November 13, 2014

Volume 17, Issue 5 November 13, 2014

LEGALLY BLONDE Thursday-Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Regis-LaSalle Theater 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. Photo by Katherine Bauer

News

2

International Round Table

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

International Round Table was celebrated on November 7. It was Xavier’s 17th iteration of the global conference created

by Regis High School in 1984.

This year, 25 countries were represented by 45 foreign exchange students from 12 nearby schools. The morning kicked off with a welcome speech in the Regis-LaSalle Theatre from Xavier student body President Anna Zittergruen.

“The International Round Table is designed to give high school foreign exchange students from surrounding schools an opportunity to meet and exchange points of view on issues of national and international concern,” Zittergruen said.

International Round Table Chair and Student Body Vice President Allison Jasper then took the stage to give the exchange students an overview of the upcoming events and the program’s goal.

“While no previous Xavier or Regis Round Table has ever solved a serious world problem, past participants have realized a new sense of appreciation and understanding that supports the Round Table’s theme of ‘One Small Step Toward World Peace Through Mutual Understanding,” Jasper said.

Participants were divided into three groups for the morning’s

Jenny Dickes

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

Argentina Yrube San Martin-Washington Bolivia Gilmer Emmanuel Mauricio-LinnMar China Peng Gao-Linn-Mar Lucy Liu-Xavier Olivia Liu-Kennedy Alina Lu-Linn-Mar Chen Yi Wang-Xavier Kevin Wang-Jefferson Tina Wu-Xavier Congo Dorcas Kibassa-Linn-Mar Daniel Luzindya-Linn-Mar Nathan Luzindya-Linn-Mar Denmark Mie Stecher Andersen-Xavier DR Congo Adurey Mzuza-Linn-Mar Nahla Tawfik-Linn-Mar Nehal Tawfik-Linn-Mar

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 5

discussion about world culture.

One group remained in the theatre where they were questioned by Xavier students and journalists from neighboring schools. Topics ranged from education and social life to food and family time. A lively atmosphere was created by the musical tracks laid down

by DJ junior Mitch Young. At this round table discussion, exchange students on stage never knew what questions would be asked, but they always gave insight to the Xavier students and journalists.

“At schools in America, you can do sports with school, and that’s awesome because in Italy you can’t,” Italian Linn-Mar student Carolina Bologna said. “Iowa is not like New York so you don’t have much stuff to do, but you have sports and I think that is amazing.”

Another group shared their global experiences in the Library Media Center. The discussion circle was led by Xavier Student Senators. Their session was cut short for a break with refreshments including fruit snacks and bottled water provided by Student Senate.

The destination for the third group was Xavier’s world language classrooms. Students had the unique opportunity for face-to-face conversations between visiting students and American natives. Small groups were formed to share stories about riding to school on a bicycle or the finer points of politics.

Above: A panel speaks to a World Language classroom.

Right: One student showcases his soccer skills. Madsy Richards Photos.

Foreign exchange students spent their morning interacting with Xavier students. Then they were given the opportunity to get to know each other. The exchange students ventured into the Mercy Practice Gym for a lunch donated by Panera Bread. Friendly games of soccer, volleyball, and basketball quickly erupted after lunch. It was a day for celebrating unique cultures around the world. International Round Table also found a way to unite foreign exchange students, and allowed Xavier a glimpse at life outside of the United States.

Tyler Testin News Editor

Foreign Exchange Visitors

Student Life Assistant Morgan Ross

Xavier High School

One group of exchange students share their stories in the theater.

Kayla Torson Photo.

France Thomas Dupuy-Linn-Mar Tixiana Dupuy-Linn-Mar Germany Victoria Blinova-Washington Nicolas Cornely-Williamsburg Pia Dikof-Linn-Mar Sophia Jungblut-Xavier Michelle Kaempar-Jefferson Pauline Lehfeldt-Linn-Mar Ghana Esinam Ziddah-Williamsburg Honduras Denilson Martinez-Linn-Mar Italy Carolina Bologna-Linn-Mar Japan Mijuki Nakagawa-Jefferson Ayane Nakano-Kennedy Natsuka Sakata-Washington Mali Kadidia Teme-Mid-Prairie Norway Alexander Arnesen-Midland

Ingrid Husby-Xavier South Korea Doe Yeon Kim-Linn-Mar Spain Macarena Cisneros-Linn-Mar Pablo Penalba -Springville Sweden Amanda Hedlund-Lisbon Clara Lonnheim-Springville Taiwan Jia-Lin (Linda) ChenLisbon Tanzania Haitham Suleiman-Prairie Thailand Sasipapar Jongchansittho-LinnMar Ukraine Anastasiya Bonderenko-MidPrairie Uruguay Patricio Bianchi-Linn-Mar Yemen Saba Al Leswas-Kennedy

3 News Gems of Hope brightens lives of cancer patients

November 13, 2014

On November 15, this coming Saturday, Xavier senior Melanie Wertzberger and Kennedy senior Michele Miller will host the second annual Battle of 42nd Street for the Gems of Hope organization. This event will take place from 12-3 p.m. in the Kennedy High School Library. Students are encouraged to attend for at least a half hour.

Attendees’ names will get put into a drawing for over 85 gift cards and prizes. Students will create cards and bookmarks for cancer patients while eating food and having fun.

Gems of Hope is a non-profit organization that offers gifts of jewelry mounted on inspirational cards to cancer patients. The goal is to bring hope to them and their families. Gems of Hope was inspired by a nine-year-old named Tory, who is from Cedar Rapids. While her mother was in treatments for cancer, Tory would write daily notes of encouragement where her mother could see them.

Her mother realized how the love of Tory’s notes were valuable components of her recovery. She joined two friends, who were also affected by cancer, to set up this non-profit organization to bring hope to others.

Wertzberger started doing service for Gems of Hope by attending the

monthly workshops available.

“My favorite thing about Gems of Hope is the community, each of the volunteers have huge hearts,” Wertzberger said.

Since then, she has hosted her own workshops at her home and at Xavier, created the Battle of 42nd Street, and became the first member on the Gems of Hope Youth Advisory Board.

“The reason I give so much of my time to Gems of Hope is because it is fun!” Wertzberger said. “Service is very important to me because there are a lot of people in the world who need our help, and when you find service that you truly enjoy, that is when you have the greatest power to make a difference. I want to expose my classmates to how fun doing service can be!” Wertzberger has been a part of the Gems of Hope team for two and a half years.

“Being able to bring a little joy and hope to the patients and their families warms my heart,” Miller said. Miller and Wertzberger have been working on Gems of Hope events together for a little over a year.

Last year, at the first 42nd Street battle, students made 1,099 cards and 512 bookmarks in the three hour period. There were over 120 students who went to the event and

Senior Melanie Wertzberger (far right) participates in a Gems of Hope Event. Tory Brown Photo. over 80 of them were from Xavier.

This year, Wertzberger and Miller hope to have an even better turn out to keep giving hope to cancer patients in the area.

Piles of bookmarks and cards to boost the morale of cancer patients were created by members of the Gems of Hope Organization. Tory Brown Photo.

Tory Brown News Writer

Math Club competes in Great Plains Math League Xavier’s math team, consisting of senior Lucy Liu, junior Tina Wu, sophomores Megan Korbel and Chen Yi Wang, and Regis eighth grader Lauren Korbel, took second place for varsity teams in their division of the Great Plains Math League at the GPML competition held on November 1 at Waverly Shell-Rock. The Xavier team competed in the small school category, but scored higher than many teams from larger schools.

Xavier is a member of the Great Plains Math League.

Competitions are held monthly from October through March.

Student mathematicians solve problems to reach the statewide competition at Iowa City West High School on April 18. Last year, four Xavier students and one Regis student qualified for state.

The Xavier Math Club won first place in the small school division.

At the most recent competition, Tina Wu was the first Saint to qualify for this year’s state competition.

Wu scored 50 on the Target round (first place for 11th grade) and 85 on the Sprint (second place overall). Liu was second place out of 12th grade students in the Target Round and finished third in the Sprint. In the 10th grade category, Megan Korbel reached third place in both the Sprint and Target rounds. Her younger sister, Lauren Korbel, finished in first place for eighth graders in the Sprint and second place in the Target.

The Math Club was established

by Xavier students looking to have fun by participating in math competitions. According to Mrs. Barb Miltner, Math Club moderator, math competitions encourage the essential virtues of ingenuity and perseverance.

“I want to help students develop their problem solving skills and mature mathematically while having fun,” Mrs. Miltner said “I always enjoy math competitions,” Liu said. “It’s fun to compete against people who

share the same passion as you.”

In addition to the GPML, the Math Club competes in the American Mathematics Competition, Trig Star, and the USA Mathematical Talent Search.

If interested in joining the Math Club, please contact Mrs. Miltner.

Erin Drahozal News Writer

Sophomore Megan Korbel, junior Tina Wu, sophomore Chen Yi Wang, senior Lucy Liu, and 8th grader Lauren Korbel celebrate their high rankings at the GPML competition held November 1.

Mrs. Barb Miltner Photo.

4 Older brothers are the best

Opinion and wear heels (*clip-clops*).

These were common issues when my brothers were living at home. Now, they’re non-existent.

I dealt with brothers until eighth grade when Kevin graduated from Xavier. For 14 years, my brothers taught me the greatest things I could ever learn. I learned to fight back when they would steal my stuffed animals, to be persuasive when they tried to get me to be the fourth football player, and to be tough as I tried my hardest to be faster or stronger than them. “You have

Xavier High School

to eat your vegetables because you can’t just order mac and cheese on your first date.” Yes, I still remember that one. I was taught to put your name on your food because it’s all fair game.

And don’t throw the rules of etiquette out the window, which I apparently did and still haven’t heard the end of it. I’m still not sure what that even means.

The thing I appreciate most is their fierce protection of me.

While their plan was for me to not date until I turned 35 and at which point they’d send me to the convent, I have dated.

For those who don’t know, I have three older brothers: A n t h o ny, W i l l i a m , and Kevin.

Through the years, I’ve often been asked if I wished I had a sister or at least a younger sibling. My answer is always a resounding, “NO!” Having three older brothers has been the best thing in my life.

They have taught me so many things, whether they realize it or not. While they can be a pain in the butt, I know they will always be there for me.

Some people ask me now if I miss not having my brothers around all the time. The answer again is, “NO!” No more are the days of fighting for time in the bathroom or struggling to find something to eat because Kevin doesn’t understand portion control. I don’t have to fight for dominance in order to drive the Saturn (our good ole’ manual car) or hear them complain The Bauer children attempt to take a nice, Easter picture every time I actually act like a girl together. Photo Submitted.

Online on the road

Digital technology is one of the biggest m a r k e t s in today’s society and has a huge social and economic impact.

When thinking of long car rides, it is characterized with loud music, sleeping, and playing games of I spy. Society is already addicted to phones and iPads as it is, but now it may all be taken to another level. GMC is now offering all their cars with Wifi capabilities. This begs the question, is there a line that needs to be drawn? Let’s face it, it’s already been crossed.

At only $10 a month ($5 for OnStar users), you’re able to recieve 200 MB of data. The data plan provided by AT&T is said to give the user around 6.5 hours of Pandora streaming or 13 hours of surfing the internet.

GMC is also offering other plans for non-OnStar users including one gigabyte for $20, three gigs for $30, and five gigs for $50.

That being said, I can see a few positives with this wifi option including: if a person

has a young, loud kid, they can set them up with Netflix and enjoy a quiet car ride.

In the off chance you have a problem with your car, you can simply hop on the Wifi and call a tow truck or serviceman.

However, the question posed earlier comes up again.

Where should the line be drawn, and has it already been crossed? It is easier than ever to ignore family and friends by simply plugging in our headphones, listening to some Pandora, or getting on Twitter.

The wifi cars are promoting that even more. The Wifi in cars will just make human contact and talking to one another even less prevalent.

While the benefits may seem substantial, is it really worth even more loss of human contact? That’s up to society to decide, but wifi in the cars is a new concept that is bold and different, and I’m excited to see what people think about it.

As for me, I’ll be spending my holiday travel time talking to my family rather than being consumed by my iPad or phone.

Luke Koechner Sports Writer

Don’t bash on Kairos

W h a t a c t u a l l y happens on Kairos?

Is there really a “naked” Mass? Are you brainwashed?

As one of the first people in my junior class to go, those are a few questions I’ve been hearing a lot lately. I can’t tell a whole lot, but what I can say is that Kairos is the single, most meaningful experience I have had at Xavier so far, and attending was the best decision I have ever made.

Sadly, some people have been so negative and closed minded about it, I haven’t really gotten to enjoy my “Kaihigh.” It’s also unfortunate that there will be people who will choose not to go because they will listen to all the “Kairos bashers” and will miss out on an amazing experience.

The worst part about it is that those people sharing negative thoughts have never even gone on Kairos. How can you judge an experience when you know nothing about it? Are they just afraid of experiencing actual feelings or really knowing

Even though they rarely met the guy, they always told me he wasn’t worthy of me. And while I didn’t necessarily feel that way about the guys, my brothers taught me to never settle or be taken advantage of. I recall my mom informing me that when my brothers found out about one particular break-up, their response was, “Go get the crowbar; we’re gonna bash out some knees.”

They taught me how a guy needs to treat me and to always be with who makes me happy.

William says he feels old everytime I mention that I’m graduating this year.Without my brothers, I wouldn’t quite be who I am today. I love my brothers so much even if we don’t always see each other or get along or just say that. I love that we can get together after not seeing each other for months and act like our ages are single digit numbers again. I’m sorry for the hard-boiled eggs fiasco that one Easter I ate them. And I’m sorry for spilling the gravy that one Thanksgiving; I promise I won’t fumble it this year.

Katherine Bauer Editor-in-Cheif

the people they spend all weekend with? Why are they so threatened by this weekend that they will go out of their way to publicly denounce it?

Imagine our disappointment when we come home from an amazing weekend and a renewed sense of peace and happiness only to be faced with negative people attacking our experience. If they only knew what was going on in some of their classmates lives, then maybe they would think twice about being so disrespectful towards them. It’s crazy to think that the people I now consider family have been sitting next to me in a classroom for two years and I didn’t know a single thing about them. I feel that if we had more retreats like Kairos, there would be less depression and anxiety with teenagers.

We hear everyday about teens who take their own lives simply because they feel all alone. After Kairos, I know I am not alone. I not only have my friends, but I have my new family that I can turn to for help- I know they will always be there for me. Remember, Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.

Morgan Ross Student Life Assistant Editor

November 13, 2014 A three-year “fouryear experience”

Opinion I love the ocean. Therefore, I’m not a huge fan of living in Iowa. I love the state, but it’s not the right fit for me. Also, I didn’t feel very challenged in school. I would study and do homework like everyone else, but I would almost always get the A without any additional work or time put in. Although this was nice, I was tired of having it easy. I wanted to be challenged. All of these factors, in addition to many more, compelled me to make the decision for early graduation.

Now, I’m not advocating for all students to rush their

high school experience and graduate in three years. High school is a once in a lifetime experience, and we’re told it’s some of the best years of our lives. However, I am hoping that after you read this article, you’ll respect the decision to graduate early. Personally, I knew that I would be unhappy if I had to spend another year in Iowa. I made the decision for myself and my happiness.

Like all decisions, there were haters. I had upperclassmen tell me that I didn’t belong in their class or in their parking lot because I wasn’t a true senior.

“Are you the one graduating early?” I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been asked this question, but let’s just say it happens often enough that I have to restrain myself from replying with an eye roll or a snippy “yes.” Just to clarify, I am one of “those” junior/ senior mashup students. Along with two other students, I will be graduating this upcoming spring after attending Xavier for three years.

In 2013, my sister Devin became the first Xavier student to graduate in three years. When she began college in the fall, I saw a real change in her for the better.

She was infinitely happier than she had been in Iowa, and she loved her new school in Texas. However, Devin wasn’t my only motivation towards early graduation. For Adrienne Hayes preps for her graduation in the spring. example, I hate winter and Hayes will graduate after three years. Kellie Wagner Photo.

School shootings: how can we prevent them?

Two weeks ago, I was out enjoying a bite to eat with my brother John, along with my grandparents visiting from Indianapolis. He was on fall break for college and we decided to take a trip to the New Bo district for lunch so we could all catch up with one another. While we were walking out of the restaurant, John got a notification on his phone from CNN with breaking news that there was another school shooting. This time, two people were confirmed dead in a suburban Seattle high school. The shooter was a popular freshman who seemed like a normal kid, but that all changed on the fateful morning of October 24. A week after this event occurred, the number of fatalities had increased to four and many questions still remain. What would cause a freshman in high school to choose this type of violence?

According to CNN, 11 large

scale school shootings have taken place since 2009. In each individual tragedy, at least one victim was killed by knife or gun shot wounds and over half of these events culminated with the killer taking his own life.

Now, the intent of this article is not to try and ignite any controversy or scare students. However, it is extremely important that we realize the repercussions our actions can have on our community and our nation.

When I entered the halls of Xavier as a freshman, I was introduced to what I like to consider the “Xavier Way.” In short, this concept is a specific standard that encourages students to show love and compassion towards others in every aspect of life, expanding beyond the grounds of our school. The class of 2013 was a prime example of a group that embraced this mantra and put it into action on a consistent basis. This could be seen through their heartfelt commitment to service outside the school walls and their unwavering amount of school spirit for every sport and activity.

For me, Xavier has always been a welcoming and

enjoyable environment.

Whether it be my interactions with other students or positive relationships with teachers and staff, every day presents me with a new opportunity to grow and thrive as a Catholic individual.

But who am I to assume that everyone else has this same type of experience? What if the person I’m sitting right next to in class absolutely dreads coming to school because they are insecure or constantly bullied? That second question is something we all need to ponder carefully before making that next ill-advised remark or comment. Will we strive to make a difference in that person’s day or will we continue to simply “look the other way” when our moral bounds are tested? It is time to look deep within ourselves and determine whether or not we truly have made an effort to be inclusive and live out the faith.

With this being said, I am also not oblivious to the fact that it is nearly impossible to try and change the mindset of 750 individuals in our school all at once. It is not easy to go out of your way in order to make sure every person is filled with happiness and has a

5 Juniors told me on multiple occasions how stupid I was for graduating early because I was ruining my “high school experience.” Luckily, I was blessed with more support than hate. Nothing made me smile more than the students who wished me good luck with school next year or the students who told me how excited they are for me. In my eyes, those people were the true Saints in the hallway.

If you get anything out of my article, please remember that even if you don’t support early graduation, respect the decision of others to choose this course. Please remember to keep all of your negative energy to yourself; you’re not doing any good by sharing it with others. The decision to graduate early is a personal one to pursue dreams and achieve happiness.

Adrienne Hayes Opinion Writer

support group to help them get through their struggles. I get that. The main point I’m trying to establish here, though, is quite simple. Assuming and making irrational conclusions about someone’s personal life or background is never going to bring out a positive result for anyone involved. Human beings have their own ways of handling negative emotions and stress and it is our job as Xavier Saints to ensure that no one chooses to use these emotions in a violent way.

Now, you may be wondering where or how you can begin to implement this movement around our school. Here’s an idea: look up from this article and find someone around you that you aren’t accustomed to socializing with very often. Approach them with confidence,offer a compliment or start a conversation. You never know the difference it could make in their day.

This simple act is my ideal vision of the “Xavier Way”.

Daniel Richardson Sports Editor

Student Life

Xavier High School

6

Foreign Exchange Students This year, Xavier is lucky to have six foreign exchange students in a variety of grades. Check out what these students think of America in comparison with their own countries.

Chen ‘17 China

Ingrid ‘16 Norway

Mie ‘16 Denmark

Sophia ‘16 Germany

Name & Host Family

What are stereotypes of Americans & are they true?

Lucy ‘15 China

What is the weirdest thing about America?

Tina ‘16 China

What do you miss the most about your country?

Mie Stecher "Americans love guns and “You guys don’t use knives “I miss biking to school Andersen love themselves, which both often.” every day.” seem to be true.”

Karas Family Sophia Jungblut Marti Family

"Americans have a lot of national pride, which is true.”

“There are a lot of ceiling fans in America.”

“I miss the fresh bread from the bakeries back home.”

Chen Yi Wang Aunt Cindy Chen

"I assumed school would be much easier here, which is true.”

"It’s weird that you take written gym tests.”

"I miss my family and friends the most.”

Lucy Liu Her Parents

"Americans are fat which is not really true.”

"How much you guys all love football.”

"I miss my cats and the food from China the most.”

Ingrid Husby Feltman Family

"Americans are fat and lazy, which isn’t true.”

"I think it’s weird that you can drive at age 14.”

"I miss the water in Norway the most.”

Tina Wu Swenziski Family

"That a lot of people in America are really tall, which is not that true.”

"That you watch so many sports. Back home in China we only really watch basketball.”

“I miss my friends and the food back home.”

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

November 13, 2014

Jackson Joens & Kayla Torson “I like Kayla because she is super athletic and seems really nice.”

Beau Van Berkum & Sammi Noonan “I like Sammi because she is very outgoing.”

Peter Westlund & Katie Ives

Mini-Feature

7

Senior Crushes Are You a banana?

Because I think you’re appealing!

When Freshmen enter Xavier High School, they are greeted by a plethora of heart stopping seniors. This year’s Freshman class was bound to have a Senior crush. The Xpress set out to see who the Freshmen were crushing on this year.

“I like Katie because she followed me first on Instagram.”

Natalie Justice & Noah Clasen “I like Noah because he’s great at football.”

Hanna Bohrer & Camden Stovie

Grace Hiserote & Sanders Ferring

“I like Camden because he is hilarious.”

“I like Sanders because he’s funny and dedicated to football.”

Design By: Faith Bohrer and Mikayla Noonan Photos By: Mikayla Noonan and Paige Janney

8

Fea

November 13, 2014

“It’s not about the they work t

Page Design By Brady Hoffman and Jessica Driscoll In

Xavier is all about service. So much abo dedicates a whole school day to serving the comm goes to 165 houses and 10 different work sites th not have been possible withou

Gabe Lux ‘18 “My favorite part is seeing how much we can actually help those in need and seeing the differnce we made.”

Lauren Cooling ‘17 “It’s a great day to help others who can’t help themselves. My favorite part was talking to the people we helped.”

ature

Xavier High School

pieces, but how together.”

nformation Collected by Brylee Bastian

out service that, once a year, Xavier munity. Over 700 students participate. Xavier hroughout the Cedar Rapids area. This would out the 100 parent drivers.

Riley Dempsey ‘16 “My favorite part is giving back to the community because that is what it’s all about.”

Katie O’Rourke ‘15 “For my last community service day, it was the most rewarding.

The group I was with was so excited to serve. The smiles on residents faces made the hard work all worth it.”

9

Health & Lifestyle

10

Thanksgiving Feast

Xavier High School

Black Friday Beast

How to stay safe from weight gain during your thanksgiving feast and how to stay safe from all the Black Friday beasts.

RUN To A GuiltFree

Roast Turkey: 4 ounces 168 calories/serving run 1.7 miles*

Mashed potatoes: 3/4 cup 178 calories/serving Run 1.8 miles*

black friday Safety for you and your wallet

Your wallet Make a list gather information shop with another person cover the most ground by splitting up

Apple pie:

Thanksgiving

1 slice of pie 411 calories/ serving run 4.1 miles*

homemade gravy: 1/2 cup 67 calories/ serving run .7 miles*

yourself write down where you parked avoid being alone; shop in groups use credit cards to avoid cash theft carry a small bag close to your body Keep all purchases out of view in your car

*150-pound person running nine minutes per mile Page Design: Sam Valenta, Maddy Bailey and Hailey Justice. Information Provided By: Runner’s World Magazine, www.trustedchoice.com, www.allyou.com Pictures: http://pixabay.com, clipart.com.

A&E

November 13, 2014

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Art Department

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross has taken many months to create.

Beginning last fall, Ceramics 2 decided to take on the project, but it soon was passed onto Ceramics 3 when some staions did not turn out. During firing, some issues arose, leaving some of the stations that needed to be redone. Zach Determann ‘16 took it upon himself to create five of them this fall during Independent Study.

“Zach is a very meticulous person, perfect for something like this in order to have a united look throughout,” Mrs. Stephanie Wendt said. Ellie Burke ‘14 contributed by creating four stations before graduating last spring.

Art Club

Q&A with Mrs. Stephanie Wendt What makes Art Club unique?

“Art Club gives kids a creative outlet without the pressure of a grade. A great thing about Art Club is being able to see what others are doing, get inspired, and feel encouraged to try something new.”

Who is in Art Club?

“We have Lucy Liu as President and Kathleen Parrish as Vice-President.

Our Class Reps for sophomores are Belle Canney and Lizzy Novack. Our Class Rep for freshmen is Anne Marie Swiderski.”

Can I join Art Club?

“Anyone can join Art Club. You do not need to be in art to participate.”

Stations of the Cross created by Zach Determann ‘16 and Ellie Burke ‘14 will hang outside of the Monsignor Sodawasser Chapel.

Rachel Lampe A&E Co-Editor

Legally Blonde Takes the Stage This year’s fall musical,Legally Blonde, will be performed in the Regis-LaSalle Theater November 13-15 at 7 p.m.

Xavier’s theater department is excited to present this highly acclaimed, crowd favorite.

“It seems to be very popular.

I didn’t realize how wellknown it was until we started auditioning,” Xavier drama director Mike Cervantes said.

“A lot of kids came to try out Sophomore Jeff Daubitz, seniors Noah Maternach, and were already familiar with Noah Lauer, and Michaela Brown rehearse for the songs. We have a really, the upcoming show.

Katherine Bauer Photo. really great cast, and the kids are doing an incredible job. Homecoming issue of The to her ex-boyfriend that she It’s a show that they can relate Xpress. Legally Blonde has 52 can be “serious.” However, on to because of the characters’ students in the cast and 32 in her quest to win back Warner ages. The script is funny the crew. Even teachers are Huntington (played by senior and the music is great, too.” a part of this musical. There Noah Lauer), she realizes how Many Xavier students are eight teachers with parts. much her knowledge of law can are involved in each theater Senior Michaela Brown help people and she begins to production. Auditions were plays the lead role of Elle find her own way in the world. held back in September, and Woods, a seemingly vapid “I think that the musical is a list of the student cast and fashionista who gets into such a good show because crew can be found in the Harvard Law School to prove it plays off of such a popular

movie and everyone will enjoy it,” junior Kayla Fuller, who plays Margot, said. “I like being involved in theater programs because everyone here knows how to work hard and have fun. I also love getting to perform and entertain people with all my friends on stage.”

Adult tickets are $8 and student/senior tickets are $6 each.

Kathleen Parrish Photo Editor

A&E Xavier High School Dining with Donavin Poms Place in Solos 12

Adelita’s Mexican Grill is an authentic Mexican restaurant is relatively new to the Cedar Rapids area and is located on Blairs Ferry Road NE. The atmosphere in Adelita’s is, however, a shortfall due to its stale and generic Mexican restaurant feel. With soft Spanish music playing, chips and salsa on the table, and various sports playing on the TVs, you get the feeling that you could be in any Mexican restaurant.

However, if Mexican food is what you are hungry for, Adelita’s has you covered. Their extensive menu has nachos, tacos, quesadillas, chimichangas, and various other dishes. While there, I ordered the enchiladas verdes. For only $8.79 you get three chicken enchiladas topped with salsa verdes and a side of rice and beans. I am a huge fan of Mexican food, and I was certainly not disappointed! The food was brought out very quickly and tasted delicious. The only downside is that this dish comes in rather large proportions, so if you are looking to try some authentic Mexican desserts you may not have any room left.

Last, but not least, I move onto

service. The service experience at Adelita’s was average. I say this because, while there was nothing wrong with the service, there was not anything really too phenomenal about it either. The food came out quickly but the service was not anything to especially note.

In summary, Adelita’s Mexican Grill initially comes off as any other Mexican restaurant but the food excels! Adelita’s can assuredly satisfy nearly any Mexican food cravings one may have.

Ratings Atmosphere Food Service Overall

Donavin Wenger A&E Writer

The Xavier poms team had a great day at Stack the Stands and State Solo Contest. Their first competition was on October 25 at Prairie High School’s Stack the Stands. For senior Madison Recker, who has been on the pom squad all four years, this was the start of her last season on the team. As one of the captains for the team, she lead the girls tin their first competition.

Not only did the girls compete well as a team but also in the solo category. Around 80 girls from different high schools in the area competed with their solos. Freshman Mary Tallet received eighth place, junior Erin Foley received third place, and Recker received first place.

“I was very excited to win first place,” Recker said. “It was a fantastic start to my season, and it motivates me to keep on getting better.”

On November 1, poms took four girls to compete at the state solo competition. Recker, Foley, sophomore Anna Weih, and Tallet all received division I ratings.Weih got eleventh place, Recker got seventh place, and Foley led the team receiving third place above the 70 other girls in their category.

“Getting third at state was a really cool experience,” Foley said. “I’ve never placed that high before at a state competition, and it felt really good to do well after I had worked so hard for it.”

The Xavier poms team will continue their competition season on November 15. The girls will be traveling to Chicago to compete in North Shore UDA Competition.

Catie Locher A&E Writer

Tallet, Recker, Foley, and Weih pose with their awards. Photo Submitted.

Xavier Reacts: High School Tunes

Music has grown and changed throughout the years, and many people listen to different styles, but how different is it? We asked three students and three teachers to listen to each other’s favorite high school songs, without knowing ahead of time what the songs were, and tell us their reactions.

Mr. Goldsmith

Favorite Song: Pink Houses

by John Mellencamp

Kiana Stanek ‘17

Favorite Song: Love Me Harder by Ariana Grande

Mr. Goldsmith listened to Love Me Harder Do you know the song?

Mr. Keating

Mrs. Whitt

Favorite Song: Layla

by Eric Clapton

Favorite Song: Two Points for Honesty by Guster

Regis Breitbach ‘17 Favorite Song: Bohemian Rhapsody

by Queen

Mrs. Whitt listened to Bohemian Rhapsody Do you know the song?

Peyton Recker ‘16 Favorite Song: Blame

by Calvin Harris

Mr. Keating listened to Blame Do you know the song?

I have never heard it, but I figured it was called Love Me Harder.

I don’t remember the name, but I have heard it.

It sounds like “Blame it on the Night.”

How is music today different from when you were in high school?

What did you think of the song?

How is music today different from when you were in high school?

I don’t think it’s that different. There is so many kinds that you basically find one you’re drawn to and that’s what you go with.

I thought it was a really depressing song, but I really liked the instrumental part, I don’t think I liked the lyrics as much.

Emotion is a big part of music. I think it evokes emotion, it expresses emotion, and I think in that regard, there is a lot of the same.

Kiana Stanek listened to Pink Houses

Regis Breitbach listened to Two Points for Honesty

Peyton Recker listened to Layla

I know it’s by John Mellencamp, but I don’t know the title.

No, I have no idea what the song is.

Yes, I have heard the song before but I don’t remember the title.

Do you know the song?

Do you think music today is better or worse than it used to be?

I listen to new music more, but it is worse now because of auto-tuning.

Do you know the song?

Do you think music today is better or worse than it used to be?

I think music today is worse because they have a lot more bad lyrics in them, and most music is all from computers, and back then they didn’t have them.

Do you know the song?

What did you think of the song?

I thought it was good. It was nice and relaxing.

Kayla Thompson A&E Co-Editor

November 13, 2014

A&E

13 1330 Elmhurst Drive NE Cedar Rapids, Iowa

319-368-6460 www.mtmercy.edu

Be valued.

The values upon which the Sisters of Mercy founded this institution remain as relevant today as they were when we welcomed our first students more than 85 years ago.

We remain dedicated to service, driven to leadership and grounded in the pursuit of knowledge.

MONUEIR MOODIE ’16 Major: Marketing Minor: Economics Hometown: Westmoreland, Jamaica

It’s a legacy Mount Mercy University was born to uphold, a legacy we want you to be a part of.

Go to www.mtmercy.edu/visit today, to schedule a visit and see what Mount Mercy can offer you.

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 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 John Richardson

Tom and Dianna Richardson Wilma Robinson Brian and Dione Ross Greg and Tracy Ross Jack and Sharon Ross Joan Shriver Michael and Mary Schulte Christine Sparks Jerry Stanton Ted Steger Jim and Rita Testin Dave and Karen Thinnes Scott Thompson Wilma Thompson Anna Upah Caryl Valenta Daniel Vega Molly Vipond Tim and Kim Vipond Jody, Hillary, and Amelia VonAnsen Mike and Sue Waldron Gene Wardlaw Matt Wardlaw Lynn Weber Lyle and Shelly Wehr Samantha Wehr Jason and Tori Wenger Alexandria Westlund Jeff and Cheryl Westlund Anne White Terry Whitney JoAnn Willey Christi Williams Wendy Williams Mark and Maureen Zittergruen If you’re interested in receiving The Xpress at your home, please contact Mrs. Kellie Wagner for more information. kellie.wagner@xaviersaints.org

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Sports

Xavier High School

Students, faculty participate in road races around the Midwest

Senior players finish off successful season, careers

While the running season is over and a cold winter is approaching, fewer and fewer people are hitting the pavement outside.

However, brave souls are finishing up the fall running season with some final races. Seniors Claire and Jeanne Bouchard recently ran a half marathon (13.1 miles). The Bouchards decided to run the race as a family after being asked by their older sister Coleen (X10).The family trained three to four times a week to increase their mileage.

However, come race day, Coleen was not able to run because of a previous injury. Claire, Jeanne, and their mom still went through with the race. The race was on November 8 in Indianola, Iowa.

The goal was to simply finish the race, but Jeanne and Claire did well, running the race in 2 hours and 24 minutes and 2 hours and 22 minutes respectively.

“I thought it was easy,” Claire said.“I got an energy boost around mile 10 and ran faster than before.

It was easier than I expected.

My goal was to finish and that’s what I did, so I was happy.” The Bouchards plan to run another half marathon either this spring or next fall.

Teachers and administration have led by example by running half marathons and marathons.

With only a few leaves left on the most resilient trees, it has come to the time of year when all fall sports are wrapping up their final playoff games. For the Xavier volleyball team, last Tuesday marked the end of the season as well as the successful high school careers of the 2015 senior class.

After a summer spent training and preparing for the season, the Saints played 37 games in the last three months, notching a record of 18-19 overall, 3-5 in the conference, and highlighted by a decisive 3-0 first round victory over Fairfield.

Whether they are playing next year in college, one of the seven underclassmen who recorded a stat on varsity, or moving on to the next phase of their lives, they have each earned a few days off. While they will surely miss competing

Mrs. Bouchard, Jeanne, and Claire Bouchard (left to right) beam after their race. Photo submitted.

Mrs. Erica Kearns most recently ran a half marathon in the Twin Cities last week. Ms. Angela Olson runs the Minneapolis Marathon yearly. Her best time was 3 hours and 21 minutes. If you take that time and average it out between all 26.2 miles, her average time was 7 minutes and 40 seconds per mile.

“I like the challenge of the race and the goal of trying to improve my time,” Ms. Olson said.

Running around 18 marathons so far, she is a dedicated runner.

Whether running a 5K or a marathon, Saints have inspired one another to participate in these events.

Luke Koechner Sports Writer

with their teammates on a nightly basis, the memories of what they accomplished together as a team will stay with them for years to come.

“My favorite memories would have to be going to state as a sophomore and our annual team summer camp in Nebraska the last three years,” senior Madsy Richards said. “It was an amazing experience.”

Senior Kayla Torson led the team in kills with 323 of the team’s 778 (42%), followed by Madsy Richards and freshman Charlotte Richards who racked up 194 (25%) and 110 (14%) respectively. Also notably, Torson crossed the 1,200 career kills mark this season.

“My best advice for the returning players next year is don’t take your time for granted,” Torson said. “Realize how special this opportunity is, and make the most of it.”

Freshmen Ellie McDermott and Charlotte Richards, along with the rest of the Saints volleyball program, will look to do just that in the years to come.

Ryan Williams Sports Writer

The Saints huddle before a match this season. Ingrid Husby photo.

Who knows Morgan best? .

Coach Lilly Morgan’s Basketball Coach

Allison Jasper (‘15) Morgan’s Friend

Morgan Breitbach (‘15)

Iowa State

Iowa State

Iowa State

King James

Kayla Torson

Kayla Torson

Reading a good book

Arguing

Basketball

What is Morgan’s favorite movie?

Hoosiers

The Lion King

A Few Good Men

What is Morgan’s favorite food?

Spaghetti

Gluten free pretzels

Spaghetti

2

2

What is Morgan’s favorite sports team?

Who is Morgan’s favorite athlete?

What is Morgan’s favorite hobby?

Points:

Possible Points 5

Sports

November 13, 2014 Road to the dome continues

The Saints football team has overcome injury and tough competition in the 3A playoffs. The Saints won the division and were rewarded with home field advantage.

“Either way we would’ve gotten the job done, but home field advantage is nice,” junior linebacker Bryce Charipar said.

The Saints played Charles City in the first round of the 3A playoffs. They beat Charles City 35-6 on October 29.

In the second round of the 3A playoffs, Xavier played 8-3 Waverly-Shell Rock in a tough game, but the Saints prevailed with a 33-20 victory.

Waverly-Shell Rock took a toll on the Saints by injuring multiple players. Senior running back Jay Kortmeyer a had a season ending injury when he broke a rib and ruptured his spleen, which caused internal bleeding.

He averaged 5.5 yards per carry, has 1,174 rushing yards, and has

seven touchdowns on the year.

Senior full back and linebacker Nic Ekland fractured his fibula.

He was a threat on both offense and defense with 289 rushing yards and 28 tackles on the year.

With two key players on the sideline with injuries, the Saints played 10-2 West Delaware Manchester in the third round of the 3A playoffs. They had to dig deep into the roster to fill the vacant positions. The team fought hard to contain West Delaware quarterback Brent Lammers, but they defeated West Delaware 27-17 on November 3.

Xavier plays 12-0 Pella in the 3A semifinal at the UNI Dome on November 13.

Grant Gibney Sports Writer

15

Dickes, Culpepper take on state The cross country season wrapped up on November 1 at the state meet held in Fort Dodge.

Juniors Steven Culpepper and Jenny Dickes represented the Saints by qualifying as individuals.

Both runners had to battle the elements including gusty winds and cold temperatures.

Culpepper placed 97th with a time of 18:17.2 in 3.2 miles. Dickes crossed the finish line 29th with a time of 15:50.5 in 2.5 miles.

“I don’t want to blame the cold weather, but I also know I don’t run very well in cold temperatures,” Dickes said. “State wasn’t my best race, but I’m still happy about getting to run at it.”

This was Dickes’ second state meet in her high school career.

The girls’ cross country team qualified last year as a team and finished 12th in the state competition. She was the top runner for Xavier finishing with a time of 15:27.0.

Both runners are looking forward to next years’ team.

Led by Dickes, the girls’ have many returning varsity runners, including sophomores Emiko Coffey and Kiana Stanek.

“Next season my goal is for the whole team to qualify for state,” Dickes said. “I also want to finish in a better place individually.”

This was also Culpepper’s second state appearance in his high school career. As a freshman, the boys’ cross country team qualified as a team. In 2012, Culpepper finished 74th for the Saints with a time of 17:25.15.

The boys’ cross country team is returning many top runners, including Culpepper, junior Jonathon Francois, and sophomore Nick Koechner.

“My goal for next year is to get the team together over the summer and run so we can all make it to state and have a chance to win state,” Culpepper said. “We have the talent. We just need to put in the miles over the summer.”

K.J. Giles Assistant Sports Editor

Winker commits to Missouri Western University With the leaves falling off trees and temperatures dropping to frigid levels, a transition phase has begun all around the state of Iowa.

Fall sports are entering their final phases and winter sports are right around the corner. While senior basketball player Calvin Winker has no control over the change of climate, his performance on the court has allowed him to control his own destiny as he prepares for the transition from high school to college athletics. On October 28, Winker committed to Missouri Western University to Senior Calvin Winker makes play basketball for the Griffons. a layup during a game last He is extremely excited for season. Amanda Wymore photo. the opportunity to continue his career beyond high school. indoor football dome with training “The coaches and players and workout buildings for Missouri are great and the facilities are Western athletes to use. My incredible,” Winker said. “The sister is also less than two hours Kansas City Chiefs built a huge away from there, so she will be

able to come to all my games.”

Winker was Xavier’s second leading scorer, averaging 13 points and five rebounds per game last season. Listed at 6-foot5, he primarily plays the forward position. His ability to play in the post and beyond the arc has been a key component to the Saints’success over the last few seasons under Coach Ryan Luehrsmann. After a disappointing loss to Dubuque Wahlert last winter in the substate final, Winker and University of North Dakota committed Adam McDermott are hungry for revenge.

“We were eight points short from state last year, and nothing is going to stop us,” Winker said. “Wells Fargo is our goal this year,and we will do everything we can to get there.”

Upending the state champion Golden Eagles from Dubuque Wahlert will be no easy task. With

6-foot-7 forward Cordell Pemsl returning for his junior season, the Saints will have their hands full.

Pemsl committed to the University of Iowa for basketball last spring.

Along with Winker and McDermott, junior guard Mitchell Burger looks to continue being a valuable asset for the team this season. New teammate and senior Michael Mims will also be a key component in the backcourt, averaging 13.7 points per game last season.

If the Saints are able to develop consistent team chemistry and unselfish play, the dream of playing at Wells Fargo Arena could become a reality.

Daniel Richardson Sports Writer

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

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Last Week’s Pumpkin Winner!

-Mr. Ireland Marketing Director

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I am extremely thankful for Mr. Farrell because he is a great teacher and he knows how to teach people well.

-Elliot Hess ‘18

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Thanksgiving is a time for people to think of their blessings. Here is what Xavier students are thankful for.

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Page Design By: Jessica Fenske and Ellie Detweiler. Info: Anna Christianson, iClipart.

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I a m for real ly m s u rro y sch thank u o ful n o -Je my ds m l that e n n ife faith with rS . ig m on ‘15

16 November 13, 2014