800 News: The Wildcat Roar - April 2022

MARCH 2022

A NEW AGE OF FAME PG. 9

Pg. 6-7

Westminster Christian Academy

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STAFF

MANAGING EDITOR IN CHIEF MAGGIE LINDSTROM, SENIOR

Students

EDITOR: 800 SPORTING BROOKE HIGHMARK, SENIOR

CONTENT EDITOR EMMA HARRIS, SENIOR

Serving

BROADCAST LEADER IZZY TROST, SENIOR

BROADCAST LEADER ABBY JOHLERT, SENIOR

Students

BROADCAST LEADER TRISTON SCALES, SENIOR

BROADCAST LEADER ANNA FREGENE, SENIOR

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STAFF

FEATURE EDITOR

PAWPRINT LIAISON

ELLIE JONES, SENIOR

HOPE LINAM, SENIOR

Staff Writer

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RILEY HEIRONIMUS, SENIOR

STAFF WRITER

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ALEX WITTENAUER, SENIOR

STAFF WRITER

ANNA GRACE LIKES, JUNIOR

SYDNEY BRADLEY, JUNIOR

ALLI BISHOP, JUNIOR

MIA SCHEULEN, JUNIOR

AMILA PIERIS, SOPHOMORE

DREW CAHILL, SOPHOMORE

EVAN KOHN, SENIOR

JACOB BROWN, SENIOR

ELIJAH SCHMIDT, FRESHMAN

LUCY KNERR, SOPHOMORE

WILL DANA, SOPHOMORE

WILLIAM JINKINS,

LUKE RYAN, JUNIOR

SAYVA PHILIPS , SENIOR

NOLAN JONES, SENIOR

MADDOX ROSENBERG, SOPHOMORE

POPPY MCCAULEY, SOPHOMORE

MEGAN MOREY, SENIOR

LAUREN BORCHELT, SENIOR

CHRISTINA ENGLISH, JUNIOR

STAFF

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TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE

DISNEY AND IT’S CAST PG. 6 SPLIT PERSONALITY 101 PG. 7 A NEW AGE OF FAME PG. 9 DESCRIBING (HALF) THE RAINBOW PG. 11

OPINION CAN BILLS MAKE A BOUNDARY? PG. 10

SPORTING

THE “BAD GUYS” PG. 13 LAYING THE FOUNDATION PG. 14 GIRLS LAX TAKES THEIR FIRST GAME PG. 15 MAKING THEIR MARK PG. 16- 17

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STAFF ED Flowers Sorrow is abundant. I will not pretend that this isn’t true, or that the pain isn’t really all that bad or even a little bit okay.

Because it hurts a lot, and it’s not okay. It’s not okay, and the lyric by Manchester Orchestra keeps popping up in my mind every so often: “A disaster’s still a disaster no matter what Christian language you drag it through.”

I struggle with some traumas from my past, social and generalized anxiety, a chronic illness, and clinical major depressive episodes, and sometimes it feels all too much and more than I can possibly bare. I was quite honestly reaching my wit’s end a couple months ago, and I felt like a complete child, helpless and weak, confused, and filled with anger knowing my situation isn’t fair. It isn’t fair, and I do not want to hope anymore. Hope hurts.

But I just keep thinking back to a memory of mine. I was wandering through the Colorado woods, the watchful birch trees and canary yellow flowers abundant in my vision, and I was astounded by the beauty I saw. But I then noticed all the barbed wire fences dispersed amongst the trees, and I felt angered that the horrid looking constructions of man were taking over such an effortlessly beautiful forest. It was then I noticed something else: flowers rising up beneath a barbed wire fence. A natural reminder to have hope, that everything will heal one day, and that I must persevere. Even if I won’t be okay until the day I reach heaven, I will be okay. I will be

From 800 news

okay, and despite what it sometimes feels, God is here and He is helping me.

This is what I want everyone to do: fight. Fight like heaven. Rage against that breathtaking night, rage against that despair, rage against that hopelessness. Rage against the feelings of worthlessness, against whatever force has challenged you to a war. If you feel alone, you are not alone, so rage, fight, put up a storm, scream your lungs out in protest. The darkness may win some battles– there might be days where you cope in unhealthy ways, there might be some where you skip a shower because you simply don’t have the motivation, there might be days where you just couldn’t find it in you to complete your homework– but you must win the war. Do anything but surrender. Do anything but give in. Walk on. Take comfort in your loved ones and whatever brings you joy, know that God has a plan and He is here for you, no matter how non-existent that plan must seem and how absent He can feel. Remember this: where there is a shadow, there is a light nearby. So rage on, my friend, rage on. Be the flowers rising beneath the barbed wire fence.

STAFF ED

contact us at 800news@wcatsl.org, if you have any problems or concerns.

STAFF ED

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DISNEY AND ITS CAST

What comes with working as a cast member at Disney?

CHRISTINA ENGLISH Staff Writer

Disney has been named one of the happiest places on earth for a good reason. Whenever people go to any of the parks or resorts that Disney offers, they most likely will have a fantastic experience. This could be from how fun the rides are, how delicious the food is, or how spectacular the fireworks show is at the end of the day.

But what is behind all of the magic that goes on at Disney?

No, it’s not the magic from Tinker Bell. And it’s not the nostalgia that comes from Mickey Mouse. What’s really behind all of the magic that happens at Disney are the people who work there; the cast members. According to disney. fandom.com, a cast member is “a Disney employee that works at Disney Parks or at the Disney Store.”

Msn.com also adds that “the Disney cast members represent a special community of people dedicated to bringing happiness and joy to the world. They are trained to create the best possible experience for the guests.

Surprisingly, there are a lot of benefits that come with being a cast member. Parksjobs.disneycareers.com gives a list of a bunch of benefits that come with working at one of the Walt Disney parks specifically. These benefits include, “A weekly pay, health insurance, retirement programs, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness programs, child care support, career development, theme park experiences, exclusive discounts, community involvement, and commuter assistance.”

Msn.com explains another benefit that comes with working at Disney: getting paid. The website says that an average cast member gets paid $28,327 per a year (as of December 2021).

However it elaborates by stating that the highest paid cast members (the ones that play your favorite Disney characters) make about $125,000 a year.

However, there has now been a recent problem that could affect the wonderful cast members in Orlando, Florida. Due to Disney World retaliating against Florida’s new law called the Parental Rights in Education Act, or the “Don’t Say Gay” act, Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis has decided to take matters into his own hands.

The Associated Press at winknews.com says that “DeSantis signed legislation on Friday stripping the theme park of a decades-old special agreement that allowed it to govern itself.”

Now that the Florida governor, and therefore the government, has control over Disney World, the people working as cast Cast members do a lot of things for the parks and for the re- members’ jobs could potentially be at risk. sorts. They are responsible for security (whether it be actual security or managing getting people on and off attractions), But, through this feud, there is still hope for Disney World.

Danielle Wallace from foxbusiness.com explains how Fort tending to the attractions themselves, or dressing up as classic Disney characters for people’s entertainment. There Bend County judge KP George wrote a letter last Thursday to Disney’s CEO Bob Chapek, stating that “we in Fort Bend are are also cast members that are in charge of cooking and baking the delicious food that Disney has to offer, and they more ready to welcome the Disney family with thousands of good-paying jobs and billions of dollars of investments.” are in charge of keeping the parks and resorts the cleanest that they can be.

Where did the term ‘cast member’ come from? Disney. fandom.com says that: “the term comes from Walt Disney himself, when he was using theatrical terms for park operations.”

Cast members are trained to be some of the happiest people on earth to keep the youthfulness and joy alive in the parks and resorts, and there are consequences that can happen if a cast member where to go against their rules: “Any negativity and/or mistreatment of any kind (such as swearing, yelling, punching, slaps in the face, etc.) by cast members to guests is not tolerated, and usually results in termination if repeat offenses take place.”

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FEATURE

How do the “cast members” impact the magic and joy that happens at Disney? Photo by: Christina English

SPLIT PERSONALITY 101

Melissa Ford, a licensed professional therapist, provides her take from her years of experience in the mental health field.

ELLIE JONES Features Editor

Split Personality Disorder, or, in more medical terms, dissociative identity disorder, is by definition the disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality identities within one person.

This condition is a reaction that results from traumatic events in their early life. A patient with this disorder could potentially carry two or more personalities. Each separate personality will have a personal story and different name.

Unfortunately, there is no long term cure, however, the most common type of treatment is talking to a therapist.

Licensed Professional Counselor, Melissa Ford, gives her

viewpoint after years of experience with this condition.

“When talking to a patient with multiple personalities, what strikes me most is the transition when the other personality is about to take over,” says Ford. “This transition could be extremely subtle, or it could appear as if they are dozing off to sleep, then catching themselves to wake up.

When they awake, they are a completely different human being.”

When asked what the most amount of personalities in one person was, 14 was the magic number.

“The general cause is a person who was a sexually or physically abused as a child. Other times, it develops as a response to other types of trauma such as a natural disaster. This disorder provides a way for the patient to dissociate themselves from a damaged childhood, hence the name: dissociative identity disorder,” says Ford.

Ford also explains the early signs that could potentially lead to or signify that a person may have this condition.

These include states of depression, anxiety, disorientation, memory loss, delusion, or suicidal thoughts.

“There is no test that can determine whether one is a carrier or not, however, when the patient’s medical history is carefully examined combined with current symptoms and childhood trauma, an experienced healthcare provider can come to a conclusion. These symptoms most often appear during someone’s childhood. This disorder can often be confused with a child who has ADHD,” said Ford.

Although there is no specific medication that can cure dissociative identity disorder, there are certain types of therapy that can help tremendously.

“Being able to talk with the patient about their past, and working through their abuse is a common coping mechanism. Another would be focusing on changes in their behavior and teaching them how to manage these changes,” says Ford.

The early signs of Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Illustration by: Ellie Jones

FEATURE 7

A NEW AGE OF FAME

ANNA GRACE LIKES Staff Writer

ple of this is the recent 2022 Oscars ceremony, where many TikTok celebrities were invited to boost publicity for the show after low ratings in the previous year. At this Academy Awards show, young viewers were shocked and excited that their favorite TikTok influencers—such as Charli D’Amelio, Addison Rae, Remi Bader, Tinx, and Anna Sitar—were present, giving TikTok glimpses of their designer outfits and the highly-coveted after party by both posting from their own accounts and taking over other social media accounts such as that of Vanity Fair.

Since the early 2000s, social media continues to rise as the world’s most powerful and influential form of persuasive media. This has led to the rise of the “influencer,” defined as “a person who has the power to influence many people, as through social media or traditional media,” (dictionary.com). This definition was not added to the site until 2016, This has caused some controversy because, in the past, the when the rise of YouTube and Instagram influencers caused a Oscars have been a highly exclusive event with only Hollyspike in the number of searches for the word. wood’s brightest stars receiving an invite. Now, with social media influencers easily obtaining invitations to these shows, In the mid-20th century, movie stars and professional athletes it feels to some as though anyone can walk the red carpet if were accused of gaining fame without reason, and even more they get enough followers. And when considering TikTok’s recently, reality TV stars such as the Kardashians received curated algorithm, the way it is programmed makes it excriticism for rising to fame without any apparent talents. But ponentially easier for creators to reach followers who enjoy the rise of these social media influencers leads to an entirely their specific content. TikTok’s algorithm is “a prediction new era of celebrity culture, and especially in the new world driven by machine-learning and actual user behavior [using] of TikTok, the influencer lifestyle is becoming more and more three bits of data: likes, comments and playtime, as well as enticing for impressionable teens. an indication that the video has been played,” (New York Times). With help from the algorithm, anyone can reach users TikTok, as a platform, makes it easier than ever to gain fame. who find their content interesting mere seconds after they In an article by the New York Times, it’s stated that “[TikTok] click “post.” succeeded where other short videos apps failed in part because it makes creation so easy, giving users background music to Even with a mere 5.25% of TikTok’s 1 billion users possessdance to or memes to enact, rather than forcing them to fill ing 100,000 to 500,000 followers (Statista), those stats still dead air” (New York Times). mean that 525 million creators have hundreds of thousands of followers, putting all of them at what can be considered“inUsers of TikTok need not even possess a talent in order to fluencer status.” rise to fame—merely dancing to a trending song can allow an average teen to gain thousands of likes and followers. A study When well over 500 million people have received their 15 done by Vox asserts that TikTok [turns] average teenagers into seconds of fame, one might ask what that is doing to sociinternational stars in a matter of weeks, sometimes days.” ety’s perception of a celebrity. If average people can gain a following for simply creating a quick video and letting the And now, companies and even awards shows are catching on app’s algorithm take it from there, that leads many to ask if it to how lucrative it is to recruit these influencers, who have a even means anything to be “famous” anymore. following consisting mostly of teens. Their followers are then compelled to use a product or watch a show after seeing their While there are some social media influencers that have favorite TikTok star participating. A recent, prevalent exambecome something closer to household names, such as YouTube-born influencers like Emma Chamberlain (who was also present at this year’s Academy Awards), Mr. Beast, and PewDiePie, the world of TikTok opens up a whole new arena of stardom. TikTok presents the opportunity to mindlessly scroll through a never-ending stream of videos, leaving ample opportunity for as many people as possible to gain thousands of views in a matter of minutes. The average person now has an equal opportunity with someone who possesses immense talent to become an “influencer.” Anyone who is pretty, funny, charismatic, or even weird can capitalize on fame by riding the wave of the TikTok algorithm.

The never-ending algorithm lets users constantly find new rising stars. Image by: Anna Grace Likes.

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OPINION

CAN BILLS MAKE A BOUNDARY?

How economic class divide harms those within the education system

LUCY KNERR Staff Writer

Those enrolled in private school such as Westminster may not fully experience the effects of socioeconomic class divide outside of spring break location or perhaps a difference in car brand. However, for those completing their education within the confines of the public school system, this divide is substantially more noticeable. In a study conducted by the American Psychological Association, documentation showed that “children from low-SES (socioeconomic status) households and communities develop academic skills slower than children from higher SES groups (Morgan, Farkas, Hillemeier, & Maczuga, 2009)”(APA.org).

This is due to multiple reasons. However, the American Psychological Association cited two major factors that heavily affected student achievement in low SES locations: “For instance, low SES in childhood is related to poor cognitive development, language, memory, socioemotional processing, and consequently poor income and health in adulthood. The school systems in low-SES communities are often [under-resourced], negatively affecting students’ academic progress and outcomes (Aikens & Barbarin, 2008). Inadequate education and increased dropout rates affect children’s academic achievement, perpetuating the low-SES status of the community”(APA.org).

Due to the many detrimental effects of living within low income communities, the opportunities that students were granted were noticed to be marginally greater in those of higher SES families. This affects not only the individual student, but the entire community as a whole. The success of each student in accordance with the SES presented in their school district showed to have an affect on the community depending on what each student achieved. Unfortunately, these opportunities and achievements are ever present within higher SES communities, leading them to greater growth and subsequent wealth while those in low SES communities and school districts struggle with funding to grant their students the same opportunities and advantages mentally and educationally. With the Covid-19 pandemic at its most prevalent in the 2020 school year, this divide transformed from a “minor issue” that was not necessarily an intrusive problem in everyday education to the deciding factor for those that passed or failed during the virtual schooling necessary to complete the 2020 school year held in quarantine. A study conducted by the University of the Philippines revealed that “Historically, new technologies have always benefited those with financial capital, and those who do not will always be left behind.

OPINION

The education system and the divide within the economic system. Photo by:Lucy Knerr

Unfortunately, accessibility is highly related to SES, and this is where the digital divide begins. Children who come from low-SES households develop academic skills slower than those who are from higher SES families (Morgan, Farkas, Hillemeier, & Maczuga, 2009); primarily because poor households have less access to learning materials which promote a positive literacy environment” learning studies - ERIC US. Those that were economically unable to access electronic resources to learn were shown to fall behind those who were. As a result, those who did not have access to said technology continued to fall behind, even today as in person schooling has been fully reintroduced into society. This was reinforced by those at the University of the Philippines again, saying: “The problem lies in the larger social problem of digital inequality – only the privileged can continue their education without being compromised (Aldama, 2020). As an example, there is a term coined “homework gap” in the United States which describes the barriers students face in their education when there is no access to a high-speed connection at their homes (Kelly, 2020). This has been a constant problem their country is trying to solve for many years even before COVID-19 and will be more prevalent during the pandemic” learning studies - ERIC US While this dividend continues to grow and thousands of students fall behind, there must be a collective awareness as to what is occurring within lower SES communities as well as the opposite end of the spectrum. Obliviousness to one side’s interpretation of the issue will result in no progress whatsoever. However, understanding the issue at hand is only the beginning. Those in higher socioeconomic standings must be willing to acknowledge the privilege that they have in the education system and that it may be effectively taken away from them depending on what kind of change is brought about. This is much of the reason why class divide is still so present today. Thus, if change is ever to be brought about, especially within the education system and socioeconomic status, there must be an encouragement of one another and a desire to support each other on equal standing, no matter what that may mean for the individual. This change should be the most prevalent in christian schools such as westminster. As such, we must continue to build eachother up, no mater the circumstance.

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DESCRIBING (HALF) THE RAINBOW EMMA HARRIS Content Editor

Colors are a part of our every day lives and have an afffect on us, whether we notice it or not. Many people have wondered how would you describe them, though? Hopefully this article will spark your curiosity and creativity, because today I will be embarking on the task many people have wondered about: how do you describe colors?

Bright red is feisty, unpredictable, and fierce. It is most definitely the classic spirited woman from Shakespeare plays- much like Katherine from his play ‘Taming of the Shrew’, except most definitely before she was quote un quote ‘tamed’. It has an untamable spirit, and it is the taste of green apples.

Brick red is the mary jane of reds- it’s overlooked, doesn’t catch your eyes, and overall underwhelming.

It’s the vibrant red or deep red forgotten and worn down over time, dull and covered in dust. And though it’s plain, it isn’t offensive to anyone, the one kid in middle school that no one made fun of but everybody forgot a lot. It goes well with dark green.

Average orange is the sound of a helicopter. It’s either sweet or sour, but always a little tart.

Burnt orange, maybe described as a brown-orange, a subdued orange, or a rusty orange, is friendly yet a lone wolf. It is the color adorned by most foxes, and it has a component to it that reminds you of fairy tales being read right by a lit fireplace. It is cozy, though maybe not completely dependable. Its mood shifts often, and no one can change that. But no one really wants to.

Bright orange is that one idiot that doesn’t know when to shut up, insulting someone every few minutes- whether it was purposeful or not depends on his mood. This color is abrasive and loud. It’s simply just obnoxious. It can read no social cues whatsoever, no matter how hard people try to teach him or warn him. However, there are some special colors, like teal, that it seems to become a different person around, complimenting them quite well.

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Describing Colors. Illustration by: Emma Harris

Pastel orange is bright orange’s little sister, and unlike pastel orange’s older brother, they are quiet and kind.

Soft orange is often overlooked, but it has a powerful sort of wisdom to it. She’s super funny and those who get to know her love her to death, but she only opens up to a few. She’s good at making it seem like she’s telling you everything about herself when in reality she has barely told you anything at all. She’s soft like cream and has an inner tang, like a sweet candy with just a little punch of sour in the middle. If it could be held in your hands, it would be easily pliable and soft, leaving your hands stained as you smushed it.

Average yellow is many things to many people. To some it is a little tiresome, although well meaning, and to others it is their bestest of friends. It is dandelions and the smell of wildflowers. It sometimes doesn’t know when to stop, but it’s a good person all in all.

Burnt yellow is the texture of velvet, and it is a large velvet couch in a black library with astute books. It’s reading a book by a crisp, popping fire. It’s porcelain cups of tea.

Neon yellow is... well, I don’t quite know how to describe neon yellow. Perhaps I should leave it at that.

Pale yellow is softeness personified. She’s gentle and a lover of plants, possesing a great green thumb. Pale yellow is an old soul, filled to the brim with poetry about the sun and paintings of sun storms. She’s the beams of light leaking through the clouds in beautiful rays

OPINION

Westminster Christian Academy

SPORTING

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THE “BAD GUYS” It has become far too common to define a person’s character by their job description.

NOLAN JONES Staff Writer

Certain jobs, positions, or roles have the ability to change the view of a person in the public eye.

There are jobs in this world that I would call the “bad guy” role. These people have to be the guy (or girl) that nobody likes. To the majority, these people are jerks— the “no fun” people who shoot ideas down, bear bad news, or simply always say no.

The “bad guys” can be anyone who has to give bad news or enforce rules. The bad guy could be a teacher, a boss, a police officer and more. Photo by: Nolan Jones

“Well, my friends and I weren’t even doing anything wrong, and he pulled us over and wanted to search our car.”

Unfortunately, these men and women can become easy targets for ridicule and criticism. This “bad guy” character can look different across different fields of work, but everyone has one— every business, school, and workplace. They could be that one boss, that one principle, that one coach, that one police officer, or even that DMV lady who tells you that you don’t have the right paperwork after you just waited an hour. All of these people have to give bad news as a part of their job. Principles have to suspend you, coaches have to bench you, police officers have to give you tickets, and so on.

Oh man, he must be a real jerk.

This is an unpopular opinion, especially among kids my age, but I respect these people more than anyone. Look at it like this: do you want to be the person that ruins people’s day?

No, you don’t. Nobody does, but somebody has to do it.

So, why do we think worse of people when they are simply doing their job?

Personally, I try to cut more slack to the people who deserve it.

People labeled as “bad guys” deserve it, especially considering the nature of the people they often have to deal with.

“Ya, he even took my friend into his car to talk to him, andwhen he came back he took our weed.”

Then he let you go?

“Oh ya, he let us go, but he was really scary.”

This story might seem unbelievable, but it’s a true story. People can be so blinded by a job title that they can’t see past their actions. In the case of this story, the kid can’t get past the cop I’m writing this because I personally know people in these pulling them over, so he cannot see that he could not have “bad guy” roles. But, I know them in a different light. I know gotten a more understanding cop in that situation. them as people, not as their job descriptions. In my life, I’ve seen this phenomenon most frequently in coaches. I’ve These “bad guys” are constantly under the microscope due known a lot who are great coaches and even better people.

Then, the opportunity presents itself, and these coaches take to the nature of their duties. In reality, most people in these positions deserve the benefit of the doubt. If you had to be the on new jobs in the school building. They take some sort of guy that nobody wants to see and nobody respects, I think you administrative job for various reasons. Instantly, they go from the most-liked to the most-hated by students. Then as would be rundown too. Everyone has bad days, but when you are under the microscope, your mistakes can be blown out of the years go by, people only know them by their position. proportion and become linked to your character.

They are soon known as the guy that nobody wants to see.

Far too often, I’ve seen this idea come to life in kids my age who don’t want to take responsibility for their own actions.

“Man, that cop was a jerk.”

Think about who that “bad guy” character is in your life, and think about how you could brighten their day or have an im-

pact on them by not treating them how everyone else does.

In a recent story in Issue 9, The Guys Wearing Stripes – The Wildcat Roar, this idea of the bad guy character is seen clearly in one specific role of sports officials.

Okay, why’s that?

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SPORTING

LAYING THE FOUNDATION

The boys volleyball team has demonstrated the importance of culture over experience.

BROOKE HIGHMARK SPORTING EDITOR

would’ve just flatlined, so seeing my teammates so positive through the whole day was admirable to see,” said DeMaggio.

Interestingly enough, the Cats faced the Longhorns again on April 5th and came out victorious by a score of 3-2 after a long and hardfought battle on home court. Clearly, something is working for the Wildcats.

One of the strongest underclassmen thus far has been Owen Meehan, freshman libero. Although it is his first season on varsity, Meehan has participated in club volleyball in the off-season, making him a very experienced player. He currently leads the team, along with Benji Mitchell, in serve-receives (147), digs (87), and Avg/Gm (2.10).

Jacob DeMaggio plays setter for the Wildcats.

Photo by: Molly Kirby

This year’s boys volleyball team has rallied around one word: optimism. With a roster of only one senior and several freshmen, the beginning of the season has been a learning process, but the players have used every shortcoming to draw closer together and get better.

“My season as a freshman on varsity has been quite amazing so far.

I’ve created many friends through volleyball and I plan on making many more! I love the competitive environment and family like team bonding!” said Meehan.

Leading the pack for the second year in a row is head coach, Keaton Adams. Coach Adams not only emphasizes positive coaching and reinforcement but also Christ-centered leadership.

“As a coach, one of our main roles is to support and be with the players--this is one of the most prevalent themes in the Bible as well—‘God being with us’ regardless of our performance. He chooses us and is continually in our corner,” said Adams.

In addition to Coach Adams, the players have been able to look up to and receive instruction from Jacob DeMaggio, senior setter and captain. DeMaggio clearly leads the team in serves (137), points (78), and assists (139).

As the lone senior, DeMaggio also feels a responsibility to display leadership and maintain a Christian-like poise both on and off the court. Having the most experience, he has been able to act as a role model to the younger players in various aspects.

“I feel that with being a senior I’m there to provide advice and guidance to the younger players about anything volleyball, and also not involving volleyball,” said DeMaggio.

DeMaggio similarly believes in the positive culture of his team, especially for such a young team. The week after spring break, the Owen Meehan (left) and Colin Toretta, freshman, cheer on their teammates Cats matched up against Parkway West, last year’s state champifrom the bench. ons, and fell short 2-0. However, they didn’t allow lost points to Photo by: Sarah Cahill affect their composure.

“If this was probably any other team, their mood as a team

SPORTING

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GIRLS LAX TAKES THEIR FIRST GAME

Upperclassmen stepping up for the girls lacrosse team.

EVAN KOHN STAFF WRITER

The girls lacrosse team was heading into their first game with low expectations, as they were facing the state runner up, Villa Duschene. In a shocking display of grit, the girls pulled off a 9-8 win in overtime.

Emily Griege, junior, was a brick wall in the net. The two sport athlete is a goalie in both hockey and lacrosse. She has proven to be a great asset to the team thus far, and currently has a save percentage of 0.481.

“It was a great win for us to get the season started, it really boosted our confidence to get this win today,” said Madison Bugh, senior.

The girls lacrosse team has been relying on their upperclassmen to lead the team this year. Tatum Osmon, senior, has been a key Tatum Osmon beats another player for a ball.

Photo by: Hope Linam contributor on the team as well with 13 goals and 15 points in only four games.

All of the girls are looking forward to a successful season and hope to build off of their early success.

Emily Griege talks to Coach Knerr.

Photo by: Hope Linam

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SPORTING

PASSING THE TORCH

Freshman and senior duo, Ava and Bella Gibeaut, play varsity soccer together for the first and last time.

ALEX WITTENAUER AND HOPE LINAM STAFF WRITER

Growing up three years apart, Ava and Bella Gibeaut have never had the opportunity to play with one another, even though they have always been part of the same club program.

Both girls started playing soccer when they were four years old and began playing club at age seven. Ava, a freshman, currently plays for St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL ‘07, which is the highest level at Gallagher, and Bella, a senior, played for St. Louis Scott Gallagher Roma ‘04 until her club season ended in the fall.

Despite being on different teams within the same club, their competitiveness toward each other has persisted throughout the years. As a result, Ava has had to make some adjustments this spring with her sister being her captain.

my first instinct when I get the ball is to see if she is open,” said Ava. Even though it is their first year on the same team, the two sisters have always pushed each other to get better at the sport.

“We have always trained together. We train together in the off-season and train together in the summer. We train around five times a week in the off season, do yoga on Sundays during the season, and go to the gym together,” said Bella.

As much as Ava and Bella have enjoyed playing together and making their family proud, there has had to be a clear distinction between sister and teammate.

“It’s definitely weird having to be bossed around by my older sister on the field, but it’s good to know I always have someone to talk to or look for if I need any help on or off the field.

“The biggest challenge is probably balancing treating her With me being in the midfield and Bella being a forward, we like my captain and treating her like my sister. I have had to can do give and goes without having to say it out loud because hold back saying snarky jokes to her face a lot already and

Ava Gibeaut, freshman, dribbles through defenders and carries the ball up the field.

Photo by: Adam Lyles

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time.

Bella Gibeuat, senior, passes the ball to the corner.

Photo by: Adam Lyles

duo, with Ava having two goals and Bella having one.

we are just getting our season started,” said Ava.

After high school, Bella plans on playing club soccer at the University of Tennessee as well as major in finance. Soccer has shaped her life and taught her many important life skills, such as cooperation, encouragement, leadership, and work ethic.

Despite being a freshman on varsity, Ava has shown that she deserves a starting position and is not afraid of a challenge.

“It feels very rewarding to make varsity and be a starter as a freshman and have all the work I’ve put in pay off. One of my motivations that got me through tryouts was to be able to play with Bella for her senior year. Through growing up playing soccer, I’ve learned to ease my nerves by knowing God is in control, so I don’t really get too nervous. Playing in tough games is my favorite thing, so having the opportunity to start and play in our previous games was super fun for me,” said Ava.

“Soccer has shown me that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,” said Bella.

On the other hand, Bella hopes to pass along her leadership skills to her younger sister after her time as a Wildcat is up.

“Ava is so gifted, and I hope when she is a senior she can be captain like me and understand the importance of encouragement and being vocal,” said Bella.

Although the varsity team has not started off how they would have liked, being 3-5-1 in there first nine games, Ava and Bella have already proven themselves to be a promising

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The girls varsity soccer team celebrates after a goal by Abbie Moser, freshman.

Photo by: Adam Lyles

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