The 800 News - Issue 1, October 2018

THE 800

NEWS

OCTOBER 2018 MISSION STATEMENT

OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE ALL FACETS OF THE WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY BY CREATING QUALITY AND ENGAGING PRODUCTS.

Time To “Spill The Tea”

TEA (PG. 16-17)

MSHAA RULES (PG. 25)

COLLEGE & CHRISTIANITY (PG. 18-21) 1

2

“Head, heart, hands - think, be, do” Monday: Food Tuesday: Toys Wednesday: Baby Items Thursday: Winter Wear and PJ’s Friday: School Supplies

3

THE 800 STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF ISABELLA FRANCOIS, JUNIOR

PRINT EDITOR NATALIE FORD, JUNIOR

SPORTING WCA EDITOR THOMAS SCHULTZ, SENIOR

MEDIA EDITOR BENNIE ANDERSON, JUNIOR

NEWS EDITOR GABE CARADONNA , SENIOR

FEATURE EDITOR AMANDA ESPY, SENIOR 4 STAFF

THE

800 STAFF

STUDENTS SERVING STUDENTS

OPINION EDITOR ASHLEY MOLLENHOFF, SENIOR QUICK READS CLAIRE SANDAN, SENIOR

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ALLISON EICHENLAUB, SENIOR

IN DEPTH EDITOR AVA BIDNER, JUNIOR

THE 800 STAFF TOMMY BRINER • ZACH CANCILA • ALEX CHEN • LEA DESPOTIS • DYLAN ELIAS • LAUREN FLEMING • PEARSON GEORGES • EMMA GORE • JOURNEE HENRY • COLE HINTZ • AVA HOLLMANN • JOEY KEANE • CAROLINE MEGOWN • SYDENY MOORE • MAX NELSON • JIMMY OBERTOP • MEGAN ROCHE • KOBY SCHMER • NATHANIEL SEMS • REBEKAH SEMS • GRACE SKILJAN • GRIFFIN THOMAS STAFF 5

CONTENTS

OPINION

FEATURES

IN-DEPTH

SPORTS

POLITIAL CAMPAIGN (PAGE 22)

SOCIAL MEDIA (PAGE 10)

HISTORY OF CARNIVAL (PAGE 14-15)

LJ (PAGE 29)

MSHAA RULES (PAGE 23) SPORTS ANOUNCEMENTS (PAGE 26)

CUPLIFTING (PAGE 11) PETKE (PAGE 12-13)

TEA (PAGE 16-17)

BOY’S SOCCER PREVIEW (PAGE 28)

COLLEGE & CHRISTIANITY (PAGE 18-21)

GIRL’S CROSS COUNTRY (PAGE 28)

JERSEYS (PAGE 27)

6 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS

STAFF ED

A NEW LOOK

STAFF ED achieve our goal. As we work to better our product and promote unity, we invite you to check out our new style and even go a step further by embracing the unity and working to grow and improve in your own life.

A new quarter. A fresh start. And a new us. As the first quarter comes to a close and we move on to the next chapter of our year, we, The Wildcat Roar staff, believes it’s time for a change - starting with our name. We know our roots and history as a newspaper staff at Westminster are important and that all of this change would not be possible without all of the past issues of The Wildcat Roar. But we also know that never moving forward and staying stuck in the past can be detrimental to success and growth.

With this mindset, three new staff members, Emma Gore, Alex Chen, and Zach Cancila took on the challenge of rebranding The Wildcat Roar and setting us up for a year of success and hopefully many more years in the future. Starting with the name, the three took a bold new spin on Westminster, choosing the name The 800 after Westminster’s address, 800 Maryville Centre Drive. Along with the name, our staff believes we should be more connected not only as a newspaper staff but also with the other media platforms involved with Westminster’s publications team, including 800 Sporting (formally Sporting WCA), 800 Media (our broadcasting team), and 800 Press (our newspaper staff).

Our new motto is “Students Serving Students” because we believe it is our job as a publications staff to not only communicate and inform the Westminster student body but also to aid in the process of uniting students across all grade levels.

In addition to our new name, we are introducing a new modern and minimalistic look in our newspaper, hoping to make our work clearer and more reader-friendly. With increased visuals, infographics, and photographs we hope to inform the Westminster community in a better, more efficient, and more intriguing way.

Overall, we continue to grow as a staff this school year as we welcome change and adopt new methods to

STAFF ED 7

OPINIONS VARY ON KAVANAUGH HEARINGS AVA HOLLMANN STAFF WRITER

In the afternoon of Sept. 27, a Senate hearing was held for Judge Brett Kavanaugh regarding his alleged sexual harassment of Dr. Christine Ford. Dr. Ford leaked the details of the high school harassment days before the Senate Judiciary Committee was to vote on Kavanaugh’s spot in the Supreme Court.

she could have had the situation dealt with long before Kavanaugh was held in intensive hearings for a highly respected position,” said Allison Hardin, junior.

Nonetheless, the trial was held, with mixed reactions following it.

“I believe Kavanaugh deserved a trial for nothing else than to defend his name. As a man who has worked tirelessly to reach the position he is in, and if he is found innocent in the FBI investigation, then he does not deserve to have this cloud hanging over him,” said Fuller.

The other school of thought examines if Kavanaugh was actually lying in the trial, save the questionable action of harassing Dr. Ford itself, and if this legitimizes him from being a supreme court judge.

“I believe he can still be fit for the position, even if he did do what Dr. Ford said. Since the event was so long ago, he may have changed completely and have had remorse for the situation, assuming it was true. However, if he is lying, I don’t believe he would be fit, as it would be perjury,” said Hardin.

Allison Hardin watching Kavanaugh’s hearing. Photo By: Ava Hollmann

At Westminster, students have their own opinions on the timing of Ford’s confession, the appropriateness of holding a trial for an act as a minor in order to be a supreme court judge, and how the morals of a high schooler translate into serving in this role.

Ford’s confession was surprisingly timely to the decision for Kavanaugh to be judge.

“I think that the timing of the leak is very crucial,” said Justin Fuller, junior. “While the case could be made that Dr. Ford is using [her confession] as a means to smear a politician with differing beliefs, the case could also be made that this is an attack on Washington corruption.”

Besides the alternative motives, there is the fact that Ford vaguely mentioned the alleged harassment to her therapist.

“I absolutely believe that the confession was timed on purpose, but if she had told her therapist six years ago,

8 NEWS

However, the overarching question of the trial and investigation still looms: how much do morals as a high schooler translate into sitting on the supreme court today? In other words, should Kavanaugh be tried for something he did as an irresponsible teenager, with decades of judicial work and a respectable family following?

“To me, what we do in high school will lay the foundation for our future. It is our choice then to ensure that what we do now will not only be to our benefit now, but in our days to come,” said Fuller.

Similar to Fuller, Hardin adds, “Many people do not think the decisions they make in high school matter.

In reality, though, something like this can come up in the future and threaten everything- their career, spouse, children, etc. As sad as it is, a huge or small mistake can blow out of proportion, especially for someone in the national spotlight.”

Despite their slightly different views, these students at Westminster agree that Kavanaugh’s honesty in his confessions is paramount. If he is not honest, then he is not fit to be the highest form of judge for moral issues, some similar to the one he himself is being tried for. It is also a lesson to live as cleanly and honorably as possible for when the opportunity to take a position such as this comes along.

Westminstagram Westminster Christian Academy

TAKING A LOOK AT 360 ALLISON EICHENLAUB ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Everyone has, at least has once in a while, the desire to dress up for a night and go out with their friends or family to feel fancy.

Whether or not you want do anything about that desire is your personal choice. But, if you want to achieve that wish and have an elegant dinner with a spectacular view, Three Sixty is the place to go.

Three Sixty is a rooftop bar and restaurant 26 levels above the ground floor of the Hilton hotel in downtown St. Louis. It has a 4.5 out of 5 star average review on TripAdvisor and the average meal costs around $32. The menu has the classic bar foods with a fancy twist.

lauren.fleming_ the duo of the century

Westminster’s Got Talent

luke__laughlin Don’t snooze on the Blueligans

You Can’t Take It With You

Riley Kilgore and Bridget Sullivan celebrate Bridget’s birthday at 360.

Photo By: Riley Kilgore

“I’ve been there with my family before and it made for a very special night. I also went there for a friends birthday party which was a perfect place to have it. I ordered pizza and a side of potatoes and it was delicious. I like that the food isn’t too fancy, but it hits the spot,” said Riley Kilgore, junior.

The service is very fast and efficient to cater to your needs.

This restaurant has a very sleek feel in the atmosphere and has minimalist decor. It is set up really neat and different than most restaurants. It allows the people to feel as if they are really fancy for a night. There are many variations of ways to sit and socialize with your friends. It also has a variety of cozy booths and nooks with tables to eat at. The sunsets are spectacular and the deck provides the ultimate skybox seats overlooking Busch Stadium.

Overall, this is an expensive, higher class restaurant but it is

tie_sun wow. i did not expect this show to be so well worth it. emotional

ENTERTAINMENT 9

THE NEW FAST FOOD JOINT Four WCA students at Westminster utilize popular social media platforms and hit the entrepreneurial pavement instead of taking more traditional jobs to make extra money

AVA HOLLMANN STAFF WRITER

Across desktop computers and cell phones alike, a new generation of influencers are making their mark. In the sale of clothing, tutorials, or ads, teens are replacing their part time jobs for more individualized, flexible ones.

“I created my Instagram account, ‘Alternative Denim,’ at the end of September. Tired of boring jeans, I set out to create one-of-a-kind, hand-painted denim products,” said Dunn.

A creator like Dunn, Emma Gustafson, senior, uses Instagram to advertise her designs that she sells on Redbubble, a site for graphic designers to market their designs on t-shirts, stickers, notebooks, etc.

“I launched my Redbubble page about a year ago, and I began promoting my stickers through my Instagram stories this past summer. I wanted to start selling my designs as a creative outlet; I’ve always loved decorating things with fun stickers, so I decided to make my own. Plus, it’s so cool to see random people with my stickers on their laptops, water bottles, and cars!” said Gustafson.

Another senior class creator is Caroline Davis. With 73,500 followers on her makeup account “21 Makeup Addictions,” Davis is a veteran in this Instagram business.

“The initial reason I started my makeup account was because I have always been more interested in fashion and beauty than sports. Then, what started as a hobby ended up taking off, and it is now my biggest passion and, fortunately, my job,” said Davis.

For all of these girls, social media has been critical in promoting their products because of its accessibility and nearly unlimited reach to its users.

Some of many stickers and designs on Emma Gustafon’s Redbubble page. Photo by: Ava Hollmann

This trend has extended to Westminster, with upperclassmen in particular. On Instagram, students are profitting, but more importantly, finding their passions with the help of social media.

Maggie Wessels, senior, created a thrifting account this past summer that auctions thrifted clothes, unworn by Wessels.

“I started my thrifting account on Instagram over the summer. I needed a little extra cash and an outlet for thrifted clothes that I never wore. I love that I can share my passion of thrifting with others, while making some money, too,” said Wessels.

Wessels’s story is similar to Payton Dunn’s, a senior who also has an Instagram page to sell clothes. The difference, however, is that Dunn’s page is more personalized to the buyer.

10 FEATURES

“To me, the trend of using social media as a marketplace is popular because it makes it easy to share my products with any size of an audience. I can also communicate one-on-one with customers and make announcements, all on the same platform,” said Dunn.

From a business standpoint, Instagram also presents opportunities for brands to market through sponsoring certain users’ accounts.

“For many companies, it has progressed into a huge form of advertising, and for influencers, it has allowed them to do what they love doing while also being paid,” said Davis.

From the experience of these seniors, it is apparent that these days, if someone has a good idea, Instagram in particular provides the tools to promote it. Because of this ease in sharing their creativity, this generation has the potential to be the biggest group of cultural pioneers yet.

BACK IN BUSINESS Cuplifting Coffee picks ups where Pawprint left off and is now open for business

ISABELLA FRANCOIS EDITOR IN CHIEF

Rushing through the Grand Entry after a hectic morning, with an expensive Starbucks drink in hand, a Westminster student might glance forlornly at the spot where the former Pawprint Coffee stood last year, wondering if the coffee shop would return.

Luckily for Westminster students, their favorite coffee shop is returning as Cuplifting Coffee, with a renewed mission to create community through their business, while still providing a high quality product that it convenient and affordable.

Also, the Cuplifting managers are actively looking to learn from the triumphs and failures of Pawprint Coffee so that they can better accomplish their mission which is to serve the Westminster community.

“We hope to be more organized and efficient with the space we are given because we share space with other organizations within Westminster. By doing this we hope to prevent less conflict with our partners so we can work together to help better the Westminster community,” said Kaup.

Like any good business, Cuplifting is also learning from past popular drink choices in order to expand their products and appeal to a wider range of customers.

“Cuplifting will be offering different flavors of Chai this year and we will also be offering different smoothie combinations,” explain Jewell and Kaup.

In addition to expanding their menu, Cuplifting is committed to premium products so that students can expect the same quality of drink than from any competing coffee shop.

“The mission of Cuplifting Coffee is to provide a convenient and less expensive option to students and faculty in a manner that establishes community,” explain Isaac Kaup and Blake Jewell, seniors in entrepreneurship class.

In order to achieve this, they have set an ambitious goal to run a successful business while also learning skills that they can actually use in college and beyond.

“One main goal for Cuplifting Coffee is to encourage a learning environment outside of the classroom for students and try to help teachers know that Chase Mayfield, senior, prepares a drink for customers. Photo By: Isabella Francois learning does not only have to take place in the classroom but outside also. I think that is really important because “We are a reliable source for premium coffee because students can get tired of the same thing every day and we only order coffee that is grade 80 or higher out of a going outside of the routine will entice students to want 100 point scale. That being said students can know that to learn more,” said Jewell. our product is a quality brand,” said Kaup.

FEATURES 11

FAMILY MAN

Dan Petke makes an impact on the Westminster community by involving his family on the campus and demonstrating his hard work ethic.

REBEKAH SEMS STAFF WRITER

As Westminster athletes sit cross-legged on the floor, ready for a talk about faith and how it relates to their sport, a small toddler squirms in between them, delighted by the attention. His smile lights up when he sees his dad walk into the room and he runs toward him. Dan Petke picks up his son and holds him while the FCA talk begins. He and his wife, Michelle, are regular attendees to the weekly meetings and delight the athletes with bringing their lovable children.

sport seriously and makes us work hard,” said Beachy.

Other students, who don’t play for Petke but know him through having him as their history teacher, also attest to the fact that he is a teacher who loves to get to know his students.

“Mr. Petke is one of my favorite teachers because he always takes time to ask us how we’re doing. He wants to know what is happening in our lives and he genuinely cares. He also tells great stories and is hilarious!” said Maggie Dolan, junior.

In fact, Petke is known for having interesting and often times funny stories from his life. Students are always surrounding him (and usually his family too) during FCA, football games, and other Westminster events.

One of his most interesting stories that surprised and shocked many students was when they learned that he and his family auditioned for Family Feud. After successfully making it through the first two rounds of auditioning, the Petke family was asked what dates they’d be available for the show. Unfortunately, they couldn’t make it to one of the dates due to a baseball tournament Petke was coaching and did not hear back from the show.

“I carried the team on my shoulders,” said Petke. However, many students blame Petke’s busy schedule as the reason for his missed shot at fame.

“It was a once and a lifetime chance, and he missed it because of baseball,” said Maggie Dolan, junior.

The Petke Family: Dan Petke holds his son, Ty while his wife, Michelle, holds their newborn daughter, Kenley. Photo By: Michelle Petke

Petke is a key figure of the Westminster community, and his family makes its appearance around the school in multiple ways. As the head baseball and softball coach at Westminster, Petke often brings his family to his practices and games. The softball girls, especially, enjoy the company of Ty Petke and have grown close with the little toddler.

“Ty is so cute. We all love him, and it’s fun to see Petke with his kids,” said Carsyn Beachy, junior. Beachy is one of the many softball players who loves playing the sport for Coach Petke because of his interest in the athletes’ lives and his fun, lovable nature, as well as spending time around his family.

“Petke is a great coach because he relates to us. He makes practice fun and enjoyable but also takes the

12 FEATURES

However, Petke’s love for baseball plays a major role in his family life. For example, his children are seen around the baseball and softball fields all the time.

Petke continues to faithfully support the Westminster baseball team by going on their annual spring break trip to Florida, even with the challenges of raising young kids.

Another way baseball has impacted the Petke family,

“PETKE IS A GREAT COACH BECAUSE HE GENUINLY CARES ABOUT US.” - CARSYN BEACHY, JUNIOR

is through a goal that Mr. Petke and his wife made for themselves. They decided they wanted to visit all thirty baseball stadiums in the United States before turning thirty. So far they have visited twenty-three of the thirty stadiums and enjoyed watching games at different ballparks.

“It was Michelle’s idea, but I love doing it. She’s a great sport about it, and she enjoys going to the games just as much as me,” said Petke.

Baseball has made an important influence on Petke’s life. His love and support of the game of baseball has impacted many students, and they are encouraged by his hard work and determination to reach their goals.

“He has taught me and shown me what it means to work hard and reach the goals you set for yourself,” said Beachy.

As one of Westminster’s most favorite history teachers and coaches, Dan Petke impacts the students and athletes he comes in contact with. His example that he sets of hard work while maintaining a positive attitude, is inspiring and encouraging to those around him. Westminster is lucky to have a member like Mr. Petke in the community and while many students still might not forgive him for missing an opportunity at Family Feud, they look up to him and love seeing him and his family around the campus.

TEACHER SPEAK: WITH DR. GALL ALLISON EICHENLAUB ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Dr. Jeff Gall is a US History teacher and has been working at Westminster for 3 years. His son, Micah Gall, is Westminster’s head of academic development so they get to work alongside each other every day.

Q: Did you plan to

be a teacher when you were in high school?

A: I went to college

not knowing what I wanted to do, but I discovered I really enjoyed history and also decided that I would really enjoy working with young people.

Teaching was a great fit for me.

Dr. Gall poses with his favorite book in front of Harry Truman. Photo by: Allison Eichenaub

What is your favorite part about teaching history?

A: I love learning something new about the past every day.

Hey, I have the best job in the world. I get paid to learn!

Q: What is something most students don’t know about you?

A: I almost drowned in the Pacific Ocean when I was 10 years

old. I was pulled off the beach in Acapulco by a strong undertow and was saved by a guy who left the beach and swam out to get me.

What is the best advice you ever received?

A: One of my mentors told me, “Success is investing yourself

in something that will outlive you.” I love that because it makes teaching history a perfect job for me.

Ty Petke watches his dad speak to the softball team after a game. Ty was almost always present at games and practices. Photo By: Carsyn Beachy

Q: Why do you like to teach history opposed to another subject?

A: Because I LOVE telling great stories. History lets me do that every day.

FEATURES 13

1980198119821983198419851986199019952000200820102018

THE HISTORY OF

CARNIVAL

The Westminster Christian Academy Carnival has always been an integral part of life as a Wildcat, even during the early years of the school. During those first years, Carnival served to unite the community, specifically students and staff, and this idea still stands today although the reach of Carnival has expanded to include alumni, parents, and prospective students. In the past, almost all students participated in Carnival in some way or another because honoring their commitment to the community was enjoyable, now some students choose not to participate as they view carnival as more of an obligation than a fun event. Perhaps by examining the lighthearted history of carnival, today’s students may feel more inclined to participate.

“When I came to WCA in 1985, it was a small fledgling Christian school working hard to develop school spirit and traditions.

The Carnival was one of the first community events that really brought the WCA community in a fun atmosphere. The Carnival helped to establish school spirit and pride at WCA.” -Jim Marsh, Head of School Emeritus

In the first year of Carnival, the event was so small that it was confined to the All Purpose room at the first Missouri Baptist campus.

The highlight of the 1982 Carnival was the sophomore class booth, the car smash were students were able to take a sledgehammer to an old Pontiac, making carnival a “smashing” success.

One of the most popular booths at carnival this year was a raffle to win a pet kitten.

Westminster’s very own Lizzy Vogel, art teacher, won the raffle and took home a pet kitten named Jiblets.

1980 1982 1984

14 IN-DEPTH

Lizzy Vogel poses with her newly won kitten. Photo Courtesy of: Foundation Yearbook Archives

1986 1995 2008 2018 This year was a momentous year in the history of Carnival as it officially became a junior class sponsored event led by Stephanie Mackris, junior class president, and other class officers. The class officers approached former Head of School Jim Marsh with the idea of having a “real” carnival with rides, booths, music, etc. making 1986 on of the most successful years in history.

This year STUCO hosted a square dance along with the Carnival event, which current Westminster Spanish teacher Kelly Gilbert participated in. “My friends and I would be there to set up on Friday afternoon and we usually slept over at one girl’s house, then came back early Saturday and didn’t leave until everything was cleaned up from the barn function. We looked really, really cute in our matching plaid flannel shirts, let me tell you!” Mrs. Gilbert says.

In 2008, a class called “Contemporary World Affairs” had a unique opportunity to run a booth where they sold sweatshirts and sweatpants and in order to support an organization of the choosing. “My class chose to support [the non-profit] Invisible Children” explains Olivia Pierson, Class of 2009 and current art teacher at Westminster.

Although Carnival was inside this year due to inclement weather students still were able to enjoy good food and company. One of the most popular food items was Chick-fil-a with the concessions stand selling out twice. “We knew that Chick-fil-a would be popular but we didn’t not anticipate that it would sell out within minutes” exaplains Katie Houbaugh, a member of the Student Activities Leadership Team and leader of the concessions commitee.

One of the main attarctions of the 1986 carnival was the games which were fun for all ages.

Photo Courtesy of: Foundation Yearbook Archives

IN-DEPTH 15

TIME TO “SPILL THE TEA”

The truth beyond the toxic contamination of tea, and why you should be concerned.

LEA DESPOTIS STAFF WRITER

But buyer beware: there is something else lurking in your cup of tea linked to serious complications. In various experimental studies, researchers have discovered a staggering number of pesticides and other carcinogenic chemicals in popular name-brand teas.

16 IN-DEPTH

Organic teas are no exception. While “natural” and “pesticide free” labels appear enticingly healthy, various studies have proven certain labels to be extremely misleading. Of the teas tested in a study from The Journal of Toxicology, 70% of the teas tested, including organic, contained toxic contamination of lead and other metals as a result of the accumulation of fluorine from the soil.

These results are alarming, especially to the daily tea-enthusiast. In recent years, a growing concern has surfaced between the potential association between pesticide-laden tea and disease. The legitimate concerns of tea contamination are gaining traction among health forums and media outlets, with various newspapers reporting on tea-drinkers plagued by serious ailments. One article from The Atlantic shared the harrowing story of a 56-year-old heavy tea-drinker suffering kidney failure from tea consumption. And unfortunately, research substantiates this worrisome connection.

Photo By: Pexels

Dating back to ancient Chinese culture, the quintessential cup of tea has been a universal product touted for its medicinal and therapeutic properties. Laden with a medley of exotic spices and hints of floral extracts, the endless variety of teas remains a cross-cultural favorite.

According to the Tea Association of The USA, Americans alone consumed 3.8 billion gallons of tea in 2017.

lar pesticide, fenitrothion, was excessively high with an amount that was 35 times higher than the Environment Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommendation for a “safe” pesticide level.

The independent research company CBC News Canada used an accredited lab to conduct a thorough investigation testing the levels of pesticide residue in a variety of teas. The results of the study were beyond shocking: Over half of popular tea brands tested contained extreme pesticide levels and other chemicals that exceed the legal limit. Ranging from 8 to 22 different chemicals, well-known tea brands like Lipton, Tetley, Twining’s ranked among the highest in pesticide contamination.

And this study does not stand alone as numerous research organizations have discovered dangerously high levels of harmful pesticides. In an analytical pesticide residue study published in the 2014 Food Chemistry journal, researchers detected traces of eight different pesticides in various teas. One particu-

According to several studies, certain pesticides discovered in tea samples pose serious health threats, ranging from minor illnesses to potentially life-threatening conditions. For example, two specific pesticides, endosulfan and monocrotophos, and several other carcinogenic chemicals found in tea have been banned in other countries for their serious health implications.

Additional research uncovered a correlation between cancer incidence and pesticide exposure in tea. A published review article that investigated the cancer health effects of exposure to pesticides found a consistent association for brain and prostate cancer as well as kidney cancer in children. Another 2014 study discovered a shocking five-fold increase in risk of development of lung

problems, the issue is not immune to controversy. Bold news headlines and class-action lawsuits have garnered governmental attention to the issue, forcing the tea industry to respond to claims and conduct further investigaThe dangerous effects also extend tion. Some of the examinations have to the traces of metals found in tea. uncovered erroneous test results from Research has suggested that fluorine toxicity and other hard metals may be third-party researchers, leaving the linked to health problems such as oste- accuracy of studies difficult to discern. oporosis, joint pain, kidney problems, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

EPA Acceptable doses (mean mg) of pesticides

cancer related to tea consumption, while a higher exposure to pesticides in general, increased the risk of lung cancer.

But to truly understand the toxicity problem, we must look to the cause.

The root of the pesticide issue emanates from the source: the foreign tea industries. For centuries, China and India have maintained their prominent role as purveyors of tea, with China harvesting about 1.2 million tons of tea each year.

However, their food safety record is hardly perfect, tainted with a history of contamination, pollution, and insufficient oversight. For optimal tea cultivation, the leaves are routinely blanketed with harmful pesticides that are likely transferred into your cup of tea during the brewing process.

However, tea companies are not the only culprit, as pollution and environmental factors emit contaminants, increasing the toxicity of tea. The issue with tea contamination is thus a much broader ecological issue that presents difficult impediments extending beyond a simple solution.

It is up to the United States government to regulate and monitor the importation of dangerous chemicals and respond appropriately to the escalating risk. Proactive and diligent U.S. involvement is a critical step in developing a long-term solution to combat the presence of pesticides and other chemicals in tea.

√ √ √ √

present in all varieties of teas.

While my experiment does not analyze the potential health effects, the data does indicate the presence of high levels of dangerous pesticides that should warrant concern.

Acceptable daily doses of 68% of known Pesticides

200 150 100 50 0

29%

27%

9% 25% % of Pesticides

6%

3%

(+) Test > 1 mg/L

EPA has set max doses for 268 of 394 (68%) pesticides 1/3 pesticides should not exceed 1 mg 3/3 popular teas exceeded the acceptable dose (1 mg) for at least 1/3 of the pesticides However, test results used were only qualitative (> 1 mg/L) which indicates that a much higher percentage of pesticides may have exceeded EPA standards

But the sad reality is that many articles on this subject are limited in scope and skim the surface of a truly complicated, multi-variable issue. After thorough research drawing from primary sources and academic studies, my goal of this investigation was to present accurate facts consistently supported by studies published in reputable academic journals.

In my efforts to provide an extensive investigation, I conducted my own experiment to test the presence of pesticides in additional tea brands. Along with Lipton tea, my results revealed However, despite the extensive research, knowledge of toxins in popular that Gold Peak, Teavana, and Tazo all contained one or more pesticides that brands of tea remains widely unknown to most consumers. While data exceed 1 mg/L. Compared to the EPA’s standard, the pesticide level found in indicates a clear connection between pesticides in tea and debilitating health these teas surpasses the “safe” dose for at least 1/3 of the potential pesticides

With mounting evidence surrounding the toxic contamination of tea, utmost caution is advisable when considering even the most popular tea brands.

While it is important to expose the issue, the intent of this article is not to bash tea companies or the hard-working people who grow, export, import, and manufacture bags of tea that make their way to our supermarket shelves.

Instead, my hope in this research is to provide a comprehensive overview of the issue and raise awareness of the potentially harmful chemicals that may be hidden in your cup of tea.

So whether you are willing to take the risk or not, that’s entirely up to you.

But as for me, I’d rather just “spill” that cup of tea.

IN-DEPTH 17

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE As WCA students leave their homes and school for college, what happens to their faith?

AVA BIDNER

IN-DEPTH EDITOR But what about when WCA students graduate from the safe, welcoming community of Westminster and move past their childhood church and their guiding parents as they step into college and adulthood? When the bubble around their lives finally pops, do they hold onto the faith and relationship they have developed with Christ or do they find themselves persuaded by the busy college life, finding little time for a growing relationship with God?

choice. For the first time in my life, I was no longer completely surrounded by a faith based community in which everyone shared a common sense of morality. Instead, I had to separate the differences between a cultural sense of morality and a Biblical sense,” said Alyssa Despotis, sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis.

Many WCA alums like Despotis leave Westminster on fire for God, eager to change the world and make a difference. These students may not care if their atheist professors disagree with their faith or try to force their ideas or beliefs on them because they have a firm identity found in none other than Christ.

“Keeping your faith in college is important because you’re going to be challenged by many different worldviews while at college, and you have to be able to defend your faith no matter what. In order to maintain my faith, It seems that with the stress of school, I’ve surrounded myself with a good the newfound freedom, the distance group of Christian friends who are from home, the influence of professors always there to support me and talk me and other students, and the presence of through times when I’m struggling,” many new pressures, students may be said Alec Hollmann, freshman at Bayinclined to stray away from their faith lor University. and find their opinions and beliefs being challenged. But on the other hand, sometimes our faith grows the most in So are Despotis and Hollmann the majority? Westminster’s hope is that they our greatest struggles as we learn to “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let rely not on our parents and friends but are. Westminster, of course, is unique it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it in the sense that it strives to prepare instead on the Lord. shine.” students not simply academically but also spiritually for college and the “real “During my first year of college, my These few simple lines have echoed in the ears of most Christian children in church, school, or at home at some point in their young lives. Sure, it’s a peppy song with an encouraging, hopeful message, and it’s easy enough for kids to memorize, but is their a deeper message? For many WCA students who grew up in the church, were raised in Christian homes, and attended Christian elementary schools, this is not just the refrain of a popular Sunday school song; it is the mission to which - Alec Hollmann, WCA ‘18 we dedicate our lives and a promise to be servants and ambassadors of God’s faith grew tremendously as maintaining Kingdom. world” ahead. my Christianity in a secular environment became much more of an active

“Keeping your faith in college is important because you’re going to be challenged by many different worldviews while at college, and you have to be able to defend your faith no matter what.”

18 IN-DEPTH

“All schools, whether private or public, want to prepare students academically.

But at Westminster we also have a social and emotional aspect of education, helping students to interact with each other, build community, and problem solve. Westminster is unique in that we prepare students spiritually for college, too, which means preparing them for an environment in which not everyone believes the same thing and in which some are even hostile to Christianity.

Classes like biblical worldviews hopefully give students a biblical foundation and help them understand what they believe and why they believe it and how we fit into a world that doesn’t always see the way we do,” said Shelley Milligan, Head of Institutional Advancement.

“All schools, whether private or public, want to prepare students academically. But at Westminster we also have a social and emotional aspect of education, helping students to interact with each other, build community, and problem solve. Westminster is unique in that we prepare students spiritually for college, too.”

- Shelley Milligan, Head of Institutional Advancement

As Ms. Milligan stated, Westminster is an anomaly in that the teachers and administration specifically seek to prepare students spiritually for college, in the hope that they will maintain a relationship with God into college life and adulthood.

Westminster administration sends out a survey to each graduating class seven years following graduation in order to better understand whether they are providing an adequate foundation for students. According to the data from the class of 2000 through the class of 2009, the average percent of alums who list a church home is 67% (about 81 alums) with 36% of these attending Reformed churches (about 29 of the 81 alums).

While this number is encouraging because it includes the majority, there does not appear to be a specific trend in alums who attend church regularly, whether increasing or decreasing, in the data between these classes.

Of course, having a church home is not a complete or accurate representation of being a believer because people can have a relationship with God and not regularly attend church. However, this data does indicate that the majority of Westminster graduates are carrying their faith into adulthood.

IN-DEPTH 19

leave their homes eager to make their mark on the world and to face any In addition, a September 2018 study on challenge thrown their way, knowing Christian students in the U.S. conduct- their faith is stable and strong. But as ed by Barna Group in partnership with difficult classes, social anxiety, illness, busyness, the stresses of independence, the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) showed that “three and the whirling tornado of change in 10 practicing Christians (31%) and overwhelm students, the growth of faith one-third of evangelicals (33%) express can be pushed to the side. However, for those who are willing to take action

interest in ‘continued professional development that focuses on integrating faith and applying it to my career.’”

While this may not be the majority, this data proves that almost one-third of Christian students across the U.S. show interest in not only maintaining and growing their faith in college but also in applying it to future careers.

So, the majority of Westminster students, as well as many Christian students nationwide, seek to cultivate their relationship with Christ even apart from their parents, churches, and schools. However, this may not be as easy as it sounds. Many Christians

20

steps, a stronger relationship with God can be achieved.

Change can be both completely healthy and necessary, but that does not mean it is easy. However, “the Lord designs change for our growth,” as Milligan claimed, and with a positive attitude and the conscious effort to use change for the better, students can take advantage of new opportunities to grow in their faith and face challenges that force them to rely on the Lord.

“In college, you have to really put in effort to pursue God and grow in your relationship with Him because you’re “Change grows your faith if you want on your own. Being disciplined with it to. Anytime things are changing, reading the Bible, praying, going to you are driven to a place of needing church, etc. is a lot easier when you guidance, support, and understanding. have others encouraging you to do it, Change causes us to ask a lot of ques- and that may not be the case in college. tions, which can be really healthy, but Trying to find a good church and unless we ask the right source, we’ll get on-campus ministries can be incredibly the wrong answer. The source is what helpful when maintaining your faith determines whether our faith will grow becomes difficult,” said Emily Steor not grow. There is always potential venson, junior at St. Louis College of for it to grow, and that is why the Lord Pharmacy. puts us in situations that cause us to need to lean on Him,” said Milligan.

For many students the difference between continuing to pursue the Lord

or choosing to allow other people or things to take His place is the people they choose to surround themselves with, the time (or lack thereof) dedicated to God, and the decision to openly proclaim their faith or hide it for fear of judgement. These are just a few simple decisions students usually make in the first semester of college, yet they can drastically affect one’s eternity and entire life.

“Who you surround yourself with is really important to your faith, all the time. And in college, if you don’t find people that are like-minded, then you start to become who they are. They really influence you one way or the other. Find people around you who want Jesus to be a part of their lives and therefore want Him to be a part of yours,” said Milligan.

“I think we often should let our lives speak first, rather than our words. It’s not what you do, but how you do it or what you say, but how you say it. Earning the right to be heard and building a relationship is really important in that situation.”

- Shelley Milligan, Head of Institutional Advancement

This of course begs the question of how to interact with non-believers and even atheists who Christian students will inevitably encounter in college. Building a relationship is often the most important step to take before trying to convert others or even to bring up the topic of Christianity. Planting the seed of faith is often best done through a relationship and actions that set apart Christians.

“I think we often should let our lives speak first, rather than our words. It’s not what you do, but how you do it or what you say, but how you say it. Earning the right to be heard and building a relationship is really important in that situation,” said Milligan.

Overall, data and personal anecdotes prove that the majority of Westminster graduates remain bold in their faith even after leaving Westminster. These students nourish their relationships with God through attending church, reading scripture, embracing new opportunities, choosing friends wisely, and not being ashamed of their faith but instead seeking moments to share the Gospel with those who are unaware of God’s gift of grace.

Emily Stevenson, WCA ‘16, with other college students in her church group. Photo by: Emily Stevenson

21

GOING DOOR TO DOOR The seniors have speent their past weekends out on the town campaigning for various politicians.

CLAIRE SANDEN

QUICK READS EDITOR

JOSH HAWLEY OR CLAIRE MCCASKILL? not care a great amount about is the last thing they want to do. When the seniors do have a moment of free time, they most likely do not want to spend it on a campaign but the Government teachers have a real purpose for this assignment.

Ken Boesch, one of the AP Gov and regular Government teachers, told the students that they had to make time for this because not only was it important for their grade, it was important for them to experience.

Photo By: Claire Sanden

This year the seniors who are in AP Gov or regular Government during first semester are required to work on a political campaign. The students are allowed to work on whatever campaign they want - either democratic or republican. A lot of students are working for the Josh Hawley campaign since Catie George, senior, is heavily involved in the campaign and is getting a lot of other students involved.

Hattie Means, senior, worked on the Josh Hawley campaign on Oct. 7. “All I did on Sunday was go door to door and ask people who they were voting for and gave them information about Josh Hawley. A fair amount of people were rude when I rang their doorbell and did not want to talk to me. But, fortunately, there were some people who were kind and would openly talk to me about their political viewpoints,” said Means.

“I really enjoyed doing this and getting to talk to people. It was a different experience for me but I had a good time doing it,” said Pamela Mueller, senior.

A lot of seniors are dreading the assignment since they are short on time and working for a campaign they do

22 OPINIONS

“Democracy is a contact sport. Young people need to learn the importance of getting involved in the political process. It helps because they can get an idea of what it is like to get someoneleected, even if they can not vote themselves yet,” said Boesch.

When asked if the students’ 6 hours of work makes a difference, he said, “Of course it does. I know it makes a difference because every time an election comes around, I have candidate’s managers emailing me and asking me if my students will be completing this assignment. They want our help because it makes a big difference to them.”

The point of this assignment is to bring to light the hard work of campaigning. It is not all easy work, and a lot of it is small, clerical work.

I myself did my campaigning on October 14 for 6 hours. It was definitely a long day, but I did not mind it. It was a good experience for me because I had never done anything like that before. Going with friends also makes the process a lot less boring and it makes fun to be able to work together.

Luke Linam, senior, also went on October 14th. “It was a cool experience for me. It was something I had never done before and I liked being involved in the campaign,” said Linam

800 SPORTING

OCTOBER

SOFTBALL WINS DISTRICTS P. 23

POWDERPUFF PREVIEW

P. 24-25

FOOTBALL DISTRICTS

P. 26

SOCCER AND FIELD HOCKEY P. 28

LJ MINNER FEATURE

P. 29

“UGLY BUT EFFECTIVE”

THEY SAY THEIR PLAY ISN’T ALWAYS PRETTY, BUT IT GETS THE JOB DONE

SECTION 23

SPORTINGWCA

that was ugly, but boy was it effective.”

UGLY BUT EFFECTIVE Despite the unconvenional and not always pretty play, the WCA Softball Team managed to shock the world and capture a District Title.

THOMAS SHULTZ SPORTING EDITOR

Here’s one for you. How does a softball team that has 6 girls with little no softball experience, and who averages 4 errors a game win districts? Well honestly, we have no idea.

Heading into the season, most people weren’t even sure that there would be a 2018 Softball Team. With only 6 girls signed up in mid-July, chances of a team were looking slim.

“There was never a doubt in my mind that we would have enough players,” said Head Coach Dan Petke, “I just wasn’t sure how much experience they would have, and turns out it was pretty much nothing.”

“I think that really described our season,” said senior pitcher Dani Mabry, “It wasn’t always the prettiest, but we found a way to get the job done. I think a big part of it was that we weren’t too uptight and just loved to play.”

One player who was key to keeping the team lose was senior Rachel Arndt. Arndt hadn’t touched a softball since 6th grade, but was convinced to play after playing catch with some baseball players in late August.

Being her senior year, it was her last chance to play softball, so Arndt decided to join the team and see how it went.

“I kind of surprised myself,” said Arndt, “I hadn’t played softball in a long time and didn’t know I could throw that well.”

Arndt finsihed the year batting .217, with 9 RBI’s, and led the team in smiles.

In fact, the 6 new players had a total of 3 years of softball experience (after 6th grade) between all of them. Some had never even played softball in their life, but that didn’t stop them from going out for the team or trying their best to succeed.

“The inexperience was obvious at times,” continued Coach Petke, “but I think our best trait was being able to move on and learn from our mistakes without getting down.”

The team started off the year a shocking 3-0, and continued to hang right above .500 for the entire season. This would have been considered a successful season looking at what they started with, but the Cats weren’t done.

After winning in the first round, Westminster moved on to play the defending state champion, Incarnate Word.

Despite being a massive underdog, Westminster pulled off the upset winning 7-5 to capture WCA Softball’s 6th District Title.

During the game, first year player Katie Hobaugh layed down the most perfectly placed bunt while having the worst form ever seen on a doftball diomond.

The field umpire turned to Petke at third and said, “Wow was

24 SPORTING

Rachel Arndt, Senior

Photo By:Jeff Arndt

“Our biggest challenge was gettingher to stop laughing at called strikes,” laughed Petke, “but she kept the attitude light and played a big part in our enjoyment this year.”

Arndt’s decision to ‘walk-on’ to the the softball season ended up being one of the best she made: “Anyone thinking about joining a sport should go for it,” said Arndt, “The challenge and fun of playing a new sport is awsome and the friendhips formed are priceless.”

WCA BACKS UP MSHAA

Stricter enforcement seems new but is actually closer adherance to state policy

AMANDA ESPY STAFF WRITER

This year WCA’s athletic program has focused on implementing MSHHA’s rules more consistently.

“These are not new rules, but we have to be more consistent in standing behind MSHAA’s policies. This is about more than sports, it’s about the integrity of our school and the athletic program,” said Athletic Director Cory Snyder.

The stricter enforcement of these rules has raised the question among athletes on whether the school is taking this a step too far.

“I missed my first hour and the school would not let me compete in my tennis match that day. I understand that the school must have certain attendance rules, but it seems a bit harsh to not let athletes compete if they miss only one hour,” said sophomore Gracie Dark.

“We understand that there are going to be days where students may be running late, so we want students to feel comfortable coming to the office to explain their situation. While we must enforce the MSHAA rules, we also are willing to let students explain their situation,” said Snyder.

There have been several cases of students not being able to practice or compete in a game because they were tardy.

“This rule has affected both me and my sister. I missed my first hour and the school made me sit out at Field Hockey practice. My sister missed only a couple minutes of school because she was running late, and they almost made her sit out from playing in a field hockey game,” said sophomore Grace Clement.

MSHAA’s policy says that an athlete must attend a full day of school in order to practice or play in a game. There are exceptions for previously scheduled appointments such as doctors appointments or funerals. This is intended to keep athletes from prioritizing sports over academics, but the school does want to be understanding of special circumstances.

Photo By: Thomas Shultz

SPORTING 25

Powderpuff game.

POWDERPUFF 2018 Seniors look to avenge last year’s nightmare while Juniors hope to continue recent trend of youthful dominance.

TOMMY BRINER

While everyone will get to play and the enjoyment of all the girls involved is the leading factor, the game will be played in order to achieve victory by both sides. Pillar 5 states that “We will run the race to win.” There is nothing wrong with a strong will to win and a competitive spirit in athletics, even

5

WE WILL RUN

STAFF WRITER

THE RACE

TO WIN when it comes to a somewhat trivial event such as owderpuff.

Last years Powderpuff Champions, Class of 2018

As fall sports wind down at the Academy, the 800 Sporting staff decided that one of the most important upcoming events on the calendar worth covering was the annual Powderpuff Football Game between the Juniors and Seniors.

For those who don’t know, here’s some context. Powderpuff is a 7-on-7 flag football game played by girls and coached by boys. At Westminster, the game is played between the juniors and seniors and happens around the end of October every year. This year, the game was originally scheduled for October 27th at 2:30 p.m, but the scheduling of the District Varsity Football game for the same time has moved the game to Friday the 26th at 5:15 p.m. Teams usually practice for a couple weeks prior to the game to sort out their offensive and defensive formations, figure out the

26 SPORTING

best positions for their players based on strengths and weaknesses, and get a general feel for the game before it actually happens. The game is played on the Westminster football field.

“I love it when it serves the purpose it’s supposed to, of building class community and having a good time, and doing something just for fun,” said Ms. Woodall.

Last year, the juniors lost. It was a close, high-scoring game that the Juniors led throughout with a controversial call at the end that swung the result in favor of the Seniors. The Juniors There are rumors that the Powderpuff gained one important thing from their game is solely played for the purpose of Junior-year powderpuff game: experifun. The better word for these rumors is ence. Now, as jeniors, they understand probably “myths.” While Powderpuff the game much better than the juniors.

They don’t have to go through the first certainly is a fun, entertaining, and team-spirit building event, the outcome couple practices simply learning how to line up and which way to run. The is critical to everyone involved.

Seniors know what positions they are going to play, as well as which offensive plays worked well for them last year and which ones didn’t. Of course, There is only one Powderpuff game this experience also has one positive played per year, which means that effect for the Juniors, too. there’s only one winner for the entire year. Bragging rights and pride are The juniors know far more about the deeply entangled in the spirit of the

senior team than the seniors know about the junior team. The Juniors know who will quarterback the Seniors, who the main offensive threats are, and who played the best last year. For the seniors, the junior lineup will be largely a mystery. Of course, they have an idea of which players will be most important to take note of, but the seniors will have to make educated guesses when making their game plan for the most part.

ultimate advantage that will eventually lead to a junior win and an 0-2 overall record for the Class of 2019.

“We might be the underdogs this year, but we have pretty good chemistry when we’re practicing together as a team,” said Junior Grace Dempsey.

“Our grade has a rare connection and a family feel. I think the juniors are going to dominate,” said junior Evie Perhaps the most invested and compet- Cunningham. itive Powderpuff player for either side is senior Hannah Sturr. Last year, she As part of Westminster’s Athletic played linebacker and running back Office, Coach and Mrs. Brown, as well for the juniors. She is excited for this as Ms. Woodall, have been gracious year’s game and will not be satisfied enough to help with the setup of this with another loss for the Class of 2019. year’s contest. They’ve set guidelines for the rules, helped organize the jersey “I’m really excited for the game this ordering process, and found a date year. We’ll see a lot of skill on both that would work for both sides. They teams, but hopefully the seniors will understand the perceived importance of pull through,” said Sturr. the game to the coaches, players, and students from both classes, but remain adamant that the number one priority of Without giving away too much valuable information, the Junior team says the game is that everyone on both sides that it will be just as well prepared as get the chance to play and that everyone walks away remembering Powderthe seniors are when the game takes place. Through just a few practices, the puff as a positive experience. players have made tremendous strides in not only their understanding of the “I love the excitement of the event. I game but also their physical skills, love that the girls have the chance to including catching and route running. learn something about to boys when it comes football. What I don’t like The seniors are led by Isaac Johnston, is when the competition goes over the Jerram Adams, Zion Thompson and Kyle Dolan, all of whom are football players. They remember well what happened in their game last year and are looking to finish their Powderpuff careers with at least one win.

top and the boys make it more about their coaching than the girls having too fun,” said Mrs. Brown, “You have to have a certain level of seriousness to it, but there’s a balance that sometimes gets lost.”

“Powderpuff is meant to get as many girls involved as want to be involved.

It’s not meant to be highly competitive in that sense. Anytime you compete against somebody, you want to win, but I would say that the goal is not as much the competition as it is to bring the class together,” said Ms. Woodall.

Powderpuff is an annual event that provides a great memory for both players and coaches. Over the years, the game has come to mean more and more in the Westminster community, but not in a way that makes the game overly competitive or no longer fun for the players. The 800 Sporting staff encourages everyone to attend the game and support their grade.

Some boys will be cheerleading and there will be a Blue Crew for both sides. At the conclusion of the game, cookies will be served not just to the winners, but to both sides to represent the sentiment of community even through the competition.

“We expect a big turnaround this year.

We played well last year, but didn’t finish,” said Johnston, “We’re proud of our girls, but we will finish this year.”

On the junior side, the coaches are Ben Straub, Lane Davis, Tommy Briner, and Brennan Orf. The juniors are confident in the athleticism of their team, and specifically in the speed of their running backs and height and catching abilities of their wide receivers.

They think that size will give them the

Alayna Barthelmass, senior, finds her reciever down field during a practice.

SPORTING 27

“WAIT, WHO WON LAST NIGHT?”

Students are left wondering how Westminster athletic teams are doing with the absence of the athletic results in the morning announcements.

REBEKAH SEMS STAFF WRITER

What’s the point of playing sports? Many people would say because it’s a fun, interactive way for them to release energy and form a bond with their teammates and peers. Sports also teach athletes responsibility, hard work, commitment, and how to work with others in order to accomplish a goal. All these skills are important aspects of life, and teamwork, specifically, demonstrates how athletes can support each other through thick and thin.

The athletic results are one way for the Westminster community to champion and cheer each other on and also to be informed of how their teams are doing. However, this year the athletic department has decided to not include the sporting results in the morning announcements anymore due to the amount of work involved. This change limits the ability for students to know what is going on within the the sporting world and ultimately creates a barrier between peers.

The Christian faith is similar to the bond that forms between teammates and as a Christian school, Westminster students, faculty, and staff can also support and encourage one another through the knowledge of their failures and successes. The athletic results are one key element in uniting the community, and their presence in the morning announcements helped keep students informed and aware of the hard work of their classmates.

Since sports are such a popular and fundamental part of the Westminster community and society in general, it was a shock to many when they discovered that the athletic results were no longer included in the morning announcements.

“I was disappointed when I realized that the sporting results weren’t in the announcements. It was always fun to hear how the teams had done and special when you or someone you know had their name in the announcements,” said Hayley Adair, junior.

In addition, the absence of athletic results forced several teams to create their own twitter accounts where they could post the outcomes of their athletic events.

28 SPORTING

By forcing teams to form individual ways to share their accomplishments and failures, it breaks off the unity between the school.

However, the amount of workload that was placed on Ms. Woodall to include the outcomes of the athletic teams in the announcements was overwhelming and wasted valuable time.

It was often difficult for coaches to work together with Ms. Woodall and turn results in to her in enough time, so she could incorporate them into the daily announcements. The process was untimely and required an inordinate amount of energy to include the results. Furthermore, the change was made to help shape the purpose of the announcements.

“We wanted the announcements to be more about what was up and coming instead of what had already happened,” said Cory Snyder, athletic director.

“CROSS COUNTRY HAS OUR OWN TWITTER SO WE CAN SHARE OUR RESULTS” - KINSLEY LAWRENCE, JUNIOR. In addition, Snyder shared that a new website was being launched soon that would have a specific place for all sporting results to be posted. This will help keep students updated and aware of the ongoings in the sporting world at Westminster.

A better alternative option would be to include a short summary of the results in the announcements and a longer explanation on the new website. It would also be beneficial and helpful to students if the morning announcements added a link to the new website each time results were posted, so the Westminster community could access the information easier.

Until the new website is up and running, the announcements could include a link to 800 Sporting, where athletic results are regularly updated and posted.

Sadly, the system of including the results was a pain and untimely for Ms. Woodall, but including a smaller amount of information in the announcements and a longer summary on the website would be the best way to strengthen the Westminster community and unite them in support for their athletes.

VARSITY FOOTBALL DISTRICT PREVIEW

After fighting injuries all season, Varsity Football is finally ready to make a run for the District Championship.

TOMMY BRINER

For the first time in the last three years, Westminster believes it can win Districts. This has certainly been a year that’s been plagued by injury, but the Wildcats will really be missing only their starting quarterback in Districts, and with the way they’ve been running the ball in recent weeks, not having a starting quarterback is less of an issue. Jackson Selk threw four passes last Saturday, completing two including one touchdown and no interceptions, which is very efficient for the young varsity player.

Atlin Hall will return on Saturday from another high ankle sprain, and with this added boost to the running

STAFF WRITER

Varsity Football is preparing for their first round District matchup against Parkway Central this week. The Wildcats will host the game on Saturday, with a kickoff at 2 p.m.

Westminster hasn’t won a District football game since 2015 when they went 13-1, losing to Kearney in the state quarterfinal. In the past two years, they’ve lost to Borgia and Rolla respectively.

“We are very prepared for the playoffs and are ready to make a run for state” - Atlin Hall, Senior Parkway Central finished the regular season with a record of 3-6, losing to Jackson by a score of 42-0 in their final regular season game last week. Although they play in the same district as Westminster, they’ve played a considerably tougher schedule that includes Ladue, Parkway West, and the aforementioned Jackson.

The Colts have run the ball 236 times this year against only 87 passes, but they’ve managed just 2.1 yards per carry all season. Although they’ve run the ball almost three times as much as they’ve thrown, nine of their touchdowns have come through the air versus just three on the ground.

The Wildcats, on the other hand, are hot off their most dominant performance of the year. Last week, they beat St. Charles West 41-19 as they controlled the game between the tackles and ran for 301 yards and five touchdowns as a team. They enter this week’s game unintimidated.

“We’ve got no fear headed into this week,” said Ben Straub, “We know what Central is as a team and we know that we can dominate them physically all day.”

Coach Herring leads his team to the field for their season opener against St. Mary’s.

Photo By: Tommy Briner

game, the Wildcats seem poised to have a big day on the ground.

“I am about 80 percent ready physically, but 120 percent ready mentally,” said Hall.

Hall also added that the Wildcats are aware that they have to win to advance from here on out, but also that they’re ready for everything.

“This week we did some Senior rituals I’ve seen since I was a Freshman, and me and the Seniors are starting to realize nothing is promised from here on out. We are very prepared for the playoffs and are ready to make a run for state,” said Hall.

If Westminster beats Parkway Central on Saturday, which they should, they’ll have a clear path to the District Championship. Priory, St. Dominic, and Warrenton, all easier teams than Parkway Central, loom in the distance.

SPORTING 29

LET US SHOW OUR SPIRIT

Westminster athletes would like to find a solution that allows teams to wear distinct apparel such as their jerseys on game days.

GRACE SKILJAN STAFF WRITER

Wearing jerseys to school on game days has been a high school tradition for football players as long as anyone can remember. The team roaring through the halls and getting everyone hyped for the upcoming game is part of the high school experience. The jerseys are more than just a number on a shirt because it unites the players and makes them one team, one family, and they wear them with pride.

by having blue and white days. These dress down days provide an opportunity for the whole school to dress in Westminster t-shirts and jeans and also allows the football players to wear their jerseys if they choose to.

Sometimes blue and white days aren’t always acknowledged by the student body and only a couple players wear their jerseys.

“There is nothing wrong with our jerseys that make them not appropriate to wear to school. All we want is to be able to support our team and make sure everyone knows it’s game day.” said Nick Moten, Sophomore.

Instead, the school should let all varsity in-season athletes represent their sport on significant game days such as districts or weekend games. For sports whose uniforms would be inappropriate school attire, like swim team, the team should take the ititiative and create a t-shirt for the team and commit to wearing them on the days they have a significant game or event. While a t-shirt is not the same thing as a jersey it still has the desired effect of presenting a unified team and reminding the student body of the sports event. The reason the football jerseys stick out so much when worn is because they technically are not dress code. For a sports team to stand out on their game days, they have to look different than the normal sea of blues and greys in the westminster hallway. For example: the volleyball team has long-sleeve warm up shirts that would be perfect for wearing on game-days because they will stand out in the crowd but they are also not form-fitting like the normal jerseys.

If every sport had some form of appropriate jersey or t-shirt, than they would be able to proudly display their sports team on game days. Instead of creating more work for the administration, teams who chose to do this should go to student life and ask permission before the day of to make sure there are no misunderstandings or problems.

“It’s a high school football tradition that happens at pretty much every school around America with a football team.”

But ever since Westminster had a dress code put in place, the boys dressing out for game days is prohibited.

Westminster administration has tried their best to create - Lane Davis, Junior a safe and fair environment within the school halls, the dress code is just another way of doing that. It eliminates unnecessary distractions caused by unstandardized dress in the classroom and it avoids the debate of what is deemed appropriate or not by making everything worn by the students the same. Since the whole point of the dress code is to have standardized dress everyday at school, wearing jerseys on game days defeats the purpose.

Another reason the players wearing their jerseys is a problem is the fact that it places football above all the other fall sports.

“The swimmers can’t wear their suits on meet days and the track team can’t wear their outfits, why should the football team be treated differently than all the other sports?” said Suzie Brown, Director of Student Life.

Football is sometimes idolized and that isn’t something that Westminster wants to promote. The Administration has tried to find a way to make everyone happy

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Football is not the only sport supported by Westminster and it isn’t fair to the other sports if the football players were the only ones allowed to wear their jerseys on game days. If all sports were allowed to represent their teams, it would provide even more advertisement for sporting events at Westminster. Sports events should be some of the most memorable times in highschool and the hype and excitement that wearing uniforms or t-shirts would bring would help to get more of a turnout. Westminster’s student body wants to support their teams, and having a different attire on game days gives them a way to do that.

FALL SPORTS TOP 5 RANKING JIMMY OBERTOP STAFF WRITER

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DISTRICT PREVIEWS

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THANNY SEMS STAFF WRITER

LJ MINNER - HE’S A FRESHMAN In LJ Minner’s first year of varsity, he has been a key

While sports may appear to be one of his greatest strengths, LJ says that his academic success is his number one priority while attending Westminster. In addition to his performance on the football field, Minner can be seen playing basketball in the winter and running track and field in the spring. LJ says that these sports help him prepare for the football season and staying in shape.

factor to the team’s success.

When asked how he feels playing against people older than him, LJ said that he is not scared at all.

KOBY SCHMER

“Playing against seniors pushes me to play harder and I feel the need to have to show them I’m capable of playing with and against them,” says Minner. He thanks his three older brothers for this motivation, always pushing him around when he was younger.

STAFF WRITER

As Varsity Football makes their way into the second half of the season, the fans, players, and coaches are taking time to look back and evaluate the key players that are helping to keep this team alive throughout the adversity of their season.

Everyone has noticed the dominant performance of first year player LJ Minner, who continues to show off his grit and determination each time he laces up and steps on the field.

For the Westminster community, the questions remain: who is this kid, where did he come from, and what does he have in store these next four years?

LJ Minner first became a name at Westminster when he started in seventh grade. He played middle school football for both his seventh grade and eighth grade year, learning more and more about the game every season.

During LJ’s first couple of Photo By: Tommy Briner practices with the Varsity squad, he quickly became a standout to his fellow teammates.

“From the first day of summer practices, I could see LJ had great instincts and was a great competitor who wanted to win,” says Lane Davis, Junior quarterback.

LJ’s drive to win quickly became noticeable to his fellow teammates, helping him blend into the atmosphere of the team as just a Freshman.

So far this year, LJ has 247 rushing yards, which is the third most on the team. He grabbed 122 of those in the close victory against Lutheran South.

Throughout the entirety of that game, Lutheran South struggled to bring him down. Every opponent Westminster has faced has struggled with the Freshman.

Everytime LJ steps on the field, he is a force to be reckoned with. He has made himself known as a versatile asset not just on the offensive side, but also becoming a powerhouse on defense.

Throughout the adversity that the team has had this year, LJ has kept this team’s confidence high and also has become a leader that this team needs, even as a Freshman.

When asked about LJ’s leadership, Ben Straub, junior, commented, “LJ is a work horse that is willing to do whatever it takes for the team. He hopped in right away like a veteran player and leads like one.”

For the remainder of this season, the “He’s a Freshman” chants will continue to echo throughout the Westminster stands as LJ dominates the field. When asking LJ what his plans for the future are, he humbly says, “My plan is to improve and continue to play as hard as I can for Christ with my football brothers.”

Through the Freshman, the future of the program appears to be strong, as we wait to see what this kid can do in the future for the Wildcats. What we know for sure is that with him, this team’s confidence will remain high these next three seasons.

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FINAL WHISTLE SOFTBALL 13-12-1

FIELD HOCKEY 10-9-1

SOCCER 13-9-1

FOOTBALL 5-4

THE SOFTBALL TEAM SHOCKED THE SCHOOL, WINNING THE DISCTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST THE 13-10 INCARNATE WORD TEAM .

THE WILDCATS ENTERED THE POST SEASON AFTER A STRONG REGULAR SEASON, BUT FELL JUST SHORT TO THE LADUE RAMS. THEY WILL WISH THEIR 15 SENIORS GOODBYE AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION.

THE SOCCER TEAM HAS HAD A GREAT SEASON, ACHIEVING THE BEST RECORD VARSITY BOYS SOCCER HAS HAD IN NINE YEARS.

DESPITE ADVERSITY, WESTMINSTER FOOTBALL HAS HAD A SOLID SEASON WITH A RECORD ABOVE .500, THE FIRST WINNING RECORD IN THREE YEARS.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY 5-1

TENNIS 6-4

VOLLEYBALL 5-20-4

SWIMMING

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY HAS BEEN PERFORMING ADMIRABLY, PLACING FIRST IN FIVE OUT OF SIX APPEARANCES.

THE GIRLS TENNIS TEAM HAD AN OVER .500 SEASON, MAKING IT TO THE SECOND ROUND OF DISTRICTS. SIX PLAYERS PLAYED IN SINGLES AND THERE WERE TWO DOUBLES TEAMS.

THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM HAS NOT HAD AN IDEAL SEASON, BUT THEY CLEARLY HAVE THE TALENT AND POTENTIAL TO BE A GOOD TEAM IN THE FUTURE.

BOYS SWIMMING HAD A GREAT YEAR, ONLY LOSING 2 MEETS OUT OF 15 THANKS TO VETERAN TALENT PAIRED WITH A YOUNG TEAM.

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13-2

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