the Senior cheerleaders reflect on their last Turkey Day pg. 11
echo V olum e 1 0 7 No v e m ber 2 0 2 1 1 0 0 S e l m a Av e . w g e c h o . o r g
Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Jackson Parks PRINT EDITOR: Ava Musgraves JUNIOR EDITOR: Lydia Urice BUSINESS MANAGER: Izzy Pool VIDEO EDITOR: Calum Shank SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER/ GRAPHICS EDITOR: Zeke La Mantia NEWS/ OPINION EDITOR: Emily Goben SPORTS EDITOR: Owen Crews FEATURE/ ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: Layla Johnson PODCAST EDITOR: Maren DeMargel PUBLIC RELATIONS: Calvin Lescher ADVISOR: Donald Johnson SOME MATERIAL FROM TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE The Echo is a monthly publication of the newspaper staff of Webster Groves High School, 100 Selma Ave., Webster Groves, MO. To contact staff members, call 314-9636400 ex. 11157 or write to wgecho@wgmail. org. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of a majority of staff members; signed articles are the opinion of the writer.
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Musical artists capture autumn’s essence Students, teachers express opinions about schedule Students create change with putt-putt event Rally held at Planned Parenthood History in Action club presents Model U.N. Fall Fashion: what’s in and what’s out? Webster takes Turkey Day field with interim head coach Cheer captains express excitement for Turkey Day Taylor Swift re-releases, remembers ‘RED’ all too well Lana Del Rey returns with 2nd album of 2021 Former football coach focuses on family Field hockey team reflects on end of season Men’s soccer team recovers from playoff run When is right time for holiday music?
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Cover Cutline: Senior Joel Lazarow snaps the ball to the quarterback during the Webster Groves and Kirkwood Turkey Day Game, Thursday, Nov. 25. The final score was 65-0 Kirkwood. Photo by Ava Musgraves
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12 Table of Contents | November 2021
Creating a seasonal soundtrack
Musical artists capture autumn’s essence Podcast Editor Maren DeMargel Each season seems to have different emotions associated with it. The following albums and songs somehow manage to capture the essence of fall through their lyrics, instruments, and themes. Each of these albums and songs are unique and represent different emotions associated with autumn. From change, to depression, to peace, the following albums cover fall in its entirety, and if combined, they create the perfect fall playlist. Starting off strong, “Red” by Taylor Swift is the most autumnal album of all time. Swift’s lyricism really shines through in this album, especially in the more emotional songs like Photo by Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/TNS. “All Too Well” and “Treacherous.” A Swiftie Hozier performs on Day 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at favorite, “All Too Well’’ is arguably one of the the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, CA, on Saturday, April 11, 2015. best songs in Swift’s entire discography, and it is definitely the one that reminds me most However, this album has a completely different tone than the of fall. On the newly released “Red (Taylor’s others. Hozier has a very recognizable voice and sound, and Version),” fans can enjoy a 10 min version of this song. this shines through in this genre-defying collection. The mixing This album also has its fair share of upbeat songs such as of folk and rock elements gives this album a completely unique singles “22” and “I Knew You Were Trouble.” The versatility feel that is extremely interesting to listen to. of this album is part of what makes it so good. In the words of One song on the album that stands out is “Like Real People Swift, “Musically and lyrically, ‘Red’ resembled a heartbroken Do.” A quiet, calming melody, this song is perfect for walking person. It was all over the place, a fractured mosaic of feelings in the fall air. Other standouts include “Cherry Wine (Live),” that somehow all fit together in the end.” “Someone New” and “Work Song.” As far as fall vibes go, this album does not fall short. “Red” Finally, it seems appropriate to mention several stand-alone is filled with imagery such as falling leaves, cool air and coffall songs. One incredibly fall song is “Meet Me In The Hallfee shops. One major theme of the album, change, may play a way” by Harry Styles. Track one of Harry Styles’ self-titled part in this as well. Change is closely with the fall season due to album, this song should be the first song on every fall playlist. the changing of colors, weather and opportunities for new beginIt’s unique, upbeat and everything one could want in an autumn nings. song. Another album that screams fall is Phoebe Bridgers’ “PunishAnother stand-alone song is “The Night We Met” by Lord er.” It is the kind of music that pulls one in and makes one want Huron. A hauntingly beautiful ballad, this is one of the most to keep listening. Bridgers, like Swift, utilizes carefully crafted peaceful songs of all time. The vocals are incredible, and the lyricism and unique melodies to create a completely immersive simple instrumentals complement them nicely. This song is experience for the listener. great at all times of the year, but for some inexplicable reason, Standout songs include “I Know the End,” “Graceland Too,” it is 10 times better in the fall. “ICU” and “Moon Song.” Each of these helps to capture the esA final autumnal song to mention is “Where Is My Mind” by sence of fall in its own unique way. Pixies. This song straddles the line between punk and folk, a For example, “I Know the End” feels like it was made for drivunique combination that produces a beautiful result. This song ing around with the windows down, and “Moon Song” encapcould really be added to any playlist at any time of year, but sulates the more depressing feelings sometimes associated with like “The Night We Met,” its effect is somehow so much better autumn and early winter. The lack of pop culture reference and in the fall. slang give this album a timeless feel. With that, the perfect seasonal soundtrack is complete. Each Hozier’s self-titled album, “Hozier,” is another album that of these songs and albums are so different from one another, yet should be listened to in the fall. Like “Red” and “Punisher,” this somehow they all represent the fall season flawlessly. album is full of detailed storytelling and vivid imagery.
November 2021 | Entertainment
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Students, teachers express opinions about schedule News/Opinion Editor Emily Goben There is a minimum of three different schedules in one school week. A typical week is set up as A Days Monday and Tuesday, a B Day on Wednesday, a C Day on Thursday, and another A Day on Friday. However, another schedule that occurs frequently is the Late Start A Day, which is followed on Mondays when the school has a late start, which happens two to three times a month. On A Days, students go to all of their classes for 51 minutes. On Late Start A Days, students arrive at school at 9:15 a.m. and attend all seven classes for 44 minutes each. On B Days, students attend their oddnumbered class hours for 93 minutes. On C Days, students attend their three evennumbered classes, and a 30-minute advisory period, followed by two 30-minute academic networking periods. An email from principal Matt Irvin described advisory as “A dedicated block of time when a small group of students meets the same faculty member. The focus is social-emotional learning but can include academic counseling and support. Advisories are convened weekly with longterm continuity--enabling honest, trusted discussion.” In the same email, academic networking is described to be used “to allow students to pursue academic work, receive extra help, make up missed assignments and tests, study and receive interventions, and increase the overall contact time between teachers and students.” The goal of this schedule is to provide access to intervention or supporting adult time, to make the schedule more evenly divided each week than it was with the previous schedule, to allow more time for creativity, projects, labs, or assessments, and to provide additional time for students
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to work on homework. English teacher Melissa Rainey strongly opposes this schedule saying it doesn’t allow students enough time to get done everything that they are expected to do in
ing indoors and exposure time, but feels a longer lunch would be worth having to remove and replace a mask while eating lunch. Rainey describes A Days as “grueling,” and expressed concern for the increased workload placed on students who go to every class on those days. However, chemistry teacher Kyle Lockos actually prefers A Days. “I see every class, and we learn a little bit every day instead of massive amounts at once. Inch-byinch learning is a cinch, yard-by-yard learning is hard,” Lockos wrote over email. “I have students telling me they’re doing homework until one in the New schedule for 2021-22 school year. morning,” Rainey said. Rainey has not only noa day, and that the schedule is too rushed. ticed the effect of this schedule on her “Lunch is only 25 minutes, which is students, but on herself and her fellow not enough time for juniors and seniors teachers. to leave campus to go get food and come “It’s [the schedule] not very studentback, which they are strongly encouraged friendly, which makes it not very teacherto do,” Rainey explained. friendly,” Rainey stated. Seniors Keith Fisher and Londin Fur“The hardest part of this schedule for faro agreed that lunch is not long enough. teachers is that it is now Nov. 5, and I still Furfaro said, as a senior, she was en- don’t know the schedule because it changcouraged to leave for lunch in order to es so often,” Rainey said. She went on to make sure that the school is able to main- explain that this makes it difficult to create tain social distancing during lunch and re- lesson plans and teach. main COVID-safe; however, she feels she “When we deliver a lesson plan, time does not have enough time to make it back is very important. We have to know what to class on time when she leaves for lunch. time period we’re going to be teaching it “If kids want to go home to get lunch, in, and that changes constantly,” Rainey by the time they get home, it’s already explained. time for us to get back to the school,” FurRainey added not every hour gets a faro explained, “and I live like right by the longer block class because, on B and C school, but when I went home, I had no Days, some fourth and fifth-hour classes time.” get split in half for lunch. This alters the “I have enough time to get somewhere lesson plan for those classes as well. that’s reasonable, get the food but not eat “I either don’t have enough time beit,” Fisher explained. cause we only have 40 minutes maybe Fisher added, lunch is the only break in on the late start days, and then we get to the school day, and that it is not enough the hour and a half, and I have too much time for students to have a mental break time. It’s like I don’t know how to plan, before returning to class. and I’ve been teaching for 18 years, and it Fisher noted he understands there are is chaos; it is pure chaos,” Rainey added. COVID concerns regarding masks, eatOne part of the schedule Rainey does
Opinion | November 2021
like is academic networking, although she does think it could use some adjustments. “Academic networking, I think, is amazing, and I wish students had more freedom to go take care of what they needed to take care of when they needed to take care of it, so instead of being stuck in one person’s room for the duration of an academic networking period, if you get something done and you’re ready to go see someone else, you should be allowed to go,” Rainey said. “Not every room has a computer, so you can’t get work done,” Rainey said about students who remain in their advisory room during academic networking. Senior Taylor Clifton agreed the idea of Academic Networking is good, but the execution is not quite there. She said that while sitting in her advisory class during academic networking, she feels she is wasting time. “It’s just a waste of time for me which is frustrating,” Clifton said. Furfaro, however, feels that academic
networking was a great addition to the schedule. She feels that she is productive during that time. “It’s definitely helpful, especially like, when I had COVID, and I came back. I was able to use a lot of that time to catch up with my teachers because it was hard. I couldn’t come into school before and after school every single day because I was still recovering,” Furfaro said. “Consistency is really important right now with us coming back from COVID and the virtual learning, it’s a big adjustment, and so always feeling lost in your day is not a good way to learn or teach,” Rainey said. Clifton also has an issue with the inconsistency of the schedule. She feels that there is a lack of communication and consistency with late starts and block days. “The constant changing of start and class times feels like a disruption. I can imagine some people love the constant changes in times for their classes, for me, it feels like I have whiplash. I like consis-
tency with time schedules,” Lockos wrote. Fisher, Furfaro and Clifton all prefer B or C Days to A Days. Senior Sydney Harp, however, prefers A days. “No one wants to be in a class for an hour and a half,” Harp said. She feels most of the work assigned in these longer class periods is just busywork to fill time. Harp feels she and her peers are unable to focus for such a long time. “As a teacher, I’m trying to do things to ameliorate the issues the schedule creates,” Rainey said. Rainey walks her students down to lunch so that they are there when the bell rings, and they have time to go through the lunch line. The empathy that teachers like Rainey have for their students is reflected by students’ empathy for their teachers. “I think it’s just stressing teachers out. They seem like they’re really overwhelmed with how many times the schedule has switched and how many times they’ve had to readjust their teaching,” Harp said.
Students create change with putt-putt event Podcast Editor Maren DeMargel
Marketing II class members raised around $4,200 for Friends of Kids with Cancer with a putt putt event inside the high school on Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All people ages seven and up were welcome to attend for $3, and all fees were collected at the door. The event was organized by seniors Jenna Clark, Joe Ruzicka, Gigi Tetley, Naia Kniker and Sydney Harp. “So every single year, Marketing does these different events to raise money to go to New York. This year we’re not going to New York, so we all picked a different charity to do. There’s different events every year like Mx. Webster [and] Night in the Courtyard, but my group wanted to create something new,” Clark said. Clark, one of the group leaders, was in charge of a lot of the business elements. “The putt putt event is 18 holes around the high school,” Tetley said. Tetley worked on the design and creative elements for the event. According to Tetley, each hole had a theme relating to Friends of Kids with
November 2021 | News
Cancer as well as the event’s sponsors. One of the event’s sponsors is Nehring Design. According to Tetley, this sponsorship played a major role in choosing Friends of Kids with Cancer as the benefactor of this event. “We all kinda knew Quinton Nehring, and his brother, Caleb, passed away from cancer a few years ago when he was a kid. He went to the foundation Friends of Kids with Cancer, so we thought it would be a great organization to donate to,” Tetley said. “A few of my group members went to the Friends of Kids with Cancer site, and it was just an overwhelming experience, and it was so amazing what they’ve done. I’m excited to give the donation to them and make a difference for their cause,” Clark said. All proceeds from the event including admission fees and challenge holes were donated to this charity. “We have four
challenge holes where you have a chance to win prizes. You can win up to $200 worth of gift cards,” Clark said. It cost $1 to attempt a challenge hole. “We just wanted to do something that included everybody in the high school and in the community and do something fun that no one else had done before,” Harp said. Harp is the social media manager for the event and worked with Tetley on creative elements as well. “We’re just trying to give back to the community in the best way we know how to,” Harp said.
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Photos by Izzy Poole
Two of the rally leaders, Noa Cohen and Cha Cha Rubin, stand with St. Louis residents who came to their Pro Planned Parenthood Rally on Saturday, Nov. 13. Below: People display express opinions with signs at the rally.
Students take action
Rally held at Planned Parenthood Business Manager Izzy Poole Teens for Choice STL organized a rally at Planned Parenthood in Forest Park Nov. 13, from 1-3 p.m. to show support for the services it provides. Organizers chose this time, which is outside Planned Parenthood’s hours, so as not to disturb any patients and to be respectful to the clinic escorts. People of all ages, genders, sexualities and religions came with signs and stood along the road, cheering when cars honked in approval. Sophomores Poppy Orchard and Cha Cha Rubin from Clayton High School and Noa Cohen from Ladue High School were contacted by Access Missouri to hold this rally. They started an Instagram @teensforchoicestl and posted about their planned rally. It quickly spread over Instagram by people reposting it on their Instagram stories. Speakers shared their stories and opinions on mainly abortions and highlighted other services that Planned Parenthood also provides.
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This was a separate event from the recent protest held by students from Vianney High School, which took place a week prior in the same location. This as well, spread through Instagram fast when @vianneystl posted pictures of their students holding signs that said, “Honk if you’re Pro-life,” “pray to end abortion” and “we will help you.” With the caption “Some of our Griffins participated in 40 Days for Life by gathering in front of Planned Parenthood to pray for the unborn. Those demonstrators also placed white crosses on our campus in memory of the unborn children claimed by abortion. #TogetherWePray” on their Instagram post. Signs at the Pro-Choice rally included sayings like: “Protect safe, legal abortion,” “My Body My Choice,” “not your body not your choice,” “I stand with Planned Parenthood,” “Pro Pap Smear, Pro Choice, Pro Condom, Pro Women, Pro Freedom, Pro Equality, Pro LGBTQ+, Pro Baby, Protect Women!,” Prolifer’s Argument:,” “Vulva La Resistance” and “Abortion access saves lives.” To contact Teens for Choice STL, email teensforschoicestl@ gmail.com or DM them on Instagram.
News | November 2021
Photo by Owen Crews
Senior Corvin Haake and junior Logan Storck teach a Model UN resolution to the rest of the participants. Resolutions were submitted by mock representatives of different countries.
History in Action club presents Model U.N. Sports Editor Owen Crews History in Action participated in a mock United Nations against seven different schools at Webster University Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. History teacher Conner Katsev, who sponsors History in Action Club, thought it was a really cool opportunity for students to participate in. “You can do it in high schools with two groups. I am blanking on the first group, but CIVITAS is the other group we have gone through historically. They are really great and are a nonprofit association that helps organize high schools with civic and other historical engagements,” Katsev said. Eight high schools participated in the session that Webster Groves Statesmen are participating with. This includes Chaminade, Francis Howell, MICDS, Nerinx Hall, Priory, Union and Waynes-
November 2021 | News
ville. Senior Ben Miller has been heavily involved for model U.N. along with Katsev and fellow senior Corvin Haake. “We don’t usually have a theme, individual resolutions are encouraged, and we usually find the template on the website, but we don’t have a specific group of resolutions. That is left up to the individual countries,” Miller said. Miller also talked about how Model U.N. runs. “CIVITAS is the organization that runs it, and usually they seat everybody down, and there is some sort of opening. We sit down (and) ask for a list of resolutions that are being proposed. Proposing countries go up. Talk about them. We vote on them. Vote on resolutions, amendments, and things like that. There is usually a good amount of debate over resolutions and amendments,” Miller added. Haake also gave his thoughts on how countries should proceed in this mock trial.
“As for China, my goal is always to cause as much of an issue to other countries as I can and to make everything about giving China more power, but realistically my goal is just if something is affecting my country, try to make it not pass or add a funny amendment,” Haake said. Haake also reflected on his decision to join Model U.N. “I think that I said I would sophomore year and then because I wasn’t going to go back on my word I did it, and then I was like well this is actually fun and not as nerdy and stupid as I thought it was going to be and now that I am a little more worldly because I am older and pay attention to things. I can actually respond to things and my quick wit helps with that,” Haake added. Miller said he enjoys Model U.N. because “I love politics and debate, and it’s a good way to stay informed and a good way to get some of that debate energy out,” Miller added.
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ts n e Stud .. l. Spil Business Manager Izzy Poole
Business Manager Izzy Poole interviews students on everything about fall fashion, from their favorite trends to their opinion about Uggs.
“My go-to outfit is probably a black T-shirt or my Ice Cube shirt with my ripped jeans with my Air Forces or Doc Martens,” junior Julia Burford said. “If I want to dress up, I will wear a black T-shirt and style it with nice pants and of course my Doc Martens.” “My go-to outfit is probably just pants and maybe like a cute long sleeve. I would probably do a black or really plain long sleeve under a short sleeve shirt,” junior Morgan Lawrence said. Color is also a shared liking. “I say my go-to fall outfit will be anything that’s just got a lot of browns or greens like earth tones. I’ve really been liking those recently, and then always a little pop of color with that like purple. I also really like that,” junior Josie Gerdes said. It’s not always about just the fashions though. “I love doing my makeup to match my outfit. I feel like makeup is just a big part of my whole look, and together I always try to match it with what I’m wearing, and I really have been like doing that,” Gerdes said. “I always wear a turtleneck or a long sleeve shirt with a flannel because I love flannel, and I always wear straight leg jeans that are tight at the top and then flare. I never wear skinny jeans,” senior Bridget Moehlman said. Barr agreed with Moehlman’s opinion of flannels. “I’m wearing a dress, which I don’t really do that often anymore, but this is my favorite dress because I can layer stuff with it, like a flannel, or I also have a corduroy button up that I really like or just like jackets.”
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Fall Fashion: wha
“I would say my go-to fall outfit, it’s either my bell bottoms and like this black tank top, and then I have this black shawl thing that has this burn out pattern. Or like a skirt with a sweater. I’m struggling with my fall fashion,” senior Isabella Pirozzi said. The bell bottom trend is coming back. “I actually really like the bell bottoms because I found a really good pair of low-rise. I mean I don’t really wear any short tops. It’s the fact that they are low-rise. They’re bell bottoms, but they’re super flowy,” Barr said. “I don’t like the fact that trend styles are going so fast. I don’t like micro trends. I don’t like how
we have so many trends because over consumption is a huge problem,” Pirozzi said. Overconsumption is when people buy a lot of clothes especially from fast fashion brands who sell their clothes at low prices. Then, when the clothes go out of fashion they get thrown away. To help stop this problem, donate old clothes instead of throwing them out, and buy clothes from sustainable brands like Plant Faced Clothing and Ninety Percent. Shopping from places like Romwe, Shein, Wish, Zaful and Amazon who have high quantities of products and sell them for cheap contribute to overconsumption.
November 2021 | Feature
at’s in and what’s out? are Uggs “uggly” “My sister wears Uggs. I am up to try it, but I don’t have any right now,” Barr said, She’s not completely against the idea, but even with all their popularity people have a disliking towards Uggs. “People need to dial it down with the Ugg boots, the slippers. No, that just needs to stop.” Burford said.
We could really do without it
Referring to TikToks about fashion students, “People who put on half a sweater and tie something, and I’m like that’s not cute,” Moehlman said. Just too plain and simple, “I’m not really one to just wear leggings and a T-shirt; of course people can wear whatever they want. I don’t really like wearing leggings to school. If I do dress down, I’ll wear sweatpants and a graphic Tshirt,” Barr said.
Are they really worth it? “I think Uggs are great but they are kind of over hyped because you mostly just paying for the brand name and not saying that they are not good, but you could probably get a better shoe or the same shoe for a different price at a different price,” Lawrence said.
November 2021 | Feature
What t he stud ents ar e spillin g... Just not for me
so trendy “Recently I’ve been seeing this girl on TikTok. She layers a lot; she goes crazy with layering. She picks something from her closet and then she makes an outfit out of it and layers, and it’s so satisfying to watch,” Moehlman said. Going back in time, “I know it’s kind of trendy, but the 70s is coming back now, but I’ve always loved dressing like I’m in the 70s. Sophomore year I really was my 70s phase, so I like that it’s coming back it’s really fun. I think it’s such a fun style,” Pirozzi said. “I don’t get it. I think that sometimes I dress like Jackie Burkhart, that’s my 70s style, or like I’ll just dress like I’m from the 90s. I dress however I feel; I think I have many different styles. I figured out I like darker colors. I just buy what I like and I’m trying to make pieces I’ll wear for a long time,” Pirrozi said. Photos by Izzy Poole Seniors Anna Barr, Isabella Pirozzi and Bridget Moehlman and junior Josie Gerdes pose in outfits showcasing their personal style.
“Oh I know they’re coming back. I can see the micro influencers with the Uggs. I don’t really like them, but you know what if you want to be comfy, but I don’t understand people who are fashion people wearing them and trying to make outfits,” Pirozzi said. Gerdes agreed, “For me personally I’m gonna say Uggs are a ‘No,’ but you know I think they can be really cute on other people. I just don’t know how to style them, so I don’t wear them,”Gerdes said.
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Webster takes Turkey Day field with interim head coach Feature/Entertainment Editor Layla Johnson
Sports Editor Owen Crews
After a season of losses, Webster Groves High School Statesmen had hoped to bounce back against the Kirkwood Pioneers in this year’s Turkey Day Game. Webster had the tough record of zero wins and nine losses while Kirkwood had six wins and three losses. Although the record of the Statesmen has been disappointing, according to Munir Prince, interim Statesmen coach, he doesn’t feel like the year has been wasted. “So I will say this our team is very resilient. They have been through a lot this year on and off the field, and there have been a lot of changes that they have had to experience this year, and they have stayed the course which means they have kept on fighting and kept on working hard and never gave up,” Prince said. Prince also mentioned having people step up was a huge reason he is excited for the future. “I will say that our seniors as a group have done a great job of getting the juices going because we have a lot of young guys in key positions right now. We have a freshman quarterback and a sophomore running back, and we have a lot of young guys in some places, so the senior leadership has been great, and I can’t name just one guy. It has been the entire group,” Prince added. There have especially been struggles because of the obstacles the players faced. According to Prince, this year has been tough with losses and with young players in key positions through the program. Two standout younger players are freshman quarterback Sean Patrick Keegan and sophomore running back Trevion Hulsey. The one struggle that Prince might have had jumping into the interim head coaching job was the transition of coaching staff. However, according to resigned head coach Matt Buha that was not the case. “It’s a process. It’s a build. Anytime someone comes in new, there’s gonna be a transition. There’s a feeling-out period. All the credit to our kids, they jumped in with full feet. We were in the process of moving and pushing and building here, and I think a number of our kids would echo that,” Buha said. Keegan expressed how he was overly excited and nervous for his first Turkey Day Game and how he’s had unforgettable memories with such an amazing group of people. Although the season comes to an end, it gives him more excitement for the years to come. Keegan wanted to thank the seniors for their leadership. “I’d like to thank my team for the memories they have given me (and) for all of the acceptance and kindness they have given to me.” Senior Joel Lazarow said about Turkey Day that there was a lot of adjusting to be done coming back to school, like dealing with masks etc, but overall he’s really just glad to have the opportunity to be back having this be not only his last year but his last Turkey Day Game or game in general. He said it just feels surreal. Lazarow said even though this wasn’t the season that he and his teammates would have hoped for, despite the record they tried their hardest out on the field, and that’s what matters most. Not only did Lazarow tell how much he loves his team but also his coaches. He said no one really sees behind the scenes, but the
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Photo by Lydia Urice
Sophomore Jackson Torbit is helped up by the opposing player from Seckman while senior Ben Hyde from Seckman watches. Webster Groves Statesmen lost to Seckman 48-21 on Oct. 8.
coaches put their all into their team and are always there for the players. “The whole season is building for the future. I’m proud of my team for sticking together. They are all companionate, big hearted and all around just a fun group of guys. Shout out to them I am going to miss them,” Lazarow said. Senior Henry McDermott said about his first and last year of football. He looks forward to ending on a good note. The trust he has built for his teammates is like no other. Win or lose he wanted his team to know that they will always be a family, and he has cherished every second with his team. “This is my first year of football in general. I’ve had such an amazing experience working with them has been the highlight of my year. I’m going to miss Coach Buha as well. He is like a best friend to the team. This has been such an awesome experience,” McDermott said. Senior David Mansco is excited to be back and happy to make some last memories with his team that he is very proud of. “All I can say is I have one last opportunity to play with such an amazing team. No matter what, I love them, and I’m so proud of them. They are such a funny, rowdy and dependable group of guys. It’s an honor to have gotten to play with them,” Mansco said. Senior Sam Travers has almost completed his first and last year of high school football. According to Travers and others of the team, COVID created a few major setbacks for the team, and things were majorly different after coming back starting with not having gotten the chance to play one last game with the 2021 football graduates. Travers also brought up how proud he was of the team. Travers said, “I’m mostly proud of my teammates for playing their hardest all year long. We have all really bonded throughout this experience and have become close. Just the bond itself is really special, even throughout the last couple of years. I’m really proud of my team.”
Sports | November 2021
Cheer captains share anticipation for Turkey Day
Photo by Ava Musgraves
Senior cheerleaders take a selfie at Moss Field on Oct. 22, at their senior night game.
Print Editor/Co-Social Media Manager Ava Musgraves “Excitement. Anticipation. Celebration. Inspiring.” All words Varsity cheer captains use to describe the “most important responsibility” they hold: Turkey Day. “The words running through my mind are nostalgia. I mean, I feel like it’s my senior year after missing a whole year, and this is the last time I’ll do it after working so hard,” senior cheer captain Emily Goben said. “I’ve been thinking about music for the routines since July,” Goben said. It’s kinda a year round thing.” Turkey Day, an event that calls for a week of celebration at the high school, including even a theme song that fills the hallways. For the senior class, this Turkey Day is another event coming to a close in their high school careers. Turkey Day isn’t just a football game; it’s a tradition that has lasted decades. The first Turkey Day game took place in 1907. “I know it’s my last Turkey Day, but it hasn’t hit me yet,” Goben said. Senior cheer captain Macie Savala has had a connection with
cheer and Turkey Day since elementary school “I have put together a lot of choreography for the routine, and I make sure that everyone is giving their all to the routine. This is a big thing for us, our biggest performance for the year,” Savala said. Her motivation to join cheer came from seeing the cheerleaders perform at the community pep assembly that preludes the game day. “I want to do that. I want to make that dance, and put that on the floor. Finally getting that as my reality is amazing,” Savala said. The cheer team started rehearsing for Turkey Day in September, adding weekend practices to create the routines on top of the regular football schedule and after school practices. “Being able to perform after practicing for two months really feels so satisfying after knowing how much work really went into it,” senior cheer captain Gigi Tetley said. “I really hope the routine goes well, and everyone is just as excited for Turkey Day as we are since we didn’t get to do this all last year,” Tetley said.
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Ava’s Anecdotes
Taylor Swift re-releases, remembers ‘RED’ all too well Swift pushed for a pop sound for the al- song was first written it was 10 minutes bum, which was a new direction for her long. She wrote it to release all her feelat the time. Her previous albums all had ings about a “sad time” during a rehearsal a heavy pop country vibe, so her record for her Speak Now Tour as told on The label thought it was better to stay in that Late Late Show with Jimmy Fallon. The “10 Minute Version” of “All Too pre-established lane. The songs “Message in a Bottle,” Well” contains an entirely new level of “Babe,” and “The Very First Night” in- insight to Swift’s feelings about the relatroduce the pop sound she was originally tionship that caused the heartbreak. I feel wanting, and I know I totally would have like I felt it too. With the song being 10 been dancing around my bedroom to minutes, it tells the whole story of a rela“The Very First Night” or at some middle tionship, beginning to end. The beautiful, almost too good to be school mixer with all my friends. Personally, I hope it’s on the prom playlist this true parts and the intense heartbreak and loss. The slow dePhoto from Republic Records year. cline from one to “Girl at Home,” a Taylor Swift poses on the cover of her the other gives track featured on the 2021 re-recorded album “Red (Tayyou a sinking feelfirst “Red,” also gets a lor’s Version.)” This is her second of ing, which is visurevamp as a song that six albums which she will re-record. ally represented in a personally was not a Print Editor short film written by favorite for me has Swift featuring SaAva Musgraves been transformed into die Sink and Dylan a very Charlie XCX or O Brian. Sink and “Red” came out when I was 11 years Selena Gomez revamp. O Brian capture the old. The original album was a staple on A song that would have entire story beaumy iPod; my mom and I both have dis- originally been on a tifully and heart tinct memories belting “I Knew You Were chill playlist has been wrenchingly. Trouble” driving in the car on the way to moved to my getting Viewers can see my dance classes. ready playlist. Photo from Big Machine Records themselves in Sink Back in 2012, the album gave me feelThe poppy under- Taylor Swift poses on the original while they think of ings of empowerment as a young girl, with score gives this song album cover of ‘Red’ in 2012. their personal expethe subtle pop rock tones as an undercur- exactly what it needed, riences in relationrent to her well known country roots. turning it into a song My understanding of the feelings Tay- about turning down a guy instead of its ships similar to what is portrayed. Fans have speculated many parallels lor Swift conveyed in the music was very original sudo-melancholy feeling of losbetween Sink and O Brian’s characters in surface level as ing a guy. I hadn’t experiThe album now as a whole the film to Swift’s relationship with Gylenced the deep shows Swift’s range as an artist, lenhaal, furthering the theory that their heartbreak seeping which does not fit into a singu- breakup influenced the original album. The story of “the scarf” in the film/song through her lyrics. lar genre. Even with the album Now the album leaning toward being pop, we follows the same picture evidence of Gylstrikes a feeling of still get the country Taylor we lenhaal wearing Swift’s scarf after the pair nostalgia. know and love. A song from the had broken up. I think every “Swifty” (fans self-given “Taylor’s Vervault, “I Bet You Think About sion” of “Red” Me,” which features Chris Sta- label) can find an anthem on this new features 30 tracks pleton feels like an homage to “Red,” with the country folk heartbreak her long time fans crave and the new difeaturing 10 songs her debut album. “From the Vault,” Art by Izzy Poole When “Red” was first re- rection of pop her newer fans appreciate. I personally love it all because whatever which include fealeased, speculation on the altures from artists Phoebe Bridgers, Chris bum was that the majority of the songs mood I am in this album can provide me Stapleton and Ed Sheeran. were written about her recent relationship with a soundtrack. The album is available Unlike “Taylor’s Version” of “Fear- with actor Jake Gyllenhaal, most famous- for purchase on iTunes and taylorswift. com for $14.99 and available for streamless,” which was released in April of ly, the song “All Too Well.” 2021, this album differs from the original When Swift announced the re-release ing on Spotify and Apple Music. artistically. When it was first produced, of the song she mentioned that when the
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Entertainment | November 2021
Another addition to her blue-ccentric discography
Lana Del Rey returns with 2nd album of 2021 sized theme because of its tracklist -- but more specifically the date in which each track was recorded. The album is filled with songs recorded in different eras, album cycles, and with different collaborators -- some of which were originally featured on a scrapped joint album between Del Rey and the band The Last Shadow
we were, screamin’, ‘Black Lives Matter’/In a crowd, by the Old Man River” in “Text Book” give the album a very current feeling overall, as it contains topics that A mere seven months after her folkish, the singer-songwriter type, like Del Rey, subtle and classic Jack Antonoff-produced don’t often brush upon. album, “Chemtrails over the Country While she still sings about some of her Club,” Lana Del Rey has returned with previous and notorious subject matter an introspective and daring -- like being a self-proclaimed 15-track affair, “Blue Banis“bad girl” on songs like “Black ters.” Bathing Suit” -- “Blue Banis“Blue Banisters” comes after ters” is just a deeper dive into a very in-character and hecDel Rey’s new comfort, which tic rollout and single-cycle for is the world of softer piano balDel Rey -- consisting of album lads in a twisted singer-songname changes and postponewriter style. ments, controversy-earning artCompared to her past albums, work for the first three singles this album doesn’t rely so heavof the album and a blackout of ily on the aesthetics and exagall social media just before the gerated themes or references album’s release. that are so typical for Del Rey. However, controversy and Albums of hers like “Born to criticism are no strangers to Die,” “Ultraviolence,” and Del Rey and her music, and this “Lust for Life” all have very dealbum deserves the contrast of fined looks and aesthetics which criticism: acclaim. make the albums stand out so “Blue Banisters” features much. However, art aside, Del many fan-favorite tracks, which Rey’s “Blue Banisters” is at its is an interesting title to give heart just music -- which clearly songs that have been released is something Del Rey wants to Photo from Interscope Records not even a month; however, stress with her lack of promothese “fan-favorites” are tracks Lana Del Rey poses on the cover of her seventh majortion during this album cycle. that have leaked and surfaced label studio album “Blue Banisters.” It’s just so in character for in the past years, which fans of someone like Del rey to quiDel Rey have begged to be released prior Puppets (see “Dealer” with Miles Kane.) etly release her second album of the year to “Blue Banisters.” Songs like “Living Knowing Del Rey and her deep, met- -- which echoes and is impacted by the Legend,” “Cherry Blossom,” and “Thun- aphoric subject matter, there clearly is political and social climates stressed by der” have been available on services like a theme -- a method to her madness. the pandemic -- yet not have much to say Youtube and Soundcloud for years. Whether it be a poignant reflection on her about it. Its predecessor, “Chemtrails over the childhood and relationships with parents “Blue Banisters” doesn’t need the inCountry Club” or “Chemtrails,” follows (album opener “Text Book,”) or finding terviews, press and full era-treatment as the success of her 2019 critically ac- vulnerability and solace in a lover (piano a normal major-label release; its music claimed and Antonoff-produced Grammy ballad “Cherry Blossom,”) or even a love and lyrics speak for themselves -- which Album of the Year nominee, “Norman letter to her future niece (“Sweet Caro- is exactly what Del Rey wants her music F*****g Rockwell!” 2021’s “Chemtrails” lina,” a song in which she co-wrote with to represent. tends to play it safe regarding what works her sister and father) Del Rey’s growth in “Blue Banisters” is by no means Del for Del Rey and her music. While “Blue songwriting and as a person is exhibited Rey’s best piece of work. It almost falls Banisters’” most two recent predecessors perfectly. flat in areas where some of her previous carry a similar and softer sound -- as well Del Rey reflecting on the current state albums tended to thrive -- like the alas tone -- her latest album is harder to pro- of the world throughout this album adds bum’s overall aesthetic, message, or even cess, filled with pandemic and political to its many layers. Lyrics like “And if this cohesion throughout production. Howreferences, nods to previous relationships, is the end, I want a boyfriend/Someone to ever, given that Del Rey and her music and an overall much more complex piece eat ice cream with or watch television” can still have so much variance in sound of work. are sung on “Black Bathing Suit,” a song and theme yet still not take a drastic dip “Blue Banisters” might lack an empha- which seems to reference romance in the in quality, “Blue Banisters” deserves and time of quarantine. Also lines like “There owns its spot on her wide discography.
Editor-in-Chief Jackson Parks
November 2021 | Entertainment
wgecho.org 13
Fresh from the field
Former football coach focuses on family
Photo from Matt Buha
Former Varsity coach Matt Buha enjoys a moment with his family.
Editor-in-Chief Jackson Parks
Junior Editor Lydia Urice
“I’m a father, and at a point in my life where there are some transitions that I need to make,” physical education teacher and former head football coach Matt Buha said. It was announced that Buha had resigned from his coaching position effective immediately on Nov. 4. Buha will continue to teach until the end of the school year. Buha mentioned that there was a push (administrative directives) factor and a pull (lack of time with his family) factor that ultimately resulted in his resignation. The announcement came just shy of three weeks before the annual Turkey Day game played between Webster Groves and Kirkwood High School football teams. To lead and coach the Statesmen for their final football game this year, WGHS has named assistant activities director and assistant football coach Munir Prince as interim football coach. Buha is stepping back from his position to spend more time with and focus on his family. “My family is next. I wanna make sure I support our kids and our students for the remainder of the year,” Buha said. “I go home every night, and there’s this feeling of happiness and sadness at the same time because you’re so happy to see your kids, but then you realize you’re a day older, they are a day older.” “I always joke with my daughter like, ‘Oh my God, I think you grew last night,’ and it’s one of those things where you just don’t wanna miss any of that,” Buha said. The combination of coaching and teaching full-time has had
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its effect on how much time Buha gets to spend with his family. “I always tell my football team about your home team, your family, and I need to spend my focus on my home team for the foreseeable future. I just don’t wanna miss- I don’t want to look back 10 years from now with my children grown and out of the house and wish for time to come back to me,” Buha said. “My father was a college football coach, so I’ve been around the game my whole life. There is a competitive peace that I love. There is a camaraderie piece that I love, but what I noticed growing up, is that I saw 19-20-21-year-old young men and my father connecting in a way that I just, you just can’t understand,” Buha said. “You just get to a spot in your life where you have to make really awful, well not awful, but awfully difficult decisions to really highlight what it is you stand for and value. This was just one of those situations,” Buha said. “I have two young kids at home that I rarely see throughout the course of the week because of the demands of the job,” Buha said. “The Xs and Os, what happened on the football field, that’s got no, that had no impact on the decision I made,” Buha said. “It goes back to kids. You could call last year strange. I think that’s pretty fair to say. Half of the kids would come in in the morning and leave, then the other half would come in. This year’s more normal, and the school is, in a positive way, it’s really busy,” Buha said. “I see you guys all day and I see other adults rarely, so my experience has been really great because it’s been five-six hours a day of kids coming in and just working with them. I get to meet a ton of different kids with a ton of different interesting backgrounds. I’ve really enjoyed that. You guys are unique in the best possible way,” Buha said. “I’m really proud of the work that’s been done here in the last two years. I’ve made a lot of really great relationships, and I’m certain that those relationships will carry on for a number of years after this,” Buha said. “I want to keep teaching; I love it. It’s the closest thing to coaching imaginable, and fortunately in here [weight room], I get to coach kids all day. That’s all it is. It’s coaching kids through things,” Buha said. “A thing that was interesting to me was that every kid I’ve met here really wants to be good at something. I’ve said that to a lot of different people. It might not be journalism or weights or whatever,” Buha said. “There’s something that drives all of the kids that I’ve met in this school, and there’s definitely something special about the kids here.” “I’m really excited about it [new head coach]. There’s been a lot in a short amount of time, you know, trying to get the team ready to go for one of our biggest games of the year,” head coach Munir Prince said. “We need to get our energy back up,” Prince said. “I think we’ll be alright.” The annual Turkey Day game was Thursday, Nov. 25, Thanksgiving, at Kirkwood High School from 12-4 p.m.
Sports | November 2021
Field hockey team reflects on end of season Editor-in-Chief Jackson Parks Women’s field hockey played this year’s fall season as a very united team. Not just through the bonds or teamwork, women’s field hockey was united as one joint team, compared to separate Varsity and JV teams. Women’s field hockey concluded its season on Oct. 19. It played in a total of 17 games since the beginning of the season on Aug. 9. The combination of teams has seemed to bring the team closer together compared to previous years. On the topic of combined teams, Coach Patti Perkins said, “One team has its pros and cons. It’s less time commitment. It’s easier to bond as a group when there’s just one group, but then it’s tough trying to build the program and only having one team. Overall, we made the most of it and had a good time as the one team together.” Perkins shared her pride for her team and its growth throughout the season. “We’re competing in almost every
game. I mean, we started off nine to nothing in our first game, and now we’re competing against some of the better teams one-nothing, overtime. So they’ve come a long way in terms of their skills and playing as a team and getting better,” Perkins said. As one joint team, more memories and highlights gather throughout the season. The team’s senior night was a highlight for members of the team and also Coach Perkins. “The highlight of the season was senior night in my opinion because we won, we had a potluck after, and we got to celebrate the seniors,” junior Makenna Sauter, who played defense and midfield positions, said. Senior Anna Karpen said, “My favorite part of this season was winning on senior night.” “Senior night, that was a good highlight,” Perkins said. “That was fun.” Senior captain, Greta Eames, shared her thoughts on the season as a whole. “As a whole, I feel like our season was successful. Even though we didn’t win as many games as we may have liked, we
improved and grew on the field over the past few months,” Eames said. As for her highlights of the season, Eames shared, “The best parts of the season were our team bonding and winning senior night. Having a close team makes playing so much more fun and makes us all feel like a closer team. Winning senior night was such a highlight because it was the last game the six seniors got to play at Moss and was definitely a good memory.” Having a condensed team and season is never a hope for any coach entering a season, though it was the reality this year. After a unified season for her team, Perkins is hopeful for the future of the sport next year. “[We’re] just trying to grow the sport. We’re hoping to have a camp this summer and build the program,” Perkins said. “Well you know, as a coach you’re never satisfied, because you always want to win more, but we’ve come a long way from August to now. We’ve improved a lot. They’ve come a long way in terms of their skills and playing as a team and getting better,” Perkins said. Women’s field hockey won three of its 16 games this season.
Men’s soccer team recovers from playoff run
Photo by Ava Musgraves
Senior Connor Stauss looks for the ball and runs up field on Nov. 2, in a 1-0 win against MICDS.
Video Editor Calum Shank Men’s soccer team just capped off its season on Nov. 4. Its final record was 108-2 and ended with the District championship game against Ladue. After a rough first few weeks, the Statesmen started off their first half of the season with a record of 3-4-1. The team
Sports | November 2021
was then able to bounce back with a second half season record of 5-3-1, making its regular season record 8-7-2. The Statesmen kicked off the start of their postseason with a 2-0 win against Principia on Oct. 30. After that win, they went on to defeat MICDS 1-0 on Nov. 2. This win sent the team to play Ladue on Nov. 4. In the end, the team lost 2-1 in penalty kicks, ending its 2021 season. “I think it would be a lie if I said that I was completely satisfied; however, I must add that I wouldn’t trade this season for the world,” senior captain Tom Spitzer said. “I think being satisfied causes a person to not strive to be better. For me that might not be a big deal since my high school soccer career is over, but I hope and am fairly certain that none of the juniors and sophomores are satisfied with this season,” Spitzer said. “Obviously if I could I would change
the result of the last game against Ladue. That result really crushed the whole team. We fought so hard to stay in the game and to keep our season going. Losing in penalties is really one of the worst ways to lose in my opinion because it really is a coin flip at the end of the day,” Spitzer said about losing the final game against Ladue in penalty kicks on Nov. 4. “One thing I would change was me scoring in the penalty shootout against Ladue, but the one of many things the team did well was believing. We had ups and downs, but we never stopped believing in each Other and in the way we got coached and played,” senior captain Ben Allison said. Allison also is satisfied with the season. “Of course I would have liked to go farther in the playoffs and beat some of our rivals, but I wouldn’t change any of it. With all the memories that I made this year, I am very satisfied with the season.”
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How early is too early?
When is right time for holiday music?
Playlist created by Ezekiel La Mantia using Spotify
The music featured is favorite holiday songs from the people interviewed as well as Echo staff members and journalism students.
Social Media/Graphics Editor Ezekiel La Mantia Music has been a staple of fall and winter holidays since the beginning, with the first recorded and popularized holiday song being “Jingle Bells” in 1889. Some say Christmas starts right after Halloween ends, on Nov. 1; while others believe it begins Dec. 1, the start of the month of most, if not all, winter holidays. Junior Adreonna Grant said she enjoys
seasonal music but only under certain terms. “I like holiday music if it’s at the right time, after Thanksgiving being the right time. My mom is blasting it (holiday music) right now, and I’m so mad because if you don’t play it at the right time you get bored with it faster,” Grant said. Librarian Lamar Fitzgerald said he feels the same about holiday music being something he likes and enjoys but only in moderation.
“It’s bittersweet for me. As a choir director, I start with holiday music in September so by the time the season comes, I’m down with it. A little bit goes a long way,” Fitzgerald said. On the flip side of this topic some people believe holiday music can be year round. “Let people play it when they want. I think it should start on radios mid-November, but I’ve already started,” senior Lauren Perry said. The general stance on how early is too early to listen to holiday music is anytime after Halloween but preferably after Thanksgiving. “Thanksgiving deserves it’s full celebration, I think it’s disrespectful to pass it over,” Fitzgerald said. “Listening to holiday music before Thanksgiving is a crime,” junior Ian McCann said. As quick as everyone is to agree that there is a time and place for holiday tunes, it’s also agreed upon that it’s a personal decision for when to play them and some choose to start early. Senior Samantha Massena said she sees no issues with starting holiday music whenever, ”I watch Christmas movies all year round so I get it,” Massena said.
Join us in Celebration of the Lord!
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Entertainment | November 2021