Trojan Tribune Issue 12 2013-14

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WAYZATA HIGH SCHOOL

trojan tribune VOLUME 32, ISSUE 12

MARCH 25, 2014

NICOTINE OR NO NICOTINE Increasing use of e-cigs in schools challenges the rules, and presents a complex problem for students, parents and administrators.

SPEECH TEAM WALKS AWAY WITH A“WORDS” Individuals and teams qualify at recent section tournaments

By KATIE TALERICO EDITOR IN CHIEF

@k_talerico

At Wednesday’s section speech tournament, five students qualified for state: Zoe Tu (12) in Informative, Andrew Stern (11) in Creative Expression, Camille Smith (11) in Drama, Hank Lee (11) in Discussion, and Lola Alugo (12) in Poetry.

“At four out of six tournaments I got second place, so getting first is pretty fulfilling,” said Stern.

Smith and Stern are also the first from Wayzata to qualify for speech’s National Individual Events Tournament of Champions (NIETOC), which will be held at Gustavus Adolphus College in May. On March 14, the duo made it into semifinals at the National Forensic League qualifiers, another national tournament.

They are the first team from Wayzata to have done so in four years.

The team qualified to NIETOC in the Duo Interpretation category. The two perform snippets of scenes from Evil Dead: The Musical, based upon the horror film of the same name, said Smith.

The team condensed their script down to ten minutes in length, and they perform it together, each taking on multiple characters, said Smith.

“We’re the only team that’s qualified this year,” said Stern. In order to qualify for a national tournament, a competitor must make finals at two qualifying speech tournaments, said Smith.

“I think the fact we know each other well and love the piece we’re doing really gave us an edge,” said Smith. “Anything goes at NIETOC. We’ll be with some of the best speakers from around the country, so it’ll be tough. We really just want to have a good time.”

“They’ve brought their drama to all three coaches and Mr. Hegg, so they’re really seeking out good input from a number of people, which is really smart,” said head WHS speech coach Gail Sarff. They started in September with this piece.

Continued on page 4

THE NUMBERS ARE E-cigs gaining popularity in school IN: THE MATH TEAM

By MATT JOHNSON, MAVRIK JOOS, and KATE CARROLL S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R S a n d O P I N I O N E D I T O R

Wayzata students are past the days of smoking in the woods. Now, thanks to e-cigarettes, they’re smoking in school.

The device is battery operated and can be smoked in places that would be illegal for any ‘normal’ cigarette.

“The first year I was here I don’t think we dealt with [e-cigs] at all. Last year maybe one or two, and then this year is

probably five or six,” said Wayzata police liaison Chris Hendrickson. “Obviously we don’t know everyone that uses them but use has been increasing over the past few years.”

E-cigs can be an alternative for avid tobacco users who are seeking to quit. The

on page 13 STUDENT Continued SMOKERS

HAVE SMOKED AN E-CIG

19%

KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS SMOKED IN SCHOOL

68%

Summative grading system in place at Central O ver the past year, FRESHMAN GUEST WRITER Wa y z a t a Central Middle School has adopted a new grading system that bases students’ grades solely on their summative (test and project) scores.

“Central is a leader in this,” said Dr. Jill Johnson, District 284 Executive Director of Teaching and Learning.

The other two middle schools in the district, East and West, still have different systems, and are contemplating making the switch over, said Johnson.

The Minnetonka Public Schools website reports that Minnetonka High School and some of the district’s intermediate schools have switched their method of grading to the summative system, putting more emphasis on tests to determine grades.

According to the Eden Prairie Schools website, Eden Prairie High School has also moved closer to the summative grading system, with tests serving as 85% of students’ final grades.

Still, neither Minnetonka nor Eden Prairie has made their students’ grades based solely on tests.

Johnson said that the philosophy behind this particular system is that grades should reflect a student’s abilities and knowledge in a subject. The goal is to have students

By ELLIE RONNING

prove they know the information, and to try to help those who struggle.

At Central, grades are one hundred percent summative, which means that the entire grade is based on tests, projects, papers, and labs, said Johnson.

“I like to compare this system to being on a sports team,” said Johnson. “The formative assessments (homework) which don’t count toward your grade, are like practice.

You have time to really learn and get better. The summative assessments (tests) are like games. That is when you apply everything you have learned in practice.”

“The grading system at CMS has taken some getting used to for both students and staff,” said eighth grade social studies teacher Brian Deeney.

According to Deeney, one of the biggest problems with the system is that students take advantage of the fact that homework doesn’t count towards their grade.

“The formative work is important for learning and practicing the content without fear of negatively impacting your grade. You need to practice the skill before you prove mastery, but some kids don’t understand this,” said Deeney.

“The practicality of using this with middle school students is an issue,” said eighth grade language arts teacher Casey Zylla.

Continued on page 3

SECOND AT STATE

By KATIE TALERICO EDITOR IN CHIEF

@k_talerico

For the first time since 2008, the Wayzata Math Team came in second place at their state tournament, losing to Edina by one point.

“We went into the team event with a 9 point lead,” said coach William Skerbitz.

“We usually get from a 20 to a 24 on a team event. That day we got a 10.”

The team was comprised of Apekshya Panda (12), William Zeng (12), Leighton Zhao (11), Jeffrey Lee (10), Seri Choi (10), William Drew (9), David Mo (10), Orien Zeng (11), Daniel Qu (9), and Jenica Zhong (11), who placed second in the section, coming behind only Edina’s Michael Tang. Of the top 50 players in the state, twenty percent of them are Wayzata students, Skerbitz said.

The loss is an upset for the math team, who entered the state tournament as first place in the state for the season, ahead of Edina by 43 points. They also finished first in their conference, which includes Edina, Hopkins, Robbinsdale, St. Louis Park, and Minnetonka.

Thirty-eight teams from Minnesota were selected to participate in the state meet. This included the top school from each of the 25 conferences, as well as the next 13 highestscoring schools in the state that weren’t already attending.

Skerbitz says he is unsure why the team event went so badly. “From a coaching perspective, we didn’t know how far ahead we were going in. If we did, we could have had more of a strategy,” he said.

The day before, half the team participated in Moody’s Mega Math Challenge, a weekend-long problem-solving competition that left math team members exhausted, said Skerbitz.

“Everyone has an off day, it just turned out to be that particular event,” Skerbitz said.

Tang, who also won the state tournament’s Math Bowl over Wayzata’s William Zeng and William Drew, was a dominating force for Edina, but Skerbitz says that a team can’t win just because of a single person.

“One strong individual helps, but it takes a team effort of being strong consistently,” said Skerbitz. “You could probably win in a weak division with only one great player, but in a division like ours, you have to have many.”

THE TROJAN TRIBUNE

NEWS 2

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

PLAYING WITH PASSION: First violin and concermaster Pam Arnstien leads the Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra in their warm up before Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. They played at Wayzata High School on Friday, one of their first performances since their 16-month lockout ended on February 1.

MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA RETURNS WITH WAYZATA PERFORMANCE After an enthusiastic @k_talerico standing ovation, the Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra opens the Wayzata High School auditorium up for questions. Carly Hicks (12) raises her hand and asks, “What’s your favorite part of being in an ensemble like this?”

A cellist takes hold of the microphone and answers, “The contract negotiations.”

After a 16 month lockout—the longest work stoppage in U.S. symphonic history—the Minnesota Orchestra approved a contract that brought them back to the stage February 1.

Musician Greg Milliren said that during the lockout, the orchestra agreed to play for Wayzata High School under the name “Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra” (MOMO). During the most recent negotiations with the Minnesota Orchestra’s board of directors, they were

By KATIE TALERICO EDITOR IN CHIEF

asked to cancel any concerts scheduled under the name “MOMO.” In their negotiations, they made sure to keep their scheduled concerts for high schoolers, including the one at Wayzata High School on March 21.

The day prior to their performance at Wayzata, Minnesota Orchestra President Michael Henson stepped down from his position. The board informed the musicians about this Thursday night, said Milliren. Media reports began coming out Thursday night as well, shortly after the musicians were informed.

Earlier in their negotiations, Minnesota Orchestra conductor Osmo Vänskä said in a letter to the board and management that he would resign if Carnegie Hall canceled the MO Concerts planned for October 2013, said Milliren. Vänskä set a deadline of when he believed the orchestra needed to be back to work in order to be in good shape for the Carnegie Hall concerts.

“Orchestra management canceled the Carnegie Hall appearances—not Carnegie itself—the day before Vänskä’s deadline, thus setting up a situation in which Vänskä would resign, and he did,” said Milliren. “He later implied that he would be willing to come back as music director, but said that any healing could only begin if Henson were to resign. Most people took this to mean that he would only come back as music director if Henson left.”

Vänskä has been guest conducting in the US and all over the world since resigning as music director, said Milliren.

There is no word yet on whether he will be returning to the Minnesota Orchestra.

The Minnesota Orchestra, performed Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 with pauses for musical analyses. They were lead by guest conductor Manny Laureano who has been with MOMO since the inception of the lockout.

“We feel like during the lockout we had

time to examine the way things are run,” said cellist Beth Rapier. “Coming to high schools seemed liked something that was missing from our management. We have performances for younger kids but hot high schoolers.”

“We wanted something that wasn’t watered down. We know they have experience with music, so we wanted to give them a full symphony. No talking down like we do to the kids, very adult,” said Rapier.

Five primary musicians from the orchestra had a role in the negotiations, said Rapier. They were led by chair Tim Zavadil, Tony Ross, Doug Wright, Marcia Peck, and Kevin Watkins.

The orchestra members have set up a C3 non-profit in order to continue operations like the concert at Wayzata.

“We’re scheduled at a few more schools, and even some homeless shelters,” said Rapier.

Shades of Brown talent show receives suprising reception

Hundreds of students gathered around the fourth floor J U N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R office, March 7th, eager to get a pass to watch the Shades of Brown multi-cultural talent show.

Achievement Specialist Tracy Byrd said Shades of Brown is put on to showcase different talents and cultures from around the school.

“I’m amazed at all the talent inside the building,” said Byrd.

Many students were excited that the school is showcasing different cultures. “Shades of Brown is important because there is a lot of diversity in the school and people should recognize that,” said Sonia Neculescu (11).

“I thought it was a really cool experience because I never knew people had such interesting talents,” said Nicole Stephan (11).

“I really liked the experience. It was very cultural,” she said.

Neculescu said, “I liked when the teachers performed

By ANNA RODRIGUEZ

things, particularly Mr. Cipra and his martial arts. Everyone did a great job.”

“It unites the entire school. A lot of people think Shades of Brown as an event only for black people but as you see, the talent that is presented is from a lot of different races. You had salsa dancing, drumming, karate, and rapping,” said Aajaze Davis (11).

“Shades of Brown is important because it is an actual event that brings the entire school together as a body,” said Davis.

The turnout was much better than staff had anticipated. “We opened the door and people came running in,” said Byrd.

Davis said, “We have sort of changed the format of the show to making it a school event during the day rather than a night event.” Davis said he believes the change was made to encourage more students to show up.

“We had done it three years at night and there were 50 or 75 people max. Last year we did it during the day and it was jammed,” said Byrd.

“The students have spoken. They like Shades of Brown so we’ll keep doing it,” said Byrd.

Photo by Kate Carroll

Junior Ajaze Davis performs in front of a full WHS auditorium for the Shades of Brown talent show.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

THE TROJAN TRIBUNE

NEWS 3

Middle school grading going through its own assessment From page 1

“I have found that I need to make more assignments summative or students won’t complete the work.”

“State issued standards instruct every teacher about the content their students should learn,” said Deeney. “By teaching to these standards I know that my students are learning the same basic content delivered in classrooms across the state. I also know that my daily lessons match up with my summative.”

“I’m not in favor of [teaching to the test],” said Johnson. “When teaching to a test, there is no other way to effectively measure how much a student has learned except by how he or she performs on the test. This applies more pressure onto students as well as teachers.”

“Tests are rigid in the topics of testing, and teachers are limited to how far they can deviate from the curriculum,” said Johnson.

“Areas of interest for the teacher and the students are often put aside.”

According to Zylla, teaching to the test is his way of making sure the students know what they are supposed to. Students shouldn’t be surprised at what they see on tests. The formative assessments and in classwork are very similar to them.

“I like the transparency of my summative assessments,” said Zylla. “They are effective in that students are continually being exposed to the learning targets they will need to master for the summative.”

According to many of the teachers, students’ grades have remained generally the same. Most of the students that would have gotten good grades with the old system continue to get good grades said teachers.

The same goes for students that originally would have had bad grades. “[The students] don’t understand the grading system. They figure if something is formative, it doesn’t count against them if they don’t do it,” said Zylla.

“I have found that clear learning goals and effective feedback have become much

more important in my instruction,” said Deeney. “I want to make sure that students know what they are expected to learn, are given an opportunity to practice a skill, and receive feedback prior to proving their knowledge on a summative assessment.”

According to Johnson, the new system is complex, and has many parts that are new to students. One of these is a retake policy that varies from department to department. This policy allows students to retake a summative assessment if they aren’t satisfied with their grades.

“Sometimes we look at grading as a one shot, ‘you either get it or you don’t’ policy.

If the focus is really on learning, then there should be additional opportunities to prove what you know,” said Deeney.

“I do not like how dependent students have become on retakes,” said Zylla. “It does not prepare them for real life where you need to do your best the first time.”

“With most education systems we tend to reward working and not necessarily learning. With this new grading system, the grade a student earns is more closely tied to how well they really understand the subject,” said Deeney.

According to Johnson, it’s going to take at least another few years in order to judge whether the system is successful, but that assessment should be left up to the students who go through it.

“We aren’t sure if we are going to move the system through the high school,” said Johnson. “First, we need to see how successful it is. We have a team of a few teachers at the high school that will help us phase it in if we chose.”

According to Johnson, many of the teachers at the high school don’t have a full grasp of the system, and they are working to change this.

“Teachers say that kids don’t do the homework, or they don’t participate in class now,” said Johnson. “That’s not entirely true, and our goal is to help show the philosophy of this system to the teachers that think this.”

More followers than you think

By DAVANTE WASHINGTON and CHRISTY WILLIAMS N E W S E D I T O R / S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R

Reid Sagehorn’s life changed after a dismissive, two-word response to a post on the Rogers Confessions ask.fm page: “actually, yes.” The post accused Sagehorn of making out with a female gym teacher; Sagehorn says the response was sarcastic. His comment, in the form of a tweet, quickly went viral.

Sagehorn told the Star Tribune, “there was nothing behind it… I thought everybody would take it as a joke.”

Not everyone did. According to the Star Tribune, A Rogers High School parent saw the post and reported it to the Rogers High School administration. Sagehorn was then called down the office.

According to the Star Tribune, he wasn’t concerned at the time. That was, until he saw the principal, athletic director and police liaison waiting for him.

According to CBS Minnesota, Sagehorn was suspended for seven weeks for violating the school conduct code for social media.

According to the Star Tribune, Sagehorn is a “model” student. He holds a 3.8 GPA, was a member of National Honor Society and was the captain of both the Rogers football and basketball team. He plans to attend North Dakota State in the fall.

After the suspension, Sagehorn began having anxiety attacks (Star Tribune).

The added stress of potential felony charges.

Sagehorn attempted to verbally apologize to his teacher after the tweet was publicized, but he was unsuccessful.

Despite the false rumors of criminal charges, Sagehorn returned to school on February 24th in a different school, according to the Star Tribune.

“It’s important to remember that once you put something out there, it’s out there, and people can find it,” said Principal Mike Trewick.

However, Trewick said he won’t be stalking your Twitter feed.

“I have more to do,” said Trewick. “We do not monitor students accounts. In order for us to look at a student’s social media account, there must be a prior incident, giving administrators grounds to check the student’s phone,” said Trewick.

Such cause would be in the event of drug or alcohol suspicion, threats made to students or staff, or anything else that may harm a member of the school population, said Trewick. Anything done on school devices, however, can be recalled by the administration as they see fit.

Photo from The Star Tribune

VOTERS APPROVE $109 MILLION IN DISTRICT ADDITIONS District members await a high school addition and new elementary school that are expected to open in Fall 2016.

By DAVANTE WASHINGTON NEWS EDITOR

Residents of the Wayzata School District voted to approve a $109 million bond request in late February. The loan will be used to add on to the existing high school to build a new elementary school.

Also approved was a ballot measure extending the technology levy and permitting allocated money to be spent.

The Wayzata school board, now headed

by Linda Cohen, has accomplished one of the last steps in a near four-year process, to expand and upgrade the high school and other district facilities.

Starting this summer, the upgrade and expansion process will start with implementation of technology upgrades, beginning with security systems; a highly sought after addition by parents.

Design and planning of additions to the high school will continue through the spring and part of the summer. Construction of these additions won’t start until late fall 2014.

“The administration has worked diligently to track several possible locations [for the elementary school]. Now that the referendum has officially been approved by the voters, we can move forward with acquiring the most appropriate site as soon as possible,” said Wayzata School Board Clerk Cheryl Polzin. District officials are confident that they will be able to find a site within the next 90 days.

The approval of the referendum sheds light on a rare opportunity for the community. Core departments are being filled at all levels and are in need of more space and resources and Wayzata staff and students may have a say in the final plans for

the high school additions.

While the plans that have been released are not final, they represent the essential developments to accommodate the increasing student population.

“The project list includes approximately 25 classrooms and labs, a second smaller auditorium (seating capacity of 350-400), a new band rehearsal space, some remodeled and reassigned music areas, four new physical education/co-curricular spaces, and an expanded cafeteria and other commons spaces,” said Anderson.

“There will be some opportunities for staff and students at the high school to offer their insights into the planning and design phases for the high school,” said Anderson.

The fine arts department is among the departments that are increasing in popularity, said music teacher Jeff Dahl.

While an auditorium and additional rehearsal space can be found on the preliminary plans, both band and orchestra are in need of break out spaces to practice sectional work said Dahl.

Besides the need for said “break out” areas, “We feel that the community at large has met the needs of the students,” said Dahl.

The science department has been overcrowded for the past two years, said science department head Clarisse Hagen.

“Most rooms are designed to house about twenty-eight students,” currently the class average for the science department falls near thirty students,” said Hagen.

Currently the district hopes to finish construction of the two developments by the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year.

An estro-win for Women’s Day

By QUINN CULLUM S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R

@quinncullum

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8. On this day, women across the world are celebrated for their accomplishments and contributions to their communities and the world. Shruthi Rajasekar (12) celebrated International Women’s Day this year with her mother, Nirmala Rajasekar.

“My mother was recognized for her outstanding service to the community, and in particular, for being a leader in innovation and excellence in the arts,” said Rajasekar.

Her mother was recognized by the American Telegu Association for her world-renowned work in South Indian Classical music. “She plays the veena, a 2000-yearold 5 foot instrument,” said Rajasekar.

International Women’s Day may be a

forgotten holiday for many people, it is a treasured holiday in the Rajasekar family.

“On March 8th, for the past several years, my grandmother calls and wishes me [a Happy International Women’s Day],” said Rajasekar.

“It’s important to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of women to the world. Ideally, people of both genders should be celebrated equally every day, but sadly, that is not the case. International Women’s Day reminds us to treat one another with respect. Anyone, male or female, who believes in human rights for all people should embrace this day,” said Rajasekar.

Shruthi celebrates the women in her life everyday because they inspire her and have again helped her become the person she is today. “[My grandmother] and my mother have always taught me to follow my passion, and that nobody can hold me back,” said Rajasekar.

THE TROJAN TRIBUNE

NEWS 4

Continued from page 1

September with this piece.

“They’re a good example of students who started young, and they’ve grown enough to show that they’re capable of picking a piece, working on it with coaching but also becoming somewhat independent,” said Sarff. “That’s what you really hope for in a program, that you start them off by picking their pieces and the older they get the more they begin to see what they can become.”

Stern prepared for the season by attending a summer speech camp, said Sarff. “It’s something we see many of the top participants at other schools doing.”

The rules of Duo Interpretation deviate from what we’d usually call acting. According to Sarff, Duo involves two people cutting from a published play or script, and acting it out without touching each other.

“It’s rather odd because you think that when you act you would be looking at each other, touching each other. They face the judge. They can’t make eye contact, looking out at an angle, as if they’re looking at one another, but it’s more focused at the audience, so the audience can see what’s happening on their face,” said Sarff.

“When Andrew shoots at Camille, she

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014 has to react to being shot. When they’re walking to the car, he puts his arm around her but never on her shoulders, “Sarff said.

Teams are also not allowed to have any props or costumes.

“The NIETOC is actually a fairly new tournament, and the people who are starting that are hoping to compete with the National Forensic League (NFL), and we’ve always competed to go to NFL’s,” said Sarff.

“Our speech team is growing and getting stronger every year,” Sarff said. Their last notable nationals contender was Krishnan Ramunujan, who went to Nationals for Extemporaneous Speaking in 2010, according to Sarff.

“There were 252 Extemp-ers and he was 11th in the nation,” said Sarff. “And it’s hard to get to nationals. Only three people in each event out of the whole section will qualify to nationals, and there’s only three section tournaments in Minnesota. So probably only eight people will get to go.

Daffodils back just in time for spring

By NICOLE STEPHAN J U N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R

A tradition started in the 1950s is coming

back for Wayzata seniors.

Late April or early May will bring the return of “Don’t Talk Daffodils,” essentially the guys’ version of snowflake day. This means senior boys will receive paper flowers, and if a boy talks to a senior girl, he has to give her his flower.

Student council representative Kate Carroll (12) said, “I believe that the rules are the same for both activities. The person with the winning daffodil at the end of the day will win $20, but that’s dependent on what the council decides later.”

“Personally, I think it will be a fun edition to senior year. It will add a positive, fun tone to the student body,” Carroll said.

However, other students’ opinions differ on the activity.

Kevin Myers (12) said, “I think it will be interesting to switch roles. It sounds like it will be just as fun as snowflake day.”

“It’s fun for people just to have something

different going on during the day. I don’t think it’s sexist because you don’t have to play.

Daffodil day makes it equal on both sides,” said Ben Ezrilov (12).

On the other hand, some students see the activity as demeaning and condescending.

“I don’t like it [snowflake day] because it is perpetuating the idea that women need to be delicate wimps. Clearly snowflake day is sexist, and they are trying to make it equal with Daffodil day, but two wrongs don’t make a right,” said Lucy Scherschligt (12).

“I think that it’s a good idea, per se, because now the guys get to experience what it feels like but, in general I think these days are kind of dumb,” said Dina Vanderwaal (12).

As for the administration, Principal Trewick said the last thing they want to do is hurt anybody feelings.

“We expect our kids and staff to be respectful and try not to interrupt the educational process...I always look at the kids and if they think it’s a good experience I look at it as a positive,” said Trewick.

To get to go to Nationals already means that you’ve passed through a huge hurdle.”

Sarff has been to Nationals with Wayzata three times in oratory, drama, and extemporaneous speaking. She’s accumulated some success, as can be seen by the numerous trophies stuffing the showcases in second floor A wing.

Sarff says the problem with state and national tournaments is that there are only five events at Nationals, but the state has thirteen different events, ranging from Discussion to Storytelling.

The team has also had students advance to State from their section tournaments, with four students last year advancing to the State level, said Sarff.

Ian Hebeisen and Tristan Wilkes have each gotten a bid to NIETOC, though actually qualifying for NIETOC requires two bids, said Sarff. “Part of the problem is a lot of our drama people are also in the plays, so they were kind of sharing events, so it’s hard to be really specialized in the ones that you go into.”

“We have a tough section: Eden Prairie, Benilde, Orono. Orono has a rich donor who gave them enough money to hire seven more coaches this year, and we have three coaches total. So that gives you an idea of the staffing discrepancy,” Sarff said.

“It’s hard as a coach because you can only work with one student at a time. It’s a very intense job to coach,” said Sarff.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

THE TROJAN TRIBUNE

NEWS 5

ask jared: THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE Q: Teachers seem to disappear into the off ice and come out of the off ice on another floor. How do they get upstairs/downstairs so fast?

WHAT ARE YOU THE FIRST TO DO? Wayzata’s She’s the First chapter sponsors girl’s education. Their 5K will act as a fund raiser for their founda-

She’s the First sponsors first annual 5K for girls education She’s the First, a Wayzata @k_talerico group sponsoring women’s education in impoverished countries, will be hosting their first annual 5K on April 19th.

The 5K will start at 10am at Clifton French Park in Plymouth. “There will snacks, water, live music, and all the usual perks of a delightful 5K,” said She’s the First President Prasanna Vankina (12). Registration costs $20 for adults and 15 for children.

Sponsoring the 5K are Trader Joe’s, Target, and Caribou, said Vankina.

“We have been planning this event since fall; it has taken over 300 collective hours, and the work of our wonderful club members; they’ve done everything from contacting sponsors and local media stations for donations, publicity, and coverage, coordinating bands, working with French Park, making course signs, fund raising, and coordinating volunteers,” said Vankina.

She’s the First was started this year by a group of students with the goal to help girls become the “first” in their families—and many times, their communities—to graduate high school. All of the proceeds will go towards women around the world to become educated, said Vankina.

“Already this year we have sponsored Tsion, a girl in Ethiopia, who would not have been able to go to school without our help,” said Vankina. “Not only does this money cover education for an entire year, but also food, clothing, shelter, birthday presents, and since most of the Ethiopian girls are orphans, it covers the cost of a caretaker as well!”

“We all have tendencies to complain about school, homework, and tests but being a part of She’s the First has really helped me look at those things in a more positive light,” said Vankina. “There are millions of kids around the world that are working to the bone or being married away before the age of 15 because they don’t have an opportunity to go

to school. Girls’ education in developing nations is something that is in the spotlight for organizations such as the United Nations and Amnesty International. More and more people are realizing how essential it is not only to society and the economy but also for the future.”

World Bank chief economist noted that “Investment in girls’ education may well be the highest-return investment available in the developing world.” This kind of investment not only end poverty in many nations, but also decreases infant mortality and the spread of disease.

“Tammy Tibbetts, our national president, put STF into words that describe us perfectly,” said Vankina. “Four out of five girls won’t graduate high school. You can change the life of at least one-and I promise you, she’ll change yours too.”

To get more information, visit 5k.stfwayzata.org. Register in advance, because prices will be going up!

After a year of competiS E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R tion, 25 students from Wayzata High School’s 45-member team have qualified to compete at the 2014 National Business Professionals of America Conference held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In mid-September 50 Wayzata students came together to join BPA under advisors Tyler Shepard, Candy Lee and Tika Kude.

That number later dropped to 48, though that’s still the largest team BPA’s ever had.

After deciding what division they will pursue in competition, they work to produce ideas, scores, and physical products to use in competition, advancing them into the next regional competition, said Kevin Zheng (12).

Each year, students are given a prompt on which their projects will be based. This year

students were required to develop a unique angle surrounding the theme of ‘green energy.’ Students are given almost entirely free rein when creating a product such as a video or website.

The development of a visual product is most the popular category. Students also have to option to compete in a section, and it is their test scores which advance them throughout the year of competition. The majority of these individual tests taken are about computer programing. Students are given 60 minutes to create a code that in theory would work, based of a given amount of information.

Those competing in team competitions have received their topic. For those in individual competition, it is up to them to study any material they think will properly prepare them for the April 30th national competition, said Zheng.

Amrit Bhatia - Small Business Management Team Morgan Cruse - Visual Basic Programming Nickolaus Eaton - Insurance Concepts, PC Servicing and Troubleshooting Peter Fomin - Mobile Applications, Visual Basic Programming Owen Froese - JAVA Programming, Project Management Concepts, Visual Basic Programming Anurag Gupta - Small Business Management Team Katrina Kerrick - Fundamentals of Web Design Jeffrey Lee - Computer Animation Team Joseph Li - C++ Programming, Web Site Design Team David Mo - Computer Animation Team Trenton Nguyen - Systems Administration using CISCO, Web Site Design Team Annelies Odermann - Fundamentals of

By KATIE TALERICO EDITOR IN CHIEF

BPA gets down to business

By SYDNEY GRAN

Wayzata Survivor 2014 Contestants Laura Grooms (9) Sophie Anderson (9) Allegra Pompeo (9) Sam Hidani (11) Jocelyn Dalbec (11) Austin Rush (11) Ta’Reika Larkins (12) Twaha(Omar) Mohamed (12) James Durant (12) Jenna Hoof (12) Brad Yentzer (12) Sydney Gran (12) Abby Maas (12) Kristian Johnson (12) Kaari Johnson (Staff) Jarret Roloff (Staff)

A: There’s something large and unknown in the back of the office. What could it be? I’ll give you a hint: there’s a staircase just for teachers that’s off-limits to students. What do teachers have to say about them?

“Well, they have steps, and a railing,” said WHS science teacher Ken McCarthy. Teachers described the concrete stairwell as windowless and much narrower than student stairs.

“Yes, I use them. They’re quiet. Just stairs, nothing unique or mysterious,” said Anne Hooton, WHS social studies teacher. “Most teachers use them for easy access, especially to their cubbies.”

“They’re an oasis! Really though, they’re not as glamorous as everyone thinks,” said WHS special education teacher Tyler Peterson. “In a rush, it’s nice to fly up and down the stairs.”

Is it beneficial to have places in the school that students cannot access? “Absolutely,” Peterson said. “It’s nice to have some privacy.” To this question, McCarthy simply said, “yes.”

“And on those stairs, people actually abide by the ‘pass on the right’ rule!” Peterson said.

Think you can stump me? Submit any questions you have about maintenance, school policy, trivia, and more to trojanopinion@gmail.com to Ask Jared.

QUALIFYING BPA MEMBERS Web Design, JAVA Programming Shravan Panneer - Insurance Concepts, Small Business Management Team Bhargavi Papisetty - Entrepreneurship Bryan Pogorelsky - Video Production Team Ariana Pooley - Mobile Applications Matthew Prisby - Video Production Team Nathan Ringo - C++ Programming, Computer Programming Concepts, JAVA Programming Akshay Shekhawat - Systems Administration using CISCO Daniel Woo - Video Production Team Luke Young - Web Site Design Team Orien Zeng - Computer Programming Concepts Tony Zeng - Computer Animation Team Mason Zhang - Computer Animation Team, Computer Security Kevin Zheng - IT Concepts, PC Servicing and Troubleshooting, Video Production

MOVIE madness DROP THE BASKETBALL FOR A NIGHT AND HEAD TO THE CINEMA

R E V I E W S

divergent

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Based off of the popular young adult series, Divergent takes place in a dystopian future where the world is divided into factions based off of virtues: Dauntless (bravery), Candor (honesty), Amite (peacefulness), Erudite (intelligence), and Abnegation (selflessness). In this society, teenagers take a test to see which faction they would best fit in—but then are still given the opportunity to choose, through a cultish ceremony that involves hundreds of kids drawing blood from the same blade.

Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is ‘divergent,’ which means she would fit into more than

S T E R N

one of these factions. This is evidently pretty rare, which seems ridiculous but allows you to easily identify with the protagonist as she’s the only one with any real dimension.The government, in a power struggle between Abnegation and Erudite, wants to kill the divergents because they can’t be controlled. The whole thing is pretty stupid, and I think the source material is to blame.

The movie itself isn’t too grating. It’s a pretty by-the-numbers adaptation.

There are some pacing issues, mostly because the film appears to opt for chronicling the plot points laid out in the novel, rather than attempting to make the story its own. Despite some minor technical errors, it’s a competently put-together film. The cinematography is beautiful (when not layered with CGI), and the score fits in well. However, it just feels like a tie-in to some larger spectacle, rather than its own separate entity.

Shailene Woodley is one of my favorite female actresses, giving stellar performances in both The Descendants (2011) and The Spectacular Now (2013).

She does a fine job here, and holds the movie together, but I feel as though she was miscast for the role. Woodley is a wonderful actress, but I don’t see her as the action star the film is trying to make her out to be.

There was a lot of weird casting in this film in general. Miles Teller, who plays Woodley’s romantic opposite in The Spectacular Now, has a minor role as the token jerk who relentlessly attacks Tris throughout the film. Ray Stevenson has a cameo for some reason. And Kate Winslet is remarkably forgettable as the film’s overarching antagonist.

There’s a million and a half canned metaphors about individualism jam-packed into every scene, and the film desperately wants you to recognize that. The moral couldn’t be more shoved into your face if they tried. Subtlety is not this movie’s forte.

The biggest problem with the film is that it’s just kinda stupid; there are countless logistical inconsistencies and idiotic moments.

Divergent isn’t self-aware though, so any humor at the absurdity of the situations is unintentional. It’s obvious that some real effort was put into the movie though, and that’s admirable.

grand budapest hotel 10

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Wes Anderson is one of my favorite directors working today. With sleeper hits such as Rushmore (1998), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), and Moonrise Kingdom (2012), he’s become one of the few truly commercial independent directors. His films have launched the careers of Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman. With beautiful cinematography and clever screenplays, he’s able to lure high-profile actors to play bit roles.

The Grand Budapest Hotel is no exception. In fact, it’s likely his most ambitious film to date. Jumping through three time periods, the film’s ensemble cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman, Léa Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Owen Wilson, and Bob Balaban.

The story revolves around legendary concierge Gustave H (Fiennes), and his lobby boy, Zero (Revolori). After Gustave’s lover Madame D (Swinton) dies, he is bequeathed with a priceless Renaissance painting, “Boy With Apple”. However, Madame D’s son, Dmitri (Brody), doesn’t want Gustave to receive anything from his late mother, so Gustave and Zero steal the painting.

Like all other Wes Anderson films, the cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. Nearly any frame from the film could be spliced and created into a painting. A vast majority

A DREAM DESTINATION: Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is going strong at the box office. Now in its third weekend of release, it’s brought in $7 million. It’s risen to number sever in the box office.

of the film is shot with a wide-angle lens, allowing for everything to be in focus at the same time.

Switching through three different time periods, the brilliant choice is made to change the aspect ratio, which may seem like a subtle detail, but it makes a world of difference.

However, what makes the film really work is the juxtaposition between its classy style and its sophomoric sense of humor. The combination of the two can only be described as “quirky”. The Grand Budapest Hotel is a screwball comedy at heart, and it’s one of Anderson’s finest, with instantly quotable dialogue and wonderful gags.

The cast of the film help take it to the next level.

Ralph Fiennes gives an iconic performance, one of the best in his career. As far as child actors go, Tony Revolori is fantastic. He holds his own, which is quite an accomplishment given his co-stars. Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, and Jeff Goldblum are the highlights from the ensemble, masterfully portraying their intentionally one-dimensional characters, and stealing every scene they’re in.

The Grand Budapest Hotel isn’t asking to be taken seriously. The plot is so absurd that it’s making fun of itself. It’s the classiest campy film you’ll ever see though. I think it’s my favorite of Wes Anderson’s catalogue, and I anticipate seeing it many times in the future.

Based off of the The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show segments, Mr. Peabody and Sherman is an animat-

mr. peabody and sherman

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ed film about a hyper-intelligent dog who decides to adopt a boy. Using a time machine he calls the “WABAC”, Mr. Peabody (Ty Burrell) takes Sherman (Max Charles) back in time so he can experience history first hand (something I wish I could do as I study for my APUSH final). However, on the first day of school, Sherman is ridiculed by his classmate, Penny (Ariel Winter), prompting Sherman to bite her. This leads to an annoyingly obvious civil rights metaphor as a bigoted Ms. Grunion (Allison Janney) tries to take Sherman away from Mr. Peabody, claiming a dog can’t take care of a child.

There are a lot of history jokes in this movie, and a lot of puns as well. While there’s generally nothing worth more than a chuckle, it’s a refreshing change of pace from the lazy brand of humor you see in the majority of kids films. Most of the movie’s gags wear out their welcome fairly quickly, but the fast pace of the film prevents that from being too much of a problem.

Similar to many other movies with time travel as a crucial plot element, things don’t make a lot of sense.

This is especially troublesome for Mr. Peabody and Sherman, but if you don’t think about it too much, the story becomes mildly entertaining. The movie

certainly isn’t going for a plot that makes too much sense.

Ty Burrell is charming as the talking dog, but the real star of the show is 10-year-old Max Charles. Generally, a performance by a child actor is a painful experience, but Charles’s performance as Sherman was so effortless I thought they might have gotten an adult to voice the child.

The film doesn’t waste its historical figures either.

Patrick Warburton and Stanley Tucci both have delightful supporting roles as Agamemnon and Leonardo Da Vinci, respectively. Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, and Mel Brooks also make brief appearances.

The animation is reminiscent of other Dreamworks movies, such as How to Train Your Dragon (2010), Megamind (2010), and The Croods (2013), and it’s on par with what we’ve come to expect from the studio. The movie as a whole is enjoyable, albeit forgettable. Many of the gags quickly get old, the themes are thrust in your face, and the pacing is uneven, but nonetheless, Mr. Peabody and Sherman is still a relatively good time.

Illustrations by Hannah Vogel

Pros: Arcade Fire, Beck, Queens of the Stone Age, Ty Segall, Neutral Milk Hotel, Out-Kast, NAS, California.

Cons: $400 per weekend, getting to California, sold out Coachella has an awesome lineup with big names from many different musical backgrounds. There will be no shortage of incredible shows if you decide to head to Cali , but it will not be cheap; tickets are $400, camping is $85, hotels are probably more, and on top of that you need to get all the way to California. This isn’t recommended for people that can’t afford to miss at least 2 days of school. Additionally tickets have already sold out on Coachella’s website although I’m sure you could score some if you looked hard enough.

Strong Suit: Headliners

Pros: Teenage Bottle Rocket, Less Than Jake, The Maine, getting to Canterbury Park, circle pits, 40$ tickets.

Cons: 300 pound shirtless dudes wearing mouthguards.

Warped Tour is heaven for fans of pop-punk, ska, hardcore, and metal. Somehow each year the lineup drifts further away from its punk roots, but at 40 dollars, why wouldn’t you go, even if there are only a few bands you want to see. Warped Tour is famous for the mosh-pits and heat exhaustion. More bands are still to be added.

Pros: Out-Kast, Jack White, Earl Sweatshirt, $250 threeday passes.

Cons: Getting to and paying to be in New York.

The Governor’s Ball is a relatively young festival and this is the first year they’ve had an impressive set of performers. Their lineup is meant to draw attention.

Along with the aforementioned names, The Kills, Spoon, The Strokes, Damon Albarn, Kurt Vile, Frank Turner, Vampire Weekend and Janelle Monae will all be there.

Strong Suit: Cool Indie bands

Strong Suit: Brutality

s ation r t s u l Il

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Pros: Chance the Rapper, Jack White, Ty Segall, Doctor Dog, Cake Neutral Milk Hotel, Flaming Lips, $285 for 3 days and onsite camping, the camping culture.

Cons: Elton John, Lionel Richie, Tennessee.

Unimpressive headliners, but reading through the complete list of bands is very exciting. There is honestly something for everyone here; A$AP Ferg, Broken Bells, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Bouncing Souls, Meshugga: talk about a wide range of talented artists. On the other hand Tennessee is not in the neighborhood, although if you buy tickets soon it should be possible to keep the cost of the whole trip, food, gas, tickets, lodging included, under $500.

Strong Suit: Diversity

This summer is likely to have som e of the best music festivals ever. Many bands have decided travelling around pl to spend the summer aying to gigantic cr owds and for a giga face in the crowd. W ntic price, you can be hether you’re lookin a g for something to do on a summer day, or week long adventur for a e, there’s bound to be a festival for you.

Pros: Flying Lotus, Lauren Hill, party atmosphere, art, Michigan’s not that far Cons: Weak lineup Electric Forest is a very cool music and camping festival. For three days they fill the woods with colorful lights and artwork. The lineup isn’t much special unless you’re into jam bands and EDM but it is definitely worth going for the experience.

Strong Suit: Weird art in the woods

Pros: Beck, Kendrick Lamarr, Neutral Milk Hotel, more to bands be announced, $130, Getting to and being in Chicago.

Cons: Hipsters, people from 4chan, paying to stay in Chicago.

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iews b Cha y Ar thu pma r n

Pros: Atmosphere, other Rhymesayers, maybe Out-Kast, getting to Canterbury Park Cons: Getting out of the parking lot.

Pitchfork already has a very impressive lineup and I’m very excited to see who will be added in the next weeks.

One down side is the other festival go-ers: people who frequent two of the most despicable and elitist music websites on the web (4chan and Pitchfork). If you do end up going, expect dirty looks and crowds of people standing still with their arms crossed. This will probably be the cheapest out of state festival this summer

If you ask me, this year of Soundset is one the best in the history of hip-hop, there are so many people I would be excited to see at Soundset this year: from the Rhymesayers label Atmosphere and Doomtree, Nas, Tyler the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt, 2 Chainz, Chance the Rapper, the list goes on… Even if people have been saying that the lineup gets worse every year, Soundset is the epitome of rap and hiphop culture in Minnesota and I can’t wait to hear them on March 5th.

Strong Suit: Price

Strong Suit: Hip-Hop!

Pros: Getting to and being in Chicago.

Cons: Lineup still unannounced, paying to be in Chicago, tickets won’t be cheap either.

Although Lolla hasn’t announced a thing yet it is fairly safe to assume the lineup will be full of big acts. Chicago’s Grant Park is a gorgeous location, and the drive to Chicago is only about 6 hours, the drawback is that you will have to pay to exist in Chicago for a whole 3 days, which unless you know somebody with a couch you could sleep on and a fridge you can raid will not be cheap.

Strong Suit: Past Lineups

THE TROJAN TRIBUNE

OPINION 10

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

Opinion Exchange TROJAN TRIBUNE EDITORIAL STAFF Editor in Chief Katie Talerico News Editor Davante Washington Feature Editor Meredith Johnson Sports Editor Emily Berg Opinion Editor Kate Carroll Photo Editor Sadie Bell Copy Editor Jared Kaufman Advertising Manager Taylor Cranfield Advisor David Motes

MISSION STATEMENT 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

Contact the Trojan Tribune with questions regarding ads. 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 Room C116

trojantrib14@gmail.com

Thinking beyond the cleats “So done”

Varsity athletes are seldom seen without a well-kept letter jacket lined with more patches than one can keep

By DIAMOND SAMPSON track of. As J U N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R I proudly sport my own letter jacket, I’m given odd glances. A letter jacket with one letter? For choir?

I’ve had people tell me that lettering in the arts does not give me, nor any other arts student, the right to wear a letterman jacket. They say the jackets are only for “athletes who actually do something.”

They believe that we choir members simply stand there and belt out words, but they cannot imagine how hard it actually is.

Just like football players have a field and basketball players have a court, the music department has a stage. We shine on that stage and we touch people’s hearts.

I have been singing since I was in fourth grade, both in and out of school choir.

During those years singing, I would prac-

tice three days a week for 2-3 hours a night, and had choir concerts every weekend around the state of Minnesota. I never had a break.

Here at Wayzata, we have choirs that work just as hard as any team. Our directors are just like coaches -- they give us advice and make us better. They make us run through a chord multiple times just so we can get it right.

Mr. Dahl is one of the three choir directors at the high school. Dahl directs a wide range of choirs all the way from freshmen to seniors. He has a saying that I refer to anytime someone tells me I sang well: “We were good, but we can be better.” Anyone can learn lyrics and sing, but it takes a certain student to learn the notes and hit the precise consonants and shadow vowels.

It takes a certain person to stand on that stage under hot lights and try to embrace the song and tell a story that some people would be afraid to tell. We are the art, and we work hard to become that.

I will proudly wear a letterman jacket with a patch showing my achievements in choir.

I succeeded in being an artist. I practiced so I could try to touch someone’s heart in the audience. I may not know who it was, but I hope it was someone.

Pillar of the Month FEATURED STUDENT: LAURA MOYNEUR(11) Wayzata Leadership Academy has been recognizing a student each month. Laura Moyneur has been recognized for displaying this characteristic. We sat down with her to learn about her experiences and thoughts about ethics.

By MIA DUENAS WAY Z ATA L E A D E R S H I P A C A D E M Y

Q: How would you describe “ethics”?

A: I would describe ethics as doing the right thing, even if it’s not easy. Ethics would also include having good morals or values.

Q: What is an example of good ethics you’ve seen in the school?

A: I see lots students being respectful towards teachers and working hard in classes. The teachers also show good ethics by helping students after school. By doing this the teachers are being good role models and encouraging good work ethics and motivation to do well in school.

Q: Have you ever cheated on a test or caught someone cheating?

A: Yes. Back in middle school I think I cheated on a gym test once or twice. Once when I was a freshman I saw this girl was cheating off of someone’s test. I don’t think she got caught, but it will just end up hurting her in the end.

Q: How can we improve ethics in the school?

A: I think by promoting it more would help. Also the freshman Respect Retreat talked about good ethics and made us aware of them.

Q: Any last comments?

A: I just think it’s important to be kind to everyone and work hard to reach your goals. If you’re ever struggling or tempted to cheat on a test, just think about how it will impact your future. Keeping your future in mind should motivate people to work hard so they can reach a certain goal.

Laura Moyneur is a junior at WHS who demonstrates great ethics everyday. She is always ready to lend a helping hand and has a permanent smile on her face. Laura is the type of girl you can go to for nearly anything. Her kind personality and work ethics make her a model student that many people admire.

E T H I C S

with your high school drama Not so fast. College won’t change you like you think it will.

“I’m so done with high school.”

Believe me, honey, I am too.

I’m ready for the freedom, the nights of endless card games and ordering pizza

By KATIE TALERICO with my floorEDITOR IN CHIEF mates at two in the morning. I’m ready to meet nerds who are as into math as they are literature, play ultimate frisbee on the quad, and add to a few choices I’ll regret later. But if you think that college is suddenly going to be some life-changing apotheosis where all of your problems will dissipate in a cloud of blue and gold fairy dust, I’m here to break the news to you: if you’re dissatisfied with life right now, college isn’t going to change that for you.

How many girls have I heard ranting on Twitter, “So ready for college, done with this high school drama.” Hate to spoil it, but if you’re a dramatic person now, you’re still going to be a dramatic person in college. Your so-called “drama” isn’t going to end just because you’re away at some mystical university where couples don’t break up, rumors don’t spread, and friends don’t stab each other in the back.

You can’t escape your own personality. Have you ever thought that maybe it isn’t high school that’s causing the drama… it’s you?

Sure, high school sucks in part because everyone knows each other. Rumors spread as quickly as the pungent tang of Axe wafting through the bleak shadows of freshman floor. College is a blank slate, but you will always be you. If you really want to be happier, start over.

But odds are, you won’t. People have an illusion that, though they aren’t happy now, life will somehow get better. For some people this is true.

Hormone imbalances do make us the stereotypically angsty and rotten teenagers we are.

For most of us, college isn’t going to make us happier. Rank yourself in your happiness, on a scale of one to ten.

Have a number? In ten years, it’s likely this number will be the same.

If you drink in high school, you’re probably going to drink in college. If you got with a lot of people in high school, you’re probably going to be giving a lot of STD’s to plenty of new college partners.

If you want to become a different person, then be that person now. Maya Angelou said, “Each new hour holds new chances for new beginnings.” Too often, we overlook the present. Where you are, right now, there are opportunities for change. Your interpretation of the moment will change you, not your idealistic vision of “college.”

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

THE TROJAN TRIBUNE

Humor

Students jump at opportunity to join new club “In the words of the late poet and closeted hopscotcher Ezra Pound, ‘Humanity is the rich effluvium, it is the waste and the manure and the soil, and from it grows the tree of the arts.’

By ANDREW QUIRK Hopscotch is that JUNIOR GUEST WRITER art,” said Wayzata Hopscotch Club cofounder and captain Paul Epland.

“I am merely a vessel for the essence of the beautiful game. Hopscotch flows through me and from me,” said cofounder Andrew Quirk.

The Wayzata Hopscotch Club is the newest group at the high school, and hopes to

rival the most impressive athletic records here. Success is important to them on and off the circuit.

“Although we do enjoy squandering the dreams of amateur hoppers everywhere, hopscotch is about the discovery of self,” Epland said.

The club is pending school approval, but has already seen support from staff members.

Wayzata staff member and wizard Mr. Vieth said that “hopscotch is a means of analyzing ontology in a way that can be understood parsimoniously by even a child”. If you don’t know what that means, hopscotch club is probably the place for you.

Epland and Quirk founded the club primarily to showcase that they are good at one sport. They also deny allegations of hyperselectivity. Quirk said, “the tryouts are hard — some would say too hard. Our selection process is based on a complex algorithm that

takes into account pure hopscotch talent, character, and knowledge of early twentieth century poetry.”

Though seemingly simple, there is much more to hopscotch than meets the eye. One joining member recalls, “it took me two weeks to read through the entire rule book, and that has nothing to do with the fact that it is written in Latin.” This ancient heritage provides the inspiration for the group’s motto: “Donec Omissa Spe.” If you have a pair of jean shorts, a Moleskine notebook, and a burning desire to be a part of resurrecting the dynamic art of hopscotch, then the club needs you.

Questions and requests for membership can be sent to wayzatahopscotch@gmail. com. Queries and pledges can also be written in chalk on the driveway of a team member.

See you on “The Circuit.”

OPINION 11

Disease spreads among WHS seniors Spring break is fast approaching, which means allergy season is rearing its ugly head once again.

This year, however, the Centers for Disease

By JARED KAUFMAN Control and COP Y EDITOR Prevention report that a new disease has popped up on their radar: Senioritis.

“Senioritis is referred to casually in school hallways as the ‘senior slide.’ It’s highly contagious,” said Dr. Peter S. Cerumen, a specialist in the Office of Infectious Diseases.

“This disease is reaching epidemic levels, and it has been placed on our list of current outbreaks.”

Symptoms include decreased caring about the complexities of world literature, procrastinating on MoPro assignments, and excessive tweets about being “so done.” If you demonstrate any of these symptoms and you are a second-semester senior, you may have Senioritis.

Dr. Michael Koro, a researcher with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that some students have an immunity to Senioritis. “I can’t say we fully understand the reasons yet,” Koro said. “High schoolers seem to refer to these students as ‘nerds.’ Their immunity is still a mystery to us, as there’s no vaccination as of now.”

“Shhh! Can’t talk! Must finish homework!”

Emily Klepto (11) yelled, while quickly conjugating Spanish verbs. After being woken up from a passing-time nap, John Effluvia (12) was able to comment only in expletives and grunts.

“Internet, social media, and texting all make this disease spread more rapidly,” said one weary teacher. “That’s why we started the taskforce.”

Thirteen teachers have taken matters into their own hands. They came together to form the Senioritis-Halting Initiative Taskforce, aimed at curbing the spread of this infectious condition. The taskforce is encouraging parents to check their kids for Senioritis.

Koro said that researchers have not yet identified the cause of Senioritis. “We are still looking for answers,” Koro said. “But the disease seems to appear and disappear at around the same time in all patients, and we have no clue why. We are completely baffled.”

The true cost of being prom queen Prom: an uninspiring weekend where play make-believe as royalty. You’re pretending that you’re royal a $600 dress you’ve convinced yourself that you’ll wear again, until someone vomits on you.

By KATE CARROLL Time, energy, and focus are wasted on OPINION EDITOR an overhyped event that ends in disappointment, disaster or mediocrity. Wayzatans aren’t even the worst offenders. I was in utter dismay when earlier this month I was added to a group for a different

school on Facebook for “PROM DRESSES 2014.” Are you kidding me? The purpose of the group was to avoid any repeat dress offenses. Not only was their drama petty, I just couldn’t believe that it started in March, more than two months before the actual event.

“Promposals” make me cringe. You’re a teen, stop pretending that it’s a wedding. Enough with the white dresses, gross couple-y pictures and open PDA. None of those things are exclusive to prom. Just looking around the halls, holding my spitfire tongue from saying “Stop touching” is a major struggle.

I did attend and help plan Prom 2013. It was a waste of my time and energy. I woke up the day after Prom 2013 and headed to my debate banquet, wishing that instead of awkwardly shuffling my shoulders back and forth

on the dance floor, I would have gotten a few more hours of shuteye. Student Council does a great job of encouraging students to attend.

The dance is well run, I just didn’t particularly enjoy it. Beyond that, I hated the idea of not being able to participate in something unless you’ve been asked “as a date”.

My major problem with prom is centered around socioeconomic discrimination. It isn’t cheap. Dresses run about $200-$300, plus flowers, makeup, hair, shoes, dinner, limo, the ticket itself, and after parties. On the guy’s side, tux rental, shoes, tie, flowers, dinner, ticket. In a chauvinistic sense they’re expected to buy dinner/tickets, but ladies, you should be selfsufficient and chip in half especially if you’re not dating. Either way, a lot of money for not a lot of fun. Given the choice between prom

and putting more money in a college fund, I know a fair amount of people who forgo the former when graduation, graduation party gifts and the first semester college bill is right around the corner. The cost is a social pressure to participate, and the sad part is that there’s not a good way for the school to help assist with that. Fund-A-Need only provides “ coats, hats, mittens, snacks, school supplies or activity fees for field trips or projects.” according to the WHS website. If you can’t personally afford it, you’re out of luck.

I’m calling for a reevaluation, think about the pressures they are put on others as a result of your excessive spending. A reasonable night of fun with friends dancing? Sounds great. A night of excess, exorbitant costs and irresponsible behavior? Not so much.

THE TROJAN TRIBUNE

SO

CULTURE 12

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

bella

CHIC:

PACKING LIST

SPRING

C I B O

BREAK

2014

MACARONI &

CHEESE

By SADIE BELL PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

@mssadiebell

Spring break is just around the corner.

Tanlines, umbrella drinks, and relaxing on the beach, or even Netflix bingeing in bed, are just a few finals away. If you’re traveling somewhere warm, you may be in need of a new spring break wardrobe. Even though packing causes most of us stress and we tend to bring enough outfits to last a month, it’s always fun to pack your bags with some new styles.

This spring break season, retailers like Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 are showing a fair amount of nineties inspired styles.

The current popular styles aren’t necessarily the overwhelming neons of MTV’s Spring Break or the over the top nature of Saved by the Bell, but more-so the small floral printed skater and slip dresses of Clueless. Popular dresses for this spring and later into the season include slip dresses and skater dresses, both featured with delicate floral prints.

Both popular in the nineties, slip dresses are skinny strapped dresses that resembles an underslip and skater dresses have cap sleeves and fit the boddess, but flare out just before the knee.

To contrast their simple prints, these dresses typically have a unique open back with crossing straps for a more elaborate design. Be sure to throw a couple of these in your bags to make for a nice cover-up or cute dress for the beach.

Large daisies and sunflowers are also popular prints on dresses, crop tops, and rompers this season. These prints give an outfit a youthful nature and an optimistic summer vibe. Many bustiers and tank tops contain straps made of a strand of sunflower or daisy patches for a fun, different look.

Bustiers are still trendy pieces over this spring break and upcoming season. Bustiers are typically crocheted, lace, or floral printed, similar to last season. New styles differ from last years trends by adding new designs of lace up backs, hooks in front, and more open backs with crossing straps, similar to the backs of skater dresses.

Make sure to pack your high-waisted shorts if you’re bringing some bustiers since they’re typically paired together or with a high-waisted circle skirt. These pieces were popular in the nineties, but have made slight improvements and toned down their eccentrism so they’re no longer totally “as if.”

A lot of girls fret over getting the perfect new suit, but have no fear. If you’re looking to be trendy there are a couple styles in particular that are hot for this season. Many

swimsuits include bustiers, bandeaus, and bralette style bikinis. Other fun styles include retro looking bikinis with either high waisted bottoms or longer bustier tops. The retro styles may result in funky tanlines, so be cautious what you wear while you’re laying under the sun.

Unique bikini tops seen even more this season include flounce style tops of draping crocheted or swimsuit material with cutouts and fringe tops. If you’re going for the

fringe, make sure there isn’t too much fringe and it’s the right color, because they can be a little overwhelming. Like dresses and crop tops this season, many swimsuits have fun criss-cross backs.

Don’t forget your essentials, but make sure you have a little room left in your bag for some new spring trends. Remember to pack your suitcases with nineties inspired spring break style so Cher and Dionne will think your wardrobe is, like, so totally awesome.

By LAUREN BEHRNS FOOD COLUMNIST

GRAB YOUR BRO TANKS AND HIGHWAISTED SHORTS IT’S

SOUNDSET 2014

M u s i c festivals alF E AT U R E S E D I T O R ways attract @mere_johnson19 a certain group of loyal fans, and when it comes to Soundset, I’ve noticed a specific group that is always in attendance. With a mix between national and local hip hop, a wide range of fans from across Minnesota come to this festival to listen to some of their favorite artists. One group of “fans” that I don’t believe goes for the music is a select group of boys and girls just trying to be a part of something that’s popular among their friends. Though both boys and girls are offenders, girls are the worst.

When the lineup is released there are always girls that gush over who’s going to be performing, and I’m not convinced that they know any of the music. Wiz Khalifa will be at Soundset this May. If you only know Black and Yellow, please stop advertising that you’re so excited for Soundset because it’s a festival for music, not a place where you can show off your new high waisted shorts and flannel. Don’t get me wrong there are girls who know every artist, and all their songs by heart, and that’s awesome. They can talk about Soundset all they want because they are actually going for the music. My point lies with the girls who have other motives, either to impress guys or maybe to seem cool.

Soundset is just like any other trend in high school, such as Lululemon or Hunter rainboots. People give these items ample amounts of attention, causing kids to beBy MEREDITH JOHNSON

lieve that they need them because everybody else has them. They’re a status symbol, maybe even considered an item to have if you want to be “popular”. The same goes for going to Soundset. Everyone gets anxious when the lineup is released, and that’s when the buzz about each of the artists starts. Especially this year I noticed more people speaking out on how excited they are for Soundset, even though they had to wait for others to name the artists going, to which they reply “Oh yeah I can’t wait to see them!” Stop it, you don’t know whose going and that’s okay. I think you’ll live if you don’t go.

When it comes to the guys, it won’t be hard to find sketchy upperclassmen bobbing their heads in their “You Mad Bro?” bro tanks. There’s a ton of guys going thinking that this is the perfect place to hit on all the girls in their high waisted shorts, when in reality everyone there is just there to enjoy the music. Guys please stop trying to impress everyone with your “knowledge” on rap music, either you know it or you don’t.

Just know I’m not attacking the crowd that attends Soundset, or the music played there. I just believe that there is a specific crowd that only goes to Soundset because they want everyone to know they’re going.

To those specific people, I just want to let you know going to Soundset doesn’t make you any more of a hipster or whatever you think it does for you. Do the rest of us a favor and just stick to listening to Katy Perry or whatever you listen to.

@lauren_behrns

2 cups macaroni noodles 1 egg, beaten 1/8 cup flour 1 1/4 cup whole milk 1/4 lb cheddar cheese, shredded 1/4 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1/4 tsp salt Cook macaroni noodles according to the instructions on the box and set aside.

In a medium pan, melt the butter. Add in the flour on mediumlow heat, whisking constantly for 5 minutes. Then pour in the milk and whisk for 7-10 minutes until the mixture becomes thick.

In a small bowl, whisk 1 egg: discard half of the egg. Add 1/4 cup of the warm milk mixture to the egg bowl so the eggs will not scramble.

Then pour the egg mixture into the pot: reduce heat to low and whisk until combined.

Add the shredded cheeses, stirring until they’ve melted. Remove from heat and add salt. Pour the macaroni noodles into the pot and stir until they are covered in the cheese sauce.

Serve with shredded cheese on top.

For more recipes, look for Lauren’s cookbook coming out this year!

Bookcase The

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THE TROJAN TRIBUNE

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014

e-cigs: clearing the

FEATURE 13

By MATT JOHNSON, MAVRIK JOOS, and KATE CARROLL S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R S a n d O P I N I O N E D I T O R

Wayzata students are past the days of Currently, e-cigs are treated as a tobacco smoking in the woods. Now, thanks to product in the State of Minnesota. The state-cigarettes, they’re smoking in school. ue is non-specific towards e-cigarettes that The device is battery operated and can be do not contain nicotine. The WHS Student smoked in places that would be illegal for Handbook currently bans tobacco products, any ‘normal’ cigarette. but, by definition, some e-cigarettes are not “The first year I was here I don’t think we tobacco products. It is not clear that those dealt with [e-cigs] at all. Last year maybe who use non-nicotine e-liquid are violating one or two, and then this year is probably the school’s tobacco policy. five or six,” said Wayzata police liaison ChrisSMOKERS “Anytime something new comes up we STUDENT have to figure out as a school as to HAVE SMOKED 19% what the proper way AN E-CIG to deal with those KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS things is,” said Prin68% SMOKED IN SCHOOL cipal Mike Trewick.

“We are considering Hendrickson. “Obviously we don’t know ev- e-cigarettes as part of our tobacco policy.” eryone that uses them but use has been inThe administration is becoming more creasing over the past few years.” aware of the current use of e-cigs in WHS. E-cigs can be an alternative for avid tobac“I don’t think they are being used in classco users who are seeking to quit. The elec- rooms,” said Trewick, “If they are using them tronic cigarette provides a similar sensation it would be in the spaces that they would to inhaling tobacco smoke, but there is no combustion.

That hardly lets e-cigs off the hook. The safety of e-cigs has been questioned since their arrival in the market in 2009, especially since they are not FDA approved and are a relatively new product.

According to the New York Times, “these “e-liquids,” the key ingredients in e-cigarettes, are powerful neurotoxins. Tiny amounts, whether ingested or absorbed through the skin, can cause vomiting and seizures and even be lethal. A teaspoon of highly diluted e-liquid can kill a small child.” be using other things—the bathrooms or The same New York Times article reported locker rooms.” cases of children accidentally drinking the E-cigarettes are banned on school grounds, e-liquid, as they confuse the fruity-smelling but are very easy to conceal, even in the e-liquid with juice or syrup. Fifty children classroom. According to the survey, 19% were sent to the hospital in 2012 due to con- have used an electronic cigarette in school. suming the e-liquid.

77% of those users are upperclassmen. 68%

E-cig use by students

of the students surveyed say their friends use them in school.

“E-cigarettes are treated just like a regular cigarette,” said Hendrickson.

“We haven’t actually given anybody tickets yet because [e-cigs] are so new and some people are still learning about it.”

7% of students have used tobacco based cigarettes and 9% have used chewing tobacco, according to the survey.

16% of students who used tobacco products have also used an electronic cigarette.

“I just think it is a novelty,” said Trewick. “This is just another tool to help people smoke or get high.”

According to the survey, 100% of e-cig users say they use it for smoke tricks. 55% of owners of e-cigs at the school say they use it as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes, 23% were not sure, and 15% use an e-cig to fit in with their peers. Students did not indicate that they used an e-cig to assist in quitting tobacco cigarettes.

“If it has nicotine then I use it to get a buzz, or just for smoke tricks,” said one user.

“Kids are very smart. They figure out how they can manipulate the system,” said Trewick. “We don’t want to get into disrupting the educational process because some are messing around with it [ecigs].” *The survey conducted by the Trojan Tribune sampled 405 Wayzata students of all grades with a questionnaire during of the week of 3/10-3/14. 33% of the senior class reported using an electronic cigarette once or more, 55% of those users reported to be male. 33% of seniors who reported using E-cigs currently are also using cigarettes.

The percent error of the survey is +/-4%

Wells Fargo predicts that in ten years, the e-cig industry will be as big as the tobacco industry.

UP IN SMOKE Electronic Cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes or e-cigs, are devices that emit doses of vaporized nicotine that are inhaled.

The device is battery operated. E-cigs are an alternative for avid tobacco users who want to quit.

According to JAMA Pediatrics, you could say that e-cigs are just another gateway for smoking real cigarettes. The electronic cigarette provides a similar sensation to inhaling tobacco smoke, but there is no combustion.

16% 9% 7%

16% of students who used tobacco products have also used an electronic cigarette.

9% have used chewing tobacco 7% of students have used tobacco based cigarettes

100% Smoke Tricks 55% Tobacco Alternative 15% Fit in with Peers 23% Unsure Women are more likely to have tried e-cigs than men.

THE TROJAN TRIBUNE

SPORTS 14

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

READY FOR ANOTHER

WACK

AT IT

STORY BY DIAMOND SAMPSON PHOTO BY KEVIN ZHENG As the boys tennis team gets ready for this season, they will never forget the triumph they felt winning state last year. With a winning streak that put them on the map, they are ready to do it all over again. “Sweeping up last year’s state tournament was pure satisfaction,” said senior captain Jake Strom.

“We have a lot of younger guys who are challenging the older guys to play really hard, which is making us better,” senior Andrew Swisher said.

“The encouragement the team gives each other at each practice is amazing, you will always hear your coach say ‘practice as if you were playing in a game’. Coaches are really mentors meant to guide you and teach you,” said Strom “Coach Prondzinski is a force. He always has a vision for each of us and he makes it very clear that he genuinely cares about us on and off

the tennis court,” Strom said.

The boys have made it their goal this season to make it back to state again.

“We don’t know the number of returning varsity players this year, but we still are a team that have another shot at state this year,” said Strom.

“Edina will be our biggest competitors this year, last year we beat them in the section championship 4-3 and they have a strong team returning” senior captain Sam Theisen said.

With the captains this year being Jake Strom, Jack Garvey (12), Sam Theisen, Steele Kawalchik (11), and Hank Lee (11) they have already started getting the team prepared for their first match against Shakopee on April 8th. “We have had captains practice most Sundays leading up to the season. Otherwise, many kids play in different groups in the winter,” said Theisen.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE OPPONENT

DATE & TIME

LOCATION

SHAKOPEE

4/8/14 @ 4:00

WAYZATA HS

ST. CLOUD TECH

4/11/14 @ 3:30

WAYZATA HS

ST. PAUL HARDING

4/15/14 @ 4:00

ST. PAUL HARDING HS

BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON

4/16/14 @ 4:00

WAYZATA HS

EDEN PRAIRIE

4/17/14 @ 4:00

EDEN PRAIRIE HS

EDINA

4/22/14 @ 4:00

WAYZATA HS

BENILDE -ST. MARGARET’S

4/23/14 @ 4:00

WAYZATA HS

ROCHESTER MAYO

4/25/14 @ 4:00

ROCHESTER MAYO HS

MAPLE GROVE

4/28/14 @ 4:00

MAPLE GROVE HS

MOUNDS VIEW

4/30/14 @ 4:00

WAYZATA HS

HOPKINS

5/6/14 @ 4:00

HOPKINS

MINNETONKA

5/8/14 @ 4:00

WAYZATA

THE TROJAN TRIBUNE

SPORTS 15

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

Photos courtesy of Kathy Donlin SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING: The returning seven-consecutive state champion girls synchronized swimming team is back and ready to dominate once again this season. They placed first at their first meet against Prior Lake and Hopkins.

Synchro is back and ready to remain on top

Wa y z a t a’s se ven-time J U N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R consecu@MsAnnaLuisa tive state champion synchronized swimming team is back this March and its team members are already busy practicing six times a week.

“I’m excited about lots of new swimmers that seem to have a strong work ethic as well as an adventurous attitude. I’m excited about our returning swimmers and how they are focusing and gutting through the tough practices,” Head coach Signe Hensel said.

Members of the team are hopeful that

By ANNA RODRIGUEZ

they will remain state champions. “It’s going to be hard this season but we can definitely do it if we work hard,” Sonia Neculescu (11) said.

Their first meet was on March 20th against Hopkins and Prior Lake. The girls won the meet 29-0.

“The most difficult part about synchronized swimming is making it look easy because not a lot of people realize how hard it is. We’re not allowed to touch the bottom and you have to be out of the water as high as possible. It’s basically like running a marathon with a smile on your face,” said Neculescu.

“Lots of people can participate, but it ex-

cel takes years,” Hensel said.

“It’s really amazing to see how much we’ve improved from the start of the season and seeing the hard work pay off in the end,” said Leah Novik (11).

“There are two types of meets, figure meets and routine meets. For figure meets, there are four figures and you go in front of a panel of judges and you do the figure.

It’s basically a skill like gymnastics when you do the beams. For routine meets you do the routine and they give you an artistic score and a technical score out of ten,” said Neculescu.

“I’m most excited about getting back together with my team,” Neculescu said.

Novik said she is really excited about learning new routines and spending time bonding with her teammates again.

Hensel has a very busy schedule during the season. “When I am not at the pool, I am cutting music, writing routines, tracking progress, creating workouts, connecting with the assistant coaches, managing correspondence, and thinking about how to do things better,” said Hensel.

A great synchro swimmer needs a few important qualities. “A good synchro swimmer needs to be a team player, willing to put up with heavy makeup and hair covered in Knox gelatin, and a lover of glitter,” Novik said.

Girls track aims to finish first at True State For girls varsity track J U N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R and feild, @diamondsampson you constantly have to fight for your spot because it is so competitve.

“Our team, whether we admit it or not, is always competing against each other,” said senior captain and sprinter Lauren BehBy DIAMOND SAMPSON

rns. “In track, you could be on the varsity team for one meet and not make the team for the next meet. This sport is a constant challenge for the girls that run,” said junior captain Ta’reika Larkins.

Track may be hard and boring to most people, but not to the people that actually run. “I love the passion, joy, and excitement of running,” Larkins said. “You have to have a great stamina and drive to run.

Better Scores. Better Choices.

You must be able to push yourself to your fullest potential with no looking back,” said Larkins.

“I try to push my teammates and give constructive criticism when I can because if I don’t address an issue that can jeopardize our chance at state,” Larkins said.

“We captains have to be there for the girls on and off the track,” Behrns said.

“We are hoping to go to True State this

year,” said head coach Lori Cade. “True state is a tournament where the teams test their strength and depth,” Cade said.

“One of the unique characteristics about a sport such as track is that, although we run as a team, we race as individuals,” Behrns said. “Our whole coaching staff work with they’re own groups on building strength and endurance, so we can keep everyone injury free,” Cade said.

Girls basketball comes to a close

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GIRLS BASKETBALL: The girls went 3-22 this season. The team graduated 2 seniors this . Above is sophomore Annie Robertson in their game again St. Louis Park. ®

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The girls varsity basSPORTS EDITOR ketball team @emilyberg26 ended their season on March 6th with a loss to the 23-3 Centennial girls basketball team. The score 73-31.The team made up of mostly underclassmen went 0-8 in the Lake Conference. The team had 2 seniors, 7 juniors,

By EMILY BERG

5 sophomores, and 2 freshmen rostered. “[Going into the game] we just wanted put it all out there and get after it,” junior Ali Larson said. “We were pumped and just wanted to play hard,” Larson said.

“Throughout the season, everyone on the team became really close. When I look back on this season, I will remember all of the close friendships I made,” Larson said.

THE TROJAN TRIBUNE

SPORTS 16

Spring Sports Preview BASEBALL OPPONENT: Apple Valley DATE & TIME: 4/10/14 @ 4:15 LOCATION: Apple Valley HS

BOYS GOLF OPPONENT: Hopkins DATE & TIME: 4/16/14 @ 3:00 LOCATION: Oak Ridge Country Club

GIRLS GOLF OPPONENT: Minnetonka DATE & TIME: 4/16/14 @ 3:00 LOCATION: Wayzata Country Club

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

Ultimate Frisbee Way z a t a’s U ltimate J U N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R Frisbee team, the Wabbits, return for another season this spring. The Wabbits plan to start out their season strong in hopes of beating their previous record of 6th in state.

“Last year we made huge strides. That was a monumental accomplishment for us, especially since the year before we were ranked 32nd in the state,” said senior captain Annie Polis.

Lake Conference rivals Hopkins and Edina have been the team’s biggest competition. According to Polis, Hopkins winds up winning state almost every year for boys.

“Our team’s strength is cooperation. We get pretty close over the season, so by the end everyone knew each other very well. One of our weaknesses is probably attendance and that can have an effect on

By NICOLE STEPHAN

how well we do,” said Polis.

This is the first year that a girls’ team will be offered, but it will be challenging due to the fact that 98% of the girls coming in have never played ultimate before, according to Polis.

“There are no tryouts, and we are accepting of new players.

All are welcome to give it a shot before committing,” said head coach Brent Allen. “We have consistently improved and we are growing in numbers each year slowly and steadily,” said Allen.

The team will begin practicing March 26th, and it will continue into June with practices 2-3 times a week.

Photo courtesy of Annie Polis

Boys’ Track and Field

BOYS LACROSSE OPPONENT: Orono DATE & TIME: 4/14/14 @ 6:30 LOCATION: Orono HS

GIRLS LACROSSE OPPONENT: Minnetonka DATE & TIME: 4/17/14 @ 7:30 LOCATION: Wayzata HS

SOFTBALL OPPONENT: Edina DATE & TIME: 4/9/14 @ 4:15 LOCATION: Wayzata HS

SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING OPPONENT: Edina/ Prior Lake DATE & TIME: 4/10/14 @ 4:15 LOCATION: Hidden Oaks MS

BOYS TENNIS OPPONENT: Shakopee DATE & TIME: 4/8/14 @ 4:00 LOCATION: Wayzata HS

BOYS TRACK OPPONENT: Edina DATE & TIME: 4/14/14 @ 4:00 LOCATION: Wayzata HS

GIRLS TRACK OPPONENT: Minneapolis/ East Ridge DATE & TIME: 4/16/14 @ 4:00 LOCATION: Wayzata HS

Come support the Trojans!

Photo by Kraig Lungstrom

By HAYDEN FARMER J U N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R

@Hayden_Farmer5

The boys’ track and field team is expecting another successful season with the veterans gone and the eager rookies ready to go.

The boys took home the 7AAA True Team title last season. With runners like Jeff Borchardt (‘13) and Guy Guenther (‘13) graduated, the sprints and hurdles leading roles are up for grabs. The long distance’s core remains the same with leading man Connor Olson (11) driven to reclaim his sixth in the nation rank.

The captains for the 2014 season are Michael Smith (12), James Smith (12), Connor Olson (11) and Obi Wamuo (12).

Michael Smith excels at the 100 meter, 200 meter and 400 meter sprints and came in third, second and first place for his events in the True Team meet last season.

James placed third in the 400 meter sprint and also contributed to the 4x200 and the 4x400. Last year, the boys broke the MN state record for the 4x200 and the school record for the 4x400. Olson was all-state in both the 1600 meter and also 3200 meter events in 2013. Last year at the lake conference championship Wamuo placed second in the 300 meter hurdles and at the true team state meet Wamuo placed

third in the same event.

Ryan Keup (11) shot put 46-3 feet at the time trials at the U of M this year, that alone is a lettering distance and also it is 7 feet better than the furthest distance thrown at last years’ time trials.

“Eden Prairie always has a good throwing team, but we won’t really know our strongest competition until we face them,” said Coach Erik Christenson.

Potential for this year to surpass last year’s success is very high. With a majority of the runners who lettered last year returning, another True Team title is just within the grasp of the 2014 boys’ track and field team. According to Wamuo Edina has a talented long distance corps, Eden Prairie will be skilled in the hurdles, Hopkins has two returning two event all state competitors and Minnetonka will also have a strong team.

“I hope to sweep all of our meets this year.

We have so much depth and talent, it’s really exciting,” James Smith said. When asked if this year could beat the record

Sonnesyn Nordic Ski National Champion Senior Alayna Sonnesyn recent@emilyberg26 ly was named the Athena award winner for Wayzata High School. The award is when coaches nominate female student-athletes who then fill out an application about their accomplishments. The coaches then get together and vote. Sonnesyn also recently won first place at the junior national championships in Stowe, Vermont for nordic skiing. “The team obviously raced very well. Personally, my races were okay.

They were not bad, however I was hopBy EMILY BERG SPORTS EDITOR

ing for better,” Sonnesyn said.

Even though the competition season for nordic skiing is over, many of the skiers are still skiing for fun since there is still snow on the ground, Sonnesyn said.

When asked what they do when there is no snow on the ground to train on, “we rollerski which is basically just skis on wheels,” Sonnesyn said.

Looking forward to next year, Sonnesyn says, “I plan to ski, and run track at the University of Vermont.”

Photo courtesy of Plymouth Magazine

setting performances of last year, James said, “I definitely think we can be better this year.

Many of the coaches are saying this could be the year that people are going to talk about for many years to come.” Also with some high caliber throwers in the mix this year, field might be a competitor for some medals this year.

The record breaking relays had an essential role in winning the first place trophy last year and when Olson was asked about what to look for this year he said that the boys’ relays would be the rock for this 2014 team.

When each captain was asked about how the team has improved from last year they all mentioned the great depth this 2014 team has and how this group of guys has the potential to do something great.

The boys had their first meet at the indoor facility at the U of MN against Minnetonka on Friday, March 21st.