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Volume 55 Edition 13

Obama Action After Obama visited CF, he made a plan for college funding/Page 6

Scott Cawelti Photo

Dance team performs at Orange Bowl The New Year’s Eve fireworks burst above senior Josie Speltz’s head as she looked at the sky above the Orange Bowl Stadium in Miami. The sequinclad CFHS dance team performed three routines as part of the country-themed halftime show, alongside band Little Big Town. After Orange Bowl scouters noticed the team’s two years of successful state performances, they invited the dance team in May to come perform at the Orange Bowl. The team raised money to pay for the trip through several different fundraisers, such as working ballpark concessions and selling spirit cards, and 13 members of the team and coaches Alyssa Nolte and Gayle Bruene flew from Minneapolis to Miami for four days between Christmas and the start of school. Aside from rehearsals for the half-time show, the girls had opportunities to take classes from famous choreographers and dancers. “I liked the Bollywood class; it was a very different style of dance from what I am used to, and it was fun to learn something new. The teacher was Longiness Fernandes, who choreographed for Slumdog Millionaire,” Speltz said.

Junior Sommer Danielsen said she also enjoyed the hiphop class. “We got to learn from Nicki Minaj’s choreographer. It was an amazing experience because the way he taught was totally different from any other class I took. I learned how to dance according to the underlying beats rather than counts, which is important in hip hop.” Coach and adviser Gayle Bruene also appreciated what a great experience it was, as it was the first time the team has gone to the Orange Bowl in all her years of coaching: “It was an awesome experience for the girls; the choreographers they got to work with were phenomenal.” In addition to the dance convention, the team had time to bond. “There was not much free time, but during lunch we would go to the pool,” Danielsen said. The girls would also all go out to eat together, and there was a semi-formal dance for all the dancers at the Orange Bowl, who hailed from all over the country. On New Year’s Eve, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech played in the Orange Bowl, resulting in a victory for Georgia Tech. “It was really fun, because we all got to sit together,

Submitted Photo

Preparing to perform at the Orange Bowl, Mikaela Mallin (’15), Sierra Fredrickson (’17), Talon Plum (’16), Casey McIntyre (’17), Kylie Mast (’17), Summer Pieters (’17), Katy Lockard (’16), Sommer Danielsen (’16), Izzy Armstrong (’17), Kloe Pilipchuk (’17), Hannah Gaffney (’16) and Josie Speltz (’15) pose with choreographer and Dancing with the Stars professional Adrian Lee.

“It was an awesome experience for the girls; the choreographers they got to work with were phenomenal.”

Coach Gayle Bruene

and the crowds were really into it. We fed off their energy,” Speltz said. Just like the fireworks

above the stadium, the CFHS dance team burst into the new year, ready to continue its hard work and passion.

By Staff Writer Agatha

FENECH

Back from Break

Students return with wide-ranging stories

Bomb Hoax

Austin Anderson Photo

After receiving a threat that was a part of a national hoax, CFHS students were in a lockdown in the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 16 as Cedar Falls safety officials blocked access to the building. The threats were made to numerous high schools including West High in Waterloo, Davenport Central and West, Sioux City East, Ankeny, Council Bluffs and others. Officials determined early that the threat was a hoax, but took precautions anyway.

Since winter break is packed with over a thousand different tales of how time was spent, we have asked students to tell us what sort of fun they have done over the past two weeks. Here are three stories:

Junior Aaron Heimbuck went to Disney World over winter break to spend some quality time with his girlfriend’s family. They opened presents together and drank eggnog. “We really got into the Christmas spirit,” Heimbuck said. They received various presents from each other, all the way from clothes to money. “We took a lot of pictures together and rode on a lot of rides,” Heimbuck said. One ride in particular, the Rockin Roller Coaster, really stood out to them, so Heimbuck and his girlfriend stood in line for over an hour just so See Back from Break

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Friday, Jan. 23, 2015

Seven new students join at semester

Sophomore Grace Kivett from Atlanta, Georgia

Sophomore DeAndre Terry from Illinois

Junior Sandy Nguyen from Vietnam

Reactions to Iowa: “There’s a lot of snow. In Georgia we barely had any. When I saw y’all have Starbucks, I was like, ‘Yes!’” even though “y’all don’t have a Chick-Fil-A.”

Reactions to Iowa: “It’s colder here.”

Reactions to Iowa: “We don’t have snow in Vietnam, only in the northern highlands. It’s very cold here. In Vietnam, it’s 70 degrees all year.”

Reactions to CFHS: “This school’s a lot smaller. My old school had 11 buildings.” Also, “Lunch is different. At my old school we had a grill line, pizza line, salad line, sub line and main line. And our snack store was bigger. I do like the time y’all start on Mondays though.”

Hobbies: “I like swimming. My old school didn’t have a swim team because they shut down the pool, but I’ll go out for swimming here next year.”

Hobbies: “I play soccer. When I’m not doing that I like to run, just not fall on the ice. I’ve slipped twice now. I’m also involved with my church. My dad’s a pastor. That’s why we moved here.”

Junior A.J. Godbey from Waterloo West Reactions to CFHS: “I like it way better here. It’s a lot more laid back; I feel more like a high school student. I’ve been lost countless times, but, otherwise, it’s really nice. I like it here.” Hobbies: “I like the arts and music thing. I’m a real big rock and roll guy; I’ve been drumming for a long time, been playing the guitar for about two years and recently started singing. I’m trying to start a band with a guy I know from West. I used to play hockey, but I’m not connected with that anymore.”

“Tell people to come up and talk to me, introduce themselves. I want to meet new people.” — A.J. Godbey

Reactions to CFHS: “It’s smaller. My old school had five floors and four gyms, but the kids are nicer here.”

Junior Daniel Kupka from North Tama Reactions to CFHS: “This school’s a lot bigger. The schedule is almost the same, except lunch. We didn’t have three lunches.” Hobbies: “I’m a big gamer, especially Call of Duty.”

Junior David Schroeder from Davenport Reactions to CFHS: “[My old school] had a block schedule: 90-minute classes, four classes a day. It sucked. It’s hard to sit there for 90 minutes; 49 minutes is better.” Hobbies: “I’ve played guitar for 12 years, and I write my own songs. I record with my dad and grandpa to produce CDs. I’m out for basketball here. I can’t play varsity yet, but the JV team has been cool to me.”

Reactions to CFHS: “Here, it’s kind of confusing because I don’t know where all the classes are. In Vietnam we have permanent classes. From your first year to your senior year, you stay in the same room with the same students, the same friends, and the teachers move around, not the students.” Hobbies: “I like to play guitar, watch soccer and cook.”

LaKyra Sanford from Waterloo Expo Reactions to CFHS: “You don’t have short days on Wednesdays. Last week on Wednesday I tried to walk out of the building at 1:15. They were like ‘Where are you going?’ I said I was trying to go home. I forgot you get out at 2:50. We had six class periods and a 30-minute study hall called Oasis in the middle of the day where everyone had the same assigned teacher [every year]. Even if I went back there, I’d still have the same assigned teacher.” Hobbies: “I like to watch movies and talk to friends from my old school. I work a lot, so I chill on my days off.”

By Staff Writer Mikaela

MALLIN

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Friday, Jan. 23, 2015

Resolving Resolutions

FEATURES

Junior swimmer’s embrace of ‘setback’ offers lesson

Junior Courtney BanAugust. wart sits swallowed in a “It has taught me red leather couch with a that it’s OK not to be the smile as she talks about best right away. Someone of her most challengtimes things come up ing life experiences, an that are more imporexperience that holds a tant,” Banwart said lesson for all of us as we For Banwart, repriembark on a new year of oritizing has been the many resolutions, many key to the balance of her possibilities and many overall well being. What setbacks. Banwart has learned can In November of 2013, teach us a lot in the new Banwart discovered she year. had an extra lumbar ver“We’re still so young. tebrae in her back. So if something doesn’t Courtney For most people, this pan out like you want it diagnosis has little effect to, it’s not the end of the Banwart on their lives, being that world. Eventually this Junior Swimmer this extra vertebrae only causes pain when time will end, and we’ll move onto another extending often. However, Banwart is a full time in our lives.” time swimmer, which requires her to fully The key to success looks different for extend through her back with each stroke. everyone, but one thing is becoming inAll through the winter, Banwart prac- creasingly clear. It does not exist solely in ticed despite the pain until it became a resolutions and lofty goals, but exists in hazard to her health. Quitting was never every part of us, as those parts intertwine an option for Banwart, so she has been and create our jumbled yet beautiful lives. required to cut back drastically on her By Staff Writer Sommer practice time, resting from February until

Steps to Success

DANIELSEN

Counselor, graduates offer tips to writing top scholarship essays Strong essays can help deliver scholarships, but one CFHS guidance counselor and two CFHS graduates say applicants can follow six simple steps to success before applicants mail their essays in. Essays determine who will get the scholarship, so Chris Wood, counselor and former Wartburg admissions counselor, warns students not to skim over the details. “My favorite line to students writing essays is to ‘dig deeper,’” Wood said. “Too often students just skim the surface of detail on essays.” First, the path to success starts early, so make an outline to easier compile your thoughts based on the instructions you are given. “If your story doesn’t have vivid emotion, style, reflection, find a new story,” Wood said. Second, be passionate. “Colleges want to see you take a risk with your essay. Don’t settle for the essay that everyone else is writing. Find your story, tell it to the reader and be passionate about it. If you’re not enthused about the story, neither will the scholarship committee be,” Wood said.. Third, “Just be honest, be yourself when you are writing it,” said CFHS graduate and now UNI student Marissa

Nunez. People can tell when you are insincere. “College admissions and scholarship committees read hundreds if not thousands of scholarship essays. If you’re writing what you think they want to hear, they’ll read half-way through your essay, rip it up and move on to the next one. They can see right through that,” Wood said. Fourth, state your accomplishments without bragging. “Don’t talk about your G.P.A. if they can see that on your transcripts. Colleges and scholarship committees want to hear your story. Think of the scholarship essay as an opportunity, not a chore,” Wood said. Fifth, use clear language. “Use clear detail. Don’t forget to add expression and show emotion throughout your essay,” Wood said. Sixth, “Put a little effort, but take time to look over and have someone proofread it,” CFHS graduate and UNI student Kevin Bernard said. So consider following these six simple steps from these three who’ve successfully navigated this daunting task. By Staff Writer Taylor

HYLTON

Submitted Photo

Junior Aaron Heimbuck went to Disney World over break.

from Back from Break, Page 1 they could ride this ride. It was packed with drops and speedy moments. After the ride, Heimbuck and his girlfriend proceeded to go to the carnival games to maybe win some prizes. After playing some Whack-A-Mole, he noticed that his skills in the game were amazing. “I love you,” he said as he gave his girlfriend the huge bear he had just won. Junior Logan Mozena’s break was filled with basketball, basketball and some more basketball. Mozena spent a lot of his break practicing for the games that were coming up after break. “There was an unbelievable amount of running,” Mozena said. His team practiced on their shooting and ball handling for what seemed like the whole day. Practice was packed with fun, excitement and insidious drills. Some of the drills took them the whole day to master. One play in particular was supposed to lead up to a layup for Mozena to make into the basket. A lot of his teammates were confused and didn’t really understand what their role was in the drill. After messing up multiple times, coach Schultz was starting to get a little furious at the fact that many of the players were not trying hard enough. “That day we ran for more than half of practice,” Mozena said. They ran laps for what seemed like days and suicides that would never end. Junior Marquise Jones spent his winter break working at his part time job at Little Caesars. With over 30 hours per week on

the clock, Jones worked harder than he has ever worked. “Winter break was not fun time to work,” Jones said. Hordes and hordes of people were rushing through the doors for pizza. Jones was making pizzas faster than he has ever made pizzas before. Christmas eve came by and Jones was ready for a rest day at Little Caesars. After spreading salsa, placing cheese and toppings for what seemed like the whole day, he was finally finished; it was time to close. The store looked absolutely disgusting. There was dough stuck to the ground everywhere. Cheese and salsa was spread out all across the floors and tables. “I’ve never seen a bigger mess in my life,” Jones said. After cleaning for literally over an hour, Jones and his coworkers finally finished. He threw all the trash he could away and tidied up some of the smaller jobs for the people that were coming in to work the next day. Finally, everything was finished. Jones turned off the lights, put all the money away and proceeded out the front door. But just as he was about to walk out he remembered that he should look at the schedule to see the next time he would work. “I looked at the schedule on the wall ... 10 a.m. till 5p.m. on Dec. 31.” “I wanted to cry right there on the spot,” Jones said. By Staff Writer Dino

ODOBASIC

The

FEATURES

Tiger

Friday, Jan. 23, 2015

HI-LINE

Have YOU

Heard?

These top selections from 2014 are built to last Pop/R&B

FKA Twigs - LP1 One of 2014’s most unexpectedly prominent albums, LP1 offers a plethora of ethereal, textured R&B sounds with the lofty yet strong female vocals of Tahliah Barnett accompanying the surreal synths and lush sounds. It is a haunting mixture of pop and strangeness that makes for a must-listen for any fan of relevant music. Sylvan Esso - Sylvan Esso Certainly one of the easiest and most enjoyable listens of 2014, the electro folk-pop collaboration of singer/ songwriter Amelia Meath and electronic producer Nick Sanborn make for some charming tunes on this loveably quirky album. If you don’t take my word for it, give the track “Coffee” a listen for yourself and thank me later as the infectiously comforting hook plays in your head for days. D’Angelo and The Vanguard Black Messiah With 14 years since his last album, R&B artist D’Angelo appears out of nowhere with no advance promotion and only several hours’ warning before releasing Black Messiah on Dec. 15. In the short time since then, it has quickly become one of the top-rated and most highly praised records of 2014. Loose and soulful grooves fill the classicsounding tracks that comprise this eloquent R&B magnum opus.

Rock/Indie Rock

St. Vincent - St. Vincent This ambitious masterpiece from St. Vincent became an artistic essential of 2014 in which guitar solos meet pop sounds and groovy electro melodies with the utmost style. This album maintains accessibility while being challenging and unconventional. The enthusiastic strangeness presented by St. Vincent makes for an album that certainly provides an interesting listen. The War On Drugs Lost in the Dream As the title of the album suggests, listeners may find themselves lost in the meandering, classic-rock influenced aimlessness of this record with its number of lengthy tracks filled with floating sounds and daydreamy rhythms. I’ve found myself unable to refrain from continuously coming back to this album. When unsure of what I’m in the mood to listen to, turning on The War On Drugs always seems to feel just right. Mac DeMarco - Salad Days A comfortingly classic-sounding set of indie folk rock jams, this second full-length studio album from the music industry’s beloved Mac DeMarco maintains the slacker aesthetic he is known for while asserting a newfound maturity in his sound and lyrics. DeMarco’s freewheeling, often gentle tunes make for an atmospherically exploratory listen accompanied by a feeling of lonely eloquence.

Cloud Nothings Here and Nowhere Else The urgent lyrical delivery and invigorating instrumental performance by American indie-rock band Cloud Nothings on this driving post-hardcore rock/ punk album is nothing but exciting. Turn up the speakers and let the neighbors join in on the exhilaration offered by “Here and Nowhere Else.”

Spoon - They Want My Soul Meticulously crafted yet happily spontaneous, indie-rock band Spoon shows us their soul on this record — which they won’t (and certainly shouldn’t) give away to whoever wishes to take it. “They Want My Soul” strides with focus from one enjoyable track to the next as Spoon takes their eighth full-length studio release in an impressive and stimulating direction. Alt-J - This is All Yours In the wake of their captivating debut album “An Awesome Wave” from 2012, this highly anticipated English indie-rock album resonates more strongly when listened to as an entire project rather than bringing the singletrack-power that they delivered in 2012, aside from the catchy single “Left Hand Free.” This is certainly a beautiful addition to the band’s discography, and it will be exciting to see the directions that Alt-J takes with their infectious style in the future.

Singer/Songwriter

Sun Kil Moon - Benji Singer/songwriter Mark Kozelek delivers the most touching and sobering album of the year. His gentle acoustic ballads recount his own personal stories of loss and tragedy with intimately specific detail, evoking much broader ideas about life and mortality. If anything, this mournful album illuminates the true value of life and how special it is. Jamie T - Carry On the Grudge The third album from this London artist, “Carry On the Grudge” is allaround terrific project. It is easy to listen to and filled with great lyrics and vocals with which Jamie T bares his soul. Voicing some relatable internal monologues over a collection of exceptional songs, this album would fit the taste of just about anyone. And who doesn’t love a British accent? Angel Olsen Burn Your Fire for No Witness A spacious and beautiful album, Olsen releases her second LP — the first she has recorded with a full band. The songs swell with visceral and romantic sounds that synchronize perfectly with Olsen’s subdued and lo-fi vocals to form a harmonious balance of expressiveness, gloom and beauty.

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Rap/Hip-Hop

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Piñata This collaboration between lyricist Freddie Gibbs and infamous producer Madlib was easily one of the most prominent rap albums of 2014, offering an insightful look on a true thuggangster lifestyle, expressing its conditions and dynamics in a humane and strikingly self-aware way. The prolific Madlib delivers top-notch beats and production with Gibbs delivering some purely strong rapping and lyricism, accompanied by a plentitude of features including Danny Brown, Raekwon, AbSoul, Casey Veggies, Mac Miller, and Odd Future’s Earl Sweatshirt and Domo Genesis. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2 The second album from the hip-hop duo consisting of emcee/producer El-P and rapper Killer Mike, this sequel to their debut “Run the Jewels” solidifies the duo’s credibility in the industry with a resounding punch. With urgency and confrontational aggressiveness, RTJ2 delivers 11 hard-hitting tracks with versatility, including banging beats and lyrics featuring themes which include the prevalent 2014 issue of racial injustice. The project is nothing but uppercut jabs from the opening “Jeopardy” track onwards. clipping - CLPPNG Bringing some tremendously unorthodox yet proficient production and beats to the table, this experimental hip-hop group offers broad and interesting lyrical-content with an everstrong delivery that makes for a tenacious total project. Mick Jenkins - The Water[s] One of the most thematic and cohesive projects of the year, Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins offers a strong lyrical delivery over thick beats centering around the theme of — you guessed it — water. The confidence Jenkins conveys in his style proves that he is to be taken seriously and that he is here to stay.

Friday, Jan. 23, 2015

Open Mike Eagle - Dark Comedy Busdriver - Perfect Hair Milo - A Toothpaste Suburb These artists of the Los Angeles rap collective Hellfyre Club dropped several solid albums throughout 2014, establishing prominence in hipster-rap with off-kilter beats and varied styles which include interesting stories and social commentary. These albums are definitely worth a listen — along with personally one of my all-time favorite projects, the 2013 double-EP from philosophical rapper, Milo, titled “Things That Happen at Day/Things That Happen at Night.” Asher Roth - Retro Hash Those who haven’t heard Roth since his 2009 mainstream hit “I Love College” may be pleasantly surprised at the stylistic transformation undergone by this long-haired, pale-skinned rapper. The mellow beats accompanied by laid-back raps make for a groovy summertime record. J. Cole - 2014 Forest Hills Drive J. Cole resurfaced in a major way with this instantly popular album that quickly garnered somewhat of a Frank Ocean “Channel Orange” status of celebrity, seemingly most notably popular among teen listeners. Cole recounts his experiences as a rapper on the road to fame, offering personal stories such as his first time with a girl on the track “Wet Dreamz.” Cole also includes a fair amount of self-reflection in his lyrics throughout the solid tracklist. Isaiah Rashad - Cilvia Demo Rashad struggled to establish an initial direction with the album, which resulted in an eclectic combination of styles that naturally flow together in this laid-back hip-hop project. “Cilvia Demo” is one cool track after the next, concluding with my favorite track, “Shot You Down,” with verses from Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q.

FEATURES

Electronic

Caribou - Our Love The sixth studio album from Canadian electronica artist Caribou, “Our Love” sonically conveys the complex emotions of love in all their glory with rich, glassy digital sounds. Delving deep with auditory emotion in the context of electronic music, this album glistens with confidently delivered content. Aphex Twin - Syro This highly anticipated electro album incorporates the subgenres of techno, glitch, jungle and ambient. After 13 years since the release of his last studio album, Aphex Twin releases a project that is described by the Internet publication Pitchfork.com as, “highly melodic, superbly arranged, precisely mixed, texturally varied electronic music that sounds like it could have come from no other artist.” With that said, Syro may not be a project for new listeners to take on blindly. However, after getting a feel for the infamous Aphex Twin, it is undeniable that this album is an impeccable addition to the artist’s discography. Flying Lotus - You’re Dead! Experimental electronic music producer Flying Lotus originally began his fifth studio album as a jazz album, but the result was much different. The project morphed into a dreamlike carnival of eclectic styles centered around the theme of mortality. Prior listeners of Flying Lotus will have their expectations shattered as the artist deters in an evocative direction. Guest features on the album include Kendrick Lamar, Captain Murphy, Snoop Dogg and Angel Deradoorian of Dirty Projectors. Giraffage - No Reason Chrome Sparks - Goddess These chilled-out electro EPs make for a quick and easy listen, offering some varied sounds which are great for those interested in experiencing some of what the genre has to offer. These EPs deliver some cool grooves with the smooth mixing of vocal samplings and ambient noises that can make for a nice accompaniment to any number of activities such as homework, aimless drives or late-night listens.

Glass Animals - ZABA ZABA is a captivating psychedelicindie-electro-pop record filled with lusciously exotic sounds of tropical-percussion and jungle vibes. This project maintains a high degree of interesting style and makes for an intriguing listen several times through.

Experimental Post-Punk / Rock

Swans - To Be Kind Widely praised by critics across the board, the exquisitely crafted “To Be Kind” easily became one of the most revered musical projects of 2014. Clocking in at just over two hours long, this sonic masterpiece is arranged with hypnotic, tense, dark, majestic and exciting sounds of the finest creation. Engrossingly unsettling and crafted with intricate detail, Swans deliver a challenging work of art that is interesting to no end.

Doom Metal

Pallbearer Foundations of Burden Turning pain into beauty on this collection of lengthy and heavy tracks, doom metal outfit Pallbearer has received copious praise for this second addition to their discography. These dolorous and plodding sounds are nothing but righteous, and those with little experience in heavier genres of music certainly may enjoy broadening their horizons with this record. Enveloping the listener with layers of sludgy guitars and walls of thick bleakness, Pallbearer hits the mark with a heavy pound.

By Staff Writer Ben

LOUVIERE

The

OPINION Our View

Obama’s college funding plan deserves bi-partisan support Industrious high school senior Jonathan works tirelessly every week at being a McDonald’s cashier in order to gain any kind of hope for his future. Unfortunately for him, his job can only give him the best that minimum wage can offer, meaning that he has to work around 17 hours a week if he really wants to go to college. Not only that, but he also needs to balance out going to school, looking after his family since his mother is always at work and maintaining his already mediocre grades. With all of the circumstances going on in his life, Jonathan’s dream of going to college only seems to diminish by the day. However, due to one of the president’s most recent proposal’s, there just may be hope for students like Jonathan after all. Earlier this month, President Barack Obama revealed his plans on making the first two years of community college free for any American students under certain conditions. The students have to have at have at least a 2.5 GPA and attend their current schools at least half of the time. Whether or not you agree with Obama’s politics or not, this should be a time for many students to rejoice over what a progressive idea this is. The tuition prices of going to college have been incredibly high during recent years, with just state colleges having an average tuition of $8,893, which doesn’t include fees, meals and school supplies. With prices like these, it can easily make it immensely more difficult for a student to even attend college, especially if they come from a working, lower-class family. However, Obama clearly shows that he believes the less financially fortunate still deserve to have an education. Now, for many, going to a community college might not seem like the ideal pathway to go through after graduating high school, but it does in fact, offer a great number of benefits. The free tuition will mean that students will be able to get more time to save up money to go a more private, exclusive college. It will also give them plenty of time to think about what career they’ll want, though that surely won’t be a problem since community colleges provide a wide arrange of classes to find something that they’ll enjoy. This decision might drain out $60 billion from congress’s pocket, but if it means that up to nine million Americans are free to receive an education, then the price is more than worth it.

... if it means that up to nine million Americans are free to receive an education, then the price is more than worth it.

The Tiger Hi-Line is a weekly publication of the journalism classes at Cedar Falls High School, 1015 Division Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. Our website is www.hiline.cfschools.org. The Hi-Line is distributed to CFHS students on Fridays to read during their fifth period classes. Columns and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hi-Line staff or Cedar Falls Schools. The Hi-Line editorial is presented weekly in the editorial labeled Our View, and it is the view of the majority of the editors listed below. Reader opinions on any topic are welcome and should be sent to The Tiger Hi-Line staff or delivered to room 208. All letters must be signed. Letters must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Monday for publication in the following Friday edition. Letters may not exceed 300 words and may be edited to meet space limitations. Writers should include their contact information for verification. Editor-in-Chief: Austin Anderson Online Editor: Zuhayr Alam Copy Editor: Annebeth Ahrenholz Staff Writers: Sommer Danielsen, Agatha Fenech, Taylor Hylton, Ben Louviere, Mikaela Mallin, Malcolm Musoni, Dino Odobasic, Josie Speltz, Skylar Starbeck and Sarah Stortz

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New Day Dawning Friday, Jan. 23, 2015

Historic free climb in Yosemite Park highlights lesson for all who watched After seven years of possessing the same ambitious dream, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson are finally able to say that they have fulfilled it. On Jan. 14, they reached the top of the El Capitan’s Dawn Wall which stretches up 3,000 feet into the air. This was just 19 days after their initial ascent up the mountain. Their climb marked them as the first two people to ever free climb the Wall, which is thought of to be one of climbing’s most difficult challenges because it is widely conceived as being too steep and not having enough cracks to free climb. Jorgenson and Caldwells’ progress up the mountain was charted throughout the entire 19 days by the climbing world. They had set in their goal to have only 32 pitches (sections of rope). These pitches would only be there to catch them in case of an emergency fall. The rest was up to their hands, feet and own will to keep pushing forward toward their one common dream. On the 15th pitch, Jorgenson started having difficulties. Caldwell, being a more experienced climber was able to make it past the most difficult part moving at a quick pace. Jorgenson, on the other hand,

York Times, Caldwell said, “For me, I love to dream big, and I love to find ways to be a bit of an explorer. These days it seems like everything is padded and comes with warning labels. This just lights a fire under me, and that’s a really exciting way to live.” El Capitan Climber Tommy So for him it wasn’t about being the first to ever climb the wall freehanded; it was about continued to fall time after time bringing a dream to life and having to restart at the begin- being able to commit himself ning of the pitch each time. to something so empowering. Yet with the encouragement of Jorgenson added to Caldwell Caldwell and his determination in saying, “I hope it inspires to make his dream a reality, he people to find their own Dawn was able to make it up the past Wall, if you will. We’ve been the difficult part. working on this thing a long Once they had made it to time, slowly and surely. I think the top, they were met by 40 everyone has their own secret friends and family, as well as Dawn Wall to complete one numerous reporters who were day, and maybe they can put all waiting anxiously for them. this project in their own conCaldwell and Jorgensen em- text.” braced one another and their So what will your Dawn spouses as they looked out Wall be? What is going to onto what they had been work- make you push yourself to your ing so hard for the past two full potential? No matter how and a half weeks. ambitious you may think your After understanding all of dream is, go out there, and do the hardships and what dedi- whatever it takes to conquer it. cation it took to accomplish Make your Dawn Wall a reality. such an incredible task, some may ask, why do they do it? By Staff Writer Josie In an interview with the New SPELTZ

“We’ve been working on this thing a long time, slowly and surely. I think everyone has their own secret Dawn Wall to complete one day.”

CALDWELL

Black Like Me

Some racial boundaries resist empathy There are two things that I really hate hearing more than anything: “You’re the whitest black guy I know” and “I wish I was black.” Those bother me because it’s really an insult to my blackness and who I really am. When someone says they wish they were black, they really don’t want to be black. There is no way that they could want to be black. They may like and want to appropriate the culture, but they don’t want the racism, the injustice or the prejudice that comes with having this melanin. They may see sports dominantly filled with black people and think every black person has those skills and want to be

black, but they don’t want to be choked to death on camera with no one facing accountability for their actions. They don’t want this. They don’t want this blackness. Going to a school where the majority of my classmates are caucasian, I’m often placed into awkward moments such as having to deal with awkward gazes during the discussion of slavery. It’s something that I’ve grown accustomed to. I wear jorts, Vans and short shorts sometimes. I don’t fit the negative stereotype of what society places upon black men. I’ve had to unfairly become accustomed to people questioning my blackness because I don’t always speak in AAVE

(African American Vernacular English) and don’t emulate the street culture of which I have no knowledge or authentic experience. This year, I’ve had to become accustomed to the lack of justice that hasn’t been served to people who very well could’ve been me had I been in Ferguson, Mo., or New York City at that point in time. I see myself in Mike Brown, I see my autistic cousin in Tamar Rice and I see my dad in Eric Garner. I turn on the news, see myself and I ask you: Do you really want to be black? By Staff Writer Malcolm

Musoni

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Like Ike

Friday, Jan. 23, 2015

“[Ike]’s going to be a heck of a football player and can be as good as he wants to be.” Brandon Scherff

2013 grad prepares to follow lead of his best friend, Hawkeye top NFL draft prospect, Brandon Scherff

Ike Boettger sinks down into the driver’s side seat of his 2003 black Lexus SUV, his high school ride, for one of the last times as he is waiting on the license plates to come in the mail for his new truck. The wind is sharp and the snow lightly falls as his eyes gaze upon the school where he was quite literally the big man on campus. It was just three years ago when B o e t t g e r was a 6’5”, 215-pound junior quarterback leading his nationally ranked top 100 team along with James Harrington, the fastest high schooler in the history of Iowa, and Barkley Hill, the 2012 Gatorade Iowa High School Football Player of the Year. Times h a v e changed s i n c e Boettger’s famous Senior Hawkeye All American Tackle smile lit up the halls of Cedar Falls High School on a day to day basis, but the stories still float around almost as if he had never left. Teachers can tell you exactly where he sat in their class and laugh as they speak of the girls in awe or the trouble makers that surrounded him yet never quite caught his attention. Attention, however, is exactly what he captured from others whether he wanted it or not. His presence was impossible to ignore as he towered over his fellow classmates and, along with the class of 2013, consistently uttered the signature saying “Sup, Boys” throughout the halls and streets of Cedar Falls. Before ordering a full meal of a fillet mignon, noodles, rice, vegetables, a salad and a special Hawaiian sushi roll that isn’t even on the menu, Boettger slowly squeezes into

2013 CFHS graduate Ike Boettger was a quarterback for the Tigers in high school but is stepping into the shoes of Brandon Scherff at offensive tackle next fall for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

SPORTS

a booth at a local Japanese steakhouse. The remarkable physical transformation he has gone through in just two years after high school is as obvious as the oozing potential he possesses on and off the football field. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to look at this now 6’6”, 290-pound man sporting a black University of Iowa strength and conditioning sweatshirt and camo baseball hat to realize he might be next in the line of NFL-caliber offensive tackles that the Hawkeyes have produced over the last decade. He credits his high school coaches for helping him get this far, and the humbleness taught by his parents and upbringing quickly dismiss any heavy praise placed on his shoulders prematurely. “It’s a long way off,” Boettger said. “It’s every kid’s dream to play in the NFL. We’ll just see what happens. I’ve got a lot of work to do.” In the last 12 NFL drafts, there have been 12 offensive lineman alone taken from the University of Iowa. When next season begins, Boettger will be a redshirt sophomore, meaning he will have three years of remaining eligibility. In the depth chart released by head coach Kirk Ferentz following the season, the name next to the starting right tackle position reads a familiar one: Ike Boettger. The path that led him to his promising current state wasn’t exactly a familiar one, however, unless one is very well versed in the player development of the Iowa Hawkeyes. With his junior football season complete as a quarterback and limited interest from collegiate programs, the University of Iowa was in Cedar Falls meeting with offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher, who now plays for the University of Alabama. They decided to meet with Boettger also while they were there and invited him to attend their camp. He went down to Iowa City as a quarterback and struggled early. “I was flustered that they even talked to me,” Boettger said. “I was just launching the ball way over kids’ heads.” Not long after, he was asked to switch to tight end. Without pads, he just ran routes along with only one

other tight end prospect that had attended camp. With limited competition to steal away his spotlight, he was asked to come back to the next camp and bring his pads, and after impressing then, he and his family met with Coach Ferentz in his office. With hundreds of kids at the camp, Ferentz offered a scholarship to Boettger on the spot. A week later, he called Ferentz back and committed. “It was honestly mind blowing because two days earlier, I was thinking about trying to play quarterback or play basketball somewhere. There’s hundreds of kids at these camps, and maybe one a year gets a scholarship,” Boettger said. “It never really happens.” As soon as he arrived on campus as a bright-eyed freshman, it was apparent that college football is treated like a business as players are competing for jobs every day. Boettger took a redshirt year, meaning he would have four years of eligibility remaining following his first year as a Hawkeye as long as he didn’t play in any games. That didn’t mean he was able to take a year off. As a scout team tight end, Boettger went up against one of the best linebacking corps in the entire country right away. “They throw you right in there so you don’t have time to be nervous,” he said. There was no time to be nervous, but there was also no time to get acclimated with his new position either before Ferentz requested another meeting in his office with Boettger. “I’m like, ‘What did I do? What did I mess up?’” With six tight ends on the roster and a need for offensive tackles, the quarterback turned tight end was told by his coach that he could be a really good tackle. So after the homecoming game against Michigan State, another position switch was made, and Boettger became an offensive tackle. “When they tell you that they see you being better at a certain position, you don’t even think twice about it,” the new Iowa offensive tackle said. That’s when All-American Brandon Scherff started to take Boettger under his wing. The connection between the two was immediate before they even knew how deep their

similarities ran. Scherff was a high school quarterback at a massive 280 pounds as well as a tight end, and he played other sports and loved the outdoors, which correlated well with Boettger who once lived on a farm with 700 pigs. “Ike is the man,” said Scherff, who is a likely first round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. “He came in with a great attitude, and he just came into everything with a smile. I just wanted to help him as much as possible.” Scherff played a role in the decision making of the position switch to offensive line. “He basically said, ‘Do you want to be a 310-pound monster or a 240-pound tight end?’ you know, using different words than that,” Boettger said. The bond between the two became stronger when they decided to live together in a setting that allowed Scherff to teach his pupil how to eat properly, improve his hunting and fishing and live in a place where becoming better football players was the top priority. “He’s become a better player each and every day, and he always wants to get better,” said Scherff, who won the Outland Trophy as college football’s best interior lineman. “[Ike is always] watching practices right after we get done and always asking questions on what he can improve on and how he can get better.” “He’s a freak,” Boettger said in the most loving way possible of his best friend, Scherff, who he remains in contact with on a daily basis. Scherff returns the praise in a more conventional way saying, “He’s going to be a heck of a football player and can be as good as he wants to be.” As winter break concludes, Boettger rides back to Iowa City, leaving Cedar Falls behind in his new Christmas present, a 2011 white Dodge Ram. The Dodge is bigger, shinier and newer than the old Lexus that patrolled the streets of his hometown, but he leaves his old ride behind. His license plate reads “Sup Boys,” and his iconic smile lights up, two things CFHS will never forget even as he goes on to chase his dreams once again. By Editor-in-Chief Austin

ANDERSON

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Friday, Jan. 23, 2015

Men’s bowling team off to strongest start in history As junior Brandon Jerome crouched down, spotting his next move down the pocket, his next strike would clinch the Tigers a 5-0 record, the fastest start for the men’s bowling team ever. Since then, the Tigers have added one more win and their first loss when they faced LinnMar, to update their record to 6-1. Coach Brad Baker said he has seen major improvement from the Tiger bowling squad as he hopes to compete in

“My goal for this year is to win Districts and advance on to State.”

—Jackson Reynolds junior bowler

the state tournament this year. Jerome, who is a key bowler, has had a personal record this year of scoring a 267, helping the Tigers lock down their solid start. Baker said, “I think the part I enjoy the most about bowling is seeing the team

shoot their personal bests and how they are constantly working to improve every practice.” Another key bowler, junior Jackson Reynolds, has an average of 210 to contribute to the bowling team’s success. Reynolds looks to carry his team as

well through the season. Reynolds said, “My goal for this year is to win Districts and advance on to State.” The season for the Tigers has been a rolling success while competing against teams who have similar records as Cedar Falls, and this Friday, the bowling team will take on Dubuque Senior hoping to strike another win and keep the successful season on a straight lane to State. By Staff Writer Skylar

STARBECK

Winter Many CFHS athletes using Warm Up ‘off’ season to sharpen skills Though many athletes are in the midst of their winter sports seasons, such as basketball, swimming or cheerleading, other athletes are in the middle of training for their next sports. The numbers aren’t huge, but a select amount of athletes have been using this winter off season not to sit around and enjoy a break, but to put in the work day after day in training for their next sports, including mainly soccer, baseball or track, though some are also just working out to stay in shape and get stronger. These workouts take place at 6 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for lifting, and also after school on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays for running. Students doing these workouts have to stay dedicated and must learn how to manage their time in a smart manner. “Starting this program at first was difficult for me because it is at 6 in the morning, but after a couple weeks it got easier and now it is just a part of my weekly schedule. Everyone who does these workouts including me do them because we want to get better and succeed this track season. We have some pretty big goals that we want to accomplish, and this program helps us do that. (Track coach Dirk) Homewood is a great motivator, which makes

Annebeth Ahrenholz Photo

Sisters Larissa and Ellie Haan are just two of the many athletes staying active throughout the winter season with workouts before and after school. us want to keep working hard and be the best we can be,” junior Larissa Haan said. None of these workouts are mandatory, and the running workouts especially are only

suggested, but students are excited to take these opportunities to make themselves better for their next sports. “We do these workouts as a team because we know that the work

we put in now will turn into success later in the season,” junior Andrew Hager said. “I enjoy going to workouts because I am excited to enter this soccer season in the best shape as I can. I would like this soccer season to be successful for the whole team, and I would like to play a part in their success. I think our team has potential to be something special, and I will try to help in any way I can,” junior Conrad Nichols. Homewood along with football coach Brad Remmert and coach Will Carter supervise the weight room in the mornings. There are some lifting sessions after school on Mondays and Wednesdays as well as the morning sessions on those days, and they also do some running workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also, some of the distance runners lift in the weight room on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 a.m. These lifts are supervised by women’s track coach Kara Hulse. Many of those participating have their own running workouts according to which sport they are prepping to do. There are a lot of committed CFHS athletes, all ready to be competitive and be the best they can be when it comes time for their sports this spring. By Copy Editor Annebeth

AHRENHOLZ

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Athleteof Week the

Tra’von Fagan Basketball

Junior Tra’von Fagan has become a difference maker on both ends of the floor in his first vasity season. The 6’6’’ forward is second on the team in points per game and leads the team in rebounds, steals and blocks in his varsity season. Coming off a 6-15 season last year, the Tigers already have more wins this season, sitting at 9-2.

When did you dunk for the first time ever? The first time I actually dunked on a 10-foot hoop was the end of my sophomore year. It felt great because I usually missed it. What is it like dunking in a game? I feel like when I dunk it, it feels more intensity to the game. What’s going through my head is just getting pumped up. I just start getting bubbly and stuff. I start doing good, and the team gets excited, and I think if you’re playing excited, you have a much better chance of winning. How did you come into this season and bring a new attitude to the team? I knew that we didn’t have that great of a record last year, so I knew it was going to be hard, but I knew we had the right players to do it, so I just felt like once we started to click, it was going to be a good season. Are you looking to play in college? Right now a couple of Division II schools are looking at me, so I just have see what’s playing out for me and keep my eyes open.

Tigers in

Action

Men’s Basketball

Next up: Jan. 23 CR Kennedy at home at 6 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

Next up: Jan. 23 CR Kennedy away at 6 p.m.

Wrestling

Next up: Jan. 24 Urbandale Invite at 10 a.m.

Men’s Swimming

Next up: Jan. 24 at 12:30 MVC Super Meet at Linn-Mar

Bowling

Next up: Jan. 23 at Dubuque Senior at 3:45 p.m.