The Bruin - March 2018 by Wadsworth Bruin

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NEWSPAPER II/III VOLUME XLIII NO.6

Race for US Senate heats up as Republican primary nears Renacc i d r o p s b id f o r g o v e r n o r, j o i n s c rowded Senate ra ce BY ANNA BOWLING

to modify, but they “Real leadership isn’t always The upcoming midterm election all have policies to about doing what you want, has all eyes focused on the Senate implement. but doing what you need.” “[I want to look seat from Ohio that is up for -Congressman Jim Renacci reelection. The current seat is held at] fixing our federal budget. by Sherrod Brown. He is the only Being fiscally responsible is Democrat running, while there are the key to providing a quality future shootings in America have raised for our children and grandchildren,” additional questions on how three Republican candidates. lawmakers plan to better protect the Before the general election in said Renacci. Ackison hopes to also focus on students. The candidates hope to November, there will be a primary provide a safer future for American in May to pick who Senator Brown’s education. opponent will be. The Republican “I am working on some primary is set to be a tough race. communication methods in It includes current congressman Congress where law enforcement Jim Renacci, Cleveland banker and teachers are working together Mike Gibbons and Columbus CEO to make sure everyone feels safe,” Melissa Ackison. The Bruin reached Renacci said. “Gun control is a out to each of the Republican difficult debate and we all need to candidates for comment on their understand that it’s policies. Mr. Gibbons did not not just guns that respond for comment in time for played a role in what print. happened in Florida. Each candidate chooses to run We must look at the for different reasons. Some want entire picture to make to change healthcare, others gun a change.” control. Sometimes the reason is Ackison has a more more personal. drastic and specific “As a small business owner, I was opinion compared to really at a point where I looked at the policymakers in Washington and saw Renacci. that we were at a huge disconnect. I PHOTO COURTESY OF RENACCI FOR US SENATE “There’s a desensitization within lived through many policies where Since 2010, Congressman Jim Renacci our young generation. This is not I learned that my business was has represented Ohio’s 16th district. a gun problem,” Ackison said. suffering as well as my family,” said the future but in different ways. “People keep putting a value on Melissa Ackison. “Healthcare reform and education human life. I would like to see Congressman Renacci had a reform are very important to me. military providing security in our different approach on running. I also want to look at the welfare schools. There’s nothing wrong “After seven years in Washington, system [for change],” said Ackison. with metal detectors in schools I was ready to head back to Ohio [as Education is a serious topic among either. People look for easy targets. governor]. lawmakers. These Our schools aren’t as safe as they “I would love to see candidates want should be.” I got a call from business mentors be to ensure that the As for furthering an education, the White integrated into public next generations Renacci and Ackison have House with of students are differing opinions on what is the education.” a request prepared for the best way to prepare for the future. -Melissa Ackison from the “No one ever teaches [students] future. President,” “I would like how to be an entrepreneur,” said Jim Renacci. “He asked me to to look at an overhaul of the public Ackison said. “We just push that run for Senate because he believes I education system,” Ackison said. college pathway on them. I would am the only person who could beat “[I think we should have] no more love to see business mentors be our current Senator, Sherrod Brown. common core. It’s an admitted integrated into public education.” Real leadership isn’t always about failure “ Renacci had a more experienced doing what you want, but doing what Renacci had similar views to outlook on college reform. you need. I accepted the President’s Ackison on education. “As the first in my family to call to service, and I am now running “I believe we need to eliminate graduate from college, I know the for U.S. Senate.” the idea of a one-size-fits-all, federal importance of quality education Reasons to run are built off of approach to education and return and the impact it has on one’s life,” a want for change. Candidates, control of decision-making to states said Renacci. “That’s why I fought lawmakers and elected officials all and local schools,” said Renacci. for the American Opportunity Tax have differing ideas on how to better While education has always Credit and 529 Savings Plans in change the world. All candidates have been a hot-button topic in elections the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act so college varying opinions on how and what and campaigns, the recent mass can be more affordable for our children.” In the April issue, we will interview the Democratic In order to provide for the future, nominee and current officeholder, these candidates have policies that they hope to be implemented into Senator Sherrod Brown

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current schools’ plans of education. “One thing that tends to get overlooked when looking for education beyond high school are trade and technical education schools,” Renacci said. “We need to do more as a country to encourage students to look at all of their options and see which ones fit their interests; actually prepare them for the job they want and are affordable.” Ackison had a similar approach to Renacci. “I would like us to make sure that we focus on trades and skills so that students can focus on getting education that best fits their degree,” Ackison said. Renacci and Ackison both want to make important changes to current American policy. They hope to secure the Senate seat in order to follow through on those changes. “Our republic is designed to be run by the people for the people,” Ackison said. “We need to start running for office.” Renacci also wishes to provide for constituents in similar ways. “I believe that for America to be successful, [elected officials] need to live within the same means that Americans do each and every day,” Renacci said. The current Republican who

wins the primary election will go against Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. The primary to decide the Republican nominee will take place on May 8, and the general election will happen on November 6, 2018.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ACKISON FOR US SENATE

Melissa Ackison plans to run a grassroots campaign to provide a viable candidate to all demographics in Ohio.

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Coming in April: An In-Depth look at the gun debate

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Speech and Debate succeeds at States

team prepared for their journey to States, many of the members had their fingers crossed for themselves and their peers. This included those who did not make State level, as they believed States were going to be more difficult than it has ever been before. As for the successes at the State finals, many of Wadsworth’s own placed higher up; Elise Muhl, 12, placed fourth as a finalist, Connor PHOTO COURTESY OF WADSWORTH SPEECH AND DEBATE Pictured above, the qualifiers for the State-wide Speech and Debate competition Behydt, 12, placed fifth as a gather for a group photo as they prepared to tackle competition from around finalist, Jordan Craft, 11, broke the entire state of Ohio. through as a quarter finalist, and address. Single performers Clayton Barker and Alexandra BY RICHIE DIETRICH and duos from many of the Zuder quarterfinaled as well. Also at the District National After finishing their most recent categories had made it to the competition at the OSDA, Ohio speech and debate state-level Qualifying Tournament, Sophie Boulter, 12, managed to make Speech and Debate Association, competition. state qualifying tournament, “You can call it competitive the National level competition the Wadsworth High School speaking, but there is so for the program. She previously qualified for Nationals during her Speech and Debate team had much more than that.” sophomore year. high hopes for members that -Alexandra Zuder, 11 Macy Coward, 11, said, “I am managed to reach the State really proud of her [Sophie] and competition. “I still have trouble “As for me and my duo I do not believe there is a person explaining what Speech and partner, Clay Barker, we on the team that would say she Debate is to people,” said memorize small dramatic pieces did not deserve to make it. We, Alexandra Zuder, 11. “You can which we present in ten minutes as a team, all have a lot of faith call it competitive speaking, but intervals. I think the most in her and hope she does well at there is so much more to it than difficult thing about our act is Nationals.” As the season winds down, that.” that we are not allowed to look Speech and Debate is split into at one another, but we have to members prepare to say goodbye to the seniors and prepare for the 13 different categories, such as work together,” said Zuder. debate, interpretation, and public While the Speech and Debate next season.

Letter to the editor

Students have long been known to not “respect authority” and this is a problem in today’s educational system. Without respect of the educators, it is hard for students to retain anything in an educational setting. Some believe that the lack of punishment found in the modern educational system is the issue. This theory of creating stricter punishment is faultworthy in nature and will only create students who are better at deception rather than better students. Teaching students how to respect authority, especially teachers’, is not something that can be done by shoving the definition at them and then punishing them for every mistake they make. Commanding respect forcefully does not accomplish anything and merely gives the teacher a fake

sense of power over the classroom while forcing students to conform. This clearly has had an effect on a student’s motivation to do well in a class or to create a true educational connection with a teacher when the student does not respect the teacher. Obviously some level of discipline can and should be expected, but the best teachers very rarely resort to punishment. This is because they respect the students, and this behavior demands respect back. Students are more likely to form meaningful relationships with teachers who are reasonable, helpful, and open, while still maintaining the barriers that separate a teacher and a student. Teachers who are understanding of their student’s mistakes allow for more growth and better results in the future. Through more understanding and kindness on the part of the teacher, a student

Bruin Staff

would become less apt to cheat or commit an action frowned upon. With this nurturing on the part of the teacher, a student will grow as an individual and a member of society. Having experienced teachers with both views, I can anecdotally say that the ones who earned my respect got significantly more effort from me and had a much more meaningful impact on not only my learning but my character. Having said that, I write this not as a criticism to teachers who I do not agree with, but an open letter to show that students value respect from teachers. I write this to show that reciprocating respect would be beneficial to both the student and the teacher. Through the creation of a more nurturing atmosphere, free of the pressure from potential mistakes, student and teacher apathy would decrease monumentally.

Editor-in-Chief: Quentin Griffin Front Page: Page Editor: Ahmed Darwich Reporters: Anna Bowling Opinion 1: Page Editor: Jackie Toth Reporters: Jessica Hermann, Jacob McDermitt Opinion 2: Page Editor: Jackie Toth Reporters: Jacob Brown, Christian Szalay Editorial: Page Editor: Jackie Toth Reporters: Richie Dietrich News: Page Editor: Ahmed Darwich Reporters: Marraya Youngblood, Colin Wright Features: Page Editor: Tori Baker Reporters: Kaitlyn Setera, Jonathon Ball Entertainment: Editor: Tori Baker Reporters: Kylee Baranek, Olivia Porpora Sports 1: Page Editor: Josh Hagans Reporters: Joey Baughman, Jacob Loguidice Sports 2: Page Editor: Josh Hagans Reporters: Adam Darwich, Josh Hagans Speakout: Page Editor: Alyssa Laikos Reporters: Tori Baker Picture Page: Page Editor: Alyssa Laikos Reporter: Alyssa Laikos Of The Month: Page Editor: Alyssa Laikos Reporter: Kai Wagner Online Editor: Nate Barnett Ads/Business Manager: Josh Hagans Adviser: Eric Heffinger

Educating our students to be citizens Our education system is built to prepare students for their lives after schooling. It is meant to educate students to become contributing members of society and to build upon our community’s values and morals. Not only is it meant to educate them in manners of mathematics, sciences, and the languages, but it is also important to educate its students on life skills such as how to discern faulty information from true information, and how to become knowledgeable enough to be able to fulfill your rights as a citizen of this nation. It is paramount for students to be able to judge and understand the political spectrum within the nation. It is with utmost importance that students leave the educational system with the ability to identify biased information and be able to formulate their own political beliefs. For this issue of the Bruin, we investigated the upcoming Republican Primary for the Ohio Senate elections. We interviewed several candidates in hopes of communicating to our fellow students the importance of educating yourself on who is running to represent you in your government.

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As a citizen, it is your responsibility to become involved in the politics of this nation. It is your responsibility to vote in November. As an educational system, we must put an emphasis on not only the ability of students to carry this out, but also for them to carry it on in a knowledgeable manner. For this reason, the Bruin supports the formation of nonpartisan political clubs such as the League of Young Voters to help educate our fellow students. It is also important to note the increasing tension that runs with opposing political views. However, through the providing of a safe environment where political opinions can be expressed, the educational system can facilitate better collaboration between students who express different opinions. With the increasing amount of faulty information and its ability to become widespread with the help of social media, it has become important for the students of Wadsworth High to be aware of such information and to be able to make educated decisions based upon their own political opinions which should be developed within our educational system.

U P Upcoming Events

Teaching students respect

BY JONATHAN FERRY

Staff Editorial

C O M I N G EVENTS

End of Quarter March 16th ACT Testing Day March 20th Spring Break March 30-April 6th EOC Testing April 12th Euchre Tournament April 13th Two-Hour Delayed Start May 3rd Seniors Last Day May 11th Prom May 19th Baccalaureate May 25th Commencement May 27th Student’s Last Day May 31st

Editorial Policy 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.

N ews

BY COLIN WRIGHT

Late in February, the Communist Party of China moved to abolish the two-term limit on the president. This action was supported by current Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose first term is set to expire in March 2018. The Jinping presidency is characterized by a persistent consolidation of power --- and this move only furthers this point. Traditionally, Chinese presidents serve five-year terms. They cannot serve more than two terms. The move to drop this term limit is in line with other world leaders who have done much of the same, in terms of shifting power towards one entity. Jinping is not the only leader seeking greater influence. Russia’s Putin and Turkey’s Erdogan have both sought to increase their personal power.

PHOTO BY MCT CAMPUS

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Chairman, US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Burr promises a broad, bi-partisan investigation into “cyber activity directed against our nation by the Russian government.” BY COLIN WRIGHT

The United States saw one of the most controversial and chaotic election years in its history in 2016. The US Department of Justice recently indicted thirteen Russian operatives (along with three companies) for their role in creating an army of “bots” that took to social media in an attempt to ultimately divide the U.S. population. This indictment serves as the first concrete step taken to combat the deliberate interference that has been carried out by the Russian government since at least 2014. The indictment asserts that the defendants “pos[ed] as U.S. persons and creat[ed] false U.S. personas.” The United States government is not the only entity seeking to limit the influence of Russian propaganda that is popping up on Facebook news feeds and Twitter timelines. Russian propaganda was disseminated on various social

media channels in an effort to portray the U.S. as in a state of chaos. Many pro-Trump events were staged near pro-Hillary events, in the hope that violent conflict would ensue. Facebook has announced a new portal for users to see if they have interacted with any Russianlinked propaganda. “[This portal] is part of our ongoing effort to protect our platforms and the people who use them from bad actors who try to undermine our democracy.” Twitter sees tens of thousands of Tweets published every day by “Russian-linked influence networks,” according to the GMF Alliance for Securing Democracy. The Alliance monitors 600 accounts that are known to spread Russian propaganda. If nothing else, they seek to help users identify Russian influence when they see it. With midterm elections fast approaching, the fight for truth will continue on the battleground that social media has become.

BY COLIN WRIGHT

Less than one week after the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, a seventh grade student at Jackson Memorial Middle School shot himself in a school restroom. The student later died while in the hospital. Nine days after the student shot himself, Police Chief Mark Brink revealed that the student had been actively planning to carry out a mass shooting for several weeks. The gun used was a .22 caliber “long gun.” The student also was found to be carrying 80 rounds of ammunition, along with fireworks, batteries, and an aerosol can. The

3. Canada

Medals

4. United States

5. Netherlands

On March 24, people from all over the country will flock to the streets of Washington D.C. to participate in the March For Our Lives. Among the thousands of people will be a few Wadsworth staff members. Newspaper advisor Eric Heffinger and several middle school teachers will be there, along with guidance counselors Mrs. Rapp, Mrs. Ross, and Mrs. Freund. Joining them

will be other teachers from the surrounding school districts. Those who are participating in the march demand for safety

LOGO COURTESY OF MARCHFOROURLIVES.COM

to become a priority and that senseless gun violence comes to an end.

PHOTO BY MCT CAMPUS

President Jinping has been in office since March 14, 2013. He is now set to rule for life.

that many hoped it would be, and is instead a communist autocracy that becomes more and more entrenched within tyranny each

student believed that he would be able to create a bomb, though bomb experts say that he would not have been able to with the supplies he had. The student went directly into a restroom after arriving at school. He later emerged with a weapon, only to re-enter the restroom, where he then shot himself. The weapon came from his mother’s house. The student managed to keep the gun undetected the entire morning --- even as he rode the bus and entered the school building. As police delved into the student’s phone, disturbing details began to emerge. Police found the following writing:

day,” says Sophie Boulter, 12. The term limits were put into place by Deng Xiaoping, former leader of the Communist Party of China, in an effort to prevent China from being once again ruled by a harsh dictator --- namely, Mao Zedong. Under his rule, China saw executions, purges, and forced labor claim the lives of up to seventy million people. “President Xi Jinping prioritizes his own power over his people’s freedom, and in turn is making China recede back into its past authoritarian days,” says Boulter. Many Chinese people have taken to the internet to express their dissent. The Chinese government actively suppresses and censors any opposition they see on sites like Weibo, similar to Twitter. China’s “rubber-stamp” parliament is soon expected to approve the amendment.

Pyeongchang 2018

United States 9 GOLD 8 SILVER 6 BRONZE

“Sometimes I feel like there is nothing you can do and so this is a great opportunity to go out and actually do something,” says Mrs. Freund. According to the movement’s website, there are 469 events worldwide and there 158,675 signatures on the petition. The collective voices of the March For Our Lives are taking action to ensure their demands are heard. From Public Square in Cleveland to Pennsylvania Avenue in DC, the time is now.

“Now I’ll have followers because I’m so awesome,” he wrote. “I know someone will follow me just like I followed [the Columbine shooters]. … They say school shootings are horrible but they don’t think like us, like me and [the Columbine shooters].” The entirety of Stark County is still reeling from a number of student suicides. In response to the incident, police officers will be stationed at all Jackson schools for the rest of the year. “I believe we need to come together as a community like we never have come together before,” Chief Brink said Thursday.

Wadsworth to replace aging fire station, considering building third BY MARRAYA YOUNGBLOOD

March For Our Lives to be held nationwide BY MARRAYA YOUNGBLOOD

This is known as a political “strongman,” someone who rules with authoritarian force. “China is not the democratic, liberalizing beacon of progress

Jackson seventh-grader dies after shooting self in school, had plans to carry out school shooting

Olympic final medal count 1. Norway 2. Germany

China president eliminates term limit

Russian operatives seek chaos in US

GRAPHIC CREATED BY MARRAYA YOUNGBLOOD

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THE BRUIN

In the next few years, Wadsworth’s fire department is set to undergo some major changes in the next year. Recently, Chief Carl Rommel resigned stalling plans to make any changes to Station 1. The station is currently located downtown on N. Lyman St. Station 1 has been in operation since 1963, however, it was built with the intent to only be a “volunteer” fire station. According to the Wadsworth Fire and EMS 2017-2021 strategic plan, “Being over 50-years old, constant upkeep and maintenance is overwhelming.” The plan stated that they want to either rebuild, remodel, or

relocate their facilities in the years 2017-2021. However, it seems they have chosen to completely rebuild Station 1. There is also talk of building a Station 3 in the southwest of Wadsworth. Fire/ EMS admin, City Council, consultants, and Levy Funding have taken responsibility of this large project and they currently have several bids for city land. As of right now, nothing is set in stone, however, in the upcoming months more news is sure to surface. More information concerning changes to Wadsworth’s EMS and Fire Department can be found on the city’s website under their 2017-2021 strategic plan.

PHOTO BY MARRAYA YOUNGBLOOD

Station 2, located in the north side of town, came into operation in 2003.

O pinion 1 THE BRUIN 4 Fine Arts need better representation M arch 2018

OPINION BY JESSICA HERMANN

From the outside, Wadsworth High School appears to be the perfect blend of students. It seems that the art students work alongside the athletes, and both categories are celebrated within the school. However, this is hardly the truth. Currently, the high school is merely a breeding ground for the intolerance instilled in our students that further encourages them to push aside the fine arts programs. There are multiple ways that we, as a high school, or even as a community, can embrace the fine arts without suppressing

the already highly celebrated athletics. For example, the singular fine arts assembly that is held yearly; students are forced to shuffle into the overcrowded gymnasium and sit shoulder to shoulder with their peers, listening to various speakers with apathy. Even with my passion for the arts, I find it incredibly difficult to sit through this assembly. It is long, hot and, often times, uneventful. Not only that, the various arts are smashed together into a singular assembly, which diminishes the importance of the various accomplishments. This issue could easily be resolved if the fine art students got regular recognition throughout the year like the various athletic teams in Wadsworth. The obvious argument that arises within this is that all of

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALYSSA LAIKOS

Wadsworth High School’s Choir continually brings in less fans and income compared to sports teams despite their tip-top performances.

the students are forced into the gym for sports assemblies as well. However, the sports assemblies are more interactive and captivate their audiences with more ease. WHS is not where the lack of the arts representation begins originally, of course. Parents teach their young children to value sports over arts, and this leads to a lack of overall representation. “I think a lot of [the lack of arts representation] has to do with the fact that your kid can play soccer at three. So, by the time they come up, it has already been entrenched. Musical activities for the little ones don’t really exist in our community,” Mrs. Hire, the director of the Wadsworth Band, shared. A significant issue within both our community and the high school is the sheer lack of visible art. Looking around Wadsworth, one can hardly find a trace of the arts. Naturally, the question arises of how we as a high school would be able to change this lack of representation that seems to be so deeply embedded in both locations. Mr. Derrig, one of the art teachers here at WHS, had several ideas on how to make this more plausible as far as implementation within the Wadsworth community. “I would like to see more local

PHOTO BY JESSICA HERMANN

Norwayne High School has a band display case just outside of their theatre, which would be a method Wadsworth could mimic in order to showcase the fine arts.

businesses display student work. Another very effective way to bring greater appreciation to the arts could be to have a fine arts center. This would allow community members of all ages to take classes ranging from visual to performing arts,” says Derrig. “The classes would be taught by local artists and be generally small in the number of teachers to students ratio,” continues Derrig. “This is what I would want more than anything else for community to embrace. I would love to see CIS turned into this if a new school is indeed built,” he finishes. A possible solution, that I would like to see implemented myself, is the addition of a trophy case nearby the front doors of the school. There is a long stretch of boring, blank, gray wall just inside the door that would be an amazing area to use. Of course, the cases would be used to display

the many awards that students around our school have earned, both in arts and athletics. Other schools, like Norwayne or our own middle school, have similar trophy cases and I believe that if Wadsworth built one, we would be able to showcase the diversity within our school. The lack of representation of the arts in our community is unacceptable, and I insist that changes should be made. I personally believe that if Wadsworth were to implement some of these ideas, then the unfair representation between the arts and athletics would be more balanced. Wadsworth High School should be a location where the variety of ALL students can be celebrated. Currently, it is a location where a united front is falsified while the students involved in the fine arts feel hidden and pushed aside.

Scandal proves athletes deserve a share OPINION BY JACOB MCDERMITT

Recently, many of the top college sports programs are under scrutiny for breaking the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) rules by giving players money, benefits and preferential treatment. The NCAA is to blame for creating this problem by refusing to give the players any share of the billions of dollars that they make off of them each year. This is a major issue for the NCAA as Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas and Michigan State, all top basketball programs in the nation, that are among those being investigated. In wake of the recent report and scandal, many professional athletes have spoken up for their collegiate counterparts. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers went as far as to call the NCAA “corrupt” and Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball called it “an unfair system.” The NCAA made a record 1.1 billion dollars in revenue in the 2017 fiscal year. This is the first time they have surpassed a billion dollars. The players should be

given a percentage of that money because they are the major draw-in for consumers of NCAA broadcasts and products. This is not a new debate. With the conclusion of last year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament, current NBA player and former Duke basketball player J.J. Redick tweeted out that, “every player on the court tonight should have been paid. Scholarships do not count.” College sports are timeconsuming in the offseason, and take over the athletes lives when they are in season. According to a 2011 survey conducted by the NCAA, college football players spend over 43 hours on their sport and 38 hours on academics in the average week. They do not have the time to get a job to get money to pay for food and housing. They cannot take donations or even make money off of their own autographs. Many of them struggle to buy necessities such as food, housing or clothes. This was the point that NBA star Carmelo Anthony brought up. Anthony was formerly a basketball player for the Syracuse Orangemen and won the 2003 NCAA basketball championship. “Yeah, they get a free education if they get a scholarship, but how are they surviving on those campuses? A lot of them can not afford food. They get in trouble for taking even $10 or $20. Not even a friend or family member can give them money,” said Anthony.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

NCAA basketball players bring in millions of viewers and billions of dollars for the Association each year but many struggle to find consistent food and bedding.

The NCAA makes 10.8 billion dollars alone off of the television contract with CBS Sports. Yet, the players are the ones drawing in the ratings. People turn on college sports to watch the players and buy jerseys and other merchandise with their likeness. Last year, March Madness averaged over 9 million viewers a game and over 70 million people participate each year by filling out a bracket. The 2018 College Football Playoff Championship had a viewership of over 26 million. These studentathletes engage and entertain millions of people. But, somehow, they never see any of that money. Many would argue that the scholarship money is their payment. It is true, most college

athletes are on some type of scholarship. This money reduces, or even fully eliminates, the price for their schooling. However, they will never see that money. Outside of which classes they choose to take, they have no control over where it goes. In a study by the National College Players Association, it was found that 86% of FBS school’s full athletic scholarships leave the players below the poverty line. These students are going to school for free, yet many of them struggle to find a bed to sleep in at night. New Orleans Saints cornerback De’Vante Harris described the struggle to find a consistent bed in a tweet last year. “Junior year in college, me and a friend slept in a two-door Pontiac

G6 for a semester, going couch to couch on good days,” said Harris. As a top NCAA college football player at a prestigious program in Texas A&M, he lived in a car for most of the year. That is a problem. The NCAA made steps toward correcting some mistakes in 2014 by lifting some of their meal restrictions. Before the deregulation, the average Division I school was feeding 368 athletes; afterward, that number jumped up to 569 athletes. This means over 200 athletes were underfed, despite bringing in billions of dollars for the NCAA. This move forward was an important step for the Association, but more needs to be done to help these players.

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March 2018

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Entrances should be fair to all BY JACOB BROWN

The very first thing students do when they get to school is walk in the door. With the recent epidemic of school violence, Wadsworth High School has made recent changes to its morning policy. Students are now restricted to two doors when they enter the school at 7:25. Those two entrances are located at complete opposite sides of the school, the main entrance and the end of the 1100 hall. The reasoning behind the movement of the locations students can enter is “for the safety and security of staff and students,” said Mr. Moore. According to Moore, the school was built with the intention of having two entrances, the main doors and the bus ramp, and that the only reason the 1400 doors were open was because of student dialogue with the administration.

After the discussions of school safety, it was decided that the school no longer needed 3 entrances. Thus, the doors to the 1400 were shut once again. This decision was met by with student uproar and frustration. The removal of the doors means that students who park in the student parking lot would now have to make the journey to either the front door or the bus ramp, making an already long walk even longer. “I know that it is inconvenient for students, but I’d rather them be inconvenienced and safe than take the risk of something happening to them,” said Moore. In addition to the proposals that are already in place, I believe that administration should transition the bus ramp entrance to the 1500 doors instead of just closing the 1400 doors. This solution would make the most sense. The 1500 hall is equidistant from the buses and

the student lot. Moore believes that the 1500 hall is too narrow to handle that amount of foot traffic. However, I do not believe the combination of bus riders and student drivers could compromise the school’s safety. Just because I want the entrances to move does not mean I am against the safety of students. Rather, I favor a compromise between two valid options. Much like Mr. Moore stated, safety and security are top priorities and should always be taken into consideration when evaluating any possible changes that would affect the student body. After considering all possibilities, it only makes sense to open the 1500 doors. The safety, security, and well being of Wadsworth students should be at the top of the list. With that being said, the administration should also take into account that students only want efficiency.

PHOTO BY JACOB BROWN

The Wadsworth High School parking lot as viewed from the 1400 hallway, one of the three original entrances at the beginning of the year.

PING-PONG PLAYA! BY JACOB BROWN

With the recent arrival of new clubs such as P.E.A.R. (People for the Environment and Animal Rights) Club and Yoga Club, I have noticed and paid attention to the fact that Ping-Pong Club is not in existence here at school and I would like to change that. My opinion, although not very common, is important to me and I hope that with persistence and determination, our school will one day have a Ping-Pong Club. To form a club at our high school, there are a set of rules and guidelines that are in place and it can end up being a long process. Some of the basic rules are that in order to have a club, you must have a

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teacher who is willing to take responsibility for it and show up to the meetings and supervise. You must also be able to find a space for the club to convene and take place. Lastly, once the minute details are taken care of, the club must be suggested to the administration, and eventually the school board has to approve. “Advice for students that are looking to start a club is to stick with it for a while because it is worth it in the end,” said Joie Askew, 11, one of the students who started PEAR Club, “and if it starts, be sure to keep it interesting.” Ping-Pong Club is not a philosophical topic like many of the other clubs, such as Philosophy Club or Key Club, it is not a club that is based upon morals and traditions, like PEAR

PHOTO BY JACOB BROWN

Pictured above are the hand outs that were supplied to the students who showed up for the first meeting of PEAR Club.

Club or International Club, but rather it is a club meant to just have fun and foster friendly competition. The purpose of the club is to have fun and the only stress is if they are going to win or not; there are no repercussions to joining and no punishments in losing. It would consist of round-robin tournament styles or just a day of free play between members, there could be snacks and music to keep those who are not playing entertained and active. The reason I am not suggesting to make a school Ping-Pong team is because with the title of team comes that $100 activity fee that the school charges as well as the fact that if the school declares it a team, it would need to find other schools that have a Ping-Pong team, which is not likely. The title of club would allow for it to be student run and teacher supervised. I think that a Ping-Pong Club would be an interesting and fun club to join during the winter months because it is indoor and should not interfere with most sports or other extracurricular activities. While a survey of 97 students revealed that a mere 47% would be willing to join a Ping-Pong Club, my hopes of achieving the formation of said club are still high for the future.

Summer Olympic Games dominate Winter Olympics BY CHRISTIAN SZALAY

The Olympics are one of the most popular televised events in the world. There is no debate that the Winter Olympics are dreadful to watch compared to the Summer Olympics. The Summer Olympics have and always will be the most anticipated televised sporting event. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) predicts that 3.6 billion people will watch at least one minute of the Summer Olympics. That is half of the population of the world. The Winter Olympics, however, have not been very competitive since the 2010 games at Vancouver. This year’s winter games in Pyeongchang hit an all time low and will continue to drop by the trend of the last couple winter games. Without discussion, the Summer Olympics are by far way more entertaining and are way better in every aspect. The hype that comes with the Summer Olympics is so much more than that of the Winter Olympics. The amount of media coverage is so lopsided and it is evident that more money is put into the Summer Olympics. The Winter Olympics being based on snow attracts less participation especially from people who live in equatorial countries. In the summer sports, there are a lot more athletes that participate. In the Summer Olympics the world’s most popular sports are also on full display and attract more and more viewers. In the Winter Olympics there aren’t really any type of popular sport and most are very boring to watch. Asking around the school, more and more students are becoming interested in the Summer Olympics. “I really am not a fan of the Winter Olympics. I mean some stuff is cool but overall it’s pretty boring. I really enjoy the Summer Olympics. I am a fan of a lot of the sports like basketball and track,” said Jacob Justice, 12. According to Top End

Sports, the three most popular sports in all of the Olympics are Track, Swimming, and Soccer. All three of those are Summer Olympic sports. “I think snowboarding and skiing are really cool but I’m more of a Summer Olympics person. The Summer Olympics seem like way more popular and more people watch them. I for sure am a huge fan of it,” said Sophia Fortner, 12. The Winter Olympics receive a much lower audience because they mainly attract people from countries where these sports are actually present. Athletes who do not have snow because they live in tropical countries are put at a huge disadvantage to train and practice a sport that requires snow. The television ratings of the Winter Olympics are slowly descending and hit one of the all time lows in 2014 with just over 21 million viewers. Recently the Pyeongchang Olympic games brought even less viewers with just under 20 million. The intensity of the Summer Olympic sports are way more intriguing and people actually know what is going on rather than watching a sport they have not seen before in the Winter Olympics The high paced sports such as Track and Swimming bring energy and anticipation while Curling and Bobsledding are not too pleasing to the human eye. Another huge difference between the two Olympic Games is the amount of advertisements you see about the two. The Summer Olympics are much more marketed than the Winter Olympics. “To be honest, I don’t think I can even name more than four different Winter Olympics sports,” said Gabe Szalay, 12. The fact that people aren’t normally exposed to winter sports is the main reason that the Winter Olympics struggle in viewers and audience compared to the Summer Olympics.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCTCAMPUS

Pictured is the end of the closing ceremony at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

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need pHYSICAL tHERAPY?

Wadsworth Sports Medicine 621 School Dr. (at the YMCA) 330–334–0035

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Go Grizzlies!

THANK YOU 2017-2018 PATRONS Diana & Bill Aey, The Anderson Family, Dawn Bailey, John & Karen Baker, Katie Baker, John Sr. & Michele Baker, The Ball Family, Tom & Lynn Bardar, Michael and Jennifer Barnes, Dave Bartiromo, Mary Beth Baxley, Doug & Cindy Beeman, Rich & Dana Berlin, Allen and Corina Bingham, Mark & Melinda Black, Charlene Blevins, Eric Bowling, Beth Bowling, Chuck & Maureen Brigham, Denise Brown, Heidi Burkey, Nana Callow, The Carpenter Family, Debbie and Mark Carr, Lisa Chapman, Danielle Cheff, Vickie Conley, Judy Conner, The Cornacchione Family, Paul Coward, Dawn & Robert Crawford, Carol Crawford, Bill & Lisa Dallas, The Debon Family, Erwin & Sally Diener, Rebecca Dills, Debbie and Steve Dishauzi, The Dishong Family, Don & Vicki Dreher, Ed Dryer, The Earnest Family, Melissa Eaton, Betsy Emery, Heather Errante, Falkenstein Family, Michelle Farr, The Felix Family, Susannah Forreman, Dr. and Mrs. Fortner, Cindy Gabler, Steve and Kelly Gibson, Ray and Betty Gill, Evelyn Griffin, Jenny & John Griffin, Cheryl & Steve Griffin, The Hagans Family, Joe & Lisa Hanna, The Haprian Family, Harig Family, Ron Hart, The Hillegass Family, Dana Hire, Tim and Jodie Hughes, Analiseth Huskins, John, Sandy, and Kassie Hutchinson, Brian & Kristie Ihrig, Bill & Amy Jariga, Lauvence & Nancy Jennings, John Johnson, Jason Jurey, Andrea Kline, The Kurt Family, Angel Kusmits, George and Hannan Laikos, Laikos Family, Ms. Laikos, Janet Lindhe, Mary Linn, Joe & Laura Lockwood, The LoGuidice Family, Rich and Cheri Long, Shawn and Laura McDermitt, Jake and Debbie McDermitt, Steve and Sarah McIlvaine, Donald and Melinda McMillan, Liz Mendel, Scott Merhar, Don & Tanya Miksch, Heidi Miller, Wendie Montgomery, Steve Moore, Mike Moser, Amy & Frank Muhl, Mike Nemeth, Dave Nicholas, Greg & Dana North, Roger & Leslie North, Miss Allison Pallija, Angel Pappas, Kathie Parke, Allison Parsons, Connor Pletcher, The Recupero Family, John and Norma Renner, Tom and Renee Riggenbach, The Schoonover Family, Semancik Family, The Setera Family, The Shaeffer Family, Scott and Shannon Shope, Jim & Laurie Sickels, Simpson Family, The Singleton Family, Jamie Soucie, Angel Snowball, Kris Storad, Dave & Trish Swanson, The Szalay Family, Margaret Tate, Sarah Trausch, Amy & Bill Tuck, Clarke and Shawn Van Dyke, Melisa & Adam Virgei, Kirt & Leanne Virgin, Allyson Wagner, John and Nancy Wagner, Mike Wagner, Stephanie Warner, Webb Family, The Wichterman’s, Jim & Pam Williams, Ted & Felicity Wilson, Stephanie Wise, Bridget Witschey, Kaye Wolfinger, Rita Youngblood, Kathy Zagar.

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1. Devin Knapp, 12, Kenzie Grice,12, and Gabby Kries, 12 (left to right) pose for a pre-dance photo. 2. Hannah Saylor, 11, and Mason Currens, 9, stop for a snapshot. 3. Ellie Nicholas, 11,(left), Michael Juscak, 12, Katie Callow, 12 (right) get ready for a fun night. 4. Chase Rodgers, Ethan Madden, Connor Margo (top left to right, 10), Halle Shaeffer, Morgan Porpora, Lindsey Massie (bottom left to right, 10) take the “stair shot.” 5. Alli Lahmann, 11 (left), Abby Dadich, 10, (middle), and Kat Hart, 12, (right) smile for the camera. 6. Andrew Hill, Avery Cornelius, and Austin Reddish (left to right, 11) pose with KFC buckets on their head. 7. Allie Kidd and Devin Orr, 10 casually have thier picture taken. 8. Brianna Becerra, 9, and Ryan Sieber, 9, share a moment in the Gazebo. 9. Elizabeth Chapman, 9, (left) and Sadie Ellis, 9 (right) take advantage of the photo booth at the dance.

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P e & r f r o i r o m h a C n c w e o Choir h S

Abby Dadich and Ali Scalera,10, along with Ben O’Hara and Henry MacLaren,11, perform “Poor Man Lazarus” as an ensemble.

Mason Currens, 9, performing a solo part accompanied by dancing.

All choir members perform one final song together. Logan Freund, 10, gives a thumbs up for the amazing performance done by show choir.

WHS band members play trumpets to accompany the choir.

Claire Doyle, 12, performs her solo in “The Green Dog,” by Herbert Kingsley. From left to right, Laccie Hall,12, Jocelyn Shroka, 12, Ashley Leatherman, 12, Bethany Baker,10, Hannah Saylor, 11, Lili Mills, 10, Leah Bardar, 10, Julia Arellano, 10, and Maddie Kritzell, 10, sing “Lift Thine Eyes” as an ensemble group.

WHS show choir performs “Battle of the Sexes” towards the end of their concert.

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Spring Sports Preview

Baseball Softball Tennis Track and Field Lacrosse

BY JAKE LOGUIDICE

BY JOEY BAUGHMAN

BY TJ LOCKWOOD

BY JOEY BAUGHMAN

BY JAKE LOGUIDICE

Varsity baseball is looking forward to a promising season. The Grizzlies return their pitching rotation led by last year’s second team all-league senior Anthony Gannon, 12. “We are going for it all this season. We have put in a lot of work in the offseason and I hope I can continue where I left off from last season,” says Gannon. Along with Gannon returns seven former varsity letter winners. After losing several senior outfielders last season, the Grizzlies are searching for a new starter at the position for the 2018 season. The team is striving to “protect the swamp” and win a Suburban League title this upcoming season. “This is the season for us,” says Dylan Kubilis, 12, “we are hoping to improve off of last season and do something great. We all hope to accomplish great things this season.” The baseball team is looking forward to a fresh start this spring with a blend of both new and old members.

The Lady Grizzlies look to continue off of a strong end to last season when they went 18-4. They managed to make it to the district finals, but saw their season end as they fell short against the Warriors of Walsh Jesuit High School. This season, the team is composed of 11 returning varsity members. Among them is junior Maddi Long, who is committed to The University of Tennessee at Martin. “I think this season will be better than last year because the team has been together for a long time. We are like a family at this point and that will be the driving force behind us this year,” said Tori Kessler, 12. The Grizzlies look to stand behind a solid defense this year. Their goal is to take home the district title this year. With the new addition of the multipurpose facility, the Grizzlies have been putting in extra hours to prepare for this season. The Lady Grizzlies will start their season on March 28 at Nordonia.

After going 11-7 overall, and finishing fourth in the Suburban League at 4-3, the young tennis squad looks to turn heads this upcoming spring. Last season, the varsity team was extremely young and inexperienced, with every player being a sophomore. There was also only one returner to varsity from the season before. This upcoming season, the tennis team will look identical as the year before, and will be returning all seven varsity players. Although the team was inexperienced, they finished in the top half of the Suburban League, showing potential for the next couple years. For the next two seasons, it is anticipated that the full varsity roster will be experienced upperclassmen. This team is ready to show what they can do and just how much they have improved. “With our determined work ethic, wonderful attitudes and a full year of varsity experience under our young team’s belt, I feel like we can achieve big things,” said tennis coach Christa Halicki.

There are very high expectations this spring for the boys and girls track and field teams. The boys team is coming off a Suburban League title with loads of talent returning this season. They are lead by seniors Gabe Szalay, committed to run for the University of Kentucky, and fellow senior Nick Miller, who will run for the Ohio State University down in Columbus. Last year the 4x800 relay team placed fourth at the state tournament and are looking to improve upon that finish this coming season. Szalay broke records in the 1600 meter and 3200 meter races and is shooting for a state title this year. The Lady Grizzlies squad is lead by senior thrower Hailey Montgomery who is headed to Columbia University next fall to throw for the Lions, along with the Ohio University commit, Payton Grigsby, 12 who looks to lead the Lady Grizzlies to a state championship.

Both boys and girls lacrosse are preparing for a good season this year. Led by senior Katie Hibinger, 12, the lady Grizzlies are striving to make an impact on the league and go for the SLT. The girls team has many veteran players on their roster this season. “I’m really excited for games to start,” says Hibinger. “Being friends on and off the field has helped us work together as a team. I hope for us to make it far in the postseason tournament.” Not only are hopes high for the girls team, the boys team is looking forward to a great season as well. After going 5-12-1 last season, the boys lacrosse team hopes to improve on their record and do great things in this upcoming season. Led by senior Clay Wagner, 12, the boys team has high hopes to improve and make an impression on the Suburban League. They hope to go far in the tournament and, despite coaching difficulties last year, the Grizzlies are anticipating a successful season overall.

New Local Town Hero

BY TJ LOCKWOOD

Larry Nance Jr., the Revere native and son of a basketball legend, Larry Nance Sr., has returned home to Ohio to play with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nance Jr. attended Revere high school as a student and graduated in the class of 2010, and then attended the University of Wyoming to play

basketball. “After watching him play in high school and watching him now, Nance has really developed as a player and has drastically improved,” said current Wadsworth boys basketball coach Mike Schmeltzer Jr. His father, Larry Nance Sr., played seven seasons with the Cavaliers and his jersey number was retired by the team for his

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

Larry Nance Jr. slams home a dunk for the Cavaliers, showing his athleticism.

numerous contributions and impact. Nance Jr. will now carry on his father’s legacy, wearing the same number 22 jersey that Sr. immortalized. His younger brother, Pete Nance, currently plays for the Revere basketball team. He committed to Northwestern University to play basketball and plans to follow in his brother’s footsteps to make it to the NBA. The return of Nance has excited many Cleveland fans with his length, athleticism, and youth. This is just what the Cavaliers need as they rank 28th out of 30 teams in the NBA in defensive efficiency and, before the recent trades, were also among the oldest teams in the league. “With the addition of Nance, we’ve got a legit rim protector who can rebound, score, and give us serious momentum in the lineup. I cannot wait to see what he brings us come playoff time,” said Brendan Merhar, 11.

New Intramural Champions BY JOSH HAGANS

Undefeated Intramural seasons lead to two teams ending as champs. Team Randolph seemed unstoppable going undefeated in the intramural season and blowing out their opponents. “It was thrilling the way we came together as the season went on. It was special and I will forever remember the bond we had as a team,” said Joey Fernholz, 12. The team consists of all seniors Colt Owens, Joey Fernholz, David Hardy, Conner

Mendel, Tyler Randolph, Lucas Mills, and coach Josh Hagans. In the freshman and sophomore division, White Lightning took home the championship in a blowout fashion. White Lightning consisted of Trey Shaffer, 10, Cole Mccomas, 10, Max Runkle, 10, Ben Lilly, 10, Robbie Lynn, 9, Ethan Russel, 9, Josh Bach, 10, and Zach Swinehart, 9. “There is no doubt we will be getting the team back together next year and will be winning the whole thing again,” said Shaffer.

Team Randolph after winning the championship game.

PHOTO BY JOEY FERNHOLZ

11 schooling you on the court and the classroom

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BY ADAM DARWICH AND JOSH HAGANS

An old adage states that, “there is greatness all around us.” Too often today, students fail to recognize the successes in athletics that their own teachers have had. This page is in honor of a few of the past Wadsworth High School greats, who competed and succeeded long before us. Their successes and attitudes have helped build a standard of Wadsworth athletics that our current student-athletes strive to meet. Mr. Bill Goddard was a three sport athlete making All-Conference and All-County in football, basketball, and baseball from 1972-1976. Goddard and his son are the only father son combo to be in the top 20 of points scored all time for basketball at WHS. Goddard went on to play baseball at the University of Akron as an outfielder and was considered a draftee after his junior year for the MLB draft. Goddard came back to baseball in 1989 where he began his head coaching career at WHS. He coached for 17 years and ended his coaching career with 295 wins. The now Physical Science teacher is in the Wadsworth, Medina County, and the Greater Akron baseball hall of fame.

Bill Goddard

• 3 xAll-County • 3 xAll- Conference Mrs. Sarah Trausch, an English teacher at Wadsworth High School, is one of the most honored and decorated athlete to have ever graced these hallways. Ms. Trausch ran cross country, competed in gymnastics, and raced in track -- achieving letters in every year she competed in these. Her one season without was freshmen cheerleading. Trausch’s athletic success was also recognized by the Suburban

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League, the county, and the state as she was named First Team All-League, narrowly missed qualifying to States as a team by one point in Cross Country, and missed the qualifying point total in Gymnastics by two tenths of a point. Although, Trausch did not continue to compete in college, she tells students today “to enjoy the moment and learn from the lessons sports provide you.”

Sarah Trausch

• 11 x Letterman

Mark Postak, Varsity Girls Basketball Assistant Coach and Mathematics teacher, has never let anything stop him from achieving his dreams and aspirations when it came to life. Sports was not an exception. A decorated Wadsworth athlete, Mr. Postak was a four-time letter winner in Soccer and Basketball, respectively. He was honored with two-time All-County and two-time All-League. His individual success ran concurrent with the team, as in 1986, Postak helped lead the Boys Soccer team to the first league title in school history by defeating the Green Bulldogs in overtime. Postak’s high school success in both soccer and basketball lead to a variety of offers to play each sport at different schools. Eventually, Postak decided that the opportunity to play basketball at John Carrol University was too great to pass up and chose to continue his athletic and academic career there.

Mark Postak

• 2 x All-County • 2 x All-League

The early morning practices, chlorine smell, and all-consuming lifestyle deters many people from swimming. Allison Pallija, graduate of the 2009 class and current Varsity Swim and Diving Coach, was not one of those people. Her career began as fast as she swam. Pallija quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with in Medina County, the Suburban League, and the Northeast OHSAA District. Pallija qualified to districts in each of her four years; her awards in high school athletics include All-County, All-Suburban, and AllDistrict to name a few. Her senior year, she led the Girls Varsity Swim team to a Suburban League Championship, one of three in h e r Wa d s w o r t h history. Her success in high school led her to swim at Cleveland State University, a Division 1 school where she placed top 8 in the 100 yard breaststroke at Conferences. She was named captain and the team was awarded a national • All-League award for “Best Community Service” during • All-County her senior year.

Allison Pallija

Jason Knapp, a history teacher at Wadsworth High, is a three time national champ for football. Knapp played for Mount Union from 1995-1998 where he started in the national championship game at CB his junior and senior year. There he won first and second team all OAC in his junior and senior year. In high school Knapp played football and basketball. Knapp won first team All-League and All-County for football. “My most memorable experience was playing against Copley my senior year where I had a kick, punt, and interception returns for touchdowns,” said Knapp.

Jason Knapp

• • • •

3 x National Champion 2 x All-OAC team 4 x All-League 4 x All-County

The “pitch” is where many Wadsworth Greats have made their legacy. The same holds true our dear Economics teacher: John Johnson. Mr. Johnson, our Varsity Soccer Head Coach today, has experienced the highs and lows that a sport could offer. He was a 4 year letter winner for the Wadsworth Varsity Soccer Program with 3 years coming at the Goalie position. In his junior year, Johnson helped lead the boys the Regional Semi-Finals. While playing, Johnson was named All-District, All-County, and played and started for an All-Star game in which he was named Captain and Most Valuable Player. His success in high school competition landed him a scholarship to play at the University of Dayton, where he started his freshmen year. He then choose to transfer to the University of Akron, a national powerhouse in world of soccer, where he was a key role player of the National Runner-Up team of 1991 that lost to Stanford University in the Championship game in All-District Penalty Kick Shootouts.

John Johnson • • All-County

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42nd Street in the bright spotlight

BY OLIVIA PORPORA

The annual spring musical is underway. March 22 is the opening night for 42nd Street and will highlight the main characters from the original musical. The musical will start at 7:00 p.m. each night and tickets will be $8.00. Mrs. Csaky, Mrs. Davis, and Mrs. Lake will be producing this year’s production. Come and support the drama department. The show is about Peggy Sawyer, a young performer who gets a chance to prove herself on Broadway. She works her way to the top and shows everyone that she is a true performer. The musical focuses on tap dancing and singing journey of Peggy Sawyer.

Ellie Nicholas, 11, plays Peggy and it is her first time landing a major role in a school production. Nicholas has been dancing for the past thirteen years and her experience as both a dancer and singer has really helped her. She has taken tap for the past

two years and is a two year member of show choir. “I have always dreamed about getting the lead, and now my dream is coming true,” says Nicholas. “It has been very stressful but I am so excited to see how everything turns out. It is way harder than I thought it would be but I am ready to show people the musical.” Alongside Nicholas are returning drama students Katie Callow, playing the role of

PHOTO BY OLIVIA PORPORA

Pictured above are the leads in the musical starting left to right: Michael Juscak, Katie Callow, Ellie Nicholas, and Henry MacLaren.

Dorothy, and Michael Juscak as Julian. Both Callow and Juscak have been in many school productions over the past four

PHOTO BY MRS. CSAKY

The whole cast of 42nd Street has been working since January.

years and have been members of the show choir for three. The show will also be staring Hannah Saylor as Anytime Annie. This will mark Saylor’s second year in a musical and her first major role in a play. “I am a little nervous because it is my first time in a musical and with lines on top of lyrics on top of dances to memorize but I think when the show comes, I will not be nervous anymore,” said Saylor.

Besides the many lines that the cast must memorize, in their downtime they have to make all of the scenery. The crew comes in on the weekends to get it done and they often work for four hours straight. After about a month of practice, the cast gets working on the pieces, and practices their lines and dances. They have been practicing since January 10 and practices typically last about two hours. Since this is a musical, they have a choreographer to help them with the dance elements. This year the pit band is full, with 25 students. They have instruments of all kinds, including percussion, clarinets, flutes, saxophones, trumpets, and french horns. The pit band practices every

Sunday for three hours and practices with the cast as well “It is really fun to play the music because it’s different than our normal concert band music, and I can not wait to see it all come together,” said Danielle Cheff, 10. The musical has the potential to get nominated for the Dazzle Awards, which reward students for their performances in the musical. Last year, Aida won one Dazzle Award for best orchestra. They compete against 24 other schools in the area for different types of awards. There are also judges that come and assess their performance. With a nice mix of new faces and returning students, 42nd Street is not a musical that should be missed.

Marvel’s Black Panther hits theaters REVIEW BY KYLEE BARANEK

This Black History Month, Hollywood has made a huge step for diversity with Kevin Fiege’s, Black Panther. With an almost 100% African American cast, fantastic direction, and an innovative plot, this movie is breaking so many different and diverse barriers at once. This movie follows the path of T’Challa as he is crowned king of Wakanda, an isolated and technologically advanced fictional country in Africa. The movie was phenomenal from start to finish. It opens by giving the viewers the background knowledge of Wakanda, where we learn that five African tribes were at war over the alien metal known as Vibranium centuries ago. A warrior ingests what is known as the “heart shaped

herb,” which was affected by the metal. By ingesting this, the warrior gains supernatural abilities and became the first “Black Panther.” Posing as a third world country, the “Black Panthers” and the Wakandans use the Vibranium to create advanced technology which they keep secret for fear of it being stolen from them. We follow the new King T’Challa as he is crowned king and tries to stop an old enemy from resurfacing. When someone decides that they have a right to the Wakanda throne and challenges his place, T’Challa must fight in order to protect the country and people he loves. Released over President’s Day weekend, it made $242 million within that amount of time due to the amount of hype surrounding the film. The hype was not only because it was a Marvel release,

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARVEL

This is the Black Panther movie poster. It features King T’Challa, the newest Black Panther, in the center and surrounded by the other main characters.

but also because it was shattering diversity barriers. This is the first Marvel movie to feature an African-American protagonist. The movie also included an African-American director and featured an almost completely African-American cast. It is a tremendous success when discussing representation. This movie is undeniably amazing. From the detailed and interesting background of Wakanda, to the intense action scenes, to the plot twists that had me sitting on the edge of my seat, I really enjoyed Black Panther. Concerning Marvel films, it was very well done and unlike any other movie that they have produced. Marvel also portrayed women in a slightly different light, something that is unusual in superhero movies. Women in the movie serve a purpose and they are portrayed as strong figures. Most of the women of Wakanda are either working on the technology or fighting alongside the Black Panthers. It was a nice change from how movies generally show women. Avid Marvel fan Vinnie Lobello said, “[Marvel] understands that last year, the African American community went through some struggles and they are saying if no one else is with you, we are.” It is monumentally important that Marvel released this movie when they did. Marvel is a well known and highly respected company, and for them to show representation is huge. My hope is that they will influence many other companies to follow in their footsteps.

Student Opinions “I don’t typically like superhero movies, but I did like this one.” - Laney Corell, 9 “Overall the movie was pretty good. It was action packed and had me on the edge of my seat. I love that it’s an extension to the Marvel Movies and I can’t wait to see what is next.” - Hannah Hughes, 10

“I think that it is a fantastic movie that is breaking so many boundaries.” - Vinnie Lobello, 11

“I think it was a great movie. I personally think that it’s a better movie and even more fun when you watch it with friends.” - Hannah Bailey, 11

“I really enjoyed the movie. It was an empowering film for the African American community as a whole. I believe that they were represented well, and that something such as representation is very important.” -Brianna Beccera, 9

The fact that they did this made me love the movie even more. It it is one of the best Marvel movies I have seen. It is filled with so much action and I enjoyed the way they built up Wakanda. The movie has an interesting plot line that had the perfect amount of action, funny dialogue, romance, and of course, a Stan Lee cameo. Black Panther will surely please Marvel fans and amaze anyone else who sees it. This includes people without an interest in superheroes.

This movie felt like a turning point for Marvel. Not only was it a movie that had something to say, but it also kept the basic plot and storyline. To give it an overall rating, it deserves 4.5 out of five stars. The only thing that seemed to be lacking was character development that will most likely resolved in the next movie. The action was intense, the actors portrayed the characters well, and it was overall a very fun movie to watch.

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March 2018

New clubs spark the interest of students BY KAITLYN SETERA

Teenagers have very diverse pursuits and passions. WHS’ student body is no exception, with each one of our 1.6 thousand students displaying many different interests. Enough students have shown interest in two different subjects that have grown into fully fledged clubs; Yoga and Veganism. Yoga Club The Yoga Club initially started from an idea Amy Tucker developed and presented to the school. She is a certified instructor who teaches at Yoga Bliss in Akron and Roots Yoga in Wadsworth. Tucker feels as though educating the public about ways to cope with stress is something that needs to be

extended to the youth. “What I love about yoga is the non-competitiveness of it and that it is a completely judgement free zone,” says Tucker. “It is a very safe place to strengthen your body and your mind; and in light of all of the violence in school these days, I just feel like yoga needs to come into the schools.” Tucker continues to say that she feels it is necessary for students to learn about ways to release the tension that they may be experiencing, and how to relax through healthy, beneficial means. The benefits include having a healthy awareness of one’s body both mentally and physically, along with creating a positive mind set. With all these points in mind, the school gave Tucker

PHOTO BY KAITLYN SETERA

Yoga instructor, Amy Tucker, introduces herself to participants of the Yoga Club in their first meeting on March 1.

permission to start teaching, and she then proceeded to raise $1,000 worth of equipment in preparation for the classes. All of this happened in a matter of three days and shortly after, fliers were posted throughout the halls to promote the club. Students anticipate the potential success of such an activity. “I would have never thought the school would start a club relating to yoga, but I think it is really interesting and I am looking forward to what the instructor may have to share with us students in the future,” Sydney Killinger, 11, states. Tucker also expresses her excitement and states that it is a privilege for the school to allow her to do this. She says, “I can’t wait to share with all of the students that are willing to listen and learn how yoga can influence lives in a positive way.” The Yoga Club holds its meetings every Thursday in the 1300 Extended Learning Lab. P.E.A.R. Another club in which students have been talking about is the People for the Environment and Animal Rights Club (P.E.A.R.). This club works to promote and educate students on healthy lifestyle choices that they can choose to follow and could make an impact on the world

PHOTO BY KAITLYN SETERA

Members of the P.E.A.R. club work together to make vegan chocolate chip cookies in an after school meeting on March 7.

through their selves. The group got its start when Joie Askew, 11, Gillian Bushi, 10, and Julia Holik, 11 presented their ideas to the administrators of the high school. They wanted these counselors to consider adding a program to the school that would introduce young teens to a concept they were all passionate about. These group of girls participate, believe in and practice veganism, promoting animal rights and raising awareness for the environment. “I think it is rather interesting what has to be said on the topics that the club and the leaders want to bring forward,” says Secilia Ho, 11. “But more importantly, I think it is great that students are given the opportunity to recognize an unfamiliar lifestyle on a whole new level.”

Holik adds that there is a type of stereotype associated with vegans that many students use as a reason to avoid P.E.A.R. “I think a lot of people just are not willing to learn about what it means to be vegan, or have not put much thought into it. I hope P.E.A.R. changes this and that students will understand,” said Holik. Holik was raised a vegetarian and most recently became a vegan with her mother. The leaders of the club are hoping to incorporate the information in a manner that is educational, fun, and delicious. P.E.A.R. sometimes provides vegan snacks to attendees. The only thing that is asked from the leaders of the club is that those who choose to attend are willing to learn with an open mind. Meetings are held every other Wednesday in room 1407.

Jurey’s aunt memorialized in museum BY JONATHAN BALL

Half a million dollars could be sitting in your attic. For Jason Jurey, a biology teacher at Wadsworth, those dollars really were waiting for him. Mabel Hewit, Jurey’s aunt, once had an entire exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The show was comprised of pieces found in Jurey’s family home. Jurey’s father was reading the paper one day in 2009, where there happened to be an article on a certain woodblock artist. “There was an article in the Beacon Journal on this lady who had a display at the Cleveland museum. She was second to none, best in the world.” Jurey said. Hewit studied under Blanche Lazzell, famous for her whiteline woodcuts that feature richly inked wooden prints with outlines that are left uninked. This technique gives the prints a crisp and whimsical feeling reminiscent of classical fairy tale illustrations. Lazzell was a pioneer in her medium, and Hewit’s connection made her prints extremely valuable. “My grandparents had boxes of her stuff, since they were cleaning out their attic. He called the museum and the lady he spoke with asked if she could come see the prints that day. She comes and starts leafing through [the prints], and

my grandpa says you could see her eyes get bigger and bigger,” Jurey said. Jurey and his family had a fortune’s worth of art in their attic, but they refused to take payment for it. “[The curator] told us ‘Your aunt was trained by this woodblock artist, and that alone makes anything she did valuable.’ It was exciting. Once we knew what had happened, and why she was famous, It made me want to learn about her history,” Jurey said. They donated their collection to the museum in Hewit’s memory. In the summer of 2010, Hewit’s personal exhibit was unveiled. From June to October, Midwest Modern: The Color Woodcuts of Mabel Hewit took patrons through the works Jurey and his family donated. Some of her most popular pieces remain in the museum to this day, even after her moment in the spotlight is over. Jurey’s family had no idea how valuable Hewit’s pieces were before the curator informed them. “My grandparents had this sheet, it was a mural in the Warhol style. My grandparents used to use it to throw over our thanksgiving table. So it now is hanging behind glass at the Cleveland Museum, and it probably still has some cranberry

stains on it,” said Jurey. Hewit was a recluse. She spent most of her time working on her creative passions, and she did more than just woodcarving, according to Jurey. “The funny thing is that the thing she was recognized for was just a hobby to her. She put her passion into jewelry,” said Jurey. Artists dedicate themselves to their work, and Hewit was no exception. She poured her heart into the jewelry she wore and she took Lazzell’s teachings to heart. Sadly, Hewit was not able to see her art recognized in a renowned museum. “She died when I was too young to even remember, so I really had no interaction with her at all,” he said. Hewit passed away in Cleveland, 1984, where she spent the greater part of her life toiling away on her art. “The one memory [my dad] always talks about is that she was always doing something artistic,” Jurey said. Jurey has a newfound respect for the effort artists put into their craft, and for the rewards they can sometimes receive. He told us how speaking on his aunt’s behalf at the opening for her exhibit was a big change in his perspective. With a final piece of advice, Jurey says, “Support your local artists. You never can tell who’s going to be the next major breakthrough.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART

In 2010, Mabel Hewit was given a section all her own. Lasting for the greater part of the year, attendees could browse most of her woodblock prints and paintings.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART

Here the White-line printing technique is clear. Sharp lines and vivid colors are the style.

O f T he M onth

NOT SO JUNK OF THE MONTH

THE BRUIN

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Tweet of the month

PHOTO BY KAI WAGNER

Dominic Casalinova, 11, searching for another car he would rather have as he poses with his Porsche.

Dominic Casalinova’s, 11, Porsche has the looks and wants of every man and woman’s dream car. Casalinova’s car is a 2013 Cayenne GTS Porsche with a V8 engine, producing 420 horse power. The car is accompanied with Bose speakers and a black leather interior that can make any ride a ride to remember.

Athlete of the month

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELYSE WALDOW

Elyse Waldow, 10, shocked the swimming world by dropping time by the seconds in one season. During a duel meet, Elyse tied a state qualifying swimmer and knew she had a good chance of making states herself. Breaking the school and sectional record at sectionals with a 1:04.97, Waldow had a good feeling about states. Racing with a time of 1:05.98 in the 100 yard breaststroke she qualified for states as a sophomore.

Song of the month The Migos, including Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff, newest song, released on December 20th, 2017, and caught the ear of all music fans. Breaking into the top charts in a record time, The Migos are beginning to start a new era of Hip-Hop. With Stir Fry, The Migos have made a name and legacy for themselves.

Vincent Lobello, 11, is notorious for his comical tweets. He tries to post “on the daily” and loves to lighten everyones day with a funny one-liner. Posting his last comical tweet on February 26th, Vincent throws some shade on the fairly recent spirit week. For a funny joke when you are in a bad mood, before you go to bed or even to start your day, follow @vinchester08 on Twitter.

All these tweet saying “you are too cool for spirit week”are wrong you can definitely be too cool for Meme Monday. PHOTO BY KAI WAGNER

Dog of the month

Meet Jake, a purebred pug owned by Ryan Larj, that is as energetic as any other dog. He is lovable, snuggable and is at your service anytime you are sad. He will jump on your bed and toss around pillows until he is perfectly settled into a comfortable position to sleep. Upon entering the Larj household, no matter who you are, he will greet you with gentle kisses and an occasional bark for attention. He loves to play and will do anything for a treat.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN LARJ

Jake, age 4, is infamous for taking the perfect pictures on command.

DRINK OF THE MONTH

McDonald’s Shamrock Shake, a special beverage that is served for a limited time only, is back. Unlike the other usual milkshake flavors, the Shamrock Shake is served in celebration of a holiday, and it is just like Saint Patrick’s Day in a bottle. The Shamrock Shake is the perfect combination of mint and creamy vanilla topped with whipped cream. PHOTO BY MCT CAMPUS

PHOTO BY MCT CAMPUS

James J. Kane, NHS

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Andrew Depero, 12

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C A R E Leila Yurick, NHS E R TECH A W

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Students of the month Y

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Abby Zembas, 12

THE BRUIN

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S peak O ut

What are your plans for spring break?

“I’ll be in a tanning bed” -Taylor Blubaugh, 12

“Eating “Go fishing with “Going to gumdrops and my loving father, Dubai to ride watching the Ron Messer” camels” Kardashians” -Logan Messer, -Devin Orr, 10 -Alexis Wyatt, 11 9

“I’m gonna SEND IT” -Owen Porpora, 11

“More painting with Bob Ross and hitting the jazz clubs” -Mr. Recupero

“I’m going to do as many science experiments as possible in one week” -Mrs. MacDowell

“I think we’re “Binging “Eat. Sleep. “I’m going to gonna go to Netflix with my Breathe. sleep” Louisville, KY for cat” Run.” -Lundyn a couple days” -Regan -Nick Miller, Rains, 9 -Mr. Kaufman Burridge, 12 12