December 4, 2014 by Xavier High School Newspaper

Volume 17, Issue 6 December 4, 2014

Xavier High School 6300 42nd St. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 www.xaviersaints.org www.issuu.com/xpressnewspaper/docs= Follow us: @xpressnewspaper

Page Design by Kathleen Parrish. Photos by Gerke, Zwanziger, and Wymore

News

2 Index

News.. 2 | Opinion.. 4 Student Life.. 6 | Mini-Feature.. 7 Feature.. 8 Health & Lifestyle.. 10 | A & E.. 11 Sports.. 14 | Backpage.. 16

Xpress Staff Editor-In-Chief Katherine Bauer

Photo Editor

Kathleen Parrish Photographers Jessica Fenske Ellie Detweiler Maddy Bailey

Business

Tory Brown

Distribution

Donavin Wenger

Online Editor Jeff Frieden

News Editor Tyler Testin News Writers Kathleen Parrish Tory Brown Erin Drahozal Amy Boe KJ Giles

Opinion Editor Amy Boe

Opinion Assistant Abby Willey Opinion Writers Nic Ekland Erin Drahozal Erin Foley Brooke Alexander Adrienne Hayes

Student Life Editor Jenny Dickes

Student Life Assistant Morgan Ross Student Life Writer Stephanie Wehr

Mini-Feature Editors

Faith Bohrer & Mikayla Noonan Mini-Feature Assistant Hadley Shriver

Feature Editors

Brady Hoffman & Jessica Driscoll Feature Writer Brylee Bastian

Health and Lifestyle Editor Samantha Valenta

Health and Lifestyle Assistant Maddy Bailey Health and Lifestyle Writer Hailey Justice

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Kayla Thompson & Rachel Lampe Arts and Entertainment Writers Catie Locher Donavin Wenger Nic Ekland

Sports Editor

Daniel Richardson Sports Assistant KJ Giles Sports Writers Luke Koechner Grant Gibney Ryan Williams Mark Wardlaw

Backpage Editors Jessica Fenske

Backpage Assistant Ellie Detweiler Backpage Writer Anna Christianson The Xpress Bi-weekly Xavier High School 6300 42nd St. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 Volume 17 Issue 6

Xavier High School

Fr. Podhajsky, community parishioners participate in pilgrimage Fr. Christopher Podhajsky is known as the pastor of St. Wenceslaus and Immaculate Conception parishes. He can be seen presiding over Friday Mass at Xavier. In addition to his work in the Cedar Rapids area, Fr. Podhajsky is also a pilgrim. He and a group from 206 Tours flew to the holy city of Rome in late November for the experience of a lifetime. 206 Tours was established in 1985 by Milanka Lachman. Over the past 29 years, 350,000 pilgrims have traveled the world in groups of 20 to 38 people. “My desire was simple, to pass the torch and light as many fires as possible,” Lachman said. “I was working in the tourism industry and felt a calling to create a pilgrimage company.” Travelers on pilgrimage adventures with 206 Tours can expect daily Mass, unforgettable destinations, and a closer relationship with God. On Fr. Podhajsky’s trip, time was spent traveling through downtown Rome as well as Vatican City. The pilgrimage to Italy lasted November 3-13. Many of the top sights were stops along the way, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. “One of my favorite parts of the pilgrimage was getting to go on the Scavi Tour underneath St. Peter’s Basilica,”Fr.Podhajsky said. Travelers on the trip traversed

the oldest road from Roman times, the Appian Way, and explored underground catacombs. These dark tunnels were filled thousands of years ago with early Christians hiding from persecution. Pilgrims also visited the tombs of Saints Peter, Paul, and John Paul II. One of the first sacred shrines dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, became home to lasting memories for the travelers because it contained a relic from the manger where Jesus was born. “It was a great opportunity to celebrate Mass in the Basilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran,” Fr. Podhajsky said. Another notable stop on the travel itinerary was at the Scala Santa. This name translates to Holy Stairs and describes the steps where Jesus walked on His way to trial in front of Pontius Pilate. Pope Sixtus V decided to import the staircase to Rome in 1589 from their original home in Jerusalem. The pilgrims ventured outside of Rome to the town of Assisi for a

day to see both the birthplace and tomb of St. Francis of Assisi. Also located in this town is the incorrupt body of St. Clare, founder of the Order of Poor Clares. Assisi offers a glimpse back at life in the 1200s. On the eighth day of the eleven day pilgrimage, the tour group viewed secular Rome, including stops at the Roman Forum and Colosseum. A cloud of excitement still hangs over the stadium where gladiators fought to the death. 206 Tours put on a trip of a lifetime for religious enthusiasts and history buffs. There are many more opportunities to visit blessed destinations. Fr. Podhajsky and his crew are considering another pilgrimage next summer.

Tyler Testin News Editor

Fr. Podhajsky celebrates Mass during his recent Roman Pilgrimage. Kim Smith Photo.

Christmas season offers numerous service opportunities The Xavier Key Club supports several parishes in the area by offering volunteer opportunities as shelf stockers at food banks, servers at events and fundraisers, assistant caretakers at daycares, and much more. Students who come to these events in their navy and silver reflect the selfless spirit of Xavier. The Key Club will be getting involved in several charity events during the Christmas season. “Every year we do the HACAP Homeless Children’s Trust fund event,which is a big deal,”Key Club Moderator Mr. Michael Goldsmith said. “We’re also looking to get involved with a group called Families Helping Families.” Another frequent opportunity for service is volunteering at the concession stand at Xavier home basketball games. “Working concessions is actually really fun when you sign up with a friend,” junior Emma Lessman said. “The adults there are super nice and you catch

onto their system pretty quickly.” The parents in charge are eager for help from students, as varsity games especially get very busy. There are also many opportunities to work at Regis basketball games and Bulldogs tournaments. Volunteers may be asked to work concessions, scoreboard, or stat sheets. In addition to these opportunities, students have probably noticed the Christmas trees by the Monsignor Sodawasser Chapel. This is for a charity called the Angel Tree Foundation. There are tags on the trees with ideas for Christmas gift donations. The presents will be given to children and teens of low-income families. One popular Key Club event is the annual cinnamon roll sales. Each year, Key Club members volunteer to sell frozen rolls by the dozens. “The cinnamon roll sales go back to before I was Key Club Moderator,” Mr. Goldsmith said. “It’s an opportunity we can

involve the school in and it’s very popular around the holidays. We work with the lunch staff and the student volunteers go in to sort and bag up the orders. The profit this year was about $1800, one third of which goes to the Kiwanis’ Eliminate Project. Their aim is to get rid of neonatal and maternal tetanus around the world. The rest we use to fund our projects. We like to have some money on hand for donations and funding various events.” Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, students are reminded to think of the less fortunate members of their community. They are encouraged to take a moment from shopping for family and friends, and put an Angel Tree gift in the cart, or volunteer at a food or coat drive. Little things can make a huge difference.

Kathleen Parrish News Writer

3 News Friday Mass, Adoration offer unique experiences December 4, 2014

Every Friday morning at 7 a.m. in the Xavier chapel, the Saints and others throughout the community are encouraged to attend Mass. This Mass lasts for about half an hour each Friday. It is a great way to start the weekend. Following Mass is Eucharist Adoration until 3 p.m. This is a time when students, staff, and visitors are encouraged to take time out of their busy schedules for relaxation and silent prayer. Students go to Adoration for five minutes in their theology classes every week. Eucharist Adoration is simply adoring or honoring the presence of Christ through the Eucharist. “I enjoy setting time aside to pray in such a quiet and reverent space,” Xavier parent Mary Lang said. During this time, people remain silent, opening up their hearts to God and all of His graces which flow through the Eucharist. Parents and community members, such as Lang, come in on the

hour to be a part of Adoration. “If you haven’t been before or haven’t been in a while, I encourage everyone to carve out time and go,” Lang said. “I always feel more centered and I am amazed at how many people pop into my head to pray for. I think you will find it an amazing opportunity to grow closer in your relationship with God.” Friday morning Mass is usually given by Fr. Christopher Podhajsky or Fr. Dennis Juhl. “We like to be with the students,” Xavier priest Fr. Dustin Vu said. “It energizes us to see people voluntarily going to weekday Mass on their own. Seeing the faith in them gives priests hope for the future of the Church.” Every year Xavier has a Pack the Chapel event. This is a day where students and faculty are encouraged more than ever to attend Friday morning Mass. This year Pack the Chapel takes place on May 22.

Xavier encourages everyone to come and enjoy these two beautiful and peaceful opportunities, Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, every Friday.

Tory Brown News Writer

A group of seniors quietly pray during a Friday Eucharistic Adoration session in the Chapel. Payton Janney Photo.

Ambassadors celebrate St. Xavier feast day The feast day of St. Francis Xavier was Wednesday, December 3. St. Francis Xavier is the patron saint of missionaries and is also the saint who inspired the name of Xavier High School. St. Francis Xavier was a Roman Catholic missionary born in Xavier, in the Kingdom of Navarre. He led an extensive mission into parts of Asia. It was a goal of St. Xavier to extend his missionary preaching to China, but he died shortly before doing so. St. Francis Xavier was beatified by Pope Paul V on October 25,

1619 and was canonized by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622. In 1624, he was made copatron of Navarre alongside St. Santiago. St. Xavier is considered to be one of the greatest missionaries since St. Paul. “St. Xavier was a great missionary who spread the word of Christ throughout the land,” sophomore Cassandra Himmelsbach said. “I am honored to go to a school in which he was named after.” To celebrate the feast day of St. Xavier, student Ambassadors

from Xavier went to middle and elementary schools to spread Christmas spirit, an event that Xavier students have participated in since the school opened. Students handed out candy canes and sang Christmas songs as they got the kids ready for Christmas. “I love giving back to the elementary schools,” senior Ambassador Claire Christianson said. “When I was younger, I always remembered Xavier kids coming to my school and greeting me. I always looked up

to the Xavier kids, and now it’s exciting for me to do that as well.” For information on how to become a student Ambassador, visit Mrs. Cara Joens in the guidance office.

Erin Drahozal News Writer

Opinion

4 So much more than high school You are in school for eight class periods, six hours, five days a week. In that time, you don’t just learn how to properly cite your research paper, use the quadratic equation, and balance chemical equations. Without even realizing it, you have been learning important life lessons that will help you far beyond the blue desks you sit in each day at Xavier High. I’ve put together a list of some of the ones I’ve learned thus far, although I’m sure there’s countless more that I have yet to realize as well. 1.) How to get along with people you may not like. You know that teacher you butt heads with or that guy that grinds your gears? You owe them a big thank you, because by having to work with them in a polite and respectful way, you have learned the valuable lesson of working with difficult people. In your future job, you may not like your boss, but you will have to work well with

Love the body you’ve been given Why is it that so many teenagers feel awkward in their own b o d i e s ? On a daily basis, I hear comments in the hallway or read online about teenagers and their hate for their own bodies. This may not seem like a huge problem at first; we all have things that we would like to change about our bodies. However, instead of focusing on the aspects we don’t like, we need to learn how to love and cherish our bodies, flaws and all. As a wise peer once told me, “If God wanted you any different, He would have made you different.” So many teenagers, both guys and girls, think of themselves as ugly or not good enough because of their looks. We’ve all had these thoughts at one point in time, thinking that our thighs were too big or that our acne prone face could double as a Halloween mask. I used to think I was ugly and no one would ever be able to love someone like me because of how I looked. However, one day I looked in the mirror and decided that I was fed up and

Xavier High School

them or be out of a job. It’s always easy to get along with people you like, but what shows true character is how well you interact with people you don’t. 2.) How to manage your time and multitask. All those nights up late doing homework and listening to teachers while simultaneously taking notes are going to come in handy. The ability to use your time well is important, because in the real world you will have deadlines you have to meet. If you don’t do things in a timely manner, people won’t be happy with you. Being able to multitask will help you save time too, and you’ll end up with more time to do the things you love. 3.) Communication is key. In a world where we are all too attached to our phones, it’s becoming more and more important to have the skills to talk face to face with people. Whenever you stayed after school to talk to your teacher about that test or went around selling cinnamon rolls for Key Club, you were developing the ability to effectively communicate with others. If you didn’t learn this helpful skill you wouldn’t do well in job interviews or even know how to talk to new people. After all, you can only make

one first impression. Knowing how to look people in the eye and speak well will surely leave you with a good one. 4.) How to have fun in all situations. My good friend Hannah Montana once said, “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it rock,” and she was totally right! You may not like getting up every day at 6:30, but coming to school anyway and making the most of your time here is so important. Lord knows you won’t always like the things you’re doing, but if you have a smile on your face and a positive attitude, you will be able to find the silver lining. Think about your favorite day at school so far. Whether it was the day the Sidewinders played or the day you met your best friend, you wouldn’t have experienced that fun if you weren’t willing to push yourself to get to school. Positive attitudes are both habitual and contagious, so the more you practice flashing that smile and enjoying the little things, the sooner you’ll find yourself enjoying the wonderful gift that is life. Most of us are stuck in the in-between stage of wanting to grow up and wanting to be little forever. Ready or not, we have to face the fact that before

we know it, we will be leaving Xavier for good and moving one step closer to becoming an adult. I am 100% confident that I have been academically challenged here in a way that will leave me ready for college. But what I also know is that most of what I have learned so far in my short life didn’t come from textbooks. It’s come from the teachers who gave me advice after school and laughed with me over my underclassmen obsessions (we all know who they are). It’s been from making a commitment to go to cross country practice and run hills even though napping sounded much better. It’s also been from coming to school and morning prayers at 7:50 led by Mr. Keating and Mr. Goldsmith that both inspire me and leave me thinking about the kind of person I want to be. These are the things I will remember when I leave. Are the classes you’re taking and the grades you get important? Absolutely. But even more important, is the person you become while doing it.

done with tearing myself down, I was going to love the body that I had been given. I can’t even tell you how much better I felt after changing my mindset regarding this one simple thing. I know, I know, it’s hard to change our views with just a snap of our fingers. How can we love our bodies after so many years of hating them? My advice: write down one thing every day that you like about yourself. It could be anything from your straight teeth to a unique freckle you have: just write down something. This way, if you’re ever feeling self hate or bitterness about your body, go back and look at all of the wonderful characteristics you posses. It honestly might just change your life. Appreciation for our bodies takes time, but please, don’t give up on trying to reach peace with your body. Changing your mindset to appreciate and love your body will help you in so many aspects of your life, both now and in the long run. If you ever think of your body as ugly or not good enough, just keep in mind, “If God wanted you any different, He would have made you different.”

Don’t waste time on social media

complaining about how little time they have over the weekend. Could it be the result of a lot of activity online? Obviously homework, activities, and work can take up your time, but do you let social media waste away your small bits of free time? Things like Twitter and Snapchat are great at consuming time because it doesn’t take long to read a tweet or view a snap, but it adds up very quickly. Social media can also use up so much time because there is always more. There are new posts so often that you never really get done. It might only take a few minutes to read through your Twitter feed, but you will probably go through it two, three, or four times in an hour. The worst part is that no one realizes what they are doing because it’s just a bunch of small things that add up to the social media giant that’s taking up and controlling over a fourth of our lives.

Adrienne Hayes Opinion Writer

According to Computer world, the a v e r a g e American spends 16 minutes every hour on social media. Over a fourth of an hour will be wasted every hour on tweeting, snapping, checking your feed, and more. Is Twitter really worth 25% of our lives? Of course not. Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat are all great for keeping in touch with friends and staying involved. But social media isn’t that important.When you are not online, you talk about what happened online. Drama involving social media is exhausting and unnecessary. Students have enough drama as it is with school. There’s no room for more drama about what someone posted. When this happens, important things in life get neglected in favor of this drama. Stuff like school, athletics, or your real social life is abandoned for a snap, tweet, or post. Students are always

Amy Boe Opinion Editor

Mark Wardlaw Opinion Writer

December 4, 2014

Opinion

Words have an impact; make yours count “ S t i c k s and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you.” This saying is the biggest lie children are told by their parents. Words have an enormous impact on your everyday life and can completely change your day for the better or worse. Everyday we are given the opportunity to use our words to make someone’s day or ruin it; the choice is up to us. Yes, I know we aren’t supposed to care about what other people think.However,it is natural for us, especially as high schoolers, to worry about this. If everyday we hear people gossip, swear, or make rude comments about us or others, it becomes more difficult to try not to care about other people’s thoughts. By complimenting someone instead of insulting them,

we can make everyone more comfortable with their “true self.” Harsh words can change someone’s entire life. I have lost confidence in the past about certain athletic skills, my decision making, and who I hang out with because people have said unintentional, yet hurtful comments towards me. We go around everyday saying things to and

about people that we don’t think will hurt them, but easily can. For example, if you say something such as “What is up with your hair today?” to an acquaintance jokingly, they will more than likely become self conscious the rest of the day even if they play it off as nothing. All because of seven words, someone’s day was changed for the worse. Think about your day so far and ask yourself: have you said

something negative towards or about someone more than you’ve complimented them? If the answer is yes, then try and work at changing that. Try and compliment at least three people each day and see how happy they become. Simply telling someone,“I love the color of your shoes,” is all it takes to improve someone’s mood. Use your words to improve people’s lives instead of tearing them down. Giving a seven word compliment is just as easy as a seven word insult, yet the result is much better. Besides, we all love the feeling we get when we see someone smile because of something we’ve done for them.

Jenny Dickes Student Life Editor

Junior Jenny Dickes displays some of the hurtful words that can bring people down. Kellie Wagner Photo.

Boys, be considerate of girls’ feelings Boys will be boys. This is a common excuse that society gives to explain the way boys act, but is this a valid excuse for the way boys treat girls? I see so many examples of boys hurting girls’feelings lately. It isn’t shocking news that girls are more emotional than boys. We all have feelings, but boys are so much more inconsistent with them than girls. News flash boys: when you ignore a girl to impress your friends,

it hurts her. When you are inconsistent with your feelings, it’s unfair. It’s unfair when you only make girls feel worthy if certain people are watching. If you give a girl attention when you are alone and ignore her when you are around your friends, that is disrespectful. You can’t string girls along and only want them when it’s convenient for you. Leading them on just toys with their emotions. Boys know this, and they still don’t care enough to try to avoid hurting girls. What is the reason? It is a common trend among boys to be “too cool” for girls. Boys let their egos come before everything.

Here’s what they fail to realize: your ego isn’t the only important thing. Get over yourself. You can’t let what your friends think determine how you feel about someone. I have seen how boys can destroy girls. My friends have recently been affected by this. Boys do not know the extent of hurt they can cause. Girls lose self confidence, tear themselves down, and blame themselves when in reality, it’s not their fault. Never let a boy make you feel like you are not good enough. My point is: boys, it’s time to grow up. Don’t hide

your feelings for someone because you’re afraid of what people will think. The egotistical standard needs to be changed. There are some guys out there who are mature. I think all boys should aim to be this way. Girls: let’s start with us. Let’s take a stand and not let them treat us this way. Don’t spend your time on boys who make you feel poorly about yourself. Never let a boy define who you are.

Hailey Justice Health & Lifestyle Runner

Cherish your time before it’s too late Your alarm goes off on a Monday morning, and you check Twitter to kill some more time before getting out of bed. The amount of tweets you see complaining about the fact that it’s “only Monday” can be almost overwhelming. I’ve been there before too. After a fun weekend, nobody’s excitement is directed towards the full

week of school that lies ahead. The thought of tests, quizzes, hours of homework and long practices makes the temptation to curl back up under your covers much easier to give in to. But after hitting the snooze button a few more times, you finally drag yourself out of bed. As you sit in class, you find yourself wishing the day was over. As the final bell rings on a Tuesday afternoon, you find yourself wishing it was Friday instead. While studying for a big test you have the next day,

you’re distracted by daydreams and visions of summer time. After every disagreement you have with your parents, you wish you were living on your own already. The harsh reality is: by doing this, we are simply wishing our time away. One day you’ll wake up and it will be the last Friday of your senior year, and the final summer to be with your friends will be waiting right around the corner. You’ll find yourself wishing you hadn’t once wished for it all to be over.

Time is precious. So cherish every Monday morning, every late night of studying, and every little argument with your parents.Be careful what you wish for, even if it is just for the little things such as the final bell on a Friday afternoon. One day, you might wish you had it all back.

Abby Willey Assistant Opinion Editor

Xavier High School

s T U D Y S P O T S

Student Life

Finals are coming up fast. These locations offer a perfect place to meet up with friends to study.

A Hy-Vee

Distance: 1.7 miles (5 min)

If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to go far from Xavier, Hy-Vee is only five minutes away and offers a Starbucks and food from the Hy-Vee Kitchen. Hy-Vee also has a spacious dining area where you can spend hours studying in booths.

Distance: 6.2 miles (13 min)

Coffesmiths offers the best location for large groups. With free Wi-Fi and a spacious room containing tables, booths, and a fireplace, it fits many people comfortably.

B Starbucks Distance: 2.8 miles (8 min)

Public Library E Hiawatha Distance: 3.4 miles (10 min)

With a new selection of holiday drinks, Starbucks is a perfect place to go to warm up, get cozy and use their free Wi-Fi while studying for finals.

Coffeesmiths

A more serious place to study can be found at the library which offers a quiet location, free Wi-Fi, plenty of resources, and help from others.

Java Creek

Distance: 5.9 miles (13 min) While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little farther away, Java Creek is a relaxing place to study with fireplaces, big booths for large study groups, and free Wi-Fi.

Panera

Distance: 3.8 miles (8 min) Panera is one of the most common places for students to study. With free Wi-Fi, a variety of food, bakery items, and drinks, Panera offers a great place where one can spend hours studying while listening to relaxing background music.

*All distances are from Xavier

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Xavier

Page design by: Jenny Dickes and Morgan Ross. Information collected by: Stephanie Wehr.

Mini-Feature

December 4, 2014

Alena Brunius ‘18 Goodwill $5

Liam Carr ‘17 Goodwill $6

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Tory Brown ‘15 Goodwill $6

Christmas Sweaters With upcoming holiday festivities, a quick trip to Goodwill or a visit to your grandma’s closet could give you a quality Christmas sweater for less than ten dollars.

Kayla Fuller ‘16 Children’s Place $15

Design By Faith Bohrer and Mikayla Noonan Photos by Mikayla Noonan and Faith Bohrer

George Durin ‘18 unknown

Feat

December 4, 2014

25 Days of Christmas

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Step 1: Materials needed are a plain candle of your choosing, a rope, rubber bands, and cinnamon sticks.

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Health & Lifestyle

Xavier High School

1. Rest up right after the season ends. A couple of weeks to reccouperate helps more than people think.

Beat the Offseason; Stay in shape

2. Participate in a winter sport like cross country skiing or snowboarding. 3. Buy new winter layers to keep up motivation for working out and braving the cold. 4. Eat healthier to avoid unnessesary weight gain. 5. Invest in Fitness DVDs and workout in the comfort of home. 6. Reflect on your last season. What were your strengths and weeknesses? What can you improve on? 7. JOin new exercise classes to switch up workouts.

How do Xavier athletes stay in shape during the offseaon?

“I go to summer practices.” - Jeff Vipond ‘16 Wrestling

“Get in t h e weight room and stay active.” -Beau Van B e rk u m ‘18 football

“I run and I go to spin classes.” - Emma Delaney ‘16 cross country

Page Design: Sam Valenta, Maddy Bailey, and Hailey Justice. Pictures: pixabay.com. Information: https://www.horizonfitness.com, www.active.com

A&E

December 4, 2014

Nic’s Picks

Poms at North Shore Contest

Kygo Favorite Remixes: Ed Sheeran - “I See Fire” Passenger - “Let Her Go” Kyla La Grange - “Cut Your Teeth”

Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll, most commonly known for his stage name Kygo, is a Norwegian musician and remixer. The 23-year-old has made quite the impression on the electronic world with his uplifting, melodic chimes and seamless production with a focus on warm, delicate, and sometimes tropical outcomes. Kygo’s never ending pool of remixes is nothing short of spectacular, bursting with creativity and personality in every track. Kygo began playing piano when he was six years old, taking lessons for close to 10 years before he decided to focus on his own compositions. As his studio skills grew, drawing much of his inspiration from the Swedish DJ Avicii, he became dissatisfied with the house genre all together, saying it was stale and often sounded the same. Kygo began teaching himself a new way

to think about the progressive house genre and what emerged was a fresh and accessible sound built on playful melodies sure to make anyone smile. Rocketing from obscurity to main stage performances in no time, Kygo is one of the year’s most unbelievable success stories. After recently passing the 80 million plays mark on Soundcloud, Kygo signed with Sony Music, and sold out his Endless Summer Tour in mere minutes. Kygo is a personal favorite of mine, perfect for all settings, whether you are chilling with friends or jamming in my car. His talent is undeniable, unforgettable, and unimaginable. It’s a sound you’ve never heard before. Find Kygo on Soundcloud; you won’t regret it. Nic Ekland A&E Writer

On November 16, the Xavier poms team took on the North Shore UDA competition in Chicago, Illinois. This was the second competition for the team, and they represented the Xavier Saints well, receiving second place in the varsity jazz category and seventh in the varsity pom category. This season, they have been focusing on teamwork. For the new members of the team, that means learning a sense of working hard not only individually but together. “The transition was really easy because the returning team members were so helpful and so supportive,” freshman Caroline Richardson said. “Just like any other club or sport, we want to represent our school well. We work really hard to be successful.” It is the returning member’s job to give their newest teammates a sense of support. They do their best by spending time together as a team outside of practice and forming friendships with each other. “As a returning member to the Xavier poms team, it is very important to me that I try

my best to form relationships with the new members,” junior Brooke Alexander said. “ If we all get along, it makes practice so much more enjoyable and makes our performances an amazing experience.” The team will continue to work together throughout the rest of the season. They will be given two more chances to compete. Currently, the girls are preparing for their next competition, the State Team Competition, December 4-6. Catie Locher A&E Writer

The poms gather after receiving a second place trophy in the varsity jazz category. Delany Breitbach Photo.

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A&E

Xavier High School

Christmas Classic Movies and Tunes “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” The Christmas season is full of classic music and movies. Here are some favorite songs and movies that will be sure to get everyone in the Christmas spirit!

Christmas Movies

Christmas Playlist

A Christmas Story (PG)

“Jingle Bell Rock” Bobby Helms

It’s a Wonderful Life (PG)

“All I Want for Christmas is You” Mariah Carey

Home Alone (PG) Elf (PG)

“Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney

Polar Express (G)

“I’ll be Home for Christmas” Michael Bublé

Santa Clause (PG) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG-13)

“Carol of the Bells” Various Artists “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Bruce Springsteen

Meet the Mascot

Whether it is a football game or a visit to the elementary schools, school mascot Bernie the St. Bernard is always there. The Xpress sat down with freshman Katelyn Gibbs to answer a few questions about what it is really like to be the school mascot. What is the best part of being the school mascot? Representing Xavier and being able to lighten up the little kids’ day when they see me as Bernie and getting the best belly rubs ever! What is it like being Bernie? It is like being the face of Xavier, and it is a big honor to be that face. Does it get hot inside the suit? It does get hot. The first time I was Bernie, I got out of the suit, and it looked like I just got done with a shower!

Is it hard to see in there? It is hard to see because you can’t see on your left or right side of your body without moving your whole head.

Does it smell bad? does not smell

bad.

How did you get the opportunity to be Bernie? I got to be Bernie through filling out an application for being a Xavier Ambassador. Do you plan on being Bernie again next year? Yes, I do plan on being Bernie next year.

Kayla Thompson A&E Co-Editor

Freshman makes All-State choir Many of those who have been accepted into the All-State choir have auditioned before or are upperclassmen. However, one student from Xavier stood out, as the only freshman from Xavier to be accepted into All-State choir. Tristen Perreault is a tenor I in the Xavier choir and has been in choir since he was in kindergarten. “I find that singing with the big choir is really cool,” Perreault said. “The sound just fills the room and I really enjoy that. I’m excited for my future years in the Xavier choir. It’s a lot of fun, and I think that it will only get better!” All-State choir auditions were held on October 25. Of those who auditioned, 11 from Xavier were accpeted: Perreault, sophomores Erin Pitz, Faith Satern, Hannah Zwanziger, and Nolan Pithan, junior Matthew

Hovda, and seniors Michaela Brown, Noah Manternach, Emma Keefe, Noah Lauer, and Anna Zittergruen. To prepare for the performances, singers practiced with their trio or quartet and choir director Mr. Matt Walker. “My audition was earlier in the morning,” Perreault said. “After that, I had a good seven hours of waiting until they posted results. When I did not get recalled, I thought that I probably did not make it since I was only a freshman. So I was pretty surprised and happy that I made it in. I feel pretty proud that I got into All-state and I think I’ll find more meaning to it once I sing with everyone during practice and at the concert.” Perrault and all others performed November 22 at the All-State Music Festival at Iowa State.

Donavin Wenger A&E Writer The students who participated in All-State choir gather for a photo. Mr. Matt Walker Photo

Freshman Katelyn Gibbs dresses as Bernie and ready to cheer on the Saints during a home football game. Photo Submitted.

Mark Wardlaw Sports Writer

Congratulations to senior Lucy Liu for being accepted into the All-State band! She also performed on November 22.

A&E

December 4, 2014

13 Seniors:

Yearbook photos are due December 17th e-mail jpeg to

kellie.wagner@xaviersaints.org

The Early Bird downtown coffee cafe 316 2nd Street SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 319.432.9706 319.261.4901

theearlybirdcr@gmail.com

Dick Alexander Kelli Alexander Nancy Alexander Kermit and Florence Alveshere Peter and Joan Bailey Ryan and Tracy Bastian Jim and Judy Bauer Ken and Rosemary Bauer John Beaird Nancy Bicket Kathy Black Doug and Charla Boe Sandy Boe Daryll and Beth Bohrer Marti Bowman Hannah Brown Heidi Brown Lydia and Mike Brown Christy Bryant Cassie Busch Anna Busse Sheli Christianson Hannah Chute Gary and Mindy Coleman Jane and Rod Collins Sharon Danielson Mr. and Mrs. Mike Delaney Brooke DeWolf John and Darlene Dickes Steve and Pat Dickes Jan and Mike Drahozal Joe and Kelly Drahozal George and Lois Drey Bette Ekland Tom and Terry Ekland Stephen and Kay Elliot Jacob and Theresa Fahnle Jack and Micki Fenske

Jenna Fenske Jim and Linda Fenske Barney and Kathy Foley Jeff and Jenny Frieden Richard Galligan Mike and Mollie Gannon Meghan Gerke Blake Gibney Mary and Jeff Gibney Jeanne Giles Patty and Al Gothe Jack and Walda Gustafson Preston and Janan Hall Nell and Mike Hammel Bob and Lauren Hammerberg Trisha Hart Scott Hassenstab Laura Herrig Tim and Katie Hill Stan and Jeanne Hlas John and Sasha Hoffman Marvin and Linda Hoffman Tom and Jean Hoffman Craig and Mary Hovda Logan and Stephanie Hoxie Sue Jennings Dave Justice Joe Justice Ray and Beth Kamin Ray and Jan Kamin Mary and Ralph Kammermeir Ron Keating Kelli Kerton James and Barb Klein Jenny Koechner Ann and Tim Kortemeyer Larry and Maryetta Lampe Mary and Perry Laures

Jim Lemke Dee and Tom Lempka John A. Locher Laura and John Locher Mary Locher Doris Logel Shirley Lukan Megan Lynch Bob and Lori Madrick Bob and Sue Madrick John and Jenni Madrick Pat and Al Maiers Kelly Markham McCartan Family James McEniry Maryanne McEniry Chris and Erin Meyer Tony and Kathy Moeder Leo and Diane Monaghan Shannon Mulcahey Mary Neuwohner John and Ruth Neuzil Lisa Nielsen Rose Nino Mike Noonan Morgan Noonan Mr. and Mrs. Steve Noonan Shawnee Owens Leslie Page Daniel Pape Eve Parrish Mike and Mary Parrish Bonnie and Pat Peacock Tess Pladsen Ashley Pudil Lisa Ramlo Ann and Dave Richardson

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Sports

Xavier High School

Miller and company eye a state title Saint swimmers prepare for season With the first third of the school year a little more than ancient history, athletes nation wide (especially in the Midwest) are committing to three months without much sunlight as they shift their attention to the next task at hand. For Xavier senior Caleb Miller and the rest of the bowling team, the task at hand is taking the state title. “I started bowling competitively nine years ago,” Miller said. “My goal as a senior is to make it to state, and hopefully all that hard work will pay off once we are there.” Coming off a successful season in which Caleb Miller qualified and placed second at state, the team’s potential should be as high as ever. For the girls’ team, the goal is making it to state as well. Sophomore Tanya Zaugg plans to help her team reach that goal by trying to pass her own benchmark. “This year, I want to get my average above 200,” Zaugg said. “That would be great.” The boys’ and girls’ bowling

As the boys’ swimming season varsity team for his third year, and team can next be seen in kicks off, Xavier swimmers will this is Nachman’s second year on. action on Friday, December 5 travel to Kennedy and Washington The Washington swim team is against Kennedy High School.

Ryan Williams Sports Writer

High Schools for practices and meets. This year, there are six Kennedy swimmers and three Washington swimmers from Xavier. “It is hard to get up some mornings for practice but I have gotten used to it,” junior Jonah Scallon, a swimmer for Kennedy, said. Kennedy and Washington faced off on November 25 in the metro meet at Washington. This meet was not taken for score because it was the first meet of the year. Kennedy has a fairly seasoned team with returning varsity swimmers seniors Evan Bednar and Jacob Nachman and junior Nicholas Lyon. Bednar is on the

Grant Gibney Sports Writer Senior Brett Young bowls a strike during a meet last year. Haylee Burns photo.

Xavier students pose for the Co-op swimming photo during Organizational Photo Day. Read Photography photo.

Mims, Otting look to help lead Saints Snow on the ground can only mean one thing: basketball season is here. The boys’ basketball team hopes to continue their success from last season and improve on their 15-9 record. Xavier finished second in the Valley Division of the MVC behind rival Catholic school, Dubuque Wahlert. Xavier lost key members of the 2013 second place team to graduation, including center Matt Nelson and guard Andrew Bisenius. Combined, the two averaged over 12 points per game and added 8 rebounds. The Saints are looking for new varsity members to contribute to the team’s success, including senior transfer Michael Mims. Mims averaged 13.7 points per game at Prairie last season as a junior. He also added 52 assists and 31 steals on the year. “I wanted a change for my senior year, and I wanted to

young with only one returning varsity swimmer, junior Mitchell Anderson. He had the honor of swimming at the state meet for Washington last year, swimming the breast stroke in a personal record time of 1:06. “I started preparing for swim season very early this year, which should give me an advantage for this year,” Anderson said. Freshman Carter Kramer and sophomore Jack Frieden are also a part of the Kennedy swim team. The Washington swim team includes freshmen George Durin and Michael Simeneau and sophomore Mitchell Dake.

make the best of it,” Mims said. “I felt Xavier could fulfill that for me academically and athletically. I felt it would be the best situation for me and my brother as well.” The Saints are also returning three lead scorers senior guard Adam McDermott, senior forward Calvin Winker, and junior guard Mitchell Burger. McDermott led the team in scoring averages with 16.5 points per game, 56 total assists, 38 total steals, and 5.3 rebounds per game. Winker was the second leading scorer averaging 13 points per game, and Burger added an average of 7.6 points per game. Mims will be another outside shooting threat to go along with Burger and McDermott. Combined, the three shot close to 40% from behind the arc. “Michael will give us another point guard that can break down the defense off the dribble,”

Head Coach Ryan Luehrsmann said. “We expect him to be a great distributor and defender from the point guard position.” Xavier hopes to get production on both the offensive and defensive end

from 6’6” junior forward Ryan Stulken and 6’4” senior center Tim Otting. Stulken and Otting look to replace the inside presence of Nelson. “Everybody on the team has been looking forward to this season,” Stulken said. “We are all working hard in practice to meet our goals of a state championship.” The team played a jamboree on November 25 at Kennedy. Xavier played their first out of conference game on December 1 against Mount Pleasant. K.J. Giles Assistant Sports Editor

Senior Adam McDermott fights for a rebound during a game against WaverlyShell Rock last season. Amanda Wymore photo.

Construction Materials, Inc. Dick Galligan 345-49th Avenue Dr. S.W. Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 (319)-366-6446 (800) 747-6401 dgalligan@constructionmaterialsinc.com

December 4, 2014

Sports

Wrestling looks to build off last season’s success When measuring whether an individual should be considered “championship caliber,” it is important to take several factors into account. From offseason work ethic to outstanding leadership, many different aspects need to mold together perfectly in order for a season to turn out according to the script. Fortunately for Coach Ryan Chambers, members of the 20142015 wrestling team have already begun to embrace this championship caliber mentality. Despite the loss of three state tournament wrestlers to graduation, junior fourth place finisher Clint Lembeck and company are excited for the challenge ahead of them. Junior Jeff Vipond and sophomore Josh Gerke narrowly missed the state competition last

year, each of them earning third place at districts in their respective weight classes. “There’s really no way to replace that great group of guys, but we have faith in some of the younger guys to step up and fill the roles previously held by those seniors,” Vipond said. Over the summer, the team took a trip up to the Wisconsin Dells in order to attend the Malecek Team Wrestling Camp. The time spent there was used to develop team chemistry and to keep the athletes from getting rusty during the dog days of summer. In addition to this, Lembeck and Vipond spent time this offseason in the University of Iowa wrestling room. They were able to challenge themselves against some of the best wrestlers in the state throughout this unique

Injury plays a key role in all sports. Athletes deal with minor injuries like a slightly twisted ankle or a bruised rib. Other injuries can be season ending or even career ending. Junior McKenna Andersen just so happened to have a season ending injury last year, tearing her ACL as a sophomore playing varsity. The shooting guard looks to continue playing for the varsity team in her second season, the first being her freshman year. Coming back from an ACL injury is difficult. Senior Nate Lux was put in a similar position and came back to play football the very next year. Andersen will have to wear a brace this year, a precautionary step which she believes will help her in the future. According to another orthopedics expert, Jonathan Cluett M.D.,a full recovery takes anywhere from seven to nine months, depending on the athlete and what sport they participate in. Andersen has let time and intense physical therapy heal her injured knee and is ready for this season. “After sitting out for a year, I’m mostly looking forward to getting back on the floor and playing with my teammates,” Andersen said.“As always, I would love to make it back to state.” While state is the goal, the Saints still have a full season ahead

of them. Playing all 26 games her freshman year, Andersen hopes to do the same this season Andersen is joined by classmates Jenny Dickes and Meghan Joens as the three junior girls returning with significant playing time. These girls will have to step up and have a big role this season after the Saints lost three seniors, including their previous leading scorer, Hayley Deutmeyer. State championship winning Head Coach Tom Lilly is looking forward to this upcoming season. “Her overall knowledge of the game from a year learning and observing from a position of a coach will help her this year,” Coach Lilly said. “Her perimeter shooting and state tournament experience will help us a lot this year.” The Saints and Andersen had their first chance to show their progress during their game on November 25, 6:00 at Xavier High School.

Andersen returns after ACL injury

opportunity. This type of work ethic has developed a very optimistic attitude for Vipond as the season quickly approaches. “Individually, the goal is to win the state title,” Vipond said. “As a team, we just have to keep improving weekly and get prepared for districts and state.”

Seniors Michael Maher and Ryan Williams will play integral leadership roles for the team this year with many years of wrestling experience under their belts. With the number of wrestling participants significantly down from last year, the underclassmen will look to them for guidance as the first few weeks of intense practice get under way. The expectations for the young team may be unclear. However, the Saints hope a winning attitude and supportive environment will take some of the athletes all the way to Wells Fargo Arena. Daniel Richardson Sports Editor

Junior Clint Lembeck wins a match at Xavier during the 2013-2014 wrestling season. Photo by Meghan Gerke.

SPORTS TRIVIA! How many total assists did Michael Mims have in the 2013-2014 basketball season?

A.47 assists B. 52 assists C. 59 assists D. 63 assists

Luke Koechner Sports writer *Email answers to xaviersportstrivia@gmail.com with your answer as the subject to be considered for a prize! Deadline is 3 p.m. on Friday, December 5. By: Grant Gibney and Mark Wardlaw

Backpage

December 4, 2014

Seeing Double J U N I O R S

Kamin

Who is the better driver? Describe each other in one word

Who gets along with siblings better?

Claire

Usually Claire drives

Do you ever dress alike?

Outside of Xavier, no

We share some clothes

Have you ever switched classes?

We switched desks for a day

Once, in first grade

J U N I O R S

Nick

Lazy

Uncoordinated

Bouchard

Jeanne

Whoever grabs the keys first

Who drives to school?

Ben

Francois

S E N I O R S

Jonathan

Jacob

Who is the better driver?

Do you ever dress alike?

Never

Sometimes, yes

Do your parents ever mix you up?

Yes

Triple Trouble Regan Who takes the longest to get ready?

Who is the best driver? Who gets in the most trouble?

Riley Reanna

Reanna Reanna

Riley

Reanna Reanna

J U N I O R S

Me Riley Riley

Hassenstab F R E S H M E N

Shey

Erin

Nicole

Cara

Nicole

Who is the messiest?

Cara

Who is the worst dancer?

Nicole

Who takes the longest to get ready?