November 14, 2014
1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
Vol. 51, No. 3
This year’s V-Show calls on a wide array of talents, including the comedy of Trunk. See page 10
After visiting us Declaring War Bestselling author and alumnus returns to MS. Page 2
College Crunch Game, Set, Match
Revealing the indiscretions of Seniors conquer the college Tennis team returns to Urban Outfitters. admissions process. State tournament. Page 7 Page 12 Page 15
NEWS | November 14, 2014
Maine South makes lasting impact on Hainey Kristin Camiliere News Editor
ew York Times Best-selling Author and Deputy Editor of Gentlemen’s Quarterly magazine Michael Hainey (‘82) came back to his alma mater to speak to English classes on Oct. 27 during 7th and 8th period in the library. Hainey spoke about his New York Times Best Seller “After Visiting Friends” and about his experiences growing up in Park Ridge and attending Maine South. Hainey explained that he has always had a love for writing. He cited the Literature of Chicago class as having had a huge impact on him and his love for writing. The class showed him that he has a story to tell—a story that people will listen to and care about. “What I learned here at Maine South, especially with Literature of Chicago and my other classes is giving yourself permission as a writer to tell your stories,” Hainey said. Growing up in Park Ridge, Hainey always had a love/hate relationship with the city. He felt that it could be very boring, and that nothing ever happens here. But, after moving to New York, he soon realized that there are stories to tell, even here in “boring” Park Ridge. And there are people out there who will listen. “You grow up, in Park Ridge, and you think that this is Action Ridge and that nothing matters and nothing happens of importance here,” Haniey said. “And when I was in those classes I learned that what happens here is material.”
PHOTO BY JOSH LARRAGOITY
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STAR ALUMNUS Michael Hainey speaks in front of English classes on Oct. 27 in the LRC. Hainey is an author and Deputy Editor of GQ magazine.
T he stor y w h i ch e ve ntu a l ly became “After Visiting Friends” began when Hainey’s father, Bob Hainey, mysteriously died after “visiting friends.” Bob Hainey died when Hainey was only six years old. Bob was a reporter and editor at the Chicago Sun Times. This mystery began one morning when Hainey’s mother was getting him and his older brother ready that morning for school, when the doorbell rang. At the door was his Uncle Dick and his grandparents saying that their father was dead. They told the distraught family that Bob got off of work, was walking to his car, and then dropped dead of a heart attack. Hainey didn’t look at his father’s obituary until his senior year of high school. The results he found were puzzling. He discovered that each newspaper had a little different explanation of how his father died. These conflicting stories are what drove Hainey. “The book was my search for the truth of that,” Hainey said. But, he was also very scared to learn the truth. All of these suspicious circumstances would propel Hainey for the next 10 years to find answers. He wanted to know what happened to his father. He wanted the answer for himself and his family. He started his investigation by just going out and talking to people that knew his father, or worked with his father. He gathered all these small stories that he was being told, and began piecing HANDSHAKE INTO THE PAST Michael Hainey exchanges a hand- it together to form it into a bigger story. “Don’t stop at the bare facts,” he said. shake with former English teacher Bill Drennan. Drennan, who introduced Hainey, “And next to being a good writer is also was the first teacher of the Literature of Chicago class here at Maine South. PHOTO BY JOSH LARRAGOITY
Maine South and the town of Park Ridge still shape him to this day. “I still feel like a kid in Park Ridge,” Hainey said. “Park Ridge is always going to be a part of who I am.” This was the first time Hainey returned to Maine South since he graduated, and he noted that this homecoming was a special one. “Whether you’re going to write a book and be standing here, or go on to do what you want in your lives, there is no better feeling than coming back to Maine South and talking about what you have accomplished in tentwenty-thirty years.” Hainey earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame where he was an English Major. He then went on to Northwestern to earn his graduate degree from the Medill School of Journalism. “All I wanted to do was tell stories,” Hainey said.
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being a good listener.” “Sometimes to go forward in our lives, we need to go into the past,” Hainey said. After finding the truth, Hainey waited to tell his mother and family. “When I found out the answer, I was so afraid. I was unable to continue the book and to continue writing it. And I was frozen.” “ That was a hard thing for someone to learn, especially if you’re his son. And then for a son to have to tell his mother and brother about it,” Hainey said. Deciding to write the book was also a risk for Hainey. He moved to New York and began to write his book there. Moving to New York made it easier for him to write the book because he didn’t feel that emotional connection to home. Chicago is a big part of who he is, so he made Chicago a character in this book. Hainey had no guarantee that this book would be published, but he had a vision and was persistent. “I had that vision that this going to work, and that’s what kept me going,” Hainey said. “Once you commit to something, it commits to you.” On Feb. 19, 2013, Hainey’s book was finally published. “It was one of the happiest days of my life. It had been a huge dream of mine,” Hainey said. It was very inspiring for him to see the connection and relatability that people had with this book. “The real reward for me was seeing and hearing how people connected with it,” Hainey said. “This story is a personal story to me. But, the universal themes are love, loss, family, and disappointment. And this is what good literature is.” Hainey’s mother and brother were very proud that the book was published. Having the truth exposed brought closure to him and his family. It also brought his family closer together. One of Hainey’s main messages to students is to explore their writing abilities and expose their stories to others around you. “You all have the power in your heads, and in your hands, and even in your hearts to tell stories. Whether or not you express them to someone close to you verbally, it’s more about distilling that emotion and bringing it out into the world.”
November 14, 2014
| NEWS
Computer Club skyrockets in popularity John Zaris
PHOTO BY JOSH LARRAGOITY
News Writer
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aine South is host to numerous organizations, and the Computer Club is fast becoming one of the most popular extracurricular activities offered at school. Computer Club meets on Tuesdays once every three weeks. Sponsored by math and computer science teacher Mr. Kevin Hurley, this club has grown dramatically in the last year and has big plans for this year. In the past, Computer Club members have built computers, written computer programs, and participated in LAN parties at which students connect their PCs and play games. In addition to continuing these activities, the club will, for the first time ever, participate in a “Hack-a-thon” later this year. Though the details of the event are still being worked out, the general idea is set: participants will have a certain amount of time to finish a computer-related project that has a useful purpose. For example, a fitness related app. Then it will be judged by professionals in the field
GAME ON
Junior Hubert Berkowicz plays an online game called “State of Decay” during a Computer Club meeting. The club meets every third Tuesday and has experienced a tremendous increase in membership over the past few years.
of computer science. The contest will be open to all Maine South students. This is also the first year that Computer Club has a representative in President’s Club. Sophomore Colin Donovan is the club’s president. “I wanted to have sort of a sole voice in that [President’s] club,” Mr. Hurley said. “We really need to be more active there because we are such a big club now.”
Only around a dozen students were in Computer Club when Mr. Hurley became its sponsor ten years ago. Now there are an estimated sixty students in the club, many of whom are new this year. The growth of Computer Club has coincided with an increase in enrollment in computer science classes. “It has become a really great place for me to recruit new people to take
the AP Computer Science course,” Hurley said. Last year there was a single computer science class, which was comprised of both AP Computer Science and Computer Science 2 students. This year, Hurley teaches two AP classes and has a full, separate Computer Science 2 class. Hurley attributes the tremendous increase in Computer Club membership to the expansion of interest in computer science as a whole. “Computer Science is a field that is going to experience a huge, explosive growth that we can’t fill,” Hurley said, “Which is why it’s great that many of my students are thinking about pursuing careers in the field.” Junior Hubert Berkowicz feels that the large number of gamers at school has impacted the club’s success. “The gaming community at school has definitely been growing, so we try to do more events geared towards that,” he said. “It’s really good to see that more and more people like the club and want to participate in it.”
Italian Club wins annual dodgeball tournament Melis Ozkan Staff Writer
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aine South’s Foreign Language Department hosted another successful dodgeball tournament on Oct. 23. After two delays due to weather, students were eager to participate in this year’s tournament. Italian club won the “golden” trophy this year with four wins and one loss. In second place came Chinese Club. Tied for third were German Club, Spanish Club, and the German Exchange students. French Club came in last place. “The trophy has no real value because it is made out of wood, but it has gigantic, enormous, sentimental value,” Spanish teacher Mr. Francisco Barbas said. This trophy has been used for the dodgeball tournament, which has been going on for five years now, and the soccer tournament in the spring, which has been in existence for six years. Students have a lot of fun interacting with other language clubs.
Ms. Susan Kramer, the Foreign Language Department Chair, says, “the idea is to unify all of the language clubs in the department.” No matter who wins the game, all of the clubs interact with each other, resulting in a cultural exchange. This year, the German exchange students who came to Maine South participated in the tournament as a separate team. “We play dodgeball in Germany but there are kind of different rules,” said an exchange student, Christian Nemnich. Maine South students were pleased to have the exchange students participate. “It’s really fun to play [dodgeball] with the German exchange students, who you would never interact with otherwise,” junior Claudia Nadler said. The participation in the dodgeball tournament this year was better than expected. German Club seemed to have the most people, whereas Chinese Club had the fewest, but this did not matter since each
team is only allowed to have ten people on the field at one time. The idea of this tournament, as promoted by Frau Wolf, is to unite all the language clubs in a fun, yet competitive way.
For those who enjoyed playing dodgeball or missed out on the event, the Foreign Language Department also hosts a soccer tournament in the spring that is open to all Foreign Language Club members.
PHOTO BY RHYANNE NOCHE
BATTLE OF NATIONS The Chinese Club plays against the German ex-
change students as part of the Foreign Language Dodgeball Tournament. Italian Club ultimately took first place, winning the golden trophy.
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NEWS
| November 14, 2014
Students embrace costume policy Catherine Coyle
PHOTO BY RHYANNE NOCHE
Staff Writer
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or the first time in eight years, Maine S outh student were allowed to wear costumes to school on Halloween. This served as a sort of trial run which would determine whether costumes would be allowed again in the future. Teachers and administrators generally reacted positively to students’ behavior and dress on Halloween. “Since I’ve been here for so long and remember Halloweens past, I was not in favor of allowing costumes, but it ended up fine,” Dean Lou Thetard said. “The issues we had were very minor. I, personally, was very happy with how it turned out.” “I thought students were really respectful and appropriate in their costume choices,” English teacher Mrs. Braverman said. “I teach two sections of seniors and thought the turnout was great. Kids were creative and I thought it added a nice energy and spirit to the day.” Students also responded positively to the new Halloween policy. “I thought Halloween was really fun this year, and I’m so happy Maine South allowed students to dress up,” freshman Sarah Anderson said. “The
Signed letters to the editor should be delivered to LRC1, given to a member of the editorial staff, or e-mailed to southwords@maine207.org. Southwords reserves the right to edit material for clarity and brevity and to reject obscene/libelous submissions.
Staff Writer and Editor-in-Chief
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fter over 20 summers of helping transform the lives’ of young leaders, the J. Kyle Braid Leadership Foundation (JKB) ranch in Villa Grove, Colorado is shutting down. The J. Kyle Braid Foundation was founded by Ken and Colleen Braid in 1994 after their son, Kyle, took his own life as a sophomore in high school. According to the JKB website, the goal of the program is to reach the best of America’s teens and teach them how to become effective and successful leaders in their schools and throughout their respective communities. From 1994 to this past summer, about 160 students per year from four regions of the United States spent a week at the ranch working
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GOING BANANAS ON HALLOWEEN
Juniors Richard Mehl, Troy Beaugureau and Alex Niezyniecki and senior Kate McGinnis dress up as bananas on Halloween. Along with bananas, nerds and athletes were among the most popular costumes.
costumes really added to the holiday spirit.” “Dressing up on Halloween was the perfect time for students to truly show their weird sides,” sophomore Trish Maloney said. “It was a great idea,” junior Sarah Biggins said. “I’m a theater kid to the bone, so I look for any reason to dress up and express myself in any way.” Overall, the costumes worn by students followed the guidelines appropriately. “Halloween at Maine South was pleasantly surprising,” sophomore
Ann Kapustiak said. “I thought that a lot of people were going to dress inappropriately, but I actually saw some pretty cool costumes. No one ruined it. My favorite costume was probably Jackie Olson’s blow-up Buzz Lightyear wings.” “I had heard a lot of bad things from students and teachers about Halloween in the past, so I was skeptical on how Halloween would work out this year,” senior John Kern said. “However, the costumes were appropriate, so I think they should be allowed in the coming years.”
JKB program closes its’ doors Mariam Zaki & Stephen Sakowicz
Maine South High School 1111 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL 60068 http://www.southwords.org
on developing their leadership skills. Maine South annually sent four to six rising sophomores to participate in the week-long summer program. The selection process started with nominations from athletic coaches when the student-athletes were freshman and concluded when each candidate was interviewed by past JKB participants and faculty sponsor Mrs. Laura Kirshner during their sophomore year. Senior Zach Parker was selected to attend the JKB program in 2013 and vividly remembers his experience at the ranch. “JKB was the best week of my life,” Parker said. “It truly helped us become better leaders and also allowed us to have fun with some great guys along the way.” Among the leadership skills that JKB teaches is to consider everyone’s needs when leading. Junior Leigh Friedman went to
the JKB ranch this past summer and recognized its positive impact. “JKB creates better role models and captains,” she said. “It will be missed because it was such an influential program for teenagers.” Mrs. Kirshner is disappointed that the ranch is closing, having participated in the program while she was a student at Maine South in 1997. “Having experienced the program myself, I know how positive the JKB experience can be,” she said. Athletic Director Steve Adams is currently looking for a similar program to send student-athletes to in the future. “Our goal is to send more than four student-athletes to a new, more cost effective program that all students participating in South Stars (a leadership program for sophomore student-athletes) would attend,” he said.
Editors-in-Chief
Alex Ellyin Katie Krall Stephen Sakowicz
Production Editors Josh Larragoity Rhyanne Noche News Editors
Erin Clements Kristin Camiliere Jake Kay
Entertainment Editors Katie Kaminsky Kate Papciak Matt Weiss Features Editors Monica Bielawiec CJ Johnson Laney Kraus-Taddeo Commentary Editors Annie Krall Alex Ponder Sports Editors
Austin Derrick John Lavaccare Sam Tinaglia
Art/Production Team Basia Chruscinski Adviser
Mr. Stathakis
COMMENTARY
| November 14, 2014
STAFF EDITORIAL
Maine South leaders: the many and the proud t Maine South, there is no higher form of praise than being called a leader. This label implies that you are a special individual: you have the ability to guide your peers in the face of adversity. There are many programs that encourage the development of these qualities, such as Hawk Pride Leaders and P.E. Leaders. While most students in such activities are very influential, being given the title of leader doesn’t necessarily mean that you are one. A leader has to be a figure that others can trust and rely on in times of difficulty. Many leadership opportunities are available to students at Maine South, ranging from being the president of a club, a captain on an athletic team, or a Hawk Pride Leader. No matter what the opportunity, the purpose of being a leader is to be a role model for others. Differences between a leader and the rest of the crowd can be superficial at times; a large letter C on a jersey is used to differentiate the captain from his teammates, and a red or black T-shirt differentiates a P.E. Leader from the rest of the class. One former leadership opportunity, the nowdefunct JKB program, provided student-athletes a chance to develop their leadership skills amongst their peers. This was one of many programs available to Maine South students to enhance their leadership attributes and to help guide students to make a positive impact on the lives’ of others. In reality, there are many students who are leaders but are not recognized for their contributions with a captain logo or a specific leadership title. There are also many students that hold leadership positions that aren’t true leaders.
ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN KOVACIN
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These students often view leadership opportunities as a space filler on an application. Such a mentality is absurd because it prohibits students who are truly passionate from leading. Leadership comes in many forms, and being labeled as an introvert or extrovert shouldn’t be a barrier between following and leading. Introverts lead through non-verbal communication, while extroverts tend to lead by example and use words to support their actions. To be an effective leader is to get others to see your vision and to be a role model for your peers. Leaders must articulate their goals and how they are mutually beneficial for the group as a whole. Leadership is not a measure of intellect or popularity; it is a commitment to helping and inspiring others.
At Maine South, there are leaders in the classroom, on the field, and in the community. These leaders genuinely want to inspire others and create positive change. We should all aspire to be leaders within our Maine South community, whether we have earned some sort of leadership title or not. Leadership is more than a check box on the Common Application, more than something to put on a resume, and more than being involved in a leadership program at Maine South or beyond its boundaries. Students who genuinely want to become leaders will find ways to hold positions of power. While leadership comes in different forms, Hawks who put the needs of others ahead of their own are the true leaders.
The trophy quandary, past and present Katie Krall
Editor-in-Chief eople always focus on endings. No one vividly remembers chapter five of “The Great Gatsby”; it’s the final line describing boats beating against the current that we cherish. We interpret life as an accumulation of defined stages, when, in actuality, the past and present are one. The people we are today were formed by the decisions we made yesterday. Endings are rarely perfect or concise. While we may move on, tangible evidence of our past always remains. The Maine South girls’ golf team has been in the midst of a dynasty. We have shattered innumerable records
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and accomplished nearly every feat possible in high school athletics. We have received many awards to mark our accomplishments. I am incredibly grateful for our success. Not every team gets to win the CSL Conference or place in the top ten at State twice. As I walked up the 18th fairway at the State tournament in Decatur, Illinois, all I could think about was cleaning my room. Between winning Regionals as a team for the third year in a row, capturing Sectionals for the first time in school history, and qualifying for State again, things had been hectic. Engraved glass, wooden plaques, and gold plastic figurines of female athletes took up all open space in my room. After seventeen years of soccer, volleyball, tennis, softball, and golf, I had quite the collection of trophies. As a child, I wanted to compete in every
tournament and win every match. I lived and died on the field, court, and course, and I had a competitive spirit that made Vince Lombardi look like a Quaker. Yet, these trinkets that once meant the world to me are now simply pieces of poorly-crafted plastic that are cluttering my room. I have made countless sacrifices for baubles I no longer want. Family vacations were put on hold for middle school volleyball games. Homework was ignored in pursuit of winning a USTA tennis tournament. My life revolved around ribbons and medals when it should have been centered on the lessons I gleaned from sports. I h av e l e ar n e d d i s c ip l i n e , leadership, and humility from my participation in organized sports. These qualities are a part of my identity and are solely the result from competing and winning on a team.
I always thought that if I let go of my trophies I would be disclaiming a part of my past. There was a time when I considered the final score of a House League soccer game to be as meaningful as the results of a general election. I now know that the values of athletics are who I am, not the awards I earned. Someday I will not remember the golf tournaments I won. My score will be an unintelligible two digit number on a faded piece of newspaper. The trophies will be gone; relegated to my parents’ attic for later discovery by my children. Yet I will still be the same little girl who woke up before dawn every morning in the summer to hit golf balls. My competitive drive will never wane. Just like the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, the spirit of sports will always be a part of who I am.
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COMMENTARY | November 14, 2014
Gender should not divide our gym Vicki Tanquary Staff Writer hile many of us cringe at the thought of running in P.E., there are some who purposefully choose a rigorous P.E. class: the students in Group Fitness and Total Body Conditioning (reverently known as TBC). However, Group Fitness, a class that focuses on muscular endurance and flexibility is massively dominated by female students, and TBC, which focuses on strength training, is almost entirely male. Despite this gender divide, students should not be deterred from taking either class based on their gender. As a member of Group Fitness, I’ve been a firsthand witness to the small male population in the class. In fact, my entire class is female, and I’ve called it the “female version of TBC” more than once. And girls rarely will purposefully sign up for TBC: last year, my scheduling was so tight that TBC was originally the only class that fit, and I let out huge sigh of relief when I found out someone had dropped out of Adventure Ed. But I’ve seen the occasional girl in a TBC class, and, boy, do I respect that dedication. Why don’t girls want to sign up? Some don’t like a class focused on lifting, and some just don’t like, well, the smell of unwashed gym uniform (hint, hint). Elijah Irizzary, a junior in TBC, says that he
GRAPHIC BY JOSH LARRAGOITY
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would “treat [a girl] in [his] class like his other peers” and that he would “have no problem with [a girl in TBC]. There’s nothing wrong with it.” So, ladies, let’s not be damsels in distress here. We all have the capability to be students in TBC. Even though my Group Fitness class is filled with girls, the teacher, Mrs. Kelly Markworth, says she’s had a few male students. “A few years ago, I had someone whose counselor advised them to take it, and ended up taking it during the school day” she said. She also mentioned that in the past, Maine South had something like a “zero hour,” a before-school option for people who had full schedules (which is unlike today’s flap, a first period class that begins at 7:25 to add more time to first period), and male students had taken the class then.
Although Mrs. Markworth admitted the class to be more “female-oriented,” she believes that male students could also benefit. Guys, although you might think yoga is only for girls, the class might be good for you if you don’t want the heavy lifting that comes with TBC, but you still want some muscle definition. And yoga is not all Group Fitness does— there’s some kickboxing down the line. One could almost claim that we have segregated the classes based on gender. But there’s no rule in place that says girls cannot take TBC, and nothing saying boys cannot take Group Fitness (or even dance), even though the unspoken line has been drawn. Maine South students should be brave enough to trust their endurance and strength while breaking a sweat in whatever class they see fit.
Mandatory service serves purpose Isis Zaki Staff Writer
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aine South students are not strangers to participating in various service projects. For example in order to be accepted into the National Honor Society or to be confirmed in the Catholic Church, you must complete a certain number of service hours. But it can be argued that making service hours mandatory can lead to these acts of service being devalued. Volunteering and giving back to your community are opportunities to expand not only your resume, but also your life. To-do lists
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don’t translate into fulfillment. I understand that it’s hard to do these kinds of things on our own time. Teenagers are busy; there’s always going to be something going on that would prevent us from taking a trip to Feed My Starving Children or stopping by a local shelter. But isn’t one of the main things about volunteering sacrificing something that would benefit us in order to benefit others? Some suggest if volunteering becomes just another thing we have to do for school, it loses its value, plus it takes away the desire to help in the first place. It becomes a chore, just another thing added to our infinitely growing list of things to do. But this poses another question. If volunteering is not made mandatory, will people actually take time out of their schedule to do it? In a perfect
world, these things would never be required of us. But since that is not the case, maybe making acts of service mandatory actually gives us a much-needed shove to go outside of our comfort zones and help others. It could even open doors to new interests that we may not have realized before. For example, I have a friend who volunteered at an animal shelter in order to fulfill her mandatory service hours. It was through this experience that she discovered her passion for caring for animals. She now wants to study to become a veterinarian. If it weren’t for those required hours, she would have kept on driving past that shelter saying, “one day” or “if I have time maybe I’ll stop by.” She would have never realized that that was what she wanted to do with the
rest of her life. This past summer, I volunteered at a summer camp for children hoping to get my service hours out of the way. Going into it, I was not expecting to actually enjoy myself. The thought of spending six weeks of my beloved summer supervising little kids for five hours a day actually brought tears to my eyes...and not tears of joy. But it was through this experience that I discovered how much I actually enjoyed working with kids. I know for sure that if I didn’t have to volunteer at the camp, I wouldn’t have signed up. But after it was over I was so happy I did. Having mandatory service hours shouldn’t be viewed as a punishment, but instead a benefit for those receiving the service— along with the volunteers who are pushed outside of their comfort zones.
November 14, 2014 | COMMENTARY
Urban outrage: crossing the fashion line Alex Ponder & Annie Krall Commentary Editors
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rban Outfitters, a store that is very popular among Maine South students, is known for selling products that push the envelope of what is appropriate. While this sales tactic has earned them a lot of business over the years, it’s time to recognize that some of their products have gone far beyond what is acceptable. Many Maine South students are unaware of the number of offensive items they sell, the number of controversies the store has had, and the variety of groups they have targeted. Several of Urban Outfitters’ controversial shirts target issues that their main demographic, teens, struggle with. One shirt is a crop top with the word “Depression” across it. Depression is a major issue in today’s society and something many teens struggle with. Approximately one in every five teens suffers from some form of depression, and depression is twice as common to occur in females than males. It seems obvious to point out Urban Outfitters’ disregard for an illness that is so devastating to its main audience’s lives. Another shirt has the words “eat less,” which can be seen as a promotion of anorexia, the third most common chronic illness among adolescents. Buying a shirt that advertises depression or anorexia wouldn’t be spreading awareness of these diseases—it would be making light of a societal tragedy. Urban Outfitters’ list of offensive items doesn’t stop at mental health. They also sold a shirt that looks remarkably similar to the uniforms Jews were forced to wear in concentration camps. The Holocaust was one of the darkest periods of the modern age. Anyone who has sat in a history class, watched a documentary on the subject, or listened to a Holocaust survivor can gain a glimpse into the atrocities of this event. Disrespecting this hellish episode is not a fashion statement—it is insensitive and offensive. Downplaying yet another dark episode in
history, Urban Outfitters’ recently sold their “Kent State” Sweatshirt. The sweatshirt appeared to have bullet holes and blood, trivializing the school shooting that took place at Kent State during the Vietnam war in 1970. Several students were killed and many more were injured. The pain of this tragedy should not be worn to be trendy. Some have been so outraged by Urbans’ controversial merchandise that they have filed lawsuits against the company. In 2012, Urban created a “Navajo” line of clothing and accessories. This line contained many distasteful and stereotypical items, such as over-the-top feathers, inauthentic tribal patterns, and plastic dream catchers. The cruelty shown to the Native Americans during the 18th and 19th centuries is not something to be sugarcoated—see Trail of Tears courtesy of President Jackson. Haven’t we already done enough to the indigenous people of our homeland? A combination of poor taste and historical inaccuracy contribute to yet another one of Urban’s vile merchandise items. Not only has Urban offended large groups of society, but they have also ripped off independent designers. Etsy designer Stevie Koerner produces a line of products called “A World of Love.” These state-shaped necklaces soon appeared on Urban Outfitters website labeled “I Heart Necklaces.” This is one of many examples of Urban stealing ideas from small, independent designers. Adam Smith would roll over in his grave if he could see such a swift disregard for the power of an individual producer. Major corporations shouldn’t have the right to monopolize an entrepreneur’s product. As Maine South senior Mia Celenza notes, “What shocked me most is that the most controversial and offensive products are targeting their own clientele. They have such a blatant disregard for offending their own customers.” “I found out about all of these controversies about a year ago and haven’t shopped there since—I used to shop there every time I went shopping,” said Celenza. How is it that a store with such little concern for social decorum still remains in business? A fashionable boycott seems to be in order. Though you might have never seen one of your friends sporting one of these offensive items, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have a piece of clothing containing an Urban Outfitters tag. The war on Urban Outfitters needs to be fought—and we are going to need all the fashion police we can get.
Psychology behind the style: It all comes down to attention AP Psychology teacher Mr. Chris Deger explains why teens buy these products with controversial sayings: “Taking something that is odd, different, or disturbing will give the [teen] power, and it may be their way of saying ‘hey people, notice me!’ even though it may not be the type of attention they want. To wear things like that is mostly for shock and awe.”
OFFENSIVE FASHION FADS
Urban Outfitters’ most controversial merchandise has ranged from targeting issues of anorexia to depressing days in world and United States history, like the Holocaust or the Kent State shooting.
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ENTERTAINMENT | November 14, 2014
Hawks’ givingS Reci u f s n k n y h O T ster
Entertainment Editors hanksgiving is a holiday for Americans to gather for a day of feasting, family, and football. The Thanksgiving table has wildly changed from the original 1621 harvest, but the basic premise remains the same: “Eat, and be thankful for elastic waistbands.” Maine South students are granted a week off each year for this special family-oriented day. There is no gift giving, but there is a cornucopia full of sentimental meals. Five Hawks have contributed their family recipes in spirit of this upcoming feast. With every delicious recipe there comes an even better story.
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Apple Pie
DIRECTIONS:
INGREDIENTS:
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DIRECTIONS:
1) Peel, core, cut apples into eighths; arrange in shell 2) Mix 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over apples 3) Mix 1/3 cup sugar with flour; cut-in butter until crumbly; sprinkle over apples. 4) Bake at 400° for 35 to 40 minutes or until done; if pie browns too quickly, cover edge with foil.
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1 medium onion, chopped and sautéed 1/4 cup of butter 1 lb. mushrooms, sliced and sautéed 14 oz. container fresh oysters 4 cups chicken or turkey broth 6 cups dried bread crumbs 1/2 cup parsley, chopped 1/2 cup green onion tops, chopped 1 tsp. of dried sage, thyme, and rosemary (crushed) 1) Chop oysters and sauté in butter with onions, green onion tops, and herbs 2) Cook until white and firm 3) Add mushrooms, parsley, broth, and bread crumbs. (if dressing is too dry, add more broth If dressing is too moist, add more bread crumbs) then salt and pepper to taste.
5-7 tart apples (5 cups) 19 inch unbaked pastry shell 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/3 cup sugar 3/4 cup flour 6 Tbs. butter
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INGREDIENTS:
Katie Kaminsky, Kate Papciak, & Matt Weiss
aine South senior Savannah Theil enjoys this all-American treat every year on her Thanksgiving table. “Every Thanksgiving, my brother and I go to my aunt Jackie’s the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to make apple pie,” said Theil. “She has a friend who goes to an apple orchard every year, and she gave her the apple pie recipe 20 years ago. We make at least 16 pies every year. It takes forever, but its completely worth it,” said Theil. Savannah’s family recommends eating the pie with Cool Whip or even a wedge of cheddar cheese. This gooey, sweet pie houses golden brown apples under a cinnamon sugar crumble top. The pie never fails to s at is f y e ve r y sweet tooth at the Theil’s dinner table.
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ccording to junior Kate Sanchez, turkey stuffing is too basic for Thanksgiving, so their family makes oyster stuffing instead. The tradition started with her grandmother when she lived on the East Coast. Due to the outstanding quality of seafood on the East Coast, her grandmother created oyster stuffing. “My grandma makes it every year no matter whose house Thanksgiving is at,” said Sanchez. “It tastes like normal stuffing but more soft and moist.” Flavors from the east coast brought into a Midwest kitchen is a perfect way to spice up a Thanksgiving table.
een Sala w d llo INGREDIENTS:
4 Granny Smith apples 2 bags of mini marshmallows 2 bags of fun-sized Snickers bars 1 large container of Cool Whip
DIRECTIONS:
1) Dice the Granny Smith apples into small cubes 2) Chop the Snickers bars into bitesized pieces 3) Mix with marshmallows, add cool whip 4) Wrap mixture and cool overnight. Serve in bowls and enjoy.
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hether it’s Take Five’s or Kit-Kats, everyone has their favorite Halloween candy. On the other hand, everyone receives unwanted candy. While some throw the candy away, sophomore Ann Kapustiak’s family takes the leftover candies and creates a delicious sweet salad. The Kapustiak family depends on the huge candy sales after Halloween in order to buy the essential ingredients. “Candy, candy apples, and marshmallows are usually on sale after Halloween,” Kapustiak said. Halloween salad is another addition to the sweet treats served at Thanksgiving. It is a simple recipe to make before Thanksgiving and snack on while hiding from the relatives.
GRAPHICS BY RYAN KOVACIN, BASIA CHRUSCINSKI, & JOSH LARRAGOITY
ipes
November 14, 2014 | ENTERTAINMENT
llo Dolly B e H ar s INGREDIENTS:
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hocolate chip cookie bars are too mainstream for junior Bonnie Millener’s family. Their family prefers to make Hello Dolly bars. The crust is made from crushed graham crackers and butter, and is then topped with all the other ingredients. Millener’s parents made them when she was little, and 16 years later, she still bakes them for the whole family every Thanksgiving. “The coconut blends with the condensed milk and almonds for a light, nutty sweetness, and the chocolate chips dominate the overall flavor without taking over,” said Millener. “It’s the perfect blend of my favorite baking ingredients.”
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hile most use pumpkin in pies, junior Emily Myers’ family uses this crowd-pleasing autumn vegetable in soup. “It is actually from my French heritage on my mother’s side,” said Myers. “My mom learned it from her grandma and she makes an annual batch some time around Thanksgiving.” Emily’s family greatly anticipates seeing pumpkin soup on the Thanksgiving table; however, preparing it requires some family help. “It takes my mom quite a few hours to make it because she cuts all of the veggies and grinds spices and such,” Myers said. “It takes a lot of work but its definitely worth it in the end.” The final product is smooth and creamy with an addictive pumpkin punch that makes it constantly in demand at their household during the autumn season.
1 stick of salted butter, melted 1 cup graham cracker crumbs 1 cup chocolate chips 1 can condensed milk (optional: add 1 tsp. vanilla to condensed milk) 1 oz. of coconut shavings 1 cup slivered almonds
DIRECTIONS:
1) Preheat oven to 350° (325° if using glass dish) 2) Add ingredients in the following order into a 9 inch square pan (or 9x13 inch for thinner bars): melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips, coconut, slivered almonds, condensed milk (each layer should cover the one under it) 3) Bake for 25 minutes 4) Immediately cut around edges of pan. Refrigerate until cool, then cut into 1 inch squares.
oup S in k p INGREDIENTS:
1 small sugar pumpkin, about 6 lbs. (or 5 cups canned pumpkin) 2 Tbs. melted butter 3/4 lb. bulk sweet Italian sausage 1 onion, coarsely chopped 3 cans (13 1/4 oz. each) reduced-sodium chicken broth 1 apple, peeled, cored, and chopped (preferably Granny Smith) 1 carrot, coarsely chopped 1 tsp. dried of 1 Tbs. fresh sage 1 cup heavy cream
DIRECTIONS:
1) Preheat oven to 375º. 2) Cut off top of pumpkin (2 1/2 inch down from stem end) then scrape out the seeds 3) Brush butter inside of pumpkin then replace top 4) Place on roasting pan then bake until insides are tender, about 1 hr. and 25 min. Let stand until cool enough to handle 5) Cook crumbled sausage over medium heat until browned then retain 1 Tbs. of juice and discard remaining 6) Add onion to the same pan with juices over medium heat for 2 min. 7) Add broth, apples, carrots, and sage; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low 8) Cover and cook; stirring occasionally, until carrots are tender (about 15 min.) 9) Scoop pulp out of pumpkin leaving 1/4 inch thick shell 10) Puree pulp (or use canned pumpkin) with broth mixture in blender/food processor until smooth 11) Transfer mixture to a large pot; stir in cream. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally (about 5 min.) 12) Add sausage; heat through (about 5 min.) Use pumpkin shell or a bowl to hold the soup, then garnish with sage.
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ENTERTAINMENT
| November 14, 2014
Talent at Maine South is ‘Not Yet Rated’ Mark Biedke
Staff Writer he 2015 Variety Show: “Not Yet Rated” features numerous acts, including harpists, dancers, singers, and jugglers, showcasing the many talents of Maine South students. The name “Not Yet Rated” corresponds with the movie-inspired theme of the V-Show. After a difficult audition process, 18 out of 40 groups were chosen for the show. “It is definitely called a variety show for a reason, because we have a lot of different acts this year,” said V-Show director, junior Chrissy Friel. “People can expect a lot of talent.” Many students have been involved in the audition process, creating the set, developing comedy sketches, or performing an act. The Footlighters, a group of dancers that participates in the show annually, will kick off the show with their new dance number, a mash-up of songs composed by students in the AP Music Theory class. It includes “Eye of the Tiger,” the “Ghostbusters” theme song, “Footloose,” and “Stayin’ Alive.” “Gonna Build a Mountain” will remain the last act as it has since the first V-Show, 50 years ago. Everyone involved in the V-Show goes on stage to sing this final song. Trunk, a comedy performance group, plays a major role in the
PHOTO BY JOSH LARRAGOITY
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DRUM YOUR HEART OUT The Maine South Drumline practices
outside the auditorium in preparation for the V-Show. The group has big plans for their act including a smoke machine and creative lighting effects.
V-Show by keeping the audience entertained while the set is being adjusted for the next act. “I hope a lot of people like to laugh during the V-Show,” junior Trunk member Kelly Bauer said. “It is a nice break in between the acts. Since the acts are all so different, it is nice to have something constant, like trunk, continuing through the entire show.” The stage band is also a major contributor to the show. The stage band has fit its music to the movie theme of the show. One of the band’s pieces is “If I Only Had A Brain,” to correspond with the “Wizard of Oz”
dance performance by the Advanced Dance PE class. Maine South Orchesis is also performing a dance number. Their act is influenced by the award-winning musical and film “Chicago.” A number of students use the V-Show as an opportunity to showcase their vocal talents. “I’m singing ‘Run Away with Me’ by Brian Lowdermilk with Wesley Dziedzic on [the] piano,” senior Trevor Ross said. This song is a powerful musical theater-styled ballad. A unique band comprised of
sophomores Wesley Dziedzic, Katie Daehler, and Megan Wilcox are performing a post-modern jukebox twist on the hit “Timber,” by Pitbull and Ke$ha. The performers are wearing costumes fitting of the jukebox era of the 1950s. The students involved have enjoyed performing this “Timber” twist. Drumline is set to perform a glow-in-the-dark, ninja-themed piece called “Nightmare on Dee Street.” This complex act features plenty of unique effects. Other pieces such as Olivia Conklin’s piano solo, “Rhapsody in Blue,” require fewer stage directions and props. Senior Kamille Garst is excited to perform a slam poem that she has written. It focuses on gender stereotypes and misconceptions as well as feminism and self-confidence. Movements by sophomores Maria Francque and Natalie Briggs add to the emotional words of the poem. V-Show is also home to countless crew members dedicated to the action behind the scenes. Crew has a week and a half to build the sets and learn to assemble everything between acts. They work hard to create an aesthetically-pleasing show. “Not Yet Rated” runs November 20, 21, and 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Maine South Auditorium. Tickets are $7, and can be bought via SeatYourself on the Maine South website.
Taylor Swift shakes off her old sound with ‘1989’
Katie Kaminsky
Entertainment Editor
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aylor Swift’s new album, “1989,” has ended her existence as an artist in stylistic limbo. It seems as though the days of curly blonde hair and country tunes are behind Taylor Swift a s s h e ch ange s h e r focus to a new type of music. The new album strays away from Swift’s typical “songs about boys” theme. While there is her standard song about a tricky relationship, there is also a song about love as a whole, a song about her move to New York City, and a song describing the lack of fairy-tale endings in real life. This pop CD includes thirteen Polaroid pictures that correspond to each song and a lyric book complete with her own introduction to the album. Taylor Swift’s journey towards a different style of music seemed to begin with her previous pop-
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inspired album “Red.” This previous CD shocked her listeners as she began to venture into the world of pop. Swift might have officially strayed from her typical musical path with this new album, but she is still a thoughtful lyricist. She is known for writing her own songs with emotional portrayals of her experiences, and she continues to top the Billboard charts because her lyrics are easily relatable. Her fan base remains loyal to her albums regardless of their genre. According to her record label, this album is classified as synthpop: a genre of music first popular in the 1980s which features a synthesizer as the main instrument. Swift’s studio album has a total of 13 songs, while the deluxe album holds three bonus tracks and three voice memos. Each song holds true to its synthpop classification and attempts to bring the spirit of the ‘80s alive. Swift used this decade as inspiration for her new sound because she was born in this era. While it is unique for an artist to draw inspiration from a previous time period, artists of the ‘80s might see her as a copy-cat.
Swift has focused on the time period between the major milestones of birth and death. Swift claims that her songs provide an opinion on the debate of whether or not people can change. Her song “Style” demonstrates a perfect representation of this topic. The song depicts a situation where a relationship never seems to get old, even though both members have seen the damage it can cause. The people involved have probably moved on, but they still go back to something even though they know it is negative. People can change, but they remain as creatures of habit. The album as a whole is cohesive. Swift connects with her listeners by producing songs that combine general themes of love and hardship with a beat that anybody can dance to. 1.287 million copies of “1989” sold in its first week of release. This feat has not been accomplished since Eminem’s release of “The Eminem Show” in 2002. Taylor Swift has proven that the genre of music does not matter. If an album contains both inspiration and creativity, fans will follow.
Ink
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attoos are a permanent symbol that have inner meaning beyond the skin. Unlike the stick-on temporary tattoos that are popular with kids, real ink is an irreversible endeavor. Choosing to get a tattoo is a life-altering decision; however, for some Maine South students, tattoos are reflections of identity. Life by no means is a smooth ride, and each person undergoes his or her fair share of struggle, hardship, and loss. There are also many positive experiences which lead to the inspiration of tattoos. For the Hawks that have ink, tattoos can commemorate both the high or low moments in life, and become a constant reminder of their strength, values and beliefs. Tattoo designs include symbols for conquering a difficult task or overcoming a personal struggle. It is also typical to see tattoos celebrating important values, such as love or freedom. Essentially, a tattoo can be an extension of a person’s soul. Students under the age of 18 in Illinois must have parent or legal guardian consent to get a tattoo, and depending on size and complexity, tattoos can be expensive. Despite these potential barriers, students continue to get body art. Senior MaryKate Magiera developed a love for the Chicago Blackhawks and recently got a tattoo of the feathers of the logo on the back of her neck. Her love for the Blackhawks goes beyond the ice and onto her skin. “I am a Blackhawks fan, so I decided to get something related to what I love, something related to hockey,” Magiera said. “Growing up, my cousin Ryan played hockey, and my best friend’s brother played hockey too. I began watching their games and became very interested in the sport.” “I feel that tattoos should mean something” added Magiera. “It shouldn’t be something you might regret later.” While some tattoos can be self-explanatory, others may take some figuring out. “My tattoo is a broken pocket watch that has a chain and says ‘Love is Pain’ and it represents family,” senior Hailey Anderson said. “It shows that no matter what happens with the struggles, arguments, disagreements, or problems that are going on in my family, in the end, they will always be my family. The words ‘Love is Pain’ is what represents my personal struggles I have had with family. But at the end of the day, your family will always be there for you no matter what happens.” A senior who wishes to remain anonymous enjoys her tattoos and sees them as an essential reminder of keeping a positive attitude. “After getting the tattoo, I really started feeling
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN KATAYAMA
Features Writer & Editors-in-Chief
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARYKATE MAGIERA
Sarah Asson, Alex Ellyin, & Steven Sakowicz
PHOTO COURTESY OF HAILEY
Maine South
PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY
November 14, 2014 | FEATURES
GETTING INKED
Senior Hailey Anderson has a tattoo of a broken pocket watch reading “Love is Pain” (top left). Senior Tony LoVerde has a tattoo of a Native American symbol of eagle (top right). Senior MaryKate Magiera has a tattoo of the Blackhawks feathers (bottom left). Freshman Lauren Katayama had a henna tattoo of a skull with flowers coming out of it (bottom right).
more confident and happy,” the student said, whose tattoo portrays a small half moon with a face. “My tattoo just reminds me of who I am. It reminds me to refocus and keep my head light. I made sure I can always see it, put my thumb on it, and use it as an aid to stay healthy mentally.” Another Hawk who wanted a permanent piece of art on his skin was senior Tony LoVerde, who has a Native American symbol for an eagle on his upper arm. “It means freedom and it’s a symbol of my life,” said LoVerde. “I got it for me, not for looks.” Although some students like the permanent ink, many look for a not-so-permanent solution to the art they want. An ancient kind of body art, now called a henna tattoo, has been practiced for over 5,000 years as a
form of temporary tattooing. A henna is a flowering tree, and the dye has been used for thousands of years to dye skin, hair, fingernails, and fabrics such as silk, wool, and leather. The tradition in the US started in the ‘90s and has been growing in popularity ever since. “I really like tattoos and the way they look, so since I couldn’t get a real one, I decided to get a henna,” freshman Lauren Katayama said. “It was just a fun tattoo that I thought looked really cool. There wasn’t much behind it, but one day I’m definitely going to get one that will have a lot of meaning.” Whether temporary or permanent, many agree that tattoos are a good way for people to express themselves in a manner that can be public or private.
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FEATURES | November 14, 2014
Diving into the application process
Monica Bielawiec, Laney Kraus-Taddeo & Christina Johnson Features Editors
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here comes a point in every teenager’s life when they face the most important time of their high school career—the dreaded college applications. These applications vary as much as the schools they represent, embracing both the originality of the students and the characteristics that define the institutions themselves. Every year, these applications change, posing new challenges and new struggles for the seniors attempting to conquer the process. Throughout the past few years it has been a trend that schools are pushing for earlier deadlines. Cur rent ly, t he e arly de cision applications are due in November, while the regular applications are submitted in late January; however, schools are interested in a quick response from students. “Because of the earlier deadlines, students feel the pressure to apply earlier and earlier,” said Mrs. Maksymiu, career/college counselor
at Maine South. “There’s a rush to get things done, and students focus less on putting forth a good application.” The applications themselves may only undergo minor changes, but each year, the process and qualifications look a little different. Over 500 schools currently accept the Common Application, while other schools choose to require independent applications. “The good thing is, access to the application has gotten much better with technology,” said Mrs. Maksymiu. “Colleges are more online.” Even so, it’s the same groups of schools that ask for the same information year after year. Students find that the more prestigious schools are the ones that are asking for even deeper personal experiences. The larger schools are shifting their focus from quantitative data, like test scores, grade point average, and grades, to essays and statements. “More and more schools are going test score optional or test choice,” said Mrs. Maksymiu. Now, schools are looking more closely at activities and resumes rather than scores or grades. There are numerous myths that
THE COMMON
CONFUSION
surround much of the application process. One of these myths that many first‑time senior parents believe is that private schools are too expensive, especially compared to state schools. This can be true in many cases, but what parents may not know is that private schools give a considerable amount of scholarship and financial aid money. Yet you still have to pay the application fee, which continues to increase every year. There are always some applicants who wish to go across the country or even across the ocean to attend a university. Getting a family on board with this decision is a challenge faced by many students. One thing to remember is to stay calm and do some research. “It’s important to know why you’re looking at a school and c o m m u n i c a t i n g ,” s a i d M r s . Maksymiu. “After all, your parents are probably the ones paying.” If you are undecided, then it might be good to have an idea of what you want to do with your future. The acceptance rate for out-ofstate students tends to be lower compared to in-state applicants,
causing the schools to be artificially more selective. The same misconceptions trend from year to year. Students and parents forget to realize that the name of the school is not what is most important. “Companies are looking at what you have done on your college campus, and what you’re doing is more important than the name of the school,” said Mrs. Maksymiu. Looking at the Big Ten, one can see an example of student emphasis on name; the University of Illinois and Michigan State are the most commonly applied to schools by Maine S outh students—partly because of their reputation. The college application is a rite of passage—the moment when the juvenile years of high school come to an end. These soon-to-be college freshmen will be catapulted into the realities of becoming an adult. Even though applications are being filled out thousands of times by thousands of students, the challenges never cease to exist. The essay prompts, the college application, and the deadlines each impose a new struggle for the applicants.
A look at some of the most difficult essay prompts Maine South students have encountered.
GRAPHIC BY MONICA BIELAWIEC
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November 14, 2014 | FEATURES
Concerts don’t have to be so expensive
Marisa Owen
Features Writer hicago is a great city to live in if you li ke sp or ts and entertainment. While you can usually watch Chicago sporting events from the comfort of your home, if you want to see a concert, you have to attend it in person. Unfortunately, concert tickets for most events are expensive, especially if you don’t buy them when they first go on sale for face value. Many e vents for p opular entertainers like Taylor Swift, Maroon 5 and One Direction sell out within minutes of going on sale. This leaves most of us trying to figure out how to attend an event without paying a fortune for the ticket. There are some ways to steal a good deal, but it takes some work and patience. You might need a bit of luck to make it happen. One great way to score a good deal on tickets is by catching a presale. These sales usually occur a few weeks before the regular tickets go on sale. The tickets are sold at face value, which means that they are much cheaper than the ones sold to the general public after the main sale has occurred. These pre-sale codes can be obtained through certain credit card companies, fan memberships, or even the artists’ social media page. Once you know the code, you can buy presale tickets for regular price. For instance, members of Maroon 5’s fan club were given the chance to purchase pre-sale tickets in September for their show in March. If you know there is a band that you want to see live, it pays to sign up for their online fan club or e–mail list. Often, radio stations offer special pre-sale opportunities. Joining the e-mail list or fan clubs of radio stations like B96 or 101WKQX can get you first crack at tickets for very popular artists. Tickets might also be sold from the box office site on the day of the event. These same-day tickets are usually extremely good seats and are sold last‑minute at the face value price. The Allstate Arena, a popular venue for artists, releases day-of tickets five hours before a show. On a first-come, first-serve basis, fans without a ticket have the chance to purchase just-released front row
PHOTO BY JOSH LARRAGOITY
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tickets or lower-level seats. Many times, websites such as TicketMaster release tickets on the morning of the event. These tickets are often held for VIPs or the press covering the event, but if they aren’t all used, they will be made available on the day of the event. This is a fantastic way to get good seats and not be completely ripped off. But waiting for these last-minute chances is risky because there won’t always be seats available, and you might end up outside the venue rather than in it. A riskier way to purchase tickets is through ticket scalpers, who can be found outside of the venue right before the show starts. Many times, these people are desperate to get rid of their tickets, especially as the show time nears. This will cause them to sell them at face value or less, and sometimes the seats can be very good. It is risky to buy this way because
the scalpers might be selling you counterfeit or already-used tickets, and the result of that fraud would mean that you are out the money and out of the show as well. Buying tickets from deal websites such as Groupon and Living Social can also bring you some outstanding deals, especially on lesser-known concerts and venues. For instance, if you were interested in going to see an R&B festival at the UIC Pavilion, tickets were recently offered at a price that was 45% less than the face value price, saving $27 off of the original ticket price of $62. Prices often go down on these websites, too, as the date of the event gets closer. Radio station contests are another great way to land free tickets for a concert. By calling a certain number given by a radio station, you have the chance to win a free set or two of tickets. B96 and 103.5 KISS FM offer these special types of deals on a
weekly basis. Of course, the odds of actually winning tickets in this way are quite small, but people do win tickets and it can’t hurt to try. There are some people who just want to get rid of their tickets. Craigslist is often their point of sale. This is a great place to buy tickets because the prices are often cheap or negotiable with the seller. However, one should be particularly cautious when purchasing tickets from an unknown seller. Most people try to get tickets as soon as possible, and though some may wait until the last minute, they risk missing out on their favorite events. Much of the process is figuring out how to work the system. Waiting for contests, deals, and laterelease tickets takes research and commitment. Ticketmaster and Stubhub are no longer the only options to buy good seats at low prices.
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SPORTS
| November 14, 2014
Seniors leave girls’ golf on successful note
Sports Editor
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or most of the members of the 2014 Maine South girls’ golf team, this year wasn’t the first time they had faced high-level competition. The team’s top six golfers who ended up playing at the state tournament included sophomore Kelly Maigler and five seniors: Leia Atas, Tina Piarowski, Marissa Oshona, and Annie and Katie Krall. These experienced girls were in their third or fourth seasons with the team. Coach Jeff Hamann believes this experience helped lift the team to new heights. “I think a really big thing on a golf team is the experience—knowing how to play the game, knowing how to score—because that’s huge when you get to tournament golf,” Mr. Hamann said. “Golf is...a tough game mentally. So when you have that mental focus and that confidence it really helps you.” Members of this team first got a taste of the State experience when the 2012 team featuring Atas and the Krall twins as sophomores advanced to the state tournament. “Their sophomore year, when we went to the sectional, we were sort of the underdog, and we played very well at the sectional two years ago,” Mr. Hamann said. “We expected to do well, but at the same time, it was a little bit of a surprise that we made it.” But in 2013, all five of this year’s senior golfers were part of a group that was unable to advance from the sectional round. Mr. Hamann said that loss was not due to a lack of effort. “Last season we didn’t [advance to State], and not because we didn’t play well. It just didn’t happen. We were in a real tough sectional, and played well at the sectional, but didn’t make it.” According to Katie Krall, the disappointment from that performance helped motivate the girls to work harder to avenge the loss this season. “All winter and all summer, it really sat in the back of our minds, and so it really motivated us to really do our best this season, and make it down to State as a team.” This motivation carried the Hawk golfers through a tough offseason, and when the season kicked off, the team had high expectations for themselves. “Since we had five seniors returning, there were high expectations, there was some pressure,” Hamann said. “We were expected to be good, and we turned out to be good.” “At the end of the day, there’s this voice in you head saying ‘this is it’” Katie Krall said. “So there’s this pressure to perform well.” The team had a number of regular season accomplishments, including winning the 25-team Rockford Invite, but the team’s focus was always on preparing for the playoffs. When playoff time came, the team performed well. The Hawks won their regional at Poplar Creek, finishing 43 strokes above the second-place team and punching their ticket to Sectionals for the
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PHOTO COURTESY DARRYL KRALL
PHOTO BY JOSH LARRAGOITY
THE PROMISED LAND
The girls’ golf team, along with coaches Mr. Jeff Hamann and Mr. Matt Ellefson, pose for a photo at the state meet at Hickory Point Golf Club in Decatur, IL. The Hawks advanced to State this season for the second time in three years, finishing in eighth place.
fourth consecutive year. It was at Sectionals where the team put together their best performance of the year, finishing with a school-record 328 score and winning the sectional for the first time in Maine South girls’ golf history. “In the most important meet of the year, they came out, they prepared, they were ready to go, and they did it,” Mr. Hamann said. “We were able to perform at our best when it counted the most, and that’s pretty special.” “The thing about golf is that it can vary every round,” Atas said. “As a team, we all just happened to play our best on the day it counted the most. At the state meet, the team did not perform as well as they would have liked, finishing 122 strokes over par over the two days of the tournament, but they were still able to finish in ninth place. After the season, Atas announced her commitment to play golf at Illinois State University. It is rare for a female Hawk golfer to move on to play at the collegiate level, and the last to have done so was Rachel Oberheide (‘10). Her coaches and teammates believe Atas has the qualities needed to be successful as a college golfer. “[Atas is] a tireless worker,” said Mr. Hamann. “She is never really satisfied with her game. She’s never going to reach a point where she says, ‘I’m good enough’...It’s a very good program down at Illinois State, so she’s going to be in some tough competition, but she’s going to be up to the challenge because of her work ethic and the fact that she expects a lot out of herself.” “[Atas] practices really hard, she’s a great competitor, [and] she puts golf above all else,” said Katie Krall. “I think she’ll have a wonderful opportunity to play at ISU.” Since her freshman year, Atas has been a key
member of the golf team. She was a part of each of the four consecutive sectional teams from 2011-2014. “I love [golf] so much,” said Atas, “and I can’t picture myself doing anything else.” The underclassmen of the 2014 Maine South girls’ golf team will look to improve their golf games for their upcoming season. But for now, they’re just appreciating the success they were able to achieve with the seniors this season. “We not only made it down to State, but we won our sectional,” said Atas. “Not a lot of teams can say that.”
PHOTO COURTESY LEIA ATAS
John Lavaccare
GOING FOR THE GREEN
Senior Leia Atas watches one of her shots fly across the fairway. Atas has committed to play golf at Illinois State University next fall.
November 14, 2014 | SPORTS
Czosnyka, Friedman, and Wind repeat state trip Julia Sirvinskas Staff Writer
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any high school athletes only dream of qualifying for their sport’s state tournament, but Maine South varsity tennis players Leigh Friedman, Kamila Czosnyka, and Marti Wind have already achieved this goal multiple times. Friedman, a junior, just wrapped up her third straight trip to the single’s state tournament, and sophomores Czosnyka and Wind just completed their second straight trip downstate as a doubles pair. D espite t he pre v ious St ate experience of the girls, their road to Buffalo Grove was filled with many obstacles. Weather conditions were not ideal, as many practice and competition days were cancelled due to downfalls, making the courts difficult or impossible to play on. “Even though Sectionals created a difficult schedule for us, having to wait out rain delays and finishing final matches on Monday, we were able to adjust and still play our best,” said Friedman. “Sectionals was successful for the seedings at State as well as the preparations for the upcoming tournament.” Friedman’s competition not only
came at the state tournament, but throughout her regular season as well, including tough competitors from the CSL Conference. “Whenever I had played New Trier in the past, the match would always last the longest,” she said. “These would be very close matches, but many times, the outcome was not always one that I wanted. At Conference this year, I played New Trier in the semifinals, and pulled off a win. It was an extremely tough match, but the victory was definitely one of the best highlights for me of this season.” Friedman finished 11th at State, an improvement from her previous two State matches. She came out on top in three out of her five matches at State, earning a total of five points for the Maine South team. Although she makes it look easy, Friedman has established a work ethic over the past few years that has aided in her excellence in tennis. “D u r i ng pr a c t i c e we we re constantly reminded of our goal, and our coach persistently inspired us to give our best effort at practice,” she said. “We have this rule that if you let the ball bounce twice, you must do thirty push-ups. We were reluctant to do so at the beginning of the year, but
PHOTO BY JOSH LARRAGIOTY
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Junior Leigh Friedman works on her ground strokes during practice. Friedman qualified for the singles state tournament and finished 11th.
FOLLOW
@S out hwords Sp or t
PHOTO BY JOSH LARRAGIOTY
TOSS UP
Sophomore Kamila Czosnyka prepares to serve during practice. She and her doubles partner, sophomore Marti Wind, qualified for the state tournament and finished eighth overall, just two places shy of All-State.
it helped out in the long run because it taught us to play every ball.” Friedman has shown throughout the years that she has what it takes to be a top state competitor, not only physically, but mentally as well. The fact that she competes as an individual makes her focus on her mental strength because there is no reliance on teammates to help her out on the court. Keeping focused is the key to success. “Sometimes I will be frustrated and during the changeover I will steam over to the other side of the court, without taking a drink,” Friedman said. “Then, I win the next two games, so when the changeover occurs again, I don’t want to get a sip of water because I didn’t before. Little things like that occur all the time, and it is not necessarily a good habit to get into, because when it goes wrong, you don’t focus on the point or even tennis for that matter, but the action of superstition,” she said. Her mentality on the court and her awareness have been major contributions to her three successful seasons and state trips. Friedman’s experience has rubbed off on the other Maine South players,
like Czosnyka and Wind, who also placed higher than they did in their past trip to state. With an eighthplace finish, just two places shy of All-State, the girls won five out of seven matches, earning nine points for the Maine South team. “Kamila and I have had some great matches this season,” Wind said. “We did better this year in State than last year, and I think we are becoming great doubles players together.” After competing together on the varsity high school level for two years, the girls know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, making them a duo to look out for in the future, as they have two seasons left in their high school career. Despite the short tennis season and different obstacles presented, Friedman, Czosnyka, and Wind managed to accomplish their goals and competed well at the state tournament. All three players will be coming back next year for the Hawks, and they look for even better results for the 2014-2015 season. “The future for the girls’ tennis team looks very promising,” Wind said.
ON TWITTER fo r HAWK SPORTS U PDAT ES
SouthwordS 15
GIRLS’ SWIMMING | CROSS COUNTRY | FOOTBALL | GIRLS’TENNIS | GOLF | BOYS’SOCCER | GIRLS’VOLLEYBALL
Promising football season ends in disappointment
Mike Greco & John Lavaccare
“The difference is that our playmakers like [senior] Vinny Labus, [junior] Brian Collis, [senior] Justin Fahey, and [senior] Tommy Bazarek have experience from last year,” Mr. Inserra said. Spirits were high after the Hawks’ first round playoff victory. Mr. Inserra even compared the team to one of the school’s storied championship teams. “This team is like the 2000 championship team,” Mr. Inserra said. “Our offensive line is the same in terms of their youth coming into the season. The defenses are the same in the sense that they are tough and get after the ball. And our quarterback, running back, and our group of receivers are all the same.” However, in the second round of the playoffs, everything flipped for the Hawks. As the saying goes, defense wins championships, and it was Barrington’s stifling defense that shut down what had been a highflying offense. Maine South was averaging 42 points per game going into last Saturday’s contest, but the Broncos were able to hold them to just seven. Despite the early playoff exit, the team accomplished GOING FOR GLORY Junior Jon Arenas a lot this year. The Hawks were one of just three teams catches a touchdown pass during the Hawks’ 54-21 win in class 8A to finish the regular season undefeated. over Niles West in the first round of the 8A state playoffs. Though they will lose many starters to graduation, the Warrenville South 17-7 the following week and Hawks head into 2015 with motivation, and talented subsequently swept the CSL once again, finishing with players, including Collis and junior Jonathan Arenas, a perfect (9-0) regular season record. They carried that who will return looking to avenge this year’s defeat and momentum into a 54-21 playoff win over Niles West. live up to those massive expectations placed on them. PHOTO BY RHYANNE NOCHE
Staff Writer & Sports Editor
T
he Maine South football team has won five state titles, all since 1995, including three championships in a row from 2008-’10. In the fourteen seasons since the arrival of Coach Dave Inserra in 2000, the team has never lost the CSL conference, and they have a streak of 70 consecutive conference wins. These accomplishments mean every new season comes with high expectations for the Hawks. Unfortunately, the Hawks were unable to meet those expectations, as they lost their secondround playoff game to Barrington, 21-7. In week one, the team faced an opponent who had defeated them in the 2013 opener: Montini Catholic. In that game, Maine South was down 35-15 with less than six minutes remaining before coming back to defeat Montini 36-35. That comeback victory was a major turning point for the season. “The Montini game completely flipped the momentum of our season,” Mr. Inserra said. “That win gave us a different mindset for the Wheaton game. Had we not won, our mindset would have been different.” “The win showed our heart and our toughness,” senior linebacker Chris Tsichlis said. “It also showed how hard we worked all summer long.” The team defeated non-conference rival Wheaton
FALL SPORTS SCOREBOARD
The entire team qualified for State for the second time in the last three seasons.
Regular Season Record:
Finished undefeated in the regular season in five of the last seven years.
Gardiner is the latest State qualifier; there has been at least one every year since 2005.
Regular Season Record:
Won Regionals with a 2-1 overtime victory over Lane Tech.
Regular Season Record:
Conference Record:
Had two state qualifiers: Anthony Celiano and Tim Zelek.
Won Sectionals for the first time in school history.
Regular Season Record:
Regular Season Record:
Overall Record:
Girls’ Swimming will compete at Sectionals tomorrow at Niles North.
Marti Wind and Julia Czosnyka are the first Hawk state doubles qualifiers since 2005.
Captain Nora Quinn committed to play at Fairfield University next season.
GRAPHIC BY JOSH LARRAGIOTY
Kalina Gardiner’s 3-mile time at Sectionals:
Henry Mierzwa’s 3-mile time at Sectionals: