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MARCH 2022

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WestminsterChristianAcademy

STAFF

MANAGING EDITOR IN CHIEF MAGGIE LINDSTROM, SENIOR

Students

EDITOR: 800 SPORTING BROOKE HIGHMARK, SENIOR

CONTENT EDITOR EMMA HARRIS, SENIOR

Serving

BROADCAST LEADER IZZY TROST, SENIOR

BROADCAST LEADER ABBY JOHLERT, SENIOR

Students

BROADCAST LEADER TRISTON SCALES, SENIOR

BROADCAST LEADER ANNA FREGENE, SENIOR

FEATURE EDITOR

PAWPRINT LIAISON

ELLIE JONES, SENIOR

HOPE LINAM, SENIOR

Staff Writer

STAFF WRITER

RILEY HEIRONIMUS, SENIOR

STAFF WRITER

ALEX WITTENAUER, SENIOR

STAFF WRITER

ANNA GRACE LIKES, JUNIOR

SYDNEY BRADLEY, JUNIOR

ALLI BISHOP, JUNIOR

MIA SCHEULEN, JUNIOR

AMILA PIERIS, SOPHO-

DREW CAHILL, SOPHOMORE

EVAN KOHN, SENIOR

JACOB BROWN, SENIOR

ELIJAH SCHMIDT, FRESH-

LUCY KNERR, SOPHO-

WILL DANA, SOPHOMORE

WILLIAM JINKINS,

LUKE RYAN, JUNIOR

SAYVA PHILIPS , SENIOR

NOLAN JONES, SENIOR

MADDOX ROSENBERG, SOPHO-

POPPY MCCAULEY, SOPHOMORE

MEGAN MOREY, SENIOR

LAUREN BORCHELT, SENIOR

CHRISTINA ENGLISH, JUNIOR

TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE

THE PRESSURE EPIDEMIC PG. 6 CATH YOU LATER, KOALAS? PG. 9 COLLEGE BOARD CONTROLS YOU PG. 11 AT DOOM’S DOORSTEP PG. 13

OPINION STOP TOLERATING EVERYTHING PG. 7 BLACK HISTORY FOR ALL PG. 8 STARVING TO BE BARBIE PG. 10 STAYIN’ ALIVE PG. 12 YOU NEED MEDICATION TO MAKE YOU OKAY? THAT’S OKAY. PG. 14-15

SPORTING A RIDE TO REMEMBER PG. 17 TEAM MANAGERS OR TEAM HYPEMEN? PG. 18 CATS DEMOLISH THE RED DEVILS PG. 29 THE GLUE GUY PG. 20 NOLAN JONES CONTINUES TO SHINE PG. 21 SCHONHOFF BUILDS EXCELLENCE PG. 22 GIRLS BASKETBALL SENIOR NIGHT PG. 22 CATS WIN ON SENIOR NIGHT PG. 24

STAFF ED A Prayer For Ukraine Here at 800 News, our hearts fully go out to the people in ukraine. So we would like to use this part to pray really quickly for Ukraine and their safety. Dear Lord, we pray for the people of Ukraine and for the leaders in this moment. we pray for their safety and wisdom on how to handle this whole situation. Lord, we pray that you will protect the civilians and the families that are stuck in Ukraine. We pray for the people of Russia as well to protect them from their leaders mistakes. Lord, also gvie the people of the United States wisdom on how to step in and handle this. Lord we also pray for the children speciﬁcally in Ukraine that you will protect them from the evils around them and help the people who are trying to get them out be able to remove them. We pray for countries to help hosue the people who need a safe haven for this time being. Finally, Lord we pray for your will to be done in this terrible situation. Amen. Hopefully this situation is resolved faster then we can believe and that the Lord will in time show his plan for this.

From 800 news

STAFF ED

THE “PRESSURE EPIDEMIC”

Why students could be struggling academically, socially, and emotionally.

LUCY KNERR Staff Member

Here’s a crazy number for you: youth athletics grossed over 19.2 billion dollars in the year 2019 alone. Even crazier, college tuition prices have increased over 231% as recorded in 2020. As a result of both, the competition for scholarships, recognition and success has become the main motivation for students to excel in each area that they may be integrated in. These numbers are provide by collegeboard.org While motivation for success is not necessarily a bad thing, it is the toxicity that this motivation has taken on that is leaving kids drained and subdued. The bar has been set, and for those who want to be successful, they must go above and beyond. The pressure that society, economic or otherwise, has put on children is now crushing them, which will only continue to get worse as time goes on.

issue of student loans and college tuition being raised to unbelievable heights, the lengths to which that students need to achieve to obtain a scholarship is becoming ridiculous. Five to six AP classes, varsity sports and other enriching extracurriculars still usually fall short for many college scholarships and big name universities. On top of this, even if the individual is able to earn said scholarships or get into a big name school, the expectations within the school itself. While trying to load up resumes with as many impressive achievements as possible, many are also struggling with anxiety issues as a result of these expectations. 40 million people or 18.1% of the U.S’s population over the age of 18 suffers from some kind of anxiety disorder, and that is excluding teens under the age of 18. Nearly 1 in 3 children ages 13-18 will be affected by some kind of anxiety disorder in their lifetime. These numbers are provide by adaa.org

Ignoring the economic pressure brought about by inflation and student debt, the social, athletic, and academic pressures are continuing to rise. It is then worsening the anxiety in teens who are aiming for the collegiate level. With the normalization of social media for kids ages as young as 10, the “pressure and expectations being put on teens in the 21st century” pressure to have a picture perfect social life is Image by: Lucy Knerr now to be put on display for Counseling at anyone and everyone to see.

During the winter season there is also an increase in S.A.D, otherwise known as seasonal affective disorder. This can cause a lack of motivation in hundreds of students while still being expected to raise themselves to the standards of which the era has set. While it may not be a staggering amount of students, the pressure of all the things mentioned still affects enough students for the issue to be quite noticeable.

Westminster has become one of the most important positions being held at the school as of recent. From my experience most kids are terribly overwhelmed with the workload in addition to all of the other expectations they must uphold. And this “pressure epidemic” is not only being seen at Westminster, it can be seen all over the country, heck, all over Along with the pitfalls of social media and the ever present the world! If these unrealistic expectations continue to affect pressure to bring forward your “best self” online, athletics students’ mental and physical health, the effects on future and academics have also become overly competitive to the point where students are working over their capacity in order generations will be irreversible. Teachers and students alike to appease the rising standards of colleges and universities. must begin to have grace on each other in order to make a change in this epidemic. After worrying about social presentations, there is then the Platforms like Instagram and Snapchat have made every single moment of every single person’s life eligible to be shared to everyone all the time. As such, sharing one’s life on the internet is basically expected.

STOP TOLERATING EVERYTHING

MADDOX ROSENBERG Staff Writer

Tolerance has been a very apparent concept ever since 1992, when it started being taught in schools. Yourdictionary.com defines tolerance as being patient, understanding and accepting of anything different, and they define intolerance as opposed to the inclusion or participation of those different from oneself, especially those of a different racial, ethnic, or social background. More recently, society has taken the definition of tolerance too literal. Our society pushes accepting everything different no matter what, even if it should not be accepted. For example, if someone reeked of BO, someone should say something. Tolerance is getting to the point of being dishonest. Saying someone is healthy when they are obese is tolerating their bad eating habits, which can hurt them over time. First, students were taught at a young age that being kind is saying nice things and including people. They were even forced to include each other at recess, and other activities. This has definitely decreased the number of kids excluded, but it has created other problems. Problems come up in relationships, of all areas, of being dishonest to be kind. Most of the time being honest is the kind thing in the end. One can see this in constructive criticism. Constructive criticism is completely pointless if you do not tell the truth. This is the same with relationships. There is no point being friends with people, if you cannot be honest with them. I see this a lot with friendships between girls at WCA. People will compliment each other when someone is there, but as soon as that person is gone there are insults thrown around. This forced tolerance has made people think there is an obligation to be friends with everyone.

Red is upset and the two-faced people around him are “conforting” him. Illistrated By: Emma Harris

Instead of tolerance being drilled into our heads since birth, being honest should be. We were taught that honesty is the best policy, but being “kind” trumps honesty. Our society will grow closer together with stronger bonds if we choose to be honest when it comes to tolerance. One does not need to tolerate the bad behavior of someone, and have the right to say something.

I decided to conduct a survey of 19 Westminster students. Asking if they would rather have everyone be honest all the time, or kind all the time. The question was worded wrong because it made it seem that you cannot be kind when being honest and vice versa. Despite this, 13 students chose for It seems that people are too scared to be called out for intoler- everyone to be honest all the time, and 6 students chose ance, that they over-tolerate bad behavior. They will tolerate kindness. I would make the argument that being honest is kind, but what I was trying to do is show the split of people people who are toxic, who are troubled, and bad influences because we were taught to always be kind to people. Again who would want pure honesty over overly kindness. Everythere is no obligation to be friends with everyone even though one being overly kind wouldn’t mean they would lie all the time to be nice, but everytime they would be in a situation of we were taught to be. You are allowed to not talk to people honesty opposing the kind thing to say, they would say the you do not like, because in reality if you keep people who only bring you down around, it won’t be good. I have seen it kind thing. It is the same thing with honesty. Being honest all the time does not mean you cannot be kind, but it does with many great people get stressed out, or mentally fed up mean that when the time comes you will say the honest with all the drama one person causes. People need to start being honest to people they are close to. If your friend group thing every time. hung out together but did not invite one person, be honest to them. Tell them straight up why. It could be because they are To advance as a society, we must start to be more honest with each other and not tolerate so much bad behavior. Bebeing annoying, or because the host’s mother did not invite them. Finding out why you were really excluded is more hurt- ing honest will strengthen our relationships with each other. People will become real. ful than being told the truth to your face in my perspective.

BLACK HISTORY FOR ALL SAYVA PHILLIPS Staff Writer

How can someone celebrate or support a celebration that isn’t for them? Is that even possible without it coming off as disrespectful or cultural appropriation? Yes, of course it is possible and very comforting for those who the celebration is meant for. Black History Month is a celebration for black people of all shades. The reason it is celebrated is to recognize the work and achievements of all our black leaders and provide a reminder of all the black people who risked their lives for us today. So how exactly can white allies celebrate and honor this month with black people in their area? From a black perspective it is understandable to acknowledge and have faith and pride about the future even after 200 plus years of oppression. White allies can also participate in celebrating black empowerment by helping speak out against racism and adding to the strength of black legacies. It is important that the white community is aware of what is going on when it comes to racism and injustice within the black community. Being “woke” of what is happening and not only speaking out but also using your actions to put a stop to it.

be supporting black owned businesses and giving to those communities who don’t receive as much attention as popular buinesses do. There are many other ways white allies could help but instead of giving out the ideas, as a white ally, approach black friends and ask what could be done to help, support and stand out. Not only should it be this month to finally speak up and speak out but any time there is slight inequality happening in the area. Make every month a black history month where one can educate themselves and do their part for the black people in the community. It can happen but it must start now.

Rather than just staying even with the surface, attempt to dig deeper. Instead of being educated about Martin Luther King Jr. or what Abraham Lincoln attempted to do, try understanding their motive behind the things they did. Give an insight to your family, friends, or children about the black excellence that doesn’t get talked about much. Not just in the past but the black pride and achievements that are occuring today. Yes, we know Harriet Tubman led the slaves through the underground railroad and that will forever be a legaice and a difference but did we know that Kamala harris is the first Black, Asian American woman Vice President, Amanda Gorman, the youngest poet in U.S History, or even Rashida Jones, first black woman excutive to run a television news network. There is so much black excellence happening today that our allies can speak up about. We need to stop avoiding the, “Oh I’m not racist because my best friend is black” comment. This makes it seem as if the only reason for not being racist is because of that one black friend. Even though it might be true that they’re not racist it still gives no progress into the unjust racial system. Similar to hanging around people who use racial slurs normally or spending money in predominantly white areas. That doesn’t make a white ally racist but just how the Lauren Borchelt joins hands with Sayva Phillips to say they are in this algorithm works and by default they are supporting a growing together. Photo by Sayva Phillips system. Another thing that our white allies could do would

CATCH YOU LATER, KOALAS?

CHRISTINA ENGLISH Staff Writer

Another big reason as to why the koala’s population is decreasing is because of land clearing. Nrcs.usda.gov defines When someone thinks of things that symbolize Australia, land clearing as “removing trees, stumps, and other vegetathey will most likely think of at least three things: kangaroos, tion from wooded areas.” As time goes by, society advancThe Sydney Opera house, and koalas. Something that not a es, and this means that the expansion of public and private huge group of people know is that koalas have been on the properties is inevitable. Treisman mentions how “the World decline, and the Australian government has been trying to do Wildlife Fund Australia [is] noting that it has increased 13everything they can to raise their numbers back up. However, fold in New South Wales since the government weakened it seems that their efforts have come to nothing. native vegetation laws in 2016.” Just recently, on February 11, the Australian government announced that they have changed the status of koalas from vulnerable to endangered in eastern Australia. Lisa Cox of theguardian.com talked about the benefit of having the koalas be an endangered-level-status “It lowers the threshold at which a development must be assessed under national laws for potentially significant impacts on the species.” This also brings awareness to others about how terrible the situation with the koalas really is. According to Rachel Treisman from npr.org, “Koala populations in Queensland and New South Wales [...] were recently found to have decreased by 50% or more in the last two decades.” This was due to the rapidly changing weather and the destruction that people have caused to their habitat. She went on to say that “the country lost 30% of its total koala population between 2018 and 2021, according to a report from the Australian Koala Foundation.”

Right now, there is a recovery plan in the works, but it took over a decade for this to happen. Cox comments that “no Australian government had developed one, making it one of almost 200 recovery plans for Australia’s threatened species and habitats that were overdue.” This is a big problem. If the Australian government isn’t taking quick enough action to stop the declining of koalas, then they are going to go extinct in the wild. It honestly seems as if the Australian government does not even care about protecting the koalas at all, which is sad. A big part of Australia is going to be gone if nothing is going to be done about it. A way that people can help out with the decreasing population of the koalas is to bring awareness to the situation and to donate to charities that help with the koala population. Livingwithkoalas.com provides a list of different charities and organizations that deal with the declining koala population. Some of the organizations listed are the Australian Koala Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund — Australia, and Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors.

A big reason as to why the population declined by 30% between 2018 and 2021 was because of the bush fires that took place between 2019 and 2020. The bush fires burned Hopefully, through these different organizations, the koala’s hundreds and thousands of acres of land to a crisp, with a big habitat can be restored, and the population of the koalas can piece of that land being the habitat of the koalas. Treisman increase to stability. reported that “some 60,000 koalas were ‘killed, injured, or affected in some way’ by the fires, according to a report commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund Australia.”

There are multiple causes that have led to the decreasing population of koalas in the wild. Image by: Christina English

STARVING TO BE BARBIE

EMMA HARRIS CONTENT EDITOR

We all know the infamous figure of the doll with many jobs, Barbie. The preppy doll has been estimated to have sold over a billion times in over 150 countries, and Mattel, the maker, claims that three barbies are sold every second. However, this infamous doll leaves children with negative psychological effects. Since its first appearance in 1959, Barbie has been taking down young girls’ body confidence. According to Medical Daily, if Barbie were real she would not be able to walk on two legs, but would have to resort to crawling due to the combinations of her height, weight, and ridiculous proportions. Her measurements would be 38-18-34, which is, no need to say, much thinner than the 41-34-43 average. Even the new Barbie doll has absurd proportions, with only about one in 100,000 women living up to the expectations she sets. According to Psychology Today, body image develops between the ages of six and eleven, the age many children play with the impossibly shaped barbie. A study published in an issue of Body Image looked at girls ages 6 to 8. One group of girls played with either traditional Barbie dolls or fuller-figured Tracy dolls. Whether the dolls wore swimsuits or more modest clothing, the girls who played with the Barbies displayed a higher dissatisfaction in their own bodies. Conversely, the girls who played with the curvier dolls experienced higher body positivity. As a safety measure, researchers had a second group of girls play with dolls with either thin and full figures that weren’t Barbie or Tracy, dressed modestly or in swimsuits as well. This group had the same reaction, feeling more insecure about their own bodies when they played with the impossibly skinny dolls than those who played with the fuller figured dolls. These negative body images can lead to eating disorders like anorexia or binge eating. Once the damage was done, it couldn’t be reversed. According to Psychology Today, even if children were given realistic dolls afterwards, playing with them did not counteract the effects playing with the deadly skinny dolls created. Interestingly, giving a child both a slim doll and a bigger

Barbie effects young girls’ self-esteem. Illustration by: Emma Harris

doll will not help with their body image, as most young girls will prefer the skinnier Barbie, a study conducted by Science Direct found. When given a classic Barbie and a curvy Barbie, they would usually choose the classic Barbie. However, if I’m going to call out Barbie, I must call out other doll makers too. While Barbie now has dolls rocking body types of more realistic sizes (though it should be noted that the new “curvy” barbie is still thinner than the average woman and the original Barbie is still manufactured as well), many other dolls have even more unrealistic body types than Barbie ever did. Monster High dolls would have a BMI below 10, which is literally unable to support life. GI Joe dolls have nearly impossible biceps– some dolls marketed towards boys have biceps bigger than their heads. Bratz dolls would have fifteen inch waists if they were real, according to the article “Leave Barbie Alone! She’s Not the Skinniest Doll on the Block”. It seems one of the only realistically proportioned dolls is the American Girl doll. Barbie has been around for nearly 63 years, and in those years it has negatively impacted millions of young girls, subconsciously teaching them that they must match their impossible bodies. So before you purchase a Barbie for your child, think twice about your purchase.

STAYIN ALIVE

ELLIE JONES Features Editor

This reveals that there still are in fact seniors who are willing to give the rest of the year their one-hundred percent effort and ability. Another factor to consider is when sending final transcripts, some colleges require it, and some do not. This could potentially be a reason why some students have not mentally finished the race yet.

As most seniors are perfectly aware, the last semester of high school can seem like a drag at times. “Senioritis” is a real condition felt by millions of seniors around the world. It is almost like an unwritten part of the story towards the end Even though there are still some individuals who are comof everyone’s high school career. In the last few months, a pletely focused and living in the moment, there are still some C- on a test is no longer going to determine whether you go to who are mentally exhausted and ready for the next chapter college or not. of their lives. Maybe that grade did not determine college during one’s junior year. However, mentally, the first three years of high school are an ongoing audition for college careers. Therefore, once senior year is reached and one is accepted to school, that test grade does not hold near as much significance compared to one year prior. New York Times columnist Ned Johnson said in an article“As most college-bound high school seniors learn where they’ve gotten in and decide where they’re going, many feel that the pressure is off. Whether they are celebrating acceptances to their dream schools or coping with rejections, nearly all realize at this point that the die has been cast: The push for high school grades that used to drive everything matters much less,” “I’m feeling even more motivated this semester because we are really close to graduation, and this makes me want to finish this year off stronger than ever,” said Reilly Brophy, senior.

Illustration by: Ellie Jones

“It’s definitely hard to keep pushing through at the end of the year, and especially after I have committed to a college. I feel like in a sense that I am already done with school, and it is hard to keep up the motivation at times. However, the one thing that is keeping me motivated specifically is knowing that I still have AP exams to take in May,” said Hailey Pritchett, senior. AP exams are also another incredibly important asset to a student’s high school career. Unfortunately, these take place in May, when, at that point, all seniors are basically checked out. However, as Pritchett was saying, these tests serve as excellent motivators throughout the year. Overall, despite the fact that the second semester of senior year is difficult to stay focused on, the best advice one can give is to try your best and just enjoy it. Soak in all of these memories, because most likely, many of these people we will never see again.

YOU NEED MEDICATION TO MAKE YOU OKAY? THAT’S OKAY. Emma Harris Content Editor Our society has come a long from the 1950’s, the 70’s, and even the 90’s when regarding mental health. Different disorders are understood far better, treatment is more advanced, and the attitude regarding those with mental health struggles has become more empathetic. However, despite all of our progress, our society still lags behind in one regard: medication for mental health purposes is still greatly stigmatized.

that going on medication is a sign of strength, for reaching out and asking for help takes an immense amount of courage. It takes an ability to admit you need help and put yourself out there in seeking it.

“Mental illness is not a moral failing or a lack of motivation and it doesn’t only affect people who don’t try hard enough,” Colleen Koncilja, a licensed clinical social worker with a private therapy practice An argument against medication is that we didn’t used in Illinois, told Healthline. “Instead, mental illness is a chemical imbalance in our brains, and in order for us to consume it. Sure, let’s go back to drilling holes in to not experience symptoms or active illness, we need peoples heads to let the demons out. People didn’t use Advil back before 1961 or aspirin before 1897, so should to seek out and receive ongoing treatment.” they not use it now? What’s the difference between People also argue against medication because they physical ailment and a mental illness? Medication for a have the misconception that it turns people into zommental illness can be just as life saving as medication bies or robots. When you’re on the wrong medication for a physical illness. And even if people in the past didn’t need it– which I would argue that they did, con- or dosage, it can in fact numb you. I’ve personally had sidering people still committed suicide back then– peo- this problem before. But this doesn’t happen when on ple in the present do. Don’t deny someone a life saving the correct medication and dosage. and life changing drug just because people in the past Another reason why medication for mental health is didn’t use it. viewed in a negative light is because of the side effects. It’s true— there are potentially dangerous side Another stigmatization of medication for mental health effects. But this is true with all medication. Why don’t lies in the belief that those who take it are weak. This we see this type of discussion around blood presis absolutely not the case. We are not made to be sure medication or even painkillers? You could argue able to handle these chemical imbalances in the brain. Imagine being so incredibly sad, hopeless, and unmoti- it’s because of the necessity of these medications, vated that you can hardly get out of bed anymore, that but they are no more necessary than mental health it feels as if you’re literally covered in weights, that you medications. High blood pressure interferes with life have to gather up the courage to move an inch. Imagine and damages their person? So does depression. A being tailed by a constant guilt. Or for anxiety, imagine bad headache gets in the way of life and makes you feel bad? So does bipolar, arguably more so. How are being constantly on edge, feeling like you have to tear anti–depressents, mood stabilizers, anti-psychotics, off your skin and escape, having your chest in a tight etc. any different? The truth is that they aren’t. Thinkknot. Or for some versions of bipolar, imagine how exhausting it is to swing from the best joy you’ve ever ing medication is only okay for physical health issues assumes that mental health issues don’t also impact experienced– a high that makes even the normal feel sad– to the worst depression you would have struggled life when this is simply not true. It should also be noted that people with depression, schizophrenia, bipolar to even imagine, to a depression that strips you of all 1 or 2, or any other mental illness often have literal hope and motivation. These people are not weak for chemical imbalances in their brain. Having medication not wanting to deal with this. For some people, not being on a medication simply isn’t an option because of for that is no less physical than having medication for how tortuous their mental illness can be. I would argue other purposes.

Medication has the potential to literally save and completely change lives, and the stigma surrounding it is problematic. Illustration by: Emma Harris

That being said, medication isn’t something to take lightly and all of the possible side effects should be made clear and considered. It is a serious decision. It isn’t, however, a shameful one. There is nothing shameful about needing medication for mental stability and peace. You aren’t the only one.

actually means.” Medication for mental health literally saves lives by preventing suicide. Sometimes, a mental state can be so torturous one cannot stand it– I have been at this state myself, and medication saved my own life. Medication can’t completely fix your pain, but it can make the pain bearable.

The stigma around medication stops thousands of people from getting help when they can. According to the Association for Psychological Science, about 40 percent of Americans with serious mental illness don’t receive any type of care. “The reality is, psychotropic medication is being prescribed to assist in medically balancing a chemical imbalance,” Robyn Gold, LCSW, a therapist in private practice in New York, explains. “Unfortunately, many individuals suffering from this condition do not wish to be treated with medication due to societal stigma and a misunderstanding of what this diagnosis

There’s no shame in taking medication if you need it. If you need medication to make you okay, that’s okay. It doesn’t make you weak, it doesn’t mean you’re less strong than the next person. It’s okay.

AT DOOM’S DOORSTEP

ELIJAH SCHMIDT Staff Writer

The end of the world. A fascinating concept that many have tried to pinpoint. But this year is looking to be full of doom and gloom, at least according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. The Bulletin was founded in 1945 following the Manhattan Project by the scientists that created the first atomic bomb. This bulletin was originally created to educate the public on nuclear threats. But since that time it has added the “Doomsday Clock”, the clock symbolizes how close we are to nuclear and climate armageddon. The scientists of the bulletin update the clock each year based upon climate change and nuclear factors. This clock has served as a marker for how well humanity is caring for the earth for many years. The clock was set to 100 seconds to midnight back in 2020 and has remained there since. This was because humanity had not done enough to prove the validity in moving the hands backwards. To compare the clock was once far away from midnight. For example at the end of the Cold War the clock was set to 17 minutes. So humanity has come a long way in only thirty years.

The Bulletin, while listing ways we have improved, also must address issues that have worsened. One of the major points made was regarding “The Nuclear Tightrope”. These concerns are mainly about China, this is because they are building ICBM Silos and this is causing tension between the USA and China currently. Also the insurrection at the US Capitol was a reason that the clock stayed where it was. As such instability causes concerns internationally.

But the Bulletin gave practical ways to fix these problems. The United States should persuade its allies to not continue nuclear expansion and ease tensions. Not only that but the USA needs to continue to try and not only ease tensions internationally but also fix problems nationally, regarding the January 6 insurrection. Overall the growing tensions in the world have not moved the clock in anyway, but there are ways that the United States can move the clock back. It is our duty as a world superpower to lead the way in global issues and save our world.

World extinction is near, so what can we do to prevent it? Image by Elijah Schmidt

COLLEGE BOARD CONTROLS YOU ANNA GRACE LIKES Staff Writer

Students in the college application and admissions processes are more highly-dependent on CollegeBoard and ACT’s resources than they even realize. What is the company that makes over $1 billion in revenue every year on high school testing? If you said College Board, the company which administers AP and SAT testing, you’d be correct. ACT Inc., a company which makes a competitor test to College Board’s SAT, is also a multi-million dollar non-profit. When students pay the fee to take an AP, ACT, or SAT test, that money goes straight to College Board or ACT Inc., and while they are both technically non-profit companies, they make money off of students who feel they have to take these tests to even go to college. Because students need to pass these tests with a relatively high score, many spend additional hundreds to thousands of dollars to study and receive tutoring—all before they pay tens of thousands to go to a college or university. College Board and ACT Inc. force families to spend precious time and money on testing so they can further their control over college admissions.

College board acts as the puppeteer to students’ college admissions efforts. Image by: Anna Grace Likes

peer pressure, and societal “norms.” “Some families have the idea that taking lots of AP classes will take a semester or two off of college, but this is usually not true. If anything it might save time and allow a student to pick up another major or minor,” said Lori West, College Counselor. It has been ingrained into students’ heads from so many sources that they must take as many advanced placement classes as possible, but this necessity truly depends on Over the past twenty years, the price of education has gone up expo- the student’s goals. Even though it does look good to colleges to nentially. In-state tuition and fees for public universities alone have see a high AP score, some will not need to be dependent on them in grown 211%, while public out-of-state and private university tuition order to get into their desired school. have increased by 171% and 144%, respectively. A shocking statistic, These standardized tests, while some say they are being phased this reveals that in-state university tuition is increasing at a much out, still control academic scholarships across America and are higher rate than both private and out-of-state. important to take in order to get into college. “It definitely is still worth it to retake these tests multiple times to get your best score, That means that this increased tuition has caused a simultaneous especially when most schools take a superscore,” said West. These increase in the need for scholarships. That is where College Board and ACT come into the picture—they make more and more students tests still matter when universities need a more efficient way to each year need to take several AP classes and retake the SAT or ACT review a student. They, as of right now, are still at a place where multiple times until the student’s desired score is achieved. This, of using test scores makes it exponentially easier to understand a student’s grades. This is because it is much quicker for an admissions course, gives each company increasing amounts of business each year. These companies influence students into a dependency on their officer to review a test score than each of their grades along with tests which allows them to control college admissions across Ameri- an essay. ca both directly and indirectly. Even with Covid-19 presenting a short and sweet decline in test-taking, these companies have managed to But, while these companies are still raking in money, families are struggling to afford the whole test-taking process. Students who stay highly relevant. cannot afford tutoring and can maybe only afford to take the test once are at a significant disadvantage to someone who has done This striking conclusion begs the question for some students of whether using College Board and ACT resources is even necessary. two rounds of expensive tutoring and test-taking. This is how As of 2021, over 75% of 4-year universities are test-optional, mean- College Board and ACT hold a grip on lower-income families: they ing that a student does not necessarily need to submit a test score continue to instigate the struggle of sending these parents’ children in order to be admitted. But, those test scores do make a difference to college. when it comes to academic scholarships. Most schools have benchmark ACT and/or SAT scores that coincide with different scholarship Whatever course of study and test-taking a student chooses to amounts. This is why so many students pay to participate in tutoring do, they still rely heavily on the exams these companies provide. for these tests and spend extra time taking GPA-boosting AP tests. Even with schools going test-optional, they still control the majority The dependency students have on these companies is not changing of university admissions nationwide. As more and more students continue to take and retake these tests, College Board and ACT only anytime soon. get a tighter grip on the lives of high school upperclassmen—and The trend of students at Westminster taking AP exams has stayed students become more and more dependent on these scores to get fairly consistent the past few years, with a slight decrease starting where they want to go. And while it’s important to note that these around 2018, likely due to an increase of students taking SLU’s 1818 tests are genuinely important for students wanting to further their credit over the AP exam. Still, over 400 students at Westminster education at a 4-year university, it is also important to know who’s alone consistently sign up for AP exams each year. This popularity influencing who. All statics are provided by CollegeBoard.org. comes from any number of sources, particularly parent expectations,

Westminster Christian Academy

A RIDE TO REMEMBER

Westminster’s senior-led hockey team falls short in playoffs to end their season.

BROOKE HIGHMARK SPORTING EDITOR

outside of the rink, that includes team dinners before most games where we strengthened that bond,” said Ottsen. “It was an honor serving as a captain of the team for the past two years and I love these guys. We stuck together through thick and thin and found ways to win games,” said Kilgore. Despite a rocky start to the season due to numerous injuries and illnesses, Wildcat fans showed up to support nevertheless, even 10 pm games in South City on a weeknight. As a result, many (Left) Zack Kilgore, Tommy Le, Jack Wooldridge, Caleb Bross, Gus Duda, and players claim that this was the most fun and memorable year of Harry Ottsen, seniors, pull off a win against Fort Zumwalt West on Senior their careers. Night. Photo by: Ron Kilgore

After a long season of ups and downs, “Cats on Ice” has come to a close. On Monday, February 7th, the Westminster hockey team fell 4-2 to Parkway West in their third game of the playoffs, ending their season with an overall record of 9-8-1. Prior to this matchup, the Cats were handed a tough defeat by Ladue 4-0 but turned around and sent MICDS home in a 3-1 nail biter. Since the Cats needed to go 2-1 in the playoffs to advance, they knew that their next game against Parkway West would be all or nothing. They had faced the Longhorns twice before in the season, once ending in a tie and the other in a loss. However, they ultimately came up short after an empty net shot sealed the deal for West in the last minute of regulation. Out of eighteen total players, six of the stars were seniors, including Caleb Bross, Gus Duda, Zack Kilgore, Tommy Le, Harry Ottsen, and Jack Wooldridge. Bross and Ottsen were dominant offensive forces, racking up the two highest point totals on the team with 20 and 17. Kilgore and Wooldridge were brick walls on the defensive end all season long, and their years of experience were showcased through their high IQ plays. Duda played a flexible role throughout the season, stepping out of his usual defensive position to fill in on offense and even goalie when certain players were absent. Le displayed consistent, clutch performances in the goal throughout the year, ending with a save percentage of .914. “Our team fed off the seniors. When we were all present, we had a full line and goalie of only seniors so we were the leaders. Whenever we were hot, the seniors, specifically the captains, encouraged everyone and we were rolling,” said Kilgore. In addition to the team’s strong senior leadership, they also had a close-knit bond both on and off the ice, making the final game that much more emotional. “We had a very strong chemistry of guys that have been together for multiple years and enjoyed hanging out with each other

“Although the season didn’t end how we hoped, it was definitely the best year for me and I think the seniors all agree. We had a rough start with numerous injuries, but we got everyone back right before the senior night game and that’s one I’ll never forget. From there, we found ways to win games and finish above .500 despite playing more challenging teams,” said Kilgore. “The thing that made our team stand out from other teams was the hard work and dedication that we had for this hockey club. We struggled throughout the year with a lack of players and different guys throughout the year had to step up and play a big role on the team, it was not just a few guys, it was a joint effort,” said Ottsen. Another obstacle that many of the Cats had to face and overcome was the balance between school and club hockey, as they often overlap, causing players to struggle with time management and face a large taxation on their mental and physical health. “Juggling two hockey teams, extracurriculars, school, and family and friends was extremely difficult. It took numerous late nights after getting back from two practices and a workout and then finishing my homework or studying for a test. It wasn’t easy and I would say that I didn’t have much of a life outside of hockey and school in order to balance all of those things, but it was definitely worth it,” said Ottsen. Although the Cats will be losing these standout seniors, they still have a solid returning lineup for next season, including Emily Griege, junior goalie, Andrew Gingerich, Aidan Irby, Cody Kilgore, Monica Knapp, Joey Morici, John Schweppe, Logan Swenson, juniors, and Cade Sadtler, freshman. They will also hold onto non-Westminster players London Jett, Jonathan Miller, and Braden West. “I wish the best for the next team and we as seniors couldn’t have asked for anything different. What a ride,” said Kilgore.

TEAM MANAGERS OR TEAM HYPE MEN?

LJMinnerandSterlingWebb’sbondthatbeganonthefootballfieldhasgrown off the field as basketball team managers.

NOLAN JONES STAFF WRITER

When they are not attending their own workouts, Minner and Webb show up to the basketball practices to create energy and encourage the players. When the Cats have a game, they make sure that everyone is both hydrated and pumped up with positive energy.

From the beginning of the great game of football, there has been one special type of bond that has always been a part of the game. Although many may talk about the bond between the quarterback and everyone else on the team, I would argue “We bring the energy to the guys; we try to keep up the that the relationship between a skill player and a lineman is hype during warm ups,” said Minner. the most important. It has been said that every “little guy” has their “big guy” counterpart on the team that they match with. Running backs have to rely on their big guys to pave the way for them, and the big guys have to trust that the running back is going to follow that path. Defensive backs have to trust that the D-line dogs are putting the pressure on the backfield so that they can do their job and vice versa. The bond between small guys and big guys has to be strong for a football team to work. This bond on the gridiron extends off the field as well. Following their last year suiting up together, Lj Minner and Sterling Webb, seniors, recently signed to play college football; Minner signed with Washburn University in Kansas, and Webb signed with New Mexico State. With a long summer of training coming in the near future to prepare for their first collegiate seasons, Minner and Webb are soaking in the fun of high school sports while it lasts.

Lj and Sterling jump up for a score. Photo courtesy of Adam Lyles

After every three point score by the Cats, you can look to the end of the bench and see LJ and Sterling on their feet holding up 3’s, and you can always hear their voices throughout the Both guys tried out for the basketball team this winter, but Webb took on the role of team manager while Minner played games. in the first six games of the season. Once January hit, however, he began focusing on his college search and knew that he One of Minner’s specific roles is to hold down the important position of doing the pregame starter handshakes, which is couldn’t be as committed to the team as he wanted. Theredifferent for every player. fore, he decided to join his lineman counterpart as co-team manager. Minner and Webb have worked together like a well oiled Not only do Minner and Webb fulfill the duties of being team machine on both sides of the ball throughout their careers at Westminster, demonstrating the close bond between a managers, but they are also known to be the team “hype linemen and a skill player. men.” Over the years, the two have become as close as broth“They feed off of each other’s energy, and they feed that energy to the crowd and to the team,” said Caleb Thompson, ers and rarely leave each other’s sides. Their outstanding performances on the football field as well as their constant senior forward. energy and humor has been a blessing to the Westminster community.

CATS DEMOLISH THE RED DEVILS SYDNEY BRADLEY STAFF EDITOR

On Saturday, February 12, the Cats matched up against the 7th ranked Chaminade Red Devils. Coming off a big win against Lutheran South, the boys were ready for some competition. They brought home a big win 64-30. Never having played this team before, this season, the Wildcats needed to keep their foot on the gas. Coach Ribbble knew, if they could shut down the Red Devils point guard, BJ Ward, who averaged 13 points a game, the team would do just fine. Plan executed. Ward finished the competition with 10 points and was the only Red Devil in double digits. The Cats came out hot, scoring 36 points in the first half and holding the Red Devils to 17. Coming off a great offensive game, Senior, Matt Buchanan, was automatic from the three, putting up 12 points. While Kobi Williams was the team’s high scorer at 17, Casen Lawrence (12), and Austin Vick (10) were all contributors in double digits. When it came to rebounding, EJ Williams and Caleb Thompson dominated the paint. EJ had 5 defensive and 5 offensive rebounds while Caleb had 3 rebounds on defense and 4 on offense.*

Casen Lawrence dribbles through the defense. Photo by Hope Linam

Everyone notices the team chemistry on the court, but the relationship with their coaches is just as important. Coming from coaching at the college level in 2016, head coach Dale Ribble brings his experience to Westminster Christian. Coach Ribble is a master at using a combination of his starting five as well as players coming off the bench to keep Kobi Williams penetrates the lane. Photo by Hope Linam the opposition off balance. He manages the bench well by incorporating a variety of players to capitalize on their strengths, build team chemistry and maintain momentum. Even when the Casts had a significant lead, Coach Ribble continued to motivate his team as though it were a 2 point spread. We are certainly blessed to have Coach Ribble at the helm for his knowledge of the game, leadership and consistent guidance. The Wildcats will meet Priory for a second matchup of the season on February 18th. The Cats have 3 regular season games remaining before the march toward the state tournament. With the momentum they have generated under Coach Ribble’s leadership, they are primed to be playing well into March. Go Cats. Caleb Thompson reads the defense before passing the ball off for an assit. Photo by Hope Linam

THE GLUE GUY

EVAN KOHN Staff Writer

EJ Williams, senior guard, may not look like one of the main contributors to the team on the stat sheet, but his relentless defense and consistent hustle plays has made him an invaluable asset to the team. At 6’1, Williams averages 4.4 points 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists and has been starting for the past three seasons. Despite his smaller size, Williams’ athletic rebounding skills have led to many second chance points for the Cats. For example, in the 64-30 win over Chaminade, he secured a total of ten rebounds over players much taller than him.

significant difference when he is out of the game,” said Jack Lemp, senior guard. Not only does Williams greatly impact the team on the floor, but he also displays uncommon attributes off the court. Those who know him would describe him as one of the nicest and most respectful people that they know, which has translated into a great deal of coachability toward Dale Ribble, head coach. The Wildcat community will look forward to watching Williams and the boys basketball team finish out the regular season and work their way towards a state championship.

Williams has had three games this season with exactly 11 points, his highest total all year, yet he is one of the foundational pieces for the most successful team in Westminster history. Anyone who watches a game can clearly see the passion that Williams has for the team, as he is constantly diving for loose balls and sacrificing his body for every rebound. As a result, he has inspired his teammates around him to put in the same amount of effort while keeping a positive attitude. “He’s definitely the centerpiece of our team, and there is a

EJ goes up strong against the CBC defense. Photo courtesy of Hope Linam

EJ drives to the hoop in the game against CBC. Photo courtesy of Hope Linam

NOLAN JONES CONTINUES TO SHINE The senior wrestler is dominating every match in his last season as a Wildcat.

DREW CAHILL STAFF WRITER After a few years on the varsity wrestling team, Nolan Jones has proven that he is as good as any. Jones had a very successful season last year, winning almost all of his matches, and he came into this year’s season cutting to be in the 145lb weight class, which would require a shedding of around five pounds. However, compared to previous years, this was not too much of a challenge.

Nolan Jones competed for the state championship during the weekend of February 17th-19th. Jones came one spot away from placing, but wrestled very well. After a devastating shoulder injury last year, he has come back stronger than ever by finishing the regular season with a winning record and finishing his last season very well.

Jones’ hard work in the offseason was first shown in the Westminster tournament at the beginning of the season; he won his first round easily and his next two by a pin. After a good match with a wrestler from St. Charles West, Jones ended his night by winning the tournament. The Eric Lewis Invitational was another win for Nolan Jones, as he destroyed his first two opponents by pinning them in the second and first period. His hardest match came in the semifinal round, where he won with a takedown in the third period. Jones proceeded to cruise through the rest of the tournament, winning the 145lb weight class. For the wrestling team’s senior night, both Jones and Nate Bowman were able to come out on top, as Nolan pinned both of his opponents in the third period.

Nolan Jones wrestles for the State Championship. Photo courtesy of Cory Snyder

This year, the wrestling team traveled to Mexico, MO to compete in the District tournament. Every weight class had a sixteen man bracket, and the top four finishers qualified for state. The stands in the gym were packed with fans watching the wrestlers compete. Jones started the tournament as the three-seed. He breezed through his first two matches and only needed one more win to qualify for state. Although he came up short against a tough opponent 2-1, he was given one more chance to wrestle for State. Jones was matched up against his first opponent for this final match. After going back and forth with points for a while, Jones scored a reversal with thirty seconds left to go up 6-5 and won in the end 8-5, securing a spot in the State tournament.

Nolan Jones smiles with fellow senior Nate Bowman during senior night. Photo courtesy of Cory Snyder

SCHONHOFF BUILDS EXCELLENCE

Under new leadership, the girls swim team has a succesful state run.

HOPE LINAM Staff Writer, Pawprint Liasion Any time sports teams receive a new coach, the season can go one of two ways: one, the coach comes in and they have a successful season, or two, it turns into a rebuilding year, and the team does not extend far into their postseason. Luckily, the former was true for the varsity girls swim team, as new head coach Andrew Schonhoff took the already strong program formed under Kent Kehr and built upon it even more. “Having a new coach was definitely an adjustment, but I can say that this season was a huge blessing for a number of different reasons. Our coach pushed us harder in practice and because of that we all improved tremendously. Along with pushing us, however, he instilled a really positive and Christ centered environment,” said Madison Doehring, senior. Schonhoff brought eight state qualifiers, made up of six swimmers and two divers. Samantha Lee, junior, and Ellie Berkland, sophomore, both qualified for 200 free, 500 free, and relays. Eleanor Disper, junior, qualified for 500 free and relays. Sophia Chadakhtzian, freshman, qualified for the 100 backstroke. Doehring, Lucy Christian and Kate Wessels, juniors, and Kaitlyn Cragg, freshman, all qualified for relays. Lastly, Sara Schloss, junior, and Anna Bernhardt, freshman, qualified for diving. “Two of the three relays on the team made the top sixteen in the state, and both ended up placing fourteenth overall. Samantha Lee and Ellie Berkland made it back to the finals in their individual events as well, which is a huge accomplishment,” said Doehring.

Of the eight who competed at state on Thursday, February 17th, and Friday, February 18th, Westminster brought home four medals. Lee placed seventh in the 200 free, with a time of 1:58.15, and second in the 500 free, with a time of 5:09.21. The other medals came out of diving from Schloss, who placed third, and Bernhardt, who placed sixth. “Placing second in my 500 free was an achievement I never thought I would obtain. It was very exciting for me because I never expected that this was even possible for me,” said Lee. Although some of the other state competitors from Westminster did not medal in their respective events, Berkland was able to drop six seconds off of her 500 free, a very rare and impressive achievement. “Heading into the postseason, my mindset was just to grind for the last few weeks, then trust myself and my coaches that have prepared me for this. There’s not much more I could do at that point,” said Berkland. One of the greatest achievements to come out of the varsity girls swim postseason is the comeback story of Sara Schloss. While attempting to learn a new dive (a back one and a half), she hit the water wrong. After an original visit to the doctor, Schloss was told that she may have broken her back, which would have ended her season. However, it was only strained, and she was able to return to training. After being out for only three weeks, Schloss fully returned to diving. “I was a very strong swimmer along with a diver. Once I returned from my injury, I realized I would not be able to catch up for swimming because the state meet was very soon. This is when my swim season ended, but I was able to continue diving,” said Schloss. All in all, with the leadership of Schonhoff, the girls had a successful season filled with competition, fun, grit, and determination to succeed.

Lucy Christian, Kate Wessels, juniors, and Madison Doehring, senior, pose for a picture with their Coach, Andrew Schonhoff. Photo courtesy of Madison Doehring

GIRLS BASKETBALL SENIOR NIGHT

The girls basketball team gains a much needed victory on Senior Night.

ALEX WITTENAUER STAFF WRITER

The girls basketball team took on Cape Notre Dame for their Senior Night on February 18, 2022. Taking on a very dominant Cape Notre Dame team, having a 17-5 record, the girls had their work cut out for them. At the beginning of the game, Brooke Highmark, senior, was awarded with an open layup from Cape to commemorate her dedication to the basketball program despite a season ending knee injury. In the first quarter, the Cats began to struggle by missing shots and turning the ball over and were down 9-15 by the end of the first eight minutes. This momentum did not stay long for the Bulldogs, as Julia Coleman, junior, began dribbling through the defense and finishing around the rim. Coleman ended the game with 18 points. Going into the [second?] half with a three point lead, Cape’s point guard Lexi Rubel continued to make shots on any spot of the court despite a box-and-1 defense. This lead was lost quickly, as the Cats earned their first lead of the game with a minute left in the third quarter. Carlie Vick Drains a three to shift the momentum for the Wildcats. Photo by: Adam Lyles

Aseanti Boone shoots a mid range shot against Cape Notre Dame. Photo by: Adam Lyles

The cats continued to pile onto this lead, and the game ended 40-50, moving the girls to an impressive 16-7 record. After the game, seniors from the boys and girls teams, along with the senior cheerleaders and dancers, were honored for their commitment to the programs throughout their high school careers. This year’s girls basketball team included five seniors: Brooke Highmark, Reilly Brophy, and Carlie Vick, four year varsity players, as well as Hope Linam, and Aseanti Boone.

CATS WIN ON SENIOR NIGHT The Cats send the Ravens back to their nest in a successful Senior Night win.

EVAN KOHN Staff Writer

Jack Lemp, Will Richards, Matt Buchanan, Sam Vestal, and Caleb Thompson, seniors, all graced the floor as starters for the Cats against Priory. After a slow offensive start to the game, however, Ribble looked down the bench and called in the remainder of the usual starting lineup. Without any delay, the Cats began pouring it on, getting out to a 10-7 lead after the first quarter. The second quarter was not one to remember, but it did allow the Cats to gain a 24-18 lead going into halftime. The second half started off hot with an abundance of threes from Lawrence, who has been a sharp shooter throughout his career. Going into the fourth quarter, the Cats had successful-

Coach Ribble draws up a play during a timeout. Photo courtesy of Adam Lyles

ly stretched their lead to 42-25. In the final quarter, every player was able to see the floor, even newcomers Evan Montandon and JD Robertson, freshmen. In the end, the Cats took home a dominating 63-35 victory to cap off Senior Night, following a hard earned victory from the girls team. Lawrence led the way in scoring with 21 points, and Thompson came in second with 14. From the staff here at Sporting, we would like to thank all of the seniors for such a great year of basketball thus far. We can’t wait to see you guys succeed the rest of the way through!

EJ Williams, senior, shoots a free throw against Priory on senior night. Photo Courtesy of Adam Lyles