The
LASTING LEGACY
Tiger HI-LINE
Thursday, Sep 14, 2017
Beloved English teacher leaves lessons of kindness/page 6 Follow us on Twitter at tigerhiline, Facebook at TigerHilineOnline and on our website at www.hiline.cfschools.org
Volume 58 Edition 1
“Job shadows are a great way to explore interests you may have ...” — Counselor Chris Wood
Job shadowing seeing recent growth The counseling department is partnering with Cedar Valley Career Connections to offer job shadowing opportunities to students fall semester. Participating students would spend an allotted amount of time in a work environment with a qualified professional from the Cedar Valley. Sessions typically last a couple of hours, a half day, or a full day. Opportunities are available in a variety of different career paths, including health sciences, education and communications. Guidance counselor Chris Wood elaborated on why he felt this would be an impactful experience for students. “I think the opportunity to explore careers and what it is like to be a professional in today’s society is critical to the success of all
students. Many students simply do not know what is out there for careers. Job shadows are a great way to explore interests you might have. Even if you don’t know an exact job, we can work with Kelly Kobliska from CVCC to identify careers of interest.” Senior Sylvia Brown participated in the career connections program last year. She shadowed nurses at both Allen Hospital and the Alternatives Pregnancy Center in Waterloo. Brown was given the opportunity to follow her mentor around and ask questions, along with partaking in charting and visiting patients. While she was not placed in the type of nursing that she had hoped, she found that she still enjoyed the experience. “Shadowing a nurse confirmed that I want to be a nurse
and care for others. It also helped answer some of my questions I had about the nursing field, along with opening my eyes to all of the different paths nursing can take. Before my shadow, I had a very specific type of nursing that I wanted to do. However, in my shadowing experience I was on a surgery floor. I still would want to try to be a nurse in some sort of NICU or OB GYN area, but I have realized I’d enjoy working in surgery as well,” Brown said. Brown’s shadowing experience at Allen has provided her with the opportunity to volunteer at the hospital, which she plans on doing later this fall. In order to reserve a spot to meet with Cedar Valley Career Connections coordinator, Kelly Kobliska, students must fill out a form posted on Schoology. Stu-
dents who sign up will receive a pass to meet with Kobliska. “Kelly will discuss the expectations of being a professional in the work environment, contacting the business to set up the time and day of your shadow, and how to follow up with a thank you note,” Wood said. The deadline to see Kobliska for a fall job shadow is Sept. 15. Those interested can attend of two power hour meetings on either Wednesday, Sept. 6 or 13. Opportunities to shadow will be offered again in the spring if students miss the fall deadline. There is no fee to participate, however, students must find means of transportation in order to attend a shadow. By Editor-in-Chief Clare
2014-2015 25 applied 6 completed
Arts, AV, & Communication (3) Transportation, logistitcs, & distribution (2) Education (1)
2015-2016 43 applied 20 completed
Health Sciences (14) Arts, AV, & Communication (2) Other (6)
2016-2017 123 applied 117 completed
Health Sciences (38) Food & Natural Resources (14) Public Safety (12)
ROLINGER
World languages starting early for some eighth graders
Power hour restrictions set tone for incoming sophomores
After adopting the suggested changes from last year’s foreign language committee, eighth graders are now able to take a foreign language for the first time this year. The eighth graders have the option to choose between Spanish I, French I and German I. German is taught by Gunda Brost and is only available at the Cedar Falls High School. French is available at both middle schools and is taught by Elaina Lloyd (Holmes) and Brittan Engels (Peet). Spanish is also available at both middle schools and is taught by Sara Blanco (Holmes) and Christine Gruhn (Peet). This new opportunity has come with complications involving larger class sizes and more students commuting between the middle schools and the high schools, but having a class with eighth and ninth graders combined seems to be going smoothly. “It’s alright and nice having other grades with you.” Emmy Nelson, a freshman taking Spanish I at Holmes Junior High, said about the combined classes. “I think the Foreign Language classes that include both eighth and ninth grade students have been going well so far,” Jeremy Jones, the principal at Holmes Junior High, said about how this change is going. Having 8th graders mixed in with 9th graders have made the class sizes significantly larger, which led to sending a
Last year, power hour restriction was introduced for the first time to the 2016-2017 sophomores because of the misuse and abuse of the system. Many kids went out when they weren’t supposed to go out, and were not cleaning up after themselves in the halls while having lunch. The main reason for this policy coming into effect last year was ultimately that kids weren’t going and getting the academic support they needed from their teachers, and that’s what power hour is all about. But this year things needed to change. Majorly. For incoming sophomores, there’s a new workload, new building, new people and new teachers, but some sophomores said they think the three week restriction assumed too much time for students to learn the lessons for using power hour appropriately. “I think they’re being too hard on us and should let us have more freedom. I didn’t come to high school to still be in junior high,” sophomore Emma DeWitt said. Sophomore Emmey Sherbon agreed with Emma’s response. “Exactly what she said, like it makes me feel like I’m five, and it just gives the upperclassmen another reason to pick on us.” Sherbon said. “I hate it. It’s stupid. I think that if we are supposed to fit in and adapt to the high school, then why would they
class of 9th grade students up to the high school for a Spanish I class. “Larger class size has been the main difficulty this year,” Monica Jarchow, the Spanish I teacher at the Cedar Falls High School, said. “Also, due to budget constraints, we have been unable to attend, more than one educational conference per year.” Spanish I is the language with the largest enrollment this year, Jarchow said. “Class sizes are larger due to increased enrollment, though no hiring of more teachers to accommodate the larger number of students. More students tend to choose Spanish because it is spoken more in the United States than other languages.” This change has also made it so that more eighth graders have been having to go up to the high schools for a class. “This practice has been in place for many years in our district,” Jones said. “Our counselors work very hard to make sure the students who travel to the high school are set up to be successful with that transition.” Even after the changes, however, some things remain the same as always. “The teachers of the world language department all have the same passion for teaching a language as well as culture,” Jarchow said. “We are very supportive and helpful of each other as a group, and each teacher brings their own unique style to teaching the language.” By Staff Writer Rowan
O’BRIEN-CARLSTEIN
have us in lockdown?” And while some sophomores felt strongly about not having more flexible time to start the year, students like sophomore Shelby Conditt were indifferent about it. “I’m fine with it. It doesn’t bother me that much. It’s really not that bad. I don’t know why people are bothered with it.” Regardless of student opinions, the purpose of power hour this year stays the same as last year: To help students get on the right foot and stay there for the rest of the year. Counselor Chris Wood never thought of this year’s power hour restriction as a punishment. “I don’t like that people feel like it’s a punishment because it’s not a punishment. It’s just, here’s three weeks that we want you to kinda get off on the right start because sophomores last year will tell you that if you got behind in those first three weeks, and you dig yourself a hole, it’s a huge challenge to get out of, and the last thing we want to do is set people up for failure,” Wood said. And on Thursday, Sept. 14, power hour restriction will be done and over with for most sophomores, so this means longer lunches, more time to study, more time with friends and less time confined to a classroom. By Staff Writer Chase
KLINE
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OPINION
The
Tiger
Thursday, Sep. 14, 2017
HI-LINE
Our View
Get Involved At CFHS
Any age, grade, and person has an opportunity to branch out and get involved at Cedar Falls High School. There are so many groups to choose from, it can get overwhelming. Here are some ways to get involved and find your place. Art Club Art club meets every week on Tuesdays during power hour. Expand your horizons in art and have fun while doing so. No previous expierence necissary! Open stuido for one on one help or to create whatever you want! You can email art teachers Lisa Klenske or Emily Olson for details. Rocket Club Rocket club is going into its fourth year and is looking for people who show interest in engineering and rocketry. The past two years the club has landed a spot in the national competition in Washington, D.C., and you can be a part of that team. You can email adviser Zeb Nicholson at or attend their meetings during B shift power hour on Tuesdays. Drama Auditions for the play may be over, but there is still ways that you can get involved in the production. The cast is always looking for people to help with set and design. You can email director Michelle Rathe for details. Speech team will also take part later this fall. Volunteer Club Make an impact in and out of the school. The volunteer club is here to help make a positive impact on the community and give back. You can get involved by talking to your counsler. Social Issues Club Don’t hide behind a screen, get out and talk about issues going on in our community and world in a safe and accepting enviornemt. Meeting times have not yet been scheduled, but you can email Elise Leasure or Taylor Sullivan for details. Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) The mission of the GSA is to promote tolerance and the acceptance of diversity in the school. Come express yourself in an open-minded safe enviornment . Email Melissa Bredden for details.
Student Senate Have a voice in our school. Come to meetings every Wednesday morning (Thursday in September) at 7:25 for talks about homecoming, food drive, and dance marathon. This is a great place to have a voice and make an impact in the school and community. Tiger Pals Tiger pals is a preogram for Juniors and Seniors who donate their release time to metor an elementary student at Cedar Heights or work in a classroom at Southdale. Applications are avalibe in the office. Language Almost any language course has a club where you meet for power hour and practice speaking to your friends and celebrate different cultures. Talk to your foreign language teacher about the club to learn more. Anime Club Anime club is open to anyone intrestted in anime. Activites related to anime are planned. You can contact Mrs. Anhalt for details if you are interested.
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: Elise Leasure, Sabine Martin, Clare Rolinger, Tehya Tournier Staff: Benjamin Boezinger, Noah Forker, Tex Gam-Ad, Aysiah Keller, Chase Kline, Sierra Miller, Rowan O’Brien-Carlstein, Skylar Promer, Rachel Schmid, Parker Strauss, Katelyn Turner, Matthew Walsh, Capri Wilson
The
Tiger
HI-LINE
Summer slip-ups
Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017
OPINION
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By Editor-in-Chief Elise
LEASURE
President Trump faces five tests this fall
The Trump administration has almost closed out its first summer in office, and it will be one that no one forgets. Trump’s disastrous summer of 2017 has almost come to a close, complete with Nazis, hurricanes and threats of a nuclear showdown. As Autumn approaches, Trump and his administration are looking for a steadier start to the critical new season: one filled with less firings and more tax reform. As White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders put it, it’s “going to be a busy September.” Here are five issues from President Trump’s summer of 2017 that further await their fate this fall. As Hurricane Harvey ripped through Texas and Louisiana, Trump’s crisis skills were tested. According to the Associate Press, 43 people have died as a result of Harvey, and the cost of damages has towered at an estimated $180 billion. He directed federal aid toward expensive recovery efforts. In between his controversial pardoning of police chief Joe Arpaio, Trump responded to the disaster in his typical fashion: a thread of tweets. President Trump and his wife Melania visited the Houston area to visit those affected by the storm; however, many believe his efforts toward the hurricane have fallen flat, and that Trump continues to politicize the disaster rather than corral efforts to aid the areas in need. Trump has remained committed to the scheduling of tax reform rallies in between being informed of the nature of Harvey. While Trump attempted to use his rhetoric to promote tax cuts around the country, one particular part of the country continued to struggle and will continue to struggle throughout the fall as thousands begin to rebuild their lives and their cities. This summer, North Korea made world headlines for its recent and quickened long range weapon initiative. The Asian country has fired 21 missiles during 14 launches since February of 2017, according to CNN, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (IBM). North Korea claims that the IBM could reach anywhere in the world, sending many Americans into a panic. It is believed that the mad dash by the North to develop a missile capable of reaching the United States, along with a growing nuclear weapon initiative, is to prevent the United States from removing Kim Jong Un from office. President Trump responded with his typical macho rhetoric, including a threat of “fire and fury,” but a military solution to the crisis is still absent. Trump has also warned that “all options are on the table,” furthering many American’s panic and leaving many to wonder what exactly that means.
The release of high-profile figures and the internal war between Trump’s staffers has been anything but invisible throughout the summer. The casualties of the administration include former press secretary Sean Spicer, chief strategist Steve Bannon and communications director Anthony Scaramucci. Bannon’s mutual-resignation has been seen as a blow to the alt-right, while many Republicans have rallied around his release. Scaramucci, who was hired and fired in less than two weeks, seemed to lead Spicer to resign in protest after his appointment. Scaramucci was also not afraid to bash the administration to the media following his release. Bannon has resumed his post as executive chairman of the alt-right publication Breitbart, and many await the fate of the administration this fall and whether Trump’s current staff members will last longer than their predecessors.
Perhaps one of the most controversial events of the summer was the clash of the left and right taking place in Charlottesville, Va. The violent confrontation originated with alt-right opposition to the removal of confederate statues, and with both sides deeply devoted to their drastically different beliefs, ended with the death of one woman hit by a car driven by an alt-right member, and the injury of many on either side. The president delivered various vague statements about the rally that drew bipartisan criticism for the absence of words against violent white supremacists, but many were unsatisfied with his remarks. “I think there is blame on both sides,” Trump said, offering his view on racist efforts that have grown nationwide, their violence and the counter efforts to prevent them.
On July 29, Trump announced via Twitter a proposal that would ban transgender people from serving in the U.S. military in any position. The abrupt announcement reversed years of dedication to securing the rights of the LGBTQ community in the military and caused strife to many. However, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has said that a panel will examine the president’s proposal to “provide advice and recommendations on the implementation of the president's direction.” Many believe that Trump is denying transgender people equal opportunity, and the proposed ban has brought forth lawsuits from various advocates, most significantly being a group of active, transgender members of the military from California. With Mattis’ panel planning to review Trump’s plans for the issue, the fate of the ban is still unwritten.
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The
FEATURE
Fun in the sun
Tiger
Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017
HI-LINE
Students return to school following global adventures Senior Shelby Hartwig (below) vacationed in Glacier National Park, Mont.
Senior Molly Rygh (left) hiked for 45 days through the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Sophomore Sophia Schillinger (left) visited Sausalito, Calif. Senior Taylor Sullivan (below) attended Hinterland Music Festival in St. Charles, Iowa
Freshman Vikashprithvi Ayyappan (above) visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, India
The
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Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017
FEATURE
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Former CF student helps with hurricane relief Cedar Falls has had its 100year and 500-year floods in recent years, but nothing compares to the 1,000-year flooding from Hurricane Harvey in Houston. Fifty inches of rain poured down on Southeast Texas, and 30,000 people were displaced by the floodwaters. Neighborhoods were torn apart by chemically poisoned water, belongings were destroyed and houses were permanently damaged. Jada Oltrogge, a 15-yearold former Cedar Falls resident and Cedar Heights student, has experienced both Cedar River flooding and the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. She moved to Cypress, Texas, a suburb 45 minutes away from downtown Houston, in 2013, and she was fortunate enough to not be hit directly by the hurricane flooding but experienced the storm as she helped clean up the mess in the region. Texas Gulf Coast residents were panicked even before the storm arrived. “Everyone rushed to the grocery stores and cleaned food out shelf by shelf,” Oltrogge said. “We didn’t have an energy generator and knew that the power would go out, so my dad went out to go get one, but there weren’t any left in stores, so he drove far away to get one. Later that night, the power went out. The city shut the power off for safety and because it was sporadically going off.” Once the hurricane hit, there was also the threat of
Photo Submitted by Jada Oltrogge
Residents of Houston’s belongings were thrown on the side of the street after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. tornados. “We stayed in my parents’ walk-in closet for two days and made beds in them to stay safe together. I was 10 minutes away from the tornado. Every couple of minutes there were new tornado sirens,” Oltrogge said. Oltrogge’s family back in Iowa were worried with what they were seeing on television. “My aunt and uncle from Iowa were freaking out and texting me, making sure everything was OK,” Oltrogge said. After the main storm passed, seven counties had mandatory evacuation of their homes in order to stay safe. “Ten minutes away from my house, the whole neighbor-
Elise Leasure Graphic
hood had to evacuate and had to pick up and leave. Towns like Sugar Land, Galveston and Corpus Christi had mandatory evacuation and got hit the worst.” All of this happened as the school year was just about to start for Oltrogge. “We were supposed to start Aug. 28, and the storm was still going then, so they pushed school back, and then it kept on raining. We were going to get 50 inches of rain, so they pushed it to this Wednesday [Sept. 6]. Then yesterday, they pushed it back to the 11th,” she said. Since her family was safe and her school was delayed in opening, Oltrogge was able to
volunteer in the clean-up efforts. “This church near us was doing a thing where we go to houses and help them clean out their damaged things. We got probably about 12 groups of 10 people, and they had houses ready, so we knew what to do. Some people would knock out the walls, and we had to help haul everything out including floors and soggy furniture. It was hard to see people’s belongings being ruined,” Oltrogge said. Another house Oltrogge worked on was already filled with mold. “It smelled really bad because of the mold. If there was mold, you had to wear a mask because of the
chemicals and gross water. There are also people I have seen helping on social media who have had infections on their legs from the flood water. The water is filled with such nasty stuff,” Oltrogge said. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina had $110 billion worth of damage. Current estimates for Harvey put damages at higher than $190 billion, but the true cost of Hurricane Harvey can be seen in every individual story. “There was a lady whose house we helped clean out, and she had a bed that was soggy, and she couldn’t afford a new one, so my dad went and bought her bed, so she didn’t have to sleep on a moldy bed,” Oltrogge said. Oltrogge said that people came out to help both neighbors and strangers. “Everyone really cares about helping others. Even when the water was high, people with trucks and four-wheelers went out to help people evacuate. It started getting worse because people called 911 too much. There was a waiting list, and more priority was given people who were pregnant, and elders got helped first to evacuate,” she said. Even after the storm is over, her Iowa relatives are still concerned. “My grandma from Iowa called me and said the news is scaring her, but I couldn’t pick up because of the storm. Now she texts me every day,” Oltrogge said. By Editor-in-Chief Sabine
To donate to Hurricane Harvey relief text HARVEY 2017 to 91999
MARTIN
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The
Tiger
FEATURE HI-LINE Beloved English teacher leaves legacy of kindness Thursday, Sept. 15
“Put more kindness into the world than you take out.” —Scott Lawrence-Richards Almost everyone who knew English teacher Scott Lawrence-Richards was bombarded by one of his rants or explanations at some point in time. The man was notorious for his inability to quit talking. While some might see his nonstop chatter as a form of narcissism, I always viewed it as a demonstration of his passion. The man had a passion to teach, and with a knowledge as extensive as his own, he had much to offer those around him. SLR had a desire to bring kindness to others. A lot of times people peg the big, loud, (sometimes a little offensive), boisterous ones as self centered. And while at times, Mr. Lawrence-Richards was all of these things, he always did so in a way that was kind. Even when he was politically incorrect, or when he really crossed the line talking about Lysistrata, he was only doing so because he was trying to connect with individuals, or bring a little bit of uncensored humor into their lives. Lawrence-Richards exuded kindness and love to those around him. He had a passion for teaching, he had a passion for giving, and he had a passion for his students. Honestly, I’m not sure if many understand the passion that he had for his students. My dad was Lawrence Richard’s attorney. A couple of weeks before he passed away, Lawrence Richard’s met with him to discuss an estate plan. He had just been diagnosed with stage four cancer. My dad visited him in his home at the time because he was already bedridden. SLR shared many things with my dad that day. My father is generally not permitted to share his conversations with his clients, but Lawrence-Richards gave him the permission to share a few things with me and all those who cared about him. He told my dad that he wasn’t afraid to die. He told him that he hoped his life
Submitted Photo
A man known for his love and dedication to his students, Scott Lawrence Richards always had a smile and a witty comment to share. was one that people would look back on and see kindness. And he told him about his love for his students. “Mark,” he said. “My students mean so much to me. Clare was such a wonderful student.” He wrought his hands in his lap. “I don’t want to be too forward, but you could tell her that she could come visit me if she’d like.” These were the words that my father relayed to me once he arrived back home that Friday evening. I didn’t really know what to say to them. I didn’t feel like I deserved to see him — this dying man who taught me about Ethan Frome and Crime and Punishment. I felt unworthy. Why would he ask for me? And then I realized that it had nothing to do with me. It was about his students. SLR loved his students, and I understood then that it was my job to go to him and make sure
that he knew his students loved him too. So I went. The next day I called his home residence and I asked what time I could come over; I was there in the early afternoon. It was difficult. He sat in a bed, sagging in all of the wrong places. The man who once had never stopped talking struggled to find the strength to speak. I sat down in a rose colored armchair at his bedside. I said hello. He said hello back. He told me how much it meant to him that I had come. “It’s examples of things like this. This is such an act of kindness, Clare. People are so kind. I’ve always tried to show others kindness. It’s so important to show others love.” His voice broke. He paused, leaning back into his pillow and looking at the ceiling; willing the tears not to fall. “It’s just such an act of kindness that you are here.” He closed his eyes to shut out the tears, but they
fell anyway. He cried in front of me; a man whom I had always known to laugh and joke; a man who made inappropriate sexual innuendos about Lysistrata; a man who constantly mispronounced people’s names to the point that it was almost offensive; a man who wrote incredibly in depth reviews for the school play. He cried in front of me. And I cried too. I told him then how important he was to all of us. I told him how much his students loved him. “You mean so much to us,” I said. “You were such a great teacher, Mr. Lawrence-Richards. We all love you so much.” SLR truly loved his students, and he expressed that love in his own uniquely peculiar ways. Some people will remember him for his strong opinion in regards to the pronunciation of onomatopoeia. Some will remember him for the days he would burst into classrooms and give his own mini lectures. Some will remember him for his inability to quit interrupting the movies he showed in class with his personal opinions or remarks about the filming. But I hope all will remember him for the kindness and love he shared with others. In his final interview with the Tiger Hiline, Mr. Lawrence-Richards shared what he hoped to be remembered by for the faculty and students at CFHS. “They’ll likely remember me as loud, a bit off beat, good at the stuff I taught and mildly obnoxious. I’d like to think they might recall that I tried to be kind, was always enthusiastic about my content and cared deeply about my students’ learning. That’s enough.” By Editor-in-Chief Clare
ROLINGER
“There was never a dull moment in his class, as he’d keep you engaged through his various antics and extreme volume. One minute he’d be going over the interpretation of the red pickle dish and the next he’d be participating in the new ‘Usain Bolt’ trend. Scott Lawrence-Richards was the kind of guy that you just couldn’t predict what he’d do next. Every class was an adventure.”
—Gabe Gotera 2017 grad
“My favorite SLR memory actually occurred from the first day until the last day of my senior year. On the first day of class when he was calling roll, instead of merely addressing me as ‘Olivia’ he proceeded to call me ‘Oooolivia.’ Every single day, without a doubt, he would call me that. Even when I didn’t have him the next semester, he would greet me as ‘Oooooolivia’ as loud and confidently as he could. While some people thought it was weird, it made me feel remembered. I’ve always had people forget who I am, and him constantly addressing me like that made me feel like I was not the bland forgettable person Submitted Photo I thought I was. He made me feel remembered, and I will never forget him because of that fact.” English Teacher Scott Lawrence-Richards, commonly known by his —Oliva Westemeier 2017 grad students as SLR, “daps” with 2017 graduate Gabe Gotera.
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HI-LINE
Homegrown Green Dribbling down the court as the clock ticks down, the pressure is on for No. 4, senior AJ Green, and his teammates. He moves swiftly side to side, passing the ball, trying to get open. With the crowd roaring, each student section cheering and sweat rolling down his face, Green’s hands are back on the ball. In just a few short moves, Green takes charge and shoots for the winning basket in the last few seconds of the 2016 game against Linn-Mar High School, leading his team to State. “That will always stick with me. That was such a big moment in my career,” Green said. Recently, Green decided to continue his career by playing at UNI after graduation from the high school, and he reflected on what the past has held held for him and what he has yet to achieve. Green started playing basketball was he was just five years old. His parents signed him up to play in rec league and wanted to get him into the game at a young age. “We’re a basketball family and I was pretty good at it, so I just kept playing,” Green said. After playing travel ball through grade school and junior high basketball, Green said in seventh grade he figured out if he worked hard enough, he could go somewhere with his basketball skills and take things to the next level. “I play because I love it,” Green said. “I just want to keep getting better really.” Looking back on some of the basketball memories, Green said playing AAU travel ball with the Barnstormers has given him a lot of opportunities to travel all over the country and experience so much that others don’t get to see. “It’s really cool, now that I’m done with AAU, that I can look back and see where basketball has taken me.” Green, his family and his travel ball team have taken many trips such as Las Vegas, South Carolina, Dallas, Atlanta, Kansas City, Indiana, Milwaukee and lots more. “Why do I do it? I guess I realized if I wanted to be good, I had to sacrifice hanging out with friends and going out to do fun stuff. I had to be in the gym, putting in the time.” Green said he also enjoys the traveling and seeing new places, so, that is a definite perk when being away from home. Being ranked the 74th player in the country out of 100, a top 20 point guard in the country and second in the state of Iowa, Green’s name in on every list possible. In June of this summer, Green
Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017
Senior chooses UNI for basketball career
John Dunlop Photo
Senior AJ Green sinks his 1,000th point shot against West High School last year. Being the leading scorer is one of the many goals Green has ahead. was invited to the NBA Top 100 camp at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. Green said he has been to numerous camps over the years, but this one was the biggest yet. The camp is put on by the National Basketball Players Association, and the top 100 players in the country are invited. “When I found out I was invited to that, it was pretty motivating for me, and it just shows all my hard work has paid off.” This camp paid for travel expenses, food and staying at the dorms, and the players also received basketball gear. Green said that over the many camps he has been to, the NBA Top 100 was his favorite by far and a successful time playing basketball. In summertime, when he’s not at big basketball camps, he is working out with the high school basketball team at team camps, scrimmages, attending open gym, lifting when school kicks in and sometimes he even goes in early in the morning to get a workout in before school starts. Basketball coach Ryan Schultz, said Green cares so much about the game and about their team. “A great thing about AJ is that even though he has had so much success thus far in the game of bas-
ketball with respect to individual accomplishments, he remains a team player. It’s been a pleasure to coach him and have him be a part of our program.” He said that one of the best and most rewarding things about being a coach is seeing a kid develop over the years and being able to help along that player’s journey to achieve their goals by doing it the right way. Schultz also mentioned Green is one of the rare kids where one can immediately see they have something special in them, and Green was definitely one of those kids. “He works at his game when he doesn’t have to and when nobody is watching. He doesn’t take days off,” Schultz said. Because of all his hard work and commitment to the game of basketball, Green is driving to set a new record for total points scored in high school career. The record is held by James Harrington of 1,409 points total. Green is at 1,100 points and has a goal to set a new record. “That should be easy to break. Usually I have at least 400 points a season,” Green said. With his senior year and season ahead, Green said he is ready for what the future has in store.
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Friday, August 11, 2017, Green made his final decision and committed to continue his education and basketball career in his hometown at the University of Northern Iowa for the fall school year of 2018. “I always knew. I just always knew that I wanted to play college basketball.” The colleges that were interested and were trying to recruit Green were Gonzaga University, Michigan State University, University of Southern California and Indiana University. The colleges that offered to Green were University of North Dakota, South Dakota State University, University of Nebraska, University of Virginia, Clemson University, University of Minnesota, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa. “I will take my official visit to UNI this fall.“ Freshmen year, Green received his first letter, and in the spring of his sophomore year, letters kept coming in, and by the time sophomore year ended, a first offer was on the table. In the fall of his junior year, Green started visits to Iowa State and Minnesota. In the midst of his junior year, offers, camps, visits and letters swarmed the 6’4” basketball star, and the process unfolded. A main factor, Green said, with choosing UNI as a home of four years is that he has grown up around the program his whole life. “I really feel comfortable with all the coaches, the players and the plan of the future in what we could do,” Green said. Green also mentioned it is very important to him that his family is able to watch him play the sport he loves and be alongside his journey. “Coming down to it, it just felt right for me.” Green admitted it was a tough decision to make with all the offers coming in, and the process wasn’t easy, but his decision to commit to UNI was definitely what he wanted to do. “I know I could’ve played at those bigger schools, but I just really wanted to go to UNI.” He said his parents have been his biggest supporters from when he was just a kid shooting baskets in the backyard. “My parents have helped me through it all and have given lots of advice when I needed it, and they have always show me the right thing to do.” Schultz said he is excited for Green and his family. “I was excited for UNI and the
community, and, selfishly, I was excited about the fact that I would be able to go watch him a lot over the coming years. In the end, UNI is a great program. It’s home, and I think AJ will flourish there,” he said. Green’s mother, Michele, joked that she is glad she won’t have to buy new colors and is excited for his next adventure. “When he was, I think, two years old, he had a little basketball and hoop, and he would not stop shooting. AJ would just get mad whenever he’d miss and would not stop until he made a basket,” she said. Green’s mother said when giving both her kids advice throughout the years, she hoped they would learn to work hard and dream big. “I think with the combination of those things, it can take you far in life,” she said. Before every game, she sends the same text message to instill confidence in Green. “Always work hard. Be the leader God wanted you to be. Be fearless. Play aggressive and have fun.” With his dad being the assistant men’s basketball coach up at UNI, Green said his dad sees the coaches’ side of the process all the time, and it really helped a lot in what to say and do with making a decision. “It’s pretty cool knowing he will be my coach. It’ll be fun for the both of us and really cool to play for my dad.” Green said it doesn’t matter for basketball or whatever sport someone is playing that if you work hard enough for what you want, it will pay off in the end. “No matter what, never stop.” His ultimate end goal and dream is to play professionally after college in the NBA or overseas in Europe. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to make a living off of that for awhile.” Once Green is done playing basketball far into the future, he said his next journey will be coaching basketball. “I just like being around the game. I’ve been around it my whole life. I feel like it would be weird not being around basketball. I’ll coach no matter what happens.” As the last seconds of Green’s high school career as a Tiger come to an end, he will still confidently trot on the court, his jump shot will still extend over his head, the ball will still graze the net and buzzer beaters will still be imprinted in fans heads, but this time as a Panther. By Editor in Chief Tehya
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Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017
Searching for Winners New seasons open chances to support new teams Here we go, ladies and gentlemen. This is the time people across the nation gear up for the addition of football back into their lives, but more importantly, all major sports in the United States are preparing for their seasons. From the NHL to the NBA, fantasy servers alike are getting fired up in preparation for the incoming mass of fans ready again to participate. If you are like me, however, it’s hard to find a team that’s worth following, so after a summer of contemplation and resume building, I have finally found the best way to find a team worth building a standing relationship with. I will be the love guru to your troubled relationship with sport. If you are like me, unluckily not being born into a fandom, long seasons can get boring. However, if you follow my resume, you will find a team to root for. Personally, I got lucky. The greatest quarterback of all time just came out of retirement to play for the Miami Dolphins. Not only was I surprised about this, but I was elated. Finally, I was given a team to follow straight from the hands of God. After years of just dipping my toes into the league all through the 17 weeks, I can finally dive head first into the deep end. The best thing about sports fandom is the passion. And now finally I can experience this during a time usually filled with boring watchfulness. If my recent discovery makes you envious, follow my criteria, please, to experience the same feeling of fruitful desire. 1. Favorite Player
Finding a favorite player in the league is the first and most crucial step to finding success with another team. It doesn’t matter whether he or she rides the pine or punishes quarterbacks. The only thing and I can’t stress this enough, is that you do not pick an already great player. For example, you cannot pick Tom Brady and suddenly become a huge Patriots fan. You risk running the difficulty of becoming a bandwagon. The worst kind of fan. Personally, I would choose a young up and coming player. Someone like Aaron Donald or even Christian McCaffrey. The Panthers would be a good team to follow because they are good every other year. Cam Newton is on the rebound, and they have a strong defense, so if you are looking for success ... the Panthers are the team to go with. 2. Style Probably the most meaningless, but also the most sequential is a team’s style. Picking between a new school team like the Dolphins, or going with an old school team like the Raiders is an important decision. The aesthetic choice you make about your team is something you will have to look at for the next 17 weeks. If you are not a fan of the newest Seahawks uniform endeavors, then I would suggest staying away from being the 12th man. Personally, I think the Miami Dolphins colors and uniform selection is OK. It’s not the greatest, but certainly not the worst in the league. Style, once again, is the most important underrated choice. The style of your
team is the first thing that people see, and one of the first vehicles they use to degrade your team. Make sure your choice is wise, and one that won’t make you throw up every Sunday. 3. Longevity Longevity may or may not be important to you. If you are an individual, like me, who likes to jump around a lot, this may not be as important. Longevity refers to the youthfulness of the team and how long they can be good for during their prime. A team just now entering its prime would be someone like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have promise at the quarterback and wide receiver positions. However, they still do have some holes on the defensive side of the ball that could be tough to hurdle to become an elite team, so if you are a young team just getting over the hump of their rebuild, I would make a pick of a team like the Browns. It’s a great pick 1) because you can use them as a humblebrag 2) because if their latest draft picks do prove to be worth while, they could be somewhat good. These three steps will hopefully help you decide who and what to cheer for during the season. With the Patriots stranglehold on the NFL loosening, the next coming years could decide who will be the juggernaut ready to take over. If you make all the right bets, you could be one of the few who can say, “I was a fan before they won all those Super Bowls.” By Sports Editor Ben
BOEZINGER
Driving It Home
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Athlete of The Week
“The Panthers would be a good team to follow because they are good every year.”
“A team just now entering its prime would be someone like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have promise at the quarterback and wide receiver positions. “
Maddie Posekany Photos
The volleyball team (14-1) overpowered Cedar Rapids Prairie (4-7) at home on Sept. 5 in three straight sets. So far this season, senior Grace Burken (at left) has 53 kills, and sophomore Akacia Brown (at top) has 71. The Tigers have a tournament at DikeNew Hartford at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Brandon Nelson Golf
How long have you been playing golf? Around 15 years What has been your biggest accomplishment of the season so far? Our team tying for first in our division at the supermeet. What are some of your personal goals? Have some 18 hole rounds in the 70s and nine hole rounds in the 30s. What are some team goals? Return to State and place better than last year. To also win our division in divisionals. Best memory from this or previous seasons? Going to State and listening to Cheap Thrills during van rides. Are you planning on playing golf after this year? Yes. I plan on playing on my free time and golf outings.