800 News: The Wildcat Roar - January 2022

JANURAY 2022

Westminster Christian Academy

Our City, the 800 news januray investigative.

1

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

2

FEATURE EDITOR

PAWPRINT LIAISON

ELLIE JONES, SENIOR

HOPE LINAM, SENIOR

Staff Writer

STAFF WRITER

RILEY HEIRONIMUS, SENIOR

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

ALEX WITTENAUER, SENIOR

STAFF WRITER

ANNA GRACE LIKES, JUNIOR

SYDNEY BRADLEY, JUNIOR

ALLI BISHOP, JUNIOR

MIA SCHEULEN, JUNIOR

AMILA PIERIS, SOPHO-

DREW CAHILL, SOPHOMORE

EVAN KOHN, SENIOR

JACOB BROWN, SENIOR

ELIJAH SCHMIDT, FRESH-

LUCY KNERR, SOPHO-

WILL DANA, SOPHOMORE

WILLIAM JINKINS,

LUKE RYAN, JUNIOR

SAYVA PHILIPS , SENIOR

NOLAN JONES, SENIOR

MADDOX ROSENBERG, SOPHO-

POPPY MCCAULEY, SOPHOMORE

MEGAN MOREY, SENIOR

LAUREN BORCHELT, SENIOR

CHRISTINA ENGLISH, JUNIOR

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE

CAKES ARE BETTER THAN COWS PG. 8 THE HISTORY AND IMPACT OF THE STL ART MUSEUM PG. 11 BUSINESS HISTORY OF DAVID STEWARD PG. 13

OPINION

BEST OF THE BEST IN THE MIDWEST PG. 6-7 PASS THE PLATE PG. 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT UNDERGO STL ARTIST PG. 12 HOW ANHEUSER BUSCH SAVES STL PG. 14

SPORTING

THE HIGH SCHOOL HEISMAN: MORE THAN AN ATHLETE PG. 17-18 SPOONBALL PG. 19 BEHIND THE BRONZE PG. 20-21

4

STAFF ED January Here At The Academy January here at 800 news is the month we choose to investigate. A type of which the whole staff can focus on, this January, we chose to do the history of St. Louis. We looked at everything from the food to the most iconic spots in STL. With this investigation we have a unique opportunity to also have videos, you can check out all the videos made for the stories in this issue on the wildcat roar!

Also get hyped for spirit week, this spirit week is back to normal at the end of january and we are excited to see who will win! But let’s all remember to keep calm and not get too caught up in the competition. It is important to still create and love our community as a whole. Spirit Week is a great way for us to express your style and show you love for this community. So get out your blue and white and start practicing lip sync, and boys poms, at home because we are officially in spirit week season!

From 800 news

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

STAFF ED 5

BEST OF THE BEST IN THE MIDWEST St. Louis has many attractions and facilities which contribute and stand out worldwide.

Anna Grace Likes Staff Writer St. Louis–once known as the “Gateway to the West” and the beginning of freedom and opportunity in America–now is most widely known as an average midwestern city. It may be most famous for its shockingly thin crust pizza and iconic frozen custard destinations, but contrary to popular belief, there is a surplus of world class destinations and attractions in St. Louis than first meets the eye. From music to art to science, St. Louis is an unexpected home to a number of world-renowned destinations.

Powell Hall, the venue which hosts one of the greatest Symphony Orchestras in the nation, lives right in the heart of St. Louis city on N Grand Blvd. The beautiful venue was first constructed in 1925 but artfully renovated in 1966 through a generous donation from the widow of St. Louis businessman Walter S. Powell. The world class orchestra rivals some of the best across the country, and Powell Hall’s elegance and charm certainly reflects this. Its European-influenced design transports any visitor to Versailles with hues of deep red and brilliant gold finishes surrounding all who enter. n top of the visual elegance, the venue is thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed by those who have the opportunity to play in it. “It has warmth that enhances a performance…a pleasure for a musician. Powell Hall is first-rate. It ranks with Carnegie Hall in New York and Symphony Hall in Boston.” said violinist Isaac Stern. Powell Hall

Image by: Anna Grace Likes Powell Hall is located on Grand in St. Louis City.

6

Image by: Anna Grace Likes The statue of St. Louis stands guard outside of the St. Louis art museum.

provides an experience for both the musicians and the audience—making it a hidden midwestern gem in the heart of St. Louis.

Just a short drive away from Powell Hall inside of iconic Forest Park, which exceeds New York City’s Central Park by 500 acres, lives the St. Louis Art Museum. Sitting at the top of Art Hill, it towers grandly above the park and contains some of the most famous works of art to be created. From Monet (including one of his famous “Water Lilies” paintings), to Picasso, to lesser-known works such as a current exposition containing traditional Native American artifacts and artwork, the St. Louis Art Museum does not fall short in expositions of great works. Containing a total of around 34,000 pieces, the museum rivals art museums in cities across the country.

Recently, longtime donor, board member, and art curator Emily Rauh Pulitzer donated 22 works, adding immense value to the St. Louis Art Museum’s permanent collection.“These works are, by themselves, an art historical primer. They will[…]cement this institution’s reputation as one of the premier art museums anywhere,” said Min Jung Kim, Barbara B. Taylor Director of the Saint Louis Art Museum. He could not be more right, these artists—including Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol—are household names which immensely help the reputation of the museum.

Aside from the arts, St. Louis contributes worldwide

to the sciences, partaking in the conservation, preservation, and research of both plants and animals through the St. Louis Zoo and the Botanical Gardens.

Aside from the beauty of the lush gardens, the Missouri Botanical Gardens is a facility which dedicates itself to plant conservation around the world. Founded in 1859, the once-small garden is now an international leader in research on plant evolution and founder of the world’s largest botanical database, “Tropicos.” Through Tropicos, scientists all over the world are able to collaborate and share research—“the Garden’s research activities are carried out in collaboration with institutions in each host country. Garden scientists train local botanists and build research capacity in countries with the greatest biological diversity, to assist them to conserve and sustainably manage their botanical resources” (From the Missouri Botanical Gardens website).

Image by: Lucy Knerr The 3-dimensional Zoo sign stands tall above the parking lot, visible from interstate 64.

Along with the research they do, the gardens themselves are a large facility which contains unique and ease, poaching, and extinction, as well as many other beautiful plants, interactive tours, museums, cafes, and foundations they support, it is no wonder the St. Louis more.

Zoo is recognized every year for its incredible work.

Across town at the St. Louis Zoo, they have dedicated ample money and time to animal conservation worldwide. Consistently on Travel + Leisure Magazine’s list of the top zoos in the country, it is showstopping not only for its incredible exhibits and completely free cost of admission, but also for its internationally-recognized strides and initiatives in animal conservation. With conservation initiatives such as their WildCare Institute, which supports areas worldwide with threats of dis-

As a part of their WildCare Institute, they work with seventeen different different animals and areas in the world. One of those seventeen projects includes the Center for Asian Elephant Conservation, whose goal is to prevent this endangered species from extinction worldwide. “Through a ground-breaking research project, based in Myanmar, a framework will be developed for elephant release that incorporates a diversity of scientific approaches at all decision stages[…]30-50 elephants will be released into the wild in the near future to gain a deeper understanding of which animals are most likely to succeed in the wild…” (from the St. Louis Zoo website).

St. Louis natives often find it difficult to recognize the art and research which can be found in the city, but the worldwide recognition this seemingly insignificant city has gained makes it hard to ignore. The Midwest may not have the prestige of cities such as New York City or Los Angeles, but over the years St. Louis culture and science has proved to rise above the rest and put St. Louis front and center on the map as the star of the show.

Image by: Lucy Knerr The Climatron at the St. Louis Botanical Gardens hosts an oasis of tropical plants.

7

CAKES ARE BETTER THAN COWS How did the 250th birthday cakes connect to the history of St. Louis?

CHRISTINA ENGLISH Staff Writer

In 1999, Chicago, Illinois put up statues of cows to bring the community together in a public setting. This exhibition was called “Cow Parade”, and it was a huge success. People came to see them on the streets and by iconic areas of Chicago. They were taken down and sold once the exhibition was over, but they were brought back in 2019 for their twentieth anniversary.

However, St. Louis, Missouri did something different. 2014 marked the city turning 250 years old, and they made fourfoot-fiber-glass birthday cakes and scattered them around different spots in the area (stretching out into the counties) where they were painted to look like iconic spots in St. Louis. This project was called “Stl250 Cakeway to the West”.

“After World War II, the City’s population peaked at 856,000 by 1950.” Stlouismo-.gov explained.

From then on, St. Louis continued to thrive as a city, and in order to commemorate this, they celebrated the city’s 250th birthday throughout 2014 with the “Stl250 Cakeway to the West” project. Now, in 2022, most of the cakes have been auctioned off or taken down, but there are a few that are still standing. So, if you ever see a cake that has the number 250 on it, know that it is to remember the city of St. Louis and its rich history.

According to the Missouri Department of Education, the project was “established as a nonprofit volunteer group of people and businesses from across the region who love to promote St. Louis. Each site selected holds a special place in the heart, history, or culture of the city.”

The history of St. Louis, which the cakes helped signify, started in 1764 when two French men by the names of Pierre Laclède and Auguste Chouteau decided to build a settlement off of the Mississippi River. The settlement was used as a fur trading post with Native American tribes that were close by.

Then, in 1803, Thomas Jefferson initiated the Louisiana Purchase, which included Missouri, and therefore St. Louis, with it. This then meant that it was now a part of the United States. From there, Lewis and Clark started their great expedition westward, which helped with St. Louis’s popularity.

More and more people from the east coast and new immigrants ranging from Germans to Greeks started to move to St. Louis, which was a reason as to why it became the fourth largest city in the 1890’s.

Stlouismo-.gov also stated how the World’s Fair and the expansion of St. Louis were big parts of its history. The 1904 World’s Fair took place in St. Louis, where people far and wide came to see new scientific discoveries and learn new things about peoples’ cultures. 20 million people attended the fair and also watched the Olympics, which took place in St. Louis that same year. After the fair was over, the city of St. Louis kept growing and growing.

8

One of the last cakes standing in St. Louis at the Broadway Oyster Bar. Image by: Christina English

9

PASS THE PLATE Famous St. Louis Foods

ELLIE JONES Features Editor

If you are familiar with the city of Saint Louis, then you are most likely aware of the foods which originated from here as well. Toasted Ravioli, Gooey Butter Cake, Imos Pizza, the list goes on. However, what one might not know is the ways in which these specific foods were brought into the world.

Let’s go back in time for just a second. Saint Louis, Missouri was originally founded in 1764, a time in which instead of Toasted Ravioli being made, French fur trader, Pierre Laclede, established this world renown city, our beloved home today. Technically, however, Saint Louis did not become a legal city until the year of 1823 when trading and commerce took over. Nevertheless, we are not here to talk about business, we are here to talk about food. So, let’s put together a thoughtfully crafted Saint Louisan meal shall we?

One word: appetizer. Two words: Toasted Ravioli. A favorite, a classic, and a traditional holiday addition to the menu.

This deep fried twist on the Italian famous dish originated in a neighborhood of Saint Louis known as The Hill. The Hill consists of Italian restaurant after Italian restaurant, and one aspect is for certain, you can never go wrong with any of them. The birthplace of this dish was a restaurant named Angelo Oldani’s, and coincidently, they were not created on purpose.

provel which provides a richer taste.

Lastly, as we move into dessert, everyone’s favorite: Gooey Butter Cake. On the East and West Coast, they think Midwesterners are speaking an entire different language when these three words are used. Just how Toasted Ravioli was discovered, Gooey Butter Cake was brought about completely by accident as well. It was a joint effort by both Herman Danzer of Danzer’s Bakery, and Johnny Hoffman of St. Louis Pastries Bakery.

“Johnny Hoffman of St. Louis Pastries Bakery created Gooey Butter Cake by mistake. After realizing his creation, Hoffman called Danzer, and together, they worked on a final recipe,” said Elizabeth Barmeier, Fox News.

Overall, if someone knows Saint Louis well, they know of the fantastic food creations whom this city is responsible for. Like most masterpieces made in this day in age: they come about by chance or by mistake.

“Angelo was busy and told a new assistant, a German cook, to prepare the ravioli. He had a pan of boiling hot oil on the stove, and the cook thought it was supposed to be for the ravioli, so he dropped them into the oil. When Mr. Oldani saw what had happened, he tried to salvage the raviolo by brushing on some grated cheese. The result was local history,” said Patricia Brooks, The New York Times.

Moving onto our main course, we present Imo’s Pizza.

Founded in 1964, this provolone cheese covered masterpiece continually proves its worth to Saint Louis more and more each year.

It all began with a couple named Ed and Margie Imo who were simply pursuing their lifelong dream of owning a pizza restaurant. Safe to say that their initial dream transpired into a lasting success, a legacy in fact. Along with Toasted Ravioli, Imo’s was also born in the neighborhood of The The foods which originated from Saint Louis.

Hill. What sets Saint Louis style pizza apart from others is Photo courtesy of Jonathon Gayman, Taste. the lack of use of Mozzarella cheese, in comparison we used

10

THE HISTORY AND IMPACT OF THE STL ART MUSEUM ELIJAH SCHMIDT Staff Writer

Founded in 1879 as the St. Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts, the St. Louis Art Museum (S.L.A.M) has been an STL landmark for over a century. But what impact does art have on St. Louis? Why is it important to our culture?

Originally an independent unit of Washington University, this famed museum has a rich history that would be foolish to ignore. After the World’s Fair it was moved from downtown St. Louis to Forest Park, and since has been divided into sections such as African, American, Ancient and Islamic, Asian, etc.

But what pieces call these marble halls their home, and what historic weight do they hold?

S.L.A.M is home to a crown jewel of impressionist art, Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies”. Painted in 1926, this painting was added to the St. Louis Art Museum’s collection thirty years later in 1956. This beautiful piece depicts a scene of utter bliss, of water lilies floating on blue-green water. Monet masterfully crafted this piece and it has turned into a staple of impressionism.

A painting by Bingham portraying an American county election in 1852.

Painting by George Caleb Bingham

Monet’s famous “Water Lilies” painting currently on display at the St. Louis Art Museum. Painting by Claude Monet

While these pieces of art are beautiful, are the arts all that essential to our lives in a practical manner? The conclusion is yes. The arts in St. Louis means business. According to the R.A.C, “The nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $590.9 million industry in the Greater St. Louis Area – one that supports 19,129 *full-time equivalent jobs and generates $57.7 million in local and state government revenue.” Thus meaning that arts have brought a lot of money into the St. Louis region just like other businesses. We sought out Mrs. Lizzie Vogel an art teacher at Westminster and asked for her perspective on S.L.A.M. “The Art Museum is a place where one can go to literally see visual history, visual moments from the past when they had no cameras, masterful work from the world’s most talented artists while [being] filled with emotions responding to the beauty and mystery of each piece.” Vogel remarks that the St. Louis Art Museum is similar to a photograph. It is a freeze frame for a specific time that without the art of that time period we would never understand or experience.

Visual art has within it the power to make people cry, tip the

In addition, another piece hosted by this historic gallery is “The County Election” by George Caleb Bingham. Painted in 1852, Bingham showcased the diversity of this time period, from politicians forcing their party ticket upon men in line to drunkards being dragged to the polls. One is transported to this scene through the artist’s vivid interpretation of the time period. Through Bingham’s skill many have been able to relive an era long expired.

Another piece featured in the beautifully decorated Gallery 216 German painter Max Beckmann’s depiction of the fatal sinking of the Titanic. is “Sinking of the Titanic” by Max Beckmann. On view since Painting by Caleb Beckmann the 80’s, this painting has the power to bring swelling emo- economic scale, and just exist for the sake of it. Overall, the tions to viewers. Including myself, upon gazing at this paint- St. Louis Art Museum is an outpost for creativity and wonder. ing one can feel the desperation of the passengers aboard the Titanic. Beckmann put on full display the agony and torture that these people went through in their last moments, using dark blues and greens to symbolize the somber and hopeless setting. This artist certainly used his brushstrokes to paint a scene of sadness.

11

ST. LOUIS’ VERY OWN

David Steward and the legacy of World Wide Technology

LUCY KNERR Staff Writer

Along with his extremely successful work with WWT, Steward gave back to many communiIn recent years, no CEO in the Saint Louis area ty foundations in the Saint Louis area, especially has been quite as influential as David Steward, focusing on education for those with lack of access. one of the highest paid African American CEOs in These included: the Civic Project of Saint Louis, the country. Steward, the founder of World Wide Saint Louis Regional Chamber and Growth AssociTechnologies, has grown from humble beginnings ation, and African American Business Leadership to being a published author, mentor, and respected Council. visionary, recognized by many including Forbes magazine. Many, including Westminster parent “He’s a visionary,” Mann explains; “He [truly] Brandon Mann, have been heavily influenced by works to serve”. God’s influence is prevalent in David Steward’s entrepreneurship and ideas on every aspect of Steward’s business career, which business. Mann, who has been a protege of stewallows him to give back to his community in impactards for many years, gives us an inside on one of St ful ways.

Louise’s greatest businessmen.

There are many influential CEOs within the St. Steward was born in Chicago, Illinois to Dorothy Louis area, however Mr. David Steward is one step and Harold Steward. The family ended up moving above the rest because of his drive to serve his to Clinton, Missouri where the family faced poverty community. From his early career onto the global and discrimination as a result of segregation laws at the time (around 1967) . This did not sway or prevent David from receiving his bachelor’s degree from Central Missouri State University in 1973.

After graduation, Steward went on to work at many technology and electronic related companies, where he gained experience and respect before beginning his work on WorldWide Technology.

In 1990, Steward finally put his ideas and experience into action with World Wide Technologies. “[He startedWorldWide Tech] with 5 people and 4,000 square feet,” said Mr Mann. “today, there are over 8,000 people working for worldwide tech, as well as millions of square feet all across the world”. Over the course of 30 to 40 years, Steward built up not only his own community within his company but also the community around himself as well. Though being a global success is incredible on its own, it is what Steward did with his success that truly set him apart from the rest.

12 FEATURE

David Steward and Brandon Mann. Photo courtesy of Abby Johler

success that WorldWide Tech became, Steward carried his Godly love and care through all of it.

OPINION 13

FOUR FUN THINGS TO DO AT UNION STATION EMMA HARRIS Content Editor

I often hear that St. Louis is boring, but there are plenty of things to do here! Even in a concentrated area, there are many activities one can partake in, such as in Union Station. Here are four fun things to do in the Union Station area.

Chocolate Cola.

Union Station is a place filled with many fun activities, and here are just four of them.

1. The St. Louis Aquarium The relatively new aquarium is a great place to go for those who would rather stay indoors than face the stinging winter or blistering summer. It’s open from nine a.m. to five p.m. Monday through Thursday and from nine a.m. to eight p.m. on Friday through Sunday. Tickets for anyone over the age of twelve cost $25, tickets for children ages three to twelve cost $18, and children two and under enter for free.

2. The St. Louis Foundry Opened August 11th, 2021, stop by the food hall or have a fun shopping day at the St. Louis Foundry, which has many activities and events to keep you entertained. Go for their live music shows or play mini golf!

3. The Wheel See the city of St. Louis from atop the wheel at Union Station! Hours are from ten a.m. to ten p.m. and tickets for people over the age of thirteen cost $15, children under thirteen and older than two are $10, and children two and under can ride for free.

4. The Soda Fountain Located on 201 S 18th Street, the Soda Fountain is a modern soda shop that also serves burgers, hot dogs, and tasty shakes. Their unique sodas are definitely something to try out, such as the Cherry

14

There is plenty to do in Union Station! Illustration by: Emma Harris

Westminster Christian Academy

15

THE HIGH SCHOOL HEISMAN: MORE THAN AN ATHLETE Jill Scheulen, The 1995 Women’s Highschool Heisman Winner

Mia Scheulen and Sydney Bradley Staff Writers The High School Heisman is a scholarship given to individuals who display great athletic ability, perseverance, and academic achievement. This award celebrates outstanding male and female scholar athletes who understand that the most important victories are not only achieved on the field but also within their schools and communities. The award was created in 1994 and continues to highlight over 600,000 athletes all over the nation.

The state of Missouri had the honor of naming the first ever female recipient of the High School Heismen, Jill Scheulen.

Scheulen was an All-State athlete in four sports at Linn Highschool, volunteered over 1,000 hours of community service, and was named valedictorian. Scheulen, an All-American, then committed to Mizzou as a track & field athlete. She was a heptathlete, which consisted of the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m dash, long jump, javelin, and 800m dash.

A crucial part about being an athlete is motivation; without it, succeeding is difficult. Scheulen admits that her love for sports didn’t come from a love of playing a game or competing in a sport. She believes that genuine motivation comes from taking any platform that God provides you in life and using it to bring others to Christ. Striving to become a division one All-American athlete afforded her the opportunity to do just that. For example, it opened doors for her to mentor hundreds of youth by starting a Christian track & field camp, where kids of ages five to eighteen could come together to talk about their faith, life’s challenges, and how to succeed in both sports and life.

Jill Schuelens Senior Picture with her medaled jacket.

Photo

courtesty of: Jill Scheulen

bad season of life, did not define her. As she looks back at two decades worth of competition, she barely even remembers what most would define as the athletic highlights.

Initially, Scheulen struggled to keep her faith a priority in college and become connected with others until she found the Fellowship of Christain Athletes (FCA) group on campus at Mizzou. This eventually led her to forming additional bible studies with athletes at the school and around the Columbia community.

When Scheulen began to notice some of her teammates pulling out their Bibles on long bus rides across the country when traveling with the team, she began to ask questions and observe how their behaviors were creating a culture of Unfortunately, mental block is a very common experience for unity, care, and support. This modeling led her to shaping a new paradigm; she no longer let her busy lifestyle prevent modern day athletes, hindering them from doing the things her faith from being priority, but she found a way to make that they love or making them quit altogether. Jill Scheuit a part of her life again. len was able to overcome this obstacle by seeing a bigger purpose for what was occurring in any particular moment.

She understood that the inevitable bad game or race, or even “My head coach incorporated a ‘Monday Mindset’ session at a bad season of life, did not define her. As she looks back at the beginning of practice for our entire team that helped us two decades worth of competition, she barely even remem- shape a positive and focused outlook for the week. Some of my teammates and I took this a step further and had bers what most would define as the athletic highlights. deeper discussions all week about how our faith played out in these messages. If I had any piece of advice for those Unfortunately, mental block is a very common experience for heading off to college or a career, it would simply be to not modern day athletes, hindering them from doing the things be shy or stop your reading of the Bible because ‘there isn’t that they love or making them quit altogether. Jill Scheulen enough time,’” said Scheulen. was able to overcome this obstacle by seeing a bigger purpose for what was occurring in any particular moment. She understood that the inevitable bad game or race, or even a

16

“My head coach incorporated a ‘Monday Mindset’ session at the beginning of practice for our entire team that helped us shape a positive and focused outlook for the week. Some of my teammates and I took this a step further and had deeper discussions all week about how our faith played out in these messages. If I had any piece of advice for those heading off to college or a career, it would simply be to not be shy or stop your reading of the Bible because ‘there isn’t enough time,’” said Scheulen.

where He wants you to go, and it was clear that He had a different plan for her than she originally thought. Her kids often ask her why she didn’t stay to train, doubting that she may have made the wrong choice, but she believes that titles are only temporary and so are words that the world attaches to us: changing lives, and even saving them, is the real work to be done on this earth.

Scheulen admits that this is no easy task. As an athlete from a very young age, most of her friends and teammates spoke These experiences led her to Kansas City, and eventually St. of becoming professional athletes and doing whatever it took Louis, where she served as a high school teacher and coach to “arrive” at that level. Naturally, there was a portion of her heart that felt the same way, wanting others to be proud of to many teens across Missouri. Jill and her husband, Tom Scheulen, made a big decision in their lives when they adopt- her athletic accomplishments and doubting her decision to pass on four more years of high level training. However, she ed Mia and Tru, and she’s never regretted letting go of the trusted in the plan that God had for her. opportunity to become an Olympic athlete.

“Being a mom to 5 incredible kids cannot compare to any ‘title’ in the sports arena,” said Scheulen.

“Looking back now, I cannot imagine life without being a The High School Heisman award greatly impacted her family mom of five, a teacher, a coach, and all the people impacted life. Scheulen firmly believes that God will lead you exactly by choosing a different path. I have absolutely no regrets,” said Scheulen.

Jill Scheulen (Top Left) Poses With Mizzou Teamates. Photo courtesy of: Jill Scheulen

17

BEHIND THE BRONZE Of the many statues outside of Busch Stadium, there are many that get overlooked and do not receive the notoriety that they deserve.

Nolan Jones, Evan Kohn, Hope Linam, Alex Wittenauer Staff Writers

Mark McGwire is the statue that Cardinals baseball fans may never see. Weber made a small scale sculpture of McGwire to commemorate his 500th career home-run. Around the year 2000, the Cardinals owner Bill Dewitt commissioned Weber to make the Ozzie Smith sculpture, and at that time, McGwire was looking like a first ballot Hall of Famer, so Dewitt thought it made sense to have Weber sculpt a full size statue of McGwire at the same time. Unfortunately, after McGwire’s Of the twelve statues that surround the grounds of Busch statue was finished, his Hall of Famer dreams came crashing Stadium, all are Hall of Fame inductees, including Stan Musial, down when the PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs) court Enos Slaughter, Dizzy Dean, Rogers Hornsby, Red Schoencase came out. So, McGwire came up just short of both a dienst, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, Ted Simmons, spot in the Hall of Fame and a spot outside Busch Stadium.

George Sisler, Jack Buck, and James “Cool Papa” Bell. Although Instead, his sculpture will remain in the bowls of Busch. there are only eleven players who have statutes, Stan Musial claims two of them.

George Sisler is one to two non-Cardinals player honored The works of Harry Weber are staples of the decorum of Busch Stadium. The former Mary Institute Country Day School (MICDS) and Princeton alum is a sculptor with an international reputation and has designed and created famous statues of former Cardinals, St. Louis Browns, and St. Louis Stars players.

outside of Busch Stadium, with the other non-Cardinal being Cool Papa Bell. Sisler began his career as a pitcher before becoming one of the greatest hitters of all time. He was first a pitcher for the St. Louis Browns in 1915 but was moved to first base to get his big bat in the lineup. In fifteen seasons, Sisler batted above .300 in thirteen of them, including league leading averages of .407 in the 1920 season and .420 in 1922. He also led the league in stolen bases four times. Sisler claimed that starting out as a pitcher influenced him greatly in his hitting career.

“I used to stand on the mound myself, study the batter, and wonder how I could fool him…Now when I am at the plate, I can the more easily place myself in the pitcher’s position and Mark McGwire llustrated by: Nolan Jones

However, not all of these men are former Cardinals players.

George Sisler played for the St. Louis Browns and Cool Papa Bell played for the St. Louis Stars in the Negro League, but neither were ever Cardinals. The criteria and qualifications to receive the honor of having a statue outside of Busch Stadium are both simple and practically non-existent.

Essentially, in order to be considered, the player must have spent most of their career with the Cardinals, be widely liked by the community, and have been inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame. But, there is one statue that is currently sitting in storage that many feel should take its place outside of Busch Stadium.

18

George Sisler Illustrated by: Nolan Jones

eive the

ans may cGwire to the year d Weber , McGDewitt ze statue cGwire’s crashing s) court oth a adium. sch.

ored al being fore was first oved to asons, ng league 0 in es. Sisler greatly

er, and e plate, I tion and

figure what is passing through his mind,” said Sisler according to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Sisler was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939 after ending his career with 2,812 hits and a .340 batting average. His statue states, “One of the best two fielding first basemen in the history of the game.”

Sisler’s manager for the St. Louis Browns, Branch Rickey, brought Sisler with him to Los Angeles, California to be a scout after his playing career was over. Sisler played a large role in bringing in Jackie Robinson and converting him into a first baseman.

Dizzy Dean Illustrated by: Nolan Jones

2000. Prior to professional baseball, Dean was in the U.S. army, where he got his nickname and pitched for the Fort Sam Houston baseball team. Dean is more notably known for being a part of the “Gashouse Gang,” which was a nickname given to the Cardinals between 1930 and 1934 when they won three National League pennants in 1930, 1931, and 1934.

Dean is one of the fourteen former Cardinals players who have received the honor of having their numbers retired.

He was described as both a “warrior and a winner” who “was known for his fun-loving lifestyle and story telling as much as his success,” according to the Cardinals Baseball Cool Papa Bell website. After a successful season in 1935, where he led the Illustrated by: Nolan Jones league with 28 wins, Dean was selected to four consecutive All-Star Games from 1934 to 1937. However, in the 1937 All-Star Game, a hard hit line drive went straight for him James Thomas “Cool Papa” Bell is known for his legendary speed and is perhaps one of the fastest players to ever play and broke one of his toes. Due to his refusal to let the injury have proper time to heal, he developed an unnatural pitching professional baseball. Satchel Paige, legendary pitcher, is credited with the often-told line, “Cool Papa Bell was so fast motion, causing an arm injury that ended his career. Overall, Dean can be compared to a modern day Connor McGregor he could turn off the light switch in his hotel room and be as far as promoting the game and throwing out pre-game under the covers before the room got dark.” Bell started as a pitcher for the St. Louis Stars and was switched to pitching predictions that he would come out on top. two years into playing centerfield. He was a terror on the “If you can do it, it ain’t bragging,” said Dean. base paths throughout his whole career.

Bell was not only in the Negro League Hall of Fame located in Kansas, but he also is represented in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. His time with the Stars solidified him as a St. Louis icon. He was able to have a large impact on the lives of many African Americans through his excellent play and character. Bell was more than just a player; he truly cared for the community.

Jay Hanna, also known as Dizzy Dean, was not only a Cardinals player but also played for both the St. Louis Browns and the Chicago Cubs. He was elected into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1953, and his statue was unveiled on May 27,

19

SPOONBALL

The story behind St. Louis legend, Charlie Spoonhour.

BROOKE HIGHMARK Sporting Editor

level coaches push to the side.

The high energy, fast-paced, trigger happy playing style of the Saint Louis U team coined the term “Spoonball” among Billiken fans in the late 90s and remains a recognized phrase in the community.

After seven seasons at SLU, Spoonhour reportedly retired from coaching but quickly picked it back up again in Las Vegas, Nevada for three seasons at UNLV. However, in 2010, he was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a scarring of the lungs, and received a lung transplant later that year at Duke University Medical Center. At the age of 72 in 2012, Charlie Spoonhour passed away.

Spoonhour’s love for Saint Louis basketball and major league baseball made him a beloved icon of the community.

Photo by: Brooke Highmark

When the Saint Louis men’s basketball team went from 5-23, to 12-17, to 23-6, Billiken fans wondered what caused the drastic turnaround. As time went on, the answer proved to be the arrival of new head coach, Charlie Spoonhour, in 1992.

Despite his death, Spoonhour’s legacy continued on, as he was honored as a Missouri Sports Legend by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on December 11, 2019.

“There’s just so many people that he impacted that are still in coaching today, and then there’s a lot of players like me that he impacted as a father, as a business owner, teaching me how to work, teaching me how to do things that I didn’t think I was capable of doing, and not actually knowing where my Not only did Spoonhour lead the team to an overall record of limits were,” said Highmark.

122-90, three NCAA tournament appearances, and their first national ranking in 37 years, but he also made a significant impact on the Saint Louis community off the court. He was remembered to have a magnetic personality, witty charm, and a deep love for the St. Louis Cardinals.

As a result of the excitement that Spoonhour brought to Saint Louis University, the 1997-98 men’s basketball team became ranked in the top ten in attendance, with around 18,000 fans per game, for several seasons.

“He just had a way of connecting with people better than anyone I’ve ever been around. The wins and losses were great. But it was more the human being. He just drew people to him,” said Scott Highmark, former SLU basketball player under Charlie Spoonhour.

As Highmark stated, as much success as Coach Spoon brought to the team, winning games was not the end all be all. Because of his genuine care for the players, he was able to transform the culture from negative to positive with an emphasis on simply having fun, an aspect that many high

20

Scott Highmark (left) played basketball for Spoonhour (right) for four seasons at Saint Louis University.

Photo by: Brooke Highmark

21