MARCH 2019
THE 800
NEWS
Rewiring The Death of Free Is St. Louis Intelligence “Better Together” STUCO: WHAT Speech YOU NEED TO KNOW Pg. 12-13 Pg. 14-15 Pg. 22-25
Westminster Christian Academy
PG. 16-19
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THE 800 STAFF
THE 8
EDITOR IN CHIEF ISABELLA FRANCOIS, JUNIOR
PRINT EDITOR NATALIE FORD, JUNIOR
SPORTING WCA EDITOR THOMAS SCHULTZ, SENIOR
MEDIA EDITOR BENNIE ANDERSON, JUNIOR
NEWS EDITOR GABE CARADONNA , SENIOR
FEATURES EDITOR AMANDA ESPY, SENIOR 2 STAFF
800 STAFF
STUDENTS SERVING STUDENTS
OPINION EDITOR ASHLEY MOLLENHOFF, SENIOR
QUICK READS CLAIRE SANDAN, SENIOR
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ALLISON EICHENLAUB, SENIOR
IN DEPTH EDITOR AVA BIDNER, JUNIOR
SPORTING PRINT EDITOR TOMMY BRINER, JUNIOR
THE 800 STAFF PEARSON GEORGES • ZACH CANCILA • ALEX CHEN • LEA DESPOTIS • DYLAN ELIAS • LAUREN FLEMING • EMMA GORE • JOURNEE HENRY • COLE HINTZ • AVA HOLLMANN • JOEY KEANE • CAROLINE MEGOWN • SYDNEY MOORE • MAX NELSON • JIMMY OBERTOP • MEGAN ROCHE • KOBY SCHMER • NATHANIEL SEMS • REBEKAH SEMS • GRACE SKILJAN • GRIFFIN THOMAS
STAFF 3
CONTENTS
FEATURES
MARK GEISZ PG. 7 DRAMA QUEEN PG. 8 PERSONALITIES UPDATE PG. 10 TEACHER SPEAK PG. 11 STUCO:WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW PG. 16-18
4 CONTENTS
ENTERTAINMENT BOOK REVIEW PG. 12-13 10 WAYS TO SURVIVE SECOND SEMESTER PG. 14-15
OPINIONS
DATING IN HIGH SCHOOL PG. 20 ONLINE SCHOOL PG. 21 STARBUCKS PG. 22 AIRPODS PG. 23 BLINDED BY THE IVY COLORED LIGHT PG. 24
SPORTS
BOYS/GIRLS BASKETBALL PG. 26-27 KILEY MCKEE PG. 28 MARGO PG. 29 BASEBALL PREVIEW PG. 30 GIRLS LACROSSE PREVIEW PG. 31 SOCCER PREVIEW PG. 32 GOLF/TRACK PREVIEWS PG. 33 TENNIS/VOLLEYBALL/BOYS LACROSSE PG. 34 WINTER SPORTS EDITS PG. 35
CONTENTS
STAFF ED
STAFF ED
THE NEED TO LEAD
The leadership changes that will occur soon at WCA are designed to find people that fit these descriptions, effectively guide and equip them with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead, and ultimately to better the community through giving students the opportunity to contribute to important conversations and strengthen relationships. In addition, leadership at WCA involves an The administration, student life team, and even current student additional aspect that surpasses all others: the desire to serve God leaders have been working together to craft what they believe is first and to let His will be done. God gives every individual unique an effective and intentional method and structure of leadership, involving STUCO (student council), as well as other current exist- talents and abilities, but Christian leaders at WCA must not only possess these character traits and gifts, but also must pray ferventing positions. The goals behind these changes are very deliberate and clear: to encourage stronger and more beneficial relationships ly and ask God for perpetual guidance and strength. between students and administration (or simply the students and In the Bible, God uses several ordinary, selfless people as prophets all faculty), to provide students with a voice and input in imand leaders to fulfill His plan on earth. People like David, Paul, portant decisions that affect them, and to provide students with Nehemiah, Joshua, Moses, Elijah, Ruth, Mary, Esther, and of applicable real-world experience, while also combining it with service to the school and the entire WCA community. See Isabella course Jesus himself were among those who dedicated their lives in service to God. They were not perfect or clean from sin or evil Francois’ story on pages 16-19 for more details on STUCO and (except Christ), but they were willing to let God use them and to the leadership changes. get their hands dirty — the ultimate sign of a Christian leader. With the new changes in student leadership occurring this year and next year at Westminster, students of all grade levels are prompted to consider whether they would like to participate in any aspect of leadership and what role they intend to pursue.
According to a 2018 article from the Association for Middle Level Education by Dr. Betty Edwards, chair of the Special Olympics National Education Leaders Network and former executive director of AMLE, “There is growing research demonstrating that students perform better academically, socially, and emotionally when they are meaningfully engaged, contributing members of a school with a positive, caring, equitable school climate. As adults, we often think we are the architects of a school’s culture, but we underestimate the influence and impact students have on their own school community, particularly when they are trusted and involved in school climate improvement efforts from the outset.” As this article states, student leadership (as well as the contrasting student “followership”) has the potential (if instituted correctly) to positively influence and affect not only the student leaders, but also the rest of the student body, the teachers, faculty members, and school community as a whole. Student leadership allows students the opportunity to fully use their gifts and abilities, delegate tasks, manage their time effectively, and learn how to respond to setbacks — all with a service-oriented mindset. Leadership should be truly centered around service, and while being a successful leader can be difficult and demanding at times, true leaders must learn and choose to place the needs of the community and organization above their personal needs. Therefore, leadership requires sacrifice and service, as well as many other character qualities, including persistence, dedication, confidence, humility, compassion, discipline, and strength.
While some leaders may fit the stereotypical standard of a successful and bold person of authority (often confident, loud, energetic, and encouraging), others may take on quieter and more subtle forms of a leader, with character traits like compassion, service, and kindness. After all, Jesus did not only stand before crowds to preach the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) and perform miracles — He was also the one who knelt and washed His disciples’ filthy feet (John 13). Jesus set the consummate example of who a leader is, and while we will never live up to His ideal, we can strive to become more like Him and learn to be both a leader and a follower at times. Not everyone can be a leader. And not everyone was made to be a leader. That being said, Westminster’s new student council and other leadership changes are designed to give the natural leaders (both the loud and quiet types) an opportunity to have a position and guide their peers, while also allowing the extremely vital followers to involve themselves in service and community. Centered around the desire to serve Westminster and more importantly God, STUCO and other leadership positions have the potential to be a tremendous success and to build upon Westminster’s foundations by fulfilling WCA’s vision: to “prepare and equip more young men and women to engage the world and change it for Jesus Christ.”
STAFF ED 5
TWELFTH NIGHT REVIEW
A review of the last play of the school year GABE CARADONNA NEWS EDITOR
The latest school production was the play Twelfth Night which was performed from February 21st-23rd. Twelfth Night was written by William Shakespeare in the early 1600’s in which three couples are brought together. It starts with Orsino, who is played by senior Jake Rattan, expressing his deep love for Countess Olivia, played by senior Olivia Strange. Junior Ella Polski portrays the shipwrecked Viola who disguises herself as a man named Cesario and finds herself (or himself) working for Orsino to get Olivia to fall in love with him. Things take a turn when Olivia falls in love with Viola, who she believes to be a man, and Viola falls in love with Orsino to complete the love triangle. It is very easy to get lost in a Shakespeare play, but the cast did a very good job at being vivacious so the crowd can understand what was going on. This play was bittersweet because for much of the cast this was their last play for Westminster. When talking about how this is his last play with the seniors, Junior Matthew Culligan, who played Fabian, said “It’s bittersweet because during every scene I would think this is going to be the last time I’m doing this with them.” Matthew didn’t take any of it for granted though saying, “It was really fun especially because we got to put our own spin on Shakespeare like in the tree scene.” The cast did a fantastic job at keeping the audience interested. Senior, Kyle Farrell, also did great job portraying the drunk uncle Sir Toby, bringing out many laughs and smiles from the audience. Everyone, including the cast, seemed to enjoy every second of the play. From the confusing love triangle to the exhilarating sword fight acts, there was always something to keep the audience interested in the play. Twelfth Night was a great way to end the year (for plays) for the hard working cast and crew at Westminster.
Ella Polski (Left) Jaxon Halsey (center)Tyson Jones (right) battling. Photo by: Jaxon Halsey
Tweltfh Night covor for Westinster. Photo by: Westmisnter
6 NEWS
Jaxon Halsey on stage. Photo by: Jaxon Halsey
THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN FLIP Mark Geisz Wows WCA with his Talent
AMANDA ESPY FEATURE EDITOR
Ever since Mark Geisz walked into WCA he was destined to be a star; when he is not wowing the blue crew with his acrobatic skills, he is capturing the audience’s attention with his performance in plays and musicals. His busy schedule seems near impossible to most people.
day aspect” said Geisz. Geisz describes his experience being the only male on the WCA cheer team and what its like being involved in sports that have predominantly female competitors and teammates. “It definitely has been a positive experience, but as a male your expected to do a lot of heavy lifting and are expected to tumble more and put up harder stunts” said Geisz.
Throughout his team at Westminster he has been involved Geisz has big plans for his future and hopes to continue his cheer in American Dance Troupe, cheerleading for WCA and
Mark Geisz cheering at basketball fights cancer night. Photo by: Caroline Kopsky cheer legendz, gymnastics, every single musical since the career in college. sixth grade, dance, Muny kids/teens since 2014 and on top “I’m hoping to major in biomechanical engineering or nerve of it all Mark manages a rigorous academic schedule. science in college. My ideal job would be either working with “My sisters have always been involved in dance and mu- prosthetics or help people recovering from paralysis.
sical theater so I would follow them there as a five year old Since I am taking on a very challenging major there is a chance which led me to get involved. I learned that being the only I will not be able to cheer but I am still planning on trying out boy gave me an advantage because I would get the best rolls for the cheer teams at Mizzou, Butler and Lindenwood. There in plays and musicals” said Geisz. is also a possibility that I will go into the military in order to pay for medical school and serve for seven years in the navy so then He started doing plays and musicals at WCA as a sixth grader so his acting and dancing talents were evident, but after that seven years I would come out a residential doctor” said this past year he joined the WCA cheer team and has been a Geisz. vital asset.
It is clear that Geisz has a bright future ahead, and we are so “I couldn’t tumble anymore so i joined the cheer squad but thankful for the joy and spirit he has brought to WCA through after the first year I fell in love with the energy and the game cheerleading and theater.
FEATURE 7
DRAMA QUEEN
Ella Polski steals the show in her recent show, Twelfth Night.
In the upcoming musical, Meet Me in St. Louis, Polski is a dance captain and choreographing two songs for the show. In the future, Polski hopes to continue in this line of work either as an actress or as a director.
REBEKAH SEMS AND GRACE SKILJAN STAFF WRITERS The adrenaline pumps through the veins of the performers as they wait, standing behind the curtain. Ella Polski, junior, waits for the lights to come up and the show to start. She takes a deep breath, then steps into the spotlight, taking on the character she portrays. Polski has always loved theatre, but did her first show as an eighth grader in Alice in Wonderland Jr. as Small Alice. The show encouraged her to keep going with theatre as she developed a love for the spotlight and the people. “I love that there’s so much freedom in theatre with the different ways to play a character,” said Polski, “when the hard work put into a show mixes with the creativity, it’s so much fun and that’s what I love so much about theatre.” Polski has been in seven productions and currently in her eighth show at Westminster. She recently finished Twelfth Night, as Viola, the main character.
Ella performs in Twelfth Night as the maib charater, Viola. Photo by: Ella Polski
“I hope to audition for colleges, but I know that is a hard career to pursue, so I at least want to look into film and/or directing as a “Twelfth Night was my favorite show because the language was so beautiful, the cast was so committed, and the story was major,” Polski said. such a fun one to tell,” said Polski. Whatever the future holds, one thing is clear for Polski: she She also shared that while all the shows at Westminster have wants to continue to be involved with theatre in any way possibeen a blast, Twelfth Night was one of the coolest productions ble. she’s been in. Even though Polski looks forward to pursuing acting in the fu“We had original music, an incredible set, and a professional ture, she still is enjoying her time now with the people and shows come to design costumes. It was so special and such an amaz- at Westminster. ing experience,” Polski said. Theatre causes close friendships between cast members and reMany who know Polski have described her as committed and sults in many memories made. Polski shared several stories about passionate about theatre and that she is always doing her abso- the fun times she’s had with the cast. lute best to embody a character. “One time during rehearsal for You Can’t Take it With You, “Ella is so dedicated to her performances,” said Lauryn Rhodes, Mr. Butz let us do whatever we wanted and not even follow the junior, “she dyes her hair for roles when needed and also is a script. It was insane but one of my most favorite rehearsals ever,” laughed Polski. choreographer for dance numbers in musicals.” Dance is another aspect of Polski’s theatrical skills as she danc- We are all excited to go support Ella in her upcoming show and wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors. es not only for shows but also on her own at her studio. “I love to choreograph and do it for my friends at my dance studio in my free time as well as for Westminster,” said Polski.
8 FEATURE
MY ADOPTION STORY EMMA GORE STAFF WRITER
Adoption stories are different for each person. Each person coming from a variety of difficult backgrounds. Adoption holds a special place in my heart because 3 out of 4 of the kids in my family are adopted. Adoption gives those women like my mom an option to start a family while also saving a child. Every parent who puts up a child for adoption, is doing it for the childs best interest becasue they know that they will not be able to take care of them. Adoption is important because there are kids out there in bad situations whose parents are looking for a better life for them. After you get married, settle down, and start thinking about starting a family, I would encourage thinking about adopting a child. There will always be kids out there in need of a family that better suits them. Whether you are able to have kids, unable to have kids, single parent, or any type of situation, any family has the oportunity to give kids another chance to be in a family. “I can still remember the orphanage smelled of boiled cabbage.” It all started when my parents Kathy and Dan were married in the year 1999. My Dad already had a son from a previous marriage whose name is Chris. Although he is my half brother, we don’t see him any different. My mom could not have a baby and was called to adopt from a country called Belarus in Eastern Europe. A group called Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri reached out to my family and informed my parents of the kids in Belarus who are in the orphanage. My parents started the process in 2001 and took them 11 months to finally start the journey of going to Belarus and getting us. At the orphanage the kids were split up by age and each age group were all in one room with one bathroom to all share. The kids ranged from ages of nine months to three years old. My parents stayed in Belarus for 1 week finishing up paperwork and waiting till we are ready to come home. My parents finally made it home from a 13 hour trip back to St. Louis. 6 years later my mom called for a family meeting. She told us we were going to get another sibling. The birth mom lived in California. When we were younger my mom did not tell us the real reasons why our birth parents could not take care of us, but as we’ve grown up we learned that Max’s birth mom was a drug addict. 9 months later after that family meeting, my parents flew out to California to pick up my brother. My mom was in the delivery
room and that day they got another child. We all together as a family agreed on the name Max. My parents stay in California prolonged a couple days because Max’s birth mom went missing and they needed her to sign the final papers giving the “OK” for my parents to take Max home. She eventually showed up after 2 days of being missing. She came back and my parents got to sign the papers, officially giving Max over to them. This is how my family came to be. Growing up learning about my adoption story has given me a special outlook and empathy to those in foster care or in orphanages. My brothers and I were fortunate enough to have found our parents, but there are kids who haven’t found those people yet. I have gone on mission trips to orphanages and our family as a whole has donted to those in need because we knew personally what its like for those kids. I know when I am becoming an adult and when I’m ready to start a family, I am going to adopt.
Above: Orphage where Emma lived in for about a year
Above: Emma and her Mom playing at the orphanage
FEATURE 9
“IGNORANCE IS BLISS...EXCEPT IN SELF-AWARNESS.”
aholic. Extraversion is a term most people are comfortable with and know already, but neuroticism probably is not a well known word. Neuroticism shows the tendency that a person has to respond
Different types of personality tests share new and unique perspectives of emotionally to events. A high percentage would determine that they feel emotions at a high level and at times they can people’s complex emotions.
Rebekah Sems Staff Writer
In the last issue, I wrote about the different types of personalities and the qualities that make up each person. However, I did not go into detail about the tests and accuracy of them. I decided to take several different types of online tests to discover which ones were most accurate and how they chose to ask questions in order to determine what
be overwhelming. I loved this test because it was a different way to approach testing personalities. At the end of the test it also gives in length descriptions of how people respond in situations. While I enjoyed taking this test because it shows a different side of my personality, I found that while it was mostly accurate, there were parts that were not exactly me. However, I suggested for my friends and family members to take the test because it gives more depth and a new angle to the complex personalities that make up humans. The most accurate test I have taken so far, was the Enneagram test. Many people have heard of this test because it has recently earned a high popularity. The Enneagram test is an old test that dates back to a Christian monk named Evagrius. Later a diagram was made in the 1970s to depict the nine types of the Enneagram. The nine types are the Perfectionist, the Helper, the Performer, the Romantic, the Investigator, the Loyalist, the Enthusiast, the Challenger, and the Peacemaker.
The different types of personalities in an enneagram test. Photo by: Rebekah Sems type of personality I have. I decided to take a personality test by using the Who Am I? Test. This test used pictures and five main categories to help me discover how I respond in situations and how other people see me. I enjoyed taking this test because it showed me how I react in stressful situations and the ways in which I cope with life. After taking the test, it gave me my percentages in the five categories of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. A high percentage in openness means that the test-taker is imaginative and comfortable with change and variety. Conscientiousness determines how they work, a low percentage would mean they work on an impulse and a high percentage would point to being a perfectionist and work-
10 FEATURE
The test asks questions similar to the Myers Briggs test and the results tell the test-taker their type and wing type. The wing type is one of the numbers on either side of the test-taker’s dominant type on the diagram that they gravitate toward. The arrow that points from another number across the diagram toward the dominant type determines which type they act like when they are feeling safe and secure, and an arrow that points away from their number is the type they act most like when they are feeling stressed and unsafe. I found this test to be extremely accurate because it gives very deep and long descriptions about the type that you are given. In fact, I was so amazed by this test that I found a book explaining the test and types in further detail. The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile gives descriptions and situations for each type and explains how each type acts in relationships, stress, as children, at work, and also gives advice on how to overcome the hard parts of their personality, but also how to use their type in a God-honoring way. The book take a Christian approach to how each human is created in a special and unique way. After taking these tests I have found that each shows deeper and different angles of the complex personalities humans have. What I have concluded is that discovering who you are and how you respond in situations is not only beneficial to you but also others. As Ian Morgan Cron says, “Ignorance is bliss-except in self-awareness.”
TEACHER
TEACHER SPEAK
ALLISON EICHENLAUB ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
KATHY EICHELBERGER DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS
KATHY EICHELBERGER HAS BEEN TEACHING AT WESTMINSTER FOR 19 YEARS AND IS CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS.
Mrs. Eichelberger acting in Wizard of Oz. Photo by: Kathy Eichelberger
Q: DID YOU PLAN TO BE A TEACHER WHEN YOU WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL?
A: YES. I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER FROM THE AGE OF 5. DURING MY SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, I TOOK A CLASS CALLED EXPLORATORY TEACHING WHERE I WENT TO THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR AN HOUR A DAY FOR A SEMESTER. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT TEACHING?
A: I LOVE ALL AGES OF KIDS AND THE INTERACTIONS I GET TO HAVE WITH THEM. I REALLY ENJOY THE VARIETY OF EACH DAY.... MY JOB IS NEVER BORING!
Q: WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
A: I THINK ONE OF THE BEST PIECES OF ADVICE I HAVE EVER HEARD WAS “DO WHAT YOU LOVE.” I THINK YOU SHOULD ALWAYS TRY BE DOING WHAT ENERGIZES YOU. TRY TO FIND WHAT YOU DO WELL AND LET GOD WORK THROUGH YOU IN THAT!
Q: WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST STUDENTS DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?
A: MOST STUDENTS DO NOT KNOW THAT I WORKED AT WCA IN THE 90’S AND THEN I TOOK NINE YEARS OFF TO BE WITH MY KIDS. I TAUGHT A BUNCH OF THE PARENTS WHO NOW HAVE KIDS HERE!
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY?
A: MY FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY IS RIDING IN THE BACKSEAT OF OUR STATION WAGON. WE TRAVELLED FREQUENTLY FROM WHERE I GREW UP, IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS, TO BRANSON MISSOURI BECAUSE MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED THERE IN THE 70’S, AND I LOVED VISITING THEM.
Q: WHAT IS THE MOST SATISFYING THING ABOUT DIRECTING A MUSICAL/SHOW?
A: I LOVE DIRECTING SHOWS. MY FAVORITE PART IS GETTING A HUGE GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER TO MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE THE PROCESS, THE HARD WORK AND THE JOY IN CREATING STORIES!
Q: WHAT WERE YOU LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL?
A: I WAS PRETTY INVOLVED IN HIGH SCHOOL, NOT ONLY IN THE ARTS- CHOIR AND THEATER, BUT ALSO IN TENNIS AND SOFTBALL. I HAD A BROTHER A YEAR OLDER THAN ME AND WE USED TO SING DUETS TOGETHER! I ALSO HELD SOME POSITIONS IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT.
FEATURE 11
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell presents a fascinating glimpse into the extraordinary capacity of first impressions.
LEA DESPOTIS STAFF WRITER
Photo By: Pexels
Every conscious moment the human mind confronts a perpetual stream of decision-making processes with infinite possibilities and outcomes. In fact, an individual is tasked to make 33,000 decisions throughout the course of a day. That equates to roughly 2,000 decisions every hour—and one decision every 2 seconds. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking explores the mystique behind those first 2 seconds.
As the author of five New York Times best-selling books and one of TIME’s 100 most influential thinkers, world-renowned Gladwell examines decision-making and judgement and how the mind unconsciously leaps to instant conclusions. As a master of synthesis and radical re-thinking, Gladwell probes into the intricacies of the human mind and unravels theories that challenge conventional views of first impressions.
memorizing. Gladwell possesses the rare gift to connect seemingly disparate events and spin them into page-turning stories that promise to capture the attention of any reader. Incorporating in-depth social science research, Blink elaborates on the human capacity to sift huge amounts of information, isolate critical details, blend data, and systematically arrive at astonishingly rapid conclusions. The mind derives these snap decisions from the thinnest slices of experience that simultaneously merge an amalgam of beliefs, attitudes, values, experiences, and education. These shocking snap judgments — so-called “thin slicing” — highjack reasoning and define our decision-making capabilities by finding patterns in situations from narrow slices of experience.
“We thin-slice because we have to,” explains Gladwell, “And we come to rely on that ability because there are lots of hidden fists out there, lots of situations where careful attention to the details of a very thin slice, even for no more than a second or two, can tell us an awful lot.” --Malcolm Gladwell
With real-life scenarios, the reader travels around the world and across disciplines, engaging intriguing pheThe novelty of Malcolm Gladwell’s nomena of art, music, police shootings, phenomenal #1 million-copy bestseller Moving quickly through a series of book rests in his insightful analysis fascinating stories, Gladwell seamlessly politics, marriage, consumer testing, war, and athletics. Through the variety of the revolutionary capacity of our ties together moving narratives with subconscious, all within the proverbial psychological and neuroscientific stud- of examples, Gladwell illustrates the applicability of rapid cognition blink of an eye. ies. He smoothly interweaves riveting and creates a timely relevance to an anecdotes, creating an entertaining audience of diverse backgrounds and masterpiece that is nothing short of experiences.
12 ENTERTAINMENT
By illuminating the innate backstage potential within the human mind, Blink offers an enlightening vision into the way we can make sense of the world and interpret the preponderance of clues surrounding us.
“We are innately suspicious of this kind of rapid cognition,” Gladwell observes, “We assume that long, methodical investigation yields more reliable conclusions than a snap judgment.
But in fact, decisions made very quickly can be With the unpredictability of instinct, Blink challengevery bit as good as de- human es readers to balance their own cisions made cautiously rapid judgments and conscious and deliberately.” deliberations to effectively harness one’s decision-making potential.
--Malcolm Gladwell However, Gladwell also devotes considerate attention to the deceptive nature in these snap judgments based on predetermined stereotypes. He distinguishes good ones from bad ones and highlights how our instincts can sometimes lead us astray.
With resounding praise, I recommend Blink to anyone ready for a captivating read presented by a gifted storyteller and master of social science. If you have yet to learn how to trust your own judgement, I encourage you to consider mine: Read Blink, and let it reshape your world.
ENTERTAINMENT 13
AVA BIDNER, IN-DEPTH EDITOR
T O P
1 0 W A Y S S U R V I V E
T O
MARCH
SECOND SEMESTER Christmas and New Year’s are long past gone. Spirit Week has sadly come to an abrupt close. The rain and constant flurries struggle to break up the incessantly cloudy skies. But no snow days. Spring break is a distant hope in the future. Nothing to look forward to — no long vacations, no holidays, no big events — just endless school days and the constant grind. And even the nonstop four day weeks add to the struggle, forcing every test, project, essay, quiz, and assignment to be crammed into the few classes we have each week.
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2019
Okay, so maybe this is a bit of an exaggeration; I mean it’s not that bad — but it’s not that good, either. So what can you do to make the long, gloomy days a little better when senioritis (or junioritis, or even seventh-grade-itis) begins to set in? Here’s a list of the top ten ways to survive second semester when nothing seems exciting!
Do something fun (and new) on one of the days off or even a regular weekend! Find a new breakfast place with a friend, go see a movie, or explore an area of St. Louis that you’ve never been to before. Get out of bed and log out of Netflix and social media for a day. Sometimes just getting out of the house can work wonders for boredom and sad, gloomy days.
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Try a new hobby! 3
Get outside (even if it’s rainy or cold)! Take your dog for a walk, go for a hike somewhere you’ve never been, or try geocaching. Maybe the sun will even come out! A breath of fresh air can give you a whole new perspective when the days seem long, boring, and monotonous. “I always think it’s helpful to take a break from homework and go outside to play basketball with my brothers. When I come back inside, I am more focused and ready to really get my work done,” said Rebekah Sems, staff writer.
14 ENTERTAINMENT
Have you always wanted to try watercolor, ukulele, or baking (some of my favorite hobbies ;))? Do something new, interesting, and productive on a Saturday afternoon by expanding your list of activities and maybe even discovering a passion you never knew you had! Get a friend involved if you want — or spend some time alone (no shame either way).
Read a book!
No, I don’t mean that book you are supposed to be reading for your English class — I mean a book that you want to read just for fun, your choice. Reading isn’t stupid or a waste of time — in fact, it is one of the easiest ways to learn and the simplest form of entertainment. Go to a bookstore (Mr. Hughes suggests Half Price Books, and I would be happy to give you some other recommendations :)), and pick something that you’re actually excited about. Fiction, non-fiction, self-help, fantasy, comics, classics, mystery, science fiction, biographies, whatever! The options are seriously endless, and you’ll realize how much reading can do for you and your attitude. Grab a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and take the time to sit, slow down, and read. And go read Lea Despotis’ book review Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking and her infographic on book recommendations!
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Get rid of your bad habits!
Change up your studying habits or spots!
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If you are that kid who has pretty much never eaten a vegetable or who hasn’t gotten a good night’s sleep in seven years, try to leave your bad habits behind. Improve your diet, make an effort to eat breakfast in the morning, stop drinking so much coffee, or actually try to get some sleep during the week. I’m just as guilty as anyone, but sometimes a healthier meal or a few more hours of sleep can improve your mood and make the whole day better.
Maybe all these ideas sound great — if you had the time. So, if you just can’t seem to make the time for anything more than school, extracurriculars, and homework, find ways to bring fun and excitement into your everyday life. Go to a library on a weekend or weeknight instead of staying in your room, and find a cozy nook. Try waking up bright and early instead of staying up until midnight or later to finish that paper or project. Maybe study with a friend if you always study alone (or don’t), or if you always study with others, learn how to study on your own. Or set a timer and try to finish an assignment or two by the time it rings. Change it up, and see if something new works.
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“I often struggle with getting distracted while I’m Start journaling! working, so I like to try a new coffee shop because I find I am more productive and focused when I am Like reading, writing for fun often gets a bad wrap. But it can not at home,” said Isabella Francois, editor-in-actually be really helpful and fulfilling! Writing a letter to a friend or chief. family member or journaling about your day helps you reflect on your life while also often improving your writing skills and relationships. Often just taking a few minutes to jot down what you’re grateful for or what you did on a particular day can make you smile and realize how blessed you truly are. Life isn’t all that bad.
8
Text a friend, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or sibling! Whoever it may be, text, call, or reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while. FaceTime your brother or sister at college or send an email to your grandparents that you haven’t seen since Thanksgiving or Christmas. Chances are that they will appreciate it way more than you know — and you probably will to. Make an effort to keep old friendships alive, and put a smile on someone else’s face.
10
“I journal off and on, and naturally I am an introverted person when it comes to dealing with important and deep conflicts. I would rather sort it out with myself before seeking other people, and I have found that journaling gives me more clarity before approaching a problem. Writing my thoughts and conflicts down helps me process how I should handle a situation before I actually face it,” said Ava Hollmann, staff writer.
9
Do a random act of kindness! Maybe it’s as simple as taking out the trash without a parent asking you to or taking your neighbor’s dog for a walk. It could be telling a teacher how much you appreciate him or her, making your parents breakfast, or putting a note in your friend’s locker. Often when I help make someone else’s day better, my whole day improves instantly, and life just seems a little bit happie r.
Find things to look forward to! Like I said at the beginning of this article, the dreary days of February and March and second semester can sometimes seem like there’s nothing to look forward to. After all, the holidays and Spirit Week are over, summer is far away, and school and extracurriculars are rigorous and busy. So, definitely focus on ways to make the present better, but also find things to look forward to — little or big. Dream about that vacation you are going on for spring break or even in a few months during the summer, look forward to your morning cup of coffee, or get excited for a fun movie night with your friends this weekend. Choose to make the little things in life exciting — seeing your friends at lunch, eating a Hollyberry cookie, or waiting for the 3:00 bell to sound. Sometimes it just takes a fresh new perspective on life and school to make everything seem a whole lot better. I know it’s not easy, but make an effort to be grateful for what life has to offer you right now — in St. Louis, at Westminster, in the middle of a seemingly ordinary March. ;)
ENTERTAINMENT 15
STUCO: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW With changes in the program leadership coming for the 2019-2020 school year it is important for the community to be informed. ISABELLA FRANCOIS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
There are few things that high school students hate more than change. Whether it be the walls in the hallway being painted a slightly different shade of beige or even worse, classes being 51 minutes long instead of 50 minutes (and for those students who are currently freaking out a little bit
greatest impact possible. First of all, it is important to clarify what the Student Council will actually look like. The program will consist of three tiers, so to speak. The highest tier will be the Council Officers who will go through an application process and
Director, and Spirit Director. There will be a separate election for Class Presidents but the other positions will be determined internally by the Student Council Members. The second tier is the Student Council Members who will also go through
Mrs. Brown has been an instrumental part of the leadership program at Westminster. Photo by: Ashley Woodall after reading this, don’t worry those then will be voted on by the students were just examples). But the point is, in their grade. There will be 10 counchange can be difficult even if it is for cil members per grade with positions the better. Those in charge of Student including President, Vice President Council (STUCO) understand this and Secretary, Sergeant of Arms, Treasurthey want the community to understand er, Director of Records, Public Relatheir heart behind it so it can have the tions Officer, Service Director, Social
16 IN-DEPTH
an application process and work alongside Student Council Officers to carry out the roles and responsibilities of the Student Council. They will participate on different committees and help make decisions as well but the time commitment will be less than that of the
“We wanted to give students an opportunity to engage the world and change it for Jesus Christ, which is in our vision statement, and in order to do that within the confines of student leadership, we need to have more time.” -Susie Brown
Council Officer. The third tier is the STUCO volunteers. Volunteers do not have to apply and their job is to assist STUCO with different school events such as Carnival, Christmas Banquet, etc. These different roles were created in order to allow students to contribute in a way that makes the best use of their time and talents. One of the main pillars of STUCO is that it was created for students so that they can grow in their leadership skills and have a voice in their community. “I think one of the big things is for a long time now we’ve never really had a place for kids to have a voice, a seat at the table, to discuss things that are going on, to express opinions, ideas, and changes. You guys make up the majority of our community, so it would be nice for there to be a place for [students] to practice leadership skills and be able to not just learn about leadership skills but really having to live it out and see behind the curtains, so to speak,” explains Ashley Woodall, Assistant Director of Student Life. Also, student council was created out of a desire for students to be able to grow and have opportunities to become real leaders which the current system does not allow for as there simply is not enough time. “Currently you have about 30 minutes
a week [during advisory] and you are supposed to do big things. The problem with that is that the adults have to do a lot of work behind the scenes, and it takes a lot of ownership away from you guys. There is just not as much time to grow, there is not enough time to just sit and reflect,” continues Woodall. By creating time for more deep work, students will also be able to grow in their relationship with Christ and further the school’s mission “We wanted to give students an opportunity to engage the world and change it for Jesus Christ, which is in our vision statement, and in order to do that within the confines of student leadership, we need to have more time,” said Susie Brown, Director of Student Life. Finally, STUCO hopes to build a better relationship between administration and students at Westminster so that a better understanding can be reached and perhaps students and adults can learn from each other. “Another motivation is that hopefully this will improve the relationship between adults and students because you’ll be intentionally hearing each other’s opinions and perspectives and building a better trust,” said Woodall. Members of the student life team have devoted a lot of time into making STUCO something that will benefit the Westminster community, and they
hope that students will be apart of making it better throughout the years. “There was tons of research and Mr. Muehleisen and I went and visited Lindbergh High School which is known for having one of the better STUCOs around. We have tried to learn from people who have walked through it themselves but also trying to consider that Westminster is a unique school and so trying to take what has worked in a lot of schools and tweak it so that it works best in our current school. This is going to be a very organic entity that a lot of different people speak into, and there will be changes every year hopefully for the better. This structure is not set in stone -it is what we are starting with- but I know it is going to change and students will be apart of that change,” continues Woodall. However, while the right motivations and preparation are in place, school administrators recognize that this is a big change for students and are working to do everything they can to make the transition as easy as possible and facilitate cooperation. “Please give the adults the benefit of the doubt because this is all for students and not for us. In our culture, we have an ‘us versus them’ mentality and it’s wrong. It’s not ‘us versus you’ we need each other and when we’re working together and we see each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and focus on working together imagine the possibilities” said Woodall. Another change that affects the rising
IN-DEPTH 17
“God has created really cool people designed everyone with specific gifts so the idea that we could all come together and contribute to something greater than ourselves is pretty exciting and if people could buy into that and be willing to be contributors rather than consumers then that would be pretty fun place to go to school” -Ashley Woodall
Rising seniors Sofia Sacco, Evie Cunningham,and Heidi Hightower pictured at the leadership retreat Photo by: Ashley Woodall seniors is that the Council Offithat you have been thinking of for a something that honors God and better cers from the senior class will not while. I think those 10 seniors will the community. participate in senior service as the have to sacrifice, but it will worth meetings will take place on Thursday it,” explains Woodall speaking to “God has created really cool people mornings. current juniors. designed everyone with specific gifts so the idea that we could all come “This will be hardest for [rising Overall, while this is a big change, together and contribute to something juniors] because you have lived five STUCO is designed for students greater than ourselves is pretty exciting years of the way it was, but your and its success will be determined and if people could buy into that and be senior year we are throwing a big by students. If students support willing to be contributors rather than consumers then that would be pretty change at you, and I think some of this change and work to make the fun place to go to school” concludes you will not want to give up your seprogram better through their speWoodall. nior service because that is something cific gifts and talents then it can be
18 IN-DEPTH
IN-DEPTH 19
“THE TRAGEDY OF THE ACNE-CLAD
COUPLE”
take them as the guest who sticks out like a sore thumb at JSB, then return to brooding among the tried and not-so-true classmates of WCA.
And then… you finally notice him. The one that has hung around the frays of your friend group, the one that you’ve never really taken an effort to get to know up to this point. But then you do- and it’s magical. Soon enough, you’re planning where both of you are going to college, and if STAFF WRITER We all know parents who are high school sweethearts, recent not- together, then close by, and if not close by, then as long grads that stuck it out together after graduation, and the im- distance as the earth and the moon. Because nothing can possibly mature senior couple who seem to have been born separate true love! married to each other. These couples are the end goals of many teenage relationships, and for many, high school is the When the yearbooks come out, you and your future husband excitedly read each other’s typed-up captions of each other, pearly gate that allows permittance. without any regret about the fact that those endearing words It all starts in freshman year. After breaking ties from those will be seared in that thick book forever, for better or for worse. trivial eighth grade relationships that may have consisted of anything from holding hands, attending mixers, or even the elusive first kiss, you’re ready for the romantic utopia of high school.
A summation of relationships at Westminster from a female perspective
AVA HOLLMANN
From the very first day, you are pleased to know that High School Musical really was an accurate depiction. The spontaneous bursts into song during lunch, dreamy varsity jocks who are also artsy theatre geeks, and secret, steamy escapes to the rooftop greenhouse all inspire great confidence for the next four years to be the best four years of your life. In the winter time, the flurries outside our beautiful brick compound reflect the butterflies in your stomach as you anxiously wait for your crush to ask you to CB. When he strategically asks you during lunch, in front of all of your friends, you revel in the contempt of those at the table that have yet to be asked.
Graduation day has arrived. With your diploma in hand and your eyes on your devoted boyfriend in the crowd, nothing, nothing could go wrong. A month or so before college starts, your boyfriend calls. He tells you, not even in person, that it’ll be better for the both of you if you can be free before After the awkward dancing to “Apple Bottom Jeans” and the entering such a new phase of your life. Heartbroken yet sewar cry to “Sweet Caroline” at CB, you know that you’ve cretly liberated, your fresh scars make you a courageous yet locked him down. Once he asks you out, you excitedly ride sensitive warrior for the next, hopefully more dramatic, four in his mother’s chariot of a minivan to the Starbucks on years of your life. Clayton, the movie theatre, and, *gasp,* his living room to watch Netflix and maybe even cuddle. Clearly, I am about the most inexperienced, ignorant, and salty junior in high school. In my defense, though, after hearFastforward. You’ve broken up. After a few affectionate ing a plethora of stories and seeing a handful of tragedies, kisses and sharings of Hollyberry cookies, it’s time to move I have been deterred from considering any romance at this on. At this point, there’s still plenty of time to get to know acne-clad age. someone, even the few guys you haven’t had a class with yet. You find, though, that there are only so many small parties with the same cast of guys, and your desire to be with While I used to wish that one of my crushes, or really anyone, would pay me some romantic attention, I now believe someone from school seems to have expired. that, for the most part, high school is not the place to involve myself in this way. All I can hope for now is that if for some It’s time to look outside of Westminster for romantic opreason I am flattered and asked out by a guy, I will have the portunities. DeSmet, Chaminade, and even Lafayette are fortitude to say no and free myself from any pent up expectaall good options. So, you date one of them for a little bit, tions that will not come to fruition.
20 OPINION
IS ONLINE SCHOOL THE EASY WAY OUT? Why online school is not as good as it sounds. ASHLEY MOELLENHOFF OPINION EDITOR
Sitting in bed at 11 am working on math homework would be a lot better than sitting in an uncomfortable chair trying to understand at a pace that the teacher likes. Many argue that online school is better than going to class, but is online schooling the best way to learn?
Online classes are based on the student’s time schedule. For teenagers today it is proven that students learn better later in the day because of the serotonin levels in the brain. Being able to start school later will result in them being more alert and focused. The most beneficial perk of online school is the student being able to go their own speed while learning. Everyone learns differently and are more gifted in different areas. So the opportunity to take classes at different speeds can be very beneficial to fully understanding the material. At a school it is common for the teacher to move on regardless of whether everyone understands it. Online is not focused as much on grades, but if the student is dedicated enough they can ensure they understand it.
A study by U.S. News says, “Between 2012 and 2016, the total number of students studying strictly on a physical campus dropped by more than 1 million, or 6.4 percent.” Nowadays there are more and more students taking college classes online. Online school is helpful for those who do not have the time to attend a college full time. Online school can result in just checking boxes to achieve a diploma rather than fully understanding the material.
While the benefits of online school are great, there are also set backs. Online school providing a flexible pace is very beneficial when people are dedicated, but when they aren’t dedicated, online school would become completely pointless. The reason going to school does help is
because you have teachers, students, and grades to push you to do your work. There are more consequences for missing a day or slacking off than an online school would have. School has a more structure to their classes and a consistent schedule to keep students on task. School gives the opportunity to be more hands on with what is being taught. There are more ways to help students remember things because the teacher can play a video clip, or give out a worksheet, or even a group activity. School is focused a lot more on the students than the individual material making it more aimed toward the bettering of the student as a whole and not just them receiving their diploma. Rachel Rothrock, a senior at Westminster explains that with regular school, “You have the chance to interact with all the groups of people who you would never talk to unless you went to school or had classes with them.” This helps to expand students horizons while always improving their social skills.
“Between 2012 and 2016, the total number of students studying strictly on a physical campus dropped by more than 1 million, or 6.4 percent.” -U.S. News During teenage years it is common for students to be more tired than the typical adult because teenagers need more sleep. If a student was doing online school and their eyes started to shut they would just fall asleep and quite possibly never get back to working on what they should be working on. At school there are teachers there to make sure you stay engaged. There are plenty of benefits to why online school is beneficial compared to regular school, but as humans and and as teenagers we are wired for human interaction and physically being in an environment and learning new things. This is why online school will never offer every opportunity regular school does.
OPINION 21
STARBUCKS COFFEE: WHAT’S IN YOUR DRINK?
An inside look at the amount of sugar that really goes into everyone’s favorite coffees. GRACE SKILJAN STAFF WRITER
For many of Westminster’s finest, coffee is a big part of their morning. Caffeine is key for getting through morning classes and staying awake till lunch. Starbucks off Mason is a popular place around 7:20am, many students can be spotted grabbing their morning caffeine boost before heading to school. Thursdays are very popular for a quick Starbucks run and it is rare to see more than a couple people without the trademark cup walking the hallways before school. Everyone is aware of the large amounts of caffeine that is in Starbucks drinks, but what is unknown by most of the students is what they are actually putting into their bodies when they drink their heavily sugared coffees. When asked, many of the students named a couple of their favorite Starbucks drinks but they couldn’t correctly say the amount of sugar or calories in them. “I always get some kind of starbucks drink on Thursdays and any other day that I get up early enough, it has kinda become a habit to get my morning caffeine before school,”said Jaela Ginger, junior.
Being aware of what you are putting in your body is important. High Schoolers who are searching for an easy way to stay awake in class disregard the ingredients list on their favorite sugary drinks and don’t give it another thought. But when compared to something that everyone knows is bad for you, such as krispy kreme donuts, their sugar intake from the coffee becomes a little more real. An average sized White Chocolate Mocha has the amount of sugar equivalent to 6.8 Krispy Kreme Donuts. An average Caramel Frappuccino has about 6.6 donuts. Seeing these comparisons made students see that they aren’t drinking a free wake up call. These drinks come with high prices and even higher consequences. “I get a venti almost every time I go to Starbucks, and I had no clue how much sugar I was actually drinking. I don’t even think I could eat that many donuts!” said Lauryn Rhodes, junior. Starbucks Coffee is one of the sweetest coffees around, but it is not always the best alternative.
Nutrition Info
Popular Starbucks Drinks Drinks
Calories
Sugar
Caffeine
White Choc. Mocha
430
53g
150mg
Carmel Frap.
420
66g
100mg
Carmel Macchiato
250
33g
150mg
Strawberry Refresher
90
20g
45mg
22 OPINION
AIRPODS:WORTH THE HYPE? A look into whether airpods are worth the money
GRIFFIN THOMAS STAFF WRITER
Keenan Miller studying with AirPods. Photo by Griffin Thomas. Airpods are a new craze circling around the WCA halls, with an excitement buzz that is undeniable. But, are these wireless headphones worth it? As someone who personally owns a pair I can confirm that yes they are worth it, even though there is a high price tag of $160. Although the price tag could be considered a little controversial, it is to be expected coming from Apple.They may not seem like much, but if you are an active person who listens to a lot of music, this is a very worth it purchase. If you already have an iPhone, connecting the AirPods with your phone could not be easier. You flip open the case and the AirPods will usually immediately pop up on your phone screen, ready to connect. They may not look like they will stay secure in your ear if you are doing any type of physical activity, but they have not fallen out of my ear once, even if I am running or jumping around. The sleek design is a great selling point of the AirPods also, with the smooth and paper-white case along with the magnetic AirPod holders within the case itself. No other earphones have a case like this, which combines a great place to store your earphones when you are not using them and also a
charging port for the earphones. In regards to the sound quality, it is very impressive and so much better than the wired earphones Apple still produces. Apple worked hard to increase the bass and sounquality in the Airpods, rather then just making their normal headphones wireless. These AirPods are some of the best products Apple has come out with. “The sounds quality is so good, I love these airpods and could never go back to normal head phones.” stated by Jack Patterson, senior “The sounds quality is so good, I love these airpods and could never go back to normal head phones.” stated by Jack Patterson, senior Apples sales of “other” Apple products has sky rocketed this year. The category “other” Apple products includes Apple Watches, Airpods, and Apple TVs’. Their revenue in this category went up $5 billion dollars from 2017 to 2018, and this is greatly because of the airpod craze. Airpods are the second best selling Apple product within teo years of launch.
OPINION 23
prehend the negative mental effects.
“BLINDED BY THE *IVY-COLORED* LIGHT” “Even supposing an acceptance, the battle for supremacy never The effects of being attracted to a highly distinguished university
AVA HOLLMANN STAFF WRITER
An unexplainable anger bubbles up in me, higher and higher, as my friends discuss their desired colleges. Names like Harvard, UPenn, Yale, and Washington and Lee come up. My head swells, my fists clench, and my mouth, now unable to be tamed, blurts a sarcastic comment about taking a college visit that will end up being pointless. In turn, I receive blank stares and red cheeks.
ends at a hyper-competitive institution; recent articles about suicides and psychological disorders on even the most sought after campuses underscore the inherent pressures to ‘be the best,’” said Dix. Once the undergraduate years are over, and possibly graduate as well, the new beast of the workforce looms. According to Lynn O’Shaughnessy from College Solutions blog, Ivy League schools in particular do, to some extent, have certain workforce income benefits, and lack thereof, for their graduating students.
This is not the correct way to handle a situation like this, and I am not qualified to preach where my friends should or should not attend college, even if they are the elusive and, in my opinion, pretentious “name brand” colleges. Instead, it is important to know the realities and consequences of attending these prestigious private institutions. In the corporate hub of St. Louis, there are 40 men and women chosen for the St. Louis Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.” Of the 40 people in the journal’s 2019 class, only seven attended universities ranked in top 50 of the current U.S. News Top 50. Interestingly enough, though, some of these schools attended were large public ones, like the University of Illinois.
“[For women, their] overall income from Ivy League schools was 14% higher than their non-Ivy League peers, [due to the fact With the success of men and women who attended univerthat they] earned more income overall because they stayed in the sities not ranked in the top 50, certainly high schoolers can workforce longer. [However,] high-income white men with the have faith that they need not burden themselves to graduate same academic profiles did not enjoy any salary boost for attendcollege with a shiny name on their degree to have success. ing an elite university, ” said O’Shaughnessy. Still, the pressure is prominent. The stress of attending these universities, regardless of successful admittance, begins in high school. Willard Dix, a blogger featured in Forbes, states that the emotional impact of even being accepted into one of these schools can be detrimental to an adolescent’s health.
According to the Gallup Index by Purdue University, besides the economic outcomes in the workforce, productivity and engagement are also important to consider when differentiating between exclusive and inclusive universities.
“As many graduates of institutions with selective admissions “The competition merely to get into a name brand college processes (based on the Carnegie Classification) are engaged at can completely deplete a young person even before finish- work as graduates of other schools. The percentage of graduates ing high school. Working up to and then entering an arena of the highly selective schools that make the U.S. News & World with a 95% rejection rate, even with perfect scores, a stellar Report Top 100 list who are engaged at work (41%) is in line with the overall average (39%),” said the Gallup Index. academic record, and brilliant extras puts a student at the bottom of an extremely steep climb,” said Dix. Overall, while of course reputation-seeking high school students have big goals and desire the best preparation for their careers, it But even after one makes it into their dream college after such an arduous high school career, the grind does not stop. is important to consider their mental health, goals for the future, In fact, it amplifies, with so many like-minded people, and and truly, if the name of the college is the top reason why they want to attend the school. though the admitted students know this, not all can com-
24
OPINION
800 SPORTING
FEBRUARY
BASKETBALL SEASON RECAPS P. 26-27
KILEY MCKEE SCORES 1,000 P. 28
BASEBALL PREVIEW
P. 30
GIRLS SOCCER PREVIEW P. 32
GOLF AND TRACK PREVIEWS P. 33
MARGO TAKES STATE
SOPHOMORE MARGO O’MEARA GOES BACK TO BACK IN STATE FOR 1M DIVING
SPORTINGWCA
SPORTING 25
BOYS BASKETBALL SEASON COMES TO AN END IN DEVASTATING LOSS TO LADUE
Some questionable calls costed Westminster a chance to play for a District Championship.
TOMMY BRINER STAFF WRITER
For Westminster’s five Seniors, their careers all came to an end in one of the most controversial, intense, and spirited games in Westminster history. The Blue Crew showed up. Easily outnumbering the Ladue student section, which is also known as the Blue Crew, the Westminster fans surpassed Ladue in noise as well. Bringing the hype from the beginning, they helped propel the players on the floor to a 26-24 lead at the half.
draw the game within one possession with a basket. A sense of rage was filling every Westminster fan in the Ladue High School Gymnasium. The referees were taking over the game. At this time, Westminster led by just one point; the score was 48-47. With thirty seconds left, Ladue took their time and dribbled down the clock. With about fifteen seconds left, the ran a play for Boyd, who scored in the lane on his own with ten seconds left. Westminster quickly brought the ball to midcourt and called timeout. They would have just over six seconds to win the game. The Wildcats threw it in to Luke Linam who took the ball towards the baseline. As he tried to turn the corner, he slipped and fell to the ground, losing possession. Ladue fell on the ball and nobody could do anything. It was too late. The season was over. Boys Basketball had another solid season. They finished 17-10, never losing by more than seven points, and losing six games by one possession or less. While this stat feels good, it’s hard not to wonder what could’ve been this year. What if the Wildcats just could’ve finished? What if they would’ve pulled out just two or three more games? What if they would’ve beaten Ladue? This was a good season, but a season of missed opportunities. In his penultimate high school season, Brennan Orf shined. He averaged 16.8 points per game, pouring in a total of 454 for the season. Next year, he will need just 235 points to eclipse the 1,000 point mark. He also led Westminster in rebounding, averaging almost eight per game.
The game was close throughout the first half, but as the third quarter opened, the Wildcats began to show their dominance. They stretched the lead to nine as the offense was clicking on all cylinders and Ladue was unable to catch up. After three quarters, the score was 42-33. Then, in the fourth, the floodgates opened and chaos ensued. Ladue went on a small run, getting within in six points. They continued to run a press as the sense of urgency increased. They had cut the deficit to just four points as Brennan Orf received a pass on around the corner just before midcourt, and a Ladue forward tried to trap him. The player reached around Orf, grabbing for the ball, and committing a foul. However, no foul was called, and after the player continued to reach and eventually knock Orf to the ground, a jump ball was called. This was an insane momentum swing in favor of Ladue. With the lead down to just four, Ladue would
26 SPORTING
For the first time since Coach Ribble took over as head coach three years ago, Freshmen played a big role on the team. Casen Lawrence and EJ Williams were both important factors, combining to average 7.9 points per game throughout the season. Lawrence also shot 34 percent from the three point line. While there were important non-Seniors to the team, the season would’ve been nothing without the five Seniors. Both Adams and Linam shot almost 40 percent from three point range, and Linam shot 90 percent from the free throw line. Jewell was extremely effective on both sides of the ball, and Johnston shot 53 percent on field goals while quietly being a defensive force in the paint. Next year, Brennan Orf will be the main piece. However, there are a host of Freshmen that will hope to contribute next year. It was another successful year for Boys Basketball, but once again, they were unable to advance out of their District. Hopefully next year Brennan Orf and the Wildcats can flip the script.
GIRLS BASKETBALL FALLS TO PARKWAY NORTH IN DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP
minute left that would put the game out of reach. Westminster still failed to score until Kristen Keys hit a three with under 30 seconds to play. The Wildcats scored as time expired, but it was too late. Their season came to an end at the hands of Parkway North. The score was 56-52.
A successful Girls Basketball season ended in a four point loss to Parkway North in the District Championship.
TOMMY BRINER STAFF WRITER
Girls Basketball lost to Parkway North by four points on Thursday evening, bringing an end to their best season since 2014. Brooke Highmark led the team with 14 points in the 56-52 loss, and Kristen Keys followed with 12 points of her own. The Wildcats kept the game close throughout the first half. After one quarter they trailed by two, but they tied the game at 27 going into halftime. As the second half began, Parkway North began to overpower Westminster, running out to a quick six
Kristen Keys shoots against Cor Jesu. Photo by: Thomas Shultz
For Kiley McKee, Kristen Keys, and Claire Sanden, their final season was their most successful. Altogether, they combined to average 25.9 points per game on their way to winning 19 games - two more than they had won in their previous three seasons combined. Westminster’s other main players include Brooke Highmark, Carlie Vick, Macey Lottmann, Carsyn Beachy, and Reilly Brophy, who spent most of the season injured. These five players - three of whom are Freshman this year - will likely make up most of the starting lineup next season. Overall, this team should only get better next year. Although they are losing three critical Seniors, they have two Juniors who are becoming Seniors, three very impressive Freshmen, and Marty Briner, a Sophomore who hurt her knee during the season.
Brooke Highmark puts up a three. Photo by: Thomas Shultz
point lead in the third quarter.. Westminster called timeout and stopped the bleeding, but weren’t able to gain any ground in the rest of the third. The Wildcats trailed 43-37 headed to the fourth. Westminster cut the lead to three point with around three minutes left. However, they were then unable to find a basket for more than two minutes. The Wildcats had a few open shots, but none of them fell. They were only looking for threes to tie the game, not looking for any open two-pointers. Parkway North hit a three with a
This season was an amazing turnaround from last year. They lost to Parkway Central by 11 points - tied for their worst loss of the season - when last year they lost to the same team by 29 points. Their other 11-point loss cane to Kirkwood, who they lost to by 24 points in 2018. After losing to Ladue earlier this year, the Wildcats came back to defeat them in the District Semifinal, dominating the game and winning by 19 points. Although they failed to win the District, this season will be regarded as anything but a failure. 2019 was a turnaround year for Girls Basketball, and the future only looks brighter.
SPORTING 27
KILEY MCKEE MAKES 1,000 POINTS LOOK EASY
Kiley McKee scored her 1,000th against Lutheran South on Senior Night.
AMANDA ESPY FEATURE EDITOR
Kiley McKee has been a top player on Varsity Girls Basketball since her Freshman year, averaging about 12 points per game for the last four years. Throughout her high school basketball career, she’s been working towards her goal of scoring 1000 points, and on Senior Night against Lutheran South, she was able to make this outstanding achievement happen. “It was really overwhelming hitting one thousand. I’ve been working toward this goal for 4 years now and it was a weight off my shoulders finally getting it,” said McKee.
Kiley McKee gets introduced on Senior Night.
years playing she has consistently grown as a player due to the hard work she puts into every single practice and game. She is a leader and encourager; she stays tough and focused during the game whether things are going well or not. Not only is she a great player, but she also knows how to balance having fun and staying competitive,” said Head Coach Shannon Lawrence. McKee has not only made an impact through her playing skills, but she has also formed bonds with the girls on the team and pushes them to always give one hundred percent. “I have loved getting to play with Kiley these past four years. She makes practices and games so fun, but she also pushes me to be a better player,” said Claire Sanden, Senior.
McKee poses for a picture with Coaches Sullivan (left) and Lawrence (right). Photo by: Athletics WCA.
McKee has continuously proven herself as a dominant player having a high free-throw percentage, drawing a high number of fouls, and never fearing to drive to the basket. Her years spent playing club basketball have helped train her to be Varsity material since her Freshman year.
She took her team to the District Finals this year, where they fell to Parkway North in a closely contested matchup. In her three playoff games this season, she scored 23 points. She finished her career with an astonishing 1,055 points and was a very important factor in her team’s successful season. Congratulations to Kiley on a great career!
Not only is she an outstanding player, but she also is a great leader for the team and has thrived as one of the Captains this year. “Kiley is a leader on and off the court. Throughout her Kiley and friends on Senior Night.
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MARGO O’MEARA WINS STATE, LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER TERAING ACL
With an absolutely absurd score 520.25, O’Meara won her second straight Missouri State Title, setting a new Class 1 Missouri State Diving record, and she has no plans of stopping anytime soon.
THOMAS SHULTZ SPORTS EDITOR
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Margo O’Meara dominates the competition and brings home a Diving State Title. You have; last year, when Margo won her first title as freshman with a record breaking score of 499.5. Well, she did it again. This year O’Meara broke her own record, posting a score of 520.25, to capture her second straight title. From the very first dive, O’Meara was the clearly in the driver’s seat, leading the competition for almost the entire day. After the 5 Preliminary Rounds, O’Meara had a score of 220.25, 40 points ahead of the next best diver. After advancing to the Semi-Finals (3 Rounds), Margo only increased her lead on the field to 50 points with a score of 348.95. Then in the Finals Rounds, she distanced herself even further. In her final three dives, she averaged a 57, capping it off with a ridiculous final dive that scored a 68.90 (click link for video) Margo stands on podium afer her win to capture the State Title. O’Meara finished 122.55 points ahead of the next best diver. But despite her dominance in the events, this win is actually a comeback story. Last spring (2018), in a Westminster soccer game, Margo went down with a knee injury, learning a few days later that she had torn her ACL and would need surgery.
“It was tough,” said O’Meara, “To have to shut everything down and wait for everything to heal was frustrating at times, but I knew I just had to wait it out.” Once she was able, Margo wasted no time in getting back into the gym and regaining her strength for the diving season. Although it was a long and tedious task, Margo was determined to come back stronger than before and ready to make another run at state. She was finally cleared to get back to diving with no restraints in late November, only a week before the season started. “Her determination to come back strong motivated the entire team,” said Coach Marjan Kempen, “she worked harder than anyone and deserves the success she had.” O’meara wasted no time in getting back to her winning ways, taking the top spot in every diving meet and posting scores of 600+ in her 11 dive meets. For those of us who are not familiar with diving, that’s really good. But despite her success in the season, Margo is able to keep her composure and stay level headed as the dives. “I try to take it one dive as a time, making sure I focus on what I’m trying to do and not on the scores,” said Margo. But in the end, the scores do matter. After her final dive, O’Meara looked at the board and mouthed “3 points”, the amount by which she missed the Missouri State Diving record (Currently holds Class 1 Record). “Yeah I wanted to break it, but at the same time I’m happy to be back.” margo continued, “Coming off of an injury makes this win even sweeter.” Margo has her sights set on the record next year, so be sure to swing by the Westminster Pool next winter to watch her as she chaces history, and looks add a little more jewlery to her collection.
Margo nails her final dive to score a 68.90
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BASEBALL PREVIEW IT’S STATE OR BUST
The Baseball teams enters this season with the same goal as always - a State Championship.
JIMMY OBERTOP AND NATHANIEL SEMS STAFF WRITERS
Last year the Westminster baseball team ended their season in heartbreak, falling to Boonville on a walk-off walk in the state quarterfinals. Despite the devastating finish to the year, the Wildcats ended with a 29-3 record, their fourteenth consecutive 20-win season, and a second consecutive district championship. “With so many Seniors this year, we have a ton of experience and plenty of new faces that will help to contribute,” said senior catcher Jimmy Obertop. “Even with some question marks the goal of the season still remains the same: Win state.”
few clutch hits late in the season and looks to be a big contributor for the offense. But perhaps the biggest key to the offense will be Senior outfielder Blaise Matheny who is committed to play baseball at Missouri State. After a somewhat disappointing Junior season, Matheny looks to supply some power for the offense and lead the team in RBI. Also look for Senior Zach Gross, a Maryville commit, and Sophomore Adam Ebling to contribute offensively. The Wildcats also lost two of the most dominant pitchers in the St. Louis area who only allowed 73 combined hits in their 102 total innings pitched during the season in Carter McCall and Clayton Guzdial. This year Senior Zach Brasier and Junior Brayden Haug look to pick up the slack after both had solid pitching performances last year. Brasier hopes to solidify his role as the ace after posting a 2.97 ERA with 37 strikeouts in just 33 innings pitched last season using his heavy fastball and sharp curveball to keep hitters off-balance. After an impressive Sophomore campaign, Haug has both the experience and talent to dominate on the mound mixing his devastating off-speed pitches with a late moving twoseam fastball. Look for Nick Moten, Adam Ebling, and Will Mueller, three Sophomores that throw mid-to-high 80’s, to make a name for themselves as first year varsity pitchers. Also, with an already strong bullpen returning five varsity pitchers, the staff has the experience to shut down opposing offenses. The Wildcat’s have had strong pitching the last three years, but this year the pitching looks to be the deciding factor that could push the Wildcats towards their fifth state championship. “With the pitching staff that we have this year, there are a lot of good arms and if we are all locked-in, we will have a very successful season,” said Brasier.
Jimmy Obertop swings against Duchesne in the 2018 District Tournament. Photo by: Tommy Briner
This year the hopes are still high for a fifth State Championship, but there is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Wildcats who have lost four of their biggest offensive contributors. Three of these players, Clayton Guzdial, Kevin Graham, and Dominic Cusumano have gone on to play college baseball after combining to hit 18 home runs and knock in 120 RBIS last season. However, returning for his Senior year is Obertop who has led the team in batting average the past two years and tied for the team lead in home runs with 9. After back-to-back monster years, the Michigan commit has his eyes set on a record breaking Senior campaign and will lead the offense. Junior Brennan Orf burst onto the scene last year hitting .390 with a
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After a non-challenging schedule last season, the Wildcats cruised to a 29-2 record but head coach Dan Petke believed that his team was not at its best heading into the playoffs and as a result lost to Boonville in the state quarterfinals. To ensure this would not happen again, Petke intentionally scheduled much more difficult games against tougher competition and bigger schools. “We made an effort to play some of the top teams in the area and will be grateful to see some really good competition throughout the entire season in hopes to prepare us for the types of teams we will face in the playoffs,” said Petke. The season begins in just a couple weeks and with all the new faces and unanswered questions, one thing remains constant for the team: the end goal of the season is a State Championship.
GIRLS LACROSSE PREVIEW With a new coach and a whole new roster of starters, Girls Lacrosse is ready for another big season.
KOBY SCHMER STAFF WRITER
Last year, the Westminster Girls Lacrosse team was the best in the history of the program. They placed third in the state, losing to MICDS, who ended up winning state. The 19-5 Wildcats had a ten game win streak during midseason, showing a side of the Lacrosse team that no one has ever seen before. The key to the team last year: the abundance of seniors. This year, after losing over half of the varsity team, the team strives to rebuild with new varsity players looking to make themselves known on the field. Though difficult, this team’s trust remains high with a brand new coach. The team this year will have only seven returning players, three of which are Seniors this year and the remaining four are Juniors.
attacker for the team last year, scoring 48 goals for her team last spring. The junior captain managed to score at least one goal in all 22 of the games. Mabry says that it will be hard to top last year, but they are hopeful and excited for this years contest. “Compared to last year, I don’t think we will have ‘third in state’ kind of success, but we are hopeful with a lot of new talent on the team this year,” said Mabry. “I’m excited to see where this year takes us.” As far as coaching goes, a new head coach is looking to make herself known this year. After veteran head coach Coach Carlile accepted a new position as a coach right across the street at Missouri Baptist University, Coach Jamie Kuhn will takeover the position. Coach Kuhn has much experience with the game, playing collegiately at Lindenwood University. Kuhn clearly knows the ins and outs of the game, allowing the team to remain confident in her decisions as head coach this year. “It’s a completely different style of coaching, but we all like the change of pace,” says Earleywine regarding Kuhn. “Though she has made the rules quite a bit more strict than last year, it is making us more responsible and turning us into better leaders.” “[Coach Kuhn] has so much knowledge about the game and it brings a new perspective that we haven’t experienced yet,” said Mabry. Although they may not be as successful as they were last year, the girls are stil ready for another successful season. They play in their first game on March 11 against St. Joe’s at home. Pop out to the turf to see that start of a new generation of Girls Lacrosse.
Dani Mabry looks for a pass. Photo by: Dani Mabry
“I think we will have a great year this year,” says Earleywine. “We have an awesome group of hard-workers and a lot of people have really stepped up into leadership roles without them being assigned.” At the end of last year’s season, the Wildcats received two Second Team All Metro selections, one of which remains on the team this year: Dani Mabry. Mabry was an
Last year’s third place squad. Photo by: Emma Gore
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GIRLS SOCCER PREVIEW
With two tournaments and two more meets in nine days, Varsity wrestling has been busy matching up against some of the top teams and wrestlers in the state.
JOEY KEANE STAFF WRITER
Westminster Girls Soccer is coming off of a District Championship and a 16-4 finish in 2018 where they lost to Rockwood Summit in Sectionals. However, the Wildcats will not lose much of their talent and hope to return stronger this year than they were last year. Last year, Freshmen Margo O’Meara and Annessa Shively lead the team with 28 and 14 goals, respectively. Also a Freshman, Zoe Lintner started all 19 games, allowing only 13 goals and earning nine shutouts. The team was led by a handful of Seniors who showed great leadership, while the Freshman found their roles and contributed in important ways. This year, Molly Andersen, Rachel Arndt, and Sarah Melaragno will headline another solid core of Seniors who will show leadership throughout the entirety of the season. While having those Senior leaders, the team will also be returning Sophomores Grace Clement, Margo O’Meara, Zoe Linter, and Annessa Shively to try to continue the reputation they have created for themselves. Coming into this season, Coach Lawrence and the girls feel confident they will have another successful year.
Photo by: Molly Andersen
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The team poses with their District Championship plaque.
Saying they could have a better year coming off of a 16-4 record and a district championship is a huge statement, but one they feel they can make. “This year we are going to have a really good team. We lost some seniors last year, but there are some really great underclassmen in our program,” said Senior Captain Molly Andersen. Molly is a very talented player and she has the most experience coming into this season. With Andersen being the only senior who has been on the team since Freshman year, she now has the experience and confidence to be an incredible player, and lead the charge. Molly enters the season with 43 career points including 13 goals and 17 assists. The girls all collectively agree that they are going to work harder than they ever have this year to get back to a second consecutive District Title. Prior to the District win for the Wildcats in the 2017-2018 season, the Wildcats had fallen to Visitation in each of the last three years in District Championship. There are just two weeks before the first games to kick off the season for the girls on March 8 at 3:45 and 4:55 against Lutheran South and Incarnate Word. The team will train hard and get off to a great start. They hope for great crowds and lots of support as the season begins.
BOYS GOLF PREVIEW
With only one golfer who has been to State before, Boys Golf is finally ready to put it all together.
KOBY SCHMER STAFF WRITER
seeing him down there again this year. However, after getting injured in the football season, Lane has been recovering all fall and winter from the ACL tear, and he says that he is ready for the competition again. “Yes, the injury set me back, but I’m more ready right now than I have ever been,” said Laner D. regarding this season and his injury.
The Boys Golf team had a quality season last year, showing talent from all ages. Last year, the Sophomores and even Juniors got The Boys Golf team is ready for this St. Louis weather to plenty of experience last year at the varsity level, making them clear up so they can get back on the course. more prepared for this spring season. Even after losing two powerhouse seniors, the team looks to recover with plenty of these “We ready,” said Davis. veterans and new players coming up to play. The Golf team lost seniors Chad Briden and Logan Montgomery who were certainly two key players for the team last year. Jack Bystrom, Junior, comments on losing Montgomery, saying it will certainly set them back for this season. “Losing Logan and the seniors will definitely bring us back a bit,” said Bystrom. “But this team is doing all that we can in order to pick up where they left off last year.” Their faith this year relies on Lane Davis, Junior, Tom Isaacs, Senior, Ben Parres, Junior, and Jack Bystrom, Junior. Lane Davis made his way to State last year, and we can definitely plan on
Lane Davis lines up a putt. Photo by: Lane Davis
TRACK PREVIEW
The Sprinters this year will be without two-time state competitor junior, Daphne Washington for most of the year after she sufThe Track Team has a strong lineup from top to bottom. fered a tough knee injury in a car accident. But returning is Senior Zion Thompson who is expected to have a big year. Zion was a member of the record-breaking 4X100 team last year. Be on ONLINE EDITOR the lookout for key new members senior Kalei Layton a former Under New Head Coach Larry Minner, the Track and Field Team soccer player who’s looked very strong in practice this year and junior Miles Dix who is already looking to be one of the fastest looks to be very competitive this year. runners on the team. One of the key members to watch this year is Girls shot put thrower Adrianna Minner. Last year, Adrianna placed 7th at state This year is looking to be a very competitive one for the Varsity and has an offer from Central Missouri to continue her academic Track Team. and athletic career. She looks to take home a top 3 finish this year.
BENNIE ANDERSON
This year joining her on the varsity team is her younger brother LJ Minner who is already considered one of the best throwers and sprinters in the nation. LJ will also be playing Lacrosse this year. The team will be balanced out by a very strong boys and girls distance team led by senior Amanda Espy who is one of the best long distance runners in the area, and seasoned veterans Isabella Francois, Ava Hollman, and Ashley Mollenhoff. On the boy’s side, Thomas Arndt, Caleb Mollenhoff, Mathias Jowdy, and Hayden Turley look to lead the way as the young boys steps up their game in light of the departure of graduates AJ Lloyd, Blake Elder, Blake Andrews, and Xander Smith.
The track team enjoyed a quick snowball fight during a cold practice.
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BOYS LACROSSE PREVIEW After making the State Tournament in just their second year as a Varsity program, Boys Lacrosse wants to follow it up with another strong season.
This season, they wait to see all this work pay off. Last week, they finally got a good look at the team. The Varsity team recently played in their preseason jamboree at De Smet. They went 2-2, playing solid all-around lacrosse. There is a lot to improve on, but this roster is full of potential. They open their season off at home on March 15 at 4:30 against Parkway South. The Wildcats look to make a statement win against the Patriots aand avenge last year’s loss.
Alex Chen Staff Writer
Boys Lacrosse looks to make a strong run this season. Last season, they made an appearance at the State Tournament for the first time in the Varsity program’s two-year history. They entered with high expectations, but were unfortunately knocked out of the tournament in a close game against Parkway South. Graduating only one Senior last season, the Wildcats only have more experience under their belts. There is a lot to like going into the upcoming season. The new coaching staff, led by Coach Pettis, is returning for a second season, and with eight returning Seniors, the team has great coaching and a solid core to build off of. There has been a lot of preparation put into this season. Going way back to the summer, the lacrosse team held weekly training Photo by: Alex Chen sessions, and in the winter they played in an indoor box lacrosse league.
BOYS TENNIS PREVIEW
With a solid lineup top-to-bottom, the Boys Tennis team is hoping for another solid season. 800 SPORTING STAFF
Led by Seniors Davis Moore as well as the Coffee twins, Cole and Cam, Boys Tennis could be ready for a breakthrough year. Last year, they lost in the second round of the playoffs to Chaminade after defeating De Smet in the first round. Hopefully, they will make it farther this year. Aside from those three, the Varsity lineup includes Seth Noel, Pierce Dunne, David ragsdale, Josh Jones, Will Vestal, Daniel Stengel, Evan Seabaugh, Griffin Alm, Matthew Kinney, and Caleb Legters.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW With a host of new players and an abundance of athleticism, Boys Volleyball could surprise a lot of people this season. 800 SPORTING STAFF
Boys Volleyball could be on the brink of a breakthrough this year. They have a good mix of experienced club players and players who are simply good athletes. Their club players include Sophomore Evan Harris and Junior Mason Andrasko, who declined an opportunity to play Varsity Basketball this winter in favor of Volleyball. Brothers Colin and Aiden Davitt are both multi-year Varsity players. They also have some new players including Atlin Hall, Kyle Dolan, Isaac Johnston and Maxwell Burns, all of whom are Seniors trying Volleyball for the first time.
“I think the maim goal we have as a team is to win our District this year. Playing in a very talented District will make it tough, but I feel like it is definitely something that we can accomplish,” “I feel like we could be good, but I don’t know a lot about the said Pierce Dunne of his hopes for this year’s season. sport or what the competition will be like,” said Johnston. More than anything, Boys Tennis is a good experience. Playing tennis is a chance to get out to exercise and get better at a sport that people play throughout all stages of their lives. All this being said, Westminster’s Boys Tennis team still remains competitive. Look for Boys Tennis to have another solid season.
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Led by Head Coach Bryndn Crutcher, the Wildcats hope they can be succesful this season despite a lack of experience, but one thing is for sure: Boys Volleyball will be having fun this season.
WINTER SPORTS EDITS BY PEARSON GEORGES
December
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WHO TO WATCH FOR - SPRING SPORTS JIMMY OBERTOP
DANI MABRY
MOLLY ANDERSEN
BLAISE MATHENY
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