Volume 53, Issue 7 by Wheeling Spokesman

Sp kesman May 5, 2017

Volume 53 Issue 7

Wheeling High School

Page 2

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Students to keep school iPads

Gorillaz releases new album, “Humanz”

Courtesy of Lair

Upcoming WHS RAD Contruction Dates

Wheeling, Ill. 60090

Page 12

Athletics recap of the season Max Piasecki

@Whsspokesman

unavailable, complications present

Max Piasecki Editor-In-Chief

5/8/17 Construction The rape aggression defense (RAD) class will not be offered to senior girls this year to complications in organizing the will begin on the due class. Jason Kopkowski and Rita Runyard, auxillary gym physical education teachers, are the primary 5/15/17 Pool renovations will start

900 S. Elmhurst Road

staff members who work with the RAD program. The purpose of RAD is to teach women self-defense tactics. Working in cooperation with the Wheeling police department, two RAD certified officers help Mr. Kopkowski, affectionately known as Coach K, and Ms. Runyard teach the class over a two week period. Senior girls participate in this class instead of gym for a period of 10 days, which involves nine days of instruction and one day of instruction.

Coach K explained that RAD helps to teach women important skills and increase overall awareness. “For women (RAD) promotes self confidence, awareness, just general whereabouts of what and who they’re with at all times. 90 percent of RAD is being aware of your surroundings. Everyone thinks, well it’s a self-defense class; it’s all about fighting, but it’s to avoid a confrontation, a physical confrontation, at all costs,” Coach K said. The reason that RAD will not be offered this year is due to scheduling issues and getting help to organize the class itself. Coach K explained that the officers who taught RAD aren’t available to help with the class anymore and that his and Ms. Runyard’s schedules have shifted away from physical education. “It’s just a challenge this year to make all those obstacles lineup so we could run the

program,” Coach K said. Students have had mixed reactions to the absence of RAD, praising the idea of the program, but being disappointed that it’s not present this year. “It offers girls self defense in a world where women are often assaulted and overall it is just helpful,” Julie Garcia, sophomore, said. “It’s kind of upsetting because you never know when someone will use it and it’s a great opportunity to learn self defense,” Garcia said. Maggie Scanlan, WHS alumna, had similar views to Garcia, explaining that the class is important for everyone. “I think (RAD) is really important… it’s a really empowering class and has actually made me less afraid of walking around my campus after dark,” Scanlan said. “Everyone should have some combat training because the real world is dangerous and RAD took a very practical look at that,”

5/30/17 Tennis court revonations will start Courtesy of Thomas Steinbach

6/5/17 Renovations will start on home bleachers to be made ADA compliant 6/30/17 Music wing construction begins

Left: The house that will be flipped by the student who won the design competition. Right: MJ Hurley, junior, Katie Chong, senior, are pictured with Rohin Shaw and Kuba Ciepiela, sophomores. Shaw and Ciepiela worked together to help earn them the win to flip the house.

Ciepiela and Shaw compete, flip houses David Ruvinskiy Web Editor This year, District 214 purchased a house for students in the architecture program to renovate and held a contest to determine which design would be used. In April, Kuba Ciepiela and Rohin Shaw, sophomores, defeated students from the other schools by presenting the best design to a panel of architects and civil engineers at the Design 214: Architectural Showcase. After the students build and renovate the house, the district will sell the house to make a profit. Since each school could only send one set of blueprints to the showcase, Ciepiela and Shaw represented Wheeling

High School. When determining who to send, Thomas Steinbach, engineering teacher, held a separate contest in his class. Although Ciepiela created the winning design, Shaw worked with Ciepiela to refine and present the design at the showcase. When creating the designs for Mr. Steinbach’s competition, students were able to go inside the house to take measurements and pictures. One of the key aspects of creating the design included touring the neighborhood to ensure that the design would adhere to the needs of the residents. They also looked online to find popular house layouts for 2017. “If you design a poorly laid out house, you can build it and pay for it, but it’s a possibility that nobody is going to buy it for the price that you want to. So we did a lot of research on moern house layouts. What people nowadays want,” Mr. Steinbach said.

Mr. Steinbach credits Ciepiela and Shaw’s victory to their ability to create a realistic design. He explained that designing a house for the first time is challenging for students because they want to include unconventional features such as Roman columns that are not realistic for Wheeling or Arlington Heights. “I think one of the reasons why our design won is that our design was not anything too fancy. It was more realistic. So it was an open floor plan, the construction did not require that much money to do the renovations, and it was something that the architects and the planners thought that could be done in like a year or 2 years,” Mr. Steinbach said. Although this is the first year that the district has bought a house to be flipped, there are plans to continue buying houses for students to flip.

News

Students graduate, take iPads to college Ursala Urban Forumn Editor Starting with the graduating class of 2018, students will be allowed to keep their iPads after post-secondary education. This is a D214 policy that has been tossed around for a bit, and now it finally is being implemented. The idea gained traction after students have repeatedly asked the schools if they could keep the iPads post-graduation, no matter if they had to pay or not. The administration listened to its students, and now they get their wish. When this policy begins for the graduating class of 2018, no additional payment will be necessary to keep the iPad post-graduation. The only additional fee will be, starting with registration for next school year, the $30 protection plan that was once strongly recommended for students. No one has to worry about the district searching through his/her search history or bought apps post-graduation because the district will disown them. At the moment, Apple knows that each student iPad in students’ backpacks or satchels belongs to the district, so it would be slightly difficult to steal a student iPad and get away with it. At the end of the year, the district would do a mass-disowning of the devices for that year’s graduating class. Of course, there are always the chances of something going awry considering next school year will be the first year

the district is doing this; essentially, the graduating class of 2018 will be guinea pigs, but in a good way. It’s projected that neither the district nor the students will be experiencing repercussions. “I don’t think we’re going to see any negative issues,” Brad Kahler, technology services supervisor, said. The district purchases approximately 3,000-4,000 new iPads each year for the incoming freshmen class. With the district aiming to move away from physical classroom resources, such as textbooks, the district can indeed afford to implement this policy because the money is now being spent elsewhere. Always looking to improve education, districts look to each other to see what another is doing. Commonly, this is how trepidation turns into confidence to help create policies beneficial for the students. Maybe other districts will follow in D214’s decision to allow students to keep their iPads. “There’s always that potential,” Mr. Kahler said. With the implementation of this policy, there is, of course, the possibility of increased usage of iPads in classrooms and for student benefits, such as studying. This could also prove beneficial for students in college as the materials from their secondary education will be at their fingertips and they may not need to relearn literally everything for their future college classes, which could in turn aid them to be successful in their career endeavors.

May 5, 2017

Library to be updated, will have modern style

students will have more space to work. “You guys are expected to come with David Ruvinskiy technology, whether it’s an iPad or some Web Editor other piece of technology in the future, we want to encourage you to use that here,” Starting in the summer of 2017, Barry Hanrahan, head librarian, said. Wheeling High school will be renovating As well as adding new technology to the its library to give it a more modern look library, other changes include giving space and make it more welcoming to students. back to the students that was previously Due to the need to improve used by staff members. In an attempt to accessibility, the library will be expanding make the library more welcoming, the the capacity of the literacy lab to 50 helpdesk and the library circulation desk students, as opposed to the current will be moved to the wall where the library 20 students. The big ailes will also be office is now. removed, giving students the ability to “It’s not very welcoming when the look across the entire library. Finally, the whole place is filled with wooden chairs flexibility to add tables and chairs with that do not move. I’m not trying to create wheels and soft furniture will improve a party in here, but I am trying to create collaboration and will allow teachers to a space where kids can feel a little more have lessons in the library. comfortable when they want to study or Renovations to the library will also when they want to work,” Mr. Hanrahan provide students with an improved said. experience when using technology. The Due to the upcoming changes, Mr. addition of projectors in the ceiling, power Hanrahan and Norbella Aguilar, library outlets in the floor, and 3D printers will assistant, will be replacing old books give the library a more modern style since with new books or using the space for something better. “Since we’re remodeling the library, we have to get rid of a lot of books. I personally feel really sad getting rid of books, but these books are probably older than you,” Ms. Aguilar said. Although some books will be removed from the library, this will benefit students because of the need for current information and a welcoming environment. Courtesy of Barry Hanrahan Wheeling High School will be renovating the library using the featured blueprint to make it more modern.

Selfless students save lives by donating blood Max Piasecki Editor-In-Chief WHS hosted its annual Spring blood drive in cooperation with LifeSource, saving both lives and raising scholarship money. Carrie Mattingly, social sciences teacher, is the main coordinator for the blood drives. Ms. Mattingly, who has worked alongside LifeSource for five years, explains that she helps organize dates, work out how many donors will be present, how many beds will be needed and so on. “There’s two blood drives a year, so I get to know them pretty well,” Ms. Mattingly said. The blood drive is primarily run by students. However, janitors help to set up the facilities and make sure everything is running. This year, the blood drive had around 74 donations. However, the amount donated each year varies depending on factors such whether the donor is involved in athletics and personal health issues. Donation amounts have varied from areas into the low 60s, to 121 donations. Lesly Gonzalez, junior, was one of the students who had donated blood during the drive. She enjoyed the process, knowing that she’d be saving lives. “It’s always fun to go get blood drawn and get to know that you can save up to two lives.

This year was different because it was much slower and more people came to donate than they anticipated,” Gonzalez said. The blood drive also helps offer scholarship money based on an incremental system that measures how many donations a school could get. The more donations raised, the more money and in return LifeSource donates money. The scholarship, which is available for seniors, can be received through a raffle. The scholarship is then awarded at the senior assembly, awarding two Courtesy of Lair seniors a $500 scholarship Students donate blood as part of of the Wheeling High School annual Spring blood drive. WHS for the school of their cooperated with LifeSource, saving lives and raising scholarship money. choice. Ms. Mattingly wishes that more people would be willing to donate, citing that some people are afraid of the process. “I wish more people would donate and I think some people are scared… It’s a really nice thing that they do, and I’m always really grateful for the seniors because they literally run it the whole day,” Ms. Mattingly said. For students like Gonzalez, she says that she will definitely be donating again next year. “I definitely will do it again for the winter blood drive year… I got one of my friends to Courtesy of Lair donate blood for the first time this year, and Students donate blood for the Wheeling High school annual Spring blood drive. she enjoyed it,” Gonzalez said.

“It’s always fun to go get blood drawn and get to know that you can save up to two lives,”

Lesly Gonzalez,

Arts

May 5, 2017

Printmaking workshop leaves an imprint on graphic design students

facilities for screen printing and so students had an opportunity to try something new. A different type of printmaking that A few weeks ago students in Art they wouldn’t usually 1 classes had the opportunity to be able to try. We do learn about printmaking through a cover several types of new perspective. The Art 1 teachers printmaking in our and Laura Wagner, English teacher, curriculum but screen worked together to bring in a printing is not always professional printmaker to help with one of them.” the printmaking unit. Michelle Jarexy Garcia, Carlson, a friend of Ms. Wagner, freshman, said “I liked came in to Art 1 classes to showcase Max Piasecki screen printing because her work and teach students about Michelle Carlson, printmaker, presents her work to an art one class. the final result looked printmaking. Throughout her really smooth and had presentation she talked about the history students and help them choose a career. clean edges and it was aesthetic.“ behind printmaking and her own personal “It’s always nice to have an outside In the end the presenter that came history as well. She then proceeded to voice,” Ms. Wagner said, “here’s someone allow students to go into different stations who is using art in a different way, besides in not only helped open up new worlds for the students but also helped students and allow them to make their own printed just being an art teacher.” understand that there so much more out art. The type of printmaking that was Although the class does not really need shown in these classes was screen printing. there than what just meets the eye. She showed them that what they’re a presenter to come in, it’s always nice Although printmaking is part of the Art 1 learning is only the tip of the iceberg and to learn through someone else’s point curriculum this type of printmaking isn’t that there is much more to learn about of view and how they use art differently always covered in the lesson. the different methods in which art is than their teachers. Even if it’s just for a As stated by Julie Bale, art teacher, used. day, presenters can open up new ideas in “We don’t have some of the supplies or

Santiago Cuevas Staff Reporter

“I was absolutley

impressed with the cast and the crew. I don’t think it could be any bigger of success” Dr. Orin Xavier, director

Student poets place in prose contest Josie Levin Associate Editor

father,” said Pacyk. “Turkey Soup” is from the point of view of a sick narrator speaking to a father figure.” “It’s funny and yet at the end there’s this reversal” Pacyk said “he’s eating the soup and (the father) is I was really domineering. It’s just such a good poem.” Juodis’ poem describes the narrator’s proud of both of relationship with his father who is in them and happy remission from cancer. He “is writing because that they won... he sees that his father keeps doing the thing that created the cancer; smoking,” said Pacyk. (the poems were) “There’s this wonderful image at the end” Pacyk said. The narrator makes the realization both powerful, that it’s “not that (his father) has given up, both about dads,” but it’s almost like the addiction has taken over,” she said. Both poems were published in the Daily Christine Pacyk, Herald and “Turkey Soup” will appear in English teacher this year’s publication of the Circus literary magazine.

“

The annual Daily Herald poetry contest is an open submission contest that accepts entries from students and community members of District 214 and 211. This year’s contest received more than 60 submissions, among them WHS students Nick Buzinskis and Povilas Juodis, seniors. Buzinskis’ poem “Turkey Soup” won 1st place and a $100 cash prize. Juodis placed 3rd for his poem, “Once More,” winning a $50 prize. Both contestants are students of Christine Pacyk, English teacher. “I was really proud of them and happy that they won,” Pacyk said. According to her, the poems are “both powerful, both about dads and some perspectives.” Buzinskis’ “creates such a good character of his

Ray plucks strings in Struebing’s class Aidra Crawley Staff Reporter

Cast members Victoria Guerrero and Aidra Crawley, juniors star as comepeting starletts in the WHS production of “Suite Surrender” Pictures by Josie Levin

Many WHS staff members have played for the guitar class taught by Sarah Struebing, orchestra director. “It’s great for the kids to see that there’s so many musicians in the building,” Struebing said. Because of their background in music, Stuebing continues, “We’ve had a lot of really cool stories about different things people have done...places they’ve travelled, places they’ve performed, (all) because they were musicians...that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do.” The only bass player among these musicians, however, is Vince Ray, campus security. Mr. Ray started playing drums in church at the age of five, but he switched to bass because “in black church everyone wants to be a drummer,” Mr. Ray said. Although he stopped playing in high school to make room for other activities like football and studying, after joining the

army he started up again in order to give “my freetime something productive,” Mr. Ray said. Mr. Ray continued with the bass because, “it made me focus, and plus it was something that I could just dive into and not just be a football player or a soldier. Like, I can be a country musician, I can be a hip-hop guy, I can be an R&B dude, like I can be whatever I want in music,” Mr. Ray said. After playing in the Ebony show for Valencia Smith, freshman, and Brianna Gray, senior, Gray talked to her guitar teacher, Ms. Struebing, about inviting Mr. Ray to perform. “She really wanted (Mr. Ray) to come in talk to him about it,” Ms. Struebing said. Jake John, senior, said that, in the guitar class, “none of us had experienced what a bass does (before); it was curious.” “Having all these guests we’ve had this year has been… really important,” Ms. Struebing said, “for the guitar students to see that playing guitar is a lifelong thing

Aidra Crawley

Mr. Ray with his bass guitar in the WHS foyer where he is stationed during school hours

that they can continue to do regardless of of what their career is, it’s something that’s always fun for them to pick up and they don’t have to do it for three hours a day to be good at it, it’s just kind of something you can continue doing throughout your life.”

Feature

May 5, 2017

Counselors and phsychologists at your service

work together to determine if a student needs extra support, academically or emotionally. “What those needs are and how to best meet those needs whether they’re academic because maybe someone has a learning disability and they need some extra support or Associate Editor they might have some emotional or behavioral problems that needs some extra support so we help to determine those needs,” Mr. Menich said. However, if a student wishes to see a specific psychologist or a social worker, they have Although students at WHS know that educational and emotional help are always the freedom to do so, depending on the situation. available, some aren’t aware of the extent of the help they are getting. The school has “As social workers and psychologists- we work together to try and meet the students three social workers and two psychologists. needs the absolute best we can and respecting what the student also wants,” Lauren “The psychologist would do testing to determine whether or not there’s some type of Manola, social worker, said. learning disability, so, we look at their intellectual abilities. The social workers help to Besides individual counseling, WHS also offer group counseling during the school determine whether or not a student has social or emotional needs,” Mark Menich, school day. The groups are usually divided into boys and girls to make sure that the students are psychologist, said. comfortable, opening up. WHS also offer different multiple types of counseling such as “individual counseling, “If students need that weekly support, but really like getting that feedback from their group counseling, we also make determinations for students who have special needs,” Mr. peers, then it’s a really cool process to see everyone come together and work together and Menich said. be able to build a community of trust and comradery where they’re able to bounce of The psychologist and social workers are assigned to specific guidance counselors and concerns and ideas of each other and then get feedback,” Ms. Manola, said.

Shailah Magallon

Interact with Africa inspires cultural awareness Christopher Fink Staff Reporter A purpose. A sense of compassion. A way to be happy. These are all words you might hear if you ask a student, “what has interact with Africa given you”. WHS is lucky to be given opportunity to help through their interact with Africa program. It allows students to help kids, continents away because they want to. Why is this so special to wheeling you may ask? WHS is the only school in the district with the program. Interact with Africa was introduced to the school around fifteen years ago by Peter Fischbach, former science teacher, with the goal to help young students in Africa. After Mr. Fishback retired, the program was taken over by Sara Strous, math teacher and student teacher coordinator. According to Cynthia Carro, English teacher, is the sponsor for Interact with Africa. “The main goals of the program are two goals so one, we are trying to raise awareness about education and life in Angola,” Ms. Carro, said. The program focuses on raising awareness for the need of education in Angola through different way, one of which is the Walk through Africa event. The main goal of the event is to raise awareness rather than raising money. “I do think we have brought more awareness.. the people that are in our group are very aware and they really do a great job at trying to… make the world a better place,” Ms. Carro, said. The program is also able to help students raise funds for education in Angola through Walk through Africa as well as Hoops for Africa. “education has always been really important to me and I think everyone

Courtesy of Lair

should have an education,” Jared Garcia, freshmen, said. In terms of who is in this program, Some years people of all ages join and some years it’s just former students of Ms. Carro or Ms. Strous or kids who would like to make a difference. According to Jared Garcia, a freshman member, he “definitely learned more about the situation that’s going on.” Students decided to join the program for a number of different reasons. Diana Keane, sophomore, another member of the program said, “I joined Interact with Africa because I wanted to take action in helping the lives of others, and I loved the messages and goals they promoted. It’s an amazing opportunity to make a difference.” Whether students join the program to make a difference or waive awareness, the interact with Africa program has certainly made a difference here at WHS.

lack widow Jump really really high

Spokesman interviews members of the Little Wildcat preschool class

Summer or Spring?

Camille Sisi

I like summer because I get to play with my neighbor. We play hide and seek, we get to play in the hammock, and swim.

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?

I would go to my neighbor’s house.

You have three wishes, what would you wish for?

Kiss my mama, cuddle my mama, and sleep with my mama.

Patrick Rieger

Hazel Wyatt

Summer because it’s warm out.

Summer because I play in the park.

To a hotel ‘cause I like to go swimming at hotels.

To Florida because I like it. I see Mickey Mouse at Florida.

I wish for money, a treasure box full of gold, and a book like a treasure map book.

A cat, a lollipop, and toys like Poppy the troll.

Jason Panicko

I like summer because I can play outside. A fun show like a race car movie. Orange cars are really fast. I want to have hot wheels, a truck to play with, and to have another toy.

Information and photos collected by Shailah Magallon and Santi Cueves

Feature

May 5, 2017

APUSH classes plan to set sail after AP testing Jason Thomas, history teacher, is also attending the field trip. “We’re going to be taking them on an architectural boat cruise and will give them some Nate Alessi history of Chicago. They’re all excited about it so it’s Copy Editor gonna be really cool.” After the cruise Thomas plans on a few more pit stops. “We’re also going to millennium park afterwards. The boat tour is 90 minutes long and is basically the Field trips are a great way to allow hard-working highlight of the trip, but a stop to the park and a stop students to let loose and enjoy class much more than to Chicago Cultural Center is also planned,” Thomas usual. said. Elizabeth Delgado, ELL teacher, has decided to As for if this was his first time on the boat tour, take her students on a trip into the city. While not yet Thomas expressed his experience. approved by administration, Delgado’s field trip is “I’ve actually done the boat tour before but a lot of set to take place “hopefully on May 23rd, but it’s not them haven’t seen it yet so it should be pretty fun.” confirmed yet.” David Ho, junior, is a student going aboard the “The first year we started, Mr. Burke reached out urban field trip. to us and invited us to go with his class to Cantigny “It seems like an interesting experience since the Park, but we weren’t able to go with him, so we went last time I’ve been on a boat was around elementary to the Chicago History Museum instead,” Delgado school, ” Ho said. said. While slightly skeptical as to if this is going to be After all the brain-wracking tests and hours upon a monumentally amazing field trip, Ho retains his hours of studying, the APUSH students deserved a optimism. break. “I feel like this could potentially be one of the “We’ve all been working our butts off all this year coolest and most relaxing field trips I’ve ever taken,” so I wanted to make sure they got a proper reward,” Delgado said. he said.

Cartoon by Aidra Crawley

From teacher to counselor; Zapata takes on new role new class for the students who already knew the Spanish language. At first, there were no textbooks in which the Shailah Magallon students were able to use. “16 years ago, obviously, it’s hard to imagine that there Associate Editor weren’t many resources at the time. So googling things on the internet is pretty easy to do now, but before there wasn’t an established curriculum for native speakers. There Melissa Cordova was only one book out there,” she said. Staff Reporter As time passed, the Spanish classes were able to receive their own textbooks and necessary materials to use. Now, there are four levels of Spanish classes that consist of native Spanish speakers 2, Honors Spanish 3, AP Spanish During the past fifteen years, Joanne Amador-Zapata, language and culture, and AP Spanish literature. world languages teacher, has taught spanish at WHS. “Luckily, other people joined the department that When she first began to teach, there was no native Spanish I think saw the vision and the mission that we had in speaker’s class. All the beginner students and advanced creating this course and they really got behind it and made students sat in the same classroom learning the same it their own as well and were happy that now we have four material even if it was basic Spanish. levels,” she said. “When I came, I saw many students that were native Although Mrs. Zapata has taught Spanish for fifteen speakers that were in my Spanish 1 class and Spanish 2 years, she was recently offered a new position as a school class and honestly that didn’t seem to be a good a fit,” Ms. counselor. This transition will be completely different Zapata said. now that she won’t teach any more classes and will follow Ms. Zapata took initiative and decided to create a a completely different schedule than the one she’s been

accustomed to for the past couple years. For now, she doesn’t have any plans on returning to teach Spanish classes, but will definitely still incorporate the Spanish language by communicating with many families that speak Spanish. This means that she will no longer be teaching grammar or the history of Spain, Mexico, Cuba and Puerto Rico. “Not in this new role, I will not be. It will just strictly be college and career counseling, so that’s kinda the bittersweetness of it. Something that I love so much and that I am passionate about I kinda have to leave a little bit behind not completely because I hope to still use my spanish speaking skills to reach a lot more families and students and just make things more accessible now in their language and so I’m really excited for it,” she said. With many years of teaching, Mrs. Zapata grew a passion for the Spanish language and culture. “I feel proud knowing that I will still be a part of the Wheeling community although I’ll be at a different part of the school,” she said. This transition will initiate a new change in her life, but with everything, some things have to come to an end even if we don’t want them to.

No limits on creativity in district magazine, just arts Santi Cuevas Staff Reporter

Artwork by Joceline Escobar

This year, 12 students divided into two different sections: poetry and visual arts, were nominated to be a part of this year’s Arts Unlimited magazine. Arts Unlimited is a yearly district anthology meant to showcase the work of students who show excellence in their work and support towards the fine arts. The reason Arts Unlimited came to be was to support and celebrate the students work and effort in the any visual arts alongside poetry. “The general idea behind it is that it’s supposed to be a celebration of the arts at the district level. Six students in poetry and six students in visual arts are chosen every year to be showcased in the anthology,” Rebeccah Silver, art teacher, said. To be selected into Arts Unlimited, a group of teachers meet and discuss the artworks that has been submitted. Then, these teachers choose who would

be the best candidate to best represent the school in the anthology. Work is chosen based on it fitting the theme for that year and it showing excellence in the arts. Making it into the magazine is competitive, therefore it’s still an honor to be nominated as one’s artwork is being considered for a limited spot that could be showcased district-wide. “To be nominated for Arts Unlimited just proved how much my work on this poem paid off, and showed how much emotion I had in making this,” Tristan Johnson, senior, said. Sometimes the work for the magazine is plainly made in class with a majority of the effort going towards it meeting rubric standards rather than trying to make it into the magazine. “I spent weeks working on the poem because we had to submit a certain number of poems for our portfolio in our poetry unit and revise them and make sure all the poems met the rubric requirements,” Monica Rutkowski, senior, said. Arts Unlimited is truly meant to show the hard work of students and their effort to show excellence in the arts. To make it into Arts Unlimited means that someone’s work has been noticed and appreciated.

Focus

May 5, 2017

IS iPAD USE... U Walking the fine line between toy and tools The other problem with the quick evolution of iPads is that school curriculum can keep up.in my junior and senior classes, the teacher rarely uses iPads in the curriculum at all. They just haven’t been equipped to do so. Instead of being a useful; tool, my iPad has essentially become a three-pound paper weight I carry in my backpack. I use my iPad more to watch Netflix at home and check my grades during school than for actual course work. I am not alone. “I mostly use my iPad mainly for schoolwork and Netflix,” Sean Welter, senior, said. My sophomore year, all of my class received iPad cases with keyboards. However, the Katie Chong keyboard keys kept falling out, so the keyboards were recalled. When I turned my keyboard in for “repairs,” but the Help Desk never returned my keyboard. They were collecting the Cartoon Editor keyboards after a survey revealed students rarely used them. “My worry is that student will lose writing and editing skills and treat it (iPads) more like Without even opening my backpack, I can tell my iPad is missing because the weight on a toy,” Cynthia Carro, English teacher stated. Granted, withholding keyboards for the next my shoulders feels abnormally light. Granted, I am envious of the underclassmen’s iPad airs. year saves school funds, but it reinforces the idea that iPads are for games. I loved having However, the evolution of iPads in WHS deals with so much more than just size and mass. a keyboard, and when it was taken away, I turned away from my iPad and towards my My class, the senior class, was the first class of students to have the entire class receive desktop for schoolwork. iPads. Before, the privilege was only offered to certain students in classes like freshmen Students are walking a fine but dangerous line between using the iPads as tools or toys. Honors Biology. Four years later, I am still using the same iPad from sophomore year, and In this era, technology in schooling is necessary to keep kids competitive in their future some AVID students are still using their iPads from freshman year. Their iPads lack the careers. However, as the disconnect between students and their educators grow due to dated lightning cable charger and the retina display. Some of the teacher’s iPads are even older. supplies, students are getting very distracted from their education by the very tools that are While taking Honors Spanish 4 with Mrs. Joanne Zapata, she always struggled with her supposed to facilitate it. iPad. Vigorously shaking and tapping her first generation iPad, none of the other students Regardless, WHS and other schools will continue to utilize iPads in their curriculum. nor I were ever able to help her because we have never had to deal with such an out of date However, educators and administration need to tip the scales back in their favor. iPad. Granted, every student, including me has to unwind during or at the end of the day at With more recent technology underclassmen are able to stay more updated at higher some point. However, when students are in class, their attentions should as well. Although speeds than their educators. This poses a problem because when there’s a technological we are not in midst of the “iPad-abuse-era,” but we are on the road to it if there’s not disconnect, it is harder for teachers to differentiate between real and fake excuses. intervention now.

Cartoon by: Seri Cho

Do iPads help or distract you in school? “I feel like on their free time, it’s more used for enjoyable purposes instead of school work,” Tom Bradford, junior, said.

“iPads can quickly become a distraction based on which student is using them,” Joey Knapik, senior, said.

May 5, 2017

Focus

UP-TO-DATE? iPadPro or iPadCon? in class and is extremely versatile. I can understand why students would rather carry a tablet in their bag than heavy textbooks; I can understand that using technology can stimulate students’ minds and get them excited for class. What students aren’t telling you is that they’re abusing their technology privileges. Chris Valles Time after time I see people playing games or instant messaging while their teacher is at Staff Reporter their desk. Students are sly with their true Imagine that you are in class and the intentions for technology in the classroom. teacher is talking about something important. Technology is not a good idea to cultivate Your screen lights up because you recieved a young minds and try to develop them they’re text message from your friend. Rather than just a distraction. Technology affects the way paying attention, you pick up your phone to students think. Students’ minds drift from talk to your friend, missing out on valuable time to time. Technology further diverts information for your class. students’ attention, and it will lead them I see this on a daily basis. Technology is misuse the technology. the biggest distraction that students in our Students misuse technology every day, and era have to deal with. Technology affects almost no one gets caught. This abuse leads our curriculum negatively because students educators to think that technology works in become more impatient in the classroom with the class when it is really unproductive, and technology and technology affects the way students get almost nothing done due to students think. misusing their technology. Technology is the Nowadays, students are becoming more biggest distraction that students in our era and more impatient with technology. The have to deal with. influx of information technology in the I realized that technology might be a good classroom provides, can confuse students and thing for our curriculum if it is used properly, make them incredibly impatient. but at this moment, it is not being used that The large amounts of information at the way. Students neglect the true intentions hands of every student with technology is of technology every chance they can in the baffling. The Internet can provide many classroom. things such as the answers to some worksheets I would not recommend using technology or explanation of trigonometry, this can of any sorts of technology in our classrooms sometimes stifle students. because they are too much of a distraction, Granted, technology can help improve and the last thing students need is another the way a school functions by being a way distraction. for students to become more interested

WHO HAS WHAT?

iPad 2

Some staff and some AVID seniors

“I haven’t used mine since junior year so...” Daniel Kehr, senior, said.

iPad 4

Juniors and Seniors

“I use it for English, and that’s really it. I think most people use it for games,” Jayde Ficks, senior, said.

iPad Air 1

iPad Airs and up

Sophomores

Freshmen

“I believe it keeps students more organized because they can’t lose that,” Kurt Fenzel, engineering teacher, said. Photo opinion by: MJ Hurley

La Voz

05 de mayo 2017

Mi primera vez probando el famoso Buffalo Wild Wings Lily Calderon La Voz Editor Todos tienen una primera vez de probar algo. You decidí probar el famoso Buffalo Wild Wings, o BDubs para corto porque todos decían que abía delicioso.

Yo no como la carne roja pero sí como el pollo aunque nunca me han gustado las alitas de pollo. Soy muy difícil cuando llega el momento a decidir que comer porque a mi no me gusta mucha comida. Tampoco me gusta a probar comida nueva, me gusta comer lo que yo se, pero para la primera vez decidí probar una comida desconocida de un lugar que todos mis alumnos les gusta. Deporsi no me gusta la comida picosa, poreso es que no pensé en probar las

alitas de pollo, pense que hiban estar muy picantes. Aparentemente no compre los que piquen lo menos posible porque me enchile, eso o no aguanto el picante para nada. Aparte de estar muy picante, el sabor estaba muy delicioso y estaban jugosos los pollitos. En general, no supieron mal pero no pienso que lo comeria otra vez, nadamas porque a mi no me gustan las alitas de pollo, pero si se lo recomendaría a otros que lo prueben. Lily Calderon

Classes de español van De maestra de español a consejera de la escuela de viaje a españa Melissa Cordova Staff Reporter Durante los últimos 15 años, la señora Zapata ha sido maestra de español en la Wheeling High School. Cuando primero empezó a enseñar, no había clase para los hablantes nativos. La señora Zapata tomó acción y estableció un programa de español nativos que separó a los estudiantes que ya sabían el idioma. Cuando empezó el programa, no había libros que podían usar los estudiantes para las lecciones de español. Aunque la señora Zapata pasó los últimos 15 años enseñando la clase de hispanohablantes, se siente muy contenta de empezar una nueva etapa en su vida

Couresty of Rebecca Castro como una gran experiencia. Otro estudiante que atendió el viaje Aaron Bernacho fue Michael Sternquez, Junior, dijo, “Fue una choque de cultura ir a españa, Staff Reporter fue espectacular. Aprendí de muchas culturas diferentes. Infortunadamente, Los estudiantes de Wheeling High no hice amigos en españa, pero si me School regresaron de españa después de acerce con los otros estudiantes en el las vacaciones de primavera. Duró una viaje.” Camey Zussman, Junior, tambien semana y entre esa semana los estudiantes le encanto el viaje, ella dijo, “El viaje vieron lo que podían sobre la cultura de fue fantástico. Aprendí muchas cosas España. Los Chaperones del viaje fueron de la cultura y también me hice amigos Señora Castro y Señora Bosco. con los nativos. Tuve la oportunidad a El viaje tenía mucha el viaje tuvo un experienciar muchas cosas diferentes y vi montón de críticas positivas. Camey mucha nueva cultura. Fueron cosas que Zussman, Junior, dijo que fue “fascinante no puedo hacer y ver aquí en el estados aprendiendo de la cultura de españa. Tenía unidos, como las iglesias- las catedrales.” la oportunidad de Estudiante Olivia Walker, ver la arquitectura junior, también fue en el y ver cosas que viaje. Ella dijo, “Fue muy no podría ver divertido, era como si estabas en Wheeling, sumergido en la cultura de especialmente otras personas, por ejemplo las iglesias y su religión fue una gran parte catedrales.” Es de su cultura. Aprendí cosas cierto, catolicismo como los elevadores en españa es el religion mayor no pueden aguantar más que de españa, teniendo nueve personas y las duchas bellosos catedrales no tienen cortinas. Aprendí como el Catedral de Michael Sternquez muchos aspectos de su cultura Sevilla. Es uno de e hice buenas conexiones con Junior los catedrales que amigos.” Camey visitó en su Muchos no tienen la viaje, apreciando oportunidad a viajar, pero la devoción en un grupo de estudiantes cómo fue construido. Yo sobre todo de Wheeling High School tuvieron la hice más amigos con los nativos que mis oportunidad a ir a españa a explorar, compañeros. Realmente si se escucha aprender y desfrutar de todo que españa

“Fue una

choque de cultura ir a españa, fue espectacular.”

de consejera. Para ella, es un orgullo ver el programa de español triunfando desde cuando primero empezó. Esta transición va a ser demasiado diferente ya que no va a tener que enseñar clases y va tener que seguir un horario completamente diferente. Hasta ahora, no tiene planeado de regresar a enseñar las clases de español debido a su nueva posición, aunque va a trabajar con muchas familias que hablan el idioma español. La señora Zapata ha expresado una gran pasión por lo que es el español y lo ha demostrado en sus clases. Esto va ser un cambio diferente que va a iniciar una nueva etapa de la vida de la señora Zapata. Pero como todo, las cosas tienen que llegan a un final aunque no queramos.

Entertainment

New Netflix series based on book,13 reasons why

Guiliana Geati Sports Editor Honest, real and painful; these are the first words that pop into my head while watching the new Netflix series, “13 Reasons Why”. The show consists of one season containing 13 episodes about why a high school teen committed suicide. It perfectly summarizes many struggles and instances that teens encounter throughout high school. My sister heard me watching it and said “Wow, they swear a lot!” This actually made it feel even more real to me because it seems that teenagers swear a lot in real life anyway. The episodes include the drama of

friends and relationships that seem so real and close to what teenagers actually experience. The main character of the show, Hannah Baker, starts by recording her voice on tapes to tell the 13 reasons why she took her own life. She sends the tapes to everyone she talks about in them and they tell the story of her life. It sounds really sad, but it actually had me on the edge on my seat with excitement for the entire series, not to mention I binge-watched every episode one after another. I just couldn’t help to watch because of how compelling it is. My favorite character was Clay Jensen, who was one of Hannah’s closest friends. I liked how he was such a genuine guy to Hannah and was never afraid to be himself. The series never disappointed me. It started off really strong from the first episode filled with drama, and ended with me crying because I felt connected to the emotions that the characters were feeling.

May 5, 2017

The Hayley Kiyoko experience: Living la vida gay Leslie Hernandez Staff Reporter Many of you may remember multi-talented artist, Hayley Kiyoko, from her role as Stella Yamada in the iconic movie Lemonade Mouth. Hayley Kiyoko now mainly focuses on making music that she hopes inspires people to be themselves, in which she often speaks about her sexuality. Accompanied by two friends, I got the chance to see the legend herself for the first time ever this year on April 1st. I had just seen a few tweets about people having an amazing time and that’s exactly what I experienced; maybe a little more. Inside the venue, it really felt like such a supportive and understanding environment. The amount of LGBT+ flags and shirts was overwhelming and it made me extremely happy. Sometimes Hayley would give little emotional speeches in between songs, she told us that the venue was our safe space and a judgement free zone, which proved that she does in fact have a heart of gold. One of my favorite memories was when she was saying “We’re all here because--” and she got interrupted by a fan saying “Because we’re gay!” and we all erupted into laughter. Another favorite was when a fan yelled that they love

girls and Hayley giggled and said she loves girls too. You don’t get that kind of conversing at concerts anywhere else, folks. Another awesome memory was when Hayley and her band attempted to pull an April fools prank on us by leaving us in the dark on the third to last song but quickly we started stomping our feet and shouting “Hayley! Hayley!” When they came out, one of the band members showed up with a birthday cake and told us that we had to sing happy birthday to Hayley since her birthday was on April 3rd and we managed to make her cry. Overall, my absolute favorite part was the last song called “Girls like Girls”, I never in my life thought I’d get to sing the lyrics with 700 other people who are also members of the LGBT+ community. I’ve never felt so secure in myself and proud to be who I am. I’m going to be dramatic and say that this experience changed me and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

Cartoon Critiques: The fate of the furious

Evolution is fake: Gorillaz births “Humanz”, new album Cartoon by Aidra Crawley

Josie Levin Associate Editor After a seven year hiatus, Gorillaz returns in true Gorillaz style, making conservatives mad. ”Humanz” is jampacked with passive and not-sopassive illusions to social issues on top of great music. Old collaborators like De La Soul and Danny Brown returned alongside as the new interesting styles like Zebra Katz. Of course that all pales in

comparison to the first five seconds of Grace Jones’ laughter in “Charger.” I’ve been anticipating her return since an interview with virtual band members 2D and Murdoc mentioned collaborations with Jones again, and I wasn’t disappointed. She provided subtle but powerful vocals that were instrumental in the delivery of the song. Though I would be lying to say any song without Grace Jones could surpass “Charger,” I have a soft spot in my heart for “Sex Murder Party.” It was very old school Gorillaz, a literal satire of meaningless celebrity and music. Seeing a simplified parody of meaningless pop music is nostalgic and indicates a return to some more transparent satire.

The album is also chock full of empathetic and community centric themes. “Hallelujah Money,” a music video featuring Benjamin Clementine, which dropped immediately following the election of the presidency, showing solidarity with immigrants and minorities in the United States. In the same vein, “Sex Murder Party” reflects not only the shallowness of some pop music but goes a step further to analyze why shallow music exists, what’s hiding beneath it and how it could be more honest. The album gives me hope not just for the future of the Gorillaz project but also for the social awareness of all media creators.

Fictional Gorillaz band members new portriats serve as album covers for singles off the album “Humanz”: Murdoc on the cover of “We Got The Power” feat. Jehnny Beth (top left), Noodle on “Ascension” feat. Vince Staples (bottom left), Russel on “Saturn Barz” feat. Popcaan (top right) and 2D on “Andromeda” feat. D.R.A.M. (bottom right). “Humanz” was released on April 28.

Opinion

To AP or not AP? Katie Chong Cartoon Editor The other morning my father asked me, “Why does your school have AP and non-AP classes? I didn’t have that in my school.” I smile at my dad because the breakfast time which we promise each other every morning does not permit me enough time to truly explain. “Well, first, you went to school in Cambodia. Second, it helps teachers teach better because all of the students think similarly.” From my freshman year to now, I have been enrolled in nine AP classes. In these four short years, I have witnessed the changes and constants in the AP curriculum. In recent years, more and more students are moving up to AP, contributing to more intellectual diversity in AP classrooms. For the most part, this new push by counselors and teachers is truly for the students’ benefit. However, an underlying motive is school image. High schools prefer to have more enrolled AP students despite a low test pass rate over a smaller group of AP students with a high test pass rate. Granted, every student

should experience some version of AP curriculum. A “C” in an AP class is better than an “A” in a regular class because students experience the most growth when they constantly face challenges. However, in this game of quantity over quality, some students are in over their heads. Regardless of the students’ ability to survive, the expectation is that if they sign up for an AP class, they stay in it. Regina Sevilla, senior, dropped out of AP Literature two weeks into the course. However, this drop was not without resistance. “I had to talk to the division head and the vice principal, Mr. Rugg, and they would try to convince me to stay in (AP Literature). But I didn’t think I would do well, and I didn’t want to do it,” she said. If a student is not absorbing at least 60-70% of the material (D or C) then he/she is losing a year of education when that same student could be learning 80-100% of regular course material. In these cases, that student benefits more from dropping out of the AP class. Students should challenge themselves, but there’s a difference between a challenge and a setup for failure. If you highlight everything on a page then nothing is highlighted. If you put every student in AP, then no student is an AP Student. By pushing students who aren’t ready to make that sacrifice, it deprives of other riches WHS has to offer.

Marvel betrayal Ursala Urban Opinion Editor Marvel comics used to be enjoyable. Marvel comics used to be for everyone. Marvel comics used to be great. Now, well, I’m beginning to doubt if Marvel can recover and apologize for the atrocity committed to one of their most beloved characters, Captain America. On April 19, 2017, Marvel released a new series of comics that revealed that Captain America originally worked for Hydra. What makes it worse is that the comics make it so that Captain America worked for them willingly. This is a horrible creative decision and insulting to the general public. In releasing said comic books, Marvel has, at least to me, expressed a type of anti-semitism. I say that because Hydra is aligned, and worked with, the Nazis when they dominated Germany. To make matters worse, April 19, 1943 was the beginning of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and this past April 19 marked the 74th anniversary. I was very skeptical about if the release was true or not because I first saw it on my Tumblr dash, and we all know Tumblr is famous for making things up. Anyway, I decided to search it up myself and found it to

be true. I found numerous articles on it, most expressing underlying disgust, and understandably so. To turn an iconic character such as Captain America, who was created on the principles of what America should be, into a Hydra agent, well-aligned with Nazis, is disgraceful. Sure, it makes for an exciting comic storyline, but when such a character has buried himself into the hearts of Americans everywhere for over 70 years then suddenly turn him into an agent for one of the most dispicable organizations, the backlash is going to be monumentous. If you thought the circumstances are already bad, try the fact that Marvel tried to get every comic book store to decorate itself in a plethora of Hydra symbolism in recognition and promotion for the release of said comics. Ever since I read about that, I’ve been shaking my head non-stop because of my disappointment with the comic company. Because I do not condone the thoughtless actions of Marvel, I will not be buying from them for a while nor will I read anymore of their comics, with the exception of the ones I already possess. I will, however, gladly watch any movies that are produced because that is an entirely separate world, named the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU for short. I’ve always followed that more closely than the actual comic books because the comic books make barely any sense, anyway.

May 5, 2017

Editorial: 6:00 a.m., wake up; 7:25 a.m., school starts; 2:50 p.m., school ends and activities start; 6:30 p.m., go home and start homework; fit social time, family, and miscellaneous in-between. This can be the schedule students live through on a cyclical basis. We run on little to no sleep, under extreme stress, more frequently feel depressed, and can always be seen making suicide jokes or asking a friend to murder us. As the school year wears on, we feel an increase in isolation from our friends and family, the schoolwork piling and piling and piling despite being organized to a T. The monotonous effort of choosing what to focus on in our daily lives is seen throughout high school students. We have to decide if we can go to that AP physics review session, see if we’re not busy on prom, whether skipping out on athletics practice is really worth it, etc. These problems seem minute, but have a huge impact on our emotional health. Managing the problem seems to be worse than just leaving the issue alone enough, and the consequences vary in magnitude every time. While solutions may not be clearly present, sometimes we have to look at the scene and try to seize the day. We at Spokesman believe that living within the carpe diem mindset can be the most beneficial thing to do. Sometimes, planning does wear us down, makes us feel worse than saying screw it and seize it, even if it is leaving an assignment unfinished because our emotional health is always more important than school. Giving everything up isn’t the option, but focusing on what makes us happy and doing what is going to be beneficial, without all the stress, can be. 8 out of 12 members of the editorial board agree

Q: What do you call a rabbit with fleas? A: Bugs Bunny. Cartoon by Josie Levin

Spokesman Staff 2016-2017 Editor-in-Chief Max Piasecki*

Forum Editor Ursala Urban*

News Editor Max Piasecki*

Sports Editor Giuliana Geati*

Asst. News Editor David Ruvinskiy*

Assisstant Sports Editor MJ Hurley* Photo Editor Savannah Garcia

A&E Editor Josie Levin* Feature Editor Shailah Magallon* Focus Editor Amanda Talalaj* La Voz Editor Lily Calderon*

Cartoonists Katie Chong* Aidra Crawley Josie Levin*

Web Editor David Ruvinskiy* Copy Editor Nate Alessi* Cartoon Editor Katie Chong*

*Staff members with asteriks are members of the Editorial Board

Staff Reporters Melissa Cardova Santiago Cuevas Christopher Fink Leslie Hernandez-Barajas Ben Stoken Christopher Valles Adviser John Uhrik

This is the official student newspaper of Wheeling High School, 900 S. Elmhurst Road, Wheeling, Ill. 60090. Written, edited and distributed 8 times a year by advanced journalism classes, independent studies and other interested and qualified students. Produced by using desktop publishing and is printed by Son’s Enterprises, Inc., Skokie Ill. Mailed subscription $15 per year. Letters- Spokesman is a limited public forum and welcomes a free exchange of ideas from all readers. Readers are encouraged to contribute letters to the staff in room 137 or mail them in care of WHS. All letters must

be signed. Letters may be edited for length, style, possible libel, clarity, and adherence to our publication policies. Spokesman’s mission is to report the news objectively and truthfully. We will print any known errors here in the issue following our gaining knowledge of the error. Advertising- For information, call (847) 718-7114 Monday-Friday 7:25 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.

CorrectionsClaire O’Donnell was part of staff reporters

Santi Cuevas is Santiago Cuevas Aidra Crawley is correct spelling

Sports

May 5, 2017

What is the funniest/strangest thing about your team? Softball

Badminton

Track & Field

Tennis

We always talk about fettuccine alfredo

We went to Brookfield zoo and were eating by a bunch of peacocks and animals and then one of my teammates felt something brush against her leg and she screamed and it was a guy with a broom

I forgot to bring the discuses to an important meet

When (Brett Beck) whiffs the ball or completely misses and then he hits himself

Morgan Collar Freshman

Morgan Tadish Sophomore

Valencia Smith Freshman

Sean Bobrov Junior

Baseball

Volleyball

Water Polo

Whenever Patrick Cooney yells at our team that we’re thoughts in his head

When one of our players, Sono, he collided with Tristan Johnson and he broke a bunch of his teeth and had to go to the ER

We make fun of everything we see on the way to games and I always start crying from laughter

Tom Bradford Junior

Michael Freeman Senior

Julia Kosobudzka Freshman Information gathered by Christopher Fink and Santi Cuevas

Boys volleyball beats Bison in historic win Ben Stoken Staff Reporter

Courtesty of Lair

The varsity boys volleyball team celebrates a big win against the Buffalo Grove Bisons for the first time in 22 years. This was a historic win for the Wildcats as the team continues to add wins towards their season record.

The varsity boys volleyball team has reached a new level of acheivement by taking down the Buffalo Grove Bisons. On April 27, the Wildcats had beat the Bison for first time in the past 22 years, this dates back to the year 1995. This was a historic win for the team as they continue adding wins to their season. To Connor Duncan, senior, the tone of the game really helped the team take the advantage of play over the opponets. “It was a high energy atmosphere all game, we just outplayed them completely. This was a great team win and really set the tone for what we can do the rest of the season,” Duncan said. The team has many seniors this year which contributes to the success, some of these guys

have been playing together since freshman year. “The chemistry has been great all season, we’ve really come together as a team. This year it really feels as if we are a cohesive unit firing on all cylinders. It’s been a great year,” Tristan Johnson, senior, said. The season isn’t yet completed, there are still 8 games to be played, not including a tournament. The Cats hope that their recent success and wins will help draw more fans and excitement to the upcoming games. “We play so much better when we have a crowd supporting us throughout the game. It’s a great feeling to know that your friends really do care about your sport,” Kevin Garcia, senior, said. Overall the team’s record stands as 13 wins and 10 losses for the season. The team has a conference record of 4 wins and 2 losses, placing them in 3rd place in conference. The Cats have developed as a team through their familiarity and trust for each other which has been benificial entirely for their success this season.

Sp rts Volume 53 Issue 7

Baseball

Courtesy of Lair

The boys varsity tennis team is not usually discussed at WHS, but the program is in the process of improving and building the team. “In the last three years we have improved a lot, and the team is a lot closer than we were our freshman and sophomore years,”

Courtesty of Lair

Baseball Varsity Game: May 8, at 4:30 p.m., vs Elk Grove Girls Varsity Water Polo Regional: May 8, at 4:30 p.m., vs Vernon Hills

Boys Volleyball

Courtesy of Lair

Badminton

Giuliana Geati

Assistant Sports Editor

After tons of time invested in practice, the boys varsity volleyball team has achieved an overall conference record of 4 wins and 2 losses, placing them in 3rd place in conference. Overall their record stands as 13 wins and 10 losses. “This season, the boys varsity volleyball team is competing in every match. The core of our team is seniors that have been on varsity now for 2 to 3 years and have really invested a ton of time to improve their skills and learn how to be successful at this level. In addition, we have a couple of juniors and sophomores that contribute tremendously,” varsity boys volleyball coach, Jason Kopkowski, said. The development of familiarity and trust for the Wheeling squad has been instrumental in their success this season. The Wildcat leaders consist of offensive players, Michael Lechowicz, senior, Michael Best, sophomore, Jared Moser, sophomore, defensive leaders, Matt Schiferl, senior, Tristan Johnson, senior, and setting leaders, Kyle Bagarella, senior Sono Tsogtbaatar, senior. Overall, Kopkowski looks forward to seeing how the team responds to their final four conference matches and state playoffs.

Courtesy of Lair

David Ho, junior said. While Wheeling may not be as successful as they wish, they defended their home court on April 15th by defeating Addison Trail, Mundelein and Riverside Brookfield. The boys have conference, and sectionals, in which they hope to be successful not only as a team, but qualify certain individuals and doubles pairs to sectionals. Such success would be a product of hard work and teamwork.

Courtesty of Lair

Boys and girls water polo teams rally together as teams during a pregame speech in postivity to win the matches on the sides of the pool along with their coaches.

Courtesy of Lair

MJ Hurley

Sports Editor

Towards the beginning of the season, and looking to the playoffs, WHS has been successful at the varsity level. Wheeling currently is 9-10-1(the tie with Vernon Hills). So far the Cats are 5-0 start to the season in conference play, which has never been done at WHS. The end of this came with a series sweep of Hersey High School capped by a complete game shutout by Jack Splett, senior. He pitched all seven innings, allowing no runs, only two hits, and striking out 9 of 21 batters he encountoured. Splett added two hits and a run batted in of his own to help seal the victory. DJ Godlewski, junior, and Splett both are optimistic about this season, and it’s possibilities. “It’s going well. We got off to a historic start at 5-0 in the conference and we’re trying to keep that momentum going into the back half of the season,” Godlewski said. Wheeling has struggled lately which is why Splett is happy, but not content. “I think our season is going decent right now. We have seen some huge games won, and let some huge games go as well. We just need to stay focused every day and play with the same mentality no matter the other team’s record,” Splett said.

Assistant Sports Editor

Badminton Varsity Sectional Match: May 6, at 4:30 p.m., at New Trier

May 5, 2017

MJ Hurley Assistant Sports Editor

MJ Hurley

Upcoming Events

Last season, the Wildcat badminton team had a successful year that ended with senior accomplishments, but a question about the future success that laid on underclassmen. Varsity badminton has responded by putting forward an extremely successful season thus far, with sectionals and state on the way. Varsity has claimed a trophy at four out of the five invites so far, with the most impressive coming at Riverside-Brookfield. WHS won 1st place at the tournament, with three 1st place doubles champions, and three singles champions. Singles winners included Natalia Pecak, senior, Marie Mendoza, junior, and Camey Zussman, junior. Head coach, Mike Burke, is quite impressed with the leadership of the team this year. “We’ve gotten great leadership out of the seven seniors on our team, and that’s been very important in the development of the doubles team, and big to our success and overall improvement,” Burke said. Overall Wheeling’s Dual Meet Record is 11-7. Varsity won twelve matches at the MSL conference meet at Hersey. The Cats look forward to the sectional meet on May 5, and the State Meet on the 15th and 16th of May.

Giuliana Geati Sports Editor The varsity girls soccer team has stepped up their game throughout the season,but still haven’t yet dragged in a win to contribute to their record of 9 losses. However, Dwayne Cruz, head varsity girls soccer coach, believes the team has improved immensely despite their record.

Courtesty of Lair

Courtesy of Lair

“We have had amazing improvement all season. Our team has looked better and better every game. We are defending as a team,” Cruz said. “We hope that our girls keep playing this summer and next year so we can continue to grow the program. We feel the Season has been fun and enjoyable for the girls.” The leading goal scorers for the Wildcats are Kari Weber, sophomore, and Emma Fister, senior.

Courtesty of Lair

Varsity softball team gets together before playing defensive Boys track team sprints to defend their home turf during a fielding in an inning to talk about strategy of the plays and the meet. Fifi Ghiorsi, junior, leaps over a hurdle while competing opposing team. in the 100m Hurdles event, yards ahead of her competitors.