WAYZATA HIGH SCHOOL
Volume 33, Issue 1
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September 5, 2014
trojan tribune Photo Illustration by Hana Kassem
I n t h i s s t a g e d p h o t o , a s t u d e n t w a l k s p a s t t h e r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n t o g e t t o s c h o o l . T h e N o r t h e n t r a n c e o f P e o n y i s c l o s e d u n t i l N o v e m b e r.
inside this issue
North entrance closed
Un exp e c ted de lay s c o m e w ith th e sta r t o f a n ew sc hool year By HANA KASSEM and ANNA RODRIGUEZ EDITOR IN CHIEF & NEWS EDITOR
FOOTBALL WINS THEIR FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON SPORTS 7
JACKSON HARKNESS ON STAGE AT THE FAIR
HARKNESS SHOWCASES HIS SKILLS IN THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR TALENT CONTEST
Constr uction is under way on the Peony Lane nor th of the school causing traffic and other problems for students and administration. Constr uction began at the end of August and is expected to be finished by S eptember of 2015. The cit y of P l ymouth is extending Peony Lane to four lanes all the way to Lawndale Lane and Maple Grove. Although the entire constr uction project will be completed in a year, Peony Lane and Count y Road 47 nor th of the high school will be open again by November 1st of this year. “Constr uction was delayed for se ven months because a U.S. Army Cor ps of Engineer permit was needed,” said
P l ymouth P ublic Works Director Doran Cote. “ The r umor that the project was held up by a burial ground getting in the way is not tr ue.” Police officers have been on the bridge e ver y morning in order to controlling the heavy traffic coming in from the Peony Lane entrance south of the high school and S chmidt Lake Road. Principal S cott Gengler, who is overseeing the constr uction on the high school, said, “ The school district hired traffic suppor t to make entering the building seamless. A large volume of students are entering campus in a ver y shor t period of time.” It is unsure as to whether the traffic control will remain until the end of the
SUMMER MOVIE REVIEWS PAGE 3
SCHOOL TRIPS PAGE 5
STUDENTS SOUND-OFF ON IPADS PAGE 4
By HANA KASSEM EDITOR IN CHIEF
Israel-Hamas
conflict:
Israel launched an operation against Hamas and the people of Gaza. During this 50-day war, the news and social media were covered in photos of devastation and civilian suffering. Palestinians suffered casualties of 2,104 civilians- 748 of which were women and children.
Continued on page 2
WHS has two principals
P r i n c i - h i s 1 4 t h ye a r o f b e i n g a p r i n c i p a l . pal Scott “My primar y re s p on s i b i l i t y is S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R G e n g l e r t h e b u i l d i n g p ro j e c t . I p a r t n e r j o i n e d t h e w i t h M r. Tre w i c k w h e re ve r h e a s k s Way z a t a H i g h S c h o o l ad m i n i s t r a - f o r s u p p o r t . W h e n h e re t i re s , I ’ l l t i on on J u l y 1 . G e n g l e r w i l l p a r t n e r t a k e on h i s ro l e, ” s a i d G e n g l e r. w i t h Pr i n c i p a l M i k e Tre w i c k a n d T h e p l a n s f o r b u i l d i n g e x p a n s i on s u p e r v i s e t h e b u i l d i n g re n o v a t i on s . a re a l re ad y u n d e r w ay. G e n g l e r s ay s G e n g l e r ’s t i t l e w i l l b e “ Pr i n c i p a l on t h a t p l a n s a re n o t ye t s e t i n s t on e. Special Assignment.” He said he H i s ro l e m ay b e u n we l c om e s inc l e a r t o m a ny s t u d e n t s p u t f rom s t u a t t h i s p o i n t . H e s ay s dents, espehe is determined to c i a l l y on h ow b e c om e ac q u a i n t e d to see the new w i t h t h e c om mu n i t y. C om m on A r “ I t h i n k m o re t h a n e a s c om e a l i ve. a ny t h i n g I ’d l i k e t o “ I ’d l i k e t o ge t t o k n ow t h e s t u build culdents, and I need stut u re a n d c l i d e n t s t o b e re s p on mate within s i ve, ” s a i d G e n g l e r. the school. O n t h e s e c on d d ay [Building that of school Gengler depends on ] could be seen in the ac ad e m i c s u c halls, in the cafeteria cess, pride in for all four lunches, our school, a n d on t h e s t a i r and kids being we l l after school. connected… Gengler was forwith p o s i t i ve merly principal relationships,” at Iron d a l e H i g h Principal on Special Assignment Scott s a i d G e n g l e r. Photo by Naomi Liew S c h o o l . T h i s w i l l b e Gengler. By MADDIE ORZESKE
SUMMER NEWS IN REVIEW
independent.co.uk
Michael Brown: An unarmed African-American teenager was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri on August 9th. His death sparked widespread protests for the following weeks.
parade.condenast.com
2014 Brazil World Cup:
The 20th FIFA World Cup was hosted in Brazil for the second time, the first time being in 1950. Germany won the tournament and earned its fourth title by defeating Argentina 1-0.
parade.condenast.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014
THE TROJAN TRIBUNE
NEWS 2
construction more traffic for these routes. on time. “It takes twice as long fifteen. “I am outraged.” PEONY o n t h e n o r t h S t u d e n t s h a v e b e e n e x p e r i e n c for me to get to school in the “A s a r e s i d e n t o f P l y m o u t h CONSTRUCTION of Pe o ny Lane. “Using the police as traffic control will be a week by week type decision and we will watch for patt e r n s , ” s a i d G e n g l e r. “ I f t h e s c h o o l d o e s n’t d o s o m e t h i n g to change the light structure then some level of support is needed.” “I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how seamless traffic has been into the building for the first few days,” s a y s G e n g l e r. “ I n t h e l o n g run the access will be very good.” Students who live north of the high school now have to wrap around Plymouth on their way to school using Schmidt Lake Road or Highway 101 and 55, causing even
ing delays due to the construction and are forced to leave their homes to get to school
morning,” said senior Hayden Fa r m e r, w h o s e c o m m u t e h a s turned from five minutes to
of the Highway 101 and County Road 6 intersect i on , I ’m s o a n n oye d by the fact that my time spent working on my hair is cut short due to the traffic situation,” said senior Hannah Olson. According to the city of Plymouth website, the total project cost is estimated to be $13.5 million and is part of the c i t y ’s 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 6 C a p i t a l Improvement Program. Despite the outcry from local residents, informational and neighborhood meeting were held with interested members of the public, according to the city of Plymouth website.
Jackson Harkness takes the spotlight at the fair
Junior Jackson Harkness par ticipates in the Minnesota State Fair Talent Contest Jackson Harkness By ANNA RODRIGUEZ (11) stole NEWS EDITOR @MsAnnaLuisa the spotlight at the State Fair when he participated in the Minnesota State Fair Talent Contest on Friday, August 22. “It was a pretty big contest, and about 500 people auditioned with me in late July,” said Harkness. “After those open auditions, only 30 teens advanced to the semi-finals.” Harkness said “ The auditions and the semi-finals both took place at the L einie bandshell. The 30 teens aged 14-18 were divided up into 5 nights, so 6 performed each night.” The winner of each night advanced to the finals, which took place in the Grandstand on August 31. “I made it into the semifinals among the 30 teens selected,” said Harkness. Harkness performed a rendition of “Never Been to Spain.” “I sang, played the acoustic guitar, and also the harmonica,” said Harkness. Harkness said, “ I wasn’t too ner vous, but it was a little intimi-
dating to be performing with a row of judges sitting front and center writing things down on their clipboards.” The crowd is what really helped him through it. “ There were approximately 1,000 people there to watch,” said Harkness. “As soon as
I looked past the judges and saw the large audience that was there to cheer me on, I completely forgot about the competition and realized it was no different than any other time I have played for people.”
Unfortunately, Harkness didn’t make it to the finals, but he was still grateful for the opportunity. “It was an awesome experience to perform at such a cool place. I got to perform with some really talented people for a really supportive audience,” said Harkness.
Jared Bennet (11) was one of the players cheering Jackson on. “It was fun; we were cheering for him and were all hoping he would win,” said Bennet. “He’s always been really good.” “ There were lots of people, ever ybody liked it and ever yone was clapping and cheering,”Bennet said. Harkness is not unfamiliar with the stage. “I have mostly performed at local coffee shops, restaurants, and bars. I also have done a lot of street music in downtown Wayzata. At the school, I have participated in Wayzata Idol and the Coffee House performances,” Harkness said. Harkness cited the level of competition as a difference between the talent show and his previous gigs. “It was also one of the bigger audiences I have played for,” said Harkness. “I really just felt super excited to be able to “I had Photo courtesy of Jackson Harkness perform at the ‘Great some Minnesota Get-Togethgreat family and friends to support er ’,” said Harkness. “I would not me. Among them were many of my change a single thing about the Wayzata football teammates,” said experience.” Harkness.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013
THE TROJAN TRIBUNE
ENTERTAINMENT 3
STERN’S MOVIE REVIEWS ANDREW STERN l STAFF WRITER
BOYHOOD: Filmed over the course of 12 years, Boyhood is the latest movie from Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater. The story follows Mason (Ellar Coltrane) vignette-style from first grade to college. I’ve been looking forward to this film since it premiered at Sundance in January. Given its unique premise and the fact that it was helmed by one of my favorite directors, my anticipation for this movie couldn’t have been higher. I’m happy to report that I wasn’t let down in the slightest. The plot is non-traditional. There is no overarching conflict. The story simply follows the characters as they grow. Some go through big changes, some stay static, but they all feel real. At a nearly 3-hour run-time, it still feels short. I would have loved more time to watch these characters grow. It’s a good thing that Ellar Coltrane grew up to be a relatively solid actor, because he really holds the movie together. Lorelei Linklater plays Mason’s older sister, Samantha. While her character never really grows past being charismatically annoying, she provides perspective. Patricia Arquette gives a fantastic performance as Mason’s single mother, who has the tendency to pick the wrong guy. The real scene stealer is Ethan Hawke as Mason’s estranged dad. Hawke worked with Linklater in the “Before” trilogyanother instance of long-term storytelling. Every time he’s onscreen he oozes charisma as a man trying to connect with his kids. The rest of the ensemble is strong as well. Though we don’t see all actors develop through 12 years, the roles are no less defined. The context of having a theme about life and growing up seems to have made the film foolproof. There are several instances where a line doesn’t seem to be delivered quite right, and yet it fits. The line still feels awkward, but instead of making the film awk-
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY:
Directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy is the first film of the second phase of Marvel’s cinematic universe. The story follows Peter Quill, a man abducted from Earth as a child, and his quest to keep a magic orb away from Ronan the Accuser. Along the way, he meets Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot. Together, they form an
IF I STAY:
Based on the Gayle Forman novel of the same name, If I Stay is the Chloë Grace Moretz vehicle about a girl named Mia who falls into a coma after a car crash. During an out-of-body experience, she must decide whether to live or die. As all of this is going on, we get to watch flashbacks of Mia interacting with her parents (World War Z’s Mireille Enos and The Blair Witch Project’s Joshua Leonard) and her boyfriend (U Want Me 2 Kill Him?’s Jamie Blackley). Unsurprisingly, this movie manages to crank the manipulation meter up to 11. This coupled with the fact that the movie has absolutely no self-awareness whatsoever manages to create a brilliant comedy. First, the out-of-body experience is undeveloped. Mia watches as she and her family undergo hospital treatment. She is treated essentially as an invisible person. All of the laws of physics seem to apply to her...but maybe not, because the film doesn’t bother to go into any of that stuff. It would have been interesting to see someone bump into out-of-body Mia or walk through her or something. She can touch things but the effect on the objects isn’t clear. She grabs her friends’ and relatives’ hands occasionally, and they look like they can see her. It’s absolutely hysterical. I guess not outlining any rules is the film’s way of trying to get you to not think about it. If I Stay also seems to have the strange idea that you can only like one genre of music. Mia talks several times throughout the film about how she feels like a disappointment to her parents because they like rock music and she plays the cello. There are no references to orchestras and except for a brief harp appearance, as if there are no other classical instruments. At one point Mia says she initially thought the cello was a “solo instrument,” but learned later it works well with...guitars. The other staple of the flashbacks is Mia’s insufferable relationship with her boyfriend, Adam. Adam is the cool kid, but still he falls in love with Mia because she’s special and unique and plays the cello. Of course, Mia thinks that the fact that she plays the cello and Adam plays the guitar means he’s too cool for her. Anyway, they
22 JUMP STREET:
Comedy/Animation duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have had a lot
ward, the film simply argues that life is awkward. Similarly, there are a couple scenes in the film that are pretty cheesy. However, by this point I had been completely won over and was able to justify to myself that these scenes were self-aware in themselves. Boyhood has that x-factor that makes a movie an instant classic. I already know that I’m going to be revisiting this movie every year or so. It’s truly one-ofa-kind, but I don’t think it’s just because of how it was made. The film is so tactfully developed that it becomes much more than just a gimmick. Boyhood is truly a mustsee. 10/10. unlikely group of superheroes named the Guardians of the Galaxy. The humor in the script is very tight. That’s probably the strongest aspect of the film. The majority of the jokes work. I have problems with the script, but I’m glad that it was punched up enough to not be the groan-fest that many other Marvel films become. The actors are all charismatic. Chris Pratt gives one of his most charming performances to date as Quill. Zoe Saldana solidifies her sci-fi dominance as Gamora. Bradley Cooper does his best Joe Pesci imitation as Rocket, and Vin Diesel is lovable even with a single line. The real surprise is Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer. Known primarily as a WWE wrestler, he kills as the overly serious brute. Though Lee Pace’s Ronan is nothing special, the ensemble performances energize the film. With a talking tree and raccoon, characters could have seemed isolated from the group. However, character designs were well thought-out, and the group is cohesive. The action in the beginning of the film is very fun and entertaining, though as the movie teeters into the 3rd act, it quickly becomes a mess of colors and explosions. Guardians of the Galaxy is emotionally manipulative, and not very subtle about it. There are many detours from the fun, campy elements of the film to go to some more dramatic moments, and it’s like flipping a light switch. The score is written in a way where you are essentially told to “feel sad here.” While the soundtrack is enjoyable, filled with classic ‘70s and ‘80s music, the score was remarkably bland. You can definitely feel James Gunn’s Troma roots appear in the film, but the movie still feels watered down to fit the studio format. That said, I still appreciate the risks that Marvel took in making this movie. While I don’t feel like Guardians of the Galaxy is anything revolutionary, it’s still a fun time at the movies. And the best Marvel film I’ve seen thus far. 7/10. start dating. Cue up tons of clichés as the filmmakers attempt to maintain that their love is unique. Then the drama begins. Adam gets upset that Mia is applying to Juilliard, and if she gets in they’ll have to be in a long-distance relationship, and he gets really whiny, and they fight, and kiss, and fight, and break up. It’s pretty funny. Although If I Stay is a complete mess, it’s an entertaining mess. My theory is that this is because all of the cast members put their best foot forward and that the director had a vision. Chloë Grace Moretz seemed to give it her all, but I still don’t think she’s especially charismatic or talented. The rest of the performances felt forced, but I feel that is mostly because the actors weren’t given much to work with. To me, If I Stay is so bad that it’s good. There’s not much about the production that screams incompetence, but everything in the movie is so manipulative and over-the-top that it borders on selfparody. 3/10.
on their plate recently. Not only did they direct this film, but they also wrote and directed this year’s surprisingly good animation powerhouse The Lego Movie. However, this uptick in productivity doesn’t mean that they didn’t put their best foot forward. 22 Jump Street is a sequel to their 2012 film 21 Jump Street, itself a reboot of an ‘80s TV show. This film knows exactly what it is. Laden with dozens, if not hundreds, of meta-jokes about sequels, 22 Jump Street doesn’t take itself too seriously. Two complaints. The movie takes a little while to get on its feet, and it tries a little too hard to be self-aware, and so becomes too self-aware. Instead of
clueing the audience in that it’s aware of its clichés, the film at times seems apologetic. However, as the movie settles in, the references become more subtle, and the laughs more genuine. It is no longer a surprise that Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are a charismatic duo, and they have even better chemistry here. The ensemble cast is strong. Ice Cube’s role is expanded, and his character doesn’t lose value as screen-time is added. Peter Stormare plays a perfectly generic villain, and Wyatt Russell, Amber Stevens, and Jillian Bell play comfortably clichéd, entertaining college students. Occasionally the film goes for the more low-hanging fruit, but a surprising number of the jokes work. It’s quotable, fast-paced, and entertaining. The film jokes about how sequels are usually a step-down, but I’d say that 22 Jump Street reaches the same level as its predecessor, if not taking a step up. If you didn’t enjoy 21 Jump Street, this film won’t change your mind about the franchise, but I definitely enjoyed myself. 8/10.
1 6 Wa y z a t a H i g h School AP Euro Senior Staff Writer students departe d f o r E u ro p e o n July 28 to spend eight days traveling through the cities of L ond o n , B r u g e s , a n d Pa r i s . AP European Histor y teacher and trip superv i s o r A a ro n B e r n d t s a i d that the trip highlighted WWI and WWII sites “including the secret WWII tunnels along the English coast and multiple WWI battlefield sites.” “A l o t o f t h e W W I t r e n c h es were really cool as well as the cemeteries- we actually got to lower a flag at one of the cemeteries,” said Kaden Dohm (11). “It was a lot of fun to exp l o re e a c h city in our small groups.” s a i d H a l e y B o w d e n (11). “My favorite activity was our picnic in the gardens o f Ve r s a i l l e s , f o l l o w e d by a t r i p
up the Eiffel tower at night.” “ The students experienced some of the greatest cities of Europe,” said Berndt. “I think travel opens students up to new experiences and re-
ally shapes their vision of the world,” said Dohm. “It really changed me p e r s o n a l l y. ” Berndt said that this was the
m e n d t h e t r i p t o a n yo n e e a g e r to see the places they studied i n E u ro a n d h a v e t o n s o f f u n a l o n g t h e w a y, ” s a i d B o w d e n .
“Viaje de una vida.” That’s Spanish for “trip of a lifetime.” It’s a common response given by Wayzata students who traveled to Spain this summer when asked about their European adventure. Twenty-two Wayzata students were joined by eleven Champlain Park and Blaine students as they explored Spain with Wayzata Spanish teachers Kristin Lindahl, Monica Vlach, and Gabrielle Telford. They started in Madrid and spent four days there. Profe Lindahl said it was cool for the students to stay in a big city and there were a ton of fun things to do. The Photo by Hana Kassem students went to famous art museums such as the Prado and Reina Sofía, did a lot of shopping and walking, and were in the city when King Juan Carlos abdicated his throne. Next, the group traveled to Segovia for a fournight stay with host families. Senior Hannah Weas said the families took them to some Spanish bars to watch the World
Cup. After they won the last three major world tournaments, hopes for the Spanish national team were high for 2014, but La Roja were eliminated after their first two games. Despite the loss, fortunately, there were no riots, just some Spaniards cursing at TVs, said senior Hana Kassem. After Segovia, the students traveled to Toledo, Sevilla, Granada, and Torremolinos. Lindahl said some highlights from the rest
of the trip included staying with more host families and visiting Alhambra in Granada, trying some delicious Spanish food, and seeing the Cathedral in Sevilla, which houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. They enjoyed beautiful weather, allowing them to have the best experience possible. Lindahl said the students were able to practice what they had learned in the classroom. They spoke Spanish in restaurants, with their host families, and with tour guides. Lindahl also believes that the trip was a big hit with the students. When asked to describe some highlights, she said, “Ever ything!” “I think the students really enjoyed it,” said Lindahl. “They were a great group of kids. They got along really well, and they had fun with each other. They took more selfies than I’ve ever seen in my lifetime.”
By STELLA WANG
Eur
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e i g h t h ye a r A P E u ro s t u d e n t s h a v e m a d e t h e t r i p t o E u ro p e , “In 2015 students will have the opportunity to travel to Berlin, Pr a g u e , N u re m b e r g , a n d M u n i c h . ” “I would d e fi n i t e l y re c o m Photo courtesy of Aaron Berndt
By DREW CARTER Senior Staff Writer
S
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Costa Rica
Biology students traveled to Costa Rica through the program “Seeds of Change” in July. Seeds of Change has a mission of “enhancing bioscience education for high school students and creating more science-related careers,” according to the organization website. They stayed at an eco-friendly ranch and were in the company of scientists and professionals. While they learned much from the collaboration of scientists they were also given the freedom of performing their own experiments and creating their own presentations. The first year students removed and researched leaf cutter ant colonies to find a topic of future research and then experiment on the ants. “Some of us got to work with unusual lab materials,” wrote junior Bridget Carroll on the trip blog. Once they finished the experiments the groups presented their findings to each other. The second year group’s work revolved around bioinformatics. The field that “collects and analyzes complex biological
On July 21st a group of Wayzata students left for the Cayman Islands to learn about marine biology. Their method of study: scuba diving. “The main purpose of the trip is to scuba dive and see the marine ecosystem of Grand Cayman,” said marine biology teacher Erik Christenson. “Students get a chance to see the underwater world up close.” According to Christenson, the trip provides a way for students to learn things they can’t learn in the classroom. “I had not taken marine bio before I went on the trip so I was new to everything,” said junior Olivia
data such as genetic codes,” according to Merriam-Webster. Each of the second year students designed a research question to present on after using the da-
tabase IMG to research. “One thing that we can do on IMG is compare the proteins in one metagenome to the proteins in another and see if they are similar, or if they are not,” wrote senior Meghan Jette. The students experienced the Costa Rican “In the classroom, you can only see pictures and videos of the marine life, whereas on the trip we got to touch the different types of coral and experience the fish swim around you,” said Brooks. “A highlight from the trip would definitely be going on night dives and seeing different creaturesthanwesawduringtheday,”saidKettleson. According to Christenson, along with seeing a spotted eagle ray, one of the highlights of the trip for him
Kettleson. “I learned about many different types of sea life that we saw on our dives and was ELLIE RONNING able to recognize them By Sophomore Staff Writer by the end of the trip.” According to senior Donnie Brooks, the trip was a good way to see the things they had learned in the classroom up close and in person. “It was a great way to learn about marine bio,” said Kettleson. “By the end of the trip I wasn’t asking everyone about what we saw as much.”
Photos
courtesy
of trip b log
beach for a day. On their hikes the students experienced indigenous animals such as toucans, insects, and capuchin monkeys. was watching his students faces when they saw something new. “I got to spend my birthday in Cayman,and on my birthday, we went to a dive site called Sun Divers in the West Bay of Grand Cayman,” said Brooks. “That day, I saw my first shark.” According to Kettleson, she is taking marine biology as a class this year, and is planning t o go on the trip again next summer. “Diving is one of the coolest experiences that anyone could ever have,” saidBrooks.“Iwouldtotallygoagain. It was an amazing experience.”
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environment with By MAGGIE HARLESS hikes, horseback rid- Senior Staff Writer ing, zip lining, and exploring the rainforest. They immersed in to the culture through service projects and soccer games with the local kids. The students looked for sea turtles and enjoyed the
Photos courtesy of trip blog
THE TROJAN TRIBUNE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014
OPINION 6
Opinion Letter from the editor Exchange TROJAN TRIBUNE EDITORIAL STAFF Editor in Chief Hana Kassem News Editor Anna Rodriguez Sports Editor Hayden Farmer Graphic Designer Hannah Weas Advertising Manager Mahdy Michael Advisor David Motes
MISSION STATEMENT To address issues that Wayzata High School is facing; to investigate with courage, persistence and passion; to report the news with accuracy and without bias; to encourage thought, investigate events which incite praise and those which incite criticism; and to make connections between people in this community. EDITORIAL POLICY Editorial policies and content decisions are made by the student editorial board. The opinions expressed in the editorials, columns, and opinion pieces are those of the Trojan Tribune staff and are not necessarily the opinions of the advisor, administration, students, faculty, or District 284. The Trojan Tribune follows the guidelines of the Associated Press Stylebook and is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association. ADVERTISING We accept ads that provides goods and services for the age group this publication serves, as long as they conform to the school and district regulations. Inquire for an ad sheet. The Trojan Tribune works jointly with the advanced television production class to produce Wayzata NewsBreak. Comments concerning NewsBreak may be sent to the address below. This publication is committed to providing a limited forum within the community of Wayzata High School, and one in which opinions, discussion, and input are always welcomed and encouraged. Comments, questions, thoughts, and ideas may be addressed to: The Trojan Tribune 4955 Peony Lane Plymouth, MN 55446 david.motes@wayzata.k12.mn.us
As I write this, sun-filled days are transforming into nights of homework and essays and early morning coffee runs. By ANNA RODRIGUEZ The start of the school year is NEWS EDITOR both exciting and nerve-wracking, but for some it’s more than that. It’s sleepless nights and crippling insecurity and hopelessness. We lost two students last year, and at least two more the year before that. This is a disturbing trend at the very least, but it’s also a call to action. Some are biologically predisposed to depression and mental illness, but kind acts are never harmful.
To all the students at Wayzata, I ask that you reflect on your actions and make a choice to be an empathetic friend to everyone this school year. Do not ever underestimate the power of kind words and a helping hand. Ask those without a table to sit with you at lunch. Be friendly to the classmate who sits next to you. Accept people regardless of their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Be a beacon of light in a school culture that can at times promote hyper-competitiveness and status. Peers are often cited as a powerful, albeit negative, influence. I know we can use that force for good, though, because I see it everyday. There are no circumstances in which you can be too kind. To the administration and faculty at Wayzata, many were saddened last year as a result of a lack of response after the
tragedies shook the school. This year, I think many would benefit from more knowledge about the services and help offered at the school. The yearly video about mental illness and personal struggles is a great start,, but I believe more is required. To the people struggling, please know that people care. There are so many different places you can turn to and resources that are available to you. Each and every one of you has so much potential and it would be a shame to waste that. I have faith that you can get through this year and beyond. All of us are more than happy to help you with that process. Let’s not lose the momentum we had to be bigger and better people at the end of the last school year.
This year all of the juniors and seniors received what I like to call a new chapter of disappointment for my seBy DIAMOND SAMPSON nior year.... N E W S B R E A K C O O R D I N AT O R i P a d s ! To me, the iPads will be a distraction. Kids will spend more time playing games and checking out the number of likes they have received on their recent Throwback Thursday
post than actually learning the curriculum. I mean, who wouldn’t go on their social media during the day if they had that opportunity? The teachers and administration will surely get upset by this. We will all receive lectures telling us that we need to embrace this opportunity and give it a try, but the truth is, some of us didn’t want this opportunity in the first place. This transition was done to the best of the administration’s ability, but it could have been done better. It’s difficult to use it as a learning tool when teachers can’t control what the kids can and cannot do during class with the device. If we could have had the option of iPad or no iPad that would have been great,
but nope -- sadly that’s not the case. It’s just a little late for juniors and seniors to be getting this change forced upon us. I think the curriculum should have changed when 2015 and 2016 graduates left. If it could have been eased on us, maybe it would have been easier to accept, and I don’t mean eased by Mrs. Smith making another adorable promo video to try and make all of us feel excited about the fact we have to change our whole school year in a matter of minutes. When Graduation day comes at the end of the year, I will be so happy to return the iPad and move on to college and start using a Laptop instead--which is something I feel is more suitable for school anyway.
I thought I would hate my i Pa d . I n f a c t , I re a l l y w a n t ed to hate my i Pa d , b u t a f ter a few days o f a d j u s t i n g, I re a l l y d o n’t hate it. I actually kind like By MAGGIE HARLESS o f SENIOR STAFF WRITER my i Pa d . Staring at a s c re e n m o re o f t e n t h a n n e c e s s a r y i s n’t i d e a l , b u t t h e re a re d e fi n i t e l y p ro s t o t h e s e n e w a d d i t i o n s to the junior and senior classes. M y c a s e h a s a b u i l t - i n k e y b o a rd that connects via bluetooth. It m a y b e a l i t t l e p r i c e y, b u t I re a l l y e n j oy t h e o p t i o n o f w r i t i n g e s s a y s w i t h G o o g l e d o c s i n c l a s s . B e f o re n o w, I h a v e h a d t o b r i n g m y h e a v y laptop back and forth whenever I want to use it in class or even cram sessions in the librar y during lunch. I think that the Google d r i v e a p p w i l l re a l l y h e l p w i t h a l l g r a d e s i n re g a rd s t o p re s e n t a t i o n s . Te a c h e r s w i l l h a v e m o re c o n t ro l o v e r t h e u n i f o r m i t y o f t h e p ro j e c t s they assign, and it will help stud e n t s s p l i t u p w o r k m o re e v e n l y because no one likes to be the kid who ends up doing all the work. A l t h o u g h i t c a n b e h a rd t o organize, I think having papers f o r mu l t i p l e c l a s s e s d o w n l o a d e d i n o n e p l a c e i s re a l l y b e n e fi c i a l , especially for doing homework d u r i n g c l a s s ( b e n e fi c i a l f o r u s i n t h a t re g a rd b u t m a y b e n o t f o r t h e teachers). I also thought I would not like hand-writing notes on n o t a b i l i t y, b u t i t t u r n e d o u t t o b e p re t t y c o o l . I h a v e h u g e h a n d -
w r i t i n g a n d i t s d e fi n i t e l y h e l p ful to scale my work down while u s i n g w o r k s h e e t s s o i t a l l fi t s . In my opinion, the biggest i s s u e w i t h t h e i Pa d s i s o u r a t t i t u d e . We d o n’t w a n t t o c h a n g e o u r habits now with only one or two m o re ye a r s o f h i g h s c h o o l l e f t , b u t I think we need to embrace this c h a n g e a s m a t u re , a l m o s t - a d u l t s
a n d t r y t o re a p s o m e t h i n g p o s i t i v e o u t o f t h e d e a l . T h e i Pa d s c o u l d b e a re a l l y h e l p f u l t o o l f o r m a n aging both classwork and homework if we give them a chance. The school has given us a special o p p o r t u n i t y, a n d t h e o n l y w a y f o r u s t o b e n e fi t f ro m i t i s t o h a v e a n open mind and a positive attitude.
Too late for a change?
Biggest issue? Attitude.
THE TROJAN TRIBUNE
SPORTS 8
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014
Photos by Shannon Bedard TOUCHDOWN TROJANS: (Left) Senior captain Trevor Bedard intercepts the ball in the first quarter. (Right) Anthony Clarke sprints down the field for an 84 yard touchdown.
Trojans cage Tigers in season opener Trojans hope to carry the momentum from the Farmington game on to more competitve teams
Wayzata Trojan Football enters the 2014 season with a new group of seniors leading the charge to TCF Bank Stadium. The 2014 Trojan team is led by senior captains, Ethan Faust, Trevor Bedard, Austin Gordon and Brandon Mead. The Trojans have lost a sizeable amount of senior starters from the 2013 season, however the roster has been filled by eager juniors ready to go to battle as well as seniors who have
By Hayden Farmer SPORTS EDITOR
been groomed for the starting role for 4 years. The Trojans face a tough schedule ahead them filled with competitive Lake Conference teams like Minnetonka and Eden Prairie as well as out of conference teams that have put up a fight in the past such as Maple Grove and Totino Grace. “The team is excited to take on challenging opponents who have put up a fight in the past,” said Faust. The Trojans have changed their game style on both sides of the ball.
Most notably defense has been taken over by new Defensive Coordinator David Ritter. Brad Anderson’s offense has transformed into an in the trenches running game that is designed to break the will of defenses. Gordon said,“I love it! it fits the personnel adequately and its truly fun. It’s awesome because the brotherhood within the team is great, but the chemistry between the offensive unit is on a whole other level this year,” The Trojans had their 2014 season
Cross Country running past competition
Meghan Jette. After kicking off the summer with an annual teamS E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R building trip to Mt. Oxford in Colorado this June, the boys, looking forward to a stronger season than ever, championship this fall. made modifications to their summer training plan. Six “There’s a lot of talent in the state of Minnesota and of the seven boys who ran at the state championship we’ll do everything we can to try and take home an- last year are returning this season but dedication runs other state title,” says Connor Olson (12), who is cur- deep throughout the whole team. “We love winning rently ranked number one on the boys team. For the and work very hard all year to achieve our goals but anyone who wants to improve is valued on this team,” said senior runner Paul Epland. The unprecedented magnitude of the team leaves the top runners competitive as ever. The girls team has 115 runners in high school, with another 50 in the middle school program. There is an even larger boys team with 191 total runners, 126 of which are high school students. For the first time ever the girls had a mandatory 5k time Photos courtesy of Kraig A. Lungstrom. trial the first day of practice this season, and the FIRST PLACE: The XC varsity boys celebrate after taking first place at Marshview question of how many upcoming season, the boys team is ranked 5th in the runners the team can handle is becoming an issue. nation and 1st in the state of Minnesota. This past Saturday both teams had winning perforThe girls team, having placed first at Nike Cross Na- mances at the 5K Marshfield course. The girls won tionals last year, is currently ranked third in the na- both JV and Varsity races, with Anna French coming tion and first in the state. Senior and top runner Anna in first for varsity and Gina Kalker (9) first for JV. The French describes the upcoming competitive season boys won both as well with Connor Olson first overall as beginning with “a little uncertainty,” seeing as four and Paul Weiler (10) first for Wayzata in JV, placing of their state/national team members graduated last second overall in the JV race. The majority of the girls spring. “It will be really interesting to see how our team raced at the 4K Rosemount course on the same varsity team changes throughout the season because day, with the majority of the boys racing at a 5K at there are so many open spots,” said senior runner St. Olaf. By Maddie Orzeske
The nationally ranked Wayzata girls and boys cross country teams are both looking to win another state
debut on August 28th against Farmington High School. From the very first snap Wayzata marched down the field with almost no resistance. Wayzata was led by Anthony Clarke who ran for four touchdowns and 160 yards. “Give all the credit to the Oline. They opened some big holes for me and the other backs,” Said Clarke in an interview with the Sun Sailor. The Trojans finished the game 55-7 and will face off against Eagan on Friday, September 5th.
Girl’s Swim and Dive has developed a reputation of splashing away the competition. While currently ranked 1st in the state, they are determined to have another fantastic season. Last fall the girls made history by sweeping True Team, Conference, and State. According to Senior Captain Katie Stover, dominating these meets was one of the team’s many goals, which was achieved by intense dedication and perseverance. “We accomplished all of those goals last year but are hoping to do it again,” said Stover. Rachel Gessner (12) also holds high expectations for this season. “We have a ton of goals this year; everything from holding our state title to having a positive attitude,” said Gessner.
Everything is going swimmingly
By Sonia Neculescu
Though many valuable seniors were lost, the girls are excited for the new team’s potential this season. Sydney Arseth (11) said “we have some new swimmers that will really help our team.” The girls don’t simply encourage each other only while at the pool: they support one another throughout the season and beyond. During the fall, the swimmers get together as a team, which only strengthens their bond and success. The team eagerly looks forward to both victory and bonding. “I’m looking forward to going to the apple orchard with the team and eating a ton of apple goodies before practice,” said Gessner. The girls want to see their hard efforts pay off as they did last season. “I’m looking forward to competing and seeing how our team will do this year,” said Marisa Skajewski (11). The team has a lot to be proud of thus far, which will only drive them to achieve more greatness. S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R