The 800 News: The Wildcat Roar - SENIOR ISSUE May 2020

MAY 2020

2020...

SENIOR ISSUE

Westminster Christian Academy

OUT! 1

STAFF

THE 800

MANAGING EDITOR IN CHIEF ISABELLA FRANCOIS,

SENIOR

CONTENT EDITOR IN CHIEF AVA BIDNER, SENIOR

SPORTING WCA EDITOR TOMMY BRINER, SENIOR

DESIGN EDITOR LEA DESPOTIS, SENIOR

MEDIA EDITOR NATALIE FORD , SENIOR

NEWS EDITOR GRACE SKILJAN, SENIOR 2 STAFF

00 STAFF

STUDENTS SERVING STUDENTS

FEATURE EDITOR REBEKAH SEMS, SENIOR

OPINION EDITOR AVA HOLLMANN, SENIOR

800 SPORTING ONLINE EDITOR & PODCAST HOST BENNIE ANDERSON, SENIOR 800 SPORTING VISUAL EFFECTS EDITOR PEARSON GEORGES, SENIOR

800 SPORTING STAFF WRITER & PODCAST HOST KOBY SCHMER, SENIOR

THE 800 STAFF WRITERS MARTY BRINER • EMMA HARRIS • BROOKE HIGHMARK • MAGGIE LINDSTROM • JACK MARTIN • CALEB MOELLENHOFF • AIDAN PENBERTHY • LAURYN RHODES • BEN KNISLEY • CASEN LAWRENCE STAFF 3

CONTENTS

FEATURE

STAYING CONNECTED PG. 12 SO MUCH TIME, SO LITTLE SLEEP PG. 13 COVID-19 CHRONICLES PG. 14-15 MASKS BY MOLLY PG. 20

4 CONTENTS

OPINION

THIRTEEN AND ME PG. 10 SOULMATES: DO THEY EXIST? PG. 11

IN-DEPTH DEAR WESTMINSTER : ISABELLA PG. 6-7 DEAR WESTMINSTER: AVA PG. 8-9 THE RISE IN ANXIETY PG. 16-17 THE MULTIBILLION DOLLAR DEATH INDUSTRY PG. 18-19

SPORTS

THE FINAL MOMENTS PG. 22 SO LONG WESTMINSTER: BENNIE AND JACK PG. 23 WELL, HERE WE ARE PG. 24-25 WALKING THE HALLWAYS PG. 26-27 THE FAREWELL PG. 28 RANKING PROFESSIONAL RAPPER PG. 29 COLLEGE ATHLETES/VIEW FROM WITHIN PG. 30 WELCOME TO THE WALL OF FAME PG. 31

CONTENTS

BY: ISABELLA FRANCOIS AND AVA BIDNER EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Tommy Briner — Best Overall Leader Lea Despotis — Most Artistic, Talented, Just Wow (We love you Lea!) Natalie Ford — Best Laugh + Brand Book Queen Grace Skiljan — Best Stories Rebekah Sems — Enneagram Queen Ava Hollmann — Most Sarcastic/Satirical Bennie Anderson — Going to Yale (enough said) Pearson Georges — King of the Graphics Koby Schmer — Best Podcast Host/Bracket Creator Emma Harris — Secret Jack of All Trades (aka we discovered that she was an amazing artist halfway through the year) Maggie Lindstrom — Most Happy-Go-Lucky and Selfless Jack Martin — The Quiet Optimist + Most Willing to Follow Directions from the Newspaper Side Caleb Moellenhoff — Most Wise Beyond His Years Aidan Penberthy — Most Likely to Be On ESPN + Most Critical of the Newspaper Side Lauryn Rhodes — Most Easy Going and Likely to Make Us Laugh Casen Lawrence — Most Likely to Write about Basketball (it’s kind of his thing) Brooke Highmark — Most Likely to Be With Casen At All Times (also was the only girl on sporting for all of last year!)

Marty Briner —Most Likely to Be Convinced to Join Halfway Through the Year (and an amazing addition to Sporting) Ben Knisley — Flippers (this explains a lot)

STAFF ED 5

When I walked into room C229 first ferent political views, and I was sure she hour of freshman year I was absolutely was going to yell at me. Instead, she told terrified. I sat down next to the only other me that while she disagreed, she wanted freshman in the class, Natalie Ford, some- my story to be a center spread along with one who was a stranger to me at the time her story, and praised my writing. but would grow to become one of my best friends. I then listened to this crazy man start the class by giving a devotion about an article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch .

I was only half-listening, as I was probably thinking about how scary the seniors were, until the teacher stopped and stared directly at me.

Sophomore year was a complete blur.

I was now the feature editor so I had much more work to do in the class, but I also was having the most fun I ever had experienced in the classroom. I

“Your dad is an amazing man, and I hope you will be just like him in this class, Isabella,” Von said. Now all eyes were on me. I stammered a thank you and cowered in my seat, turning as red as my new Nike shoes. Apparently, while I had been daydreaming Von had been reading an article about my dad to the class, which really undermined my plan of laying low and not being noticed.

Von has taught me more than just how to be a good journalist, He has taught However, as we moved to our seats, I still me how to be a good leader, friend, and Christian. Photo By: Curtis Francois tried to implement my plan by sitting as Then, at the end of the year, when it was far away as possible from Von and the was writing stories I was passionate editor-in-chiefs’ desks. My plan was to do time to talk about positions for the next about, growing closer to my forevthe work and not make a scene as I was school year, I had a conversation that changed my life. Sitting outside the class- er seatmate Natalie, and watching still terrified of him and the editors. room, Von asked me, “Where do you want Bridgette Grimm do an amazing job One of the first stories I ever wrote was to be in this class when you’re a senior?” running the show. She let me take about a friend’s experience with mental I responded that I wanted to be a leader in charge on projects I was passionate some way. “I think you can run the entire about and most importantly allowed health issues, and while it was not the me to fail at times. We became more most amazing piece journalistically, Von place,” he said. than just classmates, we became close noticed and encouraged me to keep writfriends, and she truly is a mentor in my That simple sentence truly changed my ing about things that mattered to me. life today. I found myself excited to go life, which is a huge statement to make. to school everyday because I got to see But, it was the fi rst time that someone saw Later that year I wrote a political piece all of my friends in newspaper. something in me, that someone thought about the 2016 election and when I saw I had the ability to be successful, that I Katherine Yenzer, the editor-in-chief, At the conclusion of sophomore year, walking over to my desk, I was again ter- could be a leader. It was at that moment Von and I had another conversation that I knew I wanted to be a journalist. rified because I knew we had vastly dif-

6 IN-DEPTH

sitting outside the classroom. We were talking about leadership positions for the next year and with no rising seniors seeming like the right fit for the job, Von suggested that I might be ready to be the editor-in-chief. There had never been a junior editor-in-chief in recent history, but he was confident that I was up for the challenge.

Boy, what a challenge it was.

Put simply, junior year kicked my… forgot I am still writing for Westminster Christian Academy here but I think the point has been made. Classes began to get difficult, schedules got busy, and I was finding that managing a class of 30 high school students is much more difficult than I could ever have imagined. However, we were doing great work in class. We rebranded the entire organization, completely changed the layout and distribution method, and made so many other changes that I cannot even begin to list here. Outwardly, the 800 News staff was doing better than ever.

However, it was a lot for me to handle, and I was trying to take it all on my own. It was at this time that I started having more pretty serious problems with my mental health. I began having panic attacks so bad that I sometimes could not even get out of bed in the morning. Simple tasks were very difficult, and I felt like I was having to put on a mask at school when I was falling apart inside. However, the one thing that kept me coming to school most mornings was newspaper. I knew that no matter how alone I felt, there were people in that room who loved and cared about me, and it was a place that I felt like I belonged.

This last newspaper issue has been bittersweet. I cannot believe that May 8th, 2020 is the last day I will ever work for the 800 News Photo By: Isabella Francois

ask for, we had the most dedicated staff I have ever seen, and Tommy and the sporting boys have made some incredible stuff. We have stepped everything up a level and it has been so much fun. This year, I have been amazed at the amazing things God does when he puts the right people together. Walking into that room everyday as your editor-in-chief has been the greatest honor and the best experience of my life.

Now, after I have walked out for the final time I was to conclude with a few final thoughts. First, I am not sure if I would be here today with the role that newspaper has played in my life. The love and support I have been shown in that room kept me coming to school and in those darkest One day I came into class visibly upset and after moments kept me going. Second, Von I know you hate how much I talked class, Von just came up to me and said, “I know about you in this because you are the behind-the-scenes guy, but thank you for everything you have done for me. You believed in me from that you’re not ok right now, and that is ok.” I comfirst day, and I am a better leader, journalist, and Christian because of the pletely broke down in tears, and he said somerole you played in my life. Finally, the 800 News 2020 staff is the best thing that I will never forget, “Jesus is so much group of people I have ever been a part of, and I am so grateful for everybigger than all this.” It was a simple sentence, thing you all have done and am so excited to see what you all do in the but it rang so true at the time and was exactly future. We did not know that when we walked out of C229 that Wedneswhat I needed. day in March it would be our last day, but here we are, and although our Things weren’t perfect from there. Anxiety is not time together was cut off, our voices were not. something that just goes away with a few kind words, but from then on I knew that not only did Keep using I have people who care about me in the newspa- your voices to per room, but I was reminded that I have a God say something who cares about me every time I walked into significant. that room.

Senior year, that truth has been so evident. Ava Bidner became the best co editor-in-chief I could

IN-DEPTH 7

Wow. I can’t believe I’m actually here.

Sitting in quarantine in my bedroom instead of in the newsroom as I write my last newspaper story for The Wildcat Roar, having finished the remainder of my senior year online away from my teachers, friends, and the building I have grown to know so closely.

ing my faith more than you could ever ing with me, for making every class an adventure, for giving us weird nicknames, know. Thank you for teaching me what it means to love others from a Christian and for always being yourself. Thank you for every book club meeting over the perspective. And thank you for giving past four years and for endless pancakes. me the nickname “Bidney.” I will wear Remember when we actually used to meet it proudly. :) in the mornings before school? Ha. I’m so thankful to have been able to have you at Mr. Sarra, thank you for showing me the beginning and end of my high school that there is more to life (and school) career — like two bookends. I will never than math equations and facts in a Where to begin? Well, I guess I’ll start with thank you. Thank you for an incredi- forget the stories you told us (and acted textbook. Thank you for providing with ble six years filled with the most defining out) in class, and I’ll never get over the me a much-needed, fulfilling break moments of my life so far. When I walked time when you yelled “Ladies!” at me in the middle of the day during junior and a few friends freshman year when we year where I could simply paint and through those doors for the first time were talking in class, and I wanted to curl reflect and think. Thank you for taking as a 12-year-old (seriously! I was only 12?!), my heart untouched by the people up in a hole and die. I was so worried that us outside and helping me to care more I would meet and the memories I would I had disappointed you. about the process than the final product. make, I had no clue where my life would Thank you for making me passionate go or who I would eventually become. I Mr. Knerr, thank you for being the about watercolor and for helping me was unaware of the adventure I was em- most unique and intriguing teacher (and discover a part of myself that I never barking upon and the impact this journey perhaps, person) that I have ever met. would have found without taking your would have on my mind, my heart, and Thanks for riding a tandem bike with us class. My best spontaneous decision my character. on the first day of sophomore year (we all ever was to join your class. thought you were crazy, which we soon To all of my teachers, thank you from the learned wasn’t far from the truth), for Mrs. Butterfield, thank you for all of very bottom of my heart. You have been allowing us to smash watermelons and the life lessons you taught our sevoranges with baseball bats, for encourag- enth hour honors biology class and for the absolute best, and every single one of you has left a handprint on my life as ing us to bring in our childhood toys and helping me understand that our characyou helped teach me about what is really destroy them to prove a point about Plato, ter, our well-being, and our faith trump for helping me to become a deeper indi- everything else. important in life and how to capture all vidual and a lover of literature and great of the overflowing passion inside me films, for letting us stand on our desks and Señora Gilbert, Doctora, Señor, y and guide it towards worthy goals and proclaim “O Captain! My Captain!” as the Señora DeVerger, gracias por seis años pursuits.

W.O.W. visitors walked by the classroom, fenomenales de Español, por un viaje Miss Marsee, I will never know how you for helping us Xerox our faces and then increíble a España, por muchos episodiwere able to manage the ten of us every- posting them around your room, and for os de “Destinos” y “Internado,” y por making me insanely confident in my writ- el regalo de una pasión para Español y day in seventh grade; because of you, I’ll never forget that “It’s Friday, Friday, ing abilities (even when you graded our la meta de servicio y misiones en países Gotta get down on Friday, Everybody’s papers anonymously). hispanohablantes en el futuro. lookin’ forward to the weekend!”

Mr. Hughes, thank you for being one Jirwin, thank you for one of the best Mr. Burke (Hurricane Dan), thank you of the most godly, sincere teachers and classes I’ve ever taken at Westminster. leaders in my life. Thank you for making Thank you for helping my faith grow for instilling an adoration for writing within me, for sharing your love of read- me passionate about ethics and deepen- exponentially over the past year, for

8 IN-DEPTH

preparing me to defend my beliefs as I head off to college, for allowing us to learn through off-topic conversation and impromptu debates, and for appreciating every single student in that class for who we genuinely were. You are the embodiment of an accepting, loving, forgiving mentor and teacher. And to all the people in that class, I know my presentations were long. . . Get over it. ;) And if you call me a secular humanist one more time. . .

Mr. Barbee, Dr. Schwamb, and the Makers of de Monies, thank you for being a part of some of the best and most unique school moments of my life. I never would have written a short mystery novel, built an actual mini golf hole, acted out the Great Depression, and learned to enjoy almost every book (but only after having finished it) without you.

Coach Schmer, Coach T, and Coach Holley (and Coach Adams, Coach Kuhn, and Coach Johnston, too!), thank you for helping transform me from a seventh grader who had never picked up a stick to a confident and competitive field hockey player with a fierce love for the game. Thank you for guiding our team not only as players but also as Christian girls.

Thank you for building up and supporting this program — it has meant the world to me during my six years at Westminster. Thank you for helping us make it past the Sweet 16 this year and for never allowing us to give up, even when the odds weren’t in our favor. I am a better player, girl, and Christian because of it.

Spice Girls, thank you for being “the definition of a squad,” as Stevie called y’all. For all the car rides, all the memories, all the songs and dances, all the late nights staying up late talking about who knows what, all the support, all the prayer, all the forgiveness, and a whole lot of love.

Underclassmen, maybe you’re nothing like me and you have lived up every minute of your time at Westminster, especially high school. And if so, then awesome. Make good choices, but continue to savor every experience and every memory — it’s really not that cliche because these really are the friends you will hopefully have for a lifetime and the stories you’ll one day share with your kids. But if you’re like me, then just know that it’s okay to get a B (or even a C or a D, or an F!). Working hard and dedicating yourself to school and sports and extracurriculars is great, and it will certainly help prepare you for life in college and beyond, especially if you do so all for the glory of God. But don’t forget to have fun. Get some sleep. Go to football, basketball, baseball, and hockey games.

Don’t wait to truly love Spirit Week until your junior and senior years. Invest time in the activities you love doing, and don’t waste any of it. Always be willing to help others. Work just as much on developing your character and your faith as you work on developing your mind. Take life one day at a time, ask for help if you need it, and know that it’ll all be okay in the end.

Newspaper, thank you for these past three years and for giving me the opportunity to develop my opinions, become a leader, and write every single day. Von, thank you for pushing me to become a better writer, for forcing me to wrestle with my ideas and my stories, and for encouraging me through it all. Thank you for the opportunity to be a leader and editor and to learn how to manage what is more like a business than a class. Thank you for helping us achieve our goals and standing beside us. Isabella (and everyone on the 800 News staff this year), we did it. We are a SNO Distinguished Site, and I couldn’t be prouder. Future staff members, please take care of this organization and paper. And of course, thank you for every Aloha Friday in the book. Have I told you lately that I love you?

Class of 2020, thank you for being the most happy-go-lucky class that could ever be. We’ve been dealt a challenging hand, but through it all, we were determined to be kind and supportive and to stand by each other as we finished out our final months at Westminster, even if we couldn’t see each other face to face. Wear that cap and gown proudly as you walk across the stage in August and know that you did it, you made it.

Mom, Dad, and Cal, thank you. Thank you for loving me at my best and at my worst. Thank you for cheering at every game.

Thank you for filling our home with love and Jesus and laughter.

Thank you for supporting me in all of my endeavors and letting me know that it’s okay to fail because you’ll always be there to pick me up when I fall. I couldn’t ask for a better family. I promise to call often. I love you all to the sun and back (it’s farther). ;) As I finish this letter with a tear-stained face, reflecting on my six years at Westminster, my heart is filled with gratitude. Thank you for building the foundation I needed and for preparing me as I graduate and embark upon the rest of my life. It wasn’t always easy. It wasn’t always perfect. But it was so special, and I wouldn’t trade this time, these friends, this community, and this place for the world.

IN-DEPTH 9

THIRTEEN AND ME

5 things WCA-graduate me wishes I could tell my freshman-year self

AVA HOLLMANN Opinions Editor

Well, this is not how I thought I’d leave WCA. At the end of this year, I was supposed to have a fun, chill week with my teachers and friends. After this week, I was also supposed to have a track season, with rainy, early morning relays, hot afternoon practices, and personal best times under *other high schools’ football lights. And not long after that, I was supposed to have a graduation, where my hard earned tassels and oversized gown showed the world that I had conquered high school. And, within the graduation program brochure, my college name would boldly proclaim where I’ll be spending my next four years.

However, it will not happen like that. I can’t say I’ve been a school-spirited person in the first place; actually, I’ve always been pretty anti-high school. Nonetheless, when school was called off, it hit me that the anticipation of laughing and hugging my friends too much, and seeing my grandparents and parents’ proud faces, would not be fulfilled. But, I’ve had a lot of time to think, and looking back, there are so many things that I have to be grateful for, which minimizes missing just one month of school. With that said, there are five pieces of advice that I wish I could give to ninth-grade me, or any current freshman who wants to learn from a post-pubescent elder:

First, life is just not that hard; sorry to start off like that, but it’s really not. For me at least, I

never experienced tremendous loss or pain (if you have, then please disregard this). My difficulties mainly consisted of fights while driving with a permit, friend drama, sports injuries, and stressful tests. All of these things seemed world-ending in the moment, but were only micro-difficulties in the grand scheme of the real world and my future. I have been able, in this strange quarantine, to mull over these setbacks and learn from them, but would urge other highschoolers going through them to do the same sooner rather than later.

Second, talk less and listen more; people don’t really need or want to hear your opinions.

For me, it took years of shocked expressions and angered responses to realize that people are more worthy of receiving uplifting words than you are of delivering blunt, hurtful remarks. There is a time and a place to be direct, but for the most part, trust that people are not in need of your critiques

10 OPINION

if they don’t ask for them. Unfortunately, this seems like it will be a chronic problem for me, but it is still a sincere hope for myself and others that we choose the caring type of critique, which is none at all.

Third, high school’s so-called social hierarchy is simply a construct based on surface-level characteristics. The “rich, attractive, athletic frats,” “robotics

nerds,” “theatre kids,” and “artsy girls” are so much more than their labels. The trap of conveniently labelling people is that it eventually becomes cemented in the brain as their identities to you. Had I actually gone out of my social “class” and talked to these people, I would have realized that Hollywood’s cinema strategy does not apply to real-life West County. I truly believe that the people who did not pay attention to this construct and went out of their way to get to know everyone had a much more fulfilled social experience.

Fourth, college is not everything. Despite the fact that Wesminster is a college-preparatory school, the college experience is not all it’s hyped up to be. When applying, you may realize that your standardized testing or transcript stats are not adequate for certain universities. Or, that even if admitted, price tags could range up to $70,000 per year. Beyond just getting in, no university is “perfect;” even the ivies have their flaws behind their pristine name brands. If a university is not right for you and your family, do not buy into the illusion that you must apply to it just because it would look good for WCA to say that they have a graduate attending there. So yes, be excited for college, but realize that it’s better to have realistic expectations than to romanticize an impossibility.

Fifth, WCA is only as Christian as you make it. Most students have grown up in a christian home, attend

church, and enrolled in Christian schools their whole lives.

However, this does not mean that all students at WCA are Christians, or at least actively work to live out their faith. “Boring” chapels, Bible classes, and devotionals are all products of student disinterest. While students still probably conduct themselves to a higher standard than those at non-Christian schools, that could just be due to a set of moral values that they were born to live by, not the Gospel Truth. At Westminster, there are so many resources at your disposal to deepen your faith and make a Christian education intentional- use them. Going into college, my hope is not just to be another “kingdom kid” who knows all the right Christian answers, but to intentionally live in the light of Christ.

These pieces of advice may not apply to everybody. That’s ok. Even if no one takes them to heart, or even reads them, I would like to apologize to the Class of 2020. Often, I was held back by doing the opposite of these five things, and as a result, haven’t been very emotionally impacted during this time of cancellations. I’m pretty stoked though for a hot and humid graduation and a 30 year reunion, with you all. Roll ‘Cats.

SOULMATES: DO THEY EXIST? Society seems determined to insist that everyone has a romantic soulmate out there, but is that really true?

REBEKAH SEMS Feature Editor

Ever since I was young, I always dreamed about having the ultimate best friend. Someone who liked all the things I liked, who was good at all the things I was good at, and who would always be around for me to hang out with. As I got older, I realized that what my younger self was after was to basically live in a Disney TV show. However, my ambitious dreams as a kid are dreams that adults still have — although the term they use is different.

A “soulmate” is defined by the Webster Dictionary as “a person who is perfectly suited to another in temperament” or “a person who strongly resembles another in attitudes or beliefs.” In the objective definition of the word, there is the connotation of a friendship rather than a romantic relationship, although that tends to be the context the word is most often found in. Some people are adamantly persistent that soulmates exist and that there is only one for each person.

However, others argue that the notion of soulmates is silly and that you can have multiple people you connect with. So, what is the truth?

According to an article by Bibi Deitz on the website Bustle, research proves that “if it’s just boiled down to math, the probability of finding your one true soulmate is pretty lousy.”

However, this statement is referring to the idea of finding one specific soulmate.

By the definition, there is significant reason for believing that one person can have multiple “soulmates” or people that you can get along with and act similarly as. Therefore, the idea that each person has one soulmate is rather unlikely.

The Bible also has a say in whether soulmates exist. One of the greatest friendships in the Bible talks about souls being knitted together. David and Jonathan were an unlikely pairing since David was next in line to the throne after Saul, which should have been Jonathan since he was the heir.

However, they were close, and in 1 Samuel 18:1, the writer says, “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” This clearly seems to indicate that the Bible encourages the idea of soulmates being a close friendship between two people.

The Bible also mentions souls being close in Deuteronomy 13:6 when it says, “thy friend, which is as thine own soul.” In both these instances, the Bible is referring to soulmates being

I believe that my parents, pictured above, are truly solulmates. Photo By: Rebekah Sems close friends who know each other better than anyone else.

This can certainly apply to romantic relationships, but one study warned couples not to rely on each other as soulmates.

A study called “When it Hurts to Think We Were Made for Each Other” completed by Spike W.S. Lee and Norbert Schwarz, revealed that couples who regard each other as soulmates tend to have a harder time solving issues in their relationship.

Lee explains this finding by saying, “In the soulmate frame, conflicts are bad. People think, ‘Well, maybe we’re not the perfect fit.’” While close, deep relationships can occur between two people romantically, that is not always the case for every person, and sometimes thinking of the other person as your soulmate can be more damaging than you realized.

Soulmates are people who are similar to you in attitude, personality, and temperament and while there will never be anyone exactly like you, there can be people who you connect with on a deeper level than others. That does not mean that each person has one soulmate out there that they must find since science and math generally regard that as impossible.

The Bible explains this connection through the friendship of David and Jonathan as one where they were so close, it was like their souls were knitted together.

So don’t be upset if you realized that there isn’t one soulmate out there for you. From a Christian perspective, we can see that whoever you end up with is the person you were meant to be with. Whether it is a romantic relationship or a close friendship, God is sending you just the people you need in that time.

Obviously, this research is limited since no one can know for certain whether soulmates exist, but evidence seems to prove that soulmates can be multiple people who you feel the absolute closest to. So maybe take a look around. Your “soulmate” could be your sibling, a parent, a kid, or any other relative whom you connect with on several different levels.

OPINION 11

STAYING CONNECTED

LAURYN RHODES Staff Writer

Evie Cunningham decided to start the @wca.seniors Instagram account.

Photo By: Evie Cunningham

It’s no secret how amazing technology is at bringing people together. Now, more than ever, social media is more useful than it has ever been. Take Instagram for example, an engaging app that allows teens to see what’s going on in the lives of their friends through pictures with a few taps on a screen—it’s the perfect way to stay in touch and up to date.

Now meet Evie Cunningham, a senior at Westminster who’s taking advantage of this app.

About a month ago, on April 3rd,Cunningham texted in a group chat with this year’s graduating class proposing a brilliant idea.

Since we aren’t going to see each other much longer, I saw Webster make an Instagram account where they post pictures of seniors and where they’re going to school and what they want to major in. That way we can see each other’s faces during quarantine and know where everyone is going after this year. Would people participate if I made the account?”

Cunningham texted.

She immediately got her answer, watching her phone screen light up with the notifications from all of her classmates liking her comment or responding with enthusiasm and praise.

Cunningham then took to Instagram, and created the account called wca.seniors. She posted a group picture of the class of 2020, and asked her classmates to send her a picture of themselves with their plans for college as well as what they were looking forward to. Though she was nervous at first, worried that people wouldn’t participate like she’d hope, Cunningham was quickly proven wrong.

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Over 77 seniors have been featured on the Instagram account. Photo By: Evie Cunningham Her inbox flooded with messages from her friends who had done exactly what she’d asked them to and were eager to see their posts on the page.

“It brought me a lot of joy to create the different posts of my classmates. It gave me something to do, and knowing that it was making people happy and bringing us closer together in a time where we have to be far apart made it so much more fulfilling to do,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham takes the picture she’s been given, and depending on where that person is going to college, she puts the logo of the university they’ve selected and posts the picture with a caption that the person has also provided her with.

“The amount of positivity on the account definitely took me by surprise. But that’s the main reason why I’m so glad I created it. Watching my classmates uplift one another is super heartwarming,” confessed Cunningham.

And she’s not wrong. Under each post are dozens of comments, fellow seniors congratulating and supporting their classmates and their college decisions. With 193 followers—larger than the number of students in the graduating class—and 77 posts so far, Evie Cunningham is excited to continue to create posts to share with the Wildcat community, and continue to help her class stay connected during social distancing.

SO MUCH TIME, SO LITTLE SLEEP

immune systems and heightens our brain function. We think better, and we feel better after getting a good night’s sleep because it also improves mood and mental health.

There are some ways to get good sleep during these times.

The most important thing is setting a schedule for yourself and The pandemic has created a new host of challenges sticking to it. Try to go to sleep and wake up around the same including the surprising temporary insomnia many teens times and find a couple things you can do everyday that allows you to have a routine. For example, try to eat lunch around the same time everyday, maybe go for a walk every afternoon, News Editor or set aside time to talk to your friends. Another important There are many reasons for the current pandemic to cause teens and adults alike to lose sleep. The first is just because the thing to do is allow yourself time to wind-down before going to sleep. Set aside electronics and pick up a book or do some daily lives of everyone everywhere have been disrupted. The yoga. Give your body time to prepare for sleep without the new schedule or even lack of a schedule is hard to adjust to. distractions of a Netflix show or social media.

Keeping track of time can also be a challenge because people are missing the daily marks they are so used to such as the end Stay active during the day. Don’t take a ton of naps or waste of a school day, social events, or even going to the gym. Our bodies have muscle memory that tells us when it is time to eat the day on the couch. Find things that keep you busy and make you excited. This is the perfect time to find a new hobby or to and when to sleep during the day, but without these triggers, this gets all messed up. Not having that 6am wake up call for get back in shape. These are trying times and getting a good amount of sleep can help immensely with stress, especially school or work makes staying up later and sleeping in longer sound like a good option, but this continued wack sleep sched- when we finally transition back into our normal lives. ule creates more issues than it can ever solve.

GRACE SKILJAN

“Quarantine has messed up my schedule because I sometimes don’t even go to bed till 5 am and wake up at 10 am to be productive! Overall, I have the most weird sleeping schedule because it is different everyday,” said Jaela Ginger, senior.

Another reason that people are struggling to sleep is because of anxiety. It is a fearful time for everyone, and the uncertainty of the future can cause great amounts of stress and anxiety which can prevent sleep. Isolation can also contribute to the growing anxiety because of the lack of social communication with people outside the family. Especially for extroverts, who thrive within social situations and gain energy by being around people, this can be a very trying time.

“My sleep schedule is nonexistent right now. I usually go to bed around 4 or 5am and get up sometime in the afternoon,” said Alex Daiber, senior.

All of the extra time everyone has can cause them to turn to TV and screen time to fill their days. The excess exposure to bluelight can suppress the natural production of melatonin in our bodies, the chemical that tells us to go to sleep. It also stimulates the brain in ways that makes it hard to wind-down and get ready for sleep.

What makes it so much worse is that during the pandemic is when people need sleep the most. Sleep strengthens our

Although sleep is difficult during this time, there are many productive activities you can do. Photo By: Lauryn Rhodes

FEATURE 13

COVID-19

AN INSIDE LOOK INTO WHAT OUR STAFF MEMBERS EXPERIENCED DURING QUARANTINE LEA DESPOTIS Design Editor

January 21, 2020, in retrospect, appears a rather insignificant day in the grand scheme of our nation’s storied history. Lives remained virtually untouched, poised with the ordinary cadence of vibrant urban bustle and the customary interaction of friendly folk and carefree greetings. But that fateful day presaged an inevitable collapse—the impending hallmark of a catalytic moment that mocked the prized tokens of humanity buried deep in our hearts. We witnessed neither warfare nor natural disasters nor anything of the sort, but arguably a more insidious perpetrator infiltrated the American border. It greedily fed on the surface of its unsuspecting host, challenging the bonds of interconnectedness stolen from our lonely grasp. Then, perhaps this day does, indeed, carry a nauseating and conspicuous gravity: the first case of COVID-19 survived its voyage to our shores. We confidently hid behind the fallacious facade that our great nation stood impenetrable; the promise that our superior advancements and lessons from the past inoculated us to total devastation. Yet the sobering reality of our frailty landed with a thundering jolt as the virus pummeled nations—dominos toppling, far and wide. So here we are today, sequestered in our homes, fearful of an unseen enemy, and hijacked by our ignorance and arrogance that catastrophes like this only happen to other people in other lands. But amongst the shambles, we are now tasked to define our nation by a collective response: Did we truly stand united, or is it divided we fall?

14 FEATURES

CHRONICLES

AN INSIDE LOOK INTO WHAT OUR STAFF MEMBERS EXPERIENCED DURING QUARANTINE CALEB MOELLENHOFF Staff Writer

With all the fuss over being “quarantined” at home and not being able to go do many things we take for granted, let’s not forget how extremely blessed we still are. Living in a clean house with sufficient food and water, is something that millions of people have never experienced.

Simply, if missing March Madness and a season of athletics is the worst thing that ever happens to me, then I have a pretty fantastic life. Sure, I was really looking forward to watching the Olympics this summer, but it is so much more important that we protect the health and well-being of the world.

Not only is the stay-at-home order not as bad as some complain, there are plenty of good things that can come from this. My sister is home from college now for the rest of the semester due to the virus, and even though it is sad she can’t go back to school and see her friends, it has been good spending more time with her than we typically would have. Additionally, our west highland terrier, Flynn, is happy to be spending time running around and playing with us more instead of being locked up in his cage during the school day.

In all, it’s been nice to actually be able to slow down in a world that seems to keep going faster and faster. It’s nice to spend time with family as well as rest from the work and distractions that are always taking up our precious time.

I hope that everyone can stay safe through this scary and unusual time, and I also hope that this break from the normal routine of daily life gives you rest and perspective of the bigger picture as it has to me.

Flynn, the Moellenhoff’s west highland terrier, is happy that his family is staying at home. Photo By: Ashley Moellenhoff

SPORTING 15

THE RISE IN A N X I E T Y AMONGST YOUTH What is Anxiety and Why is it Targeting Children, Young Adults, and Teens?

EMMA HARRIS Staff Writer

An ominous, wrathful creature invades over their minds; a person who suffers from anxiety described it as if the minds of youth with more tenacity than it ever has before, enveloping them with dark thoughts and setting deep roots “my brain is a TV and someone else into their brains, entrapping the mind with has a remote.” its frenzied claws.

thoughts, plans, attempts, and deaths by suicide also increased from 7.0 percent in 2009 to 10.3 percent in 2017” in the article “Depression, anxiety, suicide increase in teens and young adults, study finds.” Philip Kendall, director of the Child and Adolescent You feel helpless if you suffer from anxiety, Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Temple This creature has no plan to stop soon, University and practicing psychologist, driving 10.6 out of 100,000 people be- claustrophobic in your own mind, almost tween the ages of 10 to 24 to such a dark like there are too many alarms going off at also said, once to be able to sort them out. You have and despairing place that they claimed their own lives in 2017 (“Teen suicides no clue what’s going to happen next, and “There is definitely a rise in the you can feel this in your chest and in your are increasing at an alarming pace, identification of kids with serious outstripping all other age groups, a new fingers that start to tingle. report says,” states The Washington Post). anxiety.” The question is why?

This being, the creature that tortures its “I’ve even had a full-on anxiety-induced Why is this happening and how victims, is no other than anxiety. But be- panic attack that had me completely fore we delve into the alarming, increas- convinced I was having a heart attack. It can we help those who are experiing rates of anxiety amongst people under culminated in an ambulance ride to the ER encing anxiety? and a tightness in my forearms that caused the age of 24, what is anxiety like? an intense feeling of pins and needles, For the rise in anxiety, there are many lasted for two hours until I finally Anxiety is like this: it follows you which given reasons. However, most have calmed down,” says an anxiety-ridden not yet been proven. The first of many every day of your life and every min- Stever Barry in “4 Illustrations of What plausible causes, as adults so willingly ute of your day, spewing insults and Anxiety Really Feels Like.” If you have a declare, is the use of smartphones. And phobia, you can try to enter the mindset of harsh criticism with no recommenda- someone with anxiety by taking what you though you may not like it, this theory holds its weight: “Cyberbullying, fear tion on how to actually fix yourself. feel like at the moment you are confronted and anxiety of being left out, and sleep with said phobia and think about applying deprivation tied to constant smartIt’s constantly recounting what you’ve it to your whole life (with varying intensi- phone use as factors affecting teens’ done wrong, reminding you that you will ties, of course). mental health and well-being,” says inevitably do something wrong again, the same article on CBC. and constantly warning you of every bad Although some doubt it, the fact that anxiety cases amongst teens and young adults thing that could go wrong, sometimes Alternatively, school is also a probable are rising exponentially is indisputable. procuring situations set years into the cause, which seems to most commonfuture. Anxiety doesn’t shut up, it doesn’t ly be the younger person’s favorite stop, and it certainly can’t be cured with “Earlier this year, research presented at the explanation. This too is a reasonable a simple “just think of something else!” It May 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies explanation. Business Insider confirms doesn’t act rationally, and those who have Meeting in San Francisco found that the that “Today’s high schools students are it are aware of this. You know it doesn’t number of children and adolescents adtaking harder classes and taking more make sense, but that doesn’t change the mitted to children’s hospitals for thoughts of them than previous generations” inof suicide or self-harm more than doubled fact that it feels very, very real. side the article “High School Kids Toduring the last decade,” states the article day Really Are Working Much Harder Sometimes, anxiety can spiral so out of “What’s behind the rise in youth suicides?” Than Earlier Generations.” Colleges control it can reach a point where people on CBC News. CBC News also claims that are harder to get into, college is now lose all the remaining control they have “the rate of young adults with suicidal more necessary than ever before, and

16 IN-DEPTH

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES Middle School: Mollie Pfuetze mpfuetze@wcastl.org Upper School: Jonnell Patton jpatton@wcastl.org National Hotline: 1-800-622-HELP (4357) National Mental Health Services Website If you are in immediate distress, dial 911.

An artistic representation of anxiety medication and the confusion surronding anxiety. Art By: Emma Harris most students are pushed to get higher grades than the supposed “C” average.

Phillip Kendall also went on to depict the main difference in society now and what it was thirty or something years ago: “We used to have high confidence in our environment- now we have an environment that anticipates catastrophe.” According to him, the atmosphere of society today is a whole different one than it was years ago because people are able to receive news quicker than before (which then reduces the time alloted to process that information), and the world has gone through more tragedies over time. For some reason, this has more of an effect on young people than it does older people.

However, anxiety amongst young adults, teens, and children is most likely not determined by just one factor but rather a combination of things. It could be all three of these theories and a million more we have yet to discover. The problem is that, no matter the cause, anxiety amongst the world’s youth is rising, along with the suicides of those very same people, some not but five years old. It is everyone’s responsibility to stop this, not just people under the age of 24. Children, reach out to your parents for help.

Parents, create an environment where your children feel safe to do this and do not write your child’s confession of symptoms off as an attention grab. If your friend reaches out, help them. Ask for help if you need it — it’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay not to be okay. Whatever you do, just don’t give up.

IN-DEPTH 17

WHEN A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR “DEATH” INDUSTRY CAPTURES THE LIVING Behind the bright promise of an end-of-life industry, hospice care masks a darker truth leading you to question whether it’s truly worth the risk

LEA DESPOTIS Design Editor

In a gripping anecdote published in the New York Times, reporter Karen Brown exposed the heartbreaking account of her father’s death: the story of how a supposed painless exit was countered by a devastating reality. Stricken with terminal pancreatic cancer, Brown’s father sought in earnest a “good death”—a peaceful, humane passing surrounded by loved ones and caring professionals—that trained experts in hospice care promised.

than compassionate, attentive care rather than a sterile hospital room under the impersonal watch of shift employees?

the discovery of further gross negligence and patient abuse contaminating hospice centers across the country.

In recent news, the hospice crisis garnered attention as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general released two scathing reports in August 2019, specifying the “significant vulnerabilities” and “deficiencies” that “jeopardize safety” of patients in hospice care.

Horror stories abound, including instances of finding maggots in While the hospice philosophy appears laudable at surface level, deeply embedded stomach feeding tubes, failing to clean in the layers rests a grim actuality. Near the wounds resulting in leg amputation, end of life, one’s fateful departure undoubt- and providing inaccurate treatment that edly precludes the guarantee of a straight- led to multiple hospital visits. In fact, forward outcome. But at the very least, a the HHS study found that a shocking kind-hearted, tender-minded, person-cen- 87% percent of hospices showed at tered hospice industry assures the compan- least one deficiency with 18% holding ionship of palliative nurses by their side. a “serious” and “severe” deficiency, But as the patient confronted a sudden suggesting the need for immediate spike in pain, hospice failed to live up to intervention. In these cases, hospice Yet, there were none to be found—for the that promise in the moments that counted declined to comment.

Brown family and countless others.

Horthe most. At 7 p.m. on the first night, Karrifying reports reveal hospice employees en Brown anxiously awaited unanswered calls, only to receive one later cavalierly abandoning patients at their deathbed, met But the organization cloaked in mismanagement, inadequate assessments, with delays, no-shows, and unanswered stating that doctors were unavailable. poor quality control, and marginal staff voicemails, according to a 2017 Kaiser By midnight a hospice nurse finally vetting offer only a glimpse into the Health News investigation.

The KHN arrived, without painkillers to alleviate larger, systemic problem. Sadly, it gets report uncovered a total of 3,200 substantithe protracted suffering. Next in line, a much worse. ated complaints against hospice in a 5-year “crisis nurse” was scheduled to arrive at 8 span.

Furthermore, a national Consumer a.m. the next morning. The hours 12 p.m., Assessment of Healthcare Providers and As for-profit hospice providers invaded 1 p.m., 3 p.m. passed without a nurse Systems (CAHPS) hospice survey indicates the originally intended-nonprofit agenin sight. It was not until 4 p.m. that aid appeared, but by that time, there was little these instances remain relatively common, cies in the 1980s, the death industry burgeoned into a lucrative business, left to do. Brown died an hour later—in with 1 in 5 respondents claiming their pain, turmoil, and utter disappointment. hospice caregivers failed to arrive. From receiving nearly 18 billion federal labored breathing, severe dehydration, and dollars annually. Now, the 4,000 cerunexpected seizures, patients and families tified hospices exist within the larger As an aging society, most people carry an awareness of this “innovative” type of all too often find themselves facing death’s healthcare framework of Medicare, collecting a flat daily rate of taxpayer assisted death that enrolls over 1.4 million door alone. money regardless of treatment or time patients each year. As the refined model However, accountability for such inferior spent with patients. for terminally-ill candidates, hospice service remains negligible. Little—if any— offers home-based, palliative focus as As history demonstrates, big business opposed to aggressive treatments, largely of the cases provided recourse for the irreparable harm. Once again, hospice failed inevitably foreshadows behind-thethe byproduct of the push against the to deliver, forcing some to grapple with the scenes corruption—and hospice has over-medicalization of death. It places sobering reality of placing their loved ones become one of them. great emphasis on the family, pledging in questionable hands. around-the-clock service to tend to patients’ physical, emotional, and spiritual Wielding pressure to keep profit mardistress. What more can someone ask for Alarming reports such as these spawned gins high, hospice salesmen actively

18 IN-DEPTH

hunt customers from doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities according to a Washington Post investigation in 2014. In fact, whistleblower testimonies from legal court records expose the flagrant use of bonus incentives designed for recruiters to meet new patient goals.

In the growing end-of-life movement, we assume that hospice operates with the patients’ best interest at heart. But with the stakes high for a billion-dollar industry, this reality is far from the truth. If suffering as a result of incompetency is not disturbing enough, some unsuspecting victims met their fate through intentional deception as well.

Because Medicare currently accepts vague definitions of “terminal conditions” including “failure to thrive” and “debility” as qualifications for hospice, a porous threshold opens the door for abuse. In one of the top Huffington Post exposés

by Ben Hallman, mounting evidence points to hospice care providers imperiling patients in a drive to boost revenue. The 2014 investigation discovered for-profit hospices pressuring staff to illegally enroll ineligible patients and falsifying health records to acquire more tax dollars. In other words, not all diagnosed hospice patients met the standard 6 months-to-live criteria of hospice. Why? Healthier patients require fewer visits and longer stays, pumping up the monetary rewards for the booming industry.

In a series of articles, Washington Post reporter Peter Whorisky uncovered further repulsive evidence pointing to the same culprit. Investigators found patients ingesting lethal doses of sedatives administered by hospice. These patients weren’t even terminally ill, yet faced death from an excessive amount of painkillers. With additional stories of patients prematurely snared into hospice, one can only wonder the extent to which slow homicide under the guise of palliative care is perpetrated.

Thankfully, thousands of people share more positive portrayals of hospice and vouch for its value. For these families, the program worked as it should, providing compassionate support to those legitimately on the verge of death.

But I speak for those whom it did not.

The devastating stories and undeniable facts unmask the inadequacies, fraud, and corruption plagued across hospice centers in recent years.

While noble in its founding mission established in the 1960s, today’s hospice providers have undermined their own goals.

Medical experts, plaintiff’s attorneys, and disgruntled families challenge the protocol, proposing viable interventions to rehabilitate a flawed system. With initiatives such as a Hospice Compare website and nonprofit programs, reformers seek avenues to combat abuse and lack of transparency. The Trump administration’s HHS report recommends the next step forward: a tighter oversight of hospice, laws to enforce violations, and a vehicle to publicly report grievances. Yet to hold hospices accountable for their actions, the power ultimately resides in Washington D.C. But in the end, can we truly rely on abstract government policies and detached politicians to ensure the safety and well-being of our loved ones?

Probably not. Therefore, it is our civil and ethical duty to demand more of ourselves and others—to ensure that each and every human experience a dignified and “good” death if we possess some semblance of control over one of life’s most uncontrollable circumstances.

IN-DEPTH 19

MASKS BY MOLLY

Molly Kirby, freshmen, gave her time to make masks for her family and many others to help keep her community safe.

MAGGIE LINDSTROM Staff Writer

Molly poses with her mom in some of the masks that she made. Photo by: Molly Kirby About two weeks ago Molly began to make her masks which she sells on a Facebook group.

“I noticed that whenever my dad went to the store to get groceries, he did not have [a mask] so I made him one, which ended up with me making my whole family one. My mom is in nursing school and works at Mercy. She also has friends that are in her class that also work there so I made them some too so they could also stay safe,” Molly said.

Some of the masks that Molly has made, featuring fun prints and different sizes.. Photo By: Molly Kirby found on her Facebook Page called MollyBands.

Big thanks to Molly for sparing her time to chat about her work and even bigger thanks to her for putting in long nights and days on these masks to keep her community safe.

In order to make the masks she first gathers her materials which are wire, fabric (100% cotton), and elastic. Then she cuts the fabric and elastic to the set sizes, which are small masks for ages 1-4, medium sized masks for ages 5-10, and regular sized masks for ages 11-adults. After she has cut the fabric and elastic to the selected size, she sews a small pocket to then thread the wire in, which is placed around the nose in order to create a better seal for the mask. She also makes sure to leave space in the masks for an optional filter.

All together it takes her 20 minutes to make one mask.

“Also, they can be machine washed (we suggest putting them in a mesh bag) and laid flat to dry, you just have to reshape the wire. And if they accidentally get put in the dryer, just iron them,” Molly explained.

Molly has masks available for purchase at this time. They are 1 for $10, 2 for $18, 3 for $27, 4 for $35 and can be

20 FEATURE

Molly hand sews all of her masks at home. Photo By: Molly Kirby

IN-DEPTH 21

THE FINAL MOMENTS DON’T DEFINE OUR EXPERIENCES

The final moments of this year were ugly. Luckily, we have plenty of other good memories to remember the year by.

TOMMY BRINER Sports Editor

At the eleventh hour, I decided that I would try to play baseball as a senior. There were a host of reasons that I made this decision, but none was more important than my friends.

On the Friday before tryouts, my friends mentioned they’d be going to a baseball field that weekend. I jokingly volunteered to come throw live pitching to them. They said that they’d love that, so I joined them. Being out there on the field with them brought back the memories of why I loved baseball.

We’ll also remember nights like this one, where the boys dominated in front of the Spirit Night home crowd. Photo by: Tommy Briner

However many weeks later, it’s still not so much the baseball that I’m missing as it is the time with friends on the field. Those are moments I’ll never experience. The perfect capstone to my high school career will never be.

The final practice of my competitive sports career was a Friday morning 6 AM practice that ended in 33 down-and-back sprints in the blue gym. The final play of my final game ever was an They started planting the idea in my mind, and by Sunday afternoon I’d decided I wanted to play. I went through the whole impromptu Hail Mary down 38-0 to Ladue on a freezing Friday week of tryouts - the most stressful week of the year. At the end night back in November. These are the final memories of my of the week I learned I had a spot on the team. The excitement high school sports career, but these are not the moments that define it, just like how falling to Cape Notre Dame in the State was overwhelming. It was set up perfectly. I was going to get Quarterfinal in Perryville, MO on a rainy Saturday afternoon is to spend my final season of high school playing a sport I love not how I’ll remember the basketball season. and being on a team with wonderful teammates. For the first time in high school, I would be on the same team as my grade We will all always remember the final moments and the emoschool best friend, Brennan Orf. tion they brought, even if we never knew that these would be all we had left, but these moments don’t have to define our careers. I’ll remember my first catch ever, an out on a crucial fourth down late in the first half at St. Mary’s. I’ll remember standing up in the end zone at Liberty only to be plowed over

by Ben Straub and be dogpiled on. I’ll remember throwing up on the sideline after Ben Hicks took a kickoff the distance at St. Charles West. I’ll remember The Dunk. I’ll remember Harrison Wilmsen’s ankles, which still lie just outside the three point line in front of the Blue Crew section of the Arena.

All of the things I loved this year came to an end in a somewhat similar way: partly ugly, partly sad, partly unexpected.

They say all good things must come to an end, but does the end always have to be so ugly?

My school year and high school career ended on a sixth hour Worldviews Thursday afternoon with Mr. Irwin. Rumblings had already begun about school being cancelled, but nobody believed any of it would really come true. I walked out into the hallway to my locker as the bell rang, looked around, and took a mental picture just in case. That was all.

We will remember the nights like this, where our team overcame the odds and fought until the end. Photo by: Aidan Penberthy

22 SPORTING

It’s terribly unfortunate that it had to end this way, but luckily for us, the final moments aren’t what define us, and there are plenty of other memories that do.

DEAR WESTMINSTER

A letter to the greatest class at Westminster

BENNIE ANDERSON Online Editor

Dear Newspaper, Thank you. I came in as a 6’1 225 lbs boy, and I left a 6’4 280 lbs man. Okay, well maybe that wasn’t directly because of the newspaper, but you played a fundamental role in me becoming the man that I am today. I look back on my time in newspaper with only feelings of sheer admiration and gratitude. When I first started that fateful day in August of my sophomore year, I saw this deranged gray-haired man lead a group of adolescents into a war cry that would rival even the mightiest of Native American Tribes. It was at that moment that I knew. I knew I had to get out of this crazy class. Little did I know that in two years, I would be one of those wild adolescents. Newspaper, you helped me find my voice. The ability to think for myself and defend my arguments and beliefs are critical life skills that will follow me into this next crazy chapter of my life.

Newspaper, you provided me a safe haven. Room C229 serves as host of the best darn (almost forgot I was still writing for Westminster) high school yearbook and newspaper in the area.

But it also stands as a beacon for all. Whether you needed to

SO LONG, WESTMINSTER

grab a quick nap (me), cram for that big AP test, or you simply just wanted to chat with some friends in a civilized and cultured environment, room C229 was always there, and it was always open. Newspaper, you showed me the power of what can happen when a group of people work together unified in one common goal, to be the best they can possibly be. Newspaper, you helped me to build lasting friendships and bonds with people I might not have ever talked to, but because of you I was blessed with the opportunity to meet them. Newspaper, you introduced me to Von. Von was/is that crazy gray-haired man who has changed not only my life but the life of so many other Westminster adolescents. You’ve given us a voice and a platform to share what matters to us. Newspaper, thank you.

Sincerely, Bennie Anderson Jr. Yale University Class of 2024

Yale University. Photo by: Al Netter

Looking back on some of the best days of our lives.

send-off, no spring sports, no senior prank, the list goes on.

Don’t wait for something to happen. If you want it, go get it.

I wish I would have known that when I was in your shoes.

Staff Writer Thankfully, this school does a great job of getting students Where did the last four years go? I really cannot believe that involved. My biggest piece of advice would be to just continuI am about ready to graduate from the halls of Westminster Christian Academy. Going to school everyday can be a pain for ally branch out and expand your horizons. These four years go by fast and they hold some of the best memories you could ever us all, but I think we can all agree there’s no place we would rather be right now. While I have not enjoyed every experience ask for.

I have had at Westminster, I could not have asked for a better group of people to surround myself with these past six years. I wish I could have known I had my last real day of high school before Spring Break so I could thank my teachers, classmates, and administrators for pouring so much into me.

JACK MARTIN

It’s hard to believe that I am no longer a high school kid anymore, but I know this school has done an excellent job of preparing me for all that lies ahead. This school has really challenged my faith and for that I will forever be thankful.

This probably sounds dumb to any young kids who may be reading this, but make the most of this time. If there is one thing COVID-19 has taught me, it’s that not everything is guaranteed. This is a time that I waited years for, and it was stripped right out of my hands. No proper graduation, no real

The “Roll Cats” body paint idea for the Liberty football game was a hit, just not among the administrators. Photo by: Pearson Georges

SPORTING 23

as my name was announced that I was going to be starting the game. I had gone from not getting a single shift the year prior to being one of the players to get the game going. Fast forward a few shifts, with nine minutes remaining in the first period, we lined up in the offensive zone and the puck was stuck in Levi Wright’s feet. I crashed in and dug the puck out and quickly shot it on net. Time stopped as I watched the to the Wickenheiser Cup Finals, playing puck flutter over the goalie’s shoulder. downtown in front of the whole school, I wish I could have the celebration it was one of the best days of my life. back, but it was the first good goal I We won the game thanks to Sam Hauphad ever scored wearing the Wildcat. fear and a few other amazing plays, but A weight had been lifted off of me as I the next day at school, I was reminded feel like I had finally truly contributed by some of my peers that the only time I to the team winning. All my thoughts stepped foot on the ice was in warmups. of what scoring had looked like paled This ate away at me for months and I in comparison to a moment that I will could not shake it from my mind, so I never forget. set a goal for myself to do what all the people I had looked up to did, have my moment in the championship and help our team win. I could write pages upon pages more about this, but I will spare everyone the details and fast forward to the next year.

WELL, HERE WE ARE

Reflecting on some of my greatest Westminster memories and one conspiracy theory that shouldn’t go undiscussed AIDAN PENBERTHY Staff Writer

Well, here we are. Not how I pictured it, but I am sure you have already heard this spiel from someone else, if not me, so I will spare both your time as well as mine.

Joining the newspaper this year was different for me, but it turned out to be one of my favorite things I was ever a part of over the course of the six years I traveled to 800 Maryville Centre Drive. I would like to thank both Von and Tommy Briner for adding me to the team this year, I grew in ways I never expected and I will always be grateful for that.

Now that the mushy parts are over, I have to figure out what I want my last ever published writing to be about. So many things flood in my mind, times spent at the rink, with friends outside of school, and my favorite classes. But just which do I narrow in on? There was so much that took place it is overwhelming just trying to decide how I want to sign off as a staff member.

I will start way back in freshman year in the fall of 2016. I had a few up and down years in middle school that I honestly do not even remember that much of. Making the leap to the upper school did not seem like a big deal to me at the time, but I did not know what I was getting myself into. My memory is still a little spotty about physics and geometry, but I could tell you about any hockey game that our team played in that season. We had eight total seniors and they all taught me so much about competing and taking pride in what you do. It was the most fun I have ever had playing hockey. Granted, as the playoffs rolled around, I did not do so much playing, but I was just happy being on the team. When we made it all the way

24 SPORTING

It was the semifinals of the Wickenheiser Cup playoffs and we were taking on Fort Zumwalt South. It is a best two of three series with a little twist, the third game is only ten minutes and is played directly after the second game.

We won the first game rather easily, but the second game we came out flat and lost the game before it had basically started. Next up is the mini game. No one scored in the first 10 minutes, so it was on to the sudden death frame.

The Wildcats carry the puck into the My father and I got a picture with zone, one player passes across the ice to the Stanley Cup. Photo By: Random freshman Michael Woll who fires it off guy the crossbar and into the back of the net.

The whole team jumps on the ice and Enough with the hockey talk, if anyone celebrates what was my favorite hockey is still reading, I am sorry for the overgame that I have ever played. load, but it is clearly something that I care a lot about and once I get going, it A few weeks later on March 13, 2018 is hard to stop. Due to time constraints we got on the bus from school to the we will pick this one up with the bigEnterprise Center. The whole way there, gest power heist in Westminster history. all I could think about is finding a way to score a goal. I visualized thousands In the discussion for my favorite class of times before and my chance was just of all time, it would be disrespectful hours away. We got warmups out of the not to give Dr. Schwamb’s 4th hour way and I heard over the big speakers

American Literature class. The year started off quite rocky, as all English classes do, as I had not done the summer reading assignment. At this time I would like to quote Scottie Pippen about how he felt about his summer, but due to the nature of the platform, I will refrain. But like every other assignment, you survive and advance.

note written about us that was read aloud the following day.

day? In the short list of people I could drum up, the only person that checked out was Dr. Schwamb. She could not live with the idea Weeks later, I had randomly floated the of us gathering in the parking lot for a good, idea that our class should have a bar- old fashioned American cookout. She found becue. We began to assign what each a way into the electric room and found a way person should bring, Orf had the grill, I to make it temporarily broken. had the buns, Hicks had the patties, and Trent had the condiments. Talks of the As heartbreaking as that news is, I have already talked far too long, but I would be remiss if I did not include the fun times I had spent with people that I grew a lot closer with over the course of my senior year.

We had a very solid group of guys in our Sporting group and we made a lot of very fun memories as The Bad Boys of Local Sports Journalism. We got on the news, in the STL Post Dispatch as well as some engagement from local college athletes. I had a blast filming videos in the classroom or on site with Koby Schmer. It brought me out of my comfort zone and I could not be happier with all that we did. We got to call a live play by play district basketball game, where the aforementioned Orf dunked on Borgia in the final seconds. I had the time of my life heading over to Pearson’s house along with seemingly fifteen other guys most weekends and dominating on the basketball court. My senior year was just an all around solid time to close it all out.

The hockey team won two Wickenheiser Cups during my time at Westminster. Photo By: Mike Rohlfing

The year progressed to the second semester and we had started to build a community. One corner of the windowless room was run by Brennan Orf, Ben Hicks, Sebastian Lacassie, Trent Grass, Miles Dix and myself. One day this unlikely group walked into the class on a Thursday and saw a substitute teacher for the day. Our eyes perked up as we had 80 minutes to do whatever we wanted. After being told some instruction, we had to continually ask questions to affirm we were doing the right thing.

But the thing is, we had never even considered touching the work assigned for the day. One person decided that we were going to play an off brand version of Uno via our phones. The sub did not like this decision. She stood in the middle of our circle of desks for ten minutes without saying a word, just reading a book. We did not let this stop our game, so we played on, and later on had a nice

future barbecue only grew as the days passed by. Finally, Dr. Schwamb gave in and said we could have our barbecue on the final block day of the year.

So looking back at it now, I can see through the championships, suspected mischief and fun times with friends that I really enjoyed the six years I spent at Westminster. It wasn’t always pretty, but I would not trade it for anything. Thank you to every teacher I had as well as all my classmates, you all made this something that I will always remember very fondly and be proud of.

May 16, 2019, the day of the final Thursday block of the year. It was all going good until the fateful news hit the Westminster phone hotline. On a perfect day, the power had just gone I have to give an even bigger thanks to my out, cancelling school for the day. How parents. Mom, thank you for constantly odd is that? Most days I would be re- pushing me and putting me in a position to joicing in this fact, but I had been look- succeed. Dad, I couldn’t imagine life without ing forward to the barbecue for months. you and everything that has taught me to So then I thought to myself, how could love. Thank you for being my coach, even this happen? There was no trace of though I may have not always wanted it. I a storm the night before, a beautiful, look forward to joining Chico’s full time, sunny spring day ahead, where did it should a contract offer come my way. But for go wrong? After nearly a year, I have now, I must say goodbye, Westminster. concluded that the only way this could have happened is if it was an inside job.

Now the question is who had the motive to shut down the building for the

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WALKING THE HALLWAYS AND THE IMPACT OF MAKING AN IMPACT

line. He left me with an interesting bit of wisdom. “It’s not your teacher’s job to entertain you or make sure you’re having fun,” he said, “Your teachers are just teaching you the material.”

While I don’t actually agree with this and believe teachers should strive to engage their audiences rather than being robots, the premise led me to somePeople make fun of the beige walls and thing different that would guide me in a call the school boring and ugly, but if helpful direction. At the end of the day, it’s not someone else’s responsibility to they took one second to look around make sure you’re having a good time in and see everything going on around them in the hallways, they would realize high school. The goal of Westminster is to teach students academically and how colorful the place really is. biblically, but a student’s experience is so much more than that. Your experiBetween third and fourth hour on a ence will be defined by your answer to random Tuesday in February, you could one question: what will you make of find just about anything going on in your time here? those hallways. The routine is simple. The bell rings, and you have five I’m not saying Westminster was wonminutes to talk to as many people as possible and also get to the next room derful all or even most of the time, but before the next bell. But in these short my experience was overwhelmingly positive overall because I somehow little five minute increments, friendships are formed and broken, gossip is managed to create something. I saw a place where I wanted to thrive, and I spread, stories are told, and moments went there and I thrived. Regardless that will never be forgotten happen. of what you think of the powers that If you think about it, the high school be, there will always be beautiful little experience really happens in the five minutes between periods. There’s not places for people to cultivate an amazing experience. Mr. VonderBruegge’s a lot I wouldn’t give to be in those hallways right now floating from person newspaper room was one such place to person, saying hello and exchanging for me. I also had FCA, the South Dakota Summer Seminar, and Blue Crew, pleasantries. just to name a few.

For my final story, I chose to share my thoughts about the hallways, why you should stop complaining, culture, and playing football TOMMY BRINER Sports Editor

For almost four years, I walked through the hallways of Westminster. Every day I walked them, just like everyone else.

That’s all I want to do. When I close my eyes and see myself at school, I’m walking the hallways.

There were days I didn’t want to hear a word from anyone. There were times it looked like everyone was a stranger. But here I am now, lamenting the fact that I’ll never get to do the thing I did seven times each day since I was a small, naive freshman.

I’ve seen quite a bit. I would consider myself a seasoned veteran of the hallways at this point. I also think I’ve learned some things about the place.

Now, regardless of whether anyone asked or cares, I’m going to record these thoughts because they’re on my mind and I would like to get them out.

Due to time and space constraints, I will elaborate only on what I view as the most pressing matters facing those who have yet to conclude their hallway-walking days.

Bennie Anderson and I were three-year Newspaper staff members. Photo By: Lea Despotis

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The first matter is something I would like to call “Quit Complaining.”

One day, I was complaining about a teacher to Coach Snyder in the lunch

These little nuggets of brightness are what will one day make up your fondest memories of high school.

Unless you let them, things that won’t be in your memory bank include the phone policy, being forced to wear leggings, and not being able to open your computer during lunchtime. Yeah, these things are all stupid, but do they matter? The answer is no.

I can’t diagnose how we got here or the reasons why everyone feels the need to complain about the misdeeds of the place, but I can say that if people started looking to enjoy themselves, things would look a whole lot different. So quit complaining about the oppressive-

ness of the administration. Quit complaining about how terrible your teachers are. Quit complaining about how the Blue Crew is no longer allowed to hurl insults in the direction of the opposition. You, at the end of the day, are the one who decides whether or not you have a good high school experience.

The next matter I will be taking up is culture. Everything has a culture. Everything I named previously has a culture, and anyone Play football. You won’t regret it. Photo By: Aidan Penberthy involved in any of things. If you build a desirable culture, The third and final thing I have time for tothose things would be you will succeed. But what does this able to describe it. Culture is backday is much more simple. Play football. Just breaking to build, but incredibly easy to take? It takes tedious work and an play. I am by no means a good athlete. I’m exhausting amount of time from people not fast, I’m not that strong, and I’m not that destroy. who care enough about something to tough. However, I made some extraordinary try to make it successful. However, relationships and some of the most unforI think of Coach Snyder once again, the result of leaving something begettable memories on that field my senior in all his wisdom, reflecting on how hind when you go is worth ten times season. What it took was the willingness to the culture of Westminster football has the time and effort. Leave something show up, and I was rewarded with stories and changed in the last four years. behind. friendships that will last me a lifetime.

I think culture is what draws people to There is one more thing I would be remiss if I did not mention. Thank you to the boys of Sporting this year. Even though you don’t share the same passion for journalism that I do, you helped me create something amazing. Without each of you, none of Sporting would have been possible and I’m thankful for all of you and the unique contributions you made. It was an amazing year.

The boys get a picture with the plaque after winning Spirit Week.

Photo By: Mike Rohlfing

Unfortunately, my time is done. All love for everyone who made high school wonderful.

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THE FAREWELL

Trying to find the right words to say goodbye to Westminster

of working in the Cottage Industry. I remember Mr. Murphy’s abstract yet effective motives of teaching. I remember Jirwin’s worldviews class which will go down as one of the most effective, enjoying, and interesting classes I’ve ever been in. I remember most of Mr. Burke’s Film as Lit. class as some of those movies simply encouraged naps. And most of all, I remember Newspaper led by the man himself, Von.

Newspaper class was a last minute decision for me. I remember thinking how I thought I was good at writing and how fun being a journalist would be. Little did I know my Sporting Graphic Design Editor Where do I even start? As I’m sitting here trying to think of how experience was going to be nothing like this. After deciding playing in a photo-editing software was more enjoyable than to put my emotions into words, I’m flabbergasted that the six years at Westminster have gone by so fast. It’s truly remarkable writing stories, I made the leap. that those six years felt like the shortest of my life.

Not only did I get to do something I enjoyed for 55 minutes out of the day, but I figured out what I really wanted to do with Growing up you always hear adults say things like “Don’t blink or you’ll miss it” or “Soak it all in because the time flies” my life, not to mention how incredibly supportive Von and my and you never really understand until it happens. Frankly, I’m fellow classmates were. speechless. There are so many ups and downs of high school going through it; but, in the end, I can only think of the good. As far as teachers go, Von is on an island by himself. He has My good friend and fellow Sporting colleague Aidan Penberthy taught me more about myself, my work, and the real world recently introduced me to the concept of thorns and roses and to than any other teacher I’ve had. It boggles my mind how he can have kids at home then come and work with hundreds of kids be honest, I can only think of the roses of Westminster. all day. I can’t imagine Newspaper being led by anybody else because I genuinely don’t think anyone else could do a better I won’t bore whoever decided it was a good idea to read my story since I have written two stories all year with the details of job. middle school because honestly, I don’t remember it. That being said, looking back, I remember and miss a large majority of my I am going to miss so much about Westminster. I am going to miss the people I spent everyday with for six years. I am going classes. Sometimes, these classes seemed like terrible, workfilled burdens. But now, looking back, I would give so much to to miss the great teachers who made me who I am. I am going to miss working and developing as a creator, especially with the go back. legend himself, Mike Rohlfing. I think the people I am going I remember Mr. Knerr’s AP Euro class and the great memories to miss the most are the people in Sporting who made every morning exciting.

PEARSON GEORGES

I got to have the immense pleasure of walking into C229 every morning and witness Koby and AP get to work in front of the white board. I got to witness the Sporting Wall of Fame grow as more and more news stations, colleges, and local high schools talked about us. From college offers to creating a whole new tradition which will hopefully last for years to come, 800 Sporting truly made some moves this year. There is no family I would have rather had than that of the Bad Boys of Local Sports Journalism.

The Bad Boys of Local Sports Journalism on Occupation Day during Spirit Week. Photo by: Natalie Ford

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As I type my last few sentences to ever be recorded in my Westminster career, I am still in complete awe of what just happened over the last six years. I still can’t wrap my head around how fast it went.

RANKING THE TOP FIVE LIL DICKY SONGS FROM PROFESSIONAL RAPPER

What better way is there to finish out your 800 Sporting career than with a Lil Dicky album analysis?

KOBY SCHMER Staff Writer

Recently during my quarantine break, I have been watching the new hit show “Dave” on FX on Wednesdays. The show depicts young pop star and rapper Lil Dicky, and it gives us a comical take on his early rap career and the struggles that he endured along the way. In the spirit of “Dave,” I decided to take a look at Lil Dicky’s most recent album, “Professional Rapper,” and give an in-depth analysis of my top five favorite songs on the record.

5. Bruh…

Earning the number five seed on the list is the song “Bruh…,” which unfortunately did not receive as much attention as it should have. This song consists of no chorus, no verses, no bridges, nothing, for it is simply Lil Dicky rapping for five straight minutes and not stopping once. The lyrical content is flawless, each line relating to one another and multiple lines having multiple references to pop culture. The song earns the five seed because it is about absolutely nothing, but man can he spit bars. Favorite Line: “I got your ex coming next like a W do” 4. Work (Paid For That?)

Another fairly underrated song, “Work (Paid For That?)” gives us a detailed description of how Lil Dicky’s life has changed since he entered the rap game. He describes how he is literally getting paid to do nothing and to enjoy himself. Not only does he deliver the signature chorus line, “I’m getting paid for that?,” but he also rattles off excellent verses depicting his rapping skills. I highly recommend this track when wanting to get fired up. Favorite Line: “Homie last week I was up in Miami (great weather), Got paid to chill in the club, Literally, chilling, like not even rapping, I think I did a good job” 3. Lemme Freak/Lemme Freak For Real Tho (Outro) “Lemme Freak” is obviously one of the most popular Lil Dicky songs out there, but many people overlook this Outro that connects to it. “Lemme Freak,” and it’s music video, tell an interesting story about Dave and his connection to this girl that he meets one night. The verses are genius, giving us a perfect picture of what is going on while delivering just the right amount of comedy. In the Outro, we hear Lil Dicky utilize autotune and how well his singing voice can sound on a hip hop track. Favorite Line: “Girl, I even have a fridge that has

Lil Dicky is the star of a show about himself called Dave. Photo by: Billboard

the water on the door like with the crushed ice”

2. Molly No, this song is not about drugs. This song is definitely Lil Dicky’s deepest track where he confesses his love to his ex-girlfriend who is getting married to another man. He talks about how multiple times he had to choose between her or rapping, and oftentimes he would not choose her, and he is sorry for that. Molly is a very deep track that we do not see Lil Dicky do a lot of, and we are certainly glad we hear it on this track. Not only does Lil Dicky release his feelings on the verse, but we experience the beautiful sounds of Brendon Urie on the chorus. Favorite Line: “You the best to me girl, always bake me something, And when they ripped off, you replaced my buttons, But don’t be pissed off if I hate your husband ‘Cause even when I can’t say ‘Love you,’ I love you” 1. Professional Rapper I have no idea how a rapper like Lil Dicky got the legend Snoop Dogg on one of his tracks, but somehow he did, and I love it. “Professional Rapper” is an ongoing conversation between Snoop Dogg and Lil Dicky about how Lil Dicky is applying to become a professional rapper. It is in a job interview format, but a very funny parody of it. I often hear that this song is overrated, and I would agree sometimes, but it is pure genius.

I am almost certain that no song in the history of music has been like this, where an ongoing conversation is occuring while they still manage to spit multiple bars. Oh yeah, and the song makes sense. It was a very easy song and a very funny portrayal of Lil Dicky’s life and the struggles he had to go through in order to obtain all the success that he has today. Favorite Line: “Man, my Bar Mitzvah money, But don’t diss me buddy, I wasn’t one of them younguns up on the block who had nothing to lose I must’ve wanted this a lot, I had something to choose” There are many honorable mentions I could’ve said, such as the famous “Save Dat Money” or even T-Pain’s featured song, “Personality.” Lil Dicky is by no means the best rapper out there today, but I find his comedic genre to be very original, and would consider him one of the most creative artists out there. He is going nowhere but up, and I am excited to see where his comedic and musical career take him.

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HOW FUTURE COLLEGE ATHLETES ARE STAYING PREPARED

Some seniors will go on to play sports in college next year.

Here’s what they’re doing to stay in shape.

BROOKE HIGHMARK Staff Writer

Throughout this time of isolation, many athletes have struggled Brennan Orf will play baseball at SIU-E next year. Photo by: STL to find ways to practice their sport given the limited resources.

There are hoopers without hoops, batters without batting cages, Post-Dispatch goal-scorers without goals, etc. However, Westminster senior “I’ve been working out every day and have had zoom meetings athletes Brennan Orf and Sophia Sacco have found creative with my future team,” said McKendree soccer signee, Sophia ways to continue to get better at their sport in order to be ready Sacco. for the collegiate level.

“I’ve gone to the field with a couple guys a few times, obviously keeping our distance, so I’ve still been able to throw and pitch while getting a few swings in,” said SIUE baseball commit, Brennan Orf. Although his last high school season has been cut short, Orf still feels prepared for the division one level, and his focus remains solely on the future.

A VIEW FROM WITHIN

What it’s like to be a Sporting staff writer as a freshman

BEN KNISLEY

Obviously, these devoted athletes have not let quarantine get in the way of their progress. They have continued to work hard and take advantage of the situation in order to become bett.

However, several obstacles and challenges still remain due to the circumstances. No high school athlete would ever dream of their last season being cancelled.

“It is more different than before. Last year during this time I would be going to the cages most everyday, but I can’t do that now. It is challenging to find different ways to get better,” said Orf. “It is difficult to think back on the season that I’m missing out on right now and to have motivation,” said Sacco.

Staff Writer

As a freshman, I walked in not knowing what I got myself into being in a class with almost all seniors. I walked into the room amd I was greeted by a friendly teacher. Then came the students, but a couple stood out to me not just because they were bigger and could probably tackle me but because their body language and faces told me what they thought about this big-footed tall freshman in the corner.

Through the months working with these seniors, I will never forget them. They taught me to always fight for what I believe in, to always ask questions and most importantly to do better each and every single day.

I have had great memories and tough times, but those seniors made me feel like I could achieve anything. They helped me and put me in situations I never thought I would be in. I want to thank 800 Sporting for letting me join your crew and achieve great things.

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Sophia Sacco will play soccer at McKendree next year. Photo by: WCA Foundation Yearbook

Both athletes have pushed through the adversity and maintained positive attitudes about the situation. Their perseverance and creativity will largely benefit and prepare them for the future.

WELCOME TO THE 800 SPORTING WALL OF FAME

definitely worthy. That’s what happened after Westminster beat Priory in basketball on Senior Night in February.

Westminster had already beaten Priory once in basketball. They were convinced the result would be different this time around.

The 800 Sporting Wall of Fame captured the greatest accolades of the year for the newspaper

TOMMY BRINER Sports Editor

As the success of 800 Sporting grew to uncharted territories this year, the staff decided it would only be appropriate to create a designated Wall of Fame to highlight the newspaper’s 2019-2020 exploits.

It began back in September with the creation of the Town and Country Cup. Originally the brainchild of Aidan Penberthy, many thought the idea to create The Cup was a bit ridiculous.

The name was debated hotly throughout the week leading up to the Westminster vs. Priory football game. Once it was decided that the name would be the Town and Country Cup, Aidan dug out an old hockey trophy from his basement, rid it of any hockey remnants, and prepared it for presentation.

That week, the Wildcats got their first win of the football season and won the inaugural edition of the Town and Country Cup. A Post-Dispatch game story headline read “Westminster uses extra motivation to knock off previously unbeaten Priory.” That extra motivation, of course, was the Town and Country Cup. The story highlighted how journalism students from Westminster created the trophy to give a boost to their struggling football team. This was easily deserving of a spot on the Wall of Fame, and it was the first item to grace the Wall of Fame.

The Wall of Fame is not simply the 800 Sporting staff bragging and boasting about how amazing they are. It’s much more than that. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come. It’s important to remember the scope of what ten people can do when they put in the work.

The second item on the 800 Sporting Wall of Fame was something pretty unique. It came in a forwarded e-mail from Mr. Burke to Koby Schmer. It was from Quinnipiac University.

Quinnipiac University wrote 800 Sporting with an offer to come and take part in a week long sports journalism camp in Connecticut. In their e-mail, they said that they’d seen the work we’d been producing and were impressed. Among those in attendance at the camp would be ESPN and The Athletic. We called this our first scholarship offer. It was an honor.

It’s hard for something to be deemed worthy of going up on the wall. But the recognition of being on the nightly news is

Koby Schmer, Tommy Briner, and Aidan Penberthy pose in front of the Wall of Fame after the Quinnipiac letter was added. Photo by: Isabella Francois

The publicity was heavy throughout the week. Emotions ran high in the Arena that evening, and 800 Sporting staff members were not welcome to walk by the Priory student section that evening. Priory players yelled and shoved and ripped their jerseys over their heads like small children, but the Wildcats could not be stopped. They won 59-55 on Senior Night.

On KSDK that night, anchors remarked that the Wildcats had won “to retain their hold on the Town and Country Cup.” Indeed they did.

The final item added to the Wall of Fame was once again courtesy of Aidan Penberthy. In the Sectional basketball game, Westminster matched up against St. Mary’s at Northwest High School. At halftime, Westminster was dominating. In the halftime video featuring Penberthy and Koby Schmer, Aidan, who will be attending St. Louis University, mentioned that the Dragons of St. Mary’s could use a little help from former player and current SLU star Yuri Collins.

800 Sporting tagged Collins in the post, and he liked it later that night. It was Sporting’s first engagement with a celebrity.

Thanks to everyone who read and engaged with 800 Sporting this year.

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THANK YOU! FOR SUPPORTING THE 800 NEWS. WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU!

SINCERELY, THE 2020 STAFF 32