2 Index
News Opinion Mini-Feature Student Life Feature Health & Lifestyle A&E Sports Backpage
News 2 4 6 7 8 10 11 14 16
Editors-In-Chief Anna Busse Cassie Busch
Copy Editor
Carolina VonKampen
News Editor
Daniel Pape News Assistant Quinlan Moran News Writers Carolina VonKampen Maria Efting
Opinion Editor Bryan Banowetz Opinion Assistant Peyton Rosencrants Opinion Writers Hannah Gibbs Brennan Graeve CJ Lampe Morgan Noonan Gina Reiman Chloe Streif Ben Valentine
Student Life Editor Jenna Fenske Student Life Assistant Colette Miller Student Life Writer Lauren Lutgens
Mini-Feature Editor Anna White Mini-Feature Assistant Ameena Challenger Mini-Feature Writer Rachel Brady
Feature Editor Megan Lynch Feature Assistant Robbie Thinnes Feature Writer Mary Esker
Health and Lifestyle Editor Ansley O’Brien Health and Lifestyle Assistant Hannah Chute Health and Lifestyle Writer Molly Vipond
Arts and Entertainment Editor Maddie Smith Arts and Entertainment Assistant Emma Hunt Arts and Entertainment Writers Lauren Van Hoeck Payton Janney Meghan Gerke Ashley Pudil
Sports Editors Connor Collins John Richardson Sports Writers Alex Fox Shannon Mulcahey Kyle D’mello Lizzy McWhinney
Backpage Editor Nicole Draker Backpage Assistant McKenzie Potter
Business Hailey Sojka
Distribution Brennan Graeve
The Xpress Bi-weekly Xavier High School 6300 42nd St. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 Volume 15 Issue 11
Xavier High School
Ohden speaks for the voiceless Abortion survivor and world renowned pro-life activist Melissa Ohden spoke to the Xavier High School community February 19 about abortion and her role as a “voice for the voiceless.” Following the opening prayer from Fr. Tom Zinkula, Ohden began her address by describing the practice of saline infusion abortions. She then explained the story of her birth and adoption after surviving a saline infusion abortion. Ohden spoke about her struggles with alcohol and eating disorders as a high schooler after learning the truth about her birth mother in an argument with her sister. She talked about the effects of keeping secrets and the pressures of unwanted pregnancies, particularly for high school students. After summarizing her childhood, Ohden focused on her attempts to contact her biological parents and the intergenerational effects of abortion. Even though
she failed to reach her mother and father, she successfully contacted their immediate families. She then depicted how the attempted abortion to end her life still has a profound impact on their families 35 years later. Finally, Ohden concluded with the statement that God made a plan for her from the very beginning as a “voice for the voiceless,” despite the abortion attempt. She described how she is perfectly healthy and has a family with her husband Ryan and daughter Olivia. She finished her presentation by delineating ways for the Xavier community to get involved in the fight for defending life. Senior Kristin Swanke was deeply moved by Ohden’s address. “It was nice to have a live witness preach about the evils of abortion,” Swanke said. Ohden travels the world, working with individuals and organizations to raise awareness on abortion. Previously, she
Melissa Ohden speaks about the long-term affects of abortion. Meghan Gerke Photo
traveled as a College Outreach Speaker with Feminists for Life to various colleges to promote resources and support for the unborn and parenting college students. Ohden was featured in the pro-life documentary “A Voice for Life” and has appeared on countless television and radio shows. More information regarding her travels can be found on her website http:// w w w. m e l i s s a o h d e n . c o m in addition to her Twitter and Facebook accounts. Daniel Pape News Editor
17 BPA students qualify for finals Twenty-three Xavier High School students competed in the Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference on February 24, 25, and 26, in Des Moines, Iowa. Twenty Xavier students received at least one award and 17 of those students qualified to compete at the BPA National Conference in Orlando, Florida, from May 7 through May 12. In order to advance to Nationals, students had to place in the top two for a team event, in the top three in an individual judged event, or in the top five in a competitive individual event. This was the first year that Xavier won the Small Business Management Team and the Administrative Support Team events. The Small Business Management Team included seniors Nicole Lang, Hannah Kuhn, Drew Scott, and Craig Murtha. The Administrative Support Team included senior Hunter Wille, junior Claire Wenisch,
The Saints pose with their awards after their ceremony. Hannah Gibbs Photo and sophomores Carolyn Tommy Snow also competed Morrissey and Jennifer Sigmon. at the state conference. Senior James Krouse set a 17 students, the most in school record by winning six Xavier history, qualified for different competitions. Other nationals. Xavier BPA Advisor students who qualified for and Business teacher Tim nationals are seniors Alex Tietz, O’Brien said, “I am often Hannah Gibbs, and Cal Stovie, reminding my BPA students that juniors Jacob Schmitt, Kyle prior preparation prevents poor D’mello, and Annmarie Ford, performance, and I am convinced and sophomores Max Fuhrman based on our results that they and Joshua Hoffmann. Seniors definitely took this to heart.” Seth Fahnle, Kyle Dloughy, and junior Ryan Flaherty received honorable mention awards. Jake Carolina VonKampen Robinson, Nick Robinson, and Copy Editor