Feb. 24, 2017
SPORTS
Blueprint 11
Siblings find success and stability on top of their horses By Eileen Tyrrell, Online Entertainment Editor Typical high school sports require an assortment of equipment usually found in the gym storage rooms or local sports stores. However, junior Lauren and freshman Michael Arquilla aren’t typical high school athletes; they require a barn to store their horse for practice and competitions. Lauren and Michael Arquilla compete in American saddle seat riding, a type of horseback riding focused on the high action of specific horse breeds. “I started when I was six,” Lauren Arquilla said. “I used to watch ‘The Saddle Club,’ and the barn we found ten minutes away just happened to be saddle seat.” Saddle seat is different from other types of horseback riding in that the focus is on the appearance and form of the horse and rider, rather than the horse’s ability to perform stunts. This means that most of the performance rests on the rider’s appearance, preparation of the horse and the horse’s ability to canter or walk with style. Lauren and Michael’s trainer, Sheri Brandl, explains the difference between saddle seat and other types of horseback riding.
“It does not reyou love it, so you just do it. quire jumping, it I’m always learning somerequires form and thing.” using the body in Lauren Arquilla plans to ways that gets your try out and compete as far horse to perform at away as South Africa. its best. American However, the time comSaddlebreds are mitment and lack of sleep very large, animated has paid off for the Arhorses and they quillas. Lauren is ranked require a lot of tenth in the nation for her information that age group, and Michael flows through the is ranked approximately rider’s body,” said. second nationally for his age “It requires physical group, 13 and under. discipline to keep Another one of their your body in the opcoaches, Stacy Stackhouse, Michael and Lauren Arquilla pose with their practice hourse at their barn. timum posit ion for describes the work they your horse to perform put in to become nationally Photo courtesy of Lauren Arquilla at its best.” ranked. Lauren Arquilla “What sets these two kids explained saddle seat and expensive. The Arquillas spend apart from other athletes riding. their weekends at a barn in Wisconis the ability to control a live animal “What I do is equitation, so it’s sin, where they practice, help out with grace, safety and style,” Stackbased on what I look like, and my younger kids and ride in competihouse said. “When you are a national form,” Arquilla said. “We come in tions. competitor, you have to do grueling trotting, and we walk, canter, reverse They also participate in compeshows that take you all over the counand then we do a pattern, which is titions that require them to miss try.” like a design… A lot of people think school. Lauren describes missing Both Michael and Lauren plan to that you just sit there and [that] the school as being the hardest part of continue their unique sport in the horse does everything, but that’s not her sport. future. true because you’re in charge of how “I’m always missing tests, which “There’s only a very small handful they look too, and there’s a lot of desometimes doesn’t get you on teachof us that do it,” Arquilla said.”I think tails you have to pay attention to.” ers’ good sides,” Arquilla said. “It’s a ...it’s cool that it’s an out-of-school Saddle seat is also time-consuming lot of travel and time in the car. But sport, and not everyone does it.”
Blackhawks hunt for playoffs March Madness in the Midwest By Sarah Major, Print Features Editor Jake Lackner, Staff Reporter
Anisimov - has made up for the lack of consistency in the first line, but adding a strong right wing to the top line will give the Blackhawks arguably the most devastating top two lines in the NHL. The NHL Trade Deadline on March 1 would be an ideal time to trade for a top right winger, but doing so would likely mean giving up top prospects. Instead, the Blackhawks could turn their attention internally and try to adjust their lines.
The Blackhawks currently stand at second place in the Western Conference with a record of 36-18-5 as of Feb. 21. With Patrick Kane coming into this year with two world class seasons and one MVP award behind him, it comes as no surprise that he leads the team with 60 points this season. With big names like Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin to accompany him, the team is looking toward a deep playoff run. Ultimately, the Blackhawks’ biggest strength is their veteran core led by Kane, Corey Crawford, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Marian Hossa. In celebration of the NHL’s 100th season, a list of the top 100 players of all-time was released during All-Star Weekend, and Blackhawks players Keith, Kane and Toews all made the list. While the Blackhawks core is Blackhawks practice in Johnny’s Icehouse solid, they still boast one of the West. youngest teams in the league with Photo by Claire Pikul 11 of the team’s 26 members under The Blackhawks are also being the age of 26. easily scored on late in the game. In Since trading Brandon Saad last January alone, the Hawks lost leads summer, the Hawks’ top line has in the third period in five separate lacked consistency. Left wing Hossa games which is extremely worrisome and all-star center Toews have been fixtures on the top line, but the right for a team that hopes to make a deep run in the playoffs. wing position has lacked a permaAlthough the Blackhawks are a nent player. Coach Joel Quenneville young team, if they want to have has experimented with different a serious chance of winning their players at this spot, but no player fourth Stanley Cup in seven years, has played well enough to stick on they will need to find a way to both the top line. The success of the explosive second fill the hole in their top line as well as hold their leads and finish games. line - made up of Kane, Panarin and
By Blake Freko, Online Sports Editor Selection Sunday for March Madness is fast approaching and many teams are on the fringe of making it into the tournament. Four of these teams in the Midwest are Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Valparaiso.
Michigan
Michigan is a team with the talent and leadership of senior guard Derrick Walton and the outstanding sophomore, Moritz Wagner, who provides a post presence and can shoot the ball. They had impressive wins against Indiana and Michigan State. However, their defense is horrendous. They gave up 102 points against UCLA, and head coach, John Beilein, went so far as to say Michigan’s defense against Virginia Tech “as bad of defense as we played, maybe, ever here.” Overall, Michigan is one of most inconsistent teams in the country, but they are coming off two huge doubledigit wins against conference foes that will give them momentum when they make the tournament.
Indiana
Indiana boasts a lethal offense of the nation’s best players in junior guard James Blackmon Jr. and sophomore center Thomas Bryant. They have two impressive wins against Kansas and North Carolina. However, Indiana struggles defensively. According to the NCAA as of Feb. 21, the Hoosiers allowed 71.7 points per game. They also lost their best player OG Anunoby with a knee injury. Indiana is one of the most talented
teams in the country, but they often look unmotivated and don’t seem to have the will to win games. I pick the Hoosiers to miss the tournament.
Illinois
The University of Illinois sits with a record of 15 wins and 12 losses as of Feb. 21. The Illini are on a quest to earn their first tournament bid since 2013. Led by seniors Malcolm Hill and Maverick Morgan, their resume boasts strong wins against Northwestern and Iowa. The common theme with these fringe-teams is poor defense. Illinois defense also lets up 71.2 points per game. They lack an explosive offense and have suffered head-scratching losses to Minnesota and Winthrop. The Illini simply don’t have enough talent to contend with other elite teams. They offer a mediocre offense and a horrid defense to produce unsatisfactory results. I pick Illinois to miss the tournament yet again.
Valparaiso
Valparaiso is a team that never gains much attention but they have quietly gotten first in the Horizon League. Led by senior forward Alec Peters and senior guard Shane Hammink, the Crusaders have strong wins against Rhode Island and Alabama. Valpo boasts one of the best records, but they also have a weaker schedule. They have only faced three ranked opponents and lost two of those match-ups. Overall,Valpo’s schedule may be weaker when compared to other teams, but their 22-6 record cannot be ignored. I pick Valparaiso to receive an invitation to the tournament.