The Tiger Print — December 2003

THE

PRINT

City illuminates holiday, adds cheery atmosphere

Pg.

6-7

5A Football State Champs

Thousands of lights lit up on Nov. 28, and all of them belong to a single tree. The lighting of the Mayor’s Christmas tree is a holiday tradition. The tree is over 100 ft. tall. photo by Kristen Palmer.

Santa is back for the holiday and is busy as ever. Preschooler Grant Burton visited Santa at The Great Mall of the Great Plains on Nov. 28. photo by Jamie Hisle

It’s not just a dream to travel like Cinderella during the holiday season. Carriages covered in lights line the streets of the plaza waiting to escort visitors around the Plaza. photo by Kristen Palmer

Buildings across the Plaza are covered in lights. The annual lighting ceremony took place Thanksgiving night, Nov. 27. photo by Kristen Palmer

Choir adds to seasonal mood with concerts

michael

As the semester winds down, the choir has been working on the annual Holiday Concert to set the mood for the

johnson holiday season. The show is scheduled on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. Variety is the key word for this year’s show. Music choice comes from many different holidays, and contains all types of seasonal music whether it be sacred or secular. Vocal music teacher Marsha Moeller chose the songs, but the

choir groups offered their opinions to come up with most entertaining variety possible.

“This year’s show has all different music from last year,” Moeller said. “We picked the music off what the kids like to sing and what people like to hear.”

Three large choirs will perform throughout the show. After that, two show choirs (singers and dancers) perform, followed by two barbershop groups. These are four-man groups who sing alto. A grand finale of all choir groups and their parents wraps everything up, but the fun doesn’t stop there. A reception with food and beverages will be held in the commons after all the performances are done in the Perform-

ing Arts Center (PAC), and a silent auction will also be held.

“The silent auction will have everything from gift certificates to manicures” Moeller said. “All the money goes to the funding of the New York trip.”

The only downfall to this fund-raising event is that participants must be 18 or older. Anyone who meets the requirements are encouraged to participate.

All choir members have been working since the end of October, every class period. Moeller is proud of the effort put into the show.

“This year’s groups are all working very hard and are delightful to work with,” Moeller said.

Debate national qualifying tournament Fish kills fisherman

The Blue Valley debate team has medaled many teams every weekend during the season. Now, the season is coming to a close and teams are preparing for the national qualifying tournament that takes place next weekend at Blue Valley West.

The tournament is a double elimination tournament, where the top teams qualify for a trip to nationals this June. Teams chosen to go are: senior T.J. Trum and junior Kristen Trum ; juniors Mandie Payton and Katie Beye ; Kate Reno and Brett Farmer ; Dan McGillivray and sophomore Greg Allen. The alternate team is seniors Laura Koslowsky and Jermey Bennett

A 27-year-old man, fishing with three friends, choked to death on a 4-inch bream that he had put into his mouth, possibly to imitate a stunt he had seen on television (Palatka, Fla., October). And a man commandeered a fire department rescue boat but then drowned when he leaped overboard while being pursued by police; trained rescue personnel were late arriving at the scene because, after all, their boat had been stolen (Nashville, Tenn., August). Used with permission from www.newsoftheweird.com.

Denver Garrett, charged with cocaine possession in Monterey, Tenn., in October, told police he bought it only to keep it off the streets and away from children. And James Howle, 61, and Kevin Williams, 41, stabbed each other in an argument over which of their two unidentified alcoholic beverages tastes better. Used with permission from www.newsoftheweird.com.

$500 reward for vandalism information

A $500 reward has not lead to any new information about the Nov. 2 vandalism at Blue Valley High School. The police have had only two calls, which were made by school officers Ken Braden and Staci Wilson. These leads eventually hit a dead end. Students with any information are encouraged to call the TIPS hotline.

“If someone knows something about the crime,” Detective Norm Bisinet said, “ report it because everybody pays for the damage.”

The video cameras around the school caught the perpetrator. The videos were handed over to the Johnson County Sheriff department, who are handling the case.

The only lead that the police have is the videotape of the crime. According to Bisinet, the videos were sent to Johnson County Crime Lab, where the videos are waiting to be processed by the computer forensics lab. The lab has other cases it is working on and the police department does not know when it will be processed, Bisinet said.

The videotape gives the police a general description of the perpetrator. According to Wilson, the perpetrator is a young male (around high school age) with an average build, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and baggy pants. Bisinet continues to say that the perpetrator is probably from Blue Valley and that a possible motive is revenge.

Band goes to Phoenix in the New Year

The Blue Valley Striding’ Tigers will head to Phoenix, Ariz. for the Fiesta Bowl Parade and Marching pageant on Dec. 28. The Tigers will perform in the pageant on Jan. 1. Besides attending the competition, the band will attend a New Year’s Eve party and take a trip to the Grand Canyon .

BV students give to the cause

kyle rogersrogers rogersrogers rogers

Winning state wasn’t enough for the Tiger football team; they had other goals in mind. The sixth annual Della Lamb toy drive comes to a close today, and judging by past drives, it will be a success.

Last year, the school brought in over 1,100 toys, and coach Steve Rampy hopes for the same this year.

“[Della Lamb] services over 600 families and 1,300 kids,” Rampy said. “We are their major toy supplier, so I hope we can get enough this year [too].

Also in the giving mood, BV Kay club members ran a coat drive which concluded Wednesday. Over 200 coats were collected for the cause. BV donated the coats to the City Union Mission to help less fortunate people stay warm this winter. Club sponsor Kristin Asquith was happy to help this cause.

“Kay members wanted to do something around the holidays to help out,” Asquith said. “This is what they picked.”

kyle rogers

While the Blue Valley Stridin’ Tigers hosted their annual marching festival Oct. 25 on the stadium field, another BV production crew paved the way for a new dimension in Tiger broadcasting. During the festival, Tiger TV staffers Ryan Wallace and Andrew Robinson sold highlight tapes to attendees of the festival to raise money for a radio transmitter. Their goal was to start a radio program at Blue Valley and put their voices on the air.

“It will be a good opportunity to be heard,” Tiger Radio commentator Andrew Robinson said. “

Hearing the word radio transmitter may set off visions of huge towers and multimillion dollars studios for students, but the proposed plan isn’t that elaborate. The transmitter is one a hobbyist would own; it costs only $200.

“It will be mostly talk radio,” Tiger TV’s Overtime anchor Andrew Robinson said.

“Hopefully, we’re going to be able to do some big home games.”

Adviser Denny Brand has r eceived approval from the school district and the order has been placed for the transmitter. The transmitter has a range of approximately onehalf mile, and it has to stay that way. The Federal Communications Commission prohibits the use of long-range transmitters without appropriate licenses.

“If it gets much farther than [a half mile] the school could be in trouble with the FCC,” Brand said.

The station will likely be set in the 107.1-107.9 range to keep the chances of interference with outside stations low. If the station did begin to interfere, Tiger Radio might be shut down before it even starts.

Buying a transmitter is the first step toward an operational radio station, but it isn’t the only step. In order to be fully functional, the broadcasting department already has CD players and microphones but will need to obtain headphones

to go along with the rest of the system. Once everything is purchased there will still be more kinks to work out.

“We haven’t really thought about programming much,” Brand said. “Right now we’re concentrating on Tiger TV.”

So far, the idea has been well received by all sectors of the BV community. Through the students’ eyes the station will allow for more of their peers to be heard, and from an educational point of view, this will add to the diversity of academic opportunities at Blue Valley.

“[Tiger Radio] is a great opportunity to have broadcasting experience, both TV and radio,” teacher Kayla Bruce said. “I think it would be awesome.” Students agree. They’re ready to hear some music and their favorite TV personalities discuss school activities on the radio.

“I think they should play country music,” junior Nina Fardipour said. “And, have updates about all the sports — not just football.”

(913) 385-3368

Junior Ryan Wallace and sophomore Andrew Robinson prepare for their future talk radio program. The radio station will be covering mostly BV sports. photo by Jamie Hisle

A year in review

Keyeventsmarkyearas‘different’

This year has been a big year in news. From the war with Iraq to Roy

adam lary staff writer Williams leaving, here are some of the most important news events of 2003, national and local.

NEWSNEWS NEWSNEWS

Doubtless, the biggest news this year seems to be the war with Iraq, which began in March of this year. The war was declared effectively over by the beginning of April and the rebuilding process began. Saddam’s sons Uday and Qusay Hussein were killed on July 22 in a six-hour firefight in the northern city of Mosul. Currently, U.S. troops are leveling any anti-coalition buildings suspected to be used by Iraqi guerillas. Known as op-

eration Iron Hammer, dozens of buildings have been destroyed in the past few weeks.

There is also a $25 million reward for information leading to Saddam’s capture or proof of his death. So far, 270 U.S. soldiers have died in the war.

Forty miles above the earth, the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry on Feb. 1. All seven astronauts aboard the shuttle were killed. The crew included commander Rick Husband; pilot William McCool; payload commander Michael Anderson; mission specialists David Brown, Laurel Clark and Kalpana Chawla and Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon.

With symptoms including fever ad cough, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (or SARS) hit China in November of 2002. However, with no cure, SARS continues to be a health threat. Scientists believe that it emerged in southern China in animal markets. At its peak, 8,000 people were infected and 700 killed in 25 different countries, according to the World Health Organization. China and Hong Kong were the hardest hit.

SPORTSSPORTS SPORTS

After falling short of the NCAA tournament champion-

ship, KU’s head coach Roy Williams took up an offer from the University of North Carolina to coach there. Coaching at UNC has always been his childhood dream. His son also lives there. Williams’ base salary doubled with his new position to $260,000, as compared to his base salary of $129,380 at KU. Illinois coach Bill Self replaced Williams.

IN BLUE VALLEY IN BLUE VALLEY IN BLUE VALLEY IN BLUE VALLEY IN

Between late Sunday night and early Monday morning of Nov. 3, an unknown person caused an estimate $10,000 in damage to Blue Valley High School. Using a long, pole-like object, the felon broke out almost all the of the windows in the mobiles, some greenhouse windows, counselor’s window and teacher Harry McDonald’s windows. Classes in the mobiles were moved inside due to the broken glass. There is currently a $500 reward for any information leading to the capture of the person. The person could receive felony charges, probation and even jail time if caught.

Blue Valley High brought home its fourth straight State Debate championship on Jan. 25, 2003. The four-speaker team consisted of the affirmative team of senior Femi Morohunfola and sophomore Kristen Trum. The negative team consisted of juniors Shannon Howard and T.J. Trum. Morohunfola and Kristen fin-

President Bush addresses the U.N. General Assembly at the United Nations, Sept. 12, 2002, a day after the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Pres. Bush again addressed the U.N. last March to encourage international support of the U.S. involvement

ished with a 5-2 record while Howard and T.J. finished 7-0. The combined 12-2 record beat Miege by one round and gave Blue Valley the 5A four-speak championship.

Sports Illustrated gave the Blue Valley community an award for being one of the best sports towns in Kansas. The award was given during the halftime of the Tigers/Jaguars football game on Oct. 17.

ATHOMEATHOME ATHOMEATHOME AT HOME

The adoptive son of church pastor Neil and Christy Edgar died when bound head to toe in duct tape and left overnight on Dec. 29, 2002. The nine-yearold Brian Edgar suffocated on his own vomit. He was being

punished for stealing cookies. Neil, 48, and baby sitter Chasity Boy, 20, were found guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse in September. Neil’s wife Christy pleaded guilty to the same charges earlier that month.

Tornados touched down in Kansas and Missouri on May 4, causing 21 deaths and 47 injuries. Kansas City officials declared a local emergency. Many people lost power throughout the area. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius declared disaster areas in Leavenworth, Miami, Wyandotte, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette and Neosho counties. A cold front that brought more bad weather, including hail, later followed the storms.

Hollywood stars, tragic deaths, books all created memorable 2003

michela cross staff writer

When people think of 2003, they think of the last season of Friends the tiger attack on Roy, Puff Daddy running the city, and the kiss between

Britney Spears and Madonna. However, a lot more exists beneath the surface of this past year. Remember Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ? Or, John Ritter and Johnny Cash? Come back and relive the memories— good and bad.

The year began, for many fans, with the anticipation of only six months until the release of the fifth Harry Potter book. It was to be released on June 21. 2003. The Potter phenomena reached a new level.

On the other side of the media is politics. Politicians swarmed and Californians questioned what would happen about their increasing debt.

The position of governor was very critical and Californians recalled their Gov. Gray Davis. A famous name, along with a few others, ran for the vacant position. Arnold Schwarzenegger won through this recall.

Sept. 11 proves to still hold a devastating ring. This proved to be the case this year as John Ritter died that day.

John Ritter was famous for his roles in Three’s Company and the now-playing 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter . He was only 55

years old. 8 Simple Rules addressed the death of his character in the fourth episode of the season. The tragic car crash of his character made the hour-long show a tearjerker.

Johnny Cash may not be known by the majority of the student population, but has been wooing fans since 1955. He tragically died on Sept. 12. He was 71 years old when he died.

During the MTV Video Music Awards on Aug, 28, Madonna and Britney kissed. Christina and Madonna kissed too, but not too many people pay attention to that. The tabloids say there was more action than Britney says is true.

And now, the end of 2003 nears and all that is in people’s heads is Michael Jackson. The King of Pop is back in another court case. Whether or not Michael is innocent or guilty is not the case; Jackson entertains us more than in his music, his does in his ever-exciting court cases, too. The year of 2003 ends on this note. Maybe 2004 will be just as exciting, or at least bizarre.

Stars of the new Harry Potter film, from left to right, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, arrive for the U.S. premiere of their movie, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” Sunday, Nov.

Iraqi people pass a giant poster of President Saddam Hussein holding a rifle in Baghdad’s Alawi

in Iraq. Printed with permission from AP.

“Sept. 11 proves to still hold a devastating ring. This proved to be the case this year as John Ritter died that day.”

Being involved is great; burning out is bad

our years can do a lot to aperson. Pressure to succeed can do even more. Many analysts talk about the dangers of parents pushing their kids to do too much, but an even greater danger, I think, is kids pushing themselves too hard to succeed.

AP classes, honors classes, clubs, arts and sports are advertised as the most beneficial activities students can possibly be involved in. “It will help you get into college and succeed,” seems to be the words that go along with every co-curricular and extracurricular activity. Without moderation, these activities can become deadly. The stereotype that if you go to Blue Valley, your life must be fine couldn’t be more out of place. With higher standards comes more pressure, and these days to even be in the top half of the class, isn’t easy. With grade inflation due to weighted classes and so much pressure to be involved in activities to help get into college, life as a teenager couldn’t possibly seem to be more difficult. Blue Valley has meant a lot to me. I’ve worked hard to be involved by increasing the pressure on myself to succeed in newspaper, debate, forensics, harder classes and clubs. In the end the only question I have to ask myself is if it was all worth it? My initial reaction is no. Getting awards and titles that I will cherish for the rest of my life will always be worth it, but trying to be involved in everything, looking back, was ludicrous.

Blue Valley High School

6001 W. 159th Street

Stilwell, Kan. 66085

(913) 239-4946

The_Tiger_Print@yahoo.com

Staff

Managing Editors ~ Shan Howard & Lindsay Pond

Opinions Editor ~ Kyle Rogers

News Editor ~ Maneeza

Iqbal

Sports Editors ~ Kevin Loftus & Brandon MurrayMazany

Entertainment Editor ~ Mike Johnson

Photo Editor ~ Jamie Hisle

Assistant Features Editor ~ Andrew Robinson

Adviser ~ Susan Agee

Reporters ~ Kim Hieber, Katie Abrahamson, Nick Speed, Adam Lary, Michaela Cross, Dusty Riedesel, Matt Galloway

Photographer ~ Kristen Palmer

Artist ~ Kelly Baker

The Tiger Print is published nine times a year for the students, faculty and the surrounding community of Blue Valley High School It is an open forum for student expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration or Blue Valley High School District # 229.

Many people say that high school was the best time of their lives. I’d have to say that I did have a lot of great memories, but now that I’ve realized that high school is really just a tool - a tool for teaching kids to become responsible and to deal with life, I’ve realized that while being involved is good, being overly involved is too stressful to be beneficial. Society pushes kids to do as much as possible, but is that really good for them?

Statistics across the board show that every day the number of teens suffering from anxiety, depression, and other ailments due to stress is increasing. With so many problems it would seem that the general consensus of society would be that it’s necessary for life to slow down; however, the pressure seems to be unrelenting.

This semester I’ve made the hardest decision of my life to graduate early, and once I get into college, my high school transcript will be nothing more than a memory. While I’ve learned a lot during my years here, I have to wonder if it could have been better if I’d taken everything with a grain of salt, knowing that it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I didn’t succeed.

I think the most valuable lesson I learned from high school is that learning to enjoy life is important. Pushing as hard as possible to succeed and to be involved will only lead to burnout, depression or heartbreak once kids get to college and realize that what they do in high school will not follow them for the rest of their lives, but instead, will be the groundwork for them to grow from.

Staff Editorial

Lunchroom liberties under fire?

Although Thanksgiving is over and visions of state titles and Christmas vacations are running through everyone’s minds, not everything is “peachy” in BV land. Yes, there is a problem that threatens to rip this school in half, a problem so severe that it could rock the very foundation of this humble institution. And to find this dangerous situation, look no further than the lunchroom. That is right; Blue Valley is in danger of being hit with the slob virus.

Okay, maybe that is taking it too far, but the current conditions might be even worse than that if something isn’t done. It probably isn’t an exaggeration to say that if lunchroom etiquette was a movie, Blue Valley would bomb like Gigli . Don’t get us wrong; there is nothing like sitting in a batch of fourth-lunch mashed potatoes, but this is crazy. It’s bad enough that no one has a clue what chicken teriyaki is, but now you can smell it expire while chowing down.

But at least we have the great tradition of the senior lunchroom to look up

to, right? Countless trophies shining on the walls... Tributes to past Blue Valley heroes in every corner... Chicken patty on a bun smearing down the windows and the doors... Wait; never mind. While the seniors seem to excel in every other subject, they can’t seem to grasp the difficult concept of fork and spoon.

So what should be done about this mess? A lot of people think that the janitors should pick up all the mess left after lunches. We’re sure they would agree. There is nothing that would thrill them more then to do lunch duty moments after cleaning up some freshman’s vomit in the hallway. They get paid to clean up messes, not to be

Great gift ideas

As the holidays approach, there are many gift ideas. For originality and thoughtfulness, The Tiger Print’s Top Five Gifts for the holidays guarantee you shopping success

5. The Saved by the Bell DVD set of the first and second seasons. What is better than Zach and Screech coming out of your stocking this year?

4. Looking ahead to that first weekend of spring break, don’t reserve a hotel in some hot spot in Mexico. Reserve a hotel in Topeka so you can watch both Blue Valley basketball teams as they compete for a state championship in March.

3. Don’t laugh now, but all teenagers are dying to get their hands

your own personal Jeeves.

There are basically two options students have left. They could just starve while trying to think of a solution (For the record, The Tiger Print does not support this option), or they could follow a new and difficult two-step program that may help. Students, get out your pens and notebooks for this one. First, you take the object you have eaten off of, like a tray. Then, you put it in the trash can.

Congratulations!

All joking aside, being a Tiger isn’t all about pride, it can also be about class. By keeping our lunchroom clean, we can continue the tradition of greatness that makes people come to this school.

on Hokey-Pokey Elmo. So while he is putting his left foot in, you’ll be putting this furry friend in someone’s stocking.

2. The BV basketball team sure won’t stink it up this year, but just in case of any foul smell after one of their victories, be sure to put Victoria’s Seceret’s new men’s fragrance in their stockings to resolve any postgame aroma.

1. The best gift this year will come straight from the heart of Stilwell. How about some Blue Valley State Champion apparel? Wow, that is one great gift! So forget about giving all the newest, hottest gifts, and give the hottest gift in Stilwell.

So there are the TP’s Top Five for 2003; wasn’t that special?

Sound Off : Students condemn immature lunch practices

ESIS allows parents to check grades from anywhere

One of the largest Blue Valley school district investments this year will soon be a reality for students. Starting in January students, and more importantly their parents, will have immediate access to their grades, as well as their homework assignments.

At first glance this may advertise itself as a concern to students, but this process will allow open communication between parents, teachers and students. The new ESIS, or Electronic Student Information System, has been used in our district for a few years, but now it has taken a step in a more interactive, open form.

The new system is a more expanded form of the current system. It currently keeps track of attendance, grades, discipline, demographics and now BV par-

ents on-line. The new updates in the system have the greatest affect on teachers as well as parents and students. Viewing grades via the internet is a whole new concept for everyone.

So what could be so good about this new system?

Senior Jamie Mahoney said, “I like it because I can see it any time. I don’t need to worry about my parents seeing it because I always get good grades.” His philosophy may work for him, but what about the people that don’t get good grades all of the time?

Emphasizing children’s grades to their parents is always a good practice,

but where should the district draw the line? Already parents are sent their students nine week grade report, progress reports and once a semester there is time allotted for parent-teacher conferences, but apparently this is not enough. Perhaps online information will eliminate the need for this number of reports in the future.

Next semester, teachers will be required to put two-week updates of grades on “Blue Valley Parents On-line” available at www.BlueValleyk12.org.

Although the service is free, parents

must register at the site before being permitted to view the students file.

“I really don’t see the harm in my parents knowing what is going on in school with me,” junior Jay Vaglio said. “If anything it will help me do better because I will know how I am doing in my classes, and I will be able to see if I need to be getting extra help.”

ESIS on-line allows parents to “be a part of the process” and help instill responsibility in their children. “I think the new system is great,” biology teacher Eric Driskell said. “I really like the idea; this way parents can stay on top of their kids, and make sure they are getting their assignments in.”

So while the decision of whether or not the updated ESIS is good or not is in the eyes of the user. It is a matter of fact, one that becomes real in January.

TV Movies : Too dramatic, not completely based on truth

matt galloway staff writer

The old cliché “desperate men do desperate things” has never been more appropriate then when it’s used to describe television network CEOs. November was sweeps month in TV land and the networks are jockeying for advertising rights. They’ll do anything for a few million bucks, even exploit national crisis figures.

“The Elizabeth Smart Story” and “Saving Private Jessica Lynch” were CBS and NBC projects that recreated the trials of Elizabeth Smart and POW Jessica Lynch. The two stories seemed harmless enough; Smart was kidnapped by a middle-aged man while Lynch was kidnapped by Iraqi soldiers. Both girls were rescued and received national attention for their unique situations. As a matter of fact, both movies generated a lot of excitement because nobody really knew what happened to both women. Unfortunately, both stories were dealt fatal blows before they even started production.

First of all, people were shocked when the parents of the 15-year-old Smart sold the rights to their daughter’s story to CBS. They still furiously deny any accusations of exploiting their daughter, but the fat check they got after cutting the deal seems to speak otherwise. Can you imagine the controversy if the parents of the last Jon Benet Ramsey sold their daughters story to a major network? If the Smarts wanted to do something, they could have started a program like the Amber alert so other kids wouldn’t be as unlucky as Elizabeth was.

“Saving Private Jessica Lynch” also gained a lot of heat early, mainly because she even said on the record that she had little knowledge of her kidnap and

rescue. How could NBC produce an accurate story without any information about the event? They were still given the benefit of the doubt and both movies moved forward in productions.

Judgment day: both movies aired on Nov. 9 in the same time slot, head to head. Immediately, exaggerations became apparent. The movie was poorly produced, and it highlighted the distraught parents as much as it did Elizabeth. The Lynch movie followed an Iraqi lawyer who tipped the United States soldiers on Lynch’s location. Thus, a five-minute story stretched into a long drama.

CBS also had a made-for-TV mini-series about former Pres. Ronald Reagan and his administration ready for show, but a late controversy sparked when groups obtained parts of the script. Many scenes were unproven including Reagan’s son doing bale and Reagan making hateful comments about people with AIDS. Was this some kind of a sick joke? Was CBS that desperate for ratings that they had to treat a former President who is seriously ill like dirt? Apparently this got too hot for even CBS to handle because they pulled the series from air due to “economic reasons.” It aired on Showtime, however, last Sunday.

There is a real question here underneath all the madness: Where does it stop? How low can one network go until people start to turn off the televisions? Is a movie about Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVey on the way? Yes, this is a desperate time for the ol’ boob-tube, but if there’s one thing to be learned from all this, it is that there is one sure thing you can’t buy with advertisements and sponsorships: morality.

“I think it’s raucous, and it needs to stop.”

“It’s really not a big deal to pick-up your own trash so it shouldn’t be a problem, but it is.”

“I th ink it’s re ally disre pectful, a nd it shows that they have no ap preciatio n for what the school gives them.”

“I think it’s childish.”

photo poll compiled by Kristen Palmer and Jamie Hisle

“I don’t need to worry about my parents seeing it because I always get good grades”

-senior Jamie Mahoney

freshman Zach Thayer

senior Will Palmer

junior Michelle Geary junior Jessica Woltjer brandon murray-mazany sports editor

dusty riedesel staff writer

Tiger football

Tiger football Tiger

Tiger football Tiger football

on the road to state

Every man a brick, together a wall.” These words adorned the mantle of KU’s locker-room doorway and delineate the attitude of brotherhood that defines the Blue Valley Tigers’ foot ball team. This attitude intensified with each win in the playoffs, and I have to say how fortunate I am to have experienced a state championship, along with everything that occurred the week before it.

nessed four chicken breasts, while Michael Pittman claimed to eat five.

Monday and Tuesday were work days as usual. The coaches informed us about a Salina South team that we knew nothing about, except that they were good. Coach Mac talked for the better part of an hour about the Cougar’s offensive schemes. Players zoned out, played with the grass, and occasionally paid attention. Coach Rampy spoke for 10 minutes about the oppositions defense. After that, we conditioned. We ran four 40-yard sprints for four quarters between us and the goal we had made years ago, to win the state championship.

Tuesday night was a night for the buffet killers. The O-line went to Pizza Street for the $2.99 buffet.

Nov Nov

Wednesday was different. We trav eled to William Jewel to play on field turf, the same surface of Memorial Stadium. Metro Sports and channel 5 were on hand, and the practice went well. We ate at Strouds,which opened its doors an hour and a half early for us. While Dane Hammett and Tyler Newton whined about the $16 the meal cost, most of the players enjoyed the food. Nick Speed devoured a wit-

Nov

We had an early morning practice on Thanksgiving. After practice, we met in the fixed forum. Coach Rampy asked all the seniors if there was anything that they would like to say to the team. It was the last real opportunity to address them as a whole.

“I’ve been playing football since the second grade, and Saturday is going to be the last time I ever put the pads on,” senior Kurt Haberstroh said.

The message was to underclassmen: enjoy it while it lasts, because it doesn’t last long. Kristin Driskell thanked the players for the good time she had managing, and Dane Hammett thanked her and the other managers for saving him from death by dehydration. Brian Olney talked about the friends he had made during football, and how he would never forget any of them. That was too much for Chris Bass; he wasn’t even able to talk. Coach Rampy stepped in, letting us know that it was okay to love each other, and that would be a powerful tool on the field.

F

Nov

riday was pre-game day. Practice was followed by the ritualistic

movie at Chris Bubeck’s house. We watched Any Given Sunday ; we had watched everything else that had anything to do with football.

Nov G a m e d a y

We got on the bus at 11 a.m. that morning, and arrived about 50 minutes later. The players approached the pre-game with the focus and intensity that they have for every single game. Bower and Bass were videotaping and talking to Olathe North cheerleaders while Hammett and myself engaged in a furious game of tic-tac-toe.

The game was crazy enough. When Tyler Newton went down, I was yelling at him to get up. I wouldn’t have if I had realized his arm was broken. That was one of many mishaps that made for a barely good enough game.

“It was possibly the worst game the o-line has played all year,” said senior Josh Koerkenmeier. “But 22 is more than 21 any day of the week.”

After the game, and after a wave of hugs and tears from nearly everyone I saw, I enjoyed the best post-game shower of the year, talking to Bubeck and Bass about the game. The constant cascade of water lasted until Coach Rampy came in and yelled at us to hurry up because the entire team was waiting.

The bus ride home was great. I sat

beside Bubeck and Casey Donahoo and talked about everything, the way that we lifted and ran nearly everyday for the past four years of our life, how we pushed ourselves everyday in the summer heat, and how we didn’t just do it for ourselves, but for every guy on the team.

We knew that we would have to put our bodies on the line for our teammates, and nobody wanted to be the one that let down the team. Now, with it all over, it was all worth it. I could be proud of what I did on the field. Even more importantly, I could be proud that I never let down my teammates, the guys that shared my goal, the guys that sweated with me every day for the past four years, the guys that I had come to love.

Despite a year dry spell a first game loss down in the third quarter

football comes back comes back comes back comes back comes back every time every time every time every time every time

“Four years of dreaming but I never could have imagined it would feel like this ” captain Michael Denning

Tiger defense stops

Salina South in the State Championship

(Above)

PRINT THE

Junior Geno

ters throws a during warmps at the state game. Waters threw for 142 on Saturday.

s by Danielle Wong and randon Lutz.

Tigers take it all BV wins 5A state championship

After four years of waiting, 19 seniors dreams finally came true.

“Winning what we had been dreaming about since 8th grade was literally a dream come true,” senior Josh Koerkenmeier said.

In the first match-up between the two schools, the Tigers defeated Salina South 22-21 at Memorial Stadium for the State championship last Saturday. The game started well for the Tigers when junior Geno Waters connected with se-

nior Tyler Newton for a 47-yard gain, but Newton had his forearm broken when he was tackled. That didn’t deter the Tigers though, as Waters connected with senior Brian Oliver for a touchdown. Since Newton was the starting kicker, the Tigers weren’t sure what to do. After a delay of game penalty, the Tigers went for two and failed.

“We were not sure if we had a kicker in our program at that time,” head coach Steve Rampy said. Two South touchdowns before the end of the half made the score 14-6 South.

With a 69-yard touchdown run, South took a 21-6 lead beginning the third quarter. Then, senior Chase Holtom made a 49-yard run for a touchdown, but the Tigers again failed on the two-point conversion, making the score 21-12. On the Tigers’ next possession they were stopped at the one-yard line. Even though it was ugly, Waters made his first field goal of his career.

“I was pretty nervious because that was the first time I had ever kicked in a game,” Waters said.

The Tigers stopped South and, after a punt, were on their 35 with 3 minutes and 44 seconds left. After one short run, Koerkenmeier made a huge block, paving the way for senior Mike Denning’s 59 yards run. Two plays later, Waters

ran it in himself for the TD. Waters then made the extra point to give the Tigers the lead, 22-21.

“Once I saw the hole opened up, instincts kicked in and I headed for the end zone,” Denning said.

With 1:25 left on the clock, South drove all the way to BV’s 26. But time expired, and the Tigers captured their third state title in school history.

Prior to the state game, the Tigers played against Saint Thomas Aquinas in sectionals, Nov. 14. As a cold rain poured on the field, things didn’t look too good as Aquinas scored first, taking the lead 70. The Tigers struck back on a Holtom run; however, the extra point was missed and at half time the score was 7-6 STA. The lead wouldn’t last though as the Tigers came out and pounded the Saints with their running game. Holtom had 220 yards and three touchdowns, including one on a pivotal fourth down and three late in the fourth quarter. The Tigers clinged to the lead as senior Chris Bass recorded a sack and stuffed a run for a loss on consecutive plays. Senior Tyler Newton batted down a STA pass on fourth and 20 to secure the 20-14 win.

The Tigers then traveled to Topeka Seaman to try to avenge their only loss of the season. Things also didn’t start out as planned as Waters threw an interception that led to a Seaman field goal. Seaman then scored on its next possession to make it 10-0. The Tigers didn’t give in as the offensive line dominated and two Holtom touchdowns later, the score was 17-14 Seaman at half. The Tigers came out and stopped the Vikings on their first drive and chased in on a Holtom TD run. This was the first time Seaman had trailed all year and there was no going back. Senior Andy Shorten had a 69-yard interception return for a touchdown to put the Tigers up 28-17 and what seemed to be enough. But, Holtom had one more in him as he went 49 yards for his fourth TD of the night. He also tied the single season rushing record, gaining 196 on the night.

. Former Blue Valley student Bart Brandon, seniors Bryan Swallow and Brandon MurrayMazany (left) , and seniors Joe Cullinan and Hayley Podschun (below) cheer at the state game.

kevinloftus sportsleditor

Under Armour Future of fabric

dustin riedeselriedesel riedeselriedesel

It’s the hottest thing since sweatshirts, literally. Under Armour, the fabric of the future, is as versatile as the platypus. It’s stretchy, loose, tight, shiny, dull, warm, cool and functional. That iss why Blue Valley athletes and students have flocked to it like kids to candy.

“I like Under Armour because it keeps me warm,” freshman Devon Murray-Mazany said. “Plus, I really like the emblem on the collar.”

The warmth is definitely the number one reason people wear it, but Under Armour’s moisture transport system is what truly makes it unique. The athletic underwear was designed by Kevin Plank, a special teams captain for the Maryland Terrapins who was frustrated with changing his undershirt three or four times a game. In 1996, he developed the first microfiber t-shirt to keep himself dry. After that, the clothes spread like gossip at a slumber party. Now, nearly every athlete on every level wears some form of Under Armour.

“I would have to say that I wear Under Armour for the performance,” junior Casey Donahoo said. “The advantage is undeniable.”

That is why most athletes love the UA(the letters that the X-shaped emblem is comprised of). It doesn’t get in the way while actually being more durable and comfortable than normal sleeves while worn during harsh weather, such as a windy, sideways drizzle during a football game. If a guy feels good, he plays well.

“Nobody says ‘fits like a glove anymore.’ Now it fits like Under Armour,” senior Chris Bass said. Now that Under Armour has a strong athletic basis, it is following in the footsteps of athletic giants such as Nike and Adidas in becoming an everyday fashion. Under Armour is now producing LooseGear for everyday wear and relaxation, along with other forms of apparel such as beanies, fleecetops and hats. It won’t be long before this trend is a commonplace, big-name brand seen everyday in the halls.

Fake purse anyone? Fake purse anyone? Fake purse anyone? Fake purse anyone? Fake purse anyone?

Kate Spade. Louis Vuitton. Prada. Gucci. Coach. Burberry. The list goes on and on, as does the amount of money spent to own one of these designer purses. These purses are so popular that many women would do anything to be a proud owner of one of Louis Vuitton’s new line. However, unlike celebrities and women that have $500 spare change to spend on a purse, replica designer purses allow women to be fashionable and save hundreds of dollars.

This fake purse fad has hit the halls of Blue Valley. Many girls can be seen sporting a fake Kate Spade, fake Coach or fake Louis Vuitton. Out of 129 girls surveyed at Blue Valley, 52 percent admitted to owning at least one fake purse. According to many girls at Blue Valley, owning a fake purse has many perks. You can look fashionable by wearing purses that celebrities own, and, more importantly, you can save hundreds of dollars by buying a fake.

“I really don’t think you need to spend $300 on a purse when you can get one for $10,” junior Ali Pollock said. “Fake purses are cheap and look like the real thing.”

However, if you do have the money to spend on a real Kate Spade, the prices can range anywhere from $150 to $500, real Burberry’s can range from $200 to $500, real Coach’s can range from $100 to about $500, real Prada’s can range from $400 to $1000 and real Louis Vuitton’s, the most popular and hard-to-get purses can range from $250 to almost $2000.

“When I have enough money to support myself and a disposable income, I’m definitely go-

ing to drape myself in Burberry and Louis Vuitton,” senior Samantha Prouty said. “But for right now, fake purses are perfect for me.”

It is very unlikely that an average high school girl is going to have enough money to buy a real Louis Vuitton at $1640, so one might ask: Where exactly can you get your hands on a fake purse? Canal Street in New York City is chock full of fake purses, large metropolitan cities sometimes have some street vendors, and there are even some stores locally that sell fake Louis’s and Kate Spade’s.

Lately, women have been hosting “purse parties,” where anyone can buy a replica purse while enjoying snacks. As fun as a purse party may seem, there have been various parties that have been broken up by the police. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that police arrested a woman hosting a purse party at her house, and the police seized almost 270 counterfeit, fake purses, that retail about $150,000. Police say that even though selling purses may seem harmless, these counterfeit items can be related to organized crime, sweatshops and even terrorism groups like the Taliban.

Therefore, selling a large number of fake purses is a federal crime, but is buying and owning a fake purse a crime? Some argue that if you buy fake purses, this is a crime, because it rips off the designers. Buying and owning a fake purse is still legal, yet the designers of the actual purses feel slighted. However, girls at Blue Valley and around the country obviously don’t care about Kate Spade’s feelings.

“I don’t feel guilty at all for buying fake purses because the people who design the purses have millions of dollars anyway,” senior Laura Allen said.

Or is the price some pay worth buying a real one?

katie abrahamson abrahamson abrahamson abrahamson abrahamson staff writerwriter writerwriter writer

Juniors Ali Pollock and Laura Cecil go shopping at Oak Park Mall. They look for purses at the Kate Spade display at Nordstorm’s. The prices for real Kate Spades can range from $150 to $500. However, their fake counterparts cost less. photo by Kristen Palmer

“When I have enough money to support myself and a disposable income, I’m definitely going to drape myself in Burberry and Louis Vuitton.”

Pictured above: Casey Donahoo and Brian Oliver. photo illustration by Jamie Hisle and Kristen Palmer

Mircofiber skull wrap

Stretch fit hat Performance grey cut off

Microfiber socks

Mircofiber shorts

Mircofiber shooting sleeve

Homer Homer

What do the epic poet and cartoon character have in common? vs.

lindsay pond managing editor

Most are familiar with Matt Groening’s Homer J. Simpson, but what about that other Homer? The actual details about Homer, the B.C. Greek poet, are scant. It used to be safe to assume that few parallels existed between Homer the bard and Homer and Bart. However, as the plot line matured, The Simpsons dealt with more complex satires. Check out the similarities and differences between Homer’s The Odyssey and Groening’s parody in episode 14 of the thirteenth season.

The Odyssey (the epic poem)

Written by: Homer, the bard

Synopsis: Odysseus, King of Ithaca, wanders the seas for more than 10 years trying to return home after the fall of Troy. Back home, Odysseus is assumed dead, and suitors swarm his doorstep trying to win his wife Penelope.

Odysseus held by the nymph, Calypso, tempted by man-eating Sirens, and bewitched by Circe, a witch-goddess. He fights off Cyclopes and travels through Hades.

After enduring the wrath of Poseidon, the sea god, Odysseus is finally delivered to the royalty of the Phaeacians, who promise him passage to home to Ithaca. Odysseus returns home in the guise of a beggar. Tricked by the disguise, the suitors mock Odysseus. When they least expect it, Odysseus makes his strike, killing all the suitors. After the blood and carnage ceases, Odysseus returns to the throne.

Noteworthy: It is called into question whether Homer actually existed; multiple persons may have been responsible for the works attributed to him. Homer was said to be a blind poet who shared his epic poems, The Odyssey and The Iliad, probably by word of mouth.

“Tales from the Public Domain” (episode #283, the fourteenth episode of the thirteenth season)

Holiday movies good stress reducers

kim hieber staff writer

It is that time of the year again and the holiday season is here. To reduce the stress of the holiday season, go see a movie and

have some fun. For those looking for a good holiday movie, here are some good ones: Elf, Love Actually and Bad Santa. Elf, which hit theaters on Nov. 7, 2003, is a movie set around the story of a human who was raised by elves. Now he is being thrown back into the real world, and things are about to get very interesting. Humorous and cute, this movie will bring anyone a good laugh. It is rated PG.

For those that aren’t looking for a traditional Christmas story, Bad Santa is the perfect movie. Starring Billy Bob Thorton as a man posing as Santa Claus at local malls, this

movie ruins any and all traditions of the holiday. Santa and his elf learn the meaning of Christmas though, don’t worry, but they show everyone a good laugh as two conmen along the way. Another interesting sidelight about this movie is that it stars the late John Ritter. Despite his slightly small part, audiences await his final movie. This movie came out on Nov. 26 and is rated R.

Finally if neither of these movies seems just right, Love Actually is a cute, enjoyable movie that really gets one in the mood for the holidays. Uniquely, it is based around the love lives of many people that all share some kind of connection. Starring Hugh Grant, Keira Knightly and many others, this movie is definitely a hit.

Writers: Andrew Kresiberg (part I, The Odyssey)

Director: Michael B. Anderson

Synopsis: Homer of course plays Odysseus. Upon delivering the Trojan Horse to King, played by Ned Flanders, Homer laughs at the innuendo to the name brand, “Heh, heh, heh, Trojans.”

Homer refuses to make a sacrifice to the gods, who in turn steer his ships off course.

Homer then crosses the sirens, played by Marge’s chain-smoking sisters Selma and Thelma, who sing to “Copacabana.” Homer resists their lyrics to sail onward.

As in The Odyssey, Circe turns the crew into pigs. Unlike Odysseus, however, Homer ends up eating several pigs before he realizes they are his men. Although he laments their loss, he is still hungry afterward.

Homer’s next confrontation is Poseidon, played by Simpsons’ newscaster Kent Brockman.

Finally, Homer nears the end of his journey.

“I have returned from the dead,” Homer said after sailing the River Styx to return home. Bart replies that Homer looks like he’s returned from a buffet.

Upon his homecoming, Homer proceeds to take out the garbage.

Noteworthy: This episode also includes parodies of Joan of Arc, played by Lisa, and Hamlet, played by Bart.

metro talent

the best of KC

They are the hottest thing since our 17-0 Royals. No, it’s not Under Armour; it’s the

Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have sky-

nick speed staff writer rocketed to the NFL’s best team. Behind the arm of Trent Green, the feet of Priest Holmes and of course their huge offensive line, they have also become the NFL’s most exciting team.

Chief Entertainment

“I love watching the Chiefs,” senior Chris Bass said, “They are just so exciting. I wouldn’t do anything else on a Sunday.”

Green is rated the fifth quarterback in the league. Holmes is one of the best players in yards from scrimmage. Dante Hall is the deadliest return man in the sport.

“With Trent and Priest lined up in the backfield,” junior Casey Donahoo said, “the Chiefs are a tough team to beat, especially when you throw in the ‘X’ factor Hall).”

Green and Holmes get to work behind a great offensive line. The CBS announcers tout them as the best line in the league. The offensive line of the Chiefs has started 25 games together. That is almost two years together.

The CBS announcers also say that Kansas City is one of the toughest places to play. It is that way because of the relentless Kansas City crowd.

“When the crowd stands up and goes crazy,” freshman Adam Riedesel said,

“that’s my favorite part because then I go crazy.”

While some people like to go to the games, others prefer to have friends over to watch the game.

“ You have to have people over,” sophomore Jacob Tupper said, “You don’t get the annoying drunk guy, fighting the traffic and you always have a pleasant crowd.”

Who knows, this might even be the year that the Chiefs win the Super Bowl. The last time KC lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-19, back in 1970, the Chiefs won the Super Bowl. The Chiefs endured the same score against Cincy Nov. 16.

“I love watching the Chiefs ” se nior Chris Bass said “They are just so excit ing I wouldn’t do anything else on a Sunday ”

“When the crowd stands up and goes crazy ” fresh man Adam Riedesel said “that’s my favorite part because then I go crazy ”

Printed with permission from Google Images.

Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil celebrates with his team.

Coaches play key role with players

Being a part of a team is something many children take part in, usually beginning at a young age. In most cases it is the parents’ decision to sign their children up for a sport because the children are not old enough to know what they want. At this young age, between three and five, it is particularly important to have a good coach; one who teaches one how to play the game, as well as how to mature into a human being.

This necessity of having a coach carries from pee-wee into middle school, then to high school, into college and finally into professional sports; it is not something that disappears with age and maturity. But I can’t help but ask myself what exact responsibility a coach has.

The definition of a coach, according to The American Heritage Dictionary, is “a person who trains athletes,” but I believe it has a sort of double meaning; something that applies to on and off of the court.

As a child, a major part of education comes in school and from parents, but there is a time when teachers and parents are either not willing, or are just not available to explain and justify certain lessons of life. This is where a coach must step in.

Some of these lessons have occurred during the football season. At Aquinas several players were suspended for their first playoff game due to activities at a party. At BV a player was suspended from a substate game after being disciplined at school.

The Tigers obviously came out with a win, but it was without one of their top players. The decisions by theses coaches were in my opinion responsible ones. This is the type of responsibility a coach has to his players.

So is it right for a coach to punish players for something they did outside of their sport?

I truly believe that it is completely ethical to do, not to mention the right thing to do. After all, a coach is one who teaches players the right thing to do, on and off of the court.

So next time you hear of a player being suspended from games for doing something against the coach’s ideals, think twice before you decide for yourself if his decision is right or wrong.

Tigers host tournament They have high hopes for this season

Tdusty riedesel staff writer

creating the most hoopla around the halls of

he Olympics, the Super Bowl, the Blue Valley Shootout…all are fantastically fantastic sporting events. Of course, since the BV Shootout is the most near, it is the school.

The games start on Thursday, Dec. 11. They begin right after school on both Thursday and Friday, lasting until way past Friends , but the Shootout, players say, will be more fun anyway.

“I love the Shootout,” senior Tyler Newton said, who played in his first shootout ages ago as a freshman. “The only better time of the season is the Valley Center tournament.”

This will mark the first year that Newton won’t be available for the shootout. During the state football game, his arm was broken when he was tackled. He will be out for up to 10 weeks.

The tournament will host eight teams as it does every year. This year, the bracket will have Lee Summit’s North, Lawrence, Center and Blue Valley on one side of the bracket, while Ponca City, Sumner, Webb City and St. Thomas Aquinas will compete on the other side.

The most exciting element of this year’s tournament is that the Blue Valley men (nearly all seniors) have never had as good of an opportunity to win their own tournament as they do this year. BV is returning their entire team, all of who have experienced the

excitement of the tournament. Last year Newton made the alltournament team.

“I would expect Upah and Lasche to make all-tournament team this year because they’re awesome,” Newton said. “Of course, Parker could score 20 any night, and Frubba (Marshal Banks) is always a sleeper pick.”

While the other players were unsure as to whether they would receive any awards, none of them were adverse to it.

“The medal that Tyler has for all-tournament team is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen on a letter jacket,” senior Parker Snedden said.

Even with all the talk of awards, the players are staying focused.

“All we really care about is winning,” senior Andrew Lasche said. “All the other stuff is just icing.”

Of course, the team wants to win all their games, so what makes the BV Shootout special for them?

“It’s our first home game of the year,” senior Travis Upah said. “When we run into the gym, the stands are packed and ‘Eye of the Tiger is playing. Everyone is trying to keep his game face on, but you really can’t help it; you have to smile.”

playerprofileprofile profileprofile profile

Name: Louie McClendon

Sport: Wrestling

Grade: 11

McClendon, who had been wrestling for 10 years, has lofty goals for this season.

Name: Ryan Zeckser

Sport: Swimming

Grade: 12

Zeckser, who has been swimming for four years, considers the best thing about swimming the companionship.

“My only friend in swimming is the water,” Zeckser said.

Zeckser’s goals for the season are to get in shape and have fun.

“ My goals are to win EKL, be regional champion and go to state,” McClendon said. According to McClendon, the best thing about wrestling is winning, while the worst is losing weight.

Sponsors select students for player proflie Poll complied by Jamie Hisle and Kristen Palmer

Senior Marshal Banks goes up for a layup during practice last week. Banks is one of five starters that is back for his senior season. photo by Jamie Hisle

Tigers take it indoors for the winter, ...but are anything but hibernating

Boys’

Basketball

kevin loftus

Head Coach: Andy Tylicki (third year)

Key Players: Senior Marshal Banks

Senior Parker Snedden

Senior Andrew Lasche

Senior Dustin Riedesel

Senior Brandon Murray-Mazany

Senior Travis Upah

Senior Tyler Newton

Junior Michael Pittman

Junior Geno Waters

Record last year: 9-13

Upcoming Games: Dec. 6 at Shawnee Mission East Dec. 11-14

Blue Valley Shootout

Goals: Compete every night Win EKL

Make it back to state Get better on defensive

Quote: “I think that we’re better than we were last year because of the work we put in during the off-season,” Tylicki said.

Swimming kyle rogers

Head Coach: Martijn Keltner (first year)

Key swimmers: Sophomore PP PP arker Sargent

Freshman Tony Britt

Senior Ryan Zeckser

Senior Yu-Kai Chow

Upcoming Meets: Dec. 3 -HOME

Dec. 13 - Olathe Invitational at Chisolm Trail

Quote: “We’re building for the future,” coach Martijn Keltner said. “They’re a good group; they work hard.”

Wrestling michael johnson

Head Coach: Chris Paisley (second year)

Key Wrestlers:

Senior Dane Hammet

Junior Keaton Baker

Junior Grant Baker

Senior Adam Foster

Senior Jon Edwards

Record Last year: 8-2 (duals)

Upcoming Meets: Olathe East Invitational

Team Goals: Win State and EKL

Quote: “I’m getting a little suspicious…I think the coaches are taking it easy on us this first week because nobody has dropped dead yet,” senior Jon Edwards said.

Girls’

Basketball

brandon murray-mazany

Head Coach: Rick Rhoades (fourth year)

Key Players: Senior Jackie Paschang

Senior Melissa Higgins

Junior Lauren Heist

Junior Kaley Miller

Junior Katie Joens

Sophomore Melissa Stevens

Freshman Kenzie Ziegler

Record last year: 5-20

Upcoming Games: Dec. 8-9 at Iola tournament

Goals: To be competitive in every game To win sub-state again, and go back to state

Quote:

Working hard in practice, Keaton Baker and Adam Foster practice moves on each other. Wrestlers work daily to improve skill and gain or lose weight to attain their required weight class. photo by Kristen Palmer

“I feel that we have a good team, and if our chemistry is good then we will do well,” Rhoades said.

History teacher makes own history with award

nick speed staff writer

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Jason Peres. What do these three individuals have in common? Well in a way they were all nominated for “rookie of the year” in their respective professions.

“The Kansas Horizon Award is only for first year teachers, “ Peres said, “so I guess you could call it the ‘rookie of the year’ award for teachers.”

The Horizon Award, not to be confused with the country music award, is given out each year. Each high school in each district in Kansas picks a representative for each school year. Peres was picked as Blue Valley High School’s representative and then later the Blue Valley district’s representative. Peres was selected as one of the 23 recipients in the state of Kansas. The ceremony for all of the Kansas recipients is going to be held in late December or early January.

This is Peres second year in the teaching profession. He loves his job and he is passionate about it, even with the way he teaches.

“You could tell he cares a lot about the subject he is

teaching,” junior Cecily Miller said, “because he gets really excited about it.”

After graduating from Emporia State University in 2002, Mr. Peres came to Blue Valley with a good attitude and a knack to teach. He fits into the Blue Valley’s teaching staff perfectly. He enjoys all of the extra time the new schedule gives him to work with his students.

“My favorite part of this job is the interaction,” Peres said. “I like the one-on-one time with my students.”

Michael Jordan ended up a billionaire, an inspiring business man and role model to most. Kobe is a great basketball but might end up in jail. Where will Jason Peres end up? Maybe he will end up with a job that he can win a rookie of the year award, oh wait he already has that.

Jaben, Edwards sign with Division I colleges

According to statistics, only one percent of high school athletes compete at the division one level at college. Here at Blue Valley High School, the senior class is well on its way to having a much larger number.

Seniors Max Jaben and Jon Edwards signed letters of intent on Wednesday Nov. 19. Jaben signed to the University of Florida for a swimming scholarship while Edwards signed to the University of Kansas on a track and field scholarship.

Senior Jon Edwards signed a letter of intent Nov. 19 to attend the University of Kansas. He plans to throw javelin for the Jayhawks.

photo by Andrew Robinson.

tiger profile

Jaben, who has been swimming since age six, was a highly-touted recruit. He visited colleges such as the University of Texas, University of Georgia, University of Southern California and University of Virginia before deciding on UF.

“I decided on Florida because they are highly ranked in swimming and

Name:

Kellen Murray

Grade: 10

What’s your favorite thing about the holiday season? The food

What’s your favorite store to shop ?

Galyans

What’s your biggest pet peeve? Tall people

If you could be any character from a TV show, who would you be and why?

Stuart Scott from Sportscenter because he gets to be around all the famous sports players

What’s the best part of not being a freshman?

Thursdays, you get to go in late.

put a great emphasis on distance swimming,” Jaben said.

Edwards, who was also a state qualifier for wrestling, was also a highlyranked recruit. He took visits to the University of South Carolina and Georgia Tech. He also had a scholarship offer to Air Force.

“I always knew that I wanted to go to KU,” Edwards said.

Even though they will only be freshman, both will have big roles on the team. Edwards could be the number one javelin thrower on the team by the start of the season, and Florida is counting on Jaben to do well in its distance events.

“Max is one of the highest ranked distance freestylers in the country,” Florida swim coach Gregg Troy told gatorzone.com. “He’ll be able to walk in and score points for us immediately.”

Not only will Jaben be able to help

swim for the Gators. photo by Jamie Hisle

out Florida, he might be able to help out the United States. With his new-found free time, when he graduates at semester, Jaben plans to train even harder. He will go to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. and attempt to make the Olympics at the USA trials in Long Beach, Calif. in July.

Jason Peres teaches his fifth hour world history class at the high school. photo by Kristen Palmer

Max Jaben signed to attend Florida University. He plans to

kevin loftus sports editor

“So I guess you could call it the ‘rookie of the year’ award for teachers.”