Booster December 2024 by ahs-booster

Improving Our Community

by Braden Short

The Abilene sports complexes have been used by countless great athletes, hosted many regional events, and have been the setting for a number of the highs and lows of amateur sports in Abilene. A local team of community members named the “Sports Complex Task Force,” focuses on keeping the quality of the sports complexes to a respectable standard. They have proposed a two-phase plan that would work to improve the quality of Abilene’s baseball and softball fields and would lead to better facilities for a number of different sports as well. That would include flag football and soccer, which would use the outfields of the improved baseball facilities. A special election was put into place for this plan. The August 6, 2024 election received 608 yes votes and 675 no votes, which led to its rejection. The task force is

finding other ways to make their plan come to fruition.

“We need to make sure people are educated and informed about what they are voting on,” coach Billy Hansen, a member of the recreation commission, said.

The apparent need for these improved facilities comes from the community’s concerns with how the facilities are built and maintained now. Players and coaches alike have their issues with dirt infields, citing safety as a reason for concern. This includes problems with the current fields creating “bad hops” that result in errors and injury.

“Bad hops happen a lot [with baseballs on the infield dirt]. It could prevent injuries if we had turf or even well-kept dirt or grass,” junior baseball player Heath Hoekman said.

There are other concerns besides the infield as well. Insufficient, fragile light poles are located at five of the fields. All of the light fixtures on said poles are now irreplaceable due to age and models, which renders them obsolete. Issues with the complexes’ bathrooms, specifically at the Abilene fourplex—where softball is played—are also a concern of players and spectators.

“The bathrooms are really bad compared to other schools. More people would show up if they were improved,” Charlie Elliott said.

The proposed plan would try to remedy the concerns above.

Phase One of the plan has defined these concerns as “core necessities,” meaning if no further phases were complete, those two things and a list

Phase 1 preliminary plans designed by Mammoth construction. Two fields at the four-plex will be used for parking. A brand new four-plex where the recreation baseball fields are now will be built.

of others would be guaranteed to be completed. This includes: a new 4-plex North of the Abilene Community Center being built, a new walking trail around the whole recreational area, new concessions, and an increased parking area. Also, half of the old 4-plex would be removed and used for even more parking space.

“If you’re going to improve the fields, go all in. Do it the right way. Improve everything,” coach Hansen said.

Fixing the current ball fields is a possibility, but many people involved, including coach Hansen, think that the cost of fixing the fields would be the same as building brand new, improved facilities. To offset the cost of these renovations, The Sports Complex Task Force proposed a .35% sales tax. In other words, 35

The tattered remains of the outfield fence at Ted Power Field. AHS baseball plays on this field.

cents for every 100 dollars would go into the improvements.

“It will be a small tax increase if that is how it’s funded,” coach Hansen said.

Some are against the tax. Perceived problems with where the money is going and confusion on how much the tax really costs are factors in people’s opposition to this plan. Senior citizens with limited income will experience a lot of change, because in January of 2025, state grocery tax will go away. The cost of the .35% tax will be less than the current state grocery tax.

“[People thought] that was all the tax was going to be for [ball fields]. It was for quality-of-life improvements. It wasn’t just for ballfields, it was for other things in the community,” coach Hansen said.

While cost is important, the focus of most people in favor of renovations is what the facilities could do for the Abilene community.

“It’s going to bring people to the community and that brings dollars to the community,” coach Hansen said.

“[People coming for tournaments] are going to eat at

your restaurants, they’re going to get gas, they’re going to go to the grocery store, they might take in the attractions.”

Players are excited about what it can do for their teams within the community of Abilene.

“The kids club we have can use [the new facility]. The older kids can use it to improve their game as well,” junior Heath Hoekman said.

Another special election will be held on February 4, 2025, to vote another time on the .35% sales tax. The Sports Complex Task Force hopes to see the vote go through so the city can get to work on the new complexes as soon as possible.

Billy Hansen discussing why he thinks the Abilene Baseball field isn’t functional, citing how the infield is insufficient and the lightpoles are outdated.

Cowgirls Make State

by Pierce Casteel

This season, our Cowgirls doubles tennis team achieved an impressive accomplishment. Making the state tournament is tough to do. But considering these Cowgirls are relatively new tennis players, it makes it even more outstanding.

Senior Allison Rose joined the tennis team as a junior and initially played JV.

“I never expected to be good at tennis, but here I am—a state qualifier,” Rose said.

Her partner, senior Aleah Ortiz, began her tennis journey a year earlier as a sophomore. This past offseason, the two seniors built their partnership over the offseason in the winter and summer, competing in multiple tournaments together, helping create a bond that improved both players.

“We started playing at Genesis for fun and just found out that we did really well together,” Ortiz said.

The commitment that both showed during the offseason

played a significant role in their journey to state, but both players agree that the real highlight of the season was the incredible team atmosphere.

“All of the girls on the team have such a great bond,” Ortiz said.

These moments, especially the van rides and warm-up conversations, were where friendships were built, and memories that will always be remembered were made.

“Anything said in the van stays in the van,” Rose said.

Making it to state felt like the ultimate reward for all their dedication and hard work.

“Going into regionals, I didn’t expect to continue my tennis career,” Rose said. Reflecting on their tennis

journeys, both seniors encourage others to give the sport a try and enjoy it fully while always trying their best.

“Play during the offseason, and you’ll see improvement quickly,” Ortiz said.

If you are thinking about joining tennis, just remember it is never too late, no matter what grade or age you start at.

“Starting tennis, my junior year was the best decision I’ve ever made,” Rose said.

They advise anyone interested in joining the tennis team to try it, both seniors expressed their love for the sport and the team.

“I went out every game looking to have fun, and I don’t regret any of it,” Rose said.

Seniors Allison Rose and Aleah Ortiz celebrating a point at NCKL. Thier success would be continued through the rest of the season where they were able to make State.

Seniors Allison Rose and Aleah Ortiz celebrate a point at NCKL. Their success would be continued through the rest of the season where they were able to make state.

PC: Brad Aderson

Photo credit: Brad Anderson

Homecoming

By Owen Tichenor

Homecoming was full of fun and excitement for Abilene High School. The week was filled with a variety of activities and themes.

Of course, the week’s most anticipated event was the crowning of the Homecoming Queen. This year was particularly special as six students were nominated for this yearly tradition: Emiliee Ediger, Reese Jackson, Zoe Cox, Renatta Heintz, Reese McCullough, and Kambree Bryson. Having six candidates is uncommon, making this year’s competition even more exciting.

“I was so excited! I knew that it was such an honor to even get up!” Candidate Emilee Ediger said. “I was thinking about the other girls and how de-

serving of the crown each of them were, so I was thrilled when my name was called instead,” candidate Zoe Cox said “The most meaningful part of spirit week was walking down the field with my dad. The whole week, I could tell that he was looking forward to it, I think he was more excited than I was.”

Reese Jackson, another candidate, said, “I was genuinely surprised even though I had several people tell me I would be up.” Homecoming Week was filled with fun outfits and memorable moments. Students dressed up as their favorite Disney characters and superheroes. Dressing to impress, western, and Back to the Future were the other themes seen throughout the week. The school was full of creative and unique outfits, no

matter what the theme.

The crowning of the Homecoming Queen was of course the highlight of the week. As Zoe Cox was crowned, the crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating the new queen.

As the week came to a close, one could tell students were already looking forward to next year’s Homecoming. It was a week that will be remembered, especially by the candidates and their contribution to the yearly tradition for high schools all across America, but unique to Abilene.

Senior Zoe Cox being crowed Homecoming Queen

Homecoming candidates and their fathers from left to right: Zoe Cox, Renatta Heintz, Reese McCullough, Reese Jackson, Emilee Edigar, and Kambree Bryson

Cowboy Joe

By Owen Tichenor

Cowboy Joe week was full of fun and excitement! Students were decked out in their best costumes, from dynamic duos to “little white lies” t-shirts. The hallways were full of creativity. Six Joes were nominated to be Abilene’s next Cowboy Joe: Weston Rock, Myles Callahan, Joseph Welsh, Brayden Simpson, Oscar Espinoza, and Zeb Schultze. “It felt awesome being a part of one of the biggest school traditions in Abilene,” said Cowboy Joe candidate Myles Callahan.

He wasn’t the only one excited for the week ahead. Brayden also shared his excitement.

“Seeing everyone else dress up or handing out items in the morning, was my favorite thing,” Cowboy Joe candidate Brayden Simpson said. Candidate Oscar Espinoza, admitted, “It was quite a shock to get up because I really wasn’t expecting it.” He quickly got into the swing of things, one of his favorite themes being little white lies.

Weston Rock, another candidate, was equally surprised but excited.

“I was surprised honestly but excited for the week ahead,” Rock said. “Once I saw my friends I knew it was going to be fun.”

The week culminated in the highly anticipated announcement of Cowboy Joe on Friday, November 15th. The crowd was silent as they waited for the next Cowboy Joe to be crowned. As Brayden Simpson

was crowned the new Cowboy Joe, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause.

One of the most popular themes was “Dynamic Duo Day.” Students paired up in creative costumes, from stepbrothers to just similar outfits. The hallways were filled with unique takes on popular movies and characters.

Beyond the fun and games, Cowboy Joe Week was full of other exciting events. High school students from all grades came together to see their fellow classmates engage in activities, such as the Powder Puff football game and extreme volleyball.

The Powder Puff football game was a highly attended event by students and the community. The girls’ teams battled it out on the field, the seniors eventually beating out the juniors 14-0. The junior and senior girls weren’t the only students participating that day. However, the junior and senior boys were entertaining the crowd in between plays as the cheer squad.

The week culminated in the highly anticipated announcement of Cowboy Joe on Friday, November 15th, during the Cowboy Joe swing dance. The crowd was silent as they waited for the next Cowboy Joe to be crowned. As Brayden Simpson was crowned the new Cowboy Joe, as the crowd erupted in cheers and applause, Brayden became cemented into the unique decade-long tradition of becoming Abilene’s Cowboy Joe.

Brayden Simpson with his parents after winning Cowboy Joe

Cowboy Joe candidates at the Swing Dance from left to right, Zeb Schultze, Oscar Espinoza, Joseph Welsh, Brayden Simpson, Myles Callahan, and Weston Rock

ONE IN A BILLION

By Nathan Jackson

One in a billion.. that’s the staggering odds of developing the three rare neurological diseases that Senior Ethan Gustin, a student at Abilene High School, faced at the same time.

At just six years old, he was diagnosed with three rare neurological diseases that would impact him for the rest of his life. These conditions shaped his childhood; influenced his physical, mental, and emotional journey as he grew up.

“At first, we had no idea what kind of tumor he had so we didn’t know if he would survive or not,” Ethan’s MotherHeather Gustin said.

Pilocytic astrocytoma is a slow growing, usually benign brain tumor that primarily affects children and young adults. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in soft tissues, often affecting muscles, primarily in children and adolescents. Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form on nerve tissue, leading to skin changes, bone deformities, and sometimes neurological problems.

“What I was thinking of at the time was it is going to be hard to get through, but I have so many people that care about me that can help me get through it,” Ethan said.

Battling such aggressive diseases has left some damage to his body, from physical exhaustion to weakened bones and muscle loss.

“The foot brace is meant to prevent me from rolling my ankle. It weighs it down a little and it still comes down weird,” Ethan said. “He was on chemo and did radiation, and he just did not have the energy to finish a practice,” Heather Gustin said.

Not only have his bones and muscles

been damaged his vision has also been damaged.

“The lines on a cross-country course are light, so he has trouble seeing where he is supposed to go. He also is unable to drive yet because of his vision. He has glasses that have an optic device on them to help with distance so hopefully he will be able to drive in the future,” Heather said.

Despite the challenges he faced during his freshman year, he returned to cross country in his sophomore year and ran for the remainder of his high school career. However, this was not just a solo effort; Ethan had a supportive team made up of his parents, brother, cousins, and grandparents, who all worked together to help him finish every race.

“They help me make sure I can get water at some places, and they pretty much cheer me on wherever they can,” Ethan Said.

Ethan just has one final message for the cross-country team.

“I just want to say thank you guys. You guys have been amazing, and by cheering me on every day, it’s been amazing knowing you guys,” Ethan said.

Senior Ethan Gustin running in his first 5K after completing 2 months of chemo therapy treatments his sophomore year.

Ethan keeping up with homework while in the hospital getting chemo therapy for 2 months.

MRI scans showing how much his second tumor grew in less than a month.

By: Myles Callahan

LUNGS AT RISK

In our small town, vaping has become an increasingly concerning issue at AHS.

“We really saw the uses of vapes take off when local vape shops started opening, convenience stores started selling vape products and then it became possible to buy things online,” Principal Dr. Smith said.

While vaping may appear to be a safer alternative to traditional smoking, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that it poses substantial health risks.

“Some teens develop severe lung illness after vaping for a short time while others have suffered burns, seizures, and the effects of nicotine addiction.”

With the risk of long-term damage to student health, our district is actively working to prevent vaping. The USD 435 handbook has the following policies in place to help prevent vaping

“No student, staff member, school visitor or event spectator is allowed to smoke, dip, or chew tobacco or use vapor or e-cigarettes at any time including non-school hours, in any building, facility or vehicle owned, leased, rented, or chartered for USD 435. This applies to all school grounds, athletic fields, and parking lots as well as when students and staff are attending away events.”

With a school policy that prohibits their use, students know they must hide vapes in school or they will face

consequences. Vape companies have made this easy to do, disguising the drug in normal school items such as pens, flash drives and earbud cases. Some students have cut slits into their backpack to create a pocket which is less likely to be detected during a search.

“I’ve seen people stick them into their mouths [to hide them],” senior Reese Jackson said.

Bathrooms are common spots where students seek privacy to vape, with reports of vapes being passed between students in stalls. Vape detectors, which sense chemicals in the air and trigger alerts like smoke alarms, could notify administration of vaping incidents. Some detectors have been installed, but their $500+ cost and the number of bathrooms make full installation challenging.

Another approach is empowering students with the P3 app on their iPads, allowing them to anonymously report vaping incidents for administrative follow-up.

AHS 1st offence for tobacco-related products, will be 3 days of out of school suspension, Student will complete a 1–2-day class of the ASPIRE program (A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience) possession use of tobacco products will be notified to Law enforcement for students under the age of 21.” USD 435 handbook

AHS is not the only school dealing with this issue, many schools have added education for vaping so is it working?

According to the Center of Disease control youth vaping uses drop to their lowest level in ten years.

“Half a million fewer U.S. youth reported current use of e-cigarettes in 2024 compared to 2023”

It’s encouraging that youth vaping rates are declining, but they remain alarmingly high. Vaping poses serious long-term health risks that can impact students’ futures. Each time you vape, you gamble on your health. If you’re struggling with vape addiction, please reach out to the Quit Now hotline at 1-800-784-8669.

“There’s No Place Like Home”

By Jada Richardson

While the auditorium buzzed with preparations for that week’s musical The Wizard of Oz, the iconic words “no place like home” were often heard. These words resonated deeply with the director of the AHS musical, Harlie Delay. After 19 years of leadership by Mrs. Whiteley, she passed the wand to 2019 AHS graduate Delay. Delay’s love of theater originally came from her family. Her first role was at only 8 months old when she played the baby in a musical her father, Chris Delay, who had studied theater in college, was directing. After that, Delay continued to be in shows throughout her entire childhood and school career.

“Theater was just such a fun way to be silly and escape the things that are normal and boring about life and do something totally different,” Delay said.

Delay studied Theater Tech at Nebraska Wesleyan and

got her 4-year degree in only 3.5 years. She then pursued her career, working all over the country in states such as Colorado, Pennsylvania, and New York.

“I worked as an assistant stage manager at Creed Repertory Theatre (CRT), and that’s a pretty exciting thing because it’s a pretty world-renowned professional theater company,” Delay said.

Delay had brought her passion back home, eager to enhance the AHS theater scene.

“I got to up my skills in the professional world, then when I came back here, I was so excited and reinvigorated. Here’s all this stuff that real-life professional theaters are doing... and how can I use [what I’ve learned] at Abilene High School?” she said.

With the musical fast approaching, Delay reflected on the challenges of her new role.

“You’re responsible for a lot more because when you’re on stage, you really only have to worry about your part of the show, but as a director, I have to worry about the whole show,” Delay said. “But it’s been fun to work with these kids.”

Delay was enthusiastic about pushing the boundaries of what AHS could achieve in the future. Ticket proceeds would not only benefit the AHS vocal music program, but new this year, Delay planned to put parts of the proceeds specifically towards future musicals.

“In the future, we can keep growing the program and use our funding towards really cool sets, cool costumes, and picking shows that are more expensive to produce,” Delay said.

This year’s production leveraged existing resources, allowing them to keep costs manageable while still delivering a quality show.

“[‘The Wizard of Oz’] was a strong choice because we had some of the costumes

Dorothy, along with her crew, made their way to Emerald City to visit The Wizard of Oz. The lead role of Dorothy was played by sophomore Sophia Weltha, and junior Kadence Cruz was an Emerald City Guard.

already, and we could build sets out of what we had,” Delay explained. “But if we wanted to go with something totally different, that requires a lot of brand new stuff. This is the way that we do that,” she said.

Partnered upW with Delay that year was Jackson Welsh, another AHS graduate from 2019. Jackson was asked by Harlie to come back alongside her to be the choreographer for the musical.

“It’s so wonderful to work with Jackson again. And it’s really crazy that the last time we worked together on this stage, he was the Gomez to my Wednesday in the ‘Addams Family.’ Now we’re on the other side of the rehearsal process, and we just work so well together because we know exactly what the other person’s thinking and we trust each other,” Delay said. Welsh echoed her sentiment and expressed the excitement of returning to the stage.

“It feels definitely nostalgic to come back,” Welsh said.

Senior Scarlett Randolph playing Glinda the Good Witch. “Glinda was an amzing role to have for my last musical in highschool,” Scarlett said.

“I started when I was really young, in fifth grade. Then, I did a bunch of shows with Great Plains Theater here. And then I did shows all through high school.” While Delay planned to do theater in the long run, Welsh had other goals.

“I’m getting my master’s in school counseling right now, so I’m taking this as just something I can do as extra because it’s fulfilling, but it’s not what I want to rely on,” Welsh said.

Together, Delay and Welsh brought their talents back to AHS to not only bring the magic of The Wizard of Oz to life but to also lay the groundwork for a vibrant future in AHS theater, where truly, there was no place like home.

Sophomores Kenlie Delay and Leah Raub dancing to the song “Jitterbug.”

“It was fun to showcase all of the different talents and tecniques that come with dancing on stage” said Leah Raub.

She Does It All

By Luke Watson

Today senior Reese Jackson is a familiar face in the halls of AHS and often the voice of the morning announcements. She was a homecoming candidate and is a friend to many. But only five short years ago, Reese walked into Abilene schools for the first time, navigating a mix of excitement and nerves as she faced the challenge of starting fresh in unfamiliar surroundings.

“I remember how overwhelming it was at first,” Jackson said.

When Reese moved to Abilene in the summer of 2019 and started 7th grade as a new kid, she felt both excited and nervous and she had no idea what to do. RegWWardless of this struggle, she persevered.

“Since I’m a pretty social person, it was easy for me to meet people,” Jackson said. She became more familiar to others by getting involved in different clubs and sports like cross country, eventually she even became president of German Club, STUCO,

and KAY.

“I enjoy the leadership aspect and the opportunity to bond with members,” Jackson said.

To manage her busy schedule, she stays organized with all her activities by keeping a family calendar at home and watching her phone for any notifications from Sports You.

“I really enjoy being busy and balancing sports, clubs, and homework is a challenge, but I prioritize academics first,” Jackson said.

Jackson has been on the XC team all 4 years of her

Homecoming candidate Reese Jackson, senior, applauds her friend Zoe Cox as she is announced the winner.

high school career and she loves running and the team dynamic of the sport.

“I believe in building strong bonds, and we often do fun activities,” Jackson said.

People who know Reese say she’s a kind and respectful and that she’s a great leader to all the underclassmen

“She’s such a genuine person,” Andy Cook, head cross country coach, said. “What you see is who she is. She really cares about her fellow people.”

Reese Jackson crossing the finish line at Varsity Home XC meet during her junior season.

By Jackson Green

Real-World Readiness

In the face of disaster, trained responders can mean the difference between life and death. At Abilene High School we equip our students with real world skills where they get to experience the challenges of being first responders.

For our students, their classroom transformed into an outdoor emergency scene, where they participated in a hands-on Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) drill. They were transported just outside of town to a field scattered with debris and mock victims—a tornado drill designed to test their readiness. The CERT training gave students a unique opportunity to step into the role of first responders, pushing them beyond their usual classroom routines.

“I first learned about CERT training when Chancy Smith approached me last year to discuss the possibility of certifying our students,” explained Mrs. Schultze, the Advanced Healthcare teacher.

“We had just received board approval for a new course, and I thought CERT training could be an excellent fit. CERT provided them with exposure to essential emergency skills that would be challenging to replicate in a typical classroom setting.”

The hands-on training helped many students explore their interest in healthcare careers.

“I’ve always wanted to be a nurse, and I thought this class was perfect because everyone in there had a dream of being in the health field.” Senior Regan Burt shared.

Chancy Smith, Dickison County Emergency Managment Director, first became involved in 2006 because he felt a strong commitment to community safety and preparedness. His involvement was deepened after an EF-3 tornado ripped through nearby Chapman in 2008.

“Being part of CERT has given me a unique opportunity to work with students,” Smith said.

The CERT program gathers volunteers and trained professionals to role-play critical scenarios.

“We want [students] to make mistakes. We want them to ‘kill’ their patients. Then, when they’re in a real situation, those are the things they’ll be thinking about,” Volunteer Coordinator and instructor Casteel, said.

The students’ performance in the field exercise was closely monitored by emergency managers from surrounding counties. Before students arrived, personnel created

a catastrophic scene with multiple problems embedded such as a lost baby hidden in the tall grass and a bleeding victim under a steel I-beam. Trainers supplied students with orange vests, a map and a few simple first responder supplies, then released them to get to work. It was up to the students to put their classroom training into action.

“It gives them the chance to make decisions under pressure and to see how teamwork and communication play out in critical situations.” Smith said.

The CERT drill not only tested the students’ abilities but also highlighted the importance of handson training for future emergency

responders. By stepping into the role of first responders, these students gained an experience that could one day save lives in their community.

Students recieve feedback on their final drill. Once they were done they grouped up to learn their mistakes.