Back on track

Feeling the adrenaline rush as she got set into her race-ready position, Keira Trimolt, junior, anticipates the starting gun shot for her first ever track meet. She secured a second place finish in the 55 meter dash and third place in the 200 meter dash.

“I was nervous because it was my first race,” Trimolt said. “Before I knew it, the race was over and I had placed very well amongst great competitors.”

The track team has been to two meets to start off their season. Their most recent at Purdue Lafayette March 11, allowed the students to qualify for the upcoming Indoor State Finals March 25 at Indiana University in Bloomington. They have been practicing everyday after school to prepare for the many upcoming meets of the season.

“Everyone gives it their all during practices to do their best at meets and to ensure the main goal—making it to State in June,” Khtab Ishtawi, senior, said. “While I am ex- hausted at times, my teammates and the new coaches keep me going. I lock in while racing and only think about reaching the finish.”

One of the new coaches, Mrs. Koula Amanatidis, computer science teacher, was excited to take on a new role this year, as she coached track before at her former school in Texas. Her favorite part of coaching is the outside practices with the team, which has been difficult due to the current weather conditions.

“When we go outside, the whole team comes alive,” Mrs. Amanatidis said. “It is nice because the sun is out, so the team generally feels good and is performing better.”

Performing on the track for his last season, it is bittersweet for Ishtawi. He tries to be as involved as possible, as he participates in several track events.

“If doing all these events means scoring more points for my team, I will do it,” Ishtawi said. “I enjoy being at the meets with my team because we can show how hard we have worked and bring all the energy.”

Ava Walker shared her struggle with having to wear male-cut singlets while she wrestles. Although Indiana wrestling rules have changed to allow girls to only sports bras underneath, they are confronted by referees for being “too exposed” due to the fact they aren’t correctly fitted.

“Other teams get their girls new singlets,” Walker said, “While we have to wear ones without logos that aren’t fitted for our body types.”

Savannah Nuetzel, a sophomore, joined the football team at the beginning of this year. Although she was a bit skeptical about joining the team at first, attending a few practices helped her feel welcomed and excited to join. After a season of playing alongside boys, she says she made a lot of great relationships with the team.

“I did not join the team just to just say I am a girl on the team,” Nuetzel said . “I joined the team because I liked doing what I was doing. I just wanted to try out a new sport and see how far I could kick the ball. Once I joined, the team was nice and treated me like any other teammate.”

As the team’s roster was finalized on March 8, Softball has been warming up for their season by practicing their drills and hitting in the gym. Varsity has been working towards their first home game against Providence Catholic on March 22. A year ago, they ended their season as Conference Champions and hope to carry this title this year as well.

“Going into the season, I’m feeling optimistic,” Coach Jill Perez, also a social studies teacher at WWMS, said. “We’ve been fortunate to see many returning players back in our program this year and our younger team’s filled with a lot of players who have positive energy. As a team, we aim to be the Conference Champions and hope to have success in the postseason.”

Cheer prepares for nationals

lauren hoogeveen story editor

Anxiously whispering while waiting for the announcement of who won Grand Champions, the cheer team jumped up the second they heard “Munster.” At the Feb. 26 competition at Andrean High School, the team also placed first in their division. Preparing for Nationals in Sandusky, Ohio tomorrow, they had four hour practices over weekends in which they did full-outs of their routine—including every single stunt and tumbling pass as if they were performing. After getting a concussion, Meagan Hudson, senior, cannot participate in her last competition.

“It’s very bittersweet because although I am so excited for college and what my future holds, I am going to miss these girls so much,” Hudson said. “I will forever cherish how special this team has made my final season.”