Issue 07: Making It Last by Northwest Passage

PHOTO BY SHELBY BEAUMONT

MAKING

IT LAST After weeks of anticipation, the nine days of Spring Break just weren’t long enough

WHATS INSIDE: IT’S TIME, PAGE .05 / FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE, PAGE .07 / MAKING IT LAST, PAGE .10 / 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE REVIEW, PAGE .14

Northwest

PASSAGE ISSUE 07 TABLE OF CONTENTS

IT’S TIME

A 35-second shot clock should be added to high school basketball

FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE

The Foreigner cast brings history class to life

ADJUSTING TO NUTRITION

10 13

Staff and students open up about school lunch

MAKING IT LAST After weeks of anticipation, the nine days of Spring Break just weren’t long enough

THIS MONTH IN HASHTAG’S

Twitter blew up with these hashtags over the past month

LEGEND IN THE MAKING

CLASH OF WARRIORS

Brenni Rose becomes the girls’ basketball all-time leading scorer at Northwest

The Lady Cougars take second in the girls’ basketball state tournament

STAFF PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT:

SECTION EDITORS:

STAFF WRITERS:

STAFF DESIGNERS:

Co-Print Managing Editor Grace Gorenflo Co-Print Managing Editor Sophie Flores Online Managing Editor Jack Lynch

News Editor Jack Lynch News Editor Grace Gorenflo Opinion Editor Sophie Flores Sports Editor Matthew Owens Feature Editor Cadie Elder Entertainment Editor Keegan Dolinar Social Media Editor Joshua Sherfy Ads Manager Maddison Jarman

Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer

Staff Designer Staff Designer Staff Designer Staff Designer

CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Design Editor Copy Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor

Paden Chesney Paige Eichkorn Addison Sherman Taryn Smith

02 MAR. 28, 2016 | Vol. 47

Carter Adam Austin Bachert Ben Becker Kasey Gardner Anastasia Kling Asher Norberg Jackie Sayers Jennifer Silva Reed Williams

Rachel Bateman Shelby Beaumont Mia McDonald Makaila Williams

OUR PURPOSE: T he purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As a newsmagazine, the Northwest Passage will cater to the

interests and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students. The Northwest Passage is a 24-page newsmagazine. The paper will be distributed every four weeks during second hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. The Northwest Passage firmly

supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise, the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find the solution. In these cases, the editor-in-chief and editorial

board will have the say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste. Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The editor-in-chief and editorial board reserve the right to refuse any letter.

NW PASSAGE | opinion 03

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IT’S TIME A 35-second shot clock should be added to high school basketball

own by six with three minutes left, exhausted players continue the game with a roaring crowd in the stands. Instead of playing buckle-down defense, players must foul to keep the other team from running out the clock. That’s not basketball. The strategy slows down the game and requires the team to foul earlier, making it less interesting for fans and players. Enforcing a shot clock would provide many benefits to student athletes. The introduction of a shot clock would limit the amount of time a team can play a cat-and-mouse game with the opponent at the end of a quarter or half. It will also prepare college-caliber athletes to play at the pace of the next level. Finally, it makes teams run a more effective offense while maintaining their strategy. A major obstacle to implementing a shot clock is the National Federation of High School Sports’ (NFHS) policy giving “no allowance for a shot clock.” In addition, states “forfeit their opportunity for service on the Basketball Rules Committee” which sets the rules for each season. Despite this rule, eight states currently operate a shot clock during high school play and forfeit the right to vote on basketball rules. Despite the consequences that can arise from having shot clocks, New York and seven other states still think it’s worth it. “We wanted to do what was best for the kids and for the game,” New York Athletic Association chairman Bill Higgins said in an interview for PrepCircuit.com. “In the end, that was more important than sitting on the rules committee.” This is not the only support that has been given to the issue. A recent USA Today poll showed that 75 percent of athletes and coaches are in favor of having a shot clock in high school basketball. The cost of installing the clocks is also a stumbling block. Shot clocks range anywhere from $2,000 to $7,000 based on whether they are mounted on the backboard or are self-standing. In addition, the school must pay someone to operate the clock, a cost of about $25 per game. While the cost may sound like a problem, in states where the shot clock is already in place, there has been very little discussion about the costs.

“It has honestly never really come up,” Higgins said. “Every school has their athletic budget, and they handle it however they deem fit. Trust me, if it ever was an issue, I would have heard about it.” According to Theresia Wynns, the NFHS Director of Sports and Officials Education, the shot clock is not needed because the game of basketball “is in good shape as it is, and everyone should be playing the same game. Education-based basketball does not warrant that student-athletes and coaches play to entertain the public.” While athletic director Angelo Giacalone does not have a strong feeling on the topic, he does say that there would be skills learned by having the shot clock. “As far as skills that would be learned by having a shot clock: learning to speed up offense, be more assertive and make quicker decisions,” Giacalone said. The NW basketball coaches are split on whether they would like to see the shot clock introduced at Northwest. Boys’ basketball coach Mike Rose indicated that “players would have to learn clock management skills and would have to learn how to quickly call and execute a play when the shot clock is winding down.” On the other hand, girls’ basketball coach Tyler Stewart argues that “it would make players play with more pace and force teams to be more efficient.” KSHSAA basketball administrator Fran Martin was blunt in her opinion stating that Kansas schools will not be getting a shot clock in the near future. “The NFHS is our governing organization, and they have not approved the use of the shot clock,” Martin said. “Kansas will not adopt the shot clock if the NFHS doesn’t approve it. Although it has been on the list of possible changes numerous times, it has not passed.” Even with the arguments presented, the benefits for the shot clock outweigh the negative effects. KSHSAA should become the next rebel state organization to defy the NFHS and have a 35-second shot clock. This would help make games faster and more exciting while creating smarter basketball players.

+ BY MATTHEW OWENS

Maryland

states that have

South Dakota

lif

SHOT CLOCKS

North Dakota

New York

Massachusetts

Rhode Island Washington

NW PASSAGE | opinion 05

CITY OF SHAWNEE

Summer Aquatic Center Positions The City of Shawnee is seeking enthusiastic, dependable workers for the 2016 Summer pool season. Applicants must be able to work Memorial Day through Labor Day. Lifeguard certification calsses are available through the Shawnee Parks and Recreation Department. Positions available include -Assistant Pool Manager must be 18 years of age and hold current American Red Cross Waterpark Lifeguard Certification. Starting salary is $12.00/hr -Lifeguards must be 16 years of age and hold a current American Red Cross Waterpark Lifeguard Certifications. Starting salary is $8.75/hr -Swim Instructors must be 15 years of age or older. Training will be provided. Starting salary is $9.75/hr -Concession/Front Desk Attendant must be 16 years of age. Starting salary is $7.25/hr -Assistant Dive Coaches must be 16 years of age with prior diving experience. Starting salary is $9.75/hr -Assistant Swim Coaches must be 16 years of age with prior swimming experience. Starting salary is $9.75/hr Pool Employment Applications available on-line at www.cityofshawnee.org and at Shawnee City Hall, 11110 Johnson Drive, Shanwee Kansas 66203 Positions open until filled All positions required pre-employment drug screen. EOE M/F

06 MAR. 28, 2016 | Vol. 47

PHOTO BY ABBIE ROBERTS

FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE THE FOREIGNER CAST BRINGS HISTORY CLASS TO LIFE

2 PHOTO BY ABBIE ROBERTS

porting a camouflage baseball hat and a Confederate flag tattoo, Owen Musser flaunts a bundle of red-hot dynamite, smiling dubiously. Musser, played by senior Adam Baughman, is a member of the Ku Klux Klan. The Foreigner is set in rural Georgia in the 1980s, a time when the KKK was experiencing its fifth revival. “I didn’t actually go in wanting to be Owen,” Baughman said. “I said to my parents, ‘I want to be anyone besides Owen.’ But I’ve probably had the most fun as Owen.” The story begins when two British men arrive at a fishing lodge owned by Betty Meeks (junior Olyvia Anothayanontha). One of these men, Charlie Baker (senior Dylan Klein), has come to America to get away from his troubles back home and would

PHOTO BY ABBIE ROBERTS

PHOTO BY MICHELLE MARTINEZ

rather keep to himself. To protect him, his friend Froggy (senior Frederick Rivera) tells the locals that Charlie is a foreigner and does not speak English, in turn upsetting members of the Klan. “It felt very weird [playing Owen], at first, because the character and the Klan are so far from how I really am and what I believe,” Baughman said. “After rehearsing the scene over and over again, it became easier.” Throughout the play, the residents of the lodge grow fond of Charlie, creating a sort of bond that proves strong enough to scare off the Klan. “[The show is] definitely family-oriented, I would say,” Anothayanontha said. “[Betty] would do anything for those people and she ends up risking her life for everybody. It definitely comes down to family values.” The family bond was present on and off the stage during this year’s production, specifically due to the smaller cast size. “I know that [director Keli Rodgers] chose a play with not a lot of people because in the past there haven’t been a lot of people who auditioned, so she wanted a small cast,” Anothayanontha said. For junior Tony Mauna, who had his first lead role as Reverend David Lee, the experiences he’s had as part of the cast of The Foreigner are what will keep him coming back. “[I want to continue to participate in theater] for the experience of meeting new people, being new people and performing in front of an audience,” Mauna said. “You get to take a break from you, to become somebody new, to experience their way of life.”

From Above: 1. Senior Fredrick Rivera and junior Olyvia Anothayanontha react to an “explosion,” during a performance of The Foreigner on Feb. 18, in the Greg Parker Auditorium. Anothayanontha played an elderly lady who lived in a lodge and let Rivera’s character, Froggy, stay with her while he came to America. “I think [Froggy and I] are similar in a sense,” Rivera said. “Some of the things don’t go as planned. You can depend on both of us, not for everything but for most things.” 2. Senior Adam Baughman whose character, Owen, was a member of the KKK asks advice from Mauna’s character, Rev. David. “People thought I was a weird kid that didn’t know his place in the world,” Baughman said. “I’ve heard a lot about theater and most of those kids don’t know where they are in the world so I was surrounded by people like me.” 3. Senior Cody O’Connor attempts to teach senior Dylan Klein the word for brick. O’Connor played the younger brother. “It’s hilarious,” Klein said. “It’s probably the funniest show that I’ve ever been a part of.” 4. Senior Dylan Klein, who played the foreigner, comforts senior Lysle Hartnett. “I thought The Foreigner went really well,” Klein said. “The audience’s reaction was better than I expected.”

+BY GRACE GORENFLO

NW PASSAGE | feature 07

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08 MAR. 28, 2016 | Vol. 47

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Adjusting to Nutrition

Staff and students open up about school lunch

Before the ‘14-‘15 school year, students fed their hunger with chewy Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, greasy Domino’s pizza and scoops of creamy soft serve. Little did they know, a big change was coming. In 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama and Congress worked together to enact the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. Officially implemented in 2014, the act focuses on improving nutrition and reducing childhood obesity. According to kitchen manager Joy Greenhalgh, it’s working. “We see kids from elementary and middle school come to high school, and they do eat healthier,” Greenhalgh said. “Before, everything [they ate] was fried and junk.” According to The State of Obesity and the Center for Disease Control, more than 31 percent of adolescents were overweight or obese in 2012. Since then, that number has gone down to only 17 percent. The obesity rates have dropped since the act was enforced, but some students still aren’t convinced. “I honestly don’t think [the lunches] are any healthier,” junior Miles Weiss said. “Seniors with open lunch don’t have to eat the healthy school lunches. They are free to leave and eat what they want while the rest of the students have to abide by the nutrition laws.” Since the act was passed, schools have increased the number of fruits and vegetables served, only cook with and serve low fat or nonfat milk and only offer “wholegrain-rich” snacks. In other words, all snacks contain 50 percent whole grains. “I don’t like how they make you get a vegetable or fruit,” junior Megan Saunders said. “I don’t eat it. I just throw it away. You can’t just force someone to eat healthier. You have to show them why it’s important.” Many students complain that nutrition laws give them the option of eating healthy at school, but they aren’t taught why the food is healthy or how it is benefiting them. “Nothing that I have been told has really made me want to eat healthier,” Saunders said. The food served may not always get eaten, but there are definitely plenty of options — 23, to be exact. “We have about 16 entrées every day, then we have sides,” head cook Tawnya Aldrich said. “You have to

have five components to make a meal. You have to have protein and grains — which usually comes from the entrée — dairy, a fruit and/or a vegetable.” A meal with all of the five components is $2.70. To be charged for a meal and not for a la carte, you have to have the entrée, which usually consists of the grains and protein, and up to five sides of fruits and vegetables. While fruits and veggies may not sound appetizing to students, they are actually quite popular in the form of fries, mashed potatoes and juice. If students don’t like the standard apples and oranges, they can choose to get a carton of juice instead. If they don’t like vegetables like carrots or cauliflower, they can get French fries or mashed potatoes to complete their meal. If a student chooses only an entrée and a drink, the a la carte prices apply, which could mean paying more for less food. If a student were to choose to get an entrée and a milk, they would be charged $2.60, a dime less than a full meal.The district nutritionist plans the meals served and determines the menu, portion sizes and how many servings of specific items students are allowed. When the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed, it not only changed what the schools served but how the food is cooked. “We don’t use any salt when we cook except for the food from the bakery such as chocolate cake and other breads, [so] the sodium level goes down every year,” Greenhalgh said. “We can’t even give out salt packets for [students] to use.” Greenhalgh said it’s impossible to please everyone, but, as the years go by, students’ tastes are adjusting. “They’re getting used to it,” Greenhalgh said. “At first, things were really bad with the change, but it’s okay now. You’re always going to have your complainers, but kids are eating fruits and vegetables now and coming back for more.” + BY KASEY GARDNER

What makes you obese? You are considered obese when you body weight is 20 percent

more than it should be. If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 25-29.9, you are considered overweight. If your Body Mass Index is higher than 30, you are also considered obese.

childhood obesity rates in: Oklahoma

17.4%

Nebraska

15.8%

Kansas

14.2%

Missouri

13.5%

Colorado

10.9%

NW PASSAGE | feature 09

MAKING IT LAST After weeks of anticipation, the nine days of Spring Break just weren’t long enough

pring Break is a muchneeded breath of fresh air. It’s a time dedicated to family and friends. It’s the week anticipated for weeks. It’s a vacation spent relaxing at a lake house or beach, exploring a city with a school group. Or it’s a vacation spent at home, and the memories made were of Netflix binge-watching, Snapchat stories and memes. Either way, you traveled to a different environment in refreshing contrast to school. It’s nine days when you convince yourself you will catch up on longterm homework or old assignments. It gives you the space to be either productive or lazy and guilt-ridden. The week ends with you either proud of yourself, hating yourself or some combination of both. Spring Break is the beginning of the end. It’s the last break before the end of the year, and the start of the last couple months of school. The start of the countdown of 47 more school days (now 42). It’s over too fast. You went into it hopeful and excited. Blink, and it’s the end of the week. Those days are gone, but the photos aren’t. Here’s a look at how your peers spent spring break. It’s our contribution in the attempt to make it last.

+BY SOPHIE FLORES / PHOTOS COMPILED BY PAIGE EICHKORN

08 MAR. 28, 2016 | Vol. 47

NW NW PASSAGE PASSAGE || feature feature 09 09

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12 MAR. 28, 2016 | Vol. 47

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THIS

MONTH IN HASHTAGS Twitter blew up with these hashtags over the past month + BY PAIGE EICHKORN

Top trend

#Oscars Mad Max: Fury Road won six honors at the 88th Academy Awards, leading all other films. The Revenant’s Leonardo DiCaprio brought home his first Oscar for Best Actor. Brie Larson won Best Actress for Room. Inside Out won Best Animated Feature Film.

#Curry The NBA Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry scored his 12th three-pointer in one game, Feb. 27 in Oklahoma City, breaking his own record for most three-pointers in a season: 288 with 24 games to play. Fans and other NBA players, like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, tweeted in support.

#FullerHouse A sequel to the 1987 series premiered on Netflix including seven of the original cast members. D.J. (Candace Cameron Bure) is all grown up and living in her childhood home in San Francisco with her sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin). Her father Danny (Bob Saget), Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) and Uncle Joey (Dave Coulier) are guest stars. This series expanded to focus on the new generation of Tanners, minus Michelle (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) who is “busy in New York running her fashion empire.” Fans tweeted their thoughts on the show’s debut along with #MichelleTanner.

#Daytona500 Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrecked in the season-opening of Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin won, leading 95 of the 200 laps. This year’s Daytona 500 averaged 11.4 million viewers on FOX, down 15 percent compared to last year.

# DemDebate Sen. Bernie Sanders has fallen behind fellow Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the delegate count. Clinton held her own at the CNN debate Mar. 6, preventing Sanders from claiming victory. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder was a topic of interest as the Flint water crisis progressed. Democratic voters tweeted throughout the event.

NW PASSAGE | entertainment 13

NW PHOTO COURTESY OF JONNEGRONI.FILES.WORDPRESS.COM

ZOOTOPIA

+BY CARTER ADAM

ootopia was exactly what I expected from any modern-day Disney film. The protagonist has a conflict which she tries to solve with the help of her friends. The gushy “never give up and follow your dreams” moral of the story can be found in nearly every children’s film. A rabbit named Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) dreams of being the first rabbit police officer. When

Hopps is assigned to the Zootopia police force, no one takes this would leave younger audiences confused. her seriously. Hopps then makes it her personal mission to If you can get past the sappy “never give up” Disney cliché solve the strange kidnappings happening around Zootopia that the movie is built around, I would recommend Zootopia. so she can prove herself to her department. Ready DISNEY CHANGED THE PLOT UP A BIT WITH THE WHOLE CRIME to assist her is con-artist AND MYSTERY ASPECT, WHICH ADDED TO THE MOVIE AND MADE IT fox Nick Wilde (Jason INTERESTING TO WATCH. Bateman). Disney changed the plot up a bit with the whole crime and mystery aspect, which added It is a jam-packed movie about talking animals and a crime to the movie and made it interesting to watch. I kept thinking, mystery. “Would kids really understand what is going on?” The movie Zootopia had a few Easter eggs that older audiences would seemed to be aimed toward children 9 years old and older, understand, including references to Breaking Bad and The based on the characters’ actions and vocabulary. I am afraid Godfather. The details really added humor to the movie itself.

PHOTO COURTESY OF S3.FOXFILM.COM

CLOVERFIELD

LANE +BY KEEGAN DOLINAR

ave you ever imagined a life in a bunker not knowing whether the world outside has been destroyed? Have you ever imagined being stuck in this bunker with two other people, one of whom is insane? It’s scary to think about, right? Well, thankfully, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a terrifying experience that gives fuel to this nightmarish thought. The experience begins with a car traveling down

14 MAR. 28, 2016 | Vol. 47

a country road alone, our first feeling of solitude, a theme Cloverfield Lane makes you believe these characters are real continued throughout the film. Then — WHAM — the main people stuck in this situation. That being said, these three star, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), gets hit by a truck actors did a fantastic job. Goodman was especially menacing and left for dead on the side of the road. She soon wakes up as Howard. in a bunker and is told that the world has ended. Not knowing I can happily state that this film is not an overdone “shakywhen, how or why the I CANNOT URGE HOW WELL THIS FILM ENCAPSULATED AN catastrophic event happened, she is forced OVERWHELMING SOLITUDE THAT I AM ALL TOO TERRIFIED TO to believe everything EXPERIENCE. Howard (John Goodman) tells her. cam” film that induces motion sickness. This film is worlds She soon meets Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.), and the better than Cloverfield, but has no discernible correlation terrorizing, solitary thrill ride begins. With a sparse three- whatsoever. person cast, the film could be ruined by a single poor I cannot urge how well this film encapsulated an performance or underdeveloped character. Fortunately, 10 overwhelming solitude that I am all too terrified to experience.

+BY AUSTIN BACHERT

ROCKET LEAGUE

PLATFORMS: XBOX ONE, PLAYSTATION 4, PC

inally, a game that makes soccer fun to play and watch comes out on Xbox One. Rocket League is an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride with explosions, goals, cheering and endless tears of frustration. I found myself wanting to play game after game after game, never wanting to put

PHOTO COURTESY OF I.KINJA-IMG.COM the controller down. Rocket League is fast-paced and exciting, making it more fun to play than any other soccer game. This is not your typical FIFA; it is better in every way. Rocket League substitutes small race cars for soccer players. Race cars that can jump, flip, spin, boost, drive up walls and powerslide around the field, making for incredibly fun game play. The game offers a very satisfying — but also frustrating — experience. The joy of watching the replay of an amazing front flip

goal can be immediately offset by the anger of failing to block an opponent’s shot. When a goal is scored, horns go off, the crowd cheers endlessly and an explosion sends any car around the goal flying across the field. Once I started getting more practice with the game, it gave a more rewarding experience. With practice, I learned to ricochet the ball off of the wall and ceiling and flew through the air. Even without these skills, a simple 4 on 4 on-line match up is hours of fun.

The only drawbacks of this game so far include server issues and occasional game crashes. However, this is to be expected with the early release of a game and will be fixed soon, (I hope). Altogether, this frenetic game is packed with fun and frustrating experiences. With the endless inventory of unlocks, it will keep me hooked for awhile to come. Rocket League is absolutely worth the buy.

+BY ASHER NORBERG

THE 1975 “I LIKE IT WHEN YOU SLEEP, FOR YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL YET SO UNAWARE OF IT”

he British alt-pop band, The 1975, has released another cringe-worthy album, I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it. The obnoxiously long-titled album clocks in at one hour and 14 minutes. The 1975 have yet again stained the reputation of British music. Blatant rip-offs of David Bowie throughout this album are

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THEODYSSEYONLINE.COM exactly the thing to expect from The 1975. No originality. Guitar riffs and synths that sound like they were directly taken from Bowie’s 1975 release Young Americans plague the album in the least respectful way. There is a way to pay tribute an artist, but this is not it. Aside from that, this album is nothing new for The 1975. The album is basically leftover scraps from their self-titled debut, The 1975, with Bowie thrown into the mix. In “She’s American,” yet another poorlydone nod to Bowie, Matty Healy sings, “If she says I’ve got to fix my teeth / Then she’s so American.” The song is about a relationship with an American girl. At this point, it’s a

cliché among British musicians. In their freshman release, ambient tracks were sprinkled throughout, and this album continues that trend. Ambient music is music with no persistent beat, often used to create a mood. The disgustingly titled “Please be Naked” is entry-level ambient, at best. I’m assuming it is meant to give the listener a bit of a break from Healy’s annoyingly thick British accent. The one song I do like, Somebody Else, is super catchy and something new for the band. “Oh, I don’t want your body / But I’m picturing your body with somebody else,” Healy sings. The lyrics are admittedly corny, but they play nicely with the melody.

Gospel is another genre that shows up in this album with reverbed choir voices peppered throughout “The Ballad of Me and My Brain” and “If I Believe You”. In the latter, Healy sings about his struggles with religion, a topic that was tired even before Vampire Weekend did it their song “Unbelievers” in 2013. Throughout this album, The 1975 seems to be trying to prove their edge. We get it. You are an indie pop band from the U.K. composed of sensitive, straight white boys who don’t believe in God and think American girls are hot. You aren’t new, and neither is this album’s sound.

over an electronic didgeridoo on “Lying in the Grass.” “For a misplaced stash / Let’s search through the trash / And right this ignorant lurch / Wicked urge,” he chants. The song describes a man in the thick of recovery from addiction. In “Hocus Pocus,” the lyrics encourage the listener to look at things from different perspectives. “Wander from the cynical / Take a look at views atypical,” Panda Bear warbles. This album had a lot to live up to, considering the band’s impressive discography, spanning more than 16 years.

Although Painting With is a melodicallypleasing album, the experimental allure that had characterized Animal Collective’s earlier releases seems to have worn off. This album sounds like leftovers from Panda Bear’s 2015 independent release, Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper. There is nothing that sets Painting With apart from the rest of their discography. The openness of their earlier albums is not only completely absent here, but has been replaced by a kooky pop that hesitates to stray from the path made for it by its many predecessors.

+BY ASHER NORBERG PHOTO COURTESY OF PITCHFORK.COM

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE

“PAINTING WITH”

eneric isn’t a word often applied to Baltimorebased, experimental rock band, Animal Collective. Painting With, however, is nothing but. While it is musically pleasing, there is nothing new being brought to the table. The tracks on this album could have been included on any of their earlier albums.

Painting With is Animal Collective’s 10th studio album. This collection of paleolithic beats is reminiscent of their iconic 2009 album, Merriweather Post Pavilion. The album opens with “FloriDada,” a voltaic and effervescent pop ballad masterpiece. Eclectic sounds and occasional cacophony mark every Animal Collective album, and this album is no exception. Lyrically, this album has no central theme and, instead, deals with a new subject in each song. The vocals of lead singer Panda Bear are chopped then woven together and layered

NW PASSAGE | entertainment15

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16 MAR. 28, 2016 | Vol. 47

BRENNI ROSE

LEGEND

Brenni Rose becomes the girls’ basketball all-time leading scorer at Northwest

IN THE MAKING

enior Brenni Rose was honored March 3 for yet another basketball accomplishment. After recently being recognized for scoring 1,000 career points, Rose was honored this time for becoming the Lady Cougar’s alltime leading scorer. “It truly [was] my pleasure to take a moment to individually honor Brenni, who has made first team all-state basketball selection in the past,” athletic director Angelo Giacalone said. “We [gave] her an encased ball which signifies her individual success as a 1000-point scorer, and 500-rebound person.” A four-year varsity starter, Rose said that breaking this record was never a goal for her, as she was always more focused on the next game rather than her personal achievements. “I care more about winning,” Rose said. “This was never something I really strived for. I just try to give 100 percent every day at practice, and make everyone around me better.” Giacalone admires Rose for her hard work both on and off the basketball court. “Brenni [is] a great ambassador not only for Lady Cougar basketball, but also for Northwest,” Giacalone said. “Her leadby-example attitude is both refreshing and rewarding... and her off-court leadership and positive work ethic have earned her

PHOTOS BY CHANDLER BADO

the respect of her peers and admiration of coaches.” Teammate Shelbie McLain praises Rose’s basketball IQ. “She is good because she is aggressive and smart and she’s not afraid to shoot it or take it to the basket,” McLain said. “She’s smart enough to know when lanes are open. She’s the kind of player that is always trying to make you better. So if she knows you aren’t doing something right or if you could do something better, she’ll let you know.” Rose says that earning a basketball scholarship was always a goal which motivated her to play harder throughout the years. Rose committed to play basketball at Drake University her sophomore year of high school. “Growing up in a house with five kids, I knew it would be a huge weight off of my parents’ shoulders to have one kid’s college completely paid for,” Rose said. “And all I had to do was play the game I love.” However impressive breaking the record for all-time Lady Cougar scorer may seem, it wasn’t good enough for Rose. She didn’t allow it to distract her from her goal of leading the basketball program to its first state title, and the team finished the season second in the state. +BY JACKIE SAYERS

NW PASSAGE | sports 17

STATE RECAPS

PHOTO BY KEVIN THOMPSON

PHOTO BY BRYCE REX

LADY COUGARS TAKE SECOND IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT

— RUN JUMP THROW —

TRACK AND FIELD TEAMS ARE READY FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON

— MAKING A SPLASH —

Lady Cougar basketball team made history Saturday March 12. That day Koch Arena transformed from the home of the yellow and black Wichita State Shockers to the meeting place of the two best girls basketball teams in the state, the orange and black Cougars and the blue and red Wichita South Titans. “It means a lot of our program, for our school and for our community,” head coach Tyler Stewart said. “It just shows what a great group of kids can do when they buy in and leave everything out on the floor. We did a great job.” In the first game of the tournament NW was able to dominate and beat Washburn Rural 44-29. Senior Brenni Rose lead scoring with 15. “In the Washburn game we played really great defense,” Senior Danielle Rehor said.” We also were able to execute on both ends of the floor. The second game was closer and was a tale of two halves between the Cougars and Olathe South Falcons. In the first half good passing along with dominating the glass helped NW to an eight point lead at half. In the second half the Cougars struggled against the Falcons press defense that gave the Falcons a one point lead late in the fourth quarter. Rose hit six straight free throws in the end to give the Cougars a 38-36 victory. “It felt great to beat Olathe South to go to the state championship after they beat us earlier in the year, but to also beat Olathe South for the first time in my career,” Rehor said. “Also this is the first time in the past 12 years that we beat Olathe South.” In the championship game the Cougars had to face undefeated Wichita South Titans and the Kansas Girls’ Basketball Gatorade athlete of the year Kendrian Elliott. The game was a back and forth defensive battle, but, in the end, the Titans squeaked by the Cougars 36-30. Rehor lead scoring with 13. “The hardest part against Wichita South was that they were bigger and quicker than us,” Rose said. “We had to start applying pressure but they were faster and we struggled to keep up.” The team will remember this season for a long time as this was the first ever appearance in the championship game. “I know that everyone, especially us seniors, left it all on the court,” Rehor said. “I will most remember not only our run at state but the relationships that I made with my teammates throughout the season. I’ll cherish all the memories that we made this season.”

The starter gun has fired and the track season is underway with both the boys and girls teams trying for the state championship title in May. “I think the goal of our team is to just come out and give it 100 percent,” pole vaulter Jake Nobrega said. “Every practice, every meet, we will be giving it our all. The end goal of the season is to get as many people to state as possible.” Of the 20 athletes sent to state last year, six returned, including sophomore Molly Born. Last year, Born took home two state championships, one in the 1600-meter race and another in the 3200-meter race. “The state experience from last year gives us a better knowledge of our competition for this year,” Born said. “It also helps us know what to expect for this year’s state.” Along with Born, the team returns state meet veterans high jumper Abbi Bird, sprinter Ian McCabe, shot putter Cole Young, distance runners Reid Thornburg and Chandler Bado and pole vaulters Jake Nobrega and Sam Mosburg. “The strength of the team is all of our returners who are very capable of scoring points this year for us,” Bird said “There’s a lot of opportunity to break records this year. I’m really excited to work toward that with my team and give it our all to become the best.”

The swim and dive team competed in the class 6A state meet Feb. 16 at Topeka-Capitol Federal Natatorium. Sophomore Jaden Karnes placed 13th in diving, his best finish yet. “Jaden made it to finals which is exciting for his first trip to state,” head coach Dave Pfortmiller said. The medley relay team, including juniors Josh Plagge and Brandon Harrell and seniors Avery Ragan and Luke Helfrich, placed 23rd. “The kids dropped more time in the relays,” Pfortmiller said. “That is what we always like to see.“ None of the state qualifiers had experienced competition at the state level. “It was a lot of fun, but I was really anxious,” junior captain Brandon Harrell said. “During the actual race, I just went off of adrenaline.” Pfortmiller implemented a new workout program that enforced a race-pace tempo, rather than distance. “I had the kids write goals at the beginning of the season,” Pfortmiller said. “Most of them have either exceeded their goals or have come very close which shows them that when they put in the effort, good things can come.” Although the team had a disappointing performance this go-around, they have improved from previous years. “Twenty-third in state isn’t really something that anyone brags about,” Harrell said. “I feel like our team was a lot more well-rounded this year with a lot more people that were close to going to state.” Only two of the seven swimmers who competed in the state meet this year were seniors, putting the team in a good place to bounce back next season. “The returning swimmers were excited and already talking about how we can improve for next year,” Pfortmiller said. “Now it’s up to them to step up and work hard to meet and exceed the times we swam this year.”

+BY MATTHEW OWENS

18 MAR. 28, 2016 | Vol. 47

+BY MATTHEW OWENS

SWIM AND DIVE ENDS SEASON 24TH IN STATE MEET

+BY REED WILLIAMS

PHOTO BY BRYCE REX

PREVIEW

STATE

PREVIEW

STATE — CLASH OF WARRIORS —

PHOTO BY GRACE ROEDER

— UNFINISHED BUSINESS — LAST YEAR’S LOSS IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOCUSES THE BASEBALL TEAM’S EFFORTS THIS SEASON

Last year’s boys varsity baseball team came up one win short of a state championship, falling 4-1 to Lawrence Free State. Ever since that loss on May 29, the team has been howling “chase that ice”, or championship ring, from the weight room. “Our goal is to get back to where we were last season,” head coach Domenic Mussat said. “Back to the state tournament and, hopefully, to get three wins [for the championship] instead of two.” In the 2015 season the team beat Shawnee Mission East three times, including once in the state tournament. This year, the rivalry intensifies between the two teams. Every member of the program is well-aware that to get back where they were, they must take advantage of the offseason. “[We] started working out in January to get prepared for tryouts,” senior pitcher Jared Marolf said. “We did strength training and agility with Mussat, and flexibility and coordination exercises with Dan [Fletcher], the trainer.” “36.4 miles” – the distance from Northwest to KU’s Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence – has been the motto for the team. The varsity team lost five of last year’s nine varsity starters and for most teams, that would be a cause for concern, but not this one. “This team can’t rely on one or two guys,” Junior Joe Todd said. “We want the ice, and there’s no better motivation than that.”

+BY REED WILLIAMS

SPRING PREVIEWS PHOTO BY BRYCE REX

THE WRESTLING TEAM FIGHTS HARD AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT

As senior Blake Allen prepares for his final golf season, he remains focused on the goals he started working toward years ago. “I’m looking forward to a chance at winning league and state,” Allen said. “We have been working on our swings on our hitting simulator at school since the end of January, along with putting in a lot of work on our own time.” After a successful season last year, varsity golf coach Jim Bamburg is looking to the returning varsity athletes to lead the team to another strong season. Key athletes include Allen,(first in regionals) Junior Jackson Grotegut, sophomore Christian Ghilardi (second in regionals) and Kellen Cross return from the 2nd place league and 2nd place regional team last season. “Our biggest strength this season [is] the quality of our more experienced golfers,” Bamburg said. “Our team goal is to win the Sunflower League, win regional and finish top three in the state. We will need to make sure we have great team chemistry and be able to hit fairways and greens and make putts we are supposed to make.” Allen is happy to finish his Cougar golf career with such an experienced varsity team. “We are a pretty deep team. Our number one guy through our number six guy are all fairly strong,” Allen said. “We are young, but I think we are mature beyond our years. I’m really looking forward to this year.”

Fighting hard for pins and take downs, the wrestling team placed 23rd in the state tournament Feb. 26 and 27 at Hartman Arena outside Wichita. “The atmosphere was intense,” junior Jermaine Epps said. “The second day was when the emotions came out of everyone.” Sophomore Jerad Habben, the team’s highest individual finisher, received fourth place in the 106-pound weight class with a 4-2 record. “It was a great experience,” Habben said. “It was also a reminder that I still have work to do to bring Northwest a title next year.” The team scored 27.5 total points while Garden City won the state title with 168.5 points. “I think it went about as well as expected,” head coach Howard Newcomb said. “That is one of the things that we strive for: winning the winnable matches.” Habben was the first NW wrestler to place since LaPhonso McKinnis and Mario Galvan in 2014. “Last year, we only had one guy go 2-2 and make it to the heartbreaker round,” Newcomb said. “This year we had four. One of those four made it onto the medal stand.” Habben, Epps, Charles Brockmann, Devonte Smith and Trevor Rine all scored points for the Cougars in the tournament. “I think our guys were really wellprepared,” Newcomb said. “They went into it with a good attitude, and they were healthy, for once. Their conditioning was good, and we were in every match.” Although the season is over, Newcomb will remember this team for its effort and dedication. “Trevor overcame knee surgery, Colin had a concussion, Efrine hurt his collarbone and had to battle through just to get to state,” Newcomb said. “The heart that these guys showed all year long…will be what I remember. They just battle.”

+BY JACKIE SAYERS

GIRLS’ SOCCER GET READY FOR THE BEGINNING OF A NEW SEASON

With a new season on the horizon the girls soccer team remains excited for the possibilities that a fresh start presents. “I’m excited about the fact that it’s a brand new season,” varsity coach Todd Boren said. “I think we have a really good group of girls this year in terms of their attitudes. They’re very positive to be around and willing to work hard.” Senior Amelia Hoelting is proud of the way the team has conditioned in the offseason, knowing it will make the transition to practice easier. “Communicating runs and who is where on this field is important [for] the midfield and forwards,” Hoelting said. “We [will have] to perfect [our shape] over the next few weeks.” With key members of last year’s offense returning, Boren is expecting the team to be at its best on the attack. “We should be strong on the offensive side of the ball because we’re returning Amelia Hoelting, who was first team All-Sunflower League last year,” Boren said. “We’ve also got Erica Esch coming back from injury. We just have a lot of depth in the forward spot.” Right now, Boren is focused on replacing midfielder Korbyn Caswell, who graduated last year. “For us, midfield is kind of the position in question right now,” Boren said. “I think once we find that chemistry and the formation that works best for the girls, [we] will be very strong.”

PHOTO BY JORDAN ABSHER

PREVIEW

BOYS’ GOLF WORKS TOWARD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON

— BELIEVE AND ACHIEVE —

PHOTO BY LAUREN EDWARDS

PREVIEW

— TAKE DOWN —

PHOTO BY NICK KAHTAVA

PREVIEW

STATE

PREVIEW — IN FULL SWING —

PHOTO BY TARYN SMITH

To read about the bowling team’s experience at state visit smnw.com

— OUTPLAY, OUTWORK, — OUTLAST

— FIGHTING FOR FIRST —

Last year the team was close to making state tournament and that motivates this year’s softball team to strive for excellence in their upcoming season. “We were two wins away from state,” varsity co-captain Kathryn Born said. “We lost our regional game. It was definitely upsetting because we thought we could make it to state.” There will be many bumps in the road ahead, but with confidence and determination these bumps will only be minor deterrents. “Sometimes there’s a lack of focus at practice, or we aren’t quite awake,” varsity second baseman Lauren Klein said. “But [to improve] we honestly just break down the plays in practice, repetition.” The loss of the number one bat in their previous line up seemed like a hard hit for the team at first, but with a new assistant coach on staff, things are looking up. “We have a new assistant coach and she is very knowledgeable about hitting and I think she will improve on all of our bats this season,” Born said. “We have a great group of girls that I think could take us to state. This year our team has a lot better chemistry, I think we will work better together.” There won’t be any weak spots on the field either with players occupying each position. “We have some excellent seniors,” Born said. “All positions have awesome players filling them.”

After losing 10 of the top 12 players in the last two years, the tennis team strives to defy the odds stacked against them. “We don’t have as many experienced guys on [junior varsity] this year,” co-captain Reagan Walsh said. “Most of them just started tennis.” In order to make up for the lack of experienced players, co-captain Tyler Garland has made a significant effort in offseason training. “I practice year round,” Garland said. “In the past two months, I changed my diet and started seeing a personal trainer to make my core stronger.” While personal training is a key to success, team camaraderie is what this team relies on the most. “The team is really close this year,” Walsh said. “We all have really positive attitudes and I am really excited to see how we compete against some of the stronger teams.” In order to beat Sunflower League rivals the senior duo must perform at their peak. “We’ll really be looking at Reagan Walsh and Tyler Garland,” head coach Ken Clow said. “They performed well last year and we hope to see even more improvement this year.” In the state tournament, Walsh placed fifth as a sophomore and third as a junior. “My goal for my partner, Tyler Garland, and myself, is to contend for a state doubles championship,” Walsh said. “This year I’m going for first.”

THE SOFTBALL TEAM PREPARES FOR THE ROAD TO STATE COMPETITION

+BY BEN BECKER

AS THE 2016 SEASON DRAWS CLOSER, THE TENNIS TEAM PREPARES FOR BATTLE

+BY REED WILLIAMS

+BY JACKIE SAYERS

+BY MATTHEW OWENS NW PASSAGE | sports 19

PHOTO BY TARYN SMITH

“

I LOVE THE ADRENALINE. [RUGBY] IS A REALLY FAST SPORT AND IT’S A SPORT THAT I WISH MORE PEOPLE PLAYED BECAUSE IT DOESN’T GET A WHOLE LOT OF RECOGNITION. IF MORE PEOPLE PLAYED RUGBY, I THINK IT WOULD DO A LOT OF GOOD FOR THE SCHOOL.” — senior Cale Harbour