The girls’ basketball team kicked off their season in early December with a new coach. See full story Page 7.
the sun journal
PHOTO BY HAYDEN KEINTZ
Speech & Debate kick off new season, hire new coach by Kylie Fisher & Hollin Keintz
of the Sun Journal
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he Speech and Debate team has experienced quite a bit of coaching turnover in the last several years, and this year has proved no different. The team started the season with new head coach Melissa Dowdy, who only lasted just long enough to kick off the season. Fortunately for the team, Big Sky graduate Jayden Beed (’21) was currently serving as the assistant coach and gladly stepped into the role of head coach, making the transition almost seamless. “It is very surreal. Speech and Debate did
so much for me as a competitor, but has also done a lot for me as a coach. Being able to have come full circle and provide the same opportunities to others that I was provided is an amazing feeling,” Beed said. Although she had a successful tenure as a competitor, Beed finds coaching more fulfilling, if not more challenging. “As a competitor, your main focus is your events, especially given that we are an activity that is largely individualized,” Beed said. “However, as a coach, you must spread your time between all events and coach all competitors in them. I have found that all of the skills I utilized as a competitor whether competitive, leadership, or otherwise have been
great assets in doing this.” The team, too, is adjusting to the change, but is ready to start moving forward. “We are super grateful for her commitment to our team and flexibility in becoming the head coach,” Senior Ashlynn Everett said. “She is honestly the most consistent coach we have had yet.” While it may be a bit “unconventional” that Beed, just a college freshman at the University of Montana, is the head coach, most students are happy she’s been able to take the helm--though they recognize the stress she is under as the sole head coach in her first year. “She is an experienced and capable debate mentor, but she lacks expertise when it comes
to speech events,” Senior Octavio Jimenez said. “We are glad she’s around but are also disadvantaged by the fact she is the only one.” While others have expressed some concern about experience, the overwhelming sense is relief and hope for the future of the program. Senior Pilar Seielstad said, “I think she is fantastic. Initially I was concerned with her competing last year, but she is genuinely the best coach I have had. She cares for each individual, pushes them to perform, fundraises to make sure we can eat at tournaments, supports all of us speech and debate kids, and
Victorious Opener
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BPA adopts Hawthorne families by Hollin Keintz
Editor-in-Chief
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s the holidays are quickly approaching, the Business Professionals of America students are giving back to the local community, adopting 14 elementary students from Hawthorne Elementary, one of Big Sky’s feeder schools. Co-Adviser Jenn Keintz said, “We know there is always a need for extra supplies, but during the holidays, especially this year, we felt that helping out elementary students was the best use of our energies.” The primary source of the projects comes from the school store, but also from some local donations as well. The BPA students bought the items from the students’ need
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PHOTO BY HAYDEN KEINTZ
Senior Caden Bateman grabs a board over Billings Skyview during their opening night’s victory, 52-44. Senior Louis Sanders led with 10 points, followed by Shane Shepherd and Josiah Cuaresma with eight points each. See page 6 for full story.
Veterans’ cemetery asks Big Sky students to show respect by Hollin Keintz
of the Sun Journal
Model United Nations Success Carter wins Top 5 delegate scholarship by Hollin Keintz
of the Sun Journal
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he Montana Model United Nations team had a successful outing at their two-day tournament right before Thanksgiving break. Several students walked away with honors, and seniors Ben Carter and Annie Migliaccio both won senior awards, with Carter taking home a Top 5 delegate award. “I am honored to have received a scholarship to the UM and I am so thankful that I have had such good mentors in our previous seniors, Ms. (Nicole Sarrazin-) Strong and Ms. (Meleina) Helmer,” Carter said. Carter took home Top 5 honors, meaning he was one of the top five seniors at the conference, for his work as a delegate for the Japan team in the United Nations Development Programme round. The honor comes with a scholarship to the University of Montana. “I represented Japan’s stance on creating a sustainable and resilient blue economy and build back better from COVID-19,” Carter said. He attributes his success to his confidence. “To do well in MUN you really need to be willing to speak in front of other people and take charge of situations,” he said.
INSIDE
PHOTO COURTESY OF MELEINA HELMER
Montana Model United Nations delegates competed Nov. 22-23 at the University of Montana for the 56th annual MMUN High School Competition. Front row: Reagan Remmers, Marin Seielstad, Hayden Bosshardt. Middle row: Aaron Tribble, Analise Migliaccio, Noel Migliaccio, Pilar Seielstad, Lydia Reid. Back row: Brianna Machado, Elyse Huey, Ben Carter, TJ Higuera, Gavin Lemmon, Derek Johnson, Madelyn McInnis, Hannah King, Tennyson Smith. Not pictured: Gabriel Hendrix, Marcus Raines, Max Carter, Aaron Helms.
The Japan team of Migliaccio, Marcus Raines, 11, Hannah King, 10, and Carter won Outstanding Delegation. Greece, represented by Noel Migliaccio, 11, Marin Seielstad, 9, Max Carter, 10, and TJ Higuera, 12, received an Honorable award.
Opinions
Other individual awards went to Hayden Bosshardt, Max Carter and Raines (Honorable); Regan Remmers, Higuera and King (Distinguished) and Ben Carter (Outstanding). Annie Migliaccio received and Honorable for Position Paper and Noel Migliaccio and Bosshardt
Features
Opinions......................4 Features.......................5 Backpage............................8
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Backpage “A pickle is not a pickle unless it bounces.” Connecticut
News................................2-3
Sports.........................6-7
both received Distinguished Position Paper awards. Each year, the University of Montana sponsors the MMUN conference, typically hosting approximately 20 schools and upwards of
illustration by Jacky Bloom
Stress season is here
School is stressing us out, and it’s only going to get worse as we head into finals. 4
photo by Kylie Fisher
Cabaret returns
Now that the auditorium is complete, and audiences can return, Cabaret is back! 5
JANUARY 6, 2022
photo by Hollin Keintz
That’s illegal?
Check out some crazy laws around the states. 8
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ig Sky High School borders very silent neighbors and our neighbors are asking for silence and respect in return--at least during funeral services for our local veterans. Last month, during a funeral at the Western Montana Veterans’ Cemetery, the cemetery that borders the student parking lot, Principal Jennifer Courtney fielded complaints from the adminstration at the cemetery about the behavior of Big Sky students during a funeral service. Bureau Chief Matt Manning has asked that in the future, Big Sky students refrain from shouting vulgarities, revving car engines loudly, and honking horns. “It’s not necessarily that we are upset about the whole issue,” Manning said. “It’s just that we feel bad for the families because you only get one funeral, you know? And if [students] are over there honking their horns it’s kind of ruined.” Manning understands the behavior is just high schoolers being high schoolers, and he doesn’t mind that. What is he requesting is for us to be aware of what is happening around us, and behave appropriately especially during a service. “You know, if they are out in the parking lot being silly, it’s fine--we don’t mind that. We just ask that they have a little situational awareness,” Manning said. “Look across the street and see if there are any cars in the cemetery. If there are cars in the cemetery and the flags are at half staff, look around and make sure everyone is being quiet.” Plus, even if there isn’t a service going on, Manning asks to just be aware of your surroundings. “Somebody might be out there having a really tough day--they lost a loved one--and they are out there at their father’s, their mother’s, their huband’s grave,” Manning said. “It’s a tough time. Our cemetery is place we want people to come to and for it to be peaceful for them.”
January 6, 2022
the sun journal
7
Sports
Girls team young but optimistic
by Hayden Keintz & Kaydn Easter
of the Sun Journal
Four games into their season, the girls basketball team is optimistic about heading into 2022. The two-day opening games mid-December against formidable Billings teams got the girls off to a shakey start, but they have since rallied to bring their overall record back up to 50, at 2-2. They dropped their opening games to Skyview and West, losing 63-18 and 55-29 respectively. Yet, they turned it around with two wins on the road. First, they beat Belgrade 45-38 on Dec. 14 followed by another sound win against Great Falls, 63-39, two days later. Now that new head coach Tyler Hobbs is settling into his position, the team also seems to be hitting their stride. Hobbs said, “So far this season, I have been tremendously impressed with how our team has embraced our culture. Because of their buy in, they have tangibly improved, both individually and as a team, every day.” Hobbs, a former defensive end for the Montana Grizzlies, and former head coach of the Stevensville boys basketball team, was hired earlier this year to take on the girls team--a team that has seen several coaching changes in the past few years. Hobbs told the Missoulian earlier this season, “My hat’s off to those seniors who have had to deal with coaching change after coaching change,” he said. “And here they are again learning a new system and then having to execute. We talk about believing in what we can do rather than worry about what we can’t do.” Freshman standout Kadynce Couture said, “We bounce a lot of ideas off of each other and I just think being understanding of where the other person is coming from is how we work best together.” Hobbs said, “So far this season, I have been tremendously impressed with how our team has embraced our culture. Because of their buy in, they have tangibly improved, both individually and as a team, every day.” Senior Grace Bunnell said, “I’m super happy with how our season has started out. We won two backto-back games which hasn’t been done in our girls’ program for seven years. I’m really excited to see how far this team can go.” Hobbs said, “We have a lot of young kids who are seeing minutes, and adjusting to the pace of AA varsity basketball is always a
challenge. However, we have made that adjustment much quicker than I anticipated.” Bunnell said, “Once we start to gel together a little bit more, I am confident that we can make a big difference and shock some people.” Hobbs feels success is definitely in the future for the Eagles. “Getting a couple of wins under our belt before the break was huge. Our team is eager for success and they have already got a taste of it. It shows the character of our team and their commitment to our program.” Couture agrees. “It’s all about the effort. We do end up having fun at practice, but if you’re there to put in a lot of effort, that’s when things good things happen.” The girls are on the road tonight against Helena High, but will be back home Saturday when they take on Capitol at 2 p.m. “We have a tough road ahead of us as we enter conference play and it will be exciting to see how we stack up against a very strong Western Conference,” Hobbs said. Hobbs encourages the Big Sky community to attend the up-coming home games. “Your energy in the stands really makes a difference.”
Sports Opinion
Could the Los Angeles Lakers miss the playoffs this season?
With the NBA season recently starting back up, after yet again, another crazy NBA offseason, there’s so many new questions, but one of these q u e s t i o n s Christian Morin stands out Reporter more than any other and it’s dealing with the Los Angeles Lakers. After the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA finals, Every Team in the league knew they had to change up their roster during the offseason. Once the offseason began the Lakers were quick to make a blockbuster trade. Trading a young talent in Kyle Kuzma, a 3 and D Specialist In Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a in the paint monster in Montrezl Harrell and also some draft picks to the Washington Wizards. In return Los Angeles got superstar Russell Westbrook, but who knew that could be the Lakers biggest problem. After winning the 2020 NBA finals, Laker fans have had high expectations for the team. So, if this year’s Lakers team doesn’t even make the playoffs it could cause some serious damage in LA. We are currently 5 weeks into the new NBA season and usually this far in the season is when teams start to identify themselves as either a great good or bad team. Right now, the Los Angeles Lakers stand at 8-8 and are the 8th seed in the western conference. Though the 8th seed is a high enough seed to make the playoffs, it’s not exactly where Laker fans want to see their team. Seeds 7-10 in both conferences have to compete in a play-in tournament before the playoff start and only 2 teams from seeds 7-10 make it into the playoffs. Last year the Lakers had to compete in the tournament, they did make out of the play-in but shortly after lost to the Phoenix Suns in the first round. After having such a disappointing season last year, a lot is on the line for this year but what’s scary is that the Lakers are having a rougher start to this season then they’ve had since LeBron first joined the team in the 2018-19 season when LeBron was the only all-star. Now this Lakers team has 3 all-stars with a great supporting cast but still can’t find their groove. To be fair to the Lakers, Lebron James, arguably the greatest player of all time, has missed a fair share of games and that could be a huge reason for their struggles. Most would think the other two all-stars would be able to carry the load but them failing to do so is causing a lot of fans and sport analysis to not believe in the team. Even me, a huge Laker and LeBron fan is scared for this Lakers team to go far in the playoffs let alone even make the playoffs.