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May 2021 800

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Westminster Christian Academy

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V o l u m e I I I I s s u e X

May 2021

With thee summer approaching, how are you going to spend your time wisely? Illustration: Emma H0arris

THERE’S NO TIME LEFT, SO DON’T WASTE IT WITH THE SUMMER MONTHS APPROACHING SURPRISINGLY FAST, WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT -SO MAKE THE MOST OF IT. MAGGIE LINDSTROM Managing Editor-In-Chief With school coming to it’s close, we are all left thinking one thing: summer. This is the time of year for anything to happen. Anything feels possible on a summer night, because there is nothing to do; no plans, no responsibilities

-Your time is the most priceless thing in this world, so do something you can look back on. (necessarily), and, most importantly, no school to think about. The summer is the perfect time to get ahead of the game and begin planning out what to do next or learn a new hobby or just simply catch up on sleep. So do not waste it! If you’re a junior this year, this is your last

Inside the Issue

highschool summer. If you are a sophomore or below, this might not be your last highschool summer, but you don’t have many left, so make the most of it. This summer keep a schedule helping you not waste a moment of your time. There are a few ways you can ensure you won’t be wasting any of your time. The ﬁrst way is planning fun but safe trips around the city to see what all Saint Louis can offer. At the beginning of summer, set a goal for yourself that, by the end of the summer, you will have accomplished. This goal could be to get out of your comfort zone once every day, learn a new language, build something like a desk or chair, or this goal could be as silly as trying to go to bed at 8 p.m. one night. Just try something new, something crazy, something that won’t waste your time. Do something it would be worth your time in the future to sit down and remember. Not everything is going to be perfect though. Be prepared to be disappointed if something does not go as planned. This is a very common

T e n Years Ago P. 4

thing; plans get changed or shifted or even cancelled. But the challenge is still making the most of that time you did get. Look for the ups, because looking for the downs is like looking for the words on this piece of paper. The ups

-Avoid just planning things this summer for the sake of planningare harder and brighter, so learn front the downs and take joy in the ups. No time will be wasted if you take every second captivite with a purposeful plan. The next thing you can do is plan with a purpose and plan with an idea in your mind. Yes, spontaneous plans are super fun. But don’t just wait for something to pop into your head, do both planned and unplanned things. Don’t just call a friend to hang out with no idea what to do, call a friend and say let’s drive 20 minutes away from your house and stop at the ﬁrst gas

station we see and buy the cheapest thing there. Make a plan, and don’t be surprised if they turn out different than expected, that is a part of the fun of it. You can be pleasently surprised what can turn out to be fun, we you put both effort and thought into planning out a day. This is where a schedule that can keep track of your time and make sure you stay on task for your day and for your summer. If time management is a problem for you, maybe keep a schedule can be your goal for the summer. With no time left in the school year, comes to grip with the fact that yo maybe did not get to do everything you had in mind this school year. But don’t let that impede on your summer, think about everything you did not do and try to do it this summer. Also don’t let those ﬁnal grades hurt your feels, you have many more grades to come and it will be okay. You are way more than a letter on a piece of paper, so work at that this summer. Work on your mindsets and your hobbies. But most importantly come out of the summer feeling like you did not waste your time.

B e l o v e d Teacher, Westminster Legend P. 5

So get some people together and set some goals and plan a wonderful summer full of everything you all need. Full of memories, full of unforgotable memores that help stop and wish you could live in that moment forever. Summer really is about taking a break from the worries and structure of the school year. so use this break to grow in your faith, in your relationships, and in your health or mindset. If you have any unforgotable memories na dwnat to share them to show how you have not been wasting away your time this summer, share it with someone. or even write it down, don’t let yourself forgot the moment.

-We’ll see you all back in the fall with another issue, so tell us how your summer went then!-

Rising Underclassmen Make A Statement P. 15

May 2021

Westminster Christian Academy

STAFFSTAFFEDED

MANAGING EDITOR IN CHIEF MAGGIE LINDSTROM, JUNIOR

SO IT’S COME TO A CLOSE…

CO-EDITOR OF 800 SPORTING BROOKE HIGHMARK, JUNIOR

We are here at the end of school. We only have a few more full days left and only five more finals to take. So how did we do? For a school who only had one week that we were forced to be online and for the most part into an insane amount of covid problems. I say this school year ends with success. That is of course discounting these last few weeks which have been quite difficult. So good job to each and every student, teacher, administrator, and family involved in making this year safe and successful. We also want to thank you teachers specifically for learning how to deal with the changes and new technology introduced. Also big thank you to our maintenance staff for keeping the school extra clean each and everyday for our safety. So with all that being said, 800 news wishes you a happy and healthy summer!

CO-EDITOR OF 800 SPORTING MARTY BRINER, SENIOR

See you all on August 17th, 2021,

CONTENT EDITOR

Sincerely, Maggie Lindstrom- Managing Editor-In-Chief and the rest of 800 news

EMMA HARRIS, JUNIOR

STAFF WRITER

COLIN RING, SENIOR

EMMA SMITH, SENIOR

MOOREA ATKINS, SENIOR

KAITLYN BUTLER, JUNIOR

STAFF WRITER SAM VESTAL, JUNIOR

PHOTOGRAPHER BEN KNISLEY , SOPHOMORE

NOLAN JONES, JUNIOR

CJ FRANCOIS, FRESHMAN

HOPE LINAM, JUNIOR

ELLIE JOHNSON, JUNIOR

STAFF WRITER

ANAGI PIERIS, SOPHOMORE

STAFF WRITER GUS DUDA, JUNIOR

STAFF WRITER

EVAN KOHN, JUNIOR

ELLIE JONES, JUNIOR

STAFF WRITER

ANDREW CAHILL, FRESHMAN

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May 2021

Westminster Christian Academy

CONTENTS

BELOVED TEACHER, WESTMINSTER LEGEND Who doesn’t love art when it is taught by the wonderful Mrs. Vogel? Teaching at Westminster since 2013, she loves her job more and more every single day, and believes it is the students that keep her going.

ELLIE JONES Staff Writer

FEATURE BELOVED TEACHER AND LEGEND OF WESTMINSTER PG. 3 SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING NEW PG. 4 SPIRITUAL LIFE RECAP PG. 5 TOP TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GOING TO COLLEGE PG. 6

OPINION

THERE’S NO TIME LEFT, SO DON’T WASTE IT PG. 1 VINCENT VAN GOGH PG. 7 THE STEALTHY INGREDIENT- SUGAR PG. 7 IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS PG. 8 THE SENIOR EXPERIENCE PG. 9

NEWS TEN YEARS AGO PG. 4 ART BOARD 2021 PG. 5 STUCO 2021 PG. 6

CONTENTS

SPORTS

REFLECTION ON AN ATHLETIC CAREER PG. 10 TWO CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP PG. 11 MR. PETKE: THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND PG. 11 SET APART PG. 12 A FAREWELL FOR TWO SPORT ATHLETE, DREW LIDDLE AND KAITLYN DOEHRING PG. 12 REFLECTION ON MY TIME AS A WILDCAT PG. 13 BOYS LACROSSE SENIOR NIGHT PG. 14 THE ACE PG. 14 RISING UNDERCLASSMEN MAKE A STATEMENT PG. 15

The united 800 news staff. Today we have all threee branches of the 800 news company, broadcast, the wildcat roar, and 800 sporitng.

“At night when I’m falling asleep, I actually look forward to seeing the students. I pray for them, get excited for them, ache for them. I love them!” said Vogel. It is obvious that her passion for teaching will never escape her. Mrs. Vogel also has a daughter, Lilly, who attends Westminster as a student. The love that she has for her daughter she would describe as “unlike any other love.” The Vogels have a Cockapoo named Buddy, who sometimes pesters and follows Mrs. Vogel around all day long, but who is adored by

tri-sport athlete: volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Just like any other individual, her life didn’t and doesn’t come without challenges. When Mrs. Vogel was in her twenties she was engaged to a man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with. He checked every box on paper, but as she spent more and more time with him, she came to a realization: he was not the one. Thus, the engagement ended (after all of the wedding plans were already made and her dress already bought). “Again, through God’s gentle love, patience, and grace, he led me to a place of peace. He showed me that he had a plan and that I had to submit,” said Vogel. She knew

Mrs. Vogel in her art-ﬁlled, spunky classroom. Photo by: Ellie Jones

her anyway. Attending Baylor University was Mrs. Vogel’s original path, but after some difficult times, she transferred to Westminster University in Fulton, Missouri in the middle of her junior year. She recalls this specific time in her life as exceptionally difficult, starting a brand new college in a brand new place when everybody already has their life put together. However, she stuck it out at Westminster College and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration. She grew up with an amazing Christian background, both parents knowing and loving the Lord with all of their hearts. Her mother was the Latin and French teacher who loved school just as much as Mrs. Vogel herself. She later became the Director of Admissions because of her drive and determination for the students. Mrs. Vogel’s mother actually began spirit week many years ago (now we all know who to thank for the annual Westminster traditions). Westminster Christian Academy has been a part of Mrs. Vogel’s past ever since she was a little girl- she also attended high school here. “Of course I had drama, was sad about stuff, wasted a lot of time dating guys that I didn’t need. However, WCA provided a lot of great opportunities to grow in my abilities as a student and athlete. Also, growing in my character as a Christian and friend,” said Vogel. Another fun fact about our favorite art teacher is that she holds the rebounding record at Westminster Christian. She was a

the Lord had a plan, and decided to follow it, despite the intense heartache. She met her present-day husband, Tim, at Westminster feeder school Kirk Day School, where she taught for a couple of years. Their friendship was their ﬁrst priority, and that built a foundation that can not be broken. “As the years went by, we became best friends. I quickly grew in my love and respect for him as a good man, a Godly one at that. As well as his impeccable character,” said Vogel. Soon after they met they got engaged and eventually married. She said it was the best decision she has ever made. They have been married for almost 17 years. “It honestly keeps getting better. I don’t deserve him. The Lord is completely gracious with me,” said Vogel. While working at Kirk Day School, Vogel recalls that her husband pursued her right away. However, she was only interested in being friends for a while, but eventually realized that he was the one. “I truly have never known a day that I didn’t know that I was a sinner who needed a savior. I attribute that to a great church, great parents, and a gracious Lord,” said Vogel. It is clear that Mrs. Vogel values and continues to strengthen her faith, which makes her an amazing leader. We can all learn something from Mrs. Vogel: let the Lord lead the way. Trust in him, and trust in his decisions, no matter the level of difﬁculty. “The Lord in his faithfulness, gentleness and never ending love has reminded me that there is nothing that can separate me from the love of Christ,” said Vogel.

May 2021

Westminster Christian Academy

TEN YEARS AGO

SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING NEW

SPIRIT WEEK 2011 WAS A YEAR OF UPSETS

THE NEW, ALL-SCHOOL CHAMPION TROPHY

ELLIE JOHNSON Staff Writer

ANAGI PIERIS Staff Writer

Parker Briden, staff writer for The Wildcat Roar in 2011, wrote, “Spirit week 2011 will forever be known as the year of the underdog.” He was correct. Not only did the juniors beat the seniors that year, but the sophomore boys came in ﬁrst place in Boys’ Poms and the seventh grade girls beat the sophomores and freshmen in Tug-of-War. Many students were convinced that everything was rigged for the seniors to win and many still are, but there were many upsets that year that pointed towards a fair win by the juniors. When recalling Spirit Week 2011, Jim Marsh, Head of School Emeritus, said, “I do remember that the juniors seemed to be especially motivated and determined to defeat the seniors. As the week progressed, it became apparent that the juniors were giving the seniors a run for their money. This increased the intensity of the competitions and the resolve of the juniors. It appeared to me that the seniors were a bit over conﬁdent and the juniors were simply more motivated. I’m sure that strong

As the adage goes: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Here at Westminster Christian Academy, we love to meld tradition from the generations past with groundbreaking modern innovations. No one knows what the new Spirit Week trophy looks like. And there is a good reason for that: Westminster is ofﬁcially transitioning to a brand-new form of trophy.

The christening of the new trophy cup is not without fanfare; its reputation precedes it. Bearing the name of the mastermind faculty behind the ﬁrst Spirit Week, Mrs. Florence Lewis, the new award has additionally been emblazoned with each and every grade-level champion from Spirit Week ‘91 to the present. In fact, Westminster’s very own art teacher Mrs. Lizzie Vogel happens to be the daughter of Florence Lewis as well, which just goes to show that a benevolent heart gives the gifts that keep on giving back to the community.

Whether they are graduates from as far back as For the ﬁrst time in 45 years, the 2020-21 grade-level winners of spirit week will be ‘90 or as recent as alumni from ‘07, Florence Lewis presented with this never-before-seen prize: the touched the lives of numerous students, spurring on the legacy as each one has moved beyond the WCA Florence Trophy. halls of Westminster, entered the workforce, and Whereas winners were previously left lasting impessions of their own. commemorated by having their grade level All in all, it is ﬁtting that amidst all the upheaval engraved on a plaque board, this spirit week grades are setting their sights on a two-handled, around the outbreak of COVID-19 this school year, th Westminster community nods to broken routines cup-like trophy. while still continuing to acclaim praiseworthy Besides securng the accolade of school-wide events and people in a way that is uniquly WCA. bragging rights, successive grades who earn Thanks to a generous donation from the the afforementioned Florence Trophy are also Muschanys, descendants of Florence Lewis, her bequeathed with the privilege of having their own class title permanently etched on the body of the legacy is sure to live on in Westminster in the spirit cup, in keeping with the practice of celebrating week trophy. Stay in tuned. A big reveal coming each Spirit Week winner and forever marking a soon! victorious upset or triumphant conclusion to the week’s events.

Caption

student leadership in the junior class also played a major role in the junior victory.” The two major events that played into the juniors’ victory were Boys’ Poms and Halls. While the sophomores won Boys’ Poms and the juniors placed second, seniors were left in third. After watching the videos taken of the event, it was clear that the creepy clown routine the seniors presented was not what the judges were looking for. Halls, an event special to the old campus, was also crucial to the juniors’ victory. At the time, Halls were worth the most points out of all the events, so the fact that the seniors placed fourth really hurt them. This goes to show that, contrary to popular belief, Spirit Week is not rigged for the seniors to win, and anything can happen when a group of people are determined.

The new Spirit Week trophy will be unveiled soon during the upcoming festivities.

May 2021

Westminster Christian Academy

ART BOARD 2021 QUICK RECAP OF THIS YEAR’S ARTISTIC TALENT MOOREA ATKINS Staff Writer

This year’s art boards switched from boards to windows in the commons, a big change from previous years. With more room and space to ﬁll, this year’s art boards were a showcase of Westminster talents. The theme was based around decades, with every grade creating their boards around pop culture references and famous events of each decade. The middle school created a colorful design showcasing the 1950’s. Their design featured bright colors and a collage of pop culture references. They also included a few references to Westminster in their design, such as our very own 800 News. The Freshmen painted a bedroom scene to throw back to the 1990’s. Their design incorporated many things that a teen in the 90s would have had in their room, like roller blades. “My favorite part of our art board is the little Dino in the bed,” said freshman art board leader Lydia Muehleisen. “It’s so cute.” Sophomores came up with a bold design for the 1960’s. With vibrant patterns reﬂecting hippie culture and a giant VW bus, their design was as colorful as the 60s were. The sophomores also had a unique emphasis on fashion, including fashion Vogue magazines. The Juniors celebrated the shiny and neon 1980’s. Including references to famous singers and video games, the juniors were successful at

including as many things from the 80s as they possibly could. But according to Junior leader Katie Huang, “My favorite part of our art board design is the video game portion that we have. I think it really came together well and was the most fun to do.” Seniors ﬁnished strong with a disco scene from the 1970’s. Taking a different approach than other collage boards, the seniors decided to create a disco club. Their design included painting on vinyl records and elaborate cutouts, which positioned them well to place high in the rankings. Overall, the baords this year were very creative and a sight to see. Lots of time and dedication went into them, and it’s obvious from the boards that those who worked on them did a fantastic job. Regardless of who wins, every board is a winner. Photos (left to right going down) 1- Junior Board 2- Middle School Board 3 - Senior’s album covers on vinyl records 4- Sophomore Board 5- Freshmen Board 6- Junior’s video game leaderboard 7 - Senior’s movie posters

May 2021

Westminster Christian Academy

TOP TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GOING TO COLLEGE SENIORS, THIS COULD HELP YOU ELLIE JOHNSON Staff Writer Every year seniors all over the country feel stressed or unprepared for the years beyond highschool that approach with lightning speed, and it’s even more exaggerated this year, considering all the normal events that were taken away that help the graduates transition. Here are a few tips that were gathered from a few anonymous Westminster graduates that will make those preparing for college feel more ready:

the rules day one. Let them know what you like and dislike in a roommate, and allow them to do the same and try to accommodate their desires as well. If you make sure the boundaries are set immediately, there will be little room for argument if they leave the bathroom a disaster or wake you up in the middle of the night with their loud music.

1.) Remember that everyone is going through the same thing as you

If you buy everything you are told to before class, you will most likely end up buying a ton of unnecessary books. Waiting will avoid this and save you money. You might also ﬁnd out that you can rent books somewhere or get them for cheap somewhere on campus.

You are not the only one that is nervous about making new friends and being thrown into an entirely new environment. Everyone’s feeling the nerves, and everyone wants to make friends. This means that you will be better off if you take the initiative and try to be friends with everyone. Nearly everyone will appreciate it, and if a couple people don’t, you still will have tons of new friends and college won’t seem quite as scary. 2.) Set boundaries with your roommates as soon as possible If you are a clean person that does not appreciate clutter or an early bird that doesn’t want a ruckus happening just outside their door at two in the morning, you will be much happier if you make sure your roommates know

3.) Wait until after your ﬁrst day of classes to buy textbooks

4.) Less is more when it comes to packing Pack less than you think you need- especially if you’re an overpacker. You can buy everything else when you get there if you are ever truly in need of an item you chose to leave behind. If your school is in Florida, do you really think you’ll need that winter coat? 5.) 80/20 vs 20/80 rule In high school, you are generally given 80% of what you need by teachers and you come up with the rest using critical thinking skills (and often Google… don’t deny it), but in college it’s

the opposite. Professors give you 20% of the information you need, and you come up with the other 80% on your own. Be prepared to participate in discussions with your own original thoughts and teach yourself much of what you need to know. 6.) Procrastination kills internships If you want any kind of internship, job, etc., you will need to be on top of it. Internship slots ﬁll up fast, so you should begin thinking about your summer plans relatively soon in the year. As soon as applications are available, submit yours to several different places. 7.) Read the syllabus At least half of the questions you ask your professors will most likely receive the response: “Look at the syllabus”. It’s all there. Keep it, read it. 8.) Study abroad If you have the funds and opportunity, study abroad as much as you can. It’s an extremely formative experience and you will create memories you will never forget. Of course you can always travel, but studying abroad offers you the opportunity to meet new people and learn in another country for an extended period of time

Don’t go into college knowing nothing. Illustration by: Maggie Lindstrom

9.) Try everything Whether it be intramural sports, clubs, or service opportunities, most colleges offer a large list of things that students can be a part of. Try everything that seems moderately interesting to you. You will meet new people and generally just have tons of fun. 10.) Don’t be afraid to ask for help

STUCO 2021 WHAT ARE THEY PLANNING ON DOING? CJ FRANCOIS Staff Writer

William would decide if the idea was a good idea and if it was, he would tell Stuco is the student council for that idea to the stuco administration WCA, and they have been planning who would approve it. some big changes to make our school better. Student council’s mission Kaitlyn Mann is the upcoming is to make a student’s life better at junior class president. Like William, Westminster. Student council is split she is very devoted and hard into 4 different grades. Every grade working. She is planning on having in high school at WCA has a certain more fun activities and gatherings. amount of members per grade. She will be adding these activities to There are different committees for help cheer up her fellow classmates. each issue. Each committee meets Gatherings have been difficult due to together to discuss an issue that COVID-19, but Kaitlyn is trying hard to needs to be solved. work around this. Also like Willam, Kaitlyn is determined to bring her The upcoming sophomore class grade closer as a community. She president is William Dana. William lets other people voice their opinions is extremely devoted to his job and and if she agrees, she can make that really wants to focus on community idea happen. and relationships. “One thing I’ve learned over my first year of Stuco A combination of excellent is that leadership is service,” says presidents and loyal council Dana. Dana also explains that a good members make Stuco exactly leader needs others. Dana wants to what Westminister needs. They focus on community events. He says are definitely the people needed to that this will help show how valuable help run the school and create new our community and relationships ideas. Mrs. Brown And Mrs. Woodall are. This year, he planned a day have done a great job teaching Stuco called Freshman Day, where the day members how to be a great person was devoted to the Freshman class. and a great leader. William’s ideas come from himself, as well as others. An example is if a student has an idea that may benefit the sophomore class, they would go to William and tell him that idea.

William Dana, clas president of the current 9th grade Photo by CJ Francois

Tutors, R.A.s, professors, and other students are almost always happy to help you with whatever you need help with, so if you are struggling with an essay, don’t know where to begin when applying for a job on campus, or don’t know where to go for one of your classes, just ask. Most people will be happy to help, so don’t be shy.

May 2021

PAINTINGS STARS IN THE NIGHT

THE WONDER, LOVE, AND COURAGE THAT CAN BE FOUND IN THE LIFE AND ART OF VAN GOGH any artist would recognize as cause for insanity in of itself. Not one person ever visited him. Eventually, despite evidence that Van Gogh was not stable enough to live outside of the asylum, he was released by his own request, writing that “The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and “the prison was crushing me.” the storm terrible, but they have never found these According to the book “Neurological Disorders in Famous dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” Artists,” written by neurologists Julien Bogousslavsky and - Vincent Van Gogh M.G. Hennerici, many mental health professionals look back on the consistent mood swings, deep depression, and manic Beloved and world renowned artist Vincent Van Gogh is hallucinations of Van Gogh and are able to give him a likely known for many things, but perhaps most famously for his diagnosis: Bipolar 1, schizophrenia, or possibly both. short brushstrokes, vibrant colors, Starry Night, and cutting So it would appear he had a depressing life- what does off his own ear. Anyone who looks at his paintings would say that have anything to do with you? Why should you care? that a majority of them clearly display optimism and wonder, Here is why: but interestingly enough, the life of Van Gogh was actually You should care because Van Gogh once wrote “though filled with trials and tribulations, episodes of disarming I am often in the depths of misery, there is still calmness, hallucinations and pure harmony, and bottomless pits of music inside of despair. He often me.” You should felt as though care because he he had become lived in defiance. a burden for his Because, in his brother, he was suffering, he never struggling for lost his ability to success, and love and to love looked down upon compassionately, by others for being to look up at a eccentric. night sky full of There is much stars and begin to speculation as to dream, to wonder, why exactly- or to inspire. Can if he even did you place yourself it- Van Gogh cut into the shoes of a off his own ear mentally disturbed, nowadays, but lonely, mocked, it was actually and unsuccessful recorded that Van Gogh, and he did so in a “Be clearly aware of the stars and infinity on high. Then life seems almost imagine having enchanted after all.” Illustrated by: Emma Harris hallucinatory a deep love for the manic episode, world? Can you something imagine being in the depths of despair and looking towards Van Gogh was prone to having, and he was desperate to the stars and thinking ‘what a wonderful world it is’, to call it silence “the terrible noises or words that he believed he “enchanted”? Imagine being in his mental space and, instead was hearing,” wrote Martin Bailey, journalist and Van Gogh of resorting to cynicism and reveling in your anger, saying scholar, in his book Starry Night: Van Gogh at the Asylum. By this: “If one feels the need of something grand, something removing his ear, Van Gogh would have hoped to silence the- infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one as he described it- “unbearable” voices. It was this action need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, that Van Gogh himself took as a sign that he needed help. more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression Van Gogh checked himself into Saint-Paul de Mausoule in of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and 1888 for a year, a lonely asylum where Van Gogh was to enter coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.” the darkest period of his life thus far; “One continually hears You should care because, while in the asylum, he painted his shouts and terrible howls as of animals in a menagerie,” he Starry Night series. During the darkest time of his life, Van wrote to his brother, who loved him very much, but loved Gogh was able to paint brightly optimistic, inspiring images. him from a safe distance, never once visiting his mentally Van Gogh was never recognized within his lifetime. While disturbed brother. Van Gogh tried his best to keep resistance this is most certainly disheartening, there’s something and defiance to the pain; “The uglier, older, meaner, iller, miraculous and very inspiring about it too; God always poorer I get, the more I wish to take my revenge by doing has a plan, and even if we appear to have no purpose, this brilliant color, well arranged, resplendent,” he wrote perception is simply not true. You could struggle your entire resiliently. But the atmosphere was having a negative effect life and die as an unknown, only to inspire millions for on him. Came his famous line from inside these asylum walls: centuries to come after your death. Van Gogh only sold one “This sadness will last forever.” painting while he was still alive, now they sell for millions. An official report was found on the conditions of Van Gogh matters- and beyond just his influence on the art the asylum, and as typical during these times of poor world- because he tells us to always “find beautiful things understanding of mental health, the asylum was filled with as much as you can” and “admire” it as much as we can. neglect and an overall lack of care or understanding as to He teaches us that God always has a plan, to hold onto our how to treat patients, some “elderly, incontinent patients wonder. He matters because he is able to console millions lying on straw mattresses’’ that were “reduced to manure” of people with his art, he showed consistent kindness to (“Van Gogh’s ‘terrifying environment of French asylum those who bullied and shunned him, and he saw beauty and revealed”). While Van Gogh would write the other patients soul when his world felt drained of such. He practiced love were his “companions in misery,” he would also complain when hate would have been far easier. And in the darknessof the erratic behavior of some of them in letters to his when that voice in him told him he could not paint, when brothers, how some would go on violent rampages and keep nearly everyone around him also told him such- he picked him up through the night screaming. “My surroundings here up a brush over and over again and painted light. “I want to begin to weigh on me… I can’t go on, I am at the end of my touch people with my art,” he wrote, and touch people he patience,” Van Gogh would write. From his experience, he has, consoling those broken by life centuries after his death. painted Prisoner’s Round, his most soul crushing painting , Vincent Van Gogh matters because he felt that “there one dismal sorrow radiates off of. And yet, astoundingly, it is truly nothing more artistic than to love people.” He was in this asylum too that he would do something to inspire matters because he raised, and, through his life and beliefs and provide hope for generations to come. But we’ll get to simultaneously provided a semblance of an answer to, this that in a moment. question meant to be rhetorical: “What would life be if we While committed, Vincent consumed paint and paraffin had no courage to attempt anything?” as an act of self-destruction and harm, and, as recorded Do not let the dangers out in life keep you from living it, by asylum director Theophile Peyron, attempted to poison and living it with a fierce love for all to see. Wherever there is himself on numerous occasions. Because of this, Van Gogh a shadow, there is a light. was moved from his vibrant room to a plain one, something

EMMA HARRIS Content Editor

Westminster Christian Academy

THE STEALTHY INGREDIENT:SUGAR THE STORY OF AMERICA’S SWEET TOOTH ANAGI PIERIS Staff Writer

Notably, sugar intake is correlated with a neural response in the nucleus accumbens of the brain, which happens to be the same region that What do cereals, ketchup, and fruit juice all have drugs activate. Similarly, attempts to drastically in common? The hidden additive to each of these cut down on sugar are more often than not met with physical symptoms of withdrawal such as foods is... sugar. impaired cognitive function and lethargy. Daily, 17.14 grams of sugar are consumed per By all accounts, the numbers of packaged food person in America. Not surprisingly, the United States has been the leading country in terms with added sugar has today risen to almost 75% of sugar intake since at least 1961, when many of all products consumers encounter on grocery coalitions such as the United Nations first began shelves. According to the Iowa Clinic, those who are convinced they need to cut down on sugar in monitoring the world population’s sugar intake. their diet should start with liquid calories, which In contrast to the levels of sugar consumption can be found everywhere, from soda to sparkling in the past, children between the ages of 2-18 juice to chocolate milk. are now accustomed to a variety of soft drinks, Dr. Nasser Khan, a pediatrician at the Iowa cereals, and processed foods that far exceed the Clinic, attests to the fact that consumed sugar is American Heart Association’s recommended daily correlated with a spike in blood pressure. Of all the dosage of 25 grams a day. Sweets and fizzy drinks alike are sources of exorbitant amounts of sugar, forms sugar comes in, the empty sugar calories of liquids dissolve most rapidly into the bloodstream, calories, and little else. so a reduction in liquid sugar calories makes a Most people consider sugary foods a staple to tangible impact right away. their diet and evidently, the human brain is wired Some of the top sugar substitutes, according to to accord. Lactose, fructose, and sucrose types the Food and Drug Association, include saccharin, of sugar are all well-documented triggers of the aspartame, sucralose, neotame, and acesulfame mesolimbic dopamine system, by which hormones like dopamine are released in response to an event potassium. These alternatives have the same effects on the human body, and albeit they and cement the habit for future scenarios. occasionally contain fewer calories than sugar, For children in particular, the appetite for liberal they are always many times sweeter. Ordinarily, doses of sugar is ingrained in more ways than the human body monitors the amount of calories one. Baby formula, usually an individual’s earliest as a factor in gauging satiety, thus usefully introduction to convenience food, contains high preventing one from eating beyond a healthy amounts of sugar and once a child becomes threshold. Accordingly, sugar alternatives come accustomed to more palatable formula milk, with their own set of challenges for the consumer parents are hard-pressed to wean them off. As to navigate. kids grow older, the spike in activities outside In the end, sugar is an almost ubiquitous additive the home drains one’s time to the extent that it becomes second nature for young adults to quickly to the average citizen’s diet. Increased education swig sugary drinks or munch energy-boosting on its negative effects on the human system, along with recognition of where it accumulates in food, processed goods as they are available. are the first steps to making the best decision Published five years ago in the Learning possible for one’s future. and Memory journal, a scientific experiment conducted on laboratory rats found that eating sugar prevented their ability to recognize the same objects in different settings. Four years later, an article published in Physiology and Behavior explored the link between routine indulging of sweets and a craving for more of the same in between meals.

Sugar lurks in more places than you would think. Illustration by: Anagi Pieris

Westminster Christian Academy

ITS THE LITTLE THINGS A FEW THINGS I’LL MISS WHEN I LEAVE WCA MOOREA ATKINS Staff Writer Every year when the seniors graduate, they always get asked what they will miss about Westminster. They usually say the same things, their friends, teachers, and Spirit Week. While I happen to agree with all those things, I’m opting to take a moment to remember some of the things I think get overlooked and I’ll miss about the Academy. This one is going to seem obvious when I say it, but I think because we are here so often we don’t see it as much; our school campus is beautiful. I mean, if you think about it, it’s one of the prettiest high school campuses around. Not just outside, but inside too. We are lucky to have a maintenance staff that keeps campus so bright, shiny and clean, and I’m grateful for all their hard work. I’ll never forget how blown away I was the ﬁrst time I set foot on campus. I’ll miss all those walks around campus with my friends, whether I was enjoying nature and weather, or wandering the halls trying to ﬁnd a teacher to talk to after school.

I think it’s the little things that I will really miss- I’ll always remember the big things, but I think it’s the little things that mean the most to me. I’ll miss driving to campus every day. I’ll miss waving to my friends in the halls. I’ll miss the familiarness of people and places at the academy. I’ll even miss the late nights studying for tests or editing my papers for English classes. Someday in the very near future it’ll come to an end, and even though I may still do some of the aforementioned things in college, it will be different. So these last few days I’ve been trying to savor these last few moments of the little things (even when we’ve been quarantined at home) so that when I graduate, I can look back and smile.

One thing about WCA that I have always loved is how friendly people are. Whenever I walk down the halls, there is always someone to say hello to. I think it’s pretty cool that if you say hello to one of your teachers, they will say hi back. Or even a teacher you don’t know, there’s always someone there. Other places that I’ve been too it hasn’t been like that (not that they weren’t friendly or anything), but as an introvert I like knowing there is usually someone to say hi to. Most of all it’ll be weird to not be at Westminster anymore. I’ll just miss simply being a student at the Academy. Sure it’s been rough sometimes, but overall I’ve had such a good experience here that I wouldn’t change. I think it’s easy to overlook your current status as a Westminster Wildcat when you are a student, but once I started to realize that in a couple months I’ll be a Saint instead of a Wildcat, it hit me that things are changing and changing fast.

It’s the little things I’ll miss the most when I leave, like being on capus, saying hello in the halls, or simply being a Wildcat.

May 2021

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May 2021

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Westminster Christian Academy

May 2021

Westminster Christian Academy

REFLECTION ON AN ATHLETIC CAREER HOW CROSS COUNTRY HAS SHAPED MY HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE COLIN RING Staff Writer It’s impossible to write about the full impact that the last four years donning the blue and white singlet has had on me, but it would be a shame to not try and reflect on what my cross country career at Westminster has taught me about leadership, friendship, and perseverance. When I started my athletic career as a freshman, I would never have envisioned it ending up the way it did. I came into the year thinking that I was going to be primarily a basketball and baseball player, just using cross country to “get in shape for basketball.” If you would have told me before the start of my freshman year that the only sport I would end up doing for all four years was cross country, I probably would have been really disappointed with the outcome. The first thing that really made me change my perspective on the sport of running was immediately obvious from my first day of practice as a freshman, and it was something I never could have predicted to happen: all (7) of the upperclassmen on the team not only acknowledged the underclassmen, but they also made it a priority to talk to us and get to know us. They even went out of their way to say hi to us, lowly freshmen, in the hallways. This, within itself, was an amazing show of love to the ackward, goofy, ninth graders, but the varsity team leaders took it even a step further. At the beginning of the year, the coach created a system that put each of the younger kids with a more experienced “buddy.” This buddy was meant to help show the underclassmen what it means to run high school cross country while representing Christ and the school in the process. Although this could have been a token gesture, and the older kids were by

no means forced to engage with us, they took it upon themselves to drive us to practices, joke with us, and share with us their wealth of cross country experience so that we could learn. My “buddy” on the team was Evan Parres, a senior from the class of 2018. Evan was possibly the most gifted runner on the whole team, but he had been injured for a long time, and he knew that he was not going to be able to run that year for the team. Although I’m sure this reality broke his heart, he did not let it dissuade him from going to practices, cheering on the team, and loving all of his teammates. His teamﬁrst attitude and the selﬂessness he displayed was something that I drew upon when I was suffering from my own injury this year. Overall, these actions, radically different from most of the sports I had grown up playing, taught me an important lesson about leadership that has stuck with me throughout my time at the Academy: if people are willing to work hard and be a part of a team, they should be treated equally no matter their skill level or age. As our class has progressed throughout the years, we have tried to emulate the leaders who taught us how to act and behave. Without the good experience that I had as a frosh because of these upperclassmen leaders, I might have never pursued running cross. Things may have looked very differently today for me if not for leaders like

Courtesy of Colin Ring After 6 years of running together, our friendships have only grown.

Parres. Likewise, Cross Country has taught me a lot about friendships. It took me a long time, as well as a glimpse of my “high school running mortality,” to understand that records, accomplishments, and even my competitive running career are not meant to last. In the scheme of life, my running performance will barely be a blip on the radar. Instead, something that I will keep with me for the rest of my life is the friends I have made. It’s amazing to me that the friendships we formed during seventh grade cross country have only grown. Putting our collective blood, sweat, and tears into the sport to achieve team success has brought us together in ways that little else could. I feel like we are now more like brothers than simply friends, and, as we depart to different colleges after spending so much time together since middle school, it is no surprise that two pairs of us will actually be rooming together. The friendships I found in the sport of cross country have not only made my time and experiences at Westminster exponentially more enjoyable, but they also are a testament to the fact that, although high school is temporary, the memories and friendships made can endure long after.

Finally, the sport of cross country itself has taught me immensely about the power of perseverance, not just in sports but in life. From a physical standpoint, cross country runners have to persevere through uncomfortable situations every day to make themselves better athletes. It is not fun to keep running when your arms and legs are going numb and you feel like you’re about to pass out, but you keep going because you know there is light at the end of the tunnel. This analogy, as I’m sure many can infer, crosses over into many aspects of life. In my own life, I have had my fair share of health issues over the last few years, and there have been some points where I have felt like giving up. Although it has been a struggle at some points, I’m still standing and writing to you today because, using God’s strength, I was able to keep pushing through obstacles. Cross country has taught me how to keep ﬁghting and persevering even when things get tough because, in my humble opinion, nothing in the world hurts more than the last 100 meters of a 5k. My cross country career at Westminster has blessed me with a bounty of life lessons and friendships, and I would never trade it for the world. As I begin the next stage of my journey and leave Westminster behind, I know that my time as a Wildcat will always have a special place in my heart.

May 2021

Westminster Christian Academy

May 2021

Westminster Christian Academy

SET APART COACH KUHN LEADS THE GIRLS LACROSSE TEAM WITH HER EXPERIENCE, PASSION, AND COMMITMENT TO THE SPORT. BROOKE HIGHMARK Co-Editor of Sporting

Jamie Kuhn, head coach of the Westminster girls lacrosse team, instills three major values into her players: toughness, ﬁerceness, and grit. “One huge thing is that I want them to believe in themselves and that they have what it takes. Lacrosse at WCA is an up and coming

that they are strong and capable to achieve anything they set their minds to,” said Kuhn. Coach Kuhn strongly believes that her Westminster players are called to be set apart from other schools in their conduct and character, as they have been hand picked by Him to be on the team and carry out their role of

“Here we have a common ground that unites us all. We may have a different vision, but our end goal is to always point back to Jesus,” said Kuhn. Coach Kuhn’s experience with lacrosse dates back to her freshman year of high school during the very ﬁrst year that the sport became school sponsored and a part of MSHSAA. “I became a Christian the summer before my senior year of high school and my entire friend group changed. Because of that, I started hanging out with my soon to be best friend, Melissa (current lacrosse coach at Eureka High School). She was a lacrosse all star and was getting recruited left and right. I ended up quitting soccer, and she kept asking me to play lacrosse. It took some convincing, but I ﬁnally bought a stick and decided I’d take a leap of faith. She ended up coaching me, playing catch, and teaching me strategy the entire school year until tryouts began. Thankfully, I made the team and really enjoyed every second,” said Kuhn.

Coach Kuhn instructs her players during a timeout. Photo by: Nicki Mabry

powerhouse, so it’s important that the girls play with that mentality. I want females to believe

representing Christ and their school.

From there, Coach Kuhn’s career took off. After high school, she played four years of lacrosse at Lindenwood University and began coaching for Westminster during her ﬁrst year out of college. While she enjoyed playing soccer and basketball throughout her childhood, Kuhn grew a passion for the intensity, technicality, and fast-paced atmosphere of lacrosse.

Kuhn coaches her team from the sidelines during a game against the MICDS Rams. Photo by: Nicki Mabry

“Hard work and tenacity can change the momentum of any game. In my opinion, it’s a sport where more hand eye coordination is needed than most sports. You have to be willing to put in a LOT of time and energy into stick skill, endurance, shooting, defensive form, etc. Lacrosse is a hybrid of ALL sports, which makes it challenging but so fun to play, coach, and watch,” said Kuhn. Coach Kuhn is grateful to be a part of the Westminster community where the faculty and players display uncommon, Christ-like character that cannot be found in many other schools.

“The people I work with, the athletes, the athletic department, and the coaches are incredible. As humans, we fail, but our community is SO quick to lend a hand and help dust the dirt off,” said Kuhn. However, the lacrosse girls have a special place in her heart. “They are one of the best parts of my day. They are very selﬂess, kind to opponents, they work hard, and they have perspective, which a lot of high school athletes struggle with. I am so thankful to be coaching this mature, wise, and fun group of girls,” said Kuhn.

A FAREWELL FOR TWO SPORT ATHLETE, DREW LIDDLE LIDDLE’S CONSISTENT EXCELLENCE HAS MADE HIM A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE WESTMINSTER SPORTS COMMUNITY. EVAN KOHN Staff Writer Drew Liddle, senior, is an integral part of the boys volleyball team at Westminster, as he plays the libero position. He is the libero and is very well liked among his teammates. Not only does he play volleyball, but he is also a part of the boys varsity basketball team. His uncommon attributes did not go unnoticed by MSHSAA--Missouri State High School Activities Association, as he received an “Award of Excellence” for his “Exemplary Display of Sportsmanship, Ethics, & Integrity.” Caylin Doehring, senior, was the other recipient of this honor.

have of Drew is when he knocked down a couple of three’s in the corner against Lindbergh, and the four people that were at the game, due to COVID restrictions, were going crazy. Drew will be remembered as not only a great leader but also a loyal friend and teammate. He will be attending Harding University and is looking forward to college, even though he won’t be pursuing any sports. Liddle’s positive attitude and hard work will be missed in the Westminster volleyball and basketball programs.

Although Liddle is not the ﬂashiest player on the basketball or volleyball court, he is very reliable. This year, he has received 289 serves in 48 total games played and has only made 45 errors which is 84%. He has 207 days this year, which is the most on the team. “Drew is a great player to have out on the court and a good friend off the court,” said Colin Millburn, junior volleyball player. In this year‘s basketball season, Drew had limited time due to the fact that the team was led by so many young studs. However, whenever he got the chance to go into a game, he made the most of it. A speciﬁc memory that I personally

Drew Liddle and Caylin Doehring recieve MSHSAA awards for their excellence. Photo Courtesy of: Westminster Athletics

May 2021

Westminster Christian Academy

REFLECTION ON MY TIME AS A WILDCAT REFLECTING ON 11 SEASONS AS A WILDCAT. MARTY BRINER Co-editor of Sportring At last, my high school graduation is close enough to count. I have made the decision that I spent most of my childhood and highschool avoiding— where to go to college. And, it’s the place that I never thought I’d go: Mizzou. Everything in my whole life has seemed to be leading up to now. Academics, sports, and relationships all seem to peak at this moment. I’ve aimlessly worked hard for four years, and now I can ﬁnally start to see where I am going. The irony of this year is that I write this from quarantine. These last few weeks are where we are told to soak it all in, but instead I sit in isolation. Seven lacrosse games left in the season quickly fell to one. My three sport career is coming to a quick end. It’s all coming to an end.

every day that I got to spend with my teammates and started investing time into building relationships with them. Seasons will end, teammates will graduate, but these relationships outlive the sport itself. Looking back, some of the best fruits of my athletic career are the friends that I made along the way. Currently and in the future, I am not going to remember all the mistakes that I made or how many hits/baskets I had. Instead, I will remember the people that I met along the way and their impact on my life. Some friendships will be past memories, but I am conﬁdent that some will be life long. I almost missed out on the best thing that being a part of a team has to offer: relationships, because I was too focused on myself.

In my despair, I’m tempted to say that it was all for nothing, but I can’t because the relationships that I built along the way made it all worth it. I would be lying if I told you that I was the star on any field or court that I played on. I spent eleven seasons being an average player at three different sports. For some, that might sound unenjoyable, and honestly it was for a while. For me and many athletes like myself, sports performance and image can become our identity. Flash back to my sophomore year: I “made” the varsity basketball team as a swing, meaning I practiced solely with varsity but only played with JV. I spent two hours at practice getting destroyed by seniors. Then, I had to play a game with teammates who I’ve never practiced with. Then, I had to watch the team I practiced with play from the end of the bench. To top it off, I ended my season by dislocating my meniscus. At this point, my identity was wrapped tightly around my position on the team, and I felt deeply alone. The short of it is that I decided that the only way to detach my identity from the sport is to quit, but my parents convinced me to at least go to tryouts. I agreed and committed to finding a way to play the sport that I loved without it determining my worth. For so long, my focus had been in the wrong place. I realized that I was only focusing on myself and my performance, and therefore I was missing the opportunity to build amazing relationships with my teammates and coaches. This changed everything for me. It was no longer about myself and my performance on the court and field. I redefined success toward building meaningful relationships and being a part of a team. I started being more intentional about the two hours

Pictures from throughout Marty’s highscool athetic carrer.

May 2021

Westminster Christian Academy

BOYS LACROSSE SENIOR NIGHT

THE ACE

THE SENIORS MADE IT A NIGHT WITH CLOSE VICTORY AGAINST LINDBERGH. seniors two years ago.

NICK MOTEN CONTINUES TO PITCH WESTMINSTER TOWARD SUCCESS.

NOLAN JONES Staff Writer

This past Wednesday, the 28th, the Westminster boys lacrosse team defeated the Lindbergh Flyers in a eight to seven senior night victory. The team had trouble defending against one of the league’s top scorers. In the end, the boys were able to pull together a team effort to shut down the Flyers’ top dog and were able to come out with the win for the seniors.

The program will look to the current junior class to take over next year due to the loss of thirteen seniors. Connor Mcmillian and Kole Feeney, junior attackers, will take over on the offensive side, while Kirk Ellis and Zach Kilgore, juniors, will step in on the defensive end with Will Richards, junior, in the middle. The team is looking to ﬁnish up the season strong but are battling the injuries of two starting defenders. Max Kramer, senior defenseman, is out, so the team is hoping to get him back by the ﬁrst round of play-offs.

Teddy Peirick and Nick Lee, seniors, both signed to play for Columbia College next fall. A few other of the players are also looking to play on college club teams. The seniors have put lots of time and effort into this team, as they might be the ﬁrst boys lacrosse team at the school to play in the top tier in the postseason.

COLIN RING Staff Writer Nick Moten, senior, has had quite a career on Westminster’s baseball team, and this year, he has taken his game to new heights. The Arkansas commit, whose fastball tops out at an untouchable 95 miles per hours, is ranked the fourth overall prospect in Missouri, per Prep Baseball Report. So far this year, Moten has led the St. Louis area with an ERA of 0.00 in 19.7 innings pitched, meaning that opposing teams are yet to generate a run against Moten that isn’t due to ﬁelding errors. In other words, whenever Moten, who owns a 4-0 record, heads out to the mound, it has been the closest thing to a guaranteed victory for the Cats.

39th round into the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Moten has not ruled out following the same path as Stewart, and skipping college to play professional baseball is certainly on his radar. After all, the prospect has had multiple scouts at each of his games drooling over his potential. “If the money is right and the opportunity is there then I’d deﬁnitely consider going to play pro ball,” said Moten. Likewise, while Moten is soon going on to bigger and better things, the rich tradition of the Wildcat baseball team has made it an honor for him to don the blue and white during his high school baseball years.

Moten, whose dominance has caught the eye of the top “Being able to play for a team with a great history colleges in the nation, recently flipped his commitment from and tradition is my favorite part of getting to play for and the University of Missouri to the #1 ranked University of represent Westminster baseball,” said Moten. Arkansas Razorbacks. As the last few months of the high school season wind “After I decided to reopen my recruitment [decommitting down, Moten has kept himself grounded, simply focusing from Missouri] it was a pretty short process. I had opened my on doing the best he can to help his team, whether on the recruitment backup on a Thursday and committed to Arkansas pitching mound or by being an encouragement to others on a Monday before announcing it shortly after. They gave me in the dugout. an offer I couldn’t refuse and it was a no brainer in my opinion,” “My goals for the season are to compete on the mound said Moten. every outing and be the best teammate I can be when I’m Moten headlines a loaded Westminster senior class that not pitching,” said Moten. has seen five other players sign to play college baseball. This Long after he has thrown his last high school fastball, success is nothing new for the Westminster baseball program, however, as Westminster has seen a multitude of athletes go Moten’s legacy as a leader both on and off the field will and play at the highest levels of college baseball, including continue to endure. The depth of his experience has stars like Kevin Graham (Ole Miss), Jimmy Obertop (University given him a lot of perspective on how to achieve athletic success. of Michigan), and Ben Simms (University of Michigan). Another recent player, D.J. Stewart, who starred for the “Don’t compare yourself to everyone else. Be the best Wildcats, skipped college altogether and headed straight for you. Everyone’s development happens differently. Some the major leagues. Stewart, class of 2017, was drafted in the early and some later. Focus on yourself and what you can control and you will go a long way,” said Moten.

“We all have the drive to win, we have athletes and players who have fought for four years to earn the respect of playing in the top bracket,” said Peirick. Having an abundance of seniors may be a good thing at the time, but it will be hard to come back from in the future and will require some rebuilding years. The football team is still battling this same effect, as they graduated eighteen

Photo By Arista Hampton Moten has dominated the competition this season with his blazing fastball Seniors together after their win on senior night. Photo by: Corey Snyder

May 2021

Westminster Christian Academy

RISING UNDERCLASSMEN MAKE A STATEMENT

DESPITE THE TEAM LOSING THREE TALENTED SENIORS, THE PROGRAM IS STACKED WITH TALENTED UNDERCLASSMEN TO ADVANCE THE TEAM IN COMING YEARS. players have more experience which allows contribute to the team’s success. them to be more adaptable against tougher opponents. But, these underclassmen have stepped up to the challenge and are hungry to get better everyday so that they don’t fall too far behind their teammates.

HOPE LINAM Staff Writer

Between multiple injuries and COVID setbacks, the Westminster girl’s varsity soccer team has not had the season that they envisioned thus far. However, they have made the best of every unfortunate situation. Despite the various setbacks, the team has had a decent season with help from a number of underclassmen on varsity with immense talent. These underclassmen are vital to the team’s success, as they bring a high level of skill set and work ethic to the table.

“One of the pros is that I get to learn and grow as a player from my older teammates with more experience. Another pro is pushing myself to step up and play at their level against the stronger and bigger players. But one con is that I don’t get to play with some of my close friends in my grade and not be able to drive myself to practice and games,” said Bertel. Despite the fact that this season has been unpredictable and uncertain at times, it is no doubt that there is a bond between the entire girls soccer program. Regardless of age and experience, the juniors and seniors have encouraged, demonstrated work ethic to, and made the younger athletes feel a part of the team since day one of tryouts.

The soccer program is often known for having strong underclassmen that go on to have very successful careers at Westminster, keeping the program consistent for the four years that they are on the team. With the most recent round of four-year varsity players graduating this spring, Zoe Lintner, Grace Clement, and Annessa Shively, the team is looking to deepen its bench and build up new, strong underclassmen for the coming years. The current freshmen and sophomores have proven to be solid candidates for these roles.

“I love just simple things that we do as a team together like pregame locker room talks and playing small sided games. And, being one of the younger players, I get to experience new drills and get to learn from my teammates around me,” said Sowers.

“What makes these players stand out is their technical ability. They can handle the ball at their feet and know what to do with it. They don’t panic when they get the ball and more often than not they make the right decision and move the ball around so we can maintain possession,” said Coach Dan Legters. Libby Wessels, Lauren Sowers, Ashlyn Lane, Ella Ortbals, sophomores, and Emma Bertel and Gabby Willette, freshmen, are all experiencing their ﬁrst full year as varsity players together. Because the sophomores had a taste of varsity culture during last year’s glimpse of a season, they are able to help lead the freshmen as well as continue to adapt themselves. “I was nervous in the beginning knowing that the group had played together before and that I would be adding a new dynamic to the team. I knew I was going to have to prove myself in order to gain the trust of my teammates. I felt as if I needed to really work hard to ensure they had a comfort level with me on the team and could count on me in a game situation,” said

In the coming years, the varsity girls soccer team will continue to develop, and already has a head start with three freshmen on varsity this year. These underclassmen continue to show that they have a desire to play and want to

“All 3 Freshman have stepped up to the challenge of playing a lot of minutes for Varsity, even starting in some games. As the season has progressed, so too has their contribution to every game. They are now equally counted on to positively impact each game with thier play which they have done so seamlessly! They are very coachable and show off their talent by being able to quickly execute on the field what they have recently been taught! All three have a great touch, see the field well, move extremely well off and on the ball and have that competitive drive,” said Coach Pritchett Now that the season is coming to a close, the soccer program has to say goodbye to Grace Clement, Zoe Lintner, and Annessa Shively. However, even though these seniors are wrapping up their highschool seasons, all three will go on to play at the collegiate level. Clement will be attending McKendree University in the fall, Lintner will be attending the University of Southern Indiana, and Shively will be attending the University of Arkansas. Clement and Lintner will likely face each other in the coming years in their respective conferences, and they both look forward to facing one another in the future. The three seniors, after passing on their influence to the underclassmen, are now ready to pass the torch and feel that the girls soccer program will be left in good hands.

Emma Bertel, freshman, ﬁghts for a ball agaisnt a Kirkwood player. Photo Credit: Yearbook

Willette. Each of these underclassmen have unique skill sets that make them valuable assets to the team’s success. Wessels, starting center back, uses her aggressiveness to make great passes and runs. Sowers is exceptionally fast, which allows her

to have an advantage against her opponents. Ortbal’s communication skills and quickness with the ball makes her a reliable teammate. Lane is an offensive spark plug, being one of the leading goal scorers this season. Willette’s mature playing style and work ethic has not gone unnoticed by her coaches and teammates. Finally, Bertel came in clutch early in the season when she secured the game winning goal against MICDS. “What is enjoyable to watch is their dedication and passion to play. This is their ﬁrst full year on varsity, and when I see them compete against more experienced players and teams, I notice they don’t back down and they give their best effort. They enjoy playing soccer, and they want to get better,” said Coach Legters. Although they are underclassmen, the team makes sure to treat the girls as if they are the same age as the rest of them. The upperclassmen have welcomed these girls with open arms, making the transition from middle school to varsity soccer far easier and more enjoyable for them. “My favorite part of the season is being in the locker room before games and the bus rides to away games. We always listen to pump up music to get everyone excited and it is always fun getting ready in the locker room before games. Additionally, our current seniors, Grace Clement, Zoe Lintner, and Annessa Shively are all great leaders, and it is nice being able to watch how they lead for when I will have to in the coming years,” said Wessels.

Libby Wessels, sophomore, goes up for a ball. Photo by: Hailey Pritchett

With every team, there are pros and cons to being a younger player on varsity; the older

Zoe Lintner and Annessa Shively, seniors, pose for a photo. Photo by: Marty Briner

Westminster Christian Academy

May 2021