Vol 35 issue 13

SOUTHWORDS

Vol. }h I w i c 13

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Zero Man Band wins a Goldberg •FEATURES

Movie theaters change News on News: a store for school spirit COMMENTARY Classical music is a good thing!

Answer to a classic mathematics problem Jeff Clapper reflects on high school friendships

NEWS

Maine South Mathletes Orchesis prepares for show SPORTS

Boy's basketball advances in playoffs A final look at the 1998-99 Wrestling season

Bria:i ' M- :; Paul Johnson, Katie Thompson and Jon Hilyard proudly display their ticket for free admission to Argonne National Laboratory. The admission was part of their reward when they won the Rube Goldberg competition with their entry entitled. Zero Man Band. See page 8.

Photo by Maura Collins

propertj'^ o^

The Editors

by Anne Edison-Swift Pen-pals seem to be experiencing a comeback. We don't call them that anymore, of course. That was the name we used for that Uttle girl in Germany we wrote to once or twice in fourth grade. Now we have "buddies" and go online to keep in touch. Unhke our old pen-pals, buddies are instantly accessible, in Germany or across town.

People who would never even dream of writing snail-mail letters use email all the time. This is a modem miracle of sorts.

I have a cousin whom I haven't seen in years, and who would probably never have entered my life at all if it weren't for email.

Family reunions. That's powerful stuff.

So why do I still have all these traditional, hand-written-letter-writers in my hfe? My friend P.J., whom I met 6 summers ago at camp, calls these "real letters."

Often in her email she'll attach an apology: "Sorry about this, I'll write you a real letter soon!" My first reaction was to think that I'd much rather get email from her.

Her handwriting takes hours of intense concentration to decode, and her letters could be suWivided into chapters.

Then I realized that the time investment is what makes traditional letters "real."

Email encourages sloppy writing, laden with lazy errors. Written letters take time to write, and the writer takes care to choose the right words, knowing that, unlike email, lettere aren't about instant gratification. No matter how fast you scribble it down, the reply will still take time. Email is about speed and convenience. Snail mail is about thoughtfulness and meaning.

There are other, less tangible wonders.

Getting to know, and even love, a person's handwriting; the shapes, the expressiveness of it (going far beyond the reaches of =) and other electronic attempts at implying tone.) The satisfaction of a written relationship maintained against all odds. The envelope that invokes so much more anticipation and joy than "you've got mail."

For practical purposes, email is the way to go, and makes communication possible in previously unimaginable ways. But real letters, handwritten, are still the best way to show you really value a person's friendship. I'd take a pen-pal over a buddy any day!

Music to our ears

by Britt Frederiksen As I exit school each day carrying my large, white fiberglass cello case in one arm and my books in the other, I hear constant comments like "nice guitar." I have given up my reply of "It's a cello," because most of the students at Maine South would rather hear about a guitar anyway.

It is obvious that today's Generation X+ teenagers love rock, rap and pop music. Walk into any store with a juniors' department and you will hear B96 or Q101 music blasting out the speakers. Any party that has teenagers at it usually also has a DJ and loud music.

Even our school dances play almost exclusively eighties rock.

But what is the school orchestra playing?

That is an unanswerable question for most of the student body, because who has ever heard of Shostakovich or Handel any way?

Maybe classical music and instruments are not as "un-cool" as they seem.

Many of the popular songs of today include string and brass instuments. All of the Dave Matthews Band songs. Puff Daddy's "Come With Me," Jewel's "Foolish Games," Green Day's "Time of Your Life," Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On," The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony," and many more recognizable songs would not be possible without the use of classical instruments.

Does adding an amplifier and a microphone

automatically make music good? Is loud the only way to define music that isn't boring?

Tschaikowsky's Marche Slave is definitely loud, but there probably won't be too many teenage fans at the spring orchestra concert to hear it.

If the lyrics of today 's music make it more interestinji the Lyric Opera downtown performs music that tells a story too. The wide variety and style of classical music can suit any mood or personality; one just has to approach it with an open mind and find their perfect piece.

I listen to pop music like my peers, but I have learned that classical music is important in any education. Classical music study helps to improve discipline, concentration and learning.

In fact, Barnes and Noble is now selling "The Mozart Effect," a recording that is proven to improve students' grades if they listen to it while they study.

Classical music has come a long way, much farther than rap or rock, and by no stretch of the imagination is it boring when one analyzes its inner workings.

So, the next time you see me lugging my cello around school, please remember thatj don't play the guitar and that I am proud i it. Come to the next orchestra concert as well; you might be surprised at what you hear.

"Does adding a microphone and an amplifier really make music good?"

Commentary 3

All new season premier The ratings are in for your first year at college

by Jeff Clapper, Class of 1998 When you're flipping through the channels, going back and forth between a couple different shows, Mulder and Scully don't know or care if you're splitting your time with them and Lucy's reruns. Last week on my spring break, I visited Maine South and was aware of a strange twist on this scenario.

I was flipping channels between the cast of my college life, and the reruns of high school. The twist came in the real life experience of it.

Everyone in Welch Hall 207 knows what channel I'm on when I walk in the room, likewise when I show up at the dean's office for a visitor stamp. There is a reason why networks hype up new episodes, and that's what I've learned rom my visits home.

O v e r Christmas break, I was talking with M a t t Farrell, Class of 1997, about the diffusion of high school friends.

We figured that the average student might know about half of his graduating class, and plan on keeping in touch with five or ten percent of that.

So, maybe he successfully keeps in ouch with ten people from his class overall.

Chances are the classes ahead of him have diffused in simi-

m

lar fashions, and it's only a matter of time until his friends presently at Maine South have split, too.

Basically, when the red caps are tossed in a few months, seniors will be throwing away a good ninety percent of the people they called friends for the first eighteen years of their lives.

That may seem morbid or exciting, depending

ing those steps, I failed to realize that I'd be leaving the cast of Park Ridge.

My first visit home was my first guest appearance. It was exciting for me and the cast, but we all knew that there was no

HEY SENIORS!

Your last year at Maine South is more than half over! Have you written for commentary yet? Talk to Katie or Dan before it's too late!

o w

you ve viewed the last few years, but it brings me to a point that I read in one of the many email forwards we're all familiar with.

It was in a graduation speech given by someone I can't remember, but one of the main points I've taken from his speech is this: "Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young." I don't think it's necessary to explain what he's already said well, but I would ask that the class of '99 buy an address book rather than a trash can, remembering that "the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young."

Visiting Maine South provided me with some insight as to why my first year in Ohio has been such a large change. Nothing could have prepared me for the definite line between the spring and fall of 1998. When I chose to go to Ohio Wesleyan, I was excited by the fact that I would know no one there. It was a new series with a new cast and a completely different plot. Everything would be different. Inmak-

going back. The battle between the excitement of everything new in college life, and the loss of the familiarity of high school, hurts. It's no wonder that so many people come back after one semester, one month, or one week away at school. The change is so dramatic that no one can be ready until they're there.

It's my advice to this year's seniors to help each other with this battle. Use your AOL, use your phone cards, use your snail mail, do whatever it takes to keep in touch because contact with your past is what will keep you motivated to fight the change.

As long as you're regretting leaving friends and family behind, you won't be ready to make the first year of college. Keep up with the future by keeping up with your past.

Realize that the old cast will always welcome you back to the show, but realize that you'll only be a guest. Realize that the Maine South cast will have a shorter run than Seinfeld, and prepare for it. The new cast awaits you and the networks are counting on you. The new episodes that you're about to make are exciting, they're what you'll be talking about when you get to class on Monday morning.

Tiie new A-Wing^ addition offers a new solution to classic problem of mathematics:

Editors'

of the w e e k ,1: *CVj

The Seven Bridges of Koeningsberg revisited Third Floor Second Floor First Floor

How do you get to class?

by Bisanabi While meandering and musing in the A-wing halls one dark and stormy day, I set about attempting to walk the three floors of the A-wing without retracing my steps.

Voila! The epiphany struck me that as there are three stairways connecting the three floors, it would be impossible.

It was the classic three bridges of Koeningsberg problem of Topology. Since there was an odd number of nodes (or stairway connections) one would be forced to retrace or recross a bridge or a stairway in the Maine South A-wing.

Was it a brilliant stroke of architectural genius, then and now? The new A-wing addi-

tion allows a solution, as there are an even number of nodes or stairways that allow at least one path. The new question now arises; How many paths now exist where one can walk all three floors of the A-wing without retracing one's steps?

I humbly submit a request to the School Board for a stipend to seek and map all possible paths. What better way to bring fame and glory to DisUnct 207 and Maine South? Or as the Jesuits might phrase it: Ad majorum MS glorium.

This brilliant stroke of genius has at least one practical use. It allows the marching band to parade the three floors, never to disturb a classroom twice on their march.

Features 5

Focus on faculty It's fifth period and loud music flows from the fimess studio. No, it's not a party going on in there, it's Mrs. Kawalek's high energy aerobics classes. The loud music combined with Mrs. Kawalek's great energy and fun attitude make the class anything but your typical aerobics class.

Mrs. Kawalek, a graduate of Maine East, grew up in Des Plaines, where she was a two-year member of the track team and a four-year member of the gymnastics team, which won the state championship in 1977.

She went to Indiana University, and then to the University of Michigan where she got her Masters of Social Work. At Indiana University, she was a choreographer for U.I. Sing, which was made up of sorority and fraternity members. She was also on gymnastics for one year, flag football for four years, and Mini-500, a tricycle racing team.

Mrs. Kawalek worked in the Chicago area as a social worker for nine years focusing on family problems. She eventually got "burned out" from social work and went back to Northeastern Illinois University where she got a certificate in teaching physical education and health with a focus on outdoor education, aerobics, and swimming.

Mrs. Kawalek decided to go into teaching because she enjoys being in school, and she missed it while she was not a student.

She says, "It's a safe place to be. I feel comfortable in school and I'm part of a team.

One of the things I enjoy about my job is that it's not work for me. It's enjoyable, and I never find myself looking at my watch to find out when my day is over."

b\ Lindsey Krukowski

Mrs. Kawalek has taught here for four years, but she has taught at all three Maine Township High Schools. She has coached girls' gymnastics for 2 years and boys' gymnastics for three years. While at Maine East, she spent a year as the head coach for the girls' gymnastics team.

Mrs. Kawalek enjoys being active. She loves camping, mountain biking in Colorado and cardio-kickboxing. She also takes aerobics classes and is taking boxing lessons this summer. However, when she needs to just relax, Mrs. Kawalek loves massages and manicures. She gets her nails done every two weeks and she says, "I love being primped!

I'm still a little girl like that!"

Mrs. Kawalek teaches two aerobics classes here. She is also trying to keep up with current fitness trends such as Tae Bo, which she incorporates into her aerobics classes. She also enjoys white water rafting and says, "White water rafting is so exciting. It takes nine people to handle a raft in

Senior

Cyndee Kawalek Colorado and it's the most exhilarating feeling. Nothing can compare to it."

Although Mrs. Kawalek loves rafting and fitness, she says, "My greatest experiences are winning the state gymnastic champion ship, having my daughter, watching my daughter's first forward roll and watching my aerobics classes. Watching my students grow and gain confidence is really great. My classes walk out at the end of the year feeling one hundred times better than themselves, and it's really a great transfonnation She enjoys travehng and says, "One day I want to travel to all fifty states, and espe cially to the west coast. I know I'm going to move west one day because I belong there Mrs. Kawalek has been married for six years to the owner of a heating and air con ditioning company. He is also athletic and enjoys biking and climbing. They have one daughter, Dakota, who is almost 2 years old She is expecting another child in August.

She says, "Be responsible and caring because everything we do affects other people.

I chose a profession in which I can positively affect people. Each one of us needs to find a way to be of service to each other We should also treat our environment and our world kindly, because the decisions we make today will affect the next seven generations."

Mrs. Kawalek says, "What's really great to me is waking up and realizing I'm where I want to be. Your daily work should make you feel like you're at play. If it doesn't feel like that, take the risk and find something else that flows for you. Eventually you can do something to make your life better."

Ayn Balija

Activities:

Teacher's Comments:

•Chamber Orchestra •Symphony Orchestra •IMEA District 7 Orchestra •High Honor Roll •Tri-M •National Honor Society •Quill and Scroll •Mu Alpha Theta 'Eyrie •German Club

There are many students at Maine South who work really hard and take extreme pride in their work. But Ayn Balija even rises above M.S.'s high standard. In Composition HI she showed zeal that surpasses any superlative. All her work—done with the most rigorous attention to detail. Her writing skills are oustanding. She is creative and complex in a single sentence, and her scholarly, creative final products simply were a delight and honor to read.

-Mrs. Carolyn Pajor

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Let's go to the movies. . .

by Erica Skorupski and Nicole Wright You decide to treat a date and yourself for a night at the movies on a Saturday evening. You walk up to the box cashier and say, "Two for 'I Still Know What You Did Last Summer', please." Handing the cashier a ten, she looks at you and responds, "Your total is sixteen dollars." You look to your date in disbelief and ask yourself when the price inflated that much, as you shell out another six dollars. How did a movie jump from five dollars to eight?

It's true that the prices have increased dramatically over the past 75 years, but so has technology and the desire to meet the expectations of the consumer. Still when customers hand over eight dollars they tend to won der where their money goes.

The locations of theaters are built for a customer's convenience. Most movie theaters are located near or in shopping malls. That was planned because shopping centers hold buying power. After a long day of shopping or dining at a restaurant inside the mall, many people like to take a

load off their feet and take a break from re ality. In a matter of a few minutes, people can leave the mall and walk next door to the movie theater.

Theater companies also try to make experiences more convenient for consumers by packing more theaters into a certain area.

A town that used to hold one or two theaters now holds approximately five or six.

Cineplex Odeon Corporation, for example, is one of the largest motion picture companies, owning 425 locations in the United States and Canada.

When you step into a state-of-the-art movie theater, you will notice the multi-screen auditorium that holds a wide variety of movies. Not only is there a great selection but there are numerous showing times, all for the consumer's convenience!

As you take your ticket from the cashier, the deliciously fresh aroma of popcorn

guides you through the lobby and to the lively concession area. "My favorite part of going to see a movie is the Sno-Caps. If they don't sell those, they don't have my business," says senior Michelle Menotti.

The concession area is a major part of seeing a movie.

The theater employees have to spend more time and hard work on preparing the food these days. Not only do they provide you with popcorn, but they also have nachos, candy, soda, pretzels and pizza which is a far cry fromseventy-five years ago when theaters only sold candy and popcorn.

To stock up for weekend rushes, one person has to pop popcorn for a whole day, nonstop! A whole day's worth of popping is a lot of popcorn!

After you pick up your tub of popcorn and your bottomless cup of Coke, you head over to the ticket taker. He directs you to your theater and in you go. In the darkness it's hard to find a seat, yet the immense au^ ditorium offers many regular seats as well

News on News . .a look at what is happening at other schools

Show that spirit

by Susie Skaczylo Imagine having a store in your favorite mall that represents your school. Well, in Minnesota a school spirit store is opening to bring together both the business and education worlds. The store, which is a collaboration between three different districts, will feature products from all three schools along with a community room used for classes or field trips.

One of the main goals for the store is to have the three districts work together and operate a store that will provide a learning experience a chance to leam what goes on behind the scenes of running a store. For

the people involved in the project the store will offer students much knowledge about the business world. The students will be the ones making most of the decisions. The schools have placed ads in the local newspapers to help publicize the store and are hoping for a wonderful experience. Nothing like this has taken place in the United States; it is a student-lead practical work experience.

The store will hopefully prove to be a way for students to experience how to manage a store and make it more profitable. The store is focusing on bringing students together to solve problems, experience a real life job

situation, and share the joy of success. The opening is sometime this year and the schools look forward to the impact that it might make in years to come.

Information for this article was collected from Vantage Point, a publication of Hudsonville High School in Hudsonville, MI.

J'eatures 7

but don't expect reel deals as the love seats offered in some theaters.

"Love seats were the greatest thing ever invented about the movies.

A lot of people think that they have to go on a date to sit in these things. Not me. I like to lay in them, they are so comfy," said Heather Friedman, a teenager waiting in line at Randhurst Theater.

Your attention is fully focused on the screen, you wait in anticipation for your selection to come on.

As the movie begins, the stadium-style seating makes it easier to see over the heads of the row in front. You notice the amount of feet room you have in front of you as you stretch out your legs.

The voices or music blasting through the speakers takes you to the movie. Having a good sound system is very important to you, the consumer. There are many varieties of systems, but the best is the HPS-4000 sound ^system combined with the THX theaters.

'The combination of the two guarantees the highest quality of sound performance. Sound

is important because it is what controls the intensity of the movie. It makes the rain sound like real rain and thunder sound like real thunder. It creates a storm, giving chills to the audience and almost creating the feeling of an actual storm about to erupt in the theater. The theater also has a small supply of infrared headsets if a person has trouble hearing.

"I love going to the movies because of the sound. I believe the sound enhances every emotion displayed on screen. Making it louder, making it softer, it kind of makes you feel as if you are inside the movie itself," responded senior Marta Kaczmierzak.

Choice of movie and show time, food, seating, sound: all are ways that theaters pull us in. If those do not work, some theaters started a new promotion called "Credits Card." The card itself is free and it is an awe-

some incentive to keep going back to the movies. For every dollar you spend on tickets or concession items, you earn ten points.

Over time the points accumulate and you get coupons, free popcorn or a soda and free movie passes. Also, there are other businesses sponsoring the theater. Pizzeria Uno, Musicland, Pepsi, Sam Goody, Hard Rock Cafe, Dr. Pepper and Suncoast all support theaters by giving coupons or discounts to moviegoers. In a sense, those customers are g e t t i n g their money back in the long Unless you can pass for a twelve- year- old or look as old as a senior citizen, paying full price for admission is required. But the food, seating and sound make it all worth coming back for. The prices are high, but that money is being used to enhance the moviegoer's experience. As long as consumers keep shelling out the money, corporations will continue restoring and updating the technology.

Turn the radio dial back

by Tina Janczura It is 10:00 p.m. on March 19,1928. Families are relaxing in front of their radios awaiting the first episode of "Amos 'n' Andy" to be broadcasted. People alter their work schedules. Meeting and gatherings are also canceled in order to tune into this much talked about show. Children everywhere finish their homework early and are begging their parents V ^ ^ to allow them to stay up just a little longer.

E v e n though this show was only fifteen minutes ong, it is still the topic of

conversation the next morning. The show's content provoked racial controversy and cut across political, sectional, social, ethnic and racial lines. This did not stop the nation's interest in the show.

The famous creators of the show were Charles Correll and Freeman Fisher Goodsen. They were not only the writers of this magnificent show but also the principal characters.

What made this show so exceptional was that both of these men were from African-American backgrounds. Not many African-Americans were present in radio at this point in time.

African Americans were not the only ones who listened to this show; the audience drew from many different races and classes.

The President even made it known that he was a listener.

Some African-Americans were very

upset about the show. Theresa Kennedy of St. Louis was one of the first to publicize her complaints. She stated that while she was entertained by "Amos "n' Andy", she felt that the show was ignorant and gave a false impression of African-Americans.

Yet this did not stop the show's popularity.

This radio show went down in the history of the American culture.

It is now 10:15 p.m. on March 19, 1928. Radios are being turned off. and children are being sent to bed. Lights are being shut off, and the country is going to sleep. Tomorrow is March 20, 1928, another day to talk about and listen to "Amos 'n' Andy."

Orchesis is 'Shakin' it Up'

by Kayte Thomas The girls are at it again. Working hard all year on their self-choreographed dances, these performers are putting together a spectacular show. This year's production, "Shakin' it Up," is full of variety and excitement.

It includes a solo by junior Monika Pilat, a piece by exchange student Bou-Young Youn and a farewell dance from the seniors.

Furthermore, "Excursions in Swing," by this year's outside choreographer Chachi, adds interest with a flare of gymnastics from freshman Susie Slezak, as well as a musical touch from seniors Margaret Cyze, Jasmine Markovic and Bou-Young Youn.

Overall, the girls have matured in both ability and dedication. Coach Sinclair says of her dancers' talents, "Each year I have witnessed Orchesis grow stronger. The technical ability of the 1998-99 members is outstanding and over the past few months they

have been combining their background knowledge with innovative choreographic ideas. I find the results to be very inspiring."

Each year the girls dance in a four-hour marathon to raise money for the show. In December, they danced many of the variations of swing including social aerials and the Lindy Hop. With every out-of-school class, the troupe picks up skills that are often incorporated into the show. Members are also being creative with their costumes and props. There is even a dance modeled after the video game "Mortal Kombat" created by Dina and Litsa Tsapralis. The dancers have worked to invent ways to portray events from the game.

Junior Regina Pontrelli believes "the concepts and efforts of everyone are focused and through our work as individuals we are improving ourselves as a whole. We're expanding our ideas a lot as well. It's really

CRC, what's it to me

by Maura Collins College applications, Financial Aid Every Maine South student is faced with forms and registration forms for the ACT many choices regarding his or her post high and SAT are also available in the CRC. school plans. The Career Resource Center Every year, nearly 150 colleges send rep(CRC) provides some of the necessary in- resentatives to the CRC. These visits are formation to help students make the right listed in the Daily Bulletin. All students need ones. to do to attend is pick up a form in the CRC Janice Cannon is Maine South's Career and have the teacher of the class that they Counselor and is available to provide indi- would be missing sign the form.

Information regarding jobs in the comvidual guidance in career and college exploration in the CRC, which is open daily from munity is posted on a bulletin board just 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Parents and members outside of the CRC. Work permits can be of the conmiunity as well as students are obtained there as well. welcome to use the CRC. The CRC is located along the center hallThe CRC is fully equipped with comput- wav. near the Deans' Office ers with internet access and a variety of computer data bases. The data bases contain many search systems, including three college and vocational school information search systems; four interest inventory programs, which aid in making career decisions; two scholarship information programs and two programs that can estimate one's Federal Financial Aid eligibility.

The library in the CRC contain^ reference materials on scholarships and financial aid as well as many books and videos about careers and Lisa Maillie reads up on colleges in the CRC. colleges.

cool how Ms. Sinclair is including the Danc^ II class in the show as well.

If dance is a means of sparking one's inner light, then these girls are on fire. Everyone is eagerly anticipating the exhibition and is also very much into the "teamwork" aspect of the dance company. Everyone is ready to support each other as well.

The shows on April 9 at 7:30 and April 10 at 3:00 should prove to be successful.

Jessica Waite says of the upcoming show and the rehearsals thus far, "I'm really excited about the four-year member dance because it is unlike any other number we've previously done. Ms. Sinclair has been a constant source of help and support, so I think the show will have a nice turnout."

Orchesis has been devoting all of their energy towards their dances.

Orchesis welcomes everyone to come and see what they have prepared for the entire school's enjoyment.

SOUTH WORDS A student-produced newspaper of:

Maine South High School 1111 South Dee R o ^ Park Ridge, IL 60068 Letters to the editor should be deTivered to room V-131 orjjven toa member of the editorial staÂŁF.SOijTHWORDS reserves the right to edit materia for clarity and brevity and to reject obseenerorllbeloiis submissions.

Anne Edison-Swift Anna Mieszaniec News Editors Kathleen Dunne Maura Colhns Commentary Editors Dan Schwartz Katie Thompson Features Editors Lindsey Kiukowski Katie Marcucci Sports Editors Brian Price Anna Kurtz Production Editors Chris Buckely Som Dalai Ted Kocher Core Cartoonist Julie Motala Core Photographer Nora Bum Core Staff Artist Ho-Chen Liu Staff Heads Margaret Byrne Susan Wilson Advisor T R. Kerth Editors-in-Chief

Zero Man Band in concert

by Katie Thompson After months of clever building, hours of nervous pacing and about forty five seconds of nail-biting suspense, Maine South's Rube Goldberg team defmatly has something to smile about.

On February 26 the team, composed of seniors Jon Hilyard, Brian Johnson, Paul Johnson and Katie Thompson, packed up at sunrise and headed to Navy Pier with Mr. Deitz and Mr. Eagan to compete in Argonne National Laboratory's fourth annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest.

The twelve Chicago area high schools that entered the event were required to put a golf ball on a free-standing tee in at least twenty steps.

Each machine had to complete a full run, undergo a reset facilitated by only two team members, and then survive a second successful run.

Every machine at the contest proved impressive; some stood up to five feet tall and incorporated themes including a circus and Ja jungle.

Maine South's entry, which has under construction in the Johnson's basement for over a year, was named the "Zero Man Band" on account of use of several musical

instruments.

Although the team was scheduled to run eleventh out of twelve teams, they managed to use several free hours to overcome minor glitches and demonstate the machine for m u -

over to the Maine South table, the machine ran flawlessly for its first run. The second time around, only one small glitch kept the team from a perfect afternoon.

While they were worried about how the flaw would affect their team score, Maine South proved victorious as the judges unani-

mously nominated them for the first place

prize.

Dubbed "musician scientists" on the ABC evening news, the four hugged each other and grinned as they accepted their prize.

They received Argonne T-shirts, superconducting pens and pencils, and a tour of Argonne National Laboratory including the lab's Advanced Photon Source and Virtual Reality Cave. Shortly after the contest, Jon, Brian, Paul, Katie, Mr. Marino and Mr. Eagan were invited to appear with Jay Levine and Mary Ann Childers on the CBS morning news to run their machine live.

While the team is thrilled with its success at Navy Pier, they are already looking ahead. On April tenth. Zero Man Band will travel to Purdue University to exhibit the machine at the national college level Rube Goldberg competition.

They will also be competing in the first ever state level contest for high school students at Argonne Labs. At this event, they will face two teams that were at Navy Pier with them as well as three teams from southem Illinois. The team is ready to put some music in the air and hopefully earn a state title.

Senior Mathletes win conference

by Nick Disabato Why have ten people been walking around the school in red and white T-shirts with incoherent numbers on their backs?

What's the deal with the plethora of locker signs and posters throughout the school with slogans on them such as "Kick Asymptote?"

The answer to all these questions and more lies with one hackneyed pun: Mathletes.

Mathletes just finished yet another memorable season. The seniors took first place at the conference math meet and, at the same meet, the entire Maine South Mathletes crowd was named the most improved team, an award given to the team that ^most improves its overall score from last gear's competition. It was an accomplishment that the juniors instantly took credit for.

Senior John Bang came in first place at regionals in the Oral Math Competition, one

of the most intense events in a meet. He will advance to compete at the state meet. The entire team looks forward to next year's challenges.

This year the seniors placed twenty-ninth in the state, leaving the underclassmen flabbergasted as they placed first in Maine South's region.

One might be ask,"What IS Mathletes, anyway?"

Every month, they are presented with two tests. The first test is taken individually, and it is a five-question, thirty-minute competition.

It is based on a certain aspect of mathematics - topics of past meets have included areas, surface areas, and volumes; right-triangle trigonometry; and probability and statistics.

The maximum score on this part of the contest is twenty-five points.

Shortly after, the entire team takes a

"candy bar contest" as a group. Though Mathletes have not won the candy bar contest in over four years, they still give it their best attempt in an effort to win a large box of candy bars.

One might also ask is Mathletes is anything more than just solving math problems.

The answer is yes. They do try to make it as fun as possible.

Before the most recent meet, instead of working hard on problems for the upcoming competition, the juniors covered the school with locker signs and posters to raise the morale of the other team members.

Frances Futris explains that "Our cheers, inspired by Maharah Backus, always pump us up before meets."

Mathletes has four coaches. Ms. Kamberos supports the freshmen, Mr. Olson coaches the sophomores. Miss Harrison leads the juniors, and Mr. Andrews mentors the seniors.

lO Sports

Athletic department commends winter scholar athletes

The Maine South winter athletes have once again proved their scholastic ability.

For the winter season sports, twenty nine athletes met the requirements for scholar athletes. Qualifications for this award are maintenance of a 3.0 grade point average and being a senior.

Scholar athletes to be congratulated for the 1998-99 winter season are: Boys' basketball. Kevin Barrett, Todd Gierke, John Moran, Bret Olson. Brian Price, Eric Schmidt, Brendan Smaha; Boys' swim-

ming, Jeff Cox, Jeff Franckowiak, Amul Ganger, Joe Kipta, PiotrObara, Brian Pick.

Kevin Slobodecki; Boys' wTestiing, Jeff Caudill. Sterling Chung, Brett Harman, Janusz Kopycinski, Martin Machnica, Bradley Sfaemluck. Andrew Ziegenhom; Giris' basketball, Amy Angarone, Colleen Foy. Anna Mieszaniec, Maureen Mulvihill.

Laura Paine; Girls' gymnastics, Maureen FaUon, Ann Oravec, ErinTyrell. Congratulations to these individuals on all of their hard work and dedication.

1998-1999 wrestling season in review from Maine South wrestling newsletter Maine South wrestling is truly "a great program on the rise" as the grapphng Hawks set new records. For the first time ever Maine South captured the championship in every tournament, including the I.H.S.A. Regional competition! This step helped establish another first with nine sectional qualifiers.

There continues to be great news at the lower levels also. The junior varsity again won fourteen of seventeen dual meets and accomplished runner up status at the prestigious Glenbard East invite. The freshman team continued to dominate all opponents and won its second consecutive Central Suburban League conference tide.

Hawk wrestling enjoyed superb senior leadership from captains Luke Murchie, Brett Harman and Brad Shemluck and from solid performers such as Jeff Caudill. Andy Ziegenhom and Sterling Chung. Two seniors saw their first action on varsity and contributed to this team's grand success: Janusz Kopycinski and Marty Machnica.

The varsity team was characterized most by courage, confidence and hard work. Mike Jozwiak, Nick Palumbo, Caudill, Murchie,

Dan Griner and Mike Tedeschi always provided a light-weight "turbo charged" start while the powerful middle weights Jan Denk, Harman, Dave Evanshank, Jim Goodrich, Ziegenhom and the Kopycinski brothers (Raf and Jan) kept the Hawks in control. The upper weights best exemplified our determinadon as Shemluck, the Chung brothers (Steve and Sterling,) Pat Stritzel, Marty Machnica and Sean Story competed tough to ensure victory.

Setting high standards were our thirty plus match winner Dave Evanshank (thirtyone victories); our state qualifier Brad Shemluck (thirty-six victories, 1-1 downstate); and our first forty plus match winner and state place winner Brett Harman (41-2, 5-1 downstate.) Brett also became the "winningest" wrestler in Maine South history with 136 victories while setting records for most takedowns, near falls, tech falls and team points.

We look forward to the future as this year we welcomed over 90 athletes into the program and as we once again will compete on four levels this coming 1999-2000 campaign.

Boys' track ends an undefeated indoor season

by Paul Johnson After six meets this indoor season, the running Hawks can be traced by their trail of defeated opponents. Taking this path the vanity team has arrived at a perfect record of 18-0, with South's biggest win at the Wheeling Invite. The Hawks won the invite for the fourth year in a row with a comfortable 55 point winning margin over Loyola.

First place finishers were Jon Hilyard with a pole vault of 11 '0" and Paul Johnson with 440 yd time of 55.7. The two sprint relays were also the fastest on the track with Marc Szramek, Nick Norman, Tim Ciccone and Tony Skaczylo running the four lap relay and Szramek, Paul McGuire, Mike Santoro and Skaczylo in the 4 x 440 yd relay. Other top finishers included Sam Porras with second in high hurdles as well as third in the intermediate hurdles, along with Tim Seiwert with two second place finishes in the 3200: and 1600m runs. The 4 x 880 yd relay tea: of Liam Hickey, Santoro, Brian Wells anBrian Dickey also had an excellent finish in third. Along with the first place finishes, the much needed second and third place finishers played an essential role in clenching the meet title.

More recently, the Hawks ran against Nazareth and Gordon Tech. The competition was less than had been hoped for as South won all but two events. Not only did they take furst, but also took second in eight of the individual events. These included Porras and Santoro in the high hurdles, Szramek and Norman in the 50 yd dash, Johnson and McGuire in the 440 yd dash, Seiwert and Tom Hastings in the 1600 run, Sean Story and Brian Fee in the shot put, and Norman and Porras in the low hurdles.

The sprint relays still remain undefeated in the season with Szramek, Johnson, Norman and Skaczylo in the 4 x 220 yd and Szramek, McGuire, Skaczylo and Johnson in the 4 x 440.

As the Hawks wrap up the indoor season they are in good shape with c o m p e u t i i ^ ^ marks going into the indoor conferencS^F meet. With a competitive focus in mind, a conference title would be a nice finish to an undefeated indoor record.

Sports 11

)Hawks win annual relay invitational

by Maura Collins Two weeks ago the Maine South parking lots were full—of snow, basketball fans, school musical patrons, and of course, victorious female track athletes cleaning their cars off. The Maine South girls' track team was victorious on March 5 at Hawk Relays, an annual event hosted by the team. The Hawks won nine out of a possible seventeen events, assuring victory over Buffalo Grove, Niles West, Luther North and Maine West. Buffalo Grove was Maine South's closest competitor and even they were behind the Hawks by eleven points.

The victory was sweet because at this same meet last year, Buffalo Grove and Maine South tied for first. This shows that even with a team currently dealing with injuries and illness, Maine South is still a track powerhouse.

At the meet there were several season bests as well as school record breaking performances. 4 X 440 yd relay team(Liz

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Other relays in the meet scored just as well. The four lap relay of Liz Pahlke, Amanda Wolf, Theresa Weritz and Katrina Kloess took first place with 1:15.6. The 4 x 880 yd relay, ran by Kelly Haas, Gina Kremer, Maura Collins and Cara Cordaro finished in third with a time of 10:53.4. On the junior varsity level both the four lap relay and 4 X 880 yd relay won first place ribbons.

The individual events had some excellent performances to ensure the win for the Hawks. Theresa Weritz took first in the 50 yd dash with 6.7. Jennifer Sagat finished the 1600 m run in 5:59.5 in third place. Lina Liu won the triple jump competition with a jump of 30'.

In the meet against Luther North the following Wednesday the Hawks were again victorious. With performances such as these the girls' track team has high hopes for the conference meet held on Thursday March 18th.

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IHSA finals

Girls' Basketball

SEASON O'VER

Boys' Swimming

SEASON O'VER

Girls' Swimming

Wrestling

Pahlke, Meghan McNiel, Amanda Wolf and Katrina Kloess) set a school record with a time of 4 min. 26 sec. Also, the sprint medley team(Theresa Weritz, Katrina Kloess, Liz Pahlke and Gina Kremer) broke a record—by over two seconds! The sprint medley is an event unique to this indoor track invitational. In it, the first two runners each sprint for 220 yds, the third person runs for 440 yds and the final runner completes the race with a 880 yd run.

Maine South was very successful in each of the field events. Because this meet was composed of nearly all relays, the distances of the top four throwers and jumpers in each event from each school were added together for a final team score. Maine South won the shot put event (Tracy Foltz, Holly Warchol, Angle Plewa and Shayna Robinson) with a combined throw of 112 ft. 3.25 in. The Maine South long jump team (Mary Megan Anderson, Katrina Kloess, Lina Liu and Lydia Liu) came in first place as well.

SEASON OVER '

Girls' Gymnastics

SEASON OVER

SEASON OVER ,

Boys' Indoor Track

Girls' Indoor Track

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SOUTHWORDS

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Boys' Basketball wins conference, regional,

by Eric Schmidt January 22: Maine South's boys' basketball team has a 9-7 overall record and a 2-2 conference record. The Hawks defeated Glenbrook North on the Spartans' home floor and thus started the current hoop streak.

March 9: Maine South's boys' basketball team is well on its way, now the proud owners of a 21-7 record. They won the CSL North conference championship with an 82 record and earned a trip to the Niles West Sectional Final by defeating top-seeded New Trier. The Hawk bandwagon is the hottest ride in the state, and there is no indication that it is slowing down.

The 1999 Hawks are showing signs of the same type of magic that the Hawks displayed twenty years ago when they won the state championship. They have now advanced to meet Gordon Tech for the sectional championship on Friday March 12. If the Hawks can pull out a victory, they will advance to play at Northwestern's WelshRyan Arena on Tuesday, March 16. A victory there will mean a trip downstate to Peoria for the state quarterfinals.

In the regional opener, the Hawks defeated Fenton behind solid performances from Todd Gierke (26 points), Brendan

Smaha and Kevin Barrett. The following Friday, the hoop squad battled Leyden in a thriller of a game. Brian Price put the Hawks up by one point by sinking a long three-pointer with under one minute remaining.

On Leyden's next possession the gym lights went out due Brendan Smaha grabs a rebound against Leyden, to the heavy snow and weather, which added to the excitement and hysteria throughout the gym. The two teams returned to the court, but Maine South made two defensive stops and four free throws to win the Regional championship.

At Niles West, the Hawks were matched up with New Trier, a team ranked in the Chicago Tribune's Top Ten. The game was close the whole way with no team leading by more than six points. Behind the support of the REGULAR SEASON large cheering section, the Hawks soared to a 44-41 victory. Kevin Geist's tremendous Glenbrook North play off the bench along with Eric Schmidt's Maine West sixteen points sparked the Fremd team to victory. The Hawks now look to display their Highland Park trademark team play as they Rolling Meadows take on Gordon Tech in the final.

Niles North Also, seniors Brian Price Wheeling and Eric Schmidt will try to Deerfield advance to Peoria for the Country Companies ThreeGlenbrook North Point Shootout. Price, who advanced to Peoria in '97, has IHSA PLAYOFFS made 37 out of his 45 shots.

Schmidt, who placed fourth Fenton in the state in '98, has made Leyden 33 out of 45 shots in the first three rounds of the 1999 comNew Trier petition.

Maine South's current 12 game win streak