The Miegian Newspaper: May 2022

THE MIEGIAN

CLASS OF 2022

Vol. 65, Issue 4 | May 2022 Bishop Miege High School Roeland Park, KS 66205

02

content overview

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 Sibling Letters 06 College Map 08 Special Thanks 09 Profiles 10 Senior Slip-Ups 11 Profiles 12 Farewell to Little Harts 13 Profiles 14 Senior Columns

17 Baby Pictures 18 Military 19 Profiles 20 Senior Survey 22 Timeline/Playlist 26 Perspectives 28 CMT Seniors 30 Athlete Standouts 32 Signatures

PHOTOS | MARY-KATHRYN WERT, EMMA LAZARCZYK, DELANEY JOHNSON, KATE MOORES, ISABEL COPELAND & MARIA NGUYEN COVER PHOTO DESIGN | MARY-KATHRYN WERT

letter

03

STAFF MEMBERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Isabel Copeland

PHOTO EDITOR

Emma Lazarczyk

DESIGN EDITOR

Mary-Kathryn Wert

COPY EDITOR

Ava Belchez

FEATURES EDITOR

Alena Gillespie

STAFF WRITERS

Colin Batliner A’myrah Cheadle Delaney Johnson Maria Nguyen Natalie Martinez Kate Moores Julian Gallegos Caleb Oblepias Kellan O’Connell

DEAR READERS, Thank you to our seniors: Ava, Isabel, Kate, Colin and Julian,

The Miegian and Bishop Miege Press are published by the newspaper staff of Bishop Miege High School. They are a 2020 All-Kansas award winning student-produced newspaper. 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 community members.

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 twitter, instagram, and our website.

Instagram: @bishopmiegepress Twitter: @b_miege_press

Web: bmpress.org

5041 Reinhardt Drive, Roeland Park, KS

This past summer, we met together at First Watch for the first time as editors. We were a little nervous, but excited to start brainstorming ideas together. We had no idea what to expect for the upcoming school year.

Creating this issue has been the hardest to produce — not only due to the work, but also because of this being our last issue with you all on staff. The memories we have made over the years between our time in the newspaper room and our Snapchat group chat will be ones we treasure forever. We hope this issue represents our staff and shows the love you seniors and all the seniors have for their class.

To our staff members Kate, Colin and Julian, Thank you all for the great work you have given. Over the course of this year, we have enjoyed getting to know Kate and Julian better, as they were new members. Last year, Colin was the only boy on the staff. Thank you for sticking it out and being “one of the girls.” We know we can be a bit overwhelming, but you always helped us and put your mark on every issue.

To our fellow editors, Ava and Isabel, We can not explain how much we have loved working with you to create our visions. Thank you for being our best friends in and out of class. The memories the five of us have made will always be cherished. Even though newspaper deadlines can be stressful, you always made it entertaining and brought light to the situations. We do not know what we will do without you next year, but we are so grateful that part of our journey was spent with you. We wish you all the best of luck at college.

MARY-KATHRYN WERT, EMMA LAZARCZYK & ALENA GILLESPIE JUNIOR EDITORS

04

sibling letters

stag messages SENIORS SEND THEIR FINAL FAREWELLS TO THEIR SIBLINGS

dear matthew,

Getting to go to high school together for the past two years has made these last two years of high school so good for me.

I was really excited when you graduated 8th grade and would be coming here, and I was excited to see the person you would start to become as you went through your first two years.

I am so proud of the person you have become.

You are such a good friend to everyone and an

dear nikko,

You have been my rock for the last 15 years and have continued to be my best friend through all the ups and downs.

Your love for others and selfless personality is so inspiring.

Whether it’s our late night drives to Sonic, 1 a.m. dance parties in the kitchen or even our silent car rides to school in the mornings, I love and cherish every moment I spend with you.

When I’m having a bad day, I know I can always count on you to make me smile or laugh so hard my stomach hurts.

even better brother.

I am happy that we are both able to go to each other to rant about anything going on, or just to say stupid jokes or stories from the school day.

Even though we won’t be seeing each other every day, nothing is going to change. You will always be my best friend in the world, and nothing can change that.

Love you,

nick

You are by far the second funniest person I know (myself being the first of course).

I have loved watching you grow up and turn into the young man you are today, and I can’t wait to see everything you accomplish in the future.

I may be four hours away next year, but remember I’m only a FaceTime away.

I love you forever and ever, my Nikko Bear!

Love,

sis | COURTESY PHOTOS

sibling letters

dear christopher,

High school has been a lot of fun, and I am very glad that you chose to come to Miege.

I hope you find the people here to be as much of a loving family as I have.

I am going to miss how competitive you are, especially those backyard games of basketball. I know mom and dad can be tough on us sometimes, but there is always tomorrow with a perfectly new opportunity to have a good day.

Recently, I’ve gotten kind

dear gracie,

I’m so proud of the young woman you have become. You have always been a very unique, free spirit, and you are a trail blazer.

You don’t care what other people think, and you do what is right.

Stay strong and continue to be yourself.

05

of jealous of your lifting PRs. I don’t tell you this enough, but I am very proud of the person you have made yourself into over this past year.

You have about passed me in every category there is.

You’re even dunking now.

I can’t wait to see the kind of athlete, but more importantly, the kind of man you are going to become.

From,

will

You are one of the strongest people I have ever met. Keep chasing your dreams.

Don’t ever quit and continue loving everyone you cross paths with.

Your big brother,

collin

dear jackson,

I can’t believe you’re already almost a sophomore. I am so grateful to have you as my brother, and so happy I got to be here as a senior for your freshman year. I have loved (almost) every minute of it.

I will for sure miss driving you to and from school, whether it’s fighting over the aux cord or your drive home naps. But, I definitely will not miss waiting for your football practice to get out.

You have been one of my best friends since the day you were born, always being the brother I can go to and complain to. Or, the one to go with me to the store, so I don’t have to go by myself. I have loved

to watch you grow into the amazing person you are today. I admire your love for others, your determination and your passions for the things you love. I hope to one day have as much drive as you do. I am so proud of you in all you do and will miss you incredibly when I leave for college.

Don’t stop sending me stupid videos and memes even though I won’t be home. And remember that I’m here for you no matter what (call me anytime). I love you, Jackie.

Love,

your favorite sister

06

map

THE NEXT SHOWING...

MISSOURI

CALIFORNIA

Caroline Brandt Jack Brown Daisy Cuellar Venicio Mendez Dawson Ribbey Ramon Rodriguez Johny Warren

Francesca Dessert

University of Missouri - Kansas City

University of Missouri

University of San Diego University of California, Berkeley Jordan Wolf

Northern Arizona University Reagan Fanning

TEXAS

Northwest Missouri State University

Isabella Barraza Emily Lynn

Missouri Western State University Andruw Hamilton

Missouri S&T

Joseph Hayes Zoran Rodriguez Graham Spearman

Avila University Isabel Copeland Luca Dawson

William Jewell College Emory Etzenhouser

Saint Louis University Julian Gallegos Michelangelo Worthy

University of Central Missouri Mason Kumm

Metropolitan Community College Darren Faulkner Sean Ismert

Southeast Missouri State University Edwin White

Truman State University Erin Donegan Xavier Hall

Missouri State University Henry FitzGerald

MOST ATTENDED STATE

ARIZONA

Cooper Benz Hillary Daniel Kiley Condon Dayanara Espino Shea McGraw Kate Moores Jake Welsh Peter Fuentes Nellie Hellings Pearl Romine

kansas

Texas A&M

Brennan Johnston

INDIANA

University of Notre Dame

COLORADO

Regis University Ffion Hughes

University of Colorado Boulder Juan Pleitez

OTHER

Undecided

Sophia Anderson Ian Browne McClain Christian Bowen Abraham Caro-Martinez Michael Cowan Jonathan Haik Daniel Martin

Employment Tyler Hackney Jacob Tholen Lola Wrigley

france

FARTHEST DESTINATION FROM MIEGE: 4,749 MILES

17

different states

WHERE SENIORS WILL BE ATTENDING COLLEGE

Military

Kellan Boylan Charles Cahalan Riley Phelan Matthew Speight James Sutherland

Vocation/Technical School Hayden Cole

Gap Year

Rylee McMurray

Seminary

Will Anderson

midwest

MOST POPULAR REGION

ALABAMA

KANSAS

Emajin McCallop

Dalonzo Bagley Benjamin Eshelbrenner Cecilia Fisk Emma Goulding Mikey Hanson Mayah Haug Reese Hendrix Eric Johnson Jack Noblitt Raegan O’Connor Nicholas Randant Paul Ruf Max Smith Samantha Staley Samantha Stockton Eve Waris Corbin Warner

Alabama A&M

University of Kansas

University of Alabama Laney Voitenko

University of Alabama - Birmingham Cara Parisi

IOWA

Grinnell College Clare O’Brien

Morningside University Jaylen Burch Collin Keeney

ILLINOIS

DePaul University Selma Figge-Tirado

Columbia College Chicago Liam Hyland

MISSISSIPPI

University of Mississippi Grayson Ihnat Madelyn McDowell James Remer

MASSACHUSETTS

Emerson College Ava Belchez

College of the Holy Cross Jack Davoren

ARKANSAS

University of Arkansas Alice Brandt Jackson Hoshor

OKLAHOMA

University of Oklahoma Olivia Cerda

Oklahoma State University Elisabeth Fahlstrom Eleanor Werner

Kansas State University Blake Allen Colin Batliner Joaquin Barrera Allie Burns Ryan Brennan Jenna Dorsett Meredith Ford Marc Guadamuz Diego Grajeda Noelle Griffin Olivia Griggs Ella Howard Monica Knight Annie Lawton Jack Leavey Daniel Meara Grant Moffitt Matt Mohler Emily Morfeld Thomas O’Connor John Siebes Dominic Villegas William Watson Lizzie Weixeldorfer Ava Werner Max Wingate

Pittsburg State University Abigail Flack Amanda Jankowski Nikolas Portillo Rex Saysoff Trey Thomas Jake Whitmore

NEW YORK

Fordham University Sophia Nordling

Wichita State University

26

k-state

MOST POPULAR UNIVERSITY

Genevieve Meier Jennifer Vega

map

Johnson County Community College

07

Pedro Arrieta Joseph Farrar William Herrick Liam Kilfoyle Henry Knubley Yahir Martinez-Zambrano Vincent Miller Samuel Panis Elizabeth Perez Miranda Reyes Lola Rios Rodrigo Rogers Valeria Rogers Adrian Velez

Kansas City Kansas Community College Paris Daniels Grace Roland Adrianna Smith Annika Smith

Donnelly College Brianna Suarez

University of Saint Mary Natalie Koehler Mary Olson

Washburn University

Georgina Garcia Gabriella Henderson-Artis

Baker University Victor Lopez Mauricio Salas

MidAmerica Nazarene University Nina Kalmus

PENNSYLVANIA

University of the Arts Will Vani

FLORIDA

Eastern Florida State College Ryan Eskew Alex Raygoza

Community College Megan VanMeter

FRANCE

Strasbourg University Olivia Williams

SPAIN

University of Oviedo Elayna Nolke

northeast

LEAST POPULAR REGION

DESIGN | MARY-KATHRYN WERT

08

special thanks

guidance through the years

SENIORS ACKNOWLEDGE MENTORS IN THEIR LIVES

Coach Ernst

“Freshman year, Coach E. really got me out of my bubble to talk to other people in my class,” senior Valeria Rogers said. “She really helped me start my fitness journey. Every time I would go into her classroom, she would always check in and see if I’ve made any progress on my journey; that was really nice of her.”

Mr. Clark

“Mr. Clark is a really faith-filled guy,” senior William Anderson said. “He and I kind of have a similar mindset when it comes to problem-solving and stuff like that, so I can relate to him in a lot of areas, especially engineering and he’s always looked out for me.”

“Mr. Clark came to Miege the same year we did, freshman year,” senior Graham Spearman said.

“It was nice because we all kind of got used to Miege together, and it kind of felt like we grew up together. With COVID-19 and everything, he put up with all our shenanigans and he still taught us well.”

Mrs. McEachen

“Mrs. McEachen has been there for me since my junior year,” senior Megan VanMeter said. “When I’m having problems, she’s really easy to talk to. She’s someone who just listens and puts her advice out there, but at the same time she doesn’t tell you what to do. She’s been so helpful to me through everything and always has time to talk and just never leaves you hanging.”

PHOTOS | ISABEL COPELAND AND NATALIE MARTINEZ

darren faulker

profiles

09

SERVING THE CHURCH

After Faulkner’s dad had troubles getting the sound booth to work for FEATURES EDITOR services, Faulkner decided to help.

“I just went back there and fiddled rayer is a main part of senior Darren Faulkner’s everyday life. around with things, and it worked Faulkner takes the time to pray how he wanted it to,” Faulkner said.

Faulkner said that he helps his when he wakes up, prior to meals church by taking on the role of and before he goes to sleep. controlling the sound booth and Faulkner has been helping his microphones for Sunday services. church since he was 7, but has “I wake up pretty early to go to become more involved since age 13.

For the past three years, Faulkner’s church and get everything ready,” Faulkner said. father has been a pastor at Temple Through Faulkner’s ministry at the of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in church, his favorite part is knowing Kansas City, Missouri. his positive impact on the church According to Faulkner, his dad community. being a pastor initiated him to “Just knowing that I’m not only become baptized into the church in helping [my father], but I’m also 2019.

“It has really brought me closer to helping the church through it,” Faulkner said. my faith,” Faulkner said.

ALENA GILLESPIE

P

PHOTO | A’MYRAH CHEADLE

ava werner

ALL NEW THINGS AVA BELCHEZ

A

COPY EDITOR

s a joke, senior Ava Werner filled out a form she received in the mail encouraging her to go out for rowing at Kansas State University.

However, once she was accepted into the program, she took the opportunity to try something new.

Werner has never rowed competitively before, but she has a talent for picking up sports that are new to her.

“I tried tennis for the first time, and powerlifting, I’ve only done it once,” Werner said. “So I was like, ‘I feel like I could try [rowing] for the first time.”

This past year she got into powerlifting and competed in state competitions where she placed third at state in 4A. “I started going to my trainer,” Werner said, “He was asking me if I was going to do it, and at first I was like, ‘No’ but I knew he was going to force me to

anyway, so I was like, ‘I might just try it.”

Like powerlifting, to prepare for rowing, Werner works with her trainer to build endurance and strength. Using a rowing machine, Werner practices the motions she would do as one of the eight rowers in a boat. K-State reached out to Werner based on qualities that the coach believed would qualify her to be a rower.

“They said they look at stats of sports from schools all around Kansas, and they look at your height and what sports you play,” Werner said.”I think they look at if you’re not playing a college sport. They look to see if you fit the build, and then they send you something in the mail.”

With her major undecided, Werner said progressing towards rowing makes her feel like she has a goal to work toward.

“I’m nervous, but none of the recruits have experience either,” Werner said.

“I feel like it would be fun, and it’s a D1 opportunity.”

PHOTO | A’MYRAH CHEADLE

10

embarrassing moments

SENIORS UPS

LIP

“My foot was run over in the parking lot.”

“I tripped over a bleacher seat at [Rockhurst] in front of the whole student section and absolutely ate it.”

“I was saying the prayer in front of the whole school at a herd competition, and I slipped up on my words and had to start over. It was very embarrassing because I was reading it from my phone so it shouldn’t have been that hard.”

“I forgot my lines during a play and muttered some words instead.”

“I hit Mrs. Carman’s car 5 minutes before school started on April Fools’ Day.” “I was helping carry instruments after a band concert and dropped a drum off the stage.”

“My very first [basketball] game, I got the ball and was dribbling for a layup and bricked it off the backboard in front of the entire student section.”

“I was 20 minutes late to the very first Zoom call of sophomore year.”

“I fell face first during a herd competition on a yoga ball.”

“I was running down the hallway to get to class on time and wiped out in front of Mr. Schramp.”

ILLUSTRATIONS | MARY-KATHRYN WERT

elayna nolke

TRAVEL ON MARIA NGUYEN STAFF WRITER

S

PHOTO | A’MYRAH CHEADLE

enior Elayna Nolke’s college plans are anything but typical.

Not only is Nolke going out of the state, she is leaving the country to undertake somthing much bigger.

“Next March, I’m taking a gap year to go to Tanzania,” Nolke said. “I’m going with a lot of other people from all over who are also taking a gap year.”

The trip to the East African coastal country will be approximately three weeks long. During that time, Nolke and her group are set to work with younger children.

“We’re going to be helping provide meals and teach English to kindergarteners,” Nolke said. “I’m really excited about it.”

According to the World Bank, although Tanzania remains a lowermiddle-income country, the national poverty rate is slowly declining.

profiles

11

Nonetheless, help is still needed in areas of this country.

“I’m there to teach and make meals, but I’m also there to help them out of poverty,” Nolke said. “I want to use my advantages to help those who are disadvantaged.”

Nolke’s three-week long mission trip is not the end of her journey abroad. After leaving Tanzania, she is headed to Europe for college.

Next August, Nolke will attend the University of Oviedo in Asturias, Spain, where she will study international relations.

“I’m super excited to go to college in Spain,” Nolke said. “It’s really nice, and it’s cheaper than in-state colleges.”

With the next few years full of new experiences and traveling, Nolke looks forward to her future with enthusiasm.

“After college, I’m hoping to just live in Spain, which I’m really looking forward to,” Nolke said. “I feel like we are really sheltered here, so I’m excited to see new perspectives of the world.”

abby flack

PEER PASSION EMMA LAZARCZYK

A

PHOTO EDITOR

s high school comes to a close, and seniors say goodbye to the four cushion years before college, they can become frantic as they begin to think about what they want to do with the rest of their lives. However, for senior Abby Flack, her passion for special education has been clear to her since she was little.

Growing up, Flack watched her family welcome those with special needs, so she said this field of study is important to her.

According to Flack, watching how accepting her family is of people with special needs inspired her to pursue a career in special education.

“I had a great aunt with special needs, so I grew up around her,” Flack said. “I always wanted to be a teacher, so I thought those two would work

perfectly together.”

As Flack found a calling in special education, she began to follow her passion and became a peer mentor in the classrooms.

“Since we have a peer mentoring program, I was able to have hands-on experience and got to see if that’s what I actually want to do,” Flack said.

Following her graduation this year, Flack is pursuing special education at Pittsburg State where she can implement her skills learned and enhance her level of experience.

For Flack, being able to help those who have special needs and creating a bond with everyone is the most important part.

“Building friendships with my peers and being able to say hi to them in the hallway is rewarding,” Flack said. “Peer mentoring means embracing everyone and letting everyone get a chance at something.”

PHOTO | A’MYRAH CHEADLE

12

farewell to little harts o),

Dear Jada (aka Jada bo

e known ck the last two years I’v ki de si y m en be ve u’ Yo er . I met you the summ ld fie e th f of d an on you — got d I don’t know how we an , ar ye an hm es fr before your mily, but I up in the same faith fa lucky enough to end you about did. Getting to talk to we ul ef at gr nd yo be am ort amount tly softball, in our sh os m , ng hi yt an lly litera y. the highlight of my da is ily m fa ith fa g rin of time du hool and m with you for high sc Getting to be on a tea ination you n me how much determ ow sh s ha ll ba ft so b clu you will d I am confident that an u, yo th wi y rr ca always der for and be an essential lea gs in th t ea gr do to continue e next year. You’ve mad ne go am I ce on m tea the softball d have me value hard work an RUBEN! teammate r tte be a be to e m ed push My bro. My dawg. My da y 1 bestie. It is forget our and athlete. I’ll never so strange to look back an d see that we have only a game or car rides on the way to known each other for this year as you were assigned l especially to be my Little Hart. I love after a big win, and I’l how from the start we just omie squad clicked, and you instantly never forget the best ro were like the younger ar. I’ll brother I never had. It has be we had at state last ye en great to always year to look forward to faith family always come back next so we can catch up on, and I m tea e on th ev d ery an th u in yo g, an eer d ch it means a lot that you tru st see what to m it e en wa ou t gh n’ ca to con lly fid cia e in me. I hope all the advic espe eI have given you only adds ve been you accomplish! You’ to your greatness, and it keeps you out of trouble. Fr . Sis, keep om me, helping you with made for great things yo ur ar t as sig nm 3 < en ts to you giving me a working hard.

Love, Jenna

generous discount on Baskin-Robbin s ice cream, we really have become a dynamic du o. I hope that I have acted as a good example for you to be a Big Hart next year. I’m sure you will open your arms to whatever freshman you have and sp eak of how you learned from the best Big Hart ever.

I appreciate all your support as I have prepped to go away for college, and I promise I won’t forget abou t you in NYC! Don’t let anyone forget how we totall y set the precedent as the best Big Hart Little Hart du o!

Keep it real, Sophia Nordling :) ILLUSTRATIONS | MARIA NGUYEN

liam hyland

profiles

13

CINEMATIC-VIEW

ISABEL COPELAND

S

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

itting in video production class junior year, senior Liam Hyland got a look into what he wanted his future career to look like.

Hyland plans on attending Columbia College Chicago and is going to study film and television.

“I always wanted to move away, and I thought a big city would be fun,” Hyland said. “I have family that lives up there.”

Hyland learns a lot of skills from videos and articles he watches and reads in his free time.

“When I first got into [film and television], I started off by watching a lot of YouTube explaining how films are made,” Hyland said.

Being a part of Miege Weekly has taught Hyland very important lessons about this type of industry.

“It has shown me that film and collaboration are really fun to work on,” Hyland said. “And in certain projects, it is cool to see the work come to life.”

Editing is not the only thing that Hyland does for Miege Weekly. He also likes to think outside of the box to get different shots for segments.

“I always watched YouTube videos of drone clips, and I always thought they were really cool and how you can use a drone to get really interesting shots that you can’t get from just a regular camera,” Hyland said.

One of Hyland’s favorite parts about what he does is getting to put something together and share his own story, inspiring him to pursue his future goals.

“My dream job would be a camera operator for a big TV show or movie,” Hyland said.

PHOTO | A’MYRAH CHEADLE

michelangelo worthy TEACHING IN STYLE COLIN BATLINER

W

STAFF WRITER

hile wearing a tie patterned with cat skulls, senior Michelangelo Worthy walked the halls with one of his many ties that exude his personality.

After coming from a public school to Miege his junior year, he realized that it would be harder to show off his personality through his fashion.

“I saw that there was no regulation on the ties,” Worthy said. “The tie is one thing you could make your own as well as your shoes, so I started getting really into ties. I learned how to tie knots, intricate knots even and then wear fun print ties.”

Striving to be unique is something that Worthy said he strives to be

because of the joy his outfits can bring to other people.

“I like seeing people smile and be happy,” Worthy said. “I want to bring happiness to others. I want to make other people laugh and just feel good, lift people up when they’re down.”

His goal to make others happy has lead Worthy to pursue a degree in education. Before this year he wanted to become a Computer Scientist, but he realized becoming an AP History teacher is what he really wanted to do.

“I realized engineering was not my thing,” Worthy said. “So I started thinking, ‘What are things I love?’ and I worked at Scout camp for two years, and loved it — it was one of the best experiences of my life. So I thought, ‘What if I went into teaching?’ and I went with it, did a ton of research on it, and just got really interested in it.”

PHOTO | A’MYRAH CHEADLE

14

senior columns

GOODBYE TO

ROOM 144 PHOTOS | EMMA LAZARCZYK

ISABEL COPELAND

PHOTO| NATALIE MARTINEZ

T

he question I often get asked so many times by so many of my non-journalism friends is "Why do you keep doing it if it is overwhelming?"

My simple answer: it is something I love to put so much effort into.

Being on deadline and working long hours after school may not seem fun, but when I get time to just grind out some hours to see our finished project, it is truly rewarding.

Freshman year I was absolutely dreading taking intro to journalism, I was too afraid to get out of my comfort zone, but it turned out to be the best thing for me. Something about it spoke to me, and I ended up becoming a writer my sophomore year.

I remember sitting in the back of the class with my best friend, who was also a sophomore, and there were seven seniors in front of me. I felt intimidated by all of them, not for a moment did I ever think that I would one day be standing in their place looking at my staff of people.

I never knew how much I would love walking to Room 144 to see the people I can be myself around.

As a junior – the only returning staff

member of the newspaper – I was overwhelmed by what the year would bring, especially since I had taken on the role of editor-in-chief. I didn’t know that by the end of the year I would be able to call these 10 people family.

Being an editor has taught me so much. I have had my moments where it has been tough, but being able to come to my staff for ideas and really just anything I needed is something that I have found soothing.

As the end of my time comes on the staff I will always think of my staff in everything I do. I can stand up in front of them and talk for hours because they give me confidence, and each of them holds a special place in my heart.

Out of all the years on staff, senior year has to be my favorite because of the memories I hold with these 13 people.

I would like to thank my mom for telling me to take journalism freshman year because without that decision I would not be where I am today.

And lastly I would like to thank Mrs. McCambridge for putting up with me and for teaching me valuable lessons, whether it be about journalism or not.

senior columns

KATE MOORES

PHOTO | NATALIE MARTINEZ

I

s it more important where your roots are or where you bloom?

As my senior year and time on the Miegan nears its end, this is a question that I have thought long about.

Like most seniors, I’ve wondered where I will find myself in the next few years and it has brought me back to where I started.

On the first day of freshman year, I walked into a school full of completely unfamiliar faces. I was the only person in my class that had come from my grade school, and as someone who was not the best at conversing with new people, I was not looking forward to four years in this incompatible environment. I kept my head down in the hallways, looking at my feet as they took me straight from class to class without stopping to talk to anyone.

Freshman year, I knew I loved writing, it was something I was good at and enjoyed doing. Sophomore year, I signed up for journalism, expecting it to be something that I could use to improve my writing skills and see if it was something that I could turn into a passion.

When I found out that my “Lolo,” grandpa in Tagalog, had been a journalist and wrote an entire memoir, this only fueled my interest in journalism and a chance to carry on his legacy. My roots, spreading to the Philippines and back, began to sprout into a desire to go into journalism. The first step in

R

ecently during my fourth hour TA in the guidance office, Mrs. Schmidtberger was looking at our old files from meetings throughout the past four years.

She read everyone the notes she had taken as the timer blinked that we had a mere 36 days left in the background. She finally opened up my file: “Kate Moores wants to go far away for college, likes to read and write and is thinking about doing journalism in the future.”

Four years later, I am writing my goodbye letter for the school paper, about to transition to Mizzou’s paper, the Columbia Missourian. Despite the years and changes high school has presented me with, I returned to what my freshman year self had felt was right.

Back then, the guidance office was intimidating to my underclassman self. I only went to occasionally discuss the broad future, something I had never put much thought into.

A few years after that first meeting,

doing this was joining the Miegan.

The gifts that I have gained through the Miegan are irreplaceable. Of course, I have learned so much about journalism and writing, but the true gain goes so much deeper than that. Each member of the staff holds a special place in my heart. One hundred percent, I have roots planted in the overheated, fluorescent-lit journalism room.

I have spent countless hours in that room battling writer’s block and making lastminute edits, but I have also made so many of my most treasured memories of my time at Miege.

No matter how stressful the amount of work or how impending the deadline, I always looked forward to newspaper class because of the people who were in it and the laughs I knew we would have together.

Even as a writer, there are no words for me to describe how much the Miegan editors and staff mean to me and how much I will miss them.

As the nobody I was freshman year, I never would have thought I’d feel this way senior year. I’m so grateful I do, because it means that what I’ve gained here at Miege is of such significance that it will be something I’ll miss.

The answer to my beginning question is this: where you bloom results from where your roots are. And your roots are everywhere you have ever felt that you have

15

I had another one, and college was closer on the horizon than it had ever been. I was told how to prepare for the ACT, and that I needed to begin forming a resume for the schools I wanted to apply to.

I then headed to faith family with my now teacher Mrs. McCambridge, where I told her that I wanted to join the school paper. My experience?

A journalism class sophomore year that I hated (sorry Mrs. M.) And now I was going to be a staff writer for my senior year.

All it took was four issues of the Miegan to convince me that this was right. Like my freshman year self predicted, writing is for me and so is journalism. While I may be staying in-state (young Kate would’ve hated that one), I know that the future doesn’t feel so blank anymore. Sitting in guidance today, working on this column while “33 days left” now blinks behind me, I finally feel good about my future. It just took a reminder of what the past was like.

been impacted or have made an impact.

Where you bloom — where I will bloom — all depends on how those roots are used to grow.

AVA BELCHEZ

PHOTO | NATALIE MARTINEZ

16

senior columns

T

he metallic banging of locker doors surrounded me as I gathered my school belongings, getting ready to head home for the day. Suddenly, my friend Colin Batliner tapped my shoulder and handed me a neatly written crimson letter that read, “Bishop Miege Newspaper Staff Invitation.”

I am going to be honest, I looked at it with slight disgust. Writing was not my favorite. Never before in my life had I imagined myself writing with the intention to publish and inform others.

I do not want to say that I hated the idea, but I deeply disliked it.

However, despite all of that, I thought, “You never know until you try it.” So, I reluctantly assured Colin I would do it.

I do not know what drove me to say yes, but I am forever grateful that I did. Joining the newspaper squad helped me further develop my writing skills and also learn something more important. Newspaper has shown me the key to success — a great team. This year has brought some challenges, but challenges are no match for a team

COLIN BATLINER

PHOTO | CALEB OBLEPIAS

that functions like the Miegian. Each member shares their support and care for one another, which made me feel so welcome. Despite not being in the same classroom as the rest of the newspaper staff, I still felt their friendliness and willingness to share laughter, even if it was only in the groupchat.

I was not able to be in the same hour as my fellow staff members because my schedule included many classes that I could not switch around.

In addition to friends, the Miegian also gave me some much needed space away from my normal life.

I have a curriculum full of difficult classes, and my newspaper hour became one of my safe places where I could simply relax and write down my thoughts to feature them as opinion pieces.

This year has been wondrous and adventurous, the Miegian being a large reason for this. My final piece of advice would be to expand your horizons. Try as many positive things as possible, no matter how hard they look.

You will look back on these things in the future and smile.

O

JULIAN GALLEGOS

ne boy, ten girls — that was the ratio of our staff my entire first year working on the newspaper.

I’ve spent two years on staff, two completely different years; junior year and half of my senior year, I was the only guy on the staff.

For a while, this made me really uncomfortable and was extremely awkward for me, and I probably made everyone else feel the same.

Junior year, I came into class and sat on a side of the room by myself and went pretty much every day without saying a word to anyone in the class besides Mrs. McCambridge.

I enjoyed doing the work but I was always the first person out of the room when the bell rang and would never ask for help from anybody.

I had to leave early from class one day for a track meet, and I accidentally exited my page without saving it.

A normal person would probably ask someone else to help them, but not awkward junior-year me.

I decided to remake everything I had worked all class on in five

PHOTO | EMMA LAZARCZYK

minutes and not tell anybody about it at all. Unsurprisingly, it turned out pretty poorly.

Going into senior year, I remember telling someone that I had three AP classes first semester, but newspaper was the class I was looking forward to the least.

Thankfully, I realized that everyone else on staff was just as awkward as I am, “aco taco” as Isabel Copeland would say, and I became much less quiet and way more willing to ask for help and give help to the rest of the staff.

I became a lot more comfortable with everyone and actually came to class and got to know the girls on staff.

When Caleb Oblepias and Kellan O’Connell joined the staff for second semester, it wasn’t even that big of a deal because it didn’t feel weird to me anymore being the only guy in the room.

Last year, the girls on staff were just classmates who I saw every other day, but now that I am graduating soon I think I can say that everyone on staff has become a friend to me.

1: ANDRUW HAMILITON, 2: GENEVIEVE MEIER, 3: FFION HUGHES, 4: JOSEPH FARRAR, 5: ZORAN RODRIGUEZ, 6: MAYAH HAUG, 7: JORDAN WOLF, 8: MEREDITH FORD, 9: SHEA MCGRAW, 10: DAYANARA ESPINO, 11: MASON KUMM | COURTESY PHOTOS

11 9

10 8

7

5

6 4 DESIGN | DELANEY JOHNSON

guess who?

BABY EDITION

3

1

2

baby photos

17

18

military

shipping off

STAGS ENLIST TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY KATE MOORES

A

STAFF WRITER

s students pack their bags for dorm rooms and college campuses, there are a select few from the Class of 2022 who will be gearing up for basic training for the military in the fall instead.

Seniors Matt Speight, James Sutherland, Charles Cahalan and Riley Phelan have enlisted and are prepared to defend the country.

According to Phelan, his reason for joining the military is simple: he loves America.

“My family history and love for our country made it easy,” Phelan said.

After finishing the summer working on a ranch in Colorado, he will leave for the Army in August. Joining him will be James Sutherland, who thinks that service will better prepare him for the future.

“I chose to go to the Army to pursue the development of more skills in my life,” Sutherland said. “The discipline I’ll grow will make it worth it, as well as the opportunities for higher education.”

According to Sutherland, he hopes that the Army will save him money in the long run while also giving him unique

opportunities to grow independence and strength.

“I think service will help me in the future by establishing a strong economic base for myself,” Sutherland said. “It will also give me the ability to structure efficiency and hard work in my everyday life.”

The Army isn’t the only branch of the military that will be hosting Stags soon: both Speight and Cahalan have enlisted in the Marines.

Speight’s decision came down to the support and history he found in his family with this branch, while Cahalan chose based off of academy offers.

“I’ve had lots of family serve in the Marine Corps," Speight said.

Speight has wanted to join the military since he was a kid, and his dad helped him make that dream come true. It also doesn’t hurt that he won’t be serving alone.

“A couple of friends are enlisting with me,” Speight said.

While Speight may have company through basic training, Cahalan will be on his own for a unique kind of service. He recently accepted an appointment to the U.S. Marine Merchant Academy.

“Going to a federal service academy allows me to challenge myself,” Cahalan

said. “I think I’ll have many unique job opportunities upon graduation.”

While Cahalan is prepared for service, he is mostly looking forward to careers in the Marines made possible through his time at the academy.

“I am very interested in the maritime industry,” Cahalan said. “This will help put me ahead in my career in many facets.”

Phelan, Sutherland, Speight and Cahalan will each have unique opportunities and experiences in their time serving. However, they all share one thing in common: they’re going to miss home.

“I’m really not looking forward to boot camp,” Phelan said. “More than anything, though, I’m going to miss my friends.”

After boot camp, both the Marines and the Army require a minimum of four years of active duty.

“I’m honestly focused on what comes after my time in active duty,” Sutherland said. “I’ll get a free education, which was enough to help in my decision to serve.”

The time away will be a significant adjustment right out of high school, according to Speight.

“I’m looking forward to getting to travel, but it will also be a lot of time really far away from home,” Speight said. “I feel ready ILLUSTRATION | DELANEY JOHNSON

profiles

olivia williams

19

AU REVOIR, AMERICA KATE MOORES

W

STAFF WRITER

hether alumni stay close to home or attend a school outof-state, college can feel like a completely new world. However, senior Olivia Williams in particular is going far, far away: she will be going to school in a different country.

“In the fall, I will be attending Strasbourg University in France,” Williams said with a smile.

Between being fluent in French from her elementary school, Academie Lafayette, and the lower tuition rates, she said it was an easy choice in spite of the distance.

“Public universities in France are only about $3,000 a year for students from different countries,” Williams said. “I’ll get to have a really different college

experience for cheaper than it is in America.”

In addition to affordability, Williams said she is looking forward to exploring France and beyond.

“I’m so excited to be able to travel throughout Europe because of how easy it is to go from country to country,” Williams said.

To fully take advantage of the culture in Europe, Williams decided to major in art history and archeology.

“I like art and history, and Europe is filled with amazing museums, so I think that I will enjoy it," WIlliams said.

The distance from home is the best and worst part of going to Strasbourg University, according to Williams.

"Everyday things like walking my dog won't happen anymore, and I'm going to miss that a lot," Williams said.

PHOTO | A’MYRAH CHEADLE

benjamin and max

FAMILIAR FACES

me around to do my best which I appreciate most times.”

STAFF WRITER Teaching at Miege all four years of their sons’ high-school careers, Mr. enior Benjamin Eshelbrenner, Eshelbrenner and Mrs. Wingate shared walks the long hallways of the barren school in the early morning a great amount of time with their children. as he stops and sees a familiar face “With all of this time spent in close waiting for him in the classroom — his proximity to him, there are definitely father. some things that are bad about having Having a parent work at the same a parent at school,” Eshelbrenner said. school as a child is not common; “He sometimes tells the class stories however, when this does occur, it gives about my personal life and picks on me, the student a variety of negative and so that can be embarrassing.” positive effects.

“She can be really hard sometimes, “I love having my dad here at Miege, but I know it is for the best,” Wingate because whenever I need help with a certain subject, I can just ask him who to said.

Despite that, the boys firmly said that talk to and go get help,” Eshelbrenner they prefer having their parent at school said. with them because the advantages Senior Max Wingate has also had a heavily outweigh the disadvantages. similar experience, because his mother, “Having him here is great," Hillary Wingate, is an English teacher at Eshelbrenner said. "My friends love him the school. because he always keeps snacks in his “I like having her close to me room.” especially at school because I can “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” just ask her questions whenever I Wingate said. want.” Wingate said. “She also pushes

JULIAN GALLEGOS

S

PHOTO | A’MYRAH CHEADLE

20

survey

NOW

82% OF SENIORS

G N I R I H

senior SURVEY

HAVE HAD A JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL

35% OF SENIORS

70%

OF SENIORS HAVE NOT READ A SUMMER READING BOOK

HAVE CRASHED THEIR CARS

71% OF SENIORS HAVE

STAYED UP PAST 3 A.M. DOING SCHOOL WORK

AM PM

37%

1-4

WHICH YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL WAS THE HARDEST? FR. 13% SO. 9% JR. SR.

60% 18%

88% OF SENIORS HAVE

ENJOYED HIGH SCHOOL

survey “ It’s important [for

21

Go on Kairos

underclassmen to go to dances] because it is a

great way to get closer

Attend a sporting or club event

to others. ”

SENIOR WILLIAM HERRICK

Get to know a teacher

“ [Kairos] brings you closer to

Attend every school dance

friends or friends that you

didn’t have before and you

really get to know people and

Go on a spring break mission trip

understand why they are the

“

way they are.

Learn all of your classmates’ names

SENIOR EMORY ETZENHOUSER

BUCKET LIST

HOW MANY DENTENTIONS HAVE SENIORS SERVED?

49% 0

52% OF SENIORS

HAVE HAD A BROKEN CHROMEBOOK

10+

4%

5-9

10%

HOW OFTEN DO SENIORS DRINK CAFFEINE IN A MONTH?

31%

17%

9%

0

1-5

6-10

15%

11-19

28%

20+

DESIGN | DELANEY JOHNSON AND MARY-KATHRYN WERT

22

timeline

four-year flashback 2018

Named after a photography app, the VSCO trend was a social media-influenced lifestyle.

Scrunchies, Hydro Flasks and Crocs are just a few items that fell under the stereotype of a VSCO girl.

In 2019, “Avengers: Endgame” became the biggest box office hit with a $2.797 billion haul. The movie was the climax of the Marvel movies up to that point.

VSCO TREND

“AVENGERS: ENDGAME”

2019

TIKTOK

WORLD RECORD EGG

TikTok combined with Muscial.ly to become available worldwide.

TikTok’s popularity started to skyrocket.

On January 4, 2019, the @world_record_egg account was created, and posted an egg. It beat the former world record held by Kylie Jenner (18 million likes).

FRESHMAN HITS

*according to a survey of 75 seniors

o r th e C h pf

R

asc latt al F

Mi

ley Cyru

s

”

N as X

s

ad

L il

an d U “St

in the U ty

“Pa r

is a High

“Lif e

own Ro dT

“Ol

SENIOR PICK #3 pions” am

SENIOR PICK #2 ” SA

SENIOR PICK #1 y” wa

TOP SONG RELEASED

d Rig ht Said Fre

timeline

23

A LOOK BACK AT MEMORABLE TRENDS AND MOMENTS Disney released an app similar to Netflix where everything Disney would be available for those who subscribe to the service.

Due to the rapidly spreading virus, schools across the nation go online in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

DISNEY+ RELEASES

SCHOOL GOES ONLINE

2020 CHIEFS WIN SB LIV

AREA 51 RAID Storm Area 51 was an American Facebook event and meme in which thousands of people would show up at Area 51 to uncover the mysteries of aliens.

Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20, their first Super Bowl win and appearance in 50 years.

SOPHOMORE HITS

ILLUSTRATIONS | MARIA NGUYEN AND KELLAN O’CONNELL

“I W

Ba ckSt et Bo re

“E

t ri c L o v lec

ys

o e Drag

ns

ag in

”

d

“Bl

t it That an

e”

SENIOR PICK #3

y” Wa

SENIOR PICK #2

o f t he W orld

Weekn

op

Im

T

he

s” ht

ing Lig ind

SENIOR PICK #1 “On T

TOP SONG RELEASED

B o r ns

24

timeline

The hit video game “Among Us” went viral in fall of 2020 when it was discovered by popular Twitch and YouTube

In March 2021, the Suez Canal was blocked for six days after the grounding of Ever Given, a 20,000-container ship.

“AMONG US”

SUEZ CANAL

2021

TOKYO OLYMPICS

BIDEN ELECTED

Tokyo 2020’s 339 events in 33 sports was the most in Olympic history, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Joe Biden was elected as the 46th President of the United States. He was sworn into office on Jan 20, 2021.

JUNIOR HITS O.K “A. .”

Avicii

dri Eagl an

“

o

A

Rodrig

e

”

i Ol

via

“Eye

e Night Th

“D

er ’s Lic riv

SENIOR PICK #3 of the Ti

r” ge

SENIOR PICK #2

s”

SENIOR PICK #1

se en

TOP SONG RELEASED

Sur vor vi

timeline

Released Dec. 17, 2021, it became the No. 6 film ever globally, passing “Jurassic World” ($1.67 billon) and “The Lion King” ($1.662 billion).

“SPIDERMAN: NO WAY HOME”

25

KU Men’s basketball won their first national championship since 2008. The Jayhawks defeated UNC 72-69.

KU WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

2022

“SQUID GAME”

WORDLE Gaining popularity in 2022, Wordle presented puzzlers with a daily challenge and was developed by Josh Wardle.

Released Sep 17, 2021, “Squid Game” pulled in a staggering 1.65 billion hours of viewing in 28 days following its premiere, according to Netflix.

SENIOR HITS He a rt

ew is

“Rive

“G

Ju ice Wrld

s”

nL

n rs a d Ro

ad

“

ua rad ti o

eH

a re & Ry

SENIOR PICK #3

Th

l ck Ma

em o

Old Da

SENIOR PICK #2 n”

e”

Adele

od

ys”

sy On M Ea

SENIOR PICK #1 “Go

TOP SONG RELEASED

ea d and the

26

perspectives

WINNING STRUT

STAG PERSPECTIVES

Showing off their CYO girls basketball championship trophy, seniors Isabella Barraza, team MVP Olivia Griggs, Meredith Ford and Ava Werner do a victory lap around the gym. The team beat St. James Academy on Feb. 26 in the championship game. “The season was a great bonding experience, especially since it was during senior year,” Griggs said. | A’MYRAH CHEADLE

SERVING OTHERS Organizing clothes, freshmen Yuejiao Liu and Breanna Quigley volunteer with the Haggerty faith family at TurnStyles thrift store on March 28. Each faith family participated in community service at various sites. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

STANDING OUT Walking the runway, senior Eleanor Werner models her college shirt at the senior fashion show on April 10. The Mothers’ Club put on the event at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center. | ALENA GILLESPIE

perspectives

27

NOTHING BUT SPONGE Drenched in water, senior Johny Warren holds a sponge over his head at herd competition finals on April 22. Warren finished in a three-way tie for second with Rost and Bohaty. | DELANEY JOHNSON

STANDING OVATION After the Bohaty herd was announced the winner of the Ursuline Cup at the assembly on April 28, herd executive Lizzie Weixeldorfer presented the trophy to the herd. Bohaty won first place with a half a point lead over Martina. Following the announcement, Mike Bohaty, whom the herd is named after, spoke to students and took pictures with his herd. | NATALIE MARTINEZ

ANTLERS ON Leading the team as the members prepare for their next match, senior Nick Randant steers the robot transportation cart. The team competed in two regional competitions during March and won awards for their professionalism during the competition. “Seeing the result of our eight weeks of preparation during each match was exciting for me,” Randant said. | RYDER CAHILL

28

cmt seniors

DOOR ALWAYS OPEN As students walk into CMT, the sign on the door welcomes them in to join the community inside. CMT is open all day, every day, unless CMT Director Bill Creach is off-campus. “We’re open for business,” Creach said. “Sometimes business is serious, sometimes business is silly, but I just want to be available for the kids however I can.” | AVA BELCHEZ

campus ministry, a student destination

SENIORS EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR PLACE TO ESCAPE AVA BELCHEZ COPY WRITER

W

alking into the Campus Ministry Team office, senior Mikey Hanson says “hello” to CMT director Bill Creach and asks assistant Nancy Miller for the question of the day, with the reward of Smarties as an incentive.

Hanson, like several seniors, finds himself in CMT at least every other day, as a TA or just to say hi to whoever is there. CMT is almost always occupied by students, and according to Creach, seniors make up the majority of students in CMT, other than lunch.

The most busy time of the day in CMT is lunch, as every chair at the table in the room is filled. Creach is typically seen sitting at the table with the students joining in the conversations. For many people, such as senior Lola Rios, CMT is a place they find themselves in almost every day of the week during lunch — just one of the examples of community found there.

“Everyone’s always really friendly, open

to talking to new people and welcoming,” Rios said. “You always know it’s a place you can go to if you need anything.”

Although lunches in CMT are busy, there are still many students who do not take advantage of its benefits, something Rios advises to do.

“If you’re wanting to check it out, just go one day and see, because before this year I didn’t really know much about it either, but then it turned out to be a good thing to go to,” Rios said.

Like Rios, senior Lizzy Perez found herself using CMT her senior year, and now is in there at least once or twice every day.

“I started this year when I started to TA for [Creach] first semester,” Perez said. “But I wish I had known about it since freshman year, because I would have probably been in there the majority of the time during my four years.”

According to Perez, she is drawn to CMT because of its calm and collected atmosphere that gets her through the school day.

“It’s just a place to escape if I’m stressed

or something and I just need a second to escape reality and take a second to regather myself,” Perez said. “CMT is the place to do [that]” Whether it’s grabbing a bottle of water, answering the question of the day or taking a moment to rest, Perez encourages students to visit CMT if they haven’t already.

“It’s definitely not everyone’s scene, not everybody likes it in there,” Perez said, “But definitely check it out because for the people that are like me it can really be a helpful place.”

Another aspect that Perez said is impactful is the example Creach sets.

According to Perez, the way he puts everyone before him is inspiring. Perez is one of Creach’s several TAs, who assist him in making the birthday signs for lockers, delivering passes, setting up for Mass and other odd jobs that Creach needs help with.

Hanson is one such TA, and has been for all of senior year. He said he has been using CMT throughout all of his time in

cmt seniors high school, stopping in to take a break and greet Creach, who is a family friend of his.

Hanson said his favorite part about CMT is seeing all the people who come in to say hi and talking to everyone at lunch or during his TA period.

“CMT is just a place where you can let loose and take a break for the day if you’re really stressed,” Hanson said. “You can go into CMT and Mr. Creach will be there to help you and probably the TAs also.”

In the school, CMT has revealed that faith and community are connected, which is seen in the small, brightly lit room labeled Campus Ministry.

“CMT has helped me see faith in a different way because I used to think that the only way to be faithful was by going to Mass,” Hanson said. “CMT helped me see [faith] by just being with a community that cares for you and for everyone.”

“I wouldn’t be friends with some of the people I’m friends with now if I didn’t have CMT.” SENIOR WILLIAM WATSON

“I always feel welcomed there, and I love seeing new faces when I stop by.”

SENIOR ERIN DONEGAN

29

NOTES OF LOVE Hanging above CMT director Bill Creach’s office door, these sticky notes encourage positive thoughts. The notes join other messages of affrimation and positivity on the walls of CMT, placed by both students and Creach. | AVA BELCHEZ

What does CMT mean to you?

“My favorite thing about CMT is the environment and how I can talk to someone at any time of the day if I need to.”

SENIOR CECILIA FISK

“I really like the people I interact with, and definitely, the food was a big help when I was westling.”

SENIOR MASON KUMM

“It gives me a spot to do “CMT is like a second family. schoolwork and get interaction Being able to make connections with other people that I wouldn’t and friendships with people my have in the lunchroom.” last year has been very great.”

SENIOR JENNY VEGA SENIOR JOE HAYES PHOTOS | ISABEL COPELAND

30

athlete standouts

LAST CALL At their official signing day on March 23 seniors (left to right) Mauricio Salas, Emily Morfeld, Adrianna Smith, Annika Smith, Grace Roland and Gabriella Henderson-Artis officially committed to their colleges and signed their papers in their final step to becoming a college athlete. | EMMA LAZARCZYK

signing off

STUDENT-ATHELETES REMAIN TOGETHER THROUGH COLLEGE COLIN BATLINER

ontinuing their softball careers together at Kansas City Kansas Community College, seniors Grace Roland, Adrianna Smith and Annika Smith will extend their time as teammates that has already lasted for six years.

Although Roland did not come to Miege until her junior year, the girls had played together since they were young, starting on a team named “The Classy Cats.”

Their commitment to KCKCC together was mostly incidental, Roland and the twins were not deciding together on a college, but when the twins committed Roland said that she didn’t want to leave them behind, so she committed shortly after them.

“They actually committed first,” Roland said. “Once I heard that they were going to KCK then I was all gung-ho about going there so we can all get together. It wasn’t something we had planned on, but it’s great to continue playing with them.”

“ Reach out to coaches a lot and don’t be shy to talk to them.

“

C

STAFF WRITER

SENIOR GRACE ROLAND The girls were in contact with the coach at KCKCC for a while before attending a camp at the school that they said made them more enthusiastic about

going there.

“I was talking to the coach and then we went to the camp, and she liked how enthusiastic and competitive we were,” Adrianna Smith said. “She invited us to a visit event and offered us and [Annika and I] committed that day.”

More than anything, the girls said finally committing was alleviating because they finally reached what they had been working for, and they could stop worrying about getting themselves in view of colleges.

“I was excited and relaxed, excited that I finally got to my goal,” Annika Smith said. “Relaxed because I wasn’t going to have that pressure anymore that maybe I wasn’t going to make it.”

Among the student-athletes who are continuing to play in college, a

major piece of advice they had for underclassmen was to promote themselves to coaches anywhere and everywhere.

“Reach out to coaches a lot and don’t be shy to talk to them,” Roland said. “Be different, show your personality, reach out the most and try and stand out.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself in a game. When they come to watch, they’re not watching for how well you’re doing; they come to see how well you work as a team and your work ethic.”

by the numbers

16

STUDENT-ATHLETES COMMITTED TO A COLLEGE

9

DIFFERENT SPORTS STUDENTATHLETES WILL BE PLAYING

11 DIFFERENT COLLEGES STUDENT-ATHLETES WILL ATTEND First-Team All-State soccer players, seniors Mauricio Salas and Victor Lopez will be continuing their careers together at Baker University where they will be rooming together in a dorm.

“I hadn’t made any commitment, and it was close between two schools,” Salas said. “When I found out he was going to Baker, I said, ‘Alright, I’ll just go there too,’ and committed pretty soon after.”

State Forward of the Year Lopez said that committing was relieving after being in contact with so many coaches.

“It takes off a lot of stress to finally stop getting yourself out there and communicating with all these different people,” Lopez said. “I was just glad to have somewhere I could keep playing soccer at and not have to worry about where that was going to be.”

Salas said he felt more happiness than relief when making his commitment

because he could continue playing not only by himself, but with Lopez, who he has been playing together since they were 10.

“All my work had paid off, and my decision was made a lot easier because Victor made his choice first, so I convinced myself to go with him and play with him,” Salas said.

Reiterating what the Smiths and Roland said, both soccer players said the most important thing that helped them become a college athlete was getting their highlights out and talking to coaches.

“Talk to coaches, they’re not going to come to talk to you," Salas said. "Videos can also be really good too."

The last set of teammates to continue their careers together are seniors Jaylen Burch and Collin Keeney, who will be playing football together at Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa.

Keeney and Burch, similarly to Salas and Lopez ended up at the same college coincidentally. They wanted to go their own ways, but stayed together to lengthen their careers together that started when they were in middle school.

“Our commitment to Morningside kind of just happened as a coincidence,” Keeney said. “Since we live together we both decided to do our own things, but we ended up going to the same place anyway. It just happened, it wasn’t something that we forced. We both decided that it was our own thing, so it didn’t stop either of us from going there.”

Because they wanted to go off and do their own thing, Keeney and Burch will not be rooming with each other, but will still keep the brotherly bond they formed that started by playing football together.

“Football brought me and Jaylen really close, and even though we didn’t plan it, I’m happy to continue playing with him at Morningside,” Keeney said.

“Not forcing it and us coming together naturally is going to be good for us both.”

Keeney’s advice for football players who are aspiring college-athletes is to stay committed and lift weights.

“The best thing anybody can do is to stay committed to their workouts and their team,” Keeney said. “If you lift really hard it will put you above others more than anything else you can do.”

athlete standouts

'22

commitments

31

Football:

Collin Keeney Morningside University Jaylen Burch Morningside University

Basketball:

Emajin McCallop Alabama A&M University Gabriella Henderson-Artis Washburn University Xavier Hall Truman State University

Soccer:

Emily Morfeld Kansas State University Victor Lopez Baker University Mauricio Salas Baker University

Softball:

Adrianna Smith KCK Community College Annika Smith KCK Community College Grace Roland KCK Community College

Baseball:

Edwin White SE Missouri State University

Track and Field:

Nina Kalmus MidAmerica Nazarene University

Golf:

Ryan Eskew Eastern Florida State College

Rowing:

Ava Werner Kansas State University

Bowling:

Natalie Koehler University of Saint Mary

*Based on survey sent to all seniors