20-21 Marquette Messenger: Issue V

the

MESSENGER

n. V

VOLUME XXVIII, ISSUE V | MO 63017 | MARQUETTEMESSENGER.COM | APRIL 2021

THRIFTED

FAST FASHION

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es m eco g b g n i on t f m i Thr bby a cting o e a h s, aff nds, n e tee ion tr the h fas es and nt. e pric ironm env

ROLL CALL Editor in Chief Associate Editor Copy Editor Online Editor Production Editor News Editor Features Editors Arts&Entertainment Editor Sports Editors Opinions Editor In-Depth Editor Social Media Editors Photography Editor Illustrators Page Designer Staff Reporters Staff Adviser

Waha Siddiqui Connor Del Carmen Zara Tola Arpitha Sistla Stephanie Lei Aarushi Bute Liza Cooper Lajja Patel Akhila Swarna Marin Ellington Annie McGinnis Molly Sillitto Lauren Pickett Sydney Goldsmith Rutaiba Siddiqui Grace Taylor Ben Hughes Emmie Foley Mason Kellerman Anika Talyan Taryn Moore Carter Van Buskirk Emily Jorgensen

INSIDE

thrifting show choir

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gardening

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girls soccer

Center Stage has back-toback practices for competition season.

Visit our website to view more stories and MHSNews: marquettemessenger.com

M-Crew is launched to guide incoming freshmen.

Messenger staffers document their COVID-19 vaccination experience.

Varsity girls soccer attribute success to team chemistry.

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ONLINE Local bird watcher reflects on his hobby and backyard wildlife.

Thrifting gains popularity on social media and in clothes consumption..

Community members tend to their gardens during the spring season.

Busch Stadium reopens to spectators.

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Busch stadium

OUR POLICY The Messenger is published eight times a year by students enrolled in the News Production class at Marquette High School, Chesterfield, MO, 63017. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Messenger will be published six times for the 2020-2021 school year.

Issue V was written and designed by 9 virtual and 13 in-person students.

The publication office is located in Room 226, (636) 891-6000 ext. 26228 Opinions of Messenger columnists or the Editorial Board are not representative of the opinions of

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the entire Messenger staff or the administration. The Messenger takes responses for any issue. Send these in at mhsmessenger@rsdmo.org.

The Messenger reserves the right to edit submitted material and to refuse to print material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the editor in chief and adviser deem appropriate, including advertisements and letters to the editor.

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issue V

NEWS

Dr. Miles reflects on his tenure in RSD lauren PICKETT SUPERINTENDENT DR. MARK MILES announced his retirement Friday, April 9, effective Wednesday, June 30, which he said marked a bittersweet transition from his 26-year career in education.

He served as RSD’s superintendent for two years, during which he made many difficult decisions such as activating the Alternative Learning Plan (ALP) to end the 2019-20 school year, beginning the 2020-2021 school year with an all-virtual education, returning students to in-person learning and removing the Eureka High School baseball team’s hats that displayed the “thin blue line” flag last month.

Dr. Miles confirmed he received hateful messages regarding some of his decisions within the last year, but he said he never felt threatened. He also confirmed that RSD increased security at recent Board meetings in response to negative tones.

Dr. Miles denied hate mail, security concerns or the Board election played a role in his retirement.

The Messenger spoke with Dr. Miles regarding his tenure.

Tell me about the unique challenges you faced as superintendent.

There are challenges that intermingle in my personal and professional life.

COVID-19 presented a number of challenges in trying to get students back to school safely, supporting staff, determining mitigation strategies to use and the timing to return. There were still so many unknowns about COVID-19 when we began our transition back to school in September. Also, I am a husband and father. Time away from family and trying to make it through all of those significant decisions takes a professional and personal toll with the physical, emotional and mental challenges presented.

Principal Dr. Steve Hankins and Superintendent Dr. Mark Miles talk and laugh in the MHS hallways after news of Dr. Miles retirement was announced. Media by Waha Siddiqui

Would you be able to elaborate on having to make those decisions, while facing the challenges of COVID-19 and community backlash, in a short period of time?

All these challenges have occurred almost simultaneously. That creates significant challenges for the superintendent and school district leaders.

An article by Fox 2 said it seemed the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in your decision to retire.

That was a factor, but it was certainly not the only factor. But COVID-19 has added an additional stressor to an already challenging job.

Do you have any plans after leaving RSD and how would you like to be remembered?

I am exploring some opportunities in the private sector, but those have not been finalized. I think the story of my superintendency will be told by others in that I served during this challenging time. I would like to be remembered as someone who served others with patience, grace, compassion and care.

“

He did an excellent job of listening to everyone, gathering the most important information and considering the safety and social emotional health of students.”

BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT JAMIE BAYES

“

You couldn’t find a better person, especially one who cares about people, students and staff and is willing to do anything for them.”

RSD ADMINISTRATORS HAVE BEEN discussing the schedule for the 20212022 school year, following the significant changes that have been made to the schedule in the past several years.

The proposed schedule will likely be reviewed by the Board of Education for approval in the next month, Associate Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle said. Once it is approved, the schedule will be released publicly.

The start and end times will stay the same, Dr. Waeckerle said, and the current plan is to return to the previous mixture of A, B and C days that was in the 2019-2020 schedule.

Although virtual Fridays were implemented this year due to struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic, there will not be virtual days in the schedule for next year, Dr. Waeckerle said.

Those students who do elect online learning will be completely asynchronous, and students will work on their classwork on their own schedule with-

out logging into a Zoom.

While Flex Time has brought up issues with the number of classroom hours the Department of Secondary Education (DESE) requires for high school students, Dr. Waeckerle said there are plans to include student academic support time.

“It’s going to look different than last year,” Dr. Waeckerle said. “The specifics of how it’s going to look, I don’t know yet. That’s part of the approval process that hasn’t been reviewed by the Board.”

The DESE requirement also has brought up issues with Late Start days, Dr. Waeckerle said. Administrators are currently trying to figure out how to continue having Late Start days while meeting the necessary minutes for schooling.

RSD had to implement virtual snow days this year to meet these state requirements; however, Dr. Waeckerle said she has not heard of any plans to continue having school on snow days for the next school year.

Senior Grant Hayes and Junior Yoon Seo Chang were among 1,000 students to be accepted into the 2021 Boys State Session, an 8-day hands on experience in the government Summer Academy registration is due Friday, April 30

Prom will be 7 p.m.- 9 p.m.

Saturday, May 1. It is also now open to juniors on a first come, first serve basis For more information, read here:

PRINCIPAL DR. STEVE HANKINS

Admin plan 2021-2022 bell schedule zara TOLA

AT A GLANCE

3

The interim superintendent will be approved by the Board of Education (BOE) Thursday, May 6

Graduation will held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 3 at the POWERplex.

Senior Farewell will be held at Six Flags with tickets avaliable for $75

In the 2019-2020 school year, RSD implemented Flex Time across all four high schools to give students time to study and get help from teachers. Although Flex Time couldn’t take place in the 2020-2021 school year, administrators plan to reinstate some form of it next year. Photograph by Tanner Rojewski

RSD is offering summer maintenance jobs for those 16 and older Monday through Friday from June 7 to August 20.

4

NEWS

nov. 2020

Coalition empowers community to combat substance abuse aarushi BUTE

“I love that different people with different backgrounds get to come together and share their ideas,” Prakash said.

AS A TEEN, LILI SCHLIESSER, PROJECT COORDIPrakash said the meetings are important for the nator of the Community Partners in Prevention Cocommunity in order to have that constant reminder alition (CPIP), personally encountered the dangers to be on the lookout because that can save lives. of substance abuse. Now, over a decade later, she has During the meetings, Prakash said she is empowbeen hosting events to prevent and address substance ered and motivated to create a bright future for RSD abuse among youth in RSD. The coalition has been around since 1988 and is a and the community.

Parent Kelly Prunty, member of CPIP, also has felt group of community members who work toward the common goal of reducing substance abuse. The mem- empowered.

Prunty has her own non-profit organization called bers include teachers, counselors, students, parents, “Addiction is Real” and has worked with Schliesser different organizations and more. before, which then caused her to join CPIP. They talk to teens in the district and gather data Prunty said she is concerned because drugs and on substance and drug abuse. Then they form stratealcohol are getting more dangerous and potent by the gies to combat the prioritized issues. year.

“It contributes to changing the “Having those conversations from culture of the community and that’s a young age helps them understand 72% of RSD the coolest part,” Schliesser said. “We the dangers surrounding substance aren’t just doing this because we are students have abuse,” Prunty said. passionate about it. We’re doing it consumed Donald Lloyd, retired associbecause it works.” alcohol by end of ate professor at the University of According to the Missouri Stuhigh school Southern California and an expert dent Survey, the numbers of misuse on mental illness and alcohol depenof substances in RSD as measured by dence, said there are many potential whether students used for 30 days According to the National hypotheses on the links between tend to stay below county and state Center for Drug Abuse mental illness and the misuse of drugs numbers. In 2018, e-cigarettes had Statistics and alcohol. been used by 18.5 percent of students One of the hypotheses is people but in 2020, the number dropped to turn to drugs and alcohol to try to cope with distress 11.8 percent. and alter their mood, Lloyd said.

The coalition also addresses mental health as a While working on a study with 1,800 participants risk factor for substance abuse, Schliesser said. from the ages of 18-24, he found that alcohol abuse “When we talk to students and ask what the and dependence were highly prevalent with younger number one reason Rockwood students use drugs adults. and alcohol, it isn’t peer pressure,” Schliesser said.

Lloyd said one of the protective factors against “That’s what parents and teachers say. The teens say misuse is a sense of social support. it’s depression, anxiety and stress and it’s important Christy Johnson, sophomore, said CPIP is exactly to listen to teens when they say that.” the social support teens need.

Schliesser said all of these issues overlap, and in “It opened up lines of communication on the diforder to prevent substance abuse, mental illness must ferent faces of mental health, which was something be tackled as well. that was missing from Rockwood’s mental health The Coalition meetings are open to everyone, especially to students. They meet on the third Wednes- arsenal,” Johnson said.

Along with a few other students and staff, Johnday of each month over Zoom. son added a mental health resource tab to RSD’s web“Our whole goal is to help Rockwood teens. We site in order to increase mental health awareness. need Rockwood teens at the table or we are going to But Johnson said CPIP is doing a great job premiss our mark,” Schliesser said. venting students from depending on alcohol by proTeens During COVID was sponsored by CPIP on viding the right resources.

Wednesday, April 7. Students from different schools “It’s a problem that’s so widespread that we need shared their experiences on mental health, ways parsomething to be done about it,” Johnson said. “But if ents could help and the current status of substance we as a district can get those resources out to people misuse. Experts from across the STL area also spoke. as a form of intervention then that’s really what it’s Radhika Prakash, senior, is one of the teen panelall about at the end of the day.” ists who spoke at the Teens During Covid event. She said the CPIP meetings are effective and a good use of time.

1 out of 5 Teens have abused prescription medications, according to the CDC

53%

Of RSD students said it is “very” or “sort of” easy to get alcohol According to the Missouri Student Survey

RESOURCES

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741-741 National Hotline for Substance Use and Mental health: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) Youth in Need: St. Louis City Help Line 636-946-3771 CPIP Suicide Prevention Training: Tuesday, May 11, on Zoom

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issue V

75

OPINIONS

SPEAK OUT WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT? “I’m looking for a superintendent who is fun to be around and nice to the students and cares for the school.”

JACKSON WALKER,

freshman

“Something I would look for in a new superintendent would be someone who reaches out to the students more and checks in with them to see how they are doing.”

Illustration by Mason Kellerman

editorialBOARD APPOINTING THE NEXT RSD SUPERINTENDENT THE RSD BOARD OF EDUCATION (BOE) HAS regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity begun their search for a new interim leader after Suand expression, sexual orientation, perceived sexual perintendent Dr. Mark Miles announced his plans for orientation, genetic information, marital status, age, retirement on Friday, April 9, effective Wednesday, national origin, disability or economic status.”

June 30.

While the district has made commendable headAs the BOE carries out the task of finding a new way instating diverse education programs for stusuperintendent, the Messenger would like to comdents, offering new courses like Black Literature and mend the work Dr. Miles did in his two years as Multicultural Literature and forming subcommittees superintendent. to tackle diversity issues, there is still considerable Dr. Miles has always been approachable with his work to be done. interactions with our staff members. From comOne of the main promises on the RSD website is ing to us after BOE meetings RSD will “recruit teachers who and thanking us for sticking reflective of the student In a superintendent, we are around to always squeezing in body.” At MHS, it is evident the look for a firm leader an interview with us, he recogteachers are not reflective of the nized the value of our work and student body. who makes decisions empathized with our wishes as We hope the new superthat benefit the majority, intendent students. will focus on this After COVID-19 struck while consistently promise and work to further our community last year and RSD’s commitment to diversity. empathizing with issues arose around the format Decisions must be made at the everyone’s situations. Dr. district level to enact further of school reopening, Dr. Miles placed value in the word of pubmeasurable change, especially Miles exhibited that. lic health officials and the CDC in hiring staff at the high school by opting to start the year virtulevel. ally, while also listening to the voices that disagreed The next superintendent should continue the with that policy. precedent Dr. Miles has set of valuing the opinion of In a superintendent, we look for a firm leader public health officials, as the effects of the pandemic who makes decisions that benefit the majority, while persist in the community. consistently empathizing with everyone’s situations.

Additionally, the next superintendent and assistDr. Miles exhibited that. ing BOE should work with the state to bring in vacciIn valuing Dr. Miles’s contributions to the RSD nation clinics for the community. Once citizens under community in this tumultuous time, there are a couthe age of 16 are eligible for vaccination, schools are ple of initiatives we’d like to see the next superintenthe most standardized and local place for them to get dent and BOE make progress on. vaccinated.

One such area is diversity in RSD. Dr. Miles and Vaccination clinics at the RSD high schools would Brittany Hogan, director of Education Equity and Dihelp those in marginalized communities who have versity in RSD, implemented “Beloved Community” struggled to secure appointments receive the vaccine in June 2020, a plan to ensure equity, opportunity and in a timely manner and at a trusted location. We hope access throughout the district. this idea continues to take priority at the district levThe official RSD Educational Equity Resolution el, even after Dr. Miles leaves. states RSD will “continue to relentlessly pursue sysAs a collective, we thank Dr. Miles for his work in temic improvements to policies, practices, and probettering the RSD community in the past two years grams and continue to provide educational opportuand wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. nities to ensure that every student and staff member,

CONNOR GIEGLING,

sophomore

“I want someone who checks in on the schools and stays here for more than one day and knows what’s going on inside the school, not just the outside.”

KALLIE FISHER,

junior

“I’m looking for a superintendent who actually cares about the well-being of students rather than just making sure the district doesn’t fall apart. Someone who actually learns peoples names and where they go to school rather than just being a number.”

PAIGE HANSON,

senior

“What I’m looking for in a new superintendent is someone who listens to everything that’s going on in the district and takes account of what the teachers and students want.”

TRACY MULHOLLAND,

teacher

OPINIONS

6

april 2021

We need black and asian solidarity lauren PICKETT A 65-YEAR-OLD FILIPINO WOMAN was kicked, stomped and subjected to anti-Asian statements by a man in New York City. A 59-year old Korean woman was punched in the face repeatedly by a group of young women yelling racial slurs in Houston. A 25-year-old Asian mother and her baby were spat on three times, then called the “Chinese virus” in Queens, N.Y. These violent, vile anti-Asian hate crimes in March are only some of many recorded since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hate crimes against Asian Americans rose 145 percent in 16 of the largest U.S. cities in 2020, according to a study by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.

The initial spike in anti-Asian hate crimes occured in March, amidst a wave of racial bias and COVID-19-related stereotyping facing Asian Americans and Black Lives Matter protests.

This has resulted in collective mourning and constant fear.

Solidarity between Black and Asian communities is critical in dismantling the root of racial injustices—white supremacy —and promoting equity and

equality for people of color.

In a report, 3,795 anti-Asian hatecrime incidents were received by Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit organization, between March 19, 2020, to February 28, 2021.

Although Black and Asian communities experience racism uniquely, there have been some shared histories.

Racial terror lynching in America largely targeted thousands of Black people but was not exclusive to them. The 1871 Chinese Massacre, for example, amassed 17 Chinese residents lynched by a mob in Los Angeles.

The interracial movement against white supremacy is at threat of crumbling from within. Without morally acknowledging the differences in treatment toward Asian people and their complicity in anti-Blackness, Asian Americans cannot expect an influx of Black-Asian allyship.

From the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, Asian American communities have experienced resurgences in racial discrimination. However, this greatly differs from the centuries of enslavement and systemic, structural and institutional dehumanization Black communities have continuously endured.

Members of the Asian and Black communities have cooperated on social justice efforts since the 1960s, but this

Photo illustration by Emmie Foley

is the exception to decades of silence and racial resentment. The historical trope of Black-Asian conflict remains but must be denounced. This is divisive and relies on the trope of Black criminality to further suppress Black people and fuel anti-Asian hate.

Restorative justice in America is not the role of one community but of

all citizens.

Last summer, I protested for racial justice alongside Asian American peers, which is key to setting the foundation of racial solidarity.

Black and Asian communities need to recognize a shared goal against white supremacy, not each other, in the fight for equality.

Use caution with vaccine selfies

“Girlboss” feminism is damaging

sydney GOLDSMITH

stephanie LEI

PEOPLE IN THE U.S. HAVE BEEN getting the COVID-19 vaccine since late December, and many of those people have posted about it on their personal social media accounts.

I have seen the most posts about getting the vaccine on Instagram.

“Get vaccinated” stickers adorn Instagram stories, many of which feature people posing with their official record of vaccination cards.

People have been posting on their stories when they get the first and second doses with a reminder or encouragement for other people to get vaccinated.

Posting about it is a fun celebration that recognizes some light at the end of our very dark tunnel of a year. People post about what they are excited about, so the idea of people posting about their vaccinations makes sense to me.

People seeing someone they like get vaccinated may persuade them to also get the vaccine. The more people getting vaccinated, the better Getting vaccinated can help protect not just the person vaccinated, but also the people around that person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While fully vaccinated people are far less likely to get COVID-19 or become seriously ill from it, according to the CDC, the chances of getting it are

Kate Hull, junior, recieves her first dose of the vaccine. Photograph by Dena Hull.

not completely gone.

Experts are still concerned that relaxed restrictions caused by the vaccine rollout will cause another spike in cases, and I fear social media may add to the fire. Seeing those who are vaccinated able to do more than before may cause someone who is not vaccinated to want to do the same.

The social media posts are exciting and fun, but it is still a serious subject with serious consequences. With every vaccine post, there should be a reminder that masks should still be worn and other safety measures should still be followed.

PICTURE THIS: A TALL, YOUNG, ATtractive, white and previously wealthy woman, a #Girlboss.

You’ve likely heard and seen this term more often in the mid-2010’s as television shows such as “Go-Getter Girl,” “The Fashionista” and, of course, “GirlBoss.”

What distinguishes a successful woman and feminist role-model from a #Girlboss? A girl boss’ beliefs and hardships are often brushed off to arrive at the conclusion, “see women out there, you just have to work harder, it’s possible.”

The concept of #Girlboss shifts the focus from an individual’s success, hardships, stories, experiences and beliefs to the mere fact she is a woman.

It’s clear this term reflects how differently men and women are treated when they achieve success.

When men achieve success, they are often asked questions reflecting on their insights and the obstacles they overcome. While women are asked these same questions, people brush these responses off and harp on questions based on her appearance or womanhood.

In a famous interview from 2015, Ariana Grande shoots down a DJ’s sexist question in a radio interview as he asks her what he would choose between only having her phone or

makeup. As Grande begins to shut the question down, he goes on to claim that all women are attached to makeup and phones. When this interview was published #Girlboss feminism was trending.

Girlboss feminism erases the nuances a woman faces when climbing up to the top in a male-dominated sphere.

Girlboss feminism highlights women who have seemingly superficial or minor issues, such women who usually have privilege outside of their gender.

Instead of highlighting a woman’s success, corporations use this #Girlboss for diversity to appease societal standards.

Ultimately, #Girlboss feminism is not feminism. The concept of a girlboss perpetuates the social norm that females must be feminime while conforming to a system geared towards and created by men.

Girlboss feminism is a mere capitalist strategy as women and feminism as a movement is used as a marketing scheme to fund the systems that lift men and oppress women.

Let’s try this one more time: Picture a successful woman. I see women of color, women of abuse, women of the LGTBQ+ community, women of violence — simply put, all women. Perhaps in this picture of success, there is a #Girlboss. But that is neither the sole focus nor single story.

issue V

FEATURES

7

Senior creates tech company Top: Andrew Wu, Jason Zhao and Rusty Willis, members of Astral Orbit, prepare to launch a rocket at Buder Park in early March 2021. They are inspecting the igniter wires of the rocket to ensure a safe launch. Photograph by Bradley Cook Right: William Pedersen, senior, works with colleagues to prepare for a presentation at World Wide Technologies in 2019. World Wide Technologies is a business that provides technology to enterprises.

Astral Orbit’s Photograph by Schree Borcherding design

Rocketry club advances to national competition marin ELLINGTON

“One of the great things about rocketry is that it really brings in so many engineering AFTER A MODEL ROCKETRY UNIT IN AN disciplines,” Cook said. “There’s just so many engineering class at Crestview Middle School, skills that are in rocketry.”

Ben Cook, junior, gathered a group of stuDr. Cathy Farrar, science teacher, has dents from some of his other classes in 2018 served as the club sponsor since its transition to create his own rocketry club, Astral Orbit. from Crestview to MHS. Once the members reached high school, “They are a pretty focused group,” Dr. MHS gained a rocketry team.

Farrar said. “These guys are great and should Having taken second place in The Amerdo well.” ican Rocketry Challenge’s (TARC) virtual The team has launched five rockets this competition simulation year after school hours. last spring, members take place vir“One of the great things Meetings of Astral Orbit are now tually as the group conabout rocketry is that it tinues to prepare for the working toward this year’s in-person compe- really brings in so many competition. tition with dates still to Alex Chen, sophoengineering disciplines.” more, be decided. has been a member “There’s a lot more of Astral Orbit since it challenges when you’re was founded and works BEN COOK actually building [rockwith coding for the rocket.

JUNIOR ets],” Cook said. “But, Chen said weather is we’re feeling pretty an important factor to confident.” consider when building the rocket, as every This year’s competition task is to keep an day brings different conditions and, as a result, egg undamaged as a rocket goes up to 800 feet different flight patterns. high for 40 to 43 seconds.

Chen said the group functions as a hiveAstral Orbit used 3D printing for much of mind to ensure as many issues that may arise their previous rocket building which proved can be addressed as possible. to weigh a lot. This year, lighter materials will “We believe in the idea that having a lot of be used. ideas is the best way to have great ideas,” Chen Cook said Astral Orbit’s inexperience said. building physical rockets helps the club beThere is no hierarchy within the group. cause it doesn’t limit design ideas.

Chen said members pick up roles where they National competitions will be spread are needed. across the country to prevent large gatherChen said people are naturally intrigued ings. when they see rocketry, and getting people to Some team members are at the comact on that intrigue and venture out of their petition in person to work with the rocket comfort zone is what continues to make the itself, while others are able to work with the group great. programming virtually from a secondary loca“We’re not just people behind computer tion. This programming ensures the rocket’s screens,” Chen said. “We’re fun people to be flight path while in the air. around, albeit dangerous.”

process, according to Alex Chen

4

Understand the criteria for building the rocket.

3

Develop designs based on criteria and previous data.

2

Test new designs and collect data.

1

Cry if designs don’t work; rejoice if they do.

BLAST OFF!

zara TOLA FULLY-EDUCATED ADULTS MAY STILL struggle to maintain their own businesses on a dayto-day basis, yet senior William Pedersen manages to do it all while simultaneously finishing high school.

In seventh grade, Pedersen started KryptoDev, a development company that specializes in meeting people’s needs through advanced technological applications.

By practicing and learning as much programming information as possible through the internet, Pedersen was able to grasp 15 different coding languages and multiple application program interfaces (APIs).

“A lot of people ask me how I know everything I know, and honestly, there is no right answer for learning,” Pedersen said. “It’s your own journey.”

The company develops websites for their customers and creates full-scale applications for any business that requests their service. Their more recent work includes the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in a project Pedersen calls “Hexium.”

Hexium, as Pedersen explains it, is an AI network that examines speech patterns and malicious language, halting the spread of such messages in online spaces. With the help of the MHS Rocketry club, Pedersen has been able to get Hexium off the ground.

“Artificial intelligence is not intelligent itself,” Pedersen said. “It takes information, it takes data, it takes real people to make it happen.”

Junior Ben Cook, captain of Rocketry club, met Pedersen at MHS. Their combined interest in programming and coding led them to have discussions of potential technologies.

Cook said he had the idea to add the Hexium bot to the Rocketry team’s discord server to test the technology. KryptoDev was able to collect the needed data and find Hexium’s “blind spots.”

“Once those are identified, new data can be generated and used to train the Hexium model to be more accurate,” Cook said.

To get his software up and running, Pedersen also looked for help from another person he met at MHS, Sam Dillion, Class of 2020.

While Pedersen does all of the specialized software, he consults with Dillon to talk through new ideas.

Dillion said Pedersen’s work to learn his field has allowed him to start a business at such a young age, and it is much more possible to educate yourself with programming than other fields.

“If he chose something else to try and start a business, then he probably would’ve had to wait until later in life,” Dillon said.

IN-DE

8

Valarie Inch, sophomore, works at the Ellisville Sav store. She organizes DVDs, stocks vinyl records an clothes. Photographs by Rutaiba Siddiqui

THRIFTING RISES IN POPULARITY rutaiba SIDDIQUI

As seen on pg. 1

ON A TYPICAL SATURDAY, WHILE MANY TEENAGERS are spending time with friends or family, Valarie Inch, sophomore, is organizing clothes at her part-time job.

Inch has been working at the Ellisville Savers, a thrift store, since November.

“I’ve definitely noticed more people come into the store in the past year or so,” Inch said. “It’s great that thrifting has helped people find their style, but I just hope that it sticks with people, and they don’t give up after the trend has died.”

What used to be considered an activity done by people of low-income levels out of necessity has turned into a trend for many people of high or middle-income levels. In fact, there has been a striking increase in people of middle income levels shopping at thrift stores in the past two years, according to a study conducted at Penn State University.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS & FAST FASHION Inch said she prefers buying her clothes from thrift stores as she is extremely environmentally conscious.

On average, Americans throw away 10.5 million tons of clothing each year, according to the Student Environment Resource Center at University of California, Berkeley.

Because the fashion industry is moving at a rapid pace, companies are rapidly mass producing inexpensive clothing in response to the latest trends, which is referred to as fast fashion.

As a result, a greater amount of clothing and waste is generated.

The study also states 60 percent of clothing worldwide is made of plastic. When consumers trash these clothes, they could land up in landfills for hundreds of years.

“By buying thrifted clothes, I am reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills because I’m constantly reusing and repurposing old clothes,” Inch said.

Inch said Savers donates all clothing that isn’t sold by a certain time to the Vietnam Veterans Charity, therefore limiting the amount of waste produced.

Inch isn’t alone in her feelings as 9 in 10 Generation Z shoppers between 6 and 24 years old believe they have a responsibility to address environmental issues, according to McKinsey “The State of Fashion” 2019 report.

Hope Goodyear, junior, picked up thrifting as a hobby two years ago for similar reasons.

“I don’t want to take away from anyone who needs it, so I try my best to buy things I really want and make sure to leave the things I don’t need,” Goodyear said.

Goodyear prefers stores such as the Goodwill Outlet, where all the leftover clothes from thrift stores are pooled

into bins and buy those clo “It’s so po genders can f piece of cloth year said.

Despite th extremely po Carter Gle at stores such “I usually accessible,” G Gleason s to be inconve “Buying fr ethically corr tive,” Gleason probably gon Due to the agers have fo

RESELLING

One altern apps such as buy secondha Rachel Ste thalibra” on D means to mak Rather th clothes, such selling them the app.

She said s ple alteration “One time Savers, and I up the skirt’s “Originally it but ended up Steurer sa the prices too “Giving an joyed by som

PRICING

Aside from tion behind t For this re

EPTH

9

vers, a thrift nd shelves

Secondhand Fashion Apps

d bought in bulk. She said it’s a last chance to othes and keep them out of the landfill. opular right now because people of all ages and find something for them, and it’s nice to get a hing that might have a story behind it,” Good-

he popularity of thrifting, fast fashion remains opular. eason, sophomore, does most of his shopping h as Nike, Adidas and Vans. y go for stuff that’s the most mainstream and Gleason said. said he wants to dabble in thrifting but finds it enient in comparison to fast fashion stores. rom fast fashion stores is not 100 percent rect, but it’s pretty difficult to find an alternan said. “Any company not using fast fashion is nna be more expensive or lower quality.” e effects of fast fashion shopping, many teenound alternatives.

native avenue to fast fashion is buying from Depop and Poshmark, which allow users to and clothes online. eurer, senior, runs a shop named “InlovewiDepop, which she started two years ago as a ke additional income. han selling her clothes to thrift stores that buy h as Plato’s Closet and Avalon, Steurer opts for on Depop as she makes a greater profit from

she changes pieces completely by making simns. e, I bought a two-piece skirt and jacket from changed it by cropping the jacket and bringing s hem to make it high-waisted,” Steurer said. t looked like something a grandma would wear, p fitting the latest trend for teens.” aid she tries to shop and sell by not marking up o high. nything a new purpose and new life to be enmeone is such a cool experience,” Steurer said.

m the environmental benefits, a major attracthrift shopping are the low prices. eason, Jenny Chiu, junior, has been shopping

at thrift stores her entire life. She said her mom enjoyed buying clothes at a discounted rate, and Chiu continues to do so on her own.

“That’s just how I was raised,” Chiu said. “Honestly there’s probably only one or two things in my closet that I’ve bought brand new or at full price.”

Chiu said the trend is beneficial to both consumers and sellers.

“I don’t think it’s ethically wrong because we’re still reusing clothes and helping out the industry,” Chiu said. “But I am really against teenagers who don’t necessarily have a dire need to thrift, yet choose to shop at stores in low-income areas because that’s super damaging.”

Anne Smith, instructor of economics at Maryville University, said the rise in thrifting will increase the price of secondhand items.

“This increase in demand for goods sold at these stores will likely increase the market price for them and make purchasing the goods more expensive,” Smith said.

Smith compares this increased demand of “inferior goods” to generic brand cereals.

“When your income decreases, you will increase your demand for generic cereal in lieu of the really good stuff,” Smith said. “As we say in economics, when incomes fall, the demand for an inferior good will increase.”

Smith said the root of overpricing is not overconsumption, but overproduction. Fast fashion stores are producing more than is being consumed, so they end up in thrift stores where trendy teens purchase them. This then hikes up the prices for all goods within these stores.

Steve Schmitt, math teacher, has been thrifting since 2010, when he went through a divorce that left him in need of many new items and not much money to buy them. He found thrift stores often carried a wide variety of furniture, clothing and kitchen supplies for half the price of chain stores.

Over the past 11 years, Schmitt’s financial situation has improved; however, he is still an avid thrifter.

“Nowadays, it’s the thrill of the hunt partly because it’s just fun to go with no pressure of needing something and looking for things that jump out at you,” Schmitt said. “It’s the joy of finding something that brings me joy.”

Typically, Schmitt searches for books, kitchenware and gardening supplies and doesn’t make clothing a top priority.

He also encourages his two daughters to do the same.

“At first, my daughters would roll their eyes and be like ‘Dad, I can’t believe you’re doing this,’ but now that they’re in the adult world and have their own jobs, they’ve started thrifting as well,” Schmitt said. “If you’re getting something for a good price, why not?”

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10

april 2021

FEATURES

Think Before Posting: How Teenage Tweets can Ruin a Life liza COOPER THOUGHTS ARE FLEETING, BUT SOCIAL MEDIA is forever.

That’s what former Teen Vogue Editor in Chief Alexi McCammond had to learn the hard way.

McCammond was just about to step into her new position as editor in chief when offensive tweets from her adolescence resurfaced, prompting Condé Nast, Teen Vogue’s parent company, to release a memo on Thursday, March 18, saying they were going to “part ways” with McCammond.

The tweets were homophobic and derogatory toward Asians, shocking many, especially in a time when violence against Asian Americans and members of the LGBTQ+ community are pressing social issues.

“I should not have tweeted what I did and I have taken full responsibility for that,” McCammond wrote in an apology on Twitter.

Mireya Rajendran, sophomore, is the founder of the Psychology Club, a student organization that aims to educate members and others at MHS about the human mind. She said teens need to think before they post to avoid situations like McCammond’s. “[Teens] forget to consider that the moment they click ‘post,’ they are sharing something with the world that won’t disappear even if they choose to delete it,” she said.

Rajendran recommends that before teens post, they make sure to ask themselves questions from the perspective of a follower on social media.

Brain structure might also impact what teens post, said Danielle Potts, school psychologist at MHS and Kehrs Mill Elementary.

“The frontal cortex, or area of the brain responsible for logical reasoning and decision making, is still developing and maturing during the teen years,” she said.

The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible

100

Teen Usage of Social Media 80

Data from Pew Research Center in 2018 Infographic by Waha Siddiqui

60

Percentage 40

20

0

Youtube Instagram Snapchat Facebook Twitter

for immediate reactions, actually develops first, Potts said. The actions of teenagers are guided more by the emotional and reactive amygdala, making them susceptible to impulsive behavior.

Kharawala said society should help teenagers learn from their mistakes and show them why what they said or posted is wrong.

Senior Jessica Zhang, a member of the Asian-American community, said McCammond’s words were inexcusable.

“I don’t appreciate people who are trying to excuse this behavior, [and the argument] that ‘we

all say dumb things when we’re young’,” she said.

“Her comments weren’t ‘dumb’. They were racist and homophobic.”

Zhang said Asian Americans are usually told they’re sensitive, which normalizes things like McCammond’s behavior and sparks internalized racism.

“While I do have mixed emotions about [McCammond’s] apology statement, it’s up to each individual Asian American to decide how they feel,” she said.

“No one should be telling them to ‘get over it’ if they don’t accept her apology.”

issue V

11

FEATURES Did You Know Marigolds or lavenders planted near a vegetable garden will attract bees and pollinators and increase the amount of vegetables produced.

1. Bees usually come out in the spring as the weather gets warmer and the hours of daylight get longer. The particular scents and vivid colors attract bees to certain flowers. Once they pick a flower, bees pollinate it allowing plants to make seeds important for reproduction. Photograph by Emmie Foley

2. Kevin Koch, environmental science teacher, allows native brush and flower species to call his backyard home. This wildflower garden bolsters a side variety of plant species, including purple cone flowers, Black-eyed Susans (yellow), orange day lilies and Queen Anne’s lace (white). Photograph by Kevin Koch

2 2

3. In Koch’s garden, a fawn uses its natural camouflage and takes cover in the underbrush. Its mother is out foraging for food and will return to it a few hours later. Photograph by Kevin Koch

11

4. For the first few weeks of April, the white hyacinths were in full bloom. Now, these delicate plants have shed their blossom and will only stick around for about two more weeks. Photograph by Emmie Foley

Spring gardens improve mental health emmie FOLEY AS WARM WEATHER RETURNS TO the area, flowers and trees planted on campus are finally in bloom, but MHS isn’t the only place getting a pop of color. Teachers and students who enjoy gardening are finding bright, new blooms in their own yards.

For Kevin Koch, environmental science teacher, these spring colors don’t arrive with daffodils or hydrangeas, but with plants native to the area.

Koch said he and his wife initially started a garden to manage the side of their yard that accumulates runoff. Instead of opting for a storm drain, Koch decided to take a more eco-friendly approach.

Koch said he uses his knowledge of natural processes and ecological relationships to maintain an efficient garden that encourages biodiversity.

When preparing soil for the garden, Koch said he works alongside the natural recycling of organic materials through the use of compost. Koch also works to make his yard welcoming for native pollinators by avoiding pesticides and fertilizers.

Koch said being able to choose what types of flowers and plants live in a flowerbed can fuel creativity, and the orderly, clean-cut look of a mulched, weed-free flower bed is generally regarded as the gold standard in gardening.

While leaving design up to nature

does take some control away from gardeners, the results are not only beautiful, but also provide a place for wildlife to thrive in suburban areas.

For the Koch family, this means daily serenades from native birds, the frequent buzzing of bees and the occasional visit from a deer fawn looking to hide in the underbrush.

Gardens have more to offer than sustainability. They can also help improve emotional well-being. In Koch’s case, this means being able to sit back and enjoy the results of his and his wife’s work.

“When it’s in full bloom, it’s pretty relaxing,” Koch said. “We not only enjoy the flowers, but the wildlife that comes to visit. I get a sense of accomplishment after working in the garden as well as a sense that I’m doing something to help the planet and ecosystem we live in.”

But this hobby isn’t exclusive to teachers and staff. Evelyn Bartlow, junior, also enjoys gardening with her family in her spare time.

With spring kicking into gear, Bartlow said she plans to spend more time outdoors and to continue her family’s tradition of growing tomatoes on one of the plots on her farm.

For Bartlow, seeing her plants grow strong and being able to enjoy the end result is a rewarding mood booster.

“Gardening is a very therapeutic experience and it helps me find peace within myself and connect with na-

3

ture,” Bartlow said. “It’s really rewarding to see the results of your garden and what you can achieve with just a little sunlight, water and love.”

Like the Bartlow family, Jeff Dilallo, band teacher, and his family garden as a tradition.

One of the three rose bushes planted in their backyard has been alive for decades. The bush has been passed from mother to daughter for five generations, and the Dilallo’s plan to continue this floral tradition.

Dilallo focuses more on the lawn management side of yard work: mowing, edging and fertilizing all fall under his jurisdiction. Dilallo’s wife, on the other hand, oversees the garden including the Dilallo’s matriarchal heirloom rosebush.

When he sees the bright gardens of his neighbors, he is motivated to maintain his yard not only for his own viewing, but for the enjoyment of those around him.

“Focusing on what’s going on in the world can beat you down,” Dilallo said.

“When you add beauty to the world, it really helps you mentally.”

Despite not largely participating in gardening as a hobby, Dilallo said he appreciates the beauty that emanates from gardens, especially during spring.

“Spring gives me a big boost of energy,” Dilallo said. “It really perks me up to see the pop of color after all of the grays and browns of winter. It’s like boom! Everything comes back to life.”

3

4

4 Bartlow’s Gardening Tips 1. Always water your garden in the morning. If you wait until the hottest part of the day to water your plants, the water will evaporate before the plant has time to absorb it.

2. If your herbs are flowering, snip off the flowering section.

Flowering can alter the taste of your herbs, and by cutting off the flowers, you can have a longer growth period.

3. You can throw the organic waste from your kitchen and garden into a compost bin to create rich soil for your garden to reduce the impact you have on the environment.

5

Information from Evelyn Bartlow

12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

april 2021

Starstruck

Astrology enthusiasts explain the the subject and its popularity liza COOPER

Illustrations by Emmie Foley

Aquarius

ON A CLEAR NIGHT, THE sky is sprinkled with stars.

Ordinary people may just see dots of light; scientists may see balls of gas.

People who participate in astrology, the study of the influence that stars and other celestial bodies have on everyday life, see formations in the sky.

Alexandria Rollet, professional astrologer, owns a business that helps other businesses reach their full potential using astrology. She said astrology helps individuals understand their experiences in life from a cosmic perspective and encourages people to make sense of what appears to be the unknown.

“Astrology is an important tool for self-discovery and living with the cycles of nature,” Rollet said. “A practice that helps us live harmoniously as opposed to feeling as if the world was out to get us.”

Astrology has been around for thousands of years. The ancient Babylonians were one of the first societies to use astrology and horoscopes, according to Kepler College.

While it has existed for centuries, the concept has become a trend in the last few years, gaining popularity on social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram. #astrology on Instagram has 7.7 million posts.

For Nour Elbeshbeshy, freshman, astrology is a newfound hobby. She started noticing astrology through her

Taurus

social media feed, which inspired her to delve deeper into the subject.

“I looked more into the complexities of astrology through apps like Co-Star, which definitely deepened my understanding of it,” she said.

Elbeshbeshy recommends learning the basics of astrology through YouTube and Google.

Zodiac signs are said by various astrologers to influence personality traits and compatibility with others.

Prashu Sidella, freshman, said zodiac signs and the way they correlate to a person’s traits are an aspect of astrology that interest her.

Zodiac signs are also called sun signs because they are determined by the position of the sun on the day a person was born.

“I have a Gemini sun, and people [with this sun] are usually very witty and love to learn,” Sidella said. “I have found that many people I know with this sign, as well as myself, can relate to this .”

Certain signs are said to be compatible with other signs, like Aries and Aquarians or Tauruses and Libras. The more compatible signs are, the more fruitful and fulfilling their relationships are said to be.

Sidella said she does not swear by compatibility.

“I believe that zodiac signs can affect the way you are, but you shouldn’t treat someone differently solely based on them,” Sidella said.

Even though astrology can be fun to learn about and practice, Rollet said it is irresponsible to use it as an excuse for individual problems.

“Astrology gives us a framework for understanding potentials,” she said.

“It is our responsibility to cultivate the highest forms of those potentials, as opposed to succumbing to the lowest forms.”

Leo

PINK MOON MONDAY, APRIL 26 This moon appears bigger and brighter than the regular moon because it appears closer to the Earth. The color pink is derived from the atmosphere.

Astrologers reason that this full moon is in Scorpio, and may create emotional changes and intensified emotions.

Information from WorldAtlas

Scorpio

January 20 - February 18

April 20 - May 20

July 23 - August 22

October 23 - November 21

Pisces

Gemini

Virgo

Sagittarius

February 19 - March 20

May 22 - June 21

August 23 - September 22

November 22 - December 21

Aries

Cancer

Libra

Capricorn

March 21 - April 19

June 21 - July 22

September 23 - October 22

December 22 - January 19

issue V

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

13 7

Show choir has a late start to competition season lajja PATEL WITH COMPETITION SEASON CUT SHORT THIS year, show choir is preparing for their first and last few performances of the year — all within the month of April.

Competition season usually runs January to March but this year, Cassidy Barger, senior, said the season started in April.

“It’s been weird and upsetting to wait so long because by this time we are normally done with competing,” Barger said.

Show Choir had a spring performance Friday, April 23, at MHS in which each student was allowed to bring two guests.

“I’m glad we still get to have an audience this year because they fuel our energy,” Barger said.

Barger said she was particularly excited for the spring performance because she got to showcase her senior solo to the audience.

“I [had] been looking forward to singing a solo at the spring show as a senior for four years and I actually got to,” Barger said.

Barger said it has been hard to face the fact that her last year in show choir won’t be normal.

“I love to travel and compete, so I’m sad we won’t have any overnight competitions this year because those are the most fun,” Barger said.

Sully Anselmo, senior, is a virtual student and said it has been difficult to catch onto choreography through Zoom. Because of this, he values after school rehearsals.

“Learning choreography online during class is quite challenging because the video is mirrored on your screen, and sometimes the audio and video are not in sync,” Anselmo said.

Anselmo said the group only gets one week to polish, before performances, which isn’t ideal because there haven’t been many shows this year as test runs.

Show Choir practices their performance Monday, April 16. The group had performance practice from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every weekday that week, in preparation for their performance on Friday, April 23. Photograph by Waha Siddiqui

However, Anselmo said he believes in the group’s ability to quickly fix their mistakes and regroup.

“I think Center Stage will pull through before our next competition. We always do,” Anselmo said.

Winter said show choir has been spending extra time practicing for the competition with additional one to two night rehearsals a week, which is more compacted than previous years.

Performances for friends and family also have been cut down because of the limited audience that the Theater is allowed to hold during the pandemic, Winter said.

“COVID-19 presented challenges over learning music, so we chose to focus on the quality of our performance rather than the quantity,” Winter said.

Winter said it’s unfortunate this year there will only be two competitions while under normal circumstances there would be four to six, but the students haven’t lost their dedication for performing.

“I have realized my students are truly competitors and don’t need motivation from me and are rather staying self motivated,” Winter said.

14

april 2021

SPORTS

2

1

3

1. Senior Ella Hoene, center back, scores to make the game 1-1 off of a rebound the St. Joseph’s goalie conceded. “Each player has a lot of skill, and when we put it together, we are able to create really good combinations on the field,” Hoene said. 2. Theresa Dorhauer, goalie, punts the ball to midfield after making a save on a St. Joseph’s attacker. 3. MHS and St. Joseph’s players battle to win a cross during their game. Varsity girls soccer defeated St. Joseph’s Academy 2-1 Tuesday, April 6. Photographs by Carter Van Buskirk

Varsity girls soccer continues success connor DEL CARMEN

Although stress can be high for goalies in close games, Dorhauer said FOLLOWING A 9-1 START TO THE having three goalies on the team helps. season and a key early season victory “The tight games put a lot of presagainst St. Joseph’s Academy, the varsisure on us,” Dorhauer said. “We talk ty girls soccer team is optimistic about to each other and the goalies on the the rest of the season. bench are usually communicating to Senior Teresa Dorhauer, goalie, said the field players and helping to support beating St. Joseph’s, who has won sevthem.” en State champiShe also gave onships, was a big credit de“This is the best team I’ve fenderstointhe moment for the front been on in the four years of her includteam and a good indicator of their I’ve been at Marquette. ing senior Ella potential.

Hoene, center We’re very confident “This is the back. in ourselves after beatbest team I’ve “With players been on in the from every age ing some powerhouse four years I’ve and some schools, and we’re real- group been at Marof us not playing ly shooting for the final together before, quette,” Dorhauer said. “We’re our chemistry four.” very confident was slow at first,” in ourselves after Hoene said. “But beating some powevery game we TERESA DORHAUER erhouse schools, play, our chemSENIOR and we’re really istry has grown shooting for the and has definitely final four.” helped to connect us more in games.”

Dorhauer said the team’s chemistry Although Hoene said she enjoys the has continued to improve throughout excitement of the comeback victories, the season, which has allowed for trust she said the team is striving to play in each other and good communicabetter in the first half as well as the tion. As a goalie, Dorhauer said being second half. vocal is essential for her to communi“Each player has a lot of skill, and cate the player movement in front of when we put it together, we are able to her to her teammates. create really good combinations on the

field,” Hoene said.

Hoene acknowledged the growing pressure the team faces as they continue to win games, but she said it has helped the team to stay focused because they know that with every game their opponent is looking to catch them off guard and pull off an upset victory.

Chris Kenny, varsity girls soccer coach, said the limited time the team had together before the rise of COVID-19 last season has helped them this year.

“We were able to do everything through the jamboree last year, so I think there still was some time to connect last year,” Kenny said.

Kenny also said the team’s ability to score clutch goals while maintaining solid defense throughout the matches has been critical to winning games.

While he did say he’s excited by the team’s recent success, he also said it’s not a good idea to think too far ahead because of how competitive their District will be with Lafayette, Northwest and Eureka.

The most important part for the team’s winning record has been the positive team culture and attitude, Kenny said.

“It’s a group of kids with no egos, and they’re all hardworking and good natured, which makes for a pretty good environment,” Kenny said.

Season Scores

*Accurate as of Sunday, April 18

3-0 win over Francis Howell Central 4-0 win over Helias

1-0 loss against Jackson 2-1 win over Lindbergh 1-0 win over Nerinx Hall 2-1 win over St. Joseph’s 3-2 win over Kirkwood 1-0 win over Cor Jesu 5-1 win over Pattonville 3-0 win over Francis Howell

NEXT MATCH 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 27 v.s.

Eureka @ MHS

issue V

SPORTS

15 7

Senior wins racquetball state championship annie MCGINNIS

to three hours every day.

“It is a high like no other knowing that all the time AFTER BEING CUT FROM THE BASEBALL TEAM and energy, all the blood, sweat and tears that you put freshman year, Will Sherman, senior, said his disapinto it, really just pays off,” Sherman said. pointment led him to pursue another sport: racquetThe victory was bittersweet as well. Sherman said ball. he competed against good friend Edwin Miller, a top “When one door closes, another door opens, player for Lindbergh High School, in order to win the right?” Sherman said.

State Championship.

A major success came after five years of playing, During a previous racquetball State Championas Sherman clinched first place in the No. 1 seed varship sophomore year, Sherman lost. He said that led sity boys division of the 2021 Missouri High School him to a three-month slump that set him back in his Racquetball State Championships improvement. However, he learned for the second year in a row to to be affected by those losses.

“It is a high like no notTraveling become a three-time All-American for State, Sherman said other knowing that he met a variety of competitors, player.

In addition to those victories, from countries such as Canada and all the time and Sherman is the fourth high school Germany. boy to become a back-to-back No. 1 energy, all the blood, “It’s really good to go out and State champion in Missouri, and the sweat and tears that meet a bunch of other people who first Lafayette High School (LHS) the same sport,” Sherman said. you put into it, really play racquetball player to win the State “We’re kind of like a big family in a just pays off.” championship in high school. way.”

Sherman plays for the LHS After COVID-19 restrictions racquetball team, which is a comlessened to allow two spectators WILL SHERMAN bination of MHS and LHS players, per player, Donelle Sherman, Will’s SENIOR as MHS does not currently have a mother, said she was grateful to be team. in person watching her son win the Sherman said his dad, a former racquetball player State championship. for Missouri State, introduced him to the sport in “The feeling of your son possibly repeating a state eighth grade and inspired him to begin his racquetball championship is one of hope, joy and fear,” Donelle career. He said his dad trained alongside him at the said. club and pushed him to spend his mornings practicShe said she noticed the pressure put on Will to ing over the weekends. succeed, as many other high school racquetball play“He really propelled me through the training fasters saw him as a main target. er than even coaches can,” Sherman said.

Manny Rodriguez, LHS racquetball coach, played However, the accomplishments come at a cost. a major role in Sherman’s career and admires his rare Sherman said he gave up a social life in order to imaccomplishments throughout the seasons. prove his racquetball skill and practice for at least two “I highly respect his determination and mental

Will Sherman, senior, became the 2021 Missouri High School Racquetball State champion for the second consecutive year Sunday, Feb. 28. Sherman currently plays for Lafayette High School. Photograph by Donelle Sherman

toughness in the game of racquetball,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said Sherman possesses a focus on the game that drives him to put in the practice time to defeat any of his opponents.

“To be successful, his continued play and determination will take him very far in the game,” Rodriguez said. “The rest is up to what his ultimate goals are.”

Sherman plans to continue his racquetball career after high school. He has already having received an offer from Penn State.

16

april 2021

SPORTS

Masks up; batter up Busch Stadium reopened with restrictions to spectators for the baseball season marin ELLINGTON

designated entrances. We always park in the same spot, and now if our tickets are in a different part of THE CRACK OF THE BAT SOUNDED AS MATT the park, we will have to walk farther or find a new Carpenter, Cardinals third baseman, hit his first parking spot.” home run of the season in the bottom of the third McBride said she feels that this year’s team is inning Tuesday, April 13. Adam Withinton, senior, struggling to find their chemistry after a year with cheered from his seat in Busch stadium, happy to be COVID-19. This is not a sentiment shared by all fans, able to be there. however.

Withinton said this was one of the The addition of Nolan Arenado, third best moments of the game, as it broke baseman, to this year’s lineup has been a the player’s early season topic of discussion amongst slump and earned him a fans. His joining of the curtain call to come back team has already shown out of the dugout after his benefits, with 4 home-runs hit to acknowledge the this year and 10 runs batted cheering of the fans. in (RBI) as of Monday, Up until recently, this April 19. event would not have This along with Yadier been possible for fans to Molina, catcher, recently • Socially distanced seating experience in person. becoming the first MLB Major League Baseball player to catch 2,000 games • Required mask wearing (MLB) had originally canwith one team has sparked • No bags are permitted celed games and contina renewed interest. Fans • Mobile-only tickets ued to push back the start such as McBride are happy date of the 2020 season to get back to the stadium.

• Designated entry gates due to COVID-19, which “My family lives • Cashless transactions brought a pause for any through sports, and ob• Staff health screenings fans who regularly tuned viously the health of our in at home. players should be our top • Hand Sanitizer After a hiatus of priority,” McBride said. games without fans, Bus“But getting back to a little ch Stadium reopened to bit of normal life and havspectators starting with the home opener Thursday, ing sports on TV and in stadiums with fans again, is April 8. This came with many COVID-19 restrictions going to help normalize the last crazy year.” such as designated entry gates, mobile-only tickets, Rick Regina, sophomore principal, married his masks and cashless transactions. wife in the Redbird Club at Busch Stadium.

“Even with all the safety precautions it was still Now, years later, Regina said he and his wife enjoy a lot of fun,” Withinton said. “With such a limited being able to show their children a place from such an capacity and it being outdoors, I felt really safe.” important moment in their lives.

Withinton attended the game with his out-ofRegina said his family is currently having diffitown girlfriend, and the two cheered for opposing culty in finding time and available tickets to attend teams. The Cardinals triumphed over the Washington a game, though he is hopeful to be able to make it to Nationals 14-3. one later in the year.

Seating at the game was spread out and every othInstead he is able to fondly look back on his er row was roped off, Withinton said. The stadium memories of games, one of his favorites being a game returned with 32 percent capacity of its maximum when his youngest daughter was given a ball by one seating of 43,975. of the Cardinals players.

Withinton said the atmosphere was high energy “The whole ride home she just kept hitting despite the smaller number of fans in person. that ball in her hand,” Regina said.

“There were points where there was a noticeable “That’s all I heard the whole ick difference because of limited capacity,” Withinton ride home.” al R es p i c n m i said. “But at other times it really did feel like a sold e pr ls ga mor ardina a long o h out stadium.”

C p o l l s o l d a s a b g 9, tende ho is Certain safety regulations, however, seem a little n D-1 ed a t OVI ently a wife w receiv e looki id.

C e r r s ’ n excessive to Kacey McBride, science teacher, who u a i e o e s q h f v e Be na fre s and e. “W egina to i hter has been a Cardinals fan her entire life.

Reg his kid s daug g a gamhere,” R hey can i “Some of these regulations are with fan. H er durin down t ll that t good,” McBride said. “I, time a play etting doing a ppen.” g from ard to they’re mes ha however, don’t agree ns w y ga r to fa senior, d p o e f d p s e a e with having pen rien mh e th ton,

Busch Stadium Guidelines

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by R ert. g Wie