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ig r iLi e 34 musicians earn All State spots Linden Terpstra Staff Writer

Cedar Falls had 34 musicians selected to participate at the annual Iowa All-State Music Festival in Hampton on Saturday, Oct. 25.

The All-State Festival takes place on Nov. 20 to 22. The selected musicians will perform at the culminating concert at Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m.

The band was pleased with the day after 11 students and one alternate qualified. “It was a great day. There were a lot of kids who were selected, and we were really happy about that,” CFHS band director Gerald Ramsey said.

The band members selected include Sarah Halloran on flute; Elise Berry on oboe; Nick Carlo, Bethany Olson, Vanessa Hensley and Jasmine Singh on clarinet; Mark Lukasiewicz on tenor sax; Louis Redfern on bari sax; Michael Miller on trumpet; Paul Strike on trombone; Steve Ramsey on bass trombone; and an alternate, Ian Abbott on tenor sax.

Though many practiced for the audition, some were not selected. “There were some students that were well prepared for the day but maybe didn’t have their best audition, and for one reason or another were not selected,” Ramsey said.

Many people view being selected as a great accomplishment. “I have seen that 1.5 percent of Iowa high school music students are selected for participation, so to get in is an elite honor,” Ramsey said.

Berry was selected for her fourth year as an All-State participant. “I was nervous walking in

Oct. 29, 2008

because it was my final year, and I really wanted to be a four-year All-Stater. I was also determined to do my best, and I really think I did,” Berry said.

Because of her experience, Berry knew what she must do in order to make it. “I knew I could net let myself blow it; I worked too hard to not play the music the way I wanted,” she said. “The judge sat directly across from me, so I could see him staring at me. It was slightly terrifying, but I knew what I needed to do, and I knew I could accomplish it. I nailed my scales, so I left on a good note.”

The competition is full of many emotions that can change in an instant during the frantic audition. “All-State is so nerve-wracking. From the moment you walk into Hampton-Dumont High School, you are immersed into a frantic world of screaming and crying. People are hurriedly playing through scales and last minute excerpts from prepared pieces,” Berry said. “Just being in the atmosphere is enough to get the adrenaline pumping.”

Strike was selected as an alternate last year, but prepared extra to be selected second trombone at All-State. “I was practicing up to two hours every night for the last two weeks at least,” Strike said.

Strike’s tedious practicing prepared him for the difficult audition. “First, we play a 60-90 second excerpt of a solo. Next, the judge picks out a part of each of the two etudes we had to prepare, and we play those excerpts. Then, we have to draw a card with two scales on it, and we have to play the scales, along with a scale of your choice.

Volume 49 Issue 8

1015 Division St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613

Finally, you play your chromatic scale. All scales are done as 16th notes, with its quarter note at 88 beats per minute,” Strike said.

Orchestra Director Scott Hall was also pleased with the results of the orchestra students at the All-State auditions. The nine students selected include Hannah Howland, Riley Martin, Vanessa Horstman, Amelia Sutton and Erik Olsen, all on violin; Elizabeth Bailey on viola; Olivia Hahn and Francisco Villavicencio on cello and Jakob Stoner on bass.

“I am proud of all the students who tried out. It’s the process and preparation that makes students who they are,” Hall said.

Hall is eager for the experience ahead of the musicians. “Overall, I am very pleased with the turn out. The students who were selected have such a great opportunity ahead of them; working hard in rehearsals and performing great music at a high level at the Iowa All-State Festival,” he said.

Four-year All-Stater Hahn felt pressure to make it again for herself. “I was trying to be really professional because I didn’t want her to think that I wasn’t prepared because I was. I was nervous, and I had a lot of pressure to make it this year. I just wanted to live up to that, and I wanted it for myself,” Hahn said.

Horstman, who made it for her first year, felt the nervous energy this year after being chosen as an alternate last year. “Before I performed, I just smiled and tried to keep myself calm through all the nerves even though my hands were shaky. I just wanted to do my personal best no matter what happened in the end,” Horstman

said. “I just prayed before I went in. I asked God just to help me do what I came here to do, and do my very best, hopefully calming my nerves. I gave it my all, which was the best I could do for how anxious I was, so I think it went OK.” Horstman was ecstatic after finding out she had been chosen. “When the scroll of names fell, it just gets dead silent, and it’s really cool when the names just drop, so I was really excited when I saw my name for my first year of making it,” she said.

She commends the school for its excellent musical directors. “In all, eight were chosen from the district, five from Cedar Falls. It was just a great feeling we all had accomplished. It just goes to show how far our teachers help us out, and we all really represented our school well,” Horstman said.

The choir qualified 15 members under the supervision of choir director Kendra Wohlert.

The members include Ali Stodard, Alice Miller, Natalie Takes and Ashley Mason on soprano; Catherine Dunbar, Samantha Takes and Ebony Kunkle on alto; Sam Lilja, Joe Fagersten and Daniel Veenstra on tenor and Ben Ulfers, Chris Bowden, Ben Fagersten, Mason Meyer and Rhys Talbot on bass.

“I was really proud with every one of them, those who made it and those who didn’t. They all worked really hard and worked together really well,” Wohlert said.

Wohlert was delighted with the students’ view of the competition. “They were always aware of ALL-STATE, PAGE 2

Mock election gives youth political voice Ben Olson Staff Writer

History will be made in two weeks with the 2008 presidential election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Cedar Falls High School won’t be left out of the excitement, though. There will be a mock election held in the MRC on Halloween Friday in the morning before school and throughout the day to measure the student view.

According to U.S. history teacher Bob Schmidt, this school election is long overdue.

“This is our first formal by-the-book mock election. The social studies department will be conducting the process,” Schmidt said.

Already in the campaigns, there is a wide array of important issues that will sway people to vote for one candidate versus another.

Katie Dexter Cartoon

“I think future energy resources, the economy and foreign policy are really important this time

around,” junior Bailey Pons said.

Still, others feel a combination of issues will determine the winner.

“I think whichever candidate is going to have the best impact on our country and will change people’s attitudes will win it. I’m excited I get to vote in the real election this time,” senior Melanie Adrian said.

Besides Adrian, many other seniors who have reached the voting age will be able to vote in the real election along with the mock one.

“I finally get to vote this year. It’s important because we need qualified people in the job,” senior Ashley Ehrig said.

On Halloween, students’ sharp opinions will be directed to the ballot, but until then, many are very vocal about their choices.

“I’m voting for Obama because it’s time for a

change, and I feel his direction is the right direction and will make the best impression and help our economy,” sophomore Sarah Postel said.

“I would vote for McCain because Obama’s plans are too socialist,” sophomore Josh Sims said.

Still, others feel that neither candidate fits the bill for our country.

“There should be a third party because no one is qualified in my opinion,” sophomore Sonja Pryzbylski said.

One advantage of this mock election is that it resembles the actual voting process, with students having to have registered to participate.

“It just makes things much more realistic,” Schmidt said.

After the voting, the ballots will be counted and results will be announced later that day.

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Two students earn National Merit recognition Max Herre Staff Writer

Acing the ACT college entrance exam last spring, seniors Michael Miller and Sam Condon have continued their mastery of standardized testing with top notch PSAT scores this year.

Every year, approximately 1.5 million students across the country take the PSAT test as an entrance test for the National Merit Program. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships.

Of the 1.5 million students, about 50,000 with the highest PSAT/ NMSQT scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

In April, high-scoring participants from every state are invited to name two colleges or universities to which they would like to be referred by NMSC. In early September, Miller and Condon, along with 50,000 high scorers across the country, were notified that they qualified as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, they must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards.

All-State FROM PAGE 1

the bigger picture of becoming a better musician,” she said. “The main goal for me is that they come out on the other end of this eight-week process as a better musician, to improve their abilities, and every single one of them did that.”

Each auditioning choir member must audition in a duet, trio or quartet, which is required to learn every part of all the songs, because on the day of the audition, they find out which excerpts of the songs they will sing.

Miller, a second year All-State participant, knows all too well how tedious the process can be.

“I have been practicing since the beginning of August. For the last few weeks, my quartet has been practicing almost every day,” Miller said.

“Joe Fagersten, Ben Fagersten and

All winners of Merit Scholarship awards are chosen from the Finalist group, based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments.

A variety of information is available for NMSC selectors to evaluatethe Finalist’s academic record, information about the school’s curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, school officials’ written recommendations, information about the student’s activities and leadership, and the Finalist’s own essay.

Even though both have taken challenging classes and earn excellent grades, they were somewhat surprised with their PSAT scores.

“I was pretty surprised,” Condon said. ”I remember that there was one math question that I completely screwed up on, and 10 minutes after the test finished, I knew what I did wrong and that it should have been really obvious. Luckily, I still managed to get a good score overall,” “I knew I did pretty well when I got the PSAT results, but I didn’t really know what all the numbers meant since the National Merit Scholarship Program thing was announced like a year later.” Miller said.

Miller isn’t sure yet which college he will attend. “(My first choice) is probably Goshen College, a Mennonite school Catherine Dunbar were in my quartet, and we all got along really well and worked really hard together, so when it came time to try out, we did really well and left feeling pretty good about our performance.”

The choir met as a last gathering before the long day ahead of them at Hampton. “Every year, the choir meets for breakfast at around 4:30 in the morning, and then takes the 6 a.m. bus to Hampton. It’s really early, but a really good way to start out the morning,” Miller said.

Senior Ali Stoddard also was selected for her second year.

“We had to sign up two times a week to practice with Mrs. Wohlert and our student teacher, Miss Bates. My quartet came in during the mornings and after school for at least 30-45 minutes each day we could,” Stoddard said.

After practicing many long hours, Stoddard felt confidence entering her audition. “I knew my quartet would

in Indiana. My plans for the future are to go to a probably smaller, liberal arts college and keep career options open and then work with a service organization, such as Christian Peacemaker Teams, abroad,” Miller said.

Condon hasn’t made his final decision. “I’m torn,” he said.”I either want to go into science or law. It kind of helps that a four-year science degree is a good prerequisite to a law school, so I can keep my options open.” Condon said.

Condon does want to go to Iowa State University in Ames.

While both Condon and Miller carry a 4.0 grade point average, they are well-rounded individuals with a variety of activities and interests. Condon likes to “ read a lot, for starters.”

Miller’s hobbies include “reading, playing music and sports, biking, working on his church’s website, being with friends and ‘Baracking’ the vote.” At school, he is in marching and jazz bands, cross country, choir, soccer, ALPHA, robotics and senior leadership. Out of school, Miller is involved in Teen Trust, a youth philanthropy group and his church’s youth group. He is also a volunteer usher at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Theatre.

Regarding advice for others attempting high stakes standardized testing, Miller said,” I dunno—eat a good

“I’m really proud to be a part of such a strong music program through Cedar Falls. It’s really an honor to be part of something so spectacular, so astonishing.”

—Senior Sam Lilja two-year All State member do well, but it was up to the judge to decide that. It was in those songs that I had to show the judge what I’d prepared for those stressful months,” Stoddard said.

Arlene Freudenberg Photo

Looking pensive, erudite and intellectual, Michael Miller and Sam Condon are two of this year’s National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists. breakfast, get a good night’s sleep and think happy thoughts.”

“Don’t stress out over the test. It

won’t help at all, and you may miss some obvious things if you’re too worried,” was Condon’s advice.

Senior Sam Lilja, who made it for his second year, was happy with the school’s turnout. “I’m really proud to be a part of such a strong music program through Cedar Falls. It’s really an honor to be part of something so spectacular, so astonishing,” he said.

To lots of students, the selection process can be an emotional time. “It’s so dramatic to find out whether you made it or not. A woman comes into the gym with a huge rolled up piece of paper. A hush fills over the entire room as people ‘shh’ to add more effect. She gets up on the ladder and tapes the paper high up on the wall.

Quickly in unrolls,” Berry described.

“People jump up and down hugging and screaming or else turn away with disappointed tears. However, nothing compares to the moment when you see your own name on the unrolled piece of paper under ‘Accepted.’”

Many students know the feelings of going through the All-State competi-

tion and understand how valuable it is. “Even though I didn’t make it my sophomore year, I was a little discouraged to do it the next year. I realize that even though I didn’t make it, I could still become a better musician, so I tried it again the next year, and I made it. It’s something I will never forget, and then this year, making it again, it’s just added to those memories,” Stoddard said. “This year will be really great, but even if you didn’t make it, don’t be discouraged. The experience of just trying out for All-State makes you a better musician in itself.”

Though it is a long, tedious and emotional process, auditioning at this competition gives you life-long understanding and experience. “It’s the experience of working together in a small group; it’s the experience of working on challenging music, and the experience of auditioning. It’s good for all the students to be exposed to all those experiences,” Wohlert said.

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Oct. 29, 2008

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Hi-Line endorses Obama for presidency

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Next Tuesday’s election is undoubtedly the most important in decades.

Each election year you have one issue that both candidates vow to solve, be it on foreign policy, the economy or corruption to name a few. But this year is different — the next president must handle all of these issues at once.

The next president will have to deal with the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression, developing more stable, permanent and environmentally friendly forms of energy and securing our boarders while dealing with the millions of undocumented immigrants already here.

This president will inherit an $11 trillion debt, multiple seemingly unsolvable conflicts in the Middle-East and a plethora of other troubles that have been growing for years and are finally exploding.

Most of all, the next president must restore every single American’s faith in our government and restore our respect on an international level. The staff of the Tiger Hi-Line has recognized this importance and endorsed a candidate for president.

The staff acknowledges the divisiveness of this election and has attempted to look beyond partisanship in this endorsement using the fairest way possible.

Last week, Hi-Line adviser Brian Winkel collected 15 of the biggest, most pertinent issues of the election.

These were issues on which Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain have dissimilar positions. These issues and each candidate’s positions on them were gathered from the non-partisan, non-profit website ProCon.org, which is devoted to creating informed citizens by showing all sides of many controversial issues.

Last week in class, Winkel stated each issue, and then read each candidate’s positions as they were expressed in the direct quotes on the procon website. As he read them, the quotes were not attributed to either candidate, and anything that would clearly reveal who said each quote (references to party, names, etc.) were removed.

The editors simply picked quote one or quote two, whichever best matched his or her view of each issue.

Winkel had randomly mixed up the

order of each candidate’s quotes so it was not possible to follow a pattern from either candidate. In the end, the votes for each issue were tallied.

Although the staff was split on multiple issues, the Tiger Hi-Line is endorsing Obama for president after a majority of the staff agreed with him on 12 of the 15 issues. The views expressed herein are not the views of the school, district or Hi-Line staff writers. They are just the views of the Hi-Line editors.

We acknowledge that Sen. McCain’s policy on Iraq is different than that of President Bush’s, for, although he supported the original decision to enter, he had been pushing for more troops long before the surge was implanted and continues to do so.

However, we also feel that Obama’s leadership showed correct judgment even while the support for the war was at it’s peak. We believe that McCain’s policies of increased troop presence and military force are solely bandaging the problem, while Obama’s pushes for more diplomacy and a multi-nation effort will help solve the problems at their cores.

On the home front, we feel that Obama’s tax policy is in the best interest of our country as a whole. We do not believe that lower taxes for the wealthiest American’s is the best way to respond to the $11 trillion debt nor is it helpful in improving vastly underfunded programs that are vital to our country’s well-being.

Obama’s plan will give muchneeded economic relief to middle- and low-income families in the form of tax breaks, while at the same time repealing the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest American’s who do not need this extra capital as much. This is vital to providing help in these tough economic times while at the same time stopping us from digging ourselves deeper into debt.

We as a staff believe that healthcare, like safe neighborhoods and a basic education, should be a right of every single American. The United States is the most developed country in the world, yet even less developed countries provide this as a right for every citizen. We recognize that buying healthcare is not a feasible option for everyone and feel that Obama’s plan is the most realistic in ensuring as many American’s as possible are covered.

In terms of the environment, we

believe that either candidate is an improvement from President Bush.

Both McCain and Obama acknowledge a human cause in global warming and have strongly advocated for more funds toward renewable energy and have vowed to wean us off of foreign oil.

One of the issues on which we support McCain instead of Obama is in his call to repeal subsidies of ethanol.

Ethanol is not a permanent solution to the energy crisis, and many studies have shown its production to be quite inefficient.

As college bound high schoolers, education is also a very important issue to our staff. On the No Child Left Behind Act, 13 editors felt it was not working, one felt it was, and two were not sure. We agree with Obama in that although the concept of the act was sound, it was vastly underfunded, resulting in a failure. We also support Obama’s plan to provide economic help for college-bound citizens in return for service to the country and world. If implemented, this could make college an option for more citizens while at the same time providing a large amount of aid to areas in need.

On the issue of sex education, the Hi-Line staff has unanimously supported Obama’s position. Obama supports ensuring that all teenagers have had an informative education on safe sex practices. Abstienence-only programs have been shown to be unsuccessful in stopping the increase in teenagers engaging in sexual acts.

We believe Obama’s policies on gay marriage and the right of homosexuals to openly enlist in the military best allows for those of all sexual orientations to feel secure. America should be a place where people of all different sexual orientations have open access to the same individual rights.

Lastly, just as the Supreme Court decided when looking at Roe v. Wade, the Tiger Hi-Line staff agrees that abortion should be a choice for mothers to make. We agree with Obama in that a mother’s right to choose should not be denied.

This election truly is one of the most important in our history. We stand at a pivotal point in which we must make an informed decision when choosing the direction in which this nation will travel for years to come.

On a clear majority of the issues, we feel Obama is right for job.

Olivia Schares Photo

In one of his first visits to Iowa as a presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama stopped in Waterloo. More than a year and a half later, he is now the Hi-Line’s pick for president.

Contact the Tiger Hi-Line

The Tiger Hi-Line is a weekly publication of the journalism classes of Cedar Falls High School, 1015 Division St., Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. Each edition is published on Wenesdays during the school year in The Insider and Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier, 501 Commercial St., Waterloo, Iowa 50701.

Columns and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Hi-Line or Cedar Falls Schools. The Hi-Line editorial staff view is presented weekly in the editorial labeled as Our View.

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 Thursday for publication the following Wednesday. Letters may not exceed 300 words and may be edited to meet space limitations. Include address and phone number for verification.

Editorial Staff

Editors-in-Chief: Honor Heindl, Kellie Petersen and Ellen Wrede Business Managers: Jill Dally and Alex Entz News Editors: Arlene Freudenberg and Sara Strever Opinion Editors: Ben Buysse, Maggie Devine and Vincent Stigliani Sports Editors: Nick Penticoff and Paul Strike Senior Sports Writer: Jackie Jordan Feature Editor: Honor Heindl On-Line Editors: Torie Jochims and Ellen Wrede Entertainment Editors: Maggie Devine and Torie Jochims Photo Editor: Honor Heindl Cartoonist: Katie Dexter Graphic Artist: Tasha Woods

Freakishly Funny: Monica Reida Staff Writer

Tyler Shaub & Darby Sheehan Photos

Amelia Gotera (’09), Riley Martin (’10) & Katelin DeSarano (’10) play the three Brooklyn aunts in Kesserling’s comedy Arsenic and Old Lace.

Drama 411:

-when: Oct. 31 & Nov. 1 -time: 7:30 p.m.

-location: CFHS Auditorium -cost:$5 adults; $4 students; activity passes accepted “The Sun Always Shines Down Under”

Student Intro Special

20 points for $20 (Student ID Required)

Expires 12/01/08. Tax included, not valid with any other offer. Limit one per person.

6322 University Ave, Cedar Falls 268- 2031 and 275 E. San Marnan Dr., Waterloo 232-4554

OIL CHANGE and LUBE OIL FILTER (up to 6 quarts, synthetic is extra)

$21.95 Expires 11/30/08

6283 University Ave Cedar Falls (319)-277-6200

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The drama department will be performing Joseph Kesselring’s classic comedy Arsenic and Old Lace and a one-act play entitled The Rules of Comedy by Peter Bloedel on On Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in the Clare C. Stanard auditorium at 7:30 p.m. both nights.

Kesselring’s comedy follows three Brooklyn aunts, played by juniors Katelin DeSarano and Riley Martin and senior Amelia Gotera, who offer old men their elderberry wine that has been laced with arsenic, strychnine and cyanide. The show is told from the point of view of their theatre critic cousin Mortimer Brewster, played by senior Rhys Talbot.

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Long awaited Fall plays premiere Friday, Saturday

“There are these three old ladies who kill men because they’re lonely. I show up and freak out,” Talbot said.

While the show is a dark comedy dealing with topics such as murder and insanity, the actors feel as though the show is on the humorous side.

“Ours is pretty crazy,” sophomore Dan Harter, who plays Dr. Harper in Arsenic and Old Lace, said.

“I get to be carried off-stage by Tyler Schaub, who’s yelling.”

The Rules of Comedy is less than 30 minutes long and features a cast of 21 students. The play starts off with a definition of comedy and what is funny. The narrators, played by Meghan Kleitsch, Samantha Heinen, Deanna Ament and Allison Duchman, then ask to do a humorous version of Hamlet. The audience is then given a synopses of the show in its (mostly) original form. They then present the final scene of the Shakespeare tragedy, but with the rules applied to it.

“It basically shows how you can take the tragic scene of Hamlet and make it funny easily,” said sophomore Maureen Villavicencio, who plays the ghost of King Hamlet.

For some of the actors, this is not

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the first school play they’ve done in high school. For Talbot this is his fifth and for sophomore Carter Allen this is his second. But there are reasons as to why the students keep returning to the drama program.

“I plan on going into theater and Rathe and the students are too fun,” Talbot said.

Even the sophomores involved with the show have previous experience from junior high. Sophomore Dylan Stull, who plays Polonius in The Rules of Comedy, did two plays in junior high. Other cast members that are sophomores may have not appeared on stage in junior high, but still were involved with theatre.

“I was involved with tech work.

I’ve always wanted to be onstage and be recognized,” Villavicencio said The actors are hoping that their peers come out to support them on stage.

“I think it’s well done. It’s funny, it’s going well. It should be good,” Stull said.

Arsenic and Old Lace is directed

by English teacher Michelle Rathe and The Rules of Comedy is directed by former CFHS student Mandy Heath.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students in grades K-12, but activity passes will be accepted.

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Dedication F r o m l e f t t o r i g h t c l o c k w i s e :

Rhys Talbot (’09) & Ashley Sorensen (’10) bond as they get dramatic, practicing their roles for the upcoming show.

Brian Harris (’10) works on drilling together a staircase during set construction on a Saturday afternoon.

English/drama teacher Michelle Rathe directs the school play, spending hours every day after school at practice.

Luke Benson (’10) rehearses his lines to perfection for an audition.

Happy Halloween From the Tiger Hi-Line Staff Advertise in the Hi-line

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Contact: Hi-Line Avertising Phone Number: (319)-553-2590 Email: cfhsbroadcasting@ gmail.com

r n T t E n 6 m n i

N eW Rel eases

Music:

•Keri Hilson In a Perfect World...

•Brad Paisley Play •Dido Safe Trip Home •Sarah Brightman A Winter Symphony •Tipsy Buzzz •Q-Tip The Renaissance

Movies:

•The Haunting of Molly Hartley

F eature Pod cast This week’s feature podcast as well as eight others that are updated every other week can be found on The Tiger Hi-Line Online (http://www.cedar-falls.k12.ia.us/ buildings/cfhs/journalism/index. html) by following the podcast links. Internet Explorer does not work for viewing this site. Use Safari, Firefox or Opera for best results. The website is also linked off the high school’s website.

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High School Musical 3 delights fans Torie Jochims

Entertainment Editor

In the third and final installment, High School Musical 3: Senior Year holds true to its fans, but disappoints newcomers. A warning label should be placed on the movie as well as its reviews: Previous HSM fans, rejoice.

Previous HSM enemies turn back now or suffer insanity. The third movie keeps the same cast members and follows them, sometimes haphazardly, through their senior year with all its trials and tribulations. One thing is certain: High School Musical went silver screen.

Bigger, better and far more Hollywood than its predecessors, High School Musical 3: Senior Year took advantage of its hype with big musical numbers such as Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) and Sharpay’s (Ashley Tisdale) “I Want it All.” With Hollywood-esque scenery and glamorous costumes and Troy’s (Zac Efron) “Scream,” complete with a rotating hallway segment, it’s clear that the higher ups got their hands on this movie deal and went wild.

As per Disney expectations, the film was filled with feel-good moments, but also some realistic issues that high school seniors face.

With questions of whether or not to leave their romance behind as they move on to college, Troy and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) struggle with the same idea many high school couples in the same position find

themselves having troubles with. It also highlighted prom, graduation and college decisions as well as the impending question on every senior’s mind: What do you do with your life from this point onward? Also classic to Disney movies, the film had its fair share of honey-sweet moments that were, on occasion, simply too much to stomach.

Perhaps the most confusing plot line of all is the film’s center — the gang goes through their senior year all while planning and performing in, surprise, the spring musical (musi-cahl, not musi-cuhl). The catch?

This years’ musical is all about the gang and their senior year. Confusing?

Very. And still, while sitting in the dark theater amidst masses of preteens screaming for Efron and singing along to the pre-released tracks, suspending your disbelief and casting aside your cynical witticisms becomes simple and, in turn, delightful.

The film focuses on Troy and Gabriella as they find themselves

in love and facing a terrible separation — a 1,000 mile separation, to be more precise. Throughout the movie the couple faces ups and downs and, along the way, three musical numbers together and one each separate.

But even though the focus is mainly on these two teen heartthrobs, the Evans twins, Sharpay and Ryan find their way to shine, as well.

Though Ryan has veered away from the evil path his sister keeps trying to lead him down, Sharpay has not given up on being the best at all costs.

Sharpay attempts to cause some mischief, unknowingly bringing Ryan and Kelsi (Oleysa Rulin) together in an almost-romance that sadly did not have the screen time to flourish in what should have been a fun subplot. Chad (Corbin Bleu) has his future set in stone and thought that his best friend, Troy , had it set right there with him.

The pair must find a way to work it out as Troy contemplates non-basketball related options for his own future.

Not only that, Chad must face the one thing that his witty T-shirts can not do for him – asking Taylor (Monique Coleman) to prom. And then there is the prom scene. A bit disappointingly, prom for the Wildcats was not at all as expected.

The musical numbers throughout the film are mostly upbeat and always relevant to the situation, maintaining the illusion that has you wishing life was actually like a musical. Perhaps the most disappointing of the musical numbers was the finale, entitled “High School Musical.”

A great musical will never allow the audience to know that the characters are aware of their participation in a musical, and the graduation scene felt more like a graduation of the actors themselves rather than the characters, leaving audiences unsure of the movie’s intent.

In the end, the movie entertains and can be quite enjoyable if you were a fan of the previous two.

Seeing the last chapter of the characters’ high school careers was endearing if you’d followed them previously, and you have to wish them the best with warm hearts and hopes of enduring romance and following dreams, a lingering warm-fuzzy feeling many Disney-produced movies tend to leave.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year was, without a doubt, the best of the three, and certainly worth seeing as a silver screen experience for previous fans.

institutions and returns to his hometown never ceases to give you the chills and make you lock your doors.

2. Corpse Bride/ The Nightmare Before Christmas These Tim Burton masterpieces are virtually interchangeable as they provide not scares, but delightfully spooky entertainment for all ages.

You’ll root for the main couple to go against the odds to be together and the strange songs will get stuck in your head until you’ve recovered from eating all of that Halloween candy.

3. The Exorcist You’ll be sleeping with your lights on for weeks after you see this one for the first time as a young girl is slowly

taken over by a demonic force and a priest performs an exorcism on her.

DO NOT WATCH THIS ALONE. 4. The Omen trilogy Damien! These three films based on the best-selling novels will seriously disturb you as you watch the Anti-Christ, Damien, attempt to take over the world and fulfill the prophesy set out in the Bible, and all who try to stop him fall.

5. The Birds Although this might be a strange idea for a horror movie, and it was made in a less-gory time of film, The Birds will definitely creep you out.

In this Hitchcock classic, all kinds of birds suddenly attack humans in a

small town. (Just wait until you see the ending.)

6. Psycho How can this not make any great movie list? Another Alfred Hitchock film, everyone has seen the climatic shower scene that sparked the slasher movie craze. You’ll think twice about talking to strange men after seeing this.

7. The Shining Red rum. Red rum. Read that backwards, and you’ll get the eerie jist of this film. You’ll be glued to your seat too as you watch the story of a writer who is taken over by evil spirits in the hotel he and his family are staying at as he is driven to insanity.

Halloween classics provide scary fun Independent Film Making

with host Matt Vichlach This show helps aspiring filmmakers fulfill their goals on a budget.

Oct. 29/Episode Five In this week’s episode, Matt will introduce viewers to effective and proper uses of video cameras.

Maggie Devine Entertainment Editor

It’s that time again. Time to sit down with your friends on a late weekend night and get some good ol’ fashioned Halloween frights. There’s always room for going to the theaters and seeing the new flicks, but you can’t go wrong with these Halloween classics. For best results, we recommend watching the original films, not the remakes.

1. The Halloween saga Obviously a classic Halloween movie list isn’t complete without these. Michael Meyers psychotic killing sprees as he escapes from mental

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Cheerleaders advance to State on Saturday Aubrey Caruso With this year’s state competition coming fast, cheerleaders took advantage of their home performance to prepare.

The Tiger Invite that was held on Saturday, Oct. 18 brought area schools together to perform their routines for State, getting critiqued and finding what they need to strengthen before the big competition.

Even with a few rough edges left, the cheerleaders saw the Tiger Invite as a way to perfect their last few mistakes before State.

“This helps us become more comfortable performing our routine for State,” junior Alicia Tindall said.

After placing third last year, the cheerleaders are working to perfect their routine to bring it all to the mat this coming Saturday.

Once again this year, many injuries have occurred such as a broken foot, broken finger and a strained shoulder.

Cedar Falls’ big competition at State is Davenport Assumption, but they will compete against nine other schools in their 4A division.

The cheerleaders’ goals for a great routine are to stay calm, be confident, stay positive and stick all their stunts.

“Staying positive and doing our best while we practice our routine keeps us pumped up to bring it all to State,” sophomore Sami Wagner said.

Bethany Olsen Womens Diving Senior

Bethany Olson is a tremendous force above the pool. After winning the state diving title last year, she is looking for a repeat. Olson is having a great season so far. She recently won the MVC diving title and looks promising in bringing another state diving championship back to Cedar Falls.

Max Herre Photo

At the beginning of the Linn Mar football game on Friday, Oct. 10, the competition cheerleaders got a chance to publicly display some of the moves that they hope to use in their state cheerleading routine in Des Moines at the Vets Auditorium on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Even with the challenges of a tough it’s one of the hardest routines we Music selections for state routines routine and being the first time perhave worked on, and they are doing mainly consist of Hip Hop. forming it, the cheerleaders are confivery well with it. The dance is aweThe state competition is held this dent that it will be one of the best. some,” assistant coach Megan Mackey Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Vets Audito“This year our routine is very hard; said. rium in Des Moines.

Sophomore strives for peak fitness Ben Sadkowski Staff Writer

Sophomore Daniel Yehieli is constantly pushing himself to be the best that he can be, and he has the motivation to match. Yehieli is an advocate and practitioner of top physical health and fitness.

“I want to be well prepared for life, to be stronger and more disciplined and to have a different mindset than everyone else,” he said.

Yehieli began training at age 13 under his own aspiration.

Currently, Daniel puts himself through some sort of exercise every day.

“I try to do something every day even if I can’t make it to the gym: a quick jog or something like an ab

Athlete Week of the

Staff Writer

workout,” he said.

Yehieli also keeps track of what he puts into his body as well as what he does to it training-wise.

“I write down things in a notebook; I keep track of breakfast, lunch and dinner, and I count the calories. Then I total it up. I also read a lot about nutrition,” he said.

Yehieli really pushes himself right in the middle of every week.

“Wednesday is my crazy day. I wake up at 5 a.m. and go to the high school gym at 6 to lift weights until 7, and then I go on a 1.5 mile run. After school I go to the gym again. Then I have a mixed martial arts class for an hour and a half, and then a Brazilian Jujitsu class,” he said.

The effects of these kinds of workouts are definitely considerable.

“After that I feel refreshed, like it’s been a great day of training. It’s not like it’s going to make you look like a big, bulky guy, but it gives you endurance. It conditions your body so you can run for hours,” he said.

Intense training often leaves an athlete susceptible to injury, but attention to the simple things helps keep Yehieli safe.

“I never have (been injured), and I try stretching a lot before and after I work out. Nothing really serious has made me have a setback,” he said.

In addition to his wide variety of training techniques, Yehieli also varies who he trains with.

“For the lifting and running I train alone, but for martial arts it’s training as a group. Pretty much all my fitness activities are individual. I also do stuff

like Model UN and (Navy) cadet training because it focuses on leadership,” Yehieli said.

Recently, Yehieli attacked one of the most taxing athletic events available: the triathlon.

“It was the Peregrine Triathlon on Sept. 22, and I did it as a team with my uncle and a friend. We finished seventh overall. After the swim we were in 2nd place. After the bike we were in 11th, and after the run we were in 4th. They average all of the times together,” Yehieli said.

Those that spend a lot of time on training can sometimes cross the border to obsession.

“No, I’m definitely not (obsessed).

My mom thinks I am, but it’s health.

It’s a good obsession. It’s better than drugs and alcohol,” Yehieli said.

1.) What are your individual goals?

Winning state again and improving my scores.

2.) What motivates you to dive?

Doing well in meets and reaching my full potential motivates me to work hard.

3.) How do you prepare for meets?

Visualizing dry land simulation and listening to “Eye of the Tiger.”

4.) What do you like most about diving?

Having fun with my team and having the satisfaction of nailing a dive or doing well at meets.

6.) Having it be your senior year, is there anything you look back on that you wish you would have changed?

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

7.) Do you have role model?

My older sister who also is a diver.

She was my first coach, and she inspired me to stick to diving.

Tigers in Action

Men’s Cross Country Placed 2nd at Districts Next up: State Cross Country Meet 11/1 (Fort Dodge @ 11:30 a.m.)

Women’s Cross Country Placed 4th at Districts Football (8-1) Beat Dubuque Senior 42-0 Next up: Substate game vs. CR Jefferson (UNI-Dome @ 7 p.m.) 10/29 Women’s Swimming Off this week Next up: Regional Swim Meet 11/1 (Holmes Junior High @ Noon) Volleyball Played a regional match vs. CR Jefferson 10/27

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Hunger Haters

Lord of Lots of Flies

NEIBA Formulas Seniors’09 Win-a-Lot bye

Senior Leadership sponsored a Kickball Game last week, raising $450 toward the Food Drive

Honor Heindl Photos

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NEIBA

NEIBA NEIBA Seniors’09 Win-a-Lot Win-a-Lot Blake Davis (’09) proudly holds the trophy team NEIBA gave themselves after winning the kickball tournament.

Left: Business teacher Matt Flaherty dashes home while his volleyball team cheers him on.

Below: Vanessa Hensley (’09) mentally prepares herself for an intense game against the Hunger Haters.

Above: Courtney Dreyer (’10) & Alison Jaynes (’09) celebrate their victory, putting them in the championship game.

Left: English teacher Doug Wilkinson has been one of the most competitive participants in not only the Kickball Tournament but also the entire Food Drive.

Although science teacher Marcey Hand got Nick DiMarco (’09) out, there are no hard feelings.