The voice of Montezuma-Cortez High School
December 2015 Volume 16: Issue 2
418 S. Sligo Street, Cortez, CO 81321
Captains’ view on firings Louis Gonzales, Sports Writer
Earlier this semester, M-CHS’s head football coach, Dave Wagner, and two volleyball coaches, Andi Pickens and Valorie Bauer were fired. Recently, M-CHS swimming head coach Ian MacLaren was also discharged, totaling four coaches that were removed from their positions this semester. Mr. Wagner was discharged on August 31, and both Coach Pickens and Bauer were discharged on September 23. Of all the people affected by these changes, the players were impacted the most. Coach MacLaren was fired on November 11 (though technically he was “not rehired”), and the swim team immediately campaigned against it. “We started with having a meeting with Principal Wayman, then just followed the procedures after that”, said four year swim veteran Tifiny Mills. After meeting with the principal, the team had a meeting with Coach MacLaren, then they will take their argument to the superintendent, and finally the school board, if they decide to see the case. Volleyball captain Mills said that the coach was fired because of CHSAA
(Colorado High School Activities Association) violations, and supposedly because of trust problems between him and Principal Dr. Wayman. Mills also said that the new swimmers were basically unaffected, but “for those of us that have been swimming all four years with the same coach, it’s totally different.” She added that the change in coaches really messes things up for all returning swim veterans and that the four firings that have gone on “fall on administration and the handling of activities”. “First of all, I would like to say that I like both Coach Pickens and Bauer,” said volleyball captain Laurel Chappell. “Coach Pickens goes to school in Farmington, and she wouldn’t get to practice until an hour after it started.” Chappell said that during that hour, Coach Pickens’ mother, Valorie Bauer, would take over the practice. However, Coach Bauer told the girls that she “didn’t feel comfortable coaching the team,” and would just have the girls warm-up until Coach Pickens arrived. “There were also times
Photo credit McCully Imagery
Volleyball coach Andi Pickens and Valorie Bauer started the season but did not finish .
that Coach Pickens would have us do athletic conditioning after she arrived, even though most of us were already in good shape,” said Chappell. During that half hour of conditioning, Coach Pickens and her mother would go off and “do their own thing,” so that the girls were left with no direction. “Coaches should give their players 100 percent,” Chappell added, “and we didn’t feel like they were giving it.” She also said that initially their leaving was a problem, and that there were hard feelings between players over whether or not they should have been fired. The team held a meeting to put aside their opinions, and after the first week things got better. Football captain Austin Bayles said, “the first day
was hectic. Everyone was confused and no one really knew what was going on.” He said that no one told them why the coach was fired, and he didn’t dig much into it. He also said that he didn’t have any problems with Coach Wagner, and he wasn’t there to judge any coaches. Overall he “was just there to play ball.” However, team caption Bayles did comment on how the team hasn’t done so well in the past years, and the coach was never fired then, so he’s not sure why this coach was fired out of the blue. He added that the amount of coaches that have been fired so far is “kind of ridiculous”. The Panther Press spoke to Mrs. Stacey Hall, the activities director, however do to legal restrictions, she unable to comment on the situation.
mentary, middle, and high school to improve the bonds between the ages.
She believes that if the school was more connected to the community, pride in the school would rise. Danae Thompson, sophomore president, said that she wants the
Unfavorable advisory improves
Julia Damore-Rome, Lifestyle and Column Writer and photo credit Team crests, chants, sporting events, plays, songs, and t-shirts and other activities.” are becoming embed- Panther Cup sponded in M-CHS culture. sor, Mr. Wagner said Student advisory con- “teams will earn points verts from schoolwork towards ice-cream to school pride. Six sandwiches, pizza parteams, Back Plague, 50 ties, and movie days.” Shades of Grey Matter, The grand prize is the Silver Bullets, White Panther Cup, a secret Lightning, Agent Or- and coveted incentive. ange and Pumpkin Some student resilSpice are competing ience to this new imfor the Panther Cup. plementation has been The Panther Cup is a apparent. Students are new competition to improve s c h o o l culture and instill s c h o o l spirit. M-CHS Vice Principal Mr. Kelly believes the Panther Cup will “ b u i l d s c h o o l spirit and m o r a l , because students will be re- The Black Plague Team was forced to relowarded for cate after their designated outdoor meeting a t t e n d i n g spot was proclaimed inadequate. continued on page 2
Student government officials plan for revision Garrett Damron, Editor and Photo Credit Student government munity connections withhas many plans for the i n the high school. She hopes to rest of the school year. connect Each individual officer the elehas hopes and ambitions for improvements to their particular department. Josh Ramos, junior president, and Andria Battle, junior vice president, said that they want to improve school pride. Josh said that he had very high hopes that the Panther Cup would improve school spirit. Madison M a h a ff e y, junior secretary, s a i d that she wants to see more com-
student government to have more power. Stevee Brenner, senior secretary, said that the student government officials need to be “treated like adults” and trusted enough to do what is right. Raquel Lucero, senior vice president, responded to Steevee’s comment saying that there is a “circle of power” consisting of students not supporting student government because they are not trusted by the administration, and the administration not taking student government seriously due to lack of student participation.
Raquel also said that she wants to encourage students to attend student government meetings and discuss more problems and solutions. She wants to see “suggestion boxes” around the school for students to give recommendations about issues in the school so that student government can work on solutions. Orion Rainer, junior treasurer, said he simply wants to make sure that student government has enough money to fund events, such as Shop with a Cop. The rest of the officials were not available to give comment. The elected 2015-16 student government officers have plans and hopes for this year so that school atmosphere will be better.
Press 02 Panther D 2015 ecember
Department Spotlight Actors captivate audience
Marching band takes top awards Daniel Wagner, Editor in Chief
Bridgett Damron, Staff Reporter
The first play in the new auditorium, You Can’t Take It With You, premiered November 23, was a hit. “They have new lights, better sound and give a better preformance overall,” said Clarissa Dukeminier, freshman. “We have more space, better technology, better seats and surround sound,” said Christian Bennett, junior.
Advisory (Continued from front page)
criticizing the hasty and hardly explained manner in which the Panther Cup came to fruition. Senior Erica Cudkowicz said, “it takes up time that could be spent on homework.” There is concern that the Panther Cup will unite team members, but instill animosity between opposing teams. Additionally, some teachers are contributing to the negativity, deterring student enjoyment. Founder of the program, Mr. Wagner said “I won’t address student negativity because this activity is student led.” He hopes students will use the cup’s many incentives to reprimand their peers for negative resilient attitudes. Other students are ecstatic and optimistic
about the positive potential of this program. Sophomore, Taylor Willbanks says this program “seems really fun.” Freshman Ekco BlueEyes thinks the cup is “pretty cool, and it influences students to bond.” So far, each team has collaborated to choose a name, a logo and a chant. Lesson plans will be provided for future advisory class time on Wednesdays that empower school pride and healthy competition among each team. Oftentimes, school pride is scarce, student leadership is limited, and student relations are poor. The Panther Cup’s desired result is to obliterate and reverse this negativity.
Amongst the many produring grams at M-CHS, the the competition. marching band, led by To some, it seemed Mr. Ritthaler, is considthat reaching the finals ered to be one of the most didn’t matter so much prominent and successful when they were mainly groups in school when put focused on their group into the competitive field. performance while The band has been a playing for the audifinalist in numerous state ence. competitions for 30 years, “I felt our Red Rocks receiving superior ratings “Our drill and our muperformance was very across the board with evsic was definitely cut out good, but our prelims ery attendance. to be very successful, but performance at BOA The latest state compeI thought some executions was below expectations. tition in St. George, Utah needed work. Some of our However, our finals perplaced M-CHS against problems were a result of formance at BOA was many other equally talthe weather because the tremendous. A great way ented bands, including football field was soaked to end the marching seaPleasant Grove, Herriand it messed up our son,” said Mr. Ritthaler. man, Viewmont, Salem practice.” said Judy Ha, a Hills, and Copper Hills. senior and flute soloist in “On Saturday, Oct. the marching band. 31, we attended a BOA Judy added, “In terms Regional Festival. In this of our division, we had festival we were classivery tough competition, fied as a 1-A division and I didn’t feel like our band. We placed first final placing was necesin this festisary.” val, winning Other student perOutstanding formers also felt the Music, Outcompetition results standing GE, could have been and Outstanding better. Visual,” said Mr. Jesse Barlow, Ritthaler. a junior and perAlthough the cussionist, said band was not able that the “bondto reach the fiing” of the band nals this year, needed to be the musicians improved on.” are still conRachel Looking-Glass, who practiced long “It was very fident about how and hard for the competition, is mentally and separated, and the they performed physically ready to perform. people didn’t like
each other very much. I think we could’ve done a lot better at that,” he said. Aside from the competition itself, the band was able to enjoy other activities while traveling, such as visiting the mall in Utah and having pizza in the lobby of a motel. One of the biggest activities that the band participated in was a halloween dance at the high school where the state competition took place. Simply put, the entire competition was a great experience for the marching band, as it showed what aspects that the performers should improve on for future state competition. ”If I could change anything during the marching season, it would be to make sure that players stay in tune with the drum major and bring emotion into what they are playing instead of just playing the notes on each page. I really wanted us to play at the best of our ability, and
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Feature
Trumpet player chosen for Winter coaches weigh in lead seat Daniel Wagner, Editor in Chief
we did, so I was satisfied,” said Skylar Smith, a senior trumpet player. The marching season may have drawn to a close for this year, but it doesn’t mean that the marching band won’t stop improving for their next big performance. Whatever happens during the next competition, students can be well assured that the marching band will bring panther pride to M-CHS with their talent and creativity.
Skylar Smith, a senior at M-CHS and a first chair trumpet player, has been chosen by the CBA (Colorado Bandmasters Association) Western Slope Honor Jazz Band to be their lead trumpet position in January 2016. “I’ve been playing the trumpet ever since sixth grade,” said Skylar. “When I tried to get this position last year, I didn’t make first chair, so this year I was determined to win, and I did.” Skylar had a difficult test in order to get this position, playing extremely difficult songs and record-
ing them for the judges to compare amongst other schools, such as Delta High School and Grand Junction High School, from all around We s t e r n Colorado. No other student at M-CHS has ever beeen granted this position, nor has anyone ever auditioned for this role. “I’ ve studied for quite a bit of time getting my range high enough to play the notes and memorize the music given to me,” added
Skylar. “Because I made it, all the best school musicians get to play together, and I get to play as the first chair and travel with the whole group.” In addition to the lead trumpet selection, “We just found out today [Dec 4] that Skyler Smith also made 2nd chair CBA All State Jazz Band, small school division. This is 1A, 2A, & 3A schools... out of the entire state of Colorado. He will be traveling to the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs the 27-30 of January to rehearse and perform during the CMEA State Convention,” said Mr. Ritthaler, M-CHS Band Teacher. M-CHS congratulates Skylar on this new position as it builds up more Panther Pride for the band and the rest of the school.
03
Louis Gonzales, Sports Writer Fall season has ended Obed Simental. and winter season has “I expect the girls to started. This includes have a successful seaboys and girls basket- son”, said M-CHS Girls ball, swimming, and Basketball Coach John wrestling. McHenry. Tryouts and practices Some returning key are done, and coaches players have shown have had a glimpse of the tremdous skills already players who they will be during a victorious playcoaching. off game. “I think the team will He said that players do great this year”, said are placed on teams (V, M-CHS Boys Basketball JV, etc.) based on testCoach Mike Hall. ing and by “mathematiHe said that there are cally calculating” certain a lot of returning play- skills. ers, and most of them alTo improve as a team, ready know the basics of Coach McHenry would his coaching. “I feel like like the girls to work we’re all already on the on the press break, and same page”, said Coach overall, “I want them to Hall. enjoy the game of basHis plan is to make the ketball, the journey, and team work harder, and to their teammates”. grow each player’s matuThis year’s team has rity level. been playing in varsity Some exception- since they were sophoally talented play- mores. Coach McHenry ers to watch are expects them to be “very Luis Perry, brothers Aron cerebral players”. and Jason Engel, and
Scoreboard Final
Louis Gonzales, Sports Writer
Bryce Durbin plays the saxophone with the M-CHS Marching Band during the Veteran’s Day Parade on East Montezuma Avenue in Cortez after the competition.
edits: Rodney Ritthaler, Katie Zdanowsk, Katelyn Bancroft, and Daniel Wagner The M-CHS Panther Press is an open forum which operates under RE-1 district policy. The RE-1 school district, board, and staff are not
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Top photo: Shandiin Kauffman and the M-CHS Dance Team in costume, proudly display the first place plaque for the Hip Hop routine at the Durango Spirit Competition. Bottom photo: Ashley Moore, Tydall Davis, and Ronee Dennison hold the first place award the M-CHS Cheer Team brought home for the 4A division at the competition.
What did you do to show your appreciation on Veteran’s Day?
04 Damore Romes M-CHS pursuing art Panther Press
Opinion
Week long exploration of French culture during National French Week
Julia Damore-Rome, Lifestyle/Column Writer and photo credits Tuesday’s and WednesOn Friday, students and On Monday, students Thursday’s French cookconverged onto M-CHS’s day’s cinematic take on off encouraged students staff were credited cheese Bridgett Damron, Reporter and photos expansive lawn to partici- French culture constituted and faculty to dabble in connoisseurs. French mupate in a bocce ball toura- a showing of the Disney the art of French cooking. sic enveloped the senses; movie Ratatouille, that Spectrums of sweet and green grapes, french bread, ment. and an A small assortwhite ball ment of is thrown, cheeses then teams adorned alternate a festive throwchecking subered tas e q u e n t , Bailey Ford, junior Hannah Parker, freshman blecloth. a l l o t t e d “I marched in the Veter“I hugged and thanked T h e balls. The ans Day parade and had them and visited my i l l usion c l o s e s t dinner with my mom who grandpa that is a veteran.” Slade Decker, Jasmine Muff, Caleb that the throw to is a veteran.” Hughes, and Kevin Partington watch E i f f el the white Ratatouille, an animation of theFrench. Students and staff sample succulently savory cheeses in Ms Copeland’s room. tower was ball won. Bocce Ball stars an ambitious, cu- savory dishes were lavish- merely feet, not oceans E x c i t e - tourament elicits student ment was involvement in linary inclined rat who ly presented and prepared. away, ingrained itself into e x e r t e d French sports. befriends a bumbling gar- Everything from crepes the mind. Chairs became bage boy. and exand éclairs to mousses and scarce. The atmosphere The backdrop of Paris poutines were submitted was jubilant; people pehibited abundantly as players sought to deliver provided insight into the for judging. Students and rused cheeses and engaged the winning throw, glo- culinary prowess and pride staff milled and marveled, in conversation. Farewell National rifying their team with of France to the students sampling succulent dishes, Emily Tavra, freshman Nathan Morin, senior “I huggd and thanked I went to the parade and Toblerone candy incen- who braved the dark inte- and voicing their verdicts. French Week; until next rior of the mock theater. time fellow art enthusiasts! tives. them.” thanked the veterans.”
E D I T O R I A L
DeMockracy shows its ugly face Garrett Damron, Editor M-CHS’s student government election was an insult to what we think of as a democracy. This year, officials running for office posted their normal campaign posters, and as always it was
poorly announced to students and little opportunity was given for students to join the ballot. The election managed to be even more poorly presented with the showing of campaign speeches on video during advisory classes. Students voted blindly, as the video speeches were not shown by advisors, as the videos were blocked
and inaccessible. Why doesn’t the school administration see that forcing students to vote is completely ineffective? Why doesn’t the school administration realize that this method makes the election a popularity contest? A larger problem with the electoral process is the lack of representatives for
each class. No freshman ran for any office; meaning that a quarter of students in the school have no method of voicing their opinions this year. The sophomore class had only two people run for president. The junior and senior classes managed to fill all of the available offices, but the junior president ran unopposed.
The lack of representation is weakening the power of student government and it’s allowing the administration to dictate the future of its students with almost no influence from them. Teachers and administration recognize this lack of resistance to their authority and may start to abuse this power. All solutions to this problem require students
to rise to the occasion and govern themselves. We need to establish the power of the students, so that the mighty are kept subdued. Students have no incentive to join student government, so they don’t. If students were given reason to join, such as giving them time for community service or possibly elective credit, it may fix the problem concerning student government involvement.