The
Compass
Contents 6 The Climb
By Yardley Thomack
8 Wakeboard Wonder By Molly Longton
12 Horsin’ Around By Essence Reece
13 Flippin Out By Dustin Hess
17 The Book of Love By Zach Broad
26 Flying 1st Class By Taylor Kehoe
28 Cooking with Care By Morgan Deshasier
32 A Dream Deferred By Alexa Morey
37 Fun in the Sun By Hope Williams
Letter from the Editor Dear Readers, If you’ve followed us in the past, you’ve noticed that our magazine has been growing and becoming a true publication from its already great layout and set-up in tri one of 2010-2011 school year. We’ve assembled a new layout and have introduced a thematic consistency in our ‘We Are West’ pages. The students have been taught about the basic elements of design, including contrast, repetition, alignment and proximity. The themed ‘We Are West’ pages create a feeling of familiarity in the magazine while still painting a picture of what we are all about here at West. I would also like to address you, as the reader, and thank you for being a faithful follower of the magazine. If this is the first edition of our magazine that you’ve read, I thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to stop and read up on our hard work. I encourage anyone to go back and read our previous editions at any point at their own pace. We are online now, and will stay that way for as long as possible. Welcome to your window into our world, we’re glad to have you here, and can’t wait to release our next issue.
Tanner Dewalt: I am a tenth grader at West Senior High and I enjoy playing sports. Last year I injured my knee in a football scrimmage. I had surgery and I can’t play sports anymore. I plan to be an orthodontist because they make a lot of money.
Other Staff Zach Broad Morgan Deshasier Don DuPont Dustin Hess
Kayla Howse Zach Johnson Taylor Kehoe Molly Longton
Alexa Mory Luther Mosley Dayton Ristow Mija Sheldon
Jordan Langley: I love to make people smile. Cheerleading is one of my favorite things to do. I also love photography, taking photo’s can tell stories and that’s why I love it. I want to be a lawyer when I’m older.
Essence Reece: I'm a sophomore at West. I am an outdoors type of person that loves taking pictures. I like to try new stuff. I am very shy but I love to listen to stories. I hope to go far in life and achieve a lot.
Max Ebach: My interests are video games and sleeping. My plans for the future are to become a game designer to build virtual worlds and characters. I decided to take this class because I enjoy writing stories true or false.
Hope Williams: I am a senior, and I will be attending college next year. Photography is one of my many strengths. I am currently learning about journalism. Cheerleading and riding horses are my favorite sports.
Brian Bailey: I'm interested in journalism so I figured this class would be the one to take. I ski and snowboard in the winter and I Aggressive Skate in the spring, summer and fall. I play guitar and have a gig in Florida in the summer.
the layouts!
Kendall McItyre: Hi, My name is Kendall. I’m a Sophmore here at West this year and signed up to take this class because it sounded really interesting! I’m not particularly fond of writing too much but I do like photography and making
Yardley Thomack: Kayla O’Shaughnessy: I always try to stay posi I am very outgoing, I love tive and love to have hang to hang out with my friends out with friends. I especially and have a good time! My like latin dancing. I love favorite place to go is downanimals and want to be a town to the beach! I do veterinarian but I also like to cheerleading for the Trawrite. I swim downtown in verse City West Titans bemy free time, but I also like cause I’m a cheerful person biking and walking because I love summer. and most of the time happy!
b m i l C
The
By Yardley Thomack Jeff Thomack is a sweet, loving father but always strives for adventure. When his kids were five and six, he headed to fulfill his dream of climbing Mount Rainier. “It was the hardest physical thing I had ever done besides raising two kids,” Thomack said. He had to do rope work, be physically in shape, and study the routes, since they don’t just let anyone climb it. Thomack trained for two years and felt pretty prepared for the interview required for a permit. He was originally going with four people but two backed out at the last second. Jeff and his best friend Dave gave themselves ten days to climb it but did it in four. “It was not only physically challenging, it was dangerous,” Jeff said. There were high altitude, traverse over the glaciers, avalanches, and rock slides. “You could hear them rumble through the mountain but we avoided them,” Jeff said. The first day they went to high camp. It took them twelve hours with heavy backpacks.
The next day they rested because they were so exhausted. The third they woke up at one in the morning to head towards the summit. It took them eight hours to get through very tricky glaciers. When they finally reached the summit, it was so snowy they could not see anything, but they could smell the sulfur from the volcanoes. “It was very emotional when you hit the summit because it was such an accomplishment,” Thomack said. Jeff only got to stay a few minutes on the summit because he had to go down before bad weather hit. Also the descending was even harder than climbing up because the snow is warmer during the day. It took Jeff and Dave another five hours to get down to high camp. “When I got off the mountain I was so exhausted and had second degree burns from the sun and I had to go to the doctor because I picked up a parasite by drinking unfiltered glacier water,” Thomack said. He wouldn’t do it again at the age of fifty one, but decides raising kids is hard enough.
Top: Thomack climbstMount Ravier, leaving a foot trail behind him. Above: Stopping for a moment on the edge of a cliff, Thomack has his picture taken by his best friend and climbing partner, Dave. Bottom: One of the views of the tops of clouds taken from above during the climb of Mount Ranier, which is located in west-central Washington.
An Un
Have you ever felt like you were chasing something that most people would not only not chase, but run away from? Conservation Officer Sean Kehoe has. In 2010, Traverse City had a rare sighting. A 250 pound black bear was running loose and wreaking havoc all over Traverse City. Kehoe got called out at 3 a.m. on a cold fall day. The police department had called him and asked him to come down and meet them because of a bear running loose. Officer Kehoe was both curious and hopeful that it would all turn out okay. When he arrived at the scene, he sized up the big furry black bear that stood in front of him. After three hours of watching and chasing down the bear, it ran off into what everyone thought was a swamp. But the bear had taken a detour. Everyone went home and got some well needed rest. The bear was gone and should not harm anyone anymore. When the phone rang again during Kehoe’s nap around 8:30, he learned that the bear had run all the way across town.
able Task R A E B
by Taylor Kehoe
tree breaking a few branches here and there, it looked out at the crowd of people watching. The bear tried to come down several times. The bear was five feet away staring into its mischievous eyes. When the tranquilizer team arrived, Kehoe had been trying to keep the bear in the tree for a couple hours. They shot the bear down but did not hurt it. It was just asleep for the drive up to its new home, where it could be set free and run free. Thay hauled the 2-yearold male 250 pound male black bear up to Missaukee County to For the second time in five set him free. hours officer Kehoe pulled on his The local news stations green and grey work uniform. were on the story in minuets, He put on his heavy utility belt, covering it every hour and the laced up his big heavy black news paper did a story about boots and climbed into his truck it. once again. This was the first bear He found the crowd of that Kehoe had ever dealt with people and of course the same and when he finally got home bear that he had seen that at around twoish he took a very morning. llong nap. In 2011 As he chased the bear Traverse City has had more than through back yards and fences, five bear sightings. Kehoe has he finally treed the bear. been called to more and more He had to keep the bear each year. in the tree until the tranquilizer Bear populations are team arrived. growing and the city is expand As the bear sat in the ing into rural areas. The bears
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Wakeboard Wonder
Taylor Wakeboarding on lake Leelanau. Photo credit : Hunter Kehoe
by Molly Longton
Standing just over five feet tall, Taylor Kehoe takes flight over the water. Fifteen year old Taylor moved to Traverse City with her parents and two siblings. With winter being her favorite season that was a good move for her sake. Ironically though, she is just another crazy water-loving girl. Constantly on the open water in the summer enjoying water skiing, Wake boarding, Surfing, and Tubing. “Wake boarding is my favorite,” Taylor said. She began wakeboarding and surfing two years ago.
“I was super-excited, but also kind of nervous all at the same time,” Taylor said. She said that adrenaline rushes through her body every time she gets up and rides. “It was easy. The first time I tried it I got right up,” Taylor said. Everyone is good at something, but you are not the best when you first start. “One time I fell and got the wind knocked out of me,” Taylor said. But getting the wind knocked out of her was no rea-
son to quit. Taylor said that the best time to go riding is between seven and nine at night when the lake is calm, making it easier to ride. Choppier waves make it harder the get up and ride well. Lake Leelanau is Taylor’s nirvana. “When you reach down and feel the water its like no feeling you’ve ever felt because it’s so smooth,” Taylor said. “I’d rather not compete because I just like to do what I want,” Taylor said.
Hooked Fishing can make some of the best memories in life, and fishing has always been a hobby of mine. This is why I have decided to write a story on fishing, telling youabout the man who has taught me everything I know: my step-father, Mike Gunderson. All through Gunderson’s life, he has had many passions. Football, basketball, and other sports. Fishing, however, has always been a hobby of his. When the opportunity seeks, he is out on the water. “I would live on the water if I could.” With fishing being his life long passion, there are many great memories and stories to share, however, there is one in particular that has always stayed with him. It all started when Mike was only 13 years old. It was a cloudy day out. Windy, rough, cold, and Mike and his dad decided to go out on the water
on tradition
so that his dad could teach him how to fish. They had been trolling for Walleye using a red and silver hot’n’tot for bait. After hours of fishing, Mike finally thought that he had gotten a fish. He was so excited to tell his dad, but his dad only thought that it was some weeds that got caught on his hook. As Mike was sitting there, trying hard to real this fish in to prove his dad wrong, all he can think was, “How proud dad is going to be of me,” and “How excited I feel because I am learning something from my dad and it is my first big fish.” It ended up not only being his first walleye ever to catch, but it was 20 inches. Now that is a story that is worth retelling. The big question is, what did he do with it after he caught the fish? The
Left: Mike Gunderson (right) holds a string a fish with his father and stepson. Middle: Zach Johnson proudly holds his walleye, aided by his stepfather. Zach holds up his prize catch walleye.
guys ended up keeping it, and another father son experience was taught, how to gut a fish. That night, the two cleaned out and gutted the fish, and Mike’s mom cooked it up. “Ever since that day, Walleye is my favorite fish to keep and eat,” Gunderson said. “Ever since then, I want to fish more and more. Now Mike enjoys taking his youngest son out to teach him how to fish, just like Mike’s dad did. He is where I got all my excellent information from, which passed on his passion to me. I only wish I could be as passionate about something And I can’t wait until I can pass on everything I have learned to my children in the future.
9
Kieran Hall, Lukas Blakken-Esser, Ca Stephanie Long, and Alex Wyant play at activity night while everyone danc Photo Credit: The Odyssey Staff.
Ben Phillips, Alex Wyant, Malloy Kaysserian, James Wheelock, Jeff Linenger perform a Photo Credit: The Odyssey Staff
WE ARE Christine Haight, Paul Sullivan, Bethany Molnar, Derek Pucciairello, Play there Cymballs after one of our home football games. Photo Credit: Cheryl Williams
WES
asey Voss, y their drums ces along.
Bethany Molnar, Derek Pucciariello, and Brandon Barth play their Cymbals after one of the home football games. Photo Credit: Cheryl Williams
Mallory Kaysserian, leads the Drumline through the hallways, getting everyone ready for the Homecoming Pep Rally. Photo Credit: The Odyssey Staff.
at the West V.S Central Pep Rally.
ST
By: Hope Williams
The Drumline marches through the Homecoming Parade to Thirlby Field for activity night.
Horsin’ Around
By Essence Reece
When Hope was just a little girl she loved riding horses, she still loves doing it to this day. When she grew older she thought that performing her horses in shows would be a great idea. Her favorite thing to do now is performing in a horse show, which is perfect for her, and the passion she has for horses. Hope loves performing in front of people. Horses are one of her favorite animals she says. She owns three that she keeps at her sisters house. Their names are Miss Mare, Sazar and Nova. She works with them in the shows that she goes to. She has been performing her horses in these shows for seven to eight years with the help of her family. Some of the shows are at the fair grounds in Traverse City and some in Lake Ann. She also performs in the “Fun horse shows” in Kalkaska and some twilight shows, most of them being speed shows. Hope has performed with her horses so many times it’s too much to count. She says she doesn't even know how many times she performed. “I find horse shows fun and relaxing,” she said. She is most proud of how far and how much she’s progressed in horse shows. Hope said that riding in shows is just one of the ways that she enjoys time with her horses. “When I started riding horses I thought it would be more fun to do activities with them.” Hope said. “I love performing in front of people,” she said. She has been performing with her ever since. Main Photo: horses Hope’s horse eating his feed in the pasture. Left:Hope poses with one of her horses.
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Flippin’ Out By Dustin Hess
Photo: Scott Wethy
Photo: Ansel Wooters
This winter, Reese Spaulding ’11, will become a movie star. Reese will be traveling to Norway and skiing for Epic Planks, his new sponsor, for a skiing video. It won’t be his first visit to Norway, however. “Dropping in on Hafjell in Norway headed for 100-foot tabletop on my last run is the most hyped on skiing I’ve ever been,” said Reese. The Hafjell Alpine Center was built for the 1994 Olympic games in Lillehammer. “The main reason I like skiing is because it gives me something to do and get better at all winter long,” said Reese. Reese has placed in 27 different freestyle competitions, including the 2010 USASA nationals, where he placed 17th. While the switch flatspin 720 is his favorite trick, he plans to add several more tricks this year, including a double flatspin, and a late cork 720. Last Febuary, Reese took first place in the Downtown Throwdown in Traverse City. His rewards included a new sponsor, a ski jacket, and any Nordic boots that he wanted, including those not in stores yet.
Scott Wethy
Top Left: Reese doing a Lincon 540 at Crystal Mountain during a competition. Top Right: Taking advantage of the rails at the former State Hospital, Reese performs a Frontside Pretzel 270. Bottom Photo: Reese stomps a switch flatspin 720 on a table top at Crystal Mountain. Photo: Scott Wethy
Filmstrip Photos: Hunter Meyerson and Collin Diver edit their project. Evan Kellogg, Nick Kurtz, Zak Squires, and Kaythryn Orwig set up the camera to determine the best angle for filming through the mirror in the Library Media Center. Reviewing her storyboard, Alexandria Northup prepares for shooting a scene for her movie in the balcony overlooking the commons. Gathered around the editing screen, advanced class members Charlie Pacer, Levi Mains, Ryan Ellsworth, Graeme Placek, Joey Caraccio, Alex Burch, and Araon Klinefelter consider changes for their video project. Caraccio’s video “Drivin’ on a Dream” received first place in the Bill Marsh Video Scholarship contest, winning a $2,000 prize. The video followed a character falling asleep at his computer and dreaming of driving his dream car. Group members Zak Squires, Kaythryn Orwig, Dalton Terpening, Alex Garvin, and Dylan Kennedy discuss their project. Photos: Max Ebach and Staff
We
Are West
15
Capturing The Moment
By: Kendall McIntyre
Photography is a great skill to have and to know. Many people take pictures of their friends or at a family event, but some people like to do actual photography, like working with the shutter speed, the aperture, and working with the rule of thirds. Dayton Ristow is one of those people. She loves to work with photography and takes amazing pictures. Dayton was a student here at West Senior High but she has recently moved back to Montana where she is from. She shows us that if you’re dedicated enough, anyone can do something they love. Dayton is a very creative person. She likes to draw, make collages and enjoys photography as well. Dayton’s creativity definitely overflows into her personality. Dayton said that she wants people to remember her by her “crazy, outgoing personality.” She also wants people to remember her by knowing that she does not care how other people see or judge her and that she won’t let other people tell her what she is or isn’t. She’ll never let other people push her around. Although her personality is great, Dayton occasionally has a hard time staying focused on certain tasks and tends to procrastinate a little. She began taking photographs when she was seven years old. “I couldn’t stop taking my finger off [the shutter],” Dayton said. In the early days, she would build structures to take pictures of. “I would put things on top of objects and make them look weird,” Dayton said. To go along with her outgoing personality, she also has pretty strong opinions about the types of qualities that she isn’t too fond of in others. She really does not appreciate when other people act stuck up and rude to other people, or are just simply mean to others. She certainly has an extremely unique personality which is one of the things that makes her different from all of the rest. She is not afraid to be herself and speak her mind. Many admire the fact that she does not let other people’s opinions
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The book of
Love by Zach Broad.
Stories about family can inspire understanding, remind someone of what matters most, and even teach some profound lessons along the way. Tamara Broad is reading a book called Her Mothers Hope by Francine Rivers, one of a series of Christian Romance novels Rivers has written starting in 1993. “The book talks about a girl, who talks about her family as a child, and she grows up to have a family of her own. The story transitions to one of her daughters who becomes the new narrator, and tells about how she percieves her mother as she grows up,” said Broad. Broad said that the novel does more than just tell a good story, it also teaches lessons about life. “I’m learning about family dynamics, forgiveness, and grace. I am learning that your perception of the same situation, or family is different for each person. For example: the mother, based on her experience and perception, is saying and doing something Tamara Broad reads “Her Mother’s Hope” at her home. The novel has been translated into over for her daughter’s good. her daughter per20 languages, and enjoys best-seller status worldwide. Photo: Zach Broad. cieves her mother hating her, and being unfair, “This would be important,” she said, “so the daughand mean. Ultimately the daughter feels like she never ter knows that the mother loved her so much, and that does anything good enough,” said Broad. when the daughter finds out, she can finally believe The novel includes many situations that are relatable her mother because she spent so much time believing to contemporary audiences. something else.” “The mother never explains what she is trying to do, “I think that because the daughter didn’t feel like she and that she is just trying to help the daughter,” said was loved, that when she has kids she will try to make Broad. sure she shows them a lot of love,” said Broad. Broad said that the novel contains lessons for anyone The novel could be relevant to high school students, who reads the book, especially lessons on caring, comtoo, said Broad. passion and love. “I believe this should be a book that high school “I think the author is trying to get the reader to see language classes should read, talk about, and dissect. It people beyond what they say, and do. So that we can is so important to know that, parents and teachers do develop grace, and compassion, and hopefully love each things for reasons you might not be able to see,” said other just for who they are, not what they want them to Broad. be,” said Broad. As you can see this sounds like a very interesting book Although Broad had not finished the novel at the time, that clearly teaches us many lessons of love, and comshe said she hoped to learn more about what the mother passion. I’m going to read this book, and I encourage did and why she made those choices. you to also.
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Fudgies
in the Howse
by Jordan Langley
Yummy fudge, fudge, fudge and more fudge. Wouldn’t it be cool to have your own fudge shop to go to everyday? You would have all the fudge you want. When you got older you wouldn’t have to look for a job. You would have one. Kayla Howse works in her family business called “Howse’s Fudge” in Harbor Springs, Michigan. People who have their own business can be set on a job even at a young age. “I started working there when I was 12. It was not really working though, more of just playing around and eating candy,” Kayla said. Since the majority of the people who work there are family they are very close but don’t always get along. “Sometimes, my older sisters fight and argue but it’s not too bad,” Kayla said. Being in the family business, Kayla said she does not have to have mean bosses or be afraid of getting fired. “Having my dad for a boss is really cool. I don’t really have to worry about getting fired either
which is a good thing,” Kayla said. Working with chocolate and cherries, the job itself is pretty sweet, too. “I pretty much dip stuff like pretzels and cherries in chocolate all day. It’s actually very fun and I get to eat stuff while I’m dippin’,” Kayla said Just because people work with their family doesn’t mean they can goof off the whole time, either. They still have to do their job and learn just as much as everybody else. “It is actually a great
Kayla Howse, middle, turning fudge with the paddle, while her siblings also work to make fudge in the shop. Bottom: The entrance to Howse’s Fudge shop at 201 E. Main Street, Harbor Springs, Michigan. Photos by Mrs. Howse
experience. We get to learn a lot about businesses and a lot of different life lessons and we really do have to work and not mess around,” Kayla said All the hard work has paid off for the family, who have had the shop for many years. “I love our fudge shop. It’s fun working there and I love that I can be there with my family.” Kayla said.
Athlete of the
Year
Top, Kellie Russell-Langley poses for her team photo with a basketball Langley’s St. Ignace Saints Bottom, Kellie RussellLangley hits the volleyball in the perfect position that could be why she won MVP.
“Basketball and Volleyball was a way for me to show how competitive I am,” Kellie Langley said. Kellie Langley was one of the best athletes at La Salle High School, in St. Ignace, Michigan, where she played basketball and volleyball. For her efforts and her skills on the volleyball court, Langley also received a partial scholarship to Nothern Michigan University. Not bad for someone who does not even like to play the game. “I never really liked volleyball,” Langley said. Langley started playing volleyball her freshman year and was starting on varsity. She also was starting on varsity for basketball as a freshman. She said the only reason she started playing Volleyball was to be “Athlete of the Year.” “I was only in volleyball so I could win Athlete Of The Year,” Langley said. During her sophomore, junior, and senior years, Langley was team captain and selected Most Valuable Player for volleyball. While team captain, she brought the team to win all conference. “Winning all the time was like waking up on Christmas morning. It was the best feeling ever,” Langley said. Even having a different coach every year did not stop from winning. Every year in volleyball they had a different coach so they could never really get close to the coach which did not make being team captain any easier Langley said. “It sucked. You couldn’t get used to the coach. It was hard having to be taught different ways to do stuff every year,” Langley said. Basketball was a different story. Langley loved basketball and was just as good. She was selected Most Valuable Player during both her junior and senior years. Langley was assistant captain her junior year and team captain for her senior year. “Basketball was my sport. I loved it so much even though before every game my nerves got the best of me and I puked,” Langley said. Langley was an all-around athlete. Finally, in her senior year, she won “Athlete Of The Year.” “Being Athlete of the Year was an amazing feeling all my hard work payed off in the end.”
19
west
We are
Left: Zach Broad in BNC tournament at the end of the tennis season. top right: Nick Toolie practicing at West Senior High tennis courts. Middle right: Taylor Brown, and David Mather. lower right: Connor Linch at Big North Conference Tournament. All photos: Odyssey Yearbook
Top right: Andrew Hartman practicing at West Senior High tennis courts. Lower right: Luke Piotrowski working on his serves at West Senior High tennis courts. Top left: Jake Diss also working on his serves at west senior high tennis courts. Lower left: Andrew Baker practicing at West Senior High tennis courts.
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-
Music
soothes the
Soul
by Molly Longton
Top photo: Joan, middle, and two other friends photographed learning new music at Traverse City High School. Above, Joan in the play Finian’s rainbow in 1981 playing Sharon her eleventh grade year. Photo credit Traverse City High School, Pines Yearbook, 1983.
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Music is an outlook, a passion, and a lifestyle for some people. Music can bring a person up out of bad situations. It can change your whole mood. You can sing or play music alone to the car radio or behind closed doors. Unless you want to be part of something bigger. In Joan Longton’s case, she decided to go the group route though choirs, Choral Aires, piano lessons, and musicals. “I had to choose between sports or choir, because my mom wouldn’t let me do both,” Longton said. The piano was the first big break in music for her. “I started piano lessons at the age of nine from Winnie Otte,” Longton said. She took piano lessons with Otte twice a week for a year, thus starting her music career. By age eleven she started joining as may choirs as possible. “Music pretty much took over my life for six years, ages eleven to seventeen,” Longton said. She traveled to many towns with her church choir one summer. The experience gave her an opportunity not only to see different parts of the state, but to have a sense of independence, too. “We stayed in lots of different people’s houses. It was really my first time away from home,” Longton said. An an accomplished singer Longton was invited to go to Michigan State University music camps, and received scholarships to attend the Interlochen Arts Academy. She also landed the lead to more than a few high school musicals. Her favorite moment through all her experiences in choir was
at graduation, when she was up on stage singing “America the Beautiful.” “It was a unique experience to be surrounded by so many voices and instruments. The energy and passion was unforgettable and uplifting,” Longton said. Longton said she wanted to pass on that love and those opportunities to her daughter. “I influenced my daughter Molly to join the Northern Michigan College Children’s Choir when she was in sixth grade,” Longton said. “She tried out with my old choir teacher Mr. Puchala, which was a really great feeling.” Although she didn’t stick with it because Molly would rather sing her own music and not have a choir voice, Longton remained an influence. To influence one person in your lifetime is a great goal to meet. “We still sing along to the radio but, I often harmonise and Molly doesn’t like it so she makes me stop. She’s no fun,” Longton said. Music remains an important part of Longton’s life. “As long as there is some sort of singing and playing of the piano in my life I will be happy,” she said. Longton is also starting to get her twoyear-old granddaughter into playing the piano so she will grow up with a musical background. Music is an outlook, a passion, and a lifestyle for some. It can bring people up out of bad situations, and it can change your whole mood. Even though Longton wasn’t in a bad situation it brought her whole life up in a good way. it will always be in her life, and it will always be a passion of hers. Living on, never to be forgotten.
a true
outdoorSman Hunter, fisher, manager, and father. These are just a few words that describe Micheal Ebach. Born December 19, 1969, Ebach lived in Saginaw, Michigan but moved to Traverse City where he currently lives with his wife Rachel and four sons Jack, Max, Ben, and Charlie. Ebach’s passion in life is anything outdoors. One of the reasons for this is because of his grandpa Frasier. “He taught me about a lot of the things I like to do outdoors and he taught me how to treat people,” Ebach said. One of his earliest memories also involves his grandpa Frasier of at the dock fishing with him. It’s his earliest memory, “because I still love doing it to this day,” Ebach said. His hobbies are fishing, hunting, and hockey, “because I enjoy the outdoors and competition,” Ebach said. Even his job involves things outdoors as manager of Gander Mountain here in Traverse City. He enjoys the job because of all the outdoors things that is sold there.
But there are also things about his job that he dislikes. One of these things is that the people who decide what goes into the stores live in Minnesota. “A lot of decisions are not made in store and affect our customers directly,” Ebach said. This means that they don’t know what the people of Michigan want
in thier stores. “The people who chose what we have in store are not local, which means we don’t carry certain things customers need,” Ebach said. He tries to do these things with his children but finds it hard to do all these things with them “because they all like different things,” Ebach said. While some of his kids enjoy the same hobbies as he does, others don’t. His kids were also the biggest transition in life as they meant that he must take on even more responsibility in life. “You have someone else you must be responsible for,” Mike said.
Above: Mike Ebach knells down next to the buck he shot.
We Are WES
Above: The drumline moves in a row and performs in front of a crowd at the pep assembly. Bottom: The clarinets get ready to play in front of the football crowd.
The band plans on Thirlby Field in the Cental vs. West game. All photo crdits: the Odyssey.
Kevin the fiel
ST
Kaysserian waits with his drum to move onto ld and start playing.
By: Essence Reece
Above: Two drummers wait in line to march onto the field and start. Bottom: People with their instruments, wait in a group and get ready to start marching onto the field.
Flying She’s traveled all over the country for this and now she’s finally here. The crowds waiting along with the riders nervously for them to announce the places of the grand nationals BMX race. Molly sits there wondering how she will do. As she thought once again how she had been moved up an age group only a couple of weeks before Grand Nationals. This was not the first time either. this had happened a lot it seemed she was just to good to be kept in the same group as the kids her age. Top: Molly Longton on left with fellow BMX racers Logan Neiheart and Mike Sixbey at Grand Traverse BMX Race Way. Above: Molly in all green in second place at Grand Traverse BMX Race Way. Below Molly in green at Grand Rapids. Bottom left corner: Molly racing at Grand Traverse BMX Race Way in 2010.
1st Class When the announcer told the crowd that Molly Longton had won first for her race, they roared and Molly had a smile plastered across her face. The day ran on carrying even more exciting events for Molly. She took home a third place and a win. After the long days of racing Molly headed home to the only town she had ever lived in: Traverse City Michigan. The long dive home with her two brothers in the car is a circus.
By: Taylor Kehoe
Memory
A
ournful
Sadness in life can change the way people live or shows how they take a different perspective on life. The story of Brian Bailey’s dog, Abby, dying has brought a lot of sorrow to his life. “It was a major lesson I learned”, Brian said. In the sum mer of 2007 Brian lost his pet that he had owned ever since his life began. “Spending one last night with Abby was tough,” Brian said. Getting in bed and going to sleep and constantly thinking this is the last night you can sleep with your friend makes it easy to stay awake. “I couldn’t keep my eyes shut for more then a second without keeping my mind off Abby,” he said. He sunk in his bed wide awake and stared at his best friend and remembered all the good moments they had over the last 11 years together. Petting her warm cozy fur brings memories on how she was there to keep you warm through the harsh winter and a pillow to sleep on when you are tired. When
Brian, on right, thinks back to how much he misses his dog. He was very sad at the moment, but remembered how lucky he was. Photo Credit: Don DuPont
Brian finally comes back to reality he notices it’s morning and it was now time to head down to the vet. “The car ride over was full of sorrows,” he said. Arriving at the vet was harsh and now it was time to say our final goodbyes. “This was very difficult and it felt like I would forget to say something,” he said. Abby and Brian just stared at each other, then Brian gave her a big hug and she reacted by giving Brian a big lick on my face. “I will never forget that moment,” Brian said. He knew that he was lucky to have such a good friend. Something or someone can make major impacts on you especially if they are with you through your child life. Abby died when Brian was only 11 years old. “I will never forget the moment and day she left,” Brian said. “Witnessing the vet put down Abby shows me the importance in life,” he said.
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Cooking with Care By Morgan Deshasier
There’s a wornout stereotype about “lunch ladies,” the ones that Adam Sandler sang about, that they are all mean and serve terrible food to punish little kids. Nothing could be further from the truth about the people who work in the cafeteria at West, however. Students say that Trish Hackett exemplifies the kind, sweet, caring, and wonderful people here at West Senior High. Hackett became interested in working at schools when her daughter started school. She didn’t want to have to worry about snow days and days off, so one of her friends suggested working at a school. She started working at Central High School and when West High School opened two years later, Hackett decided to come work here as a lunch lady. “I love my job because I love working with teens. They keep me young and they are all like my kids away from home,” Hackett said. The big question everyone is wondering is how she remembers everyone’s names. “I look at the names on the computer when they are paying for their food, and I match up the names with faces, and I slowly catch on. I mostly get the same students in my line, so that always makes it easier too,” Hackett said. Trish’s daughter is now 23- years-old and Trish is still working at West. “I loved working at West so much that after my daughter graduated I didn’t want to stop working.” Trish has been working here at West for 14 years and shes not planning to stop anytime soon.
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Sticking to the Game A former Offensive MVP as a football player in the Pop Warner league left his first sport and joined the ranks of the Traverse City West Titans lacrosse team last spring. After seven years of football, Zachary Johnson has made the switch to carry a lacrosse stick instead of a pigskin. As a football player, Zach played gaurd on offense and played nose gaurd, tackle, and linebacker on defense. When seeing number 67 or 50 that was Zach running down the field. After playing football for all of those years, Zack decided to take a challenge in doing somthing else. He loved football but he said it just wasn’t for him anymore. “I didnt like the coach and it just was not fun anymore,” Zach said. Instead of just quitting sports, however, Zach took up lacrosse last spring. In one of Zach’s first games as a lacrosse player, he experienced the kind of physical play that attracted him to football in the first place. Another player was running toward him, and Zach said that he laid him out on the ground with great force. “I like the feeling of over powering the other player and crushing him into the ground,” Zach said. After playing six months of lacrosse he found out he liked it more then football because it was more physically demanding. “Lacrosse is more enjoyable,” Zach said. The Titan Top photo: Zack Lacrosse team Johnson (57) charges opens its 2012 after the opposing season in the player, attempting to dislodge the ball spring against from the other’s net. Cadillac on April Bottom left photo: 7, with two Eyeblack smeared, meetings against but with a smile on his face, Zack leaves Traverse City the lacrosse field. Central on April Bottom right photo: 14, April 21, and Zach delivers a blow May 5. to his opponent.
Top left: (left to right) Paul Soma Jimmy Seecamp, Molly Davis, Cameron Sipple, Jeannette Guba, and Josh Wheaton sing along to the Titan fight song during the pep assembly on the first day of school. Top right: Hunter Lumsden, in one of the minute to win it games on the first day school. Bottom left: Kaitlynn Whittaker with an oreo on her head for one of the minute to win it games on the first day of school. Bottom right: Eric Fegan singing ‘We are the Champions’ in the opening day assembly.
We are west by: Morgan Deshaiser
Top Left: Christine Haight and Eryl Masters at the opening day assembly in the auditorium. Top Right: Principal Joe Tibladi , Joey Vanderbosch, and marching band members lead the student body in a cheer. Bottom Left: Jacob Diss in one of the “Minute to Win It” games. Bottom Right: Choral-Aires perform “We Will Rock You” at the opening day assembly.
Dream
A
Deferred By: Alexa Morey
The crowd was cheering. Everything was going well. Then Tanner Dewalt’s knee twisted, caught in the football field turf. Cracking as it turned, it shattered his chances to play football forever. Last year, Tanner DeWalt suffered a knee injury that will keep him sidelined from sports for the rest of his life. Tanner dislocated his kneecap from turning his cleat in the grass and it messed with his knee. Only 15 years old today, Tanner started playing football when he was 10. The injury stopped him cold. “I was just blocking someone and my cleat got stuck in the ground and my leg twisted,” Tanner said. This gnarly accident happened so fast, Tanner DeWalt could barely describe what had happened. Fortunately one of the teammates saw everything that had happened. “The play just got over and everyone was getting back to their team’s huddle, and a pile ahead kind of formed of guys and he was on the bottom because he made the tackle. Everybody got up and he was holding his knee. No one thought it was a big deal at the time,” said Zach Broad. “So the coach comes over and immediately says, ‘Get me the trainer.’ The players ran over ... and his knee was out of place and there was a bone pushing against the skin so you could see it,” Zach said. Zach was frustrated that people were getting hurt in a scrimmage before the games even started. “It didn’t feel like it was real,” Tanner said. The injury was surprising to Tanner and his parents. He can still do everything that he used to be able to do, except play football. His injury is still not fully healed yet, but it should be in two more years.
Coach DeWalt, left, talks to his son, Tanner, during Pop Warner football practice. Tanner played defensive end starting in fifth grade. Photo credit: Juli Luikart
Hooked on tradition By: Zach Johnson
Fishing can make some of the best memories in life, and has always been a hobby of mine. This is why I have decided to write a story on fishing, telling about the man who has taught me everything I know: my step-father, Mike Gunderson. All through Gunderson’s life, he has had many passions, football, basketball, and other sports. Fishing, however, has always been a hobby of his. When the opportunity seeks, he is out on the water. “I would live on the water if I could.” With fishing being his life long passion, there are many great memories and stories to share, however, there is one in particular that has always stayed with him. It all started when Mike was only 13 years old. It was a cloudy day out. Windy, rough, cold, and Mike and his dad decided to go out on the wa-
ter so that his dad could teach him how to fish. They had been trolling for Walleye using a red and silver hot’n’tot for bait. After hours of fishing, Mike finally thought that he had gotten a fish. He was so excited to tell his dad, but his dad only thought that it was some weeds that got caught on his hook. As Mike was sitting there, trying hard to real this fish in to prove his dad wrong, all he can think was, “How proud dad is going to be of me,” and “How excited I feel because I am learning something from my dad and it is my first big fish.” It ended up not only being his first walleye ever to catch, but it was 20 inches long. Now that’s a story that’s worth retelling. The big question is, what did he do with it after he caught the fish?
Left: Mike Gunderson (right) holds a string of fish with his father and stepson. Middle: Zach Johnson proudly holds his walleye, aided by his stepfather. Zach holds up his prize catch walleye.
The guys ended up keeping it, and another father son experience was taught, how to gut a fish. That night, the two cleaned out and gutted the fish, and Mike’s mom cooked it up. “Ever since that day, Walleye is my favorite fish to keep and eat,” Gunderson said. “Ever since then, I want to fish more and more. Now Mike enjoys taking his youngest son out to teach him how to fish, just like his dad did. He is where I got all my excellent information from, which passed on his passion to me. I only wish I could be as passionate about something and can’t wait until I can pass on everything I have learned to my children in the future.
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We Are By: Kendall McIntyre
West
Bottom Left: Taylor Vadeboncoeur and Madison Thompson discussing their events.Top Left: Lily Bussineau getting ready to dive off the board.
Top Center: Elly Maleski swimming the butterfly. Bottom Left Center: Darby Schworm from the Traverse City West swim team swimming the back stroke.
Bottom Center Right: Alaina Chela, Brenna Argue, and Lily Bussineau watch as their teammates swim in their events. All Photo Credit: Odyssey Staff
Top Right: Katie Chung, Hayley Hushak, having fun at a meet.Bottom Right: A swimmer stretches to begin her events.
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C
he
er t h r o u g h F e a r
Cheerleading to most would be considered not a hardcore sport and some might think takes little talent. My mom’s life as a child was all about being the great cheerleader. At the small school of Pontiac Catholic, the young cheer star was entered high school with major expectations for cheer. Through the four years, she and her team won four state titles. Her sophomore year turned out to be their best run in nationals. In Kentucky, Rose and her team entered the arena in their second straight appearance in nationals. “There was nerves from the atmosphere, but our routine was planted in our minds so it didn’t get to us much,” she said. Stepping into a crowd of 3,000 plus, especially in the 80’s, was a packed house. They ran out to the stage and got psyched to show off all their hard work. The music began to jam and Rose and her team knew it was time. As Rose flew through the air she remembered “annoying the crap out of my brothers by cheering nonstop all the time,” she said. Rose landed after flight in perfect form. The other competitors performed their routine and it was now time to hear the judges final decisions. “Coming from a smaller school in the part of country not know for cheerleading we weren’t expecting greatness,” Rose said. On the overall group routine the judges gave Pontiac Catholic 1st place and the girls went ecstatic. Rose continued to cheer till senior year and after senior year she was offered to go with her coach to Michigan State, but she chose to resign from the sport. The serious news had just been announced that her Mom was seriously sick and turned out to have cancer. Rose spent the rest of the time in the hospital to be with her Mom before she had to go. Rose, on top of the pyramid, finishes off their perfect routine. The routine qualified the team to go to nationals. Photo Credit: Tony Pizza.
n u in the Sun F
by Hope Williams
A student that’s just starting out her Sophomore year at West Senior High School goes to Florida with her family every other year. She has a little brother named Rilley that is three and a half years old, and she also has a sister who’s name is Tirarn which is eighteen years old. “My grandma, grandpa and cousins live down there, so we used to visit them every other year.” Essence said. Her favorite part was going to the Alligator farm. She thought it was an awesome experience to see all of the different types of Alligators, and it was just a neat time to see them with her family. “I thought they were a cool animal to see. I don’t know why but I just liked it there a lot.” She said. Essence also went to Disney World, and Universal Studios, she goes shopping at Flee Markets with her family. She said it’s a lot of fun in Florida. She really enjoys it and always has a great time.
Top photo: Essence sliding down a water side at a water park in Florida. Lower left photo: Essence and her older sister get their picture taken by the Walt Disney Statue. Lower Right: Essence at Busch Gardens Florida, while holding a parrot. Photo Credit: Jenni Reece.
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WE are WEST by Molly Longton
Top Left Mikey Sixbey ‘13 at Grand Traverse BMX Raceway wiping out after someone mistakenly tailwipped him off his bike. Bottom left Joey Fewins ‘11, and Nicolas Recolette ‘11 at Great Lakes Bay Region BMX in Midland during the even finals. Joey pushed Nick over the burm and he hit the fence. Right photo of Molly Longton ‘13 at Grand Traverse BMX Raceway manualing during a race. Top left Bryton Basch ‘12, at Grand Traverse BMX Raceway racing into the burm. Top right “Bubba” Litwiller ‘09, at Great Lakes Bay Region BMX in Midland racing with style. Bottom main photo of Jordan Newstead ‘15 at Great Lakes Bay Region BMX in midland winning another state race.
Photo credit for all six photos goes to Mary Litwiller.
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WE WE st Main Photo: Charles Rennie demonstrates use of a video camera during Video Production filming in West’s Library Media Center. Photo credit: Compass Staff. Bottom Left: Kristen Stuedemann leads her freshman students in playing Biology Bingo. Bottom Middle Left: Tom Brown using the whiteboard to teach his Math class. Bottom Middle Right: Matt Bocian helps a student work on his slide presentation during Academic Resource. Bottom Right: Ferris University Student Teacher Rachel Lindsmeir explains a concept during a lesson that requires students to clap beats in Band Class. Above Middle: Mellissa Clone demonstartes how to use a camera correctly in her Photography Class. Above Top: Mike Wilson helps a student understand a process in Math Class. Photo Credits: Alexa Morey
WEARE
west
These students are in art class, creating Henna designs. Henna is an artform were one can draw a tattoo on their body and not have it permanent. Richard Farrar, however, was molding a bowl on the pottery wheel. Photo By: Mija Sheldon Top left: Allyson Aobercht, 12 grade. Bottom left: Holly Tyler, 12 grade. Center: Richard Farrar, 12 grade.
Recording the history of the school in spray paint, “The Rock” is decorated by seniors, by sports teams, by class and neighborhood councils, and for special events like Homecoming and Prom. On this day, The Rock reminded the community of the fundraiser for the Theater Department, a haunted hayride held at Black Star Farms near Suttons Bay. All of the ghosts, ghouls, and garish corpses were played by students from West.
The Rock
“Legalized Vandalism”