Issue2volume38

The Skyline High School

Sophomore Roman Ibarra runs in the varsity boys’ race at Sterling. The boys’ team placed second overall. The team has high hopes to take a varsity boys’ team to State in Wamego on November 2. photo by j. corbet

T-BIRD

Times

Volume 38 • Issue 2 • October 18, 2013

tbirdtimes.com

Let’s hear it for Skyline T-Bird spirit

by Abby Giles

reporter

A big part of fall sporting events is the atmosphere. Something that is part of this atmosphere that affects both the team performing and the crowd is spirit.

“I think that school spirit has increased for the most part recently,” senior cheerleader Taylor DeWeese said.

At the recent Otis Bison football game, junior football player Blake Lee said that he could tell the crowd was noticeably louder and more into the game.

“When the crowd shows a lot of spirit and is really loud, it shows us that we’re not just playing for ourselves, but for our school, and that we have some school spirit to defend,” Lee said.

Some think that the spirited

crowd helped push the football players into an overtime win at Otis Bison. DeWeese said that she felt like the football players could tell when the crowd was enthusiastic in cheering them on.

She also thinks that it helps the team when the crowd is excited.

“I think that when the crowd is louder, it helps us play better because we feed off of their energy,” junior football player Tristen Hogan said.

Although there weren’t a lot of students at the game because it was so far away, the parents stepped up. It helped because there was strong spirit, no matter who was cheering.

“The spirit of the Otis-Bison game was different because there were lots of parents who got into the game and were enthusiastic,” DeWeese said. “I

was worried when I heard that many of the students weren’t planning on coming to the game because I wasn’t sure how many supporters would be there.

However, we had one of the best crowds of the year.”

Football isn’t the only sport where spirit can help push the players to be better. This can happen in almost any sport.

One of the biggest jobs that fall upon cheerleaders is the duty of trying to boost school spirit.

“When there is more crowd participation, it is easier to cheer, and overall more fun and rewarding,” DeWeese said.

There are many different ways that school spirit can be shown.

One of the most obvious ways is cheering loud at school sporting events. Skyline sports teams have been showing support for

Editor .................... Ascha Lee Adviser.............. Judy Hampel Staff Reporters ........................

Jenessa Corbet Abby Giles Kaitlyn Stark Photographers..........................

Alyssa Allphin Lucas Cason Taryn Lange Lexie Maloney Brady McComb Caden Patterson Keigan Riggs Rion Westhoff

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Editorial | Friday | Oct. 18, 2013

(top) Smiling and clapping, the cheerleaders hold the run-through as the football team runs onto the field. The band was playing “Kickoff.” The football played Kiowa County that night and lost. The run-through was made by Pep Club sponsor Summer Younie and senior Janessa Davis and paper was donated by Heidi McComb. photo by c. patterson (right) At the Otis-Bison football game, senior cheerleader Taylor DeWeese runs by the bleachers as she leads the crowd in the wave. The football team beat Otis-Bison in overtime 44-38. “The spirit was a lot better and it really helped us,” junior football captain Dustin Weber said. Weber has a total of 609 rushing yards this season, with 111 yards during the Otis-Bison win. photo by a. allphin

each other by attending the other teams’ events.

Sophomore cross country runner Miranda Ghumm said that it shows unity in the school when the volleyball team supports the cross country runners at meets.

However, you don’t have to be an athlete to show school spirit.

Another way to have school spirit is by participating in school events and activities. This could be as simple as dressing up for a spirit day or being in a school club. Being involved also gives you the chance to show off your school spirit and pride at different events.

Showing school spirit is a vital part of the high school experience. It is something easy that you can do every day that will make your school better.

Foreign student learns new culture Lee Ming Shan Age: 16 Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan Language: Mandarin Chinese

by Jenessa Corbet

reporter

From Taiwan to America, 16-year-old Lee Ming Shan landed on U.S. soil for the first time in August. Excited to make new friends but missing home, she entered her new home with a new name.

The Swongers were at the airport to meet Sandy. Her mother gave her the American name of Sandy before she came here. She is the third exchange student to live with the Swonger family. They have had girls from both Germany and Norway. This time the family wanted to have a student from an Asian country instead of a European country.

The Swongers were sent several profiles of students from all over the world wanting to be exchange students. They chose Sandy based on the information she gave in her paperwork.

“It seemed like she would be a good fit for our family,” host mom Amy Swonger said.

An agency called Education First helped Sandy cross the Pacific. EF was founded on a simple idea. “To learn you need to experience.” This agency decided which family Sandy was going to live with.

To be able to come to America, Sandy had to learn English and her family had to fill out paperwork. It was a five month process.

Sandy is not the only one in her family that is a foreign exchange student. Her twin sister Tina, or Lee Ming Tsai, lives in Idaho as a foreign exchange student.

“We always do something together and we shared a room,” Sandy said.

Sandy says she misses family

Sandy’s Agenda *A day in Taiwan *A day in American -7:50School Starts -8:05 School Starts -P.E. -Teacher Aide -English Class Lighting up the night sky in Taipei, Taiwan, are lanterns that symbolize a new start for the new year. Every year on Jan. 15 , thousands engage themselves in raising these lanterns.

the most. They often took vacations to places like China and Vietnam.

Her first language is Mandarin Chinese. Learning English was the hardest thing Sandy had to do to come to the U.S. “She wants to have the full American experience and even brought a Prom dress with her from Taiwan,” Swonger said.

Here in Kansas, Sandy’s favorite foods are spaghetti, hamburgers, tacos and Oreos. Back home her favorite food is fried rice.

A typical day for Sandy would start off with going to school at 7:50 in the morning.

School usually gets over around 5 in the afternoon. Sandy would later go home and study until late every night. Her favor-

-English III -Math -Math

ite classes are P.E. and Chinese.

“In my country back home I study a lot. Here not really,” -12:10 Lunch Sandy said. “There’s a lot of -12:10 Lunch using computer and relaxing.”

Here at Skyline, Sandy’s favorite class is Entrepreneurship.

-Social Studies She is also involved in volleyball.

-American History “I practice with the volleyball team and I’m happy,” Sandy said. “They are nice to me.”

-Chinese Class After the year is over, Sandy -Entrepreneurship has to go home and retake her junior year again.

She wanted to come to school -5:00 School Ends in the U.S. so she could hope-3:45 School Ends fully make more friends and experience a different culture.

“Everybody is so nice to me and help me a lot,” Sandy said.

Friday | Oct. 18 , 2013 | Feature 3 “I appreciate it.”

Virtual academy student stays involved by helping football team

by Kaitlyn Stark

reporter

When thinking about Skyline High School football, the first few thoughts probably contain something along the lines of a Friday night at Webster Field cheering on the T-Birds.

Of course, like any team, each player has an important role, but there is one member who plays a big role that might not come to mind. The manager. For the past six years, senior Gage Barbour has been on the sidelines doing everything he can to help the coaches and the players.

“The best part is getting to be with all of the boys every day,” Barbour said.

“That is what I’m going to miss the most when I graduate.”

Along with graduating the senior manager, the team will also be saying goodbye to two other senior players, Brandon Abbott and Cole Patterson. They have been on the team with Barbour throughout the course of the past six years.

“Gage is a great manager,” Patterson said. “He is at every game and practice, and when we need something he is there to do it for us. I don’t think we tell him enough how much we appreciate him.”

Barbour spends his mornings here at the school taking band and English, but is also enrolled in Sawyer Virtual Academy. Managing the football team has helped him stay involved throughout high school.

“I didn’t like playing but I still wantBarbour, 12 ed to be a part of the team,” Barbour said. “Even though I’m not a player, the coaches have had an impact on me because they teach you the responsibilities of being a good student plus being a good team member.”

Even though I’m not a player, the coaches have had an impact on me because they teach you the responsibilites of being a good student plus being a good team member.

Gage

Doing his job, senior manager Gage Barbour takes care of senior Brandon Abbott’s injury. Abbott broke his finger and had surgery Monday morning. The 46-0 loss ended at halftime. photo by a. allphin

Assistant coach Andrew Nation said it has been beneficial to have Barbour on the team.

“In the past we always struggled to get things organized for home or away games or even find a manager, and he has helped out with both of those things,” Nation said. “He has just been a huge benefit to our team.”

Barbour can be seen managing the 2-4 team tonight at St. John at 7 p.m.

Cheer Profile

Madison Golden

Q: Do you have any other hobbies outside of being a cheerleader?

A: I like to bake.

Q: How is this year different than last year?

A: It’s better this year because we all get along and

4 Sports | Friday | Oct. 18, 2013

Q: Have you done anything to improve your cheering skills?

A: I’m taking gymnastics from Jenna West.

Q: What are you most looking forward to as a cheerleader?

A: To do cool dances and stunts.

don’t exclude anyone.

Q: What would you change about your team if you could?

A: I wish we had a yell-leader so we could do cooler stunts.

Q: Do you have any goals for the team this year?

A: Just to improve.

Q: What are your thoughts on cheering after high school?

A: I plan to cheer at either Washburn or WSU.

Girls receive home court advantage Volleyball team focuses on a third consecutive trip to Emporia

by Ascha Lee

editor

The Lady T-Birds have a home court advantage at the Sub-State volleyball tournament.

It was predicted that it would be held at home, and it was announced officially at the end of September that the tournament would be held in the Thunderdome on Oct. 26. This is the first time that Skyline has hosted Sub-State since 2008.

“I’m excited about playing at home,” varsity coach Summer Younie said.

Sub-State is held in a different place every year. Last year it was held at Sterling, where the Lady T-Birds took first to earn their trip to State Volleyball in Emporia. Younie said that day was up and down for the girls.

“At the beginning of each set we did not play well,” Younie said. “I think we gave Medicine Lodge 16 points before we got into our groove. It just wasn’t

During a set against South Barber at the first quad of the season, junior Alyssa Swonger goes up for a kill. Swonger leads the team with 131 kills. The Lady T-Birds beat South Barber twice this season and currently have a record of 21-7. photo by a. allphin

very consistent in the beginning.”

Younie has high hopes for State success in Emporia again on Nov. 2. The team needs to be aggressive, and they are striving to bring home a banner for the gym to wrap up their season.

“We don’t really have a standout player like we have in the past,” Younie said. “We

have some really steady and consistent players, and if they stay consistent and on the same page then we shouldn’t have any problems.”

Younie said the team needs to work on their right blocking coverage and defense. The teams the girls need to beat at Sub-State have strong outside hitters.

“A key to our success is going to be to shut these hitters down,” Younie said. “You can’t win matches if you don’t attack back at them.”

The team accomplished their goal of winning regular season league play, and travel to Norwich tomorrow to defend their title as League Tournament Champions. It starts at 9 a.m.

by Kaitlyn Stark

ankle at cheer practice.

“It’s hard because you want to run with your team and you can’t,” head coach Lynette Freeman said. “We started out with a full girls’ team and now we’re down to three runners.

It’s affected our goal of taking a girls’ team to State.”

The boys’ team has also been plagued with injuries. Freshman Jared Shriver broke his hand and sophomore Roman Ibarra hurt his knee, but both are still running.

“I shouldn’t have done football because I hurt my knee,” Ibarra said. “I could have possibly ruined my running career.”

Even through the injuries, Ibarra believes the boys have a very strong possibility of taking a team to State.

“This year compared to last year, the boys’ team is amazingly talented,” junior Khaleb Cason said. “I’m excited for Regionals because it’s one of our biggest meets and I know we will do great.”

Cason too believes there’s big chances of taking a boys’ team to State.

Yesterday marked the end of the regular season at the Heart of Plains League meet in Kinsley.

Meade will host 2A Regionals on Oct. 26.

Runners look to send boys’ team to State

Finishing the race with a smile, junior Khaleb Cason runs the course at Sterling. The boys’ team took second place at this meet. photo by l. cason

reporter

Cross country runners are looking to finish their season as strong as they started it. The 11 boys and seven girls plan to carry that success to State on Nov. 2 in Wamego.

Due to injuries and low numbers, there hasn’t been a full girls’ team at every meet, but individuals have still placed. Senior Abby Giles has been out the majority of the season struggling with shin splints, senior Brooke Fisher and junior Jenessa Corbet have been battling hamstring problems, and sophomore Miranda Ghumm fractured her

Friday | Oct. 18, 2013 | Sports

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Taylor

A l if et im e of c h an g e

IN FOUR YEARS

You walk through the doors as a freshman for the first time. Everything seems so big. Everyone seems so old. To you, the seniors look like they could be your parents. You were just at the TOP of the middle school, how have the tables turned so fast? Now blink. It’s three years later, and you’re a completely different person. by a. lee

#TransformationTime

Taryn Cole Kadi If y ou coul d g o ba ck t o fre s hm an y e ar...

What would YOU do differently?

“I don’t wanna go back to freshman year,” Mason Welch, 12.

De s cribe high s chool in

ONE WORD “Boring” -Coleman West “Stressful” -Cole Patterson “Fantast ic “

-Mariha Wrich

“Awkward” -Brooke Fisher “Meh” -Ethan Ailstock “Indescribable”

-Kadi Richardson

“Fast ”-Tanner Schonfeldt

“Painful”- Mycha Owens “Relaxed” -Brandon Abbott

“Played football my freshman and sophomore year,” Cole Patterson, 12.

“Busy”-Taylor DeWeese

“Try not to sweat the small stuff,” Brooke Fisher, 12.

“Unforgettable”

“Be less awkward,” Taylor DeWeese, 12.

“Spontaneous”-Shelby Bender

“Have better time management for homework,” Taryn Lange, 12.

“Unpredictable”

“Focus more on school instead of my social life,” Shelby Bender, 12.

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Feature | Friday | Oct. 18, 2013

-Sammy Hoeck

-Taylor Tobin