Nov 20 2015 hi line

The

FLYING SOLO

Tiger HI-LINE

Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

Junior readies for his pilot’s license in December/Pages 10 Follow us on Twitter at tigerhiline, Facebook at Hiline and on our website at www.hiline.cfschools.org

Volume 56 Edition 10

Standing for Strike

Students, staff show support for math teacher facing cancer

Perched on his stool a few weeks ago, math teacher Rich Strike had to share some heartbreaking news with his students.

After the words “I have cancer,” students and staff were left devastated, but a spark of inspiration ignited beneath them.

Strike is certainly not letting prostate cancer get him or his classroom down. He continues to stand by his students’ and staff’s sides for their every needs, so they’ve come to terms that it’s time they stand for him.

Students of Strike’s AP calculus class have decided to come together to show their support for their treasured math teacher this Friday. In honor of his last day before surgery, they’re planning to surprise Strike by wearing T-shirts that they designed and organized themselves with some help from Strike’s co worker Linsey Zimmerman.

“When I heard Mr. Strike had cancer, my heart sunk. Anytime you hear news like that it’s devastating,” Zimmerman said, but through the power of prayer and good thoughts, those around

Allie Taiber Photos

AP calc students are surprising math teacher Rich Strike today with Tshirts showing support. him are doing the best they can to stay as positive as he is.

“We need to keep him in our thoughts. He keeps a positive outlook on things. The doctors are all positive, and I think it’s important we all help him stay as positive as he is,” Zimmerman said.

“He’s definitely on my list of top teachers,” senior Jason Rathjen said.

Strike’s kind but sarcastic humor allows him to stay constantly engaged with his students and staff around him. His dedication to his has never veered from 100 percent. “Mr. Strike always goes the extra mile to be certain that his students and staff

are OK, which is pretty cool,” Rathjen said.

“As soon as we heard the news, we felt awful, but shortly after everyone instantly went into the mindset of what we could possibly do to help,” Rathjen said.

His class took the issue to their AP calc group chat, and instantly ideas on what they could do to support him flew left and right. With the logo of “Strike Out Cancer” on the front, and “Strike’s Army” on the back, there’s no doubt that Strike has the support of those fighting with him.

From the preliminary design of the light blue color in honor of

prostate cancer, to the photo of Strike’s well known idol of Albert Einstein, down to the military font in honor of Strike’s involvement in the Army, the detail and care students have put into the shirts to support him is apparent.

“It made me so happy. It warmed my heart seeing everyone come together as a student body so we could be there for our teacher,” senior Kayla Baker said.

As they worked together to produce the shirt, the relationship between Strike and his students just within the first quarter in a half is very impressive. “They all care for him and want him to know that they care and support him. To know that your students care is big,” Zimmerman said.

In addition to designing Tshirts, students came up with the idea of hosting a trivia contest. The contest included math, Army and golf questions all pertaining to the important areas of his life. Students anticipated the trivia event on Thursday, Nov. 19 during power hour.

For $1 per person, the origi-

nal plan was for the proceeds to go to Strike, but when they shared the idea with Strike, he refused to take the profits.

“How about we donate the money to Jane Carter?” Strike asked. Every day his selfless character shines through his actions. Thinking of others and what he can do to benefit those suffering around him was no surprise.

“Strike wanting the money to go to a different cause is completely him,” Zimmerman said. In light of the huge support Carter has been receiving, they’ve decided that the money from the trivia contest will be donated to the USO (United Services Organization), a cause that supported him immensely during the time he served.

“As a fighter, he’s so strong.

I know that’s cliché, but with the way he grew up, being in the Army, I feel like that’s really shaped him into who he is today.

He’s so selfless. That’s the best

STANDING FOR STRIKE

Continued on Page 2

Musicians celebrating recent prestigious efforts

All State musicians aiming Five named to regional Honor Choir for first chair placements Today, 42 CFHS musicians are in Ames preparing for this year’s All State Music Festival which will be held this Saturday, Nov. 21.

After making All State, students in both band and orchestra continue to practice and prepare for a critical part of their All State process: chair placement auditions.

These auditions took place yesterday on Thursday, Nov. 19, day one of the three day event.

As soon as all the busses of eager student musicians arrive in Ames on Thursday afternoon, the chair placement auditions began.

Senior Liz Swanson, a threeyear All Stater on the clarinet, was nervous about the heightened competition that comes

with chair placement auditions.

“This competition is the people who are good enough to be at All State,” Swanson said.

Her goal for this year was to be one of the top players on the second clarinet part. “I know the people who made the first part, and if I’m not competing against them, then I have a really good chance of being high up,” Swanson said.

Senior Liv Martin, a four-year All Stater on the cello, hoped to secure principal spot, the first chair cellist. “I would really like to end my four years as an All Stater as being first chair,” Martin said.

“It would mean a lot to me and would be a great experience, but we’ll see what happens.”

FIRST CHAIRS

Continued on Page 2

On Oct. 1, nine audition tapes were digitally sent to South Dakota featuring the singing voices of nine talented CFHS students.

Weeks later, word got back to the CFHS choir department that six of those nine students were accepted to perform in the North Central American Choral Directors Association Regional Honor Choir.

These students include senior Libby Swartley, junior Dani McCombs, junior Aastha Chandra, sophomore Maia Clasby, senior Harrison Sims and sophomore Makenna Carroll.

In order to prepare for this audition, the students have spent a month prior by recording a sample of themselves singing 16 measures of a piece, a scale on the top and bottom of their range and a cover of “My Country, ‘Tis Of Thee” in a certain key.

The NCACDA honor choir is

known to be exceptionally selective, only accepting around 170 students not only from Iowa, but also from other midwestern states such as North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The concert is scheduled for Feb. 20 in Sioux Falls. Before the performance, the students will arrive in Sioux Falls two days early to rehearse all day Thursday and Friday and stay in a hotel for two nights during the trip.

“It’s not something that many people get in, and [the choir] has a very wide variety,” McCombs said. Clasy was also excited over being accepted. “I wasn’t 100 percent sure on what it was. It was just something I wanted to audition for,” Clasby said. “I’m really excited because it’s a huge honor, and it’s really amazing that all of us got in.”

The honor choir only occurs

every other year, meaning that students like Carroll and Clasby have another chance during their senior years.

“There will be more people coming in since it happens every other year, so we don’t know [if we’ll be accepted again,]” Carroll said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to grow enough in our music that we’ll be back in.”

Choir teacher Eliott Kranz showed enthusiasm over the accepted students as well.

“I think it’ll be a great experience for those students, and I was happy to have even nine audition,” Kranz said. “I have been in the concert itself, and it was a wonderful experience working with students from all over the region to sing and make music together.”

By News Editor Sarah

STORTZ

2

The

Tiger

NEWS

HI-LINE

Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

Roundabouts rile up CFHS drivers Change is coming to a large stretch of University Avenue in Cedar Falls. After many concerns were brought to the city’s attention in 2008, the city decided to fix many of the problems on University Avenue such as traffic flow.

To fix the problem, the city hired a Cedar Rapids engineering firm known as Foth Engineering. The city decided to go ahead with Foth’s plans after the firm revealed three designs in late February.

The first design consisted of only traffic lights and amassed a total value of $33.2 million. The second design had more traffic lights and fewer roundabouts and came to a total of $34 million. The final design, and the design that the city ultimately chose, consists of more roundabouts and fewer traffic lights.

This design was the cheapest of the three with a total value of $32.5 million. Contrary to what many believe, the roundabout option was the cheapest.

The design consists of six new roundabouts and will bring the total number of traffic lights down to two. The plan will also reduce University Avenue from six lanes to four. Two of the six roundabouts will be at the intersection of University and

Highway 58, with the other four located at the intersections of University with Boulder Drive, at the intersection of University and a storefront road, at the intersection of University, McClain and Waterloo Road, and one more at the intersection of University and Cedar Heights. The remaining traffic lights will be at the intersections with Rownd Street and Midway Drive.

Traditional traffic lights are made to group up traffic and release all of the cars at the intersection at once, essentially platooning traffic. Roundabouts are made to thin out the platoons which can lead to smoother and steadier traffic flow. Roundabouts can also increase fuel and time efficiency.

According to Foth’s estimates, the design will save motorists over 60,000 hours a every year along with almost $25,000, which is by far the most out of the three designs. However, this design will also cost the most to maintain, coming in at a total of $68,000 a year compared to $51,000 for the second design and $17,000 for the first one.

Foth estimates that the design will be able to handle projected traffic growth until around 2040.

Research conducted by the state of Washington shows that

FIRST CHAIR

said. “They have the music open, and they say start at this measure.

Ready, go. They don’t give a metronome.

They don’t give you anything. You just have to take a deep breath and go for it. These auditions have given me good practice in calming my nerves.”

Leah Forsblom Photo Chair placement au- One of the 42 CFHS musicians at ditions for orchestra are All State this weekend, senior Olblind auditions. “The ivia Martin’s next test was to earn judges can’t see you, but they can hear you,” the prestigious principal spot Martin said. “You can’t as the first chair for the event. even speak inside the This picture is from a high school room because the judg- concert in Ocotober. es can’t know if you are have auditioning for professional a female or a male. It’s supposed orchestras.” to be the least biased audition Despite her nerves and possible.” stress, Martin hoped to snag One positive that Martin that first chair spot and make finds in these chair placement her last All State a memorable auditions is the great learning one. “There’s a solo I really want experience they provide which to get, and you have to be the will help her prepare for her fuprincipal to get the solo,” Martin ture career. “I want to become a said. “It’s my last year doing All professional musician and play in State, and I really want to kick a professional orchestra,” Martin some butt and get that principal said. “All State has been a really spot.”

By Staff Writer Hannah good way for me to get a taste of the experience that I would SANDERMAN

Continued from Page 1

For Swanson, the initial All State auditions are more stressful than the chair placement auditions in Ames. “Once you get there you know you’re in, it’s just the matter of how high up you will be,” Swanson said.

But without a doubt, chair placement auditions will be the most stressful and nerve racking part for Martin during All State. “[Auditioning] is pretty scary, and I know everyone is nervous, but I think I especially feel it more than other people because there is such a high expectation for me to do really well,” Martin said.

“Whenever there is an expectation, it makes things even more nerve racking for the person who has to perform to those standards.”

The band chair placement auditions are similar to the orchestra ones in the way they make the players’ palms clammy and their hearts beat quickly, but that’s where the similarities end.

“For us [band], there are two people sitting at a table trying to intimidate you a lot,” Swanson

roundabouts reduce accidents at intersections by 75 percent.

The proposed design will force some companies to have smaller parking lots and may cause others to relocate entirely.

Senior Isaac Svoboda said he does not like the design.

“Roundabouts are harder for emergency vehicles and semi trucks to maneuver around,” Svoboda said. “Personally, I have seen more accidents around roundabouts than anywhere else. I believe that this is because the older generation was never trained to drive on them, which creates conflict.”

Senior Chris Keys said that roundabouts will be more effective in the future.

“I think that roundabouts will be beneficial for Cedar Falls in the long run,” Keys said. “However, initially, people will strongly dislike them, and I think there will be a spike in accidents for a few years.”

Senior Isaac Kippes agrees with Keys.

“It’s a lot better to keep driving at a slower speed than to have to come to a complete stop every so often for 30 seconds,” Kippes said.

Driver’s education instructor and social studies teacher Kevin

Are you in favor of roundabouts on University Avenue?

Boys 78% Yes 22% No

erall Ov

in Fav or

Girls 33% Yes 67% No

This Hi-Line Poll represents 12 percent of all students in proportion to gender and the three grades at the high school. The poll was conducted by staff writer Amie Holzapfel.

Stewart has mixed feelings about the design.

“In general, I like roundabouts. They are effective and efficient for dealing with traffic and intersections,” Stewart said. “With the proposed designs, I have mixed views. They could benefit the city in some ways, but they will hurt business due to reduced lanes and traffic flow.”

Stewart said that the roundabouts will not change the way that he teaches driver’s educa-

tion.

“We go down to University Avenue a lot anyway, so the kids will be experiencing roundabouts whenever we go to practice there,” Stewart said.

“I may put a little more emphasis on them when we go over them in class, though.”

Current plans have construction beginning in 2016 and ending near the beginning of 2018.

By Editor-in-Chief Zuhayr

ALAM

STANDING FOR STRIKE Continued from Page 1

word I can use to describe him,” Baker said.

And selfless is exactly what he is. “There’s so many days and nights and weekends, even during the summer, he’s here doing things for us, always caring for his students and staff. For us being able to support him now is a great thing,” Zimmerman said.

The initial concern has always been for his students and whether or not they’d be OK through the transition without him for a while. As he’s the only qualified teacher to teach AP calculus, Strike has organized multiple UNI professors to be here for his classes, but he has never wanted the attention to be on him.

The cancer was especially unexpected for those who know Strike because he is an active, healthy person who even walks to school every day. “The whole thing was so surprising.

You don’t think of someone you know to ever actually go through that. I’ve never watched someone so close to me that I see every day struggle through cancer, so it was a big deal,” senior Kayla

Baker said.

But for others, the news hit home. “It hit me hard when he told us. My grandma has had cancer five times. I have a good idea of what he’s going through, and I can really relate with the pain he and his family are experiencing,” Rathjen said.

Students are using their emotions to be there for Strike in his time of need. “I was so sad. I’m still sad. I get anxious almost. It’s good he’s getting this treatment so early, but it’ll be hard. It’s early in the year, and we’ve all already gained such a good relationship with him; it’ll be different when he’s gone,” Baker said.

Through their support, students have already raised $300 in just T-shirt profits for Strike, and more shirts are available for purchase. “I just hope that in the end, no matter what happens, that he is OK, and that he knows that all of his classes, and even those who don’t know him are here to support him,” Baker said.

By Staff Writer Allie

TAIBER

The

Tiger

HI-LINE

OPINION

Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

3

Teens embracing Black Friday from other side of checkout lines

‘Veteran’ worker revels in rush of shoppers At 5:45 a.m. on Nov. 27, 2014, I stood at lane five waiting for the doors to open and the crowd of people to burst through. Employees like me were scattered throughout the store, and there is a buzz in the air so electric I swear it could almost shock you. I stared at the door in anticipation.

It was time.

The doors finally opened and the people came running in, and the next four hours went by in a blur of motion.

As a teen that works in retail, Black Friday is something that I am definitely very familiar with. With this being my second year behind the register, it doesn’t feel nearly as overwhelming as it did this time last year.

You hear all these horror stories about how awful Black Friday can be for employees, and I thought that maybe I would go through the same.

Now, I can only speak from my own personal experience, but for me Black Friday isn’t nearly as awful as it is said to be.

For one, Target, where I work, has a wonderful rule that minors can’t work past 9:45. So I realize that I am one of the lucky few where long hours staying up all night doesn’t really apply.

Another thing is that people tend to be a lot more sympathetic to the people working on the busiest shopping day of the year. Black Friday has started earlier and earlier each year, which means that workers have less time with their families on Thanksgiving. With that knowledge,

Who are you

people aren’t nearly as rude and mean as you would at first expect.

But I can’t speak for all people. I’m sure there might have been a few upset guests that went through my line, and maybe the TV they wanted was sold out or they just had to fight someone for the last “Frozen” on DVD or something I don’t really know, but as soon as they left, I must have brushed it off and took it completely outside of my head because I honestly don’t have any negative memories from last Black Friday.

This year is going to be a little bit different for me, though. I am one of the lucky few that get to spend all of Thanksgiving with my family that night and report for work at six in the morning bright and early to work Guest Services for a ninehour shift. It is a lot different than what I was doing this time last year, so again I’m in a place where I don’t really know what to expect, but the fear factor of Black Friday doesn’t really exist in me anymore.

If I had anything to ask of you who are shopping this Black Friday, no matter where you choose to shop, it’s that you smile at the employees and show them thanks. Even though we do get paid to be there, we are taking time away from our families, and it makes it a lot easier when we know that what we are giving up is appreciated by the people we are giving our time up for.

First time worker looking forward to extra pay While most people are filling up their tummies of turkey and ham and falling into a very deep sleep, people like me are getting ready for the Black Friday rush.

I work at the Waterloo Super Target and plan on working during the most chaotic weekend of the year. Working on this day is pretty much a sacrifice because it is a lot of work to be done and a lot of time taken out.

Although it’s hard work, it is time and a half pay, so I’m definitely fine with working. My goal for Black Friday is to stay as calm as I can and help as many people as possible. I have never worked on a Black Friday before, so I’m kind of nervous about it, through all the stories

of people getting killed on Black Friday because of how many people want a certain thing and will definitely kill for it, but on the other hand I am really excited for it because of the rush and business of it all and also the extra money.

I normally don’t work as a cashier, but I’m pretty positive that’s what I’ll have to do, due to all the people coming in, and I’ll have to be there for extra help. I’m not really nervous to work as a cashier because I have all the training.

I’m more concerned on if I get to have a break or not because we’ll be so busy, but the excitement for Black Friday for me is definitely through the roof.

By Staff Writer Drew

WALKER

Do you plan on shopping on Black Friday?

34% Yes

30% No

36%

Maybe

This Hi-Line Poll represents 10 percent of all students in proportion to gender and the three grades at the high school. The poll was conducted by sports editor Jason Rathjen.

By Staff Writer Daphne

BECKER

thankful

for?

Junior Megan Lumetta

Who are you thankful for?

“My dog, Buster. For 13 years he has always been able to make me smile, and his presence just helps make me happy no matter what is going on in my life.”

By Staff Writer Annebeth

AHRENHOLZ

Junior Sammi Alexander

Who are you thankful for?

Ally Conrad Why? “One time when I was in band I saw Ally and Michelle Anton playing the flute together, and I wanted to be her best friend. Then when we started to go to school together we became best friends, and we’ve been that way since 7th grade.”

Senior Gus Marty

Who are you thankful for?

Gaven O’Hair, Connor Houlihan and Nathan Shull Why? “Because we have been through a lot together. We have never left each other. We can always cheer each other up and make each other laugh. We have never had a problem with each other.

We’re all going to college together and rooming together.”

Madison Hall

Who are you thankful for?

“My sister, Sammi Hall. We always have such a great time together no matter what we do. She is always there for me.”

4

The

OPINION

Our View

Pray for Paris, Pray for the World Who would have thought that Friday the 13th would have lived up to it’s superstition? Multiple terrible events around the world happened on that fateful day, though one stood out in particular.

Starting around 9 p.m., a series of raids and bombings fell upon the famous city of lights, Paris.

Sierra Steen So devastating were the Graphic attacks that the country has declared emergency, an event that has not happened in 71 years. The country has also closed its international borders.

The death count is currently above 160 and eight of the attackers have died through suicide bombings or have been shot down. Six main attacks occurred that night, all in places which attract plenty of people.

Three important targeted places were the Bataclan Concert Hall, the Petit Cambodge restaurant and the Stade de France, where the president of France was among those watching the soccer match between France and Germany.

In order to pay homage for the deceased citizens, the Eiffel Tower went dark. Usually the tower doesn’t turn completely dark even at midnight. Many people who stay nearby the Eiffel Tower were proclaiming that they feel like they missed something.

In light of the dire situation, people in France have started the hashtag #porteouverte, which means “Open Door.”

The initiative was meant to connect people looking for shelter with those who could offer space for the evening. The doors didn’t open for everyone, but for some seeking a safe place, the show of support was a comfort on a night of terror. Another trending heartfelt hashtag was #prierpourparis, “pray for Paris.”

Though this has been a horrible experience for the world and especially for those in France, this is only a small part of what the world has faced under ISIS. In less than a month, bombings, raids, and other horrid events have happened in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and so many other countries, yet they go unnoticed by the public eye.

We should use the Paris attacks as a wake up call and an eye opener for all of us to be able to see the bigger picture that has been going on for a while. We should pray not only for Paris, but pray for the world.

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: Zuhayr Alam and Sommer Danielsen Entertainment Editor: Tana Gam-Ad News Editor: Sarah Stortz Online Editor: Zuhayr Alam Feature Editor: Sommer Danielsen Sports Editor: Jason Rathjen Graphic Artist: Sierra Steen Staff Writers: Annebeth Ahrenholz, Billie Ann Albert, Daphne Becker, Madison Belden, Jamie Blair, Ben Boezinger, Abbey Carlson, Gabi Carr, Miranda Cole, Amanda Crockett, Ashton Cross, Sommer Danielsen, Alyssa Dekutoski, Noah Forker, Emma Gerdes, A. J. Godbey, Camryn Grubic, Amna Haider, Aaron Heimbuck, Noah Hermansen, Cody Hood, Nathan Hoy, Jacob Jensen, Kierston Johnson, Brennan Kohls, Mercede Kraabel, Sam Magee, Olivia Martin, Jade McBroom, Scott Miller, Nolan Nickerson, Madeline Nicol, Kaylee Olson, Austin Reyhons, Hannah Sanderman, Lane Schwickerath, Lexi Sheeley, Allie Taiber, Tehya Tournier, Isaac Turner-Hall, Drew Walker, Isabella Wilson

Tiger

HI-LINE Speaking stuggles lead editor on journey of self-acceptance Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

My 7-year-old self sat all alone in a cluttered, white room inside Cedar Heights Elementary, surrounded by shelves filled with board games and toys. While looking down at my chair and dangling my tiny feet, a woman walked into the room carrying a deck of cards with her.

She told me that we’re going to spend the next hour or so playing Go Fish.

Initially, I didn’t really question why this woman took me out of my classroom and brought me there. I was just happy that I got to miss learning about subtraction in favor of playing games.

Little did I know at the time, this woman actually had a hidden motive behind this simple card game.

Earlier, my teacher had requested for me to see the school’s speech therapist after noticing that I struggled with a lisp. More specifically, I had an incredibly hard time pronouncing words with a “sh” or “ch” digraph. Whenever I said a word with these digraphs, I would overly exaggerate pronouncing them, almost like I’m making a spitting noise. This is a problem that I probably had ever since I could talk, but I never became aware of it until then.

The speech therapist knew that I would frequently say the word “fish” while playing this game, so she she took this as an opportunity for me to rehearse speaking words that I couldn’t say.

I still remember her constantly directing my speech whenever I was playing. “Don’t stretch your mouth out so much when you speak. Move it more forwards like this,” she said.

As a young child, I never truly understood why she felt the need to constantly correct my pronunciation like this.

I figured as long as people knew what I was talking about, why would it matter how pronounced certain words?

The effect did eventually start to wear on me, though, and after a couple months of speech therapy, I received a certificate stating that I successfully completed my sessions, smiley face stickers and all.

However, that didn’t last long. Only a couple weeks later, I quickly forgot how to properly enunciate, and my speech

Sarah Stortz Photo

For news editor Sarah Stortz, some pages in the dictionary create a particularly challenging test.

“When I introduce myself to these people and tell them my story, I fully intend on speaking to them with my lisp. “ patterns were just like before.

Despite my teacher’s annoyance, I really didn’t mind this at all, and the rest of the world around me didn’t seem to care either.

Lisps aren’t very uncommon with small children who are just learning how to speak, so if anything, having a lisp was just another cute, childish quirk that I had at the time.

That started fading away almost immediately when I first started going to junior high. The cuteness factor of having a lisp now seemed dorky, and for a good duration of junior high, I had face different peoples in my classes who would ask me, “Why do you talk like that? Don’t you know how to speak?”

The tone of my classmates and the way they said that just felt incredibly condescending. Of course I know how to speak. I’ve been speaking for as long as the rest of you, haven’t I? I just do it a little differently. All of the remarks from everybody made me feel so bad about myself that I almost didn’t want to speak up at school.

Thankfully, I found most people in high school are mature enough not to comment on my lisp. Nonetheless, I still feel an aura of judgement from others whenever I talk to them.

What I think many people don’t realize about lisps is how many people with them actually feel insecure about it and how hurtful it is whenever it’s

brought up. They’re in a very similar vein to body image in that they’re both aspects that you have little control over, but lisps are nowhere near discussed as often. I still wish I could’ve heard more about speech impediments and how much it affect others, especially when I was younger.

I am now an 18-year old adult who is planning to move out and attend a college 80 miles away in less than a year.

I’m about to meet a whole new slew of people with their own individual stories in a new town.

When I introduce myself to these people and tell them my story, I fully intend on speaking to them with my lisp.

Almost all of my life, others have tried to get rid of my lisp, and I knew that I couldn’t just let them take something away from me like that. I think a lisp brings a unique charm to a person’s voice that I love to hear, and I couldn’t be prouder to have that same type of charm in my own voice. I’m finally at a point where I can say that I love my lisp with all of my heart, something I never thought I could do five years ago.

Without my lisp, I never would have gone through the process of self-acceptance, and that will always carry more significance than pronouncing a bunch of words as everyone else expects to hear them.

By News Editor Sarah

STORTZ

5 Old Spice actor explains the pitfalls of male pride The

Tiger

HI-LINE

Pride is a great quality to have. It allows people to believe in themselves and to be proud of their accomplishments, but, when it goes too far, there can be severe consequences. In our society, male pride has become synonymous with masculinity. This is a problem and a root cause for war, domestic abuse and many other acts of violence in the world.

Terry Crews, the actor from the famous, crazy Old Spice commercials, in an interview for Dame Magazine, accurately calls out the problems of male pride: “My message to all men is that you have to kill pride.

You’ve been taught that pride

OPINION

Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

“The problem with pride is that it stops you from growth.”

—Terry Crews actor from Old Spice commericals

is a manly thing, that pride is a good thing. But the problem with pride is that it stops you from growth. When you’re so proud that you won’t change, you’ve got problems. Male pride causes wars; millions of people have died because of male pride, because one man would not back down.”

In Crews’ 2014 book, Manhood, he recounts his difficult childhood and the lessons he has learned throughout the

years. Crews was in the NFL for six seasons and then became an actor. You wouldn’t expect someone who has been in a culture of male pride for so long to be so articulate about the problems within it. Maybe Crews’ background is what he learned from to come to his realization? However he came to his conclusion, it is one worth really thinking about.

Boys learn from a young age that to have pride is an

important part of being a man.

Just like Terry says, boys have been “taught” by society to think this way. It is fine to have pride. In fact, it is a good thing most of the time. But, there has to be a distinction between “having pride” and “not backing down.” Contrary to messages fed to men from a young age, not backing down is not a good thing. Not backing down isn’t always the strong or right thing to do. Sometimes the best and most mature thing to do is to change, to see a new perspective, to open one’s mind to other possibilities and to step outside one’s comfort zone.

Think about all of the wars

that could have been avoided, all of the lives spared and all of the friendships kept if men felt like they could abandon their differences and peaceably agree. They fear that if they give up they will be ridiculed with names like pussy and loser, and be thought of as weak, powerless and inferior. We need to stop teaching boys that in order to be men, they can never back down.

That type of mentality is too destructive, not only for the boys it impresses on, but also for the consequences it creates for the rest of us.

By Staff Writer Olivia

MARTIN

Bad foreign policy leads to attacks in Paris Last Thursday in an interview, President Barack Obama claimed that ISIS had been contained. The next day radical Islamic terrorists, all belonging to ISIS, killed 129 people in coordinated attacks in Paris. Obama’s foreign policy of “lead from behind” and that global warming is a bigger national security threat than terrorism is a complete and utter failure, and it has killed Americans and people all over the world.

On Nov. 1, 2012, Obama said, “The war in Iraq is over. The war in Afghanistan is winding down. Al-Qaeda is decimated. Osama bin Laden is dead.”

Apparently he forgot what happened almost two months earlier at our embassy in Benghazi, Libya, where four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, were killed by an alQaeda-affiliated group. We knew that Benghazi was a very dangerous area, but for some reason, we had an American embassy there with very minimal security.

Of course, the biggest blunder of Obama’s foreign policy was the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. ISIS was created as a branch of al-Qaeda in 1999 and did participate in the insurgency in Iraq but did not appear on our television screens until the summer of 2014.

They murder and rape thousands of innocent men, women and children. They kill Christians for simply being Christian, among many other unspeakable atrocities. Now they are completely separated from al-Qaeda and have formed their own “caliphate” in Syria, using Raqqa as their capital. They became the powerful insurgency we know today when Obama pulled all of our combat troops out of Iraq in 2011, just so he could use the “I ended the war in Iraq” slogan for his re-election campaign.

Pulling out of Iraq all at once was a colossal mistake made by the Obama administration. You have to slowly pull troops out while easing the new government’s troops into a combat ready

“ISIS is becoming the powerful terrorist organization it is today because of Obama’s poor judgement in Iraq.” force. Obama ignored all common sense and pulled everyone out so he could win the election. He didn’t think about the consequences of it. Operation Iraqi Freedom was a success: we had Iraq secured, the government was still a little shaky, but all we had to do was keep advising them and transition them into full control while pulling small numbers of troops out slowly.

On Jan. 7, 2014, Obama said this about ISIS, “The analogy we use around here sometimes, and I think is accurate, is if a JV team puts on Lakers uniforms, that doesn’t make them Kobe Bryant.”

Just four days earlier ISIS took control of Fallujah, a city in Iraq that many American service members lost their lives securing in the Iraq war. This was before ISIS became a household name.

In June of 2014, ISIS had captured 70 percent of the Anbar Province in Iraq, which held many cities that American service members fought and died for, such as Fallujah and Ramadi. This is the same group Obama called “JV” five months earlier.

What grabbed the world’s attention to ISIS was when James Foley, an American journalist, was beheaded in front of a camera by the now recently killed Jihadi John on Aug. 19, 2014.

Sept. 2, 2014, Steven Sotloff, an IsraeliAmerican journalist was beheaded by Jihadi John. Peter Kassig, also an American, was beheaded by ISIS on Nov. 16, 2014. Doesn’t seem like a “JV” team anymore does it?

Our air campaign started on Aug. 8, 2014, but we still have not been able to stall ISIS’ advances. Airstrikes are a good way to cut supply lines and make sure the terrorists keep their heads

down, but when there are so many restrictions on airstrikes, we are usually too late to hit a target. Obama has the “zero civilian death, minimal collateral damage” restrictions, which severely holds back our jets. You cannot expect to win a war without any civilian casualties. You just can’t. There has never been a war in history with no civilian casualties or collateral damage. We need to stop tying our troops’ hands behind their backs and let them do what they do best: destroy the bad guys. We need to make all jihadists know that if they stick their heads out of their caves, there is a bomb with their name on it.

Fast forward to last week. On Nov. 12, Obama claimed in an interview that ISIS has been “contained.” The next day ISIS militants killed 129 people in coordinated attacks throughout Paris.

In retaliation for the attacks, France bombed ISIS’ capital, Raqqa. They destroyed a command center, a training camp, an ammunition depot and a recruitment center. They did in one day what we should have done a long time ago. We need to show the jihadists the full might of our air power.

Obama still will not change our strategy. Don’t you think after a year of bombing and no result that we might change our strategy a little bit?

Obama’s strategy of leading from behind and only bombing will not destroy ISIS. We need to have limited numbers of coalition forces on the ground, and work closely with the Peshmerga forces while providing constant air support.

We cannot let up in the bombing campaign. We have to shell Raqqa to the ground and every other ISIS stronghold. As Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ralph Peterson

said, “You have to kill them, keep on killing them, until you kill the last one.

Then you kill his pet goat.”

Even after we found out that one of the attackers in Paris was a Syrian “refugee,” Obama still wants to bring in hundreds of thousands of “refugees.” People will say, “They aren’t all terrorists.” If someone gave you seven grapes, and two of them were poisoned, would you eat the grapes? We cannot let terrorists take advantage of our compassion, these refugees are not documented.

We can’t do a background check. We can’t do anything to check their past, so why would anyone think that it is a good idea to bring undocumented refugees from a region that is crawling with jihadists? All it takes is one terrorist posing as a refugee to kill a lot of Americans. Obama seems to care more about these “refugees” than American citizens.

We cannot defeat the enemy when our own president will not call them by what they are. For whatever reason, Obama will not say the words, “Radical Islamic Terrorism.” “ISIL is not ‘Islamic,’” said Obama in a press conference. Every Muslim is not a terrorist, but Obama needs to realize that what we are fighting is radical Islamic terrorism.

Obama’s foreign policy has been a complete failure. ISIS is becoming the powerful terrorist organization it is today because of Obama’s poor judgement in Iraq. He claims that groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS are on the run, but clearly they are not. We have to stop with the “no collateral damage” policy.

We cannot accept hundreds of thousands of “refugees” who have no documented background or past.

As we’ve seen in France, ISIS already has operatives posing as “refugees.”

It’s time that we change our strategy to destroy and ultimately defeat radical Islamic terrorism.

By Staff Writer Brennan

KOHLS

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The

ENTERTAINMENT

World of Warcraft

still going strong on 11th year

The group of various adventurers steps into the room, only to find the gate close behind them all. The large orc in plate armor stands before them, raising his weapon and charging toward the adventurer with his sword and shield raised. The blow against his shield rattles throughout his entire body. Various allies cast magical spells in an attempt to keep the shield-wielding warrior alive while others with bows and daggers provide constant damage to the orc. Minute after grueling minute passes by, the orc finally falling to the group’s weapons and magic.

World of Warcraft is a MMORPG created by Blizzard Entertainment. It was made on Nov. 23, 2004, and has had five expansion packs to the game since, with a sixth coming in September 2016. The game has an initial cost of $50 and then a subscription cost each month for $15.

Each expansion of the game has its own story and plotline, but they all cohesively come together in a way to create a full timeline. Explaining it now would make this review too long, so the summary of the current expansion, Warlords of Draenor, is as follows: Garrosh Hellscream, defeated within the Siege of Orgrimmar, is offered a second chance by going back in time to rewrite the world’s entire history. He accepts and goes back in time to Draenor, a world yet untamed while the Iron Horde, a band of orcs, prepares their assault on Azeroth in an attempt to take over and rewrite history.

The gameplay has improved over each expansion, with Blizzard continuing to try and keep each class balanced so that each class can have fun using their specialization that they have chosen.

Each class has at the minimum three specializations, each bringing their own niche to the table in order to assist in

raiding or player vs. player combat.

A positive is the amount of things that can be done at the max level, which is level 100. There is player vs. player combat, as well doing raids. Raiding clusters 10 players in the same group together to tackle a single instance. These raiding teams have their teamwork and knowledge put to the test in each boss fight by learning mechanics and reacting to them accordingly.

A system was added to the game in the fourth expansion by the name of Transmogrification. The process uses an old piece of gear and applies its look to a current piece of gear, retaining the current gear’s stats. It’s really nice for customization as well as making characters look unique, using various pieces of gear to make their own masterpiece.

One negative of the game is finding what to do. The game is very large, and once level cap is hit, joining a large guild might be necessary to see the later content to its full extent. The content also scales with levels of difficulty that require a large amount of time and concentration in order to do.

Another negative is the negativity of the playerbase at times. Many say that World of Warcraft is dying due to a loss of subscription numbers, but it’s still the most subscribed MMORPG in the industry. There’s no doubt that it will not go anytime soon and will still stay strong for at least a few more years.

The game is still fun, even on its 11th year. The fact it’s going so strong with such a long lifespan truly shows how strong the game actually is. It’s the veteran of the RPG industry that has yet to be taken down and won’t be for years to come. I’d give the game an 89/100.

By Staff Writer Cody

HOOD

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Frisday, Nov. 20, 2015

Snapchat’s Story

Popular app gets bigger and better through the years “Did you tion, which allows the viewer to get the new watch stories that consist of short S n a p c h a t video clips and some new arupdate?” ticles. They include writers such “Do you as Buzzfeed, Cosmopolitan, Food like the new Network, Comedy Central and S n a p c h a t more. Like the stories, Timmer enupdate?” joys using discover. “Other than When Snapchat launched in watching my friends’ stories, I also July of 2011, it was originally like to watch the Iowa Story and called Picaboo. When it first the stories that take you to differlaunched, users could send a “self- ent places around the world. It’s ie” for one to 10 seconds, write a almost like you’re experiencing it small message on it and doodles if first hand.” they desired.

In June of 2014, Snapchat Today, users still have those added the “chat” feature, which features, but is basic text there are so messaging many more that allows things one users to see can do. In when the October of other person —senior Madisen Timmer is typing or 2013, Snapchat released opens a mesthe “Story” feature to users. This sage. Also, while users are both in allowed the users to post photos the chat at the same time, they can or videos to all of their “friends” video chat with each other. and allow them to view them as Along with that, Snapchat many times as they wanted for 24 added filter options to add to the hours. At first, people complained snaps. This year a “Tiger Nation” about the feature, but now people filter has been added to Snapchat. post things on their stories daily.

Snapchat will also show differThe story feature has been ent filters based on user location. very popular at Cedar Falls. “I like For example, for the UNI Dome, the Snapchat story feature be- there’s a UNI filter, and the state cause it’s easier than sending mass users are in can lead to filters with snaps to everyone individually. As those states’ names on them. The long as people don’t add a bunch filters also show users’ speeds if of stuff to their story, I watch them they were moving while taking picsince they are usually funny,” se- tures, the time the pictures were nior Madisen Timmer said. taken and temperature.

Along with the stories, SnapBy Staff Writer Miranda chat included the “Discover” opCOLE

“I watch them since they are usually funny.”

personalities: who do you watch?

Joshua David Evans (JoshuaDTV) Watching his daily vlogs or video blogs is like watching reality TV except way better. I first discovered his channel through his then fiancee, now wife, Colleen Ballinger who not only has her own channel (which I would recommend checking out) but who also plays Miranda Sings.

Once you watch one vlog, you’ll get drawn in by his sweet family, love for sushi and his catchphrase “be nice to people.”

BuzzFeed You may know them for their popular website, and even though this isn’t a one-person channel, I had to include it in my top five. Constantly coming out with different content across all four of their channels — I’m talking multiple videos a day — BuzzFeed never ceases to amaze me. Some of my recent favorites include Girlfriends Choose Their Boyfriends’ Halloween Costumes and People Try Novelty Astronaut Deserts.

Miranda Sings Her crazy red lipstick and horrible singing might not be for everyone, but I laugh out loud at this character played

by Colleen Ballinger who has racked up over five million subscribers. On this channel you can expect covers of hit songs, as well as original songs and a whole lot more that will turn you into a Mirfanda in no time.

Connor Franta Being one of the first YouTubers I started watching regularly, his videos are some of the first I click on. Every week you don’t know what to expect. It’s a channel that keeps you thinking long after it’s over and something you can relate to or makes you smile. I promise you won’t be disappointed by his quirkiness and creativity.

Meghan Rienks After watching any one of her videos, you’ll immediately want to be her best friend. This aspiring actress has started to branch out from only posting beauty and fashion videos.

Now her channel is filled with not only monthly favorites and hauls but also skits, comedy and challenges that will keep you coming back for more.

By Staff Writer Hannah

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ENTERTAINMENT

7

Pokémon of the Week: Mega-Alakazam deserves its high rank Alakazam, the final evolution of the Abra line, is a powerful special-attacking Pokémon. Its main form of attacking is hitting hard and fast. It can take hits, but not many, if any at all. Alakazam is in the OU tier, which means it is “over used.”

There are three sets that people may use to set up an Alakazam for wi-fi battles (not recommended for in-game playing). The first set, and my personal favorite, is the Mega-Alakazam. The recommended move set is psychic, focus blast, shadow ball and encore/ substitute.

This set makes your Alakazam very powerful and increases most of his stats. With this set, your Alakazam can hit faster and harder, but if it gets hit by a ghost or bug move, you’re basically done. I would highly recommend this set, as I’ve used a Mega-Alakzam, and it is OP (over-powered).

In my eye, the other sets are for serious battlers, while this is for someone who wants to have fun. Its ability would be trace in this form, which isn’t the best, but it allows you to copy your opponent’s ability the first time your Alakazam is sent in.

The second set recommended is the life orb set. The move set for this

set is psychic, focus blast, shadow ball, aged by a poison/burn plus its life orb.

HP (hidden power) and ice/encore. The Unfortunately, this still means it can be only dramatic difference in the moves paralyzed and put to sleep, which could in HP ice would cause problems be help in hitif you’re not ting flying types prepared. and dragon The final types. While neiset is the rether are a major venge killer set. threat to AlakaFirst, the item zam, they could for this set is be a threat to the focus sash. your other PokéSecond,the mon. moves for this As for its set are psychic, item, the life orb, focus blast, HP this item can be (hidden power), very good or can fire/Ice or grass screw you over. knot, and thunThis is because der wave. This it does increase move is interAlyssa Dekutoski Cartoon your attack by esting, consid30 percent, but it takes 10 percent of ering I can not think of a time Alakaits HP (hit/health points) each time it at- zam really deals with a Pokémon that it tacks. This makes it a lot more powerful; needs HP fire for. however, the more you use it, you’re acI also have a hard time thinking of tually hurting yourself a decent amount. a time to use grass knot, since heavy The ability for this set is magic Pokémon are very bulky and Alakazam guard. It prevents in-direct damage like is not good with dealing with bulky from a move like toxic, which poisons its Pokémon. target. This ability goes nicely with life As for the item, focus sash isn’t that orb because then it can be not be dam- good unless, as the name of the set im-

Tubular ’Toons Last week we dove into the wonderful world of the cartoons of our childhood. You might ask yourself why this topic is important. Most people don’t think of cartoons as major influences in our lives. I urge you to think differently. Cartoons are what helped us learn lessons, expand our imaginations and most importantly

If Johnny Bravo taught us anything, it was how NOT to attract women. Johnny was a perfect example of having too much confidence. With his tight clothes, sunglasses, smooth walk, big hair and an even bigger ego, Johnny Bravo kept us laughing with all his idiotic mishaps.

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends

In my opinion, this was the most creative show Cartoon Network ever produced. It was hilarious while also showing the reality of how we lose our innocence as we get older. Blue, Mac and the rest of the gang taught us to never lose our imaginations. It was a great show that actually provided a good lesson.

FORKER

Cartoon Network’s offerings HEIMBUCK emphasized quality over quantity

save us from extreme boredom. Personally, I think we grew up in the golden age of toonage. Then again, every generation thinks that. I’m here to tell you why our generation’s television is a top contender for the best ever, so let’s throw it back once again for part two of Tubular Toons.

Johnny Bravo

plies, you need some quick revenge.

The focus sash allows the holder to live one attack with one HP (hit points).

This item is kind of a two-sided sword. I say this because it can be good if you need some easy damage to finish a battle; however, if you get hit, the item is used up and can’t be used again.

The item is good, but only if you know how to use it.

Alakazam is my No. 1, favorite Pokémon, and so when Mega-Alakazam was announced, I had to use it. It can take hits pretty well but is not meant to be a tank in any sense. Alakazam is meant to be a fast sweeper, no matter what you put on him.

While he’s my favorite Pokémon, I will say he has his cons. A con of Alakazam is he can NOT take hits from a super-effective attack very well. If he’s hit by a bug, dark or ghost type, he’s basically done. However, he can also be built to take these hits.

Alakazam in no sense is supposed to be a switch-in to take a hit. If you’re going to send him in, wait until your current Pokémon faints. I highly recommend Alakazam to be your either third or final Pokémon.

By Staff Writer Noah

By Staff Writer Aaron

This week we will look into the underdog of the cartoon world. Cartoon Network is a little different from the rest. They play a lot of old cartoons such as the Flintstones and Scooby Doo but can’t claim them as their own. They also have a late-night adult program called Adult Swim.

Since most of us weren’t allowed to watch Adult Swim, I won’t be including those shows in the list.

However, Cartoon network quietly put up quite an impressive lineup of entertaining shows. They may not have the quantity of Nick or Disney, but they definitely have the quality.

Dexter’s Laboratory

Many of us can relate to having ignorant parents and an annoying sister. However, not many of us can relate to being in elementary school and owning a giant secret lab. Nobody can forget the famous voice screaming out “DEE DEE!” The creative cartoon mesmerized us with crazy inventions and whacky experiments.

Codename: Kids Next Door

You may have started a club with your friends when you were younger, but not like this one. KND was a worldwide force of kids trying to stay young forever. They would fight against the evil adults and older kids with makeshift weapons and gadgets. They also had one of the most awesome tree houses ever built. This was without a doubt a classic.

Ed, Edd, ‘n Eddy

How hard is it to find 25 cents to buy a jawbreaker?

For the trio of Ed’, Edd ‘n Eddy, it is very hard. We got to go on the journey through adolescence with these three and all the complications along the way. There wasn’t a day in the cul de sac where Eddy wasn’t causing some sort of mischief.

Courage the Cowardly Dog

Chances are this show creeped you out when you were a kid. It was an eerie show that seemed more like a nightmare than a cartoon. Even though it was out of the ordinary and quite strange, it was comical and oddly satisfying. It was a great example of conquering your fears.

8

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TRAVEL

Tiger

Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

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Katoski Woods delivers wide range of magical Cedar Valley encounters

Seniors Kayla Ramirez, Madi Harris and I were walking in the Katoski woods just off of Ridgeway this past Sunday afternoon when we saw a big tree with a metal cross nailed to it on all four sides. It was the coolest thing. I wanted to climb the tree, so I did, and I just sat up there taking more pictures from above.

None of the pictures looked very good, so I got down and we continued around the corner to find a bridge with graffiti under it. I cannot exactly tell what it is, but it looks cool, like a dragon lurking among a swirl of spirals.

If you park in the south parking lot on Ridgeway Avenue right after you cross Black Hawk Creek, it is pretty much a straight shot all the way One Tank back there. The only wrinkle is when you come to the fence at the

By Staff Writer Billie Ann end right by HighALBERT way 20, you will take a right and you are basically at the tree.

My journalism teacher Brian Winkel suggested this park would be great for pictures, and now that I have gone there myself, I completely agree. He said he used to live right by these woods and still finds himself walking through them a couple times a month. He recommends early spring right after the snows disappear for some closeups of some of the best early flowers in the Cedar Valley, and some of the other trails will take visitors around sloughs, lakes, open fields and more.

These woods are gorgeous, and the walk is not too torturous. As you’re walking down the path, you will notice a tire swing hanging down into the water that looks tempting to try out, and later down there will be a little waterfall like thing going on. It is very pretty, and I would definitely recommend driving 10 or 15 minutes to go walk or bike down the many paths of Katoski Woods.

TRIPS

Seven years after the tornado hit Parkersburg on a Sunday in May, the overwhelming transformation has left little evidence from the ruins of that storm.

Billie Ann Albert Photos

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Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

Exchange Park

Underlying Beauty Shines in Local Area

hoto PExpeditions

By Staff Writer Austin Reyhons

Exchange Park, located in Waterloo, is home to many attractions including baseball, basketball, children’s playgrounds and a skatepark. It also holds a massive disc golf course. The skatepark and disc course appeal to me personally, but what really brought me to Exchange Park for this week’s expedition is to express the beauty commonly missed at this park. Most people are caught up in pointless affairs, but if we all took a look around during our regular lives we could realize the beauty that surrounds us at every moment. You just have to look for it.

9

TRAVEL

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FEATURE

FLY

Tiger

Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

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O L O S G IN

Junior just weeks away from earning his wings The only thing separating junior Justin Gray from the 10,000 foot plummet to earth is a thin sheet of aluminum that holds together the small, two-seater Cessna 152 airplane that he flies across the sky.

Gray spends his weekends soaring across the sky, piloting a small plane across the open fields of Iowa, and it’s a flight toward a life-long dream. “I’ve always been interested in travel. I had a few small plane flights when I was a kid and knew it was something I wanted to do,” he said.

Gray first saw his opening when he learned that his church priest was a flight instructor, and he capitalized on this opportunity by asking his priest to teach him how to fly.

To be able to obtain a full license, pilots must be 17 and pass all requirements, including 40 hours in the sky with a certain amount of hours at night and passing an FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) exam. Gray sailed over these requirements in February and is now eagerly awaiting Dec. 12 when he will turn 17 and receive his full pilot’s license.

For most of his training, he flew in a Cessna 152, which is a smaller airplane only containing two seats. Throughout his flying career, however, Gray has also flown in a few Pipers, and they are a little nicer airplane than a little 152.

Gray flies mainly on weekends, and this passion of his does not stop in the winter. Flying is a full-time, year-round gig for the high flying, adventure seeking junior.

Submitted Photos

With the UNI-Dome in view far, far below, junior Justin Gray was able to log more flight time on his quest toward his full pilot’s license. Gray spent most of his training in the Cessna 152 pictured below, and now he is awaiting the official certificate of completion in just a few weeks on Dec. 12.

The only real difference between the full pilot’s license and the intermediate license is that one can haul passengers and fly at night with a full license, but with an intermediate license one can only fly cross country if approved by an instructor.

“I’m completely in control by myself,” Gray said. “There are no obstacles.”

Rising above the clouds and leaving the ground for a few hours is Gray’s way of getting away from the world and feeling like nothing can stop him.

Flying for fun is not where this hobby stops for Gray. In his mind, this hobby will someday turn into a career and a lifestyle.

Reflecting on his passion for flying, Gray sits back in his chair as a slight smirk appears on his face. “I hope to be an air show aerobatic pilot or commercial airline pilot some day,” he said. “I love a little risk. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be pursuing the career I am.”

Gray grins and laughs a little more.

“This summer I went flying with my instructor to practice flying in the clouds.

The engine started to run rough, so we turned back, but it was very unreliable. When we got back, there was no power being given off. Everything was vibrating, and the radio even fell off the compartment. You just really never know what’s going to happen. That’s the fun

of it.”

As Gray comes in for landing, messing with all the dials, switches and knobs, he is more confident than ever trusting the hours of experience he already has.

He can’t help but smile from ear to ear as he thinks about the possibility of flying and living out his passion for the rest of his life.

The second the wheels hit the ground, the only thing on Gray’s mind is the next time those same wheels will lift off from the cold hard pavement and fly above the world full of worries and be free from it all.

By Staff Writer Nathan

HOY

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Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

FOOD FEATURE

11

Hour of Power

Lunches Fried Pheasant makes easy meal in under 60 minutes

Lane Schwickerath Photos

Fried Pheasant

Step 1

Step 2

Feeds: 1-2 people Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Needs: 1 whole pheasant Lawry’s seasoning Cajun seasoning 1 can of beefy mushroom soup Flour Oil 1 medium-sized pan A paper plate Prep: Mix some Lawry’s and cajun seasoning into the flour on a paper plate.

Flour each side of your pheasant.

Put oil in the pan and heat it up.

Cook: Put your floured pheasant in the pan.

Brown each side.

Pour the Beefy Mushroom soup on each piece of pheasant. let simmer for 5-10 minutes or until tender.

Serve with your favorite sides.

Step 3

Step 4

By Staff Writer Lane

SCHWICKERATH

12

The

SPORTS

Tiger

Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

Volleyball team fights to five-set finish

The volleyball team’s season ended last Thursday after a heartbreakingly close loss to Bettendorf High School.

The Tigers arrived at State after beating Marshalltown in a hotly contested game. After winning the first two sets 31-29 and 26-24, the Tigers lost the third set 26-24. The Tigers rallied late in the fourth set to win with a score of 25-23 and advanced to the semi-finals with a final score of 3-1. The Tigers headed to the U.S. Cellular Center ranked 3rd in the state.

Sophomore Taylor Lynch said she was ecstatic.

“It was really exciting. We were all really happy, and it was just an awesome feeling,” Lynch said. “Words can’t describe how I felt when we won.”

Senior Emma Gerdes enjoyed getting to play with her sister.

“It was really exciting. I knew we could make it to State all along,” Emma said. “Being able to go with my sister was really fun because it was the last time we’ll play together.”

The first game at State, a quarterfinal, pitted the Tigers against the Kennedy Cougars, a team that had beaten the Tigers earlier this season.

Similar to the previous game, this game was an incredibly intense contest. The Tigers won the first two sets at 25-22 and 25-20. The Tigers then lost the next set 16-25 before coming back and winning the final set 25-20 to advance to the semifinals with a score of 3-1.

Senior Erin Hendrickson said she was elated to make it to the next round.

“When we won the first game, the whole team was so excited because we made it to the semi-finals and we knew we were good enough to possibly win the next game.” Hendrickson said.

Head Coach Matt Johnson agrees with Hendrickson.

“Winning the Kennedy match was awesome. That was definitely as excited as I have been after a volleyball match in a long time,” Johnson said.

“Our girls had been thinking about that opportunity for six weeks and were absolutely ready for the challenge of beating them.”

With hundreds of students travelling to Cedar Rapids, the Tigers played the State semifinal on Thursday against the Bettendorf Bulldogs.

The Tigers spent a large part of the near two-hour game playing from behind, losing the first two sets at scores of 22-25 and 19-25.

Emma was nervous after going down 0-2.

“I was very nervous to be honest. I thought we were done,” Emma said. “I didn’t want to lose in three, and I know that no one else did either. We tried to spark a rally after that, and tried to win each point one at a time.”

Emma’s sister, sophomore Claire Gerdes, agreed.

“I was feeling a little discouraged, but I tried to push that to the side,” Claire said. “I didn’t want the next set to be the final set.”

Johnson never lost confidence in the team.

“Even though we had lost the first two sets, I felt like momentum was starting to turn and we were getting Bettendorf to take some tired swings,” Johnson said. “I had a ton of confidence in our players because they had been in tough situations in the past and responded very well.”

And respond well they did.

The Tigers were able to pull off a remarkable comeback winning the next two sets 26-24 and 25-21.

Hendrickson was ready for the fifth set.

“When the fourth set ended, I knew that we had a very great chance of winning the game. Our excitement was up and the momentum was going our way. We just had to fight through one more set,” Hendrickson said. “I think what sparked our rally was our determination to win. We weren’t going to give Bettendorf an easy win.”

But unfortunately, the momentum wasn’t to last. After going up early in the fifth set, the Tigers’ momentum died out and Bettendorf managed to escape with a 15-9 win, advancing to the final with an overall score of 3-2.

But Johnson was proud of the team.

“As a competitive person, I was bummed that we lost, but I was also extremely proud of the way our players handled adversity and responded when things got tough. I was satisfied that our players had done everything in their power and left everything on the court,” Johnson said. “I’m disappointed that I’m not going to

HI-LINE Athlete of the

Week

Tiger Nation standing strong Tiger Nation proved again just how motivating and encouraging it can be last Thursday at the state volleyball game. Led by seniors and well known for the loud high schoolers that participate in cheering at CFHS sporting events, there is no question that Tiger Nation was the best student section at the U.S. Cellular Center as the volleyball team competed at state, making it to the semi-finals.

Senior volleyball player Emma Gerdes was thankful to have such a strong student section. “Having Tiger Nation makes playing more fun, and they create a fun atmosphere to play in. It’s cool to know your classmates have your back,” she said.

Students all throughout the high school also enjoy being a part of Tiger Nation.

“I like to dress up for all of the silly outs, and it’s fun to be able to cheer alongside all of your friends. I love the sense of unity you feel when you’re all chanting the same cheer,” senior Alyssa Brass said.

Senior Drew Nida agreed. “It’s cool to know every single person standing in the student section is rallied

have the chance to coach our seniors anymore.”

Burken said she wanted more.

“I was disappointed.

Scratch that. Disappointed is an understatement. I felt that I let my team and the seniors down, and I wish that I could have done more,” Burken said.

“It was hard realizing that we didn’t reach our goal and that we were so close to it. We worked hard all year and put so much effort into getting as far as we did, and it was a letdown to know that we didn’t finish the way we wanted.”

Senior Alicia Harrington credits the fans for making the trip to Cedar Rapids.

“I think that the fans really motivated me and the team,” Harrington said. “Being able to look up and see all the people cheering and believing in me was amazing and motivated me to play the best I could.”

Lynch is proud about the

around two goals: being the loudest student section in the state and winning.”

Tiger Nation is known for being loud and getting rowdy.

“It’s lit,” senior Sean Fernholz said.

Tiger Nation also has a Twitter page with over 1,000 followers. The current number of followers is 1,438.

Sophomore Shelby Hartwig enjoys being a part of the student section.

“I think that the student section at Cedar Falls High School is great. It brings us all together because it’s a super fun way of expressing our school spirit, giving us as students the opportunity to support our school and have a good time together while doing so. Standing in the student section and seeing how many of us from the high school and junior high come to support our teams is amazing. I love seeing the impact our student section can have when there are so many of us cheering so loud for our athletes. I genuinely think Cedar Falls has some awesome school spirit,” she said.

By Staff Writer Annebeth

AHRENHOLZ

season as a whole.

“We got to State, so I feel like it went really well, and I feel really happy about it.

Hopefully we’ll be back next year as well,” Lynch said. “I think we played really well. We came together as a team. A lot of people stepped up.

Johnson will leave next year’s goals up to the team.

“My goal is to make sure the girls are enjoying being part of our program and are having fun,” Johnson said. “I would guess based on how this season went and the great junior and senior classes that we will have, the goals will be pretty high.”

Claire looks forward to the future.

“Next year, the goal is to make it to the state tournament again, and to hopefully do even better than this year.”

By Editor-in-Chief Zuhayr

ALAM

Taylor Lynch

Volleyball Sophomore Taylor Lynch and the Tigers volleyball season came to an end last Thursday in five sets at the state tournament semifinals to an experienced Bettendorf team that had six D1 recruits.

Lynch led an impressive comeback after the Tigers fell down two sets to none, racking up 16 kills and setting the stage even at two sets apiece before falling just short in a hard-fought fifth and final set.

What was it like to make such a deep run at State as a sophomore?

It felt great to get to that point with my teammates and to see that all our hard work and extra time in the gym paid off, and as a sophomore it was a great experience to play in that kind of environment at such a young age and going against the best competition in the state.

What would you say is the biggest thing that this year’s seniors taught you?

That teamwork is everything.

You can be the best player you can be, but you won’t go anywhere or accomplish any major goals without your teammates.

What expectations do you have for next year’s team with so many returning key players?

I hope to go back to State next year, and if we work hard, I believe we can do it with Taya Mahi, Claire Gerdes, Grace Burken and a ton of juniors all returning. I know the pieces are there, and we just hope to build off of this season’s success.