Kennedy Torch: February 2012

Love vs.

Lust Torch takes an in-depth look

Cover by Rachel Gilman

at the sexual lives of teenagers.

Page 14

the torch John F. Kennedy High School

Volume 45, Issue 4

February 17, 2012

the

torch John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 Volume 45, Issue 3

editorial board Editor-In-Chief Rachel Gilman and Riley Galbraith Managing Editor Jessica Rowan Photo Editor Sarah Sickles Feature Editor Allie Sindlinger Online Editor Darcey Altschwager

C

editors Norm Althoff, Amy Brause, Mo Cheetany, Annie Feltes, Hanna Krivit, Steph Mercer, Tara Mittelberg Bailey Zaputil

mission The Torch staff and adviser are committed to producing a top quality student newspaper applying high standards of writing, editing, and production.

The Torch seeks to fairly serve the Kennedy High School faculty, students, and staff, showing no favoritism to decisions about content are the responsibility of the individual editors and the Editorial Board.

writers

Michael Abramson, Hannah Botkin, Hannah Bruns, Ethan Divis, Ben Feltes, Zach Goodall, Spencer Grekoff, Terin Kane, Jordan Lauderdale, Jordan Lunsford, Lydia Martin, Isabel Neff, Davis Sutton, Mackenzie Teare

photographers Ben Feltes, Sam Nordstrom

artists Nick Appleget, James Kern, Peggy Wang

copy editors Grace King, Kelsey Rindfleisch, Stephanie Wenclawski

adviser Stacy Haynes-Moore

O

CONTENTS Editorial 04 05

Letter from the editor Editorial cartoons

News 06 07 08

The connected generation Censorship: the breakdown of PIPA and SOPA The fight against poverty Studying to success

Profile 10 12

Teen mom The beat goes on

Photo 19

A different perspective

Arts & Entertainment 22

Students look at life through a new view

24

Singing studies

Health

ON THE COVER 14

Love or lust?

25 26 27

Get fit in the Cougar pit Octo-meals Boxing up the fat

Sports 28 29 30

Alumni hitting stride Dirty 30: Josh Jahlas Looking to reclaim state

Letters from the editors

There’s nothing better than that moment when you finally get to escape from the day and just sit and relax. The feeling of knowing you’re alone with just your thoughts is unbeatable. You can just let it all go (literally). Bathroom time should be a time to cherish, a time for peace, a time for privacy, but that privilege is being stripped from boys at this school.

I believe in teamwork just as much as the next person. There’s nothing like coming together as a team and getting a goal accomplished, but going to the bathroom has become like a peepshow in the boys’ locker room, as the stall doors are peculiarly absent. “I’ve never seen them,” Andy Washburn, sr. said. “I think they were just built that way.” And although I’m sure the Kennedy mystery crew has been studying this frightening disappearance for years, nothing has come of the investigation and still we sit (once again literally) with no doors. Instead we are so lucky to have mirrors across the room to look into. As if it wasn’t awkward enough to have to share this with all the passers by in the bathroom, although I imagine they are very encouraging, but now you have to look yourself in the eye as well.

Washburn does, however, believe that there are some benefits to the no stall doors. “I think it really brings us together more.

It’s good team bonding and there is easier toilet paper transfer between stalls.” He does however understand that the openness is not for everybody. “Some people like their privacy and I don’t judge them for that.”

On top of that, the opportunity for the seniors to leave their mark is running out. The class of 2012 will not have the chance to enhance the bathroom doors with funny messages for the business doers of future generations. No funny quote or cute picture to make the toilet user smile just as the moment grows more intense.

The good news is we can have the best of both worlds. If the person wants to leave the door open, that is their decision, but it does need to at least be a decision.

Am I joking? You would think so, but I never really believed that I would need to ask for doors on the bathroom stalls. It would be nice. Please and thank you.

Happy February, loves. In this issue of The Torch, we decided to take on the love of the February air and look into the differences between love and lust and how the Kennedy student population weighs in on the subject.

I recently made a trip to Barnes & Noble to pick up the latest issues of my favorite magazines: Glamour, Nylon, InStyle, and Cosmopolitan. As I reached for the March issue of Cosmo, I glanced at the cover with a bit of surprise. Who else is gracing the cover but Selena Gomez? This was the second month in a row in which Cosmo had featured a relatively young star on the cover, Dakota Fanning, age 17, being featured on the February issue cover. Yes, I realize I am an 18-year-old picking up Cosmo and see how one could find the hypocrisy in my saying it is inappropriate to feature such young girls on a magazine with racy topics headlining “50 Sex Tips” and “Your Orgasm Guaranteed.” But nonetheless, the covers left me with a feeling of discomfort. Clearly Cosmopolitan is beginning to target a younger demographic with their newest features. It’s a well-known fact that the media uses sex appeal to target their audiences. These two girls could be seniors in high school; this is the age that Cosmo is featuring. These two issues exemplify how our media has an impact on our generation’s view upon love and lust.

So here I am with my Selena Gomez edition of Cosmo and on comes a preview for The Vow, and I’m just thinking, “barf.” I’m holding our media’s portrayal of lust in my hands as I stare into the eyes of what true love must be: waking up from a coma with severe memory loss to find your husband (conveniently Channing Tatum) fighting to have you remember your undying love.

Cynicism strikes again. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one to have anti-Valentine’s day love strikes and soap box about the fallacy of love, I do believe in it, and I do enjoy the occasional viewing of Crazy, Stupid, Love. But I do find it interesting to pick apart what Hollywood depicts love to be.

Read the feature, an interview from a psychological standpoint on love vs. lust, interviewing a local family and marriage therapist to see how your own views match up. Personally, I feel if you are searching for what true love and lust must be, why look any further than the latest Twilight movie, Breaking Dawn. XOXO

Editorial

Frosty’s theory of Homosnowmanis

Cartoons by James Kern

PAGES BY Rachel Gilman And Riley Galbraith

5

News

Identifying yourself on the Internet

Christina Nesslage, so.

When we look at the internet trends of this year, and compare them with the trends of the past few years, big changes are evident. More and more students are getting data plans with internet on their phones, and checking the internet over 20 times a day.

The average student spends at least double the time on the Internet as they did two years ago. So what are students doing on the internet for so much time out of the day?

Many unique websites, like Tumblr, Reddit, and Pinterest exist on the internet, and recently, more and more students have been getting involved.

Kendal Corkle, jr., visits the usual sites, like Facebook and Google, but she also has a blog on where she posts about three times a week. Corkle blogs about music, and everyday things. She also blogs about her the views on the world and her values.

“Sometimes I’ll have friends comment and either agree or disagree,”

Peter Dennis , so.

Corkle said. Corkle’s blog is public, so anyone on Blogspot can see it.

Blogging has allowed her to see if other people share her views. “I like that I can express ideas however I want. There aren’t really any rules. It just feels free.”

Like Corkle, Christina Nesslage, so., is also active on the Internet. In addition to Facebook and Twitter, Nesslage visits Reddit daily.

“Reddit is basically a bunch of links,” Nesslage said. Each link has a title, comments, and a voting system using “upvotes” and “downvotes” to determine if the link should be taken down from the site, or stay on. The links are usually funny or interesting.

With Reddit, Nesslage and other users are able to access breaking news right away, through links. “It has made me more in tune with world news, and also pop culture,” Nesslage said.

Peter Dennis’, so., website of choice is Cracked. Cracked is an internet article and video site. Users can read articles

Kendal Corkle, jr. and watch videos on the site, and comment on them.

Cracked presents unique and funny information in the form of a list. “I know a lot more useless facts,” Dennis said. Dennis likes that Cracked has articles about topics most people don’t think about. Users can also search the content on the site by topic, and discuss the articles and videos in forums.

Sites like these show that maybe the increasing time students spend online isn’t all bad. With Dennis learning more funny stories, Nesslage learning more about the world around her, and Corkle getting to express her opinions.

It is clear that idea-sharing websites help users connect with people similar to them, and identify themselves as part of an internet community.

HANNAH BOTKIN

Graphic by Rachel Gilman

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news

The breakdown on PIPA and SOPA And how it would affect our lives

T

exas Representative Lamar Smith did not know what he was starting with the Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA. There has been a national debate and protest against this and Protect Internet Protocal Act, or PIPA. Both of these acts are written to fight online piracy.

Under these acts, all copyrighted materials, such as pictures, art, TV shows, music, writing, would be taken down because of lack of authorship/permission. CBS News put it succinctly: “Content groups like the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and business representatives like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, argue that innovation and jobs in content-creating industries are threatened by growing Internet piracy. Overseas websites, they argue, are a safe haven for Internet pirates profiting off their content.”

Though there were online petitions protesting these acts, people did not begin to pay attention or even know about these acts until popular websites such as Google, Wikipedia, Tumblr, and Reddit all “blacked out” in order to spread awareness of these edicts.

However, as of Feb. 8, these two acts are not getting the support they need to be passed. In the House of Representatives, there are 23 supporters for SOPA, and 31

supporters for PIPA--out of 435 members.

“When somebody is writing stuff online, and your using a piece of video or music, then the government is coming in and saying you can’t use that. I think argueably that is like interfering with free speech,” Michael Ayers, language arts teacher, said.

Both of these acts would affect many Americans in their everyday lives, “All of the things we are used to now over the last ten years: blogs, wikis, etc. Even a good deal of what Google makes available, wouldn’t be possible,” Ayers said.

Some critics consider this an act of communism, like China where they have internet restrictions that have been severely criticized all over the world.

China has been blocking internet data that could be anti-Chinese government, or considered inappropriate. They have been blocking individual pages, censoring sites and domain names, blocked sites that could lead to not expected pages or site and limiting certain search keywords.

“The governments having any say in what we can see on the internet, is a step towards a government that’s controlling what we think or what we see,” Justin Howe, jr., said.

According to critics, if these acts are passed they could leave a big footprint in

the American economy, and the function of the nation.

“When the government starts to become an influence on the internet, we’ll notice some changes there, and eventually it might lead to something like Internet purchases being taxed,” Howe said.

PIPA is closely related to the SOPA act.

“Usually they’re attributed to the same thing, they’re basically the same root cause,” said Howe.

“I don’t believe that they should be passed. I believe that freedom of information on the internet is pretty necessary in our current society, and that government censorship of internet should be seen as an intrusion on our privacy and freedom,” Howe said.

America is not the only country in the world dealing with censorship problems.

ACTA, or the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, is the new act that threatens freedom on the Internet. ACTA is an international agreement, already signed by 22 countries--causing protests from citizens all around the world, especially in Poland, where riots have broken out.

DAVIS SUTTON

Pages By Bailey zaputil

7

news

The fight against poverty ONE Night to raise money for ONE Campaign

Students are invited to the ONE Night Feb. 17 at the black box, to help raise money for the ONE Campaign. ONE Night will feature live performances from the Kennedy faculty and students, such as dancing, singing, and other acts.

The ONE Campaign, started by artist Bono, is a global campaign to eradicate extreme poverty, AIDs, and starvation throughout the world. Every three seconds someone in the world dies due to extreme poverty. Kennedy students are putting in their work to fight the statistics through the ONE campaign.

Megha Puranam, sr., is active in the ONE campaign and will be performing on ONE night. Puranam auditioned and now,

with some of her friends will be performing a song from the musical “Avenue Q”.

“It’s like an adult sesame street! Its a great musical!” said Puranam. She got involved because she felt it was an awesome organization.

Patty Walsh, art teacher, first became aware of this organization in the spring of 2006, after viewing Bono’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. A quote he used really stood out to her, “Where you live should not determine whether you live.” This became near in her heart.

“When the Twin Towers fell on Sept. 11 and 2,974 lives were lost, we rallied. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and 2,294 lives were lost, we rallied. Every day

Kennedy’s academic decathlon team took second at the Regional Competition, Jan. 28 at Jefferson, loosing only to the home team. Now, the team look forwards to state and reflects on their last competition.

Kevin Darrow, Kennedy’s academic decathlon coach, talks about their success. “We did really well. I was proud of the kids and all the hard work they’d put in paid off by placing well,” Darrow said.

Individually, the team had numerous winners, where 21 of the 81 medals went to Kennedy students.

Academic decathlon is an academic competition that involves 10 academic subjects centered around one theme. This year’s theme was imperialism. Participants must also prepare a speech and an essay for the competition. Then, team’s are divided into three categories: A, B, or C, depending on each student’s grade point average (accounted for the past three years). At competitions, students take multiple tests to prove their knowledge.

Abhinaya Gunasekar, fr., and Matt Free-

man, sr., are both team members. Gunasekar won second in speech and Freeman second in art. Both said they were happy when they found out the team placed second.

“We didn’t expect to beat Jefferson, because they have it as an actual class period to study it,” Freeman said. Kennedy’s team meets three times a week.

When asked what they did to celebrate, both laughed and said studying.

“It’s definitely improved my study habits,” Gunasekar said. State will take place in Des Moines March 3 and 4. At state, the top three for each category will compete. Darrow, Gunasekar, and Freeman all have high hopes for state.

“I think we’re in good shape. If the students prepare well, then we should guarantee ourselves a second place spot.

As far as catching Jefferson, they are quite ahead of us by quite a few points, Focus. Matt Freeman, sr., studies for AcaPhoto by Bailey Zaputil but anything can happen,” Darrow said. demic decathlon.

bailey zaputil

“It’s time to rally.”

-Patty Walsh

in Africa 65,000 lives are lost. It’s time to rally,” Walsh said.

Walsh is the grandmother of an adopted child from Ethiopia. Her grandson, Josi, was delivered by his grandfather in a small hut. His mother soon gave him up knowing she could not afford him. “When I look into Josi’s big beautiful eyes, I think how fortunate he is to live in the United States where he has health care.”

Last year Kennedy raised over $10,000 dollars through activities such as ONE Night, Dollar Wars, and the ONE shirts.

The goal this year is to also raise that amount again. The money Kennedy raises this year will be used to package food for Kids Against Hunger, another part of the ONE campaign. hannah bruns

Studying to success Academic decathlon takes second, off to state

Page By Bailey zaputil

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TEEN MOM Graphic by Rachel Gilman

17 and Pregnant For many students, high school is a time for friends, sports, and homework. However some teenagers are forced to bypass the carefree aspects of their adolescent years and are thrust into adulthood with the ultimate endeavor: parenthood.

Every year approximately 750,000 teenagers become pregnant.

Victoria Horn, sr., age 17, is just one of these 750,000. In September 2011, Horn went to a physical examination required for her job and found out that she was four months pregnant.

Before the examination, she had no idea of her condition.

“I was scared. I didn’t know what to think. All the emotions that can run through your mind at that moment, did,” Horn said.

After this immediate shock, Horn faced another challenge: breaking the news to family, friends, and peers.

First, she told her cousin, age 22, who had accompanied her to the doctor’s appointment. Next, she told her mom. “My parents were mad and sad at first because they never pictured this for me,” Horn said. “But eventually they got over it and they’re happy now.”

At first she was afraid to share the news with people outside of her immediate family and friends. “I didn’t know what they would think or how they would look at me differently,” Horn said.

However, despite this initial fear, Horn has found solace in the support and acceptance she has received from her teachers and peers. “Everybody’s going to have their opinion but mostly everyone’s been accepting of it,” Horn said. “Nobody’s looked down on me because of it.”

Horn’s child, a boy, is due in late February. She is planning on graduating from high school in mid-February and then taking time off of school and work to begin raising her child. After a

“I was scared. I didn’t know what to think. All the emotions that can run through your mind at that moment, did.”

- Victoria Horn year she intends to attend college. Although Horn is planning on finishing high school and college, the future for many teen moms is grim. Only one third of teenage mothers graduate high school and only 1.5 percent hold college degrees by the time they’re 30 years old.

For now Horn is working at Cedar Rapids Building Blocks Daycare Center to raise money to care for her child. “My parents will help a little [with finances] but I’m not going to rely on them to take care of me and my child,” Horn said.

Despite a few inconveniences with her pregnancy - she has been forced to sleep on her side and has

reported back pain - Horn is optimistic about the future. She has already purchased a crib and car seat in preparation for the arrival of her child, whom she is considering naming Camry, Cameron, or Amir. Horn is most looking forward to loving her child as she watches him grow and be a kid. She never considered putting him up for adoption. “I feel like it’s my responsibility [to keep the child],” Horn said. “At the end of the day I feel like it’s the right thing to do.”

Teen Mom In April 2009, the Torch talked to Destynee Postel, then a fr., as she struggled with the emotional and physical challenges of teen pregnancy.

In Feburary 2010, we peered into her life as the new mother of a nine month old child, Kyle Meyer. Today, we examine how Postel, a senior with plans to graduate in May, is coping after nearly three years of parenthood.

In September of her freshman year, Postel discovered she was pregnant. Despite the fact that her boyfriend Derrick Meyer, sr., claimed to have noticed the symptoms of pregnancy, she was in shock. “I took eight tests. I didn’t want to believe I was pregnant,” Postel said. “But I was.”

During the first months of pregnancy, Postel considered putting her child up for adoption; her mother

wanted her to get an abortion. However, approximately six months into her pregnancy, after her second ultrasound, she began to reconsider. “By the time he started kicking and I saw the heartbeat, I was growing more attached to him.” Despite criticism, Postel decided to keep the child.

Throughout her pregnancy, Postel received optimistic support from friends, family, and teachers. However, those closest to Postel and Meyer didn’t lose sight of reality. “Derrick’s dad said, ‘This isn’t house. You can’t take care of it one day and forget about it the next. This is a big responsibility,’” Postel said.

Although Postel’s experience has been far from house, she and her boyfriend, Meyer, have devised a system to work through a tough situation as smoothly as possible. While they are at school, their son, Kyle, stays with Meyer’s parents. The couple takes turns caring for Kyle in the evenings, each using their individual finances to pay for his expenses when he is in their hands; Postel works at McDonalds, Meyer at detailing shop.

For Postel, a typical evening with Kyle involves an intricate balance of work, homework, and playing with her son. After working for a few hours after school, Postel picks Kyle up from Meyer’s parents’ house, and they watch TV or read until 8:30. After putting Kyle to bed, Postel begins her homework. “When he was a year old he used to think that my homework was his chewing cloth, so I couldn’t do homework until he went to bed around 9 or 10,” Postel said. Although Kyle goes to bed earlier now, Postel must wait until he is sleeping to complete her assignments. “He tries to color on my homework,” said Postel.

Although Postel only missed a few days of school during her pregnancy, for the first year after Kyle’s birth her academic performance began to decline. Kyle was frequently ill, often forcing Postel to choose between motherhood and school. “In my mind I was the mom,” she said. “I had to stay home and take care of him.”

Through these trials, Postel and Meyer have maintained a relatively steady relationship for nearly five

years. “If you’re having a baby you can’t back out and leave the girl with the kid,” Meyer said. Although they sometimes argue about parenting styles, Postel is appreciative of Meyer’s commitment to fatherhood. “Derrick is the most amazing teenage dad I’ve ever met,” Postel said. “With me and him, our son comes first.”

After realizing how quickly Kyle catches on to their behaviors, the couple has learned to closely monitor their language and actions. “Kyle is a little Derrick and does everything his dad does,” Postel said. “Derrick smokes cigarettes and Kyle tried to smoke a french fry.” Meyer has noticed a change in his maturity. “I’ve grown up a lot,” Meyer said. “I’m more responsible. I don’t do teenager dumb things.”

Although Postel has had to give up typical teenage pastimes such as hanging out with friends and playing volleyball, she has not entirely regretted becoming a mother. She enjoys always having someone there to comfort her.

“Even though Kyle doesn’t understand me, I can tell him anything,” Postel said. “He always brightens my day.”

Tara Mittelberg

Pages by Amy Brause To see the earlier segments of Postel’s story, visit kennedytorch.org

Expecting. Victoria Horn, sr., waits for her baby to arrive.

Photo by Darcey Altschwager

Profile

The beat goes on

Strumming on. Mr. Nees plays a song in his classroom Photo by Steph Mercer

M

ost know Mr. Nees as the math teacher or the guy who is always playing guitar during Open Mic on Fridays in the cafeteria. At Kennedy Nees has spread his love of music as well as his knowledge of math.

Nees has taught at Kennedy now for seven years. One of the things he has always incorporated into his teaching has been his love for music and guitar. He first picked up a guitar during his senior year after having no previous experience with it at all. “A friend of mine lent me his guitar, after wanting to take up piano and I haven’t wanted to put it down since then.”

Nees said. After he returned the lent guitar, he really wanted to buy his own but couldn’t afford it at the time. “After I returned the guitar, I called my Grandma who really loved music, who sent me the money to buy a new guitar, if I promised not to tell my grandpa and that is the guitar I’ve had ever since,” Nees said. Along with guitar, Nees does a lot work with percussion instruments. After he picked up guitar he also joined an African drumming ensemble which only furthered his love for music. Some of his favorite musicians and influences include: Neil Young, The Police and Sting, The Beatles Jack Johnson, and Michael Hedges.

Nees at first didn’t want to become a

teacher. “I was working in a window factory in Dubuque when a guy asked if I knew anything about calculus, which I had failed two times before. I helped explain to him something for one of his college classes, along with a few of his friends and they said I explained it well, which

“One of the things that kept me going with music is that it doesn’t have to involve competition, everyone can be good and there can never be a winner and a loser.”

-Mr. Nees got me thinking that maybe I should be a teacher,” Nees said. When he went back to school after taking time off to do jobs such as working at dog tracks, construction, window factory, and bartending, he enjoyed it more than anything, which gave him the big drive that he wanted to become a teacher. “After working in that window factory, it seemed like life became a window factory and became so repetitive and teaching is always something new every day,” Nees said.

Nees practices Buddhism as his faith and acquired his practice through music.

“Buddhism came into my life in college

where I was a roommate with a guy who was in a band and the guitarist of his band would stop in the middle of practice and would start chanting.” After he had seen the members of the band chant, he decided to try it. “One day, a friend and I decided to do it but got 10 seconds in and just started cracking up, but after we started to get into the groove of it, and I started to study it a bit more, it became something I’ve picked up,” Nees said. “The more I read about the philosophy of it, the more I became interested and involved.”

“One of the things that kept me going with music is that it doesn’t have to involve competition, everyone can be good and there can never be a winner and a loser.” In his classes Nees loves to apply his love of music as a way of teaching. “I love days when there is no conflict in class and we can just take time to learn the lesson, then have fun.” Nees said. He also loves the fact that he can turn something he’s learned and teach it to others without thinking about it, which has always been one of his favorite things about guitar. “I love learning something that I don’t have to think about playing it anymore. Then I can just express my emotions.”

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Feature

Taking an in-depth look at the sexual lives of teenagers Love and lust permeates everything. Be it TV, radio, advertising, movies or plays, it does not matter. Love and lust are constants. Our views are shaped by the media, our moral values, our families, our schools and religious institutions. The differences between love and lust are subtle, but in some respects substantial. The lines are sometimes blurred and the perspectives of two people can differ widely at times.

What is clearly love to one person may be considered lust to someone else. Those differences are especially pronounced between various age groups. However, most people agree on certain basics when discussing what is love and what is lust.

Society’s views of these concepts have evolved over the years. What was considered lustful in the 19th century may well be more commonly considered as love in our current society. Again, those perspec-

tives are influenced by those involved. The younger generation in every age has a considerably more liberal take on these questions than do their parents and grandparents.

I sat down and talked to Psychologist Dr. Bonnie Williams of Cedar Rapids. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed social worker. She discusses the topic of love vs. lust. In our Question and Answer she breaks love down into several established categories. Williams also describes that the love one feels for a parent or sibling, while similar in some respects, is substantially different than the love one feels for a significant other. Williams also discusses the topics of how age influences our sex interests, what role attractiveness plays in the equation, what motivates one to seek love and how relationships mature over time.

Q & A with Dr. Bonnie Williams What is your profession or what do you specialize in?

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist and a licensed social worker.

What are the different types of love?

Well there are at least three different types of love according to the Greeks. One is Agape that is the very selfless type of love.

So when you think of someone who goes to a third world country, to volunteer, that’s often a very selfless love. There is noth-

14

ing erotic about that love. Another type is Eros, and that’s the more erotic type of love. It has sexual connotations to it. And there is a type of love called Phila. That’s a brotherly type of love. Those are the three that the Greeks identify.

What is the difference between the love one feels for a friend or family member as opposed to significant other?

Similarities are that we grow to love

friends and family and we grow to love a significant other of the course of years.

And when we share experiences together, whether they are happy ones or sad ones, we become more and more bonded. With our significant other, we have some sexual rights, or privileges maybe. Maybe that’s a better word, that we don’t have with family. Touch and physical affection become much more important in a relationship with a significant other.

graphic by Rachel Gilman

LOVE OR LUST?

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Feature meet someone you automatically know if you really like that person, even if it’s not a romantic feeling. So that initial attractiveness, whether it’s a physical attraction or emotional attraction to their bubbling personality is really important to starting Does age influence our sex interests? things. As time goes on, we learn that love is more than an emoAbsolutely. Adolescent hortion, it’s a decision to mones run rampant in jutake care of somenior high and high school one and treasure and both. And when hormones Being gentle and cherish someone over are first starting, I think that being patient are very time. Even if some of people are very much interimportant with love and their attractive charested in sex. I think the inacteristics fade. terest in sex lasts a lifetime. lust. That kindness is There are people in their critical, whether it’s love What motivates 80s who enjoy sexual relafor a friend, love for a people to seek tionships and who look forfamily member, or love love? ward to it, but it may not for a significant other.”

I think we all want a have quite the intensity that sense of being cherit once had. It might, but -Dr. Bonnie Williams ished and wanted, it depends on the person.

I think we all crave Overall, I think age does affect it. I think sometimes even little people connection at a deep level and we want to have sexual feelings or thoughts. Sometimes be the most special person in the world to a child will see a kiss on TV and go, “ohhh, someone. I think we also have a lot of love that looks so good.” And so, children can to give. We want someone to buy gifts for, have sexual feelings too, but it’s really at ad- and someone to hold. olescence that the feelings come full front.

How do relationships progress or They stay there for a long long time. mature?

What role does attractiveness play in With a lot of time and a lot of hard work I think people need to make the decision that the equation?

Attractiveness plays a greater role in lust they want the relationship to continue and than it does in love. I think when people ini- invest time and energy into it. Relationships tially see each other they can be attracted, aren’t always easy because communication and attraction not only comes in physical is a very simple and complex process so we forms, but in emotional forms and in spiri- need time, we need to have experiences totual forms. So I think that when you first gether, we need to share joys and sorrows What is the relationship between love and lust and how is it often confused?

I think that lust can be very immediate and that to have true love, it grows over time.

“

together and through that process love deepens. We need to talk to each other and be positive.

What are signs of love?

A very deep concern about the other person’s well-being, a willing to make sacrifices to help that person in any way. A sense of well-being when you’re with that person.

And sometimes there are lovely physical signs like a look on someone’s face, a sparkle in the eye or a smile. Sometimes you will see a couple who has been together for many years and they are still holding hands or they are leaning their shoulders toward each other and you can just tell that they still care the world about each other. Love is a decision people make to be committed to a person for a long time.

What are signs of lust?

Tingling in your body, lust can be quite lovely. There is a very deep passion with lust. There is a very deep passion to explore someone else’s body and to touch them physically in ways they haven’t been touched before. The desire for arousal is also mutual.

Any other comments?

Being gentle and being patient are very important with love and lust. Kindness is critical, whether it’s love for a friend, love for a family member, or love for a significant other. You can never grow alone being kind, gentle, and tender.

Allie Sindlinger

120

Have you ever participated in Sexual Intercourse?

No

100 80 60 40

Yes

20 0

16

112

51

Feature

What is more important, love or lust?

200 150

Signs of Love:

100 50

The indicators of love and lust. Where do your habits fall?

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4

0

Love Lust

• You want to spend quality time together • you get lost in conversations and forget about the hours passing.

• You want to honestly listen to each other’s feelings • You want to make each other happy.

• He or she motivates you to be a better person.

• You want to get to meet his or her family and friends.

• Demonstrating concern for the other’s life and growth.

• Responding to each other’s needs.

Are you waiting to have sex until mairrage?

120 100 80 60 40 20

110

0

No Yes

53

• You’re totally focused on a person’s looks and body.

• You’re interested in having sex, but not in having convseration.

• You would rather keep the relationship on a fantasy level, not discuss real feelings.

• You are lovers, but not friends.

• You don’t acknowledge each other except for sexual purposes.

• You don’t see a future together.

• You don’t know each other’s families.

Pages By Allie Sindlinger

17

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18

A Different Perspective Two Fridays ago I anonymously placed five cameras throughout Kennedy with signs that read, “Take a Photo.� This was inspired by a video on Youtube where disposable cameras were placed around a city and random strangers were to take photos with them. I admired the notion and decided to try it within the walls of our school. After watching my fellow students try to take the best photo possible, I developed four of the five cameras at our local Walgreens. One of the cameras was stolen. On the next two pages is a collection of the best and most humorous photos taken that day. A word of advice for the future...use the flash.

Story and pages by Sarah Sickles

Arts and entertainment

Te e n a g e r s l o o k a t l i f e

Technology makes its footprint on society Every

generation has their mark. The ‘60s had their peace answers easier for students to get too easy. “I think the work ethic movement, the ‘70s, disco fever, the ‘80s, really tight pants. But has really gone down since the computer came around simply begreater globally was the mark the ‘90s brought- the computer. cause “boom” there [the answer] is,” Herkelman said.

He thinks there is too much dependency on computers for this The computer has completely revolutionized the way people sogeneration.

“I think there’s too much [dependency], myself, but I cialize, work, and learn. don’t know what we need to do about it because they’re going to Grant Barton, fr., 15 years old, says he has had a computer ever do it anyway, and I think they spend way too much time on there since he can remember. “We always used to have this big bulky and not doing enough hands on work,” Herkelman said. computer that never worked, but now we have like a laptop,” BarBarton agrees with how much easier it is to get information ton said. now.

“But you definitely have to make sure your information is Now, Barton is up to date on the latest technology. An owner right, true, not fake, like Wikipedia,” Barton of an iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad. Barton said. takes his iPad everywhere because he has his “We always used to For personal use, Barton says that he enjoys biology textbook on it. Barton says he likes have this big bulky complaying the apps on his iPad like Word Colhow it has a big screen and how he can take it lapse and going on Facebook. However, Barton puter that never worked, places and use it. doesn’t get on the computer that often because Bill Herkelman, math teacher at Kennedy, but now we have like a he is too busy with show choir, homework, and doesnt own a personal computer or a celllaptop.” speech, which are very time consuming. phone. Hurkelman, 73, has been working at Herkelman doesn’t own a personal computer, Kennedy since it opened in 1967. “Now, the -Grant Barton but there is one thing personal he does with it. only time I use the computer is when I take “I have a nephew that coaches basketball at a juattendance and when I have to put my grades in,” Herkelman nior college and I get out there and find out how his team is doing said. “I don’t have any of that electronic stuff.” and how they did the last game or two,” Herkelman said. “But Herkelman said that when the computer first came out, he felt I very, very seldom correspond with anybody.

Once in a while that he didn’t need it, but that he knew it was going to expand somebody will e-mail me, and I’ll e-mail back, but I can count,” like it did. He likes the computers in school because it made keepHerkleman held up his hand, waving his fingers, “on one hand ing attendance easier and updating the grade book faster, as stuhow many times I’ve done that.” dents can now check their grades the night of their tests.

Though both don’t know where computers will be in the next What Herkelman doesn’t like about computers is that it makes decade, both say that it will become bigger, and that more jobs Bailey Zaputil

Graphic by Rachel Gilman

22

PAGES BY Steph Mercer

Arts and entertainment

fe through a new view

Dancing in the decades, teachers and students Dancers are holding their part-

ners awkwardly at a distance.

Teachers are patrolling the gym floor making sure people aren’t too close. This is the ‘60s, and you’re at a dance. In the ‘60s, dances were very formal and mainly consisted of slow dancing, no grinding and no jumping, just slow dancing.

“The dancing was embracing your partner and almost moving not at all,” Cary Beatty, language arts and german teacher, said. “They used to have a deal where they had to be Under the stars. Katie Bova, able to put a yardstick between you language arts teacher, at her when you were dancing,” Beatty senior prom in 2000 continued.

By the ‘70s dances weren’t quite as formal, but still not as relaxed as today. Although people still slow danced, the pace of the dances began to quicken by the ‘80s.

The “bump”, which eventually evolved into the “grind”, came into existence. “Bumping” was basically two people bumping their hips together, side by side. Later in the ‘80s, many famous dances, including “the robot”, “the electric slide”, and “walk like an Egyptian” became popular dance moves.

Today, there is more variety, ranging from slow dancing to break dancing, however, a majority of people like to “grind”. For those who don’t know, grinding is the rubbing of a female’s lower back region to a male’s lower frontal region. “I like to bump and grind,” Andy Washburn, sr., said.

Grinding has become a controversial subject over the past few years, both throughout the United States and here in Iowa. To many, especially parents and older generations, grinding is consid-

ered too sexually explicit. Thus, the Linn-Mar School District decided to ban grinding at school dances last fall. Many students at Kennedy and other schools are worried about grinding being banned at their school dances because of this. Now, many LinnMar students will be protesting this policy on Feb. 25, the night of their WPA, by holding an alternative dance, Grindfest, at the American Legion Hall in Marion.

As you may have guessed from the name, Linn-Mar students will Pretty in pink. Bethany be free to grind and dance how- Grandt, mathematics ever they like at Grindfest. teacher, at her junior prom What students did after dances in 2001 was different in the ‘60s as well.

Things were stricter so there weren’t as many after-parties. “The big event was if someone had managed to steal one beer from their parents and had it in the trunk of their car, then 40 kids would go out into the parking lot for a sip of beer,” Beatty said.

Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s the idea of large after-parties began.

These generally were centered around alcohol, which would have been legal then, since the drinking age was 18 or 19 (depending on the year). “A lot of us went to the beach and hung out,” Dan Carolin, Japanese Teacher, said.

Dances have constantly been changing throughout time and will continue to change in the future. Different dances throughout the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s has shown the change in teen culture and how dancing has evolved.

Michael Abramson

Illustration by James Kern Want to see more pictures of teachers at dances?

Check out the Torch website at kennedytorch.org

Arts and entertainment

Students share what it’s like to juggle classes and show choir a team. It teaches Their yellow

jackets parade the you a lot and can halls. The fabric help you set up swishes as stugoals,” Grasso said. dents swing their They spend their arms back and time together pracforth, and everyticing and getting one automatiready to be in front cally knows what of the crowd. It’s group they’re inthe moment where volved in, show all their hard work choir. The life of comes together a student in show and is shown for choir, however, is all to see. anything but nor“It’s nerve wrackmal. The students ing. I normally go through hours don’t get butterof dedicated pracflies, but this year tices in which they it’s my first time prepare for their in happiness. Getperformances. ting on that stage Students in really did give me show choir are rebutterflies,” Tyler quired to take a Bruzek, sr., said. vocal course and The choir goes on top of that, a Smooth Singing. Amanda Halvorson, sr., sings in Happiness’s dessert concert. throughout their show choir class.

Photo by Sarah Sickles performance showThe teens have exing all that they perienced full schedules without room for electives. have learned while taking it all in. When they have done what “Basically you only take core classes, and if you want to take a they came to do, they take in the judges’ critiques and work on foreign language you normally have to take a zero hour,” Danielle their flaws. The performing arts programs at Kennedy High Grasso, sr., said.

School spend large amounts of time working to improve themAlthough feeling that show choir is worth not being able to take selves. Storm Ziegler, director, has led Happiness to score high certain classes, Jenna Iben, fr., has had a similar situation. with judges. Happiness has shown their hard work by winning “I wanted to take photography next year but I’m not able to fit many awards including Best Vocals, Best Choreography, and in my schedule,” Iben said.

Grand Champions at both the Linn-Mar and Davenport competiShow choir students also dedicate their time in other ways. tions. At the Davenport competition they were also awarded with “In Happiness we have practice from 6:30pm to 9:00pm every best female soloist, won by Amanda Paulsen, sr., and best band.

Tuesday and Thursday,” Grasso said. “Sometimes it can go later The group has been able to win over the hearts of many Amerithan that.” They spend their time singing, dancing, and running cans, and was even named America’s favorite show choir. through their show. While show choir members make sacrifices to Steph Mercer be a part of the group, it also has its benefits. “It’s defiantly worth it for anyone going in it because it gives you a good sense of being

PAGE BY Steph Mercer 24

Health

Benched. In a daily gym class, students are lined up for attendance.

Photo by Annie Feltes

Get fit in the Cougar pit R

un. Stretch. Activities. Repeat. This is the schedule of a typi- juries for athletes. Low impact classes, such as Personal Fitness cal gym class offered to Kennedy students this year. Start- help tone muscles and improve flexibility. “When you are fit and ing next year, however, the school will offer five new classes for active, you get an energy boost, more confidence, and get stronger mentally,” Aaron Stecker, activities director, said. “Exercising different workouts.

“The new gym classes are a great opportunity for students to helps and carries over with life and to the classroom.”

“These new gym classes are a way to get students and student be active in a positive way,” Tim Lewis, gym teacher, said. “Obesity and diabetes are on the rise; around 60 percent of Iowans are athletes off of using waivers and have them get their workout overweight so the state and nation are trying to promote gym during the day for credits, rather than staying after practice to classes to help with that.”The new classes for next year are Health get the same workout,” Stecker said.

Many students are worried that the new gym classes are taking and Fitness, PE Fitness, Swimming, PE Weights, and Personal Fitness, a low impact class including yoga exercises. Early Bird away their option of using waivers. While other schools are trying PE and PE 9-12 will still be an option for next to take away the waivers, Kennedy will still have year. PE 9-12 will consist of a warm-up and a “Gym and exercise acts both sports and academic waivers. Lewis exchoice of either walking or team sports. Using plained how the school is encouraging students as a stress reliever, say the weight room won’t be an option because to take advantage of having the time during the a kid has a big test, well day to take gym classes, but understands that there will be a PE weight lifting class.

PE Health and Fitness will be a class meeting exercise helps relieve the some students don’t have time in their academic every day, all year long. This class is a mix of a schedules. Students will still be able to have one stress.” strength training workout and a wellness class. sports waiver per term and also one academic -Tim Lewis waiver if their schedule meets the 30 credit reIn the fall the wellness is about nutrition, in the quirement. winter students learn about the effect of drugs The district is hoping that the new gym classes will boost attenon the body, and in the spring the focus is on mental discipline. It is encouraged that athletes take the class, but it will also be open dance for physical education. “You know what you’re signing up for and what types of exercises you’ll do,” Nelson said. “We hope to students who would like a challenging workout.

Gym is all-around helpful for the body. “Your brain needs ex- students will explore their options and try new things.” Nelson ercise to perform well,” Leslie Nelson, gym teacher, said. “Gym hopes that the new classes will mean that the school could get and exercise acts as a stress reliever. Say a kid has a big test- well, new equipment for the weight room, and teachers hope that this will be a long-term change. exercise helps relieve the stress,” Lewis said.

Also, getting a regular strength workout will help to reduce inIsabel Neff

PAGE BY Annie Feltes and hanna krivit

25

Health

Octo-meals How much you should be eating?

H

ow many meals do you eat a daily? You have breakfast, lunch, and dinner right? Studies are showing that young adults should eat six to eight small meals a day. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), eating six to eight small meals in a day (versus three) spreads out your daily caloric intake if you have a balanced diet. “It’s important that people aren’t skipping meals.”

Christy Frese, Hy-Vee dietitian said.

It’s important if you’re an athlete to get enough calories to maintain your The research shows high energy levels. It would be healthier to have eight small meals than just hav- facts, but people would need lots of planning ing unhealthy snacks throughout the day.

“Eating eight small meals a day would to make this a healthier work if you had lots of time to plan out your option.” daily calorie intake, but it would be hard to -Christy Frese be constantly eating healthy.” Judy FitzGibbons, Hy-Vee registered dietitian said.

Studies have proven that six to eight small meals gives you a higher metabolism. Having a high metabolism would help burn off calories faster. However, if total caloric intake stays the same, then the metabolism would stay the same.

“A good rule of thumb is aiming for meal times is aiming for 3 different food groups.” Frese said. “And what that does it encourages you to eat a variety of foods and not just eating a whole lot of one food.”

Fitz-Gibbons thinks the regular three meals a day and a snack would be a healthier choice. “The research shows facts, but people would need lots of planning to make this a healthier option.” Fitz-Gibbons said.

“People need to make sure they eat early in the day, and spread their meals out throughout the day.” Fitz-Gibbons said.

“

Tips and tricks 01

Don’t skip meals

02

Three food group items per meal

03

Count your calories

04

Plan ahead

Hanna Krivit and Lydia Martin

Kickin Shapin

Illustration by James Kern

26

Health

Boxing up the fat Extreme bodyshaping is taking over all.

M

Kicking it into gear. Jo Sweet sr., kickboxing at Farrell’s Extreme Body Shaping.

Photo by Mohammad Cheetany

otivation to transformation. “I want to get fit and healthy, that’s why I go to Farrell’s,” Jo Sweet, sr., said. “I like how hard you have to work and how fast it gets you in shape, and I like feeling good about myself.”

Forty-five minute classes six times a week for ten weeks can show extreme results in an individual’s body, muscle tone, and energy level.

Sweet is one of the many Kennedy students working Farrell’s Extreme Body Shaping into their schedule. It’s a new way to work out, while having fun and seeing results.

“It tones you up and gets you in shape for other sports. I like the kickboxing because it’s really intense and it’s not boring, so you don’t want to stop doing it,” Ananya Munjal, so., said.

Not only is Farrell’s fun, it also shows quick results. “You get really in shape and you’re overall a happier person,” Munjal said.

Not only do you see a difference on the outside, you can see a change in your personality as well. “You can get a good body, you can be healthy, and you can feel good about yourself,” Sweet said.

Farrell’s introduces a fun way to work out, but it’s not just exercise that helps transforms people; a great deal of weight loss is impacted by diet. “It’s structured to be nutrition and exercise program so you learn a lot of healthy eating techniques,” Tammy Miller, Farrell’s instructor, said. “You lose inches, tone muscle, and get cardiovascular fit, instead of focusing on one area.”

Burn fat, build muscle, eat healthy, and be encouraged are some of the main steps into extreme body shaping. At Farrell’s, they believe that kickboxing is the ultimate fat burning cardio workout. To gain muscle you cannot just diet and do cardio. You have to do strength training that will reduce your fat and build up your muscle. Farrell’s muscle-building involves workout bands.

To lose fat and gain muscle, Farrell’s employees believe that you have to learn to eat right. They teach you how to put together well-balanced meals. The meals will include carbohydrates and protein. You will also be eating six times a day to keep you from snacking on other foods, and put you in “burn mode” all day long. Being encouraged can be a hard factor. Farrell’s coaches will be there with you for the whole ten weeks. To do the program you have to push yourself; you won’t be alone. There will be others in the class that have the same goals as yourself.

Do you want to start Farrell’s Extreme Body Shaping to get fit and feel better? You can get more information at their locations or online at extremebodyshaping.com.

Annie Feltes

PAGES BY Annie Feltes and hanna krivit

27

sports

Alumni hitting stride

Hahn, Sievertsen making their mark in college

Kennedy has had some good athletes throughout the years. Recently there has been two very accomplished student athletes to graduate from Kennedy, Tyler Sievertsen and Kristen Hahn.

Tyler Sievertsen ’09 participated in soccer and football in high school.

Sievertsen chose to play football in college at the University of Northern Iowa as a kicker.

“I set the field goal record my senior year against Jefferson, I had a 48 yarder,” Sievertsen said.

Sievertsen also had a great kick this year in college. He made the game winning kick against Illinois State to win the conference championship. “I made the game winning field goal from 36 yards in overtime. It was the greatest feeling to help my team win a conference Photo provided by Kristen Hahn champion and advance to the playoffs,” Sievertsen said.

Hard work. Kristen Hahn (above) and Tyler Sievertsen After being in college for three years, (left) have worked hard and now are performing well Sievertsen has found out how to manage in college. his academics and football.

“It isn’t easy and takes a lot of time Photo provided by Tyler Sievertsen management. Our coaches remind us often that we are student-athletes and the The college level of competition is very difacademics come first,” said Sievertsen. joined a club volleyball team and that summer her team got third in the nation at the ferent from the high school level.

Kristen Hahn ’10 participated in softJunior Olympics.

“In high school there’s a few all stars on ball, basketball and volleyball while atHahn has accomplished much while playing every team and a few good players, but in tending Kennedy. She now attends Iowa college volleyball.

She was Big 12 Libero of college if you were the all-star in high school State University where she plays volleythe Year in 2011 and an Honorable Mention you come to a place where everyone that your ball. for All-American team. playing with was the all star at their school “People started noticing me and tell“It started last spring; the libero position too so its like a team full of all stars. Each ing me I was good enough to play,” Hahn was open for grabs, our all American libero team that we play, like Texas A&M, you know said. graduated.

My coaches reminded me on a it’s going to be the same.

You’re always playSince Hahn was a multi sport athlete monthly basis to keep working because I ing the best in the state or best in the nation,” she had to make a decision of which had the possibility of being Big 12 Libero of Hahn said. sport to play.

“At first I wanted to play softball in col- the Year and then from there I performed in Lydia Martin lege up until my sophomore year.” Hahn games and stayed within myself.” Hahn said.

28

PAGE BY Norm Althoff

sports

Game Face. Josh Jahlas, sr., stars in his last his season of high school basketball.

Photo by Sarah Sickles

All Star. Josh Jahlas, sr., stays fit all year round by being a quadruple sport athlete.

Photo by Annie Rae Feltes

Dirty 30: Josh Jahlas

For some students, one sport is a lot to handle. But for Josh Jahlas, sr., one sport just isn’t enough, two is not even a challenge, but participating in four sports is just right for him.

Jahlas has been involved in football, basketball, and baseball for most of his life. He has played on various teams when he was little such as the YMCA, the Junior Cougar League, and Metro Youth Football. As of last year, Jahlas has also added track to his sports list in order to become faster in football.

“I don’t really like to not be doing anything. I get bored pretty easily,” Jahlas said. He is on varsity for all four sports and enjoys all of them. However, Jahlas prefers football above the others. He has received second team all state, first team all conference and first team all district for football, as well as second team all metro for track.

Jahlas is happy with his team’s performance for his last high school football season. “I don’t think we had very high expectations coming into the season and we definitely met, if not exceeded those expectations,” Jahlas said. He is also pleased with how his team is performing this year for basketball. “We started off pretty well and then it’s just continuing to get better, especially with that Linn-Mar win,” Jahlas said. “It showed the last game that a team is better than just one player.”

Jahlas plans to play baseball again for his senior year even though he will have graduated but hopes to play football in college. At the beginning of his junior year he knew that he wanted to play football in college. Jahlas enjoys the academics that Iowa State has to offer and has received an academic scholarship to attend there.

He has not been offered any scholarships to play football for them but he hopes

to walk on. Jahlas would like to major in business, engineering, or architecture but does not want to declare a major his freshmen year. “I’ll probably just test the water to see what college life is like first,” Jahlas sad.

Most students choose to take the easy way out their senior year by taking the bare minimum of classes and making sure they keep up with their social life. Jahlas has continued to keep himself extremely busy his senior juggling sports, school, and his social life but would not change any part of it. He has gained many important skills like being a team player and meeting deadlines.

“I have had a lot of memories but I wouldn’t give up any of them. I just want to make the most of it when I can,” Jahlas said.

Darcey Altschwager

PAGE BY Mohammad Cheetany

29

Looking to Reclaim State

sports

Boys basketball with high T hopes in state tournament

he Kennedy boys basketball team looks to make it back to the state tournament for the first time since the ‘08-’09 season. Kennedy will have to play a lot of tough team in order to make it to the state tournament.

Linn-Mar received the one seed and a bye in substate. They play the winner of Iowa City City High and Prairie. The Cougars have clinched the two seed and a bye in substate, they will play the winner of Athleticism. The Xavier and Washington in the semifinals. “Our boys basketball chances are just as good as anyone else. We’re playteam defeated ing really well and we have a good, open substate second place Linn where anyone can make it,” Trevor Heitland, senior Mar in the MVC, Mississippi division . guard, said. They need to win their sub-state in order to make it to state. “Our substate is wide open,” Kennedy head varsity coach, Bob Fontana, said. “We’ve Left. Darius Fuller got as good as a chance as anybody.” goes up for the Kennedy was expected to make it to sate the last layup in the win couple of years but have been upset in substate. against Linn Mar. Last year, Kennedy was 17-4 but they were upset by Dubuque Hempstead at home in the second round Bottom. Josiah of substate. “Last year we should have made it. We Coleman goes should have made it to state. I thought that we had for the slam dunk to much individualism on the team,” Fontana said to get the crowd Two years ago Kennedy was 21-2 and faced Cedar going against Linn Falls in the substate championship and lost on a Mar. buzzer beater. “It was going to come down to us and Cedar Falls and they had a heck of a team. The kid hits the three pointer at the buzzer and beats us,” Fontana said Photos by Rachel The Cougars have a record of 13 and 5 as of Feb. 8 Gilman. and look to improve on it moving forward into substate. “I think we’re playing pretty well, we’re starting to come together as a team and we’re really starting to play well,” Heitland said. The Cougars defeated Linn-Mar and nearly upset the number one ranked Iowa City West Trojans. “Record wise, we’re doing good,” Fontana said. “I’d just like us to be more consistent. We played very well against Ames and then we played our worst game of the year against City High, so we need to get more consistent,” Fontana said.

For the Cougars to make it back to state they are going to have to compete against teams that have either beaten them, or have given them a tough game in the past. “We have to do all the little things right and we’re going to have to have strong senior leadership.” Fontana said, “We’re going to have to keep playing as a team and don’t overlook anyone because every game is important,” Heitland said Ethan Divis

Visit our website at torch.kennedymedia.org for more coverage of state basketball and photos.

PAGES BY Mohammad Cheetany 31

John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

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