SPORTS PAGE 11 Left: Boys swim team members participating in an invitational meet on Jan. 16 at North.
NORTH
LAUREN SEXTON
POINTE
GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27, 2016
SINCE 1968
Senior scores scholar MHSAA athlete finalist sp By Anu Subramanium EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
For senior Erin Armbruster, sports have been a way of life since she started playing basketball in second grade. It only expanded from there, as Armbruster also took up volleyball and track before she left middle school. By the time she graduates, Armbruster will have earned 11 varsity letters. Along with her strong academics and multiple extracurriculars, Armbruster’s athletic achievements have earned her a spot as a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) scholar athlete finalist. Out of hundreds of applicants across the state, Armbruster was one of the 24 girls finalists chosen. North’s last finalist was alumnus Alex Davenport back in 2006. Spots are very competitive, as only 24 girls and 24 boys are picked from all Class A schools. “It makes me feel good. It makes me feel accomplished,” Armbruster said. “I didn’t know that it was that big a deal for the school ... but it feels really cool, and it makes me feel like working hard paid off.” Armbruster has been a part of the varsity girls basketball and varsity track teams since she was a freshman and joined the varsity volleyball team beginning as a sophomore. One of her biggest influences as an athlete was her basketball coach, Gary Bennett, who believes Armbruster’s values and personality make her a good candidate. “Over the past four years, I have seen Erin grow both as an athlete and as a leader. Through (an) exemplary work ethic and a genuine willingness to learn, she has improved her basketball skills and fundamentals each year. She is a super leader who has been a great role model for the younger players in our program (in terms of academics, athletics and personal qualities) and who has been an exceptional ambassador for carrying on the many traditions and core values of our program,” Bennett said via email. “She is an outstanding representative of our school
and community. She definitely leads by example both on and off the court.” Eligibility requirements for the award include enrollment at an MHSAA member school, being a senior, having a varsity letter prior to senior year in an MHSAA sport that sponsors a post-season tournament and a 3.5 minimum grade point average. The application is made up of four different components—essay, extracurriculars and activities form, shortanswer questions and letters of recommendation—all of which are weighted differently during the review process. In total, 32 $1,000 scholarships are awarded across all class categories, but only six girls and six boys in Class A will be selected as winners. Class A winners will be announced February 16. Armbruster’s volleyball coach, Chelsea Brozo, was not surprised at her selection as a finalist. Brozo feels that Armbruster sets herself apart from others with her attitude. “She is always thinking about others, helping teammates, and always has a smile on her face while doing so,” Brozo said via email. “I was (lucky) enough to coach Erin as a head coach for two years. She grew as an athlete but heart is something she has always had. She grew comfortable in who she is, what she could accomplish, and how many teammates she could help along the way.” English teacher Diane Montgomery, who has coached Armbruster in track for four years, feels what makes Armbruster unique is her ability to not only be positive, but also spread the energy throughout the team. Montgomery also taught Armbruster during her freshman year and feels she works hard in the academic setting, too. “She’s an athlete who always has a lot of energy that brings the whole team up. And she’s very dedicated to her studies,” Montgomery said. “I love working with somebody who is so positive and full of energy. She is kind of like a puppy.” Armbruster does not plan on playing competitive sports during college as she wants to attend a larger,
ERIN ARMBRUSTER
ABOVE: Armbruster runs in the 300-meter hurdles event at a track meet. She also participated in the high jump.
t
Division-1 university. However, she would like to play intramural sports to keep herself busy and stay involved in the sports she has played for years. Armbruster’s mother, Judy Armbruster, believes sports are a huge part of Erin’s life and that she has taken away a lot from her years of athletics. “Through sports, you learn a lot about working hard, self-discipline, teamwork, working towards a common goal, so I would have to say I’ve seen Erin grow as a person through all of the things she has learned through athletics,” Judy said. Erin feels honored to be the only finalist of the four other North athletes who applied. She also said that her coaches, like Bennett, have been a big influence on her and helped her in everything that she does. “As a person, I feel like I’ve definitely grown up a lot, matured more, because Mr. Bennett would always stress important values like working hard, putting your best effort through everything and that has stuck with me,” Armbruster said. “Basically (with) everything I’ve done, I’ve always put my best effort forward, (for) school, sports, work, whatever, because he says it so much.”
ABOVE: Armbruster jumps to spike a ball at a volleyball game.
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Earth Science teacher Ardis Herrold earns MESTA award By Katelynn Mulder STAFF REPORTER
Earth Science teacher and the Radio Astronomy Team (RATs) supervisor Ardis Herrold was given The Art Weinle Heart of Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association (MESTA) Award in October for her dedication to and passion for teaching Earth Science. “I did not know I was going to get it,” Herrold said via email. “It was a total surprise.” The Art Weinle Heart of MESTA Award was established as a memorial for former North teacher Art Weinle after he passed away in 2008. He taught Geology and Earth Science at North for over three decades and the award was created to acknowledge teachers who have also dedicated their time to 15 or more years as an Earth Science teacher. These teachers must have also been involved in professional leadership roles and service to other teachers. MESTA only gives out this award when the com
mittee feels a teacher is deserving. The award is not annual and has only been given out a few times prior to last year. Herrold has taught for 37 years at multiple schools, and has worked with MESTA since 1980. She has held several positions in MESTA as an editor and even as a president where she worked to help serve other teachers. RATz member, sophomore Michelle Bridges, believes that astronomy, RATz and teaching are all a important part of Herrold’s life. “(Her class) has changed my view on the world and astronomy because we learn how to actually map out stars and learn how to look at the sky,” Bridges said. At MESTA’s annual award giving conference in October, Herrold was very surprised to hear that she had won this legacy award. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
LIFE - PAGE 5
ARDIS HERROLD
ABOVE: Herrold and other MESTA members pose outside of the science wing with a chunk of banded iron from the Upper Peninsula which they dedicated to deceased teacher and MESTA leader Art Weinle.
ON CAMPUS PAGE 5
“What possibly caused the most backlash from Flint’s water crisis was the government’s delayed response.”
Physiology students dissect minks as part of their muscle unit.
IDEAS - PAGE 9
“The beaten path is traveled by many people, but if you can’t survive it, plot a different course.”
SYDNEY BENSON
@thenorthpointe www.northpointenow.org
VOLUME 48 | ISSUE 7
Calendar | 2 News | 3
On Campus | 4 Life | 5-6
Reviews | 7 On Pointe| 8
Editorial | 9 Sports | 10-11
In-Depth | 12