ROAR THE WILDCAT
A ROAD LESS TRAVELED: STUDENTS SUMMER ADVENTURES Pg. 5: New Mexico Pg. 6: Spain Pg. 7: NYC Pg. 8-9: South Dakota Pg. 11: PGA Championship
Volume Volume XIV ● ISSUE XIV ●ONE ISSUE ● AUGUST ONE ● SEPTEMBER 2018 2016 Westminster Westminster Christian Christian AcademyAcademy
The Dawn of a New Day A new year. A fresh start. For students, faculty, and the whole Westminster community, a new school year means an influx of new people, challenges, and opportunities. Everything is new, exciting, and different. While this can be thrilling for some, the first few months of school can invite anxiety and stress into some students’ lives. Westminster is certainly embracing change with many new guidelines and rules for students, mostly aimed at the goal of safety and security. Some students are frustrated with these unfamiliar restraints on their freedom, but they also should recognize how privileged the Westminster student body is to have safety as a priority and to be able to learn in a secure and protected learning environment. This year, the Wildcat Roar is following the
WILDCAT ROAR STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Isabella Francois Print Editor: Natalie Ford Broadcast Executive Producer: Morgan Sickels In-Depth Editor: Ava Bidner News Editor: Gabe Caradonna Features Editor: Amanda Espy Opinions Editor: Ashley Moellenhoff Entertainment Editor: Allison Eichenlaub Quick Reads: Claire Sanden Sporting WCA Editor: Thomas Schultz Media Editor: Bennie Anderson Advisor: Scott Vonder Bruegge
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theme of change with a new format for our newspaper. With new changes to our website, several new staff members, and a new digital newspaper, the Wildcat Roar is anticipating a year full of improvement. Although we are making some changes, our staff will still write the same fun, interesting, and original stories our readers love. We hope that our changes will better the Wildcat Roar and that all readers will find a story that interests them. Remember that you can find the Wildcat Roar in your school email or online at www.thewildcatroar.com!
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Staff
Tommy Briner Zach Cancila Alex Chen Lea Despotis Dylan Elias Lauren Fleming Catie Georges Emma Gore Journee Henry Cole Hintz Ava Hollmann Joey Keane Caroline Megown Sydeny Moore Max Nelson Jimmy Obertop Megan Roche Koby Schmer Nathaniel Sems Rebekah Sems Grace Skilijan Griffin Thomas
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEWS
Debate Club...........................................4 Medical Club..........................................4 Westminstagram....................................4
FEATURES
New Mexico............................................5 Spain Trip...............................................6 NYC........................................................7 South Dakota .......................................8-9 Israel......................................................10
OPINIONS
PGA Championship................................11 Sleep or School?....................................12
SPORTS
Cover......................................................13 Football Preview.....................................14 Softball....................................................15 Field Hockey...........................................16 Volleyball................................................16 Tennis.....................................................17 Cross Country.........................................17 Soccer.....................................................18
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Meet Medical Club Amanda Espy Feature Editor
For all those future doctors, nurses, chiropractors and therapists out there this may be the perfect club for you. Medical Club is kicking off its third year and are very excited for the visitors they have planned to speak at each meeting. Leaders Molly Andersen, Amanda Espy, Mia Goff and Hannah Park have been coordinating with several medical professionals and med students to come share their experiences working in a hospital and going through rigorous but exciting training. Even those who aren’t interested in being a med student are welcome to come and hear the intense stories of the ER. “I have attended Medical Club since it started almost three years ago and I’m very excited to help lead it this year. We are working hard to find people of all different medical professionals and are hoping to be able to do projects as a group. My first year of Medical Club we got to visit a Cadaver lab and this year we would like to do a similar trip” said Andersen, senior. Medical Club will be meeting every other week during Thursday’s lunch in the health room and is eager for people to Students in the past have visited various medical proffejoin. Come kick off the first meeting on September 6th to hear sionals to learn what it is like to work in the medical field. about the plans for this year and possible field trips! Photo by: Samantha Huber, c/o 2018.
Debate Team Debuts at WCA Lea Despotis Staff Writer
Difficult AP and honor courses are no longer the only means to intellectually challenge students at Westminster. This semester, WCA introduced a speech and debate class for all students eager to enhance communication skills and compete against other high school teams throughout the St. Louis region. Kelly Gilbert, faculty advisor and teacher of the debate program, is passionate about providing students the opportunity to investigate relevant issues and broaden their worldview. “I’m looking forward to diving into the topics and why they were chosen,” said Gilbert, “The fun of this class is that we get to analyze subjects that we have never heard of before and see how they affect our world.” In the early weeks, students are learning to conduct extensive research and formulate solid arguments on both sides of a issue to train for upcoming tournaments. “Debate has taught me how to speak and form a logical argument,” said Camryn McMurry, junior, “I’ve learned that you can’t argue that something is right without good evidence and reasons. I’m looking forward to applying these skills in future
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debates.” While the class may require a significant time commitment, students enrolled look forward to the lifelong benefits of participating in a debate team. “One of the most compelling reasons to bring a student in for a interview is because of their experience in speech and debate,” said Gilbert, “it is better than national merit or editor and chief. Debate must be doing something to prepare students for college and future life if it’s that important to college admissions.” Last Saturday, Kelly Gilbert and a group of Westminster students attended a debate workshop at Pattonville High School, where varsity debaters showcased their skills and offered valuable techniques to the novice debaters. “It was humbling watching a mock debate go on because I have always thought of myself as a decent debater, but the socratic showed me that I have a lot I could improve on” commeneted Anu Akinyede, junior. Anu hoWhile the current class embraces the daunting task of establishing a successful team, they look forward to building a thriving program to be enjoyed by future Westminster students.
New Mexico: A Girls’ Trip
Opinion News
It was a deeper way to experience God’s creation, and bond as a class outside of school. Ashley Moellenhoff Staff Writer
Fourteen students, all girls, embarked on a trip to understand the Navajo people and appreciate God’s creation in the southwest. On May 26th the girls arrived at Lambert airport ready for an adventure of a lifetime. They flew from St. Louis to Denver, Colorado then from Denver to Albuquerque, New Mexico. From there they all piled into the two big white vans and headed on their way to Rehoboth School. There they met Deanna who explained the divide between the Navajo belief and Christianity. Rehoboth’s goal is to com-
could not wait to get started. Nancy taught everyone how to brush and clean the horses. “Nancy was a great teacher and I was riding a horse in no time,” said Sickles. They camped at Angel Fire for three days and rode horses everyday there. They went high up into the mountains and looked out over the beautiful evergreen trees. They all traveled on the horses to a campsite the last night they were at Angel Fire. They were away from all loud noises , bathrooms, and cars. “It was cool to be in the calm of the outdoors,” said Anna Hassler, senior. The next day they went white water rafting on the Rio Grande. They all had lots of fun passing each others boats and splashing each other with paddles. All these activities brought the group together. Rachel Rothrock explained, “I loved white water rafting yelling with the girls on the boat and just being on the water.” That night they camped at the nicest campsite they had been at all week. It over looked a deep canyon and they all watched the sunset as they set up their tents and made dinner. It was such a beautiful last night of camping. They were all anticipating the hotel the next night. When they made it to the hotel everyone was pumped to shower and so ready to eat a burger and fries that night. The next day they visited the Georgia O’Keefe Museum and admired O’Keefe’s ability to show the world around her
Students climbed up into an indent in a cave Photo by:Ashley Moellenhoff
bine those beliefs by teaching the gospel but also staying true to where they came from. The group stayed in the dorms that night. The vans were on the road again on their way to camp in Cross Canyon. They all prepared to assemble their tents for the first night and jumped in with full excitement. When they arrived they all took a hike down to the Anasazi ruins in the Canyon. They soon realized how low the temperature dropped in the middle of the night and woke up freezing in high anticipation of the sun rising. After breakfast they packed up and headed to the next campsite in Mcgaffey, NM. Mcgaffey was forested with pines in contrast to the Cross Canyon’s dusty desert land. That night when they ate dinner they all began to have excited energy knowing they had such a good trip ahead of them. They woke up that morning with high motivation because it was the day they would meet the horses. “I was nervous and excited to meet the horses, mainly because I had never ridden a horse before,” said Morgan Sickles senior. When they arrived at Angel Fire, Nancy, the horse owner, greeted them with elation. She had a passion for horses and
White Water Rafting on the Rio Grande Photo courtesy of: Ashley Moellenhoff
through art. Then they all walked around downtown Sante Fe and visited different shops. From there they stopped at Chickfil-a, something they had been craving for the 10 days they were there. “New Mexico was the craziest most amazing time of my life. It was a true once in a lifetime experience, and I will always cherish the time to get away and be with an amazing group of girls,” said Chloe Haupfear, senior.
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Westminster Takes on Spain
Several students spend a memorable week in Denia, Spain By Grace Skiljan and Rebekah Sems Staff Writers On May 26, 2018 fifteen Westminster students and two teachers embarked on a ten day journey to gorgeous Denia, Spain where they engaged in speaking the language, exploring cultural differences, and enjoying experiences that will never be forgotten. Some of their many activities included visiting museums in Madrid, joining in on school classes, shopping in the markets, playing with school children, and spending quality time with host families. Several students described the trip as memorable and a
tious response usually portrayed by Americans. Nick Gustavison, junior, commented on the atmosphere of Spain. “Everyone was very very friendly, they always wanted to stop and talk,” said Nick. Another difference students noted between their homeland and Spain, was that the people moved at a slower and more relaxed pace. Dinner sometimes lasted three to four hours because the families would sit around and talk instead of rushing off to the next task. The students were used to the rigid schedule of school, sports, and other commitments so having more flexible routine was a nice change. It was a new and different atmosphere that the Westminster students were introduced to. Finally, the trip to a different country brought the classmates even closer together and taught them more about each other. Many students said they became close with the peers they hardly knew before, and the experience formed stronger relationships. “I became close with everybody on that trip, and I still talk with them today. We laugh and remember all our memories from Spain and how much fun we had.” said Maggie Ellis, junior, about the relationships she made during the trip. Overall, the participants of the trip recommended others to experience Spain in this manner. Through interacting with the Spanish people and culture, Westminster students learned how
The travlers enjoy a dip in the Mediterranean. Photo by: Ava Bidner
new and exciting way to get out of the classroom and experience the Spanish culture first hand. “It was really fun because we could practice our Spanish and have a good time,” said Levi Tucker, Senior. In addition, the experience was heightened by the kindness and generosity of the host families toward their American visitors. Several of the students spoke of how welcoming the families were and how much it affected their trip and improved the overall adventure. “It was especially cool to be with the host families because they were excited and proud to have Americans staying in their home and that really added to the experience,” said Grace Johler, Senior. Furthermore, students explained that one of the main differences between Spain and America was the openness and helpful demeanor of the Spanish people. They were described as approachable and were always willing to give directions or help in any way they could, especially when they found out the visitors were Americans. In Spain natives are generally more trusting of strangers, which is opposite of the automatic cau-
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Four Westminster students take in the breathtaking Denia view. Photo by: Ava Bidner
special and unique traveling to a foreign country can be. The relationships formed from the experience has stayed with many of the students and brought them closer than any of them were before. The Spain trip was a wonderful way for students to learn and grow and create memories that are unforgettable.
NYC Summer Seminar
News
A Redemptive Exploration Ava Hollmann Staff Writer The Big Apple. Known for its bustling crowd, busy tourist attractions, and bright lights, New York City is the metropolitan hub of America. The gem of this landmark, however, is the famous Broadway strip, lined with theatres and protruding with eye-catching advertisements to entice romantics and intellectuals alike to their award-winning shows. Every year, a group of Westminster students travels to NYC for the purpose of exploring this
The bright Broadway strip. Photo by: The Orange County Register
reflect Him. Whether it was silly friendship in Spongebob or serious compassion in Come From Away, any audience member could pick up something about changing one’s heart and actions for the better,” said Pritchett. This beauty, though, was not limited purely to the production and actors in it; it was extended to the emotion and fervor displayed in, and after, the shows. “One show had a scene where the cast started dancing with so much passion. At the end of another one, the band came out on stage and played a song, with the whole audience clapping along. Moments like these were so touching to me because it was amazing to see little glimpses of heaven on earth,” said Hannah. After each show, students were forced out of the theatrical haven and into the concrete jungle. Though they experienced this switch several times, it never ceased to shock the system. “It was almost surreal to walk into a theatre after seeing the homeless people of the city on each corner, and then to be reminded of the hope we have in Christ, and how all of this pain will be healed through restoration,” said Hannah. Though the seminar was challenging in its demand to extract valuable lessons from the Broadway spectacles, versus to simply absorb entertainment, it proved to be a valuable experience that reaped the harvest of the Biblical worldview that Westminster so aches to meaningfully apply to students’ filter of the world.
theatrical paradise, but with a Christian perspective in mind. In every WCA summer seminar, the chaperones work to implement discussions that apply the redeem-reject message the Bible department emphasizes. But in New York, the teachers took this to the next level after the viewing of each of the six broadway shows. With every show posing new messages and themes, there was always something to discuss. “Led by Mr. Butz [every night], our group examined how we can watch these shows to be able to make thoughtful critiques and grow as human beings. We are trying to become culture makers and contribute to society in a way that showcases who Christians are meant to be,” said Alyssa Pritchett, junior. Without these nightly talks, “the trip wouldn’t have been nearly as good,” said Hannah Stevenson, junior. Some sophomore and junior girls after enjoying a tour of Along with the analysis of the shows, students were encouraged to look for the creativity and beauty of God in each Lincoln Center. Photo by: Mrs. Kathy Eichelberger production, and how He was working to reveal Himself through them. “I saw God through the actors and messages they portrayed” because “their amazing talents all come from God and
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26 students made life long memories in South Dakota Claire Sanden Quick Reads Editor
This summer, 26 rising seniors alongside 6 teachers went to South Dakota on a summer seminar. The students signed up for the trip back in the fall and had been looking forward to it all year. On June 8, the students arrived at school with all their clothes and all other supplies for the trip and began packing everything up into their huge backpacks including having their tents, boots, and sleeping bags and mats all attached to their backpacks: let’s just say they were not light or easy to carry. With only three days until they headed out on American Airlines to Rapid City, South Dakota. The entire group arrived at the airport around 5:30 AM, but no one was even tired because everyone could not wait to get the trip going. After about a three hour flight, they touched down in Rapid City and were ready to begin their day. After eating Subway in the vans, they started off for the two hour drive to Wounded Knee. “I thought it was most interesting when we had the group discussions and read the articles about the Native Americans living there. There is so much poverty and sickness in their community, and seeing Wounded Knee only made it sadder,” said Amanda Espy, senior. After discussion of the devastation at Wounded Knee, they began the one hour drive to the famous Wall Drug Store where the students were able to walk around and explore the small, quirky little town and buy souvenirs. “It was decently overwhelming. It was jam packed with different stores- lots of them being really weird. But I did get some pretty cool sunglasses,” said Thomas Shultz, senior. Wall Drug was the students’ last day of being in real civilization. Once they finished up there, they headed to their campground for the next few days on the edge of the Badlands. The students set up their tents as soon as they arrived Students enjoyed a stay in the hotel as a well needed break. and settled in. Next, their guide, Caleb, started preparing Photo by: Claire Sanden hamburgers and hotdogs for the kids. After dinner, the students took a short hike down into the Badlands and then headed back up to the campsite for a campfire. After that, they started getting ready for bed for the first time without bathrooms. It was a tough adjustment for everyone, especially since they were going to have to use the bathroom outside. The first night was tough since it was super windy and the tents made a lot of noise when the wind blew. The next day, everyone was up and out of bed early to head to Dan O’Brian’s buffalo farm. At the farm the students got to experience seeing buffalo up close and personal. They also got to see something other South Dakota Seminar’s have never experienced: they got to see a buffalo skinned and prepared to be sold for meat. “It smelled so bad in there, but it was so cool to see. I have never seen anything like that before. I also loved to see buffalo and their babies just freely walking about. It was such a unique experience,” says Molly Andersen. It was one of the most displeasing smells the kids have never experienced, but it was definitely something different to experience. After eating bison burgers at O’Brian’s house, the students headed back to the vans and off to Mount Rushmore.
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News After about an hour or so drive, everyone arrived at Mount Rushmore. Many kids were awestruck by the grandness of the monument. After all these activities of the day, they headed back to the campsite to prepare for their next long day ahead of them: hiking down into the Badlands. The kids woke up bright and early and packed up everything they would need for the next two days and packed up their tents and loaded the vans up. Next came the hard part. Caleb took the students down into the Badlands a very difficult and tricky way, with the second half of the group getting separated and taking a different route down. Both courses were very difficult, but the majority of the teachers were in the second group. “That descent into the Badlands was the most difficult I have ever done. I’ve been on this trip so many times and I’ve never done something that tough before,” said Warren Smith, biology teacher The entire descent took almost 2 hours of exhausting work with their 40-50 pounds. After meeting up with the rest of the group, everyone hiked for another 2 hours to the campsite. Everyone was exhausted, hot and ready to have a nice peaceful evening. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Caleb decided to take the students on a hike up one of the mountains that was completely unstable and risky. The primitive part in the Badlands was cut short because of excessive heat and water shortage. The students headed out of the Badlands which took about 3 hours to get out of. After they arrived at the top of the Badlands, they loaded back up the vans and headed to a new campground with bathrooms and a volleyball court. After settling in, they headed to Harney Peak to hike. Mr. Dejong told the students the hike would only take about 45 minutes, when in reality it took 3 ½ to 4 hours. “I thought I was going to die. We were already exhausted from hiking out of the Badlands and then the Harney Peak hike took way longer than we expected to,” said Kiley McKee, senior. Following Harney Peak, the students headed back to the campground and began to settle in for the night. The next day, the students woke up and drove to Caleb’s shop and hang out at the park near it. The day was filled with Spike Ball, Paranoia, and other fun games. The day following that, the students went kayaking on the Missouri River and had a tough experience, which changed the course of the rest day. Instead of going back to the campground, the students spent the night in a hotel to regroup and recover. The following day was filled with fun activities to keep the kids’ minds off the previous day: mini-golfing, seeing Incredibles 2, swimming at the hotel, and pulling an all nighter since everyone had to be at the airport by 4am. “My favorite part of that day was going to Denny’s at 2am with Mr. Dejong and a few other students. None of us were even tired because we had been having fun all night doing all sorts of different things,” said Shultz. And with that, the students headed back to St. Louis, reflecting back on the amazing trip they had.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Hiking in the Holy Land Making the Bible actually come to life Ava Bidner In-Depth Editor As the cool water flowed over my head, turning my hair into a messy, golden mop and staining my clothes a dull shade of brown, nothing else in the world mattered. My head dipped back in the river, and along with the rush of water, a rush of adrenaline and faith overwhelmed me. My cousin lifted my head out of the water, and I fell into my mom’s arms, my eyes cloudy with tears. The faint sound of my family clapping in the background echoed in my ears, but all I could hear was the sound of my Father welcoming me into His Kingdom.
like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,” said Joy Bidner, my mom. For many of you, the Bible is likely a brilliant source of encouragement, wisdom, and hope, but it probably also seems slightly disconnected and difficult to relate to your busy modern, teenage life. At least that’s what it it was like for me. Bible stories were intriguing, unrealistic tales or parables involving far-off lands and characters that I could not accurately picture. I looked to the Bible for inspiration, and I had no doubt that Jesus was the Son of God, but I could not fully comprehend all that the Bible encompasses. I am not a perfect Christian. I will never be. I do not always have the right words, I have my doubts, and I am still just as sinful as every other human. A trip to Israel will not cause you to abandon all of your flaws or to walk on water, but it will show you that all of those Bible stories you have read since kindergarten are not just exaggerated fairy tales. Peter, David, King Herod, Pontius Pilate. . . they all lived, and to see proof of their existence changed my view of the Bible. It is impossible not to be changed and impacted by a trip to the Holy Land. There will always be a reason or an excuse not to go. Many are worried there is too much conflict, that the risk is too great, or that it is just not the right time to visit. But I urge you to go if you ever have the chance. Beaches or skyIn the Jordan River with my cousins after my baptism. Photo scrapers can make wonderful vacation spots, but there is really nowhere else on earth that can compare to the Holy Land. by: Ava Bidner. That’s the story of my baptism this summer. Hands down best day of my life. I professed my belief and love for my father in the Jordan River. My cousin baptized me in the same place where Jesus’ cousin, John, baptized Him 2000 years before. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Everyone has heard that simple phrase, and many have probably wondered at least for a split second what it would be like to wander the land that Jesus walked. This summer, I got to do that. To see where Jesus was born, crucified, and resurrected is truly indescribable. I hope one day you will get to experience the Holy Land for yourself because pictures and stories will never be able to do it justice. The Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked on water. The Jordan River where He was baptized. The Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus blessed us. Capernaum, “the town of Jesus.” The Wailing Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Mount of Temptation, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Nativity, the Garden Tomb, Jericho, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem. I saw it all. It was not an average trip. “Israel was absolutely life-changing and made the Bible come alive! Walking in the footsteps of Jesus filled my soul A photo I took with the Old City of Jerusalem in the back-
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ground. Photo by: Ava Bidner.
Well Worth the Wait
NEWS Opinion News
Although having thousands of cars parked at Westminster proved to be an inconvenience the net impact of the PGA Championship proved to be positive. Isabella Francois Editor-in-Chief While sitting in traffic in the Westminster parking lot that caused my normal 10 minute commute to cross country practice take around 40 minutes, I, like many other students and staff, wondered why the school decided to allow people en route to the 100th annual PGA Golf Championship to catch shuttles and park in our parking lot. At the time, it seemed like more of an inconvenience to members of the WCA community
The opputunity to see their favorite players up close and personal was an invalable oppurtunity for many fans. Photo by: Jack Martin
than something beneficial. Upon thinking about it more, I realized that the impact of allowing parking for the PGA at Westminster went beyond providing a space to service golf patrons because it allows the school an opportunity be apart of something truly historic and display its Christian character to those who would not normally be exposed to it. The PGA championship is one of the biggest events in golf as it is one of the four major championships serving as the fourth and final major of the golf season. It hosts some of the most famous names in golf such as Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka. This year was particularly special because it was the 100th annual tournament which made the appeal even greater. “I thought the PGA was a great experience and was worth Westminster being a public parking lot. It’s very rare to see the best golfers in the world and considering it was a major champi-
onship meant more people would be there and the atmosphere was awesome especially when Tiger Woods was moving up the leaderboard” says Jack Martin, a Westminster student who attend all 5 days of the tournament. On average, the PGA Championship attracts over 200,000 spectators over 5 days which is a huge audience but because this year was particularly special there was an even larger percentage of out of town visitors. Brian Hall, chief marketing officer of the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission is quoted in the St. Louis Post Dispatch saying that “the PGA of America told the St. Louis CVC that 80,000 fans have traveled [to the event] from outside the community.” The large amount of people who traveled to the PGA from other areas of the country and even the world prove to be an amazing opportunity to show what Westminster is to people who have never experienced it. By simply serving them well, Westminster can show them what a Christian school looks like and in turn, show them who God is. During an introductory speech for athletic night, Dr. Mosbacker commented on the PGA saying that “while the tournament caused a lot of chaos it also proved to have God’s hand present in it. For example, the rainstorm that caused my car to get stuck in the mud and drove thousands of people into the arena allowed them to see the ten pillars of our athletic program written on the wall, with ‘honor Jesus Christ in all things’ at the top.” However, some may still argue that the school is not a public place simply to be used by out of town strangers by an event not connected to our school but instead should prioritize those who attend the school especially with the school year about to start. But, as a Christian school we are called to be apart of the community and also serve our community well. “We are blessed to be a blessing and, as a Christian community, we desire to express love for and Christian hospitality to our neighbor. This tournament is an important event for the St. Louis region and, as a member of the community, we want to do our part to make it a success. Making our facilities available to others often involves sacrifice and inconvenience. That is fine as we are called to be servants” explains head of school Dr. Mosbacker. So instead of complaining about small inconveniences such as parking or traffic it is our duty as a Christian school to be a part of the community and serve others well through our participation in events such as these so that through our Christian character we may even lead someone to know Christ, which is the ultimate goal.
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Opinion
ENTERTAINMENT
Sleep or School? Schools starts too early for students to get enough rest Rebekah Sems Staff Writer Sleep is an important and fundamental part of every person’s life and is especially crucial in the lives of teenagers and students. Unfortunately, the early start time of school does not allow for students to get enough sleep the night before. Without plenty of sleep, students cannot perform to the best of their ability. Instead, schools, like Westminster, should start at a later time so that students can have those extra hours of sleep that are so essential for teenagers. Recent studies show that sleep affects many different parts of the human body and is even more important for teenagers who are still growing and maturing.
“Biological sleep patterns shift toward later times for both sleeping and waking during adolescence--meaning it is natural to not be able to fall asleep before 11:00 pm.” -National Sleep Foundation
For example, Better Health Channel writes that, “puberty hormones shift the teenager’s body clock forward by about one or two hours, making them sleepier one to two hours later. Yet, while the teenager falls asleep later, early school starts don’t allow them to sleep in. This nightly ‘sleep debt’ leads to chronic sleep deprivation.” When teenagers are losing sleep consistently, because of the changes their bodies are going through, they can become moody, unmotivated, and have difficulty learning well in school. If Westminster is hoping to continually improve overall academics and grades, then a later start time would allow students to focus better on school work and perform to their best ability. In addition, the social and physical tolls that students encounter daily play a major part in keeping teenagers up later and preventing them from sleep. Sports, extracurricular activities, and homework are all parts of a normal, healthy teenag-
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er’s life. While the recommended amount of sleep teenagers should get each night is 9.5 to 10 hours, most Westminster students don’t even come close to reaching that number. “I get about 6.5 to 7 hours of sleep each night. I’m too busy with after-school sports and homework to get to bed any earlier,” Madison Tucker, Junior, said. Knowing that most students lead busy and energetic lives, Westminster, and schools in general, need to adjust their start times so that students can come to school feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to learn. Finally, Westminster should consider giving their teenagers more rest because other schools in the area are already making the change. Schools in the Rockwood School District have adjusted the beginning of first hour to be thirty minutes later than normal. Marquette High School, for example, now beginns school at 8:30 instead of 8:00 so that teenagers can feel more rested and better prepared for school. The movement is taking place in schools all across the country as more and more districts are understanding the impact sleep has on its students. Westminster should also join in on helping students achieve their goals and produce work they can be proud of which can be accomplished with more sleep. Some may argue that a later start time would mean a longer day in the afternoon for students. In reality, it would only be 15 to 30 minutes longer in the afternoon, and if students are getting more sleep, that seems a small price to play. Others may point out that Westminster already has a late start every Thursday. While, that is an improvement, one late start each week is hardly enough to make a dent in the amount of sleep students actually need. Also, waking up at the same time each day helps to regulate the interal body clock that teenagers have and therefore, a late start each day would be a better solution. To improve the overall sleep and health benefits of students, Westminster should consider giving students extra time for sleep by pushing their start time back by half an hour, starting at 8:30am rather than 7:55am. School would then end at 3:30 and school sports would start soon after. This would allow students the ability to sleep in more and feel more rested and refreshed for their school day ahead. Teenagers cannot control what is happening in their bodies and the hormones that are changing their sleep patterns, therefore, schools like Westminster, should pay attention to their needs and push the start time of school back by 30 minutes.
NEWS News
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ENTERTAINMENT
Football Preview In Coach Herring’s first season as Head Coach, the Wildcats struggled. This year, they return with heightened expectations and a new offense. Thomas Shultz Sports Editor
The Westminster Wildcats finished the 2017-18 season 4-6 overall (2-4 in the Metro League) and while that may not be one for the record books, the team never hesitated to learn from last year and get back to work for this season. Entering his second his second year at Westminster, Head Coach Keith Herring looks to continue to build up the Wildcat program. Before coming to WCA last year, he was the Head coach of an 11-2 Brentwood team, so naturally expectations
The Wildcats take the field for their first game of the 2018 season against St. Mary’s. Photo by: Tommy Briner
were high. However, the Cats only improved 1 game last year, a far stretch from the playoff run people were hoping for. “Improvement doesn’t happen all at once,” said Coach Herring, “it had to start with some small steps before we can make a big leap, but this year we have the drive and talent to make a big leap.” One such leap is the opening up of the passing game. Last year the Cats had almost 3 times as many rush plays as they had passing, but this year Herring plans to add more variety in the play calling. This updated offensive approach sets the responsibility on QB, Lane Davis’ shoulders. Davis, a junior, started JV as a freshman and backed up QB Chad Briden last year. Davis has shown the ability to throw both in the pocket and while on the move, making him a very real threat to defenses everywhere. “We’re excited about the flexibility he gives to our offense,” said offensive coordinator Grecko, “he has the chance and the talent to take this team a long way.” But football is a team sport. A QB cannot be effective without those surrounding him, and Davis’ supporting cast gives
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Westminster Christian Academy ● www.thewildcatroar.com
him multiple weapons to work with. Starting with his receivers, the Cats look for big years from seniors Jerram Adams and Colin Clark, and TE Isaac Johnston and Maxwell Burns. Adams lead the team with 221 receiving yards last year and 3 receiving TDs on 19 attempts. Clark, who didn’t play with the team last year, looks to prove himself as a wideout and help balance the field. Johnston and Burns add a key hight factor to the receiving core and look to bully linebackers all season In the back field, the Cats once again turn to senior Atlin Hall to be the main source of yards from the Running Back position. Last year Hall lead the team in all categories with 11 TD, 717 yards, on 116 attempts. But this year, the Cats look to take some of the load off Hall by working sophomore Denver Parker (RB) and senior Zach Brasier (FB) into the rotation. “By giving [Hall] some more rest, we think he’ll be more effective throughout the year,” commented OC Grecko. However as all dads will tell you, defense wins championships and the Cats have a strong core lead by seniors Isaac Johnston (DE), John Fregene (DE), and Zach Brasier (MLB) up front and Atlin Hall (S) and junior Ben Straub (S) in the secondary. “We have really high expectations for the season,” said Clark, “We’ve got something special this year and we know it. Everyone’s put in the work to get prepared for the season and it’s time to show what we can do.” In their first game of the season, they dominated the St. Mary’s Dragons by a score of 44-22, totaling 475 yards of offense, 208 of them being passing. They play Liberty High School in their second game on Saturday at 1 p.m.
NEWS News
SOFTBALL SEASON PREVIEW
Veteran talent leads group of newcomers into season full of question marks Nathaniel Sems Staff Writer With more than three-fourths of the team playing varsity for the first time, head coach Dan Petke is hopeful but isn’t exactly sure what the upcoming season might look like for his Westminster Wildcat softball team. The Wildcats return just five players from last year’s team; a team that went 8-15 and lost to Borgia in the district final, but these five players provide the team with a strong core of veteran experience.
a .373 OBP, and Mabry drove in 16 runs a season ago. Aside from these five, however, not much is certain. “Many of the new girls this year haven’t played softball since elementary school, and some have never even played at all” said Petke.
A parade of new players, most of whom have never before played the game of softball, joined the team this “I have a lot of confidence in the girls coming back fall dispelling any question on if there was even going to be a softball team. Of these eighteen new girls, fourteen will be playing organized softball for the very first time and the other four have played no more than two years. With so many new players, some of the goals for the team have shifted. The team still wants to play hard, show good sportsmanship, and have fun, but the five returning players also wanted to stress the importance of making sure all the girls have the confidence to play. “Our goals are to teach the new girls the game of softball and how to be confident and comfortable on the field” said Dani Mabry. “There have been a few challenges, but we have to focus more on teaching and setting a good, positive example for the girls.”
Reese Earleywine hits a double during a preseason game. Photo by: Thomas Shultz
The job of determining which girls will fill the holes left by last year’s seniors hasn’t been an easy task for from last season” said Petke. “Between the five of them, Coach Petke. However, through the first several pracwe have pitching, catching, and solid infield play. These tices and a preseason jamboree, in which the Wildcats are extremely important in the game of softball.” won twice and tied once, several girls have stood out and made a case for themselves. Senior captain and starting pitcher Dani Mabry has played varsity for four years and has logged 85% of the “I think all of the new girls have strong skills in differinnings pitched by the entire staff in the last two seasons ent areas” said Mabry. “But I’m especially excited to see while hitting over .300 during that span. The offense is how Rachel Arndt, Carsyn Beachy, Katie Hobaugh, and led by two juniors, Lauren Gates and Reese Earleywine, Marty Briner do.” who have both started all three years they’ve been on the team. Gates led the team with a .443 batting average These newcomers had a chance to showcase their last year while handling most of the catching duties, and talent as the Wildcats opened up their season tying Saint Earlewine slugged 3 home runs along with knocking in 23 Pius X followed by a win against Trinity the followig RBI’s. Nicki Mabry, sophomore, and Katelynn Graham, week. senior, also return to boost the offense as Graham had
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ENTERTAINMENT
FIELD HOCKEY PREVIEW
Volleyball Preview
Experience leads a team looking to build off of last year’s historic success
New coach and returning starters look to make volleyball prominent again
Koby Schmer Staff Writer
In only its fourth year as a varsity program at Westminster, the Wildcat Field Hockey team advanced to the sweet sixteen in 2017. With the best record in program history and a dedicated group of seniors, the cats seemed unstoppable last year. This coming fall, they are lacking multiple seniors from last year that were key components to the success they had. However, with a senior heavy team, the coaching staff and the team are convinced that they are ready for another year of success. This year’s Varsity Field Hockey team has a roster containing fifteen seniors, six juniors, and one sophomore. Along with new players added to the club, two new coaches were added. Coach Adams is a student at Missouri Baptist who graduated from Westminster. She was a former
Morgan Sickels waits for the ball at midfield. Photo by: Tommy Briner captain for the team during her time, and she was a player who helped mold it from a new team into the team it is now. The other coach is Coach Taranhike, or Coach T as most players call her. Coach T played field hockey collegiately at Lindenwood University. Both of these coaches are looking to bring knowledge and experience as players to the team this year. In this year’s lineup, three players in particular received metro league all conference awards in 2017. Morgan Sickels, a senior this year, received first team all conference while also being one of the leading scorers in the area. Sickels has been truly showing her talents at the forward position these past years on the varsity team. The two other athletes who received second team all conference are the Clement sisters, Sophie, a senior, and Grace, a sophomore. Sophie has defined herself as a midfielder who is fast and also has an explosive shot, while Grace is a quick defensive player who challenges any player who gets in her way. Coming off of her 300th career win last year, Head Coach Schmer looks to build off of last year’s success with her new team. “We lost a lot of seniors and key players coming off last year, but we are confident that we are fully reloaded and ready for a repeat performance,” says Schmer. She also comments on the competitiveness of her schedule for the coming year, saying that “no opportunity is to be taken for granted, for even though we are playing powerhouse teams such as reigning state champions Villa as well as MICDS, I am confident in my girls that we will be able to put up a fight. We will take it one game at a time while staying confident against any time that stands in our way.”
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Westminster Christian Academy ● www.thewildcatroar.com
Jimmy Obertop Staff Writer
The girls volleyball team is looking forward to a fresh start this season with seven new girls and a new coach. With two returning seniors and three returning juniors, the lady Wildcats are looking for leadership from these five returning starters. One of these returnees, senior Emma Gustafson, has taken on a leadership role very quickly and coach Crutcher noticed this right away.
Westminster’s volleyball team gathers for timeout. Photo by: Hope Burkey “Every time that Emma steps on the court she brings nothing but positive energy. This leadership from her helps our team to work together and constantly encourage one another on the court” said Crutcher. After losing many talented seniors, coach Crutcher has been able to find girls to fill each spot that was missing. The team now has five girls who are over six feet tall and many defensive specialists who will help to keep the team stay balanced on the court. “We need to have a better start to the season, hopefully we can finish the season with a winning record.” Senior Sarah-Elizabeth Williams who has recently committed to the University of Northern Alabama and has high hopes for her fourth and final year on the Varsity Volleyball team. The team already has a great relationship with their new coach who is more engaged in the girls’ lives outside of volleyball and very energetic which helps the team to always have fun playing the game they love. “Coach Crutcher cares about everyone on the team and wants all of us to develop every day” said Williams. Come support the girls volleyball team at 5:15 on September 5th at Ursaline Academy as the team looks to get their first win.
NEWS News
Girls Tennis Preview
The Tennis Team has high aspirations as they return from a strong season. Tommy Briner Staff Writer
One of the most popular fall sports for the girls at Westminster is the tennis team. Known for its tightly knit community, the team remains competitive every year. Last year, the team’s stars included Freshman, Izzy Cancila and Junior, Hattie Means, both of whom return this year with increased expectations. “Last year we had the best season we’ve had during my years here,” said varsity player and current Senior Hattie Means. However, she is not satisfied with last year’s result. “We should be a strong team this year and the talent in our lineup is deep. We have high hopes for post season and hope that this is our best year yet.” Besides strengthening their roster this year, they’ve also moved down a class, from Class 2 to Class 1, in order to be more competitive. “Last year we lost in the second round of team districts, but this year should be better because we moved classes. We moved from class 2 to class 1 which should give us an easier road to state,” said Cancila. This year, the varsity team is made up of ten players from all four grades: Senior Hattie Means, Senior Kiley McKee, Se-
nior Jessie Kunkel, Senior Emily Fentress, Junior Journee Henry, Junior Josie Christen, Junior Caroline Kopsky, Sophomore Izzy Cancila, Sophomore Hailey Colley, and Freshman Avery Surber. Journee Henry, who played on varsity in 2017, is excited for this season and believes the team is much better this year than they were last year. “The team is looking extremely promising as we hope to move past districts and eventually to state,” she said. Last year, the varsity team made it to Districts, but lost to Lafayette by a score of 5-1, an early ending to a season they thought would go longer, but this year they’ll return as a better, more experienced team poised to contend long into the fall. Aside from their aspirations as a team, some individual players have personal goals they’re hoping to fulfill this year. “My personal goal is to go to state and do well,” said Cancila. Overall, the girls tennis team is set up for success this year, and it should be a great season for them. “I love getting out on the court with a hunger to win and
Cross Country Preview
Injuries plague team hoping to return to state for third consecutive year. Amanda Espy Staff Writer
The girls cross country team has earned an incredible reputation from running at State the past two years and winning the District Championship in 2017. But this season the team is off to a rough start with ninety percent of the team having some type of injury. Ashley Moellenhoff, senior, who is dealing with a hip injury, says “The hardest part about being injured isn’t the pain, but not being able to do what I love with my team. I try to push myself as hard as I can, but I have to listen to my body in order to get better.” Even though the girls are unable to run, that hasn’t stopped them from pushing themselves in several other hard workouts that mimic running. Ava Hollman, junior, says, “We’ve been water jogging, biking, swimming laps and doing strength exercises to help keep us in shape for when we can run again. Cross-training is almost more challenging than running because there’s not a specific destination to reach; you just have to keep going till you reach a certain time.” This isn’t the first time the girls time has faced several injuries and it most likely won’t be the last. But despite not being able to run, the girls are still determined to compete well
this season and hopefully make it back to state for round three. The first meet will be held at Sullivan High School on September 4th and the girls are hoping to have at least five varsity runners compete. Come support the team as they kick off the season.
The cross country team poses for a picture. Photo by: Ashley Moellenhoff
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