the
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VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE II | MO 63017 | MARQUETTEMESSENGER.COM | OCTOBER 2018
1 IN 8 WOMEN
WILL HAVE BREAST CANCER Of the 51.4 percent of female students at MHS 12.5 percent may face the risk of breast cancer in their adult lives. However, it is likely every student has a relationship with at least eight women and will know someone with breast cancer. sarah HARRIS • mansi MAMIDI
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HEN LISA NIEDER, ACTIVITIES OFFICE secretary, found a large lump in her breast in December 2017, she was convinced it was only an infection. “I noticed mainly because of pain,” Nieder said. “I went straight to the doctor, and they just went from there and started ordering tests.” At first she didn’t know much of what they were checking, but Nieder then received shocking news: she had breast cancer. “I had no family history, so I was in shock, really,” Nieder said. Nieder said that although doctors didn’t really give her time, they did give her a lot of information. She said the onslaught of facts was one of the most important reasons to have a strong support system and good doctors. “My kids and husband were really good about chipping in and helping out,” Nieder said. “It really helped since I was down and out for a while. I didn’t have any energy. I was really sick, so their help meant a lot.” Nieder also said that the reaction time was very fast, and because of that, her lifestyle changed instantly. “From the time I was diagnosed to the time I went to treatment was maybe two weeks,” Nieder said. “It’s a long journey. I had 18 rounds of chemotherapy, 33 radiation treatments and surgeries. I won’t finish treatment until January of 2019.”
pg. 7
INSIDE
ROLL CALL Editor in Chief Online Editor in Chief Associate Editor Production Editor Copy Editor News Editor Features Editor Arts&Leisure Editor Sports Editor Opinions Editor Page Designer Social Media Editor Photo Editor Business Manager Staff Reporters
Kavya Jain Jen Bosche Kailin Zhang Jackson Estwanick Marta Mieze Sarah Harris Mansi Mamidi Jessica Li Jeff Swift Will Roach Sabrina Lacy Waha Siddiqui Tanner Rojewski Abigail Nebot Sam Hall Rene Moore Michael Schmitz Kayla Schweitzer Jilian Bunderson Alyssa Shellabarger Staff Adviser Emily Jorgensen
MHSNews features Carole Splater providing fashion students with fabric.
MHS Students participated in the first Model United Nations conference.
Abby Bomball, junior, swims for Parkway Swim Club and the MHS girls swim team.
Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost announces his retirement after five years in Rockwood.
Eric 3 Dr. Knost
Kylie Hull, senior, works at the Wolf Cafe as a barista as the coffee demand rises during the colder weather.
12 noodles
swim
16
11
Students from the Spanish classes went to Wildhorse Elementary to read to children.
barista
October is national noodle month, students share their favorite instant noodles recipes
10
reading
ONLINE Visit our website: marquettemessenger.com
OUR POLICY The Messenger is published eight times a year by students enrolled in the Newspaper Production class at Marquette High School, Chesterfield, MO, 63017. 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 the entire Messenger staff, the newspaper or the administration. The Messenger takes
Addi Loving, junior, had the opportunity to dance at the Emmys. Kevin Sharitz, technology teacher, walks to school every day.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FLEX TIME I fully agree with idea of Option 1 for more flex time in the student’s schedules. As a freshman, I believe transitioning to high school is hard enough, but on top of that, after school activities take up quite a bit of my time. Of course, I still have time for homework, but that takes away from doing other activities and enjoying my free time. Giving students this hour during lunch will really be nice because it will help them to slow down, breathe and get their work done. It may also result
EATING DISORDERS in fewer students taking a study hall, which opens up more options for classes to get them working toward their college career or just enjoyable classes that they would like to take. A time like this during the day will really just result in stimulating more opportunities for students at a younger age. Sincerely, Marin Ellington freshman
I was overall very happy with the article about eating disorders; especially since so many people in our age group can have them, but there are some things I think should have been changed. The article should have shown more about Sophia’s point of view. If she had talked a little bit longer about how she coped with her eating disorder, then it could help more people overcome their eating disorders. Sometimes people aren’t always willing to get help and hearing someone else’s
story and making them realize that they aren’t alone really helps. Although it’s good to see a parent’s and professional’s perspective, I felt that the article focused too much on the their perspective. I’m happy that she made so much progress and that she is recovering. I also thought that the fact that the article told people how they could Sincerely, Emma Clanton freshman
issue II
NEWS
3
AT A GLANCE
DR. KNOST WAS THE FIRST SUPERINTENDENT TO UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY
Brooke Davis, senior, was recognized by the College Board for the National Spanish Scholar Recognition Program.
Dr. Knost considers political office mansi MAMIDI
S
UPERINTENDENT DR. ERIC Knost announced last week his retirement at the end of this school year. As MHS’ first Teacher of the Year, and because of his many years in Rockwood as both band director and superintendent, Dr. Knost wants students to know that retiring doesn’t mean he will be completely gone from the district. “I’m ready to explore something else,” Dr. Knost said. “I’ve been offered jobs to teach at college and at a private school, and there’s an opening for commissioner of education. Right now, though, it’s not clear.” Dr. Knost said he will probably decide what he wants to do after retirement in January. Until then, he wants to keep his options completely open. “There’s still a lot to do in public education,” Dr. Knost said. “But even running for office isn’t totally out of the picture.” Dr. Knost said he is aware of the rumors saying he will run for governor. “I mean, not now,” Dr. Knost said. “I’m known in the education world, and St. Louis, but not in the general population. I’m not a millionaire, ready to go out and campaign and run ads.” However, Dr. Knost said he’s not ruling it out.
1989
Dr. Knost wins first MHS Teacher of the Year.
“If I wanted to go that route, I’d start by running for state senator,” Dr. Knost said. “Even running for office at the national level sounds exciting. But we’ll have to see.” Dr. Knost has spent 31 years in the education field, 13 of them in Rockwood and the last 5 as superintendent. Dr. Knost also said that, in the midst of the turmoil in the past year, he hopes students know he did try to leave Rockwood in a place of safety and security. “I hope they know my motivation was in the right place, trying to make things a little better,” Dr. Knost said. “I hope they think I’m a decent guy. That everything we do is just to help.” Claire Schmitz, junior, said Dr. Knost has done a good job of being a positive role model. Schmitz’s mother works at Rockwood’s district office in Eureka, and has worked for Dr. Knost since he became superintendent. “He and my mom have a good relationship. She’s always telling me about him,” Schmitz said. “I think he’s a great guy. He’s so positive all the time. I never caught him at a bad moment.” Schmitz said it would be interesting to see Dr. Knost run for office, but has some premonitions. “He’s very smart and organized,” Schmitz said. “If he’s only ever worked
2015
Rockwood creates own busing system with 182 new. buses.
in education, then he might not have the experience to run for office. But if he knows what he’s doing, I fully support that.” Schmitz said the best thing about Dr. Knost was the happiness he brought with him. “He was just so well liked throughout the district,” Schmitz said. “So many people here love him.” Dan Czolgosz, librarian, worked with Dr. Knost when MHS first opened. “He was a go-getter, and took the mission of Rockwood to heart,” Czolgosz said. “As a band director, he was focused on making his students better.” Because of his drive to always be better, Czolgosz said he wouldn’t mind if Dr. Knost ran for office. “There’s nothing wrong with political aspirations if they’re built on your core values,” Czolgosz said. “Dr. Knost has demonstrated that his beliefs are based on his core values. As long as he continues to do that, I think that it would be fine.” Overall, Czolgosz said Dr. Knost’s core Midwestern values will lead him to do well in any career he pursued after retirement. “I think the world could do a lot worse than Dr. Knost,” Czolgosz said.
2017
Dr. Knost announces his retirement.
PARKWAY WEST SPEECH AND DEBATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS PUBLIC FORUM Seniors Varun Devraj and Rachel Pang placed first.
NOVICE LINCOLN DOUGLAS Jesh Gandhi, freshman, placed first.
NOVICE RADIO Riona Vaghchhipawala, junior, placed first.
Mr. Mustang has been moved from Nov. 1 to Jan. 24. Read more about it online.
COUNTDOWNS
32 days until
Thanksgiving Break Dr. Knost comes to Rockwood.
2013
Rockwood passed bond issue with record numbers.
2016
Rockwood passes another bond creating the new science wing at MHS.
2018
70 days until Winter Break
NEWS
4
oct. 2018
Phonetic spelling to be added to Infinite Campus alyssa SHELLABARGER THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL year brings its own set of challenges for students: learning a new schedule, finding new classrooms and, for students like Vyomesh Tripathi, junior, correcting teachers on the pronunciation of their names. Tripathi said he generally doesn’t mind when his name is mispronounced as it happens often. However, when his name is pronounced correctly on the first attempt, it brings him joy and excitement. “My name defines who I am,” Tripathi said. “When people think about you they think about your name first. It defines who you are and everything you do.” Principal Dr. Greg Mathison said this is true for all students. “Your name encompasses so much with who you are, and for some students daily, their name is being changed, and I just think this is something we can fix,” Dr. Mathison said. On Sept. 11 every student filled out the Trusted Adult Survey. In order to address the issue with mispronounced names, the last question on this survey asked students how they would spell their name phonetically. The plan moving forward is to get these phonetic spellings into Infinite Campus by the end of the semester as flags. Flags are used to point out details about students such as allergies or IEPs. In the future, the intention is to make a field that will connect the spellings to class rosters.
HISTORY OF LAST NAMES Most American last names can be traced back to medieval England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Last names developed from adjectives to describe a person:
Photo Illustration by Jackson Estwanick
Students who did not fill out the phonetic spelling question on the survey can talk to their grade level principals to get their pronunciation added to Infinite Campus. “I think everything we do should be about building relationships and making sure our students feel comfortable,” Dr. Mathison said. “I think this will be another way students will see we are really trying to get to know who they are.” Ryan Bixby, chemistry teacher, brought this idea to Dr. Mathison’s attention. Bixby said having the phonetic spelling of a name when originally learning it could give teachers a better chance of saying the name correctly
the first time. This way they won’t have to unlearn and then relearn a name. “I saw a problem that had a reasonably simple solution, and I wondered, can we do it? Can we fix this little thing that might, to some people, be a big thing?” Bixby said. Many students have the same experience as Tripathi where their names are mispronounced regularly. The phonetic spellings are one part of a never-ending goal to make all students feel seen, known and heard. “Everyone would feel good if their names were pronounced right,” Tripathi said. “Even if teachers are still a little bit off, the attempt makes it better.”
Size
Little, Short, Long
Hair color or complexion White, Black, Red (later evolved into Reed)
Temperament
Stern, Stout
Social status Knight, Bachelor, Squire, Palmer
Adjective + Noun
Blackbeard, Longfellow According to National Endowment for the Humanities
Girl Scout creates new website, gains recognition kayla SCHWEITZER ON SEPT. 19, NICOLE LICAVOLI, JUNIOR, received the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn: the Gold Award. After more than 100 hours of work, Licavoli created a website containing several video tutorials and other resources to help people quickly learn to use different Google applications. She is now one of fewer than 6 percent of eligible Girl Scouts who earn their Gold Award. Licavoli has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten and said this award is something she had dreamed of for a long time. But getting to this point wasn’t easy. “I learned how to manage lots of things, because through this whole process, I was rehabbing my knee after tearing my ACL, and I was also dealing with school, other sports and also other organizations that I’m in,” Licavoli said. Along with the positive feedback she has received from teachers, principals and students, Licavoli said winning the Gold Award comes with rewards that will affect her far into the future. “I have a lot of scholarship opportunities now through Girl Scouts and through other STEM programs since it was a technology-based project,” Licavoli said. “It’s opened a lot of doors for me.” Crystal Tullock, business teacher, said the award was well-deserved. “I just really enjoy having her in class,” Tullock said. “She’s someone who’s really reliable and con-
Famous Girl Scouts Dorothy Hamill, Sandra Day O’Conner, Nancy Regan, Martha Stewart, Queen Elizabeth II, Hilary Clinton, Taylor Swift & Mariah Carey. tributes to the lesson.” Tullock said that because of her incredible work ethic, Licavoli was able to produce something she could use in her own lessons. This was put to action when she had her students use the Email Etiquette guide from the website. “The freshmen liked it a lot, especially when I told them that a student made this, and that it wasn’t just some teacher resource; it’s something that came from a classmate,” Tullock said. Shelby Brown, a scout from the same troop, said that while every Girl Scout wants to earn a Gold Award, not everyone is capable or willing. Time, she said, is what it all comes down to. “If you can do it, do it. It’s very rewarding, as I’ve seen from Nicole,” Brown said. As someone who has known her since elementary school, Brown said Licavoli’s Gold Award comes as no surprise. “I’ve always known that she was going to get her Gold Award because she’s always been the hardest worker,” Brown said. “It seemed easier for her to do something so challenging because that’s just who she is. She likes a challenge.”
Photograph by Tanner Rojewski
Nicole Licavoli, Junior
issue II
OPINIONS
5
SPEAK OUT WHAT DO YOU DO DURING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND WHY? 8.8%
Stay seated
42.2%
A student receives a flu shot at the Visiting Nurse Associated clinic in the Theatre Lobby on Oct. 10. All Rockwood schools offer opportunities to receive flu shots throughout October. Photograph by Rene Moore
Stand, place their hand on their heart and recite the 36.7% Pledge Stand, place their hand on their heart but do not recite the Pledge
editorialBOARD
D
7.5%
Stand but do not place their hand on their heart or recite the Pledge
147 students responded to the survey
FLU SHOTS uring the 2017-2018 winter, 172 children and teenagers died from influenza, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). This number is tragically high, especially when considering that approximately 80 percent of those deaths occurred in children who had not received a flu vaccination. This means that the lives of about 136 kids could have easily been saved. No matter what excuse you may have used in the past, this year, it is imperative that you get a flu-shot. Some argue the vaccine isn’t effective because they’ve still contracted the flu after being vaccinated; however, this opinion is based off of a misconception about the purpose of the vaccination itself. While ideally it would be great if the flu shot prevented people from contracting the virus, its main purpose is to reduce the severity of the flu. Another misconception is that the flu-shot doesn’t protect against the right strain of the virus. But flu vaccines are not a hit or miss: the amount of similarity between the vaccine and circulating virus will determine its effectiveness. Even when the vaccine doesn’t exactly match the strain a person contracts, antibodies made in response to vaccination provide at least partial protection, so you’re almost
4.8%
Choose to do other
always going to have a more mild case when vaccinated. According to the CDC, the flu vaccine prevented an estimated 5.3 million illnesses during the 20162017 influenza season. Some defense is better than none, especially against a disease that in recent years has been worsening in severity. And if you’re worried about getting sick from the flu shot, don’t be. It’s impossible- 100 percent impossible- to contract the flu from the inactive virus in the vaccine. Any mild irritation or swelling that occurs upon receiving the shot is is an immune response that’s not comparable in severity to symptoms caused by the actual virus. It’s no longer a valid excuse to not want to go out of your way, either. So many places are offering flu shots now that it’s becoming difficult to At worst, you’ll be left with some mild cold symptoms for a few days, but at best, you’ll now have a defense up against a severe disease. It takes two weeks after receiving the flu-shot for a person to gain immunity, so don’t wait. Get the flu vaccine now not only because you care for yourself, but out of even the tiniest bit of concern for the well-being of your friends and family.
BRENNAN ALEXANDER,
freshman
“I stand at my desk, but I don’t put my hand over my heart or say the pledge. I don’t want to be completely disrespectful. I just don’t really stand for some of the things that the U.S. government has done lately.” PEYTON RICHARDS,
freshman
Where to get your flu shot: Rockwood schools offer flu shots throughout October. Shots cost $20 and mist costs $30. All Rockwood employees can receive a flu shot free of charge. All CVS pharmacies offer walk-in flu shots for $50. 2.5 miles away from MHS. The CVS Pharmacy is open 24 hours.
MEGHA SANJAY,
senior
SSM Health clinics in Walgreens offer flu shots for $29. And is located 3 miles away from MHS. Open Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun. 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Schnucks Pharmacy is 0.4 miles away. Flu shots cost $39.79. Open Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. 9 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Infographic by Marta Mieze
“I personally stand and recite the pledge everyday as I feel that it’s kind of my responsibility as a citizen to at least pledge support or allegiance, and I’ve just always done that and it’s become I guess kind of a habit now.”
SCOTT SZEVERY,
social studies teacher
“I don’t stand because the country is not unified. There is still a very strong racist culture and a culture of appropriation and forgetting the violence of the past. I also don’t stand because the pledge says “under God,” which is not a separation of church and state.” “I stand politely and all those who wish to say the pledge say the pledge. One of the things I love most about this country is that we’re not required to express how much we love this country, and I think that’s a fundamental part of freedom and I like to show my patriotism.”
OPINIONS
6
oct. 2018
One vote may affect our government for generations waha SIDDIQUI
ON OCT. 6, BRETT KAVANAUGH was confirmed as an associate judge on the Supreme Court, winning by a 50-48 Senate vote. Judge Kavanaugh’s presence on the Supreme Court threatens our basic rights and it’s definitely an issue that will affect generations to come more than we think it will. Protests have broken out, bashing the process and the individual details that led to Kavanaugh getting a seat on the highest court of the land. After Dr. Christine Blasey Ford accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her back when they were in high school, both Ford and Kavanaugh had hearings to address their stories, and it ended with the solution of an FBI investigation into the matter. The FBI investigation was mostly inconclusive, where many witnesses were not questioned, including Kavanaugh and Ford themselves. Disregarding the allegations, Kavanaugh’s answers to questions hinted at his character. A judge needs to acknowledge something called judicial temperament, which is defined as all
the aspects we look for in a judge. A judge should be a neutral arbitrator, respectful and considerate. Yet, Kavanaugh’s tone and constant ridiculing with the Senate Judiciary Committee hints at the fact that he lacks the character needed to be a judge on the Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh succeeded former Judge Anthony Kennedy, who retired this year. Kennedy was a swing vote on the Supreme Court for the past 30 years. Abortion, gun control and LGBT rights were tried during Kennedy’s tenure as associate judge. With Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, there will be conservative majority in all three branches of our government. This has been a chief goal for Republicans for the past 50 years, but it isn’t an uncommon one. Power shifts periodically throughout our government. However, what is concerning is Kavanaugh’s effect on the American public. At this time in our country, issues like DACA, abortion and gun control will eventually make their way to the Supreme Court again and Kavanaugh
may be the deciding vote. That’s terrifying to me. Not only that, but the results of the sexual assault allegations lacked proper closure, and Kavanaugh was confirmed quite quickly. By giving him this position, the American government is blatantly telling the public that people do not have to live with the repercussions of sexual violence, even if it did occur 36 years ago. Is that really the type of judge we want to have? Is that the type of person we want on the highest court of the land, interpreting our legislation? I don’t think so. This is why the upcoming midterm elections in November are vital. According to a recent USA.gov article, major congressional changes will happen, with almost one-third of the Senate and all the congresspeople in the House being up for reelection or leaving office. This issue only proves that voting matters, and if you are of age, that should be your way of making change. If not, being politically active in your community is just as important.
REGISTER TO VOTE
17.5 year-olds and up can pre-register to vote. On your 18th birthday, your voter registration application will be fully processed.
Deadlines & Elections: Voter Registration Deadline: Postmarked or received by the 4th Wednesday before Election Day. General Election: Nov. 6. 2018 For more information go to campusvoteproject.org/Missouri/
Safe zone posters have negative impact michael SCHMITZ
Photograph by Abbie Robison, Illustration by Kaitlyn Chan
Picnic tables gone missing will ROACH ONE OF MY STRONGEST MEMORIES from my freshman year is eating outside on the blue picnic tables in front of the school with my brother. It didn’t matter if I had a test the next hour or if I was just in a bad mood, being outside was calming and refreshing. Now those picnic tables are gone, and students can no longer eat outside during lunch in general for the sake of safety. While safety must be prioritized in an age of school shootings, the administration should also recognize other times when students are outside and vulnerable. During last year’s solar eclipse, students were allowed outside on the football field to witness the
event. For each Homecoming assembly, students sit on the bleachers facing the football field. Even during P.E. or Environmental Science classes, students can be found outside on the track, football field or even further from the school by the tennis courts. By MHS’ standard of keeping students inside for lunch, I should only assume that anytime a student is outside, they are vulnerable. This state of mind, especially for students who are required to go outside on a daily basis for a class, ruins or at least disturbs one’s ability to learn. Because if I can’t relax and enjoy a meal outside, how could I focus on identifying trees or working out?
THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL IS A colorful display of some curious posters. These posters are shaped akin to a stop sign and read, “Safe Zone: I am an Ally. This is a safe zone. I am understanding, non-judgmental, and willing to provide an atmosphere of acceptance and assistance for members of the LGBT community.” These posters have been dispersed across the school— I noticed one in my French teacher’s class this year, and likewise I discovered one outside my English teacher’s door. Roughly 40 percent of my teachers this year display these posters. My concern is, if you think we need Safe Zones for LGBT students, do you think there are places in the school that aren’t safe? If there’s a real feeling that parts of MHS aren’t safe for members of the LGBT community, I think a solution would be far more intricate than hanging a poster. All spaces in this school should feel reasonably safe to students and not even only for LGBT students. After all, the district announced this year that
they’ll be introducing the Champions Program: the school is making an attempt for all students to feel secure at MHS. I can understand an LGBT student may face problems that I never dreamed of, but these posters of security are only directed at just a few students. If the LGBT community needs a safe zone, why not the Latin or Muslim communities as well? Why not even give straight people a place where they know they’ll be comfortable? These posters have the most wholesome intent, yet they simply send the wrong message. My opinion seems really petty, but I merely want the student community to become more united, not more divided. Obviously, LGBT students should feel just as safe as straight students; however, can’t we try function as a single school and not draw lines between us? Our group identities are important, but I don’t think that they should ever define us. Otherwise, I feel my time would be better spent sewing a Jewish star onto my shirt, rather than writing this.
issue II
FEATURES
77
THINK PINK:
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH continued from front
CANCER FREE: “It was just pure happiness to ring the bell. It felt so good to reach that step.”
CHEMO 1:
“It’s scary, because it’s the unknown. The doctors come in the room with hazmat suits on to inject poison into you, and I didn’t know what to expect.”
T
he MHS community also pitched in, and sent meals to the family so they wouldn’t have to worry about cooking and cleaning while Nieder was sick. “It was a very generous outpouring of love,” Nieder said. Julie Sutherland, Guidance Office secretary, participated in sending support to the family. “Every week we would all choose a week whether we made food, sent flowers or sent a card,” Sutherland said. “Just some sort of encouragement every week. Like, ‘Hey, we’ve been thinking about you.’ It didn’t necessarily have to be something we bought. It could’ve been something like a card. We all had a week where we gave something.” Nieder said there were definite moments in which she struggled, but the support and love she got from everyone around her made all the difference. “There were some days where I was like, ‘Seriously? I’m still bald today!’ Things like that, they’re really hard to accept,” Nieder said. “But when my hair began to fall out, I let my kids shave my head, and let them have that opportunity. Overall, it was horrible, but there is an end in sight.” Dr. Donald Lannin, professor of medicine at Yale University, said stories like Nieder’s are far from uncommon because breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.
Photographs printed with permission from Lisa Nieder
“The thing is, high schoolers won’t get breast cancer,” Dr. Lannin said. “But most families have eight women, so it’s very likely that a student will have some female relative that gets it.” Dr. Lannin said that most women who get breast cancer go into remission. However, Dr. Lannin also said that the risk of getting a more serious form of breast cancer that would decrease the possibility of remission is too high to not be aware of warning signs. But he doesn’t really see a reason for girls to be more aware of the perils of breast cancer than boys, other than educational purposes for when those girls get older. Because the main reason for high schoolers to be aware about breast cancer has to do with their families, he said all students should know what it entails. “People often think the most important thing about breast cancer awareness month is to encourage early detection: breast self-exams, mammograms and so forth,” Dr. Lannin said. “What we’re finding is that early detection isn’t as important as we used to think, since self-exams aren’t always reliable and the disease doesn’t have the potential to really hit until age 30.” Dr. Lannin said that what is most important is having knowledge of the disease itself.
THE FACTS A conversation with Dr. Donald Lannin, professor of medicine at Yale University
Q: How does the type of breast cancer affect each patient?
A: There are two distinct types: slow grow-
ing and fast growing. Fast growing cancers are the kind that kill, and they don’t show up during early detection. Most patients, however, will end up getting the slow growing kind and achieve remission.
Q: Why is breast cancer awareness month important for high school students?
A: So many women in the United States are
affected by breast cancer and by survivors. Since one in eight women get breast cancer, students will know at least one woman in their life that will have it, so knowing about the disease is important. Students need to be aware.
Mystique has pink colored pom-poms for each of their games in October.
The volleyball team had a pink-out for their game against Lafayette High School and raised $1,000.
LOCAL SUPPORT Photograph by Kacey McBride
Photograph by Molly Kuebler
10
FEATURES
oct. 2018
Students volunteer with ESOL children at Wildhorse mansi MAMIDI IT’S MONDAY EVENING. Wildhorse Elementary School is mostly deserted, save for a few well-lit hallways. Some areas have the thrum of custodians vacuuming. In one room, Brayden Haas, junior, can be found excitedly reading “Jack and the Beanstalk” to an elementary schooler. It’s part of the Building Bridges program, where families in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program can better their English skills. Once a month, children learn reading and math skills while their parents learn cultural lessons. Students in Key Club or National Honors Society have volunteered in the past, but, this year, Spanish 3 teachers offered volunteering as an option for a communities project. “I really like the program because of the impact I’m making on kids’ lives,” Haas said. “We’re helping with language, the tool for communication and success.” Haas said using his Spanish skills in real life has been helpful. “In a language class, you think about your grade,” Haas said. “Using it to communicate lets us realize it wasn’t too long ago that we needed help learning the alphabet.” For Haas, being part of the program means helping children achieve a love for learning.
“Seeing that spark when a kid learns they like to read makes it worth it,” Haas said. “Making human connections creates a love of language.” Lisa Lennon, reading specialist at Wildhorse Elementary, helped create the program five years ago. “It’s about building a community where everyone feels welcome and supported,” Lennon said. Lennon said when the program first started, preschoolers and their parents attended, only doing literacy activities. In the past year, the program opened to students of all ages and their families, with a focus on both literacy and math. “Whatever we teach the students, the parents also learn,” Lennon said. After each meeting, families get bilingual reading materials to encourage further practice at home. “It bridges that gap, since children are learning in English, and the parents are more comfortable with their native language,” Lennon said. Within a meeting, the children, parents and volunteers split up, with the volunteers and elementary schoolers going into classrooms, and parents and translators going into the Library. In the classrooms, volunteers and children are taught a lesson, and volunteers work one on one with children on activities that pertain to the lesson. Lennon also said the students who volunteer with the program often come
Margaret Weiss, reading intervention specialist, works with students Gracia and Alejandro during a Building Bridges meeting at Wildhorse Elementary Monday evening. The program focuses on helping ESOL families with English literacy. Photograph by Mansi Mamidi
back, creating steady relationships with the children. “The volunteers let our students see people they can look up to,” Lennon said. “It’s valuable for Marquette volunteers to give back to the community, and for children to see future opportunities.” Catie Gray, Spanish teacher, made the volunteering an option after a teacher at Wildhorse Elementary reached out to her. “There’s a large population of Hispanics in the program that are learning English,” Gray said. “They thought it
was a good idea to have students that knew both Spanish and English to work with kids.” Gray also said because children’s English skills vary from child to child, volunteers are able to practice Spanish at a comfortable level, and can create deeper connections. “When you speak someone’s mother-tongue, you connect with them more,” Gray said. “Students see how the children learn English and compare that with how they learn Spanish. It’s beneficial for them to see both sides on learning a second language.”
EASY AS PI: Bixby tries his hand at Honors Algebra 2 mansi MAMIDI WHEN SUPRANEETH YEDEM, freshman, walked into his Honors Algebra 2 class at the beginning of the year, he was surprised to see Ryan Bixby, chemistry teacher, in the seat next to his. “At first, I didn’t even realize he was a teacher,” Yedem said. “He didn’t look like a student, because he’s tall and looks older, but I didn’t know.” Once Yedem figured out that Bixby was a teacher, he found it cool. “He’s pretty chill,” Yedem said. “He’s pretty outgoing, so we talk during class.” However, Yedem says sitting next to a teacher is a little weird, especially when getting back grades. “It’s a little nerve-wracking,” Yedem said. “He’s probably going to do better than you, or get disappointed if you don’t do so good.” Ryan Bixby, chemistry teacher, has toyed with the idea of taking a math class at MHS because of his students. “When kids are in my room before school doing math homework, I would try to help them, and I couldn’t,” Bixby said. “I felt like a mathematical idiot, so I wanted to understand the material. Algebra I? Crush it. Geometry? Crush it. Algebra II? That’s where I start to get slippery.” So Bixby asked Principal Dr. Greg Mathison last school year if he could take the class and relearn the material. Dr. Mathison said Bixby’s request
Ryan Bixby, chemistry teacher, is about to ask a question in Honors Algebra 2 class. Bixby is taking the class during one of his off hours. Photograph by Tanner Rojewski
was definitely unorthodox. “I wasn’t really sure how to respond,” Dr. Mathison said. “But it was refreshing that a teacher wants to continue to learn.” Dr. Mathison said having another teacher in a classroom in which they were learning was something he wasn’t too sure about. “There’s things for me of how this was going to look,” Dr. Mathison said. “And having a colleague teach you every single day can potentially put them
under a microscope.” Once Bixby had bounced the idea off the honors algebra II teachers and they were open to it, he started taking Katelyn Dauster’s third hour class. This was not Bixby’s first time taking a course taught by another teacher. While Bixby taught at Lafayette High School, he took chemistry with Roger Fisher, and AP art history with Jean Peters. “[Fisher] had been teaching chemistry for 30 years, and he was this
phenomenal teacher, and a lot of my teaching style comes from techniques I picked up from him,” Bixby said. “Peters taught me how to still relate to kids as you get older, how to be a good teacher and a fun one.” Bixby said he thinks he’ll continue to take math classes here. “Since I started, I might as well keep going,” Bixby said. Overall, Dr. Mathison said it has been going really well so far. “I’ve been checking in with Bixby from time to time to see how he’s doing,” Dr. Mathison said. “It’s good, because teaching techniques can be shared, and just getting to know other teachers is a nice bonus as well.” Katelyn Dauster, math teacher, said she has been enjoying teaching Bixby. “The students are really getting a big kick out of Bixby being in class,” Dauster said. “He asks questions when he doesn’t understand something, and the other students help him out.” Dauster also said she was at first intimidated by Bixby in her class. “But he really is in the classroom to learn. He asks questions when he doesn’t understand something, and his questions help the students learn,” Dauster said. Dauster said she hopes Bixby’s presence in her class will teach a life lesson. Dauster said. “I also hope students are realizing that you are never too old to learn. Bixby can be a real example.”
FEATURES
issue II
11
Baristas work toward a busy fall season waha SIDDIQUI
“Latte art is really hard to learn and then apply. But it’s kind of like an art to see what patterns I can do...it’s definitely the best part of my job. ”
THE MOST POPULAR DRINK AT THE WOLF IS A LATTE
KYLIE HULL, SENIOR
PAIGE MATHYS, SOPHOMORE, To Hull, the work of a barista is extremely starts her days off with a consistent pattern: difficult. Certain skills have to be perfected a hot French vanilla drink with almond milk. to please customers. Lattes and cappuccinos Mathys can drink coffee up to three times require different ways to both foam and steam a day, usually from places such as Starbucks, milk, Hull said. Dunkin’ Donuts or The Wolf. Around fall, “Latte art is really hard to learn and then Mathys’ reliance on her daily dosage of cafapply. But it’s kind of like an art to see what feine increases. patterns I can do and it’s definitely the best “With how often I drink coffee, baristas part of my job,” Hull said. have become my best friends. They give me Hull works 8 hour weekend shifts, and what I need to push through the day,” Mathys makes around 35 coffees per shift. Hull works said. with other experienced baristas like Kyle AnCoffee derson, 21. lovers like Anderson is a A Week’s Worth of Cups of Coffee at Mathys former manager The Wolf in the Summer vs. the Fall find auof a Starbucks and tumn to be now works as a the primal barista at The Wolf. 500 time to The shift from StarFall Fall exercise bucks to the Wolf their love was tremendously 400 for coffee, life-changing to investing Anderson. Summer Summer in trying “I worked nights new flavors 300 at a nearby Starand drinkbucks, sometimes ing more making up to 500 coffee in coffees in one shift. 200 general. There wasn’t any Accordtime to relax, eving to the erything was go, go, 100 National go,” Anderson said. Coffee However, the AssociaWolf and Starbucks 0 tion’s 2018 are not easily comPlain Lattes Cappuccinos report, the parable. Cappucinos Plain Lattes number “At Starbucks, Regular Coffee Flavored Regular Coffee FlavoredLattes Lattes of people making coffee is drinking an automated and coffee timed process, and within a at the Wolf, every typical day is 64 percent, the highest level coffee is made individually, thus taking more since 2012. work,” Anderson said. Young consumers are driving the trend During the fall, Anderson noticed that cusof “coffee on the go”. With this increase in tomer patience remains moderate at the Wolf, demand for coffee, the workload of a local which wasn’t the case at Starbucks; however, barista increases tremendously. he still feels a pressure to meet expectations. Kylie Hull, senior, works at The Wolf, “So many people rely on coffee. They need a local restaurant that receives an influx of to have it everyday and they need to have it a customers demanding coffee in the fall seacertain way,” Anderson said. “So for me, if you son. Hull has been working at the Wolf since get it wrong, all of a sudden you’re the ‘bad January and has to cover both being a cashier person’. Sometimes, people go crazy over it.” and being a barista.
A Week’s Worth of Cups of Coffee at The Wolf in the Summer vs. the Fall
Kylie Hull, senior, pours milk into a latte for an order. Hull works at The Wolf, and serves up more coffee in the fall than any other season. Photographs by Jackson Estwanick
Latte is the shortened version of café latte, which means milk coffee.
DILLI CHAAT CORNER 15801 Manchester Rd, Ellisville, MO 63011
Seniors, find your cutest baby pic and tell your parents about baby ads. They can now customize your ad at home online. The deadline is Feb. 1. Go to yearbookordercenter.com and use code 8222 for details.
(636) 579-2902
oct. 2018
ARTS & LEISURE
12
OODLES OF NOODLES
The Messenger tasted three different noodles from Thai restaurants
TYPES OF NOODLES
kavya JAIN
Nicole Sheuman, Director of Education L’Ecole Culinaire, explains types of noodles alyssa SHELLABARGER
EGG
THAI SAWADEE
RICE THAI
curry sauce noodle with tofu
pad kee mao
PROTEIN
8/10
tofu was nothing special
ADDITIONS 9/10
not many but the ones included were good
ATMOSPHERE 10/10 traditional, formal, intricate decor
NOODLE 7/10 too firm, not soft and chewy
THAI BISTRO drunken noodle
SAUCE
light, flavorful, compliments vegetables
tofu had crispy outside, inside soaked with sauces
NOODLE 9/10
ADDITIONS 9/10
PROTEIN 10/10
GLASS
ATMOSPHERE 10/10
tofu, egg
chill, modern, minimalist, calming, homey
ATMOSPHERE 9/10 festive, contemporary, casual, upbeat
Glass noodles are mostly made from bean flour and very thin. They frequently require no cooking at all and are used in foods like Vietnamese spring rolls.
MAGGI MASALA NOODLES
SAPPORO ICHIBAN MISO RAMEN
| Indian |
| Japanese |
DID YOU KNOW?
ADDS: frozen peas and carrots
ADDS: cut hard boiled egg
sambar powder spice packet provided
chives spice packet provided
Tali Gorodetsky, senior
Shreya Srikanth, junior
NOODLES
kavya JAIN
Your wheat noodles will usually be cooked quickly, and frequently in Asian cuisine, you’ll see a wheat noodle in a chilled noodle salad.
vegetables were fresh and crunchy
on the firm side
fresh and crispy vegetables
The Messenger asked students how they eat their instant noodles
WHEAT
PROTEIN 10/10
10/10
ADDITIONS 10/10
3
Rice noodles, clearly they’re made from rice flour. They are a bit more slippery in texture. They will also cook more quickly.
good flavor, a little too soupy
good amount, creamy, spicy
easy to chew, soft, stretchy
RICE
SAUCE 8/10
SAUCE 10/10 NOODLE 10/10
Egg noodles contain egg. They’re just thinner. The egg noodles will cook in a very similar way to Italian pasta.
cup of noodles are the School Store’s bestselling product
SAMYANG RAMEN
960
ADDS: scrambled egg
cups are sold every month
| Korean |
scallions cheese sausages or spam
Alex Cho, junior
issue II
ARTS & LEISURE
13 7
St. Louis continues Halloween tradition sarah HARRIS
AS HALLOWEEN APPROACHES, kids across the country scramble to find the perfect costume that will get them the most amount of candy. Along with finding the perfect costume, St. Louis kids also have to find the perfect joke. Originating in Des Moines during the Great Depression, telling jokes was an attempt to tamper down on the shenanigans little kids were pulling during Halloween. It still remains a tradition in Des Moines and the St. Louis population has come to adapt it.
CANDY PREFERENCES
HOW DO YOU FIX A PUMPKIN? WITH A PUMPKIN PATCH
Lauren Fenton, junior
Twix 15.4%
Ethan Belval, freshman
51 students were asked what their favorite fun size candy bar is
WHAT’S A PIRATE’S FAVORITE LETTER? R
Kit-Kats 17.9%
WHY COULDN’T THE SKELETON CROSS THE STREET? BECAUSE HE DIDN’T HAVE THE GUTS
Reese’s 12.8%
Skittles 12.8%
Hershey’s 10.3%
COME TO OUR STORE!
Elise Ambler, sophomore
WHY DO THEY HAVE FENCES AROUND GRAVEYARDS? BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DYING TO GET IN
Alex Obermeyer, junior
You want it? We have it! • Personal essentials: deodorant, hand sanitizers, Kleenex • School essentials: pencils, sharpies, locks • Spirit wear: hoodies and sweaters • Food/ snacks: candy, cup noodles, chips • Drinks: Gatorade, juice, water
MHS School Store
Open Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 12.20 p.m.
14
SPORTS
AT A GLANCE
oct. 2018 7
TAKE A HIKE jilian BUNDERSON • jessica LI
E Katie Quade, sophomore, came in first place in the varsity race at the All Suburban Conference Oct. 6 at McNair Park. She ran with a time of 19:30.89.
Girls softball won districts
VERY WEEK, BRITTANY Sharitz, language arts teacher, makes sure to disconnect from technology and spend valuable time outdoors. To do this, she has been participating in the 52 Week Hiking Challenge, which she completed this week. Sharitz has always been involved with the outdoors. When she was young, she was a Girl Scout all the way to the Gold Award, the highest achievement for a Girl Scout. She also attributed her love for the outdoors to her grandfather, who would always take her on camping trips. However, a group of friends in college encouraged her to pursue hiking.
“They were really outdoorsy and adventurous, so that’s what really boosted my interest in hiking,” Sharitz said. Scientific research shows there are many benefits to hiking. Sharitz said the health aspect with doing low impact level cardio over a suspended time, lowering blood pressure and reducing anxiety. She finds there are many benefits to spending time outdoors, such as getting vitamin D and being surrounded by nature. Along with that, being able to de-stress and disconnect from technology is important for her. “Hiking allows you to think about things and be separated from the chaos of life,” Sharitz said.
WHERE TO?
WHAT’S IN HER PACK? Sharitz’ hiking essentials & recommendations
snack small first aid kit water bug spray sunscreen extra layers whistle
17 to 7
against Eureka
The 5-3 MHS football team will take on rivals Lafayette at MHS tonight in a battle to win a sole claim of the Conference title.
Boys swim and dive is getting ready to battle at the Lindbergh invitational meet. This will be their last meet before they go to State.
LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL AT WELDON SPRINGS CONSERVATION AREA length: 7.1 miles difficulty: moderate
CREVE COUER PARK LAKEVIEW LOOP TRAIL length: 3.8 miles difficulty: easy
BLUFF VIEW PARK length: 12. 7 miles difficulty: moderate
LONE ELK PARK length: 4.0 miles difficulty: difficult GREENSFELDER PARK DECLUE TRAIL length: 8.2 miles difficulty: difficult
Photographs printed with permission from Brittany Sharitz
issue II
SPORTS
15
Q&A: Physical Trainer Matt Peterson
Photo Illustration by Jeff Swift
OPINION
rene MOORE rene MOORE
Matt Peterson, physical trainer, examines Simon Kauppila, senior, who plays soccer. Photograph by Rene Moore
: What sport would you say has the most amount Q: How many students on average do you see a day? Q of injuries? A : It depends on the day. Like on a day like Friday A : I see the most football players, but that’s probwith football we see, with taping alone, we’ll say ably because they’re the biggest sport. I think at the probably about 20 a day.
Q: How many students come in on a regular basis? A : I usually see the injured on a regular basis to help rehab them, so I would say probably 5ish on a regular basis and that’s with taping people.
high school level I see a lot of cross country and track runners because the athletes that are running those sports aren’t used to doing what they’re doing everyday, so their bodies break down quicker. Those are probably the two most injured sports. I see a lot of women’s soccer players, as well.
Q: What’s the most common injury you see? A : I see a lot of ankle sprains. I would say that’s probably the most common.
Q: Does this number change based on what season it is? A : It can, but it also fluctuates. Sometimes you Q : What advice would you give to student-athletes have a lot of injuries, sometimes you have relatively to avoid injuries? healthy teams so if we get into the winter time we traditionally don’t have as many kids in winter sports so A : Before practice-Proper Dynamic warm-up, after we usually don’t have as many people that I see daily. practice-foam rolling and stretching routine. Never But if you have a slew of injuries, sometimes I’ll have times where I’m just as swamped in the winter with three sports as I would be in the fall with 15 sports. It just depends on how lucky we are.
increase your FIT (Frequency Intensity Time) greater than 10 percent by week. This means our athletes need to work on their craft prior to the season starting. I see a lot of athletes become injured a few weeks into their season due to the lack of pre-season training.
HOW TO PREVENT INJURIES:
Matt Peterson, physical trainer, applies athletic tape to Riley Goring’s, sophomore, knee. Goring is part of the cross country team. Photograph by Rene Moore
• Have a pre-season examination • Make sure to properly warm-up and cool-down • Incorporate strength training and stretching in your workout routine • Stay active during breaks to prepare to return to sports • Wear properly fitted protective equipment According to American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine
Weak regulation fuels concussion epidemic
FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, MY SIBLINGS and I have been playing sports. Soccer, field hockey, basketball, you name it. Of course, this list includes football. My brother played football for six years, which of course included countless injuries. On Oct. 27, Dylan Thomas, a Georgia teen, was injured in his high school football game and collapsed in the third quarter. He was rushed to a hospital to undergo surgery, but died on Sunday, according to ABC News. This begs the question: BY THE NUMBERS should football safety regulations be enhanced? According to National About 15% of the U.S. Center for Catastrophic high school population, Sport Injury Research (NCCSIR), in 2017, 13 or 2.5 million students, people in all levels of football (high school, self-reported having college and professional) at least 1 concussion died due to participation in football. That’s 13 too related to sports or many. When playing a sport, physical activity over a staying alive should not 1-year period. be one’s main priority or worry. Sports are meant to be played as a way to 2.4 high school football have fun and hang out players die per year with your friends or, for the few that receive full- due to traumatic head ride scholarships, a way injuries. to get into college. However, safety is a According to the Centers of very important aspect. Disease Control and One that the National Prevention (CDC) Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the national association controlling the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) doesn’t seem to take very seriously, especially when it comes to football. The 2017 NFHS Football Rules Book has only two regulations for helmets and face masks combined, yet there are about 20 regarding the player’s jerseys. Considering concussions are the one of the most common injuries in football players, making up 7.4 percent of injuries according to a 2014 study, and 2.4 high school football players die a year because of traumatic head injuries, according to Journalist’s Research. Since zero is the desired number of deaths, and traumatic brain injuries are the cause of these deaths, the answer to the previous question would be yes. Football safety regulations, specifically regarding helmets for high schoolers, need to be enhanced for the safety of all the football players in the country.
SPORTS
16
oct. 2018
Pagel leads as cheer captain sydney GOLDSMITH • emily KAYSINGER FOR SENIOR JOSIE PAGEL, BACK spot on the varsity cheerleading squad, this year is more than just her last year in high school; it’s her first time being captain of the varsity cheerleading team and the first time that she’s not the “baby.” “It’s weird,” Pagel said. “I’ve always been considered the baby because when I was a sophomore I was the only sophomore and when I was a junior I was the only junior.” Now that Regionals are approaching on Nov. 11 and 12, Josie is working hard to prepare the team. “We are just really trying to keep everyone focused on how hard we need to be working and working outside of practice too,” Pagel said. Her coach, Abbey Gradle said Pagel mainly stands out for her ability to persevere through Pagel practices hardships. with her team. Last year at Photograph by Jeff Nationals, Pagel Swift had to perform a toe touch back handspring tuck, but she would psych herself out so she couldn’t do it successfully. There was one thing that ended up giving her the certainty to get through it and that was the assurance that she would still get to go to the Disney park that they were performing at. “If you don’t do your toe touch back handspring tuck, you’re not going to the park,” is what her coach would jokingly say when Pagel would get it wrong during practice. That was the driving force behind Josie’s eventual success in performing that move. “Each year she’s progressed a little bit with skills,” Gradle said, “but mainly she’s progressed with confidence building.” Now, Pagel is the captain of the varsity cheerleading team and her teammates speak of her proudly. Sophie Sanchez, one of Pagel’s teammates, said Josie is “constantly growing as a person” and that she leads with positive energy and motivation. Pagel’s younger sister, Annelise Pagel, is now a sophomore on varsity and is impressed by her sisters growth. “In the beginning we weren’t bonded because people from the JV team came to varsity so it was separate teams, but she helped bond them,” Annelise said.
Abby Bomball, junior, swims laps in a meet for the MHS varsity swim team. Bomball is trained year-round with Parkway Swim Club, but also swims during the high school season. Photograph printed with permission from Jeff Nebot.
Swimmers balance season schedule kailin ZHANG
ming.” Joe Schoedel, swim coach, said WHILE MOST STUDENTS ARE STILL many of the girls participate in club sound asleep, Abby Bomball, junior, is swimming in addition to MHS swimgetting ready to head to Parkway North ming, whether it be for Rockwood to begin her day by swimming laps in Swim Club or Parkway Swim Club. the pool - at 4:15 a.m. “Both clubs are pretty much the Like many other MHS swimmers, same thing,” Schoedel said. “They’re Bomball participates in club swim, as different clubs, but they are equally as well as high school swim. Bomball has intensive - you’re looking at six or sevbeen swimming for Parkway Swim en days a week and at least two hour Club for six years. practices.” During the high school swim Schoedel said some swimmers season, Bomball goes to club change back and forth between practice in the morning and the two clubs, which can high school practice in help benefit the athletes the afternoon. After because change keeps practice, Bomball tries them motivated and to get her homework ultimately may help done immediately so them get faster. she doesn’t procrasTwo weeks into tinate. the girl’s season, “It’s stressful Schoedel said there when you have a lot will be a high level to do and you don’t club meet. Schoedel have that much time said the beginning ABBY BOMBALL because then you have of the season will be a to stay up late and get up tough balancing act until JUNIOR early the next morning,” they get through the meet. Bomball said. “I do work hand-in-hand with Because the two programs somethe Parkway coach and he’ll send me times overlap with each other, Bomball his practices because they’re tapering, said it’s necessary to find a balance in which is basically going easier and easher schedule. Bomball said the two pro- ier to lead into a club meet,” Schoedel gram benefits her in the end. said. “I’m trying to match that with “I think club swimming helps beginning a season - tryouts and hitting to prepare me well for high school it really hard for the girls not in club.” swimming, so I perform better at high After the initial meet, Schoedel said school meets as well,” Bomball said. club swimmers primarily focus on the Bomball said swimming gives her high school team for training purposes. the opportunity to both train intensely “People that train year-round may to improve, as well as spend time with potentially suffer from fatigue and her teammates and have fun. potential overuse or injuries,” Schoedel “It’s a lot of fun, and you get to said. “However, the ones who do swim meet a lot of people,” Bomball said. year round often tend to be the most “My closest friends are from swimsolid all around swimmer so it takes
“It’s stressful when you have a lot to do and you don’t have that much time”
a lot of dedication as well as a lot of passion for the sport.” Schoedel said the high school swimming program continuously changes the type of training the swimmers receive, which the girls physically respond well to since the off-season may often consist of repetitive training that exhaust the athletes. “High school and club swimming complement each other,” Schoedel said. “From that change, we hopefully send them back to club faster than before.” Hailey Benting, sophomore, began swimming for Parkway Swim Club in third grade. This will be her eighth year in the program. Benting began her swimming journey for her neighborhood’s summer league team, where she was recommended to try out club swimming. Benting tried out for Rockwood and Parkway, but chose Parkway because it worked better for her schedule when she was little so she stuck with it. Benting said Parkway Swim Club’s schedule typically last for two and a half hours on Saturdays, Tuesday and Thursdays. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, they meet for two hours. During high school season, Benting chooses not to go to club practices in order to have more time to focus on her studies. Balancing practice with her academics, Benting typically begins her homework around 7 p.m., after practice ends. Benting said she studies for tests in the morning on the way to school so she can go to bed earlier. Although Benting enjoys team spots, she likes the independence swimming brings her. “I don’t like it when people don’t work hard,” Benting said. “So if you’re just depending on yourself, if you try your best, you’ll do your best.”