Issuu

JAGWIRE Volume 27, Issue 1 | Sept. 30, 2026 | Mill Valley High School | Shawnee, Kansas

7:45

WED,SEP

DEVICE OUTLAW

How the state-wide phone ban has changed school for students

PAGE 5 NEWS: CLASS CUP

PAGE 6 FEATURE: WORLD CUP

PAGE 8 SPECIAL SECTION: PHONE BAN

PAGE 12 A&E: SUMMER MOVIES

02 TOC

Sep. 30, 2026

CONTENTS

ED NEWS FEATURE BEING 04 STAFF 05 06 CLASS CUP WORLD CUP PRESENT SPECIAL A&E OPINION SUMMER SECTION 08 PHONE BAN 12 MOVIES 13 RUINED BONDS OPINION I AM MV SPORTS TUCKER 14 LOST 15 16 APPLEBEE REHEIS MEANING Focusing on his work, junior Tucker Reheis dyes the leather brown. photo by johnny franco III

2026-27 JAGWIRE STAFF

Spectators watch as the school’s female tennis team competes during a meet Saturday, Sep. 19. photo by johnny franco III

Editors in Chief

Copy Editors

cal bierl

kennedy botkin

jason sweany

asher clement

avery curry

Staff

editor in chief editor in chief

copy editor copy editor

Online Editors in Chief Managing Editors

Photo Editor photo editor

emma cooper jacob hingst writer/photographer

writer/photographer

jacob lowry

kennedy botkin

natalia castillejos-ramírez

johnny franco III

natalia castillejos-ramirez

gracyn schreiber

caiden heater elliot scherzer

Editorial Policy

Professional Associations

Censorship Policy

online editor in chief online editor in chief

We value your opinions. If you wish to submit a column or a letter to the editor to the JagWire, you can do so by handing it in to a member of the staff or to the print journalism room (C101). Additionally, you may email any member of the staff with opinions, as well as tweet us at @millvalleynews. Anonymous content will not be accepted. Please understand that we have the right to edit all copy that runs in this publication.

@millvalleynews1 @MillValleyNews

managing editor

Kansas Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Education Association Journalism Educators of Metropolitan KC The JagWire earned a 2024 All-Kansas rating from KSPA and were 2023 NSPA Pacemaker finalists. It is also a member of the NSPA All-American Hall of Fame.

JagWire Office 5900 Monticello Road Shawnee, KS 66226 Phone: (913) 422-4351 Fax: (913) 422-4039 Email: jagwirenewspaper@gmail.com Adviser: Kathy Camarena kathy.camarena@usd232.org JagWire, a publication of Mill Valley

writer/photographer writer/photographer

The Kansas Student Publications Act guarantees the same rights for student journalists as are guaranteed for professional journalists. These rights include, but are not limited to, all First Amendment rights, including the rights of freedom of speech and the press, insofar as published items may not contain libelous, slanderous or obscene statements, may not incite or promote illegal conduct and may not cause a substantial disruption to normal school activity. This law also prevents censorship of any kind by the adviser, building or district administration.

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OCTOBER EVENTS 10

HOMECOMING DANCE

CHOIR CONCERT

HAUNTED HALLS

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HOMECOMING WEEK WHAT TO KNOW PARADE: WED., OCT. 7 @ 6:30 PM POWDER PUFF: AFTER PARADE ON FOOTBALL FIELD

FOOTBALL GAME: FRI., OCT. 9 CORONATION AT HALFTIME

HOMECOMING DANCE: SAT, OCT. 10, 8-10:30 PM. SPIRIT WEEK

OCT. 5 - Welcome to the Jungle Concert/Band Shirts

OCT. 6 - Tacky Tourist/ Safari OCT. 7 - Footbal vs. Futbol Football/Soccer Jerseys

OCT. 8 - Lion Sleeps Tonight Pajamas

OCT 9 - Class Colors

Freshman: Camo Sophomores: Flamingo (pink) Juniors: Black Panther (black) Seniors: Leopard Print Staff: MV Spirit Wear

04 STAFF EDITORIAL

PHONE FIASCO

design by elliot scherzer

Kansas has officially banned phones from bell to bell in schools

ouse Bill 2299 was signed into Kansas law March 19, 2026, effectively banning all personal devices, including Bluetooth devices and smartwatches, from being used during school hours. Consequently, the new school rules state that students must keep their devices away in a backpack from the start of school until the bell rings at the end of the day. In response to this law, approximately 70% of students stated in a JagWire survey of 166 students that they did not support the new phone ban. Although it is widely detested, students should take this chance to try to focus on the good consequences of the phone ban. In a study conducted by the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, participants who put their

phones in different rooms outperformed those who kept their phones in sight in a series of various concentration tests. They found that even if a phone is not actively being used to complete a task, just the mere presence of one can reduce cognitive capacity and functioning. Besides increasing academic performance, not having access to personal devices can also expand peer interaction. Instead of being on phones during seminar, students can use that time to connect with their classmates or complete assignments. Similarly, during lunch, students can also use that time to talk with their friends. Although students should try to focus on the positive aspects of the ban, they should still speak up about the drawbacks of it to bring awareness to the problems of the law. Not having access to phones makes it extremely difficult to reach parents during school hours. Also, many regulations have been placed on extracurricular groups’ social media platforms, making it harder for information to be spread to students. More extreme downsides include the issue of students’ safety in a school setting. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database,

Sep. 30, 2026

by jagwire staff

235 school shooting incidents were reported in 2025. Many students feel they need to have their phones on them in case of a dire emergency. 42% of students in the JagWire survey responded that they feel “unsafe” about not being able to keep their phones on their person. Having direct access to phones allows students to feel safer in school in case of drastic, dangerous events. It is important to remember that because it is new, people do not know for sure how schools and students are going to respond to the phone ban. There may be advantages, but there may also be disadvantages. Because of this, it is necessary to talk about the drawbacks of the new phone ban. The more conversations that are had, the more opportunities and solutions can be made to address the problems. Talking about the downsides of the ban allows for opportunities to amend it. It is important to have discussions like these in order to begin the plan for solutions. While creating these discussions, students should still use the sudden phone ban as a way to focus on the good in bad situations. Being adaptable allows for growth instead of staying stuck in unchangeable events. Value the extra time that allows bonding with friends. Live and relish in the moments that are happening presently instead of absentmindedly scrolling.

design by asher clement NEWS

CLASSES COMPETE

The new class cup system motivates students to show up for their school

by jacob hingst writer/photographer

he student council has brought back a competition for the upcoming school year known as the Class Cup, which aims to promote student attendance at school events. In the Class Cup, students can attend various games or activities offered by the school in exchange for points that are then counted at the end of the year. The Class Cup, which was ended due to difficulties upon returning from lockdown, aims to increase school spirit among students, which was especially important to student council member junior Elynne Strack. Strack proposed the event be brought back after noting a lackluster performance in school spirit last year. “It was really a lack of participation,” Strack said. “You go to football games, and people aren’t dressing up, or you go to pep assembly days, and nobody’s dressed up. It’s sad to see because we have a great school, and we want to represent it well.” This year, the Class Cup event will be run by the student council, which is different to pr years when the event was run by a previous student leadership club, before it became the Jaguar Leadership Corp. Media specialist and former sponsor of the leadership club Ashley Agre used to help run the previous Class Cup event. “School spirit increased in our school significantly due to the

Students from the school line up for all-you-can-eat pancakes for JLC during a varsity soccer game on Sep. 10. photo by johnny franco III

Class Cup,” Agre said. “Kids were going to sporting events, and they were staying. They knew what was happening in our school, and our school spirit was at an all-time high.” Points are earned by attending events and games and participating in spirit week. Students will check in with student council members at given events, who will then tally the total points when the event wraps up. At the end of the year, the grade with the highest amount of points will be granted a special reward from principal Gail Holder. The exact details of the reward have yet to be confirmed. Strack believes that the Class Cup will generate the extra spirit the school needs, which is a necessity for building connections. “[School spirit is] important to me because it builds a community around people,” Strack said. “You’ll have people to lean on that you may not have had before you went to this [event, before you] built that community.” Aside from being announced at lunch, information regarding each event will be posted on the school’s student council Instagram @mvhsjaguarstuco. Students are encouraged to follow if they would like to know more.

October 10 The homecoming dance will be held on Saturday

October 13 Volleyball senior night will be held on Tuesday at MV

October 20 Boys soccer will be held on Tuesday at MV

November 11, 12, 14, 15 Oklahoma, the fall musical, will be showing in the PAC

SPIRIT SCHEDULE Upcoming class cup events

06 FEATURE

Sep. 30, 2026

n 2018, after it was announced that the World Cup would occur in the United States, Mexico and Canada, Kansas City was announced as one of the 16 host cities for the World Cup, making history as the smallest metropolitan city to ever host a World Cup. The World Cup was not just good for promoting Kansas City. Sophomore Alexa Perez notes it served as an event to highlight soccer as an overall sport in the United States. “People don’t really talk much about [soccer] until the World Cup comes around,” Perez said. “It gives soccer and soccer players a lot of recognition, and it lets me share the sport that I love with everyone else.” Soccer coach Carlos Olivas believes that the World Cup is important because it also brings people together. “[The World Cup] is an event that people don’t realize how big it is,” Olivas said. “This is the only country in the world where it’s not the number one sport. It was great seeing all the cultures

and everybody coming together, uniting for the greatest sport in the world.” That unity was especially visible for fans who attended the games and activities the World Cup provided. For junior Omar Taghiyev, his most significant World Cup experience was when he attended the Argentina versus Algeria match hosted at Arrowhead Stadium back in June.

It was great seeing all the cultures and everybody coming together, uniting for the greatest sport in the world. soccer coach Carlos Olivas

“The match itself was probably one of the greatest sporting moments of my life,” Taghiyev said. “Just getting to be in the atmosphere of such a powerful

footballing nation as Argentina, with all of their passionate, loud fans and being able to witness the player that is Messi and the team around him is very special.” Outside of attending a match, Taghiyev devotedly followed the whole event through watching many games on television, some at the FIFA Fan Festival in Kansas City. One of his favorite parts of the World Cup as a whole is the social aspect that the audience got to engage in. “The fan festival was an enjoyable experience,” Taghiyev said. “It was a pretty good atmosphere; it wasn’t overly crowded. I’m glad that I was able to be there as well because it was certainly more energetic and exciting than watching [the games] at home by myself.” Now that the World Cup has officially ended, it leaves lots of room for the growth of soccer in the school and the city. Olivas said that he has already seen the growth of soccer during boys’ soccer tryouts. “Hopefully, [the large atten-

GAME DAY MATCHES Students who attended World Cup games in person

0:0

3:0

Sophomore Alexa Perez went to the Ecuador versus Curaçao game. “Remembering that I went to one of the games, and that I got the opportunity to experience the World Cup with my own eyes [was impactful],” Perez said. photo submitted by alexa perez

Junior Omar Taghiyev watched the Argentina versus Algeria game. “I am very happy that I was able to watch [Messi] live in the [game] this summer because it was his last time playing in it,” Taghiyev said. photo submitted by omar taghiyev

JW dance at tryouts] was from the impact of the World Cup and the excitement of it that carried over into [soccer everywhere],” Olivas said. ”Hopefully that means that more kids will come out and play soccer.” He also hopes that the newfound popularity affects students at the school that don’t play soccer. “At the most, [the growth] will probably mean that more kids will show up to watch the soccer games, which is good because we don’t usually have a very big crowd outside of our pre-existing soccer community,” Olivas said. Freshman Mason Hillner has also seen more interest from his friends watching soccer. “For people to see [the competitiveness of] soccer [is good],” Hillner said. “[Soccer is] a lot more toned down than in European countries. Everywhere else, people are crazy about soccer, just like how people are about football here.”

design by kennedy botkin

FEATURE

Sophomore Alexa Perez attended the World Cup in Kansas City with her family. photo submitted by alexa perez

Perez hopes she never forgets the unity of the world coming together into her city for the event. “A big part of it was the soccer games, but my favorite part was seeing a bunch of foreigners come to the U.S,” Perez said. “It

WONDERFUL WORLD CUP

was a really big culture shock for them. I know we’re in a difficult time right now, so I think everyone getting together [is something] I’ll definitely keep forever.”

by cal bierl editor in chief

by natalia castillejos-ramirez online editor in chief

Students and coaches attended the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City, Missouri

SPECIAL SECTION

TURNER BRUCE

Sep. 30, 2026

ASTUTE ADAPTATIONS

s the main form of technology that students once reListening to lied on for entertainment music can and communication is gone, help me many have adapted to the phone ban by finding new ways to comwith my pensate for these losses, includdrive to ing bringing iPods to listen to work on music or using Google Docs to school talk with their friends. For junior Adi Truta, commuassignments. nicating through social media was a common habit that she felt was important to her. “[Sending texts to my friends] makes me feel close to them,” Truta said. “[Even when] I didn’t get to see them throughout the day, I was still able to text them, [The MP3 and they could tell me things player] allows that happened and how their me to keep the day went, [even though I could] one thing not see them.” Without social media, Truta’s I used to do friend group has attempted to on my phone recreate their old communication in school; it methods by using a shared document on their school computers. helps me focus. “My friends have a Google Doc where we put pictures we took on Photo Booth [throughout the day], so that we can see each other without [our phones],” Truta said. ”It’s basically like Snapchat, but without Snapchat.” I find While some students have found alternatives to stay music to connected with their friends help me throughout the day, others are focus on finding ways to replace their enclass, and tertainment that they once relied on, such as music. I use [the Students such as Senior TurnCD player] er Bruce have turned to looking to calm me. for different devices to continue their habit of listening to music. “I was surprised about the phone ban. I wasn’t sure how they were going to enforce it, and I had already started coming up with ideas to try to go around it How students have used allowed by having maybe a CD player or music devices to adapt to the ban another technological device for

JACOB BERAN

ALEX ROCHA

ELECTRONIC EVOLUTIONS

by natalia castillejos-ramirez online editor in chief

entertainment during a school day,” Bruce said. However, carrying around a device such as a CD player does have its disadvantages. “It is a little difficult. It can fit in your pocket, but it can be a little tight sometimes, depending [on] what pants I’m wearing,” Bruce said. Though it feels different, Students like Junior Jacob Beran have continued to carry alternavitve devices around because of the benefits of listening to music. “I love music, and so having the phone ban, I couldn’t listen to it,” Beran said. “I know I can listen to it off the computer, but in the hallways and moving around, it’s kind of weird to lug around the open computer all the time. So I got an MP3 player. I thought it was a fun little project, and it allows me to listen to music forever.” The adjustments extended beyond communication and entertainment. Some classes are continuing to find new ways to adapt to complete tasks they once depended on their phones for. Senior band member Emerson Tran said students now rely on new physical materials. “[Before] I could have my music on my phone. Now I have to have my folder with the drill and my binder with my music,” Tran said, “It’s a lot to take out andI can’t always flip the pages, or it’s hard to look at, it’s a lot easier on my phone,” Tran said. Although adjusting to not having a phone had many drawbacks, finding ways to adapt has also been what has led students such as Truta to be able to see the unexpected positives that the phone ban does provide. “Not having my phone has made me more locked in at school—and we’ve found our own ways to stay connected any-

A BRIGHTER FUTURE by cal bierl editor in chief

ince the phone ban is now encoded into state law, everyone at the school must adapt to it as best they can for the present. However, both the good and the bad in the law can be recognized while flexibility about the change is maintained. Junior Matthew Peterson believes that for students to learn to deal with the changes that the new law has brought, the classroom environment has to be stimulating. When education becomes less interactive, the desire to open electronic devices is overpowering. “When classes are just lectures, it’s very easy to zone out, get bored, and the urge to whip out your phone is there,” Peterson said. “But if we make it engaging, with active learning, then that could make it easier for students to adapt.” Although students may currently struggle with feelings of boredom, another perspective shows that there might be longterm mental health benefits alongside the aimless feelings that the phone ban can bring. Psychology teacher Kirsten Jones recommends that students should fill the extra space and time gained from not having phones with social, brain nourishing behaviors. “Whether [the phone ban] helps you with your grades or not, your focus or not, it is going to allow your brain to experience more boredom, which is an incredibly good and important thing,” Jones said. “Creativity comes from a bored brain, so lean into that, enjoy that while you’re getting used to it, take the time and the opportunity to maybe

design by asher clement SPECIAL SECTION

not work on your homework more, but to talk to a neighbor or ask your teacher a question about their life.” Regardless of how the school community is changing now, the future of the phone ban is still uncertain in many ways. There is no way to currently know how long the legislation will remain

Creativity comes from a bored brain, so lean into that. Take the time and the opportunity to talk to a neighbor or ask your teacher a question. psychology teacher Kirsten Jones

in effect as-is, or how the school will be affected over time. But, when focusing on the current moment like Holder, there is an increasing amount of optimism and hopefulness.

“What I have observed in the first four weeks of school is that students are being more engaged with each other, talking with each other; I see them more engaged in the classroom,” Holder said. With the new law in effect, the year ahead will hold the future of the phone ban and its greater impact on students. Holder highlights the importance of continued discussion for the future of the phone ban. “The beauty is that there is an opportunity to have conversations about it,” Holder said. “And that’s what’s important.” As described by Jones, there can be optimism surrounding the phone ban’s eventual impact on the school, so students should embrace the new levels of connection that will be created by the limited access to personal devices. “We’ll just see deeper care for one another, and therefore deeper care for what Mill Valley does as a culture,” Jones said. I think more people will be able to invest in that, and again, with that will come a lot of happiness and more well-being within the walls of Mill Valley.”

Without their phones at hand, students commit to a conversation around the cafeteria table. photo by jason sweany

OPINION

design by emma cooper

MALNOURISHED MINDS W

hen I reflect back to my own childhood, I think of storybooks. I remember spending summer evenings engrossed in literary worlds with sleepy country towns, far-off jungles and bustling cities, my personal favorites being “Babar the Elephant” and “Frog and Toad”. Much of children’s media has devolved into what I can only describe as vapid content. With hyperstimulating and heavily monetized television replacing children’s books, early reading is declining. I believe our modern day is missing many of those old ink and wash worlds from my childhood. For instance, the popular kids’ cartoon “PAW Patrol” almost entirely exists as a large commercial advertisement for the show’s toy lines. In “PAW Patrol: The Movie”, when one of the characters asks how they can afford their new, expensive equipment,

Sep. 30, 2026

by jacob lowry

writer/photographer

JagWire reporter Jacob Lowry shares how he believes children’s media has shifted from having meaning and substance to pointless plots and worthless messages

they are literally answered with “officially licensed PAW Patrol merchandise, this stuff sells like hotcakes”. Along with a cast of static and unchanging characters, the show is entirely consumerist and lacks much of the clever wisdom that is crucial to sophisticated storytelling. Contrarily, Bill Watterson’s comic strip classic “Calvin and Hobbes” presents complex messages wrapped up in an appealing and whimsical style. The comic strips encourage the reader to slow down, breathe deep and appreciate the world around them as they accompany the duo on introspective walks through the forest. While they ride down the hills in their red wagon, Calvin asks Hobbes (and the reader) reflective questions about the human experience. Calvin explores the heights of his imagination with daydreaming fantasies and ad-

nation with daydreaming fantasies and adventurous journeys. We could all take a page out of Watterson’s book when it comes to living fantastically. Although one might argue that older children’s literature is outdated, their messages are often timeless. All of the traits and challenges shown in stories like these are not only important to the creation of quality children’s entertainment, but the creation of quality children. Complicated emotions and challenges are far more meaningful than those that are straightforward and hollow. One of the earliest contributors to a child’s character is the storytelling we share with them. Storybooks act as a safe way for children to experience a range of emotions and experiences, shaping how they connect with and interpret the world around them. Children deserve quality stories that treat them with respect and intelligence, not passivity and consumerism.

12 A&E

Survey of 166 students

OBSESSION

Premiered: Sep. 5, 2026 Budget: $750,000 Gross: $512 million worldwide

photos by avery curry

47%

of students

have watched “Obsession”

Source Box Office Mojo

design by kennedy botkin

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY

Premiered: July 27, 2026 Budget: $225 million Gross: $2.41 billion worldwide

Sep. 30, 2026

62%

of students

have watched the new “Spider-Man”

BRAND NEW DAY

FRESHMAN KAMRIE OMEHIA

“I think it was a pretty good watch. The most impactful scene [for me] was when Bear asked Ian for help, and he took it as a joke.”

BACKROOMS

Premiered: May 7, 2026 Budget: $10 million Gross: $357 million worldwide

A24

Backrooms

42%

of students

have watched “Backrooms”

SOPHOMORE JAMARI SCHULER “I would rate it a 8.5 out of 10. The Spiderman series is really good, filled with action and they have a good plot.”

THE ODYSSEY

Premiered:July 6, 2026 Budget: $250 million Gross: $1.68 billion worldwide

35%

of students

have watched “The Odyssey”

In Theaters 05.29.26

FRESHMAN JUDE ROOS

“I would rate the it a 9.5 out of ten. I think the [movie] shows what copying things over and over again can do to someone, and how it can break them.”

SOPHOMORE MACKENZIE KLEINSCHMIDT

“I think it was a good movie. I read parts of the Odyssey, so it was very interesting to see what they did and didn’t do.”

SUMMER FEATURE

by elliot scherzer Students enjoyed popular movies that came out during the summer writer/photographer

design by caiden heater

RUINED ROMANCE

OPINION

by avery curry copy-editor

JagWire copy-editor Avery Curry believes social media has damaged teen romance

ove works in mysterious ways. That’s something we’ve all been told growing up. As a kid, I watched a wide assortment of movies depicting romance in the most endearing clichés: two strangers spill a stack of papers after bumping into each other on the street, or the classic airport terminal chase before a lover leaves their home city and not to mention the ageless kissing-in-the rain trope after a dramatic confession. I always wondered how romance would play out in my own life, whether it would be as spectacular as shown in the movies or a bit more meaningfully subtle. But living in this modern age of snap scores, “situationships” and whatever “microcheating” is, I’ve realized I may not get the fairy-tale relationship

I’ve desired since youth. Instead, I’ve come to the slow realization that teen romance is dead, and social media is the culprit. With the vast capabilities of the internet, this innovation opens up windows to view into the lives of couples. And while it can be inferred that this side of the internet only exposes the negative aspects of relationships, there are many facts and statistics that can back up my claim. Research done by The Ohio State University shows that impact and engagement are reduced when socializing online, as compared to interacting in the physical presence of others, along with positive emotional responses. In relationships, interpersonal connection through social media outlets is too convenient. You

can talk to 50 different people in the span of five minutes without leaving the comfort of your own bed. This makes people complacent, therefore making dating low-effort. Also, stacked with an enormous dating pool, people no longer retain as much fear of rejection, resulting in low-quality connections that are short-term at best. Although phones can be essential when communicating in long distance relationships, it still cannot fully supplement the connection of those who can see each other every day. Our screens create boundaries within relationships that separate couples and break trust. In order to break past these boundaries, we must put our phones down and engage in relationships face-to-face.

LASTING LEGACY photo by jason sweany

design by emma cooper

SPORTS

The schools fan favorite football coach Joel Applebee has been inducted by caiden heater into the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame writer/photographer

LIFE-LONG WORK

Timeline of Applebee’s journey, leading up to being inducted into the hall of fame 2002 Graduated from Kansas State University 2002-2004 Assistant and defensive coordinator at Junction City Highscool 2004-2006 Coached at Russell Highschool 2006-2010 Assistant coached at Derby Highschool

2010 Hired at Mill Valley, became Head Coach

2010-2015 Applebee changed the game of football for Mill Valley 2015, 2016, 2019,

ead Coach Joel Applebee was inducted into the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association (GKCFCA) Hall of Fame June 5, 2026 during halftime of the GKCFCA All-Star Game. The association only inducts about six people into the Hall of Fame a year, and they have strict requirements for what coaches can be accepted into the Hall of Fame. The requirements to be inducted into the HOF include serving a minimum of 15 years as a head coach in the Greater Kansas City area (or 20 years between head and assistant coaches) and earning an exceptional win-loss record at districts, conferences and championships. Applebee has never considered being inducted into the Hall of Fame despite winning seven Kansas Class 5A State Football Championships. On top of that, in the 16 years Applebee has been head coach, he has led the team to an overall record of 14343. “There’s some great coaches that are in that (HOF), some peo-

ple that I’ve looked up to for years, people you want to be like,” Applebee said. Linebacker and senior Ryder Farley believes Applebee’s achievements make him the perfect candidate to be inducted. “I think no one deserves it more, and everything speaks for itself,” Farley said. “ Yo u ’ v e seen the success. All the state championships, everyone knows that.” Across his 16 years so far, Applebee has shaped and formed the football team into a dominant force, and it is quite evident in all the trophies and titles that they have brought home under him.

2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Mill Valley won 7 state championships under his coaching 2026 Applebee inducted into the Greater Kansas City Coaches Hall of Fame and is coaching his 16th season at Mill Valley Source: Kstatesports.com

Head football coach Joel Applebee gives the varsity team a speech after beating Mannhattan High School 21-7, Friday, Sep. 11. photo by emma cooper

JW I AM MV is a series that showcases students at the school and their unique intrest, hobbies and talents

MV design by emma cooper I AM MV

I AM by jacob hingst writer/photographer

TUCKER REHEIS

rom star spangled knife sheaths to rustic cowboy belts, junior Tucker Reheis produces leather goods from his very own home for both himself and others. He was introduced to the activ

-ity about a year ago through social media. “I saw things on TikTok and the cool stuff that I wanted to make,” Reheis said. “I took initiative, went out and bought all the stuff a year ago and started making stuff.” Reheis sources his leather from American Leatherworks in Leavenworth and uses a variety of tools and materials to create his products. He predominantly makes knife sheaths and belts. Reheis says that he’s stuck with the activity so long because it provides a meditative way to pass the time. “It’s something I really enjoy and feel calmed by,” Reheis said. “It’s just something I can sit down in my basement and work on, not thinking or anything, just listening to mu-

sic and having chill time for myself,”. Aside from just making items for himself, Reheis also takes orders. He’s made about $120 in or ders now, and he’d be open to expansion beyond small-scale local deliveries. “Right now, I just distribute by hand,” Reheis said. “So I’ll meet up somewhere to give people their items that they have, since it’s just friends and family right now. But after expanding, I’d be open to shipping and things like that.” Customer reviews have been glowing. Senior Lyla Covell ordered a knife sheath from Reheis, and was left very impressed by the care he puts into his craft. “It was very well taken care of,” Covell said. “The design of it is an American flag with my initials on it. I just told him to make it based on what my personality is. I really like our country, [hence] the American flag.”

HANDCRAFTED

Information about the pieces Reheis has made What is it: knife sheath

What is it: Dual ``holster style knife sheaths

How long it took to make: 6 hours

How long it took to make: 8 hours

What is it made of: Elephant skin and full grain vegtan

What is it made of: Full grain vegtan