Vol 52 Issue 1

ILLUSTRATION BY BASIA CHRUSCINSKI

September 4, 2015

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 52, No. 1

Maine South welcomes students with a brand new layout featuring Student Service Teams.

See pages 2-3

AP Agenda

AP courses are more than just a score.

Page 7

Junior Janitors

Sizzlin’ Styles

Golf Gurus

Students talk about their Beat the heat with these cool Boys’ golf kicks off another experiences as custodians. summer trends. strong season.

Page 8 Page 12 Page 15

NEWS

| September 4, 2015

Summer renovations centralize Ma

David Kloc Staff Writer

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very new school year brings changes, but this year brings one of the biggest changes in decades. Last year, the Maine South administration made the decision to move the counselors, social workers, and deans for each alphabetical group of students into their own separate pods, or SSTs, in designated areas of the school.

This change was the result of District 207 acquiring the Tools Manufacturing Association building, located on the corner of Dee and Devon, last year.

Principal Shawn Messmer noted the immediate benefits of buying the property.

“It’s pretty rare you get to buy a [property] so close to an already-established campus,” he said.

“When administration moved out… we reconfigured some of this office space. We recaptured four thousand square feet at Maine South, which we will eventually develop… for student use.”

At the end of the 2014-2015 school year, the administration center in Maine South was moved to the new building and the main office moved to the newly-vacated space.

Mrs. Trish Conlon, a counselor here at Maine South, noted that significant physical changes occurred in the old district space over the summer.

“The former Deans’ Office (SST 3), SPS Office (SST 2) & Main Office (SST 1) all had one additional office built,” she said. “Walls were put up in all the offices along the windows to make each into two offices.”

Changes to other areas of the campus were made as well.

“The showers were redone in the locker rooms and we’ll be changing out the shower heads too at some point, to make [the showers] a little nicer,” Mr. Messmer said.

“We have new driving simulators, which are pretty cool… Mr. Berendt also pushed to get the new Hawk window, which spruces up the front of the building nicely.”

Unfortunately, an aging building added extra work to an already-packed construction load.

“The air conditioning unit broke last year, so we’re in the midst of dismantling the old unit and in the meantime we have a backup [unit] that we’re using right now,” Mr. Messmer said. “The new air conditioner will be set up in the fall, so right now we’re clearing space. By the time it arrives, we can go ahead and hook it up.”

With all of the changes to Maine South, a new system for administrative organization was developed. This new system is called the pod system.

“One of the things that we needed to seriously look at was trying to have a onestop-shop for students,” Mr. Messmer said.

“We had deans in one area, counselors all over the building, and the SPS office by itself. All three of those areas were places that serviced some student needs. When we were able to take over the new space

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and move our old offices, it really gave us the opportunity to create an area divided by alphabet where a student could take care of everything, from scheduling classes to attendance issues, to parking, you name it.”

The pod system not only helps students, but has advantages for staff as well.

“All members of each of the three Student Services Teams now work in close proximity,” Mrs. Conlon said. “Together, we serve the needs of the students we share. There are three counselors in each SST who each have their own caseloads.”

“There have been no changes to counselor caseloads; therefore, we have all the same students as last year. We work with one dean, one social worker, a

school psychologist, and two administrative assistants. We do everything that we did before. Our pod now takes care of the attendance for the students within our portion of the alphabet.”

“The logistics are in place to make this new system work. It will be a learning experience for us all,” she said.

Mrs. Conlon also shared that, while the system is still new, there hasn’t been much student feedback so far.

In regards to what Mr. Messmer has seen from the student body, he believes that everything is going swiftly and smoothly. “[The reaction has been] seemingly pretty good.

Everything’s quiet,” he said. “Every time I’ve been

September 4, 2015 | NEWS

down there students have been in and out, mostly checking their schedules, meeting with counselors, and things like that. So far, the reception has been pretty good.”

Even with the new pods and moved main office, there is still unused space in Maine South that has not yet been claimed for a particular purpose. There is much speculation on what that space could be used for.

“There’s a nice large, unused area, and we have to consider what we can do with that space,” Mr. Messmer said. “Maybe one, two, or three new classrooms that are on the modern side. So that means the classrooms would have round tables, or workspaces for students. I saw Southwords run an article about hav-

ing a ‘nap room,’ and I’m actually open to the idea of maybe making some quiet spaces. There’s some interesting research about mindfulness and some stuff like that. But we’re still in a very early stage. The purchase of the TMA building was unexpected, so none of this was part of my ten-year budget. There may be some time before we start to figure out what we want to do next.”

The goal of the SSTs is not only to make daily problems easier to address, but also to make the transition to Maine South life easier for new students. While the new layout is a drastic change for many current students, it will help the school maximize space and function more effectively than ever before.

What would you do if you could change the school layout?

Maine South student life

“I feel that we should have everything more centrally located because it’s way too spread out and it makes it hard to get around.”

-Michelle Soderlind ‘16

“I think it would be a good idea to put all the counselors in one area and put the deans back where they were.”

- Georgia Slojkowski ‘17

“I would make all of my classes closer together because I only care about my convenience.

- JJ Butler ‘18

“I think it would be easier to find our SSTs if there were signs in the school telling us where to go.”

-Milica Milic‘19 SouthwordS

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NEWS

| September 4, 2015

Maine South welcomes six new teachers Anastasia Dalianis & Catherine Coyle News Editor & Staff Writer

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his year, six new teachers have joined the Maine South faculty in a variety of departments, including math, English, and special education.

Mr. Martin Nocedal is joining Maine South in the Fine Arts department as Orchestra Director while Mrs. Oppenheim is on leave. He is a cellist; he studied at Northwestern University and went on to get his Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan. He was a graduate instructor there for several years, giving private lessons and technique classes.

He has also previously taught high school and coached chamber music groups at Midwest Young Artists, a youth orchestra program based out of Highwood, IL. “I’m excited about the overall high level of musicianship here,” he said. “There are lots of really talented students who are willing to take time to be in an extra music class, and even groups outside of school like chamber orchestra. There’s a great culture of music here.” Mr. Nocedal will be conducting Beginning, String, Philharmonic, and Chamber Orchestras.

Mr. Joseph Marchisotto is joining Maine South in the English department. He is a recent graduate of UIC and has previously taught at Maine West.

“I’ve only been here for a week now, but I would say that everybody, the students and the staff, have been very welcoming,” Mr. Marchisotto said. “Not just necessarily in my department, but teachers across the board have been very welcoming to me, and it’s making my transition from another school very smooth.”

“I’m very into structured writing, so I’m excited to have some lessons here with my classes where we can practice what we learn not only through writing, but also through discussion. I think that what we learn is going to transfer very well to writing and speaking. And debate. Who doesn’t love debate?”

Outside of school, he is looking forward to attending pep assemblies and football games.

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“I’m excited to see what the school spirit here is like,” he said.

Mrs. Katie Schroeder will be teaching in the CTE department.

“I used to work at Glenbrook South,” Mrs. Schroeder said.

“I think the biggest, most exciting difference I will face will be working in the high school that I grew up at and that I feel passionate about.”

Last year, she worked as a Math Instructional Support Teacher, but she is pleased to return to her alma mater as a teacher.

“I am excited for so many things this year, it is hard to pick just one,” says Mrs. Schroeder. “But if I had to, I would probably be most excited about my internship student’s placements and sharing their journey with them this year. I never thought I could be this happy going to work every day.”

Mr. Kevin Wiland is joining the Maine South team this year as the Mathematics Department Chair.

“This past year, I served as the K-12 Mathematics Coordinator for School District U-46 in Elgin,” he said. “There are many differences between that role and my role here as department chair.

The biggest difference is that I get to work more directly with students here, which I love. I am most excited to work at the high school in my community (I live in Park Ridge) where I can make an impact on my own children’s future school.”

Mr. Wiland looks forward to working in a community where education is a top priority and excellence is the norm.

Mrs. Sandra LaPointe is returning to Special Education in a parttime capacity. She has worked in Niles and most recently at Maine South, teaching Algebra 2. Before returning to teaching, she was at home with her children for eight years.

“The biggest challenge I think I will face this year will be

becoming current on all the technology available to students and teachers here at Maine South. I am really excited to be back at South and looking forward to an outstanding year with great students.”

This is Mrs. LaPointe’s second year at Maine South, and her first year teaching special education.

Mrs. Carrie Saurer has worked on and off at Maine South for the past 14 years, assisting Mr. Muszynski in the drama department. With Mr. Muszynski’s recent retirement, she has assumed his position full-time.

“I had a dream when I was a student teacher all those years ago that I would get back here,” she said. “I moved to California for a while and taught in San Francisco, and I also taught in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. When I came back to the Midwest, I worked at Maine South from 2007-2010, so this is really my third time back here. I’ve had other experiences at other schools and I have perspective on what’s so unique and wonderful about Maine South. Honestly, it’s the students that drew me back. They’re highly motivated, enthusiastic, open...that’s rare.”

She remarks on the collaboration within the fine arts department itself, saying, “There’s very much a sense of...in terms of the staff, people supporting each other, and so many of the productions that we put on are such a collaborative effort.

In a lot of fine arts departments, people just live in their own bubbles, but that’s not the case here. Everyone is involved in each others’ worlds, and that trickles down to the students. Something that you just do not see at other schools - and I know this because I’ve worked in them - is students that are equally involved onstage and backstage. There’s usually a very clear division amongst the students, and that doesn’t exist here. Everybody is linked with one another and I think that’s amazing.”

Mrs. Saurer is very excited about the upcoming theater season, with its balance of comedy and drama. The year will start with an adaptation of “Candide,” the classic 18th century novel by Voltaire. The spring musical will be “Big Fish,” which is a more recent production based on a novel that was turned into a screenplay and eventually turned into a book for a musical.

“We’re having something that’s really fresh and new in our season, which is awesome,” says Mrs. Saurer.

“Our winter play is ‘The Diviners,’ which is an extremely emotional and touching piece. There’s just a really nice balance in terms of what people will be able to participate in, and also what audiences will be able to come and see.”

September 4, 2015

STAFF EDITORIAL

We can all be freshmen—together O

ne of the main symptoms of being a freshman is the obvious challenge of navigating the school.

Although the upperclassmen take pride in being the top Hawks at South, walking the Maine South hallways after this summer has been a flashback to the start of our high school career.

O ve r t h e s u m m e r, Mai n e South underwent considerable renovations. The district offices were moved to a different building, the main office now resides in the old Frost center, and the deans and counselors were strewn all over the building in “pods.” The SPS and attendance offices are also in new locations. It’s no surprise that many students have a hard time getting to their counselors or signing in after arriving late.

Fo r u p p e r c l a s s m e n , t h e

confusion of not knowing where we’re going is vaguely familiar. As freshmen, the numerous various hallways and wings of Maine South seemed so daunting, and no one could explain the infamous “classrooms within classrooms” that we walked past 100 times and still missed. We all remember being lost and shy and lacking the courage to ask an older kid for help.

Now we have that natural sense of pride in being the “big kid,” knowing that we’ve overcome most of our years of high school. At the same time, we exhibit overconfidence that inhibits us from seeking help or reaching out to others.

No one enjoyed being lost and confused during their first days at Maine South, and enduring that experience again should remind us to have empathy for the newest

Hawks. We have the benefit of seeing familiar faces, knowing the uncommon locations, and having experiences engraved into the halls of this building. We should use our advantages to build communication between students and unify under the code of respect and teamwork that our school encourages. It’s an opportunity to make some students feel more comfortable and welcome at Maine South.

This experience is an opportunity to erase some of the boundaries that separate the underclassmen and the upperclassmen. At the end of the day, we all have common struggles, and a little empathy and kindness go a long way in creating a more comfortable environment.

Although sometimes we don’t know where we’re going, it’s easier to find our destination—together.

A solution to the silence Kate Papciak Editor-in-Chief

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t’s a Monday morning at 8:03 a.m. My day has barely started and I can already feel myself slowly dozing off at my ice-cold desk.

The only thing keeping me from dreaming about my celebrity crush is my teacher’s efforts in trying to engage the class. While it’s not my first priority to voice my thoughts on spontaneous combustion in Chemistry, I summon the effort to make the best of the 70 minutes.

In the somewhat-wise words of Hannah Montana, “everybody has those days.” It’s understood that life cannot always go our way and can cause us to hold back enthusiasm.

Lack of sleep only decreases the chances of student participation because of their unmotivated and sluggish state. In addition, students may avoid speaking because they feel insecure to be the first of the class to break the silence.

When one student is reluctant to engage in class conversation, it puts pressure on others to make up

for the lack of participation. It is process for students whether they understandable that everyone isn’t are answering questions or sharing always eager and awake every minute a thought.

Some of my favorite classes over of every day. However, students should take the efforts of the teacher the past years were the ones where into account before completely students were very engaged because we created memories and inside jokes. tuning out.

Participation shouldn’t be feared, It is up to the students to contribute in class. Silence is but rather viewed as an opportunity avoidable! Not only does the teacher to pass class time. Students have stress over the disengaged class, but the chance to take control of their students feel the discomfort sitting learning experience as well as create a better classroom safe in their desks as well.

No m at t e r t h e s u b j e c t , environment. reserving your answer or comment N e x t t i m e a demonstrates a lack of respect for teacher asks a the teacher by the class. The teachers question, don’t have put hours into planning a leave it to the detailed lesson only to have students c r i c k e t s ( o r cockroaches in abstain from participating.

We have about eight hours of Maine South’s information being thrown at us every case) to fill the silence. day, so it’s easy to just let all the facts and numbers bounce right off us onto the beige school walls.

However just by being engaged, students will absorb information much better because of their attentiveness to the discussion.

Participation enriches the learning ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTINA MIHALOPOULOS

| COMMENTARY

Maine South High School 1111 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL 60068 http://www.southwords.org

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.

Scan this QR code to e-mail Southwords Editors-in-Chief Monica Bielawiec Kate Papciak News Editors Anastasia Dalianis Rhyanne Noche Entertainment Editors Laura Cash Lauren Papp Olivia Post Features Editors Margaret Cahill Christina Johnson Bridget Yagihashi Commentary Editors John Sullivan

Mariam Zaki Sports Editors

Art Editor

Mike Greco Sam Tinaglia

Basia Chruscinski

Production Editors

Haley Mech Arden Sasak

Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

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COMMENTARY | September 4, 2015

Promoting equality for everyone Justyna Lepa & Louise Macaraniag Commentary Writers

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isconceptions can often lead to misunderstandings, which then lead to many different types of conflicts in society. One little myth can cause a society to lack tolerance toward certain types of people.

For centuries, generations of people have been misinformed about how gender identity really works. There are many fallacies about the trans community that are often caused by how the media portrays transgender and gender nonconforming individuals.

The media often considers it to be a “trend” to be gay or identify as another gender. This misleads people to believe that gender identity and sexuality is a choice, when it’s actually innate.

Other variables that reinforce the negative perception in the media of gender identity are gender norms.

Numerous advertisements in the media focus on very specific clothing and accessories for males and females to wear. Many people that want to transition are required to dress and act as their opposite gender for several years before they are eligible to take hormones and/or undergo surgery.

Those who are transitioning are ridiculed during this initiation period because they are behaving and dressing in a way that does not correlate with their birth gender or meet gender norm standards. Individuals who identify as transgender and/or gender nonconforming feel as if they were born into the body of the incorrect sex.

This can be an overwhelming physical and/or mental feeling of misalignment between their body and who they feel they are. This feeling is also known as gender dysphoria.

In addition to this dysphoria, cruel and unjust societal maltreatment subjects people whose gender identity differs from the norm into deep depression, anxiety, and other

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psychological problems.

In extreme situations, mental illness caused by both dysphoria and social oppression may lead those who are struggling with gender identity to have suicidal thoughts and/or commit suicide.

According to The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 41% of transgender and/or gender nonconforming individuals commit suicide each year.

These statistics are undeniably high and should be addressed more widely by our society. Acceptance and respect is a key factor to prevent these unfortunate scenarios from being carried out. But with this acceptance comes understanding.

We must educate ourselves to be more familiar with subjects pertaining to gender. We can start by knowing that there are other varieties of genders rather than just male and female, and that gender identity is not the same as anatomical sex.

Gender relates to both an internal sense of who you want to identify as and your external expressions. This ranges between masculinity and femininity, which is also known as the gender spectrum.

It may be difficult to fathom that there are more genders because of the fact that our society has grown up believing that there are only two, but we must begin to rid the general public of this misconception. We should allow our minds to be more open and to grasp the complexity of what gender identity really is.

However, now more than ever, our society has begun to gradually acknowledge more gender expres-

sions and identities.

Positive portrayals of genderqueer individuals have become more common and accepted by the media including the trans representation in many popular shows such as the Netflix series, “Orange is the New Black.”

This show features the famous Laverne Cox as Sophia Burset. Through Cox’s growing popularity, she has been very vocal about her transition and is determined to help others with the same struggles she went through as a transgender woman of color. Her outspoken attitude sets an example for genderqueer individuals and also educates many of those who don’t quite understand how gender identity is determined.

Others such as athlete Caitlyn Jenner, actress Ruby Rose, and musician Laura Jane Grace, have taken the chance to speak about gender variants and their own struggles within their different celebrity platforms.

On June 26, 2015, gay marriage was legalized in all 50 states. This is one step closer to realizing that everyone in the LGBT community is just as deserving as everyone else and that they go through the same struggles that everyone else does.

They haven’t given up in their fight to be recognized. If the public would just take the time to listen, then the message could get across sooner.

We should begin to show our tolerance by pulling away from the grip of gender stereotypes because this world is changing so quickly. Since

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the world is changing, we should change for the better with it.

Gender stereotypes have a horrendous impact on the expression of transgender and nonconforming individuals and negatively affect their self esteem because they are considered “ill” for being who they are. In order to allow more gender variant people to feel accepted, we should eradicate gender roles and stereotypes.

Demolishing these stereotypes will help remove gender expectations from our culture. In doing so, we will reduce feelings of dysphoria and rid individuals of the limitations that gender roles have created. This task includes debunking gender stereotypes and creating a more openminded frame of thought when dealing with gender-specific actions and scenarios.

We have our own part to play as a school and as students of Maine South. We can replace the negativity that stems from the media by accepting the differences of our own LGBT community.

We can make an impact in their lives by taking the steps to open up our minds and our hearts. It can be as simple as identifying them as their true gender and even supporting them before, during, and after their transition.

If we all work together, we can aid them through their struggle of being transgender individuals in a misunderstanding society. It is our responsibility to make Maine South a judgement-free environment where everyone can feel at home.

September 4, 2015 | COMMENTARY

AP students should find the value in knowledge

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arlier this month, Governor Bruce Rauner signed a bill requiring all public colleges and universities in Illinois to give college credit for scores of three or higher on AP tests.

As this development occurred four days before school would begin, it got me thinking about the five AP courses I would be taking my senior year. Doing well on the AP tests, which take place in May, would help save me a few bucks if I continued my education in-state. Wouldn’t my dear parents greatly appreciate such a grand contribution?

Getting college credit is one of the most appealing factors of taking AP level courses, and, it turns out, students in these classes are quite obsessed with the idea.

In an unscientific survey of 32 students enrolled in multiple AP classes at Maine South, 26 of the students (about 81%) named college credit as one of their main reasons for taking the course. Many students

to be tangible and monetary. Education is not, and should not, be like that; education should be about ennobling and enriching the mind.”

We become so concerned with the tangible rewards of advanced education like college credit and getting accepted into schools, that we forget how what we learn at school today applies to us today not just seven months from now when the AP test is handed out.

I am not saying that we should completely focus on the now and stop stressing over the future. I am saying that we should be aware of how much the future controls us.

Why are you learning? Are you going to study for that Physics test because you need to get an A to keep your 5.0 GPA and go to Harvard?

Or because you find Newton and Kepler’s laws referring to planetary motion absolutely riveting?

Having a mindset where you view learning as a powerful tool to shape who you are now and to have a more holistic understanding of the world

will make school more enjoyable.

Additionally, it will be equally effective in preparing you for a bright future in comparison to learning for the sake of getting college credit.

who grew up here think back and remember hanging out with friends and enjoying a burger at The Pickwick.

Still, times have changed. People should accept what has become of The Pickwick and realize that it’s time for the current teenagers of Park Ridge to have a place to keep in their memories.

The Pickwick was a great place, but there were not many high school kids that would hang out there, and business was down dramatically.

The Pick is trying to make both families and teenagers want to enjoy a meal there, and by only slightly changing the name, they are trying to maintain a connection to the past.

The new owners of the Pick seem to be trying to make it the best of both worlds. They are doing this by making it more modern but also paying attention to the little things that veteran fans of The Pickwick can enjoy as well. Long-time residents will

be able to enjoy a positive change in their community by finding a modern, yet recognizable restaurant.

In a community as historic as Park Ridge, change will always come with a healthy dose of hesitation and resistance. Although preservation of

our history is important, progress is also crucial to our city’s success.

Change is valuable and our generation owes it to our community to make it our own, just as our parents and grandparents have done before us.

ILLUSTRATION BY SAVINA MIHALOPOULOS

Annie Dysart Commentary Writer

also mentioned how these courses will prepare them for a rigorous collegiate education and also noted that the courses would make them look more appealing on an application and raise their GPA. Being enrolled in five AP classes is a welcome change after a summer lacking intellectual activity (besides the assignments required for school).

Through the boredom I experienced over the summer, I discovered how learning can and should be fun, and I was ready to come to school with a new perspective.

Why are students so much more concerned with getting AP credit than learning for personal growth?

Only 13 out of the 32, about 41%, had their top incentive centered around more personal reasons like taking them to be challenged, to further pursue topics that interest them, or to learn more for the sake of enriching their mind. This data, unfortunately, confirmed that my fears for our generation are valid; we do not recognize the true value of learning at this stage in our lives due to an obsession with thinking about the future.

Mr. McArthur, AP U.S. History and AP Euro teacher, shed some light on how society tends to view education: “‘Value’ in almost anything has

Change is coming to a Park Ridge classic restaurant Sydney Mathias Commentary Writer

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he Pickwick Restaurant has been an iconic Park Ridge staple since opening its doors over fifty years ago.

Any resident of Park Ridge can identify the Pickwick and has memories associated with this classic restaurant.

It was even a favorite spot for Hillary Clinton, who had “the Hillary Burger” created in her honor.

The new restaurant now has new owners and is planning on an updated menu that is causal but a little more high-end.

While the restaurant did need a makeover in both the menu and the decor, The Pickwick is a landmark of Park Ridge. It has been in this town since the 1930’s, and some adults

PHOTO BY ARDEN SASAK

WAITING FOR A SIGN The entrance of the restaurant is seen here without its memorable sign. The new sign will be installed in the coming weeks.

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FEATURES |September 4, 2015

Summer

p.m. Monday through Friday.

“I really enjoyed it because it was a full time job and a great group of guys,” said junior Jake Finegold.

Their work included everything that the full time custodians did, whether it was repainting the parking lot to help the newly licensed sophomores stay in the lines, to cleaning out the classrooms and stripping the hallway floors of wax.

“It isn’t as easy as it sounds,” said Finegold. “For example, when we stripped the cafeteria hallway, it took that entire day’s work and then second shift had to finish the end— and we had about seven guys.”

“We got to tear apart However, their work Mr. Messmer’s desk extended further than just and cleaning. They with buzz saws and waxing transported a lot of furniture crowbars.” with the main office, SST Tommy O’Connor & offices, and administration Christina Johnson offices that moved, and they Features Writer & Features Editor also completed some random jobs.

“One of the more interesting things I did was clean out the pool,” said Giblin. “I swim during the school year and it was cool to be in it with all of the water drained out.”

The work was laborious, but one task in particular might draw the envy of some Maine South students.

“We got to tear apart Mr. Messmer’s old desk with buzz saws and crowbars,” said Giblin.

There was a great deal of work that needed to be done in a considerably small time frame.

“The work itself usually wasn’t too bad,” said Giblin.

“The people I was working with, including one of my good friends, made the whole experience even better.”

The experience was worth more than the paycheck. All of the students’ favorite part of the job was not the actual physical labor, but being able to work with all the people that they did.

“I always had respect for the guys who cleaned up after everyone day after day, and after stepping foot in their shoes, I learned a lot,” said Finegold.

While the students were able to work with their peers on projects around the school, the Maine South custodians had the biggest impact on their experience. leeping in, going to the beach, hanging out with “The custodians themselves are friends, and going on vacations is how most juniors and seniors at the great guys,” said Giblin. “Some of them are the high school students spent their summer. Some, end of last year. funniest people I’ve ever met. All of them were however, spent their time waking up at 6:30 a.m., “Since I was looking for a summer job, I applied overall just great people and some of the hardest going to school, and working side by side with the and also told my friend to apply since I knew it working people I’ve met.”

Maine South custodians. would be more fun to work with a friend,” said The employment wasn’t only a great opportunity These students were still able to describe their Giblin. as a summer job or getting to hang out with the summer, here in the halls of Maine South, as a very Another way that students got into the summer custodians, but an experience that the students will enjoyable experience, especially since they earned custodial job was through a program called remember for years to come. some extra cash and job experience.

“Jumpstart.” This program helps teens find jobs “A lot of interesting things happened,” said “They needed extra help this year because a and internships while also focusing on learning Finegold. “But what happens on the job, stays on few of the full-time custodians were injured, the the valuable basic skills that are needed in the the job.” summer was two weeks shorter than usual, and the working world.

In many ways, rolling out of bed at 6:30 a.m. as they were moving administrative offices around,” “We worked from pretty much right after school opposed to noon, going back to school instead of said senior Jason Giblin. ended, to a week before school started again,” said the beach, and hanging out with custodians instead The job was offered by Mr. Adamik, Director Giblin. of friends, was a much better option for spending of Buildings and Grounds, through an e-mail to Most students ran a shift from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 their summer vacation.

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September 4, 2015 |FEATURES

Youth group lends a helping hand

PHOTOS COURTESY KATIE BOYCE

Emily Donahue Features Writer

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azy summers can be ideal, but sometimes it’s good to get out and see the world or do something worthwhile for the community.

Between July 15 and July 19, some students got the chance to do both.

A group of 12 Maine South students attended the five-day Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) National Youth Gathering with St. Luke’s Church, along with 30,000 other people.

Similar to a mission trip, they met students from all over the U.S., completed a service project, and took part in a wide variety of bonding activities.

The gathering this year, which took place in Detroit, happens every three years.

“The purpose was to help the city of Detroit while meeting other high schoolers from around the country,” said Maine South junior Reese Baresky. “I decided to go because I had always wanted to do a mission trip. It was a different approach to a mission trip which also made it different.”

Helping the people of Detroit was a priority for the Maine South students.

“Our goal was to help clean up the city in order to get the people back on their feet,” said junior Katie Boyce.

The next trip, in 2018, will be in Houston. The locations are chosen

SUMMER OF SERVICE AND FUN Student pose outside the COBO center in downtown Detroit, where most of the projects and activities took place. Locations for these service trips were chosen based on the city’s needs.

based on which cities have the most need for youth help.

“Detroit was chosen because o f t h e e c o n o m i c s t r u g g l e s ,” said Baresky. “Bringing 30,000 people to the city brought them a lot of business.” The astounding number of volunteers made it the biggest Lutheran group in the United States, allowing them to accomplish the huge goal they had set.

The citizens of Detroit definitely felt the large impact that the students had on the city.

On several occasions, the youth were stopped on the street and thanked profusely by residents for their hard work and lively presence, which boosted the city’s morale.

“Right when we arrived, everyone was happy to be there,” said Baresky.

“Throughout the streets, people highfived each other. Even the residents of Detroit sitting in traffic joined in.”

The lo c a ls were ext remely grateful to have help from the selfless volunteers.

“Everyone was so thankful, and when we came back from Ford Field every night after having a service activity or concert, people would go out of their way on the streets to make sure that they thanked us for coming to Detroit,” said Boyce.

With so many students in one city, they were able to accomplish a lot of work on their service days. Each

specific project varied from group to group, including things such as uprooting the grass and trimming trees.

Although service was a very important aspect of the gathering, their five days in Detroit weren’t only spent doing physical labor.

In addition to the service efforts, students painted murals that were to be hung up around the city, made bookmarks for each other, watched a Detroit Tigers baseball game in Comerica Park, and attended a large number of concerts, motivational speeches, and performances.

Both Boyce and Baresky agreed that one project stood out among the others.

“My favorite activity was painting murals for the city,” Baresky said. “We met three girls from North Carolina who joined us and we all became friends.”

The new friendships didn’t stop there—Maine South students had the opportunity to meet and work with students from around the country, including Indiana, Texas, and Alaska.

Maine South students who went to the youth gathering had a fun and busy five days this summer and brought back many stories and life lessons to share with their classmates at the start of the school year.

“I learned that just because there are bad parts to a city, that doesn’t

mean that all of the people or city as a whole is bad,” said Baresky. “Just like how Chicago and Park Ridge have their issues, Detroit does too.

Spending five days with one another forced us to learn about one another.

We all became a lot closer by the time we came back to Park Ridge.”

Getting to take part in a variety of service projects was a great opportunity for the youth.

“I think it was such a wonderful experience, and I got to know so many great people,” Boyce said. “I loved knowing that I had made a difference and helped people out, and I think in addition to the next ELCA Youth Gathering, I will try to go on other mission trips.”

pCOLORFUL CREATION

The intricate mural, painted by sophomores Sydney Simner and Dani Rink as well as juniors Reese Baresky and Katie Boyce, was just one of the many activities the students did in Detroit.

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FEATURES

| September 4, 2015

From Park Ridge to Weisbaden PHOTO COURTESY FRAU WOLF

Margaret Cahill Features Editor

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raveling the world is the dream of many high school students.

Unfortunately, many of us don’t get to experience the mixing of cultures and excitement of a new place that comes with these travels. So when given the chance, dozens of Maine South students decided to participate in the German exchange program.

Most of us remember that for two weeks every October our school (and the families of students in it) have the annual pleasure of hosting students and teachers from Weisbaden, Germany.

However, this is only half of the cultural exchange that takes place yearly at our school. Each June, Maine South students and teachers travel to Weisbaden, Germany for two weeks of fun, friends, and an unforgettable cultural experience.

“I really was looking forward to experiencing how things are abroad and sampling their school, home, and social lives,” junior Marie Downey said. “And once I was there, I really loved the food, especially the ice cream, as well as hanging out with my partner.”

In being exposed to new food and new people, Maine South students are slowly but surely breaking out of the bubble

program. There they made many new friends and grew their cultural and linguistic skills.

MARIE D

OWNEY

of Park Ridge and jumping into the world as a whole, while still having a lot of fun.

“The goal of this exchange goes beyond a travel opportunity. The goal is for our Maine South students to develop relationships with teens from Germany and experience the life of a German teenager first hand,” said Frau Wolf, the German teacher at Maine South who, along with her husband and Spanish teacher Don Jose, accompanied 28 students in their world-traveling journey.

“I really liked having free time with my partner and getting to know him,” sophomore Evan Clauss said. His hope for the trip was “to experience how German culture was different from what we have here.”

And it was what was different that seemed to especially pique the interest of Maine South students. Germany is about 7,200 km (about 4474 miles) away from Illinois, so it’s no wonder that our students would be curious about this European WONDERS OF WEISBADEN A Russian Orthodox Cathedral is one of many sights to see in culture so far away Weisbaden. Maine South students loved seeing all of the from our Chicago beautiful cultural sights. suburb.

However,

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GERMANY-BOUND Forty-three Maine South Students traveled to Germany this year through the foreign exchange

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this cultural immersion was not only intriguing, but it also really benefitted Maine South’s German students in learning language and culture.

“In this process, students became more comfortable speaking German, expanded their German vocabulary and developed a deeper….more personal understanding of the German culture,” said Frau Wolf. “Moreover, students developed a broader perspective of the world. Students learn to view situations from a different perspective.

Students learn to appreciate another culture, and perhaps even take a new look at their own culture and way of life.”

Being an entire ocean apart, it comes as no surprise that culture between our two towns is sure to differ in several ways.

“I noticed that the German students seemed to be under less pressure academically from their parents and school,” said Clauss.

“They were also much more family-oriented,” noted Downey.

Her partner’s entire family traveled together extensively—even if it was just to the grocery store.

With the help of parents, the Maine South foreign language department, German teachers, and the administration of the German

school, Frau Wolf has been able to grow this program from about a dozen students per year to 43 this year alone!

“We got to see what the culture was like in different countries and see how they live and make friends internationally,” said Downey. And these friendships can often last far beyond the students’ high school years.

“There are students who took part in the program over a decade ago and still have friendships with their partners,” said Wolf.

Obviously these aren’t the experiences of an average high school student. That’s what makes Maine South’s foreign exchange program so wonderful; these out-of-the-ordinary adventures for our students help make them not only into better German students, but also better people.

“What’s really interesting is that you really learn a lot about your own culture and about yourself when you get out of your comfort zone and your own environment and look at your culture as an outsider,” Frau Wolf said. “I think that it’s really healthy for kids and leaves a valuable impression on them.”

Judging by the beautiful pictures, stories, and excitement of the students involved, she’s right.

September 4, 2015 | ENTERTAINMENT

Paper Towns: young love goes a long way Serenity Torres

Entertainment Writer

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ohn Green, world-renowned author for his several New York Times Bestsellers, has released his second successful book-turned-movie, “Paper Towns.”

The film, starring Cara Delevingne and Nat Wolff, is in select theaters now. For those of you who prefer to read the book, there are several copies available at Maine South’s library and the Park Ridge Public Library.

“Paper Towns,” released in hardcover and paperback in 2008, is a realistic fiction book that follows a teenage boy named Quentin (also referred to as “Q”). Q has had a huge crush on the girl next door, Margo Ruth Spiegelman, since they were kids. Although they haven’t talked in nine years, he’s still smitten. When she shows up at his window asking him to help her with a revenge plan on her cheating boyfriend, Q is more than happy to oblige. The next day Margo has mysteriously disappeared, but she has mysteriously left Q clues on where to find her. Now, Q and his friends must embark on an adventure to find the elusive Margo.

This book is another home run for Green. The plot is captivating and keeps the reader hooked. One will constantly try to figure out the mystery of Margo’s disappearance and Margo herself.

G r e e n’s w r i t i n g i s b o t h philosophical and identifiable. His writing makes one contemplate the purpose of life while including the relatable struggles of high school.

His humorous style only adds to the realism. The characters are quirky and lovable with their own shade of craziness that makes the whole trip super entertaining.

Even though we only see Margo for a couple chapters, there is no doubt that she is the soul of this book. Margo is always on Q’s mind and her words of wisdom will definitely stick with you. The only issue someone might have with this book is the ending. It is unsatisfying and anticlimactic, but that’s the realistic element of the story.

This book is a great read for fans of other John Green novels, fans of realistic fiction and contemporary novels, and fans of road trip novels.

(Oh, and don’t worry-it’s not nearly as sad as “The Fault in Our Stars.”)

The movie, directed by Jake Schreier, was just as whimsical and inspirational as the book. Although there were some differences between the movie and the book, the overall plot and message of the film was the same as its written counterpart.

The term “Paper Town” refers to a car tog raphic prac t ice of creating fake towns on a map to catch potential plagiarizers. In this coming-of-age movie, it is used by Margo to metaphorically describe living a pointless life in a place that is fabricated and filled with people who don’t care about anything important.

She believes that she is living in a paper town and she herself is a “paper girl.”

This belief held by Margo really makes one think throughout the film and book. Is she correct? Is everything fake, minor, and unimportant? Or is there significance in the everyday?

The movie, for the most part, lives up to the expectations set up by the book. The actors did a fantastic job of portraying the characters as regular teenagers trying to find themselves in their last weeks of high school. Thanks to Margo Ruth Spiegelman, they do.

Margo’s interesting personality is what

drives the plot.

Margo is an amplified version of the girl next door. She’s adventurous, alluring and has completely captured Q’s heart.

Just like she did in the book, Margo makes you look at the world with a new perspective. She rejects the lifestyle that Q embraces. She doesn’t want the white picket fence or the smiling kids. She’s different and for someone as average as Q that’s all that was needed to get his attention.

Q’s friends add a comedic element to this somewhat-melancholy story with several laugh-out-loud moments.

Friendship is a huge part of this story. Watching the three friends come together for their last hurrah before high school ends makes you realize the importance of friendship and putting your friends first. The movie is filled with gripping life lessons alongside amusing jokes and sometimes crude language between characters.

Margo isn’t the average high school teenager. She randomly disappears for weeks at a time whenever she gets tired of her uneventful life. Yet with all these absences, she’s still able to graduate high school­—a highly

unbelieveable promise. Also, the coed two-day road trip that everyone’s parents were cool with seems unlikely as well. However, the movie was a great adaptation of the book and it also had a touch all its own.

Despite the film’s quality, the book was better. There is something about words on a page that just can’t transform into moving pictures on a screen. Books seem to have a soul, and that’s what someone might feel in this book. One connects to the characters while reading the book and they feel more relatable in word form.

Also, some great plot points from the book were left out in the movie, presumably for time constraints, but could have been squeezed in to really make it really memorable.

Whether people prefer to read or watch “Paper Towns,” they will find a story about a boy who loved a girl he barely knew. He thought her up to be this amazing, magical, untouchable person, when in reality, she was just a regular girl. He was obsessed with the idea of Margo, but Q then realized a lesson at the end of his journey: “What a treacherous thing to believe a person is more than a person.”

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ENTERTAINMENT | September 4, 2015

We’ll never go

Natalie Reczek

Entertainment Writer

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y out of st le

hether you keep up with the latest fashion trends or not, it’s not hard to notice that Maine South is teeming with new bold fashion choices after the long hot summer. Here are a few trends to look out for during the last few weeks of summer weather. We talked to some of Maine South’s trendiest students to get the low down on each of the hottest summer trends. Summer is a two-month break from school and responsibilities—but not from fashion.

1. CRAZY CROCS

Trying to find a way to keep your hair out of your face in a stylish, fun way? Why not take a lesson from the many girls and boys rocking the man bun or the half-bun look. “The half-bun is an updo that works great with any kind of hair, especially curly hair,” said junior Jordan Bobek. “It keeps your hair out of you face and looks great.”

4. NIFTY ‘90s GRUNGE

Whether you take your inspirations from Kylie Jenner or your favorite ‘90s rock band, you can never go wrong with grunge. This style includes oversized plaid tops, ripped jeans, vintage graphic tees and Doc Martens, but grunge goes way beyond those few.

The attitude that goes along with this wardrobe is a key factor for achieving this look. Ideally, plaid shirts and jeans should be second-hand to enhance the grunge feeling; avoid tight tops or anything that has a “girly” look to it to keep that unkempt vibe of the ‘90s. Complete with a messy hairdo and your grunge outfit is ready for the halls.

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Birkenstocks have returned to become the new summer shoe.

Whether you like to wear them with socks or show off your summer toes, they have definitely taken Maine South by storm. The cork and leather shoe began as a source of comfort, and has eventually become a bold fashion choice for others like junior Mary Yarck.

“I love my Birkenstocks,” she said.

“They are my best friends and I wear them every day. I also wear them with socks so my toes don’t get cold.”

6. MAGICAL MOM JEANS

The mom jean is a staple of every mother’s closet, even if she never wears them anymore. Well, go and fish out those old high-waisted beauties, pair them with a cute top and you’ve got yourself a trendy little outfit. Roll them up at the bottom, throw on your favorite Converse, and an oversized flannel, and instantly you have a cute yet casual look. The journey to your mom’s closet is well worth it for the loose-fitting fashionable apparel.

“I like mom jeans because, unlike skinny jeans, they let your legs breathe,” said senior Maddie Gruber. “While skinny jeans are still a good look, sometimes I just can’t deal with putting them back on after gym.

They’re a comfortable way to stay stylish and, more importantly, look like your grandma.”

PHOTO BY LAUREN PAPP

3. HAPPENING HALF-BUN

These flashy tattoos are perfect for lounging around the pool or hitting the main stage at Lolla. They are applied much like the typical fake tat, but you must be careful of the edges.

They’re a bit more delicate than your standard temporary tattoos. “They’re super easy to use and not permanent,” said senior Becky Pabon. “I love to wear them at music festivals, and I even wore one to junior prom.”

PHOTO BY LAURA CASH

PHOTO BY LAUREN PAPP

2. FESTIVE FLASH TATTOOS

PHOTO BY LAUREN PAPP

5. BOLD BIRKENSTOCKS

PHOTO COURTESY ANNIE DYSART

These plastic kicks take any regular outfit from boring to brilliant in a matter of seconds. Senior Annie Dysart says the key to wearing these beauties is “embracing a mindset of not caring about how ridiculous they may look and preparing for a multitude of comments that sound something like, ‘LOL, nice Crocs.’”

They may not actually think your Crocs are nice, but, deep down, you know that these curious waterproof things that go on your feet will do the trick rain or shine and never fail to make you feel spunky.

7. TRENDY T-SHIRT DRESSES

They are a quick way to make your typical week into something spectacular. The T-shirt dress has become a staple piece in every girl’s wardrobe. Girls wear the T-shirt dresses non-stop it seems. Maybe it’s the loose, breathable material that makes them so popular.

“The reason I love T-shirt dresses is because I feel like a rock star when I’m wearing one,” said senior Marisa Owen. “They are the perfect light weight material for those sticky summer days that I adore.”

PHOTO COURTESY MARISA OWEN

September 4, 2015 | ENTERTAINMENT

Frozen favorites of Maine South Jill Steffen

Entertainment Writer

Capannari

The Chocolate Shoppe 5337 W Devon Avenue, Chicago

10 South Pine Street, Mount Prospect

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ith a summer of adventures drawing to a close and your wanderlust soul getting smashed by homework, head down to the Chocolate Shoppe, for an exotic trip you may not be able to experience anywhere else in the world. This parlor isn’t your ordinary ice cream shop; they decorate the store with amusing themes that regularly change, such as a zombie apocalypse, a Hawaiian luau, ‘50s diner, or the North Pole. If time traveling is on your bucket list, this is your ideal spot. Who knows what decade you’ll end up in?

The Chocolate Shoppe is a familyowned chain with many locations in Madison, WI. Lucky for us, they decided to open one down here in Illinois. With over 40 options of delicious, frozen treats ranging from super-premium ice cream to sherbets and sorbets, the only problem you may have with the Chocolate Shoppe is picking a flavor. Our advice? Try “Heaps of Love,” complete with Oreos, brownies, cookie dough, caramel, pecans, and chocolate.

“Heaps of love has everything you could ever want in an ice cream flavor,” said junior Anna Ebacher. “It’s honestly amazing and I’ve stopped eating ice cream from anywhere else because it’s so good.”

It’s everything you could ever hope for rolled into a delicious, waffle cone. The Chocolate Shoppe uses only the best ingredients around to ensure every customer gets the rich, creamy taste that most can only dream of.

Dairy Queen

2 Devon Ave, Park Ridge

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PBELL GRAPHIC BY ANNA CAM

his Park Ridge staple has been around for as long as any of our parents can remember. It is the one and only Dairy Queen located right here in Park Ridge.

You certainly can’t miss it with its red, vintage sign practically begging you to come in. Customers form a line out the door beckoning passers by to see what the commotion is about. Those lucky folks who let curiosity get the best of them are treated to a plethora of choices: ice cream cones, Blizzards that can cure even the worst sweet tooth, or a cool, refreshing Arctic Rush.

“The classic, but forever-outstanding choice: a vanilla ice cream cone is creamy perfection,” said freshman Alexander Winton. “Although it is simple, it’s perfect for any time of the day and impossible to get sick of.”

This adorable restaurant shop seems as though it is forever stuck in the ‘50s. This may be part of a chain, but there certainly isn’t any place like it. Some of their famous Blizzard flavors are Brownie Batter, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, Strawberry Cheesecake, and flavors with many different candies. Another one of their staples is the ice cream cake. Their diverse selection of flavors and designs makes all of their ice cream cakes irresistible. Not only does Dairy Queen have a fantastic menu, but they are also a sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

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f you’ve got a sweet tooth, we have your perfect ice cream creation at the one and only Capannari. Located in a building that was built in 1882 and once housed a general store and post office, this ice cream shop is a blast from the past. Although Capannari was founded in 2001, their historic building was restored to preserve that vintage feel that is lacking in restored modern architecture. You can now find the shop complete with original beams and white oak floors, along with a wrap-around porch inviting you to sit back, relax, and enjoy your ice cream. Capannari’s quality is above any other; their master chef, Jim Capannari, only makes four gallons of ice cream at a time to guarantee his customers get the freshest ice cream possible. Some of their unique flavors include: Malted Butter Fudge, Pistachio, Chicken & Waffles, Coconut Chip, Peach, and so many more.

“The root beer float is the perfect blend of my two favorite things: ice cream and pop,” said freshman Jack Bolz. “It quenches your thirst and hunger all in one delicious cup.”

Capannari is very involved with the community. Every year they host multiple fun events in their shop such as: ‘50s night, Ice Cream Idol, and Mooo-vie night. Customers can also find them at Concerts in the Park and the annual Mount Prospect Easter Egg Hunt. This award-winning, adorable ice cream shop should be the next stop on your ice cream adventures.

Village Creamery 8000 N Waukegan Rd, Niles

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illage Creamery boldly defies the norms, and we’re so glad they do, because they end up with incredible flavors that no one else dares to try. The Valeroso family, owners of this independently-run ice cream store, wanted to bring excellent ice cream with unique flavors that have never been seen before, and they did just that. Ice cream like cantaloupe, green apple, Ube, Queso, green tea, donut ’n cream, and their most popular, Halo-Halo fiesta, vanilla icecream with banana chunks, pineapple, coconut, white beans, red beans, and Rice Crispies compels customers to return so they can find out what new and exciting flavor is fresh out of the freezers.

“I’ve never seen as many different ice cream flavors in one place,” said junior Julia Klages. “It takes forever to pick a single one, but the avocado might just be my favorite. The avocado flavor has just the right zest to create this savory, delicious taste.”

Ice cream is made fresh every single day using special techniques that limit the amount of air in the ice cream. This ensures that their ice cream is as light and creamy as possible. There are a world of choices out there that most of us have never imagined, but thanks to the Village Creamery we get to be adventurous in our choice of ice cream.

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SPORTS

| September 4, 2015

Girls’ golf already swinging into season Sam Tinaglia

Sports Editor ost of the girls on the girls’ golf team this year are returning members, but the team has a different feel without star performer Leia Atas (‘15). Last year, Atas was one of the best golfers in the state and has moved on to play golf at Illinois State. But her impact on Maine South girls’ golf continues to be seen.

“Although Leia left behind some big shoes to fill, she showed us every day how she achieved all that she has,” said junior Kelly Maigler. “She is the prime example of hard work paying off. She taught us even without knowing it, that luck doesn’t necessarily lead to success.”

The new captains, seniors Claire DeRosa and Payton Arger, and junior Kelly Maigler, look to pick up where Atas left off.

“All three girls are positive role models and excellent leaders who lead by example, through their gracious demeanor and willingness to help,” Coach Ellefson said.

Maigler also thinks very highly of her fellow captains leadership abilities. She wants to adopt some of Atas’s styles while staying true to her prior

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knowledge of the game.

“Claire, Payton, and I are always talking about how we can keep the team positive in golf competitions,” Maigler said. “In a match, getting upset is inevitable, but you just have to move on from the bad shots and bad holes.”

The group is looking to continue their strength on the course through goal setting.

“We want to continue to compete at the high level that the program has established over the past decade,” Coach Ellefson said. “Though we are a young team, we expect to improve consistently and compete in every match this season.”

Coach Ellefson also recognizes that focused practice is going to be the key to helping the team improve.

“Practice will allow us to improve the various facets of our game,” he said. “Short game is essential to scoring, and this is where we devote most of our

attention in practice.”

Mr. Ellefson noted that the hardest parts of the season could be when the team plays three matches in the second week of the season.

“Beyond that week, I am most looking forward to the 18-hole invites we have in September: Waukegan, Rockford Guilford and Perkin” he said.

The team has a very positive attitude and much needed energy. “ They have a great desire to get better, day in and day out,” Mr. Ellefson said.

The team members have been working on their individual games throughout the summer, either together or by themselves.

They know what they need to do to succeed, and they’re ready to take it to the course.

“As I tell my team,” said Mr. Ellefson, “our biggest opponents are the courses we play, and ourselves.”

“ We want to continue at the high level the program has established over the past decade.”

- Mr. Ellefson

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AP NP RE AU YL

ith several varsity athletes returning this year, a strenuous summer training program behind them, and great team chemistry, the boys’ cross country team has set their goal to qualify for state this season.

Head Coach Greg Nordahl is confident that if a fifth runner steps up with a solid time of around 15:30, a successful run in the state finals will be possible.

“Looking at our top four, I see a team that has top-10 potential,” Mr. Nordahl said. “But without that elusive fifth runner, we may not achieve our goals.”

Possible candidates for the fifth position include seniors Zack Fishman, Ray Sutschek, Vince Leonard, Anders Cox, junior Alex Ortwig, or one of the strong sophomores. With so many excellent options, their chances of qualifying for state don’t seem far off.

Senior captain Brian Sodaro has high hopes for his team as well, but he would also like to see himself place top-five in the state to end his high school career.

“I just try and focus on running as

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hard as I can and making sure I have nothing left at the end,” he said.

Sodaro is one of the notable top-four runners coach Nordahl mentioned, along with senior Ralph Patejunas and juniors Reese Jordan, and Brian Shanahan.

Ambition paired with a long summer of training sets the boys up for a promising run in the state tournament.

The extra work put in by the whole team during summer break will provide a solid foundation for the boys’ season. Senior captain Ray Sutschek estimates that the varsity athletes ran anywhere between 500 and 800 miles, an average of about seven miles a day.

In addition to practices, the boys participated in a 5k race leading into the season. Traditionally it has been an alumni run, where the alumni race the present team, but this year it was opened up to the public.

As prepared as the team seems to achieve their goal of qualifying for state, they have to perform extremely well in the tough Roselle/Lake Park sectional race. Maine South will face York, Whitney Young, OPRF, New Trier, Loyola, Glenbard West, Jones Prep, and St. Ignatius.

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Staff Writer

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Sophie Miller

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Boys’ XC running on all cylinders

ON THE RUN

PHOTO BY LAUREN PAPP

Senior cross country captain Brian Sodaro (right) leads the team on a forest run. The team is working hard to be successful this season.

“We usually have a pretty big rivalry against New Trier and they are always great competition for our team,” Jordan said. “There are some great teams out there like Sandberg, Hinsdale Central, York, and others, who we’ll face throughout the season and in the state series.”

Every one of these teams has been preparing hard for the season, but

perhaps they don’t have the true key to success that the Hawks have: great team chemistry.

“Our team chemistry is quite good,” Sutschek said. “It’s a small team, so we all get to know each other pretty well over the season. If the different classes don’t work well together we can’t have a successful team.”

September 4, 2015 | SPORTS

Boys’ golf team ready to tee off for the year Christo Fosse

Staff Writer ach year, the Maine South boys’ golf team expects dedication, hard-work, and victory from each of its golfers. This year, an incredibly experienced team will take to the course with nine out of ten players returning with varsity experience under their belt.

Last year, senior Tim Zelek, a state qualifier, and sophomore Michael George both advanced to Sectional play. Fellow teammates, sophomore Joe Tonioni and junior Danny Touhy were part of the Regional team last year.

“This year’s team is unique in that we have six seniors that know that this is their last season to prove that they can compete in our very competitive conference,” said Coach Steven Scholl. “The potential and depth is there, so competing and winning

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matches is what we’re striving for every time we step onto a course.”

Zelek, a returning state qualifier, takes on a new role this season as captain of this year’s varsity squad.

“As far as being captain, I’ll definitely be taking on a leadership role on the team,” Zelek said. “Being a senior, it’s my job to help the sophomores and juniors develop their games to help the team as much as possible. Whether I play well or not, I always need to keep a positive and focused mindset.”

During the offseason in the summer, many of the players on the team competed in golf tournaments and worked with swing coaches individually in addition to playing many rounds of golf to sharpen their skills. All of these are essential keys to achieve success during the season.

“We play little games [against each other] to keep things fun and to help create a little pressure to test

ourselves,” said Coach Scholl.

In terms of playing individually, a unanimous goal among all the golfers is to ultimately reach state. Zelek, who was a state qualifier last year, looks to follow a plan in order to duplicate this feat again.

“I plan to play well during the season, but it is all a warmup for the regional and sectional tournaments at the end of the season,” said Zelek.

“State is the same day as my birthday [Oct. 17] so it’d be pretty cool to end my high school golf career that way.”

Taking a look at the regular season ahead, the Hawks’ next game is away at York on Aug. 26. CSL conference finals are on Sept. 29; Regionals on Oct. 6; Sectionals on Oct. 10, 12, or 13, and State on October 16-17.

Whatever team the Hawks may play, Coach Scholl follows the same expectations and goals.

“The team expectations for the Hawks are to play at a high level in-

dividually and as a team and to advance far into the post-season,” he said. “Getting our team to Sectionals and advancing to State as a team and/or individually is our ultimate goal.” said Coach Scholl.

The Hawks will have to give their all in a tough conference with New Trier, Evanston, and Glenbrook South to reach their goals. The team believes they have the potential to do so with the combination of experience and talent that they possess.

Zelek has had a successful golf career while at Maine South, but during his final year, he intends to have his best year yet.

“I don’t plan on playing at the collegiate level, so that is why I’m giving this season 120%...Hopefully I can end my career on a high note and give my fellow Hawks something to cheer about,” said Zelek.

The team has high hopes on achieving big goals this season.

Boys’ soccer team has lofty aspirations

PHOTO BY EMILY MYERS

Julia Sirvinskas Staff Writer

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espite having lost a mass of talented seniors who graduated last year, the 2015 boys’ soccer team is looking forward to a very successful season. The team has lofty goals including winning the Quincy tournament, earning a winning record, and beating tough conference opponent New Trier. One such way in which the team looks to reach their goals is through their promising team chemistry, according to senior captain David Aniol.

“The players are well connected and looking to significantly add on to that in the near future,” said Aniol.

Other members of the team agree with this statement.

“This year, our chemistry has improved significantly from last year, and that really makes us a good team,” said senior Ryan Thorsen.

“We have key returning players, and our team chemistry is going to help make up for the lack of experience. Everyone is going to contribute, and, as a team, we have high hopes playing with each other.”

Although the team has had only a minimal amount of gameplay, their

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HUDDLE UP The boys’ soccer team huddles up before a home game versus Buffalo Grove. The game ended in a 1-0 victory for the hawks.

summer league performance has projected a promising start to the season. The team lost only one match and had few ties. The summer league has provided them with a solid base of gameplay, and they look forward to continue their training to help bond and strengthen the team.

The summer league has also provided the team with a chance for its younger players, including sophomores Ryan Bull, Szymon Glab, and Alessandro Corazzina, to mesh with the older returning players.

Age is not a factor to senior captain Ethan Gebavi.

“We have a talented, well-rounded team that has the desire to win games

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and play with heart,” said Gebavi.

“Whoever is bringing it in practice and stepping up will end up getting playing time. Everyone is fighting for a starting spot and that just drives our team to practice and train harder, regardless of age.”

Based on the successful summer training and few practices the team has had, Assistant Coach Mr. Spiegel is anticipating an impressive performance at the Quinc y tournament, as well as at a new tournament hosted by Palatine High School. The Quincy tournament will give the players an opportunity to play talented teams in the southern part of Illinois that they normally would

not see during the season, and the new Palatine tournament will allow the team to see competition that they may encounter later down the road, during playoffs.

After a close win against Buffalo Grove, the team is excited about their potential.

“Overall, despite the younger team, we have high expectations for this season,” said Thorsen. “Everyone has been working hard on both our skill and our teamwork. We are going to be a tough team to beat because of our depth and ability to play with each other.”

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SouthwordS 15

GIRLS’SWIMMING | CROSS COUNTRY | FOOTBALL | GIRLS’TENNIS | GOLF | BOYS’SOCCER | GIRLS’VOLLEYBALL

Staff Writer & Sports Editor

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fter last year’s early playoff exit, the Maine South football team is looking for a longer season this year.

On top of the difficult playoff loss they had last season, they lost several key players.

“Justin Fahey, Vinny Labus, and Tyler Bulger were the leaders for us last year,” said Coach Dave Inserra.

Despite these losses, Coach Inserra has confidence in the ability of this year’s standout seniors: quarterback Brian Collis, running back Antonio Cristiano, wide receiver Jonathan Arenas, and defensive end Liam O’Sullivan. “[Seniors]Dylan Burdelik, Jon Arenas, Liam O’Sullivan, and Nick Sajenko are the leaders for us this year,” said Coach Inserra.

AIR ATTACK Senior quarterback Brian Collis sets for a pass during practice.

“On offense you have guys returning like Jonathan [Arenas] and I, and on defense we have guys like Dylan [Burdelik] and [senior Ibrahim Nasir] leading the charge,” Collis said.

Behind Coach Inserra and the rest of the staff, the team is motivated to have a successful season. One driving factor behind this motivation is the team’s new slogan for this season, E+ 3(P+T)+5=65. This new formula for success, created by Coach Inserra, has roots that run deep into the team’s championship hopes.

“It’s the formula for success and it’s something that’s always on our minds,” said Collis. “It’s the 65 miles to Dekalb that we are always thinking about.”

“The ending of the motto, 65, is the number of miles to Northern Illinois,” said Coach Inserra. “That’s the championship game, that’s where we’ll play. So, everything we do is geared toward that 65-mile drive.”

“We try to stress the importance of the motto and what it means to our success as a team. E is for the enthusiasm. The P is for our preparation and perseverance as a team whether it’s in the film room, weight room, or here at practice,” said Inserra.

This preparation is necessary for the Hawks as they head into games against tough teams.

“Perseverance is important, because during the long football season you need to persevere in order to be successful,” Coach Inserra said.

The effort given by the team on each play is important in order for the team to be successful this season.

Each member of the team must work together to become a strong, cohesive unit.

“The T’s are teamwork, trust, and toughness. We try to tie all that into that 65 miles,” Coach Inserra said.

This formula for success represents the coaches’ and players’ high aspirations for the upcoming season.

“We want to go all the way to state,” said Collis. “No doubt about it; that’s our biggest goal. We definitely have the guys to take us to state.”

While winning state is important, the main priority right now for the

PHOTO BY LAUREN PAPP

Maine South football has high expectations

Jack Muno & Mike Greco

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Senior Antonio Cristiano participates in a drill during practice. The team has been working hard to improve this season.

Hawks is the CSL South conference.

“The conference is our number one goal,” said Coach Inserra. “Taking care of things at home in the CSL are huge for us.”

Goals are key for a successful team.

The Hawks have made theirs lofty because of the hard work and dedication that they have put in since summer.

“The players have been focused since the start of summer,” said Coach Inserra. “We are pretty far ahead of the game in as much as what it was 20 or 30 years go. These guys have put in a lot of hard work and dedication. So, they are definitely ahead of the rest.”

One of the most important skills honed during their practices is timing.

“Practicing really allows us to get all of our timing down,” said Collis.

“Without practice, we would not look as good as we do on Friday nights. We really come together as a team and gel during practice.”

When a team practices together, it not only allows each member of the team to become better, but for the team to learn as a unit as well.

“Practice is a time for the team to get

better as a whole,” said junior lineman Kevin Jarvis. “We prepare as much as possible because games are won in practice.”

Excelling in practice has helped the Hawks to be confident heading into a season with a challenging schedule. The team will start out with two difficult games—week one at Montini, and then Loyola at home the following week.

“We need to get off to a good start to make the season go smoothly and accomplish our goal of winning a state championship,” said Coach Inserra.

“Both Montini and Loyola are statechampionship-type teams.”

The Hawks know that the first few wins are vital, and are ready to hit the ground running. “[This next game is] going to be a challenge, but if we can get a big win, we can get on a roll for the rest of the season,” said Collis.

However, a successful start to the season won’t inhibit the team from giving their best effort each game.

“There isn’t one particular game that I think is important because every game is important,” Kevin Jarvis said.