The Bruin - January 2019 by Wadsworth Bruin

Volume XLIV No. 4

WADSWORTH HIGH SCHOOL

January 2019

How does our school spend money?

Band Pg. 4 WHS Rappers Pg. 5 In Depth Pg. 8 Sophomore Spotlight Pg. 12 Movie Reviews Pg. 15

2 A ds

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E ditorial 3

THE BRUIN

J anuary 2019

A word from the Chief

625 Broad Street Wadsworth, OH 44281

Bruin Staff

Editor-in-Chief Marraya Youngblood News Editor Anna Bowling Art Editor Jacob Brown Features Editor Olivia Porpora Sports Editor Jacob McDermitt Online Editor Kaitlyn Setera Business Manager Jacob Loguidice Social Media Manager Kylee Baranek

Staff Writers Stanley Bingham Brooke Burton Patrick Chamier Lauren Conley Jillian Cornacchione Richie Dietrich Logan Egleston Kyia Frank Jessica Hermann Hannah Hines TJ Lockwood Matt Moore Morgan Porpora Halle Schaeffer Seth Smalley Emily Thompson Abby Witcherman Anna Wolfinger Adviser Eric Heffinger

As students at Wadsworth High School, we like to think we know everything that goes on in these halls; however, we are mistaken. Far too often we make assumptions about where money goes in this school. Many believe thousands of dollars go to the football team, while others think the school pours its money into the arts. This month, members of our staff dedicated themselves to finding out the facts. Pulling information from countless documents and interviews, our in-depth look at finances within our high school is comprised of only fact. Starting with trying to ease the complaints of many, we decided to look further into where our money is actually going. A vast majority of us come to school everyday and leave without thinking anything of it. With no regard to the costs

of upkeep, bills, and even busing, it’s no surprise we are ignorant to the funding of our schools. The minute details of our days, in fact, add up. It is absurd to think that our administration would allocate funds to benefit only certain groups in our school. We are fortunate to attend a school with such a strong community support and we are even more fortunate to have administrators that care for our well-being. After reading this month’s issue, we hope that you now have a better understanding of Wadsworth High School’s financial planning. Next time you start to point fingers at groups within our school and complain about their funding, take a moment to think about what goes on beyond these halls and in the administrative building. And if need be, just ask… that’s what we did.

Inside the Bruin 5

8-9

15 Thank you, Mrs. Van Eck Thank you so to Mrs. Van

much Eck,

PHOTO COURTESY OF WHS YEARBOOK

Wadsworth City Schools secretary, for her twentyeight years of service to its students, staff and parents throughout her career. Nine years of her career were spent at Valley View Elementary and the remaining nineteen years were spent at the high school. Wherever life takes you, we want to wish you the best of luck in the future and your retirement!

Editorial Policy

Reminder To Students...

As the snow continues to fall, please take a moment to remember safety is always a priority. There is no need to be in a hurry and risk the lives of yourselves and others. Students, please take your time and account for the weather before you

leave. Leave space between cars and take extra caution in the student parking lot. This season we need to be extra responsible. Enjoy the rest of your winter and stay safe! We look forward to a great rest of the year.

-Mr. Moore

The Bruin is a monthly publication produced by the Newspaper II and Newspaper III students at Wadsworth High School. The Newspaper I class produces the May issue. The staff will do its best to inform the student body and the community of intra-school, community or national events that affect the student body. This paper provides on-the-job training for the staff members. All decisions are

made by the staff members with the advice and suggestions of the adviser. The school administration works closely with the staff to ensure accuracy. We, as the students of journalism, hold the same rights and the same responsibilities as professional journalists as we strive for professional standards. These rights include the right to print any material that is not libelous, obscene or excessively disruptive to the school process. The Bruin will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion, color, creed or sex. The staff members accept full responsibility for everything appearing in this publication. The staff strongly encourages students to express their opinions through the letters to the editor column, which is printed every month. The staff also encourages the members of the community to express their opinion as well. Space permitting, all letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit or omit any portion of any letter because the staff accepts the responsibility for the contents of the paper. All letters must be signed, but the name will be withheld upon request.

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THE BRUIN

Ohio sees new face in House of Representatives BY HALLE SHAEFFER

Anthony Gonzalez, former football player and new politician, is now representing Ohio’s 16th Congressional District. Attending Saint Ignatius High School, he began his football career by becoming two sport standout in both football and track. As a senior he was named first team AllState honoree as well as the Associated Press and The Plain Dealer Co-Defensive Player of the Year. His high school career led him to many more opportunities as an athlete. Before his political career, Gonzalez was a former wide receiver for Ohio State for three years. While at Ohio State, Gonzalez was named All-Big Ten choice by league coaches. As his athletic career advanced, he was drafted in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He earned a starting position

as wide receiver for the team. In 2010, Gonzalez lost the starting wide receiver position due being on injury reserve after hurting his knee. Shortly after Gonzalez’s injury he signed with the New England Patriots in March of 2012 and was released two months later for a string of ongoing injuries. He then made the decision to retire from football, continuing his academic career at Stanford Graduate School of Business. There he earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration. Four years later, Gonzalez filed to run for the United States House of Representatives for Ohio’s 16th Congressional district in 2018 as a Republican. According to his website, Gonzalez states, “My promise will never be to be perfect, but to always be honest, accessible, and tireless, in working on behalf of the constituents who I’m now honored to serve.” He chooses to focus mainly

on education and the economy. Alongside of these issues, Gonzalez highlighted the idea that he was the only candidate endorsed by Ohio Right to Life, an organization that promotes a pro-life agenda. He won the election on November 6, 2018, with 57% percent of the vote. Rep. Gonzalez was sworn into office on Jan 3. He filled the seat of Wadsworth’s own Jim Renacci, who left the seat in his unsuccessful said for the US Senate.

OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL PORTRAIT

Anthony Gonzalez was sworn into the 116th United States Congress on January 3, 2019.

J anuary 2019

Wadsworth band makes magic at BY ABBY WICHTERMAN

The Wadsworth High School band spent some of their Christmas break in Orlando, Florida. While they were there they explored Disney and had the opportunity to perform in two different parades. Two years ago they went to Chicago, but this year they had the opportunity to go to Orlando, Florida and visit Disney World. The band took part in not only the Citrus Bowl Parade but also the New Year’s parade at Magic Kingdom. In order for the band to qualify for this trip, they sent in an application along with a recording of their performance. Getting into Disney was more difficult than getting into the Chicago performance, so being offered a spot in Florida was exciting for the band. This is mainly because the difference in the performances and the cost. “Disney is a much more expensive trip, much more demanding trip, and a more fulfilling experience,” stated Charles Livingston, 12. In order to pay for the trip, the band took part in several fundraisers. They did a food fundraiser and sold items from a band catalog.

The band spent five days in the park with two days provided for travel time. Combined, their performance time was approximately an two hours in both parades. The Citrus Bowl was around 80 minutes and the Disney parade was around 30 minutes in length. Though the performing was the reason for the trip, the band students were able to spend time exploring Universal Studios, Disney Springs, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom. “My favorite part was going to Hollywood Studios and being able to go on the Tower of Terror,” Matthew Bugajski, 11, said about his experience. The band experienced welcoming the New Year while they were at the Magic Kingdom. They got see a firework show in the park and then went to their hotel rooms to finish the celebration. “I loved watching fireworks outside of the hotel,” described Emma Cain, 11. “We could see fireworks all over the horizon when it hit midnight. It was really pretty to see.” This trip was able to bring the band members closer together and give the musicians an unforgettable experience.

Government shutdown reaches record breaking lengths BY ABBY WICHTERMAN

Starting on December 22, 2018, a partial government shutdown began. Many major government agencies shut down, which then had a domino effect on the rest of the nation. The government shut down after lawmakers could not come to a compromise on building the $5.7 billion budget wall. The government shutdown is affecting federal workers in different departments of the government, including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Justice. More than 800,000 workers are being affected by the shutdown. Some workers were laid off or put on temporary leave. Others are required to

work without pay. One recent case concerning unpaid work happened with the Travel Safety Agency, where workers are quitting their jobs or doing them without care. “It’s an inconvenience that we are in shutdown,” said Jordan Craft, 12. “While it could be worse, the problems that it is creating makes the situation worse for the American Public.” Other services have been suspended or stopped: The Food and Drug Administration stopped doing routine checks; The National Parks Service has stopped trash collection and maintenance; The Smithsonian Museums have closed their doors and are no longer allowing guests. This shutdown is one of the longest in history. Another

notable shutdown is the 1995 shutdown that lasted for 21 days. Due to this shutdown, the consequences can be challenging for not only government workers, but everyday citizens as well. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that most tax returns would be sent out, but it would be a slow process. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would be issuing food stamps through the month of February, but was unsure of how much longer it could continue before the funds run out. With many families missing paychecks, they are hoping the shutdown ends soon. In order for it to end, Congress and President Trump will have to come to an agreement.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WHS BAND

Members of the band enjoy their time in Disney World, celebrating their winter break together.

THE BRUIN

J anuary 2019

Amateur WHS rappers joining forces for rap group

OPINION BY PATRICK CHAMIER

My name is, what? My name is, who? My name is, chicka chicka, amateur rapper. With the use of a microphone, GarageBand, and SoundCloud, anyone can get into amateur rapping, including some of our very own students. Today, amateur rappers face the problem of all sounding the same and are ultimately unoriginal. There has to be some originality if the rapper wants to be known. I have just the idea to get our hometown urban Shakespeares a record contract. OutKast, a 90s and early 2000s rap duo between Andre 3000 and Big Boi, has the highest selling rap album of all

time. Creating a rap group or duo could be the solution many rappers look for. In a rap group, multiple rappers come together and make songs in which they all have their own verses. Logan Egleston (OverEazy), 11, Alex Hartshorn (Lil Hart$), 11, and Connor Margo (Connor Margo), 11, are all self proclaimed rappers here at Wadsworth High School. Each have their own distinct sound. If they work together, they could create something to help them finance their Flavor Flav time pieces. OverEazy has been rapping since the fifth grade, Hartshorn Lil Hart$ since eighth grade, and Margo since tenth grade. However, having different styles and different experiences could be their biggest barrier. It is hard to agree on all of their work when all of them have something different to bring to the table, but that is something every other rap group has overcome. These student rappers release their music through an app called SoundCloud. It allows anyone to make with an account

OPINION BY SETH SMALLEY

Frequently, the importance of academic success is overshadowed by the promise of athletic glory. College athletes are talented and committed individuals, however they are faced with the daunting challenge of excelling in both athletics and academics. This is no small task. The amount of work it takes to be a college athlete can hinder a students ability to progress academically. Schools are taking measures to try and help these athletes succeed in the classroom, yet many still fall short. Research has been done by many institutions to assess the extent to which athletes are affected in the classroom.

If you were to become a SoundCloud rapper, what would your name be and why?

PHOTO BY PATRICK CHAMIER

(From left to right), Juniors Alex Hartshorn, Logan Egleston, and Connor Margo, pose to represent their would-be rap group.

to post their own content, even the ones with little to experience. “I think that it would be pretty cool,” said Lil Hart$. “[It] would be a great idea and it would probably bring a lot of attention which is a good thing.” “Rap groups are becoming a thing of the past and I would love to see this change. They would gain a lot of popularity and rap groups are what made rap popular in the first place,” said Mason Beal, 11, on whether or not creating a high school hip hop supergroup would be a good

idea. Beal is correct in certain perspectives. One of the only rap groups out there is Migos, and they are completely talentless. “It will be a cool and exciting experience,” said Rob Kellner, 10. All of them are optimistic for the future possibility of the formation of a rap group. The culmination of their unique styles may be successful, but that is yet to be seen, For now, these rappers will continue to create more of their own music.

Collegiate athletes need a stronger academic support system According to a national study done by University of Albany, the average college grade point average (GPA) for student athletes was a 2.379, while the average for non-athletes was a 2.681. While this difference may not seem very significant, the sample size was extremely large making the margin of difference more meaningful. “It definitely can be difficult,” said Nick Seme, a WHS alumnus and former Ohio State University football player and graduate. “Both academics and athletics are more challenging and time consuming at the next level.” To succeed in college athletics and academics student athletes must adopt a mindset of having to work harder than the average student. Seme elaborated, “But with that being said, as long as you are willing to work harder and improve each day, you will be able to conquer any test, lab, presentation, etc.”. Some higher level recruits are given special accommodations by their schools to help them succeed. Although this is helpful to the few who receive it, it is

O pinion 5

not a common practice among the average student athletes. Kacie Evans, a volleyball player at WHS who will be attending The University of Georgia next year, said, “I will be given specific study hours and will get a tutor for each subject from the team.” Although institutions are making strides to improve the academic support systems around student athletes, the system is still seriously lacking. Average student

athletes who work extremely hard in their sport can be left behind in the classroom because the only athletes receiving enough assistance are top recruits. Stronger academic support systems need to be offered to all student athletes to help propel them to scholastic success. Schools and teams should provide all student athletes with resources such as extra study hours and tutors to help close this very tangible academic discrepancy.

“Lil Drummer Boy, because pa rump, pabump bum.”

Bailey Papay, 11

“12 Dolla’ because I won a rap battle as a kid for $12.” Joe Muhl, 11

“Budd da Studd, because when you have the last name of Budd, you feel like a stud.”

-Mara Budd, 10

“Big Scrunch, because I love scrunchies.” COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY

The chart above shows how athletics can affect students GPA’s by comparing the success of both male and female athletes with non-athletes.

Riley Covil, 10

THE BRUIN S ports 6 J 2019 New additions to Winter Guard this season anuary

BY KYIA FRANK

The Wadsworth High School Winter Guard has been constantly practicing and preparing their choreography and polishing their routine for their first show on January 20. This season they are working even harder by practicing six hours a week in the school cafeteria in order to put together a four minute routine. In the four years since the Winter Guard program has

PHOTO BY KYIA FRANK

Ben O’Hara, 12, one of the newest males to join Winter Guard for the first time since the program was reinstated.

restarted the team has added two boys to their roster. This is something new for the team and the coaches; however, it should not make a difference in their performance. Ben O’Hara, 12, is one of these new male members this school year. This is a new experience for O’Hara, being one of the two boys on the team, and it is something different for the other members of Winter Guard as well. “I have a lot of friends in

PHOTO BY KYIA FRANK

Cooper Greenlees, 10, also joined Winter Guard this season and looks forward to competing.

Color Guard that have shown me some stuff in the past like the basics of spinning flags. I thought it seemed interesting and it was something I wanted to try this year,” said O’Hara. He is very excited for what is to come this year and he is hoping that he can get a duet with one of the girls. “Being one of the few guys does not bother me because most of my friends are girls anyway,” O’Hara stated. Cooper Greenlees, 10, who is another male member, has always been interested in joining Winter Guard. “I think it is really cool to see guys try out for Winter Guard because there usually isn’t too many guys who are willing to try out for things like this,” said Greenlees. This is the team’s fifth season and they already have a quite a few accomplishments. In their first season, they made it to states, and then in the second year, 2016, they won the state championship. The third year they were unable to compete at

PHOTO BY KYIA FRANK

Leigh Hillegass, 11, is a returning member of Winter Guard.

Abby Dadich, 11, has been a member of the team since her freshman year.

states because of a band trip, and in the fourth year, they placed fourth. Leigh Hillegass, 11, who has been a member of Winter Guard for a few years, is excited for the transformation of the team. “I am thrilled about the change of guys joining the team. I think it will bring a nice change in dynamic and it can possibly bring opportunities for partner work and lifts,” said Hillegass. Abby Dadich, 11, who has been a member since her

freshmen year was also excited for the change. “I am excited because I think it will bring a different aspect for everyone watching and on the team,” she said. “I’m happy with the team additions because it gives us more opportunities to do different things in the routine.” The team is anxious for the new season and to see how well everything goes. Changes within the program have created a new experience and attitude for the team.

How baseball players see into the future BY MATT MOORE

In baseball, a pitcher throwing the ball 95 miles per hour has become commonplace at the professional level. With a ball traveling that fast over such a short distance, the minuscule time it takes for the ball to reach the plate makes it nearly impossible for the batter to hit. The distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate is 60 feet and 6 inches. However, accounting for the pitcher’s stride means that the ball will be released about 55 feet from home plate. According to Business Insider, that means it takes a 95 mph fastball 400 milliseconds to reach home plate from the pitcher’s hand. By the time the brain sees the ball it has already traveled 15 feet because it takes 100 milliseconds to process. If the batter wants to swing, it takes his brain 25 additional milliseconds to send the message to his body to begin the swing. On top of that, the actual action of swinging the bat takes 150 milliseconds. This leaves about 125 milliseconds for the batter to decide to swing or not. According to Sciencing, it

takes the average human 100 milliseconds to blink once. So a batter literally has the blink of an eye to decide what to do once a pitch is thrown. “Hitting a baseball thrown at 90 mph or higher is nearly impossible. If you think to swing or not it will be too late,” said Nick Lallathin, 12, who plays on the varsity baseball team and is committed to Walsh University to play baseball. In northeast Ohio there are not many high school baseball players who throw 90 mph. However, in the summer, the best players from each area join forces on a travel team. They then compete against other travel teams of top players and some of these players’ pitches can reach the same speeds as Major League pitchers. “Literally if you blink you miss it,” said Lallathin. Science says that hitting a ball going that fast should be impossible, yet college and Major League players repeatedly accomplish this feat. “Timing is the most important tool to hit a fastball. If your timing is down it makes your swing a lot simpler,” said Craig Palidar, a

PHOTOS BY MATT MOORE

Nick Lallathin, 12, trains for baseball six days a week. Quick hands and good timing are crucial to hitting a fastball. Lallathin was all league first team last year for his performance in both pitching and hitting.

Wadsworth alumnus and current college baseball player. College players and high school players also become accustomed to the different speeds they tend to see. High school hitters get used to 80 mph pitches while college hitters will feel more comfortable seeing 90 mph pitches. “When you see 90 mph or more all the time and you get ‘used’ to it so I would say you do not have to predict where the ball is going

to be as long as you have your timing down,” said Palidar. A recent study has proven that, as Palidar said, the brain uses prediction to make these decisions. Vision scientists at the University of California, Berkley have recently discovered the area of the brain, known as the prediction mechanism, that makes it possible to hit a baseball. According to their research, there

is an area in the middle portion of the brain that will predict the location of an object in motion. Consequently, a batter actually sees where the ball is going to be, not where it is in the moment. Hitting a baseball is widely regarded as one of the most difficult feats in sports because of how little time the batter has to react. Luckily, the brain has the ability to predict motion, allowing people to see into the future.

S ports

THE BRUIN

J anuary 2019

Work ethic separates swim team from the competition BY T.J. LOCKWOOD

The boys and girls’ varsity swimming and diving teams jump to a quick start and look to have a very successful season through their hard work and dedication. Last season, the girls went (2-4-1) and the boys finished with a record of (1-6). This season, both teams improved greatly; the boys have started with a (5-1-1) record and the girls have begun at (5-2). According to fourth-year head coach, Allison Pallija, the improvement that the team has shown is due to all the

hard work of the team. “One of the main aspects of swimming and diving is that you individually have to improve upon your abilities as a swimmer in order to help your team succeed,” said Pallija. “It is all about getting better each day and that is when the team starts to make large strides.” The team works on this goal each day with their many practices. The team participates in morning practices before school from 5:30-7am, where they are either lifting or swimming. In addition, the team either

Owen Porpora, 12, jumps off the diving block in the 200 yard relay freestyle event.

has another practice in the afternoon from 3-5:30pm, or a swim meet later in the evening. Junior captain, Elyse Waldow, sees the practices as an opportunity to get better even though it often seems very difficult and time consuming. Waldow qualified for state last season in the 100 meter breaststroke. “My goal this season is to break the 200 IM school record and swim at the state meet. Sometimes the workload and lack of sleep is really hard to deal with, but it is totally worth it when I drop time and

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL PORPORA

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL PORPORA

Elyse Waldow, 11, competes in the 100 yard breast stroke. She placed second in this event at the Suburban League Tournament.

qualify for fast meets,” said Waldow. The boys’ and girls’ teams each have three captains to lead them through this demanding schedule while they attempt to improve and still have fun through the work. “The swimming can definitely get tiring, but it is all worth it with this group of teammates,” said senior captain Owen Porpora. “We have so much fun as a team getting better each day.” The number of swimmers

has been an issue in the past, but this season a multitude of new swimmers came out for the team. This has contributed to the recent improvement of the two teams, because they have enough swimmers to fill a full varsity lineup. At the Suburban League Tournament, the girls finished in the top part of the league at fourth, and the boys just behind that in the sixth place spot. The team looks to finish up the season strong and send as many swimmers as possible to the district and state meets.

Three senior soccer players honored at state banquet BY JACOB MCDERMITT

WHS seniors Kai Wagner, Jordan Barnhart, and Owen Porpora were all presented with awards at the All-State banquet for soccer in Ohio that took place this month. For Division I, Wagner was named 1st Team All-Ohio for boys, Barnhart was named 2nd Team All-Ohio for girls, and Porpora was the male recipient of the National Guard Leadership Award. Porpora was unaware that he had been nominated by his coach or even that the Leadership award existed until it was announced at Wadsworth High’s fall sports banquet. “I found out at the sports banquet, the one with everyone. I did not know what it was so I was curious. Johnson told me I was going to the state banquet and that they would explain it there.” Each team from Ohio nominated one player that demonstrated “leadership qualities such as teamwork, integrity, dedication, and respect.” A student-athlete of each gender was then chosen from this pool and this year’s male was Porpora.

Porpora has played varsity soccer the past two seasons and was both a starter and a captain this past season. He is also a captain of the swim team and plans to go to the University of Cincinnati for Aeronautical Engineering.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WADSWORTH SOCCER

Owen Porpora, 12, (right) poses at the Ohio All-State banquet of the National Guard OSSCA Leadership Award with the other winner.

Fellow boys team captain Wagner was named to 1st Team All-Ohio for Division I. “Winning the award was exciting, but that was what I was rooting for,” he said. Not only was Wagner proud to

be recognized, but he enjoyed the other parts of the banquet as well. It featured a guest speaker and an opportunity to interact with the other top soccer players in the state. “It was cool. They had a guest speaker, and he was awesome. He lost both of his hands because he worked in a factory when he was 16 and went back to play in high school and ended up being 1st Team All-Ohio as a senior with no hands,” Wagner recalled. “It was really cool being in the same room as all the best kids in the state. I pretty much know all of them so it was cool to see everybody there.” Wagner was a three-year varsity starter for the Grizzlies. He was a captain this season and was named 1st Team for the Conference, County, and Region. He was also awarded 1st Team Suburban League and All-Great Lakes. He is also an All-Ohio and state champion track runner in the 4x800 relay last season, but he is playing soccer in college. He is unsure of where at this point but plans to major in intelligence studies. On the girls side, Jordan Barnhart was named 2nd Team All-Ohio for Division I. Similar to

PHOTO COURTESY OF WADSWORTH SOCCER

Kai Wagner, 12, (second from the left) poses with the other four All-State players from the Akron district.

Wagner, she enjoyed interacting with the other top players, many of whom she already knew, at the yearly banquet. “It was super cool because a lot of players that I have played with and played against were there too,” she said. “It was a unique experience to be able to get us all together and talk about it all and about the season.” Barnhart was a four-year starting goalkeeper for the Lady Grizzlies. She finished her career with 25 shutouts and as a captain of this year’s district finals team.

Despite her accolades and long career, Barnhart will not be playing in college. Instead, she has her sights set on other things. “I am on an LOA, which is a Letter of Affirmation, to the Naval Academy right now as long as my medical clears,” said Barnhart. “That’s what I am looking to do. You serve five years after the Naval Academy so I will serve in the Marine Corp most likely.” While their Grizzly careers may be over, these awards will keep their names in the school’s record books.

8 I n -D epth

THE BRUIN

J anuary 2019

The Breakdown of The Basics

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT WADSWORTH Wadsworth City School District has always been transparent about their monetary budget and financial information. Though sometimes, that information can be hard to understand. The Bruin sat down with Doug Beeman, the district Treasurer, to get a better understanding of the district’s financial reports. The school system is a nonprofit business; this means that they still must take in revenue in order to pay employees, create an advantageous atmosphere for students and continue to provide the best academics they can while making sure that all the money is reinvested. WHS operates through state and local funding, federal and company grants, and community donations. Each fiscal

year, the revenues and expenditures must be documented down to the dollar. In addition to the current year, the treasurer’s office is responsible for making a five-year forecast, which predicts the revenues and expenditures five years in advance. It is no secret that the funding of a school district is incredibly intricate. According to Mr. Beeman and confirmed by the district’s five year forecast, the crude and simplistic yearly breakdown of finances is the following: 80% of all net funds go to paying staff and former staff. Of the remaining 20%, 12% is not seen as it goes toward building utilities, taxes and other urgent expenditures. That leaves the district with about 8%

Q&A WITH DISTRICT TREASURER

If we received more funding, would Wadsworth students see a change? I don’t think that if we received more revenue students would see a large increase right away. That’s only because school revenue goes up and down, and our approach in Wadsworth has always been to provide what we want to provide but we’re not going to go out and reduce class sizes just because we could. What is our main source of revenue? State Aid accounts for about forty percent of our revenue. Another fortyfive to fifty percent of our funding is from the property tax. How does the school go about creating more revenue? The main driver of state

aid is the number of students you have. In the past two years we have had declining enrollment. Does the school invest at all? Because the school is public funded, we are limited in what we can invest in. We typically make between 70-100 thousand a year in investment income. How is it decided how the money is divided between athletics, arts, and academics? We work closely with what we call the administrative team, which consists of the principals and assistant principals in every building, along with people in the central office as well. We meet twice a month and talk about those things and make sure we are giving priorities where we need to.

All answers are from Mr. Doug Beeman, Wadsworth School District Treasurer

BY MARRAYA YOUNGBLOOD, ANNA BOWLING, LOGAN EGLESTON

Expenditures 2017

$46.8M

$46.5M

2018 $50.5M

2017

Revenue

of the total net funds to work with. In the fiscal year of 2018, 8% of the total net funds was 1.1 million dollars, which on the scale of a school district as large as Wadsworth, is not a significant amount of money.

Many students, parents and staff are unsure of the intricate web that money matters must go through. As The Bruin staff looked more into the students’ complaints and conversations, it became

2018 $48.6M

evident that we were just as unsure as everyone else. While sitting down with Mr. Doug Beeman, The Bruin found answers to some of the most pressing questions students, parents and staff have asked.

WHS Monthly Utilities $50,000

Wadsworth School District spends $60,000 per month on Whole School Utilities just electricity Bill

$32,000 Electric Bill

$8,700 Natural Gas Bill

$3,700 Water Bill

$1,300 Sanitation

J anuary 2019

I n -D epth

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HIGH SCHOOL’S FINANCIAL STATUS

While Wadsworth spends 80% of their budget on their staff, here is how we match up to surrounding schools.

80% 12%

Operating Costs

Spending Budget

Norton

Staff; Current and Former

$55.2 K

$64.9 K

$66.5 K

$71.1 K

Medina

OVERALL... THIS IS HOW WADSWORTH HIGH SCHOOL UTILIZES THEIR BUDGET

Average Teacher Salary Statistics

Copley

Over the past few years, Wadsworth High School has seen a decrease in its enrollment.

Wadsworth

Wadsworth City is not among the 20% of public districts with the lowest operating expenses per pupil.

Barberton

Wadsworth City is among the 20% of public districts with the highest academic performance index scores.

“We have a great community who supports education and extracurriculars and you guys, myself included as a Wadsworth High School Alumnus, are very fortunate for the support we get from this great community.” -Doug Beeman, Wadsworth School District Treasurer

$75.2 K

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S peak O ut11

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How will you achieve your New Year’s resolution?

Mrs. Beavers

Mrs. Trausch

“My resolution is to speak more Spanish in my classes. I can do this by repeating what I’m saying until my students know what I’m saying.”

Kylee Batey, 12

“I want to be healthier and to do this I am going to give up chips and unhealthy things.”

Brooke Knapp, 11

“I am going to work hard at therapy so my knee heals from my injury so I can get back to soccer.”

Chris Steele, 11

“I want to bowl a perfect game and I can do that by practicing hard everyday.”

Alicia Shepard, 12

Mr. Kaufman

“In the new year I want to work hard in school so I can apply to get into my dream college.”

“My new years resolution is to finish working on redoing my basement as soon as possible.”

Gretchen Kovein, 11

Zach Patterson, 10

“I am going to save more money by putting 75% of my paychecks in a savings account.”

“I want to improve on my health and I can achieve that by working out and eating the right things.”

Jazz Jackson, 10

Laney Jackson, 9

“I want to get on a better sleeping schedule by turning my phone off early and going to sleep.”

“I want to lose weight and be healthy and to do this I’m going to stop eating so much.”

ALL PHOTOS BY LAUREN CONLEY

Jarelle Hutcherson, 12

“I want to achieve my goal of getting better grades by being more organized and studying.”

“I want to continue to make my bed in the morning because it’s the first thing I accomplish in the day. It makes me happy when I see it”

12 F eatures

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sophomore

Brianna Becerra: Pageantry BY JILLIAN CORNACCHIONE

Brianna Becerra, once a shy girl who was scared to stand up in front of a crowd, decided to compete in the Ohio Miss Job’s Daughter Pageant. Little did she know that seizing this title would have a lasting impact on her life. Job’s Daughters is not just any group. It is an organization across the globe for young women between the ages of 10 and 20 that focuses on character building and kindness toward others. In addition, Job's Daughters also promotes a balanced lifestyle of family, school and extracurricular activities. Ever since she was a little girl, Becerra had always admired and imagined earning the Ohio Miss Job’s Daughter role. This dream soon became reality when she got the opportunity to compete in the pageant in April 2018. To compete in this pageant, one must take a written

knowledge test, recite a few pages of memory work, and get interviewed by the judges. While on stage, she was also judged on wardrobe, posture, facials, and interview questions. “I felt nervous before going on the stage, but once I was in front of everyone, it was pure adrenaline,” said Becerra. She was extremely honored when she found out she had won, and said that it was one of her biggest accomplishments. Becerra is the youngest girl in Ohio to ever achieve this position. The title has brought her a number of opportunities throughout the past year. “My favorite part is definitely the traveling,” said Becerra. “I’m able to meet girls from all over Ohio. I have built so many friendships this

year that I’m sure will last.” Becerra has traveled to places all over the state, and sometimes to nearby states, where she participates in public speaking and demonstrates her leadership skills. She is on the road almost every weekend. Since she is rarely ever home, it has been a challenge for her to keep up with schoolwork and extracurriculars, but she has managed to make it work. Becerra also had the privilege to represent a charity known as HIKE (Hearing Improved Kids Endowment), which raises money for children who are unable to afford hearing aids. Over the past year, she has raised nearly $1,600 for the cause. Through this organization, Becerra has met girls from everywhere around the state of Ohio.

“The most rewarding thing about my title is being able to put my cape and crown on the little girls,” said Becerra. “Their eyes light up when the crown is on their head, and that is what makes everything worth it.” Job’s Daughters has influenced Becerra’s life in many ways. It helped her to open up and engage in the outside world, something that she had previously been missing out on. She was also able to reach out and contribute to the cause of helping others. Becerra’s term as Ohio Miss Job’s Daughter ends in April 2019, although, she will still be called an “Ohio Miss”. She is exceedingly grateful to be given all of these opportunities. They have taught her many things that she will continue to take with her through life. In her future, Becerra wishes to compete in more pageants similar to the Ohio Miss Job’s Daughter Pageant. She hopes that one day, she

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRIANNA BECERRA

Brianna Becerra poses in her sash, cape and crown after being named Ohio Miss Job’s Daughter.

can compete for international titles so that she can travel around the world, experience new cultures, and continue to make a difference in the lives of many.

Elaina McNeely: Makeup BY JILLIAN CORNACCHIONE

Elaina McNeely possesses a unique artistic talent. She expresses herself through her makeup. McNeely was introduced to makeup when she was just five years old and has had this hobby ever since. However, she really started getting into

makeup about the time she was in 6th grade. She was first influenced by her mother and has gotten increasingly passionate about makeup as she was slowly introduced to new products and different styles. “Makeup is such a cool way to completely transform yourself,” said McNeely. “I

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELAINA MCNEELY

Elaina McNeely loves to create bold looks in order to express her artistic talent.

mostly use makeup as a way of artistic release.” She continued to practice, and her styles began to possess more detail and get higher in quality over the years. McNeely describes her makeup style as being current and fun. She has acquired a lot of fascinating and intricate looks that are sure to catch the eye of many. She uses bright eye shadow colors and sometimes incorporates a glitter cut crease to make her eyes pop. When it comes to makeup, McNeely does not limit herself to one specific brand. She uses several different kinds. A few of her favorites include Morphe and Too Faced. For school, McNeely usually goes with a mild, natural look. She often takes on a more bold look for special occasions or just for fun. Whenever she

fit for her, and hopes that she can continue to build on her artistic skill as she gets older. “I hope that in the future I can continue doing makeup, whether it be for fun or for work, either one is fine with me!” said McNeely.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELAINA MCNEELY

This eye makeup look involves bright orange eye shadow, along with a thick, colorful wing outlined in eyeliner.

has free time, she tries a more challenging design. “My morning routine for school takes about 20-30 minutes, but if I go all out and do something fun, I could be there for hours,” said McNeely. After high school, McNeely plans to do something centered around cosmetology. She thinks that this field is a good

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELAINA MCNEELY

McNeely used her talent as a way to get into the holiday spirit. She incorporated a Christmas lights design into this look.

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F eatures

spotlight

Hannah Ihrig: Dance BY STANLEY BINGHAM

As a member of Once Upon A Dream Dance Company (OUAD) in Medina, Hannah Ihrig has become an experienced dancer due to years of hard work and dedication. She has received multiple awards and participated in many competitions, which portray her accomplishments as a dancer. Due in large part to her extended family, she began to dance at a very young age. Without the help of her cousin, her involvement in dancing most certainly would have been halted. “My cousin inspired me to start dancing,” said Ihrig, 10. “When I was little, I would go

and watch her dance, and I always wanted to do it.” She started to specialize in certain types of dancing, including ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop for a short period of time. Ihrig enjoys dancing for OUAD due to their wide selection of classes for both males and females. Ihrig competes in four competitions, called Beyond The Stars, Revel, Applause, and Revolution as well as at a convention. “These are dance competitions where different teams come to perform,” continued Ihrig. “Conventions go hand in hand with competitions. It is basically three days of different dance workshops held in hotels or ballrooms led by well qualified

choreographers.” Her hard work has not gone unnoticed as a multitude of accolades have been added to her collection from her different competitions. “During routines, the judges look at four categories for a score of 300 points,” said Ihrig. “The scoring goes as follows: platinum (300-285), elite high gold (284.9270), and high gold (269.9-255). I have also learned the principles of teamwork, discipline, respect, dedication, and definitely time management. ” Despite how involved Ihrig as a high school student, she works hard to keep her long-term goals in mind and focus on the bigger picture. “I hope dancing can take me

to college in the future,” Ihrig expressed. “Obviously, the goal is to get to Broadway after that. The next best option is California where I could dance professionally with big artists, or in movies and TV shows.” said Ihrig. Ihrig has prepared herself

and for other people as necessary, filling in when those people are not available to perform their job. “I help someone out when they cannot take pictures at events, but mostly I do photography for myself,” Mueller continued. “I do a lot of events. I have done engagement photos, events in Cleveland, and photoshoots. For the most part, however, I do school sporting events.” Taking photos all of the time can be tedious, but he works hard to make sure they are up to his personal standards. At high school basketball games, he stands on the baseline of the court and captures pictures of the game. He also moves to several different positions in order to take the photos in all angles. He enacts this technique in order to get the angle he wants. Photography is simply a skill to Mueller right now and he views it more as a leisurely activity. He is open to other career options, but he is well aware of the prowess his work displays. “Photography is more of a

skill I am trying to get better at, rather than a full time career,” said Mueller. “I really enjoy it and it is a nice way to use free time when I do not have anything else going on. I do see it as a job I can do in my free time. If it so happens that it becomes my path, then I would love to try and be a photographer for National

Geographic or a big newspaper like The New York Times. I am also definitely interested in Aerospace or Aerospace Engineering.” While Aerospace and photography are very different career choices, Mueller is very passionate about both and hopes to be successful no matter what

for success in the future and continues to work to become better each and every day. With the help of family and instructors, she will continue to compete in different events and hopefully achieve her goal of making it on the big stage one day.

PHOTOS COURTESY HANNAH IHRIG

Hannah Ihrig performs a routine of different stretches and exercises in preparation for a dance session.

Axel Mueller: Photography BY STANLEY BINGHAM

Photography requires an experienced eye and a knack for capturing moments. Axel Mueller has already acquired this skill along with several more pertaining to the art of using a camera. Mueller took to photography at a very young age. Others who used cameras served as an inspiration to him and he looked up to them as role models. “I was inspired to do photography because my mother would always take pictures that I would love to look at,” said Mueller. “She would take photos at family events and when she was not using it, she would ask if I wanted to play around with it.” He wanted to challenge himself, which is what prompted him to begin his work with photography. He continued to take photos as he was growing up, developing his abilities even further. Now, as he is in a more professional role as a photographer, he takes pictures for a number of events

PHOTO COURTESY OF AXEL MUELLER

Nick Lallathin, 12, winds up for a pitch as Mueller captures the moment with his lens.

Mueller photographs Brendan Merhar, 12, as he uses his dribble to get around his defender in a game against Revere.

path he chooses. The future is wide open for Mueller, whether he pursues photography or another occupation. With more time and experience, his photography skills will certainly develop even further. For now, he will continue to rely on his hard work to be successful.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AXEL MUELLER

As Alex Shepherd, 10, races on the track, Mueller takes a picture of the runner in mid-stride.

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10% of Your Diet • Half of what your Blood Needs 46% Vitamin B6 for blood formation, 21% Iron to prevent anemia and make iron from plant-based food available to your body

• Half of what your Brain Needs 58% of Vitamin B12 for brain and nervous system function

• Half of what your Body Needs 50% of “complete” protein, 46% Niacin to fight cardiovascular disease 44% Zinc, 43% Selenium antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, 21% Phosphorous

*3 ounce steak = 160 calories of a 2,000 calorie per day diet

RK BEEF

Phone: 330-618-4068 Email: randykilbride@msn.com Location: 920 Johnson Rd. Wadsworth, Ohio 44281

PHOTO BY JAKE LOGUIDICE

E ntertainment15

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J anuary 2019

Movies worth seeing BY JESSICA HERMANN

Black Mirror:Bandersnatch

Mary Poppins Returns

Aquaman

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

BY MATT MOORE

Food and Moore

Rating:

Critic Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes:73% IMBD: 7.6/10

Rating:

Opening Weekend: $23,523,121

Critic Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes:96%

Metacritic: 61% Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is a choose your own adventure style film from Netflix. The viewer has to choose from options at certain times with results varying from the success of the main character’s game he has been programming to deadly failure. A thrilling watch, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch opens the door for more movies of its kind.

Michael Banks, Mary Poppins’ former charge, is now a single parent with three children. He is struggling to pay off a loan under the threat of his home being repossessed soon. He is in for a surprise as Poppins arrives to teach his children some important lessons. Despite tackling some tougher topics, like grief, this film maintains the cheerful air one would expect.

Opening Weekend: $67,873,522

IMBD:7.3/10

Current Gross

profit: $138,817,262

Rating:

Common Sense Media:3.5/5 Netflix came out with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before this December, an adaptation of the book series. The film focuses on Lara Jean, who is a teenager that writes private letters to her five previous crushes. A secret perpetrator, who is missed by the intelligent Jean, sends them all out. The plot is somewhat entertaining, making it a romantic comedy any teenage girl will likely enjoy.

Current Gross profit: $260,024,160 The half merman, Arthur Curry, stands against Orm, evil ruler of Atlantis, in Aquaman. The film has been planned for 14 years, but fell through several times over the years due to variables like money constraint. “As a Marvel fan it was not my favorite, but I would still recommend it to my friends. It was nice to see a new individual hero film,” said Kristin Cook, 12.

January To-Do List Going

dd e l S

Winter Edition

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t r o p p u S ut

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on Bost s Mill ine dyw n a r B

Your Winter Sports Teams

Visit

This month I am going to give you a sneak peak into the life of your principal, Mr. Moore. You may know your principal as an easygoing and joyful guy but I can assure you when it comes to holiday cooking, he is all business. As a reporter of the people, I feel it is necessary to provide you all with a full review and score for Mr. Moore’s holiday cooking. One thing you may not know about Mr. Moore is that he is a smoker. He smokes meat to eat. He will wake up very early in the morning to prepare any kind of meat to put into a smoker where they will sit at a low temperature for many hours. Over break, Mr. Moore smoked a few pounds of pork chops for the family. He marinated them in a mix of olive oil and a dry rub. They then cooked for a slow five hours, capturing the smoky flavor of the burning wood chips. He served the pork with a slew of mixed vegetables, roasted and tossed in spices. The pork, although delicious by itself, was served best with a dish of “Rub Some Butt” barbecue sauce which is heavily endorsed by Mr. Moore. Overall, what Mr. Moore lacks in quantity in food cooked, he more than makes up for in quality. Due to the great smoked pork chops and the fact that he must approve this article before it is published, I give Mr. Moore’s holiday cooking four out of five paws.

Lock 3 Ice sk ating Rink

PHOTO BY MATT MOORE

BY BROOKE BURTON

16 O f the M onth

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J anuary 2019

Songs of th month

son 5 a e s gin” and will r i V e the n March of the n a e J h nt: T ry “ leases i season e l a T re nal s. Got ed Janua fi s ’ e a h c i t r er s serie “Ame ns” premi k previou s be pio ings bac d such a m a h C d br the worl Ryan. n a h 7t around nca a i B s d r n winne n Boyle a Susa

The Bac k release street Boys w ill their al b Meghan u m “DNA along w Trainor ” ith thei will r r tour on elease w h Januar orld er “ Trea Myself y 25th t ” album . Januar y 25

Junk

th.

Video Game

Red Dead Redemption II, released in 2018, will release its full online version soon.

Dog

Mr. Moore’s 2007 Chrysler Town and Country is currently being worked on for unknown battery issues.

Car eer

s t n e d Stu the of th n o M

Cooper, the golden retriever, is a brand new addition to the Rench family. ch Te

Car eer

Ben Moskos

ch Te

Sarah Takenaka

Matt Neil

Haley Hochstetler

PAGE BY ANNA WOLFINGER