Liberty Ledger - Issue 3 - May 13, 2021 by The Ledger Magazine

V o l .

M a y

1 3 ,

2 0 2 1

I s s u e

the

ledger Roots &

FEATURE Read a 6 collection

of moments that show off Eagle highlights from a difficult year

IN-DEPTH Read 18 about the “Roots” of Liberty High School

Routes

SENIORS Read 20 about the Class of 2021’s legacy and their plans for the future

CONTENT

6 FEATURES

4 FEATURES

Liberty Traditions: The Freedom to Be Kind

Top 10 Eagle Moments

A collection of moments to show off eagle highlights from a difficult year.

Dr. Nelson on Liberty’s culture, and how it has developed over time.

14 SPORTS

Netzel’s Spark Leads Soccer Team

18 IN-DEPTH Our Roots

@lhs.publications @LHSJourn Visit our site: LHStoday.org

JUNE

Our Routes

Find out where the seniors will be going after high school.

@lhspublications A 2020-2021 School Newspapers Online Distinguished Site

10-14: Week Two of AP Testing 14: Senior Awards Recognition (Virtual @ 3 p.m.) 17-21: Seniors Finals Week 17: Week Three AP Testing 18: Senior Sunset (7-9 p.m.) 20: Board of Education Meeting 21: Seniors Last Day and Bridge Walk 26: Graduation Practice (10 a.m.) and Senior Luau 31: No Classes K-12

2: Finals Early Release (Grades 9-11) 3: Last Day of School (Early Release) 4: Senior Sendoff (11 a.m.) 6: Graduation (10 a.m.) and Grad Night 17: Board of Education Meeting

Content | lhstoday.org design by: M. Banstetter

20 SENIORS

An exploration into the pillars of Liberty.

UPCOMING EVENTS

MAY

The Six Cultures of Liberty A look at distinct cultures of Liberty hallways.

The senior, a Xavier recruit, leads the team with 22 goals.

photos by Haleigh McCune (top left), Elizabeth Hamby (top right) and Sruthi Ramesh (bottom)

16 INTERACTIVE

The LEDGER Liberty High School 2275 Sommers Road Lake Saint Louis, MO. 63367 636.561.0075 ext: 28039 jonathanhall@wsdr4.org

Volume 8 Issue 3 Editors Lizzie Kayser* Brooke Huffman* Ianne Salvosa* Reporters Mollie Banstetter (Layout Editor), Emily Bohn, Paige Bostic (Executive Videographer), Sean Bruce, Elizabeth Hamby (Assistant Editor) Irem Inan, Sruthi Ramesh, Ally Schniepp (Sports Editor), Elaine Thimyan. *Each editor also serves as a reporter

Intentions

The Ledger is a publication that releases 4 issues (one per quarter) throughout the year, distributing 1,000 free copies to the student body, faculty and administration. The Ledger magazine is a part of the district’s curriculum and is designed to provide a practical journalistic experience for written expression on

a variety of topics. It is a student-led publication class that reports on stories relatable to the school community. Students write, take photos and design the publication and the adviser will supervise the student journalists. The opinions expressed in this magazine may not be those of Liberty, nor the Wentzville R-IV School District, faculty, staff or administration. The main editorial, when included, expresses the opinion of the Ledger editorial staff.

Reacting

Letters to all editors can be submitted in room 239, emailed or mailed to Liberty. All letters must be signed. Limit letters you wish to be published to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space requirements and libelous material to the discretion of the editors. If you have a news story idea or comment, please contact us in room 239.

Credentials

The Ledger is a member of the Sponsors of Student Publications of Greater St. Louis.

Advertising

To further facilitate the space available for student writing, advertising will not be offered in The Ledger.

Dear Readers,

hen you started freshman year, it may have felt like the only direction to face was up. There were just a few minutes until the bell rang, a few months until you could drive, a few years before you could finally graduate and face the world on your own. Like the branches of a tree, we cling to each minimal milestone as we climb our way forward, steadfast and centered until we can firmly say we’ve reached the top. It’s only when we realize how far we’ve come that we can look back and appreciate what got us there in the first place. Our roots are what shape us, pushing us up towards the future. Every moment we’ve spent at Liberty have allowed us to become the people we are today. Rather than ignoring these roots, the Ledger staff wanted to celebrate what makes our school distinctive. Whether you find your place playing on the football field or eating a pretzel on the sidelines, you are an essential part of our school’s culture. Together, we make up the memories captured within these pages. Then there are our routes—the paths each senior will find themselves on after graduation. We wanted to showcase all of the hard work our peers had put in the past four years, and where their passions are taking them. Though Liberty may seem like the end all be all, we’ve each got bigger and better things ahead of us, and our staff is excited to see where each and every student ends up. It’s strange seeing the people you’ve grown up with mature into these new versions of themselves, that gawky elementary schoolers can turn into adults that are already excelling in their fields. Especially with the pandemic, the one real constant we’ve had is each other, and now it’s finally time to let go. Our goal with each issue is for each student to see themselves, learn about others and be exposed to new perspectives they haven’t seen before. We’ve dove into how student athletes, actors, organizers and leaders helped build the school’s culture from the ground up. As seniors, we’ve witnessed our peers take those passions they’ve developed and plan a future out of it. Personally, we’ve planted our roots in this publication, and we know our routes include the skills we strengthened and the memories we made. The Ledger is an embodiment of student press enduring through historic events, and we are excited to see the route it takes in the future.

With love, Brooke Huffman, Lizzie Kayser & Ianne Salvosa Co-Editors-in-Chief

Content | lhstoday.org design by: M. Banstetter

photo by Haleigh McCune

Dr. Nelson juggles tennis balls at the 2020 Talent Show.

D The freedom to be kind Dr. Nelson on Liberty’s culture, and how it has developed over time by Lizzie Kayser Co-Editor-in-Chief

4 design by: L. Kayser

Feature | lhstoday.org

r. Nelson was an experienced educator before he came to Liberty. This school, he says, is one of the best places he’s ever worked. “Generally, consistently, we strive for goodness and growth,” Nelson said. “We provide real opportunities for our students.” Liberty’s culture holds different definitions for different people: some find their home in a club or sport, others feel welcomed by the teachers they see each day. Once known as “the new high school” of the district, it’s now closing on its eighth year. The first few years were dedicated to building the school’s culture and tradition— something known well by building principal Dr. Nelson. Nelson came to Liberty two years after opening, with the first junior class. At the time, though much smaller in numbers, Liberty had already forged the way with one of its most sentimental and well-known traditions.

“We started with the bridge walk. We walk the freshmen over the bridge in, and walk the seniors out,” Nelson said. Inspired by Mizzou’s “Tiger Walk,” it uses the bridge to the athletic complex to symbolize students entering and leaving high school, bridging the gap between their education and their futures. From the start, this tradition created a strong tie between students and the school— and paved the way for a welcoming environment Nelson has increasingly observed. Just as the bridge walk was conceptualized by teachers, Nelson believes that the possibility for positive connection begins in the classroom. “I feel like [our] teachers are pretty nice and helpful,” Nelson said. “We’re not perfect by any stretch of the means, but we really are trying to be nice to each other. It starts there, [with teachers] trying to the best of their ability to carry that to class.” Perhaps the most evident manifestation of this idea is the Be Kind campaign, which Nelson considers to be his favorite Liberty tradition. With a simple hashtag and select committee of students, assistant principal Dr. Kiely started Be Kind in 2018. Today, they

host Be Kind Week each year, with activities and challenges that encourage a spirit of kindness. What started as a small movement is now integral to the school and what it stands for. “I love Be Kind. You know, the older I get, and, as a parent— you see how the world is and how it’s changed, and so I get really excited just seeing people being nice and helping each other,” Nelson said. “Not everyone’s going to be like that all the time, but I think at least if we’re striving in that direction, if you’re striving for that, it makes for a more [positive school environment].” With only a few weeks left until their final steps over the bridge, seniors have the freedom to choose the direction they take. However, Nelson hopes that their roots will drive them forward, that what they learned at Liberty will lead them toward success. “My hope would be that their effort pays off, their hard work pays off. There’s no straight line toward success,” Nelson said. “Life has twists and turns, but if you continue to work hard, and put forth effort, you’ll survive and thrive and achieve success in life.”

by Emily Bohn Reporter Closing in on year six as building principal, Dr. Nelson has accumulated a number of interesting phrases that students love to quote. Here are a few of them:

“If you’re talking, you’re wrong” Nelson’s most popular quote is “if you’re talking, you’re wrong”, sometimes shortened to “you’re wrong.” It was born during an assembly, when some students began to talk while he was talking.

“The buses are leaving in 30 seconds” “The buses are leaving in 30 seconds” was a warning that Nelson would give over the loudspeaker about four minutes after the final bell had rang at 2:15, signaling the end of the school day. He was letting the remaining students know to run if they were riding the bus and didn’t want to miss it.

“Let’s talk about trash, baby!” Nelson is very passionate about keeping Liberty’s campus clean, and that includes litter. At the 2019-2020 school year’s first day assembly, Nelson encouraged students to be clean by picking up after themselves, singing “let’s talk about trash, baby” in a particular tune.

“Silly human trick” photos by Sruthi Ramesh, LHS Publications, Alix Queen and Jonica Weiler

1. 2021 Be Kind Week Throughout the week, teachers each gifted a “Be Kind “ shirt to a student who exemplified what it means to be a kind person at Liberty High School. On Friday, April 9 these students were celebrated for their outstanding character. 2. Bridge Walk On the first day of school in 2017, Liberty’s staff members give out high fives as the new staff complete their own version of the bridge walk, welcoming them to Liberty. 3. Stellar Staff Dr. Nelson celebrates beloved custodian Mr. Morris’s unforgettable impact on Liberty and its community. 4. With Spirit Senior Leticia Lopez, Drum Major, salutes the crowd as three Wentzville high schools take the field in the 2020 Wentzville Marching Band showcase.

After weeks of anticipation, Nelson finally premiered his talent at the 2020 Talent Show. He walked onto the stage juggling three tennis balls to “Entry of the Gladiators” before performing his actual talent, that being his ability to whistle with his fingers. He called it his “silly human trick,” and even gave a tutorial. It was quite impressive.

Feature | lhstoday.org design by: L. Kayser

TOP 10 EAGLES’ A collection of moments to show off Eagle highlights from a difficult year by Mollie Banstetter Layout Editor & Ally Schniepp Sports Editor

StuCo raised $3,460 for Coaches vs Cancer, also known as Red Week. Each year, Liberty puts on a basketball game to raise funds for the great cause, but with the circumstances of this year, StuCo found a new and innovative way to raise the money. Members brought students and teachers together to pledge different challenges. As milestones in fundraising were reached, the ultimate goal was for senior Sam Ardrey and Mr. LaBrot to shave their heads at the $2,500 mark. photo by Sruthi Ramesh

2 The varsity cheer squad won first-place in the Superlarge division in the MCCA State Championship. Having placed in the top five the past four years, this is the first time in school history the team has taken home the title of state champions. “I could not be happier with how this season has turned out,” varsity coach Aly Sansoucie said.

photo by Sruthi Ramesh

Speech and Debate is in its second season this year and the members of the club jumped from eight active members to 18 active members. This season the club inducted eight new members into the NSDA, the National Speech and Debate association. “Being a member of the NSDA shows dedication to becoming an effective communicator. It symbolizes a student’s willingness to learn effective communication skills that will aid them for life,” speech and debate coach, Ms. Franke said. Sophomore Anna Wright took second place at State for Humorous Interpretation, making her the first state qualifier in speech and debate from Liberty. photo by Sruthi Ramesh

Seniors TJ Irlmeier and Anthony Galati took first-place in DECA state competition. The two won a perfect score with their community awareness project. This project raised $405 for Centerpointe Hospital. DECA members who competed at state were required to write a 20-page paper along with a 15-minute recorded presentation over their project. This was the first time the two participated in the state competition. “It was a really rewarding moment because we put a lot of time and effort into it. Those in second place got a 99 so we barely edged out first, so it was really rewarding to know that we put in all of the hard work over a five month span and it paid photo courtesy of 1326 off,” Irlmeier said.

The Liberty girls swim team claimed their title as six-time GAC champs, breaking six records in the process. Freshman Leilani Green broke the record for 100 free, sophomore Laura Bonds broke records for both 100 breaststroke and 500 free, senior Caroline Myers in 100 backstroke and the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay was broken by Myers, Aubrey McCain, Brooke Suftko and Green. “I am extremely happy with my times and proud of myself that I broke those two school records,” Bonds said. photo courtesy of @LHSSwim_N_Dive

Feature | lhstoday.org design by: M. Banstetter & A. Schniepp

MOMENTS

The varsity boys basketball team took on the Troy Trojans at their home court on Friday, March 5 in front of the first student section any sport has had all year. The game was tight in the first half, the Eagles leading 20-18 at halftime. However, in the second half the Trojans got after it and won the game and the district title, 65-50. “It’s bittersweet,” senior Anna Decker said. Even though the Eagles didn’t bring home the district title this year, the seniors, both on the court and in the stands, finally got a taste of the senior year they should’ve had. photo by Sruthi Ramesh

Both the boys and girls cross country teams won conference titles this season. The boys team brought home the first conference title in school history, and the girls team won the first Central Division conference title. The Liberty girls controlled the race from the start and put five runners, junior Ally Kruger, senior Molly Morris, junior Megan Venturella, junior Adrienne Rockette and junior Fiona Flynn, in the top 10 in the race. The boys had three runners in the top five: junior Collin Fay, senior Josh Rossman, and junior Dylan Carlson. “It was exciting because I’ve been here for four years and we were never really contenders for conference and this year we got six out of the seven guys in conference which has never been done before,” Rossman said. Kruger would end up winning state and became the first female cross country runner in the district to take home this honor.

photo courtesy of @TrackLiberty

Activism club is a brand new addition to Liberty’s after-school activities and has been the subject of both controversy and awe. The club seems to have drawn in many members within the few months of its existence. The club focuses on current political and social issues by creating art and having open conversations with its members and the issues they face. “Obviously, each of the activists have their own interests and beliefs, but when we come together to advocate for whatever it may be, there’s an overwhelming sense of unity and acceptance in the room,” said freshman Aicha Beye, member of activism club and women’s rights activist. photo by Sabryn Gibson

This year’s spring play, “The Crucible,” faced many challenges due to COVID like many other activities at Liberty. Although the saying “the show must go on’’ might seem cheesy, it’s the guiding principle the cast and crew followed. “I think the acting from all of the actors was incredible. All of the cast members were perfect for their roles,” audience member junior Brynn Bartram said.

photo by Sruthi Ramesh

After winning their jamboree, the girls varsity soccer team won four of their first five games. As of May 5, the team had nine shutouts with six mercy wins. With an 11-4 record, the girls have scored 72 goals, an average of close to 5 goals a game. The leading scorers are senior Chloe Netzel, who has 33 goals and 11 assists, sophomore Morgan Struttmann with 13 goals and 12 assists and junior Hailey Jolliff with nine goals and seven assists. Goalkeeper Sydney Strassmeier has a team-leading five shutouts. The team is in second place in the GAC Central behind Zumwalt South. “Our main goal is for each player to be playing to their full potential so that we can play to our full potential as aReyes team,” Coach Kleekamp said. photo by Monica

Feature | lhstoday.org design by: M. Banstetter & A. Schniepp

Favorite Liberty Teachers, as Chosen by the Senior Class After eight semesters, seniors have amassed a large catalogue of teachers and their classes that they’ve been taught in. From required courses to APs with prerequisites, students on the tail end of their fourth year know a thing or two about Liberty classes. In a survey, they were asked about their very favorites. Here are the top five most popular teachers. by Emily Bohn Reporter

Teaches AP Psychology, Contemporary Issues, Sociology, Pop Culture, Psychology By far the most popular teacher who was mentioned was Mr. Barker, getting a notice from over a third of those who took the survey. His AP psychology periods fill up every year, and the classic “egg project” is a staple of the class. His students especially appreciate his casual and personal nature, as it puts them at ease and makes learning more fun. “I demand a recount!. (Thank you seniors, much love)!” Barker said. Kayde Chronister called Barker “both a great teacher and a generally kind and wise person.”

Mr. Barker Teaches English I, Advanced English II, English III Although he teaches required classes with strict syllabi, Mr. Schaper always finds a way to make the course feel unique and personal. He will often show episodes of his favorite show, “The Twilight Zone” in class as a way of teaching parts of a unit, such as style analysis. “It’s really flattering,” he said excitedly in response. “The students make it easy, and I feel honored to be recognized.” “[He is] able to balance being the “fun” teacher while also genuinely helping you grow as a writer” Brooke Huffman said.

Mr. Schaper 8 design by: E. Bohn and M. Banstetter News | lhstoday.org

Teaches Discrete Math I, Discrete Math II, Formal Geometry, Algebra II Mr. Leonard has only been a teacher at Liberty for three years, but his impact on his students has been very strong. With a laid-back teaching style and a friendly demeanor, everyone in his classes feels welcomed and appreciated, never afraid to ask a question. Kelsey Smoot gave voice to Leonard “always [being] super helpful”.

Mr. Leonard Teaches Biology, Anatomy Mrs. Braile is said to put being a “mom” to her students before being a teacher. She genuinely cares about her students and making sure they’re well. Her interactive and fun nature makes taking these classes exciting and interesting. “I’m honored to be on the list,” she said, “There are some awesome students in the senior class.” Kaitlyn Mueller called her “a teacher, a mom, a friend, etc”, and credited her with “impact[ing her] life in a way that [she] could never fully explain.”

Mrs. Braile Teaches Chemistry, AP Chemistry Mrs. Beierman’s upbeat and caring personality aids in making her students care about learning chemistry, as it can be a difficult subject to teach. She utilizes very hands-on activities, and is always helpful to those who are struggling or in need of extra help. Eric Welker said, “She is super duper kind and will always put in all of the necessary effort into helping her students understand confusing and difficult topics.”

Mrs. Beierman

News | lhstoday.org design by: E. Bohn and M. Banstetter

The Egg Murderers: Where Are They Now? Liberty psychology students once lived in fear, now the egg killers are speaking out

by Paige Bostic Executive Videographer While the famed Egg Experiment is hailed as a staple of high school culture, multiple AP Psychology students were met with shock and tragedy as they tried to take care of their eggs. A dreadful counterculture arose in response to the Egg Experiment in the form of contracted egg murders. LHS Publications reached out to two egg hitmen and asked them about their crimes in a brief question-and-answer response. Their identities are kept a secret so that this reporter’s eggs at home will remain uncracked. Read the interview below, but beware. The answers may be something you’d never eggspect.

Did you start as an egg killer for hire or was it something else? Egg Killer A: I was paid to complete them. Egg Killer B: I was offered the job one day. The boss said I was a good fit for the job, and it sounded interesting. He told me his name was “Ovum Occidentum.” How many eggs have you actually killed? Egg Killer A: Four. Egg Killer B: I only did one job. If you killed any eggs for money, how much did you charge per egg? Egg Killer A: It depended on whose egg. Egg Killer B: I would charge in an unspecified [Egg Killer B redacted what they would charge]. If you were part of the experiment, did you ever fear that YOUR egg would be in danger? Egg Killer A: No. I am a killer. Egg Killer B: I would not be afraid. Does a predator fear its prey? If you had the opportunity to go back in time for this assignment, would you kill more or fewer eggs? Egg Killer A: MORE eggs. Egg Killer B: More. I feel like if I could have another chance I would end up killing many more eggs for [here, Egg Killer B once again redacted what they would charge].

The Band Mouse How one tiny mouse rose to power

by Sean Bruce Reporter

The band, the mouse, the legend. The band and choir room have recently fallen under the terror of a fearsome monster: a mouse. “The Band Mouse” as it’s been called is somewhat of a local legend in the Liberty fine arts hallway. Much like with Bigfoot and the Mothman, the very existence of the mouse is hotly contested, and sightings of the infamous Band Mouse are seldom reported and highly doubted by skeptics. In recent weeks, however, the mouse was seen by the choir teacher, Ms. Kennedy. This can mean only one thing: The mouse is on the move and has begun an ancient mission as old as time to take over the whole 500 hallway. When she was told of this shocking revelation, drama teacher Mrs. Gehrke claimed that she saw the horrifying beast as well in Ms. Kennedy’s office during lunch, stating that she jumped up on a chair in fear of the mighty creature.

10 design by: P. Bostic

Entertainment | lhstoday.org

“I wish the mouse had been around for Cinderella, we could have incorporated it,” Mrs. Gehrke said. She and Ms. Kennedy named the mouse Hermann in honor of the aforementioned musical. “I know that it might sound a little selfish, but I hope that Hermann stays on that side of the hallway and leaves my precious theatre alone,” continued Gehrke, clearly shaken to the core with fear of the looming threat that The Band Mouse has created. Mrs. Gehrke will have to see the mouse’s theatrical talents before deciding to cast it in any future Liberty High School drama productions. Will the mouse strengthen its iron grip in the fine arts hallway? Or will The Band Mouse join the likes of the Roman Empire and The Aztec Empire and take over the entire Wentzville School District, and soon stretch its terror over the whole Universe itself?

photos by Elizabeth Hamby

Garden Club Is Growing Opportunities The Garden Club is taking part in creating their very own school grounds garden by Elizabeth Hamby Assistant Editor

A truck filled with soil pulled up to the middle open field at Liberty on April 6 and provided the beginning of this year’s garden that is currently being prepared by students and staff. The people behind this action are none other than the Garden Club. The raised garden bed that was built last school year was first cleaned out by students and fresh soil was poured and positioned for seeds to be planted. The plan for the garden itself was developed last year, but because of the pandemic, they weren’t able to plant anything. Garden Club’s sponsor Ms. Pizzo and co-sponsor Ms. Whitmore were both very excited about the opportunities that the garden could provide, especially since it can contribute to a tasty treat. The plants that will be growing in the garden will all assist in the making of salsa when ready to pick; plants like tomatoes, jalapeños, peppers, cucumbers and herbs are the seeds they are planning to sow. Junior Emma Jones, a member of Garden Club, says that most of her family members have gardens at home.

“It’s (gardening) not like a passion thing but I do love it. I love knowing that I can run outside and grab that food right from the garden and help my grandma or dad with supper,” Jones said. The garden, sponsored by Mizzou, who is a big supporter of our school’s actions, assisted them with $300 to get started with the project. They have also provided Ms. Pizzo with a previous grant for $1,000 for the purchase of a water tower garden that sits in her classroom. Pizzo’s goal is to continue this annual tradition of the salsa garden and make a unique garden a twice-a-year occasion around Christmas time and during spring. “I’m so excited to watch our salsa garden grow and to enjoy some delicious basil,” senior and Garden Club vice president Eric Welker said. On Friday, April 9 the club went outside again and planted the seeds and labeled them with the corresponding names. Shortly after they got a sweet little sweet treat from the sky as it rained almost all day Saturday.

Feature | lhstoday.org design by: P. Bostic

High School— Minus the Musical How well do our favorite coming-of-age movies represent high school? by Brooke Huffman Co-Editor-in-Chief

One of the most authentic high school films that still manages to miss the actual idea of high school completely, it displays genuine feelings mixed with totally not relatable experiences. For example, while Brian’s being overwhelmed is something shared by most high school students, I’m not sure anybody has actually been scheduled for a Saturday detention, much less one with hardly any supervision.

Possibly the least realistic movie on this list, “Carrie” somehow managed to make a movie about high school that got nothing right. Of course, being a movie about supernatural powers it’s bound to have fantastical elements, but there’s so much that’s just off. For instance, nobody cares that much about prom queen or periods, and neither would result in public harassment.

1976 1985 I understand that this movie is satire, and it’s brilliant in that way, but that doesn’t mean it’s realistic. I mean, I hope that if somebody were to fire a gun in the cafeteria they would get more than detention, and I hope that if there were a spree of suicides the school would do more than lightly address it, but who knows? At least this movie did a good job of portraying the insane internalized misogyny that’s clawed its way into high school culture.

1986 1989 A fact of life: parents are always obsessed with the youngest child, and John Hughes does a great job of emphasizing that in this lighthearted and upbeat film. However, no school cares enough about truancy to investigate your house and follow you around the big city of Chicago. Also, is there a single student in the school that absolutely everybody gets along

1995 Ugh, as if this movie would be possible to live up to! Makeover montages are (unfortunately) not an actual day-to-day occurrence and most students try their best not to meddle in teachers’ love lives. However, “Clueless” did an immaculate job of portraying one of high school’s most relatable truths- nobody can drive, and highways are terrifying.

1999

12 design by: E.Thimyan

Entertainment | lhstoday.org

Stuffed full of highly over-romanticized tropes, though incredibly entertaining, this movie is nowhere near realistic. For starters, big romantic gestures such as Patrick’s promposal aren’t just uncommon, they’re completely impossible to stumble upon in high school. Not to mention, fights are rare, and never look like they do on screen. The one thing this movie got right? The skeevy ulterior motives guys will occasionally have.

s s,

Single-handedly responsible for creating unfairly high expectations for high schoolers everywhere, the only accurate detail of this movie is the emphasis put on high school sports by administration. The singing, school spirit and strict cliques are but a figment of Ortega’s imagination. And the biggest lie? That any school play would ever have an audience of more than 75 people.

2004

Though iconic and quotable, this movie instills a fear of bullying that most students will never have to worry about. Not only that, but it suffers from the same concept of these uber-defined cliques as “High School Musical” and “The Breakfast Club.” However, the comedically insufficient sex- ed and weirdly ambitious superiority complex that overtakes most juniors is absolutely spot on.

2006

An extremely underrated and accurate display of the vulnerabilities and insecurities that are practically essentials for any high schooler, this movie gets (most) things right. Tension with friends and family, and (gently) forcing teachers to fill in for absentee fathers are relatable experiences. What isn’t relatable and also highly illegal is rolling up to your teacher’s house in the middle of the night.

2016 2017

2011 The only accurate detail included in this movie is that students would absolutely sacrifice themselves for a vending machine. The detentions filled with life-changing friendships are nowhere to be seen at Liberty, and it’s even less likely to find a high school band that students legitimately care about. Also, nobody actually enjoys hearing people sing in class.

Aside from suffering from “everybody-gets-into-prestigious-college-itis,” Greta Gerwig actually managed to portray high school in a semi-realistic manner. There’s always the awkward and stubborn student that obsesses over their future and sticks out like a sore thumb, and that student is almost always convinced that they are the most talented actor to have ever existed. Also, high schoolers are pretentious.

2019

2019 While it does capture the extremely awkward and uneasy feelings that accompany being a teenager, it doesn’t exactly understand that most people in their twenties have better things to do than take care of high school freshmen. Also, aside from Halloween, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of a “themed party” being thrown? Points for trying!

Deemed “the modern Superbad,” this film does a great job of satirizing the more hellish aspects of high school. It perfectly captures the more annoying aspects of each club and clique, and offers an extremely talented and diverse cast. The downside? Oh, just the prestigious colleges absolutely everybody gets into with minimal effort. Also, what kind of teacher attends a high school party?

Entertainment | lhstoday.org design by: E.Thimyan

Netzel’s Spark Leads Soccer Team The senior, a Xavier recruit, leads the team with 33 goals by Kylie Dawn Beard Reporter

Senior Chloe Netzel represents the varsity girls soccer team’s hard work, dedication, and passion. Netzel, who has been playing soccer since she was 4 years old, has received a soccer scholarship from Xavier University (of Ohio). Her message to anyone Chloe Netzel scored four goals in an 8-0 victory against Zumwalt else out there who East on April 13. She is the team leader in goals with 33. is determined to photo by Caleb Simmons accomplish their goals. “If you want something, go get it and keep working hard.” “Chloe is a great representation of our team. She plays with passion and she has grit,” Coach Kleekamp said. “She never gives up and is never satisfied. She shows up everyday with a great attitude and a desire

to get better. She is very consistent with her effort and attitude every day on and off the field. Netzel elevates the play of her teammates.” Netzel’s determination is unbeatable and always stands out. “Chloe is always one of the hardest working players on the field. She is very competitive and she doesn’t like to lose. She is very offensive minded and is always looking for a way to get to the goal. When she plays with confidence, she is unstoppable,” Kleekamp said. But what motivates Netzel? How does she do it? When asked what her motivation is, Netzel states: “I would say my family is what motivates me. My brother and parents have always been so supportive.” What helps Netzel get into her competitive state? How does she prepare for games? “I listen to music and do our warmups. Sometimes I like to watch old game footage, that helps,” she said. There’s no doubt, whatever she is doing seems to work. This season alone, Netzel has already scored 33 goals, along with 11 assists – the most goals scored by any player in the GAC Central Conference. As of May 5, the team is 11-4 and in second place in the GAC Central, behind undefeated Fort Zumwalt South. Kleekamp also shares the goal of the varsity girls. “Our goal is to first win a district championship and then make a run at a state title. Our overall goal is to create a competitive environment where every player is playing to full potential while having the best high school experience possible.”

Girls Soccer

Track and Field

Coach Tutterow What are some highlights so far this season? We have had many school records broken this season; many of which have stood for several years. Ally Kruger just recently broke the 1,600 meter meet record at one of the oldest track meets in the state of Missouri. The record had stood for 30 years. What are some goals you have for the rest of the season? We want to win the GAC championship in boys and girls track. We also have several athletes that are ranked in the top 8 in Missouri Class 5 and believe each of them will win a medal at the state track meet on May 27.

S P R I N G

Boys Tennis

Coach Campos What is your record? The Boys current Tennis Record is 14-1; GAC North/Central champions How is your season going? The season is going great and awesome. Since week 2, the team is currently on an 11 match win streak. What are some highlights so far this season? Seeing the growth of this team when not being able to play last year and playing well during the season. Highlight also was recently medaling 9 out of 12 members in the Hannibal Tournament and winning the tournament as a team. What are some goals you have for the rest of the season? Would like to win the GACS conference as a team.Would like to win the team districts. Qualify both individuals and team towards states.

Boys Golf

Coach Lindsay What is your record? Our record is 4-1 in conference play How is your season going? The season is off to a great start. Both varsity and JV started out 3-0 and then took a tough loss against Zumwalt South. What are some highlights so far this season? Ro Razavi, Trevor Campbell, and Ben McCaffery all got 79 and placed in the Warrenton tournament. What are some goals you have for the rest of the season? The goal will be to win our conference. This will be possible if we have a great conference tournament. Our goal is to have as many of our five golfers as possible make it out of district, and qualify for the state tournament.

14 design by: A. Schniepp Sports | lhstoday.org

S P O R T S

photos by Monica Reyes, Sruthi Ramesh, Grayce Page & Elektra Lowe

Coach Kleekamp What is your record? 10-4 How is your season going? This is the best record in our program’s history. We are winning the games that we should be winning but we need to learn how to create a more competitive game with our tough opponents. Overall I’m extremely proud of our growth as a team each week. What are some highlights so far rhis season? As a team, we were really proud of pulling ourselves out of a hole in our game against FZN. We were down 0-2 at half and we came back to win it 6-2. We are very proud of our record and we continue to finish strong the rest of the season.

Baseball

Coach Clements What’s your record 13-8-1 How is the season going? Good. We started off not the way we wanted to. We started off a little slow. Our first three games we lost two and we tied one. Then we started figuring some things out and some guys started to get more consistent in the field and batting. Now things are starting to fall into place. What are some highlights from the season? Early in the season we had a doubleheader at Webster Groves where we played the Saint Louis Patriots, who are a really good team, and we played Webster Groves, who is also a good team. We won both of those games. We scored 26 runs against the Patriots and 21 against Webster Groves. So, we scored 47 runs in two games. Victor Quinn had four home runs against the Patriots, Kyle Bermudez hit a home run that day, Peyton Vieluf hit a home run that day, Peyton Braile hit a home run that day. That was a huge highlight. Last Monday, we had a walk off win against Holt. We tied and played nine innings, so we played two extra innings. We scored in the bottom of the ninth. Also, our win against Fort Zumwalt South on Senior Night. What are some goals you have for the rest of the season? Some team goals, not just goals that I have, these are goals that the boys have that we have talked about at the beginning of the season. They want to win conference, which they can do. We have three more conference games left, one against Zumwalt South and two against Howell North. If we win those three games, we would win the conference, or at least have a tie. I know they want to win districts, which they have a very good chance of doing that as well.

U P D A T E

Wrestlers Come Home With Two Medals At State Haynes and Craig make the podium at the state tournament in Independence by Elektra Lowe Reporter As the 2020-2021 wrestling season ends, LHS had four wrestlers that competed in state wrestling on Friday, March 12 at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence. Two would go on to place and receive medals. Matthew Craig took sixth place and Wyatt Haynes finished in second place in their respective weight classes. Below are the matches in order for each wrestler that went to state and who they went against.

Wyatt Haynes prepares to take on his opponent at the state tournament.

Wyatt Haynes for the 160 lbs: Had a bye first round. Won his first match in the second round against Cade Muscia from Lebanon by a pin. Won his second match in the third round against Ryder Heimbach from Willard by a pin. Lost his last match against Cayden Auch from Neosho and received second place. Lukas Aubuchon for the 132 lbs: Lost his firsts match against Evain Morris from Hillsboro by a pin. Had a bye second round. Lost his second match in the third period to Brady Littleton from Belton High School.

Jackson Ward for the 195 lbs: Won his first match in the first round against Brandon Perks from Rocksum High school with a pin. Second round he lost to Jeremiah Larson from Neosho by a pin. Won his third match against David Jacquez from Ft. Osage High School by a decision. Lost his final match to Jake Henson from Lebanon by a pin. Matt Craig for the 220 lbs: Won his first match against Hunter Rhodes from Hillsboro by a pin. Lost his second match to Daylon Kanengieter from Marshfield by a pin. Won his match against Mason Crim from Smithville by a pin. Won his match against Tanner Jackson from Desmet with a pin. Lost his final match to Jayden Hubler from Lebanon by a pin and receiving sixth place.

photo courtesy of @EagleWrestle Twitter

Senior Night Ends in 11th Season Win The class of ‘ 21 had a successful baseball senior night with an 8-3 win against Fort Zumwalt South by Ally Schniepp Sports Editor

The varsity baseball team faced the Fort Zumwalt South Bulldogs on Tuesday, Apr. 27 for the annual Fastballs for First Responders event hosted by the Student Council. In an exciting senior night game, the Eagles defeated the Bulldogs 8-3 after a slow start in the first few innings. The Bulldogs had an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning, but the Eagles turned it around in the fourth, scoring three runs that set off the chain reaction leading to a Liberty win. “That’s not what we wanted to happen, but at the same time, I was confident because Victor is a great pitcher, and I was confident he’d settle down,” Coach Clements said. Senior starting pitcher Victor Quinn is also currently number two in the league for home runs scored so far this season. Although the Eagles started off slow, they eventually got into their groove and started playing as a well-oiled machine. From flawless plays in the field to base hits, Liberty’s talent, and chemistry as a team started showing towards the middle of the game. “I just kept telling myself as long as we can keep them to two runs, we’re gonna be perfectly fine,” Clements said. “And then, sure enough, we had base runners on, we got some big hits, and we were winning 3-2.” In the fifth inning, the Bulldogs scored their third and final run of the night, tying the game. The Eagles weren’t shaken up by the close game. Instead, the Eagles scored three more runs, two runs batted in by sophomore Seth Benes after a one-base overthrow by the Bulldogs. “In the moment, I thought that was a big play,” Clements said. After

Victor Quinn fires a pitch to the plate against Zumwalt South. photo by Monica Reyes

Benes’ base hit, the rest of the game was smooth sailing for the Eagles. Senior Kyle Bermudez sealed the deal with a home run in the bottom of the seventh. The final score was 8-3, earning Liberty their 11th win this season. As of May 5, the team has an 13-8-1 record and are in second place behind 15-5 Zumwalt East. With all the excitement from the game, senior night for the class of ‘21 players was one to remember as they came back and defeated Fort Zumwalt South in the Fastballs for First Responders game. This annual game honors the area’s first responders such as firefighters, police officers, and paramedics. “They always bring a great energy, they lead by example, and I couldn’t ask for better seniors,” Clements said.

Sports | lhstoday.org design by: A. Schniepp

the

SIX

by Irem Inan Reporter

Cultures of Liberty

A look at the distinct cultures of the Liberty hallways

Throughout one’s time at Liberty, a mystifying anomaly occurs—less than pride, more than spirit—at the end of which the hallways have taken on their own defined personalities. The 100 may come to be known as the freshman hallway: it’s where the freshmen lockers are located, and many of the classes are freshman-specific. The 500 is music, theatre, band and for some, just a place to get easy extra credit by going to see the school play or talent show.

photo by Benjamin Creen

It goes hand-in-hand that as one gets to know the hallways, there’s a good chance they’ll also become acquainted with one or more hall monitors, whether as substitutes, coaches, or otherwise. Though many of them occupy specific hallways or areas, Mr. Wheeler can often be found in any, from 100 through 600. Having been at Liberty since its opening, he might know them better than anyone else.

Answer the questions on the next page to get a series of letters. Rearrange the letters to find the answer to the riddle!

RIDDLE: First towards the school, later towards the field, this structure is the symbol of what your four years will yield.

16 design by: I. Salvosa

Interactive | lhstoday.org

“The 400 is like the party zone. They all get along and they’re out there. And also they want the kids to know how to do their tax returns,” Wheeler said.

“The 500 hallway is the quietest, but loudest hallway, ‘cause that’s where all the music comes from. And it’s so far tucked away that there’s not many students down there, but it’s also a very creative part of the school,” Wheeler said.

“The 600 hallway is my favorite hallway, ‘cause it’s the athletic hallway. There’s a lot of hustleand-bustle. There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears that go into that part, but it’s still my favorite,” Wheeler said.

Follow Mr. Wheeler’s guide around each hallway!

“The 100 hallway is filled with very smart, energized math teachers. And they’re always — well, for one, they’re probably the best math teachers in the entire school district. They take it seriously, but they still find a way to have fun. So they’re like, I don’t know who to compare them to — someone that’s fun and smart,” Wheeler said.

RIDDLE CLUES: the

100 the

400

“The 300 is the best-smelling hallway in the school district. Because you walk by LaBrot’s class and it smells good in there. Then you go by Ms. Pizzo’s class, and it always smells good when you go by Ms. Pizzo’s class,” Wheeler said.

Which mathematical constant is approximately equal to 2.71828?

What is the symbol of the chemical element with the atomic number of 5?

photos by Grayce Page

“The 200 hallway is also very smart. They know multiple languages, it’s the most linguistic hallway by far, because it’s the language hallway. They’re still fun, but they’re a little more, not serious, but they’re a little bit higher up because they’re on the second level,” Wheeler said.

the

200 the

500

What town do George and Lennie flee from in Of Mice and Men? W. G. U. P.

Warrenton Weed Soledad Salinas

What is this note on the musical staff?

the

300 the

600

What percentage of the Nile River runs through Egypt? A. O. I. F.

0% 37% 22% 84%

In sports betting, this letter symbolizes the term, “rookie.”

Interactive | lhstoday.org design by: I. Salvosa

photo by Sruthi Ramesh

by Sruthi Ramesh Reporter, Elaine Thimyan Reporter & Elizabeth Hamby Assisstant Editor

Roo

There are tons of aspects that make Liberty our home. But no matter how diverse our student body is, or what our favorite activities are, we can all agree on who the soul of Liberty is. None other than Beau Hill and Dan Wheeler. Hill and Wheeler have been working together for quite some time. Wheeler has been working here since “the third day of Liberty’s existence” while Hill has been here since February 2019. Together they work as Instructional Assistance or IA’s. Students have never needed to recharge as much as they have in this strange year. Wheeler and Hill have been trying their hardest to keep everyone’s spirits alive. “Being stuck at home for months wasn’t a blessing for many people, so when they’re here I wanted all of you to find some reason to smile,” Hill said. “I remind the students that brighter days are ahead and to stay focused on the positive,” Wheeler added.

photo by Pace Properties

Though all a part of the Wentzville family, Liberty, Holt and Timberland, all have had a long-standing rivalry when it comes to excellence. Liberty (the current “new kid”) is always striving to come out on top. Last year, in a historic season, Liberty’s football team brought home wins against both Holt and Timberland’s team. “It was really cool how the Class of 2020 led the program to being the best and earning the title, ‘Kings of the Ville,’ junior fan Ally Schniepp said. When August rolls around, Liberty won’t be the new kid anymore- it’ll be North Point High School, located in Wentzville, Missouri. Solely based on the social media promotions for the new school, it seems that the staff and its principal Dr. Shelmire, aren’t messing around.

It’s all too familiar of an experience when you go to QT, McDonalds, Starbucks, before or after school and see your peers that you’d see at school. Hawk Ridge may not be on the Liberty campus but it definitely contributes to the culture here. And with a new stores popping up every week, the area is still growing. “I think Hawk Ridge affects Liberty culture by giving all of us something to relate to,” freshman Aicha Beye said. For many, Hawk Ridge is a good place of income. Junior Fiona Flynn works at the Walmart. “Students walk around Walmart with friends all the time. It’s pretty much where everyone meets whenever they are bored or hungry,” Flynn said.

18 design by: S. Ramesh

In-Depth | lhstoday.org

photo by Kaela Romine

oots

Our

What makes Liberty... Liberty? What aspects of our school are essential to the culture that we experience everyday?

We know the teachers, we have heard their names; they are one of the many aspects that makes Liberty the school it is. Freshman year is when students latch on to their favorites that most hold on even after college. To most teachers it isn’t all about the grades that students receive, but rather about making sure that their students are in their best mental state, trying to assist them as much as possible. Teachers like Mr. Cole (history) and Mr. Weis (broadcast media and photography), like to think of teaching as providing students with real-life applications. photo submitted by Eddie the Eagle photo by Sam Knickmeyer

Eddie the Eagle is everyone’s favorite mascot— whether it be at football and basketball games, assemblies or just walking around school. He helps the student body get hyped up, and show off their #EaglePride. There’s so much to love about him. “My favorite thing about Eddie is how photogenic they are,” sophomore Madeline Francis said. “They have a way with modeling and it shows.” Recently, he began his internet presence through the creation of an Instagram account of his own, @libertyseddietheeagle. The account has shown him falling down the stairs, reading The Ledger magazine, doing math, attempting to steal from the vending machine, slipping on the freshly cleaned floors, running on the track and much more. His captivating TikToks have also shown that his star quality has no bounds.

A huge part of a teen’s identity, especially while growing up in the world we do, is our fluid and forming political stances. This is the time where most stray away from what their parents might believe, and begin to create their own opinions. Whether it’s devout Trumpism, avid socialism or somewhere else on the spectrum, there are many students that model each. Beliefs aside, there are multitudes of opportunities for students to voice their views (government classes, activism club and social media to name a few), which inevitably leads to tension. “I think if you try to avoid it (tension), it kind of prevents arguments, but there is still underlying tension between people when they know they disagree on things like that,” junior Madelyn Sanderson said.

In-Depth | lhstoday.org design by: S. Ramesh

Our Routes See the seniors’ post-high school plans by Brooke Huffman Co-Editor-in-Chief

Massachusetts:

Emerson College (Boston) Brooke Huffman Lesley University (Cambridge) Gabe McCrary

Mississippi:

Jackson State University (Jackson) Alyssa Coleman

District of Columbia:

George Washington University (DC) Ianne Salvosa

Montana:

University of Montana (Missoula) Ethan Bartek

Florida:

Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers) Jaxin Osinski Florida SouthWestern State College (Fort Myers) Anna Gabriel Chloe Maki University of Florida (Gainesville) Hannah Rossman

Georgia:

Georgia State University (Atlanta) Bailey Armstrong

Illinois:

Aveda Institute (Chicago) Rylee Peanick Concordia University Chicago (River Forest) Eve Shelton Depaul University (Chicago) Emily Goodwin Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago) Kentucky: Peyton Vieluf Murray State University (Murray) Loyola University (Chicago) Sara Gordley Mya Suftko University of Kentucky (Lexington) Northwestern University (Evanston) Kailey Cain Meghan Coyle Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) Cameron Redecker Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville) Nebraska: University of Nebraska (Lincoln) Oregon: Ali Stabile Erin Hughey Oregon State University (Corvallis) Gabrielle Travis Victor Quinn Regan Sullivan University of Chicago (Chicago) North Carolina: Wyatt Haynes North Carolina State University (Raleigh)Pennsylvania: University of Illinois (Chicago) Sophia Whalley Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh) Sarvani Kunapareddy Liam Merino

Indiana:

Purdue University (West Lafayette) Luke Linden

Kansas:

University of Kansas (Lawrence) Adelle Coughran TJ Irlmeier

Seniors | lhstoday.org design by: B. Huffman

Ohio:

Ohio Northern University (Ada) Jackson Ward University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati) Josh Rossman Xavier University (Cincinnati) Chloe Netzel

Oklahoma:

University of Oklahoma (Norman) Jackson Thompson

Utah:

Aveda Institute (Provo) Alyssa Campbell

Other:

Air Force Aidan Ray Army Jacob Benes James Ford

Missouri:

Missouri State University (Springfield) Amelia Lockett Anna Decker Avery Thomas Christian LeMaster Cynthia Jimenez Emma Hollander Grace Flinn Grace Pupillo Jackson Koelling Jessica Flynn Julia Fallert Kaden Jacobi Laina McMakin Lily Heise Liv Coughran

Lindenwood University (St. Charles) Alexis Harris Bailey Crow Blake Robinson Kale Stone Maryville University (St. Louis) Abby Jordan Anthony McCullough Emma Witzke Lena Granberry Sydney Harris Missouri Baptist University (St. Louis) Mya Waldren

Missouri University of S&T (Rolla) Abby Shields Aidan Holtz Andrew Sante Austin Beckerdite Jackson Crangle Oliver Fensterman Patrick Lynch Reece Schmelz Paul Mitchell the School (St. Louis) Mackenzie Nelson Rockhurst University (Kansas City) Molly Morris St. Louis Community College (Forest Park) Ranken Technical College (St. Louis) Aidan Kleewein Kyle Bullock Saint Louis University (St. Louis) Payton Girard Aadi Kadam Southeast Missouri State University (Cape Girardeau) Andy Nguyen Brianna Mills Kelci Crandall Konner Hutchings Kevin Jiang St. Charles Community College (Cottleville) Lizzie Kayser Alex Miget Olivia Guffey Alison Lough Truman State University (Kirksville) Ashlie Twellman Bret Stuerman Avrie Tredway Hannah Hankins Briana Dietrich Isabella Aubuchon Clayton Curry Jonah Tate Collin Bruce Kaitlyn Mueller Daphney Garcia Michelle Yoder Emily Bohn University of Missouri (Columbia) Eric Welker Abby Heinemann Gage Smith Braden Bond Joseph Powers Britney Thai Kelsey Smoot Caroline Myers Kylie Bernet Elliott Weiler Kylie Nickel Emily Brockmann Liam Graham Gage Krogman Mandy O’Hearn Grace Pickering Ruthie Clancy Hannah Behlmann Toni Patterson Jaida Boucher Zachary Pinkham Jordyn Jensen Katie Swanson University of Missouri (Kansas City) Lola Cadice Kiara Jimenez Maria Adams Webster University (Webster Groves) Molly Jorris Sarah Downs Nila Sasi Westminster College (Fulton) Owen Herling Hayley Miller Parker Young Kendall Weber Peyton Wright Williams Woods University (Fulton) Torri Bridges Cole Gonzales Missouri Southern State University (Joplin) Missouri Western State University (St. Joseph) Blake Seaton Kesley Corcoran Missouri Valley College (Marshall) University of Missouri (St. Louis) Brett Cira Alyssa Frey University of Missouri (Kansas City) Kiara Jimenez

Columbia College (Columbia) Sophia Ryan Current Trends Academy of Hair Design (O’Fallon) Robin Allen Drury University (Springfield) Alyssa Place Kelly Karre Fontbonne University (St. Louis) Nick Harris Hannibal-LaGrange University (Hannibal) Cole Allen

Seniors | lhstoday.org design by: B. Huffman

A P

KAITLYN MUELLER Cheerleading

I was interested in Liberty’s team actually way before I started attending. My cheer coach at my old school (Seckman High School) emailed Coach Hill and wrote me an amazing recommendation letter to see if I would be eligible to cheer at Liberty. I loved hearing about their program and the excitement from Coach Hill (before I had even met her!) about me trying out made me realize that I can’t give up cheer just yet. I knew that I was a leader my sophomore year of high school when I attended Seckman and became captain there, becoming a captain at Liberty gave me an outlet to share my diverse ways of leadership considering all of the places I’ve been. I felt that because of my background of experiencing so many different teams, I had something new to bring and share with my teammates. Bailey Crow was and is someone I look up to, her leadership qualities and her compassion for everyone made me realize the kind of leader I wanted to be. My teammates have changed my life. I began attending Liberty at a weird, confusing time in my life and they welcomed me with open arms and helped me become the woman I am today. They taught me so much and I know that I couldn’t have made it through these past two years without them. This group of ladies truly showed me what it means to persevere and be a leader. They taught me so much about trusting the process and never giving up. I’m leaving behind some of the best people I’ve ever met, a lot of them being in the class of 2022 from the cheer team. These girls have supported me so much throughout the cheer season and as my friends, it hurts to know I won’t be able to see them next year but I’m proud of the women they are becoming. I do see parts of myself in them, I hoped to instill never ending compassion for people and unconditional support. I see my underclassmen friends growing into that every single day and it makes me so proud. I see a lot of leadership in the next graduating class and I know they will make me and the Liberty High School community so proud. Cheer has taught me more than I credit it, if I’m being honest. Cheer gave me a family, taught me morals, and showed me how far I can really push myself to achieve whatever I aspire to. In cheer I’ve realized I am so much stronger than I perceive myself, I pushed my limits through cheer and broke down those barriers that held me back. To me, cheerleading means being able to show my personality in a way of performing, I put my heart and soul into my performances and I hope that people will appreciate my energy and love for performing. Cheer is a lot more than shaking pom poms in front of a fan section; it is self expression, it is putting in your blood, sweat, and tears, and it is a team growing into a family. After I graduate, the thing I’ll miss most about cheer is the comradery of the team and the bonds I made. My teammates aren’t just my friends, they became my family and I will miss that the most.

22 design by: I. Inan

Seniors | lhstoday.org

N I S S

For the first time in history, the Summer Olympics are being held on an odd year — one characterized by more than

it b 2 p u

ALYSSA PLACE Track and Field

[I’ve been a part of track] all four years of high school. I did gymnastics all throughout elementary and middle school, and I like being active. I’d heard about some of my old teammates and other gymnasts trying track and doing pretty well, so I decided to try it. Track has taught me to be coachable— the coaches we have at Liberty really know what they’re talking about, and if you listen to what they’re saying and apply it to your workouts, you will grow and become more competitive as an athlete. When I stopped being stubborn and not believing that what they were saying was true, I started getting better at jumping and running. It’s also taught me to be a good teammate— we celebrate each other’s wins together, and if we lose, we’re taught to learn from any mistakes, move on, and know that there’s always the chance to do better next time. I’ll miss a fun environment where the only worry I have to think about is the hard workout we have to do. I’ll miss the bonds you make with those in your group for those especially hard workouts, because when you’re all gasping for air and saying “only two more reps!” together, you really do bond by getting through it and coming out together, knowing you’ll all be stronger than before. I always know I’ll laugh with and be encouraged by my teammates and coaches when I go to track. Yes, we have hard days, but we help each other through it all.

I NG T

its inability to be divided by two. But the Class of 2021 has its own torch to pass on after a more than unique senior year.

photos by Sruthi Ramesh

GABE MCCRARY Basketball

I had been playing basketball almost all my life, so it was second nature for me to try out as a freshman. I feel like I have been a result of what you can get out of our program here. I bought into what they were trying to get out of me and the team and I left the team in a positive direction for the future. Last year, I was pretty much one of the only upperclassmen and had to push myself, but the year before that, Jayce [Catchings] really inspired me to take this more seriously and lead the team. [My teammates] have pushed me to be a better leader and player. We have been through a lot and in the end we improved so much because of our trust in each other. The other captain from this year, Jaden Betton, and I have a very good relationship, and him being a four-year veteran, he knows what to expect as a team captain. We constantly push to make each other better, being the best two players on the team. We always did drills together, worked in the off season together, and led the team in a higher direction. [Also], my dad always pushed me to be better and gave me goals during the season to try and get. He knew I could be a better me every game. I hope my legacy is me being the product of hard work and trusting the amazing coaching staff we have here. Coming in as a scrawny freshman and building my way up to now a 1st Team All-Conference senior who has changed in every aspect of my game and is going to college for basketball says a lot. [I built my legacy through] tireless working. Outside of Liberty is where it made the most difference. The off-season is the most important part about getting better as an individual. During the season we work to be better as a team and there is minimum room to be that much better of a player when you could’ve taken care of that during the season. There are two guards I see myself in, them being Ashton Long and Connor Harris. They were just like me as [a sophomore], swinging a little bit throughout the season, I think they have all the potential to be great. I believe they can be district champs and conference champions. The class of ‘22 has a chance at history. I plan on seeing a couple games if my college schedule allows it. Basketball is me. Anyone who knows me, sees me, knows I am a hooper. It has been a part of my life for so long and I truly love the game. Without basketball there really is no me. Basketball has given me priceless life lessons, a new work ethic, skills I can use later in life, and has made me a better leader. [I’ll miss] the camaraderie I had with my teammates. We had a special bond and that is gonna be hard to leave, [but] I am excited for my next chapter and growing and taking everything I learned to the next level.

Two years ago, there were only about four or five consistent jumpers, and one of them was Zainub Ahmed. She did long and triple jump, and was on varsity for both, until I earned the second triple jump spot. She always worked super hard, and something that really stuck out to me was her willingness to still help me out and cheer for me, even though I “took” her varsity spot as a sophomore when she was a senior. Now that I’m a senior and we have some great freshmen and sophomores coming in, I hope I can show the same humble and helpful attitude towards them. I’m inspired to work harder because I see my teammates push through hard workouts or pain, and it makes me want to push through it too. I hope that I’m remembered as an encouraging, helpful teammate who truly cared about the others on the team. Because I do, I want all of them to grow and succeed, whether in track, school, or after school. I try to learn all their names so that I can cheer for everyone personally, even if they don’t know mine. I also love coaching and helping others out, so being a senior has really allowed me to step up and help from that side of things. We have a great jump coach, Coach Redman, but I think it’s also good to hear tips from a teammate too. I’ll miss our younger jumpers, but I know they’ll grow up and do a great job of leading the team themselves one day.

Seniors | lhstoday.org design by: I. Inan

Shaina Feinstein

TJ Irlmeier

I was interested in choir because I had taken it in middle school— although I put choir as an alternate course when I first signed up for classes, so really I was only in choir by chance. I was in choir from my freshman year through the end of my senior year. I was in Treble Select Choir for 3 years and Chamber Choir for 2 years. My freshman year, there were some very strong upperclassmen singers in Treble Select, and they made me want to get better and be as knowledgeable as they were. When I was in Chamber my junior year, there were only a handful of upperclassmen, but Emily Gann was in the same voice part as me and I really looked up to her. She was a very skilled reader and had such a strong voice, I really wanted to work to be as good as she was. I definitely feel close to a lot of my fellow Chamber choir members, but part of that is because three of my best friends were in Chamber with me. However, I grew closer with many of the other members through choir and through participation in theatre, as many of us have been in shows together. Everybody is so talented and it inspires me to be my best and help out when needed. Choir has helped me grow so much, from being in a supportive atmosphere to learning not to be afraid of making mistakes. [It’s] pretty much a “no judgement” zone, so we can make mistakes which we learn from to better ourselves and the music that we are performing. I have an interesting experience with having a younger sibling in choir. [My sister] Morgan is so different from me and we have different skill sets. We are different voice parts and she was able to pick up harmonies well before I was. Because our experiences and skill sets are different, I think her legacy will be different as well. She will pass on her own legacy. I’m not worried at all [about what choir will look like in the future], but I’m very interested to see how the program continues to grow and change when I’m gone. Each group of students brings something new to the program and I’m so curious as to what it is each year. I hope that my legacy is to be curious and push yourself to grow. I looked up to the upperclassmen in choir my freshman year and I wanted to get to the point where I was able to sing and understand music the way they did. I hope that what I learned and what I did encourages others to do the same, rather than discouraging them, thinking they could never achieve what I had. Everybody can grow.

I’ve been in DECA for two years. I first really got interested in DECA when I realized I wanted to pursue business in college and I thought it would be a great way to introduce myself to the business world. I’m also involved in Student Council, NHS, and have played football, basketball, track and golf. I competed last year and placed second in the Hospitality and Tourism event at Districts. This year I competed in the Community Awareness event and placed first at Districts and placed fourth at State. Carter Kussman was a great inspiration for me last year and was great at introducing me to DECA. I hope that I set a good example for the current DECA members that working hard at events will result in a good placing at competitions. I also hope I left behind a good example of how to be a good leader and give other students the help they need. I always try to do the right thing even when people aren’t watching. Whenever I set out to do something, I know that I’m going to get it done and do it well. I hope other students take up that mindset as well. There are so many talented and intelligent underclassmen in DECA. We had a lot of freshmen and sophomores win events and I’m really excited to see what other accomplishments they make in the future. I think that the underclassmen will really take Liberty’s DECA to the next level, as long as they do a good job getting more students to join DECA, the program will be more than just fine. I’ll definitely miss the two DECA advisors Ms. Muench and Mrs. Taylor, they truly have been great mentors for me and taught me more about the business world than I ever thought I’d know. They’ve become friends more than teachers [to] me over the past two years and I’m grateful that they spent so much time teaching me what they know. DECA was the biggest transformation for me, going from the shy kid who never wanted to speak out loud, to the kid who always wants his voice to be heard and is excited to share what information I have with my peers. DECA has really helped me become more outgoing and get used to uncomfortable situations. It’s taught me how to be polite and formal in a business setting, which will be really helpful in the business world, [and] in college I’ll most likely be double majoring in Marketing and Sales at the University of Kansas’ School of Business.

Seniors 2021

Choir 24

Seniors| lhstoday.org design by: S. Bruce

DECA photos by Sruthi Ramesh

‘You’re Just Gonna Get In Because You’re Ethnic’ Students of color share their experiences with the college application process by Ianne Salvosa Co-Editor-in-Chief For students of color, education is highly prioritized and defended by their family values. Especially for first generation students, there is an added emphasis for a college degree, as it may not be as accessible in other countries as it is in the United States. Senior Liam Merino feels his family background has impacted his view on schooling. “It’s definitely like it’s just a like immigrant mentality, that you need an education,” Merino said. Merino’s parents hail from Colombia and Mexico, and while he has found it impacting his upbringing, this past year he has noticed it taking effect on his college application process. Merino’s preparation included engaging in rigorous AP courses that tailored to his major of interest: computer science. He joined organizations such as the Technology Student Association (TSA) and kept his goal of postsecondary education in mind. However, despite his efforts, he was met with backlash, accusing him of an easy path to college due to his race. “You’re assumed you’re gonna go somewhere good just because of who you are, not what you’ve done,” Merino said. photo by Irem Inan

and subcontractors, Julius utilizes census data to ensure companies aren’t “underutilized,” or not using women or minorities as much as they could. She notes that universities follow different regulations, but are under the same concepts. Despite these benefits, the misconception still persists, pushing students of color to feel as if they have to prove themselves.“I knew I had to just do good,” Merino said. “Because if I was just subpar in my classes and I got into college, people were going to be like, ‘Oh, it’s ethnic background.’” According to Julius, this misconception has no merit—and no benefits. If a university accepts an under-qualified student, they are going to have trouble succeeding. This myth breeds further effects on people of color, adding onto the stress they face from receiving these accusations. “They are always going to carry this somewhat of a burden of people looking at them as not as qualified because of their gender or their race,” Julius said. “Which leads you to another perception that minorities have to work twice as hard to get as far as somebody.” Luckily, Merino has been able to work past this burden, and apply it to his process.

“Because if I was just subpar in my classes and I got into college, people were going to be like, ‘Oh, it’s ethnic background.’”

-Liam Merino Some students of color are confronted with the accusation that it is easier for them to get into college.

Other students have attributed his success to his ethnicity, pointing a finger at affirmative action policies in college admissions. These policies are often misconceived as a way to put under-qualified persons in jobs or college. However, affirmative action consultant and owner of EEO Consulting in St. Louis Judy Julius dispels this misconstrued look at the policies. “My definition of affirmative action is to remedy disparities in the workplace, simple as that,” Julius said. With more than 40 years of experience in writing affirmative action programs for federal contractors

“You have to take that as fuel to do better,” Merino said. As the 2021 college admissions cycle wraps up, stigma surrounding students of color still stands. In U.S. history, cases like Fisher v. University of Texas in which a UT-Austin applicant claims she was rejected due to the college’s acceptance of minority students, racial discrimination has been evident. However, Julius has faith in the class of 2021. “I think that your generation is doing a much better job of not caring about a person’s race, not caring about a person’s gender, not caring if people are transgender, not caring about their sexual orientation,” Julius said. “Having worked in this field for 40 years, I am beyond disappointed on how far we haven’t come.”

“They are always going to carry this somewhat of a burden of people looking at them as not as qualified because of their gender or their race.” -Judy Julius, affirmative action consultant and owner of EEO Consulting in St. Louis

Feature| lhstoday.org design by: S. Bruce

Class of

‘21

To our seniors on the The Ledger staff, Saying goodbye to you all feels like a bittersweet moment. This year has been full of laughter, stories, shared joy and shared frustrations. We have had a lot of hurdles to overcome together. We feel really lucky that we can honestly say we all get along seamlessly, because the driving force of our friendship is a love for journalism. We will miss all of your ideas and recommendations for stories. We will miss your ‘inspirational’ drawings on Mr. Hall’s whiteboard. We will miss your laughter and we will miss your stories (that contain punchlines that really only this class could appreciate). Most of all, we will miss your presence. It’s hard to come up with the words to fully explain how much you all mean to us, and for the first time ever, this magazine staff has found itself at loss for words — the right words, at least. So bear with us while we try our hardest to find the right ones. Our seniors’ persistence and drive is the envy of all the staff members. They have a unique ability to lead and push the class out of our comfort zone while also pushing their own limits as writers. We all know how hard they work, but they do it all with a sense of gracefulness that makes it all look effortless. Our seniors made a fast paced — and at times stressful — class a fun and humorous environment. All of them add such a unique sense of humor to the room with their quick wit and quippy stories. As a staff, we all agree that our class accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without the lot of you. We are forever grateful to have shared a wonderful and hectic year with our seniors and we wish them the best of luck when they go off to college. We will miss you all dearly.

— The Ledger Staff (2020-2021)

Seniors| lhstoday.org design by: M. Banstetter

Liberty Ledger - Issue 3 - May 13, 2021

Articles inside

SPORTS