The Bruin - November 2018

NEWSPAPER II/III

The

WADSWORTH HIGH SCHOOL November 2018

Volume XLIV No. 2

BRUIN Germs Pg. 4 Esports Pg. 5 Student Life Pg. 9 State bound Pg. 10 Senior Spotlight Pg. 12

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E ditorial

The Bruin: A blast from the past

THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

BY TJ LOCKWOOD

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 Shaeffer Seth Smalley Emily Thompson Abby Witcherman Anna Wolfinger Advisor Eric Heffinger

The Bruin has had a long history here at Wadsworth High School, dating all the way back to the first official issue in 1971.

Flash back to the January 1984 issue of The Bruin when many Americans lived in fear of nuclear war with the Soviet Union.

Amidst the current issues that the United States has with North Korea, a comparison can be drawn in history to our relationship with the Soviet Union.

We, as Americans, still live in the threat of nuclear war, but the widespread fear that was present in 1984 has diminished greatly.

It has now been 34 years since this article was written, and our country has come a long way, but we still face many of the same problems. Although it has been so long, our lives are not so different from those who have come before us.

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Inside the Bruin

Noah Porter’s Hot Takes

Editorial Policy

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12 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.

Stay Updated:

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THE BRUIN N ews 1 Grizzly Grinds is creating great opportunities for students N ovember 2018

BY SETH SMALLEY

In order to help her students gain real world experience, Mrs. Osting has started a coffee cart business.

The coffee cart, appropriately titled “Grizzly Grinds,” offers teachers the option to order coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

The orders are delivered right to the teacher’s classroom door by the students. All options are just a dollar. “The social interaction is a big goal,” said Mrs. Osting.

“The aim for the students is to get real world experience for them to become public employees. The handling of the money exchanges really help them work towards those goals.”

Grizzly Grinds is an opportunity for students to take a hands on approach to learn how they can effectively interact with other people. This experience will greatly help the students adjust to life after high school and all the challenges it brings.

The program has gained great support from teachers across the school.

“We normally get 15-25 [out of roughly 100 staff members] orders a day. Sometimes, teachers will order for their whole class on a Friday and we will have 15-20 deliveries to just that one

classroom. The support across the school has really been great,” Osting said.

The program offers great job experience for the students but they enjoy the work more than you may expect from a school oriented program.

“The students do not treat it as

a job,” said Osting. “They see it as fun and often argue with each other over who gets to deliver the orders.”

It is evident that this program is benefiting the students greatly.

“I really like getting to talk to all the teachers and laugh with them,” said Angeliese Pawlak, one of the students involved.

“It’s really fun to see all Pawlak is not the only the different teachers one who feels this way. really fun to see and make them happy.” all“It’s the different teachers -Jacob White-Eucker and make them happy,”

There has been much debate in recent years about how pressing global warming truly is. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) commissioned by the United Nations, governments around the world must make “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” to prevent catastrophic levels of global warming. The consequences of this overpollution could start being seen as soon as 2030 if our society does not quickly adapt.

The concern has been growing over the effects that our extreme levels of plastic use is having on the environment, and the effects of the multitude of air pollutants released into the atmosphere every day.

“I think it is hard for us to cut down on pollution when we already have so much,”

maybe even opening to seniors on Fridays.”

Other school districts have had success with similar program that are open to all students. Medina High School has a program that has developed into the fully student run cafe open to both students and staff, proving that Osting’s long term goal is attainable.

PHOTO BY SETH SMALLEY PHOTO BY SETH SMALLEY

Jacob White-Eucker, Zach Fuller, Angeliese Pawlak, and Mikayla McGeorge prepare to deliver the morning orders to Grizzly Grinds.

United Nations committee presents threat of severe global warming consequences

BY SETH SMALLEY

added fellow student Jacob White-Eucker.

The long time goal that the service has in mind is to open the business up to students, although that may not be possible this year.

“We hope to expand to food at some point and be available to students,” said Osting. “We have toyed with the idea of opening to students on All-In days and

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said Alexis Prock, 11. “Almost everything we buy comes in some form of plastic which does not help either.”

The report presented by the IPPC stated that some of the effects of global warming and pollution that will become serious as soon as 2030 are extreme drought, wildfires, floods and food shortages for hundreds of millions of people. This will be our new reality if something is not done soon. “I think it is really terrible that we could see such major

changes in our lifetime to the climate that are caused by people,” said Michael Streger, 11. “I think we need to start taking better care of the planet so there will still be a planet that future generation can live on.”

The UN report emphasizes that everyone on the planet will be effected by the climate changes that mankind has brought upon the earth, and the only way to prevent it now is for the governments of the world to join together and have a focused effort to cut down on pollution.

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF IPCC.CH

A major problem presented by pollution and climate change is the lack of farmable areas and losing crop yields.

Zach Fuller and Mikayla McGeorge eagerly deliver a morning order of coffee to Ms. Palija, which has become a morning ritual for them.

Cleaning accident at Walmart causes hazmat situation

BY SETH SMALLEY

Walmart was forced to temporarily close due to a dangerous hazmat situation accidentally caused by employees on October 17.

Store employees were disposing of cleaning chemicals when two of them mixed and caused a dangerous reaction. The two chemicals combined to form an irritant cloud that caused a pungent odor. These chemicals were

typical cleaning items that reacted poorly with each other.

Had this situation not been handled well it could have become extremely dangerous, but the police and fire departments had officers on site to help evacuate the building and help with the disposal of the material to prevent harm. Everyone in the store was evacuated safely with no reported injuries.

PHOTO BY SETH SMALLEY

While the event had the potential to be severe, both customers and employees evacuated without harm.

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N ews 2

THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

Bacteria lingers in schools even after cleaning Students are more at risk of becoming sick from school than any other place. According to the International Sanitary Supply Association, 22 million school days are lost annually to the common cold. Unhealthy school environments are proven to affect students’ health, attendance, concentration, and performance.

The average student misses 4.5 days of school each year, and the typical teacher misses approximately 5.3 days a year.

Regularly absent students are 7.4% more likely to drop out of school. Students could be at high risk if 100% of the bacteria is physically impossible to kill.

Some germs still remain after cleaning and can be especially threatening if they are on the surfaces every student comes into contact with. Water fountain spigots carry about 2.7 million colonies of bacteria per square inch, toilet seats contain 3,200 and computer keyboards have 3,300. Once multiple students touch these surfaces, germs can quickly spread and eventually cause illness.

To see just how much bacteria the school accumulates over time, swabs of the front doors and the door handles of every classroom in the 2100 hallway were put to the test with the help of science teacher, Mr. Jurey. Swabbing the two locations with a Q-tip, once at the beginning of the day and again after school, students rubbed the bacteria into a petri dish containing agar where it would grow. The dishes are placed into incubation for the germs to accrue.

“The incubator is held at the body temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, since these are the ideal conditions for bacteria to grow,” said Jurey.

After letting the dish sit for a few days, the bacteria developed immensely, and the differences were drastic.

“There was significantly more bacteria in the quadrants where the swabs were recorded after the school day,” said Jurey.

The front and back doors were remarkably dirtier at the end of the day opposed to in the morning. The door handles had the same result; surfaces became filthier over the course of the school day. Thankfully, these germs are cleaned before the next school day.

“The high school is cleaned every night; we have a group of custodians that start to come in between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.,” said Scott Larch, the Supervisor of Facilities and Grounds of the Wadsworth City School District.

“They clean every room, vacuum, wipe down hard surfaces while also cleaning and disinfecting the restrooms everyday.”

This sanitation process is critical, especially after a full school day of students, some ill, touching every part of the

building. Due to the cleaning schedule, the early morning is the cleanest part of the day and the healthiest period.

However, almost every student touches the dirtiest parts of the school, bringing germs and sickness home with them.

The dirtiest parts of any school include drinking fountains, desks, bathroom doors and cafeteria tables. With all of these surfaces cleaned everyday, there is still bacteria left over that can eventually be harmful.

Cleaning products like hand sanitizer, Windex, Clorox and Lysol, all claim to kill 99.9% or 99.99% of germs. While this might be true, there is still 0.1% of bacteria left that could have a drastic effect if not accounted for.

Typically, this 0.1% of bacteria out of one hundred percent does not pose a threat to our health due to its small size. But the problem is when it multiplies. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, bacterium can double within 20 to 30 minutes.

Once this chemical-resistant bacteria grows, it can have

a serious effect on health, especially that of students. The only organization able to achieve complete cleanliness is the EPA. While this applies to at-home cleaning remedies and products, Wadsworth’s custodians use a much more powerful chemical to reduce this phenomenon and completely sterilize the building.

“We use a disinfectant cleaner that is used in health care and other facilities where cleaning and prevention of cross contamination is critical,” said Larch.

The reduction of bacteria and sickness starts with the students.

Washing hands periodically and using hand sanitizer can substantially reduce the spread of illness and help the cleanliness of the building before the school day starts.

While we have hard working custodians who physically clean as much as they can, the unaccounted for bacteria are the culprits to our monthly colds or yearly flus. Preventing illness from spreading is essential for the healthiness, safety, education, and attendance for those who are at Wadsworth High School each day.

PHOTO BY ANNA WOLFINGER

Above, Calli Huff, 10, uses a Q-tip to swab the handle of her classroom. Once she successfully swabs the handle, she will take it back to her lab table where she will place it into a petri dish containing agar.

To the left, Ms. Jett along with sophomores Brionni Wiley, Abby Zitzman, Theo Jackson and Jason Triplett pour their agar into a petri dish. After inserting their swabbed Q-tips into the jelly-like auger, they will place their dishes into incubation to keep them at an idealistic temperature for the bacteria to grow.

PHOTO BY ANNA WOLFINGER

BY ANNA WOLFINGER

How often do you get sick each school year?

“I get sick at least three times every semester.”

“I get a lot of out colds through r.” the school yea

-Josette Gerace, 10

-Brooke Honnold, 11 “I get really sick at least twice a year.”

-Brendan Merhar, 12

THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

O pinion

High school and esports: how to turn a hobby into an education

BY RICHIE DIETRICH

Esports in an up and coming scholarship opportunity for students to turn their hobby into a way to pay for college.

Most people do not think about getting scholarships to play video games in college but this is a new way for those who are skilled at gaming to earn financial aid for college.

Taking the first step into this new territory was Robert Morris University, which was the first college in America to offer students scholarships for their esports team. Many other colleges, such as Ashland University and Indiana Tech, have followed suit.

Since esports are important enough to merit students college scholarships with, they should be incorporated at the high school level. This allows students to apply something they do as a hobby to help them get a scholarship to college.

“While [video games] can

be a distraction in a student’s education, they can also expand their knowledge into their futures. The skills and abilities that students learn from video games can allow them to further pursue their education through something they love,” said James Bernard, 12.

The need for high school level esports teams is imperative.

Seeing the impact that esports scholarships are having on students careers should make schools want to implement their own programs.

Games such as league of legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and Hearthstone are very popular games that can earn you a scholarship.

In order to be eligible for scholarships regarding esports, one must reach out to college esports coaches--mainly through a gaming chat application called Discord--and work their way up from there.

Being a part of an esports team does not mean that someone has to be a professional player. An average esports team member

places within the top 15-20 percent of players for any type of game. Most colleges even go as far as looking at the top 25 percent of players.

Making a high school level esports team would be easy.

All schools have to do to establish their own official team and go to the website www. highschoolesportsleague.com.

Here you have the ability to enter your school into tournaments and more.

To be an esports coach you only need to take two online courses and must have a background in coaching in order to be certified.

This is similar to a typical coaching job. Coaches work with the players to help motivate them.

Coaches are also responsible for showing the games their strengths and weaknesses. They can also talk with the gamer to come up with new strategies just like a sports coach would do.

“Having Wadsworth implement an esports team would get a lot of people talking,” said Evan Dryer, 12. “Not only would an esports team change the way that people look at “The skills and abilities that the impact of gaming, students learn from video but gaming’s impact games can allow them to could change the further pursue their educations amount of student through something they love.” involvement in other activities greatly.”

-James Bernard, 12

An esports team would allow students to turn a hobby into a way to pay college education. The skills people gain from gaming on the competitive level would also help benefit student lives.

Gaming teaches students how to work with others and how to stay calm under pressure. More than just motor actions and handeye coordination, competitive gaming brings teamwork, fast problem solving techniques, and situational awareness to those who play.

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The creation of a esports team could help students apply their skills in gaming to different aspects of their lives.

Esports can allow students to further their education at the college level. If the school were to offer an esports team, it would allow students to hone in on skills they have and learn new and skills. The overall amount of connections you can make from esports can help your future.

PHOTO BY RICHIE DIETRICH

Collin Dryer, 10, plays a competitive Fortnite playlist in hopes of improving his abilities to apply for college esport teams in the near future.

College deadlines: creating stress within the student body

BY KYLEE BARANEK

Seniors hear the echo of “Don’t forget the November 1 deadline is just around the corner!” by counselors and teachers incessantly in the first two months of school.

Those deadlines can tend to feel like they are rapidly approaching. Seniors are trying to figure out how to juggle classes and activities, all while trying to apply and get accepted to colleges.

“With senior year, you usually think it is supposed to be an easy year, especially since we can have early release and/or late arrival. But as seniors, most

of us have a very full schedule which makes applying to colleges extremely overwhelming,” said Sarah Takenaka, 12.

The thing that makes college deadlines so stressful is the fact that once school starts, free time vanishes. Most seniors are in clubs or have jobs, which can contribute to the loss of time and energy.

If students had more opportunities within classes, it might help them feel less overwhelmed.

Mr. Singleton and Mr. Schoonover are just two examples of English Teachers who incorporate writing a Common App essay as a part of their students’ grades, pushing them to get a head start on college application deadlines while helping students learn the curriculum at the same time.

“Having a teacher who is very familiar with college essays to review with and how they work

is incredibly helpful,” Takenaka said.

The stress from other activities and classes will not go away, but if students could get a jump start on their Common App essay, it could possibly reduce some of the unnecessary stress students face when coming back for their senior year.

Yet, he stress does not stop even after the initial grunt work is done, as they still have to maintain their grade point average for when their final transcripts are sent.

“You have already been accepted but you still have to keep up with your school work and it is so stressful,” said Nathan Nemeth, 12.

With the first quarter of senior year being one of the most crucial parts of a high school career, it becomes difficult keep up with both past and future grades.

By allowing students to have time to work on those future opportunities, whether that be

by giving class time or giving less homework so a student may complete the work at home,

teachers are continuing to encourage students to strive for greatness.

Do you think it would be helpful for you to have time dedicated to working on your Common App essay in English?

“Yes, that way we had a teacher there to help us through it and if we had questions about it they could be answered right away.”

- Shaina Harbaugh, 12

“It would have been more beneficial since you have an English teacher to help you.”

- Carl Pennington, 12

“Yes I do. It would have helped me know how and where to start working on this essay.”

- Hannah Hutchison, 12

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THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

C

OC OT PH

O CO OT PH

URTESY OF

TESY OF AM AZ O UR O

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O f the month

Movie

Song

“Halloween” (2018) is the perfect thriller for this time of year.

Athlete

“Happier” by Marshmello and Bastille is an upbeat pop song that has held a spot on the top of the charts.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DYLAN WEINREICH

Pet

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIA GAMBACCINI

Mason McMillen, 12, is one of the top linebackers in the Suburban League. He is ranked 19th in the state.

Junk

Mia Gambaccini’s, 12, car, Derek, is a 2007 silver Honda Accord. Over the past few years Gambaccini’s car has been in two accidents, hit a garage door, and has had its Restaurant bumper ripped off after hitting a Casa Del Rio is one of Wadsworth’s cement parking block. most popular restaurants. It is known for fantastic food and a great staff.

Meet Henry, Macy, 12, and Dylan, 10, Weinreich’s 18-weekold golden retriever. Henry spends most of his time sleeping.

He also enjoys going on walks and playing with other dogs.

PHOTO BY MARRAYA YOUNGBLOOD

NOVEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

Jacob McDermitt, 12.

Secilia Ho, 12.

Page by Brooke Burton

THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

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8 P icture P age

THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

Lizzie is telling the small Harold, Carter Parsons, Mrs. Parson’s son, about all the chores she has been told to do at the royal academy.

PHOTO BY HALLE SHAEFFER

Lizzie, played by Maddie Sorrent, 11, and Prince Robert, played

by Sam Breyley, 12 are first introduced to each other when they spark their romance for one another.

PHOTO BY HALLE SHAEFFER

Gabriola, played by Hope Hyde, 12, the Box of Bird Sellers, played by Grant Fry, 10, and the Baker, played by Emily Reese, 9, gather around Lizzie to see her “lying on the cold hard ground.”

Madame Bombazine, played by Kaitlyn Setera, 12, instructs her royal students on how to be proper princesses in their early morning stroll.

l a e s R s e nce e Th ri th P and ea P

Princesses, played by Taylor Nagy, 12, and Anna Callow, 12, listen to Madame Bombazine’s instructions.

PHOTO BY MORGAN PORPORA

Oldma, played by Abigail Dadich, 11, and Queen Rowena, played by Madi Bidinger, 10, discuss a competition that will be held that night for the prince’s hand in marriage.

PHOTO BY MORGAN PORPORA

Lizzie, portrayed by Maddie Sorrent, 11, is asked to clean up a “mote of dust” in the path of Madame Bombazine and her princesses.

PHOTO BY MORGAN PORPORA

The merchants delightfully listen to Lizzie tell her story of how she met Prince Robert in town and how romantic their encounter was.

PAGE CREATED BY KYIA FRANK

N ovember 2018

S tud e n t A r t

Art made by Alexandra Zuder, 12

Art made by Colleen Hallas, 12

Art made by Leah Wagner, 12

Art made by Rebecca Dupont , 12

S tudent L ife

THE BRUIN

Art made by Helaina Novak ,12

Art made by Charlotte Lewis, 12

Art made by Alexandra Zuder, 12

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THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

Girls soccer makes it to district finals, finishes as runner-up

BY HALLE SHAEFFER

As the Lady Grizzlies finished their successful regular season, they moved on to the district playoffs.

As they faced Highland in their first game of the tournament, the girls increased their record to (10-3-4) overall, claiming sectional champions. Following this, they played at Brunswick for the district semifinal. The game was tied through two overtimes, sending it to a shoot-out to determine the winner. The girls won the shoot-out with a final score of 4-2.

In their final game of the tournament, they played against Medina. In the end, Medina came out victorious with a score of 0-1. After three games the team finished with the title of District Runner-up.

During these tournament games the girls had to push themselves in practice and persevere during the playoff games.

“The hard work is worth it once I see the proud faces of our parents and friends after a close

game,” said Elena Vukovic, 11.

“All of the training and difficult days are worth it going into the tournament,” said Grace Back,12, in agreement.

The captains this year were Jordan Barnhart, 12, Mia Gambaccini, 12, Teddi Farson, 12, and Mackenna Blackburn, 10.

“They direct us on and off the

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALY BRUGH

Senior and captain, Teddi Farson, traps the ball in a victory over the Stow-Monroe Falls Bulldogs.

field. They always motivate us and never let us forget what we are working towards,” said three year varsity player Hailey Barfuss, 11.

“Making sure that the whole team is working together as a unit and keeping everyone on the same page during games is the most important part of leading the girls.

We are able to work well together when we communicate the way that we should,” said Blackburn, the youngest captain on the team.

Along with Barnhart, Gambaccini, and Farson, fellow seniors Grace Back, Elizabeth Talabac, and Kendall Kraft led their team on and off the field.

The seniors helped plan team activities to strengthen their relationships.

Over the summer they all participated in a weekend long camp filled with activities designed to increase team chemistry.

“Spending two nights at a team bonding retreat, playing games together, and becoming closer as a team helped us not only off of the field, but it helped us to talk more on the turf. We got a lot

Volleyball wins a record 24 straight games, finishes as district runner-up

BY PATRICK CHAMIER

The varsity volleyball team set a Medina County record with 24 straight wins and finished as the undefeated Suburban League champions. They made it to the district finals and finished as the runner-up.

They finished the season with a record of (24-2) overall. They

also won the Suburban National League with a (14-0) record.

The Grizzlies were the 3rd seed in the Brunswick District to begin playoffs. The volleyball team defeated Parma 3-0 in the first round. They only allowed Parma to score a total of 17 points through the entire match.

Next they faced Wooster, beating them 3-0 to win the

PHOTO COURTESY OF GENE BELDEAN

The Lady Grizzlies celebrate during the District Final match against Padua Franciscan. The Grizzlies lost in four sets to finish as the runner-up.

sectional final.

“The win against Wooster was one of the highlights of the season,” said Evelyn Haydu, 11.

The Grizzlies then faced the Strongsville Mustangs in the district semi-final match. They were the Grizzlies sole loss in the very first match of the season. The rematch went very differently in the semi-finals.

Wadworth came out victorious in four sets to avenge the first game of the season, extended the Medina County record win streak to 24, and advanced to the district final.

For the district final match, the Grizzlies went head to head with Padua Franciscan. The Grizzlies fell down two sets to none before stealing the third.

However, they then fell in four sets. The loss marked the end of the Grizzlies 2018 volleyball season.

The team made a huge jump this season, improving from 16 wins last year, to 24 this season.

They also went undefeated in the league after being just a game over .500 at (8-6) in the league a year ago.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALY BRUGH

Taylor Leatherman, 11, heads the ball against a player from Stow. The Lady Grizzlies went on to win this game with a score of 5-1.

closer as a team and it definitely helped us throughout the season,” said Sami Shaffer, 11.

Although the team will be losing six seniors next year, many young players will be ready to step up to fill these places.

Young players that stand out, other than Blackburn, are Sarah Flaker, 10, and Gabriella Inestroza, 10.

“They filled the gap from

our seniors that graduated last year, and will fill the upcoming gap next season. This is also their first year on varsity,” said Vukovic.

The girls are proud of their accomplishments throughout the season. They finished the regular season with a record of (9-3-4) overall, (4-1-2) in the Suburban League, and postseason of a record of (2-1).

Girls cross country qualifies for state for the first time since 1991

BY PATRICK CHAMIER

The girls cross country team raced through the regular season with times that qualified them for the state finals.

The team placed second out of 13 teams at the district meet in Medina, qualifying them to go to the regional meet at Boardman High School. Clare Nicholas, 9, finished 5th overall and Laney Corell, 10, finished 9th.

“Both Coach Burton and Coach Humrichouser take the time to make pace charts to help improve our times,” said Corell.

These pace charts mark what their pace should be for different intervals of distance to help the runners improve their speed and

endurance for the meets. The charts take time to make, but according to the runners, they help a lot in the long run.

“Coach Humrichouser designs all of the workouts which head us in the right direction before the meets,” said Emily Kurtz, 11.

Both Kurtz and Corell agree that the highlight of the season was beating rival Hudson at the Suburban League Championship.

On October 27, the team finished 5th of 24 teams at the regional meet and Nicholas finished 5th out of 190 runners.

To see how they did, check out our website: WadsworthBruin.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF LANEY CORELL

The girls cross country team finished 5th at the regional finals to qualify for states.

THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

Ho finishes her four-year varsity golf career at states

BY JACOB MCDERMITT

After watching and learning from her sister’s prestigious Wadsworth golf career, Secilia Ho finished 19th overall in the state of Ohio. In her fourth year of leading the Grizzlies girls varsity golf team, Ho finally made it to states. After the first day, she was in 22nd place and 9 over par but managed to finish the second day only 7 over par and in 19th place at the Ohio State’s golf course.

“It was cold. I got windburn,” stated Ho. “I was so nervous. The first tee I was shaking bad.”

Secilia’s older sister, Alice, also qualified for states, doing so in three of her four years.

Her other sister, Katy, was also a four-time letter winner. Secilia cited the support, and more importantly the competition, as a huge part of her ability to reach the level of success of her sisters.

“They are my sisters so they support me, but we are really competitive too. I always look up to them. They are awesome.

Every time I play, even though they are not there, I have that competition because the expectations,” said Ho. Although she did not begin playing until 8th grade, much later than her sisters, Ho made her

PHOTO COURTESY OF SECILIA HO

Secilia Ho, 12, and coach Mike Schmeltzer Jr. pose with her district scorecard.

biggest improvement from 8th to 9th grade. After that, she joined the high school team and has held the top spot on varsity all four years. She was the WAKR Student Athlete of the Week in September and recently was chosen to receive a $500 scholarship from the OHSAA for being the Scholar Athlete of the Week. Even with all of her individual success, her favorite memory is a team accomplishment.

“Winning the Suburban

League title sophomore year,” Ho boasted. “That team was so close and still texts. We were the only Wadsworth team to win league ever.”

She plans to continue her career in college but is unsure of where.

“I am between Gannon and Southern Illinois,” said Ho. “Southern Illinois is D-I and where my sister went. Gannon is D-II, closer and I could relax more because it is not as demanding. I honestly do not know.”

S ports 2

Football continues regular season and league dominance

BY JACOB MCDERMITT

With a 35-13 victory over Hudson on October 26, the Grizzlies football team finished undefeated for the second straight regular season and repeated as Suburban League champions.

“To be able to do it two years in a row shows that it is more mental than physical because in two years they have not had any letdowns,” said head coach Justin Todd. “Getting locked back in every single game is not an easy thing to do, especially for twenty straight [games].

That is probably what I am most proud of,” he continued.

All four of the captains, Mason McMillen, Brock Snowball, Brett Randolph, and

Alec Miller, are seniors and were starters on both teams.

“This group of seniors’ leadership ability is off the charts. It is as good as any group I have ever been around. They are the biggest reason why we are where we are at right now,” boasted Todd.

McMillen, Miller, and Randolph spearheaded a defense that only allowed 11.8 points per game on the season while posing four shutouts. With Snowball positioned as running back, the offense scored just over 36 points per game.

They head into the playoffs as a three-seed.

To see how they did, check out our website: WadsworthBruin.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUSTIN TODD

The football team has completed two straight undefeated regular seasons and are the Suburban League champions.

Fall sports results

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

Highlighted with a 3rd place finish at the Bulldog Invitational, the boys cross country team finished 5th in the Suburban League and 7th out of 13 teams at districts. Benji House, 12, placed 12th overall with a 16:46 and qualified for the regional meet where he finished 46th overall.

PHOTO BY JACOB MCDERMITT

The varsity cross country team and coaches finished 5th at the Suburban League meet at Silvercreek.

GIRLS TENNIS

The girls tennis team finished the regular season with a winning record of (11-7) overall and were just over .500 at (4-3) in the Suburban League.

Despite losing to three league teams in the season, they managed to finish third place overall at the league championships.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NATY KASER

The girls varsity tennis team finished third at the Suburban League Championships in Highland.

BOYS SOCCER

The boys soccer team finished the season just under .500 at (8-9) overall and (3-4) in the Suburban League.

In the first round of the playoffs, they blew out Ellet by a score of 13-0 at home, before falling in the sectional final to Brunswick by a score of 3-1.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GENE BELDEAN

Kai Wagner, 12, celebrates a goal during the sectional final match against Brunswick.

11

BOYS GOLF

The boys golf team finished the season with an overall record of (4-9) and (2-5) in the Suburban League. As a team, they finished 7th at sectionals. Matt Moore, 12, was a single stroke away from advancing to regionals, but finished 14th out of 90 golfers at sectionals.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COOPER WROBEL

Cooper Wrobel, 12, celebrates after making a putt in a match against Cuyahoga Falls.

GIRLS GOLF

The girls golf team finished the regular season at (5-5) overall and (3-4) in the league.

At the Suburban League Championships, they jumped one spot and finished 3rd overall.

They placed 6th at sectionals.

Secilia Ho, 12, finished 2nd at districts and 19th at states.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GABY BEHRNS

On her senior night, Gaby Behrns, 12, tees off in the final regular season match of the season against Hudson.

12 F eatures 1

THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

SENIOR

Diego Costa: Volleyball

BY ABBY WICHTERMAN

Our school primarily focuses on the girl’s volleyball team at Wadsworth High School; however, we tend to overlook the fact that there is a student among us who has excelled in volleyball outside of the schools. Diego Costa, 12, plays for a club volleyball team called Ignite. Ignite is a volleyball organization that is located in Twinsburg, Ohio. The focus of Ignite Volleyball is to improve athletes on and off the court.

Costa has had the opportunity to compete all around the country through his club team.

After watching his dad, Frazer Costa, play volleyball throughout his childhood, Costa chose to try volleyball out for himself when he was in sixth grade.

“I grew up seeing my dad play and I just thought it was something different and wanted

to try it,” said Costa.

He went to Jackson High School and began playing for Jackson’s boys volleyball.

Costa played there for two

Costa, 12, blocks the ball on opponent during a volleyball tournament at Lake Erie, last summer.

years, but then later decided to play club at Ignite Volleyball.

He currently plays for a Junior Olympic team, or J.O. During

the J.O. season, Costa practices everyday of the week from 4-7p.m. However when the J.O. season ends, Costa does not stop playing volleyball.

“I play year round,” Diego explained, “I play beach volleyball in the summer because that is when all the major tournaments happen.”

Through playing J.O. and beach volleyball, Costa gets the opportunity to play other club teams from all over the world.

“I have played in many tournaments all over the U.S. such as Chicago and New York, but my favorite tournament is the Lake View tournament up on Lake Erie,” said Costa.

Though Costa does not have any plans to play volleyball in college, he is still determined to continue his volleyball career past high school.

“I was offered to play in college but I don’t plan on playing anywhere because I can compete whenever, I don’t need a college to play

volleyball,” stated Costa.

Through playing volleyball, Costa has exceeded expectations as a student athlete. He has proved that it is possible to excel in a sport without playing for the high school. It is alright to go against societal norms of high school and do your own thing. Costa has shown that through his dedication to volleyball.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF DIEGO COSTA

Costa sets the ball while playing in a tournament (left). Costa bumps the ball to his teammate (above).

A s h ly n S c h e r t z : H o r s e b a c k R i d i n g

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF ASHLYN SHERTZ

BY ABBY WICHTERMAN

Most girls dream of owning a horse and being able to ride it whenever they want. For Ashlyn Schertz, 12, this dream is a reality. She is an equestrian who competes in riding competitions.

Schertz has been riding horses since she was 10 years old. With 8 years of riding experience under her belt, she has competed in a wide range of competitions.

She has competed in not only local competitions,

Ashlyn Schertz, 12, riding her horse, Sully, at the World Calibur Show.

such as 4H, a youth organization, but in national and world competitions as well.

Though these competitions sound thrilling, it is not an easy process to get there. Schertz spends a lot of her week preparing her horse.

“During a normal week, I go to the barn 4-6 days,” said Schertz, “I spend 3 plus hours a day grooming, riding/training, and taking care of my horse and the other horses there.”

During competitions she competes against riders who have worked just as hard as she has. The riders not only compete against each other, but also help guide one another in their riding journeys.

“At higher level shows, there are so many amazing and talented exhibitors and trainers,” Schertz said, “They are all so knowledgeable and want to help out.”

Schertz owns two horses, Sully and Petey. Though Sully is her competition horse, she cares for both of them equally. Through spending a lot of time with them,

she has been able to bond with very spooky and the horses creating a trusting will runaway relationship with them. from anything “My favorite part of riding they sense is horses is the bond you get to form danger. Due between you and your horse,” to that, it is Schertz said. “Horses are not very hard trusting animals and are naturally to build a bond

Ashlyn Shertz rides Sully as she competes at the World Calibur Show in October.

with a horse. Once you do, it’s an amazing thing.”

Schertz explained that the bonds that are formed are far more cherished than any prize that she has ever won from riding.

“The people that have earned and understand this bond know the amazing feeling it gives you.

I personally think that is more rewarding than all of the awards and money I have won,” Schertz explained.

She hopes to continue her love for riding past high school.

She is hoping to attend Kent State University and join their equestrian team. Schertz also

hopes to further her training and wants to assist others in their riding journey as well.

“I’m also planning on continuing my knowledge of horses and helping out others that need guidance,” Schertz stated while discussing her plans for the future.

“The friendships I have made with some of those people, I know, will be lifelong. Riding has really changed my life for the better and I would not give it up for anything,” said Schertz.

Schertz is an example of a student who goes above and beyond outside of our school.

THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

F eature 2

SPOTLIGHT

13

Charlotte Lewis: Dance

BY EMILY THOMPSON

The world of competition dance, along with many other artistic and athletic activities, is brutally competitive and often harsh on young students.

However, Charlotte Lewis, 12, is not scared of the competition.

Lewis started competitively dancing for Once Upon A Dream, a dance studio located in Wadsworth, Ohio, at the age of six. She was inspired by her older sister, Caitlin Lewis, to dance.

“My favorite style of dance is contemporary, and I think most of the girls I dance with would agree! I love that it allows us to convey a story or a message that could have a positive impact on our audience,” stated Lewis.

In June of 2018, Lewis’s dance team was able to tell a beautiful story through their group dance called, “The Girl Behind the Mask.” The routine won best

lyrical modern contemporary performance and got first in the competition.

“Dancing is a form of release for me,” Lewis explained.

“It keeps me grounded and helps me cope w i t h stress.

Dancing allows me to express myself through music and movement in a way t h a t

“It definitely causes some challenges to be able to get school work done since I spend so much of my week at the studio,” said Lewis, “I spend five days

Lewis and her dance team winning nationals in 2016 (above). Lewis and her dance team before performing their award winning dance “The Girl Behind the Mask” (left).

a week at the studio, for a total of about 12 hours per week, and over 50 hours per month. Being a dancer also requires hard work outside of studio hours, including countless hours of stretching, cross-training, and practicing routines at home.”

However, despite the immense amount of time Lewis puts into dancing she would not trade her

nothing else can compare to.”

Despite the feeling of release, being a competitive dancer can come at a price.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHARLOTTE LEWIS

experiences for the world.

“I would never do it all if I didn’t think it was worth it!”

Lewis said, “I don’t know who I would be, without dance. I’m also grateful for all my teammates, and I would never trade it for anything!”

Through dancing Lewis has grown as a person and an athlete.

She has shown that hard work and dedication pays off.

Allison Elchlinger: Trapshooting

BY EMILY THOMPSON

When you think about typical high school sports, basketball, football, or soccer might be the first ones that come to mind.

However, Allison Elchlinger, 12, chose a more unique sport to pursue outside of school.

Elchlinger spends her time training as a trapshooter Trapshooting is a sport

using a shotgun, where one clay pigeon is thrown up at a time. The clay can go 1 of 5 directions. The goal is to hit the target every time. Five people make up a full shooting team at a time. Whoever gets the best score and hits the most clays wins the shoot.

“I started shooting in the fall of my fifth grade year,” Elchlinger said. “I was invited by a friend

Elchlinger practicing shooting before one of her competitions.

Allison and her varsity shooting team winning states in June 2017. Elchlinger had the best shooting out of everyone on her team with a 196/200 hits.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALLISON ELCHLINGER

of mine who shot trap to a bird hunt. I had never even touched a gun and was honestly scared of them. I had two days before the bird hunt to at least attempt to shoot a gun. I remember standing at the range crying because I was scared to shoot a gun. After a lot of convincing and a lot

of tears, I shot at a stationary target. I missed, and of course my competitive side kicked in to suck it up even though I was scared. I took another two shots and I finally hit it! From that day on, all I’ve wanted to do was practice and get good at shooting a shotgun. It is crazy to think of how I started to where I am now.”

Just about eight years later Elchlinger is still competing in trapshooting. She has proved to be very successful in both individual and team trapshooting.

Individually she has won three state championships, two reserve state championships, two top five, one top fifteen, and one top twenty national titles. On team she has won one national championship, two state championships, and many other prestigious awards to go along with the rest of her impressive list.

Elchlinger’s success in trapshooting has not gone unnoticed.

The American

Elchlinger and her dog Zeke after his first time hunting with her.

Legion post 170, located in downtown Wadsworth, sponsors Elchlinger each year.

Elchlinger’s success and drive is what inspires her to pursue trapshooting year-round.

She shoots with the mind set to improve herself and her shooting.

14 A d

THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

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

THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

9 1 ‘ L L A H K C RO

E ntertainment

Rock Hall rolls out 2019 year’s nominees

Wadsworth High School

BY LOGAN EGLESTON

The world of music has spoken, and the 2019 nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are here. Of the fifteen, only five get inducted.

The nominees include the following: Def Leppard, Stevie Nicks, The Cure, Todd Rundgren, The Zombies, Devo, Janet Jackson, Radiohead, Roxy Music, Rage Against the Machine, LL Cool J, John Prine, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Kraftwerk and MC5.

Six of the fifteen are on the ballot for the first time, including Def Leppard, Devo, John Prine, Roxy Music, Stevie Nicks and Todd Rundgren.

The selection process for becoming part of the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is very lucrative.

First, to be nominated, the artist must have released a studio album twenty-five years prior to the nomination bid. Artists are nominated by inductees who are already in the Hall of Fame.

Once receiving a nomination, the artist is put into a category.

Categories vary each year, but the most common is performers. After every artist is nominated for a category, it is time to vote for the winners.

Voting consists of both a board vote and a fan vote.

The board vote is done by members who have already been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the fan vote can be done on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website by anyone who wishes to vote. Def Leppard is currently the leader for the fan vote, not only nationally but here at Wadsworth High School as well.

“I tend to think that Def Leppard is overrated,” said Max Runkle, 11 , “but their drummer only has one arm so I have mad respect.”

The other artist who is in contention for the number one fan vote is Stevie Nicks, singer of Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mac has already been inducted, but she is on the ballot solo this year.

“Def Lep should get in this year, they are at the top of my list,” said history teacher Jason Knapp, “then I have LL Cool J, and then Rage Against the Machine. It’s not usual for me to put rap ahead of rock.”

The students at Wadsworth High School voted on the nominees as well as who they thought should be inducted in the future. The lists below demonstrate the order of popularity from students.

15

Which artist is the most deserving to be in the Hall of Fame?

“Def Leppard for sure.”

-Trey Shaffer, 11

“Janet Jackson.”

-Alyssa Mascolo, 11

Student body poll results

This years top nominees:

Top future nominees: “Def Leppard.”

-JD Webb, 11

“Stevie Nicks.”

-Megan Callahan, 11

16

S peakout

THE BRUIN

N ovember 2018

What do you want to buy on Black Friday?

“A $100 industrial tub of protein from GNC.” ~Max Runkle, 11.

“My drivers license.” ~Sami Shaffer, 11.

“A Weight Watchers plan after I eat my body weight in food on Thanksgiving.” ~Brendan Merhar, 12.

“I want an Xbox, because it is cheaper on Black Friday, so I think it is worth it.” ~Brayden Humprey, 11.

“I want to buy a new ACL.” ~Riley Shriver, 10.

“Honestly a MacBook for my school work.” ~Brittany Wick, 12.

“I’m going to Hot Topic to buy a ton of Dunder Mifflin shirts.” ~Ethan Hitch, 11.

“I’m too broke to buy anything.” ~Emma Landals, 11.

“A PS4, because I already have an Xbox.” ~Conner Stewart, 10.

“An ice cream maker, because I need sugar.” ~Casey O’Connor, 10.

“I do not leave my house on Black Friday, it is too crazy.” ~Mr. Berlin

“I wish I could buy my college tuition.” ~Leah McNutt, 12.

“I cannot buy anything, I am broke since Bids closed.” ~Regan Mason, 12.

“A new phone.” ~Erica Jurrius, 9.

“I want an Apple Watch.” ~Carley Mayes, 10.

“I want the new Google Pixel 3 phone.” ~Ana Simarro, 11.