December 2015
The Messenger Staff 2015 Senior Editors
Emelie Swonger Editor-in-Chief
Courtney Emmil Layout Editor
Lauren Nordberg Religion Editor
Ally Reichert Feature Editor
Emilie Voeller Entertainment Editor
David Schwartz Sports Editor
Writers and Photographers
Megan Krantz
Nathan Marcotte
Bethany Materi
Riley McLean
Maria Fleck
Kamryn Hellman
Anthony Vecchia
Madelyn Schweitzer
Madisyn Rusch
Victoria Schweitzer
Kellie Burns
Emily Splonskowski
Jenny Nagel
Dawson Rouse
Eden Volk
Jordan Aberle
Senior Editorial
A monthly article written about, well, anything.
Senior Pictures: A Saga of Closed Eyes, Hair Everywhere, and Mother-Daughter Bonding Written by Emelie Swonger
All my life I have been taking pictures. Not as the photographer taking pictures, but as the charming subject of our ever-present family camera. And believe me, it is a challenge to be a photogenic child in a family of photographers. On Christmas morning, when all a kid wants to do is rip into the gifts waiting under the Christmas tree, the kids in my family have to have our annual photo shoot. “Why don’t you pose with that red package over there?” my mom says enthusiastically. “C’mon Luke, show a little affection for your sister and put your arm around her,” my dad instructs my reluctant younger brother. And so it goes for ten never-ending minutes, as two impatient kids half-smile at the camera, eager to forget about capturing family memories and ready to get the holiday show on the road. But over the years, I’ve come to realize two very important things. For starters, family memories are invaluable, and while it may be annoying to take pictures with my brother every Christmas right now, those images might one day be some of the most precious things I own. Secondly, my parents are pretty darn good at taking pictures. So when it came time for me to start thinking about senior pictures, my mom was the very first person I turned to. Off we went--- well-armed with the family camera, a hairbrush, and some inspiration from good ol’ Pinterest. I think it’s safe to say that if you don’t feel like a model taking senior pictures, you’re doing it wrong. I was flipping my hair this way and that (I have a signature hair flip now), my mom was doing make-up touch-ups and straightening out every last wrinkle of my blouse, and the men in my family… Well, they just stayed out of the way. Of course, the whole process wasn’t entirely peachy keen. The countless pictures with eyes closed and silly expressions probably outnumber the ones worthy of a magazine cover. There were the pictures that were almost perfect, except for the stalk of grass shooting straight up in the foreground. Sometimes the lighting wasn’t right. Sometimes a pose didn’t work out. Other photos had the misfortune of a dead tree branch or a blindingly red car in the background. But for every photo that didn’t turn out, I have a photo that I can be proud of--- an image that captures my personality or one where I feel genuinely beautiful. My mom and I had SO MUCH FUN just being together and letting our creativity flourish. When I look back at all of my photos, I think of all the crazy, embarrassing things we did to get some of the better shots and I just have to laugh! My senior pictures are probably the greatest gift my mom has ever given me--- not only because of the quality photos I have to share with friends and relatives, but because of the beautiful memories we shared together. Sure, they may not be professionally done, but the combination of smiles and motherly love in each print pretty much makes me the luckiest girl in the world.
“It’s Fun to Stay at the YMCA!” Written by Alexandra Reichert
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Though you can no longer stay the night and the only “meal” you can get is pretzels from the vending machine, the YMCA is still a great place to work out. If you’re like me and aren’t particularly coordinated, you can’t help but feel a bit lazy when people talk about sports practices they have to get to. However, there is no need to fear, because there is even a way for us unathletic people to stay in shape. Whether you enjoy the gym or want some more instruction via classes, the YMCA is the place for you. I personally have enjoyed many of the classes there. They have a variety of class types and hours that makes it easy to attend, and it’s always fun to try something new. Cycle, Pilates (where you might even catch my mom as the teacher!), and Zumba along with many other classes offer many different kinds of workout so it’s easy to custom pick what you need. Regardless of your level of athleticism, the YMCA is the place for anyone.
How to Improve Your Game: Film
That’s A Sport?!?
Written by David Schwartz Written by Anthony Vecchia Often times we can see the Saint Mary’s football team watching film before or after a practice. Do you ever find yourself wondering what benefit there is to watching film other than sheer entertainment? Watching film makes it significantly easier for a coach to instruct his team and it helps the athletes develop necessary techniques. Hudl and Ubersense are two examples of apps coaches can use to teach athletes. Coaches are not omnipotent and cannot catch everything that happens on the field, and this is how film helps. Most of the time the most important parts of a game all happen in a few seconds and the coach can only pick up one or two teaching points from just watching. If they record it, they can pick out every little mistake and try to correct it. Also athletes are often times visual learners and need to see how things are done as compared to hearing how they are done. With film coaches can take notes on their mobile devices and show the athletes how they can improve. Lastly, if a coach records a really good play from a player they can save it as a highlight and show it to colleges to increase their chances for some athletic scholarships!
I’m guessing you probably know a couple “odd” sports! Cricket played in many commonwealth nations could be one and perhaps water polo another. Although, if you find those two weird, I assure you it gets worse. Australian Football, or Aussie Rules, is, in short, a combination of soccer, rugby, and football where really anything goes. It’s played on an oval shaped soccer sized field with a regular American football. Players are allowed to run around freely with the ball kicking, throwing, and tackling along with their seventeen other teammates. The goals are simply two tall posts at the ends of the field and to score the ball just has to pass between them. However the method, dropkicking, tossing, or if it just rolls through, it’s a goal! These are worth six points but a “behind” is worth just one. A behind has the same rules but the posts are just positioned wider and behind the central posts. The game is played in four quarters, each twenty minutes and the team with the highest score at the end is declared the winner. In Australia people go just about crazy for the game and fill arenas just as big as our NFL ones! The AFL is the designated league for the sport ever since the game was founded in 1859. Each year, clubs face off and have their own “superbowl” at the end of the season known as the Grand Final. This last October, Hawthorn, a team from Tasmania, won in front of a whopping 100,000 people in Melbourne. The AFL has expanded in recent years to an international stage. Not just Australia, but Canada, New Zealand, New Guinea, and even the United States are crazy for the sport. Thirty-six clubs take their claim on American soil. Perhaps the reason why Australia never dominates at soccer, basketball, baseball, or whatever you can name, is because they’re too busy practicing good old Australian Football.
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Question of the Month! Written by Jenny Nagel “What is your favorite part of the Christmas Season?”
“Playing pond hockey on Cottonwood Lake with the boys.” Andy Huber Grade 12
“My favorite part is spending time with my family.” Emily Bichler Grade 11
Trapped in Bismarck Written by Kamryn Hellman
“I like receiving presents.” Thomas Fleischacker Grade 10
“The food is the best part.” Darian Coghlan Grade 9
New State Champion: Emma Hepper
Do you think you and your friends have what it takes to put your problem-solving skills to the test and find a way out of an escape room? Trapped in Bismarck, a new destination in Bismarck, will give you a chance to find out. This November, Trapped in Bismarck opened two escape rooms. One is an office theme, the other is a Christmas theme. The cost is $26 per person. You may sign up with a group of two to eight people, who must work together to uncover clues and find a way out of a locked room within an hour. You will learn team-building and communication skills, a great activity for a corporate team. This would also be a fun date night, or a cool thing to do with friends. Looking at the rooms individually, the themes are very different In the first room, you need to find a way out of your black-mailing boss’s control. You have to turn the tables and escape the office. In the second room, you find yourself locked in a room full of toys that have been stolen from Santa, who is on his way to get them back. You have to prove your innocence before Santa puts you on the naughty list! Though you are actually locked in the room, there is a panic key in case of emergency. You should book your place soon, because there will be no walk-ins allowed. It’s suggested you show up half an hour to fifteen minutes early, so the program can be explained before your scheduled hour begins. When the hour strikes, the room is locked! You won’t be able to get in. If you’re late, there are no refunds. So get ready, gather your friends, and solve the Trapped in Bismarck puzzle! For more information, go to trappedinbismarck.com.
Emma Hepper, a SMCHS junior, was crowned the state champion in the 100 meter Backstroke during the 2015 swimming and diving state tournament, November 13-14 in Bismarck. Hepper outpaced the other swimmers to win with a time of 57.54 seconds. In doing so, Emma was the first Bismarck High School female swimmer to win a state championship since 1975. Emma also placed second in the 200 meters Freestyle, and was a member of the 4th place Medley Relay team. She was joined with fellow Saint and Demon teammate, Colette Bogner, on the 7th place 200 meter Medley Relay team.
Senior Spotlight: Basketball Written by Regan Bradley
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Casey Uhler
Lindsey Schweitzer
Has played since the first grade. Messenger: What are your goals for this season, either for your team or personally? Casey: My goal for the season is to make state. M: What is your favorite thing about basketball? C: My favorite thing is definitely being with my teammates and playing in the SM gym. M: Who has been your biggest influence in helping you succeed in basketball? C: My biggest influence in basketball and all my sports has been my grandpa Erv who played several college sports and has always supported my family with them. M: What is the greatest lesson you have learned in playing the sport? C: My biggest lesson I’ve learned is the importance of being a good teammate. M: Do you have any advice for all the rookies in the sport? C: My advice for the rookies is to work on the fundamentals and always be ready to give it your all every chance you get. M: What has been your most memorable moment playing basketball? C: My most memorable moment is when I scored the 100th and 101st points against Mandan at WDA my sophomore year.
Has played since she was six years old. Messenger: What are your goals for this season, either for your team or personally? Lindsey: My goal is to help the team grow closer and make it to state. M: What is your favorite thing about basketball? L: I like being a part of a team and playing with all my friends. M: Who has been your biggest influence in helping you succeed in basketball? L: My dad has always positively pushed me to be the best I can be. M: What is the greatest lesson you have learned in playing the sport? L: Be a leader and make good relationships with people around you. M: Do you have any advice for all the rookies in the sport? L: Play every game like it’s your last. M: What has been your most memorable moment playing basketball? L: Winning by a buzzer beater against Jamestown my sophomore year.
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Like Vetter Like Vetter Written by Jordan Aberle
Messenger: What is it like working in such close proximity to your sibling? E. Vetter: It’s nothing short of a dream come true really. The day we got to sit next to each other at parent-teacher conferences was a true miracle and a huge milestone for us as siblings. Messenger: Where did you get your great sense of style? J. Vetter: I just like to pay attention to what’s currently really trendy with the teenagers, then make sure not to dress like that. Messenger: Who was the favorite child? E. Vetter: Jordan for sure. He was a poster child for perfection, and I’m not sure if he ever made our parents angry. I, on the other hand, liked to stir the pot a little bit. As we age, the favoritism is starting to even out. The position is truly up for grabs. Considering I live at home, one might say I am the front runner now. J. Vetter: So here’s a typical scene in our house as kids: Em crying and screaming and throwing a tantrum about something, while I quietly colored or read a book in the corner. But no, of course our parents didn’t have a favorite. Messenger: If you two were to run for President and Vice President, who would run for President and who would run for Vice President? Why? E. Vetter: I think we would find a way to be the first co-presidents ever. Just have the American people rally behind the both of us and we can lead the country together. He could write all the speeches and I could veto stuff because that has always been a dream of mine. #Vetter2028 J. Vetter: I think we would just run on the Vetter/Vetter ticket and leave it completely unclear which is which, and then switch out whenever we felt like it. That seems like it would work. Messenger: When younger, did you play school together? E. Vetter: We never really played school together, but we did do other silly things that we fought over. For example, we used to play red rover, just the two of us, in our living room. Jordan clothes-lined me so hard one time I flipped over and broke my leg. I have since forgiven him. J. Vetter: We would often spend hours upon hours lecturing each other as young children on how to best meet the demands of an increasingly rigorous educational system, debating the various philosophical approaches to learning and student achievement, and pushing each other never to settle for mediocrity. Obviously that’s what we did as kids. Messenger: Finally, what’s it like being literally everyone’s #siblinggoals? E. Vetter: Although we are very flattered about being #siblinggoals our one true mission is to inspire siblings across the world to be individuals and create their own path. The more wolf siblings in the world, the better. J. Vetter: It’s like learning about something that you didn’t know existed, then being like “Is that a thing? Okay, that’s cool.” It’s exactly like that.
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Religion Saint of the Month: St. Nicholas Written by Bethany Materi
Questions for Father Written by Eden Volk
Q: Is Santa real? Who is he? A: If you believe in him, he’s Feast Day: December 6th real, and if you don’t believe Patron Saint of: Children and Bakers in him, then he’s not. The choice is yours! St. Nicholas was born in what Q: How long is the Christmas is present day Turkey. His season? parents died of an epidemic A: For most Catholics it is when he was a young man. twelve days - from Christmas He decided he would use his Eve to Epiphany on January inheritance to help the poor. 6th, hence the twelve days of Christmas. His uncle, the Bishop of Pa- Q: Why do we celebrate Jesus’s birthday on December 25? tara, ordained St. Nicholas a A: There is no way of knowing the exact date of Jesus’s birthday. However, we do know for certain that priest. St. Nicholas had the he was born. December 25th was chosen to replace opportunity to help a family the Roman festival of the birth of the sun god.
with his inheritance. A man had three daughters who could not get married because they were too poor. The father was going to give his daughters over to prostitution. St. Nicholas threw money in the man’s window, so the girls could be married. Later in life, St. Nicholas was chosen to become a bishop. This was during a time of persecutions. St. Nicholas was seized, tortured, and thrown into prison with other Christians. When Constantine came into power the prisoners were released. Tradition tells us, that during the Council of Nicaea, St. Nicholas hit Arius in the face. Arius taught Arianism, which denied the divinity of Christ. The bishops stripped St. Nicholas of his bishop’s garments and threw him into jail. St. Nicholas prayed for forgiveness. Jesus and Mary appeared to him, dressed him as a bishop, and gave him a book of the gospels. When the jailer came in the morning, he found Nicholas with the chains loose, dressed as a bishop, and reading the scriptures. When Constantine heard of this, St. Nicholas was reinstated as a bishop. The Council of Nicaea agreed with St. Nicholas deciding against Arius. When St. Nicholas died he prayed that God would send angels to receive his spirit.
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Religion Trivia of the Month – December Written by Lauren Nordberg
1. In which gospels do we find the Christmas Story? 4. What thing is Saint Nicholas NOT a patron saint of? A. Mark and John C. Luke and John A. Trains C. Bakers B. Matthew and Luke D. Both A and B B. Travelers D. Children 2. What is a heavenly host? A. An angel at the gate of heaven C. An angel choir 5. The word “advent” means what? C. Waiting B. Blessed piece of bread D. An angel army A. Light B. City D. Coming 3. What does the word “Immanuel” mean? Bonus: What was pictured on the first stamp A. God in flesh C. God saves printed for the Christmas season? B. God with us D. God in man A. A cross C. A rose B. A star D. An angel Answers: 1) B 2) D 3) B 4) A 5) D 6) C
Abortion Clinic- 40 Days for Life Recap Written by Anna Frohlich
On Friday, October 30, the Saints for Life group took a bus of students to Fargo to pray in front of the abortion clinic. The students celebrated the eighth annual 40 Days for Life campaign, which took place from September 23 to November 1 all over the world. Led by Mr. Emmel, the 46 students stood outside the abortion clinic for two hours praying the rosary and singing for a hope to the end of abortion. Some Shanley students and their chaplain, Fr. Charles LaCroix, also joined the students. This trip was powerful and an experience that these students will never forget. Together we can end abortion.
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Yummy Christmas Treat Written by Maria Fleck What you need: Mini Powdered Donuts Candy Corn Black Frosting (any flavor, just use black food dye) Frosting Piping Bag Mini Chocolate Chips (optional)
Ho! Ho! Ho! Or No! No! No! Did SM Let Santa Slip Away? Written by Megan Krantz
Last year, quite a few teachers retired, one of whom was Mr. El J. Arntson. He taught speech and English and even led the SM Speech team to five consecutive state championships, but did he have a secret no one knew about? Could he have been the one, the only, Santa Claus? These are pretty self-explanatory. Just stick the Often times, Mr. Arntson had told his classes candy corn in the middle of the powdered dothat his name means “king of elves at Christmas nuts. With the black frosting, ice on the eyes time”. He has a long, white beard as well as othand smile. If you prefer, after you frost on the er Clausian physical attributes, a love of Christeyes, place mini chocolate chips on them as an mas- themed ties, and a love of cookies. Obviextra treat. And Voila! You have a cute snowously, the only conclusion to be made is that the man treat for Christmas. Enjoy. students and faculty of St. Mary’s allowed Santa to slip into retirement. Keep that in mind when you go to look for presents under the tree.
When You’re from ND, It’s Never Too Cold Written by Kathryn Goettle
You look out the window and watch the snowflakes fall to the ground. For a few seconds, you’re captivated by their beauty, and then you sigh and look back at your phone. You scroll down Snapchat checking to see if you missed anyone’s stories. It’s not hard to admit, we’re all extremely bored in the winter. After going to the YMCA we sit down with a bag of chips and watch Netflix. Surprisingly, there are other options. Do you want to build a snowman? Well maybe not a snowman, but there are other outdoor activities. Ice skating is a tradition for many people. Sledding can be a blast if you find a hill that has some jumps on it. You could try cross country skiing on Riverwood golf course, or there’s even downhill skiing (yes, even in flat North Dakota) at Huff Hills south of Mandan. Or you can create your own outdoor games, like ice soccer. I’ve tried it; it is fun, but does not meet safety regulations! If it’s absolutely too cold or stormy to go outside, there’s the classic game night. Invite some friends over; get rid of the phones, TV, and computer. Grab some board games and see if this ancient way of entertainment is any fun. I know we all love to play Candyland and Operation, but if our parents found out... Well it’s safest just to play something a little bit more modern. Now you might ask the question, “Where would one find a board game? Do those even exist anymore?” Surprisingly they do, and there’s even a whole section in Target dedicated to them! With the right friends, Catan, Apples to Apples, Ticket to Ride, and Catchphrase can be more fun than a Barrel of Monkeys (see what I did there?)! So it’s time to embrace winter! After all, we are North Dakotans.
entertainment YAAS, Honestly: The Holiday Edition
Review of Mockingjay Written by Audrey Wentz
Finally, after a year of patiently waiting, Mockingjay Part 2 has hit the theatres to conclude the Hunger Games saga. After the ending of Part 1, Part 2 has two main challenges: getting into the Capitol and helping Peeta. All of the action missed in Part 1 is found as Katniss leads the revolution to the Capitol to take down President Snow. With shocking twists and turns Part 2 will leave you on the edge of your seat asking “is this real?” As with any movie adaptation, Mockingjay Part 2 isn’t perfect and it has its scenes that stray from the book and others left out altogether. Despite this Part 2 proves to be a good, action filled movie. It has been a movie worth the wait and it has made a good end to Katniss’s story. Mockingjay Part 2 was truly a blast and I would definitely recommend it.
Written by Brianna Scherr and Anna Frohlich
1) What should I do if I get a gift that I don’t like? Prepare yourself for receiving that one really awful gift by memorizing the phrase, “Oh, I don’t have anything like it. It’s so unique!” Then practice saying it to yourself in the mirror until you sound sincere. 2) I have a lot of annoying relatives... With all those relatives who you aren’t too fond of that are coming into town, just smile and wave. 3) Since I’ll be eating a lot, what should I do? Loose clothing is your new best friend because it’s highly likely that you’ll gain a few pounds from grandma’s cooking. 4) What should I do with all my spare time during the break? Go bake some pies for the elderly. They will love you.
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