The Miegian Newspaper: December 2022

THE

MIEGIAN Vol. 66, Issue 2 | December 2022

Students discuss their overuse of devices and the negative effects that follow

THE HIDDEN DANGERS

Dear Reader,

I have exciting news. This past month, the newspaper staff accomplished big awards. In addition to creating print issues, the staff works hard to keep our journalism website up-todate with new stories and photos. Our journalism website is a School Newspapers Online site.

To distinguish a SNO site, a staff can complete SNO badges, in which there are six. At the end of October, we received the best of SNO badge, which was our first badge we have ever received. To achieve this, stories on a website must stand out from other journalism websites. At the time there were almost 3,500 submissions. Only 388 articles were chosen, and two of them were ours.

From Oct. 21 to Nov. 17, the staff updated our website, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook account each weekday with the goal of achieving the audience engagement badge. To receive this badge, the staff must post daily for a month and attract 5,000 page views.

Thank you to all who read our articles. You helped us win our second badge. After solely focusing on the website for quite some time, the staff was excited to present our second print issue before the semester ended. With limited time, we worked efficiently and put in a lot of extra hours to make sure we did our best work. I hope everyone has a happy and safe Christmas season. I hope you enjoy this issue of the Miegian.

ALENA GILLESPIE WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

STAFF LIST

PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Emma Lazarczyk Mary-Kathryn Wert

WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alena Gillespie

DESIGN EDITOR Delaney Johnson

PHOTO EDITOR Natalie Martinez

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Ana Gajewski

FEATURES EDITOR Sally Panis

STAFF WRITERS Will Baska Luke Crawford Sophia Gassett Elaina Gibson Cash Navarro Jamie Weiss

The Miegian and Bishop Miege Press are published by the newspaper staff of Bishop Miege High School. The staff won the 2022 All-Kansas award for both its newspaper and online website, bmpress.org. The editorial board decides the content of each issue. Opinions expressed are the views of the writer and are signed. The Miegian welcomes material (letters, guest columns, feedback) from faculty, administrators, students, parents and others.

This material will be reviewed by the editorial board and published based on the publication’s letters policy

criteria. Materials can be dropped off in the journalism room, emailed to newspaper@bishopmiege.com or mailed to the newspaper in care of Bishop Miege High School. All letters and columns must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for length, language or potential libel, and to refuse any articles or advertising submitted. All opinion pieces submitted should contain an address/email address and a phone number where the writer can be contacted because the staff will confirm all letters.

Want to stay updated on all the latest Miegian news?

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and our website.

Instagram: @bishopmiegepress

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5041 Reinhardt Drive, Roeland Park, KS

COVER PHOTO & DESIGN | MARY-KATHRYN WERT PHOTO CREDITS | NATALIE MARTINEZ

2 | STAFF LIST

table of contents

05 05

NEWS

04 News Briefs 05 Finals

OPINIONS

FAITH

18 Youth Groups

PHOTOS

20 Perspectives 22 Student Hangouts

06 Transferring to Miege 07 Female Athletics ATHLETICS 08 Christmas Survey/Puzzle 23 What’s in the Bag? 10 “Abbott Elementary” 24 Ballet FEATURES 25 Wrestling 26 Sports Highlights 11 Clean Beauty 27 CYO Basketball 12 Legos 14 Screen Time

27 25

20

18

TABLE OF CONTENTS | 3

LOCAL

NEWS BRIEFS ACING IT The ACE Mentor team competed against five other teams at the Hollis and Miller architecture firm on Dec. 3. The sixhour long competition measured teams’ abilities to work in fields of architecture, construction and engineering. The team came home with the “Design Excellence” and won the competition.

PHOTO | COURTESY OF J.C. CLARK

STATE

ENDANGERED The northern long-eared bat, a Kansas native animal, has been declared as an endangered species by the Biden administration. It is currently being threatened by a fungal disease called the white-nose syndrome.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service warns that the northern long-eared bat could be extinct by 2025.

PHOTO | UNSPLASH

LOCAL

PHOTO | ALENA GILLESPIE

NATIONAL

PHOTO | UNSPLASH

UPCOMING EVENTS ATHLETICS Dec. 16

BOYS BASKETBALL

ACADEMICS

WELCOME BACK

Dec. 13

BAND CONCERT

The band performs at 7 p.m. in the Varsity boys basketball plays at auditorium.

Webster Groves (Norm Stewart Classic) at the Mizzou Arena at 10 p.m.

Dec. 16

Dec. 15, 16, 19, 20

Varsity boys wrestling competes at the Blue Valley Invite (away).

Students will take their finals, two per day, starting Thursday and ending the Tuesday.

BOYS WRESTLING

Dec. 17

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Varsity girls basketball attends the 12 Courts of Christmas tournament at the Hy-Vee Arena.

4 | NEWS

FINALS

Dec. 16, 17

REGIONAL DEBATE

The debate team competes at its regional tournament in Tonganoxie.

On Jan. 6, students return to school from Christmas break. All eight classes are scheduled for the day.

| PIXABAY

SWIM & DIVE

On Jan. 10, the varsity boys swim and dive team will travel to the Capital Federal Natatorium for the Topeka West Invite at 1:30 p.m. Junior Ruben Hernandez competes in the butterfly and the freestyle. | EMMA

LAZARCZYK

A MISSION The Mission Gateway project, which originally started in 2005, is awaiting a vote that has been pushed back to the January City Council meeting, according to the Kansas City Business Journal. The spot is located at Shawnee Mission Parkway near Roe Avenue and Johnson Drive.

A WAY FOR WORDS Merriam-Webster announced the results of its 2022 word of the year — “gaslighting.” Webster defines it as “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone especially for one’s own advantage.”

STUDY STRESS AND FINAL TESTS Students explore different ways to prepare for exams

BY ELAINA GIBSON

S

STAFF WRITER

tress fills the air as most students start to study and take their finals from Dec. 15 through 20.

At the beginning of the year, the administration announced that students will only take two finals per day, compared to last year’s three per day. This will give students more time to prepare for the tests and have time to go home and regroup before studying again.

“I think this was loud and clear from the feedback we got last year that three finals on one day and being here all day is tough,” Dean of Students Alex Keith said.

“When taking a test that is worth 15% to 20% of their grade, we want to give students the amount of time they might need to prepare for those specific finals.”

When asked in an online poll of 136 students, 19% said they don’t like the change, but the majority responded that they like it more or are indifferent to it.

“I am really glad we only have to take two finals a day because it helps me have more time to study for each particular one and not feel as stressed,” sophomore Emilia Olsen said.

Other students like junior Alex Haggerty don’t think the change will be that helpful to students.

“Doing more finals each day was more efficient because we got through them faster, and it was less days with a lot of stress,” Haggerty said. “People are able to wave finals anyway, so it doesn’t have a huge impact on how many finals actually being taken a day.”

In an online survey sent out to all students by the guidance office, 51% of the 440 students who responded said their weaknesses were test prep and testtaking. Over 35% of students reported that they study for less than one hour.

“We noticed a trend that grade level teachers were saying students were struggling when preparing for tests,” Keith said. “When they asked students how they were preparing, they either were not preparing at all or not preparing well.”

Meara said students have trouble preparing for tests because of their time commitments outside of school.

“Some kids are really busy with sports, work, whatever, so it’s hard to find time to study,” Meara said.

The guidance survey showed that some students prepare for tests differently then others.

Sophomore Kristina Erskine said she studies for about 15-20 hours for her finals, roughly two to three hours for each.

“Depending on if I’m free, I’ll start studying three to four days before the

final,” Erskine said. “I’ll cram the day before, and usually lots of Quizlets are involved.”

Last year, her best score was a 104%, keeping her pretty confident in her studying abilities.

Senior Ray Chaffee-McClure said she studies last minute and not well because she feels like she doesn’t know how to properly study, a common response on the school-wide survey.

Olsen said she studies for two hours per final by going over all her notes and study guides.

Keith said it’s important for students to stay healthy and take care of themselves throughout the final week. He said eating healthy, getting good sleep and having some sort of exercise throughout the week are important to be successful.

“I try to get at least seven hours of sleep before I take my finals because sleep has been proven to help memory,” Olsen said.

Keith said it’s also important to devote time to God by taking time to pray and reflect so stress levels will go down.

“You need to realize that, yes, they are big tests, but they are not the most important things in life,” Keith said. “You are a son or a daughter, you are a friend, you have other things in your life, and finals are just one more thing that you do.”

FINALS STUDY PLAN Writing down their class schedules, sophomores Avery Kurt, Shea Coughlan, Sophia Craig and Isabella Franco make their five-day finals study plans.

The guidance department created the plans this year for the first time. Students received the plan during flex time to help them plan when they need to study for each of their finals. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

NEWS | 5

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

Student shares the benefits of transferring schools

BY WILL BASKA

STAFF WRITER

C

hange – for almost all teenagers, it is the never ending force of reality.

Known all too well in moments of joy and sorrow, fear and excitement, this fact of life can be draining for us.

Still, it is the ways we navigate this inevitable burden into beautiful creation that define us. These moments set us on the path of a fruitful future, birthing a legacy of pride and belonging. In my 17 years, that defining moment for me has been transferring to Bishop Miege.

I decided to transfer from my previous school after my sophomore year. After trying to juggle my learning style needs while navigating COVID-19 restrictions, my mental health and academic performance were in a sharp decline.

I knew that the “normal” would not be achievable in a pandemic world, but after doing extensive independent research I came to the conclusion that Miege would be a better fit for me going into my

junior year.

I knew I had friends here that enjoyed it, but other than that, I was coming in dully optimistic. My expectations were nothing more than a place where I could have a more typical high school experience. You could say my expectations were shattered.

“I knew I had found a real community.

SENIOR WILL BASKA

“

On my first day of school, I entered my flex time and promptly realized that I did not know a single person sitting in the chairs surrounding me. Nerves flared as my mouth remained shut. I had discovered that I was in a foreign place.

We went to a herd assembly and what I saw shocked me. Students were actually enjoying themselves, laughing and conversing with one another over their degree of spirit, their factions of pride.

Someone with a wide grin turned around and told me how lucky I was to be in Bohaty. I smiled back and started up a conversation. My nerves relaxed in content excitement. I knew I had found a real community.

Community is something that is stressed constantly at Miege, and for good reason. It’s an institution of unique personalities that thrive off the love of another, offering me a superior opportunity to enjoy a normal high school career.

Instantly, my grades went up, as did my social skills, while I discovered a community that fit me the way a high school should.

I discovered myself looking forward to every piece of quirky Miege tradition, all the little joys of educational entertainment.

I had finally found a place where I could thrive academically and socially.

I want to thank the Miege community.

This school made transferring feel like a return to some home I never knew I had, and that is an experience of infinite blessing. At Bishop Miege, it is nothing short of expectation.

STAG THOUGHTS

When do you usually put up your Christmas decorations?

“I say around Dec. 12. It’s just a really good time and good day of the month.“

FRESHMAN LUCAS MERRIMAN

“It’s kind of weird if you put them up right after Halloween, like there’s still Thanksgiving. So my mom puts them up the week of Thanksgiving.”

SENIOR MEREDITH BYRD

6 | OPINION

“We decorate for Thanksgiving too, so we have to put up and take that down before we put up our Christmas decorations.

So some time after Black Friday.”

SOPHOMORE SAMANTHA JO KIRK

“Thanksgiving is too early.

I would say the day after Thanksgiving is the perfect time. “

JUNIOR NICK HODGE

PHOTOS | NATALIE MARTINEZ

SHOW THEM YOUR RESPECT

Students need to support girls athletics just like boys

BY MIEGIAN EDITORS

T

STAFF EDITORIAL

he roar of the bleachers fills the gym. Students are on their feet and intently watching the boys basketball players on the court. A three-pointer sinks, and cheers erupt from the student section.

In contrast, the sounds heard from the gym during the varsity girls basketball game are the squeaks of shoes and the dribbles of the basketball, as the team looks to make another basket. The girls dedicate their time to this sport, but minimal people are there to witness it, except for the few underclassmen sitting at the top of the bleachers.

Compared to boys games, girls teams are not given the student attention they deserve. Instead of being cheered on by the majority of the student body, girls teams lack fans.

Seniors, it begins with you.

Underclassmen follow your lead. If you are at the game, they will be at the game. If you start the cheer, they will cheer along with you. If you stand, they will stand.

During boys basketball games, the student section is packed and on its feet.

This should not be any different for the girls. The girls practice the same amount of time, are successful and put forth their effort.

As students, we should not sit for the girls games. We should be on our feet with energy. Instead of only catching the last part of the girls game, before the boys game begins, arrive at tip off and enjoy it.

During the home game against Christ Prep on Dec. 8, the student section was lacking, though we commend those who were there. Even though there wasn’t a boys basketball game afterwards, students should still have been there, cheering on the girls team.

Scrolling through Twitter, there was a tweet reporting the final score of a high school girls basketball game as well as a picture of the empty, nonexistent student section. The tweeter encouraged the school to do better, and the tweet went viral.

Although support of girls sports continues to be lacking, there is progress that is being made. Kansas City is helping to pave the way for female sports as it builds the first-ever stadium in the U.S. for women’s sports.

We do not want to be stuck in the pattern of only cheering on the boys. We want to be the change.

When we return from Christmas break on Jan. 6, there is a varsity girls and boys basketball game at St. James. The girls start at 6:30 p.m. and the boys start at 8 p.m., so arrive at 6:30 p.m. with your loud voices to cheer on the girls. Carry that same energy into the boys game.

As the basketball season is upon us, recognize that we are all only high school students once, so we should soak in this time we have with our classmates.

Invite a friend, carpool and show up to the girls basketball game. Your support and enthusiasm will be seen by the girls basketball players and coaches.

“Girls teams are not

given the student attention they deserve. Instead of being cheered on by the majority of the student body, girls teams lack fans. “

BRINGING SUPPORT During the varsity girls basketball game on Dec. 8 against Christ Prep, the student section was limited.

The game was not followed by a varsity boys game.

Students need to do better in showing up to support our female athletes. | EMMA LAZARCZYK

EDITORIAL | 7

COUNTDOWN T

CHRISTMAS

With winter break right around the corner, students share their favorite things about the Christmas season Students’ favorite Christmas traditions as a word search:

G Q A S Q L T Y P C V H M I Y

Y I E P D I D N G A X W X C N

N V F F Y G L J K T J U P E D

D Z L T W H W Q O Q G A G S Y

DECORATING FAMILY LIGHTS GIFTS MOVIES 8 | PUZZLE

A T N A S T E R C E S S M K K

M S H B B S W I L T M F R A U

M O V I E S O A Q M X S E T S

D J G N I T A R O C E D K I B

FOOD BAKING CAROLS PARTY ICE SKATING

L D P H S D R Q J F G F C N Q

H O C O O S V L A G S R A G B

I S N O X H L M R N K I R N F

B G F I P X I O D I J E C N U

S J I A O L R U R K K N T G Y

E C E Q Y T R A P A S D U S O

PAJAMAS NUTCRACKER SECRET SANTA SONGS FRIENDS

Y K O A F B J B Q B C S N J F

Best Christmas lights in KC with distance from Miege

BMHS

THE PLAZA

Spending time with family is students’ favorite Christmas tradition

What is the best Christmas cookie?

39% sugar 14% gingerbread 7% other 40% chocolate chip 59%

CANDY CANE LN.

Top 3 things on Christmas wish lists this year: clo the sho s and es

tec hno

#1

#2

log

y

mo n gift ey an car d ds

of students put colored lights on their trees

83%

of students prefer hot cocoa over eggnog

#3

Does your family get a real or fake Christmas tree?

11%

71%

both

72%

18%

fake

real

of students put a star on their Christmas trees

How much money do you spend on Christmas gifts?

#1 Christmas song is “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey

37% 25% over $100 other

19%

19%

up to $100

up to $40

According to an online survey of 148 students ILLUSTRATIONS | ANA GAJEWSKI AND DELANEY JOHNSON

SURVEY | 9

SCHOOL’S IN SESSION

‘Abbott Elementary’ charms viewers past its midseason

BY MARY-KATHRYN WERT PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

E

ducators have it hard. That is the one thought that circles through my head as I watch the crazy antics of the Abbott crew.

As someone who has grown up with a parent who works in the education field, this show has given me a sense of familiarity I have never experienced with any other sitcoms.

Each storyline gives me deja vu to something I’ve heard from my mother the moment she got off of work.

This work of genius by Quinta Brunson is award-winning for a reason — perfectly mixing the realities of a Philadelphia public school with the hilarities of situations involving elementary school students.

With three Emmys under its belt after a year of running, it is clear to audiences that this show has an excellence only found in a certain few shows in the days of over-saturated television.

But why should you watch it? I can firmly say as a day one viewer, “Abbott Elementary” is better than ever coming off of its midseason finale and is a perfect watch for lovers of the fun and funny.

Season two continues to follow the character we know and love. Our veteran teachers Barbara, with her motherly presence and knowledge of “Black” celebrities, and Melissa, our favorite Philly teacher with dubious connections.

Jacob, resident history teacher and the cheesiest of the cast, only second to Janine; Mr. Johnson, custodian extraordinary with a quick wit and quicker tongue; and Ava, the best principal to never have gone to school to be a principal.

That brings us to our budding couple of the season, Janine and Gregory.

Janine, played by Brunson, and Gregory, played by Tyler James Williams, perfectly portray the growing romance of two characters who are so awkward that you can’t help but cringe despite your love for them.

Janine, with her romantic interests and misguided dreams, is a character that you instantly feel drawn to and root for enthusiastically.

These characters come together to form a hodgepodge family but after watching more than a season, they start to feel like your family too. The actors’ portrayals instantly pull you into their universe and make you feel like you belong there as well — the recipe for a hit sitcom.

To sum up my opinions in three words: hilarious, heartwarming and refreshing. There is nothing better than coming home on a Wednesday night, putting on pajamas and watching my favorite people in action.

“There is nothing better

then coming home on a Wednesday night, putting on pajamas and watching my favorite people in action.

“

PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT CONTENT

10 | OPINION

WORKING FROM THE INSIDE OUT Students become more aware of their beauty products

BY SALLY PANIS FEATURES EDITOR

F

inding the best beauty products is already a challenge for any individual, but along with the factor of clean and ethically sourced ingredients for the sake of the environment, animal testing and personal wellness, sophomore Franny Chaffee-McClure believes the second step is essential to achieve her perfect look.

Clean beauty is a term used for products that are made with safe, naturally-sourced ingredients.

This makes clean beauty stand out as it is developed with a focus on working toward developing healthy skin and hair from the inside out.

Clean beauty centers on the product’s formula rather than ecofriendly packaging or sustainability the majority of the time but establishes that the product is free of damaging ingredients and can be used on sensitive skin types.

With minimal and easy-to-understand manufacturing, complete transparency is

built between the brand and consumers.

“I have a lot of allergies and sensitive skin,” Chaffee-McClure said. “I’m allergic to laundry detergent and everything, so when I started out with makeup I started off with the most natural stuff I could find.”

For senior Alicia Bouffard, animal testing and the skin benefits of clean beauty were the factors that led her to switch to clean beauty as she discovered cruelty-free

“It is up to us as the

by the numbers

1,300

consumers to choose if we use clean beauty products.

JUNIOR ADDY BURRIS

“

makeup through years of experimentation with different brands.

“My favorite brand is Essence,” Bouffard said.“They have not only a very simple beauty line, but also they compare to higher end products, it’s like the dupe of it.”

617

beauty ingredients have cosmetic makers use 93 been banned in Europe, chemicals that have been compared to 11 in the U.S. linked to cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm

The global market for vegan cosmetics is estimated at $15.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to track $21.4 billion by 2027, according to a report released by ReportLinker. Like Bouffard, junior Addy Burris uses clean beauty to put real and natural ingredients onto her skin to keep her skin healthy and clear as well as stop animal testing.

“I hope that in the future all beauty products go animal-testing free because you see the stories and photos of animals locked in small confined spaces just being absolutely tortured,” Burris said. “As an owner of two rescue beagles [not from animal testing], you can see how abuse affects them the rest of their lives, and I cannot imagine how they would live after spending their lives inside of a place like that.”

According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future, the cruelty-free cosmetics market is predicted to reach $14.23 billion by 2030.

“It is up to us as the consumers to choose if we use clean beauty products,” Burris said.

“But it is up to the brand to be honest about what ingredients they use and how they make and test their products.”

DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION | MARY-KATHRYN WERT

13%

of high-end skin-care sales are clean skin-care

*according to the Washington Post

FEATURES | 11

LAND OF LEGOS

BY JAMIE WEISS

STAFF WRITER

A

colorful array of blocks of all different sizes and colors awaited junior Nathaniel Dodderidge. With endless possibilities of what to build, he began to create a car, complete with gears, beams and a giant gearbox for the engine.

Lego has been around for almost 100 years, and according to Brickset, around 19,000 unique sets have been released.

Within those sets, there are around 15,000 miniature figures to collect and 400 billion blocks in circulation.

“I like doing the sets, since I’m

33%

of students collect or play with Legos not very good at making my own,” Dodderidge said. “Recently, I got a big Technic car that I am working on, which is going to be really cool.”

Just like Dodderidge who started by building houses and spaceships at 4 or 5 years old, freshman Thomas Salmon began his constructing journey when he was a child.

“When I was young, I liked to do them as a hobby when I got cool sets for my birthday and Christmas,” Salmon said.

According to Salmon, an Infinity Gauntlet from the “The Avengers” originally sparked his accumulation of different Lego sets.

“After that, I received a Baby Yoda and Probe Droid for Christmas, and I kept growing the collection,” Salmon said. “I got a typewriter, a globe and made a shelf, which kept it going.”

While senior Chloe

12 | FEATURES

Pennington said she does not consider herself a builder she has worked at the LegoLand Center on the weekends since last summer.

“I became interested because I saw that it was a fun job, and the pay was really high,” Pennington said. “I like it because I get to work with people my age, but it is also like a giant McDonald’s Play Place.”

Some of Pennington’s jobs at LegoLand include watching kids and taking apart buildings that they create.

“I have a fond memory of my friend who works there when he made a giant Lego brick that was probably 4 feet tall,” Pennington said. “I had to sit and take it all apart, which was pretty soul crushiwwng for him.”

According to Dodderidge, if people are interested in working with Legos, they should go for it and he recommends different Lego vehicles and retro kits.

“It is really relaxing, sitting down and doing a kit,’’ Dodderidge said. “It is also fun to collect and see how rare and valuable some pieces and figures are.”

miege’s master junior nathaniel dodderidge Dodderidge started creating Legos when he was around 4 or 5 and he’s liked them ever since. When he was younger, he enjoyed creating houses and spaceships with mix matched pieces and from brand new sets, but his favorite creation is a Lego Lion Knights’ Castle. Recently, he has been working on a technique car, which he is excited to complete.

freshman thomas salmon

Salmon started creating Legos when he was little and started accumulating more sets for Christmases and birthdays.

He said that his liking for Legos started as a hobby but he “had a problem” with them and they started taking over his room. Over the years, he has created so many sets that he cannot pick a favorite and plans to add to his collection by building a Lego Atari 2600.

behind the scenes at Question and answer with a senior who works as a LegoLand employee.

CHLOE PENNINGTON

LEGOLAND EMPLOYEE

Q: A: “My favorite memory was when a kid What is your favorite work memory?

accidentally ran into me, and I asked if he was okay and he said, ‘Yup, I’m great today is the best day ever.’”

“I also like is washing the big foam bricks at the end of a shift. Collecting them always ends up as a giant Lego brick fight with me and my friends who work there.”

Q: What is a typical shift like?

A: “We make a new schedule every day for everyone and we work in rotations” Some rotations include: -4D movie theater -Virtual reality for Lego race -Buckling kids and parents in for rides -Making sure all of the rides are up to code

fast *according to techjury.net

915 M MILLION A builder can combine a set of 6 2X4 Lego in 915 million ways.

75 BBILLION Lego sells over 75 billion plastic bricks annually.

36,000

Lego factories produce 36,000 Legos every minute.

400 BBILLION There are over 400 billion Lego pieces on Earth right now.

DESIGN | DELANEY JOHNSON

FEATURES | 13

BEHIND THE SCREEN

Screen time sees all-time high

BY EMMA LAZARCZYK & MARY-KATHRYN WERT PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

T

he blue-tinted screen amplifies your room as you look at the time, and it says it is 1:30 a.m. You have been in bed for two hours, but simply cannot put your phone down as you scroll aimlessly through TikTok and continuously tell yourself “five more minutes.”

Only a couple of decades ago, the idea of having a screen in your possession at all times was unimaginable, but now, the idea of spending an hour away from refreshing your social media or opening your screen can feel unimaginable.

Students consistently use their devices despite the thought they use them too much, like many other Americans. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, six in ten Americans think they use their phone too much.

Based on a study published in 2022 by Common Sense Media, overall screen use among teens and tweens has hit an all-time high, increasing 17 percent from 2019 to 2021.

According to an online survey of 147 students, 20% of Stags use screens five to seven hours a day and 8% use their screens for eight or more hours a day between school and home.

“At school I probably use my Chromebook for every class,” freshman Ryan Doble said. “I would say an hour or two is a healthy amount of time to spend on screens, but I spend four to five hours at school.”

Junior Quinn Coleman uses her screen mainly for school and entertainment but has had to put restrictions on what apps she uses due to the negative effects too much time on social media causes her.

“I don’t use Instagram,” Coleman said. “I only go on it once in a blue moon because of all the pretty models and how it can make me feel insecure about myself.”

Social media can be used in a positive way, but according to Katherine McGee, cutting down her phone use to one to two hours a day has made her phone a more positive tool of communication.

“I left social media because a lot of what I was seeing was not useful or needed,” McGee said. “To give me a little boost, at the start of the school year, I deleted all of my social media so that there was nothing negative interfering with my life.”

Average screen time has increased for various reasons, from the

PHOTO | MARY-KATHRYN WERT

FEATURES | 15

The average amount of time spent on handheld devices and personal computers went up by 44 and 46 minutes a day between 2019 and 2021, respectively. according to CNN

Kids’ average daily screen use increased by 1.5 times during the pandemic. according to CNN

According to a 2022 Gallup poll, six in ten Americans think they use their phone too much. according to the Wall Street Journal

Among tweens, 38 percent of survey respondents said they use social media, an increase from 31 percent in 2019. according to the New York Times

According to Doble, once he realized how unhealthy screen time can be for him, he tried to cut out as much social media as possible.

“I try to lower my limits,” Doble said. “I set reminders and try to spend more time doing an athletic activity like lifting or just try to spend more time with my family.”

Long believes that teenagers and other social media users get lost in the idea that others have the ideal life, but in reality everything is a filter and people post what they want others to see.

“Everything is good in moderation,” Long said. “I think smartphones have the intention to be great devices, but unfortunately I think more people are being used by their computers and their phones.”

E IM L-T AL IGH H

16 | FEATURES

FAST FACTS

by ort ep dia ar to e Me ing ns ord n Se o cc *a mm Co

want of social connection left from the COVID-19 pandemic to the necessity from school. CNN said kids’ average daily screen use increased by 1.5 times during the pandemic – from a baseline of 162 minutes a day before the pandemic to 246 minutes during the pandemic, according to an analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics.

After teaching for over 20 years, fine arts teacher Michael Long said that he worries about the anxiety that students feel as they spend more time on social media apps. Because of this, he has chosen to use a phone with limited capabilities to detoxify his life.

“I’ve seen anxiety shoot through the roof with smartphones,” Long said.

“From the studies I’ve read, 25% of teenagers with smartphones said they had a negative experience with social media. I just think it’s weird that so many people who have had a negative experience continue to do it every day.”

Long said he believes that social media can be a great tool if used correctly, but many users do not properly utilize their phones, which is exactly what these social media creators want.

“The people that are designing these platforms whole goal is to keep you on those platforms — they have become masters at finding out how to create dopamine in your system,” Long said.

“You pick up your phone and boom you get dopamine. I think people get bored with their lives and want to see other things rather than deal with what is happening in their lives. I think it is an escape for some people.”

THE FOMO IS REAL

Editors discuss problems of social media

BY EMMA LAZARCZYK & MARY-KATHRYN WERT PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

W

e live in a world where if you don’t post it, it never happened.

Teens are constantly faced with the pressure to show others the high points in their lives, rather than live in the moment. As teens, the fear of missing out (FOMO) plays a major role in our social lives.

Even if we do not necessarily want to go to a social event or hangout with certain people, the thought of possibly missing out on something causes us to choose to go out in hopes of something happening rather than listening to our bodies.

It causes us to think more about what we don’t have than what we do.

This is mainly due to the fact that it feels like everyone records everything and shares it.

So, once we see a post that looks like fun, we begin to feel FOMO. At one point in time, social media never existed.

Students enjoyed their lives without thinking about what they missed because of a lack of invite.

But in the 21st century, students can find out in real time and spiral.

The glitter and sparkle of social media today hides the fact that in reality people post their highlights, not their reality.

Many of us are perpetrators ourselves.

Who wants to see the major distress you feel over school when you can post a pretty food picture?

Social media will forever be momentary

highlights just by its nature, but we can change the way we use it to quell our anxieties on FOMO. Instead of posting about who we’re hanging out with, we can post about things that really matter in our lives: recent life achievements, awards or even family.

Instead of bending to the insistent urge to sit down and scroll, we can find more productive things to occupy our time and energy.

We cannot help what people post but it isn’t only up to the poster to combat this social issue.

It is also up to the people who choose to open that social media app day after day to see what is going on. We can turn on Do Not Disturb, delete the apps themselves, or limit our screen time through parental control settings.

Social media is a great tool. However, we must learn when enough is enough once it begins to become detrimental to our mental health.

We go to social media to stay connected to what’s happening with other people instead of the posts we often see today. We should actively be avoiding the negativity other people can spread to our lives.

To everyone out there who experiences FOMO from social media, you are not alone.

We shouldn’t feel compelled to post when we spend time with others.

We should spend our time with others in the moment — together.

“ We shouldn’t feel

compelled to post when we spend time with others. We should spend our time with others in the moment — together.

by the numbers

3-4

“

73%

median hours are spent on a of students use more screen cell phone, according to 150 time at home than school, according to 148 students students

DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION | MARY-KATHRYN WERT

DAILY PHONE USAGE @ MIEGE

16%

use their phone for 0-2 hours a day

56%

use their phone for 3-4 hours a day

20%

use their phone for 5-7 hours a day

8%

use their phone for 8+ hours a day *according to a survey of 147 students

DAILY PHONE USAGE IN THE U.S.

5

hours and 24 minutes is the average time Americans spend on their mobile devices each day

96

times per day is the average amount of times Americans check their phone, or once every 10 minutes

2,617

times per day, the average American touches their phone and will unlock their phone at least 150 times a day *according to Zippia

FEATURES | 17

TIME FOR CHRIST

High school youth groups grow students’ faith

TOGETHER IN FAITH Gathered around tables before small group discussion, freshman Annie McGuire and sophomore Clare Hansen distribute pens and paper to write down any questions the members may have. Each Sunday, the Holy Trinity Life Teen meets after 5 p.m. Mass. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

“It’s a great community,” McGuire said. “I get to know upperclassmen and deepen my faith with God.” WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF McGuire joined the group about half a year ago and is one of the 30 to 40 members. he 6 p.m. church bells ring. The sound of the church choir “We get together and talk about a topic,” McGuire said. “One echoes as the priest processes up of our youth ministers talks, and then we the middle aisle to the front entrance of get into small groups and dive deeper into the church. Some students proceed to it.” their cars, while others walk across the Sophomores Clare Hansen and Emilia street to the Father Quigley Center for Olsen are also part of this youth group, as youth group.

Olsen recently joined in November.

High schoolers sit around in “Just try a youth group even if you community and eat pancakes together don’t think you’ll like it because the Lord before they meet for a large group FRESHMAN ANNIE MCGUIRE works in mysterious ways,” Olsen said. discussion.

Over the summer, McGuire helped put For freshman Annie McGuire, this is on an eighth-grade retreat, and she helped her typical Sunday, as she is a member with the prep work and activities. of Holy Trinity Life Teen. Life Teen is a Catholic youth organization “It’s very enlightening,” McGuire said. “It just helps your in the U.S.

BY ALENA GILLESPIE

T

“I get to know

upperclassmen and deepen my faith with God.

“

FACES IN YOUTH GROUPS “Youth group gives me an opportunity to expound on my Catholic knowledge and abilities. It’s another opportunity to meet other people from different schools, but we have a commonality of our religion.”

18 | FAITH

SENIOR ALLISON QUINN St. Joseph in Shawnee

“My favorite thing about my youth group is the service projects, including making Thanksgiving meals and delivering them to the homeless.”

FRESHMAN DON CARLOS ALVAREZ C-10 Mentoring and Leadership in Kansas City

relationship with God deepen and you get to know a lot of people.”

From attending Camp Tekakwitha every year, senior Jack Elder learned about St. Michael the Archangel Life Teen from a cabin mate and joined the August before his junior year.

“The people there are super fun people,” Elder said. “You are welcomed with open arms.”

According to Elder, this youth group offers adoration Monday and Friday nights and men’s group on Wednesday nights and Life Teen night on Sunday.

“Some of my deepest friends are from there,” Elder said. “We go to small groups and have good discussions.”

Sophomore Grace McCallop joined the Open Door youth group when she was in sixth grade and has been a member ever since.

“It’s just a refresher in my faith,” McCallop said.

“It is something for you to do, and it will just benefit you in different aspects of your life.”

This Christian group meets Wednesday nights and starts with games, before time for worship and a Bible lesson.

“I look forward to the unique messages and spending time with my friends,” McCallop said.

15% of students are a member of a youth group

WOMEN’S PRAYER GROUP

This semester, math teacher Kayla Moylan began a prayer group that meets in the administrative conference room at 7:20 a.m. before Friday morning Mass. All women are welcome to join this group.

Q&A with Moylan Q: Why did you start this prayer group?

I got here, I wanted to start more A: “Since intentional faith based groups. I think it’s really

good for students to be able to have a place where they feel like they can go and other people get them and get their faith.”

Q: What do you think are the benefits of joining? would say to grow your relationship with God. A: “IAlso, to meet other people that want to grow in their Q: grown a lot in my faith, especially over the last A: “I’ve three years, and it’s the most important thing to me.

according to an online survey of 174 students

C You in the Major Leagues, also known as C-10, was founded in 2013 by Dayton Moore, who was the Kansas City Royals general manager at the time.

After applying during the end of his eighth grade year, freshman Don Carlos Alvarez joined.

“My mom got an email and told me it could help with school,” Alvarez said. “They give out scholarship funds, so it helps with my schooling and everything.”

C-10 meets every Wednesday and focuses on helping high schoolers in the Kansas City area with leadership skills for the real world.

“My favorite part is definitely the service projects,” Alvarez said.

According to Elder, there are rewarding benefits from joining a youth group.

“It is cool to have a good group of people that encourage me in my faith and that I am able to have good conversations with instead of just surface level talks,” Elder said.

“My favorite part of youth group was honestly just getting to hang out with other youth group members in whatever we did. We just hung out and it was great.”

SENIOR MARIALUNA SCHREINER CINTRON St. James in Kansas City

relationship with God. We’ve actually had some nuns come, visit and pray with us. So, meeting religious nuns, which might be something that you don’t always get to do.”

What is your favorite part of leading this prayer group?

It’s really nice for me to be able to share that with other students and encourage them on their own journeys.”

HEARING THE WORD With the Gospel reading in hand, math teacher Kayla Moylan leads her prayer group through an activity to better understand God’s message before Mass on Dec. 9. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

“I like hanging out with kids my age and also working with little kids, where we get volunteer hours. I also enjoy getting more experience in my Catholic faith.”

SOPHOMORE JULIA MEYERS Curé of Ars in Leawood

FAITH | 19

stag 1.

PERSPECTIVES 1. BIO TO BLOOD Extending his hand, senior Alexander Murphy helps sophomore Jane Werner identify veins on a human body on Dec. 9. The Principles of Biomedical Science class learned how to properly draw blood from latex arms from nurse Malisa McEachen. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

2. MIEGE OUT Energy high, the student section during the Wamego state game cheers on Nov. 26. The game ended with a score of 35-14, and the Stags won the football state championship.

“I was really excited that we were so strong and watching the boys play together,” senior Noah Nguyen said.

“I was just glad I was able to enjoy time with my friends.” | NATALIE MARTINEZ 3. MIXING MOVES During the robotics club Christmas mixer, Emma Masters and Gabby Gallaher dance at the front of the dance line on Dec. 9. To raise funds, the robotics club decided to host a mixer for students to have an opportunity to celebrate the Christmas season. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

2.

4. IN REMEMBRANCE Dressed in the Perrini herd shirt, junior Paige Calderon receives communion from senior Anthony Arroyo on Dec. 8. An all-school Mass was held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of former campus minister Mary Perrini’s death.

“This Mass was one to remember,” Calderon said. “Having her family members there brought more importance to the Mass.” | ANA GAJEWSKI

20 | PERSPECTIVES

3.

4.

5.5.

6.

6.

5. SOCIAL CLUES At the Christmas social, freshmen David Zavala and Adam Marsh play the board game Clue. During the social, students were able to play games and watch a movie in the auditorium on Dec. 9.

“It was really fun to be with everyone and see your friends at the end of the day,” Zavala said. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

7.

7.

6. FOUR-MINUTE MATCH Business card in hand, junior Margaret Brennan participates in speed dating on Nov.17. All AP U.S. History classes participated in speed dating, where they researched a historical figure and pretended to be them while meeting with other students. “It was a good way to fastly learn about different historical figures,” Brennan said. “It was an enjoyable experience of being someone else.” | NATALIE MARTINEZ 7. DECK THE DOORS

Gluing down reindeer, sophomore Henry Holm helps out with theology teacher Patricia Arnold’s door decorations on Dec. 1. The theme for the Tylicki herd was Christmas movies. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

8.

8. FROSTING AWAY Martina herd members sophomores Shae Coughlan and Isabella Franco frost a Christmas tree cookie to place on their gingerbread house on Dec. 9. During the Christmas social, herds competed in gingerbread decorating competitions. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

PERSPECTIVES | 21

stag HANGOUTS After students took an online survey, data showed that students have many different places they enjoy spending their time.

There are also many similarities. Majority of students spend their time after school at home or at a sports practice. Some popular spots to be on a Friday night include football games, the movies and bowling lanes.

Check out where four students said they enjoyed spending their time.

Freshman Grace Al ford’s favorite place to spend her free time is at Skate City. Over the summer she we nt at least once a week on the weeken ds with her friends.

After the tennis season ended, senior Maya Pepin started spending her time after school at the gym. She goes for at least an hour every day except Friday.

22 | PERSPECTIVES

t her rpin spends mos Senior Janella Co e shops. ffe at different co time after school ends fri nging out with Corpin enjoys ha . em mework at th and doing her ho

of her nt a lot e p s n e ox. s s afe Equin ong hloe Jan Junior C he summer at C m a rt and sits time ove es with friends . e e go off inking c Janssen while dr s t n la p the PHOTOS | COURTESY OF STUDENTS DESIGN | ANA GAJEWSKI

what’s

IN THE BAG? Cheer

Senior Kaiya Key does not only keep her cheer shoes and pom poms in her bag, but also has a lucky pin that she received from cheer camp that stays in her bag at all times.

Bowling

Senior member of the varsity bowling team, CJ Reno, has many things in her bowling bag. Some include her bowling balls, cleaning spray and a towel to keep her balls clean. She also likes to keep a notebook in her bag to keep track of her game scores.

Wrestling

Freshman girls wrestler Meg Joseph keeps her gameday clothes, a waterbottle, a charger and lots of snacks because tournaments are so long. She also keeps the team’s mascot stuffed animal named Lucky. ILLUSTRATIONS | ANA GAJEWSKI

sports

BRIEFS

placing in state

Basketball

Freshman girls varsity basketball player Mary Grant always has her basketball shoes, practice jerseys and a water bottle. On gamedays, she keeps her uniform in her bag until game time.

In her club basketball bag, she likes to keep things from past tournaments.

The dance team achieved fifth place out of six qualifying teams. The team will have another competition in 2023.

The cheer team also competed, placing sixth after qualifying.

five-time champion

Dance

Junior dance team captain Megan Ruf keeps her poms, jazz shoes, tennis shoes and a water bottle.

She keeps her inhaler and Advil, as well as snacks. Ruf keeps a ribbon that she won from dance camp over the summer on the outside of her bag. DESIGN | ANA GAJEWSKI

The new boys lacrosse team will be coached by Jay Coleman with 22 seasons under his belt and multiple state championship titles in Missouri.

champion wrestler

Junior Baker North won the Bronco Invitational at Lee’s Summit North.

SPORTS | 23

LEAPING INTO THE HOLIDAYS

Freshman performs for her 6th time in the Nutcracker

BY SALLY PANIS FEATURES EDITOR

C

lassical notes of Tchaikovsky ascend throughout the auditorium from the shadowed instruments, as freshman Isabella Dessert tells the story of the Christmas classic, “The Nutcracker.”

Eight years ago, Dessert began her ballet aspirations at the Lawrence Arts Center but has continued training at the Kansas City Ballet since 2018.

Dessert plans to pursue a future in dancing with the possibility of joining a company or majoring in dance at a college.

According to Dessert, dance is the only place where her mind is totally blank and she can feel like herself.

24 |

“My mind is always clear when I’m [at the ballet studio],” Dessert said. “I never have to worry about anything, and I just remain peaceful and not distracted.”

“The Nutcracker” ballet was inspired by “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” which was published by the German author E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1815. Tchaikovsky’s score “The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71,” consists of roles like Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, Dr. Drosselmeier, the FRESHMAN Sugar Plum Fairy, the DESSERT Mouse King and the Tea Children.

Starring as a tea child, Dessert particularly enjoys the sequence of Clara’s travels with the prince to a place called the Land of the Sweets where they encounter many new friends from around the world including chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, tea from China and candy canes from Russia, which all dance for her amusement.

“I love when they go through the different countries because they have all these parasols and headpieces,” Dessert said.

“They start with the Spanish and then the Arabian and then there is this dragon that comes out and it’s just beautiful.”

Being a part of the Nutcracker since 2016, the Christmas season has become one of Dessert’s favorite times of the year.

Dessert’s first role was a polichinelle, the little children in “The Nutcracker” ballet who emerge from Mother Ginger’s enormous hoop skirt to do a short dance.

At the Lawrence Arts Center the following year, she was a party child in the first act. Once Dessert moved to Kansas City and joined the Kansas City Ballet, she performed as a soldier in 2018 and has returned to a variety of roles since.

“As I grew up I had more performance opportunities, so Nutcracker became more of a fun experience and I didn’t stress

about it as much.” Dessert said. “Switching from LAC to KCB was somewhat difficult because the environment was completely different. KCB had a professional company and the students were much more disciplined.”

According to Dessert, nerves can be difficult to handle under stress, but her role this year allows her to adjust on stage since the party scene is about ISABELLA 30 minutes long with shorter dances.

Dessert was offered a scholarship by the Kansas City Ballet for two years for their day program classes but chose to attend Miege. She said she still could go at any time before her senior year.

Balancing her role as a student and performer has not been a challenge for Dessert. Performing two to four times each week, typically on the weekends doesn’t keep Dessert from finishing her schoolwork during Nutcracker season.

“This is my first year with finals, and so far I’ve been managing my schedule pretty well.” Dessert said. “During [tech week] we go to the Kauffman and rehearse right after school until 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. at night for the whole week. I’ll still have time to do homework but I’ll probably be pretty worn out. I have been doing it for so long that it has become a part of me.”

“I have been doing it

for so long that it has become a part of me.

“

IN ACTION Performing in the school’s rendition of “Oklahoma!,” freshman Isabella Dessert dances during the dream sequence. To see more of Dessert’s performances, scan the QR to buy tickets to the Nutcracker. | KATE PEDROTTI

ON THE MAT Working to pin Bennett Jackson, William Atchity stays focused during Meet The Stags night on Nov. 29.

Meet the Stags night was a new event that promoted the wrestling program and allowed families to learn more about the program, while collecting dry goods. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

OFF TO CAMP Arriving at camp, freshman Avery Kurt, sophomores Carly Kurt and Ava Martin and juniors Lexi Kurt and Ana Gajewski earlier than the campers. | COURTESY PHOTO

PIN IT TO WIN IT WRESTLING

Wrestling program increases in male, female members

BY EMMA LAZARCZYK PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

T

team is the best part about it. It doesn’t just become a sport where a singular person tries to win, it’s you putting in the effort and the team supporting you all the way.”

Even with the team being made up of new wrestlers, freshman Meg Joseph said she has already seen her hard work pay off at

he sound of powerful thuds hit the mats as cheers and comments fill the gym, while the wrestling teams show off their skills during Meet the Stags night on Nov. 29.

This year, the wrestling team has grown as it welcomes 20 wrestlers to the mat.

According to head wrestling coach Ryan Wrigley, he wanted the Meet the Stags night to promote the wrestling team, as both the boys and girls teams have increased since last season.

“We’re a really young team with probably 80-85% of the wrestlers HEAD WRESTLING COACH having never wrestled before,” Wrigley said. “Every year is new and exciting RYAN WRIGLEY with the youth that we have.”

According to Wrigley, last year, the girls wrestling team had one member, senior the Wyandotte Classic.

Christina Arana, but now consists of five girls.

“I play rugby, and I wanted to find a “When you first look at it, you are going sport like it,” Joseph said. “I got third in my to be a little off put,” Arana said. “But being weight class – it was a very proud moment able to form bonds with the people on the and made me feel more confident in my

“I preach to the team

to get better every day and that goes for me too. “

wrestling abilities.”

While the majority of the wrestling program is new to the mat this year, junior Baker North returns with state hopes.

“We have a really good chance for one of our wrestlers to get a state championship if he does everything right and that’s our heavyweight, Baker North,” Wrigley said.

According to Baker, the growth in the team this year helped motivate him to push to win state this year, after losing by one point in his final match last season.

“Having a larger team is awesome since the energy level is high and motivates the team to push through difficult situations in matches,” North said.

For Wrigley his main priority is to help everyone improve no matter their current skill level.

“I preach to the team to get better every day, and that goes for me too,” Wrigley said. “I’m not a big wins and losses guy.

I’m really big on self-improvement and just getting better every day. If you do those things, the wins will eventually come.”

SPORTS | 25

sports HIGHLIGHTS PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Preparing for the upcoming season, junior Peyton Cole works on his breastroke during a Saturday practice. The boys swim team competed on Dec. 7 at the Topeka Hayden Invite. | EMMA LAZARCZYK

BRING IT HOME With eyes on the prize, the varsity football’s offensive line blocks Wamego’s defensive line.

The football program won its 11th state title. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

player

LOCKED IN Going for a layup, junior Carly Kurt focuses on the basket. The varsity girls basketball team won 74-27 on Dec. 8 against Christ Prep. | EMMA LAZARCZYK

SPOTLIGHT swim edition

Freshman Joseph Charles Sophomore Gannon Cole Junior Ruben Hernandez “I joined swim this year, because I wanted to try something new.”

26 | SPORTS

“I decided to do swim again this year because I love the meets. After the meets, on the bus rides home, it gets pretty crazy.”

“I swim to keep up my endurance, but also because I want to swim in college.”

Senior Jack Elder

“I do swim because there is not a lot of room for excuses. You either swim the time that you need to or you don’t.”

PHOTOS | EMMA LAZARCZYK

MORE THAN A GAME

CYO teams bring rivalries, begin competitions

BY WILL BASKA

T

Staff Writer

he echoes of a bouncing basketball permeate through the halls of North Campus. Inside the otherwise empty building, a competitive, yet light-spirited contest resumes – CYO basketball.

This is not a congregation of elementary school ballers in an auxiliary high school gym, but instead the childhood dreams of teenagers across the metro manifesting into reality. Here, skill is not the factor. Enjoyment is.

The program has been around for years, and the hype seems to be increasing each winter. For many, CYO basketball is more than just an enjoyable workout, but an escape.

“After playing basketball freshman year, me and my friends decided it would be more fun to do CYO,” said junior

Norah Fitzgerald, who plays on the reigning champion GerBALLS. “I feel like I’m a high school basketball player, only it’s more fun and less competitive.”

Not only does the program give students the opportunity to live out their fantasies, but according to senior Harrison Roth it serves as a conducive outlet for teen health.

“We’ll get a crowd

and have a rager of a game.

SENIOR HARRISON ROTH “I feel like it’s a really good thing for teenagers because we have fun staying active,” Roth said. “Kids could be out making bad decisions, but instead we’re here having a blast.”

As the season proceeds under way, the deepseeded lore of team relations infiltrates the league. Rivalries have historically

GAME UNFOLDS Hand on the ball, Caroline Findley retrieves the ball on Dec. 10. The sophomore team, Uncrustaballaz, defeated the team Hey Mamas with a score of 32-17. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

TEAMS:

Senior Boys: Senior Girls: Junior Boys: Jr Heifers BBB BBB Gerbers McDoubles Basket Hounds

had an air of comical importance for students participating. Roth, a proud member of the Gerbers, says it’s what truly makes the season.

“Gerbs vs. Heifs is always the big one,” Roth said in reference to the two Miege teams in the senior boys league. “We’ll get a crowd and have a rager of a game.”

Though many rivalries are born from interschool play, some originate from the same old high school matchups students are accustomed to.

“My team has a really big rivalry with an Aquinas team,” Fitzgerald said.

“It started last year and we got to beat them in the championship.”

While the program exists as a channel for easy-spirited fun, sophomore Abby Cleveland says her team is enjoying the heat of competition.

“We are taking it pretty seriously,” Cleveland said. “We are definitely in it to win the championship.”

As rivalries develop and friendly banter fills the halls, students are sure to relish in the Saturday afternoons that will place them in big moments with little stakes.

“I’m probably just looking forward to winning it all,” Fitzgerald said. “I know we are here to play.”

“

SENIOR PLAYS On Dec. 3, the senior team, the Gerbers lost to the Tropics with a score of 56-53. The game was played at North Campus. | ANA GAJEWSKI

Junior Girls: GerBALLS Triple M

Sophomore Boys: New Testament

Sophomore Girls: Motherdunkers Uncrustaballaz

SPORTS | 27

ART IN ACTION

ON MY MIND Brush in hand freshmen MaryCate Dunn and Mia Coniglio work on their art projects during Drawing and Painting I on Dec. 6. “I was working on this painting yesterday, and it’s supposed to be a interpetation of feeling controlled,” Dunn said. “I’m doing that through using bright colors against the dark background to make it feel more vivid.”

WALLS DOWN With an exacto knife, freshman Emilio Duran smoothes down the cardboard edges of his house. “It’s not lining up to make the walls even,” Duran said.

ECHO-HOME In Survey of Art, freshman Hailey Hodge makes an environmetnally sustainable home on Dec. 6. “I like my friends and painting,” Hodge said. “I needed to get my art credit, so I took it.”

RULES TO BUILD Measuring cardboard, freshman Susi Garcia Pacheco and sophomore Julian Bustamante work on their houses during Survey of Art.

SUPPORT THE SEA Holding tape, sophomore Greyson DeKeyser tapes down the canvas to keep the canvas stretched.

“I’m painting a sea cape, not based on a photo or anything,” DeKeyser said. “I started painting last year and this year, and I took these classes because I thought it would be fun. “ PHOTOS | NATALIE MARTINEZ