800 News: The Wildcat Roar - April 2021

APRIL 2021

MAKE IT WORTH IT

Pg. 7

Westminster Christian Academy

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S MANAGING EDITOR IN CHIEF MAGGIE LINDSTROM, JUNIOR

CONTENT EDITOR EMMA HARRIS, JUNIOR

CO-EDITOR OF 800 SPORTING MARTYBRINER, SENIOR

CO-EDITOR OF 800 SPORTING BROOKE HIGHMARK, JUNIOR

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

COLIN RING, SENIOR

EMMA SMITH, SENIOR

2 STAFF

NOLAN JONES, JUNIOR

CJ FRANCOIS, FRESHMAN

STAFF

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

MOOREA ATKINS, SENIOR

KAITLYN BUTLER, JUNIOR

SAM VESTAL, JUNIOR

STAFF WRITER BEN KNISLEY , SOPHOMORE

HOPE LINAM, JUNIOR

ELLIE JOHNSON, JUNIOR

ANAGI PIERIS, SOPHOMORE

STAFF WRITER GUS DUDA, JUNIOR

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

EVAN KOHN, JUNIOR

ELLIE JONES, JUNIOR

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

ANDREW CAHILL, FRESH-

LAUREN BORCHELT, JUNIOR

Students Serving Students 3

CONTENTS

FEATURE

OPINION

NEWS

LIGHT POLLUTION

THE CREATION DEBATE

WESTMINSTER’S FINSET

WHAT WILL SPIRIT WEEK BE LIKE?

WHY CAPTAIN MARVEL IS THE WORST MARVEL CHARACTER

RETURNING TO NORMAL

PG. 9

PG. 10

WAYS TO FIGHT SENIORITIS PG. 12

HOSPITALITY REVISED WITH COVID AS THE EDITOR PG. 14

PG. 8

PG. 13

PG. 6

PG. 11

SPORTS

2021 BOYS LACROSS PREVIEW PG. 16

FLYING FOUR PG. 17

KHARIS PERONA MAKES UP LOST TIME PG. 18

WESTMINSTER ALUMNI SUCCEEDING AT THE NEXT LEVEL PG. 19

WHAT WOULD 800SPORTING DO WITHOUT SPORTS? PG. 20

END OF YEAR SIGNING RECAP PG. 21

LUKE FEATURE PG. 22-23

BULLDOG GOLF TOURNAMENT AT WING HAVEN CC PG. 24

GEORGE DESLOGE, MIDDLE SCHOOL STAR PG. 25

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CONTENTS

STAFF ED A Response To The Heartbreaking NewsCurrently the whole future seems as dark as it did last year during the first quarantine phase. With the rise in COVID numbers and with the postponement of spirit week the hearts of many students have broken. We were finally getting back to normal, things were looking so up. How did they take such a turn for the worst. These are thoughts that have been running through my mind. I, like many, am also deeply saddened by this news. Spirit Week for me has been a part of my life for 15 years and this year would have been my sixteenth spirit week, I can imagine a year without spirit week so I hope that in some shape or form we can have it. but with all the confusion and sadness around the community right now, here is a verse to keep in your mind right now- “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” - proverbs 19:24. we have no control, we could have stopped this, we could have done worse or better. but we did not, because that was not God’s plan, so let’s kinda on with what we got now. we know God knows what he is doing so let’s trust him!

see you all in person on May 3rd, 2021

From Maggie Lindstrom -Managing Editor In Chief and the rest of 800 news!

STAFF ED

STAFF EDITORIAL 5

WESTMINSTER’S FINEST EMMA SMITH Staff Writer

free Chick-fil-A, and we are going to give the three main winners bouquets.” The real prize you get from participating in WestminThis year a new event is being introduced to Westminster’s famous ster’s Finest is the money you get to donate to your chosen charity, Spirit Week. Fun, quirky, and innovative, this event is full of surpris- as well as just having fun being silly and competing. The point of es. Whether it’s an extreme love for orange chicken or the bedaz- the competition is to help give money to organizations who have zled kings costume, that I happened to see while I was interviewing been suffering from a lack of helpers during the covid pandemic.

Elenor Dana. Westminster’s Finest was introduced for the first time ever this year. But what is Westminster’s finest? “Westminster’s Introducing a new event to Spirit Week is a big commitment but Elenor Dana has confidence that Westminster’s Finest will Finest is a charity event,” said Elenor Dana, a junior this year at succeed. “I was super enthusiastic about it to start because it Westminster, and who is leading the event. “Each contestant was brand new. But running a new thing at a school that really has picked a charity and basically they’ll represent that charity for a week leading up to donations. It will be like coin wars style values tradition is kind of difficult. But I’m excited to see what we can make out of this event. I’m so grateful for all the people that donations.” Charities include: BWorks, an organization devoted to teaching and growing children so that they are ready to make a applied and the constants.” difference in the world, One Heart ministries, who help create a safe and loving home for foster children, and the Pujols Foundation, who help children and families with Down Syndrome etc.

Westminster’s Finest has attracted a lot of unique ideas: “One of my favorite contestants is Nehemiah Oggini. He really, truly has a love for orange chicken and he really has found a way to work that into his entire persona.” This event is sure to be full of surprises.

There are 11 contestants competing in Westminster’s Finest this year, including freshmen, William Dana, Nehemiah Oggini, Joseph Anderson, and Colby Albert, sophomore, Tyler Collison, Juniors Sayva Philips, Joshua Anderson, and Bell St. John, as well as seniors, Daniel Martin, Hayden Turley, and Caleb Moellenhoff.

So how do contestants compete? “It’s a pageant parody. We thought an event like this where people could goof off and raise money that way would be good for this year.” The pageant has 3 events: Formal Wear, where the contestants will be introduced and they will all dress up, and whoever is the best dressed will be the winner. Talent contestants will use a comedic talent to “speak towards who they are.” The last round is an interview, and the winner of the Interview becomes Westminster’s Finest.

So what does it mean to be a winner? “Well, we wanted to avoid huge prizes just because it would not make sense to have those in a charity competition,” says Elenor, “so each contestant will get a WCA Finest logo ilustration by: Elinor Dana

6 NEWS

Evolutionary creationists believe that God utilized this process to carry out His creation and magnify His glory. And after intensive study of the book of Genesis, researchers of the BioLogos organization infer that much of the Genesis narrative, while still holding total authority as the word of God, relies less on accurately relaying the facts of an event and more on pointing readers KAITLYN BUTLER toward its comprehensive significance. While the flood may not have spanned Staff Writer across the entire globe, emphasis on the message of the story combined with the ancient Israelites’ knowledge of cosmology would explain the discrepancy How old is the earth? Did we evolve from monkeys? How did everything start? between the Scriptural narrative account and the scientific perspective (“How should we interpret the Genesis flood account?”). They additionally offer the Human beings have wrestled with such questions from the beginning. Through- idea that Adam and Eve were chosen as representatives of the human race, the out history, the church has clashed with the scientists of their age under the first homo sapiens to be endowed with the breath of God and take on His image conviction that their empirically-based discoveries contradict the infallible (“Were Adam and Eve historical figures?”).

Scriptures. From the heliocentrism vs. geocentrism debate to the three distinct interpretations of the biblical creation, the battle between the authority of the And this issue extends to all points of view; evolution is not the only targeted church and the secular emissaries of science and progress has persisted. opinion. Any perspective on creation faces this unproductively argumentative

THECREATION DEBATE BIAS AND PRESUPPOSITION

opposition: old earth creationists reject the infallibility of Scripture, young Oftentimes, however, as scientist Francis Collins points out in an invitation to earth creationists are stupidly uninformed, those who do not believe in evolurethink how Christians handle the discussion, “church leaders often seem to be tion cannot accept change, and any opposing side fails to know the facts. out of step with new scientific findings, and run the risk of attacking scientific perspectives without fully understanding the facts” (The Language of God).

But at its core, Christianity cannot be threatened by science. God cannot be threatened by science. Sure, big names in the field of science may use their The basic arguments against the theory of evolution, for example, from a study in a way that removes Him from the picture. But true scientific discovery Christian perspective can be boiled down to the following: it’s not written in the is merely the revelation of God’s marvelous work within His creation.

Bible, it violates the principle of imago Dei, it’s scientists’ attempt to disprove Christianity, and how on earth can a monkey become a human?

Whatever conclusion believers come to, they must beware of holding onto

their argument instead of their Creator. Human beings do not possess the The problem is these arguments offer an emotionally-charged, uninformed de- intellectual capacity nor authority to understand life’s toughest questions. fense that fails to allow for a productive discussion of the issue, usually arising Science is a beautiful endeavor, a responsibility we have been entrusted with out of a misunderstanding of the actual opposing argument. as an exercise of our dominion. But who was there at the event of creation but God? How can we place our faith in the conclusions of Man, finite in his pursuit The concept of microevolution is universally accepted: that different breeds of of knowledge? an animal develop as a population adapts to its environment. But when it comes to macroevolution, red warning lights flash in the minds of many Christians who As scientists, we are observers. Not those with all of the answers. “So let us see the theory as a threat. Scientifically speaking, the general working definition together seek to reclaim the solid ground of an intellectually and spiritually of evolution is the change in allele frequencies within a population over time. In satisfying synthesis of all great truths” (Collins 234). other words, any major shift in the percentage of individuals with a certain trait indicates that the population has evolved. Macroevolution is simply the same process as microevolution on a broader scale.

Thus, no, a monkey does not suddenly give birth to a human. Evolution is a process that requires years and years of gradual change in a population’s gene pool; the smallest unit that can evolve, therefore, is a population. The working theory is that homo sapiens and apes share a common ancestor whose populations diverged and evolved on their own to refine their own favored characteristics. Furthermore, genetic evidence suggests this common ancestry: consider that humans and primates both show a genetic mutation that makes them unable to synthesize vitamin C, even though their DNA contains the instructions to do so. This gene in other mammals still functions soundly, indicating that a “mutation event occurred in the common ancestor of these species, rendering all of their descendants unable to make vitamin C” (“Evidence for Evolution”). llustration by: Kaitlyn Butler

OPINION 7

WHEN THE SKY BLINKS OUT ANAGI PIERIS Staff Writer

When you look at the sky, you don’t see many stars. The culprit?

Light pollution.

Based on an average cycle of dusk to dawn in urban America, school-age children will live out their education, careers, and old age oblivious to the barrier between themselves and the horizon, none the wiser about the cosmic masterpiece playing out overhead.

As far as scientists know currently, there are four distinct types of light pollution: skyglow, glare, light trespass, and clutter. According to the International Dark-Sky Association, 80% of the world’s population lives with the interference of skyglow or the almost imperceptible brightening of the horizon with sustained light trespassing, visual light clutter, and glare. Plus light pollution is particularly rampant in the United States and Europe, in which an average 99% of the population lives under the pall of sky pollution.

Over the past few decades, the fantastic invention of the lightbulb has been overused to a damaging extreme at nightime. Light pollution has negatively impacted many aspects of light on earth, including the environment. Certain nocturnal animals are often thrown Light pollution is no longe an isolated incident. ilustration for a loop by the unnatural levels of light. For instance, just beyond by: Ansgi Pieris city limits, marshes that would normally abound with croaking have since grown silent as the normal reproductive cycle of amphibians harder to locate. depends upon the ebb and flow of daylight.

In some cases, excess glare from streetlight handicaps pedesMore high-profile cases, like that of sea turtles, further demonstrate trians and, ultimately, leaves them more vulnerable than before. the ecological threat of nightly illumination. After baby turtles Theoretically, the interfering shafts of light can induce visual emerge from their shells on the beach, the interfering glow of discomfort or headaches. As a practice, the human eye’s pupil dihuman populations will lead them farther inland, instead of towards lates in shaded settings in order to take in as much of the subdued the sea. Whereas most creatures are guided by the moon at night, illumination as possible. When transitioning from a brightly lit area the disruption of the night’s pattern has complicated the relationto a darkened corner then, one’s vision takes time to adjust as the ship of both predators who begin the hunt after sunset and prey who pupil switches from pinprick form to the better suited dilated state. cloak themselves in the darkness. he Center for Disease and Control (CDC), in documenting the effect An instinctual objection to less nighttime city lighting is the concern of night lighting on sleep habits, has also discovered that dazzling that unlawful activities are spurred on by the cover of the night. room fixtures or bright outdoor lighting tends to delay drowsiness Counterintuitively, though, as much as darkness may conceal the at least two hours past one’s usual bedtime. aftermath of a crime, the same dimming renders targets of crimes

8 IN-DEPTH

SPIRIT WEEK 2021

Well...we t ho

ught so...

WHAT’S NEW AND DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?

CJ FRANCOIS Staff Writer

Spirit week in 2021 may be very different, but it is said to be a very fun and unusual event. New for 2021 are some very unique games: field goal, eliminator dodgeball, 100 yard relay, and trash can sports relay. Field goal replaces the half court shot this year. Eliminator dodgeball, will have 2-3 rounds and can be played with defense or hitting the opposing team with dodgeballs. The 100 yard relay will go from goal line to goal line. When the runner tags the next runner, the next runner has to do an exercise. The trash can sports relay is regular sports games, but with a trash can. These new games are all thanks to the games committee.

:)

a specific decade to dress by. The same rules apply, as the best dressed grade wins the dress up competition. “I think our participation is going to be pretty good this year,” says Jack Wooldridge, junior.

The Schedule for spirit week includes all of the classes on each day, except that there is a pep rally at the end of each day. This results in shorter class periods to make room for the pep rally. The pep rally will go from 12:30-1:15 and is the same principle as the past years have been.

For this year, community night will be held at the Family Arena in St. Charles. This is because the Family Arena offers more space for the audience to sit and a large area for the performers to perform. Also unlike last year, there will be no final basketball game, so the winners will be announced on community night.

The main difference for this year’s spirit week is that the pep rallies are going to be outside on the football field. As a result, many of the events are bigger and have to be made for the turf. All grades will be doing the relay Last year, the seniors took the win of spirit week with 10th grade in secrace at once. There will be two games of ultimate chicken happening at the ond, followed by 11th grade. 9th grade came in fourth, then 7th grade and in last place was 8th grade. This year, it is probable that the seniors will same time. win, but no one knows for sure. Covid definitely throws in a curveball in The dress up themes this year are very radical. Friday is class color day, everything, and it has changed spirit in both positive and negative ways.

Monday is pun day, Tuesday is T.V. and movie day, Wednesday is class de- The WCA staff has learned how to cope with less than ideal conditions cades day, and Thursday is blue and white day. Each grade has been given and are presenting students with a very exciting spirit week.

Seniors always bring the enrgy to spirit week. Courtesy of 800 news archive

NEWS 9

down against its will. The expected timeframe to push out all vaccines is either June or July, hopefully making August the target AS CORONAVIRUS BEGINS TO COME TO A CLOSE WHILE RESTRICTIONS date for a total mask-free, full capacity lifestyle once again.

RETURNING TO NORMAL

ARE SLOWLY BEING LIFTED, THE RETURN OF PRE-PANDEMIC LIFE GIVES INDIVIDUALS MINI GLIMPSES OF HOPE.

ELLIE JONES Staff Writer Throughout this past year, one of the biggest, most commonly asked questions by anyone and everyone is “when will my life return to normal?” What makes this question extremely difficult to answer are the states differentiating how and when they are relaxing the restrictions. For example, states such as Texas are already maskfree, and states such as New York are as buckled down as ever. The burdensome realization to accept is the fact that the world will not all return to normal life at the same time.

Fortunately, in Missouri, there are still places that have remained normal throughout the pandemic even if others have not. St. Charles county has almost completely returned to normal. It already looks just as close as it did to last March as anything. There is nomask mandate, and restaurants at over 80% capacity, if not completely full. During spring break in Florida, one would have thought Coronavirus never even existed. You feel free again when you’re not restricted and constantly being told to put a mask on.

Historian of medicine Howard Markel refers to the return to normal life: “It’ll be so gradual, we probably won’t even notice it. It all depends on how many people roll up their sleeve and get the immunization, you see,” said Markel. The vaccine is an obvious factor Illustration by: Lexie Vick that could potentially further advance the return to normalcy much sooner than expected.

Many are eager to get their vaccine, and many are hesitant due “Infectious disease experts agree at least 70-85% of the country to the known side effects, and wonder if it’s really worth it. The vaccine is geared more towards the older generations, as the needs to become immune to starve the virus,” said Anne Flaherty younger generations do not necessarily need one unless they wish and Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News. The explanations for the end of Coronavirus range from points A to Z. Everyone is at a different place to obtain it. on the spectrum regarding how they feel about it, so it’s hard to come to a final conclusion.

According to health experts, this fall could be as close to normal as we have been since March of 2020, when the country was shut

10 NEWS

“Vaccine hesitancy has also been perpetuated by Fox News. Many cannot fully put their trust in a brand new vaccination. However, many are lined up ready to receive it. Wherever you are on the spectrum, no one can deny that they are ready to start living their life normally again.

WHY CAPTAIN MARVEL IS THE WORST MARVEL CHARACTER WHAT MAKES THIS HERO THE WORST IN MARVEL HISTORY?

ELLIE JOHNSON Staff Writer

and relatable Peter Parker who lives with his aunt and uncle, then receives a bite from a radioactive spider, giving him powers. He then goes on to try to use these powers to earn money in a pro-wrestling tournament, which he wins, There is much debate surrounding who everyone’s favorite avenger is, but but the promoter of the tournament refuses to give him the money he earned. nobody seems to talk much about who the worst marvel character is.

So, when an armed robbery is committed against the promoter, Peter lets him go out of anger and does not try to stop him. This same man only minutes later When choosing the criteria upon which one should evaluate these characters, shoots Peter’s uncle in the street, and Peter vows to live by his uncle’s famous the worst character is not defined by how “evil” they are. In other words, it’s not saying “With great power comes great responsibility.” His clean, memorable that kind of bad. The worst character is simply the character that gets under the origin story gives him motive to be a hero, an interesting power set, and an audience’s skin the most, is the worst portrayed from the comics, and is generally emotional connection with the audience, not to mention the entire backstory of just not fun to watch. According to an article written by Sean O’Connell for Cinema his parents, Oscorp, etc.. Captain Marvel is a different story. Her origin basically Blend, many claim Hawkeye, Falcon, The Hulk, or even Iron Man to be their least goes as follows: She was an Air Force pilot working for NASA and then somehow favorite characters, but the character who outdoes all the rest in the terrible cateshe accidentally got Kree DNA to obtain the most boring and overdone powers of gory is Captain Marvel, specifically as portrayed in the Marvel cinematic universe. flight, super strength, super durability, and energy beams. She did not sacrifice anything or even gain a reason to fight for good. Without a gripping origin story, Now, there is a large fan base for Captain Marvel who call themselves the “Carol Captain Marvel falls flat.

Corps” after the character’s name, Carol Danvers. These fans see Captain Marvel as a feminist icon, Marvel’s Wonder Woman, and a symbol for progress. As a All of these flaws might be able to be overlooked to some extent if the hero had woman, I think that her being a female superhero is as far as her good traits go, a lovable personality. Unfortunately she does not. Scowling everywhere she and even then, her feminism feels artificial. Zoe Fanzo, writer for The Meridian, goes, Captain Marvel seems standoffish, entitled, ignorant, and bossy. She struts said it well, “Captain Marvel is saturated with the theme of female power, and into any room and makes demands when she isn’t in charge and then leaves. while that is in no way an unwanted motif, the politics of the film overshadow its She never seems to have the right priorities either. For example, in Avengers: ability to tell a fully realized story.” The movie is full of scenes where she is being Endgame, every other hero works hard and risks their lives to stop Thanos and undermined by male antagonists, and she only achieves her full power when she then Captain Marvel, who has been absent the entire time, waltzes in giving the finds out that her male mentor had been stifling her abilities the entire time. An excuse that she was off helping other planets, then proceeds to tell everyone example of one of these forced feminism ridden scenes is when a man cat-calls what they should do. If she is truly the most powerful superhero as she claims, her and she steals his motorcycle. It was unnecessary and just detracted from the why was she not at the source of the problem? Why would she be doing cleanup actual story. It feels like she is a shell of a character that is just being used as a on other planets? She has many qualities that contribute to her being the worst prop for feminism in order to be easily marketable.

Marvel character, and her personality doesn’t help fix any of them.

In addition, everything concerning Captain Marvel all the way back to the comics feels ambiguous and forgettable. Every hero’s story has aspects, other people, items, nemesis, etc. that all amounts to what can generally be called lore, and this is what intrigues most fans. For example, Spider-Man’s (as seen in the comics) lore would be something encompassing Aunt May, Uncle Ben, Oscorp, Doc Ock, The Daily Bugle, and so much more. Captain Marvel’s lore is just nonexistent. As Thomas Well said in an article for Medium, “When you think of Captain Marvel, what do you think of? She... used to be a pilot? She has Kree DNA, somehow. Did she used to have a romance with Marr-Vell, before that character died?” She does not have anything memorable or interesting that makes the audience truly feel like the story is real.

Similarly, her origin is not compelling or interesting in the slightest. The hallmarks of a great hero’s origin story are sacrifice or loss, an interesting way of receiving powers or abilities, and an emotional hook. For example, let’s look at Spider-Man, Captain Marvel ilustration by: Ellie Johnson specifically the origin seen in the Tobey Maguire movies. It begins with lovable

OPINION 11

MAKE IT WORTH IT

STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT SENIORITIS - DO SOMETHING INSTEAD

MOOREA ATKINS Staff Writer

for Disney/Pixar as an animator. I don’t have any programs to practice right now, but I can learn some of the basics. So I’ve heard almost all my teachers say the fourth quarter for for an entire class period I watched a video explaining the seniors is a joke. And it is, to an extent. There comes a point 12 principles of animation as stated by Disney animators. where suddenly your schoolwork doesn’t matter as much I learned about drawing styles and ways to animate that anymore, and all you want is to graduate. Schoolwork sudden- make your animations more interesting and fun. My favorite ly becomes ten times harder to do on time, tests and papers principle has to be the Squash and Stretch principle, which are insignificant compared to hanging out with your friends, states that in animation things move dynamically in different and your weekends are spent doing everything except your directions. For example when a ball is falling from the sky and homework. it hits the ground, it doesn’t stay a perfect circle, it will squash into an oval as it falls and hits the ground.

Here’s the thing though: if you believe that the fourth quarter of senior year is a waste of your time, stop complaining and You can combine this principle with other principles, such as do something. Instead of wasting my time writing something the principle of Anticipation. Anticipation is exactly what it I would never read so I could jump through some gradebook sounds like, keeping your audience on edge. For example, if a hoop, I decided to spend a couple days during class in News- character is running, they may step backward before bolting paper to stop grumbling and do something I felt was more forward. The audience is anticipating that the character is interesting with my time. going to do something. Their body will squash down into a smaller position when they step back, and spring up into a I’ve always wanted to know how to animate. My major in straighter position when they run. This makes movements college includes animation, and a dream job of mine is to work seem more lifelike and dynamic, and gives your animation personality and character.

Do something with your time to learn more about something you are interested in. Illustration by: Moorea Atkins

12 FEATURE

As you can tell, I had much more fun learning about the principles of animation than doing something I wasn’t motivated to do. I used my time to do something that got me excited about learning again. Now I’m not advocating slacking off. Spending your class periods scrolling through Instagram or watching funny videos on YouTube is wasting your time. What I am saying is this: any time you have some down time in class, consider reading about something that interests you. Perhaps you want to start your own business, get serious about learning another language, read about design, or teach yourself complex math for engineering school. Stop complaining about how bored you are, and use these last few weeks to jumpstart your future. You’ll find that time moves faster, and chances are you’ll thank yourself later.

HOSPITALITY REVISED WITH COVID

HOW THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY HAS SUFFERED AND ADAPTED FOR THE BETTER DURING COVID-19.

LAUREN BORCHELT these features would not be available if it weren’t for COVID, and a lot Staff Writer of people are getting comfortable with being able to do most of their Throughout the last year with the COVID outbreak, many different shopping or day to day errands from the comfort of their own homes. things have been affected. One of the bigger issues COVID has caused is the hospitality industry failures.

The hospitality industry is focused on attracting people, entertaining, etc… and these things usually take place in hotels, cruise ships, theme parks, restaurants, etc… all of these require a large volume of people.

However, with the COVID outbreak, this industry is having a more difficult time catching and keeping business up. Cruise ships have closed, many people have stopped traveling, people stop going to restaurants as frequently (if at all), and theme parks have closed down during this time.

This has greatly affected the hospitality industry because, while other areas of business can change and adapt to the outbreak, it thrives off of large numbers of people. This is the exact opposite of what is needed to keep people safe during the pandemic, meaning the hospitality industry is struggling to adapt and keep business up.

In the long run, many things will be permanently affected. Some theme parks may not reopen, leaving people who previously worked there without a job. Cruise ships stopped sailing, hotels closed down or had a very minimal number of people able to stay, and who knows what more will be affected.

While there is a major negative impact on the hospitality industry due to COVID, there are also some positive changes that have helped it.

For example, at hotels, they now have their own app services. This includes virtual check in to limit contact with people, ordering room service/meals, etc. This could actually help the industry, and if it weren’t for COVID we probably would not have these positive changes right now.

When will everything return to normal? Will normal look the same? ilustration by: Emma Harris

In short, while the hospitality industry has suffered large and damaging consequences because of COVID, they have also developed new systems that might be beneficial to carry on even after the pandemic is over.

things can help boost your energy rather than deplete it.

This is true for many different businesses, including restaurants with curbside pickup, and many stores or delivery services including Though laziness is hard to avoid, it can be stopped, but only if you’re features where you order your groceries or needs online, and it is willing to take the steps to stop it. delivered to your doorstep or picked up curbside. This also is a positive thing that has been helpful to many because it limits contact with people and gives more flexibility to people regardless of COVID. Many of

SPORTING 13

14

Westminster Christian Academy

FOUR YEAR STARTING VARSITY KEEPER

ZOE LINTNER MADE THE WESTMINSTER VARSITY SOCCER TEAM AS A FRESHMEN AND HAS BEEN THE STARTING GOALIE EVER SINCE.

MARTY BRINER Co-editor of Sporting

Lintner grew up playing in the field and in the goal but transitioned to only goalie in eighth grade. With the goal in mind of playing college soccer, Lintner chose to dedicate much of her time to training at a very young age.

“I sacrificed a lot of time and energy to become the player I am today,” said Lintner.

Her training paid off when she secured the starting goalie position freshmen year. This was a huge accomplishment, but a lot of work would still be required to reach ultimately her dreams of playing in college. Luckily, Zoe’s love of the sport and fun spirit made the work enjoyable.

“I always strive to find balance between hard work and fun,” said Lintner.

Lintner’s love of soccer extends far beyond the sport itself.

“Being a goalkeeper is a very unique position. I love being able to keep my team in the game and make big saves. I also love playing Westminster soccer because I get to become friends with different girls I otherwise would not have,” said Lintner.

Having four years as an integral part of the team gave Lintner the opportunity to make a big impact on the team.

Lintner smiles for a picture.

Photo by: Marty Briner

“Being on the team for four year has helped me become a better leader and captain this year because I’ve been watching and growing with the team for four years,” said Lintner.

Annessa Shively, teammate and friend, values Lintner’s impact on the team.

“Zoe is a great leader on and off the field. She sees the field really well and makes sure everyone is in the right spot and she always steps up in games, even ones where the rest of us may be having a bad day,” said Shively.

Lintner won Districts her freshman and sophomore year. Last year, the postseason was cancelled, so this year she is even more hungry for the win.

The team was moved down to Class two, so the odds of Lintner leading the team to another district title are looking good.

After an influential four years, Lintner will be attending Southern Indiana to play soccer at the division two level.

“I can’t imagine not playing soccer. It brings me a lot of joy. I’m excited to play at the next level and continue growing and improving my skills alongside my new teammates,” said Lintner.

Lintner takes a goal kixk.

Photo by: Brooke Highmark

SPORTING

Lintner will be missed by her team, but her impact will remain for years to come.

15

FLYING FOUR

The Westminster boys 4x100 relay team attempts to make history.

COLIN RING Staff Writer

The 100 meter dash is undeniably the greatest measurement of human speed in its purest form.

These races, usually lasting under twelve seconds, are some of the most electric and exciting moments in a sporting event. Watching a fast 100 meter runner gain speed out of the starting blocks as they begin to pump their arms and legs is like watching poetry in motion.

From left to right: Hines, Mulick, Wilkerson, Minner, and Walsh (not pictured) are excited to showcase fruits of their hard work this season.

Photo by: Colin Riing

On the Westminster track and field team, there is no shortage of speed in the 100 meter dash. In the individual 100 meter during a meet on Tuesday, March 30, at Rockwood Summit, Rob Hines, Tucker Mulick, juniors, and Gus Wilkerson, senior, finished first, second, and third in their heat, annihilating the competition, while on the girls side, Madison Schofield, junior, also won her 100 meter heat.

The handoffs between me and Tucker were the worst. In practice, neither one of us were able to run at 100%. As a result, Tucker gave me too many steps and took off too early. I simply couldn’t catch him,” said Hines.

To get over their early season handoff woes, the 4x100 team is working exceptionally hard, as is the rest of the track team.

Although it is extremely entertaining to watch these short head-to-head competitions, it is even more exciting to see these runners combine their talents in “After the last meet, everyone is doing their best in the workouts and encourthe 4x100 meter relay because it emphasizes the team over the individual and aging everyone regardless of their specialty. As far as 4x1 handoffs go, we are practicing to the point of perfection, and asking for critiques from all of the demonstrates Westminster’s overall speed. available coaches,” said Hines.

Westminster’s boys 100 meter relay team, made up of Hines, Wilkerson, Mulick, Jon Walsh, senior, and LJ Minner, junior,who recently subbed in for Walsh after “We are definitely working on steps, timing and trusting each other,” said he experienced a hamstring injury, is a special example of teammates working Minner. together to achieve a common goal.

Though they were rusty, as it was their first meet in two years, it can’t be ignored that they also had to compete with a runner who hadn’t previously The team has lots of experience in the event and believes they are ready to been a part of the relay team. achieve big things in the upcoming season. “[Our goal this season is] to get the school record which is 44.80,” said Minner. Minner displayed exceptional selflessness and character, giving his best in an event he wasn’t originally scheduled to compete in. He exemplified a “team This past Tuesday during a meet at Rockwood Summit, the team rallied to win first” attitude that has helped generate success for Westminster on the track in previous years, and he performed quite admirably in Walsh’s absence. the event by a step, flashing their raw talent in the process.

Despite the injury to Walsh and two botched handoffs, which is common for many early season relay events but did not cause the boys disqualification since the meet was not officially scored, the four sprinters managed to overcome the adversity and make a solid first showing.

“What I love most about the 4x1 is the brotherhood that comes with it. Personally, I’ve always been a team player and I love team sports. Just building deeper bonds with these is amazing to me, especially when we start to have success,” said Minner.

After mentioning how well Westminster’s team as a whole did, the team was not impressed with their first performance.

Despite not knowing if Walsh is going to make it back before the end of the season, with the gifted Minner filling in, the team is still poised to make a strong run at state.

“As far as the 4x1 goes, I personally am disappointed. Our team has a lot of potential, but we simply did not practice enough to do what we needed to do.

“I believe that our 4x1 team is fully capable of reaching our goals,” said Hines.

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KHARIS PERONA MAKES UP LOST TIME

After a season lost to COVID and an ACL injury, Perona bounces back and remains a respected leader on the girls lacrosse team.

BROOKE HIGHMARK Co-Editor Sporting The sixth leading scorer in the St. Louis area with 25 goals, Kharis Perona, junior, has dedicated her entire physical and mental well being to the sport of lacrosse, and her hard work is certainly paying off.

From the very beginning, she knew that lacrosse would be her sport.

“I started playing lacrosse in elementary school because my brother played and my dad coached, so they got me into the sport. From my first practice I could tell it was the best sport I had ever played because of how the game is so fastKharis Perona runs down the field with the ball in her stick. paced and high scoring,” said Perona.

Courtesy of: Kharis Perona

However, during her freshman year, Kharis faced a devastating obstacle that every athlete fears.

“I tore my ACL a year and a half ago, and it has definitely been a difficult injury both physically and mentally. I’m fully recovered now but I still have to take care of it, which is frustrating,” said Perona.

Not surprisingly, rather than giving up on her dreams, the unbroken athlete channeled her frustration into positive motivation.

“It still hurts occasionally during and after I play, but I just have to see it as a positive reminder that I am able to play again, rather than an unfair disadvantage. The day after I had surgery I remember being so frustrated that I couldn’t move, and I made a promise to myself that once I could move again I would never take it for granted, so each day that I get to play lacrosse now feels amazing, even if I don’t physically feel so. After being out for eight months and I

truly cherish every second I get on the field,” said Perona.

With this optimistic, persistent mindset, the lacrosse team as a whole has high hopes for the current season.

“This lacrosse season has been off to an exciting start and I definitely think the team has a good chance of making it far into the playoffs. It’s been so fun to be out there playing with my team again and I’m so fortunate that despite COVID we’re allowed to do so. My number one goal for the season is to make it far into the playoffs. Everyone on the team has really been stepping it up and it’s been really exciting to see,” said Perona.

In addition to team goals, Perona has set high expectations for her personal athletic career for both Westminster and beyond.

“I will play lacrosse in college, however, I have not committed yet. My recruiting process has definitely been slower than I would like because I was injured my entire sophomore year and there has been a recruiting dead period my junior year because of COVID, so I’ve had minimal exposure, but I do have a few options as of now,” said Perona.

While success and recognition is certainly enjoyable, Kharis sees lacrosse as much more than just a sport, and she greatly values the lessons that she has taken away from it.

Kharis Perona plays defense against a Ladue competitor.

Courtesy of: Kharis Perona

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“This sport has definitely taught me a lot. It’s given me the opportunity to work hard for something I really care about and have fun while doing it. I’ve had to learn patience, and gratitude, and complete trust is God’s plan for my life,” said Perona.

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WESTMINSTER ALUMNI SUCCEEDING AT THE NEXT LEVEL JIMMY OBERTOP, DJ STEWART, AARON COOK, KIRSTEN DAVIS, AND COLE MCWARD DOMINATING THEIR CRAFTS

GUS DUDA Staff Writer

Several Westminster graduates have made an impact in the sports world, including Jimmy Obertop, DJ Stewart, Aaron Cook, Kirsten Davis, and Cole Mcward.

In his junior season at Westminster, Obertop, class of 2019, was named All-USA Missouri Baseball first team, and in his senior season, he was named All-Metro second team. Obertop officially signed with Michigan in the fall of his senior year and quickly began making a difference for the team during his freshman year. He started ten games in a fifteen game season and had a batting average of .265, hitting three doubles. He also scored three runs and had two RBI’s. Although it is now just the beginning of his sophomore season, Jimmy has already put up impressive statistics. He has played nineteen games and has a current batting average of .275. He has scored sixteen runs on nineteen hits, eight of which have been home runs; this includes a 415 foot home run versus Iowa, a grand slam against Purdue, a 440 foot homerun against Illinois, another grand slam against Maryland, and finally a game-winning two run homer against Michigan State.

DJ Stewart, class of 2017, had a commanding senior baseball season at the Academy.

He had a batting average of .409, had 35 RBI’s, and scored a single home run. He also pitched in nine games, going eight and one, and had an insane ERA [earned run average] of .53. Stewart was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 39th round of the 2017 draft. Over the past two seasons for Phillies West and the Williamsport Crosscutters, he has had 27 RBI’s and a batting average of .281.

Aaron Cook, class of 2016, dominated the basketball court in his time at Westminster.

In his junior year, Cook averaged sixteen points per game and led the team to a 24-6 record, as well as a district championship. In his senior year, he had the sixth highest scoring average in the area with 22 points per game. Cook committed to SIUE in October of his senior year to further his academic and sports career. He had a fantastic career at SIUE and started his senior season off hot, averaging fifteen points per game in his first six games. However, an injury caused him to take a medical redshirt and

Kirsten Davis dribbles the ball in her senior season.

Photo from Sportng Archive miss the rest of the season. He later announced he was transferring to Gonzaga for his last season of eligibility. He only started one game for the Bulldogs this past season but played a respectable amount of minutes in thirty games, considering his team was ranked first in the nation. Gonzaga made it to the NCAA National Championship, and Cook had the opportunity to play several minutes on the biggest stage in college basketball.

Kirsten Davis, class of 2017, had a dominating senior season at Westminster, scoring 37 goals and seven assists for the cats. She was honored with three All-State, All-Conference, and All-District awards over her last three seasons. Davis has also played on the U.S. soccer U-18, U-19, and U-20 teams. She has found her ways into the Texas Tech record books nine times. Davis has also been honored as the Big 12 offensive player of the year and a first team All-American among many other honors in her sophomore and junior seasons. She still has her senior season left to play, and everyone has high hopes to see her reach her maximum potential.

Jimmy Obertop at the plate his senior season.

Photo from Sportng Archive

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Cole Mcward, class of 2020, played for the Westminster hockey team as a freshman, sophomore, and junior. In his final two seasons, he averaged well over a point per game as a defenseman and helped lead the team to two Wickenheiser Cup championships. Prior to his senior season, Mcward was drafted and announced that he would play for a USHL hockey team: the Tri-city storm. He had a solid rookie season and second year, but he has been dominant in the 2020-21 season. He has scored 32 points in 46 games and has also been elected team captain for the season. Cole recently committed to Ohio State University and will begin his freshman season there next year.

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WHAT WOULD 800 SPORTING DO WITHOUT SPORTS? EVAN KOHN Staff Writer

Brooke Highmark

Collin Ring

What would you do without sports?

What would you do without sports?

“I would probably be a lot more dedicated as a student and might play piano or something artistic”

“Probably find another hobby like art or start crocheting or something”

Sam Vestal

Marty Briner

What would you do without sports?

“I would be in regular newspaper and that would not be as much fun”

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What would you do without sports?

“Focus on art and I love studio art, I would do more of that.

What makes sports special? Sports are more than just games to the sporting staff. Sports are a part of all of us, we eat, breathe, and live sports. We aren’t just sports staff writers, we are athletes who love sports and chose to write about them. Ultimately, sports are a vital part of Westminster and the St. Louis Community. From the Cardinals to the Wildcats sports are here.

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LUKE MATHENY RETURNS TO WESTMINSTER

After a successful career at Westminster, alumni Luke Matheny plans to pass on his wisdom to younger players.

HOPE LINAM

Staff Writer Westminster baseball has been and continues to be a program filled with extreme talent and respectable athletes, one of which is Luke Matheny, 2015 Westminster graduate.

Matheny comes from a well known baseball family, as his father, Mike Matheny, played for and has coached the St. Louis Cardinals.

His older brother, Tate Matheny, is currently affiliated with the Boston Red Sox organization. Also, his younger brothers, Jacob and Blaise, went on to play baseball for Mizzou and Missouri State University. Each one of his brothers graduated from Westminster Christian Academy before taking their athletic careers to the collegiate or professional levels.

Luke Matheny went on to play for Oklahoma State University and later St. Louis University as a pitcher. However, Luke has been the only one of the Matheny children who decided to come back to Westminster and coach. Currently, Luke Matheny is the head coach of the junior varsity baseball team.

“Being back at Westminster is awesome. It is definitely a different feeling not recognizing most of the faces around school, but it is an Matheny poses in his Westminster baseball uniform. honor to be able to coach at such a powerhouse baseball school Courtesy of Luke Matheny and a school that played a huge role in my development as a basebringing glory to God in all you do are things that transcend any ball player and young man,” said Matheny.

Having grown up in a baseball family, Luke Matheny was originally interested in the sport in order to be similar to his father, but over the course of his life, baseball has become something much more than that. Thanks to the roles that Coach Gall, Johnson, Petke, Benes, and Veeg (Vanglist) played in his life, Matheny accredits his personal development as a player and man to not only these coaches, but to Westminster; the school challenged his faith in not only sports, but in life.

game and apply anywhere you go in life, and baseball helped me learn each of those,” said Matheny.

Throughout his time at Westminster, Matheny can recall many teachers who humbled his ego when it came to baseball but also grew his faith, equipping him for the difficult conversations that he would have in the future. Growing up in a Christian family, God was always going to be a part of his life in one way or another, but Westminster created an opportunity for him to grow a firm foun“Westminster helped me shift my mindset from playing baseball dation centered around the Lord. Therefore, Matheny was able to because it would be cool to be a famous athlete to playing baseball use his roots in Christ on the baseball field and in his personal life as a way to glorify God with the gifts and talents he had given me. after he graduated.

The game ends for everyone at some point, but the lessons and character learned through the sport last forever. Lessons like lead- “Leaving Westminster, I felt equipped to go off to college and succeed not only academically and athletically, but also spirituership, teamwork, discipline, accepting/conquering failure and

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ers.

ally. I can look back to World Views [a Westminster Bible class], learning arguments that people will bring against our faith, and then having that exact argument my first year of college on an eight hour bus ride with a close friend/teammate who is an atheist. Through all of that, I was prepared, which allowed me to be confident in all areas of my life and ultimately grow and succeed once I left Westminster,” said Matheny.

Over the twenty two years Matheny spent playing baseball, he was able to learn some of the best advice, tips, and tricks from some of the best baseball players in the world. He looks forward to sharing that same knowledge with the players he will coach.

Matheny, having gone through the highs and lows of baseball himself, knows the cost of getting too wrapped up in wanting the glory of it all, which is why he hopes to teach more than just baseball to the young men who cross his path.

coach at such a respected school and a place that has such a unique culture that you do not find many places.

I am excited to work with the other coaches in the program who have been very successful at this level and who will help me make the transition from player to coach,” said Matheny.

Westminster has a number of alumni who have chosen to come back and coach their respective sports in addition to Matheny. Jake Worrell, who graduated in 2009, has been an assistant coach on the varsity baseball team for five years. Tyler Catlett, class of 2014, is the new assistant coach for the junior varsity baseball team. Lastly, Nathan Hall, class of 2016, is the new assistant boys volleyball coach.

“The truth is, such a small percentage of high school baseball players make it to college and much fewer beyond that, so as a coach I am personally responsible for teaching them more than just some cool tips that may not have much impact in their lives in a year or two. I will try my best to make every player the best baseball player they can be, and I sure hope we send them all to college on athletic scholarships. More importantly, I hope they learn leadership, teamwork, etc… Although these things at their age are not “cool,” I hope to teach the value of high character so that they can see past the game and walk away with something more than a tip on how to throw a good curveball,” said Matheny.

Luke Matheny left a lasting impression on Westminster baseball, gaining several accolades such as the 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and All-Central Region Second Team.

As a senior at Westminster, he struck out 70 batters in 60 innings, with a .313 batting average, including two home runs and 21 RBIs. Additionally, he was 2014’s PG Underclassmen Honorable Mention All-American. Matheny was not only a baseball star but also played hockey and football, making him a well rounded athlete.

Luke Matheny is a role model for Westminster students who can guide them in athletics, life, and faith.

“I am looking forward to being back on the field with the ‘Blue W’ on my hat. Three of the most fun years of my baseball career were played in a Westminster uniform and I take so much pride in this In his senior year of highschool, Matheny runs out to the place and the level of baseball we play. It is a privilege to be a field before the start of the game.

Courtesy of Luke Matheny

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BULLDOG GOLF TOURNAMENT AT WING HAVEN CC SAM VESTAL Staff Writer

The annual Bulldog golf tournament at Winghaven Country Club is highly anticipated every year. This year’s competition was filled with low scores for both individuals and as teams. With over 20 teams of 5, this tournament was packed with talent.

While normally high school golf teams have 8 varsity players, this tournament was only for the top 5 meaning that the competition was going to be strong.

For example, some of the teams included in this tournament were arguably some of the best in the state. Featuring DeSmet, CBC, Chaminade, and SLUH, this tournament was very competitive and came down to only a few deciding strokes.

On the individual side, there were many low scores throughout the day including 26 scores breaking 80. Westminster’s Sam Vestal (Junior) and Cole Willyard (senior) both broke 80. Willyard initially posted a 74 while Vestal posted a 79. Despite the fact that Willyard got into the clubhouse rather quickly because of his early start, his score held up against the rest of the competitors making for an interesting playoff hole.

While resting in the clubhouse for almost an hour, Willyard was notified that if his score remained as one of the first place scores, and that there would be a playoff hole that determined the sole winner of the bulldog tournament. After being told to “stay loose” from a rules official, Willyard went to the range and

NickGeorge hits a drive.

Photo by: Corey Snyder

hit a few more putts.

When the last few groups came in, Cole realized that he was still tied for first place with three other individuals. This meant that the group of four, all tied at two over (74), would go back to the 18th hole in order to play a playoff hole.

“That was the most nervous I’ve ever been in a golf tournament,” said Willyard, senior.

Willyard finished the playoff hole with a tap-in par to seal the title of the 2021 Bulldog champion. Cole was absolutely ecstatic after his win and was ready for his next round.

On the team side, our boys finished in 6th place out of 20 teams. With a team score of 319, our team was only 16 strokes behind the first place team and 3 strokes behind second place.

Jack Wooldridge hits a drive at Winghaven.

Photo by: Corey Snyder

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Overall, this was a great experience for the boys golf team. A 6th place finish in this tournament is definitely respectable. With scores like the ones posted at the bulldog tournament, the boys golf team should be hopeful for

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GEORGE DESLOGE, MIDDLE SCHOOL STAR DREW CAHILL Staff Writer

The middle schoolers are the future of WCA sports. Next year they will enter highschool and many will help the highschool teams.

George Desloge is an eighth grade tennis player. George is exceptional, he has won over thirty tournaments, and over 125 matches. He ranks number eight in Missouri out of all eighth graders. George is a funny guy and loves to joke around. He is on the middle school team as of now, but competes really well with most of the varsity players. George has a great mindset, and when I asked George who his favorite tennis player was he said, “Myself”. George is very athletic, playing basketball for a while before deciding to focus more on tennis. He does everything, he has a good slice and an amazing forehand. His power is insane for his age. He says that he plays better during singles matches because he “loves to control the court”. George has traveled out to Florida to play tournaments multiple times. George is currently dominating the middle school team.

George is a very good player who is always trying to get better. He loves to practice whenever he can to get better. George had not picked up a racket until a year ago, and his raw talent combined with his hard work has led him to be ranked high in Missouri. It is crazy how fast George became so great. George is hoping to play varsity next year, so he is training as many days as he can. George is hoping that in the next few years he will be able greatly help the WCA tennis squad.

Knowing highschoolers has also influenced his life. Luke Bequette, captain of the JV squad has known George and helped him. Also, playing tennis with Mason Wittock has been fun for him.

George loves his middle school coach Austin Hale and says that he has helped his tennis skill. Coach Hale is a funny guy and a great coach, helping many middle schoolers and getting them ready to play on a higher level in upper school.

As long as Hale is coaching, Westminster will continue to pour talent into the JV and varsity tennis teams.

George playing with Mason Wittock Photo by: Drew Cahill

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