Issuu

The problem with anti-vaccination

Activity bus schedule cutbacks

Tennis: Jeremy ansdell state-bound 14

November 2015 | Volume 31 | Issue 2 Mountlake terrace high school | 21801 44th Ave. W Mountlake Terrace wA 98043

Hawkeye www.thehawkeye.org

What does it mean to be pansexual? One studentâ€™s personal story sheds light on the misunderstood sexual identity. 8

2 | november 2015

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November 2015 | 3 hawkeye Leadership ‘15-’16 Editor-in-Chief Paxtyn Merten

Editorial Board

12 7

Tessa King | Hawkeye

Isaac Otis | Hawkeye

Netania Rivera | Hawkeye

Contents November

2015

Netania Rivera | Hawkeye

Visual Graphics Editor Netania Rivera Photo Editor Jack Fiorillo Design Editor Arsha Kiani jack fiorillo | Hawkeye

jack fiorillo | Hawkeye

7 The dangers of anti-vaccination 8 An inside look at pansexuality 10 Why doesn’t the activity bus run daily?

12 Making the transition to high school 13 The different sides of runner’s high 14 Jeremy Ansdell, Terrace tennis prodigy

Letter from the Editor

A look at HBN’s successful efforts to expand

he Hawk Broadcasting Network (HBN) is not just a platform for the MTHS morning announcements anymore. With recent developments on the show, it is evident that HBN is pushing itself more and more toward being a Paxtyn Merten Editor-in-chief main source of journalistic news for students in the school. It is evident that HBN is in the midst of taking steps to change how the public perceives it. Members have taken initial steps by branching out and covering stories besides the audience-generated announcements. I began to notice this coverage expansion early last year. HBN reported on the dance team going to state and other events

through the year, broadcasting them and putting the videos up on their YouTube channel. This year has seen many features of clubs, including Robotics and Key Club. These give insight on what certain clubs are and what activities they do, providing the more attentive student viewers with information that could help them become more involved in the school or gain a deeper understanding of people who have different passions than themselves. For instance, while I may not be enthusiastic about getting into the world of Robotics, it is interesting to learn about what they do and see it in action. Being exposed to what members of a club do, even for two minutes, could change someone’s entire perspective about what that club is and who the members are. It could even influence students to join. HBN members have also covered hard

Paxtyn Merten, Isaac Otis, Netania Rivera, Luke Thurber, Max Tracy, Sarah Schank, Stephi Smith Editorial News Editor Stephi Smith Sports Editor Irvin Zhang Feature Editor Maxine Taylor Op/Ed Editors Ian Moffet & Sarah Schank Lifestyle Editor Max Tracy Business General Manager Luke Thurber Distribution Manager Joshua Morrison Event Coordinator Hannah Schuster

news such as the investigation of the missing MTHS student, Jose Sanchez Diaz. Not only that, but the reporters covered the event fully and with caution and sensitivity. They interviewed Diaz’s teachers and friends as part of their story. After watching their broadcast I felt like a had a fuller sense of the missing person’s investigation progress as well as what Diaz was like as a student at MTHS. HBN made me into a more informed citizen, thus achieving its purpose as a news outlet. If stories about events and clubs are giving HBN a more newsworthy reputation, then covering stories like Diaz’s turn the public perspective completely around. The range of stories is something that can be seen in a professional news show, which is precisely what HBN must be going for. I cannot wait to see what their broadcasts of today develop into tomorrow. H

Online Online Manager Isaac Otis Multimedia Manager Alex Croce ........................................................ 2015-2016 Hawkeye Staff Annika Prom, AsiaLee Donnelly, Ben Eyman, Bobby Stoyanov, Brianna Houtman, Catherine Allemann, Dani Bilyeu, Danielle Barnette, Dee Strohl, Erica Lampers, Jacob Allard, Joey May, Katrina Pirie, Kira Doan, Kyle Llarenas, Lexi Fletcher, Lilly Stelmack, Luke Smith, Marianne Nacanaynay, Matthew Hipolito, Mikayla Smith, Milkias Yonatan, Patsha Ha, Praditha Halstad, Ryan Dunne, Samantha Svikel, Selena Williams, Shiraz Kondaiya, Sierra Clark, Sunshine Haglund, Tessa King, Thaddeus Merten and Vivian Nowka-Keane. Name in bold indicates the staff member of the month as selected by the Editorial Board. ........................................................ Adviser Vince DeMiero FANs Coordinators Sandra Merten & Cathy Fiorillo Printing Pacific Publishing Member MTHS ASB, JEA/WJEA, NSPA, Student Press Law Center, Tao of Journalism

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Mission

Mission Statement The Hawkeye’s mission is to provide the MTHS community with quality, thought-provoking student produced publications. In policy and in practice since 1960, the Hawkeye is a designated open forum publication.

Policies

The Hawkeye has established several open public forums for the exchange of information, opinions and artistic expression dedicated to those in the MTHS community. Since 1960, we have faithfully served our audience and community as an open, public forum where student editors make all decisions. Editorials The editorial section of the Hawkeye serves as a forum for well-written, thoughtful, longer forms of expression. Signed editorials represent the opinions of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Hawkeye Editorial Board. Views printed herein are meant to be opinionated and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Hawkeye staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board. The Hawkeye will print submitted guest editorials as space allows and requests that all contributors include their name, signature and position relative to the editorial. The Hawkeye will edit all submissions for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any submission. Letters to the Editor Readers are encouraged to voice their opinions in the Opinion section, a public forum for the expression of varying viewpoints on relevant topics. The Hawkeye will print as many letters as space allows. Letters must include the author’s name, signature and class or position relative to the letter. Typed or legible, hand written letters are acceptable, but should not exceed 200 words. The Hawkeye will edit all letters for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any letter. Editorial Cartoons Submissions represent the view of the artist. Editorial cartoons accompanying editorials and editorial columns represent the view of the author. Cartoons are selected based on appropriateness and clarity of message. Advertising The Hawkeye will not accept any advertising that the Editorial Board deems to be: factually inaccurate; designed to mislead, deceive or defraud; containing malicious, vindictive or unsubstantiated attacks; offering goods and/or services illegal for teens to possess, buy or use; libelous; obscene; creating imminent danger or disruption to school. The Hawkeye reserves the right to refuse any advertising, solicited or unsolicited. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of the Hawkeye staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board. Revised 9/2013

reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

4 | November 2015

Hawkeye

the LGBT community should not have to ask for Respect O

n June 9, 2015 Caitlyn Jenner officially transitioned to being a woman from her previous do. identity, Bruce According to the Centers for Jenner. Disease Control, a study of people in This was a significant grades 7 to 12 found that lesbian, gay event for the LGBT comand bisexual minors were twice as likely munity because it provided to attempt suicide in contrast to their heteroSarah Schank Op/Ed Co-Editor a substantial amount of sexual peers. recognition for LGBT people For example, Leelah Alcorn, a 17-year-old from the general public. transgender female, committed suicide on Dec. 28, And when speaking at a Human Rights Campaign 2014 because her parents forced her to attend converpress conference on February 14, 2014, Ellen Page sion therapy, which is therapy typically used to attempt said, “I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by to convert LGBT members into heterosexuals or their omission,” while coming out as a lesbian, according to binary gender. CNN. Following this tragic incident was a petition created Between tweets of disapproval from other celebrities on the White House website called “Leelah’s Law,” towards Page, and hashtags floating around with a title which had originally started on change.org. This petiof “pray for Bruce,” it’s evident that America still has a tion was made to ban conversion therapy in the United ways to go until it reaches the point of total equality States. for members of the LGBT community. In April, the petition had 120,915 signatures, which It’s a day to celebrate when a celebrity comes out as surpassed the original required amount of 120,000 LGBT, but many citizens who are part of the LGBT signatures, according to a tweet made by the White community carry the same feelHouse. ing of fright as Page said she did On April 8, President “This “land of the free and during the press conference, as Barack Obama voiced his home of the brave” is quickly stated by CNN. approval for the activation of turning into the land of the People who oppose marLeelah’s Law, according to the oppressed and the home of riage equality or claim Washington Post. the frightened. that same-sex relaSince then, conversion tionships are a sin therapy has been banned as do not undera whole. And even though stand the grief their words there have been many attempts to ban discrimination can cause individuals, or towards the LGBT community, oppression still breaks to what extent that through the barrier. grief can comYes, the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court case, pel somewhich guaranteed gay couples’ right to get married, was one to decided on June 26. Even so, LGBT members are still subject to hatred and discrimination. As an American, it disappoints me that our country isn’t living by the famous quote “all men are created equal,” initially published in the Declaration of Independence in 1776. And as an LGBT member myself, it saddens me to know that so many lives have been taken by the hate that oppression creates.

According to the Pew Research Center, 22 countries out of all the countries in the world approve of marriage equality, yet American citizens still haven’t figured out what being totally equal truly means. This “land of the free and home of the brave” is quickly turning into the land of the oppressed and the home of the frightened. According to the Center for American Progress, gay men earn 10 to 32 percent less than heterosexuals. It’s startling to see such a tremendous difference, and this inadequate wage gap needs to be put to an end. Not to mention transgender people typically earn about $10,000 less than heterosexual people a year, according to the same source. So, it’s great that there’s a major amount of recognition for Caitlyn Jenner and other LGBT celebrities like Laverne Cox, Ellen Degeneres and Neil Patrick Harris, but it’s time to start focusing on the people who we pass by on the streets every day. It’s time for recognition of the oppressed and it’s time for equality to prevail. H

Isaac Otis | Hawkeye

Hawkeye

November 2015 | 5

Be nice.

Leave a legacy

Schwab’s social media guidelines

ecently, we have been dealing with a posting a rumor or gossip or just plain hurtnumber of instances of students using ful information about someone else? social media platforms to engage in some H – Is it helpful? Again, posting a mean really negative comment about someone or posting photo behavior directed of someone taken without their knowledge at other students. is really not helpful. In fact, it is likely doing Sadly this is more harm than being helpful to anyone. nothing new, but I – Is it inspiring? There is so much on it sure seems like social media that can lift others up and it is time for a provide inspiration. There are all sorts of reminder about examples that we can look to where people Greg Schwab Principal how we treat one use these platforms to share how amazing another not only we all are and how special we all are. Why in person, but when online. not post something that lifts someone up I’ve never understood this kind rather than tearing that “It seems like we of behavior, maybe because I’m person down. are experiencing older and while I use social media N – Is it necessary? an increase in (yes, I have a Facebook and an Sharing a mocking social the number of Instagram), I don’t use it as the media comment about instances where frequent form of communication someone’s clothing choice social media is that others use it for. Mostly, it or some embarrassing thing being used by is a way for my old high school, that happened to him or students to target college and other random friends her is simply not necesand harass other students.” and I to stay connected and share sary unless your point is to silly things that we come across cause a negative reaction. Is on the internet. it really necessary to post But as I mentioned above, it seems like we a comment that is hurtful or mean? No. So are experiencing an increase in the number don’t. of instances where social media is being K – Is it kind? Again, if it is not someused by students to target and harass other thing kind or nice, don’t do it. students. Think before you post something on social I shared a poster with staff at the beginmedia. And please don’t use social media ning of the year which I think is a really to attack or hurt someone else. Words on good reminder about how to use social a screen can be powerful—they have the media responsibly. Using the word THINK power to hurt someone or they have the as an acronym, the message is to give some power to lift someone up. Choose the latthought to what you put on social media. ter. H Note: The Hawkeye provides the MTHS Administration space T – Is it true? Is what you are about to each issue in the Op/Ed section as part of our mission as a post online truthful information? Are you designated open public forum.

Find ways to impact the Terrace community I

t’s almost the end of the first quarter and Hold that thought for a moment. seniors are starting their “well that’s the What if it’s something I still remember at last time I ever do that” statements. my 40 year reunion? Your thirteen What’s stopping you from being the one years of public edu- who brings in 500 tooth brushes or 500 cans cation are almost of food? over. What’s stopping you from helping a classYou have come mate who’s struggling to graduate or an full circle, from underclassman thinking about dropping out being made to take of school all together? Kim Stewart athletic director/activities a nap in kindergarWhy not leave a “Maslow’s Legacy”? coordinator ten to [trying] to I know, here he is talking about some stay awake in 5th dude named Maslow again. For 20 years it period. For those who have has been the mantra or ralplayed in your last athletic lying cry for the MTHS “If you make a competition or are about to ASB. “Make it to the top difference to one act in your last play, or put of Maslow’s Triangle.” Do or 100 people on your last event for other things for others within the Terrace students, I am sure they are out expecting any form of community asking themselves ‘where did reward. without thinking, the time go?’ If you make a difference to ‘what’s in it for me?’ you will leave Well it’s never too late to one or 100 or 1000 people in a legacy.” leave a legacy with your footthe Terrace community withprints all over it. out thinking ‘what’s in it for You still have plenty of me?’ you will leave a legacy. time to get involved in something that helps a This is the name of a new award to be given fellow student, staff member, or community out at the Moving Up Assembly voted on by member in need. both the staff and seniors at MTHS. We have numerous staff members and I firmly believe it’s something that a senior coaches and advisors who have their groups will use as a stepping stone in their life. involved in everything from food drives to A stepping stone where they continue to toiletry drives to blood drives to… you get help others and have no problem remembermy point. ing it at their 40th reunion because they are Many of you volunteer your time in the still living it. H community in too many ways to count. NOTE: Hawkeye provides the MTHS Athletics and Activities office For many of you, these types of things space each issue in the Op/Ed section as part of our mission as were not on your list of the most memorable a designated open public forum. things you plan on talking about at your 10 year reunion.

The busiest time of the year

he month of October has been a hectic one. I’ll start with a bunch of “thank you’s” to the people who dedicated and sacrificed their time in order to make sure that Homecoming, the chaotic event that it is, was successful. Thank you to the people who stayed after school for hours on end in order to paint posters and make sure that your hallway ended up looking beautiful. Thank you to the people that Irvin Zhang aren’t in ASB who still chose to ASB Public Relations Officer come and help out. Thank you to the people who came in before the events and helped to set them up.

and the students of the present can come together and celebrate the community that is Mountlake Terrace. October was also hectic for a different reason. On a serious note, Mountlake Terrace High School, as many people know, suffered a huge loss last month. We are a community. As Principal Greg Schwab said, every single individual in this community offers something and that Thank you to the people who stayed after each event and is what makes Mountlake Terrace special. cleaned up and made sure the place looked spotless. Our hearts and our prayers will continually go out to the Lastly, thank you to the adults who cared so much about the Tan family and Kendra will forever live in our memory. kids and the tradition that is Homecoming that they would Rest in peace, Kandra. H come in and give up their time on the weekend in order to help us make it happen. Note: The Hawkeye provides the MTHS Associated Student Body space each issue in the Homecoming has been a tradition held at this school for Op/Ed section as part of our mission as a designated open public forum. more than 50 years. It is a time when the students of the past “We want to be given feedback by you, the student body... We want you to approach us and tell us what was good and what was bad about Homecoming, the assemblies and anything else that we have planned.”

6 | November 2015

Hawkeye

The importance of your voice

Public schools should encourage students to speak out about problems and controversial topics rather than attempt to avoid conflict

Netania River | Hawkeye

n the year 507 B.C.E., the Athenians of voice at the full extent that a democratic society ancient Greece introduced political reforms should be doing so, many public schools intercalled demokratia, or “rule by the people.” fere with free speech and public debate. Fast forward to today in the United States. Take Rutgers University for example, recently As being one of on their website, which is maintained by the the world’s largest Bias Prevention and Education committee, democracies, we wrote, “[there] is no such thing as ‘free speech’” are all about the and to “think before you speak.” exchange of different This dilutes the concept of democracy, when ideas in this country. publicly funded institutions discourage free Ian Moffet This is something speech and openly sharing other opinions. Op/Ed Co-Editor any democracy No one should be afraid to say what they should stand for believe needs to be said. This goes for students robust debate. The notion spreads everywhere especially, whether in high school or college. in society, including our public schools. This idea of robust debate and democracy Nowadays, however, it seems there is a manis not new, but for some reason it sometimes tra to keep your mouth shut if it means avoidseems to be a radical proposition to speak one’s ing conflict, especially in our public schools. mind. Students feel as though A society cannot progtheir voice doesn’t matter ress if different views are “This idea of robust debate on issues regarding things ostracized, marginalized and democracy is not new as specific as school issues and silenced. Your voice but for some reason it sometimes seems to be a or even as broad as probmatters no matter where radical proposition to speak lems in society. you are - and that goes one’s mind.” This is a dangerous for school, too. notion. Controversial issues A notion of silence in a day and age where are everywhere, and the viewpoints range from young student voices are most needed, for in staunch conservatism to radical liberalism and fact we are the future of this country. everywhere in between. And no matter how Should we not speak out? much one vehemently disagrees with another, Our schools should be the breeding ground nobody’s view can be truly valued as more for fiery and controversial discord, not the important as the other. opposite. Whether it is from an administrator, the In fact, it should be a main priority for government or even from your cohorts, silence any school to be inclusive and accept differis never the answer; discussing differences in ing opinions; whether conservative or liberal, opinion is always better and more effective. Republican or Democrat, religious or atheist Many of the controversial issues we face today - it doesn’t matter. Just because someone may cannot be swept under the rug and everyone have a radical or minority opinion we should needs to be a part of the discussion at hand. not discourage them to voice it. Many of this may seem obvious, but when one At MTHS, for example, we have open looks deeper into this issue, there is a realizaAssociated Student Body (ASB) meetings tion that many voices are being undermined, to the general student populace to voice our and that undermining happens to many stuconcerns in our student government or school dents. policies. To add on, the Hawkeye serves as an Don’t capitulate to the growing stigma that open public forum for students to write letters only certain voices count in our democracy, for to the editor and guest editorials to share their that defeats the essential purpose of democracy. opinions. Speak your mind before you can’t anymore. H Both of these outlets were used very effectively last year as students voiced their concern for the spirit week theme, “battle of the sexes,” which was ultimately changed. Not only are students afraid to speak their

Hawkeye

November 2015 | 7

Why the anti-vaccination movement is more dangerous than you think

s flu season begins and as parents start to go out to get themselves and their children protected against the virulent diseases, it is worth talking about the rise of the anti-vaccination movement and its implications on our lives here at MTHS. Here in Washington state, legislation allows for philosophical exemption from required vaccinations in school districts. This means that parents can decline to vaccinate their child that would Joey May Hawkeye Staff otherwise be required just because of their beliefs, not based on any doctor’s note or allergy that the child may have to the vaccine. This is why the anti-vaccination movement can be so dangerous to us at MTHS and other schools across Washington. Anti-vaccination has caused massive damage to the integrity of the general immunity of children all across the country, using largely pseudoscientific or fraudulent research as evidence to justify not vaccinating their children. It blindly follows the false studies and sensationalist conjecture that is easily believable for the uninformed and unaware American. The anti-vaccination movement began in 1998, when a British doctor named Andrew Wakefield published a study supposedly linking vaccinations to autism in 12 children. The British Medical Journal later found the case to be fraudulent, and Wakefield’s medical license has since been revoked. The impact that the study has had in spreading the antivaccination movement cannot be understated, especially in the United Kingdom. In the years following this study, vaccination rates went down drastically in Great Britain, dropping from 92 percent in 1995-1996 to just 80 percent for measles, mumps and rubella in 2003. In that year, cases of measles rose to just under 200, a huge jump from 2001 when there were nearly zero, according to Public Health England and the United Kingdom’s Health Protection Agency’s data.

This rise in measles cases continued and peaked in the middle of 2012 with 2,030 confirmed patients, according to the same Public Health England data. The epidemic has since been curbed, but the blame for it rests solely on false information perpetuated by Wakefield and his followers. In the United States, the impact of Wakefield’s study was much more indirect and also delayed. The real catalyst of the movement, at least in the United States, was the actress Jenny McCarthy. McCarthy’s son, Evan, was diagnosed with autism in 2007. She then publicly claimed that her son’s diagnosis was due to the mumps, measles, rubella (MMR) vaccine. This claim was never confirmed by a doctor or proved by any evidence. McCarthy went to Oprah, Larry King, CNN and People magazine talking about her son and his diagnosis, along with her mistaken claim. From there her anti-vaccination mantra only spread more to the American public. The protective nature of parents across the nation made it easy for many families to turn away from vaccinations for their e ey wk children, despite the lack a |H er of scientific evidence Riv a i n or proof that ta Ne would warn loudly against this practice. In 2008, one year after McCarthy’s crusade began, it was reported by the CDC that 66 percent of measles patients in the United States opted out of the MMR vaccine due to personal philosophical beliefs. Since then, measles outbreaks have been more consistent. Most recently there was a measles outbreak in Los Angeles in which 87 measles cases were traced back to Disneyland. It is important to note that children are the most at risk of death via measles, but they are the ones not being vaccinated thanks to the disillusioned anti-vaccination movement. It is clear in the Disneyland case that places with lots of children are most at risk of an outbreak, which can extend to other

places of recreation and schools. Schools without proper school-wide vaccinations are at extreme risk of an outbreak. The damage that the anti-vaccination movement has done to schools, especially in states without strong vaccination requirements,

is frightening. The fact that any parent can place their unvaccinated child in a public school is simply asking for an outbreak, especially as class and school sizes grow, causing students to be in closer and closer contact with each other. The risk of contracting a disease as harmless as a cold or as deadly as measles grows. In the Edmonds School District, vaccination exemption rates are all below 6 percent, with Edmonds Woodway at 5.6 percent, Lynnwood and Meadowdale both at 4.6 percent, and Mountlake Terrace at 3.4 percent, according to the Washington Department of Health’s data compiled by the Seattle Times. That means we have the lowest percentage of students here at Terrace exempting from vaccination, but that does not mean we are far from danger. One student with a contagious disease like measles can spread to many more, creating a dangerous outbreak. As a community, we have to recognize the facts. We, as informed Americans, cannot let conjecture, sensationalism, pseudoscience and our celebrity culture dissuade us from making the smart choice. Vaccinations are at the pinnacle of medical advances over the last few centuries and we cannot let fear-based reasoning and the mob mentality of the antivaccination movement lessen the significance of our greatest defender against mankind’s greatest enemy: disease. H

Hawkeye staff editorial

Activity bus cutbacks

he MTHS activity bus, only scheduled for two out of the five days of the week, is an inconvenience to say the least. A number of students rely on this bus for a ride home and without it, they either have to somehow find a ride home or walk. Not every student has a parent available after school for a ride home or friends who can give them rides. Many students have to walk home in unfamiliar neighborhoods or over bridges, putting themselves in possibly dangerous situations. Not every student lives in walking range either, some living up to two hours away by foot. No student should have to walk that far and for that long simply

because the district does not properly provide transportation home after school sponsored extracurricular activities. Every student should be provided with a safe way to and from school, not only on Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. One would think that with the amount of violent crimes happening nearby, the district would not want their students walking home, especially with the days getting shorter and the sun setting sooner each night. The activity bus should be provided every day for students involved in sports or other after school clubs, not just some days. The district should be pursuing further solutions for this problem. H

Focus on freshmen

reshmen failure and drop-out rates have been reduced significantly due to a “push” from staff and the administration team. Not only are freshmen given upperclassmen mentors or “Link Leaders,” but a freshman counselor, Evan Hatch, and a freshman administrator, Peter Schurke, have been implemented as well in order to help incoming ninth graders find success. This “push” has proven to be helpful and because of it, freshmen have been more accountable and fewer are failing classes and missing

school. Having this kind of nudge in the right direction keeps freshmen performing at the best of their ability. Also, having administration and staff specifically targeting freshmen provides them with resources if they’re in need of help or when they have questions regarding their academics or how to get involved around the school. We applaud this effort to to focus on freshmen so that they may set future examples and, as they progress through high school, be better equipped to achieve academically. H

The staff editorial represents the views of the Hawkeye Editorial Board

8 | november 2015

Sage Cameron

Grade: 12 Identity: Pansexual Self-Defintion: “Pansexuality means [that] when it comes to romantic relations, gender is not a deciding factor. It’s more based on the person.” Advice: “Wait for the perfect time. Don’t push yourself out until you’re ready. It’s not as bad as you think it will be. The earlier you do it, the more rewarding it will be.”

Hawkeye

november 2015 | 9

ansexualit y

Not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity. By Irvin Zhang Sports Editor

On August 30, senior Sage Cameron returned from an LGBT camp. After seven years of attending, he knew it was time. Cameron said that he had suspicions about his true sexuality for quite a while, but it never really felt right to him to come out; the opportunity was never there and finally here it was. On that day, Cameron “came out” and shared with the world that he identifies as pansexual. “Pansexuality means [that] when it comes to romantic relations, gender is not a deciding factor,” Cameron said. “It’s more based on the person.” Pansexuality is an identity that has only recently received any recognition. The media only began recognizing the idea of pansexuality in 2007, according to a Google Trends chart. Since then, awareness has been gaining traction, but still at a slow pace. The dictionary definition for pansexual, sometimes referred to as omnisexual, is cited as, “a person who is sexually and/or romantically attracted toward persons of any gender identity and/or biological sex.” Junior Nicole Gallagher, co-president of the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), defined pansexuality similarly. “[Being] pansexual means that you’re attracted to anyone regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. It doesn’t matter whether they’re a girl, a boy or don’t identify as a gender, you can still be attracted to them,” Gallagher said. According to Cameron, the common misconception in society has been that pansexuality and bisexuality are the same thing. Contrary to that, there is a distinct and key difference that separates the two. “Bisexuality means you would only date two identities: male and female. Pansexuality means everything is included. Bisexuality means two identities while Pansexuality means all identities,” Cameron said. This is also indicated in their titles, with the latin roots; “bi” meaning two and “pan” translating to “all.” Although society has become more and more progressive towards the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer, Intersex, Asexual,

or the LGBTQIA (as it’s typically abbreviated as) community, there is still a lot of discrimination toward the community. Coming out, especially as a youth, can be no easy task. According to the Human Rights Campaign, a civil rights organization working to achieve equal rights for the LGBTQIA community, LGBT youth are two times as likely to be assaulted at school. The same source also reports that 92 percent of LGBT members hear negative messages about their orientation. “I’ve been thinking about it for three years now. I never really summoned up the courage [to come out] until now because it’s now [my senior] year. I felt like I had nothing to lose,” Cameron said. “It’s way easier to live with myself now. I feel real and authentic. I don’t feel like I’m constantly trying to fit in. I feel like I am who I am now.” Cameron said that, despite the huge positive response that came following his coming out, there was also a negative response that followed. “I was going to move in with my dad after I came out but [I decided against it] because he wasn’t being very accepting,” Cameron said. “He said that all teens go through a phase and that this was just mine. He was trying to put me in a box that I wasn’t a part of and it doesn’t feel good to get a label that you don’t identify with and that you don’t want. Living in that situation was very hard. It brought me down. I went into depression after this for a little bit.” Adding to that, Cameron said that there have been people who assume that he has his own agenda for coming out, whether it’s for attention or “to stand out,” but Cameron said that things are starting to look up. “Awareness just has to be raised,” Cameron said. “We’re stepping into an era where we will be aware of these things because there are college classes like the sociology of gender.” In the Mountlake Terrace community, work is being done and progress is being made in attempt to raise awareness of the LGBTQIA community. “It just gets down to basic respect, regardless of their lifestyle or sexuality. We are all people,” Principal Greg Schwab said. “We have to start with the premise that we are all human beings and deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. Everybody brings

something to this life experience and to this school community that makes it a richer place.” Schwab added, “I don’t think we should ever be in a position to say that one person’s lifestyle choice or sexuality choice, any of those things, are any of our business. We need to be in the business of respecting and supporting each other.” Schwab brought the discrimination toward the LGBTQIA community back to the fundamental value of respect. “The way we encourage respectful behavior is by addressing issues head on,” Schwab said. “We work with those individuals to address the issue. We spend a lot of time teaching. That’s what the whole purpose of it is. It isn’t about busting someone or getting them in trouble. It’s to help educate them that what they’re doing doesn’t fit with the values of our school community.” At MTHS, the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club makes it their goal to raise awareness and help spread the truth of the LGBTQIA community. “Mostly, [GSA is] all about school unity,” junior and co-president of GSA Nicole Gallagher said. “We want people to feel like this is a safe place so that if they come out at school, they don’t feel like they’re going to be bullied or made fun of. We want people to feel included and we want people to feel comfortable. We are also trying to educate the rest of the school, the non-LGBT, community on what exactly the different labels are so that they don’t use them incorrectly.” Coming out can be a difficult process. It can be filled with selfdoubt and fear. Cameron, fresh off of his own experience, had plenty of advice to give. “Wait for the perfect time,” Cameron said. “Don’t push yourself out until you’re ready. It’s not as bad as you think it will be. The earlier you do it, the more rewarding it will be.” Gallagher, wise with the experience of recently coming out also as a pansexual, had her own advice to share. “I suggest coming out to your family first and then your friends,” Gallagher said. “It depends on how you feel. Do it in stages. Start with your friends or family and then expand. Once you start telling someone, other people are going to know.” H

10 | NOVEMBER 2015

Hawkeye

actvity bus schedule poses problems

After-school bus is scheduled to run for two days of the school week, causing an inconvenience to students with no other transportation route is longer and has to “hit” every stop, arriving home at approximately 8-9 p.m. H staff Junior Tanner Rook said he takes the Student after student piles onto the yelactivity bus every Wednesday and Friday low Edmonds School District (ESD) bus, after school. He said when the bus is not heaving sighs of relief as they drop into available, he asks either a friend or his their seats, knowing they now have a guar- step-father for a ride home. anteed ride home – at least for today. If the bus were to be made available every The MTHS activities bus, designated day, Rook said he would take advantage of for students who are involved with sports that and ride it home. or other after school clubs, is scheduled “[Having the activity bus available every for Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. Last day] would help me and, at the same time, year, however, the bus ran every day at it would help a lot of other people,” Rook 3:30 p.m said. Clearly, this is an inconvenience to He continued, saying that he oftentimes students who stay after school on days sees students asking teachers or administhat the bus does not run, according to trators if the bus is available for that day Principal Greg Schwab. He said students and, upon being told it is not, they usually are then forced to find an alternative way groan or sigh. home, most resorting to walking. Christensen said the ESD is currently Schwab also said he has been trying to working to hire new bus drivers. contact the district, hoping to be able to However, due to the new Washington find a solution for students who need the state-mandated union, school district activity bus every day after school. employees must work at least five hours. The activities bus is not available every Christensen said he isn’t entirely sure of day due to district-wide changes in bus what the district would have the drivers scheduling. Lynndale Elementary students do for the other four hours when activity have been moved to the old Woodway buses aren’t needed. He also said that hirElementary School due to renovation. The ing new drivers may not entirely solve the school has changed their school hours problem. from 8 a.m. through 2 p.m. to 8:40 a.m. Hiring more bus drivers and finding through 3:10 p.m. new buses is what Because of this, Esquibel calls a “local “If there are no [bus] drivers, there are fewer bus decision.” She said there are no buses and students drivers available at 4 that, since student have no way home.” p.m. so there are less transportation is not “runs” during that state funded, the Anna Esquibel OSPI Regional Transportation representative time. amount of money put ESD Transportation toward it is decided Director Craig Christensen said once upon by each individual school district. Lynndale Elementary is finished with its OSPI Director of Student renovation process, the school hours will Transportation Allan Jones said most drivgo back to normal and, hopefully, more ers will work around the different schools buses will be available during the time the as playground helpers and lunchroom activity bus runs. staff, among other things. However, that Office of the Superintendent of is typically designated at the beginning of Public Instruction (OSPI) Regional the year. Transportation representative Anna Jones also said there is a general decrease Esquibel said other districts have what in the number of bus drivers hired. are called “skeleton runs,” or bus drivers “Every [school district] is short bus drivthat would normally take student athletes ers,” he stated. home from practice or to games also take Jones went on to explain that this is most the students who take the activity bus likely due to the fact that there is very lithome. However, since practices end later tle funding for the transportation system. than other school clubs and games begin Esquibel said not having enough bus later, this would have students boarddrivers available is a national problem and ing the bus at about 6 p.m. and, since the it’s not surprising to her at all that ESD Story by Stephi Smith Graphics by Netania Rivera awkeye

has a problem finding new drivers. off,” Jones said with a laugh, referring “If there are no drivers, there are no to his past as a bus driver for 14 years in Seattle. buses and students have no way home,” Jones said that, sadly, when the unemEsquibel said. Jones said if “the rules change” and the ployment rate is low, it can be difficult to state supplies more funding, there will find drivers. On the other hand, when the be more bus drivers unemployment rate is hired. high and people are “It’s not finding bus drivers, it’s being laid off from “It’s not finding bus that there is little to no funding.” drivers, it’s that there their jobs, it’s easier Allan Jones is little to no fundto find drivers. OSPI Director of Student Transportation ing,” Jones said. He said that this Being a bus driver was because when other options are available for those who is a part-time job, so it’s not considered a need a job, not many people will choose to high paying job. There’s also a one month be a school bus driver. to six week required training to be a drivJones said that, oftentimes when he tells ers, according to Jones. According to the people he used to drive a school bus, they OSPI website the employees are not paid reply with “I could never do that.” He went during the training period. The job is also seasonal, as bus drivers do not work during on, saying that people tend to be against the idea of driving a large school bus full the summer, so there is no income during of “screaming kids.” those three months. There are various requirements to be a “I personally liked not working in the bus driver, Jones said, one of which being summer. I’d still like to have my summers

WHAT? The MTHS activity bus is scheduled for Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m.

WHY? This is a result of Lynndale Elementary schedule changes due to renovations and temporary relocation

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NOVEMBER 2015 | 11

District-wide bus driver shortage starting to take a toll What it takes to be a bus driver:

Three to five Must pass a drug test and weeks of a physical training exam

Willing to work only part time

Must qualify for a Commercial Driver’s License

Part of the reason there is a bus availability shortage is that the ESD is short on bus drivers. It can be difficult to find people who meet all of the job requirements. Also, when unemployment rates are low it can be difficult to find people who want to take the job. Data provided by ESD Transportation Director Craig Christensen that the driver must be prepared to handle a vehicle filled acteristics to determine an expected cost of operations for with young students. student transportation. However, the driver must not only handle themselves According to the STARS “quarterly reports,” approxiduring their work hours, but they’re also responsible for mately 740 thousand students in Washington state the students’ safety along with making sure the students depend on the school bus as a ride either to or from aren’t misbehaving. school. “Bus drivers shall have the responsibility and authority The OSPI website also has a link to The National to maintain discipline on the school buses and to recomAssociation of State Directors of Pupil Transportation mend to the appropriate building principal when necesServices (NASDPTS), an association that wants to prosary, that disciplinary action may be taken,” the ESD vide “leadership, assistance and motivation to the nation’s website states under “student school transportation commubehavior goals and expectations.” nity with the goal of providing “[Having the bus available every day] Along with that, the driver safe, secure, efficient, economiwould help me and, at the same time, it must know how to drive a large cal, and high-quality transportawould help a lot of other people.” vehicle well, must have had their tion to school children on their Tanner Rook license for five or more years and trips to and from school and MTHS Junior must have a clean record with no school-related activities,” accordDUIs and little to no tickets. ing to their website. According to Jones, a lot of people are disqualified from This organization’s goal is all students to have a safe and the hiring process due to mistakes made in their past. He cost-effective transportation service to and from school. said these requirements “add to the challenge in finding The NASDPTS believes students across the U.S. should new drivers.” have the same opportunities for a school bus or a otherThe OSPI website provides various links to a number wise, their website states. of training programs and classes for potential school During an Edmonds School District (ESD) board meetbus drivers, along with the 2014 School Bus Driver ing held on October 27, the board discussed alternatives Handbook. to the regular yellow school bus. There’s also information about the Student The board agreed that the problem lies in the fact that Transportation Allocation Reporting System (STARS), there is a lack of drivers available. a program designed to provide adequate funding to Director of District Four April Nowak brought up the all school districts statewide for the operation of their idea of distributing bus passes to students for the comstudent transportation programs. The system uses a munity transit. regression analysis using individual school district charAnna Esquibel said she advises the School Board to fur-

ther consider that idea, since it has worked before in the past and that it may be an easy solution. However, Superintendent Nick Brossoit said that idea was used 12 years ago, but the cost went up significantly since then and it is actually “cheaper to just use the yellow school bus route.” Nowak responded that she believes a lot has changed in the last 12 years and that the board should reconsider the idea. Scriber Lake High School (SLHS) Student Advisor to the School Board Alicia Verzola said SLHS gives bus passes to every student. She said this gives student a sense of independence and helps them attend school “not because they have to, but because they want to,” Verzola said. Brossoit mentioned that students in the past have sold bus passes given to them by the school district. To solve that issue, MTHS Student Advisor to the School Board Dee Strohl suggested taking one from Edmonds Community College’s book and making it so that students’ identification cards can also be used as bus passes. President Diana White said she will have the ESD School Board look into having bus passes provided to certain students who need it. She said she liked the idea of student identification cards doubling as a bus passes and will discuss it further with Secondary Assistant Superintendent Patrick Murphy. There will be more information on the idea of either distributing public bus vouchers to students or hiring new drivers along with buying more buses at the next ESD School Board meeting. H

12 | november 2015

Hawkeye hawkeye data report

Transitioning from middle to high school By Sierra Clark and Paxtyn Merten hawkeye staff

At MTHS, the transition between middle school and high school is fairly simple for many students. The Hawkeye conducted a survey of 61 freshmen to indicate how well students fared in their transition and here’s what we found.

Initial comparisons The survey shows that high school is a preference over middle school, yet high school is more stressful overall. 76 percent of freshmen preferred high school compared to only 6 percent of freshmen preferring middle school. “In middle school, even though they [middle school administrators] say you get a lot more freedom [than in elementary school], you go to assemblies in lines. And for high school it’s just ‘alright, do this for yourself, get yourself down there, get your own pictures.’ It’s more independent,” freshman Zoe Presho said. Many freshmen saw an increase in stress levels between middle and high school, with 55 percent of freshmen said that high school is more stressful than middle school, while 16 percent felt they had the same amount of stress in middle and high school. “I think high school has to be more stressful,” Wilson said. “You just can’t get everything done.”

different academic areas, according to Hatch. In addition, 41 percent of freshmen said middle school prepared them for high school socially. 52 percent said it prepared them mentally, but another 28 percent said that middle school did not prepare them well. “With the exception of a few classes, middle school did a pretty good job of weaning me onto an increased workload. It didn’t, however, prepare me mentally. The teachers made up these horror stories, so they contributed to my fear of going to high school.” Presho said.

academically?

Prepared

39%

Neutral Not prepared

Feelings about high school

Survey results show that MTHS is fairly comfortable and inviting for incoming freshmen. When it comes to interacting with upperclassmen, around 41 percent of freshmen said that they felt welcomed. “I think [upperclassmen have] been pretty normal, and helpful, too. If I don’t know where a classroom is, I can just walk over and ask one of them, and they’ll know. I think that’s just really helpful,” freshman Zoey Wilson said. Only 12 percent said that upperclassmen made them feel intimidated in any way, and another 48 percent were neutral about whether or not upperclassmen were intimidating. About 69 percent of freshmen think their peers are welcoming to some extent. Furthermore, 81 percent of freshmen felt The largest minority welcomed by their teachers, and only two percent of stuof freshmen feel middle “There is a lot of research indicating dents felt intimidated by staff. school prepared them well the importance of Freshman Pedro Lopez enough for high school. having a strong, mentioned that MTHS About 39 percent of freshpositive start to teachers are inviting by the men said middle school the four years of way they “stand out in the prepared them academihigh school and I hallways instead of sitting at cally to some extent, while think we try pretty another 38 percent were their desk in the classroom hard to make sure neutral about whether or during passing period.” our incoming 9th not it prepared them. Most freshmen are not nergraders get off to “High school coursework vous about coming to school. that strong start.” builds on the foundations 54 percent of freshmen are Greg Schwab taught in elementary and not at all nervous, and 41 Principal middle school,” 9th grade percent were only slightly counselor Evan Hatch said. “I would imagine nervous. that the challenge in preparing middle school “There is a lot of research indicating the students is [that] students often say ‘middle importance of having a strong, positive start school doesn’t matter’ and the opposite is to the four years of high school and I think true.” we try pretty hard to make sure our incomMiddle schools in our district work ing ninth graders get off to that strong intensely on supporting students in many start,” Principal Greg Schwab said.

Preparation for high school

Do you feel like middle school prepared you well enough for high school...

38% 23%

socially? 41%

Prepared 33% 26%

Neutral Not prepared

mentally? Prepared

52%

Neutral 20% Not prepared 28% netania rivera | hawkeye

At MTHS there are many helpful inputs to the freshmen year including the LINK Crew and having a separate 9th grade administrator, a 9th grade counselor, and a lunch study table. 70 percent of freshmen indicated that they feel safe and comfortable at MTHS and 11 percent felt unsafe.

“Everytime I watch the news, there’s a new shooting. There’s a shooting in Oregon, there’s a shooting in California, I’m just worried that our school is going to be next. But I feel like we have a good enough school security that it would kind of protect us more,” Wilson said. H

Hawkeye

november 2015 | 13

a sense of Euphoria

Story by Irvin Zhang ner’s high down to a chemical that they believe is mainly Photos by Jack Fiorillo responsible: endocannabinoids, small molecules that are able Graphics by Netania Rivera Hawkeye staff

Everything goes numb in that moment. Their mind empties. Their breathing, footsteps and heartbeats harmonize and block out all other sounds. Their eyes remain locked on the finish line ahead. “It’s that second wind that you get after you’ve been running for a while,” junior women’s cross country team cocaptain Katherine Gustafson said. “You’ve hit your first wall, the pain is there and you feel like you can’t go anymore but all of a sudden, a rush will hit you and you’ll feel able to keep moving. It’s almost like hitting a restart button.” This feeling is familiar among runners and is commonly known as a “runner’s high.” “[What typically happens is] you go through an extreme doom and gloom [during the race] where your body will tell you that you’re tired and that you’re feeling really worn down, but then you will get to the point where your body begins to feel numb and you will enter a state of blankness,” cross country head coach and health teacher Todd Weber said. “My recollection of it was that after you finish, you get a sense of calmness and a sense of euphoria about five minutes after the race. That sense of euphoria or calmness typically stayed with me for at least several hours.” This sense of euphoria, this second wind, this restart is the “runner’s high.” The theory of the runner’s high has been around for at least thirty years. It has often been a topic of discussion among scientists of whether the runner’s high scientifically exists or not. Scientists have been able to narrow the cause of the run-

country co-captain Ella Schroth said that her runner’s high experiences varies substantially. “Sometimes I won’t get [a high]. Other times, I get it just to pass through the blood-brain barrier and produce a “high”. that race and the high makes you want to keep running. It It has been found that, in recent years, exercise raises the levels of endocannabinoids in the bloodstreams of people and always puts me in a good place,” Schroth said. Schroth’s words echo many past runners, one of them being animals, making these molecules good candidates to underlie former long distance ultramarathon runner Yiannis Kouros, the runner’s high. a man who many have called the “Running God.” To test it, researchers with the Central Institute of Mental In an article Kouros published in UltraRunning magazine Health at the University of Heidelberg medical school in in March of 1990 called “A War Is Going On Mannheim, Germany did a test using Between My Body and My Mind,” he recounts rats on a running wheel and recorded “My recollection of his experience with runner’s high. data about their mental activity and the [runner’s high] was that after you finish, “During the ultras I come to a point where amount of endocannabinoids in their you get a sense my body is almost dead. My mind has to take system. of calmness and a leadership. When it is very hard, there is a war The scientists noted elevated levels of sense of euphoria going on between the body and the mind. If my endocannabinoids in the animals’ bloodabout five minutes body wins, I will have to give up; if my mind streams after running and that the aniafter the race. That wins, I will continue,” he wrote. mals seemed to be more “tranquil” after sense of euphoria When his “mind wins”, Kouros said he feels running, spending longer periods of time or calmness like he stays outside of his body. in lighted areas within their cages. typically stayed Even with the chemical cause clear, “It is as if I see my body in front of me; my with me for at least mind commands and my body follows. This is there are still many other factors not yet several hours.” a very special feeling, which I like very much. . known about the runner’s high. Todd Weber . It is a very beautiful feeling and the only time “I think there are a lot of factors that cross country head coach I experience my personality separate from my are involved and I think it’s a mystery as body, as two different things,” Kouros said. to what it exactly is. It depends on the race you’re in and the Whether you want to look at the runner’s high scientifiperson that’s running. From my research, [what is concrete] cally as the rise of endocannabinoids flowing into your brain, is that different athletes experience [runner’s high] at differor more as the mental feeling of invincibility, it is a very real ent times,” Weber said. thing to a number of different runners. For example, Gustafson said that she typically experiences “You just need to experience it in order to understand it. It’s it at the hardest junction of the race – the third kilometer just something else,” Schroth said. H of a five kilometer race. Meanwhile, senior women’s cross

14 | november 2015

Hawkeye

idolizing to achieving

Jeremy Ansdell focuses to return a rally in the WesCo championship game. He would go on to lose, but has still secured the No. 2 seed for the WesCo 3A South division. Story by Irvin Zhang and Ben Eyman Photos by Jack Fiorillo hawkeye staff

As a young boy, he sits in the stands and watches his dad, a man he admires, pace back and forth on the dark green tennis court, with sweat dripping down from his forehead as he fights to win every match. He eyes his every move in pure spectacle and awe. Fast forward and that young boy is now in the midst of competing in his high school state tennis tournament for the state championship title. That young boy has made a name for himself through his own play and his own success on the court. That young boy is junior tennis co-captain Jeremy Ansdell. Ansdell started this journey back when he was six years old. He got into tennis like most young kids do – from his parents. For Ansdell, it was his father who had most of the influence.

“In the tennis Phil Ansdell is a professional tennis player along with now-alumnus Henri Breuer. world, you’re by way of Whitman College. In 1988, he They finished in 13th place. viewed as a better was an All American and ranked in both This season, Ansdell wanted to change player if you’re singles and doubles that year. Now, he is an things up. He has decided to test himself playing in the active member of both the United States and his abilities by moving into the singles singles bracket, so Tennis Association (USTA) and the United bracket. I wanted to test my States Professional Tennis Association “In the tennis world, you’re viewed as a skill against the top players.” (USPTA). better player if you’re playing in the singles “My dad, [became] a professional after bracket, so I wanted to test my skill against Jeremy Ansdell tennis co-captain playing at Whitman [College]. It was mostly the top players,” Ansdell said. local leagues that he played in,” Ansdell After making this decision, Ansdell comsaid. “I always loved going to watch my dad play. As a little mitted himself to working hard and putting in time to make sure that he was ready for when the season starts. kid seeing all of these great tennis players, it was really “With tennis, it’s a lot about repetition, hitting the same inspiring and it has pushed me to become a better player shot over and over until you’re able to hit that shot comfortmyself.” ably in a match,” Ansdell said. “Over the summer, I worked a Last year, Ansdell was able to achieve success on the high lot with Josh Basho at Forest Crest Club, and we were there school level by qualifying for the state tournament in doubles

Hawkeye

november 2015 | 15

pretty much every day and he made sure leadership role as one of the captains on I was working hard.” the tennis team. Over the summer, team practice lasted Daniels said that Ansdell has been an for about an hour and a half. During the inclusive leader for the new members on season, the tennis team practiced for two the tennis team. She said that on days in and a half to three hours every day after which the team would be feeling “down” school. The team practiced even in the or had “less energy,” Ansdell always tried rain, sometimes resorting to bring everyone up and to the indoor courts. encourage everyone give “[What makes this Margaret Daniels, one their full effort. team different than of Ansdell’s coaches, said As for Andell’s season, all the other] has that Ansdell has dediit didn’t have the picbeen our record but cated himself to a higher also the willingness ture perfect start that to work hard and level of performance and he would’ve wanted for practice. It was a that he has been proving himself. lot of fun working his work ethic through “I live a busy life but with all of these all of the hard work that when it’s match time, I guys. We were he put in all summer long try to clear everything all trying to get in order to improve his out. The match against better throughout skills. She said that his Shorecrest, [I couldn’t the season hard work seems to be clear my mind],” Ansdell and help each paying off. said. “I had been sick the other constantly Along with the indiweek before and I had improve.” vidual work that Ansdell a bunch of schoolwork Jeremy Ansdell put in, the men’s tennis tennis co-captain so I wasn’t focused and team also had a hand in I wasn’t at the top of my Ansdell’s success. game.” “This is the best team that [coach He lost his first set, but was able to Alberto Ramirez] has had in [men’s] ten- realize the mistakes he was making on nis history,” Ansdell said. “[What makes the court through the help of head tennis this team different than all the other] has coach Alberto Ramirez. been our record but also the willingness “In between set, we can talk to our to work hard and practice. It was a lot of coaches. That’s been a big help to me,” fun working with all of these guys. We Ansdell said. “It’s hard to tell what your were all trying to get better throughout own mistakes are, but when someone else the season and help each other constantis objectively watching your game they’re ly improve.” able to give great advice about what Along with his own success, Ansdell you’re doing wrong.” has put it upon himself to also take on a After that loss, Ansdell went on a hot

streak. It wasn’t until the WesCo championship match that determined state tournament seeding that Ansdell would lose a match. Before that, he had won 15 straight games. Now he’s the No. 2 seed in the WesCo 3A South division heading into the state tournament. Ansdell attributes his success as an athlete to his coaches and the people that he’s been able to train with. One person that sticks out from the others is fellow junior teammate Adam Lorraine. “[Lorraine and I] are always pushing one another at practice. [It’s] really good to have him on the team because he’s a player [who]’s so great that I can hit against him and constantly feel challenged,” Ansdell said. “[Lorraine] is a great motivator for me because I always want to push myself and be better than him and we are both really competitive so we are always trying one-up each other.” In light of Ansdell’s success, a new door of opportunity has cracked open and there’s now a chance of Ansdell opting to pursue a collegiate career in tennis. “I’d really like to play in college. [The desire] has just come recently with all my improvements that I made over the summer. It always seemed really far away from me, but it’s coming to fruition now that I have the skills to play at the college level,” Ansdell said. During last year’s state tournament, a local community college reached out to Ansdell, and has spurned the interests of a few schools. The state tournament for tennis isn’t like the state tournament for other sports. Instead of having the state tournament within the same season, it takes place in the spring along with the women’s tennis state tournament, giving Ansdell two seasons worth of time to prepare and sharpen his game. “I’m excited,” Ansdell said. “[The state tournament] is in the spring so I have plenty of time to stay on top of my game and keep on improving. My serve needs work as well as my overall game.” His goal? The same as it is for all fierce competitors. “My goal is to place,” Ansdell said. “Last year, [Breuer and I] were so close to getting top eight, and top eight get all awards and ribbons, so to get top eight would be awesome. It’s also about looking toward the future. Placing in the state tournament would show the [collegiate] coaches my worth as a tennis player.” H

LEFT: Ansdell focuses on his footwork as he follows through on his swing. He worked all summer long at Forest Crest Club in order to improve his overall game.

a closer look... • Won 15 straight games this season. • His goal is to place in his second tournament berth. “Placing in the state tournament would show the [collegiate] coaches my worth as a tennis player,” he said. • Has interests in playing collegiate tennis. He has already been scouted by a few community colleges. • Qualified and played at the state tournament last spring for doubles. He and alumnus Henri Breuer placed 13th. • His father, Phil Ansdell, played tennis for Whitman College. In 1988, he earned the title of All America and was ranked in both singles and doubles that year.

16 | november 2015

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