minute touchdown but still fell short. Photographs by Shyam Punnachalil

10/7 7 p.m. vs Ritenour

vs

7 p.m. tonight at Kirkwood

Kirkwood is 2-2 and Marquette is 4-1 $5 admission 10/15 12 p.m. vs Hazelwood West

10/21 7 p.m. vs Pattonville

Senior juggles multiple sports

jacob ROBINSON

Rushing home after a busy day, senior Logan Schoonover stumbles through the door, exhausted, knowing his homework still awaits him.

Logan is a multisport athlete who plays varsity soccer for MHS and club volleyball during the fall.

“It’s difficult on days where I have soccer and volleyball,” Logan said. “I go from school to soccer then to volleyball.” Some nights, Logan doesn’t

get home from practice until after 9 p.m., and when he doesn’t go to practice, he goes to work at Andy’s Frozen Custard “It’s difficult, on on Manchester Road. days where I have soccer and Logan schedules himself for work when he doesn’t have games volleyball. I go from or practice, but someschool to soccer than to volleyball.” times soccer and volleyball overlap. He said he chooses whichever sport has a game over a Logan Schoonover, practice, and he’s never been torn between senior two games. Even with his busy schedule, Logan finds time to get his work done during Ac Lab and at nights after he gets home. Logan’s mom, Angela Schoonover, makes sure he has everything he needs Photograph by Jacob Robinson from snacks and drinks to knowing his Illustration by Emma Tyulyayev schedule and getting good grades.

“I worry sometimes about him trying to do too much,” Angela said. “We have an understanding that grades come first.”

Logan’s coaches and family have helped him get the time for what he needs and they have been understanding, Angela said.

“Whether it’s Logan or another player, we try to accommodate both sports and teams as much as we can,” soccer coach Steve Conway said. “If it is going to be a problem where the player is missing too much of soccer, then it’s on the player to decide to stay with soccer or the other sport.”

Even though Logan is busy, he’s figured out how to handle it.

“I can feel stressed out with the homework part, but the sports part of it I really like,” Logan said. “I have friends on both teams so it’s really fun.