Wildcat Roar - February 2023

February 2023 I Need to Say “A,” I Want to Say “B”

STAFF

Editing Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ANNA GRACE LIKES, SENIOR

800SPORTING EDITOR

SYDNEY BRADLEY, SENIOR

BROADCAST LEADER

AMILA PIERIS, JUNIOR

WEB DESIGN EDITOR

ELIJAH SCHMIDT, SOPHOMORE

IMAGES EDITOR

MADDOX ROSENBURG, JUNIOR

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

ALLI BISHOP, SENIOR

CHRISTINA ENGLISH

SENIOR

TARYN CUNNINGHAM SOPHOMORE

WILLIAM DANA

JUNIOR

MIA SCHEULEN JUNIOR

AUDREY ROHLFING SENIOR

JACK NELSON JUNIOR

EMMA FAIRCHILD SENIOR

BEN ATKINS JUNIOR

EMILY GRIEGE SENIOR

AHREN MUEHLEISEN SENIOR

CORINNE PLUMB JUNIOR

NYAH KIM SENIOR

ALYSSA GRECO SENIOR

JOEY FENTRESS SOPHOMORE

RAQUEL HERRERA SOPHOMORE

LAILA ANDERSON FRESHMAN

LUCY KIM FRESHMAN

DREW CAHILL JUNIOR

JIMMY MACDONALD SENIOR

JACOBI ROBINSON

JUNIOR

FEATURE

12 GOING ON 18 PG. 8

GRADES ARE NOW RANKED PG. 9

MO ELK RETURN HOME PG. 10

“WE ARE ONE” MEETS FASHION PG. 11

OPINION

NEED TO SAY “A”, WANT TO SAY “B” PG. 6 DOES AN ARTIST’S LIFE IMPACT MUSIC TASTE? PG. 7

THE TIKTOK DIAGNOSIS PG. 12

A SCREENED IN CHILDHOOD PG. 13

SPORTING

THE MAN THAT DOES IT ALL PG. 15

SWIM TAKES STATE PG. 16

RITUALS TO PREPARE PG. 17

KOBI WILLIAMS’ 1324 PG. 18-19

THE FIRST FIVE PG. 20

CONTENTS

Make That Statement.

Every day, we at The Wildcat Roar have the task of telling some sort of story or making some sort of statement. Whether it be a bold opinion or a feature of someone or something important in the community, the statements we make have the potential to influence any number of people.

This is true for everyone–even without a publication to do it through. The power of statements and expressions has the ability to influence society in both positive and negative ways.

During Black History Month, we celebrate the achievements of African-Americans who chose to make change when it was challenging, dangerous, or even near-impossible. Their bravery for choosing to use their power of voice and expression in speech, literature, art, fashion, sports, and so much more is why we take the entire month of February to celebrate Black culture in America and around the world. Their expression made (and is continuing to make) a bold and freeing statement that is heard by all. (Stories on pgs. 11 and 20).

Christians also question the expression tolerated

in a private school. They question whether the wrong thing was said at the wrong moment or if the opinion was merely more secular than those that give the grade and make the rules. Whatever the answer is to this, the questioning alone is enough to prove that opinions and expressions matter and they have the ability to stir institutions. (pg. 6)

These big ideas cannot be easily boiled down to something simple or one-sided. The compromise that we find is to continue sharing as many stories as possible on anything that matters. We have a platform–a way to share our voices and the stories we care about. But we encourage you to do the same. In your style, your art, your speech, your essays, your posts–say something that carries meaning and power. People are always watching, and whether consciously or not, they are affected by the statements and expressions that appear everywhere. Black History Month has an impact. A Christian environment has an impact. The internet has an impact. Trends have an impact.

But so can you.

I Need to Say “A”, I Want to Say “B”

Westminster strives to equip students with the skills to go out into the world with a Christian worldview, but developing that worldview can feel forced.

Alyssa Greco Staff Writer

Westminster is built on core values that are biblical and reflect a Christian worldvies. These core values influence the curriculum classes are made of and are what makes Westminster unique. It does not matter if you are learning about math, science, history, or even musical theater; Christianity is incorporated all throughout classrooms here. In theory this is a great thing, but it can also make students feel there is a right thing to say that overshadows learning the way to say it. This can drive students away from the real lesson, and also discourage them from speaking in class.

To be able to grow in your education and ability to articulate you have to participate in more controversial conversations, and be brave enough to stand up for your own opinion. Having skills like such are not just important to exercise in school, but are also essential for the real world. With Westminster’s curriculum being heavily underpinned by the “Christian worldview” it can feel for students like learning to articulate and to advocate for their beliefs becomes secondary. “As long as I say what makes the teacher happy, I will get a good grade.” When students feel their opinion was shot down quickly, or they were given a mandatory assignment where they felt an opinion was already imposed upon them it just becomes easier to parrot the company line.

For example, the journey of writing a college essay at Westminster looks a little different. A personal essay for college is supposed to be authentic to you and it is a time where you can really express your shortcomings and how they have gotten you to where they are now. Writing from a “Christian Worldview” (more like a “Westminster Worldview”) seriously limited my own inspiration in fear of getting a bad grade on my own personal essay. Teachers told students to avoid talking about any negative or “controversial” topic, to keep our college essays light and happy so we do not scare colleges away. I interpreted that to mean I should just write an essay about Christianity or a personal testimony.

Most writing involves analyzing a novel or writing a research paper on a topic already given to us, but a personal essay was a new and exciting opportunity to write something that students never have before. A college essay should be personal, expressive, and authentic; but that can be tough to do when we feel there is a proper way constantly imposed on students.

These ideals tend to sugarcoat and take the light away from the true message of the sermons presented to students. Not every-

thing can be happy and light, especially when talking about a personal spiritual journey, but we sure do want to paint it out to be that.

Besides the fact that some opinions are kept quiet, and students are rarely given the chance to advocate for a different perspective, what classes are we offering that are expanding our minds culturally?

In order for students to become sharpter I would like to advocate for a world religion class. Yes, we are a Christian school, but why are we not educating our students on different cultures more before our senior year?

Most Westminster students will leave this school with a great education, but without enough understanding of what the opposing views are that they will be faced with. How are we going to be able to debate with people in the real world if we are not being taught what the real world is like?

I have been asked in classes to write mandatory reflections on the topics we disccused in class that previous week. I have a vivid memory of receving poor grades on them, because I was not giving the teachers what they “wanted.”

“This is why in Bible class we take time to discuss the different standpoints, not just one. As Christians we are taught to love everyone, and see the different sides of every situation to sympathize and understand, not judge,” these teachers would say.

Now, as a senior who has realized it has been safer to give compelled opinions, this is what I would say now: “Though presented a rather parochial worldview, true Christians must respect the circumstances of the world around them because sadly, not everything can be the easygoing, Christian way.”

Having opnions thrown at someone in their adoslesent years happens more often than it should, but it is how we reconigze this and decide to deal with it that becomes crucial. We must be firm in our personal beliefs no matter what, but it it also important to realize not everyone is going to agree with us, and we must be prepared in situations like this.

Westminster does an admirable job at equipping students with a Christian worldview that they can take out and utilize in the real world, but sometimes these ideals can be forced. This has a tendency to stunt academic growth and critical thinking skills, so the question is how is Westminster able to fix this will stay true to their mission statement.

Does an Artist’s Life Impact Music Taste?

Are artists overly-judged in the 21st century?

Raquel Herrera Staff Writer

Do you listen to or avoid music based off of the artist?

Artists nowadays are seen as problematic based off of their social media presence or personal lives. Almost every fact about pop singers, song writers, and creators is published online for all to see and judge. Those personal facts are then used to criticize the content they put out.

For audiences of all kinds, it can be easy to dislike and hate on artists. According to Kaston Anderson-Carpenter, an assistant professor of psychology at Michigan State University, “In our collective mind, we set up certain (often unrealistic) expectations of how celebrities should behave […] And when they don’t meet our expectations, we tend to judge them more harshly.”

Separating art from the artist means valuing the content they create without overly supporting what the artist claims to represent or vice versa.

Each individual artist has their own values and opinions on what message they want their music to portray. It then is up to their audience on what music and information they want to be listening to.

How does that come into play at Westminster?

What does it look like to separate art from the artist?

Photo

by Raquel Herrera

Spirit Week could be considered the only event during the year when the school plays music in front of the entire community for extended periods of time. As most may know, the music that is played for the performances and the games are all passed through the WCA music guidelines. What do guidelines mean when it comes to who we are allowed to listen to and who is off limits?

““In our collective mind, we set up certain expectations of how celebrities should behave [...] And when they don’t meet our expectations, we tend to judge them more harshly.”

Listening to music solo can be an experience where one is able to express themselves through their choice of song. An example of a person catering to their own interests could be in choosing music that makes them feel positive emotions or a spark in creativity. However, with larger crowds, the choice between music that will be appropriate for all ages, audiences, backgrounds, and scenarios narrows drastically.

Now, many songs that are popular and that are on the rise are explicit to some extent. While most are not, the artist behind the music can instead be seen as inappropriate or unfit for a Christian school environment. It can be tricky to actively separate music from its artist when an individual is trying to appeal to a larger group of people.

- Assistant professor at Michigan State University, Kaston AndersonCarpenter

Going on 18

Christina English Staff Writer

Over the past decade, many things have changed due to evolving trends and new discoveries made in the world. Along with these changes has arisen another monumental shift: the level of maturity in middle schoolers.

When the class of 2023 and other classes who came before them were in middle school, they went through all the awkward stages that a middle schooler could go through regarding fashion, makeup, and so much more. However, it seems as if the middle schoolers now are not going through the same things that past middle schoolers went through. These are a few reasons as to why there is a significant change in maturity regarding how these young teens present themselves.

The first reason as to why middle schoolers are potentially maturing faster in recent years is because of technology. Technology has advanced exponentially over the past decade, and it is being offered to younger and younger kids. These kids can now use technology to make social media accounts and mature because of what they see online.While it is not necessarily bad for middle schoolers to have their own devices and have social media, it can be taken to a negative extreme.

Katie Bishop of bbc.com explained that “the average parent allows their child a smartphone at age 10.” As the years go by, this number is potentially going to get younger and younger.

Bishop continued by stating that younger children having access to technology “open[s] up a world inaccessible to previous generations, with unlimited access to news [...] and other privileges previously reserved for adults.” Because middle schoolers can have this much information and control right at their fingertips, it can cause them to mature in a more emotional way.

Another reason as to why middle schoolers are maturing faster than before is because of changing fashion trends. Fashion has always evolved as time goes on, and it has become more extravagant and revealing in the past decade. Middle schoolers are now exposed to these trends through seeing others partake in them, especially on social media.

Lyda Dok from daily49er.com tells of her personal experience regarding middle schoolers and current fashion trends: “I have witnessed my little cousins in middle school dressing up as 16-year-olds.”

Generally, people look up to those that are older than them and try to be like them, especially when they are little kids. This is no exception for middle schoolers. They see their older siblings (and their friends) start wearing clothes that are trending, and

they start to copy them. This then causes middle schoolers to start appearing more mature.

One last reason as to why middle schoolers are starting to attempt to mature faster than past years is because of the pressures that society presents them. Middle schoolers are entering a phase of life where the schoolwork is getting harder, friendships are becoming more complicated, and expectations from parents are beginning to rise. In more recent years, these pressures are starting to weigh more, causing middle schoolers to mature faster.

Younger teens are more “likely to show […] independence from their parents and family, think more about the future, […] pay more attention to friendships, and want to be accepted by their peers,” (pressbooks.nscc.ca).

Middle school gives children their first opportunity to balance the struggles that come with maintaining life itself. Since life has become even more fast-paced than before, maintaining schoolwork and relationships is starting to become harder. This then causes middle schoolers to have to learn how to maintain these things faster and, henceforth, mature faster.

Because of technology, fashion, and society itself, middle schoolers are maturing faster than they ever have before. This does not necessarily mean that it is bad or that they do not go through “awkward phases” anymore. It only means that they are going through these phases differently than in the past. Yes, the middle schoolers are maturing faster than when previous classes were in middle school. However, seeing that these trends are similar to ones in the past, these previous classes, most likely, matured faster in middle school than ones from the years before them.

Why middle schoolers have been maturing faster recently.

Students of younger and younger ages are being exposed to things that perviously only older teens were exposed to.

Photo by Christina English

Grades Are Now Ranked

An Exaggerated Reflection Of Reality

Jack Nelson Staff Writer

Ranked is a musical about a dystopian high school in which your grades are publicly ranked. If you fall below the average, your worth, not just as a student, but as a human, falls too. When an earth-shattering truth is brought to light, every student must reconsider what a rank is worth.

The cast of Ranked has toiled long and hard to produce this show, and are looking forward to seeing all their hard work come to fruition.

“My favorite part of the production of Ranked is being able to tell a compelling story alongside my friends,” says Abel Tucker, playing the role of Nate. “The cast has become very tight over the course of the show and It’s great to see the ways it makes the show even better,” he says.

Ranked follows three pairs of siblings as they try to navigate through their social life, which is convoluted by their value being assigned according to their grades. But as the story is twisted and turned on its head, they are all forced to reevaluate who they are and what they want, besides a number on a leaderboard.

“Ranked has multiple twists that work wonderfully into the plot, and our actors do an amazing job translating the story from script to stage, making those twists even more surprising and memorable,” says Anneka Vander Velde, Stage Manager for Ranked.

While Westminster might not be nearly as bad as this high school dystopia, valuable lessons can still be taken from this story. The concept of grades defining a student’s worth is not fiction.

“I often feel like academic success has a say in my value,” says Deborah Kim, Junior.

Grades dictate your daily habits, how you are treated by parents and teachers,and have a large say in where you go to college. Then that can decide where you end up in life as a whole. This cycle does not end in college though. Grades will guide a person’s life for the first twenty or so years of their life.

“For many college students, their self-worth is tied to their grades. Undergraduate students who base their self-worth on academic performance may study harder and longer, but they often experience more stress. They then fall back into the self-esteem/stress feedback cycle, and they still do not receive higher grades,” according to William Peace University.

This production began back in November, and every member of the cast and crew have been working nonstop to perfect it.

“I have put an uncountable number of hours into ranked. We’ve worked on it everyday after school and on Saturdays since November,” says Tucker. “The amount of effort put into it has been reflective of the huge amount of time I and the cast have put into it. It has been a lot of time, effort and work. I am tired.”

Ranked, A Musical will be performed on February 23rd, 24th, and 25th, in the theater.

Ranked logo during 2019 productions Image by: Kyle Holmes

MO Elk Return Home

Missouri has worked over the past decade to restore Elk to their native habitat in the Ozarks.

Ahren Muehleisen Staff Writer

When most people think about Elk in Missouri, they probably think of Lone Elk Park. Lone Elk County Park is a park home to Elk in Valley Park, Missouri. This park harbors a small herd of Elk that are a popular tourist attraction for sight-seeing.

But, what most people don’t know is that Missouri actually has a free-range, wild Elk herd in Central Missouri. The Conservation Commission, along with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, introduced Elk to the state around 2010 to Peck Ranch Conservation Area in Carter County, Missouri. The 23,000 acre Conservation Area holds the 200 acre herd of Elk.

This area was chosen because of the “1) suitable habitat conditions, 2) high public land ownership, 3) low public road density and 4) low density of row crops and livestock” (Mdc.Mo.Gov).

But these Elk are no stranger to the Ozarks. Humans were actually the ones to drive them out of Missouri in the first place. Lewis and Clark have records of Elk as far as the eye can see when they were along the Missouri river near modern day Kansas City. Since humans expanded west and settled, they pushed Elk west into the Rocky Mountains.

Now that the Department of Conservation has reintroduced Elk to their native habitat, they are thriving. Unlike the Elk in Lone Elk confined by a high fence, the Elk in Peck Ranch have hundreds of acres of pasture and rocky hillsides to roam. The Elk thrive in the Ozark hills where they once roamed.

They have been thriving so much that there is now a managed Elk hunting season. The state does a lottery-style system every year where they give out 5 Bull Elk tags for both ar-

chery and rifle methods. This managed hunt provides an opportunity for hunters to experience something they normally have to drive 10+ hours for. It also provides significant funding for the Elk herd management. The Conservation Department is currently trying to keep the herd at around 200, so the hunting season helps to keep the herd in check. This is a monumental accomplishment for Missouri because it provides another opportunity to pursue wild game in-state.

The Department of Conservation has worked over the past 10 years to restore Elk to their native land. The herd adds to the biodiversity of Missouri and helps improve the state as a whole. The herd improves the land while simultaneously bringing in money through tourists and the hunting season. If you want a chance to see these majestic creatures, head down 1-55 to Peck Ranch or the surrounding public lands to have the best chance at seeing these beasts. Seeing these creatures wild and in thier natural habitat in person is a experience you will never forget, especially while you are in Missouri.

A giant Bull Elk in the hardwoods of Missouri Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation

A young bull in a Ozark meadow

Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation

A young Elk in the conservation area.

Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation

“We Are One”Meets Fashion

Westminster’s Black History Month celebration took a new creative direction in a fashion show last Thursday.

Anna Grace Likes Editor-in-Chief

Every February for the past several years, Westminster has invited the community to attend a Black History Month celebration event that they call “We Are One.” The event seeks to showcase achievements in Black culture and highlight speakers, musicians, artists, and other African-Americans who are renowned in their field and can provide the community with an enriching experience and education on Black culture. This year’s theme was fashion, and with that typical program came a new addition to the night: a fashion show.

“Guest speaker and Alum Caira Butler, alongside Professor Trawick from Lindenwood University, had a presentation on some of the most influential Black fashion designers and trend setters of the eras (60’s- Now). This showed everyone just how important many Black designers have been to society in creating fashion trends,” explained D’Naija Ammons, senior and participant in the event.

From there, they moved to the fashion show, which displayed African-American trends and designs through the centuries. A runway was set up down the middle of the Grand Entry from the large grand staircase in the middle, and bright lights and cameras followed the student models down the catwalk.

it shed a new light on an area of art and design that is not often showcased in a high school setting.

“Every moment of this experience was exciting, but I was really nervous at first about walking in the fashion show since it was something that I had never done before. Overall, It was so great to see everyone gathered together to celebrate Black History Month in such a fun and engaging way! I most definitely believe that the night adequately celebrated different aspects of Black Culture, and was a great way for us to get all together!,” said Ammons.

After the show, a reception was held in the Hub, where attendees could observe styles exhibited in the show up close and sip on Pawprint coffee. Entirely student-run, the reception was an enjoyable way to wrap up the night and embrace community.

“Both the fashion show and program exhibited how Black history really is, even though small details were used. It still helped many to understand that there are different achievements and not all achievements look the same. Even as a Nigerian I think it is extremely important to learn about different parts of black culture, and I would agree that it was celebrated admirably,” said Obanigba.

Sophomore Busola Obanigba was one of the models in the show, styled in 70s-era African-American fashion. “Since I was a model, I got to try on different outfits to see which ones fit me best. Then, when the designers saw all the outfits, they agreed on an ideal fit,” said Obanigba.

Students and everyone in the community agreed that this was a fun and different way to approach Black history celebration, and

Overall, the night was a huge success and brought positive attention and education to an exciting area of African-American culture.

Pawprint staff prepares for the reception at the end of the program.

Photo courtesy of D’Naija Ammons.

(L-R) Tara Bobo, D’Naija Ammons, and Bria Witherspoon prepare for the show backstage.

Photo courtesy of D’Naija Ammons.

The TikTok Diagnosis

Gen Z is using TIkTok and other social media platforms to diagnose serious mental disorders.

Elijah Schmidt Web Design Editor

One of the most prevalent issues facing Gen Z is mental illness. According to the American Psychology Association: “More than nine in 10 Gen Z adults (91 percent) said they have experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom because of stress, such as feeling depressed or sad (58 percent) or lacking interest, motivation or energy (55 percent).” Gen Z may be more mentally ill than other generations, but TikTok and other social media has allowed people to fake being mentally ill.

“The quirkification of mental illness has resulted in this nauseating grab for attention.” said Gwen Farrell, a contributor to Evie Magazine.

People on TikTok are looking for attention, and the way they are doing it is through a mental illness appropriation. Gen Z feels as though it’s quirky and special to be mentally ill, and they ignore the ugly reality of mental illness.

“[...] it fetishises mental disorders and real issues that people struggle with.” Farrell elaborated further.

Christina Caron, a reporter for the New York Times, claimed that, “A number of mental health providers say that they are seeing an uptick in teenagers and young adults who are diagnosing themselves with mental illnesses — including rare disorders.”

Illnesses such as D.I.D (Dissociative Identity Disorder) or Schizophrenia are being diagnosed through Buzzfeed quizzes. This is not okay. Rare mental illnesses such as these are a serious ailment, and should not be trusted to be diagnosed on

the internet. Not only that, but this takes out of perspective how much work a therapist has to do to diagnose a patient.

“Therapists must look at the range of experiences a client is having, when they occur and for how long. Are they functioning in their life? How are they sleeping, eating, relating to others? How is their mood and motivation?”

People who actually have gone to school and have a degree are much more credible to diagnose you than a thirty second video from a sixteen year old influencer. But young people are just trying to feel supported.

“...adolescents appear to be turning to TikTok as a source of support, and the advice there is largely driven by users’ conversations.”

Gen Z just has an innate urge to be supported, especially as teens. These teens just wish to be understood and accepted.

“Kids are searching for a community, and are using their current struggle with mental health symptoms as a way to find like-minded people, sometimes wearing their symptoms as a badge of pride or a shorthand way to explain themselves to others,”

While social media platforms are engaging and intriguing, their use to diagnose mental disorders should not be tolerated. Rather you should seek out a psychiatrist or mental health professional with issues regarding your mental health.

Gen Z’ers often feel a sense of community by connecting with others who are mentally ill, even if they have a faulty diagnosis.

Illustration by Elijah Schmidt

A Screened In Childhood

Maddox Rosenberg Image Editor

Our generation is one of the last to not have electronics at the forefront of childhood. For many, the extent of their early years were spent playing Wii Sports or Just Dance in the living room. In just a couple of years, instead of playing ghost in the graveyard with the neighborhood kids, children will play Roblox’s version of cops and robbers. The switch to a more electronic social space was seen in the later years of Gen-Z’s childhood. Instead of calling their buddies on their home phone, they could skype and eventually FaceTime them. Instead of asking to play outside, it became asking them to play Minecraft or other games.

For many high schoolers, this is seen as a potentially good thing–coming home from school and getting on a game to wind down or socialize with friends. But for the younger generations, this could lead them down the wrong path.

Boston Children’s Hospital Digital Wellness Lab and Mayo Clinic both state that, due to children’s less developed brains, they are much more impressionable. Kids believe that a fat man in a red suit slides down their chimney to put presents under the tree and then gets back on the roof to take off in his sleigh with his flying reindeer. Believing in Santa does not mean that these kids are dumb, because it is what almost every child around the world does. It simply means they have a tenuous grasp on reality and are much more susceptible to opinions and lies on the internet.

With this weak grasp, it is not hard to believe that social media and the internet can negatively affect kids and teens by “distracting them, disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people’s

lives and peer pressure,” (Mayo Clinic).

Introducing the internet and social media to impressionable kids can expose them to indoctrination. Because of the way social media is constructed as a constant stream of content and information tailored to personal likes and beliefs, it is easy to get sucked into echo chambers.

An “echo chamber” is defined as an environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered.

As they grow up, they will only be reinforced in their beliefs because of the groups they can be a part of on the internet. This is seen with certain “subreddits,” which is a group/page where there are specified discussions and topics. This can also be seen with Facebook groups.

Essentially, the internet gives plenty of resources and actively delivers tailored media to everyone specifically. This can expose children to more radical or niche areas of thought than they can handle when their brains are not fully formed yet.

When spending the whole day online, these kids are exposed to more and more radical ideas that come from all different corners of the internet. Kids today find themselves in a position where it is harder to form opinions of their own and suddenly are exposed to adult content. It is still to early to see the results of this habit as the later half of Gen-Z is still fairly young, but as they progress and get older, this generation will likely prove to be different from all the rest.

(Left to Right) Twitter, Reddit, and Tiktok are reprograming kids brains. Photo by Maddox Rosenberg

The Man That Does It All

Todd

Audrey Rohlfing

Staff Writer

Coach Zell has consistently proven his dedication to Westminster athletics and teaching for 4 years. He has made an outstanding impact on every person that he connects with, including softball and hockey player Emily Griege, who talks about Zell’s genuine excitement for their team making it to state and his constant support.

She says, “Coach Zell is a great coach and an even better person. He is consistent in his expectations everyday and pushes you to be the best version of yourself. ”

Zell makes impacts on his players but he is impacted by them just as much. He says “I love being able to help young players grow into the men and women that God wants them to be. I get a lot out of coaching, and I look forward to it everyday after school.”

Zell’s good friend and fellow teacher Mr. Vonder Bruegge says,“nothing flusters him, he is always just able to go with things as they come. He can handle whatever is thrown at him.” Zell’s level head is a part of what makes him an amazing coach. In times when Zell feels run down he “makes sure to keep a balance” which helps him when he starts to feel overwhelmed.

In highschool, Zell had a coach that inspired him to want to help kids like he did. Zell wanted to coach, he has been told that he “thinks like a coach” and this has led him to feel confident in his coaching abilities.

Not only is he a coach, but an amazing teacher as well. Zell teachers sophomore algebra, and is one of the few teachers that can make math enjoyable. Zell starts off every class with a smile on his face and asks everyone how they are doing. Not only a warm greeting, but presents the class with a dad joke of the day.

One of Zells former students, Alyssa Greco, said. “Mr.Zell was my first hour teacher and he always knew how to make my morning a good one. I started getting excited to come to school in the mornings rather than sleeping through half of the

first hour.” Zell loves the classroom setting too, and how he is able to “build different types of relationships with students off the field.” Zell has been in education for 27 years and has enjoyed them all. He is an inspiration to students and teachers because of his ability to successfully and efficiently balance teaching and coaching every single day.

Zell: Husband, father, friend, teacher, and coach. Not only does he coach one sport, he excels at coaching three.

Todd Zell poses in his classroom.

Photo by: Audrey Rohlfing

Todd Zell and his first hour class.

Photo by: Audrey Rohlfing

Swim Takes State

Wildcats Win the Class 1 state champoinship

Joey Fentress Staff Writer

The Wildcats 2023 season was one to remember. The swim team has been dominant in every aspect of the game. The team has a lot of young talent that will only keep improving. The Freshman, the class of 2026 has really shown their talent. Freshman Sydney Schoeck has been unreal. In Schoek’s first highschool season at Westminster, she has already broken 3 individual records. Schoek now holds the record in 100 back, 200 IM, and 100 Free. On top of those 3 records she was a part of the 4 girls who broke the 200 Medley Relay. Sydney continues to improve on her times each meet. Sydney has also recorded a time fast enough to qualify for state.

On top of all this record breaking, the team overall has been dominant. At COMO this year, the cats placed 4th out of 50 schools and also placed the highest out of class 1 swim school in attendance. As for JV, they placed second out of the entire event.

One of the reasons the team has been so successful is because of the size. The Wildcats swim team is much larger than the traditional team. This year the roster has 33 girls on it. The average number of girls on a team at the high school level is around 15-20 girls. The Cats have almost double that. The team currently has 7 seniors on the team. The future of the team looks extremely promising with the talented underclassmen. Out of the 33 girls, 18 of them are underclassmen. These girls have really shown their skill in the pool.

To conclude the already amazing season, the wildcats finished it off in a memorable way. The Cats are your new class 1 State Champions. All of the girls did extremely well at the meet on saturday. Freshman Sydney Schoek is now a 2 time state champion in 100 backstroke and 200 IND. medley. Hannah Renaud also won the 100 butterfly and is now a state champion. On top of all this, Hannah Renaud, Ellie Berkland, Ella Wolf, and Sydney Shoek placed 3rd in the 400 free relay. Janna Moellenhoff placed 8th in the 100 breaststroke, Ella Wolf placed 7th in 100 backstroke, Janna Moellenhoff, Addie Draper, Edde Sue Doring, and Hannah renaud in 200 free relay, Hannah Renuad placed 2nd in 500 freestyle, Ella Wolf placed 6th in 100 butterfly, Sydney Schoek, Janna Moellenhoff, Ella Wolf, Edde Sue Doehring placed 2nd in the 200 medley relay. As for the diving side of the team, Sarah Schloss placed 4th and Sophomore Anna Bernhardt placed 13th.

The Wildcats had a very successful season that is no surprise. The team went undefeated in the regular season breaking lots

of records along the way. Another thing that contributed to their success was that they genuinely enjoy being there. At a meet at MICDS, the entire team was always smiling and enjoying being there. Never once did any of the athletes have a dull face. Another big reason for all of the team’s success is the uplifting atmosphere. They are always there for eachother and are always supporting one another.

“The team has come a long way not only in terms of elevating the level at which they train and compete, but also in building a culture that supports one another. They have pushed and encouraged one another towards individual and team goals but also towards creating and strengthening relationships that glorify the Lord”. Says head coach Andrew Schonhoff when asked how the team has grown in the past year.

When Freshman Sydney schoek was asked about the team she said “The team is really fun, everyone gets along really well and we all know how to make each other laugh even during a hard set or before a difficult race. There’s never really a quiet or boring moment when we are all together.”

Varsity swimmer

Photo by: Sami Mabry

Varsity Swimmer

Photo by: Joey Fentress

Rituals to Prepare

Do superstitions affect an athletes performace or mindset?

Emma Fairchild Staff Writer

Superstitions can be an athlete’s best friend or worst enemy. Over time, many athletes who are dedicated to their sport and executing their role on the field or court perfectly create superstitions that determine their performance.

Superstitions range from wearing the same socks every game to listening to 5 specific songs, in a specific order, while eating that one bagel from that one store. No matter what it may be, it will affect a player’s execution.

“In volleyball my number is 4, so everything I do leading up to the game, I do in four’s. I bounce the ball four times, throw it four times, and hit it four times,” says Alli Bishop, who plays both club and high school volleyball.

But how are these superstitions created?

“The superstitions develop after I play a good game. I try to remember my routine leading up to the game in order to recreate it in hopes of a similar performance. These also evolve over the years and add up or are forgotten,” says Siess.

A basketball player wears one arm sleeve and has the game of his life--the arm sleeve created that execution. A swimmer wears the blue swim cap instead of the pink one and breaks records--the blue swim cap made that happen. Once an athlete engraves this idea in their mind, it is hard to escape the security that superstition brought them.

Kobi Williams, a high school basketball player committed to play at Truman State University, says he has 10 rituals before each game, ranging from music to a jump tuck before tip off.

“I have to do it or it is just not right. My routine makes me feel comfortable before our games, without it I don’t feel mentally engaged,” says Williams.

Superstitions can play a vital role in winning or losing, not because they truly affect performance, but they completely determine a player’s headspace when it’s gametime. These “rituals” are something practiced and thought to determine fate, and without being acted out, an athlete cannot simply believe they will play well. With the security that follows superstitions for players, the stress and worry is lifted when they enter a game as they feel more comfortable in their skills.

“The routine helps me focus and get prepared for the game. If I don’t do it, I feel like I’m not ready to play,” says Abby Siess, who plays both high school and club volleyball.

For better or for worse, superstitions as small as tying your left shoe before your right shoe affect one’s play. They can calm the mind while the uncontrollables run rampant in the environment surrounding an athlete or even team.

“If Eleanor [Disper] doesn’t hype us up before the meet and start the pre-meet cheer, it is bad juju. She always yells, ‘BIG DOG GOTTA EAT,’ and it creates an energy we need to perform,” says Annie Wood, Westminster varsity swimmer.

Psychologically speaking, superstitions don’t cause any real harm at the base level, but if they begin to control an athlete’s day and performance, it can be an astronomical problem.

Varsity Basketball player, Kobi Williams, playing St. Charles West.

Photo by: Joey Fentress

Varsity Volleyball player, Abby Seiss, huddles with her teammates.

Photo by: Joey Fentress

Kobi Williams’ 1324

Kobi Williams is the new holder of the career points record for Westminster basketball

Emily Griege Staff Writer

In 1991 Jeremy Marsh, now Head of Instituitional Advancements, broke Tim Hall’s record for most points in a basketball career at Westminster, scoring 1324 points. 32 years later, Jeremy Marsh is the Head of Institutional Advancement at Westminster and Kobi Williams is just a few games away from breaking this record.

Kobi Williams has been a star on the Westminster basketball team since his freshman year scoring 179 points, his sophomore year where he put up a whooping 358 points and another 364 his junior year. Senior year, Kobi has scored 378 in 17 games and he averages 22 points per game. This puts Kobi at a career total of 1279 points just 17 games into his senior season, putting him 45 points away from the record.

In 1991, Jeremy Marsh’s senior season he broke the previous school record for most points in a season that was held by Tim Hall. Tim Hall was on the first ever basketball team at Westminster, he played varsity basketball all four years. He set the first scoring record at WCA. The record started with his total number of points (907 points) when he graduated in 1980.

Six years later Jeremy Marsh joined the JV basketball team as a freshman and then played varsity for his next three years of highschool. In just three seasons he was able to break the school record for points and set the current record at 1324 points.

“I would have never thought the record would have been held for 32 years.” Said Jeremy Marsh class of 1991

Next year Kobi Williams is going to be continuing his basketball career at Truman State University, joining alumni Casen Lawrence. Jeremy Marsh’s basketball career ended in high school. He was a great player in his high school days and earned a few division three college offers. He decided not to continue his basketball career and attended the Air Force Academy and then served in the Air Force until he moved back to St. Louis in 2021.

On December 9th 2023 Kobi hit the career milestone of 1000 career points. That in itself is a huge feat for basketball players, but Kobi has added 279 points to that total in just over

Kobi Williams shoots a three pointer against MICDS Photo Courtesy of Joey Fentress

Jeremy Marsh shoots a basket Photo Courtesy Jeremy Marsh

a month. He took up a big role on the team this season which resulted in the ball being in his hands more than ever and he has definitely risen to the occasion. He has been scoring at a monstrous rate this season while being a great leader of the young team.

“He is an incredible basketball player. I’m impressed with his all around game. He’s the whole package, he can handle the ball and shoot and he’s an amazing athlete. Handles pressure well and is a great leader. I have a lot of respect for him.” Said Jeremy Marsh

The record for total career points is an impressive record to hold, and it needs a lot of things to fall in the right place for it to be achieved. The player needs to avoid major injuries throughout their career, ideally play four full seasons on varsity, get a lot of playing time, be a shooter, and have a good enough team around them to get them the ball.

“I was able to score a lot of points but no one can achieve a record like that without a lot of help.” Said Jeremy Marsh class of 1991

Kobi will be just the third player in Westminster’s 47 year history to hold this record. The only other two people to hold this record currently work at Westminster so, maybe Kobi has a career at Westminster in his future. It is an incredible achievement that Mr. Hall and Mr. Marsh held, but now the honor is Kobi’s to take.

Jeremy Marsh Basketball Photo Courtesy of Jeremy Marsh

Jeremy Marsh and Kobi Williams take picture during Big Night to celebrate the Mile Stone Photo Courtesy Joey Fentress

The First Five

5 African American athletes you didn’t know existed . Sydney Bradley 800 Sporting Editior

As we all know, African American have had a huge impact on American history. From sports to television, music and food, American culture has been widely influenced by African American roots. Here are 5 of “the first” moments in African American sports history.

1884: First African-American MLB player (all-time): Moses Fleetwood Walker

Technically, Jackie Roberson wasnt first. William Edward White was the first Black man to play professional baseball, in 1879, but he did so while passing as white. He was the catcher for the Toledo Blue stocking in 1884, he faced the normal of racial scrutiny during that time and only played one season, becoming the last african american to appear in the MLB for 63 years.

1947: First Black College Basketball All-American: Don Barksdale

Don Barksdale, during his only season at UCLA was named an All-American. The following year he became the first black player to compete as an olympian for the USA basketball team. Then, in his second NBA season with the Baltimore Bullets, He became the first African American All-Star selection.

1948: First Female Black Olympian: Alice Coachman

Coachman was an amazing high jumper. She won 10 consecutive national championships from 1939 to 1948. She also won championships in the 50 and 100- meter dash, as well as the 400-meter relay. At the 1948 Olympic Games she won gold in high jumps and became the Only American woman to medal at the games.

1961: First Black Heisman Trophy Winner: Ernie Davis

The Heisman Memorial Trophy (Heisman Trophy) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. It is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust in early December before the postseason bowl games. Ernie Davis in 1961 was the first African American to win the trophy. Davis was a 2 time All-American, running a total of 2,386 years and 20 touchdowns. He was a first round pick in the 1962 NFL draft but was diagnosed with leukemia before playing and passed away a year later.

1966: First Professional Black Head Coach: Bill Russell

As you probably know Bill Russell is known to one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played professionally for the Boston Celtics from 1956-1969, and was the first black MVP in 1958. After his time on the court he decided to take a different position and became head coach of Celtics in the 70s. He became the first black man to coach a team to a championship.