Issue 1 - October, 2019

www.edinazephyrus.com

October 3, 2019| 40:1

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COMMENTARY

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Zephyrus staff 2019-2020 Editorial Board Kerui Yang, editor-in-chief Syd Pierre, print editor Jack Marker, online editor Hans Janovy Meyer, visual editor Mimi Beringer, visual editor Kyra Boorsma-Bergerud, administrative coordinator Alex Stenmen, head staff writer Julia Nicholson, copy editor Mihika Sathe, manager

Staff Writers Hanna Jaeger Isa Li Sadie Roy Caroline Seiler Linnea Shively Izzy Wagener

Page Editors Madeline Brandel Art Boettge Mia DiLorenzo Deepya Guthikonda Matt Hovelsrud Sadie Johnson-Sieben Ellen Mi Reagan Stanchfield Alexis Yi

Artists Tiffany Qian Mallika Srinivas Lydia Olson Gabe Antoine

Photographers Lily Simmons Erik Magnuson Sophie Charnell

Adviser Daniel Amborn

Letters to the Editor To share an opinon or voice a conern over issues in Edina or an article Zephyrus has published, submit a letter to the editor online by clicking ‘Contact Us’ and then clicking ‘Send Us A Letter.’

Letter from the Editor Kerui Yang editor-in-chief As the 2019-2020 school year ramps up, Zephyrus, in tandem, is also gearing up to do its job this year.

With our first print cycle, we hope to show our readers a snippet of what they can expect in the near future.

Expanding from our diverse coverage on all the happenings around Edina High School, we are working hard to increase our online presence. This includes more interesting social media posts and video creation. Are you interested in reading short but honest stories from diverse individuals with different backgrounds around Edina? Check out our Humans of Edina Instagram account or the Zephyrus website.

Are you more inclined to watch shorter videos on interesting topics related to EHS? Perhaps you should keep an eye out for the videos that are currently in the works by the Zephyrus staff. Or, maybe, you just want to reminisce what a fantastic Homecoming weekend you just had. For that purpose, go to our Facebook or Instagram accounts to see a collage of pictures of the most spectacular moments.

You get the gist. Through these means, it is our goal to engage our readers in newer, more contemporary methods. While we will continue to produce traditional works, such as articles and infographics, we wish to inform our readers that exciting projects are underway.

While the Zephyrus staff is thrilled to practice reporting in new ways, we understand that our works would be quite useless without readers. For this reason, we have a couple of words for you, our readers: thank you for your readership. Truly, without you, Zephyrus would not be here today. So, cheers to both a fantastic and bright year and to our readers. We hope you are anticipating for all that is to come this year as we are.

Throwback Thursday: Homecoming highlights

Policies

Boogie beasts: Sophia Boman and Will Swanda dance down the white carpet during the coronation ceremony.

Zephyrus is a monthly publication produced by students of Edina High School; 6754 Valley View Road; Edina, MN 55439; (952) 848-3800 x3087.

Zephyrus is a designated forum for student expression that recognizes the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of the press, and abides by Tinker standard. Opinions published in Zephyrus do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff, adviser, administration, or entire student body.

Submissions and letters are printed based on space available. Letters should be mailed to the school or given to the adviser or a staff member.

On the cover

Art by Malika Srinivas Inner photos by Lily Simmons, Erik Magnuson, Sophie Charnell and Mimi Beringer

Find Zephyrus online

Peppy performances: The marching band performs as they welcome the students in for the pepfest.

@edinazephyrus Tuxes and tiaras: The Homecoming Court hypes the crowd during the football game.

Suspenseful standoff: Edina Football suits up to face off against Prior Lake under watchful eyes of the audience.

NEWS

Thursday, October 3, 2019

photo by Sophie Charnell

Under the surface of Mirror Lake

photo by Madeline Brandel

are drinking the water that contains that particular type of algae,” Edina High School Environmental Science teacher Allison Ronglien said.

As for what’s behind the algae growth, “Rising temperatures, as well as phosphorus content in the waters are both contributing factors to the algae bloom. One of the factors is people not using fertilizer or road salt in the winter appropriately,” senior EHS Project Earth member Lasse Hackbarth said. Runoff from fertilizer and road salt, as well as grass clippings and fallen leaves, add nutrients to Liliana Hanson the water that the bacteria staff writer feed off of.

As well as the adverse lthough Mirror effects blue-green algae Lake may appear has on humans, the algae peaceful, its reality also harms the ecosystems is far from so. Recently, of lakes and ponds. “Lots the city of Edina has issued of bacteria want to eat up warnings after high levels of the dead algae; that can toxins were found as a result take oxygen away from of blue-green algae growth. some of the other species, Despite the name, bluethe turtles and fish that green algae is actually a live in the pond,” freshwater bacteria that Ronglien said. produces swampy-smelling Symptoms of blooms in stagnant water. microcystin poisoning According to the Nine Mile include stomach pain, Creek Watershed District, fevers, weakness, and/or blue-green algae contains jaundice, and will usually high levels of microcystin, Seeing Green: Blue-Green Algea growing at appear within a week of Mirror Lake due to water contaminents. which can cause liver and exposure. Anyone who kidney damage, and may, suspects that they or their pets have come into in severe cases, result in death. Pets, as well as contact with the algae should contact their health humans, should beware of contaminated water provider or veterinarian immediately.

“There have been some fatalities of dogs if dogs

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Missing School: The new attendence system can be accessed on Infinite Campus.

New College Board AP test policy stirs controversy

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Reagan Stanchfield page editor

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Julia Nicholson copy editor

ver since Edina High School partnered with Infinite Campus to connect schools, parents, and students, they have continuously discovered new ways in which the system can benefit everyone involved.

Most recently, for the 2019-2020 school year, Infinite Campus has introduced a system that allows EHS parents to excuse their kids from school electronically.

Under the new system, parents have the option of forgoing a phone call to the attendance line and instead submit an absence request via Infinite Campus. Once a parent has logged into Infinite Campus, this entails clicking on the “more” option at the bottom of the site navigation and entering in basic information about the student’s absence.

The addition of an online process has not eliminated the option of calling in. However, it has made the

attendance line ring less frequently, allowing for staff members working in the office to have more time to complete other duties. “With just an attendance line phone number, our main office would be listening to phone calls for hours on end. The online option helps even things out, helping our staff be able to manage the rest of their workload a little easier,” Teacher Admin Assistant Megan Sartor and Office Assistant Ali Vos said.

One of the flaws of the system, however, is that it doesn’t allow parents to excuse their kids from previous absences- only present and future absences may be excused online.

If a parent wishes to excuse their child from an absence that occurred prior, they must call in.

While the office staff is still working with Infinite Campus to smooth out all of the kinks in the new system, they seem to be pleased with the system’s overall efficiency and the mostly positive feedback they have received from parents. infographic by Reagan Stanchfield

n a series of changes to the organization of Advanced Placement courses, the College Board pushed the date for AP test registration for the 2019-2020 school year forward from March to October. Edina High School has set registration for first-semester and full-year course exams between September 23 to October 28, and registration for second-semester courses will occur in the spring.

In an email sent to AP Coordinators, Trevor Packer—Senior Vice President of Advanced Placement and Instruction for the College Board— expressed the reasoning for earlier exam registration deadlines. Some schools in the U.S. choose to register their students earlier than the official deadline. “In these schools, students perform better on AP exams” and “students were more engaged and less likely to give up when faced with challenging topics,” Packer said.

In addition to the new registration deadline, the College Board also increased and added certain fees. “The exam fee is going to be $75; last year it was $70,” AP Coordinator Deb Richards said. Test registration will be open until March 2, but a $90 late fee, up from $50 last year, will be applied to registrations starting on October 29.

While she recognizes that the outcome of early registration is unclear, Assistant Principal Jenn Carter expresses her optimism with the new system: “I hope it builds confidence in students because,

art by Tiffany Qian

especially if you’re taking a course that has a lot of information that’s required for the test, you’re going to sit down and you’re going to try.”

Despite the explanation from the College Board, claims about the harms of an earlier registration deadline have arisen. Jennifer Wander, a high school counselor from Wisconsin, created a petition, which has just over 120 thousands signatures, on Change.org asking the College Board to maintain the March registration deadline. “The College Board is planning to make changes to Advanced Placement (AP) exams that will make things even more expensive and stressful for students, especially low-income students. Tell the College Board to put students over profits,” Wander said.

Erik Anderson, an AP United States Government and AP United States History teacher at EHS recognizes both sides of the argument, but he has concerns. “There might be circumstances where it's not the best decision in the end to take the test or something comes up during the year, and there’s some consequences for that,” Anderson said.

However, to ease the transition, the College Board also introduced a new system called AP Classroom to provide resources directly to students. Although these materials are available to all students enrolled in AP courses, EHS AP Coordinator Deb Richards explains the benefits the program may have for other schools. “This way, students can have access to those resources in a smaller, rural area or somewhere and without their school necessarily offering it. I see a huge benefit for programs that aren’t as large as ours,” Richards said.

Anderson plans to incorporate AP Classroom into all of his classes, but he is unsure whether students will utilize the new tools. “It can’t be used for grading. I hope kids still use it because, as we know, grading often dictates whether kids use it,” Anderson said.

In light of the changes, Carter has advice for students: “Talk to your teacher, look at the resources, form study groups.” She also expressed her confidence in Edina students. “We have a long-standing tradition of excellence when it comes to this that we know that our students can do it…If we’re offering college opportunities here, why not take advantage of them,” Carter said.

New attendance is up and running

FEATURES

Thursday, October 3, 2019

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EHS student opens local food shelter: Shop for One More hroughout middle school and high school, students are called to serve the community in a variety of ways as a part of different projects. Unfortunately, this service tends to feel like a burden as it comes with poster boards, essays, and verbal presentations. To ease the time attachments that come with serving the community, Sophomore Phoebe Zamoff began “Shop for One More,” a nonprofit organization that helps to bring food to families in need.

The basis is pretty simple: Zamoff⁠⁠—with assistance from her dad⁠⁠—will drop off bins at various homes around Edina about once a month and pick them back up a week later once families have filled them with food. From there, she will bring them to one of her food bank partners, Joyce Food Shelf and VEAP Food Shelf.

As of right now, Zamoff reports collecting and distributing around 15 bins, most of which are from neighbors or family friends of hers. Zamoff began by reaching out to families she knew, and now gets inquiries through email and direct message.

Throughout the summer, Zamoff was busy planning for her first delivery in late August. She was inspired to start her organization after doing direct service herself.

“I worked at a food donation place with my brother and

my dad and they had a powerpoint saying that like 1 in 8 Minnesotan families face hunger... So I talked with my dad and was like ‘Well I wanna do something about it’ and so we came up with this idea,” Zamoff said.

The organization’s aim is to bring food to families year round, something that sets it apart from a typical food drive that donates only during the major holidays.

The name “Shop for One More” comes from their mission statement, as stated on their website: “Our mission is to get Edina families to shop for one more when they go to the grocery store. One more hungry child. One more family with food insecurity. One more neighbor in need.”

While they are looking for all sorts of donations⁠— canned vegetables, tuna, flour, toothpaste, and laundry detergent⁠, to name a few⁠—they will report what fresh foods are most in need during that cycle in hopes of “increas[ing] the amount of fresh, nutritious food that is donated.” This past month’s featured fresh food was bananas.

Although it’s just begun, Zamoff has already become aware that she’ll need to find a way to balance her service with school. “I’m supposed to send out an email to let people know that we have a delivery soon and I’m like ‘shoot I’ve got a ton of homework.’ But I can make time for it [because] it’s important. That’s what motivates me: helping the families and helping the people, because I know we’re doing good,” Zamoff said.

photo by Lily Simmons

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Julia Nicholson copy editor

For the greater good: Moved by the struggles of others in the community, Phoebe Zamoff started Shop for One More to play her part in the fight against hunger.

Junior takes part in high Get to know the staff: Q&As level music programs Julia Nicholson copy editor

Q&A with Gretchen Gosh:

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Linnea Shively staff writer

or over a decade, junior Elise WallenFriedman has developed a passion for playing the violin. Originally interested in the competitive aspect of the instrument, Wallen-Friedman has gained an appreciation of music’s ability to bring people together after years of playing.

Wallen-Friedman has been driven to succeed since she started the violin at three years old. From a young age, she was pushed to excel at the instrument by her brothers and mother. “My mom [said] I wanted to be better than [my brothers], so I wanted to play the violin for that reason,” Wallen-Friedman said.

Over the past decade, Wallen-Friedman has participated in multiple musical activities, both in and outside of Edina High School. In second grade, she joined the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS), an orchestral group for preprofessional musicians. Wallen-Friedman is also a part of the Artaria Chamber Music School (ACMS), a competitive chamber group based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Most recently, Wallen-Friedman participated in the Young Artist Summer Program (YASP), at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

To apply to YASP, Wallen-Friedman submitted a video playing test as an audi-

tion; she was accepted as one of the one hundred students from sixteen different states. The rigorous three week program was packed with music and lessons. For about two hours a day, Wallen-Friedman played with a large group in orchestra classes, and then spent another two hours in a smaller chamber group. Additionally, she had weekly private lessons and daily music theory lessons —leaving little time for practice. At the program’s conclusion, Wallen-Friedman said, “It was really rigorous, the level of playing was super high…

I think my tone really improved, I think my articulation, with the starting and ending of notes really improved.”

Throughout the course of her time at YASP, Wallen-Friedman not only saw herself improve as a musician, but developed closer bonds with others there, such as EHS junior Katy Meffert. “We got a lot closer through YASP, and it was amazing because we learned so much,” Meffert said. Both Wallen-Friedman and Meffert agree that being in an environment with other students as musically involved as them was a highlight of the program.

When thinking ahead, Wallen-Friedman does not see herself pursuing a career in music. However, for Wallen-Friedman part of the reward from music is growing closer to other people; she intends to keep music as a core part of her life, and hopes to continue playing in adult groups.

Zephyrus: What do you do for Edina High School?

Gretchen Gosh: ​I am one of two Licensed School Nurses with focus on the general education population.

Z: How long have you worked at EHS? GG: T ​ his is my third year working for Edina Public Schools.

Z: What is your favorite part of the school year?

GG: The first month of school! My favorite season is fall so I enjoy attending EHS extracurricular events. My favorite week is Homecoming Week and the school spirit within the building and community.

Z: If you could take any class at EHS, which would you take?

GG: Comparative Anatomy to bring me back to my undergrad studying days.

Z: What is your favorite song?

GG: Anything country!

Z: What activities or sports were you involved in when you were in high school?

GG: Track, Cross Country, Student Council, DECA, Yearbook.

Z: If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

GG: Either Rachel Hollis or Gretchen Rubin (both motivational authors/speakers/bloggers).

Q&A with Sara Swenson: Zephyrus: What’s your position at EHS? Sara Swenson: School librarian/media specialist.

Z: How long have you worked at EHS? SS: This fall marked my 21st year at EHS. Z: What is your favorite book?

SS: That’s like asking a parent who’s their favorite child! From childhood it’s Anne of Green Gables, and as [an] adult, too many to choose from!

photo by Erik Magnuson

Z: If you can get off campus for lunch, where do you go?

SS: Home. We typically have scrumptious leftovers in the fridge!

Z: What were you involved in when you were in high school?

SS: I played the oboe in band and orchestra. Our school band travelled to Norway one summer and the following spring, the orchestra played at the Kennedy Center in DC. Tremendous experiences with terrific friends! photo by Lily Simmons

photo by Lily Simmons

Raised on music: The violin has been part of junior Elise Wallen-Friedman’s life for over thirteen years.

Rest assured: EHS is in good hands

with Nurse Gosh.

All smiles: Mrs. Swenson is a friendly face in the school library.

ACTIVITIES

Thursday, October 3, 2019

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Club fundraising rule offers EHS creates magic on differing opinions stage in “Matilda” any Edina High School students are starting off the school year by creating new clubs or continuing to lead pre-existing ones; in fact, there are already 20 approved student-led clubs set to meet this year. A number of club members are even interested in taking their goals to the next level by fundraising. However, according to school policy, they aren’t technically allowed to do so—though not all students feel that this is the right choice.

In the past, fundraising by student-led clubs has taken place, though it has never technically been allowed. This is due to the lack of compensation for club advisors and the absence of oversight that is normally conducted during other school fundraising efforts.

Nevertheless, the EHS administration believes that student-led clubs were not built for fundraising. “The focus should be about students engaging with other students within the school and providing an opportunity to connect with other kids over a passion that they have,” Activities Director Troy Stein said.

Several students alternatively feel that it would be worthwhile for clubs to be allowed

to fundraise. Project Earth, EHS’ environmental club, undertakes projects to educate others about climate change and promote sustainability. One long term endeavor to install solar panels on the school has been relatively successful, but has limited funding. Members from Project Earth believe that an opportunity to fundraise in the school sphere could aid their efforts.

Senior Zoe Lelas, one of the club’s leaders, also thinks that students should be capable of supervising their own fundraising. “I think that students should be responsible for what money they raise because it’s for their club, and I think that this is an educational opportunity,” Lelas said.

Despite the lasting policy, there is a potential solution for clubs that feel strongly about fundraising. Clubs such as Project Earth could become a student activity. These differ from student-led clubs in that they are under the fiscal control of EHS and have a fundraising procedure as well as a paid advisor.

The student activity would also have appointed student treasurers similar to those on Student Council. Despite the lengthy application process, this is an opportunity that some clubs might consider pursuing.

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Mia DiLorenzo page editor

art by Mallika Srinivas

arely two days after school began, auditions for the next Edina High School performance took place. Now, the preparation for ‘Matilda the Musical’ is in full swing.

The scoring of a star role in one of the most beloved stories of all time can be daunting, especially as a high school student. Sporting the titular role is Louisa Darr, an EHS sophomore and self-proclaimed theater nerd. Darr boasts a number of acting credits; from performing at the Guthrie Theater to starring in a thriller film, “Frostbite”, as the main protagonist, her resume marks her as an experienced and adept stage veteran.

Similarly, sophomore Ethan Letsch is no stranger to the stage. ‘Matilda’will be his tenth production overall and his third with the high school. He scored the lead role of Mr. Wormwood, Matilda’s dishonest and brash father.

The musical is based off of Roald Dahls’ novel of the same name, “Matilda”. Darr said that the musical will “[take] everything you love about the book and turn it into a musical.”

The carefree nature of the show can be seen in the actors’ ability to exhibit childish behavior, as most of their characters range from 6-8 years old. “It’s completely bonkers in the best way possible - we’re kind of all over the place; freshmen and sophomores are playing little kids; and it’s a really great show to see if you’re just looking to have a good time,” Letsch said.

While the days of an actor are long, both Letsch and Darr emphasized the close relationships that EHS theater helped develop. “The rehearsals are always the thing that you look back on; the performances are pretty fun too, but the rehearsals are the place where you really bond with the cast and become The magician on stage: Sophmore family,” Letsch said. They both agreed Louisa Darr reprises her role as Matilda that the relationships they’ve formed in the upcoming school musical. and their exposure to theater early positively influenced their high school experience and their interest in the performing arts.

photo by Erik Magnuson

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Izzy Wagner staff writer

All aboard Ms. Smaka’s magic school bus

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rom going inside the human body to flying around outer space, Ms. Frizzle has taken her class on all sorts of mystical adventures in the show “The Magic School Bus.” Similar to Ms. Frizzle’s ambitious endeavors, science teacher Lindsey Smaka has created traveling and research opportunities for students at Edina High School.

Since organizing her first expedition to South Africa in 2017, Smaka has embarked on trips to Fiji and Ecuador with her students.

Currently, Smaka is preparing for her fourth international trip to Borneo and her first national trip to Yosemite.

She continues to organize these expeditions in order to give students an opportunity to better understand their surroundings.“I think that it’s great to expose students to these new places and be able to see things from a global lens and take what they learn abroad and think about the conservation issues here at a local level,” Smaka said. “Students come back and tend to have a greater appreciation for nature.”

While spending time in the Amazon Rainforest and the Galápagos Islands, the students who participated in the trip to Ecuador were given the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the environment first-hand. “I really just wanted to learn more about the animals there and how to protect the Amazon. Over there, we learned a lot about spe-

cific animal sciences,” senior Lara Flanagan, who attended the trip to Ecuador, said.

In addition to enhancing their research skills, students’ also better their ability to work with others on these expeditions. “Seeing people who are very different from themselves and being able to relate to them and realize that humans are very similar all over the world is a great skill,” Smaka said.

Junior Katie Wetmore has similar cultural expectations for her 2020 trip to Borneo. “There are a lot of unknowns going some place we’ve never been before, which is something we’re all worried about, but Smaka’s always had a good time going through the operation we’re going to go through,” Wetmore said. “All of us are really excited to take part in [Borneo], and I’m looking forward to all of the experiences we’re going to have.”

While the trip is exciting for many students, it can also be costly. “The cost is definitely a downside because it’s pretty expensive. But, it’s also an incredibly unique experience, and the fact that we get to travel halfway around the world and make an impact while in high school with research is pretty incredible,” Wetmore said. Along with the other Borneo participants, Wetmore is currently fundraising to offset the costs of their trip.

Nonetheless, the skills and values students gain along the way often make their experiences worth the cost. “[Ecuador] was life changing. I made so many new friends and I learned so much,” Flanagan said.

photo by Lydia Olson

Ellen Mi page editor

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STUDENT LIFE

Thursday, October 3, 2019

The importance of the plastic straw ban: a misleading misconception Michael Crater staff writer

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ust because VSCO girls tell you that the best thing you can do to help protect marine wildlife is to buy a metal straw doesn’t mean it’s true. While the trend of reusable straws has exploded across social media and pop culture, there’s a lot of information that may dispel this false narrative.

Already banned by multiple cities such as Seattle and Miami Beach, plastic straws are disappearing from restaurants and coffee shops. In the beginning of 2019, California banned fullservice restaurants from distributing plastic straws, and as of April of 2019, Oregon only allows straws to be distributed upon request. Businesses like American Airlines, Marriott hotels, and Starbucks removed them altogether.

The criticism of plastic straws can be traced back to a single video of researchers in Costa Rica finding an olive ridley sea turtle with a straw in its nose. Posted to Youtube on August 10th, 2015, the video has more than 37 million views. Although the video is gruesome and saddening, the social movement instigated by this incident is misleading in its actual effect on plastic in the ocean. My intentions are not to make the story of the turtle seem insignificant, but in the same respect, I want to prevent other environmental issues from being overlooked.

One of the researchers that came to the aid of the turtle was Marine Biologist Christine Figginer. In an interview with Wendy Zukerman for the podcast “Plastics The Final Straw”, she said, “I’m getting worried that straws are taken out of context and presented as the Holy Grail that will solve all of our plastic issues. They are not, they are definitely not. So the straws are just a poster child for a bigger issue, and that is the issue of [single use] plastics in general.” According to National Geographic,

plastic straws make up just 0.025% of the eight million metric tons of plastic in the ocean. Cutting down on plastic straws can help alleviate a portion of that immense amount of waste, but there are more pressing issues that are hiding in the shadow of the plastic straw.

One suggestion is to cut down on single-use plastic bottles. A report by The Guardian states that one million plastic bottles are bought every minute, and by 2021, the annual consumption of plastic bottles is projected to reach 500 billion.

Although most plastic bottles are made with a highly recyclable material known as polyethylene terephthalate, the increasing rate of plastic bottle consumption means that the recycling efforts can’t keep up. As a result, most of the bottles end up in the ocean. The simple solution? Grab a reusable water bottle.

In addition, decreasing the use of objects like plastic bags, styrofoam, and plastic utensils, as well as avoiding over-consumption of products you may need, such as clothes, can have a bigger impact on reducing plastic waste in the ocean.

Those who truly need disposable straws due to a disability typically use plastic. Compared to metal straws, they are the most sterile, versatile, and flexible option in the market. However, if you aren’t in a genuine need for a disposable straw, try to avoid using them.

For everyone, the best thing to do to help the environment is to cut down on the personal consumption of all types of singleuse plastics, including bottles and bags. They’ve been telling us the solution for years: reuse, reduce, recycle.

"Euphoria" brings raw authenticity and creativity, boosting it to the TV A-List Hanna Jaeger staff writer

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he teenage years are often glorified.

Growing up watching Disney Channel and Nickelodeon TV shows, we’re led to expect seven years of shenanigans, crushes, winning football games, and maybe the occasional pop quiz. At some point, we all realize that isn’t the case.

This past summer, “Euphoria” premiered on HBO and made waves as a painstakingly real portrayal of mid to late adolescence. The series was produced and written by filmmaker Sam Levinson and has garnered comparisons art by Lydia Olson to films such as “Gummo” (1997) and “Kids” (1995), as well as the late 2000s UK show “Skins” for its honest, yet controversial, portrayal of the lives of teenagers.

Levinson set out with a goal: give real teenagers a chance to be seen as they are, in all the highs and lows of high school.

“Euphoria,” taking inspiration from Levinson’s own struggle with drug addiction in his formative years, follows Rue Bennett—portrayed by Zendaya —in her junior year of high school after spending a summer in rehabilitation. Zendaya breathes life into Rue using her signature charisma and brings heart and

relatability to a number of otherwise grueling scenes.

However, Zendaya is not the only actor in “Euphoria” to deliver a potent performance.

“Kissing Booth” star Jacob Elordi makes a major shift characteristically from the Netflix film to his role as quarterback and villain Nate Jacobs, a role that could make Darth Vader and Freddy Krueger quiver. Newcomer Hunter Schafer stars as the mysterious new student Jules Vaughn, giving a harrowing yet exhilarating and mind-blowing effort— considering that it’s her first acting role ever—that instantly entices both Rue and the audience.

Nonetheless, the real star of “Euphoria” is behind the camera.

Head makeup artist Doniella Davy has started a revolution.

Just search “Euphoria” online and you will be bombarded with hundreds of photos of teenage faces covered in glitter, neon eyeshadow, and heart-shaped sequins inspired by the looks of the cast. This proves that Levinson has reached his goal: with only the first season out, “Euphoria” has given young adults something they connect to, be it through the creative makeup, impressive filmmaking, diverse cast, or the pure honesty of its characters.

art by Lydia Olson

Trending: VSCO vs e-girls Sadie Johnson Sieben page editor

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ydroflasks are taking over, and wherever you look, you’ll undoubtedly see scrunchies dominating the wrists of half the population of Edina students. The other half is likely wearing striped shirts under graphic tees, with the sound of heavy Doc Martens hitting the pavement. These aesthetics have been labeled as “VSCO girl” and “e-boy/ girl.”

If you’ve been living under a rock, Urban Dictionary has defined a “VSCO girl” as a girl who “wears oversized t-shirts or sweatshirt[s] with Nike shorts. Has Vans, Crocs, Birks, and

art by Lydia Olson

wears a shell necklace. She also wears tube tops and jean shorts. She always has a Hydroflask. She can't leave home without a scrunchie and her favorite car is a Jeep.”

An e-girl, however, is emo usually found on TikTok but commonly spends time on Tumblr.

Can be found wearing pink eyeshadow with a large wing, little hearts under the eyes and a blushed nose,” according to Urban Dictionary.

The Youtube star that initially exposed young highschoolers to these styles has become a household name: Emma Chamberlain.

E-girls and VSCO girls have both received backlash for expressing themselves. E-girls have not only been shamed for their TikTok skills, but they’ve also been berated by their own people. “I can’t believe how some people can be such fakes ... like I literally can’t trust anyone in this toxic environment,” freshman Lucy Owens said when asked how she feels about her fellow e-girls.

One VSCO girl at Edina, senior Hannah Taylor, views her label positively. “My goal is just to spread positivity. I really just like spending time with my best friends and save the turtles, sksksksk,” Taylor said.

Taylor also elaborated on how she feels attacked as a VSCO girl, “The worst thing ever has to be when I'm opening my Hydroflask—hydrate or dydrate!—and everyone starts looking at me!”

These actions have led some girls at night to stay up and wonder: “What would Emma Chamberlain do?”

STUDENT LIFE

Thursday, October 3, 2019

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Rising vaping related deaths: are Edina students next?

Isa Li staff writer

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f one wanted to find someone who vapes at Edina High School, they wouldn’t have to search for too long. Use of nicotine products is especially prominent in the high school bathrooms. The habit is so bad that the bathroom doors must remain open during the school day, a rule recently added by the EHS administration. In addition, Principal Andy Beaton stated that during the 2018-2019 school year, 75% of administrative discipline was related to electronic cigarettes. On a national level, the epidemic has become so severe that on Wednesday, September 11th, President Donald Trump proposed a ban on all flavored electronic cigarettes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 380 confirmed cases of hospitalizations and six confirmed deaths, one in Minnesota, related to

e-cigarettes. Although vaping devices—such as Juuls and Dab Pens—have existed since the 1960’s, the long term impacts of these products are unknown, due to the recent growth in popularity. However, the recent deaths have allowed medical professionals to gauge the dangers of this practice.

A common misconception among students is that Juuls and other electronic cigarettes don’t contain nicotine. This is untrue, as Juul pods can contain up to 40 milligrams of nicotine as opposed to a pack of cigarettes, which typically contain between 8 and 20 milligrams according to Vaping Daily and Juul.

The rise of vape related hospitalizations is causing many people to wonder how vaping will impact EHS students. “Hopefully it’ll scare them and motivate them to stop, but honestly I don’t think many of the people that do it are going to stop doing it,” an unnamed sophomore said. “At least ten [of my friends vape]. I think they brought [the consequences of vaping] upon themselves. They can be

smarter… I hope [they stop], I can’t say for sure though," another anonymous sophomore said.

In response to the increase in student vaping, EHS has implemented new methods to aid in cessation. One way they do this is through providing students access to a chemical health counselor, Chris Lawler, who aims to promote the importance of mental health and support students who wish to drop their substance abuse issues. EHS has also set up studentdesigned posters discouraging the practice around the school. One such poster even featured EHS security monitor Tony Harmon advising against the use of e-cigarettes.

Vaping is a highly scrutinized topic that school administrators and national leaders are working against. The destructive habit is increasing among young people and interfering with daily life in a variety of settings. Despite the growth of nicotine product use among youth, leaders remain optimistic about change being possible.

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Alexis Yi page editor

acters: Kell, the messenger, and Lila Bard, a pickpocket from Grey London. Kell, meticulous and conscientious, and Lila, impulsive and independent, are charming and original characters whose perspectives are delightful to read. The supporting cast is equally well-developed and the relationships between the characters are nuanced and believable.

Once the characters are established, we enter the actual plotline, which is simple but suspenseful. Schwab pulls off twists that defy cliché and expectation without sacrificing clarity or momentum. By the end of the first third of the novel, the plot drives itself.

Detailed prose provides for an immediate sense of place, but there is little to be known about the broader worlds beyond each of the individual Londons.

The characters are only ever in the four Londons, and there are no mentions of places beyond each of the cities’ borders. Within the Londons themselves, the politics and social dynamics are not explored beyond the bare minimum for the plotline, which minimizes a setting that could be vast and intricate.

Although lacking in world-building, A Darker Shade of Magic delivers phenomenally on writing style, plot, and character development. It’s an excellent fantasy novel for those who don’t want to memorize complicated political systems or social structures in order to understand the story.

photo courtesy of Macmillan Publishing

EHS students' take on Tik Tok

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Caroline Seiler staff writer

ik Tok is a social media platform that was released on the Apple App Store in 2017. Since then, the app has become a trend among high schools; many students at Edina High School have Tik Tok accounts, some with viral videos and a notable following under their belt.

Peyton Ritzer is a senior at EHS who downloaded the app with hopes that one of her videos would be included in a viral Tik Tok compilation on YouTube. Even though she has yet to achieve this, she is still relatively successful on the app with over 22,000 fol-

lowers. It takes around 50,000 followers to get a verification badge, which declares your Tik Toks high quality. In fact, her most liked Tik Tok has received 54,500 views. “It looked like I was throwing my dog, but it was just a teddy bear. And I thought that one was kind of funny,” Ritzer said.

Another EHS student involved in the Tik Tok world is senior Brady Evans. Many of his Tik Toks include trends and dances originating from the app. “I just think it’s super fun when you’re hanging out with your friends and you all just work together and make a kooky video,” Evans said. One of his most popular Tik Toks was filmed in the EHS commons with junior Meghan Murphy.

Despite not knowing one another, Brady and Meghan made the video together because they were both doing the same dance that was trending on the app. As the school day progressed, the Tik Tok got over 46,000 views which was a surprise to Murphy who said that she “didn’t think it would happen like that.”

Tik Tok has also been compared to Vine and Musical.ly; both are apps considered predecessors to Tik Tok and shut down before Tik Tok launched in 2017. Evans believes that Tik Tok is a “perfect mix” of the two platforms, incorporating the “song and dance” from Musical.ly and the “humor and comedy” from Vine.

art by Mallika Srinivas

agic, thievery, and parallel universes. In this 2015 fantasy novel

by V. E. Schwab, fresh characters and a tightly-wound plot make for a quick, satisfying read.

In the world of A Darker Shade of Magic, four different Londons exist, each with varying amounts of magic. There is Red London, healthy and vibrant, with an abundance of magical ability; Grey London, the magic-deprived London of our world; White London, the dying London; and Black London, which was sealed off from the others after being consumed by uncontrolled magic. Travelling between these Londons is the young magician Kell, a royal messenger for Red London who uses his job to smuggle trinkets and paraphernalia.

When Kell inadvertently brings over a dangerous artifact from Black London—a realm thought to be inaccessible—he threatens the tentative balance between the realms and risks the existence of everything he knows.

The story is slow to start since Schwab uses the early chapters to introduce the Londons and to develop the two main char-

infographic by Kerui Yang

Dive into the intrigue of A Darker Shade of Magic

art by Gabe Antoine

Overall, Tik Tok is a way for students to make the reality of highschool’s downsides fun. They can escape school and homework, have a fun time with their friends, and perhaps even get internet famous.

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OPINION

Thursday, October 3, 2019

The outdated electoral EHS: a petri dish for stress and competition college must be revised

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giving them a ratio of 1 counselor per 106 students. Meanwhile, EHS has nine counselors available, giving them a ratio of 1 counselor per roughly 305 students.

Increasing the counselor per student ratio at EHS would increase the counseling staff’s availability and help students relieve more stress and pressure.

Most 17 and 18 year-olds haven’t made any life-changing decisions before their senior year and have limited life experience to base their choices off of.

Coupled with the myriad of variables that they have to consider, it’s difficult to think realistically amidst the stressful situations senior and junior year creates. However hard, it’s crucial students take some steps back and lean on their resources to get new perspectives that can aid their decision making and stress levels.

Art Boettge staff writer

uring the 2016 presidential election, millions of Americans exercised their right to vote and selected their choice for president. But for many voters, did it really matter? Hillary Clinton received almost two million more votes than Donald Trump, but because of the Electoral College system, Donald Trump became president.

The framers of the Constitution decided against a system in which voters directly elect the president because they did not trust their citizens to make a well-informed decision. The framers believed that the antiquated methods of communication would lead to an ill-informed population, so having an electoral college of decidedly “more informed people” would ensure that a competent president would always be elected.

Additionally, slaveholding states preferred the Electoral College because it inflated their voting power. This is because the number of electors in each state is equal to the sum of its senators and representatives, and enslaved people were counted as three-fifths of a person when determining the number of representatives from a state. This compromise gave southern states more representation in Congress, without allowing slaves to

vote. Nowadays, because institutionalized slavery is illegal, this is definitely not a reason to continue the Electoral College (although this never should have been an argument for the Electoral College).

Picture this: you are a Republican in California, and it is a near certainty that the majority of Californians will vote for the Democratic candidate. There is really no incentive to vote. Without the Electoral College, every vote would count and candidates would have more motivation to campaign in every state. An example of this: during the 2016 election, non-swing states saw voter turnout at about 59%; in swing states, voter turnout was about 66%.

The existence of the electoral college shows why voter turnout is often disappointingly low for so many states: Your state’s outcome will almost certainly be the same whether or not you vote.

If the Electoral College was not the system we used for selecting a president, and instead the president was elected directly by the people, we would see much larger voter turnout percentages in all states.

A better solution for presidential elections would be a direct election where the candidate with the most votes wins. If we want to truly call ourselves a representative democracy, we need to amend the constitution and abolish the Electoral College.

art by Gabe Antoine

ink sheet. Gold sheet. ACT or SAT scores. Letters of recommendation.

High GPA. Transcript full of advanced classes. Campus tours. These are just some of the tasks seniors at Edina High School need to check off of their list if they are planning to pursue secondary education after high school.

Ranked in the top ten percent of Minnesota High Schools by U.S. News & World Report in 2019 and racking up nearly 200 state championship wins, EHS is a school packed with promise. Coupled with the title of “#1 College Prep High School in Minnesota” (Niche 2019), success and the need for accomplishment thrive in the competitive environment.

The counseling department at EHS provides numerous resources for students who are pursuing secondary education, which includes frequent presentations, screencasts, walk-in meetings, and the College and Career Center located in the Media Center. While these resources are abundant and helpful by nature, the stress curated by students themselves and limited availability from counselors prevents the available resources from reaching their full potential. Senior Grace Chapdelaine is applying to eight colleges, and noted that the conversations among her friend group often turns to college and the fact that “the talk of [college applications] puts pressure on everyone.”

Although counselors are effective at managing the student body’s stress when they can, there is simply too much of it and too limited of time for everything to be perfectly balanced, an unfortunate downside of a public school with academics that rival private schools’. As statistics have proven, EHS has strong academics and high test scores that closely mirror those of private schools nearby. What they don’t have, however, is an increased ratio of counselors to students. The Blake school in Minneapolis has five college counselors available at their Upper school,

photo by Erik Magnuson

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Syd Pierre print editor

Humor: Pineapple on pizza exposes a flawed society

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Alex Stenman head staff writer

ince the dawn of humanity, mistakes have been a central part of social development.

Through our mistakes, we learn and strengthen valuable skills: the ability to be humble, the ability to empathize with one another, and the ability to forgive the wrongdoings of others. In the troubling debates of the present, it’s important to stay grounded and recognize that mistakes and wrongdoings of others are learning opportunities for us all and things we as a society can move beyond.

There is only one exception.

The world has been in a deadlock in regards to the debate over whether pineapple belongs on pizza

for decades. Hundreds of thousands of people have given their opinions on the matter. I’m here to tell you that none of those opinions matter; pineapple does not and will never belong on a slice of pizza.

In theory, yes, the sweet taste of the pineapple would serve as a pleasant contrast.

In reality, however, it achieves the opposite effect.

The space taken up by putting pineapple on your pizza could have been taken up by the toppings that give pizza its iconic flavor; as you add pineapple and take away the opportunity to appreciate the sauce, cheese, and meat. You move further and further away from the accepted definition of pizza and what we come to expect from the dish. Savory pepperoni is

replaced with fruit with the idea of creating something new, which moves the focus away from what’s lost in the process. Sacrificing classical taste for a sweet addition has the potential to spiral out of control--maybe we’ll see gummy worms or whipped cream on pizza in the coming years as well.

In short, pineapple is a tyrant, taking over the flavor of the dish until it doesn’t even feel like you’re eating pizza anymore. While it seemed like a funny fad at first when it was conceptualized in the 1960s, Hawaiian-style pizza has far outlived its welcome.

As with most trends, the general population has grown tired of it, and it’s time to dump out our plates and let this mania die.

art by Gabe Antoine

Percent of people who dislike pineapple on pizza, displayed in orange.

HEAD TO HEAD

Thursday, October 3, 2019

The changing atmosphere of the 2020 election

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Kyra Bergerud Administrative Coordinator

fter nearly three years since the election of Donald Trump for President, the country has drastically changed. Not only have violences such as school shootings and rates of white supremacist hate crimes shot up, but in response to these, the country has moved farther to the left in its political goals.

“Being able to address issues and promote policies that discuss economic and racial equality is extremely important, not just to create a more equitable society, but to increase the likelihood of a progressive Democrat winning the election.”

In the 2016 election, discussions of Medicare for All and debt-free college seemed like utopian ideals that were far too radical. A couple of years ago, it could have been a stretch to say that a progressive candidate could win, let alone receive the primary nomination. That’s most likely because the ideas seemed very new to the political frontier and in an election where moderates held most of the

power, they couldn’t reach key bases. However, both are now looking possible and even likely.

Contrary to the 2016 election, the 2020 Democratic candidates have mostly all taken on a platform that endorses previously Bernie-centric promises. These changing times elucidate that the Democratic Party and younger progressive voices are finally getting a say in influencing politics. Issues such a Medicare, climate change, race, and economics for working class Americans are working to unite the foundation of the Democratic Party.

Though it is still very early in the campaign trail, the polls are looking hopeful for candidates such as Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders who are appealing to working class voting bases. Voting blocs are one of the most important components of a candidate’s strategy. Without isolating important voting blocs, a candidate could never build enough support to win the election. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2016, the demographic for black voting rates dropped for the first time in 20 years. Contrary from previous elections when Barack Obama was on the ballot, the 2016 election failed to connect with key black voting groups, one of the main pitfalls of Hilary Clinton’s campaign.

I present this statistic to point out the importance of minority voters for the Democratic Party. Being able to address issues and promote policies that discuss economic and racial equality is extremely important, not just to create a more equitable society, but to increase the likelihood of a progressive Democrat winning the election.

Although most of the candidates aren’t doing enough now to address racialized violence, pushing harder for reform and equality would push them closer to winning the

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election.

The election isn’t just different because of the leftward shift, but because of unfulfilled promises. Trump’s campaign path was littered with tales of all the changes he would make. After almost one term, few of his promises have amounted to much. Particularly, this can be seen in the impending economy.

According to CBS Trump’s belligerent trade war with China has put many economists on high alert for an impending recession. Because of the trade war increasing tensions with China, they have substantiated that they will no longer purchase categories of American goods such as agriculture, a practice that is having negative consequences for Trump’s voting blocs in rural America. The fracturing of the Trump campaign with agricultural interests was seen in an August poll from Morning Consult where Trump’s rating in Iowa was down 9 points, a dangerous place for a previously Trump-friendly state.

If Democrats can appeal to small farmers then they could gain a significant advantage over Trump in the 2020 elections. While some Progressives, such as Warren or Sanders, agree with the restrictions on trade, they are also pushing for more reforms to break down big Agriculture and improve the lives of everyday farmers in America.

This balance is crucial to be able to offer an offset to the problems the trade war has created for this important industry.

The outlook for Progressives in the upcoming presidential election is uncertain, but the election of a more left directed candidate is possible if they target the right voting blocs and policies. Its critical that Progressives appeal to minorities and continue to push for policies that would benefit everyday people.

Thoughts On The 2020 Election:

Art by Gabriel-Pierre Antoine

Which Democratic Candidate?

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Hans Janovey Meyer Visual editor

n any presidential election, if a candidate wants to win, there are steps that must be taken. The candidate must first capture their base, then their party’s support. The candidate usually completes this first step when they win their party’s primary and nomination for president. However, if the candidate really wants to win the presidency, they must not only capture their party’s support, but the support of the moderates, independents, and sometimes even members of their opponent’s party. If they can’t win without the states that matter in an election—the swing states Iowa, Colorado, and Michigan—the candidate won’t win the presidency.

When a candidate comes onto the scene with ideas that sit at the far sides of the political spectrum with their policy issues, whether it is a far-left liberal or a far-right conservative, their strong policies risk alienating members of their own party. The resultant is an increase of party members simply abstaining from going to the polls on election day, a surge of support for third party candidates, and in some cases, party members voting for the opposition. Even more common than alienating your own party is pushing away those who lie in the middle—the independents—those with no strong party ties. These are also the types of voters who may lean away from a candidate simply on a disagreement over a few policy points. These types of voters are the ones that can win or lose a candidate an elections even more than a candidate’s party’s

base. This is the last thing the Democrats need in 2020 if they want to defeat Trump.

These are the types of candidates we have as front runners in the Democratic primary according to the polls, and that scares me.

Don’t get dissuaded; many Americans, myself included, favor more progressive policies, but the fact is that at this juncture we are living with a monster in the White House and the exterminator isn’t Andrew Yang riding the tide of Universal Basic Income. What will get us out of this situation is realistic policy that fits into today’s political climate, the kind of policy that’s easy to swallow for Democrats and independents alike.

There exists a well-documented trend among political candidates once they leave the primaries, secure their party’s nomination, and enter into the general election: they tend to become more moderate, tone down some of their more outside ideas to something that an Iowan farmer can digest.

While sure, this may in theory help a more progressive candidate do better in the general election, we live in a digital world where anything that a candidate says, whether it be while trying to rally their blue state base in their hometown or in a battle cry of a tweet, that Iowan farmer will remember those things, will remember the candidates’ real policies. So, when the candidate dawns their “moderate” general election facade, that’s not enough to get the vote of the Iowan farmer who didn’t like what they said about healthcare for undocumented immigrants in the primaries. And these progressive candidates will lose a lot more votes than just that

one farmer if they keep pushing for these far-left ideas.

“The resultant is an increase of party members simply abstaining from going to the polls on election day, a surge of support for third party candidates, and in some cases, party members voting for the opposition.”

A progressive may shore up a Democratic win in states like California, but a Democrat winning California is about as uneventful as a full moon. For the Democratic nominee for president to defeat Donald Trump, they need to appeal to voters that a progressive would appeal to once in a blue moon. When a candidate takes strong progressive stances, they may secure the votes on the far left, but that’s not where the majority of voters lie. These Democratic candidates need to appeal to the middle, or at least make themselves easier to stomach to the middle than Donald Trump. A progressive would not accomplish this feat.

A progressive step forward is a backpedal in election season

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SPORTS

Thursday, October 3, 2019

AOTM: Oscar Smythe

photos by Madeline Brandel

Boys’ Cross Country makes a comeback

Captain provides mentorship for upcoming season

Jack Marker online editor fter receiving Second Team All Conference Honors last year, Edina Boys’ Soccer Team senior captain Oscar Smythe looks to build off of his successful junior season.

However, toward the beginning of the season, Smythe hurt his ankle. “I sprained my ankle when an Eden Prairie defender blocked the ball as I was shooting it,” Smythe said.

Despite this obstacle, Smythe has led the team to an undefeated season. “This is one of the seasons that the team has had in a long time, better than anyone could have imagined,” Smythe said.

Smythe starts at forward and has been a centerpiece in setting up other teammates as well as scoring himself. “My favorite goal so far was my first goal in the home opener against WashPractice makes perfect: Boys’ Cross Country starts their practice off with a jog burn. It wasn’t the greatest goal I have ever scored, but it started the season off on the right note istry and morale,” Hubbell said. “It was hard and gave us the momentum to beat a great team,” Smythe said.

Dedeepya Guthikonda

Smythe embraces the responsibilities as captain of a USA Today nationally ranked soccer to see guys just drop out that fast.” page editor team.

“I have to be a leader and role model for the underclassmen on the team. I also have to perAs for this season’s goals, the team is hoping for a repeat. “We had a few top guys form at my highest level at all times to show my teammates that we need to play hard,” Smythe fter years of falling just seconds said. “Being a captain for this great team is a true honor. It gives me a large presence on the team graduate but we’re hoping we can do that behind the championship line, Edina where I am able to mentor some of the underclassmen.” again,” senior captain Russell Gokemeijer Boys’ Cross Country finally posed Smythe gives some of the credit to his teammates. “My teammates help me become a better said. One of the top graduates was Max Man- with their well-deserved state championship player and have set me up for easier goals. Not one person on the team is selfish, which is defiley, who placed third at the state meet last trophy last October at the Minnesota State year. “A lot of the running sites are sleeping nitely a reason as to why we are doing so well this season,” Smythe said. The head coach Dave High School League cross-country state Jensen and assistant coach Bill Garner have helped him as well. “My coaches give me constant on us now,” Hubbell said. “They think we meet. “The feeling was kind of surreal,” reminders to play simple, to not dribble, and to not pass it backwards,” Smythe said. stink because we lost Max.” senior and captain Sean Baird said. “I think

The team is first in the Lake Conference, and is showing no signs of slowing down. “MinAdditionally, the team continues to face everybody was in shock that it actually hapnetonka is definitely the toughest opponent in the lake conference. They have a very strong team extensive injuries this season. “Right now, pened because the team had been so close so overall, especially their defense,” Smythe said. In fact, in their first meeting of the season, the we have four of our top five injured,” Baird many times. It was really cool to have that Hornets beat the skippers 3-2. said. With injuries affecting so many of the feeling.”

Smythe welcomes the possibility to play them in sections as he has his eyes set on the state runners, the team is placing an emphasis on The state title was the premier one for tournament. “I really want to make it to state because I’ve never gotten a chance to play at U.S staying healthy and icing. “We’re coming Edina’s Boys’ Cross Country, and members Bank Stadium, and it would be a dream come true if we could make it there,” Smythe concluded. back,” Baird added. of the team can attest to the fact that it was The loss of seniors and addition of lowhard-earned. The team had received third erclassmen to the team has shifted the team and second place in previous years and has dynamic for this season as well, but the team had top finishes over the past fifteen years. has taken a positive outlook. “It’s really However, winning the title has always been different this year,” Gokemeijer said. “And a goal. while we miss those guys, our team is closer Senior and captain Gus Hubbell has been than it’s ever been,” he added. on the team since seventh grade and has Another goal of the team is to make it to watched the team inch closer to the title with nationals this year. Last season, they were progressing years. “[Last] season was defiup for an at-large bid, meaning they were nitely our top chance I think I’ve ever seen,” not conference champs, but Nike could still Hubbell said. recognize them for nationals. After barely It took a long and rough path to get to missing out, their major goal is to make it that point. Several injuries left members of this year. the team out for the year, taking a hit on the The team is aiming for a strong season overall team results, but more importantly, despite certain setbacks such as injuries and the team’s chemistry. Sophomore Otto Schreiner stress fractured his leg and was out the loss of seniors. However, their win last year has set them up for a successful season, for the year, as well as senior captain Noah He shoots, he scores: Oscar Smythe in possession of the ball and the team is willing to overcome hurdles Kabel, who dislocated his knee at sections -- the race before state. “They didn’t just hurt along the way. “I think proving all those guys wrong, the haters if you will, that would be us because it obviously made us worse as a pretty sweet.” Hubbell said. team, but overall it just hurt the team chem-

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courtsey photo by Oscar Smythe

EHS Volleyball works to rebuild legacy in 2019 season dina Girls’ Volleyball has high expectations to live up to this season, after making it to State last year. However, they had to redirect their focus after losing seven starting players with last year’s graduating class. With a large amount of new players and a larger team, the program’s main goal this season is to rebuild its’ legacy.

A part of rebuilding the legacy is choosing captains.

Sophomore Sarah Bohrer was appointed to be a junior captain this year and has been in the program since 7th grade when she played on the 9B team. Since then, Bohrer has been playing on Junior Varsity and Varsity as a libero/defensive specialist.

Going to State has always been a goal for the volleyball team, and last year’s success motivated the team this year to go to state again. “It lets us know what we’re capable of achieving,” Bohrer said. It was also an exciting experience for Bohrer because she and her older sister, Alaina Bohrer, were both on the Varsity team. Now that the seniors have graduated along with the rest of the class of 2019, Bohrer says that the team had to adjust. Not only are they missing a lot of skills, but height as well, which caused players to switch positions and accept new responsibilities. Because of this, the team is bigger than usual, allowing for more flexibility and experimentation with new positions.

Along with being on Varsity, Bohrer is also new to being a junior captain. Just like a regular captain, being a junior captain shows player dedication and respect from peers and

coaches. However, a junior captain holds a different signifi Even though state was an amazing experience, it was also cance compared to a regular captain, as Bohrer represents the an expensive experience. It was a lot of money to pay for supplies that would support the team. In order to regain underclassmen. Some responsibilities of being a junior captain include helping out the captains⁠—seniors Kat Warpinski and Grace Hammerski⁠—with daily tasks, helping out freshmen if they have any questions, and being a role model. “I’ve gotten closer to the volleyball players, especially the freshmen, which is really cool”.

Another new addition to the Varsity team is freshman Tessa Dubbe. Dubbe has been in the program since 8th grade and has had a great experience so far playing outside hitter. “My team has been so welcoming, they have all been so nice and friendly to me, which makes playing volleyball way more fun,” Dubbe said. Dubbe’s focuses have shifted since last year due to her constant quest for improvement. Last year, when Dubbe was on B-Squad, her goal was to just Reaching high: Libero Sarah Bohrer works to maintain the ball in the air have playing time; now that she’s made it onto Varsity, she wants to continue improving her game. funding for the program this year, there have been many fund Along with hard work, Dubbe’s dedication to volleyball raisers. Some of the fundraisers include selling Papa Murphy’s shows during year-round playing. Dubbe started playing for cards, hostwing a VEAP drive, and bagging at Jerry’s.

There’s plenty of talent to go around with five seniors, a new club, Vital, this past season, and “owes a ton of her three juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen making success towards her coaches and teammates at Vital,” says Dubbe. Having watched the team play at State last year, Dubup the roster this year. All of these players will help become be wants to make it to State again so that she can be involved apart of building a strong and exciting team that will create a in the Edina Volleyball legacy. If the team keeps working and legacy for years to come. showing dedication, Dubbe might have her wish come true.

photo by Sophie Charnell

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Sadie Roy staff writer