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Manhattan High School, Manhattan, Kan. Nov. 13, 2012
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the MENTOR
Nov. 13, 2012
Boys Basketball
Small size, big spirit This year the Manhattan High Boys Basketball team may be short on height, but not desire. “Everyone’s out there for the common goal, which is to be successful. The biggest thing is they realize they need to have a sense of urgency and work to make their year successful,” head coach Tim Brooks said. Last year’s senior group accounted for most of the team’s height, leaving this year’s team very small, but Brooks is not worried. “We miss some athletic ability and some height from a few guys, but I think this senior group is going to bring a lot more fight,” Brooks said. They have worked hard and tweaked their strategy to turn this weakness into an advantage by building speed to outrun the larger players. While most people were enjoying a lazy summer, the basketball team was working hard doing
open gyms and skill work, and the team played in several summer tournaments. “With the summer we had I think everyone’s on the same page,” Brooks said. The team has also done winter conditioning to build players’ speed, which is going to be a crucial part of the team’s new strategy this year. Offensively they will spread out, then use their speed to get shots with a combination of passing and dribbling attacks. “If we spread the floor we can use our quickness to get around people and into the lane for layups,” Brooks said. However, the team’s obvious weakness remains their height, which will make it hard to get rebounds on both ends of the court. The Indians have practiced boxing out for rebounds to counter other players height. While they may struggle under the basket, the team may be one of the best three-point shooting teams
Last years team poses for its team photo. Last year’s team went 9-12 and lost in the Substate tournament to end their season. They are returning 14 of the 21 varsity players from this photo and hope to improve their record this year. Photo by J&C Imaging in the league. This is will there are a lot of guys that well as other goals. how the team will approach add to offensive variety have spent a lot of time on “We want to win out this season. to keep opponents off bal- shooting,” Brooks said. at the McPherson tour“We’re real small so we ance. Last year MHS was 9-12 nament, and we want to need to play extra hard,” “We had a disappoint- and lost in the Substate sweep Junction City like Henry said. ing last season from be- tournament. This year we do every year,” senior Basketball tryouts for hind the arc. This year their goals include winning Jacob Holloway said. varsity and J.V. begin this League and winning SubAll in all senior Garret week. state to advance to State as Henry summarized best
Scenarios
Nick Bandy sports editor
Best Case -- The Indians’ speed proves too much for most teams and their rebounding ability is underestimated. They spread the floor and use their speedy drives and outside shooting to win League and advance to State.
Senior Blake Saville dribbles past MHS graduate Aaron Pulliam last year at a scrimmage. Photo by 2011-12 MHS Media staff
Worst Case -- Other teams’ larger players prove too much for MHS as they reject any shots in the paint and the Indians’ outside shooting proves weak and inconsistent. They lose early in Substate and finish with a loosing record.
the MENTOR
Girls Basketball
Nov. 13, 2012
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Young and old talent This year the Manhattan High Girls Basketball team has high expectations for the upcoming season. “I think we have a lot of potential this season,” head coach Scott Mall said. “We have some girls that have played a lot over the last year and the talent and experience that they have should serve as a step-up in game for the entire team.” This season the Lady Indians will rely on the experience of some of their veteran players to keep them improving and moving in the right direction. With five returning players on a relatively young team, teamwork and communication in-game will go a long way to the success of this talented team.
“We have a pretty young team, but we also have great team chemistry. We get along really well, and I think it will definitely help us in the long run,” Elayna Spilker, one of the leaders and senior returning players for the Lady Indians, said. Along with good teamwork, preparation will be a determining factor to their success. Like the rest of the MHS athletes, the girls basketball team has been working hard during the summer. “I think we all have been doing our best to stay in shape during the summer,” Spilker said. Another one of the returning seniors for the girls team, Kristen Thompson, has done more than just a little training. “I played in a summer
basketball league to keep me in shape,” Thompson says. “I also worked hard
Scenarios
Tre Fuentes Staff Writer
Best Case -- The young team immediately connects and works well together with themselves and the older players. The summer work pays off and the team wins League and goes to the State tournament.
on my passing, dribbling and my shot. I think the more practice I get, the better I’ll play.” The Manhattan High Girls Basketball team is ready to take the court, and high expectations cer-
tainly abound. “I expect for us to improve daily throughout the season and challenge for a League title again as well as State tournament,” Mall said. While this is certainly
an achievable goal, it is going to take work. With their first game being Nov. 30, the Lady Indians are already at work this season.
Worst Case -- The young players struggle, which causes the veterans to try to carry the team on their shoulders and ignore the younger players. The team does not win League and fails to go to State.
Above: Head coach Scott Mall talks to his team during a timeout at a game last season. Below: Senior Elayna Spilker looks for a pass against Shawnee Heights last season. Spilker is one of the more experienced returners. Photos by 2011-12 MHS Media staff
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Nov. 13, 2012
Wrestling
Sights set on another title
John Rockey Staff Writer A tough sport like wrestling must be meet with an individual drive and a mutual team motivation that unites the individuals and invokes a desire to win as a team. Manhattan High’s wrestling team has the motivation of last year’s win at the State Championship to push them harder than most to repeat their success and go even further as team all together. “We’re hoping to grow as a team and to become better as a whole,” senior wrestler Jase Stone said. The wrestlers now are preparing for the upcoming matches for both J.V. and Varsity on Dec. 1. All the time between now and the first meet will be spent conditioning as a team and learning and practicing on the various techniques.
From the first tournaments in December, there will be days spent improving based on what they learned from their first matches. The following weekends will have tournaments and matches that go on ‘til the end of the season and then right up to the State championship. Summer months and the fall sports season was spent by many wrestlers either conditioning for the season, or going out for other fall sports. All the while, each individual has been pushing themselves to win in different ways. “All good wrestlers will have different motivations to push themselves,” wrestling coach Robert Gonzales said. “It’s important that they’re taking time to become the best that they can be,” wrestling coach Chad Lindsley said.
Best Case -- There should be a great season still for the Wrestling team regardless of who they graduated last season. There is a plethora of great wrestlers who always want to compete and win. Not only do the coaches motivate the athletes, there is the winning of last year’s State Championship that also pushes everyone to live up to the precedent set by previous years in the program.
Scenarios
Above: Junior Mike Leper prepares to battle an opponent at a home meet last season. MHS went on to win a State title and the wrestlers will attempt to do the same this year. Below: Head coach Robert Gonzales watches a match with his team at a home meet last season. Photos by 2011-12 MHS Media staff
Worst Case -- In the event they should experience a less-than-stellar season, it may be from teams that prove more athletic and more quick in how they wrestle. The wrestlers will not get easily discouraged, but it will get tough to be going up against teams that want to win as much as they do.
Boys Swimming and Diving
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Nov. 13, 2012
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Returning Success Where there’s a will, there’s a wave. The Manhattan High swim team is ready to launch what looks to be a very successful season. Not only are many productive swimmers returning as seniors this year, but the team is expected to be larger as well. Members know that they have an opportunity for a great season, and they are excited about that possibility. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. We’ve got a bunch of great kids based on the meeting we’ve had this year,” MHS head coach Jerry Carpenter said. “I’ve heard word that some seniors are going to come out that have never swam with us before.” Even though team members are excited about the potential of new recruits, they know they need to be leaders. If they expect to have a great season, the more experienced swimmers will have to be positive role models. Fortunately MHS has several quality swimmers returning for their senior season,
including Jordan DeLoach, Zane Hayden and Brett Bandy. Logan Sutton, who sat out the last two seasons due to injuries, will also return. Everyone will be asked to contribute for the Indians this year. “I always tell them, come focused and ready to come to practice,” Carpenter said. “Put in your best effort day in and day out. We can’t ask any more than that.” Brett Bandy, entering his third year swimming for the Indians, has been elected a team captain. He points to his dedication, experience and willingness to swim year ‘round as reasons for his success. This offseason, he has been swimming with the Manhattan Marlins in hopes of making progress toward his goal of qualifying for state once again. “During the summer we did a lot of technique stuff,” Bandy said “We are training hard now.” There are some meets that MHS has definitely circled on their calendar. To start off the season, the team will travel to Topeka where they will get their first taste of league compe-
tition. Later in the season, they expect to confront the state’s toughest competition in Olathe. Throughout the season, the Indians will keep an eye on Washburn Rural, a league rival. “Our biggest competition is always Washburn Rural,” pointed out Carpenter. “They are bringing back a lot of guys.” With the season getting closer, emotions are building up. The team not only expects to have a productive season, but they hope to have fun as well. While upperclassmen like Bandy prepare to finalize their legacy during their last season, underclassmen, like his younger brother Matt, will be learning from them. Team members will have different goals coming into the season, but if they have one thing in common, it’s that they are excited to contribute. For most of them, the season cannot come too soon. “It’s very exciting,” said freshman Matt Bandy. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Above: Senior Jordan DeLoach swims in the backstroke race at a home meet last year. DeLoach is one of the four returning leaders from last year’s State team. Below: MHS graduate Ryan Cady performs in front of the judges at a home meet. Cady and junior Evan Olsen competed at State for the diving part of the team. Photos by 2011-12 MHS Media staff Best Case -- The returning seniors have a big impact on the team, and some of the new members are major contributors. The Indians upset their rivals Washburn Rural, are consistently competitive, and make a statement in Olathe.
Scenarios
Alan Brown Staff Writer
Worst Case -- The returning seniors fail to live up to the preseason hype and are overwhelmed by the stress. The new members are fewer than expected and bring little value to the team. The Indians cannot keep up with league rivals and are blown away in Olathe.
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Boys and Girls Bowling
Scenarios
Bowling towards State Best case -- Unexpectedly talented freshmen and new bowlers give the team a big lift to replace last years seniors. The team makes it to State, where they will focus primarily on skill development. Worst case -- No one steps up to fill the shoes of last year’s seniors. The team does not make it to state nor win League, with the team failing to improve as the season progresses.
Above: An MHS bowler from last year’s team lines up her shot. The team practiced at the KSU Union and competed in meets around the State as well as local meets at the Little Apple lanes. Below: Junior Bradon Nowlin attempts to pick up a spare at a meet last season. Tryouts this year will be Dec. 10. Photos by 2011-12 MHS Media staff
Tristan Knott Staff Writer With fall sports over and winter sports about ready to be kicked off, many students are looking for what sports to play during the winter to keep busy. Some may join swimming, others might enjoy basketball, but for some girls and boys, the bowling team is the answer. Different from the intensely competitive sports teams at Manhattan High School, the bowling team allows participants to make friends while having a fun time, and with bowling operating as any other sport, they compete in school-onschool meets where they eventually aim for League and State titles. With tryouts starting Dec 10 and lasting an entire week, 12 boys and 12
girls will be selected to be part of the team. They will then begin holding practices, where they will focus on skill development and turning around bowls to spares. Last year, the bowling team had two individuals go to State, both seniors who graduated. “We lost many fouryear seniors last year, and a lot of experience,” coach Chris George said. The team will have big shoes to fill for the season. For this year’s season goals, the team will aim to win League and make it to State as a whole team. Several returning players have individual goals, as well. “I’m really aiming for a 200 average,” said sophomore Megan Dooley, who was on the team last year as a freshman.
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Intramural Basketball
Nov. 13, 2012
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Intramural Changes Disliked Nick Bandy Sports Editor
For some students, getting a brand new south gym could be a curse rather than a blessing as it has changed the Intramural Basketball rules. The new court still has the four baskets on the sides of the court, but the only court that is painted is the main court. Last year’s south gym had the main court and the sideways courts painted. The Intramural games have been forced to adjust to half court play this year due to the sideways courts not being painted. “I’m disappointed with the changes they made. I think they could have been
As well as limiting teams, playing half court presents a challenge to many players. “The kids who are better at basketball won’t have as much as an effect because it will benefit the bigger kids,” Melgares said. Playing half court will mean larger and taller players will have an advantage. They will no longer have to run up and down the court to keep up with smaller and faster players, they are now free to stay under the basket, making it very difficult for smaller players to drive under the basket for layups. This makes outside shooting irrelevant when it has the same value as an easy layup shot, but
New Rules #1- Maximum of five players per team #2- Games will be three-on-three instead of four-on-four #3- Games will be halfcourt more creative with their solution,” junior Chris Melgares said. Melgares, who has played intramurals for the past two years, is not the only one upset over the changes, which also include a new team limit of five players and the games will be three-on-three instead of four-on-four. The changes were made recently, after many teams had already signed up. “My team is annoyed because we had to get rid of several members of our team,” freshman Sam Morgan said.
the bigger players will be crowded under the basket to reject these layups. It will potentially create a crowded mess under the basket as everyone fights for rebounds and layups. Expect a much more physical and dangerous intramural league this year. One of the positives to this year’s games will be an earlier finish every night. Instead of having games run late there can be twice as many games being played by having two games going on each court. There have been suggestions of ways to counter the
Above: Two boys teams battle under the basket for a shot under the basket last season. Expect a lot more in-the-paint play this year with the new halfcourt rules. Below: Junior Emily Cady tries to get a pass off during a game last season. Photos by 2011-12 MHS Media staff new rules, such as forming a committee or finding a way to make full courts. “They could use string or tape to make the out of bounds lines, which is basically what they’re missing,” Melgares said. Participation is not down this year, but that may be due to the fact that many forms were submitted before the changes, and intramurals were, and probably always be, a very popular sport at MHS because anyone can play. For many the point is just to have fun, and the rules will not affect anyone’s ability to do that. But for the more competitive players, the changes may be negative. “Many people are going to be annoyed, but they’re still going to play,” Morgan said.
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Nov. 13, 2012
the MENTOR
MHS Booster Club
Booster Club
Blue Diamond-$500 and over
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The Mentor staff
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL SPONSORS 2012-13
editor in chief/ opinions -Ben Shields news editor -Sarah Shi entertainment editor -Naomi McClendon sports editor -Nick Bandy features editor -Liz Logback trending co-editors Connor Bliss Maddie Ross photo editor -Kaitlin Wichmann copy editor -Kayla Dieker multimedia editor - Dheepthi Perumal business manager - Jerry Sextro adviser -Kristy Nyp
writers/photographers: Tre Fuentes Julianne Harkness Tristan Knott Julith Perry Nastajja Rivera John Rockey Seth Runyan Derrek Williams contributing writers - Alan Brown circulation - Kristyn Baker Leonard Castilow David Clinkinbeard Patrick Falcone Corey Garrison Sam LeFleur Kasey Morris Mallory Morris Kendall Oatney Emma Rowley Austin Tatum Seth Wagner
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