Issue 5: Kansas City, We're so in Love

NW PASSAGE FEB. 2, 2017 VOL. 48 ISSUE 05

we’re So In PAGE 08 & 09

THE OATH OF OFFICE

JUST BREATHE

RUNNING INTO FAME

The swearing-in of President Trump was a widely celebrated and loudly contested occasion

First-year performers are not the only ones to experience Talent Show nerves

Long-time cross country coach to be the first inductee into the NW Hall of Fame

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PAGES 06 & 07

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TARYN SMITH & SHELBY BEAUMONT

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Issue 05 Feb. 2, 2017

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Late Start Thursdays

The district’s new high school bell schedule gives teachers time to work on curriculum and gives students an extra 70 minutes of sleep

The oath of office

The swearing in of President Trump was a widely celebrated and loudlycontested occasion

Kansas City, we’re so in love Recent successes in sports and food have shaped Kansas City into a place worthy of more than a flyover

Just breathe

First-year performers are not the only ones to experience Talent Show nerves

OUR PURPOSE:

STAFF:

The 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.

PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT:

02 FEB. 2, 2017 | Vol. 48

Editor-in-Chief Online Managing Editor

STAFF WRITERS: Grace Gorenflo Jack Lynch

CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Design Editor Copy Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor

Shelby Beaumont Cadence Elder Taryn Smith Maddy Manning

Will Gross Annalissa Houser Samantha Joslin Anastasia Kling Sonni Meyers Michael Rock Jackie Sayers Jordan Sherfy Josh Sherfy STAFF DESIGNERS: Rachel Albers

SECTION EDITORS: Opinion & Lifestyle Editor Sports & Mulitmedia Editor Entertainment Editor Ads Manager

Asher Norberg Matthew Owens Benjamin Becker Sara Babcock

ADVISERS: Adviser Asistant Adviser

Susan Massy Wes Mikel

GROUNDED

The yoga mat has become a place that I retreat to

The first yoga class I went to was not by choice. I spent the night at my friend’s house and the next morning her mom insisted we go to yoga with her. I had my reservations about yoga because I didn’t see the purpose in doing the same poses repeatedly.

Going into my first Ashtanga class at Maya Yoga Studio, I felt really insecure about the clothes I was wearing and how my body looked in different positions. I thought everyones’ eyes were on me while my arm shook trying to hold a position. My friend and I glanced at each other repeatedly as she tried to tell me the correct way to place my foot or arm. But, by the end of the class, even through all of the stress of trying to be perfect, I felt more relaxed.

Ashtanga focuses on the cleansing of the internal organs.

By twisting further into positions or squeezing certain parts of the

Lotus

IRL

Warrior 1 & 2

Wheel

body, organs are being given attention that they wouldn’t be given on a daily basis. Strenuous twisting is always followed by a moment of calm to let the body recover.

The meditation after the first class that I went to was my favorite part. The studio’s big bay windows let sunshine pour into the room.

An altar of sorts sat at the front of the room adorned with incense, Buddhas and a tiny box that says “Today my practice is for...” Next to it were sheets of paper and a pencil. Music filled the room as I lay in corpse’s position and let all my thoughts float away.

After a couple months of doing yoga, my skepticism has been replaced with pure love.

I’ve learned the importance of taking time for myself and recharging. Every practice with yoga is different. It’s not about nailing a pose on the first try. It’s

+BY CADIE ELDER

about the journey that my body takes in order to practice the pose.

It takes strength and vulnerability.

Yoga is always referred to as a practice, because when things pop up during life, a pose that is usually done with ease can become difficult. It is not something a person can master after one class or even months of classes.

I tend to be an anxious person and yoga is an easy way for me to have quiet time for myself. After every practice, I feel a surge of energy and let the stress of the past days fade away. Situations where I would usually explode over a change in plans become less overwhelming and more bearable.

I am more present and accepting in the moment.

What keeps me coming back to the mat is the quiet place that yoga has made in my mind. Through yoga, I am a better version of myself.

Downward Dog

Triangle

+BY SARA BABCOCK

NW PASSAGE | opinion 03

HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON

The district’s new high school bell schedule gives teachers time to work on curriculum and gives students an extra 70 minutes of sleep +BY WILL GROSS, ASHER NORBERG & JOSHUA SHERFY

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ate Start Thursday. It’s hard to imagine a single teenager who does not like the sound of these words: Late Start Thursday.

The very syllables simply roll off the tongue and satisfy the sleep schedules of many Shawnee Mission high school students.

Those dreaming of more time for rest, hanging around at home or a stop at their favorite breakfast place will soon see their fantasy become a new reality. There can be no downside to this “Late Start Thursday” . . . right?

Beginning Feb. 9, the Shawnee Mission School District will push the usual 7:40 a.m. start time on Thursdays to 8:50 a.m., giving students another hour of free time. However, school will still end at 2:40 p.m., raising the question: where is this time coming from?

In order to compensate for the adjustments in the schedule, all block classes will be trimmed by five minutes. In addition, seminar will be divided into two segments: a 30-minute, no-travel seminar on Wednesday and a 50-minute travel seminar on Thursday.

These changes mirror the current schedule in the Blue Valley School District.

The time that will be provided for coordination between teachers on Thursday mornings is a direct result of the district’s vision to align curriculum across all the schools. The idea is that, across all subjects, the same topic, technique or material will be actively discussed on the same day in every corresponding school. The district hopes that the additional hour on Thursday

04 FEB. 2, 2017 | Vol. 48

will be beneficial to students who need to complete absent work.

The district has said that the high school bus schedule will not be altered. Any change in the bus schedule would create an overlap with elementary and middle school bus schedules. Students who ride the bus will arrive 90 minutes prior to the start of school and will be directed to the cafeteria to complete classwork under teacher supervision.

Another aspect of the schedule change is its impact on IB classes, which all require a minimum number of hours.

“IB requires ‘seat-time,’ a set number of hours in a seat,” IB coordinator Janine Deines said. “[For] the SL (standard level) classes, it is 150 hours. We don’t even currently sit 150 hours. With five fewer minutes every day, they are going to have to make up some time.”

Theory of Knowledge (TOK), one of the classes required to earn the IB diploma, is taking the biggest hit. The class requires 100 hours of seat time for the two years of the diploma program. Seminar is being cut by 10 minutes, which means every six weeks, the TOK class is losing an hour of seat time.

“Once a quarter, on the late starts, the kids will probably have to come in early and that way we can make up the time,” Deines said.

Although setting back the alarm may require some getting used to, Late Start Thursdays will be a welcome addition for most students’ calendars.

Starting Feb. 9, the new schedule will be put into effect Monday, Tuesday and Friday 7-hour day Hour 1: 7:40-8:30 a.m.

Hour 2: 8:35-9:25 a.m.

Hour 3: 9:35-10:25 a.m.

Hour 4: 10:30-11:20 a.m.

Hour 5: 11:25 a.m.-12:50 p.m.

Hour 6: 12:55-1:45 p.m.

Hour 7: 1:50-2:40 p.m.

Connected

Teachers gain collaboration time on Thursdays +BY CADENCE ELDER & ASHER NORBERG

CURRICULUM O

Wednesday Odd-block Hour 1: 7:40-9:05 a.m.

Advisory: 9:10-9:40 a.m.

Hour 3: 9:45-11:10 a.m.

Hour 5: 11:15 a.m.-1:10 p.m.

Hour 7: 1:15-2:40 p.m.

Thursday Late Start Even-block Late Start — Classes begin at 8:50 a.m.

Hour 2: 8:50-10:15 a.m.

Seminar: 10:20-11:10 a.m.

Hour 4: 11:15 a.m.-1:10 p.m.

Hour 6: 1:15-2:40 p.m.

ne week from now, students will be hitting the snooze button, savoring the extra hour of sleepful biss.

But while students are fast asleep, teachers will have Professional Learning Communities (PLC) time, where they can collaborate on their courses and make sure that their classes meet the same objectives.

“Teaching is kind of this art and science, so we aren’t trying to standardize every aspect of it,” principal Lisa Gruman said.

“We are trying to create common learning experiences for students and also be able to collaborate with each other to [meet student needs].”

PLC time is centered on three major questions: what do we want students to learn? How are we going to know if they learned the material? How do we look at results and respond?

“There’s a standard curriculum, but [PLCs] also leave flexibility for instructional strategy and flexibility for the teacher to present things in the way that is more effective for them,” Gruman said.

“It leaves that flexibility while everyone is working toward the same learning targets.”

English teachers Kathy Stewart and Marci Weitz began planning their classes together nearly four years ago.

“We did it because we really wanted all the honors sophomores to have the same experience,” Weitz said. “We didn’t want to hear ‘but her class does this’ or ‘her class does that.’”

Since the beginning of the school year, PLC time has been required after school twice a month. It is now being worked into the schedule before students arrive on Thursdays. Stewart and Weitz spent even more time after the required PLC time to complete their plans.

“We gave up a lot of our own time to get planning done,” Weitz said.

Planning came easily for the two of them because they have similar teaching styles.

“Kids know when they try to find us, they can come to either one of us,” Weitz said. “My students knew if they were confused, they could go to [Stewart] and get the same answers. It would be a lot tougher if we had different philosophies.”

Some teachers, however, think that PLC time will reduce their creative freedom.

“By working closely with other teachers who teach the same subject, it sometimes feels like we are ‘teaching by committee,’” English teacher Fran Koenigsdorf said.

According to Koenigsdorf, teachers who teach the same

subject discuss what they want to teach and it is filtered through all of them into one plan.

“By its very nature, this can either diminish or enhance creativity,” Koenigsdorf said.

“There are obvious benefits to an exchange of ideas with one’s colleagues, but there can be drawbacks, also. You may be an expert in a certain genre or certain time period whereas your colleagues are experts in other areas. You can never replicate that across the board.”

Science department head Debra Brewer sees the positives of PLC time being worked into the schedule.

“What we want to make sure is that we are giving every kid equal opportunity to excel at the same level,” Brewer said.

This collaboration does not just occur in department offices, but can stretch to other schools. “[PLC] could be across the district, so [for example], the five orchestra teachers could collaborate because it is now common time,” Gruman said.

Gruman sees the change in schedule as a necessity to allow students to get the most out of their education.

“We really [need] that time for teachers to collaborate,” Gruman said.

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1. In Room 116, Marci Weitz and Kathy Stewart discuss their weekends before grading homework. Weitz and Stewart work together on the same curriculum to better help students in their classes.

PHOTO BY NATE THOMPSON 2. During an AP English class, teacher Fran Koenigsdorf answers junior Lia Smith’s question in Room 130.

Koenigsdorf’s class was interpreting passages from the novel The Great Gatsby, “Fran’s teaching style is very different but makes things kind of fun,” Smith said.

PHOTO BY PIPER SCHUERMAN 3. In Theory of Knowledge, senior Mahi Patel laughs with classmates in Room 14 Jan. 12. “[the IB program] gives you a better understanding of the world around you,” Patel said. “IB classes create an environment where the expression of knowledge doesn’t feel limited to a multiple choice test.”

PHOTO BY ERIN HENTON

NW PASSAGE | feature 05

T H E O A T H O F OFFICE

The swearing in of President Trump was widely celebrated and loudly contested occas

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very four years, after a hotly contested and rigorous battle for the presidency, one person finds himself on the steps of the capitol, preparing to take the oath office, swearing to protect this nation at all costs. This historic battle for the presidency involves raising millions of dollars, giving countless speeches, and gaining the support of politicians, tycoons, and, most importantly, the people.

The victory lap of this tremendous, monumental race is the presidential inauguration, the symbol of democracy in the United States.

However, this year’s inauguration

was far from ordinary.

The predicted size for President Trump’s inauguration was between 300 and 600 thousand people; a small figure compared to President Obama’s first inauguration which drew almost two million to the nation’s capital.. Entertainment included performances by the Talladega Marching Tornadoes, The Rockettes, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Jackie Evancho. This group, though talented, did not share the name recognition of Yo Yo Ma and Beyoncé, the centerpieces of entertainment for President Obama’s past two inaugurations.

This is not due to a lack of effort by the Trump administration, however. Invitations were extended to Sir Elton John, Rebecca Ferguson and the Beach Boys, but were refused. All of this was confirmed

by CNN News.

Although this was not the largest inauguration in history, it may have been the most controversial.

As a nation, Americans are still divided over the election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, meaning there were crowds of both supporters and protesters, similar in size. This has proved difficult for the three dozen security agencies

responsible for making sure the event stays civil.

In 2004 Bush second inauguration came just three years after the worst terrorist attack since Pearl Harbor, security was high.

In 2008 Obama was elected the first African American president receiving a plethora of racist threats, security was high. However, for President Trump’s inauguration, security was unprecedented. The security budget alone was $100 million dollars, as reported by The New York Times.

These concerns were credible seeing that there were six police

Stepping In SOLIDARITY J

ust a day after the inauguration of Donald Trump, thousands united under rainbow-colored flags and pink hats. Their goal was not to overthrow of the new administration, but to support of the rights of women, LGBT+ and other groups.

+BY WILL GROSS

injuries and over 200 arrests of anti-Trump protesters in Washington on the morning of the inauguration.That was just in Washington however. Police also arrested nine protesters in New York, five in Dallas, and six in Chicago all according to CNN News.

Despite these security issues, the inauguration, for the most part, moved on schedule through the day without dilemma.

All in all, this year’s inauguration marked a single event. A democracy hallmark, the peaceful transfer of power from president to president, Obama to Trump.

Across the nation, thousands walk in support of the Women’s March +BY JOSHUA SHERFY

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1. “I wanted to do something positive to make sure that my voice was heard. I think [the march] sparked discussion. When we were finally able to march, [the crowd] ended up spilling out into streets that weren’t blocked off. Many drivers ended up being stuck in a giant crowd of people, and were mostly supportive, honking us on. I believe that people willing to listen to different perspectives often achieve the greatest change.”

Los Angeles, CA — Monica Shilling, SMNW ‘89 2. “This march was for so much more than just women’s rights. This was a march for compassion.

It demonstrated that the policies discussed in the House, Senate and, eventually, the Oval Office affect so many people. Our rights, those policies, they matter to us, and we aren’t going to let them slip away.”

Denver, CO — Hallie Ingraham, SMNW ‘16 3. “I didn’t necessarily agree with everything that I saw at the march; however, I agreed with the core message of diversity, acceptance and taking a stand for basic human rights.

The march was a coming together of minorities to unite against oppression. If people, not just the majority, can’t be heard, acknowledged and respected in our country [which was] built on these exact principles, what is the point of our democracy?”

Kansas City, MO — Skyler Ford, SMNW ‘18

2. all

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4. “I didn’t feel obligated to march; I marched because I believed it was the right thing to do. I was there to support those who feel oppressed by people who are blind to the fact that there is still inequality in this world. That’s something that is worth fighting for.”

Nashville, TN — Chandler Bado, SMNW ‘16 5. “The crowd was filled with laughing and chanting. Police officers and National Guard members that were standing on cars took photos of the crowd for any and all who handed them their phones. It was all about respect.”

Washington D.C — Maya Lee, SMNW ‘18

06 FEB. 2, 2017 | Vol. 48

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6. “I felt compelled to march because of Trump’s immediate attacks on reproductive rights. Everyone was saying “He’s not even in office yet, give him a chance.” This was a guy elected by a downtrodden portion of the working class because they needed an economic crusader. And the first thing he does is put a gag order on international aid groups promoting abortion. What’s up with the disconnect there?”

New York City, NY — Sam Gross, SMNW ‘14

1. On Capitol Hill, thousands of men, women and children march for womens’ rights Jan. 21 in Washington D.C. Many people made signs like the one pictured to oppose the country’s new administration. “None of us would be here without a woman so either this injustice needs to stop, or everyone needs to march along with us,” participant Laurie Krom said. PHOTO BY MAYA LEE 2. While attending the Women’s March in Nashville, Jan. 21, a little girl holds up a sign, signifying that her voice can be heard and is important. Many other young girls marched as well, bearing similar signs. PHOTO

BY CHANDLER BADO

TRUMP TWEETS “Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don’t always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.”

-@realDonaldTrump Jan. 21, 2017 “Wow, telvision ratings just out: 31 million people watched the Inauguration, 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago!”

-@realDonaldTrump Jan. 21, 2017 “Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn’t these people vote?

Celebs hurt cause badly.”

-@realDonaldTrump Jan. 21, 2017 “We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth - and we will bring back our dreams!”

-@realDonaldTrump

Presidential Promises

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onald John Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States Jan. 20, 2017. After nearly a year and a half of campaigning, he sits in the Oval Office as the head of the most powerful nation in the world. Over those 18 months, he has made promises ranging from benign to incisive to outlandish. So, the question is: can Donald Trump live up to these promises?

The President’s inaugural address promised a return of power to the people, putting America first, bringing back jobs,

An examination of President Trump’s inaugural address +BY JACK LYNCH

improving infrastructure, getting people off of welfare and a commitment to “buy American and hire American.”

This is no small feat. Can President Trump accomplish all of this? Here is a look at his promises and professional views on their viability. But first: did President Trump’s inaugural speech accomplish its goal?

“The speech was designed to divide rather than unify,” KU political science professor Don Haider-Markel said. “It was spiteful and lacked the dignity we usually hear in inaugural speeches.”

That sentiment was seconded by UMKC political science professor Dr. Max J. Skidmore.

“Most new presidents seek national unity [and] desire to obtain the people’s approval,” Skidmore said. “Mr. Trump apparently had something else in mind.

He made no appeals to unity, and seemed to direct his comments primarily to his supporters. He also praised himself. It was more of a campaign speech; it was not at all similar to other inaugural addresses.”

Political Science professors explain parts of Trump’s speech: “We are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.”

– PRESIDENT D ONALD TRUMP

“Actually, transferring power to the people means little as a generic statement,” Skidmore said. “The people aren’t going to take over government functions.

They aren’t going to defend the country, build roads, deliver the mail, regulate broadcasting, etc. Politicians who say this are implying to voters that the government makes too many decisions for them, but this is more rhetoric than reality.”

“We will get our people off of welfare and back to work.”

– PRESIDENT D ONALD TRUMP

“Welfare, as it existed formerly, no longer exists. President Clinton abolished it when he signed a law creating TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). Now, ‘welfare’ is temporary,” Skidmore said. “No one can receive it for more than a relatively brief period, and the limit lasts a lifetime. ‘Getting people off welfare and back to work’ was the goal of TANF. Now, in general, welfare payments require work. Since our unemployment levels are lower than they have been in decades and, since welfare has been so changed that it effectively no longer exists, the idea that hordes of Americans refuse to work because they prefer welfare simply is not true.”

“We will build new roads, and highways and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation” – PRESIDENT D ONALD TRUMP

“Traditionally, this has been more of a Democratic issue than a Republican one, because Republicans often object to the considerable expense, and in recent years they have said that taxes should always be lowered, not raised (even when going to war),” Skidmore said. “Whether he will succeed in persuading Republicans, who control Congress, to fund improvements (or whether he will try) remains to be seen.”

“We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American.”

– PRESIDENT D ONALD TRUMP

“Sure [it’s possible],” Hadier-Markel said, “But people want to buy $7 shirts so it seems unlikely that consumers will drive us in this direction.”

“From this moment on, it’s going to be America First.”

– PRESIDENT D ONALD TRUMP

“The idea of putting America first is abstract, and it can be difficult to understand exactly what he means by this,” assistant professor of political science at Kansas State University Nathaniel Birkhead said. “I would argue that our first 44 presidents have done their best to serve the country. The term “America First” is itself a phrase coined by an anti-Semitic isolationist group in the 1940s that urged American appeasement of Nazi Germany.”

“We will bring back our jobs.”

– PRESIDENT D ONALD TRUMP

“The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.

From this moment on, it’s going to be #AmericaFirst” -@realDonaldTrump Jan. 20, 2017

“Because of automation, it is not possible to bring back the level of manufacturing jobs that previously existed, but that does not necessarily mean fewer jobs,” Skidmore said. “Actually, there are far more jobs in the

U.S. now than previously. Unemployment is down. There would be even lower levels of unemployment if government jobs had not been so sharply reduced. For more than a half century, the number of federal jobs has

Witness in Washington I

had the opportunity to witness the Inauguration of the President of the United States through a travel program with Girl Scouts. Truthfully, I was a little nervous to be on the National Mall during Trump’s inauguration. Before going on this trip, my family members told me to be ‘aware of my surroundings instead’ of the usual ‘have fun’ and ‘take pictures’.

On the day of Trump’s Inauguration I set aside those fears while myself, along with 11 other Girl Scouts plus 3 adults, walked 5 miles from RFK Stadium to the National Mall. We crossed street after street where military personnel from all over the country controlled traffic to keep the mass of people moving towards Mall safely. The lines were loud and confusing as we navigated through hundreds

been steadily decreasing as a percentage of the population. If government at all levels — national, state, and local — were to abandon their efforts at austerity it would add numerous additional jobs.”

+BY SARA BABCOCK

of people attempting to get to push forward. Everyone could agree that more organization was needed while walking toward the TSA security lines. However, after passing a bag search that took only a minute or so, we walked uninhibited through the scattered protesters and the slight rain towards a huge JumboTron next to the Washington Monument.

Once the speeches started, mostly everyone quieted down and began to listen. Standing in a mixed crowd of supporters and protesters, I watched as Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. From my vantage point, I saw no violence, and saw nothing that made me feel unsafe.

Although we found a spot to sit, I was so filled with adrenaline that I couldn’t sit

down while watching Trump’s speech. As he spoke, I watched as some turned their backs to the screen, others applauded and many just did the same as me, watching; knowing that this was the only beginning of a new administration.

Standing next to the Washington Monument listening to many speeches expressing the importance of the peaceful transfer of power; with thousands of fellow Americans on a rainy Inauguration Day, I couldn’t help but be thankful — thankful that we, even with our deep divisions, can come together in this most unusual ceremony that has become our unique heritage. I am even more thankful that in our disagreement, we will fight a war of words, rather than a war of bloodshed.

NW PASSAGE | feature 07

Coming

home

Area professional teams leave their mark on the city +BY MATTHEW OWENS

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we’re So In

Recent successes in sports and food have shaped Kansas City into a place worthy of more than a flyover + BY GRACE GORENFLO AND MATTHEW OWENS

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lat, lifeless and worthy only of being passed over, unless, of course, you want to milk a cow — this is the typical assumption of an outof-towner when you tell them you’re from Kansas.

Despite the stigma about living in “the middle of nowhere,” life has been pumped back into Kansas City. Rich in history and tradition, and fostering thriving business districts, our city is much more than the flyover town it was 25 years ago.

We’ve always been the City of Fountains, the Barbecue Capital of America and home to a renowned legacy of jazz and blues. Now, we’ve taken the Crown, called first on Google Fiber and proved Arrowhead Stadium the loudest in the world. We are booming with restaurants and emerging as a new music mecca.

From the Crossroads, to Power and Light, to the corner of 18th and Vine — Kansas City is our city, and we are proud.

decade ago, Kansas City’s sports teams lacked an identity, stuck in a transition period that lacked an icon.

George Brett had retired more than a decade earlier, leaving the Royals with superstars that would bolt out of town as soon as their contracts were up. For the Chiefs, the quarterback was shaky, at best, since the retirement of Joe Montana in 1994 (Trent Green had a few good seasons in between).

The records back it up. In 2006, the Royals were a dismal 69-93, football was not much better at 4-12 and the Wizards, yes, not Sporting KC, were a little better but still under .500 at 117-12.

Fast forward to today, and Kansas City has had two World Series appearances and one championship, was one holding call away from an AFC championship game and saw Sporting KC capture a U.S. Open Cup and a MLS championship. It’s safe to say Kansas City sports have improved significantly over the past decade.

“I think, number one, we are winning and, two, involvement in sports is at an all time high,” 610 Sports Radio host Ryan Witkowski said. “I think expectations in sports have changed from a fan’s aspect, just because of the culture of the coaches.”w Coaches Andy Reid, Ned Yost and Peter Vermes have brought new life to their teams. By changing the culture of the locker rooms, players are buying into their coaching philosophies, in turn producing a more successful team.

KSHB 41 News sports reporter Ryan

Cheap Cheats

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owntown Kansas City just isn’t what it used to be.

At the corner of Southwest Boulevard and Central Street, Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop calls the Crossroads area home. Just two blocks south on Central and then two blocks northeast on W. 22nd Street, you’ll find Jack Stack, Lidia’s and Grunauer (barbecue, Italian and Austrian-German, respectively) all housed in a single renovated warehouse. Just a block southwest from that corner is the vegan restaurant, Café Gratitude.

Two blocks northeast from there lies Manny’s Mexican restaurant.

Located in the heart of

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BASEBALL • See games on Value Monday. Hy-Vee Level tickets are $10.

• See games on Student Night. On Wednesdays, HyVee Level tickets are $8 with a valid student ID.

Village West in Community America Ballpark by The Legends.

FOOTBALL • Pick cold games. Last season, when temperatures were down to 4 degrees Fahrenheit, tickets were $2 on resale websites.

• Go to preseason games.

Even though the games don’t count, you still can watch the teams for a cheaper price.

• Check out the KC Phantoms.

The new, indoor football team plays at the Silverstein Eye

A New Era of Eats

1889 Pizza Napoletana Since opening in June, this pizzeria offers fresh, made-in-front-of-you pizza, providing a fast-casual experience that feels gourmet.

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Columbus Park Ramen Shop Corresponding with a new trend across the country, this family-owned ramen shop was opened in 2015 by a couple hoping to bring a new tradition to the Columbus Park neighborhood they now call home.

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Pop-up shops These temporary shops offer a unique dining experience, sometimes for months or weeks, sometimes just for a day. In the past year, popular ones have included The Waffle Iron, Bun Bros. and The Tamale Kitchen. Be sure to watch their social media accounts to catch them before they disappear again.

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Juiceries Built around a passion for providing healthy options, and sometimes an alternative to prescription medications, juiceries are another national trend.

Simple Science Juices, Ruby Jean’s Juicery and Evolve Juicery & Paleo Kitchen are three businesses founded in Kansas City by people with that passion.

Centers

• Check out the Comets. The indoor soccer team plays at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in Independence, Mo.

“They want to be here, for a whole variety of reasons — good schools, a good standard of living.

The culinary scene can grow but you also have to support it with all the other things [people look for] and we have [those].”

Certainly Kansas City will remain the Barbecue Capital of the World, but that’s no longer all the city is known for. An influx of ethnicities has produced a curiosity about the food scene that wasn’t present in previous generations. In addition, Kansas City has had a large role in a widely successful restaurant concept: farm-to-table.

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• Arena in Independence, Mo.

SOCCER • Try the resale market.

Resale markets, like Stubhub or Vivid Seats, offer tickets cheaper than face value.

America, Kansas City is a crossroads of different cultures.

“I’ve seen a very fledgling community become much more mature over the years,” Kansas City Star food editor and critic Jill Silva said. “The whole culinary scene has matured. And, while that has been happening, we have become a national city to know.”

Witnessing a surge in the culinary scene, the city has been accumulating recognition worthy of attention from both coasts.

“I think most chefs here could work elsewhere and that’s where we’ve brought the level up to where we need to be,” Silva said.

Donutology From the owner of the five local Daylight Donut shops came a new twist on an unquestionable classic.

Opened in July, the shop offers build-your-own donuts and a whole list of topping options, a concept most customers can’t say no to.

How to afford KC games, even as ticket prices escalate

• Check out the T-Bones.

The minor league team plays at

08 Feb. 2, 2017 | Vol. 48

Marshall, who has covered sports in Huntsville, Ala., and Salisbury, Md., notes the differences in sports fans from each city.

“Every part of the United States is a little bit different,” Marshall said.

“Kansas City is a very rich football city, but I think there are a lot of soccer fans here. I was quite surprised.

And Kansas City, as of late, has really become one of the better baseball towns in America.”

Involvement in sports has increased substantially over the past decade, as documented by attendance records. In 2006, the Royals average attendance was 16,946 per game. Last season the average was 33,439 per game, just shy of a 100 percent increase.

“KC sports fans are passionate, but they are not over the top,” Marshall said. “They understand that, ‘Hey, your team is going to win sometimes and your team is going to lose sometimes, and that’s just part of the game.’”

The popularity of soccer has made some call Kansas City the “soccer capital of the U.S.” So much so that the U.S. Soccer Federation is building their national training facility in Kansas City, Kan., set to open later this year.

“They had recognizable players that fans related to,” Witkowski said.

“The one thing that is interesting is the ways soccer has built itself up here in Kansas City because of the fan base. What Sporting KC did is build up their team and then, because of that, people started getting into soccer and the World Cup.”

seasoning the breadbasket

1.

The past 20 years have shown success for Kansas City’s food industry +BY GRACE GORENFLO

“Farm-to-table was happening nationally, but if you’re in the breadbasket of America, where we’re producing a lot of food for people, you get a really interesting sort of grassroots movement,” Silva said. “There’s been some interesting leadership on our part.”

Kansas City has a newfound enthusiasm for food and careers in the industry. Combined with the innovative approaches to food inspired by the resources found here, that enthusiasm has made its way into the education of future chefs, thus completing the

cycle of growth for generations to come. “[We have] Broadmoor [Culinary Arts and Baking] in the Shawnee Mission district, an amazing program actually known throughout the country,” Silva said. “Then you jump up to the next level and you’ve got JCCC. It’s a culinary school that costs pennies compared to some of the top culinary schools on the coast, yet they’re travelling around the world, competing on a global level. That just shows you how important food has become for the city.”

Kansas City Classics

Jasper’s Founded in 1954, Jasper’s began as a simple neighborhood spot and has evolved into an awardwinning Italian restaurant, calling Kansas City home through three generations of ownership.

2.

André’s After immigrating from Switzerland in 1955, André Bollier opened his André’s Confiserie Suisse, providing Kansas Citians with a quality of chocolates they had never experienced before.

3.

Arthur Bryant’s Able to be traced back to the “father of Kansas City barbecue,” Henry Perry, who started selling barbecue in 1908, this renowned institution was eventually handed down to by Arthur Bryant, who moved the business to its famous Brooklyn Ave. location.

4.

The Roasterie Founded in owner Danny O’Neill’s basement in 1993, The Roasterie began selling speciality air-roasted coffee and has become a nationally acclaimed business, leading the way for the growth of the Kansas City coffee scene.

5.

City Market City Market has been “where the locals go” since 1857, now offering a great variety of cuisines, from Brazilian to Ethiopian to Middle-Eastern.

NW PASSAGE | features 09

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10 Feb. 2, 2017 | Vol. 48

Just Breathe T

he muffled movements backstage faded away as sophomore Diamond Holt stepped onto the dark stage. Her footsteps echoing as as she walked toward the microphone. As a spotlight blinked on, focusing its beam on her, the murmur of the crowd dwindled into silence. This was Holt’s first time performing in front of a crowd of this size. As she began to sing, she reminded herself to stay calm and just breathe.

This year, Holt sang “Reflections” by Mariah Carey, a song that holds special meaning for her. “[It made me think] about my dad,” Holt said.

“That’s why I got emotional — because I haven’t seen him in so long. The song talks about a person who is missing from your life and about remembering them.”

New performers, such as Holt, struggle under the pressure more than veteran entertainers. Freshman Emma Fowler, another first-time performer was the third act on stage. She tried to calm her nerves as her fingers found the keys. A single thought is ran through her mind: don’t mess up.

Fowler performs at her church on a weekly basis, but, even after all of her experience, she still gets anxious before going on stage.

“Everyone gets stagefright,” Fowler said.

“Everyone gets nervous. I have to look up puppies to make myself calm down. It works.”

Senior Hope Medis shares similar sentiments about her experiences with stagefright. She still gets nervous before performing, especially this year.

Medis often writes her own music, but for the past three years she has performed covers of popular songs. This year, Medis performed an original piece.

“Before every performance, I have a miniature heart attack,” Medis said. “[Playing an original

1

First-year performers are not the only ones to experience Talent Show nerves +BY ANNALISSA HOUSER & SAMANTHA JOSLIN

song] is so different from what I usually do. It’s nerve-racking to do in front of people. It’s the fact that people were hearing my words — that they could hear my music and feel what I wrote — that made it so scary.”

Even if Medis’ nerves haven’t gotten better, she’s learned how to control them. She attributes her ability to appear confident on stage to her four talent show experiences.

“I’ve gotten better at performing and looking [relaxed] on stage, even when I’m not,” Medis said.

“Performing live in front of such a big group of people makes you a better performer, even if it’s just once a year.”

Throughout senior Brennan Mills’s high school experience, his juggling acts have become iconic pieces of the talent show line-up. He doesn’t find himself nervous to perform and has grown confident in predicting the reactions he will get from the crowd.

“You have to learn how to enjoy it,” Mills said.

“Just relax and think, ‘hey, people love juggling and you’re good at juggling.’ It’s simple.”

Mills has learned a variety of skills since his first talent show performance and admits that he’s a better juggler now. He appreciates that juggling is fairly black and white; if your stuff is on the floor, he says, you probably did something wrong. Mills’ dad taught him to juggle during seventh grade year.

His father used juggling as a stress reliever and Mills wanted to do the same.

“Every Wednesday night, my dad would drive me 25 minutes to juggling club,” Brennan said. “He really helped me get into the juggling community.”

The other performers’ family members were just as encouraging. Fowler’s parents have always

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p on the stage, senior Michael Chavez performs an original rap about his faith. To hear more about Chavez’s peformance, see smnw.com. PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING

supported her passion and made sure she had enough time to practice.

“The fact that she had enough courage to audition and share her talent is something to be proud of,” Emma Fowler’s mom, Kelly Fowler, said. “I thought I would cry tonight, but I didn’t, so I’m proud of that, too.”

Medis’ siblings, who inspired her to sing when she was in the third grade, are always open to listen to the songs she writes. Nearly her entire family was in the audience during the show.

Holt’s mother was in the audience, too. On stage, Diamond finished the last notes of her song and began to cry, her father’s absence running through her mind. Already she knows that she will audition next year.

1. As she looks into the crowd, senior Alyssia Vallejo performs during the annual Talent Show. Vellejo sang “Bound to You” by Christina Aguilera from the movie Burlesque. “I definitely get a little nervous to perform, but mostly I get excited to do something that makes me happy in front of people I know and love,” Vallejo said. PHOTO

BY SKYLAR BROGAN 2. In front of the audience, senior Brennan Mills juggles limes. Mills’ whole performance was based around pretending to be a waiter and juggling several different types of food. PHOTO BY MAYA LEE 3. Under the spotlight, senior Hope Medis performs an original song titled “Unfixable.” Medis not only performed, but assisted Spirit Club sponsor Sarah Dent in organizing the show.

PHOTO BY SHELBY BEAUMONT 4. With guitar in hand, senior Rachel Tompinks sings “Toxic” by Britney Spears. This was Tompink’s first performance at Northwest. “I knew that this would be my last chance to try out for the Talent Show, and since I have never done it before I really wanted to go for it,” Tompkins said. PHOTO BY SKYLAR BROGAN 5. Gripping the microphone, junior Jared Berlin sings “Feeling Good”

by Nina Simone. “What inspired me to sing it was genuine love of the song,” Berlin said. “I’m always listening to ’50s - ’60s music and it’s given me a huge appreciation for jazz.” PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING 6. Feeding off the energy from the crowd, senior Drew Vander Leest snaps along in the auditorium. “Trying to make the crowd snap in unison should’ve counted as a talent,” Vander Leest said. “It was really dificult to get everyone going at the same pace.”

PHOTO BY BROOKLYNN ROTH

NW PASSAGE | features 11

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12 Feb. 2, 2017 | Vol. 48

Forks

Buffalo Wild Wings

Grinders

IN A BATTLE OF THE WINGS, GRINDERS AND BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOTH BROUGHT THE HEAT

E

ntering Buffalo Wild Wings immediately sent all of my senses into overdrive. With the crowd of people watching NFL playoffs on countless televisions — raucous cheers, sarcastic remarks and jeers were expected — but the intensity of it all was a little more than I could handle. More than half of the screens were tuned to the Falcons-Seahawks game, the rest showed college basketball.

In the moment, I couldn’t help but wish for the subdued environment of Grinders Stonewall.

Everything about Grinders was significantly more welcoming than the sports-fueled bar atmosphere of Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW). I was handed a menu, but I already knew what I was there for: Buffalo wings.

The menus at the two restaurants are significantly different. It took me awhile to order at BWW. With an overwhelming 21 options to choose from, narrowing down the choices was difficult. Grinders Stonewall made it easy with only four choices. I went for my personal favorite at BWW: boneless honey barbeque. My order was taken quickly, but the food took longer to arrive

than at Grinders Stonewall. It was well worth the wait.

The sweet, savory flavor of the honey barbeque wings was magnificent paired with ranch. The sauce at BWW was particularly memorable both in flavor and abundance, leaving a hefty pool at the bottom of the basket. I was surprised how much less meaty the boneless wings at BWW were compared to the wings at Grinders Stonewall. Although the small order of wings at Grinders Stonewall offered six wings while BWW offered 10, the amount of meat in the two orders was similar.

At Grinders Stonewall, I chose the Molten Wing, which sounded spicy, but was not. The two sauces are hard to compare. The Molten Wing was significantly hotter than BWW’s honey barbeque sauce and I preferred the latter.

Each of these restaurants holds a high standard for how buffalo wings should taste. If I had a sudden craving for wings and couldn’t decide where to go, either of these restaurants would be a perfect choice.

GRINDERS WINGS FLY ABOVE THE COMPETITION

H

oused in the historic Stonewall Inn, Grinders sits obscured by the trees and the residential area surrounding it. A cracked cement sidewalk ushered us out of the frostbitten air into the cozy restaurant where we were immediately greeted by the upbeat hostess.

After being seated and quickly given our drinks, I was able to get a better sense of my surroundings. The unorthodox setup included a homey bar-and-grill vibe with funky decor and televisions broadcasting both a professional golf tournament and Guy Fieri’s Diners, Driveins and Dives. The interior at Grinder’s was free of the impersonal feel of Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW), where there were at least 12 televisions in direct eyesight all competing for which one could be the loudest.

The flip-book-style menu felt unorganized until I found what I was looking for: the hot wings. It wasn’t hard to choose which sauce to get since there were only four available.

Although Grinders Stonewall is more known for their pizza, only four sauces still seemed a

+BY JORDAN SHERFY

PHOTO BY GRACE ROEDER

+BY BENJAMIN BECKER

pitiful selection compared to the 21 signature flavors BWW offered. I ordered the Wimpy sauce, an easy choice since I have never been excited by spicy foods. The order was on my table in no time at all and delivered with a smile.

I was ready for some wings.

And what wings they were.

The meat was plentiful on each individual bone, the sauce was savory and evenly distributed, the skin was smooth and the small plate, only six wings, was enough to fill me up, and then some. The wings at BWW are delicious, but, for a place more known for pizza than hot wings, Grinders Stonewall provided stiff competition. I got the honey barbecue wings from BWW and, with expectations high, was slightly let down. The wings weren’t bad in any sense of the word, they just fell short of the standard Grinders had set.

The staffs at both restaurants were accommodating, however the slightly better wings and the far more charming atmosphere at Grinders Stonewall allows it to dethrone BWW in the quest for the best wings in Johnson County.

PHOTO BY SHELBY BEAUMONT

NW PASSAGE | opinion 13

MVPs of January +BY JACKIE SAYERS

Four female and four male athletes who have performed well in their respective sports were nominated for Most Valuable Player of the Month. Students had the opportunity to select the winner by voting in a Twitter poll. Senior Emmalee Rose received 47 percent of the 258 votes cast for the girls, while senior Alex Oleson received 44 percent of the 319 votes cast for the boys.

SENIOR EMMALEE ROSE

SENIOR ALEX OLESON

A

t 5 feet 10 inches, seventh grader Alex Oleson knew his calling was basketball when he dropped all his other sports. Only a year later, he landed his first in-game dunk, one of his favorite basketball memories. As a senior, he is now 6 feet 4 inches.

“It’s an outlet where I can kind of forget what’s going on around me,” Oleson said. “You don’t think about what else is going on.”

When he is on the court, all that’s on Oleson’s mind is his team.

“I just think about the other four kids that are on the court with me and what I think the coaches want us to do, playwise,” Oleson said. “Like if someone’s hot, getting them open, or making that extra pass to get a teammate open. Being a good teammate.”

Success motivates Oleson to push through especially tough practices and games. “[It’s] that feeling when you’re winning,” Oleson said. “Everyone is passing the ball, and everybody’s having fun. It’s one of those feelings that makes you feel so good inside that you understand that you have to work hard every day so you can get to that level of peace and happiness.”

And while Oleson loves the feeling of success, like any athlete, he knows failure.

“The hardest part about basketball is letting your team down,” Oleson said. “If you know you could’ve done something,

14 FEB. 02, 2017 | Vol. 48

like rebounded more or played a little harder on defense, then you’re feeling like you’ve let your team down.”

Senior Adam Gleason, who has been Oleson’s teammate since freshman year, appreciates Oleson’s dedication to the team.

“My favorite part is how hard he plays and how he will do anything to help the team,” Gleason said. “He’s always working hard and is the vocal leader, pushing everyone else to work as hard as they can.”

Oleson is thankful that basketball has given him something he could work at and see improvement on through the years.

“There’s still a lot I can improve on, but, from when I started, I definitely get a lot less frustrated,” Oleson said. “I can do so much more.”

Oleson looks up to many of the NBA greats as basketball role models.

“You have to care about it,” Oleson said. “You have to put in some sort of work and have a good attitude. If you watch Lebron James, he gets into the games, he lets people know he’s the best. And, with Michael Jordan, it’s the same thing. Really any great at anything had a better understanding and more drive and determination than somebody who was just an amateaur.”

Oleson and his teammates will face the Firebirds of Lawrence Free State at 7 p.m. tomorrow at home.

A

s a basketball coach’s daughter, senior Emmalee Rose has been around the sport for as long as she can remember.

“I’ve been playing basketball ever since I was able to pick up a ball,” Rose said. “That’s just all I did. My dad was a basketball coach, so I’ve literally lived in the gym.”

One of Rose’s earliest memories is playing alongside her older sister, Brenni Rose.

“We were always on teams together,” Rose said. “I think that’s why she and I click so well. Her going on to play college basketball definitely motivates me, I want to do the same.”

Rose works to improve her game, which is why she appreciates constructive criticism from coaches and teammates.

“Coaches are supposed to yell at you, but it’s all out of love,” Rose said.

“I’m not gonna lie, I prefer being yelled at. I want to know when I’m doing something wrong and how to improve.”

As someone who has experienced a lot of different coaches over the years, Rose is able to appreciate her high school coaches.

“I absolutely love our coaching staff,” Rose said. “Dunbar (B.J. Dunbar) always pulls me aside and helps me. He was a point guard, so he helps me with my ball handling skills. He’s always stayed after practices to do cone work with me. And Budetti (Tony Budetti),

he is a crazy man. But he loves us all, and I think he’s the only coach that I’ve ever seen cry. And Stew (Tyler Stewart) is definitely also one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. It’s really nice to have someone who has a high basketball IQ.” Rose’s teammate Rachel Seibold appreciates how positive and welcoming Rose has been to underclassmen.

“Emmalee is just overall fun to be with, on and off the court,” Seibold said. “She’s not afraid to tell us what we need to do or do better.”

As a senior, Rose has already seen most of her on-court opponents before.

She uses this to her advantage.

“During practice, what runs through my mind is the upcoming game,” Rose said. “I know a lot of the players we’re going against. I know what they can do, what their strengths are. I focus on how to stop them, defensively, and how to break them down and get easy buckets, offensively.”

Although she will likely play college basketball, Rose is sure she will miss her high school teammates.

“What’s made basketball so fun is growing up with my teammates,” Rose said. “A lot of them I’ve known ever since I moved here. The relationships we build along the way help you on the court and you click a lot better.”

Rose and the Lady Cougars will face the Firebirds of Lawrence Free State at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at home.

Running into Fame A

s the 2:40 p.m. bell approaches, most students think about heading home, maybe watching Netflix, taking a nap or eating.

In Room 213, cross country coach Van Rose cleans off the chalkboard (the only one in the school) and prepares for his after-school run as he helps train the next group of cross country runners.

Rose will become the first member of Northwest’s Sports Hall of Fame at halftime of the boys’ varsity basketball game tomorrow.

The ceremony will be hosted by Jay Binkley of 610 Sports.

“When you have been in a place a long time, you can kind of establish some continuity,” Rose said. “I want my students to learn persistence, work ethic and [be] the best [they] can be every day.”

The Hall of Fame has been in planning for the past two years. NW administrators used Shawnee Mission schools as examples. This year the charter was completed, allowing the committee to meet and make decisions.

“This [was] a project even before I became athletic director,” athletic director Angelo Giacalone said. “When I took the project over, it was more of a priority.” Giacalone credited

former athletic director Richard Grinich for laying the groundwork.

The Hall of Fame became a reality as a result of increasing community support and the desire to remember great NW athletes.

“When you have a high school that is approaching 50 years old, you don’t want to forget the people who built the school and the traditions,” former gymnastics coach and committee member Janice Baker said. “As we age and move on, people forget who these people were.” Baker is pleased that the new Hall of Fame will preserve those memories.

Prominent local business owner Greg Amos’ history with the school made him a natural choice for the selection committee. Amos was a member of the first class to attend Northwest for their entire high school career. His father was a school board member.

“The attributes we look for are what [the inductee] did at the school or for the school, like donating a lot of time to the sports department,” Amos said. “Or a coach that’s been very good at what he does.”

Joining Amos and Baker on the selection committee are nine other people, including coaches Mike Cooper and Van Rose and former

“Coach Rose was an incredibly encouraging, positive and wise mentor to me during my years at NW. He is not only an excellent coach and teacher, but he also teaches students how to grow into responsible and honorable young adults.”

— Former cross country runner Clayton Henderson

Long-time cross country coach is the first inductee into the NW Hall of Fame + BY MATTHEW OWENS AND SONNI MEYERS

coach Ken Johns; administrators Angelo Giacalone, Eddie LyDay and Lisa Gruman; community members Quentin Hammontree (class of ‘92), John Burdolski; and former teacher Joe Thimes.

For the committee members, selecting Rose as the first member of the Hall of Fame was an easy choice.

“He is just a great and very likable guy,” Baker said. “He works very quietly, does not toot his own horn and is very respected in the community. He has stayed with the sport a long time which can be a challenge.”

The Hall of Fame process works in three steps. First, nomination forms are submitted to Giacalone. Second, the nominee packets are created and sent to the committee. Third, the 11-person committee discusses whether a member should be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The committee can induct up to three members per year.

“The very first year we just thought we would give it to somebody that is about as special as they can be,” Amos said. “Coach Rose was the only one that was even nominated. That is pretty cool.”

Three types of people can be inducted into the Hall of Fame. First are former athletes, who are not eligible until five years after graduation, and must have had a memorable career or significant accomplishments at Northwest.

Second are current or former coaches. Third are community members who have given back to the athletic program.

“They don’t necessarily have to have postsecondary careers,” Giacalone said. “They don’t have to be professional athletes. It is what they did while they were here.”

Giacalone emphasized that the Hall of Fame will recognize the value of people who have helped formulate the NW athletic culture.

At tomorrow’s ceremony, Rose will receive a plaque, a class ring and a letter jacket that has the year of induction and “NW” on the sleeves.

Another plaque will be permanently displayed just outside of the main gym.

Rose, who has left a long-lasting impression on students that have taken his classes, along with the athletes he has coached in cross country, continues to demonstrate his trademark humbleness.

“All the different people who have made all this stuff possible,” Rose said. “All the family that allows me to do this, all the athletes, parents, teachers and all the people here at Northwest who are very nice to me — I can’t really figure out why.”

Rose instructs his boys’ JV runners to do a cool down run after a meet Oct. 6 at Shawnee Mission Park. Typically the boys will do an eight-minute cool down, in which most of them run a mile. “Cooling down accelerates recovery,” Rose said. “It gets rid of waste products in your legs.” PHOTO BY PIPER SCHUERMAN

NW PASSAGE | sports 15

“

PHOTO BY BROOKLYNN ROTH

[The Talent Show] is very different.

It’s not as tense or as stressful as it would be at competition or on the music hall stage. But I like that it’s different.

It’s a very free feeling because I know no one is there to judge. ” — SENIOR ALLY SMITH