The
Oracle H o l i d a y
North High School
501 Holcomb Ave
E d i t i o n
Des Moines, IA 50313
Ta b l e
o f
A public forum for student expression Follow us on Twitter: @northhighoracle or visit our website: www.northhsoracle.com We are the voice of the North High School community
December 14, 2012
C o n t e n t s
Page 2.............................................................News Page 6...................................Arts & Entertainment Page 3........................................................ Opinions Page 7............................................................Features Pages 4-5................................................Gift Ideas Page 8...............................................................Sports
Gift Ideas From Polar
Bears pgs. 4-5
news
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Pearl Harbor Remembrance An infamous day in history: Dec. 7, 1941
By: Brennan Whisler Oracle reporter 71 years ago, the Empire of Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Many people don’t know where this is exactly. Pearl Harbor is located on the SW coast of Oahu and is close to Honolulu, Hawaii. Pearl Harbor is the 9/11 of the 20th century. It was sudden, unexpected, and came from above. Thousands died in both attacks; both attacks launched US into a war. Many of the similarities are shocking, however there are key differences; one was a military base and the other was a place of work. About a quarter till eight in the morning, Japanese planes started attacking the fleet of American ships stationed at Pearl. They were hoping to destroy the American aircraft carriers stationed there; however, they were on patrol at the time. They did manage to severely damage all eight of the battleships that were docked. Only two were rendered completely useless: the USS Arizona and the Oklahoma. On the Arizona over 1,000 men died, most under 25 years of age.
The building above is the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Hawaii. It was completed in 1962. Graphic created by Jerson Valenzuela. The attack was the largest loss of life on a single ship in U.S. Navy history. The attack ended shortly before 10:00 AM. When the smoke cleared over 3,000 American sailors and civilians were dead or wounded while the Japanese had lost less
WHAT’S UP WITH OUR LUNCH?
By: Javier Solis Oracle reporter
It seems like school lunches are becoming less and less food as the years go by. Many kids are complaining that they don’t receive enough food during lunch. Due to the little food they receive during lunch it causes them to be hungry during class and some say they even get headaches. The reason students across the nation don’t receive as much food is because of Michelle Obama. She made a mean plan so that students in schools eat healthier. To make sure that students eat healthier, Obama made a limit to the amount of calories a student
receives in their lunch. The calories are based on the grade level of the students. Kindergarten to 5th grade receive 650 calories. 6th to 8th grade receive 700 calories and 9th to 12th grade receive 850 calories per lunch. The other parts of this plan are; lowering the amount of sodium, trans fat, and saturated fat. And only serving fat free and low fat milk, and making certain that kids are offered vegetables and fruit every day of the week. The whole point of this plan is to have healthy students and less obese kids. Teachers and parents say that the amount of calories the students receive are not enough. People say calories are a impor-
than 100 men, it was the single worst day in U.S. Navel history. On December 8, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered a speech before Congress asking for American entrance into WWII. On that same date it was decided
tant part for a kids growth. Many people have complained that athletes are not receiving enough food. Some students have complained saying that not all students are the same size and that bigger students need more food since they are bigger. Everyone has their own opinion but the main idea of this plan is to make students healthier, but to many the only thing this plan is doing is making students hungrier.
almost unanimously that America was now in the war. After hearing about the failure of not destroying the aircraft carriers the Japanese Admiral Yamamoto said “We have awakened a sleeping giant,” he was right. After a year of easy wins the Japanese were soon stifled in the Pacific. On September 2nd , 1945 the Japanese surrendered on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Now we come to the question, “Why do we commemorate this day for a day of remembrance?” This singular event catapulted the U.S. into the largest war ever. The attack polarized us as a country and caused enormous outrage by the average American, because to the average American it was an unprovoked attack. At a closer to home level 5,633 Iowans died in WWII. Those men could still be alive if not for this war, they could’ve been your uncle, cousin, or grandfather but they are dead because they chose to fight for us after we had been wronged. So this day you now know what happened to cause this famous date, but more importantly you know why we honor it.
Freshman Fernando Cruz gets his lunch on Dec. 11. Photo taken by Iliana Castillo
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Opinions
Should We Legalize?
Should Iowa Legalize Marijuana for Medicinal and Recreational use? prescribed medical cannabis they would feel hungry and be able to eat. There are people that have pain that doesn’t go away and who would be prescribed pills, that could cause life long issues and put them On November 6, 2012 Colorado legalized cannabis (marijuana). Colorado in worse shape than they already are. Cannabis has no life threatening side was not alone. Washington legalized effects that most pills do. It could also cannabis as well. These two states did not treat the pain that people constantly get, legalize it for medicinal use only, but for including migraines and rheumatoid recreational use too. arthritis. People have tried to tell me that There is one more example that I want cannabis is a harmful drug that if used enough, it can kill you. I say “No, it can’t.” to bring up, it’s about a kid that has epilepsy. The doctor had him on pills and In fact, it has the potential to help you regular medication and when you none of that worked, are in the boy’s father asked need. the doctor about There medical cannabis so are the doctor prescribed proven it and the boy stopped facts that having frequent it can help seizures. I heard about you when this kid on a television you are show about a medical in pain, - Researchers Robert Ramer and Burwhen you khard Hinz of the University of Rostock cannabis dispensary in California. are feeling in Germany There are two sad, or different chemicals when you in cannabis. There just never feel hungry any more. is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC There are multiple cases of someone is the psycho – active ingredient, it is that doesn’t eat because they don’t feel the THC in cannabis that gets the user hungry anymore. If people like that got
By Dakota Lupkes Oracle reporter
“It is proven that it can slow cancer cells.”
IOWA’S MARIJUANA PROBLEM By Derek Young Oracle reporter For thousands of years people had smoked marijuana legally, only in the past 100 years people have grown to think of it as an evil drug. Now a good amount of citizens in Iowa want it completely legalized for anyone and everyone. The law in Iowa now states that if you have a medicinal marijuana card then you can smoke marijuana. Here’s where we run into a problem, the dispensaries and hospitals in Iowa that would supply it can’t supply it. Scott Fletcher, a daily marijuana smoker and cancer patient who can receive marijuana medically, agreed when asked if Iowa citizens should be able to receive medical marijuana if they have a card that permits it. “It makes no sense if we can have the medical card in Iowa and not get it. It’s just silly.” With no dispensaries available it seems these two laws really contradict each other. A North High sophomore who chose to stay anonymous also has his views on the
subject. “I do believe you should be able to get it if you are qualified for a medical card.” He continued, “I honestly don’t see anything bad about it. It is a great way to relax.” In the state of Iowa being caught with even the smallest amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Now that doesn’t mean this is going to happen the first time you’re caught. When asked what the average charge was, even if you had a small amount of marijuana. Officer Bruce the SRO (school resource officer) at North responded by telling me that “It just depends on the person being charged and if they’d had prior charges for drugs. After that its up to the judge as too what their sentence will end up being.” Even though most of this article is based on the idea of legalizing the distribution of marijuana in Iowa, there are still some people out there that believe it’s a horrible drug. * Finish this story online at: northhsoracle.com
“high”. Then there is Cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is a non psycho – active ingredient in marijuana and is very important in helping relieve pain and things of that nature. CBD is an excellent anti – inflammatory and antioxidant. CBD is what does most of the work in the medical aspect of cannabis. I do think that we could legalize cannabis, not only as a medication, but also just for recreational use. It has zero harmful side effects. People ask; how would we enforce it? I say that we can treat it like alcohol, only have an age limit of 18 to purchase. People ask; how can you regulate driving while under the influence? I ask them how they regulate drinking and driving. There is a difference between alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis. First, 75,000 people die each year from alcohol related causes. Second, 400,000 people die each year from cigarette related issues. But there are no reported deaths of people dying because of cannabis. If you are telling me that you would legalize alcohol or cigarettes before cannabis then there is something wrong because the facts show that the things that are legal kill us way more often than cannabis ever would. The facts above, don’t even mention the 300,000 people or more that die because of the food that we eat, yes, I mean three hundred thousand people die every year from obesity here in America. Just because I have written this people probably still won’t care; the obesity number will still rise, we still won’t have legalized a harmless drug and people will still be dying from the legal ones because no one would have listened. People will read this and maybe think
for the day “holy crap, we really don’t take care of ourselves” yet they still won’t follow through and do anything about it. If you take nothing else from this article, please remember this; cannabis can help a lot of issues that cigarettes may cause. It is proven that it can slow cancer cells. It will help with people with bad asthma by opening the airways for that person. People with arthritis get constant pains, and cannabis can clear that right up with no problem. Cannabis is the most versatile medicine that a doctor could prescribe. Medicine is only one aspect that people can think of for cannabis. There are way more opportunities for hemp, leaves of the cannabis, than just medication. You can use the cannabis leaves for products like paper and clothing. It would be more ecological to use hemp for products like that because each plant takes a few months to grow to full size where as a tree takes a hundred years to grow back after we plant a new one. You can also use the plants oils for lotions or different types of hair products and body products. You can use hemp for cloth and clothing. It is a bit more ecologically friendly to use hemp instead of manufactured products like polyester or nylon. Incase you don’t know polyester and nylon are made up if different types of polymers, plastics and products similar to plastic. If you can use one product, like cannabis, for all of this, then why would you even think about using any other product when hemp can produce either the same amount or more product than any synthetic material. It can also be renewed faster than any tree we use to manufacture paper.
Graphic by Jearson Valenzuela
Helpful Uses and Facts
- Pain Reliever - Sleep Deprivation (makes you want to sleep) - Clears out the airway (makes it easier to breath) - It helps depressed people, it makes them feel better and less depressed - It’s prescribed to some people with PTSD
o o H ! Ho! H !
D O’S
Every girl loves her diamonds.
Quotes by: Laura Abuhl, Cameron Fisher, Chanbopha Sam.
Give an iPhone, recieve an iLoveyou.
Hot wheels, beat that!
p s s r en t e h i T N E E DS t o g o !
Article by: Tyler Lowe As the holiday season draws closer couples start to question what they should get their significant other. Some guys just stick with the classic box of chocolates or a teddy bear, and normally guys receive sports gear or some fancy cologne they never use. Sometimes they get something they don’t even want because their boyfriend or girlfriend didn’t ask what they wanted, or they never responded to the many times they were asked. In the end all their trying to do is relay the same message and they want the right item to give that says it; but sometimes couples just don’t have a clue about what their significant other wants; so here’s a few items on what you may want to get them and what you shouldn’t get them during this holiday season.
Don’t know what to get your significan t other for Xmas? Buy him games, and YOU wont get played.
Don’t make it rain, make it snow... Happy Holidays.
The quickest way to her heart.
D O N T’S
Give knocked off candy, get knocked off.
Uglysweater. Nuff said..
Give her a salad tosser, get tossed to the curb.
No comment..
Just face it.. SOCKS SUCK.
What girl would want to wear this?
C H R I S T M A S G I F T S AT NORTH HIGH SCHOOL! BAD R ECIE V INGS!
Asacia Edwards (Sophomore) “I got a pair of socks.”
By: Kenya Williams & Antonio Tello
Marisol Hernandez (Senior) “I got a pair of slippers that were two sizes bigger.” Ariana Mena (Junior) “I got a bag full of candy. Isn’t that a great Xmas gift?”
G R E AT R ECIE V INGS!
Have no fear! LOOK HERE !
What to get for her:
1 Flowers 2. Clothes 3. A Teddybear/box of chocolates 4. Jewelry 5. Anything that’s thoughtful
What to get for him:
1 Video Games 2. Pictures of you and him together 3 Computer 4. Concert Tickets 5.Music
What NOT to get for her: 1 Underwear 2. Video Games 3. Anything Diet Related 4. Salad Tosser 5. Alarm Clock
Mrs. Rodriguez (Teacher) “I got my favorite perfume.”
G R E AT G I V INGS
What NOT to get for him: 1 Socks 2. Backpacks 3 Music They Hate 4. School Supplies 5. Clothes
Michael Pham (Junior) “I gave a water-resistant watch to my Father for Christmas.”
Daniel Alonzo (Senior) “My Little Pony (Friendship is Magic) Season 3!”
Kassie Sopher (Senior) “I got grounded for a week and all my presents taken away because I snuck downstairs and opened some early.”
Thomas Avant (Freshman) “The best gift I’ve recieved for Christmas was a PlayStation 3.”
Davonne Bonner (Freshman) “The best gift I ever gave to anyone for Christmas is when I gave my sister $100.”
Daniel Kanyavimonh (Junior) “I got a snuggie.”
Tajohnie Milton “A necklace.”
BAD G I V INGS Sara Cathi (Junior) “I got my dad socks. Turns out he didn’t really need them. My mom said ‘Sara, you should’ve got him underwear.’”
Jesse Primrose “Nothing.”
ARTs & entertainment
tattoos
Cameron F i s h e r
north’s ink masters Visit www.northhsoracle.com to see more tattoos from Polar Bear Country.
A look at body art around North High Art comes in many forms. Visual arts, theatrical arts, graphic arts, and a countless number of other mediums. Possibly the most prominent form in North High School, is body art. Staff and students alike, carry an incredible amount of artwork everyday in their skin. Tattoos, once taboo in public, are quickly becoming more acceptable everyday. Erika Ramirez, the At-Risk Coordinator at North, talks about what she feels people here at North need to consider before committing to the needle. “I think people forget that tattoos are permanent, and that they are forever,” she said. “I think you just need to consider, ‘Do you really want your, whatever, tattooed on you forever?’, and really, (tattoos are) a permanent thing. Not something you can just, get removed anytime if you get tired of it, or start to regret (your choice).” Ramirez has a little more than a handful of tat-
hair
G a y l a T a y l o r
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toos herself. In fact she has lost count of the total to date. However, she is a prime example of a professional who uses her head before desire, when choosing a tattoo, and particularly, its placement. “I think it’s really important on placement, particularly when you are younger,” she said. “Until you have your career picked out, and even then, I believe you need to use your head.” No matter what, walking around the hallways of North High School, one thing is clear. Tattoos are growing in poularity. Staff member’s all the way down to freshman can be seen sporting ink. All the way from the neck down to feet. Some of the tattoos are a symbol of time or condition of the wearer’s life that will forever be with them. Other’s simply like the idea of displaying who they are for the world to see. No matter what there is a common love of the form. “Where there is love, there is life.” -Mahatma Gandhi
A look at the ink of hair around North High
Erika Ramirez, At-Risk Coordinator, shows off her Japanese-style sleeve. Photo by Cameron Fisher.
Sophomore Devon Mahnke, has been dying his hair since 5th grade. “In 5th grade I got highlights, and though it might look cool, but it looked better when I added blue”. Devon dye’s his hair because he get’s bored with his hair and need’s something new. He has dyed his hair about 78 times. The only real damaging effect he’s had happen to his hair was hair falling out, and really bad split ends. Devon uses John Frieda, L’Oreal, Blue Flash, Quick Blue, Revlon, Manic Panic, Splat, Special Effects, Color Easy, and Sharpie. “I feel like a new me” I get to see how it looks with different shades, on the inside I feel happy to get so many compliments it feels awesome!”. When Devon first started bleaching his hair, he ended up with a not-so-savy hair color, it ended up a roasted marsh mellow although it sounds delicious, he didn’t care for the shade. When asked his favorite hair color he said “ Oooohhhhh purple, because it was vibrant and pretty.” Sophomore Devon Mahnke has dyed his hair about 80 times.
Erin Overton, a junior, has been dying her hair since she was in 8th grade. Over the past three years Erin has dyed her hair over 50 times. Over the past three months she has dyed her hair six times. The first time she dyed her hair was in 5th grade. The only real bad effect she’s had was when she was bleaching her hair and she didn’t use enough developer, her hair became “straw-like”. She uses brands such as Ion, Garnie, and Splat. “I’m addicted to dying my hair and I don’t like having brown hair I love experimenting with new colors.”. The most interesting reaction some one had to her hair, “Oh I see you have your Easter hair”. Her favorite hair color was her peacock inspired hair because, “It was like six shades of green and four shades of blue”.
Junior Erin Overton has dyed her hair over 50 times.
Junior Tristan Kidd has been dying his hair since 9th grade. When he was a freshman everyone was dying their hair natural colors and he said “I don’t like natural colors”. Over the past three years he has dyed his hair six times. But due to his work position he is no longer able to dye his hair un natural color’s. Tristan dyes his hair because “its not quite an individual thing but I dye it funny colors because I love to be separate from the crowd”. The only real damaged effect tristan has had on his hair was it became “coarse”. The only dye brand he has used was Splat. When asked about how he felt dying his hair he exclaimed, “Oh god the feel(ing)s”. Only on one instance did his hair not turn out how he hoped it to, “It was supposed to be a greenish blue, teal, but it turned out a gross-ish green.” His favorite hair color was his purple hair. Junior Tristan Kidd has dyed his hair six times in the past three years. Photos by Gayla Taylor.
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Features NHS students take a “spin”
The next possible group to appear on ABDC (America’s Best Dance Crew) by Marina Song Oracle reporter You’re staring down, not quite believing what you’re seeing. An athletic young man known as a b-boy spinning on his head like a child’s toy, a whirling top with arms, legs and torso. A group of his friends are gathered in a loose circle around him, urging him on to ever greater, more elaborate, gyrations; While Bass-heavy music thumps out of a boom-box. Did you know that we have breakdancers that go here? Well, we do. During lunch some of them stay during lunch and breakdance in the student center. They always hangout up in the student center every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. Sometimes it depends on there mood. If they wanna breakdance or just chill with each other. Make sure to check them out if you ever get a chance to meet them. Some of them are apart in DMI Breakers. The DMI Breakers are still growing. Now, there are 21 people in the group and nine of them go to North. Ages ranging from 12 to 30 years old. It’s not all boys, there’s also some female breakdancers in the group.It all
started out when they all meet each other and they shared a passion for dance. They have been together for a couple of years now, have been working hard. They practice every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. On Mondays and Saturdays they practice at the The Pioneer Community Center from 5:30pm - 9 pm. On Thursdays, and Fridays they practice at The Dance
Place from 5:30pm - 9 pm. They perform and compete at many events. Last month they competed with St. Louis, Missouri breakdancers in the first state v.s state High School Breaking League battle hosted by Jack
Freshman Danny Velez proves he has the moves!
“Frost” Cohen. There are many other events that they participated in. They’ll keep sharing and spreading the positive message of hip hop. Youtube Channels: DMI Hip Hop DMIbreaking515 Upcoming event: This is the first Christmas Battle Friday. We are having it on December 14 because it’s the Friday before things really get wild! If you dance, Sign up! If you don’t dance, show up! Let’s turn this Battle Friday into a mini jam! Get there at 8p.m. and you’ll have a little bit of time to practice your moves before we start the thing off at 8:30p.m. and we will Battle! The Dance Place 2812 29th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50317
Who are you?! Who are they?!
Look what some of our teachers did during their high school days
Iliana Castillo Oracle Reporter You’re at the store getting groceries and all of a sudden you see your ninth grade math teacher reaching for a bag of peas. You didn’t even know that these people existed outside of school. You think back and realize that you spent a whole year with this person and you don’t even know their first name. So let’s get to know these people now, Who are they? What is their first name? What do they do after school? What did they listen to as a teen? You’d be surprised to find out that they might have been just like you once upon a time.
Name: Praveen Bannikatti Age: 33 Graduated High School: 1997 School: Hoover Class of ‘97 Who you hung out with: “I never really had a group, I hung out with everybody. I had great friends who also knew how to hang loose.” Hobbies in High School: Sports and music Story of first Crush: “She was more interested in me than I was in her...and I still went out with her. “ Time you got in trouble: “I told a teacher to relax and he got mad and threw an eraser at me.” Favorite bands: The Velvet Underground and The Pixies.
Name: David Jordal Age: 35 Graduated High School: 1995 School: Roosevelt Who you hung out with: “I hung out with people who did well in school but know Class of ’95 how to have fun.” Hobbies in High School: Sports and music. “In the summertime, my hobby was hanging out at my friend’s pool.” Story of first Crush: “I think I liked her more than she liked me.” Craziest Thing Ever Done In High School: “Well, me and some friends of mine stayed out late on a school night and bleached a big “R” in the middle of the football field over at Williams Stadium (East High’s field).” Time you got in trouble: “I forged a pass once.” Favorite bands: Widespread Panic, U2, The Dave Mathew’s Band, and The Samples Name: Joseph William Van Haecke Age: 44 Graduated High School: 1986 School: Lincoln Class of ‘86 Who You Hung Out With: “Mostly band geeks and math nerds. Had some friends that I guess would be called ‘gamers’ now. We didn’t use that term as much then; we just liked going to video arcades to play classic video games, such as Defender, Tempest, or Pac-Man. I was never very good, but we had a lot of fun.”
Hobbies in High School: “I read a lot, mostly sciencefiction or fantasy and a lot of Stephen King books. I listened to a lot of different music and played some home video games, such as the Atari 2600!” Story of first Crush: “Hmmm, I guess it would have to be this girl I met at Brody when my family first moved to Des Moines. She was in a few of my classes, including Journalism and Yearbook. She had over-the-shoulder length brown hair, light red freckles, and was always smiling and tolerating my attempts at jokes. We had a number of classes together throughout high school, but she was always dating some jock, so I never really had a chance. Somehow, we crossed paths again 20 years after school, but not at a reunion. We got to talking and I told her about the big crush I had on her. She laughed and said “I know!”” Craziest Thing Ever Done In High School: “One summer night, a friend and I were just cruising around in his car and talking Big Life issues. We ended up over by the Lincoln football stadium. We snuck into the stadium, climbed one of the light poles and stole a giant light bulb! There might have been other things, but nothing else is jumping to mind at the moment.” Time you got in trouble: “We used to have Tuesday evening marching band practice. One night, a few other guys brought some fireworks and smoke bombs. They were being lit off all during the practice. As practice was finishing, a buddy gave me a firecracker that I lit and threw over a nearby fence. Of course, I was the one that got caught. I was suspended from band practice for three days until my parents and I came in to talk with the band director about the incident. I was let back into band, but on a short leash for a while!” Favorite bands: “My favorite band in high school, and to this day, is Rush. I really connected with the lyrics.”
Polar Bear Basketball North High VS. Fort Dodge
Off to another hot start
Junior SamWilliams dunks in the North vs. Fort Dodge game on Nov. 27; North won 58 - 42. On Dec. 4, North beat D.M. East 72-40. Photos by Kenya Williams. Article By: Sekou Mtayari Chad Ryan wasn’t his usual self in the Polar Bears boys’ basketball locker room. He refused to lose another close game to the Fort Dodge Dodgers, and shared few personal thoughts about the matchup tonight. “Last year we had the game in our hands, and lost in overtime. We can’t afford let another close game go,” Ryan said. Maybe that was the spark to North’s 58-42 victory. Terrance Bush scored 19 points with three 3-pointers, Samuel Williams added 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks. The Polar Bears made their decisive 10-2 run after Williams boomed
one home in the fourth quarter, with Bush and Teyontae Jenkins hitting 3-pointers along the way. “As a whole, our effort was there,” Darius Myles said. “We have to start the game with energy and play the whole game the same way come Friday. We did that tonight, and we capitalized on it and we got a win.” Update: The boys defeated Lincoln 70-60 on Dec. 11 behind 20 points from Bush and 20 from Jenkins as well. North plays Roosevelt tonight at home to determine who will take the lead in the Metro Conference. Read more on www.northhsoracle.com Follow us on Twitter for updates during the games: @NorthHighOracle
Pre-Game Rituals
Sekou Mtayari (Junior)
“Don’t pick out hair for the 1st half of the day, then pick it out for the 2nd half of the day, then I do the same handshake with KJ.”
Swimming
Darius Myles
“Eat Skittles, meditate for 10 minutes, and do some basic stretches”
(Junior)
Katharine Ross to Missouri
Samuel Williams
“No lotion, listen to Ne-Yo, and take a nap after school.”
(Junior)
Article By: Tyler Lowe Sports Editor “Never limit yourself.” These words of advice were given by senior Katharine Ross just moments before she signed her Letter of Intent to swim at The University of Missouri. Ross broke the state record in the 100 yard breast stroke winning first place at the state swim meet; she set a new state record in the high school division. According to both of Ross’s coaches, Amy Roland and Scot Weinheimer, Ross is a “very coachable and very hardworking individual.” Coach Weinheimer says “She will go further than just a state championship” and that she was “most impressive at state.”
Teyontae Jenkins
By: Laura Abuhl “Pray, kiss the Bible and have a teammate X my back to get rid of bad luck.”
(Junior)
Katharine’s favorite swimmer is Brandon Hanson, a six time Olympic medalist (three gold, one silver, two bronze) who specializes in the breast stroke as well. When talking to Ross’s mother, Michelle Ross, she said that she and her husband Dave Ross went to all of Katharine’s events. She was extremely happy when Katharine broke the state record. When asked how she felt about Katharine going to a college in Missouri she said, “Four hours is a lot closer than some of the other schools” and that it would be a “big adjustment for them all.” Katharine & Moriah Ross both competed in two individual events at State and were joined by Jessica Jensen and Rachael Nash on the 200 Medley Relay. They placed 11th with a time of 1:51.77, a new school record.