North Pointe - April 17, 2014

NORTH GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

ON CAMPUS Band and orchestra students take a trip to Toronto to perform at the York Mills Collegiate Institute. page 4

District incorporates new technology into classrooms with Apple TV co-editor-in-chief & staff reporters

Friday, April 18

SCHOOL RESUMES

Monday, April 28

MEET & GREET FOR PROFESSIONALS

Thursday, May 1 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 171 Lakeshore Road

GIRLS VARSITY LACROSSE

Thursday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Grosse Pointe South

SAVE A LIFE 5K

Saturday, May 3 at 9 a.m. starting at North

SAT TESTING

Saturday, May 3 at 8 a.m. at North

“I used IDEAS

to shy

away

from the idea of stepping out of the norm.

“

page 3

THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2014

SINCE 1968

luke sturgill

By Anu Subramaniam, Mallika Kanneganti & Alex Batts

SPRING BREAK STARTS

POINTE

Library Media Specialist Karen Villegas finds the opportunity of having an Apple Television in the classroom one that can help expand students’ learning process.

“It’s kind of like a connection point for mobile devices. So, a lot of (students) have (their) own mobile devices, so ultimately if we create the spaces where they have signals to do that kind of sharing, you could share something that you created on your mobile device with the rest of the class and have conversations and learning can take place in that fashion,” Villegas said.

The Apple TVs are each a $99 box that can be connected to a projector or SMART Board so that it can wirelessly pick up any Apple devices’ signals and project the image to the board.

“We’re kind of piecing (the funding) together from different places. So some of us got it from the Parent Club here, some people got it from the Grosse Pointe Foundation, that’s all like charity-type grants and things like that,

and some people actually bought their own,” social studies teacher Sean McCarroll said.

The objective in purchasing the Apple TVs is to engage more students in classroom activities by allowing apps, images and anything that can be done on an Apple device to be projected in front of the class.

“In some subjects, that’s probably how they use it. I know in subject areas, for example, there are apps like in science where students can manipulate things or perhaps write ideas, group ideas, and this would allow the teacher to then choose individual students and then project their thoughts onto the screen so they could then be discussed by the whole class,” Spanish teacher Jennifer Spears said.

To get the new device, teachers are adding their names to a district-wide list. As the funds become available, more TVs will be purchased and will go to schools all over the district.

“One of the things that we’re trying to do is, you know, modernize or update the way that we teach and learn at North,” McCarroll said.

“By using the Apple TVs, the goal is that teachers can use it and still be able to move around the room easier. Students can connect to it to share things, so it’s more of like a collabora-

Student Juniors on Association track to graduate early reintroduces

By Patricia Bajis & Radiance Cooper senior ASSISTANT EDITOR & staff reporter

Having completed almost all of his required credits, junior Jacob Kemptom found himself in a unique position at the end of his sophomore year. He discovered that he would be able to graduate early, after attending high school for only three years.

“I wasn’t planning on doing it all of high school, but at the end of my sophomore year, I was talking to my counselor, and they told me that I had all of my credits, so I could take anything that I wanted senior year,” Kempton said. “So I just decided if that’s the case, I was just gonna take the extra year off, maybe work or see what my options were, essentially.”

For students who choose this path, required classes must be completed in three years, and they must appeal to administration about their decision.

“They have to meet all of their graduation requirements, (and) they have to appeal to the principal to be allowed to graduate early.

They have to be able to explain to Mrs. Murray what their plan is and what they want to do after they graduate,” counselor Barbara Skelly said. “It can’t be that ‘I just wanna lay at home and sleep in.’”

Early graduates spend their junior year completing both their junior and senior year requirements and sometimes have to work into their senior year to finish their classes.

“They have to (get) four years of math in and three years of science and three years of social studies and four years of English. They continued on page 2

@myGPN

positions to students

By Emma Puglia Web Managing Editor

When the postion of historian in the Class of 2016 student council opened up, sophomore Kayla Gallant jumped at it.

“I’m good at taking pictures, and also, people already thought I was a ‘stuco’ kid, so it just seemed fitting to try,” Gallant said.

Student Association and the Class of 2016 student council are each reintroducing positions for this upcoming year. The positions will be filled based on an application, and applicants do not need any experience.

“We thought because there were so many students that were capable and that just happened to not get elected but who were still interested in working with the Association, that we would reinstitute these positions,” Student Association adviser Jonathan Byrne said.

SA is opening up the positions of historian, student activities director and public relations. The historian will be responsible for taking photos at Student Association’s events, the student activities director organizes the events themselves, and public relations communicates with the media.

Members who hold these positions do not receive a vote in Student Association’s decisions.

These positions have existed for many years but were not publicized to the entire school before this year.

“I don’t know that it was a conscious decision to not make them

www.myGPN.org

tive.”

The Apple TV is a teaching method that doesn’t require every room to have wifi or all students to have Apple devices. As long as the Apple device projecting and the Apple TV are on the same wifi network, then the projection can be made. This allows students who do not have Apple devices at home to experience the same learning techniques as those who do.

However, the abilities of the Apple TV are limited, as the device is relatively new.

“My one concern is that it’s a proprietary device. It works with other Apple products, and so, you know, if a student has a phone that’s not an Apple phone, then it’s a little more limited. There are ways, but it’s more difficult to use it,” Spears said.

The TVs also need a Video Graphics Array (VGA) connector or cable to connect to the specific projector, but the connector is wireless. The TVs will be purchased and installed in classrooms over the course of the next few years. North and South High Schools will each receive an equal number of TVs in the next year or two, and the middle and elementary schools will begin to get them afterwards.

publicly known before,” Byrne said. “It seemed like there was more interest, and so instead of ... just these few people who I already know, I needed to make it more available to anybody who might be interested in it.”

The Class of 2016 took similar action by creating two historian spots and two student activities/ public relations positions.

“We had a huge turnover this year, as far as old members to new members, and some of them still want to stay connected, so we found a way to involve them if they still want to and still bring new people in student council.

If others don’t want to stay, new

“

(The ideal candidates are) students that are motivated, work well with others, bring fresh ideas, but that are also willing to take charge of situations when needed.

Jonathan Byrne

student Association adviser

”

people have the option to fill out an application,” Class of 2016 adviser Marylyn Withers said.

Having two people for each position aims to take pressure off students by sharing the workload. As an historian, if one person can’t make it to an event or a meeting, the other can fill in.

“The other job, public relations and activities coordinator, is a

VOLUME 46, ISSUE 13

busy job, and therefore they can share the work and find out who’s better at what,” Withers said.

The executive board of Student Association, Byrne and student activities director Pat Gast will be taking an internal vote after interviewing each applicant individually. Likewise, Withers and the Class of 2016 officers will narrow down people for the four spots based on students’ applications.

The Classes of 2015 and 2017 already allowed the additional members, and they will now receive formal titles under their respective positions.

Although the positions were introduced due to the large number of candidates who ran for a limited number of spots in the recent elections, some former candidates are not interested in applying.

“I would rather be on student council than taking pictures for them and stuff. I’d rather be in it or not in it. That’s kind of like a middle thing,” Maddy Tompkins, a former Class of 2016 candidate, said.

Since the applicants are not limited to previous student council representatives, Student Association and the class student councils are looking for ambitious students throughout North to apply. “(The ideal candidates are) students that are motivated, work well w ith others, bring fresh ideas but that are also w illing to take charge of situations when needed,” Byrne said.

The reinstated positions w ill continue to be available, based on application, in upcoming years.

“It will help people see ‘Oh look, that’s our student council’ and ‘That’s what they’re doing,’” Tompkins said.

© 2014 North Pointe

news

2 – Thursday, April 17, 2014 – North Pointe

Graduating early

TV Production receives awards 5K supports charities

Continued from page 1

Seven TV Production students won awards of excellence at the Michigan Student Film and Video Festival.

“It’s one of the oldest film festivals in Michigan and the nation. It’s been running a long time,” TV production teacher Brian Stackpoole said. “It’s nice because it’s judged by people in the industry, and they have kind of a wide variety of categories. It’s definitely more of an artistic, creative type of contest than, say, a journalism contest.”

Junior Charlie Annas and senior Eddie Nepi won an award for their intro called “Norsemen News: A Hole in One,” while freshmen Alanah Herfi and Kenton Biggs, and sophomores Piper Perkins, Emily Cleary and Jill Berndston won for their Public Service Announcement (PSA) called “Make Healthy Choices.”

“We had to film scenes on a green screen because we did a devil and angel concept to tell the character in the PSA to make the right choice and eat a fruit instead of a sweet,” Herfi said.

Best of Show videos will be on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts Film Theater on April 26 at 12:30 p.m.

have to get those four year requirements done in three years, or three and a half years because sometimes kids graduate the first semester of senior year,” Skelly said.

Although there is no penalty for students choosing to graduate early, taking all four years of high school is recommended for most students.

“We encourage kids to do four years of high school because you can get a lot of AP credit—advanced placement credit—by taking AP classes. You get a head start on college credit without paying for it,” Skelly said.

Junior Lauren Hartt also chose to graduate early after discovering that her credits were complete and will begin her college education at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia this fall.

“I’m ready to move on to go do things that could actually help me in life, and truthfully, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to go to an art school and just let my talent go,” Hartt said.

Because students are missing out on their senior year, administration allows early graduates to participate in functions along with the current senior class.

“Obviously, I’m gonna miss out on a few things, but I still have friends here, so I’ll still go to the North-South game with them. I can do some of the things that seniors can do,”Kempton said. “Technically, I can go to prom this year even though I’m not a senior, so I do get some of those privileges.”

He plans on taking his earned year off to pursue other interests and then attend college the following year.

“Right now, it looks like I’m gonna take a gap year and work and then go to college,” Kempton said. “I mean, I for sure plan to go to a college. Ideally, the year after next.”

TV Production videos can be viewed on their Youtube Channel, gpntvprod

By Maria Liddane

States that permit early graduation

*States without policies may allow local school districts to graduate students early LUKE STURGILL WWW.USATODAY.COM

States with graduating early policies

States that also offer finicial incentives

The Save a Life 5K is raising money to support the Moross Greenway Project and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

This event takes place on May 3, and the entry fee is $20 for students and $30 for adults.

The Moross Greenway Project is an organization that plants trees on the islands along Moross Road.

“When they do that, they’re improving home values by beautifying the neighborhood. (This) helps with water retention and takes CO2 (carbon dioxide) out of the atmosphere,” environmental science teacher and event organizer Chris Skowronski said. “We’re also helping out Children’s Hospital of Michigan. They raise money, and they actually help out families with kids that have cancer.”

Posters for the event feature images of superheroes. This advertises the idea surrounding the event.

“One of society’s great myths is to think that we are to wait for someone to swoop in and solve the world’s problems of increasing cancer rates, loss of biodiversity and air quality issues. The fact is, we are those heroes, and it is up to us to be the change that we want to see. It is up to you and only you to save the planet, to save a life,” Skowronski said.

New archery club forms Draw t he bowst r ing a nd let a r rows f ly w it h t he newly formed archery club.

Coach Nick Di Cresce collaborated with Motor City Archer’s Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) program and USA Archery to form the Lake St. Clair High School Archery League which includes North, South, South Lake and Lake Shore High Schools.

Di Cresce is a professional archer for the National Field Archery Association (NFAA) and one of 23 level-three coaches for USA Archery in Michigan. He is on the board of one of the oldest archery clubs in Michigan, Detroit Archers, and is the head instructor for the Motor City Archers JOAD program.

“I have taught archery for the last 14 years and for the past three years at Groves High School in Birmingham and often wondered why most schools in our area are not doing archery,” Di Cresce said. “Archery is certainly one of the oldest competitive sports around, yet it is also one of the fastest growing sports in the USA today.”

Participants will shoot for 10 weeks, trying both a compound and recurve bow, and they will learn how to score on both the Federation of International Target Archery (FITA) and NFAA systems. Participants will also get a chance to shoot 3D targets and learn the scoring system for the International Bowhunter Organization (IBO).

“I want to see the sport continue to grow and pass my passion on to others, so they can experience how great archery is,” Di Cresce said. “Archery is what I refer to as a lifelong sport, something you can do at almost any age.”

Team meetings are Mondays from 5-7 p.m.

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IDEAS Life spent in the Tigers’ den “Grosse Pointe Public School administrators and teachers are responsible for encouraging and ensuring freedom of expression and freedom of the press for all students, regardless of whether the ideas expressed may be considered unpopular, critical, controversial, tasteless or offensive.”

Board of Education Policy

Erica Lizza co-Editor-in-Chief

Anu Subramaniam Co-editor-in-chief

Haley Reid managing editor

Olivia Asimakis news editor

Brittney Hernandez Life EDITOR

Wendy Ishmaku business manager

Dora Juhasz web news editor

Jennifer Kusch ideas editor

Kaley Makino web ideas editor

Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe Editorial Board consisting of the editors above and staff members Diajah Williams and Ritika Sanikommu. Members who have a conflict of interest with an editorial topic do not partake in that meeting or vote.

OUR EDITORIAl

New appointed positions give unfair advantages Student Association and the class student councils recently announced they will be introducing additional positions of historian, student activities director and public relations. These non-voting roles will be filled by application and appointment and will allow for increased student involvement. While the Class of 2016 and SA are reintroducing the positions this year, the Class of 2015 and the Class of 2017 already included additional members who will now receive formal titles.

The previous lack of information surrounding these positions is puzzling, as many candidates for both student council and SA throughout the past few years have promised to keep students informed about proceedings and welcome input from the student body.

The motivation behind the change is to enable as many interested students as possible to be involved in student government, and while this may be admirable, it is worrisome that only now, after the most recent round of elections, when many incumbent officers lost their positions, has involvement from non-officers been championed.

Although applicants do not need prior experience, the change was motivated largely by a desire to keep former officers involved. This will certainly lead to an advantage for those students who lost the recent election. That current officers have a role in choosing who will fill these slots gives former members yet another undeserved advantage over other applicants.

The announcement of these positions and their supposed availability to any student is an excellent decision, as most students would not have known of these offices.

In addition, it allows those already performing these duties to be recognized for their work.

But the timing of this change seems tailored to those who were not re-elected to their SA or student council positions. While interest in holding a leadership position and dedication to that are commendable, it is the student body who is tasked with deciding who will represent their interests in student government. There will always be some disagreement about any newly elected (or re-elected) candidates’ capabilities. That does not mean students’ votes matter any less, and their judgment, even if it is considered flawed, must be respected.

Encouraging more students to become involved in student government, whose actions shape the high school experience, is a respectable goal. However, these new positions, while non-voting, will still influence decisions that affect the student body. In the future, these positions should also be decided by vote, not appointment.

Letter to the editor Dear NorthPointe Editorial Staff: I am writing to express my disapproval of the new GPPSS poster policy which was recently put into effect (attached). The new policy categorizes student clubs/organizations into levels (which can only change with permission of Director of Secondary Curriculum) and assigns differing levels of advertising space accordingly. This will unfairly restrict some student organizations’ ability to market their events to the broader student community.

I urge you to ask North and district administrators to convene a new poster policy committee that includes students and staff to consider the thoughtful recommendations made by the Tower editorial staff last week (attached) and to develop a policy that assures student organizations’ rights afforded them under federal equal access laws.

All student clubs, teams and organizations should be free to advertise their events equally within reasonable guidelines (for age-appropriate graphic content and messages). Categorizing student organizations into various levels and assigning them advertising space accordingly does not meet the standard of equal access.

Posters advertising our high schools’ varied academic and athletic events, and student clubs and organizations are a sign of vibrant, diverse, and engaged school communities. Our high schools’ poster policies should meet the needs and interests of our current students, not prospective ones on building tours. At the very least they should meet the letter of the law.

Respectfully submitted, Mickey Shield GPS Parent

Standing at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull, Tiger Stadium was one of the classic temples for America’s pastime.

In 1999, this iconic landmark was put out to pasture, replaced by the gleaming, state-of-the-art Comerica Park.

It was as if they were trying to camouflage a bad team with a shiny my turn izzy ellery new ballpark.

But my fiveyear-old self didn’t notice how bad the team was at the time. I was too enamored with the new baseball Ferris wheel and tiger-themed carousel.

As the years passed, I spent less time wandering the ballpark and more time sitting in my seat, appreciating the game.

With each passing year, the team kept improving. In 2004, general manager Dave Dombrowski wowed fans by signing Ivan Rodriguez and Carlos Guillen, two All-Stars that gave the team instant credibility.

In 2005, the team signed Magglio Ordoñez, adding talent to a previously lacking team.

A year later, Jim Leyland took the team to the World Series, thanks to Ordoñez’s shot heard around the Motor City.

As I grew up, the team also grew, making strides to perfect their toolbox. But to keep improving, the organization had to eliminate some of my beloved players for the sake of the team.

Dec. 9, 2009 was a sad day in the Ellery household. It was the day Curtis Granderson, the lovable Tigers centerfielder, was sold out to the most abhorrent baseball team in the Major Leagues: the Yankees.

The same catastrophe occured last year, when leftfielder Brennan Boesch was released from the Tigers and slid into a new

North Pointe – Friday, April 17 , 2014 – 3

home base 618 miles away in New York. I and other female fans were saddened by the loss of a player that was easy on the eyes.

This year, Dombrowski decided to shock everyone and trade first baseman Prince Fielder. Although I was disappointed with his performance last season, I was saddened that Miguel Cabrera would lose his amigo. Their post-game handshakes tugged at my heartstrings, begging the question, why would anyone want to rid the team of such touching player interaction?

But with every shocker, the Tigers evolved into a better team, and I kept growing along with them.

When Granderson was traded, we gained pitcher Max Scherzer, who last year led the majors with a record of 21 wins and three losses.

Although last year we lost the heartthrob Boesch, later in the season we gained a new one: José Iglesias, a shortstop that has agility, something Boesch lacked.

In losing Prince Fielder, the organization freed themselves from a hefty contract and gained second baseman Ian Kinsler, who has already impressed fans early this season.

Each year, the Tigers inch closer to their goal of a World Series title. With players like Miguel Cabrera (a Triple Crown winner and 2013 AL MVP), Justin Verlander (2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award Winner) and Max Scherzer (2013 Cy Young Award Winner), it’s becoming an easier task.

Their potential for success makes all those summer evenings I’ve spent watching games worthwhile. I’ve grown up with this team, and even if it takes another 30 years to get that World Series trophy, I’ll still be by their side.

My dad graduated high school in 1984, and that year the Tigers brought home a World Series title. This year I’m graduating. Hopefully it turns out to be a memorable year for both me and my favorite team.

editor’s desk patricia bajis

Plunging into passion

Nelson Mandela once said, “There is no passion to be found playing small — in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” But we’re just kids.

Why would we even consider pursuing a passion? And what a loaded topic. Passion.

I don’t need to think about that. I have like three tests this week.

It took me a while to actually realize what passion was, and that dismissive mindset used to overcome my thoughts when I heard the word. I simply knew it was something unhappy adults muttered about when planning their futures. Other times I was told that it was the key to being truly happy in life. I disregarded it all. I’m just a kid. What do I need a passion for?

But I misinterpreted my fear for disinterest.

Let’s be honest here: high school is a scary place. You’re surrounded by the same people for four years, and being categorized in any way is inevitable. No one wants their peers to judge them for something that they do, like being that one freshman that got locked outside during lunch when her sister refused to let her back in. Don’t ask.

I used to shy away from the idea of stepping out of the norm. I wove my way through the freshman hallway, telling myself to keep my eyes forward and walk directly to class, maybe stopping to talk “Andy Dirks because, well I to a few friends. I didn’t want “Miguel Cabrera because “I like Dirks because he’s don’t know why. I just really anything to separate me he won the Triple Crown, really good.” like him.” which sets him apart from from the others. I structured a lot of other players.” myself based on how others perceived me.

Max Kolinski Lindsay Gallagher Vincent Alibri For the next two years I junior freshman Sophomore followed my now-consistent practice of trying not to stand out. I wasn’t completely isoBy Diajah Williams and Dajai Chatman lated, but I mentally protected myself from a fear of ridicule. This went on so long that I actually believed that this was how it is supposed to be.

But I want to leave this on a positive note, and as one would predict the story would go, I had a moment of realization. A bit cliché, yes, but much needed. I’m not going to get too detailed, but I’ll tell you this: other people cannot control your life, and “Justin Verlander — he’s “My favorite Tiger is Miguel “I’d pick Alex Avila. He’s if you let them, their plans for the pitcher, and that’s like Cabrera because he’s the very reliable, he was always the most important role.” you won’t include much. best baseball player of the there, he’s well-spoken and “Define yourself” is a typientire generation.” he’s a good guy. And he cal phrase used for strugspeaks Spanish, I think.” gling teenagers, but I suggest you ignore it. I hate titles. TiTamara Shepeard Valonda Frazier Dan Taylor tles bring expectations, stanspanish teacher senior Special Education teacher dards we pressure ourselves to meet and therefore fail to The North Pointe is edited and produced

by Advanced Journalism students at Grosse uphold. They’re lifeless and Pointe North High School and is published intimidatingly consistent. two weeks. It is in practice a designated EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Erica Lizza, Anu Subrama- every So what does this have to public forum without prior review. niam Comments should be directed to the student do with passion?

MANAGING EDITORS: Haley Reid, Andrea editors, who make all final content decisions.

Scapini Having a passion builds The views expressed are solely those of the SECTION EDITORS: Olivia Askimakis, Katelyn character and is seen as an authors or the student editorial board and do Carney, Brittney Hernandez, Jennifer Kusch not reflect the opinions of the Grosse Pointe admirable trait. But starting WEB MANAGING EDITOR: Emma Puglia School System.

WEB SECTION EDITORS: Yena Berhane, Dora something new can be inJuhasz, Kaley Makino, Emily Martinbianco timidating, especially when We are a member of the Michigan Scholastic BUSINESS MANAGER: Wendy Ishmaku Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press you’re seldom known for SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITORS: Patricia Bajis, Association, National Scholastic Press Marie Bourke, Gabby Burchett, Izzy Ellery, anything but what your peers Association and Student Press Law Center. We Melina Glusac, Kristen Kaled, Maria Liddane, have observed for years. It’s subscribe to McClatchy-Tribune Information Dayle Maas, Colleen Reveley, Lauren Semack, Services and iStockphoto.com. hard to cultivate the ambiBrigette Smith, Sydney Thompson PHOTO EDITORS: Alanna Sparks, Jeffery tion to defy them.

One copy is available free to all community Valentic As the tail end of my semembers.

Additional copies may be ASSISTANT EDITORS: Josie Bennett, Emma purchased. Our editorial policy and advertisnior year approaches, and as Brock, Mora Downs, Erin Haggerty, Audrey rates are available online at myGPN.org.

Kam, Billy Moin, Lillian Rancourt, Thomas Re- ing I lean back to recline in my The North Pointe is printed on 100% recycled menar, Ritika Sanikommu, Gowri Yerramali rocking chair of high school paper.

STAFF REPORTERS: Alex Batts, Dajai Chatman, wisdom, I’ll ask this: Are you Radiance Cooper, Mallika Kanneganti, Kristina CONTACT US Kowalski, Kayla Luteran, Josie Riley, Luke Stur- 707 Vernier Road really happy? Just because gill, Addison Toutant, Diajah Williams we’re young doesn’t mean we Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 INTERNS: Claire Dalian, Lawrence Lezuch, Phone: 313.432.3248 are excommunicated from Stephanie Roy Email: northpointe@gpschools.org being happy. Sometimes, to Twitter: @myGPN reach a point of pure satisfacFACULTY ADVISER: Shari Adwers, MJE tion, it takes stripping down

mentally to discover who you really are. If that’s too overwhelming, try starting with a simple passion, something that will, no matter what, bring happiness.

YOUR TURN: Who’s your Tiger?

On Campus

4– North Pointe – Thursday, April 17, 2014

Cadence of Canada

Band and orchestra students head to Niagra Falls and Toronto to compete in the Toronto International Music Festival, absorbing local scenery along the way

By Melina Glusac and Kayla Luteran Senior assistant editors

Faces in the crowd Jennifer Gmeiner

Five a.m. practice every Monday, Wednesday and Friday is routine for sophomore Jennifer Gmeiner. As a part of the Detroit Boat Club rowing team, Gmeiner is no stranger to dedication or hard work.

After quitting gymnastics in eighth grade, Gmeiner searched of a new sport to fill the void. “(My friend) recommended it to me, and I tried it out. It just kind of stuck,” Gmeiner said. “I’ve learned to work a lot harder. I have to do morning practices and I’ve learned to deal with it.”

Gmeiner assumes the position of the coxswain. While she rows, she also navigates the boat. Her main priority is to ensure everyone’s safety. In 2013, her team placed fifth at the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships.

“The fact that we made it into the final heat proved how much of a fun experience it had been, especially since half of the boat was seniors.

It was their last race ever,” Gmeiner said.

Evie Cantrell

Learning sign language in seventh grade came in handy for sophomore Evie Cantrell. Though Cantrell had not planned to become fluent, she recently went on a mission trip to Jamaica with her youth group from Highland Park Baptist church and stayed at a school for deaf students.

“We actually went this last February, and we stayed for a week. We did work projects and went to the orphanage and a bunch of different things,” Cantrell said.

Cantrell had not planned to become fluent.

“It’s kind of like an unknown language to a lot of people. I thought it would be kind of interesting,” she said.

During her mission trip in Jamaica, she had many nonverbal conversations with the kids she met.

“The school has 135 kids, and they’re from ages 4-20, so we had a lot of different variety of people,” Cantrell said. “I went into it thinking that I was going to change their lives, and it was totally the opposite, which was really cool.”

ABOVE: Students pause outside Rainforest Cafe after an afternoon of exploring Clifton Hills and Niagara Falls. “I thought it was really cool how they had a variety of attractions there—same with all the food choices.

I wish I had more time to go through the wax museum and Ripley’s museum and haunted houses. Going up that hill on foot was like a year of cardio exercise though,” senior Brian Almeria said.

LEFT: (From left to right) Junior Emily Hoshaw, junior Isabella Cubillejo and senior Kate Freeman stand beside each other while looking out at the water. “Just being outside with my best friends and being outside in the nice weather was great,” Freeman said.

Julia Anter

ABOVE: Junior Steven Licari stops to take a selfie with a life size replica of the worlds tallest man at the Ripley’s museum. “We kind of just walk around and looked at stuff ... I took advantage of the situation,” Lucari said.

LEFT: David Cleveland conducts the band at the Toronto International Music Festival. The symphony band, concert band and full orchestra played for a panel of judges and were given feedback after the performance. “I think it was beneficial to the band and orchestra to be able to get feedback from professionals. The adjudicator was interactive too, so I would say that the overall experience was helpful and fun,” freshman Ben Swilinski said.

FIVE MINUTES WITH

Math Teacher Eric Vanston

By Emily Martinbianco & Dora Juhasz staff reporter s

PHOTO COURTESY OF: ERIC VANSTON

Math teacher Eric Vanston smiles next to a Korean official when he traveled to Seoul, South Korea for a three-year teaching job.

A foreign language, unknown faces and an unfamiliar culture could have served as a recipe for disaster for math teacher Eric Vanston. Despite of the massive culture shock, Vanston’s love for traveling led him to an engaging three-year journey to Seoul, South Korea.

“My number one interest outside of school is traveling. Before I was a teacher here at North, I used to teach in Korea for three years. You can see all over my room these pictures that I’ve taken while traveling. That’s my favorite thing to do in the world,” Vanston said.

In his early 20s, Vanston’s newfound freedom after graduation led him to fulfill his love of traveling. His dad’s business connections offered Vanston the opportunity to teach English to both adults and middle school students in Seoul.

“I wanted to live in a big city. A lot of people graduate and move to Chicago or New York or something, which I wanted to do. But I wanted to travel as well,” Vanston said. “I wanted to teach, so all these things I

wanted to do worked out really well.

It was supposed to be a one year thing and it turned into three.”

In addition to adjusting to the unique language, Vanston had to be aware of small yet crucial actions to comply with Korea’s culture.

“It was not easy at first. I didn’t know anybody. I went there by myself and tried to meet some people,” Vanston said. “The initial problems were the language, different font, different everything.”

Korea’s strict hierarchy put many people above Vanston. Teachers who taught longer than Vanston had to be respected in certain ways.

“If you shake their hand, out of respect you’re supposed to touch your hand as well, or if they pour you a cup of coffee, you have to use two hands. There’s little things like that that I learned,” Vanston said.

Vanston met other English teachers from England, Ireland, Australia and South Africa, many of whom he built long-lasting relationships with.

“You see different perspectives,” Vanston said. “You learn about different types of people, and it was fascinating.”

After giving up meat for Lent four years ago, junior Julia Anter decided to permanently become a vegetarian.

“I still eat eggs and fish. I just don’t eat meat,” Anter said.

Watching documentaries about the poor treatment in the animal-raising process convinced her to give up meat.

“I just didn’t like the way they were treated in slaughterhouses,” Anter said.

Not only did Anter give up meat, but her mom did as well.

“My mom became a vegetarian at the same time I did, but my brother and my dad still eat meat,” Anter said.

The transition wasn’t a major one for Anter and her mother.

“I didn’t eat a lot of meat in the first place, and I’m … for animal rights. I basically do the same thing and the same stuff. I just don’t eat meat.” Anter said.

By Olivia Asimakis, Emma Puglia, Anu Subramaniam

What was your favorite trip while traveling?

So after I left Korea, we did about a fourmonth trip home. I quit my job, and I thought, “I didn’t have a job so I might as well just take the time to plan a four-month trip to Nepal and India and Egypt and Southern Africa.” That was my favorite trip.

What was your favorite Korean food?

Samgyupsal. It’s cream of barbecue and pork.

What was your favorite place to go in Korea?

It is Busan. I lived in Seoul, which is the capital in the northwest, and Busan is a city on the ocean in the east, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s a coastal town, so it has beaches.

What was the strangest food in Korea?

Dog. They ate dog soup.

What was the weirdest cultural behavior in Korea?

This is what a lot of Americans have trouble with — Korean people push. When you’re on the subway, they will just knock right into you. No “sorry,” no recognition. They will just push right into you. That was weird because in American culture if you knock into someone you say “sorry,” but not there.

It’s just part of their culture.

Will you continue traveling?

I hope so. Like I said, I’m going to Brazil this summer. It’s my favorite thing to do.

life

North Pointe – Thursday, April 17, 2014 – 5

Social studying: teachers absorb foreign sights and cultures

By Andrea Scapini managing editor

He caught the bug.

While on a vacation in Ireland, social studies teacher Barry Mulso distinctly remembers when the red-headed, eight-year-old version of himself caught the travel bug — a moment that molded his life to one of constant traveling, exploring and experiencing new places worldwide.

“We were staying in this really nice hotel, Germond Castle, and I remember just how beautiful Ireland was.

It’s just a beautiful place. What really kind of got me was a lady thought I was a local,” Mulso said. “I had a closer connection to Ireland than I really knew. If I looked like one of the Irish people, which I am Irish, and I could pass for a local, this is part of me. From that moment on, I kind of wanted to find what else is part of me.”

This month-long European vacation was his first of many overseas trips.

“I’m a history idiot. I’m just a nut for that stuff,” he said.

“I have some friends who go to these places, and they see them, and they say, ‘Oh that’s nice’ and stuff, but I always kind of get the idea from some of them that it’s just kind of like a little check mark. It’s just like seeing a picture on the Internet or something as opposed to having a deep understanding of events and things like that.”

Mulso and other social studies teachers tend to crave history and experiences even outside of the classroom.

“History is stories, and so I think that the actual travel experience helps bring those stories to life,” AP U.S. History teacher Terri Steimer said. “You feel closer to history when you walk in the places that others have been before you so I especially think that’s why social studies teachers love it. Anybody who teaches culture and teaches history is gonna love to travel.”

Second-year social studies teacher Sean McCarroll just recently caught the travel bug, having been only interested in traveling for about two years. He says the more he continues to study history, the more interested he becomes in exploring places that are out of his element.

“We’re immersed in world culture every day, so I think that contributes to it,” McCarroll said. “Social studies teachers in general, we just have this nagging interest to learn more about how other people live too, so that definitely fuels it.”

McCarroll admittedly has a mental list of places he aspires to visit and already has plans to vacation in Austria and Istanbul, Turkey this upcoming summer. One of the reasons he chose Istanbul was the chance to use his experience in the classroom, as Istanbul is commonly discussed throughout his World History course.

“Istanbul, for example, it was Constantinople, which was the eastern half of the Roman Empire, which became the Byzantine empire. It was pivotal for the Silk Road, so I plan on teaching it for there and then when we learn about the transition from Constantinople to Istanbul when the Muslim Turks took over to create the Ottoman Empire, again,” McCarroll said. “That’s one of the reasons why I picked that particular spot because we talk about it at the beginning of the year, and we talk about it near the end of the year so I totally plan on using that as a teachable moment.”

Social studies teacher Dan Gilleran also takes mental notes

Courtesy of Terri Steimer

TOP: AP U.S. History teacher Terri Steimer overlooks a view in Florence, Italy where she traveled in July 2012 through the People to People program.

LEFT: Social studies teacher Sean McCarroll poses in front of a megalithic tomb dated between 4200 B.C. and 2900 B.C. when he went to Ireland with family in 2013. He viewed an ancient settlement that dates back to the fifth century A.D. BOTTOM: Social studies teacher Barry Mulso tours the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

BOTTOM LEFT: Social studies teacher Dan Gilleran visits the Sydney Opera House in Australia with Library Media Specialist Karen Villegas through People to People in 2000.

Courtesy of Sean mccarroll

Courtesy of dan gilleran

while on his trips, continuously trying to relate what he sees to how they can be better taught in the classroom.

“You’re constantly thinking, ‘While this is an amazing experience, but how can I use it in the classroom?’ Even a trip to D.C., it’s not international, but even when I’m at D.C. it’s like, ‘How can I use this experience?’” Gilleran said. “It’s an amazing experience to connect, and I think it’s helpful for not only me as the teacher, but for the students to show some personal photos instead of it being just some pictures in a textbook.”

Courtesy of barry mulso

Whatever the reason for their expeditions, the longing for more traveling remains persistent for those who crave adventure and seek knowledge of other cultures.

“I’m jonesing really bad now. I haven’t been overseas since 2004,” Mulso said. “It’ll be ten years this June and I’m going crazy, so I’m currently trying to put together a trip but if I have to go alone, I’m going to get on a plane and go somewhere. I’ve never really done it and at this point I’m thinking, ‘Why not?’”

Sophomore kicks his way through karate ranks

By Billy Moin & Mora Downs assistant editors

From white to orange to black with a few belts in between, sophomore Josh Fischer is currently a third-degree black belt in karate and is close to earning a fourth. “(To move up) you take a test. If you pass, you get a belt. Let’s say you get a first degree, then you have to train two years to test for your second degree, and every six months you have to take a pretest,” Josh said.

The period between each belt test increases as the student advances. For example, the period between the second degree black belt test and the third is three years, but between the third and fourth is four years.

There are multiple parts to each test, including a physical portion, sparring, self-defense, breaking boards and blocks and forms, which are patterns of martial arts movements. The forms and physical portions are fairly standard, while sparring and self-defense are not set in stone.

“There is a sparring part of it, or fighting … where you will do a one-on-one, or you may fight three versus one or five versus one. I’ve seen Josh go five-on-one, where he has to defend himself against five people,” Josh’s father Scott Fischer said. “Self-defense is huge. Self-defense is a major component of a test where you will basically act like a victim, and you will have to defend yourself. It could be someone’s hands, could be someone kicking you, they may get a knife involved or a sword involved, you know, like a plastic one for a test, but it’s all forms of self-defense.”

Josh began karate 11 years ago as a sport he found accessible to him at the time.

“I wasn’t really athletic or anything. I was really, really gumpy, so I just did it ‘cause I couldn’t really play any other sports until I grew up,” Josh said.

Josh quit competing at 12 years old due to his mother’s cancer diagnosis.

“Martial arts has helped him get through what his mom was going through … People think this karate stuff was just all about fighting and that’s what people like to think about it ... but in reality it’s about life,” Scott said. “I didn’t really know what this karate stuff was doing for him, other than making him a super, super tough kid but when my wife got sick, that’s when I found out how valuable this stuff is for Josh. It’s how he handled his mom getting sick.”

Josh occasionally swaps the role of karate student to teacher.

“Master Brian Pontillo (my coach), me, my two little brothers and a few others taught karate to about 150 children with type 1 diabetes. We did this at a huge Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) conference five years ago,” Josh said via text. “I have

Courtesy of Josh fischer

also taught basic karate skills and self defense to inner city kids in Detroit. My dad helped me demonstrate. He works with kids and adults in Detroit that have health issues.”

When Josh wasn’t helping others learn karate, he was in the studio enhancing his own abilities.

“Back when I went almost every day, I greatly improved in my flexibility and technique on my kicks. But as I grew older, I picked up on little things about forms and sparring to make myself better,” Josh said.

While Josh says practicing mainly boosted his skills, Scott believes it taught him valuable life lessons.

“A big component of (karate) is preparing yourself for life. And life threw Josh and his whole family a big curveball with his mom being diagnosed with cancer, and he has handled it like an adult,” Scott said. “(When) she was diagnosed, he was just a little kid, and I really think the karate helped him deal with his mom and, let’s put it this way, he’s the man of the house. He takes care of all of us.”

6 – Thursday, April 17, 2014 – North Pointe

REVIEWS

Let’s not taco ’bout it

By Emily Martinbianco & Dora Juhasz WEB SECTION EDITORS

Glistening with grease and crumbling egg particles, the lukewarm, infamous Waffle Taco looms on a tray filled with its new breakfast sidekicks.

Following the footsteps of popular fast food chains such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell has introduced a widely anticipated breakfast menu. The results?

Thirteen new cholesterol-packed, questionably produced food items, each with its own uniquely tasteless and disturbing qualities.

At first glance, the messy dishes could send a Taco Bell rookie running, but these unappetizing foods typically lead to a guilty pleasure combination of fattening and flavorful tastes. Not this time.

Taco Bell released its breakfast menu for public tasting on March 27.

The menu consists of the Waffle Taco, A.M. Crunchwrap, Cinnabon Delights, Flatbread Melt, Breakfast Burrito, A.M. Grilled Taco, Hash Brown, Premium Hot Coffee and Tropicana Orange Juice. The greasy plates each come with multiple choices of meat that includes bacon, sausage and steak, each worse than the next.

The Waffle Taco, which ironically is the breakfast menu’s signature dish, was the most gruesomely appearing item of them all. In the words of their advertisements, the Waffle Taco is a “warm waffle wrapped around a delicious sausage patty and fluffy scrambled eggs topped with cheese and served with a side of sweet syrup.” Don’t be fooled by this sugar-coated description. With a mushy, syrup-saturated waffle shell and a thin slab of chewy sausage, the meal was completed with tasteless, wet scrambled eggs. The clumpy

combination was drowned in too-salty cheese. Needless to say, the final product did not live up to Taco Bell’s appetizing advertisements.

Following this disappointment came the somewhat delightful A.M. Crunchwrap, a bundled package of eggs, bacon, cheese and a crunchy hash brown patty inside a grilled tortilla. Initially, the flavors pushed past the greasy aroma and gave way to a smoky and savory interior. The crispy crunch of the hashbrown worked well with the saltiness of the bacon and soft texture of the eggs. Sadly, the bliss of this treat didn’t last long, as the oily aftertaste of the tortilla soon kicked in.

The Breakfast Burrito, A.M. Grilled Taco and Flatbread Melt also didn’t live up to their descriptions. The dry, coarse

and oddly chewy tortilla-wrapped items are nearly unpalatable. However, the bland flavors were not as unbearable as the messy Waffle Taco, but the combination of meat, egg and cheese in nearly every item quickly became stale and predictable.

Finishing off the breakfast on a much needed high note, the Cinnabon Delights were a delicious dessert. The sugary balls of cinnamon and fried dough burst with sweet white frosting. Although it was a nice switch of flavors, it was hard to eat more than one or two bites of these sugar bombs due to the heavy grease and thick sugar coating. Despite this, they were a rich and tasty ending to the meal.

Washing down this glut of salt, grease and sugar was tough to do. The Premium Hot Coffee did not meet expectations. Inferior Hot Tap Water would suffice much more appropriately for this boiling, insipid liquid.

Taco Bell, having taken the cliché fast food jump into breakfast, has unfortutacobell.com nately proven itself unsuccessful. Please, Taco Bell lovers, avoid a stomachache and stick to the traditional Taco Bell favorites. Skipping the breakfast menu will make it much easier to “Live Más.”

Taco Bell Address: 20726 Harper Ave Harper Woods, MI 48225-1145 United States Phone number: +1 (313) 881-7790 Price point: $1-3

Grade C-

Tremors

Nina Nesbitt-EP

2048

Captain America: Winter SOLdier

a

B+

C

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Sohn’s debut album, Tremors, artfully brings soul music into a 21 century electric sound that matches today’s dominating techno scene.

The indie Itunes.APPLE.com genre is consistent in bringing fresh sounds to the music market, and for artists to be successful they must stay innovative and ahead of the game. Sohn has done just that.

Wildly popular in Europe, Sohn is a one-man show run by British singer, songwriter and producer Christopher Taylor. Following his extended play release in 2012 and three other singles in the year following, Sohn released Tremors as his first official album.

Released April 8, Tremors embodies many layered, high pitched voices that give you the chills throughout its 11 songs. The sound, best described overall as a combination of the bands The Weeknd and MGMT, has its own unique feel, but together each song contributes to one cohesive unit.

Ranging from dramatic to endearing, this album is a strong representation of what this up-and-coming artist is capable of. Songs on the album such as “Bloodf lows,” “Lessons” and “Artifice” have already been uploaded onto the artist’s SoundCloud and have gained huge popularity among his international fanbase.

Sohn began touring in Austria on April 4 and will be headed to the US in Early May. He will perform at The Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac, Michigan on May 15.

Sohn; Tremors; 2014; $9.99

By Kaley Makino

Gather a few upbeat tempos, add a touch of lively pop and drop in heaps of nostalgia-inducing lyrics, and Nina Nesbitt’s new self-titled EP, Nina Nesbitt, is Itunes.apple.com born.

The flowery six-song compilation, released April 1, captures the listener’s heart in a way that only this springy pop singer can. With her whimsical vibes and a unique, acoustic pop-hybrid style, she effortlessly uplifts the spirit and refreshes the soul.

The new rising star was first discovered by singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran. After opening for him on his European tour, she quickly danced her way to fame.

Nesbitt popped into the music industry with her folk-style single “Stay Out” and her dreamy ballad “Statues” rose to popularity soon after. The additional four songs that follow on the EP are quickly gaining deserved recognition as well.

The talented songstress enchants the lyrically-inclined music fanatic with her endearing sense of independence, creativity and empowerment. She embodies her strength in lyrics from “Statues,” such as, “You know I’ll fight for this, but you wouldn’t do the same” and her creative genius is captured in lyrics like “Cause you’re like the broken key, whilst I’m just a broken home.”

The infectious sounds she injects into her lyrics will pluck the listener from the dreary winter and gently guide them into the relaxed, easy flow of spring. This ever-so-timely album captures the essence of spring and draws out an angelic, breezy atmosphere.

Nina Nesbitt; Nina Nesbitt-EP; 2014; $5.99

By Emily Martinbianco

Move aside Flappy Bird, there’s a new app topping the charts.

2048 causes users to slide in fury. The game started out solely online, but was recently reappmania.com leased to the Apple Store and Google Play.

The creator, student web developer Gabriele Cirulli, went with a simple yet ingenious idea. And it paid off big time.

A beige-themed grid starts with twos and fours. Users add the numbered tiles together by swiping them together until reaching the 2048 tile. But it’s not that easy. With every swipe, a tile is added to the already-cramped four-by-four box.

Unless the numbers are equal, they do not add together. For example, two plus two is four, four plus four is eight and eight plus eight is sixteen. Eight cannot be added with two. Getting numbers into the right place can be tricky. When it works, a sense of accomplishment takes hold and the addiction begins.

It’s a game won by few. Frustration bubbles over and the app is angrily closed out. Because it’s so annoying, lengthy playing time is stressful and rare. Fortunately, a recent app update has soothed sore losers. The update gives smaller benchmarks to achieve instead of just the one goal of 2048.

As it is, 2048 becomes an obsessive habit. It is great for procrastination and killing time, but if the app wants continued success, an interactive element that allows users to compete with friends should be incorporated. Best scores and one-on-one races would add a whole other level of ugly competition (the key to a successful game app).

2048; March 2014; Apple, Android; free

By Sydney Thompson

After his history comes back to haunt him, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), better known as Captain America, has to accept his role of being a hero. He was wikipedia.org kept out of the spotlight for a few years, but he tries his best to reconnect himself with the world around him.

A new threat has appeared. It’s Captain America’s job to take out the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). Originally given the mission by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Captain America takes the risk to hide a secret file because he is afraid of trusting the wrong people.

Uncovering a large secret that could change the outcome of the battle, Rogers tries to put his past behind him. His being labeled as a traitor to his country shows there are forces within the company who are under the assailant’s control. With the help of Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and his new friend Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Captain America has a chance to take down this enemy.

From the first scene, emotional connections can be made with the characters. In Captain America: The First Avenger, the hero was known solely for his powerful fighting skills, but this sequel explores the emotions that prompt his heroics. Being an action-based movie, there are many things to keep an eye on at one time. The action creates a hectic and blurry view, but viewers are still able to see the softer, more emotional side of the hero. This superhero spectacle is brought to life through the revisitation of Captain America’s past and his new task of saving the world again.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier; 2014; Anthony & Joe Russol; PG-13

By Jenna Belote

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Sports

North Pointe – Thursday, April 17, 2014 – 7

More than just another fan

QUICK HITs

Students show their stripes while supporting their home-town Detroit Tigers baseball team

Senior Breaks Collarbone It was the first away game of the season for boys varsity lacrosse. Senior Rhys Williams stood protecting the net when the opposinig team directly hit his collar bone with a shot.

By Katelyn Carney & Caelin Micks Section Editor & staff reporter

“Right before halftime I took a shot. Our defense moves and basically goes on a one-on-one with me, and this guy just ripped a shot, and I originally didn’t know I hurt myself at all,” Williams said. “I didn’t realize until I ran out of the net and tried to make a pass and my whole shoulder just kind of popped ... it just felt out of place.”

Williams broke his collarbone.

Students Alex Popovic, Nate Campbell, Izzy Kirck and Liz Grumeretz hold up the name of their favorite Tiger.

Senior Alex Popovic Q: Would you call yourself a Tigers superfan?

A: Yes, I watch every single game, and I go to as many as possible, and I follow them as much as possible.

Q: What’s so special about the Tigers in your eyes?

A: Their starting pitching. It’s just tremendous.

Q: Who is your Tiger and why?

A: Don Kelly because he has been my Tiger since he has came to the Tigers, and he is awesome.

Q:What’s so special about Don Kelly to the Tigers?

A: In basketball there is always a sixth man. He is like the tenth man for the Tigers. He’s the hardest worker, scrappiest player. He can play everywhere.

Q: If you could define the Tigers in three words, what would it be?

A: Need for bullpen. They don’t have bullpen. They need one.

Q: What is the difference between Brad Ausmus compared to Jim Leyland?

A: He has a different approach. Leyland is old school.

He kind of just stuck with the same lineup. Brad Ausmus will switch it around, ‘cause Leyland, if someone wasn’t producing, Leyland would leave them in that role. Brad Ausmus, he has been switching up the lineup for the past seven games, and he will keep doing it, and if one player is not producing, he will switch them out of the lineup.

Senior Izzy Kirck Q: What do you enjoy about the Tigers so much?

A: It is that baseball is my favorite sport, and since they are our home team, I just really love to watch them, and I love all the players on the team.

Q: What, in your opinion, is so special about the Tigers?

A: A lot of the Tigers are really good people, not just on the field, but I feel like they do so much for Detroit and the community, and I don’t think a lot of the other teams have people like that.

Q: How did you get into watching the Tigers?

A: It’s kinda like my dad’s really into watching baseball – he got me into it – so I would just watch it when he watched it, and I just got really into it.

Q: What would be your reation if you met a Tiger player?

A: I don’t even know. I would be so excited, and I would get really nervous. I don’t even know. I would be like freaking out.

Q: Do you have a lot of background in baseball?

A: Yeah, I play softball right now, and I am going to Kalamazoo College to play softball.

Brigitte Smith

Freshman Nate Campbell Q: Have you met any Tigers players?

A: Don Kelly. I met him the other day before a game. I was just at the game, and I was wearing a tshirt with his name on it, so he came over and just said, “Hi,” and took a picture with him and stuff.

Q: Why is Don Kelly your favorite player?

A: I just kind of like him a lot ‘cause I like his style of baseball, and he is a pretty cool guy too, and he plays outfield, and I do, too.

Q: What’s better about baseball than other sports?

A: It’s ... a really smart game, and you have to know everything. It’s like a smart person sport, kind of.

Q: What’s the difference between you and a normal Tigers fan?

A: Something different about me than any other Tiger fan is my obsession with Kelly. Most Tiger fans don’t like him very much, but I’m absolutely obsessed and in love with him.

Q: If you could have any job with the Tigers or even be a player what would it be?

A: Either being a general manager or manager for the team. Being able to control and make a decision for my favorite team would be a dream come true.

Q: Describe the Tigers in three words?

A: Amazing, lovable and roar-ific.

Sophomore Liz Grumeretz Q: What about the Tigers gets you so into them?

A: Well, I play softball, so it is really relatable, so I know what is happening. And since they are a good team, it’s fun to watch with the excitement with the playoff race, so it’s always fun.

Q: What’s different about the Tigers compared to another MLB team?

A: They are actually good. They actually have a chance to win it all, and they have really good players on it, too.

Q: Would you call yourself a superfan of the Tigers?

A: Yes, because I am not like, “Oh yay, the Tigers won.”

I actually know who the players are and who is good and who is not and how they are doing. I actually care.

Q: Why is Max Scherzer your Tiger?

A: Well, at first I noticed him because he has two different colored eyes, so I thought that was really cool. And it just so happened to be that he is really good too, so then he turned into being my favorite player.

Q: Would you rather be able to go on one date with Max Scherzer or have season tickets to the Tigers for the rest of your life and you could pick the spot of the tickets?

A: I would do the tickets. I love going to the baseball games and being downtown is a fun experience, and even with the tickets, I would have a chance to meet them all.

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“I’ve been playing lacrosse my entire life and my first thought was, ‘Okay, I’m not going to be able to play the South game my senior year.’ So I was pretty devastated, because I had been thinking about this season since I picked up a stick when I was like six.”

After consulting his doctor, they presented him two options: immobilize his collarbone or have surgery. If he chose to wear a sling, there would be more issues in the future.

“So it’s either surgery now or surgery when you’re 60, 70 years old, and you aren’t an 18-year-old boy who can just bounce back from it. (The doctor) said professional athletes who have had physical therapy and personal trainers can get back on the field in two weeks, which is what I’m aiming for. It could be any longer than that depending on how your body reacts.”

Boys varsity Golf

Boys varsity golf has had a slow start this season due to the weather conditions, but the players are ready for matches under the guidance of new coach Pete Kingsley.

“Greens on courses are all messed up so we’re not going to be able to get on our home course, which is usually Lochmoor, for a long time, if at all,” senior captain Tom Vismara said.

The team is currently practicing at the St. Clair Shores Golf Club to prepare for their upcoming tournaments and matches that will start next week, after many were rescheduled.

“With the spring being so poor with the weather, where everybody’s excited to get out there and play and in the matches, we have a pretty good chance to be a really good team,” Kingsley said. “That takes a lot of practice and a lot of focus.”

Kingsley sees talent in the boys and hopes to get his 15 players a lot of practice on the course. Only 12 boys can participate in each match so there will be an “open competition” each week to compete for the spots.

“It’s good to build for the future since we have four seniors this year, and we’re going to try to get some of the younger players a little bit more experienced through some JV tournaments and let them compete with the varsity players so, you know, build for the future,” Kingsley said.

Junior Jack Muschong is excited to get out on the course and appreciates Kingsley’s assistance.

“Pete is a really cool guy,” Muschong said. “He plays golf professionally in Florida and senior tournaments in Michigan so he is a great reference if you’re ever having trouble with your swing.”

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North Pointe – Thursday, April 17, 2014 – 8

sports

Forty-nine years of rivalry Almost half a century of competition, North and South High School continued the battle for the best in spring sports this past week

By Haley Reid, Melina Glusac & Lauren Semack managing editor & senior assistant editors

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ABOVE: “I thought it was a great game,” senior defenseman Patrick Turnbull said.

“We played hard until the end, but they just pulled away in the fourth quarter. I play defense, and the hardest part is when the attacks are constantly dodging.” The boys varisty lacrosse lost 11-8 against South on Fri., April 11.

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ABOVE: Freshman attack Marko Tomovski and freshman midfielder Brad Despelder run the ball down the field. The boys JV lacrosse lost to South 11-4 on Fri., April 11. Midfielder Brain Moody said the game went well but that they still need improvement all around.

Jeffrey Valentic

Emily huguenin

Emily huguenin

ABOVE: Senior Andrew Lock winds up to pitch. “We won both games. It went well because we won. (We need to) stay consistent. We are pretty solid 75% of the time,” Lock said. The team played twice on Sat., April 12.

UPPER: The girls varsity soccer team played South, 5-0. “It was actually our first league game of the season, so there was still a lot of room for improvement. It was also raining the whole time, which made it even more of a challenge for both teams. Still, we managed to get our act together, and our intesity level as a team was great in the second half,” senior Chrisoula Pitses said.

LOWER: Pitcher and left fielder senior Jacob Zacharias runs to third base. The boys varsity baseball team won both games against South, 6-1 and 5-4.

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