Vol 52 Issue 3

November 20, 2015

Vol. 52, No. 3

N O T S H E

PIE STUFF

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1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

See page 12

The Free ACT Real World Skills MMA Madness

District open to paying for state ACT. Page 3

Students gain an early ex- MS custodian trains to beperience in the workplace. come an MMA champion.

Page 7 Page 8

PHOTO BY MONICA BIELAWIEC

With Thanksgiving approaching, Southwords heads to the Windy City to rate the best pies in town. See page 2

Fast & Furious

Boys’ soccer celebrates a noteworthy season.

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NEWS | November 20, 2015

Park Ridge veterans honored with art show and band concert Production Editor ver the past year, Maine South bands and artists have been working to honor veterans and alumni who helped raise war bonds during World War II. The bands hosted a Veterans’ Day concert that included a student-made documentary and art piece. Veterans of any conflict were invited to enjoy the concert along with their friends and family.

The war bond fundraiser began in 1945 in an effort to raise $500,000— enough to buy a Douglas C54 cargo plane—in just two weeks. Students canvassed the neighborhood and went door to door asking for donations.

At the end of two weeks, the students had surpassed their goal by $50,000. At the end of the year, students gathered on the airfield to see the cargo plane they had purchased for the war effort.

Now that the plane is close to scrap metal, Maine Township decided not to let this great feat be forgotten.

Broadcasting students and teachers began the commemoration with a documentary featuring interviews of Maine alumni, historian perspectives, and 1945 yearbook photos.

Visual Arts students from Maine

PHOTO BY HALEY MECH

Haley Mech

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FLYING BACK IN TIME

Made by Digital Imaging students, this art installation is displayed in the LRC in honor of the Maine Flyer. Students enlarged these 1945 yearbook pictures and used oil paints to bring the images back to life.

West, East, and South all created unique, artistic depictions of the Flyer.

S o u t h’s s t u d e n t s f o c u s e d specifically on photography and oil paintings.

The leading artists behind the work, seniors Kailyn Buonsante, Patricia Smyrski, and Ashley Mas, were proud of how permanent the work would be.

“I’m excited about it because it will be hung in the school forever and it’s a

really good tribute to all the veterans,” Buonsante said.

The event, held on Veterans Day, showcased the video and art, and then transitioned into a patriotic ode to our veterans.

Band director Mr. Hutter chose challenging yet iconic songs for the band to play.

“I picked the songs based on what the audience would recognize and expect at a patriotic concert while

still providing an opportunity for all the students to grow as musicians,” he said.

One of the more challenging songs, “Armed Forces Salute,” was given to Concert Band.

The song allowed them to engage the audience by having members of each branch of the armed forces stand to be recognized when their branch’s salute was played.

The band also featured an extra member for Veterans’ Day. Staff Sergeant Brandon Eubank, trumpet player in the United States Marine Band, practiced briefly with them, but it was enough to “make stuff gel.”

Eubank has local ties in Park Ridge, so he was eager to visit and play.

Numerous veterans attended the concert and were impressed with the quality and dedication of the Maine South bands.

Ninety-one year old Charles Larson, who served three years in World War II was similarly impressed.

“I’ve never heard a better concert.

Fabulous,” he said.

The music gave Wind Ensemble member Katie Daehler goosebumps.

“You don’t realize all the people you’re affecting with a song.”

Dimitri Speron

News Writer istrict 207 is planning on taking the final step in its nationallyrecognized, one-to-one technology program by making mobile hotspots available to its students.

While every student now has a Chromebook, there are still students who don’t have home WiFi access to allow them to use the Chromebook effectively outside of school.

The ConnectEd program that is being implemented is designed to provide cost-free WiFi hotspots to students who need them.

“The goal driving this project is to make sure that WiFi connectivity is available to students who may have experienced an interruption in Internet service at home,” said Dr. Thiele, Chief Technology Officer for Maine Township High School District 207.

“This is all part of a program called ConnectEd, which is a partnership between telecommunication

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companies with the White House and U.S Department of Education to make sure that students across the country are able to utilize the Internet for educational purposes.”

With this in mind, the hotspots will be made available to students who need them.

They will be mobile, and thus, students can check them out of the ChromeDepot whenever they need to.

Initially, the plan is for there to be only 20 hotspots on hand for students to check out.

“They are intended for individual use,” Dr. Thiele said. “However, up to 10 computers can connect to an individual hotspot.”

Even if there are not enough hotspots to go around for every single student at the program’s onset, students can share the hotspots together.

The hotspot program relies on the ConnectEd grant for the majority of its funding.

Due to this, the most expensive

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNA CAMPBELL

Free Internet service to be available for all students

part of the hotspots, the Internet service itself, is provided to the students and school at no cost.

However there is still the cost of obtaining the physical hotspot itself.

District 207 has chosen to rely on donations from the community to account for the costs of the hotspots.

According to Dr. Thiele, “Each hotspot currently costs $100, but that cost is expected to drop after the first of the year.”

The donations are being solicited

from both businesses and from charitable individuals.

Any person or organization that donates the money for a hotspot will be recognized on the District 207 website’s “Sponsors” page.

The ConnectEd program hopes to provide students with a reliable and convenient source of auxiliary Internet. As soon as District 207 acquires enough donations, the hotspots will be available for student checkout in the ChromeDepot.

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November 20, 2015

| NEWS

GRAPHIC BY ARDEN SASAK{HOTOBY

District 207 plans to fit the ACT in its budget Arden Sasak

Production Editor

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n order to ensure that all District 207 students still have the opportunity to take one ACT exam for free, the District 207 school board has taken preliminary action this year to include paying for the ACT for all juniors in their budget.

This decision is currently not final, since it is based on whether or not the budget for the State of Illinois for next year will include paying for the ACT for public schools.

Maine South currently uses the government funding to administer one free ACT with writing each year for juniors during the school day in second semester.

However, the state budget for 2016 has not been finalized, and it is currently unknown whether or not the ACT will be paid for by government funding.

The issue of the state possibly not including the ACT in their budget has happened before.

Last year, the ACT was paid for by the state, but it was administered at the beginning of March. In the years before, it was administered at the end of April.

This was because the budget was approved later, and the date was switched to be nearly two months earlier than before—allowing less time for students to study and prepare for it.

A practice ACT is also administered to juniors first semester, and the PLAN and EXPLORE

tests are given to freshman and sophomores, respectively.

The school has been counting on getting the money from the state to administer the ACT. “It’s an expectation,” said Mr. Scotellaro, the director of Student Personnel Services. “They’ve done it for so many years, and the State of Illinois, like any state on the country, has expectations to make sure they are teaching students appropriately.”

For many juniors, the ACT is an important test to take. Many students pay to take classes that offer extensive preparation for this standardized test.

The ACT is also often an important factor on any college application, and it is a benchmark to see how students are progressing throughout high school.

The PLAN and EXPLORE tests are administered for freshmen and sophomores as part of that plan

to make sure students are on the right track in learning.

“The state has expectations that schools are performing the best that they can,” said Mr. Scotellaro. “So, investing and paying for the ACT is the state’s way of communicating that they’re invested in learning.”

For these reasons, surrounding districts are making the decision to use their own money to pay for the test without waiting to see if the state will pay for it.

“We believe that the ACT test is a value to all the students,” said Teri Collins, a current member of the District 207 school board who helped vote on the decision.

“We definitely want to make that opportunity available in case the state doesn’t approve the test for the budget this year.”

Early NHS induction yields more opportunities

John Zaris News Writer

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ccurring for the first time ever in the fall, the National Honor Society induction ceremony welcomed Maine South juniors and seniors into the service organization.

In previous years, the induction took place in the spring.

There are expected to be many benefits to having new NHS members join earlier in the school year.

“The primary reasons for moving it to the fall were to allow for a better transition of membership and to have more members available to participate in our various activities,” said senior Paige Prendergast, the president of NHS. “The goal is to foster a greater connection between the two grades of members and, in this way, allow what we’re doing to just continue into the next year, instead of having to start over with each new set of members,” she said.

For seniors, the spring induction

was too late. It meant that the few seniors who were inducted were only members for about two months before graduation and may not have been able to include the organization on the list of activities for their college applications.

“Fall induction means that students who, for whatever reason, either did not seek membership or were unable to join junior year can still be invited senior year—before college applications are due and with many months to still actively contribute,” explained Mr. Donald McArthur, the faculty sponsor of NHS. This was also the first year in which the senior NHS members, who joined NHS last year, attended the

induction ceremony.

The purpose of having the veteran members take part was to help establish a strong connection between all of the students involved in NHS. “I wante d t he seniors to participate because I want to see the two classes working together as one group,” said Mr. McArthur.

“To me, part of that is starting to get everyone to see themselves, whether junior or senior, as part of one organization from the first day, and because NHS—which is its members, not me personally—is welcoming new members on board.”

The transition to a fall induction, unfortunately, gave juniors slightly less time to accumulate the service hours and leadership experience

required for NHS. It also led to a higher number of students who applied but were not invited to join NHS. “I hope that those students will do a few more things and come back to us next fall,” Mr. McArthur said.

“The early date will give them a chance to be active senior members for several months.”

In addition, some students did not know about the new NHS application deadline, and therefore, missed out on the opportunity to apply.

However, Mr. McArthur believes that these issues will fade as the fall induction becomes the new standard.

New NHS juniors are enthusiastic about the change.

“Having induction in the fall instead of the spring gives new members a lot more opportunities,” said junior Jessica Buggy. “In the spring, the school year is basically over, but in the fall, there’s a lot more time for leadership and service projects.”

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NEWS

| November 20, 2015

Anastasia Dalianis News Editor

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cclaimed young adult author Katie McGarry visited Maine South on Oct. 15 and gave several presentations throughout the day for six English classes of varying grade levels.

The LRC staff invited McGarry to visit after she spoke to students at Maine East. Over the course of two days, she gave presentations about her books at all three Maine Township high schools.

Mc G ar r y is t he aut hor of contemporary novels such as the “Pushing the Limits” series and “Nowhere But Here,” the first installment of her newest series, “Thunder Road.” Her novel, “Pushing the Limits” won the 2013 ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers, and her books have been nominated for numerous awards, including the Goodreads Choice Awards, 2014 Young Adult Library Services Association Best Fiction Award, and 2014 Silver Falchion Award for Best YA Fiction. Her most recent novel, “Nowhere But Here,” was released May 29.

In her presentation, McGarry discussed why she writes young adult fiction.

“Sometimes an adult will look me straight in the eye and ask me, ‘When are you going to write a real book?’”

McGarry said. “When did teenagers stop being real people?”

“Between the ages of 14 and 19, I faced more adult problems and issues than some adults will ever face in their entire lives. I write very real books about very real people who just happen to be between the ages of 14 and 19.”

McGarry was not interested in reading or writing until she was in high school, when she read a book that changed her life.

“When I was in high school, I was always referred to as a reluctant reader,” she said. “I was assigned a book for a book report and decided to read it. The book was ‘The Outsiders’

by S.E. Hinton, and it changed my life.

I lived in a very complicated house in a very complicated neighbourhood, and I always used to watch TV. I’d keep watching channel after channel and I never saw me.

“Then I read this book, and it was the first time in my life that I saw a reflection of myself. The main character’s friends were his family. I had never seen that before, but that was my real life. I thought my life was so messed up and weird, but then I read this book and I saw me and that is powerful, to see a reflection of yourself. Why do I write young adult fiction? It is because I do not want any of my readers to ever feel alone.”

McGarry also gave students insight into her writing process and how she does research for characters in her books.

“I love to do research for my

PHOTO BY ARDEN SASAK

Young adult author Katie McGarry visits library

A PERSONAL CONNECTION

Katie McGarry discusses her novel “Pushing the Limits” with students in the library. She talked about her inspirations for writing and research, and gave advice to teenagers about pursuing dreams.

books,” McGarry said. “‘Take Me On,’ the fourth book in the ‘Pushing the Limits’ series, has two characters who are learning mixed martial arts fighting. I could have Googled ‘MMA fighting’ and read a Wikipedia article, but I can’t understand my characters until I actually get into their shoes.

“The gym where I was going to had amateur fights. I went to see some of these guys fight and there was this kid who had just graduated from high school recently. It was really cool because the characters I was writing were 18.

“After I watched this kid fight, I got to talk to him and I asked him why he did MMA fighting. He looked at me

and said, ‘My mom died, and I was so angry all the time but I didn’t know who to be angry with. But when I walk into that cage and they shut the door, all the noise goes away and for three minutes of three rounds each, I know who I’m fighting.’ I never would have gotten that from a Wikipedia entry.”

Students who attended the presentation enjoyed it and felt that McGarry was able to connect with them.

“She was very enthusiastic and the things she talked about really related to me and had an impact,” said senior Anthony Dare.

McGarry’s next book, “Walk The Edge,” will be released March 2016.

Swimming added to freshman P.E. curriculum Amna Sorbun

News Writer his year, the Maine South Physical Education department has decided to add a swimming unit into the freshman curriculum.

One reason the department decided to add swimming for freshmen is because there are many health benefits that come from the sport.

“It is a tremendous cardiovascular activity,” said Mr. Don Lee, PE Department Chair and health teacher.

Almost all aspects of the fitness components and skill-related components are performed while swimming.

Another positive outcome of the program is that learning to swim can be a life-saving activity. Many students come into the unit with no swimming background. The purpose of the three seemingly short weeks is to demonstrate basic skills and maneuvers of the strokes, and to get an understanding of the sport.

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The swimming unit allows Maine South to maximize their use of indoor facilities. The pool is used frequently for girls’ and boys’ swimming and for diving and water polo, but these activities all occur outside the school day. The unit will also open up gym space for other P.E. classes.

Implementing this unit for two years instead of one allows students who weren’t meeting or understanding the learning targets the first time to correct themselves as sophomores.

“Anytime you do something for a second time, it’s going to be more beneficial,” Mr. Lee said.

The freshman curriculum covers the basic swimming strokes and allows students to get a feel for what it’s like in a pool. They also learn how to be safe in a body of water.

The sophomore curriculum goes into more depth about the strokes, developing technique and skills.

If students are interested in swimming more after their sophomore year, they can always choose

the outdoor education elective. At some point during the class, students get in the pool for further instruction of stroke technique and skill.

Not only is the pool used for swimming, but kayaking as well. In addition, the Junior Leader program uses the pool for lifeguard training and water safety education.

The swim unit is also important because it can help students psychologically. Because learning how to swim can be lifesaving in a time of crisis, it can help students overcome fear of swimming in deep water.

“Anytime you give people life-saving skills, it can boost their confidence.” Mr. Lee said.

Freshmen are excited about the new addition to the P.E. curriculum.

“I’ve never swum at school before, so I’m not really sure what to expect, but I’m looking forward to the unit,” said freshman George Dalianis.

“I really like doing cardio, and swimming is great exercise.”

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November 20, 2015

STAFF EDITORIAL

What do you have to say about that?

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id you know that you are a part of Southwords? It’s true.

Although you may not be on the masthead to the right, you are an integral part of the community we serve.

As the “voice of the students,” the student newspaper should represent the entire student body.

Unfortunately, in recent years, while readership remains high, letters to the editor are at an all-time low.

Being vocal about your opinions and ideas is vital to maintaining a free-thinking community, and student publications are an important outlet for you to do so.

It’s understood that high school is a demanding full-time job, and writing to the school newspaper might not be a priority. Or maybe you’re worried that others won’t agree with your viewpoint, and that it will come off too harsh and opinionated.

High school can be an intimidating environment, and many people may feel hesitant about sharing their ideas.

Expressing a personal thought or opinion is a serious matter and most of us are scared to have the “wrong” idea. Our conversations should be filled with insightful and educated information that helps us grow as a community and as individuals.

Articulating our ideas is a necessary step when it comes to this development, and we are not truly self-sufficient individuals until we have the confidence to publicly state and defend our thoughts. We should look forward and take hold of the opportunities to vocalize our

perspectives.

It doesn’t have to be an essay or a full-length article. It doesn’t have to be a college senior thesis or a philosophical work of art (unless you want it to be). If you have a thought or opinion on something, just take a few seconds and write down what’s on your mind. Overcome the hesitation of judgement or disagreement; sparking conversation and debate are very important powers. Have some courage and let your voice be heard.

In the professional world, you won’t get anything done by sitting in the corner, quietly contemplating your ideas by yourself.

We give the student body a very important opportunity to take advantage of. By contributing to the publication, you give Southwords broader and more unique perspectives. The more student voices that contribute to the paper, the more representative the publication can be. Opinions are more relatable when they come straight from the student body.

Yo u r i d e a s a n d opinions can open c o nv e r s a t i o n and

contribute to shaping student attitude. If something is not to your liking, voice your concerns.

Change cannot be initiated without first highlighting an issue. Besides that, you’ll be opening up positive channels of communication between peers and enhancing a comfortable environment for creative and critical thinking.

So what happens if you want to write to Southwords? First of all, your letter to the editor can be about anything; you can react to a recent article or address any issues of student concern.

Although the letter may be published anonymously, it must be signed. We encourage you to take ownership for your writing; after all, you put in the time and effort to write to us. Once we receive a letter, we will often publish it in our next issue.

This is your chance to reach out to the Maine South community—don’t hesitate to take it.

| 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 the Southwords office, 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

ILLUSTRATION BY BASIA CHRUSCINSKI

What do

YOU

think?

Submit article ideas or write a letter to the editors!

Deliver signed letters to the Southwords office (next to the testing center) or scan the QR code on the top of this page to e-mail southwords@maine207.org

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 | November 20, 2015

Trending now: a misinformed generation Commentary Writer mong young adults, one trait is constant throughout history: a desperate need to appear “grown-up.”

However, as any high school teacher or parent could attest, many attempts at acting more mature usually backfire.

Young people like to seem informed, educated, and opinionated to their peers, so they often act like they know a lot more than they actually do about politics, feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and other hot-button social justice movements.

Ig n o r a n c e a n d i n a c c u r at e information is spread by people who pretend to know what they’re talking about without checking their facts.

The average mom would call this attitude “know-it-all,” and it’s been plaguing the minds of youngsters ever ywhere since the dawn of mankind.

Until now, this aggravating attitude has been tolerable—just a psychological phenomenon that passes with time.

Sadly, in this age of social

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educate themselves with millions of teenage fans listening.

With faster ways of spreading information come easier ways of spreading misconceptions.

Young adults have the opportunity to b e mature, k now le dge able members of society.

When they choose to form strong opinions about social issues that aren’t factually based, and then call themselves activists, t h e y ’r e n o t j u s t doing a disservice to themselves.

They are harming and distorting the very caus es t he y supp os e dly support.

Teenagers need to do their best to be informed on s o c i a l issues, or at least not voice st rong opinions without having actual

find that others our age have already accomplished so much.

When I was 17 years old, I was proud to earn my driver’s license until I learned that by age 17, Taylor Swift had already released her hit single “Tim McGraw” along with her debut album.

While certain teenagers are destined to create their own brand or walk on the red carpet, ordinary teenagers, such as myself, feel rushed to reach such levels of success.

But we cannot allow ourselves to believe that racing our peers to early success is the only way.

This sense of worry should not restrain us from trying; instead we should find inspiration from those who accomplished so much at such a young age.

They hold the qualities such as perseverance and enthusiasm, which are essential for obtaining such a

successful status. By taking time to observe how others achieve greatness, we can find the inspiration to ignite our own path.

Instead of letting Swift’s early fame shame your accomplishments, let them push you. Instead of watching Justin Bieber’s fame grow as he finds his voice, find your own voice.

Let these components drive you to discover your goals, then push to achieve them.

Maybe you cannot match the fame of these A-list celebrities, but you can definitely match their level of accomplishment.

Taking time to complain about my lack of accomplishments, considering my age, will not fix anything. Early success may not be in everyone’s cards, and that is okay. We cannot all be as successful as others our age, and it is vital to know that is perfectly fine.

Sooner or later we will all gain success

knowledge to back it up.

Teenagers are know-it-alls to begin with, and this leads to unfounded opinions and the spreading of inaccurate ideas and information, which eventually backfires and distorts the positive message of any given social movement, defeating its purpose all together.

So while it’s tempting to spew your opinion when a controversial topic comes up at the lunch table, make sure you know what you’re talking about­—you just might be wrong.

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Bonnie Millener

networks, Buzzfeed articles, YouTube comment sections, Tumblr social justice warriors, and Internet trolls, youth culture has become an evergrowing hotbed of misinformation and malformed arguments.

Movements like “meninism” and “reverse-racism” are amplified by the consequence-free anonymity of the Internet, and, of course, by the already-bloated overconfidence of teenagers.

Even teen movie stars like Shailene Woodley contribute to the spread of inaccurate information.

Woodley was asked in an interview with “Time Magazine” if she was a feminist, to which she responded “No, because I love men, and I think the idea of ‘raise women to power, take the men away from power’ is never going to work out because you need balance,” revealing how ignorant she was of the true meaning of this ideology. Feminism is defined as working for equality between the two genders.

In an interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” Meghan Trainor said that she “was never strong enough to have an eating disorder,” glorifying eating disorders before a fanbase made up of impressionable young girls.

These celebrities have an even larger responsibility than others to

The road to success should not be rushed Kate Papciak Editor-in-Chief

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s an average American teenager, I have followed the traditional path of attending an elementary school, middle school, and now, high school. Naturally, the next step is college. But, it is troubling to know that some of my peers have already attained the level of success that I can only dream of. While I am spending my Saturday nights watching Netflix, other teenagers are already building their careers.

It is true that teenagers should enjoy the time they have, to live their life without worrying about adulthood. However, we cannot help but feel behind the game when we

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in our own time.

The most difficult step in this journey is the first one: finding your passion.

Until my third year of high school, I felt the panic to have my life planned like others my age have done. My biggest accomplishment at that point in my life was the fact that I had survived middle school.

Yet, instead of letting those who obtained great success at a young age get the worst of me, I stayed optimistic because I knew my time for success would come. And by my senior year, I found my passion: advertising.

I am aware that there are people my age who are probably already creating their own advertising agencies. Knowing this, though, does not restrain me from experiencing success one day. Instead, I have something to strive for, as did those who achieved young success.

November 20, 2015 | COMMENTARY

Torn between the future and schoolwork Rhyanne Noche News Editor

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f it is not loads of homework, then it is college applications. If it is not college applications, then it is loads of homework.

If it’s not either, it’s usually both.

College is on every senior’s mind during the first semester of the school year. The months of September through November are especially difficult to pull through without contracting the contagious disease of senioritis.

We all want that relaxed, carefree feeling of senior year, but there’s absolutely no time to sit back, relax, and enjoy being at the top of the totem pole.

Not when you have to maintain exceptional grades for colleges to see. Not when you have a Nov. (or Dec.) 1 college application deadline.

There’s no fun until you get things done. Like balancing academics with extracurricular activities, seniors face the constant struggle of high school and college demands.

The only way to find balance is to prioritize what is most important.

I am not saying that my classes this year are not important; however, college is a very, very big deal to my family and me.

My mom once asked me as I was complaining about how much work I had to do, “Well, what is more important—homework that will get you through one day of high school or an essay that might get you into a college of your dreams?”

In that moment, I realized that sometimes sacrifice must be made as I consider the bigger picture. College is our gateway to our futures and to the real world of infinite possibilities.

It a l l ow s u s t o g r ow a n d expand our wings as independent, intelligent human beings seeking success and a greater s e ns e of t h e world around us. College

also leads us into bigger, better things at that will eventually pay off with greater rewards.

There is simply not enough time in the day to do all the things we need to accomplish, especially when more than half of our days are spent sitting in a classroom learning more new material.

Nonetheless, you can’t go to college if you do not perform in high school. I love all my classes and my teachers, and I understand that because they are AP courses, work load is inevitable.

But there is only so much students can do. When I am doing homework for my classes, I find that my mind wanders and a rush of anxiety runs through me because I know that I really need and should be doing college things instead.

In fact, I cannot recall the last time I stopped thinking about college nor the

ILLUSTRATION BY BASIA CHRUSCINSKI

last time I’ve seen my ChromeBook not overloaded with a bunch of tabs open.

Teachers, counselors, and other advisers also recommend that we slowly but surely work on bits and pieces of college applications every day to manage our time, get ahead of the game, and to submit before the deadlines.

But, let’s face it; life gets in the way.

Homework gets in the way. Sports and clubs get in the way. For some, this advice is simply unreasonable.

As we begin to transition from high school to college, balancing schoolwork and college applications is a challenge, but it is also just a phase.

It’s a phase that we can learn, grow, and mature from.

In the end, we are only human.

We are bombarded with things we have to do in and out of school, and between school work and college applications, it is important to keep in mind that as hard as we try, sometimes we just cannot do it all.

Prioritize. Weigh the pros against the cons. One day of not doing your homework may make the next school day difficult, but it may also make the next four years the best of your life.

What internships really accomplish for us Mariam Zaki Commentary Editor

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hether you know exactly what you want to do with your life or you plan on entering college undecided, the inevitable decision that follows is what you plan on doing for the rest of your life. Seniors hold in their hands the power of picking a major that will hopefully guide their prospective endeavors. While these worries are valid, do we really know what we are getting ourselves into?

In my case, I have always wanted to study medicine. Even from a young age, I knew what the expectations were for this career. Though an eightplus year degree seems daunting, I still desire to pursue this career with the same passion that I had when I was

10 years old.

During my junior year of high school, I really started to question if I was choosing the right major. My biggest fear was ending up in a career where I wasn’t happy and putting in endless time and effort towards a goal that would not suit me.

The one problem that I found, was the fact that I never really knew what being a medical professional is like. Aside from hearing from family members in the medical field and going to the hospital for annual visits, I really didn’t know what the day-to-day happenings of a medical professional entailed. This was one of the reasons why I choose to take an internship this year.

Despite my enthusiasm, many people expressed their concern towards the idea of an internship while in school. The high demand of hours paired with a heavy daily workload of AP classes, all while applying to

college, seemed to overwhelm many whom I talked to. In the end, they calculated that laboring for free wouldn’t add up.

These arguments are all valid, and even convincing. I don’t claim to be a superhuman and I don’t think that I have some extra capability that others don’t.

Staying up late on a Thursday night isn’t always easy, but I strongly believe that it is worth it. The opportunities that allow us to grow and explore our choices are worth considering.

I would rather spend time now thinking about my future then wait until it is almost too late to turn back.

T h rou g h my i nt e r n s h ip, I have the opportunity to work at Lutheran General Hospital in the Sterile Processing Department as a volunteer. I work every Thursday from 4-8pm. Although this requires a great deal of effort and dedication, the experience that I get is priceless.

Just being in a hospital setting is rewarding in and of itself. Through my internship, I am able to really see if this is the field that I want to spend the rest of my life working in. I immediately was enamored by the amazing opportunity that I was given and I wanted to put forth every effort to make my experience both meaningful and fulfilling.

Although it is easy to be confident at a young age, I do understand that things change and that one’s future is never going to be crystal clear.

D e s p i t e t h i s , t h e i n s i g ht s internships give into the “real world” are invaluable. Although the future may seem daunting at times, it is comforting to know that we have people and opportunities on our path that can help us find our way.

For me, this internship is one of those blessings that will help guide my future.

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| Novermber 20, 2015

Dreaming in the

Margaret Cahill

Features Editor he world of professional fighting seems so removed from the walls of Maine South, which makes it surprising to most that one of our very own custodians is an MMA champion and in line to fight in the UFC as well.

Mr. Oliver Vazquez has always wanted to be a professional fighter. However, after wrestling in high school and college and then graduating from NIU, everyone told him that he should pursue a more stable career path than fighting. So right out of college he promptly began working for Chase Bank and thought he had given up fighting.

On paper, this seemed to be a logical choice that provided good pay and reasonable hours.

The only problem was that Mr. Vazquez was unhappy. He realized that he wanted to do something he actually liked, regardless of what other people would say. And he needed to do it before it was too late.

“I started one day and thought, ‘I’m thirty and I want to be doing what I love to do, so why not do it now?’” said Mr. Vazquez. “So I just decided five years ago that I should just go for it. I was working for Chase for 10 years and so I gave that up to pursue my happiness, because I wasn’t happy at all in corporate America. It’s the best decision I have made in my life.”

That decision was the first step in his journey as an MMA fighter—surprising many of those who had doubted his ability to restart his life and break into the fighting profession at age 30.

He started out competing in many amateur fights, but he quickly rose in the ranks until he began fighting professional fights everywhere from the UIC Pavilion to the Sears Center and all over the Midwest. All of this traveling forced Mr. Vazquez to practically “live in his car,” and maintain a rigorous training regimen.

“After I come [to Maine South], I go home just to eat breakfast and then I head to practice again, and I sleep at the gym,” he said. “I sleep in the octagon because I feel like you need to be thinking about it constantly, non-stop. It’s part of me now—it’s who I am.”

The only major downside to this rigorous routine, according to Mr. Vazquez, is the impact it has had on his ability to participate in social activities. But he believes that in the end, it will be worth the sacrifice.

An opportunity to show his skill and hard work came on Sept. 25, 2015 when Mr. Vazquez fought at the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana for the Hoosier Fight Club Championship title. This was a particularly grueling fight for Mr. Vazquez, but he was able to defeat his opponent and earn the title of champion, and the respect of MMA fans everywhere.

“People come to me nowadays and say ‘Oh my god you’re a champion, oh my god you’re crazy!’” said Mr. Vazquez. “And I’m like I’m still Oliver, nothing special. It hasn’t yet sunk in that I am

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actually a champion. And I don’t know if it’ll ever sink in...I don’t do it for the glory. I don’t do it to get famous and I don’t care about that; I just like what I do.”

Mr Vazquez also enjoys seeing others’ joy at watching him fight.

“The first time a kid went up to me and was like ‘can I have your autograph?’ I didn’t even know what to do,” said Mr. Vazquez. “It was weird, but at the same time nice, that people were getting to know what I was doing and they appreciated that.”

Mr. Vazquez’s fame might grow even more in the upcoming months. He will be defending his title of HFC Champion in February, but even more exciting than that, Mr. Vazquez is currently in line to join the UFC (the ultimate goal for all MMA fighters) if one of their current fighters is injured and cannot compete.

However, despite all of this glory, MMA fighters are not paid much—definitely not enough to cover all of the training and traveling that is necessary to compete.

“I’m always traveling and it’s always out of pocket,” he said. “People think that we’re making a lot of money, but right now, I’m making almost no money out of this. In fact, it’s more of an expense.

Which is why I needed a part time, third-shift job so I could train in the afternoon and get a couple hours of sleep in the evening and then come to work. So I thank Maine South for giving me the opportunity to work here,” said Mr. Vazquez.

Nonetheless, Mr. Vazquez has no regrets about his career choice.

“If I had kept on working for Chase, then I wouldn’t be wearing this title now,” said Mr.

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Vazquez.

The negative misconception about fighters being aggressive people also bothers Vazquez, who says that most fighters get all of their stress out in the gym, allowing them to be relaxed and mildmannered in everyday life. He also considers his sport to have an strategic side as well.

“A lot of people think that what we do is gross and that we’re just out to beat somebody up, but actually, you really have to be patient and very strategic about everything you do because every move you make can make a chokehold tighter and worse for you, or get you out and be better for you,” said Mr. Vazquez. “As long as people enjoy what I do and like my fight, I’m happy.”

Not only do others enjoy his fighting tactics, but also his story of self-reinvention, which he shares daily through social media.

“I use Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and I just push it as much as I can,” he said. “On my Facebook, I share a lot of inspirational stuff like the things that I go through as a fighter and a person. My mother has been going through leukemia. She’s doing well right now and is in remission, but these are things that can affect you mentally when you’re in the cage.”

Even non-fighters can relate to the struggle that Mr. Vazquez has gone through to get where he is today.

“People will say that they’re too busy and can’t do this or that or they’re too old or too young or whatever the situation may be.

If I can just inspire people, that’s all I need,” says Mr. Vazquez.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MARGARET CAHILL

FEATURES

November 20, 2015 |FEATURES

The recipe for a good teacher Emily Donahue Features Writer

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s much as many students wouldn’t like to admit it, our teachers have a large impact on more than just our grades. They can have an impact on what we aspire to become in the future, inspire us to achieve more inside and outside of school, and become the best versions of ourselves.

As it turns out, there are many criteria that go into an aboveand-beyond t e a c h e r. T h e r e a r e exceptional qualities which have been deemed rare by most students, but are far from the unusual here at Maine South. So what exactly is it that makes a good teacher?

Everyone has a different opinion, but a common word that students use to describe their favorite teachers is “understanding.”

Though a certain degree of compassion is key, many students also find it important for teachers to draw a line with that sympathy at some point, so that they are not allowing students to take advantage of them and their kindness. Teachers need to understand that there needs to be some degree of authority and rule in the classroom, while still maintaining a good relationship with their students. It is also crucial for teachers to understand that students’ grades are important to them, and could make or break their futures.

“I think a good teacher is strict yet kind, understanding yet discerning, and, of course, gives out extra credit or rounds up grades,” said Junior Grace Janes.

The idea that superb teachers shou ld have a go o d s ens e of understanding for their students is not uncommon.

“A good teacher gives students the chance to fix their mistakes,” said junior Courtney Harrington.

It is usually important for students to have organized teachers. When a teacher is disorganized, it is hard for

the students to remain focused and as the most difficult year of high school. be organized themselves. Getting a “Personally, I believe a good teacher test back weeks after taking it usually is someone who can explain the material causes students to forget the material in a variety of different ways so that and experience further stress when everyone in the class can understand no having to revisit the topic. matter what type of a learner they are,” Receiving a grade earlier rather said Connolly. than later can have a positive effect Along with teaching style, many on students’ grades in the long run, students like to see that the teacher especially when it comes to fully him or herself is enjoying what they are understanding the material for finals. teaching about.

“A good teacher is someone who “A good teacher is one that is is organized and grades things in a passionate about what they are teaching,” timely manner,” said junior Milana said sophomore Milic. “They make Melissa Belmont. ever y effort to For some make sure their s t u d e nt s , t h e students fully teacher that understand the can get them to topics.” comprehend a It is clear that difficult lesson is making sure -Milana Milic their students are often the one that they remember comprehending as being a superior teacher. the lessons is an important quality of a Junior Danny Connolly said good teacher. that this is particularly important, “It bugs me so much when a teacher especially in what is widely recognized takes off like 10 points for one problem

“A good teacher is one that is passionate about what they are teaching”

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and you don’t know what you did wrong,” said freshman Julia Uhlig.

Homework is another issue debated by students that differs widely based on the teacher. “[A good teacher is] someone w ho ac tu a l ly go es over t he homework,” said freshman Annabel Bochat. “If the students don’t understand the material, then they should review it.”

For some individuals, coming to school is all about forming personal opinions and learning about the real world.

For them, it is important that their teachers don’t hinder that process. Students need to know that their opinions are respected and taken into consideration.

In most cases, students would agree that they want teachers who are willing to help them when they are struggling, inspire them to want to learn, and expand their knowledge—and, lucky for us, there is no shortage of those teachers here at Maine South.

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FEATURES

| November 20, 2015

Travel kids on

Standby

Christina Johnson

Features Editor hile some students c om e h om e f rom school and sit down to dinner with their families, others are impatiently waiting for their parents to return home—a wait that can last days. This is the reality for those Maine South students whose parents are flight attendants.

The home life for these students may differ from households accustomed to nine-to-five work hours; however, there are some benefits to outweigh the drawbacks.

Flight attendants and their families have the opportunity to go on flights free of charge on standby. Standby is when someone travels on a flight without a prior reservation for that flight, using what would be an empty seat.

For flight

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attendants and their family, they can look up what flights have open seats on their employee website, then list themselves to be on that flight.

While waiting in the gate area, people flying on standby still don’t know for sure if they will get on that flight. Some of the TVs in the waiting area alternate to display the passengers that received upgrades and standby passengers that have been cleared to board.

“We always get first class [when flying standby], since there are a lot of seats available,” said sophomore Hope McMullen, whose mother works for Delta.

However, if there are no empty seats on the flight, then standby passengers are stuck until they can get on another

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flight or find another way to their destination.

“We go standby on a lot of flights, but it’s a risk because you never know if you’ll get on,” said senior Kara Holder, whose mom is a flight attendant for American Airlines. “We got stuck at an airport in Florida for like six hours one time.”

Traveling, especially internationally, is an experience of cultural immersion that is sometimes difficult to find if you aren’t given the opportunity.

“Some of the coolest places I have gone are Egypt, Senegal, Italy, France, England, Hungary, Turkey, Israel, and Spain,” said McMullen.

Along with cultural immersion, some unique experiences can cause for some extraordinary memories.

“I don’t really remember all of the places I’ve been, but the coolest place I have ever gone is surf camp in Dakar, Senegal on

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this island—it was incredible,” said McMullen.

Another perk to having a flight attendant in the family happens before even entering the gate area.

“We don’t have to wait a long time in the security lines,” said Holder.

Airport employees have their own line at TSA security and don’t have to wait in the lines that normal passengers do.

While the benefits seem to outweigh any possible disadvantages, flight attendants rarely have turnarounds or one-day trips. A turnaround is when a flight goes from one place to another, then back again to their original destination.

“She’s gone one or two nights about three or four times a month,” said Holder.

Though their work times vary from a turnaround to a five-day trip, international trips are usually longer.

“My mom likes international trips, so she is usually gone for four days on average,” said McMullen.

Yet the obvious disadvantages are not in the

length of the trip, but the responsibilities that the rest of the family has to take up when one parent is absent for days in succession.

“She tries to be home on the weekends and that makes it easier,” said McMullen.

“My dad works too, so when she’s gone, he can never drive me anywhere and I need to find rides to every place I need to go. Also, my dad has to make dinner and no one really does any laundry until she gets home; she’s the only one that does that.”

Although extreme schedules may cause these students to take up additional family responsibilities, over time it becomes routine.

“It’s not like she took up this job recently, she’s been a flight attendant for thirty years—way before I was born,” said junior Caitlin Wright. “You do miss her, but you get used to it. You just have to mature pretty quickly.”

While not seeing your mom for days on end would be a difficult proposition for any teen, having the world at your fingertips and getting to skip the airport security lines might soften the burden of additional responsibilities at home.

Novemeber 20, 2015 | ENTERTAINMENT

Hawks represent at Thanksgiving Day Parade O

n Thanksgiving morning, the marching band and Hawkettes will be performing in the McDonald’s T h an k s g iv i ng D ay Par a d e i n downtown Chicago. The parade will be aired live on WGN to the whole country.

This opportunity arose when band director, Mr. Hutter, and Hawkettes head coach, Coach Graney, submitted a video of their students performing to the parade administrators. From there, they were chosen to be one of only 12 Illinois groups that will participate in the parade.

“It’s been our goal all year long to prepare for this experience,” Mr. Hutter said, “and with every rehearsal that we have, it’s in the back of our mind.”

The Hawkettes and the marching band plan on doing something similar to what we see during football games.

However, they will continue in a straight line throughout the parade.

The marching band will also

include the Maine South fight song during the performance.

There is no surprise that more eyes will be on our Hawks at the Thanksgiving Day Parade compared to an average football game. The band put in a great amount of preparation to be at the top of their game.

“I’m just super excited about [participating in the parade] because it’s the first time that the band has been able to do something where we get this much publicity, and I think the band is at its peak right now,” junior drum major Kara Swanson said.

Another person who is particularly enthusiastic about getting to show off all of the team’s hard work is sophomore trombonist Christo Fosse.

“We’re all just so stoked to show America what the Maine South marching band can do,” he said.

The Hawkettes have a similar attitude.

“I think participating in the parade will be a great experience and all of us will have a lot of fun doing it, and I think it is awesome

that us and the band get to perform in front of so many people,” junior captain Isabelle Austriaco said.

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will also give the students involved a chance to grow as musicians and dancers.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity because it’s something we haven’t done before, and [participating in the parade] will help us in our future games and halftime shows,” sophomore flutist Sidney Simner said.

This experience may also help the students know whether they want a career with music.

“It’s a great opportunity for all of our students, freshman through senior,” Mr. Hutter said. “Whether people that are going to have a career in music, or just want to appreciate mu s i c , it’s an experience that

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they’ll never forget.”

The experience may open new doors for the students. It’s estimated that over 300,000 people will be watching along the parade route, plus millions watching at home across the country. This event will certainly give Maine South national exposure, and possibly help in obtaining a spot at other parades or competitions.

“The Thanksgiving Day Parade is a very well known event in Chicago,” Coach Graney said. “It’s part of Chicago history so I think it’s really great that our dance team gets the opportunity to represent Maine South at such a big event.”

Programs like the Hawkettes and the marching band have made high school a truly great experience for many students involved with it.

They’ve helped students make friends, learn valuable life lessons, and create memories they’ll never forget.

“Participating on the Maine South Hawkettes has been such an honor and has taught me so many things over the years like leadership, respect, teamwork, hard work, and so much more the list is endless,” Hawkettes senior captain Megan Besler said. “I’ll get to have all these amazing once-ina-lifetime experiences to remember for the rest of my life and I will always be so grateful for being apart of such an amazing program like Hawkettes.”

Sophomore flutist Grace Coakley believes she owes it to marching band for giving her strength during the tough years of high school.

“I wouldn’t have as many friends as I do now if it wasn’t for marching band,” she said. “Marching band has really made me a more social person.”

Ever yone is excited for the parade and the festivities that come with it. The marching band and Hawkettes will be arriving in Chicago Wednesday night. During their time downtown, they will have a party to commemorate all of their hard work.

To see the marching band and Hawkettes perform in all their glory, catch the Thanksgiving Day Parade at 8:00 a.m.

Whether you watch the Hawks on WGN or on State Street, this performance is a festive way to kick off the holiday season.

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ENTERTAINMENT | November 20, 2015

The great Chicago pie-line Laura Cash, Lauren Papp, and Olivia Post Entertainment Editors

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here is a lot to look forward to about Thanksgiving, but perhaps nothing more important than pie. The Entertainment Editors took a trip into the Windy City to try some of the best pies around town.

The Great Pumpkin Pies

Southwords compares the best slices for your holiday gathering.

Bakers Square

8584 W. Dempster St

Presentation: 5/10 Spice: 6.5/10 Crust: 6/10

Bang Bang Pie Shop

Bang Bang Pie Shop

2051 N. California Ave., Chicago

This small pie shop has only a few tables, and is frequently very crowded. The line for Bang Bang was out the door as people eagerly waited for their pies. One of their signature pies is the Honey Pie. It’s made out of honey custard with a shortbread crust, and whipped cream and lavender sea salt to top it off. As soon as you bite into the pie, you are overwhelmed with all of the different flavors.

The flavor of honey is very strong and is what makes the pie so sweet. The graham cracker crust complimented the sweet filling and had a decent amount of spice. The lavender sea salt balances the sweetness of the custard.

However, because of the intense sweetness, this pie should be eaten in moderation.

Magnolia Bakery

2051 N. California Ave

108 N. State St., Chicago

Magnolia Bakery is located inside of Block 37 shopping center in downtown Chicago. This world renowned bakery has locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Magnolia is known for an assortment of baked goods including cupcakes, cakes, cookies, and more. The spacious, welcoming atmosphere is the perfect place to get your sugar fix. With an award-winning banana pudding, the Banana Creme Pie is one of their most popular pies. The pie had good presentation with its nicely piped whipped cream, and a perfect crust. The banana creme tasted homemade, with its fresh filling and natural banana flavor. Magnolia Bakery was exceptionally good and left us wanting more.

Presentation: 9/10 Spice: 10/10 Crust: 8/10

Hoosier Mama Pie Co.

1618 W. Chicago Ave

Presentation: 10/10 Spice: 8/10 Crust: 10/10

Magnolia Bakery

108 N. State St

Hoosier Mama Pie Co. 1618 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago

Hoosier Mama Pie Shop is about five blocks off of the Division Blue Line Station (a second location is in Evanston at 749 Chicago Avenue). This quaint, vintage shop is the perfect dessert spot to bring back the feeling of home. The signature Hoosier Mama pie is the Sugar Cream Pie. Complete with a butterscotch-like custard, the Sugar Cream will satiate anyone’s sweet tooth. Although the presentation of the pie was simplistic, the sweet puddinglike pie spoke for itself. Hoosier Mama, in our opinion, had the best buttery pie crust, and one of the widest ranges of selections, from Chocolate Chess to Passion Fruit.

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Bakers Square

8584 W. Dempster St., Niles

This restaurant chain has many locations around the Chicagoland area. When you first walk in, you will see the many selections of pie and baked goods that you can choose from. Bakers Square has everything from Apple Pie to Snickers Pie. One of their most popular pies is the French Silk Pie. The crust of this pie was favorable, but was very basic and nothing special. It had a chocolate pudding filling that was phenomenal and a light and fluffy whipped cream to top it off. This shop has a look and feel similar to a diner, perfect for a family outing or quick treat with friends.

Presentation: 10/10 Spice: 10/10 Crust: 6/10

Costco Wholesale

(pictured on cover) Presentation: 5.5/10 Spice: 7/10 Crust: 7.5/10

November 20, 2015 | ENTERTAINMENT

‘Library of Souls’ marks the end of a literary era Anastasia Dalianis News Editor

“Library of Souls” by Ransom Riggs

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n 2011, young adult author Ransom Riggs released “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.” The novel followed Jacob Portman, a teenager who travels to Wales after a horrific family tragedy and learns unspeakable secrets about his murdered grandfather. He discovers the “peculiars,” a group of children with strange abilities ranging from levitation to the creation of fire. In “Library of Souls,” released Sept. 22, 2015, Riggs concludes the trilogy with an epic battle spanning different centuries and places all over the world.

Some of the most memorable elements of Riggs’ novels are the haunting vintage photographs that accompany the text. In this book, the photographs enhance the plot even further by providing a frighteningly accurate glimpse of what is happening to the characters at the time.

Since the book took place in several different time periods, including the slums of London in the 19th century and a lost civilization in Mesopotamia, the photographs help the story flow more coherently and help the reader keep track of what is going on. Even without the photographs, Riggs’ writing paints a vivid sensory picture of each

of the settings, seamlessly immersing the reader in new places and times.

The most interesting part of the book was the addition of a new character, Mr. Bentham.

Bentham was a 19th century British aristocrat with questionable morals and constantly shifting loyalties. He saved Jacob from being beaten to death on the street, but his backstory revealed that his brother was the villain who had been trying to

destroy the peculiars since the beginning of the series. He was clearly not a trustworthy character, but Jacob and his friends felt that they had no choice but to take his advice, since he knew exactly what they were fighting and how they could stop it. Bentham seemed to fall into a constant cycle of betrayal and redemption, whether he was fighting on the side of his brother or Jacob. Throughout the book, it was impossible for the reader or the characters to predict what he would do next.

The one disappointing part of the book was the relationship between Jacob and Emma, one of the peculiars. Since the beginning of the first novel, it seemed that there were no real feelings between them. Their personalities clashed dramatically; Jacob was focused and level-headed, while Emma was impulsive and volatile. Riggs could have done a much better job making it clear to the reader that they did care about each other through dialogue and description. It was obvious that their actions throughout the book were not motivated by love for each other. The romantic subplot was completely unnecessary because the author gave it no attention.

“Library of Souls” seemed to have a tragic ending until the last several pages, which presented a twist that wrapped up the plot in a satisfying way.

Overall, this book was an epic and thrilling conclusion to what will certainly be a popular young adult fantasy series for years to come.

The British are coming to Maine South Kelly Lennon

Entertainment Writer he 2015 V-show, “A British Invasion,” is approaching quickly, with a cheeky Englishinspired theme featuring some of the most popular British artists, and even the ‘Queen’ herself.

The show will be comprised of 19 unique acts, pared down from thirty auditions. These acts will showcase many talented Maine South students and allow for freedom of expression.

“There is a huge variety in the V-show this year­—after all, the ‘V’ stands for ‘Variety,’ said student V-Show director, senior Mason Patt. “It’s t r u ly a different experience for every act.”

This year, there are several highlyanticipated acts. There will be singing, dancing, instruments, and a first-ever color guard performance. “Work of Art,” an original poetry piece, “Burgundy 6,” a medley of songs

by Maroon 5, and even an original song arrangement will also be part of the evening.

“What makes V-Show so exciting for me is the fact that it truly showcases the incredible amount of talent that is present in our student body­— and it happens all in one evening,” said director Ms.

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Carrie Saurer.

While this is Ms. Saurer’s V-Show directorial debut, it is her second time taking the director’s chair at Maine South. She previously led a very successful run of the fall play, “Candide.”

Aside from the acts, there are many other aspects that contribute to making V-Show so wonderful. There are the crew members, whose hard work and dedication make the show run smoothly. Despite being behind the scenes, they definitely deserve recognition for all that they do.

Stage band will play a major role in this show, as they accompany a majority of the acts, and will provide the audience with the music they love.

Footlighters, a group that encompasses students of all grades, will kick off the show with a medley of songs related to the theme of British Invasion. These songs include “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones, “Twist & Shout” by the Beatles, “Come on Eileen”

by Dexys Midnight Runners, and One Direction’s “What Makes you Beautiful.”

Trunk, the student-led comedy group, will keep the audience entertained and laughing in between acts. They’ve been working hard for weeks now, and have been practicing diligently. The students have tried to incorporate the theme in many ways. They reference many popular British TV shows such as “Downton Abbey.” They also use British accents to enhance the British feel.

“The V-Show at Maine South tells a story right from the start with our stage band and Footlighters opening number,” Ms. Saurer said. “This year, that story takes us across the pond to England and it promises to be absolutely brilliant.”

Student director, senior Chrissy Friel said, “This year’s V-Show is very special because it is the first variety show Mrs. Saurer is directing. I had the honor of student directing ‘Candide’ with her and saw her put her heart and soul into it. Knowing first hand the time and effort she puts into her shows, I can confidently say the V-Show will be nothing short of amazing.”

The V-show will run Nov. 19, 20, and 21 at 7:30 in the Maine South auditorium.

Tickets can be purchased via the link on the school website for $7.

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SPORTS

| November 20, 2015

Girls tennis players head to State T

was looking for success this season. definitely a highlight of the season.”

“My main goal this season was to go to State,” When the season concludes, each Hawk has a said Ptak. “As a team, we wanted to win Sectionals, different agenda for offseason practice. Some are which was big for us because the last time girls’ going off to college, and some are just working on tennis team won Sectionals was in 2005.” improving.

“To be in the State Tournament, it is a tradition,” “I will continue to work hard and go back to said Friedman. “I have had the wonderful training with my personal coach and start getting opportunity to be ready for next season,” said Ptak. a part of it from said she’s going to practice “It means a lot to play at fourWind freshman year to days a week and play in as many senior year, and it state. It is a huge honor and USTA tournaments to prepare for her is a lot of fun. It can it is a great achievement senior season. be stressful at times, For Friedman, her game will move but it means a lot to that shows our hard work.” on to another level, and she’s ready do well and represent for it.

-Marti Wind Maine South.”

“I look forward to playing in “It means a lot to college,” she said. “It’s a life sport, and play at state,” said junior Marti Wind. “It is a huge I cannot wait to play it all my life. As for the younger honor and it is a great achievement that shows our girls, I hope they have the opportunity to play in hard work.” college, if that’s what they want, and I would love In making it all the way to the state tournament, to help them along the way.“ all of the girls had their fare share of great moments The whole team was grateful to be part of Maine from the season so far.

South Tennis this season, especially Friedman, who “A team highlight this year is when we won finished her last season at Maine South.

Sectionals,” said Wind. “At Sectionals, Leigh came “I thoroughly enjoyed every part of the season in first, Jen came in second, and Kamila and I came and the new coach, Coach Smith, who did a in second.” phenomenal job,” said Friedman. “Girls can be For Friedman, just being part of this quite crazy, but he did a great job at handling all of distinguished team was one of her greatest us and it showed through our wins and getting 6th moments. in State. I have a temper when I play tennis, but he “I loved the team this year,” said Friedman. was able to calm me down when I got stressed, and “Just being with the girls was so much fun and was really helped me through my matches.

Leigh Friedman “On a beach, because I really like the ocean and sand.”

“Anne Hathaway If you could vote for any celebrity to because she’s already been a be President, who would it be? princess.”

“I wouldn’t spend it but I’d probably If you had one million dollars, what all, invest some, and would you do with it? buy some clothes too” “Well, ice cream is What is your favorite place to get a my favorite food, so anywhere with bite to eat? ice cream.”

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

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Anthony Fioretto Taylor Krueger “New York City, “Kentucky, it’s just because of all the big a great place in the people and big South. Kentucky is opportunities.” just really chill.”

“Bradley Cooper. He’s “Jimmy Fallon. He an all-around great may bring the counguy. He can do what- try down, but at least we’ll be laughing.” ever we need.”

“I’d rent a private jet, because I don’t think “I’d love to travel the world.”

I could buy one with a Million Dollars.”

“In & Out Burger, “Buffalo Wild just because it’s Wings. the best place to Who doesn’t like get burgers.” wings?”

Ethan Gebavi “I’d live in Seattle because it’s a good mix of big city and nature.”

“Kevin Spacey from House Of Cards.

He just fits the role nicely.”

“I’d take a year off of college. Then I’d buy a nice car, and then put some away.”

“Portillos, because they have so many options.”

PHOTO COURTESY LEIA ATAS

Sports Editor he Maine South girls’ tennis earned a firstplace finish at Sectionals and eventually had four girls qualify for the state tournament.

With a freshman, senior, and two juniors in the tournament, the team earned sixth place at State.

“We had a mission and the confidence that we’d make it to the top,” said senior Leigh Friedman.

When it came time for the tournament, all of the girls had their own share of successes. Freshman Jennifer Ptak started the tournament off with a loss, but then came back with four straight victories.

Friedman started off with two wins, but then lost one match, won another and then lost the last.

Juniors Marti Wind and Kamila Czosnyka played as a doubles team, and they started off the tournament on a hot streak with four straight victories. They finished the tournament with a 5-2 record.

At the start of the season, the girls were looking to maintain the success that Maine South tennis has established over the years. They made goals together as a team and as individual players for the season.

“At the beginning of the season, we made goals to beat the teams that we have lost against in past seasons,” said Friedman. “These teams include New Trier, GBS, GBN among other teams. We also wanted to win Sectionals, and because of our team dynamics, we knew it was possible.”

Friedman wasn’t the only girl on the team that

PHOYO BY HANNAH SIMPSON

Sam Tinaglia

November 20, 2015 | SPORTS

Girls’ cross country sprints to the state final

PHOTO BY LAUREN PAPP

Sophie Miller & Mike Greco Staff Writer & Sports Editor

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he girls’ cross-country team has finished yet another successful season. With the large amount of experience on the team, the Hawks were able to qualify for the State championships.

“The team performed extremely well at State,” said senior captain Julia Svirvinskas. “Despite the large number of runners in the race, we seven girls still managed to race like a team and stick together and push each other at various points.”

Led by senior captains Svirvinskas, Casey Bomrad, and Kalina Gardiner, the Hawks took fourth-place at Sectionals which was integral in order for the team to qualify for the state championships.

During Sectionals, the team was thoroughly tested by the many other schools competing in the races.

“At Sectionals, your team has to finish in one of the top five spots in order to qualify for State,” said Gardiner. “Teams are scored by the places of their top five finishers. To qualify as an individual, you need to be one of the top seven runners who did not qualify with a team.”

Having a top seven runner was not easy for the Hawks as they raced in the toughest Sectional in the state of Illinois, also known as the “Sectional of Death.” But the Hawks still displayed a large

FUN RUN

Seniors Julia Sirvinskas and Casey Bomrad lead the girls’ cross country team on a jog through the forest preserve. Sirvinskas and Bomrad helped lead the Hawks to success during the season and at the state finals.

amount of confidence in the face of the tough competition.

“It’s called the ‘Sectional of Death’ because of the many ranked teams that race in it,” said Gardiner. “We knew going into the race that we would do well and place anywhere from fourth to sixth.”

The Hawks finished fourth in Sectionals and qualified for the State championships. While at State, the girls’ cross country team finished just outside or the top ten, landing at 12th place.

Although the team did not finish as high as they would have liked, and this was the last race for the seniors, they are proud of the effort that they put in during the season and summer.

“Even though we did not have a top ten finish, we were very satisfied with 12th place, considering that this was the fastest race in Illinois history.

We have no regrets because of the time that we have put in and are very proud of ourselves,” said Sirvinskas.

Football season finishes unexpectedly James Bednarz Staff Writer

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fter a slow start to the year, the football team was looking to continue their winning ways last Saturday against Normal Community High School. Unfortunately, the Hawks collapsed in a 42-21 loss that ended their season.

“We feel a little disappointed and a little heartbroken,” said Coach Dave Inserra. “Especially, for the seniors who won’t get to play another game.”

Despite the playoff loss, they have had many highlights throughout the season.

“Come back wins over GBS, New Trier, and Evanston were the best games of the year,” said Coach Inserra. “We were down by 10 or more in each of these games, but [we] kept our composure and found a way to battle back. We tied the game against GBS with 15 seconds left and won in overtime 34-31. Against Evanston, we trailed by 14 with 7 minutes left, scored twice, then recovered a fumble and kicked the winning FG

with 1 second left. Another 34-31 victory.”

The ability to stay even keeled and optimistic through the highs and lows of games has seemed to be a focal point for this year’s team.

“Some of the best moments were coming back to beat New Trier and Evanston,” said junior wide receiver Luke Hinkamp, “But the most memorable is definitely the overtime win we had on homecoming against GBS.” The team also extended its CSL South Conference winning streak. The the last time that the Hawks lost a conference game was on Oct. 21 of 2000.

Since then, they have won 75 straight CSL match-ups. A large amount of the offense this year came from sophomore running back, Fotis Kokosioulis. As most sophomores play on the sophomore team, it serves as a testament to his athleticism and talent that he is a major part of the varsity team.

“They brought me up because they knew I could play. It was be-

cause of that, that I was determined to show the coaches they were right,” Kokosioulis said.

Coach Inserra has shown that he is more than a coach to his team— he is also a mentor.

“Coach Inserra had us believing in ourselves and each other. Coach told us that Maine South Football is about playing for all the great previous teams and players, and also for our teammates and all the future players to come,” said Kokosioulis.

Not only does Coach Inserra help the team to achieve their goals, but also helps them day in and day out through practice.

“They practice and play loose,” said Mr. Inserra, “These guys bring a lot of energy every day and make each other better in practice.”

From a statistical standpoint, many of the football players have had outstanding seasons.

To understand how well our players performed, here is a comparison of the average points per week Maine South players would earn in fantasy football. Brian Collis aver-

ages 14.64 points per week, which is similar to quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Fotis Kokosioulis averages 11.16 points per week, which is similar to running backs Le’veon Bell, Chris Johnson, and Adrian Peterson. Jonathan Arenas averages around 8.46 points per week, similar to wide receivers Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb. Matthew Holbrook averages around 7.94 points per week, similar to wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Jeremy Maclin.

While the football season ended in disappointment, the coaching staff is still proud of the effort given by the players from the start of summer until the end of the season, during what they consider a comeback season.

“The season could have gone a different way after we started the season out 0-2, but these guys had the perseverance and the resolve in order to turn our season around,” Coach Inserra said. “Eight straight wins, a conference championship, and the defense of our seventy-five game winning streak in the conference still means we had a great year.”

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

PHOTO PHOTO BY RHYANNE NOCHE LAUREN PAPP

Record season ends in shootout for Hawks

Mike Greco Sports Editor

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he Maine South boys’ soccer team had a season that very few soccer players get to experience, and one that not many people outside of the program had predicted.

Over the course of the season, the team produced many great stats, highlights, and wins. Unfortunately, their season was brought to end on Sat., Oct. 24 in a shootout loss to Niles North.

“I am upset with how the playoffs ended in the Regional game,” said junior Philip Mierzwa, “But I am proud of the success that our team had and the great season we played together.”

While the season ended on a difficult loss, the Hawks experienced success this season that few other teams in Maine South history had.

This successful season included a 19-game unbeaten streak, a first-place finish in the CSL-South conference, and a tie for the fewest losses in school history.

They could not have had the success that they did this season without the help of their leaders.

“Our captains lead the way, which is important because we had a very mixed group of players,” said Coach Dan States. “So, for those captains to demonstrate the leadership that they did and welcome the younger players in, helped lead our team to success.

The three senior captains David Aniol, Ethan Gebavi, and Krystian Krypla were very big for us.”

Although, the captains were integral for the Hawks this year, there are many young players that also made an impact for the team.

“The great mystery of coaching is finding out which returning players will help to lead the next year,” said Mr. States. “Players like Mierzwa, [junior] Liam Pittges, and [junior] Patrick Hopkins were great this year, with all of them becoming all-conference players.

We hope to build around them going into next year.”

Sophomore Alessandro Corazzina lead the team in goals with 11 while sophomore Szymon Glab was fourth on

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

Junior defender Patrick Hopkins gets back on defense against a player from Niles North.

Hopkins is one of the many young players who played a key role during the team’s successful run this season.

the team with 13 goals. They are among a group of sophomores that Coach States believes were important for the team this season and will be again in the future.

“The three sophomores we brought up this season, Ryan Bull, Szymon Glab, and Alessandro Corazzina did a great job for us, and we want them to continue their progress as we move forward,” said Mr. States.

Leadership played a key factor in allowing the Hawks to fly to new heights this year, but their chemistry as a team allowed them to play together.

“The word ‘team’ best describes this season,” said Coach States. “This group matched the fewest losses in a season because they came together.

They worked together as a team and bought into the concept that we have to play team defense all over the field and play together. They came together as a team faster than any other group I have ever seen.”

Some of the major highlights of this season for the Hawks are the first-place finish at the Palatine Hogan Tournament from Sept. 3 through Sept. 5, and a second place finish at the Quincy Tournament on Aug. 29.

These tournament wins along with the many others that the team racked

up this season can be attributed to the preparation and training that the team put in this past summer.

“We typically do more than most programs in the summer,” said Coach States. “Even though we were limited by the IHSA for the amount of time that we can practice, we make sure that they work hard and give their best effort.”

The team not only received training from the Maine South coaching staff last summer, but from higher level coaches as well.

“During the summer we actually have Northern Illinois bring their college training staff to work with the boys for a week, which helps to prepare them and get them in the right mindset for the season,” said Mr. States.

The end of the season brought disappointment for the Hawks, but the team still managed to surpass the expectations placed on them by their coach.

“The guys actually passed my expectations in many ways,” said Mr. States. “I was really impressed with how hard they worked together because we did not have one singular great player and playing together allowed them to make the most of what will be the last season for many of them.”

This team was lead by a high-

powered offense that scored 49 goals and averaged 2.13 goals per game.

This was accompanied by stellar play in goal by senior Glenn Gronke, who had 10 shutouts and allowed only 10 goals for the season or only 0.43 goals per game. Gronke’s season in goal was one of the best in school history.

“Glenn Gronke had a great season for us in goal, and he ultimately finishes as one of our high-end goalkeepers in school history for shutouts,” said Coach States.

Six players from the Maine South boys’ soccer team were selected as All-Conference Players, including Mierzwa, who led the team in assists and points and won the Chicago Tribune’s Athlete of the Month honors for October.

While the accomplishment was one of his many great highlights from the season, Mierzwa has managed to stay humble throughout the process of the season and the loss.

“I am really grateful to have been nominated for athlete of the month, but I could not have been here without the help from my coaches and teammates,” said Mierzwa.

“This nomination is not just about my hard work, but the hard work put in by my team.”