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BEST BAKER WINS!
Tiger HI-LINE Friday, May 31, 2019
Foods class creates cupcakes to be judged by other treachers/ page 6 Follow us on Twitter at tigerhiline, Facebook at TigerHilineOnline and on our website at www.hiline.cfschools.org
Volume 58 Edition 27
An Iowa Watch Investigation
Midwestern fish eating guidelines vary On a chilly morning in April, Gunwoo Yoon, his wife and two sons joined about 100 other anglers at Prairie Lakes in Cedar Falls. They were fishing for trout, and plenty were available as the Iowa Department of National Resources (DNR) was doing its annual stocking of the lake. Hundreds of trout gushed from a tank truck through a pipe into the lake. “We moved last year to Cedar Falls, and it was the first time that we went fishing at the trout stocking event,” Yoon, a University of Northern Iowa assistant professor of marketing, said. “It was a super familyoriented fishing event, so we were there. I would say that we go fishing about one time per month since then.” The rainbow trout released into Prairie Lakes were fine to eat because they came from a hatchery, but trying to distinguish what fish to eat from one Midwest state to the next can be difficult because the rules vary in each state, an IowaWatch/Cedar Falls Tiger Hi-Line investigation showed. Even with fish sampling, it is hard to know where to fish because fish from only a few waterways where people fish are tested each year, the investigation showed. Anglers at farm ponds are on their own in regard to the health of the fish they catch because the DNR does not sample fish in private water bodies for contamination. The state warns Iowa anglers to limit their consumption of wild caught fish in 22 lakes and river sections around the state due to contaminants
Sabine Martin Photo
Maria Christensen, of Waterloo, fishes at Big Woods Lake in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on May 21. like mercury and PCBs, but 78% of Iowans did not limit their consumptions based on recent concern, according to an unpublished 2018 Iowa Angler Survey. Mercury and PCBs are industrial byproducts and tend to concentrate into the fatty tissues of many fish. The Iowa DNR lists advisories
on its website, but interviews from sporting goods stores revealed that people often are not told to look at the guidelines online or pick up a guideline pamphlet when they buy their fishing license. “We do have little booklets, straight from the DNR that are free that have anything that you want to know about fishing, but
we don’t hand them out,” Coleman Waters, a customer service employee from the Cedar Falls SCHEELS, said. Yoon got his fishing license from a sporting goods store. “But no one told me or informed me about these chemicals in the fish,” he said.
‘FISH ADVISORIES’
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After sisters began with small lemonade stand 10 years ago,
Geography teacher traveling to Koreas to extend learning
Mental health month is coming to a close, but Cedar Falls community members are not done promoting mental health and cancer awareness. This Thursday and Friday, May 29 and 30, from 3-7 p.m. and this Saturday, June 1, from 9-1 p.m. at 215 N. Division St., will be the 10th annual Team Strassburg (Relay for Life)/Team Forever 21 (Alive & Running) bake-lemonade sale founded by the Tournier family. Tehya Tournier, a sophomore at the University of Iowa, said her family has always been involved
This summer, Advanced Placement Human Geography (APHUG) teacher, Traci Lake will fly to Seoul, South Korea, for a conference to learn more about the Korean Peninsula and how it can be applied in the classroom. She was selected as a delegate to participate in a geography education conference and field study. The event is sponsored by the Northeast Asian History Foundation and is an all expenses paid trip to Seoul. The trip will include a one
Bake sale grows in influence with Relay for Life, a communitybased event for The American Cancer Society and felt connected to the cause because her grandfather died from lung cancer a few months before she was born. One day she thought of a bake sale as a good way to donate to the cancer cure. “We weren’t doing anything that day I guess, so we got a card table, and I think we made a couple batches of cookies and that was it, and more and more people started coming that day,” Tournier said. Tehya and her sister, Aaliyah,
made around $300 that year. Now, along with the lemonade stand and the help of community members, family and friends, they have raised around $10,000 for Relay for Life and Alive & Running ( an organization for suicide awareness and prevention) over the past 10 years. For the Tournier family, these organizations have meanings that are close to heart. In 2012, Tehya’s friend, Megan Keough, lost her brother, Jeremy Coonrad, to sui-
‘LEMONADE SALE’
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day conference where topics such as geospatial technology in the classroom, geographical naming disputes and how current events can be used to teach about the Korean Peninsula in the classroom will be discussed by delegates from America, Europe and Korea. There were 14 delegates that were chosen from the United States, three from Europe and an unknown number of Ko-
‘LAKE TRIP’
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Walk out brings attention to mental health issues Active Minds organized a walkout on May 23 at 11:17 a.m. to bring awareness to the rising mental health issues amongst teens around the globe. “Active Minds is a representation of how our community views mental health and shows the steps we are taking toward bettering the school environment. We want to continue the national conversation in our specific area to become a part of a bigger movement of people taking action to support and promote better mental health for all,” junior Sofia Muñoz, a member of the Active Minds club, said. Throughout the event, students were handed stickers, mental health awareness pins, card holders and handbooks including information about mental health awareness with numbers for hotlines, symptoms of a person who might be suffering a mental illness, how to approach a person who is suffering from a mental illness and more. “The walk was meant to be a kick off for the group and give people the opportunity to see who else shares their connection and passion in mental health awareness. It is also to show the the whole student body that there are supporters among them if anyone ever feels
Friday May 31, 2019
Clare Williams Photos
The Active Minds group wrote on stones for the walk out on May 23 and junior Leah Funk shared her experience with mental illness with all who participated. alone or isolated,” Muñoz said. Alongside approximately 70 students, the event featured messages from Emily Conrad from Black Hawk County Mental Health, a representative from the UNI chapter of Active Minds, and junior Leah Funk. They encouraged the community to be more aware of the personal struggles or those of people around them.
Having been hospitalized a few times due to her mental struggles, Funk told her story and reminded those at the event of the importance of talking openly about mental health. “Speaking in front of the crowd was actually a pretty terrifying but at the same time a very relieving experience. I was really scared that people would look at me differently or peo-
‘BAKE-LEMONADE SALE’/Continued from Page 1 cide at the age of 21. At an Alive & Running event, the families came up with a team called “Team 21” and in 2013 started allocating half the earnings from the bake sale to Alive & Running. “As the years went on, in our friend group and in our family, we kept seeing losses from cancer, suicide and more struggles with mental health issues, so it is just really important and has a lot of back round to it,” Tournier said. Team Strassburg stms from the teacher at Cedar Heights elementary, Mark Strassburg. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2013. After his diagnosis, the bake-lemonade sale created Team Strassburg and it became involved with the event. Strassburg believes that staying positive in difficult situations benefits not only one’s self, but young ones watching. “These kids at the bake sale know that when you’re dealt a difficult hand, they look at how you react to it,” he said. “If you react to it in a positive way, that can keep good spirits and hopefully follow them later in life whenever they struggle with something.” In addition to Tournier’s friends and family, people all over Cedar Falls are reaching out to help support the causes that the bake-lemonade sale is supporting. “We get so many people baking for it including the Straussberg family, the whole Keough fam-
ily, our whole family and extended family members. Random people on Facebook also always ask if they can bake stuff for us,” Tournier said. Not only has this bake-lemonade sale helped people who are struggling with mental illness and cancer, but it also helps people who volunteer for the bake sale, like Tehya and her sister, Aaliyah. “It was so important for us to grow up in this volunteering world, you know to humble ourselves, and see that a lot of people have it harder than we do. We get to see the impact we have on on these people and how a dollar can make so much more change than nothing,” Tehya said. “It has helped us become more interested in volunteering. It has gotten us into wanting to help people more,” Aaliyah said. Tournier said that the bake sale has grown tremendously this year. “There is going to be a couple raffle boxes. I think we are going to get someone to donate doughnuts for the morning on Saturday. My sister makes bracelets to sell there, and we’re going to have the ‘#let’s start talking’ apparel there too,” she said. Strassburg said that because younger and younger people are being affected by cancer, “If we can make them aware that this a disease that we have to put some money toward, to hopefully find a cure, then maybe we will have birthdays for their loved ones down the road.” By Co-Editor-In-Chief Sophia
SCHILLINGER
ple would react in a way that would cause me to be afraid of speaking out more. But also it felt like a breath of fresh air because I could finally get the word out there and say, ‘Hey, I’m struggling, and that’s OK.’ peaking about my illness and the walk as a whole made me really hopeful that more people would reach out for help,” Funk said.
The walkout was a first for the high school. “I personally really hope that we are getting closer to breaking the stigma of mental health. I felt so much support from the people at the walkout, and I am really grateful for that,” Funk said. By Opinion Editor Saba
AYDINER
‘LAKE TRIP’/Continued from Page 1
rean delegates participating. Lake said, “Getting to collaborate with other teachers who teach this course is what I’m really looking forward to. It’ll be interesting to hear other perspectives from people of different locations and cultures and not just from American teachers.” The opportunity to be a part of this conference was first made known to Lake in mid-January. “I’m in a Facebook group of other APHUG teachers, and another teacher shared it there. They had gone on it in the past, and they said it was a really great professional development opportunity,” Lake said. The application process included a sixto-eight-page paper about a topic of Lake’s choosing that she would present about at the conference. She chose to talk about the use of geospatial technologies in the classroom. Geospatial technologies include Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which captures, stores and analyzes geographic data and Global Positioning Systems or GPS that helps to pinpoint the exact location of something on the Earth. Lake said that the using geospatial technologies was very important to her. “The visualisation of data is huge for helping students to see patterns across space. Anytime I can apply that in my class, I like to,” she said. Examples of geospatial technologies that have been used are story maps, which layer data and provide explanations as to why what is being shown is significant. The conference is not the only thing that Lake will be doing in South Korea. She will
also be travelling around the city for field studies. These will include visiting industrial and agricultural sites, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which is the border between North and South Korea, and the city of Seoul in general. “I’ve been doing a little research into the city itself and what I want to do with my extra time there as I’ll be there a few days ahead of time,” Lake said. “They’re paying for our flight to and from Seoul, but we could pick the dates that we fly, so I’m going a few days early and meeting another teacher there, and we’re just going to explore the city.” Lake will be staying for two nights in a traditional Korean home called a hanok. Lake said a huge part of this trip is getting to experience a new culture. “Experiencing a different culture and how I can use that to connect to relevant topics in the classroom is exciting.” The DMZ between North and South Korea has become a sort of tourist attraction for people to come and visit the border. Lake said, “I’m excited to go to the DMZ. I’m just intrigued by how they’ve set it up to be a tourist destination despite the conflict that could potentially erupt there really at any time. I’m excited and a little nervous, but how many people can say they’ve been to the border of North Korea?” By Staff Writer Clare
WILLIAMS
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FEATURE
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Write Stuff
Path to effective writing begins with effective habits It’s no secret that writing can be a struggle. When you’re busy with other things or just plain lacking motivation, writing seems almost impossible. But no matter what you’re into or what you’re doing, whether it be writing or painting or singing, these tricks, tips and reminders will help to bring you out of your block, turning you back into a motivated artist once more. By Online Editor Skylar
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Switch up your music. Writing or painting or singing is always fun when it comes with a soundtrack in the background. Music helps ideas flow and connect the moment or the piece to something more. Listening to the same few songs over and over again can sometimes be necessary to provoke ideas, to move along thoughts, but sometimes listening to the same thing over and over again can become a block. Try to switch it up every once in awhile. You like listening to jazz? Try switching it up with something completely different, like classic rock or alternative. Like listening to alternative? Try classical. Maybe words aren’t helping as you try to come up with some of your own, try something that had no words. Pick some type of calming or energizing background music. With plenty of tracks to choose from on youtube, this part should be a cinch.
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Share with a friend. Sharing your art can be scary. There’s always the fear of rejection and criticizing of your piece. This part is tricky, but once you find the right person to share your work with, even if it’s just a short bit, you will find a new confidence in yourself that will help bring your art to life. You just have to find the right person. Try sharing your work with a close friend that you would have little to no problem with dealing with criticism. Though it can be scary, constructive criticism is something all artists must face. It is your job to let the person know what kind of criticism you’re looking for. If you just need some encouragement, tell them this. It does not make you any less of an artist if you just want to hear good things about the early work of a piece. Though at some point you must come to terms and learn to face the bad criticisms too, but you can wait until the editing period for this. Build yourself up during the work in progress, and then work your way to the harsher criticisms. You will thank yourself for it.
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Keep arting! No one said being an artist was easy, but no matter what type of artist you are, you need to keep doing what you do. People say practice makes perfect, but really, practice makes persistence. You need to have persistence in whatever art form you chose in order to progress and succeed. That means, spend at least five minutes of your day thinking of ideas. Spend just a bit of that time to write down those ideas, jot them down in a notebook somewhere, make it work. If you’re a writer, try to take the time to write at least one sentence a day. It may not look like much now, but it will really make a difference later on. This will help ideas to flow, helping you to move on with your story one sentence at a time.
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Take breaks. Now, breaks can mean many things. One thing you do not want to do unless absolutely necessary is going on a hiatus. A hiatus is a long break where artists of all kinds spend their time away from the art, not working on it or even thinking about it for extended periods of time. A hiatus is not what you want to do. Instead, take smaller, shorter breaks every now and then. Don’t completely walk away from the piece; simply try seeing it from a new angle. Taking a break can mean allowing yourself a snack while you look over it or taking a bathroom break that almost all artists know they’ve been holding for way too long. Take the break for as long as you need, be it to rest, to sleep, to or to refuel. Just promise yourself that you will always come back to it within the next hour, within the next day if it gets to that, but do not abandon it. It may look small right now. It may look weak, but just give it a little heart and a little tweak and soon you’ll be flying.
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Skylar Promer Photo
Don’t fix mistakes. Well, at least not immediately. One problem many people have that causes their block is when they go back and try to fix things when their story isn’t finished yet. Of course there are going to be tons of mistakes, and you are going to want to go and fix them the moment you see them. When you do this, often times you will spend more time fixing things than actually finishing your story. Save this task for the end. Instead, try leaving a note at the place where you think there is a problem and come back to it when the story is finished. When the story is finished, you will know more about yourself as a writer and the characters, plot and storyline themselves, and this will make it easier to come back and fix and add things. Sure, allow yourself to add something here and there, but don’t go into full editing mode before the whole thing is finished. Doing so can discourage you. Fix your habits. Don’t edit until the end.
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Art takes time! You just need to remember that these things take time. Nothing happens overnight, many people say that, but it’s true. All you need to do is keep working at it one day at a time. The only thing holding you back is yourself. If you just allow yourself a little bit of time each day, you will find your piece growing and changing a little bit more each time. You just need to remember to give yourself that time, be it five minutes or an entire day dedicated to working on your art. Nothing will stop you more than yourself. Set aside five minutes at the beginning or end of the day and you will definitely start to see improvement. It just takes a bit of time.
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‘FISH ADVISORIES’/Continued from Page 1 A 2007 survey by the Responsive Management National Office of Licensed Anglers in Iowa showed that 81.6 percent of anglers consume at least some of the fish they harvest and approximately 4.6 million meals of Iowa-caught fish were consumed. Of those anglers that harvested fish, 78 percent said they did not limit their consumption for safety concerns and 88 percent considered fish caught from Iowa to be safe to eat. “I don’t know how that goes, for the chemicals and stuff,” Maria Christensen, a fisher from Waterloo, Iowa, said. Although she said she worries about the health of eating fish, she thinks the waters are safe. “But if it was contaminated, I know they wouldn’t allow you to go there.” DIFFERENT STANDARDS The standards for what makes a fish healthy for eating can change over time. In 2018, the Minnesota Department of Health changed its risk assessment for perfluorooctane sulfonate chemicals (PFOS). Based on updated science, the department announced it had changed the level at which it advises people to restrain from eating fish from 800 ng/g (nanograms per gram) to 200 ng/g. The new standards meant that anglers were advised not to eat any fish from Lake Elmo, just east of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. But learning what makes a fish healthy enough to eat also depends on who’s giving the information, and where. For example, Iowa defines fish portion sizes as 6 ounces for an adult. In Nebraska, advisories are based on “an 8-ounce meal because we believe that it is realistically more of what a person would sit down and consume for a meal,” Greg Michl, Nebraska’s fish tissue program coordinator, said. Also, Midwest states vary on who much testing they do. •Iowa tests 20 locations from its rivers and lakes, with a different group of sampling locations each year. •South Dakota tested 14 water bodies in 2018. •Nebraska tests approximately 40-50 pre-select-
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Friday May 31, 2019
A man fishes on Big Woods Lake in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on May 21.
“While nearly every state in the U.S. has a fish tissue monitoring program in place, differences exist in the way fish samples are analyzed and assessed between states. These differences create a lack of comparability between states and can cause confusion for people who enjoy fishing in their home state, shared waters and other states’ waters.”
—2018 report by Greg Michl, Nebraska’s fish tissue program coordinator
ed streams and publicly owned lakes in two or three of Nebraska’s 13 major river basins annually. •Illinois tests 40-50 streams, rivers and inland lakes and four Lake Michigan open water stations each year. •Wisconsin collects fish from approximately 50 to 100 sites each year. •Minnesota tests fish samples from approximately 130 lakes and river segments each year. The Iowa DNR recommends that people eat no more than one meal per week of any predator fish caught in the Iowa River stretch between the upper end of Coralville Lake near Swisher, in Johnson County, to the Coralville Dam southeast of North Liberty, because of potential mercury contamination. Likewise, the DNR recommends no more than one meal per week limit on any channel catfish caught in McKinley Lake in Union County because of the PCB contamination. Nebraska recommends that fish consumption be limited to one 8-ounce serving per week because of mercury levels present in fish.
In Wisconsin, state officials recommend that women of childbearing age, or under 50, and children under 15 eat one serving per week of bluegills, crappies and yellow perch; one serving per month of walleye, pike and bass; and no muskies. The state does not restrict the consumption of bluegills, crappies or yellow perch for women over 50 or men, and it recommends one serving per week of walleye, pike and bass; and one serving per month of muskies. Minnesota says smaller fish like crappies, yellow perch, bullheads and sunfish do not need to be limited, but larger fish like walleyes, northern pike and lake trout should only be eaten once a week, the state recommends. Commercial fish like shark and swordfish should only be eaten once a month, it recommends. Patricia McCann, a research scientist with the Minnesota Department of Health, said Minnesota bases its guidelines on a risk-based approach and communicates it to the public. “We want people to follow our guidelines, and if they follow our guidelines, then I’m not concerned about their exposure,” she said. Barry Eastman, an angler
from Cedar Falls, said he is not worried about the chemicals in the fish because he does not consume fish regularly. “Since we only eat fish only half a dozen times a year, I’m not too worried about it. If I was going out and catching fish in the river every day, that’s not good ’cause I know the water is polluted. It’s full of nitrates and bad stuff,” he said. “If I would eat more of it, I would say that was definitely something I would be concerned with,” Cedar Falls fisherman Aaron Wilson said. Wilson said he fishes mostly for pleasure but eats about 10 fish a year, usually walleye. Although the Iowa DNR, along with other states, publishes guidelines, they are only recommendations. “Fish consumption advisories are not legal requirements, and there is no penalty if an individual chooses not to follow these recommendations. The Iowa DNR does not set regulations or restrictions related to contaminants in fish flesh,” the DNR’s Krier wrote. The fish consumption guidelines provided by Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, South Dakota and Missouri address the size and frequency of fish an average person should consume
Sabine Martin Photo taking account factors such as age and gender. The most sensitive populations for fish contaminants are pregnant women and children. Iowa’s fish consumption guidelines provided by the DNR suggest that people who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, nursing or under age 12 limit consumption of predator fish like walleye and bass to one meal per week Nevertheless, DNR officials in the various Midwest states still want to promote fishing and the consumption of fish. “An important factor to this whole situation is fish are very good for people to eat, not losing sight of that, but just paying attention to where your sources of fish come from and obviously local fish caught from various states,” Michl said. MAINTAINING BUSINESS Fishing in Iowa is a big business and heavily promoted by the Iowa DNR, with lists of fishing locations and hot spots on its website. In 2018, Iowa earned more than $8 million in revenue on fishing licenses. Fishing guidelines are available at the various spots where people may purchase fishing licenses, including sports and outdoors stores, and grocery stores. The DNR also posts fishing guidelines on its website. Fishing is also a big business and recreational activity in the Midwestern states adjacent to Iowa: Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Wisconsin has the largest fishing economy of these states, earning more than $39
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million annually in fishing licenses. Each state also issues fish consumption advisories. Contaminants include mercury, lead, PCBs, chlordane, dioxin, perfluorochemicals (PFCs) and perfluorooctane (PFOS). For anglers in the Midwest, trying to distinguish which fish are safe to eat is a dizzying task because of each state’s different guidelines. According to a 2018 report by Michl, the disparities between states lead to a confusing system. “While nearly every state in the U.S. has a fish tissue monitoring program in place, differences exist in the way fish samples are analyzed and assessed between states,” the report said. “These differences create a lack of comparability between states and can cause confusion for people who enjoy fishing in their home state, shared waters and other states’ waters.” Even with annual fish tissue sampling, it is impossible in some Midwestern states to know the fish quality in every location. Minnesota has sampled about 1,200 lakes, or only 22 percent of the state’s 5,500 fishing lakes, since it started testing fish for contaminants since 1967. Similarly, Wisconsin, with 15,000 lakes and 32,000 miles of rivers, only has tested fish from about 1,700 sites since the 1970s. The Iowa DNR has collected annual samples of fish tissue since 1980 to determine if contaminants like chlordane, methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are below safe levels for human consumption. Mercury is the most common fish contaminant across the country, largely due to pollution from coal burning power plants that settles into water bodies. Mercury tends to concentrate in the fatty tissue of fish. Larger predator fish tend to have higher concentrations of mercury because they eat smaller fish. According to the World Health Organization, mercury may pose a threat to child’s development in utero and health early on in life. Mercury can have toxic effects on nervous, digestive and immune systems and on skin, lungs, kidneys and eyes. In Iowa, the goal is to regularly take fish samples for testing from popular public fishing sites every 10 years and from key river segments every five years, Ken Krier, of
Friday, May 31, 2019 the Iowa DNR water monitoring staff, wrote in an email. “However, because there are about 130 SPOLs (Significant Publicly-Owned Lakes) and hundreds/thousands of miles of fishable rivers, that didn’t happen due to the very large demands on funding and staff time,” he wrote in the email. Krier said that of the 301 sites sampled since 1980, 126 sites have been sampled once, 50 sites have been samples twice, 40 sites have been sampled three times, 26 sites sampled four times, 19 sites sampled five times and 40 sites sampled more than five times. In addition, the DNR maintains some sites to find trends, charting their longterm health of fish stock in certain bodies of water. Since 2016, it has followed 15 sites, sampling the fish every other year. FISH CONSUMPTION RECOMMENDATIONS Fishing reports from Midwest states provide citizens with health guidelines for consuming fish but also the benefits. Missouri’s fish advisory summary has a full page of health benefits, stating that fish are a part of a healthy diet. The summary states that consuming fish improves learning ability in children, decreases triglycerides, lowers blood pressure, reduces blood clotting and enhances immune function. Nebraska’s fishing brochure is called “Eat Safe Fish in Nebraska.” Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois offer their fishing advisories in multiple languages but not Iowa and its other neighbors, despite the wide span of ethnicities in the United States. Minnesota Department of Health translates its statewide fishing guidance into Hmong, Spanish and Vietnamese and has provisions for Braille communication. In addition to providing their fishing advisory in English, Spanish and Laotian, Wisconsin offers an alternative advisory phone number for Braille communication as well as an audiotape and large print. “We continuously try to learn more about how people are receiving our messages and better ways to do it. We are always trying to improve,” McCann said. Besides fishing advisories posted online and in stores, Minnesota shares information with the state about fish con-
sumption safety in alternative ways. “We work with health care providers. We have things on our website, YouTube videos. We have tasty videos about recipes,” McCann, the state Department of Health research scientist, said. “We have done focus groups with woman to see how they want to receive information and what are the barriers in eating fish. We do surveys, and we work with communities that we think eat more fish, like the Hmong community in Minnesota,” she said. Unlike the other Midwest states, the Missouri DNR engages a younger audience to
FEATURE
understand fishing advisories early in their life. The state provides the public with a fish advisory activity book to engage young ones. This book contains information in an entertaining way about different topics like the biomagnification of mercury in fish, lead poisoning and the different types of fish. Cedar Falls fisherman Troy Slater said he is conscious of the health effects of eating fish contaminated with chemicals. “I’ve talked to kids who have grown up in Cedar Falls who have fished the Cedar but won’t eat anything out of it just because of all of the runoff. I think about it,” he said.
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Science in the Media Graphics In Collaboration with
IOWA WATCH
and
SCIENCE IN THE MEDIA Story By Co-Editor-In-Chief Sabine
MARTIN
and Co-Editor-In-Chief Sophia
SCHILLINGER
With Additional Reporting and Research by Staff Writer Taylor
HUNT
and Staff Writer Erin
McRAE
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As the year comes to a close, students finish off 2018-19 with
Sweet Endings Saba Aydiner Photos
In FCS teacher Jacqueline Bakker’s Food Nurtition class, students competed in a cupcake war. They had to design themes for the cakes and display theme for birthday party. Teachers came in on the final day to judge the results. The “Batter Up” group placed first, “Castle Catastrophe” came in second and “Thanos” came in third. At top is Bakker with Addison Anderson, and below that are Carter Tjaden and Nick Bellendier. At left is Brandon Conrad.
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Grace Boezinger Photos
In the blood drive on May 10, participants contributed 47 units of blood, which can be used to impact up to 141 lives. The totals included 36 first time donors. Giving blood, at left is Emmy Sherbon and up top is AJ Jackson.
Alex Williams Photos
Taking in the senior party on Wednesday, May 15 enjoying the day with a picnic are Margaret Schafer, Alex Glascock, and Emerald Barnes while Jack Gilbert plays kickball with the seniors.
Clare Williams Photos
In a mock scenario, juniors Emma DeWitt and her lab partner Mia Houlihan and Maddison Hurley and her partner Alexandra Somodi and all of the other honors chemistry used their titration skills to provide evidence for a class action lawsuit in Lynn Griffin’s classes. Students had to see if the percentage of acetic acid in the vinegar actually met the levels as advertised.
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Top 2019 song releases climb charts “Old Town Road” Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Rae Cyrus
Submitted Photos
Controversy and conversation around Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” over the last few weeks has largely led to one important question: does the song really live up to the hype? It certainly is infectious country trap that doesn’t take anything too seriously. As Lil Nas X sings of decamping for the grasslands of an unsettled America and fleeing on horseback, he is portraying “country” as a meme, and not only that, but also as an ideal. Billy Ray Cyrus, of all people, has joined forces with Lil Nas X to label the new hit a new cut of country, “Old Town Road.” While Billy Ray hopping on the remix lends a bit more credence to the idea that “Old Town Road” is a country song, his contribution is something unexpected. His verse is out of lockstep with X’s, and his lines about riding a Maserati down Rodeo Drive and buying his baby diamond rings and Fendi sports bras, contradict the other lyrics: leaving big city modernity behind for simpler living, marrying the bravado of trap with Western tropes (“Ridin’ on a horse/You can whip your Porsche/I been in the valley/You ain’t been up off that porch,” etc). For Cyrus, the song is merely an opportunity to position himself as a new type of outlaw. For Lil Nas X, it was about wanting to “leave everything behind,” about freedom. They have much different agendas. Still, as they collaborated on this new hit, we can’t help but wonder if this new trend of “mixing genres’ will gain popularity.
“I Don’t Care” Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber’s single “I Don’t Care,” the first new song in a few years from either musician. It could also be considered the sound of two of the world’s most popular bros proclaiming to be wallflowers. A rhythm from the producers Max Martin, Shellback and FRED hints that the singers still believe that the “tropical pop” fad that both Sheeran and Bieber previously cashed in on still has relevance. Fidgety and merry, with a darting melody, the music captures a sense of awkwardness that could give way to abandon. It also makes for a pretty catchy soundtrack, “I’m at a party I don’t wanna be at,” Sheeran begins in a fast, rap-y tune. “And I don’t ever wear a suit and tie, yeah / Wonderin’ if I could sneak out the back.” Then he switches to his soulful rasp, which has come to rule playlists: “Don’t think I fit in at this party / Everyone’s got so much to say / I always feel like I’m nobody / Who wants to fit in anyway?” The is self-parody, intentionally or not. The new hit cultivated hit by two of the most highly praised male vocalists was sue to make the top eight for sure.
“Sucker” Jonas Brothers
It’s been a long six years since we last heard new music from the Jonas Brothers, and toward the end of their run, it seemed like they had already lost the muse that made them one of the catchiest, funniest and most-charming acts to come out of their class. It was clear they wanted to grow up: Their core audience was getting older. Within a couple of years, two of the three JoBros had scored hits that showed the inspiration they’d been sorely missing — Nick Jonas with “Jealous” and, particularly, Joe Jonas in the pop group DNCE with “Cake by the Ocean.” With assistance from Ryan Tedder, “Sucker” is an impeccably pleasing to the ears listen consisting of a pop-rock tune that could be reminiscent of the hits the JoBros churned out during their first take at being a band. Of course, they’ve done a lot of growing up and can now express different angles in their songs than in their wholesome youth, but that just makes them more appealing, right? With less to lose now than when they began attempting a more adult sound in their music as a younger group, the Jonas Brothers have the type of cheerful and careless fun that hooked their fans in the first place.
“Talk” Khalid
Khalid never fails to disappoint on a new single. His voice has roughly the same uniqueness that you would relate to being quirky but yet so addictive when you start listening to it. His most recent album climbed to number one with his Rhythmic Radio hit “Better,” and with this new song, “Talk.” I highly doubt that this will be his last number one on any musical chart. “Talk” was produced by Disclosure and has such a feel-good vibe attached to it, something that Disclosure is well known for – fusing electronic music with pop music that leaves fans hungry for more. “Talk” could definitely be one of the top songs of the summer — the electronic, “Feels”-type of vibe that the song gives is for sure not going to go unnoticed as we head into the summer months. On the track, Khalid’s voice skates flawlessly through the song, and he lures you into the question, repeatedly asking “Can we just talk?” The song is almost like a plea to simply resolve mistakes made through rushed love, and now he honestly just wants to talk. The song itself is rather simple, but it’s Khalid that makes “Talk” worthy of constantly replaying; his voice is the main attraction here. Khalid is known to never miss a mark on a song, and he somehow keeps delivering fresh new music to become addicted to, and “Talk” is no exception.
“Bad Guy” Billie Eilish
On March 29, 17-year-old Billie Eilish released her debut album, “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” For the past few years, the only music fans had gotten from Eilish were covers of her favorite songs, and a few singles featured in other productions. Her song, “Bad Guy,” for which she released the music video in March, leads with an upbeat tempo paired with taunting and playful lyrics. Aside from the overall powerful vibe, the breakdown and amplification depict Billie as a proud villain. It allowed her to play into the “scary” role that people see Eilish as. The highlight of the devilish song are the biting lyrics that get you thinking. Se weaves in sweet melodies and an infectious chorus that’s guaranteed to stick in your head. Countless assumptions of what the singer must be like, based on her wardrobe, friends and photos of her would seem to get to just about anybody, but Eilish makes it clear that she intends to stick to her values and not be influenced by certain lifestyles sometimes seen in the music industry. Lyrics aside, the production of this song makes it a certified standout. The heavy bass, low volume and twinkling cleanness in the verses make it a gem that truly highlights and encapsulates her energy, voice and personality, like all of her songs have a way of doing.
“Sunflower” Post Malone
Two of rap’s bigger names, Post Malone and Swae Lee, join forces on the single, “Sunflower.” “Sunflower” appears on the soundtrack for the forthcoming film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” The lush, rhythmic production of the song makes it a listen you’ll want to play on repeat. Naturally, Swae Lee is made for this cut, with his chill persona and his melodic abilities. Following a brief intro, he delivers a smooth first verse, as well as a memorable chorus. Post Malone is also melodic, though he tends toward a different finesse as Lee. Even so, the contrast is surprisingly appealing, and furthermore, he has really notable vocal harmonies going on within the top hit. “Sunflower” is packed full of vibes that vary from a soothing, slower general tone and beat of the song and then makes its way to a more upbeat and unpredictable style before switching back. This technique ensures that you never tire from the fun listen that’s breaking top charts everywhere. By the end of Post Malone’s final chorus, you still find yourself yearning for something more.
“7 Rings” Ariana Grande
Ariana’s hit luxuriated and focused in the joy of being young, beautiful and wealthy on her newest single “7 rings,” where she expresses that same sentiment from a far more malicious stance. The rhythm stays super consistent throughout the progression of the track as Ariana uses layers in the instrumentation to build up the song’s sound and messages. As we get to the chorus, there’s a slight beat drop mixed with trap music. The tempo from verse to chorus remains mirrored as it allows the song to drop down and then pick itself up over and over again. The lyrics of this track focus on themes of money, wealth and friendship. Ariana begins the track by singing about some of her favorite things that correspond in pattern to the 1959 show tune “My Favorite Things.” Within the lyrics, the singer boasts about many luxuries including money, houses and diamonds. The track’s title “7 Rings” is a reference to that fact that Ariana and six of her friends got matching diamond friendship rings. Once again we hear something from the star like nothing she’s provided before as she continues to reshape and change the way pop music is sounding year by year. Her personal flair is quite apparent while listening to her new “Sweetener” album. Her personality shines through as fun, upbeat and unpredictable, which is what captivates young listeners’ attention.
By Staff Writer Alexandrs
WILLIAMS
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Rapper pushes boundaries with new album One of the most innovative artists of this generation, Tyler the Creator is once again breaking down the barriers of hip-hop with his fifth studio album. His new self produced album “Igor” is, in Tyler’s words, not like any of his previous albums, and Tyler shows his artist growth from his previous albums. “Igor” shows heavy influence from Pharell, one of Tyler’s idols, and also features the likes of Kanye, Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti. It opens with a deep synth pulsing in your ears before kicking into a tight groove on “IGOR’S THEME,” setting a tone for the entire album. I would’ve liked to hear Tyler rap on the beat, but he chose to go the instrumental route, which I think works just as well for an album opener. This transitions into the chart topping hit featuring Playboi Carti, “EARFQUAKE.” “EARFQUAKE” is about Tyler having someone he loves leave him, and while the lyrics might not be the deepest, it is the catchiest song on the album. The layers added in throughout the song bring diversity to the repeated chorus, and Playboi Carti joins in with a beautiful verse to complete Tyler’s most popular song on the album. Continuing on to the next track “I THINK,” the funky, Pharell-type beat comes out again with the beautiful voice of R&B artist Solange sampling “Special Lady” by Bibi Mascel. Tyler tweeted he re-did the bridge nine
times because he wanted it perfect, and it shows. The song’s best moment is the bridge, with a beautiful instrumental topped off with a mesmorizing synth line. A transition featuring Jerrod Carmichael takes us into another high point of the album in “RUNNING OUT OF TIME.” The contrasts in this song with the sudden beat changes and mood swings keep you on your toes and hold your attention. Tyler switches back and forth from simplicity to complexity by adding and taking away layers while still making the song sound complete and full, which is a very hard thing to make sound smooth. I believe Tyler’s producing talent is highlighted best in this song and it shows the innovative and creative mind he has. A catchy chorus makes it a good song to jam to, and is why I believe this is the most complete song on the album. The synth moving back in forth between your ears at the end of the song demonstrates how it feels to listen to this song. I believe this is the best song on the album. Following “RUNNING OUT OF TIME,” Tyler gets gritty on a Goblinlike beat on “NEW MAGIC WAND.” The heaviest song on the album, Tyler raps abou Another highlight of the album, “A BOY IS A GUN” takes a sample from “Bound” by Ponderosa Twins Plus One, which has also been sampled by
Kanye. He ties the sample along with his verses making a beautiful song full of layers. Along with Solange once again on the background vocals, glittery synth and piano notes sprinkle in the background, bringing the song together. Tyler’s flow over these layers and beautiful vocals wraps the song up into a complete Tyler the Creator track. Kanye-featured “PUPPET” is a mellowed out love song that leaves some more to be desired. Kanye adds a lot of character to the second half of the song, but I really would’ve liked Tyler to explore more ranges throughout the piece and grab my attention more. It’s not a bad song, but it is easily forgettable along with the following track “WHAT’S GOOD.” Track 10 named “GONE, GONE / THANK YOU” is the most lighthearted track on the album with Tyler singing in a high pitch matching with a sample from Tatsuro Yamashita’s “Fragile.” The light guitar into the background and glittering piano arpeggios make you feel like you are on top of a cloud when listening and makes it hard not to smile. Transitioning into the second half of the track, “THANK YOU” takes on a darker sound as Tyler gets back into a rhythm and raps about his inability to find love. The two contrasting sounds make the full track a rollercoaster of emotions and the feelings Tyler put behind the two songs is easily translated into the pieces.
“I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE” starts to wind down the album with enchanting synth and background vocals that melt into your ears. Solange, again on the background vocals, adds a layer of pure beauty to the track and Tyler’s voice floats right over the waves of the song. Light electric guitar in between verses adds more range to the song and makes the transitions significant to the listener while not going over the top. One of the most soothing tracks on the album, “I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE” leads perfectly into the closer, “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?.” “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?” closes the album with organ-like synth and high electric guitar arpeggios that truly make it feel like a closer with Tyler orchestrating the song into a grand finale of the album. This track really brings together the theme of Tyler going through a difficult break-up and resolves it with the last word on the album, “goodbye.” From his first albums, Tyler has evolved from an immature rapper from Ladera Heights to a critically acclaimed, self produced, chart topping artist who once again expanded his library of sound and explored unique sounds with “IGOR.” I would definitely recommend listening to “IGOR” whether you like Tyler’s previous albums or not. By Staff Writer Jackson
GUTKNECHT
New Indian restaurant displays rich culture A brand new Indian restaurant opened this week along a rebuilding stretch of University Avenue in Waterloo. On Wednesday, May 15, Incredible India began serving up a menu of curries, naans (flat breads), traditional rice and other dishes located at 2822 University Ave. Food: There was certainly a large menu to pick from. The food ranged from traditional dishes such as chicken biryani (basmati rice flavored with cumin, cardamom and nutmeg cooked with tender pieces of boneless chicken with herbs) and tandoori chicken (whole chicken marinated overnight in a blend of yogurt, ginger, garlic and cooked in a clay oven), to acquired tastes such as fish curry (fish cooked in a traditional home style curry made with onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes and herbs) and paneer makhani (diced cheese cooked in mildly spiced buttery creamy sauce with tomatoes, ginger, garlic, cashew nuts and cardamom).
Indian food is known for its multitude of spices, and I was not let down. Most dishes had the option to choose from spicy, mild and regular spiciness. Although I could definitely make out the spices, the food itself was savory and delicious. I could really taste every individual ingredient, but yet it wasn’t overpowering. My favorite part, though, would have to be their homemade naan bread. We ordered a bread basket that came with garlic, onion kulcha and classic naan. When the waiter brought it to our table, I discovered it was well worth the wait for the warm homemade bread as I could taste the richness and texture in every bite. Their dessert menu held food I’d never heard of before, and after careful consideration, we ordered gulab jamun and kheer. Gulab jamun was milk dumplings (similar to cake balls) dipped in sugar and saffron flavored syrup. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was not at all the pleas-
ant surprise I had when biting into one of the sweet dumplings. Kheer, on the other hand, is comparable to rice pudding and was topped with slivered almonds and pistachio pieces. The texture was creamy and sweet, just like I remember loving growing up. If you’re in search of good quality, incredible authentic Indian food, this place is definitely your destination. Environment: Formerly Las Margaritas Mexican restaurant, Incredible India gave the building a total makeover to complete a more modern style with freshly painted walls and a new layout. The renovated building was pristine, tidy and aesthetically pleasing to look at. That’s quite the combo. The booth seating consisted of traditional Indian patterns on the back of the padded benches and dangling mini chandeliers hung above each table to light the meal.
As soon as you walk into the building, you’re met with a glimpse of Indian culture. The area where you wait to be seated included a couch with printed pillows and a backdrop of colorful fabrics acting as curtains that were accented with gold detailing. Whether you choose to relax and have your dinner brought to you or choose their buffet style dining, both options you’re offered will leave you wanting to come back. Incredible India serves as a place to gather for any occasion, fancy or laid back. Service: It’s safe to say that this Indian restaurant was much busier than anticipated on Wednesday afternoon. With it being their first day open to public, there was a lot to manage and figure out along the way. Despite the business, Incredible India employees held their ground firmly and provided some of the best service in town with their friendly faces and warm welcomes to all.
My waiter was polite, attentive and focused on the well being of his customers. The seating was plentiful, the service was quick and we had no issues getting seated and taken care of. Price: The price was exceptional for the amount and quality of their food. The main dishes range from $9 to $15, and the dessert and bread selection ranges from $3 to $4. Whether you’re with your family, friends or are going on a date, Incredible India serves you great food for an affordable price that’s well worth it. After my experience dining at Incredible India, I feel confident saying that it really did live up to the name of the restaurant. I would rate it 4.5/5 stars total because as the restaurant is brand new, there’s still room to grow and change over time. By Staff Writer Alex
WILLIAMS
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Our View Gene project shows infinite potential
Most of the time, when you see E. coli in the news, it’s not a good thing. The gene synthesis project termed “Syn61” is an exception. Pioneered by biologist Jason Chin, Syn61 is the largest synthetic genome that has ever been created with four million genetic letters and over 18,000 replaced stop codons. It’s called Syn61 for the number of codons used to make its amino acids: 59, rather than the 61 codon structure preferred by nature. The project was based on Chin’s 2016 research, in which he laid out specific methods of recording the genome. Chin divided E. coli’s four million base pairs into 37 sections and then systematically synthesized and replaced each section. Syn61 grows at 40 percent the rate of natural E. coli, but the fact that it’s growing at all makes Chin’s work revolutionary. Chin didn’t just copy the genome—he altered it, and he did so brilliantly. Every gene was changed in some way, and yet the E. coli remains alive. This makes Syn61 different from every other form of life on earth. With most organisms, it’s possible to swap genes, because they all work from the same basic framework. But if a virus attempted to infect Chin’s work, the cell wouldn’t be able to interpret the virus’s DNA and the infiltration wouldn’t be possible. Recoding a genome throws life off of nature’s beaten path and presents humanity with a challenge: can we improve upon life? Can we make it? To most people, the idea of creating life is limited to childbirth. But with Syn61, it’s expanded. It opens up the possibility of creating and improving upon the formula for life as we know it. A recoded gene can do things that, up until now, have been pure science fiction. It could make enzymes and proteins we haven’t even pictured. It could become impervious to viruses. It could pave the way for a new generation of pharmaceuticals. These potential advances in science are infinite and endless, but because of Chin’s Syn61, they are no longer impossible.
Correction: In the last issue, we misspelled a name in the article “Junior explores electricity interests, wins free trip.” The last name ‘Leistcow’ was mispelled. The correct spelling is ‘Leistikow.” We deeply apologize for the mistake.
Contact Us
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 third 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. Editors-in-Chief: Sabine Martin, Sophia Schillinger Opinion Editor: Saba Aydiner Online Editor: Skylar Promer Staff: Grace Boezinger, Jackson Gutknecht, Taylor Hunt, Kendall Maslak, Jamie McDowell, Erin McRae, Sierra Miller, Grace Waseskuk, Alex Williams, Clare Williams Hi-Line Online Editor-in-Chief: Jackson Kliewer Staff: Paul Adom-Boateng, Colby Coonradt, Jack Jorgensen, Daniel Mitchell, Catalin Vilae
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Dawn Yoga on University Avenue at College Square Mall in Cedar Falls offers hot yoga classes all day long.
Hot yoga workouts worth exploring The summer sun is hot, but New Dawn yoga studio is hotter. Located on University Ave at College Square Mall in Cedar Falls, it’s the perfect place to relax and replenish with the guidance of their many yoga instructors who hold several different types of hot yoga classes throughout each day. What is hot yoga? Hot yoga is exactly as it sounds, doing yoga in a hot room. The room can usually get up to 120 degrees. Now, 120 degrees may sound like a lot, perhaps unbearable to some, but I can assure the heat feels almost like nothing when you’re lost in the movements of a new yoga pose. Too busy measuring your next breath to line up with your movements in a yoga pose, the heat is the last thing you’re worried about. Not to mention, there is no requirement to constantly be in action during the entire yoga session. In fact, many of the yoga instructors encourage you to take a break, drink some water and wipe the sweat off of your face before getting back in the game. It is not their intention to bring harm to you. This is your time. You control how hard you want to push yourself in the time given. Still sound too hot? Yoga in a hot room actually helps to
relax your muscles, making those difficult yoga poses just that much easier with practice and time. Hot yoga can also help to increase flexibility and maintain high blood pressure, overall helping to improve general heart health. Hot yoga is not for everyone, just as not every sport is for every person, but nothing will be lost if only given one try. You might surprise yourself and actually enjoy it. Though be warned, depending on the class level, you may find yourself sweating an increasing amount, so make sure to bring a towel with you. After trying out hot yoga for four days straight, I have found it to be quite enjoyable. From an early morning class at 9 to a late 7-8 o’clock class, I have tried the majority of different selections of classes offered at New Dawn. Out of personal opinion, my favorite class would have to be either the early morning and/or late night vinyasa. This class is a mix of modern and traditional styles of yoga, which I have found to be the perfect combination of calming and energizing movements. Another thing I have found about hot yoga is that you will be tired afterward. It’s no secret that exercising, no matter what
that happens to be for you, can wear you out depending on how much you push yourself and by how much time you put into said exercise. The same thing goes for yoga, be it regular or hot yoga. Much like any other sport, be sure you are drinking enough water before, during, and after exercising. Naturally, you will lose water through sweat through regular, everyday exercise, but with an elevated temperature, this process is also elevated. This is why it is so important to stay hydrated. Doing hot yoga or not, drinking water is just a necessary part of life. Though it becomes even more relevant in the event where you will be in a hot environment doing many, sometimes complicated, movements. Yoga is not for everyone either, though it is worth a try as it could potentially help your performance in another sport or otherwise. Though it might take a few classes to find what you’re most comfortable with, New Dawn yoga has whatever class you need to help you find your balance. With relatively reasonable pricing and a wide selection of class options, why not give hot yoga a try?
Senior Advice
“Enjoy high school while it lasts.” — Jordyn Valentine
“Have fun.” — Ben Saak
By Online Editor Skylar
PROMER
By Staff Writer Kendall
MASLAK
“Study hard for “Go your exams.” early.” — Emma Hovanec
to
sleep
— Isaac Millman
11 New softball coach brings successful experience The
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Kelsey Aikey, a pitching coach since the 10th grade and Western Kentucky University softball player, is bringing her skills to the softball team as the new pitching coach. According to Aikey she would see Steve Chidester, the head coach of the CF softball team at Jamesville basketball games and CF softball games. When Chidester asked her to help out ,Aikey said she would love to. “I grew up in Cedar Falls and basically played for them my whole life,” Aikey said. “I just wanted to give back all the things I’ve learned in college to Cedar Falls players.” In her freshman year at WKU, Aikey made the Conference USA All-Freshman team. In her sophomore year, she was the two-time conference pitcher of the week and threw a one-hitter, a twohitter and a three-hitter, and she recorded the first extrainning no-hitter in WKU history. In her junior year, she was once again the two-time conference pitcher of the week and led her conference with 184 strikeouts. Aikey’s
Friday, May 31, 2019
other accomplishments during her junior year included having the lead opposing batting average of .184, having the lead hits allowed per seven innings of 4.60, lead strikeouts per seven innings (9.6) and having the lead saves of 6. She also had the second best era in conference at 2.22. “I would definitely say I am very blessed to be a Hilltopper. Not only playing with an awesome group of girls, but being able to play at WKU is an amazing opportunity that I will always be grateful for.” Aikey said. “I’ve known for a while I’ve always wanted to coach, but I think WKU has definitely made me mature in the game and see both sides as a player and coach.” Aikey said she is thrilled to coach in her hometown this year. “I’ve always told people that I’m very excited to coach this year because I can’t wait to tell the girls what I wish I was told in high school,” Aikey said. “[Playing] Division I softball has made me realize a lot of things that I wish
SPORTS
Taylor Hunt Photo
New coach Kelsey Aikey (middle) grew up in Cedar Falls and will coach pitching. someone would have told me in high school. Some things I wish people would have told me or taught me was how to mature with the game. College has taught me so many different things such as being a good teammate and having a good attitude and learning
to overcome things.” Aikey has a positive outlook for this season, and said she thinks it is going to be a very fun season. “There are a lot of awesome girls on the team, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the season plays out,” Ai-
key said. “I plan on bringing a fun energy as well as hopefully giving a lot of information to the players. I have a lot of passion for softball, and I’m loving being able to share it with others.” By Staff Writer Taylor
HUNT
Baseball team starts season with Metro title
With a 3-1 record, the baseball team and head coach Nick Klein are focused on the season ahead. “We have to be able to take mishaps and use it as a motive force to achieve something positive,” Klein said. “You always have some games that you’re just not getting, or you’re making little mistakes in the field, or you’re just feeling worn out. In those games, you have to be able to keep a level head and move on to the next pitch, while still utilizing the base skills we’ve worked on.” Right now, Klein said he is stressing the backbone skills of baseball. “We are focusing on the fundamentals of the game right now and trying to focus on details. Good teams have to be concentrated all times, and that’s what we really need to focus on.” After the Metro Tournament last Thursday at Robinson-Dresser Field, Cedar Falls set themselves up for a good season. Klein decided to put freshman Max Steinlage in as pitcher. As well as giving Waterloo Columbus a run for their money, Steinlage is also the only left-handed pitcher. The Tigers began a sprint to the end at the bottom of the
third inner with the game tied at 3-3, and they exploded for seven runs and looked to distance themselves from the Waterloo Columbus Sailors for a 10-run game. Drew Hoth began with a walk, and Conner Gerdes doubled off the fence. Gage Flanscha followed with a bloop single to load the bases for Conrad Burke. Burke came through with a two-run double, and Jackson Steffener followed with a sacrifice fly. Mitch Young and Tate Johnson had RBI singles, as well, to boost the Tigers’ lead to 10-3. Burke came through with a two-run double and Jackson Steffener followed with a sacrifice fly. Mitch Young and Tate Johnson had RBI singles, as well, to boost the Tigers’ lead to 10-3. The Sailors struck back for four runs in the fifth frame and cut their deficit to 10-7. Cedar Falls answered with three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Conner Gerdes paced the Tiger attack with two doubles, a single and two RBIs. Carter Gallagher tagged a single and double for Columbus. Cedar Falls 16, Columbus 7 By Staff Writer Grace
BOEZINGER
Jackson Gutknecht Photo
Leading off first base looking to steal second, junior Colby Coonradt finishes the two game Metro tournament with two steals and two runs.
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Photos by Katie Crow
At left, junior Siddhartha Kalala of the men’s tennis team returns from the baseline in a home meet. Kalala ended at a personal record No. 1 spot. At top, senior Jamie Knox serves the ball to the opposing team at one of the last meets in her high school tennis career.
Tennis teams end season triumphantly In a record-breaking season, both the men’s and women’s tennis teams have set a new precedent for teams to come. The girls have formed the first women’s tennis team in CFHS history to win the Mississippi Valley Conference team of the year. The men's team has also encountered considerable success, with the second best record in CF tennis history. Assistant Coach Tara Sagers of the women’s team has coached along with Mike Knox for the past season. She said she is proud to say the least, and after a long season of practices, she is excited to see all the girls’ hard work pay off. According to Sagers, “They have had the best overall record of any CF girls tennis team in history, and not only did we make it to State, but we also beat Pleasant Valley 5-1, a team at State that makes it to State year after year.” Before beating Pleasant Valley, the women’s team also smashed Cedar Rapids Ken-
nedy 5-0, and beat the Marshalltown team with a whopping 6-0. But the season isn’t over, as the team still has to face some of the best teams in the state. “Now the goal we’ve set is to make it to the championship meet. We face No. 1 seed Ames, Saturday, June 1 in Ankeny,” Sagers said. “It’s going to be tough, but one thing I can say about this team is they put everything they have on the court and surprise their opponents.” Junior Benjamin Campbell of the men’s tennis team has reached personal goals in addition to the many met by his team. By functioning as one cohesive unit, the team saw many victories throughout the season. “I thought this season went really well, both individually and as a team. Our team record was the best it has been since I have been on the team, and we made it to Substate, which not many other teams can do. My record at the No. 2 spot was pretty good, and I made it to the doubles state tournament with my partner
Pranav Chandra, and that was a big accomplishment.” Junior Krisha Keeran has been consistently ranked as Cedar Falls’ No. 1 player, and she spends hours in and out of practices preparing for meets. With a match record of 17-0 and a set record of 34-0, her hard work has definitely been paying off. Keeran was also chosen as the Athlete of the Year in the league’s Mississippi Division, a high honor that recognizes top high school players. ` According to Keeran, “We prepare for our competitions through practices. The practices are really fun but productive at the same time. We play lots of challenge matches to make sure we are in the competitive mindset.” Sophomore Vikashprithvi Ayyappan has had a similar experience to Keeran’s and makes sure to utilize the most out of the given practice time with his teammates. According to Ayyappan, “Practices are fun and
focused. We get a lot done in a practice. The first 15 minutes is the warm up, and we are quite goofy in it, but the intensity level changes right as we start with the hard workouts.” Campbell said that working on a such a great team motivated him to do his best and strive toward his goal. By working hard all year round, he was able to go to State with his doubles partner. “My proudest moment this season was going to State with Pranav. I have never made it to State before, and I did not think I would ever be able to. When we got there, I did not think we would win a match, but we did. It was a great experience, and I hope I get to go again next year,” Campbell said. “I think we work well as a team and we all support each other. When each player gets done, they go to support the rest of the team, and during practices we all get along well and push each other to get better.” Assistant Coach Tara Sagers has dealt with a similar dynamic on the girl’s team,
one that is responsible for their unprecedented success. Even though things can get competitive when it comes to obliterating school records and moving up in the ranks, the girls still manage to work as a team and get along well. “This team is incredible, not only on the court but the friendships they are forming and support for each other is unlike anything I’ve experienced. Many of them have known each other for years from training at the Black Hawk Tennis Club, but they are all so inclusive of all team members. It’s really great to see,” Sagers said. “I am very excited for next year. We have some strong tennis players coming, and the program will continue to build. We are only losing one senior this year, which the girls know the work will continue this summer and throughout next year, as we gear up possibly for yet another record breaking year.” By Staff Writer Erin
McRAE