theExpress ISSUE 1 | SEPTEMBER 16, 2016
BASEHOR-LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Senior Eric Scott runs the ball for a touchdown during the home opener against Spring Hill. The football team is currently 2-0. photo by Gracie Carver
Homecoming flashes back New teachers New theme provides more variety than previous join BLHS staff years, new format allows more participation ADAM CROUSE
Each decade brings about new and exciting changes to the world. In each set of ten years, new technological advances are made, hit movies and songs arise, and another chapter is placed in the book of history. Each decade has its own stereotypes, for better or for worse, be it truthful or not. This year the homecoming theme jumped back in time to highlight the best parts of certain decades. “We came up with the idea because it was something we’d never done before,” senior StuCo representative Emilie Crutchfield said. The inspiration for the decades came to Crutchfield and her friends when they were watching movies from different decades. “We thought it would be cool to be able to portray those decades and there’s more variety
in them than just movie themes or video game themes. There’s more variety within decades,” Crutchfield said. The seniors will be traveling back to the 1970s with bell bottoms, big hair and spreading peace and love. Pulling out their poodle skirts, and hitting the dinners for a milkshake is the junior class. The sophomore class brought back the 1980s a time when we leapt into rock music, before grunge and punk bands took over. Artists and bands like Def Leopard, Poison, Blondie, Prince, Michael Jackson, REO Speedwagon, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, and many more found large amounts of commercial success during this time. Fashion included neon clothing, big hair, jean jackets, letterman jackets, rolled jeans, parachute pants and many more. The freshmen are taking us back to boy
bands and the explosion of modern pop. Bands like Nickelback, Creed, Staind, Linkin Park, and Evanescence grew huge, then grew hated or cliche, where bands like Korn, Bullet For My Valentine, System of a Down, gained a place in rock history. Artists and groups like Paramore, Fall Out Boy, and The Killers grew in the pop punk genre, while pop artists and bands like Britney Spears, N’SYNC, Alicia Keys, Miley Cyrus (better known as Hannah Montana at that point) gave birth to modern pop. “I’m very excited for this year’s theme,” StuCo sponsor Daniel Smalley said. “We have a new format for how we are doing things, so the whole community will get to see the outcome. We are also going to have more students participate this year than ever before.”
ASHLEIGH KELLY AND RIESE BEEBE
New school year. New freshmen. New faces. New teachers. This year differs from most, having more freshmen students than ever before and more new teachers than before. Garrett Eckols, the newest member of the math department, knew he wanted to be a teacher a young age due to the fact he came from a family of teachers. “Most of my family are teachers, and so I grew up in a family that supported teaching, and when I was in high school, I decided what I wanted to do. I was helping out kids in my class with their homework and found a love for it, so I decided to pursue that,” Eckols said. Technology and engineering teacher, Abraham Cillier, stepped into his career in education for the first time in August. “Well, at first, I started off as an engineering major in college, and then I realized that I didn’t really want a job sitting in an office all day. I love working with other people, so teaching just seemed like the right path for me,” Cillier said. Many teachers know from a young age they want to enter the profession, but finding a fit in the right district can be a challenge. “This is my fourth year teaching, so I’ve been in another school. I spoke with a number of people in the community and outside of the community that all had great things to say about Basehor. I didn’t hear one negative comment about the district and I can already tell those people were right,” journalism teacher Erin Amrein said.
SOPHIA SEATON | senior If you could be in any place in the world right now, where and why? South Africa because it seems like an interesting country. What do you do on the day of homecoming other than getting ready? Sleep most of the day
JONATHAN HARMS | senior Who is your favorite celebrity? Joe Keeler because he is the only person that I’ve seen that can rock snake skin boots and jorts. What is your favorite meme of 2016? Harambe memes #ripharambe
Students compete for spirit points, prizes
The student body cheers on the football team during the home opener against Spring Hill. Students are competing against other classes for spirit points. photo by Gracie Carver EMMA HALL AND ASHLEIGH KELLY
It’s a new year, and with a new year comes change. Bobcat pride will be shown a different way by having a class of the year competition. While most think competitions happen in athletic events, cheerleading sponsor, Alli Lippe is changing that perception. “I wanted the students to realize that they are still part of a bigger picture whether they’re on a team or not,” Lippe said. Students will have the ability to compete in a number of competitions throughout
the school to earn points towards their final prize. Attendance will be taken at home athletic events and during float building, along with spirit day participants. “I was constantly reminding students about the upcoming spirit days and encouraging them the dress up during homecoming week. I’ve been hounding the seniors especially hard to show up and show out. I am super competitive so losing isn’t really an option,” senior class sponsor Erin Amrein said. The freshmen class is the largest the school has ever seen, so logically they should not have difficulties sweeping the
competition, but it comes down to who shows up. “[I think] the sophomores [will probably win]. They seem pretty enthusiastic, but I can also see the seniors getting pretty hyped, so we’ll just have to see. You never know,” Lippe said. While students will be chanting their way to victory over their opposing class, what truly matters is that school spirit is on the rise here. “I just want everyone to feel like they belong at BLHS and feel a sense of pride in their school and student body,” Lippe said.
JENSEN WALCOTT | senior Favorite breakfast food and why? Hashbrowns, because any food involving potatoes is the best food. If you could pick any superpower, what would it be? Invisibility If you could be in any place in the world right now, where and why? Any beach, because I enjoy long walks on the beach. ;) KURTIS TATKENHORST | senior If you could pick any superpower, what would it be? To fly through the sky In a zombie apocalypse, who would be your go-to student/teacher? Mr. and Mrs. Tatkenhorst
FALL SPORTS UPDATE Girls’ cross country Head coach: Brock Peterson Next race: Sept. 17 @ Bonner Springs
Boys’ cross country Head coach: Brock Peterson Next race: Sept. 17 @ Bonner Springs
senior Joe Ruffcorn Q: What are your goals for this year? A: My goals are to break the record and to go to State. Q: What are possible obstacles you foresee this year? A: My obstacle is that my first meets haven’t been good, but hopefully I will get better.
coach Maureen Campion Q: What is your favorite memory? A: The girls doing amazing at the Bobcat Invitational. That was really fun.
Football
Q: What do people need to know about cross country? A: How hard they work. I’ve never seen a group of athletes work so hard and how challenging our practices are. It’s more than just running.
Q: Do you think they are playing as well as you want them to be playing? A: There are good days and bad days, but I feel like this season we’ve had way more good days than bad practices and that’s important because we stress we have to get better every single day.
Q: What have you learned from coaching? A: [I] Learned a lot about how much perseverance students have because I can’t imagine you guys have energy and having practices after school. I’m just amazed at all the things on their plate.
Q: What are the strengths and weaknesses for the team? A: We are a close team and that is what makes us strong, but our weakness is that we sometimes get to nervous about the race.
Head coach: Rod Stallbaumer Next game: Sept. 16 vs. Turner
Q: How do you push your athletes during practice? A: We try to have fun, but when it’s time to work we try to focus. The biggest thing we do as coaches is hold our kids accountable and we constantly monitor their effort and we make sure they what’s acceptable and what’s not.
CALDER HOLLOND | senior Who is your favorite celebrity? Chrissy Teigen In a zombie apocalypse, who would be your go-to student/teacher? Schwisow What is your spirit animal? Michael Scott JACKSON BRIMBLECOM | senior What is your spirit animal? The bottle-nosed dolphin Who is your favorite celebrity? Jason Sudeikis because my brother dated his sister
Boys’ soccer Head coach: Erik Jones Next game: Sept. 19 vs. Sumner Acad.
Girls’ golf Head coach: Ryan Kazmaier Next tournament: Sept. 21 @ Paola CC
Q: What are your goals for the year? A: ...mainly, I just want everyone of my players to get better at their own game as the season progresses. Q: What is your favorite part of coaching golf? A: I love seeing them hit good shots and how that lights up their face and how excited they get because they just did something special. The girls on this golf team are just a joy to be around. We laugh all the time and just enjoy playing golf and being a team.
Q: What are some of your strengths as a team? A: We’re really just a strong team that works really hard and that’s what we’ve got going for us.
Volleyball
Q: What is your favorite part of practice? A: 2 minute drill cause we can be competitive, but have fun with it still.
senior Haley Langstraat
Q: Are you proud of the way your team is playing? A: Yeah, having 26 goals in four games and no goals against us is really good. Q: What is the one word you’d use to describe your team? A: Family
Head coach: Amy Irvin Next match: Sept. 20 @ Piper
Q: What are your goals for this season? A: Win league and make it to state. Q: What are your strengths as a team? A: We want to play for each other and we really like being around each other. We work very well together, are extremely positive and good at picking teammates up when they’re down. Q: What sets your team apart from previous years? A: In years past, we’ve been scared of playing bigger schools but this year we haven’t been afraid and they don’t give up.
ALLISON MATTHEWS | senior Who is your favorite celebrity? Beyonce What is your favorite breakfast food? Ice cream because I have it everyday. It’s always been a breakfast food in my heart. CHANDLER CAREY | senior Who is your favorite celebrity? Kevin Hart In a zombie apocalypse, who would be your go-to student/teacher? Ross Schwisow
How did you get asked? It’s that time of year. Ladies are waiting for the right guys to ask the right way and the fellas are frantically trying to figure out how to out do themselves from last year’s invite. MAGI OSTERHAUS “I technically asked him over text to make sure he actually wanted to go (since he goes to a different school). He said ‘yes’, [then] I surprised him after his football game with a sign that said ‘I know you aren’t a QUARTERback, but you are a DIME so...Homecoming?’ I was super nervous but I knew he would say yes,”Osterhaus said. ANDREW SULLIVAN “I made a sign that said “Kilee, kick it w/ me at Homecoming?” I also bought her [Kilee McConnaughey] her favorite drink, Mountain Dew Kickstarts.”
Get ready with me...
MACAYLA WILMING “I was at my car with my friend Cevanna. Then Max [Heinen] came up to me and said “I’m not too creative but I know you like chocolate. Will you go to Homecoming with me?!” It was super cute!” LIBBY STALLBAUMER “I was walking to my locker. I saw Zach [White] at Timmy Tush’s locker. I thought it was weird but oh well. Then he turned around and was holding a sign that said ‘It would Croc if you went to homecoming with me’. He was holding a pair of bright green crocs. I used to wear them all the time in 6th grade. So yeah.” ASHLEY HOFFMAN “I was walking out to my truck and noticed that someone was standing next to it. It was Andy [Sweeney]. He then pulled a sign out from his truck and it said ‘reel me into Homecoming’ I was surprised!”
NICK PORTH “I set up a bunch of red solo cups on her [Beth Espinoza] front porch and surprised her. The sign said ‘Don’t let me go solo. Homecoming?’”
junior Ella Jung
10 AM
nail appointment
5:00 PM
4:15 PM
3 PM
starting getting ready beginning with hair
go to dinner
apply make up
7:00 PM
arrive at the dance
senior Jackson Sherley
10 AM
wake up for the day
3 PM
shave manly beard
4:00 PM
appointment at Salon Image to get hair styled
5:00 PM 6:00 PM
get dressed
Dinner Time: TBD
8:30 PM
arrive at the dance fashionably late
BETH ESPINOZA | junior If you could have any superpower what would it be? To read minds. I would want to know if people are thinking about me. What is your spirit animal? Larry Booth ‘cause Larry Booth. NICK PORTH | junior What is your favorite breakfast food? Pancakes, eggs and bacon. Because it takes very good and is also a somewhat healthy meal. What is your spirit animal? Definitely a lion.
Powderpuff makes its reappearance STERLING HOLLOND
This year, an age-old Basehor tradition, sadly discontinued for a number of years, made a reappearance. Of course, this is powderpuff football, a girls-only iteration of football made for exhibition events like the homecoming pep rally. The concept is simple, a flag football game used as a fun, bonding activity. While it was taken from the schedule a number of years ago, athletic director Joe Keeler has re-instituted the game. “It was brought back this year, as we wanted to provide an opportunity for girls to do something special, wanted something for them with spirit, and I think it’s exciting. The girls are looking forward to it, and it’s very good for pep and school morale,” Keeler said. Over 70 girls from all four grades took part in the activity. Many were up before the sun rose for practice at 5:30 a.m. to train. “I don’t like waking up that early. I’d rather sleep in,” senior Rachel Hiss said. However, the girls aren’t the only ones taking time out of their schedules for some hard work, as the teams are coached by football players for the team’s corresponding grade. “I feel like our girls are mentally prepared, and we’ve all been working hard, preparing for this moment, for this game, for a long time,” sophomore Dylan Mussett said.
Top: Junior Libby Stallbaumer runs after ball carrier, junior Maria Howard. The junior team has both morning and evening practices. Left: Junior Nichole Smith catches a pass from the coach. Football players doubled as the team coaches for the powderpuff game. photos by Morgan Buchholz
EXPRESS STAFF Editor-in-chief: Calder Hollond Graphic editor: Erin McGowan Reporters: Emma Hall, Adam Lang, Adam Crouse, Ashleigh Kelly, Cecilee Huber, Riese Beebe, Ben Mowery, Sterling Hollond, Morgan Buchholz Adviser: Erin Amrein
KINSEY KUTTLER | sophomore Who is your favorite celebrity? I would have to say Beyonce because she slays What do you do on the day of homecoming other than getting ready? Listen to music [and] eat lots of Reeses Peanut Butter Cups DYLAN MUSSETT | sophomore Who is your favorite celebrity? Will Farrell If you could pick any superpower, what would it be? The power to fly
QUINCY MAY | freshman If you could be in any place in the world right now, where would it be? A condo in Florida, because my family along with friends always used to go places like that when I was little and it would bring back good memories Favorite breakfast food and why? Plain oatmeal with peaches. It is healthy and I like it. KADE IMHOFF | freshman In a zombie apocalypse, who would be your go-to student/teacher? Brock Hofer What do you do on the day of homecoming other than getting ready? Eat ice cream before I leave