September 2014 by Play newsmagazine

Play

Overcoming cancer â&#x20AC;&#x153;The health of our bodies is something we cannot take for grantedâ&#x20AC;? Page 12

Maize High School. 11600 W. 45. St. N, Maize, KS. 67101

September 2014

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Visit Play for the latest updates on sports, news and other activities going on around Maize

Table of contents read.watch.play. Volume 8, Issue 1 | September 2014

Play newsmagazine editor Hannah Henricks Maizenews.com editor Cheyenne Esser Visuals editor Brooke Johanson News editor Nick Mathias Features & lifestyles editor Katie McLachlan Sports editor Justin Noble Advertisements manager Maite Menendez Engagement/assistant news editor Kendra Cunningham Assistant sports editor Delanie Pierce Assistant visuals editor Becca Zinabu Assistant advertisement manager Mikaela Stevenson Reporters & photographers Emily Brecht Shelby Carpenter Jess Ellis Savie Hughes Katie Inman Science teacher Jessica Shurts shows her Chemistry honors class a bright reaction involving magnesium. Photo by Becca Zinabu. COVER: Ryan Kuhl Photo illustration by Brooke Johanson. Tori Lemon Si Luc News Opinion New cheer coach begins Students should feel protected Antonio Melchor first season at Maize; Google by law enforcement rather than Lauren Paul Bethany Rich Chromebooks are introduced to paranoid. history classrooms. Adviser Dan Loving

Starting out with a bang

Now Playing

Maize student and staff member continue to fight cancer through daily struggles.

14 18

Lifestyle

Junior Scott Hershberger scores a perfect ACT score and manages to make time for his music.

Sports

Senior athletes return for their final year after getting injured in their junior season, while another spends his senior year on the sideline.

Column

Play reporter Katie Inman gives reason for her colorful hair; Shelby Carpenter shares her experience at Girls Nation.

16 22

Sports

Three seniors verbally commit to Divison I colleges for athletics; former tennis player Kate Utech transfers to cross country.

Entertainment

#WhiteGirlProblems. “Typical” white girls share their common fads.

Play is the official newsmagazine for and by Maize High School students. Play is published six times throughout the year. Play is a student publication and a forum for public opinion. Letters to the editor should be signed and around 300 words. The editorials and columns are the sole opinion of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USD 266 Board of Education, the administration, the faculty or the adviser.

Raise your voice Submit a letter to the editor for the October issue to room D18 or mhsnewsmag@gmail.com Printed by City Print.

maizenews.com | SeptemberPlay

4 News

New coach takes over cheerleading program By Savie Hughes

elissa Means took over the cheer squad this year after previous coach, DeeDee Vermillion, resigned. Means has eight years of coaching experience, from staffing at camps to coaching at the Independent School, a private school in Wichita. Her cheer career began at the age of four and continued throughout middle school and high school. She staffed for the National Cheer Association and she cheered in college for Wichita State. In college she was also part of an All Star gym in Oklahoma. “I did anything with cheerleading,” Means said. Means is a legal assistant, they do a variety of tasks to help the lawyer; such as maintaining and organizing files,

conduct legal research, and drafting documents. She does not work within the district. This adds some difficulty coaching the squad. “The hardest part being a new coach in this district would have to be dealing with all the first-year hiccups,” Means said. Not only is being new to the district hard for Means, but switching from private school to public is a challenge as well. “I wanted to get away from the private school setting and more into public school setting,” she said. “Mostly because I didn’t like the private school environment.” Means has made many new adjustments to practices and even helps

choreograph the routines. “Last year the seniors made the routines,” junior Bella Terrill said. “But this year she has helped make them.” Means also has the cheer squad play games such as cheer survivor, where they split into teams and do obstacle courses. By the end of the year, whichever team has the most points will win. Some of the practices are even themed. “We’ve had super hero day and Disney day,” senior Micala Milliner said. When an event is coming up, the cheer squad has to go through the full routine at 6 a.m. before school. “I feel like practices are really productive,” Terrill said. “We threw full out and normally we don’t throw full out in the morning. We just get a lot done.”n

New technology is introduced to classrooms

tudents may have noticed new Chromebooks in some of their classes at the beginning of the year. The Chromebooks started out in the social studies department and eventually will expand to the math department later this year. The district purchased 1,000 Chromebooks, spending about $250,000 overall on new computers. “I really like them, to be honest with you, I do,” history teacher Ben Harlow said. “The batteries are so much better than the old ones. It’s a great idea. It’s web-based instead of district-based and much easier to manage. I have kids ask all the time if they can e-mail or share their assignments. I can look at it, grade it and boom.” Not only are Chromebooks cheaper than regular laptops, they also are easier to maintain. Turning in assignments online saves SeptemberPlay | maizenews.com

By Bethany Rich paper and, more importantly, saves the school money in the long run. New math workbooks also have been introduced in the 2014-15 school year. According to math teacher Jenny Meirowsky, Algebra 1 students and teachers were overdue for some new material. The old textbooks were issued in 2000, making them almost 15 years old. Students can take notes and have their assignments all in one book and are able keep the workbooks for future reference. The new workbooks are aligned with the common core state standards. Transferring from different curriculum presents the problem of a gap between things taught previously, meaning that things taught in Algebra I now need to be taught in Pre-Algebra. After a short adjustment period, administration expects the Chromebooks and new curriculum to be popular with students.n

Photos by Bethany Rich

The size comparison between an old laptop and a Chromebook.

David Watson works on a history assignment on a new Chromebook.

News 5

Board plans for future

improvements By Ryan Kuhl and Mikaela Stevenson

he Board of Education continued its discussion about 900. The estimated price for the school with capacity of 600 facilities and future student placement at the monthly is $29 million. meeting Sept. 8. If the board decided to upgrade the capacity to 900, the Kenton Cox of Schaefer Johnson Cox Frey Architecture projected price is $34 million. spoke to the board about possible future construction plans The final major proposal made to the board was of the and renovations in the district. Some apply to Maize High possible construction of a natatorium. while others deal with the entire district. The pool would have nine lanes and would be 50 meters The plan, which would have to be approved by voters, long, equipped with several diving boards/wells. would include Federal Emergency Management Agency apThe pool would accommodate swim teams from both proved shelter areas for Maize High. schools as well as the addition of diving teams. The building The potential plan could add a career and technical would hold a lobby, locker rooms, concessions and seating education area connected to the current math for 750 people. The projected cost for the natatorium is hallways and harden the center walls and ceilnearly $12 million. ing for a shelter. Another shelter would Although the board has yet to approve any be built at the north end of the buildchanges for the schools or district, they did ing near the large gym. It would be approve a contract with a designated concession stand and Overland Park-based consulting agency “We are a very unique hospitality room, equipped with RSP to conduct a demographic analyfull kitchen supplies. sis and an enrollment analysis of the district and our boundaries “As everybody knows, we have district. will not look like anything that shelters in every other building,” The demographic analysis will Cox said. “We do not have a look at family incomes, social anyone has done in Kansas.” diversity and more. FEMA-certified shelter at Maize High.” The enrollment analysis will look Another proposal up for at future student growth in the dis-Board president discussion is to add a Career and trict between a five or 10-year span. Professional Center to Maize High. Once the board receives the data Wendi White The addition would be 30,000 square from both analysis from RSP, it will have feet of career and technical classroom a better understanding on how to proceed space. with the middle school plans. The projected price for the project is The results of these studies will contribute to the $8 million. decision on whether to create boundaries for the district Combined, both of the shelters will accommodate 1,800 as well. students and staff members. The approximate price for the “I have been very hesitant to come right out and make a builds would be $1.8 million. definitive decision on our placement situation,” board presiCox also discussed proposals to expand middle school dent Wendi White said. “I have decided that boundaries will space. One plan would be to make significant renovations to probably be the best option for Maize in the future.” Maize Middle School. Another plan would be to build a new If the board has not made a decision by the end of October, middle school on district property. the board will carry out the preference card system for all fifth If the board chooses to renovate Maize Middle, the capacand eighth graders in the district for the 2015-16 school year. ity could grow from approximately 600 students to up to 900 “We are a very unique district and our boundaries will not students depending on the renovations the board chooses to look like anything that anyone has done in Kansas,” White make. The cost is estimated to be $9 million to 12 million. said.n A new middle school could be built to accommodate up to

maizenews.com | SeptemberPlay

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News 7 These stories first appeared on our website, www.maizenews.com. Senior Bayliff named National Merit semifinalist Senior Sam Bayliff was recently named a National Merit Scholar semifinalist. In order to become a semifinalist, juniors must take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) and score in the top half of one percent in the state. Further academic and extracurricular requirements will decide on who makes finalist status. “Just based on my score on the PSAT, I anticipated that I got that a while ago,” Bayliff said. He hopes that he will continue on to the finals to compete for a $2,500 scholarship. Bayliff is not sure where he wants to go to college yet, but he knows that he wants to double-major in physics and

chemistry. “[I] haven’t decided on a college, but [I’m] looking at a lot,” Bayliff said. He aspires to be a professor and researcher in the future. -Ryan Kuhl Students prepare for future on Oct. 7 Every year juniors and seniors in Sedgwick County, can attend a Futures Fair at Wichita State’s Koch Arena during the school day. The students have the choice to attend by bus Oct. 7 at 9 A.M. To sign up talk to your En-Cor teacher. There are over 100 colleges bringing booths to talk to the students and inform them of their school. The fair has been going on for 26 years and has helped more than twenty-thousand high school students. Four students that

attend will win a $500 scholarship. -Delanie Pierce Senior Chloe Cloud to be recognized Senior Chloe Cloud will receive the Youth Recognition Award, which is given to one middle or high school student annually, next month. The Art Council of Wichita is holding their 45th Annual Art Awards at the Drury Plaza on Oct. 30. The event recognizes businesses and individuals who have made artistic achievements or contribution to the growth of arts in Wichita. There will be 12 awards given to professionals and businesses, with Cloud being the only student. “It’s basically an award to give you kudos for winning awards,” Cloud said. -Katie Inman

FDA changes school nutrition guidelines By Jess Ellis

Susan Baldwin prepares sack lunches. Due to the changes put in place by the FDA, all lunches will now follow strict guidelines.

ichelle Obama’s efforts to make school lunch healthier have changed the food being sold at the school store, Spirit Central. These changes have affected vending machines and the cafeteria as well. The school is required to follow the “smart snacks” guidelines, which eliminates popular foods such as Pop-Tarts and Ramen noodles. According to the nutrition standards, foods must be a “whole grain-rich” product. Business Professionals of America receives most of its funding through the store. Members of BPA will have to pay

a larger fee in order to go to nationals. “For the most part I think our funding will stay the same as last year,” senior Taylor Axtell, BPA president, said. “They might be a little lower because of the food changes, but other than that I think it will be OK. We also had to raise dues this year to meet all of our registration fees that we have for regionals and state.” The lunch staff tries to make the food it serve follow the guidelines and provide the students with five choices on the main line. Some of the changes in the lunch room consist of smaller portions of fries,

Jess Ellis

a minimum of two packets of ketchup, diet soda and nothing with salt. “I think its silly,” Spirit Central and BPA adviser Penny McAnulty said. “I’m hoping it won’t be around forever.” “Once the kids get used to it, it will be OK,” McAnulty said. “If they really want to eat something, they will buy the product.” The new guidelines allow Spirit Central to sell what they want as part of a fundraiser. This will help the sales for BPA as well as selling new apparel. BPA has been designing new T-shirts and hoodies for the students, which creates a profit.n maizenews.com | SeptemberPlay

8 Opinion

Paranoid or protected By Lauren Paul and Kendra Cunningham for the Play editorial board

t is no secret that teens are afraid of police. What is the reason for that? Aren’t they here to protect us, instead of just getting us into trouble? With the recent events that happened in Ferguson, Mo., the tension between police and citizens has been put in the spotlight. When a cop drives by, teenagers, especially, tend to tense up instead of feeling secure around the people who are willing to protect us. “I feel like they try to find the flaw in whatever you are doing. They shouldn’t go out looking for a reason, and let the reason come to them,” senior Cole Bosley said. Many other teenagers feel that way too. When 54 Maize students were surveyed, at random, more half said they felt paranoid when they see the police. There were many different reasons the students said they felt that way. Race, abuse of power and doing something wrong were the common answers. Officer Jillian Rhodes is a Maize Community Policing Officer and knows about the tension of the relationship between teens and police. “In a lot of teens it is the authority of police; it’s defiance,” Rhodes said. “If I come up to talk to you, I just want to talk. I want to get to know you guys so that way you know if something happens, we are here to call if you need anything. I’m not here to rat you out if I

don’t have to.” So what makes teenagers so paranoid when a ticket costs way less than your life? Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens ages 16 to 19 according to the CDC. A cop pulling you over is for your benefit and your protection, as well as others. “Usually teens are doing something illegal and that is why they feel paranoid,” senior Jake Tatge said. “So it’s more on the teens to make smarter choices.” Getting pulled over can be an intimidating experience. For some, even seeing a police officer walking the halls can be scary. However police officers go through plenty of hassles to protect us that we don’t realize. “[They] like the intimidation factor. They don’t try to stop it.” Bosley said. High speed chases aren’t just for the stories, murder cases aren’t just for TV shows, and wanted posters aren’t just for the wild west. These are all the things police officers go through every day in the effort to protect the community. They put their lives at risk to protect people who they have no personal relationship with. “That is something I am trying to battle against, even people in town who tell their little 4-year-olds ‘No don’t do that, the cops will get you’.” Rhodes said. “That’s not what we are here for. They need to know that they can trust us.”

A cop’s main goal is not to sit in their car every day to see what teenager they can pull over or to bust a teenage party. They are not out to get kids. They are here to protect us and that is what they want to do. They keep bad off the streets and Rhodes said that is one of the best things about being in law enforcement. “Good officers just continue doing our job,” Rhodes said. “Keeping in mind we might have people that make a comment, but we can’t let those people get to us because we know what we are doing is good. Someone will always not like us. That’s just part of the uniform.” Officers are here to enforce good decisions that will keep everyone safe and not make the community feel threatened. Rhodes said the reason she stays in law enforcement is because of the rewarding opportunities. A smile on a kid’s face after a terrible day or helping someone get their car back are just some high points. Without them, the job would start to take a toll on the officers. The relationship between teens and authority has always been a rebellious one. However, teenagers should realize they have nothing to fear as long as they are doing the right things. “Teens shouldn’t feel intimidated if they are innocent,” Tatge said. “Obviously if you’re paranoid, you’re doing something wrong.”n Photo Illustration by Kendra Cunningham

55% are paranoid 45% are not 82 Maize students who drive were surveyed.

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10 Now Playing 12

STRENGTH through

SCARS Teacher and student battle life-threatening disease By Shelby Carpenter and Emily Brecht

hink of a challenge. Think of a hardship. Think of a situation where the future looks bleak and the outcome holds a dismal array of possibilities. Now think of overcoming such a difficult time in life — and then preparing to do it all over again. Juggling academics and extracurricular activities as a high school student presents a challenge in and of itself, but combining an illness on top of those responsibilities seems nearly impossible. However for senior Sarah Nash and gifted and enrichment teacher Leigh Johnson, anything is possible. Nash and Johnson put up a daily fight that proves difficult but has yet to slow them down.

Photos by Katie Inman

Breaking the news Shortly before beginning her senior year, Nash was confronted with news that her cancer had returned. A trip Oct. 7 to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., holds the potential for a surgical process to remove the cancerous mass from her neck. “I wasn’t surprised [when they told me],” Nash said. “I had been told that there was something there, but they just weren’t sure where at. On my first surgery I lost my whole voice for a couple months, but this time I have a chance of losing it forever.” The possibility of permanent vocal loss does not frighten Nash but rather dampens her outlook. “I’m not so much scared as I am sad; not having a voice is

SeptemberPlay | maizenews.com

really depressing,” Nash said. “Nobody can hear you and you have no way of getting your teacher’s attention if you can’t speak. I could barely even whisper when I lost my voice for the first time. I remember my friend Makayla Wiles told me that she called my voicemail just to remember what my voice sounded like,” Nash said. Senior Makayla Wiles has stuck by Nash’s side throughout her difficult times and recalls the challenges of Nash’s vocal loss. “It was a struggle I think for everybody. When you’re so used to hearing somebody’s voice it’s hard to remember what it sounds like when they speak or laugh,” Wiles said. Looking ahead to the remainder of her senior year Nash remains optimistic, but does understand the reality of the possibilities she may face. “If I come back with no voice, I will just have to deal with it,” she said. “This will hopefully be the last surgery, but since I’m so young, I do have a chance of getting the same cancer or a different one in the future; I always try to find the positives.”

A past battle Nash was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in September 2012, the first semester of her sophomore year. She underwent chemotherapy for six months, completing treatment in February 2013. Nash missed a lot of school days and was unable to partake in normal teenage activities for some time. “A typical day was extremely boring,” Nash said. “I had a surgery every other month since October. I couldn’t do that

much. I had a homebound teacher help me with homework.” After countless hospital stays and days away from school, Nash returned to school to resume her normal routine in March. Her return was a smooth transition despite a few uncomforting encounters. “I felt a little bit out of place; it took me a little while to get used to things,” Nash said. “I have a big scar on my neck, so I got some stares. I was once asked, ‘Is that a fake scar? Because you can’t wear stuff like that at school.’ I replied with, ‘No, I actually have cancer, but thanks for the notice.’” Awkward glances and rude comments did not get the best of Nash. She said her self-confidence stems from the support of close friends. “My friends always tell me that my scar looks really cool,” she said.

13 Now Playing 11

“When you are so used to hearing somebody’s voice, it’s hard to remember what it sounds like when they speak or laugh.

”

-Makayla Wiles, senior

Na ra h Sa an d so n Jo hn by Le ig h d itt e m su b Ph ot os

Johnson, gifted and enrichment teacher, also looks for the positives that lie ahead for her this October. An ovarian cancer patient, Johnson is scheduled to complete her last round of treatment on Oct. 29 after her diagnosis and surgery six months prior. Johnson has done well responding to treatments she has once every three weeks. She said she mainly suffers from intense fatigue. “A lot of this stuff I’m dealing with just makes it hard to be happy here at school,” Johnson said. “I feel frustrated because I don’t have the energy to get things done. I have to miss school on the days I have treatment because it takes four hours. On the days after I have treatment, I just have no energy.” Although Johnson constantly battles such extreme exhaustion, the love and solace received from fellow faculty members makes doing her job much more possible, even in the midst of such difficulty. “Some things are just not getting done, but I’m really lucky to have Mrs. (Marie) Weaver, and the support of the staff has been like a big family,” she said. “They wrote me a lot of cards, and each day I open up one or two for daily encouragement.” Throughout her experience, Johnson has learned to not take lightly to health issues and urges that others take prompt action regarding personal health abnormalities and issues. “It is very important you follow through and get things solved,” she said. “If your gut tells you something is wrong, keep going and figure out what it is. The health of our bodies is something we cannot take for granted.”n

Not taking health for granted

maizenews.com | SeptemberPlay

12 Column 10

Born

to be

WILD

Page layout by Bacca Zinabu and EmilyeBrecht

SeptemberPlay | maizenews.com

By Katie Inman

“Mommy, look!” Eyes wide. Mouth gaping. Runny nosed and pink-cheeked children is my favorite part about having colored hair. In the grocery or at the mall these little kids can always put a smile on my face. I started dying my hair when I was in sixth grade. After begging my mom for several weeks, I finally got the OK; with restrictions, of course. Red under my bangs soon grew into all red, then pink, purple or white. Eventually, I had a system. Different hair colors and styles monthly. Then I found the one. Blue. It became my go-to, and I stuck with it. Naturally, I get a lot of strange looks and snobby faces and to my surprise a lot of love. I hear people whisper “look at her hair!” behind my back, and there are always bright-eyed strangers telling me how gorgeous I look with it. Not only is it a huge confidence booster for me, but it’s also incredible how many people I never would have talked to see go out of their way to say something. Now, don’t get me wrong, I personally dye my hair for my own happiness and not others, so its not all about the attention. Unfortunately, I feel like that’s what it has grown to be. Having colored hair now is a bit different from when I started. It’s become a huge trend. And I love people expressing themselves. I even have what I like to call “rad hair appreciation stares” with random people that have colored hair. We have silent bonding moments, and it’s really quite magical. People even ask for tips and tricks on how I do it, and I feel honored to help someone. It’s so weird for me to think about someone looking up to me for advice. Heck, yeah, I’ll help you; I would be flattered. So don’t be afraid to ask me. Smurfs love everyone.n

11 Column 13

STAR

hen school gets back in session, students and teachers alike casually exchange curiosities regarding summer break. How did your summer go? Did you do anything fun? Where did you go? How did you spend your time off? When confronted with curiosity about how I spent my time from May 27 to August 14, I could say so many things. My summer vacation was eventful, busy and overall extraordinary. However, one experience outshines all the others. I did not know what to expect when I arrived at Sunflower Girls State. I prepared for the worst but still continued to hope for the best. Thankfully, I lucked out on the latter. I spent seven days in Topeka with the best and brightest young ladies my age from across Kansas. I learned more than I ever have inside a classroom. I made fantastic friendships, challenged myself each day and developed leadership skills. Sunflower Girls State is a week-long student-government school program through the American Legion Auxiliary, teaching young women how government operates at local, county and state levels. We wrote legislation, debated bills

Photo submitted by Shelby Carpenter

D E L G S PA N E R M M U S

By Shelby Carpen ter

Senior Shelby Carpenter travels to the nation’s capital as a Girls Nation senator.

and resolutions in senate sessions, took part in mock campaigns and elected peers to positions parallel to a state government (i.e., Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer, etc.). I was elected Speaker of the House after losing the primary election for Governor. Although I had not anticipated this responsibility, I was incredibly honored and had a tremendous time in helping lead the legislative process. It was not only a week of mock senate sessions and elections, it also taught the importance of participation and education in politics. By the end of the week, it was hard to grasp that I would be returning home, leaving incredible new friends. I did not anticipate my experience with this program could get any better, however, I was soon pleasantly surprised. I was elected by my fellow Sunflower attendees to represent Kansas in Washington, D.C., at Girls Nation. I neveer would have guessed I would be selected for such an opportunity. The program was similar to Girls State, but on a much more serious, national level. The position was parallel to a United States Senator, such as Jerry Moran or Pat Roberts. It is a very prestigious and honorable

week in the nation’s capital, an opportunity that very few high schoolers are given. I traveled to D.C. in July, excited and nervous all at once. With my pre-written legislation in hand and co-senator by my side, we arrived to a week jampacked with events and senate sessions and very little sleep. From Arlington National Cemetery to the Holocaust Museum to a meeting with Sen. Moran to sitting in on active senate sessions, the seven days flew by quickly. It still feels like a dream. However, the day before we left was by far the most memorable: a tour of the White House and meeting the President of the United States. Looking back on my experiences, I could not be any more grateful to have attended Sunflower Girls state and represented Kansas in our nation’s capital. When I returned, I was asked how I would take what I learned during those weeks and pass it on to others. The answer was simple: by encouraging people my age to take an active interest in the world around them and exercise their political rights, I believe I will have made an impact and passed on my experience, which will benefit not only this generation but generations to come.n

maizenews.com | SeptemberPlay

14 Lifestyles

Behind the brains

unior Scott Hershberger has always been intelligent. In middle school, he skipped over sixth grade and started seventh. However, his smarts didn’t end there. Hershberger received a perfect score on his ACT in the spring, meaning that he got the highest score possible and didn’t miss any of the questions. He only took one practice test in order to prepare for it. Hershberger said he wasn’t even nervous. With all the academics Hershberger is involved in, he still manages to keep his stress levels to the minimum. “I always make sure that I don’t overload myself,” Hershberger said. “I am busy, but I’m not overly busy. I have a lot of work, but I never get too stressed.” He’s confident in following through with his decision to get a PhD in math and to become a mathematician. He is currently taking Calculus 3 at Wichita State University’s West Campus. “Anything that is number oriented is really easy for me to remember, which will help a lot when I pursue my career as a mathematician,” Hershberger said. SeptemberPlay | maizenews.com

Cheyenne Esser

By Antonio Melchor and Tori Lemon

Hershberger would like to go to a high-quality college but probably not Ivy League. “I feel like that would just be way too stressful and too competitive,” he said. Hershberger was considering double majoring, or just minoring in music when he attends college but has recently changed his mind. “As I’ve started to go on college visits and talked to people from the colleges, I realized that it is just er’s time is consumed by many other not my style,” he said. “I out-of-school activities. wouldn’t want to have He solves Rubik’s cubes, to play classical music, reads books about math, “Anything that is because I’m not into number oriented is really plays piano, and has classical music. I’m easy for me to remember, recently started watching more into jazz and which will help a lot when I “Dr. Who.” new age. I enjoy “Playing the piano pursue my career as a music, but I don’t helps me destress a little mathematician.” think I would enjoy bit,” Hershberger said. majoring or minor“Playing an instrument -Scott Hershberger ing in music.” gives you a community of Hershberger said he people who you can relate would like to be a part to because they play music, as of a college jazz band and well.” just play the piano as a hobby. At the moment, his favorite song to Other than being busy with academics play is a piece by the Piano Guys called and planning out his future, Hershberg- “All of Me.”

“It’s very fast, and flashy and fun,” he said. Hershberger plays the piano for two jazz bands. One of the bands, Air Traffic, has five members, including himself. It practices on Saturdays and performs all over town. The second band is called Skylines. The nine members, who practice on Sundays, perform jazz and rock. He is also involved in the school marching band and plays mallet percussion. Hershberger has perfect pitch. He can hear any note and tell exactly what note that sound is. He said having that ability helps him in band. “There’s a calming effect to music, even if it is loud and rambunctious,” he

said. “It’s a great way to start my day, even though it’s really early in the mornings. I did sports when I was younger, but I didn’t want to devote that much time to sports; however I was OK with devoting that much time to music.” His intelligence is no secret, and that’s why he’s known for being the “smart kid.” “I’m OK with being known as the smart kid”, he said. “It just puts lot of pressure on me though, because people are always expecting me to do extremely well at anything. So if I don’t, they’re like ‘Ah, but it’s Scott, he’s supposed to get this!’ so that’s kind of stressful sometimes. But I try not to let that bother me.”n

Hershberger excels at academics yet still manages to balance all aspects of his life, including his music. Hershberger plays percussion in the marching band during the first home football game Sept. 5.

According to ACT.org

Less than 1/10 of 1% of students score a 36 on their ACT

<1%

maizenews.com | SeptemberPlay

16 Sports

Seniors commit to Division I colleges By Maite Menendez

Seniors Daley Handy, Keiryn Swenson and Kale Reynolds will continue their athletic careers in college.

eniors Daley Handy, Keiryn Swenson and Kale Reynolds have verbally committed to play for Division I colleges. Handy said she will go to the University of Wyoming on a full ride to play basketball. Swenson will go to the University of Arkansas, also on a full ride, to compete in basketball and track. Reynolds said he will play golf at the University of Kansas on a partial scholarship. Handy started playing basketball at the age of 6 and played for an AAU organization. During those times, she played with Swenson, who began her basketball career around 5 and started throwing the javelin in middle school. They both progressed during middle and high school and were soon sought out at showcase tournaments. Handy was sought out by Wyoming, Northern Colorado and Southern Illinois. She decided on Wyoming during the summer. She felt at home at Wyoming and wanted to get away from Kansas to do something different. “I really love the coaches,” she said of Wyoming.” They were really great and they wanted me.” Schools began to look at Swenson while participating at big camps. Arkansas’ new coach, former ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes, was looking forward to watching her. He later contacted Swenson, not knowing she had already committed, convincing her to play at Arkansas. Although she enjoyed the thought of playing at Tulsa, she didn’t enjoy the chemistry on the team and the new track coach worried her. “Tulsa is a great school, but there was just some things I really didn’t like about it,” she said. Her parents taught her how to throw javelin and she exSeptemberPlay | maizenews.com

Katie Inman

celled quickly. “Genetically, it just comes easy to me. I just have a very fast arm,” Swenson said. Basketball and track coach Jerrod Handy said all he did was help them reach their goals. “They both have great work ethic, and that’s what it takes to play at a college level,” Handy said. Reynolds started playing golf with his father and brother. He said it felt easy for him to play. He started playing tournaments in elementary and middle school. He then realized he was good enough to play in high school. Although last year wasn’t his best in the beginning, he later set the state record of 63 shots in 18 holes. “From that point on, I decided not to change my routine or practice any differently, to just keep doing what I was doing because it was working really well,” he said He also got help from coach Brad Hornung. He was helped not only on the technical swings, but also mentally. “I deal with the more metal side and preparation,” Hornung said. He later won regional and state championships. After the state championship, he was contacted by the coach at KU. He was told he was going to be watched during the summer and the regular season. He called later on and committed. Although he is only going on a partial scholarship, he still has the chance to eventually play on a full ride. “I realized that it was pretty much just what I was looking for. Everything is really nice there, the coach is cool, and they have good practice facilities,” Reynolds said.n

Sports 17

Kate Utech transfers to cross country By Delanie Pierce and Si Luc

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fter playing tennis since 8 years old, senior Kate Utech switched over to cross country for her final year of high school. “I actually made a pros and cons list, which helped me choose which sport I wanted to do,” Utech said. Cross country coach Skeeter Rankins is excited about Utech switching over. “I might be biased, but she’s so good at running. I’m glad she gave it a shot,” Rankins said. “She’s already gotten calls from colleges.” Utech is currently the school record holder for the two mile, which was previously held by senior Deidra Walker. During workouts, they both share a similar running time. “I’m excited that she’s coming

out [for] cross country,” Walker said. “She’s a great runner and my best friend, so it’s nice having her there.” One of the biggest reasons Utech joined was because of the people that were in the sport. She also believes this will help her out when she goes to college, due to the scholarships she could receive. Utech has been talking with multiple colleges, such as Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University and McPherson College. “I think it will be beneficial to me as far as colleges and scholarships,” Utech said. “But I definitely miss playing tennis.” Utech has also played basketball and soccer in the past but quit all other sports for her passion of running.n

Senior Kate Utech runs in her first cross country meet of the season. Utech took third in the race.

“I think it will be beneficial to me as far as colleges and scholarships.”

Photos by Katie Inman

Senior Kate Utech battles for the lead in a cross country meet at Lake Afton on Sept. 6. Senior Deidra Walker is also pictured.

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18Sports

Senior Deidra Walker takes first in her first meet at Lake Afton.

Seniors return for final season Katie Inman

By Si Luc and Delanie Pierce

eniors Deidra Walker, Dustin Kanae, Elijah West and Jared Luebbe overcame a long journey of recovery after getting injured before and during their junior years. Walker, on Dec. 23, was training for an indoor track meet while at Sedgwick County Park. “Snow and ice were on the sidewalk, I moved off the sidewalk, so I wouldn't fall and ended up falling [and] getting a spiral fracture on my fibula,” Walker said. Walker had a six-month recovery time, with two months on crutches, until she was released to run. She had surgery on Jan. 2 that involved having five screws put into her fibula. After several weeks, she was released to do bike and pool workouts and put more pressure on her ankle. On May 23, Walker was released to run. “I’m motivated to get back into running, and I’m happy to be able to come back and get recognized by colleges,” Walker said. “I want to show them what I can do and have the best come back I can.” Walker is undefeated in three cross country meets so far this season. Several other injuries occurred in different sports this past year, from individual sports like cross country to more team-oriented sports like football. SeptemberPlay | maizenews.com

At Hutch camp during the summer before his junior year, Dustin Kanae was going to block a corner and stepped down on his leg wrong, tearing his lateral meniscus and spraining his LCL in his left knee. Kanae had surgery on June 25, 2013, to repair the damage. Wanting to get back into sports as quickly as possible, Kanae started physical therapy the day after his surgery. Even with having physical therapy only three times a week, being sore was a problem for Kanae. He spent eight weeks on crutches during his eight months of recovery. After 10 weeks, which was the first day of school, Kanae was allowed to walk without crutches. “It’s intimidating coming back because it’s not as healthy as my right knee. I always find myself favoring my right knee over my left,” Kanae said. After being out for eight months, Kanae is ready to play his senior year with the football team. “It’s pretty great to be back,” Kanae said. ”My goal is to get better by coming back as a starting left guard.” Kanae wasn’t the only junior football player to be injured last year. Elijah West experienced some of the same hardships. “During the football game against Hutchinson last year I was making a

tackle near the sideline,” West said. “I came down and tore my ACL in my left knee.” Right after it had happened, West knew something was wrong. “I felt my knee slide completely off; I thought I could walk it off,” West said. “He was walking out on crutches and I asked him if he was OK he said it was fine,” senior Peyton Quandt said. “Coach told him he tore his ACL and he started crying; it was sad.” West had a six-month recovery but started jogging a little before the sixmonth mark. “The recovery process was really tough, but I knew I had to do it if I wanted to play my senior year,” West said. So far this season, the football team has defeated Derby 20-13, Garden City

1. Cheyenne Esser

53-37 and lost to Salina Central 29-28. Unlike West, Kanae and Walker, Luebbe will not play in his last year of high school. “At a camp at Iowa State, my knee gave out while I was going one-on-one with a defensive player,” Luebbe said. He dislocated his kneecap and tore a cartilage in his bone. The whole injury together is known as OCD (Osteochondral Defect). “I am pretty upset I can’t play my

senior year,” Luebbe said. “It’s what you look forward to all high school, and it’s gone.” Even though he will not be playing, Luebbe still plans on standing on the sideline to support his team. “I was going to play in college, but I don’t know if I want to anymore considering this was my second surgery in six months,” Luebbe said. He will not be fully recovered until November or December.n

Sports 19

Cheyenne Esser

Katie Inman

1. Kanae takes a break in his first game back since his injurgy against Derby. 2. West sands on the sideline watching his teamates during the game against Derby. The final score was 20-13. 3. West goes for a tackle during the away game against Garden City. Maize won the game 53-37. 4. Kanae blocks a Garden City defender to help potect quarterback, senior Connor Lungwitz. 5. Senior Deidra Walker runs at Lake Afton, her first school race since injury. Walker took first in the meet. Cheyenne Esser

maizenews.com | SeptemberPlay

22 Entertainment

#WhiteGirlProblems What makes a white girl white? Starbucks, Chipotle, Uggs and Yoga pants are some of the ongoing fads for today’s “typical” white girls.

1. 3. 5.

4. SeptemberPlay | maizenews.com

By Brooke Johanson and Becca Zinabu

Entertainment 23 1. Senior Shealene Woods lays out all her Vera Bradley for a picture. 2. Junior Hallie Bontrager bought Starbucks and was photographed via Snapchat. 3. Junior Delanie Randolph talks on her phone and enjoys some Starbucks coffee during English class. 4. Senior Kristin Russell traveled to Starbucks during the first football game of the season to purchase hot coffee for her and her friends, seniors Amanda Rippel and Kassidy Watkins. 5. Senior Amanda Rippel visits Starbucks on Vacation. 6. Seniors Amanda Rippel, Kristin Russell and Kassidy Watkins walk around with shopping bags and Starbucks while wearing yoga pants, boots and North Face jackets to demostrate what â&#x20AC;&#x153;typical white girlsâ&#x20AC;? look like. 7. Junior Nayeli Cano also drinks her Starbucks coffee during her English class.

6. 7.

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