the
MESSENGER
n. III
V O LU M E XX V I, I S S U E III | M O 63017 | MAR Q U E T T E M E S S E N GE R.COM | N OVE MBE R 2018
Varsity Cheer competes in Regionals on Nov. 10 at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School. The team has won first place 10 years in a row. Photograph by David White
CHEERS TO 10 YEARS jeff SWIFT
FOR THE 10TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, THE varsity cheering squad has taken home the first place title at Regionals. Abby Gradle, varsity head coach, said being defending State champions and Regionals champions was really an afterthought during the performance. “We wanted to make sure that we did our best. Winning 10 straight titles was really just an added bonus that we didn’t try to focus to hard on,” Gradle said. Gradle said she could tell her squad wasn’t focused on the title. “They did great, even under all of the added pressure,” Gradle said. “We weren’t focused on any predetermined thoughts that the judges may have had about us.”
Gradle said their strength in tumbling stood out in the performance. “All of our tumblers did what they do without a hitch,” Gradle said. Junior Claire Scognamiglio, flyer on the varsity squad, said the whole experience was nerve racking, but it really paid off in the end. “When it was all over, it was the greatest sense of relief,” Scognamiglio said. Scognamiglio said that one of the team’s biggest strengths is the support they have for each other. “We did a really good job of cheering each other on and making sure that we all have the confidence to keep going,” Scognamiglio said. Scognamiglio said this performance has been a long time coming.
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 Assistant Online 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 Rene Moore Sabrina Lacy Waha Siddiqui Tanner Rojewski Abigail Nebot Sam Hall Michael Schmitz Kayla Schweitzer Jilian Bunderson Alyssa Shellabarger Staff Adviser Emily Jorgensen
District closes in on final decisions regarding next year’s schedule including flex time.
Soccer went against De Smet in Quarterfinals but lost due to penalty kicks.
7
schedule
4
Workers and shoppers talk about their Black Friday experiences.
black friday
16 soccer Chase Johnson, senior, completes a garden project to receive his Eagle Scout rank.
Students and teachers share their favorite parts about bullet journal and the positive effects of the creative outlet.
11 scout
12 bullet
journals
ONLINE
The MHS hockey team’s home opener against Chaminade came down to the wire.
Visit our website to view MHSNews video stories: marquettemessenger.com
OUR POLICY
Lil’ Reg (Rick Regina) shows new school rappers where the game began.
Episode two of MHSNews features fall activities happening around St. Louis.
Episode one of MHSNews includes chemistry duo Bixby and Bolton.
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
SNAPCHAT @MHS MESSENGER
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 deems appropriate, including advertisements and letters to the editor.
INSTAGRAM @YOURMHSNEWS
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FOOTBALL INJURIES
NOODLES
I am writing in response to the article “Weak Regulation Fuels Concussion Epidemic” in which I agree with enhancing football safety regulations for high school athletes. I strongly believe one too many lives have been taken from head trauma or other injuries received during football games. According to CDC, more than 5 percent of high school athletes are concussed each year while participating in collision sports. High school football games should get the same strict application to safety rules as the NFL due to the developing minds of students. At MHS,
The School Store sells 960 cups of noodles in a month. While that may be good for the store, it is definitely not good for the students. One cup of noodles contains more than 50 percent of your daily sodium intake. That’s half of your entire sodium intake in one tiny cup! Now that would be fine if people only bought one, but I see people regularly buying two or more cups of noodles a day. But the question must be asked, why do the students even buy them? It’s all because of their price. A cup of noodles is cheaper than a lunch
football games are awaited every Friday night. However, I have noticed the attire may not be enough to protect the players from the risks of an intense collision. Form-fitted helmets and thicker padding would help keep the players safe and dedicated to winning the game. To protect our football players, we need to discuss the best way to increase regulation on mandatory football attire. Sincerely, Shaezaf Shah junior
from the cafeteria. If the school really cares about our health, then they will ban or at least limit how many cup of noodles you can buy.
Sincerely, Guru Bazawada freshman
issue III
NEWS
3
Race to the Finish:
two students canvass for mid-term elections sarah HARRIS • mansi MAMIDI
Mid-term Results: PASSED Proposition B Proposition B will gradually raise the state’s minimum wage every year to $12 an hour by 2023.
Impact Rita Roussin, personal finance teacher, believes that the increased income for students will be beneficial and will motivate them to obtain jobs. “For Marquette students in particular, it’s going to be a good thing because they can save for college and extra income is always good.”
Amendment 2 Amendment 2 outlines regulatory framework for the licensing by medical providers and certification of marijuana suppliers, including growing operations.
Impact Scott Szevery, social studies teacher, said the effect of marijuana on Missouri isn’t present yet. “It remains to be seen how widely available medical marijuana will be in the state with this proposal.” Szevery said Amendment 2 will not have any impact on the students because it only applies to prescribed marijuana.
Democratic Campaign
Republican Campaign
TOM GORDO-CHURCHILL, JUNIOR, WAS ANDREW OGDEN, JUNIOR, WAS DISAPPOINTED surprised when he discovered Josh Hawley’s defeat when he woke up the morning after the midterm over Claire McCaskill. elections and found that Claire McCaskill had lost. “I’m happy that Josh Hawley won, but it was perBut, he was far from surprised. ceived as such a close election that I was surprised “We live in a pretty red state,” Ogden said. with the margin he won by,” Gordo-Churchill said. “There’s a GOP majority in the house, and Trump Gordo-Churchill initially got involved with was elected in this state. In 2012, she was riding canvassing when a GOP regional manager came to Obama’s coattails. That’s why Democratic represenspeak to Politics Club. tatives were so popular then.” “I wanted to do something more politically oriOgden worked for the Missouri Democratic ented outside of school,” Gordo-Churchill said. “It’s Coordinated Campaign as a deputy regional field a good way to reach out to people and increase civic director of the R2 South County this summer. activism and involvement.” While he canvassed and supported all candiSo for a month and a half over the summer, Gordates of the Democratic Coordinated Campaign, he do-Churchill canvassed for Josh focused on Claire McCaskill’s Hawley in West County, Kirkcampaign for the Senate. wood and Fenton. “The best part of canvassing “I don’t know the exact is seeing how many people care Infographic by Sarah Harris number of people I reached out about Claire McCaskill and how to, but I know that it adds up,” many people don’t care about Gordo-Churchill said. “And I feel politics at all,” Ogden said. “It’s like part of my job isn’t getting astonishing that the number of No people to vote Republican, but people who aren’t registered to preferance just getting people out to vote.” vote is more than the people who Democrat He said canvassing taught are.” 28.9% 44.6% him life lessons like talking to Volunteers who work the strangers. Missouri Democratic Coordinated “As a person, I wasn’t as comCampaign canvass in precincts Other fortable talking to strangers or where the majority of residents Republican 5% random adults,” Gordo-Churchill are leaning supporters of Mc21.5% said. “As a canvasser, I realized Caskill or are undecided voters. that they’re normal people too, “I think you don’t understand politics until you canvass,” Ogden 121 students surveyed and I shouldn’t be afraid. I also learned some people are just said. “You are only one vote, straight up jerks and that there’s but when you have the power not much you can do or say to change how they are.” to change people’s vote with your opinions, values, Gordo-Churchill said there were people who had morals, and your vote becomes way more powerful.” more intense reactions to his canvassing than others. Despite McCaskill’s loss, Ogden said canvassing “There was this one guy who asked me what I helped both McCaskill’s and Hawley’s campaigns. was doing at his door in an angry way,” Gordo-Chur“The margin McCaskill lost by wasn’t that much,” chill said. “When I said I was canvassing, he told Ogden said. “It would’ve been a lot larger without me I shouldn’t be spreading my political beliefs in the canvassing. I think Hawley won the vote because his neighborhood. That I shouldn’t be on his prophe was having people canvass, which the Republican erty. He even threatened to call the police on me party hasn’t done in a while.” and asked my name. So that was kind of intense and Ogden said he now understands the human asawkward.” pect of politics. Even with interactions like this, Gordo-Churchill “You are seeing what the candidate is and not said he’d like to continue his political involvement. what the party is,” Ogden said, “I think my stance “I’m really interested in politics, but if I had has strengthened for Claire McCaskill; I no longer another opportunity that wasn’t canvassing but still see her as a party member or candidate, but a persomething politically oriented, I would choose that,” son.” Gordo-Churchill said.
Students’ Desired Outcome
NEWS
4
AT A GLANCE YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT CONVENTION RESULTS MEDIA Ashley Bendl and Mel Desmond won Best Story.
JUDICIAL Madison Lakamp won Judicial Finals. Andrew Ogden and Shruti Punnachalil won Best Attorney.
LEGISLATIVE Jesh Gandhi won Outstanding Statesperson in the House and Rachel Pang won Outstanding Statesperson in Senate.
The former UMB Bank parking lot closed for parking after construction started to build a Total Access Urgent Care. In previous years, students used the bank parking lot to park their cars during school. Photograph by Marta Mieze
nov. 2018
District closes in on schedule decision Committee considered three options, all including flex time marta MIEZE
the advisory period is not a part of the 2019-20 schedule, the schedule would still remain the same and the additional JUST AS STUDENTS HAVE GOTTEN time would be added for the flex time used to this year’s schedule, next year on C days, making it a 120-minute free will come with it’s own new changes. period allowing students to get addiA district-wide committee, consisttional help from teachers, eat lunch and ing of teachers, counselors, adminismeet with clubs or organizations. trators, parents, students, curriculum “It really opens up quite a bit of department and professional learning departments, have discussed three pos- time for students to get the help that they need,” Dr. Mathison said. sible schedule models for next year. There was also a general consensus Option 1 includes flex time, time about a transition from the current for students to receive additional help ABCAA to AABCA, Dr. Mathison said, from teachers during the school day, while also having any four day everyday. Option 80 includes weeks be BCBC; however, flex time only on blocked “Staff will there would only be four days. And the most recent weeks a year. option that the district have more opportunity of those He said having is leaning toward to to meet with students in four-day weeks finalize is Option 4, BCBC is a sitewhich includes flex unscheduled settings during the be based decision, but time on A and C because only four school day” days with a possible days in a year would advisory period, follow this schedule, which would serve most high schools Dr. Lisa Counts as a homeroom for are leaning toward students to meet and Assistant Superintendent having it implemented. prepare for the week. “There are only four Assistant Superinof Supervision of four-day-weeks in which tendent of Supervision of Schools we don’t have a late start that Schools Dr. Lisa Counts said the a BCBC schedule would work,” Dr. transition to a different schedule that Mathison said. “That would allow some includes flex time would give students of our lab based courses to have a little the opportunity to take classes they bit of time to get some things done.” want and need. There is yet to be a meeting dis“Staff will have more opportunity cussing this option at MHS with all the to meet with students in unscheduled department chairs, Dr. Mathison said, settings during the school day, similar in which he can hear the thoughts and to office hours at the college level, to feedback from teachers and staff. provide feedback and support for stuZohaib Ahmed, junior, said the addents,” Dr. Counts said. dition of block days on four-day weeks While the addition of the advisory period still needs to be finalized, multi- would be beneficial for students beple staff members have expressed their cause it would be similar to last year’s schedule. support for such a class. Ahmed said transitioning into hav“There was some interest in using ing the blocked days on Wednesdays this time to have a group of students and Thursdays also would be better assigned to the same teacher for multisince that would allow students to get ple years to ensure all students conready for the week before jumping into nect with an adult in the building,” Dr. blocks. Counts said. “On blocked days, you typically do Principal Greg Mathison said even if
Option 4 Of the three schedule options RSD has considered for the 2019-2020 school year, Option 4 is close to being finalized.
A A B
C A
A
All classes standard with approximately 60 minutes of flex
B
All odd classes blocked including 7th hour. Lunch during 5th period.
C
All even classes blocked with approximately 90 minutes of flex and a possible 25 minutes advisory period. Infographic by Marta Mieze
more in your classes, so I am usually not ready for that at the start of the week,” Ahmed said. He said overall Option 4 would be a great change both for students and staff. “Any schedule would be better than this year’s schedule, honestly,” Ahmed said.
Photo wins money for Art Department kayla SCHWEITZER
COUNTDOWNS
SHE’S TACKLED EVERYTHING FROM FAMILY PORTRAITS to graduations and weddings. She’s even waited for over 10 hours in extreme heat to get the perfect shot of a lizard eating an ant. On Nov. 1, Micaela Piacentino, senior, won first place in the Hometown Hardee’s High School Photo Contest. This contest, which was open to all high school students, stretched over five different states. Not only did Piacentino win a spot on the wall for a big print-out of her photo in the Chesterfield Valley Hardees; she also won $2,500 for the MHS art department. “I really do enjoy having the determination to find that one picture that I feel like turned out perfect, and I really don’t stop until I get it,” Piacentino said.
5 days until
Thanksgiving Break
35 days until
Winter Break
Photograph by Micaela Piacentino
Check out the full story, along with MHSNews coverage online.
issue III
OPINIONS
5
SPEAK OUT DOYOUTHINKAMERICANSHAVE BECOME DESENSITIZEDTO GUN VIOLENCE?
ALAYNA HIGDON,
junior
Infographic by Tanner Rojewski
CHRIS KENNY,
“I think that the people of the United States aren’t sensitive enough to it, and they view gun violence as a norm, and that shouldn’t happen. In our society gun violence should not be the norm for students or other citizens, and it needs to be brought in the open, any types of gun violence that happen in our society.”
“Yes, we have because the number of mass shootings that we’ve had. We’ve had 307 in 313 days. Whether it’s being desensitized to it or just accepting of it, just by sheer numbers, we are trending upwards, so I would say yes.”
socialstudiesteacher
editorialBOARD
“We are not desensitized to gun violence because it’s still lives being lost every time. It still affects everyone involved, and it still makes people fearful.”
America Needs Journalists ON NOV. 7, CONTROVERSY AROSE WHEN the White House suspended CNN White House Correspondent Jim Acosta’s hard pass after an exchange with President Trump about his anti-immigration rhetoric at a press conference. Following the conference, the situation was further escalated when White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders claimed Acosta put hands on a young female intern who was attempting to take the microphone from Acosta. Sanders also claimed President Trump supports the free press, and that his administration has given the press more access than any president in history, but the administration would never condone Acosta placing his hands on a White House employee. Sanders is blatantly lying to the public. According to The American Presidency Project, President Trump held less formal press conferences in his first year than any president in the last four decades. He also has boycotted both White House Correspondents’ Association dinners since his inauguration. The last time a president did not attend the dinner was in 1981 when Ronald Reagan was recovering from an assassination attempt. Sanders supported her claim about Acosta plac-
ing hands on the intern by tweeting an alteration of the original C-Span broadcast of the event, making Acosta appear more menacing. Not only did Sanders share a video that is of a considerably lesser quality than the original, but the source of the doctored video is an Infowars employee. The fact that Sanders would spread propaganda created by Infowars, a far right fake news outlet, is completely unacceptable. Besides being inaccurate, the White House’s defense only makes one point clearer: America needs journalists. This incident gives journalists everywhere, including student journalists like the Messenger staff, more reason to persist, resist and do our duty: holding powerful people accountable. It is crucial now more than ever that we do. The media is the fourth estate of the government, along with executive, judiciary and legislative. To President Trump, the free press represents an enemy who he has to constantly rally his supporters against as a means of gaining publicity. Demeaning one of America’s longest standing and most important institutions will come back around to put the president in his place. While the media gave him the publicity that put him into office, the media is going to take him out.
TAYLOR HUNN,
freshman
IZABELA PAVEL,
senior
“So what happens is this sort of thing kept happening over and over, and we just lost all interest instead of taking a moment to stop and think about how the lives taken have affected family and friends and how we should fix the problem. And it has something to do with race because people take more interest if it’s a person of minority instead of a white person. Like, if it’s a white person, it’s like oh, we have to fix mental illness because it’s not the white person’s fault, but what if it’s like an African American or a Muslim shooter? Then it’s like, oh, this is terrorism, so I think it also has something to do with race.”
OPINIONS
6
nov. 2018
Birthright citizenship needs to change michael SCHMITZ IN AN ATTEMPT TO ENERGIZE conservatives for the midterm elections, President Donald Trump controversially said he seeks to end birthright citizenship. The constitutional concept, as established in the Fourteenth Amendment, has been interpreted to mean that an individual born in the United States, unless the child of a foreign official, is an American citizen. Many, such as Trump, claim it’s unfair that illegal immigrants can enter this country, give birth to children and then claim that they cannot be deported and separated from their children who are American citizens. I agree with the president to a point on this issue. I look at my friends at MHS, many of which are the children of immigrants, from countries such
as India, and it feels unfair that their families had to work to obtain residency while some illegal immigrants are able to obtain the exact same result by cheating the system. That being said, we can’t dismantle birthright citizenship. This single constitutional clause has been an essential part of American society: the 200 year old promise of being able to start a new life in the United States would’ve never existed without immigrants’ children becoming American citizens. However, I simply don’t believe it should be meant for the children of illegal immigrants. Legal immigration is undoubtedly difficult for any person who has to go through it, and I worry that the Supreme Court’s current stance on the Fourteenth Amendment incentivises individuals to illegally cir-
Illustration by Jilian Bunderson
cumvent that process. Through birthright citizenship currently, all that’s really needed for American citizenship is to find a plot of land under American jurisdiction and to give birth on it. In order to respect those who go through the legal immigration process, something must done for the benefit of the American public, it only seems morally right to alter this loophole. In political discussion, I find myself forced to remind that illegal immigration is just that - illegal. It makes no sense to me that a person’s nationality all depends upon the piece of soil they were born on. By
violating the authority of the United States’ government, one can entitle their children to the protection of that same government through birthright citizenship. This is not the norm: in Britain, according to Gov.uk, individuals born to illegal immigrants are not eligible for citizenship. Citizenship which directly results from illegal immigration is an oxymoron, and this application of birthright citizenship should be prevented. This issue comes down to what an American citizenship means to somebody: is it an identity or a technicality?
Should Rockwood implement a fall break? Point:
Counterpoint:
The power nap of first semester
Students need time to refocus
jen BOSCHE FIVE WEEKS. 35 DAYS. 840 HOURS. 50,400 minutes. 3,024,000 seconds. This is how long students must wait until they get a full break from school. RSD should allow for students to have a week-long break in between summer and winter breaks due to loss of motivation, increased absences and stress. Students tend to gradually lose motivation between summer and winter breaks. Teens need rest or their performance academically will slowly deteriorate as the semester continues without it. Absences also are impacted by being in school for so long. Students and teachers grow exhausted when worked for a whole semester and are more likely to take absences when they finally become too overwhelmed. There is a better chance that attendance will increase rather than decrease or stay the same if this break is added. Stress is another factor upon itself. If stress is not broken up, students and teachers become overwhelmed. Stress also can cause health effects that can impact learning. Building up stress for an entire semester makes students less likely to learn efficiently. Having three to four-day weekends truly doesn’t do enough because excess homework is assigned to cover the day
will ROACH that is missed. The only way to truly in- RETURNING FROM SUMMER BREAK can sometimes feel like falling flat on terrupt student and teacher stress is to your face. One day you’re staying up have a week-long period off of school. late fulfilling your every childish deSpring Break is used to divide up sire, and the next, you have a 20-page second semester, so wouldn’t it be reading assignment and two essays due common sense for a break to divide in six hours. And while the beginning up the first semester too? RSD already months of the school year are the lonhas so many days scheduled into the school year for half-days, late starts and gest time students go without a break, they need this elongated period to assemblies that it would be so easy to readjust to the school environment. remove a few of these days and use the Looking at how the number of days time for a break. are divvied up, it The time would is clear that longer be more beneficial periods of continfor students because DAYS BETWEEN EACH BREAK uous school days not only would they come after the longer have an extended breaks. Summer to Thanksgiving: 69 period of time to reAnd there is a lax, but the days that Thanksgiving to Winter: 20 thought process to we have late starts Winter to Spring: 49 this. The two-month or half days could be Spring to Summer: 42 summer break can put to better use as be a mind numbing regular days. It can experience where be concluded that most classes don’t really get much done carefree students forget lessons vital to core classes, according to Brookings on late starts or half days so having a Institute. Their study looking at more full day and getting a break later down than 500,000 students found that over the road makes much more sense. summer break, students will forget 25 Please RSD, add in a break for percent to 30 percent of anything they students across the district. It will only learned in a classroom that previous improve our learning environment and year. help engage us in our studies. Another factor that must be con129 days is too long without some sidered is what happens to a student’s time off.
work ethic after summer break. At MHS, certain AP classes like Language Arts, Literature and Chemistry assign homework over the summer, but most of that work is due around a week into the school year and can easily be crammed into a student’s schedule during that first week. One other method to keep a work ethic alive over the summer is through a job, but the Pew Research Center says only 35 percent of teens had a job in the summer of 2017, making that point moot. And because students are more than likely to lose a work ethic sitting at home or partying with friends, the first long stretch of the school year is necessary to rebuild a decent work ethic. While the effect will obviously be much less potent over breaks that are one to two weeks long, it makes sense to have students hit the books hard at the beginning of the year to relearn any information lost over the summer. I will admit that this year I did find myself craving for just one week off during these first 69 days of the school year. However, these 69 days are key to recovering the 25 percent to 30 percent of lost classroom knowledge and should not be interrupted by a fall break.
issue III
FEATURES
77
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP sabrina LACY
Photo Illustration by Kailin Zhang
6 P.M. DOORS OPEN AT TARGET AND SHOPPERS who camped out rush through the doors ready to buy discounted goods. The Worker Melissa Adams, senior, is a cashier at Target and worked the evening of Thanksgiving last year. Target had opened their doors at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for the start of Black Friday. “I was a service assistant and oversaw the front end,” Adams said. “I helped all the newer cashiers, got guests out quicker and made sure all the coupons were working like they should be.” Adams said Target prepares for Black Friday by scheduling a lot of people to work in each department. “It was terrible, there was a huge line outside waiting and then we had to direct people around the store so there wouldn’t be any cutting,” Adams said. “So they make sure there’s a lot of people to deal with all of that.” Adams said that after a while, she got in the rhythm and was able to be productive. ¨Before working Black Friday I thought it was be extremely hectic, and that I wouldn’t be able to function,, but it really wasn’t a big deal,¨ Adams said. ¨Target was very prepared with making sure everything went smoothly. I’d say they even over prepared because there was less people then estimated, so we were ready for anything.” Adams said one thing she didn’t like about working Black Friday was not having as much time to spend with her family. ¨I was so annoyed because I´m not scheduled to be available on Thursdays,¨ Adams said. ¨So I had to go in anyways and work. I had to go in at 6 right after
HOT BLACK FRIDAY TECH
eating with my family, and it really sucked not being at home to celebrate what should be a wholesome holiday.¨ But even though Adams didn´t get to spend as much time with her family, she said having to work Black Friday wasn’t as bad as she expected. ¨I had my break at the same time as a new hire and I invited him to hang out in my car and listen to music,¨ Adams said. ¨It was really nice to chill with a new friend and get away from the chaos that was inside.¨
GABBY ANZER, sophomore “My uncle was camping out at Walmart. He was one of the first people in, but my uncle is like 5-foot nothing and a potato. He was trying to reach the top shelf but a TV fell on him. Someone lifted it off and he was like thanks but then the person ran off with the TV. My uncle chased him down but the guy was big. He punched my uncle square in the face. He got a broken nose and a black eye.”
The Shopper And with millions of shoppers buying discounted items on Thanksgiving Day as well as Black Friday, it can get very chaotic, said Balqees Abdelbaset, senior, who shops on the evening on Thanksgiving after eating Thanksgiving dinner with her family. Her favorite thing about shopping on Black Friday is the rush she gets from shopping. “When I go Black Friday shopping, I like the environment, the competitive nature of Black Friday,” Abdelbaset said. Abdelbaset said when the doors first open and Black Friday starts, she feels excited. ¨I feel a great wave of adrenaline go through me when I see the doors open,¨ Abdelbaset said. ¨I start jumping up and down from excitement. My brothers find it kind of annoying.¨ The longest Abdelbaset waited in line to Black Friday shop was two hours, but she usually waits from 30 minutes to an hour in line to shop. Abdelbaset usually shops at Best Buy, Target, Walmart and Big Lots. And every year she shops for electronics. “We get electronics every year. We get a TV, but
every time we go up a size. We get computers and we used to get Nintendo games but those aren’t really popular anymore,” Abdelbaset said. Abdelbaset said the first time she went Black Friday shopping was when she was 13, and she went with her father and two older brothers. Abdelbaset said her favorite memory of shopping on Black Friday was skating on patches of ice with her brothers in a Walmart parking lot. She shops in stores instead of shopping online so she can spend time with her brothers who currently are in college. “It’s bonding time with my brothers, because they’re off to college, and they live on campus at their university,” Abdelbaset said. “So when they come home we go because I miss them.”
Apple Airpods: $159.99 At Target Apple Watch: $199.99 At Target
Amazon Echo Dot: $24 At Kohl’s
IN-DEPTH
8
COMMUNITY REDUCES LEFTOVER WASTAGE
FEAST ON FOOD
waha SIDDIQUI
LOOKING INTO THANKSGIVING MEALS AND THEIR ALTERNATIVES, LEFTOVERS AND HEALTH IMPACTS
EASYASPIE 159 students responded to a survey about their favorite type of pie.
23.9% APPLE
nov. 2018
18.9%
30.2%
PUMPKIN
OTHER
CAITIE CHISMARICH, JUNIOR, celebrates Thanksgiving with her family while also remembering to conserve and avoid food wastage. Chismarich’s family sets up a buffet meal for Thanksgiving lunch at a family member’s house and then the leftovers are loosely split amongst family members to take home. “Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and it usually reminds me of food, games and fun, but we should always try our best to avoid wasting food,” Chismarich said. Chismarich’s family is one among many that have looked at the aftermath of Thanksgiving and have noticed the leftovers and wastage from the holiday. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 40 percent of Thanksgiving leftovers in the U.S. are wasted. With this, many people tend to get creative with what they can do with their Thanksgiving leftovers. Rita Roussin, FACS teacher, tries to use her leftovers to last longer. Roussin recommends eating leftovers for however long you’d like, but then eventually starting to freeze them up through vacuum sealed bags so they can last longer. Roussin also uses her leftovers in other dishes, such as turkey, in sandwiches and egg casserole. Other than that, she recommends planning meals ahead of time and also looking into homeless shelters and food pantries if the surplus of food is unmanageable. Food pantries around St. Louis take Thanksgiving food and utilize it in their food services for holiday events and at some homeless shelters, food for the residents. Tim Push, executive assistant at Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis Inc, a homeless shelter and food pantry, usually receives a lot of Thanksgiving leftovers. Due to the closing hours of the pantry for two days for Thanksgiving, his team leaves that food for residents at the homeless shelter. “We leave them a couple turkeys and all the trimmings they can prepare themselves and that usually makes them pretty happy,” Push said.
DONATE TO LOAVES AND FISHES 2750 McKelvey Rd, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 (314) 291-3857
11.3% CHERRY
Infographic by Jilian Bunderson and Kavya Jain
8.2% KEYLIME
7.5% PECAN
issue III
IN-DEPTH
9 IN CONVERSATION WITH
TAMMY COOK
TRADITIONS
DIETITIAN EVANY HOLLAND,
freshman
“Everyone in my family-cousins, aunts- all of them, we all go to my grandma’s house and everyone brings their own dish and we just have a good time watching movies.”
NICOLE LICAVOLI,
junior
“On my dad’s side of the family, we all get together and have Thanksgiving lunch or dinner together and on Friday my mom’s parents come over and we set up Christmas decorations and have PF Chang’s.”
GREG MATHISON,
principal
“We always go around the table and tell people what we’re thankful for before we’re allowed to eat and everyone has to participate even my own children who are a little younger.”
TRY THIS FOR A HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVE white meat vs dark meat turkey green beans vs green bean casserole plain baked sweet potato vs sweet potato casserole pumpkin pie vs pecan pie “Snack on fresh vegetables for appetizer or while cooking to help blunt hunger. Stay hydrated as being thirsty can sometimes be misconstrued for hunger. ”
IS THERE AN IDEAL TIME TO EAT STUDENTS WITH DIETARY RESTRICTIONS FIND ALTERNATIVES jessica LI ON THANKSGIVING DAY, PEOPLE ARE usually eating the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. For Sameer Iyer, freshman, the turkey is replaced with either pizza or pasta. Iyer has always been a vegetarian, like the rest of his family, due to religious beliefs. “Our religion doesn’t really limit us to be a vegetarian, but it’s just something that we feel like we should be vegetarians,” Iyer said. For the holidays, Iyer’s family usually has a variety of foods that include mozzarella sticks with spinach artichoke dip and Indian cuisine. “I’m Indian so we just cook special foods that we like,” he said. For Iyer’s family, Thanksgiving allows them to spend quality family time together. “We just thank God that we’re here together,” he said. Morgan Kovis, senior, became vegan a year and a half ago to eat healthier. She was vegan all
throughout the holiday season last year and is now a vegetarian. Kovis said having a vegan diet during the Thanksgiving can be very difficult due to the lack of vegan holiday foods and questioning from family members. “It’s uncomfortable when you’re around family and they ask questions and are judgemental of your diet,” Kovis said. During last year’s Thanksgiving, she primarily ate salads, mashed potatoes, green beans and veggie stuffing. Kovis said her family is extremely supportive of her dietary restrictions. Her family didn’t have to adjust to her diet for the holidays as they already had a lot of plant-based foods included in dinner. “I just ate whatever they gave me and if it didn’t have meat I would eat it,” Kovis said. This year she will continue to not eat meat, but she will probably eat dairy products because of the difficulty of trying to avoid them during Thanksgiving dinner. “I would say vegetarian isn’t all that bad for me particularly,” Kovis said.
“We just thank God that we’re here together” SAMEER IYER FRESHMAN
“The timing of the holiday meal does not matter in terms of how it impacts our health. One thing to keep in mind is if the large meal is consumed late in the evening, it can interrupt the sleep cycle.”
WHAT EFFECT DOES EATING WITH FAMILY HAVE “Eating with other people can have positive effects on us. We tend to eat slower, eat less and enjoy the meal more. The social part of eating makes the meal more enjoyable. Numerous studies show that families who eat more meals together are happier, healthier and have fewer behavioral problems. Eating with other people will hopefully get us off our devices!”
THANKSGIVING GUILT “In otherwise healthy people, there is no harm in eating a large meal a few times throughout the year. It will not cause weight gain and people need not feel guilty about it. Enjoy the meal!”
FEATURES
10
nov. 2018
Multi-generational families Shalini Yagnik, junior, celebrates Christmas at home with her grandparents and cousins as a child. Photograph by Pranjili Yagnik.
kavya JAIN • alyssa SHELLABARGER
“The culture is probably more focused on family tradition because you have two to three generations living in the same roof,” Hyde said. Shalini Yagnik, junior, also lives with her grandparents for a portion of JAYLA WILLIAMS, FRESHMAN, LIVES WITH HER MOM, GRANDthe year. mother and two siblings. Williams said living with someone from the Yagnik said after she was born, her dad’s parents stayed for about five older generation gives her a different perspective on things than if she was years before returning to India. Now they come about once a year, spending raised in a nuclear family. six months with Yagnik and her family and six months in India. “I always have a second voice in my head telling me not to do someYagnik said that, because of their large presence in her formative thing,” Williams said. “It helps a lot with choices.” years, it’s very clear what her grandparents’ impact is on her life. Williams said her grandmother tends to take the strict“It makes a big difference, the house feels empty,” Yagnik er stance on issues. She said if she wanted to do somesaid. “When they’re there, especially when I was youngthing on a school night, her mom would allow it, but “They have that er, my grandma always helped my mom cooking, and her grandmother is more likely to remind her of her generation 30 or 40 years from my grandpa always picked my brother and me up from school work. Williams said she likes living with her grandthe past and when you talk to them school.” Yagnik feels that having her grandparents around mother because she gets to see her everyday, somea lot creates a level of respect that she doesn’t think it’s history for the child, but it’s thing a lot of students don’t get. other kids have. “I can go to her room whenever I want to and just their past for the “I think that is a very important part of me that I talk to her whenever I want to,” Williams said. am very close with both sets of grandparents,” Yagnik Joshua Hyde, sociology teacher, echoed Wilgrandparents.” said. “I value my family, and it’s a different kind of valliams’ idea that children living with older genues they have instilled.” erations have a different perspective that can be Ultimately, Yagnik thinks that living with her grandbeneficial when learning about history. JOSHUA HYDE parents has strengthened her identity and what she wants “They have that generation 30 or 40 years from the in life. past and when you talk to them it’s history for the child, SOCIOLOGY TEACHER “I think it keeps those traditions lasting and in place, and it but it’s just their past for the grandparents,” Hyde said. teaches us more about our background and our history,” YagHyde said multi-generational families have declined in nik said. “I think that I would definitely have my parents live with the United States and were more common during times of mass me when I’m married, especially since I’m the first born generation in the immigration. Now they are more often in cases where older family memUnited States. It’s very easy to forget some of the things that we practiced, bers can no longer take care of themselves and move back in with their and I think having my parents living with me, or, if my husband is Indian, children. having his parents living with us, that makes a difference because I can pass Hyde said children who grow up in multi-generational families probaon some of the traditions.” bly have more respect for older people and family values.
Chemistry/Physics Tutor Available Retired Teacher High School Level/Advanced Courses
636-532-4648
FEATURES
issue III
11
Working to be an Eagle Scout kailin ZHANG FROM NEIL ARMSTRONG TO MICHAEL JORDAN, Boy Scouts have been making an impact for decades. the garden beds. Zarate said he was interested in volChase Johnson, senior, has been a part of Boy unteering to help out after hearing about Johnson’s Scouts since elementary school, and the program has idea. had a big influence on his life. “I thought it was really amazing because it was “Boy Scouts has shaped what I’ve done, my really run down and just in bad shape,” Zarate said. actions and what I believe in within my own life,” Zarate’s favorite part of the entire process was Johnson said. putting on the garden bed caps because he enjoyed In order to earn his Eagle Scout rank, Johnson seeing the overall product as a whole. worked toward building garden beds to help beneJohnson and Zarate have been long-time friends, fit the MHS campus. To begin the building process, and Zarate said he is extremely proud of Johnson for Johnson had to check the area outside of the SSD accomplishing such an impressive feat. wing in order to ensure building was safe. “It was just outstanding that he planned After that, they bought the materials and this all out, got all of the material needed began digging in order to build the and was really able to guide us through foundation of the bed. this process,” Zarate said. “What Throughout the process, Johnson Chase has done so far definitely led received help from his Boy Scout a good example and I would love to troop, friends and family. Johnson see other grade levels continue the said they all pitched and helped work and keep it available for years out a lot with his project. to come.” “I have been at Marquette all Johnson first approached Senior four years, and I have five younger Principal Dr. Dan Ramsey about siblings who will go through Marpossibilities to help out the school Chase Johnson quette and it’d be nice to see them through his project, and they began have something that they can be like ‘My talking about potential needs and opporsenior brother built that’,” Johnson said. “Just sometunities that were available. Dr. Ramsey said thing I can look back at and be proud of.” the pair walked around and he pointed out parts of Johnson is currently waiting for paperwork from the school to Johnson. They ultimately chose to work the National Council in order to become an Eagle on the garden beds. Scout. He said he is proud of the work he has ac“There were beds back there, but they were in complished and is happy to benefit the community pretty poor condition and the wood that was holding around him. it up was rotting,” Dr. Ramsey said. “We just saw a Either in the spring or next school year, the good opportunity to beautify something that would applied foods SSD classes will be utilizing the garden offer a lot of use to our students, and it was a great beds in order to learn how to plant foods to be harway for him to make an impact that could benefit the vested and cooked in class. school and serve as a leader.” Alex Zarate, senior, worked with Johnson to build
“Boy Scouts has shaped what I’ve done, my actions and what I believe in.”
Chase Johnson, senior, works on the garden beds outside MHS. Johnson is rebuilding the garden beds as the project to an his Eagle Scout rank. Photograph by Corey Johnson
Famous Boy Scouts Neil Armstrong Gerald Ford Steven Spielberg William Sessions Michael Jordan Jimmy Buffett Barack Obama John F. Kennedy Bill Gates Bill Clinton
It’ s time for a Q&A with “Alright, Marquette High School”: Principal Rick Regina tanner ROJEWSKI JUNIOR PRINCIPAL RICK REGINA STARTED at MHS during the 2000-2001 school year, and took over Trivia Thursday from past principal, Dr. Paul Burns, the next year. Regina said Trivia Thursday probably started around 1995. Regina said Trivia Thursday is an exciting way to reward students and a great way to increase interaction with students.
Q: Where do you get your questions? Junior Principal Rick Regina gives Trivia Thursday winners cookies as a prize during lunch on Nov. 1. Each Thursday, students have a chance to win prizes from local businesses. Photograph by Alyssa Shellabarger
I have certain themes during certain times of the year. At the beginning of the year, the first question on the first Thursday is always about enrollment. When we play like Lafayette in a game, it’s always a Marquette-Lafayette type question. There are some weeks I don’t necessarily have a theme set, and I just kind of think of something off the top of my head. Sometimes it just hits me in the morning,like this is what’s going on in the world: an election.
Q: What has been the most eventful or interesting Trivia Thursday?
We did have someone say something inappropriate over the microphone, that one was eventful and did not end well. The crazy ones, you’ll have a random fact that you don’t think anyone knows, and you’ll have a kid guess it.
Q: Who are your
favorite sponsors?
We used to always do pizza from the cafeteria. But we got this idea to get some local businesses involved, like Imo’s or even Pi Pizzeria. And we’ve had places that will donate dessert like Andy’s. The Wolf is always a big hit, the students love the cookies. Each month a different restaurant or establishment has been wanting to sponsor.
nov. 2018
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
12
Teachers share book titles alyssa SHELLABARGER WALKING THROUGH THE HALLWAYS THIS school year, students may have noticed something new: signs outside of classrooms and offices displaying book titles and the words “Ask me about my book!”. Laura Marie Coverstone, language arts teacher, created the sign template based off of an idea from a summer literacy workshop she attended along with other language arts teachers. “Other schools talked about how they implemented this idea,” Coverstone said. “They were finding that students were getting much more excited about reading again.” Getting students excited about books is the main goal of the signs. Coverstone said there is a trend where students are reading less for personal enjoyment, turning instead to social media. The signs are intended to help draw the conversation back to books. Coverstone said students would be more likely to talk about reading if there is a conversation starter. In this case, “ask me about my book”. “It’s a fun way to build community even if you aren’t a big-time reader,” Coverstone said. She said reading is important because it offers many benefits to students including reduced stress, increased
vocabulary and reading comprehension, improved reading stamina - something necessary for students taking English classes in college - and plain happiness. Coverstone isn’t the only staff member who understands the importance of reading. Lee Mitchell, librarian, who helped design the templates and delivered the signs to the staff, said reading is important for teachers as well. It broadens one’s perspective on people and situations and can help teachers connect with students. The reading materials listed don’t just have to be books Mitchell said. The signs can show whatever the staff member is reading. This could include magazines, newspapers or essays. Mitchell said the signs will be up all year, as long as staff members continue to update them. Ed Bolton, chemistry teacher, said he likes the signs because seeing the staff members with their books shows that reading is the norm. Bolton reads more than 50 books a year. However, he understands not everybody is as big a reader as he is. Bolton added his own spin to the signs, including a song of the day alongside his book. He said this gives non-readers something they can talk about as well. As of Nov. 1, 46 staff members had filled out their signs and put them outside their doors.
Bullet Journaling :
50%
MYSTERY
4.8%
SCI - FI
9.5%
HISTORICAL
14%
FANTASY
19%
YA
19%
fiction
MISC.
33.7%
50% non-fiction
HEALTH 10% SELF-HELP 19% HISTORY 33% MEMOIR 38%
Infographic by Alyssa Shellabarger
Bullet journaling is a creative way to personalize a planner. By drawing in all of the details, people have complete contol over the customization of their planner.
jessica LI • kailin ZHANG
Ella Lee,
junior
Kendall Brown,
math teacher
Gianna Armey,
senior
HOW TO: BULLET JOURNAL 1
Gather Supplies
Visit your local craft store or office store and collect materials such as pens and notebooks to begin bullet journaling.
Type of journal:
Type of journal:
Type of journal:
Rhodium Mines Dotted Notebook
Scribbles that Matter Notebook
Exceed Dotted Classic Notebook
“I picked this because it has very thick paper and I have a naturally heavy hand.”
“I find inspiration from Pinterest, other people I know and YouTube. I really love AmandaRachLee.”
“I picked this because it was only $6 from Walmart and the paper quality is nice.”
Supplies:
Supplies:
Supplies:
Pilot Juice pens Crayola supertips Tombow dual brush pens Tombow Fudenosuke brush pens pencil
Sakura Pigma Micron black pens Tombow dual brush pens
stickers pens highlighters
Benefit:
Benefit:
Benefit:
“It’s a really good way to personalize the way you keep track of different homework assignments and activities.”
“It helps me keep organized in a fun way, so I get to have fun while being efficient and productive with my life.”
“It’s really nice to have a break in the middle of the day for your bullet journal. You get to be really creative.”
2
Find Inspiration
Look on YouTube, Pinterest or Instagram to find ideas for your bullet journal.
3
Begin Creating
Draw out mood trackers, habit trackers, weekly spreads, monthly calenders and title pages.
issue III
PRETTY PUNNY
jessica LI • tanner ROJEWSKI
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT During November, people stop shaving to create awareness for prostate cancer. Participants avoid shaving and grooming because cancer patients lose their hair. Instead of spending money on grooming and shaving, participants are supposed to donate that money to cancer prevention. It originated from Facebook in 2009.
13 7 “I wanted to participate in No-Shave November but I just couldn’t cut it.” AUSTIN COCHRAN
senior
“I mustache you to rephrase how you’re asking. I think that it’ll be a bit of a hairy situation for some people.”
The annual pun contest will take place on Monday, Nov. 19 during fourth hour in the Theatre.
Past participants of the annual pun contest were asked to make a pun about No-Shave November.
MEGAN CLINE
junior
“No-Shave November more like no shave forever.” KORI SNIPES
junior
14
nov. 2018 7
SPORTS
AT A GLANCE
NEW SEASON NEW BEGINNINGS
Athletes and coaches share their thoughts in a preview of upcoming winter sports.
rene MOORE
BOYS BASKETBALL
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Photograph by Marta Mieze
4 teams
competed at State this fall. These teams include softball, boys swim and dive, girls golf and boys soccer.
photograph by Jeff Swift
Kyle Mill, senior, has been named the offensive MVP of the football team. Mill led the team in touchdowns (15) and total yardage (1,786).
JOSH MERZ,
ERIC SCHWEAIN,
junior
coach
“We got a lot of transfers who are really good, and we also have a decent amount of returning experience. We need to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses since this is like our first season playing together.”
“We had a couple young student-athletes that transferred in, and so we have a different chemistry for this year’s team. We always focus on our three main focal points: defense, rebounding and efficient offense. We have a lot of players forced into new roles, and I think if we expedite that process we’ll see results in, at least, the first third of the season.”
First match: Date:11/20 @ Troy Buchanon
WRESTLING
CHAYLEB DEVES,
senior
“It’s the same exact team as last year, besides we lost one senior. I’m getting the team closer together, doing team bonding, just making everyone is excited for the season.”
CHRISTOPHER MEADOR,
coach
“We added a few sophomores and a freshman to the varsity roster. We are planning on building on what we were doing last year. We finished strong and wanted to keep it going.”
First match: Date: 11/26 @ Marquette Invitational
GIRLS SWIM & DIVE
Photograph by Jeff Swift
Boys Swim and Dive placed sixth in 200 free relay at State. Many teams continued off-season workouts to prepare for the next season. These sports include girls lacrosse, football and baseball.
JACK LENOX,
senior
“Last year a few seniors were key to the team, but we have some young guys that are replacing them. We took second place in a lot of tournaments last year, and I feel like we can take first place in a couple tournaments this year.”
First match: Date: 11/30 @ Westminster
JAKE DIEFFENBACH,
coach
“We graduated two senior starters but returned a lot of starters from last year. We have two returning State medalists in Marco Perla (4th in State last year) and Jack Lenox (4th place and 6th place). We are working hard and looking to do well in our Conference, District and State tournaments.”
SARAH ROSSON,
JOE SCHOEDEL,
senior
coach
“Most of the others schools aren’t really competition, so your biggest competition is the other players on MHS Swim and Dive. So I’m trying to make sure they’re your team not your competition.
“We’ve been undefeated for the last four years in a row. We only graduated two seniors so our team is very similar to what it was last year. All our girls have very high expectations for this season. In general I’m very excited for the season. We’re a good team and it’s exciting to try and continue that tradition.”
First match: Date: 12/01 @ MHS
15
SPORTS
issue III
OPINION Rene’s Reactions She takes a stand by kneeling rene MOORE
The Varsity cheer squad tumbling in their performance at regionals. The team took home first in both JV and Varsity. Photograph by David White
A decade of Regionals champions continued from pg. 1
jeff SWIFT “We have had lots of practices, and we’ve all worked really hard. I know I’ve done lots of stuff both during practices and at home to prepare for regionals,” Scognamiglio said. Junior Lexi Diekroeger, who has been on the cheer squad her entire high school career and is currently the junior captain of the team, said that keeping the crowd excited while holding another person up takes a ton of energy and concentration. “It’s a lot of physical strength but also a lot of mental strength. It takes a lot out of you,” Diekroeger said. The team has different ways to support each other, like team bonding, get togethers and speeches before each competition. “Captains have to give speeches before the competitions and big games,” Diekroeger said.
Paige Hartman, junior, is on her second year with the squad, and she said there’s a significant difference from last year including that there are many more underclassman on the team and only two seniors. But Hartman said that the lack of experience didn’t affect the team. “We all handle the pressure of competitions pretty well,” Hartman said. “We’ve all had to practice a lot and I think that has helped us prepare for the pressure.” Hartman is hopeful the team will continue this success on to State. “That’s our goal for this season, to go on as far as we can, being State or Nationals,” Hartman said.
“We have had lots of practices and we’ve all worked really hard.” Claire Scognamiglio junior
Additional reporting by Jackson McCandless • Logan Moungo • Abigail Robinson
Athlete protests
ON NOV. 1, KAYLA throughout the Morris, a cheerleader for past years the 49ers, became the latest athlete to kneel during Infographic by Marta Mieze the National Anthem in a Aug. 1, 2016 game against the OakAug. 14, 2016 land Raiders. She is the Colin Kaepernick sits first NFL cheerleader to during the National Anthem kneel during the National for the first time Anthem. Sept. 1, 2016 Over the past few years, several professional Kaepernick and Eric Reid kneel for the first time in athletes, such as Colin Kaepernick, have knelt or protest sat down during the AnSept. 21, 2016 them in protest of various Entire Indiana Fever team ideals. takes a kneel After the 2016 season, Kaepernick became unemployed and has been unable to sign onto Aug. 12, 2017 another team. While the 49ers have not commentMarshawn Lynch comes ed about the action to be out of retirement and kneels taken against Morris, we can assume based on past experiences that steps will be taken to make an example out of her. Nov. 1, 2018 However, no steps Kayla Morris becomes first NFL should be taken against cheerleader to kneel during Morris. The First Amend- National Anthem ment guarantees free Nov. 3, 2018 speech to everyone in America. Several groups in history have used freedom of speech in order to gain progress and ultimately to achieve their goals, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This isn’t any different. Morris and the other athletes see something wrong with this country (racism, social injustice and police brutality) and actively want to fix it. There’s nothing wrong with that. America is the Land of the Free, but if people aren’t allowed to freely say or act on what they believe, then we can’t maintain this standing. Plenty of well-known actors and singers use their fame to enact change mostly without suspensions or loss of jobs. Athletes shouldn’t be any different.
Protect YOUR Brain,
YOU’RE Smarter Than That
SPORTS
16
nov. 2018
WATCH YOUR HEAD Does heading increase the risk of injury? alyssa SHELLABARGER
IN 2016, UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION (U.S. Soccer) released the U.S. Soccer Concussion Initiative. According to U.S. Soccer’s website, the initiative focused on giving guidance for dealing with head injuries during soccer, focusing largely on rules on heading, using ones head to direct the ball, as well as substitution due to possible head injury. The initiative mostly addressed heading for younger athletes, ending heading for athletes under 10 years old and limiting practice time to only 30 minutes for athletes 11-13. Although this placed limits on young athletes, it did not place any restrictions on high school athletes. Chris Kenny, varsity boys and girls soccer coach, said heading the ball is encouraged at MHS when the ball is above a player’s shoulders. He said injury due to heading is not a concern when it is done properly. Proper heading technique uses the full body, not only the head. This involves engaging the core, neck and shoulders. The teams practice heading technique and set plays that involve heading. “I don’t think avoidance is the best answer to solve the problem,” Kenny said. “At some point in time kids are going to have to learn how to head the ball. You have to learn the skills and techniques that allow you to do this skill properly.” Sriram Zassenhaus, junior, plays defense on the boys varsity soccer team. Zassenhaus said in his experience, concussions are not common. In his three years on the MHS team, none of his teammates have gotten a concussion from soccer. Concussions he has seen or heard of were caused by things other than heading the ball, including hitting the goalpost or the track, and, most commonly, collisions. Heading is only dangerous because of these collisions, Zassenhaus said. An athlete will not likely suffer a concussion from hitting the ball off of their head, but rather from colliding with another player also going for the ball. “Heading the ball in terms of actually heading the ball isn’t as dangerous as people make it out to be,” Zassenhaus said. “It’s over hyped” Dr. Jeff Konin, vice president of global education and research at the American Institute of Balance, said that when done correctly, heading a soccer ball puts about the same amount of force on the body as other daily activities such as running. He said there are no known major short term effects of heading, and more research needs to be done before it can be said that heading has long-term effects. Overall, Dr. Konin said heading is not dangerous. An athlete is much more likely to sprain a ligament or pull a muscle than to have a head injury. Caption: A player from De Smet High School heading a ball that was kicked into the air. Soccer players are to use there head on any ball that is kicked above their shoulders. Photograph by Jeff Swift
Soccer falls to De Smet in Quarterfinals MHS’ Alec Imig and De Smet’s Avi Wesseh compete for the ball. MHS’ season would be cut short this game in penalty kicks. Photograph by Jeff Swift
jeff SWIFT AFTER NEARLY TWO HOURS OF INTENSE, Bulanda shut out the Spartans through regulation highly defensive and scoreless soccer and nine penand overtime without getting subbed out once. alty kicks (PKs), the soccer team’s season ended in Bulanda’s only error came during overtime, when heartbreak. The blisteringly cold weather could do he allowed all 5 shots taken by De Smet, which was nothing to stop either team from matching each other enough to lose by 1. on every front. “It was really disappointing, to have our season After only a few serious drives made by either end like that,” Bulanda said. team during regulation time, the game shifted into an Bulanda said he felt like the Mustangs really outovertime that saw most of its play time being played the Spartans. spent with the Mustangs on defense, but the “We outplayed them, especially on deDistrict 3 champions never let up. fense, but it came down to PKs, which is “We outplayed Lucas Bier, sophomore, said nothing basically a coin toss,” Bulanda said. could get past the team’s backline. But Bulanda said the game was defithem, especially on nitely “Our defense was really solid, espestill a positive experience. cially in the back row,” Bier said. “Our “It’s amazing even to get this far, to defense.” guys in the back line did a great job.” the elite eight in our state, that’s really Bier, who’s in his first year on the great in and of itself,” Bulanda said. Nate Bulanda varsity squad, said defense was what Coach Chris Kenny said making it this kept the team in the game. far was impressive too. senior “Compared to the first game we played “No matter what happens, the elite eight against them, we did so much better and that is is something to be proud of,” Kenny said. really thanks to our ability to defend and not allow Kenny said they played a great game and that’s all three goals,” Bier said. they need to take away from the game. A part in this success can be attributed to Nate “It’s a tough loss, but they played a great game,” Bulanda, senior, who has been one of the most domiKenny said. “It’s better just to move on and get prenant goalies in the area this season. pared for your next big game in life.”
“It was a dream come true.” marta MIEZE CHRIS KENNY, SOCCER COACH, WAS A professional soccer player after he was drafted out of college his second semester of senior year. He played for the Chicago Sting, Kansas City Comets and St. Louis Steamers. After taking some time off and finishing up school, he taught at MHS while also playing for the St. Louis Ambush. “Looking back, it was a dream come true,” Kenny said. “You’re getting payed to play a game that you love.” He said in the past few years soccer has definitely become more popular. “St. Louis has always been kind of a stronghold for soccer, but throughout the Midwest and across the United States it’s really increased in the last 20 years probably
because of the Major League Soccer,” Kenny said. However, soccer still has space to grow in American hearts, Kenny said. He said he wishes American players were more prominent in professional soccer leagues because most of them are international players who come from countries where soccer is a more popular sport. “The reputation of foreign players still carries a bit more weight internationally, so they’re higher profiled,” Kenny said. “The United States is still kind of emerging.” Kenny said he hopes soccer continues in St. Louis. “I think there’s a lot of history and the opportunity is there for boys and girls,” Kenny said. “It’s given me most of what I have, so I’ve got a lot to give back to it.”